AT a well-attended meeting of Southwest governors hosted by the feisty and voluble Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose last Monday, the region’s governors reiterated their determination to join hands and ideas to develop the region in line with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). They sensibly de-emphasised political leanings and other differences in order to adumbrate ideational and infrastructural landmarks they expect to foster regional integration. The reluctant proselyte and outgoing governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, who used to hem and haw over the DAWN project in his days of glory, was in attendance. Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Rauf Aregbesola remain very constant as probably the proudest promoters of DAWN, and rarely miss any meeting. The most noticeable and inspiring presence, however, was that of Lagos governor, Akinwumi Ambode, who needed no persuasion to identify with the initiative immediately he assumed office in 2015.
If the mood of the last meeting and the communiqué effortlessly agreed to are any indication of future promises, there is some hope that the region could be revitalised and remoulded as a pacesetter. Reading the communiqué, Mr Fayose, listed a number of decisions reached by the governors. But whereas the governor’s meeting took meaningful and practical decisions, the unity meetings that took place in the region weeks ago were less successful mainly because of their presumptions. In addition, the decisions reached at the unity meetings were vague, needlessly ambitious, and seemed to have disregarded history. The Southwest may have a dominant political party calling the shots, but that dominance is diluted by other political persuasions in the region, as well as strands of political thinking even within the dominant party. There was never a time the region spoke with one partisan voice, and may really never need to. What is important is for the region’s governments to deliver more abundant life for its people.
Equally more important is how the region would regain the “loss of (its) values and virtues” and arrest “declining moral standards” contained in the communiqué when even Mr Fayose who read the communiqué is himself engaged in a losing battle to find his own cracked moral compass, and one or two other governors in the region can’t seem to determine where to draw the line between the intangibles of constitutional rule and the ephemeral of self-aggrandisement. It is, however, reassuring that the governors have de-emphasised their individual differences and party leanings to promote development. The DAWN document is a rigorous, well conceived document capable of making the region a showpiece should governors prove capable of putting their shoulders to the wheel. If only Lagos and Ondo had been part of the agenda right from the beginning.
Tag: dawn
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Southwest’s difficult DAWN
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DAWN of a new day?
•Governors of the South West states close ranks to get out of recession and work for a brighter tomorrow
The decision by governors of the six states in the South West to put aside personal, partisan and political differences in designing a common economic integration effort is commendable. Following a meeting attended by leaders of all the states in the region, it was resolved that the current economic challenges in the country call for a new approach if the states are to survive and resume their pace-setting role in the country.
This would not be the first time that the political leaders would deliberate on the imperative of unity. In 2012, similar meetings were held in Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti and Abeokuta and similar speeches were made upon presentations by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). The efforts failed as impolitic statements made by some of the leaders led to serious disagreements.
We hope the correct lessons have been learnt from previous failed attempts. Two significant developments tend to suggest that the governors could be sincere in the new move. First, more than ever before, a recession is biting in the country. The only state in the region that has been able to pay its bills efficiently is Lagos. Others are struggling with payment of workers’ salaries and are thus unable to embark on capital projects. The governors must have realised that unless they come together, they could sink.
Second, the admission of Lagos to the fold would be of immense benefit to all. Lagos is the most populous of the states in the region. It is also the most economic developed. The population advantage has provided a large market into which the others could tap. Recently, the state had to go into strategic business partnership with Kebbi State in the production of rice. There are many similar opportunities in the region that could have been of mutual benefit to the partners. Food consumed in the state now officially described as the fifth largest economy in the continent has been estimated at N3 billion. This is huge and the needed capital to cultivate food crops in any of the other states in the region could be supplied by Lagos.
Lagos State is overcrowded, thus, the pressure on available infrastructure is unbearable. Many who live in the city are unable to afford decent accommodation and that has created slums. If the states could come together as they are proposing to boost linkages, the mega city could be decongested as workers there could live in contiguous states.
We agree, therefore, with the resolution to “jointly embark on collaborative programmes in areas of common cooperation identified as needing immediate attention in the region, including security, education, transportation infrastructure, including roads, rail and water transportation, trade and commerce linkages, agriculture, and sports, and that the DAWN Commission should be vigorously strengthened to coordinate the regional development process.”
We call on the Federal Government to support the Western Nigeria integration effort. It could serve as a catalyst for the development of the various regions of the country. Whereas it has become difficult to revert to the regions we had in the First Republic, it is obvious that collaboration and integration among states of common historical and cultural ties has become inevitable. It is in the interest of the Federal Government to support the move. In the same way that it avoided legal niceties to cede some power to the states in electricity supply and solid minerals exploitation, the regions could be encouraged to boost rail transportation and other items on the exclusive list of the constitution.
If all the regions could adopt this model of development, Nigeria would soon truly resume the status of the giant of Africa. Healthy competition as was the case in the First Republic would be the order of the day once again and the people would be the better for it. As the governors observed, “all politics must be politics of development and regional cooperation; synergy and economics of scale is important to move the region forward, and good intentions must be backed by sincerity of purpose.”
Rhetoric is certainly not enough. The people need to see sincerity in these declarations and resolutions.
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DAWN, Agro-Nigeria partner to boost agric in Southwest
The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, a dedicated institution for the sustainable development of the Southwest, in collaboration with Agro Nigeria, is mounting an agric development campaign to boost the regional economy in the long term.
DAWN Commission was set up by the governments of the Southwest states as the institutional and programme management body to midwife their regional integration agenda.
Speaking in Lagos, the Chief Executive, Agro Nigeria, Mr Richard Mbaram, said DAWN and his organisation was working on a platform to complement the respective states government efforts to make the Southwest the most developed industrial region. Agriculture, according to him, has been identified as one of the main directions of development.
For the region to experience sustainable growth, he noted that an aggressive pursuit of agro industrialisation has become more compelling, insisting that the approach would help reduce the exposure of the regional economies to external shocks while providing decent jobs.
With dwindling oil, he said all hands must be on deck to build an industrial structure that is competitive; environment-friendly and capable of significantly improving the living standards of the people. The vision of the Southwest region, according to him, was to transform the zone from being a producer of primary goods into a producer of processed value-added good.
As a region, he reiterated that thearea seeks to promote industrialisation through the exploitation of its abundant natural resources for economic transformation and development.
To end, he said the commission and his organisation are hosting a Southwest agric summit next month to enforce a regional collective plan to use agriculture to bolster innovation, create jobs and promote the competitiveness and export potential of the constituting states.
The summit, according to him, billed for October 5, would discuss means of accelerating the agro industrialisation agenda and private sector development across the region.
He underscored the need for cooperation among the states in their industrial development.
With the state governors of the Southwest as key partners, he said the summit will look at ways of using agric competitive advantage of each state of the region to stimulate growth and employment, support to meet new economic challenges, enhance the efforts of the governments to promote agro entrepreneurship.
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GLITZ AND GLAMOUR AS ‘DAWN’ ENTERS SECOND SEASON
IT was an evening of glitz and glamour when Tribe Nation’s web series, Dawn, premiered at film House cinema in Lagos last weekend.
The movie, Dawn, is about the lives of a group of students studying at a federal university and the lives they lead while on campus. The central character, Dolapo is a naïve village girl who while on campus gets into an extremely violent relationship with an internet fraudster.
Dawn was conceptualized in April 2013 edition and is based on Tribe Nations 2011 short film titled “Morning after Dawn”.
According to the producer, Anita Edwards, “the movie is about hope and young people so we intend to keep doing stories about young people because that is what tribe nation is all about. You can make all mistakes you want because you don’t get to learn if you don’t make mistakes so learn to grow from your mistakes and that is what Dawn is about”, she concluded.
The movie features top Nollywood actors like Alex Usifo, Jude Orhorha, Dayo Davies, Paul Adams, Ayobami Alvin among other rising stars.
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Victory at dawn: a night of horror recalled
Adedoyin, a public relations practitioner, relives an encounter he had with men of the underworld in his Mowe, Ogun State home a year ago. The event nearly took his life.
As another holy month of Ramadan made its spiritually majestic and overwhelming arrival weeks back, it became imperative to reflect on the Event of July 14th last year; a most gory occurrence in a month when men and women of conscience seek reconciliation with their Maker; a most violent and bloody event perpetrated by some sons of Lucifer who had long lost their souls. It was blood bath at dawn; a most horrendous and evil act by some sadistic servants of Satan. Early that morning, these servants of Satan on the loose made their way to my home.
It was the late Dele Giwa that unforgettable journalism icon and engaging columnist who described Lawrence Anini called The Law, who gave Benin City and environs one hell of a time in the mid 80s as Son of a Dog. Those who visited my home at Mainland Park Estate (a.k.a. Pentagon Estate), Mowe, on this particular date last year when the Ramadan broke into half – the 15th and left in its wake tears, blood and sadness were sons of wolves. For, come to think of it, yes truly dog can be nasty, murderous even; but they can also be reasonable, friendly, loyal and truly so.
These sons of wolves that shattered the peace of my home at dawn a year ago were animals in human skin, as the inimitableFelaAnikulupoKuti would have put it – they were blood thirsty, truly predatory carnivorous animals, irrational and without conscience or soul.
The event of that early morning left me wondering about the humanpersona. From all indications, these evil guests at dawn were Moslems or knew one or two things about Islam. My wife who speaks impeccable Hausa confirmed that these blood cuddling youngsters had their conversation in Fulfude (Fulani language) with a mix of Hausa words. Given such background, one is still left wondering about the depth of moral depravity that would make young men from such cultural milieu, to choose the Holy month when men and women of conscience were seeking reconciliation with their Maker and atoning for transgressions to perpetrate evil and visit mayhem on any creature at all.
The gang that ruptured the serenity of my abode one year ago was not just a robbery one, but a murderous group of young men who have no values for the sanctity of human lives and whose desire for material possession made no room for any modicum of compassion or guilt. They were a pack of wolves at their most sadistic and iniquitous rage.
These professionals from hell brought their tools of nefarious trade with which they neatly cut the burglary proof iron bars on the windows of my kitchen.
That done, they made their way into my sanctuary. With nobody in the guest room downstairs, they came upstairs without any qualm. Until two weeks before then, my intellectual sparring partner Yoruba philosophy and mother, the 92 year-old Yeye Oba, Alhaja Memunat Ahinke Adedoyin, our guest for almost two months, was the occupant of the guest room, passing the night there either alone or at times, with her granddaughter, Temilade. That this event occurred in her absence has left me grateful to the Good Lord. One can still not imagine the old woman witnessing her son been shot in the chest at point blank range at dawn. Accessing the rooms upstairs was made easy by the fact that we rarely bolt the entrance leading to the living room and bedrooms upstairs. While one snored away, awaiting the clock to rouse one from slumber by 4.30am for the sahour (early morning meal and salat during Ramadan], the evil gang had made their inroad into the children’s room upstairs. It must have been about a quarter to 4.00am. From the children’s room, they seized our housemaid and led her at gun point to the Master bedroom. What followed was a most horrendous and dastardly act straight from the heart of the most sadistic soul.
The five man team entered my room where my wife and our two little boys – Babawamide and Oloruntooni – and yours sincerely were deeply in slumber. It was the penetrating ray of light directed into my eyes from their torch light that roused me from sleep. Half awake and half asleep, I leapt out of bed and with a lame sleepy voice I muttered, “Who is this?” That was it. Within the split of a second, one of the gang members responded with a volley of gunshots straight into my chest.
The devastating impact of the hot lead in my right chest threw me up and landed me back on my bed. Sleep took a flight. And horror stepped in. Blood gushed out as you would have water gushing from a broken pipe. My body quivered and trembled in quick successions and involuntarily; the pace of my breathing raced faster. In all this, I heard a staccato of conversations by the marauding beasts and my wife’s cry of agony saying repeatedly: Lahilailalahu, you have shot my husband, lahilailalahu, you have killed my husband.
As seconds rolled into minutes and my bed was turning into a river of blood, I had to feign death. I breathed heavily and held my breath. The evil guests, now convinced I had given up the ghost covered my face with our duvet and turned their satanic attention to my wife. Only two words were clear: gold, money. They said this repeatedly as they ransacked the house like professional robbers that they were. They emptied every pocket, raided every drawer, looted all watches, collected all monies … ten minutes, 20 minutes … I was still bleeding, getting weaker, but through God’s mercy, still conscious and mentally alert.
About twenty five or so minutes into their operation, they hit the gold mine literally and metaphorically; in one of the drawers of the wardrobes, they found madam’s box of trinkets. Even without understanding the meaning of the words they were exchanging, it was obvious they were elated; happy that they have made a haul. They screamed at Madam and threatened to shoot her dead for not telling them early about the hidden treasure.
Madam pleaded with them to show mercy. They led her out of the master bedroom, and as I guessed correctly, to her bedroom. There they ransacked the wardrobes and took her niece’s laptop and other valuables. Meanwhile, my bleeding continued and I felt life draining out of me. But for reasons that defied human logic, I had become supremely confident that it was not going to be my last day; that I was going to survive the ordeal. I kept telling myself: “Ademola, it is not your last day, you have not fulfilled your destiny”. I remained conscious and mentally alert even though by now, I was sleeping on a bed soaked totally with my blood.
And I knew the bandits would soon vanish. Having made great fortunes, the next logical thing was to scram with their loot. I asked God to let them leave without wrecking further havoc. Suddenly, there was cold silence; it could be cut with a knife. I knew they were gone and was relieved that there were no other gun shots. But where are my wife and the children and other members of my household? Have they led them away or locked somewhere?
Since He is a merciful God, He never fails to provide succour even at the most difficult times. The saving grace He provided at that critical point was through my mobile phone. Although they had collected all phones in the house, my two mobile phones were underneath my pillows and having shot me as soon they came in and with my bed drenched in blood, the idea of checking the underneath of my pillows for any items became far remote. They left without my phones.
Convinced that they had gone and still conscious and alert, I reached for my phone and put a call across to my brother and friend, YusuphOlaniyonu, the then Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy and now Special Adviser on Media to the Senate President . Obviously still going through the sahour routine, Alhaji Olaniyonu picked my call at the first ring. I told him the gory tale and that I needed policemen in the Estate immediately to lead me to the Hospital if I was to be saved from dying. Yusuph did exactly that. Bless him O Allah.
My next move was to come out of my room to go in search of my family even though I was soaked in the pool of my blood. With Madam’s room left scattered and the door left ajar, I made for the children’s room where I found the door locked and the key left there for whoever may come to rescue the helpless souls. I opened the door. My wife screamed, she thought she had seen a ghost. She was so sure it was either I was dead or about to give up. She could not imagine that her husband could still have any energy left to walk out of the bed, not to talk of coming out of the room to rescue them. I calmed her down and assured her it was her husband in flesh and truly so, in blood.
Again, my timely act also manifested God’s mercy upon my household. In the room before I came to open the door, my wife, convinced that the marauders had escaped, had made to scale the window and jump down from the first floor bedroom to call on neighbours to rescue her husband before he gives up. Our then nine year old daughter, Temilade pleaded with mummy not to take such risk as she was going to hurt herself.
Mummy insisted she was going to do just that. The little girl gave up and urged mummy to be careful in jumping down. She was about to do that when I flung the door open. A two minute delay could have proved fatal as no one could predict what would have been the consequence of such risky endeavour.
It was in this state of confusion, uncertainty, fear and multiple injuries in my chest and neck that my entire household accompanied me to the Redemption Health Centre at the Redeemed Camp. My wife drove like she was racing to escape from hell. She demonstrated courage that was rare for a lady. I urged her to take it easy as I was alright and would be well. By then it was well past 4.00am. May Allah’s mercy continue to be upon her and her offspring.
The management and staff of Redemption Health Centre deserve special praises for their humanness, professionalism, civility and devotion to duty. If health institutions in Nigeria are run like it is done at that centre, many souls would be saved from avoidable deaths. At that centre, Daddy, G. O., as Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye is affectionately called by all, practises what he preaches. Bless him and his Godly works even more O Lord.
For my extended family under the leadership of our Olori Ebi, Imam Adebayo Ibrahim Ali, and Mummy, your love, prayers and assurances made all the difference.
At that low period of one’s existence when some could cavalierly choose to hit a man that was already on the ground the more, they stood by me insisting whatever happened to a man was divine and destined and for a purpose. Daddy insisted armed robbers could strike and do strike even in the most secured of places. Bless my loving family and continue to deepen our love and togetherness O Allah.
What about my friends, many of whom I am not sure if to describe as friends or brothers? What about colleagues who stood solidly by us throughout our ordeal like the rock of Gibraltar?
How does one thank a friend, a brother and now my boss, my Chairman – DrOlatundeAyenisufficiently. On reading my text informing him of the unfortunate incident, the business icon put a call across to me immediately and requested to know the state of my health and the situation with my family. In a demonstration of brotherly love and kindness that only the Good Lord can reward, DrAyeni directed that my family be relocated to another apartment immediately. May he and his generations continue to receive God’s mercy.
How can one remember this incident without mentioning Mr. Austin Avuru, the Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum and Chief Tunde Afolabi, the Executive Chairman of Amni Petroleum Development Company. Not just that their generous donations helped in offsetting my huge medical expenses; particularly at Reddington Hospital and abroad, their assurances that they were ready to commit whatever it would take to keep me alive was a soothing balm and a psychological therapy at that most trying and uncertain times.
Then my friends, my brothers, how do I start thanking you. Stand up for recognition, Olayinka Aroyehun and his wife, Arinola. This brother from our second mum from whose chest flows milk of human kindness demonstrated brotherly love. For this kind hearted soul, no amount was too much to bring a victim of such attack to perfect health; particularly when that victim is MolaIshola. God will continue to reward your kindness as He has always done, Abefe.
Then my twin brother and my soul mate, Zik Zulu Okafor and his wife, our own adorable Adora. How can you thank enough a brother who is ready to go to the end of this world in search of whatever would be needed to restore me to perfect health. His writing on his Facebook wall was most touching and tears – inducing. Zulu coordinated efforts to get friends to rally round to ensure my survival and he discharged himself creditably. He practically suspended every other thing to ensure I accessed the best medical treatment available. May the Good Lord continue to deepen your joy and never fails to continually give you victory over adversaries.
My Good friend and brother, the sports entrepreneur, Taye Ige was wonderful. Up to now, he has not relented on how to ensure I recover fully and became fully fit again. May you continue to score critical goals in all aspects of your worthy life.
Same prayer goes to my Ichie as I fondly call him, Chuddy Oduenyi, Nigerian’s Public Relations lead player and remarkable friend. Chuddy’s support and his many trips to Redemption Health Centre was the stuff good friendship is made of. God will preserve you in good health for many more decades in your service to our profession and to humanity.
May the Good Lord also bless my friends and brothers; E. J. Williams, Mr. & Mrs. Ismaila Bello Mr. & Mrs. Olayiwola Lawal Olarinoye, Prof Noah Yusuph; the humane Amolegbe brothers: Sikiru, Fattah and their spouses andOlatunde, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Lanre Alabi, Niyi Kolawole, Barrister Ogbonnaya Agbafo, Kenny Alata and others who through prayers, visits, gifts and show of love and affection made the life-threatening ordeal light.
My in-laws at Offa, Kaduna, Ilorin, Lagos and United Kingdom were simply wonderful. Your genuine concern, love, visits, prayers and affection was truly therapeutic. A nifiirueleyi san fun arawa. God bless you all. Our neighbours in Mowe were good neighbours by every definition. It is only God that can reward your kindness.
Most important and deserving of the most profound gratitude and appreciation is the Almighty God. God assured me July 14, 2014 was not my last day and He kept His promise. He assured me it was a new dawn for me: The arrival of my Victory at Dawn; a rebirth. I claim it. I cannot thank you enough, God of Miracles.
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From dusk to dawn
As I was about putting this piece together, I remembered that infamous speech by Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka. He imposed a dawn to dusk curfew in the entire country. But, this is about the federal elections of March 28. It is about the fate of Nigeria. It is not about two men or two political parties, but about the country – whether it would all lead to celebration or mourning; whether it is an approach to light or darkness.
I spent the last week reflecting on writings of Nigerians and could not but salute the late Chief Awolowo for his thoughts in the books written in the 60s – Thoughts on the Nigerian Constitution, The Peoples’ Republic and Strategies and Tactics of The Peoples’ Republic.
To the best of my knowledge, neither of the two leading candidates in next Saturday’s presidential election has set forth their thoughts in writing. Neither of the two political parties has shown deep thoughts on how to restructure the political and economic landscape. We are therefore left with analysing President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari as the two main contenders. On Jonathan, the question is: what has he done in the past five years to deserve another term? And, General Buhari is not a stranger to power, what did he make of his first opportunity? How has he carried himself in this campaign? What could we make of the company he keeps on the political scene and the men who are likely to work with him if elected?
An analysis of President Jonathan is particularly important because he had once been blessed with the people’s mandate. Then, as he is doing now, he merely went round the country, refusing to be committed to anything tangible and leaving us to guess what he would do if voted as president. And, as dictated by the circumstances, the electorate voted for him, swayed by sentiments.
He presented the face of a son of the soil to the Niger Deltans; a southerner and Christian to the south east and a more benevolent ruler to the largely liberal people of the south west. To the south generally, his handlers presented him as one being persecuted by a power hungry north that believes that power must be located in the region permanently or bequeathed to someone of their choice in the south. Now, we have seen him in full flight. It is time to mark the papers.
Then, General Buhari. The questions to ask are: what does he want in power again? How well did he perform as military Head of State? For 20 months, he was in the saddle. He kicked out a lackluster President Shehu Shagari, forbade the discussion of the country’s political future and imposed a full-blown military autocracy. I am not one to suggest that, because he was a military Head of State, his call card should not be examined. If we were to accept that, then there would be no basis to assess him, especially in the absence of a clear ideology or manifesto. We can only sell or buy Buhari on the basis on the impression he left us with in 1984/85.
As a young graduate then, I remember the discipline he imposed on the people; the essential commodity reign and the military tribunals. The PDP has been trying to use this against the General and his bid to rule a democratic Nigeria. However, I believe that the merits in the reign are to be preferred to the cluelessness of President Jonathan and his regime.
Honestly, I saw Buhari as a man who meant well; who was driven by passion for the country. There were certainly excesses. But he meant well. He worked for the country and would not tolerate anyone standing in the way of rewriting the history of the country. He saw the politicians as leeches who must be made to pay for feeding fat on the fortunes of the country. I am particularly struck by the image of an austere man who had been a state governor, petroleum affairs minister and military Head of State. Yet, no one has been able to tag him with corrupt practices. It does not matter much to me that he so hated corruption that he got his tribunals to sentence people to hundreds of years in jail. I am more persuaded that he did not steal our money.
If there are four issues that I believe the next president of Nigeria must tackle, they are corruption, security, restructuring the economy and the polity. True, I accept that pulling Nigeria out of the economic woods would require more than fighting corruption, but I equally accept that it will go a long way. Jonathan has failed woefully in containing insecurity.
It would be a calamity to return such a person to office. Under him, the fabric of the society has been further weakened. What makes him most unfit for the office is that he cannot provide leadership. The leader of a country like Nigeria, the leading African country by population and potential, has a duty to have a vision and be driven by a mission. He needs to mobilise the people along a path and must have something to sell. He is expected to have some qualities.
At this point, Nigeria deserves a man like Gandhi – austere, principled, a rallying point for lovers of the country. I find Buhari closer to this ideal than Jonathan. If we made a mistake in 2011, it could be forgiven by coming generations on ground of ignorance. But, after seeing the performance in the past five years, repeating that tragic error could be fatal to the country and evoke condemnation by our successors who would bear the brunt. Nigerians, vote wisely.
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A new dawn at UI
Students of the University of Ibadan (UI) have elected new leaders for the 2013/2014 academic session.
Four fought for the presidency, following the disqualification of other aspirants.
Odesola Oluwafemi, 400-Level, Agricultural Economics, became president after securing 2,534 vote to defeat his rival, Olawuni Mustapha, 300-Level, Zoology, who polled 2,458 votes.
Others elected were Akpa Chidinma, Vice-President; Adeoye Babatunde, General Secretary; Adelekan Aminat Ajoke, Treasurer; House Secretary.
Meanwhile, Nkata Ukoma Kinder, Assistant General Secretary, Adegoke Taiwo Vincent, Public Relations Officer and Ojutiku Oluwafemi Oladeji, Sports Secretary returned unopposed.
However, students have continued to condemn the role played by the Association of University Christian Students’ Fellowship (AUCSF), following a text message it allegedly sent to members, compelling them to vote a Christian aspirant.
A student, who did not want to be named, said the election was not free and fair, because of the religious sentiments that marred the polls. Some of the students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE urged religious institutions on the campus to shun involvement in politics.
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Lagos continues dominance of swimming event
Lagos State swimmers yesterday continued their domination of the swimming event at the ongoing Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Games.
The Games are for the discovery of talents from secondary schools in the South-Western part of the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state is topping the medals table in swimming with 15 gold, 15 silver and a bronze medal in the 16 events already concluded.
There are 32 events in swimming. In some of the events on Tuesday, Morayo Ademulegun, representing Lagos won gold in 200m boys backstroke with 2:57:56, while Seun Adeola also representing Lagos won the silver with 3:09:17. Pius Akuh from Oyo State took bronze with 4:23:63.
In 200m girls backstroke, Lagos’ Morayo Okungbowa won the gold with 3:25:21; Franca Benson also of Lagos came second with 3:38:22, while Ibukunoluwa Akano from Oyo State came third.
Ibukun Daniel also of Lagos won the 50m freestyle event with Urounah Victor also from Lagos coming second and Akintunde Yakubu from Oyo following in the third position.
Daniel, who was the revelation of the competition with two gold medals in 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and one silver medal in 100m butterfly boys category, said he was happy with his performance.
“I am very happy with the Games though I would have loved to win in all the events I participated in. I am still determined to win more on the final day of the tournament on Wednesday,’’ he said.
Lagos swimmers also dominated in the girls category. They won gold and silver in the 50m freestyle and 200m breaststroke events and Oyo State claimed the bronze in both events. However, the tide changed when an Oyo State swimmer won the first gold medal in 200m breaststroke beating Lagos to second place.
Ifeoluwa Akano from Oyo State beat Lagos swimmer Ayomide Bello with 3:30:32 to clinch gold, while Bello had 3:37:28. Akano told NAN that she won because she conserved her energy for the last lap of the race.
“I planned the win, I also planned the way I used my energy, so, I conserved it for the last round and I am very happy I won the first gold for Oyo State,’’ she said.
The final day of the tournament will take place on today. NAN reports that Ogun State is yet to win a medal in swimming, while Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states are not participating in the swimming event.
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Ekiti boasts of 3 gold medals in female gymnastics
Coach Olushola Ibitoye of Ekiti Gymnastics Association, said on Monday in Lagos that his female team would win three gold medals at the ongoing Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Games.
The gymnastics event began on Sunday and will end today at the Mobolaji Johnson Sport Centre, Yaba.
The event will consist of the pommel horse, floor exercise, vault and parallel bars for the male category, while the female category will include the floor exercise, beam and vault events.
Ibitoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was also confident in the ability of the male team, especially when it came to the floor exercise event. He, however, expressed assurance in the female team, laying emphasis on one Folusho Debose whom, he said, would thrill the crowd when she performed.
“My gymnasts are all very strong athletes but I remain confident in Debose. She is young and talented and can do some wonderful things in gymnastics,” he said.
The coach said that Debose would shine in the floor exercise and beam events and would also come out as the best all round female gymnasts, if officiating remained fair.
Olamide Akinlolu, a 16-year-old male student of Ansarudeen Comprehensive High School, Ado-Ekiti, said that the only state that would give them a tough time was Team Lagos.
Akinlolu said that the Lagos State team was very talented and that they had very good stamina in terms of performing excellent flips and landing perfectly balanced on the floor.
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Africa at dawn
The tentative rays of prosperity breaking over Africa are reflected in statisticians’ increasingly urgent efforts to cast light on the continent’s economy.
Reliable data are sorely needed. The International Monetary Fund has warned that “the quality of basic economic statistics in sub-Saharan Africa …is often so poor that it can lead to serious misdiagnosis”. In the past, similar problems have afflicted regions such as Latin America, the former Soviet Union and southeast Asia.
African countries are improving the quality of the information they gather, beginning with their national accounts. The results are staggering. Ghana recently recalculated the size of its economy for the first time in more than a decade, taking into account new growth industries such as mobile telephony. Its gross domestic product turned out to be 62 per cent larger than previously thought. Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, two tiny west African nations, more than doubled their GDP estimates in a similar exercise.
While acknowledging that the large revisions have “understandably alarmed many observers”, the African Development Bank is encouraging others to follow suit. In the past, official statistics have often missed the large informal sector of African economies, which includes subsistence agriculture. This has resulted in an overly gloomy assessment of Africa’s economic fortunes.
Compiling genuinely illuminating data takes time and money, and some will question whether it is worth the candle. In a poor country such as Ghana, it seems perverse to shower government statistics agencies with resources that could otherwise be used to improve primitive schools and hospitals. Yet if reliable economic data create confidence they could deliver a surprisingly large return, lowering capital costs and attracting foreign investment. Balance of payments statistics, for example, are crucial for countries that wish to tap global capital markets.
International agencies should prioritise help for the region. But Africa also needs to help itself. Too often, the continent’s leaders have punished western scholars for questioning government numbers. Critical voices have even been excluded from regional economic forums by means of informal bans.
Taking criticism on board would be one worthwhile step. Granting independence to national statistics agencies would be another. Official statistics can only be credible if governments are willing to voice inconvenient truths.
– Financial Times