The Nation Newspaper

Tag: years

  • After 36 years in Kirikiri, man seeks pardon

    After 36 years in Kirikiri, man seeks pardon

    He was 19 when he got to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos on November 17, 1978. Thirty-six years after, Steven Ojoko is still an inmate there.

    In 2001, former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu commented his sentence to life jail following which he was removed from death row.

    Ojoko, who hails from Bayelsa State, has grown grey hair in prison. He looks frail and wears a permanent scowl on his face. Pa Oldest as he is called by other inmates wants out and he is appealing to the Federal and Lagos State Governments to release him.

    “I have learnt my lesson”, he told our reporter who met him. Ojoko was sentenced to death in 1984 for armed robbery.

    He was a trainee photographer, with a primary school leaving certificate.

    “I don’t wish to die here. I have spent the most productive part of my life here. I appeal to the Government of Lagos State and the Federal Government to set me free and grant me pardon. I have learnt my lesson. This life has not been good to me,” Ojoko, who clocked 55 years old on June 17 said.

    Ojoko, who once lived with his parents in Lagos, said he was arrested on August 25 by the police, for armed robbery and was taken before an High Court in Ikeja, which remanded him in prison on November 17, 1978 pending his trial.

    On April 27, 1984, Justice I. O. Agoro (rtd) sentenced him to death.

    Seeking pardon on grounds that he has “changed”, Ojoko said.

    “Since I could not practice photography here (prison) because there are no facilities, I decided to learn other trades. I have since learnt how to make soap, cream and related products. I also know how to process snacks like fish roll, meat pie and all other products made from flour. When there are events here, I am asked to make the snacks that are served to guests.

    “I thank the former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who in 2001 converted my death sentence to life imprisonment. I am now appealing to the government of Lagos State and the Federal Government to give me total freedom. I promise to play my part in the society as a good citizen. I have learnt my lesson.

    “I hope to rely on the vocation I have learnt here in sustaining myself and helping the society when I am set free. So, I am pleading with the government to help me out of here. I have spent the most productive part of my life here.

    “I am 55 years now. I was born on June 17, 1959. I lost my parents during this crisis. Although my late father has a house in Lagos, I hope to return to Bayelsa State once I am pardoned and set free. My relatives live there,” Ojoko said.

    The Officer in Charge (OIC), Kirikiri Maximum Prison, M. O. O. Olaniran, an Assistant Controller of Prisons, confirmed Ojoko’s claim of being the oldest inmate in the prison, saying he has been there for about 36 years.

  • 54 years in wilderness

    Yesterday, Nigeria was 54. As usual, the Federal Government rolled out the drums to celebrate yet another National Day anniversary. The sceptics among us may ask: what are we celebrating? Is it to show that another year has gone by since we turned 53 last year? It is good to celebrate, but it is better to have good reason to celebrate. To celebrate for the sake of celebration is a waste of resources. And as we all know these resources are scarce to come by these days.

    It is in our character to celebrate; we are good at that. We celebrate just anything when  we have easy access to the resources to do so. Those in government are  most guilty of this since  they have access to our common wealth which they can use the way they like. They know how to spend the people’s money on their behalf without the people benefiting from such jamborees.

    The life of a nation and  a man is comparable. Though age may tell on a man and not tell on a nation, but where a nation has nothing to show in terms of growth and development, its age becomes mere number.

    Since our independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria, many believe, has been moving round in circles. Its leaders have not done anything to help the country achieve its potential. They are more interested in themselves than in what they can do for the country. Nigeria has the capacity to be great, but sadly, the kind  of leaders it has been saddled with all these years, does not have what it takes to take it to the promised land. Unlike the children of Israel, who spent 430 years in bondage in Egypt, God was so kind to us that we did not spend that long under British colonialism.

    What then is delaying our progress after surmounting the odds of colonialism? Where did we miss our way? What is the problem? As Shakespeare said, the fault is not in our stars but in ourselves that we are underlings.  The problem of Nigeria is simply that of leadership. We have been unlucky in the type of leaders we get. They are those who do not care about the nation but themselves and their families. To them, as long as it is well with them and their families, the country can go to blazes. They come to office, promising heaven and earth, but they end up doing nothing.

    They lack vision and are clueless. The Bible put it succinctly, where there is no vision, the people perish. Nigerians are suffering for the lack of vision of their leaders. The vision they have is to loot, loot and loot. Where do we go from here? Must things continue like this? Why is a nation so blest suffering lack? Why are the people of a nation  suffused with oil living  in poverty? God wanted us to attain greatness without breaking much sweat and so allowed us to be liberated from Britain without a fight with our colonial masters. Even, the 30-month civil war could not stop our march to greatness.

    But, we missed our way by not following God’s plan for our nation’s life. Many are asking today whether it would not have been better to remain under British colonial rule than the self government we have been practising in the past 54 years.  With what we are witnessing now, we cannot even say that the future is bright. How can the future be bright with those at the helm of affairs today? Yes, the Jonathan apologists will say that he did not get us into this mess. Ask them, what has their man done to get us out of it? You will shudder at the tissue of lies that will  come out of their mouths in their bid to defend the indefensible.

    They will tell you that their benefactor has confronted terrorism frontally, yet Boko Haram continues to run rings round the Northeast states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Their  man has ”fought terrorism to a halt”, yet the Chibok girls are still in captivity, 171 days after their abduction from their school in the wee hours of April 14. Indeed, have Nigerians not   been enjoying stable power supply since the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)? Have companies which relocated to Ghana, Benin, Cote d’ivoire and Togo not returned? Are the textile mills not running efficiently again? Have generator distributors not packed up and moved to other countries since Nigeria is no longer good for their business?

    In the past 54 years, we have been in wilderness because of lacklustre leadership. We are in the wilderness of corruption, mismanagement, failed public utilities and a comatose real sector. But things were never  as bad as they have been in the past four years. There is no hope of a better tomorrow because of  the insistence of some people that the same leadership must remain in place in 2015. The older generation of the Israelites did not get to the promised land because they doubted the power of God to deliver them. The promise of God to them was to move forward, but on the way, they questioned His power to deliver them, wondering whether His servant, Moses, actually heard from Him or had his own plan to kill them while in transit to the promised land.

    They taxed the Lord’s patience as our leaders have been doing in the past 54 years. God gave us freedom on a platter of gold so that we can come to ours within a few years. But see what our leaders have made of this freedom, which some countries went to war to attain. If after 54 years of independence we are still crawling, at what age will we then walk? At  70, which is just 16 years away? Those that started this journey with us have gone far. They have since left us behind in the race of life.

    Even Ghana, our next door neighbour is not the same Ghana we used to know in the 1980s when things were difficult for that country. Ghana whose citizens did menial jobs here in the 80s has since overcome its challenge and now has a thriving economy. This is why many companies are leaving Nigeria today for Ghana. Mind you, I love Nigeria because it is my country, but I would not be blinded by that love not to point out its ills. Our leaders have, over the years,  been our problem. Unfortunately, Jonathan is not making things better. All the same, happy anniversary, Nigeria.

  • Jigawa, 23 years after

    Jigawa, 23 years after

    On August 27, this year, Governor Sule Lamido and the people of Jigawa State rolled out the drums to celebrate its creation 23 years ago by the administration of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida in 1991. This has been the tradition of the Lamido administration since he assumed office over seven years ago.

    The anniversary began on Friday, August 22 and end on August 27; the date the state was created. Several activities were lined up which culminated in a grand rally at the Aminu Kano Triangle where five people were honoured with awards to recognise their outstanding contributions towards the development of the state.

    But before the grand finale, other activities took place beginning from the first day of the celebration.

    For instance, the anniversary began with special prayers in all the Mosques across the state. The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was the Guest of Honour.

    On the fourth day, a lecture was organised where lectures on topics, such as the economy, infrastructure, politics and leadership were given by professors from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Federal University Dutse (FUD) and University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).

    As part of the anniversary, an over 300-page book written by a principal of one of the private secondary schools in Dutse about the state and Governor Lamido’s leadership style was launched. Former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, was chairman of the launch during ehere over N25 million was realised.

    The last day witnessed special awards to some citizens of the state for their honesty. They found and returned to their respective owners large sums of money ranging from N300, 000 to N7 million.

    A junior staff member at a three star hotel, Yusif Umar who found 100,000 US dollars (N17 million) outside the hotel premises retuned the money lost by one of the guests at the hotel.

    Speakers praised Governor Lamido’s efforts towards transforming Jigawa into a modern state, efforts, they said did not begin when he assumed duty as governor; as he has been in the vanguard of developing the area even before the state was created and has remained firm in the quest for the transformation of the state.

    With an uncommon steadfastness, courage and wisdom, Lamido turned around the fortunes of Jigawa State, together with those of the people. Developmental projects are evenly distributed across the 27 local government areas. Even his critics salute him for the equitable distribution of projects for the development of all the nook and cranny of the state.

    Those who observe the politics of the state are of the view that since his assumption of office, Governor Lamido has been committed to the development of the state.

    From what one may consider a pariah state, Lamido has cautiously brought Jigawa and its rural people to limelight. Lamido believes that physical infrastructure help in enhancing the well-being of the people.

    This explains his administration’s concentration on road construction and rehabilitation across the state, provision of adequate education and health infrastructure, encouraging the rural farmers with incentives and award of scholarships to students.

    As if those are not enough, workers are also highly motivated. Sources say that Lamido wants to justify the consensus of opinion that his long years of experience in politics and personal qualities are helping him significantly to rebuild the state

    In his compassionate spirit and enthusiasm to bring new leas of life to all sort of people in the state, shortly after mounting the saddle of leadership, Governor Lamido introduced social security programme. Under the programme, the state government pays a monthly stipend of N7, 000 to no fewer than 4, 200 physically-challenged persons in the state.

    As at the end of last year, the state government had spent at least N4 billion in taking care of the less-privileged; a gesture that has enhanced their status. Again, economic empowerment has been consciously incorporated into the rehabilitation of beggars.

    Lamido’s administration also declared free education from primary to university levels for any child with disability, established board for the welfare of physically-challenged, appointed one physically-challenged person as Supervisory Councilor in all the 27 local government areas.

    Considering education as bedrock for any social and economic development, Jigawa State government has consistently allocated more than 25 per cent of its annual budget to the education sector in the past seven years. It has enabled the state to offer free girl-child education from primary to university levels, renovating over 1, 040 primary and junior secondary schools comprising 4, 128 classrooms that were in serious stages of dilapidation. Also, additional 7,546 classrooms were constructed.

    Lamido’s administration had renovated all senior secondary schools and constructed additional 180 hostels for student. More classrooms, libraries and laboratories were equipped with modern facilities.

    The government also established the Jigawa State University, College of Nursing and Midwifery, School for the Gifted in Bamaina, renovated and constructed structures at all the state’s tertiary institutions, including Gumel College of Education which was upgraded to a degree-awarding institution.

    More than 1,487 teachers were also employed, while the existing ones were encouraged to further their studies in line with the new education policy of the state.

    In mass literacy, over 180,000 adults were trained in basic education. This intervention engendered rapid increase in school enrolment and the establishment of a federal university.

    Lamido’s administration has constructed over 1,636 kilometres of roads and built an international airport in Dutse with a view to making the state investors’ haven and facilitating the transportation of goods and services from the rural to the urban areas for rapid socio-economic development.

    In agriculture, which is main source of livelihood for over 90 per cent of the state’s population, the government has spent over N2.6 billion in subsidising some farm implements to farmers in the past seven years.

    This includes N400 million loan facilities to farmers under a revolving fund system.

    More than 3,800 farmers benefited from the scheme, 175 tractors were distributed to farmers and agricultural associations as loan.

    Over N3 billion was also spent to procure fertiliser for farmers at subsidised rate. N200million was expended to subsidise tractors to peasant farmers, construction of thousands boreholes for irrigation. Distribution and supply of improved seeds, insecticide, herbicide and other farm imputes at highly subsidised price was also part of government’s efforts improve agriculture.

    The state also embarked on free artificial insemination of high breed cattle to improve meat and milk production, even as it constructed 200 wind mills, planted 200 hectares of high quality pasture grass at 50 grazing reserves. These aim at curbing the migration of herdsmen from the state and to proffer lasting solution to the perennial herdsmen/ farmers conflicts.

    The health sector also benefited from Lamido’s administration as the state established Gunduma primary healthcare system under which over 135 hospitals were built. The number of professional health worker increased from 2,000 in 2007 to 7,000 last year, Rashid Shakoni Hospital Dutse was also establishment as all state general hospitals and clinics were renovated and equipped where free maternal and child treatment were rendered to the people. Accident victims, pregnant women and children below the age of five also enjoy free medical treatment.

    A lot was also achieved in youth and women empowerment where over 10,000 people were trained on various trades to make them self-reliant.

    To curb the menace of environmental degradation, especially desert encroachment, over 15 million different varieties of plant seedlings were planted.

    Lamido’s administration has also sunk hand pumps and motorised boreholes to provide potable water for the people, even as the proposed Dutse Water Scheme is being pursued. As a result, 75 per cent of the population has access to clean drinking water.

    Through the Ministry of Rural Infrastructure and Community Development, the state government has mobilised the people to participate in various selfless community services, while hundred of villages have been connected to National Grid. Feeder roads are also being provided.

    In housing,  Lamido’s administration has constructed over 1,000 housing units in the state capital, the Malam Aminu Kano Triangle Square, State High Court Complex, Second Phase Of State Secretariat Complex, Chief Judge, Grand Khadi, Deputy Governor, Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s residents, Dutse modern market, the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp and many projects that have enhanced Dutse’s status from that of a glorified village to a befitting capital city.

    To facilitate free flow of information, the state installed modern transmitters in the state radio station, even as it sent members of staff for training within and outside the country.

    In his speech at the ceremony, Governor Lamido blamed lack of unity and development in the state on the people. He said: “It is not justifiable to blame one or few individuals for the blunders committed during Ibrahim Saminu Turaki’s administration.

    “Saminu Turaki, as a young man, assumed office as governor with exuberance and zeal to work, but you the people lured him with all sorts of blackmail when nepotism was the order of governance and he served you in accordance with your expectations from him.”

    Governor Lamido further stated that “the journey of building the state was fraught with difficulties but with our collective resolve and perseverance, we were able to overcome most of the difficulties”.

  • 40 years after

    40 years after

    The 1970-1974 set of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) held its Re-union and Worship Service in Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI and TIMOTHY OWOMOLADE report.

    They left Baptist Academy, Lagos, popularly known as Baptacad 40 years ago. Since 1974, many of them had not seen one another until penultimate Sunday’s event which brought them together. They came to celebrate the 40th year of leaving school. They shook hands, hugged and backslapped one another as they remembered  their days in school.

    Many donned white native clothes and uniformed navy blue caps with red and white stripes. Their wives wore choice traditional attires; some of the women used the same aso oke as ipele and gele.

    The reunion party and worship service of the 1970- 1974 set of the Baptist Academy Old Students Association (BAOSA) were full of fun.

    The service held at the Shepherd Hill Baptist Church in Obanikoro, Lagos; the reunion party held at Zen Gardens Chinese Restaurant, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. The party featured the launch of a book titled: “Four decades after, a reflection on our years at Baptist Academy”. It also featured the launch of the school’s library project fund, among other activities.

    At the service, Rev Israel Kristilere urged the old boys to cultivate the habit of praying regularly, saying that is the only way to have your problems resolved.

    He read 2 Kings 1: 9-18, noting that God is needed to win the battles of life.

    During the thanksgiving, they danced from the church entrance to the altar and Rev Kristilere prayed for them.

    After the thanksgiving, the old boys went outside for photographs and moved to Zen Gardens Chinese Restaurant where the reunion party started with prayers by wife of one of the old boys, Mrs Bola Janikre, a lawyer. The Principal Consultant of Admos Consult, Mr Wale Adebiyi, anchored the event. The gathering observed a minute silence for their departed members.

    Chairman of BAOSA 70-74 set and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Publications Limited, Mr Lanre Idowu, in his welcome address said the gathering was to thank God for keeping them 40 years after leaving school and also to give back to the school.

    “We are here to reunite with ourselves, to keep in touch with one another and to help the school,” he said.

    Chairman of the event and General Manager, Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr Shayo Holloway, said the school was top class in the 70s, adding that everything must be done to restore its glory.

    Some of the old boys recounted their days in school. Pastor Segun Osunsan of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 22, recalled the years they used to jump into public buses to return home from school. He also spoke of the distances they walked to get home, not because their parents did not give them transport fare but because of the fun of walking with friends, buying pop corn and groundnuts which they ate on the way. He also recalled the big playing and agricultural fields in the school, lamenting that all is gone.

    The association’s Secretary and a Chartered Accountant in Facilitation and Thrilling Services Limited, Mr Olumide Ajomade, described their experience in school as good, adding that the school laid the foundation for what he is today.

    He lamented the state of the school, saying things are not as they left them. “This is why we are refurbishing the school library with about N1million and we will continue to do more for the school just as every graduating set tries to add their own quota for the development of the school,” he said.

    Chief Medical Director/Chief Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Arewa Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Dr Frank Fashina proposed the toasts.

    Mr Toyin Akinoso reviewed the book, which was edited by Idowu.

    BAOSA president and a wine merchant Chief Olatunde Onakoya, said their coming together was not only to wine and dine but to generate ideas, learn from one another and reason together on how the set can help the school.

    He said: “This is why we are equipping the library knowing that education requires concrete stakeholders including teachers and alumni as the government cannot do it alone.

    “Over the years, we have tried to meet regularly but we hope that with today’s gathering there would be a change.”

    He urged BAOSA members to come together, saying he hoped those at the gathering would make up their minds to do well for the school.  “I need someone to hand over to; someone that I am sure will take the association to greater heights,” he said.

    He also spoke on other things the association had done for the school, such as its involvement in the valedictory service and buying sport materials for the school and students during the inter-house sports. “We also engage in making food for the students on the school’s anniversary day and bringing alumni to talk to them to motivate them,” he said.

    He launched the book and other guests followed with thousands of naira.

    The cutting of the anniversary cake was directed by a chartered accountant and Chairman of SIAO, Mr Robert  Ade-Odiachi.

    Assorted foods, snacks, fruits and drinks were served.

    The event ended with a closing prayer by Mr Tony Egoegonwa, the Public Affairs Manager, Salpen Contracting Nigeria Limited.

  • Lawyers appraise 100 years of nationhood

    Lawyers appraise 100 years of nationhood

    On Friday, August 29, the curtain was drawn on the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held at the International Convention Centre (IICC), Owerri, the Imo State capital. Its theme was “Nigeria: 100 Years After.” It was a weeklong event that tasked the ability of the Imo State Government to host a conference of that magnitude.

    Weeks preceding the conference, the state government worked hard to ensure that the conference would be hitch-free. Finishing touches were given to the world-class convention centre built by Rochas Okorocha’s administration. Unarguably, the IICC is one of the best convention centres in the country.

    Although the conference was adjudged one of the best by the conferees, it witnessed some challenges.

    First was the fear of managing over 10,000 lawyers and other visitors coming from all parts of the country and beyond, without risking an outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The opposition parties in the state, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had played up the Ebola sentiment to persuade the NBA to cancel the right of the state to hold the conference. But apparently prodded by the overwhelming assurance by the government, the lawyers defied the Ebola scare and converged on Owerri for the event that turned out as an historic one for the Heartland State.

    To allay the fears of the visitors and residents, the state government adopted adequate measures to ensure that all visitors were screened at all entry points, especially at the airport and the venue of the conference. This was to ensure that no visitor affected by the Ebola Virus gained access to the conference centre.

    To further ensure the safety of the visitors, sanitisers were provided at all the entry and exit points within the centre and the expansive premises.

    Security arrangement was also at its best during the programme as there was no reported case of crime at the venue or in any of the hotels where the visiting lawyers lodged.

    Two days before the beginning of the conference, economic and social activities in Owerri had been on the upbeat. All the available hotels had been fully booked with the state government re-opening the famous Concorde Hotel, shut down for the past four months to enable maintenance work to  be carried out.

    The prices of food items and cost of transportation also rose by over 50 per cent because of the influx of people into the state.

    On the first day of the conference, all roads leading to the convention centre, venue of the conference, were cordoned off by stern-looking security operatives. This resulted in heavy gridlock in the entire capital city which forced most people to walk long distances to their places of work.

    Commuters who had no inkling about the conference were trapped for hours in the gridlock, while street hawkers made brisk businesses as they sold their wares with maximum profits. It was indeed a boost to the state’s economy.

    During the five days that the conference lasted, Nigerians jettisoned the fear of the Ebola threat and brainstormed on the challenges confronting the country and the right way to go to obviate possibly impending catastrophe.

    Distinguished speakers such as former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, among other eminent Nigerians, identified corruption, insecurity, poverty, unemployment, among others, as part of the country’s problems.

    In his opening speech, the host, Governor Okorocha enjoined the NBA to support the struggle for a free and virile country. He urged the legal practitioners to proffer solutions and ideas that will ensure good governance.

    Governor Okorocha maintained that bad governance has, over the years, impeded the country’s growth and development, even as he insisted that “bad governance is worse than the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease.”

    He argued that while the Ebola Virus has the capacity to kill 100 people at a time,  bad governance has the capacity to kill generations yet unborn.

    Governor Okorocha, who described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, urged members of the Bar to put the issue of electoral malpractice at the centre stage of their discussion in order to ensure free and fair election in 2015 general elections.

    He regretted that 100 years after, Nigeria is still battling with crisis and could not create employment opportunities for her teeming youths or boast of regular power supply. He challenged members of the NBA to address the critical issues bothering the country.

    He emphasised the need for the electorate to vote a credible candidate who has the vision, passion, intelligence and political will to deliver the benefits of democracy to the people in order to ensure good governance.

    Governor Okorocha, who regretted that democracy in Nigeria has failed, noted that Nigeria has come to a critical moment where power can no longer be taken for granted but must be given to those that have the capacity to deliver.

    In his speech, Tambuwal praised the Imo State Government for hosting the 2014 Bar Conference, stressing the need for Nigeria to shun self-deceit and institute good governance hinged on credible elections.

    The Speaker, who described the NBA as the vanguard of democracy, urged the members to use their position to rescue the country and preserve the Rule of Law and human rights.

    The outgoing President of the NBA, Wali Okey (SAN), said the conference offers the NBA the opportunity to discuss issues relating to legal profession and to proffer solutions.

    He praised the lawyers for their support for his administration, which he said, had restored dignity and discipline in the legal profession, adding that “during my tenure, 12 lawyers were sacked for several acts of misconduct and high level of discipline now prevail in the profession. We have tackled completely the issue of quackery and instilled high level of discipline in legal practice.”

    Further highlighting the achievements recorded by his administration, he noted that the completion and inauguration of the new seven-storey NBA House built by a prominent lawyer and businessman, Dr. Wale Babalakin through one of his companies in Lagos State, was one of the major achievements of the outgoing administration.

    The chairman on the occasion, Gen. Gowon praised the NBA for being faithful to its mission in administering justice, pointing out that it has a role to play in ensuring good governance.

    The conference ended with a call on the Federal Government to rescue the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok in Borno State on April 14 in order to restore the country’s dignity and save Nigerians further embarrassment from the international community.

    The new NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) and other senior lawyers such as Tajudeen Oladoja, a senior member of the Bar from Kaduna State, adjudged the Owerri conference as a huge success.

    “We have been having the NBA annual conferences in other parts of the country. But I must tell you with all sense of modesty that the Owerri Conference was a success,” he said.

    The 49-point communiqué, presented by Alegeh, highlighted the challenges of the last 100 years of Nigeria’s existence as a country, stating that it would need deliberate and articulate measures to surmount them.

    The communiqué also maintained that “with the benefit of the lessons of the last 100 years, all Nigerians have roles to play in nation-building, by ensuring that the existential values are re-established.

    “That all Nigerians must collaborate with the government and security agencies in order to address the seemingly intractable issue of security problems confronting the country, particularly the expanding escapades of the now dreaded terrorists called Boko Haram.”

    It further stressed the need for the Federal Government to “re-engineer and re-invigorate all anti-corruption agencies, as well as grant them more autonomy, with a view to ensuring their impartiality, to exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice and without interference from any person or organ of state.

    The communiqué equally observed that “a major portion of our socio-political and economic problems are caused largely by lack of exemplary and visionary leadership.”

    Apart from speeches and paper presentations, traders made great gains selling their products to the conferees that swamped on the goods like curious tourists. Photographers also had a field day taking photographs of the conferees with their friends and family members, especially those attending the NBA Conference for the first time.

    Okechukwu Uzoigwe, a fabric dealer said: “To be honest, I wish the conference continued. It has been long I made this kind of quick turnover. I was going to Onitsha Main Market to buy wares everyday because of the patronage.”

    Mrs. Charity Uzoaru, a food vendor said: “I am very happy for the event, even though we had to walk long distance to the venue because of the closure of the roads, I made enough sales these few days and I want the state government to host more of this type of conference to help the people.”

    Perhaps, hoteliers are the most fortunate. In most of the hotels visited by our correspondent, the entire rooms had been booked with the management craftily changing the usual rates overnight to make extra gains off the unsuspecting visitors.

    A manager of one of the famous hotels, Mr. Stanley Nwokocha, praised the state government for hosting the NBA Conference, adding that, “the most viable industry in Imo State today is the hospitality industry. Owerri, the state capital for instance, has over 50 world-class hotels and this kind of conference will help the industry.”

    As the dust settles, the people will not forget in a hurry, the gains, pains and glamour of the NBA Conference just as the visiting lawyers will relish the unique hospitality of the Eastern Heartland for a very long time.

  • How I evaded arrest for years -Nigeria’s ‘most wanted’ alleged robbery gang sponsor

    How I evaded arrest for years -Nigeria’s ‘most wanted’ alleged robbery gang sponsor

    His arrest came after years of manhunt by the police. It also constituted a piece of surprise for many because of the myth that surrounded his name. Obinna Okorie Emeka, an alleged sponsor of robbery gangs declared by the police as most wanted, was said to have the mastermind of numerous trucks and containers hijacked by dare devil bandits in different parts of the country.

    Many members of the gangs he allegedly sponsored were said to have been killed or arrested by law enforcement agents while others had been tried and jailed, but Obinna remained elusive until he was recently arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command.

    Even the men that worked for him were said to have believed that he was too smart to be arrested by the police, particularly because he had the power to appear and disappear at will. Many police stations and commands, especially Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FedSARS) who had some years back arrested container and truck hijackers who claimed that Obinna was their chairman, were said to have tried in vain to track him down. Hence his designation as the most wanted sponsor of armed robberies. He was also regarded by the police as the biggest receiver of stolen goods in Nigeria.

    Asked how Obinna appeared on the wanted list of SARS, a police source said that SARS operatives had arrested and investigated more than eight armed robbery cases in which the suspects confessed that Obinna was their chairman and sponsors, and that he was the receiver of all the containers and trucks they had hijacked or diverted.

    The matter got to the knowledge of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who immediately directed the officer in charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, to launch a manhunt for Obinna. Kyari swooped into action with his men and got Obinna arrested after he had given them some tough time.

    Upon Obinna’s arrest, it was discovered that his full name is Obinna Okorie Emeka, a 33-year-old indigene of Omo village in Olumba Local Government Area, Anambra State. But he was said to be resident at Ngozika Estate in Awka, Anambra State capital, where he was dealing in fairly used clothes. He was said to have been travelling to Cameroon to import the clothes before he ventured into crime.

    During his days as a pupil, he was said to have been very brilliant as he always came second or third in a class of 60 pupils. He, however, could not proceed to secondary because of his father’s early death and the poverty that ravaged his family. He was said to have avoided marriage for fear that policemen might storm the wedding venue to arrest him or use his wife to track him down. He did not have a girlfriend either for the same reasons.

  • 30 years after, ex-classmates meet again

    The first set of graduates of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has held a re-union, which brought them together years after graduation. The attendees were the class of 1978-1984.

    The event, tagged: 30th Year Reunion and Public Lecture, was graced by the first Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Prof Oladipupo Akinkugbe, and his successor, Emeritus Prof Adeoye Adeniyi. Both were guest speakers at the event.

    In his lecture titled: Still too many loose ends to tie, Akinkugbe praised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, and his team for sustaining quality, adding that UNILORIN topped the ranking of Nigerian universities.

    He said: “I continue to be very proud of your heritage and pray that you will all continue to fulfill our nation’s highest expectations of playing a major role in creating and sustaining best international practices in the three vital areas of teaching, research and service.”

    Prof. Akinkugbe described the 1978-1984 class as outstanding ambassadors of the medical school. He advised the alumni to make their alma mater a good place to learn.

    Prof Adeoye described Akinkugbe as the “foundation scholar” of the medical college. Hailing the alumni for the event, Prof Adeoye said: “Seeing you here today, through the grace of God, we have not failed. I salute you, I thank you, and I am very proud of you.”

    Prof Ambali, represented by his deputy on Management Sciences, Prof Yisa Fakunle, said Akinkugbe is a “father of Medicine” in Nigeria, saying his predecessors were academics that pictured what others could not see many years ago. He said the foundation which the duo laid in the university four decades ago was yielding fruits.

    The class representative of the 1978-1984 class, Dr Ebun Bamgboye, a Consultant of Nephrologists and Clinical Director, described their teachers as “pillars that made us into what we are today.” The set donated medical equipment to the UNILORIN Teaching Hospital.

    Also at the event was the Deputy VC on Academics, Prof N.Y. Ijaiya, Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Obafemi and Liberian, Dr J.O. Omoniyi, among others.

  • Okon: NFF owes me two years salaries

    Okon: NFF owes me two years salaries

    All may not be well with the Super Falcons of Nigeria ahead of the 2014 Africa Women Championship as head coach Edwin Okon has claimed to be owed as much as two-year salary.

    He said: “Since August 2012 when I led the Falconets to the World Cup where we came fourth, up till today, I’m yet to get a dime as salary from the NFF.

    “Every time I go to the office to complain, they will say there is no money. At a time I learned that the Federal Government gave the federation some money to pay Keshi and other national team coaches, but up till today my story is still the same,” he told reporters in Abuja.

    The Rivers Angels coach who in 2011 signed a four-year contract with the NFF to coach the Falconets was last year promoted to the senior women national team, the Super Falcons  – albeit on an interim capacity after the resignation of erstwhile coach Kadiri Ikhana who failed do well with the team.

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons are drawn alongside hosts Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire and Zambia in the Group A of African Women’s Championship, which kicks off on October 11.

    The top three teams from the championship will qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’sWorld Cup in Canada.

    The Nigerian ladies will also be looking to redeem themselves at the tournament after they finished fourth in the last edition of the biennial tournament, their worst-ever finish in the history of the African Women Championship.

  • 10 years after, retired policemen yet to get pension

    10 years after, retired policemen yet to get pension

    Some policemen who retired about 10 years ago are yet to be paid their pension. They are worried that their years of service to The Nation may go down unrewarded with their pension yet unpaid, reports Omobola Tolu-Kusimo.

    When the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan recently raised the issue of the N24 billion Police Pension Fund alleged to be missing two years ago, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala was quick to refute the claim, saying the money was intact.

    But facts are beginning to emerge that something has gone wrong with the pensioners’ money, as some pensioners have not been paid their pension benefits, or gratuities 10 years after retirement. Frustrated, some of the affected retired policemen have begun to cry out over the non-payment of their pensions and gratuities since their retirement 10 years ago.

    The pensioners who do not belong to any association as they are not allowed to do so while in service, said they were told recently by some senior police officers in the pension department that their pension money has been stolen.

    The police officers are in a dilemma as some have been allegedly duped by fellow officers at the police pension office who promised to facilitate the release of their benefits. Some of the affected pensioners, who spoke to The Nation, said the situation is sad, considering the fact that they have duly served their fatherland and protected the citizenry throughout their active years.

    They said the service of a police officer in the society cannot be overemphasised. They have helped in maintaining public order, preventing and detecting crimes in the state. They have protected life  and property of the people notwithstanding the growing rate of crime coupled with increase in the complexity of civilisation, they added.

    They said: “Without the police, there would have been chaos in the society and the people would live in Hobbesian state of nature in which life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

    “Thus, the police provide the necessary checks against the ambivalence of the human nature, play an important role in the administration of justice and enforcement of law. They are the saviour of our modern civil society.

    “Based on this, the welfare of a police officer should be uppermost in the mind of every responsible government.

    “It is therefore, appalling to find that many retired policemen under the old pension scheme, the Defined Benefits Scheme are still owed pensions and gratuities eight years after retirement.’’

    In this case, the police pensioners majorly affected, are soldiers from the Nigerian Army who got seconded into the Nigeria Police Force. Some of them have died, while some others are sick.

    Sixty-year-old Inspector, Abu Ekundayo, said he has not been paid his retirement benefits eight years after serving the Nigeria Army and Police Force for 27 years.

    He served last with the Lagos State Command, Ikeja, before his retirement on July 1, 2006.

    A letter written on behalf of Ekundayo by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Augustine Obaedo to the Director, Nigeria Police Pension Office on April 7, 2007 stated: “This is to introduce police officer, Inspector Abu Ekundayo who served last with Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, before retirement on July 1, 2006.

    “Kindly render every assistance at your disposal to enable him collect his retirement benefits.”

    Ekundayo said that despite this letter and his several visits to the Lagos Pension Office before it was moved to the Police Headquarters in Abuja, his case has not been treated.

    Recounting his ordeal to The Nation, he said: “I was receiving salary regularly until I retired in 2006, but I have not received my pension since I retired. I have been suffering and partially blind with no money to eat or go to hospital. I have been living a miserable life.

    “Sometimes ago, when I visited the pension office, which was in Lagos as at the time, with some other retirees who have the same case, a fellow police officer who works in the pension office, said he could help us facilitate the release of our benefits if we give him some money. He collected N50, 000 from me and N25, 000 from another retiree. While we were waiting for him to help us, we didn’t know when he left the pension office and his phone number never went through afterwards and we could not trace him again.

    “In 2011, when a friend and retiree who has the same issue with me went to the Police Pension Office in Abuja, he said they (pension office) confirmed to me that they saw my name in the list of pending pensioners. Usually what happens is for Lagos Command to compile our files and send them to the Pension Office for payment. Under normal procedure, it should not take more than a year for them to pay. Some people who are well connected have received their own pension,” he added.

    Richard Ogundare and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), retired 10 years ago and has not been paid his retirement after serving the Nigeria Army and Police Force for 35 years.

    Ogundare, who served within 1969 and 1979 in the Nigerian Army before he got seconded to the Nigeria Policein 1979, is also aggrieved that the Police Service Commission refused to merge his years of service years in the army with those in the police.

    He petitioned the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), MikeOkiro and copied the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar in the petition written and signed byhis lawyer, Kehinde Hassan Bamibola& Co.

    According to the petition, Ogundare has not received his retirement benefits since he retired in 2004.

    It stated: “We have the authority, instruction and consent of our client to call your attention to inhuman treatment he has been receiving from your Commission after he has duly served his fatherland, Nigeria, meritoriously, formerly as a military personnel from 1969 before he got seconded/enlisted to the Nigeria Police Force in 1979.

    “Our client informed us with documentary evidences that he applied to merge his service years sometimes in 2002 and that the application was not recommended. He would have served for 35 as at December 1, 2004, if the merging application had been granted.

    “However, he served the Nigeria Police meritoriously till April, 2007 before he was retired from the service. It is so painful and we consider it an act unleashing unmerited hardship on our client, that ever since his retirement, he has not received his retirement benefits. He has been suffering and languishing in abject poverty as a result of non-payment of his retirement benefits.”

    The petition further noted that a letter from PSC dated July, 2006, put Ogundare’s retirement date at April 24, 2004, while another letter dated May 3, 2007 with the heading “Retirement Benefits” put the effective date of his retirement at April 24, 2006 with factual affirmation that he was not indebted to the Federal Government.

    “Going by the letter from PSC, he actually applied for merging of his service years comprising the service years with the Nigerian Army from 1969 to the period he joined the Nigeria Police in 1979, but the application was turned down. He was made to serve beyond December 2004 till April 2007. Assuming the merging application was granted, he would have clocked 35 years at the service by December, 2004.

    “He actually served the Nigerian Police Force for 28 years from 1979 to 2007. That, the period between December 2004 and April 2007 should be reasonably computed into his service years for the treatment, calculation and payment of his retirement benefits.

    “We hereby appeal to your good office to pay our client all his retirement benefits as he is in great need of finances for his health and other necessities. The ‘dead does not spend money’ and so he should enjoy what he has laboured for while he is still on earth now. We are looking forward to hearing from you that his retirement benefits have been paid fully,” the petition read.

    Also recounting his ordeal, Ogundare said: “We are demobilized soldiers who fought war between 1967 and 1970 before we were asked to join the Nigeria Police Force.

    “The president at the time was OlusegunObasanjo. He asked us to join the police because it had few officers. Later in 2004, former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, asked us to go on voluntary retirement. We obeyed him because we are loyal. But some people did not obey that instruction and worked up to 40 years before retiring. The most painful thing for me is that this group of policemen havebeen paid their pension with some of them receiving eight million naira.

    Ogundare also told The Nation that one of his colleagues also has the same case as his and his name is Paul Odunwa, an ASP who retired in December 12, 2005 after serving for 35 years.He has also not received his pension 10 years after retirement and he is seriously sick, Ogundare added.

    Another pensioner, he said, is AfolabiKosolu, who according to him has lost his sight and can no longer move around to demand for his pension.

    Ogundare appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid.He also called on the National Assembly to look into their matter.

    Public Relations Officer, Police Service Commission (PSC), Ferdinand Ekpe in his reaction exonerated the commission.He said the PSC does not have anything to do with the pensioners.He said: “PSC does not handle police salaries or pension. Our mandate is to appoint, promote and discipline erring police officers. Any other thing that has to do with police welfare is not part of our business.

    “The pensioners will need to direct their complaints to the Police Pension Office.”

    Efforts to speak with the Managing Director, Pension Transitional Arrangement Department (PTAD), Ms Nellie Meshack and Force Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mbah, proved abortive as at press time.

    In a statement in March, this year, the minister’s Special Adviser (Media), Paul Nwabuikwu, said: “As we explained in a recent communication, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, has maintained her stance that N24 billion is not missing from the police pension account contrary to allegations.

    “Therefore, allegations by the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Solomon AdeolaOlamilekan over a so-called missing N24 billion from the police pension account, are ridiculous and false. It is unfortunate that the chairman has persisted in using his privileged platform to disseminate such distortions even though the minister has repeatedly explained to the committee that the money was an overpayment based on the demands of those trying to steal from pension funds, which were successfully blocked and the money returned to the treasury by the minister.

  • Mourinho dreams 10 years EPL domination

    Mourinho dreams 10 years EPL domination

    Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is eyeing a decade of Premier League dominance after signing Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Filipe Luis.

    Mourinho splashed out around £80million to bring the trio to Stamford Bridge from La Liga, where Fabregas had been deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona and Filipe Luis and Diego Costa had just led Atletico Madrid to the league title.

    ‘A team which has been a winning team for ten seasons is changing step by step, we’ve bought new players and we are trying to build for the next decade,’ said Mourinho, in a press conference at Chelsea’s hotel in Velden, Austria, on Tuesday.

    ‘Last year we reached the semi-finals and it was a transitional season,’ he added. ‘We had a very young team at the time but, even so, we reached the semi-finals and were playing to win the competition.

    ‘This season we think we are going to be stronger, the younger players are more experienced, they are stable and better adapted to fighting for titles.’

    Despite acknowledging the competitiveness of the English top flight, the 51-year-old said he would not be at Stamford Bridge if he did not think Chelsea could win the Premier League next season.

    ‘If I didn’t think that way I would go home and let somebody else take charge of the team,’ said the Blues boss.