South-West wears brave face again

 Rauf Aregbesola

The recent installation of Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola as governors in Ekiti and Osun states respectively, hints at a new dawn for South-West politics in Nigeria, writes SUNDAY ABORISADE. Without any doubt, it is clear that the progressives are breaking barriers and the stereotypes that had characterised the politics of the South-West zone of the country since 2003 with the latest developments in Ekiti and Osun states.
 

The progressives in the South-West swung into action in 1999 following the dawn of a new democratic dispensation. This is after a prolonged military rule that had made nonsense of the nation’s projections because successive military leaders had left the country worse than what the colonial masters left behind in 1960.

Social infrastructure were in a great state of disrepair, corruption was the order of the day and most Nigerians were impoverished and disillusioned by the wicked leaders, whose sole interest in government was to loot the national resources with the active connivance of their cronies.

Although the nation had an opportunity of redressing the military misrule in 1979, the involvement of some greedy politicians at the national level forced the military boys, who were not really interested in handing over power in the first instance, to stage another coup in December 1983. They held on to that power until 1999.

However, in 1999, the leaders and people of the South-West were desperately determined to make the best use of the opportunity at their disposal, hence they formed a formidable progressive bloc fashioned after the politics and philosophy of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose vision, steadfastness and commitment to good leadership transformed the region during the First Republic (1960 to 1966).

Awolowo’s radical transformation of the social and economic indices of the South-West was further demonstrated between 1979 and 1983, when the party he led – the Unity Party of Nigeria – was firmly in control of the South-West. There were remarkable improvements in public infrastructure during this era as his lieutenants in charge of the states within the region performed remarkably well through the prudent utilisation of the resources that accrued to them.

The 1999 elections, therefore, presented another opportunity for the people of the South-West to have a taste of purposeful leadership as the progressives re-grouped and supported the former lieutenants of the late Awolowo to install the governors of the six states in the region using the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.

But the arrangement suffered a setback in 2003 in all the states in the geo-political zone except Lagos, where the people actually witnessed what some political observers have called a commendable demonstration of good governance by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite the various challenges it encountered.

An alleged unholy alliance with former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party by the then AD governors – apart from Tinubu – was the final straw as the results of the elections led to the untimely fall of progressive rule in the South-West.

As a result, the PDP took over in Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states, much to the chagrin of the progressives.

The PDP governments in the South-West between 2003 and 2007 were perceived by observers to be the worst thing that could happen to the zone, as the foundation for good governance was demolished in states like Osun, Ogun and Ondo.

The administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja was making an impact in Oyo State until the PDP used the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu, to stop him and install the flamboyant Adebayo Alao-Akala as governor through very crude, wicked and controversial circumstances that rubbished the efforts of Ladoja and former Governor Lam Adeshina at restoring the people’s hope in good governance.

Attempts by the progressives to reclaim the soul of the South-West in 2007 appeared to be too late as the PDP had advanced in its technical rigging machinery by involving the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police Force to legitimise the activities of its ubiquitous army of thugs, who caused violence, snatched ballot boxes and engaged in massive thumb-printing of ballot papers.

As was in the case after the 2003 elections, only Lagos survived the desperate resolve of the conservatives in the PDP to sustain and further entrench their fraudulent victory in the zone in the 2007 elections.

The governorship candidates of the Action Congress, the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Labour Party in the South-West, who were openly robbed of their mandates, decided to seek redress at the various Election Petition Tribunals set up to adjudicate on matters arising from the elections.

The judiciary was really on trial after the 2007 elections as many of the gentlemen of the Bench, who handled the cases at the tribunals and the appellate courts, had their names, integrity and reputation soiled based on the quality of verdicts they delivered.

Some of the tribunal members, however, had their names written in gold by refusing to be part of the fraudulent lead judgements and delivered their own dissenting judgements. Some judges at the appellate courts stood tall by throwing into the dustbin the warped verdicts of the tribunals.

Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, benefitted from the judgements of the unbiased and incorruptible justices at the appellate courts.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, who contested under the umbrella of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, are currently licking their wounds because of the fraudulent manipulation of their cases at the tribunals and at the appellate court.

Mimiko gave an insight into how the progressives lost out in the South-West during the 2003 elections in a statement on Sunday when he alleged that the AD lost out because of the momentary loss of concentration of its leadership and the deceit of Obasanjo, who, according to him, “is an expert in subterfuge that lured the governors into an alliance that turned out to be a deceit.”

The governor, however, said that the inauguration of Aregbesola as the governor of Osun State was a clear indication that the PDP was no longer relevant in the scheme of things in the South-West.

He expressed joy that “the hope of the people stolen via rigging and manipulation under (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo has been restored through democracy.”

Mimiko said that the South-West region was back to where it truly belonged – the camp of the progressives – who are committed to the development of public infrastructure and upliftment of the down trodden masses.

He said, “The politics of the Yoruba in general has mostly been progressive from the 19th to the 21st century. The Yoruba are known to always be in the vanguard of progressive policies, ideas and programmes in Nigeria.

“By 2007, our people had been wiser and through their votes, began to chase out the PDP charlatans they have come to see as not having their interest at heart. From Ondo, Edo, Ekiti to Osun, one by one, our people voted out these pretenders.

“We are now mostly bordered by progressive governments and governors in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Edo states geographically. When you have other progressive governors around you, it energises you to borrow ideas from them.

“That is the reality of things, that is why, when the news of Aregbesola’s victory was announced on Friday, people came out to celebrate on the streets of the major towns in the state.”

The retired Bishop of Akure Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, said just as it happened in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo, God, the creator of the whole world, had again proved that he was a God of justice.

He said, “God has many attributes; He is a God of justice. He has shown one of his attributes just as he did in Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states, where he proved to Nigerians that justice can never be distorted.

“The elections of 2007 were fraught with lots of manipulations and the judges, through their judgements, have allowed the truth to overcome falsehood.”

Observers believe that the landmark judgements, which restored the mandates of Aregbesola and Fayemi, had raised the hope of many voters in the South-West that their votes would count in the 2011 elections, hence their preparedness to vote for the progressives, who they believe, would execute projects and formulate policies that would have a direct impact in the lives of the masses.

Mimiko lent credence to this postulation when he said that the Labour Party government in Ondo State had found a good company in other South-West states, which are now being administered by equally progressive and legitimately elected governors.

He said his government had proven to the people of the Sunshine State in less than two years that it was possible to reverse the ugly trend of massive looting of the people’s resources, which the PDP represented before in the state.

Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, said the conservative politicians had not really performed to the expectation of the people since they hijacked the soul of the South-West in 2003.

He, however, said the people of the region had known better and were determined to use their votes to bring to power the leaders that would use their progressive ideas, like the late Awolowo, to usher in massive human and infrastructural development to the region with a view to restoring its glory.

He said, “The voters would be encouraged to make up their minds to participate in the general elections because of the two landmark judgements in Ekiti and Osun states. They would have been disillusioned and demonstrated apathy towards the election next year if the judgements had not restored their confidence in the electoral system.

“Now, the people no longer exercise fears that their votes might not count. They know that their choice will be installed no matter how long because of their renewed hope in the judiciary. They also know that Prof. Attahiru Jega, being a man of integrity, will not condone rigging.”

Fasoranti, however, challenged the new governors to perform to the expectation of the people in order to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate, who voted for them and remained by them even after their mandates had been stolen.

The Afenifere leader said it was obvious that justice was not seen to have been done in the case of Ogun and Oyo states and that the development would increase the determination of the people to seek redress through balloting next year.

He said, “The conservatives had not really justified their almost eight-year rule in the South-West and the people know it. Now is the time to chase them out and allow the progressives to take over again. It is hoped that there would be no rigging and the votes of the people would count. Our people are prepared to exercise their franchise once again.”
Source:punchng.com
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Lagos 2011: ACN calm, PDP sets the pace in electioneering

Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Babatunde Fashola




As activities towards the 2011 polls gather momentum in other states of the federation,

MUDIAGA AFFE writes that the case appears to be a little different in Lagos.The events in the political terrain in the various states of the federation indicate that activities towards the 2011 polls have gathered momentum, though the Independent National Electoral Commission has just released the guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the exercise because of the ongoing amendment to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
 

But with a few months to the elections, the race for the governorship poll in Lagos, one of the states controlled by the Action Congress of Nigeria, indicates that activities in the camp of the major opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, appear to be picking up, while the ACN appears to be unperturbed.

The lull in activities in the ACN is a source of worry for those affiliated to the party. Despite the fact that the ruling party has 99 per cent control of the apparatus of government, it is still not clear who will be the governorship candidate of the party as the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola has not openly come out to state his position.

However, a number of interest groups, including some senatorial district leaders of the party, have been rallying support for Fashola ahead of 2011. But the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, recently said that aspirants had not declared interest because the party was yet to give the go-ahead.

Beyond the ACN, the opposition (the PDP) is still mending the cracks in its wall in order to make up for its loss of Lagos since the return to civil rule in 1999. The party is trying to change the old order by exploring the fence-mending approach to clinch power in the state in 2011. Although, the efforts are ongoing, there are indications that the party is still plagued by internal divisions.

Again, the incarceration of the former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George, is a critical factor that will ultimately redefine the approach of the party to Lagos politics. This means the politics of confrontation between the two leading parties in the state would become history, and a new era of issue-based electoral contests will become the order as the Lagos electorate are poised to make political decisions based on optimal impacts and programmes of action each contestant seeks to implement.

So far, seven aspirants within the PDP have signified their interest and picked nomination forms for the governorship election. They are former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Demola Seriki; former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Femi Pedro; former Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Ade Dosunmu; Mr. Owolabi Salis, Mr. Tokunbo Kamson, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi and Mr. Gbolahan Folami.

While declaring their governorship ambitions, the issues raised by these aspirants at separate forums were an indication that issue-based campaigns would top debates as events unfold.

For instance, Seriki had declared that the need to rescue the citizens of the state from the stiff tax policies of the ACN-led government informed his decision to contest.

The former minister had said that the Fashola-led administration in Lagos had made tax a civic burden, claiming that it was for that reason most companies were relocating from Lagos to other neighbouring states.

Another aspirant, Folami, had said he aspired to govern Lagos because of the pitiable state of infrastructure in the state, especially the bad road networks in the metropolis.

According to him, the huge internally-generated revenue of about N20bn accruable to the state monthly is not commensurate with its level of development.

These are a few of the observations of those in the opposition camp and they may form the bases for discussion in due course. But how prepared are these aspirants to take over the leadership of the state from the ACN? From the days of the Alliance for Democracy in 1999 to its transformation to the ACN recently, the electorate in the cosmopolitan state have always given their support to the party.

A brief survey of how some of the PDP aspirants stand might come handy at this point.



Femi Pedro: A few weeks ago, the former deputy governor formally declared his intention to contest the governorship in the state. His declaration did not come as a surprise to many because he contested the same position in the 2007 elections, using the platform of the Labour Party after the incumbent, Fashola, clinched the AC ticket. Before his appointment as the deputy governor in 2003 under the administration of Bola Tinubu, Pedro was the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the defunct First Atlantic Bank (now FinBank Plc). In 2006, Pedro had indicated an interest to run for the 2007 governorship under the umbrella of the then AC, but later defected to the LP when his dream could not be actualised. He was to later resign his position as the deputy governor of the state after citing electoral malpractices in the primaries in which he participated and lost. Since 2007, Pedro has been playing the role of opposition on the platform of the PDP. He could be described as a man with both public and private sector experience.



Ade Dosunmu: He retired from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency as a director-general. Before his exit from NIMASA in 2009, Dosunmu was a seasoned technocrat in the private sector. However, for almost two decades, he made key impact in the academics as an associate lecturer in the University of Lagos, and in the maritime sector as an administrator. His experience in the academia and the public sector remains his strongest asset. His political strength is yet to be put to test.



Demola Seriki: He has been in the forefront of politics since the dawn of the Fourth Republic, but he gain more prominence when he was appointed a minister of state in the ministries of Interior, Agriculture and Water Resources and Defence under the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. He also acted as the supervisory minister in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. After the demise of President Yar’Adua, Seriki was schemed out of the Federal Executive Council, and has since been rallying support in the PDP to clinch its ticket. Seriki has the credentials that may enhance his ambition considering the various committees he had served during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the different ministerial positions he held in the administration of Yar’Adua.



Babatunde Gbadamosi: He is the director of Amen Estates and is from the political dynasty of Chief Abdul-Fatayi Gbadamosi, who was a staunch chief of the defunct Action Group in the First Republic. He is the younger brother of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, the erstwhile chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency. He was a member of the United Kingdom chapter of the defunct National Democratic Coalition. He joined the PDP in 2006 shortly before the 2007 general elections. His affinity with former President Obasanjo and the support of his elder brother, Rasheed, may have informed his decision to join the race. He has formally declared his intention to contest the 2011 poll.

For now, the only possible candidate of the ACN is Fashola.



Babatunde Fashola: He is the incumbent governor of the state. He won the governorship primaries of the then AC in 2007 amid controversies, which culminated in the defection of some major actors. His political father, Tinubu, played a dominant role to secure victory for Fashola in the primaries despite his skeletal political credentials before he joined the administration of Tinubu in 2003, first as the deputy Chief of Staff and later COS. Fashola won the 2007 governorship race despite all the desperate moves of the PDP to wrest the political power of the state from the then AC, which pulled out from the Alliance for Democracy. Since his assumption of office, the incumbent governor has been paddling the canoe of the state amid socio-economic challenges and life-transforming outcomes of his 10-point agenda, which has won high public rating within and outside the country.

Even when many have continued to condemn his reform programmes, saying they are elitist, Fashola is known to have been involved in massive infrastructural development, construction of roads, building ultra-modern health care centres, providing free education and accessible health services. It must also be noted that his programmes have brought crime rate down by 75 per cent, according to statistics from major security stakeholders, including the Lagos State Police Command. The beautification projects that provide relatively enabling environment for investors should also be noted. That his projects are ongoing in different parts of the state may be the reason a number of interest groups in the state have started massive campaigns for a second term on his behalf through the distribution of handbills, posting of posters in strategic places across the state and branding of mass transit buses.

Other political parties would seem to be watching, perhaps waiting for the ACN to set the ball rolling. At the moment, the key political parties that participated in the 2007 governorship election in the state have not come up with definite aspirants/candidates for the 2011 race. The parties include Fresh Democratic Party, LP, People’s Progressive Alliance, AD, Democratic People’s Alliance and All Nigeria People’s Party.

As the coast becomes clearer in the days ahead, it is imperative to note that the governorship race in Lagos is no doubt between the ruling ACN and the opposition (PDP).
Source:punchng.com
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‘Greed partly responsible for capital market woes’

 Mr. Oluwole Ibikunle

Managing Director, Boaz Management and Financial Strategies Ltd., a financial training institution, Mr. Oluwole Ibikunle, speaks on the challenges in the financial sector, in this interview with ADEMOLA ALAWIYE.



What was responsible for the asset bubble in the capital market?

There were a lot of factors responsible for the asset bubble. All the people involved in the capital market had one or two faults. Regulatory laxity was one of them.  What did the Securities and Exchange Commission do when all the sharp practices were going on? Also, the operators‘ insincerity was another reason. The sharp practices were perpetrated using the operators; they were used to manipulate shares. The investors too cannot be exonerated from the blame. I will describe their own fault as investors‘ greed. The investors saw the capital market as a place where they could put some money and get double of it in the shortest period. The capital market is a long term investment destination and not a short term investment point.

How can the Central Bank of Nigeria and SEC improve risk management in the financial market?

The greatest problem we had then was corporate governance laxity. Most organisations threw caution to the wind. I give kudos to the CBN for its current fight against practices that are against corporate governance. If the CBN can address issues of corporate governance and risk management well, then other problems will be minor. The banks were careless in the way they managed their exposures; such as margin loan to the capital market. The CBN‘s directive that banks‘ exposure to the capital market should not exceed 10 per cent of their total loans is part of risk management supervision, which I strongly support.

On the part of SEC, the leadership of SEC appears to know what they are doing. Prior to this time, SEC would not have had the guts to probe the activities of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. But on the list they released on market infractions, I think they should release the full list. There is no point in releasing a haphazard list. Publishing an incomplete list will give room for speculation that there are sacred cows. SEC should do a lot of work to publish the list because it will give credence to the its good work.

How do you think another crisis in the financial market can be avoided?

A lot of things can be done. The bubble started in the United States of America as a result of challenges in sub-prime mortgage. There is a lot of inter-locking amongst global financial institutions. What I mean by inter-locking is that you find a particular institution taking position as a result of another institution‘s position. So if any institution is hit by a problem, it will have a ripple effect on other institutions. Also, regulators must perform their duties; they must be up and doing. Infractions should not be tolerated. Some organisations have grown to be octopus. These organisations have grown so big that they have their hands in many things that are beyond the managements‘ competence. Time has come for the unbundling of those organisations. The regulatory authorities should work on this.

What is the role of training in the problems in the financial sector?

It cannot be said that lack of training was not partly responsible for the problems in the financial sector. There must be training of both operators and regulators of our financial system. Some 100 years ago, we had an asset bubble but it did not go to the extent that the last one went. Before now, financial instruments were not as sophisticated as we have now. There are a lot of sophisticated financial instruments in which people that are subscribing to them don‘t even understand. There are a lot of instruments now that require people to get more training. For example, we have derivatives and assets backed securities. These assets were not there before. These instruments are not well understood. So, it is only continuous training of operators, regulators and investors that can make them understand these instruments.

How then can training revitalise the financial sector?

When you train people, you are building capacity. You don‘t conduct training for the sake of just training people. There is what we call base line study. Training needs identification, analysis, all with a view to identifying whether the people in the financial sector have the knowledge to do what they are doing. In the course of conducting your training needs, what you are doing is finding your training gaps. Training addresses these gaps. Training gaps are deficiencies in knowledge skills and the right attitude to work.

It is a well conducted base line studies and training needs analysis that will reveal these training gaps. On the basis of the training gaps, you now package or design training that will address the gaps and make people more competent.

Training and development go together. Training is conducted to address specific deficiencies identified in a worker. When you are able to address the deficiencies in workers, definitely productivity will go up.

The worker will become skilful and more competent. The bottom line of it will be enhanced productivity. Development, on the other hand, prepares the employee for a higher responsibility. Training is meant for you to improve on the performance of your current job, whereas development is just to upscale your competencies, knowledge and skills to enable you occupy a higher position. In an economy where people are highly trained, productivity goes up. When the productivity of every company is enhanced, it has a positive effect on the economy.

Does this have any bearing on good corporate governance and risk management practices?

Corporate governance and risk management are issues in corporate management that need to be well understood. Unfortunately, there are still gaps in people‘s knowledge when it comes to corporate governance. People don‘t have the knowledge. These are areas where there should be massive training. Risk management is very wide but in Nigeria we are just groping in the dark, and that is one of the factors that led to the financial crises.

There is no profession that has been ore abused than the conduct of training. People that are not qualified to train people are conducting training. Training can be used to build and enhance capacity, thereby improving productivity. In Nigeria, there are so many training consultants.

What qualifies one to be a trainer?

As a trainer, you must have specialisation in the area where you want to train. Training is not a vocation that anybody can go into. It‘s a specialised profession. There is a law that regulates training but unfortunately that law is not being enforced. The body that is in charge of the regulation of training is the Nigerian Council for Development. They accredit trainers that need the requirement.

The requirements are very stringent. There are a lot of eligibility criteria, and it is only firms that meet the eligibility criteria that are accredited by the NCD. Our firm is an accredited management training institution. It entails a lot to get the accreditation. It‘s like a camel passing the eyes of a needle.

Our company passed through the training so I will share the experience. You must have a solid faculty on ground. Your faculty members must be accredited first. You must have a good platform with well established infrastructures. You must also have experience in conducting training. Both the directors and the manager of the firm must be experienced in training.

They will come for a first visit and a second visit as the case may be. It is when you meet all these eligibility criteria that the council will now accredit your institution as a management trainee institution in Nigeria. In the whole country, I may not be able to give an exact number, but I know they are not up to 300
Source:.punchng.com

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ATM fraud: Bank customers, officials assess MasterCard’s valve

ATM
Although many banks have replaced their former ATM card with Master Card, which has more security features, some people are still not impressed about the device, NIKE POPOOLA and STANLEY OPARA report.



The unpleasant experience Mr. Wale Atolagbe had last year when he tried to withdraw money from his bank account using the Automated Teller Machine card is not something he will forget in a hurry.

He had tried the card on three ATMs at different locations at Lekki in Lagos, but none of them dispensed money. He was angry but there was nothing he could do.

The next day, he had to go to his bank for clarification, only to be told that he had withdrawn N60,000 with his ATM card, a day earlier. His countenance instantly changed and he demanded an immediate explanation.

Atolagbe was asked to lodge a formal complaint at the bank, which he did.

Although the bank later resolved the matter and refunded his money, this was several weeks after the incident. He had had to look for money elsewhere to meet his urgent needs.

After this experience, he stopped using the ATM card. He also decided not to use the new MasterCard when his bank introduced it with enhanced security features to check fraud.

Atolagbe‘s experience is one out of many ugly tales ATM card holders are always willing to share. Most of the affected people often receive withdrawal alerts on their mobile telephones without conducting any transactions.

But the Chief Marketing Officer, Interswitch, Mrs. Tito Adeniyi-Aderoju, says, due to constant increase in ATM fraud in Nigeria, 18 Nigerian banks have partnered Interswitch on its Verve platform.

This is a product of Interswitch introduced to ensure customers’ security in the course of e-Payment transactions.

She says banks are on the platform because of the advantage it offers, adding that the technology offers both local and international ATM securities.

She explains that, aside from other benefits the Verve card presents, it also allows the card user to send message and block the card in case an act of stealing is suspected. The money guard facility, she notes, has made many bank customers that were hitherto not on the platform, to come on-board.

Although many Nigerian banks have switched over to the MasterCard, some users are still not enthusiastic about it, even when experts have said that the new card is more secure and free from fraud.

Some of the victims have vowed never to have anything to do with the ATM card. Not even the introduction of the MasterCard has made them change this position.

A survey by our correspondents shows that many, especially victims of ATM fraud are still sceptical about the new design.

For instance, Mr. Babawale Idowu, a Lagos-businessman, says that one major reason he readily embraced the ATM card when it was first introduced in the country was the ease with which he could withdraw money from any bank nearest to him anytime he had an urgent need for cash.

“I did not need to go to the bank and queue for hours; but with the way people were losing money through the use of ATM card. I had to suspend it,” he adds.

Miss Sussan Ibrahim, a businesswoman, had earlier got a message form her bank some months before her ATM card was deactivated, on the new change the bank would embrace.

According to her, she was told that with effect from August 1, 2010, all cash plus cards would be deactivated and replaced with the new naira MasterCard.

Some of the reasons that prompted her to get the new card, she said were that the new card would not just be a local card but an international card that could be used in its branches in any country.

She could not go to her branch to collect her new card because of the distance to her new residence; she went to another branch to make a written request, asking that her card should be transferred to the nearest branch to her.

When Mr. Ifeanyi Daniel applied for his MasterCard in his bank, he was asked to fill a form and come back in two weeks to get it.

This attracted an immediate deduction of N1,000 from his account. So far, he says, he has been using it like the former card, and has not had any unpleasant experience.

But another holder of the ATM card, Mr. Kehinde Quadri, says the MasterCard was a necessity.

”I don‘t like to go and spend time at the bank. That is why I like to use the card. I always expect my bank to send me a text message to notify me of any transaction on my account; when I get the notification regularly after using my ATM, I know that my money is still safe.”

Though she never had any unpleasant experience with the former card, she felt that the use of the card would still give her a lot of convenience.

No matter what may be said about the MasterCard, Mrs. Romoke Lawal is indifferent to it, as she has never used the ATM card and is not ready to give the card a trial.

According to her, ”I have heard a lot of discouraging things about the ATM card and I don‘t want anybody to steal my money. If your money gets missing, the banks can say maybe your brother or your sister picked your card and used it without your knowledge. But if I don‘t use the card, if anything happens to my money, the bank will explain what they did with it.”

Mr. Charles Duru has never used card to withdraw money and he says he has yet to see the need to try the card.

He says, ”I don‘t want any funny experience. Though I have heard a lot about the card, I am satisfied with going to the bank anytime I need my money. I think it is safer that way.”

However, Mr. Steve Obinna, who had an unpleasant experience with the former ATM, said that for the past two months that he had used the MasterCard, he had not had any negative story to tell.

But he says it is still too early for him to assess how good the new card is.

For Mr. Patrick Agwu, an accountant, he has had to get the MasterCard because his banks insist that it must be used for all withdrawals below N60,000. Although he claims that the use of ATM is convenient and easy, there are fears that once the card gets into the hands of fraudulent people, they can withdraw all the money without the knowledge of the owners.

He says how to keep the card well and ensure that nobody is lurking around the ATM pay point when he needs to use it have become his greatest challenge.
Source:punchng.com


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Lekki: Tourist beach turns to crime harbour

Lekki beach

A few years ago, Lekki Beach was one of the biggest tourist attractions in Lagos State. It was quite popular with musicians, entertainment promoters, and film producers, who always found it convenient to stage shows and shoot movies there.

On weekends and public holidays, fun lovers out on picnic, especially the foreigners having their first real taste of leisure on Nigerian soil, flocked to the beach in large numbers. To say that it was the prime spot for merrymakers, some of who came from other parts of the country in those days, would be admitting the obvious.

Located just a short distance from the busy Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki Beach is, no doubt, a natural and an unspoiled resort; so serene and lined by tall palm trees that it served as a perfect locale for Lagosians desiring to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Unfortunately, Lekki Beach, which used to be the venue of one of the most important music festivals in Nigeria – the Reggae Sunsplash – is now deserted and dreaded by many Lagosians, including those that are resident on the peninsular.

During a visit to the beach last Saturday, S&S discovered that it had become a den of criminals. “Be very careful, there are many bad boys hanging around that place,” an okada rider warned.

On that Saturday, the beach was literally deserted and so quiet one could hear the waves crashing on the shores loudly. Gone were the familiar scenes of merrymaking, the loud music blaring from the loudspeakers, the giggling mass of picnickers, the dancing, and clowning. The tall palm trees might have seemed even taller, yet they looked neglected.

“I used to come here often. There was no weekend that you visited here and you didn’t find a music show taking place and a huge crowd of fun lovers in attendance. Now it is no longer like that. The bad boys have taken over and they rob decent people of their belongings,” Sola, who lives close to the beach, tells S&S.

Apart from the presence of criminals, most of who seem to have taken up residence in the abandoned raffia and tin sheds on the beach, it is also littered with rubbish.

Lamenting the development, Sola continues, “‘This beach used to be very neat. In those days, it was almost impossible to find it overgrown with weeds or plagued by refuse dumps. But the times have changed and things are no longer what they used to be. Now people dump their refuse anywhere they like on the beach and grasses are growing unchecked on the beach.”

While beach lovers groan and wring their hands over the state of affairs at the beach and walk away in disappointment, it seems they are alone in their grief. Stall owners, who give out tents and chairs on the beach, seem unperturbed.

Beatrice runs a beer parlour on the beach. She tells S&S, “Business is fine. We do have shows here and movie producers still come to shoot movies. I am inviting you to come back next month. There will be a big concert here during the first week of December.”

Betty, as she is called, obviously did not see anything wrong with the heaps of refuse and weeds. She adds, “The grasses are just there to allow people to park. You know it is only jeeps that can move on beach sand. The smaller cars will sink in the sand without the grass.”

For her and many others, it is business as usual. In the absence of genuine merrymakers, she could always count on the hoodlums that loiter around the beach for patronage, to buy her barbecued meat and cold drinks.

“There are some 419 boys who live just close here. After they trick people into a scheme, they do meet with their victims in my bar when it is time to collect the cash. There are even some militants who live in one of the guest houses here. Anytime they come into some money, they come down here to spend it. I would sell drinks in cartons and weeds,” she says with enthusiasm. Talk about different strokes for different folks.

While the men of the underworld use the beach as their hideout for nefarious activities, the lovers of Lekki Beach, it seems, would have to find themselves another vacation spot.
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I haven’t seen or heard from my four children 10 years ...

I haven’t seen or heard from my four children 10 years

I have been married for 20 years. I met my husband and married him at the age of 18. At the time, he had just emerged from the ruins of his previous marriage to a white woman.

I learnt that the woman lost her pregnancy and unable to get over the shock, she decided to commit suicide.

My husband and I met through my aunt who lives in Ibadan, Oyo State. His own parents still live in the city, even as I tell this story.

As it turned out, we were both properly married. Afterwards, he made an arrangement for me to join him in Germany, where he lived and worked.

Eventually, I joined him after I had given birth to our first child. Later, I gave birth to three other children. In all, we have three daughters and a son.

For awhile, we lived happily together until matters took a different turn when I was delivered of the fourth child. I was afflicted by a mysterious illness, which affected my nervous system.

Initially, my husband stood by me and tried to see how I could get well again. But soon it became certain that we needed to find a cure for my illness back in Nigeria. Unfortunately, each time I was brought home for treatment, I seemed to get better only to relapse when I returned to Germany.

After what seemed like our last visit to Nigeria together for treatment, my husband shrewdly abandoned me in my aunt’s home. But I kept responding well to treatment and gradually recovered.

Initially, my husband had allowed two of our children to stay with me. But it was for a short time. One after the other, he took both of them back to Germany and abandoned me to my fate.

For a long time, he did not even bother to learn how I was doing. It was not long before I realised that he was unable to cope with the pressure that came with my illness, he had finally dumped me.

As a result, I have not seen or heard from my children since 2000. My aunt and her husband have been responsible for my upkeep and medical care.

To make matters worse, my parents-in law, both of who are church leaders, and my other in-laws, have stopped showing empathy for my plight.

My husband has since stopped communicating with me. He has refused to take responsibility for my upkeep and has stopped sending me money, no matter how meagre.

As my health improved, so did my yearning to reunite with my family, especially my children, in Germany.

Anyone who has visited a labour room can tell that it is impossible to assume that one was never there.

I got the shock of my life when I called my second child on the phone to wish him happy birthday and he replied that he did not know me.

Subsequently, I made an effort to travel to Germany and see things for myself. In the process, I discovered the height of man’s inhumanity to a fellow man.

When I got to the German visa office in Cotonou, Benin Republic, I was coldly informed, after enduring much tossing around and suspicion, that I had been declared dead many years back by my husband. He obviously wanted to get rid of my memory in order to settle down with another woman.

Eventually, I learnt that he had remarried and fathered more children.

What I can’t understand is why, even if he does not want me again, he is punishing me by keeping my children away from me. Why did he have to tell them that I am dead?

Is this not a subtle way of eventually killing me? I want the German Embassy to look into this issue and help me apprehend this man, so that I can have access to my beautiful children. They deserve to grow under my care. I am not dead, I am alive and well. The public should come to my rescue. I must not labour in vain.
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One-eyed university dropout, friend arrested for armed robbery

Balogun
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested one Fatai Balogun, a 29-year-old barber and his friend, Tayo Olowu, in Ijebu-Ode for allegedly robbing three houses in the town two weeks ago. Balogun, a one-eyed barber, who claimed to have dropped out from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, as a 300-level accounting student because of lack of funds, was arrested with his accomplice on their way to Lagos after having successfully robbed their victims earlier in the day.


The two were arrested with a gun, which had been dismantled and concealed in a bag; cell phones; jewellery; and an undisclosed amount of money, believed to have been stolen.

Balogun and Olowu, who are now being detained at the state police command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, were said to have robbed three houses in Ijebu-Ode. The victims reported the incident to the police the same day.

The suspects were however, arrested when they attempted to flee the town with their loot in the evening of the same day as they were apprehended on Ijebu-Ode Road after they had boarded a vehicle to Lagos.

Balogun claimed to be an accounting student of OOU, but dropped out of the institution when he was at 300 Level in 2005 as, according to him, his parents could no longer support him.

He said, “I was attacked during the 2005 crisis between OOU students and Ago-Iwoye indigenes. The indigenes that killed my friends removed one of my eyes and inflicted machete cuts on my face. After spending so much money on my treatment, I couldn’t go back to school and that was why I decided to learn barbing.”

The suspect claimed to be working as a stylist with a salon in Ogba, Lagos, but was sacked as a result of customers‘ complaints about his bad eye.

“Whenever I was barbing, hair was always entering my bad eye and I used my hand to remove it or blow it away, but this is always offensive to the customers. So they always complained and that was why the owner of the place sent me away,” he said.

Interestingly, Balogun is from Agbole Olowu, Ijebu-Igbo, and lived with his parents in the town when the students/indigenes crisis erupted. He could not explain his claim that he was maimed during the clash by his own people.

Claiming that the robbery for which he would soon face prosecution was his first, the suspect attributed his entry into crime to frustration. He said he was able to get the gun that was used for the operation from a man he met at a pub in Ijebu-Igbo for N7,000.

Olowu, a resident of 5, Roundabout Karaka Street, Badagry, said he met Balogun at a local pub this year on February 14 when he was in Ijebu-Igbo to see his girlfriend during the Valentine’s Day.

He said, “I came to see my girlfriend in Ijebu-Igbo on Valentine’s Day. He requested a drink and I bought it for him. We got talking and he told me he was a student in Osu (OOU). He asked for my telephone number and I gave him, but I didn’t see him again before I went back to Badagry.

“He called me last week that I should come that he wanted to show me something; I thought it was a business deal. When I got to Ijebu Igbo, he took me somewhere and showed me the weapon (gun). He said we should go and ‘hustle’ that he was very ‘broke’ and I agreed because I was ‘broke’ too.”

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

Adejobi, an Assistant Superintendent Police, said the suspects were arrested by policemen from the Igbeba Divisional Police headquarters, Ijebu-Ode, adding that the suspects would soon appear in court.
Source:punchng.com

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PDP presidential candidate may emerge Jan.15

Jonathan and Sambo
THE presidential candidate

of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2011 general elections may emerge on January 15, 2011.

The date was set by a three-member ad-hoc committee raised by the National Working Committee to prepare a tentative timetable for the party’s primaries and convention.

It (date) is however subject to ratification by the National Executive Committee of the PDP.

A member of the NWC told one of our correspondents on Wednesday that his colleagues would meet on Thursday (today) to finalise discussions on the primaries.

The presidential primaries, it was learnt, are to run for three days, starting from January 11 to 13 in the six geo-political zones of the country.

The convention will start in the North-Central and South East on January 11. It will hold in the North-West and South-South on January 12 and in the North-East and South-West on January 13.

Results from the six zones will to be ratified at the national convention in Abuja on January 15.

It was learnt that the NWC decided to hold the national convention on January 15 in order to prevent aggrieved aspirants from defecting to other political parties.

January 15 is the last date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for political parties to hold their primaries.

Our source said, “The presidential primaries are to be held between January 11 and 13. We will then return to Abuja for the ratification of the primaries on January 15, which is the last day stipulated by INEC for political parties to hold their party primaries.

“With that, I can tell you that we will be blocking the chances of those who might be thinking that they would leave the party after losing the contest.”

Meanwhile, an Abuja High Court on Wednesday struck out a suit asking it to order the PDP to field a presidential candidate from the North for the 2011 poll.

In his judgment, Justice Lawal Gummi, who is the FCT Chief judge, said that the issue of zoning, rotation or who to sponsor in the PDP was “purely a domestic and political affair.”

“The court will not venture or adjudicate on such matters as to order a party to field a candidate from a particular zone for the purpose of contesting,” Gummi said.

A PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Sani Dutsinma, sued the party and its National Chairman, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, over alleged breach of party constitution on zoning and rotation of political offices.

He also challenged the alleged non-adherence to the provisions of Article 7.2 (c) of the PDP constitution which provided for the principle of rotation and zoning of elective offices across the federation.

The plaintiff also wanted the court to compel the PDP to zone the Presidency to the North, insisting that the North was entitled to another term in office.

But the judge said: “While acknowledging the provisions in the said article 7.2 (c) that the party has agreed to zone its political offices, it did not state where the candidate must come from and did not state the period upon which such a person should hold office.

“A court of law is not a political party regulatory commission. We are here to protect and ensure that politicians are protected from themselves.”

“We will not interfere in the domestic affairs of political parties,” the judge said.

On wether the plaintiff had a locus standi to file such a suit, Gummi ruled that he had a right to do so since he was a duly registered member of the PDP.

The judge said, “The plaintiff has been able to prove that he is a member of the PDP and has met all financial obligations as required by the party.

“He has also shown that he is contesting for the office of the President with the receipt from payment of the required fees and a copy of the form filled by him.”

In a related development, another member of the PDP, Chief Cyracus Njoku, has asked for the withdrawal of his suit challenging the non implementation of zoning and rotation of political offices.

Njoku also sued President Goodluck Jonathan, and Nwodo over alleged breach of party constitution on zoning and rotation.

In the matter which also came up before Justice Gummi, Njoku through his counsel, Mr Ugochukwu Osuagwu, asked the court to strike out the matter.

Although no reason was given for the prayer, Osuagwu told the court that his client had decided to withdraw the suit.

Justice Gummi then struck out the matter.

Speaking to newsmen after the judgment, Counsel to PDP, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), said, “We said it before and insist that this matter is purely an internal affair of the party.‘‘

Counsel to Jonathan, Chief Alex Iziyon (SAN), also commended the judiciary for “putting to rest the controversies on the matter.”

“The issue of who takes the slot for any political office is purely left for the parties,” Iziyon said.
Source:http://www.punchng.com


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Jumbo pay: Sanusi at Senate, refuses to apologise

CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi
THE Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, on Wednesday maintained that 25 per cent of Nigeria’s annual total overhead cost was spent on lawmakers.

Sanusi, who appeared before the Senate committees on Appropriation, Finance, Banking and Millennium Development Goals, also rejected subtle entreaties from lawmakers to apologise for giving “wrong figures” to the public.

He told the committees that the figures, which according to him, came from the Budget Office, were correct, especially when viewed against the context in which he used them.

The CBN governor said, “By my nature, if I discovered that I was wrong, I need not be told to say I am sorry. If I am not convinced of anything, I cannot be forced to accept it.”

He was summoned by the Senate to defend the claim, which he made while delivering a lecture titled, “Future Prospect of Nigeria’s Economy,” at the 8th convocation of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

The claim, which was published in various national dailies under different headlines, was criticised by the National Assembly, which quicly summoned the Minister of Finance, Mr. Segun Aganga. Sanusi and Aganga are also to appear before the House of Representatives.

In recent times, there has been a huge public outcry against the huge salaries and allowances paid to federal legislators by the government.

Asked by the members of the Senate committees to substantiate his claim, the CBN governor said that he had not claimed that the legislature got 25 per cent of the total recurrent expenditure, but 25 per cent of the overhead of the federal budget.

Sanusi said, “I confirm that I did say in my speech at the Igbinedion University that 25 per cent of the overhead of the Federal Government budget goes to the National Assembly. I have figures from the Budget Office for the year 2010.

“Total government overhead is N536, 268, 490, 280. The total overhead of the National Assembly is N136, 259, 768, 112, which is exactly 25.1 per cent of Federal Government overhead.

“The overhead of the National Assembly as a percentage of the Federal Government budget in 2009 was 19. 87 and in 2008, it was 14.19.”

He, however, blamed reporters for misrepresenting his statement.

Sanusi said, “If you read the story, and not the headlines, you will find out that many of the newspapers had what I said as a quotation. Take the Vanguard for example; its headline says ‘National Assembly drains the economy, gulps 25 per cent of the recurrent expenditure’ on page one. But if you go to page 53, it quoted me thus: ‘If you look at the budget, the bulk of government spending is on recurrent expenditure, that is a big problem. 25 per cent of the overhead of the Federal Government goes to the National Assembly.’ That is what is in quotation mark.

“If you go to the Tribune, it has ‘the government is in trouble’ on the front page. It quoted me as saying, ‘If you look at the budget, the bulk of government spending on recurrent expenditure, that is a big problem. 25 per cent of overhead of Federal Government goes to National Assembly.’

“I saw the same quote in The Nation. ‘25 per cent of overhead of Federal Government goes to National Assembly.’”

He further explained that the overhead cost he referred to did not include the service wide vote. The apex bank chief said that there was a difference between overhead and recurrent expenditure.

But his explanations did not sway the lawmakers as they accused him of omitting the “service wide” votes of about N660bn, which is a major component of the overhead of the Federal Government.

They argued that if Sanusi had included the N660bn, he would have arrived at N1.2tn, a figure that would have produced a lower percentage.

He was also accused of misleading the public and aiming his statement at bringing the integrity of the National Assembly to ridicule.

When asked to clarify some issues raised by Sanusi, Aganga told the committees that the correctness of the figures given by the apex governor would depend on the purpose.

He said, “I think what is causing the confusion is the fact that we have 25 per cent of recurrent expenditure and 25 per cent of overhead (in the newspapers). The CBN governor was referring to overhead. If you look at the denominators, they are two different figures completely. If you look at those numbers based on the information the CBN governor has, normally, we have recurrent and overhead together.”

Aganga added that he preferred adding the service wide votes to make up the overheads, instead of treating them separately.

“I confirm that you normally include the service wide votes in the total overhead. I will normally include the service wide votes,” the minister said.

The senators took Sanusi on again on the exclusion of the service wide vote and urged him to admit that he misled Nigerians with his figures.

But he argued that if the figures were taken in the context of the lecture he delivered, there would be no need to include the service wide vote in the calculation.

Asked if he understood the tenets of democracy and if he was thinking of quitting his job, Sanusi replied, “I was a democracy activist and I believe in democracy. During the (Sani) Abacha regime, I was a member of the Kudirat Democracy Movement. One of the rules of democracy is that people should be able to speak.

“Whether I am enjoying the job or not , I am working for the people. I am not holding the job so tight. It is not my life. I am here at your pleasure, if you want me to go, please tell me and I will go without a fight, but I am not thinking of quitting.”

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri insisted that the governor distorted the facts in his statement on what accrued to the National Assembly as overhead.

He said the manner in which Sanusi spoke raised questions on the need to examine whether he had the “required character” to occupy the office of CBN governor.

Senator Iyiola Omisore, who served as the chairman of the committees that questioned the two federal officials, said that Aganga, being the custodian of the national treasury by his position as Minister of Finance, had confirmed that Sanusi got the figures wrong.

According to him, the source of Sanusi’s figures (Budget Office) is answerable to the Minister of Finance.

He noted that the total government recurrent expenditure for 2010 was N3.9tn, while that of the National Assembly alone was N150bn, adding that the ratio was 3.77 per cent of total recurrent.

Omisore, however, gave up on getting Sanusi to change his position, noting that the Senate had achieved its purpose, which was getting out the facts about what the National Assembly actually collects as overhead.

He said, “It is unfortunate that people are being misled. It is incumbent on the Minister of Finance to give the correct details of what the legislature gets.

“We are comfortable that we have clarified that the CBN governor got the wrong figures. He should have also included the N303bn budget of the CBN in arriving at his figures.

“His figures were selected figures at his convenience. This is wrong, his figures are wrong.”

Earlier, Aganga denied that he mentioned to the media that the government would cut the recurrent expenditure of the National Assembly.

He said, “I did not make any statement on the National Assembly’s expenditure or revenue and I never said I was in the process of cutting the National Assembly budget. I read what you read in the papers.”

The minister explained that at a ministerial briefing, he had explained the planned policy of government to reduce the recurrent expenditure, and not specifically that of the National Assembly.
Source:http://www.punchng.com

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Eight die in Lagos road accident

Scene of the accident
No fewer than eight people died on Wednesday at the MKO Garden end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when an 18-seater Mazda bus carrying passengers somersaulted and burst into flames.

The acccident, which occurred around 5pm, is believed to have been caused by a mechanical fault in the bus with registration number XW 812 APP.

The bus, according to eyewitnesses, had picked passengers from Mile 2, and was going to Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, when the accident occurred.

However, there were conflicting reports on the actual cause of the accident. While some witnesses said the bus somersaulted after its propeller broke, others said it was the tyre that burst while the bus was on high speed.

Our correspondent, who was at the scene, reported that some of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, while those who sustained injuries were rushed to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Although the accident caused a minor traffic jam on the expressway, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency were on hand to ensure the free flow of traffic.

Spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed the accident but said five people died.

“Five people died, while five others were rescued but are seriously injured. They are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Others managed to escape with minor injuries and have been treated and discharged,” Mba said.

He told our correspondent that the police were still investigating the cause of the accident.

Mba said, “Right now the cause of the accident is unknown, but the policemen at Isheri Division are investigating the incident.

“This incident also brings us to the fact that we need to drive carefully during this period. This is the Christmas period. Vehicle owners should make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy and they should not buy second-hand tyres.

“Passengers should also be quick to call the driver to order when he is driving recklessly or overspeeding. Passengers are also stakeholders in any journey. This, they should know.”
Source:http://www.punchng.com

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