2011: Industrial sector still comatose as more firms close shop

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos The 2011 is gradually ticking its way to history, but bruises it afflicts on corporate organizations, especially the manufacturing sector can’t be wished way. Worthy of note of course is the ever present unfavorable business climate which 2011 calendar year inherited from 2010. The dilapidating infrastructures, a harsh business environment; unstable power, absence of security and host of other obstacles continually beset 2011 without succor. The Federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan had raised hope of infusing fresh air that would jump-start the comatose manufacturing sector mid-year when he was sworn in for his fresh mandate having successfully, completed his joint ticket with late Umaru Shehu Musa Yar’adua. The re-christening of former Ministry of commerce and Industry as Trade and Investment Ministry man by former Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga raised positive expectation but it turned out the usual dashed hope with virtually no significant improvement recorded. The view of Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN, Ikeja branch Isaac Agoye captures it all. He lamented that the 2011 like years before it, never give expected impetus to manufacturing sector. 2011, as MAN scribe further lamented leaves the sector in throes of bad shape as many struggling businesses got wiped out. “The capacity utilisation has nosedived from 70 per cent in the 1980s to 45 percent in 2010. The ever busy industrial estates have now become shadows of their past glories and what government at all levels keep saying indirectly is that they need more funds and the manufacturing sector must provide it without a commensurate provision of the required enabling environment,” Agoye added. Nigeria has lost what used to be industrial estates. In 2011, the remnants of what used to industries at once thriving Ikeja industrial estate in Lagos have closed shop and in their ashes, spring up churches, event centers and relaxation spots. They closed shops not because the plot housing them has vanished, but primarily due to unbearable hostile, very challenging business atmosphere. The key being absence of power and secondly lack of security. Though government managed to unveiled power sector road map to resuscitate and rejuvenate the sector, the reforms is yet to impact positively as PHCN staff have given conditions that must be met if power reforms must be carried out. However, a novel idea of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) was given considerable vent during the year. The government realising that it can’t do it all alone is partnering with private sector to execute some key projects in a form of partnership. The construction sector was virtually in comatose as its key ingredient component, cement witnessed price tumbling severally. Beginning January 2011, cement price had risen from 2,600 to N3, 000 with disastrous effect on the quality of blocks and prices of other building materials leading to unprecedented rise in accommodation cost. It took President Jonathan intervention to get a firm commitment from cement manufacturers to peg the price at N2, 000. Nigeria is virtually a dumping ground for import items without a corresponding export making Nigeria to maintain export deficit. A report obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed imports in the second quarter of the year were also 175.5 percent higher than the N1.22 trillion recorded in the corresponding period in 2010. According to the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. David Adulugba, the agency disbursed a whopping N45 billion in the second quarter of 2011 under the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme designed to induce performance of non oil exporters in the country. The initiative certainly paid off as many local manufacturers attested to the fact that they were part of the grant which definitely saw their business kicking off to another new level but not including the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (LAPAN) kicked against the total implementation of the Scheme. LAPAN President Alhaji Mustapha Nabegu, said the EEG scheme has weakened the capacity of the nation’s manufacturing sector to create jobs and drive economic growth. On the battle for standard, The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) seems to be the most active government agency in the sector. It set up in mid-year, a consumer compliant desks in major markets across the country to check substandard products. The agency decided to take proactive steps to drastically reduce the influx of substandard products into the country, by destroying several containers loaded with substandard products worth millions naira. Another highlight of the agency that attracted divergent views include a claim by the agency to have spent about N20 million to destroy more than three million fake and sub-standard tyres nationwide. Experts say hope for active industrial sector may not totally be lost after all. The government, they say just have to rise to the occasion and be sincere in implementing experts’ recommendations. The government will have to genuinely tackle the poor electricity issue, it will have to create tax holiday and abolishing multiple taxes; it has to wake up to contain the security challenges that has make investment elusive and finally show sign of commitment to tackle corruption. The Nigerian textile industry was the second largest in Africa after Egypt’s in 1997, with over 250 vibrant factories operating above 50 per cent capacity utilization. Then, the local textile market had a share of about 20 per cent of Nigeria’s textile products with the balance of 80 per cent being imported. As at 1980, the textile industry in the country could boast of over 175 textile factories, but today only about 25 are still producing, as most of them have closed shop. For instance, Afprint, once a household name in Nigeria had since diverted to other businesses. The company is now selling cars and edible oil. Undoubtedly, the textile industry had its unfair share of the country’s penchant for foreign goods, smuggling, faking and counterfeiting. The recent spate of closure in the industry was driven largely by smuggling at the borders, failed government policies, high operating cost arising from prohibitive raw materials, energy cost and sheer lack of political commitment to industrialisation by Nigerian politicians. At its prime, textile factories in Kaduna and other cities were the second largest employer of labour after the government . But for over a decade now, the closure of these factories and the low capacity utilization of existing ones have become a very disturbing feature in the Northern states and the succeeding governments could not do much to redress. The workers that were laid off had since joined the unemployment market,while taxes in billions derived by governments from these factories had become a thing of the past. In his mission to industrialise the North, the late Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the defunct Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello started by establishing textile factories to use the large quantity of cotton grown by farmers in the North. Thus, the Kano Textile factory in Gwammaja and the Kaduna Textile Mill (KTL) were established , transforming the two cities into textile marketing cities with other related factories such as weaving and spinning springing up.

Press Statement on Wednesday attack Daily Trust in Kano

The Young Journalists Forum has strongly condemn Wednesday’s attack on the Kano regional office of Media Trust Limited, the publisher of Daily Trust and Weekend Trust title, by armed thugs over a report that the Kano State government has supported the removal of petroleum subsidy. In a press statement signed by its president, Ayodele Samuel and Secretary, Zacheaus Somorin, the attack purportedly sponsored by the Kano state government is described as irresponsible of a democratic government and infringement on the freedom of the Press. “No sane government in this democratic era would clampdown on the media for carrying out its function to inform the public of government policy, but the action of the state government is not only condemnable but rejected by the media,” the statement said. In what it described as first attack and gaddafian strategic crackdown, the young journalists forum argued that bourgeois ideologues of the state government shows that Nigerian cannot see the truth about the fuel subsidy facade. The group therefore demanded for immediate apology from the state government while calling on president Goodluck Jonathan to reverse fuel subsidy removal which it described as a '' nauseating economic haven for upper class banditry of the nation's resources." The journalists’ group again questioned president Jonathan on why the citizens cannot enjoy subsidy, which they said is the only benefit they derive from the government since they provide other basic things themselves – water, education, electricity, health, clothing, food and shelter. YJF posited that the capitalistic tendency of President Jonathan is becoming unbearable saying his excuse of cabal, the esoteric clique, blamed for the hindrance to the possibility of building a local refinery is stomach-turning. The forum also declares its total support to the organized labor in its fight against the anti-people government of President Goodluck Jonathan. “We are in support of all actions to force the government to reverse the removal of petroleum subsidy which is presently causing untold hardship to Nigerians. The forum however urged all young reporters regardless of their beat to give prompt and effective coverage to all Labour activities during the strike which begins Monday until the will of the majority of Nigerians is done. Ayodele Samuel, Lagos 2348074420617 ayodelenews@ovi.com, www.ayodelenews.blogspot.com

Cashless economy: Lagos banks, depositors shun CBN directive

As business activities fully kicked-off in Lagos on Tuesday, banks and depositors shunned Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy on cash-less economy as cash deposits above the stipulated N150,000 was being lodged in banks across the state. Some commercial banks monitored by Peoples Daily in Lagos, observed through banks’ lodgment books showed that customers still conduct their usual transactions at GT Bank, First Bank and Oceanic bank in Ogba. However, only few banks in the metropolis have started debiting service charges on transaction above N150,000 while customers argued that the policy will not succeed in the state as no facility has been put in place to ease the mode of payment. A depositor at Ogba branch of Oceanic bank who spoke to our reporter confirmed lodging about N300,000 to his account but only after a serious argument with the cashier. “I threatened to close my account; Imagine, I am into selling tyres, which involve about N500,000 daily; Will I keep the money in my house and later lose it to robbers or tell a mechanic, who can hardly operate his phone to do e-payment, without losing the customer to another competitor in the business?” he queried. Another trader, Mr. Sunday James, who spoke to Peoples Daily correspondent in Lagos yesterday said the CBN should put a lot of things into consideration before coming up with such policy. “Although it is helping some people doing business but its not helping the informal sector where heavy cash exchange hands daily. The CBN should look for another alternative that will benefit we traders in the state. If I need N500,000 to buy goods in the market and its impossible to cash it once then business will not flow”. Customers however expressed the fear that all extra charges associated with e-payment channels would be transferred to customers at the end of the day, thereby making banking service expensive in the country. With the commencement of the e-payment policy the large crowd within some banking halls in Lagos are expected to reduce as customers are expected to engage in mobile banking and electronic funds transfer without going to the banks. Lagos traders not prepared for cashless economy Thursday, 29 December 2011 18:11 administrator From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos As the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) prepares to on Sunday, 1st of January 2012, traders in the Computer Village, Ikeja; Balogun Market in Idumota among other places visited by People’s Daily in showed low preparation to go cashless. The trades lamented poor information about the policy while a few others claimed complete ignorance on the envisaged policy introduction. Samuel Akitu, who deals in of computers in Ikeja, said many Nigerians are not adequately informed by the CBN on how the policy operates. “Many of our customers who buy up to 300,000 to one million worth of goods daily are not inform we don’t have enough POS machine so how do we go cash less” he queried. Also, the leader of New Computer Traders Association, Mr. Eze Nbueze said its members handle more than N100 million worth of transactions daily. “All together, we handle more than N100 million here daily; the CBN does not make provision for we the traders but we will encourage our members to embrace it”. Also at Balogun market, some traders said the policy is dead on arrival. “I am not aware that I will not be able to deposit or withdrawal N150,000 but if government wants it like that, we will go back to our traditional method of saving money,” Mrs. Akin Olaosebikan told People’s Daily. The African Renaissance Party (ARP) Lagos state chapter argued that the CBN cashless policy is a new year economic disaster package to Lagosians, the policy is doomed to become a colossal failure right from the point of commencement and indeed have exposed the CBN governor as incompetent and inexperienced. The state chairman of the party, Udoka Udeogaranya in a statement said, “Lagos state, chosen by CBN to experiment their cashless policy, is not ripe for a programme that has to be effective right from the word go. The effectual implementation of an all encompassing cashless policy has no chance in a state that struggles with poor electricity supply, poor information technology services, poor ICT maintenance units and poor ICT literacy. “We dare the CBN governor to visit a merchant city like Guangzhou in China and see how the Chinese government, which is austere with its economy, yet allow merchants to have their way there, while industrial cities like Ningbo, Yiwu and Xiemen can thrive with over regulatory financial policies. In the livelihoods of merchants it is cash first and prices varies, therefore regulations are minimized. “This cashless policy will see retrenchment of bank staffs as many of the work will now be piled up for information technology gadgets to do and which will culminate into high rate of unemployment that is already a threat to the nations security”. Cash deposit or withdrawals exceeding the stipulated of N150, 000 (for individuals) and N1 million (for corporate bodies) would not attract the punitive processing charge on the commencement of the pilot scheme in Lagos on Sunday, January 1, 2012. http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/business/economy/27099-lagos-traders-not-prepared-for-cashless-economyn

Labour begins strike, protests Monday

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have threatened to shut down the country with indefinite strike action and mass protests should the Federal Government fail to revert back to the old price of fuel by Monday, January 9. This is coming as the Joint Action Front (JAF), a coalition of civil society groups, foreclosed the possibility of dialogue with the government before the commencement of the strike. The National Executive Councils (NEC) of both the NLC and TUC had yesterday met simultaneously in Abuja and Lagos respectively, with the two labour groups issuing a joint communiqué which slammed President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for jerking up the pump price of fuel last Sunday even while government claimed to be consulting with Nigerians. The communiqué read by the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, stated in part that: “Due to this upward review of prices, the pump price for petrol is now selling for between N141 and N200 per litre nation-wide rather than N65. This prohibitive increase in price of PMS once again confirms the position of Labour that deregulation to this government means incessant price increase of a strategic product (petrol) that impact on cost of living, cost of production and the general well-being of increasingly impoverished Nigerians.” “The immediate generalised negative impact of this price increase on transport cost, food, drugs, school fees, rents, indicate that government is totally wrong to underestimate the impact assessment of the so-called deregulation policy,” the communiqué stated. Omar stated further that: “In view of the untoward hardship workers and other Nigerians are experiencing based on excessive increase in petrol prices, there have been sporadic protests by Nigerians in at least 10 cities.” These peaceful protests, he noted, have witnessed the use of unprecedented force by the police, leading to harassment, intimidation, arrests and the murder of a protester in Ilorin. The NLC boss disclosed that there was a subsisting understanding between the Congress and the Federal Government in 2009 that removal of subsidy will not commence until certain conditions were met. The conditions, according to him, include the fixing of all the nation’s four existing refineries and building of new ones, regular power supply, and provision of other social infrastructure such as railways and repairs of roads as well as elimination of the corruption associated with supply and distribution of petroleum products in the downstream sector. He decried that these conditions were not fulfilled before the latest surreptitious subsidy removal by the Jonathan administration. Against this backdrop, he said: “After exhaustive deliberations and consultations with all sections of the populace, the NLC, TUC and their pro-people allies demand that the Presidency immediately reverses fuel prices to N65. If the government fails to do so, they direct that indefinite general strikes, mass rallies and street protests be held across the country with effect from Monday 9th January, 2012”. Beginning from Monday, 9th January 2012, all offices, oil production centres, air and sea ports, fuel stations, markets, banks, amongst others would be shut down, he said. He advised Nigerians to stockpile basic needs especially food and water and called on them to participate actively in the entire efforts to make government rescind its decision. “The emphasis is on peaceful protests, rallies and strikes while refusing to be intimidated. Labour calls on the police, armed forces and other security agencies to reject orders that they turn their weapons on fellow Nigerians. We warn that anybody who does so will be individually brought to justice”. “The primary objective of this patriotic call and movement is to revert PMS price to N65, restore normalcy and reclaim Nigeria for Nigerians,” he stressed. Meanwhile, the Joint Action Front (JAF) after an emergency in Lagos yesterday, insisted on nationwide protests and mass rallies, saying the was no need for dialogue with the Federal Government. TUC President, Comrade Peter Esele, who briefed newsmen at the end of the group's meeting at the PENGASSAN office in Lagos, said that the organised Labour would not dialogue with the Federal Government on the removal of fuel subsidy, insisting that the price of fuel must be reverted to N65 per litre. Also present at the meeting was Human Rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, who stressed that the battle is "a fight to finish", saying that if court wants to stop them, they have also organised their own lawyers to fight the cause. He announced that Lagos lawyers would join the protests today.

Nigerians won’t pay for govt’s ineffiency

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos Labour and civil society yesterday used the Town Hall meeting organised by the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) in Lagos to reiterate their stiff resistance to the planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products by the Federal Government. Their position was sequel to a debate which with delegates from the Federal Government led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, including the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Austen Oniwon and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The bigwigs in government canvassed reasons why subsidy should be removed with opposition to it coming from labour leaders, members of the civil society and prominent human rights lawyers, including Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba and others. The Vice-president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu said while the labour body was entirely not opposed to the planned deregulation, it has strong fears that the aftermath of the removal of subsidy would be immediate catastrophy for the nation. “Nigerians will resist any attempt to pay higher prices for imported petroleum products,” Aremu vowed, adding that the government should move from subsidising import to subsidising local production of petroleum. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana urged the Federal Government to listen to “alternative suggestions” and allow for more time to engage Nigerians before going ahead with the plan to remove fuel subsidy. He said that the fuel cabal had a field day because the government had refused to implement all the necessary laws that would have prevented them from ripping off Nigeria. “Don’t impose further punishment on Nigerians. They cannot afford to pay for the corruption and inefficiency of government,” he said. “20 licenses were given to build new refineries by former President Obasanjo but nobody made use of the advantage since the licenses were given to same people importing the petroleum products. Obasanjo increased fuel prices six times in eight years yet nothing changed; government should listen to alternative suggestions,” he said. To lawyer and activist, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), though there is nothing “conceptually wrong” with the promise of competition and free market that fuel subsidy removal will bring, government has to sacrifice more before going ahead with the policy. “We are not giving subsidy removal a bad name; if you want to put a burden on us, show us the one you (government) are carrying,” Agbakoba said. In defence of zero subsidy however, Okonjo-Iweala, in her presentation, said fuel subsidy removal was long overdue to allow for better regulation of the oil sector and for transparency. According to the minister, government could no longer sustain the subsidy which she said gulped about N1.3 trillion in 2011 alone amounting to over 30 percent of total government expenditure. Letting markets determine the pump price of petrol in Nigeria would push it up to N120 ($0.74) per litre, she said, from N65, but it would save over N1 trillion ($6.13 billion) in subsidies in 2012. “The subsidy is not benefiting Nigerians, but few people that have found themselves in the oil industry.” What the federal government is trying to do is to use the money (subsidy) for the benefit of the poor citizens in the society. “What we should argue about is the issue of lack of trust between Nigerians and the government,” she said. Okonjo-Iweala admitted that there were some “untoward things” going on in the management of the oil sector, but said continuing with subsidy payment would be unwise. However, the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, appeared non- definite on the matter. His words: “those in government are to promote a policy that is meant for all Nigerians, We (Government official) don’t have power. Infrastructure, Agricultural sector is poor, and there is no job, if the price of petroleum increases today, it will be 100 percent increase of consumable goods, we want to remove one trillion naira to whom? But in another breath, Sanusi drew applause when he said Nigeria spent $16 billion of its foreign exchange on costly imported fuel in the first 11 months to this year - $8 billion sold by the bank to petroleum importers and a further $8 billion spent by the Treasury on the subsidy itself. “Removing the fuel subsidy is not some magic silver bullet that can solve all the problems of Nigeria ... but the burden is unsustainable on the government’s finances,” he said. “We can keep paying the subsidy into 2015, but the next government will be saddled with the debt,” he said. He acknowledged the move was likely to prove unpopular, but asked: “Is it our responsibility to pursue the popular policy or the policy that is right for Nigeria.” The Petroleum Resources Minister, Alison-Madueke explained that to lessen the impact of subsidy removal, government is working to make the country’s refineries function at 90 percent capacity utilization in 24 months time. “The government has good policies on ground to build refineries and repair the existing ones,” she said, adding that plans are in the offing to upgrade major highways across the country to lessen the pain that may accompany the planned removal. Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state in his contribution, said he was not against subsidy removal in principle, but against realistic measures not being taken ahead to serve as a buffer for Nigerians. “Whatever the NLC decides is my stand because I will always be for labour. The question is not fuel subsidy, but if we must subsidise, what must we subsidise?, he asked. President Jonathan should be commended. It is on record that the last time when Petroleum price was increased it was during Obasanjo regime, Jonathan has never increased the pump price instead Late Yar’Adua reduced it to 65 naira, but the situation which the president brought is far more complicated than those before him. However, we have the right to insist on subsidy removal or to say no for government either executive or legislature to benefit from the removed subsidy.” “The price of transport could double ... The poor man cannot afford that,” said Ben Bruce, CEO of popular Nigerian television station Silverbird. “(If you) remove the subsidy, this is what you have to do: subsidise transport for the poor folks trying to go to work.” ($1 = 163.2500 naira) The roll call of dignitaries who graced the occasion is not limited to Chairman of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote; chairman Silverbird Group Ben Murray Bruce; Zenon Oil boss Mr. Femi Otedola ; Veteran Broadcaster and owner of Channels Television John Momoh , TELL magazine Nosa Igiebor ; Vanguard’s publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu; Ray Ekpu, formerly of Newswatch, former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba and former NPAN president, Isa Funtua.

Many Question over Ogbe Onokpite killing

Under the Nigeria Constitution, illegal possession of fire arms is liable to 2 years imprisonment, but in Delta state, officers of the Nigeria police force might have killed the governorship candidate of the Citizens Peoples Party (CPP) during 2007 and 2011 gubernatorial elections. Chief Ogbe Onokpite for this offence, AYODELE SAMUEL writes. The news of the killing of Chief Honourable Ogbe Onokpite, who was the candidate of the Citizens Peoples Party (CPP) in the Delta state 2007 and 2011 gubernatorial elections, has continued to spark up protest in many quarters. Onokpite, a Canada based Nigerian who had recently returned home to actively participate in politics of the state was, on the 26th of April 2011, following the April governorship election in Delta state, arrested at the INEC office after he challenged the manipulation of results that were being collated at the centre. He was imprisoned at the Nigeria Prison Okere, Warri, on what many politicians described as trumped-up charges of murder. He spent over two months in the prison without charge and was later freed, after which he met his untimely death at Orhuwovru in Udu Local Government Area of the state. The conflicting stories leading to the circumstances surrounding what political watchers in the state describe as an extra-judicial 'summary execution' have continued to cause tension in the state. The Commissioner of Police, Delta state Command, Mr. Ibrahim Tsafe, when confirming the killing of Onokpite told newsmen that his death took place on Saturday at Beeland Hotel, Orhuwhorun Road. He said he is not aware that Onokpite was a candidate of any political party but that two of Onokpite's boys who were arrested with two AK-47 rifles escorted the police to the hotel where the deceased was killed in an attempt to escape. According to him, at about 2pm, undercover operatives at Beeland Hotel, Orhuwhorun Road, Udu Local Government Area intercepted a Honda car vehicle with registration number AM 528JRT driven by one Malik Okorokporo, 33years. He said that when the driver of the vehicle was flagged down by police patrol men at Udu/Orhuwhorun road and a search conducted, "we recovered two AK47 riffles with No. 20613 and 13702, with over 60 rounds of live ammunition." Tsafe said that the suspect confessed that the riffles were to be delivered to one Collins Egbara, Chairman of Agaga Community, now at large allegedly on the instance of the deceased. "The suspect took the patrol team to Beeland Hotel to apprehend his principal (Onokpite) who attempted to take to flight on sighting the police, but was maimed. The principal gave up the ghost on the way to the hospital". The Commissioner of Police also said that Onokpite's killing was just a criminal case and not politically motivated. "I don't know his political lineage. I don't have his political history. I see him as person who actually was having criminal tendencies and all that we have on him showed that he was a criminal. Another police report says that they had intelligence that Chief Ogbe was in the process of purchasing arms. In an interview, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Ibrahim Tsafe, said that Chief Ogbe and 'accomplices were ambushed by the police detectives who were deployed in the hotel from the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Warri," and that he "was negotiating for arms in the hotel." Mr. Tsafe further said that Chief Ogbe was coming down from the hotel, when "we asked him to surrender but he declined to surrender, instead he confronted the police in company with his men." In this account of the police, a gun battle ensued in which Chief Onokpite received fatal injuries, saying, "he died before help could get to him in the hospital." But eyewitnesses account said "Chief Ogbe was actually shot in his hotel room, unarmed. Chief Ogbe had been staying at Beeland Hotel, on Oruwhorun Road, which is owned by a popular PDP chieftain, Chief Ben Egbetamah in Udu local government area of Delta state." Another witness said, "Chief Ogbe was arrested and shot, then taken alive by the police, in whose custody he then bled to death." Reacting to the news, Members of the Liberate Delta People's Movement said, "we overwhelmingly see the killing as politically-motivated, particularly as the state is preparing for local elections." They have called on the Federal Government and International agencies to look into the matter. The group's spokesman, Mr. Cadre Drake, said "We do not want to see the return of these kinds of killings to our state. This is somebody who was in prison and freed only recently. If what is reported is true, that he was arrested, then we do not expect the police to take the law into their own hands. There must be full transparency in examining this incidence; and the Delta state police can no longer be in charge of the investigations. It is true that Uduaghan's administration has been issuing threats against the opposition in the state and against citizens who are calling for accountability and the restoration of the people's mandate. This is completely unacceptable." Also a Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo, said the former governorship candidate was assassinated and accused the police of extra judicial killing. Keyamo said he was going to petition the Police authorities for a full coroner inquest into the killing. Also, elder brother of the deceased, Chief Victor Onokpite, who reacted on behalf of the Onokpite family of Uvwie, said their brother was not a gun-runner or armed robber, and blamed his killing by the police on politics. Reacting on behalf of the state government, the Delta state commissioner for information, Barr. Chike Ogeah, who said the killing was not politically motivated, noted that the incident was very unfortunate and that the police should be allowed to finish their investigations on the matter. While saying that the state does not want any form of extra-judicial killing, the commissioner said it is the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to come out and explain what really happened. At the meantime, many in Delta state are questioning the various accounts of the events by the police. Among the questions being raised are: the source of the police 'intelligence'; whether or not a gun battle actually took place; where was his "boys" arrested and whether the event was planned. Chief Ogbe Onokpite's political associates and family are still waiting for police in Delta state to provide answers.

OBJ, IBB's naked dance in the market square

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his hitherto close ally, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida share so many things in common. But recent development indicates that, beyond the surface, the two elder-statesmen may have been merely tolerating one another. Both leaders recently threw decency overboard and engaged each other openly in a verbal war. Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja and Ayodele Samuel, Lagos, examine the build-up to the tirades of the Titans. Until recently, the duo of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President Ibrahim Babangida could be referred to as political allies who, at all times, close their ranks in times of political turbulence in the country. This they have done on several occasions with the spirit of espirit de corps, both having attained the greatest height in their military career. Both have at one time or the other served the country at the highest levels in 'khaki' as Heads of State with Obasanjo capping his own with eight unbroken years as the civilian President of the country between 1999 and 2007. It was generally believed that IBB was one of the potent forces that ensured the emergence of the incarcerated Chief Obasanjo as the President of the country in 1999. It was equally speculated that the Mina born General helped his former boss to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s ticket to contest for the second term in 2003 when opposition rose against his emergence in the party. With their records of service at the highest levels in the country and the groundswell contributions of both elder-statesmen to national development, not a few Nigerians were taken aback when they took themselves to the cleaners on the pages of newspapers over, what some other people would regard as, frivolities. While one may excuse them for expressing their feelings over state of the nation and pardon them for having the guts to publicly reflect on their years of service to the nation, the two old men would not be spared the tongue on their decisions to wash their dirty linen in the open by castigating themselves in the market place. Babangida, it was who took the fight to Obasanjo when, in his Hilltop palace in Minna, he attempted to compare the success of his administration to that of his former boss, Obasanjo. He had said at his recent 70th birthday that "I managed poverty to achieve the result while some people manage affluence to achieve their "result". Commenting on the eight year democratic rule of the former civilian President, especially on his $16billion expenditure on power without commensurable results, IBB said "My comment is if I had $16 billion I would have used it to acquire nuclear energy for the country. It was a hell of money wasted. No foresight, no imagination and this is because everybody wanted to build something new as so-called legacy". The former Military President said if there was ever anything that he regretted during his eight years in power it was that crude oil price was $10 per barrel, pointing out that "I wish I was there when it was $120 per barrel, you would have seen wonders". Obasanjo, who will never allow anyone to rubbish him without fighting back, replied almost immediately, through the same medium, by labelling his erstwhile political ally 'a fool at 70'. Drawing inspiration for the inglorious battle from the Bible, Obasanjo said IBB failed to initiate any power project throughout his eight year administration. He said he could not believe that Babangida actually uttered those words until he read the reports in virtually all the newspapers. "I also read where he said in his time, he gave the dividends of democracy and at the same time he regretted. When I read that, well I said Babangida should be pitied and shown sympathy rather than anger or condemnation because the old saying says a fool at 40 is a fool forever and I would say a regret at 70 is a regret too late. Well a regret at 70 is a regret to the grave," Obasanjo said of Babangida. Defending his administration, Obasanjo said some of the issues raised by Babangida "were unfortunately not well thought-out. For instance, he talked about our energy. When I was the military head of state, I built Jebba dam; built Shiroro dam, I prepared the foundation of Egbin plant which President Shagari completed and commissioned. That time the money we were making was not up to the money Babangida was making annually for his eight years and yet we built two dams," Obasanjo said, adding "because it was important, you know that power is the driving force for development and for any developing country. But since the building of Egbin power plant, until I came back in 1999 there was not any generating plant for almost 20 years and Babangida spent eight years out of that. Now, he has the audacity to talk about anybody; I think that is unfortunate. "I started five of what they called Independent Power Stations which were stopped for two and a half years. Now that the present administration has started building a new power project at Uyo," the former President stated. Reacting to the open outburst of the two leaders, political commentators condemned their utterances even as they branded the two retired Army Generals as failures. They described Babangida as a kettle calling Obasanjo black just as they insisted that they are all of the same stock. Presidential spokesman, Dr Rueben Abati said, there was nothing to comment on as “it is their fight”. ACF Publicity Secretaty, Anthony N. Z. Sani said that although it was unstatesman-like of the two leaders to wash their dirty linen in public, it was all the same as well if it make “our current leaders avoid past pitfalls by improving the quality and volume of governance for common good.” A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay said "The two of them are colossal failure; they are twin brothers as far as governance is concerned. They are not better than each other." Human rights activist and Lagos based lawyer, Bamidele Aturu said both Obasanjo and IBB were in the same boat as military leaders. "Both of them failed even when they had the opportunity to have transformed this nation. IBB made corruption permanent. We must thank IBB for saying the truth. It takes a failure to accuse a failure," he said. To Chief Olu Falae, Obasanjo's civilian administration was a disaster as he could not manage the various organs of government that could make his administration a success. He said he would prefer IBB to Obasanjo because IBB during his time was cool headed unlike Obasanjo who ruled with iron fist even as a civilian president. Yoruba leader, Ayo Opadokun said the tenures of Obasanjo and IBB were complete disasters that impacted negatively on the lives of Nigerians. He accused Obasanjo of plunging the nation into extreme debt, adding that IBB's regime was completely dictatorial and militant in nature. Opadokun lamented that Obasanjo performed very poorly while in office but noted that his regime gave room for people to air their views. Also reacting, Mr. Yinka Odumakin described the tenures of IBB and Obasanjo as disasters. He said there was nothing good about the two administrations as they had negative impact all through. But, political watchers are of the opinion that the vituperations of both leaders who are supposed to have buried their differences by virtue of their age and positions in the country may signal constitute a security risk to the nation if not well managed. Ayo Yusuf, an Abuja based political commentator said "This is shameful. This is the height of irresponsibility from those who are supposed to be role models. They have the right to disagree but they must be aware that any negative comment from either of them has the capacity to compromise the nation's security." Responding to the unhealthy development, Senate President, Senator David Mark, has appealed to both leaders to sheath their swords in the interest of the nation. Mark in a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbodiyan, urged the former Presidents who are elder-statesmen to restrain from making further inflammatory remarks capable of destroying all the efforts they have sunk into building the nation. He said "As statesmen, you cannot afford to resolve your differences on the pages of newspapers. You have contributed immensely to the growth and development of this nation. Your responsibility is to advise those coming after you on the challenges confronting our nation today and in the future." He equally cautioned the followers of these eminent Nigerians not to expand the horizon of this disagreement, adding that "we should continue to pray for peaceful co-existence among all.