Our registration, victory for democracy—APC

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61937

Tukur apologises to 5 Northern govs 8

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

HEZBOLLAH: I got orders to survey Israeli Embassy 15 in Nigeria — Suspect

Our registration, victory for democracy—APC •We expect robust opposition — PDP

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, HENRY UMORU, TONY EDIKE, DAPO AKINREFON, CHARLES KUMOLU & GBENGA OKE BUJA—THE newly registered mega political party in the country, the All Progressives Congress, APC, a merger of opposition parties, yesterday

•Osoba, Tinubu, Ezeife, Kokori, Kaita, others hail INEC •African People's Congress waits for court decision A

RIVERS: LLOYD LIMPS TO COURT

Continues on page 5

•P.25

COLUMNISTS:

Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA•P.19

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

DETAINED—Detained Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd (M), being assisted to the court in Port Harcourt, yesterday. INSET: Lloyd and security personnel at the court. Photos: Chijioke Nwankpa. Story on Page 16.

DEPORTATION: Obi reports Fashola to Jonathan 14 C M Y K

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C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

BIDDING — From left: Managing Director, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading, Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi; Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, and Chairman Technical Committee, National Committee on Privatization, Dr. Atedo Peterside at the Financial Bids Opening for AFAM GENCO and Kaduna DISCO held in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Our registration, victory for democracy — APC Continues from page 1 described its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a victory for democracy and pledged not to disappoint Nigerians.

The commission, in a terse statement issued by its Secretary,

Abdullahi Kaugama, endorsing APC as a political party said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission has approved the application by three political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progres-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Too many people over value what they are not and under value what they are— Malcom Forbes.

You are and can be much greater than you ever imagined.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

C

HANGE the way you look at things and the things you look at change— Wayne W. Dyer

“WHEN life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.”

And I have come to understand that people need to learn how to select their thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life to be better, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.

I keep learning from life’s experiences to understand that destiny’s interventions can sometimes be read as invitation for us to address and even surmount our biggest fears. It doesn’t take a great genius to recognize that when you are pushed by circumstance to do the one thing you have always most specifically loathed and feared, this can be, at the very least, an interesting growth opportunity.

Eleanor Roosevelt says it beautifully: “Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose a challenge instead of being complacent.”

sive Change (CPC) – to merge into one, to be known as the All Progressives Congress.

“On considering the application, the Commission found that the applicant-parties have met all statutory requirements for the merger, and has accordingly granted their request.

“Consequently, the Commission has approved the withdrawal of the individual certificates of the applicantparties, and the issuance of a single certificate to the All Progressives Congress”.

Reacting to the endorsement of APC as a political party, eminent Nigerians in their numbers yesterday hailed the move and described it as a good omen for the country’s polity and democracy.

Our emergence, victory for democracy—APC The new party, in a statement issued by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos congratulated Nigerians on its emergence saying Nigerians now have an alternative to a ruling party that has taken the people for a bad ride in the past 14 years.

The party said its registration by INEC was a victory for Nigeria and for democracy, and that it has now also propelled the country to the league of top democratic nations with two major political parties.

According to the statement: "The journey has been long and tortuous.

All sorts of obstacles were thrown into our path by anti-democratic forces, but we were painstaking, determined and unrelenting in our quest for a formidable platform that will allow our country, Nigeria, to achieve her full potentials and join the league of respectable nations.

"With the approval of our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC, today marks the beginning of a new dawn for our country and her long-suffering people.

We thank Nigerians both here and in the Diaspora for standing by us. We thank the media for their fairness, and we commend INEC for doing the right thing and for not succumbing to pressures from phantom political associations that sought to force it to circumvent the law.

"We promise not to disappoint Nigerians who have reposed much confidence in us. We say

that contrary to the lies being peddled by the naysayers, we are not seeking political power for the sake of getting it, but in order to use it to empower our people and allow their longnursed hopes and dreams to become a reality.

"And to those who have vowed to change their names if APC survives for a year, we hope they will live up to their words." APC said Nigerians can now look forward to a truly democratic party in the best traditions of what the world considers as the best form of government.

The party promised to unveil, in the days ahead, its membership registration plans to give all Nigerians, especially those who have become disenchanted with the way things are going in the country, the much-awaited opportunity to be part of the country ’s democratic process in the true sense of the word.

"We will also be unveiling our plans to turn today’s hopelessness into a time of great opportunities, to reverse the downward slide in our socio-economic development, and to ensure that every Nigerian benefits from the commonwealth, instead of the present situation in which a few fat cats are milking the system dry at the expense of the citizenry," APC said.

The politics of APC registration Vanguard learnt that contrary to recent reports in a section of the media, the commission had all along been favourably disposed to registering the party on the grounds that the opposition coalition had already satisfied almost

all the requirements necessary for registration as a political party.

A senior official of the Commission who spoke on condition of anonymity told Vanguard : “A committee which was set up by the Commission to evaluate the opposition APC’s application submitted its report last week. However, the Commission was not satisfied with the report and directed the committee to carry out further evaluation of the application. That report was submitted yesterday.”

However, the registration of the opposition coalition as a political party notwithstanding, the last has surely not been heard on controversy surrounding which group truly owns the acronym, ‘APC’.

It will be recalled that the African People’s Congress which applied first to INEC for registration, had gone to an Abuja High Court to challenge INEC’s decision to turn down the association’s request to be listed on the roll of political parties in the country. The group had apparently gone to court in anticipation of the possibility that the All Progressives Congress could succeed with its own application for registration to the Commission.

The National Legal Adviser of the group Mr Kingsley Nnadi had last Monday told Vanguard that his association had more confidence in whatever would be the verdict of the court on the matter.

Nnadi had also said the association was no longer interested in its application to INEC for registration pointing out that the law which empowered INEC to register political parties also

Continues on page 50

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

2 store keepers jailed 24 years for stealing mosquito nets

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA— AN Asaba Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced head storekeeper attached to Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, office Asaba and his assistant to 24 years imprisonment for stealing treated mosquito nets.

The nets were procured by the Federal Government for six states in the South-South geo-political zone and kept in the warehouse.

Jailed were Mr. Mike Okonkwo, Head of Store, MDGs office, Asaba and Mrs. Finecountry Tracy, his assistant.

Incidentally, the businessman, who purchased the nets from the storekeepers, Ugwu Joseph, jumped bail during trial and was still at large when the judgment was delivered, Monday.

Delivering judgment, Chief Magistrate S. C. Ehikwe sentenced the storekeeper and his assistant to three years imprisonment with hard labour on each of the four counts for which they were found guilty. Sentences are, however, to run concurrently.

The magistrate also ordered that: “The police is urged to intensify their efforts to get Ugwu Ugochukwu arrested as the bench warrant issued for his arrest and his surety to show cause was extended.

“When arrested, warrant to serve his jail term would be signed in line with the terms of the second and third accused persons. It is further ordered that his surety wherever found should be arrested to face his own charge.”

Counsel to the third accused, Mr. F. N. Monye had pleaded for "utmost leniency," saying that third accused is a housewife and urged the court to be lenient with her, same for the second accused he claimed that he was a victim of circumstance.

The court, however, noted that: “The issue of mercy and leniency depends on the nature of the case. Those who are privileged to be entrusted with the welfare of the less privileged should regard such a responsibility as a sacred duty bestowed on them by God."

Residents discover 5 children’s corpses in Jigawa

BY ALIYU DANGIDA & TINA AKANNAM

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UTSE — THERE was pandemonium in Gwaram town, headquarters of Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State as residents woke up to find the corpses of five children on a street.

Reports from the area revealed that the five dead children were between 10 and 13 years old and from two families. The corpses were found on the street by some people from a mosque after their morning prayers.

Contacted, the Jigawa Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the incident, saying: “We received reports from our Gwaram division that five corpses were discovered on the street of Gwaram this morning. Our men rushed to the scene and picked the corpses to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, for postmortem and as I’m talking to you, there is no report on what led to their death.”

Jinjiri said the kids were Almajirai, Islamic pupils, who were found by the residents around 5 a.m by the roadside near some residential houses, adding that the police as of now are treating the case as that of natural death but would

brief the press on the outcome of the test from the hospital.

Police arrest three He confirmed that the police had arrested three people for

questioning and gave the names of the deceased as Basiru Malam Inusa,12; Mansur Malam Inusa, 12; Rabi’u Abubakar, 13; Buhari Abubakar,10 and Bashir Inusa,11.

Meanwhile, a resident of the

area who prefers anonymity told our reporter: “Their death might not be unconnected with something they ate in the night since all of them were almajirai residing in one of the houses at the old Gwaram town.”

SEIZURE: From left: Deputy Comptroller of Customs Oyo/Osun Command, Charity Nkanu; Oyo/Osun Area Controller of Customs, Comptroller Richards Oteri, showing newsmen some items seized by the command in Ibadan, yesterday. With them is officer in charge of Operations, Mr Johnson Akindele. PHOTO: NAN

ALAKIO KILLING:

How victim’s brothers seized N2m from widow, gave her N20,000 ...Police arrests 2

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AFIA — NASARAWA State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Shehu, has confirmed the detention of two men for hijacking the N2 million given to the widow and children of an officer killed in the Alakio attack.

The money was given by the Nasarawa State Government and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to widows and children of officers killed on May 7 attack on security agents in Alakio.

Shehu told newsmen in Lafia, yesterday, that the two brothers of one of the deceased officers from Plateau collected the money from the widow who had two daughters and gave her only N20,000.

According to Shehu, the widow reported to the police that she was subjected to all manners of humiliation and was ejected from the family house with her children.

He said the alleged ill-treatment prompted the police to invite the brothers, detain

and query them over the allegations.

He said they confessed to having collected the money and allegedly spent N700,000 on the funeral rites of the deceased.

The CP said he had to invite their pastor to intervene, leading to the refund of N1.3 million, which the pastor suggested

should be given to the widow and her children for their upkeep.

Shehu, however, warned that other relatives should desist from claiming monies meant for the upkeep of the children of deceased officers.

He charged people to fear God and imbibe the teachings of both religions to make the world a bet-

ter place.

According to him, to ensure transparency, each widow has been directed to open an account.

He said the widows were also directed to give the account numbers as well as their mobile phone numbers to the police authority for prompt action concerning benefits.

Police rescue 5-yr-old boy, woman from kidnappers

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AGOS — THE Lagos State Police Command, Tuesday, said it had rescued two persons, a five-year-old boy and a woman, who were kidnapped last Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ngozi Braide, said this in a statement in Lagos.

She said the boy, simply identified as Destiny, a pupil of Sulaful Nursery and Primary School, Okokomaiko, Lagos, was rescued from a suspected female kidnapper at Okokomaiko.

Braide said the pupil had been reunited with his family.

The police spokesperson said the police rescued the other victim, Mrs Bosede Adisa, in Ikorodu, Lagos. She said kidnappers dispossessed the woman’s husband of his SUV and sped off with it whle the woman was inside it.

“Policemen attached to Area ‘N’ Command Headquarters, Ijede, responded to a distress call on July 27 at about 2 a.m., trailed and arrested one of the suspects.

“After the arrest of the suspect, the policemen rescued

one Bosede Adisa at EwuElepe Town in Ikorodu, Lagos.

“The suspect with others now at large dispossessed one Mr Stephen Adisa of his Mitsubishi Montero SUVwith number plate LAGOS No. AKD 457 AZ at gunpoint at Lucky Fibre in Ikorodu and drove away with his wife, Bosede.”

She said efforts were being made to arrest the other members of the gang.

She said that the cases had been transferred to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigations.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—7

Couple, baby, motorcyclist crushed in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS— TRAGEDY struck, yesterday, along Sagamu road, in Ikorodu area of Lagos, after four persons were crushed by a commercial bus. The deceased, included a man, his wife, their one and half-year-old baby and the commercial motorcyclist.

Eye witnesses told Vanguard that a commercial bus known as danfo rammed a motorbike which was conveying the family of three to an unknown destination.

Immediately the incident occurred, the eye witness said the driver of the commercial bus zoomed off, abandoning the victims in the middle of the road.

“It was a pathetic sight this morning. What attracted us was a bang and before we knew what was happening, we saw the motorcyclist, a man, his wife and their male child sprawled on the ground. They were flung in different directions on the road.

"Another vehicle even ran over the man. To avoid further damage to the corpses, people started flagging down vehicles plying the route. Just then, some policemen from Sagamu division arrived the scene and took the bodies away,” the eye witness, Adewusi Oladimeji said.

The policemen were said to have searched the victims, apparently with a view to ascertaining their identities. In the process, an identity card was reportedly found on the commercial motorcyclist bearing the name Olatunji.

One of the sympathizers was said to have identified the passenger and his wife as Mr and Mrs Yaya Mogaji. The unknown sympathizer who said the family was from the northern part of the

country, disclosed that the one and half-year-old baby was the couple’s only child.

The bodies were said to have been removed by the policemen including the wrecked motorbike.

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BRIEFING: Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe (middle), briefing newsmen on recovered items from robbers at the Police Headquarters, Jos, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN.

How police recovered 8-month-old baby sold by grandma

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS — IT was an emotionalfilled atmosphere, yesterday, as Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Olakpe, nar-

My brother in NYSC is 38th of 50 corpses I counted — Witness

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BEOKUTA — A MAN who said his brother was one of those that lost their lives in a bomb blast, Monday, at Sabongari in Kano State, has said that he counted no fewer than 50 dead bodies in a mortuary in the city.

The witness who simply identified himself as Godwin, from Edo State claimed that his dead brother wore number 38 tag at the mortuary in Kano State with more bodies in the morgue.

He said his brother was a member of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, whom he said was mobilised from Ebonyi State where he schooled to serve in Kano State.

Godwin who spoke on phone

finding things difficult as those who claimed to be at the scene when the incident occurred were not ready to give the police clues on what they could use to effect to effect the driver’s arrest or identify the vehicle.

BY ONOZURE DANIA

KANO BLAST:

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

Police sources told Vanguard that investigation was ongoing with a view to apprehending the fleeing driver of the commercial bus.

But the police were reportedly

Bizman docked for allegedly receiving stolen vehicles

on a live radio progamme ‘Day Break Show ’ in Abeokuta, yesterday, said though normalcy had since returned to the troubled area, there was still feeling of insecurity among non-indigenes in the state capital.

He said: “As I'm speaking, I am at the mortuary to collect my brother’s corpse and he is number 38 and I can see more bodies.

“The total figure is about 50.

The 12 causalities claimed by the government is not correct.

“Kano has been peaceful in the last three months, but, with this latest one, we are again living in fear. Even though we were born here, we still see ourselves as non-indigenes, which should not be. It is terrible and worrisome here.”

rated how an eight-month-old baby was turned into a commodity, sold and re-sold by different buyers.

Parading the suspects at the state police headquarters, Olakpe said grandmother of the baby, Kate Anwacha, first allegedly sold her to Eucharia Anyeagbu for N200,000. Eucharia allegedly added her own profit margin and re-sold the baby to Rita Madubuko for N330,000.

The second buyer eventually allegedly sold the baby for N500,000 to one Grace Nnadozie from whom the baby was eventually “recovered” by the police in Awka, Anambra State.

According to the commissioner, the mother of the baby, Blessing Godspower, had lodged a complaint that her mother (Kate Anwacha) sent her on an errand and sold her baby, Chiamaka Obinna, before she returned.

He added that police detectives from ‘A’ Division, Jos recovered the baby from the last buyer in Anambra State last week.

According to the CP, the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Police nab housewife over hubby's death Also paraded were a 17-yearold housewife who allegedly murdered her 26-year-old husband

and four suspects alleged to have killed a cattle boy and plucked out his eyes for ritual purposes.

The housewife, Maryam Yahaya, allegedly stabbed her husband, Lawal Bala, a butcher, on the neck while sleeping at their home in Gangare area of Jos, on July 9, killing him in the process.

He added that the wife who was arrested for questioning eventually confessed to the crime.

Man arrested with human eyes Olakpe said one Tacha Tali was arrested with two human eyes last Friday and he later confessed that they belonged to a cattle boy at Shwar village in Kanke Local Government Area of the state who initially went missing while he took cattle for grazing.

His decomposing body was later found with the two eyes removed.

Tali’s confessional statement later led to the arrest of his two accomplices and the herbalist alleged to have demanded for the eyes.

Ten other suspects were paraded for alleged robbery while 11 vehicles recovered by the police in the last one month were also on display.

Olakpe called for continuous cooperation from the public in the effort to bring criminal activities to the barest minimum in the state.

AGOS— A 47-YEAROLD businessman, Alhaji Saidu Isa (aka Maiturari) was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos magistrate's court for allegedly stealing N15.9 million.

The defendant, who is facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property, preferred against him, by the police, was docked before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe.

The defendant, who resides in Niger State and Niger Republic, was said to have committed the alleged crime in 2012.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, told the court that the defendant and others at large on August 24, 2012, at about 6pm, at Mr Biggs by Mobil Petrol Station along LagosIbadan expressway, received stolen property.

He said Isa conspired with others at large to steal one Range Rover Sport valued at N11million, property of Lagos State Government.

Nnamonu said the defendant received the Range Rover from one Sampson Gbenga, knowing full well that it was a stolen vehicle.

The prosecutor said in April 2013, at about 2pm at Akute area of Lagos, received one Honda Accord IV Tec, worth N2.7million from Wale and Sampson Gbenga respectively, knowing full well that they were stolen cars.

He also alleged that the defendant and others at large, sometime in January 2012, at about 10pm, at Mobil Petrol Station along Lagos -Ibadan expressway, received a stolen Hyundai Saloon car valued N2.2million, from one Femi and Gilbert.

The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant in page five of his statement, stated that he has seven cases in different courts in Nigeria.

He said: “He has a house in Niger Republic and also in Niger State where he assembles the stolen vehicles.

I am not prosecuting him not to be granted bail, but I don’t want to mislead the court.”

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

PDP Reconciliation C'ttee won't intervene in Rivers crisis— Dickson

BY SONI DANIEL & EMMA UJAH

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BUJA—PEOPLES Democratic Party National Reconciliation Committee will not intervene in the political crisis currently rocking Rivers State, Chairman of the committee and Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has said.

Dickson told journalists in Abuja, yesterday, that his mandate did not extend to the Rivers crisis, just as the various legal issues on the crisis pending in courts prevent him and his committee from taking any action on the matter.

Beyond that, the governor explained that reconciling aggrieved members from states controlled by PDP was not a priority to the party but clearing the mess in non-PDP states to pave way for the party to win opposition strongholds in the next election.

Dickson said: “I don’t want to talk about the political crisis in Rivers. It is not my committee’s duty or intention to go into the Rivers crisis because of the many legal issues involved and National Assembly’s interventions.”

According to him, the committee was established by the PDP leadership with a mandate to reconcile aggrieved members of the party in all the states, where the party has lost governorship positions, with a view to re-positioning PDP for a better outing in future elections.

Speaking on the efforts so far made by his committee to reconcile aggrieved PDP members, especially in the 13 states controlled by other political parties, Dickson expressed confidence that all issues that caused disaffection within the party would be amicably resolved.

He said: “Our committee has made tremendous progress based on the mandate given to us. That was why last week we witnessed the decision by three aggrieved members, who had already obtained an injunction to stop our mini-convention, agreeing to withdraw the case

for out-of-court settlement.”

Positioning for Anambra guber

Governor Dickson said that in a bid to ensure the victory of PDP in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, the committee had scheduled to meet with all the governorship aspirants on the party’s platform from the state and Ekiti State today in Abuja.

The committee will first meet with the Anambra stakeholders before attending to their counterparts from Ekiti State.

On the committee’s modus oprandi, Dickson said his team would not concern itself with individual contestants in the various states but on how to keep the “bigger picture” in view and ensure that all members worked as a team in the interest of PDP. He said that a cohesive PDP had the potentials to defeat other parties across the nation.

According to him, only the party has what it takes to keep Nigeria united and progressive, as its ideology has neither ethnic nor religious coloration.

He said: “We won’t bother about contestants. I believe in the capacity of PDP to win more states. As democrats let the best party win based on

it unique programmes.

“PDP has greatest potentials to unite Nigerians and not built on fault lines of Nigeria. These are unique features of PDP. Other parties have faults lines that are inimical to Nigeria.

“There is no limit to go in reconciling aggrieved members and factions. I’m not aware of any PDP governor who is not on the same page with the party. If any we would succeed in reconciling them.

“The President has en-

IGERIA began withdraw ing some of its 1,200 troops in Mali, yesterday, and redeploy them in security operations at home, military authorities said, Tuesday.

Nigeria has been planning the withdrawal mainly due to the need for more soldiers to fight its own homegrown Islamist insurgency.

Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade said in a statement: “The troops are mainly those

‘Revolution in Bayelsa’

On developments in Bayelsa State, the governor explained that what was going on could only be described as a revolution and that he was working hard to create in Bayelsa a state with sufficiently skilled populace that would actively participate in the oil and gas in-

dustry and other sectors of the nation’s economy.

He said: “We’ve done a lot and I’m addressing the real challenges of our people and won’t waste time on propaganda. We are transforming it to be a springboard for development for a modern society to emerge.

“We are building the first world-class drug storage facility in Bayelsa. I don’t want Bayelsa to be breeding grounds for militants and criminals. What we are doing shows good leadership.”

VISIT: From left— First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Dr. Osita Chidoka, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps and Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, Comptroller-General of Customs, during a condolence visit to the First Lady in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

Tukur apologises to 5 Northern governors

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, pleaded with the five governors from the north elected on the platform of the party, saying that there was no way he could have condemned them for visiting President Goodluck Jonathan on trouble-shooting mission.

Tukur’s conciliatory’s position on the governors came a few hours after Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, registered All Progressives Congress as a political party.

Tukur in a statement, yesterday by his aide, Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, said he was in total support of the governors’ visits to President Goodluck Jonathan, former presidents, ex-heads of state and other

Nigeria begins troops pullout from Mali

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gaged the five governors and I’m going to work with them.

At all times we will be united by a common interest.”

not accommodated in the structures of the newly formed United Nations mission in Mail. They are to join the ongoing internal security operations.”

He did not specify how many troops would be withdrawn, saying only that an “input of sizable men and materials will continue in the UN Mission,” including a Nigeria-run military hospital.

In mid-May, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and launched an offensive against Nigerian Islamist sect, Boko Haram, in NorthEast Nigeria.

The insurgency remains active and has stretched Nigerian security forces.

Suspected Islamists killed 15 people in bomb blasts in the northern city of Kano, Tuesday.

Nigerians, who can contribute to reconciling aggrieved members of the party.

The governors are Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Babangida Aliyu, Niger; Murtala Nyako, Adamawa; Sule Lamido, Jigawa and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto.

The PDP National Chairman’s endorsement of the governors’ actions and activities was also coming barely 24 hours after Tukur, Tuesday, tongue lashed the governors, warning them to show decorum, humility and respect.

It will be recalled that Tukur had said in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Oliver Okpala, Tuesday, that as governors and leaders, they must desist from any action that could truncate the nation’s democracy.

He had also urged them to respect his age as an elder and bluntly told the governors that they must embrace peace and stop dramatising the country’s few problems against the

backdrop that it could send wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community.

According to Okpala’s statement, Bamanga Tukur warned them against what he termed unguided utterances, adding that their calls were causing unnecessary political tension and overheating the polity, stressing that as leaders, they were expected to show respect to him as an elder.

Disowning the statement by Tukur ’s Media Assistant, PDP's Acting National Secretary, Dr. Charles Akitoye, said that the thoughts of Okpala do not in any way represent the actions of Bamanga Tukur.

Akitoye said: “In addition to the earlier statement by Ahmed Gara, on behalf of the National Chairman, denouncing the release by Mr. Oliver Okpala, the Media Assistant to our respected National Chairman, the National Secretariat of PDP hereby reaffirm that the press release do not represent the thoughts and, even actions of the Chairman.”

Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—9

Boko Haram slaughters 8 in Borno zAs Ohanaeze Ndigbo plans Civilian JTF in Kano threatening the fabric of the

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD & NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—EIGHT persons, including a lecturer at the College of Education, Waka, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State (names withheld) were, yesterday, slaughtered by suspected Boko Haram members.

They were suspected to have invaded the town after escaping from their camps in Sambisa and other camps in Borno and Yobe states, during the military raid.

It was learnt that the killing took place around the popular Kadafur Cinema area and other wards where a lecturer at the Waka College of Education, who was also an Islamic cleric, three members of a family and four others were slaughtered.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Kano is considering floating a civilian JTF outfit to complement efforts by security agents to police Sabon Gari, a predominantly Christian quarters that had witnessed terrorist attack recently.

Briefing journalists in Kano, Chairman, Kano chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika, explained that the option had become “very viable in the light of increased activities of terrorists in the densely populated quarters.

Idika said that the “option of taking up our collective security through civilian JTF, is long overdue to set an example on how members of the guest community can best come together to confront a national question

nation.

“Residents of Sabon Gari have been the target of attacks by the extremist group since they struck January 20, 2012.

“The motor park bombing last March, with its attendant devastation, is still fresh in our mind and the question left unanswered is ‘for how long would members of the guest community continue to lose its productive population?”

Borno Dep Gov reacts

Last Tuesday, Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, who is also from Biu Local Government Area in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, lamented the increasing killing of innocent people in Biu. He said the state government was not interested in the restoration of GSM network in the state for now as doing so will

jeopardise the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.

A reliable source, who just arrived Maiduguri from the troubled town, said: “Biu is no longer safe. There were pockets of killings by suspected Boko Haram sect in the last few days.

“In fact, most of the killings were targeted at school teachers and Islamic clerics, and the most unfortunate thing is that the terrorists have devised a means of using knives to slaughter their targets, as using gunshots will attract security agencies.”

It was gathered that military task force has been deployed to the streets of the town to ensure safety of lives and property, even as some volunteered youths have offered to assist the security agencies in apprehending those perpetrating such act.

JTF spokesman, Lt-Col Sagir Musa, could not be reached at time due to lack of telecommunication services in the area.

VISIT: From left— Dr. Tope Oladele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Dr. Temitope Ilori, Commissioner for Health; Mrs Titi LaoyeTomori, Deputy Governor of Osun State; Dr. Braulio Hernadez; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Dr. Livan Maweo and Dr. Carlos Perea, during a courtesy visit of Cuban doctors to the governor in Osogbo.

Shell to sell off 4 more oil blocs

BY MICHAEL EBOH & JONAH NWOKPOKU, with agency report

S

HELL plans to sell at least four more oil blocs in Nigeria due to increasing crude theft, oil spills, community challenges and its inability to renew the licenses of some of the fields.

According to reports, the blocs, which are in joint ventures with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, are Oil Mining Licences, OMLs, 13 and 16 onshore the Niger Delta, and OML 71 and 72, which are in shallow waters.

The report said OML 13 and 16 lie in Ogoniland region, where Shell had experienced long-running disputes with local communities, multiple oil spills and widespread pipeline sabotage and theft.

OML 13 covers a large geographical area and has big gas reserves, while OML 16 is a much smaller asset.

The report further stated that OML 72 had proven oil reserves of around 120 million barrels, while OML 71 has significantly lower reserves.

Sources said Shell had been discussing renewing these licences with Federal Government over the years, but was yet to reach a deal.

Reports said NNPC owns 55 percent, Shell 30 percent, Total 10 percent and Eni owns five percent, adding that in all previous deals, Total and Eni had also sold their shares.

Spokespersons for Shell and Eni declined to comment and Total said it had no immediate comment on what plans were for their stakes in the blocs.

Rolake Akinkugbe, London-based head of oil and gas at Ecobank Research, said: “The move offshore is being viewed as a longerterm solution to the chal-

lenges faced onshore and in the shallow waters.

“Due to the increased level of oil theft and disruptions, a number of oil companies have started selling blocs in the troubled areas and moving to deep water offshore blocs.”

However, Gbenga Sholotan,

an energy analyst at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Lagos noted that apart from the security concerns, energy companies in Nigeria are refocusing on deep-water production because of declining onshore reserves; as such reserves replacement strategy is coming into play.

FG in talks with ASUU on strike —Maku

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Federal Government has expressed worry at the distortion in school calendar as a result of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike, saying that it is committed to the speedy resolution of the crisis for the sake of Nigerian students.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents at the end of yesterday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting that government was committed to “serious negotiations” with the university lecturers.

He appealed to students and parents to bear with government and show more understanding as efforts are being made to resolve the contending issues very soon.

He said: “The Federal Government has been far more worried than you think concerning the strike in tertiary institutions, because of the disruption of the school calendar and so government is concerned and very worried.

“Since the onset of the strike, government has been negotiating with ASUU through the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Ministry of Education.

“We know that these negotiations are going on and it is our expectation that this strike will not get more protracted and that an understanding will be reached soon.”

Babangida, Nwaoboshi become NEXIM board members

M

R. Mohammed Babangida, the son of former Military Head of State and Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, have been named board members of Nigeria Export-Import Bank, as Federal Government announced composition of the board of 28 federal parastatals and agencies.

The federal parastatals and agencies re-constituted include Nigeria Export-Import Bank; Nigerian Agricultural, Co-operative & Rural Development Bank; National Primary Health Care

Development Agency; Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TET-FUND; Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. Others are Administrative Staff College of Nigeria; Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency; National Automotive Council; Board of National Parks; Geological Survey of Nigeria Agency and Rural Electrification Agency.

Nigeria Copyright Commission; Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala, Borno; National Gallery of Art; Consumer Protection Council; National Institute for Sports, Lagos; National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Nigeria Technical Aids

Corps; National Institute for Trypansomaisis Research; National Troupe of Nigeria; Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research and Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research were also affected.

The boards of National Insurance Commission; National Health Insurance Scheme; National Institute for Medical Research, National Institute for Education Planning and Administration; Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development and National Centre for Technology Management, were also reconstituted.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Cleric blames Nigeria’s problems on moral decadence

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS — Apostolic Faith Church West and Central Africa, has blamed the socio-economic and political challenges facing Nigeria on moral decadence and spiritual depravity among religious bodies.

District Superintendent of the church,Rev. Bayo Adeniran spoke while briefing journalist on the church’s forth coming annual camp meeting with the theme: “The Fruitfulness of The Righteous” scheduled to hold at Faith City, Igbesa Ogun state,from Sunday, August 4 - 25, 2013.

Lagos govt denies deporting Anambra State indigenes zAssures residents of security from insurgency

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, DAPO AKINREFON & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — LAGOS State Government, yesterday, debunked allegation that it deported 67 indigenes of Anambra State, saying what happened was that the state government did rehabilitation and resettlement of citizens from other states.

It equally assured residents of adequate security of life and property in the wake of the recent arrest of some Boko Haram suspects in the state.

Briefing after the weekly security meeting chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola, state Commissioner of Police, Mr.

Umar Manko, said the state government only resettled the 67 Anambra indigenes.

According to him: “What happened was that the state government did rehabilitation and resettlement of the citizens from other states. These were those who came into the state and turned into destitute.

“After the state government realised this, it embarked on a reform mission. After that, they indicated that they would be happy to go back to their home-towns and be resettled. That was what happened. There wasn’t any deportation as claimed.”

Similarly, Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has berated critics of La-

gos State Government over the controverial deportation, saying no sane government will be blackmailed into allowing homeless individuals to inflict security and environmental problems to its state just to please those that readily play lousy and retrogressive politics with issues for selfish and ulterior interests.

In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said it was irked by the decision of “some professional chance takers and political opportunists to take advantage of the recent movement of some indigent, homeless and social miscreants to Onitsha for the purpose of re-connecting with their families when they have no

Youth fellowship holds vigil

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PAPA DIOCESE Youth Fellowship of Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church, will Friday hold its youth vigil with the theme: “That I may know Him”.

Taking place at the church auditorium, on Owotemu Street, Agboju, Lagos, from 10:00p.m .till dawn, the programme, according to one of the coordinators, Mr. Emmanuel Joshua, “is to build effective youths who will be able to stand for the truth, having the knowledge of God, rebuilding the broken walls hence bringing about national transformation.”

CEREMONY: From left, Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; President/CEO, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; CEO, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, and Femi Otedola, Chairman, Forte Oil, at the Bell Ringing Ceremony of the company, in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola

Fashola nominates new finance commissioner

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, forwarded the name of Director-General of the state’s Office of Public - Private Partnerships, PPP, Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, to the state House of Assembly as nominee to replace Mr. Tokunbo Abiru,

APM apologises over press remarks against labour union

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

LAGOS — APM Terminals, the largest container terminal in West Africa, has apologised to the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN and its PresidentGeneral, Nted Emmanuel Anthony, over recent uncomplimentary press remarks.

Piqued by the alleged uncomplimentary used of words on its President General, the Dockworkers branch of the union, had on Sunday handed down a one week ultimatum to

APM Terminals and its spokesman to withdraw the words and tender unreserved apology, or it would declare the spokesman a persona non grata in the ports.

However in a statement, APM Terminals spokesman said, “I have known the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Anthony Emmanuel Nted, for over a decade. I have known him to be a great and respected labour leader who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime industry.”

who recently resigned from the state’s cabinet as Commissioner for Finance.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the nomination was, however, subject to clearance by the State House of Assembly after consideration.

Gbeleyi also doubles as the Special Adviser to the Governor on PPP, the agency driving the Government-to-Business (G2B) collaboration policy thrust for the acceleration of infrastructure delivery towards the actualisation of the vision of making Lagos Africa’s model megacity.

A Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Nigeria,FCA, Gbeleyi was, prior to his current role as Director-General and Special Adviser on PPP, a co-partner with African Advisors, a consultancy boutique with focus on Telecoms, Infrastructure and PPP Advisory Services.

With over a decade of distinguished banking career in senior positions of cross-functional responsibilities, Ayo Gbeleyi was the pioneer and only Chief Treas-

ury Officer, Celtel Nigeria Limited, who led the company’s USD 1.1 billion Project Finance that won the Euromoney’s Project Finance Magazine’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa,EMEA, Telecoms Deal of the Year 2005,

tangible business in Lagos.

“We expect that the opposition in Lagos and its array of frustrated politicians will certainly seek to play politics with the decision of the Lagos State government to move some people that have no tangible business staying in Lagos to their home states.

“We expected that the professional ethnic agitators who have wasted public offices in Igboland, pillaging resources that would have served the interests of the people are now cashing further from the plights of their vicious approach to governance on this issue.

“It is a shame to the opposition that it is seeking cheap political capital from the plight of the hapless victims of its free loading approach to governance and has drawn the support of ethnic irredentists whose failure on governance left the Igbo people so poor that they have become homeless refugees in Lagos and other parts of the country.”

“To put the records straight, the Lagos State government, with its commitment to the interests of Lagosians and in its effort to build a functional modern mega city, had long embarked on the decision to pick up the many derelicts, the homeless, beggars and social miscreants that inhabit all parts of Lagos, clean them up, find means of livelihood for those that are employable and send those it cannot manage to their respective states.

“We are all aware that this scheme has seen the practical reduction in the number of the beggars, street urchins and social miscreants that used to constitute real danger to life in Lagos and has seen such people moved back to various states, mainly in the North.

“We should note also that other states in the South, including South West states have received such people and the Lagos State Government has been careful to ensure that the number of people involved in such periodic movements are minimal and are only people who do not have where to stay in Lagos, who don’t have any real engagement in Lagos and who constitute nuisance to other Lagosians.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—11

Ajimobi sacks YES-O officials over bribery

CNN, BBC, others to cover Glo sponsored African Fashion Week in London

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — AS a demonstration of his administration's zero tolerance for corruption, Governor Abiola Ajimobi led administration has sacked about 650 officials of Youth Empowerment Scheme tagged, “Yes-O.' According to the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Lowo Obisesan, they were sent away for alleged dereliction of duty and collection of bribes.

About 1,339 ‘YES O’ cadets were engaged almost two years ago by the state government as part of its resolve to reduce unemployment rate in the state.

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BRIEFING: From left, Oba Adebayo Adewole, Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, and Chairman of Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, during a press briefing on their activities, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube

Court stops PDP National Secretary election in Osogbo

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — AN Osun State high court, sitting in Osogbo, yesterday, stopped the Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP, from conducting an election to fill vacant position of National Secretary of the party during the planned mini national convention of the party.

The order was consequent upon a suit filed by the ousted

National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Justice Oyejide Falola, in an exparte motion filed by Prince Oyinlola, granted the three prayers in the motion after listening to the argument of coun-

CBN assists in recovery of N9bn illegal charges zAllays fears over cash-less scheme

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — THE Cen-

tral Bank of Nigeria has disclosed that it had assisted financial consumers to recover over N9billion illegal charges by banks in the last one year in pursuance of its consumer protection mandate.

The apex bank, explained that it was able to recover the N9 billion through its Consumer Protection department, following litany of complaints from consumers of various commercial banks in the country.

The Controller of CBN in Abeokuta, Olumuyiwa Joawo, who stated this at a Consumer Sensitisation Workshop organised by the apex bank in the state capital, added that, the CBN had put mechanism into place and investigated the complaints which led to the recovery of the N9 billion excess charges.

Joawo further explained that the CBN in a bid to prevent recurrence of excess charges had

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of the Original Land Document in respect of a plot of Land with Plot No. 1835 situated at A1 Close, 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos issued to Dr. Anike-Nweze Greene Ezenwa

by Federal Housing Authority.

All efforts to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station or the undersigned.

Dr. Anike-Nweze Greene Ezenwa 08033227051, 08096888600

recently reviewed and published a new guide to bank charges which according to him, took effect in April, adding that, “the document is available on request.”

The controller therefore noted that the development had continued to enhance consumer trust and public confidence in the economy, saying, “certainly, this will result in a more vibrant and

successful economy and will also improve the living standard of Nigerians.”

In his address, the Deputy Governor (Financial System Stability), CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, explained that the programme was in furtherance of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy which placed high priority on financial literacy.

Ondo govt worries over child abandonment rate

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — ONDO State government, yesterday, expressed concern over the increasing cases of child abandonment in various parts of the state, describing the development as an embarrassment to the state government.

The Women Affairs and Social Development Commissioner, Lady MahmudFasominu said this at Iju/ Itaogbolu during July edition of the 'Gbebiro' programme initiated by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Kemi Mimiko.

Fasominu said that the “number of abandoned children picked up from various parts of the state in the last three weeks was alarming.

The commissioner said that there is urgent ”need for vari-

ous women groups to educate young ladies around them who are not prepared to bear babies to run away from acts that could get them impregnated by irresponsible lovers.

“I believe something drastic must be done to reduce, if not totally stop this ungodly act.

These precious babies need the compassion and comfort of their parents.

“I want to intimate our dear women that my ministry is a social welfare office where issues relating to the welfare of women, young and old are treated with despatch.”

Also speaking, the wife of the governor, Mrs. Mimiko tasked women, particularly in the rural communities of the state to be development oriented and contribute to the socio economic growth of the state.

sel to the applicant, Realwan Okpanachi.

Prince Oyinlola had dragged Osun State PDP chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa and PDP national leadership before the court, concerning the plan of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to hold a mini national convention during which some of the vacant positions in the NWC, including that of national secretary, which was last held by Oyinlola in substantive capacity, will be filled.

Also joined in the suit is the chairman of the PDP Mini National Convention Committee, Professor Jerry Gana.

While addressing the court, counsel to the plaintiff, Realwan Okpanachi, said his client, whose election as PDP national secretary was nullified by the declaratory judgment of Justice Abdul Kafarati of an Abuja High Court on January 13, this year, has a pending appeal before Court of Appeal, Abuja, due for hearing in September.

He prayed the court to favourably consider and grant the motion before it, owing to the urgent nature of the issue involved.

In his ruling, Justice Falola ruled that the second and third respondents, Professor Gana and PDP national leadership be served copies of the motion outside the jurisdiction of the court.

He added that, upon the receipt of the motion, the respondents should maintain status quo till 26 July, the day the action was instituted before the court.

He also ordered that, should the PDP hold its mini convention, election must not be conducted to fill vacant position of national secretary in the NWC of the party pending the determination of the motion on notice.

He then adjourned the matter till Monday, August 19.

NUMBER of media organisations across Africa and Europe have confirmed arrangements to cover the Third African Fashion Week, sponsored

by Globacom and starting off today at Old Truman Brewery, London.

Some of the television stations include CNN, BBC, OH TV, BEN TV, VOX AFRICA, and KLEAR TV in the UK as well as other Africa based stations like M-Net. At the event, over 100 A-list African designers and exhibitors are expected to showcase the rich socio-cultural heritage of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.

According to Globacom, the company is collaborating with the organisers of African Fashion Week London to showcase Nigeria’s unique and diverse African cultural heritage through fashion.

Don’t politicise health challenges, Ogun ACN tells PDP

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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HE ACTION Congress of Nigeria in Ogun State has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party in the state against playing politics with the outbreak of gastroenteritis in the state.

The party in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Sola Lawal described as “cheap politics” the call by the PDP in the state on the World Health Organisation, WHO, to quickly come to the aid of the people to check further spread of the disease.

The PDP in the state and former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Ishola had called for a state of emergency in the health sector following the outbreak of cholera which had killed some people.

Reacting to the call, the ACN said the statement credited to Ishola that a state of emergency be declared as a result of the scourge was “unwarranted and reckless."

12—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

PDP convention: Why we went to cour t, by litigants

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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BUJA—THREE members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who recently withdrew their suit seeking to stop the party’s national convention, said yesterday, that they went to court to strengthen the party.

They made this revelation at a meeting with the Governor Seriake Dickson-led National Reconciliation Committee in Abuja, according a statement by the media aide to the Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

According to the statement, the litigants, Bashir Maidugu, Alhaji Yahaya Sule, and Abba Yale, explained that things had taken a dangerous turn in the party, and they felt that only the courts could check the trend, adding even the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,also recognised that there were problems within PDP. Maidugu, who spoke on behalf of the litigants, said that it took four days of frank negotiations with the Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee to “arrive at where we are.

He said: “Having extracted firm commitments from the committee to right the wrongs in the party, we were left with no option than to withdraw our suit.

We are here to assure Nigerians that we have collectively, without any prodding, withdrawn our suit.

We agreed that it was not good to set PDP on fire. No one should overheat the polity. Since the committee has agreed to address our grievances, there was no need to continue in court.”

Maidugu thanked Governor Dickson for leading the negotiations with “frankness.”

Audit reveals ‘massive’ age falsification by Edo teachers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—THE audit of the Edo State Government of primary schools in the state has revealed massive falsification of age of primary school teachers in the state public schools.

In a town hall meeting on state of education, yesterday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said its audit carried out by the state’s Information and Communications Technology, showed that 789 teachers out of 1,379 obtained their Primary School Leaving Certificates before the age of eight or nine.

He said “some of the records show there were a few who were particularly gifted and finished primary school before they were born. We found that of all our primary school teachers, only 1,287 representing nine percent out of 14,484 teachers had proper and accurate records in our system. Of this, 91 percent had various forms of discrepancies in their records.

“About 1,379 teachers representing 11.5 percent claim that they obtained their primary school certificates after they had been employed as teachers. In fact, some obtained their Primary School Cer-

tificates not more than two years ago, from the school in which they were employed as teachers.

“The question then is whether they went to Teachers’ Training College or obtained National

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—TWENTY-TWO members of the Bayelsa State Unemployed Graduates Forum, charged to court by the state Police Command for unlawful gathering, have been freed by a magistrate’s court sitting in Yenagoa.

The youths were arraigned in March, when they were arrested and detained for peacefully protesting their joblessness and demanding employment from the state government.

At the resumed hearing in the matter, the police prosecution team led by Jose Totekume filed a motion to withdraw the charge.

Magistrate Mirin Johnson obliged and subsequently struck out same.

But spokesman of the group, Fredrick Braithe, in an interview said the withdrawal of the charge had justified their peaceful action to draw attention to their plight.

Braithe called on the state government to appreciate the realities on ground and take steps to create jobs for the unemployed in the state.

2015: Anioma group tasks aspirants BYEMMAAMAIZE

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SABA—CHAIRMAN of Anioma Agenda, a political pressure group in Delta State, Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, has called on all aspirants from the North Senatorial District of Delta State, eyeing the governorship seat in 2015, to subsume their personal interest for the overall interest of the

people of the area.

Speaking when he led a 25-member delegation on a consultative visit to Dr. Festus Okubor, the Chief of Staff to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is one of those angling to take over from his boss, Onwuadiamu, said hhat only one candidate would emerge at the end of the day.

He said Anioma peo-

statistics on the teacher-student ratio in all the local government areas of the state, said that the average of 30 students per teacher in the state was much lower than the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO recommendation on studentteacher ratio.

SWEARING-IN: Governor Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, congratulating the new Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, after the swearing-in formalities in Uyo, yesterday.

Court dismisses charge against 22 unemployed graduates in Bayelsa

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Certificate of Education, NCE, before they went to primary school. These are facts that have been well documented. It will not be helpful to the cause of education and our resolve to deliver quality education to our pupils if we do not deal with these issues decisively.”

The governor who reeled out

ple were looking for an aspirant with proven record of accomplishment in public service or a high-level achiever in the public sector, adding “Delta State is complex and therefore, deserves a governor, who understands how the civil service runs, how the executive operates and how the legislature functions.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013 — 13

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14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Multiple registration: INEC to prosecute offenders in Anambra poll

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA—THE Legal Department of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is to commence prosecution of electoral offenders involved in multiple registration in Anambra State governorship election slated for November 16, 2013.

Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, disclosed this yesterday during a visit by a coalition of youth organisations.

He said: “We are going to commence prosecution of offenders who violated voter registration processes. We have already instructed our legal unit to commence prosecution of electoral offenders in Anambra State with regard to multiple registration.”

Jega also regretted that the perpetrators of the 2011 postelection violence on security agencies were yet to be prosecuted.

Forced deportation: Obi writes Jonathan as NBA threatens legal action

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has protested to President Goodluck Jonathan, the alleged deportation of 72 persons by Lagos State government. The deporteees were dumped at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha at night last week.

Obi’s letter to the President came on the heels of a threat by Onitsha branch of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, to drag Lagos State government to court over the issue Obi’s letter titled: "Unconstitutional, illegal and forced deportation of Nigerians to Anambra State from Lagos State" reads: “I wish to respectfully bring to your due attention a very disturbing development that has vast national security and political implications.

“Last September and again on July 24, 2013, the Lagos State Government contrived inexplicable reasons to round up Nigerians, whom they alleged were Anambra indigenes (most of whom the SSS report shows clearly are not from Anambra State) and forcefully deported them to Anambra State, dumping them as it were in the commercial city of Onitsha (see attached SSS report).

“This latest callous act, in which Lagos State did not even bother to consult with Anambra State, before deporting 72 persons considered to be of Igbo extraction to Anambra State, is illegal, unconstitutional and a blatant violation of the human

rights of these individuals and of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Your Excellency, no amount of offense committed by these people, even if deemed extremely criminal, would justify or warrant such cruel action by a State authority and in a democracy.

“Even refugees are protected by the law. Furthermore, the extant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution states: ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part, thereof, and

no citizen shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom’.

“Sir, forced deportation such as this, which Lagos State seems to be making a norm in addressing its domestic challenges are egregious and calls into question the validity of Nigeria and its federating components. Such acts violate human decency, the rule of law and constitutionally ordered liberties. Were Anambra and other states in the federation to resort to such extreme measures, there would be total

anarchy.

“It would amount to complicity on the part of the states and the Federal Government, if this issue is not thoroughly investigated and some form of censure brought to bear on Lagos State. I suggest, Sir, that you direct the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation to investigate these incidents.

“Naturally, I have the obligation to protect the interest and welfare of all Nigerians resident in Anambra State irrespective of their states of origin and I would be left with no option other than reciprocity or reprisal".

AWARD—From left: Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke; Group Executive Vice Chairman of Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor; Former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani and APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh during an award to Sir Offor as First Rotary Ambassador of Polio in Nigeria and the Highest African Donor to the Rotary Foundation in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Marginal fields account for 2.1% of Nigeria's crude production—DPR

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, said on Tuesday that Marginal Fields operations account for 2.1 per cent of the country ’s total crude production, with a daily production of about 60,000 barrels of oil per day.

Speaking at the Society for Petroleum Engineers, SPE 2013 Nigerian Annual International Conference and Exhibition, NAICE, in Lagos, the Director, DPR, Mr. George Osahon, said, however, that the Marginal Fields’ grew their reserves to 302.6 million barrels as at 2013, from 141 million barrels in 2004.

Osahon, who was represented by the Head, Upstream, DPR, Mr. Sam Obiora, said of the 24 marginal fields awarded in 2003 and the five fields awarded on a discretionary basis, only nine are producing.

He listed the active and productive marginal fields’ owners as Platform Petroleum, owner of Asuokpu/Umutu

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field; Walter Smith and Morris Petroleum, owners of Ibigwe field and Frontier Oil, owner of the Uquo field.

Others are Britania-U, owners of Ajapa field; Midwestern Oil and Gas and Suntrust, owners of Umusadege field and Pillar Oil, owner of Obodogwa/Obodeti field.

He further stated that out of the five marginal fields that were awarded on a discretionary basis, only Oriental Energy, owner of two of the fields — Okwok and Ebok fields, and Niger Delta Petroleum Development Company, NDPDC, owner of Ogbelle field are involved in active production.

Osahon further noted that the country’s crude reserves holding is currently skewed in favour of Joint Ventures, JV, and Production Sharing Contracts, PSC, accounting for 70.86 per cent and 22.67 per cent respectively.

He further stated that Joint Ventures and Production Sharing Contracts still hold majority of the country’s gas reserves, accounting for 77.73 per cent and 14.52 per cent respectively.

He maintained that there is the need to affirmatively invest in indigenous participation in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

The DPR boss, however, stated that the challenges facing the marginal operators have been adequately analyzed and remedial

legislation and actions are being proposed, especially as some of the marginal field operators are beginning to break new grounds in area of unlocking

stranded molecules through deployment of new technologies, thereby creating opportunity for employment and empowerment among others.

60,000bpd stolen daily from our lines—SHELL MD

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

T

HE Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, has said that about 60,000 barrels of oil are stolen daily in Nigeria.

Sunmonu stated this at the Nigeria Annual 37 th International Conference and Exhibition, NAICE, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE, in Lagos.

Sunmonu, who was represented by Mr. Chike Onyejekwe, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, SNEPCO, explained that activities of illegal refineries are damaging

to the environment.

“He said: At some point this year, over 60,000 barrels of crude was being stolen from SPDC lines every day. The activities of illegal refineries are extremely damaging to the environment. A significant proportion of the stolen crude used in the illegal refineries is disposed off in the environment. ‘”The scale and complexity of this problem is beyond the control of any one company. Let us be honest. Let us consider genuine ways that can help stop this problem. Personally, I believe the perpetrators of these crimes need to be arrested and prosecuted. Until there is a deterrent, the industry doesn’t stand a chance against illegal bunkering of the scale we are seeing today” .

The Shell boss also said the

impact of activities of crude oil thieves and illegal refineries on the environment in the Niger Delta and the Nigerian economy is now a crisis situation.

According to him, Nigeria depends on the oil industry for approximately 95 percent of export earnings and 80 percent of government revenue.

He said: “The government aspires to increase oil production to four million barrels per day, grow reserves to 40 billion barrels and earn as much as revenue from gas as oil by 2020. But in order to do this, we must tackle oil theft”.

Shell’s concern was further confirmed by th report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, which stated that Nigeria lost an estimated 136 million barrels of crude oil worth $11 billion, through stealing and sabotage.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 — 15

Hezbolla: I got order to survey Israeli Embassy in Nigeria — FAWAZ zSays I took aerial picture of Abuja from roof of Sheraton Hotel

ASUU strike: NANS exco splits, disowns president

BY KELECHI AZUBIKE

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, heard how one of the three Lebanese suspects allegedly involved in illicit importation of arms into the country got an order to survey the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria.

The suspect, Mustapha Fawaz, co-owner of Amigo Supermarket Limited and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort, in a video shown to the court, further confessed that he was mandated by a top Hezbollah agent, simply identified as “Isah”, to get an aerial picture of Abuja.

To successfully get a holistic shot of strategic spots in the Federal Capital Territory, the suspect said he maneuvered his way to the top of Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, from where he took pictures of the capital city.

Besides, the accused person disclosed that in both of his business outfits, Amigo and Wonderland, which had since been shut by the Federal Government, he had special surveillance cameras with which he monitored the movement of expatriates, especially those of Israeli extraction.

Similarly, the third accused person, Tahal Roda, who was arrested inside the house where a large cache of arms and ammunition were discovered in an underground bunker at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road in Kano, admitted that he was not only aware of the existence of the arms, but also frequently serviced them.

Due to the exigency of time, the trial court, presided over by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, could not finish viewing all the video clips that contained the confessions of the accused persons during interrogation of operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS. The videos were accordingly admitted into evidence.

The court had earlier heard how the second accused person, Mr Abdullahi Thahini, was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on May 11, 2013, when he tried to escape the country to Beirut via a Middle East airline.

Justice Adeniyi further took possession of the sum of $61, 170, 000 he allegedly attempted to smuggle out of the country.

Meanwhile, having called 10 witnesses and tendered 24 exhibits against the accused persons, the Federal Government closed its case,

even as the court adjourned till Friday to enable them open defence.

The court gave the accused persons three days to adduce reasons they should not be convicted on the basis of the 16count terrorism charge preferred against them by the government.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the accused persons had resolved to mount the witness box and testify for themselves, just as they had packaged pictures they intended to tender to the court, with a view to proving that

Hezbollah, as a political party in Lebanon, had one of its executives visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa.

Speaking to newsmen, the Acting Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr Simon Egede, who is in charge of the prosecution, maintained that the visual evidence government tendered was enough to nail the accused persons.

He said: “The videos confirmed the unauthorized and illegal surveillance carried out by the first accused person

along with his foreign collaborators, where they captured different strategic buildings in Abuja, while perched on top of Sheraton Hotel building.

“The video was played and it was revealed, it also confirmed carrying those foreign collaborators round Abuja, searching for the Israeli embassy. The video also confirmed that they have surveillance camera in Amigo supermarket where they captured their customers, especially foreigners and specifically, Israeli customers".

BREAKFAST MEETING—From left: Mr Ikeddy Iziguzo, Chairman, Editorial Board, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Adeniran Arimoro, Trade Promotion, Brazillian ConsulateGeneral and Mrs Chioma Iziguzo, during the Nigerian-Brazillian Chambers of Commerce and Industry breakfast meeting in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

New owners emerge for Afam Power Plc, Kaduna Distribution Company

BY NOEL ONOJA

A

BUJA—WINNERS yesterday emerged in the bidding conducted for Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Distribution Company by Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE. The development is however, yet to be confirmed by the National Council on Privatisation, NCP. The duo are two of the 18 successor companies carved out of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. After the bid conducted in Abuja, Taleveras Group emerged top bidders for Afam Power Plc with a $260.05 million bid, while TES Power Ltd with a $222.9 million bid emerged as second preferred bidder for Afam Genco.

The two bidders attained the 75 percent minimum score and also submitted the required post-qualification security.

However, for the Kaduna Distribution Company, six companies, including Axis Power Distribution Ltd, NAHCO Consortium; INCAR Power Ltd, Northwest Power Ltd; LEDA Consortium Ltd; and Copper Belt Consortium Ltd, offered the highest aggregate technical commercial and collection loss reduction figure (ATC &C) in their bidding, with Northwest Power Ltd emerging highest with 29.26 percent.

This was followed by LEDA Consortium Ltd with 26.71 percent; NAHCO Consortium, 22.83 percent; INCAR Power Ltd, 22.73 percent; Copper Belt Consortium Ltd, 21.07 percent, while Axis Power Distribution

Ltd offered 17.40 percent.

The official winner will be announced by the NCP. Speaking at the bid opening, Director General of the BPE, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, said: “None of the bids received for Afam Power plant and Kaduna Disco met the minimum score of 750 marks required to pass the technical evaluation during the first round of sale of PHCN successor companies. So, the process was terminated as Nigeria will only accept the best to run its power sector.

“Thus, in accordance with the transaction framework approved by the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, and communicated to all bidders, BPE had to invite fresh bid documents".

11 proposals were received for Kaduna Disco and nine for Afam plant.

A

BUJA—EXECUTIVE members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, have disowned the national president, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, on his support for the Federal Government in the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Some members of the executive told newsmen, yesterday, that students were largely unbiased in the crisis and the inclination of Mr. Gbadebo to support the government was a deviation from the students’ collective goal of resolving the crisis.

The executive members who included national assistant secretary general, Ali Mohammed , the national sports director, Talib Abubakar Gumel, director of travels and exchange, Olusegun Oyebisi, said there was no consultation on the issues before Gbadebo declared NANS support for the Federal Government.

Ex-Ijebu Waterside LG boss, aide convicted over N4m fraud

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—THE former Chairman of Ijebu Waterside Local Government, Abigi, Ogun State, Gboyega Bakare and his Administrative Officer 1, Mr Mohammed Adeyemi Oke, are currently cooling their heels in prison over misappropriation of N4 million meant for the security of the community.

Justice Jipode of Ijebu Ode High Court had sentenced the duo to six months jail term without an option of fine, after being convicted on a 15count charge levelled against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. The convicts were alleged to have collected N4 million at the rate of N250, 000 weekly from the month of September, 2005 to February, 2006, for the upkeep of mobile policemen drafted to restore peace to two communities involved in communal crisis within the local government.

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Ewherido: Philanthropist d o n a t e s books to schools in Delta Central

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—AS part of efforts to immortalise ideals of the departed Senator Pius Ewherido, a prominent Urhobo son and philanthropist, Mr. Solomon Udele, yesterday, donated more than 10,000 notebooks to public and private Primary and Secondary Schools in the Delta Central Senatorial district.

Speaking during the presentation of the books with Ewherido’s picture on the cover at Government College, Ughelli, Udele said; “when a few weeks back, our son, Senator Ewherido, answered his creator’s call, the world mourned. Urhobo cried. We cried because we lost someone whose primary focus was the positioning of the Urhobo nation.

He had his ideas.

“Awaken a consciousness of the people. He set out to bring his ideas for a true Urhobo nation. But like King David of the bible, he could only lay the plan of the new temple of the Lord, he could not build it, but shall we allow his ideas to end with him? I say no.”

Udele who also visited the Ovie of Ewu, HRH Onesa Ogaga on the book donation project said: “We stand here today to continue from where our son stopped. We stand here to challenge the Urhobo sons and daughters to rise up and ensure that the light which our son had lit is not put out. He stood for a great Urhobo nation. He laid out his plans to educate our people. It is not enough to pour tributes after tributes on our late son. We must wipe our tears now and start to act.”

Rivers crisis: Chidi Lloyd limps to court zRemanded in Police custody till Aug 6

vate lawyer prosecuting criminal ercised when the charge had not PORT HARCOURT—HON. case without the permission of the been read to the accused and his Chidi Lloyd, Majority Leader state A-G, Rivers State Attorney plea taken.

At that point, Justice Nyordee of the Rivers State House of As- General, Mr Worgu Boms, who was also in court, intervened, askadvised parties to suspend their sembly, was produced, yesterday, ing the court to grant him leave to arguments, pending when the before a Rivers State High Court take over the prosecution of the charge was read to the accused sitting in Port Harcourt, eight days case in accordance with Section and his plea taken. after police arrested him over alResponding, Denwigwe conleged criminal role in the July 9 211 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. tended that the charge and plea fracas in the state Assembly.

Denwigwe, who objected, noted cannot be taken until the court Lloyd, brought to court by heavthat though the law allows the rules on the earlier argument of ily armed Policemen at 11am, Attorney General to take over the defence and prosecuting counlimped on one leg and had to be case, such powers cannot be exsel and whether the Attorney aided by two persons to ascend the stairs to the second floor of the court building, where Justice L. Nyorde, the trial judge has his court room.

The reading of the charge to the accused for his plea was halted, as defence counsel, Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, argued that Mr. Donald Denwigwe, SAN, who led the prosecution, was incompetent to stand for the prosecution as a civilian lawyer and without the fiat of the state Attorney General.

Nwofor argued that the law only allows Denwigwe to prosecute for the police, if he obtained a fiat of the Attorney General of the state for a criminal matter concerning an alleged offence against the laws of Rivers State.

In his reply, Denwigwe countered that the Police Act allows anybody to prosecute for the police, but Beluolisa insisted that relevant provisions of the 1999 ConVISIT: From left: Mr. George Uriesi, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of stitution overrides the Police Act. Nigeria, FAAN; Mr. Ayodele Sunday, Benin Airport Manager and Governor Adams While defence counsel and Oshiomhole of Edo State, during a visit of the management of FAAN to the governor over Denwigwe were at each other’s Tuesday's closure of the Benin airport. throat over the propriety of a priBY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI HE

FAAN boss visits Oshiomhole, apologises over airport closure zAs ESBIRS boss decries detention

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—MANAGING Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi, yesterday, apologised to the Edo State Government and air travellers over the incident that led to the closure of the Benin Airport on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Edo State Board of Internal Revenue,

Chief Useni Elamah, who was detained by the police Tuesday over the sealing up of the premises of FAAN, Benin Airport, yesterday, described his detention as absurd, noting that federal agencies in the state were indebted to the state government to the tune of over N2.5billion.

Elamah, was detained but released at 9:30pm Tuesday, follow-

Rivers PDP faction moves to suspend Senator, Factional chairman of the party, members are peacefully reconothers Obuah in a statement by his me- ciled, certain members of the party

P

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT—THE Felix Obuah faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has threatened to suspend Senator Magnus Abe, Mr. Andrew Uchendu and Mr. Dakuku Peterside over alleged anti- party activities.

Meantime, a political associate of Senator Abe and leader, Eleme Legislative Assembly, Gomba Olaka, who commented on the threat, said it was shocking that the faction of the party could contemplate such action.

General can take over the case without the formal arraignment of the accused and his plea taken.

Judge Nyordee, however, adjourned till August 6, for the ruling.

Following the development, Lloyd was returned to police custody, to the anger of his supporters and political associates, who thronged the court very early on the day, hoping that he would be granted bail, yesterday.

Also at the court were some members of the state Assembly and friends.

dia aide, Mr. Jerry Needam, accused the party leaders and members of the National Assembly of alleged indiscipline and disrespect to the party.

He said: “The party will no longer tolerate deliberate acts of indiscipline and disrespect to the party by any of her members in the state no matter the office he occupies or the social status of such erring party member.

“While the leadership is making frantic efforts to resolve the raging internal political crisis in the state and ensure that all aggrieved

notably, Senator Abe, Uchendu, Peterside and some others are busy throwing spanners into the wheel of progress through unguarded statements and divisive actions.”

The party reminded such members and dissidents of the provisions of Article 9 of the party’s constitution, which forbade all members from any act that will portray the party in bad light, including publishing or distributing to the media, any material which purports to be the view of any faction within the party, among others.

ing the intervention of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who demanded his release, describing his arrest as unjust.

Mr. Uriesi who led other management staff, which include Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Mr. Kolawole Adefomiwa, Deputy General Manager, Mr. Adeboye Festus, the Chief Security Officer and Mr. Ayodele Sunday, Airport Manager, Benin City, on a visit to Oshiomhole said: “We deeply regret the events of Tuesday and we will like to find out how we can avoid a situation like this in the future.

This is because it is neither in the interest of FAAN nor in the interest of Edo State Government for the Airport to be closed down, because there was a lot of hardship and serious economic consequences occasioned by the shutdown and there is need to settle this matter.

“I want to assure you (Governor Oshiomhole) that FAAN is a good corporate citizen, I am convinced that there was a misunderstanding and I want to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding, so that it does not happen again.

“If we have any obligations, we will meet them, and I hope that in the future, if there are issues of misunderstanding, we will be able to talk about them quickly without them leading to delays and inconveniences to the public. So, sir, we are here to reassure you of our respect and desire to be good corporate citizens and partner the state government to deliver services to the people of Edo State.”

Responding, Governor Oshiomhole noted that tax law was a federal law which the state government was only trying to implement.

He noted that the tax which FAAN defaulted on was the Pay As You Earn, PAYE, which even the President and governors pay.

Oshiomhole said that the state Board of Internal Revenue got a proper court order to seal-up FAAN Manager’s Office, noting that the FAAN manager on his own decided to seal up the Airport to gain public sympathy.

He insisted that anybody who works and lives in Edo State must pay tax in contribution to the development of the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013— 17

Music, radio and life

A

C M Y K

T

Alhaji Umaru Dikko, nostalgia and PDP’s politics strings, make and unmake the party apparatchiks and manipulate the political process to often, disreputable and personal ends. This led to the exasperation felt by old party men from the NPN era like PDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur. He hacks back to the past to find solution to the problems the present has thrown up.

But old man Tukur must give himself the pause; how can he demand the discipline of the NPN era when President Jonathan benefits from

,

WEEK can be a very long time in politics.

This is even truer within the pressure cooker ambience of Nigerian politics. Two events this week, underline the central place of power and the incredible struggle to retain it, by the denizens of the PDP. Firstly, the party ’s leadership reached for the past to exhume one of the dinosaurs of our political history, to solve problems very much in the mould of the present. They made Alhaji Umaru Dikko chairman of a new National Disciplinary Committee.

Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s reemergence speaks volumes about the mindset of old man, Bamanga Tukur. He was a governor, for a few months, of the old Gongola State, during the Second Republic, 1979-83, when Alhaji Umaru Dikko, was one of the most powerful individuals in the country. He served as Transport minister; was a close confidant of President Shehu Shagari and in the highwire politics of the period, was set up as straw man by the UPN opposition media, upon whom was poured so much opprobrium. So successful was the demonization of Dikko, that the Buhari military dictatorship which toppled the Shagari administration, hired Israeli thugs to kidnap the man. He was drugged and crated and it took the Ghanaian journalist, Elizabeth Ohene, to blow the whistle that allowed British security to stop the man’s return to Nigeria. A diplomatic row ensued!‘ Most Nigerians today are too young to have heard about that colourful politician of the NPN era. But to Bamanga Tukur, there is a strong element of symbolism and nostalgia involved in the constitution of a Disciplinary Committee with Alhaji Umaru Dikko as chairman. The parties of the Second Republic had an admirable cohesion and fidelity to basic principles, which elude the vote-rigging contraptions parading as parties today. For instance, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai used to tell the story of how the NPN’s caucus met weekly, with party chairman, Chief Adisa Akinloye presiding, while President Shehu Shagari attended as a loyal party member. The president was not party “leader ” as is the practice today. In the Nigerian states today, governors are the ultimate emperors and eternal puppeteers.

They hold the purse

Nostalgia can be potent but reality is a painful teacher.

The era of the disciplined political party died with the Twentieth Century. The PDP (and its opposition clones like ACN, CPC APGA or ANPP!) reflects very much the new era of power without much principle and little responsibility

,

Alhaji Umaru Dikko, chairman National Disciplinary committee, PDP.

heads the hawkish, gung-ho brigade of the Jonathan project, was said to have discovered statesmanship. Lamido said Clarke publicly apologized for “whatever might have been their perceived concerns and anger over his utterances”.

Sule Lamido added a clincher: “That is how leaders and elders should behave”; but

the anachronism reigning inside today’s PDP? Maybe old man Umaru Dikko will rebottle the genie! But the portents are not hopeful.

N

ostalgia can be potent but reality is a painful teacher. The era of the disciplined political party died with the Twentieth Century.

The PDP (and its opposition clones like ACN, CPC APGA or ANPP!) reflects very much the new era of power without much principle and little responsibility.

The platform of buccaneering and personal aggrandizement by groups of elite devoted not to the good of society but the protection of the racket that politics has evolved into. The most likely scenario remains the re-rallying of the troops because no one, not even the most apparently aggrieved, wants to be out of the loop of power. And that brings us to the second issue of the day. After the huffing and puffing of the past few weeks, Governors Sule Lamido, Aliyu Wamakko, Rabiu

PDP Chairman,Bamanga Tukur.

Musa Kwankwaso and Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, finally met with President Goodluck Jonathan, early this week. Lamido confirmed that the meeting held: “Yes, we met with Mr. President to discuss the current political situation in the country.

He invited us, five of us…The discussions were very frank and honest.

We told ourselves the truth. And we were very, very frank with each other. So let’s leave it at that”. As the posturing for 2015 gathers pace, even old man EK Clarke, who

knowing EK Clarke for what he is, the question should be for how long can he wear the ill-fitting, borrowed robe of the statesman? These are interesting times indeed!

For the sake of continued retention of power, the sharpened knives will be hidden under starched Babarigas for a while. Just for a while! The next round of heated passion will arise when they have to share the spoils of victory. 2015 isn’t too far away! But for now, it will be interesting to see how much discipline Alhaji Umaru Dikko can knock into the undisciplined political mob that constitutes the PDP.

WO weeks ago, I wrote a longish essay on aspects of Nigerian music, which surprised quite a few readers, including Uncle Sam Amuka, VANGUARD’s publisher. He asked me a few questions about where my knowledge of Nigerian music came from. In the days since that piece was published, I have reflected upon the place of music in my life and I look back with nostalgia to my early years, and my father’s old GRUNDIG “changer ”. We had a very impressive collection of gramophone records: Indian songs; Jazz (and Nat King Cole was a perennial favourite!); all the contemporary highlife artists of the day, from Bobby Benson through to Rex Lawson and Adeolu Akinsanya; IK Dairo; Haruna Isola and the great Hausa crooners, from Mamman Shata; Dan Kwairo to Ahmadu Ganga Ganga. I wonder why my head was not bursting from listening to the most eclectic choice of songs as a young, growing boy of the 1960s! And that “changer” will churn out so much music each day, inviting me, and my extended family of cousins, to sing and dance. They were really jolly years of coming into consciousness.

A combination of events that I have narrated in the past, made it almost inevitable that I was going to end up working in broadcasting. And by the late 1970s, the art of the Deejay had become so well recognized in Nigeria. I became very popular as a Deejay on Radio Nigeria, Ilorin. When I attended the Basic Announcers’ Course at the Broadcasting House in Ikoyi, in March 1978, Radio Nigeria Two, AM-FM Stereo, was the rave, with Tony Ibegbuna; Benson Idonije; Kevin Amaechi; Ron Mgbatogu and others, being trendsetters. Radio Nigeria made its announcers real professionals; we learnt to present music and as part of the training, had to compere a real band and in my time, it was Eddy Okonta’s band that was brought into Studio Nine. Lawrence Emeka taught us about Nigerian music in a manner that today’s university professors can only envy. And the entire ambience at the Broadcasting House, Ikoyi, was so infectious in its excellence that one was not likely to pass through and not be affected for life! I remember walking through the corridors each morning, to reach our Language Laboratory, passing by the office of the classical composer, Adams Fiberesima, with classical music wafting through loudspeakers; he seemed perpetually busy and was composer of the classical piece, HIGHLIFE NIGERIANA. The two Felas (Fela Sowande and Fela Kuti) had passed through those haloed precincts and the trumpeter, Zeal Onyia became my very good friend!

By the time the Obasanjo military regime reorganised broadcasting in 1978, leading to the emergence of states-owned broadcasting organisations, I chose to become a pioneer member of staff at Radio Kwara. The philosophy of broadcasting evolved and the mantra became Grassroots Broadcasting (GRB). We became part of a process which consciously began to collect and broadcast the different musical genres available in Kwara state: Nupe (people like Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Lafiagi); the Batonbu speaking artists who recoded mainly in Republic of Benin; the Ebirra artists (Alhaji Ahmadu Senior; Alhaji Sule Adeku; Mataga and his Umanave group and the various musical arts related to Egugu festival in Ebirra land); the Okun artists like Aina Tetebiare; and the Dadakuada; Toobeni; Baalu traditions of Ilorin and Hajiya Hassana Abake, of the Igbomina; Jolomiro from Babanloma and the travelling minstrel from the same town, Jangalade!

I used to encounter him as a child on the train journey between Ilorin and Jebba. This remarkable repertoire did not stop us from connecting with other Nigerian forms from North and South. And as a Deejay, I researched and played the latest disco songs; reggae and other forms (the magazine BLACK MUSIC was a treasure trove of information and I never missed a copy in those days) on radio and was always invited as Deejay by students’ organisations at the University of Ilorin and the Kwara Polytechnic (called Kwara TECH then!).

I have retained an enormous appetite for music till today, and I listen to everything from classical music (what can I do without Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovich?) through to Jazz, with Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday and Nat King Cole ever accompanying me. I love the musical traditions of Mali and Guinea, especially Salif Keita; Nahawa Doumbia; Ali Farka Toure; Kasse Mady; Kante Mamfila, Mory Kante and of course, those great artists from Congo: Franco; Tabu Ley; Zaiko LangaLanga and Mbilia Bell not to forget the Camerounian Manu Dibango and Hugh Masekela from South Africa, who I spent a long time with during a reporting trip to Ghana in 2007. He told me truly remarkable tales of a time he spent as a guest of Fela at the AFRIKA SHRINE during the 1970s. I have been very lucky to be born at a remarkable juncture in Nigerian history. Things worked pretty well in those times, and we were lucky to have been trained within a broadcasting tradition that had and demanded exacting standards. I am the professional I am, thanks to the opportunities that Nigeria gave me. It is one of those reasons that I love our country with a passionate intensity and always feel a sense of commitment to its betterment! In music, I found one of the many reasons to love and connect with the humanity of others in Nigeria and around the world.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 A LOT of dust has been raised by the decision of the Lagos State Government (LASG) to remove indigent Nigerians from the streets of the economic capital of the nation and repatriate them to their perceived states of origin. Executed by the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) department of the state government, several trips have been undertaken, ferrying beggars and the homeless to various parts of the country.

The LASG argues that it is part of preparing the Lagos metropolis as a modern mega-city able to attract tourists and genuine business interests from all over the world. Indeed, the mega-city project of the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola regime started shortly after he assumed office in June 2007 with the radical cleaning up of Oshodi, hitherto notorious for its clutter and criminality. It was followed up with the beautification and greening of many erstwhile dirty and dark spots all

BY TUNDE ILEVBARE

H

ERE we go again, chasing shadows and leaving the substance. The British, by announcing an impending Visa Bond, are saying, very clearly, that they do not want us in their country; and, as usual, we are flaring up, fuming and shouting. Our almighty Federal Government is crying foul, with our dear President and Commander-in-Chief, Goodluck Jonathan, up in arms demanding that Britain does not implement the hike.

But, is he, along with his cabinet and his "largest party in Africa" that has over these past 14 years, pushed Nigeria into the deep abyss that she now is in, not ignoring certain important fundamentals, relative to the matter on the ground? Instead of raving at Britain, should our leaders not be thinking of how to return Nigeria, once again, to a country whose citizens do not love RUNNING AWAY from? Or, can they pretend not to know that Nigerians are fleeing away in droves for the simple reason that conditions of living here have become unbearable due to their mis-governance, profligacy, impunity, thieving and corruption?

The UNDP's Human Development Index Report for 2013, issued in March, ranks Nigeria at 153 of the 186 countries assessed, with 68 percent of the population living below 1.25 USD (about N200) per day. The depth to which living conditions have sunk for the average Nigerian, the grave impoverishment that he is today suffering, was confirmed by President Jonathan's government itself when, shortly after the

"Depor "Deporttation" of citizens over the state and thus giving the city a great facelift.

However, the forcible removal of Nigerian citizens from Lagos and their forced relocation to regions of ethnic origin touches on the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to live or settle in any part of the country freely and without molestation. It is one of the fundamental human rights fully guaranteed in Chapters III and IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The same Constitution and our various extant laws clearly spell out lawful steps that should be taken when citizens engage in

undesirable or unlawful acts.

We are calling on the Lagos State Government and any other political authority in the country faced with the challenges of influx of destitute and mendicant Nigerians and foreigners to follow strictly the laws of the land and also employ skillful dialogue and diplomacy at the political level in confronting them.

The task of building a modern city out of Lagos is not only for the Lagos State Government. It is a collective responsibility of all citizens and residents. The government and residents must work together towards that common purpose, with the government taking the lead and residents offering full support.

There is no laudable policy that cannot be implemented, no matter how painful it may initially seem to the populace or sections thereof, provided that maturity and statesmanship are brought to bear.

OPINION Bef ore w e all por way Before we portt a aw January 2012 fuel price riots, a very graphic statement came out of Aso Rock saying that participants at that historical event were bribed by the opposition with "Pure Water" (!!!). Meaning: 50 Kobo sachet of water was so very much beyond the reach of the people that they could subject themselves to all the pains, discomfort and inconveniences that they experienced during those two weeks of the riots.

The aftermath of that event was a flurry of hi-octane body motions and a load of promises by Jonathan and his government about how they would transform Nigeria into paradise on earth. But, as we expected, it has all turned out to be just motion and no movement. A mere mirage except for the politicians and those in government, along with their dependants, government apologists and sycophants, contractors and other human parasites who are feeding fat from our (tax-payers') money. These people, numbering under ONE PERCENT of our 160 million population, corner 80 percent of our collective wealth in, arguably, the greatest case of lootocracy that the world has ever seen.

Since the riots, or, even over these past 14 years that the present crop of leaders invaded Aso Rock, where are the promised giant leaps in Education, Health Care, Roads and other Infrastructure, Jobs, Power? As far as Economic Growth is concerned, where other nations, like our smaller and poorer neighbours, are doing tangible, sustainable things that reflect on

lives, Nigeria's case is that of paper growth and propaganda. Regarding Corruption, which was the main issue surrounding the riots, please let's just not go there at all.

President Jonathan himself signalled the death knell to the fight against this allconsuming monster when he said, sometime ago, that he does not GIVE A DAMN(!!!) about Assets Declaration. And, as should be expected, report after report

by Transparency International, such as that of a few weeks ago, show how Nigeria continues to sink deeper and deeper into the cesspit of corruption.

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ow, to this matter of fees hiking. Is the Nigerian government itself not guilty of similar actions and worse? Look around you, fees and tariffs of almost all government-provided goods and services in this country are going up exponentially by the day without any thought to the stagnated incomes and the increasing poverty levels of the people who have to pay such fees.

Take the very unpopular fuel price hike, for instance, when Nigerians got their Yuletide/ 'New Year' joy shattered on the very first day of the year as they woke up to the realisation that their already seriously depressed quality of life was going to go further south, following a whopping 120 percent rise in the price of a commodity that permeates every stratum of living. Also, in the very recent past, other fees, such as cost of vehicle registration and the associated driver's licence, have been increased

indiscriminately by the FG. What about electricity tariffs? Are we not paying higher and higher bills for light that we do not get?

Add to these the completely unchecked acts of extortion, bribery, graft and similar vices by government workers, including the security agencies, and you have the very sorry picture of a population seriously oppressed by the same people who took oaths to protect and provide for them.

Needless to say, all these different forms of government championed exploitation are part of the factors making Nigeria a living hell for the larger majority people.

So, if things remain so bad that 50 Kobo pure water continues to be a luxury item, can you blame Nigerians for running away from their own country and tramping all over the world looking for where to call home? And, the exodus cuts across all ages.

The young, able-bodied unemployed graduate, for instance, has this as an obvious choice between criminal activities such as stealing, robbing, as well as kidnapping or begging, in an environment where people do not have enough to care for self and family, talk less of giving out. And, does it matter if what these fleeing Nigerians get in those other countries is the most menial of jobs? For Nigerians in this 21st Century, Home is no longer Sweet Home. Home is any other country where three square meals can be guaranteed for self and the family; where the children can get quality education; where there is access to quality health care and where light turns on at the touch of a switch and stays on for as long as you need it. *Mr. Ilevbare, a social critic, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013— 19

, A

NOTHER issue is that of immunity for presidents and vice presidents as well as governors and deputy governors. I am unequivocally for the retention of the immunity clause. It is not in the interest of the tax paying public that the immunity clause should be removed, contrary to improperly “chewed”, popular view.

There is this mistaken notion that once the immunity clause is deleted from the laws, presidents, their deputies and governors and their deputies who embezzle public funds will be brought to book (jailed, that is). And I laugh.

If we remove the immunity clause, the only people who will laugh their ways to their bank accounts will be the lawyers, media houses and those we call “political jobbers”. More money will also flow from the public coffers into the pockets of lawmakers, whom the president or governor will further appease to come to his support or at least look the other way. Each time a governor is accused he assembles a battery of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, and pays them their jumbo fees from the public treasury. The case would drag

from High Court to Supreme Court until their two terms of office are exhausted. He will also send his spin doctors and professional noisemakers to the “court of public opinion” (the media) to win the public to his side.

If only the public gets to know how much governors pay to save their seats at the election petition tribunals alone, they will insist that electoral cases must be exhausted before any of the contenders is sworn in. Each time the case comes up in court, some governors mobilise and foot the bills of their entire cabinet and political support groups to the premises of the courts. If you add to this the new cases that will follow allegations (real or oppositioncontrived) of stealing while in office, the envisaged morass is better imagined than experienced.

The very difficulty in convicting governors who left office six years ago should an object lesson. There is no substitute to getting the laws as currently obtained implemented. The Constitution gives the National Assembly the power to control the federal purse, while the state assemblies are in charge of state funds. The legislature has also been

,

empowered to impeach chief executives who commit misconducts including stealing of public money. Even if we argue that the executive has shackled them, what about former presidents and governors who have been civilians for over six years now and yet walking free and enjoying their loots? The immunity and powers are gone, yet nothing has happened to them to deter current office holders.

Deleting the immunity clause will be a waste of efforts – and public funds.

HE Church has since become a cracked record, no thanks to the randy pastors.

Leaders fight dirty for positions. If the full facts were known, we would easily find that 50 percent of the case loads in our courts emanate from the pulpit. We defecate on the altar; rip off pages of the Bible to clean up; and go free. The pastor has lost the moral courage to question us. After all, he has just completed a secret burial of a member of the choir that he impregnated and took through a failed abortion. It’s a sordid affair! In the beginning, the church was one place where people thought they could seek protection in times of trouble.

Every definition of rape, from Wikipedia to the Black’s Law Dictionary or the Nigerian Criminal Code, accepts basically the same attributes – sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated or below the legal age of consent.

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999) estimates that 91 percent of rape victims are female, while nine percent are male. Conversely, 99percent of the offenders are male while one percent is female.

To qualify for rape, the act does not necessarily have to contain all the elements enumerated above. If we were to restrict ourselves to the issue of consent, Ed Gein, the Wisconsin necrophiliac would have remained totally innocent in rape records.

Before he was arrested in 1957, Ed Gein was a sexually frustrated man who got a kick from digging up newly buried female corpses, using them to satisfy his sexual urge and eating parts of them.

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T

HEN in Section 29 which deals on renunciation of Citizenship, the Constitution speaks with a forked tongue. While in sub-section 4(a) it says “full age” means the age of eighteen years and above”, it adds in sub-section 4(b): “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age”.

Section 29(4-b) immediately negates Section 29(4-a) because it declares a woman younger than eighteen (a minor) as being “of full age”. Yet, such a “woman” is not, under the electoral law, entitled to vote or be voted for. She cannot be held liable to pay taxes. She cannot legally smoke or drink alcohol or be sent to adult prison. Our laws do not recognise her to be of the “age of consent”. Yet the laws allow Islamic and Customary laws (which are supposedly inferior to the Constitution) to violate the girl child’s right to develop to constitutionally approved full age before being saddled with the burdens of adulthood.

It is discriminatory to declare girl minors married off at tender ages to be of “full age” since there are no similar provisions against boy children. Besides, it exposes girl minors to the hazard of vesico-vaginal fistula and subsequent abandonment and stigmatisation by the same society that promotes such harmful cultural practices. The Nigerian girl child, irrespective of her faith or cultural background, has the right to be protected from these outmoded religious and cultural laws. They should be encouraged, just like their male counterparts, to evolve into full adulthood before being burdened.

The age of 18 and above allows the child to acquire basic education up to at least Senior Secondary School level and be properly equipped to make choices she can live with for the rest of her life. Pending when Nigerians come to their senses and realise that we do not need constitution amendment but a totally new constitution, we must encourage the National Assembly to muster the necessary numbers and expunge Section 29(4-b).

We must put unrepentant paedophiles like Senator Sani Yerima and his cohorts to shame, if indeed they are capable of being ashamed.

My take on Constitution amendment (2)

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HE Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is supremely important but it is not necessarily supreme. What do I mean? It is supremely important in that defines who a Nigerian is, and how Nigerians are governed (and this includes non-Nigerians resident in Nigeria). Only God is bigger. But the Constitution is bigger than religion – a person’s chosen way to God. Or, at least, it

Rape in the sanctuary

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Protecting our girl children

In the past, anything was fair in war, love and politics. When an army captured a place, soldiers raped the girls with impunity. Rape was regarded as the spoils of war; the fringe benefit for soldiers. During the Nigerian civil war, it became a disadvantage to be beautiful. When the soldiers captured one of those coastal towns along the River Niger, a beautiful girl was held captive. With the mother at the sitting room, ten soldiers lined up to take their turns in that single 'borehole'.

The girl was wailing in excruciating pains in the room, the mother was comforting her in their dialect: “My daughter, dooo, be patient, only five of them remaining”. This debit side of the war was commonplace.

The credit side was much brighter. The Northern soldiers married our beautiful girls as the war progressed and today, we have all the fine results to show for their efforts at uniting the nation all over the place.

Things are changing. In 1998, Judge Navanethem Pillay of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda declared: “From time immemorial, rape has been regarded as spoils of war. Now it will be considered a war crime. We want to send out a strong message that rape is no longer a trophy of war". The happenings in the house of God in Nigeria today provide a most frightening glimpse into our future. The message is coming out loud and clear, that rape is right if it is in the church. We have randomly picked up a few headlines in the newspapers of the past two weeks: "Pastor accused of raping minors at orphanage" – The Punch; "Court adjourns case against Pastor to September 24"; "Court remands pastor for alleged rape of church member" – Vanguard; "CAC Pastor allegedly rapes, impregnates church member"; "Pastor rapes and impregnates teenage girl in his church";

should be. But the Constitution appears confused when it comes to certain religious issues.

Chapter 1, Part 1 Section 1 of the Constitution says: “The Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have a binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. Section 1(2) says: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall

"Man, 40, rapes 10-month old girl inside church" – Online Nigeria; "Shameless Pastor rapes 12year old girl" – Church Daily Post Nigeria; "Nigerian Bishop rapes female student…". Call it sexual perversity or promiscuity, it is all happening in the church.

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Immunity question

The Nigerian girl child, irrespective of her faith or cultural background, has the right to be protected from these outmoded religious and cultural laws

The happenings in the house of God in Nigeria today provide a most frightening glimpse into our future; the message is coming out loud and clear, that rape is right if it is in the church

,

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nter Pastor Fidelis Eze of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Abudu Branch. It is a double-barrel attack: Paraded by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly raping two eleven-year-old girls.

And then, Pastor Philip Ogbebor – allegedly had carnal knowledge of a 20year-old male member of his church; administered secret oaths on him and threatened to kill him if he told anyone.

Bishop Chibuike Nwabueze personally stated his own case. He was invited to minister at Calvary Army Ministry, Rumuoji

any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.

It adds in Section 1(3): “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void”.

Eneka in Obio Akpor LGA. After preaching, he went to rest. While he was resting, a girl came for deliverance. While he was yet pleading the blood of Jesus on the girl, she had undressed. Before he could restrain the girl, he was already reading her 'New Testament'. Nwabueze says he had been set up by the host pastor because of the tussle over the chairmanship of the Rivers State Communion of Bishops. Meanwhile, a pregnancy has resulted and an abortion procured. Whichever way the coin falls, he is a culprit: head he loses; tail, he does not win. The chairmanship rivalry only succeeds in exposing another side – the dirty politics in the church.

Where do we go from here? First, rape is madness and like all mad people do, rapists deserve our prayers. The church must continually pray for them.

Second, rape is the moral equivalent of war and it must be treated as such! The more advanced democracies of the world are already facing it squarely. We have enough laws in our statute books to deal with the menace. While Section 358 of the Criminal Code prescribes life sentence for anyone found guilty of rape, Section 359 prescribes 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape.

Most importantly, true cleansing of the church must start from within. The easiest way of perpetuating evil is for good men to do nothing. Decent members of the church community cannot continue to watch while these randy pastors drag everyone deeper into the abyss. We want to hear the hot debates and correctional fights raging in their fold!

20— Vanguard ,

THURSD AY , A UGUS T 1 , 20 13 THURSDA AUGUS UGUST 201

Gaskiya Senior College, Badia

Furore in Lagos school over expulsion, suspension of pupils for praying

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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UTHORITIES of Gaskiya Senior College, Badia area of Lagos are presently at the centre of a growing tension that could snowball into a major crisis following expulsion of a female student and suspension of six others for allegedly holding prayer meeting after school hours.

The students, who are members of the Christian Students Union in the school, were also allegedly branded as cultists by the principal of the school, identified as Mrs. Shobowale, an accusation the students and their parents denied, saying they were being persecuted

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to vacate the school premises.

One of the students, Jennifer Emmanuel while praying, was said to have mistakenly hit the principal when the school head stormed the venue of the prayer meeting.

It was alleged that the principal had on April 3, 2013, during the morning assembly paraded the 12 studentsbeforetheschoolascultists.

The students were first placed on seven days suspension, while those of them who were prefects were allegedly deposed.

Consequent upon this, parents of the affected students were said to have begged the principal to stay

Parents of five other students in SS 3, were forced to report to school whenever their wards were writing any paper in the West African Examination Council, WAEC

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for their faith.

It was gathered that 12 students of the fellowship were holding their prayer meetings on Tuesday, April 2 around 3.30 pm, when the principal of the school directed the security guard to tell them to leave the premises once it was around few minutes to 5.00pm.

The Christian students said they pleaded with the gate man to give them one minute to say the closing prayer, but the security man, who apparently did not understand the message, reported back to the principal that the students refused

action on their wards, a plea that fell on deaf ears as the matter was reported at the Education District IV, with the students accused of being cultists. A letter, with the heading: “Re-emergence of Cultism in the School” was also sent to the District.

On May 7, the principal of the school placed six of the students, all in SS 2, on indefinite suspension. They have not been recalled as at the time of filing this report, while Jennifer remained expelled from the school. The names of the affected students were given as

John Otega, Michael Change, Valentina Okoye, Valentine Okoye, Faith Okolie, Chidinma Chidozie and Jennifer Emmanel, all SS2.

Parents of five other students in SS 3, were forced to report to school whenever their wards were writing any paper in the West African Examination Council, WAEC, as the school authorities said they had to be monitored because of the

supposed emergence of cultism in the school said to have been occasioned by the students.Also, in the letter of expulsion issued to the parents of Jennifer, the principal alleged being slapped by the girl, adding that the security personnel also got the same treatment.

Theletterofexpulsiondated May 7, 2013 reads: “This is to communicate to you the decision

of the Ministry of Education that your ward, Jennifer Emmanuel, is thereby dismissed from the school with immediate effect.

“The dismissal is consequent upon her grievous offence of slapping both the security personnel and the principal of the school on 2nd April, 2013. By this decision, your ward henceforth ceases to be a student of this school.”

Moreso, in the letter of suspension of six other students dated May 10, 2013, the principal said it was consequent upon their disobedience to school authorities by holding a prayer meeting on April 2, 2013.

The affected students denied the principal’s claim that the expelled student, Jennifer slapped her and the security personnel said such a thing never occurred. They demanded for justice to be done.

Parents of the suspended students, Mrs Goodness Chidozie, Mrs Beauty John, Mrs Felicia Okolie, Mrs Jacita Change, Mrs Tina Emmanuel and Mrs Chinweogo Okoye, in a letter accused the principal of persecuting their children who “as committed Christians could never be involved in cultism”. They called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to investigate the matter.

“Our students are still at home doing nothing.What have these Christian students done to deserve this painful humiliation,” they queried. The aggrieved parents want the state government to invite all concerned parties in the matter to get to the root of the matter.

When Vanguard Metro,VM, visited the school, the principal was said to be out of the premises. But contacted later she had this to say: “I can’t comment on the issue because it is already before Education District 5. And more so, I am a civil servant”.

Lagos threatens to seal buildings with clothes hanging on them

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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ENCEFORTH, buildings where clothes and wares are indiscriminately hanged, will be blacklisted and sealed by the Lagos State Government.

The State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello who described the practice as an environmental nuisance, gave the warning after monitoring last month’s environmental sanitation exercise in Egbe_Idimu Local Council Development Area, LCDA. He directed all the law enforcement agencies in the state to clamp down on such buildings, adding that such clothes would be regarded as refuse and would accordingly be removed.

His words: “Our men have started; we have told LAWMA and other agencies to remove all clothes spread in front of buildings or anywhere on the highway and dispose them like refuse henceforth. Why must you spread clothes on the highway and sometimes on the roads where

people pass? We can’t tolerate that again”.

Continuing, he said: “It is not ideal and if we are not careful, some houses would be shut down. We have to seal some houses. If we don’t take such actions, some people won’t take us seriously. The action has started already and we are going to intensify it.

All our agencies, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Lagos State Environment Agency, Kick Against Indiscipline and other relevant agencies will be involved in the enforcement of this order”.

On the relocation of the 20_year_old Orisumbare Abattoir which has served as the major cattle market in Alimosho, the Commissioner said that government will to consider relocating the the abattoir to avert flooding in the area.

He also warned against illegal conversion of right of way into shops and kiosks.

According to him, houses located on the pipeline would be demolished to avert danger in the area.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 —21

Petroleum export: FG extends contract of PIAs

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

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HE Federal Government has extended the contract of the six Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) for the exportation of petroleum products by one year, even has it has also appointed two monitoring agents to oversee the function of the six PIAs. The contract extension which took effect since June 7, 2013, is to run to the same period of next year according to a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular on the issue.

The circular which was signed by Batari Musa, the Director in charge of Trade and Statistics, noted that in “furtherance to the circular ref: TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/012 of May 4, 2012 on the appointment of additional Preshipment Inspection Agents for oil and gas export under the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS), Authorised Dealers and the general public are hereby informed that the Federal Government has extended the contract for the Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PUIAs) for a period of twelve (12) months with effect from June 7, 2013.”

According to the circular, while Globalscan Systems Technology Limited is to handle Qua Iboe, Bonny and Pennington terminals, JBIS

Intergrated Resources Ltd has been allocated Akpo, Agbami, Erha Bonga and EA terminals and Robinson International Energy Ltd is expected to handle terminals at Yoho, Brass Oyo, Antan, Oso Ebok and Okono respectively.

Similarly, Trobel International Nigeria Ltd is assigned to see exports from Okwori, Okoro, Ukpokiti, Escra vos and Obe terminals, Candid Oil Services Ltd is expected to handle Abo, Usan, Forcados, Tulja, Odudu and

Ima while Gulf Inspection Services Ltd (GAS) is to take charge of exports from all gas terminals.

The two monitoring agents, Messrs Arlington Securitas Ltd and Swede Control Intertek Ltd are to oversee

JBIS Intergrated Resources Ltd, Trobel International Nigeria Ltd and Gulf Inspection Services Ltd (GAS) and Robinson International Energy Ltd, Globalscan Systems Technology Limited and Candid Oil Services Ltd respectively.

The circular directed “all authorised dealers, oil and gas exporters and the general public to take note of the provision of the circular for compliance.”

AWARD: From left: Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike; Chairman, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc , Chief Olusegun Osunkeye; and Mr. Kayode Lambo, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), receiving the ‘Capital Market Institution of the Year’ Award presented by ASHON, in Lagos

High usage of renewable energy will mitigate global climate change effects— AUC

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

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he African Union (AU) Commission Technical Adviser on climate change, Dr. Victor Fodeke has stated that increased usage of renewable energy and efficiency improvements will provide a lasting solution to various climatic problems caused by global climate change.

Fodeke said this in Lagos, at the opening ceremony of the 5th Alternative Power Exhibition tagged “Save the World Power Green” an initiative of Lagos State Television in conjunction with Folub Eletrik Servz.

According to him, unlike oil, natural gas and coal, solar energy technology which is one of the most renewable energy alternatives available today emits no carbon dioxide which makes it environment friendly, adding that renew-

able energy technologies such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels, biomass power plants, solar thermal collectors, and biofuels are rapidly gaining wider attention.

“It’s very significant to note that contrary to popular opinion, a massive uptake of renewable energy and efficiency improvements alone can solve our global warming problem.

“Our contributions to the climate change crisis are often associated with global coal and oil use that is raising awareness towards new potential solutions to replace coal and oil with such as renewable energy initiative as well as biofuels.”

“The global market for renewable energy is growing dramatically; global investment in 2006 reached $38 billion, 26 per cent higher than the previous year. The

time window available for making the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is relatively short.

“We can solve global warming, save money, create massive job and wealth as well as eradicate poverty, Improve air and water quality without compromising our quality of life. “Strict technical standards are the only reliable way to ensure that only the most efficient transportation systems, industrial equipment, buildings, heating and cooling systems and appliances will be produced and sold.

Adetokunbo Agbesanwa, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Fashola on School Advocacy and Environment who commended the initiator of the exhibition said the state government through its school environmental advocacy programme is currently training students and teacher on

best environmental practices.

“We have put in place a robust envir o n m e n t a l programme, we have waste and energy management clubs in the school to train the children on best environmental practices and on use of altanative sources of energy.”

Engr. Bode Adefolu, CEO Folub Eletrik Servz one of the 5 companies already at the exhibition said the exhibition will be on till Saturday adding that people are becoming to see the advantages of solar products as the their patronage has improved from that of last year.

120.1

-1.05

2,282.00

+2.00

16.94

0.02

106.94

-0.51

103.07

-1.48

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.76 237.0923 205.7225 166.7313 1.5811 0.2941 233.9586 25.2376 41.2638 27.5894 234.415

155.26 237.8583 206.3871 167.27 1.5862 0.3041 234.7145 25.3196 41.3971 27.6785 235.1723

SELLING 155.76 238.6243 207.0518 167.8087 1.5913 0.3141 235.4704 25.4016 41.5305 27.7677 235.9297

CBN Exchange rate as at 31/07/2013

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

BRIEFS

FirstBank unveils anniversary savings promo

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•LAUNCH: From left: Managing consultant, Stern and Kay Consulting, Mrs Kate Iketubosin; Managing Director, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Ifie Sekibo and Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Mrs. Nneka Okekearu, at the launch of Heritage Banking Company Limited Micro Small and MediumEnterprise Clinic MSME.

Access Bank, stakeholders to develop roadmap for hospitality industry STORIES By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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CCESS Bank Plc has com menced collaboration with stakeholders in the hospitability industry to develop a road map to address the growth challenges of the industry.

This was the outcome of a business growth forum the bank organised for operators in the hospitality business at its headquarters in Lagos.

The forum was organised by the bank to interact with operators, with a view to understand the industry so as to design products and services to serve it well. Speaking at the forum, Managing Director/Chief Ex-

ecutive, Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said, “what is clear from this interaction is that we need to work with operators in the industry to develop a road map to address the concerns and challenges confronting industry’.

In his opening address, he said, “The entrepreneurs that have the courage and vision to run their own business in whatever sector they find themselves make economies whatever they are globally. We have always known this and we have always believed that the future of Access Bank in our ability to serve great entrepreneurs like you.“In Access Bank, we tend not to do things until we are ready to do them and at a

standard that is comparable to anywhere in the world. This is the first of our monthly series where we will interact with entrepreneurs across various sectors. These sessions are meant to be like a steroid injection into your business where you spend hours with intense discussions. We believe that business is something you take seriously and we are here to serve you. Aside from credit and banking services, for the entrepreneur, the most important thing that your bank provides for you is advice, networking and just an ear to be there for you when you want to express yourself. We hope that through this process of monthly interaction, the proc-

ess of building relationship would be improved.”Speaking on what Access Bank’s plan for the hospitality industry, Group Head, Business Unit, South, Mike Nwankwo said, “There are great opportunities in the industry considering the positive forecast in the economy. We know that even with the opportunities, the challenges are there. The industry is capital intensive, there is no trust of employees and the turnover rate is much.

That is why Access Bank has put up this forum to interact with people like you to see how these challenges can be addressed to further enhance you business.

ACCA to train globally competitive finance professionals prove the finance or accountneed an accessing compa-

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SSOCIATION of Certi fied and Chartered Accountants (ACCA) said its mission in Nigeria is to produce finance professionals with the competence to work anywhere in the world.

“Our vision for Nigeria is for us to be able to have finance professionals that will do our country proud that you train them here and they go and become CEO of Mobile Australia or Mobile USA and the person started from Nigeria. Basically that is our aim because we wish to train somebody who go to different parts of the world because of his competence, capability and hard

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work, that is what we intend to achieve in Nigeria,” said Mrs. Toyin Ademola, head of ACCA Nigeria.

Speaking with Vanguard, she said one of the aim of ACCA is Nigeria is to work in a public interest by promoting accountability.

She said beyond this, the cardinal goal of the global accounting profession is providing opportunities for everybody to become professionals.

She said, “Our values are accessibility, opportunity, accountability and innovation.

Our missions basically wherever we are, especially in Nigeria is to be able to im-

ing profession and give opportunity to lot of people, give accessibility to a lot of people.

When we say accessibility and accountability some people will wonder what does that mean. We have some cases in some countries and even in some professions in Nigeria where you can’t be a member of a professional body until you have a degree, but we in ACCA know that a degree is not the end point. It is a process. It is about the education, the information, the knowledge that you actually have.

“That is why we say we give people access and opportunity, for instance somebody who didn’t get a degree does not

ny to test his qualification, you will be accessed based on the qualification that you have, whether it is ‘O’level, whether it OND, whatever it is, it will be based strictly on that. Now because someone has an ‘O’level qualification doesn’t mean the person cannot become an Accountant- General of the Federation. If you think about it we work a lot on that because what ACCA is working to achieve is well rounded. It covers leadership, it covers finance, and it covers competency development and many others.

IRSTBANK of Nigeria Plc has launched a mega savings promo to mark its 120th year anniversary, coming up next year. The savings promo tagged “Big Splash Promo: 120th Anniversary Special” is expected to raise the bar of savings promos in the financial services industry, with the array of prizes to be won and the number of prospective lucky beneficiaries.

“This promo is unique in every sense of the word”, enthused Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank’s Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications. She continued: The promo is coming at a time of two great historical milestones for the Bank and Nigeria.

Firstly, the Bank will mark the anniversary of 120 years of providing superior banking services; and secondly, the Centenary celebration of Nigeria as a nation.

So in this campaign, which is the fifth edition, our motive is to reward our customers for their patronage and loyalty to the brand over the years and to promote a savings culture among the youth.

We are also celebrating Nigeria and Nigerians as the story of Nigeria will not be complete without FirstBank and vice versa.

“The savings promo, which will run for 12 months, starting from this month, will offer additional incentives and improved rewards for winners in terms of bumper gifts and cash rewards reminiscent of the Bank’s 120 years history of providing financial services to Nigerians. Raffle draws will be held across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

International mobile money conference holds in Nigeria

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EEDS Bryan International Limited and the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, have concluded plans to hold an international conference on mobile money in Nigeria. The conference, with the t h e m e : “Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion: What’s the Next Big Thing?” is scheduled to hold at The Wheat Baker, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The one day conference will focus on health, insurance, agriculture and mobile money development, thus offering insight, leadership and progress for mobile phone technology and financial inclusion in Nigeria.

The conference is expected to feature international mobile money experts and financial inclusion strategists from the United States, Kenya and Ghana who will address, through the 3 workshop sessions, the most current development and emerging new opportunities within the mobile money space in relation to healthcare, insurance and agriculture.

Vanguard, THURSDAY , AUGUST 1, 2013—23

Manufacturers decry approval processes of govt agencies • tasks members on quality STORIES BY JIMOH BABATUNDE & NAOMI UZOR

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HE Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has charged members to take issues of standard as priority during manufacturing activities in order to make made in Nigeria goods compete in the global market, just as the body decried the difficulties its members go through in the approval processes of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as well as NAFDAC. Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Mr. John Aluya said the role of standards in the nation’s manufacturing sector cannot be over emphasised, noting that standardisation is key in economic development and increasing greater patronage of made-inNigeria products.

Aluya during the branch’s business luncheon added that the quest for industrialisation and

sustained development in the country and the attendant improvement in the quality of life of the populace has been and will continue to be the association’s focal point for value addition.

He said there is an ur-

gent need for the Federal government to adopt a policy framework that will enhance development and encourage business enterprise.

Aluya, however, stated that for the manufacturing sector to key intoVision 20-2020, a lot needs to be done.

According to him, apart

from some obvious limitations hindering the growth of the sector of which lack of infrastructure accounts for 70 per cent, Aluya said it is imperative that overbearing posture of some government agencies are clogs in the wheel of progress for its members.

Also speaking during

the second quarter press conference on the economy, the President of LCCI, Mr Goodie Ibru, disclosed that feedback from manufacturers indicated that members suffer serious delays as a result of approval processes of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC

BRIEFING: From left: Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf; Deputy President, Alhaji Remi Bello and Mr. Goodie Ibru, President during the chamber’s quarterly press briefing on the economy.

Nigeria to commence online business registration globally … as 24-hour registration kicks off in more states

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HE Federal Government’s Investment Climate Reforms programme has recorded a major boost as the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has concluded plans to ensure that Nigerians in diaspora or foreigners planning to register their businesses in Nigeria can do so online from any part of the world within the next two months.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and I n v e s t m e n t , Mr.Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during the 2013 Ministerial Platform, in Abuja.

Aganga explained that the Corporate Affairs Commission had begun the process of ensuring that the 24 hour business registration is achieved in all states across the country, adding that more states had been covered since the commencement of the initiative in July last

year. He said, “Since the launch of 24 hours business registration in July 2012, 35,902 companies have registered their companies in 24 hours.

So, far we have achieved a 10 per cent increase in the number of companies registered, and an increase of 33 per cent in business names registered and 42 increase incorporated trustees “Currently, the 24 hours business registration is attainable in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Kaduna with Port Harcourt and Enugu following shortly. Also, Global online business registration is to take off in the next two months time. This will ensure that anyone can register their businesses in Nigeria from any part of the world and also make payment without necessarily coming to Nigeria.”

He noted that in line with the Transformation

Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan towards diversifying the nation’s economy, the Ministry was exploring new ways of unlocking domestic and international capital to boost local and foreign

direct investment across all sectors of the economy adding that the move would create more jobs and generate wealth for the country.

He said, “At a time of persistent economic crisis and pressing

social and environment challenges, harnessing economic growth for sustainable and inclusive development is more important than ever. Investment is the primary driver of such growth.

We’re creating a unique brand identity — Grand Oak

M

AKERS of Schnapps, Grand Oak, has said that the new look which aligns with the lead pack of Seaman’s Royale 100CL is intended to create a unique brand identity for the product as well as guarantee customers’ satisfaction.

The Category Manager of Grand Oak Limited, Mr. Ayodeji Abiodun, disclosed that Schnapps now has its premium 75CL in a bright new purple look creating more excitement and appeal to its teeming consumers.

He said the new look of the popular Schnapps’ brand was informed by the need to constantly create requisite appeal and excitement around the brand and comes with a customised glass, an appealing design and a firmer gift box which is parallel to 100CL pack size.

Commenting on the new look Seaman’s Premium, Grand Oak Limited’s General Manager, Marketing, Mr. Brajesh Kumar, said with this new initiative, the brand now wears an attractive colour which

readily distinguishes it and the company will aggressively push the brand in the market, ensuring that the target audience is aware of its new offerings.

The Commercial Director, Aare Fatai Odesile, said the re-launch was in consonance with Grand Oak’s corporate policy to be constantly innovative and ahead of competitors, adding that as a consumer-centric company, Grand Oak Limited is committed to bringing appeal and excitement to its brands.

Goodie Ibru added that there were complaints also on delays in getting import permit from SON and Certificate of Manufacturers and Free Sales from NAFDAC. “There were also complaints about delays in getting permits for controlled chemicals from NAFDAC. High charges imposed by NAFDAC, SON and LASEPA (Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency), delays at the ports arising from port logistics, bureaucracy and congestion at some terminals.”

He said the situation further deteriorated at the Apapa port following the change of inspection service providers, “insecurity in parts of the country which affected sales, in some cases by as much as 30 per cent and multiplicity of levies by agencies of government at states, federal and local government levels.”

Eternit plans regional dominance with PH outlet

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TERNIT Limited, makers of roofing and ceiling products has opened its contact office in Port-Harcourt.

The firm said this was a continuation of its strategy to deliver complete building solutions and assert its position as a household name in building material production.

The company said that the need to have a contact and product display office in PortHarcourt had become paramount in view of the economic importance of the city in the South-South region of Nigeria and the country in as a whole.

The Managing Director, Eternit Limited, Mr. Dirk Modderman, said that given the fact that the country was now witnessing a new wave of concern about the quality of building materials used for construction, the company had made up its mind to promote the toprange products for everyone’s reach.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Special points for US bound Nigerian students CONFLICTS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA:

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

13 years of civil rule in perspective The Nigerian state is aggressively in search for peace, particularly in the North as peace has eroded most parts of the region. People and government appear inestimably confused on how to reassert sanity/ order in that milieu.

Hence, protractions of violence especially in the last 13 years of civil rule. Akinlade M.T. in this discourse delves into a brief but vivid historical account of conflicts in the region, taking its composition into consideration, while also establishing the nature of the impasse, as reasons for its persistence, despite some purported steps aimed at engendering peace were equally examined.

BY AKINLADE, M. T.

I

NTRODUCTION:The eve and eventual birth of the twenty-first century saw peace take its flight in most parts of Africa, with the protraction and escalation of conflicts increasingly entrenched, thereby making peace the greatest value of the continent. The continent has so far been enmeshed in complex social, political and economic debacles, whose effects are of unprecedented intensity, which resulted in a “series of devastating intra-state conflicts ever experienced in a single continent anywhere in the world in the last decade and a half”.

This perhaps prompted the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs to declare eight of the fifteen “complex emergencies” in Africa, as conflicts ravaged Liberia, SierraLeone, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan and Uganda.

Ife/Modakeke hostilities, Hadeijia, Jigawa crisis, Tsagari/ Share conflict in Kwara, Ijaw/ Urhobo/Itsekiri uprising, Umuleri/Aguleri violence, Odua People’s Congress near warfare, Transport Union uprising in Ibadan and Lagos. Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra imbroglio and Ezillo/ Ezza bloodbath, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta and other Niger Delta militant group attacks in the South-South, Odi massacre in Bayelsa, Zaki Biam in onslaught in Benue; crises over planned introduction of Sharia in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi and reprisal attacks in Aba, Onitsha, and Oweri. Tiv/Azara as well as Agyragu conflict in Nassarawa, Tiv/ Jukun and Fulana confrontation in Taraba.

Fulani/Tiv/Berom clash in Nassarawa, indigene settler recurrent brouhaha in Plateau,

Collapsed state

,

Somalia was until recently described as a collapsed state as Western Sahara continues to struggle with Morocco, just as Eritrea and Ethiopia have not fully stopped fighting. D.R. Congo, Libya, Egypt, Mali, Central Africa Republic and the youngest state in Africa, South Sudan, are experiencing varying degrees of conflicts. Darfur region of Sudan is still attracting peace keeping mission. Nigeria, the self acclaimed giant of Africa is not insulated from the abyss as the intensity of conflict in the country has roared, since the return to civil rule in 1999, with armed struggle increasingly becoming the norm. Rather than bring forth the long awaited public good of peace and development, the return to civil rule brought along conflicts and violation of right of unimaginable proportion.

Nigeria’s nascent democracy has made headline news on the gruesome murder of five Students’ Union leaders in Obafemi Awolowo University, Hausa/Yoruba killings in Lagos,

relocation of Ikere College of Education as well the location of the Federal University crisis in Ekiti State, Gwari/ Fulani confrontation in January 2013.

Boko Haram terror in the North among others. In fact, Ezeibe identified thirteen violent conflicts between July 1999 and September 2004 in Northern Nigeria.

The various conflicts were with scores of casualties as lives and property were destroyed on a large scale, particularly in the North, where the menace has largely crippled productive activities. The scene has propelled the declaration of state of emergency in different states in the region. The first was declared by President Olusegun Obasanjo in Plateau State in May 2004. President Jonathan in December 2011 declared it in 15 local government councils across Borno, Niger, Plateau and Yobe States. A year has hardly gone by since 1999, without a major

T

Map of Nigeria

outbreak of crisis in Northern Nigeria. Boko Haram now appear to be the king in the region as they hold sway despite intimidating presence of joint military task force. This has instigated the thinking that the region is fast becoming Nigeria’s Somalia! Although, conflicts are not new in Northern Nigeria, as the region has since the eighties witnessed an upsurge of such conflicts, what is new is the resort to terrorism and the determination of the conflicting parties to annihilate one another.

Concept Clarifications: The concepts to be clarified for the purpose of better understanding of this work are conflict and civil rule. They are clarified below Conflict: Scholarly definitions of conflict abound, with some seeing it in the same way, while others see it differently. The diverse perspectives of scholars

The various conflicts were with scores of casualties as lives and property were destroyed on a large scale, particularly in the North, where the menace has largely crippled productive activities

,

made Akpuru-Aja, Nwaodu and Udochu to observe that, “scholar ’s perception and theoretical interpretation of the phenomenon itself manifests conflict situation”. Of course, serious dispute is an inevitable phenomenon in human community, since people pursue different interests. It is the different interests that spur-up conflict, especially when such interests are not compatible and pursued with less maturity.

Perhaps that was what made Schmidt, cited by Abiodun and Igbalajobi, to contend that conflict is a struggle over values or claims to status, power and scarce resources. And that the groups involved may not only try to obtain the desired values but may try to neutralise, injure, or eliminate rivals.

To be continued •Akinlade is of the Department of Political Science, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

vacation travel, tipping customs and so on. Also, you are provided with this information to familiarize you with services, conveniences, opportunities and ways of daily life in the U.S, so that you can have the best of your study period”.

Also addressing prospective students on the value of their heritage as Nigerians, and the importance of keeping in touch, a Nigerian international student advisor and co-leader of the up-coming Princeton Engineers in Varsity Athletics, PEVA, Tumilara Akinlawon, urged the students to migrate with the uniqueness of Nigerian experiences to their host

HE United States EducationUSA has provided Nigerian students who intend to migrate to the U.S for study purposes with special notable points which should guide them through their various fields of study in the U.S. Educating the students on the need to get familiarized with some of the notable principles regarding migration for the purpose of study in the U.S., Public Diplomacy Officer of the U.S embassy in Nigeria, Rhonda Watson said: “To have a smooth study process in the U.S., you must ensure that you make use of every detail that is made available to you, while bearing in mind that studying in the U.S. may appear a little bit difficult.

Because the United States is a ‘do it yourself ’ country, you m u s t endeavour to be focused in your course work and do • U.S. Public Diplomacy Officer, not expect Rhonda Watson either to buy your way universities in the U.S. through or a professor He said: “The U.S is a teaching you. It’s about you place filled with all levels learning yourself.” Rhonda of nefarious and pleasant added: “It is equally activities which if not imperative for you to avail treaded with caution, are yourself to pertinent capable of rendering the information that would help real essence for which you you stay on top of your have migrated to the U.S. coursework. This will enable So I implore each and you tap into many of the every one of you to remain immeasurable opportunities focused in your studies, that lie in wait for you to learn the criteria for success explore, while on study in your various universities course.” and endeavour to converse I m m e a s u r a b l e with experienced opportunities: These international students i m m e a s u r a b l e through member network opportunities, which range to put you through, in a from students receiving case whereby, you seem practical information for confused.” everyday living in the U.S. Making the best of to establishing uniqueness, journey to U.S: It is a good which in turn could possibly idea to ensure that you dispel other countries have ample time to hook up stereotype about Nigeria the airline you intend to Rhonda explained, would travel with to avoid guide students through the unnecessary delay, and as right direction to shaping soon as you arrive at the their future as well as airport, look out for the provide them succour far check-in desk of the airline away from home. on which you will be Practical information for travelling with. Stand in everyday living: Rhonda line with your baggage to noted: “Studying in the U.S. process your ticket, would provide you with a ensuring that your baggage variety of non-academic claim checks are stapled information which are and with your boarding expected to guide you pass, you are assigned a through services such as seat. Endeavour to arrive at banking, shopping, postal the exit gate at least 30 and telephone services, minutes before departure automobile and traffic laws, time.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 — 25

learning@vanguardngr.com

Technical graduates can vie for govt contracts —Page 31

ASUU strike: NEEDS report justifies demands — Okebukola zAs parents, students differ on prolonged strike

BY DAYO ADESULU, AMAKA ABAYOMI & EBELE ORAKPO

A

s the industrial action of Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, entered its second month, former executive secretary, National Universities Commission NUC, Professor Peter Okebukola has stated that the NEEDS report justifies the demands of ASUU. Okebukola who is a consultant to UNESCO and a visiting Professor at the Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia spoke at Albesta Academy graduation saying that many Nigerian universities are like glorified secondary schools when compared with other universities in the world.

According to him, the lack of funds ravaging the sector speaks volumes of why none of our universities is ranked among the first thousand in the world.

“In the universities,we have challenges regarding teachers number and quality as large proportion of our lecturers do not have PhD. The Federal government committee on NEEDS assessments revealed that

C M Y K

these deficiencies is prevalent in many universities.

On the implementation of the 2009 agreement, he urged ASUU to push the dialogue with the FG to a point where the government will have a firmer commitment to these issues.

“The union should take the dialogue to a point where they can extract firm commitment from the Federal Government and this can happen in two weeks if there are genuine political will from the government.”

Explaining the difference between ASUP and ASUU, Okebukola said the high level of human resources involved in the university system is higher than that of

agreement.

“Government entered into six area agreement with ASUU, and one or two of the areas has been addressed.

There are four outstanding which I think government should take steps to tackle.

Government entered into what I called supplementary agreement, because there is one big agreement. That supplementary agreement was the MoU that states that government is going to do this and that.

"My view is that government should expedites action in all those areas that are still outstanding.

Moreover, if government had any challenge in implementing any of the agreements, they should have

called on ASUU before now to explain reasons for defaulting and not to wait when asked.

But since government went to sleep after the agreement, the Union had no choice than to go on strike.

"I suggest that government should do its best to implement the signed areas.

If it is clear to ASUU that there are some area that cannot be done immediately, ASUU and FG can reach a compromise that will define when such areas would be worked on.

"If government says it can afford N100b out of the N400b for now, let the machinery roll into that N100b. And have a firm pledge that at such and such a time the following will be redeemed.

Certificates ready for collection — WAEC - Page 31

We run a ‘student first’ philosophy — Egboka —Page 32

Meanwhile, parents and students are divided as to which side of the warring parties to support.

Leading those opposing the ongoing strike is the President, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Yinka Gbadebo, who is pleading with the striking lecturers to return to the classrooms while negotiations are ongoing.

According to the NANS President, anyone conversant

Continues on page 26

FG approves N109.4bn for varsities, others

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday said that the sum of N109.4 billion has been provided to the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education under the high impact initiatives of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.

Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, who disclosed this

at the dissemination of the World Bank Skills Note for Nigeria in Abuja, said the amount was in five phases and that all the 51 federal and state polytechnics in the country would benefit from the development and rehabilitation of their laboratories to bring them to 21st century standard.

“58 federal and state Colleges of Education are benefitting from the construction of micro-teaching

laboratories at a cost of N11.6bn. This is to enhance the application of modern technology in the teaching/ learning process.

“These are just a tip of some of the actions that the government is taking towards addressing the challenges of the sector. One thing is clear as we move towards achieving our goals. We

Continues on page 26

26 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

ASUU strike: NEEDS report justifies demands with the history of the ASUU strike would appreciate what the Union is fighting for but a major cause for concern is the lecturers abandoning the fight once their emoluments are paid.

“In as much as their cause is noble, but certain aspects of the agreements, like earned allowances and other emoluments have to be reviewed because they are outrageous. Which student doesn’t pay lecturers before getting their projects approved? Most of them still lecture with 1950 textbooks while others come to lecture two weeks before examinations. All these question their request for improved allowances,” Gbadebo said.

Also opposed to the strike action is a 400-level Political Science undergraduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Wale Akinola, who said the strike would prolong students’ stay in school and limit their chances of get employment.

“The longer we stay here, the lesser our chances of being gainfully employed because most blue chip companies prefer to employ graduates not above 25 years, but how do they expect us to graduate before that age if ASUU continues with its incessant strikes?”

In the same vein, the Principal, Kings College, Lagos, Otunba Dele Olapeju, and an educationist, Mrs. Arinola Oyegunwa, both opposed to the strike, tasked ASUU to be scientific in its approach to getting government to listen to them.

“Though they claim to be fighting for improved academic environment but we know that all these would end once money exchanges hands. It is the students that are suffering as most of them would take to crime and prostitution,” they said.

Not just opposed to the strike, some of the respondents who spoke to Vanguard Learning, suggested alternatives other than strike which ASUU can use in getting government committed to its end of the bargain.

Comrade Gbadebo said the greatest weapon ASUU can employ is gaining the confidence of students to fight their cause.

“I believe the fight for reviving the varsity system should be done by students, especially if these lecturers would stop victimising and rusticating student activists from schools. Also, government can honour other aspects of the agreement except the lecturers emoluments while mechanisms can be set in place to monitor the

disbursement of developmental funds.”

Another option, according to Akinola of OAU, is for ASUU to get the Senate to pass a law that would compel all public officers, the executive and legislative office holders to send their children for undergraduate studies in Nigeria and only send them for postgraduate studies abroad if they so desire.

“If their children have to go to university here, our leaders won’t play politics with the education sector.”

A senior lecturer, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, Dr. Douglas Anele, opined that varsities be given the requisite capacity to mount viable academic programmes which can generate additional revenue so as to reduce the over dependence on government funding.

“NUC’s overbearing stance in this regard is suffocating.

For instance, why must NUC compel a solid, upwardly mobile institution like the University of Lagos to stop its evening programme at a time many people are benefiting from it?”

Supporting the striking lecturers, a parent and the Managing Director of AugustMoon Plastics Limited, an Ibadan-based educational materials production company, Mr. Ajibola Olatoye, said the strike is for the betterment of the varsity system and called on both parties to meet half-way.

“For the study environment in varsities to be improved, education should be massively funded by government. One of the ways in resolving this is for government and ASUU to meet half-way and share the

A cross section of students at one of the 9ja knowledge and creative fiesta, in Lagos.

financial burden. Let government take up tuition while parents pay for accommodation and books.”

Agreeing with him is the Medical Director, Pinecrest Specialist Hospitals, Lagos, Dr Omadeli Boyo, who added that lecturers themselves

,

Continues from page 25

of the general public to the problems.”

For Mrs. Kate Oragui, whose son is a 200 level engineering student at the University of Lagos, the strike is in order because it is better to have students on the streets than on the campus learning

of the strike, 400-level medical student, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Akinwunmi Ayeni’s opinion sums it all.

He said he is not fazed by the fact that he may end up spending more years in school than the stipulated six years

The greatest weapon ASUU can employ is gaining the confidence of students to fight their cause because the fight for reviving the varsity system should be done by students

should have a peer review mechanism in which the varsity system is able to assess lecturers.

“ASUU should put in motion internal mechanisms to ensure that government is reminded of these agreements and when they are flouted, they should take pages in the papers and draw the attention

ignorance “Strike is the only language government understands and though I’m not happy that my son is at home, but it is for the general good of the students and the nation as a wholebecause teaching ignorance to this generation is more deadly.”

Calling for the continuation

FG approves N109, 4bn to varsities, others Continues from page 25 need the partnership of nongovernment agencies to achieve greater success.

“It is for this reason that funding, partnerships, resource mobilization and utilization are focal areas of our strategic plan. We appreciate the input of the World Bank and their development partners in the drive to improve access and provide quality education in the country.”

The minister said the dissemination of the skills note would provide insight to challenges as well as further strategies towards addressing them, adding that it would complement other works in the areas of youth employment and the state education sector implementation plans.

She said President Goodluck Jonathan will continue to use the transformation agenda as the launch pad for transforming the education

sector as the future of the country depended on education.

“Education will help us tackle poverty, unemployment, enhance social cohesion and also tackle population explosion. It will help to deepen democratic principles and the development of active citizenship.

“Education will enhance the development of entrepreneurial flair among our citizens and enhance participation in social and economic affairs.

"Ultimately, education will provide avenue for enduring competitive advantage for Nigeria, placing us at the right position on top of the world social, economic and political affairs,” she stated.

The Minister noted that it was in a bid to actualize the transformation agenda that a four-year strategic plan for the development of the education sector from 2011-2015 was developed.

,

for his course.

“The state of facilities and educational resources in most institutions of higher learning are in shambles and this is made worse by our being so fixated on short term goals.

"If I have to spend two more years to acquire quality education, so be it because I know my certificate and knowledge would be at par with what’s obtainable in other climes.”

“At the basic education level, a oneyear Early Childhood Care and Development Education, ECCDE, programme has been incorporated in the education system. With this, all public primary schools are to provide ECCDE sections, thereby providing children with the opportunity of preprimary education.”

In her remarks, the World Bank Nigeria Country Director, Mrs. Marie Franciose Marie-Nelly, noted with dismay that about 10.5 million children out of school in the country were mostly from the Northern part of Nigeria, rural areas and poor families.

She said that the meeting would look into regional disparity, gender disparity, poor quality of education and access of education especially in the Northern part of the country where she noted that some people that had completed primary education were basically illiterates.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 —27

Proprietor decries schools’ over -concentration on theoretical education

BY DAYO ADESULU & IKENNA ASOMBA

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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E

DUCATIONIST and Managing Director of Westminster College, Chief Johnson Barovbe, has berated the continuous style of basic and tertiary teaching across schools in the country, which over-concentrates in teaching students only theoretical education.

This, according to him, largely contributes to the dwindling standards of the nation’s education sector, as many graduates who are never tutored on the nitty-gritty of the country’s everyday politics, end up becoming docile members of the society.

Speaking at the 11th Valedictory Service/Graduation of the College, where 37 students were graduated, Barovbe argued that rather than the adoption of theoretical education, of teaching subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and others, educationists should ensure students are made to understand the nitty-gritty of everyday politics of the country.”

“Students who are 16 going onto 17 years should understand the nittygritty of everyday politics of their country. In line with this onerous

Educationists to meet at leadership retreat

L-R: Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, former Chairman of Council and ProChancellor of the University of Lagos; Miss Toluwani Ijabodede, overall best graduating student and Chief Johnson Barovbe, Managing Director/ Proprietor, Westminster College Lagos during the 11th Valedictory Service/Graduation of the College, last Wednesday. task, we at Westminster College, believe that our education system must not be limited to classroom theories. We encompass everything

from politics to economy; social to culture and Nigeria to world affairs.”

O fewer than 200 educationists comprising principals, proprietors, administrators, principal officers of education ministries and agencies across African countries will, between August 11 and 16 meet in Accra, Ghana, for the 2nd international retreat on contemporary best practices for successful governance and administration of schools.

According to the founding Chairman, Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere, “the retreat is designed to build capacity of delegates with comprehensive body of up-to-date knowledge on global best practices in leadership, management and administration of post primary schools to ensure that huge investments in physical infrastructure are complemented with skills for their effective and efficient deployment. The event features working visits to the best schools and universities in Ghana.”

Onyechere added that participation in the retreat qualifies delegates to be inaugurated as Exam Ethics Marshals as the programme incorporates an intensive marshals certification training modules.

AOCOED, MOCPED ma ade mayy upgr upgrade to degree aw ar ding ins titutions awar arding institutions

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

G

overnor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has stated that his administration is conceiving the idea of transforming the duo of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, AOCOED, and Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education- Epe, MOCPED, to university degree awarding institutions as efforts to amplify quality training in the state’s institutions is taking different shapes.

Fashola who disclosed this during the ‘Lagos Secondary Schools Performance Presentation’ of the “Lagos Eko Project, 2013, said the objective is geared towards improving educational excellence, confidence and to keep the growing belief in the public high school system in the state.

"We are looking at ways to improve the quality of training in our training institutions.

We are still considering transforming AOCOED and MOCPED to degree awarding institutions but when we conclude we will bring it to the public.”

He said they will become schools of the Lagos State University, awarding graduate degrees in some specialties in Primary Education and also provide opportunity for combined specialties for primary and secondary education.

In his keynote address, he observed that

the skills needed to teach in primary schools and the kind of pupils to manage is certainly different from the skills needed to manage older students in secondary schools and undergraduates.

“If we specialise in developing these schools and holding them to perfection, our school system will only be better for it.”

He disclosed that 1,200 new teachers have been employed and currently undergoing recruiting documentation to formalize their appointment and join the stream of already reliable number of teachers that we have built.

“This year's awards will recognize 12 outstanding teachers who will get sponsorships for oversee training. Also, we will reward 12 outstanding principals which will also come with N256m, representing N2m for each school to do it as it pleases.

"Also, 50 schools will win the right to start their own ‘Power Kit Club.’ This club has been quite popular in reward of academic excellence in the governor ’s award because the children will have the opportunity to tour all the power facilities, to see how electricity is being generated as they will also see some games that would improve their learning about electricity production and conservation.”

Proprietor awards N8m scholarship

BY DAYO JOHNSON AKURE

C

HAIRMAN of Toyota Nigeria and the proprietor of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, has doled out N8 million scholarship to five deserving students of the institution to enable them complete their education.

Also as a plus to the new university, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has permitted it to run a faculty of engineering with 17 new programmes approved for the institution.

The new programmes include Mass Communication, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, C M Y K

Automotive Engineering, Applied Geophysics, Economics, Performing Arts and Films, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Civil Engineering among others.

Addressing newsmen on the development in the University, its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Valentine Aletor, said the founder of the institution came up with the scholarship in order to award academic and moral excellence.

Aletor pointed out that while students with high grades would be rewarded, the founder of the institution had also decided that no student that is good academically and morally is allowed to drop out

of the school on account of non payment of school fees.

He said the university had also designed a Community Corporate Responsibility programme that would make students from the immediate community benefit from the scholarship scheme.

The VC explained that each of the five beneficiaries would be given N1.6 million that would settle their school fees for the remaining three academic sessions thy would spend in the school.

Also, three students with CGPA 4 point above were awarded the scholarship, while two indigent students from Ilara Mokin community also benefited.

Are you growing or are you groaning?

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verything in mother earth is green and growing given that it is given adequate nourishment and care. But when nourishment and care ceases growth also ceases and decay sets in.

I read about two different trees from two diverse cultures. The trees are the Bonsai tree which is found in Japan and the General Sherman found in California. The General Sherman are giant trees extending into the heavens 272 feet and measuring 79 feet in circumference it is said that if the giant tree were cut down, it would produce enough lumber to build 35 five –room houses. The bonsai tree is a contrast of General Sherman tree. The Bonsai tree though beautiful and perfectly formed, its height is measured in inches. That’s a stunted growth. What intrigues me about these two trees was when I discovered that at a particular time both trees were of the same size. When they were seeds, each weighed less than 1/300 of an ounce. But the size difference in maturity is very remarkable.

The differences in the growth size of both trees lies in a simple truth. When the bonsai tree stuck its head above the earth, the Japanese pulled it from the soil and tied off its tap-root and come of the feeder roots, hence it resulted in stunted growth, though beautiful in appearance. But the General Sherman has a different story. The seed of the General Sherman fell into the rich soil of California and was nourished by the minerals, adequate moisture and sunshine; this made it a giant tree.

Our Creator implanted seeds within everyone.

This seed is our potentialities inherent within us. Like the Bonsai tree, some of us ignorantly or through neglect suppress this life changing resource (potentials) within us by allowing thorns and weeds to choke and render our potentialities incapacitated. This makes our destinies become dwarfed. Like

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Outgoing students of Pacific Conprehensive College, Shasha, during their valedictory service.

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28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

The seed of the General Sherman fell into the rich soil of California and was nourished by the minerals, adequate moisture and sunshine; this made it a giant tree

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the General Sherman, those who have discovered and awakened the giant within have one thing in common. They’ve maximized their potentials by nourishing it with adequate knowledge and the application of knowledge to their lives.

Rather than giving excuses or justifying themselves, they learn from their mistakes and past failures: constantly growing through them. They are ever seeking and searching for knowledge, developing their minds and imagination in the process. They are consistently learning, growing and improving their destinies. These categories of people have a giant size life. They make their life count.

The quality of your life experience depends on the level of growth you attain spiritually, emotionally, socially, mentally, and financially. Rather unfortunately, most people do not experience growth in every aspect of their lives.

Many people spend their adult years defending what they know. They have closed their minds to learning, growing and improving themselves. They perceive learning and growing to be the exclusive of children and teenagers. Hence, they live a miserable life, void of fulfillment.

Many people want “instant” money, power, fame etc They desperately prefer to jump into success rather than grow into success. It is rather unfortunate to observe human wrecks all about us because of a “short cut” mentality.

Life itself is a journey; those who do not move along with it suffer from a stampede. This could be evident by the crowds of people on the ground struggling to survive and barely get by.

Those who move along with life make progress. And growth is what it takes to put your life in motion. This could be evident as these people maximize their potentials and make it to the top.

Success also is journey in which a person’s life must experience progressive motion daily. As the saying goes, life is a journey we must complete it. But the big question is: how are we going to complete it? Will we complete life in a grand style? Or will we complete life in a miserable, self defeating way? The answer is up to us.

The success journey requires a lifestyle of growth.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—29

Educationist faults UNESCO repor reportt Why education standard is falling on out-of-school children T

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

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IRECTOR, Whitefield High School, Mr. Luke Onyeanula, has faulted the recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ,UNESCO, report that about 10 million children are out of school in Nigeria, saying that the advent of private schools has been a boost to the education sector.

Onyeanula said this at the school's 2013 Valedictory Service/ Award Giving Ceremony in honour of the 2012/2013 students. ''I don't agree with the statistics because if you go to the various communities, you will find schools beings established and the fees are being brought down so that people can afford it.

"This has reduced the level of illiteracy. We have tried the much we

can to ensure that students are not scared away by school fees. So, how does the report reflect the reality in the education sector, when the private sector is establishing schools in every nook and cranny of the country?'

"Government needs to give proper attention to basic education in order not to give room for this type of report. Individuals should be encouraged to establish schools

in order to provide affordable education.'' ''I have a solid management team that has been able to ensure that all the school programmes are in compliance with Lagos State Education management rules. We well educated and qualified teachers. The challenges are enormous.

For you to have an approval from the government demands that you have to put all requirements in place.

Mr. Raphael Aladetimi , Bursar , Dr Zacheus Oguntuase , University Librarian, Professor Adebiyi Daramola ,Vice Chancellor and FUTA Registry during distinguished Service Award at Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.

Rainbow College celebrates multiple UNICEF awards •Gradutes over 200

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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AINBOW College, Maba, Ogun State has celebrated multiple international academic awards it clinched this year and has graduated over 200 students from its schools including Pampers Nursery and Primary School, Alaka and Lekki, and Rainbow College Day and Border in Lagos and Ogun State respectively.

In the 11-13 years category of the UNICEF Science competition and M a t h e m a t i c s competition for Africa, the school emerged first.

It also emerged tops at the Science and Literacy competition for Africa in the same category.

At a ceremony to celebrate the laurels and the graduates of 2013 of the college, the proprietress of the school, Mrs. O. Odunlami, while noting the role of the private sector in the education sector, said there needs C M Y K

to be synergy between the home and schools for meaningful standard to be attained in a child’s upbringing. “government cannot do everything. The home is very important because without the home, the child can't be totally formed or get proper education.

Through the cooperation of parents and schools, a child would be properly brought up.”

Also speaking, the special guest and Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, congratulated the school on its achievements and used the opportunity to challenge the graduating students to aspire to greater heights in the future through hard work, determination and commitment.

“Don’t take anything for granted. You have been privileged to get good education and you

must take advantage of it. There is no alternative to hard work. Let integrity be your watchword. You must be disciplined and committed to whatever you choose to do in life. You must use what you have learnt from this college to help your life and this country.”

On her part, To the graduates, she said, “be focused and be determined because with determination, you would achieve whatever you want out of life,” adding that, “the 2013 set is filled with determined children.

They have been focused and helped the school to win international laurels and I see clearly that the sky is their limit.”

Speaking further, the Director, Pampers Group of schools, Mr. Ayo Odunlami however decried the apathy of government towards the efforts of individuals in uplifting the standard of

education in the country. ‘ “Government has awful apathy towards assisting the private sector in restoring quality of education to this country. For instance, Rainbow College won different UNICEF’s awards. The school emerged number one school in the world for science, and tops in Science, Literacy and Mathematics in Africa but nobody from the Ministry of Education or even from any government authorities could recognise this. In order climes like the United States of America, the President would invite the students to the White House in this kind of achievement. We even wrote a letter to the ministry of education, Ogun State, but it was never acknowledged. It is very sad,” he lamented.

he dwindling standard of education in Nigeria has been attributed to lack of adequate commitment by those who are charged with the responsibility to impart knowledge through qualitative teaching and the attitude of government towards proper funding of education as required by the United Nations standard.

The Chairman, Governing Council, Diadem Group of Schools, Mr. OlapojuOladinni, who made this observation stated that both the teaching staff at all levels of our educational system and the government are sharking in their respective responsibilities towards providing and maintaining good standard of education for our children.

Oladinni, who spoke at the maiden valedictory service and first graduation of Diadem College, Ifako, Lagos, observed that lack of commitment and concentration by teachers and lecturers in our educational system due to government failure to play its part as expected is responsible for production of half–baked grandautes from our educational institutions.

He stated that government should be the bedrock of our educational system by ensuring proper funding to provide good infrastructure, as well as qualitative teaching and researches in our institutions, particularly secondary schools and universities.

Oladinni recalled that the noble idea behind the establishment of Diadem Schools was borne out of a divine instruction coupled with passion to love and train children in other to better their tomorrow and the nation at large. , while also enjoining the private sector to partner with the government by investing in qualitative education for our children as government alone cannot adequately fund education .

Loral rewards students with scholarship

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s part of its determination to encourage academic excellence, the management of Loral International Schools, Lagos, has awarded a six-year scholarship to two of her finest primary six pupils.

The recipients, Master Ekene Njoku and Miss Ogunkeye Taiwo, who came tops in the school’s entrance examination, will proceed to Loral Secondary School for their free secondary education.

Announcing the award at the 31st Graduation and Prize Giving ceremony of Loral Nursery and Primary Schools (Festac & Igbesa campuses), the Director of Schools Affairs, Mr Crawford Ndukwe, said the award was instituted to reward brilliant students and encourage healthy competition among students. ”This annual event is instituted to encourage students to be the best and to engender healthy competition among them. We observed that some students are very talented but their parents do not have the resources to see them through and we don’t want to deprive such wonderful and talented kids the opportunity of going to school.

So that’s why we have decided to make this scholarship available.”

Ndukwe said the objective of setting up the scholarship is being realised as previous beneficiaries have excelled not only in their secondary education but also at tertiary levels.

This he said has justified the selection processes.

In her remarks, the Headmistress of Igbesa campus, Mrs Oby Oraka explained that the graduation ceremony was to appreciate and celebrate the pupils. She however, urged the graduating students to continue to be good ambassadors of the school.

Over 100 pupils received various awards and gifts for their outstanding performaces during the 2012/2013 academic session.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—31

Technical graduates can bid for govt contracts — Fashola

BY DAYO ADESULU

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S technical colleges churn out graduates every year, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has allayed fears of graduates about jobs saying that plans are available to ensure they are selfemployed Speaking during the flag-off of the first enterprise day held at the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association(NECA) House, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Fashola, who lamented that government cannot employ the over 6,000 graduates that produced yearly but that the state has

plan for them.

“What we have done is to position our economy to respond to your emergence. Government would also issue you contracts for the renovation and maintenance of public buildings in the state including schools, hospitals, maternal and childcare centres, under the office of the State’s Facility Management.”

According to him, there was no difference between government and private skill acquisition centres, as government has oversight functions on all institutions to ensure that they meet the required minimum standards including the right tools and

equipment for learning and right environment for the students.

“What is important is first to acquint you with skills, which is what the school is doing. If you are good, people who need your services will find you. Beyond that, we are already bringing the people who will need your services to you.”

He disclosed that gone were the days for white collar jobs adding that everybody should be proud of its means of livelihood.

Certificates ready for collection — WAEC

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he West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has announced that certificates up to May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted by WAEC have been printed and dispatched to schools for collection by candidates.

In the same vein, certificates up to November/December 2012 WASSCE diet, conducted by the Council, have also been printed and are awaiting collection by candidates at WAEC offices nationwide.

This was disclosed in a released by Mr Yusuf Ari, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs, WAEC. He stated that candidates for May/June examination diets are advised to collect their certificates from their former schools, while those for November/December examination diets are advised to collect their certificates at WAEC zonal, branch or satellite offices in the states where they sat for the examinations. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

NGT Hair Institute offers scholarship to young Lagosians

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ecare Limited, brand owners of Natures Gentle Touch range of haircare and beauty products and founder of Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute, Lagos, has continued to empower youths by giving free scholarship at the Institute.

The Institute offers fantastic hairstyling education and has over the years been changing lives and helping the society to express their unique sense of style.

According to the spokesperson of Recare, Ukachi Obiuzor, the idea of the scholarship was mooted to encourage skills acquisition especially in the saloon business for our youths because the level of unemployment and other social vices and moral decadence in the country today is really frightening.

He further said that after the training at the Institute, they would have been armed with vocational skills to integrate them into the labour market and subsequently facilitate poverty alleviation in the country. “After graduation, you can become a Salon owner, a photo or movie stylist, platform artisit, celebrity stylist, image consultant or a beauty magazine editor. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Old students honour Jakande

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he Old Students’ Association of OdoObara High School, Epe, Lagos State, is organizing a ‘Leadership and Educational Summit’ in honour of the first Executive Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande (LKJ).

President of the Association, Mr. FeyiAbiodun Oyeniyi, said the annual event was designed to express his members’ appreciation to the former governor for making education available to the down trodden masses of the state, amongst other developmental projects.

"As beneficiaries of his administration’s free education policy, we decided to organize a annual summit with a view to celebrating and appreciating Jakande for leaving behind an enduring legacy in our Educational sector.”

Themed “Leadership and Educational Development”, the summit will hold at the Oranmiyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Saturday 21st September, 2 0 1 3 .

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32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

“We have been working hard at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka, to make it a highly sought-after academic institution. NAU has 14 faculties with many professors, lecturers and students actively involved in teaching, learning, research and community services,” said Egboka, professor of Hydrogeology.

Infrastructure:

On how the university has been able to achieve much in the area of infrastructure development despite the fact that it did not get a take-off grant from government when it transited from a state to a federal university, Egboka said Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and InternallyGenerated Revenue (IGR) were the secret. “To supplement the normal funds from the Federal Government (FG), NAU leadership practises public-private partnership where we (NAU, FG and its agencies) are the public component while communities, towns, corporate bodies, NGOs, individuals, national and international organisations etc., make up the private sector component and we have got very good responses. Parents of students over the years approved and accepted to pay some development levy. Unfortunately, tuition is free in federal universities and that is a problem. People should pay for the

We run a ‘student first’ philosophy — Egboka

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BY EBELE ORAKPO

n June 3, 2009, Professor Boniface Egboka emerged the 4th substantive vice-chancellor of NAU Awka for a five-year term which ends in June next year. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Awka, Egboka speaks on the journey so far, how the university has maintained a steady academic calendar and raised funds for capital projects. Excerpts:

special care of them. We stand in as their parents and look very closely at their needs and try to explain to them issues when they arise. We monitor them closely, allow them to organise their elections without interference and prevent some carnivorous individuals from coming to poach them either for political gerrymandering or for immoral escapades. In terms of security, we have very strong security for them; we ensure they attend lectures and lecturers teach and examine them accordingly, mark the scripts and release results as early as one month.

When students mess up, we try to correct them, use minimal force with

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educational food they Unfortunately, tuition is free in receive. So with that money and from the federal universities and that is takings from our posta problem because there is no graduate and part-time free lunch in education. People students, we are able to should pay for the educational support capital development. food they receive “In the PPP programme, while some stakeholders provide the entire funding for the a lot of guidance and counseling projects, in some others, we pay some except in extreme cases where we percentage, like 40% and the donor invite the parents to come and see pays about 60%. So with the IGR, PPP, things for themselves. In many cases, FG, State government led byMr. Peter we have had successes in changing Obi, companies like Emzor such students. It is not easy but it’s Pharmaceuticals, JUHEL worth it because if the students are Pharmaceuticals, Chisco Transport, happy, they will develop properly and GUO Motors, Elmada Company of become good nationalists who will Canada, Prince Arthur Eze, Ibeto stand tall for this country. We also take Group etc., we have been able to build care of the staff within the limit of our infrastructure like labs, lecture rooms, auditoria, hostels and also provide water. Sometimes these donors provide books, computers, cash etc.

We usually enter into an MoU that will

BY DAYO ADESULU establish confidence between us and the donor. With these, we try to remain ROJECT Manager, 9ja afloat academically and Knowledge Show, Mr John Okri administratively,” he said. has reiterated its commitment to change orientation of the nation's Stable academic calendar: teaming youth through the Global “We have maintained a stable Read Entertainment competitions. academic calendar for over 12 years He noted that the aim of the 9ja thanks to the discipline and knowledge show contest among understanding of our lecturers and youths is to make reading students. It has not been easy but entertaining to them. According to people are very conscious of it. Here, him, with the innovation, students we believe in the force of argument, can through music and movie not argument of force. We allow free accomplished great project as it will discussions, exchange opinions and enables tutors pass across success try to work very closely with our trade points to students without they unions and over the years, that system feeling that they are learning. has been maintained. We also run a Okri who noted that his aim is to student first philosophy. Our students ensure that the youth succeed even are the centre of gravity of our without the white collar job said that administrative and academic success is a course like Medicine, excellence. They are the future hope Engineering and Law adding: of their families and the country. They “When you teach people success come here as adolescents to be principles from childhood, they will fashioned into adults who will take discover what to do, endure the charge of our country so we take resulting challenges and excel at

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resources and everybody tries to go along. This is why we have always had stable calendar. Three years ago, NAU was third in u n i v e r s i t y preference for students next to UNILAG and UI; two years ago, we came 2nd next to UNILAG and •Professor Boniface Egboka this year, we came third next to UNIBEN and UNILORIN.” We also have international happened in the faculties. For collaboration exercises. We have example, a team from Geological linkage programmes with China’s Sciences took part in a national, Xiamen University and collaborative continental and global competition on ventures with other Asian, European, oil and gas virgin evaluation and American and Canadian universities.” prospecting organised by American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Imperial College, London. We NAU’s forte: in Africa out of 11 When asked the strong points of NAU emerged winners th universities and 5 in the world out in terms of courses, Egboka said the of 12 universities.

One of our History university has so many strong points.

“Our excellence is multidimensional and International Relations students and multisectoral. In an academic took part in a diploma in French community, you have what we call Language programme at Alliance academic freedom – staff teaching and Française and came first out of 25 researching on what they think will others. He was given an award by the benefit the environment. All our French Government to tour France Belgium.

Someone in faculties are doing well. In each of and Pharmaceutical Sciences got a $10,000 them, the staff and students are of right very aggressive in academic award for a global competition, a lecturer in Music Dept got $18,000 research.

“A lot of breakthroughs have award and so on.

How music, movie could inspire learning —Okri

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it.”He explained that the projects seek to use our past to redefine our future, discover, develop and celebrate finest brains as it will inspires the culture of excellence, creativity, entrepreneurship and also create inspirational role models.

He said: “We are on hand to compliment and work with the Federal and State Ministry for Education, JAMB, WAEC, NECO, National Orientation Agency and the private sectors to inspire and empower the youths. We believe the current dismal failure of students in school and youth’s unrest outside school can be redefined.”

The motivational talker disclosed that his group are in positive talks with several Federal and State Government, local and international organisation’s who are already keying in to the project.

He pointed out that they are not just out to celebrate winners, but to awake the latent winning spirit in everyone.

“We really hope that in years to come, we can look back on this and see it as a turning point in our National and International history,” he said.

His words: “Africa is the evolving hub of invention and development.

"Civilisation, invention and development started in Africa. It is Nigeria time to dominate the landscape with landmark inventions and development.

"The sad part of it is that, most Nigerians don’t even know the season and time when Africa will dominate the world, but the international community know- they are waiting and watching Africans.” He noted that it further explains why smart companies like Microsoft, Samsung, Nokia, Intel, CNN and other international business communities are massively investing their funds in Nigeria because we have the human resources and the market and it’s our time.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—33

Monarch calls for indigenous languages in school curriculum

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI,ABEOKUTA

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monarch in Ogun State, the Onilogbo of Ilogbo in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the State, Oba Samuel Olufemi Ojugbele, has canvassed for the teaching of indigenous languages in private schools in the state, saying only the mastery of the mother tongue can ensure proficiency in both written and spoken English.

Oba Ojugbele, who said that indigenous languages are the vehicle for the transmission of culture and tradition, lamented that they are facing the risk of extinction due to t h e i r non-inclusion in the school curricula, especially in the privately owned schools.

The monarch spoke at the third graduation ceremony of 16 secondary and 11 grade six students of The Gem International Schools and College in OwodeYewa, Yewa South LGA. “As a custodian of the culture of the people, I have to communicate in Yourba always. It is unfortunate and alarming that the English language has displaced indigenous languages in many of our homes today.

"Even our schools are not helping matters as they don’t encourage the

Expert speaks on consequences of digital revolution

Cross section of Albesta Academy graduating students at the school premises, Ibeju, Lekki, Lagos. teaching of our local languages.

“I recently went to a school and was shocked that the children did not know how to greet in Yoruba. Experts have said that the Yoruba language as a means of communication is very complete and I decided not to speak in English

not because I did not go to school.

“It is the desire to see our students not just to become academic robots but self-dependent, confident and creative individuals that can at any point in time thumb their chests among their peers.”

Meanwhile, the Director -General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Dr. Gloria Elemo, has said that the high level of unemployment in the country was compounded by illiteracy in information and communication technology.

NGO gives free private education to 300 pupils

BY LAJU ARENYEKA & JANET EBOH

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HREE hundred chil dren in the Lagos environs will benefit from the free private education project of the Caring Hand Foundation (CHF), a non-governmental charity organization.

Mr. Trust Okechukwu, the Project coordinator in

a chat with Vanguard Learning said “CHF is not a financial foundation supported by an established fund from which it makes grants to other charities.

"It is rather an organization which aims to connect individuals/ potential donors of funds and equipment, around the world with experience and expertise to offer with the sole objec-

tive to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in education.

Our mission in education is to ensure that all children get the development and education they need as a foundation for independence and success, we seek opportunities to invest in early child leading to reading/writing proficiency in basic education.”

delivered of a child last night’. It is the midwife that delivered my wife!

Staff

Frequently confused words Put to bed - gave birth to a child Do not confuse ‘put to bed’ with ‘gave birth to a child’. It is common to hear a man whose wife has just been delivered of a baby say ‘My wife put to bed last night’. The acceptable expression is “My wife gave birth to a child last night”. Please note that ‘put to bed’ does not mean ‘gave birth to a child’. ‘Please, put the kids to bed’ is a way of saying ‘cause the children to go to bed’. Some Nigerian users of English say ‘My wife delivered a child last night’. The acceptable sentence is ‘My wife was

-

a member of staff

The word staff is a collective noun. It can be singular or plural. Note that a unit of staff is not referred to as ‘a staff’ but as ‘a member of staff’ (British English) or ‘ staff member ’ (American English). It is never ‘a staff’. Do not ask, “Are you a staff here?” The correct expression is ‘Are you a member of staff here?’. The expression ‘a staff’ may refer to a long stick used as a support for walking, climbing or as a symbol of authority. Note also that staff should not be pluralized.

It already has plural connotation though its form is singular. Thus, we say ‘The academic staff of Nigerian Universities are on strike’ NOT ‘The academic staffs of Nigerian universities are on strike’. The use of ‘staffs is less frequent. zCONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com &

OUNDER and CEO of the Computer Warehouse Group, who is also an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), at the Columbia Business School, New York, Mr. Austin Okere, recently presented paper at an event for thought leaders in Stockholm, Sweden organized by the Economist Group, tagged Digital Horizons.

Over 150 leading innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, futurists and policy makers gathered at the event to discuss the digital future, a one-day summit where conventional thinking was challenged, critical visions, tools and insights were shared and fresh ideas generated around people, prosperity and power.

Okere’s paper focused on the consequences of the digital revolution from an African perspective, drawing attention to the shifting opportunities from the erstwhile prosperous Northern hemisphere countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy, U.K. and North America to Southern Hemisphere regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, China, India, Brazil and Australia.

He said, "Returns on foreign direct investments (FDI) into Sub–Saharan Africa were among the highest in the world due to the opportunities for growth and investment, and also as a result of the large and youthful population, projected to expand consumer expenditure to $1tr by 2020, coupled with the ample natural resources in the region.

Although digitalisation had already transformed our lives, he said a new wave of innovation was coming that would reshape the way we live, work and consume, redefining social systems, industrial competitiveness and pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible."

Over 100 students depart for American varsities

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

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o fewer than a hundred students who graduated from different secondary schools in Nigeria are set to attend various universities in the United States of America.

Some of the students have scholarships to attend prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT, Duke, the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of California at Berkley and Tufts University.

At a pre-departure orientation programme organised by the EducationUSA department with the theme, “Educating Nigeria’ s Future Leaders”, US Public Diplomacy Officer, Rhonda Watson advised the students to make good use of every available opportunity while studying in US so as to become the future leaders Nigerians desire.

According to her, “EducationUSA encourages young Nigerians interested in studying in the United States to take advantage of the services they offer at the United States Embassy Abuja and the United States Consulate General in Lagos”, adding that their departure to study in various US universities is a life time opportunity that will create a huge change on their country needs if only they will utilise it judiciously.

The pre-departure event also had some

34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSD AY, AUGUST 1, 2013 —35 THURSDA

Breast feed your baby not your man

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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S a mother do you still enjoy the act of breastfeeding? Nothing can beat that feeling that you breast fed your own baby. From experience, breast feeding promotes bonding between you and your baby.

While breast feeding your baby, you tend to hold the baby and there is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while being breastfed.

Many premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked.

Breast milk has been established as a unique nutritional source that cannot adequately be replaced by any other food.

Alas, it is like so many Nigerian mothers seem to have forgotten the real essence of breast feeding which is as old as the existence of man himself.

Going by recent findings, exclusive breast feeding rate in Nigeria has fallen as to as low as 15 percent.

Many mothers are said to have chosen to keep their breast for their man than their baby who needs it for survival.

Some claimed that breast feeding their babies will affect the shape of their breasts and may

• Exclusive breast feeding could save 220,000 children annually. no longer be attractive to their man. Studies also show that breast feeding has nothing to do with the breast sagging. It has also been proven that whether a woman breast feeds or not, whether a woman gets pregnant or not, a time shall come in the woman’s life when her breasts will become slack due to ageing.

Between the baby and father, who actually needs this breast?

There are hard facts that the man only use the breast as an object of romance, unlike the

baby who utilises the breast for survival.

Evidence abounds that breast milk itself is the gold in infant nutrition for a newborn as it possesses anti-infective properties that help to protect infants against diseases.

Breastfeeding has been declared an unequaled way of providing ideal food for the health, growth and the development of infants as well as been a unique biological and emotional basis for the health of both mother and child.

Studies have shown that women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer as adults.

For both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than women.

Again, not breast feeding increases risk of cancer in women. But if all women who do not breastfeed or who breastfeed for less than three

months were to do so for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among parous premenopausal women could be reduced by 11 percent, judging from current rates. This reduction would be even greater among women who first lactate at an early age.

Studies indicate that breastfeeding helps improve mothers’ health, as well as their children’s.

A woman grows both physically and emotionally from the relationship she forms with her baby. Just as a woman’s breast milk is designed specifically to nourish the body of an infant, the production and delivery of this milk aids her own health.

For example, breastfeeding helps a woman to lose weight after birth. It releases a hormone (oxytocin) that causes the uterus to return to its normal size more quickly.

When a woman gives birth and proceeds to nurse her baby, she protects herself from pregnancy again too soon, a form of birth control found to be 98 percent. Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of osteoporosis in later years.

Diabetic women improve their health by breastfeeding.

Women who lactate for two or more years reduce chances of developing breast cancer by 24 percent.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

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And finally for the day, we have new aphrodisiacs for women. Very often, male libido problems and solutions dominate our weekly discussions but women do have libido problems too. The first of these new aphrodisiacs is the Rock On Daily Supplement, a natural sexual enhancer in capsule form capable of lifting energy and libido levels at any age while enhancing sexual pleasure and satisfaction for women.

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I am newly married and I will like to learn more about how my wife and I can have a successful long term sexual relationship. Do you conduct seminars?

Tayo Tayo at the moment, we don’t do seminars. But you will find the information you are looking for in books such as Sex Secrets and movies like Great Sex for a Life Time. The advantage movies and books have over seminars is that you get to see some of these sexual ideas and recommendations demonstrated and not just talked about. Sex is very physical after all – Uche I take Xzen 1200 to make my erection and performances stronger. So far so good but I will like to know if it has side effects when used for too long – Samuel Samuel manufacturers always advice regular users of aphrodisiacs to give a one or two week break after using it for one month before continuing again. This will enable the body flush out any unwanted residues or toxins that may accumulate over long periods of time, if any. Xzen 1200 is 100% natural and safe. The human body processes natural supplements like natural foods , which is why we recommend them – Uche I use condoms during sex and on few occasions, the condoms have broken during intercourse. Can you recommend something more reliable? Jonah Jonah this is why more people are using penis sleeves instead. Sleeves such as the Glow in the Dark Sleeve and Nasstoys Penis Extender are thicker than condoms, stronger and can be reused. They also prevent premature ejaculation – Uche Adults in need of these treatments and novelties can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com

36—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Leave FUPRE's VC alone, ex-militants warn ‘detractors'

A'Ibom gets new SSG

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new Secretary to Akwa Ibom Government has been appointed.

He is Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

He hails from Onna Local Government Area of Eket Senatorial District and replaces Obong Okon Umanah.

A statement, Tuesday,

by Mr. Aniekan Umanah, Commissioner for Information and Communications, said that Mr. Emmanuel was until the appointment an Executive Director on the Board of Zenith Bank Plc since December 2006.

It added that Emmanuel also doubled as non-executive director, Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, since 2008 and Director, Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement Systems, NIBBS, from 2009; non-Executive Director, Zenith Bank, United Kingdom; Zenith Bank, Gambia; Zenith Bank, Sierra Leone; Zenith Insurance; Zenith Pensions and Custodian; Zenith Securities; Zenith Trustees and Zenith Registrars.

The statement added that the new SSG is a corporate strategist and an experienced private sector player, hinting that he had wide experience in various blue-chips organisations such as Price Water House and Diamond Bank Plc. The statement said the governor expressed appreciation to Obong Umanah, who served as SSG from May 2007 to August 2013 for his dedication and contribution to the transformation of the state.

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—CHAIRMAN, Niger-Delta Ex-Militants, Urhobo chapter, Mr. Augustine Ogedegbe, has appealed to those against the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta State, Professor

Alhassan Bichi, a Northerner, to leave him alone to do his job.

Ogedegbe told Vanguard, “I am an Urhobo and happy with the wonderful work the Vice Chancellor is doing at FUPRE. “God is using him to turn around the school that was once written off. Why should people not give him rest of

mind?

“It is of note that a Vice Chancellor, who is from the Northern part of the country, has interest in developing a school in the Southern part of the country. We should support and not antagonise him.

“When I read reports of hostilities by people towards him, I am pained because anybody

who had visited the university since he came on board knows that there are changes. I call him God-sent.

“Niger Delta ex-militants fought because our area is underdeveloped. We have been working hard for development to come, and for this reason, our people should allow peace to reign for development to come.”

Esan youths demand better representation

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—AHEAD the 2015 National Assembly elections in Edo State, Esan Youth Movement, EYM, an umbrella

body of all Esan youths at home and in the Diaspora, wants a chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the area, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, to go to the Senate, citing his experience in

DTP endorses Ochei for Delta guber

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—AHEAD of the 2015 governorship election in Delta State, Delta Transformation Project, DTP, has endorsed the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, for the position, over what it described as his incomparable vision for sustainable development of the state.

The group said Ochei was the most qualified candidate for the seat in 2015.

DTP's Facilitator, Dr. Franklin Waboke, said: “DTP is a platform to stimulate, influence and encourage the enthronement of

good governance for the sustainable development of Delta State based on equity and fair play in line with the principles of democracy.

“We have been in the forefront in mobilising support for the emergence of a suitably qualified indigene of Delta North Senatorial District as governor of Delta State in the 2015 general elections.

“We are doing this through consensus building in the advocacy for unity and equity, propagating the democratic principles of social justice, economic, development and good governance in Delta State.”

the politics of the state as reason for their demand.

It will be recalled that Inegbeneki is one of the foot soldiers of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, before he dumped the party for ACN two years ago.

However, in a statement by the National President of EYM, Chief Stephen Amedo, the group said their call became necessary to ensure that Esanland gets better representation in the Senate come 2015.

It said: “As a movement that believes that Esan people must get the best at all levels, we need a vibrant senator, who will represent us and not himself.

“In Inegbeneki, we find a man that has empowered many of our youths without being in government. He has never fought for his selfish interest but always for the people.”

Monarch honours ex-Delta SSG, wife

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RODJE of Okpe Kingdom in Orerokpe, headquarters of Okpe Local Government Area, Delta State, in collaboration with Okpe Tradition Council, yesterday, conferred on the former Secretary to Delta State

Government, Engr. James Erhuero, the chieftaincy title of Afure of Okpe Kingdom.”

Erhuero's wife, Christiana, a legal practitioner, was also made Ohovwore of Okpe Kingdom.

A source said the couple was

honoured for their selfless contributions to development, particularly to Delta State Government and the state Civil Service Commission, where he worked from 1998 to 1999 and 1999 to 2003, respectively.

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—THE petrochemical plant and gas processing facilities to be cited in the Koko Free Trade Zone, FTZ, capable of generating $16 billion investment, is in the pipeline, says Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa.

Speaking in Asaba, yesterday, at the ongoing mid-term report by members of the state executive council, he noted that “Federal Government had appointed a team of consultants to commence preliminary site inspection of a petrochemical plant and gas processing facilities to be cited at Koko FTZ. “It is envisaged to emerge as Africa’s largest industrial complex. They are currently working in conjunction with the Nigerian Port Authority and the state government to tackle the situation.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

FG plans petrochemical plant for Koko FTZ

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On NEMA/LASEMA feud

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HEN a building collapsed in La gos, NEMA got there at 3a.m. While LASEMA turned up at 9a.m. So who is more reliable? It is very simple. If you want to get the credits or do the work, just arrive at the accident spot on time. — Miss Anne Oriaku, Student.

I

do not see any rationale in LASEMA’s argument because Lagos is still part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. LASEMA Act says NEMA is a primary responder, yet they want NEMA to “ wait until called to duty”. — Mr. Ezugo Nwashili, Businessman.

I

see Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, as a vital catalyst to an informed and responsible National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. In most emergencies in Lagos, NEMA gets there before LASEMA. — Mr. Solomon Bombata, Pensioner.

I

think there should be collaboration be tween LASEMA and NEMA, and not one waiting till the other calls. After all, what the victims of an accident are interested in is how they are saved and not who saved them. — Mr. Ogbonna Chibuzo, Cadet Sailor.

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HIS feud between LASEMA and NEMA is what will happen when we have state police. Instead of performing their duty of saving lives during an emergency, they are busy fighting over who should be speaking to the media.

What a shame! — Mr. John Nkeonye, Teacher.

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N my view, NEMA does not have work to do. How can they struggle for work in Lagos State, when the state already has its emergency unit? NEMA can only intervene in an emergency if LASEMA calls for its help. — Mrs. Nekky Chidiobi, Unemployed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 — 37

Group calls for review of amnesty programme

BY MMAAMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE,

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ARRI—NATIONAL Coordinator, Center for Peace and Environment Justice, CEPEJ, Warri, Delta State, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, has faulted the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, for ex-militants in the Niger Delta and called on the Federal Government to review same.

Mulade told reporters in Warri that the programme, as presently conceived, without jobs for the participants, was defective, adding that it was the reason why youths trained therein, were causing problem in the region.

“We have observed that the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta youths addresses capacity building through training and reintegration, without capability. However, it fails to tackle the fundamental issues of underdevelopment as well as environment pollution and degradation caused by the reckless activities of multinational oil companies, illegal bunkering and oil theft.”

According to him, most unrests and criminalities currently taking place in the region were the handiwork of unemployed/

Edo IPMAN: Court dismisses motion on factional chairman

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—THE battle to unseat the Chief Solomon Ogbewe-led Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Midwest zone, by a faction of the association, has suffered a setback as the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed an application to restrain Chief Ogbewe from acting as chairman.

The claimants, Izedonmwen Danson, Charles Aiworo and Godwin Iroghama for themselves and on behalf of IPMAN through their counsel, A. Osayomwanbor, in a motion ex-parte, had prayed the court for an interim injunction, restraining Ogbewe from parading himself as Chairman or Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Midwest zone of the association.

Trial judge, Justice B. Adejumo in his ruling, held that there was no proof of any election where the claimants were elected as executive committee of the association.

The court, however, restrained both parties from involving in any activity that would threatened the peace in their areas of operation, pending “the determination of the motion on notice.”

The substantive matter has been assigned to Justice Ubaka of the Akure Division of the court.

C M Y K

trained ex-militants not gainfully engaged since returning from the training.

He maintained that if governments at all level were commit-

ted to the fundamental issues confronting the region and ex-militants trained in environmental management, their services could be engaged to perform clean up exercises to achieve peace and restore the environment.

Mulade said: “It is regrettable

that over the years, oil pollution had destroyed farmlands, waterways and various sources of drinkable water, thereby, impoverishing the local people and affecting their socio-economic wellbeing.”

Tribunal orders oil firm to pay $1.7m tax default to FIRS

BY ABDULWAHAB

ABDULAH

B

AWARD: From left: Dr. Dafe Akpocha, DG, Centre For Democratic Governance in Africa, CDGA; Dr. Oladele Amoda, MD/CEO, Eko Electricity Distribution Company and Mr. Godwin Idemudia, AGM, Public Affairs, during the conferment of African Distinguished Gold Service Award to Dr. Oladele Amoda in Lagos.

My govt beyond blackmail —ORJI A BUJA—GOVERNOR Theodore of Abia State has said that his government was beyond blackmail following what de described as politically motivated criticisms by the opposition, which finds it difficult to believe the pace of development in the state.

In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, said: “We will remain resolute and undaunted in our determination to uplift the status of the state by changing the land marks of underdevel-

opment for which it was hitherto known.

“This habitual peddlers of falsehood have lost touch with reality based on their previous assumption that Abia political space was their private estate. There is no need to continually engage in sing songs over the achievements of the Governor Orji’s administration because we owe this sworn enemies of Abia State no apologies or explanation.

“The contraction by one detractor that his village is not developed by government is the dream of failure on behalf of his sponsor,

who reigned for eight years in Abia.

“The sponsors of this hired funeral criers, whose major grouse is the loss of political power to the people of Abia, have refused to understand why the majority of Abia people have continued to embrace and support the trend of fortune that is currently bequeathed to the state by the Orji’s administration.

“This mischief is nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of economic crime agencies over the squander and conversion of Abia funds for their private enterprises in the past.”

Women appeal to Delta govt over planned demolition of Ughelli market

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BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—NIGER Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development, NDWPD, a non-governmental organisation, has urged the Delta State Government to stay action on its planned demolition of the Ughelli goods market.

National President of NDWPD, Ambassador Caroline UsikpedoOmoniye in a statement, yesterday, described the planned demolition of the market as unlawful and a violation of the rights of the traders.

She said that the move lacked citizenship engagement and participation, arguing that stakeholders and the traders were not consulted before the decision was reached.

She said: “The rights of the

market people will be infringed upon if the government chose to use forceful means to evict the market women and bring down the market since the women sell their goods in the market and any disruption will lead to loss of income, property and even lives.

“If government wishes to rebuild the market as it claims, the women are ready to relocate to a temporary site, which will be provided by the Iwhreko community and Ughelli kingdom within the locality and upon proper documentation. Ogor is a kingdom that requires a market for its people, while the Iwhreko market is the major market of Ughelli kingdom and should not be taken away from the people.”

Noting that the Ughelli market had been in existence for over 50

years, she said that customers would find it difficult to access the new market place.

ENIN—TWO days after Edo State Government and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, bickered over tax payment, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, TAT, South-South Zone, has ordered Global Marine Baltic Incorporation, a multi-national oil company to pay $1,770,995 (about N279.8 million) tax due to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS. The tribunal in its judgment, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, ordered the company to pay the sum, as its income tax liability for 1997, 1998 and 2000 respectively.

The three-man tribunal led by Mr. Adenike Eyoma, ruled on the suit filed by the company, challenging additional tax assessment served on it by FIRS, in respect of one of its subsidiaries, Global Marine Offshore Drilling Limited.

The tribunal held the additional assessment notices for the three years under dispute were valid and made in accordance with the law, adding they did not amount to double taxation as claimed by the company.

Global Marine Baltic Incorporation, had asked the tribunal to declare that charges in respect of its subsidiary do not form part of its revenue derived from Nigeria for the purposes of taxation under Section 26 of the Company Income Tax Assessment, CITA. It also prayed the court to declare that “inclusion of the recharges as part of the taxable revenue/profit of the appellant derived from Nigeria amounts to double taxation and therefore, unjust, null and void.”

DFU endorses Keyamo for Senate

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SABA—ACTIVIST lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has been endorsed by members of his political family, Delta Forces United, DFU, to contest the forthcoming bye election in Delta Central Senatorial district to fill the vacant seat in the Senate occasioned by the untimely death of Senator Pius Ewherido.

Going by the provisions of the Electoral Act, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is expected to conduct byeelection into the vacant Delta Central senatorial seat within 90 days.

Coordinators of DFU in the senatorial district, said that Keyamo, an Urhobo possesses a profile that qualifies him to fill the vacuum created by Ewherido’s demise.

In a statement, DFU spokesman, Mr. Frank Oshanugor, said that the coordinators were of the opinion that since Keyamo, a chief of Uvwie kingdom, in his career as a lawyer has fought several legal battles locally and internationally with outstanding victories to show for his efforts, he deserved nothing less than a seat in the Senate.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Strikes don't solve problems, says Oko Poly rector

Soludo joins APGA, declares bid for Anambra guber

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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HE Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, Professor Godwin Onu, has advised unions in the education sector to do away with ‘outdated instrument’ of strike in achieving labour demands.

According to him, the harm, disaster and dislocations strikes unleash on institutions are often unquantifiable.

Onu, who spoke at a dinner/ inauguration of Lagos State Zone of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Old Students Alumni Association, FEPOSA, in Lagos, advised the unions to devise alternative ways of addressing labour demands as strike was not really helping the development of the institutions.

Onu regretted that strikes in the educational institutions was an ill-wind that did no one no good, adding that industrial action was often as catastrophic as tsunami in the academic sector.

FCTA moves to regulate food vendors in Abuja

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA—TO safeguard the health of Abuja residents, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has set out modalities to regulate food vendors and operators of eateries.

Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, stated this when a delegate from the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council ofn Nigeria, EHORECON, paid her a visit.

She said those providing food for the public should be subjected to medical screening to certify them fit for consumption by the public.

Akinjide, while responding to observations by the Registrar of EHORECON on the absence of regulation and licensing of eateries and beer parlour, said “this is something we will try to pilot; we will screen them to ensure they are fit.”

She explained further: “They will be subjected to medical test such as HIV test, Hepatitis, etc and if found wanting, would not be allowed to operate.

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CONDOLENCE—From left: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State; President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan during a condolence visit of some prominent Abia indigenes to the President on the death of his mother in-law in Abuja.

Ebonyi govt shuts filling station selling adulterated kerosene

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—EBONYI State government has shut the filling station (name withheld) allegedly fingered for selling adulterated kerosene to the households affected by an explosion from the product purchased from it two weeks ago.

It would be recalled that the explosion which occurred at Mbukobe and other parts of the state, killed one Chidera Nwoba, 13, and injured two other victims, Chibueze Ugorji, 8, and Uche Kalueze, 6.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday, Special Adviser to Governor Martin Elechi on Petroleum Product Pricing and Distribution, Mr. Chidi Ejem, asserted that the filling station was closed because its product did not meet the required standard for public usage.

He said the filling station will remain closed until its management has taken care of all penalties

accompanying kerosene explosion in the country.

He warned that if the families of the victims were not adequately compensated by the owners of the filling station, plus meeting other conditions on petroleum product distribution; the station would remain closed for a long time.

He said: “When the explosion happened, we took our time to investigate the source. All the affected families we talked with pointed towards the filling station under investigation.

“They said they bought the product from there. When we got to the filling station, there was no product but I managed to get a little quantity from their desktop.

“When the sample was tested at the NNPC depot laboratory, the manager confirmed to me that the product that caused the explosion was contaminated;

or rather, I will say that the product did not meet the required specification.

“It was flashing at room temperature which does not meet NNPC specification and can cause such explosion if not properly used.

“That’s why the station is still under lock. I have written my report to DPR and PPMC and they have their own action to take. Petroleum issue is not just for the state to take action alone; we are concerned about the safety of the lives of our citizens “The filling station under investigation never passed through NNPC depot specification laboratory because they have their own depot; assuming they passed through NNPC depot, they would have been able to find out where the problem is from before distribution to the general public”.

Strike: Parents' forum begs ASUU

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BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

BUJA—PARENTS, under the umbrella of Parents Teachers Progressive Forum, PTPF, have appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to reconsider its position on the ongoing strike in the interest of Nigerian students, the education sector and the nation at large.

Chairman of PTPF, Abuja branch, Mr. Ejike Amu-Nnadi, who made the appeal at the graduation and prize giving day of First Age Private Schools, Kubwa, Abuja, stated that though there was dearth of learning facilities, conducive learning environment for teachers and poor funding of the education sector; perpetual strikes should not

be the only option available to attract the needed attention from the Federal Government.

Amu-Nnadi said in view of the parlous state of the nation’s education sector, ASUU should not make things worse with a prolonged and avoidable strike.

He said: “The persistent failure of the public school system in Nigeria has made the private schools the only option available for Nigerian parents.

"Government should do everything possible to bring the nation’s education sector to the desired and expected standard.

"The situation is so bad that

parents are presently at the mercy of private school owners.”

Director of Schools, First Age Private Schools, Mrs. Adeleke Zaynab said all hands must be on deck for the education system in the country to attain the expected international standard.

Adeleke said: “For us to meet international standards, our schools must constantly be positioned to meet the ever evolving new academic ideas, new ICT and capacity building and trainings to ensure that the graduates we churn out are confident, independent and adaptive in any environment they find themselves.”

NITSHA—FORMER governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo, yesterday, declared his intention to run for the November 16 governorship poll in the state.

Soludo made the declaration after formally picking APGA membership card from his Isuama ward at a meeting with the ward's executive.

He had on July 17, 2013 resigned his membership of the PDP on grounds that the party did not represent what he needed in actualising his dream and vision in politics with regards to the welfare of the people of Anambra and Nigeria in general.

The resignation letter, addressed to the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, titled: “Letter of resignation as a member of PDP” read: “This is to convey my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from July 17, 2013".

45-yr-old man arraigned for alleged theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—A 45-year-old man, Anthony Okokoro, and others at large, were yesterday docked before a Lagos Magistrate's court, sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing N278,000, belonging to his victims.

Okokoro, who was arraigned before magistrate Abimbola Komolafe, is facing a fivecount charge of conspiracy and stealing, preferred against him by the police.

The defendant was said to have committed the alleged crime on July 27, 2013, at Shoprite at Alausa area of Ikeja.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, said Okokoro and others at large broke into one Nissan Hilux with plate number FC 481 EKY, with intent to steal.

He said the defendant stole one ipad phone valued at N130,000, one external memory valued at N45,000 and ipad charger, belonging to one Ountan Ekundayo.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013—39

INAUGURATION: Prof. Adetoun Ogunsheye, presenting a certificate to Prince Bola Ajibola, as the new chairman of Senior Citizens Care Foundation, and Mr. Jide Taiwo, Executive Officer of the organisation, during the inauguration of the new chairman, at Prince Bola Ajibola's house, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Photo: Wumi Akinola

CONFERENCE: The Chief of the Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (middle) with other countries' Chiefs of Naval Staff and Heads of Delegation to the First Gulf of Guinea Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference, at Tinapa Lakeside Resort and Hotel, in Calabar

SEMINAR: From left, President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Nnam; Divisional Sales Manager (South-East), Mr. Muyiwa Adeyemi, and Market Activation Manager (Eastern Division), Mr. Cyril Arebun, both of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, during a seminar by Cadbury (Bournvita) on the importance of nutrition, in Umuahia.

DISBURSEMENT: Aisha Muhammed Lawal, former Kwara State First Lady (right), presenting grinding machine to Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, and the Chief Imam of AlHabibiyyah Islamic Society, Fuad Adeyemi, during Al-Habibiyyah zakat disbursement, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

CELEBRATION: From left: Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi, Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, and Dr. Abimbola Ajayi, Deputy Director, Nutrition, during the press briefing on Year 2013 World Breastfeeding week celebration, in Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

INVESTITURE: From left, District Governor, Mr. Gbemiga Olowu, immediate past President, Rotary Club of Ikeja District 9110; Mr. Niyi Osidele; President; Mr. Olagoke Olayinka, and the Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Babatunde Savage, during the investiture of the 47th President of the club, in Lagos.

LECTURE: From left, Abiodun Kareem, Publicity Director, Barry Wonder Fans Club; Alhaja Funmilayo Otitoloju-Obabiyi, Adviser; Mr. Awonaike Adeleke, Secretary General; Sheikh Tajudeen Abdul Azeez, close associate of late Dr. Ayinde Barrister; Shamsudeen Balogun, son of late Barrister, and Alhaji Lediju Kamila, President, Barry Wonder Fans Club, during a Ramadan lecture and prayer, organised in memory of late Dr. Ayinde Barrister by Barry Wonder Fans Club, at his residence in Isolo, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele C M Y K

COMMISSIONING: From left, Mrs. Adeyeri Abosede, Mrs. Lola Isamuko, Mrs. and Mr. Bayonle Abiola, school proprietors, and Pastor Udochukwu Agharanya, during the end of session party and commissioning of the Ark of God International School, Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube

LYING-IN-STATE: From left, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, (Chartered); Mrs. Margaret Adeleke, Olola Fredrick Ogunlana, past presidents of NIM, and Mrs. Olubunmi Oyeleye, wife of the deceased Engr. Teju Oyeleye, a past president of NIM, during the lying-in-state of Engr. Oyeleye, at NIM Headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu.

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

RAMADAN TALK

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

Night of Majesty, another huge opportunity

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From left: Chairman, presidential committee on security situation in Northern Nigeria, Tanimu Turaki exchanging pleasantries with Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke. Behind Adoke is SGF Anyim Pius Anyim at the State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Jonathan commends civilian JTF in Borno

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan has commended youths in Maiduguri, Borno State, for their show of patriot-

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ism by collaborating with security personnel of the Joint Task Force in identifying and arresting suspected insurgents in the state.

The president spoke at a special breaking of Ramadan fast dinner organized for youth leaders across the country, by a non-governmental organization,

Goodluck Support Group (GSG), in Abuja.

President Jonathan who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said despite the security challenge the country was facing, Nigeria would overcome and emerge a stronger and more united nation.

He said as leaders of tomorrow, youths in the country owed it a duty to support the Jonathan administration for it to achieve its goal of making the country a better place for generations yet unborn.

According to him: “The situation is now improving in the North East.

The youths are emboldened as they are helping in chasing the insurgents, arresting, and handing them over to the JTF”, adding that with the role being played by youths in Borno State, it is a clear indication that the country’s future is very bright.

“Nigeria will not disintegrate. Nigeria will emerge stronger and more united. Remember we had civil war and came out of it stronger and more united. We had Maitatsine, we came out of it stronger and more united. Remember we had June 12, and we came out of it not only stronger, but more united.”

Gulak, said the nation’s power sector would soon receive a major boost as work was currently being stepped up on 3600 Mega Watts Mambila power plant.

N about a few days from now, we will bid the Ramadan month farewell. How have you spent the last three weeks? Has it been fruitful, spiritually exciting and physically rewarding or have you wasted the time unknowingly?

Ramadan, as usual, has flown by. Despite planning beforehand, many of us may have got caught up in a normal routine after accustoming ourselves to the change in schedule the blessed month brings. This may have affected our initial plans to increase our worship and to seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy with greater favour.

Have you kept pace with your recitation of Quran, or have fallen behind? Have you tried to attend Tarawih prayer regularly, or did you use weak excuses to get out of it? Did you observe Tahajud or you used the night attempting a call to Gawat for hajj slot or Ramadan gift? Did you keep your five daily prayers with outmost consciousness? Did you invite anyone over for Iftar or did you help any needy person, even a beggar, during this period of fasting? Did you regularly seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy with sincerity and fear? Did you avoid backbiting and slander at home and offices? Did you constantly check your intentions to make sure that your good deeds were for the sake of Allah alone and not to impress others, gain their favour or to show off?

Perhaps, the last three of four days could also make a difference. Whether you have an impressive record or not, you can still make the most of what is left of Ramadan this year, Insha Allah.

Remember what Allah says on ‘one night better than a thousand night.’ Remember what Lailatul Qadr stands to offer. Explore the opportunity and increase your Ibadaah and Dua. It is a time when you can get the blessing of a thousand months; it is a time of possibilities.

Do Tahajud, and pray in the last few days of the month. Life is about people that take advantage of their opportunities to win the love of Allah. Lailatul Qadr is a huge opportunity.

Pensioners threaten to curse govs

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BUJA—PENSIONERS in the country, yes terday in Abuja, threatened to rain curses on state governors who have refused to pay them their pensions and other entitlements, lamenting that non-payment of their benefits had made life very frustrating.

At a briefing, the President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan, surrounded by over 50 pensioners, declared: “As elderly people, who have served this country, whoever we curse will be cursed, whoever we pray for, it shall be so. We don’t want to curse any state governor, but if any of them deserves our curse, we will curse them, I repeat, we will curse them. If it gets to a frustrating point, and we open our caps and we curse them, they will not overcome the curse.”

Speaking on what the new National Executive Council of the union considered as its seven-point agenda and programme for the next four years, Dr. Afolayan, and other pensioners demanded a minimum pension and welfare package.

He decried the pitiable situation of pensioners at the state level, adding that ill-treatment of old people who used their productive age to serve the country was unfortunate.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013 — 41

42— VANGU ARD, ANGUARD,

I N S I D E

THURSD AY, A UGUS T 1 , 20 13 THURSDA AUGUS UGUST 201

She has rejuvenated the judiciary — Page 43

Phantom ‘Child Marriage Bill': Much Ado about a False Alarm — Page 44

ROT IN JUDICIARY:

CJN’s scorecard after one year

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

J

ULY 16, marked exactly one year when Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, assumed office as the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, having succeeded Justice Dahiru Musdapher who bowed out of the judiciary on July 15, 2012.

Remarkably, since 1963 when the Federal Republic of Nigeria was proclaimed and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe became its first President, no woman has ever headed the judiciary.

Statutorily, the CJN heads the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council, NJC, a position that has been the exclusive preserve of men since the country gained independence.

As it stands today, Nigeria has produced thirteen successive CJNs, with the first being Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, who held sway at the apex court bench from 1958 to 1972.

Hitherto to her ascension to the referred office, the integrity of the judiciary had nosedived to an extent that corruption was gradually becoming a lexicon customary to the justice sector.

The situation deteriorated to the stage that an ex-CJN and a sitting President of the court of Appeal, publicly poked each other over alleged plan to subvert justice in a gubernatorial dispute involving

Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (CJN) and I am saddened by it. I will try. I don’t want to sound like a broken record. I will try to make sure that the confidence reposed in the Judiciary, as it was before, is returned. I will try to ensure that the bad eggs that are there are flushed out. That there will be a cleansing by the National Judicial Council (NJC) based on petitions. It is sad that the ordinary man on the street thinks and feels that he cannot get justice. This is because of the situation we find ourselves. I

To add bite to her threat to weed out corrupt elements from the bench, Justice Mukhtar, on February 28, this year , sacked two justices, Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court Lagos and T.D. Naron of High Court of Justice, Plateau State

,

Sokoto State.

Consequently, while answering questions from the Nigerian Senate prior to her confirmation on July 11, 2012, Justice Muthtar, admitted the presence of bad eggs at the top echelon of the judicial arm of government, even as she vowed to fight and expose such persons before her exit from office next year.

She said: “As at now, it is very bad

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will ensure that this perception changes.”

Thus, few days after she assumed duties, the CJN, went through 337 petitions filed against judicial officers before NJC. Lamenting that the integrity of the judiciary was fast eroding, the CJN, disclosed that she “inherited 139 petitions, 106 of which were vexatious or baseless, only 33 of the

petitions were considered worthy of attention.”

According to her: “After my assumption of office as Chief Justice, 198 fresh petitions were filed, of this number, 150 were found to be frivolous, 15 are awaiting responses from Judges and only 21 were slated for consideration.”

To add bite to her threat to weed out corrupt elements from the bench, Justice Mukhtar, on February 28, this year , sacked two justices, Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court Lagos and T.D. Naron of High Court of Justice, Plateau State.

Acting alongside the NJC, she further set up a ‘Fact Finding’ Committee to investigate allegations of corruption against Justice Abubakar Talba of FCT High Court, who was eventually handed a one year suspension on April 26 following the slap-on-the-wrist sentence he handed to a self confessed pension thief, Mr. John Yusuf, who had openly admitted that he stole N23billion pension fund.

To further demonstrate her stance against judicial impunity, the CJN has directed full-blown investigation into the petition that was filed against the former Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Hassan Lawal Gunmi, who voluntarily retired from office on May 13 to become an Emir in Zamfara state.

The FCT CJ, who has since gone

before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the decision of the NJC to probe allegations of corruption against him, relinquished his office to replace the former Emir of Gunmi town, Alhaji Aliyu Abara who died on May 7.

However, aside dismissing his objections at the NJC, the council asked the high court to throw out the suit as grossly lacking in merit, stressing that no court has the powers to stop it from investigating the former CJ. Meanwhile, with the hindsight of experience, Justice Mukhtar, knowing that some of the supporting staff in the justice sector connive with corrupt lawyers, on June 17, warned to sack any of them found wanting.

In a keynote address she presented at a workshop organized for that cadre of judicial officers by the National Judicial Institute, NJI, the CJN, said: “Let me quickly add that the fight against corruption in the judiciary is not only targeted at judicial officers but also against any member of staff of the judiciary who finds luxury or convenience in engaging in corrupt practices or engaged in any other unwholesome conduct.

“It is a notorious fact that this category of workers has in the past caused leakages of judgments written by judges which were yet to be delivered. Litigants’ applications are at times not filed in their case files thereby denying the judges from acting on them. Some of them midwife between the litigants and the judges in the sale of judgment, or provide information to litigants on

Continues on page 43

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGU ARD, THURSD AY, A UGUS T 1 , 20 1 3 —43 ANGUARD, THURSDA AUGUS UGUST 201

CJN has rejuvenated the judiciary — Sagay

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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ROFESSOR Itse Sagay SAN, a foremost constitutional lawyer, in this interview spoke on the on going constitution amendment by the National Assembly, the Rivers crisis and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, one year in office excerpts.

What exactly do you think is the problem with the present Nigerian constitution considering the on going amendments by the National Assembly?

I don’t want to discuss the constitution in bits and pieces because when you do that, we will lose the forest and will only be seeing the trees. So, we need to be careful. Let me start with a general statement before zeroing in on immunity clause and other things. I think the first point to me is that the National Assembly has completely derailed as far as this amendment is concerned.

And the derailment could possibly be because they are not even competent to revise the Nigerian constitution, which I think is meant for the national conference because they cannot see what needs to be done,We need to change it, to revise it and restore federalism into the constitution, the way it used to be in 1960 and 1963 constitutions. That is the major thing and because they have lost sight of that major picture, they now started picking here, picking there without a large framework within which they operate.

They are now moving in the opposite direction of federalism, moving away from federalism. In other words, if federalism is towards the right, the National Assembly is just trekking leftwards, moving away. For example, when you say you want autonomy for local governments, it means you want to destroy federalism.

Because once a local government is autonomous, then it is independent of the state in which it exists and therefore has direct relationship with the federal government that is the end of the existence of states.

That is the end of state autonomy itself and that is the end of the independence, authority and operation of states. What you have is a unitary system with local governments. Again, they even want INEC to conduct local government elections.

When they are talking like that, it means they are not thinking. They do not have goals and objectives into which you fit in individual thought.

If they have the objective of true federalism, they will not be going in the direction of actually destroying it or as I have said earlier wiping out true federalism and that is exactly what the national assembly is doing.

Looking at the crisis in Rivers State, the First Lady admitted that her problem with the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi started four years ago, what is your take on

Professor Itse Sagay SAN this?

The first thing I will say is that the First Lady is not an elected person.

She has no constitutional or legal office. So, she shouldn’t be interfering in Rivers state governance. It is not her business.

She said she interfered because Rivers is her home state. So, how many times have I gone to disturb the governor of Delta state because he does something in my state that I don’t like?

The issue does not arise at all. She has no valid argument to back her claim and she should not abuse the position of the so-called First Lady or being the wife of the president. She is a private citizen as far as Rivers state is concerned. And let me tell you,. all these fighting is about 2015, because of the nagging feeling that Amaechi is interested in being vice presidential candidate to a Northerner. That is the whole genesis of this problem and because of the intolerance which is a culture in this country, then it becomes an insult

for anybody to dream of being president or vicepresident when the master is also having the dream of being reelected into the same office’. So, it is that culture of oppression that is behind all this.

But the solution to all this is very simple. It is what we have already said. We have a unitary government that is why the effects of the federal government, the negative impact of the

federal government can be so felt in Rivers State. Why a police commissioner can turn himself into a politician, who speaks as he likes and creates crisis in the state just to please one master somewhere. If we have true federalism and each state has its own police, it won’t happen. So, this confirms the fact that there is need for true federalism and what pleases me is that the Northerners who have always opposed true federalism, who oppose state police, now their eyes are open. They can now see clearly after the experience of four of them in Rivers State, they are now beginning to tell a different story and this is what we have been telling them.

A state in a federation is an autonomous entity, entitled to self-determination, entitled to selfgovernment, it is not supposed to be a sort of appendage to the federal government, it should be independent of the federal government with its own

resources, with its own power, with its own authority. It is not so in Nigeria today and I am happy that those Northerners who are always in favour of an overwhelming and overbearing federal government have seen the consequences. So the only thing is to restore true federalism and everybody will respect one another, so that the ugly incident of 1962 will not repeat itself.

What is your assessment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s one year in office so far?

It has been a very successful journey. She has rejuvenated the whole judicial system.

She has given us hope and the corrupt and rotten ones are now very afraid. Impunity has been greatly reduced and we will encourage her, we will help her, we will cooperate with her and see that what she has started will be carried on to a successful completion.

CJN’s scorecard after one year Continues from page 42

how some judges can be approached to compromise his or her judgment. All these they do for fee at the expense of judiciary integrity and image.”

Consequently, on June 2, the CJN while superintending over the meeting of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, dismissed five Supreme Court workers and one staff of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for

leaking judgment in the case between Senator Alphonsus Igbeke and Lady Margery Okadigbo, before it was delivered on May 31, this year.

FJSC requested the Attorney General of the Federation to further investigate and possibly prosecute Igbeke and one Collins Okechukwu for allegedly aiding and abetting the leakage.

Although there have been many cases of leaked judgments in the judiciary, however,

this was the first time such incidence was investigated with the culprits apprehended and punished.

To further sanitize the system, the CJN on May 17, maintained that beside outcome of petitions filed against judges, the NJC would henceforth use its performance evaluation reports to boot out incompetent and indolent judges out of the bench.

“We are now thinking of looking at the performance evaluation of the judges for the purpose of discipline. If a judge cannot deliver three to four judgments in a year, there is no use keeping him on the bench other than to be shown his or her way out,” she added.

With her achievement so far vis-à-vis the astronomical height of corruption still plaguing the judiciary, the pertinent question on the lips of legal pundits remains: how far can the CJN go before her exit from office? Only time will tell!

44 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013 — 45

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46 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Now APC reshapes the game

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

"W

ITH the approval of our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC, today marks the beginning of a new dawn for our country and her long-suffering people,” Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of ACN said yesterday in his first outing as interim national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress.

Yesterday was undoubtedly a watershed and it was not surprising that once the news emerged of the registration of the new opposition party that there was some sort of apprehension in the national secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Of course the PDP had for long

been preparing itself for such a possibility and its leaders had in private and public occasions been drumming that fact to its stakeholders.

Mr. Tony Okeke, still trying to assert himself as the acting national publicity secretary of the PDP rebuffed requests for verbal reaction to the registration of the APC. Mr. Okeke preferred a more cautious formal statement where his words would be well tailored and not easily misinterpreted.

Even while welcoming the new political party, his response was laced with punch. He dismissed the changed opposition brand as inconsequential to the PDP’s quest for political dominance saying that Nigerians will continue to reject the new party’s penchant for propaganda irrespective of change of name.

The decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to register the new party was undoubtedly spiked with much intrigue. Few days after the legacy parties - All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC – gave notice of their intentions, other political associations arose claiming to have forwarded letters of intent to INEC to be registered with the same acronym as the APC. It was a matter that dragged to the courts and is still before the courts. However, the APC was undeterred and stuck to its scripts and put INEC on the spot with its copious recitation of laws on party merger.

It was thus not surprising that just after the end of the 30-day legal latitude given the electoral

umpire to consider the application for mergers that the commission gave heed to the proposal. “On considering the application, the Commission found that the applicant-parties have met all statutory requirements for the merger and has accordingly granted their request.

Consequently, the Commission

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THE formal collapse of the three legacy parties, Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, into the All Progressives Congress, APC ushers a new era of competitive politics in the polity.

PDP which through Okeke gave its congratulations.

But besides the welcome is the immediate issue of the effect of the registration of the party on the polity.

Mr. Okeke was dismissive of any threat from the APC. His reasoning is apparently based on the persisting insinuation that the marriage is that of strange bed

Yesterday was undoubtedly a watershed and it was not surprising that once the news emerged of the registration of the new opposition party that there was some sort of apprehension in the national secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP

has approved the withdrawal of the individual certificates of the applicant parties and the issuance of a single certificate to the All Progressives Congress,” INEC said in a press statement yesterday.

The decision was immediately welcomed by a large section of the political class and even the

,

fellows.

The suggestion of the taciturn and deeply regimented Muhammadu Buhari partnering with the politically loquacious and salted strategist, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is still a wonder to many.

Besides, the new party also has Continues on page 47

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 — 47

Now APC reshapes the game

Its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

T

HE historic merger of the former Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; into the All Progressives Congress, APC; opens a new vista in the nation’s political firmament. The new party is, however, faced with challenges and opportunities in its quest for history. There are many factors available that could make the new party overturn the past failures of opposition parties to defeat ruling parties at the national level. Many factors that have also stymied the opposition are also inherent in the new party.

Strengths: The strengths of the new party are derived essentially from the many things that Nigerians do not like in the ruling PDP. It is not for nothing that the coming of the APC has been welcomed with enthusiasm by many Nigerians who consider that it would for once put the PDP on its feet in the consideration of its actions towards its members.

However, even more poignant is the regional strength of the APC in the large vote churning out regions of the Northwest and the Southwest.

The APC presently controls all but one of the Southwest States, the exception being Ondo State which the party lost after a very competitive fight last October.

The Northwest and Southwest zones with 18 million and 14

PDP given the continuing crisis that has pitched at least five of the governors against the national leadership and President Goodluck Jonathan.

While five PDP governors in Sokoto, Kano, Adamawa, Niger and Jigawa have openly come out to defy the party’s present leadership, it is generally believed that a handful of other governors are pretentiously lying in wait in the comfort zone preferring not to attack the president and party in the meantime.

The grouse of these governors could also be an opportunity for the new APC who could forge alliances with many of them. It is significant that in Rivers State for example what could have posed an obstacle to such an alliance between the new party and Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been removed with the exit of the defunct ACN’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 election, Abiye Sekibo.

THREATS Leadership rivalry: There are, however, many threats lying in wait for the APC. First of all is the long suspicion of mutual discord between its leaders who are seen to only share a mutual comfort in their dislike for the PDP. Speaking in an interview with Vanguard recently, former PDP deputy national chairman, Chief Bode George said: “The General Buhari that I know; his standing, his personality, his commitment, his belief is exact opposite

The APC would also find strength in the internal disharmonies in the ruling party

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million registered voters together contribute 47 per cent of the total voting population of an estimated 67 million voters. It is thus not lost on 2015 presidential campaign watchers that who controls the two zones would have a large say in determining the outcome of the next elections.

So far, Tinubu without question is in almost full control of the politics of the Southwest. Though Buhari may not be said to be in full control of the Northwest, he nevertheless has a reverential following in the Northwest states.

O

pportunities: The APC would also find strength in the internal disharmonies in the ruling party. All over the country the PDP is engaged in one battle or the other and many of the leading chieftains of the party are in various stages of talk with APC officials. Indeed many were not shocked when Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State recently boasted that he and other aggrieved members of the party would help to bury the

,

to these characters here. So, sometimes I get confused that General Buhari is sincerely talking to these men. It is like a movie to me.”

Culture shock: The defunct ACN by the confession of its leaders had their distaste for primaries in the choice of candidates for elections and it is not surprising that imposition was generally said to be characteristic of that former party. In the APC the ACN leaders and followers would be faced with a situation where they would be made to adopt primaries in the choice of its candidates. It is a potential threat that many of the leaders of the party from the different legacy parties are presently brushing aside.

Weaknesses: The weaknesses of the APC primarily flow from lack of control of the Federal Government and its instruments of power. The parties as a whole control a total of 11 states spread in the Southwest and the Northeast, North-Central, South-South and Southeast. Security agencies in the hands of the PDP could be

Continues from page 46

•Bisi Akande, interim APC chairman

a demoralizing factor in the run up to the next round of general elections. The party has also been negatively profiled as inclined towards Islam with the allocation of nearly all the major substantive positions of chairman, secretary, publicity secretary, treasurer, women leader to Muslims.

The major leaders of the new party are generally believed to be Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu national leader of the defunct ACN and General Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of the defunct CPC.

many suspicious characters whose presence is bound to cause apprehension.

Many of the leaders of the APC it is suspected could deal with the PDP. Such suspicion is especially latent in the leaders of the party that came from the former ANPP. It would be recalled that in the days leading to the commencement of the merger talks that some of the leaders of the legacy ANPP, notably Senator Modu Ali Sheriff and Ahmed Sani (Yeriman Bakura) were accused of trying to sabotage the talks.

Senators Sheriff and Sani who struggled over the carcass of the once vibrant ANPP are suspected would be loath to play second fiddle to Tinubu and Buhari in the new party.

But so far, the two men have carried on with the same focus as other APC leaders.

Many Nigerians who have not recovered from the shock of Senator Ahmed Sani’s advocacy for child marriage would be amazed to find that the former governor of Zamfara State is one of the leaders of the party.

Even worse are recent reports that named the former Zamfara

governor as one of the possible replacements for Vice-president Namadi Sambo on the PDP presidential ticket in 2015.

The prospects of the party had in recent times been helped by the persistent crises in the ruling PDP. However, expectations that many of the disaffected leaders in the PDP would change alliance to the APC are not forthcoming. Many of the people with problems in the PDP are not bound to find peace with APC members who they have had historical problems with.

The new party is, however, promising not to disappoint the enthusiasm of Nigerians for a change.

"We promise not to disappoint Nigerians who have reposed much confidence in us. We say that contrary to the lies being peddled by the naysayers, we are not seeking political power for the sake of getting it, but in order to use it to empower our people and allow their long-nursed hopes and dreams to become a reality,” Mohammed said yesterday.

"And to those who have vowed to change their names if APC survives for a year, we hope they will live up to their words,’’ it said.

The many APCs NEWS AN AL YSIS ANAL ALY

By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

W

HEN the merging parties proposed the name ‘APC’, the polity was awash with names of organizations, products and groups among others that go by the same appellation or acronym. The first name that readily came to the front burner was Aspirin, Paracetamol and Codeine (APC), a powerful analgesic whose popularity nosedived in the late 1980s. There was also a link to Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), military equipment used in warfare.

On the political turf, there were also other APCs, namely, the African People’s Congress, which is currently in court fighting to stop the emergence of the merger APC as well as All Patriotic Citizens. Of the three political APCs, the All Progressives Congress, has finally got the nod of the INEC to function as a political party. The electoral umpire had earlier said that the African People’s Congress did not meet the requirement for registration and the political association is challenging the matter in court.

APC’s agenda for Nigeria: One of the national leaders of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a speech he delivered at the British House of Commons, London, last June, unfolded the party’s plans to salvage Nigeria within

four years.

The plans include: •Lifting at least 20 per cent of Nigerians out of poverty •Introducing National Social Security Scheme under which Nigerians above 60 years would be entitled to monthly handouts from the Federal Government.

•Fast-tracking the construction of Independent Power Plants, IPPs, in industrial zones •Initiating the construction of Trans-State highway and speed trains that will connect the nation’s zones and move people, fuel, farm produce and goods, cost-efficiently across the country.

Tortuous road to registration Yesterday’s registration of APC ended a three-year tortuous search by leaders of the merging parties. Before the 2011 elections, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; and All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; attempted to join forces to field a joint presidential candidate to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The move fell like a pack of cards when the parties could not reach agreement on who to field. While the CPC fielded Major General

Muhammadu Buhari, ACN handed its ticket to Nuhu Ribadu. Before then, Buhari had pulled out of the ANPP on which platform he contested the presidential seat in 2003 and 2007.

After the 2011 elections, leaders of the merging parties kickstarted another move and set up various committees. The highlight of the moves was when 11 progressive governors stormed Lagos a few months ago in support of the merger efforts and vowed to rescue Nigeria from the PDP. However, as the merger committee was putting finishing touches to the name, logo, constitution, manifesto, flag and other paraphernalia and proposed APC as the name of the emerging organization, another group, African People’s Congress approached the INEC for registration, a move that appeared as pulling the rug under the feet of the merger party.

Not done, another group, All Patriotic Citizens also appeared on the political horizon and before long, controversies rising from whether or not the merger APC would be registered raised dusts in the polity. These dusts appeared to have settled, yesterday, with the registration of the merger APC though the African People’s Congress is still in court challenging the electoral umpire for denying it registration.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

reduced to nothing.

It is important to emphasise that relatively “enormous resources” is a perception that is easily justifiable with reference to perhaps current levels of revenue from crude oil and not necessarily taking into account work indices, especially issues of workers output and its contribution to national wealth. Against the background that today, Nigeria earns more than N8 trn annually largely from crude oil, the temptation to conclude that our governments at all levels enjoy relatively “enormous resources” is appealing.

No doubt, with reference to our recent past as a nation whereby the total annual revenue of government was in the region of N2 trn, current levels of N8 trn is relatively “enormous”. The critical reality however is that this increase in revenue is not shared proportionately.

On account of what can we regard states like Ebonyi and Nasarawa as The national minimum wage is in the news again. This time, the issue is whether enjoying “enormous resources” with less than N4 or not to have it retained on the exclusive list or to have it on the concurrent list. billion monthly from the The NLC and the TUC have threatened a strike if it is placed on the concurrent list.

Federation Account, Labour Vanguard opens a forum for this discussion for proponents and opponents while states like Akwa of the new move. Informed contributions on this issue are welcome.

Ibom and Rivers receive more than N20 billion may also translate into wiping out some monthly? Perhaps with reference to a perSALIHU MOH. LUKMAN small employers out of business with sonnel cost of approximately N500 million NCE again the issue of mini the consequence of all workers em- for Ebonyi and Nasarawa, the argument for mum wage is reverberating in ployed by such employers thrown back “enormous resources” may be sustained. the Nigerian media following into the labour market.

This financial profile is almost re-enforced There is certainly both conceptual by IGR profile of these states. Based on CBN the consideration by the National Assembly to move it from the exclusive and empirical problem with respect to 2010 Report, Akwa Ibom is reported with list to the concurrent list in the 1999 the framework for minimum wage leg- more than N1 billion monthly IGR and RivNigerian Constitution. By that pro- islation in Nigeria. While it may be ers close to N5 billion monthly. In contrast, posal of the National Assembly, Part I, advantageous today for Nigerian trade Nasarawa and Ebonyi were reported with Item 34 of Second Schedule will be unions based on some faulty notion of less than N200 million monthly IGR. Now amended to move the sentence “pre- statutory awards that would threat- what will be the logic of equating the pay of scribing a national minimum wage for ened employment as well as almost workers in Akwa Ibom and Rivers with that the Federation or any part thereof ” to of Nasarawa and Ebonyi?

Part II. With monthly personnel cost of approxiThe NLC has registered its opposimately N500 million and monthly IGR of tion to this proposal arguing that the under N200 million, a situation where FAAC “ removal will unnecessarily expose receipt crashes can be better imagined. How Nigerian workers, especially those in then can anyone be making a case for wages the low-income bracket with grave based on such a loose foundation? In many implications for security, productivity cases, one is tempted to argue that NLC and national well-being, as most state argument as presented by Comrade Omar governments if given the latitude, will is driven by large dose of intellectual and pay wages as low as one thousand organisational indolence. Given that NigeNaira per month in spite of the relarian trade unions are almost completely abtive enormous resources available to sent today in all our national policy debates, them.” This was contained in a statethey have lost rational reasoning and rement by the NLC President, Comrade proved impossible for unions to en- lied more on grandstanding and Abdulwaheed Omar. force, it could be debated that in the brinksmanship as a strategy, which has reWhile the position of the NLC is very long run it may be a disadvantage. duced NLC’s, and of course trade unions’ understandable, it is however founded Imagine a scenario whereby either pre-occupation in the country to dominantly on a very weak and erroneous premise. price of Nigerian crude in the inter- that of organising strikes. Nigerians today In the first place there is the implicit national market crashed or the market hardly hear of NLC and trade unions acassumption that there is relatively become smaller. If the argument for tivities except when strikes are declared. “enormous resources available” to all “enormous resources” is informed by Logically and historically, this will not be governments and perhaps all employ- current revenue from oil as determi- defensible. NLC and Nigerian trade unions ers in the country. Related to that is nant for minimum wage and not work- have been vibrant centres of first and forethe apparent conclusion that the “enor- ers output or production levels, the most intellectual contestation which get remous resources” are equitably distrib- NLC position with respect to minimum flected and manifest in the way union leaduted to all employers across the coun- wage is to say the least injurious to ers relate with governments. That was the try, be it public or private. reality that projected union leaders as popuNigerian workers.

It needs to be emphasised that miniThe point is, it is wrong to hinge ar- lar representatives of Nigerian people from mum wage law is applicable to all gument for current statutory framework the days of Imoudu to more recent eras of employers — private and public. Partly for minimum wage in Nigeria based Summonu, Chiroma, Pascal and Adams. Unbecause the process leading to pas- on a pedestrian belief that there is fortunately, that is withering away with the sage of the 2010 Minimum Wage Act relatively “enormous resources”. Rela- current generation of union leadership. It is was dictated by the capacity of the tive to what? This is the common per- a painful reality, which accounts for such faulty Federal Government to pay N18,000 ception in the country today, which and weak arguments with respect to minimum should not cover the reality that many has impacted negatively on productiv- wage. This needs to be addressed urgently. employers, including some state gov- ity and has virtually reduced most z Comrade Salihu Lukman was an NLC ernments have been unable to imple- Nigerians to rent-seeking behaviours. ment the N18,000 minimum wage. This The dignity of labour and the human Assistant General Secretary. ....Please send articles much was acknowledged in the state- person is commonly sacrificed on the ment by Comrade Omar. This high- alter of cheap search for free money. to komolafe21@yahoo.com lights the existence of a problem which Contractual responsibilities have been or vicahiyoung@yahoo.com

NLC and minimum wage: The task ahead

O

,

While the position of the NLC is very understandable, it is however founded on a very weak and erroneous premise

,

Bits ASSBIFI Labour Radio hits air wave

A

ssociation of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSIBF, I has announced that its radio station, christened “ASSBIFI Labour Radio” will hit the air wave before the end of the year.

Ahead of the final launch of the station, the body said from Saturday August, 3, it would doing a test-run which programming would be aired on Star Fm (101.5) between the hours of 8.00 am and 10.00 am every Saturday.

At a briefing, ASSBIFI’s 1stDeputy President, Oyinkan Olasanoye, said all the equipment required for the station and others were on ground, and that 80 percent of documentation for licensing and approval had been done.

Lagos NDE begins training for rural farmers

T

HE National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Lagos, has begun a threemonth intensive training for prospective farmers as part of the solution to the job crisis in Nigeria.

In its Rural Agricultural Development Training Skills, RADTS, which commenced Monday, the training is made up of one month theory and two months practical where participants would be attached to established farmers in form of Industrial Attachment (IT).

At the opening ceremony in the Lagos office of the NDE, the 50 participants, received lectures and talks from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Bank of Agriculture among others.

Addressing the participants, Lagos State Coordinator of NDE, Mr. Joseph Modey, said NDE not only linked people up with jobs, but also made people to become their Chief Executive Officers, CEOs. Represented by Mrs. Serena Edwards, the coordinator gave details of NDE evolution, objectives and its various programmes aimed at making Nigerians self-employed, stressing that the NDE had programmes that focused on women empowerment and so on.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 — 49

Egypt orders end to sit-in protest E

GYPT’S interim government has said it would take all measures to deal with violence from Muslim Brotherhood sit-in protests in Cairo, declaring them a threat to national security. In a statement on Wednesday, the interim government said it had instructed the interior minister to do everything necessary to deal with them within the law.

It said the “terrorist acts” and traffic disruption stemming from the protests were no longer acceptable.

“The cabinet has decided to take all measures necessary to confront these risks and put an end to them,” it said in a televised statement.

Minutes before the statement, authorities

said they had referred the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Badie, and two oth-

er senior movement officials to a court on charges of inciting violence.

The move is certain to deepen tensions between

Islamists and the military, who removed Egypt’s Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, from power on July 3.

Z

Zimbabweans are voting in fiercely contested presidential and parliamentary elections. These voters queued up in the capital, Harare, before polls opened.

try’s presidential election, in spite of claims that voting has been rigged.

Thousands of voters

braved the early morning chill across country to queue hours before poll booths opened, yesterday.

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s 89year-old president, pledged to serve for five years as he cast his vote to increase his 33year period in power.

The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic ChangeTsvangirai (MDCT), said that the electoral register had been rigged, a claim that Mugabe has strenuously denied.

“I’m sure people will vote freely and fairly,” Mugabe told reporters after casting his ballot in a school in Harare’s Highfields township.

“There’s no pressure being exerted on anyone.”

The MDCT’s leader, Morgan Tsvangirai who is also prime minister, expressed confidence that he would win an overwhelming victory against his veteran rival Mugabe.

Tsvangirai, 61, predicted his party would win “quite resoundingly ”.

“This is a very historic moment for all of us,” he said.

Tsvangirai narrowly beat Mugabe in the last elections in 2008 but boycotted a presidential run-off vote to protest widespread violence against his Movement for Democratic Change party.

Teen becomes yyounges ounges son e o pass UK Bar e xam oungestt per person evver tto ex LORIDA Teenager Gabrielle Turnquest

•Gabrielle

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USSIAN leader Vladimir Putin will meet Iran’s newly elected president for the first time in Kyrgyzstan in September, the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to Moscow said yesterady.

Russian and Iranian media reported last week that the Russian president would go to Iran in August for talks with Hassan Rouhani on Tehran’s nu-

V

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced further peace talks at a news conference with Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (L) and Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat (R) at the State Department in Washington.

F

Putin, new Iranian president meet next month clear program.

But Ambassador Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi told a news conference that these reports were false, and that Putin’s first talks with Rouhani would be on the sidelines of a summit of the six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on September 13.

UN declares rise in Afghan civilian casualties

Zimbabwe: High voters turnout prompt poll extension IMBABWEANS have flocked to polling stations in the southern African coun-

BRIEFS

has a habit of breaking scholastic records. After becoming the youngest person to graduate from Liberty University in Lynchburg, US, at age 16, Turnquest achieved another milestone by becoming the youngest person to pass the Bar of England and Wales exam at 18.

The Telegraph report-

ed on Turnquest’s amazing feat, and it appears that educational excellence runs in the family; her sister, Kandi also passed the bar exam at 22-years-old. The average age of lawyers taking the Bar Professional Training Course is 27.

Although Turnquest is qualified to work in the United Kingdom, she

wants to return to America to qualify for the Bar there as well.

“I am honoured to be the youngest person to pass the Bar exams but, really, I was not aware at the time what the average age was,” said Turnquest, who is from the town of Windermere, Florida “I didn’t fully realize the impact of it.”

IOLENCE against civilians is on the rise in Afghanistan as international forces hand over security to Afghans, the UN has said.

The organisation put the mid-year toll of civilians killed at more than 1,300 in a report published yesterday..

The UN Assistance

Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said 1,319 civilians died and 2,533 were injured as a result of the war from January 1 to June 30, up 23 percent from the same period in 2012.

The report said more women and children had become victims of the 12-year-old war, seeing a 38 percent increase in casualties.

Division mars Israeli, Palestinians peace talks

I

SRAEL and the Palestinians remained far apart over terms of any peace deal, officials from both sides made clear yesterday, a day after talks resumed in Washington for the first time in nearly three years.

Israel’s lead negotiator, Tzipi Livni, said the parties “need to build confi-

dence” after what she called an encouraging start in Washington, and disputed a Palestinian demand to focus first on agreeing the frontiers of an independent state.“The goal is to end the conflict,” Livni said on Israel Radio. “It cannot be ended merely by setting a border.”

Gaddafi's minister sentenced to death violence against rebels

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MINISTER in the government of Muammar Gaddafi has been sentenced to death by a Libyan court.

Ahmed Ibrahim was found guilty of inciting

during the 2011 uprising. Ibrahim held senior positions including education minister, and was captured by rebels in Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, according to Reuters news agency.

Police killing of African in Greece condemned Train Station Athens,

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HUMAN rights ac tivist in Greece has condemned in strong terms the extra-judicial killing of an African trader by the police in Greece. The victim, a 37 years old Senegalese man by name Barbakar Ndiaye, died at Thesio

where he was selling his goods. “They pushed him from bridge, and he fell inside the train station and died instantly,” lamented Greece-based Nigerian activist Nnamdi Obodoechi. “Barbakar Ndiaye left behind two children.

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Our registration, victory for democracy — APC Continues from page 5 empowered the judiciary to conduct a review of any registration exercise carried out by the commission.

Said he: "We are not asking INEC to register us anymore. We are in court because the same Electoral Act which empowered INEC to register political parties also makes a provision for judicial review of such a decision in Section 79 of the Electoral Act. We have the right to seek a review of the decision of INEC to reject our application for registration”, He had also argued that as a body established by law, the leadership of INEC ought to know that when a matter is in court, it ought not to do anything to compromise or destroy the substance of the matter.

Nnadi had asked: “If they go ahead to register any other group with a name that is in conflict with our association’s name, and the court decides that our own group is the authentic APC, what would happen to the merger?”

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the decision of the controversial African People’s Congress ( APC) to drag the electoral body to court for refusing to register the association, left INEC with only the option of considering the opposition coalition for registration. This was confirmed by Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman when he spoke to Vanguard last Monday.

Responding to a question on how the commission was handling the rivalry over the APC acronym that was being claimed by several political associations that applied for registration as parties, he had said that the Commission was actually considering only the application of the All People’s Congress.

He explained that since the African People’s Congress had dragged the commission to court over the controversy, the Commission could no longer act on any matter concerning

the association, until the court delivers its verdict on the case.

Said he: “You know that INEC was dragged to court over this matter. We cannot comment on any matter that is in court.

So, right now, it is only the application of the APC coalition that is receiving attention for registration.”

He further stated that this development notwithstanding, the court had not issued any injunction restraining INEC from going ahead to consider any other party that had applied for registration.

In response to another question on what would happen, should INEC go ahead to register the APC coalition, but was eventually overruled by the court, he responded that the Commission would decide on what to do when that situation arises, adding that INEC does not disobey court orders.

We expect vibrant opposition—PDP National Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday in its reaction said that with the registration of All Progressive Congress, APC as a political party by INEC, it expects a vibrant opposition that will constructively engage it on issues of governance.

Congratulating the leadership of APC, the PDP noted that with the development, Nigerians will be the utmost beneficiaries rather than overheating the polity by promoting violence and hatred among Nigerians.

In a statement signed

by PDP acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, the party urged Nigerians not to be deceived by the change of flag by opposition political parties like the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP that collapsed into the APC, adding, "such does not remove their dictatorial tendencies and penchant for deceit and propaganda for which Nigeri-

ans have rejected them irrespective of party name.”

Welcoming the APC on board as a political party, the PDP described the action as a healthy development for Nigeria’s democracy, just as it boasted that the registration does not in any way pose any threat to it as a party. The PDP, however, urged the leaders of APC to focus on issues as well as engage in more robust debates on the economy and other germane issues of governance for the overall interest of the country.

We must all rise to liberate our people—Tinubu National leader of the new party and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said APC would set Nigeria on an irreversible cause of change.

His words: "Once again, history is made in our country and before our very eyes. The confirmation of the registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by INEC signals the commencement of a new phase in the struggle to bring true democratic change to Nigeria.

This is not just a merger.

This is the first ever merger in the history of Nigeria and represents a paradigm shift in the politics of our country.

"Together we must own it. As Nigerians we see history unfold before our very eyes and we must rise up to answer the call of history to liberate our people. I congratulate all our governors, all our members from the NorthEast, North West, SouthSouth, South- East, South-West and the North Central and all would-be members and well wishers of our great party, APC." He further said: "Today, I can say that Nigeria’s democratic journey has started on a new course and we must pursue this course religiously and rigorously. Our commitment to achieving One Man, One Vote remains resolute. ‘"We therefore must demand from INEC the full

adoption of the biometric system. Prof. Jega and the Institution he leads will not achieve much and their efforts at free and fair elections will not be fruitful until they adopt a modern technologically driven biometric system that will ensure the integrity of our elections and earn the confidence of Nigeria.

"If this is done, we can then say our democracy has advanced several miles forward to join other civilized democracies in Africa. Good job, Jega and INEC. You deserve an administrative pat on the back. The real kudos will come when you work to midwife a virile democracy.

"We worked hard to ensure that our party was in good stead and in good standing with the law. Selfish interest and ego were shelved.

Nigerians hail move

It’s a breakthrough for Nigerians-Osoba Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba said the registration would lead to a breakthrough in the country. “I want to congratulate Nigerians because this is a major breakthrough for their redemption. With this registration, it is going to reduce political tension in the country because Nigerians have been yearning for an alternative to government. This time, APC is coming to lead the final redemption and survival of democracy in Nigeria.”

The battle to beat PDP has started — Moghalu A chieftain of the APC and former National Secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mr. George Moghalu, described the registration as a welcome development for the country.

“I must say today is a happy day for our party.

We are very excited about this development and it is a confirmation that opposition now has a strong platform to express itself. This registration signifies the beginning of mobilization across the country towards our party ’s cla-

mour to wrest power from the PDP,” he said.

APC ‘ll have problems—Babatope However, former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a stalwart of the PDP said though the registration of APC was a welcome development, the party would run into troubled waters in due course.

His words: “The APC is a welcome addition to the list of political parties in Nigeria. I am afraid, however, that the APC will not achieve any meaningful result in its operation as a political party because the party is made up of strange bed fellows. I am sure that the internal contradictions that will come up within the party, will eventually lead to the destruction of the party.

It is not easy to run a political party. To merge diverse interests into one sudden political group is, organizationally, a problem. They may not realise it, but they will realise it later because the words of the elders are the words of wisdom. The PDP is never afraid of the APC, if anything at all, the registration of APC will throw the PDP the greater challenge of ensuring that it retains the goodwill of Nigerians.”

It’s a healthy development for the polity —Kaita Also, former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, commended APC leaders for achieving the feat.

“That is a very good development. I congratulate the APC leaders for achieving that feat. It is a healthy development for the polity."

It’ll create a viable opposition —Kokori Former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Chief Frank Kokori said: "I am happy about it because the small parties we had before now were inconsequential. This development will create a viable opposition and it will also present a credible opposition to the ruling party. Without a viable opposition the political culture will not develop properly. With APC we are set to experience the type of party politics we had during the SDP and NRC days. It is obtain-

able in civilised democracies. This is one of the greatest things I have seen. With the coming of APC there will be internal democracy and that will in turn create full democracy in PDP." APC is welcome —Ezeife Former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said: "I congratulate the members of APC. The argument that it will take the nation back to the days of NRC and SDP does not stand, because those parties were based on ideologies, which was a little to the left and a little to the right.”

Ribadu calls for renewed commitment A chieftain of the newly registered party and 2011 Presidential Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, expressed joy over the emergence of the mega opposition party.

Ribadu, in a statement by his Media Aide, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, in Abuja, congratulated key players of the merged parties “for shoving their personal interests in order to allow for mutation of a pan-Nigerian party that can provide credible alternative to the ruling party”. He charged members of the party to strive harder for the ultimate goal of dislodging the ruling PDP.

It is history

—Fashola I felicitate with all lovers of democracy on this milestone registration of All Progressives Congress, APC. “This is not just a merger. It is history. The first merger in Nigeria.

Am proud to have been part of it “A real choice now emerges for the people of Nigeria. Congratulations!”

Osun APC greets Nigerian progressives From Osun State the APC (formerly ACN) congratulated Nigerian progressives family for the final registration of the new party “in spite of spirited efforts by those in power and influence in Abuja to prevent it.”

•See Analysis on Page 47

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 —51

‘Children’s art crucial for technological advancement’ might not be able to reach the promised land of technological development in 2020. He urged government to put something concrete and positive on ground so that in 10 years time, ‘we will realize our first firm step to true technological growth.

On how Nigeria can achieve technological development through art, he said: “Today I fear that technology is virtually

, Dancers by Ben Enwonwu sold for N5.5 million during an art auction recently

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

A

S part of its efforts to catch them young, the National Gallery of Art, (NGA) organised an exhibition to showcase talents of the children.

The exhibition tagged 1st National Children Art Exhibition held at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Abuja, provided another opportunity to showcase the artistic ingenuity of Nigerian children.

Split into categories, namely: Nursery, Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary categories, the children through the body of works displayed, produced mainly with crayon, mixed media, pencil, paper, water, colour, poster, pen, textile and sculpture were able to send a message of what the country had lost through the neglect of children art.

Reflection on state of the art Some of the works had titles such as Masquerade, A Panacea For Corruption, Our Nation Bound In Freedom, My Two Faithful Wives, Fulani Girl, Education Is My Right, Peace And Unity Dancers, Village Scene, 7-Point Agenda, The Destitute Child, and Court Order, among others.

The exhibition which attracted dignitaries, art scholars, art patrons, artists and children from various schools afforded the stakeholders in the art industry another opportunity to reflect on the state of art in the nation.

Speaking at the event, the Senate Committee Chairman on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Ahmed

Hassan Barata after going through the quality of stunning works produced by the children, urged the National Gallery of Art (NGA) to create an enabling environment for artists to thrive.

He promised that the Senate, would work closely with the NGA to ensure quick passage of laws that would facilitate the growth of modern art and its funding. “We have been common passengers in the boat of art development and now that the boat is sailing safely and steadily, we cannot but extend our cooperation as partners in progress to the National Gallery of Art,” he said.

Barata noted that technological development is dependent upon full engagement of the tenets of the arts, adding that art is capable of becoming an alternative source of revenue for the country.

In the lecture segment of the exhibition, the guest speaker, renowned artist and architect, Prince Demas Nwoko pointed out that Nigeria cannot achieve its Vision:2020 with the declining state of art education. Speaking on topic, Our future lies in children art, Nwoko whose works, particularly in

architecture are highly revered said children art has not been given due attention in the nation’s educational system, saying now is the time to redress the situation. He warned that should the poor state of art education continues, the nation

Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir; and host, the DG of NGA, Abdullahi Muku spoke on the importance of creativity in children’s future. Chief Edem Duke said the exhibition was a pointer to the possibility of self reliance and near indispensability of Art and Creativity towards the sustainability of Nigeria’s culture and tourism industry.

He commended the NGA for repositioning the Visual Art sub sector adding that the displayed artworks were properly documented in adherence to the policy of NGA on exhibitions.

On his part, NGA helsman, Muku who described today’s child art as the assurance of the virility of tomorrow’s creative industry

,

Today I fear that technology is virtually disgracing us because we did not learn the art of doing it at an early age

disgracing us because we did not learn the art of doing it at an early age, which has left Nigeria a talking rather than a doing nation…We need to accomplish our physical build-up ourselves.

That is why attempts to buy technology have not led to our imbibing technology. If you get addicted to buying, you will not develop the self-confidence to create or think.”

Earlier on, Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Minister, Chief Edem Duke; Minister of Youth Development,

renowned for its independence and generation of employment said the exhibition is a pointer to the possibility of self-reliance and near indispensability of art and creativity in the overall sustainability of the nation’s culture and tourism industry.

Muku disclosed that the gallery

has been able to engage the children to explore and interrogate themes on children and national developments through its Saturday Art Club programmes as well as the children day exhibition series.

52

— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013

Kanu offers Eaglets winning tips FIFA Under-17 World Cup

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E L E B R AT E D former Super Eagles’ captain, Nwankwo Kanu (MON) has advised the Golden Eaglets’ coaching crew to shore up the defence of the team ahead of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirate.

A winner 20 years ago at the Japan 1993 edition of the global cadet competition where he emerged as one of the stars of the championship, Kanu reportedly said that the coach Manu Garba (MFR)-led crew must ensure that the team is built around solid defenders to have a realistic chance of emerging victorious.

Nigeria is desirous of winning a record fourth time after her previous successes in 1985, 1993 and 2007.

Kanu is of the view that the team that came second at the 10th CAN U n d e r - 1 7 Championship in Morocco last April need to be tinkered in order to compete against the rest of the world in October, insisting that the present Golden Eagles have already shown they have the appetite to go all the

Mike Umeh described the reported meeting of Malawi national team coach, Tom Saintfiet with other coaches in Blantyre last week as “a mere propaganda,” adding that, “ we have nothing to fear because we will be playing on our soil.”

He said, “What they are doing is mind games and we are up for it. Remember, we will be playing in Calabar. We have never lost a match in Calabar, so I don’t see how we will start with Malawi who held us to a draw with a late equaliser in their own home.”

Umeh dismissed as “untrue” insinuations that Saintfiet whose employment as technical director by the NFF was

EORGE Aluo, Chairman, Media Committee of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), on Wednesday said it would need not less than N175 million to bankroll the upcoming African Youth Weightlifting Championships.

The African Championships have been fixed to run from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 in Abuja.

Aluo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on the sidelines of the ongoing National Youth Weightlifting Championships, which started on July 30, to end on Aug. 3 in Uyo. According to him, the federation opted to the host the African champions in a bid to expose talents, identify those

•David Micha, Golden Eaglets player

Mobil plans holiday camp for 165 student athletes

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NOTHER first has been recorded in the history of sports sponsorship and promotions in Nigeria as Mobil Producing Nigeria, Operator of the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture finalises plans to camp and train 165 students in the modern technics and styles of track and field.

Malawi

Continues from BP

‘Support W’lifting federation to hunt for more talents’

scuttled in the last minute was out for a vengeful mission against Nigeria.

“No. He cannot do that because he has to keep faith. Who says he cannot be employed tomorrow? Look at Keshi who is in charge of the Super Eagles today; he had been turned down before. So, Saintfiet cannot think that way. Even if he does, he is only a coach who will pass instructions. He won’t do the playing.”

Umeh assured that the Eagles will soar over the Flames because the Stephen Keshi-tutored team was superior to their Malawi counterparts. “We are African champions and will ensure we get the right result.”

Sponsor of the Akwa Ibom State /NNPC/MPN Schools Athletics Championships for the past thirteen years, the oil drilling giant has taken the event to another level by subjecting the champions of the competition in the last two years to an intensive two weeks camping that will afford them the benefit of modern coaching in the sport.

The coordinator of the event Paul Bassey told journalists in Lagos that by agreeing to subject the student winners to a rigid coaching programme by some of the best coaches in the land, MPN has once again pioneered a programme that is worthy of emulation.

One of the coaches invited for the programme is Solomon Abari, the NIS Director of coaching and one of the coaches who guided Nigeria to gold medal in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Athletes race to the finish line

Wrestling Federation invites four for World Championships K Clark Open Wrestling Odunayo of Ondo state, a

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

A

FTER the success story of the recently held maiden Chief Edwin

Wolves

Continues from BP and mainstay ”, said the Super Eagles player.

In the semifinal holding next

for grooming from the ongoing event, ahead of next year ’s Commonwealth Games, to be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland.

He said the ongoing National Junior and senior Weightlifting championships would offer an avenue to identify fresh talents.

He said the new board, headed by its President, Chibudom Nwuche, had provided necessary facilities to ensure that the talenthunt was efficient and effective.

“This is our first major event since the board was inaugurated in May. We are happy at the large turnout of states, considering the short notice given to them.

“There are not less than 25 states in attendance at the competition,” Aluo said.

Wednesday in Lagos, Wa r r i Wo l v e s w i l l battle Akwa United for a place in the Federation Cup final.

Championship in Warri, Delta State, the federation is upbeat that it would do well at the forthcoming September World Championship in Budapest, Hungary To that effect, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has penciled four wrestlers made up of three females and a male for the Championships.

They are Adekuroye

gold medalist in the female 51 kg class; Blessing Oborodudu of Bayelsa state, a World silver and Commonwealth Games medalist in the 63 kg weight class and three times World bronze and Commonwealth Games medalist, Ifeoma Iheanacho who failed to live up to her expectation at the E K Clark championship in the 72 kg class.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 — 53

Let me go, Bale tells AVB G

•Bale

ARETH Bale has told Andre VillasBoas face to face that he wants to leave Tottenham and join Real Madrid this summer.

It comes as a huge blow to Spurs on the Wales star’s first day back at training after a world record £85million bid from the Spanish giants.

Real sporting director Zinedine Zidane has said Bale should be allowed to follow his dreams by moving to Spain, adding that he could become the best player in the world at the Bernabeu.

The Wales forward wants a move to Madrid but is reluctant to hand in a transfer request at Tottenham.

He won both the Professional Footballers Association and Football Writers’ Awards awards last season and is widely acknowledged to be one of the best players in the world.

Spurs have been

Lewandowski slams Dortmund R

O B E R T Lewandowski has slammed Borussia Dortmund over harsh treatment following the revelation he wants to join German rivals Bayern Munich.

Dortmund have told the Polish hitman he must see out the remaining year on his contract before crossing the divide on a free next summer.

Lewandowski played in Dortmund’s 4-2 win over Bayern in the German Super Cup last weekend, but reiterated his desire to join the European Champions ‘This is a little bit strange, not so German’ Lewandowski told newspapers in his native Poland. ‘We are acting normally, and Borussia’s management is not.’

‘I always give it my all.

That they keep me is not fair.’

‘The Super Cup against Bayern was only the beginning of the season. I don’t know, if the situation will fail to leave a mark on me. It’s in my subconscious and there will come a time when I will be in a bad mood before the game.’

Lewandowski’s outburst comes just one day after he insisted he is committed to Dortmund.

‘I will give everything I’ve got for Dortmund,’ he told German papaer Bild.

‘It does not matter what happened. I am not interested about that on the pitch.’

‘When I am out on the pitch then Dortmund is all I think about. I want to give it all I got and be successful.’

stunned by the change in Bale, 24, since Real stepped up their pursuit of the most wanted man in football.

Only last week they were convinced a new, improved contract offer and his ‘special relationship’ with head coach Andre Villas-Boas could

Spurs not interested in Modric return

A

NY attempt by Real Madrid to include Luka Modric as a makeweight in the deal to sign Gareth Bale will be rejected by Tottenham.

Reports yesterday suggested that the Croatian could be offered up as part of any deal - however Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is not interested in seeing the playmaker return to White Hart Lane according to the Evening Standard.

It is understood Levy remains angry over Modric’s conduct when a Tottenham player.

The 27-year-old left north

T

•Vahirua

•Modric London just 12 months ago after a torturous switch to the Bernabeu that saw him refuse to play at one stage before moving in a £33m deal. However, since moving to Spain, Modric has struggled to hold down a place in the starting XI and suffered the ignominy of being voted the worst signing of last summer by readers of newspaper Marca.

Bolt vows to run under 19sec for 200m

U

•Lewandowski

Tahiti player fails dope test at the Confederations Cup HE chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended an unnamed Tahitian international footballer for an initial

keep him at the club.

But that was before Real unleashed Zidane, who said: ‘It is not unusual when a player knows that Real Madrid are interested that they get excited. There is nothing more prestigious for a player than to wear the white of Real Madrid."

periodof30daysandopened disciplinary proceedings, following an adverse analytical finding in relation toadopingcontrolconducted aftertheFIFAConfederations CupBrazil2013matchplayed

in Recife on 23 June 2013.

Following the provision of the “A” sample result, the player waived his right to requesttheanalysisofthe“B” sample.

FIFA can’t publicly report

the name of the player in question, what the substance was or what the punishment will be until after a hearing has been held.

SAIN Bolt believes he is capable of breaking his 100m world record and is targeting “something special” by breaking the 19-second barrier for 200m. Bolt set his record times of 9.58sec and 19.19sec at the world championships in Berlin four years ago.

Jamaica’s six-times Olympic gold medallist insists those times can be beaten. About the 100m record he said: “It would require a technically almost perfect race, and for the weather conditions to be good but I’m focused on getting myself in a physical condition where I’m capable of doing it.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST1, 2013 — 55

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1 , 2013

Bolt vows to run under 19sec for 200m — P53

Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifier:

Malawi 'll fall in Calabar

Hard work: Mourinho and Chelsea face Inter Milan, one of his former clubs, in Indianapolis tonight

BY JACOB AJOM

LEGEND — Usain Bolt

Wolves dedicate victory to Uduaghan Warri-based side,

T

HE Nigeria Foot ball Federation has asked Nigerians not to panic following the widely publicised plot

by Malawian coaches to help their national football team, the Flames bring down the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the last group match of the 2014 World Cup qualifier on September 6, in Calabar.

The First Vice President of the NFF, Chief

W

ARRI Wolves yesterday at the Ilorin Township stadium, defeated Kano Pillars 30 to qualify for the semifnals of the 2013 Federation Cup. It is the first time that a team from Delta State are reaching the last four stage of the oldest and most glamorous footbal competition in Nigeria and captain of the

Continues on Page 52

Azubuike Egweke, while celebrating their historic qualification, dedicated the success to the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who he hailed for his unflincing support to sports development.

“This victory is dedicated to our sports-loving Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who has remained our pilllar

Continues on Page 52

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Confess (5) 7 Break (4) 8 Decorated (6) 9 Toss (5) 11 Total (3) 13 Stray (3) 15 Neat (4) 16 Fuel (3) 18 Leg-joint (4) 19 Offender (7) 20 Sour (4) 22 Stumble (4) 23 Worldly (7) 25 Loyal (4) 27 Supplement (3) 28 Tie (4) 30 Gammon (3) 31 Fasten (3) 33 Rogue (5) 36 Erase (6) 37 Release (4) 38 Exult (5)

DOWN 1 Risk (5) 2 Appropriate (3) 3 Spoil (3) 4 Pull (3) 5 Antelope (3) 6 Stock (5) 10 Spoken (4) 11 Furtiveness (7) 12 Least (7) 13 Competitor (7) 14 Reprieve (7) 16 Pilot (5) 17 Backbone (5) 18 Outfit (3) 21 Owing (3) 24 Similar (4) 26 Bird (5) 29 Lubricated (5) 32 Favourite (3) 33 Barrel (3) 34 Fuss (3) 35 Newt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chasm 5, Muffle 8, Tease 10, Refund 11, Swoop 14, Salute 15, Disdain 18, Nil 19, Sop 21, Clot 23, Deter 24, Serf 27, Den 29, Oaf 31, Dashing 32, Bicker 34, Kine 35, Cosset 38, Adept 39, Tinged 40, Tepee.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Hie 3, Sturdy 4, Men 5, Mess 6, Frolic 7, Expert 9, Advised 12, Wan 13, Pull 16, Idle 17, Noted 20, Penance 22, Open 24, Submit 26, Faking 28, Chaste 30, Fen 33, Read 36, Opt 37, Ewe

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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