Steer clear of our oil wells, Amaechi warns

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61744

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Akwa Ibom Dep Gov, Ekere, resigns RIVERS VS BAYELSA:

•P.6

Steer clear of our oil wells, Amaechi warns

BY EMMA UJAH, JIMITOTA ONOYUME & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

•Our stand is backed by law — Bayelsa •Jonathan battles to clear self from controversy P •Kalabari monarchs protest, seek govt intervention

/HARCOURT— The battle for the ownership of five oil wells in Soku and ElemSangama communities,

between Rivers and Bayelsa states, raged, yesterday, as both states talked tough. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who fired the first shot warned Bayelsa to steer clear of the oil wells saying “ we will not allow Bayelsa

Continues on page 5

Can FG’s YouWin project tackle •Pg.25 unemployment?

•P.17

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P.19

THE HUB •P.19

Mr & Mrs PROTEST—

Traditional rulers from Kalabari on a protest march against the ceding of some of their communities to Bayelsa State in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photos: Nwanpa Chijioke

Gunmen kill 21 in Zamfara, Borno •P.16 C M Y K

Subsidy Scam: Jonathan shuns desperate marketers •P.6

Fashola presents N497bn 2013 budget •P.9

2—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

Steer clear of our oil wells, Amaechi warns Continues from page 1

State Government to collect our oil wells.” In his response however, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, declared that Rivers had already lost the battle in the law court and it would serve no useful purpose dissipating unnecessary energy over what has already been established as incontrovertible fact.

Already, both President Goodluck Jonathan and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had been dragged into the battle and they have made spirited efforts to extricate themselves from any involvement.

Tracing the genesis of the boundary dispute between the two states, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru said the problem started when the National Boundary Commission and RMAFC tactically ceded about 80 percent of the oil and gas bearing communities and settlements in Akuku Toru Local Government area to the old Brass Division in

Nembe, Bayelsa State by shifting the boundary demarcating Degema Division from the old Brass Division to River Sombreiro, in the 12 th provisional edition of the Administrative map of Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday at Government House, Port Harcourt while addressing traditional rulers and prominent chiefs of Kalabari kingdom who protested the sudden shift in the boundary between the two states, the deputy governor, who is also Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Commission, said all efforts to correct the anomaly had consistently met brick wall. According to him, not even the court was willing to grant the state justice on the matter. “We have gone to court but the court is tight”, he said.

While appealing to the National Assembly to urgently step in to resolve the dispute, Ikurusaid all federal agencies the state had approached to help redress the problem had ignored them.

He said Soku, an oil rich community in the state, was suddenly ceded to Bayelsa State, adding that while the state was in court challenging the action, it was resolved that pro-

LIFEWORDS

H

BY PASTOR ITUAH

E is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature – Socrates.

Satisfaction leads to contentment and contentment is the foundation of success.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

People will make promises to you some they never intend to keep, and people will sometimes hurt you intentionally or unintentionally but this much I have come to know, it is never about me or you; a person’s limitation is about them, so do not take these things to heart. Rather, try to see beyond to the beautiful things about others. With time life will begin to gravitate wholesome and beautiful experiences to enhance your life —E. Randle

Y

OU cannot make someone love you or see your beautiful light until they are ready to do so, neither should you be bothered about such, your attention should be on things that brings you some measure of light and love and when your heart opens to more compassion, you’re extending the circles of love in your life to attract more beautiful and good things to you.

Now is the moment to contemplate love, redirect your energy from seamless significant matters that are not bringing you beautiful energy. Choose how to feel in any given situation. Choose your thoughts, let your heart be a place of love, this is one thing you can be in control of, it is your life and only you can decide how the actions of others can affect you.

ceeds from oil and gas in the area should be paid into an escrow account.

The Deputy Governor said suddenly the money in the escrow account started going to Bayelsa State. He said so far, N17 billion proceed from Soku community in the escrow account had been paid to Bayelsa State.

“The issue of Soku has been known to be part of Rivers State. Suddenly we woke up to hear Soku does not belong to Rivers again. While we were challenging this, we asked that the whole money from there be paid into an escrow account.

Suddenly they paid the money to Bayelsa State.”

Earlier, His Royal Highness, Disreal Gbobo BobManuel II, Owukori IX, Amanyanabo of Abonnema, who spoke on behalf of others, said they were in Government House to register their protest against the sudden shift in the boundary between the two states.

He said the boundary that divided the two areas had been there for over 100 years, adding that the colonial masters recognized it. The monarch said with the sudden shift, they had moved over 90 per cent of AkukuToru Local Government Area to Nembe.

Amaechi talks tough Talking tough on the issue, yesterday, Governor Amaechi called on officials of Bayelsa State Government to leave the oil wells of Soku and Elem-Sangama communities in Rivers State for Rivers people.

According to him, the oil wells have been in existence, even before the creation of Bayelsa State.

Declaring open a legislative capacity building programme for Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday in Calabar, Cross River State, Amaechi said Rivers and Bayelsa states had never had issues with boundaries, noting the boundaries were well known to all.

He also noted that since the creation of Bayelsa State, there had been no law or agreement ceding any part of Kalabari communities in Rivers State to Bayelsa State.

His words: “We will not

allow the attempt by the Bayelsa State Government to collect our oil wells. I have read what the Bayelsa State governor said, that the 11th edition of the (administrative) map (of Nigeria) gave them the oil wells.

“When? They didn’t talk about the 1st edition to the 10th edition, they chose to avoid that, and went to the 11th edition, but the question they should answer is why avoid the previous editions.”

He explained that the Federal Government had admitted in court to correct the mistakes in the 11th edition, saying the court documents were filed by their lawyers, who admitted the mistakes contained in the map of the 11th edition.

He said: “But the Federal Government came to court and said, ‘oh we made a mistake in the 11th edition, we will correct it’. “They should correct it, the documents were filed by their lawyers, not our lawyers. All we want is for the Federal Government to go back to the 10th edition and correct everything.

“Bayelsa State was created so many years ago, there has been no law ceding that part of Kalabari kingdom to Bayelsa State. Now when did it suddenly change, it changed in 2006, but I don’t want to join issues. I want the Kalabari people to represent themselves and I will stand behind them, and all what we are saying is that they should look from the 1st to the 10th edition (of the administrative map) and not an imaginary 11th edition.

“It won’t work; it will certainly not work, no matter how they try to intimidate the agencies of the Federal Government, we will continue to go to court and let our people know that the agencies of the Federal Government are being intimidated, that is what we are saying.”

Governor Amaechi then urged Rivers people to stand behind his administration until justice, equity and fair play were achieved over the sudden claims by Bayelsa State Government.

“All we want is for Rivers people to stand by us; Soku community has

been in Rivers State long before Bayelsa State was created.

“Elem- Sangama is not a ward in Bayelsa State, but they said, they don’t want territory, they want derivation, how can that work? Does oil come from the air? He has already answered the question for us, but we must struggle to get back our oil wells,” Amaechi said.

The Amanyanabo of Kalabari kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Prof T Princewill, who re-echoed the position of his governor in his speech at the event, titled, “Clarion call for urgent intervention to prevent imminent crisis in the Niger Delta”, said “ we make bold to say that our President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan is very well acquainted with the facts of this explosive matter, but has allowed it to fester. May be because, his native state is the beneficiary of this arrogance and outright wickedness against a people, who solidly stood by him more than any other group in the federation when he passionately sought help to ascend to the high office of President of our dear country”. The monarch who was represented by one of his Chiefs said President Jonathan had deliberately allowed the dispute to linger on.

We have made our stand known — Bayelsa Govt Bayelsa State Government in its response, yesterday, said it has sufficiently made its stand known on the matter and is duly backed by law.

Governor Seriake Dickson, through his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the law as it is known, deals with facts and concrete evidence.

On the issue of ownership and the claim by the Rivers State Government to Soku Oil wells, he said: “I believe it is no longer news that Rivers State Government took Bayelsa State Government to the Federal High Court on this same issue and lost.

“Instead of appealing the matter in the Appeal Court, the Rivers State Government invoked the constitutional provision and filed a suit in the Supreme Court in 2011 and this year the Supreme Court upheld Bayelsa State’s position.

“I do not think we should dissipate unnecessary energy over what has already been established as incontrovertible fact. Besides, we live in a country governed by laws and there are recognised institutions where people can go to seek redress, when they are in doubt.

“We should not belabour the issue any further. As far as this issue is concerned, I believe the fact speaks for itself.”

Allegation misleading — RMAFC Meanwhile RMAFC yesterday, said that the allegation that the commission moved five oil communities from Rivers to Bayelsa was misleading.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Elias Mbam, made this known at a news conference in Abuja. The Presidency had on Tuesday denied a media report alleging President Jonathan’s involvement in ceding five Rivers oil producing communities to Bayelsa.

Mbam said: “it is worth mentioning that the commission does not act in isolation without reference to other relevant government agencies at all levels of government."

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

BAKASSI:

FG urged to file fresh case Anyaoku seeks dialogue with Cameroon I’ll support buy back of Peninsula — Akpabio

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OKEY NDIRIBE & BEN AGANDE

L

AGOS— TWENTYONE days after Nigeria lost the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, indigenes of the area, lawmakers and some eminent Nigerians, yesterday, said Nigeria could recover the territory or minimize the loss, if the needful was done.

One way of doing this is by filing a fresh case at the International Court of Justice, ICJ, The Hague with fresh facts at the disposal of Nigeria. This was one of the options participants adopted at a National Dialogue on Bakassi organised by Project Nigeria and Citizens’ Advocacy Group at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Notable Nigerians at the Dialogue included Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Prof Bola Akinterinwa; Senator Bassey EwaHenshaw; Rep Nkoyo Toyo; Hon Adijat AdeleyeOladapo; Col Tony Nyiam (rtd); Sir J.O Alabo Eniola; High Chief Nimika James; Emma Doh; Alhaji Shettima Usman Yerima ;Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi; Mrs. Ganiyat Fawehinnmi and Mr. Wale Okunniyi.

Anyaoku seeks dialogue with Cameroon Another option, according to former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, is for the Federal Government to seriously engage the Cameroonian government in a diplomatic dialogue to protect Nigerians who are still residing in the ceded Bakassi Peninsula.

Anyaoku gave this advice, yesterday, in Abuja while speaking at the second annual lecture organised by the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA).

The revered diplomat further stated that the military regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha

committed serious blunder when it agreed to become a party in the legal action filed by Cameroon before the World Court in 1994, adding that it was a mistake the nation would continue to live with.

Citing similar cases around the world in the past, he stated that whereas the Falkland Islands legally belonged to Argentina, the British Government refused to surrender the territory because the people of the Island preferred to remain as part of Great Britain rather than Argentina thereby making it impossible for the South American country to approach the United Nations for intervention.

I’ll support buy back of Peninsula — Akpabio Also Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, said he would support plans by Nigeria to approach Republic of Cameroon for a possible buy back of Bakassi Peninsula Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with the Vice President Namadi Sambo and Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke, Akpabio said the option of buying back Bakassi was viable and should be considered.

According to him, “Bakassi is very dear to our hearts considering the proximity and its importance. I will support if the possibility arises and if the price is not too high.”

On his part, Imoke said the meeting agreed on ways to help Cross River State handle challenges arising from the ceding of Bakassi.

Another approach is for the National Assembly as promised by Senate President David Mark at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Canada, to meet with the Cameroonian parliament and resolve the matter at the IPU level. And if all these fail, Nigeria should support the self-determination efforts of Bakassi and people of Southern Cameroon to become an independent nation.

From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State during special boundary meeting with governors of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Subsidy scam: Jonathan shuns desperate marketers Compromise and be sacked, he warns aides

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

A

BUJA — THE noose may indeed be closing in on the

perpetrators of the fuel subsidy scam as sources said that the president has refused to give audience to desperate marketers

who made frantic efforts to get the Presidency to soft pedal on their trial.

Sources disclosed in Abuja, yesterday, that

A-Ibom Dep Gov, Ekere, resigns

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & TONY NYONG

U

YO — THE political landscape in Akwa Ibom State was in tremor, yesterday, after the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Nsima Ekere, resigned from office. Ekere in a twoparagraph letter to Governor Godswil Akpabio claimed to have resigned for personal reasons.

However, it was generally believed last night that the resignation was tendered to stave off an impeachment notice from the House of Assembly which it was learnt had been articulated.

Ekere, who until now had been considered as one of the leading candidates to succeed Governor Akpabio in the 2015 election, Vanguard gathered, was caught up in the intrigues surrounding the 2015 race.

His resignation followed orchestrated moves by the state House of Assembly to present an article for his impeachment today.

It was gathered that as many as 20 members in the 26 member House of Assembly had already signed the article of impeachment of the deputy governor.

In the resignation letter, dated October 31, 2012, Ekere said: “Pursuant to Section 306 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I kindly notify

you of my resignation from the office of Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State forthwith on personal grounds.

“I want to thank you immensely for the opportunity to serve Akwa Ibom State and wish you and the good people of Akwa Ibom State well in the remaining years of your administration.”

The resignation letter personally signed by Mr. Ekere was received by the governor, yesterday.

However, close aides of the governor were as at last night claiming ignorance of the development and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, could not be reached as his telephones were off.

Ekere’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Inemesit Ina, however, confirmed the development in a statement yesterday evening, saying: “The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, has resigned from office.’’

The impeachment move against Ekere Earlier yesterday morning, as the move against the former Deputy Governor gathered pace in the House of Assembly with the collection of signatures, his Press Secretary had denied the move when Vanguard sought his reaction to the unfolding

development.

But while denying the move, he at the same time sought to know how many members were involved in the plot.

The impeachment move and consequent resignation, Vanguard gathered, was a direct fallout from Ekere’s moves to position himself in pole position to succeed Akpabio.

Akpabio, it was gathered, had quietly positioned moles in the camps of some of the leading contenders for his job. One of such moles, it was learnt, fed Akpabio on how Ekere planned to assume the governorship in 2015 in a move that reportedly seriously perturbed Governor Akpabio.

While the move to undo the Deputy Governor started underground since last week, Ekere’s efforts to stop the impeachment and save his job could not see the light of the day.

Before he threw in the towel yesterday evening, Mr. Ekere could only count on the support of six members of the House.

The decision to resign it was learnt, was apparently aimed at staving off the negative constitutional impediment of an impeachment that could jeopardise any political ambition of his in the future.

Mr. Ekere is the second deputy governor to serve under Mr. Akpabio. The first was Mr. Patrick Ekpotu who served in the first term between 2007 and 2011.

some of those who had been indicted and representatives of those standing trial wanted to see the president but were rebuffed.

It was gathered that in the last one week, indicted marketers have been making frantic efforts to meet the president without success while their moves to link up with some presidential aides have also not yielded the desired outcome.

Besides, as learnt, President Jonathan also warned his aides against meeting those indicted or standing trial, warning them sternly that anyone implicated would have himself to blame.

A source said the president does not want to be seen with those responsible for the massive corruption and has also told his aides not to meddle with the ongoing cases instituted by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, against the marketers.

Several influential people and their family members have been indicted over the subsidy scam and some are already standing trial in various law courts.

“The marketers have become desperate and we are expecting various types of attacks in the next few days. But we are happy that Nigerians cannot be fooled. It is too late to discredit the thorough job of committee that investigated the subsidy,” an informed source said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—7

Retired FG workers groan over unpaid N11bn pensions

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BOOK PRESENTATION: From left: Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Chairman of Society for International Relations Awareness, SIRA, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub and Henry Okotie of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria, at a presentation of a book,“Reflecting on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy” and 2nd Annual Forum of the SIRA,in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Politicians often tempt Judges with bribes using relations, friends —Adekeye Decries do-or-die syndrome among political class

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — FEW hours after she bowed out of the Supreme Court bench, yesterday, Justice Olufunmilola Adekeye, revealed that politicians often besiege judges with mouth-watering bribe offers in order to win election petition cases in court.

Adekeye, who made the disclosure at the public presentation of a book, “Election Petition Practice & Procedure in Nigeria: A Practitioners Guide,” at the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, in Abuja, yesterday, described election years as most challenging periods for Nigerian Judges, stressing that at times, desperate politicians, in a bid to win at all cost, even attempt reaching out to judge through their relations, friends and close associates.

Admonishing judges across the federation to always heed to the oath of office they swore to uphold, Adekeye regretted the pervasive do-or-die syndrome among the political class, noting that unlike what obtains in the advanced countries, election losers in Nigeria, rather than congratulate their opponents after any electoral contest, resort to the courts.

According to her, “winners and losers should learn to congratulate each other after elections; that is never the case in Nigeria.

Immediately after every election begins a long

drawn legal battle, it is always the do-or-diesyndrome. After every election, there must be litany of petitions.

“Politicians have developed the knack for using election petition periods as time to malign judges, batter them or say all sorts of things against them in the media.

“That notwithstanding, I encourage judges to always stand on the path of truth, play your own role according to the oath of office you swore to uphold.

Don’t let them discourage you. The truth is that no judge will go to any politician to seek for bribe; it is these same politicians that will start looking for the judges all over the place, through relations, friends and close associates.

“As Nigerians, we must always stand up and defend our judges and protect their integrity. It is a pity that most times, even the political class does not understand the role of judges in democratic settings."

Tinubu harps on free, fair polls Meanwhile, the former Governor of Lagos State, Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu, in his speech, which was read by a member of the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola, maintained that it would be difficult for Nigerians to live in peace without an acceptable and just system of government.

He said: “How can

governments continue to have legitimacy unless they are formed by the will of the people they govern?

“How can the will of the people be determined except in elections that are free and fair? And, how can elections be free and fair unless all participants abide by the ground rules and have access to an independent and impartial arbiter in the event of disputes?

“I have posed the

questions above in order to underline the utmost importance of the subject on which this book has been written. Without doubt, the proper and efficient adjudication of election petitions have a direct link to the peace and prosperity of the nation. Elections must be conducted in accordance with acceptable and well-defined rules and aggrieved persons must have access to justice."

BUJA — HUNDREDS of Nigerian workers who retired from the employ of the Federal Government have not been paid their pension in the past six months, Vanguard has learnt.

The government has, however, not been able to explain to the affected workers why it had not remitted its share of the contributory pensions to the National Pension Commission, PENCOM, for onward remittance to their respective Pension Funds Administrators, PFAs. There are at least 54,558 retirees from public and private sectors of the economy, who collect a monthly sum of N1.77 billion under the Contributory Pension Scheme,CPS. Under the scheme, the Federal Government makes available a certain amount of money while the workers contribute a certain percentage of their salary to sustain the CPS, which is being administered by PENCOM but remitted monthly via their chosen PFAs. However, finding by Vanguard revealed that the Federal Government had not remitted its share of the

pension fund to the pension agency since May this year.

The delay in remitting the amount, which is said to be in the region of N11 billion, has caused anxiety among the beneficiaries, who daily throng the premises of the commission to seek clarifications on why they have not been paid.

Some of the retirees were sighted at the commission premises, yesterday, in small groups to demand payment but did not get any at the end of the day.

The Pension Commission, it was gathered, has been managing to calm down the aggrieved retirees, who believe erroneously that it is the agency that is holding on to their payment.

Paradoxically, the commission has refused to comment on the development, apparently out of the fear of being reprimanded for presenting its employers in bad light.

Although our correspondent visited the commission to find out why the retirees were not paid, no official was willing to talk on the development, although they tried to appeal to the growing number of retirees that their money would soon be paid.

Boko Haram: Zannah sues AGF, CDS, Defence Minister Seeks N5bn as damages for libel

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — IN a bid to exonerate himself from alleged connection with the Boko Haram Islamic sect, Senator Ahmed Zannah, yesterday, dragged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Defence, and the Chief of Defence Staff, before an Abuja High Court.

The lawmaker who is representing Borno Central Senatorial, is praying the court to award N5 billion as damages against the defendants, who he said had on October 19, led Nigerians into an erroneous conclusion that the Joint Task Force, JTF, apprehended a high-profile commander of the terrorist sect, one Shuaibu

Mohammed Bama, in his house.

Zannah told the court that it was the defendants that gave the spokesman of the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, the nod to issue a statement he said falsely portrayed him as one of the persons that aid and support Boko Haram in their terrorist activities.

In his statement of claims, Zannah maintained that the written press statement which he said was issued under the banner headline ‘JTF Arrests Boko Haram Commander in Senator’s House’, “was calculated to disparage the plaintiff and to lower the estimation of the plaintiff in the eyes of the general public and in fact, the plaintiff ’s reputation has been

seriously damaged by the words complained of.

“The plaintiff has also suffered considerable distress, mental trauma, shock and embarrassment as a consequence of the defendants conduct and has suffered loss and damages.

“The plaintiff will particularly rely on the following facts and matters in support of his claim for damages, including aggravated damages: (a) the publication complained of was given great prominence and the plaintiff will ask the court to infer that practically every Nigerian or at most, a substantial but presently unquantifiable and unidentifiable number of Nigerians and foreigners both within and outside Nigeria read, viewed or

listened to the press report in all the electronic and print media available in the country and on the internet.”

He further averred that “judging from the volume of phone calls and text messages that myself, my aides, my relatives, friends and well wishers received on the issue, I sincerely believed that practically every Nigerian read the report of the press statement by the 4th defendant.

He urged the court to grant him the N5 billion damages “because of the severe suffering that I have been put through as a result of the publication complained of.”

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the case.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

THE RAGE OF FLOOD Baby boom at ICE relief camp in Delta

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—THE Institute of Continuing Education, ICE, camp for flood victims in Asaba, Delta State, has so far witnessed the birth of 10 new babies, the camp commandant, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, has said.

Ashiedu, who is also the State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation spoke to Vanguard yesterday when she led a team of medical personnel from the camp to see the babies at the Pro-Labore Dei, a Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, run by a Rev. Sister, Sister Stella Maris, in Asaba.

Ashiedu said: “As at today in this camp, Sister Stella Maris has 10 new born babies in her house because women give birth here.

“When we had the first birth here (camp), we were very troubled, contemplating whether or not to create a home dedicated for mothers because of the congestion.

But Sister Maris accepted to relocate the new babies delivered here and their mothers

to her home.”

The commissioner ’s visit to Stella Maris' residence, where the babies and their mothers are camped, elicited a lot of joy as the nursing mothers danced and thanked both the state government and the management of Pro Labore for putting smiles on their faces during their trying moments.

Uduaghan bans cash donations at camps Meanwhile, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, at a meeting with political appointees and elected public officials to review the flood situation in the state, yesterday, asked camp officials to eschew tribalism even as he banned them from accepting cash donations.

He said: “Do not create confusion in the camps through ethnic politics. Do not give preferential treatment to your ethnic people in the camp in the distribution of relief materials. Treat everybody equally because they are all displaced persons and deserve the relief materials."

Oredje of Okpe warns rapists

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA —THE Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Orhue I, yesterday, donated relief materials to flood victims at Saint Patrick’s College, SPC, Asaba, with a call on hoodlums harassing and raping women at the camps to stop and have a rethink “so that the wrath of God will not be on them.”

Among the items donated were 20 bags of garri, 30 bags of rice, 100 litres of palm oil, 100 litres of groundnut oil and 100 tubers of yam. Others were 14 bundles of tissue papers, 50 bags of satchet water and 16 cartons of Indomie noodles.

The Orodje was represented at the occasion by the former Commissioner for Works in the State, Chief Tom Amioku, accompanied by a retinue of palace chiefs.

The Royal Father said: “The people of Okpe, piqued by the plight of the flood victims, decided to donate food items amongst others, worth millions of naira, to alleviate their sufferings. The items donated should be shared to the camps in the three senatorial districts of the state.

“I also use this medium to appeal to public spirited individuals, private and public sectors to donate generously to the victims affected by the flood. May I advise the hoodlums harassing, raping, steal-

ing and molesting the flood victims to have a rethink so that the wrath fo God will not be on them.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation, Ann Chalokwu-Orumade, who received the materials, expressed happiness over the donation and promised that they would be distributed equitably to the flood victims. He however noted that there was no harassment of victims in the camp, due to the tight security put in place by the state government.

PRESENTATION: Wife of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, president, Mrs. Helen Oritsejafor, presenting relief materials to internally displaced persons at the Cavergina Primary School, Warri, on behalf of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri.

Expect more rains before Dec —NIMET A

BUJA—DIRECTOR of Weather Forecast Services, Nigerian Metereological Agency, NIMET, Mr. Ifeanyi Nnodu, on Wednesday in Abuja, said Nigerians should expect more rains before December.

Nnodu, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, however, said the rains would not come with flooding.

He said that the rainy season was gradually coming to an end, adding that the rain for the remaining part of the year would be windy but without flooding.

He said that the northern part of the country would witness fewer rains than the Eastern, Western and the Southern parts.

Nnodu said the rains would be accompanied with heavy dusty winds which usually reduced visibility to pilots and might cause flight hazards.

He advised pilots to make regular use of the weather and climate forecasts released by the agency during the season.

He said: “The pattern of rain we have now is usually associated with winds.

We are not expecting rains that may lead to flooding like we had across the country in the past few months, because the rains are coming to an end and the soil is becoming dried enough to absorb more water.

“More rain is expected across the country. We are gradually coming to the end of the rainy season in the far

Shell not planning to leave Warri—MD

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—MANAG ING Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmoni, has said that the company was not planning to pack out of Warri in Delta State.

Sunmoni spoke, Monday, while donating relief materials, including food items and drugs worth millions of naira, to flood victims at the Oharisi Primary School, Ughelli, camp, adding that the SPDC may have sold some of its assets, “but we are not leaving Delta State.”

Shell had earlier donated

$1million to the Red Cross over the issue.

Explaining that the relief materials were meant for all the displaced persons in the state, he urged those charged with the management of the various camps to make judicious use of the items donated by the SPDC to benefit the victims. He added that SPDC was concerned about the welfare of the people of its host communities.

He said: “My mission here is to commiserate with the displaced people to show that we really care for them. These are people in different areas we operate. Delta State has been a good host to SPDC and

this is an opportunity for us again to give a token back to the people of the state.”

On how the flood affected the operations of SPDC, he said: “I really do not want to talk about my operations now.

What is important to me now is the welfare of displaced persons. Operations for me, at this stage, is really of secondary importance.”

Speaking further, Sunmoni described the flood disaster as not only unfortunate but a national tragedy, saying; “I am really pleased with the way different people from different walks of life in the country are rising up to the challenge.”

North and it will progressively come to the Middle Belt and other parts of the country but there would be gaps in between the rains.

“Normally, the winds are accompanied with dust from the Sahara Desert which may cause airlines to delay their flights and that may have some economic effect on the airlines because there will be more flight delays and cancellations.”

He said the dusty season would be extended to January 2013.

It will be recalled that the Director-General of NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom, had warned Nigerians to take precautions against violent winds that might occur during the dry season due to the effects of climate change.

He cautioned people to avoid staying under trees during the period.

“We are transiting now from rainy to dry season; the kind of things we may experience are violent winds, therefore, we advise people to avoid staying under trees.

“The reason why we alert people is for them to know ahead of time and take necessary precautions.

We don’t have the ability to prevent natural disasters, but the ability to observe what the weather is and inform the people early.

“Part of the mandate of the Ministry of Aviation is safety and we, as an agency under it, have keyed into it,” Anuforom said.

He noted that forecasts by the agency if strictly adhered to could help save the situation.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 9

21 year old driver remanded over murder

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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21 year old commercial driver, was yesterday remanded in prison, for allegedly, causing the death of one Mrs. Comfort Solomon.

The accused, Azeez Lukman, who is facing a two count charge of careless driving and murder was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the incident happened on October 12, 2012.

He said Lukman had driven carelessly on the highway that fateful day at about 12pm, adding that the woman

died instantly after she was hit by the driver.

He further added that the accused, who allegedly killed Solomon, drove a Mazda commercial bus with Registration No. YB 833 FJK drove carelessly around the Oshodi/ Abeokuta Expressway by Dopemu under bridge in Lagos.

However, when the charges was read to him, he pleaded not guilty, but his plea was not taken.

Magistrate E.O. O g u n k a n m i , thereafter,ordered that the accused be remanded to prison pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.

The case was adjourned till November 27, 2012.

Lagos mobilises stakeholders for community development

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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HE LAGOS State Government has concluded plans to mobilize over 10,000 C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t Associations, CDAs, market men and women for the year ’s 2012 Community Day, CD, celebration in Lagos.

Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi,

disclosed this yesterday at a media briefing.

Ojelabi said that the 2,765 registered CDAs in Lagos would come with their members as well as market men and women for the celebration slated for November 8, 2012.

Meantime, the celebration commenced with a visit and distribution of various items to the Children’s Home, Idi-Araba and Old People’s Home, Yaba.

Lagos Assembly considers anti-smoking bill

BY EBUN SESSOU

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BILL towards prohibiting smoking in designated places for connected purposes yesterday scaled through the first reading at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The bill, which is a private member bill sponsored by member representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2, Mr. Gbolahan Yishawu, was read on the floor by the Acting Clerk of the House, Segun Abiru.

The bill if passed into law, will prohibit people from smoking tobacco, or anything, which contains tobacco, or any other substance in any place designated as ‘No Smoking Area’.

From the commencement of the

law, it shall be an offence to smoke in the presence of a child under the age of 15 years in any vehicle or location listed or not listed.

From left: Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Lagos State Governor, during the presentation of the Year 2013 Budget Estimate to the House, at the Assembly Chamber, Alausa, Lagos, yesterday.

Fashola presents N497bn 2013 budget .As Speaker wants deplorable roads fixed

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI AND EBUN SESSOU

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O V E R N O R B A B AT U N D E Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, presented a budget proposal of N497.277 billion for the 2013 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

The budget represents a slight increase of 1.08 per cent over that of 2012 which was N485.3 billion.

Fashola assured that his administration would focus more on the life t h r e a t e n i n g environmental risks and finance security challenges in the state.

A summary of the budget shows that: recurrent expenditure

gulps N228.913bn, capital expenditure takes N268.364bn, capital receipts, N22.912bn while the component of the total overhead costs is N139.173bn.

According to the budget proposal, the capital to recurrent ratio will be 54:46 for 2013 as against 53:47 in 2012.

Sectoral allocation provided in the budget includes: General Public Service, N114.076bn (22.94 per cent); Public Order and Safety,N18.799 -(3.78 per cent); Economic Affairs N156.273 (31.43per cent); Environmental Protection, N44.131bn (8.87 per cent); Housing and Community Amenities-N46.149bn

(9.28 per cent ); Health N42.498bn 8.55 (per cent);Recreation, Culture and Religion N5.749bn (1.16 per cent); Education, N64.343bn (12.94 per cent); Social Protection N3.259bn (0.66per cent); C o n t i n g e n c y N2.000bn(.44 per cent).

Presenting the budget at a well attended event, Fashola promised that his administration would intensify efforts at improving education, health and power sectors, adding that attention would also be given to roads, water and rural development.

He stressed that despite the numerous challenges confronting the state, the budget will seek to promote cooperation with

FinBank shares were manipulated by mgt – EFCC’s witness

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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USTICE LATEEFA Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court, was yesterday told during the trial of the former Managing Director of FinBank Plc, Mr. Okey Nwosu and three others of how the bank’s shares were manipulated by the bank’s management through several companies created by the

management.

A prosecution witness, Anafi Buba Mohammed, a law enforcement officer in charge of Compliance and E n f o r c e m e n t Department in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had revealed in his evidence that the companies known as Special Purpose Vehicles, SPVs, were used to manipulate shares.

Nwosu is standing trial for allegedly stealing N10.9 billion alongside Mr. Dayo Famoroti, Mr. Danjuma Ocholi and Mrs. Agnes Ebubedike, all former directors of the bank between September 2006 and November 2007.

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness said though there were many of the SPVs, only seven of them were inspected during the course of their

investigation.

Mohammed said the shares were secured through two stock broking firms: Springboard Trust and Investment Limited.

He noted that even though such act was common among majority of banks to boost their capital market, it was contradictory to the regulations of the supervising authorities.

the local and Federal Government on road rehabilitation and power sector reforms.

“At the end of the 3rd Quarter Budget presentation, we achieved an aggregate budget implementation performance of 72 per cent for the period January to September 2012.”

In his response, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, on behalf of members, said the house would responsibly accord the budget proposal prompt and comprehensive attention and would scrutinise it with eagle eyes.

The Speaker, who noted that the presentation of the budget is significant because the lives and destinies of almost 20 million residents are hinged on the bill.

According to him, it is not surprising that the expectations of the people are high, they want to to know what is in the budget for them, so that they can make plans and projections for the coming year.

Highlighting some challenges which require urgent attention, he emphatically mentioned the deplorable state of roads in spite of the huge investment and painstaking efforts the administration has made.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEBER 1,

2012

Gowon, Bayero, others billed for Ooni's lecture

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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ORMER HEAD of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) will on Saturday preside over the first edition of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ile-Ife's annual leadership lecture and award ceremony at IleIfe, Osun State.

According to a statement jointly signed by former Minister of Water Resources, Engr.

Bashir Ishola Awotorebo and Dr. Ademakinwa Adereti, Chairman, From left: Mr. Emiki Celestine, a patient; Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of Oyo State Governor; Prof. Planning Committee and Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, during Mrs. Ajimobi's visit to cancer patients at the University programme coordinator respectively on behalf of College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan yesterday. Photo: Oyo State Government House.

Ife Business School in Osogbo yesterday, the event will hold at Aquarium Events Centre, Parakin, Obalufe Layout, Ile-Ife. The statement added that Professor Siyan Oyeweso of the had been known for.

BY OLA AJAYI Ikeja, Lagos, she "It is just rumour like Department of History An evening newspaper restated that she only you said, but I think the and International BADAN —WIFE of had alleged that the wife travelled last Sunday to time has come for us in Relations, Osun State the Oyo State of the governor was London to accompany Nigeria to stop playing Governor, Senator Abiola arrested in London with her child, who returned dirty politics.

Ajimobi, Mrs. Florence N500m. to secondary school.

“We should be very The rumour, she said, Ajimobi, yesterday put to Ajimobi said, she was objective when we are

By DAUD OLATUNJI rest the controversy of was the “handiwork of not surprised over the giving information, in her alleged arrest by mischief makers who are capacity of people to particular, members of BEOKUTA —NO Metropolitan Police over latching on to dirty peddle rumour, as part the press. We should fewer than 42 money laundering as she politics to tarnish her of the renowned dirty verify the information we inmates from five arrived the country reputation, which she politics of Oyo State. are given. prisons across Ogun has kept as the wife of a yesterday.

She added: “I am here "And I just want to use State have been set free Mrs. Ajimobbi who politician in her marriage live as you can see; I this medium to say that by the state Chief arrived early in the of over 30 years”. have never had any the ultimate measure of Judge, Justice On arrival from encounter with the any man or woman, is morning yesterday said Olatokunbo Olopade. the allegation against London yesterday at the London Metropolitan where you stand in times Olopade who stated her was part of dirty Murtala Muhammed Police and I know I will of conflict, challenges this at the end of her politics which the state International Airport, never have. and controversy and not official visit to the prisons in times of comfort.” in Ibara, Oba, Ilaro, According to her, she Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu remains unmovable by areas of the state, said the “wicked rumour”. three out of the 42 Speaking about her inmates were females. daughter that she According to Olopade, visited, she noted, the lucky prisoners were The Ambassador was of Congo, emerged a “Every parent who has OBY GBENGAARIYIBI imprisoned for various installed the new regent regent following the children over there offence ranging from of Ilasa Ekiti on Tuesday demise of her father,Oba (abroad) knows the robbery, murder and an impressive Abel Ajibola, the Alasa of system; she is still in DO EKITI— at Barely 24 hours ceremony which was Ilasa Ekiti in Ekiti East secondary school; and after the installation of witnessed by some Local Government area you have to go and pick Princess Jolaade chiefs, women leaders of the state in October them up from school.

"You cannot say because Onipede as the Regent and those in the royal 1,2012 Reacting, Princess my husband is a of Ilasa Ekiti,Ekiti State family of the two ruling OBY GBENGA ARIYIBI Onipede said what the politician, because I am government has houses in the town Princess Onipede, a government did was a married to a politician, I annulled her HE MAIDEN former commissioner in ruse.“It is a ruse, They should shelve my appointment, as it has edition of Ekiti announced another the state and a current do not know the tradition responsibility as a Governor, Dr. Kayode mother. woman as a new regent. Ambassador to Republic of Ilasa,"she said.

Fayemi’s media interactive programme with primary school pupils holds today, November 1, 2012.

A statement from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ado Ekiti explained that the programme tagged 'Meet your Governor' was designed to afford children of school age the opportunity to

Ajimobi’s wife arrives, abuses politicians I

University, would deliver a lecture entitled 'Purpose of Leadership: A Panacea for Peace and Development, the Role of Traditional Institutions'.

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Bola Akinterinwa, Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

It was also stated there would be a public presentation of selected speeches of the Oba, the Ooni of Ife, adding that six eminent Nigerians Alhaji Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos - have been selected for d i s t i n g u i s h e d performance awards.

Also expected at the ceremony are the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Obi of Onitsha as well as traditional rulers, governors, diplomatic community, among others.

Ogun CJ frees 42 prisoners

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Ekiti nullifies Onipede's regency, appoints another

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other sundry criminal acts.

Vanguard gathered that,15 inmates were set free in Ilaro, five in Abeokuta, four in Sagamu while nine each were set free in Oba and Ijebu prisons.

Speaking with newsmen in Sagamu prison yard, the Chief Judge berated the Investigating Unit of Legal Department of the Nigeria Police for allegedly slowing down the justice system through their investigation involving majority of the inmates.

Fayemi hosts primary school pupils today

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interact with the Governor.

According to the statement, the programme, which would be aired simultaneously on both radio and television channels of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State, would also enable children air their views on issues affecting them.

It enjoined people in the state to tune in to the channels in order to be part of the programme which the statement said would be educative.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—11

Oshiomhole promotes three teachers, demotes principal

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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LEGISLATIVE RETREAT: From right: Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Amachree Otelemaba, at the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative retreat in Calabar, yesterday.

Okada ban in Delta: No going back on Nov 1 date —Commissioner

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LT A State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa, has said there was no going back on the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, as the ban takes effect today.

He made it clear that the restriction would begin today in Warri, Asaba and Effurun, warning that the ban did not exclude private motorcycle users.

He said: ”Anybody who may claim to be using his or her motorcycle for private purposes or haulage should construct a carriage at the back signifying that it is not a passenger motorcycle.

“With the transport arrangements already on ground, we can move as much as 21,000 passengers at a time. So there is no going back on the

November 1 take off date for the restriction order because the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been magnanimous enough.”

Governor Uduaghan had extended the ban by one month to enable a better take off of the system.

Already, the presence of tricycles on the streets of Asaba has become prominent in the last couple of days.

While some passengers that usually patron-

ized Okada told our reporter that they were not comfortable with the ban as the tricycles would not be able to go into rough terrains, others heaved a sigh of relief over the ban.

Commissioning 1,250 tricycles to be used in place of motorcycles, the governor had warned politicians not to interfere with the distribution of the tricycles as it was exclusively reserved for commercial motorcycle operators.

Auto crash: 7 burnt to death on Warri-Agbor highway

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—SEVEN persons were burnt to death, yesterday, in an auto crash along Agbor-Abavo-Asaba highway.

An eyewitness, Comrade Austin Ozobo, who is the national president of Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, told Vanguard that the accident occurred at about 3.40 pm, adding that there were four sur-

Edo BIR tasks banks on tax laws

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—EDO State Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, yesterday, met with banks and other establishments in the state on the need to adhere strictly to tax laws in order to attract more development in the state.

Addressing representatives of the organizations

The governor, who subsidized the cost of the tricycles up to 70 per cent, from N400,000 to N150,000, warned operators of the tricycles to restrict themselves to routes approved for them.

He noted that the introduction of the tricycles was to replace and gradually phase out commercial motorcycles as part of measures to ensure safety in the transport sector and promote security in the state.

during the tax education/ sensitization campaign, chairman of the Board, Chief Useni Elamah, disclosed that the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole had granted relief to workers under the PAYE system through the amended Personal Income Tax Act. He said: “We have also found out that having embarked on reforms to

ensure that the tax laws are implemented to the letter, there are certain provisions that have put certain responsibilities on both the individual tax payers and the employers who, under the law, have the statutory and mandatory obligation to deduct correctly and remit promptly taxes of their employees to the state Board of Internal Revenue."

vivors, who were rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

He said: “A bus carrying about 11 passengers reportedly collided with a Peugeot J5 bus, which lost control.

“It is quite disturbing.

I saw human beings burning alive and there was nothing anybody could do to stop the fire.

“Immediately it happened, there was an explosion and the bus caught fire. There was no fire service, even when the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC officials, came later, nobody could do anything. People were just watching until they were burnt. There were only four survivors.”

ENIN—IN con tinuation of his unscheduled visits to educational institutions in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has ordered the immediate promotion of three school teachers.

He also directed the demotion of the principal of Annunciation Catholic Junior Secondary School, Irrua, in Esan Central Local Government Area for alleged incompetence.

The governor, who announced this measure yesterday, while on an on-the-spot assessment of attendance and punctuality of teachers in schools at Edo Central, said: “It gives me some confidence to find all is not lost.”

Governor Oshiomhole doled out cash gifts to

some teachers in appreciation of their commitment.

He said: “You are an example of what is possible and I am proud of you. It gives me some comfort that even in the midst of this madness, there are some people who we can still be proud of, who take their responsibilities seriously.

“It gives me some relief. It is worrisome to find that majority of teachers are involved in late coming or absenteeism. That is not the best we can do for our state.

“When we punish those who are guilty of late coming or absenteeism, we should reward those who are doing their jobs well. We have to use the carrot and stick.

“I am happy that we have a few of you who recognize that the work place is a serious place and you have a contract and you have a duty to service that contract.”

N-Delta youths urged to shun violence

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OUTH-SOUTH Youth Agenda, SOYA, a socio-political group in the Niger Delta, has enjoined youths in the region to brace-up for change in order to tap from the benefits of of President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda.

In a communiqué after its National Executive meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, National

President of the group, Mr. Tom FredFish, and regional Vice-President, Mrs. Stella Inyang, urged youths in the region to be steadfast and law abiding, in the face of unwarranted killings and provocative utterances by some elements in the North.

They reiterated their preparedness to shun violence as a way of addressing grievances.

Attah loses wife to cancer

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MMEDIATE past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has lost his wife, Allison.

Mrs. Nneyin Allison Attah died at the age of 72 in a Lagos hospital on Monday.

Originally from the Barbados, Mrs. Attah, it was learnt, died after a prolonged sickness.

Family sources confirmed the death of the former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State who was said to be have formed a very close relationship with her husband during her lifetime.

Obong Attah, it was learnt, yesterday, was deeply moved by the loss.

Born in 1940, Mrs Attah graduated from Leeds

University in the United Kingdom where she qualified as a Librarian.

While serving as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, she was renowned for her devotion towards children and formed a non-governmental organization, Child Development Trust, CDT, to promote the welfare of children in the state.

She is survived by her widower, Obong Victor Attah and two children

Late Mrs.Nneyin Attah

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Tribunal: Oshiomhole’s records at Ruskin'll vindicate him—JRC

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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PRESENTATION: Ann Chalokwu Orumade, Special Adviser to Delta State Governor on Poverty Alleviation, receiving food items on behalf of flood victims from Chief Tom Amioku, representative of the Orodje of Okpe, in Delta State, in Asaba. PHOTO: Nath Onojake.

Family urges IG to probe musician's alleged killing by soldiers

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—THE fam ily of Ijaw musician, Mr. Tony Moro, who was allegedly killed last week by soldiers of 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, near Warri, Delta State, on grounds that he was a suspected assassin and kidnapper, yesterday called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to probe his death, saying he was extra-judicially killed.

Counsel to the family, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who was represented by Matthew Omonade, told reporters in Warri: “We are solicitors to Tony Moro family. Tony Moro was called by Chief Governor that a boy who used to play music for Tony was arrested and had confessed that Tony had planned to kidnap him (Governor). He was called to Teebilos Hotel in Ekpan and he went with his girlfriend (Faith Bile) on October 23, 2012.

“Governor was in company of plain-clothes security when he met Tony with his girlfriend.

After exchanging pleasantries, Governor requested that his girlfriend was not to be part of the meeting and Tony gave his girlfriend money to board taxi and she left. Since then, “Tony has not been found and

we only learnt about it in the Vanguard publication that Tony was killed as a suspected kidnapper.

“Tony earned a decent living as a musician. He was never a criminal. We condemn the killing in its entirety. We will take the right step by petitioning the IGP to investi-

gate the killing and bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book.

We are against extra-judicial killings. Is the Army the right organisation to investigate kidnap allegation?”

Moro’s girlfriend, Miss Faith Bile, explained that “on October 23, I followed Tony to Teebilos

Hotel. Chief Governor greeted us, and threatened Tony to agree that he planned the kidnap or else he would be killed. We met plainclothes security men at the bar of the hotel. Governor now asked Tony to send me away that the meeting they wanted to hold was private."

Forex reserves hit $42.56bn —CBN

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, says the nation’s external reserves have risen to $42.56 billion on October 29, up from $42.31 billion on October 24.

The apex bank posted the figure on its Website on Wednesday, stating that the figure represented 3.7 per cent increase over the previous figure.

The nation’s external reserves have continued to grow since the beginning of 2012. This development means that CBN has less than eight billion dollars to achieve its 50 billion dollars target for 2012.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had, in July, said there was need to build up the reserves to 50 billion dollars before December.

Okonjo-Iweala, also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, said

this at a meeting with the organised private sector in Lagos. She said this would help the

country to be stable in the event of any global economic recession.

ENIN—THE Jus tice Research Centre, JRC, yesterday, described as mischievous and an attempt by political opponents to rubbish the integrity of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the on going election petition tribunal in the state, saying the latter’s record at Ruskin College, Oxford, in the United Kingdom, will vindicate him.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), had petitioned that Oshiomhole lacked the educational qualification to run for the office of governor of Edo State.

However, the Tribunal struck out the issue of Oshiomhole’s educational qualification, on the ground that it was a pre-election issue.

However, the Justice Research Centre, in a

statement by Inwalomhe Donald, noted that while Airhiavbere celebrated his being in NIPSS in 2008, Oshiomhole went there in 1987.

He said: “Airhiavbere is assuming that he has the powers to destroy Oshiomhole’s educational qualification, but his academic records in Nigeria and Ruskin College, Oxford, will speak for him.

“Today, for reasons of parochial and material interests, the defeated PDP candidate and his followers have refused to adopt the natural and universal best parameters for determining credible polls and their results.

“INEC verified Oshiomhole’s qualification in pursuant of the provisions of section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2006, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, informed the public on the personal particulars of candidates (Form CF 001) for the office of Governor and Deputy Governor in Edo State."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—13

EFCC probes EBSU VC over contract award

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—THE Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, hasbegun investigation into all the projects executed under the administration of the Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, EBSU, Prof Francis Idike, from 2009 till date.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the EFCC decided to probe all the contracts awarded by the Vice- Chancellor because of the numerous petitions it received from some staff of the institution alleging financial misappropriation by some key officials of the institution.

Also, the probe came on the heels of the planned reappointment arrangement of the Vice Chancellor of the institution and other Principal Officers by Ebonyi state government for another term in office.

In a letter titled “Investigation Activities, Request for Document,” dated October 4, 2012, and signed

C M Y K

by Mr. Paul Timbushi, for the Head of Operations, South East zone, Enugu, the Commission charged the Vice-Chancellor of EBSU to assist it carry out its investigation accordingly.

It read: “This Commission is investigating a case in which the need to obtain certain information from

you has become imperatives.

“You are requested to provide the list of contracts/ procurements (completed and ongoing) executed by the University from 2009 to date; certified true copies of all documents relating to advertisements, bidding, award and acceptance letters of all contracts from 2009 to date."

NMA tasks MANSAG on local healthcare system

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—NIGERIAN Medical Association, NMA, has called on medical professionals in the diaspora to invest more in the nation’s healthcare industry to redress the phenomenon of medical tourism and poor state of healthcare system.

Making the call at the 23rd Annual Scientific Conference of Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain, MANSAG, in Leeds, United Kingdom, NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, regretted that

despite efforts by Nigeria’s current health ministers to improve the country’s healthcare system, health status indicators were still largely unsatisfactory.

Osahon, who described the present situation as unacceptable, argued that Nigerians had all it took to solve the country ’s healthcare challenges, if the enabling environment and international best practices, as well as good governance and transparent commitment were shown by governments at all levels.

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MUAHIA—GOV ERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has urged Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the Federal Government’s economic and social programmes succeeded.

The governor said rather than search for faults, Nigerians should proffer ideas which could lead to

Why we must support Jonathan, by Gov Orji preferable solution that could make positive impact in the polity.

According to him, the devastating flood which ravaged parts of the country are challenges that will inadvertently spur the na-

Anambra spends N34m to rehabilitate mission schools, hospitals

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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W KA — G OV E R NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has donated about N34 million, an 18-seat bus and sets of computers to some hospitals and schools owned by missionaries to ensure their proper rehabilitation.

The benefiting institutions include the Iyi Enu Hospital owned by the Anglican Church, which received N20 million cheque for the construction of hostels; Father Joseph Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri owned by the Catholic

Church, which received N10 million and St Christopher’s Seminary, Ekwulobia, owned by the Anglican Church, which received N4 million and some computer sets.

Other beneficiaries include Mercy Secondary School, Umuoji and Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi Memorial Secondary School, Agulueri.

Obi said during the handover of the cheques and equipment that his administration would continue to fulfill promises made to the people as part of measures to restore confidence in governance.

tion to “greater heights as an indivisible entity for which reason it has become pertinent for all of us to support our President to encourage him in the onerous task of steering a seemingly rudderless ship.”

A statement by Mr. Ben Onyechere, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communication, said: “The insinuation that the president is the reason for the challenges is not totally correct because in every political system the tendency is for opposition parties to lay blames so as to curry favor of the public while undermining the capacity of the incumbency.

“Agreeably the president has expanded the shores of our democracy by making room for diverse opinions, therefore, it has become mandatory for all of us to realise that the success of the presidents economic and social programs will transcend to all facets of our livelihood for which reason we must endeavor to rally requisite backup for him because our strength is undeniably in our diversity.”

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

We give 20% of our income back to govt —Arik

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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WORKSHOP: From left: President, International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy, Mr Niyi Ayoola-Daniels; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; Chairman, Governing Council, International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy, Justice Alfa Belgore and former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman,at a workshop on Nigerian Judiciary and the Oil and Gas Industry in Abuja, yesterday

Illegal mining: Ebonyi community laments death of 17 indigenes

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— AMAEZE community in Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, yesterday, said over 17 persons have so far lost their lives to uncontrolled blasting of stones with explosives within the past ten months in the area.

The community added that it would no longer al-

low contractors working for the Railway rehabilitation project in the area to continue its illegal mining of granite stones.

Rising from its general meeting, leaders of the community said the declaration became necessary following the discovery that apart from its illegal entry into the community’s land, the company in the area, Eser West Africa Limited, had not been

following laid down procedures for moving and blasting explosives.

The Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, through the Eastern District Manager, Mr. Felix Njoku, had in a press conference, accused one Chief Cletus Obodo from Ishiagu, of sabotaging the rail rehabilitation contract for the rail lines running from Port Harcourt to

Makurdi, awarded to Eser West Africa Limited, by calling youths out on a protest against the contractors.

But in a statement, the Amaeze Community, under the auspices of Amaeze Development Union, ADU, said the issue of ownership of land was not its major concern, pointing out that issues of illegal movement of explosives and blasting of stones without proper environmental controlsandprecautionshadcontinued to impair the wellbeing of its citizens.

Why LG elections can't hold, by Abia Assembly

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State House of Assembly has said local government council election in the state could no longer hold in January 2013 because the electoral commission, ABSIEC, was not prepared.

According to the House, the commission does not even have a budget for the council election.

Besides, the House said that there were still many more things to be done by the commission for proper council election to hold, such as delineation of political wards, party primaries and other logistics.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Chief Alwell Asiforo, who explained this at the monthly briefing on the House activities, said after looking at the problems confronting the commission, it resolved to shift the polls to a convenient date to allow the commission put its house together.

Also, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Okere said a meeting with the chairman and members of the commission revealed that the commission had C M Y K

nothing on ground to hold the election in January 2013.

He said: “Apart from not having any budgetary provision, the delineation of political wards the commis-

sion embarked on was inconclusive before the commission fixed the election date for January.

“ABSIEC does not even have the funds; they have

not done the delineation of political wards and they have not had party primaries, which would take about three or more months."

Starcomms attracts N32.96bn capital investment

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU & NKIRUKA NNOROM

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A G O S — STARCOMMS Plc commenced a gradual come back to its position in the Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA, market with a staggering N32.96 billion from CAPCOM Limited, yesterday The company announced that it reached agreement with the investment company for an investment of cash and assets worth $210 million.

The investment, according to Starcomms, will enable both companies create a national Broadband Internet champion capable of significantly contributing to the government’s ambition to overcome the dig-

ital divide between Nigeria as an emerging market and other devel-

oped markets internationally.

MASSOB: Ojukwu begs police to release wife

BY BARTHOLOMEW

E

MADUKWE

NUGU—THE family of Mrs Ifeoma Anita Ojukwu, who was arrested by the Police on account of her involvement in Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has appealed to the Police authorities to release his wife.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu, the husband, Mr Obiora Ojukwu, pointed out that his wife had never hidden her desire for the actualisation of the Biafra Republic, noting that her absence had cause a lot of hardship and sleepless

nights to him and the entire family members.

He said: “She was not only a member but was a financier of the movement. It was during the recent meeting of the movement at the presidential hotel Enugu, that the Police arrested Ifeoma and other notable members of the movement including Mrs Jane Okwuosa, Mr Johnson Igwe, Mrs Agnes Ihechukwu and Mrs. Edna Eze.” Ojukwu said that on inquiries from the Police Command, the family was told that Ifeoma and other arrested MASSOB members escaped from custody.

AGOS—Arik Air chairman , Sir J. Arumemi-Ikhide has revealed that the Federal Government gets about 20 per cent of the airline's annual income. This disclosure was made Tuesday, when the airline celebrated its sixth anniversary at its corporate head office in Lagos.

Briefing newsmen during the celebration, Sir Arumemi-Ikhide said despite this huge return to the government, the airline is not encouraged by the Federal Government by granting concessions to it like it is done

in other countries. But instead, the government has been putting obstacles in its operating environment.

He said: “ You know for us to give 20 per cent of our income back to government, it is never done in any country. But the most disturbing thing is that the government is going out to ask foreigners to come and invest in Nigeria and do not take time to understand that those foreigners that you are inviting have their own concessions in their own countries and you want to give those foreigners the concession in Nigeria without giving any to the Nigerian airlines ."

INEC registers Okorie's UPP

BY JOHN BULUS

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BUJA—THE Inde pendent National Electoral Commission has registered United Progressive Party, UPP, floated by former national chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie who is incidentally the national Chairman of the new party.

Okorie left APGA after a protracted legal tussle between him and the immediate past national chairman of the Party, Chief Victor Umeh.

INEC in a letter signed by

its secretary, Abdullahi A. Kaugama and addressed to Okorie which was made available to Vanguard stated that UPP has been registered as a political party, informing that “the Certificate of Registration will be issued in due course.”

Similarly, UPP’s national publicity secretary, Chief Ogbuehi Dike, yesterday, in Abuja, expressed its delight to INEC and declared that the emergence of the party will alter the p o l i t i c a l equation in Nigeria.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—15

Jonathan swaps ministers

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, directed that Mr. Daiurus Ishaku, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs and his Ministry of Power counterpart, Hajia Zainab Kuchi, swap positions.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who disclosed this after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, said the change was geared toward strengthening the sectors to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Under the President’s directives, Mr. Ishaku becomes the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, while Hajia Kuchi becomes Minister of State Power.

The changes take effect from next week.

Other directives given by the President, according to Dr. Abati, who joined the Ministers of Works, Information Communication and Minister of State, FCT, to address state house correspondents, was that no

fresh memos for contracts will be accepted by Council after November 30.

The date becomes deadline for the submission of any memo under the 2012 budget.

On alleged power drop

Asked whether the decision to swap the minister had anything to do with the perception that the power situation in the country had worsened since the former Minister of Power left the

cabinet, Abati said: “I am not aware that there has been a drop in the supply of electricity.

“If anything, the testimony that we get from ordinary Nigerians, from people who use electricity, is that there has been an increase.

“In fact, in many parts of the country, people now enjoy electricity supply for many long hours of the day and for this the government has been commended.”

Meanwhile, Federal Ex-

ecutive Council, yesterday, approved contracts worth N2 billion for projects in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who briefed state house correspondents at the end of the meeting, said the projects included the construction of a 220bed general hospital for Gwarimpa district in Abuja and headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

Anglican Church declares 7-day fasting for Nigeria

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—PRIMATE of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, yesterday, called for seven days prayer and fasting with effect from November 12, in view of the present security situation in the country.

Okoh, who made the dec-

laration at a press conference on the forthcoming Divine Common Wealth Conference, DIVCCON, in Abuja, maintained that people needed to pray for government programmes to bear fruits.

He said: “We know that human beings have their part to play, but no matter what we do, except the Lord build the house, the

labourers are working in vain.

“This is why the prayer is very vital. We are not saying those who are given the responsibilities in government should not do it.”

The cleric noted that the church was more concerned about the devastation brought by the activity of the Islamist sects on churches.

Cleaners down tools at PDP secretariat

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—FINANCIAL crisis rocking the National Secretariat of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, reared its head as cleaners down tool in protest over non-payment of salaries.

The cleaners, 12 in number, vowed to continue with the strike until they were paid.

Vanguard gathered that the workers, who came to work very early as usual, refused to carry out their normal duties, saying they would not work unless the party paid their salaries.

Vanguard also gathered that the present consultant handling the cleaners, Isaiah Okeme, was brought in by the former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, following the sack of the former workers.

One of the cleaners (names withheld) who vowed that the strike will continue if the

management failed to pay them their salaries, told Vanguard that the consultant had asked them to submit passports and names of guarantors as there were plans to increase the monthly pay from N10,000 to N20,000.

He said: “Our problem is that we are not working today (yesterday), because they owe us four months salary. We don’t know the person to meet.

Our supervisor, Emma, and our Director, Okeme, are not available.

“They did not even allow us to see the treasurer of the party. The company pays us N10,000 monthly.

We come to work everyday, pay our transport fare because we stay outside Abuja.

“Some of us live in One Man Village, Nasarawa State; Mandalla, Niger State; Gosa, along Airport Road and we feed ourselves and our families with the salary. Though it is small, but they should pay us.”

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

RMAFC describes allegation on Rivers/Bayelsa oil dispute as misleading

R

EVENUE Mobilisa tion Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, has said the allegation that the commission moved five oil communities from Rivers State to Bayelsa State was misleading. Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Elias Mbam, made this known at a news conference in Abuja.

The Presidency had denied a media report alleging President Goodluck Jonathan’s involvement in ceding of five Rivers oil producing communities to Bayelsa. A statement issued by Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, denied the report.

Mbam said: “It is worth mentioning that the commission does not act in isolation without reference to other relevant government agencies at all levels of government.

“Indeed, the commission does not on its own generate data, demarcate

boundaries or attribute oil wells to any state. Rather, the commission relies on data or information from relevant government agencies, including the Department of Petroleum Resources, the National Boundary Commission and the office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

“It is not the responsibility of the commission to adjust boundaries or determine location of oil wells. The allegation against the commission is therefore, baseless, false and misleading.”

On the alleged revenue from Soku community being attributed to Bayelsa, he said the commission relied on the decisions of the Presidential Committee on Verification of Oil Well of 2000 to do its work.

Soku is one of the rich oil communities that host the Soku oil fields/oil well that produces about 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day in the Niger Delta.

Gunmen kill 21 in Zamfara, Borno

BY NADHI MARAMA, with Agency Report

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USAU—GUNMEN, numbering about 20, have attacked Kaboro community in the Dansadau Emirate of Zamfara State, killing 18 people, including the village head.

This was even as associate of the former Governor Modu Sheriff of Borno State, Alhaji Mustapha Fulawama, 62, and his driver, Alhaji Labaran and one other person were, yesterday, killed in Maiduguri, Borno State, by unknown gunmen.

The gunmen had earlier torched the Chibok Divisional Police Station, a Bible school and another primary school in the area.

Falawama was shot in his Polo ward residence at 10.16am.

A sur vivor, Malam Sani Abdullahi, who narrated his ordeal to newsmen in Gusau, said dozens of the bandits, swooped on the vil-

lage at 4am and began to shoot indiscriminately.

He said: “It was when the shooting started that the village head, identified as Alhaji Maiyara, came out to plead with the gunmen to stop the heinous crime.

“He was killed instantly when they felt

that he was disturbing them with his endless begging after he was warned to shut up and keep off. He was slaughtered with a sword.”

A highly placed security officer attached to the Military Joint Task Force, JTF, in Maiduguri, who spoke under anonymity, con-

firmed that the incident occurred at about 10am.

The source said the assailants used a Keke NAPEP tricycle to trail the former governor’s associate, Fulawama, who was in his car before allegedly opening fire on both of himself and driver, killing them instantly.

Workers, Gov Wamakko on warpath over flogging of PHCN workers

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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LECTRICITY work ers in the North-West Zone has given a sevenday ultimatum to Governor Magatakada Wamakko of Sokoto State within which to apologise for allegedly flogging two officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, in his office.

The electricity workers accused Wamakko of personally whipping Engr. Moses Osigwe, Business Manager of Gwiwa Business Unit of PHCN, and two other staff, Mallam Isyaku Daura, Officer II (Electrical) and Nuruddeen Mohammed, Staff l(Lines), after accusing them of being responsi-

ble for the failure of two SMVA transfor mers serving his home town, Wamakko.

In an earlier letter entitled Demand for Unreserved Apology and Payment of Compensation for Assault on Our Members, signed by the Assistant General Secretary of the electricity workers’ union in the zone, Mr. Moses Amedu, the union had alleged that Governor Wamakko personally beat the three officials before directing armed policemen attached to the Government House to continue with their torture.

The letter, with reference NUEE/AGS/NW/ KD/201 2/120, dated October 31, 2012, said:

“We are shocked beyond imagination to learn that on October 20, you invited the Business Manager and two Officers to your house, where you subjected them to inhuman treatment by personally whipping them mercilessly and then ordered their continuous flogging by the Mobile Policemen attached to your office.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, whom we are supposed to rely on for the security of the staff and equipment of PHCN in Sokoto State, you have betrayed our hope by this singular and unwarranted act.

“This action can be best described as a rampage and uncontrolled anger. Therefore, except you renew our hope and confidence and tender an unreserved public apology to the staff you have dehumanised, we can no longer guarantee the continuous service of our members in Sokoto State.

“You should also be prepared to pay compensation that will be sent to your office soon.

Accordingly, one week is sufficient to do this.”

However, the oneweek ultimatum given by the workers expired yesterday without Wamakko tendering the apology, prompting the union to ask its members to embark on strike if the governor failed to pay compensation and tender an open apology for his action.

The union said: “We regret the inconveniences this unfortunate incident and subsequent action of the union may cause the good citizens of Sokoto State.”

The PHCN workers asked the people of state to hold their governor responsible for any eventuality.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 17

I

C M Y K

Travel, thoughts, and observations

President Obama: Seeks re-election.

Then there is the subtle, sometimes ill-disguised efforts by white groups to ensure that Obama does not get a second term.

The Republican Party has rallied and all the rightwing pundits, their TV outfits and the general fear that the white population might no longer determine the presidency in an immigrant country whose demographic picture continues to alter to the detriment of the White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASPs), have all come together to play a significant, if unstated role, in the electoral race.

American democracy has many contradictory sides to it; on the one hand is the role of money in the process. It is the democracy of the rich and one in which the rich have increasingly used their dominant economic position to consolidate the inequalities in that society. The statistics can be frightening indeed.

Naomi Klein in her book SHOCK THERAPY reported that in 1980, when Reagan kicked off the Milton Friedman reforms, CEOs made 43 times what the average worker earned; but by 2005, they were making 411 times as much!

Economic power of the rich

T

he consolidation of the economic power of the rich has had direct bearing on the politics too.

American politics has become more stridently right wing and on a worldwide scale, it has provided the basis for the imposition of the Washington Consensus on nations around the world, with its mantra of privatisation, the roll back of the state and cut back on social spending. It is partly responsible for some of the conservative backlash which Obama has faced, with his healthcare programme, his demonization as a 'socialist' and the determined effort to wrest power from him. A notable liberal talk show

host sympathetic to Obama was reading out the worldwide polls of countries and who they would rather win the election. Nigeria was included and overwhelmingly, people rooted for Obama, with the exception of Pakistan, where the population is very angry at the neardaily use of drones to kill people in the tribal areas which affronts their sense of national dignity. As I told a couple of Nigerian friends over dinner on Monday night in Buena Park, the peoples of the world are not stupid; they retain vivid memories of what usually happens when Republicans come to power. They seem so ready to invade countries around the world and Mitt Romney has pretended to have moved to the centre of the political spectrum just to win votes. Nevertheless, he retains a gung-ho support for Israel and with the controversy about non-existent Iranian

,

AM writing these lines at the Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris.

I'm on transit to Abuja, after a troubling transatlantic flight which started from Los Angeles, California, through Atlanta and over the eastern part of the US, which was literally in lockdown as a result of the hurricane. News of that dominated the airwaves in my last two days in America. Practically every television station devoted attention to the likely consequences, what citizens should do, the expected damage, plans for evacuations, etc. Even the politicians were forced to respond to the coming catastrophe and president Barack Obama and his challenger, Mitt Romney, both took time away from the punishing schedules they had kept in the past week, in an electoral race that had become too close to call!

It was refreshing to see how the human condition overtook politics temporarily and that contrasts sharply with the way our leaders responded to the nationwide floods of the past month! NIMET warned for months of an impending crisis but our leaders were too busy to notice; after all, it was not about money to share or positions to grandstand about! Our leaders have always had more important things to think about than to be bothered about the citizenry and it is that small matter of responsibility and responsiveness which defines the nature of our ruling class and their imperial puppeteers!

And talking about politics and electioneering, that was the dominant motif of my two week sojourn in the USA. And as I travelled between Texas, Arizona, California and Georgia, it was clear that the upcoming election will be a very defining moment in American history. For one, the fate of its first black president is hanging precariously in the balance and it is a bit worrisome that Obama has gone through the meltdown of an almost definitive re-election, to the uncertainty of the past week. Some pundits on TV said if he loses the election, then his uninspiring performance in the first TV debate will have returned to haunt him big time! But things are not often as simple as they appear in American politics. The black vote which played a significant role in his election four years ago is becoming fractured as a result of the backlash from fundamentalist Christian evangelist groups that resent his approval of gay marriages and in a critical state like Ohio, these groups might tip the balance. Whoever wins Ohio often ends up winning the election.

Mitt Romney challenges Obama for the Oval Office. in the imperial heartlands of the world.

For me it was also very difficult to be away from home during the Eid holiday, because I missed that once-in-a-year opportunity to be part of an elaborate family reunion. The obverse was that I got that unique opportunity which travel affords, away from one's day-to-day routine, to examine work, life and choices. What the French call auto critique can be done from the remove of a journey and it became even more imperative for me, because of the new

The fact that no one knows when next we might be harvesting terror-induced death further complicates our feelings of fear and paralysis

nuclear weapons, it looks more likely that a Romney presidency might just be too willing to be part of the Israeli plan for war against Iran. The next few days will bring things to a head. But having said that, it is also admirable to see how the candidates go around the country in search of the votes of the electorate. Americans elections have had their fair share of controversies, or who can forget in a hurry the hanging and dimpled cards of Florida in the 2000 election which brought George Bush to power and inflicted the neoconservatives on the world, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iran?! I was struck by the warning from Texas that electoral observers would not be welcome in the polling areas in the state and I couldn't but recall the arrogant insistence that foreign electoral observers must validate elections in neocolonial countries.

Different strokes are meant for different folks, especially

,

professional aperture I am opening, trying to be an entrepreneur in the media, with a new multimedia venture which I have been nursing for a couple of years now, and which should start business in November.

A new venture

W

hen I discussed the idea with an elderly friend of mine a couple of months ago, he reminded me of the hostile business environment in Nigeria, especially when one is committed to doing things honestly and honourably.

But I've always felt that having worked in radio and television broadcasting and print journalism, I occupy a unique place in the media firmament to push through a multimedia venture. I also have no delusions that it would not be an easy thing to do; but my father used to say that every true beginning in life is difficult! Besides, I have been part of many pioneering endeavours in

my 35 years of media life, that has seen me work for Radio Nigeria and Radio Kwara; report for Radio France International; Radio Netherlands International; the BBC World Service; serve as pioneer GM of Kwara Television; Editor and Chairman of the Editorial Board of DAILY TRUST and now writing for VANGUARD and B L U E P R I N T newspapers. So this is within that continuum too, with the small twist of being one that I am originating!

The Nobel Peace price

I

felt very happy during last week, when I read of Bishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan's elevation as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church(it is an item of news in the current edition of JEUNE AFRIQUE that I've just picked up here). I had in fact written about his remarkable work for interfaith harmony in Nigeria last week, which led to his joint nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize with the Sultan of Sokoto. His elevation was widely welcome around Nigeria as honour done an outstanding son of our country and a truly exemplary religious leader. We were still in celebration mode when a suicide bomber rammed into a Catholic Church in Kaduna last Sunday, killing so many innocent worshippers and wounding dozens. It was almost as if whoever did that was issuing a cruel riposte to all people of faith who had rejoiced at Cardinal Onaiyekan's elevation. As has become the norm now, in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, equally innocent bystanders were promptly set upon and killed by the aggrieved from the bombing! It was a classic of two wrongs never making a right. In a moment like that, I recall John Donne's poem about every man's death diminishing our humanity because we are involved in mankind. The intensity of emotions which religion triggers cannot be underrated and the fear and paralysis of terror trigger anger and the urge for revenge. The fact that no one knows when next we might be harvesting terror-induced death further complicates our feelings of fear and paralysis as well as

anger; and in sections of society, the urge for revenge. We then end up in a vicious circle of killings, revenge and deepened hatred; our society is further torn apart and the effort to build an inclusive society suffers.

The reality is complicated by the irresponsibility of the ruling class, the ruination consequent upon the socio-economic choices they have foisted on our country and the exploitative manipulation of ethno-religious identities!

The hopelessness which envelopes our society and the increasing absence of the state in the lives of the majority of our people strengthen non-state forces of division. And in the desperate search for power, ruling class factions continuously manipulate these divides as well as stoke base emotions which feed into fear, resentment, profiling of the other and retreat into divisive laagers. It is Nigeria which suffers the consequence in the loud rejection of patriotic harangues. These are not the best of times in our land.

Yet, I remain an incurable optimist at a time when optimism is becoming an endangered emotional attribute. If we give ourselves the pause, we can find those threads of inclusivity that can become the basis to build platforms of national cohesion and liberation.

Let us cast our minds back to the unity of purpose which came in the wake of the national strike against the hike in the price of petroleum products last January, because it tells a story of what is possible. The sight of millions of Nigerians united to fight an unpatriotic project of the ruling regime, shook the nation. It was incredible to behold in Northern Nigerian cities, Christians holding hands of protection for Muslim demonstrators to pray and the same scene was enacted for Christians.

Similarly, the Kano community visited churches in the city to remind Christians that we are brothers and sisters, united in a patriotic indignation against the corruption and irresponsibility of the Nigerian ruling class.

They then urged that we should resist efforts to divide us along religious lines! Such a narrative of unity across the fault lines of Nigerian existence offer glimpses of what is possible. Unity across ethno-religious divide is also the best response to terror and the propensity for revenge attacks, terrorinduced paralysis and fear. Those who exploit and manipulate the laagers they've forced Nigerians to retreat into will rue their decisions when the Nigerian people take the decision to repossess their country!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 THE authorities should take a more serious look at the design of the East West Road, particularly in the light of flooding that left portions of the road under water. It is time more questions were asked about the design of the road, and whether suspended bridges would not be required in more places.

Efforts at justifying work done so far, or sharing blames for the defects that the flooding exposed about the road, are completely unhelpful. There is no point building a road that would be lost, each time there is flooding.

For over two weeks, travellers to Abuja were stuck in Lokoja where the River Niger overflowed its banks. There was no ongoing work on the road that could have occasioned the flooding. The message was that the road was vulnerable to flooding.

Redeeming works on it would also be a waste if there is no bridge that would lift that portion of the road above the ravages of future floods.

Globally, flooding is overwhelming. The challenges of disasters are unpredictable,

Eas es oad, Eastt W Wes estt R Road, Floods Elsewhere but they are no reasons for the low responses we had, or the belief that once the flooding is gone, normalcy would return.

What would normalcy be for millions of Nigerians who lost their villages, businesses and invaluable ancestral property? Who will fund the recovery?

The East West Road and the Abuja-Lokoja Road exemplify deeper concerns we should have for our poor infrastructure.

More roads and infrastructure are at risk in different parts of the country. They would not be saved by the attention that we are dedicating at praising how much we did, which leaves us not noticing what

still has to be done.

A lot of work lies ahead. Before the flooding, the East West Road was already a major challenge; the flooding would only have increased the challenge. With or without the flooding, the importance of the road in opening up the South South region is not in doubt.

Government should tackle the issues with the East West Road more seriously. Blames that are heaped on financing create the wrong impression. Is the project too unimportant for government to fund it?

Does government care if the road is ever completed?

Our fears are that the issues around the flooding could recede from public attention as the flood water dries. That would be the real tragedy. Our peoples who the flooding ravaged need projects that would get them out of their new challenges.

Flooding may be a natural disaster, but as we have seen elsewhere, it only pushes leaders to do more to protect their people and their environments. Excuses have no space in serious matters.

OPINION

BY SOLA FASURE

Continued from yesterday's pg 17

I

T simply beggars belief how supposedly ‘enlightened’ people will urge a political party not to contest election in a particular place because that party is strong in the region.

This point is overstretched and expanded into the ‘alien’ and ‘Lagos invaders’ hysteria that ran through the campaign. If this logic is to hold water, only one election is to ever be held in a country and the parties should just be allowed to rule indefinitely in any territory where they win the first election. The Labour Party, for instance, that had no political base prior to 2008 in Ondo State cannot and should be disqualified from contesting any election anywhere in the country. Of course, this will be absurd, but those who take a position forget to reconcile their position with a bigger principle.

It is interesting to note that the Mimiko campaign was never about any issue, development agenda or a solid base of first term achievement. Rather, it ran seamlessly on the divisive tide of rejecting the Lagos invaders and a godfather. If we are to accept for a C M Y K

Mimiko’s

victory

second that Ondo people indeed rejected the Lagos invaders and a godfather, it means Ondo people have alienated themselves from the greater Yoruba agenda and the march of history.

On the face value, the consequence of this would have been political isolation of Ondo State by other Yoruba states. But this is not an option. This is the Ondo of Papa Adekunle Ajasin, Papa Adebayo Adefarati and other titans of Awolowo school of political leadership.

It fills me with trepidation to think that the Ondo that drove out Akin Omoboriowo in 1983 in order to enforce the enthronement of Adekunle Ajasin who was the candidate of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Awolowo (Baba Ijebu)’s party, has now degenerated into an insular and other-Yoruba-hating enclave.

Of course, there are Ondo indigenes in Lagos and other Yoruba states, doing business and occupying positions of political leadership. If an Ondo indigene, for instance, is keen, he or she can be a governor in Lagos State that has become the avatar of Yoruba accommodation and openness. In Osun

in

perspective

here, there are frontline members in the Aregbesola government who are from Ondo State and are in every sense at home. That is the way it has always been and should be in Yorubaland. Some people, however, for their own selfish reason, have for the first time brought this divisiveness into Yorubaland and are being cheered on in evil mischief by a section of the media and Yoruba-owned media for that matter.

It will, however, be unfair to ascribe this unwholesome development to Ondo people who indeed are as progressive and well-meaning as they come. This is no exaggeration – Ondo people are the nicest people you can ever have as your neighbour. I speak from a rich experience.

T

hose who engineered this campaign represented nobody but themselves and spoke for no one other than themselves. More importantly, Governor Mimiko was declared winner for fulfilling the requirements of the Electoral Act which states that a winner must have at least one third of the total votes cast in two thirds of the local

(2) governments. This interestingly translates into a paltry 260,199, representing only 40 per cent of the total votes and certainly less than two per cent of the population of the whole state. I have no problem with this.

Democracy is about the rule of law.

It will be unfair, however, to hold Ondo people responsible for this mea culpa. It is one of the imperfections of democracy that a supposedly democratic election would produce a most unusual outcome. This confirms again the notion that democracy only offers a platform for choice but does not guarantee a rational one. The people, however, will have to live with the consequences of their choice, good or bad.

Our consolation, however, is in the words of the Nobel Laureate that nowhere in the natural order of things does a mere bird of passage determine the fundamentals of the terrain over which it has flown. This present darkness will surely pass.

Concluded * Mr. Fasure, a political analyst, wrote from Osogbo, Osun State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—19

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URRICANE Sandy still held the centre-stage attention

by Tuesday morning, pushing the campaigns towards the presidential election to a second place, at least for President Barack Obama. His GOP challenger, Mitt Romney continued to campaign in battleground states, especially the all-important Ohio, where the president still held the edge 50 to 46 at the time of this report.

Obama, as the president, had a duty to return to his job in the White House to monitor the hurricane now dubbed a “Frankeinstorm” due to its monstrous, destructive force (mainly through flooding). Just as we saw in Nigeria recently during unprecedented flooding and President Goodluck Jonathan had to address the nation and roll out emergency assistance strategies as well as conduct an extensive touring of the worst affected areas, Obama also spoke to Americans. He told them the storm had now taken the primary place of attention, the elections next week “ will take care of themselves”. He told them every effort

would be made to ensure they got their food, water and needs in their various improvised shelters.

Said he: “Please listen to what your state and local officials are saying. When they tell you to evacuate, you need to evacuate. Don’t delay, don’t pause, don’t question the instructions that are being given because this is a powerful storm”. He had to drum in the message knowing how stubborn Americans can be to “instructions” from state officials. Most radio and television networks brought him on from time to time.

Meanwhile, the president dispatched former President Bill Clinton to Florida, one of the crucial battleground states (which was, for once, surprisingly spared the ire of a major hurricane) to work the electorate on his behalf.

It is being speculated that in four years, his wife, Hillary Clinton, who is the Secretary of State in the Obama administration, will be coming out for president; and win or lose, Obama will be paying back the huge political debts he now owes the Clinton family.

This hurricane is widely specu-

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lated to have a variety impacts on the election, but that will be discussed later in my dispatches off this forum. About 60 million people in eleven east coast states were impacted, with flooding, power cuts, evacuations, loss of heating and physical destruction of property, not to mention the possibility of human and pet fatalities. The presence of the new moon and the queer angle (sharp right turn off the sea) direction of the winds accounted for the huge floods when Sandy made a landfall at New Jersey coast, with storm surges of up to 13 feet of tidal water.

Here on 84th Avenue off Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica, New York, the fringe winds had been spewing steady rain sleets for about twenty four hours before 8.00pm local time when the full force of the hurricane hit. We all remained indoors all day. Among the “ we” included members of our host family (the Abbott’s) Leone Ibeka and his family who came in from a flood-prone waterfront of New York and of course, Chief Abogo, the “Ug-

Will make you fishers of votes

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LL those who say we should thank INEC and the security agencies for the Ondo war that has just been successfully prosecuted certainly know what they are talking about. The citizens of Ondo State are peace-loving people but they are not the type of people that are likely to pray for their enemies. Put differently, in spite of their peaceful mien, they would bite off your nose and even pursue you into the hole if you looked for their trouble, particularly on issues of elections.

From time, the people have become allergic to election rigging. Ondo has been land of enlightenment; certainly, not a safe haven for electoral frauds. Sometimes, it is easier to imagine what happened by looking at what did not happen. Early enough, the people have developed zero-tolerance for election fraud. For lack of space, we shall only restrict ourselves to recent history.

A man we shall simply identify as Professor captured the total essence. Prof. was not only profound in the books; he also knew when to run away. In 1965, he was the NNDP candidate for the Western Region House of Assembly election, against a trader candidate of the AG. There was an attempt by the ruling party, NNDP, to rig the election in Prof ’s favour. Prof openly rejected the victory and “borrowed leg”.

People who had election victories bestowed upon them through media announcements did not live to enjoy such victories. They got consumed in what was popularly known as operation wetie, in which such people were given thorough petrol bath, set ablaze and left to burn to ashes. In 1979, all those caught stealing or stuffing ballot boxes in then Ondo State were roasted alive in their hundreds. Every election year has indeed been a year of revolution – a revolution that swept away C M Y K

everything that came its way. In 1983, the stealing of Michael Ajasin’s votes for Omoboriowo was visited with wanton destructions of immeasurable proportion.

By 2007, the modules operandi had shifted from open brutal violence to the courtrooms.

And till this day, the people of Ondo State are still counting the monumental losses from PDP’s stealing of the election, in financial terms as well as its heavy toll on governance and the State’s economy.

These are some of the pains that INEC and the security operatives took away from us because of the peaceful election in Ondo State, the penultimate Saturday.

Election materials and personnel arrived at polling stations in good time, as against the tardy behaviour of the past. There were however scattered reports of manipulations in some polling centres but those were purely infinitesimal, compared with the past. Most importantly, the results were released in good time. Gradually, we are getting there.

The type of security arrangements put in place by the Police and other security agencies were mind boggling. Three full days to the Election Day, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, caused all roads leading to Ondo State to be closed. More than 20 armoured carriers of patrol security personnel and Marine Policemen were provided at the riverine areas. At the peak of it all, Abubakar decreed, “There would be no fishing on the election day. Whatever fish you have on that day, you will stay at home and eat it….”

The Nigerian Army was not left out. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, issued a shoot-atsight order against hoodlums who might attempt anything funny to disrupt the polls.

He also decreed that there would be no hunting on Election Day – all to checkmate

wokegbe” of Dsalon, proprietor of the popular, upscale Downtown Salon chain in Lagos, who came in from California to New York to buy supplies for his business. Abbot’s wife, Ada, is a medical professional and Leon’s wife is a teacher. We spent most of the day in from of the giant Viziobrand television set, watching reports on Sandy and the election. We discussed and sometimes argued on top of our voices. Though I am pro-Obama (for obvious reasons) I am basically Republican in my ideological bent, even back in Nigeria. Sometimes, the argument was usually me versus the rest, especially on abortion and gay issues as well as the level government should be allowed to regulate the lives of citizens.

Being pinned indoors for over 36 hours so far, we broke boredom by consulting our smart

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T was with absolute shock that I read in the Nigerian papers yes terday that an unfortunate man hoping to stow away to America in the hold of the Airbus A340-500 Arik flight that took us to New York on Thursday, October 26th 2012 was later found dead. Something curious had crossed my mind while we were in flight that day.

I had decided to visit the toilet, but I mistakenly opened the wrong door on which I later saw the inscription: NO STOWING AREA. The door led down to the outside of the aircraft! I quickly closed the door and located the toilet. It crossed my mind that most Nigeria-bound aircraft from abroad usually have dead bodies being conveyed for burial in their holds. I joked to myself that even though Nigerians are nuts for travelling abroad, it was unlikely that a plane going abroad from Nigeria would carry dead bodies. But how wrong I was!

I am sure the dead fellow bribed someone to let him hide in the hold. Airline and security operatives in Nigerian airports are prone to cheap security laxities once graft is dangled before them. This incident must be probed because the presence of this unfortunate interloper compromised the security of the blissfully ignorant travellers. The identity of the victim must be ascertained as well as the circumstances under which he got himself into the aircraft’s soft underbelly.

Someone must pay!

As long as we depend on bloated security for our elections, we must begin to perfect our plans to import election peacekeepers for such big outings

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fishers and hunters of votes and nothing else!

As happened in Edo State, soldiers mounted checkpoints on major roads while the INEC office was heavily fortified against the ugly incidence of bombing and other criminal activities.

E

phones, laptops and ipads, and in between eating, drinking Hennessey and returning to the television. Abogo moaned from time to time: “so this is how it feels to be in prison”?

I told him: “Yes, if you are in “Awaiting Trial”.

It is now 9.00am on Tuesday, November 30th 2012 or 2.00pm Nigerian time. I am about to email this write-up to Nigeria.

But before I do so, let me give the latest update on Sandy. Looking at the skies, I can report that the rains have stopped (at least for now). The winds are still very fierce and it is not advisable for one to venture outdoors yet for safety’s sake. But the sun is beginning to peep through the clouds, a good sign for a better day. It is predicted that Sandy will expire herself in the New York area by 4.00pm today.

Hurray!

Dead body in the aircraft!

those who might want to carry arms under the pretext of going to hunt for animals.

In essence, our security forces made the Ondo State electorate

,

Sandy first, election later

Being pinned indoors for over 36 hours, Abogo moaned from time to time: “So this is how it feels to be in prison”?

I told him: “Yes, if you are in “Awaiting Trial”

lections are beginning to take serious shape in this country. The Ondo war was well fought. The three leading contenders at that war – Olusegun Mimiko (Labour), Rotimi Akeredolu (ACN) and Olusola Oke (PDP) – prosecuted very aggressive and purpose-driven campaigns.

They transversed the entire State in their individual efforts to woo the voters. The incumbent really fought the battle of his life.

That is how it should be. Anybody who wants gold must be prepared to dig deep because

gold cannot be got on the surface of the earth.

Governor Mimiko worked before and during the election; and there is no reason to expect any less from his second term victory. Initially, the odds against him were many: He has broken the jinx that has long existed in that State – that nobody gets a second tenure in that State! By the time Ondo people saw superior performance, they bowed.

Mimiko has remained undaunted by the heavy forces of the opposition in the State.

As the only State in the entire Southwest that is outside the ACN fold, the ACN did everything to capture Ondo State. The ACN only came a distant third, no thanks to imposition of a candidate! The heavy arsenal of the PDP in an attempt to capture the State into its nation-wide fold also came to naught.

The moral message in all this is that performance is better than promises.

The Ondo State war is over. A voter turnout of just 39.37percent (1,638,950 registered voters and 645,597 turn-out) has not much to recommend it. We could as well be our own enemies. How many native people will be bold enough to come out to vote in the face of the heavy militarisation of our streets on Election Day? With all the heavy costs, particularly in security, how can we sustain a general election involving 36 States and Abuja? As long as we depend on bloated security for our elections, we must begin to perfect our plans to import election peacekeepers for such big outings.

20—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Rivers jailbreak: The untold story behind it

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, Port Harcourt

J

How inmates went about the plot

VM gathered that some of the inmates came back from fetching fire wood and water that C M Y K

*Detainees struggle to break free from the prison premises Saturday evening. When they were asked to move into their various cells, the source said they refused. And suddenly there was tension in the

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AILBREAK is not new in Rivers State. The other time militant inmates made frantic efforts to escape from the Port Harcourt Prison, using a ladder. Five of them succeeded. This happened on August 7, last year. The state had also recorded one during the reign of Dr Peter Odili as governor of the state. So not many were surprised at the Saturday incident at the Federal Prison, Ahoada East Local Government Area where four inmates allegedly escaped.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that security operatives got hint of the plot by the inmates to escape so they were on red alert. A security source told VM that they had expected it the previous Thursday but the inmates did not make real the plot. So security men had relaxed but remained vigilant.

VM gathered that the inmates had been grumbling over what they considered congestion in the various cells. They said facilities at the prison had been completely overstretched because of the congestion.

They had reportedly complained to the management of the prison but nothing was seemingly done. The failure to respond to the complaints and grumbling of the inmates, a source said, fuelled their plot to organise a jailbreak.

A source within the prison also told VM that the inmates were not happy that Chief Judge of Rivers State and his counterpart in Bayelsa State had not visited the Federal Prison for some time. Usually such visit comes with the hope that some of the prisoners could be pardoned. According to the source, the prisoners felt they were deliberately being ignored by the two states. So to attract attention they had to organise a jailbreak.

It was not clear why they chose the sallah period to execute their plot but VM gathered that the inmates felt it was probably a time that security could be relatively relaxed in the area. The sources said they had secured outside assistance for the jailbreak. But unknown to them security operatives were already on red alert.

The source said that was why it was not difficult to quickly mobilise to foil it.

They were “spiritually fortified” such that bullets could not penetrate their bodies; you know these guys acquire all kinds of protective charms

,

whole prison yard. Some of the inmates allegedly forced open the cells of those on Awaiting Trial. This further heightened the confusion.

They said security operatives quickly mobilised to the area and started shooting sporadically. Two of the prisoners who were among those trying to escape through the ceiling allegedly died from gunshot injuries. Eleven others sustained bullet wounds while four successfully escaped.

It was not clear how the four who escaped made it in spite of the heavy shooting and presence of security operatives. But a source who lives very close to the prison said he was told that

they were “spiritually fortified” such that bullets could not penetrate their bodies. “I was told they had local charms that made it impossible for bullets to penetrate them. You know these guys acquire all kinds of protective charms,” the source told VM. VM also gathered that the prisoners broke into the office of the Chief Warder and disappeared with some documents. They also reportedly vandalised the prison’s clinic.

Another source said the plot by the prisoners to escape would have been very successful if security men had not stormed the place early enough.

According to the source, the heavy presence of security men discouraged involvement of external hands the inmates had mobilised to help in the jailbreak process. “When their external collaborators saw the timely arrival of security men they became afraid and ran for dear lives”.

Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in Ahoada, Mr. Aderibigbe Lawal could not be reached for comment on the development. But confirming the escape of the four prisoners, the Minister of Interior Affairs, Mr Abba Moro, said effort was on to re-arrest them. The Minister who spoke through his Special Assistant, Mr George Udoh, in Abuja, said those injured had been treated and brought back to the prison.

*Detainees in a holding cell at the prison “The Nigerian Prison Service, NPS, is seriously on top of the situation as the agency is working hard to restore peace to the area. We want to appeal to the general public to cooperate with the government in its bid to transform our prison service.

The public should also not hesitate to make available vital information to the security agencies to get rid of crime in our society,” he said.

Also, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the death of two prisoners, saying that they died of fatal injuries from bullet wounds.

“Around 1700hrs (5 pm) on Saturday, inmates of the Federal Prisons, Ahoada attempted breaking out unlawfully from custody. Ahoada Police Area Command swiftly mobilised to the scene and together with other security agencies, cordoned off the entire perimeter of the prisons.

“Consequently, the escaping inmates retreated to the con-

fines of the prisons. Two of the inmates that tried escaping through the ceiling were shot at, to prevent their escape and were fatally-wounded (killed) in the process. The situation has been brought under control.”

At the time of this piece, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area where the prison is located, Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, said peace had returned to the area as people were going about their businesses. Chief Ikegbide who spoke through his Press Secretary, Mr Blessed Oyaghiri, condemned the attempted jailbreak just as he lauded security operatives for the timely response.

Security was still heavy around the prison at the time of this report. People were seen discussing the development in groups in Ahoada East local government area when VM went round the town.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 21

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By NAOMI UZOR

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has called for the amendment of pension laws, saying the management of pension funds should rest solely with the National Pension Commission.

The Director-General of LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, who made the call, Tuesday, said “We should be guided by lessons of experience if we are truly committed to transformation of the economy; relevant pension legislation should be amended to make this happen.”

LCCI calls for amendment of pension laws He said that given the experience with the management of pension funds, it was time to fully devolve the responsibility to the National Pension Commission, adding that the corruption risk of direct management of pension funds by bureaucrats was very high.

Commenting on the state of the manufacturing sector during the third quarter of the year, he noted that the manufacturing sector is still

groaning under the pressure of dwindling sales, weak consumer demand, high cost of fund, dumping of substandard products at ridiculous prices in the market and unethical practices in the distributive trade sector.

“However, some manufacturers acknowledged the improvement in power supply but lamented the outrageous tariff.

“There are concerns about weak commitment to the

implementation of the policy of patronage of made-inNigeria products by government ministries and agencies. We believe that stronger commitment to the policy of patronage of madin-Nigeria products would have a tremendous impact on the industrial sector,” he said.

Regarding the 2013 budget, he noted: “The budget speech has no monetary policy content. It would have been useful for the President to highlight the thrust of

monetary policy as this is critical to the realization of inclusive growth and fiscal consolidation.

“This is even more so at a time when businesses are facing severe challenges with regard to access and cost of credit. The banking system currently has zero tolerance for risk and this is stifling private sector growth and the capacity of entrepreneurs to create jobs.

Jonathan calls for more intra-African trade

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has called for more trade and investment among African countries to strengthen relationships and promote the welfare of citizens.

Jonathan spoke when the outgoing High Commissioner of Botswana to Nigeria, Mr Clifford Maribe, paid a farewell visit to him at the State House, Abuja.

The President urged African businessmen to take advantage of the many investment opportunities available in the continent to improve economic and political relations. Jonathan welcomed the report that the business forum held in Gaborone during his visit in September had started yielding positive results. Earlier, Maribe, told the president that the business forum held in Gaborone generated interest among participants.

The commissioner said his tenure in Nigeria had led to stronger relations between the two countries, including highlevel visits by the leaders of both countries. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation he enjoyed during his stay in Nigeria. Similarly, the president told the out-going Kenyan High Commissioner, Mr. Francis Sigel, that the warm political relations between Nigeria and Kenya should be strengthened through more high-level visits.

He congratulated Sigel for completing the construction of Kenya’s Chancery and staff housing, while describing it as “a mark of your confidence in us and our relationship”. The President said there is need to improve economic relations between Nigeria and Kenya.

WTO opens reference centre in Nigeria for e-training, e-learning

By FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE World Trade Centre (WTO) has opened a Reference Centre in Nigeria for the purpose of e-Training and e-Learning.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Centre in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Dauda Kigbu, who commissioned the Centre, said the facility will enable the SMEs, Trade Negotiation Researchers, Business Community, Non State Actor and other interested users to have access to WTO information and multilateral trade agreements, tariffs and other related information. He said the establishment of the Reference Centre in Nigeria was a clear demonstration of WTO’s readiness to build capacity of member countries and the importance attached to accurate and evidence based trade data and information.

“This is a welcome initiative as it would afford Reference Centre coordinator the opportunity of learning how to disseminate information in an efficient manner by networking and sharing information with other Reference Centres. “This global training will also include collecting, classifying, correcting and analysing rel-

evant data which can be technical, legal, economical and commercial,” he said.

He urged the WTO to include Nigeria in the annual missions for the purpose of upgrading and establishment of additional centers as earlier approved by WTO for Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the University of Abuja.

Professor Mustapher Sadni Jailab, Head of Unit WTO Reference Centre, stated that the Reference Centre was WTO Secretariat’s Strategy put in place for coherent WTO training paths based on a progressive, multi-modular approach, eTraining and e-Learning.

He charged the participants at the Reference Centre Training Programme to be ready to share their experiences with their colleagues in order to enhance the performance and productivity of the department in trade information dissemination and analysis of trade issues.

The Director of Trade, Mr. David Adejuwon, urged WTO to include Nigeria in the annual missions for the establishment of additional Centers as earlier approved and upgrading of the center that has been established.

•From left: Dr. Tunde Odusote, Paedetrician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja; Mr Jimi Agbaje, Chairman of the launch; Pharmacist Azubuike Okwor, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Pharmacist Chukwuemeka Obi, MD, Pharmacy Plus Ltd at the launching of Reload Multiviatmin by Pharmacy Plus in Lagos..

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

161.45

-0.2

2,375.00

+25.00

19.52

+0.11

110.07 +0.63 86.09 CURRENCY BUYING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.76 248.6219 200.3987 165.7847 1.9481 0.2853 236.8881 24.7976 41.2671 26.822 237.6495

+0.55

CENTRAL SELLING 155.26 249.4252 201.046 166.3203 1.9544 0.2953 237.6535 24.8782 41.4005 26.9086 238.4173

155.76 250.2284 201.6936 166.8559 1.9607 0.3053 238.4188 24.958 41.5338 26.9953 239.1851

CBN Exchange rate as at 31st/10/2012

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

NSE tasks stakeholders to boost agric sector via capital market

By MICHAEL EBOH & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has called on stakeholders in the agricultural sector to take advantage of the funding opportunities available in the Nigerian capital market to boost productivity.

Mr. Oscar Onyema, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NSE, made the request during the presentation of facts behind the figures of Presco Plc at the NSE, Lagos, saying that the capital market holds the ace necessary for the agriculture sector to take its pride of place in the Nigerian economy.

He noted that the sector cannot rely solely on short term funds, given the capital intensive nature of large scale agricultural production.

He said efforts should be made by stakeholders in the agriculture sector to grow the sector using long term funding opportunities which is only available in the capital market.

Also speaking, Mr.Uday Pilani, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Presco Plc, disclosed that the company has consistently provided profit margins and returns on investment.

He said the share value of the

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company has risen by 150 per cent in the last eighteen months just as it has consistently paid dividend since listing on the NSE in 2002.

Taking a cursory look at the company’s financial report, Mr. Uday said 2012 has been a defining year for Presco Plc. “We are now a mature palm company with assured profits and turnover. Our financial highlight shows that Profit after Tax in 3rd quarter 2012 stood at N2.186 billion compared to N1.523 billion recorded in Q3 2011. A total of

N6.876 billion was recorded as turnover in contrast to N5.728 billion in same quarter 2011.

Using the International Financial Reporting Standard, the company’s total assets stands at N26.45 billion compared to N24.817 billion in 2011,” he said.

Mr. Uday noted that the company is West Africa’s 1st fully integrated oil palm establishment with plantations, oil palm mill, refinery and fractionation plants, as well as the leading agro-allied company in the Nigerian vegetable oils and spe-

cialty fats market.

In its efforts to develop the agricultural sector in the country, Mr. Uday said the company is actively involved in research programmes through regular development of high yielding variety of palm Seedlings; leading role in the efforts to develop the national interpretation for Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), in Nigeria; and concerted investment in rubber cultivation.

FROM LEFT: Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah; Director, Regulatory Affairs & Special Projects, Airtel Nigeria, Osondu Nwokoro and Chief Technical Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Awadhesh Kalia during a press briefing, in Lagos.

GlaxoSmithKline diversifies, launches new product

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

G

laxoSmithKline Consumers Nigeria Plc said it had diversified his investment portfolio through acquisition into Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., just as it launched the later product into the Nigerian market.

Mr. Grant Onedo, Marketing Director, GSK Pharmaceutical,

Anglophone West Africa, said that the acquisition offers the company the opportunity to meet customers’ needs at all level of consumption.

He said, “Our diversification agenda made us see opportunities in Stiefel laboratories Incorporate which is a dermatological firm. Today, GSK is a top brand in dermatology. The acquisition made in 2009 will

enable us meet our consumers needs, pharmacist needs, and dermatology needs because we have a wide portfolio segmented to meet our customers need,“ he said.

Mr. Grant said that the acquisition would give the company the opportunity to increase its research and development capability; enable the churning out of new products and in-

First Bank’s gross earnings up by 49%

F

IRST Bank of Nigeria Plc, said its nine-month earnings rose by 49 per cent as net interest income jumped up for the third quarter financial results ended September 30, 2012.

Profit after tax rose to N66.26 billion ($420 million) from N44.64 billion in the corresponding period of 2011.

The bank in a statement published on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, revenue rose to N 267.69 billion from N225 billion , while interest income increased to N205.5 billion from N163.2 billion.

First Bank’s earnings are rising after Nigeria overhauled its banking system following the debt crisis in 2008, with the central bank firing the chief executive officers of eight of the country’s lenders. It

also set up Asset Management Corp. of Nigeria, which bought non-performing loans from the lenders. Companies listed on the Nigerian stock exchange converted to the International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, from this year following a government directive.

“The figures are pretty in line with my estimates, having expected that the transition impact to IFRS on earnings would moderate further in the third and fourth quarters,” Abiola Rasaq, a Lagos-based analyst with Vetiva Capital Management Ltd., said to Bloomberg.

First Bank fell 1.2 per cent in Lagos trading on Tuesday, paring this year’s gain to 83 per cent. The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index has increased 29 per ent this year.

crease the GlaxoSmithKline’s financial resources.

To this end, the company has launched one of Stiefel’s products into the market called Physiogel which is a skin moisturizer which strengthens and soothes dry and sensitive skin. According to him, the product respects the skin due to its hypo-allergenic and fragrance free formulation and protects the skin by bring essentials lipids that the skin naturally needs.

“With the acquisition of Stiefel with presence in over 130 countries, we are extending our global base. Globally, Stiefel has about 7.5 per cent worldwide dermatology market. GlaxoSmithKline is investing about $160 million over the next three years to expand its operation. “The acquisition gives us the opportunity to expand into new markets, dose optimization, develop for potential combination therapy and new indications. It will expand our pipeline aggressive BD and L strategy. We have robust research development to refine what we are doing,” he said.

Oando’s gross profit up by 11% in Q3

BY PETER EGWUATU

O

ANDO Plc has recorded a gross profit of N50.6 billion for the third quarter (Q3) financial period ended September 30, 2012, representing an increase of 11 per cent from N45.5 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

According to the result released by the NSE on Tuesday, Oando recorded a turnover of N487.7billion for the period under review as against N392,3 billion in the corresponding period of 2011, representing an increase of 24 per cent.

Selling and marketing expenses increased by 20 per cent from N5.6 billion in 2011 to N6.798 billion in 2012, while administrative expenses dropped marginally by two per cent from N24.2 billion in 2011 to N23.7 billion in 2012.

Furthermore, the company recorded a decline in Profit Before Income and Tax Expenses (PBIT) of N 17.4 billion as against N18.1 billion in the corresponding period of 2011.

Also the company’s profit for the period surged by six per cent to N9,2 billion from N 8.7 billion in 2011.

Zenith Bank appoints JP Morgan for London listing

Z

ENITH Bank Plc has ap pointed JP Morgan to facilitate a secondary listing of its shares on the London Stock Exchange, the lender said on Wednesday.

The listing is planned to be through a Global Depository Receipt (GDR), a tool used to facilitate investments and trading in the shares of companies from emerging markets.

The top-tier lender said it will seek shareholders' approval for the listing on Nov. 21 and that one GDR will represent 50 ordinary shares in the local bank.

Zenith already has a primary listing in Nigeria and has a market capitalisation of $3.6 billion.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval, the bank said, adding that it wanted to improve liquidity for its shares with the transaction and not to raise capital.

"Listing on the LSE creates new opportunities for increasing ... liquidity in our securities ... and diversification of our investor base," Godwin Emefiele, Zenith's chief executive said in a statement.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 23

ITF charged to increase ISTC project capacity

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

I

NDUSTRIAL Training Fund, ITF, has been urged to look beyond present challenges and increase the capacity of the Industrial Skills Training Centre, ISTC, Ikeja, Lagos, by engaging more trainee into the centre in other to bridge the skills gap in the trade and investment industry.

Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, stated this during a facility tour of the ISTC in Lagos organized

by the Ministry, in conjunction with the Industrial Training Fund – Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, ITFNECA, Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP).

Aganga, who was represented by Mrs. Susan Oludiya, maintained that in line with the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, there is need to produce additional man-powers that are equipped to manufacture material from the start to finish.

He said, “If only you can put in place programmes that will be helpful to the available manpower that are not currently well utilized, then Nigeria will move forward.”

Also speaking, Mrs. Helen Jemerigbe, Project Director, ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project, said there is a need to return the ITF fund that was diverted for tertiary education as it is glaring that the capacity of industrial skills training need to be enlarged.

Mr. Nafiu A.O, said the

major objective of the project is to support the industrial sector by ensuring availability of basic and relevant vocational skills, empower the Nigerian youth through skills acquisition programmes aimed at job creation and entrepreneurship development.

He further noted that the project will enable participants to develop employable vocational skills in specific trade areas which include; welding and metal fabrication, mechanical maintenance and machining ,electrical and

electronics maintenance and in automobile mechanic work.

Nafiu stressed the fact that some organizations had been able to utilize the trainees of the programme, due to the skills they have acquired and that the programme has also created awareness on the importance of vocational training to the development of the country.

According to him, challenges facing the programme include; difficulty in securing places of attachment for trainees, inadequate working space to introduce new equipments, lack of hostel facilities and difficulty in employing graduate trainees. He said they will appreciate support from the ministry as well as from ITF-NECA project.

“It will go a long way in solving unemployment

problem of if about 50 per cent of the candidates for future admission are company sponsored, such that on the completion of the programme, they will return to their employers,” Nafiu added.

During the tour, participants were taken round to see the various equipment supplied to the centre between 2009 and 2012, which include: five reciprocating pumps, five centrifugal pumps, sixty trainees chairs and tables, five welding machines, welding generator (diesel 190A), one launch 431,GX3 2011-Master scanner, SUVs and Light trucks and one Auto Snap scanner.

Others include one steel cabinet, one welding generator (Diesel 140A) basic one process control system and two Peugeot planet system diagnostic machines among others.

UBA assures of quality service delivery, parleys customers

BY MICHAEL EBOH

U

NITED Bank for Af rica, UBA, Plc has reiterated its determination to delivering high quality service to its customers using its wide array of innovative products and advanced electronic payment platform.

Speaking at the bank’s Customers’ Engagement Forum in Lagos, Mr. Philips Oduoza, Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc said the bank puts customer service delivery at the forefront of everything it does and will always ensure the satisfaction of its customers in their every transaction with the bank.

To this end, he said the bank has upgraded its processes, people and system to deliver quality and cutting edge services to its customers.

Oduoza commended the customers for their patronage and promised that the bank will continue to serve them with its innovative products and services that are tailor-made to the needs of the customers.

Also speaking, Mr. Yinka Adedeji, Director, E-banking, UBA, explained that the bank is constantly improving on its electronic banking and e-payment products to meet the evergrowing needs of its customers and the general public.

He advised customers to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the bank’s e-banking and e-payment products to enjoy seamless banking transaction and also grow their businesses.

He said, “All a customer needs to participate in the cashless initiative proposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is to key into our e-payment platform. The customer will have to go to any of our branches to update their personal details, such as their email and phone details.

“The second step requires the customer to collect a debit card from any of the branches, then, the customer can start using the e-payment platform to transact businesses, transfer funds and carry out other banking activities.”

According to him, the various electronic products and services provided by the bank include: U-Direct, debit and prepaid cards, UBAlerts, U-Mobile, Point of Sales, PoS, terminals and Automated Teller Machines, ATM. He said with the various products customers pay bills, top-up airtime, pay for airline tickets, receive instant notifications after each transaction, make transfers to any bank, mobile phone and cards, among others.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 25

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

A

s the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) penultimate Thursday, churned out no fewer than 200,000 young graduates who had completed the mandatory service to their fatherland, eyebrows have once again been raised on efforts being made by the Federal Government to ensure the country’s teeming youths are rightfully engaged

after graduation.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Temi Kale, had recently put the number of jobless Nigerians at 20.3 million and with the 2011 Batch C corps members joining the figure, the worry deepens.

It will be recalled that in October 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration came up with a youth entrepreneurship programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communication Technology (CT), the Ministry of Youth Development and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development tagged; The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN), which it said would generate jobs through encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youths in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas, thus leading to further job creation.

As the YOUWIN programme enters its second cycle, billed to be completed in September 2013, Federal Government’s optimism of creating over 80,000 to 320,000 new jobs for the unemployed Nigerian youths over a three-year cycle, has received knocks and kudos from various quarters.

Even though the Federal Government claims it has given over 1,000 youths, who distinguished themselves in the screening and training offered them in various vocations a take-off grant of about a billion Naira, a foremost MicroEntrepreneur, Mr. Frederick Nwokeleme, President, Association of MicroEntrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), has argued that the over-centralisation of the YOUWIN project portends a clog in the wheel of success for the initiative.

Against the backdrop of

*Corpers during a passing out parade

Can FG’s YouWin project tackle Nigeria’s high unemployment rate? claims recently made by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that the entrepreneurial awards would be spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country, Nwokeleme pointed out that unless Federal Government involves grassroots stakeholders engaged in micro-enterprises in the project, it will trail the path of failure as did the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) and the Micro Finance Bank initiative it introduced sometime in 2005.

It’s a game of luck

Having closely monitored the first cycle of the YOUWIN project, Nwokeleme opined that as the initiative is operated like a game of luck, it portends a great doom for its real intentions. “It’s saddening that the project is open to all manner of persons. Even some people who don’t have genuine business plans could come up with good proposals and win. Some may win N10 million, whereas what they just need as start-up capital is

Continues on page 26

Students seek ban on politicians’ children schooling abroad

BY DAYO ADESULU

H

aving identified leadership as the major problem confronting our nation, Royal Exchange in partnership with Foundation for Youth Education brought together school prefects from secondary schools in Lagos to the fifth Leadership Conference for Secondary Schools entitled; The Youth as Catalyst in the National Transformation Agenda, in a bid to catch them young.

The school prefects who were, however, excited with the proposed education budget for 2013 said they hope that with the proposed 2013 education budget of N426.53b, problems associated with education will receive maximum attention. In the interactive session, the students traced the problem of

Continues on page 26

*Students at the Leadership conference

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

What Nigeria stands to gain from Basic Education Curriculum revision — Obioma, NERDC boss PAGE 30 C M Y K

Defining MatricCouture- Ladies special PAGE 29

We designed a cold room with our local environment in mind — Lanre Tairu

PAGE 31

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

BY DAYO ADESULU

I

n the quest to bring the benefit of management accountancy nearer students and to enhance business decision-making and performance in Nigerian workers, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has restated its commitment to collaborate with higher institutions in Nigeria to improve the quality of professionals in Accountancy .

Speaking during the Institute's one year anniversary celebration, Mrs Samantha Louis, the Regional Director for Africa said; “CIMA is always available to collaborate with schools in whichever way possible to improve the quality of the professionals as we continue to sponsor research works from higher institutions in Nigeria and all over the world.”

Louis who noted that CIMA which was founded 93 years ago, berthed in Nigeria a year ago to quell the yearning of Nigerians to have an international certificate that will broaden their global job opportunities. She said that the road to CIMA membership is open to all, regardless of educational background adding; “Our flexible entry policy enables anyone with a passion to succeed in business the chance to study with CIMA." According to her, "if you have a relevant degree, their carefully defined exemptions policy will allow you to start your CIMA studies at the right point for you," noting; “This will enable you to progress more quickly through the qualification.” She explained further that if you are new to business or accounting studies, you will first need to work towards gaining the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting which will enable you to move on to the CIMA professional qualification.

*The launch of Oando Foundation Scholars Programme was held at MUSON Centre in Lagos on Tuesday. Group photograph shows the beneficiaries from various schools with their certificates. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

CIMA collaborates with Nigerian institutions to grow economy The Regional Director who disclosed that CIMA has a good relationship with the existing professional bodies in the c o u n t r y s a i d , C I M A’ s accelerated route has been extended to the members of ICAN and members of International Federation of Accountants, IFAC. The route, according to her, grants them 11 exemptions out of 15 papers, leaving them to do just four papers after an assessment.

S h e s a i d ; “C I M A’ s mission is to help the world

economy grow. Our ability to operate in Nigeria since the last one year reveals that Nigeria is a country which has the potential to grow f a s t e r. T h o u g h a l r e a d y growing, but to actualised the dream of Vision 20-2020, we must contribute our ability and our expertise in capacity-building of financially qualified business leaders that will grow the economy of Nigeria.

"CIMA’s joint venture with American Institute of Certified Public Accountant

has opened more international opportunities for CIMA members who now have CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) designation in addition to ACMA or FCMA. This has opened more opportunities for CIMA members in America.”

She, however, noted that CIMA is not a profit-making organisation stressing that any money generated is invested in the members and their freedom.

Students seek ban on politicians’ children schooling abroad people running the nation’s affairs in years to come."

Continues from page 25

education sector to our leaders who send their children to school abroad, while neglecting to fix the problems in the sector back home. Our education sector, they said, will continue to suffer neglect if the children of politicians continue to school overseas.

“We urge the Federal Government to present a bill to the Senate banning the children of political office holders from schooling abroad,” said the students. According to the prefects in public schools, under normal circumstances, students in private schools are not better than students in public schools if our government put in place the equipment and enabling environment for study. “If both the children of the poor and rich are mandated to study in Nigeria, the education sector will be better funded,” they said.

Speaking at the seminar, the Group Managing Director, Royal Exchange Plc, Mr Chike Mokwunye said; “Leadership is a major impediment to the development of the Nigerian society,” noting that our country is blessed with huge natural and human resources enough to eradicate want and hunger from our land. He added that leadership is yet to harness our full potential to make our country great. This, Mokwunye reiterated, "informs our belief that we need to start building our future leaders from tender age to have the right calibre of

According to him, the programme among others, will impart the virtues of honesty, diligence, hard work and empathy which he said are tools/skills necessary for effective leadership. He told the prefects to endeavour to protect the weak, respect constituted authority, display exemplary conduct and uphold the high ethical standards that will make them good ambassadors of their schools and the nation at large.

On his part, Otunba Abdulfatai Olukoga, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education, told the students that as a leader, the positive things they do today will not only affect today, but will prepare them a position for great tasks in adulthood. Olukoga who was represented by Mrs Oyedele Olutoyin said; “Everything you think, say and do influence what your future becomes. What you become in future impacts greatly on nationhood since you are generally regarded as future leaders. Olukoga said that integrity, self confidence, honesty and sensitivity to happenings around students will help them to be productive and responsible citizens.

He urged students to set goals in their pursuit of success, explaining that "goals unlock your positive mind and release ideas and energy for their attainment. Without goals, you simply drift and flow with the current of life, but with goals, you fly like an arrow, straight to your targets,” he said.

Can FG’s YouWin project tackle Nigeria’s high unemployment rate?

Continues from page 25 N100,000. This is waste of resources,” he said.

He added that in a populous nation like Nigeria, with a worrisome jobless youth population, the impact of the Federal Government’s scheme where about 1,000 people get grants, is too meager and a waste of resources on few people, considering the fact that billions of Naira will be expended on them.

YOUWIN can’t address the problem The micro-entrepreneur in an emotion-laden voice, argued that YOUWIN project may not address the unemployment crises, noting that it amounts to solving problems from the top.

His words; “The YOUWIN project wouldn’t have been necessary if only our microfinance banks have not failed us.

Our micro finance banks were statutorily established to support and promote small and medium scale businesses, but they have woefully failed young entrepreneurs with the outrageous interest rates they charge on loans.

“The government of the day should stop solving problems from the top, and begin from the grassroots. Therefore, registered and genuine microentrepreneurial associations should be partnered with and made to disburse these grants.

Since they are close to the grassroots people, they can monitor how judiciously they use the grants given them.

“The YOUWIN project can’t help industrialise this nation, so government should stop playing to the gallery with the project."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 —27

Covenant varsity turns 10, establishes faculties of law, medicine

BY DAYO ADESULU & LAJU ARENYEKA

T

he Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo has said that the university will kick off studies in law and medicine before the end of 2014. Oyedepo said this at a press briefing heralding the 10th year anniversary celebration of the university.

According to him; “Designs and details for constructing faculties of law and medicine are ongoing. By 2013, latest 2014, the faculty of law will kick off. A large portion of our property is being developed to build a world class teaching hospital that will enhance medical services.”

The chancellor said that these will take place at Covenant University Ota, Ogun State and Landmark University, its sister university in Kwara State.

Oyedepo added that Living Faith Church is set to begin two new universities. “As at 2006, we had seven universities in our 25-year plan; four in Nigeria, and three in other African countries. Construction for the third university in Nigeria, Crown University, will begin in January. Crown University will be based in Calabar and will focus on maritime studies.”

Meanwhile, at the 10th Founder’s Day Lecture held on Thursday, October 18, 2012, at the University Chapel, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), and ProChancellor, Crawford University, Professor Peter Okebukola spoke on the topic; Covenant University at Ten: Looking back, Looking Forward.

Okebukola encouraged the Management of the institution to undertake a study of institutional location of Nobel Prize winners and seek partnership with such institutions and centres where the laureates are serving.

According to him, there is also a need to encourage scholars in Covenant University to target global problems. “Covenant University staff should be encouraged to think globally while seeking research problems. Research which targets global but nationally relevant problems, should be preferentially funded by the university,” he advised.

The Covenant University Alumni Association has announced its intention to build a Student Development Centre for students of the university, to enable them develop their capacities and

demonstrate greatness in all of life’s endeavours.

This objective was brought to the fore during the annual Summit of Covenant University Alumni Association, popularly called Eagles Summit held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the African Leadership Development Centre (ALDC) in the university.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. David Oyedepo gave an insightful message entitled; Exploring the rich goldmine in the world. He noted that only explorers become discoverers. Some characteristics of the mine include that, the mine has powers that makes a natural man perform in a supernatural way; the mine gives access to realms of divinity while still in our humanity.

The 10th year anniversary of CU also witnessed a shift in power as Prof. Aize Obayan who had been

the Vice-Chancellor of the university for the past seven years, handed over the baton to Prof. C.K Ayo. In the same vein, Dr A.A.A Atayero has replaced Prof. Charles Ogbulugo as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

During a media lunch to celebrate valuable University-Press relations for the past 10 years, the Covenant University management awarded honorariums to distinguished reporters and editors in the field including the former Sunday Vanguard editor, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, and veteran journalist at Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Emmanuel Edukugho among others. Covenant University opened its doors to students for the first time on October 21, 2005.

From left: Mr Kunle Oyatomi, former Sunday Vanguard editor; Mr Gbenga Omotosho, Editor, The Nation Newspapers; Bishop David Oyedepo, Chancellor, Covenant University and Prof. Charles Ogbulogo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor when the school marked its10th Founder's Day with world press conference/media lunch at Ota, Ogun State recently. Photo: Shola Oyelese

Provision of potable water is the responsibility of a good government.

I have a portable TV. Prerequisite – Perquisite Prerequisite and perquisite are completely different in meaning. Prerequisite means ‘something required as a condition for something to happen or exist’. ‘Precondition’ is the synonym of prerequisite. Perquisite refers to ‘something to which somebody has a special right because of the social condition’.

It is ‘an expected or promised, privilege, gain or profit incidental to regular wages or salary’. Perquisite is frequently abbreviated to ‘perks’. ‘Perks’ is informal.

Frequently Confused Words Potable – Portable Potable and portable are liable to be confused because they sound rather similar. They are not the same in spelling and meaning. Portable means ‘(of water) drinkable; safe to drink’.

Portable, as an adjective, means ‘that is easy to carry or to move; capable of being carried or moved about easily; easily movable’. The two words are not interchangeable. Avoid using portable in relation to water.

Examples: C M Y K

Thus, while prerequisite ‘is something that is required as a prior condition for something else’, a perquisite ‘is a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one’s position’. Pay close attention to the spelling and meaning of each of the two words.

Examples: A company car is one of the various perquisites offered by the firm.

The pay is unattractive but the perks are very good.

A credit pass in English Language is an essential prerequisite for university admission.

Exercise 2 Instruction: Choose the appropriate word from the alternatives in the bracket.

1.

I would strongly (advise/advice) against having pre-marital sex before your wedding day.

2.

I will contact the First Lady to (advice/advise) her husband to heed the (advise/ advice) of prominent Nigerians on the state of the nation.

3.

The police were called in to (quell/quench) the violence.

4.

Firemen came to (quench/quell) the flames raging through the building.

5.

Drink water to (quell/ quench) your thirst.

6.

A (mature/matured) student is an adult student.

7.

Leadership is for (matured/mature) people.

CONTINUES 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 & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

C M Y K

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 29

C M Y K

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

SEOF, BFA donate at 2nd annual book distribution

BY VINCENT UJUMADU & NDIDI UCHE

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*Real fashion lies beneath the matriculation gowns

Defining MatricCouture- Ladies special

overboard. Do your best to keep your face dry throughout the day,

BY LAJU ARENYEKA www.facebook.com/quadlifestyle quadlifestyle@yahoo.com

J

ust because you’re a fresher doesn’t mean you have to dress like one. Matriculation isn’t just an official christening into your academic institution; it’s the official baptism into the world of Quad-life-style. There’s no better way to celebrate your admission into school than to step out in style at your matriculation. Get fashion tips that fit your matriculation number:

1. From the top of your hair:

Hair counts. It really does. That portrait of you in your matriculation cap will hang an entire lifetime in your parents’ living room. It’s a one size fit all scenario so your hair is the only determinant as to whether or not the cap will fit. Afros, packing gel styles should be out of the question. Go for something that complements the cap like long weaveons that aren’t too full or short weaveons that don’t dismantle when you wear a hat on top.

Depending on the shape of your face, choose either a centre or side parting. A full fringe is all right if you won’t mind the heat, but a half fringe will provide a pretty peep just beneath the cap. If you so desperately want to braid your hair, Ghana weaving in front could save your head.

2. Facial issues:

Shaving your eyebrows just before matriculation defines your eyes and gives your face a smarter look. Bold makeup is a great idea for matriculation, but try not to go

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3. For the love of dresses:

Suits are fast becoming the dinosaur age for ladies at matriculation; with good reason too. Short, simple but formal elegant dresses are more comfortable under the matriculation gown. Choose a colour that doesn’t contrast too strikingly with your gown. Be careful not to be underdressed by choosing a day dress or overdressed by choosing a dinner gown. Formal sophisticated dresses are the way to go.

4.Shoes aren’t made for walking:

Just for your matriculation day, when it comes to shoes, choose fashion over comfort. Shoes are the most visible fashion accessible once your matriculation gown is on. The little secret is to get a pair of slippers in your bag in case of emergency and for the ‘item seven’ later.

n a bid to encourage the reading of books in Nigerian schools, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) and a U.Sbased NGO, Books for Africa(BFA) donated two million books worth N100 million to different schools during the Foundation’s 2nd Annual Books and Educational Materials Distribution in Oraifite, near Nnewi, Anambra State on October 29, 2012.

The beneficiaries were primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Speaking at the event, Chief Emeka Offor, the founder of SEOF, said that the donation was one of the ways of thanking God for uplifting him, adding that the purpose of the distribution was poverty alleviation especially among the upcoming generation.

In his speech, Mr. Thomas Warth, the founder of BFA, said the NGO was ready to give millions of textbooks to Africa emphasizing that its primary objective is to quench the thirst for books in Africa.

On his part, Sen. Ben Obi, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, commended the organisations for their assistance to the government to meet the educational needs of the institutions and students.

In appreciation, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, Vice-Chancellor of Anambra State University, Uli, thanked the organisations for the donations to the schools, assuring that the textbooks would be jealously protected and deployed for the purposes they were meant.

The foundation also donated books and a Peugeot 406 car to Miss Ebere Anaegbuonu, a SEOF scholarship beneficiary. She earned a first class degree from the Department of Industrial Physics, Anambra State University, Uli.

Eminent Nigerians call for adequate education funding

T

he need for government at all levels to adequately fund education has once again been brought to the fore. This was the view of eminent personalities who stormed the ancient town of Ile-Oluji, Ondo State for a one-day symposium entitled; Teachers Build Great Nations, to honour Pa Samuel Ojo Oladimeji for his numerous contributions to the growth of education in Nigeria.

Saddened by the decadence bedeviling the nation’s education sector, High Chief Nathaniel Adesiyakan, the Odunwo of Ile-Oluji Kingdom, a surveyor by discipline and Professor Mrs. Modupe Adelabu, executive chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, Ekiti State, jointly opined that for normalcy to return to the sector, federal, state and local governments must firmly appreciate and acknowledge the role of teachers in the nation’s emerging economy.

According to them, “there’s need for government to reappraise the sterling contributions of great teachers, by returning them to their rightful place in the economy, " while also, according them the deserved prestige in the society.

With the decline in moral values in the society, coupled with the erosion of teachers with sterling qualities, they, however, blamed the problems on government’s several inhuman policies and implementation dating back to 1976, when they took over mission schools. *A book in honour of 103-year-old Pa Oladimeji, an educationist, was recently launched in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State. The Lisa of Ile-Oluji, High Chief Akin Fagbamiyi performing the launching on behalf of the IleOluji monarch, HRH. Oba Rufus Adedugbe.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—31

Julius Berger holds literacy campaign workshop in public schools

What Nigeria stands to gain from Basic Education Curriculum revision

BY BOSE ADELAJA

F

— Obioma, NERDC boss

BY DAYO ADESULU

M

any Nigerians are surprised that the Nine-Year Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) has been reviewed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) less than three years after the implementation of the curriculum started nationwide in primary and junior secondary schools.

Not a few have questioned the rationale for this exercise.

Many are wondering what new issues came up in the education sector in the last three years to have necessitated a review of the BEC that was nationally and internationally applauded when it was developed. Many want to know the benefits the revision exercise would bring to the education sector in particular and to the nation’s aspiration of becoming one of the best 20 developed economies by year 2020. The Executive Secretary of the parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education, Professor Godswill Obioma, in this interview, answers these posers and many more. Excerpts: What necessitated the review of the Basic Education Curriculum less than three years after its i m p l e m e n t a t i o n commenced?

You will recall that Mr. President directed, based on the reports of the Presidential Task Team on Education (PTTE) which he set up and participated actively, that the Nine-Year Basic Education Curriculum should be revised in terms of reducing the content overload but not affecting quality. We will also recall that the Nine-Year Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) had 20 subject listings and we have made known to Nigerians the structure of those listings in the last four years as we are going round advocating and sensitizing the stakeholders, particularly the teachers. Reports from stakeholders indicate that the students were being overburdened with so many subjects. And in line with global best practice, the maximum subjects in primary school and indeed in junior secondary school, has not C M Y K

gone beyond 10. As a matter of fact, in the United States of America, the maximum number of subjects at this level ranges between five and six. In Kenya, it’s about seven. In Tanzana, it’s six. In neighbouring Ghana, it’s not more than six. In the Asia Pacific countries – Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India and so on, the number of subjects being taught to primary school pupils and even the junior secondary school, is at most eight or nine which captures the basic element that lays the basic foundation of knowledge. And so, Nigeria will like to be part of this global development for best practice, and that led to the revision of the BEC, from 20 subjects to a maximum of 10.

But from primaries 1 – 3, the maximum number of subjects to be offered is six and Arabic is the seventh one for those who elect to study Arabic.

French is introduced in primary four. And the entire

,

*Obioma This is a recurring issue because when they see Religion and National Values, the translation is that there is no more teaching of Islamic Studies and Christian Religious Studies. I will like to use this opportunity to inform Nigerians that because of the emphasis on moral values, integrity, good governance and so forth, the curriculum is to use the teaching of religion to achieve

Nigeria will like to be part of this global development for best practice, and that led to the revision of the BEC, from 20 subjects to a maximum of 10

,

subjects have been restructured to capture basic elements of knowledge – English Studies, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, Cultural and Creative Art, Pre-Vocational study, Religious and National Values, Business Studies and Languages. You could see that at most, it is 10.

But let me also say for the purpose of clarity before I get into the issue of concept formulation for the development of Teachers Guides for the revised Nine – Year BEC, contrary to insinuations and wrong impression that the Federal Government has scrapped the teaching of religion in primary and junior secondary schools, the revision has reemphasized the teaching of Islamic Studies and Christian Religious Studies. They are incorporated properly in the newly revised curriculum.

these values. So while pupils are studying Islamic and Christina Religious Studies the emphasis is not just on the physical elements of the religions but also how they should impact on their lives and make changes for better living. The other aspect of the revision exercise is that there is now an emphasis on vocational study. In the existing curriculum, Agriculture and Home Economics are elective subjects. But in the revised curriculum, these two sibjects are being taught as subjects within the platform of prevocational study. By the time every Nigerian child goes through the new programme and comes out of junior secondary school, he or she would have learnt prevocational study through Agriculture and Home

Continues on page 33

OR some decades now, Nigerians have been lamenting over the poor standard of education in the country which has taken us to a very low level compared with our contemporaries, a situation where majority of schools produce half-baked graduates who are not competitive on the international market so much so that international organisations are no longer willing to employ Nigerian graduates.

In view of this ugly trend, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, as part if its corporate social responsibility (CSR) for year 2012 literacy campaign, has come up with a one-day writing workshop in Abuja, Lagos and Uyo, an initiation of Julius Berger Book Club.

The second phase of the activities involves the establishment of JB book clubs, aimed at giving students tools to improve their reading and writing skills. This giant stride took the JB Club to Araromi Senior Secondary School, Sari-Iganmu, Lagos last Thursday, where the club presented its programmes towards improving the reading culture the youths and writing workshop which has the writer of an award-winning book, The Great Fall’, Mrs Chinyere Obi-Obasi, as the facilitator.

She said a good story must possess good writing skill, good command of the English Language, precision, choice of language, good spelling among others.

She admonished the students to read regularly and be focused adding; ‘’God has given Nigeria all it takes to be on top of the world and how will this happen? By studying hard and making good use of your knowledge,’’ she said.

Speaking with Vanguard shortly after the event, Principal of the School, Mrs Santos-Anjorin Adetola praised the gesture of Julius Berger saying the programme will impact greatly on the writing ability of the students. ‘’Today marks the beginning of a new era in this school and we hope to keep the flag flying. As events unfold, our writing skills will improve tremendously and we shall sing a new song."

Two SS 2 students - Ajade Mariam and Okonkwo Vivian - said the occasion has helped them to improve their reading skill.

Lagos lawmaker awards 12 outstanding students

BY EBUN SESSOU

T

welve students were given an award for outstanding performnace in this year’s Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE result.

The award by Adebimpe Akinsola’s Education Foundation, was the 2nd edition organised by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola representing Ikorodu Constituency II. Speaking on the objectives of the award, Akinsola said is aimed at promoting and improving the academic performances of students in Ikorodu.

According to her, education must not only be made compulsory at primary and secondarylevels, but must be well funded and adequately supervised so that the best of the youths could be properly channeled for socio-economic growth and development.

She said; “There is a reward for hard work. I am awarding these students in order to assist and encourage them in their studies as well as to contribute to the development of education in the state.”

Akinsola added that; “During my electioneering campaign, I promised to contribute to the growth of education and to reward best students who perform excellently well in the school certificate examination.”

She, therefore, charged the students not to engage in examination malpractice, cheating, cultism and hooliganism, while urging parents and guardians to encourage their children academically to attain greater heights in their educational pursuit.

She also called on well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest in the education sector, as this would further enhance the socio-economic growth of the state.

At the presentation of award, Miss Tijani Kudirat Ayomide of Igbokuta Senior Model College, emerged overall best SSCE student in Ikorodu Constituency II and she went home with the sum of N30,000, a laptop and educational materials while a student of Elepe Community School took the second position and was given N30,000 with educational materials.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

By EBELE ORAKPO

N

igeria’s hope of being counted among the technologically advanced nations, is gradually taking shape as her researchers in every field are coming up with inventions and innovations geared towards solving local problems. Little drops, they say, make a mighty ocean, and practice makes perfect. It is generally acknowledged that the hardest part of a project is the beginning, once the foundation has been laid, it is easier to build upon it.

Engineer Lanre Tairu of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, is the head of the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning section.

He has supervised a number of students in his department and they have come up with many products including a mini cold room and ice block-making machine. He spoke with Vanguard Learning in his office on these two products. Excerpts: Mini cold room: According to Tairu, this was one of the projects by his students. Although the cold room is not a new technology, but they wanted a situation where the local environment is taken into consideration in making the cold room.

Said he; “The cold room project was embarked upon because we wanted to use our own environmental considerations to design a cold room which can be used for preserving foodstuff like

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

We designed a coldroom with our local environment in mind — Lanre Tairu

*Tairu

*Ice block-making machine

*Mini cold room poultry, fish etc.

Our mini cold room is fitted with temperature regulator so that the operator can manipulate the temperature.

For instance, if you want it on minus 4 degree Celsius, you put it there and if you want it on -10 degree Celsius, you can adjust it.”

Cost: “I supervised the students

who constructed it. They did it with about N130,000 because the project initially was to cost about N200,000 but I did not want the students to spend that much so we had to reduce the capacity of the cold room because if we were to go by the initial size, then we would have to increase the capacity of the compressor and other components. In the

Department of Mechanical Engineering, we already have a standard amount that students could spend on a project. This was a group project carried out by about five students so they shared the cost,” he said.

Ice block-making machine: Tairu said they have two types of ice block-making

machine.

“What we tried to do was to meet the local requirement because the normal ice block machine that we have has the problem of brine (salt solution) used as refrigerant, so we needed to do away with it. The students designed the one that is like a deep freezer but has partitions that you can just buy cellophane bags, put your water and place them in the machine and within three-four hours, you get your ice for commercial use.

“We use empty plastic bottles so that when you fill the bottles, you just place them in the slots.

Once they are frozen, you remove them,” he said, adding; “ we are still working on one that the layman can easily use.”

Humour Corner

From Mom with love M

y dear son, I am in a well here and hoping you are also in a well there.

I’m writing this letter slowly, because I know you cannot read fast.

We don’t live where we did when you left home. Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happen 20 miles from home, so we moved 20miles.

I won’t be able to send the address as the last family who stayed here took the house numbers with them for their new house so they would not have to change their address.

Hopefully by next week, we will be able to take our earlier address plate here, and that our address will remain same too.

This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine, situated right above the toilet. I’m not sure it works too well.

Last week, I put in three shirts, pulled the chain and haven’t seen them since.

The weather here isn’t too bad. It rained only twice last week.

The first time it rained for three days and second time for four days.

The coat you wanted me to send you, your Aunt said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with all the metal buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pocket.

C M Y K

Your father has another job.

He has 500 men under him. He is cutting the grass at the cemetery.

By the way, I took your sister to our club’s poolside. The manager is told her that two-piece swimming suit is not allowed in his club. We were confused as to which piece we should remove?

Your sister had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out whether it is a girl or a boy, so I don’t know whether you are an aunt or uncle.

Your uncle fell in the nearby well. Some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them off bravely and drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days.

Your best friend is no more. He died trying to fulfill his father’s last wishes. His father had wished to be buried in the sea after

he died. And your friend died while in the process of digging a grave for his father.

There isn’t much more news this time. Nothing much has happened.

Love - Mom. P.S. Son, I was going to send you some money but by the time I realised, I had already sealed off this letter.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—33

What Nigeria stands to gain from Basic Education Curriculum revision — Obioma, NERDC boss

Android tablets for schools

By EBELE ORAKPO

E

mploying technological tools in the education sector will make learning easier and more interesting. This was what Engineer Andrew Desmen Idowu, chairman of Andrew D. Idowu & Co. had in mind when the company decided to make a foray into the education sector.

According to Idowu in a chat with Vanguard Learning, “We want to introduce technology into our secondary school education sector, and even primary school. We are bringing in android tablets and selling them at ridiculously low prices to students.

"These android tablets usually go for about N40,000 – N50,000 in the market and our own brand compares with some of the telecommunication companies’ android tablets. So we want to give it to the students so that they will be able to run their physics, chemistry, biology, ICT and mathematics practicals virtually.”

He noted that people tend to remember what they hear, but

remember more what they see while they tend to forget what they read. “But with this technology, they will not only hear, they will see and seeing is believing. If they see the heart moving for instance, when they want to draw the heart, they will remember what the heart looks like and they will be able to draw it unlike when they see it in textbooks. They will run their practicals as if they are physically present in the laboratory so when they eventually get to the laboratory, it will be very easy for them."

Idowu stated that the students will be able to run their practicals anywhere - "at home, in buses, even those who are hawking can always sit down in one corner and flip through."

He said apart from the obvious advantages to the students, publishers will also benefit as they will be able to sell more books than they are doing presently.

"From the android tablet we want to introduce, students will be able to have books to buy at N20.00/N30.00 per chapter instead of paying N500 for a whole book that they are not going to read more than 10 - 15

Continues from page 31

chapters till the end of the session. They will buy these books and at the end of the day, they may not be paying more than N300 - N400 per book, and many of the publishers who have their books on our virtual library, will be able to sell more than they are selling in the bookshops because they don’t have overhead costs. All they need to do is just give us the books and as the students buy, the money goes straight into their accounts because it is going to be through bank interswitch. So we are trying to see how publishers and

teachers can throw things in the air. Our server is going to be cloud-based so that instead of us having a server in our office, we do not need it so the students do not need to route through our server in the office before they go to the web site, they just go straight," he enthused.

Already, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in the SouthWest has adopted the technology which was launched in Ibadan on October 12, said Idowu.

Alumni meet to uplift alma mater

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

O

ld students of Lagos State owned secondary school, Awori-Ajeromi Grammar School, Agboju, have redoubled efforts to get reconnected to enable them

contribute their quota to the academic, environmental and social development of the school.

The old students under the aegis of Association of AworiAjeromi Grammar School Students, met recently to relaunch the association with the view to making developmental

*From left: Biodun Omoniyi; S.A. Sekoni, former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LGA; Bolaji Pearse, former Principal, Awori-Ajeromi Grammar School, Agboju and Sola Opayemi, Deputy Clerk, Lagos State House of Assembly during the cutting of the cake.

C M Y K

impacts on the 50-year-old school that has trained notable men in the society.

The convener of the association, Ambrose Okpara whose efforts reconnected the old students through the new media,described the initiative as a medium to give back to the society that has invested so much in them.

Ambrose said this in his encounter with Vanguard, and maintained that one is convinced that the school forms the bedrock of the knowledge they have acquired and has equipped them with values and skills needed to excel in the world, 'it behoves us to contribute positively to the development of the school, its environment and the society at large.”

Speaking further, he reiterated the group’s commitment to rebrand the image of the school and to improve both its academic footing and physical outlook. ”Members have been saddled with the task of looking into the deplorable condition of the school and file in a report to

the house in the next meeting, for urgent action,“ Ambrose said.

The relaunching programme has in attendance notable people among whom were former Chairman Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Prince S.A. Sekoni, 1968 set, Deputy Clerk Lagos State House of Assembly, Sola OPayemi, 1978 set.

In his remark, Prince S.A. Sekoni expressed hope that the alumni association will encourage all past and present pupils of the school “to continue epitomizing excellence, show strong morality and display integrity while positively projecting the image of the school and their own personality with focus and the knack for reliability.”

Reaffirming Prince Sekoni’s statements, the Deputy Clerk, Lagos State House of Assembly, Sola Opayemi, said the initiative was a privatepublic partnership that will boost and support government on delivery of qualitative education to the masses.

Economics. Of course, we know the importance of prevocational study. It is not just studying them but there is entrepreneurship component.

You’ll recall that the Asia Pacific countries – China, India and so forth - is based on enterprise spirit and even Britain is now teaching enterprise education. And the impact is all over the world, including neighbouring Ghana. It’s how to enable our youths to acquire critical skills of entrepreneurial attitude.

The newly revised curriculum has captured this. I will like to say also that there is emphasis on it. Of course, you know the essence of knowledge management.

There is emphasis on health, basic science, technology as a building foundation for knowledge. We all know that mathematics is a fundamental discipline of science and technology. There is also a development in English Studies. There is this poor reading culture which we have all noticed but the newly revised curriculum has captured reading as a teachable content to enable our children acquire the culture of reading. Of course you know information is power.

So reading will be taught from primaries 1 – 3 and primaries 4, 5 and 6 and junior secondary school.

What is the concept formulation for the development of Teachers Guides all about?

NERDC has revised the Nine-Year BEC and the curriculum is now being produced. We hope that in the next couple of months it will be distributed nationwide to all schools in the country in preparation for the implementation in September 2013. And so not just developing the contents, there is a need also to engineer the processes of implementing those contents very effectively.

That is why we were in Benin City, Edo State primarily to begin the arduous process of grinding out Teachers’ Guides in each of the 10 subjects and indeed, in each of the teachable areas. Take for instance Religion and National Value which has Islamic Studies, Christian Studies, Social Studies and Security Education. There is Teachers’ Guide for each of these components just as there is Teachers’ Guide for PreVocational – one for Agriculture, one for Home Economics. There is Teachers’ Guide for English Studies.

There is also the one for lesson plan for teaching Reading.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

SON to halt products testing in Ghana, S-Africa STORIES BY FRANKLIN ALLI

S

TANDARDS Or-gani sation of Nigeria (SON) has commenced moves to stop testing of imported products at laboratories in Ghana and South Africa. This will take effect from 2013.

Accordingly, the Agency has started building a fourstorey, 15 Laboratory-structure at the Ogba area of Lagos.

SON Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, disclosed that the facility would house 15 standard laboratories comprising testing rooms, training rooms with different administrative functions; a research faculty for re-

search organisations; conference rooms and support staff facilities.

He recalled unpalatable instances when the agency had to take the samples of imported goods to Ghana, and South Africa for testing; this, he said would stop when the ongoing project is completed.

The Director General said that the fact that Nigeria has to be reckoned with when it comes to products standardisation globally inspired the project.

He also said that the SON laboratory building will elaborate standards and testing of imported goods, do our testing and also help other nations who do not have standards and

quality laboratory to test theirs too.

The Laboratory, will also serve as a resource centre for scholars and researchers as revenue–earning activity, which he said is one of the reasons behind its establishment. Expressing his plans to expand the

project further, the D-G, who will add another 15 laboratories, said it is not too much a task given that in terms of standardisation equipment, Nigeria is still far behind other countries of the world, like Egypt which has over 90 laboratories.

Coca-Cola phases out returnable glass bottles across plants

T

HE Coca-Coola Com pany has started phasing out returnable glass bottles (rgb) across its production plants worldwide.

Accordingly, the Com-

Indulge ‘feel good’ festival boosts family recreation

BY NAOMI UZOR

I

NDULGE Nigeria Ltd has used its ‘Feel Good’ Festival (FGF) to boost family recreation, said the company’s Managing Director, Dr. Bisi Abiola. The event which took place in Lagos at Jhalobia Gardens, along Murtala Mohammed Airport Road, attracted

many families from different parts of the state.

Major brands from PZ Cussons, Promasidor, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Popular Foods, Nutricima, Grand Cereal Oils Ltd, Guinness, Vitafoam, while MTN lit up the entire garden with its bright branded yellow flags.

Dr. Abiola described the

event as “the first of its kind in Nigeria, a winning combination of outdoor wellness, free medical screening and family recreation.

It is a concept I would like to see become an annual event, and copied not only by all states in Nigeria, but one that should be happily adopted by other countries in Africa.

pany has entered into a partnership with JBF Industries Ltd to further expand global production of packaging material made from plants.

The company had been refilling the returnable bottles since 1932 but said it no longer makes business sense to continue doing so.

Ronald Lewis, Vice President/ Chief Procurement Officer at The CocaCola Company said that the supply partnership with JBF Industries will help Coca-Cola continue its leadership in bringing renewable, lower-carbon plastics to the marketplace and move the company closer to its target of using plant bottle packaging technology in all of its plastic bottles by 2020.

DeNoTT makes case for devt of agricultural produces

D

ELTA North Think Tank (DeNoTT) has called for the development of agricultural produces in the State.

This submission was made by the group at a symposium held in Asaba with the theme, “Tapping the Economic and Socio-cultural Riches of Delta North: New Ideas for Better Futures”.

In a communiqué signed by Prof. Eric Eboh and Prof Josephine Alumanah, Chairman and Vice Chairperson, Executive Committee, said DeNoTT noted that delta north communities have relative comparative advantages in many agricultural commodities/enterprises including arable crops (cassava, yam), tree crops (rubber, oil palm), and vegetable crops (tomato, pineapple), livestock (goat), aquaculture and fish farming, among others.

It said the agricultural post-harvest subsector, particularly; processing, storage, distribution and marketing are very weak, thereby subduing the agricultural commodity value chains.

As a result, the full benefits of value addition to raw agricultural produce are not realised by the farmers, agribusiness operators and local communities.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—35 THURSDA

OAUTHC tasks FG on funding, patronage of health institutions

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

C

HIEF Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Professor Olusanya Adejuyigbe has called on the Federal government to increase budgetary funding to tertiary health institutions in the country.

Making the call in Ile-Ife, Adejuyigbe who lamented that the health sector was under funded, urged government at the top to provide sufficient funds to enable OAUTCH to complete its projects.

“This year (2012), the budget we have is N405 million. Last year, government did not release up to N410 million. Ideally if the left-over balance had been given, we would have completed some of the on-going projects either buying equipment or building structures.

Each year, we now have projects which we have started with approval without such projects being completed because what they gave is not enough to complete these projects.

On priority areas of the institution, he remarked: “We now have more experts in certain areas and we believe that if these services are adequately rendered, the health of Nigerians will be bet-

• The children hospital complex, one of the projects awaiting completion at OAUTHC.

• Prof. Olusanya Adejuyigbe ter thereof. ”We should be here providing high quality tertiary health care in all specialisations of medicine.

We are able to do some but we are handicapped in some others where we have trained personnel. For example we have our transplanting; they can do more with a little help particularly in

funding of the processes. We would have been able to virtually do one procedure everyday if virtually everything is on ground personally.

“But there is no donor and people did not have money to carry out the surgery you will see a patient in your care wasting away despite the fact that you can help and it a big frustration. Another one is in the area of open heart surgery, we have establishedbut we are yet to have the advantage because of the cost per patientwhich is quite exorbitant.”

According to the CMD, there is need for expansion of infrastructure base to take careof increased patronage and personnel on ground.

“We have set up and provide a minimal heart surgery and recently we our gynecologist did a

minimal laparoscopy. We are also setting up a cardiac care unit which is about 40 percent complete hopefully to finish it this year but I am afraid if balance of what we need is notreleased we may not able to finish it until next year.”

Further, he urged public officials to patronise public health institutions, arguing that it is only through such patronage that public hospitals in Nigeria could enjoy the dual advantage of being appreciated and its leaders would see need to invest more in local infrastructure and human resources.

Noting that 95 per cent of people traveling abroad are not going strictly for medical reasons. ”Many people go out not because of medical reasons alone and sometimes they will not want to voice out why they go out for the treatment.

He stated that a lot of women decide to have their babies abroad not because babies cannot be delivered in Nigeria, but because they might want to increase the likelihood of wanting their babies to acquire foreign passports in future.”That is not medical reason. Lot of people migrate for medical treatment not because of incompetence or lack of equipment but for varieties of reasons. I cannot say we have all

the infrastructure and personnel on ground to take care of all medical conditions.

“The truth is that our expertise and equipment are currently underutilised and if public office holders patronise us it would have been an advantage in that it will give local people a sense of appreciation.”

More sleep improves school performance

I

S your child having problems at school? Twenty-seven minutes of sleep could be the difference between a cranky, distracted trouble-maker and a wellbehaved student.

According to an experimental study published in the November 2012 issue of Pediatrics, slightly increasing the amount of time children sleep results in improved alertness, impulse control, and emotional stability throughout the school day.

Even small changes in daily life that can allow children to add about a half hour of sleep could have a significant impact.

Extending sleep opens the door to an effective, feasible way to improve children's health and performance.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

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36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

By OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

T

ALES and stories sometimes appear to many as one and the same. While stories are told somehow by those who have experienced or observed events, tales and fables are told by those who never witnessed the events but were told they happened and they believed so. There has been many fables about Japan, a land so unstable that buildings in the country are put up in such a way that they swing. I have always wondered how that is possible and wanted to see such from a distance.

Two years ago in Washington DC, the board of Governors fixed the IMF/World Bank meeting to hold in Africa, specifically in Cairo, Egypt. Many African journalists were looking forward to the 2012 Annual Meeting in Cairo. But as fate will have it, it was not to be, no thanks to the phenomenon now tagged Arab Spring uprising that bade farewell to Hussain Mubarak’s cling to power. Curious to know what will happen, a search on the net showed that the Annual Meeting will now hold in Tokyo, Japan. The one thought that went through my mind then was ‘Japan is just too far to travel to.’

As a regular reporter of the annual meetings, I, along with many Nigerian journalists started planning to be there.

Eventually, visas were secured and means of going arranged. I decided to go by Emirates having used the airline to Singapore, almost about the same distance.

While trying to book accommodation online, I chose a hotel close to the venue. Funny enough, they asked for preferences on nonsmoking rooms. I chose nonsmoking, and having in mind the tales that their skyscraper hotels could swing, I opted for the first floor.

Emirates took us out of Lagos on the 9th of October via Dubai, about seven and a half in a house but not feeling any hours flight. We got to Dubai motion. The plane was fully early but the pilot was not booked. There were few of us cleared for landing, he kept black-skinned people in the circling around the airport up class of the plane. Most of to the point of discomfort. A those with good money were feeling that there might be a in the upper section of the problem the pilot was not plane that looked like a ready to disclose was rising duplex. The flight to Narita in the minds of many, but at Airport took about nine hours. last the plane landed. Dubai While on air, by stroke of luck, airport was an experience, it I and Kunle Aderinoku of is massive and at any point Thisday looked out and saw in time, have thousands of a very beautiful landscape the people of different races plane was flying over, it was moving in and out, connecting like several hills, undulating flights to different and interlocking mountains of destinations. Attempting to different sizes put together by use the toilets at the airport nature. It was a beautiful can take some time as there scenario to behold. Curious to were several queues at each know, we asked one of the air point. hostesses who was also

Japan in a world too far, so fascinating

,

We boarded the buses and got to Tokyo air bus terminal, only to discover that our luggage were left behind at the airport

,

U

nlike what you have in the US, Britain and other developed airports, Dubai’s several terminals are not linked by metro services, it is shuttle buses that take passengers on merry go-round. It took almost an hour to link the departure at Dubai Airport to the next terminal. Emirates used airbus from Dubai to Narita Airport in Tokyo. It was like moving

beholding the beauty of nature, to give us some lecture on what we were seeing, she was blank and went into the cockpit to ask the pilot, she came back giggling, ‘this is Himalaya mountains.’ Oh, no wonder, we have heard of the beauty of the mountain several decades ago while in school. True to what we were taught in school, part of the mountain top was covered with snow. This was not old

wives’ tale told by some idlers, it is a true story.

Knowing how tiring the journey is, Emirates kept us all busy with one snack, food, drink or the other. It was a pleasant trip with Emirates spoiling passengers with their different dishes. In fact, there was yam porridge with egusi soup.

W

e arrived at Narita Airport and had the first contact with the Japanese Immigration Service. It was as if they have been briefed to give express service to visitors coming for the annual meetings. We passed the immigration formality thinking it was government favour. It was not so, the Japanese though they neither understand nor speak the English language, they do understand and are always willing to help you in any way they can. At the airport as usual with us when we go out for international reportorial assignments, we buy SIM cards of the host country to be able to stay in touch with the office and the family we left behind, Kunle and Waheed Olaboju, General Manager, Corporate Services, Bank of Industry whom we met at Narita Airport, were the first to attempt to get cell phone SIM. The operators’ representatives

at the airport politely told us we could rent a phone, they did not say we could not find SIM card to buy. The price they were offering for renting a phone was rather too high, 8,000 yen for rental and 800 per day for local calls. I told Kunle that we should go to the hotel and see if we could get a better deal. How wrong I was! There were buses to take each of us to our hotels. We boarded the buses and got to Tokyo air bus terminal, only

to discover that our luggage were left behind at the airport.

T

hey asked us to go to our hotels, that the luggage will be delivered. Not trusting them, having at the back of our mind the Nigerian or Spanish experience where your box can disappear before your eyes, we insisted that we will wait for our luggage. We waited and at the time they promised the boxes will arrive, they arrived. I got to the hotel late in the night, and was very hungry. I was checked into room 1202 at Apa Hotels, Shimbashi. The room was said to be double room, but on entry, it was just enough to contain a bed, a very small bathroom and toilet. There was just no space. I was shocked, why so small a room?

While pondering over the rooms, at about 11 pm, the intercom in the room rang, it was Ayo Aminu, he was in the same hotel. ‘Have you eaten?’ he asked, “no, I have not, let us go down and find something to eat.’ We went.

To my surprise, their restaurant was small too, you have to pull your shoes, sit with your legs down a holelike arrangement. I could not understand the menu, just saw fish and some vegetables, I indicated they should bring it, and they brought the food.

It was fish and sliced tomatoes. I looked at it, I could not understand having this for dinner. Any way, we took the food and went to our rooms.

Curious to find out why we could not find cell phone SIM to buy, we went into one of the departmental malls in Tokyo, Big Camera. There we discovered the answer. We saw ipad 3 which was selling for $640. We thought this is it, it is cheap, let us buy. We collected two, at the paying

counter, we just asked, does this ipad have facility for a SIM? “No,’ replied the man.

‘No ipad or phone uses SIM card in Japan. All ipad in Japan use Wifi not SIM please.’ True to type, most of the hotel rooms are linked via cables. Only in few spots will you find hotspot where Wifi services are available.

The second thing was that at every selling point, whether in a five-star hotel or road side shop, you pay in yen. Japanese do not accept foreign currency as means of payment. You have to get to an exchange centre to get yen to pay. It is there also you see how useful a smart phone is.

Here, phones are just mainly for voice calls. Ask any Japanese for direction, he reaches out for his phone, gets on GPRS, downloads the map of the region, and points the way to you. At the train station, directions are given via maps. They readily hand over a map to you to trace your direction.

A

bout the second day of our stay, feeling tired of their fish-based food, Kunle who stayed in one of the hotels in Roppongi which offers parks, amusement facilities, shopping areas, beautiful sight of the rainbow bridge at night, exciting nightspots full of bars and night clubs, said there was a Nigerian spot where you can eat Nigeria food. It was like a huge joke, ‘let us go there,’ was the chorus of virtually all the journalists that were there.

‘Roppongi here we come.’ At the bar, eba, egusi, goat meat, pounded yam, were served by a Ghanaian who said he bought the stuff from a Nigerian who trade on food stuff. Roppongi became a regular spot till we left Tokyo.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—37

Memories are for ever (5) I. Everyday, things happen to us. They might be good, bad, embarrassing, uplifting, disappointing, you name it. Depending on our perception of the event, years later, its memory still lingers on.

It keeps springing up, even when you’ll rather forget it. Some of our respondents shared their stories of such moments with us. I know you have some wonderful stories you can share with us too. Please send your contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Or our e-mail add r e s s : humananglepage@yahoo.com Happy reading!

Victoria,(38), a Pharmacist lost her underwear in public! How? She had this to say: It was the most embarrassing moment of my life as the other girls called my attention to it.

I was forced to stop and just allow it slide down completely, then I picked it up and made a run for it. There was a roar of laughter and the news even spread beyond my hostel, at least, so it seemed to me at the time. I felt so stupid.

I stopped wearing fancy, little pants from that day.

No matter how beautiful they might seem, you will never find me in one.

Once bitten, always shy if you learnt any lesson from it.

Binta, (40), Medical Doctor slept a lot as a teenager, but an incident changed all that. How? She has this to say: It happened in my final year in Secondary School. I was living on the Mainland and

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schooling on the Island, so I had to wake up as early as 4.00am so as to beat the 7.45am resumption time. It always took a miracle for me not to fall asleep during school hours.

Then after school, I hang around for another three

saw them again. But then it taught me not to sleep off so deeply in the bus again.

You will not believe that a year later while doing my HSC the ghost of this incident reared its head again. One day, one of my friends came to narrate the incident to

Suddenly, as if my boyfriend had been expecting it to happen, he swiftly bent down and picked it up and with all the blood stain and all, he stuck it into his pocket

hours to study so that when I get home, my aunt’s errands will not really affect me.

If you get the picture I’m trying to paint, you will realise that it is on the bus ride home that I always manage to catch some sleep. So, one day, I was already in the last bus that will take me to my destination.

Unfortunately, the bus was filled with students from other schools, both male and female. I tried as much as I could to keep awake but it was impossible.

Eventually, I had to give in to nature and dozed off. My stop was the last, so, this always gave me the confidence to sleep comfortably as I knew I will not be taken further.

Then the bus stopped for some of the boys to come down. I was sitting next to the window. I felt someone just pulled my lips and next thing, a slap across my face.

Stunned, I turned to see that it was one of the boys. They all walked away laughing. I never

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me.

According to her, the boy who had slapped me was also with us in the school and had told them how I used to sleep in the bus on my way from school.

He told them I always snore with saliva dripping from my mouth.

He told them that they used to pull my lips and hair while I slept in the bus and I would not even know. He exaggerated the whole incidence and made it look like it was an every day thing.

That day, I was so ashamed that I ran away for the rest of the day.

After I had told them my version of the story, even some of my friends went to meet the guy to abuse and insult him for what he claimed he did.

On realising that he did no really get the shine he had hoped for, he changed tunes and told them he was not the one that slapped me, but another friend.

Busayo, (26), an Accounting graduate tell how she lost her sanitary pad in a store: It would have been

embarrassing for me if my boyfriend had not been there to save the day.

In fact, he bailed me out of it. He had visited my place one evening in the company of his friend. Along with my cousin, we had gone to a nearby Supermarket to get a bottle of wine.

I was having my menstrual period and usually used tissue papers for it.

Not because it is cheaper but because it is very handy for me. I had been feeling the thing wriggling between my thighs almost as soon as we entered the store.

However, as we moved between the shelves, I felt the folded tissue paper slippped off my pant and fell on the floor before I could stop it.

Suddenly, as if my boyfriend had been expecting it to happen, he swiftly bent down and picked it up and with all the blood stain and all, he stuck it into his pocket. I was both stunned and relieved at the same time.

Luckily for us, my cousin saw what happened but his friend did not and same for the store attendants.

It was after this experience that I stopped using tissue papers all together. I’d had a similar experience before then on my way home from church one Sunday afternoon.

I was trying to cross over a large gutter when the tissue slipped off. I quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed what happened.

When I saw that no one seemed to be paying me attention, I quickly kicked it into the gutter and walked away. I decided then that should it happen a third time, I might not be so lucky.

To be continued

Asisted by Onozure Dania

Friends Searching Males

•Goodluck, 30, resides in Delta state, needs a

beautiful and sexy lady, aged18-24, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.08134882092 •Prince, 45, tall, slim, chocolate in complexion, employed and resides in the middle belt, needs a matured and sexy woman, for a serious relationship. 08032272625 •Victor, 42, tall, light in complexion, good looking, resides in Lagos and needs, a tall, beautiful and God fearing lady, aged 18-40, from any tribe and employed, for a relationship.07055378615 •Chiedu, 27, fair in complexion, needs a lady, who can take good care of him, aged 30, for a serious relationship.08137754598 •OJ, a graduate and intelligent, needs a beautiful, sweet and intelligent lady, for a relationship that could lead to marriage.08180972211 •Jerry, 23 from Benin, needs a lady for a romantic relationship.08078925680 C M Y K

•Love, 21, resides in Lagos, needs an average

height, pretty, sexy, busty, romantic and sympathetic lady, who resides in either Port Harcourt or Imo state.08155568699 •Dele, 34, 5.10ft tall, chocolate in complexion, good •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

Reasons marriages fail

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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ARRIAGE is the most desired relationship in an individual’s life. This is one event for which people wait for years. They plan marriages only when they feel they are settled and this is to ensure that they live happily with their loved one.

But with time this dream relationship starts crumbling due to various reasons.

Some of them, such as infidelity, is the biggest cause of a relationship break up. There might be reasons available to the partner who has gone wrong but after such an act one can hardly expect the relationship to get smoothed again. In most cases, it is observed that couples get separated once such act is witnessed by the innocent partner.

Age is another reason, why marriages fail. When couples are too young to handle such a strong relationship with maturity, they might not find the partner to be suitable enough to spend the whole of their life with. In a case of age gap between the two is quite apart, then also there might be difficulties due to generation gap leading to the failure of marriage.

A lot of women are desperate to get married and even when they realise some wrong things about their spouse, they ignore them hoping that things would change after the wedding which more often than not, never happens.

A lot of people don’t end up getting married to persons whom they are truly in love with.

Sometimes, financial stability or desperation occasioned by peer or social pressures are reasons for some of these failed marriages.

Another reason for the high rate of divorce is the case of incompatibility.

Truth is, there are a lot of couples that just can’t do things in common. For instance, a lot of men can’t stand the high profile lifestyles of their celebrity wives.

Such couple can be said to be incompatible.

Again, it is unrealistic for anyone to expect marriage to be problem free.

Couples become disillusioned when they discover that marriage is not exactly what they have envisioned it to be. Relatives most importantly, in-laws have a great role to play in marriages.

Sometimes,their interference is beyond anyone’s adjustability and hence the marriage fails.

Being childless too, is another reason. There are people who desperately want a child. If they come to know that their partner is medically unfit to give them that kind of fulfilment, then the relationship is doubtfully a long term happening.

Financial crisis: it is not all couples that can handle financial crisis in life which they might be exposed to suddenly at some point in their marriage.

There might be many more reasons to a failing marriage.Like the celebrities, which seem to change their partners quite rapidly. Celebrity breakups are becoming a common affair for whatever reasons they might be. And each day, a new celebrity couple announces that they are ending their relationship. What goes behind such failed marriages of celebrity couples leading to divorce?

The fact is that the rate of divorces among celebrities has gone up noticeably in the last couple of years.

From Foluke Daramola, Ayo Adesanya, Fathia Balogun, Monalisa Chinda, Oge Okoye, Chika Ike, Shan George, Stephnora Okere, Ngozi Nwosu, Jennifer Eliogu, Stella Damasus, Eucharia Anunobi, Kate Henshaw, Clarion Chukwura, Uche Osotule, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Regina Askia, Dolly Unachukwu,Hilda Dokubo, Kingsley Ogoro and Esse Agesse. Alec Godwin and Kefee, Soul E and Queen Ure, Patricia Leons and Ali Baba, Ann Njemanze and Segun Arinze, Evi and Emma Ogoli 9ice and Tony Panye, the list is endless.

looking and resides in Lagos, needs a God fearing and employed lady, aged 27-32, for a serious relationshp.08034598297 •Chris, 30, resides in Asaba, needs a financially ok lady, aged 30-40, for marriage. 08166334836, 07040668992 •Harry, resides in Benin, needs a lady, who resides in Benin, for a serious and romantic relationship, that will lead to marriage, aged 1735. 08167979174 •A guy, sexually active, needs a lady, aged 28-35, for a relationship.08178869932 •Fred, a graduate, resides in Lagos, needs a bold, beautiful, slim, nice, caring and fun to be with lady, for a relationship.08174102270, 08081985337, BB PIN 21B6F66A •Charles, 51, needs a fair in complexion, sexy, beautiful, plumb and busty lady, aged 38-40, for serious relationship that will lead to marriage.

08135731847

38—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 39

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40—Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

26,358 ex-militants donate N2,000 each to flood victims

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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CARNIRIV 2012: Mr. Sam Dede, Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (left) and Mr. Chimbiko Akarolo, Chairman, Port Harcourt Local Government, at CARNIRIV 2012 Port Harcourt 100 Edition FlagOff briefing in Port Harcourt, Monday.

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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XPERTS have expressed concern over the inability of airlines in Nigeria to drive the tourism sector.

Rising from the just-concluded African Travel Market, popularly known as Akwaaba, in Lagos, the experts noted the inter-woven nature of aviation and tourism, but lamented the lack of access to the country’s tourism outposts by tourists

Christian booksellers cry out over piracy EDERAL Government was, yesterday, urged to enforce the law on piracy in the country to enable authors and book publishers benefit from their labours.

President of the Christian Book Sellers Association Nigeria, CBAN, Mrs. Modupe Ehirim, made the call in Lagos at the opening of the 2012 convention and book fair.

She said the book publishing industry was confronted with activities of the pirates on a scale much larger than anything the country had ever experienced.

Mrs. Ehirim said the challenging operational environment has made many a book-sellers to rethink their call to the Christian book trade, adding that the associa-

Revival

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HRIST Apostolic Church, Power of Christ, POWEC, will hold a 60-day transformational revival on Power for Advancement, from November 1 to December 30, at the church auditorium Disu Esan Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos.

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was not directly responsible for the provision of the relief materials, it was however prepared and ready to collaborate with other agencies to take pro-active measures in mitigating the sufferings of the victims.

Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, Chairman of the State Relief Committee, Hajia Maimuna Momodu, said for ex-militants to make such contribution showed that there was hope for the country.

Airlines not helping tourism— Experts

CHARITY: From right— Prince Gabriel Awomodu, Chairman, Community Development Advisory Council; Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development; Mr. Kunle Oloko, Social Welfare Officer, Children Centre, LUTH; Mr. Olusegun Bello, Chief of Staff, representing Chairman OttoAwori LCDA, and a Social Welfare Officer, during the presentation of gift to Chidren Centre at Social Home to mark 2012 Community Day Celebration.

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ENIN—THE 26,358 ex-militants and beneficiaries of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme from the Niger Delta have donated relief materials worth over N52 million to flood victims in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River states.

Amnesty Programme Head of Capacity Building, Mr. Joel Bisina, made this known, yesterday in Benin,

while presenting Edo State's share of the materials on behalf of the Amnesty Office to the state government.

He said the ex-militants, who were touched by the plight of the flood victims decided to contribute N2,000 each from their monthly stipends to procure the relief materials.

Bisina, who represented the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, said though the Amnesty Office

tion had embarked on enlightenment and advocacy on the dangers of piracy.

The CBAN President also called for the creation of a conducive environment to encourage reading culture in the country, stressing that libraries and the reading of books would not only improve literacy, enhance careers, raise pleasant children but also ensure marriage success.

Fellowship

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OODNEWS Baptist Association, Lagos State, holds her fourth quarter fellowship November 2 and 3.

The fellowship, on the theme Expanding Kingdom Frontiers, holds at Shalom Baptist Church, Akowonjo.

In a statement by Moderator of the Association, Rev. Titi Ajadi, and Assistant Moderator, Revd Olajide Oke, major highlight of the fellowship is the church planting programme of the Association at Iju in Ado Odo Local Government Area, Ogun State.

due to the capacity problems of airlines in the country.

Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who bared his mind on the issue, mooted the need for domestic airlines in the country to merge, so they could form into formidable carriers to compete with foreign carriers and provide easy access to tourists coming into the country.

Good Governance Tour a jamboree— CNPP

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—CONFERENCE of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has described the ongoing nation-wide Good Governance Tour, led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, as an orchestrated mission of deceit and waste of the nation’s resources.

Benue State Chairman of CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan, who said this, yesterday, while reacting to the visit of the team to Benue to access the development strides of the state and Federal governments, said the tour was a mere jamboree that would serve no useful purpose.

Agan said: “How can a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria lead a team of journalists on a tour of states of the federation in the name of good governance, when our people cannot easily buy fuel in our filling stations?

“It is obvious that this tour is guided and the fact that a Minister is leading the team means that nothing negative against the government of the day would be heard at the end of it all.

“There are dilapidated

infrastructures everywhere in the country. There is poor network of roads, lack of electricity supply, nonfunctional industries, high rate of unemployment, poverty and widespread insecurity and somebody is telling us of good governance.

“Nigerians are suffering in the mist of plenty; we can hardly pay our children’s school fees; we cannot access quality healthcare,

while the rich are flying overseas for regular medical check up.

“It is all deceit and so much insincerity on the part of those in government, whom we thought should know better. Unfortunately, most of the people, who paraded themselves as government officials today, are there for pecuniary motives. It is saddening.”

According to him, the idea of running affairs alone by individual airlines has created problems of capacity and inability of tourists to access tourists’ sites in the country.

Runsewe, who lauded the ability of organisers of Akwaaba to launch the country into international tourism map, noted that Nigeria had so many tourism destinations that could fetch her foreign exchange, if only the airlines braced up to the occasion.

Organiser of Akwaaba, Mr. Ikechi Uko, noted that airlines in the country were narrowing the space for the tourism industry to thrive.

Consequently, he spoke of the need for the nation to have a national carrier that could drive its tourism potentials.

Ikechi noted that with the exception of Ethiopia, African countries with viable national carriers had used their airlines to develop their tourism industry, citing Kenya and South Africa as two of such countries.

ECOWAS lists challenges of regional trade

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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C C R A — STAKEHOLDERS from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, yesterday in Accra, Ghana, identified administrative bureaucracy, ineffective legal framework, monetary limitation, weak communication, among others, as obstacles to effective regional trade.

They spoke at the ongoing World Trade Organisation/Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, WTO/FES, on regional current and future challenges for the multilat-

eral trading system-perspective for Western Africa, which opened Monday.

Speaking, Mr. Ken Ukaoha, a Nigerian representative of the West African Civil Society Platform, said two key obstacles, absence of sanctions and ineffective regional parliament, hindered effective regional trade.

He said lack of sanctions against countries or individual businesses that ran contrary to rule, encouraged the culture of impunity, which had remained unchallenged at the various borders in the region.

According to him, there was no regional law to deal

with corrupt border officials, especially customs and other law enforcement agents, who willingly hindered seamless trade for personal gains.

Earlier, while speaking on the obstacles to trade and export in the sub-region, Simeon Dossou, from Focal Point, Regional Trade Union Experts Group, highlighted the need for customs officers at the borders to be educated on the basic regional rules.

He stressed the need for the region to step up the issue of regional currency, road networks, and making English and French regional languages.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 41

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42 — Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Hurricane Sandy digs up forgotten issues URRICANE Sandy’s fury and devastation may have come and gone but the impact and the lesson left by the freak weather will last for a long time to come.

Although the main Parties had neglected the issues of Climate Change especially during their debate, the Green Party led

by Jill Stein may have been shot into the limelight

by Monday’s mammoth storm that caused severe flooding, damage and fatalities to the eastern coast of the United States.

The issue of climate change may have been forced into the agenda of the next president and in fact the next few days to the election will put pressure on Congress and the next president to address the impacts of climate change, given the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the citizens and the economy.

Reports that Hurricane Sandy devastated the east coast , claiming dozens of

OCHEREOME NNANNA, Reporting From New York City

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ramped up efforts to derail climate legislation and reg-

Reuters estimated that the destruction caused by the Hurricane is about $5 billion to $10 billion

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ulatory programs to slash greenhouse gas emissions.On top of Hurricane Sandy, this year’s

drought alone is expected to cost insurers $20 billion, with most of those costs being shouldered by the federal crop insurance program.

“This storm, taken into consideration alongside one of the most economically damaging droughts in the last century, alongside wildfires that reached catastrophic proportions in the west… really point to the need for members of Congress to start taking seriously the reality that climate change is already upon us,” said Leurig.

Gender issues strong as ever

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F there ever was a time or place to refer to women as the weaker sex it would not be in today’s United States’ election climate. Representing 53% percent of the U.S electorate, Democrats and Republicans can at least agree on one thing- that American women are anything but weak.

Political analysts say that American women vote in greater numbers-nearly 10 million more-than their male counterparts. They also make up a higher number of undecided and swing voters. Although the “gender gap” has varied over many years, women of all ages are more likely than men to identify as Democrats. Recent polls have indicated that 41% of women identify as Democrats while only 25% of women identify as Republicans and 26% as independents, while 32% of men identify as Democrats,

28% as Republicans and 34% as independents.

Immediately after the first presidential debate, polls conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that 51% of women viewed President Barack Obama favourably compared to the 60% in his favour prior to the debate. Also Mitt Romney’s ratings with the women upped 6% above his 42% before the debate.

However, analysts who thought that Romney was

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By LAJU ARENYEKA (with Agency Reports)

Wo m e n have a huge stake in this election

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beginning to close the gender gap as another survey

by Pew on Monday found that 50 percent of likely women voters favor Obama, as opposed to 44 percent who favor Rom-

Jill Stein, Green Party presidential candidate ney.

Karen Teegarden, a In some voters’ eyes, founder of Unite Romney wasn’t helped by Women.org, which advorecent comments by US cates for women’s equaliSenate candidate Richard ty. Says “If you want to be Mourdock’s assertion that an educated voter you a pregnancy resulting from need to check your facts.” rape was “something that Women have a huge God intended to happen.” stake in this election, says In America, women outTeegarden. vote men by millions of “Imagine if all of the legballots. Since 1980 they’ve islation passed in the (Releaned toward the Demopublican-dominated) crats, as the divisions beHouse of Representatives tween the two parties behad passed through the came more extreme, with Senate and been signed Republicans waxing more by the president,” she conservative on issues afwrote in a recent blog porfecting women. tend.

HE U.S. presidential race remains a dead heat five days to Election Day but most Americans think President Barack Obama will defeat Republican Mitt Romney, according to a Reuters/ Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Tuesday.

Obama leads Romney among likely voters by 47 percent to 46 percent, a statistically insignificant margin, the online survey found. Neither candidate has held a clear lead since early October.

But 53 percent of all registered voters predicted Obama would win the November 6 election, while only 29 percent said Romney would be the victor. A majority also said that they expected Obama to win their state.A new New York Times/CBS News poll indicates that Obama and Romney are headed for one of the tightest and most unpredictable presidential poll finishes of all time. It indicates Obama has 48% and Romney 47%. But another poll, this time by ABC News/ Washington Post tracking poll gives it to Romney 48% and Obama 47%.

Most political pundits insist that in the light of this tightness, the socalled “swing states” (states that are not conclusively for either candidates) such as Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Oregon, would need close monitoring, as justified by last-minute campaign stampede efforts by both camps in these states.

These were the latest polls for the Swing States published on Tuesday, October 30th 2012: Colorado: Obama, 48%; Romney 45% (Project New America) Florida: Romney, 48%; Obama 47% (Newsmax/ Zogby) Florida: Obama, 47%; Romney 47% (Survey USA) North Carolina: Romney 50%; Obama 45% (Survey USA) Ohio: Obama, 50%;

Joe Biden, President

Vice

Romney (Newsmax/Zogby) Ohio: Obama 49%; Romney 46% (Survey USA) Ohio: Obama 48%; Romney 45% (Project New America) Virginia: Obama, 48%; Romney 47% (Newsmax/ Zogby Oregon: Obama, 47%, Romney 41% (Elway). *Blogger, Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire summarises the emerging trend and observes as follows: “Greg Sergent ran through the latest polling averages and finds President Obama leading in Ohio, Wisconsin, Nevada

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lives, cutting power to over 8 million people, damaged major roadways, buildings and infrastructure,including New York’s 108-year old subway system.

Reuters estimated that the destruction caused by the Hurricane is about $5 billion to $10 billion in insurance losses and from $10 billion to $20 billion in economic losses. In comparative terms, Hurricane Irene which hit the North East last year, caused roughly $4.5 billion in insured losses.

Environmental groups and some political analysts said the exclusion of the climate change issue in this year’s presidential and vice presidential debates was a missed opportunity to bring the issue back into the national debate. Although the House of Representatives passed a comprehensive climate change bill in 2009, similar efforts failed in the Senate.

The issue became a taboo subject after the Tea Party and some stiffly opposed Republicans

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BY HUGO ODIOGOR with Agency report

Photo-finish race vantage Obama

If you give Obama just the states where he leads in the averages he wins re-election

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and Iowa, while Mitt Romney leads in Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. The race is essentially tied in Colorado and New Hampshire.

“For the sake of argument, let us give the tied states to Romney. Here’s the basic state of things: if you give Romney all the states where he is leading or tied in the averages – Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado and New Hampshire, he is still short of 270 (electoral votes).

Meanwhile if you give Obama just the states where he leads in the averages he wins re-election”.

Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 43

Obama resumes campaign today

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RESIDENT Barack Obama will return to campaigning after spending three days managing the federal response to the deadly superstorm. He’s launching a frenetic final push with stops in Wisconsin, Colorado and Nevada.

Come Election Day, the Democrat will watch the results come in at what aides are billing with characteristic audacity (bluster?) as a “victory party” in his hometown of Chicago. (Why the show of confidence? It’s not easy to get dispirited volunteers to get depressed voters to the polls.)

Obama travels Thursday to Green Bay, Wis., a state his campaign had long thought was in his “win” column. He will also travel to Boulder, Colo., and Las Vegas, Nev., an aide said.

Former President Bill Clinton, who’s in Wisconsin and Ohio on Wednesday, campaigns Thursday in Iowa, with stops in Council Bluffs, Mason City and Waterloo. First lady Michelle Obama will be in Florida on Thursday with stops in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach and Miami.

Recent public opinion polls paint the picture of a razor’s edge race, with the two candidates running within the margin of error in most battleground states. Both sides are closely watching Ohio,

•Obama where surveys have consistently shown Obama leading Romney. The former Massachusetts

governor would need to win most of the other upfor-grabs states to secure the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.

While the Obama campaign highlighted his lead in Ohio, Republicans pointed to states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

They suggested that the president and top surrogates were stumping there because of a late Romney surge that put states once thought to be easy wins for Obama in the toss-up column.

Romney targets 11 states

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HE push in the elec tion’s final six days comes amid polls showing the GOP challenger in a dead hit with President Barack Obama in many battleground states, including Florida and Ohio.Between now and Tuesday, Romney and his key surrogates will attend rallies in Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin, according to his campaign.

Over the next three days, Romney will appear in Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin and Ohio, wrapping up the week with a rally Friday night

in West Chester, Ohio.

He’ll be joined by his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, and more than 100 top Republicans. They include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

While Romney aides have not announced where the GOP nominee will be over the weekend, they confirmed he will wrap up his push for the presidency in New Hampshire, where he kicked off his 2012 bid more than a year ago.

He’ll hold a rally Monday night in Manchester where Kid Rock, who sings the campaign’s theme song, “Born Free,” will also appear.

Super rich, master organiser

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, with agency report

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ORMER Massachu setts Governor, Mr. Willard Mitt Romney ,was born on march 12, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan to one time Michigan Governor, Mr George Romney,who also ran for Republican Party presidential nomination in 1968, but was defeated by Richard Nixon, nicknamed “Tricky Dick”.

Business and Politics Mitt Romney began his career in business when he found a private investment company,called Bain Capital. In 1984. ten years later, he ran for U.S Senate and was defeated by late Teddy Kennedy.

Romney attended the prestigious Cranbrook school before he went for his under graduate de-

Early voting: the dynamic feature of US election

BY GBENGA OKE in Houston Texas

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HE United States Pres idential Election is November 6th but the beauty of the election is that there is room for American citizens to do what is called EARLY VOTING. This Early Voting gives American citizens opportunity to vote some weeks ahead of the actual date of the election and such voting ends four days before the election day.

Although Early Voting processes differs from state to state depending on the Governor of the state and the state legislature, another Early Voting process include application for ballot by mail. This process gives the elderly people

and other American citizens outside the country to apply for Absentee voting and send in their votes from any part of the world they are.

Vanguard learnt people who normally apply for Absentee voting include American Army that are outside the American shore, Ambassadors in other parts of the world as well as the elderly who cannot stand for a long time in the event of a long queue at the polling Center.

In the State of Texas, from the time you apply for an absentee voting to the election day, there has to be 60days in between, a situation which makes Absentee voting in Texas end as at September 6th, 2012.

In Texas for example, Early Voting kicked off on

An early voting center in Houston. Photo: Gbenga Oke October 22nd and will end West Center One Ward, November 2nd 2012 which Houston Texas yesterday, there were various people is 4days to the election.

Also, the Early Voting lined up for voting, a situaprocess starts from 7am in tion which confirms that the morning and ends 7pm many Americans used the opportunity of Early Voting in the evening.

When Vanguard visited to cast their ballot to avoid one of the Early Voting the rush that is likely to Centers called Tracy Gee happen on the election day.

Upon your arrival, you Community Center, 3599

gree at Brigham young university in 1971. He attended Harvard Law School and Harvard School of Business where he obtained degrees in law and business administrate. The later is at Master degree level.

Faith and Family The ardent Mormon faith Worshipper got married to Ann in 1969 and they have five sons.

Namely Taga, Matt, Josh, Ben, and Craig. They are all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. His openness about his faith gave the Mormon faith a national recognition.

He was voted in as the Governor of Massachusetts in 2003 after he salvaged the Salt Lake City Olympic games in 2002.As the Governor of Massachusetts, he reduced the over $3 billion deficit and signed into law a health reform bill which tried to provide a universal heath care for resident of the state of Massachusetts.

In 2008, he made a bid for U.S presidency before he was defeated by John McCain. He spent about $45 million of his own money in the effort which cost him $110 million.

On June 2,2011, he announced a second bid for the presidency and eventually defeated other notable republican party contestants like Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, e.t.c .

Romney has been a vitriolic critic of the president Barack Obama’s heath care and economy recovery plans. His so called Obama care was modelled after the universal.

His greatest weapon against Obama, has been the sluggish economy that has left 23 million people jobless. Romney has a world view that is not compliant with a dynamic world order that has seen the the emergence of new power players. In the world stage he described Russia as the number one Geopolitical enemy of America, and slammed China as currency manipulator. He went to the Middle East and picked up quarrels

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Mit Romney: Profile

Critics of Romney call him master flip flop because of shifty position on issues.

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•Ryan Paul over the comments he made about the Palestinian issue. The British media whipped him silly in July during his UK tour where he said the organisation of the London Olympic Games was sloppy. His choice of Wisconsin Congressman, Ryan Paul as his running mate doused the controversy that trailed his first foreign visit. Critics of Romney call him master flip flop because of shifty position on issues. He started of as a conservative candidate, but suddenly shifted to centrist position. He has shifted so consistently that President Obama called his tendency for inconsistencies “Romnesia.” The opportunity of the first presidential election where Obama slept early give the former Massachusetts Governor the platform to launch himself as a capable candidate.

Romney is extremely rich and runs well organised campaigns. He has made an impressive run but it remains a tough call for the GOP candidate

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 45

C M Y K

46—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

I N S I D E

Understanding Human Rights Wanted: A ne w cons titution new constitution Law in Nigeria (4) — Pg 47 for Nigeria — Pg 46

The judiciary needs redemption — Osunbor Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, a law teacher and former Governor of Edo State is presently a member of the Nigeria Law Reform Commission. In this interview he casts a retrospective look at Nigeria’s 52 years as an Many people feel that the 52nd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence was not worth celebrating. What is your comment on this considering the deteriorating standard of living of Nigerians?

Well, there are some Nigerians who believe that birthdays are not worth celebrating while others feel it is good to always reflect on October 1 as the nation’s birthday which is what the independence anniversary is all about.

I personally believe that October 1 deserves to be marked . The next question from there is how elaborate should an event be marked? You can either celebrate an event in a high or low key manner.

You may mark your 40th, 50th , 60th or 70th birthday because of its significance, but if you attain 43, 26 or 66, there is really nothing special to celebrate.

At this point in time we need not celebrate it on a big scale. We did that when we attained the golden age of 50 some two years ago. This year’s celebration was on a small scale.

But in a situation where there is unemployment, insecurity, terrorism and corruption in high places, was there any reason to celebrate ?

Again, people surprise me when they say government is not doing anything. For example when government started an intervention scheme to save the lives of pregnant women and reduce maternal deaths, people started saying government should have looked at other areas like malaria. The question is should government shut its eyes in other areas when there are a variety of things that should be done? You have to consider how much resources that should be deployed into different sectors because governance is all embracing. What is important is if you consider that the number of pregnant women dying is alarming compared to other places. This notwithstanding, the importance of infrastructures such as roads, provision of security and power cannot be denied.

But there are other issues which are quite germane such as culture and the plight of prisoners; they also deserve

keep the pace especially with the Asian countries but we are making progress.

Now people are talking about corruption.

During military rule can you dare talk about corruption?

People are talking about the implementation

attention of government because governance is all embracing.

On the issue of national security, I agree with you that government should do something, but let me go back to your first question where you mentioned that the situation of Nigerians • Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor now is worse than what it was in the previous years. of the 2012 budget; could you talk I don’t share that view because about budget implementation during Nigerians have more access now to the military era? You just cast your telecommunications via the mind back to the military era. So telephone; there is greater access to when people are talking about education than the previous years corruption now, it is because you can particularly in the last 12 years of now scrutinize things unlike during the military era . You remember that during the military era adulterated fuel was imported into the country and nobody voiced out anything, but now under democracy people can ask questions .

The fight against corruption has been so slow and there are only few cases to show that the battle is ongoing and the judiciary has not been able to give a good account of itself in this direction; what us your comment on this?

Thank you. I want to agree with you that one of the impediments in the fight against corruption today is the judiciary. At the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999, the first or second bill that the Obasanjo democratic governance in the country. administration introduced was the I equally understand that electricity ICPC bill. This meant that Obasanjo generation is on the increase . recognized corruption as the number I understand that government is one problem of Nigeria. Then I was a building more power plants member of the Senate committee on nationwide. Some of these Judiciary. Although there were infrastructure were left to decay in the dissenting voices on whether we 30 years of military rule and they had the legislative competence to became dilapidated. There is legislate on it because crime was government intervention in all under the residual list, we went spheres. So when I hear people say ahead and the Supreme court upheld we are worse off, I don’t agree. I our position. That was how the think we are better off. I know we Corrupt Offences and Allied Matters earned so much from oil which is the Act came into existence. Then the mainstay of our economy and should passage of the EFCC Act followed. have invested more but more of these But the question now is how far have resources went into private pockets. we fared? Some people are of the This is because we have not gotten opinion that some judges have the kind of leadership some countries provided convenient escape routes for have been blessed with. some people; sometimes under the Such countries have gone far ahead guise of plea bargain thereby of Nigeria. We suffered a lot of allowing some convicted people to retardation due to military incursion escape with a mere slap on the wrist into civil administration. we didn’t

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BY OKEY NDIRIBE AND EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

All in all , the major weak link in fighting corruption in Nigeria is the judiciary and the nation ought to do something about it fast.

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thereby allowing them to go with their ill gotten wealth.

One of such instances was the infamous judgement of a judge who struck out a 171 count charge against James Onanefe Ibori. It was a London court that corrected such an abnormality for us.

Another area is the Election Petition Cases; everybody knows that things were not being properly done. The National Assembly has tried to remedy that by ensuring that such cases end at the Supreme court which means people knew that something was wrong. Some retired Chief Justices had made public statements that something was wrong with the judiciary. People like the past CJ of Lagos state, the immediate past President of Nigeria Bar Association and Justice Uwaifo had observed that something was wrong with the judiciary.

I do hope that the constitution Review being carried out by NASS thoroughly examines this situation particularly with appointment of people into the bench and to hold these judges to a higher degree of accountability.

All in all , the major weak link in fighting corruption in Nigeria is the judiciary and the nation ought to do something about it fast.

But it has been argued in some quarters that state Governors do not obey court orders thereby making the jobs of judges more difficult. What was your experience like when you were a Governor?

As a lawyer I respect the rule of law a great deal and as a Governor I never disobeyed any court order. I earlier told you about my contributions in the Senate. During my time as Governor, I obeyed all court orders.

Again we should not generalize, some Governors do obey court orders. Again there are Governors who benefitted from the judiciary but do not respect court orders.

Continues on page 48

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—47

Understanding Human Rights Law in Nigeria (4)

BY CHARLES EZEAGU The Police arrived at the compound and drove back to their station from where they deposited the body of the deceased in the mortuary. At the end of the trial, the trial court convicted the appellant and 1st Accused of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging. On appeal to the Court of Appeal, the court unanimously allowed the appeal and held, inter alia, that Section 30 of the 1979 Constitution (in pari materia with section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended) allows a person to use such force as is reasonably necessary for the defence of his property. The court of Appeal considered the force used in the instant case as reasonably necessary in the circumstances.

With utmost respect, this decision was made in error by the Court of Appeal. No doubt, the deceased was already over-powered and arrested before he was beaten to death. In that circumstance, the force used after he had been subdued cannot be justified under Section 30(2) of the 1979 Constitution. The law requires that the deceased ought to have been handed over to the Police alive.

A better position was taken by the Court of Appeal in the case of Ahmed V. The State (1998) 5 NWLR 493 CA, when the Court rejected a similar defence put up by the appellant that he acted in defence of property. It is proper to submit with applause, that the Court of Appeal was right in holding that if the accused had acted in defence of property, the force used and the weapon employed was out of proportion with the way such property should be defended against attackers who were not armed.

1.5 Duty of the State to Secure, Not to Endanger Life The state has every machinery (will, personnel, equipment, diplomacy and otherwise) with which to protect, preserve and sustain the lives of the citizens.

However, it is necessary at this juncture to see whether Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended in 2011) merely imposes a negative obligation on the state not to take life, or whether it imposes any positive obligation on state agencies to act to save life.

At the international level, the European Commission on Human Rights has indicated that a similar provision in the European Convention on

Human Rights imposes obligations on states to take appropriate steps to safeguard life. See: Robertson, Human Rights in Europe: A study of the European Convention on Human Rights (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1993) P. 25. This will, for instance, entail taking appropriate steps to promote security and to prevent murder and other crimes threatening life. On a highly rational note, the Commission held that states are not duty bound to provide bodyguards •Charles Ezeagu indefinitely to protect the lives Constitution (as amended). of people who fear that they For instance, the hike in the are likely to be attacked. See: price of Premium Motor Spirit X V. Ireland (6040/73) CD 44, (PMS) in the early 2012 in 121 Eur Com on HR. Nigeria practically imposed The doctrine of the rule of law requires that there must be severe hardship on Nigerians.

Is this imposition not a effective government capable dereliction of duty on the part of maintaining law and order. of government in power on the The Civil Liberties right to life of the citizens? The Organization in Nigeria has poor state of the Nigerian made remarkable inputs on infrastructural economy the right to life in relation to occasioned by corruption and the state. The United Nations religious bigotry also poses Human Rights Committee has another question as to whether noted that the expression it is not a denial of the means “inherent right to life” cannot of livelihood of the citizens by be properly understood in a those in control of the affairs of restrictive manner and the the state. It is hereby protection of this right requires submitted that the state has that measures be undertaken failed in its duty to secure life. to reduce infant mortality, to It has gone on a frolic of its increase life expectancy and to own to endanger life instead of eliminate malnutrition and protecting it; as those epidemics. The Committee hardships occasioned by it also considered that the right amount to a denial of the right to life includes a duty to to the lives of the citizens. prevent wars, terrorism, acts of It is further submitted that genocide and other acts of the various governments in mass violence causing power in Nigeria, whether arbitrary loss of lives. It is military or civilian have therefore submitted that the assumed absolute and right to life requires states not dictatorial positions that only to abstain from taking life always affected the lives of but also to take positive steps Nigerians adversely. For to protect life. instance, all the Another important question administrations have bluntly is whether the existence of a insisted and ensured that Chapter 2 of the Constitution state of affairs created by the (ie – fundamental objectives state which will endanger the life of the people is a violation and directive principles of state policy; Sections 13 to 24 of this Section 33 of the 1999

of the 1999 Constitution, as amended) remain nonjustifiable. Does this not amount to an indirect denial of the basic rights that directly affect life listed as fundamental rights in Chapter 4 of the same Constitution?

For avoidance of doubt, items provided for under the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy (S. 13-24) are – (a)Fundamental obligations of the Government; (b)The Government and the people (c)Political objectives; (d)Economic Objectives; (e)Social Objectives; (f)Educational objectives; (g)Foreign Policy Objectives; (h)Environmental Objectives; (i)Directive on Nigerian Cultures; (j)Obligation of the Mass Media; (k)National ethics, and (l)Duties of the Citizen.

It is exactly 10(ten) years that, as an adhoc staff of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC Abuja, I did initiate a campaign towards the justiciability of the above sections of the Constitution in Chapter 2.

This effort of mine never saw the light of the day because the government in power did not have the political will to widen the rights of the citizens. Was it not highly ridiculous of the state to have amended the Constitution two times in 2011 just for the purpose of election? Who can accurately calculate the losses suffered through our common wealth to unsuccessfully amend a section of the same Constitution in order to achieve the former President’s third term agenda? Why are there no efforts to broaden the rights that affect the lives of Nigerian citizens? The

answers to the foregoing questions shall wait for another day.

The foregoing discussion shows that the rights of citizens in Nigeria have remained stagnant since independence in 1960. Where then lies the freedom, the rights and the envisaged liberal progression of the human person in this part of the world? One may therefore be right to raise an alarm for steps forward to be taken regarding the right to life under our Constitution.

1.6 Liberal Approach To Right to Life The Concept of Right to Life under the Nigerian Constitution ought to be expanded to include the right to live with human dignity and all that goes with it, namely, the bare necessity of life such as adequate food, nutrition, clothing, protection, healthcare, education and shelter over the head. It has been held in GBEMRE VS. SHELL; FHC/B/CS/53/05 (UNREPORTED) that gas flaring is illegal, unconstitutional, a breach of the fundamental human right to life and it should cease. Has gas flaring ceased in Nigeria?

What is the government and other stake-holders doing about that?

Liberal approach seem to have been adopted in the Gbemre’s case by way of expansion of the Constitutional right to life through judicial activism. However, much ought to be done to embrace the global realities of our time. This will take us to the examination of the dynamic Indian Constitution and case law on the Right to Life.

Concluded.

Ezeagu is a Legal Practitioner and Human Rights Activist based in Abuja, Nigeria.

48—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Wanted: A new constitution for Nigeria

BY THEO NKIRE

Introduction

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HE amending of Nigeria’s Constitution has engaged Nigerians of all shades of opinion over the years. It was a major preoccupation of the Sixth Assembly (2003-2007). It is a major issue among political parties, university teachers, students, the professions, civil society. On her part, the Nigerian Bar Association considered it so important that she set up a Committee to review the document.

What Are The Issues?

The issues are legion. They are as many and as varied as there are protagonists. To the Governors, the issues are Revenue Allocation and State Police. To ALGON it is local government autonomy. The average human rights activist wants introduction of true federalism; a reduction in the powers of the Central Government and an increase in the powers of the States and Local Governments. Many Nigerians want removal of the immunity clause for the President and the Governors.

Everyone wants a reduction in the level of corruption; greater accountability; improved security, a reduction in violent crimes. We all want good roads, a reliable power supply, decent schools and hospitals, clean drinking water and jobs.

Nigerians want every subject under the sun included in the Constitution. They believe the Constitution can provide for their every need. I do not think so.

What Is A Constitution?

A Constitution is the basic law of the land. It is the foundation on which all other laws are founded. It is a framework, not the whole body of laws. In its essence it must reflect the very ethos of the people; their norms and values, their belief systems; their culture. To fulfill its proper role therefore a Constitution must be simple, short, concise, and easy to read and to understand. It is the grundnorm and must therefore, be seen to be autochthonous, that is original; given by the people to themselves.

What Do We Have?

The Nigerian Constitution 1999 (As Amended) As many have observed, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 opens with a lie about itself.

“We the people …DO HEREBY MAKE, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES the following Constitution.”

We, the people of Nigeria did not make this Constitution.

Our military did.

Our Constitution has 8

chapters, 320 sections and seven Schedules. It covers 166 pages typed single spacing.

By any standard it is a lengthy document and as Constitutions go, it is not among the shortest. By comparison, the USA Constitution has 7 Chapters (called Articles) and 24 Sections. It has been amended only 27 times in its over 300year history. The French Constitution has 18 chapters (called Titles now 17 with one repealed) and 89 Articles.

The Japanese Constitution (1946) has 11 chapters and 103 Articles. Nearer home, the Liberian Constitution 1986 has 13 chapters and 97 Articles.

They are examples we can follow. However, Nigeria is not alone in the list of countries with lengthy Constitutions. Ghana has a Constitution of 26 chapters and 299 sections. South Africa’s Constitution has 13 chapters and 230 Sections.

Because of its length, South Africa’s Constitution adopted in 1996 had by 2003 (only seven years later) been amended 13 times. The Nigerian Constitution is still longer than any of these.

My Thesis The first four chapters of our Constitution capture the true essence of that document.

thereof, should constitute an Act of the National Assembly or law of a State. There is in existence today an Act of the National Assembly on virtually every subject to be found in any of those four last chapters.

A cursory look at Section 6 and Sections 230-296 (chapter Seven, the chapter on the Judicature) will convince any objective observer.

Though each of the ten Courts listed in Section 6(5) beginning with the Supreme Court has a portion of chapter •David Mark, Senate president Seven dedicated to it, each is a large extent, be related to its today the subject of a separate The Nigerian Constitution Act of the National Assembly should have only four chapters size. The last four chapters of or the law of a State. our Constitution namely, the (and 46 Sections) namely, the We today have the Supreme chapter on the Legislature General Provisions (chapter Court Act, the Court of Appeal (chapter Five), the chapter on One), the Fundamental Act, the Federal High Court the Executive (chapter Six), the Act, and the High Court of the Objectives (chapter Two), chapter on the Judicature Citizenship (chapter Three); FCT Act. At the state level, (chapter Seven) and the and Fundamental Rights each State has a law chapter on the FCT and the (chapter Four). Indeed, the establishing the State High General Provisions (chapter chapter on Citizenship can Court, the Customary Court of Eight) do not belong to the change places with that for Appeal, and the Magistrates Constitution. A section of the Fundamental Objectives so Courts. Each of these Acts or Constitution in Chapter One is laws is a repetition of the that Citizenship can be already devoted to each of chapter Two while provisions of chapter Seven or those Chapters. For example, Fundamental Objectives part thereof. What then is the Section 4 deals with the become chapter Three. Every essence of chapter Seven?

Legislature (Chapter 5); Nigerian hopes the The same goes for the other Section 5 with the Executive Fundamental Objectives three chapters – chapter Five, (Chapter 6) while Section 6 should metamorphose into chapter Six and chapter Eight.

Fundamental Rights. So their deals with the Judiciary For example, there is the FCT (Chapter 7). Section 3 takes proximity in that sacred Act – establishing the FCT, Abuja. care of the FCT. Besides, each document will further assure of those chapters or part that hope. Over time, To be continued.

Nigerians will be happy to see items in our list of Objectives move, one after the other, from our new chapter 3 to Fundamental Rights in chapter Four such that, every right will be fundamental and enforceable! The frequent clamour for amendments to the Nigerian Constitution can, to

The judiciary needs redemption Continues from page 46 What can you say about the current security situation in the country especially considering the activities of some groups that are unleashing mayhem on the nation.

I quite agree with you that there has been a heightened level of insecurity in the country in the past two years.

It is a matter of serious concern because no country can develop where there is no peace and there is constant fear. Now people are even scared to go to the market and even churches, the mosques are not exempted too. You can’t be sure that you will go to the market and come back with your limbs or life complete. We must not ignore it.

However, we are on the path of winning the war against terrorism and as you are aware, you cannot attain 100 percent security and the price of liberty is internal vigilance. I am very optimistic about the future of Nigeria.

On whether Nigeria will be able to survive this challenge, we have always survived right from the time of wetie in the Western Region. Even at the

peak of the civil strife people had thought that Nigeria will disintegrate but we survived it. During the reign of Abacha people thought we may not survive but we survived it.

Somehow, Nigeria has managed to survive its tribulations. We have always pulled through. We have always survived and found lasting solutions to these destabilizing factors and remained one indivisible entity. Education will go a long way to help us solve these problems; education is central to what we are doing.

Once we have sufficient education nationwide, we will surmount these challenges.

What is your comment on the debate over creation of state police?

In my personal opinion, there is need for devolution of powers. The Federal Government should devolve some powers to the states; that is the principle I will support, not state police. We are not ripe for that now. If you look at Federal institutions and compare them with state institutions, there is no doubt that the Federal institutions fare better. The Nigeria Police is a Federal institution. I do

not think any state can set up a police force that will be comparable to the Federal police both in standard and quality. The National Assembly at the Federal level performs better than state legislatures . At the state level, the legislators dare not ask the kind of questions the Federal legislators ask the President. At the Federal level, the legislators elect their principal officers internally but at the state level it is the Governors who decide not the members. Look at the educational sector; unity schools are better than state owned schools; Federal Polytechnics, are better than state owned polytechnics and the Federal universities are better than state owned universities. Also I do not think anybody can compare state electoral commissions to INEC. Take a look at elections conducted by INEC in terms of credibility, fairness and transparency. Can you compare them to elections conducted by state electoral commissions? The relationship between the Federal and the state governments is far better than the relationship between the

states and Local Governments. The FG releases funds directly to the states but monies that comes to the LGs are pocketed and spent as the Governor pleases.

Another disturbing scenario is that if you decide to float state police in the 36 states of the federation all of them would begin to import arms and ammunition for their various police forces. Is that the kind of thing we want to encourage?

Look at this scenario; supposing a group of states within a part of the country have various police forces and are in opposition. What happens if there is a clash between the police forces controlled by such states?

Can you imagine what such a crisis could snowball into?

So there are constitutional issues that need to be addressed. If a state police makes an arrest, can the offender be tried in a Federal High Court? All these will require a lot of efforts at amending our constitution. I believe that if the constitution and the rule of law are allowed to work properly there will be no need for state police.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—49

Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

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mashing and stealing: colonial plunderers, religious zealots, political activists and modern pirates Africa During the colonial period, a ‘priceless portion’ of the cultural heritage of many oppressed peoples was ‘ robbed’, ‘plunder[ed]‘, ‘despoiled’ . Simultaneously, foreign, “civilising missions” destroyed non-Christian ritual objects.

After independence, ‘greed[y]‘ ‘modern pirates‘ continued to plunder vulnerable cultural heritage sites around the world; and they continued to indulge in ‘large-scale theft and pillaging‘ at African archaeological sites, monuments and museums.

And alongside the chronic problem of theft, there have been programmes of destruction – for instance, the Apartheid regime’s ‘ war and destabilization’/’total strategy’ against guerrilla resistance, which involved destruction of churches, mosques and villages.

Nigeria In Nigeria, local community Muslim iconoclasts have smashed idols, and looted for non-ideological profit.

Primarily African Christian evangelists have smashed cultural objects (indeed, one evangelist leader, Uma Ukpai, ‘has boasted of overseeing the destruction of more than 100 shrines in one district in December 2005 alone’); and they have committed pillageas-sacrilege. In addition to these activities, communities have been gouged by economic forces; they have been forced to tear their archaeological heritage out of the ground and sell it in order to subsist.

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his family-splitting mess of motives and acts has happened in the context of ten coups and military junta rule between 1966 and 1979, and 1983 and 1998; and it is now happening in the context of a ‘ war‘ between the secular state and Islamist militants striving to establish a Shari’ah state. Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram (whose name means “Western Education is Sinful”) have ‘claimed responsibility for bombing churches‘; Nigerian security forces have burned villages, and police have chosen not to stop other violence. In disturbances tied to elections, political factions have burned down churches and mosques.

An example of colonial C M Y K

Antiquities trade in Nigeria: Looting in the midst of crisis African nations’ cultural objects have been harvested by foreign powers; attacked by religious movements and political factions; and, sometimes under duress, reduced to commodities and sacrificed for subsistence or survival. Still now, Nigerian ‘archaeological sites’ are ‘daily looted’ ; as Neil Brodie observed, nearly half of the objects on the International Council of Museums’ (ICOM) list of African ‘cultural goods most affected by looting and theft ‘ are Nigerian artefacts.In this post, Samarkeolog outlines the nature of the illicit trade in Nigerian antiquities, and of the struggle against that trade.

•Oba Akenzua I, Benin, Nigeria, Ethnologisches Museum, Berlin ,Germany

•Commemorative head of an Oba, Benin, Nigeria, now in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA

blood antiquities.

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BY SAMARKEOLOG

The looting of (now-)Nigerian antiquities began long before the birth of the independent Federation of Nigeria in 1960

plunder: the 1897 Benin Punitive Expedition The looting of (now)Nigerian antiquities began long before the birth of the independent Federation of Nigeria in 1960. In 1897, British rogue agents ignored requests and warnings not to interrupt a religious festival, and tried to plan an unauthorised invasion of the Kingdom of Benin to depose the king (Oba).

The agents ‘hope[d] that sufficient ivory would be found in the King’s house to pay the expenses incurred in removing the King from his stool’. But the rogue force was literally stopped dead in its

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tracks. On the 4th of January, tribal chiefs ‘defied‘ the Oba’s orders and committed the Benin Massacre (of 9 British officers and 250 African mercenaries).

Then, Britain decided to retaliate against the Kingdom of Benin for its insubordinate chiefs’ massacre of Britain’s insubordinate and aggressive soldiers. On the 10th of February, the British Admiralty sent British Marines and Niger Coast Protectorate troops on the Benin Punitive Expedition, to burn down and demolish Benin’s villages, its (religious) Juju houses and its (royal) palace; and to loot its cultural property, to pillage

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he conquest of Benin City began on the 18th of February; and, on the 21st, they ‘torched the city and burnt down practically every house’. British Marines plundered 900-1,000 ‘bronze plaques‘ (actually, brass plaques) from the king’s palace; and, in total (including other bronze, iron, ivory and wooden artefacts), they looted at least nearly 2,500, reportedly more than 3,000, pieces of cultural property. Absurdly, the plundered property was auctioned in Paris to cover the cost of its plunder; and the material is now scattered across Europe and North America.(1) There are hints that the power relationship between Nigeria and market countries prevents Nigeria recovering its property from selfidentified universal museums, which can provide or withhold programmes of

capacity-building (for the preservation of cultural heritage still in Nigeria).

An example of museum robbery(?): ten terracottas and a piece of carved ivory At least up until the 1990s, Nigerian museums had no alarms and no insurance, as well as impoverished employees. Thieves and a less-than-$3-a-day-waged museum guard took 200 million (perhaps 250 million) dollars’ worth of artefacts from the National Museum in IleIfe in a single heist; and it was robbed repeatedly. Thieves have ‘viciously attacked‘ and even ‘killed‘ museum staff.

This is an abridged extract from an article,The Antiquities Trade in Nigeria; Looting in the Midst of Economic, Environmental, Political and Professional Crises.

Source:http:// conflictantiquities.w ordpress.com/2012/10/24/ nigeria-antiquities-tradecrisis/

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

*Gov Tanko Al-Makura

*Senator Solomon Ewuga

NASARAWA 2015:

The looming battle

2015 election is about two years from now but those eyeing elective positions, especially the governorship seat in Nasarawa State operate as if it is tomorrow.

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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O some people, it is still far but for the likes of Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, Senator Solomon Ewuga and Mr. Labaran Maku, the year 2015 is at hand. And for this, they are not leaving anything to chance and have variously begun subtle campaigns in their bids to realize their quests to govern Nasarawa, their 16-year old state.

Al-Makura, the incumbent governor, who emerged in 2011 on the banner of the General Muhammadu Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, by defeating then incumbent governor and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Aliyu Akwe Doma, has since indicated his interest to seek another four year mandate.

He had defected to the CPC, having failed in his bid to pick the PDP ticket to vie for the election.

To remove obstacles on the way to his re-election, he has not only since dismantled all the political structures put in place in the state by his predecessors, Abdullahi Adamu and Alhaji Akwe Doma but also put his structure in place.

Al-Makura’s emergence as

*Labaran Maku

governor followed widespread support he garnered from the people of the state including followers of then ruling PDP, who felt that Doma did not do enough in terms of infrastructure development of the state within his four year reign, to win their confidence for a renewed term.

But it appears he has not done different either.

Although, he emerged with mouth-watering offers to his people, watchers of his administration, say going by the pace of development in the state, it would be difficult for the governor to surpass his immediate predecessor. Since he assumed the mantle of the state as governor, Al-Makura appears not to have done much better in transforming the state.

Although, he has rehabilitated four streets, with each not longer than three kilometers, all in Lafia, the state capital to his credit, there are so many left, both in the urban and rural areas to be given attention.

The people of the state, who are mostly farmers, are begging for government’s attention in terms of road network so as to transport their farm produce. Lafia, being the state capital, appears to be in dire need of this than any part of

the state.

Apart from the federal government road that links Lafia to Makurdi, the Benue State capital there is no other good road in the state. The other road from Lafia to Shendam, in Plateau State, popularly known as Shendam Road, was constructed during the administration of Chief Solomon Lar, in 1982,when Nasarawa was still part of old Plateau State.

Following this dearth of road network in the state, there are few vehicles in the state. There are no town service vehicles either, a development that has given rise to influx of commercial motorcycle riders, otherwise known as okada.

Rather than focusing more attention on road construction, the governor declared an interest in investing in cargo airport project. His opponents have picked holes on this to tackle him but he has stuck to his guns.

Contrary to opinions in some quarters that the proposed airport project would be a waste of resources, Governor Umaru AlMakura insisted that the proposed cargo airport would boost socio-economic development of the state, when completed.

H

e said apart from making the project another source of generating revenue into government’s coffers, it would also address frequent road mishaps thereby enhancing

commercial value of the state even.

“Sincerely speaking, I must admit that airport is not a priority project to the people of Nasarawa State, but I would be the most foolish state governor if I don’t take advantage of the proximity of our state to the Federal Capital Territory to attract economic development to the state through that means,” he said.

He pointed out that his government would not embark on white elephant projects that would be of disadvantage to the state and its people, stressing that the airport would not cost the state more than one billion naira.

But economic analysts argue that given the lean resources of the state, the N1 billion would go a long way in repositioning the state to meet the expectations of many yearning for quick socioeconomic transformation, if channelled into areas of priority.

As the governor continues his moves to get the votes of his people in the next election to retain his seat, watchers of his administration in Nasarawa believe this may depend solely on what he puts in place for his people within his first four-year reign.

Already, the PDP, which held sway in the state for 12 years, is not sleeping on its efforts at reclaiming the state. Its chairman, Chief Yunana Iliya, has severally given the conviction of his party at reclaiming the

state in the forth-coming election, citing the inability of Governor Al-Makura’s government to provide a better governance to the state.

Al-Makura’s likely opponents

Under his party, the PDP, Akwe Doma and current Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, are believed to be the two main aspirants that will slug it out at the primary even as Solomon Ewuga, present senator representing Nasarawa North is believed to have agreed to return to contest the governorship election on the PDP platform, if the state governor reneges on alleged agreement of not only serving a single term but giving Ewuga the CPC governorship ticket.

But his return to PDP will not come easy with ex-Governor Doma in charge of the party’s affairs in the state now. As far as the PDP is concerned in Nasarawa, Doma still holds the ace. His loyalists are in executive positions of the party at all levels in the state.

His faction of the party was recognized by the national leadership of PDP at its last congress. They pushed loyalists of Senator Abdullahi Adamu out.

The former governor had asked the party’s national headquarters to intervene by nullifying it but failed in his bid, a development

Continues on page 51

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—51

Even the rich don’t know their rights — Angwe, HRC boss EXECUTIVE Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, came to the job with a rich pedigree in Human Rights advocacy and is credited with being one of the brains behind the enactment of the Child Rights Act in Nigeria. In this interview he unveils the shapes, structures and strategies of the new commission which he claims is now wholly focused on promoting the rights of all classes of Nigerians. Excerpts:

I

S the commission in a position to enforce the rights of Nigerians?

The new law was assented to

by Mr. President on 25th of February 2011. And by the passage of that law, this commission is an independent commission and it is clearly stated that in carrying out its operations the commission is under the control of nobody or any authority.

So in this respect, the law is very clear and the government is not supposed to interfere with the operations of the NHRC. So, are you now convinced this commission has been well placed to be able to effectively defend and protect the rights of Nigerians?

Yes, strictly speaking and in accordance with the law, the commission is strictly independent. It is now dependent on the persons who have been given responsibility to manage the affairs of the commission. If the person who is at the helm of affairs believes in what he is doing, he can provide that leadership that will ensure that the commission

Continues from page 50 that Adamu himself may not find easy on his Senate come back in 2015.

Although, Labaran Maku is in the camp of the immediate past governor but if Doma contests the coming governorship primary of the PDP with the Information Minister, it may be difficult for Maku to sail through.

This is because he is said not to have much political influence in the state. His Eggon kinsmen, who incidentally control a major ethnic bloc in the state, could be of help for him but that depends on Ewuga, who most of them rely on for political direction in any electoral contest in the state.

Ewuga is seen by the Eggons as their pillar, hence they only vote where he goes.

Although, he has been playing major roles in the politics of the state but until two months ago when he reclaimed his mandate in a Supreme Court case, from

is truly independent.

But if the person decides to compromise and mortgage its independence to the government that is a different thing because the law has given the commission the guarantee and the person responsible for managing the commission is also protected.

This is because the law stipulates that you cannot even be removed unless by a resolution of the National Assembly. Even at that there are grounds that you can be removed. These include bankruptcy, insanity and incapacitation. But you cannot be removed just because somebody feels that you are too powerful. But you see Nigerians sometimes are too afraid to lose an office and they begin to compromise the independence of an institution just to be able to stay on sometimes indefinitely.

In all the cases you have tried to handle, have you ever been dictated to by the government?

Indeed, since I assumed duties, we have not been having that kind of relationship with the government as far as

*Bem Angwe

our operations are concerned.

We have been operating independently and I have never received any call from anywhere trying to dictate to me what we should do or not. The government has never told us to act in any particular manner or whatever.

What mechanisms have you put in place to ensure that the rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the Act are adequately protected?

We have also taken some steps to ensure that Nigerians are allowed to exercise their rights. In the first instance, as soon as I assumed duties there was this fuel scarcity following the removal subsidy and Nigerians went to protest the action of the government.

NASARAWA 2015: his fellow party man, Alhaji Musa Nagogo, to represent the people of Nasarawa North Senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Ewuga had not held any strong elective position since he delved into the politics of his state.

He had struggled through electoral contests to serve his people as governor of Nasarawa State since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 but the post had always eluded him.

W

hen he defected to the CPC in 2011 with AlMakura after failing to pick the PDP Senate ticket, those who know his political clout in the state knew where he was going just as they concluded that AlMakura had won already. This came to pass in the general election even as his ticket was hardly fought through the

It was a serious protest and the security agencies wanted to stop Nigerians from expressing their feelings over the matter and we advised the government not to stop the citizens from expressing their rights. We made it clear to the government that it was their fundamental right to do so.

We also told the people not to take laws into their hands so that they don’t give room for the disruption of their protests and violation of their rights.

We have also taken steps to stop illegal demolition of residential areas and destruction of people’s property in Mpape and other places where people have been living for many years without payment of compensation and resettlement plans.

The looming battle

,

BY SONI DANIELS, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

Al-Makura’s emergence as governor followed widespread support he garnered from the people of the state including followers of then ruling PDP, who felt that Doma did not do enough

,

judicial processes.

Ewuga’s change of heart to contest the Senate seat on the platform of the CPC, as against the governorship seat he had unsuccessfully vied for three consecutive times earlier, many believe, was an agreement

between him and Al-Makura that the governor would serve for a term and return the ticket to him.

He appeared to have confirmed this recently in his Alushi, Nasarawa Eggon residence, during a thanks-giving organized to celebrate his triumphant judicial victory to the Senate.

All the guests at the occasion, including Al-Makura and Maku were on seat while delivering his speech, he declared that the Senate was not enough platform for him to serve the entire people of Nasarawa, a development that political analysts read to mean a tacit announcement of his 2015 governorship bid.

With 2015 drawing closer, watchers of the state political events wait to see how things will unfold.

In Lagos, there was a place that was marked for demolition and we went there and stopped them and the government has promised to hold on until an alternative place is provided for the people.

We also did the same thing when the Rivers State Government wanted to demolish the various waterfronts in the state. We reached an understanding with the government to ensure that the right thing is done and that the rights of the inhabitants of the waterfronts to be demolished were adequately catered for by the administration. All these are aimed at protecting the rights of the people.

Is the commission aware of the demolition of over 500 units of houses by the FCT in Lugbe?

To be candid the commission was not alerted of the plan to demolish the place and has not been informed after the demolition. We only saw the debris on the way to the airport.

So far, the FCT is insisting that the developers went against its laws. But till date nobody has come forward to brief us on what actually led to the demolition. But the commission will take steps to unravel the truth about the unfortunate situation.

Looking at Section J of the NHRC establishment Act, it says that the decision of the commission shall be enforceable upon registration as an order of a High Court.

Can you explain what that means?

What that means is that the commission is extra-judicial machinery for the attainment of justice in relation to human rights. The commission is therefore empowered to carry out some judicial functions and these functions include taking decisions to compensate for the grievances suffered as a result of violations of the rights of the people.

So, when the commission takes a decision that decision is equal to that of the court and can be registered and enforced as if that was done by a court of competent jurisdiction.

What it means is that once you take a decision you take it to the court and register it and becomes enforceable?

Exactly.

You say that the commission may intervene by investigation.

Is there any kind of avenue to handle proper investigation and get justice for the victims of human rights violations?

That is why the commission is today a short cut to justice as far as human rights violations are concerned. Today, if your rights are violated, you don’t need to engage the services of a lawyer before you can have your grievances redressed.

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012—53

BITS Minister lauds Maritime’ Union

M

Public service club tasks members on productivity

L

AGOS State Public Service Club President, Mr. Yomi Amoye, has extended a hand of fellowship to members of club, urging them to be united to take public club to greater heights.

He also called on them to take advantage of the facilities in the club to enhance their healthcare delivery and improved productivity.

Amoye, made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the 12- man executive council, at the club ground, GRA, Ikeja.

Speaking with Vanguard, Amoye stressed the need for cooperation among members, saying, “in unity we stand, divided we fall” While acknowledging the present cordial relationship among members, the president urged them to forge it ahead in the interest of members and future of the club which he noted has a brighter future.

From left: Representative of Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr John Tsokwa, a Director in the Ministry; President of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MWHUN, Comrade Auba Wabba and Secretary General, Comrade Marcus Omokhuale, at the NEC meeting.

Healthcare crisis in Nigeria may worsen in 2013, labour warns

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

T

HE issue of poor and lack of access to quality healthcare services in Nigeria, especially for Nigerian workers and masses amidst increasing poverty, has remained a major topic for discourse at any healthcare forum. It appears the situation may not get better in 2013 if the view of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, is to be taking seriously. th At its 37 National Executive Council, NEC, in Abuja, where leaders also spotlighted the challenges of quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria, they picked hole in the 6 percent allocation to the health sector by the Federal Government in the 2013 budget proposal now before the National Assembly, arguing that it is grossly inadequate.

In a communiqué at the end of the NEC meeting by Comrades Ayuba Wabba and Marcus Omokhuale, President and General of MHWUN, respectively, said “early presentation of the 2013 budget proposal is a welcome development even though this presents some challenges such as harmonizing its commencement point since the 2012 budget is supposed to end by March 2013. The NECin-session was however much more bothered by the provision for health in the budget, which is grossly inadequate at barely 6%. This is a far cry from resolution of African leaders as stated in the 2001 Abuja

declaration to the effect that budgetary commitments of countries on the continent for health have to be a minimum of 15% if there is to be any hope for the mass of the population to access quality health.” ”A number of countries have met this goal. With the wealth

,

INISTER of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has called on the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MWUN, to further contribute to the development of the economy of Nigeria by helping in accelerating the pace of economic advancement.

Chief Wogu spoke at the occasion of the commissioning of the Maritime Workers’ Union Abuja liaison building, located on Kananga Close, off Yaounde Street, Wuse Abuja.

He said “I urge the Union to continuously bear in mind that its first responsibility is constructively to its members. Furthermore, I wish to add that trade unions contribute to the advancement and growth of the economy by helping accelerated pace of economic development through promoting and maintaining national integration, by reducing number of industrial dispute.”

While appreciating the efforts of the leadership of the union, he noted that; “The launch today of your Ultra-Modern Office is a step in the right direction as Maritime is one of the labour unions with less threat of industrial action.”

Wogu advised the union to always embrace social dialogue as a means of resolving any industrial dispute while assuring them of continued open door policy for the good of its members and the nation.

entirety and will vehemently resist any attempt by government to implement such an obnoxious proposal.”

“The NEC – in – Session observed that, despite the review of designations and schemes of several cadres of health workers by the National Council on Establishment, reflecting the new horizons of their training and responsibilities, such have not been in anyway gazette. This has adversely affected the career progression of MHWUN members. The NECin-session thus calls on the Federal Government through the office of the Head of Service to publish the schemes of service for health professionals that have b e e n a p p r o v e d

undermining the progress and development of other cadres within the sector. It was however noted that the report of the Presidential Committee on Harmony in the Health Sector would go a long way in addressing this matter. NECin-session thus calls for the

The NEC-in-session was however much more bothered by the provision for health in the budget, which is grossly inadequate at barely 6%.

of Nigeria and the critical importance of health for all, the NEC-in-session demands a scaling up of the provision for health in the 2013 budget to a minimum of 15%. MHWUN thus calls on the National Assembly to take note of this crucial position in reviewing the budget proposal presented

by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Challenges in the sector

Members of the union NEC, according to the communiqué, stressed their unshaken resolve to promoting harmony in the health sector, hinged on the realization of healthcare delivery as being inherently one of team workAccording to the communiqué “NEC-in-session was however alarmed by the continued intransigence of medical practitioners in

,

speedy release of a white paper on the report and its due implementation.”

“The NEC – in – Session observed with dismay the parochial and selfish proposal of the Nigeria Medical Association to the Federal Government aimed at privatizing (outsourcing) certain clinical and nonclinical services in public health institutions on the flimsy claim that this will reduce crisis and boost revenue in the health sector without considering the health implications of privatizing such critical services like P h a r m a c y, L a b o r a t o r y Ser v i c e s , P h y s i o t h e r a p y, Radiography, Catering/ Dietetics and Laundry. T h e NEC – in – Session rejects this position of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in its

by the National Council on Establishment, NCE, to put an end to the consequent stagnation of various health cadres.”

“The NEC–in–session observed that some states of the federation are yet to implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS. Further, it was observed that a number of t h o s e w h i c h have implemented the CONHESS have used inappropriate and questionable salary tables.

MHWUN thus calls o n all to take necessary steps towards implement CONHESS comprehensively to all health workers as contained in the salary table released by the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC.”

Deteriorating infrastructure

health

On the state of health facilities in the country, members of the union’s NEC said “The deteriorating State of healthcare infrastructures in the country is alarming and Nigeria continues to lose billions of naira yearly, through incessant patronage of foreign medical healthcare institutions. NEC – in – Session therefore, call on the Federal, State and Local Government to as a matter of urgency revamp health infrastructures in the country to engender efficient healthcare delivery services as well as discouraging medical tourism.”

54 — Vanguard,THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Stories by Ayo Onikoyi nollysexiest@yahoo.com

Desmond Elliot shoots big budget film in Sierra Leone G

angling actor and once Vanguard’s Nollywood’s Sexiest Man, Desmond Elliot, spends the larger chunk of his time these days in Sierra Leone and the reason he has made the ‘Blood Diamond’ country his second home is not far fetch.

The ‘Baba Ibeji’ is on a score of a lifetime. He is shooting a movie like none he has ever shot before.

When E-Daily got the actor on phone, he was full of live and clearly sounded like a man onto a big thing “ Currently I am on a project in Sierra Leone, shooting a

•Desmond

movie called ‘Reflections’ and this one is way high budget compared to ‘In The Cupboard’. It has a mixed cast and crew of Americans, Nigerians and Sierra Leonians. We are shooting with high-end equipment but it is produced and directed by me” he enthused. “ Though we have a very rich cast, including Uche Jombo, Lydia Forson, Aisha Kamara, and Dabota Lawson but I believe it is the story, which delves deep into the Sierra Leonian history and its liberation rather than the cast that will sell the film. The

locations are Sierra Leone, Lagos from U.SA. And back to Sierra Leone” he said.

‘Reflections’ tells the story of a woman who is jailed abroad, for killing her husband. She is forced to confront her past, when she returns to the country, which she fled as a child. The movie qualifies in the big league of movies like Resident Evil 5, cinematography. Underworld, Pirates of the Carribean, to name a few, where the same Red digital camera, the latest in cinematography was used.

First female emerges in ‘Star Time To Shine Promo’ with a car prize

T

he first female car winner in the Star Time To Shine Promo has emerged. Otame Oluchi, a student of Ogun State Institute of Technology, smiled away with a brand new Toyota Corolla thus becoming the first lady to win a car in the on-going promo.

Delta State born Otame Oluchi, 22, one of the second batch of winners in the ongoing promotion, was at the headquarters of Nigerian Breweries PLC., brewers of Star lager beer to take delivery of the keys of her brand new car.

Speaking after receiving the keys to the car, Otame was full of praise for Nigerian Breweries PLC. for elevating her status. “Now with this car, I can say that my status has been elevated in school. I am a different person. Everybody will want to be my friend when I get back to school,” she said.

Otame was not the only winner on the day. David Nwankwo, a Bauchi state

based commercial driver, was the second car winner on the day. According to him, the brand new Toyota Corolla car is the answer to his prayers: “I have been praying to God for my own personal car for a long time. Now I have it and I am happy that God used Star, my favourite brand, to answer to this dream of mine, he stated.

•Otame

Disney to buy ‘Star Wars’ franchise for $4 billion

s

iggest animation film producers, Walt Disney Company, is getting bigger and bigger and seems to be snapping up everything that is worth having, along the way. If it eventually pays up the 4 billion dollars Lucas Film is asking for its ‘Star Wars’ franchise, that would be the third major entertainment acquisition in seven years , after it acquired Pixar and Marvel .

The deal started taking shape in

May 2011, when the “Star Wars” creator,George Lucas had to show Disney CEO, Bob Iger how to use a lightsaber, an animated weapon used in the film ‘Star Wars’at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida, Lucas is expected to serve as a consultant while Disney revs the producer’s entertainment company, which generated $550 million in operating

earnings in 2005 when Lucasfilms made the last installment of his franchise, “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”.

Lucas, in a video interview released at StarWars.com, said: “I really wanted to put the company somewhere in a larger entity which could protect it. Disney is a huge corporation. They have all kinds of capabilities and facilities, so that there’s a lot of strength that is gained by this.”

Nicki Minaj announces new ‘E! Reality’ series

N

icki Minaj is currently part of long-standing reality program American Idol, but before the television talent contest debuts, the rapper is getting her own brief series.

Announced on October 28, the “Starships” rapper ’s threeepisode series Nicki Minaj: My

C M Y K

Truthis scheduled to start airing on November 4, with a DVD scheduled for November 19.

Minaj previously discussed a potential series in an interview with Perez Hilton in September.

Still in the consideration phase, the series, she explained, would make her seem more authentic:

“I will say that I find the more people see, is the more they understand, and then it’s the more they like you. When you pull them in your world, they see you as a real person. I’m not running away from it any more.” she said

•Nicki

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — 55

COURTESY VISIT: American tennis idols Serena and Venus Williams receive plaques from Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) during a courtesy visit to Government House, Lagos yesterday

Venus and Serena ( pics above and below) engage kids in a Tennis Clinic at the Tennis Section, Ikoyi Club 1938 yesterday

Your visit ‘ll inspire Nigerian youths, Fashola tells Williams Sisters

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state yesterday said the visit of the Williams Sisters, Venus and Serena, will serve as a monumental inspiration to many young athletes in the country.

Fashola who made this remark during a courtesy visit by the Williams sister to the state House,

Marina, said that their visit would further expose Nigerian youths to the required techniques in tennis.

The governor commended the sisters for their achievements in the world of sports and other h u m a n i t a r i a n endeavours, saying that they have inspired many people around the world through their commitment to their carriers.

According to him,

Falcons Continues from bP of the road in their quest for a first continental trophy. The Abyssinian women lost their first match 5-0 to Cote d’Ivoire who are due to meet Cameroon before the Nigeria/Ethiopia match.

Even as he has said the Nigerian team will not underrate the Ethiopians, Coach Khadiri Ikana will be under less pressure as

his girls recorded a hardearned 2-1 victory over the Indomitable Lionesses in their opening group game Monday.

But the Ethiopians who have recorded tremendous growth in their game will not be taken lightly. Coach Ikhana said “we will not underrate them because football is not mathematics. We will take our opponents as they come

We are not Nigerians Continues from bP Venus, in a response to a question on their true origin, said that while they love Nigeria, the fact was that they were from the United States of America.

“This is another country that we would love to come from but we are from the United States and are proud to be from there as well”, C M Y K

said Venus On their mother ’s decision to name their late sister, Yetunde, after a Nigerian, Venus said that it was because of the mum’s love for Africa.

“My mum named my late sister after an Africa name because she loves Africa and that is all to it”, she said.

“Really you have been an inspiration to many people for different things that you represent not only in the word of sport but also the charity work you are doing. The image that you have created in inspiring to many young ones. “ Fashola stated that the biggest things the athletes have that many people will benefit from is the inspiration and the hope that many sport loving and none sports loving persons have drawn from their achievement.

Chelsea launch complaint to FA over Mikel

C

HELSEA have for mally lodged a complaint with the Football Association against

Lagos stands still Continues from bP day in Africa’s most populated city, the two sisters, who between them have won 22 Grand Slam titles, practically stopped the free flow of traffic along the Ahmadu Bello Way, Osborne Road and some parts of Ikoyi.

Surrounded by fiercelooking security operatives, who went about their job professionally, the Williams sisters, who were accompanied by their mother, Oracene, got a rousing ovation at the Federal Palace Hotel and the Ikoyi Club 1938, where all the adjoining streets to the exclusive club, were closed to traffic because of them.

At the club, where chants of their names resonated at interval,

the sisters conducted a tennis clinic for about 700 kids, who were excited with this once in a lifetime opportunity to knock the ball with the famed duo.

On their most burning ambition, they said that winning a doubles gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics was top on their mind.

“Winning a doubles gold is obviously top on our target. We love the Olympics and we hope to win gold at the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro”, said Venus.

Serena said that they hope that their tour of Nigeria, which will see them play an exhibition match tomorrow at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan, will usher in a change to Nigerian tennis and empower women and the girlchild.

the referee Mark Clattenburg, who they claim used “inappropriate language” towards their midfielder Mikel John Obi on Sunday, but will not take any further action over allegations that Juan Mata was also verbally abused.

The European champi-

ons confirmed yesterday that they were prepared to take action over the official’s alleged offence against Mikel during Chelsea’s 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United, following “a thorough investigation carried out by the club, and led by outside legal counsel”.

“Nigerian girl must rise and achieve her potential. Its so amazing being here for the first time. I tried several times but I’m glad I made it this time around”.

For Serena, who has won15 Grand Slam titles, being in Lagos was dream come true for her “We are excited to be in Nigeria. My first time was a brief stop over when I traveled to an African country a few years back. It was disappointing that I could not interact with Nigerians back then, that’s why I’m going to cherish every minute I have to spend here now.

“It also makes me crazy to know that we have many fans in Nigeria, in fact, I receive thousands of messages everyday on Twitter from Nigerians who were asking if I would come here. Well here I am and It will be an honour to play against my sister for Nigerians and we will give you a good show..

“I hope that our presence and what we do would help to change Nigerian tennis. I hope that these players will be inspired to become the best”, added Serena, who last weekend won the WTA Tour Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Sorry, we are not Nigerians Williams sisters, — Williams sisters Venus and Serena THE

yesterday put paid to insinuations that they were from Nigeria, when they said that they were proud to be American citizens.

Speaking at the Federal Palace Hotel,

Continues on Page 55

CLINIC: Venus Williams showing kids how to play tennis at Ikoyi Club 1938 yesterday.

Lagos stands still for Venus, Serena

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

•THUMBS UP: Serena

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

HE two most famous names in women tennis, Venus and Serena Williams were up and about in Lagos yesterday and the city stood still to herald their grand presence in the bustling commercial city of Africa.

On their first official

Continues on Page 55

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Falcons ready to feast on Ethiopia

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE national Women’s football team, the Super Falcons will today take on Ethiopia in the second group match of the 2013 African Women Championships going on in Equatorial Guinea.

ACROSS 4 Raucous (5) 7 Alcove (6) 9 Bed (3) 10 Weep (3) 12 Flower (5) 13 Money (4) 15 Tag (5) 17 Already (6) 19 Decoy (4) 20 Absolute (5) 22 Rodent (3) 24 Wished (7) 27 Spasm (3) 28 Bug (5) 31 Overlook (4) 33 Measure (6) 35 Convenient (5) 37 Mud (4) 38 Plump (5) 39 Epoch (3) 41 Bow (3) 42 Last (6) 43 Smooth (5)

Cameroon Ethiopia

vs vs

Kick-off time CIV Nigeria

The match comes up 5.30 p.m in Bata.

The two teams will battle to win the encounter as the outcome would go a long

2:30 p.m 5:30 p.m

way in determining their progress in the tournament.

For Ethiopia it is a must win because a loss would definitely mean the end Continues on Page 55

DOWN 1 Flower (6) 2 Writer (6) 3 Donkey (3) 4 Trust (4) 5 Coral isle (5) 6 Quell (8) 8 Unaccompanied (4) 11 Barrier (9) 14 Require (4) 16 Stand (4) 18 Worry (4) 21 Customary (8) 23 Inform (4) 25 Omen (4) 26 Fate (4) 29 Unequalled (6) 30 Loophole (6) 32 Glowed (5) 34 Musical instrument (4) 36 Frenziedly (4) 40 Insect (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Tiara 5, sowing 8, Excel, 10, Enamel 11, Acid 14, Potent 15, Consume 18, She 19, Big 21,Erse 23, Ceded 24, Deft 27, Den 29, Lay 31, Resumed 32, Peeled 34, Also 35. Avenue 38, Valid 39, Emerge 40, Mound.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Inn 3, Remiss 4, Axe 5, Slap 6, Writhe 7, Gentle 9, Climbed 12, Cos 13, Deer 16, Once 17, Eider 20, General 22, Sure 24, Depose 25, Flea 26, Taller 28, Tuxedo 30, Yes 33, Dove 36, Vim 37, Urn.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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