Armoured cars not bought for me — Oduah

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62005

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

CHOLERA: 8 Don't poach FG confirms 86 deaths, our govs, PDP 1,623 cases in 6 states tells APC 9

Armoured cars not bought for me — Oduah •Says due process was followed •Disowns statements by aides, says they spoke in error •I didn't grant waiver for armoured cars — Okonjo-Iweala •Excerpts of Oduah's 12-page defence on Pages 12 &16

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, LAWANI MIKAIRU & LEVINUS NWABUHIOGU

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BUJA —MINIS TER of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, yesterday, told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that the BMW armoured cars that were allegedly bought at a cost of N255m by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, were not meant for her personal use.

Oduah disclosed this at the investigative hearing on the contro-

Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST:

•P.17

Mr & Mrs

HEARING: Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah (left) taking oath before presenting her position to the House Committee on Aviation, during the public hearing on the procurement of two BMW bullet-proof cars by the NCAA at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG yet to release N100bn to varsities — ASUU 15 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

PRESIDENT IN OKERIKA—President Goodluck Jonathan (left) being presented staff of office by King Emmanuel Tamunoigbeiribia Ibiagolika 5th, the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma, shortly after the conferment of Se-lo-lia (Star of the Nation) on him during the courtesy visit to the king for the burial of the First Lady's mother, Madam Fynface Oba in Okireka, in Rivers State, yesterday.

Armoured cars not bought for me — Oduah Continues from page 1 versy on a day the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, clarified that she did not grant waivers for the controversial armoured cars.

Princess Oduah also told the committee that her media aides, who rose in her defence

when the story broke by saying the cars were meant for her security, actually spoke in error.

In her 12-page presentation to the committee, she said: “As you all are aware, what necessitated this public hearing were the events that followed a false and malicious online publication that I had com-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

TAKE HEART

P

BY ELLA RANDLE

EOPLE will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel— Maya Angelou More often we are drawn to others who show they care in the way we expect, though we all want to know that people do care. Maybe it’s about being assured that we are not alone in this world. For that reason, we are drawn to those who make us feel we matter.

Chuck Palahniuk in his writings profess a beautiful thought about how a better change in attitude can lead positively to a better life because often it does seem that the unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because its only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that seem to last. Stone crumbles. Wood rots. People, well, move on to the beyond. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on.

If you can change the way people think, the way they see themselves, the way they see the world, you can change the way people live their lives.

That’s the only lasting thing you can create. And this much I do know, an uplifting change in consciousness is brought about by awareness, a conscious decision which comes from you, the individual. When a person changes for the better, the whole world is uplifted by this change too.

Imagine what would happen if we set out to make everyone in our presence feel like they matter, because in reality everyone does matter. Who doesn’t want to know that we notice them and value them?

And who might respond to us better when they feel that they matter? Everyone you can imagine!

pelled the NCAA to purchase for me two (2) nos BMW bullet proof cars at the cost of $1.6million.

“Let me state emphatically from the onset that the allegation concerning the purchase of the two (2) nos bullet proof cars for me by the NCAA is false in its entirety.”

After reading her presentation, Rep Zakari Lafia Mohammed asked her whether it was a loan or lease that her agency obtained from First Bank of Nigeria, and she said it was the same, adding that the money NCAA would pay would still be below the N240million at the end of the year.

On whether she acted within the ambits of the law by giving approval beyond N100 million, she said she approved the money and asked the NCAA to do the needful.

The committee and the Aviation Minister then engaged in an argument over what she meant by "needful."

She had claimed that in her approval she said “kindly do the needful."

Rep Mohammed took her up by suggesting that “saying the needful means a go-ahead to implement.

Responding, Oduah said: “No, you are wrong on that, the needful does not mean full approval.”

My aides spoke in error—Oduah

On the defence put up by her media assistants, the minister said both assistants were wrong to have initially denied

and also saying later the cars were bought for her for security reasons. According to her, the confirmation the media said they had was wrong. “As a matter of fact, their justification and confirmation which they brandished is nothing but the erroneous responses of my aides.”

She further said: “You may recall that there have been attempts at clarifying issues pertaining to this particular procurement. In the process, some of the issues were further muddled up. I mention in this regard the first attempt at clarifying the issue by the Coordinating Spokesperson for the parastatals when he was first confronted with the allegation, without recourse to the Minister or the Principal Officer of the Ministry and its agencies, who described the information as a mere rumour. .”This was followed by the statement of my SA Media who was himself guided by his own perception of the duties and challenges of my office and possibly, even the danger to the person and office of the Minister.

This is made evident by the fact that his statement focused on my personal security and safety without recourse to procurement process and policy file to which he had no access.”

The NCAA D-G, Fola Akinkuotu was then asked whether he did the needful, and he said he was not in-charge at NCAA when the order was given for the purchase.

Also, Permanent secretary of the ministry, George Ossi was then taken to task for allegedly misleading the minister by not advising her appropriately.

The committee said the permanent secretary ought to have asked the NCAA to do the right thing. The permanent secretary, however, claimed that due diligence ought to have been done by the agency before applying for approval. He claimed that he was not available at the time everything happened. The D-G also said he would have followed the Procurement Act if he was the one the directive was given to do the needful. He said the acting D-G, Joyce Daniel Nkemakolam ought to explain why he did not do that.

In his evidence, Nkemakolam said: “We interpreted the directive to mean to go through it in line with the Procurement Act”. He said due diligence was followed but they had a mindset

that they were within the budget limits.

But when he was asked why he didn’t follow due diligence to ensure that it was in tandem with the procurement law, he said he thought since the agency had got the approval of the National Assembly, there was no need for such diligence.

He was also asked why he initiated a memo to approve 54 vehicles when what the National assembly approved was 25 vehicles. He was reminded that what was approved was N240million and not N643million.

NCAA was further asked whether the board sought approval of the President to approve the car loan. Nkemakolam said he was working on the mindset that they were still within the approved limit explaining that what NCAA discussed with First Bank was a lease. He was asked whether the NCAA board approved the money and he said the NCAA has interim board and that he was working on account that it was a lease and not loan.

Drama in the house

The drama continued with Rep Manwe asking the former DG of NCAA to disclose who uses the controversial bulletproof cars since the minister bluntly confessed that they were not bought for her use.

It was one question that got him jolted as minutes passed before he could provide an answer. And when he finally found his voice, he said: “Anybody can use the vehicles when they are in the pool. They are operational vehicles.”

But the lawmaker wouldn’t give up. He continued with a rider to the question. “Do you mean that a messenger or cleaner in the agency can use the cars?”

At this juncture, there was dead silence in the hearing room, with the D-G losing his voice for the second time. And

when again, he found it, he answered this way: “Those categories of vehicles are for VIPs which include the minister, including you, the honourables.”

Just then a blast of laughter erupted in the hall which to some extent provided some comic relief to everyone.

But Rep Manwe wouldn’t stop. He asked again: “Can we have the log book of the movement of the car?"

In a subdued voice, the D-G answered: “I am not a transport officer.

I don’t know whether they are still keeping those log books.”

When it now became obvious that the D-G had exhausted all the answers he had, the lawmakers mandated the agency to bring the man who received the vehicles at the point of delivery by Coscharis Motors.

In her closing remark, the chairperson, Onyejeocha assured Nigerians that justice would be done to the report of the hearing.

“Fact speaks for itself.

We have tried to listen to people — Coscharis, the minister, NCAA, First Bank, BPP and Customs, and we have their submissions with us. We will consider what we have whether it is in line with extant laws and financial regulations. We assure everyone and all Nigerians that we will do justice to this hearing,” Onyejeocha said.

Speaking with some journalists shortly after the hearing, the minister, Oduah expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for giving her an opportunity to present her own side of the story.

I didn’t grant waiver for amoured cars —Okonjo-Iweala

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

Continues on page 51

6—Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

25 students in coma after inhaling industrial fumes

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS— NO fewer that 25 students of Ogba Junior Secondary School, Lagos, yesterday, went into coma after inhaling a chemical waste allegedly discharged into drainage by a company, Bizcircuit Photo Laboratory, located a few metres from the school premises.

According to reports, the gas enveloped the school premises at noon.

One of the school’s pupils, Adetayo Adekanbi, said: “We were in the classroom when we perceived the offensive gas and smoke clouding the entire premises. We never knew the gas was injurious.

“Immediately I noticed it, I ran towards the gate to escape inhaling the gas. But some of my mates became unconscious after inhaling the gas.”

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, were said

to have rushed to the school and moved the unconscious victims to a private hospital nearby and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. Security men, however, prevented access to the victims.

The Head of Logistic, LASEMA, Mr. Femi Giwa, said that of the 25 victims, four were in critical condition but responding to treat-

ment.

Giwa said: “On arrival at the scene, we conducted a general assessment and discovered that certain liquid chemicals, with offensive and choking odour, used for production in the photo lab on the first floor of a shopping complex, could have led to the incident.”

He said that Lagos State government immediately sealed the premises of the

photo laboratory concerned and arrested three of its staff.

Giwa, however, assured that proper investigation would be conducted to analysis the chemical that off the offensive gas and its effect on the environment.

State Director of Fire and Safety Services, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said officials assisted the rescue team in controlling the chemical fumes from spreading further.

Driver kills 20-yr-old woman over NURTW's N50 fee

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN— A disagreement between a commercial bus driver and a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Ibadan over a union fee of N50, yesterday, led to the death of a young lady.

The bus, with number plate Lagos XR 989 ISR, hit the lady at Agodi Gate area of the city.

According to an eyewitness,

the driver was trying to avoid paying the fee when he ran into the lady, whose age was put at 20.

The incident drew the ire of passers-by and traders in the area, who attempted to lynch the driver and burn the vehicle. The arrival of policemen put the situation under control.

Vanguard gathered that the driver refused to stop when the NURTW officer waved him down for the daily fee. While struggling with the union

member, he reportedly lost control of the vehicle and hit the lady, who was said to have died instantly.

Police took him away to their station, while the lady was confirmed dead at Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan.

The state Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Inyang Ignatius, said contrary to the accusation by the public that the police were protecting the driver, he was put in protective custody.

How my father turned me to a pipeline vandal at 14— Suspect

BY EVELYN USMAN

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15-year-old boy, who was arrested alongside four others by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, yesterday, disclosed that he was pestered by his father until he joined the illicit act of pipeline vandalism.

The suspect, Sani Musa and others were arrested with 200 kegs filled with diesel allegedly siphoned from a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, along Shagamu/ Ibadan expressway.

Also recovered was a truck with number plate KMC 111 XW.

Their arrest, according to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin, followed a tipoff that some vandals were leaving the NNPC pipeline in Shagamu.

Policemen, led by the Sector Commander, Onaghaise Osayande, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, intercepted them.

Reinstating the task force’s resolve to curb the menace of pipeline vandals, Ibadin however noted that it would be achieved with the collaboration of members of the public.

He said: “Crime fighting is a collective responsibility and we call on all Nigerians to assist security personnel to fish out all those within their com-

Sani Musa (middle) and the other suspects.

munity that are into pipeline vandalisation.”

‘I left school’

The teenager said: “At a point, life became unbearable for my family and my father kept reminding me that it was high time I started fending for myself that he was not up to my age when he started life on his own.

“Then I was 14. Because of the situation, I had to stop schooling when I was in primary four.

“My father called one of our relations, who resides in Lagos, and informed him that I would be coming to stay with him so that he would show me the how to become a man of my own.

“When I arrived, Alhaji Sanni (the relation) said I should join him in his transportation business as a conductor. He was into buying and selling of diesel which he used to get from Shagamu.

“After introducing me to the business, he said aside being the bus conductor, my duty would also include standing by the road side to look out for policemen and alert them. I do not join them in the bush.

“At the end of each successful operation, we would carry

the product and deliver it at Mile 12 where we have tanks.

“He pays me N2,000 per trip, which is a lot of money to me.

I am terribly sorry because I did not know it was a crime.

“My intention was to help my family and to tell you the truth, I have been sending almost every proceed to my family with the hope that one day I will return to school.”

‘We use informants'

Another suspect, Chibuzor Okorie, 44, said: “I worked with informants, who monitor activities at NNPC, to alert our members whenever they are pumping fuel along Sagamu axis.

“I sell the adulterated diesel to suppliers who in turn mix the diesel and sell at N4,500 for 50 litres. At the end of the day it will be sold at N6,000 to retailers who are always on standby.

“Our informant will also specify if there is pressure on the line as this is the only time we can successfully extract fuel. If there is no high pressure when they are pumping, it will difficult to fill a gallon.”

Other suspects include Sani Musa, Musa Adamu and Aminu Suleiman. According to Ibadin, they will be charged to court.

WAITING: Queue for kerosene at

NAN PHOTO.

Bizman accused of N72m fraud

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AGOS— A businessman, Kingsley Madueke, who allegedly collected N72 million on the pretext of supplying petroleum products, was yesterday docked at an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

Madueke, 42, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on a threecount charge of conspiracy, fraud and theft.

According to the prosecutor, Corporal Isaac Amos, the accused committed the offences sometime in January in Lagos.

He told the court that Madueke obtained N72 million from Shaoil Ltd. with a promise to supply petroleum products to the company.

The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate, Mrs A.F. Botoku, adjourned the case till November 18 for mention.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—7

Police disperse pro-Oduah protesters in Abuja

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA— THE controversy surrounding the purchase of two BMW bullet proof cars for the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, took a new dimension yesterday in Abuja, when a group of women staged a solidarity march for her.

However, the women were later dispersed by the Police.

Numbering about 50, the women stormed the Federal Secretariat, chanting solidarity songs, while carrying placards with different inscriptions.

Some of the placards read “Leave Stella Oduah alone,” “Stella has transformed the aviation sector.”

The leader of the group, who identified herself as Rita Obu and President of Goodluck Jonathan Women Support Group, alleged that there was an attempt by Oduah’s political opponents to frame her up in the same manner they framed up Patricia Etteh, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Obu said: “Is Stella Oduah the only minister or public officer for whom bullet-proof cars have been bought in this country?”

“What her male political opponents have done is to frame her up. Whenever any woman is appointed into any high office in this country, the men would go and rake up untidy things about her for the purpose of bringing her down.

“Have the men exposed other political office holders who are also riding bullet-proof cars?

“I want all these questions answered.”

23-yr-old remanded in prison for robbery

BY ONOZURE DANIA

a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mega Filling Station in Yelwa, Bauchi State, yesterday.

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AGOS— A 23-year-old man, Olaide Dauda, was yesterday remanded in prison custody by a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikeja, pending the

Teenager docked for $40m fraud

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS— THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a suspected teenage internet fraudster, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi for allegedly defrauding an American of $40 million.

The suspects, who were arraigned before Justice Lawal of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on a 12-count charge bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, were remanded in prison custody pending their bail hearing.

Igbokwe, 19-year-old secondary school leaver, was alleged to have duped his victims, many of them foreigners, of huge sums through the internet under fraudulent guises.

He allegedly worked in concert with Obi to dupe an American, Micheal Silva, of $40 million in an inheritance scam.

Silva was made to believe

that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance that they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping.

The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40 million in installments through Western Union Transfer to Igbokwe and Obi.

Other victims

Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners among them a Tommy Bedwell, who lost $6,000 to him and Richard Hunt, $15,000.

One of the charges against Igbokwe and Obi read: “Tobechukwu Igbokwe (alias David Prince, alias John Emma, sometimes in the month of October 2011 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, obtained $800, $700, $200, $400, $200, $300, $500, $500, $500, $200 (totaling $5,500).

“Which sum you obtained separately from Michael Silva of the United States of America under false pretence that the money represent part payment

for processing inheritance funds due him as a beneficiary of the fund and which pretence you knew was false.”

When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

EFCC counsel, Fadeke Giwa prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

However, counsel to the first defendant, D. A. Omougbai,

asked for a short date to file his bail application.

Also, counsel to the second defendant, D. A. Eimuejel, prayed the court to accept the bail application he filed on behalf of his client.

Justice Akapo, however, adjourned the matter till December 3 and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.

Tobechukwu Igbokwe (right) and Ifeanyi Obi.

legal advice from the office of the public prosecution, over alleged robbery.

The defendant and others at large are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and being in possession of a locally made gun.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Chinalu Uwadione, said that the defendant, with others at large, committed the alleged offence on September 9 at Agric Bus Stop in Ojo area of Lagos.

He said that the defendant, while armed with a gun and other dangerous weapons, robbed one Garuba Gbadamosi of N2,000, driving licence and also dispossessing one Musa Morufu of a Nokia phone valued at N13,000 and one Wahab Rabiu of N200,000.

The victims, who were travelling in a commercial vehicle, were allegedly robbed by the suspect who used motorcycle (Okada) to block them.

The defendant's plea was not taken as Magistrate O. Akinde ordered that he be remanded in prison custody.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

IMF warns FG against oil price shock, capital flow reversal

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & PROVIDENCE OBUH

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HE International Monetry Fund, IMF, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to implement timely policy actions to avert risk of oil price shock and reversal of foreign capital inflow looming over the country and other s in the sub-saharan Africa region.

IMF Director, African Department, Antoinette Sayeh made this call in Lagos at the presentation of the Africa Regional Economic Outlook for the region.

But Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mrs Sarah Alade, said that the CBN is aware of these risks and has put in place a framework to mitigate them.

In a presentation titled, “Sub-Saharan Africa: Keeping the Pace”, Sayeh identified the risks to the growth of the Nigerian economy as commodity price risk and the reversal of foreign capital inflows. She said these risks have increased not only in Nigeria but in the SubSaharan region significantly over the years.

“Looking forward, fiscal consolidation is expected to be strengthened in Nigeria with more moderate oil price projections. As a result, fiscal balance for 2013 and 2014 in Nigeria is projected to remain around 1.8 per cent of GDP, almost the same as in 2012.

“In Nigeria, government expenditure reached a cyclical maximum.

The risk of debt distress in many countries in our view remains low.

“Without significant policy measures, a prolonged negative oil price shock or a permanent real GDP growth shock could undermine the recent progress that had been made in achieving macroeconomic stability.

Given Nigeria’s strong position, it is important for the country to take timely policy actions to be able to avert future sustainability problems that can arise from such shocks.

“Portfolio flows have gained attraction in some countries and mostly in Nigeria.

Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, in Nigeria in 2013 and 2014 are expected to remain relatively unchanged."

Cholera: FG confirms 86 deaths from 1,623 cases in 6 states ...directs federal facilities to provide free services to affected persons

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & RACHAEL OLAYIWOLA

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BUJA—THE Federal Ministry of Health yesterday confirmed that 86 deaths have been recorded from 1,623 cholera cases in six states of the federation just as all federal health facilities nationwide have been directed to provide free treatment to cholera patients.

A statement issued in Abuja by the apex Health Ministry, identified Zamfara State in the North-West as the most affected state with 51 deaths out of 1,110 cases. It is followed by Nasarawa State with nine deaths out of 105 cases.

Giving an update on the outbreak of the disease in the country, Minster of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu listed other affected States to include Plateau State: 11 deaths from 130 cases; Lagos State: four deaths from 134 cases; Oyo State: six deaths from 29 cases and Ogun State with five deaths from 115 cases.

Chukwu, who explained the current estimate of the patterns of distribution of the outbreaks across the country, noted: “These are estimates, because trickles of incidences and mortalities may still be coming. However, in Sokoto and Katsina states, the gastro-enteritis outbreaks have not been proven to be cholera. While further investigations continue, only confirmed cases are included in the current statistics.

“The outbreak in the states mentioned earlier has been confirmed by our laboratories to be caused by Vibiro cholerae serotypes 01 and 0139,” the Minister remarked.

Further, he said the affected states are being supported to respond to the outbreak by supplying them with emergency drugs, diagnostic kits and other commodities. “The Federal Ministry of Health realises that the affected states will require further assistance and efforts are being made to upscale our technical and material assistance to those states immediately.”

The minister who has directed the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to immediately co-ordinate response activities and report to him daily on both the patterns of occurrence, efforts at achieving total control of these outbreaks as well as the status of the control, assured that government will continue to enhance its surveillance, intervention measures and implement public health awareness campaigns aimed at stemming such occurrences.

Already, the minister has directed immediate release of adequate quantities of emergency drugs (cholera kits) to all the affected states for prompt and adequate treatment of cases.

According to the statement,

additional deployment of rapid response teams from the ministry to all the affected states is in place to assist in investigating and verifying the cases and tracing of contacts.

Other steps taken to check the menace include mobilization and sensitization of clinicians and relevant healthcare workers in areas affected for patient management and care and

immediate enhancement of health promotion/public awareness campaign to enhance among others good personal and community hygiene behaviour and encourage food hygiene practices.

MEETING— From left: Minister of State Trade and Industry, Mr Samuel Ortom; Representative of the Justice Minister, Mr. Hamza Aminu; Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Vice President Namadi Sambo, at a meeting of the National Council on Privatization at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

PDP may lose Nyako to APC today zAs Buhari, Tinubu, 4 APC govs storm Yola

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & HENRY UMORU HE protracted disagreement between the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, may see the latter moving over to the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, today.

The APC had on October 16, 2013, indicated interest in welcoming Nyako into its fold when the North East National Vice Chairman, Umar Duhu, visited the governor in Yola, the state capital.

The governor, on his own, did not mince words about his love and admiration for the APC, when he described its governors and programmes in glowing terms and praised the leadership of the party for its dynamism.

At the ceremony in his office, the APC said that they had the approval of the APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, to formally invite him to the party with the presentation of the traditional kolanut, which the governor gladly accepted.

Apparently to concretise his triumphant entry into the APC, a strong Presidential APC team led by former Head of State,

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Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, is visiting Yola, the Adamawa State capital to meet with Nyako and other top officials of the administration.

Other members of the team likely to receice Nyako into the APC’s fold are Governors of Lagos, Ekiti, Imo and their Borno counterpart.

Former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modi Sheriff and the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, are also expected on the APC train to Yola, where an important statement about the political future of the governor and his supporters is likely to be made.

Although there is an unconfirmed report that the seven aggrieved governors of the APC and other key members are planning to defect to the APC, it is still not clear whether they will change their minds and pitch tent with the ruling party.

One of the G7 governors, Babangida Aliyu, of Niger State, who was reported to have dumped the other six governors, denied ever changing his mind, claiming that as the leader of the group, he could not have deserted them in the middle of their political negotiations.

Vanguard learnt that it might be a matter of time for the ‘rebel’ governors to defect to the APC or any other opposition party ahead of the 2015 polls.

The seeming division among the G7 is when they should leave the PDP and to which party they should go so as to remain politically relevant after 2015.

While many have opted for the APC, others are rooting for the formation of a brand new party to be able to galvanise their collective interest as equals.

A top source close to Nyako confirmed to Vanguard last night that the governor was likely to agree to join the APC during the visit of the party big wigs to Yola.

In a related development, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo yesterday admitted that the November 16 Anambra State Governorship election will be a strong battle for the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Vice President said, “ I want to remind you that we have a strong battle and we will win this battle by God’s grace. I seize this opportunity to urge all members of PDP to come back and let us join hands in the interest of our party to deliver Anambra State."

“All members that are aggrieved, in a family, there will always be a certain quarrel, but there will be a point where we will all come together.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—9

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, HENRY UMORU, ABDULSALAM MOHAMMED & ALIYU DANGIDA

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ATIONAL leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC, yesterday swooped on Kano and Jigawa states in a bid to lure dissident governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to their fold.

The train of oppositionists led by interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and including Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, is scheduled to arrive Adamawa State this morning where they are also expected to woo Governor Murtala Nyako, another of the PDP G7 governors.

Ahead of the visit, the mainstream PDP, following the earlier visit of the APC leaders to Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State last Tuesday, accused APC leaders of desperation, asserting the APC to be “a hypocritical party” bereft of a sound ideology.

APC’s Lai Mohammed replied, saying that democracy is a game of numbers and that “a thousand friends is not enough.”

Meanwhile, the visit of the APC leaders to Kano sparked an internal crisis within the party following the apparent snub of Governor Kwankwanso by the state leaders of the APC led by the immediate past governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Shekarau who took over from Kwankwanso and handed over to him told newsmen that they would not welcome the governor into the party because he is a man with a rich history of violence against political contemporaries.

Also in the team of APC leaders in Kano were erstwhile presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Nuhu Ribadu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, among others.

Chief Akande who spoke on behalf of the party described Kwankwanso “as a like-minded person being persecuted elsewhere” saying “we have a home where he call his own without let or hindrance.

Akande said: “Leaders of APC decided to come to Kano for solidarity because some of you are being persecuted in your party. We are proud to showcase our party, APC is made of like-minded people like you, they are people of great minds. Mr. Governor we came to invite you to join us.“ In his response, Governor Kwankwanso said: “We have heard you, we would sit down with stakeholders to take decision anytime from now. I must not fail to mention that we are much stronger than what we were in 2011. Kwankwasiyya was powerful enough to win 2011, and by the Grace of God we are going to make a difference again in

Leave our govs, members alone, PDP tells APC zSays APC, a party of hypocrites, with no genuine ideology zNo genuine PDP gov, member 'll join APC 2015,” Kwankwanso in a remark to his supporters present said: “My people, all those that matter in the APC are here and whoever is not here now has no national carriage to move the party."

Speaking earlier, General Buhari told Kwankwanso: “We voted you out in 2003 and want to say that it was not your red cap that brought you back to power for a second term rather it was sheer dint of luck and that is what we are also looking for to bounce back."

Addressing newsmen on the visit Shekarau vowed that the state APC would “not welcome such a personality into our party” Shekarau who was a key player in the emergence of the new party said: “Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso is a man with a rich history of violence, he is not a man of peace, he did not live in peace with late Abubakar Rimi, he had a running battle with Aminu Wali, and he failed to live in peace with the party that brought him to power. How then can we be looking up to that personality to cross over to our party”.

Shekarau who spoke through his media manager, Alhaji Sule Yau Sule further said: "we got the information about their visit to Kano yesterday (Thursday) and I do know that they have equally scheduled a meeting with Sardauna and his group tonight we would bear our mind because our party is a party of discipline.”

From Kano, the team proceeded to Dutse, Jigawa State where they also met with Governor Sule Lamido.

Chief Akande said they were in Dutse to woo Governor Lamido to join them in their bid to rescue Nigeria. He expressed wonder why an astute politician and committed leader like Lamido was still in PDP, saying that they needed him in APC to help salvage Nigeria.

Replying, Governor Lamido one of the nine persons that mooted the formation of the PDP in 1998, said he would continue to remain in the party which he said made him what he is today. He nevertheless agreed that the PDP is very sick and needed a medication like the APC to cure it.

Lamido said: “Even if I leave PDP, the party we gave birth, gave me many positions in my life, still we will leave our supporters in the party."

The APC team is expected to proceed to Adamawa State where it is expected to meet with Governor Nyako. That meeting which was earlier scheduled for last night, Vanguard learnt, was cancelled based on the curfew presently in place in Adamawa State.

The PDP in a reaction to the developments described the APC leaders as desperate, belonging to

VISIT—From left: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Gen Muhammad Buhari and Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State, during a visit by All Progresive Congress, APC, chieftians to Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso in Kano State.

an ideologically hollow party bereft of sound principles.

In a reaction apparently directed at the Tuesday convergence of APC leaders with nPDP leaders in Sokoto, the PDP said the desperation to woo the PDP governors was a confirmation that the APC lacked “true followership and electable materials and hence its desperate bid to poach from the PDP.” In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said the APC has shown that it is nothing but “a party of hypocrites driven by desperate and blind quest for power and not by any ideology geared towards serving the interest of the people.

“In turning around to woo members of the PDP, a party it has continued to castigate, the APC has shown the height of hypocrisy and ultimately confirms to Nigerians that it has nothing to offer and truly lacked genuine ideology and principle. The APC has shown that it lacks genuine followership and electable materials. Otherwise why would it be desperate to poach from the PDP? Why would it celebrate and dramatize mere discussions with three or four aggrieved governors of the PDP? The statement, however, said the PDP is not perturbed by the actions of the opposition adding that “no genuine member of the PDP will opt for the APC”, which it described as a party given to religious bigotry and promotion of violence and divisions among Nigerians.

Reacting to the assertions,

the APC’s spokesman, Lai Mohammed told Vanguard that following the meeting with Governor Lamido, "we are not ashamed to say that we are wooing the G7 governors and if they have the penchant of losing their own members, it is not our

own penchant.

“We have the penchant of wooing people to join us. This is a game of numbers and a thousand friends is not enough, the more the merrier and we are going to be all over Nigeria wooing more and more Nigerians to join us,” he said.

FG spends N634bn on kerosene subsidy

BY KUNLE KALEJAIYE

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HE Federal Government has paid a whopping N634 billion as subsidy for kerosene importation over a three year period, 2010-2012. The sum is about a third of the country’s capital budget.

The removal of fuel subsidy had sparked off nationwide protests in January 2012, a development that led to the unveiling of deep-rooted corruption in the management of the Petroleum Subsidy Fund, PSF. In the case of kerosene, except for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, retail outlets, no other filling station anywhere in the country sells kerosene at N50/Litre, the reason the product is being subsidised.

The development has raised dust among economic analysts, who wonder why the product remains subsidized, since it is not being sold at regulated price.

The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, disclosed this yesterday, at the Lagos Chamber

of Commerce and Industry, LCCI Petroleum Downstream Group Seminar on Kerosene.

Peterside, who gave a breakdown of what made up the figures, revealed that in 2010, Nigeria spent over N110.068 billion to subsidise kerosene.

He said further: “There were also some investigations that showed that the downstream sector is entrenched in deep corruption in Nigeria in the 2011. That year, we spent about N324.1billion on kerosene subsidy. In 2012, although we are yet to reconcile this, we spent N200billion subsidising kerosene.

“And so in three years, we’ve spent N634 billion subsidising kerosene which one third of what we spend in a year of capital budget. But we do not spend up to N4.5billion on capital budget in a year.

“No country that spends most of its funds on consumption will grow.

And so that explains why Nigeria is not moving forward. How can we move forward when most of our funds are spends servicing corruption.”

Accordingly, he described the downstream sector as the mother of corruption and fraud, stating that this is where corruption begins and ends.

10— Vanguard ,FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Alimosho residents condemn abandoned roads

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COMMISSIONING: From left, Lagos Brewery Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, NB, Mrs. Ethel Uche; Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello; Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Taofeek Tijani, cutting the tape of Streetlight Project; Managing Director/CEO, NB, Mr. Nico Vervelde, and General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, during the commissioning of streetlights, at Abebe village road, Iganmu, donated by Nigerian Breweries Plc. Photo: Diran Oshe

MURDERED BANKER: Court fixes Dec for

final addresses zAdjourns Babalakin’s case

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — JUSTICE Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, yesterday, fixed December 4, 2013 for the adoption of final written addresses in the trial of Akolade Arowolo, who allegedly murdered his banker wife, Titilayo.

Arowolo, is standing trial of a

one-count murder charge over the death of his wife.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge against him when he was arraigned on December 21,2011 and was subsequently remanded in Ikoyi Prison.

The counsel to the defendant, Olarenwaju Ajanaku, in a filed application dated October 25, asked the court for an order of

extension of time to serve the final written address on the state counsel, Femi Adamson.

The judge granted the order, stating that “the order is granted, the time runs from today and the reply is to be filed within five days.”

Arowolo, who allegedly stabbed his wife to death on his birthday, was 31 years old when he was

S-West govs open malls at former Daily Sketch space

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN—GOVERNORS in the South West states, yesterday, gathered at the commissioning of two ultra-modern malls built

by Odu’a Investment Limited.

While Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State was there, his counterparts from Osun, Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo states sent their representatives.

The mall now occupies the space used by the defunct Daily Sketch Newspapers, Dugbe, Ibadan.

While speaking at the ceremony, Governor Ajimobi said: “For us as an administration and you as a company, both of us with notable pedigree and heritage, today is another icing on our historic cake.”

Ajimobi who said the malls

would provide 2,000 jobs noted that the vision to construct malls of this international class was conceived some years ago by the board and management of the company.

He said the vision of Odu'a Investment was to redefine business activities and improve the quality of lives in Ibadan and other neighboring states.

Labour suspends planned ports shut-down

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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ARITIME WORKERS Union of Nigeria, MWUN, yesterday, suspended the plan to shut down the nation’s ports starting from today over eight months unpaid salary arrears to members of the dockworkers branch of the union, following an agreement with the management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. This came as the union dismissed claims by NPA that it had paid 56 per cent of monies owed dockworkers, saying NPA was being economical with the truth.

President-General of MWUN, Mr. Anthony Emmanuel Nted said: “It is not true that NPA paid 56 per cent of monies owed dockworkers.

What the NPA paid through Stevedoring Company is even less than three months. The NPA released about N400 million to the contractor to pay over 1, 400 dockworkers. But the same NPA released N300 million to its own contractor, “Cargo Surveyor” to pay about 100 workers which it hired.”

Meanwhile, following a meeting between the management of NPA and MWUN leaders, after government waded and directed that the contending

issue be resolved, the pending industrial unrest was suspended.

It was gathered that NPA team led by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Olumide Oduntan, agreed to pay the balance of the five months before November 15, and that the January to March had been paid to employers of the workers (tally clerks and onboard security), Wednesday.

Confirming the development, President of Dockworkers’ branch of MWUN, Adewale Adeyaju said the union would hold a meeting this morning to brief the workers on the development.

brought to court.

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, had alleged that the defendant murdered Titilayo on June 24, 2011 at their residence at 8, Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos.

The prosecution closed its case against the defendant on November.19, 2012, after calling 12 witnesses, who testified before the court.

The witnesses included the deceased father, George Oyakhire and her step-mother, Adetoun.

They both testified that the marriage of the defendant and the deceased was characterised by domestic violence.

Another witness, Professor John Obafunwa, a consultant pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, also testified that Titilayo was stabbed 76 times.

However, Arowolo, denied the allegation that he murdered his wife.

Arowolo had claimed on May 22, while giving his testimony that his wife died after accidentally falling on a knife that she was using to stab him during a quarrel on his birthday.

He blamed his in-laws for the trouble in his marriage to the deceased.

Meantime, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, also, yesterday, adjourned the trial of the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Ltd., Wale Babalakin, till November 27, 2013.

The adjournment was due to the re-assignment of the case to a new judge, Justice Lawal-Akapo, by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips.

Babalakin was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly transferring N4.7 billion on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

He was arraigned alongside Alex Okoh and their companies Stabilini Visioni Ltd., Bi-Courtney Ltd. and Renix Nigeria Ltd.

AGOS — COM MUTERS in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State have lamented the noncompletion of both the Ikotun- Iyana-EjigboJakande Estate- Cele-Express road and the Jakande- Isheri- Ijegun road to ease transportation in the area.

A trader, Alhaja Tinu Ibrahim said both the state government and the Alimosho Local Government council deliberately refused to build roads for the people.

According to her, a journey from Ikotun to CeleExpress which would not ordinarily have lasted about 45 minutes now took over three hours because of the insensitivity of the authorities. ‘’We hear about Lagos working in other areas but not at Alimosho. Lagos is not working in our area. We want Lagos to work for us.

We do not have to move to Ikoyi or Surulere for Lagos to work for us. ‘’We voted for the Raji Fashola administration. We also voted for his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but we have got nothing in return for our votes. We need democracy dividends like other Lagosians,’’ she said.

According to her the situation was worse any time it rained.

RCCG prays for security personnel

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S PART of its monthly programme, the National Headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, plans to hold prayer session for officers and men of the Armed Forces.

According to a release by the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administrative & Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, the prayer session would hold on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the RCCG's national headquarters in Ebute-meta, Lagos by 8:00a.m.

Odesola said the role of various security personnel in the country could not be over-emphasised, explaining that the security personnel needed God's intervention in discharging their duties effectively.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—11

Opposition mounts against Ajimobi’s re-election

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — OPPOSITION has continued to mount against the second term bid of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have expressed the fear that the party may lose the state if they give him the second term ticket in 2015.

The aggrieved party members under the aegis of the Reality Forum of Nigeria led by one Elder Jide Ajao warned that as the 2015 elections draw near, the governor may not have enough time to confront his many challenges to contest and win the election.

The group notified the national leadership of the party so that the party would not lose the governorship seat to the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

“The leadership of the party should not risk giving Governor Abiola Ajimobi any backing, otherwise, the party will fail in the 2015 elections. Apart from reconciling the factions within the party, he is also required to re-associate himself with the serving senators in his party and also show regards for other chieftains of the party.

“The pattern of his administration from the state down to the local levels has narrowed

governance to a one-man show, creating avenue for fraud and cheating,” the group said.

Contrary to public opinion, the aggrieved members of the party, argued that road construction, payment of salaries as at when due, maintenance of education and health sectors with water provisions have no

link with developmental programmes.

While advising the governor to concentrate more on governance rather than gallivanting around the globe, they viewed that if he should give more premium to youth empowerment, the chances of the party would be bright at the elec-

tions. “All these and others that are not mentioned are test cases for his administration and if proper care is not taken, it may result to the beginning of the end, hence, he finds himself where his predecessors ended”,the group concluded.

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SOGBO — THE ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has again berated the state chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, over the bond sought by the state government from Sukuk.

The party said in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi in Osogbo, yesterday, that both the PDP and CAN were mischievious in the claims that the bond was an attempt to Islamise the state by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Oyatomi said the government of Aregbesola has been vindicated on the bond as Great Britain has also raised a 323 million pounds from Sukuk, stressing that if Sukuk were platform for islamisation, Great Britain would not have raised the bond.

He stated that “the mischievous politicians in Osun PDP and their surrogates in CAN should hear that Great Britain has raised a 323 million pounds Sukuk – the Islamic bond,

O

GUN STATE Gov ernor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has charged newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the state, to be more proactive in the discharge of their duties.

He said as leaders of their respective ministries, they have important roles to play in the effective implementation of government policies and programmes.

Governor Amosun stated this, in Abeokuta, when he declared open a one-day ‘Value Based Leadership Management Workshop,’ for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service.

Osun to reward excellent tax payers

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WORKSHOP: From left, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde, and former Ogun Head of Service/Resource Person, Mrs. Iyabode Odulate, at a one-day Value Based and Leadership Management Workshop, organised for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Ogun State Civil Service, yesterday. Photo: Wunmi Akinola

APC berates PDP, CAN over Osun Sukuk bond

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

Don’t break the chain, Amosun charges new Perm Secs

which Governor Aregbesola also raised for the state but which PDP and CAN in the state have viciously been accusing the governor of using to allegedly Islamise the state.

“We challenge the PDP and CAN to now tell Nigerians whether by subscribing to the Islamic bond (Sukuk), Britain is now being or will be Islamised by its Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron?” he asked.

According to the APC spokesperson, Britain now becomes the first non-Muslim Western country to access the Sukuk and

is planning to make that country a leading Islamic finance hub in the Western Hemisphere.

“It is important that we bring this fact to the notice and consciousness of our people before they are misled by agents of darkness in the state who have been lying deliberately just to paint a bad picture of the governor and create chaos in the State,” Oyatomi added.

The APC chieftain asked the PDP and CAN in the state if Christianity is under any threat of Islamisation in Britain simply because its Prime Minister

plans not only to access Sukuk but also to make London one of the greatest capitals of Islamic finance.

He stressed that “if a Christian country like Britain is not under threat from Sukuk, how come it would Islamise a multi-religious state like Osun where its citizens are integrated into the Islamic and Christian religions?”

The party therefore urged the governor to move forward with his works and discountenance “those who wallow in ignorance and mischief.”

S-West private schools owners condemn FG, ASUU face-off

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BEOKUTA — SOUTH West zone of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Monday, joined other stakeholders in the country to decry the face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, urging them to call off the fourmonth-old strike.

The President of the association in the South West Elder Dosu

Idowu-Moses stated this while reading the communiqué of the NAPPS zonal Delegates’ Conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, saying that the ASUU strike had dragged on for longer than necessary.

The NAPPS zonal president who expressed concern over the implication of the face-off enjoined the government to accede to the demands of ASUU regarding the

upgrading of the infrastructure in the nation’s universities.

He appealed to both ASUU and the Federal Government to urgently reach a compromise and quickly bring the strike embarked upon by the lecturers since the beginning of July to an end in the interest of the students and the nation’s education sector.

SOGBO — THE Osun Government is to give awards to outstanding tax payers in the state, according to reports.

Mr. Femi Balogun, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Revenue Service, said this, yesterday, in Osogbo.

Balogun said: ‘’The awards, which will be institutionalised, would be in categories and targeted at raising the standard of tax payment. ‘’The awards will be in categories that will take care of individual tax payers, corporate tax payers and associations.

...We're facing financial challenges — Gov’s aide

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R .

ADEGBOYEGA Oyetola, the Chief of Staff in Osun Government House, said, yesterday, that the administration was facing some financial challenges.

Oyetola, however, expressed optimism that the revenue base of the state would improve in the next fiscal year.

He spoke in Osogbo when the Office of the Governor appeared before the state House of Assembly to present a budget report.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

My defence, by Stella Oduah Being excerpts of the defence of the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah at the House of Representatives, Abuja, yesterday.

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HE Allegations Against Me: “Honourable Chairman, as you are all aware, what necessitated this public hearing were the events that followed a false and malicious online publication that I compelled the NCAA to purchase for me 2 nos BMW bullet proof cars at the cost of USD1.6 Million. Let me state emphatically from the onset that the allegation against me concerning the purchase of 2 nos bulletproof cars for me by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is false in its entirety.

“Your Honours, ladies and gentlemen, our nation is at a cross road in its history. The transformation agenda of Mr. President has changed our ways of doing things significantly. Mr. President recognized the infrastructural deficit in our nation and has taken very bold steps to address this and in order to bequeath to the next generation a nation that can compete favourably in the comity of nations and imbue our next generation with pride and patriotism.

“The massive investment and the aggressive prosecution of this agenda in this regard have seen the aviation sector being transformed. Today, 22 Airports owned by the Federal Government are at various stages of becoming decent and world class terminals. Nigeria’s airspace has become one of the safest in the world with the

complain and not lift a finger to do anything. We dared to act, convinced that it was in the national interest to do so.

“We are not at our destination yet, but Nigerians who are witnesses to the rot of yesteryears are now proud of their nation seeing what is going on in the aviation sector. What we are doing in the sector, together with the effort in other equally important sectors, have given hope to the mass of our people that we can do something, apart from complaining, about the decay in our national life.

“In doing what we have done, the purveyors of the rot and corruption that have characterized the sector have at no time folded their arms. They have fought back every inch of the way. The latest false and wicked allegation of purchase of 2 nos bulletproof cars for me by the NCAA is another of the fabrications in their arsenal of lies to discredit my team and make our reformation of the sector lack credibility in the hope that that will clear the coast for them to return to their wicked old ways.

But we have only one message for this group: The Nigerian people now know better and will no longer tolerate them! “ Matters Arising from the Lease Financing Arrangement for Operational Vehicles by the NCAA Did the NCAA spend monies not approved by the Appropriation Act, 2013?

Let me state emphatically from the onset that the allegation against me concerning the purchase of 2 nos bulletproof cars for me by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is false in its entirety deployment of modern navigational equipments and infrastructures. The oversight capacity of the whole sector has been strengthened with the relevant regulations in place and the training and retraining of personnel. Our National Aviation Policy has been reviewed to chart the path to a safer and secure aviation sector. The plan to make Nigeria have a national carrier is at an advanced stage of implementation. The pursuit of an aviation sector that is self sustaining is being pursued with all aggression and vigour.

“All the efforts to bring change to the aviation sector have been resisted with vigour by the entrenched interests that have been ripping off the nation. We have had to put our foot down in the national interest and stopped the rape of our national patrimony. We have had to confront frontally very powerful forces that have held the sector hostage. My team and I are not people who will see things going very wrong, fold our arms and

Honourable Chairman, the NCAA, as a result of the daily interaction with the law in its regulatory and enforcement roles, is at all times and in all matters conscious of its obligations of complying with the law and all extant rules and regulations of the Government.

The NCAA is therefore conscious of its obligations relating in particular to appropriation and will never spend monies that have not been appropriated by the National Assembly.

“It is in this regard, therefore, that the NCAA, within the framework of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) approved by the National Assembly as a planning tool, planned its budget with regard to acquisition of operational and other security and safety vehicles for the next three years in a manner compliant with Section 80 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), that prohibits the spending of monies from any

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah fund of the Federation except as appropriated by the National Assembly.

“The media has been awash with the purported spending of monies by the NCAA to the tune of USD1.6 million, N255 million and other figures on the purchase of vehicles by the NCAA. Honourable Chairman, it is not true that the NCAA has spent such amount of money on purchase of vehicles, it is also not true that the NCAA has purchased 2 bulletproof BMW vehicles for the honourable minister of aviation.

“Honourable members, as pointed out above, what the NCAA has done, is to plan for the acquisition of vehicles for the next three years within the MTEF through a lease financing arrangement with First Bank of Nigeria Plc. Under this arrangement, NCAA’s obligation to First Bank of Nigeria, Pic is N23 million monthly which will be liquidated in 3 years (36 months). By the end of the year 2013, the total amount the NCAA would have spent on the acquisition of these vehicles will be N116 Million only. This is below the amount of N240 million appropriated by the NASS for the purchase of vehicles by NCAA in the 2013 Appropriation Act. What the NCAA has done within the framework of the MTEF and its desire to be prudent, is to plan its budget in a manner that the cash flow of the Authority is to accommodate spending effortlessly. The relevant portion of the Approved budget is annexed as Annexure FMA “1”.

Justification for the Lease Financing of the 2 Nos BMW Cars “Honourable Chairman, the NCAA owes its very existence to the benevolence and wisdom of the National Assembly expressed through the making of the

Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, 2006.

As the regulator of the entire aviation industry, the NCAA, pursuant to powers granted under the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 makes and enforces regulations towards ensuring safety and security of Nigeria’s airspace.

The NCAA in addition, plays a pivotal role in carrying out Nigeria’s international obligations and responsibilities.

“NCAA has done this with distinction over the years ensuring that Nigeria currently has attained the coveted Category One certification of the U.S FAA; Nigeria is currently a member of the ICAO Council with the strong probability that a Nigerian may emerge the President of the ICAO Council in a matter of days, hopefully by the end of the month of November, 2013 and on December 6, 2013, both the outgoing President and incoming President of ICAO will be in Nigeria. The aggregate of the various victories of Nigeria in the international arena, including the re-election of Nigeria as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, is that Nigeria is increasingly readdressing the negative perceptions about our nation.

“The inadequacy and unreliability of NCAA existing operational vehicles due to old age and depreciation necessitated the acquisition of the new ones. Furthermore, with the appointment of a new Director General, Directors, General Managers and other Management Staff there was the need for additional operational and service vehicles. Moreover, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC, BAG, CANSO, ACI and a host of others made it imperative to have various

specifications of operational vehicles including the purchase of the 2 nos security/safety vehicles. Certification is a continuous exercise in aviation and surveillance is a part of the daily operations of the NCAA. “As pointed out above, Nigeria is an important player in ICAO circles and Nigeria’s emergence as a member of the General Council has increased the expectations in international aviation. Most importantly, the expected emergence of a Nigerian as the President of the General Council of ICAO will make Nigeria one of the most significant destinations for actors in the international aviation sector. This will place additional burdens on us as a nation.

“It is all these factors that the NCAA considered in planning for the acquisition of the different specifications of vehicles through a Lease Financing Arrangement.

The security challenges in Nigeria today are known to all and the efforts and concern of government at all levels towards tackling this have been very glaring.

International aviation actors However, while government is tackling the matter, the impact of an attack leading to the death, kidnapping or other injuries to international aviation actors in international circles will simply be disastrous. In addition, matters of insecurity do not wait until you have the resources to fight them before they occur. It requires proactive interface and preventive measures. The NCAA considered that it will not be in the interest of our nation if the security issues above were to occur and so ought to be avoided at all cost. The NCAA acted with the highest patriotic consideration within the ambit of the Law and the Constitution.

“Did NCAA Purchase 2 Nos Bulletproof Vehicles for Me as the Honourable Minister of Aviation?

“Honourable members, another falsehood in the public domain relating to this Lease Financing Arrangement is that the NCAA purchased two bulletproof vehicles for me as the Honourable Minister of Aviation.

This is totally false. The 2 nos security/safety BMW vehicles which the NCAA acquired are for security and safety as appropriated by the NASS in the 2013 budget in Item 6. The title documents which are in the names of NCAA/First Bank Plc, as well as spare keys of all the vehicles purchased under the lease financing arrangement are currently with First Bank of Nigeria, Pic as is the case with such arrangements and best practice.

“Honourable Chairman, in addressing the issue of authorization by the NASS as contained in Item 6 of the budget, we invite your honours Continues on page 16

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—13

Jonathan, wife bag chieftaincy titles in Okrika

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, arrived the Port Harcourt International Airport, at 2pm. He was received by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State; Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; Martins Elechi of Ebony State and several other political leaders and traditional rulers in the South-South.

The President was driven straight to Okrika, home town of his wife, Dame Patience, in company of Governors Amaechi and Dickson, where he and the First Lady were confered with chieftaincy titles by King E.D.I Obudibo, Ikwo V of Ogoloma.

Jonathan was conferred with Se lolia I of Wakirike Bese while the the First Lady bagged Se Nyengibo 1 of Wakirike Bese.

Meanwhile, the Felix Obuah faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State chapter, yesterday, described the booing of Governor Amaechi at the Port Harcourt International Airport as a demonstration of Rivers people’s disapproval of the absence of the governor and functionaries of his administration at the

service of songs held for Madam Charity Oba earlier in the day.

A section of supporters, who were on hand to welcome President Jonathan on arrival at the airport for the funeral, booed the governor, who led a state delegation to welcome the President.

The party, in statement by Jerry Needam, media aide to Obuah, said: “By this action, Amaechi

has openly shown how much he hates Mr. President,” alleging that the governor came into the airport against his wish, following appeals by some traditional rulers.

However, the community was agog as the people were in celebration mood. Masquerades were seen on display on some streets in the town.

Vanguard gathered that ahead of the funeral, today, of the mother of Dame Patience, Madam Charity Oba, cows and bags of rice had been distributed to the various war canoe houses in the town.

Community sources, told Vanguard that it was done to ensure the funeral venue was not overcrowded.

PPPRA denies investigation by ICPC

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ETROLEUM Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, has denied that its officials were being investigated

by Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. PPPRA, in a statement, said: “The agency is not under any investigation whatsoever by ICPC or any other anti-corruption agency for that matter.”

The agency, in its reaction to recent media publications alleging that its officials were under scrutiny, described the reports as a figment of the imagination of the writers.

“The public is hereby assured that the allegations in the publications are completely false and

a violation of the code of ethics of journalism, which enjoins journalists to refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. It is obvious from the style of the publications that they were a calculated attempt at rubbishing the current sanitisation crusade the agency is carrying out in the downstream sector.”

The agency wondered about the identity a purported PortHarcourt based petroleum marketer, who wrote “a purported petition” against it, published by the media.

“It is stating the obvious to assert that the petition drips with falsehood, downright lies

and complete mischief. It is, for instance, a fact in the public domain, that international inspectors have their standard fees, which apply in all the countries where they operate. It is on record that in the last two years, through the efforts of these inspectors, the country has been saved N700 billion, which would have ordinarily been paid as fuel subsidy.

“The mischief in this petition is further confirmed by the falsehood of the allegation that ICPC had invited officials of PPPRA over the petition. Indeed, nothing could be farther from the truth as there is no such invitation arising from the phantom petition to ICPC.”

ALUU 4: Court admits video evidence of murder scene

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI ORT HARCOURT—A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has admitted a YouTube video download of last year’s murder of four University of Port Harcourt students in Omoukiri-Aluu as exhibit in the ongoing trial of the accused persons.

Trial judge, Justice Latan Nyordee, in his ruling, admitted the video as evidence, after defence counsel had challenged the admissibility of same. The video footage was tendered by the prosecution. But the defence argued that the video did not originate from the police.

Justice Nyordee in his ruling, noted that the tendered video footage, irrespective of its source, was bound to be admitted as exhibit to the extent of its relevance to the trial as overriding every other consideration.

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14— Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Anambra poll: S-Court stops Nwoye, PDP from flagging off campaign

BY IKECHUKWU

NNOCHIRI BUJA—THE Supreme Court, yesterday, stopped Mr. Tony Nwoye and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from carrying out any form of political campaign in Anambra State pending the determination of the suit between the party's factional governorship candidates.

The apex court halted plans by Nwoye, to flag off his campaign on Saturday, which was billed to be carried out by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The court also dismissed an application by Senator Andy Ubah, seeking to be joined in the appeal against Nwoye by another factional candidate of the party, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.

Ukachukwu is contending that he remains the authentic flag bearer of the party for the November 16 governorship election owing to a court order he said disqualified Nwoye from the race.

Meantime, Ubah had through his counsel, argued that having won a parallel primary election that was conducted by the Ejike Oguebego-led executives of PDP in Anambra State, he ought to be joined as an interested party in the suit.

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Abia recalls sacked 4,000 non-native civil servants

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Government has recalled over 4,000 non-natives who were sacked from its civil service in 2011.

The decision to recall the sacked workers was taken by the state Executive Council, presided over by Governor Theodore Orji, yesterday.

However, those sacked from the state’s tertiary institutions were not affected even as the Head of Service and Commissioner for Education were mandated to work out modalities for the absorption of hundreds of teachers and other civil servants sacked during the perid.

The government said sacked workers who returned would not lose their former positions.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, who spoke on the issue confirmed that those willing to re-

tions.

According to Chikamnayo, turn would be reabsorbed with- the Head of Service and Comout losing their former posi- missioner for Education had

PRAYER: Members of Pastoral Council of Nnobi Episcopal Region, Umuoji, Idemili Local Government Area, praying for the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Senator Chris Ngige in the November 16, 2013 Anambra State governorship election, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Umuoji.

APC to Anambra Govt: You're shielding those sewing fake police, NYSC uniforms

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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WKA—THE All Progres sive Congress, APC, yesterday, insisted that the Anambra State Government was shielding people allegedly sewing fake police and NYSC uniforms with the aim of rigging the November 16 governorship election in the state.

Spokesman of the party, Okelo Madukaife made this

known while reacting to the call for the arrest of the party’s flag bearer, Senator Chris Ngige over the issue by Governor Peter Obi. Madukaife said it was ‘’laughable’’ that Obi was asking for the arrest of Ngige instead of arresting those reportedly sewing the fake security uniforms at Government House.

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State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN, yesterday said that the state government would not give up its bid to reclaim ownership of the $15 million that was allegedly offered to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2007 by convicted former governor, Chief James Ibori.

Fielding questions from newsmen when he took his turn to present the mid-term report of his ministry, Ajuyah said that the state government was not deterred by last week’s judgment by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which refused to grant ownership of the money to the state government.

He said that the state government was studying the SABA—DELTA

the variables on whether to file an appeal or not.

He said: “The judgment has been given, and we will take appropriate steps within the time frame of three months. We are looking at the variables.”

The Attorney-General gave a breakdown of criminal cases in various high courts from 2007 to October 2013, which, according to him, showed that 2,386 criminal cases were initiated during the period, 238 convictions were secured, 472 struck out and 110 cases discharged.

“It will interest you to know that we have secured 148 convictions of which 66 were connected with kidnapping and armed robbery. What this signifies is that arrested suspects are not unnecessarily incarcerated for long periods without

trial. Once we have evidence, we go all out to prosecute,” he said.

’’If arresting Senator Ngige, assuming the people of Anambra State would allow it, will bring the state to the altar of free and fair elections and one man one vote, it would not be too much sacrifice for the liberator of Anambra State to make and he will as usual be prepared to do so.

However, this proposition, is not plausible in that the government has failed to address the fact that the Government House is the centre for sowing fake security uniforms.

His words: We appreciate the fact that this superfluous statement has come after nearly a week and the significance is not lost on the least exposed Anambra State indigene."

Detained Sylva loyalist, Okio, sues Police over alleged unlawful detention

Our bid to reclaim $15m Ibori

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA bribe money not over yet A LOYALIST YofENAGOA— former Governor Timipre —DELTA GOVT judgment and looking at all Sylva of Bayelsa State, Tonye

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

been directed to come up with modalities for reabsorbing the sacked workers.

Okio, has instituted a suit against the state Commissioner of Police, challenging his arrest and detention.

Okio, in the suit before a Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yanagoa, is contending that his continued detention is unlawful.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, Okio averred that he was taken to Yenagoa by road, handcuffed and blindfolded throughout the journey, from Abuja to Yenagoa.

He is asking the court to de-

clare that his arrest and detention is contrary to section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He also wants the court to declare that his arrest and detention on the basis of a publication on his Facebook account was a violation of his fundamental rights.

Okio also prayed the court to hold that the physical and mental torture he has been subjected to amounted to a denial of his right to dignity. Accordingly, he has asked the court to award him N2.2 billion in exemplary and general damages.

Okio averred in his affidavit that “On October 26, 2013, some

officers and men of the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Police arrested me while I was in my house in Abuja and whisked me away to their office in Yenagoa and have continued to detain me.

“The policemen refused to disclose to me their reason for the arrest but simply informed me that they were from the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Police and that I was needed by Governor Dickson and the State Police Commissioner. I was taken to Yenagoa by road, bound feet to hands with cuffs and blindfolded throughout the journey from Abuja to Yenagoa.

National Good Governance train moves to Kogi

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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BUJA—THE Na tional Good Governance train will move to Kogi State Saturday, November 2, through Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

As part of the programme, a Town Hall meeting of

stakeholders will take place at the Glass House, Lokoja, to end the visit.

A statement from the Project Coordinator of the group, Peter Dama said the tour ’s main objective is to entrench good governance by providing a platform for members of the tour team and citizens to

obtain firsthand information on government policies, programmes and projects at the three tiers of government.

The tour, which started in September, 2012 with the inspection of federal, state and local government projects beginning with the FCT, has so far covered 19 states.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—15

FG yet to release N100bn to varsities, says ASUU zAs Gowon urges compromise

BY PETER DURU & ONYEGBADUEAMAMDI

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AKURDI—DE SPITE claims by the Federal government that the sum of N100billion had been disbursed to 59 public universities to improve infrastructure in the benefitting institutions, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has alleged that none of the universities had received the said sum.

This is just as former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has appealed to both parties to strike a compromise for the sake of our children and the country.

Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi branch of ASUU, Dr. Celestine Aguoru, who spoke yesterday after leading members of the branch on a peaceful march around Makurdi town in protest of the lingering Federal Government/ ASUU face-off said: “As we are talking today, government has not released one kobo out of the N100 billion they claimed they have given the universities; this goes to show the level of insincerity of the government.

“The truth is that government is paying lip service to the development of education in this country and has therefore resorted to playing politics with the education sector and the future of our children.

“It is rather unfortunate that majority of those who are leading us today went to school in their time on scholarships, but today they do not want our children to benefit

from that same gesture, all because of greed.

“Today we are faced with a situation where the amount Nigerians spend yearly to educate their children in Ghana is far more than the yearly budgetary allocation to the education sector.

“Our leaders are not being fair to our country, government should as a matter of priority implement its agreements with ASUU, Nigerians are tired of this deceit; they

should remember that if they continue to negate their responsibilities to the people, one day they will certainly give account to God.” Meanwhile, General Gowon, who spoke in Lagos at the launch the first edition of the Shell Nigeria Scholars Forum, for the beneficiaries of its scholarship argued that one of the parties must be prepared to yield

ground in order to save the education sector. He said: “I do believe it is time for all lovers of education to come together and get both the federal government and ASUU to return to the negotiation table and resolve all outstanding grievances. Both sides must be willing to yield ground for the sake of our children and that of our dear country Nigeria.”

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Meka Olowola, Managing Partner, Zenera Consulting, Dr. Uwem E. Ite,Team Lead, Information Education Communication and Capacity Building, Shell Nigeria, Bekeme Masade,Executive Director, CSR-in-Action, and Ms. Patricia Akinlotan, Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs/Administration, Seven Energy, at the 2013 briefing on sustainability in the extraction industries’ seminar in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

My colleagues betrayed me —Salami

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI BUJA—RETIRED Presi dent of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, yesterday, likened himself to the biblical Joseph, saying he was betrayed and sold out by most of his hitherto trusted friends and colleagues on the Bench.

Salami who spoke at a valedictory court session that was organized in his honour by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, said he was a victim of executive witch-hunt, stressing that the National Judicial Council, NJC, played into the hands of desperate politicians that wanted his ouster by all means.

He maintained that the NJC, by its actions and conduct with regards to all the issues that culminated to his suspension on August 18, 2010, grossly failed in its duties and functions as a revered arm of the Nigerian judiciary.

Justice Salami argued that not only was the NJC wrong in suspending him even though it lacked the constitutional powers to do so, he said the legal body also acted wrongly when it asked President Goodluck Jonathan to okay his removal from office.

He wondered why the NJC

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which is created by the Constitution to protect judicial officers (judges), abandoned its responsibilities and sold out in his case.

“The last three years of my career were dogged by travails which are not dissimilar to the fate of Joseph in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

“As his brothers conspired to destroy him by throwing him into a well and selling him into slavery,

my learned brothers and friends in the legal profession planned and executed same evil to me.

“The National Judicial Council, NJC, created by the Constitution to protect me, nay any judicial officer, was on the vanguard of my travails. The NJC failed in its duties and thereby surrendered its functions to the Executive arm of government thus, ingratiate

itself to the Executive.

“For instance, the NJC having cleared me of any wrongdoing, following the recommendations of Justice Aloma Mukhtar’s committee, ought to have recalled me to office without asking the President to exercise the power that he does not possess, on the flimsy excuse that it had earlier referred the matter to him.”

Land swap: Reps summon FCT Minister

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUHIOGU

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BUJA—MEMBERs of the House of Representatives adhoc committee on Land Swap in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, yesterday, summoned the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed to explain the role of his ministry by next week.

The committee expressed dismay when they were told that the Federal Government has not fulfilled its promise of compensating 854 indigenous communities of the FCT after 37 years their land was taken.

The Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. Dr. Olu Abolurin has also been invited by the ad hoc committee investigating alleged land allocation racketeering in the FCT from 2010 till date.

The CG’s invitation followed revelation of alleged sale of several plots of land by consultants and officers of the Corps to unsuspecting public.

At the commencement of the investigative hearing, the Bimbo Daramola-led committee was informed how a principal officer, who also claimed to be a consult-

ant with the NSCDC sold parcels of land to the public.

In a presentation by the association of allotees in Goza estate, Abuneme Okeke said the public was deliberately misled by the said officer becaseu the transactions were conducted within the premises of the Gudu office of the NSCDC. He said: “The principal officer’s office is inside the civil defence office in Gudu and everybody that has to do with the transaction are always wearing civil defence uniform.

We are talking of inside the civil efence office, not outside, not even outside the fence but right inside.”

Salary delay: IG carpets banks, accuses them of conspiracy against Police

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—FOLLOWING delays by commercial banks handling the payment of Police salaries to carry out the obligation and grumblings in the force, Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, summoned executives of the banks and tongue-lashed them for attempting to cause disaffection in the force.

He condemned in very strong terms the recurring delay in the payment of salaries of the Nigeria Police Force personnel by the banks involved in the processing of Police salaries, describing it as “the worst conspiracy against the Force.”

Vanguard gathered that the IG was particularly pained by the action of the banks especially following underground whispers and unsubstantiated allegations that the Police management team may have diverted the money meant for salaries to other uses whereas some of the bankers hinted Vanguard that new policies of the CBN was partly responsible for the challenge.

It was gathered that some of the banks may have involved Police salaries in sharp practices resulting in Police funds running into several billions of naira paid by the ministry of finance and are delayed for up to two weeks and interests accrues to the banks.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba quoted the IG as warning “the banks and their personnel of the dire consequences, including, but not limited to a reconsideration of the existing relationship between the Police and the banks if the trend is not corrected.”

“The IG, viewed as unacceptable a situation where the Federal Government would release the salaries meant for the Police as early as middle of the month, only for these banks to deliberately delay payment till the following month, a situation, the IG stated, has exposed “the officers and men of the Force to undue pressures and extreme difficulties.”

At the meeting which held at Forceheadquarters,andwhichalso had in attendance members of the Police management team, Director ofFinanceandAdministration,Ministry of Police Affairs, the representatives of First Bank, Skye Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank, apologised immenselyfortheshortcomingand pledged to ensure speedy disbursement of Police salaries henceforth.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

SURE-P: I didn't shun Senate c'ttee —Works Minister

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BUJA—THE Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, yesterday, denied reports that he refused to appear before the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. Onolememen, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, said that he travelled out of the country on official assignment and could not have deliberately refused to appear before the Senate.

In a statement, entitled ‘’ReSenate Committee Summons Works Minister,’’ Ikpasaja said, I write to clear the air on the widespread media reports that the Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen, has refused to appear before the Senate Committee on SURE-P, on invitation. It would be recalled that the initial letter inviting the Minister was dated September 18, 2013 but was later postponed with another letter dated September 27, 2013. ‘’Shortly thereafter, the Minister was nominated to be part of the President’s State Visit to Israel, from October 23, 2013; from where he later travelled to Germany on another official engagement.

My defence, by Stella Oduah Continues frompage 12 to consider the narration. In the narration, your honours will observe that the 2 nos security/ safety vehicles are provided for distinctively. They are separate from the other vehicles listed. The legislative process, including the process of appropriation, involves a lot of explanations by the beneficiaries of legislative powers in that regard, but when the explanations eventually find merit and is passed, all that happened preceding the passage of the Law cannot be the basis of any meaningful discussion.

“There was nothing in the approved documents reflecting my name, when the budget was being made. At no time did I ever request for any vehicle from the NCAA. It was the agency that had the need and made the request to the Federal Ministry of Aviation. After the purchase on a 3 year Lease Financing arrangement, the vehicles were never delivered to me. The vehicles were also not registered in my name but that of the agency.

“Your Honours, I draw attention to this fact because of the erroneous belief in some quarters that, because in the course of the NCAA defending its budget

proposal for 2013, it had to return to the NASS a few times to explain their proposal, therefore the purchase was never appropriated. That is false as the budget is before the Nigerian people and as pointed out, 2 nos security/safety vehicles were appropriated by the NASS. “Honourable Chairman, on the procurement procedure for the lease arrangement for the acquisition of the vehicles, let me reiterate that the NCAA followed the due process required by law.

As we gather here today, there exist no guidelines issued by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) on lease financing arrangements. Despite this lacuna occasioned by the absence of such a guideline, the NCAA followed the due process by involving all the Banks in Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Aviation under my watch has always been mindful of the need to ensure that we act in a prudent manner and within the ambit of the law and this can be testified to by the tremendous transformation that has occurred in the sector in the last 2 years.

“Specifically, I wish to draw the attention of the Honourable Committee to the procedure adopted by the NCAA in procuring the operational vehicles:

•On April 15, 2013 an official letter was written by the NCAA requesting for approval to procure operational vehicles through Lease Financing. The NCAA’s letter is annexed herein as Anncxure FMA •On April 25, 2013 approval was conveyed to NCAA for the acquisition of operational vehicles through Lease Financing, The letter annexed is Annexure FMA “3”.

Letter of approval

*On the strength of the above letter of approval, the NCAA got the list of all Banks in Nigeria on 7th May, 2013 and circulated a Request for Expression of Interest on the financing of the lease. The letters to all the Banks requesting for Expression of Interest (EOI) are annexed as Annexures FMA “4 - 22”.

•On May 25, 2013 the Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) was publicly opened. Three Banks submitted proposals.

•The Evaluation of the Expression of Interests was held on May 31, 2013 during which First Bank Pic, Union Bank Pic and Stanbic IBTC responded.

•On June 10, 2013 the above three banks were invited to submit Financial Proposals.

Thereafter, First Bank of Nigeria,

Pic emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.

•Between June 20 and 25, 2013 NCAA received invoices from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW Bulletproof Vehicles. Copies of the invoices are attached as Annexure FMA “23 - 42”. ; •On June 28, 2013 NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved the selection of First Bank of Nigeria, Pic for the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. This approval was predicated on the due process documentations done by the NCAA. •On July 1, 2013 the NCAA sought the approval based on the invoices and the final negotiations with the financing Banks.

•Based on the outcome of the negotiations as contained in the invoices from the Banks, on July 5, 2013 the approval of the Federal Ministry of Aviation was conveyed to NCAA. The letters dated July 5, 2013 is annexed as Annexure FMA “43”.

•I am aware that between July 8, 2013 to August 12, 2013 various meetings were held with First Bank of Nigeria, Pic and necessary documentations were carried out

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 —17

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O Her Excellency, Dame Ibifaka Patience Jonathan, the First Lady, who will, today, bury the late Mrs Charity Fynface Oba, her aunt and surrogate mother (Mrs Oba took over responsibility for Dame Patience’s welfare – and brought her up - when she tragically lost her real mother at a very young age).

The funeral will take place in Okrika, Rivers State, and is likely to be the most spectacular public event that has ever occurred in this part of the country.

I am in Port Harcourt at the moment and I’m witnessing people flooding in from all over the country, to join Dame Patience, her husband, His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and their extended family, when they lay Mrs Oba to rest.

Many of these visitors are sychophants and patronageseekers who are here for cynical reasons. But a significant percentage are genuine well-wishers who want to stand by the Head of State and the woman who has steadfastly stood by him.

As for the Rivers People who are participating in the mourning, they just want to display respect and affection towards the first-ever President who is a fellow Niger Deltan and the first-ever Presidential spouse from our state.

Sincere condolences, also, to the family of retired Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, the former Vice-President of Nigeria, who died abroad, earlier on this week.

The last time I saw him was in London, where he and his lovely wife kindly hosted me and my cousin to a wonderful dinner in a Chinese restaurant.

Akhigbe was a man of many parts – a devout Catholic, an erudite lawyer, a senior naval officer and a no-shaking stalwart of the South-South Elders’ Forum.

He once told me that he was totally opposed to the death penalty. I was deeply impressed because such compassionate liberalism is rare in

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•President Goodluck Jonathan

•First Lady, Patience Jonathan

Sincere condolences Nigeria.

And I definitely share his view that only God has the right to take life.

This country will be poorer without his genial, thoughtful presence. May he rest in perfect peace and can we all please pray for Mrs Akhibe and their children as they struggle to bear their terrible loss.

National Conference

A lot of Nigerians are thrilled that President Goodluck Jonathan is planning a National Conference. But I’m not convinced that we need a National Conference.

My view is that what we REALLY need doesn’t need to be interminably discussed because what we REALLY need is pretty straightforward: Politicians and civil servants who are ready to stop messing around and adopt a more

,

mitigated simply because a whole bunch of people get together to air grievances and chit-chat about problems that we have been moaning about for decades?

Nope!

Is it that we don’t ALREADY know how to solve these problems?

Nope!

Nigeria is full of highly intelligent individuals and well-trained professionals who have travelled widely and seen how things are done in civilized foreign countries.

Some of these smart, exposed folks happen to be in leadership positions, so why don’t they do their jobs properly and enable our nation to fulfill its potential?

Because regular citizens do not insist that they do their jobs properly!

The truth is that most

What we REALLY need is pretty straightforward: Politicians and civil servants who are ready to stop messing around and adopt a more dynamic approach to governance

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dynamic, more efficient, less arrogant and less disgustingly corrupt approach to governance.

Will all of the talkers who dominate the National Conference and make fine speeches be true representatives of the people they claim to be representing?

Probably not!

Will the profound dysfunctions that are undermining our society and economy be eliminated or significantly

Nigerians are either cowards or just too lethargic to fully use their democratic powers. We carry on like supine subjects and grumble ineffectively, instead of fighting back when we are cheated or exploited.

We allow the grandees who

•The late Mike Akhigbe run the show to carry on like monarchs and get away with all sorts of misbehaviour. We can’t be bothered to rock the boat in any meaningful way.

We complain bitterly about the multiple inconveniences, deprivations and injustices that the system inflicts on us.

But we rarely rebel and even when we DO rebel, we don’t sustain the rebellion for long enough…last year’s very short fuel subsidy strike being a classic example of our limited appetite for protest.

Even journalists like myself – who are supposed to highlight wrongdoing at every opportunity – are not sufficiently aggressive critics of useless

public officials.

I am not advocating violent rebellion. I am just saying that we should put our feet down and demand good governance from the establishment more loudly.

President Goodluck Jonathan strikes me as a basically decent man; and I doubt that he will send soldiers to shoot us if we carry placards more often!

I guess we aren’t hungry or tough enough to make big trouble. And, frankly, we won’t truly deserve REAL freedom or MAJOR progress until we have earned REAL freedom and MAJOR progress by getting off our sorry backsides!

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

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S people all over the world prepare with great excitement for the solar eclipse, which will occur this Sunday, November 3, 2013, it is necessary to alert our people to the significance of the cosmic event and prepare them on how to safely observe it.

This very event is a solar eclipse, otherwise known as eclipse of the sun, which occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth thus casting the moon’s shadow either partially or wholly on the surface of the sun. It is essentially a natural phenomenon already demystified by science, even though religious and traditional believers often attribute supernatural significance to it.

The Director General of National Space and Research Agency, Dr. Seidu Mohammed, wants Nigerians to bear in mind that the eclipse is a normal natural event that should not bring about undue panic.

The excitement generated by eclipses all over the world is centred on the fact that because they are unique and sometimes occur a few times in a person’s lifetime,

Preparing for Sunday’s solar eclipse people, naturally, want to view this interplay of heavenly bodies. That is where the main danger is, and where everybody — both children and adults — must play safe.

According to an article on Space.com entitled: “How to Safely Observe Sunday’s Solar Eclipse”: “Here is a helpful reminder for new eclipse chasers: be safe. A fraction of a second of magnified, unfiltered sunlight will sear your eye’s retina irreparably. Imagine a horrible sunburn on your eyeball. Your eye cannot grow new layers and (peel off) the (burnt) ones like your skin tissue can, so staring directly at the sun is dangerous without the protection of safety equipment used by veteran sky watchers and astronomers.”

We are appealing to governments to deploy their media and orientation outfits to mount a massive civic education of the populace because it will not do if after the eclipse we have a new batch of avoidably blinded citizens. The private media, religious and advocacy groups should also key into this public enlightenment.

It is time that the specialised glasses needed to observe eclipses are made readily available, while corporate organisations and social groups should organise observation centres and invite interested citizens to come and safely participate.

For the avoidance of doubt, the eclipse is likely to be partial in the Southern parts, from Calabar to Lagos, while in the central areas like Abuja and Kaduna; it is likely to be a full eclipse.

We call on youth people and students to allow the momentum of the eclipse to fire their renewed interest in science and technology, especially space research. They must get ready to join their peers from other parts of the world to become equal stakeholders in these areas in future.

OPINION

BY KENNETH IMANSUANGBON

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal”— Albert Pike.

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HE above aphorism was the watchword of my greatest and dependable ally, course mate and brother, the late Barrister Ayodeji Falae. He believed in it and lived by it before untimely death snatched him away like a daylight robber via the recent ill-fated Associated Airline crash in Lagos.

Deji, our path crossed when we secured admission to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife in Osun State.

In the beginning, not many of us in our class knew that you were the son of the renowned technocrat, public servant and politician, Chief Olu Falae. This was because you were humility personified and freely associated with the low and the high. The pomposity that is usually common amongst big men’s children was nowhere near you.

For people like me who came from a humble background, I saw you as a role model and a comforter. You were always there for every of our coursemates no matter the situation. Many of us had thought that considering your background, you were supposed to study overseas. But you made us to understand that your parents believed so much in the country called Nigeria and had always wished and wanted their children to believe in the same. You once told me that it was not that your parents could not afford to send their children oversea to study, but they believe that there is no place like home.

Despite your involvement in almost all the extra-curricula activities within and outside the campus, you never played with your academic works and it showed in your outstanding performance in the class.

C M Y K

To Deji Falae, a dependable friend, ally Upon our graduation in 1991, we proceeded to the Nigeria Law School Lagos in 1992 where you were exceptionally good in almost everything, a unique quality that endeared you to many who did not know you before then.

It was during this time that you took some of us to your father’s house in Lagos where we met him and the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd). It was since then that I became part of your family, just the way you were a part and parcel of my immediate and extended family. During my wedding ceremony in 1995, you were my best man. You provided all the needed support for me, which made the ceremony a huge success.

After our days in the Law School, I thought you would travel to overseas for further studies, but the Nigerianess in you did not allow you. You stayed back in the country and started practice at Chief GOK Ajayi (SAN) chambers, from where you moved into property management and consultancy.

I

t was from there that I encouraged you to explore the opportunity of joining politics because I strongly believed you could do well there. That was how you contested for the House of Representatives seat, which you lost, before you were appointed the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism

by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

I remember that you had always told me that you hated travelling by air because of the rot in the aviation sector, leading to the loss of several lives. You were a very good driver, and on several occasions you drove yourself to Abuja to see me and my family. And I had always made mockery of you by calling you, ‘Deji, the good driver son of a big man’.

Two weeks before your untimely demise, you had complained to me on phone that you spent 11 hours from Lagos to Abuja because of the deplorable state of federal roads. I

was in the United States then and I never knew it was the last interaction we would have.

When I heard about the ill-fated Associated Airline crash in Lagos, I never had any feeling that my bosom friend, Deji Falae would be one of the victims because I know he hated flying so much. So it came as a rude shock to me when the passengers’ manifest showed that we have lost a gem called Deji Falae in the crash.

It was at this point that I hurriedly cut my trip short, and returned to the country. 'Deji, where are you and why now,' I could not help but ask rhetorically while crying over your untimely demise in your father’s house in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

When I was held and consoled by Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi (rtd), your father, Chief Falae said: “Ken, death is not the worst thing that can happen to a man. What if Deji was alive and had permanent injury that will bog him down in the next 50 years?”

At this point, I remembered the words of Luther Martin King Jnr that a man who won’t die for something is not fit to live. Deji, you truly believed in the country Nigeria; you lived and worked for Nigeria and at the same time died in active service for Nigeria. Your footprints as a lawyer, detribalised Nigerian and renowned public servant would always remain indelible in the sands of time. Posterity will always remember you for good, because you came, you saw and you conquered.

Adieu, my good friend, dependable ally and a humble son of a good man. Goodnight Deji as you rest in the bosom of the Lord, where you will have everlasting peace and joy. It is hard saying goodbye to you, Deji.

*Mr Imansuangbon, a lawyer, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013— —19

F

OR many decades, sev eral sectors of the Nigerian economy have remained comatose and malfunctioned, and the aviation sector as the gateway to our country very well revealed the decay and retrogression that Nigeria reached. To elaborate this point, all you needed to appreciate how decrepit our system had degenerated in all spheres was to travel abroad, and it used to be a nightmare to remember that you will soon return to Nigeria through one of the nation’s airports. With the inception of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, and his pronouncement of a transformation agenda, things are looking up again, with the aviation sector leading in terms of deliverables under this government. Sometimes, it is surprising how the President was able to put together the kind of performing team that continues to transform the country so rapidly in all sectors.

In the aviation sector, we reckon that the current Minister has within a very short time remodeled most of the airports in Nigeria, and for the first time she is constructing new airports in order to boost the economy.

Just recently, I decided to visit some Nigerian airports to personally assess the level

of progress attained in the development of Nigeria’s gateways, and the result was simply amazing. What I saw in K a n o , L a g o s , B e n i n , Enugu and others was simply unbelievable. Simply put, one can say that at the pace the Aviation Minister is going, by 2015 Nigeria will indeed wear a new look.

From the accomplishments, i t s e e m e d t h a t M s Stella Oduah came to the office with a template on how to transform the Nigerian aviat i o n s e c t o r, a f e a t t h a t seemed impossible with past regimes. In the past, Nigerians have been regaled with rhetoric as to how to reform the sector and yet for many decades no realistic action was taken to address the decadent infrastructure in the aviation sector. In the past, Nigerians have been regaled with rhetoric as to how to rehabilitate the airports but today it is different as Nigerian aviation sector now ranks amongst the best in the world.

So the question is: Why are some forces bent on throwing away the baby with the bath water? Why this sudden coordinated media attack on a minister who has put the nation on the world aviation map once again? The sudden media heat seemed to be deliberate and coordinated considering the avalanche of negative reports by a section of the mass media without any effort to balance the re-

,

ports. In most of the reports, you hardly read the other side of the story as a way of ensuring balance which is the hallmark of journalism practice. In doing this, editorial bias is obvious, and ethics deliberately or unknowingly thrown to the winds. The question is: Why condemn a man or woman even before you hear him or her out? Why has the media abandoned the sacred journalism ethics of always ensuring balance before going to town with obvious false reports?

Y

es, these are false re ports if we are to cons i d e r t h e Mi n i s t e r ’ s r e sponse to Mr. President’s query on the purchase of security cars based on the request from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. Information emanating from her office indicates that actually no money has been paid, as the transaction was

Decongesting Lagos reasonably

By CLEMENT UDEGBE

S

TAYING outside Lagos for a few days makes you realise how hectic life in this city has become. While you will be able to move from one end of a city to the other in any other state capital within one hour, you surely will not be able to do same in Lagos. A man forgot his mobile phone after a meeting around Ijora, and upon getting to Apapa, a distance of less than seven kilometres, decided to go for his phone. He spent four hours because something had happened: a trailer broke down and blocked one of the bridges.

Life in Apapa and around the seaports is quite rough. You cannot do business without riding on the motor bike (Okada) to beat the traffic at blocked sections of the road. The Police will not let the Okada move freely because of the ban which is currently in force. The drivers of buses called Danfo are also there, but very impatient, ruthless, with little or no regard for life of their passengers and other road users. They have no rules. You can only enter or exit Apapa from either the Tin Can route, or Ijora flyover route.

The Tin Can route is most unpredictable, because of the ever-present menace of trailers, and heavy trucks with the brakes that are often ready and willing to fail any moment. Container-laden trucks brake down regularly, some of the trucks constantly cough and discharge thick black, carbon monoxide- laden smoke along their trails, the worst air pollution you can imagine. It is a nightmare to travel on this route if your vehicle is not air-conditioned, and no danfo is air-conditioned.

They must close their door, to avoid being stopped by LASTMA officials, making the C M Y K

bus another chamber filled with chocking odours! The heavy concentration of petroleum products tank farms and their tanker drivers complicate the human and traffic challenge of this route. Danfos are driven flagrantly against the traffic at any time, especially between Mile 2 and Cele Busstop along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway where you can run into a bus coming opposite you at full speed!

Mile 2 and Celebus-stop have defied all the numerous traffic law enforcement personnel, from LASTMA, VIOs, to the ever indulging policemen. An escape route from Apapa would have been the Malu Road-Achakpo- Otto Wolf Road, but Julius Berger has turned its blind eyes to the flooded huge craters along their fence on the Otto Wolfe-Achakpo Road.

The decay in that road, along the wall of the beautifully, well-laid out Julius Berger Yard, gives a proper reflection of the reality of the dichotomy and incongruities of the life of the average Nigerian in a country blessed with abundance. This road, with the snail pace of progress of work on the Mile 2 /Oshodi expressway for over two years now, makes one begin to wonder if the Julius Berger we see today, is the same that was here in the years of military rule.

In those days Julius Berger, to many, meant speed, high technology, good and strong delivery. But today, in spite of their display of heavy equipment along Mile2 Oshodi Road, we still have flood at the neck of Mile2 bridge whenever it rains.

At the pace of their work along that road, commuters will continue to suffer till 2015, and far beyond.

The rough Lagos life is majorly because of the population explosion that started

done under a hire purchase agreement between the Mi n i s t r y a n d C o s c h a r i s Group.

It has also been revealed that indeed this transaction was captured in the 2013 budget, and whether some or all the members of the Aviation Committee in the House of Representatives are aware of its inclusion in the budget is at this material time unnecessary. The reason is that the Ministry is operating an approved Federal Government budget.

Thirdly, there is absolutely no incident of corruption on the part of the Minster or any official for that matter in this transaction, as there is no evidence of money exchanging hands. So, why the hullabaloo or the calls for the Minister ’s sack?

Going by the coordinated media attacks, it seems that an interest group that is not comfortable with the reforms in the sector is bent on seeing Ms Oduah eased out of the system to pave way for them to actualize their hidden and nefarious agenda.

If this is the case, as it really seems, the Federal Government must “shine its eye” in order not to allow some vested interests to derail its transformation agenda. From all indications, the plan is to pronounce Oduah guilty even before hearing her own side of the story, and government must avoid falling into this trap. It is indeed a dangerous precedent to railroad the Federal Government into sacking a minister who has helped the administration to

,

BY D.A. NWANDU

,

In defence of Stella Oduah

It is a dangerous precedent to railroad the Federal Government into sacking a minister who has helped the administration to attain this level of development in our aviation sector

The most reasonable strategy to decongest Lagos is to spread the distribution of those things that pull people to come to Lagos to other parts of the metropolis and country

,

in Lagos when it was both the economic capital and seat of power of Nigeria.

Industries flourished in Lagos, the Federal Ministries were in Lagos, money and power were all concentrated in Lagos; there was employment and life in abundance in Lagos. Nigeria's biggest airports and seaports, the main gate ways to the economy, are located in Lagos. The true indigenes of Lagos remain very hospitable people, making life in Lagos free for anyone, and thereby inducing some to forget that things are fast changing.

T

oday, many industries have folded up and left Lagos due to poor management and wicked leadership of the country.

The Federal Government has since moved to Abuja; politics crept into revenue allocation and release to Lagos, reducing it to mainly an import and export centre, and as population continues to soar, quality of life in Lagos has increasingly continued to deteriorate. According to the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, we were suffering and smiling. Indeed today, Lagosians are suffering, dying, and not smil-

attain this level of development in our aviation sector.

There is no doubt that some unpatriotic elements would like to see Nigeria slide back to the dark ages when our airports looked like fowl houses (poultry houses).

For us to move forward as a nation, we must brace up with the challenges that come with development, including that those who illegally usurp government assets must be made to return them. In this saga, I see the hand of Esau, but the voice of Jacob as some vested interests are bent on seeing Oduah sacked, so that they can continue to hold onto government assets they acquired illegally and from the back door. They see themselves as Lords of the Manor, and by sponsoring a media campaign against the Minister on phantom allegations she will be eased out, and those that can play ball with them will emerge.

This is the height of unpatriotic and wicked act, and Nigerians’ prayer is that President Jonathan will be wise enough to see through the deceit and regard it as an orchestrated campaign to malign one of his able lieutenants with corruption allegations and eventually sack her. The President must in this case apply the proverbial Solomon judgement, and ensure that the innocent does not suffer in vain.

*Mr Nwandu is President, Nigerian Association of Airline Passengers

ing. The problem is so gigantic that Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration has been trying many approaches to decongest the place, including encouraging people to leave Lagos and even deporting some.

But more must have to be done if Lagos will be reasonably decongested. The most reasonable strategy to decongest Lagos is to spread the distribution of those things that pull people to come to Lagos to other parts of the metropolis and country.

First, with the discovery of oil around Lagos shorelines , it will be best advised that Badagry town should be made the key petroleum products seaport of Lagos, with major roads and links created between Badagry and other parts of Nigeria via Ogun State, etc, to take the pressure off the city of Lagos.

Second the FG, should decide between Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe, where the Navy, Air Force and the Army should be located permanently in the long run.

Third, seaports of the size of Tincan Island port, or bigger ones should be built in Onitsha, Oguta, Bayelsa, Port Harcourt, and Oron areas where closeness to the ocean becomes an advantage. If the United Arab Emirates could build an ultramodern seaport in their terrain, Nigeria should be able to build at least six ultramodern seaports of 36 berths each within our regions.

Finally, more international airports of the size of the one in Abuja should be built in Imo, Benue and Sokoto states, such that an average Nigerian will be able to engage in any international type of enterprise in any zone without having to come to or visit Lagos, except he so chooses.

•Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 1 , 2013

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

M

ANY lives had been lost to the recklessness of drivers on the road. Also many people had been maimed by hit and run drivers. The belief in some informed quarters is that this would not have been the case if there are traffic signals at strategic positions on the road. Traffic signals are instruments for controlling traffic by using changing lights, namely Red for ‘Stop’, Amber (Yellow) for ‘Ready to Go or Stop’, while the Green indicates to ‘Go’.

Acknowledging the importance of having this in place, the Lagos State government had a year ago declared that the functionality of the entire traffic lights system in the state a priority. But the joy this elicited was short-lived. Two months ago, motorists and other road users were left in confusion as some of the traffic light signals installed in strategic points continued to flick amber. In some cases, many of the confused drivers waited endlessly at the stop line for the light to turn green.

However, unknown to many, the traffic lights were still being test run. Thirty of these new intelligence traffic signal lights powered by solar system, were launched last week and installed at major intersections identified for synchronization in the state.

Some motorists who spoke with Vanguard Metro, VM, on the development expressed divergent views on the installation. While some described it as a welcome development, others tasked government to focus on road rehabilitation and maintenance rather than traffic signal lights.

Mr. Afis Alakija, a taxi-cab operator along the Agege Motor Road, said the traffic light was unnecessary when the state of road is left

*The newly installed traffic signals under test run

Mixed feelings over intelligence traffic signal lights in Lagos •Tough time awaits violators lights and they are working well except for areas where road and drainage construction work are ongoing. And some of the areas are Ejigbo, Isaac John, Ikeja GRA and others. In Ikorodu, there are about three traffic lights that have been powered down due to the

,

The new traffic lights would be solar powered. And currently out of the 87, 35 are being powered by solar energy

unattended to across the state.

According to him, “The state government should rechannel its scarce resources to fixing of bad roads instead of erecting traffic light that would not be properly maintained.”

Mr. Anthony Alaba, a civil servant, lauded the initiative saying, it would go a long way in checking the excesses of reckless drivers, especially the commercial drivers.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, while speaking with VM, explained that the measure would reduce traffic gridlock as well as restore discipline on the road.

He said, “We have 87 traffic

,

ongoing expansion work on the road.

“All these 87 traffic lights are working. And they are doing at least 90 percent. The issues are with the 30 new intelligence traffic lights that have the function of allowing pedestrian crossing light. It means the traffic signal light sends new traffic challenge that was against its programme. It will do some new calculations on its own and re-programme itself to address the new traffic challenge at that location.

“For instance, if 10 vehicles were to come from one particular direction, and the light discovers that the number

was more than that, like 100, the machine will decide to switch to the new traffic challenge. And when the atmosphere returns to its earlier programme, it will switch back. These are the traffic lights that are painted in yellow.

“And when any of the new traffic lights is found flashing the amber (yellow) light, it shows that it is ready to go. It is also meant to create awareness to everyone that a traffic light has been erected at that place. It is obvious to us that Lagosians now understand the importance of the traffic light. Lagosians tend to believe that they could move freely but when the traffic light is erected, it makes the vehicle move in a certain sequence.

And where one did not experience delay before, he may find it there. This is expected to create safety in the state.

TLS intersections: “And we have picked all the interceptions from Abule Egba up to Stadium. We have signalized major interception from Ojodu Berger to Agidingbi except for the junction at Ojodu Berger and from Agidingbi to Maryland.

We have also increased the

signalization on Opebi axis.

And this would be noticed between Adebola and Salvation. We have erected one at Kings College.

“With the traffic light at Abule Egba, we will be able to manage traffic effectively in that axis. With the traffic signal light on Agege Motor Road, we have adjusted how people approach Oshodi. We have controlled the number of vehicles that approach Oshodi, which causes traffic congestion at the Bus stop.”

Traffic points Opeifa explained that another traffic point would be erected at Ago Palace, Isolo, stressing that it is meant to address the stand alone traffic points in that axis of the state.

He said, “Like what we have in Allen Avenue, we now have on Kudirat Abiola Way and Agidingbi, we believe it is better we complete the circle in Mushin and others..

“In Alimosho axis, we are using traffic and gridlock point resolution. For Ikeja, we have passed this level and we are moving into corridors. For Surulere, we will be using the gridlock point taking into

consideration the traffic.

On how the traffic light will be powered: “The new traffic lights would be solar powered.

And currently out of the 87, 35 are being powered by solar energy. But with the switchingon of the Marina Independent Power Project, IPP, the traffic light are being diverted to IPP. It was expected that when the IPP in Ikeja commence operation, all the traffic light in will be diverted while those on solar powered, will not be diverted. With the new 30 traffic lights it has increased the number of solar powered traffic light to 65 in the state.”

Opeifa added, “Residents of Lagos respect the traffic light but because they have not seen enough and when they start seeing it in every interception, there will be at least 95 percent compliance.

“And those who violate the traffic light regulation are the drivers of the yellow buses.

Very soon we will introduce technology that can help track traffic light offenders. Also, should residents see any of traffic lights not working or damaged, they should endeavour to call 0807-7551000 for onward repair.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY,NOVEMBER 1, 2013 —21

107.10

+0.15

2,665.00

+6.00

18.38

-0.07

109.96 +0.95 96.85 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

From left: Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN); President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr. Segun Aina; and Past President, CIBN, HRH Oba Shafi Olufemi Sule, Olu of Odosenlu Alaro Ijebu, at the 80th birthday celebration and dinner, organised by CIBN in honour of the royal father, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIY KRONA SDR

T

he quest of having Nigeria included in the league of BRICS countries will remain a mirage without a virile productive sector.

The out-going chairman, Manufactucturers Association of Nigeria, MAN Apapa branch, Mr. John Aluya, made the remark at the association’s 42nd Annual General Meeting

in Lagos.

He said that the ambition will only be achieved through diversification of the economy.

In his words, “As it appears, there is growing clamour to add Nigeria amongst the BRISC league of developing economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to read BRINCS (Brazil, Russia, India, Nigeria, China and South Africa).

“This can be achieved through the diversification of the economy by reinvigorating established sectors such as the manufacturing sector as no nation can be said to be developing without a strong and virile manufacturing base.” “It is critical to state that adopting ssome strategies for achieving a sustainable growth of the manufacturing

PED AN decries non-pa yment of rebat e PEDAN non-payment rebate

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

P

etroleum Dealers’ Association of Nigeria, PEDAN, has said non-payment of rebate to members by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, is crippling members operations.

PEDAN in a petition to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, said if the rebate was not paid, members might not be able to honour their obligations to workers.

He argued that members have been squeezing-out fund to pay workers on passionate consideration against the present economic realities.

In the petition through its Secretary – General, Comrade I.A Eze, PEDAN said it had since agreed to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, for PSW branch of NUPENG but with some reservations.

The petition copied to the minister of labour, showed that it signed the implementation of the agreement but continued to complain about non-full payment of allotted rebate by the PPPRA to the dealers.

According to the petition, “PEDAN members are the Petrol Station Operators that retail or resell the products to the consuming public, by their oil marketing

companies irrespective of several demands from them which resulted in mass termination of dealers by some marketers who victimize and intimidate them by demanding deposit of huge amount of money. PEDAN members are being intimidated by demand for deposit ranging between N10 million and N30 million depending on the capacity of the station or face termination coined retirement for those who dared to demand the full payment of approved rebate, yet they declare fat profits every year.”

PEDAN also complained about members demand for allotment for adequate rebate by PPPRA to enable them meet with the requirements of the CBA, which posed a serious problem hence it groaned at strived to pay workers against the present day economic realities.

It promised, however, to comply with the CBA branch of NUPENG, if its constraint were holistically addressed by the concerned parties as all entreaties to the oil companies to pay the allotment by PPPRA in full to the dealers, and PPPRA to consider its request for 25 per cent of total rebate accruable to the four beneficiaries to petroleum Dealers/ Resellers and overheads had yielded no positive result.

155.55 250.0155 214.0679 173.2376 1.5882 0.3169 239.9329 25.5385 41.4745 28.6956 240.1692

SELLING 156.05 250.8192 214.756 173.7944 1.5933 0.3269 240.7041 25.621 41.6078 28.7878 240.9412

CBN Exchange rate as at 31/10/2013

Nigeria’s inclusion tto o BRICS countries requires str ong industrial sect or — MAN strong sector

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

155.05 249.2119 213.3798 172.6807 1.5831 0.3069 239.1616 25.4559 41.3412 28.6033 239.3972

-1.35

sector may require massive investment in the critical power and energy sector, which is on-going, if we are to join the league of emerging economies of the world.

“There is also a great need to invest massively in human capacity development of indigenous technology and local raw materials extraction and processing. Among others, adequate security to protect investment, good regulatory system, eliminating inconsistency in government policies, eliminating multiple

taxation and extortion, as well as the payment of unofficial fees for public services, streamline and harmonise our tax administration system and review our investment laws in a manner that would facilitate expatriate quota processing,” he added.

He stated that the federal governemt must adopt measures to bring down interest rate to single digit as high interest rates stifle the survival and profitability of all manufacturers.

He opined that having identified the manufacturing sector as the driver for economic growth, wealth creation and employment, it must be accorded its due regard and priority in the scheme of things.

Quacks killing Nigeria’s dry cleaning industry — Expert laments

O

wners of dry cleaning business in Nigeria have asked for professionalisation of the country’s dry cleaning industry.

Managing Director of Clean Ace, Mr. Enibukun Adebayo, who made the call, also asked the federal government to arrest the growth of quacks in the nation’s dry cleaning industry. Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on the forthcoming opening of its Abuja offices today (Friday), Adebayo said that to become a professional dry cleaner, one has to belong to various professional organisations such as Guild of Cleaners and Launderers, United Kingdom; International Fabricare Institute, United States of America and Enterprise Development Service of the

Lagos Business School.

“The roadside people are shouting that they are dry cleaners, but it takes a lot to be a dry cleaner. It is a whole industry and knowledge based,” Adebayo said. He emphasised that there is need to professionalise dry cleaning business in Nigeria, and also make Nigerians everywhere have access to professional dry cleaners. The dry cleaning expert noted that beyond dry cleaning and laundry, a reputable dry cleaner must also have tailors that can do alterations and repairs on clothes, have various departments that work on carpets and upholstery at homes and elsewhere. It must also have cobbling services for shoes, belts among others.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

FCMB Group posts N14.7billion PBT for nine-months

F

From left: Mr. Kayode Ebatamehi, Chief Operating Officer, Bluebird Communications Ltd; Ms Uzoamaka Etukudo, Strategy and Corporate Communications Manager, Financial Managers Dealers Quotations FMDQ OTC Plc; Mr. Bola Onadele Koko, MD/CEO and Mr. Jack Delaney, Chief Operating Officer, during FMDQ OTC Plc’s pre-launch media briefing in Lagos.

UBA Capital posts N2.16bn pre-tax profit in 9 months

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

U

BA Capital Plc (The Group) has announced profit before tax of N2.16 billion for the nine months ended 30th September, 2013.

This represents 337 percent increase over N0.49 billion posted in corresponding period of 2012 as shown in the unaudited result filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Relative to the corresponding period of 2012, it quadrupled its gross earnings to N3.23 billion compared to N795.4 million in 2012, a 306.4 percent increase. Similarly, it grew its profit after tax by 341.0 percent to N1.72 billion from N389.2 million in 2012, an implied N0.57 earnings per share.

With this impressive performance, which translates to an annualized 38.5 percent return on average equity (the highest return on equity for a publicly listed financial services firm in Nigeria), the company is positioned to create wealth for its shareholders.

Commenting on the results, the Group CEO, UBA Capital Plc, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, said, “It is my pleasure to

present another quarter of strong performance, which reinforces our dedication towards sustaining our strong start in the year. As we deliver on our strategic focus of enriching customer experience and value creation across all our business lines, we are convinced that we will continue to grow our market share in Nigeria with a strong prospect of building our brand in the impact African markets.

Our performance reflects the growing momentum of our strategic businesses, as we remain

committed to value creation to ensure the loyalty of our existing clients as well as to drive new business development. We are convinced that as we ensure the success of our clients with a disciplined cost structure, we will sustain our strong earnings growth feat.”

“I am happy to say that in recognition of our leadership in the investment banking industry in Africa, we won the Best African Investment Bank Award for the Year 2013 by Africainvestor. This award attests to our innovative drive in Ni-

UK firm, GTI partner to boost capital market liquidity

By PETER EGWUATU

I

N T E R N AT I O N A L Commerce Management Limited (ICML), a United Kingdom-based global private equity firm and GTI Capital Group, a Nigerian financial services group, are making plans to explore ways to boost market making and liquidity in the Nigerian capital market.

As a result of the discussions between the two investment and financial services firms, the management of ICML made its maiden visit to Nigeria and together with the top management of GTI held talks with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), NASD Plc-the over-the-counter (OTC) market, Wema Bank, Mobitel Limited and other stakeholders in the

‘Dangote among top 10 most valuable brands in Africa’

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

D

ANGOTE Group has emerged among Africa’s top 10 most valuable brands in 2013, according to a survey conducted by Business Magazine, a pan-African business magazine.

In a survey tagged ‘The Brand Africa 100 Table’, Dangote emerged the most valuable brand in the consumer goods sector with an African brand value of 216. However, the brand emerged the 8th most valuable brand when placed against brands from other sectors.

“The Brand Africa 100” table was C M Y K

geria and other impact African markets, where we successfully closed a number of landmark complex transactions. For example, we advised and raised capital for half of the consortia that acquired the power generation assets in Nigeria, a privatisation process that is expected to transform power supply in Nigeria with the benefit of reducing the cost of doing business in the country, create employment opportunities and ultimately enhance the income level of the average Nigerian man.

established in 2011, in recognition of the growth of African brands, which were beginning to challenge global brands in Africa or lead global brands in new categories such as telecommunications.

Commenting on the recognition of Dangote brand, the magazine stated, “But what is perhaps a little more surprising is that Dangote, the largest manufacturing conglomerate in West Africa, and Globacom, the Nigeria-based telecommunication provider, are also in the lists. Both brands have managed to win the hearts of the communities where they operate.”

Nigerian capital market.

President, International Commerce Management Limited (ICML), United Kingdom; John Kavvouras, said the Nigerian capital market has enormous potential and holds lot of opportunities that ICML, working with GTI Capital, can bring its global knowledge and capital to help in creating values for all stakeholders.

He said one evident area of under-capacity that the management of ICML has noted and would seek to create values thereon is the low level of market making capability in the Nigerian market.

According to him, the number one thing that the Nigerian market is crying out for is market making capability because what the international investors need is liquidity.

ICML and GTI Capital would work together in this area, combining their vast capital and global and domestic knowledge to make the difference.

CMB Group Plc, the holding company of First City Monument Bank Limited and its subsidiaries, has announced a profit before tax (PBT) of N14.7 billion for the nine-months ended 30 September 2013, an increase of 21 percent over N12.1 billion posted in 2012.

The unaudited International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-compliant group results submitted to the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Wednesday, also showed that FCMB Group Plc recorded gross income of N96.6 billion for the nine-month period, an increase of 14 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) from N84.7 billion in 2012.

Further analysis of the Group’s results highlighted a 19 percent YoY growth in Net Interest income to N41.1 billion from N34.5 billion in corresponding period of 2012.

Net provisions for risk assets and other known losses was N3 billion compared to N0.7 billion for the same period in 2012 and Year-to-Date (YTD) operating expenses of N43.8 billion represented an increase of 10 percent YoY (N39.8 billion ninemonths 2012).

On the balance sheet side, the Group achieved a 12 percent YoY growth in customer deposits to N690.6 billion, which also represented a 15 percent growth on the second quarter’s deposit volume.

Loans and advances also rose by 21 percent YoY and 13 percent QoQ, to N439.4 billion as at 30 September 2013. The Group’s total assets increased by eight percent YTD to N978.6 billion from the N908.5 billion recorded in December 2012.

The Group also closed the period under review with key ratios showing that nonperforming loans to total loans ratio reduced to 2.7 percent, from the 3.6 percent recorded for the half-year 2013 and 5.0 percent for the nine-months 2012.

Net Interest Margin, at 7.8 percent, also increased by 9.3 percent from the 7.1 percent recorded for the nine-months ended 30 September 2012. Loan to Deposit Ratio also increased to 63.6 percent compared to 59.0 percent recorded as at 30 September 2012. Cost to Income ratio decreased to 71.2 percent, against the 75.6 percent for September 2012. Return on Average Equity (ROaE) was 12.3 percent versus 11.3 percent for nine-months 2012, while return on assets (ROaA) decreased to 2.1 percent from 2.2 percent for nine-months 2012.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 — 23

R

EGIONAL integration remains one of the solutions for boosting production by the manufacturing industry in Africa.

This fact was unanimously acknowledged by participants in the panel discussion on "Competitiveness and Trade Integration".

During the panel discussion, Henri Atangana Onda, a researcher at the Yaoundé II University of Cameroon, introduced a report entitled "The effect of North-South and South-South trade on industrialization in Africa". According to Atangana Onda, African countries have a comparative advantage in terms of the work factor.

Between 1980 and 2009, the contribution of the manufacturing industries to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose slightly in North Africa: from 12.6 per cent to 13.6 per cent.

However, it fell sharply in the rest of the continent: from 16.6 to 12.7 per cent.

Trade liberalisation has exposed local industries in African countries to competition for which they were poorly prepared.

Consequently, large sections of the manufacturing sector have disappeared during the last 20 years in Africa. That liberalisation came too soon to those countries given their level of development.

He cited the difficulties fac-

Onne FTZ attracts fresh N32bn investment

T

FAIR — From left: Director-General, NACCIMA, Mr. John Isemede ; Ag. Zonal Controller, NEPC, Lagos Office, Mrs. Evelyn Obidike; Deputy Director, Market Development Department, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mr. Matthew Iranloye; and Assistant Director, Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mrs. V. N. Ibeku, at the one-day meeting to select exhibitors for ECOWAS Fair in Ghana. PHOTO: Daniel Gumm.

Regional int egr ation, solution ffor or integr egration, boos ting indus trial pr oduction in Africa boosting industrial production ing industrialisation in Africa.

Referring to an analysis conducted by the African Development Bank (AfDB), he observed that the underperformance of industries is due especially to the lack of infrastructure, the energy gap, poor governance and fierce

. . . as Africa trades less with Africa — RESEARCH A

FRICA has the lowest internal trade volume compared to other trading blocs in Europe, Asia and Latin America, according to findings of four different research studies.

Presenting their research papers at the African Economic Conference, which tookplace in Johannesburg from October 28-30, four researchers from across Africa and one from Asia concluded that that trade within Africa was very low and its participation in the global trade negligible and fragmented. The papers were presented during a session entitled "Gravity Model Approach and Trade Potential."

Edris Seid, a Research Fellow of the Social Policy Institute in Ethiopia, said intraAfrica trade is less than five per cent. Trade within Africa has not grown despite having many Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

According to the findings of his study, using the Gravity Model Approach looked at four RECs — the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) — trade in Africa has remained staggeringly low and the performance of RECs varying, but generally disappointing. "SADC and ECOWAS have created trade

in the 'Vinerian' sense; COMESA has an implausibly negative coefficient suggesting that it has not expanded trade among the member states. Whereas IGAD has an insignificant positive coefficient implying that it has not contributed to the expansion of intra-regional trade," the research concluded.

Research by PhD Student Mouhamed Njikam from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, concluded that intraAfrica trade was low, outward looking, primary-commodity based and undiversified.

According to his findings, the ECOWAS region has the lowest intra-trade volume standing at one per cent - 10 times lower than that of the continent and other RECs. He concluded that the region held greater trade potential if it addresses infrastructure and legislation issues.

Meanwhile, research by Dr. Albert Makochekana of the University of Zimbabwe found that improvements in port efficiency and increased use of e-business are some of the factors which boost intra-SADC trade in exports. "Whilst the positive influence of each of these two variables differs between exporting countries and importing countries, the fact remains that SADC policymakers should implement strategies which improve port efficiency and also encourage use of e-business."

competition from products imported from emerging countries such as China.

Trade with Asian countries leads to de-industrialisation in some African countries.

The market is flooded with poor quality manufacturing goods.

In addition, he stressed that South-South trade may also, in some circumstances, be a cause of de-industrialisation for certain countries of the continent.

He quoted the examples of South Africa and Nigeria.

Those two "economic giants" could upset the balance of the manufacturing sectors in the countries in their regions unless regulatory mechanisms are implemented by the leaders of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

The session also included the reports of Hopestone Chavula, responsible for economic affairs at the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), who spoke on the theme of "Trade policies, market structure and performance of the manufacturing sector in Malawi, 1967 to 2002".

PAN wants total ban on vehicles importation T HE Managing Director, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, has called on the Federal Government to ban importation of cars into the country.

Boyi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Wednesday.

He urged the Federal Government to fortify the porous borders for the growth of local auto industry.

He said that if the measure was put in place, it would enable the local industry to compete favourably with foreign counterparts in the global market.

“The development of the country’s automobile industry is hinged on proactive measures towards fortifying the porous borders.

“The choice of leaving wide our border will definitely affect the country in the long run to develop its own automobile industry.’’

Bovi commended the Federal Government on the new automotive policy.

“My appeal to the government is to ensure thorough implementations of the new automotive policy which will enable it achieve the aim and objective it was designed for,” he said.

He said that the new management of PAN had reawakened its commercial and technical agreement with Peugeot Automobile France.

He said that PAN was currently working on how to introduce pick-up vans into the Nigerian market.

The MD said that the Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) now owns over 70 per cent of PAN following the 2012 debt restructuring.

Bovi said this was as a result of the financial challenge faced by the company and the consequence was its inability to run as a business entity.

“AMCON under the government policy of buying over toxic assets, agreed to restructure the debt of PAN to equity and today, AMCON is the biggest single investor in PAN,” he said.(NAN)

HE Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, has said that 200 million dollars (N32 billion) had been invested in Onne Oil and Gas Free Trade Zones (FTZ).

Aganga, who stated this at an oil and gas trade and investment forum in Onne, Port-Harcourt, said that the above investment figure was for the last 10 months. He said that if the figure was added to the four billion dollars capital investment reported in 2012, the latest figure would amount to 4.2 billion dollars (N672 billion).

The forum was organised by Orlean Invest West Africa Ltd. in partnership with the Federal Government. The theme of the forum was “Investment opportunities in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry”.

Aganga described the total investment portfolio as a remarkable progress when considered from the standpoint of weak global economy and the huge competition among advanced economies.

He said that the success of the policy on FTZ had increased the demand at the sub-national level of government for a replication of free zones in other parts of the country.

“The Onne Oil and Gas Zone remains a pacesetter, with additional investment of 200 million dollars in 2013, in addition to the four billion dollars capital investments reported in 2012.

“This is indeed a remarkable progress when considered in the light of a weak global economy and the cut-throat competition, even among emerging and advanced economies for inflow foreign direct investment. The success of our FTZ policy has invariably increased the demand at the sub-national level of government for replication of free zones in other parts of the country.

The minister said that the genuineness and sincerity of purpose of government to enthrone the private sector as the main driver of growth and development of the nation’s economy was not in doubt.(NAN)

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013— —25

C M Y K

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 1, 2013

we dismissed some that are frivolous.

At times you have cases that are over 10 years still pending •Says Commission not after those opposing govt in court. Is incessant transfer of Judges affecting your cases?

•Judiciary reforms'll fast track prosecution of financial crimes suspects Transfer of Judges is not affecting our cases because when The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was Judges are transferred, set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to curb financials they go with certain crimes in the country to reposition the nation’s economy for documents and other tangible growth and development. Since its establishment, the Judges are assigned to Commission has prosecuted many individuals including former handle the cases. So, governors and influential business men in Nigeria. Aside from there is continuity in investigation of cases on financial crimes, the Commission has the system. Sometimes also embarked on numerous awareness programmes to sensitise cases suffer delay in the citizens on the dangers of economic crimes and adverse court when there are consequences on the economy. EFCC's Director of Operations, preliminary objections Mr. Olaolu Adegbite, speaks on activities of the Commission, its making us to start proschallenges and the need for the media to partner with the ecution afresh. For inCommission on the war against corruption. stance, we have a lot of preliminary objections public domain. So, we carry out

BY UDEME CLEMENT in the Supreme Court. thorough investigations into ev- Adegbite, EFCC's Director of Operations OME experts are of the Could this delay also ery complaint we receive to enopinion that EFCC is movsure prosecution. For instance, carried out within the ambit of the be attributed to shabby investiing on a very slow pace since the we just made eight arraignments law. As such, we do not talk much gations of cases by the Commiscurrent chairman, Mr. Ibrahim in Lagos. i o n ? to the media on cases that are still s Lamorde, took over the ComEFCC has many cases still pending in court because there That is not true. We often carry mission. Do you share similar pending in court and this is the are on-going investigations into out thorough investigations on view? reason people concluded that the those cases. So, due process of every case we handle because I do not share such opinion beCommission is inactive. But has law must be allowed to take place. every judicial pronouncement is cause looking at it pragmatically EFCC gone to sleep?

This implies that we keep vital in- a law on it own. But when a case the Commission is not slow in That is not true. The Commis- formation and must not disclose goes on in court for a period of 10 discharging its statutory responsion is very active because we are such details to the public, because years, sometimes the witnesses sibility. Our focus is to investigate getting conviction every day. We a suspect may get certain details may no longer be available and financial crimes and prosecute the are working tirelessly and a typi- and tries to hide the asset in a that poses a serious challenge offenders according to the facts cal example is the case of $15mil- way to disrupt our investigations. also. gathered in the process of inveslion bribe. People should change Could you give us statistics on So far, about 15 governors are tigation while the court has a duty their perception and see things the number of cases you have on trial by EFCC, when are they to convict those found culpable of positively about the effort of the pending in court now? going to be convicted? financial crimes. Some people Commission in tackling corrup- At present, we have about 300 EFCC does not convict suspects may be thinking that we are slow tion in the country. The present cases still pending in court and but Judges do. Basically, what we in handling various cases but that government is determined more there are no cases that we have do as public servants is to invesidea is erroneous. As trained inthan ever to fight corruption in not charged to court. And in a year tigate every complaint we receive vestigators, we do not pass inforthe system. Our operations are we receive so many petitions but and prosecute the suspect inmation that is not accurate to the

EFCC not broke —Adegbite

S

volved financial crime.

Considering the number of cases you have in court now, don’t you think that EFCC needs a special court to fast track the prosecution process?

That is a constitutional matter.

At the moment, we have designated Judges. Also, it is important to note that Judges must have special skills to be able to handle specific cases.

Is EFCC broke as people are already speculating?

EFCC is not broke but our financial capacity could be improved upon just like any other organisation.

Is it true that EFCC is only after those who have fallen out of favour with the government of the day?

That is not true. The Commission is not after those opposing the government rather we have a duty to investigate all financial crimes irrespective of the individuals or organisations involved.

The notion that only those who have fallen out of favour with the powers that be are prosecuted and that EFCC has gone to sleep, are unfortunately the creation of the media. Even with contrary evidence, a section of the press have been so swayed by this stereotype that they are not willing to shift their gaze in any way. This is quite unfortunate because corruption threatens every sector of the economy, the media inclusive.

The media should lend its investigative skills to assist the Commission in its rage against corruption.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 —27

I’m blessed to have the kind of husband I have – Lami Philips I

t is not often you come across a chic and beau tiful woman who is all over town telling eve ryone who cares to listen how much she loves her husband. At least that’s what Lami Philips is trying to do with ‘Baby’, a track she said she dedicates to her husband. She recently completed the video in London and back at home WG ran into the suave beauty at an event where she talked about her career, her kind of music and more. Excerpts: background who has been urging me to go for whatever I want.

Y

ou look s o beautiful even without any make-up Thanks. Fact is that I just got back from rehearsals for a new video I’m shooting and I got all sweaty but had to quickly wipe my face with a towel inside the car

t h e inspiration came. So I just told my producer and we got few things down and that’s how we did the song.

What did your husband say when you told him the song was all about him?

Of course he blushed. He liked it. I’m just blessed to have the kind of husband I have. He’s been very supportive.

He’s the voice in t h e

So what’s new?

We just released a new single called ‘Baby Mi’ and we are shooting another one and that’s why I’ve been all out.

What is it about ‘Baby Mi’ ?

Well, it was a song I wrote while I was in the studio. I was actually thinking about my husband and that’s how

I N S I DE: P-square, Davido, others ignite Guinness world of more concert C M Y K

So your next single involves some kind of dance?

Yeah. The title is called ‘Romantic Boy’. It’s a kind of dance-hall song, something more fun and playful.

So it’s for the ‘Romantic Boy’ that you want to infuse some dance steps?

Yes. I just want to do something fun and playful this time around. That’s why you see that I’ve been going for dance rehearsals because we are shooting soon.

Does it mean you are rebranding because your previous albums don’t contain such?

I won’t want to call it rebranding because it’s who I’ve always been. I’ve always been the playful and fun type so it’s like putting who I am into the song. If you look at my last album ‘Intuition’, you’ll notice that it’s strictly soul. But this new album from

where we released ‘Baby’ and now ‘Romantic Boy’, it’ll still be my usual kind of songs but more fun will be added to it.

Would you say you are infusing dancehall to gain more acceptance out there?

Well, I’m already accepted because I have my own fan base. Those who love my music love my music and I’d

Pg 31

a b s t a i n especially for my kind of person who is a workaholic. At first I was tempted to want to run back to work but my husband made sure I stayed away so I won’t break down. Honestly, I’ve learnt to hear from God when He’s telling me to do something. When He told me I had to take a break, I just had to obey Him. And now, He’s telling me to work and that’s

,

You look a bit chubby now.

Yes. But I’m working out now.

wins GUS 10 Continues on page 29 Pg 32

But how easy was it for you to take a break and not get disturbed by your fans to come perform?

Actually it wasn’t easy to

I was actually thinking about my husband and that’s how the inspiration came. So I just told my producer and we got few things down and that’s how we did the song

rather be one among many than join the rat race out there today. So Lami has been the fun type all along so I’m just trying to be more playful and fun in my music rather than be gloomy.

Dennis Okike

The reason is because I had to take a break to rest because I just needed to. So during the break, all I did was rest, stay indoors, travel and eat because I love food a lot.

Continues on page 30

Damn the scammer s! scammers!

Don’t help that ailing, dying ‘stranger’

.....

BY AYO ONIKOYI

,

•Lami Philips

Pg 36

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Synopsis Synopsis for Kick Ass 2. were busy and I was busy too.

•Lami Philips

With your kind of music, are you always busy?

I’m as busy as you can ever think of. My manager arranges for me to perform at required shows like burials, birthday parties, weddings and the likes and I make my money. But the thing is the kind of places I go to perform with my band doesn’t get publicised like an average concert or shows does. For instance, If I’m invited to sing at a burial, no one will be on the radio or TV announcing that Lami will be there to perform.

So that’s how it is, but I make my money; I’m blessed.

And I’m like a tomboy.

Whenever you see me performing at events, I always like to be on flats and probably baggy or so. I like to feel comfortable because I’ll be standing for a long time. And you don’t expect me to sing from CDs like most artistes do while on stage. I make sure what I sing on stage is different from what I have on my CD. How do you handle male admirers?

I handle them normally. But my fans aren’t the run-of-the-mill like you’ll have at shows and concerts.

My fans are classy and won’t mob you.

I also do my best to carry myself well in a way that befits me and my husband. Besides, I always have company. I don’t go out alone so no rude fan will behave abnormally around me.

I’m blessed to have the kind of husband I have Continues from page 27

what I’m doing.

Why is it that you’re not signed to any label?

I don’t think I need to be signed to any label. I like to handle my things by myself to know how it’s being run, and that has made me stronger than the average artiste you’ll see out there. My Don’t you think it is negative PR if music isn’t the regular type that needs your fans don’t have free access to promotions and all that. I have my you? targeted audience and I’m focused on No, I don’t think so. Some people may them. I’m a control freak and don’t like see it as pride but I just have to protect someone telling me what to do or not myself whenever I’m in public. Else, some people to do when it may just think comes to my My fans aren’t the runthey can come music. If you’ll and molest agree with me, of-the-mill like you’ll you, all in the when an have at shows and name of saying average artiste concerts. My fans are ‘hello’. Just leaves his label, like when I you’ll discover classy and won’t mob walked in that they are you here, I met not able to some people at c o n t i n u e afterwards because they’ve been lazy the reception and they hushed to about doing things themselves. But it themselves “That’s Lami”, and we hasn’t been like that for me because greeted gently. So if anyone I’ve been involved in it right from the approaches me reasonably, why will I shun them? very beginning.

,

Do you have friends in the industry at all?

Yes I do. Omawunmi is my friend, Waje is also a good friend of mine, so also is Tiwa Savage. Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot and others.

Are you then considering acting?

I have it at the back of my head.

Does it mean that you don’t mingle with other artistes as expected?

Oh yes, I do. I hang out with my friends but we don’t hang out in clubs. I prefer going to their houses and they, coming to mine. Before I went on vacation, Waje, Omawunmi and I planned meeting and hanging out but they

,

Do you also worry about pirates?

I don’t worry about them because every artiste knows that’s a sacrifice he has to make. We don’t make our money from CDs. We get bulk of our money from performing at events. So I don’t worry about them at all.

When people watch you on TV, you look tall but in real life, you aren’t.

Yeah. I’ve actually met fans who told me that. But I’m grateful for the way I look because it makes me smarter. I also used to wish I could be like this and like that but with time, I’ve learnt to accept me for myself and I love who I am.

The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume.

Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz

Synopsis for Krrish 3 After defeating the villainous Dr. Siddhant Arya, and bringing his father Rohit back from the dead, Krrish continued fighting against evil and saving innocent lives. Now Krishna is living a happy married life with priyya. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK •CAPTAIN PHILLIPS •BATTLE OF THE YEAR •R.I.P.D •THANKS FOR SHARING •CONFUSION NA WA Exhibition Schedule from NOV, 1— NOV, 6 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Kick Ass 2 : 11:30pm,1:25pm,8:40pm Krrish 3 : 3:25pm,6:15pm Captain Philips : 12:00pm,5:50pm,8;05pm Thanks for Sharing : 3:30pm, Confusion Na Wa : 12:05pm,2:30pm Battle of the year : 11:20am,1:20pm,3:50pm,6:35pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Kick Ass 2 : 10:45am,7:05pm Captain Philips : 1:50pm,6:10pm,8:45pm Thanks for Sharing : 12:45pm,4:55pm,9:05pm Confusion Na Wa : 11:45am,4:30pm Battle of the year : 10:30am,3:00pm,7:05pm R.I.P.D. : 6:35pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Captain Philips : 12:50pm,5:30pm,6:10pm,8:50pm Confusion Na Wa : 3:20pm,7:20pm Thanks For Sharing : 6:50pm,9:00pm Battle of the year : 12:00pm,2:10pm,4:20pm,6:40pm,8:50pm R.i.p.d. : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:10pm,7:15pm,9:10pm Pain & Gain : 9:30pm, The Big Wedding : 1:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Captain Philips : 12:55pm,3:30pm,6:10pm,8:50pm Confusion Na Wa : 3:05pm,9:00pm Battle of the year : 12:50pm,2:55pm,5:00pm,7:05pm Keeping My Man : 1:00pm,5:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Captain Philips : 12:30pm,3:10pm,5:50pm,8:25pm Thanks for Sharing : 4:25pm,8:55pm Confusion Na Wa : 2:30pm,6:50pm, Battle of the year : 12:05pm,2:15pm,6:40pm R.I.P.D. : 6:30pm,8:35pm Alan poza : 12:20pm,4:40pm Pain & gain : 12:15pm,8:45pm Keeping My Man : 9:00pm, SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Confusion Na Wa : 12:30pm,2:40pm,4:50pm, Battle of the year : 12:15pm,2:30pm,4:40pm,6:50pm Alan poza : 12:25pm,4:40pm Keeping My Man : 2:35pm,6:40pm This Is The End : 12:00pm,4:45pm,6:55p Dark Skies : 7:00pm White House Down : 2:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, SURULERE Captain Philips : 1:45pm,6:15pm,8:45pm Thanks for Sharing : 2:05pm Confusion Na Wa : 10:00am,4:15pm Battle of the year : 10:00am,12:10pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADAN Captain Philips : 3:00pm,5:30pm,8:00pm Thanks for Sharing : 10:00am,2:05pm Confusion Na Wa : 10:15pm,2:10pm Battle of the year : 4:10pm,8:15pmm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,CALABAR Captain Philips : 10:00am,12:30pm,3:00pm,5:30pm,8:00pm Confusion Na Wa : 10:00am,12:05pm Battle of the year : 2:00pm,6:10pm,8:15pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013— 29 Stories by Ayo Onikoyi

P-square, Davido, others ignite Guinness World of More concer t

•Davido

C

ome Sunday, November 3, 2013, leading music artistes including P-square, DBanj, Davido, will set Lagos aglow as the Guinness Colourful World of More concert comes alive at the prestigious Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites Victoria Island, Lagos.

Other artistes set to get the guests grooving include ,Wizkid, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, Olamide and Phyno.

Also, on the list is Miss Kedike Chidinma and Nigeria’s fastest growing soul singer Waje.

The Colourful World of More concert is set to be the most exciting, biggest music concert of the year with so much for the expectant guests to savour for a long time to come. According to Mr.

Austin Ufomba, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, the ground breaking concert will provide the esteemed consumers of Guinness an unforgettable experience only a brand like Guinness can provide.

“Once again, Guinness is providing consumers an opportunity to interact with their music idols in a uniquely exciting atmosphere and colourfully showcase the best of talents that abound in Nigeria.

Colourful World of More is a celebration of us as individuals and also our collective successes in our diverse fields. It is about inspiring one another to reach for more. The Colourful World of More concert with its array of talents, is set to be the biggest music event this year and promises to connect consumers the Guinness style” Ufomba enthused.

Kid star, OzzyBosco drops Let Peace Reign ing was the special visit OzzyBosco and his team paid to the Governor ’s Office.

They were warmly received by the Deputy Governor, Barrister Effiok Essien Cobham who stood in for the governor who travelled out of the state.

In this speech, Barrister Cobham praised the Wonderkid and his team for the charity implications of the tour, while urging others to emulate OzzyBosco’s kind gestures. OzzyBosco however responded by entertaining the Deputy Governor from his hit single entitled ‘Tinini. The kid dynamite also presented a surprise gift of ‘a portrait’ of the first Lady to the governor.

BENJAMIN NJOKU

K

ID sensation OzzyBosco recently dropped a new album entitled, “Let Peace Reign.”

The song which he released in commemoration of Nigeria’s 53 independence featured Terry G and his lovely sister, Princess U. The thought-provoking master piece is already making waves all over the social media. OzzyBosco said, he dedicated the song to the victims of terrorist attacks in Nigeria, Kenya and the rest of the world.

Also, an inside source confirmed to WG that the kid star is on the verge of becoming the youngest ambassador of the revamped Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). He recently returned from Tinapa Resort, Calabar, Cross River State where he was on a seven-day tour of the Resort with 14 children.

The kids who embarked on the tour tagged: “OzzyBosco Charity Adventure” were mainly picked from orphanages and a radio ne of the biggest quiz programme. The allfitness and wellness centres in expense paid trip was Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, sponsored by Ozzy Records.

Abuja, has berthed in Lagos, not only On the first day of their to change the landscape in the budding arrival from Lagos, the fitness and wellness business in the children were received in commercial hub of the country but also grand style at the Lakeside to set a standard for others to follow. hotel by the management.

Bodyline Fitness and Gym owned by While on the second day, lawyer cum businessman, Bankole the children composed a Opashi is a premium wellness center theme song entitled We offering innovative fitness and Are The World, which acnutrition programs uniquely tailored cording to them was into appeal to a wide variety of clients. spired by the warmth and The facility, which is strategically fresh air in Calabar. situated opposite Ikoyi club in Lagos, The highpoint of the outaims to promote a positive and healthy

Gov Akpabio for Aity Music Foundation launch G

ospel singer, Aity Dennis is poised to launch her music foundation christened AIty Music Foundation and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio will be the chief guest of honour.

Just back from the second round of her US tour, Aity told The Entertainer: “This a dream come true for me. I have been working on this project for quite a while. Now I am glad to reveal to you that all is set for the unveiling and launch of my music Foundadtion , Aity Music Foundation. The event will hold at the E Library, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, “According to her, the objective is to train and groom young musicians and help them achieve their dreams. Among others it would feature seminars targeting gospel musicans and how they can take their careers to the next level. Those that want to record but don’t know how to go about it. I have the burden of establishing a platform that will unite local musicians with their foreign counterparts. Nobody receives an award for plans on the drawing board so I decided to make it a reality.

Facilitators include Asu Ekiye, Eben, Segun akinsanya, Elder Ndem and Lara George Also expected to grace the event are CAN Chairman, Bishop Cletus Bassey, PFN Chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia. Fathers of the day are Reverend Dr Uma Ukpai and Archbishop Elijah Mboho.

Meanwhile, on October 27, her annual praise concert, Aity and friends will take center stage.

This year’s edition will feature Asu Ekiye, Freke, Lara George , Queen Favour and Hope Davies, to mention a few.

•OzzyBosco

•Aity Dennis

Abuja topmost wellness centre berths in Lagos

O

•Bankole Opashi

lifestyle for all using the five star, stateof-the-art and professionally managed facilities.

Bodyline first opened in Abuja seven years ago. The Lagos launch this week, marks the roll out of a national network that will see the brand launch in major parts of Nigeria in the coming years.‘ “Our message is simple”, says founder, Bankole Opashi. “We want Nigerians to relax and rejuvenate, while keeping fit and eating healthy.

We’re also reluctant to serve alcohol; instead, providing wide options our friends would love”.

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 1 , 2013

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36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

How to do

Formal black B

- and how not to!

lack is the colour no one can do without, especially if you are a woman, fat or like to get on the red carpet. While black might seem like the easiest colour to do, it is also interestingly the easiest colour to get wrong. Here are tips:-

*Do black with Metallic

Bright gold, burnt gold, silver, platinum, rust, bronze.

All the metallic you can think of go with black like a house on fire. Get creative, but don’t overdo it. You are trying to attract positive attention, not a magnet.

*Do black with other dark colours

Navy blue, bottle blue, army green, indigo and purple are also good to do black with and can raise the profile of your outfit if you can do it sophisticated. The trick is to combine with very rich textures such as suede, soft nu-buck, alligator skin or satins. Regular leather is a firm and definite no-no!

*Do black with an Updo

Formal black always goes with an updo. Very glam hair would pass, but casual hair is a definite no-no.

*Do Black with Style

Yes, the little black dress, the long slinky dress and the ballgown with glitter are the safest of the safe when it comes to formal black. Still there is plenty of room for adventure and the stylish black dress can even blow your looks away more than the conventional.

*Don’t do black with Flats and blocks

Yes, the temptation will always be there but do not fall into it. It makes the look fall flat on its face. Ballet flats, roman sandals and the like look good on a group shopping trip or a brunch with the girls but definitely not with formal black. Block heels and wedges +are even worse, making the look just sloppy all round. Lay off the black if you don’t have the shoes. The higher, thinner and more precarious the heels look, the better.

*Don’t do black with too many Accessories

Accessories are the m o s t potential killers of any good outfit, how much more black. Minimize jewelry especially, earrings and neckwear. On a good day, a simple classy chain would do, while earrings should not be bulky, as demure as possible. Also avoid bangles and bulky belts, hats and scarves of any sort.

*Don’t Midcalf

do

black black with Tacky

Office black is knee length or just below/above the knees but if your modesty allows you to wear a dress only midcalf, do not wear black.

*Don’t

With formal black as with everything else, there are rules and while there are exceptions to the rule the exception must be an improvement over the default and not the other way round. Doing the tacky might be easy to get away with, with other colours. It might even look cute but with black, keep it on the straight and narrow.

do

STELLA ODUAH: Witch hunting, and Women in Nigerian Government T The implication here is the notion- and it remains pervasive- that women do a better job at everything than men do.

While there is not nearly enough evidence to prove this, there is at least enough to show women have indeed done as well as men in virtually every field of endeavor except sports.

In management, women are even believed to be better than men. As far back as the 1900s, studies have shown women to be more suited to “modern” jobs that do not require “brawn”. More recent studies support these findings.

The reason for this is not farfetched. Women of every culture across the world are charged with the responsibility of keeping house and kitchen from very young ages, cooking, cleaning and caring for younger ones at under back breaking and limiting C M Y K

conditions.

But beliefs are changing fast.

It is becoming clearer that nurture rather than nature is responsible for women’s superior management abilities.

Having to do so much with such little money and other resources including time so many times from a young age might be responsible for adult women’s superior ability to manage money better than her male counterparts as to display the ability to juggle so many activities. People management skills often come in here.

While it is unlikely that it is the ‘ nature’ of women to manage better or that it is coded in women’s DNA for her to have nurturing feelings, these skills are no less of importance whether in the home or without, and it is the unfortunate nation that fails to use these skills, even in its

is that as the environment changes, so do the skills and the gender roles that both develop and benefit from them

governance.

Here, understanding that the environment rather than nature is responsible for these skills is crucial not only to the understanding of evolving women’s role in society, and how to better hone them in the future. The implication is that as the environment changes, so do the skills and the gender roles that both develop and benefit from them. It is also

important to understand in the first place that these roles change.

Arianna Huffington, the billionaire media entrepreneur in a recent talk to young girls in South Africa virtually dismantled the myth of women as natural multi-taskers, boldly naming multi-tasking as the singular greatest enemy of success. The ability to multitask in our already chaotic world is, after all, not the best thing ever to happen to women.

Other dismantling myths include those of women being naturally soft-hearted (an armed robbery gang was recently rounded up which was led by a female university of Lagos graduate), and being naturally good managers of money, and of women being more honest than men.

It’s been only a matter of time.

If indeed nurture rather than nature is responsible for

behavior in later life even for women, it stands to reason that a pervasively corrupt society would produce pervasively corrupt adults. It is the bitter lesson we have learnt in this civilian dispensation- that putting women in positions of power and with access to vast amounts of cash is not the guarantee that the money will be managed or well spent, or that it will guarantee equitable or fair distribution of wealth.

While we have had our own fair share of women in politics, we have not have that much luck with them in terms of honestly, transparency and fairplay.

The ongoing Stellagate scandal has been tagged witchhunting, and while there is much evidence to the fact that many of the allegations leveled against her actually have their basis in truth, there is also cause to wonder if women in government have not had more than their fair share of allegations of graft, considering that we know what men in government actually get up to.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 —

Timeline

*Mobolaji Osomo Tuesday April 5th, 2005

B

arely two weeks after the N55 million bribery scandal which rocked the executive and legislative arms of government, President Olusegun Obasanjo has again uncovered another deal that runs contrary to the transparency posture of the present administration.

Housing and Urban Development Minister, Mobolaji Osomo, was fired on Monday in the gale of public sector cleansing that swept off the job of another minister two weeks ago and has put those of Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, and some other lawmakers on the line.

She was sacked for the “embarrassing” way she handled the sale of government property in the posh enclave of Ikoyi, Lagos.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ufot Ekaette, said in a statement in Abuja that Osomo conducted the sale in violation of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) decision and the repeated directives from President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The statement said Obasanjo regrets the embarrassment caused those whose names appeared on the list of allottees without any solicitation on their part or despite their having rejected the offer made by Osomo.

“The minister will show that all those denying on the pages of newspapers are lying”, said an Osomo aide who requested anonymity.

“The way we understand it is that it was a FEC decision and most of the ministers, governors, National Assembly leaders and other government functionaries not only applied, they gave notes through their protocol officers and sometimes, personally came here to beg for the houses to be allocated to them.

Even as the Presidency is blaming all of the scam on Osomo, Aso Rock is not sleeping easy as various camps emerge to defend their positions.

According to BBC Alice Mobolaji Osomo, a Barristerat-Law and Solicitor, Ondo State born Director, NICON Insurance Corporation was sacked after more than 200 properties were allocated to top officials rather than going on public sale.

Obasanjo in a strongly worded letter to Osomo noted that “I must express my great C M Y K

*Mobolaji Osomo displeasure, in very clear terms, about the way you seem to be handling the sale of Federal Government property in Lagos.

37

*Adenike Grange Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili specifically requested for an unreserved apology from Osomo because of the embarrassment caused her. The DirectorGeneral of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) admitted to have written in line with due process for the acquisition of property in Ikoyi and that it was based on her letter she was allocated one.

The Finance Minister,

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala denied ever paying for any property owned by the Federal Government in Lagos.

March, 2008 President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua today fired the Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and her deputy, Gabriel Aduku who is the junior Minister in the Ministry over financial mismanagement.

Both ministers tendered their resignation this morning. According to a source in the Presidency they were asked to resign. “Both individuals were asked to resign as a result of investigations into the financial affairs of the ministry.” The source said.

It will be recalled that Grange was arrested and interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the instance of President Yar ’Adua over the handling of unspent funds in the 2007

budget and award of contracts by her ministry.

Grange had claimed that she acted on advice from top directors of the Ministry of health. She was released while investigation continued into the ministry’s financial activities.

Her sack today is a culmination of three-week investigation ordered by the President

*Grange

*Ndidi Okereke Onyiuke Aug 05, 2010

A

fter 10 years at the helms of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke was yesterday unceremoniously removed as director general of the Exchange. Her removal was at the instance of stockbrokers who yesterday submitted a joint position to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demanding an immediate change in leadership.

In deference to the stance of the stockbrokers, SEC yesterday asked the Council of the Exchange to fire Okereke-Onyiuke promptly in public interest failing which it would take the action directly. All members of NSE’s Council, including Aliko Dangote whose election as president of the Exchange was still mired in litigation

were asked to step down.

“The affairs of the Exchange are managed by an Interim Administrator appointed by the Commission pending the selection of a new Director General”, the statement signed by Arunma Oteh, director general of SEC, stated “Given the gravity of the allegations around financial mismanagement of the Exchange, the Commission has also directed the conduct of an independent investigation into the allegations,” SEC said. It is the climax of the crisis that had engulfed the Exchange starting from her infamous fund raising frolic for current US President Barack Obama which was vigorously denounced by Obama’s campaign team and Nigerians as a scam.

Her removal came after intense pressure on the *Arunma Oteh

*Ndi Okereke

leadership of SEC, who were challenged by stakeholders in the capital market, to back its rhetoric with action, as more revelations emerge about an orchestrated deception in an executive succession process and alleged financial infraction by the management of the NSE. Immediate past director

general of SEC, Musa AlFaki, was forced to resign and long term African Development Bank (AfDB) senior executive, Arunma Oteh, was appointed to replace him. She has gone on record promising to be bullish about regulating the capital market and changing SEC’s old ways.

*Arume Oteh 20 July 2012

A

buja - The House of Representatives has adopted the recommendation that the Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh should be sacked.

The Ad-hoc Committee of the House investigating the near collapse of the capital market had recommended that Oteh be sacked.

The adoption followed the submission of the Ibrahim ElSudi-led ad-hoc committee’s report.The

lawmakers said that her appointment was in violation of Section 3 ( 2 ) a and Section 38 ( 1 ) ( b ), 2 and 3, Section 315 of the investment and Security Act, 2007 in that she did not have 15 years experience in the Nigerian Capital Market as required.

Similarly, the House also urged the EFCC to investigate Oteh and the Managing Director of Union Bank Plc., Mrs Funke Osibodu over the missing N8 billion arising from the Union.

38— Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 , 2013

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513 STORIES BY LAJU ARENYEKA

Damn the scammers!

Don’t help that ailing, dying ‘stranger anger’

C

ompassion-that’s a word scammers thrive on. The thought of an unknown stranger dying in a hospital is enough to thaw the iciest of hearts. But when the bait is an orphan being left behind with a huge inheritance, there must be something unbelievable about the story or

you are greedy enough not to notice.

Here’s an amazing tale from a so called ‘Felicia Luna’: (The ailing stranger) “Dear Beloved One, This is Miss Felicia Luna from Trinidad & Tobago. I am writing from the hospital in Ivory Coast , therefore this mail is very urgent,

as you can see that I am dying in the hospital. I was told by the doctor that i was poisoned and has got my liver damaged and can only live for some months.

(The temptation) I inherited some money ($3.5 Million) from my late father and i cannot think of anybody trying to kill me apart

Red alert! from my step mother in order to inherit themoney, she is an Ivorian by nationality.

(The bait) I have a little orphan child called who has been with me, named Martins Henry, my step

Are vinyl records staging a comeback?

J ust when we thought we were stuck in the future

Rega RP6 Vinyl Set

with mp3s and CDs, the age old vinyl record is making an unprecedented comeback. Reports say

that vinyl record sales in the United Kingdom have gone up 78% in 2013

alone. According to 2012 sales figures, vinyl record album sales in the United States jumped 17.7 percent to almost 4.55 million units. At the same time, CD sales continued to decline, dropping 13.5 percent from 2011 to 193.4 million units. Digital downloads continued to grow at a very healthy rate and now represent 37.2 percent of all music album sales. So, if you’re think-

ing of dusting up your old records, know that you’re not alone. And guess what? You’ve got technology on your side too! The Rega RP6 is a good example. A 16mm glass flywheel, manufactured using a UV curing bond technique, helps improve speed, stability, consistency along with accuracy of sound.

mother and her children are after him and because of that he ran far away where he is hiding now, so I want you to help him out of this country with the money I want you to contact Martins with this information below: Orphan Martins Henry.

Address: Rue De La Princess L/G 152 ,Cocody , Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

Email: martinshenry1996@yahoo.co.jp He will give you the documents of the money and will direct you to a well known lawyer that I have appointed, the lawyer will assist you to change the documents of the money to your name to enable the bank transfer the money to

you.

This is the favour I need when you have gotten the money : * Give 20% of the money to Martins as he has been there for me throughout my illness and I have promised to support him in life. I want you to take him along with you to your country and establish him as your son. * Give 30% of the money to handicap people and charity organization.

Note; This should be a code between you and Martins in this transaction “Hospital” any mail from him, the barrister he will direct you to, without this code “Hospital” is not fro m the barrister, Martins, the bank or myself as I don’t know what will happen to me in the next few hours. * The lawyer’s name is Mc Lambert Adams.

And Let Martins send you his International Passport as he has no passport to be sure of who you are dealing with. Martins is so little, therefore guide him.

And if I don’t hear from you, I will look for another person or an organization.”

This email is a scam. It would be for your good if this person gets another person or organization!

Should Facebook face the book on violent videos?

T

here is hardly any fear that millions of kids, thirteen and above who use facebook will stumble across pornographic content. However, recent developments show that users of the world’s number one social media network will not be protected from videos portraying beheadings, executions and other forms of violence.

From the Prime Minister of Britain to the average Nigerian, facebook has come under heavy criticism for lifting a ban on graphically violent photographs and videos on the site. But there are two sides to it. While critics allege that such videos and photographs could possibly expose children, who are the bulk of Facebook's subscribers to violence, the social network however argue that leaving such videos out would undermine its

responsibilities to bare such bizarre acts and expose their perpetrators to condemnation.

Facebook insisted videos showing beheadings will be allowed as long as the content is posted to condemn the acts, rather than to celebrate or promote them. It also indicated that it could introduce warnings for viewers about graphic content but reminded that the website should be a place where people could share their experiences about controversial events.

Facebook introduced a temporary ban on such videos in May but has since decided to remove the block on the grounds that the site is used to share information about world events. A spokeswoman for the website said: “Facebook has long been a place where people turn to share their experiences, particularly when

they’re connected to controversial events on the ground, such as human rights abuses, acts of terrorism and other violent events.

People are sharing this video on Facebook to condemn it. If the video were being celebrated, or the actions in it encouraged, our approach would be different. However,

since some people object to graphic video of this nature, we are working to give people additional control over the content they see.

This may include warning them in advance that the image they are about to see contains graphic content.”

The change in policy became a public debate recently when a user

who told newsmen in the United Kingdom that Facebook was refusing to remove a page showing a clip of a masked man killing a woman, which is believed to have been filmed in Mexico. The post was titled “Challenge: Anybody can watch this video?”

Although the social network earlier confirmed it was allowing such material to be posted again, it however removed the video as a result of massive outcry from the public. Yet it's subsequent statements do not show it could go back on its decision. In a statement, Facebook explained: “When we review content that is reported to us, we will take a more holistic look at the context surrounding a violent image or video.

Second, we will consider whether the person posting the content is sharing it responsibly, such as

accompanying the video or image with a warning and sharing it with an ageappropriate audience.

Based on these enhanced standards, we have re-examined recent reports of graphic content and have concluded that this content improperly and irresponsibly glorifies violence. For this reason, we have removed it.”

The irony of the whole argument is that both sides are defending public good.

But the dilemma is if facebook is made to face the book for such videos, perpetrators of such obnoxious acts may hardly face the book. However, anything otherwise, may also impact wrongfully on the youths and create damaging effects we may find difficult to resolve in the future.

Now, the problem is how to strike a balance!

What do you think?

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013— —39

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40— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 The Nigerians attitude towards wealth is quite negative. In fact, wealth, security and preservation of life are at the dictates of Allah.

Even the Bible also attests to this. Those that use their wealth to help the poor will be blessed further while those that abuse and oppress people with their wealth will have their natural gifts withdrawn from them. Every Muslim should know this.

That is why Allah says every mankind whether rich or poor, young or old, priviledged or underpriviledged are the same before Allah except bullet-proof car from the those who distinguish butt and the occupant highlighted from his car to themselves with piety.

The greatest quality a see the extent of the Muslim can have in life is damage, but unfortunately, moderation in all matters. the bullet-proof car could He should not be not save him. Right there, extravagant, nor flashy, but the assasins had their way, rather, moderate, fair and shot at him and bolted balanced both in deeds and away. Nothing can protect Allah.

The acquisition of worldly except materials. Allah the Exalted acquisition of armoured says, “and be not excessive. cars especially by those in Indeed, He does not like position of authority is not those who commit excess.” only a sheer waste of (Al Anaam: 141). One clear resources, abuse of power example of extravagance is clearly prohibited in the the misuse of wealth that Holy Quran, but also Allah has blessed us with. ignorance as a result of Almighty Allah says, “and giving attention to all means cause not corruption upon of worldly protections. It is the earth after its only people close to reformation. That is better dementia would think and life can be for you, if you were believe prolonged by a cornucopia believers.” (Al Araf: 85).

Like the raging issue of the of security apparatus and a N255million armoured car, litany of bullet-proof cars at the motive behind the their beck and call, bought our common acquisition was not only with extravagant but also nutty. partimony. They throw What is the need of an caution to the wind and armoured car when it can oblivous of the transcient rarely save life? We have nature of power, also heard of somebody who was forgetting that life itself is assasinated right in front of simply a passing scene. jettison the his bullet-proof car. The They assasin delibrately hit the ordinances of God and

Armoured car: Allah hates extravagant lifestyles

Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. It is the same month when Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was brutally massacred in Karbala alongside his family and friends in the year 680 CE/ 61 AH. Their martyrdom is a sad day for all Muslims, especially the Shi’a, who hold mourning ceremonies to recall the righteous virtues for which the valiant martyrs stood and the grave calamities that they thus had to bear. The commemoration of this brutal massacre (Battle of Karbala) begins on the first day of Muharram and reaches

its climax on the 10th of Muharram, the day of the battle, known as Ashurah and continues for 40 days or 69 days.

What is Ashura ?

Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the remembrance of Muharram but not the Islamic month.

It is well-known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). It was marked with public processions, and great grief.

Men and women chant and mourned Husayn, his family, and his followers. It is a practice of the Shi’a sect as they celebrate it more than other Muslim sects.

towards life. This approach tries to inculcate a sense of balance in the heart and mind of the believer. Islam condemns and discourages excessive materialism. This excessive materialism is an animal-like behaviour.

,

About Muharram and Ashurah celebration

bestride like collosus. The Qurans says: Give the people their [due] right, and the needy..., but do not squander wastefully.

Indeed the wasteful are brothers of Satans, and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord. Q17 verse 26-27.

It is only people close to dementia would believe life can be prolonged by a cornucopia of security apparatus and a litany of bullet-proof cars at their beck and call, bought with our common partimony

,

As muslims, we need to embrace the virtues of righteousness, moderation, balance and fairness. Islam advises that even in the excess of water like flowing river, there is no need for excessive use during ablution. Islam teaches us to practice moderation in order to create a sense of balance and equilibrium in the life of every man. With that, a person will have joy without excess, grace without pride and humility without humiliation.

The issue of moderation as a moral virtue reflects the approach that Islam takes

Moderation as defined in Islamic law applies to those things that are permissible, wholesome and pure.

Excess can manifest itself in different ways such as excessive eating, clothing and general lifestyle. The Prophet said that the worst container to fill is one’s stomach (relating to the various health problems overeating causes). The Quran also asks us to eat and drink but not to be wasteful or excessive because God doesn’t like those who are wasteful.

In order to go through life wi t h its trials and

tribulations, people need to have the solid ability to resist and stand in the face of these troubles. I wonder how these people will live after leaving their juicy positions or when condition changes.

Ritheousness cannot be achieve with flamboyancy and luxury merely because people will be so obsessed with personal pleasure and luxury.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) who was known to have left behind only his praying mat warned against excessive luxury. He said: “I am not afraid for you from poverty, what I am really afraid of is that the world will open for you and you will have lots of wealth and provisions and that you start competing in it and that it would destroy you as it did to people before you!”

Let us remember that whatever we possess in this life is vanity except what we do for others. Those who have failed to work for others but enjoy being very extravagant will surely meet their Lord. They will soon come to realise that hundreds of armoured cars or very intimidating security apparatus or billions of naira in savings for the generation unborn cannot help them.

I suppose it will be too late for them, except they repent now.

O Allah, make Iman (faith) beloved and a beauty to behold in our hearts, and make us hate passionately, immorality and disobedience to Allah. O’ Allah, we seek from You guidance, virtue, moderation, purification of the soul and contentment.

O’ Allah, let us see the truth as Truth and grant that we follow it. And let us see falsehood as Falsehood and grant that we avoid it.

Amin.

•A cross section of October Birthday Mates after a special prayer was held for them at NASFAT Igbogbo branch, recently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 — 41

Ask Y our Imam Your Question: What is wrong Islamically to eat with left hand especially at gathereing when you have to keep with table manners?

About Women's rights, duties in Islam As a wife, she needs to be the person to whom the husband turns in search for tranquility. Allah says, “And of His signs is that He created for you f r o m yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy .”

(Ar-Rum: 21).

Thus, she needs to treat him nicely and his relatives and preserve his wealth, integrity and interests. The Prophet said, “Let

,

O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women.” (An-Nisaa: 1) A woman is a source of peace and tranquility for her husband at home, while the latter is her guardian and provider, yet both have their rights and obligations.

The focus of Islam is that women’s role in educating generations and helping men to grow and prosper, should not be treated with levity. It sets for them the prominent mission of building society and preparing the young ones for life. Women are very vital to the development of any society as they serve as both mothers and eductors. So, they are placed in high esteem. That is why Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) urged us to treat them nicely when he said, “So act kindly towards women.”

For good upbringing of the community, Islam has guaranteed women the right to education and learning. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) used to dedicate a day to teach and guide them. Such a Prophetic teachings and guidance have indeed helped many women throughout history to emerge as preachers, religious jurists and scholars. Aisha (r.d.t), said, “the best of the women are the women of the Ansar. Nothing should ditter them from inquiring about religion and from acquiring deep understanding in it. My dear Muslim Sister, to what extent have you engaged yourself with the acquisition of Islamic knowledge? How do you intend to distinct yourself from those who dont know? When the prophet was asked about attention to the parents: He said, “your mother, again your mother, again your mother, then your father,” meaning she was worth three times the reward of the father.

Fulfilling women’s rights is both a religious requirement and an act of civility that helps in the noble task of building the family and ensuring stability in the society.

A mother is supposed to look after her children, providing them with beneficial education and warm-hearted care. She must not neglect them, or fall short in her duties towards them. On this matter, the Prophet (s.a.w) said, “woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children).”

Side-talk in Arafat, Mina It the tqlk of the dqy but q heart-warming gesture that best conveyed the true essence of the qur’anic verse “all the faithful are brothers.”

Tweeters posted a photo of a non-arab young man carrying an elderly haji. The picture revealed that the young man wasn’t relat- ed to the older one. The young man said he carried him because “islam teaches us to be like brothers to one another.”

The caption in the photo said one of the pilgrims wanted to commend the young man for doing the right thing to his father, but the young man said: “This isn’t my father, i found him alone in arafat, so i carried him on my back to muzdalifah and then to mina,” said the young man. When asked why he did it, he merely said: “All the faithful are brothers.”

“All the rituals were carried out in a calm atmosphere and free of any political demonstrations, proving that islam is a religion of peace, civilization and progress,” he said.

Many nigerian pilgrims have returned to the country while a few others are still being expected.

When the prophet was asked about attention to the parents: He said, “your mother, again your mother, again your mother, then your father

me inform you about the best a man hoards; it is a virtuous woman who pleases him when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives her a command, and guards his interests when he is away from her.”

Let those who are iinformed encourage other women to continue learning and working for the sake of the family, society and nation; seek to foster healthy family relationships and honour rights and duties between husbands and wives.

It is also advised that dialogue should be adopted when dissagreement sets in. Avoid arguments and animosities, avoid issues that could lead to divorce, because divorce is capable of harming the children emotionally and psychologically.

Women are encouraged to be chaste, emulate those pious women in the scriptures - Virgin Mary in her purity, Sayida Khadija in her faithfulness, Fatima bint Rosulullah in her righteousness and Sayida Aisha in her knowledge, may Allah be pleased with them all.

O Allah, Give us piety and purify our souls, amend our intentions, grant that our spouses and our offspring are successful in this world and in the hereafter. O Allah guide us to know what is good, make us benefit from what we have learnt, and increase our

Answer: As-salam alaikum Eating with the right hand is a Sunnah because of the honored value of the right hand in Islam.

Also, it is recommended because it is a concerted act to be different from the way Satan. Everything about satan is usually from the left hand side, so, it is advised and recommended for every Muslim to always use his or her right hand not only in eating but virtually everything he does. But it is noteworthy to point out that it is a sunnah and not an obligation.

Therefore, the person who doesn't follow it is doing an act which is discouraged but not prohibited. Thank you for asking and God knows best.

,

knowledge. O Allah, we seek Your favour to bless us with beneficial knowledge, let our hearts be full of Your gratitude and keep our tongue moist with Your remembrance. May Allah bless us with good provision and blessed living life and progeny.

Quotes Son of Adam! Know that the angel of death who has been assigned to you has not ceased to pass you and move on to others, ever since you have been in this world. But it is as if he is about to pass someone else and move on to target you, so be careful and prepare for him (by correcting your deeds). And do not forget him, for he does not forget you. And know o son of Adam, if you are heedless about yourself and do not prepare, no one else will prepare for you. You must meet Allah the Mighty and Majestic, so take for yourself and do not leave it to someone else. Peace be on you.— Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)

•A cross Section of the Students at the 5th Convocation Lecture of Crescent University, Abeokuta, held at the vasity site along Abeokuta-Ayetoro road, Abeokuta Friday

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 1 , 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 , 2013 — 43

44—Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

LASUTH CMD to deliver heart care lecture

Nigeria's better than how Jonathan met it, says Ijaw group

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ROF. Wale Oke, consultant cardiologist and Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, will speak on Lifestyle Modifications Necessary to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Deaths on Tuesday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dr. Adesina Heart Foundation will also be inaugurated at the event.

Dame Abimbola Fashola will be special guest of honour and Chief Don Etiebet, Chairman.

Asaba COED gets new Registrar

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HE Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Dr. N. I. Ezoem, has announced the appointment of Alhaji Rotimi Adepoju as the institution’s new registrar.

Adepoju joined the college as Administrative Officer 1 in 1989. He was, until his appointment, the Deputy Registrar in charge of admission.

He is married with children.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN— THE Izon-Ibe Network For Good Governance, Justice and Accountability, INEGOJA, an Ijaw group in the Niger Delta, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan deserves the support of Nigerians in 2015, noting that the country was better than how Jonathan met it.

The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Samson Uroupa, said that the critics of President Jonathan were being unfair to Nigerians, insisting that “Nigeria is better today than how President Jonathan met it.

“Nigerians have long forgotten that we once had railways in this country, but the Jonathan administration is doing its best to fix that sector for effective transportation.

“Our airports are wearing new looks. Farmers can now smile to the bank.

“If for nothing, the promotion of democratic values, which is the hallmark of good leadership, the level of freedom of speech enjoyed by

views, are commendable.

“We must accept the fact there was nothing working perfectly before that Jonathan

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG OALITION for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, CGGEJA, yesterday, faulted Col Tony Nyiam (rtd.), a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference, over his attack on Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, during the committee’s sitting in Benin, saying that Nyiam’s action amounted to an assault on

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

U

NUEDO Foundation has called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to concession Edo House in Lagos rather than sell it, saying that the concessionaire should be made to pay annual returns to the government.

It also urged the state gov-

ernment to seek for other sources of finance for its proposed five-star hotel.

President of the group, Mr. Lawson Omokhodion in a statement, yesterday, said that the current administration in the state does not have the time and capacity to build a five-star hotel.

He said: “It is our opinion

that the Edo State Government neither has the time nor the capacity to build a five-star hotel in the remaining period of its tenure.

“It took five years to tackle Airport Road reconstruction.

An international five-star hotel and conference centre is definitely a more complex and demanding project.”

Delta Vision calls on Obi to contest 2015 guber election

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA— A pressure group, Delta Vision, has

called on the former acting governor of the state, Prince Sam Obi, to contest the 2015 governorship election in the

Oshiomhole’s freedom of expression.

The group argued that Nyiam’s action “is reminiscent of the brutish barbarism of yesteryears, when free speech and public opinion were suffocated under the weight of gun-butt dictatorship.”

CGGEJA, in a statement by Mr. Cephas Onaivi, its Lagos Coordinator, said that the Nigerian 1999 constitution currently under-going amendment provided the right for citizens

to speak freely without government interference and as such Nyiam’s action infringed on Oshiomhole’s right.

It said: “People have the right to gather in public to march, protest, demonstrate, carry signs and otherwise to express their views in a non-violent way.

“It also means people can join and associate with groups and organisations without interference. It is utterly reprehensible that Nyiam would take it upon himself to hinder that right.”

state, describing him as a round peg in round hole for the exalted office.

A leader of the group, Mr. Vincent Owiabeghe, who moved the motion at the gathering of the group in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, said Obi distinguished himself when he acted as the governor of the state for two months.

He said: “We are calling on him to contest for the state governorship come 2015.

“His track record within the two months of his acting capacity in the state brought unprecedented achievements and programmes that are still being celebrated today.”

Prince Obi was former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

has come to destroy. But there are many things that were not working that Jonathan has come to fix.”

Oshiomhole urged to concession Edo House

Coalition flays Nyiam over attack on Edo gov

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Alhaji Rotimi Adepoju.

Jonathan’s critics and even the political will to compose a committee on national conference for Nigerians to air their

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On amnesty for N'Delta militants

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OR this issue to be resolved completely, all parties must first sheathe their swords. The Niger Delta people deserve a better livelihood. Go to Abuja and see what money from Niger Delta is doing.— Miss Ofomata Cynthia, Broadcaster.

W

HY are the leaders greedy?

Late President Yar ’Adua initiated the programme due to the violent nature of the Niger Delta boys.

Now, it is the leaders and the administrators that are enriching themselves.— Mr. Charles Abraham, Student.

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HE government knows what to do about the Niger Delta problem. No meaningful agreement is made when there is no sincerity of purpose. My major worry is that one does not know who is speaking for who in Niger Delta.— Miss Blessing Ubah, Student.

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HE money assigned to the amnesty programme has not been utilised. The people collecting the money have enriched themselves and forgot the boys. The programme has failed and the boys are very angry.— Mr. Atijere Gabriel, Student.

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HE ex-militants were promised benefits, a promise that seems to have been abandoned.

What we see are leaders awarded oil pipeline protection contracts and they have become multibillionaires overnight.— Mr. Chibuzor Ogbonna, Officer.

I

T is high time Nigerians understood the real issue in the Niger Delta. The people in that area are living in abject poverty, despite the oil from there. But the solution is not in carrying arms. It is dialogue.— Ms. Abiodun Baiyewu, Businesswoman.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—45

DESOPADEC begins skill acquisition programme for Urhobo youths

Ex-militants to partner security agents on protection of oil installation

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

A

N ex-militant leader, ‘General’ Francis Muturu, has said that former fighters in the region will partner security agents in protecting oil installations, describing the group of Urhobo youths that gave Federal Government an ultimatum, threatening to blow up oil installations in their domain if not included in the third phase Amnesty programme as criminal elements.

Muturu explained that the ex-militants Generals in the region would joined forces with security agents to combat pipeline and oil installation vandalism, warning that any youth under the guise of protest that blow up oil installation would be fished out and made to face the wrath of the law.

Speaking to Journalists in Bomadi, Delta State, Muturu said that all over the Niger Delta region, the ex-warlords know their boys that fought along with them, adding that the magnanimity of the amnesty office by including even those persons that they knew were ex-militants but ‘Niger Delta person’ into the programme, should not be taken for granted.

Group constitutes c'ttee for Delta 2015

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25 Assembly, a sociopolitical pressure group with chapters in all the local government areas of Delta State, has inaugurated a Contact/ Mobilisation Committee to work towards actualising the dream of Deltans come 2015 and beyond.

Inaugurating the 15-man Committee in Asaba, the Chairman of the group, Mr Benedict Ebede charged members to be selfless and patriotic in the discharge of their duties.

Members of the committee include Professor Sunday Akporobi – Chairman, Uche Osadebe, Ebede Benedict, Morrinson Ogwu, Mrs Patience Asiegbu, Mike Onyebadi, Akpoyibo Prosper, Evang. Jerry Omovie, Mrs Clara Igboji, Tola Ogbe, Perekosifa Godspower, among others.

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VISIT—Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right) and Sunday Abegunde, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management during a visit to the Governor in his office, yesterday.

NHRC, lawyers want death penalty abolished in Nigeria

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—NATIONAL Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and Advocats Sans Frontiers France, (Lawyers without borders France), yesterday, called on relevant authorities to revisit the country’s criminal justice system, especially capital punishment in the dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

Disclosing that they were currently assisting no fewer than 20 death row inmates and hundred awaiting trial inmates with legal representation, they argued that the country’s legal system was very susceptible to miscarriage of justice to the extent that innocent persons were often times sentenced to death.

They spoke at a workshop for judicial actors on the Criminal Justice System, organised by ASF France in partnership with

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, European Union, National Human Rights Commission and Nigeria Bar Association, NBA. Head of Office, Advocats Sans Frontiers France, Angela Uwandu, noted that though the human rights community was concerned about the fate of the victims, “it has been observed that our death penalty has not helped in checking criminality and that is why we are agitating that it should be expunged from our laws, because we believe that life sentence is better.

“Even countries where they have forensic experts, CCTV in their streets, they still don’t have capital punishment in practice. What we are saying is that in Nigeria, we don’t even have such expertise to determined the culpability of a

culprit, our legal system need to be reviewed because if you decide to execute the person and discovers that he is innocent after all, what will you do?

“But if the suspected is sentenced to life imprisonment, there is still a chance to prove his innocence. For us, we believe that even condemned criminals have a right to legal representation. That is why we said we need a review of our criminal justice system,” she said.

Mr Nicholas Osadolor of NHRC, urged the relevant authorities to amend the country ’s criminal justice system, adding “in Nigeria, people are framed up everyday due to political reasons or other issues and it will be unfair to hang an innocent man or woman for a crime he did not commit.”

Group petitions Jonathan over Agip's treatment of Nigerian workers

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HE Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on management of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, to improve on the lot of Nigerians working in the oil firm.

The appeal, according to the group is to avoid a showdown with the oil company over alleged shortchanging of Nigerians working in the company.

The group in a statement by its President, Nelly Emma, lamented that Nigerians working in Agip were being treated like slaves and denied choice managerial positions in their land. The group threatened to disrupt activities of the company unless something urgent was done

to address the situation.

“Our investigations have shown that Nigerians are not well treated in Agip. They are denied occupying key positions in the company. For instance; the General Manager (Finance) is an Italian; the General Manager (Upstream Business) Italian; the General Manager (Gas Business) Italian; the General Manager (Commercial) Italian; the General Manager (District) Italian and General Manager (Projects) Italian.

“It is only the positions of General Manager (Legal), General Manager (Public Affairs), General Manager Nigerian Content

Development, NCD and General Manager (Human Resources) they are held by Nigerians and we think this is not good enough for the Nigerian Local Content and people of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

“We are of the view that Nigerians ought to be given the positions of the General Manager (Projects); General Manager (Gas Business); General Manager (Finance) and General Manager (Upstream Business). The maltreatment and shortchanging of Nigerians by management of the company is of great concern to us and it must stop."

BRAKA—DELTA State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, in partnership with Delta State University, DELSU, Investment Limited, DIL, has commenced skills acquisition and entrepreneurship training programme for youths of Urhobo ethnic nationality.

The training is aimed at equipping youths from the eight local government areas in Delta Central senatorial district to be self dependent in fishery, poultry, snail- rearing, grass cutter rearing, computer appreciation, welding and fabrication business.

Chairman of DESOPADEC, Mr Oritse Kpogho, enjoined the participants to take the training seriously, noting that the oil commission was prepared to equip leaders of tomorrow with necessary skills to prepare them for tomorrow.

UYC, Majemite condole Egbo over mother's death

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—URHOBO Youth Council, UYC, has commiserated with its National Deputy President, Olorogun Jaro Egbo on the demise of his mother, Mrs. Erienta Moses-Egbo.

Mrs. Moses-Egbo died after a brief illness on October 13, 2013, aged 78.

National President of UYC, Mr Henry Baro, who led other members of the group on a condolence visit to the Ughelli residence of Egbo, described the late Mrs Moses-Egbo as a mother, who was committed to the wellbeing of her children and every child that was around her.

Expressing sadness at the death of the septuagenarian, Baro said; “Jaro Egbo is a forthright and approachable person, who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Urhobo nation through his efforts in UYC." Meanwhile, the Political Adviser to the Delta State Governor, (Delta Central), Chief Fred Majimite, has described the late Mrs Erieta Moses-Egbo as a woman of substance, who labored for the upliftment of her children.

46—Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Anambra: INEC reinstates Nwoye as PDP candidate

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

A

WKA—THE Inde pendent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reinstated Chief Tony Nwoye as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

INEC said that the reinstatement of Nwoye was in obedience to the order of the Court of Appeal (Port Harcourt Judicial Division) on October 23, 2013 that he is the governorship candidate of the party for the scheduled election.

Nwoye replaced Mr. Nicholas Chukwujekwu Ukachukwu who was earlier declared candidate of the party by the High Court.

The commission has also dismissed three of its officers and terminated the appointment of one other person over alleged undisclosed offences.

According to a memo dated October 18, 2013 and signed by the Deputy Director, Human Resources, Mr. Henry O. Ayomanor, those dismissed include, Mr. Nuhu Adamu, a grade level 12 officer with the commission in Adamawa State; a Chief Clerical Officer at INEC headquarters on GL 07Francis Alechenu and Mrs. Adetowubo Adenike on GL 08 at INEC-Ogun State.

Owerri residents fear epidemic outbreak over filthy environment

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—RESIDENTS of Owerri municipality have expressed fear of epidemic following the filthy environment of the area.

Investigations by Vanguard showed that most residents now dump their refuse along the streets as there were no bins where such rubbish could be thrown into, leading to mountains of refuse in several parts of the state capital.

The administration of Chief Rochas Okorocha had condemned what it described as the huge expenses made by the former governor of the state Chief Ikedi Ohakim to keep the environment clean before stopping the monthly clean up exercise, which had then become a way of life for the people of the state.

Heaps of refuse had virtually taken over parts of all the markets within the city, at the time of press.

Apart from the refuse, the drainages had been blocked as most gutters in the municipality are filled with all manner of refuse, including empty sachets of water, empty bottles and plastics among others.

Commenting on the issue, a resident, Mr. Joe Etim, ex-

A

He said: “I blame the return of refuse in Owerri on incompetence on the part of those in charge of waste disposal.

Douglas Road is a major thorough fare for visitors but it is now an eyesore.”

He also expressed worry that refuse are recklessly dumped along the NazeNekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road, particularly at Maternity and Umuerim bus stops, among other areas.

LAUNCHING: From left: Mr. Oladimeji Oduyebo, Corporate Services Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Ola Ijimakin, General Manager, Marketing and Mr. Shoke Ayebae, Business Development Manager, at the launch of the new Vigomax Forte in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo. Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Imo Govt settles Adapalm workers’ entitlements

BY CHIDE NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—IMO State Gov ernment has settled the outstanding allowances and other entitlements of Imo Palm Plantation, Adapalm, workers who were recently sacked by the government.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha

....As Dunukofia royal fathers back Obiano WKA—TRADITIONAL rulers in the Dunukofia area of Anambra State have endorsed Chief Willie Obiano, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate for the November 16, 2013 gubernatorial election in the state.

Dunukofia in Anambra Central is the stronghold of both the APC candidate, Senator Chris Ngige and PDP flag-bearer, Mr. Tony Nwoye.

The Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation which made this known stated that ‘’the traditional rulers who turned out at Umunnachi to receive Obiano’s campaign and bestow their royal blessings on the APGA candidate included Igwes F.U. Onochie of Umunnachi, Emeka Iluno of Ifite Dunu, T.C. Tagbo of Ukwullu,

pressed regrets that there were no refuse dumps in Owerri, just as he wondered why government covered the drainages along some major roads with slabs without evacuating the refuse first.

Onowu Raphael Chukwurah, regent of Umudioka and Crown Prince Nwaegwu of Nawgu community.

The traditional rulers who mobilized their various communities to a rally that attracted a large crowd at Dunukofia were unanimous in their view that Obiano is the best out of the 23 gubernatorial candidates seeking election in the November 16, 2013 poll.

Earlier at a private gathering, the traditional rulers had assured the APGA candidate of their support and bestowed their blessing on him. During the meeting, Chief Obiano had also assured the royal fathers that his administration would build on the achievements of the Peter Obi administration to lift Anambra State to the status of Nigeria’s leading industrialised state.

on Administration, Mr. Ethelbert Ibeabuchi, who represented the Chief of Staff, Government House, Owerri, Sir Jude Ejiogu, on the occasion, said that Okorocha had their interest at heart and would not allow them to go without paying them their entitlements.

He, however, urged them to continue to support government policies and programmes, even as he wished them well in their future endeavours.

Paying off the sacked workers, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs. Opara Nestor, explained that they were not laid off as a result of incompetence but rather due to the change in management. ”The management, after restructuring the organisation may decide to reabsorb some or all of you,” Nestor said, and appealed to the beneficiaries

to use the funds judiciously, stressing that with the fund available to them, they could start their own private businesses instead of worrying to go back to Adapalm.

Speaking also, the Chairman of the workers association, Mr. John Nwokoma, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, even as some of the beneficiaries said they were delighted with the payment.

Edo Majority Leader wants EFCC to probe Petroleum, Aviation ministries

B

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—AS the House of Representatives continues its probe into the purchase of N225 million armoured cars involving the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Philip Shaibu has called on the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to beam its searchlight on the Ministry of Petroleum, saying that the continued complaints about oil theft by the Federal Government calls for concern.

The lawmaker who spoke in Benin City, yesterday, said that

apart from the ongoing probe by the House of Representatives over the purchase of the BMW cars, the EFCC should also investigate the award of contracts on the renovation of airports in the country by the Aviation Ministry, ‘’because the roof of most of the airports are leaking.”

He said: “I want the EFCC and the House of Representatives to probe her. It is embarrassing to see that the airport she was busy commissioning is leaking when it rains and that means that the jobs were shoddy, so, the EFCC must investigate all the airport reno-

vation contracts because it is the same scam that has also extended to the purchase of the BMW cars, none of them is worth the amount. Our airport is in a mess because the amount quoted can build a new international airport from available statistics.

“If President Jonathan want to tell us that he is sincere, Oduah should be sacked and handed over for prosecution and that should be done in the public and it is a test for Jonathan to show that he and his government are not corrupt and clear his name of rumoured corruption going on under his watch.’’

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 —47 ,

TOURNAMENT: Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, exchanging pleasantries with the former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the Chairman of Fifth Chukker Polo Club, Kaduna, Alhaji Adamu Atta, during the grand finale of the 2013 African Patrons Cup Tournament, sponsored by Etisalat, at the Fifth Chukker Polo Club, Kaduna.

ANNIVERSARY: The representatives of President, Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, flanked by the Chairman, Island Club, Prince Demola Dada (left), Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, Olugbo of Igbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan (right), and others, during the multi -storey car park foundation stone laying ceremony, honour award/grand finale of 70th platimum jubilee anniversary of Island club, at the club premises.

SEMINAR: From left, Head of Sales for Governance, Risk, and Compliance, Thomson Reuters Africa, Alex Menage; Managing Director for Africa, Thomson Reuters, Keith Nichols; Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; and Head of Primary Markets, London Stock Exchange, Mr. Ibukun Adebayo, at the 4th Annual Capital Markets and Regulations Seminar, in Lagos.

TRAINING: From left, Mrs. Janet Adetu, Chief Executive Officer, JSK Etiquette Consortium; Muyiwa Adekunle, Assistant Marketing Manager, Pomat Peters Nigeria Limited, and Kayode Olubajo, Business Development Manager, Consolidated Business Holid Nigeria Limited, at the Graduate Professional Leadership and Life Skills Training, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Chike Ogeah, Commissioner for Information; Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN, Commissioner for Justice, and Mr. Norbeth Chiazor, NUJ Chairman, Delta State, during presentation mid-term reports by Ministry of Justice, Delta State, at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake

MEETING: From left, Professor Wole Atoyebi, Electoral Committee Chairman; Adelaja Adeleye, New President, and Mr. Seye Oladejo, new Vice President, all of Ultimate Circle of Nigeria, at the club's Annual General Meeting, in Iperu, Ogun State.

SERVICE:The chairman, HR Committee, Triumphant Baptist Church, Akowonjo, Mrs. Tokunbo Emiola Johnson, presenting a gift to Reverend Olajide Oke, and his wife, Olukemi, during the appreciation service, organised by the church for Oke, the former acting pastor of the church.

ANNIVERSARY: Sir Ignatius Orisewezie, Knight of St. Mulumba,KSM, with his wife, after he was conELECTION: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, being accredited for the State Local Government Election, at ferred with Model Merit Award by HRM Ezeagwu Adebiopon Compound Polling Booth, in Share Ifelodun Lo- Ezenwadi I (JP), Obi of Umunede Kingdom, Delta State, on his 20th coronation anniversary. cal Government Area.

PRESENTATION: From left, Miss Aderemi Thomas, Lagos State Electricity Board, presenting a prize to winner, Mr. Adwale Ayodeji, and Mr. Doherty Olumide, Lagos State Electricity Board, during the grand finale of the Energy Conservation Month Awareness Campaign, at the Energy Experience Centre, Lagos.

C M Y K

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 1 , 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 — 49

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—51

Armoured cars not bought for me — Oduah Continues on page 51 has denied granting waiver for the clearing of the armoured cars.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, in Abuja, that she only granted waiver for the clearing of cars to be used for 2012 National Sports Festival, EKO 2012, hosted by the Lagos State Government.

According to her, it was the Lagos State Government that applied for waivers for the importation of the vehicle for the festival, as contained in a letter dated June 23, 2012. She explained that the waiver affected Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd, only in relation to its being the official partner for the supply of automobiles for the sports festival and no more. The statement read in full:

“Recent media reports which claim that the Federal Ministry of Finance granted a waiver to Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd for the purchase of armoured cars are totally false and without foundation.

“Rather, on June 23, 2012, the Lagos State Government applied for Waiver of Destination Inspection Charges and Duty Exemptions for Coscharis Motors Nigeria Ltd, the official Automobile Partner for the National Sports Festival (“EKO 2012”), to purchase 300 vehicles on its behalf for the event.

“Since the Lagos State Government met the laiddown criteria, the waiver was granted.

“It is also important to clarify that the waiver granted to the Lagos State Government for the event did not include the purchase of armoured vehicles”.

Police disperse proOduah protesters in Abuja A new dimension was added to the armoured cars saga, yesterday, in Abuja when the Police dispersed a group of women who staged a solidarity march for Stella Oduah. The women who numbered about 50 had stormed the Federal Secretariat, to protest against what they alleged was the continued harassment of Oduah.

They had arrived the Federal Secretariat chanting solidarity songs in support of Oduah with placards of different inscriptions.

Some of the placards read “Leave Stella Oduah alone” “Stella has transformed the aviation sector.”

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52 —

V anguard anguard,, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2013

BRIEFS

Abyei votes to join South Sudan

Syria destroys chemical weapons facilities

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HE Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in the document its teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites across the country.

The other two were too dangerous to inspect, but the chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites which experts had visited, it said.

“The OPCW is satisfied it has verified, and seen destroyed, all declared critical production, mixing, filling equipment from all 23 sites,” the document said.

Al Jazeera’s Omar Al Saleh, reporting from Istanbul, said “by November 1, Syria will no longer have the capacity to make new chemical weapons, bringing an end to phase one and phase two”.

“Phase three will last to June 2014 and will involve United Nations

mission support to monitor all destruction of 1,000 tonnes of chemical weapons. The UN/ OPCW has no mandate to destroy them so a UN member state will have

OHN Kerry, the US secretary of state, will travel to Saudi Arabia where he will meet Saudi King Abdullah in an effort to ease diplomatic strains over Syria and Iran.

Kerry, who is set to begin his nine-day Middle East and Europe tour on Saturday, will also visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, the state department said yesterday.

Kerry will “discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues” with Abdullah and

other states will agree with Syria on the amount it said it has. Other countries may have their own intelligence,” our correspondent said.

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Members of the UN weapon inspection team in Damascus

Assad seeks end to foreign support for rebels

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HE Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, has said he is open to peace talks but insisted that

“ reaffirm the strategic nature of the US-Saudi relationship given the importance of the work between our two countries on shared challenges,” department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

they would not go ahead unless foreign nations stopped supporting rebel fighters. The comments came during a meeting on Wednesday with peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in Damascus. “The Syrian people are the only ones who have the right to decide on Syria’s future, and any solution or agreement must have the acceptance of the Syrian people, and reflect their desires,”

Assad told Brahimi.

The meeting came as part of a regional tour aimed at garnering support for a US-Russian peace initiative for Syria planned next month in Geneva.

Assad also warned there must not be “any foreign intervention” in seeking a solution to Syria’s civil war, in which an estimated 115,000 people have died in 31 months.

Russian firm offers Snowden website job

U

S security leaker Edward Snowden is set to start a new job at a major Russian website, three months after the fugitive was given asylum in Russia, his lawyer said yesterday.

“Edward Snowden will start working at a big Russian company on

Friday, November 1.

His job will be to support and develop a major Russian website,” lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Interfax news agency.

Tantalisingly, Kucherena declined to give the name of the company, citing security concerns.

T

C M Y K

recognised by either Khartoum or Juba and which the African Union has warned is a “threat to peace”.

The fate of Abyei is one of the most important and sensitive issues left unresolved since South Sudan became an independent state in 2011, ending two decades of civil war in Sudan.

The prosecution agreed that certain issues raised by the defense merited further investigation, the court said.

Kenyatta was charged last year with five counts of crimes against humanity, stemming from violence that plagued a

•Edward Snowden

disputed 2007 Kenyan presidential election, in which then-incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner.

Morocco recalls Algeria envoy over W Sahara

M

OROCCO has recalled its ambassador to Algiers for consultations over remarks made by the Algerian president over the disputed Western Sahara region.

A Foreign Ministry

statement said on Wednesday that the decision followed “numerous provocative acts and hostilities by Algeria toward the kingdom, particular with regard to the regional

TRANDED in the unforgiving expanses of Niger ’s Sahara desert after their vehicles broke down, scores of people, almost all of them women and children, slowly died of thirst.

The migrants had been trying to reach Algeria, Azaoua Mahaman of the S y n e r g i e nongovernmental organization said

yesterday. Instead, they died of dehydration, unable to escape the sandy wastes of the Sahel.

A total of 92 bodies have been found, Niger security forces told CNN yesterday . Synergie earlier put the number found at 87. Many of the bodies were severely decomposed and appeared to have been partially eaten by animals.

Murdoch backs Australia’s immigration policy

A

USTRALIA should throw open its doors to immigrants to make the country more competitive, media mogul Rupert Murdoch said yesterday, in contrast to his backing for the new government’s tough policy on asylum seekers.

Murdoch said the diversity created by immigration, and the ties it brings with other nations, particularly in Asia, would help give Australia a leg-up as it seeks trade relationships.

“Australia is on its way to becoming what may

be the world’s most diverse nation,” Murdoch, head of News Corp , said in a speech to the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney.

“This is an incredible political advantage.”

Murdoch contrasted Australia with the United States, which he said was being “ racked by self-defeating debate over immigration policy”. The steady flow of refugee boats is a hot political issue in Australia, polarizing voters, while stoking tension with neighbors like Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Egypt beefs security for Morsi’s trial

ICC shifts Kenyatta’s trial to February HE International Criminal Court yesterday postponed the beginning of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trial on charges of crimes against humanity by three months to February 5, accepting a defense request for more preparation time.

The trial at the Netherlands-based ICC had been scheduled to begin on November 12.

ESIDENTS of contested region Abyei have chosen overwhelmingly to join South Sudan in an unofficial referendum, election officials said, amid warnings the poll could inflame tensions in the volatile region.

Only one of the two ethnic groups living in the area voted yesterday in the poll, which is not

87 migrants die crossing Sahara Desert

Kerry visits Saudi Arabia

J

to provide technical and operational support.

“But also, we have to be a bit suspicious about the second phase as this is what Syria has declared, and see that

R

dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.” Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika called on Monday for human rights monitoring in the Western Sahara, which was annexed by Morocco in 1975.

S

OME 20,000 police officers and soldiers will guard the upcoming trial of Egypt’s toppled president, an official said Thursday, as Islamist opponents plan massive protests that may spark more turmoil in the country.

An Interior Ministry official warned that any protesters attempting to break into the courtroom where ousted President Mohammed Morsi will be tried will be met “decisively with force.”

The stark warning came as a Muslim

Brotherhood-led coalition called yesterday for mass demonstrations across the country starting Friday until Nov. 4, set as opening day of Morsi’s trial.

Morsi, a Brotherhood leader, faces charges of inciting murder and violence in connection to deadly clashes presidential palace in December. He’s been held at an undisclosed location since the military toppled him in a popularly supported July 3 coup.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—53

Anambra sets another record at debate STORIES BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & VINCENT UJUMADU

T

HE gubernatorial debate for the candidates held yesterday in two major sessions at the Women Development Centre, Awka.

It was an opportunity for the state to set another record in its long list of political oddities.

The first session was in the morning with the APGA, AA, ACD, AD, ACPN, APC and CPP candidates in attendance.

In the afternoon session which was yet to commence as at press time, the PDP candidate, Comrade Tony

•Obiano: APGA candidate

•Ngige: APC candidate

Nwoye and the Labour candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah were expected to be the major attractions.

Anambra it would be recalled, is the only state

never to have conducted a local government election since 1999, the only state to have had its sitting governor kidnapped, the only state to have had its Government

We’ll build ‘Ngige quality’ roads again – Ngige

A

PC candidate Senator Chris Ngige said his return to governance would ensure Ngige quality roads again IN Anambra State.

Speaking on his programmes, Ngige said the roads he built over eight years were still in perfect conditions and explained that the magic was that all the roads have

erosion control culverts.

He said that in order to reduce the erosion menace in the state, he would plant trees in all the erosion prone areas.

On industrialization, Ngige said the solution to the revival of moribund industries is regular supply of electricity and promised that though power is a federal government

concern, the state can form a synergy with the government through the Independent Power Projects, IPP. He also promised free education from primary to the secondary school.

Ngige also promised to embark on massive housing development for workers.

APGA supporters are being recruited as INEC ad-hoc staff – PDP

T

HE PDP has stated its lack of confidence in the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof.

Chukwuemeka Onukaogu alleging that known partisans of the ruling APGA are being recruited as ad-hoc staff for the election.

The PDP chairman, Prince Ken Emeakayi who said this in a telephone interview said the REC had shown clear bias against the party and in favour

of the ruling APGA. “Our problem is that we do not have confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner, he is walking hand in gloves with APGA,” the PDP chairman lamented.

Giving example of the alleged bias of the election umpire, he said: “For instance we complained to them that the recruitment of ad-hoc staff, that APGA has been recruiting their

known members and supporters and INEC has concluded plans to appoint APGA known members and supporters as ad-hoc staff for the election. We have made our complaints to INEC in that regards.

We have even called on the chairman of INEC to redeploy Prof. Onukaogufrom Anambra State because he has shown enough bias and that is the problem we have,”

House burnt, the only state to have had five governors in seven years, the state with a governor who rule for 17 days and till till now, the only state with the most factionalised chapter of the PDP. Yesterday, it claimed another record when the state was dubbed by the chief moderator of the debate, Mr. Taiwo Alimi as having perhaps “the worst audience” where he has organized debates.

By the rules of the debate the candidates were to be civil to one another and the audience was warned strictly not to make comments, cheer, jeer or clap.

However, nearly all in the audience disobeyed, prompting Alimi to score the audience participation in the

negative.

At a stage, ushers in the hall had to move about with banners with inscription ‘silence please’.

For the period the debate lasted, Senator Chris Ngige of APC and Chief Willie Obiano of APGA kept talking to each other and exchanging banters suggesting that they were cracking jokes.

Both stood next to each other and if not for the strict warning by the organizers of the debate, they probably would have gone beyond discussing their programmes to personal attacks.

At the end of the debate, supporters of the various candidates rushed to them to say, you were the best in the typical Nigerian manner.

I'm better equipped to sustain foreign aid – Obiano

C

HIEF Willie Obiano of APGA said he is the only candidate among the contestants that can sustain the goodwill built by the present administration in the state with the international donor agencies to ensure that they continue to assist Anambra State.

“I am a financial manager of international repute and I know how to attract funds for development. All the people contesting with me lack that knowledge and with what is on ground in Anambra State, I am the only person the donors can trust to sustain the partnership,” he said.

On the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, IGR,

Obiano said the industries he would set up in the agricultural and oil and gas sectors would lead to creation of lots of jobs and the thousands of people that would be employed would pay their taxes, thereby improving the state’s IGR. He also said the administration would plug the loop holes in tax collection, arguing that Anambra State has the capacity to generate enough revenue to add to what is received monthly from the Federation Account. He also said that he would attract single digit interest loan to enable workers build their houses

SDP candidate, Onyeachonam, promises to build City of David

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

T

HE Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barrister Onuorah Basil Onyeachonam, has promised to build an international airport and a monument in praise of God to be called City of David if elected.

He also promised to complete all projects abandoned by past administrations, implement the Awka Master plan, revitalise and adequately fund health and educational institutions in the state.

“My mission is to build a new Anambra State where there is fear of God, maximum security for all, equity, unlimited job employment for our people, uncommon

prosperity in the land and qualitative education for our children,” he said.

Born in 1977, Onyeachonam, who holds multiple degrees in Political Science and Law, continued: “Our educational system lacks funding and modern infrastructure. I will set the

pace for education in Anambra State through adequate funding, provision of modern infrastructure and prompt payment of workers salaries.

I will provide scholarship for deserving students and bursary awards to all our indigenous students. The widows and all the aged will

be placed on salaries and have access to free medical care. I will also provide free medical care for children and pregnant women.”

Among others, Onyeachonam, who is the chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Landlords’ Association of Nigeria

(OMPAL AN), said his administration will compensate all those whose properties were destroyed by past administrations without compensation as well build the Anambra Praise Centre (City of David) for the worshiping of God.

UPP enmeshed in fresh crisis over ticket

T

HE United Peoples Party, UPP, the political party recently founded by Chief Chekwas Okrie is enmeshed in crisis over its candidate for the November 16, 2013 election.

Professor Ben Akanegbu had been listed by INEC as the party’s candidate and his name was also listed among

those to participate in yesterday ’s debate among governorship candidates in Awka.

But a member of the party, Dr. Jide Emordi said yesterday that he is the authentic candidate of UPP, having paid the required N5 million as stipulated by the party.

Already, Emordi, who is from

Onitsha, has gone to the Federal High Court, Abuja where he is seeking for an exparte order to stop Akanebgu from parading himself as the candidate of the party. The matter is listed for hearing next week.

“They want to trade the structure I built shortly after we registered the party by

trying to impose somebody as the candidate,” Emordi said.

“I have evidence of paying N5 million demanded by the party and the money was paid before the dead line set by INEC. If any other person claims to have paid the N5 million, he should show evidence of such payment.”

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

•Members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference

ON THE TRAIL OF CONFAB COMMITTEE

The constitution we need and how to get it— Ethnic nationalities, others W

ITH only two of the six geo-political zones yet to be visited by the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led advisory committee on national conference, how Nigerians want the national dialogue to be held and what they want the new constitution to look like are beginning to take shape The zones that are still awaiting the committee are North-West and North-East. In the last two weeks, the committee has traversed eight cities spread among four zones. The 13-man team started with Akure (SouthWest) on October 18 and went to Jos (North-Central), October 21; Minna (North-Central), October 23; Calabar (South-South), October 25; Benin (SouthSouth), October 28; Enugu (South-East), October 29; Umuahia (South-East), October 30 and Lagos (South-West), today.

Next week, the panel is expected to hit Sokoto (NorthWest) on November 4; Maiduguri (North-East), November 5; Bauchi (NorthEast), November 9 and Kaduna (North-West), November 11. It will round off with a sitting in Abuja on November 13 before submitting its report to President Goodluck Jonathan on November 20 as scheduled,

according to the six-week timeline handed the committee to do its work on October 7, 2013.

Afenifere seek sovereign powers for confab. In Akure, Ondo State, the Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, called for a “national conference with sovereign powers” according to a memorandum delivered by Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

“Nigerians must sit down and discuss their union and agree on a federal constitution to guarantee stability, justice, peace, real unity and development borne out of autonomy for the constituent units,” it said.

Special interests The group suggested that only a referendum should alter any of the decisions reached at the confab.

Afenifere suggested that 100 delegates should be elected from each of the six geo-political zones in the country and the remaining 100 delegates should represent special interest groups. And the 100 delegates from each zone should be elected on the basis of 10 per cent representation for all established ethnic nationalities in the zones. “The remaining 90 per cent should emerge from equal number of elected delegates

from all senatorial districts representing the traditional ethno-geographical contents of the region.”

It canvassed a six-month time frame for the conference.

Also, the Arogbo Ijaw Community in a memorandum delivered by Chief Francis Williams, said that all nationalities in the country should be considered equal for the purpose of the conference, irrespective of their population.

It sought a Sovereign National Conference “where all decisions reached will have the force of law” which will not be subjected to the consideration of the National Assembly.

On its part, the Yoruba Unity Forum suggested a total of 400 delegates for the conference, 60 from each of the six geo-political zones and four from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja The YUF suggested that political parties should play no role in the election or selection of delegates to the conference and that the conference should be given nine months to carry out its assignment. The Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) suggested a total of 600 delegates from the six geopolitical zones.

Conference must strengthen not dissolve Nigeria – MBF In Jos, the Plateau State Capital, the Middle Belt Forum

(MBF), in a position paper read by its Chairman, Professor Jerry Gana, hoped that “the conference will not be a gathering to discuss how to dissolve our federation, but a patriotic platform to finding durable and effective solutions to our problems of nation-building” because “we are resolute to come to the national conference to find the best ways to ensure the unity, stability and progress of Nigeria.”

In its recommendation, the forum said there was need for

,

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & GBENGA OKE

select/elect three delegates from each of the senatorial districts and the conference could sit for six months.”

Aliyu proposes 30 % derivation When the panel stormed Minna, Niger State, Governor Babangida Aliyu, proposed a hike in derivation to 25-30 percent and a made a case for the establishment of state police.

The governor advised that the national dialogue should not be used as a platform to beat war drums or sow seeds of disunity.

On the structure of the conference, he suggested a 900delegate gathering with one representative from each of the 774 local government areas; 100 participants to represent special interest groups and another 36 representing traditional

Afenifere suggested that 100 delegates should be elected from each of the six geo-political zones in the country and the remaining 100 delegates should represent special interest groups

Nigerians to live together in peace as one nation, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation/ resource control, citizenship rights/protection of minority rights, recognition of indigenes, creation of states, fight against corruption, structure and funding of local governments, management of national economy and devolution of power among others..

On the structure of the conference, it said “each ethnic nationality should be represented at the conference to ensure equity, social justice and selfdetermination; each state should

,

institutions.

While calling on the committee to critically examine the derivation principle in revenue allocation, he proposed 25 to 30 percent for derivation to oil producing communities which he said should, however, be channeled directly for the development of the oil producing communities and not shared among their leaders.

Governor Aliyu also kicked against the present revenue sharing formula, saying that the 52.8 percent allocation to the

Continues on page 55

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—55

The constitution we need and how to get it Continues from page 54 Federal Government was too much.

CALABAR: Stakeholders canvass 50% resource control, compensation for Bakassi ceding In Calabar, Cross River State, Governor Liyel Imoke, in a position paper, demanded compensation for the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria to Cameroon in compliance with the International Court of Justice, ICJ ruling at the Hague.

Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, also called for a new revenue sharing regime in the country where the states would take a lion share of 45 per cent of the revenue, local governments, 35 per cent while the Federal Government takes 25 per cent The governor advocated for the adoption of true federalism and called for 50 per cent derivation.

“On derivation, our position aligns with that of the entire South-South states to the effect that the constitution be amended to read that a state on whose territory oil is extracted be entitled to not less than 50 per cent of the entire proceeds from exploitation and exploration”.

Several other groups that made presentations to the Committee also advocated for the restructuring of the revenue formula with the states taking control of their natural resources by having a greater percentage of the revenue.

The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Abasi Otu in his presentation said the dialogue should be at three levels: ethnic nationalities, geopolitical zones and at the national level. “Two hundred

•Okurounmu Midwest region out of the present South-South and a second one from the Middle Belt, making eight regions in the country.

On the composition of the conference, the forum suggested that a delegate should be picked from each of the 389 ethnic groups in the country, with the total delegates not exceeding 460. The forum said: “There should be no imposition of delegates by governments.

Ethnic groups should be allowed to appoint their representatives themselves. The conference should not last longer than six months.”

The MCF suggested that the Federal Government should continue to be in control of defence, currency, customs and

,

The Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Abasi Otu in his presentation said the dialogue should be at three levels: ethnic nationalities, geopolitical zones and at the national level delegates from each of the geopolitical zone, which also would include pressure groups like ASUU, MBA, NUJ, and others should first talk at the ethnic level, from there to the geopolitical zone before heading to the national level and at the end of the dialogue, the decisions reached should not be subjected to the ratification of the National Assembly but remain sovereign,” he suggested.

South-south seeks two more regions, parliamentary system In Benin, Edo State, the Midwest Consultative Forum, led by former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, aside backing resource control, called for the adoption of part-time parliamentary system, creation of additional two regions- a

,

foreign affairs, while the states should be allowed to control their resources and take charge of many other ministries currently under the Federal Government.

It said: “We are also going to discuss fiscal federalism because it is our believe that revenue formula should be reviewed to be based on revenue generation not revenue allocation, so that you can keep a substantial part of whatever you generate from your region and contribute to the central government.”

Ndigbo want equal representation In Enugu, the apex and umbrella body of Igbo sociocultural organsiations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, advocated equal representation of 60 delegates from each of the six geo-political zones.

On the structure and composition of the conference,Ohanaeze PresidentGeneral, Chief Garry Igariwey, said: “We advocate equal representation of each of the zones covering all the ethnic nationalities – women, labour unions, religious groups, youths and the persons with disability.

The political parties should not play any role in the selection of the delegates because we have more than 50 ethnic nationalities in Igboland.

Legality and integrity “To ensure its legality and integrity, the legal framework of the conference should be instituted through an act of the National Assembly. The executive should send an executive bill to the National Assembly to legalise the conference.” he said.

On time-line, Igariwey suggested that the Okurounmu panel should conclude its assignment by November; the National Assembly should process the enactment of the Conference Act in December; the delegates’ conference should sit between January and April; the new constitution should be drafted in May; referendum on the new constitution should hold in June; and the administrative restructuring of the new constitution should take place between July and September.

He said there should be no ‘nogo-area’ on the issues to be discussed which should include the structure of the country, the form of the government, tenure of office, devolution of power, revenue sharing formula, fiscal federalism, derivation, distribution, citizenship, armed forces and other security

agencies to improve the security of lives and property.

In like manner, stakeholders in Umuahia, Abia State, sought equal representation of the zones at the confab. They said the representation should not be based on ethnic nationalities.

Governor Theodore Orji urged the committee to look at “salient propositions that will foster unity in the country” from the avalanche of submissions that they would receive.

The Governor said that the conference must among other things resolve the issues of Nigerian civil war and the marginalization of the people of South East in the politics of the country; resource control and equity in sharing of the nation’s resources; and the conflict created by the Mamman Nasir boundary demarcation committee.

The governor said that the

outcome of the conference should “form the basis of the Peoples Constitution and that it should be adopted through a plebiscite. The position of Abia State was presented by Prof. Joe Irukwu, a former presidentgeneral of Ohanaeze.

Irukwu said that he “ hoped that there will be the political will to implement the outcome of the conference”, warning that if the problems bedeviling the nation continue to drift “Nigeria can’t be great”.

The suggestions from the state which Prof. Irukwu gave include equal representation at the conference based on the six geopolitical zones.

“Abia people said that they are opposed to ethnic representation because has over 200 ethnic groups. we suggest selection to be on six geo-political zones”, Irukwu said and proposed further that between 60 to 100 persons to be selected from each zone. He suggested that ethnic nationalities, civil society groups and people with disability from the various zones be included.

He also proposed that a chairman and six vice chairmen be appointed to handle the conference, but added that the zone that produced the chairman would not have a vice chairman.

On its part, the Igbo National Council suggested membership of the conference should be through election organized by INEC.

Playing politics with Borno security

BY SALEH MARI MAINA

B

ORNO state Governor Kashim Shettima is not exactly a happy man. He cannot but be sad considering the seemingly endless orgy of violence that has continued to ravage the state orchestrated by a gang of blood thirsty hoodlums, who, masquerading as a Muslim militant group have unleashed a murderous campaign in the name of seeking to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria.

Of course, the people of Borno have not been left alone to heal their wounds or bury their dead beloved ones. Messages of sympathy and understanding have been powering from all parts of the world, including the United Nations, to the government and people of Borno state. All men of goodwill have stood by the people of Borno in its hour of need and have been contributing in one way or the other towards finding a lasting solution of the state of insecurity in Borno. The Military, Police, SSS and the Civilian-JTF have sacrificed their lives for Borno.

The conduct and disposition of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff as it relates to the crisis

•Sheriff facing the state has not only left much to be desired but is capable of undermining the gains so far made to restore normalcy in the embattled state.

As the ex-Governor under whose rule the Boko Haram crisis started and who even appointed one of the Boko Haram chieftains into his cabinet one expects him to be part of the efforts to identify the brains behind the murderous gang or at least be a factor in the search for solution to the crisis.

The truth is that Borno and indeed the nation is paying dearly for Sheriff’s wrongs.

By his body language, Ali Modu Sheriff is telling all that Continues on page 57

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013—57

I

N a fortnight dominated by what looks like official corruption (purchase of two armored vehicles at a prohibitive cost of about N250 million), the successful pilgrimage of the President, Goodluck Jonathan to Israel appears a welcome relief. It is appropriate to pray for the sins of Nigeria at many consecrated and holy places, especially at the Wailing Wall of Jerusalem.

The year 2015 (the year of doom to many foreign commentators) is so far but near.

However, the problems of official corruption, electoral malpractices (rigging) and violence are rife and continuously raging like an Australian wildfire. It is a pity, but not a surprise that the local politicians appear undisturbed in their preparations for the 2015 elections.

It looks as if the opposition, judging by their prevalent uncompromising mood, think and act only on the presumption that the end of Jonathan‘s administration is around the corner. What a wishful thinking in a country where everything “goes” and where certain things become uncertain, in the end.

The vexed condition of corruption once reminds me of the Ibadan saga of the 1950s when the Nicholson Commission of Enquiry declared that the popular Ibadan politician (also a Central Minister), Adegoke Adelabu was guilty of official corruption during his tenure as Chairman of Ibadan Municipal Council. Many Ibadan Citizens carried placards saying that Adelabu should spend their money as he wished since Ibadan people did not complain of any missing funds. The official reaction was swift; Adelabu lost his ministerial post in Lagos and Ibadan Municipal Council, his fief was dissolved Adegoke Adelabu, despite his brilliance, did not recover his political status till his death.

Since corruption is so endemic in the country and the cognomen of many politicians is, ‘Mr. Corruption‘, the effective antidote to the dreaded disease is instant justice to anyone so unfortunate to be caught in the act. That would tend to serve as a deterrent to others who are

Playing politics with Borno security Continues frompage 55 care to listen to him that Borno State could continue to burn for all he cares as long as his political ambitions are not achieved. This is rather most unfortunate.

Recently ex-Governor Sheriff came up with the apparently ill conceived idea of addressing what he called a world press conference in Maiduguri. The objective of the press conference according to sources close to the ex-Borno strongman, is to relaunch himself into the state’s political scene in the pursuit of his obsession of staging a come back into the Nigerian Senate.

For the avoidance of any doubt, no one begrudges ex-governor Sheriff’s bid to regain political relevance despite the controversies surrounding him.

This may be necessary considering the seeming fall of ex-governor Sheriff’s popularity in Borno politics due to issues not unrelated to the Boko Haram saga in the state. It may be recalled that after the arrest of Borno State All Nigeria Peoples Party chairman and attack on the ex-Governor’s house by the civilian JTF in Maiduguri some months ago, Sheriff appears to have gone underground in the face of what is obviously a severe blow to his political image.

The tortuous journey to 2015 and the politicians dilemma often backed by ethnic sentiments. The present politicians in the ruling parties all over the country owe the people the obligation to serve justly without fear or favour and to shun corruption at all levels.

There is no doubt that the road to 2015 would be less dangerous if there is zero tolerance on corruption.

The other week, the Senatorial contest of Delta Central was won by the candidate of the ruling party, the PDP. As expected, the opposition parties, APC and others protested the victory claiming rigging in full view of security agents. The recent victory of APC candidate in the North-East Esan (Edo State) Council Chairmanship tussle is still being challenged by the opposition party, the PDP. It looks as if a common trend is now discernible in Nigeria‘s political terrain – the difficulty of defeating a sitting government in an election and the heavy presence of security forces (police and the military) at designated election areas.

‘There is poison in the pot‘, cried the sons of the prophets to Elisha. There would be more poison and danger in 2015 when at the moment, there is no election that is seen and adjudged by many to be free and fair, even with the undesirable presence of heavy security forces at the polling and collation centers. In the past,

‘cattle‘ were regarded as potential voters in the North; ‘ghosts‘ aided voters in the West and the East; in the riverine areas, ‘fishes‘ always ensured about 95 per cent voting at any time.

At present, it seems that rigging of an election has assumed such sophistication that no impartial observer could vouch for the authencity of some recently concluded elections or to say with absolute certainty that the products of such elections are genuine representatives of the people.

It is clear that much is to be done in the sphere of electoral processes for Nigerians to be sure that election in 2015 would be fair, just and peaceful. As it is often repeated in this column, the Uwais Report should be visited again for objective review or many other factors not captured in the Report should be added so as to provide opportunity for government, opposition and other Nigerians to produce acceptable electoral law.

Many observers see the present voting procedure of first screening voters in the morning and voting later in the afternoon as unnecessary and contributing indirectly to rigging. It may be reasonable and acceptable for a voter, after being verified to go straight to vote rather than being asked to return to vote later.

The glory of democracy is a clean

election where the wishes of the majority (represented by their votes) are respected and the leaders chosen by majority of the people to form the government. There is no doubt the arrogant stance of the opposition (represented by APC) is based on the assumption that it would win in 2015 because of problems within the ruling party, PDP. But 2015, which appears so near, is yet, so far. Anything can happen to upset a perfectly made plan.

Dr. Michael Okpara, late fiery leader of United Progressive Alliance (UPGA) once noted on 1964 elections, “Up till today, no one can say where those results purported to have emanated from the West Electoral Commission came from…” Perhaps the losing parties in Delta Central (Delta State) and Esan N.E (Edo) might be asking the same questions in 2013. Then, what happens next in Anambra where according to reports, voter’s card (political birthright) is reported could be purchased for N5, 000.00, -another form of rigging in the 21st century Nigeria.

Those who prophesy doom in 2015 might have their reasons in the unchanged attitude of politicians on the necessity on the pursuit of money, power and prestige.

Perhaps President Jonathan (either by conviction or otherwise) sees in the convocation of a National Dialogue a way of making the road to 2015 a less hazardous journey. It is in the interest of all to support the initiative and to turn what looks like a joke into a reality and stunning success.

All Progressives Congress (APC) The supposedly formidable opposition party is made up of ACN (South West), ANPP and CPC of the North – a political alliance of Yoruba and Hausa Fulani. When the late Chief S. L. Akintola advocated that approach in the 1950s and 1960s, he was accused of trying to sell the Yoruba to the North. He was killed in a coup by the murderous progressives of the South. Is ACN leader, Tinubu selling Yoruba to the North to satisfy those who want power to return to the North? How time changes without the people being involved.

Emman Obinyan, gunned down in his prime TRIB UTE TRIBUTE

BY ADESUA OBINYAN

E

MMAN was more than just a friend to me. He was my best friend, companion and benefactor. This is the 30th year that we have been on our journey of friendship, which started in 1983, in front of Students Union Building (SUB), University of Ife, Ile Ife, Oyo State now Osun State.

There stood three friends talking and really enjoying their conversation after a meal at Forks and Fingers restaurant, situated at the SUB. Among these three friends was a particularly very vibrant and active one. His vibrancy endeared him to me. These three friends were Emman, Joe, and Zicky. Emman instantly struck a chord in me. I am from a very reserved a nd quiet background.

My dad was an exceptiona l introvert and a man of very few words. My dad could stay a whole day in the house and you would not hear anything from him. My childhood home was usually very quiet, to the extent that a visitor could come to our home and go back assuming we were not in the house. It was that quiet! So, from childhood, I de-

Emmanuel Aimioshio Obinyan

sired a more active life and home.

And so, my attraction to Emman Obinyan was instant.

In 1983 when we met, he was in his final year- in the Faculty of Agriculture, and I a JAMBITE! I became a friend to the trio of Joe, Emman, and Zicky throughout their final year. Emman proceeded to carry out his National Youth Service (NYSC) assignment in Sokoto State. There he displayed his exceptional quali-

ties and was adjudged the best youth corps member in the state for his hard work, creativity and community services and won the state National Youth Service Award. At the national level he was also awarded a merit award for exceptional service at his National Youth Service Assignment.

The award was personally handed over to him by Gen. Muhamadu Buhari.

After his national assignment in Sokoto, he got numerous job offers which he turned down in order to pursue a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics in University of Ife, and to be closer to me as he did not want to lose me. Together we graduated in 1986. He got a job with Rhone Poulenc while I went for my NYSC. By this time marriage was naturally in the works already. At the completion of my NYSC, and Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD), we got married.

I had shared 30 years of my life with Emman. October 18, 2013 put an end to my beautiful life with my dear husband and friend. On that fateful day, I dropped him off at the airport in the morning for a flight to Benin City. He sent me a text when he arrived Benin to say that he had arrived safely. In response, I gave glory to God for safe arrival es-

pecially at this time of our aviation industry. Emman would usually call me every now and then to update me on his activities.

After our exchange of text messages on his arrival in Benin, every attempt to reach him was aborted as his number became unobtainable and there were no calls from him, which was very unusual. I continued to try throughout that day suspecting that there was poor network at Igueben where he was supposed to attend the Association of Esan Professionals’ summit. I called all I knew throughout the day and could not sleep at night as no one had any information about his whereabouts.

On Saturday, I was informed that armed men had gunned down my better half on his way from Benin City airport to Igueben in Edo State. Knowing Emman for his passion and love for his family, he must have begged the gunmen not to kill him, if only for the sake of Adesua, Ehinomen, Ofure, Samuel, Gamaliel, and numerous beneficiaries he loved ever so dearly. Oh! They turned deaf ears to his plea…..

These armed men brought an abrupt end to a blissful and exemplary family life… They killed my Emman.

Adieu my husband.

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2013 — 59

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VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , LAGOS.

One time Davis Cup player, Sadiq Abdullahi has reacted to my last week’s column in a piece he titled “Wake Up, Nigerian Sportswriters, Wake Up!”

08053068728

I

AM writing this critical essay in response to Onochie Anibeze’s October 24, 2013 piece titled Wake up, Ndanusa, Wake up because the piece failed to make the case for tennis and its development. Although the intent is to draw attention to the state of tennis development in 2013, but the piece failed to directly address the complexities and politics of tennis development in Nigeria. Rather it focused on building personalities and attributing accolades to a state governor to bring out the bias in the piece. Building sports in educational institutions are essential and critical to long term sports development in Nigeria. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan may indeed be doing a wonderful job in Delta state, but are sports back in secondary school?

This is my beef with Nigerian sportswriters. They need to now wake up to the realities of Nigerian politics. Many Nigerian sportswriters continue to focus on individuals and their past glories, with or without merits.

The piece focuses on Sani Ndanusa’s overdose of sleeping tablets which explains his politics and the politics of tennis development. He is woken up alright, and probably regretting the missed opportunities. His inability to turn the tennis program around after more than16 years at the helm of tennis administration may be affecting his ego as he now realizes that no tennis development in Nigeria can be done in isolation. He failed to re-think how to grow the game, to develop a 10-year grassroots tennis development plan. He failed to consult with former national and international players and be inclusive and transparent. He also failed to offer a different approach and new strategies to reclaim tennis in Nigeria. These pronouncements are old news.

The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi is quite aware of this predicament. This past summer we talked about what can be done. But I am cautiously confident that this intellect and spirit would move to do the right thing for all sports especially tennis. Nigeria tennis will reclaim its rightful continental and global position if concrete decisions are made urgently at the top to start from scratch.

The Nigerian sports system, and by implication tennis system, is structured for failure and in such a way that we could only succeed in international competitions by chance or by accident, not always by design and good leadership....”

My comments: In the said article that my friend Sadiq is condemning in his attempted defence for Sani Ndanusa I summarily wrote that tennis in Nigeria has suffered tremendously since Ndanusa assumed office as the President of Tennis Federation in Nigeria and regretted that even as sports minister and President of Nigeria Olympic Committee Ndanusa has not been able to help tennis. Many tournaments have died under his tenure and he has not been able to convince any sponsors to return to the game.

It is so bad that teenagers, as I experienced myself at the National Stadium, who should be playing tournaments and mapping a future for themselves now beg to coach elderly people for tokens that could help them live.

These are facts that Ndanusa himself appreciates. They were not spiced with politics. The story started with a

Sadiq Abdullahi defends Ndanusa comment made by Rolake Olagbegi who was hired by Delta State to train their tennis team for the last festival.

Rolake wondered why there were more tournaments in the past than now that Nigeria has more companies. I tersely mentioned how the players she trained won almost all the medals at the festival and how governor Emmanuel Uduaghan commended her for the feat. That was what probably irked Sadiq as he clearly showed above.

The last time Sadiq wrote was also to attack Adokiye Amiesimeka for saying that the sports ministry under Pat Ekeji as Director-General could have done more for sports. Ekeji himself knew what Adokiye was saying was true although he could attribute it to some challenges that we all know in sports. But Sadiq also condemned Adokiye but gave himself out by saying that Ekeji promised to engage him in some programmes that could help our sports and that he was hopeful the plans would materialise. Only God knows how Sadiq saw that piece as glorifying Uduaghan who should, in anyway be commended for his investment in sports. If Delta engaged Sadiq would he have made such comment? Delta has been in the vanguard of sports development in Nigeria and I once wrote that if five more governors could be like Uduaghan and Liyel Imoke Nigeria would rise again in sports. I stand by it. Uduaghan has done more for sports than any other governor in Nigeria. And that’s why about 60 percent of Nigerian contingent to games like the Olympics are from Delta. With Governor’s Cup and Awoturo Eleya Cup Delta is taking sports back to schools and local communities. There are other programmes space will not allow me mention here. And two of the players Rolake coached are now in the US. More are on their way. Those who do well should be commended and those lagging behind should be told the truth. And the truth Sadiq should appreciate is that one could still be progressive in his character and comments even while in pursuit of jobs from the authorities. The Ndanusa he was trying to help himself knows that he needs help to revive tennis. What with saying that Ndanusa’s failures are old news when the man is still in the saddle? Common my Friend Sadiq. What has happened to you? Remain blessed but be assured that sports writers have been doing a lot to raise the awareness and campaign for development in schools and that it would be wrong to attribute the problems of Nigerian sports to them even as I know that we have enormous role to play.

NSSF gets Sterling Bank’s N35m support for festival

A

major milestone was recorded at grassroots level yesterday in Lagos, as the 6th National School Sports Festival gets N35mliftfromSterlingBank.

This development is a boost to the organisers of the sports fiesta – Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) through the efforts of National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM), which facilitated the Sterling Bank’s gesture.

At the presentation of the cheque yesterday, Sterling Bank’s Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Shina Atilola said the gesture is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to support a noble initiative that would affect lives positively.

Atilola said as the responsible organization, Sterling

Bankwasconvincedwiththe efforts being by National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) through NSSF to develop sports at grassroots level across the country.

“We were approached by NASCOM to support NSSF in its programmes and we were convinced that with what NSSF is doing, the future is being built now and for us at Sterling Bank, we don’t want to shy away from shaping the future for our tomorrow’s leaders. This is also part of our CSR and we believe education and sports can go together. We are dedicated to this cause and we hope that other corporate organisations will come forth and support this noble cause for us to secure the future of our youths,” Atilola said.

He added: “This is a new beginning and we are already identify with this and we are urging other corporate bodies to join us. We believe it is a flagship initiative that everyone needs to identify with. We are aware of the efficiency and effectiveness of NSSF because they have been able to execute their programmes in the past without any fund and they justified their action. So for Sterling Bank, what they are doing is a justifiable cause and so we will continue to support them.”

For the President of NSSF, Ibrahim Muhammad, this gesture by Sterling Bank has indeed rekindle hope and a sure future for Nigerian kids.

The NSSF boss was particularly grateful to NASCOM, which he said facilitated the

gesture, while assuring the bank that the funds would be judiciously utilized for the fiesta scheduled to hold in Kwarathismonth.

“We are happy that for the first time in the history of the National School Sports Festival, we are having a major sponsor and this for us is indeed a lift. I also want to confirm that since the new NASCOM came on board, we have sincerity and transparency and this for us has also given us hope that the future is bright. We are grateful to NASCOM for bringing life to school sports through their various initiatives and we are also thanking Sterling Bank for this as we promise to repay their trust by producing educated champions for the country,” Muhammad said.

60 —

Vanguard, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Olarinoye NFF rejects Club Owners’ purported sack Weightlifting: impressed with Abuja camp of LMC I T

HE Nigeria Football Federation has flatly rejected a declaration by owners/managers of clubs in the Nigeria Premier League that they have ‘sacked’ the League Management Company (LMC), which the NFF inaugurated last year to administer the elite division of Nigeria’s domestic football.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, October 30, the club owners/managers had declared in their communique: “The meeting emphasized on the expiration of the tenure of the LMC in line with the terms of reference given to them by the NFF. “The meeting specifically thanked the chairman and members of the LMC for their efforts in organising the justconcluded league as well as their several innovations and suggestions on the way forward and wished them well in their future endeavours.”

However, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, stated emphatically that the League Management Company remains in place.

Speaking from the United Arab Emirates where he is with the Golden Eaglets as the youngsters aim to make Nigeria the first country to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup four times, Maigari insisted that the LMC was inaugurated by the NFF, granted license by the NFF to administer the Premier League on its behalf and can only be sent packing by the NFF. “I am shocked to hear about a meeting of club owners/managers where

Maigari they reportedly told the LMC to hand over to the Secretariat of the League.

That is not within their purview; it is the responsibility of the NFF to determine the fate of the LMC. “The LMC has done very well within the past 10 months to reposition the Premier League, and they deserve commendation. The club managers themselves admitted that the LMC has brought several innovations to the running of the League.

Why would we want to throw all that away in a hurry?

“As far as the NFF, the

ignorance kills anyone.

In my daughter’s next meeting with an attorney, I want to be by her side. We’ll see who can talk,” he said. “The next time I want to be there to see if he [Aguero] says

supreme footballgoverning body in Nigeria, is concerned, the LMC remains firmly in place and will have the opportunity to continue its good works for a period to be determined shortly.”

Maigari called on the club owners/managers to be focused on improving the structures of their teams in line with the demands of professional football, rather than get sucked into illusory political manoeuvrings and hysteria.

“Sincerely speaking, the NFF will always accord the club owners/ managers their regard and we see them as

critical stakeholders in the development of the game in our country. But there is an architecture of authority, which is not horizontal. The NFF has prerogative on issues bordering on the running of the game in Nigeria and has not conceeded this authority to any other group or body.

“Should the club managers have any grouse with the way the League is being administered, they should approach the NFF with their misgivings and we would resolve such matters, as we have done in the past,” Maigari said.

Eagles players

E

THIOPIA’S prolific striker Getaneh Kebede is up and running

anything.”

Maradona is currently in Dubai, and describes himself as “a sporting exile”.

“At the moment I am missing my daughters, but you can’t have everything in life,” he said.

after a nagging ankle injury that has kept him out of action for two months missing key matches against Central Africa Republic and Nigeria.

Getaneh who has been receiving treatment at his South Africa based club Bidvest Wits has started light training and is hoping to be fit ahead of the crucial return leg against Nigeria in Calabar.

“As a player I have been really stressed about my injury since it made me

miss important matches but had faith and my doctors assured me all is well. My treatment has been going on well and now I have started light training and am very optimistic I will be ready to play for my beloved Walia in the return leg against Nigeria.”

“It has not been easy but as a player you expect such situations because my club Bidvest have also felt my absence but i intend to return with a bang to do what I love most that is scoring goals,” Getaneh told supersport.com.

Getaneh has been an integral part of coach Sewnet Bishaw plans until he suffered the ankle injury one day to the game against Central Africa republic played in Congo Brazzaville on September 7.

Ethiopia are scheduled to play Nigeria in the second leg World Cup

and the lifters in camp were focused on the task ahead.

“The lifters I saw were happy and confirmed to me that they were comfortable.

The coaches are doing a good job and it is an early sign that Glasgow 2014 would be a glorious one for the country,” Olarinoye said.

He commended leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for ensuring that weightlifting kick started its preparations early.

2014 W/Cup qualifier:

FIFA okays Cairo for Egypt/Ghana clash

E

GYPT have been cleared by Fifa to host their World Cup play-off match against Ghana in Cairo despite concerns by their opponents they would not be safe in the wake of recent unrest.

World football’s governing body have told the two countries

2014 World Cup Play-off: Ethiopia’s star player resumes training for Eagles

Maradona Continues from B/P

Irabor

BADAN-based zonal director of National Sports Commission (NSC) and a board member of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr Steve Olarinoye has expressed satisfaction with the on going camping exercise of the nation’s weightlifters, ahead of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games.

Olarinoye who was in the Abuja camp of the lifters to monitor the exercise stated that he was impressed with what he saw, as the coaches

qualifier play off on November 16 and must beat the African champions by a two goal margin to qualify for the World Cup after losing the home leg 21earlier this month.

the second leg of their tie can be played on the Egyptian capital despite Ghana expressing fear for the safety of their players.

The Ghana Football Association had urged Fifa to find “a safe and secure venue” in a neutral territory for the November 19 return leg.

But Fifa on Wednesday confirmed Cairo as the venue following a visit by a security inspection delegation and a demand Egypt provide the guarantees on the security situation, it said in a letter to both countries released to the media by the Ghana Football Association.

Nigeria v Uruguay Continues from B/P Speaking in an interview with Sports Vanguard, Amuneke, said that “this has been a very interesting tournament for us and we’re grateful everything is going according to plans.

“We are staying focused, and hopefully, this team will get to the final and win the Cup. The boys have done well.

But to be champion, you have to face challenges squarely. I’m happy the players are living up to expectation”, he

added.

However, he noted that the Eaglets did not consider their foes as lightweights, pointing out that the Uruguayans have proved their mettle getting thus far in the competition.

“We have to respect them and be aware that any team that gets to the last eight at a tournament of this magnitude is not a pushover.

We’re just concentrating and staying focused. That’s the only way to get to the final and make Nigerians proud.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 — 61

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 — 63

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

Inside today's Vanguard Pull-out

Maradona calls Aguero ''a wimp'' I

N a radio interview to commemorate his 53rd birthday, Diego Maradona has hit out ferociously at his former son-in-law Sergio Aguero.

The Manchester City striker was married to Maradona’s daughter Giannina and they have

a four year old son, Benjamin, together, although they split up earlier this year.

“He’s a wimp, who I don’t even want to name,” Maradona told Argentine radio.

“I spoke to Benjamin on Skype two days ago and he said to me: ‘Grandpa if I don’t see you, happy birthday’. I began to cry.”

When asked about any possible future legal battles his daughter may face against Aguero, Maradona said he would be directly involved.

“I can be anything, but

Continues on Pg 60

U-17 W/Cup:Today’s matches Honduras Brazil Argentina Uruguay

vs vs

Sweden Mexico

2.00 pm 5.00 pm

Tomorrow’s matches vs CIV vs Nigeria

2.00 pm 5.00 pm

Nigeria Vs Uruguay

No hiding place for Uruguay

F

ORMER African footballer of the year, Emmanuel Amunike believes that the Golden Eaglets will win a record fourth FIFA

Maradona

•Kick-off: 5 p.m.

U-17 World Cup diadem on November 8, which is the day that the final of

PUZZLE

supremely confident that the Nigerians were going to overrun their South American foes.

Continues on Pg 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

the tournament will hold in Abu Dhabi.

Nigeria play Uruguay

in a quarterfinal match tomorrow at Sharjar, with Amuneke, who is one of the assistant coaches of the Eaglets,

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Map-book (5) 9 Span (6) 10 Pail (6) 11 Follow (5) 12 Monster (4) 15 Otherwise (4) 17 Tormenting (7) 20 Edge (3) 21 Teacher (5) 23 Cheese (4) 25 Lake (4) 26 Long (5) 28 Wicked (3) 30 Gave (7) 33 Holly (4) 35 Naked (4) 36 Subject (5) 38 Fish (6) 39 Excursion (6) 40 Emulsion (5)

DOWN 1 Abbey head (5) 2 Headdress (5) 3 Era (3) 4 Occupier (6) 5 Adjoin (4) 6 Prosecute (3) 7 Art (5) 8 Precipitous (3) 13 Widespread (7) 14 Composition (5) 16 Spotted (7) 18 Defend (5) 19 Pass (3) 22 Tree (5) 24 Males (3) 27 Thought (6) 28 Nativity (5) 29 Disparage (5) 31 Jacket (5) 32 Condescend (5) 34 Roster (4) 36 Summit (3) 37 Sever (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Amulet 2, Effort 9, Vital 10, Failed 11, Season 12, Raced 14, Idol 17, Lad 18, Here 20, Renew 22, Fired 23, Visitor 24, Tenet 26, Revel 29, Oral 30, Era 32, Dare 33, Avert 35, Twinge 36, Rotund 37, Urban 38, Donkey 39, Yearly

DOWN: 1, Affair 2, Unison 3, Ever 4, Tidal 5, Eased 6, Fled 7, Oyster 8, Tinged 13, Calibre 15, Defer 18, Level 18, Hired 19, Refer 21, Wit 22, For 24, Totted 25, Nation 27, Valuer 28, Lewdly 30, Every 31, Array 33, Ague 34, Tone

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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