PDP moves to keep majority in Senate

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62049

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Naira crashes to N173 per dollar in parallel market 16

Adeboye, Kumuyi, Olukoya speak on Nigeria's future 9

PDP moves to keep majority in Senate •Senate to declare defectors' seats vacant •Mark poised to strictly enforce senate rules FIRST BABIES OF THE YEAR

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—THE aspi ration by the All Progressives Congress, APC to take control of the leadership of the National Assembly is to be stoutly resisted in the Senate. It emerged, yesterday, that the Senate leadership could declare seats of defecting senators vacant.

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COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu •P.17

Josef•P.19 Omorotionmwan

Mr & Mrs

FIRST BABIES—A set of twins delivered by Mrs Adediji at 12.01am, yesterday, as Lagos first babies of the year 2014 at the Island Maternity Hospital in Lagos. Photo: NAN.See other first babies on Page 12.

NEW YEAR: Eminent NHRC to invite Obasanjo Nigerians, clerics, PDP 8 preach patriotism 42 JONATHAN WATCH LIST:

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POCKET CARTOON

NEW YEAR SERVICE—The Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan (M); welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to the New Year Thanks-giving Service at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-cathedral, Garki, Abuja, yesterday. Left is he Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasuja. Photo: NAN.

PDP moves to keep majority in Senate Continues from page 1 While the APC has already taken the ascendancy in the House of

Representatives with its members set to take over the control of the House later this month, the scenario in the Senate, Van-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Never stop doing little things for others, you will be surprised that those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I suppose there are many reasons we choose to give. But people who enjoy sharing with others the most do not share simply because they have a need to get rid of something. Those who find the greatest joy from giving have learned to give from a deeper place; they give from their hearts – Steve Goodier ANTA Claus is becoming a universal symbol of giving. Millions of children write letters to Santa each year in hopes that they won’t be forgotten during his annual giving spree. In some cities around the world, they have programmes that allow people to sort through these hand-written pleas, hopes and wishes and become “Santas” to others in need. They choose a letter and respond however they can. Most anyone can play Santa.

“I like to go to their home on Christmas Eve,” one joyful Santa said. One year he bought presents for four children and a ham for their mother. Then he added this poignant observation: “The feeling you get is just incredible.”

Steve Goodier says: “ I admit it - I don’t always get that feeling when I give. But then I don’t always give out of untainted motivations. Sometimes I give from other places. Sometimes I give out of social obligation or out of guilt. Or I give with an expectation for receiving back. But I give best when I give from that deeper place; when I give simply, freely and generously, and sometimes for no particular reason. I give best when I give from my heart.”

And isn’t it true? Opportunities to give from the heart are not limited to a particular holiday season or cultural tradition. We can give it sincerely and joyously.

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guard learnt, is being complicated by the determination of the Senate President, David Mark's leadership to strictly enforce the rules.

Strategy sessions to reinforce the domination of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is being coordinated by leading PDP senators from their holiday homes across the country.

The Senate is not due to resume until later this month.

Despite alleged issues between Senator Mark and President Goodluck Jonathan arising from federal appointments from Benue State, and the supremacy battle between the Senate President and Governor Gabriel Suswam, Mark it was learnt, is determined to safeguard the dominance of the PDP in the Senate. Mark it was claimed is not unaware of the fact that safeguarding the dominance of the PDP is a way of keeping his own position.

Threats against the PDP control of the Senate intensified earlier this week after Senators Bukola Saraki from Kwara State and Magnus Abe from Rivers State disclosed their intention to defect to the APC.

Twenty two senators and 57 members of the House of Representatives had last December obtained a court order stopping the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Mark from declaring the seats of members of the then New PDP vacant should they choose to change parties on the floor of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Mark to enforce rules It was learnt that Senator Mark was being persuaded by partisans in the PDP to strictly enforce the provisions of the constitution which forbid members of the National Assembly from changing parties unless there is faction in the party through which they were elected.

Section 68 (1) (g) stipulating provisions for the declaration of vacancy in the seat of National Assembly members states thus: 68. (1) A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by

a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.

Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that Senator Mark is being persuaded to strictly apply the provisions of the constitution as a way of deterring the rebellion against the PDP in the chambers.

A principal officer in the Senate spoke on the issue last night, saying the Senate leadership unlike the House leadership was not elected with the support of the APC. Besides, the principal officer disclosed that senators could not be swayed as members of the House of Representatives to defect from the PDP by their governors who have just left the PDP.

“The fact is that the Senate unlike the House would be more strict in interpreting and enforcing the provisions of the constitution in the matter of defection,” the principal officer disclosed yesterday.

The senior senator also said assumptions that the APC would get a boost from the defection of five former PDP governors was far fetched.

He said: “Senators are not like members of the House of Representatives who mostly are politically dependent on their governors. A number of senators are able to resist their governors and so the story about the five governors carrying all their senators to the APC is more like a tale".

The senator nevertheless disclosed that the defectors' seats may not be declared vacant, if the senators did not disclose their defection on the floor of the House.

Presently, the PDP has 72 senators while the APC has 33 with Labour, Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance making the balance.

Kwara Speaker tasks Nigerians on patriotism

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—THE Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Rasaq Atunwa has asked Nigerians to always put national interest above parochial considerations for more development to be attained.

Atunwa spoke in IIorin during his new year message signed by his special assistant on Media, Alhaji AbdulRahman Sanni.

He said if all Nigerians put national interest

above personal interests, there was every tendency that more developments will be attained in all facets of the economy.

He noted that no meaningful development could be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour, hatred and acrimony. He urged Nigerians regardless of religion or background to see themselves as indivisible entity as we usher in 2014.

According to the Speaker, this was one of the means the nation can overcome challenges facing her.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

2 police officers bag Plateau CP’s award

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OS — TWO officers in the Plateau Police Command, yesterday, in Jos received the state Commissioner of Police awards for dedication to duty and excellence in crime prevention.

The officers are Usman Adamu and Saad Ibrahim, who are both Chief Superintendents of Police (CSP).

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe, who decorated the officers, said they were honoured for their consistency in high performance in their line of duties.

Olakpe, who described Adamu as the engine room of the command’s Administration Department, extolled him for discharging his duties without complaining.

“I will urge him to continue with the good work,” he said.

The commissioner also said Ibrahim, who is the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Laranto Police Station, had consistently and tenaciously been fighting crime in his area.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, Adamu said they were ready to work tirelessly for the progress of the command.

He said they were dedicating the award to their families and their colleagues who had given them the support and cooperation while discharging their duties.

One dies, another injured in new year auto crash

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — CELEBRA TIONS of the new year turned sour for Assistant Sales Representatives of the Nation Newspapers in Ibadan, and his colleague who works for ThisDay Newspaper as they were involved in a fatal accident.

The accident that happened around 1:25 a.m, yesterday claimed the life of the Nation staff, Timothy Adeosun, while his friend is still at the Emergency and Accident section of the University College Hospital, Ibadan where doctors are battling to save his life.

The two of them were said to be on their way from a church service when they crashed on Oke-Padre Salvation Army Road, Ibadan.

According to reports, the driver of a car marked Lagos FKJ 894 DC veered off his lane and ran into Adeosun and his friend who were on a bike.

Confirming the tragic incident, the Divisional Transport Officer at Mokola Police Station, Oyelowo Asimiyu, said the driver of the car was in their custody.

He said investigation into the incident revealed that the driver of the Acura car left his lane, hit the two victims and the impact sent them into a ditch.

“The Nation newspaper dispatch rider died shortly after due to the injuries he sustained while ThisDay newspaper man had serious

injuries in his right thigh and chest.

Chairman, Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria (NDAN), Mr. Babatunde Abimbola, said someone called at about 1:30a.m that Timothy Adeosun had a fatal accident.

He said: “Sympathizers at the scene of the accident offered assistance by taking him

to a nearby hospital but he rejected. Not only that, the boy with Babalola was writhing in pains as about seven hospitals rejected them.

He said they were turned back at Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, state hospital at Adeoyo, until they were eventually admitted to Accident and Emergency Unit of UCH, Ibadan af-

ter much plea.

The Correspondent of the Nation newspaper in Ibadan, Bisi Oladele, said: “Our thoughts are with the Adeosuns at this critical time.

Clearly, they raised a responsible, reliable, meek and a promising man. His contributions to the company would be remembered always.”

Sympertisers at the scene of an accident. PHOTO: NAN.

Police investigate suicide by father of 7 in Abuja

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — FOLLOWING what is suspected to be a New Year eve’s tragedy, the

FCT Police command said, yesterday, that it was investigating an alleged suicide by one Mr. Federick Onigbo of Gwarimpa Estate in the Federal Capital Territory.

Sources told Vanguard in Abuja that the father of seven children committed suicide as a result of some unknown family and economic issues.

Contacted on the development, FCT Police spokesperson, DSP Altine said the Police had commenced investigations into the alleged suicide, adding that until such is completed, the allegation of suicide cannot be substantiated.

She said information available to the Police revealed that some residents noticed fire outbreak in a house at Gwarimpa and promptly reported to the fire service which rushed down to put off the fire.

Thereafter, one of the occupants of the house was rushed to General Hospital, Kubwa where he eventually died.

According to sources, when some persons, including wife of the deceased, Uchechukwu reported a case of a missing person at the police station, investigation showed that the fire outbreak involved Onigbo.

23-yr-old woman in NSCDC

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Corps Marshal, Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Osita Chidoka (right), officers and men of the commission, distributing leaflets with road safety messages to motorists on the River Niger bidge in Onitsha, Anambra, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

UTSE — THE Nigeria Se curity and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Jigawa yesterday, said it has in its custody, a 23-year-old woman who allegedly dumped her newborn baby in Dutse Local Government.

The NSCDC Commandant, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said in Dutse that the woman was arrested, Tuesday, in Mubi

town in Adamawa.

Gidado said the arrest was made after the corps received intelligent report on the woman’s whereabouts in Adamawa.

He added that the woman allegedly dumped the baby on December 24, 2013 in Takur Quarters in Dutse Local Government Area of Jogawa and ran away to Mubi town in Adamawa.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—7

Warri-based cleric disappears after auto crash in Osun

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO— ANXIETY is mounting over the sudden disappearance of the General Overseer of Christ Worshippers Church with headquarters at Osubi, Effurun, Warri, Delta State Prophet Duromola Adedayo Samuel.

One source said Prophet Duromola might have met his death in a ghastly auto crash that occurred, yesterday, between 6.00 p.m and 8.00 p.m. along Akure-Ilesa expressway.

But another source said he might also have been a victim of kidnap.

A source in Ikeji Arakeji area where the crash occurred disclosed that after the crash and the vehicle veered into the bush, they tried to give a helping hand but did not meet anybody inside the vehicle with the number plate already removed.

Osun State police command spokesperson, Mrs Folasade Odoro, said there was no official report to that effect while family members from Owo, Ondo State claimed that they had gone to various hospitals in Owena, Ikeji-Arakeji, IpetuIjesa, Ilesa as his whereabout was still unknown at press time.

According to the family members on search party, the vehicle was found but the prophet

Prophet Duromola Samuel was not found, adding that no blood stain or anything curious was noticed at the scene of the accident.

Elder Boro, a member of the

Board of Trustees of the church in a telephone interview said Prophet Samuel phone rang throughout the night without response.

He added that may be he was praying on the mountain in Ilesa.

This was corroborated by Pastor Paul Opoweh, the Prophet’s personal assistant, who said efforts to reach him on phone proved abortive.

When the wife, Prophetess Eseoghene Blessing Duromola was contacted, she said Prophet Sanuel went to a mountain at Ilesa, with a promise to return to Akure to pick her and the children to Warri for the end of the year vigil but that did not happen.

Three fake orphanage owners nabbed in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State government said, yesterday, that it had uncovered three fake orphanages in different parts of the state and handed their promoters to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution in accordance with the law.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi disclosed this in Abeokuta at a get-together organised for children in all the 15 registered children homes and orphanages across the state.

According to her, the government has concluded arrangement to review operational policies of the homes and orphanages to reflect current trends, by putting in place a mechanism to monitor them effectively.

She said: “Following the monitoring mechanism put in place, the ministry was able to discover three unregistered orphanages in different parts of the state and handed their promoters over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution in accordance with the law.

“We will continue to monitor activities of the egistered

children’s homes and orphanages in the state to ensure that they do not involve in unwholesome practices such as baby making factories as recently found in some parts of the country.

“We have put in place an effective monitoring mechanism in the 20 local councils to checkmate any illegality from any orphanage.

“All orphanages need to register with the state government in order to practice in accordance with laid down rules and regulations.

"In essence, what we are after is that, in Ogun State, we do not want any baby making factory where babies are being sold or where you just keep children illegally for selfish gains.

“We have been collaborating with relevant NGOs and the office of the wife of the governor to organise programmes to give a sense of belonging to vulnerable children and create an enabling environment for them to explore their God given talents”, she said.

In his remarks on behalf of other operators, Yemi Ogunmodede, from Gideon Children Home and Orphan-

age, Asero, Abeokuta acknowledged that the state government had been unrelenting in the care of the less privileged children.

He thanked the state government for the opportunity

extended to the children of the homes to socialize with their counterparts in related institutions owned by the Government and pledged that on their parts, the operators would abide by all the rules and regulations.

Gang kills 2, injures one in Gombe

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OMBE — GOMBE State Police command, yesterday, confirmed that a gang killed two persons and injured one in Ceceniya quarters in Gombe.

The spokesman of the command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, said in Gombe that the attack took place, Tuesday, at about 11.45 p.m.

Atajiri said a group of criminals attacked and killed their victims in Gombe metropolis

with dangerous weapons.

He described the incident as unfortunate, calling on the public to always report suspicious movements.

The spokesman promised a handsome reward for any one that could feed the police with information about the criminals.

He, however, said no arrest had been made as the police were still investigating the matter.

Gunmen kidnap ex-Bayelsa commissioner's 6-yr-old son

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — SOME unknown gunmen have abducted the sixyear-old son of the former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Godknows Powell in the early hours of yesterday.

The victim was reportedly seized at about 12.45 am at the Etegwe suburb of Yenagoa.

Godknows Powell is an indigene of AgudamaEpie community but the abduction, it was learnt, occurred at his Etegwe residence.

The kidnappers, it was learnt, were yet to establish contact with the family.

There were conflicting accounts of the abduction.

One version had it that the child was kidnapped by the gunmen who accosted his mother while they were returning from the crossover church service.

Another account stated that the gunmen who are believed to be ‘commercial kidnappers’ stormed the Etegwe residence of Powell, a former Yenagoa local government chairman during the Diepreye Alamieyeseigha administration and a former commissioner in the past administration of Timipre Sylva and whisked away the child.

custody for dumping baby The commandant said the suspect claimed she was impregnated and abandoned by one Abdulrazak Murtala, who lives in Takur Quarters in Dutse.

He noted that the suspect was currently receiving medical attention at the command’s medical unit, “as she is still bleeding due to lack of proper medical care after she gave birth to the baby.”

He said the baby boy was in good condition and had been handed over to the Dutse District Head, pending the completion of investigation into the matter.

He added that the corps had launched a manhunt to arrest the suspected father of the baby, saying as soon as investigation was completed, the mother of the baby would be charged to court.

People sharing cow meat slaughtered for the new year celebration in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor, DEMOLA AKINYEMI & CHARLES KUMOLU

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MINENT Nigerians, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and clerics were unanimous in their call on Nigerians to put national interest above parochial considerations in 2014, so that the division that had held the country down would be a thing of the past.

This was the call in various new year messages across the country yesterday.

PDP warned critics of the Federal Government to mind their language in the new year, warning them not to pollute good plans with unwarranted attacks.

The party cautioned Nigerians to be wary of the critics as it affirmed that 2014 presents a new opportunity for all to eschew the divisions and discord that held it back in the past.

The message issued by the party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said: “While the nation faced serious challenges last year, the new year presents a new opportunity for Nigerians to eschew all divisions and work together to fully entrench these values in the nation’s body polity.

“It is clear that Nigerians look forward to a prosperous and peaceful 2014. In this regard, we caution in strong terms, those behind the political frictions, violence and divisions to have a rethink and understand that such is sinful before God and man.”

The party also charged all those in authority in all sectors to be honest and understand that Nigerians expect them to live above board in all their dealings.

“In this regard, PDP not only wishes, but shall work hard to ensure a prosperous 2014 for Nigerians.”

Kwara Speaker, Anglican Primate

Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Mr. Rasaq Atunwa, in his new year message, said no meaningful development could be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour, hatred and acrimony.

He urged Nigerians, regardless of religion or background, to see themselves as indivisible entity in 2014.

Atunwa advised politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and shun acts capable of derailing the democratic structures.

He similarly urged leaders to always be sincere to their followers, to restore confidence.

Also, the Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, advised Nigerians to tread the path of peace and shun all acts of violence, especially as the

DASUKI'S DAY: From left— Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki and former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), at a special prayer to commemorate the 90th birthday of Dasuki in Kaduna, yesterday.

NEW YEAR: Eminent Nigerians, clerics, PDP preach patriotism nation prepares for general election in 2015.

Okoh gave the advice in Abuja at a special New Year service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp.

Okoh noted that there were a lot of unpleasant comments going round and were against the progress of the country, and said that Nigerians should have confidence in God. He said: “We know that as we go towards 2015 tension will continue to rise, but in the end no evil will befall Nigeria. Nigeria will not only continue, but it will be strong and grow better and powerful.

“We want our people to relax and not cooperate with people who have evil intentions, because in most cases such people have nothing but selfish ambitions.

“Nigerians should look forward with confidence because God is in charge.”

On job creation

On governance in 2014, the primate said: “My advice to the government in the new year is for it to provide more opportunities for eemployment. We want our young people to be more fruitful in 2014.

“The young people should have the opportunity to contribute to the development of our country.

The improvement I want to see cuts across the different sectors because we need progress in virtually every

sector of our economy.”

He said that successes that would be recorded in 2014 would depend on the choices made by both the leaders and the followers.

Gov Orji

On his part, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State assured the people of the state of brighter days in 2014 with more socio-economic development.

Orji said: “I expect 2014 and beyond to yield greater achievements and value expectations for the state.

“I am certain that we have brought Abia to the right path of irreversible development.”

He said he was optimistic that the state would not go back to the dark days of insecurity, strife and impunity.

Orji said that his administration achieved great success in 2013 in the areas of infrastructure development and job creation.

He said: “We have greater expectations that the trend will accelerate in 2014," noting that the projects executed in 2013 would begin to bear fruits.

He said a new Abia International Industrial City, located within 300 hectares of land at Osisioma near Aba, was being developed by the government through public/ private partnership initiative.

Imam preaches religious tolerance

Also, a Muslim cleric in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Alhaji Haroon Daya-Biu, urged Muslims and Christians to embrace peace and live in unity in 2014.

Daya-Biu, who is the Head of Ratibi Imam in Epe, gave the advice yesterday at a special prayer, tagged Tahajjud Night, to mark the end of 2013.

He called on Muslims and Christians to collectively observe one day fasting and prayer for peace and unity of the country.

He urged Muslims to use the season to pray to Allah for forgiveness of sins and to stay away from vices that are against the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

Christian clerics, too

Similarly, in a New Year sermon, Pastor Sola Ojedokun of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Tabernacle Parish, Bariga, called for love and peace among Nigerians.

He said: “As we reflect on the true meaning of the New Year and God’s abiding love to mankind, may the joy of the season and God’s loving kindness be with us in 2014 and beyond.

“As followers of Christ, let us, therefore, show love, be kind to one another and work for peaceful and harmonious co-existence in our communities.”

Some religious leaders in Omu-Aran, Kwara, yesterday, urged Nigerians to reflect on the significance of the new year celebration and collectively proffer solutions to the nation’s challenges.

The Bishop of The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Omu-Aran, Rt. Rev. Phillip Adeyemo, urged Nigerians to embrace love, peace and unity in the new year.

He appealed to citizens to check their shortcomings in the previous year and re-dedicate themselves to God. He said: “We need to reciprocate God’s faithfulness by returning to Him in righteousness while we repent from our sins and allow Christ to reign in our lives.”

Adeyemo urged politicians and civil servants to shun corrupt practices, ungodliness and other acts capable of retarding the growth of the nation.

CAN Women Wing

Prophetess Bosede Adimabua, President of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, WOWICAN, Kwara Chapter, urged wealthy Nigerians to extend their assistance to the poor and those with disabilities.

She said: “Nigerians need to emulate the life of Jesus Christ so that the country can change for the better; those endowed with wealth should reach out to others.

“This will enable the less privileged in the society to also live a meaningful and comfortable life.’’

Pastor Alex Adefikayo of the 2nd ECWA Church, Agamo, Omu-Aran, urged Nigerians to be transparent in all their dealings and business transactions.

He also urged those responsible for acts of violence and other vices in 2013 to have a change of heart “so as not to incur the wrath of God. “It is by so doing that we can put behind us the sad and ugly events of the previous year and steer the ship of the country to peace, love and development.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—9

2014: Adeboye, Kumuyi, Olukoya speak on Nigeria's future

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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ASTOR Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG; Pastor William Kumuyi of Deeper Christian Life Church, and Pastor Daniel Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles, MFM, yesterday, released their predictions for the nation in the

new year.

According to Pastor Adeboye, this year, contrary to popular belief, will determine the future of the country.

He said many people are of the opinion that 2015 would chart a new course for the nation.

The nine-point prophecies divided into three categories are similar to the 30-point

predictions of Pastor Olukoya, while Pastor Kumuyi used the passover service to urge Nigerians to live righteous lives without which, he argued, Nigeria will not make appreciable progress.

Part of Adeboye’s prophecies, released at the early hours of yesterday, said the future of Nigeria will be determined this year.

SERVICE: From left— Engr. Olu Jaiyesimi; Justice Babasola Ogunade, Chancellor, Diocese Lagos West; Rt. Revd. James Odedeji, Bishop, Diocese Lagos West; Chief Ademola Fowokan, Chief David Osho and Chief Funso Ologunde, at the new year church service at Archbishop Vinning Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

He said 2015 will be mere formalities and there will be major breakthroughs in medicine and science.

He also asked for prayers against highly destructive storms and monumental fire outbreaks.

At the Prayer City on LagosIbadan Expressway, Pastor Olukoya released his 30-point predictions for the year.

He said that 2014 is a year of great revival, many questions, few answers, tough year for political leaders not standing straight, that traders shall be chased out of the temple of God, strange hands shall conflict for many national flags and cause damage, among others.

He also asked for strong prayers to prevent companies from going bankrupt and to arrest earthquakes and famines.

To Pastor Kumuyi, the only way the country can make appreciable progress is when leaders and followers deliberately take a stand to shun all evil practices and leave holy lives.

He called on all Nigerians to shun avarice, corruption, all forms of immorality and pray for God to forgive our past trespasses and turn from our evil ways, noting that the nation has been sufficiently endowed for greatness.

Measures in place for PDP defectors to return, says Tukur

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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ATIONAL CHAIRMAN of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said the party and the Presidency have put in place measures to ensure that members of the party that defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, return.

He also described the current problems rocking the party as a rejuvenation process, rather than crisis.

Tukur spoke, yesterday, in London when a team of Nigerian Professionals based in Europe, led by Dr. Edwin Olabamiro, paid him a visit.

He said: “PDP is at home to contain all forms of harassment by the opposition, either vaunted or intended.

“If it is a game of numbers in any election, you can always count on it that PDP will win.

“The good thing is that if five people move out of PDP to

another party, even by dint of propaganda, the party takes in more than 500 at a time as

replacement.

“The electorate in Nigeria trust PDP more than many people are aware of.”

“As the Chairman of PDP, let me say that we may not be

having it smooth at the moment.

“The party and Mr. President are not relenting on holding consultations with the aggrieved members.”

NJC PROBE: Accused judges refuse to reply query

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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HE National Judicial Council, NJC’s probe into allegations of corruption levelled against 23 judges across the country has been delayed due to the refusal of most of them to reply queries issued them by the panels raised by the council.

Findings by Vanguard showed that the panels found almost all of them culpable and accordingly recommended that they be reprimanded by the judiciary to serve as a deterrent to others in the system.

However a top judicial source told Vanguard last night that the affected judges had adopted a delay tactic to prevent the NJC from reaching a decision on their sack.

It was learnt that the delay in replying the queries issued to the affected judges was responsible for the suspension of action on them during the last meeting of NJC in December.

The source said: “It is true that the panels raised

by NJC to review the files of each of the judges had since completed their assignments and submitted their reports.

“But the only snack is that most of the judges accused of corruption have refused to reply the queries issued to them by the panels.”

... as 2015 Jonathan candidacy splits North

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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HE Northern Elders Union, NEU, yesterday, dismissed the assertion by Northern Elders Forum, NEF, that the zone will not vote for People’s Democratic Party, PDP, if it nominated President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2015 presidential flagbearer, describing the threat as the wishful thinking of a few privileged northerners.

Among the northern elements in NEU are former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau; former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman; Senator Garba Gada; a member of PDP Board

of Trustees, BoT, Alhaji Bello Dange; a former Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Alhaji Abdullahi Ladan-Shinu and another former Deputy Governor of old Sokoto State, Alhaji Azika Tambuwal.

The Secretary-General of NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said last week that the North had made its position on the 2015 presidency known to President Jonathan’s emissaries that the zone would not support Jonathan’s ambition.

Abdullahi further alleged that the Presidency ’s political tacticians have compiled a list of 151 key northern politicians and leaders with a view to wooing them to work for the

President in 2015.

However, Alhaji Gusau said Abdullahi was on his own.

Rising from its meeting in Kaduna yesterday, Gusau advised any NEF leader, who had presidential ambition in 2015 to declare such, but not to beat the drums of war as Nigeria belonged to all.

Gusau spoke in a telephone interview with Vanguard yesterday.

He said: “The North or Nigeria does not belong to NEF leaders alone. If any NEF leader wants to contest the 2015 presidential polls, let him come out openly and declare his interest.

“For instance, PDP, under the leadership of the Deputy

Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muktar Shagari, will win Sokoto State. It will be like that in some North-West and North-East zones.

“I do not know where the North met as a whole and decided who we shall support or not. Let us wait and watch.

“I do not know the premise under which Professor Abdullahi based his conclusion that the North has abandoned PDP. “PDP has done so many good things for the North and we shall tell the North those things when the time for campaign comes. It is the only party that has national spread. The North cannot leave a known friend and for an unknown friend or enemy.”

10— Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Lagos PDP holds inter-religious prayers

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HE LAGOS State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, held an inter-religious service for victory in the upcoming governorship elections in the state.

The party also prayed for the continued peace and unity of Nigeria and for God to preserve President Goodluck Jonathan to administer the country well.

The event, which took place at the state secretariat of the party in Ikeja, was officiated by Muslim and Christian Clerics.

The Christian prayer was officiated by the national president, Nation Building Christian Ministers Association, Apostle Joseph Jaiyeola while the Islamic prayer was led by Ustadh Al-Iman, Abdulrasaq Mohammed.

70 displaced residents reject Lagos relief camp

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HE 70 displaced residents of the three buildings razed by fire in Obi Osa Street, Ijesa, ItireIkate Local Council Development Area, LCDA, in Lagos, on Monday, have rejected the plan by the state government to relocate them to the Agbowa relief camp, Ikorodu.

It will be recalled that the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, in order to assist the displaced people celebrate the New Year in a safe environment, ordered that the relief camp in Ikorodu be opened for the displaced victims.

The residents argued that rather than relocate them to the relief camp, the government should give them relief material to cushion the loss they suffered through the fire disaster.

Residents hail Lagos music festival

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AGOS — FANS have described as successful and amazing the music festival, tagged Lagos Countdown 2013, as people who attended the event enjoyed themselves.

The event was organised by the Lagos State government at the Lagos Bar Beach.

The residents said some of the more than 60 artistes billed to play gave good accounts of themselves.

SERVICE: From left, a retired judge of Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade; Justice Dapo Oyebanji of Lagos High Court; emeritus Anglican Bishop of Lagos, Adebola Ademowo, and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, at the New Year church service, at the Anglican Diocese, in Lagos, yesterday.

Lagos denies completing Lekki-Epe expressway concession buy-back

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — LAGOS State government said it was yet to complete the buy-back of the concessionaire agreement it entered into with Lekki Concession Company, LCC, the concessionaire handling the

49.63-kilometre Eti-Osa-LekkiEpe Expressway.

The state government also said that it was not receiving the required support from the Federal Government on blue line of the light rail project, expected to run from Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Line.

Commissioner for works and infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi

Hamzat disclosed this in Ikeja.

On the concessionaire agreement with LCC, the commissioner said: “At the moment, we are engaging the concessionaire.”

It will be recalled that the state House of Assembly had at a special plenary session in August last year, approved N7.5 billion supplementary budget to accelerate the transfer of ownership of the

LAGBUS FREE RIDE: Beneficiaries

frown at insufficient buses L AGOS — SOME beneficiaries of LAGBUS free ride service in the New Year day have commended the Lagos State government for the gesture.

They said it was a way of giving back to the people.

Some of them, however, frowned at over-crowding in the buses because of the few buses to some routes, while other routes were not provided for.

According to reports, other commercial buses were few on the roads because of the free ride provided by the government along major routes.

Mr. Adeyemi Soliu, a beneficiary of the free ride from IyanaIpaja to Oshodi, described the gesture as laudable.

“It is a laudable achievement by our government; it is just one of the ways to give back to the masses.

“In the recent times, the masses have been complaining, but I think this is good encouragement," Soliu said.

He, however, said that nonavailability of buses on some routes was a major challenge commuters faced.

Mr. Saheed Olatunji, another beneficiary, said that the scheme

portrayed the government as “masses- oriented.

“I will commend the government for this, it has in a way added to the joy of the people, “ Olatunji said.

Mr. Kelvin Solomon, another beneficiary from Oshodi to CMS, said that he was happy with the initiative, which according to him, was commendable.

“I have never boarded it free before, I am very happy, it is very good,“ Solomon said.

Adebayo Opeyemi, a traveller from Mushin to Oshodi, said that

“it is okay, but over-crowded; there are not enough buses which could have made people happier about the scheme.”

Mrs. Aderemi Adeyemi, another beneficiary from IyanaIpaja to Oshodi, said that the scheme was good for the lessprivileged.

“It is good for people who do not have money and willing to reach their loved ones. With the help of the buses, they can move round to enjoy the celebration,“ Adeyemi said.

road to the state, seven years after both parties signed the concessionaire agreement.

According to Hamzat: “It is still fluid. We haven’t signed the required agreement with the LCC. We have not concluded the buyback. It is after conclusion that the state government will be able to determine what will happen. And it is at that time we will spread everything out to the public.”

The commissioner explained: “By the concessionaire agreement and the financial model, LCC is expected to have increased the toll at this time due to the exchange rate in the country.”

He noted that when the agreement is completed, the state government will make it known to the public.

On how the Federal Government is frustrating the blue line of the light rail, Hamzat explained that when the state approached the central government with its plan to use the rail terminal in Iddo, Lagos, the Federal Government did not welcome the idea.

Doctors’ strike: Have pity on mothers, Dame Fashola pleads

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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AGOS — WIFE of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola has pleaded with the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, to shelve its proposed nationwide indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Monday, January 6, 2014, and embrace more purposeful means of resolving outstanding

grievances.

The body of doctors had earlier embarked on a five-day warning strike on December 18-22, 2013.

Speaking during a tour of the Island Maternity and other public hospitals in the state to usher in the first set of babies delivered on New Year ’s day, Fashola pleaded with the NMA to have a re-think over the decision in the public in-

terest.

“We are passionately pleading with all our doctors to have pity on us mothers, who are made to bear the brunt of all pains in the aftermath of any event.

"Please, do not to go on strike as you have planned. We understand all your grievances and align with your plight and are asking for more dialogue to reach an amicable solution."

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—11

LP faction kicks against Bamidele’s guber ambition

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI — A faction of the Labour Party, LP, in Ekiti State, has vowed not to recognise Mr. Akin Omole and other state executive members until a congress scheduled for September is held.

The faction made up of foundation members of the party in the state has equally faulted the emergence of Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele as the gubernatorial candidate of the party for this year's polls, saying new members could only aspire into such office after being in the party for six months.

The faction called on the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to recognise Akin Omole as the Chairman of LP in the state.

A statement by six members of the group and made available in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, stated that the absorption of the members of Ekiti Bibire Coalition, a political platform of Hon. Bamidele into the party, did not follow due process.

The signatories are: Obafemi Adedayo, Mr. Akinola Abidakun and Okunola Olufemi.

Others are: Adedamola Temitayo, Babatola Sunday and Elder Adelusi Dare, Secretary, Ikole Local Government.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti recently, the LP National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu, clarified that Omole remained the recognised and authentic chairman of the party.

Nwanyanwu, who said there was no faction in the party added that those fanning the amber of discord in the party are allegedly

being sponsored by All Progressive Congress to destabilise the party.

Speaking further, the group alleged that the appointment of Omole as the Chairman of the Party without proper congress contravened Article 13 of the Party’s constitution, thereby describing the process null and void.

It warned Omole to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the party, saying, “the elected executive at all levels before Bamidele and his group joined the party, are hereby reinstated and as such they are to continue with the party’s business until a congress scheduled for September 2014 takes place.”

COUNTDOWN: Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his wife, Sherifat (3rd left); Fuji Musician, Adewale Ayuba (left); member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/ Isokan Federal Constituency, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran (4th right); Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere (2nd right); Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, Osun Chapter, Prince Gboyega Famodun (3rd right); Iyaloja General, Osun State, Chief Awawu Asindemade (right), and others, during Countdown to 2014 to herald New Year with fireworks, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, yesterday.

Ekiti issues N5bn bond for capital projects

BY PETER EGWUATU

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KITI STATE Government and parties to the issue have unanimously endorsed the N5 billion second tranche of the N25 billion state bond.

The N5 billion bond carries a 14.5 per cent coupon fixed rate that would be due for redemption in 2020.

The fund is meant to finance five major projects as the state government seeks to complete major development projects that would impact on the socio-economic and urban-rural integration.

Speaking at the completion board meeting, in Lagos, Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the approval and success of the second tranche of the bond programme reflected the market’s confidence in the state as evidenced in the judicious use of the proceeds of the previous issuance.

According to him, the state had committed the proceeds of its first tranche to several laudable projects that continue to bear testimonies to efficient use of funds including the Ikogosi Warm Spring, school of agriculture and roads across the state.

He pointed out that all the new projects identified under the new bond issue would have immense positive impact on the develop-

ment of the state, adding that all the projects would have been completed within the next one year.

He noted that while his administration was desirous of fast-tracking the pace of development

through additional funds from the capital market, it iwas committed to efficient debt management as N9.2 billion had already been paid from the initial N20 billion

issue.

“We believe that we owe a duty to the generation coming to really put these infrastructure in place,” Fayemi said.

Cleric warns Jonathan, Obasanjo over feud

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Chairman and Spiritual Father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide (Ayo Ni O), Most Rev. Samuel Abidoye has advised former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, to demonstrate maturity in their handling of political differences between them.

The cleric in his New Year message to the members of the CSMC Worldwide made available to newsmen, in Abeokuta, yesterday, also warned the Federal Government to avoid grandstanding about fighting corruption this year Apparently referring to the recent spat between former President Obasanjo and President Jonathan, he cautioned that the nation’s leaders should avoid “dancing naked in the market place.

“He stressed that it was needless for the nation’s leaders

to wash their dirty linen in public because of some differences between them.

“In terms of governance in general, there needs to be a display of more maturity by our leaders, both in and out of government. Dancing naked in

the market place just to prove what one can do so is going too far.

“A leader is expected to exhibit decorum and behave with certain dignity that will make people to respect them," the cleric said.

Ajimobi pardons condemned prisoners, others

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — GOVERNOR of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has granted amnesty to five condemned prisoners.

Also, total release and state pardon were granted to four convicts who were serving life imprisonment, as well as amnesty to 12 convicts.

The five condemned prisoners granted amnesty are: Bashiru Popoola, Mukaila Salawu, Obinna John, Idowu Emmanuel and Wahab Alao.

The four prisoners on life

imprisonment who enjoyed the governor’s prerogative of mercy included Adepoju Adeyemo, Isaac Ogunniyi, Gabriel Ojetayo and Lukman Ajibola.

According a statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the 12 convicts who were on various terms of imprisonment before they got pardon are: Wasiu Rasheed, Ajayi Akeem, Lati Balogun, Bisiriyu Olalekan, Joke Sunday, Kazeem Oladeji, Okunola Mathew, Tijani Ganiyu, Saheed Sikiru, Segun Amao, Rasheed Taiwo and Ademola Aloba.

I've big plans for Ogun people, Amosun boasts

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has boasted that he has big plans for the people of Ogun State, promising to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state this year.

The governor stated this, on Tuesday, in Ijebu-Ode while addressing the people at an all night event organised under the newly constructed Ijebu-Ode flyover by the state government to usher in 2014.

He said the development they have witnessed in the last two and a half years under his administration would be nothing compared to his plans for them and the state not only in the new year, but also in the years ahead.

Amosun also assured the people of Ijebu-Oode that all the over-head bridges under construction in the area will be completed before the third anniversary of his administration.

Aregbesola pays N62m compensation

to land owners

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — OSUN State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has paid a total of N62million to both the people of Ido-Osun and Odo Iju whose farmlands were acquired by the state government for development purposes.

The break-down shows that N11million was paid as compensation to 243 farmers who have their farms destroyed due to the ongoing construction of the MKO Abiola International Airport in Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area of the state.

Also, Governor Aregbesola had paid the over N51million as compensation to farmers at Odo Iju and Ibodi in Atakumosa west Local Government Area of the state.

The government had acquired a large portion of land at both Odo Iju and Ibodi for the building of an inter-denominational worship centre called “Open Heaven Worship Centre” in the area.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

FIRST BABY OF THE YEAR: Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, wife of Delta State governor, carrying the First Baby of the year. The baby girl, born to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Pascal at exactly 12:01am at the Central Hospital, Warri, on January 1, 2014, weighed 3.6kg.

PRESENTATION: From left, Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi; Chief Medical Director, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe; Deputy Director, Nursing Services, Mrs. Oluwagbemi Oluwayemisi, and wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, during her presentation of gifts to the first baby of the year and other newborns at the hospital, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday

Amaechi blasts monarch over comment on Soku oil well zSays he betrayed his people

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME cal Government Area, adding that his failure should be seen as ORT HARCOURT— a betrayal of his Kalabari people.

GOVERNOR Rotimi “I heard my colleague, the Amaechi of Rivers State, has governor of Bayelsa State went described alleged statement to Abonema the other day and the credited to the Amayanabo of Amanayabo of Abonema received Abonema, HRH Israel Bob- him and said he was satisfied manuel, in which he reported- with the way the President was ly expressed satisfaction with handling the oil wells issue. For the actions so far taken by the me, that is a betrayal of his peoFederal Government on the ple. He is a king in Kalabari contentious Soku oil well, as Kingdom and he says he is satisfied that the Federal Governan act of betrayal.

The governor, spoke on a live ment has taken the oil wells and radio programme, yesterday, Bayelsa is receiving the money. in Port Harcourt. He said he It is not about me, it is about the had expected the traditional Kalabari people, it is about the ruler to demand for return of Rivers people. the oil wells when the Bayel- “When the governor of Bayelsa State governor visited him sa came, what did he go for in in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Lo- Abonema? Why would the tradi-

P

tional ruler of Abonema not tell the governor of Bayelsa that the people of Abonema are not happy over the oil wells taken away from them?

The traditional ruler was expected to say ‘return our oil wells to us.”

Governor Amaechi said that he had told President Goodluck Jonathan that he was ready to support him if the oil wells were returned, noting that he was sure the President would not do so, because of the alleged impression that such action would be in his (Amaechi’s) favour.

“I have told the President that if he returns the oil wells, I will support him. But

he (President) can’t. It doesn’t matter whether I go back to Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP or not, I will support him. He has not been able and he will not. If he (Jonathan) thinks it will favour me, then let him keep the money in an escrow account because the money was first and foremost in an escrow account. When he became President, he went to the escrow account and took the money. If it is about me, let them keep the money in an escrow account and give it to the next government in Rivers State. What I want to see done is the fact that our resources are returned to us.

“Now there is no money in

SUBSIDY: FG pays marketers Q2 arrears zAssures on timely payments in 2014

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU availability of petrol throughout the festive period.

HE Federal Government He noted that if the Minister of is said to have settled Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweaoutstanding subsidy claims up la, could continue in this manto the second quarter of last ner, even the interests accruable year. However, only the major on banks loans would be paid off marketers are the main bene- in no time. ficiaries of this settlement, Olawore said: “We really must leaving most of the independ- thank and commend the minisent claims still outstanding. ter for settling all the outstandConfirming the development ing claims up to the Q2, 2013. while speaking with journal- “If you pay the interest without ists in Lagos, the Executive paying the capital, eventually, it Secretary, Major Oil Market- will accumulate with some interers’ Association of Nigeria, ests. So, we thank the Minister MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Ola- of Finance for paying. wore, said this is the reason “If she continues in this manwhy there are no fuel shortag- ner, we won’t have any problems even with the interests accruable es in the market.

Although he could not state on the bank loans, as these would exactly how much the govern- be reduced significantly.” ment paid, Olawore noted that MOMAN members include oil the payment helped marketers marketing companies such as to bring in vessels laden with Mobil Oil Plc, Total Plc, MRS Plc, products last month, which Forte Oil Plc, Conoil Oil Plc, boosted stock and ensured Oando Plc, NIPCO Plc, and Sa-

T

hara Group Two of the majors, Oando and Forte Oil, received over N35 billion outstanding subsidy claims for the 2ndquarter. While Oando received N21 billion, Forte Oil got N14 billion, adding that he was yet to get payment details for the remaining marketers.

The MOMAN boss, while expressing appreciation to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy for the payment of the claims, also req u e s t e d that the Minister look into the payment of outstanding claims for other petroleum marketers, to consolidate on the gains of the current products supply in the market.

Recall that MOMAN had, in June this year, threatened to stop importation of petrol due to the non-payment of

their N40.6 billion subsidy claims by the Federal Government.

The non-payment of the claims, Olawore lamented, had made it difficult for marketers to continue to do business, as they relied on bank loans for petrol imports.

With regard to how marketers fared during the year, he said that 2013 was a tough year because of undue delays in subsidy payments, but expressed the hope that Year 2014 would be better.

According to him, “The moment government paid us, a lot of vessels were brought in and the stock level rose from between one and two days to 10 days. At some point, it was only the NNPC that was bringing in products because other importers stopped as a result of non-payment of subsidy."

the escrow account because Bayelsa State has expended the money. Even if we go to court today and the court says we are right, there is no money in the escrow account again. So, it is a hopeless and helpless situation for Rivers State.”

Amaechi said that there was attempt by the Federal Government to weaken development in Rivers State, stressing that it was why another 41 oil wells belonging to the state in Etche was allegedly ceded to Abia State.

Peaceful coexistence only solution to crisis in Nigeria —POPE FRANCIS

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AGOS—THE Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, yesterday, identified peaceful coexistence as the only solution to the crisis in some parts of N i g e r i a .

The Pope said this in his message at the celebration of the World Day of Peace which is an annual event of Catholic faithful worldwide.

The message was read by the Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Lagos.

“It is easy to realise that fraternity is the foundation and pathway of peace.

“When we have the value of fraternity, a feeling of brotherhood, love and care for one another, many of our problems would not be there.

“Our fraternity is based on the fact that we are all made in the likeness and image of God. “Our brotherhood is not based on any factor other than we are all children of one God."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—13

NIGERIA AT 100: Don’t take our unity for granted —Atiku

Make PDP the dominant party, Utuama tells Delta community

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

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N the occasion of the country’s centenary, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, called on Nigerians not to take the continued unity of the country for granted even as he cautioned against distractions that could impede the future prosperity of the nation.

Atiku, in his centenary message to the country, urged Nigerians to look above the structural fragments that divide the nation, saying that the victims of the ineptitude leadership were neither divided by ethnicity, tribe nor religion.

He lamented that 40 years after the civil war, the country’s leaders could still be playing ethnic and religious games to gain power.

He said: ”As we mark the centenary celebration of the amalgamation of the Lagos colony with the Northern and Southern Protectorates by the British Colonial occupier forming one country, Nigerians need to pat each other on the back for we have truly come a long way. However, we must redouble our efforts towards building a stronger and more united Nigeria rather than concentrating energies on division or breakup. ”The recent clamour by some of Nigeria’s leaders for a renegotiation of the continued being of Nigeria are dishonest and an unnecessary distraction from the future that we can build.

Such leaders need to concentrate their efforts on tackling the challenges ranging from lack of security to addressing poverty and unemployment through infrastructural investments.

“The victims of structural ineptitude are not distinguished on the basis of their ethnicity, tribe, religion or region. It is also a truism that both the perpetrators and their victims are Nigerians, and secession will not fix these woes. Rather, if our leaders devoted more energy to dealing with these basic challenges facing the ordinary Nigerians, ethnic and religious differences would have sunk to the background as people are able to focus on opportunities available to them.”

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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VISIT: From left: Obi Victor Chukwumaleze, Obi of Onica-Ugbo; Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, Zonal Commanding Officer FRSC Zone 5, Benin and Mrs. Uche Chukwurah, Unit Commander, Issele-Uku, Delta State, during a courtesy call on the monarch in Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Why Uduaghan won Vanguard Man of the year award —OGEAH D

ELTA State Commissioner for Information, Mr Chike Ogeah, yesterday, explained what earned the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Vanguard Newspapers award of Man of the Year.

Mr Ogeah, in a statement, said: “Uduaghan’s visionary steps in governance were hilighted by the newspaper which noted that his major policy framed as Delta Beyond Oil, encapsulates the three cardinal philosophies that constitute the hallmark of his administration – human capital development, infrastructure development and peace and security.

“The governor ’s boost to education infrastructure evidenced in the commissioning of 13 model secondary schools and 54 model primary schools as well as the N5 million per year post-graduate scholarship programme for first class graduates in any institution anywhere in the world were highlighted as some of the outstanding bright spots in Nigeria’s quest for quality education.

“On health care, Vanguard noted that Uduaghan put his profession as a medical doctor to good use as he instituted the legacy policy on maternal and child care that picks and pays for a baby’s total wellbeing from conception to the age of five. This has had profound impact on infant mortality rate in the state which crashed from 545 deaths in 100,000 births at the time he took over as governor in 2007, to 241 deaths in 100,000 births in 2012, which is by far the lowest rate in the country.

“Alongside the micro-credit scheme that has empowered over 100,000 people and the Delta Beyond Oil initiative, Vanguard stated the Uduaghan administration is positioning the state “out-

side the perimeters of the shock from fluctuating oil revenue.

“We are glad that despite his philosophy of working quietly without recourse to media frenzy, Governor Uduaghan’s giant strides towards enthroning sustainable development in Delta

State is being nationally and globally acknowledged.

“Three other newspapers had earlier recognised Governor Uduaghan as their Man of the Year. They are Nigerian Pilot, Leadership and The Sun which announcement was made on December 30, 2013,” he added.

ELTA State deputy governor, Prof Amos Utuama, has called on the people of Otu-Jeremi community in the state to remain steadfast in their support for the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, so as to make it the dominant party in the state.

He also urged the community to be peaceful and law abiding.

Utuama gave the advice, yesterday, when he hosted members of the community in Otu–Jeremi as part of his thank you tour to the people for their support and encouragement.

He said: “I want to thank all of you for the unflinching support you have been given us. We cannot do anything if you don't given us your support. Besides, I want to appeal to all of you, as we go into a New Year, to be peaceful and law abiding."

Midday rain destroys property of Pakoto residents, evicted by LUTH

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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N afternoon rain, yes terday, destroyed property of residents of Araromi, Ilepa-Pakoto in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, victims of new year eve demolition exercise carried out by the authorities of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, with the protection of a military/police team.

It was gathered from the victims that the military team was sent by the state government.

One of the victims of the demolition exercise, who preferred anonymity told Vanguard that the demolition exercise came so sudden that they could not arrange any alternative place to preserve their property from the rain.

Another victim, said that they were thrown into sorrow and lamentation on the eve of the new year, when their houses were demol-

ished by the authorities of LUTH’s primary health centre.

According to him, the state government had promised to intervene in the controversy over the ownership of the land claimed by the authority of LUTH contrary to the position maintained by the original native owners of the land, who also claimed ownership of the vast land, occupied by the victims.

A victim told Vanguard that over 20 officials of the state task force accompanied by heavily armed military officials and the police came in the early hours of Tuesday to embark on the demolition exercise without consideration for their property and houses they spent their life saving to build.

He said the moment the demolition team arrived, they wasted no time in embarking on the demolition of the houses, which he said was met with little or no resistance from the house owners, since majority of them were not around, while those at

home were intimidated by the presence of the armed military team.

Narrating his ordeal, another victim said: “When we heard of the planned take over of the land by LUTH and Ogun State Government, our delegation visited the state governor, who directed our team to meet with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who promised the government intervention to prevail on LUTH, so that an amicable solution could be found."

He added that the officials of the state government only served the residents with notice to quit withing seven days, noting that the notice from Ogun State Government Urban and Regional Planning Board and Development Control, titled Contravention Notice was pasted on their homes, a week earlier, before they were demolished on December 31.

Meanwhile, the state government has denied the involvement of the state government in the demolition, saying it only assisted in helping the Federal Government to implement the law.

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Anambra govt declares Jan 11 public holiday for LG polls

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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W K A — GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has declared January 11, 2014, as a public holiday to enable eligible voters participate in the local government election scheduled for that day.

Though many people are still skeptical about the possibility of the election being conducted on January 11, the governor ’s declaration of public holiday is an indication that the poll would, at long last, be held.

The last local government election held in Anambra State was in 1998 before the emergence of the present democratic dispensation.

In the past one year, Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, had postponed the election five times, fueling insinuations that the exercise might not be conducted in the life of the present administration.

ANSIEC acting chairman, chief Sylvester Okonkwo, had said last month that the commission was ready for the exercise, attributing the several postponements in the past to non-delivery of authentic voters’ register to his commission by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. About 22 political parties fielding candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the election have been meeting with officials of ANSIEC on the modalities for a successful election.

But announcing the public holiday yesterday, during his New Year broadcast in Awka, Governor Obi said the holiday was to enable the people exercise their franchise without hindrance.

Meanwhile, Governor Obi has said that the reconstruction of Enugu – Onitsha expressway from the border town of Amansea to Amawbia in Awka and from Upper Iweka to Zik’s roundabout in Onitsha would commence in the next three weeks.

Onaiyekan warns politicians against inflammatory comments A

BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA—THE Catholic Arch-Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called on Nigerian politicians to be circumspect in their choice of words as the country enters a critical year ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.

He spoke at the New Year service at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria ProCathedral, Area 3, Abuja, which had in attendance President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the Catholic leader, the use of words as “capture” by politicians connotes negativity which is capable of rocking the boat of national unity.

The Cardinal, who relayed the message of the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, as it concerned Nigeria, warned that 2014 was crucial and might not be smooth as indicated by chaotic political activities already happening in the country.

He said: “The Pope’s message is directed to the whole world and it’s the job of the local church to review it and see; what does it say to my country?

“My job is not finished by simply illustrating, I will have to carry it incessantly throughout this year.

2014 is crucial; there are lots of political campaigns and it’s not going to be smooth this year.

“It’s already getting very complex, almost chaotic but sometimes we don’t have to worry

about the complexity that we see because in my own opinion, it all depends on the present process. when people begin to create alliances, we don’t know what they are doing.

“The major message we should be able to pass to our people is that politics is supposed to be a decent game

of confrontation of ideals, where people find out who is in the best position to move this nation forward.

“It is not a battle; it’s not a do or die. Words like capturing should never be used in politics but we hear it so often. Because when we talk of capturing, it means whoever loses in the

game is practically defeated and kicked.

“In Nigeria if you lose election you are finished which is why politicians who lose election go back to the party that is presently ruling, since the ruling party seems to control everything and doesn’t not allow other people to feel like they belong to the whole community.”

MEETING: Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri (middle), and representatives of Imo State traditional rulers, after a meeting with the minister, at her Amuzi residence, in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, yesterday.

Gov Orji promises better days ahead

BY ANAYO OKOLI MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has said his government had made a tremendous difference in the state, promising better days ahead for people of the state.

He said in his New Year message: “As we have progressed in the journey towards a new face of Abia State, I have had occasions to look back to the past where we began, not just further down the line, but up to 2013 and through to the first half of our second term in office.

“No one can today deny that we have made indelible impacts in the lives of our citizens in all sectors, and I am certain that we have brought Abia State to the right path, and the right note of an irreversible development.

“As we march proudly into the year 2014, with great hopes and expectations, we are also moving towards the end of our second term in office.

“The commencement of the electoral process for installing

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new leaderships in our state and in our nation, will also begin this year, and I expect our citizens to participate actively in all stages of the process so as to reap the benefits that accrue from there.”

Orji noted that with the achievement so far made by his administration, he had good

reasons to believe that nothing would ever be the same in Abia State, as the people and the state continue their upwards movement, defying all odds to surge ahead as one of the safest and most secured states in the nation.

Describing the state as one of the fastest growing economies

in the country, Orji stated: “No one and no leader of the future will make the mistake to return this state to the dark days of strife, impunity and ad-hoc process, and in a private estate of the few, for the few, and by the few. I expect the year 2014 and beyond to yield greater achievements and value expectations for this state.”

Wike harps on better education sector

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE BUJA—SUPERVISING Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday, asked Nigerians to expect consolidation of the gains of the investments of the present administration in the education sector this year.

Wike stated this while speaking on the projections of the ministry for the education sector in 2014 in Abuja.

He said the Federal Government would fundamentally improve the areas of access and quality of education in both the basic

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and tertiary levels of the sector.

He said: “This administration will frontally tackle the issue of more access to basic education for the Almajiris of the North, the boy-child of the SouthEast and South-South, the girl-child of the North and adult and youth illiterates scattered across the nation.

“We are looking forward to comprehensively addressing the issue of access to quality education for less privileged Nigerians.

We are working towards ensuring that majority of the

out of school children have access to education. We are going to build on the gains that we have already attained in the construction of Almajiri and girl-child schools.

“The complete overhaul of the universities will be on the fast lane, while the Needs Assessment reports of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education would have been submitted and the reports acted upon. The training of teachers of basic education sector and the lecturers in the tertiary education sector will receive the deserved attention in the course of 2014.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 — 15

APC to assume House leadership soon

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA—THERE are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress, APC, may, on resumption from recess of the House of Representatives on January 13, 2014, assume the leadership of the House from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This, however, may not affect the offices of the speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

The impending development which Vanguard scooped yesterday, is followed by the defection of 37 members of the PDP to APC late last month.

Speculations had been rife since December 2013, shortly before the House went on Christmas break, that the change would have occurred.

A member of the House and PDP decampee who spoke to Vanguard on conditions of anonymity, said the first quarter of the new year would herald changes that would affect the leadership structure of the House.

He said: “Within the House, 2014 will be a remarkable year for Nigeria, remarkable in the sense that, of course, the trend which began in late 2013 in terms of power shift will continue and what that means is that APC should be able to get the requisite 181 members which gives it complete majority. When that happens chances are that the leadership will shift from PDP to APC. “APC has between 172 to 174 members in the House.

And what we just need, I think is between 8 and 9 new members in terms of those crossing from PDP to APC. And that will be the APC requisite that will shape the House and points the future direction of the House.

“But what is certain is that if everything does not change, the leadership, the majority leader will need to relinquish that position because at the end of the day, a party cannot be in the minority and still hold the position of the Majority Leader.”

You are a failure, Junaid tells Jonathan zSays President will be disgraced in 2015

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BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

BUJA—IN his usual critical stance on issues of governance in Nigeria, Second Republic member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has again declared President Goodluck Jonathan a failure.

He also said the President should jettison the idea of rigging the 2015 elections to favour himself, warning that there will be mayhem, if there was rigging.

Mohammed in an interview with Vanguard on Tuesday, said President Jonathan had failed in every critical area of governance, such as security, law and order which could win him a second term, saying he would be disgraced at the polls should he dare contest the election.

Mohammed, who is also a leading member of the Northern Elders Forum, said the north would not cast its vote for Jonathan.

He said: “I am not and I have never been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. And I have never been a governor and I don’t think I will be a governor in this world. But what I am saying is this: in a democracy, there is what we call performance legitimacy.

“That is if you are elected into a position of authority or power, your legitimacy does not only rest on your winning the election, but also in performing on the job so that people will say you have done well and may be in the mood to give you another term.

“As far as I am concerned, Jonathan did not win the last election. Goodluck has not performed in any manner credible that will warrant his being re-elected or think of being considered for re-election.

“Now, whether there was an agreement or not, the fact of the matter is that he has failed in very critical areas of governance. He has failed in security. He has failed in law and order. He has failed in

economy. He has failed in everything that matters to a government and to the people of a country.

“Now, for me, he should not consider running but if he is determined to run and rig the election the way he did in 2011 together with INEC and security services, then he is asking for mayhem in the country and I have said it several times, if he insists on running and rigging the

election, there will be mayhem.

“Now, many media people have chosen to ignore the aspect where I said if he runs and rigs the election. Let me tell you, I have been in politics for over 40 years, “If he can decide today that there is going to be free and fair election

by INEC in conjunction with the Police, the DSS, then my reaction will be let Goodluck stand for election, we will go there vote and defeat and disgrace him. But the fact of the matter is that people are very wary about the way elections have been conducted in the history of this country.”

CELEBRATION: Founder, Sisters of The Poorest of The Poor, Anawim, Rev. Sis. Oresoa Selo, with some of the children of the Home, during the New Year mass celebration, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, Abuja, yesterday.

Mixed reactions trail Jonathan’s New Year broadcast

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—MIXED reactions trailed President Goodluck Jonathan’s New Year broadcast on his plans for 2014.

Some members of the House of Representatives who spoke to Vanguard, described it as an annual ritual fast becoming a boredom.

But others felt that GEJ has good intentions and that all hands should be on deck to help him deliver his promises.

Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC, Lagos, said: “We were promised a better 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. It’s all the same of same. It’s not by words.

“He can start to actualise his promise from today by dismissing his corrupt officials. He, like Nigerians know who they are.”

However, Robinson Uwak, PDP, Akwa Ibom, believed that GEJ has what it takes to deliver and had good intentions for Nigerians.

He said: “Things can only get better. In saying so GEJ as a father to the nation wishes Nigeria well from the bottom of his heart.

“ I am yet to meet an individual who doesn’t wish for better things in a new year. GEJ wishes Nigeria well. “ Chairman House Committee on Ethics and Anti-Corruption, Abiodun Faleke, APC, Lagos in his reaction, said Nigerians should wait for Budget 2014.

He simply said: ”We await the better 2014 as detailed in the budget.”

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Commercialisation and Privatisation, Uzoma NkemAbonta was, however, optimistic that with the collective

assistance of Nigerians particularly the three arms of government and his aides, GEJ will deliver as promised.

Abonta said: “If he has promised to massively employ Nigerians that are jobless without the assistance of the three arms, he won’t succeed.”

Anglican Primate warns against industrial disharmony

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BY CALEB AYANSINA

BUJA—THE Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, yesterday, warned government at all levels and union leaders to explore all avenues to avoid industrial disharmony this year.

The Primate, while making it clear that changes were inevitable in 2014, also admonished Nigerians to develop patriotic attitude, and “lean on God Who does

not change.”

Okoh, who spoke at the New Year service held in the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, urged the Federal Government to do everything within its power to create more employments for youths to harness their potentials for country ’s development.

He said: “The work of improving Nigerian economy cannot be isolated in one way or the other; the government should do everything that will bring in

more employments, so that, the young people can get opportunity of more jobs, because we want our young people to be more fruitful in 2014.

“They should employ their talents; give them better education so that they can have opportunity to join in building Nigeria.”

The Primate noted that both the leaders and the led must change their ways, for the country to get it right in this New Year, insisting that there was need for the circumcision of the heart.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

New Year: Jos residents express joy over return of peace

BY TAYE OBATERU & MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

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OS—RESIDENTS of the Plateau State capital welcomed the New Year with pomp in celebration of the gradual return of peace to the state. Many said they are happy that the Christmas and New Year celebrations were devoid of the tension caused by security threats of previous years.

Many residents attended the ‘cross over’ services in various churches on the eve of the new year after which they took to the streets in celebration to welcome the new year.

This was a departure from the situation in the last couple of years due to security challenges witnessed in the state.

The residents who were mostly youths after the crossover services in their respective churches took to the streets with drums and songs visiting members’ houses for prayers and gifts were given by the family head of each house to the elated youths.

The celebration which commenced a few minutes after 12am saw the youths visiting till about 5am before retiring to their houses.

Different shades of fireworks were on display and bonfires were made on streets along Bauchi ring road, Apata, Busa Buji, Lamingo, Hwolshe, Dadin Kowa among others while residents stayed out till the early hours of the morning, a situation which is a departure of what was obtained in the recent past.

The situation was not different in other local government areas as Vanguard made calls to some residents who confirmed that the new year was celebrated with pomps in the villages.

Expressing their views to Vanguard, a resident, Pastor Emmanuel Anoke said he was very happy with the turn of event as it signifies that peace has returned especially in Jos. Anoke urged residents to maintain the peace so that the celebration will not be a one off thing and the true atmosphere of the yuletide season which is celebration will continually be seen in the State.

Taraba acting gov plotting to unseat Suntai — Suntai loyalists zIt's untrue, I can't move against Suntai, says Umar

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & JOHN MKON

Council seats and allocated

four positions to him and four to members of the House of Assembly.

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ALINGO—LOYALISTS of the recuperating Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, are unhappy with the Acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, for allegedly plotting to unseat his boss through the constitution of a medical board to declare him incapacitated.

A pro-Suntai politician told Vanguard yesterday that Umar had already instructed the Secretary to the State Government to raise a memo authorising the House of Assembly to constitute a medical panel to thoroughly examine Suntai’s health in line with the Constitution of Nigeria.

According to sources close to the plot, the pro-Umar camp could get Suntai out of office before the end of January, if the plot sails through.

However, the acting governor, Umar, yesterday, denied any move to unseat his boss, blaming desperate politicians who were bent on creating avoidable crisis in the state, for the rumours making the rounds.

Umar, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Sule Kefas, said there was no truth whatsoever in the allegation, insisting that he could not move against the man, who picked him as his deputy.

Kefas said, “there is no plan of any sort by the acting governor of Taraba State to set up a medical board with a view to impeaching Governor Danbaba Suntai. The story being bandied about is nothing but pure speculation by the enemies of the state and its people.

“As far as the acting governor is concerned, he is totally loyal to his boss and will continue to do so until he recovers fully and returns to his office. Let it be known to all those spreading the rumours that there is no friction between the two leaders of our state.

“For those who do not know, Umar does not have any political programme different from the masterplan put in place by Suntai.

Besides, Umar has never for once shown any sign of disloyalty to Suntai and will never contemplate doing so,” the acting governor’s spokesman said.

Vanguard learnt that the increasing fear of the pro-Suntai men stemmed from the fact that the acting governor has taken control of the State House of Assembly and also appointed a new SSG, who could easily be mobilised to do his bidding at any time.

Vanguard also gathered that in a bid to assure Suntai of his loyalty, the acting governor consulted with the governor on the formula for sharing the State Executive

BRIEFING—From left: Chairman, PDP, Kaduna North chapter, Alhaji Abdullahi Babayo; Secretary, Mr Joseph Masino and Public Relation Officer, Alhaji Hassan Saleh, at a briefing on the chapter's crisis in Kaduna, yesterday.

Naira crashes to N173 per dollar in parallel market

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HE naira has crashed to N173 per dollar in the parallel market in response to scarcity of foreign exchange in the market.

This represents depreciation of 1000 kobo or 6.1 per cent when compared N163 per dollar which was the exchange rate as at end of November.

Financial Derivative Company confirmed this in its Economic Bulletin released yesterday. It said, “The naira also weakened at the parallel market to a YTD low of N176 per dollar as a result of the demand spillover from the interbank market. As at December 31st, the exchange rate closed at N173.5 per dollar ”.

Foreign exchange dealers attributed the massive depreciation of the naira to the restrictions introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in October.

Among other things, the apex bank banned collection of proceed of international money transfer in foreign exchange, and also banned

importation of foreign currency. The CBN also pegged the amount foreign exchange banks can sell to Bureaux De Change to $250,000 per BDC per week.

“The problem is that the banks are not selling to anybody”, said Mr. Harrison Owoho, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, H.J Trust BDC. “For more than two weeks now the banks have stopped selling foreign exchange to BDCs. There is no dollar in the market because CBN has also stopped people from collecting money transfer in dollars. Maybe things will change when we enter the New Year, when there is new policy.

Though the naira remained relatively stable in the official and interbank market in 2013, experts, however, believe the naira would experience significant depreciation in 2014.

According to Bismarck Rewane of Financial Derivative Company, the naira’s official trading band will rise from N150-160 to N155-165 with midpoint at N160. He made these predictions at the Lagos

Business School year-end review.

Similarly Razia Khan of Standard Chartered predicted that the middle point of the official exchange rate would rise to N160 per dollar. She said, “The CBN is likely to defend the current foreign exchange peg (around a midpoint of 155) up to a point, and tighten policy to achieve this.

Should the naira trade consistently outside this band even after tightening, we believe the authorities will accommodate this, with the mid-point of dollar-naira exchange rates implicitly shifting to 160 in 2014.

From N155.74 per dollar at the beginning of the year, the naira closed the year at N155.7 per dollar in the official market, indicating four kobo appreciation. In the interbank market, the naira depreciated slightly by 120 kobo, from N158.84 per dollar at the beginning of the year, to N160.04 per dollar as at December 31st.

In the parallel market, the naira depreciated by 1100 kobo or 6.9 per cent from N159 per dollar at the beginning of the year to N170 per dollar at the close of the year.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 — 17

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RATHER tongue-inc h e e k observation was posted on a closed internet site last week. In response to the letters that have held Nigerians in thrall these past few weeks, a perceptive observer said unwittingly, in an age of obsession with FDI, Nigeria might have stumbled upon a new export: letter writing! We will export to the ECOWAS region the art of letter writing. We can even capture the continental market for letters, from Cape to Cairo, with copyright wholly Nigerian (ruling class). Away with flagellations about oil revenues; the Transformation Agenda itself will witness a financial transformation. This is the equivalent of the EuroAmerican discovery of oil by ‘fracking’! It was Pliny the Elder who said something new always issues forth from Africa; how the Roman gentleman would have savoured this moment in Nigeria! In a season of letters limitless possibilities appear to shine light into the dark recesses of Nigerian ruling class life.

When the old soldier, General Olusegun Obasanjo blazed the trail, he probably didn’t have the foggiest thought that letters were going to take a life of their own. But here we are today!

OBASANJO’S LETTER: Next

Iyabo, and then Jonathan

Obasanjo

,

Jonathan’s riposte is clearly a warning that the ruling class project is being endangered by its leading lights

We were still dissecting Obasanjo’s letter to President Jonathan, when VANGUARD newspaper of Wednesday, December 18, 2013, came out with Iyabo Obasanjo’s bombshell, fille to pere! There must have been handswringing gloating inside Aso Villa. Here was the selfrighteous General Obasanjo’s daughter putting him in his place in that devastatingly personal manner that only a daughter could have her father. Iyabo described

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Iyabo

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Obasanjo a liar, manipulator and two-faced hypocrite, attempting to foist on Jonathan what he wouldn’t have taken, while he ruled the roost. He is, she said, possessed of a “narcissitic megalomaniac personality”. To underline her pain, Iyabo ruled out further communication with her father till death, in the OPEN LET TER TO MY FATHER, which poignantly opened with a 4th Century Chinese proverb by Mencius: “The great man is he who does

not lose his child’s heart”.

Iyabo’s letter was clear evidence that Obasanjo never had his daughter ’s heart. As the Holy Bible says, out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaketh! Iyabo’s heart spoke loudly through that open letter to her father.

We might state that whatever transpired between Pere et Fille (father and daughter), is not, strictly, our business. But the private lives of public figures seep into the social space, affecting us in often direct and tangible manners, to allow us a peek and obliging us the opportunity for commentary. Was Iyabo not a senator? Didn’t she serve as

Jonathan commissioner in Ogun state?

She even told us how the father wanted to perpetuate political existence through her own political involvement. And despite vigorous denials, Iyabo affirmed that Obasanjo attempted to manipulate the constitution in the infamous Third Term bid! And as the well-educated observer of the Nigerian political space she evolved into, Iyabo saw the manipulative role played by sycophantic aides around Obasanjo, affirming the captive state of leadership in Nigeria, which turns leaders into tingods, sitting atop huge resources that they greedily steal in cahoots with fawning courtiers, as the nation gradually descends into an abyss.

Meltdown in South Sudan

N 2006, I was the only Nigerian journalist attending John Garang’s funeral ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. I was in the company of Babagana Kingibe, then African Union Ambassador for the Darfur crisis. Kabiru Yusuf and I had been the first Nigerian journalists to report from Darfur and were on our way back home, when the trip to Juba came up, so my travel was pure serendipity really. But I had long followed the struggle by the SPLM and the political perspectives of John Garang; he was a socialist, pan-Africanist and despite the huge sacrifices (over three million people died in the Sudanese war!), he was dedicated to the liberation and unity of the Sudan, north and south. When the Naivasha Agreement ending the bloody war was signed and Garang returned to Khartoum for the first time in years, over one million people welcomed him, Arab and African! I spoke to many people in Khartoum and recall an Arab Sudanese who cried that John Garang died in that chopper

crash. He was, the chap told me, the liberator of the Sudan that they lost forever. There were too many forces who never wanted a united Sudan and removal of John Garang was part of an elaborate script and up till today, it has remained unresolved.

Rebecca, his widow, told us an old Dinka proverb, that they were willing to lose two cows to find a lost one. They will forever try to unknot the mystery of the death of a great son of Africa, John Garang. What was clear to me then, and always, was that if he had lived, he probably would have mobilized the South Sudanese to vote for continued unity of the Sudan.

But it seems a speculative point now, as the people voted to create Africa’s newest country, the Republic of South Sudan. It is very rich in oil and has tremendous agricultural riches.

Yet it has always carried within its potentials very worrisome portents. It is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world and after decades of war, its desperately poor people have faced really difficult tasks of

nation building. On the one hand, there was the unresolved border dispute with the Northern neighbour; the economic difficulties of transportation of oil through pipelines in the North; the Abye question; internal insurgencies on both sides of the border which each side claims was being sponsored by the other side and the inter-ethnic rivalries which were being played out within the structures of the SPLM; personality clashes; and the massive corruption, which was beginning to become the talk of town in Juba, even in 2006!

Soldiers of the SPLA were becoming restive even by then, because of allegations of unpaid salaries, while the erstwhile revolutionary fighters were trading military fatigues for smart suits and driving around in fourwheel vehicles on unpaved roads, as the poor people in whose name they had fought and who made tremendous sacrifices, remained in desperate poverty. I always recall with pleasure, that in my trips around Africa, the peoples of South Sudan and the Saharawi, are the most friendly,

accommodating and kind, I ever met, anywhere on our continent.

So when Salva Kirr Mayardit, the South Sudan President appeared on television dressed as a full army general, over a week ago, announcing that he had suppressed a coup, which was allegedly led by former vice president, Dr. Riek Mashar, I knew there was trouble in South Sudan. President Salva Kirr was a brilliant military general whose exploits during the war were legendary. He inherited the mantle of leadership after Garang’s death but he was not, in my view, exactly a good politician. He was a typical soldier, with the military mindset, who has not made a successful transition into the statesmanship which a new country facing enormous challenges like South Sudan requires. On the other hand, there is Dr. Riek Machar, who was always a controversial figure in the war of liberation and was a master of tactical manuvers, which were often very opportunistic, but has always been a great survivor in the quicksand of South Sudan politics.

Each is ambitious and egoistic.

But the irresponsibility, she noted, extends to the followership. A country gets leaders which reflect the state of followership. Nigerians, according to Iyabo Obasanjo, “are people who see conspiracy and self service in everything because…they believe everyone is like them”.

This cruelty at the heart of Nigeria is what its ruling class has foisted on the country and in her words, “Nigeria has descended into a hellish reality where smart, capable people to ‘survive’ and have their daily bread prostrate to imbeciles. Everybody trying to pull everybody else down with greed and selfishness the only trait that gets you anywhere.

Money must be had and money and power is king.

Even the supposed downtrodden agree with this”.

Nigeria is a Hobbesian jungle with the distinction that Iyabo accuses her father of being its architect (and by extension, members of the fraudulent ruling class!). This “fractured state” that is Nigeria is Obasanjo’s legacy, according to the daughter, and that fracture “you created because, it was always your way or the highway ”. In my view, a daughter of the ruling class has provided justification, drawing from the pains of her lived experience, for the Nigerian people, who she has not spared, to find a means to overthrow this fractured state. Because what is on ground today, according to Iyabo, is clearly not sustainable !

The long-expected riposte from Jonathan to Obasanjo finally issued forth. And the point that came to mind was whether it was a fitting riposte or an anti-climax. Jonathan accused his erstwhile godfather of a deceitful manipulation of facts and figures, in the effort to impugn Jonathan’s credibility. He was also reminded of his hypocrisy since Obasanjo was guilty of many of the crimes he accused Jonathan of having committed.

There was a tit-for-tat element to some of the accusations and they really did not illuminate the essential issues of governance, which would benefit Nigerians. Jonathan for example exhumed ghosts from Obasanjo’s past, reminding the old soldier that he was to have been thrown out of the military regime of Murtala Muhammed in the 1970s for corruption and closer to our times, Obasanjo’s part in the Haliburton and Siemen scandals. He went further to quote how Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti cited cases of corruption against Obasanjo.

It is therefore a question of I have my cases of corruption and you have yours; so why cast stones? Amongst thieves, Jonathan was reminding his old boss, there are unspoken rules. Yes we are all bandits, he reminded, let no one pretend to be saintly! Don’t endanger the “Republic of Banditr y ”, otherwise all bandits will suffer dire consequences, when the people, the true owners of the country, wizen up to the wiles of the bandit ruling class.

Jonathan’s riposte is clearly a warning that the ruling class project is being endangered by its leading lights.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 ON Wednesday, November 20, 2013, the House of Representatives passed the second reading of a bunch of bills which, if they eventually become law, may see corruption in Nigeria go right through the roof and drain the nation’s treasury into foreign bank vaults .Sponsored by Hons. Bamidele Faparusi, Udo Ibeji and Emmanuel Jime, the bills seek an act to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. 15 LFN, 2004 to allow public officers to operate bank accounts outside Nigeria and other matters connected thereto.

In simple words, if the bills become law, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal will no longer have the power to punish public officers for operating foreign accounts as they will now be free by law to do so. The promoters of the amendment stand logic on its head by saying that since public officers have continued to operate foreign accounts by proxy due to the ineffectiveness of the extant law, it might as well be thrown open.

We join the throng of well meaning

Agains oreign gainstt the F Foreign Bill

Nigerians, especially lawyers, human rights groups, the media and some of the more conscientious federal legislators to say a loud and emphatic “NO” to this amendment. If the CCB is weak in implementing the law, it should be strengthened. But if the current class of leaders are unwilling to strengthen the Bureau, one day a regime that will be willing to do so will surely come along, and the long arm of the law will still catch up with the offenders.

We live in a world where money laundering and looting of public treasuries are no longer as attractive as they used to be in the primitive past when foreign banks colluded with

corrupt individuals and mafias from around the world to hide dirty money.

Such moneys are, in fact, being returned to the countries from where they were stolen. It will amount to swimming against the tide for our public officers to be permitted to take our money out of the country, even if legitimately.If this amendment passes, it will lead to massive capital flight. It will also open the floodgate for corruption, worsen the unemployment situation and heighten violent crimes and terrorism. The laws must support efforts to ensure that Nigerian money is kept or invested in Nigeria to help in expanding economic opportunities.

The move to pass these bills is evil, unpatriotic and totally against the public interest. These are self-seeking bills that have nothing to do with credible representation. We call on the House and the Senate to kill the bills and focus efforts on strengthening the war on corruption and abuse of power by those elected to represent the ordinary citizens.

OPINION

BY DELE AKINOLA

O

N June 12, 1993, the increasingly conscious people of the world’s most populous black nation, representing themselves in their millions, converged in different parts of the county and held a national conference. With an uncommon spirit, later to resurrect in some distant lands in the form of the Arab Spring, a big, unambiguous, decisive and sweeping resolution was made. In one accord, the message was signed, sealed and delivered by the Ijaw, Fulani, Tiv, Kanuri, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and other compatriots of all religious, political and socio-cultural persuasions. Its expression came in the form of the election, freely made, of a Nigerian citizen, Bashorun MKO Abiola, as the leader of their common choice.

Tributary statements were also, by implication, made: The ordinary and good people of the Giant of Africa, left alone to their free will, would not be swayed by tribe, tongue or religion on national issues. The leadership of the country would not necessarily be a turnby-turn affair, but one of who the people believed in. The decision on who should get the mandate to preside over the nation, its constituent parts and institutions would be the people’s and not that of any group of selfappointed leaders, elders, cabal or mafia.

Whether a serving helmsman should be obliged a further mandate or not would not be decided by any consultative forum, renewal group, regional people’s assembly or firespitting champions of violence. A national conference could hardly have been more sovereign and conclusive.

What was neither sovereign nor inclusive was

If Abiola were Igbo! the criminal annulment of the sacred resolution of the people’s conference by those who were wont to gyrate, like palm wine drinkers, in the heavily-fortified political shrine of unrepentant power terrorists. The consequences of the grievous act, which former American ambassador to the country, Walter Carrington, berated in no ambiguous terms, was immediate, as “nations” which just spoke as one people, started relocating along tribal and religious lines, fears of war looming large in the atmosphere. Else, a people who had already dialogued successfully must dialogue again!

The agitation for a sovereign national conference became intense over the years, not because the teeming people had not already settled the matter, but because dangerous and callously desperate political businessmen would always go mad again. Again and again, it has all been about power, absolute power and nothing but power. The political blood suckers, tragically always whipping up divisive sentiments in their selfish and inordinate quest for power, had succeeded in heating up the political environment such that a national anthem of intoxicating melody titled ‘Sovereign National Conference’ assumed the status of a socio-political sine qua non.

For that purpose, how long would a meaningful and result-oriented national conference last? Would any patriotisminspired resolution of the conference, for instance, allocate the presidency to any group on a platter of gold just because it has been “marginalised”? In what garb would a

people’s conference clad any group of power traffickers who insist that the presidency must, by fire and by force, remain in, rotate or return to their region forthwith? Do rampaging and ubiquitous power merchants disguised as leaders and elders speak for the people of their regions or for their power-greedy selves?

In the words of the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) Yerima Shettima, “the problem of the average northern man is not where the president comes from… What they want is a government that will provide dividends of governance, give them free education, ensure that they have food on their table. It doesn’t matter if the person is a Christian, Muslim, pagan or idol worshipper… If we find a better alternative somewhere other than the North, we will mobilise and support the person.”

That was the spirit and resolution of the national dialogue of June 12! Abiola did not win the 1993 presidential election because it was the “turn” of the South West. Moshood did not win because it was, as a matter feasting over somebody’s dead body, a must for Muslims. Kashimawo did not win because he otherwise would have made the country ungovernable. Olawale did not win because he would have deployed his wealth to cause his Yoruba nation to secede. The symbol of democracy won because he was MKO – the man who millions who believed in him knew him to be.

I

n that gracious spirit, it would be soul-lifting to learn that “Ndigbo have decided to actively participate in providing valuable and

development-based leadership to the country by taking a shot at the presidency and will not look back on this mission.” That is the traditional Igbo ‘nzogbu, nzogbu Enyimba enyi’ spirit. “Our sole purpose is to pursue and realise an Igbo presidency that would give us a sense of belonging in the Nigerian political sphere as critical stake-holders in corporate Nigeria as well as provide the needed leadership that would provide fillip to our national pride.” That is the kind of leadership the country badly needs at the moment.

But it would be spirit-dampening to sniff that “the only way we can ensure equity is to allow (?) an Igbo man to be president.” Mba! The most desirable Igbo man for the Villa is not he who clinches the presidency goal from any such political offside position. “Let we Igbo have our turn first, then we can begin to elect the president on merit.” Mba! Mba! A people that have given the nation such brilliant minds and internationally acclaimed mortals of sterling attributes as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Alex Ekweme, Chinua Achebe, Emeka Anyaoku, Charles Soludo, Dora Akunyili and Ngozi OkonjoIweala cannot be justifiably assumed to lack quality and merit.

But what was it in Abiola, by no means an angel, that made him so acceptable to all?

In the hope that we reaffirm to “go on with one Nigeria,” as enthused by President Goodluck Jonathan and many of his optimistic patriots, the best Igbo citizen for the highest office in the land is the one who personifies the latest version of the MKO political Operating System software.

•Mr. Akinola, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 —19

, E wonder for how long our governance will be left at the level of comic relief. In most of the plays of Shakespeare, there are serious acts and scenes. Inbetween, there are breaks during which jesters are brought on stage to make people laugh and to lighten eyes that are already heavy.

People steal billions of Naira of public money. They hit the headlines in all the media. We debate on our streets and in buses and we laugh. Quite often, probes are set up. Sometimes, probe reports are produced. We debate, we laugh and nothing happens thereafter.

Virtually every body knows that the 2015 elections will be rigged but nobody is doing anything about it. The electoral umpires already have their eyes fixed on it.

After the Anambra debacle, Prof.

Atahiru Jega is asking for one more chance, apparently to be allowed to unleash the final pogrom in 2015. We just laugh and do nothing.

In the past, people were dogmatically tied to their political parties in the name of party

discipline. Even where they saw something manifestly wrong with the steps being taken by their party leaders, they could not speak out for fear of anti-party activities.

But today, things are changing.

President Goodluck Jonathan is being bombarded with “love letters” on every side. Most of these letters come from his party men.

The most ludicrous of them all is the one emanating from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

At his level, one would have expected the Governor to seek necessary clarification from relevant agencies before rushing to write President Jonathan that $49.8 billion oil money was missing, or put in his own language of thievery, “the amount was not accounted for”. And he went ahead to leak the content of his letter to the public.

Psychologists would readily admit that Sanusi’s letter is a Freudian slip in which he is thinking aloud and telling us how much he would have stolen were he in the oil industry.

It serves him right. He looked

,

small and completely deflated when he came face to face with the Finance Minister, Dr. OkonjoIweala and the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Yakubu.

We are not in a hurry to forget that some $10-12 billion, depending on whose story we accept, is still waiting to be reconciled. This is too big an amount to be left hanging for comic relief.

T

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Amiu Waziri Tambuwal, provided his own letter bomb. The summary of that bomb is that Jonathan is too corrupt to fight corruption. After citing all the good examples to buttress his point, including the fact that corruption has become virtually a way of life under this administration, he deposited all the blames at the doorsteps of President Jonathan.

Letter to a new generation (2)

BY FUNMI IYANDA Continues from yesterday

I

OFTEN hear foreigners surprisingly comment that Nigerians are some of the best educated, urbane and confident black people they have ever met, so how come the country is so, well, so so?

One reason staring them in the face is that, the best-educated, urbane and confident elite they delight in meeting has failed us.

The question therefore should be, what is it about the country that makes it impossible for its bright, hard working, resource rich population to organise itself into collective prosperity? What is it that turns some of Nigeria's brightest technocrats into hand wringing, head-scratching incompetents when they achieve power?

You see, Nigeria was founded as an economic proposition to collect and remit resources to the empire, with the British government entrenching a feudal, centralized, western-education-phobic elite in the North and a westernized, JudeoChristian, anglicised elite in the south.

On departure, these elites with their distinct cultural differences but common goal of avarice became the new imperialists.

Imbued with a servitude underpinned by self-loathing and a voracious appetite to mimic their former bosses, they confused westernisation for civilisation and like all counterfeiters concentrated on the surface of things. Thus, to their thinking, the more resources of the land they could coral, the more trappings of the West they could possess and the more civilised they could become.

That unwelcome process continues today.

For this elite, the rest of their kith and kin fill them with unease and even disgust and they condemn them to poverty and a passive consumption of other people’s science, innovations, religions, art and technology

as though such achievements are beyond us.

They also condemn their own children to future poverty not just material but emotional and cultural. Notably the stolen wealth hardly outlives the first generation.

Each time the elite is replaced, it is by a new generation similarly afflicted and culturally insecure with the same desire to fraudulently acquire a large share of the common wealth themselves.

This is self-loathing in action. It is a terminal disease.

Our common humanity and civilisation should be guaranteed by carefully protected, ever evolving structures, systems and processes, which reflect all our highest values and aspirations. Kajola ni Yoruba nwi.

The system designed by the British was to serve the big empire. It was not designed to work for us and never will.

We all know this and every so often the government of the day will propose a state sponsored jamboree to endlessly chew the curd of that vexatious issue of reform, only to artfully spit it out when the people are sufficiently distracted by the increasingly circus-like, mad-max dystopia we are living through.

The dysfunction at Nigeria’s heart remains because it serves the interests of whichever big man muscles or cheats his way into power. (Note; I said man, the system will never allow for a woman, at least not a woman who won’t do the needful.)

But what about the people? What about the youth?

The subtext of Obasanjo’s recent letter to Jonathan is what they used to call two fighting boy and boy in the streets of Shomolu. The people can sense this it is not their fight; they are as disconnected from the elite as the elite are from them.

They know their place is to submit and dream. They want to be the next big cat.

,

Too corrupt to fight corruption W

If Jonathan were to do less of politicking and more of governance; learn to whip his appointees appropriately on line; and bring about visibly improved services to the nation, letter writers and mail runners would soon be put out of business

Nothing could be worse than the fact that pension funds have become the easiest money to steal.

They are now stolen with impunity and Jonathan is doing nothing about that. We only laugh and clap for them. What a comic relief!

If the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, John Bochner, suddenly stumbled into some misdeeds of President Barack Obama, would his first course of action be to rush to CBS, ABC or CNN studios to announce the discovery? Of course, not!

Both in Nigeria and the US, one person most favourably disposed to initiate, or cause to be initiated, any impeachment proceedings against the President, is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Essentially, when Tambuwal was cataloguing the various offences of President Jonathan, a bulk of which are clearly impeachable, he was also indicting himself, perhaps unwittingly, before Nigerians: that he and the National Assembly had failed to perform their functions.

Whenever the President commits an impeachable offence and he is not impeached, there is a cover up, pure and simple. It is like seeing crime and not informing the police.

It takes a thief to catch a thief.

General Matthew Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo has seen it all. In this season of letter writing, he should not be under-rated. That he is guilty of the offences for which he is accusing Jonathan is not a good reason for ignoring his accusation. Rather, it is a good reason to take him very seriously as a man speaking from personal experience, the fact that no one had the effrontery to accuse him when he was committing the crime, notwithstanding.

So what shall we do?

What will the young intellectual elite of today do differently?

A youth cultural revolution of ideology and values perhaps? Jettison the hypocrisy, the pseudo religious, anti women, anti children, anti poor patriarchy. Turn away from the bigotry, the megalomania, and the cultural bravado.

Free yourselves and your future

,

They have no real distaste for those who have stolen their future; often they just want to replace them. The grudging admiration seeping through their envy fuelled whimpers of protest reveals fragile egos easily stroked by association with those who have raped them, then thrown them a bit of Vaseline and warm towels.

T

hey desire to be the ones at the airport with the designer bags and unrecognised accent. The one’s who are gearing up to follow the path of those before them. To flaunt luxuries but live in situations so far removed from the vision of life those luxuries where designed for. When Karl Lagerfeld designs each Chanel bag he

Apparently, Obasanjo needs deliverance. In more civilised climes, such a man cannot be making public utterances. If a man’s family is such that his daughter can be peached against him at will; his son is constantly at loggerheads with him; and there are insinuations that he may have severally slept with his daughterin-law, he should spend more time organising his family instead of running around forming himself into a trade union with other retired Generals. Nothing here, however, vitiates the fact that we still have to leave this bad messenger and accept his message.

Jonathan’s reply also provides the worst example of selective enforcement for which the Obasanjo letter is loud. Surely, the man is pained by the accusation of training killers for the 2015 elections. If out of about twelve charges preferred against him in Obasanjo’s court, he is submitting himself for investigation only on the issue of snipers, that is a tacit acceptance that on other issues, he is guilty as charged.

In all this, Jonathan holds the ace. The Edo State experience under Governor Adams Oshiomhole has shown that superior performance is the only antidote against criticisms. If Jonathan were to do less of politicking and more of governance; learn to whip his appointees appropriately on line; and bring about visibly improved services to the nation, letter writers and mail runners would soon be put out of business.

For Jonathan, students of Latin may have adjudged 2013 annus horribilis, meaning “horrible year”. That’s why he must quickly embrace 2014 as an opportunity for a second, nay final chance!

cannot possibly envisage it may end up in a place where the carrier can be dragged out of a car and raped in daylight with witnesses and no repercussions. Yes that happened. The baubles do not make us civilised, a country built on a political structure that allows the creativity, innovation, and talent of all to thrive does.

Nigeria in 1980 was by no means a perfect place but would my counterpart in Shomolu today have a Mrs. Okoro or such access to public health care?

Let us sound a warning to our "betters," as they push and pull the country one way and another in their hustle; it is untenable, there will be a snapping, one, which no one can predict.

So what shall we do? What will the young intellectual elite of today do differently?

A youth cultural revolution of ideology and values perhaps? Jettison the hypocrisy, the pseudo religious, anti women, anti children, anti poor patriarchy. Turn away from the bigotry, the megalomania, and the cultural bravado. Free yourselves and your future. Speak the truth to power and each other, not just on twitter, to face. Refuse to participate in the racket, the hustle, and the lie. Be better than that which is on offer.

Thatcher, a deeply polarising figure, but outstanding leader once said; “Watch your thoughts for they become words.

Watch your words for they become actions.

Watch your actions for they become habits.

Watch your habits for they become your character.

And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.

What we think, we become. " Start now before you become the company CEO, the minister, the commissioner, the senator. Lead from within and without.

Concluded

**Being the concluding part of excerpts of a keynote address delivered at the ThinkOyo 30under30 Awards on 21/12/13.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

A “

lthough we are now homeless, we still thank God for sparing our lives in 2013 because only the living have hope’’. These were the words of one of the occupants of Nos 34, 35 and 36, Obiora Street, located near Baruwa Bus Stop in ItireIjesha, a densely populated area of Lagos State. Their houses were gutted by fire on Monday, December 30, 2013.

The victims of the disaster are now taking refuge with neighbours and relations.

Trouble started around 1pm that fateful Monday when a spark of fire was first at House 34. On noticing the fire, the

JANUARY 2 , 2014

How midday fire rendered residents of Lagos slum homeless

By BOSE ADELAJA tenants were said to have raised an alarm which attracted neighbours and sympathisers. But their efforts to put off the raging fire failed to yield positive results.

The fire which spread like harmattan wind lasted for about two hours and destroyed property estimated at several

million of Naira. Although no life was lost in the disaster, one person was said to be have been seriously injured.

An occupant of one of the razed buildings, Baala Musa told Vanguard Metro, VM that the fire fighters were not contacted on time apparently due to an alleged poor service by the GSM operators. The inability of the fire fighters to

Commissioner’s wife empowers widows in Lagos

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO WIFE of the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mrs. Abiodun Opeifa has distributed food items to over 500 widows in Agege. She also doled out N50,000 each to to 20 others to start small- scale businesses.

The widows were given 12.5kg bags of rice each, beans and other assorted items to celebrate the Christmas and New Year.

Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, who handed over the money and gift items to the beneficiaries in Agege, charged them not to neglect their small beginning.She appealed to the widows to strive to send their children to school no matter the situation.

Mrs Fashola stated that those children who cannot cope at school should be made to learn vocational skills such as fashion designing, C M Y K

tailoring and barbing, among others.

“My message to the widows is that they should be happy, look up to God, give their children the best of education, give skills to those who don’t want to go further,” she said Speaking, Mrs Opeifa, who is the Executive Director, Hydra Edge Foundation lamented that widows have been ignored and neglected for too long. Mrs Opeifa who said she had the vision to impact positively on widows, said the distribution was the sixth time she was extending the gesture to them (widows). “At the early stage of this project, I was going from church to church, mosque to mosque to canvass for widows having problem. But now, the underprivileged widows are our members. We have also given out deep freezers, grinding machines, sewing machines to widows for business purposes,” she said.

arrive on time led to the spread of the fire to nearby buildings..

The residents, VM gathered, succeeded in reaching the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA which immediately contacted both the State and Federal Fire Services. Their arrival helped to put off the fire which was spreading to other buildings in the neighbourhood.

One of the victims who did not want her names in print, said the fire was caused by the carelessness of one of the occupants. Another resident of the razed buildings, Mr. Akeem Adesola told VM that the fire was aided by the harmattan. This allegation was deflated by the South West Information Officer of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye.

According to Farinloye, the fire was caused by an electrical spark. He advised Nigerians to look out for electrical surges especially during this festive season. One of the victims who pleaded anonymity, said he was caught off guard by the inferno. ‘’We were to travel on that day but the journey was aborted due to lack of funds. I went to my shop to see if I can raise some money when a neighbour

rushed in, shouting for help.

I quickly followed him, not knowing that danger was looming. Before I arrived the scene, the fire had escalated and consumed all my belongings. As I am talking to you now, I am helpless and almost naked. But I thank God for sparing my life,’’ she muttered.

Madam Sade Olalere who was also affected by the fire disaster, said the incident has succeeded in separating her from other members of her family. ‘’The fire was first noticed at No 34. That prompted the occupants to raise an alarm. We all rushed to the scene but as we battled to bring the situation under control, the fire spread to our apartment. Most of my property were consumed before I got there. As I am talking to you, all my credentials have been lost to the inferno. But once there is life, there is hope, ‘’ she managed to say.

An eye witness told VM that fire fighters and emergency agencies were not contacted until the fire had spread uncontrollably to nearby houses. One of those who battled to bring the fire under control was badly injured in the process.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 —21

Managed funds insufficient for industrializing Nigeria — BoI

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

T

HE Bank of Industry, BoI is aggressively seeking offshore funding, especially from the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES, saying the federal government’s interventions fund for real sector development is insufficient to industrialise the country.

In a speech on ‘Industrialising Nigeria through effective financing, the Bank’s Managing Director, Evelyn Oputu, cited the combined pool of N700 billion entrusted to the bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for onward lending to industrial enterprises, “ as grossly insufficient to meeting the need of Nigeria’s industrial sector.”

Represented by Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director Business Development of the Bank, Oputu said it is difficult to mobilise financing locally because of the high interest and financiers are not granting long term finance, hence the bank wants to borrow from the BNDES. She stated that the bank is

BUDGET—Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, presenting 2014 Budget to the Kaduna State House of Assembly in Kaduna, Tuesday. Photo: NAN. aiming towards becoming a self-financing national development finance institution, dfi.

“Industrialising Nigeria doesn’t depend on BoI alone, it depends on governments and other agencies,” she said.

According to her, states

governors have crucial roles to play in the industrialisation of their respective states and this they can do by creating industrial clusters.

“Industrial clusters reduce the problems of Certificate of Occupancy, C of Os; recently, we canceled twelve projects in

Nasarawa state because there were no C of Os,” she disclosed.

However, the total intervention funds being managed by the bank on behalf of the federal and state governments, international development partners and

private sector now stands at about N1.6 trillion.

The breakdown of the cumulative figure are as follow: “CBN N235 billion financing fund for commercial banks, N100 billion cotton, textile and garment fund, N10 billion Rice sector Fund and N16.91 billion National Automotive Council Fund.

Others are $4 million UNIDO Energy programme, $500 million AFDB fund, 500 billion Power\Aviation Fund; N5 billion Dangote Fund, N9.5 billion cement fund as well as N90 million Women Affairs fund.

“No government or development agency would give money to institution if it has been making loses. And they know the funds are secure with us, “she said.

Oputu refuted allegations from some entrepreneurs that without insider connection you cannot get loan from the bank. “You don’t need insider connection; rather, an entrepreneur should have a well packaged bankable proposal before seeking funding support from the bank. The bank insists on collateral for big loans because the money is not mine; it belongs to Nigerians, and if you don’t pay back the loan I’ll sell your house and recover the loan” she explained.

New minimum capital for operators: We consulted widely — SEC

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has reacted to the call by some market operators to suspend the recent minimum capital base for all capital market operators on the premise that it was ill-timed, stressing that it consulted widely with stakeholders before taking the decision to increase the capital base.

The commission stated that the new capital regime is the outcome of a process which commenced in 2010 with the setting up of a technical committee chaired by a former Executive Commissioner, Operations at the SEC. According to a statement signed by Mr. Obi Adindu, Communications Adviser to the Director General, SEC, “The committee featured representatives of the capital market industry trade groups such as the Association of

Stock – broking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON and the Chartered Institute of Stock , CIS ,The new minimum capital regime which was recently announced on the basis of a September 2013 SEC Board decision was a finalization of the work of that industry – wide committee.”

The commission stated that an enhanced capital base for operators in the Nigerian capital markets was long overdue, stressing that it is an inevitable logical step in the industry reform effort being led by the SEC and which has the buy – in of all industry stakeholders.

According to Adindu, “The reform has led to unprecedented market recovery with market capitalization and the All Share Index (ASI) attaining and exceeding the pre 2008 peak global financial meltdown figure, thereby positioning Nigeria within the

top 10 bracket of the world’s best performing capital markets for the third year running.”

Continuing, he said “The new capital requirement is inspired by current international best practice which requires that operators hold capital which is commensurate with the size of risk which they bear in the market place. Indeed the new capital regime, when depreciation in the value of the naira is factored in, merely takes the Nigerian capital market back to the 2004 baseline capital situation. The significant erosion of capital which reduced many Capital Market Operators ,CMOs to hollow shell entities was a vital factor in the flight of investor confidence from the Nigerian market which, in turn, frustrated the market’s recovery for a long time.”

Adindu explained further that the stark realities in the

market underscore the need to migrate to an enhanced capital regime, adding “There are presently 281 registered market operators out of which 250 are active.

20% of this active group controls 80% of total transactions in the market by volume and value. The relationship between transaction volume and value on one hand, and number of operators on the other, makes the Nigerian market a most parlous picture relative to other peer and non peer markets as many more operators chase after fewer businesses (in the Nigerian market).”

111.9

-2.8

2,704.00

-8.00

16.46

-0.02

110.57

-0.64

98.43

-0.86

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.7 STERLING 255.8274 EURO 213.0374 FRANC 173.6057 YEN 1.4739 CFA 0.3042 WAUA 236.9734 RENMINBI 25.5516 RIYAL 41.2467 KRONA 28.5546 SDR 238.2225

155.2 256.6542 213.7259 174.1668 1.4787 0.3142 237.7393 25.6346 41.38 28.6468 238.9925

SELLING 155.7 257.4811 214.4145 174.7279 1.4834 0.3242 238.5052 25.7177 41.5134 28.7391 239.7624

CBN Exchange rate as at 31/12/2013

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2014

Central banks increase holding of Canadian dollar —IMF C

From left: Rislanudeen Muhammmad, (Acting Managing Director); Alhaji Nu’man Barau Danbatta (Chairman, Board of Directors); Aisha Azumi Abraham (Executive Director, Secretariat & Services); Ahmed Yusuf (Executive Director, IT & Operations) and Mr. Gboyega Asabia (Non-Executive Director), all of Unity Bank Plc at the bank’s Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, in Lagos.

ENTRAL banks across the world have increased their holdings of the Canadian dollar despite its depreciation against the United States dollar The International Monetary Fund disclosed this in its latest report on foreign exchange reserves shows official holdings of Canadian dollars rose nearly 2.4 per cent in the third quarter to US$112.5 billion compared to three months earlier.

In fact, the loonie, as it is popular referred to, has seen a 23.5-per-cent boost among 145 reporting countries since the fourth quarter of 2012. It

FDC calls for tight fiscal and monetary policies in 2014 •Faults Budget 2014

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

F

INANCIAL Derivative Company has called for tight fiscal and monetary policy regime in 2014.

In its Bi-Monthly Economic Bulletin for December, the company said, “In line with our expectations, the Nigerian economy ends 2013 with a tight monetary policy stance and somewhat manageable fiscal spending. These policies aided a benign inflation rate, stable exchange rate, and moderate GDP growth rate. With the election year close at hand, we believe monetary and fiscal policy will be more difficult to manage in 2014.

However, the possibility of a downturn in oil prices and the commencement of the US tapering, begs for a tight fiscal and monetary policy stance; fiscal spending is bound to increase astronomically in preparation for the elections. The change in central bank governor and some MPC members is also expected to change the dynamics of monetary policy”.

The company however took a swipe at the federal government’s budget for 2014, saying, contradicts the fiscal strategy adopted in the last two years. The company said, “Aggregate expenditure is estimated at N4.64 trillion, a decrease of 5.69 per cent from

the budget expenditure of N4.92 trillion in 2013. Projected total revenue is N3.73 trillion, 4.11 per cent less than the 2013’s revenue estimates of N3.89 trillion. The decline in aggregate expenditure was attributed to -losses in cleared oil revenue particularly due to oil theft according to the Minister.

“However, and quite surprisingly, the percentage of aggregate expenditure to be spent on capital expenditures decreased from 31.34 per cent in 2013 to 27 per cent in the 2014 budget, while recurrent expenditures increased from 68.66 per cent in 2013 to 73 per cent.

This is contrary to the fiscal strategy adopted over the past 2 years, geared to- wards correcting the lopsided imbalance between recurrent and capital spending. The strategy has succeeded in lowering recur- rent spending from 74.4 per cent in 2011 to 68 per cent in 2013 while raising capital from 25.6 per cent to 32 per cent within the same time span. Capital spending is set to bear the brunt, albeit temporarily, of the projected significant reduction in revenues in 2014 as it is essentially being crowded out by personnel cost which is projected to increase from 1.718 trillion in 2013 to 1.723 trillion in 2014.

“In conclusion, we think it is ironic that a budget themed

-Budget for job creation and inclusive growth? proposes a lower capital expenditure in both real terms and as a percentage of the entire budget knowing that growth would be difficult to come by with less funds channelled to capital expenditure. Revenue shortfalls have been blamed for this and given the gloomy outlook for oil revenues, expenditure plans anchored on just this source of revenue are

clearly unsustainable and efforts to boost non-oil revenue need to be intensified. It is also our opinion that the increasing cost of governance should be critically examined as a matter of expedience and ways to at least put a ceiling on it, fashioned out. Furthermore, the poor budget performance of previous years makes the -job creation? boast of 2014 a hard-sell.”

wasn’t until then that the Canadian dollar started to show up on the radar of the IMF’s Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves (COFER).

It’s not a huge surprise given that Canada was considered a “darling of the global economy,” during the global financial crisis, said Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist at CIBC World Markets.

“Canada is closer than any other developed country to a balanced budget and it is well positioned to take advantage of the recovery in the global economy,” Tal said in an email to Yahoo Canada Finance.

“This has not escaped the attention of central banks that made it very clear that they want to diversify their U.S.dollar holdings. This process will probably will continue in 2014, but a slower pace.”

The IMF’s currency statistics come as the Canadian dollar ends the year down about 7 per cent, at around 94 cents U.S. The loonie pushed above par in early 2011 and bounced between $1.05 and 95 cents U.S. until a few weeks ago. Economists predict the Canadian dollar to fall further in 2014 , to about 90 cents U.S., driven down by a strengthening U.S. economy versus more tepid growth expected in Canada.

The Bank of Canada is forecasting Canada’s gross domestic product to increase by a modest 2.3 per cent in 2014, which is still up from its forecast of 1.6 per cent for 2013.

FirstBank partners OYES to empower 3,000 youths

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n a bid to promote entrepreneurial de velopment and skill acquisition in Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. through its mobile payment solution FirstMonie has successfully empowered 3,000 youths of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) as FirstMonie agents.

The partnership planned as one of the initiatives for curbing unemployment and youth insurgency across the state will amply equip both past and present cadets with sound business acumen, customer service skills and financial management. As a FirstMonie agent, the OYES cadets will be required to educate customers on the steps required to log on to the FirstMonie platform, ensures business location remains open for rendering of Firstmonie Services during normal business hours on all business days as well as maintain sufficient cash and e-money float balances for customers enquiries and need. With the Firstmonie service, which operates a simplified process that requires customer name and mobile telephone number, agents can assist subscribers to perform mobile money account opening, cash deposits and withdrawals, and

bills payments among others from their mobile phones.

According to the Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, with the OYES and FirstMonie partnership, we aim to drive financial inclusion as well as wealth creation by providing opportunities for youths of Osun State to serve as merchants and agents instrumental to deepening financial inclusion campaign through agency banking while leveraging on the FirstBank brand and wide network of branches through its mobile money solution, FirstMonie. FirstBank aims to leverage the widely accepted mobile technology to serve Nigerians with the most innovative financial services by providing banking services to the large segment of the unbanked . “FirstMonie is available to the general public and is initiated by dialing *894# on MTN, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat lines or visiting https:/ /www.firstmonie.com/iweb .and following the prompts,” she added. It would be recalled that the Bank upgraded its FirstMonie App to facilitate faster access to the Firstmonie account directly from subscribers’ handheld devices.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2014 — 23

How to make Tinapa work — Frank Umeh

By INNOCENT ANABA

M

r. Frank Umeh is an expert in free zone logistics, custom affairs, export trade development, international trade and human resource management.

In this interview, he offered insights into how to make Tinapa the export and import hub like the free trade zones in Dubai and China. Excerpt:

import and export activities; wholesalers and retailers.

And the law also said it is a large proportion of the target market for Tinapa free zone currently imports their goods from Europe, Asia, Middle East and it is expected that the volume within the Tinapa free zone will provide a large enough market to serve the needs of this target market which will necessarily result in substantial foreign exchange savings in travel expenses and hotel accommodation costs.

The purpose of this legal provision is to help in stopping the scarce foreign exchange that leaves the country on daily basis. Now you have the opportunity of coming to Tinapa and giving value to our naira; the travel expenses paid to foreign airlines for international flights and hotel accommodation abroad will no longer be necessary, you do everything in-house. The say charity begins at home; Tinapa is an opportunity for us to look inwards and see how we can do things, give value to our own currency, give value to our own tourism industry, give value to our own local market among other things.

The success of Tinapa would be anchored on trade. Tinapa is a business and leisure resort. Though business and leisure will go simultaneously but trade should be the catalyst to drive Tinapa’s growth. So, in talking about the success of the project, I will say that the management of Tinapa should focus more on how to promote trade. And when you talk about trade, you look at the inflow and the outflow. The inflow will look into the

Mr. Frank Umeh

logistics, it will look into the warehousing, it will look into transportation, and it will look into the sales within the zone.

Those factors are necessary for particular goods inflow.

A

MCON is said to be shopping for a new management for Tinapa, what is your take on this?

I think it will be in the interest of AMCON to manage Tinapa on interim basis. They should stabilize the entire system and set standard before they hand it over to a private operator. They should appoint board members with requisite experience and professional background to manage Tinapa. The temptation of private operator pushing to its limit and the regulatory agencies truncating the entire system anytime it pleases them can only be forestalled through a controlled management. The Tinapa business plan can only work where it is set as an economic experience for the benefit of the society rather than a profit generating framework per se.

What exactly is the problem with Tinapa? Why has it not succeeded to the level it ought to?

I’ve been talking about trade activation fund for Tinapa, that Tinapa needs trade activation fund because our understanding is that trade is or should be the anchor point of the success of Tinapa. It is learnt that the new owners of Tinapa, which is AMCON has said that they are going to inject some fund into Tinapa.

I think that is a welcome development and I pray that the fund is utilized on trade

,

What is your take on Tinapa?

Like I’ve said umpteenth time, Tinapa is a good concept. It is designed in the same fashion like Dubai free trade zone. Tinapa free trade zone is meant to create not only wealth and employment but also drive Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Tinapa has its own competitive advantage over other areas doing business in Nigeria. Its operational framework is articulated in a valid and gazetted law in Nigeria, which is the Tinapa Gazette.

In the law, Tinapa’s target market category is amply stated. The law of Tinapa considers Nigerian business community comprising traders involved in

If Tinapa is properly utilised, I don’t see how Nigerians can still be going to Dubai or China or wherever it is to go and import goods

,

or that trade gets attention when the fund is injected. If Tinapa could have adequate funding for trade and it is properly utilised, I don’t see how Nigerians can still be going to Dubai or China or

wherever it is to go and import goods. Nigerians would naturally come to Tinapa to buy those goods or import it just like any other importation they do through any of the Nigerian ports. But this time around, they can import any quantity of their needs as against going to import 100 containers to pack in their warehouses. In this case, they can simply come and take the quantity they want, pay necessary duty where required and take the goods to where they reside or where they do their business.

So, Tinapa does not really have a problem but the new owner should imbibe the passion of the visioners of Tinapa and ensure it succeeds. Whoever they pick to manage Tinapa should have the passion and drive to see the place achieve its fundamental objective. What Tinapa needs is proper funding and if this is done, one can confidently say that better days are ahead.

What role should the Nigerian Customs Service play to ensure the success of Tinapa?

Recently, there has been a little problem between the Customs and investors or businessmen at Tinapa. But I know that about two years ago when the Comptroller General of the Customs visited the zone, he made a very good suggestion that the zone management and Customs command both from where goods are being transited to the zone and the area should have an interactive forum with the support of NEPZA which is a regulatory agency for the free zone. He said that they should be meeting regularly to balance the law as against the policy of government; to educate each other and be able to resolve areas of conflict that may be generated as a result information flow. I don’t whether that interaction as suggested by the Comptroller

General was followed up, maybe as a result of several changes that have gone on in Customs. So, that idea of interaction between bodies didn’t take place; there has been a lot of information gap that has resulted in the problem that Tinapa is going through now.

I think if they could come together and try to build information flow among themselves, they will have a better relationship. Tinapa is in a territory and there is a Customs Area Command that manages Tinapa, if there is any shortfall in that management the Customs command has all mechanism to send in reinforcement to see that it operates in line with the provision stated in the gazette.

The zone management will also do its own part, same with the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA).

To me, the recurrent issues going on between Customs and Tinapa could not be said to have occurred because there was no Customs command to manage the zone.

I’m not in paramilitary service; I’m not in Customs but they have all the mechanism to manage it and block any loophole which might have been exploited.

Naturally, businessmen may want to take an opportunity but the Customs is there; the Customs is in all the borders of Nigeria and the idea of being there is to regulate the inflow of goods in line with what the law says. So, let them not sit back on Tinapa, they should engage Tinapa, bring in their full apparatus and establish necessary departments or offices and work with the zone management to ensure that the vision of Tinapa is realised. I do not think that the idea of shutting down Tinapa on account of misinformation should be the best way to go.

Smugglers are out to kill local poultry industries — Customs

By UDEME CLEMENT

S

“

mugglers who often bring in poultry products illegally despite restriction on such items are out to kill local industries producing similar goods within the country,” said Oteri Richard, Customs Area Controller Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service. He made this observation during the destruction of 16,480 cartons of frozen products with a market value of over N105.3million, at a dump site in Ibadan.

“I am using this opportunity to warn Nigerians that consumption of imported frozen poultry products is injurious to health as hazardous chemicals are used in preservation of those items, even as this illicit trade destroys our local economy. Genuine importers and exports within the Command should come for the support of the Service in facilitating

legitimate trade to enhance economic growth and development, “he said.

He explained that the goods destroyed were intercepted at separate operations within the Command. The first was seizure of 300 cartons of frozen products with a duty paid value of N1.8million, intercepted along Lagos/ Ife expressway, which were destroyed along with 400 bags of rice, granted approval from the Service headquarters in Abuja. The second operation was interception of 16,180 cartons of frozen poultry products with duty paid value of N103.5million, at Orile Ilugun in Ido area of the Command.

“Smuggling poultry products that are also produced here by local farmers are not good for our economy. We are warning smugglers to desist from illegality and allow sanity in our economic environment, because we would not hesitate to enforce the law accordingly.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

UK, Nigeria firms partner to secure Lagos anchorage for vessels

BY GODWIN ORITSE & VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

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N a bid to checkmate the menace of piracy, a United Kingdom firm Secure Anchorage Area (SAA), in collaboration with a Nigerian shipping firm Ocean Marine security have created a partnership that will provide a secured anchorage for vessels in the nation’s waters.

Speaking at the launch of a secure anchorage area offshore Lagos, SAA’s Operations Director, Sven Hanson said that the anchorage area which is located c.10 nautical miles (NM) south west from the entrance to Lagos Port Channel.

Hanson said that the was conceptualized to provide 24/7 protection for vessels, otherwise vulnerable to attack, waiting to berth or conducting ship to ship (STS) operations offshore Lagos.

Under this arrangement, which enjoys strong supports from the U.K and Nigerian governments is expected to offer a protection solution to both domestic and international shipping companies that need protection from piracy.

He stated SAA has been providing protection for offshore access and client

vessels in the Niger-Delta before now but only extended its services to offshore Lagos.

He explained that the arrangement is such that

there are dedicated Nigerian Navy patrol Boats with mounted weapons, capable of enforcing a 200 Nautical Miles maritime Exclusion Zone.

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HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday said the UK Hydrographic Office had commenced the process of charting the Lekki Deep Seaport Area.

The NPA Assistant General Manager, Hydro and Dredging, Mr Olumide Omotoso, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Omotosho said that NPA had sent details of the Lekki deep seaport to the UK Hydrographic Office for the information to be reflected on the world chart for sea-going vessels.

“The first thing is for the seaport to appear in a chart so that when navigators see the location and position, they can begin to ask questions about it,” he said.

He said that the UK hydrographic office was

increase trading activities in country.

“The most interesting here is that the Nigeria Navy Patrol Boats ensure all potential threats are

VISIT: From left: Mr. Willy Egbudin, Customs Area Comptroller, Seme border Command and Comptroller Odupeyin Rasheed of Nigeria Immigration, Seme Border during a familiarisation tour of the command .

Nigeria, Benin Customs collaborate on regional security

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

C

USTOMS Area Controller, (CAC), of Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Willy Egbudin has called for the cooperation of the authorities of Benin Republic to help ensure

regional security.

Making the call at Krake Border, Egbudin while paying a courtesy call on the Receveur (Head of) Benin Customs, Colonel Lucie Afoudah and the Commissaire de Police Seme Krake Plage, Alhaji Waidi Akodjenou, stressed the need for cooperation.

UK Hydrographic Office begins charting of Lekki Deep Seaport — NPA

BY GODWIN ORITSE with agency report

Also speaking in similar vein Managing Director of SAA, Mr. Nick Dixon assured that effective security solution, will bring succor to ship owners and

handling the charting of the seaport because it was the charting authority over the West Coast waters in Nigeria and West Africa.

“The process of charting the port area is going on in the UK hydrographic office because we have sent the necessary details to them to be put on the world chart.

“With the work in progress, the port is likely to take off operations in 2014,” Omotoso said.

He said that on completion of the seaport and commencement of its operations, vessels would be saved the problem of delays, while more economic activities would be attracted.

“The advantage of the deep seaport is that the Turn Around Time for vessels will be quicker; maintenance and dredging will be limited because the port is sitting right on a deep sea.

“This development can

attract the biggest vessels in the world and it is going to bring in more economic activities, more revenue and more employment opportunities,” Omotoso said.

He said the NPA was considering introducing penalties for owners of vessels that constituted wrecks in the nation’s water channels and harbour.

Omotoso said this became necessary because some vessel owners did not care to remove their vessels from the ports when the vessels developed problems.

The general manager said that when such vessels became derelict, the NPA spent huge sum of money to salvage them.

“Since the NPA is spending so much money to salvage derelicts, it is better now that we are proactively looking at penalties that will keep such vessels at bay,” he said.

The CAC reminded his Beninese counterpart that Customs all over the world are evolving new ways and better techniques aimed at making international trade flow with ease and ensure national and regional security through enhanced anti smuggling procedure.

He stressed the need for proper transit of imported vehicles destined to Nigeria as a means of suppressing smuggling and boosting revenue collection.

He added that the visit was intended to consolidate on the existing inter customs cooperation between the Customs administration of Nigeria and the Beninese Counterpart with a reminder that vigilance from both ends promotes national security of the two neighbouring countries of Nigeria and Benin.

A statement signed by the Command’s Public Relation Officer, Olottah Ernest, stated that the CAC said, ‘’Our modernization drive in Nigeria Customs Service is in full gear as our Comptroller General, Abdullahi Dikko Inde CFR has shown unprecedented commitment in manpower training, motivation, provision of logistics and high improvement in ecustoms aimed at reducing human contacts and saving time in the clearance process. ‘’As customs officers we have national and moral

responsibilities to ensure that trans border traders using the land frontiers under our watch gets the best of support and protection while transacting their businesses and traveling through our operational areas. ‘’Though our fiscal,import and export policies may differ, the international connecting roles of both customs administration cannot be downplayed while from both ends we must not lose sight of sustaining and improving regional security by intensifying our vigilance against smuggling of arms, ammunition, unlawful drugs and other items out rightly prohibited.’’

Egbudin also said that Nigeria and Benin are sister countries whose Customs have keyed into the international unity between both countries.

Responding, Colonel Lucie Afoudah thanked Egbudin for the visit and assured him of the continuous cooperation of his command with Seme Customs Command, especially in the proper transit of imported vehicles destined to Nigeria.

He added that the cooperation shared at our level is flowing from the top as the Customs leadership of both countries have set good examples for all subordinates to emulate.

neutalised a significant distance away from where the clients of SAA are securely anchored.”

Although SAA’s is a private sector that is offering a viable maritime security solution to vessels owners, it requires the assistance of the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders from the oil and gas and shipping industries to ensure that pirates are prevented from getting into vessels, in addition to solving the problem of piracy, which has been existing in the Gulf of Guinea for over 30 years.

“SAA is a private sector that is offering a security service with the Nigeria Navy and others. A lot of commercial vessels at present are entering Nigerian waters to get their place of berth, but they are told that their place of berth is not available and they have to take the risk of returning to a 150 nautical miles offshore and drift for maybe two weeks until the place becomes available.

So what we have done is to secure a 24/7 safe anchorage area nearer vessels place of berth to ensure safety and minimal risk to the environment in the event of spillage from transfer of hazardous cargo from one platform to another. There is also the need to protect underwater cabling and gas pipeline, etc, which are all vital to ensuring the social and economic stability of Nigeria and her people”, Nick Dixon said.

Similarly, Chairman, Ocean Marine Security, Dr. Idahosa Okunbo, appeared to be delighted with the whole arrangement.

His words, “This is one of our visions for the maritime safety of the Gulf of Guinea of which ocean marine security has been a part of for the past 7 to 8 years. We have ensured security of platforms in the Niger Delta area, and worked with major stakeholders to secure oil access, but today, we are partnering with an international company to realize our vision of making the Lagos area, which has started to meet various piracy activities, experience a new dawn in the maritime safety environment.”

Although, Dr. Okunbo is guaranteeing safety of vessels within designated anchorage area in the Lagos maritime, he quickly warns vessels operators against drifting to other areas.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 — 25

* From right: Professor Tolulope Akinbogun, Deputy ViceChancellor, Development; Professor Adebiyi Daramola, ViceChancellor; Dr. Modupe Ajayi, Registrar; Dr. Femi Oguntuase, Librarian; Rev A. Adeyi, Chaplain and the FUTA choral group during the 2013 Christmas Carol Service of the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

EDUCATION IN 2014:

A silver lining?

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

E

VEN the brightest minds in the country would never have guessed that 50% of the academic calendar of Nigerian universities would be lost in 2013. Research and investigations would not have been able to reveal beforehand the loss of lives in Northern schools, the results of the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examinations, the abysmal performance of students in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations or the limited admission spaces akin to the passage of a donkey through the eye of a needle. However, investigations carried out by Van-

guard Learning present a calculated guess of what the education sector might look like in 2014.

Projections based on budgetary allocation

E

ducation garners about N493.4bn, 10.7% of the N4.6 trn budget with 373.4bn for recurrent expenditure, which is about 15.4% of the total amount for recurrent expenditure and capital expenditure estimated at 120bn. Is this inching closer to the 26% stipulated allocation for education

by UNESCO? Not as much as experts would like.

These estimations imply that over 75% of the budget would be spent on running already existing structures in

UNICAL hosts Pan-African universities debate championship ——Page Page27 27 2013 C M Y K

the sector, such as paying of salaries, running administration costs etc. With less than 25% on innovative projects and investments, the 2.1% increase from last year’s allocation might make barely a dent on the sector.

More strikes in the New Year?

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eedless to say, the year 2013 was wrought with strikes in the education sector. The doyen of all strikes, embarked upon by the Academic Staff Unions of Universities, ASUU, went on for nearly six months before it was called off. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, was on strike for 81 days. Although

the ASUP strike was suspended in July, the Federal government failed to tackle relevant issues within the one-month time frame given by the union.

Although ASUP suspended its 81day-old nationwide strike in July, stakeholders in the sector have expressed concern that members of the union may, again, down their tools after the one-month time frame given to the Federal Government to tackle relevant issues. ASUP had embarked on a nation-wide strike on April 29, 2013, to press government to address among other things: the need for constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, the migration of the lower cadre on CONTISS 15 salary scale, the release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics, the worrisome state of stateowned Polytechnics in the country, the continued appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Technologies by some state governments, as well as the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics, among others.

In the light of these, another strike might be simmering beneath ASUP’s

Continues on page 26

UNESCO nominates Port Bridging the digital Harcourt for 2014 World divide between Africa Book Centre and developed world — Page 28

— Page 34

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Continues from page 25 exterior, especially considering the progress made as a result of ASUU’s refusal to budge.

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, also shows some signs of embarking on some sort of industrial action in 2014. It would be recalled that COEASU embarked on a seven day warning strike in September 2013 as a result of the Federal Government’s refusal to honour an agreement made with the union in 2010.

Speaking to Vanguard Learningon the issue immediately after the strike, the Vice President of the union, Mr. Smark Olugbeko that some of the features of the agreement include addressing the infrastructural deficit in Colleges of Education as well as the peculiar academic allowances to the tune of N5bn which the lecturers have not been paid.

Another warning strike that might go full-fledged in 2014 is that of the Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN. In November 2013, ASCSN in the Federal ministry of education including the federal headquarters of the ministry, inspectorate departments, and the 104 Federal Unity colleges nationwide embarked on a four day warning strike over government’s alleged refusal to implement an agreement between the FG and labour members’ conditions of service among others.

Education in 2014: A silver lining? will be used to meet genuine revitalisation needs of public universities with strict and disciplined supervision of the implementation processes by the universities themselves.

ASUU also expects the monitoring committee to conclude, within a short time, the verification of the level of implementation of the Earned Academic Allowances and that government should also, as agreed, provide fund for the payment of outstanding balance. It also expects government to act quickly to engage the services of the universities in special consulting services as contained in the resolution.

The ASUU Chairman, Dr. Nassir Isa Faggae told newsmen: “What we believe is that if the Federal Government faithfully implements the resolutions with ASUU, with students and parents playing their essential roles, further crises would be avoided to the benefit of our education and

our country.”

The Presidency, in its immediate reaction through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Communication, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said: “It is a great relief to parents and students that ASUU has called off the strike because the students have suffered so much. Government, on its part, will honour its word by implementing the agreement.”

The sanity of entire university education system in 2014 hangs on the integrity of this single statement.

Between an over loaded calendar and admission crisis

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ot every student wait ed home for six months for ASUU to resume academic activities. Some simply switched to the private sector while others traveled abroad in search of a more

stable academic journey.

But in the midst of this migration, over 1.7 million students battled for 700,000 admission spaces in the nation’s tertiary institution. Even before the strike was called off, Jambites, thankful to get admission albeit into an unstable sector, trooped to begin their registration on campus.

However, as a result of the strike, many universities will be in a rush to finish the incumbent academic calendar to make room for the new students.

The eight new universities have not yet begun to make a mark in solving the admission palaver. A new education minister is yet to be sworn into office since the sack of Prof. Ruqquayatu Rufa’I, and Nigeria still has the highest number of out-of-school-children in the world - 10.5 million. That is 10.5 million reasons why the country may not achieve education for all by 2015.

Vanguard Learning sought

the views of some educationists on their expectations for the sector in the New Year.

Pointing out that 2013 was filled with trainings and retrainings for teachers in public schools, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board Chairperson, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu, said she looks forward to more commitment and focus from all stakeholders to make the sector better.

“It would be appreciated if more money is devoted and utilized in the education sector so as to impact positively on all. Also, I hope to see more improvements in the trainings and welfare of teachers who impact knowledge to the students.”

For the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, 2013 was remarkable, especially with the progress recorded in the WAEC results of students in Lagos State.

“2014 can be better if only the Federal Government can replicate what the Lagos State government is doing in the education sector.”

Implementation of 2013 MoU

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SUU President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, said the union decided to call off the strike after diligent and careful appraisal of various report, especially the resolutions signed by ASUU and the Federal Government.

ASUU also highlighted the remaining areas in the 2009 agreement, which require policy and legislative steps for the challenges facing the system to be effectively addressed and expressed hope that the provisions of the extant agreements for revitalisation of the university system will immediately focus on these needs. They include government’s faithful implementation of the resolutions reached and signed, even as it vowed to work assiduously for the revitalisation of Nigerian universities where students and parents will begin to see the fruits of the struggle.

ASUU expects that the revitalisation funds for the next five years will be provided as agreed in the resolutions, while the implementation monitoring committee will ensure that funds released

*Students from eight Lagos State primary and secondary schools in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area on a Patrol and Peer Education Project, under the Lagos School Safety and Advocacy Programme, learning how to use the Zebra crossing at Maryland area of Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Students urged to imbibe technical education to patch up skills-gap

By DAYO ADESULU

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s skills-gap widens by theoretical education in the Nigerian education sector, students have been urged to resort to technical education to patch up skillsgap.

Speaking recently in a press briefing held in Lagos, where attention was centred on ‘Understanding the Need for Innovation Institution' Mrs. Ngozi Odoh, Director PIIT, acknowledged that globally, the driving force of

the economy is known to be Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

"Presently, everything is going computer based, technical, digital, and from phone to android and ipads" she said.

She explained that when we talk about ICT we have three broad things in mind which involves to connect using network infrastructure like Cisco, to innovate: looking at ICT skills development and to transform which draws on

the use of ICT applications in specific sectors and contexts which institution has narrowed down into software and hardware as areas of skills acquisition.

Odoh said: “Students who studied professional courses like Engineering in tertiary institutions basically come out with theoretical knowledge with no emphasis on practical and technical aspects of the courses.

"This leaves a skill gap (which most times makes

them unemployable or)when these people are employed.

“However we want them to (put in and) acquire in depth technical and hands-on training to equip them to be able to do that course better and this gives them leverage by the time they go into the industry.

Speaking further, she noted that PIIT covers multi disciplinary areas that will prepare learners for jobs in most industries with curricula that are in modules of employable skills.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 — 27

F

rom Botswana in South Africa, to Ghana in West Africa; From Cameroon in the Central Africa to Tanzania, came more than 200 African youths from 23 African Universities to Nigeria for the Pan African Universities Debate Championship (PAUDC) 2013, hosted by University of Calabar (Unical). Emmanuel Shebbs (Unical), reports.

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he Pan-African Universities Debate Championship (PAUDC) 2013, which was hosted by University of Calabar, has ended on a high note following a 12-round debate competition which featured more than 200 debaters from 23 universities across Africa.

According to the Chairman, PAUDC Council, Kgosi Moremong, from Botswana, “this is the 6th PAUDC. It started from southern Africa which took the first hosting.”

Speaking to Vanguard Quadlife, Moremong, a final year student of University of Botswana, said “the essence of the PAUDC is to create a platform for Nigerian youths to come together to debate on topical issues in Africa.

Founded six years ago, it is aimed at creating a series of innovative and critical thinking that will promote healthy debating spirit in the minds of African youths.

“In Africa, there has been that character of not getting to challenge each others’ views. But this time, we want to build up the spirit of tolerance in the minds of African youths by making them engage in intellectual debating to forecast solutions to African challenges. PAUDC is also aimed at unifying African youths under one umbrella, having the ability to tolerate each others’ cultural differences.”

Theme “Conflict, Insecurity and Good Governance in Africa”, the event started with an opening ceremony held in the Senate Chamber of University of Calabar. The Chairman and the Chief Host of the PAUDC, Prof. James Epoke, who is the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, welcomed the participants from various countries in Africa.

He thanked God for granting them journey mercies. He equally encouraged them to summon up with the spirit of debate and be courageous because “every participant is a winner”.

The Convener of the event and also the Chairman Unical Senate Committee on Debate Prof. Eze Bassey told Vanguard Quadlife that “PAUDC 2013 is an African event which is meant for the youths and young minds. It provides an opportunity for young people to reason together, establish social relationships and learn from each other.

The debate competition went hand-in-hand with public speaking competitions.

The adjudicator, public speaking Mokagbo Thobega told Campuslife that the session was needful “to develop African orators and speech presenters. We learn from each other and explore better C M Y K

UNICAL hosts Pan-African universities debate knowledge on stage presentation.

After the first three days of serial debate, there was a debate-free day which was meant for excursion. The participants went for tour at different tourist sites in Calabar like the Marina Resort, Tinapa etc. They were exposed to different ancient artefacts, reflective of the true African heritages which were housed in the Calabar’s Marina Resort.

The debate resumed with the semi-final round which held at Main Bowl of the University of Calabar Conference Center which saw University of Botswana, Tshwane University of Technology and

University of Cape Town, South Africa move to the Grand Finale.

Giving his speech during the closing ceremony, the convener of the event, Prof. Eze, said “one thing we should go home with is the unity of African students. Young Africans must be united. PAUDC must be united to help the fight against parochialism, favouritism, partiality and ethnicity in Africa. We have really showed that we have such a good identity of unity in Africa."

Encouraging the schools that could not make it to the finals, Eze said: “those that watched the finals will admit that we saw debating in an in-

tellectual height. Those that lost out should look out for their shortcomings and make it up for next year.”

He urged the 2014 host country to learn from the mistakes which they have seen in the 2013 edition hosted by Nigeria and do better.

Prof. Eze equally used the occasion to introduce the trophies to be won and maintained that they were redeemable at $1000 for the first prize, $500 and $250 for the second and third prizes respectively.

Also speaking, Moremong who is the Chairman of PAUDC council, encouraged all the other countries to sit up and prepare for the 2014

edition of the event.

He urged everyone to appreciate the great impacts debating is making in the lives of youths and undergraduates.

The highlight of the occasion was a cultural performance by the University of Calabar performing artists.

Awards were given out for the Best Speakers, Best Adjudicators, Best Public Speech Presenters, Best adjudicators for Public Speaking and Champion of the PAUDC, 2013.

Certificates were issued to various participating universities through their representatives and also to the various officials of the PAUDC 2013.

*Participants at the grand finale of the PAUDC championships

*Pupils of Anchor Springfield School, Itele choreograhing during the school's 2013 Xmas concert/end of year party

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

JCI holds sports moment

By WALE BAKARE, Unilorin THE Junior Chamber International (JCI), University of Ilorin Chapter has organized a sporting competition for all humanity serving organisations in the school. The oneday event was held recently at the faculty of Law pitch.

According to the JCI President, Okunade Lukman, the competition was put together to foster the spirit of unity and

love among students’ organisations that engage in humanitarian services on and off campus.

He said “I want to encourage students to get themselves involved in extra-curricular activities by joining organisations that are willing to serve humanity all the times, because that is the best work to do in life.”

Organisations that participated in the competition include JCI, Rotaract Club, Leo

Club, AISIEC, Red Cross and Achievers Club. They competed in different games that include football, chess, scrabble and ludo.

The competition started with a football match between JCI and AISIEC and ended 1-0 in favour of JCI. At the end of the games, JCI emerged champion in the football event by defeating Red Cross in the final. AISIEC came first in scrabble, with JCI settling for the second position.

Rotaract Club clinched the gold medal in the ludo event, while AISIEC got the silver medal. AISIEC and JCI emerged first and runners-up respectively in chess. Medals were presented to the representatives of the winning organisations.

In his remark, President of the Rotaract Club, Unilorin Chapter, Taofeek Adeyefa thanked the organizer of the event and urged members of the public to always support and encouraged bodies that engage in humanitarian services.

OAU resumes January 5

By DHIKRU AKINOLA

T

he senate of the Obafe mi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, after its sitting on Monday, 23rd December, 2013 have announced Sunday, 5th January, 2014 as resumption date.

A release by the institution public relations officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that academic activities for the 2012/2013 rain semester will commence immediately on Monday, 6th January, 2014. Consequently, students of the university are expected to come into residence on 5th January as lectures will commence immediately on 6th January, 2014.

Another f eather to Alao’s cap

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*Winners of the just-concluded JCI sports competition.

UNESCO nominates Port Harcourt for 2014 World Book Centre

By DAYO ADESULU

T

he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, has nominated Port Harcourt for its World Book Centre in 2014.

According the Port Harcourt WBC Project Director and Founder, Rainbow Book Club, Mrs. Koko Kolango, the purpose is to leverage on chances for improvement in literacy rates, reading habits of youth in Nigeria and Africa.

By this nomination, Port Harcourt would host the UNESCO World Book Capital (WBC) from April 23rd 2014 to April 22nd 2015.

Kolango said "Port Harcourt was nominated after the Selection Committee (by Public Bid) made up of UNESCO representatives as well as the International Publishers Association(IPAUIE), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions C M Y K

(IFLA) and IBF acknowledged the best programme dedicated to books and reading Rivers State."

According to her, the selection was basically on account of the quality of its education programme that focuses on youth and for impacting on improving Nigeria’s culture of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy rates.

"Come April 23rd (UN World Book and Copyright Day) 2014 the current World book Capital (2013-Bangkok) will formally handover to Port Harcourt.

"The Rainbow Book Club, implementers of the initiative, has designed the year long activities of the PH WBC to enlist stakeholders in the book industry (writers, publishers, booksellers, librarians, readers) and the general public to improve literacy rates and reading

habits of the people in PH, Nigeria and indeed subSaharan Africa.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Koko Kolango, in a press briefing held in Ikoyi- Lagos, said it was a prayer answered to revamp the pitiable Nigeria’s Education and Literacy Statistics adding, the lowest literacy rate worldwide is found in sub-Saharan Africa, South and West Asia.

She added that many primary school leavers have very limited reading and writing capabilities, stressing that the youths, which comprise 70% of the nation’s population are target of the PH WBC 2014 programmes.

Her words: "Coming up after the week long opening ceremony which include a reading with the Nigerian President, an international literature exhibition, opening of the PH Book Centre (planned as literacy hub for the city), it will follow by Reading Tree (RT)."

Kolango explained that the Reading Tree (RT) - Primary Schools students from 50 schools will participate in the RT weekly.

"The activities will include carefully selected books ranging from timeless classics to African folk tales."

According to her, as children ascend the reading tree, they will be rewarded adding that weekly boy clubs will run alongside to compliment the RT. Further, in the Walking Book, Junior Secondary School students from Unity Schools across the 6 geopolitical zones in the country she stated will be engaged in writing a chapter each of a book.

The book will be edited, published (in electronic and hard copy) and made available for sale before the end of the PH World Book Capita tenure.

ess than three months after the President of the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), University of Ilorin, Mr. Alao Idris, fondly called ‘observation’, was placed on the university’s website as the second runner up in a national essay competition organized by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), the Glorious Islamic Centre, Lagos, has found him worthy of being an award winner.

In an essay contest keenly contested by 136 entrants that cut across primary, secondary and tertiary categories, Idris was declared 3rd prize winner of the essay competition which bordered on the contribution of Islam to the development of modern day medicine.

From his very first year in the university, Idris has set himself apart for scholarship and research-oriented venture which have won him awards and prizes including the much coveted University of Ilorin scholarship he enjoys.

As the president of Campus Journalists, Alao is endowed with the leadership skills with which he drives members and makes them do assigned jobs and where they fail, he does it himself.

When contacted, the elated Idris expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for crowning his efforts and dedicated the award to all members of the union of campus journalists who have served as supporting pillars for him and to all students of the University.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—29

Committee on schools’ calendar, curriculum harmonization submits report

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

*From left: Mrs Veronica Ebinum, Director, Prime Innovation Institute of Technology (PIIT); Mr. Adesodun Akindele,MD Billoptions (Media Partner) and Mrs Ngozi Odoh, Director, PIIT at the media briefing of Prime Innovation Institute of Technology (PIIT), in Lagos.

THE Standing Committee inaugurated by the Lagos State Government on the harmonization of Schools’ Calendar, examinations and curriculum has submitted its recommendations.

Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, who led other members of the committee to submit its report to the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, appreciated the efforts of the state government in harmonizing schools’ calendar and curriculum and further pledged to work with the government in ensuring that the disparity between private and public schools is reduced to the barest minimum.

She noted that the inauguration of the committee represents another first of the so many firsts being recorded by the state government in its efforts to move the education sector forward and indeed thanked government for the rare opportunity given to serve.

Ogunsanya also promised to assist the teachers in public schools by availing them of any the opportunity of any seminars and workshops that will train them on the best classroom practices.

Responding, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye commended members of the Committee for job well done adding that she had no doubt whatsoever that they would deliver on the assignment given to them.

She promised to study the recommendations and ensure that a strategy is fashioned out on how to execute their various recommendations.

The standing committee was set up on the 25th of October 2003 with the terms of reference of looking into the harmonization of schools’ calendar, curriculum and the Basic Education Certificate examination for public and private Schools in the State.

The Committee is made up of representatives of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPSS), Catholic, Ansarud –Deen, Redeemed, League of Muslim Schools (LEMMPS), Association of International Schools in Nigeria (AISEN), Association of Private School Owners (APSO), Methodist Baptist Association of Formidable Educational Developments (AFED) as well as the Nigerian Union of Teachers and Officials of the State Ministry of Education and Office of Special Adviser on Education with Dr. Femi Ogunsanya as its Chairman.

Scholarship BOF Doctoral Scholarships for candidates from developing countries, 2014 University of Ghent is offering doctoral scholarships in Belgium. Scholarships are awarded to PhD students from developing countries who wish to carry out their PhD research at Ghent University.

Half of the PhD research is carried out in the university and half in a developing country (home country). For the remaining part of PhD Research student must prove that they will be financed at their home country (e.g. local scholarship or salary).

The scholarship is offered for 24 months and will be divided into several periods within a

C M Y K

span of 4 years.

Students are advised to stay for long periods in Ghent (e.g. 1 year). Application should be submitted till March 4, 2014.

No restrictions are imposed on the field of research, nevertheless preference will be given to topics that are relevant for development.

Relevance for development measures the degree in which the action of development corresponds with the expectations of the beneficiaries, the needs of the country, global priorities and the policies of partners and donors.

Scholarship can be taken at Belgium and Developing Countries.

You can apply by post or at www.scholarshippositions.com

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Impact Factor and the Nigerian university system

By P.J EZEH

[Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka]

A

GAIN, I can’t possibly issue an ex haustive list for lack of space. The position of the European Association of Science Editors that was issued in 2007 was one of the most charitable ones in that it advised that Impact Factor should be used cautiously for limited purposes. It suggested using it to compare the influence of journals but not for assessment of individual articles. Early on, in 2004, the British House of Commons had directed the Higher Education Funding Council of England not to take prestige of journals into account in deciding on grants but to focus on the quality of individual articles. In 2010 the German Foundation of Science issued a guideline directing assessors to focus on individual articles and not on Impact Factor scores or any such other bibliometric calculations.

The San Francisco Declaration against Impact Factor was made on 16 December last year (2012) and made available to the scientific community worldwide on 17 May this year (2013). By then thousands of practitioners in diverse branches of learning had added their signatures to the original 233. Makers of this document were categorical in

condemning the use of Impact Factor.

The Declaration said, inter alia, in its preamble, “It is critical to understand that the Journal Impact Factor has a number of well-documented deficiencies as a tool for research assessment”.

The scientists and scholars issued an 18-point guideline in the document.

Number 1 in the guideline was: “Do not use journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact factors, as a surrogate measure of the quality of individual research articles, to assess an individual scientist’s contributions, or in hiring, promotion, or funding decisions.”

The interesting thing is that lately in the international fora it is the voices of those in the physical and medical sciences where the Impact Factor calculation originated that are becoming louder and louder against it. Ditto for the Americans and the Europeans who introduced it. Like our colleagues everywhere in the world, those of us Nigerians in the qualitative Social Sciences, Education, Humanities and Art specialisations simply ignored it until, in the case of the University of Nigeria, a precipitate retroactive introduction of the criterion in the 2011 Appraisal for the promotion into the ranks of Senior Lectureship, Readership and Professorship.

On that occasion, the higher administration made publications in ImpactFactor-rated journals compulsory for all

disciplines in the University after the Appraisal had been concluded at Departmental and Faculty levels and returned all affected submissions for a repeat.

Unlike our friend whose article I am reacting to, I will restrict myself to the discussion of the Impact Factor per se, and not discussion of the University’s internal administrative blunder. The only thing I can say about that is that ASUU UNN Branch did the most responsible thing in appointing a Committee to study and make recommendations on the matter. Glad that Professor Onwubiko observed how popular the report was, going by the excitement he described in his narrative.

O

ne curious remark that is so con spicuous throughout the professor’s article is his disdain for knowledges [yes, knowledges!] that flow from Nigerian autochthonous systems. Anyone who is abreast with facts of our recent history and happenings in the international scene at the moment will marvel at the incongruity of this position in a discourse that is supposed to be about production of effective knowledge with social relevance. Evidence abound that production of knowledge that ignore local historical and cultural realities is a wild goose chase. Knowledge is a continuum. As a human group, you use

S

how me a lecturer including top class professors who worked in any of our public universities and who did not line his pockets with proceeds from the sale of Course Notes and I will show you a saint yet to be discovered.

Perhaps because I went to university in the United States, under the African Scholarship Programme for American Universities, I never came across the term Course Notes. Even a Junior year spent in the Middle East, while taking a course in Near East and Judaic Studies and mixing with university students from all over the world, each on a mission, yielded no single instance where students in any university were required to purchase Course Notes from their lecturers as a mandatory condition for obtaining a passing grade. Apart from textbooks which were, in any case optional, any other extra reading materials were either available in the library or provided by the lecturer to all the students free of charge.

I became aware of the corrupt practices associated with Course Notes about eight years after returning to Nigeria with the full intention of staying here – irrespective of the difficulties compared to the easy life in the United States. And, it came as a minor irritation – which I attributed to the fact that the request came from a Northern university.

I had sent my sister-in-law to the University of Maiduguri for a degree course in Education. All the necessary fees were paid and all the recommended books were purchased when she went off. She returned home four weeks after, for a short break and requested for additional money apart from her monthly allowance.

“What for”? I asked in absolute ignorance.

“For Course Notes, sir,” she replied; also in perfect innocence.

“Why do you need to pay for Course Notes; and your lecturers supposed to teach you all you should know about the course and what happens to those who cannot afford the Course Notes”?

“They will not pass”. She replied with such certainty as to send a shiver up my spine.

Thereafter, she then proceeded to give me an elementary lesson on the curse of Course Notes in Nigerian universities and how pervasive it had become in UNINAID. Yet, something in me could not believe that it was a national phenomenon. I was a prejuC M Y K

How ASUU members destroyed Nigerian universities (1): Course Notes diced enough southerner to dismiss the episode as something which could only happen in the backward North. So for her, her brother and my nephew who followed her in quick succession, I paid every time for Course Notes without which the most brilliant and the most diligent student would not pass a course of study at the university.

They were not the only kids in the family for whom I had to pat for Course Notes in tertiary institutions. Later, a nephew admitted to Yaba College of Technology, which had been invaded by lecturers from Nigerian universities provided me with the first hint that this evil might not be just northern based. He, too, came home shortly after starting his studies to request for money for Course Notes. Their new lecturer who had crossed over from a university had made it clear that “you can write whatever you want at exam time, but you wont pass this course without buying a Course Note”. Like all academic dictators, he had set a price which was non-negotiable. Still something in me refused to accept that the first generation universities would condone this corrupt system which was running scholarship. My real baptism of fire came when two of my daughters were admitted to the University of Ibadan – one to read Medicine and the junior sister went to read Engineering. Both had the best preparations any parent can give to his kids. They both attended Adrao International Nursery and Primary School at Victoria Island and Queens College, Yaba. Their scores at WAEC and JAMB placed them among the top five percent; so they had direct entry each time.

It was from the College of Medicine, Ibadan, that I fully realized how totally corrupt the Course Note system had become. Only a small percentage of those admitted for Medicine will eventually graduate as medical doctors for various reasons.

Some might find the course more difficult than they imagined in secondary school; others might have been pushed into medicine by their parents who wanted a doctor in the family; some drop out when funds run out. However, there is a vast number of students who are shut out of the profession because they could not afford to buy the Course Notes prescribed by the professors of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Radiology, Surgery etc.

A

s usual, my daughter requested for money for Course Notes in one of those courses, after procuring all the books recommended for the course. Books for medicine are the most expensive of any course at the university. I should know because my daughters have graduated with degrees in Medicine, Civil Engineering and Law – the most expensive courses. My first reaction was to ask for the name of the Professor teaching the course. I received the shock of my life when it turned out to be a well-known and globally recognised academic who was involved in the racket. The man had been a visiting professor to some leading teaching hospitals and research centres all over the world and had even done some consulting for the World Health Organisation, WHO. Yet, medical students at the University of Ibadan were still being

what you know to engage what you want to know. Indeed on the subject of industrialisation that the professor cites, the problem of Nigeria since after the civil war is that leaders make the unrealistic assumption that they can leapfrog the nation-state into effective competition in the modern world relying entirely on extraneous ideas. On the level of the individual the equivalent is that of the unlikely berk who imagines that as a trader he can prosper by solely picking the brains of a rival with whom he is in competition. It doesn’t just work that way, and those who brought in this idea of globalisation, of which the Impact Factor proposal is one of its ludicrous abortions, know this. Yes, people can give and take in a highly interdependent world but it amounts to lunacy to think that effective ideas flow only from one provenance.

With particular reference to industrialisation, does anyone still remember that Eastern Nigeria that was fed with ideas from University of Nigeria was once the fastest industrialisation economy in the whole world? It was just in 1963, and the statistics were from the Americans’ Michigan State University’s world survey. Note that the performance was not fortuitous. It was designed. Nationalists who worked for the Independence, the likes of Mbonu Ojike, Nwafor Orizu, Adekoge Adelabu, and the rest of them, were determined to engage modernity unashamed of their identity and autochthonous systems.

held to ransom by a WHO-grade professor of Medicine in Nigeria. What he wanted was equal to the cost of all the books put together and, although he did not declare his stand as openly as the YabaTech lecturer, those who had been referred before were quick to warn my daughter to “forget about studying, just buy the Course Notes.”

For me there was an ethical dilemma involved in the matter. I had raised my kids with the understanding that they will not receive any improper support from me in their careers. I will pay any price affordable for their education but I will not support any corrupt practices for then to get ahead. Suddenly, I was confronted with a situation in which a brilliant girl might be referred because of an avaricious professor. Raising an alarm would put my daughter’s career in jeopardy as other lecturers selling Course Notes would mark her down for punishment. Reluctantly, I paid; not only on that course but others as well.

This story would not be complete without mentioning the “Boy who did not become doctor”. He too started out to be a doctor and he was regarded by his colleagues as the best student in the class. As a matter of fact, virtually all his classmates wanted to have him as their study partner.

It was as if, at birth, he had a doctor’s stethoscope hanging on his neck. He was on State scholarship. His father provided the extra money for support. Then, his father died.

His mother, a petty trader, could not afford the Shylock prices of Course Notes. He “failed” three subjects because he could not afford to pay for Course Notes and dropped out of College of Medicine.

Only God knows how many dullards have been moved forward because they could afford to pay and only the Almighty knows how many brilliant students have been forced out of universities because they could not afford to pay.

The Nigerian university system is probably the only one in which First Class might not mean brilliant but the ability to pay in cash and KIND. Poser: Has anybody conducted a study to determine how many students graduating with First Class have gone on to brilliant careers in their fields of endeavour?

Visit: www.delesobowale.com

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—31

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Bridging the digital divide between Africa and developed world

By EBELE ORAKPO

Heterogeneous Network (HetNet):

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n their bid to bridge the massive digital divide between rural villages in Africa and the developed world, the School of Information Technology and Computing (SITC) of the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, is working on improving and increasing accessibility to telecom services as they strongly believe that better access to information on the internet, will provide new and improved opportunities for education, healthcare, commerce, and efficient delivery of government services to rural areas.

In this chat with Vanguard Learning in his office, Dr Charles Nche, an Assistant Professor and Chair of Telecommunications in SITC speaks on their research works which include the use of White Space Technology to provide wireless broadband in remote villages, device-todevice communication and heterogeneous network..

Excerpts:

Providing wireless broadband using White Space Technology: "Here basically, we are taking advantage of the way the television works at the moment to use it to provide broadband to rural communities," according to Nche.

Explaining how the system works, he said: "In every television station, you have certain bands or frequencies that are not used and so if we know where these stations are, within say 10 kilometres of that area, we will be able to use equipment designed specifically to use those particular channels to send broadband messages. As long as there is a television station in the rural community in Nigeria, it is

Advantage: "The advantage is that at that frequency, we are able to go through terrains, through mountains, walls etc because the traditional wifi needs an antenna to be facing another antenna for it to work, so that is why it is very expensive for mobile companies like MTN and Glo with the present technology because they will have to buy the licence from government which does not come cheap and so, they will want their money back. That is why they always go to cities with high population to be able to get their money back but in rural areas with low population, they won’t be able to recoup their money."

What it is used for: "The economy of most rural communities at the moment is based on farming - crop cultivation and animal husbandry. They go long distances to look for market for their goods but if they have access to the internet like most city dwellers, they will be able to sell their products online, so this is the biggest advantage of having this type of technology. It provides cheap broadband to rural communities; that is what C M Y K

,

a lot cheaper to locate and work out frequencies available, then use the frequencies with the special equipment to send wireless transmission over that television area."

*Dr. Charles Nche

The biggest advantage of having this type of technology is that it provides cheap broadband to rural communities; that is what the technology is all about

the technology is all about," he stated.

Continuing, Nche said: "We have devices at the moment such as ipad phones, kindle (the light version of an ipad) which is very cheap and can access the internet but to do this, you need to have the internet wherever you are. For example, if you are anywhere in the world, as long as you don’t have a hot spot, a place where you can access a mast, you will not be able to connect so what we are saying is that with this type of technology using this advantage of the television, we will provide that access. So within a 10-kilometre radius, you will be able to have access.

"The other really big advantage is that by 2015, it is expected that all African countries would have migrated from analogue to digital. This is going to leave a lot of bandwidth unused because the analogue system works differently from the digital system so we will have a lot of unused frequency available for this technology. We will then be able to provide a bigger bandwidth because that

D2D communication, we are limiting the number of people that have to use the mast which is more important if you are making long distance call.

"I can use your phone as a receptor without you realising it.

,

is really what everyone wants so that when you are making a call, you do not experience a dropped call as a result of not having enough bandwidth as is common today."

Device-to-Device communication: Speaking on the second project, Efficient Resource Allocation in Device-to-Device (D2D) Communications over LTE - Advanced Band, Dr. Nche, who manages the Executive Master Programs in SITC said the D2D communication enables mobile phones to communicate directly with themselves without relaying through the base stations. "At the moment, the way you will make a phone call using your mobile phone is that you communicate through a mast then that mast takes it to the next mast. Now, the bandwidth allocated to those wireless phones is shared by everybody which is why sometimes when you are making a call, you experience dropped call because the bandwidth is not enough to accommodate everybody.

With this system, we could be using your phone as a receptor instead of the mast so we don’t allow everybody to use the mast. Depending on the radius that we are, I could be using your phone as a receptor to the next one and the next one. So effectively, what happens is that resources are not shared by everybody, it will depend on where the communication is taking place.

"This means that if we are communicating within a smaller area, we can use your device rather than you going to the mast directly like everybody else. By using this

According to Nche, this is a combination of high power macro base stations with low power micro, pico and femto cells. HetNet will achieve high spectral efficiency and improve coverage and energy efficiency of the network. "We are always thinking of how to develop African nations along the lines of reducing energy use. For example, in Nigeria, we know energy is a big issue and the way mobile phones work today is that you have homogenous networks designed in a way that you either have macro, pico or femto cells and the amount of power they need varies. Each of these cells requires different degree of power for them to work. The masts are done with either macro, pico or femto cells but a femto cell is designed to be within a smaller area eg, a room. Now, at the moment, the way it works is that if I join a network, it is only that network I will use all through so the idea is that if we use different types of networks, we can make a clever choice. So depending on where you are, you decide which type to use. So the heterogeneous network means we mix different networks so the energy efficiency is great because now, we are able to choose. For example, if we are going to communicate locally, why use a macro cell which is at the top end of energy consumption when we can use femto cell? If we are in middle range, we use pico cell etc.

Research has shown that the energy efficiency is really good and it also comes back to this resource allocation that I explained above.

So if you tie those two things together, you will see a massive advantage. Not only are we giving you an efficient resource allocation, but we are also providing efficient energy consumption," he stated.

32—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

I N S I D E

INEC lacks power to withdraw certificates of return issued (4)

The unconstitutionality of budget presentation by a minister

— Page 34

— Page 35

Judiciary in 2013

The good, the bad and the ugly

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

U

NDISPUTEDLY, the Nigerian Judi ciary, in 2013, had its fair share of ‘the good’, ‘the bad’ and ‘the ugly’!

Remarkably, since inception of the Nation, 2013, remains the first judicial year that was successfully completed under the headship of a female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar emerged as the first female CJN on July 16, 2012, and has barely spent one year and five months in office.

Though 2013 started on a tensed note with the judicial axe dangling dangerously on necks of several judges fingered for varying cases of corruption and abuse of power, activities however kicked off fully with the conviction of one of the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010, Independence Day bomb blasts that killed 12 persons, Mr Edmund Ebiware, on January 25.

Ebiware was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja, after he was found guilty on a 3-count terrorism charge that was entered against him by the Federal Government.

As trial of several alleged terrorists, pension and crude oil thieves, were going on in various courts across the federation, the CJN, in May 19, swore to weed out all the incompetent and indolent Judges from the Bench.

Her warning was sequel to public outcry that trailed the slap-on-the-wrist sen-

•Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar Teidi, alongside a former manager with the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Mr Udusegbe Omoefe Eric, were said to have conspired and diverted over N5 billion meant for pensioners across the federation. The duo are still cooling their heels inside Kuje Prison.

Meantime, eighteen days after they were abducted by gunmen while on their way to attend a wedding ceremony at Benin, the Edo state capital, wife, daughter and driver of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, on May 27, regained their freedom.

The same day, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, narrated before a Federal High Court in Abuja, how the former Speaker of the House

,

As trial of several alleged terrorists, pension and crude oil thieves, were going on in various courts across the federation, the CJN, in May 19, swore to weed out all the incompetent and indolent Judges from the Bench

tence that was handed to a self-confessed pension thief, Mr John Yakubu Yusufu, who after he admitted that he connived with six other civil servants and stole over N23billion from the Police Pension Fund, was simply asked to pay a paltry fine of N750, 000 by Justice Abubakar Talba.

The trial Judge was eventually suspended for one year by the National Judicial Council, NJC. On June 7, Ademola Adeniyi of the Abuja Federal High Court remanded the former Director of pension accounts in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, Dr Sani Teidi Shaibu in prison custody.

•Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke

,

of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, used fake companies to defraud the federal government to the tune of N894 million whilst he was in office.

The anti-graft body made the revelation two days after Senator Mohmmed Ali Ndume, who was accused of having a romance with the Boko Haram sect, begged an Appeal Court in Abuja to stop his trial.

Also, on May 30, the embattled former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva failed to persuade the FHC in Abuja to quash the 6-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the EFCC. Justice Adamu Bello said he was satis-

fied that the Ex- governor had explanations to give over allegation that he stole about N6.5billion from the Bayelsa state treasury.

On the political side, the Supreme Court, on May 31, dashed the hope of exGovernor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni of the PDP to return to power.

A 5-man panel of the apex court struck out his appeal and affirmed the election victory of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Likewise, the court, on June 21, dismissed an appeal that sought to sack Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State from office.

The appeal which was filed by the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples party, DPP, in the April 26, 2011, gubernatorial election in Delta state, Chief Great Ogboru, was dismissed as grossly lacking in merit.

On July 9, Justice Bilkisu Aliyu of the FHC jailed four kingpins of the Boko Haram sect, Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar and Mohammed Ali, for life.

They were found guilty of masterminding the explosion that rocked office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Suleja, Niger state, prior to the April 16, 2011, presidential election.

At the end of its 2-days crucial meeting, the NJC, on July 18, found the former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Hassan Gunmi, who had resigned to become an Emir in Zamfara state, guilty of judicial corruption.

More so, after a protracted and ongoing crisis over the headship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on July 17, withdrew the suit he filed with a view to

stopping the Governor of Plateau state, Mr Jonah Jang, from parading himself as the factional chairman of the body.

On July 25, an Abuja high court at Apo, aborted plans by the PDP to organize a convention for the purpose of electing its national officers, even as another court presided over by Justice Abdul Kafarati, issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from prosecuting the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah and his company over their alleged complicity in petroleum subsidy fraud.

Wielding the big stick, the NJC, on July 29, sacked the Acting Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Shadrack O.E. Nwanosike, after it was discovered that he falsified his age.

The same day, Justice Kolawole of the FHC, held that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had no power to de-register any political party in

Continues on page 33

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—33

Continues from pg 32 the country without recourse to the 1999 constitution as amended.

The court further nullified the de-registration of 28 political parties by INEC on December 6, 2012, even as it declared section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act as unconstitutional, invalid, null and void.

On August 2, Justice Suleiman Belgore vacated the interim order that stopped the PDP from conducting a special convention to elect its national officers.

Eighteen days later, an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, remanded the Chairman of the party in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers state, Mr. Charles Amoefule and the Assistant Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Godwin Leo in prison custody over a radio announcement. They regained their freedom on August 22.

On August 23, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, failed to persuade an Abuja High Court to set aside the decision of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA that disqualified from contesting the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed of the FHC, on August 28, gave the Federal Government the nod to extradite an alleged Nigerian Al-Qaeda leader, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, to the United States of America to face charges bordering on terrorism.

On August 30, the same court voided the suspension of the Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC Senator Andy Uba, from the PDP. Determined to regain his status, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State on September 3, sued the

The good, the bad and the ugly Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly for refusing to allow him resume duties after his over nine months medical sojourn in abroad following his involvement in a plane crash.

As the division in the PDP widened, seventy nine members of the National Assembly who decamped to the new faction of the party known as the nPDP, on September 11, went to court to challenge moves by the Bamangar Tukur led faction to declare their seats vacant.

On September 19, Justice Adamu Bello of the FHC, discharged and acquitted four directors of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, accused of complicity in the illegal diversion of funds meant for supply of learning facilities to secondary schools across the federation.

The EFCC had alleged that the four directors, Molkat Mutfwang, Michael Aule, Andrew Ekpunobi and Prof. Bridget Sokan, used bogus companies and defrauded the government to the tune of about N787 million.

Same day, the same court, declined to grant bail to two Nigerians, Abdullahi Mustapha Berende and Saidi Adewumi, accused of recruiting new members for an Iran based terrorist organization.

Few days after the CJN, called for stiffer punishment for judges caught in any act of corruption, a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Stanley Shenko Alagoa, in his valedictory court session on October 4, admitted that some judges collect bribe from politicians and traditional rulers to pervert the course of justice.

On October 18, Justice Elvis Chukwu of the FHC declared the Alhaji Kawu Baraje led nPDP illegal, just

•NBA president, Okey Wali, SAN as he banned its operations in Nigeria.

Similarly, following his petition dated October 1, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, on the same day, appeared before the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to substantiate his allegation against the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Joseph Mbu. The Governor had accused the CP of insubordination, recklessness, saying he encourages gross violation of human rights in his state.

On October 23, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court, declined to stop the trial of former Chairman and Secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawal and Mr Boniface Emenalo, over their alleged involvement in bribery and corruption.

Two days later, Justice Kolawole, refused to hand over the $15million that was allegedly offered to the EFCC in 2007, by convicted ex-Governor, Mr. James Ibori, to the Delta State Government.

Meanwhile, on October 31, embattled ex-President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, who

•Justice Ayo Salami (retd.)

had voluntarily resigned from office, 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 organized in his honour by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, said he was a victim of executive witch-hunt, alleging that the NJC, played into the hands of desperate politicians that wanted his ouster by all means.

The same day, the Supreme Court, halted plans by the factional governorship candidate of the PDP in Anambra state, Mr Tony Nwoye, to flag off his campaign, though he was subsequently declared the authentic flag-bearer of the party on November 4.

On November 6, an appellate court in Abuja re-instated former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the National Secretary of the PDP. Justice Adeniyi, on November 15, sentenced a kingpin of the Boko Haram sect, Mustapher Umar, who had on April 26, 2012, bombed office of the Thisday Newspaper in Kaduna State with 12 camp gas cyl-

inders, to life imprisonment.

Furthermore, on November 25, an Abuja Magistrate Court, remanded an official of INEC, Mr Chukwujekwu Okeke, over alleged corrupt role he played in events that bungled the Anambra Governorship election at Idemili North in Anambra State. He later regained his freedom on December 2.

On Nov 29, Justice Adeniyi, dismissed the 16count criminal charge preferred against the Lebanese co-owner of Amigo Supermarket, Mustapha Fawaz, and his compatriots, Abdullahi Thahini, accused of importing arms into Nigeria illegally.

On December 4, the FHC in Abuja ordered that Charles Okah, who is a younger brother to ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Henry, be subjected to a psychiatric test.

Okah, alongside one Obi Nwabueze, are facing trial over the 2010 Independence Day twin bomb blasts at the Eagle Square, which caused the death of about 12 people, leaving several others injured.

On December 5, the Commissioner of Police in

Rivers State, Mr Joseph Mbu, appeared before the NHRC to answer to allegations that were raised against him by Governor Amaechi.

Likewise, the Abuja FHC, on December 11, declared that the House of Representatives, acted in breach of Section 11(4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, when it on July 10, 2013, assumed the law making functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Poised for a last fight, the Alhaji Tukur led PDP, on December 12, asked the FHC Abuja to declare seats of the five ‘rebel governors’ that left its fold and defected to the All Progressive Congress, APC, vacant.

Specifically, the five Governors the PDP urged the court to quickly remove from office , were Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara state.

On December 13, the Supreme Court, discharged and acquitted former board members of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, including its Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and also voided the 2-years jail term they each served as a result of a Lagos State High Court judgment on October 26, 2009.

Among those freed by the court were former Managing Director of the NPA, Mr Aminu Dabo, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu Tafida, Captain Oluwasegun Abidoye, Alhaji Zanna Maidaribe and Mr. Sule Aliyu.

They were all members of the NPA board from 2001 to 2003 when it was dissolved by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In the same vein, an Abuja High Court, same day, dismissed the land-grab’ case that was initiated against the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir ElRufai, by the EFCC. Finally, on December 20, the mastermind of the Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011, Kabiru Umar, a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Adeniyi of the FHC Abuja.

As the legal curtain has fallen on 2013, there is no doubt that in view of the 2015 general elections, 2014 will be a litmus test for the Nigerian judiciary.

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

INEC lacks power to withdraw certificates of return issued (4)

Continued from last week I will pursue a little to reflect on the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court as donated or vested in the court by Section 251 (1) paragraph (r) of 1999 Constitution, as amended; which provides “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred on it by an Act of the National Assembly, the Federal high Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in civil causes and matters (r) “any action or proceeding for a declaration or injunction affecting the validity of any executive or administrative faction or decision by the Federal Government or any of its agencies.”

The 11th-14th respondents, who were the original 1st14th defendants, clearly answer to the description of “the Federal government or any of its agencies” whose “executive or administrative actions or decisions” were being questioned by the 1st - 10th respondents, as plaintiffs, at the Federal High Court. Reading Sections 6(6) and 251 (1) (r) of the Constitution together, I am of the firm view that the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to judicially review executive or administrative decisions or actions of “the Federal Government or any of its agencies” is undeniable. These appellants, who have avoided commenting on these constitutional provisions vesting in the Federal High Court jurisdiction to undertake judicial review of the administrative actions or decision of the 11th 14th respondents, are not on any firm grounds in their insistence to the contrary.

I have painstakingly read the brief of argument of the appellants as settled by Ismaila Alasa, Esq on behalf of John O. Baiyeashea, SAN. Even though it purports to stoutly reject the contention of the 1st - 10th respondents that their suit, as plaintiffs, was not strictly an election petition requiring the Federal High Court to determine whether they, and not the appellants, were validly elected as members of the National Assembly; it concedes in paragraph 4.7 at page 6 thereof that the plaintiffs–reliefs 1 and 2 asked for declaration that the 1st defendant (11th respondent herein (INEC) lacks the powers to either directly, or indirectly, review, cancel, nullify, withdraw, void or invalidate the certificates of return issued to the plaintiffs (1st - 10th respondents herein) consequent upon their winning elections.

Relief 3 wants a declaration that the 1st defendant (INEC) lacks the power to issue certificates of return to the 5th -14th defendants – in relation to the seats for which the plaintiffs were earlier given certificates. Relief 5 is for it to be declared that the 2nd - 4th defendants was (sic) wrong to have sworn in the 5th - 14th defendants upon invalid certificates. Relief 6 is for an order nullifying the certificates of return issued by the 1st defendant (INEC) to the 5th - 14th defendants while Relief 7 is for an order directing the 5th - 14th defendants to immediately vacate their seats in the National Assembly.

And in paragraph 4.9 at page 7 of the same brief appellants opined, correctly in my view, that “the reliefs claimed are all in respect of the propriety of the conduct of (INEC) in the issuance, cancellation, withdrawal, nullification and re-issuance of the same certificates and the use of them by the 1st - 10th appellants to be sworn in by the 12th - 14th respondents.

This appeal, like the entire defence of the appellant at the court below; is predicated on the argument that the suit of the 1st-10th respondents, as plaintiffs, is over a postelection issue. Section 285 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, deals with whether any person has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly. As the Supreme Court held in Agbakoba v. INEC (2008) 18 NWLR (pt.1119) 489 at 536 E, post election disputes contemplate actual election which is challenge-

able on the ground of undue election or undue return albeit on any of the specific grounds prescribed by Section 138 (1) (a) – (d) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended. The grounds are (a) That a person whose election is questioned was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the election. (b) That the election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. (c) That the respondent was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election; or (d) that the petitioner or its candidate was not validly nominated but was unlawfully excluded from the election.

The case of the 1st - 10th respondents is that they, and not the appellants, were the candidates at the election whose returns were unsuccessfully challenged at the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal, and the Court of Appeal (i.e the final court on this matter). It is also their case that the returning officer, in each election, declared them winners and duly made return and that in evidence of their returns INEC issued them, each, certificates of return. And that INEC, being functus officio by operation of Sections 68 (1) and 75 of the Electoral Act had no power in law to recall, cancel or nullify the certificates of return issued to them, and/or issue fresh certificates of return to the appellants, who were not candidates at the elections. And further that the 12th, 13th and 14th respondents have no powers in law to give effect to the invalid certificates of return issued to the appellants.

Therefore, as Mr. Baiyeshea, SAN of counsel to the Appellants conceded, rightly in my view, the suit of the 1st - 10th respondents is all about “the propriety of the conduct, “administrative, of INEC and the 12th - 14th respondents. INEC does not possess any powers in law to alter the effect of any return made by its Returning Officer or any certificates or return in evidence of such return.

The 12th, 13th, and 14th respondents lack powers, in law, to give effect to any illegality or invalid certificate of return. That is the summary of the suit of the 1st - 10th respondents at the court below. This definitely is not a postelection issue, so called, that could come only under Section 138 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended and Section 285 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The essence and purport of the plaintiffs’ suit, as correctly summarised by the appellants, are that it be declared that INEC lacked the vires or powers in law to withdraw, cancel or nullify the certificates or return issued to the 1st - 10th respondents who were the de facto candidates at the elections conducted by INEC, which elections have not been invalidated by the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal that has exclusive jurisdiction to do so under Section 285 (1) (a) of the Constitution, as amended, or the Court of Appeal, being the final appeal court in the matter by dint of Section 246 (3) of the same constitution. In other-words, the plaintiffs posit that INEC, having conducted valid elections, made returns therefrom and issued certificates of return in evidence of their due returns had become functus officio in the matter.

The phrase “Functus Officio” is Latinism for a task performed, fulfilling the function, discharging the office or accomplishing the purpose or a task or duty assigned and thereby becoming of no further fore or authority.

See Anyaegbunam v. A.G., Anambra State (2001) 6 NWLR (pt. 710) 532, Onyemobi v. President, O.C.C. (1995) 3 NWRL (pt.381) 50; Ikong v. Udobong (2007) 2 NWLR (pt.1017) 184. The Supreme Court in Mohammed v.

Husseini (1998) 14 NWLR (pt.584) 108 said that functus officio is a Latin expression for “task performed”. In the context of elections under the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended the task, statutorily vested in or assigned to INEC, is performed once INEC conducts and concludes an election, declares the results and issued certificate of return to the winner. Thereafter its office, as regards that election is conclusively and effectively exhausted, or spent.

Thereafter, INEC lacks legal powers or authority to reverse itself or outcome of the election. It jurisdiction or vires, as regards that election, would have been exhausted. That in my view, is the purport of Sections 68 (1 ) (c) and 75 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended which provide in clear and unambiguous terms as follows:68 – (1) The decision of the Returning Officer on any question arising from or relating to (c) declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate, shall be final

subject to review by a tribunal or court in an election petition.

75 – (1) A sealed certificate of return at the election in a prescribed form shall be issued within 7 days to every candidate who won an election under this Act – Provided that where the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court being the final appellate court in any election petition as the case may be nullifies the certificate or return of any candidate, the commission shall, within 48 hours after receipt of order of such court, issue the successful candidate with a Certificate of Return.

(2) Where the commission refuses or neglects to issue a certificate of return, a certified true copy of the order of a court of competent jurisdiction shall, ipso facto, be sufficient for the purpose of swearing in a candidate declared as the winner by that court.

The question is; under what law did INEC purport to act in ordering the withdrawal, cancellation or nullification of the certificates of return it issued earlier to the plaintiffs, now 1st-10th respondents in this appeal? Since it has not shown under what legal authority or power it acted to withdraw, cancel or nullify the certificates of return issued to the plaintiffs/1st – 10th Respondents. INEC definitely has acted ultra vires. It also acted ultra vires in is purported issuance of certificates of return to the appellants who were not candidates at the election. A certificate of return can only be issued to the candidate at the election who has been declared as duly returned by the Returning Officer under Section 68 (1)(c)of the Electoral Act read together with Section 75 (1) of the same Act. None of the parties has by way of appeal, or grounds of appeal, challenged the specific finding by the court below at pages 1459 – 1460 of the record to wit: The Plaintiffs Exhibits ‘KT 2A – J and ‘KT 2A – J stand as proof for the plaintiffs as the candidates whose scores were declared and who were returned by the 1st defendant at the election.

In accordance with Section 68 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended. The Supreme Court decision in Lado v. CPC SC 157/11 & SC 334/11, reported as (2012) ALL FWLR (pt.607) 623 which struck out the suit No. FHC/ ABJ/CS/126/11 and appeal no CA/A/133/11 for being incompetent did not say, and could not have said, that the plaintiffs, now 1st - 10th Respondents, were candidates at the election.

There is no evidence that any Tribunal or Court of competent jurisdiction had declared the appellants the winners, each of any elections. It is clear that the Senate President, the Speaker of House of Representatives and The Clerk of the National Assembly had acted without authority of any law to swear-in and/or admit the appellants to the respective chambers of the National Assembly. It is my considered view that the 12th - 14th respondents herein can only legitimately swear-in or admit the appellants to the various or respective chambers of the National Assembly only upon presentation of valid and lawful certificates of return issued under the Electoral Act. Doing otherwise would ultra vires their powers. And there comes the jurisdiction of the court to review their actions viz-a-viz their powers. Where a public body, officers or persons act without legal authority or in excess of the authority vested in them by law such decision or actions are null and void and judicial review thus lies to question or impeach such actions or decisions, see Anisminic Ltd. v. Foreign Compensation Commission (1969) A.C. 147.

My Lords, from all I have been trying to say above it is very clear to me that the four issues/questions formulated by the Appellants in paragraph 3 at page 3 of the brief of argument should be answered in affirmative, and consequent their appeal be dismissed. The issues are follows:ISSUE 1 Whether the lower court is right in holding, in its judgment, that it has jurisdiction to entertain the 1st to 10th respondents’ case as presented in the originating summons Ground 2, 3, 4, and 7 in the Notice of Appeal filed on 20th of March, 2013.

ISSUE II Whether the lower court is right in entertaining the case of the 1st to 10th respondents and granting all the reliefs sought in the originating summons. Grounds 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the Notice of Appeal filed on 20th of Mach, 2013.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—35

NBA Forum holds end-of-year party NBA Apapa Forum end of the year party

held recently in Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos. Photos by Bartholomew Madukwe.

The unconstitutionality of budget presentation by a minister

BY ROBERT OMOTE

T

From left- Mr. Tajudeen Amusa, Chief Morah Ekwunoh and Chief Magistrate Yemisi Adelaja.

HE Nigeria democ racy since 1999 has been associated with theatrical absurdities, the most recent being the 2014 budget presentation made by the Finance Minister who was delegated by the President for undisclosed reasons. The abdication of unconstitutional responsibility by

the National Assemble at anytime in each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Federation for next following financial year.

In the lexicon of law in general, the word “shall” connotes a mandatory concept. The Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th edition at page 1499 defines it as “something mandatory

the Finance Minister to represent him at the 2014 budget presentation under the guise of being protected by the provision of S.148 (1). This section provide thus; The President may in his discretion assign to Vice President or any Minister of the government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the government of the feder-

if invited to explain to the house the conduct of his or her ministry and in particular when the affairs of that ministry are under discussion.

Conclusion: The general law is that procedures or conditions are provided for by a statue within which a budget can be presented and except where the statue admits of exception (and in

\

From left- Capt. Warredi Enisuoh and Mr. Elijah Adetunji.

•President Goodluck Jonathan

From left- Mr. A.C. Ugwu, Financial Secreatary and Mr. Patrick Agbotu, Secretary.

NBA Apapa forum organizing committee, end of year party.

From left- Mr. E.G. Ockiya and Ms. Chinyere Muoka.

the President forms the ground for this discourse.

In retrospect, under the 7th Schedule of the 1999 CFRN (AS Amended) which expressly provides for the oath of office, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is constitutionally expected to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; to preserve and defend the constitution of the country.

S. 1 (1) of the 1999 CFRN (AS Amended) resonates the supremacy of the constitution. In Hope Democratic Party v Obi (2012, ALL FWLR (PT612), 1620 @ 1625 R.4, the apex court rule confirm the supremacy of the constitution as binding on all persons, institutions and authorities in Nigeria. In consequence, the failure to follow any of the provisions renders the steps taken unconstitutional, null and void.

The Validity Of Budget Presentation By Mr. President The validity of budget presentation by the president is captured in S.81(1) of the extant constitution as amended. It provides thus; The President shall cause to be prepared and laid before each house of

that drafters typically intend and that courts typically uphold.” In Agip v Agip (2010) 2Scm 1 @ 16,R22, the apex court maintains that when the word “shall” is used in a statue, it is not permissive, it is mandatory, its imports is that a thing must be done. Budget presentation from the import of S.81 (1) is the constitutional responsibility of the President and no one else.

BUDGET PRESENTATION BY A MINISTER The President seemingly overwhelmed by the perceived and anticipated boos from members of the National Assembly has wittingly delegated

•Speaker Aminu Tambuwal ation including the administration of any department of government.

The 2014 budget presentation by the finance minister when analysed in contest with the provision of S.148(1) does not suggest that the President can negotiate, abdicate or sacrifice a reverence exercise of annual budget presentation.

The above scenario notwithstanding, S.67 (2) of the same constitution unequivocally permits the presence of the finance minister in such occasion.

The aforesaid section provides; A minister of the government of the Federation shall attend either house of the National Assembly

this case, there is none), such procedures or conditions must be complied with in other to inject life into the statue, constitution or the polity in general. Equating therefore S. 81 (1) with any other provision(s) in the extant constitution smack of irrelevance of technical rules of interpretation.

Delegating the Finance Minister to lay the annual budget before the National Assembly amounts to constitutional negligence which has further eroded and corroded the executive power of an imperial President: delegatus non potest delegare. *Robert Omote is a legal practitioner

•Dr. Okonjo Iweala, Finance Minister presenting the budget.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Delta hospital gets new facilities

CELEBRATION: From left— Mrs. Victoria Oyegun, wife of former governor of Edo State; Dr. Felicia Okogba, celebrant, and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the 80th birthday celebration of Dr. Okogba in Asaba, yesterday. Standing are Lady Ndidi Okogba (left) and Mrs Uzor Eluaka.

A

block of five equipped consulting and waiting rooms, built by Chief and Mrs Gbegbaje Das in memory of their late daughter, Dr. Nene Das, has been handed over to Government Hospital, Ekpan, Delta State.

HRM, Emmanuel Sideso, Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, commissioned the multi-million naira consulting rooms equipped with modern gadgets.

Receiving the keys of the consulting rooms on behalf of the state government, Permanent Secretary, Delta State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Caroline Ajuya, who was represented by Dr. Fumilayo Omoraya, commended the Das family for providing the facilities.

She said the gesture would contribute to one of the goals of the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, which is human capital development.

Ndokwa youths tasked on peace

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — I N T E R I M President-General of Ibrede Community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Foke Onomerike, yesterday, charged Nigerian youths to shun violence and social vices that were capable of undermining the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria as a nation.

Speaking at the community ’s annual general conference, he condemned a situation where people take “to violence, manipulation of ideals and other social malady in resolving crises in a society or community.

“Such postures will not only threaten our collective unity, but also lead to the destruction of lives and property.

“The days where selfish interest of insignificant minority is allowed to override collective interest of the vast majority are over and should be discouraged.”

Oshiomhole commiserates with Soyinka

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commiserated with Professor Wole Soyinka on the death of his daughter, Iyetade, aged 48 after a brief illness.

In a condolence message by

his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said: “We learnt with shock about the death of your beloved daughter, Iyetade. Our hearts are with you and the entire Soyinka family at this very difficult period.

“While we grieve over the death of your loving

daughter, we take solace in the fact that she lived a worthy life as a mother, an accomplished medical practitioner and was an inspiration to many who knew her.

“I offer my profound condolences and the commiseration of the good

Dickson assures Bayelsans on devt, peace

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA— AS Bayelsans join the rest of the country and the world to celebrate the New Year, Governor Seriake Dickson has assured the

people of the state that his government would engender more development, peace and prosperity for the citizenry.

Dickson, in his New Year message to the people of the state, said government would keep faith with its commitment

PRESIDENCY: DDG advises North to seek fairness in 2015

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN— DEFENDER of Democracy Group, DDG, a group in the Niger Delta, has said rather than attempting to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from running for a second term, Northern leaders should seek for a level-playing ground for all those interested in the 2015 Presidency.

In a statement in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, by its Director-General, Mr. Ejoor Umukoro, the group said: “The issue of the President’s acclaimed agreement to do only one term is also laughable and spurious.

“Even former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was once accused of reaching an agreement with some Northern elements not to seek re-election in 2003, which was why he had to

persuade the then Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sitting governors to support his reelection.

“I think Mr. President needs to learn how to negotiate on his terms, even if it means stooping low for now.

“But nobody must intimidate or harass him from exercising his fundamental human right.”

On the letter written to the President by Obasanjo, DDG said: “We smell a gang up against the President.

“Let Nigerians live. Let all be given equal treatment regardless of place of birth, or geographical origin.

“No particular ethnic group, North or South, is CEO of the nation. No particular person should decide who should be elected President or from which geographical region the President should come from.”

to further consolidate on its programmes and projects.

Most of the projects, he said, would be inaugurated this year as part of activities to commemorate the second year of his administration on February 14.

The governor expressed the hope that this year will bring about the much-needed development given the substantial investments that had been made to enhance security, education, infrastructure and manpower development.

Others include promotion of good governance, diversification of the economy through tourism and agriculture, health, power generation, sports development, judiciary and health.

According to him, when these projects are completed, they will stand as lasting legacies of his administration for the present and future generation of Bayelsans.

Dickson urged the people to be grateful to God for His mercies and abundant blessings and be prayerful that the new year will be better than the previous one.

He also enjoined the people of the state to demonstrate the virtues of love in all they do, think and say to promote peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

people and government of Edo State on this sad incident.

“We pray God to grant you, the entire Soyinka family and indeed the two children left behind by the departed the courage to bear the loss. We also pray for peaceful rest for her soul in the Lord’s bosom.”

NPDC, hosts urged to maintain peace

A

youth leader in Delta State, Mr. Chris Eriyamremu, has charged the management of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, NPDC, and its host communities to continue to work as partners in progress to bring positive results to the people.

Eriyamremu, a consultant on conflict resolution, said host communities to NPDC should be reminded that most of the irregularities that the firm was being accused of were actually inherited by the company.

The youth leader, who spoke, yesterday at Ofuoma, in Afiesereoilfield commended the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Victor Briggs for being committed, diligent and running the firm effectively.

He added that NPDC, under Briggs' leadership, was witnessing fantastic progress.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—37

Ndoma-Egba advocates devolution of powers from FG to states

Group demands JTF's withdrawal from Urhoboland

C

BY AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—THE Urhobo Nationalists Movement, UNM, has decried what it alleged to be the heavy militarisation of Urhobo nation by security agents.

National Chairman of UNM, Mr Mumakai Unagha, who spoke on the development, said that the call for the withdrawal of the security agents had become necessary, owing to “pressure on us by well meaning Urhobo youths, women and traditional rulers.

“I am raising alarm that the entire Urhobo nation is under siege. It is sad to note that the Urhobo nation has been heavily militarised with the presence of military check points across the length and breadth of the area. It has become very difficult to drive into Warri or come out due to the various military check points. Vehicles plying roads in the area suffer untold hardship as if Urhoboland is a battle ground. The presence of these check points in the area portrays Urhoboland as prone to violence, a situation which is cable of scaring foreign investors.

“We wish to state here that we are not at war with anybody, neither are our neighbours. In the riverrine areas, where bunkering is going on at will, there is no such security presence as it is in Urhoboland. The various security posts have never apprehended any criminals or kidnappers any day any time, rather than to subject the people to untold harassment and economic exploitation. The heavy presence of the security in the area is also seen as a delibrate attempt to weaken our people.”

Calling for the withdrawal of troops from Kokori in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, he said: “Let me also speak briefly on the situation in Kokori community. The human right violation by the Joint Task Force, JTF, is regrettable. Since November 2013, Kokori people cannot go about their normal businesses or means of livelihood. There is possible humanitarian crisis in Kokori."

ABA ROAD: The ever busy traffic prone Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, experiences respite on New Year day. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Amaechi assures on completion of ongoing projects

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, said that his administration would focus on completion of ongoing projects in the state this year.

The governor, in his new year broadcast to the state, said he would also steer the state from the path of self-centred politics, which he said characterised the area in the past, adding that his administration would vigorously pursue development of all sectors of the state’s economy.

Urging the people to be wary of politicians, who may come with all kinds of deceptive promises, the governor said his administration would remain accountable and continue to promote good and qualitative governance.

Amaechi said that what some have been seeing as a personal quarrel between him and President Goodluck Jonathan, was only because of the insistence on the part of the state for the Federal Government to give the state its due.

According to the governor, the state had been robbed of some of its oil wells, adding that the Federal Government had not refunded money the state government expended on the reconstruction of Port Harcourt-Owerri Road.

He said: “First, we have expended huge resources in executing approved federal projects in the state, such as the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road without any refund.

Secondly, there is hardly any reasonable federal project going on in the state. Work on the Port Harcourt International Airport, a major gateway into the Eastern part of the country, has been largely abandoned, while other airports whose rehabilitation was embarked on at the same time have since been commissioned. Thirdly, the Federal Government has embarked on a reduction of our natural resource endowments. A number of oil wells and gas fields located in the state have been

carved out and ceded to neighboring states while resources due from these have also been paid to those states.

“Fourthly, major industrial and strategic security projects that were originally slated for location in Rivers State have been moved to neighboring states without even the courtesy of an explanation. Fifthly, there is evidence of discrimination against Rivers State indigenes in key federal appointments. Of all the councils and boards of federal universities and tertiary institutions recently announced, there is hardly any Rivers indigene considered fit to head any of them. Sixthly and most importantly, the Federal Government has actively encouraged the destabilisation of the security of the state through tacit encouragement of the return of militants to the streets of Port Harcourt and by encouraging the police to play a partisan role in the political affairs of the state."

Bayelsa coastal town linked by road after 40yrs

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—HISTORY was made in Nembe Kingdom on December 31, 2013, when for the first time in 40 years, a four wheel vehicle was driven into the ancient oil-rich coastal town in the Bayelsa East senatorial district.

The state deputy dovernor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd), made the historic trip while on inspection of the OgbiaNembe Road project.

Addressing the people of Nembe at the Nembe end of the road, the deputy governor said that the feat was achieved due to the commitment of Governor Seriake Dickson towards delivering

the project in terms of pushing the funding partners that include Shell Petroleum Development Company and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Jonah also said that Governor Dickson’s commitment to the Ogbia-Nembe Road project was as a result of its proximity to Brass, the emerging business hub of the state which plays host to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, the Liquefied Natural Gas Project, the Nigerian Navy and other maritime activities.

He urged the people of Nembe Kingdom to continue to support the restoration

government of Governor Dickson by maintaining the existing peace in the area as there can be no meaningful development without peace.

In his speech, also at the Nembe end of the OgbiaNembe Road, King Edmund Daukoru, Mingi XII and Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, noted that accessing Nembe City through road is a dream come true as the people of Nembe have waited for this day in the past 40 years.

The Mingi XII thanked both the governor and his deputy, Jonah, Shell and NDDC, the funding partners of the project.

ALABAR—SENATE Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, yesterday, said that devolution of powers from the Federal Government to state governments would enhance rapid growth of the country.

Ndoma-Egba, representing Cross River Central senatorial district on the platform of Peoples Democratic PDP, stated this on New Year day in Calabar in an interaction with journalists.

He said that the long years of military rule had foisted on Nigeria a unitary system with a strong Federal Government while the federating units had become weaker.

He said: "I believe there should be devolution of powers. With long years of military rule, powers were over centralised. So, I support a stronger federating units and a less strong centre. We must take more powers to the federating units.’’

The senate leader said that the current administration was doing its best to address various issues confronting the country. ‘’The problems of Nigeria were not caused by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President is doing his honest best just like those

2015: DSF urges Omabam to join Delta guber race

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ELTA Solidarity front, DSF, a socio-political group in Delta State, has called on Mr. Curtis Omabam to indicate interest in the state's 2015 governorship election.

The group, which spoke through its coordinator, Mr Michael Dumbili, after its meeting in Asaba, said that Omabam was a dynamic and detribalised Deltan, who has the passion to serve and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people if given the opportunity.

According to Dumbilli, the business man cum politician from Ndokwa speaking area of Delta State, cuts across the three senatorial districts of the state and so, falls within bracket to take over from the current administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015.

38 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Ashafa urges Godliness, selfless service in 2014

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—THE Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa, has urged Nigerians to draw closer to God and commit themselves more to the development and growth of the nation in their various walks of life in the new year.

The lawmaker, who represents Lagos East senatorial district, in his New year message to Nigerians, said if all could re- dedicate themselves to the growth of the nation, Nigeria would no doubt be among the world best in no time.

He said: “As we go into the New Year, I urge all of us to draw closer to God in all our endeavours as well as make selfless service our watchword.

“We must jettison all forms of laziness, selfishness and indolence in our daily activities. The New Year has a lot of new opportunities for those that are sensitive enough to tap into it.

“Although, the country is still battling with lots of challenges in terms of economic instability, however, I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Abia PDP dismisses defection of members to PPA

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BY ANAYO OKOLI

M UA H I A — A B I A State chapter of ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed as a ruse and fallacious report of the defection of some of its members to Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA. A report credited to the state chairman of the party, Prince Emeka Okafor, was quoted as saying that no fewer than 3000 members of PDP defected to PPA. However, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Uchechi Ogbuka, in a reaction, dismissed the claim and challenged PPA to mention the names of those who decamped, their wards and local government areas.

Ogbuka described the claim as laughable, saying PPA was “living in the world of fantasies”.

Imo pensioners appeal to govt over unpaid 10-yr pension arrears

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State chapter of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, has appealed to the state government to clear the 10 years of pension arrears to pensioners in the state to save them from further death.

The union cried out that scores of its members have died out of frustration, following unpaid pensions and gratuities.

Chairman of the chapter, Chief Gideon Ezeji, made the call during this year ’s Pensioner ’s Day in Owerri.

Ezeji reminded government that these senior citizens had paid their dues to the nation and its citizens when they were young, adding that it was not proper to treat them as outcasts.

One of the highlights of the event was the observance of a minute silence in honour of all dead pensioners, who died out of frustration while waiting for their unpaid pensions and gratuity.

Meanwhile, Imo State government said it had set in motion arrangement to clear the arrears of all NSAID pension and gratuity owed

retirees in the state.

The Head of Service, Mr. Callistus Ekenze, announced during the commemoration of this year’s Pensioners Day in Owerri.

Ekenze, who was represented by the Director of

Pensions, Mrs. Eziorsu DeNwaigwe, noted that the welfare of pensioners in the state remained a priority of the present administration.

The Head of Service enjoined pensioners in the state to exercise patience

with the government, adding that it would soon clear the backlog of the unpaid pensions and gratuities owed to them.

“I want to assure you that your interest is uppermost in our hearts,” the HOS said.

NEW YEAR SERVICE: From left: Dean, Faculty of Law, Enugu State Univerity of Science and Technology, Professor Gab Agu, his wife, Edna, and President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Enugu State chapter, Dame Esther Eze, during the New Year church service, at Anglican Cathedral Church of St. Mary, Ngwo, Enugu State, yesterday.

Imo Assembly now factionalised over APC

BY CHIDINKWOPARA WERRI—STRONG feelers coming from Imo State House of Assembly shows that the legislature is now factionalized into pro-All Progressives Congress, APC, and die-hard opponents of the new party.

The situation may be connected with the alleged spirited efforts by Governor Rochas Okorocha to woo the lawmakers to APC. Vanguard investigations revealed that while some lawmakers are favourably disposed to following Okorocha to APC, others appeared vehemently opposed to swallowing what they termed “the new political pill”.

Following the discordant tunes emanating from the legislature, the governor, it was also gathered, has started showing serious interest in the political party identities of the lawmakers.

It was also gathered that in his determined effort to cajole the lawmakers to switch over to APC, the governor held a meeting with the assemblymen, where he not

O

only bared his mind on the need for them to register in the new party, but also made huge promises to eventual decampees.

Some loyalists of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who still remain acolytes of Okorocha and

appear very ready to switch over to APC, have formed a block in the House.

Similarly, the anti-APC legislators made up of mainly loyalists of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and their confidants in APGA, have started working on their

survival strategies ahead of the 2015 general elections.

As at the time of going to press, no member of the House has publicly announced his or her intention to move to APC, as they are carefully watching the political events in the state.

Elechi pardons 15 prison inmates

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B A K A L I K I — GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has granted unconditional pardon and clemency to 15 indigenes of the state serving different jail terms in prisons across the country.

A statement in Abakaliki signed by Dr Ben Igwenyi, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice last Tuesday, said the pardon was in commemoration of Nigeria’s Centenary celebration.

It said the beneficiaries included eight inmates of Federal Prison Abakaliki, convicted for offences such as stealing and burglary.

The statement said seven

inmates of Enugu prisons, serving different jail terms for offences ranging from murder to armed robbery, also benefited from the pardon.

“The exercise is in accordance with the provisions of Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“It empowers the governor of a state to grant pardon to persons who are convicted of offences under State Law, after consultations with the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy,” it said.

The statement said Bernard Alifi was among the inmates serving capital sentence but

who had been granted pardon.

Alifi’s death sentence was earlier commuted to life imprisonment and later reduced to 10 years by the governor.

“Others include Ogbonnaya Ivi, Samuel Uguru, Obinna Aribodo, Ifeanyi Ibechukwu, Monday Nwibo and Obodo Opoke,” it said.

The statement, however, said the governor expressed the hope that the beneficiaries of the amnesty would turn a new leaf.

“The governor also urged them to utilise the vocations they learnt in prison to contribute to the development of their communities,” it said.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 —39 ,

Last Sun set 'saying' goodbye to the year 2013, at the kirikiri Canal, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau

DISTRIBUTION: From left, Deputy PDP Chairman, Bogoro Local Government Area, Mr. Markus Thomas; Secretary, Mr. Daniel Musa, and a member, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Ms Rifkatu Danna, during distribution of bags of rice by the member representing the area as New Year gift to her constituents, at Bogoro, Bauchi State.

CELEBRATION: Children celebrating the New Year, at Heritage Park, in Lagos, yesterday.

PDP governorship aspirant,Senator Iyiola Omishore, presenting New Year gift to one of the patients, at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, Mr. Tijani Jelili, and Acting Chief Medical Director, Professor Foluso Owotade, during Senator Omishore's New Year visit to the less privilleged, at Male Ward, OAUTHC, in Osun State, yesterday.

'CROSSOVER NIGHT: From left, Alhaji Lateef Ibirogba, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Mr. Niyi Alabi,Human Resouce Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mr. George Noah, Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, and Emeka Okpara, Director Corporate Communication, Airtel Nigeria, at the 'Crossover Night of Lagos Countdown 2013,' at Bar Beach Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

Young fun seekers, in Jos.

Shopping for New Year, at Oshodi market, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Shoppers buying fruits, at the popular "Oja-Oba" of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in prepara- New Year shoppers at Idumota market, Lagos Island, yesterday, tions for New Year celebration.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Zamfara govt approves N300m for mineral resources

I'm still loyal to Suntai — Taraba acting gov

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zSays 'cabals' tried to hijack govt in 2013

USAU—ZAMFARA State government, yesterday, said it has approved N300 million to conduct a census of its natural mineral resources across the state.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Mukhtar Lugga, announced this in an interview with newsmen in Gusau.

Lugga said that the state government had already bought machines and was partnering with foreign mining experts to realise the goal by January.

He said that the project would start in Maru and Anka local government areas of the state and called on the communities to cooperate with the government.

He said the state was endowed with various mineral resources, adding that the exercise would help the government to identify all its natural mineral resources.

According to him, government will invite more than 4,000 licensed mining companies in the state to discuss issues on improved mining activities.

...to train 1,000 women in ICT

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USAU—ZAMFARA State government has mooted plans to train 1,000 women on computer application as part of its efforts to ensure computer literacy among them.

The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Balkisu Bungudu, said this in Gusau while defending the ministry’s 2014 budget at the House of Assembly.

She said the programme would begin in Jan. 2014, adding that the women would be selected from the 14 local government areas of the state.

The commissioner said that women in the state, especially those in rural areas, were not given the opportunities to develop their human capacity, adding that they deserved consideration.

Bungudu said the current administration in the state was committed to ensuring that women were empowered.

She urged them to cooperate with the government in its crusade to transform the state.

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ALINGO—Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, yesterday said his loyalty to his ailing boss, Danbaba Suntai, was consistent and unshakable.

He also said his major challenge in 2013 was the ‘cabal,’ that tried to hijack governance by using the name of Governor Danbaba Suntai.

Umar, who made the disclosure in his New Year broadcast in Jalingo, said he was only holding brief for his principal, pending the time the governor fully recovered and was capable of resuming full duties as governor.

He said “as a loyal lieutenant, I will continue to hold brief for my boss by staying focused on his master plan for the development of our dear state.

Umar said: “My resolve to do so is borne out of the need to ensure continuity and completion of the set goals and objectives within the life span of the current administration, started about seven years ago.”

The acting governor listed some of his achievements to include the completion of work on Jalingo-Sunkani-Garba Chede Road and the completion and inauguration of Takum General Hospital.

Others, he added, include the connection of Suntai Village, the governor’s country home, to the national grid, as well as the state’s House of Assembly Service Commission Complex.

He said “it is to the credit of the current administration that local government workers are now enjoying a new minimum wage and we were able to pay September salaries of workers without federal statutory allocation.”

Umar urged the state House of Assembly to hasten the approval of the 2014 budget he earlier presented to it so that the process of implementation could begin early in the year.

He commended security agencies for their roles in maintaining peace in 2013, stressing that the efforts of traditional and religious leaders was remarkable.

Umar said his major challenge in 2013 was the ‘cabal,’ that tried to hijack governance by using the name of Gov. Danbaba Suntai.

He, however, assured the people of the state that the government had almost overcame the problem of the ‘cabal’, having succeeded in forming the executive council.

He stated that: “Our major challenge in 2013 was the cabal which tried to hijack the machinery of governance using the name of Suntai.

“I can assure the people of the state that I will not fold my hands and allow any individual or group to hijack the state. We have now appointed commissioners and formed Exco and set for a better 2014."

Suntai returned to Nigeria on August 25, 2013, after 10 months of medical treatment abroad, following a plane crash in Yola.

Umar defended the state government’s inability to pay former Governor Jolly Nyame his severance allowances.

He said the former governor failed to send a bill to the state assembly to pass a law enabling the state to pay

former governors in all the 10 years he was at the helm of affairs as chief executive.

He said: “I have sent a bill to the state assembly to make a law allowing the state to pay former governors their entitlements and the lawmakers are yet to complete work on the document.

“Nyame failed to do that during his time, but I have played my part, remaining that of the assembly.”

PRESENTATION— Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe (right), presenting an award to the best Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of the year, Mr Saleh Ibrahim, DPO Laranto police station, at the police officers' end of the year party in Jos, yesterday.

Zoning, an impediment to good governance — Rep

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—THE l a w m a k e r representing Makurdi/ Guma federal constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, yesterday kicked against the zoning of political offices at all levels.

According to him, zoning constitutes a major impediment to electoral contestation in the country.

Jime, who spoke in an interaction with newsmen said: “The truth is that I have never hidden my dislike for zoning in our politics as a people.

"I truly believe that zoning

actually conscript the political space and it makes political contestation uninteresting and encumbered, which is not good for the growth of democratic norms and practices.

"I think that our problem in Nigeria is not the issue of where a leader comes from, but that of good leadership.

"The truth is that if a leader is doing well, he will be appreciated and supported by all, irrespective of his background or section of the country or state where he comes from.

"That is why we must jettison the thought of ‘the person in power must be my person or brother’ before we can talk of development for

my people, that kills the spirit of unity and oneness in any society.

"Hence I keep talking of a paradigm shift from the mentality of tribe and religion; let’s begin to talk about how to improve the lives of our people and also dwell on the cores issues that will impact positively on the lives of our people that is what governance is all about."

Jime, who is chairman of House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT, however, said: “Though I must say that zoning has its merits, especially in a society of disgruntlement and alienation, zoning comes handy, that is the more reason we must start propagating those values that unite us as a people.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2014 — 41

C M Y K

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

BY SONI DANIEL & DAUD OLATUNJI

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HE National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, may invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo to shed more light on the allegation that his godson, President Goodluck Jonathan, was training no fewer than 1,000 snipers with a view to using them to perpetuate himself in power.

But Chief Obasanjo, when contacted on phone on whether he would appear before the NHRC, said he does not want to react to speculation.

Speaking through his media aide, Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, he told

Jonathan watch list: NHRC may invite Obasanjo next week zI don't react to speculation—Obasanjo Vanguard that he does not want to comment for now, adding “when we get to the bridge, we will cross it.

“We are not commenting on it. We are not commenting on speculation, when we get to the bridge we will cross it. I have Baba mandate not to comment on this issue.

Go to the human rights commission and ask about

the criteria of doing things,” Oladunjoye said.

It will be recalled that Obasanjo had in the controversial 18-page letter on December 2 last year, accused Jonathan of keeping some perceived political opponents on a ‘watch list.’

Immediately after the letter was made public, Rivers State governor, Mr

Rotimi Amaechi, who has been having a running political battle with the President and wife, Patience, claimed that he was on the presidential watch list.

However, a competent source at the NHRC told Vanguard that the commission would decide next week on what mode to use in handling the

assignment, which the Presidency forwarded to it.

The source, which did not want to be quoted because she had not been mandated to speak on the matter, said that the agency had a standard method of investigating such allegations and would take appropriate action from next Monday.

The source, said “We are still studying the letter sent to us by the Federal Government and we have a standard rule of dealing switch such a matter. No decision has yet been taken on how to handle the petition by the Presidency, but we will soon determine whether to invite the petitioner to shed more light on the issues raised by him or not.

“No panel has ever been set up to probe Obasanjo, as we have a standard method of dealing with such petition,” the source added.

Neither the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Bem Angwe, nor its spokesman, Mallam Muhammad Ladan, could be reached for comments on the probe of the

presidential petition against Obasanjo.

Numerous calls placed to the phone numbers of the top officials indicated that they had been switched off throughout the holiday period.

But indications emerged yesterday that Obasanjo might not be ready to be drawn into further discussion on the letter he wrote to Jonathan.

Obasanjo had said through one of his media aides, Tunde Oladunjoye that he had done his duty as an elder statesman and would no longer be ready to say more on the missile he fired to his political godson, Jonathan.

“Baba, as he already indicated in his December 2, 2013 (letter), does not wish to make further comments beyond the contents of his last letter to Mr. President or react to the said letter/response from Dr. Jonathan “I will maintain my serenity, because by this letter I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria,” Obasanjo maintained.

NUPENG denies suspension of planned strike

BY VICTOR AHIUMA YOUNG

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IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, debunked media report that it had suspended its planned strike to protest the Federal Government moves to privatize the four public refineries in the first quarter of this year, saying it was mobilizing for the strike.

NUPENG in a statement by its President, Igwe Achese, said there was no way it could suspend the planned strike when government had not suspended the plan to privatize the refineries.

The union insisted that the report that NUPENG suspended the strike was a pure fabrication as even Mr Elijah Okougbo quoted in the said report retired from the union over two years ago.

Vanguard gathered that the planned strike may begin January 8, a day after a meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka

Wogu, with Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and NUPENG on January 7.

However, NUPENG said, “The union states that the report is erroneous and full of distortions. Nupeng reiterates that the proposed strike over government plans to sell the nations four refineries has not been suspended.

NUPENG members in NNPC and its subsidiaries are in prayer sessions daily, calling for God’s intervention. The union is aware of a meeting being scheduled by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu but insists that the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke must be in attendance or else the exercise will be a mere ritual in futility.”

“The union calls on its members to disregard the information going round that the strike has been called off and intensify on the prayer session, which is a prelude to the nationwide strike coming up this week."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2014 — 43

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Jonathan in 2013

The lows and highs HE leadership of Africa’s most populous country is not for the faint hearted. And despite the misgivings of many Nigerians about the capacity and the capability of President Goodluck Jonathan, he has continued to demonstrate capabilities that belie his humble roots.

Security Although he inherited the menace of the Boko Haram from his predecessor in office, the ferocity of the attacks increased exponentially during the Jonathan presidency. In 2013, the sect appeared to have gained competences that appeared to have taken the security services by surprise.

Though the military’s capacity to contain the threat was significantly increased with more training and cooperation with other friendly countries, the brutal military tactics provoked an outcry from within and outside the country. In response to this, President Jonathan set up a committee headed by the minister of special duties, Tanimu Turaki to explore the possibility of granting amnesty to members of the sect.

Though a faction of the sect accepted the amnesty proposal, the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau rejected the offer out rightly and continued with its attacks on many parts of the Northeast.

The administration’s response was the proclamation of a state of emergency in the three states.

Though pockets of attacks are still being carried out by the sect in Borno and Yobe States, its capacity to carry out attacks in other parts of the country has been seriously curtailed.

Politics Even within his party, the PDP, President Jonathan had maintained a topsy-turvy relationship with some of its key members. The mini-convention of the party which was held in response to the non-recognition of some officers of the party’s executive committee by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC provided the needed platform for the emergence of a splinter group led by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and seven dissident governors.

The splinter group, which went with the name “New PDP,” had Governors Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso

LAST year was a very tumultuous one for the Jonathan’s presidency. From the blistering attacks by the Boko Haram sect in the Northeast, the revolt by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the contentions on the necessity of a national conference, the allegations of sleaze and the open letters, President Goodluck Jonathan was buffeted by issues that would have overwhelmed any lily-livered leader.

•Jonathan (Kano), Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers). The emergence of the group was partly a culmination of a bitter power struggle that began with the election of the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

Although majority of the governors (19) elected the Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi as their leader, the leadership of the PDP and the presidency recognised Jonah Jang who was voted for by 16 of his colleagues.

Despite the deep schism created by the action of the new PDP, the president made attempts to paper over the cracks. Series of meetings were held between the president and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Party, Chief Tony Anenih, on the one hand and the nPDP on the

other to find a common ground.

The defection of five of the original seven governors from the PDP to the opposition APC represents the spectacular failure of the reconciliation efforts initiated by the chairman of the BOT of the party which at a point even co-opted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim

,

T

President Jonathan. In the letter which was devoid of niceties, the former president raised concerns about the state of the economy, especially the mismanagement of the oil and gas sector, corruption, security and the president’s yetto-be declared second term bid.

He urged Jonathan to strive to be a national leader instead of

despite the misgivings of many Nigerians about the capacity and the capability of President Jonathan, he has continued to demonstrate innate capabilities that belie his humble roots

Babangida to intervene on behalf of the president and the party.

But what perhaps shook watchers of the political terrain more than any other even in the preceding year was the 18-page letter written by Obasanjo to

,

allowing himself to be held hostage to power by his clansmen.

President Obasanjo noted in the letter that despite Jonathan’s assurances to him in 2011 and to other prominent Nigerians that he would only do one-term in

office, there are indications that he is engaged in scheming for a second term.

“Knowing what happens around you most of which you know of and condone or deny, this letter will provoke cacophony from hired and unhired attackers but I will maintain my serenity because by this letter, I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria,” Obasanjo wrote.

“I have passed the stage of being flattered, intimidated, threatened, frightened, induced or bought… Death is the end of all human beings and May it come when God wills it to come.”

In a warning that was both foreboding and instructive, President Obasanjo told Jonathan pointedly that ”Nigeria is bleeding and the haemorrhage must be stopped, before it is too late.”

Dr. Jonathan’s initial response was conveyed in a press statement issued by his media adviser, Dr. Rueben Abati who acknowledged the letter that had been leaked to the media.

He said it was “highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that a letter written by a former head of state and respected elder statesman to President Jonathan has been deliberately leaked to the mass media in a deplorable effort to impugn the integrity of the president and denigrate his commitment to giving Nigeria the best possible leadership”. He however said because of the weighty nature of the allegations, the president was going to reply the letter personally.

For a man who is known to have written letters to his successors in office the consequences of which have almost always been dire, Jonathan did not take the letter lightly. After a week or two of contemplation, the president who had urged his aides not to respond to his one time benefactor on the ground that he would personally respond, replied in kind.

And in a reply that was both detailed and profound, President Jonathan gave ten reasons why he took the decision to reply to his benefactor turned adversary saying: “The third reason why I must reply you in writing is that your letter is clearly a threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion.”

Besides, Jonathan said: “The eighth reason is that it appears that your letter was designed to incite Nigerians from other

Continues on page 45

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—45

Rivers State in 2013:

Flood of crises BOTTLED up tension and intrigues that had characterized the relationship between the political leaders of Rivers State broke into a flood of unprecedented trouble for inhabitants and citizens of the Treasure Base of the Nation in 2013.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

2

013 was certainly a tumultuous one for the political class in Rivers State.

For the first time since the return of democratic governance in 1999 the State House of Assembly was shut down with its functions taken over by the National Assembly.

At the time of writing this piece the Assembly was still under lock and key with heavily armed security operatives around the premises to keep away the lawmakers.

2013 was also the year that the House of Assembly witnessed a crack that polarised lawmakers into two camps; 27 members supportive of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the other five members styled as anti-Amaechi legislators.

It was also the first time since 1999 that there would be a dispute over the office of Speaker of the House of Assembly.

The split followed a move on July 11, 2013 by the five anti Amaechi lawmakers to impeach the rabidly pro Amaechi speaker, Otelemaba Amachree. In the melee that followed the abortive move, the camp of five elected Hon Evans Bipi as the new Speaker of the House.

Though it was largely a failed move, but the five lawmakers and a faction of the PDP in the state have continued to recognize Bipi as the Speaker of the House.

Bipi, reportedly a former aide of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, it is believed is also drawing support from Abuja having blasphemously claimed to the chagrin of many Christians that Mrs. Jonathan is his “Jesus Christ on earth.”

The House has remained closed after that day as efforts to reconvene the House by either party met stern resistance from security operatives.

The Rivers state House of Assembly had hitherto been viewed as the most politically stable House of Assembly in the country.

It would be recalled that Governor Amaechi was a two term Speaker of the House during the reign of former Governor Peter Odili following which he passed on the baton to his former deputy, Tonye Harry.

Harry who passed on recently lost the position to Otelemaba Amachree in the second term of Governor Amaechi.

Last year was also the first time in the political history of the House that majority of the

•Amaechi members would be suspended by the political party on whose platform they won elections into the House. Factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, Mr Felix Obuah had suspended the twenty seven pro-Amaechi lawmakers in the House for their refusal to comply with the party’s directive that they should lift the suspension they placed on the Chairman and seventeen councillors of Obio Akpor Local Government Area in the state.

2013 was also the year that the

then ruling party, PDP, was factionalised with one group loyal to the governor and the other paying allegiance to the Supervising Minister of Education, Bar Nyesom Wike.

Strangely in the same year, Governor Amaechi was suspended by his former party, the PDP. It was the first time in the political history of the new Rivers state (after Bayelsa was carved out) that the governor would go through such in the hands of a party on which he came into office.

Dramatically, it was also in 2013 that a governor in the state would dump the party on which he came into his office for a fresh party, thus making his new party, APC, the ruling party in the state.

The year under review was dramatic politically in the state.

Obio Akpor local government and the seventeen councillors were also suspended in the year by the House of Assembly before the council was formally dissolved by the governor. It was also in the same year that for the first time a local government council Chairman and the seventeen councillors refused to comply with an order by the governor dissolving the council, saying that the governor acted outside his constitutional powers.

The council at the beginning of the New Year had two heads; the chairman of the dissolved council, Timothy Nsirim and the Head of Local Government Personnel, Mr Azuibuike Singer who was so delegated by the governor after dissolving the local government council.

The state judiciary was also not immune from the crisis that rocked the state in 2013 as there was opposition to the appointment of Justice Peter Agumagu as acting Chief Judge of the state. Some members of the judiciary had challenged the appointment saying that the governor violated procedures with his action. But the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Worgu Boms said the governor’s action was in order.

It was also in 2013 that the Ogonis had to seek the face of God Almighty to help prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the United Nation Environment Programm, UNEP report on Ogoni. The report which was released two years ago had among other things called on the government to take urgent steps to clean up pollution in the area arising from oil spillages.

Senator Magnus Abe representing Rivers South East senatorial district who spoke at the church service in Bori, headquarters of Khana local government area last year said they had to take their case to God after the Federal Government showed reluctance to the implementation of the recommendations by UNEP on the area.

It was not entirely politics in the state. The popular Mile One market in the state was razed down by a strange fire. Some of the traders blamed the sad incident on ritualists within their circle while others placed it on the door step of the political crisis rocking the state.

Proponents of the rituals theory said a ritualist had confessed recently that he was behind some of the markets that caught fire in the eastern part of the country.

The ritualist, according to the trader, said he set several markets on fire as a spiritual condition for him to be rich.

Those who linked the political crisis with the inferno said one party in the crisis may have thought of securing political gains by putting the market on fire.

It was also in the year that the first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan held a colourful funeral programme for her foster mother, Madam Charity Oba. After a year full of intrigues and tension, the prayer of residents and citizens of the state is that the peace that exceeds all understanding should reign in the state this New Year.

Jonathan's lows and highs Continues from page 44 geopolitical zones against me and also calculated to promote ethnic disharmony. Worse still, your letter was designed to instigate members of our party, the PDP, against me.

He said the former president’s ‘letter conveys to me the feeling that landmines have been laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to have my response to the issues raised before the mines explode.

“The tenth and final reason why my reply is inevitable is that you have written similar letters and made public comments in reference to all former presidents and heads of government starting from Alhaji Shehu Shagari and these have instigated different

actions and reactions. The purpose and direction of your letter is distinctly ominous, and before it is too late, my clarifications on the issues need to be placed on record”.

The president also challenged Obasanjo to provide proof that he (Jonathan) was training killers to hunt down his political opponents ahead of the 2015 election, just as he raised the alarm that criminally minded persons may use the unfounded allegation as an alibi to perpetrate evil in the country as the general election approaches.

He also accused Obasanjo of having failed to resolve any of the politically motivated killings under his administration even as he pointed out that none of the

perpetrators of several attempts on his life was arrested when his house was bombed by unknown men in Bayelsa. It was a reply that left no one in doubt that the otherwise cozy relationship that existed between the two men had gone irredeemably bad.

Corruption One of the issues that stuck out as a sore point in the fight against corruption by the Jonathan presidency was the issue of the purchase of bullet proof cars by the minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah. The cars which were bought at a price of $1.2Million raised so much dust that the president was forced to set up an administrative committee to investigate the circumstances of

the purchase of the cars. The failure of the president to act on the committee’s report has given his opponents the necessary ground to peddle the allegation that the setting up of the committee was a mere window dressing.

The president was in the last year a target of relentless attacks from the opposition, who understandably played down much of the successes of the administration.

The unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN which had remained almost unachievable was concluded last year, the airports have been modernised.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Nigerians honour Madiba, the apostle of courage in Lagos

By JAPHET ALAKAM

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he stage was well decorated with a banner with the picture of Mandela and next to it was another banner with Nigeria flag and that of their South African counterpart with the portrait of Mandela with the inscription; Lagos: Tribute to Mandela at Freedom Park.

On the other side were Nigerians from all walks of life who gathered at the former prison yard turned Freedom park to pay glowing tributes to the fiirst democratically elected black South African President whose legend as freedom fighter, democrat, philanthropist, humanitarian, nation builder, unifier, liberator, change agent and Nobel Peace Prize winner continues to reverberate around the world even in death, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Tagged ‘Lagos: Tribute to Mandela’ , the event which was well attended by writers, politicians, poets, activists and community and religious leaders which was hosted by

Femi Kuti and his band perfoming at the night of tributes

poem ‘No he said’ celebrating Mandela’s refusal to be released from jail conditionally.

After that, the Lagos City Chorale led by Sir Emeka Nwokedi clad in their national colours opened with the South African National Anthem and

In Mandela, Africa and the world have lost the rarest example of courage, a foremost apostle of freedom, he was a valued elder to all humanity and remains a reference point in terms of doggedness and consistency

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Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka afforded them the opportunity to relive their memories about one of the greatest man that ever lived on the planet earth.

The Nobel Laureate welcomed all to the event and unto the person who was not present, Mandela, he read a

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did about four other songs from South Africa before rapping it up with Lithisikiya (Give me key to life). Professor Kole Omotoso, read a poem taken from Ifa divination that relates to Mandela while President of the Campaign for Democracy, Joe OkeiOdumakin, in her tribute

entitled Tribute to icon of all times said, “In Mandela, Africa and the world have lost the rarest example of courage, a foremost apostle of freedom.

He was a valued elder to all humanity and remains a reference point in terms of doggedness and consistency.

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igerian leaders need to enroll in Mandela’s school of leadership.”

Poet and academic, Ogaga Ifowodo, who as secretary general of UNIBEN SUG presided over a sectariat named after Mandela read excerpts from ‘Mandela’s Mantle’ comprising 27 sonnets with each representing a year Madiba spent in jail. But he only read the last sonnet.

Dagga Tolar, former Lagos State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) chair, added activism to his reading as he read a poem titled ‘This country, undying, undead’.

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, brought his unfinished battle with the Federal Government as he used the occasion to launch another attack on them and the Nigerian people for their perceived docility. He read an excerpt from what Mandela said about Nigeria and the dearth of quality leadership in the country.

Lagos Poet, Odia Ofeimun, who read a poem in the way it hit Mandela and you, taking from a poem by dance drama from Shaka Zulu, ‘The Feast of Return’ disagreed with Amaechi. “Governor Rotimi Amaechi has confidently confessed that he’s not going to be one of us on the street.

The reason is that what we need to do what we have not yet done,” Ofeimun said. He added that he is one of the leaders who believe in outsourcing jobs Nigerians can do to foreigners hence perpetuating poverty. Ofe-

Italian Gigi Micheletti’s show of colours and ideas

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here ever art goes, people go and so was it penultimate week when art lovers, diplomats and others gathered at the Consulate General of Italv, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos for a solo exhibition by Italian born Gigi Micheletti.

The event which was organized by Mrs. Mia El Khoury Comazzi, Gigi Micheletti’s representative featured some of the latest offerings from the artists. According to her, the exhibition intends to promote Micheletti as an artist especially among so many well known Nigerian artists, to show them his art work, well mixed colors, and the

outstanding imagination he had solely put on canvas.

Micheletti was listed amongst the artists in one of the most important Italian Art Magazine ‘’ARTE”. 1000 artists participated and he was between the 120 semi finalists del Premio Arte 2013, selected by the editors of “ARTE”, Cairo Fditore.

Art collectors and lovers in the country were stirred by the unusual ideas from the works, as they felt the cozy ambience in an art world with delicious Italian delicacies and fine champagne. Irene Fowler, a lover of art described the works as “captivat-

ing” adding that she likes the way he blends the classical with the abstract.

For Rabah Mudah, “Gigi’s works is a perception, the bringing of the subconscious into reality, it’ is a dream”.

For the artist who confessed that he is inspired by one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century Jimmy llendrix. “I have been living and working in Nigeria for over thirty years, my experience with the busy life around here keeps me painting as well’”, says Micheletti ‘

imun, however enjoined all to learn from the greatest lessons of Mandela which is reconciliation devoid of bitterness.

Prof. Babawale of Centre for Black African Arts and Civilization(CBAAC) who reflected on Mandela’s visit to Nigeria few days after his release from prison said “ The departure of Madiba broke our hearts but we are happy by the footprints he left on the sands of time,” he said adding that Mandela’s life had vision and mission and thus ended on a sweet note.

Others who read include, Executive Editor of The News Magazine, Kunle Ajibade, , Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola ,Femi Falana and the Consul-General of the South African High Commission in Nigeria, Mokgethi Monaisa, who expressed happiness at the honour accorded Mandela and disclosed that his country would miss Madiba greatly.

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he night also featured performances by the Crown Troupe of Africa and its children’s arm, Footprints of David. Singer Aduke Aladekomo did two songs; Paul Wagbayi’s Black Image Theatre did a dance while Tunji Sotimirin was his usual self as he mimicked the Madiba giving a speech.

Femi Kuti wrapped up the evening with a performance the audience thoroughly enjoyed. His band opened with ‘Army Arrangement’ before he joined them to do ‘Water no get enemy’, ‘Wonder, wonder’ and ‘Wey our money’.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014‘ — 47

Events that shaped the literary scene in 2013

By JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

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he amazing number of Magazines and books that make their way into the news stand and bookshops all over Nigeria on a daily basis, makes it difficult for one to come to terms with the wide believe that the readership culture of Nigerians is poor, for if people are not reading, more writers wouldn’t come on board.

Despite the poor funding of

the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG).

Also, US based Nigerian writer Tope Folarin won the 2013 prestigious Caine Prize for African writing. The year also saw the institution of another prize for literature by one of the telecommunication giants, Etisalat known as the pan-African Etisalat Prize in Literature devoted to the first book of fiction by a writer of African origin. Already, the longlist of nine has been announced.

One of the major events that took place was the 2013 Lagos

The year also saw the institution of another prize for literature by one of the telecommunication giants, Etisalat known as the panAfrican Etisalat Prize

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educational institutions and inability of the government to provide an enabling environment for the much campaingned Bring Back The Book, a lot of activities took place in the literary circle.

Many books were published while book festivals and literary prizes took place in 2013 which is a sign of great improvement in the literary industry.

The high point of literature in the out gone year was the emergence of Tade Ipadeola as reigning Poet Laureate after his book, “The Sahara Testaments”, beat 200 others to win the 2013 Nigeria Prize For Literature, sponsored by

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Book and Arts Festival (LABAF) which took place in November at Freedom Park, Lagos and it was held in memory of Africa’s literary giant, late Prof.

Chinualumogu Achebe, who passed on earlier in the year.

The festival, organised by the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), which was in its 15th year, was themed “Nigeria’s Centenary: The Lagos Narrative”.

It featured mentoring sessions, festival colloquium, workshops, documentary film screening, poetry reading, book discussions and so many interesting events.

Of huge impact was the Port

Harcourt Book Festival (PHBF)formerly Garden City Literary Festival which held last October. The festival provided a platform for interaction between writers, students, book enthusiasts and stakeholders in the publishing industry who were at the Garden City, venue of the Festival .

Another major event in the art and book festival, was the entry of the Ake Art and Book Festival, AABF, held at Abeaokuta. The brain child of author, Lola Shoneyin joined other heavyweights in the Art and Book Festival to continue to bring back the book to the consciousness of Nigerians.

Ofcourse, there was also The Lagos International Book Fair held at its traditional venue of the University of Lagos, UNILAG in May. The year witnessed the launch of many new books during and outside of these festivals.

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n the aspect of book presentation, one book which stirred up heated debates and criticisms. was “There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra”, authored by Late literary icon, Prof Chinua Achebe. More than any other book published in the history of Nigeria, Achebe’s masterpiece, was the topic of discussion during virtually every event in the country.

Other books that took the headlines were: The Accidental Public Servant, a 627 page autobiography by Nasir El Rufai; Chimamanda Adiche’s Americanah, a powerful sto-

ry of love, race and identity, that elicited applause and discussions from the general public; Kalakuta Diaries, a personal narrative and chartacters of the events that propelled and defined an African social political setting in Lagos, by Uwa Erhabor. Also published were, Dr Evarist Nwosu’s book on leadership titled “Leadership & Developmental Issues in Nigeria: A Search for Development Strategies” ; A biography of Prof P B Ikulayo entitled, “First In Her Class” authored by Dr Olusegun Olu-Osayomi ; “Emergency Pre-hospital Care for Africa”, written by the Managing Director of Flying Doctors, Dr Ola Orekunrin.

Performance poet, Iquo Eke’s debut book, “Symphony of Becoming”, a collection of poetry which was released earlier in the year, was well received as it made the long list of the Nigeria Prize For Literature; A Cultural and

Historical Companion by Kaye Whiteman was also presented to the public in the mega city.

Whiteman, a former editor of the now defunct West Africa magazine, first visited Lagos in 1964 and has reported from and about the city ever since. lso published were,Conversations with Lamidi Fake, authored

by Dr, Ohioma Pogoson and Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, presented to the public at Freedom Park, Broad Street, L a g o s . P e l u Awofeso’s newly published travel books, Tour of Duty: Journeys Around Nigeria and Sketches of Everyday Life, and Nigerian Festivals: The Famous and Not So Famous; Indigo by Molara Wood, Fresh Air and Other Stories by Reward Nsirim.

Despite these laudable goals recordedin 2013, the year also recorded many misfortunes in the literary angle, but that will be published later.

A

SONGS OF AFRICA Africa sings!

A warmth melodious song With sonorous voice I heard the soft sound Felt the warmth And healing power Africa sings!

The songs of love Songs of hope And beauty She pours out’emotions Heart of gold Africa sings!

She sings a traditional song The beauty of her soul

Blossom of her land Wealth of beauty Culture and tradition In plentiful tongues Africa sings!

Barren Sahara blossoms Lake Victoria dances rhythmically Land gives out Stars of Africa Softly, sun smiles down on her And heavens rain blessings Africa! Blessed Africa!

•By Seun Akala

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

OATUU mourns Mandela

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RGANISATION of Afri can Trade Union Unity, OATUU, has said Mandela’s life was one of service, sacrifice, freedom, organizing the oppressed, preaching love, building peace, and teaching humanity that the world, to survive, must be built on social justice.

Secretary General of OATUU, Owei Lakemfa, in a statement said “from his trials to 27 years in prison and his post prison leadership of the world as a moral authority, he inspired generations to be committed to making the world a better place than they met it.

"He taught humanity to build all-inclusive societies and evolve human-centred policies. In a world with a prevalent thirst for power, his decision to serve only one term as president of independent South Africa was a moral lesson to all.

“This enhanced his moral authority and emphasized the fact that one does not need to wield political power before being an agent of positive change.

“He was also one leader that understood the power of words, and committed to print, his noble ideas and legacy. We are proud that Africa produced such a matchless leader who is an inspiration to humanity.

We congratulate the African National Congress (ANC) whose organizational structures and vision produced international fighters for humanity like Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Joe Slovo, Ruth First and J.B Marks, the trade unionist who inspired Mandela and set him on an irreversible course.

…textile workers too

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ATIONAL Union of Tex tile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, has said members received with heavy heart the eventual departure of Nelson Mandela the founding father of modern democratic South Africa and a towering political figure out of Africa in the 21st century.

In a statement by its General Secretary, Issa Aremu, among others, the union said “Madiba was a close ally of the global trade union movement both in the struggle against apartheid and decent work agenda as demanded by the International Labour Organisation, ILO. According to Mandela, “, jobs and jobs are the dividing line in many families between a decent life and a wretched existence” – Nelson MANDELA (1979). By this statement Nelson Mandela rightly pointed out that life is miserable without work.

Stakeholders push for pro-employment legislations

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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HE 9th Labour Summit of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, last month, will for a long time to come remain a subject for discourse especially within the labour movement. Besides the theme; Labour Laws, Institutional Reforms and Development Process in Nigeria, speakers were unanimous that current employment laws are not such that guarantee development process in the country.

Presenting the lead paper, presiding judge, National Industrial Court, NIC, Lagos Division, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, said Nigeria’s focus on unbridled free-market theories might be her undoing as the examples of economies that ‘made it’ in recent times showed that a good deal of government planning went into the economic policies that saw them move to what they are now.

In a 53-page presentation, Justice Kanyip argued that the magic wand was that the policy framework to be adopted must be pro-employment/jobs building in the decent work agenda espoused by the International Labour Organisation, ILO. Kanyip said: “We only need to appreciate what developed economies are doing presently to create and safeguard jobs for us to appreciate the point being made. Which nation has developed in history with the kind of high unemployment rate that we presently have in the country?”

On the crisis of labour law in terms of the quality of labour justice as seen in the treatment of labour rights by the law, he said “ whether or not labour law today performs its desired goals remains the question.

“In all, there is the need for some sort of re-conceptualization of the basic assumptions of labour law if the goals of labour law are to be realizable.

“This is where the stakeholders come in; and my thinking here is that labour law suffers from certain basic doctrinal or conceptual problems that have not engaged enough attention of the stakeholders and academics in Nigeria in the manner that these problems have elsewhere." " The time to begin to address these problems is actually now.

The Third Alteration to the 1999 Constitution provides for us the starting point. It provides for us the yardstick to develop labour jurisprudence in the country to enviable heights. It is a piece of legislation that so far, by my reckoning, has been grossly underutilized.”

Fundamental re-evaluation reevaluation of labour laws

From left: Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, President of the NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Ladi Iliya displaying her award of fellowship of MINILS, and the Director General of MINILS, Dr. John Olanrewaju at the MINILS Labour summit.

“Labour law faces many new challenges. A changing labour market requires new conceptions of the notion of the worker.

“The flexible labour market has melted the boundary between employment and unemployment, with job insecurity elevated into a market asset."

"The frontier between paid work and the home is challenged by the entry of women into the labour market. Globalization threatens to prioritise competition, undercutting basic social rights: and the role of the state is undermined by increasingly mobile corporate capital.

“Technological change means that knowledge resources are a crucial future asset; and there are significant demographic changes such as ageing, low birth rate and immigration."

“These changes create new challenges. Trade unions have traditionally catered for those in work, to the exclusion of those out of work; and it is only relatively recently that trade unions have focused their efforts on marginal workers, women, minorities, disabled people and older people. In addition, because it eschews positive collective rights, collective laissez-faire is dependent on individual might, and therefore, on full employment.

“In this scenario, all you have to do to undercut trade union power is to induce high levels of unemployment.

“Labour law needs a fundamental re-evaluation if it is to continue to have a transformative effect. It needs to move beyond the formal labour market, and address the increasingly fluid boundaries between work and family, employment and unemployment, and different types of workers.

“It cannot continue to assume

autonomy from other branches of the law, and in particular, from welfare and family law.

“Equality must be couched not only in terms of countervailing power of workers and employers, but also in respect of heterogeneous parts of the labour force and the broader society.

“In facing the challenge of globalisation, it is crucial to create a framework of social

unions is inimical to freedom of association and the right to fair hearing and must therefore be stopped through appropriate legislation”.

Governor Ahmed also insisted that government must create space for engagement with key stakeholders such as labour to gauge public needs, noting however that such engagement with labour was often forced by threats of or ac-

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BITS Bits

The flexible labour market has melted the boundary between employment and unemployment, with job insecurity elevated into a market asset

rights to counterbalance the hegemony of free trade ideology. At the same time... the effectiveness of the law in bringing about social change should not be over-estimated. "

Review of employment law Declaring the summit open, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State called for the review of employment laws to protect the interest of workers no matter where employed in the country.

Represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kishira, the governor argued that “a situation where workers are summarily dismissed, especially in the private and informal sectors without due process or where employees are barred from forming, or joining labor

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tual industrial action.

Earlier, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, disclosed that “In the next months, we intend to focus on where and how we can intervene to ensure that finalization of several other labour law-related initiatives activated in the past, which are now at different stages in the legislative process.

“The goal is to bring our labour statutes and the labour administration system in line with international best practice.”

“Any casual observer of the work of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity will not fail to notice our emphasis on pro-active measures. By espousing dialogue and democratic participation, we have been able to resolve very many industrial relations challenges before they degenerated to disruptive levels.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014—49

contributory public pension scheme. The challenge lies in deepening the new contributory pension scheme."

STUDY VISIT: From left: Hon Moses Lugoloobi, member Ugandan Parliament, MD\CEO Trustfund Pensions Plc, Mrs. Helen Da-Souza, CEO Ugandan Benefits Regulatory Authority, Mr. Moses Bekabye and Mrs Rachael Osa Obi, Chief Compliance Officer, Trustfund Pensions, during a study visit to Trustfund Head office by the Ugandan Pensions officials in Abuja.

Pension: Labour demands stiffer sanctions against non-compliance …urges Jonathan not to politicize appointment of PenCom chairman, DG

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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RGANISED labour has called on the National Assembly to take advantage of the ongoing Pension reform amendment Bill 2013, to tighten sanction for non compliance and review the rate of contribution among others.

A Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who spoke at the opening of National Pension Commission, PenCom zonal office in Kano, also advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to politicize the appointment of the Chairman and DirectorGeneral, DG, of the National Pension Commission, PenCom in Kano, Kano State.

Aremu who is also the General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, commended PenCom for changing the story of pensioners from that of agony to contributory pool fund, sustainable fund for pension claims after retirement.

According to him, “PenCom’s remarkable growth and development in just less than 10 years of its establishment, shows that Nigeria is capable of institution building. With 20 PFAs, seven closed pension fund administrators, four Pension Fund Custodians with turnover of billions of Naira, about N3.7 trillion worth of pension fund assets and 5.83 million registered workers

Pencom deserves commendation.

We acknowledge the fact that the Ag. Director General of PenCom, Ms. Chinelo AnohuAmazu within a short time has consolidated the gains of the past by her predecessor, opening new frontiers as we are witnessing today. North West Zonal office in Kano has added to the number of Zonal Offices that have been commendably commissioned

by PenCom namely Lagos, Ilorin, Calabar and Awka."

"With the opening of

PenCom’s North West Zonal office in Kano, we expect Kano State to soonest also join the new contributory pension scheme. The old defined benefit scheme as good as it could be is not sustainable.

With the new pension scheme, there is good corporate governance, strengthened Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, with guaranteed transparency and accountability. All the revelations about the public sector pension scam show that we must urgently think

outside the box of unfunded, crime-prone defined benefit (DB). The future lies in the mandatory individual defined contributions which the Pension reform Act represents."

"The bane of public sector pension lies in its noncontributory character as well as sheer corruption and diversion of funds even allegedly for partisan political purposes. NLC protest in the past over pension is legitimately directed against this much abused non

Pension reform amendment Bill 2013 The NLC Vic President lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for trying to deepen and strengthen the pension scheme through the Pension Reform amendment Bill 2013, saying “We commend the National Assembly through the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service and House Committee on Pensions for the commitment to improve on the Pension Reform Act 2004.

It is good the Pension Reform Act is being amended to further widen the scope of coverage to include the infor mal sector, tighten sanction for non compliance and review the rate of contribution among others.

At the end of the day, what is important is that every working man or woman should be paid on retirement from work.”

“We therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan to avoid the temptation to politicize the positions of Chairmanship of the Board of PenCom as well as its Director General. We should rely on those who have the experience and competence to manage the fund.

“They are not far-fetched if we look inwards. The President should have an eye on institution building which requires statesmanship and not partisanship. We cannot afford to play politics with the new pension scheme given the ugly experience of the recent past. From the point of view of labour, the pension scheme will be a determinant factor for 2015 general election.

“Labour will make pension issue a campaign issue and will support only politicians who pay minimum wage and minimum pension for working men and women.”

Trustfund Pensions plans big for informal sector

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

T

RUSTFUND Pensions Plc, has concluded plans to move into the informal sector of the economy to bring the vast workers into its fold as soon as soon as National Pension Commission (PenCom) releases the guidelines for informal sector workers’ participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme.

This came as head of Ugandan’s Parliament delegation to Nigeria, Amos Lugoloobi, commended the ownership structure of Trustfund Pension Plc describing it as a perfect setting required to boost confidence in pension administration.

Managing Director of Trusfund Pensions, Mrs. Helen Da-Souza, who spoke in Abuja,

explained that the untapped informal sector made about 80 per cent of the prospective contributors in the country.

Da-Souza said while the scheme had made tremendous inroads into registering workers in the formal sector, the scheme was still without the informal sector, the largest part of the working population.

According to her, Trustfund planned to move into the untapped market as soon as the guidelines are put in place by the Pension commission, saying “the informal sector makes about 80 per cent of the prospective contributors in the country. So, we are working with National Pension Commission, which is setting up guidelines and platforms to capture this strategic sector of the Nigerian economy.”

Meantime Parliamentarian

Lugoloobi said Trustfund Pensions had a prefect ownership structure that evoked trust among workers which could be adopted by any other country of the world.

Besides, he said that the involvement of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in the Trustfund Pension scheme was an eloquent testimony of the confidence and protection workers in Nigeria had on the scheme, noting that the implementation of the contributory pension scheme by Nigeria had proven to be the best way to go in pension fund administration.

According to him, “We are in Nigeria because we have heard that Nigeria is one of the countries that have done very well in pension management and we thought we have a few things to learn from pension

administration that has been put in place by Nigeria. We are trying to reform the pension subsector of the Ugandan economy, which has been in turmoil.

“We are on a working visit to National Pension Commission to study on pension funds move from the point of contribution to its final destination when retiree can access his or her retirement benefits and also how the money is invested with a view to generating income for those contributing into the scheme.”

Lugoloobi disclosed that there were 160,000 workforce in Uganda that had not contributed to pension fund which he said had led to huge unpaid pension fund.

“Right now, we have so many retirees that have come up and that has put a lot of liabilities on the budget of the country that we have been unable to pay.”

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

How meat, fish, eggs raise cancer risk

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

I

T is a new year, and coming on the heels of the yuletide, this is a period often marked with heavy consumption of animal products such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, among others.

Building on existing evidence linking consumption of animal products to cancer risk, experts have again linked indulgence in diets that are high in animal products notably beef, fish, eggs, and other meats, to development of high cancer rates.

Over the years, research has tried to explain the connection between meat and meat products consumption and cancer risk. While some say meat is devoid of fibre and other nutrients that have a protective effect, others argue that meat contains animal protein, saturated fat, and, in some cases, carcinogenic compounds Cancer researchers have long established that people who avoid meat are much less likely to develop the disease. Large studies have showed that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat eaters. Harvard studies have also showed that daily meat eaters have approximately three times the colon cancer risk, compared to those who rarely eat meat.

In a recent publication in Nutrients, experts say the results which could impact international food policies when compared with indices for riskmodifying factors.

Researchers also state that there is usually a lag of about 20 years between dietary changes and peak cancer rates, According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, meat, fish and eggs are included in the animal products index, and data shows that diets high in animal products have the the strongest association to rates of certain cancers, including breast and prostate.

Animal products tend to have the

strongest correlation among certain cancers, including female breast, kidney, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, testicular and thyroid cancer.

Animal products may increase cancer risks, the researchers say, because they promote growth of the body as well as tumours by producing insulin-

like growth factor-I (IGF-I).

Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee and a faculty member of the George Washington University School of Medicine, says there is a strong relationships between meaty diets and cancer risk. There's a clear-cut lesson there for national food policies.

•Uncontrolled consumption of meat, fish and eggs potentially raises cancer risk.

NPHCDA not under probe — ADO

BY VICTORIA OJEME

T

HE National Primary Health Care De velopment Agency, NPHCDA, is not under probe but was collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC to carry out a system review.

Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr, Ado Mohammed, noted at an interactive session in Abuja, that the Agency is committed to improvement of its services.

"We are collaborating with the ICPC under a study review. The ICPC is studying and reviewing systems in different organisations, they have done it in education and also is doing it in other sectors and have not come to the health sector, but because the NPHCDA is the corner stone of the health sector, we are collaborating with the ICPC to see how we can improve the primary healthcare delivery in the country. So, we are collaborating with the ICPC in terms of completion of constituency projects from 2006 till date.

"Nigeria has continued to sustain gains in the fight Wild Polio Virus with only 50 cases reported in 2013. This represents a 57 per cent reduction from 121 cases in 2012 and in addition, no case of Type 3 WPV has been seen in 2013. This development has clearly placed Nigeria on the path of interruption by the end of 2014," he said.

McDonald’s corporation shuts official website

T

HE world's most well-known fast food corporation, McDonald's corporation, has officially shut down its "McResource Line" after an internal resource created for its employees embarrassingly advised them to stop eating its own food offerings.

An official nutrition guide posted on the site had warned employees that eating a burger, fries and a cola is an "unhealthy choice" when it comes to food.

Originally developed to help McDonald's employees take ownership of their own health through communication and education, the McResource Line, which draws its content from various third-party sources, had a photo feature displaying a cheeseburger meal like the kind sold at McDonald's, labeled the "unhealthy choice," in contrast with a submarine sandwich, salad and water,

labeled the "healthier choice," an image that was later pulled by the company.

"We are temporarily performing some maintenance in order to provide you with the best experience possible," read a new landing page posted not longer after officials caught wind of the inconvenient photo. "Please excuse us while these upgrades are being made," it added humorously.

FREQUENTLY ASKED SEXUAL QUESTIONS , ANSWERS & TESTIMONIES

G

OOD day sir. Please what is the ideal age for a man to get married? Thank you – Chima Dear Chima, there is no ideal age for a man to get married. Sometimes one can have all the basics in place such as a university education, a good job, a house and a stable income and still be mentally unprepared.

A lot of married men today hate being married because they were not ready for it and this affects the marriage and family a great deal. So in addition to having a house, a stable income etc., a man should get married when he feels mentally prepared.

But he should do this before he is 35. That way he can raise his kids before he grows old – Uche Sometimes when my husband is having intercourse with me, I feel nothing. What causes this? Nneka Dear Nneka, are you happy in your marriage? I ask because what you just described is often a sign of disconnection. It is important that a husband and wife feel emotionally connected in their marriage. All kinds of issues can make a couple grow apart which leads to problems such as this one.

Sexual unresponsiveness can also be caused by inadequate foreplay in a relationship. You and your husband should find things that make you happy and do those things together.

Eat together, go for walks together, and bathe together.

Keep him company whenever you can and he should do the same for you. Take turns in giving each other massages. These things help a lot and they do not cost money. Sex products cannot solve all of our problems.

Sometimes, is it the relationship part that needs work - Uche Hello sir. I just read your column and I will like to know if there is a drug that can cure premature ejaculation instead of using creams. Thanks – Mohammed Dear Mohammed, rarely will you hear of drugs for such a purpose because premature ejaculation is not a disease. Only diseases have cures.

The solutions you will find for premature ejaculation are usually performance enhancers and they come in the form of delay creams, delay wipes, penis sleeves or delay condoms.

Premature ejaculation is best controlled from the outside. If you don’t want to use a delay cream for this, then go for Sex on the Go Delay Wipes, Pasante Delay Condoms or a penile sleeve like the Stud Extender Delay Sleeve. These are all good options and will help you last longer – Uche Well done sir. I have started using the Mega Me enlarger and I am seeing results just like you promised. I am just wondering if I can combine it with Extenze Plus penis enlargement supplement for

faster growth. I am getting married soon and will like the results to mature before then – Madubike Congratulations Madubike. Yes you can combine them. One is a cream and the other is a supplement – Uche Hello sir. Thank you so so much. I am taking Sex Voltz now and I am getting powerful erections – Uche I experience pain sometimes during intercourse – Margaret Margaret use a lubricant for intercourse. Swiss Navy Water based Lubricant will prevent the pain – Uche Sir Extenze Plus is the best penis enlarger hands down. Believe me, I am a monster in bed now and my wife always says that I am so big. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr Onyeka I have had a lot of sex in my life but I have never had an orgasm. Why? Mrs Ofokansi Dear Mrs Ofokansi, get the movie Jessica Drake’s Guide to G Spots and Female Ejaculation. It will explain things and teach you exactly what you need to do to become orgasmic – Uche That’s it for today. Merry Christmas to everyone. Zee Virtual Media remains closed for the holiday and will resume on the 8th of January, 2014. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com and we will attend to you when we resume - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

V anguard anguard,, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 — 51

BRIEFS Freed priest returns to France

A

Pope preaches oneness in New Year P

OPE Francis, laying out his hopes yesterday for the justbegun year, urged people to work for a world where everyone accepts each other ’s differences and where enemies recognize that they are brothers.

“We are all children of one heavenly father. We belong to the same human family and we share a common destiny,” Francis said, speaking from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, jammed with tens of thousands of faithful, tourists and Romans.

“This brings a responsibility for each to work so that the world becomes a community of brothers who respect each other, accept each other in one’s diversity, and take care of one another,” the pope said.

Setting aside his prepared text for a moment, he expressed impatience with violence in the world. “What is happening in the heart of man? What is happening in the heart of humanity?” Francis asked. “It’s time to stop.”

He told the crowd this reflection was inspired by a letter he received from a man — “maybe one of you” — who lamented that there are “so many tragedies and wars in the world.”

“I, too, believe that it will be good for us to stop ourselves in this path of violence and search for peace,” Francis said. In his

•Pope Francis remarks to the oftenapplauding crowd, he also expressed hope that “the gospel of brotherhood speak to every conscience and

knock down the walls that impede enemies from recognizing that they are brothers.”

Earlier, during his

homily at New Year ’s Mass in St. Peter ’s Basilica, Francis spoke of humanity’s journey in the year unfolding and invoked what he said were “ words of blessing,” explaining that they are “strength, courage and hope.”

“Not an illusory hope,” he added, “based on frail human promises, or a naive hope which presumes that the future will be better simply because it is the future.”

In his first year as pope, Francis has charted a path for what he calls a “poor” church attentive to the needy.

While offering new year ’s wishes to the crowd in the square, Francis pressed his campaign on behalf of the downtrodden.

S/Sudan peace talks begins in Ethiopia

S

OUTH Sudan’s president declared a state of emergency yesterday ahead of peace talks to stop the latest violence in the country.

President Salva Kiir issued the declaration for the states of Unity and Junglei, which include the rebel-held towns of Bor and Benitu, the scene of recent fighting and scores of civilian deaths.

State radio also reported that Kiir ordered the formation of a negotiating team to take part in the peace talks in Ethiopia.

The government delegation includes key opposition figures, as required in the

H

ELMETED Moroccan riot police waded into the small crowds of women in brightly colored shawls who chanted slogans for independence on the streets of Laayoune, the capital of the disputed territories of the Western Sahara. Every time one group of the mostly women and children protesters was dispersed, another would appear farther down the street, attracting phalanxes of police.

The confrontations continued long after dark and degenerated into stone-

HE condition of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma for almost eight years, has seriously deteriorated, the hospital treating him has told the BBC. Israeli media reports say he has suffered renal failure. Mr Sharon, 85, became prime minister in

Egypt links Al Jazeera journalists to terrorism

E

GYPT has accused detained journalists from the Qatari-based AlJazeera television network of belonging to a “terrorist” group, saying they had ties with the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood, the prosecution said Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear if all three journalists face the same accusation, the first prosecutors have brought against journalists since the government designated the Brotherhood a “terrorist”

P

President Salva Kiir and B. Machar presidential decree.

Negotiators from South Sudan’s two warring sides arrived yesterday in Ethiopia for peace talks,

and a U.N. official urged both forces to bring the world’s newest country “back from the brink.”

Moroccan government have been extending to the restive desert territory that it annexed 38 years ago. Just weeks before the demonstrations, the government announced

a potentially groundbreaking, 10year economic plan to boost the standard of living and increase respect for human rights — but that has done little to defuse tensions.

Sharon’s health deteriorates

T

that a ransom was paid.

The 42-year-old, who was freed on Tuesday, touched down at Villacoublay military air base near Paris where President Francois Hollande greeted him and hailed his “courage” and “self-sacrifice”.

He had been kidnapped on November 13 by heavily armed men who burst into his parish at night in the far north of the central African country and reportedly took him to neighbouring Nigeria.

group last week.

Prosecutors had earlier ordered the detention of three journalists with AlJazeera’s English channel, including Australian Peter Greste, after their arrest on Sunday in a Cairo hotel.

The move comes six months into a crackdown by the military-installed government on the movement of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, which has extended to media viewed as biased for the Islamists.

Obama care suffers set back

Tensions rises in Western Sahara despite new plan throwing contests.

The harsh police response against the Sahrawis, as the region’s native inhabitants are known, contrasted with the conciliatory gestures the

French Catholic priest abducted in Cameroon by Islamic militants arrived home yesterday after a sevenweek ordeal he described as a time of “terrible boredom, sadness and anger”.

The circumstances of Georges Vandenbeusch’s release are unclear, but both France — often accused of paying ransoms for hostages despite stiff government denials — and his captors Boko Haram have denied

2001, but in December 2005 he suffered a mild stroke.

After a second, major stroke in 2006, he went into a coma and has been in a persistent vegetative state ever since. Having fought in three Middle Eastern wars, Mr Sharon is admired by many Israelis as a great military leader, but reviled

by Palestinians.

•Sharon

RESIDENT Obama’s besieged Affordable Care Act has suffered another setback with a US Supreme Court justice issuing a temporary injunction late Tuesday preventing enforcement of the law’s contraception mandate against a group of Roman Catholic nuns who provide care to lowincome elderly patients.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued the injunction shortly before the ACA

mandate was set to take effect at midnight on New Year’s Eve. It proved to be a busy evening for Justice Sotomayor, who also considered a stay request from Utah officials in a case involving same-sex marriage, while also presiding over the famous ball drop in New York City’s Times Square in the final countdown to the New Year.

CAR: Crowds block airport

T

HOUSANDS of angry people flooded the runway of the international airport in the chaotic capital of Central African Republic, shouting slogans against the nation’s Muslim president, who grabbed power in a coup nine months ago.

French forces deployed at the airport were unable to stop them and international flights appeared to have been suspended.

Central African Republic has been in a state of near-anarchy since an attack on the capital, Bangui, earlier this month by a Christian militia aiming to overthrow Michel

Djotodia, the Muslim coup leader. That attack unleashed a wave of communal violence.

Lebanon arrests Iran embassy bomber

T

HE Lebanese authorities are reported to have arrested the head of a jihadist group that claimed the suicide bomb attack on Iran’s embassy in November.

Defence Minister Fayez Ghosn told the AFP news agency that Majid alMajid, the Saudi “emir” of the al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades, was being held by army intelligence in Beirut.

52—

Vanguard Vanguard,,

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Mercury will start to go on backward motion soonest, therefore you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family minded.

GEMINI: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

CANCER: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LEO: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

VIRGO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

F

OR those that know me intimately well, they can identify me with my principles of “anything is possible”. Yes! there is nothing impossible. Even

Do it any way when everybody around me believes otherwise, I do not allow it to weigh me down. Look around you and tell me which notable human achievement has ever

seemed possible in the eyes of cynics?

Did the whole Nigerians not say Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t win the 29th edition of the African Cup of

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Nations.

All you need is to believe in yourself.

Have faith in God. Get started. Get along. Anyway, anyhow keep on going and the Almighty God will perfect your effort.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

SCORPIO: Success is boldly printed on your cards today.

Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

SAGITTARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

CAPRICORN: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today and if you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

AQUARIUS: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted.

Watch carefully what you agree to do.

PISCES: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you.

Don’t neglect love.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What does future have for me?

Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Johnson, Lagos.

Dear Johnson, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday.

You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well develped career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment.

Around your 30th birthday an endless cycle of great success and achievements will start for you. Oil-petrol chemicals will feature in your life when the predicted great cycle gets started for you.

Congratulation.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY JANUARY 2, 2014 — 53

Suarez’s stunner caps Reds victory A

N O T H E R exceptional finish from Luis Suarez and skipper Steven Gerrard back ahead of schedule. The graph kept rising for Liverpool throughout the old year, and there is little to suggest the new one will be any different.

Visiting managers to Anfield have employed a variety of methods to try

and subdue Suarez, but an effective one remains elusive. Hull’s basically involved kicking him at every turn, but, directly or indirectly, it led to both Liverpool goals.

When James Chester launched himself needlessly at the Uruguay star in the 37th minute, in a position of no danger, the resulting corner led to Daniel

Agger heading the hosts in front.

The lesson went unheeded, and when Chester upended Liverpool’s danger man once more in the 50th minute, there was an air of inevitability about the outcome, as Suarez picked himself up and curled an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner for his 20th Barclays Premier League

goal in 15 appearances this season.

The statistics are as stunning as his finishing.

He went into the game as the only player in Liverpool’s entire history to have scored two or more goals in five successive home League games, and while he narrowly failed to extend that sequence, he was at least on the scoresheet again to make it 14 in six.

Berahino scores late penalty as Baggies beat 10-man United

S

UBSTITUTE Saido Berahino struck a late penalty as West Brom overcame 10-man Newcastle 1-0 for their first Barclays Premier League win under caretaker boss Keith Downing.

Berahino stepped up to score with four minutes remaining on a

wet and blustery afternoon at The Hawthorns after Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul brought down Matej Vydra.

Krul escaped a red card for his challenge but team-mate Mathieu Debuchy saw no such leniency from referee Lee Mason after a twofooted challenge on Claudio Yacob.

•Berahino

Akpala out of World Cup

K

ARABÜKSPOR attacker Joseph Akpala has suffered a serious injury which is expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to six months.

And it means the 27 year - old , who is on loan at Karabükspor from Germans Werder Bremen, will not play a single match again this season and is definitely out of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Joseph Akpala suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last weekend in the 3 - 1 loss to Sivasspor.

Before his injury setback, he had netted 4 goals in 11 Super Lig games.

Werder Bremen had planned to sell the Nigerian in the summer transfer market.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY JANUARY 2, 2014

Cambiasso raring to face Eagles I

NTER Milan’s Argen tine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso hopes to get selected for his national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Quoting Argentine sports daily Ole, Xinhua reported that the 33-yearold midfielder was looking forward to being one of the “surprise” final picks of Argentine national team coach Alejandro Sabella, who has already chosen most of the 23 players.

“I hope to be Sabella’s choice,” said Cambiasso, who played in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he scored one goal.

“I hope I have the opportunity to again be on the national team.”

In recent weeks, Sabella has hinted there might be a “surprise” in the final lineup.

Cambiasso said he has had no talks with the coach and “there is nothing concrete yet,” adding he will try to “play at a high level and then we’ll see.”

Argentina have been placed in Group F, with their debut match against Bosnia set to take place at Rio de Janeiro ‘s Maracana Stadium June 15. Argentina’s second match will be against Iran Saturday, June 21, in Belo Horizonte. The South American team then concludes the first round of games against Nigeria June 24 in Porto Alegre.

•Cambiasso

M

ANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini hailed a “very good result” for his side as they started the new year with a 3-2 victory at Swansea.

A happy Pellegrini felt his side deserved the win and that the scoreline flattered Swansea slightly saying: “It was a very good result because Swansea are a strong team here at home and also away. I think the way we won today is very important for us.

“We had a very good first

ICHAEL Essien could leave Chelsea in the transfer window, according to his agent.

•Michael Essien

half. The goal at the end of the first half was offside and they grew with that goal, but the team at the start of the second half continued trying to score the second goal.

“We scored the second

and the third and it was a pity they got the last goal because 3-2 was not the difference between the two teams, whilst repeating that we were playing against a very good team.”

Mayer stuns Murray

A

NDY Murray’s come back hit a bump in the road when he lost to German Florian Mayer in the second round of the Qatar Open.

The third seed, playing in his first official event since back surgery, took the first set against the world

No 40 but eventually went down 3-6 6-4 6-2.

Murray is not scheduled to play another tournament before the Australian Open and the early exit in Doha leaves him short of competitive matches ahead of the year’s first grand slam.

Schumacher in stable condition Meribel’s slopes on SunMichael Schumacher’s manager has reported there has been no change in his condition and he remained stable during a third night in Grenoble Hospital.

Schumacher remains in intensive care at the University Hospital of Grenoble after he hit his head on a rock and was airlifted off

day.

“Michael’s condition has been carefully supervised overnight and his condition remained stable overnight and also this morning.

COMBAT......Hull City’s Alex Bruce (L) battles for the ball with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez during yesterday’s EPL match at Anfield. PHOTO: AFP

Mourinho tips City to win EPL C

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has insisted Manchester City should be considered favourites to land the Premier League title this season, the Independent has reported.

It was suggested to the Portuguese that he was simply attempting to ratchet up the pressure on Manuel Pel-

Essien heading out of Chelsea The 31-year-old has been

M

City lucky to beat Swansea —Pellegrini

omitted from Chelsea’s Champions League squad so far this season.

Agent Fabian Piveteau believes that could help pave the way for a move to another big European club during the January window.

“He could leave Chelsea this winter,” Piveteau said.

“Several major European clubs playing in the Champions League were informed and the situation should settle down within the next 10 days.

legrini’s side and ease the strain on his own Chelsea players, but Mourinho was adamant the title is City’s to lose. “ See the [City] squad, see the players, the number of goals, the strikers,” Mourinho argued. “Dzeko is the third striker of Man City. Do you think I’m putting pressure on him? Jovetic, is the fourth-choice striker

Paralysed teen to kick off World Cup This event would show-

A •Mourinho

paralysed teen, us ing an advanced mind-controlled exoskeleton, may get to provide the first ceremonial kick of the opening game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

case the ‘Walk Again Project,’ which is an international collaboration that uses technology to help paralysed overcome their problem, New Scientist reported.

Vanguard, THURSDAY JANUARY 2, 2014 — 55

Adedeji, Gambo rue CHAN miss S

UPER Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi confessed on Tuesday morning that it has become very difficult for him to drop any of the players in camp, as all of them deserve to be in South Africa for the CHAN tourney which kicks off January 11, but situation compelled him to do so.

Among those who were dropped were top striker Gambo Mohammed and star left back, Adeyinka Adedeji and the two players said, when they were departing camp, that they believed that their miss was an act of God and they would sooner than later be back in the national team.

Adedeji, who spoke first said he has missed several important engagements due to sudden injuries but that will never deter him from aspiring to be one of the best left backs in the world. “It’s sad that I have to drop out due to injury but am happy that I never allowed the past to duel in my heart and soon I will return. I thank Coach Stephen Keshi and other members of the technical crew for giving me this

A

Nicklas Bendtner celebrates with Bacary Sagna after scoring his late goal opportunity and I assured them that when next I am called I won’t fail the team and the nation.

On his part, Gambo who has been out for close to two weeks due to a hamstring problem said it was simply an act of God. “These things do happen and I take them in good faith I will soon be back. I wish my teammates the best of luck in CHAN”, the Kano Pillars forward declared.

Eagles Continues from BP either permanent transfer or loan deals away from their clubs. This is with a view to playing their way back to the mainstream of the Super Eagles squad before the World Cup in June.

Top on the list of players seeking moves from their clubs is Fenerbahce and Nigeria defender, Yobo Joseph who analysts say the January transfer window might come as a succour for him. The Super Eagles captain has been peripheral for the Turkish giants this season as he has had only five starts in all competitions and scored one goal this season.

Keshi has remained consistent in saying that Yobo remains his captain but has not invited him for international duties since 2013 Afcon.

A host of other clubs in the Turkish Super League

Lambert delighted by win at Sunderland

are said to be in the running and they are also indications that English Premier League side Cardiff City are also looking at the 33 year old.

Another Super Eagles player fighting to secure a place in Nigeria World Cup squad is America based Bright Dike who is reported to have already secured a loan deal with Scottish giants Celtic.

Dike is currently of Toronto FC Dike, who scored for Nigeria in their recent 2-2 draw with Italy at Craven Cottage, has made three appearances for Nigeria scoring twice. His first goal for Nigeria was in the 1-1 draw with Catalonia in a friendly international preceding the 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations. He is reportedly scheduled to be at Celtic Park to begin training soon.

Another promising

STON Villa boss Paul Lambert was delighted with his team’s 1-0 win at Sunderland and is glad to have his star men back.

Gabriel Agbonlahor got the only goal of the game in the first half to end a five-game winless run, with the returning Christian Benteke and Ron Vlaar playing an important role in the victory.

“I thought we played really well and it could have been more,” Lambert told Sky Sports.

“Even in the first half we had some really good chances. It could have been three or four.

“We’ve been without a couple of big players with

Benteke and Vlaar coming back. Agbonlahor has been missing at times.

Delph has been missing.

“We needed those big players back. When you lose Benteke and Vlaar, that’s a big chunk of your side. It’s been hard. After the criticism of late, that (win) was well justified.

•Lambert

Solskjaer set for Cardiff job Bale to miss Real-PSG friendly

O

LE Gunnar Solskjaer is set to be confirmed as the new manager of Cardiff City this week.

The Norwegian was spotted at the Emirates Stadium before Cardiff’s game against Arsenal and in the directors’ box watching the 2-0 defeat after flying into London on owner Vincent Tan’s private plane.

It is hoped he will be unveiled as Malky Mackay’s replacement

Nigeria international John Ogu has been given permission by his club Academica Coimbra to pursue first-team football elsewhere, Portuguese media have informed. Ogu is another player who is looking to change club in order to start playing football regularly and be included in Stephen Keshi’s national team for the World Cup in Brazil.

The 25-year-old is one of Keshi’s first-choice midfielders, but it may change soon if he continues to be ignored by Academica coach Sergio Conceicao Other players that may have to struggle extra hard to win Keshi’s approval.include Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi of Shalke 04, Sunday Mba who left the Super Eagles squad preparing for CHAN to lowly French second division side, Bastia, among others.

before the FA Cup tie against Newcastle at the weekend.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Solskjaer ’s former manager at Manchester United, reportedly told him to steer clear of the club and Tan after three months of chaos finally led to the departure of Mackay last Friday.

Eagles groove into 2014 Officials and players of the national team on New Year eve had a rare time off their tight and Spartan schedule as they were treated to a Cross-Over party by the management of Bolton White Apartment in Abuja, where the team is camped.

All the players and officials led by Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, ate and danced into the New Year with comedians and other invited dancers adding groove to the event. The compere for the show Christian Doherty kept ribs cracking for the entire duration of the night as Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi prayed the team into the New Year with his prophetic comments and very distinct English accent.

Keshi thanked the management of the hotel for the occasion and told players that training resumes immediately on Thursday morning because of the CHAN task at hand.

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ARETH Bale has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad for their friendly with Paris SaintGermain in Doha due to a calf complaint.

The Welshman did not train with the rest of the Real squad on Tuesday after picking up the injury in training a fortnight ago.

Bale - who moved to the Bernabeu from Tottenham for a worldrecord fee in the closeseason - struggled with back and thigh problems earlier in the season, but has notched seven times in 10 La Liga appearances in a promising start to his career in Spain.

Gunners Continues from BP Solskjaer watched from the stands.

Former Manchester United forward Solskjaer travelled to London on New Year’s Day as talks stepped up over him replacing the sacked Malky Mackay, and the appointment could be confirmed today if negotiations between the Molde boss and Cardiff owner Vincent Tan progress well.

Under what could well be the last match in charge for David Kerslake and first-team coach Joe McBride, the Bluebirds held out in the face of enormous pressure until Arsenal substitute Nicklas Bendtner crashed home with just two minutes left and Theo Walcott knocked in a second on the break in stoppage time.

Man City Continues from BP If a deal is completed, Nwakali will earn £300,000 a year in wages, fees and add-ons from the day he turns 18 on December 26.

Nwakali is also adept at playing in defence and currently represents Shuttle Sports Academy in Lagos.

The move follows a

failed attempt to sign 17-year-old striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who has verbally agreed a deal with Porto amid heavy interest from City.

Iheanacho played alongside Nwakali in Nigeria’s Under-17 World Cup triumph and ended as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014

Man City close in on another Eaglet, Nwakali

D

ESPITE failing in their interest in Golden Eaglets star, Kelechi Iheanacho, former English champions Manchester City are said to be closing in on a deal for another member of the victorious Nigeria team

World Cup:

to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Chidi Nwakali.

Nwakali, a central midfielder who was a key figure in the Nigeria squad which won the Under-17 World Cup in November, will fly to Manchester from Lagos with his parents to hold talks with City chiefs today.

Continues on Page 55

Eagles scramble to win Keshi’s nod

Bendtner, Walcott strike late to keep Gunners top

BY JACOB AJOM

S

IX months to the FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014, the scramble for places in Coach Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles squad is gathering momentum.

Sports Vanguard checks revealed that most of the players who are presently struggling to make the first team in their clubs are making moves to secure

A

RSENAL beat managerless Cardiff with two late goals to return to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, where Ole Gunnar

Continues on Page 55

•Wenger

EPL RESULTS Swansea Liverpool Arsenal Palace Fulham Southampton Sunderland Stoke West Brom

Continues on Page 55

2 2 2 1 2 0 0 1 1

Man City Hull Cardiff Norwich West Ham Chelsea Aston Villa Everton Newcastle

3 0 0 1 1 3 1 1 0

LATEST TABLE

•Yobo

•Keshi

•Dike

•Ogu

Team P Arsenal 20 M/City 20 Chelsea 20 Liverpool 20 Everton 20

W 14 14 13 12 10

D 3 2 4 3 8

L 3 4 3 5 2

GF 39 57 38 46 32

GA 18 23 19 23 19

GD 21 34 19 23 13

PTS 45 44 43 39 38

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Seraph (5) 7 Moist (4) 8 Bureau (6) 9 Believe (5) 11 Intelligence (3) 13 Wand (3) 15 Paradise (4) 16 Bath (3) 18 Lake (4) 19 Widespread (7) 20 Yawn (4) 22 Challenge (4) 23 Oriental (7) 25 Trial (4) 27 Owned (3) 28 Yield (4) 30 Still (3) 31 Defective (3) 33 Centre (5) 36 Failure (6) 37 Tribe (4) 38 Agree (5)

DOWN 1 Sound (5) 2 Fitting (3) 3 Antelope (3) 4 Fate (3) 5 Astern (3) 6 Performer (5) 10 Stupefy (4) 11 Important (7) 12 Storm (7) 13 Told (7) 14 Erased (7) 16 Cogs (5) 17 Whiskers (5) 18 Insane (3) 21 Consume (3) 24 Relax (4) 26 Weird (5) 29 Dullard (5) 32 Enquire (3) 33 Heated (3) 34 Sicken (3) 35 Attempt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Greed 5, Massif 8, Nudge 10, Fester 11, Evil 14, Talent 15, Retreat 18, Tee 19, Men 21, Dray 23, Venom 24, Head 27, Dot 29, Peg 31, Ravaged 32, Credit 34, Dune 35, Lounge 38, Sweat 39, Resent 40, Feign.

DOWN: 2, Rue 3, Entire 4, Due 5, Meet 6, Smiled 7, Filthy 9, Dreamed 12, Vat 13, Leer 16, Ease 17, Tenor 20, Notable 22, Ague 24, Hector 25, Aped 26, Deduce 28, Salute 30, Gin 33, Test 36, Oaf 37, Gag.

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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