THE BIG KEROSENE FRAUD: Depot owners buy atN41, sell @ N125

...towards a better life for the people

** MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

VOL. 25: NO. 61656

EURO 2012 FINALS: PAIN FOR ITALY

N150

I'm not soft on fight against corruption — Jonathan •Pg.6

Spain: Un4gettable W

ORLD Champions, Spain, yesterday, contin ued their domination of world football when they totally outclassed Italy 4-0 to successfully retain the European Championship, the first country to do so.

Two first half goals by Silva and Jordi Alba knocked Italy out of their stride and gave Spain to play their possession football to the delight of their fans and admirers of good football. The early goals forced Italy to struggle but their efforts were further dimmed by two more brilliant goals scored by substitute Torres in the 84th minute and Juan Mata four minutes later.

Crises in telecom sector

The FDI implications •P. 17

THE BIG KEROSENE FRAUD:

Depot owners buy at N41, sell @ N125

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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•How they shared subsidy money •Pg.52 •Nigerian masses groan under 300% price increase •Committee orders forensic audit of NNPC claims

A G O S — NIGERIANS have been forced to pay as much as N150/litre of kerosene instead of the government subsidised rate of N50 because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, chose to sell

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs BREAKDOWN OF NNPC’S KEROSENE SALES TO BULK PURCHASERS BETWEEN 2009 AND 2011, IS SHOWN BELOW (IN LITRES): Year

NNPC RETAIL

%

MOMAN

%

IPMAN

%

DAPPMA

%

TOTAL

2009

80,612,700

4

263,157,631

13

257,939,989

13

1,407,176,031

70

2,008,886,351

2010

167,144,476

5

310,177,876

10

471,960,914

15

2,175,103,761

70

3,124,387,027

2011

162,107,320

6

365,676,473

13

562,087,407

20

1,722,365,963

61

2,812,237,163

Total

409,864,496

5

939,011,980

12

1,291,988,310 16

5,304,645,755

67

7,945,510,541

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2— Vanguard,

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—3

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4— Vanguard,

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—5

Kerosene: Depot owners buy @N41, sell at N125 per Ltr Continues from Page 1 kerosene to depot owners rather than retail outlet owners as required of it.

A Report by the Technical Committee on Payment of Fuel Subsidies, submitted to Mr President and exclusively obtained by Vanguard, revealed that the NNPC flouted the policy on its monopoly to import kerosene, which comes in as Dual Purpose Kerosene, DPK, at subsidized rate to serve the masses.

Rather than deliver the product to retail outlet owners so that it could benefit the masses for which it was being subsidized, the NNPC, instead, chose to sell it for patronage, or what the committee described as “ rent” to depot owners.

The depot owners who got the product at N40.90/L ex-depot price, in turn sold it to marketers and retail owners at between N115 and N125/L depending on the operator, a

development that led to the masses buying the product at 300 per cent increase at N150/L instead of the recommended price of N50/L. “The distribution of DPK which was being imported solely by NNPC was skewed in favour of depot owners who have no retail outlets. Two-thirds of the kerosene sold by NNPC between 2009 and 2011 was sold to depot owners and “middle men” who in turn sold the product to owners of retail outlets at inflated prices of between N115.00 and N125.00 per litre (compared to the ex depot price of N40.90), leaving consumers to pay higher prices than the N50.00 per litre directed by Government,” the report said.

It added: “For several years now, the country has been incurring huge subsidy bills for kerosene and its citizens are not receiving the benefit - instead the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

HIS is what I am told that the legendary Mohammed Ali said to one of his daughters who was inappropriately dressed: “Hanna, everything that God made Valuable and Precious in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find Diamonds? Deep down in the ground covered and protected. Where do you find Pearls?

Deep down in the bottom of the ocean, covered and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find Gold? Way down in the mine, covered over and protected by layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them. Your body is Sacred! You are far more precious than GOLD, DIAMONDS and PEARLS put together and you should be covered and protected too”.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think. The truth is that you are responsible for what you think. What you do comes from what you think— Marianne Williamson

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N her writings ‘return to love’ Marianne’s meaningful insights showed probable cause on some erroneous belief that maybe holding an individual from unfolding into full capacity. She says that when we were born, we were programmed perfectly. Our imaginations were creative and flourishing, and we knew how to use them. We were connected to a world full of enchantment and a sense of the miraculous.

So what happened? Why is it that we reached a certain age, looked around, and the enchantment was gone? Because we were taught to focus elsewhere.

We were taught to think about competition, struggle, illness, finite resources, and limitations.

But love is what we were born with. It is our ultimate reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.

country has been financing “rent” for the middlemen.”

NNPC has many mega stations and retail outlets MOMAN – is the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, which members include Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc; Total Plc; MRS Oil Plc (formerly Chenron Oil Nigeria); Forte Oil Plc (Formerly AP); Oando Oil Plc; and Conoil Plc. The association controls nine per cent of retail outlets with 2,453 owned by members IPMAN – Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, own in joint venture with Purebond of UK, the Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company, NIPCP Plc, and has about 23,026 member retail outlets to control 85 per cent of the retail market.

DAPPMA – Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association are the owners of the tank farms and petroleum storage facilities and only 403 member outlets and controls only four per cent of the market. Yet, they got between 60 and 70 per cent of the kerosene.

Further investigations revealed that because kerosene comes in as DPK, the depot owners preferred to divert the product for aviation turbine kerosene, ATK, or Jet A1, to reap higher profits from the product as opposed to selling it as House Hold Kerosene, HHK, which the masses rely on for domestic energy to cook their foods and light their lanterns.

Yet, the NNPC collected the sum of N331.55billion as kerosene subsidy for 2011 alone, when hardly any Nigerian could buy the product at N50/L. This has remained since 2009, a situation that led to the acute scarcity of kerosene for the greater part of the last three years.

The report, which revealed how oil marketers and petroleum dealers allegedly perfected series of fraud

POCKET CARTOON

through products imports that led to the payment of over N2 trillion as subsidy claims in 2011 alone, also showed that in all the established cases of malfeasance, the regulatory agencies colluded with the concerned parties to boycott due process for the importation of the particular product.

NNPC flouted presidential directive In the case of kerosene, the situation was so bad that late President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua, on June 15, 2009, ordered the NNPC to stop making further deductions as claims for subsidy on kerosene.

“In spite of a directive issued by President Yar ’Adua on June 15, 2009 that NNPC should cease subsidy claims on kerosene, PPPRA resumed the processing of kerosene subsidy claims in June 2011 and NNPC resumed the deduction of kerosene subsidy claims to the tune of N331 ,547,318,068.06 in 2011,” the report revealed.

The report noted that: “The current lack of regulation (of subsidy claims) has led to NNPC’s introduction of practices that are not permitted or recognised by the current PSF guidelines that if unchecked by NNPC’s internal control mechanisms may allow for significant leakages.”

carry out the forensic audit of the NNPC subsidy claim process.

This is without prejudice to the committee’s recommendations on the process from its high level review.”

It further recommended that such audit should cover, among others: *Funding for subsidy paid to NNPC *Process for determination of products imported by NNPC *Documentation for NNPC’s transactions for imported petroleum products *Verification of documentation with NNPC’s suppliers and other agencies involved in the discharge of petroleum products - e.g.

DPR, PPPRA, Government auditors, independent inspectors, e.t.c. *Review of documentation submitted to PPPRA by NNPC *Review of PPPRA’s certification process for NNPC subsidy claims *Reconciliation of the deducted subsidy claims from the proceeds of crude oil sales by NNPC to the subsidy claims certified by PPPRA.

THE VICTIMS:

Checking fraud through forensic audit To discontinue the criminalities, the committee called for a forensic audit of the NNPC’s subsidy payment process. This it said, is because “ while the committee conducted detailed reviews of several aspects of the subsidy payment process, it noted that the process for NNPC is significantly more complicated than the process for the private sector and would require a thorough forensic audit.”

It therefore urged the Federal Government to “appoint consultants to

Committee’s recommendations.

Since the poor Nigerians were obviously not getting the benefit of the huge cost to the nation in kerosene subsidy, the committee further urged the federal government to also: Allow both private importers who meet the eligibility requirements of the PSF guidelines and NNPC to import kerosene and pay kerosene subsidy under the PSF. The role of private importers in the distribution of the product should be monitored properly by PPPRA and DPR. Eliminate the current financing of rent for a few

by restricting NNPC’s local distribution to only groups that own significant retail outlets i.e. MOMAN, IPMAN and NNPC Retail at the approved ex-depot price.

The Committee recommends that NNPC’s roles in the downstream petroleum industry be regulated appropriately by the existing regulatory agencies in the industry i.e. PPPRA and DPR. The Committee recommends that: *PPPRA must always regulate and determine the quantity of products to be imported by NNPC in line with its mandate and the current allocation process for NNPC. All importation of products by NNPC (within or outside PPPRA approved quotas) must be approved by PPPRA. A rigorous process of volume control that will facilitate identification of red flags will reduce malpractices in subsidy claims. *That accounting best practices should be adopted by NNPC to enable separate audit trails of sales proceeds of imported and locally refined petroleum products and to determine the cost of domestic refining of petroleum products. *That Government should always give documented and clear directives to avoid ambiguity, indiscretion and to encourage compliance. Given the significant financial impact of the NNPC subsidy process on the finances of the nation, appropriate steps should be taken by Government to document and legalise the process for NNPC’s subsidy claims in a transparent and unambiguous manner.

See Full Report on Page 52

6—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

I'm not soft on fight against corruption —Jonathan House subsidy report referred to EFCC

BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA — THE Presidency, yesterday, dismissed reports that his administration was soft on the fight against corruption, saying "Nigerians should be wary of those who seek to heat up the polity by politicizing the issue of corruption in the pursuit of their selfish personal and sectional agenda."

In a statement in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said in his determination to up the ante in the fight, institutional strenghtening of various anti corruption agencies had been undertaken by the presidency while efforts were being made to ensure that those who run foul of the law are made to face the consequences.

The statement:“The Presidency has noted with concern, recent reports, comments and agitations aimed at creating the totally false impression that the Jonathan administration is not doing enough to curb corruption in Nigeria.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan clearly enunciated his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption on his assumption of office and has since worked to strengthen the nation’s anti-corruption agencies for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

“Certainly, nothing has been done or left undone under the President’s watch to justify the labelling of his administration as 'soft on corruption.'

“He has appointed a tried and tested corruption investigator to head the EFCC. He declined to swear in a nominee for the chairmanship of the ICPC when questions were raised by the public about the propriety of his nomination and clearance by the Senate; and recently nominated a more acceptable replacement.

“Much of the politicallymotivated agitations alleging tardiness in the war against corruption revolve around the administration’s handling of the reports of probes that have been undertaken into the

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management of fuel subsidies in the country.

“President Jonathan wishes to reaffirm, once again, that there will be no sacred cows in the matter and that any organisation or individual found guilty of fraud or corruption will ultimately face the full weight of sanctions prescribed by the extant laws of the country.

House subsidy report referred to EFCC “The report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidies has already been referred by the President to the EFCC through the Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.

“In compliance with the President’s clear and unequivocal directives, the EFCC is currently undertaking a thorough and painstaking investigation of all indictments made by the committee with a view to establishing water-tight cases that will be taken before courts of competent jurisdiction as quickly as possible.

“The report of the committee headed by Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede which was set up by the Federal Government to verify fuel subsidy payments has also been received and is being expeditiously reviewed. Appropriate action will follow.

“President Jonathan urges Nigerians to be patient and assured that the guilty will definitely not go unpunished as justice will certainly be done in the matter.

“It is also noteworthy that to strengthen ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s Petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government, President Jonathan recently approved the recomposition of the executive management team of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC."

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health (middle) flanked by Thomas Awagu, Institute of Directors Nigeria, IoD, President (right) and Mrs Eniola Fadayomi, First Vice President during the IoD breakfast meeting, in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

$3m bribe: Lawan hires 4 SANs, petitions IG Challenges Otedola to face-to-face confrontation Calls for publication of call logs

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

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BUJA — THE suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Utilisation, Farouk Lawan, who was involved in an alleged $3m bribe has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, saying the chairman of Zenon Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, who gave him part of the money is the suspect in the scandal and challenged the businessman to a face-toface confrontation before the police team of investigators.

Lawan, who has hired four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, for the legal battle ahead also tasked the security agencies, including the police and the State Security Service to make public the controversial video of his meetings with Otedola.

Similarly, Lawan called for the publication of the call logs and text messages between him and Otedola, which according to him, will prove that the public had been fed with lies against him.

The four SANs who forwarded Lawan’s petition to the police are Rickey Tarfa, Israel Olorundare, Mike Ozekhome and Sam Ologunorisa.

Detail accounts of meetings In two separate petitions by the lawyers, Lawan gave detailed accounts of his meetings with Mr. Otedola.

The first was in his hotel room at Protea Hotel, Apo, Abuja on April 23, 2012 when Otedola gave him

$250, 000 after submitting further documents.

The second meeting was in Otedola’s house at Aso Drive, Abuja, were he claimed the oil magnate gave him more documents and another $250,000.

Lawan claimed in his petition that he played along with Otedola due to several threats by the former and in order to expose him and that as soon as he collected the $500,000, he wrote a letter to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes on April 24, 2012 and attached the $500,000 offered by Mr Otedola him.

According to him, “the truth is that contrary to the various false publications in the press, which appear to swing the mood of the public against our client, our client maintains that whilst the report of the committee had been compiled, written and presented before the House and he was putting finishing touches to its formal debate in his hotel room at Protea Hotel, Apo, Abuja (to which he had relocated from his house to escape the unbearable pressure mounted on him by oil marketers, including Mr. Femi Otedola, he was surprised when Mr. Femi Otedola surfaced in the hotel on Saturday,April 21, 2012 and called his room number.

“When our client let him in, he brought out a bundle of documents which he claimed showed that one of his oil companies, Zenon Oil, already indicted in the reports, did not participate in the fuel subsidy scam.

Our client states that, at this time, both Zenon Oil and AP Petroleum (Forte Oil) had been indicted based on available evidence. Mr. Femi Otedola claimed that he was already aware of this indictment, hence he decided to personally bring document to convince our client that, that was not the case.

“Our client collected the documents. As Mr. Otedola was about to leave, he handed over the sum of $250,000 to our client which he said was to ensure that his companies were removed from the list of indicted companies. This was the evening of Monday, April 23, a few days before the report was to be debated in the House, but few days after the final report had actually been laid before the House on April 17, 2012.

"Our client informed us that he had collected the money to display as exhibit that the committee had been under severe pressure and subtle threat to compromise its report.

“Our client states that Mr. Otedola then called him severally and even pleaded with him to come to his house at Aso Drive, Abuja, for more of the documents which he claimed to have forgotten to bring to our client’s hotel room at Protea Hotel, Apo, Abuja.

“Our client said he played along by going to Otedola’s house in the early hours of the 22nd of April, 2012 during which Otedola handed over more documents and a further sum of $250,000. Our client states that Mr. Otedola further offered to make a total of $3 millon.

“As soon as he had

collected the total sum of $500,000, our client immediately wrote a letter at 3.47a.m on April 24, 2012 to the chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes with the letter entitled 'Offer of Monetary Inducement by Femi Otedola to influence Committee Report.' Our client attached the sum $500,000 offered by Mr. Otedola to him with a promise to bring another $2.5 million,” the petition read in part.

The lawyers said the collection of the $500,000 was to serve as evidence of Mr. Otedola’s desperate attempt to bribe the committee and that contrary to claims of the alleged bribe giver, no security agency was involved in “the so-called sting operation."

Face-to-face confrontation with Otedola “Our client is willing to have a face-to-face confrontation with Mr. Otedola before you, in the course of investigation in this matter.

“Our client hereby challenges the SSS, police, Mr. Otedola or any other person for that matter, to produce for public inspection and viewing the video or film and call logs of the conversation between him and Mr. Otedola unedited and undoctored, and it will be seen that the entire story sold to the public and the police by Mr. Otedola is nothing but an after thought, total fabrication and a diet of deliberate falsehood and half truths,” the petition said.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—7

EDO GUBER POLL:

ACN warns against rigging Says any attempt 'll trigger chain of reactions AGOS — THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has warned that any attempt to rig the July 14 gubernatorial election in Edo State will trigger a chain of cataclysmic reactions, the end of which no one can predict.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the warning became necessary in view of the desperation of the People Democratic Party, PDP, to capture Edo State at all cost, first as a trophy for its new chairman who is bent on ensuring his party wins the first election under his chairmanship, and also as a foothold for the President’s presumed ambition for 2015.

It said events leading to the election had shown that the PDP was bent on creating an atmosphere that would be hostile to the holding of a free, fair and transparent poll.

ACN, therefore, called on its members and supporters in Edo State to resist any attempt by the PDP to rig the forthcoming poll, saying they must not only turn out en masse to vote for Governor Adams Oshiomhole, on the basis of his performance in office, but must also stay behind until the votes had been counted and the result announced, contrary to the ‘vote and go’ rigging strategy of the PDP. It said: "In the years since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, the PDP has evolved from bare-

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faced rigging on election day to a new system in which the ruling party, in collusion with malleable and unpatriotic security agencies, makes free and fair elections impossible by intimidating the opposition and instigating violence ahead of voting, thus paving the way for the imposition of a ‘curfew’ on election day that will ensure voters only come out to vote and return home, handing the PDP and its cohorts in INEC and security agencies a carte blanche to determine the outcome of the voting.

"Already, the trend is glaring: At least two attempts have been made on the life of Gov. Oshiomhole, first when a truck rammed into his convoy and killed many after narrowly missing him, and then last week when suspected political thugs attacked the governor, top government officials and ACN stalwarts in Usen town. Add that to the coldblooded killing of the Governor ’s Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde, and the evil machinations against the governor and his party begin to manifest. ‘’The strategy is simple: Go after the governor and scare off his teeming supporters, and then hope they will fight back, thus precipitating chaos that will then be capitalized upon by the PDP federal government to declare a curfew, at best, and a state of emergency, at worst."

From left: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Mrs Funlola Aderinokun, widow of late Tayo Aderinokun; Mr. Babatunwa Aderinokun; Miss Ire and Miss Mode Aderinokun, children during the one year memorial church service for the late Aderinokun, former Managing Director, Guarantee Trust Bank, at Ikoyi Methodist Church, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

3 killed, one arrested as JTF, terrorists clash in Damaturu Army 'll never dabble into politics again—Ihejirika Promotes captors of Boko Haram commander

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & NDAHI MARAMA

AMATURU — Three suspected Islamic militants were, yesterday, killed in a gun duel between the sect members and the Joint Task Force, JTF while a lady was arrested in the process.

This came as the army announced, yesterday, that its officers who captured Habib Bama, the Boko Haram kingpin who masterminded the suicide bombings of Police headquarters, Abuja, Mogadishu Cantonment Mammy Market, and St. Theresa's Catholic Church,

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Pension fraud: Senate to summon Maina again

BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA — THE Senate disclosed, yesterday, that it will again invite the chairman, Pension Taskforce Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, to get more information on the mismanagement of N273.9 billion pension fund.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Chairman of the Senate Committee that investigated the pension scam, Senator Aloysius Etok, who noted that a fresh letter of invitation would be sent to Maina today, stressed that this became imperative based on the resolution of the Senate.

Etok who noted that

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Maina was expected to appear before the committee this week, warned that if he fails to appear, a warrant of arrest would be issued against him Etok, who declined comments on specific issues for which Maina would be grilled, said: “The decision to summon him again is in consonance with the resolution of the Senate.”

It would be recalled that the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and States and Local Government Administration had recommended, among other things, that Maina and all members of his team be arrested and prosecuted

by the police for “the crimes of embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation, misapplication, illegal virements, contract splitting, award of contracts to non-existing companies, outright stealing of police pension funds, among others”.

The Senate also recommended that the team be immediately disbanded “as its continued existence and usurpation of statutory functions and violation of extant laws was illegal as also recommended by the two former Heads of Service, Chief Steve Oronsanye and Prof. Adedapo Afolabi as well as the incumbent, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali.”

Madalla, Niger State among others, would be given automatic promotions to the next rank.

The clash between the sect members and the JTF which took place at about 5p.m. in Nyanya ward, a suburb of Damaturu was occasioned by explosions and exchange of gunfire which lasted several hours before the situation was brought under control.

Confirming the incident, Acting Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gbadegesin Toyin, said at about 1700 hours of Saturday, the men of Operation Restore Order III in Damaturu launched a pre-emptive offensive attack on one building in Nyanya suspected to be a hideout of some members of Boko Haram, and on approaching the building, they heard gunshots from the building directed at the men of the JTF. Toyin said the JTF quickly responded by opening fire on the residents of the suspected building and succeeded in killing three of the occupants while a lady was arrested.

Toyin added that the JTF also recovered arms and ammunition including AK47 rifles, magazines loaded with bullets from the building.

Army promotes captors of Boko Haram commander

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Onyeabor Ihejirika, disclosed that its officers who captured one of the commanders of Boko Haram sect, Habib Bama, would be promoted to the next rank even as he assured that the army would never dabble into politics again, saying that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria forever.

The army boss who spoke in Kaduna at a church service to mark the 149th anniversary of the Nigerian Army, also declared that the three Army officers, two Lt. Colonels and a Major who lost their lives in the ill-fated Dana Air crash in Lagos, would be given a 3-bedroom bungalow for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.

His words: “Part of the transformation process going on in the Nigerian Army encourages officers and soldiers to be innovative and proactive especially as it concerns the war on terrorism. For instance, we have said that soldiers should take initiatives and be proactive in their duty post. An example of this is when the soldiers who saw Habib Bama, acted swiftly using the initiatives. On seeing him, they became alert, moved swiftly and rounded him up even though he resisted. They did not wait to get instruction from higher authority which would have led to the Boko Haram mastermind escaping.

It will be recalled that

Habib Bama later died of gunshot injuries he sustained during the exchange of gunfire by his men with soldiers to prevent his being arrested.

Army 'll never dabble into politics again —Ihejirika On democracy, the COAS said: “Democracy has come to stay in our country and we have vowed that at no time should a soldier or army personnel dabble into politics. So he who must do the bidding of the army must not allow himself to be deceived or dabble into politics.”

Emphasizing on the welfare of officers and men which he said was a fundamental aspect of his administration, Ihejirika noted: “For families of our officers who died in the illfated Dana aircraft, because they were the breadwinners and were on official call, the Army will build for each of these families, 3-bedroom flat to ameliorate the hardship they have suddenly been thrown into.”

In his Sermon, Rev. Colonel Charles Iroagbu, Director of Army Chaplaincy urged officers of the Nigeria Army to always remain humble in the face of daunting security challenges and to remember that they are there to protect all Nigerians.

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Lagos begins demolition of unauthorized masts, towers

BY EMEKA AGINAM AGOS State govern ment, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has begun demolition of what it described as weak and unauthorised masts and towers in the state that have continued to be a source of threat to the people of Lagos.

Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit, UFRU, a new agency established by the ministry to regulate activities of telecoms operators and Internet Service Providers, ISPs, in the area of masts and towers installations, during the exercise last week in Lagos pulled down a nearly completed base station belonging to one of the GSM operators along Ago Palace Way, Okota, a suburb of Lagos.

Speaking to newsmen after the exercise, the General Manager of UFRU, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, while

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warning operators on erection of unauthorised masts and towers said a stop work order notice was given to the GSM operator to stop construction at the early stage of work, until there was approval for such construction, but that the operator flagrantly ignored the Lagos State government and continued with the erection, until it was nearcompletion.

“We noticed that a particular GSM operator was building a base station without approval, after government notice that it was illegal to build base stations and towers in Lagos without permit from the ministry, through its agency, UFRU. For violating the law of the state, it became necessary that we pull down the base station because we are not sure of its strength and its environmental impact assessment,” Igbokwe said.

Traffic jam at Mile 2, Lagos ocassioned by bad portion of the road yesterday. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Shoreline acquires 45% stake in OML 30

Arrest of 'General Cairo': Ex-militants go underground

BY MICHAEL EBOH

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—EX-MILI TANTS, under the aegis of Movement for the Survival of Niger-Delta Disarmed Youth, MOSONDY, are worried over the arrest of their leader, Seiyifa Gbereke, alias General Cairo, by Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, weekend, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and majority of them have gone underground.

It was gathered that few recalcitrant members, had regrouped and threatened to commence fresh hostilities, if their leader, who was arrested for his role in pipeline bombings and vandal-

ization in the region, was not released.

The group was alleged by security agents to be responsible for the bombings carried out on oil installations belonging to Agip and Shell in Bayelsa and Delta states in the past few months, on grounds that they want to draw Federal Government’s attention to their non-inclusion in the amnesty programme.

Media Coordinator of JTF, Lt. Col Onyema Nwachukwu , who paraded “General” Cairo before newsmen at Yenagoa, weekend, said the suspect was lured from his hideout in Warri, Delta State to Yenagoa, in Bayelsa State where he was arrested.

Bombings: UK-based group condemns video circulation

BY ALBERT AKPOR AGOS—A NON-GOV ERNMENTAL ORGANISATION, Global Peace Movement International, GPMI, based in the United Kingdom yesterday condemned the circulation of video of the recent coordinated bombings on churches in Kaduna and Jos by suspected members of Boko Haram which led to the death of several people.

The group said circulating video of such unfortunate incident would not only bring back sad memories of

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the tragic incident of the unwarranted terror attack but paint the country black before the international community.

President General of the organization, Dr. Mike Uyi in a statement said, the terror attack was not peculiar to Nigeria, stressing that the idea of putting together in a visual form, the destruction of lives and property and circulating same overseas was aimed at not only discrediting Kaduna State government under Patrick Yakowa but by extension, Nigeria as a nation.

HORELINE Natural Resources Limited has acquired a 45 per cent stake in Oil Mining Lease, OML, 30 in a deal worth about N131.75 billion ($850 million).

The acquisition, according to a statement by the company, yesterday, was after it reached an agreement with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, and Nigeria Agip Oil Company.

Mr. Kola Karim, Chief Executive Officer, Shoreline, said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, through its subsidiary, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, will hold the remaining 55 per cent interest, while NPDC will also be the operator of OML 30, working in partnership with Shoreline to further develop the field.

According to Karim, OML 30 is located onshore in Delta State, approximately 45 kilometres east of Warri, and covers an area of 1,095 square kilometres.

He added that the licence includes eight producing fields, associated infrastructure, ownership and operation of a segment of the Trans Forcados Pipeline.

He said financing for the acquisition of the OML was provided by Standard Bank Group and JP Morgan,

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adding that Standard Bank will further provide the long term financing for the company.

Shoreline is a joint venture between Shoreline Power, a private Nigerian energy and infrastructure company and Heritage Oil Plc, an independent upstream exploration and production company listed on both the London and Toronto stock exchanges.

Continuing, Karim stat-

ed, “This is a major development for Shoreline, taking us into the upstream oil and gas sector at such a significant time when the Nigerian government is promoting active participation from indigenous companies.

“Shoreline, along with Heritage’s strong technical team and upstream experience will become one of the leading indigenous oil producing companies in

Nigeria. This will strengthen our existing network of relationships with the local communities, local government and authorities in the oil producing areas of Nigeria.

“Shoreline will inaugurate capacity developments and training programmes ensuring we add value and develop close relationships with local communities and other stakeholders in the delta region.”

SEC project 50: PWC writes coys, other donors To investigate source of funds

BY PETER EGWUATU

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R I C E WAT E R HOUSE COOPERS, PWC, appointed by Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to audit Project 50 carried out by suspended Director General of the Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, has written quoted companies, other capital market operators and donors to ascertain the source of funds by a private consulting firm on the project.

Vanguard gathered that the letter dated June 22 2012 by the auditing firm is requesting quoted companies, other capital market

operators and donors to furnish it with details concerning the part they played in terms of support for Oteh’s pet project to celebrate 50 years of Capital Market Regulation in Nigeria.

The PWC letter requested quoted companies and other market operators to state if SEC under Oteh wrote them requesting for support in the project.

Also, PWC in the letter is asking firms to know how and whether they redeemed their pledges; either by cheques, electronic transfer or any other means of remitting funds.

It would be recalled that the Board appointed PWC to carry out an audit that would help unravel the

sources and application of monies collected by Oteh during the review period.

The decision of the Board was arrived at after consideration of the report of its Audit and Finance Committee which had been directed to investigate the sources and uses of funds for the Project 50 event.

It should be noted that the committee investigating Oteh on project 50 had recommended an independent audit of the project and demanded that the key actors in the management of the funds be asked to step aside to allow an unhindered investigation, which made the Board to ask the DG to proceed on compulsory leave.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—9

Swindlers hacked my mail—Falae

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—A former Minister for Finance and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, weekend, raised alarm that fraudsters had hacked into his e-mail address with the intention of duping his friends within and outside the country.

He said the swindlers hacked his e-mail address (olufalae2005@yahoo.com) and sent messages to his friends seeking financial assistance.

According to a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital by Chief Falae’s Personal Assistance, Rtd Capt. Moshood Raji said: “The fraudsters claimed that the technocrat turned politician, travelled to Spain and got stranded when he lost his wallet which contained money and vital documents.

“Dear friends of Chief Olu Falae, please ignore the contents of the e-mail in it’s entity as the message does not emanate from Chief Olu Falae or his Personal Assistant Rtd. Capt. M.A Raji.”

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TMG tasks Jonathan on security

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—TRANSITION Monitoring Group, TMG, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to devise other methods to tackle the insurgency of the violent Islamist sect, Boko Haram, saying changing of security personnel has not achieved much success.

Going down the memory lane, the group said the removal of security personnel like the former InspectorGenerals Onovo, Hafiz Ringim, Kayode Are (former DG State Security Service), and lately General Andrew Azazi, had not helped in stamping out violent activities of the sect.

The group said in Ibadan through its Chairman, Mr. Mashood Erubami that the attacks in Yobe, just two days after the removal of some security chiefs, was not the right answer to the questions posed by the terrorists.

Salami: I wrote Jonathan to fight injustice— Alaafin LAAFIN of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, yesterday, said he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan asking him to uphold the principle of rule of law by reinstating the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, because it is part of his responsibility to fight injustice wherever he sees one.

The monarch, who is the Chairman of Oyo State

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Council of Traditional Rulers, said he wrote his letter asking Federal Government to toe the path of justice by implementing the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, NJC, which directed that Salami be reinstated.

Alaafin disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the Government House, Osogbo, pre-

paratory to a book presentation in honour of Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olayiwola Adedeji, held at the Centre for Black Culture.

History, tradition The Alaafin affirmed that it is the tradition of every Alaafin to stand up against injustice and protect his citizens wherever injustice is being meted on to them.

He said by writing to the

President on the need to be just in Salami’s case, he is only following the tradition of his ancestors, who never tolerated or accepted within their sphere of influence any form of social injustice.

He said: “Basically, somebody must challenge social injustice. Somebody must act to defend the interest of the Yoruba race. At different times in the history of Yorubaland, past Alaafins had not been found wanting.

“My own intervention in Justice Ayo Salami’s case is not the first occasion where

HONOUR: From left— Mr. Oladeinde Agoro, Deputy Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, AOCOED, Ijanikin, Lagos; Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, and Mr. Olalekan Bashorun, Provost, AOCOED, during the conferment of the Fellowship Award on Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, at AOCOED's 29th, 30th and 31st joint convocation of the school, Thursday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Ondo PDP guber candidate promises issue-based politics

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—ONDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, weekend, said that his political campaigns would be issuebased. Speaking with newsmen in Akure, Oke said his campaign would not talk of personalities or individuals.

Oke, the immediate past National Legal Adviser of PDP, said: “Ours is going to be issuebased. We are not going to talk of personalities or individuals.

“We intend to tell the people of this state the enormous opportunities available here and open their eyes to how we intend to use them for their sake.”

He said if given the opportunity to serve, he would focus on the development of the state’s vast

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forest and coastal resources to open new frontiers of economic development for the people of the state.

According to him, Ondo State had 80-kilometre shoreline, making it the longest among the country’s littoral states and the

largest acreage of forest reserves with its abundant ecosystem and varieties of wildlife, some of which are already going extinct in similar vegetation in other parts of the world.

He said: “It is a thing of regrets that we have gold mines in our coastal and forest reserves, yet these areas are wasting away

and nobody seems to have taken cognizance of their potentials.

“We have the longest coastline in Ondo State with all its aquatic splendour that can be harnessed to become moneyspinners in tourism, while the oil and gas reserves could also be tapped for economic growth.”

the Alaafin will rise up to defend the cause of Yoruba nation.

“When the French were making in-road into Yoruba nation around 1880AD, my great grandfather, Adeyemi I, had to write to the British to intervene. At that time, there was internecine war in Yoruba nation. The British came, intervened and Yoruba nation was saved.

“Alaafin also wrote the British to bring enlightenment and education to Yoruba nation. In 1883, the Alaafin signed a treaty with the British to open Yoruba nation to commerce and trade. So, I am just following the tradition of every Alaafin in standing up to the cause of Yoruba race.”

Asked whether the Presidency replied his letter, the Oba said: “I don’t need any reply. The oracle has already spoken.”

He also warned that unless the political structure of the nation was redesigned from its present unitary nature, the nation may be at risk, saying the world over a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual country like Nigeria have always balanced these differences by operating federal system of government.

He added that the central government should of necessity have its powers reduced and the federating units fortified for the nation to grow and progress steadily.

Few weeks earlier, he had questioned the delay in ratifying the recommendation of the NJC. Justice Salami was reinstated in May by NJC, about nine months after he was suspended.

The letter read in part: “I have never met Justice Ayo Salami either in his personal or official capacity before, but something in me tells me that he is not being fairly treated.”

NAFDAC impounds N2.5m chemical from hawkers

BY CHIOMA OBINNA OWARDS curbing the hawking of chemicals in the open markets and streets in Ondo State, operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has effected a major raid and enforcement activities across the state, impounding chemicals and related substances worth over N2.5 million.

The action of the agency, which took some

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stakeholders by surprise, was to sanitise the chemical markets, sales and distribution chain to ensure compliance with the requirements of the law.

Speaking in Akure, the state capital after the two days operation, NAFDAC’s head in the state, Mr. Paul Agbejimi, said the agency, as a regulatory body, was concerned and had to come in to eradicate the hawking.

He said the raid became necessary “because of the ubiquitous nature

of chemicals in the very wide range of their uses— both poison and hazardous. There was a need for total control to ensure their safe handling, distribution, prevent diversion and avoid banned and expired ones from being sold to the public.”

Agbejimi, who revealed that the exercise took place simultaneously in the four local governments areas— Akure North, Ondo West, Owo and Akure South— had exposed the antics of the marketers of chemicals

in the state as some of them were seen displaying them in the open, especially those mainly for agricultural uses.

He argued that the chemicals, with that method of sale by the hawkers, were exposed to heat and sunlight.

He said: “When chemicals are exposed to light and heat, they will disintegrate and decompose, which normally reduce the potency and appropriate level of measure to be administered by the user is consequently altered.”

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10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Benin monarch did not shun Jonathan —Edo PDP Why he did not meet Airhiavbere, Anenih, others

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

& GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr. Nsima Ekere (left) and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Mr. Oba Otudeko during the Senate retreat in Uyo.

ENIN CITY—EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described claims that the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa shunned President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the state as untrue, wicked and malicious.

Meanwhile, fresh facts have emerged on why the

Police nab suspected kidnapper, release 2 kids Pastor's son fingered in church member's son 's kidnap

BY EMMAAMAIZE

ARRI—POLICE in Delta State have set free two kids; Master Udesen Akpere and Master Akposere Akpere, aged four years respectively, who were abducted in Amukolo community in Okpe area of the state, weekend, while the kidnapper was also arrested.

Meanwhile, the son of a Pastor in a new generation church in Delta State, has been arrested by State Security Service, SSS operatives for allegedly masterminding the kidnap of a 10 year old child of a Chevron Nigeria Limited, staff worshiping in the same church.

Vanguard learnt the two children were playing when the kidnapper, who was on a motor cycle, lured them and took them away on Saturday.

Villagers, who suspected the motor cyclist, alerted the police in Okpe and a patrol team went on his trail.

He was trailed to Adeje, near Warri and with the assistance of soldiers; he took security agents to Mammy Market in the town, where the two children were recovered.

Delta State Police spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the arrest of the suspected kidnapper and rescue of the two kids, said the children had been reunited with their different parents.

Asked if the suspect wanted to sell the children, he said police was yet to establish his real purpose.

In addition to the son of the pastor, also arrested was the son of another pastor from another branch of the same church, who facili-

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tated in transporting the kidnapped child away from the church.

The kidnap took place on June 3, at the church’s premises on Emore Street,

Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

The first pastor’s son, allegedly lured the boy out of the church auditorium dur-

ing service while the other son of another pastor from another branch of the church brought a car that took the boy away.

How to curb sexploitation, violence against women, by Amaechi ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, has said that one way to curb violence against women and sexploitation of women was to address the economic inbalance in the country.

Amaechi spoke as the chief host of a one-day conference on, “Violence Against Women and Sextortion” organised by the National Association of Women Judges in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, weekend.

He said: “I look at this issue of ‘sextortion’ from the economic realities in Nigeria. I doubt if there is any woman born on earth who wants to use her body to the detriment of herself.

“When people are so denied of what they truly need to live comfortable lives, they feel seriously compelled to engage in any kind of livelihood without actually considering whether or not such means of survival are morally right or wrong.”

He noted that when some poor parents could not pay school fees for especially, their grown- up daughters, they may be compelled by such economic challenges to even knowingly give out their daughters for sexual activities for financial gains.

“So we must agree that the economic challenges

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we currently face as a nation could be linked to what you judges refer to as sextortion.

“The only time the judges can begin to redefine sextortion is when those who are in public office begin to give equal opportunities, I did not say money, I say fair opportunities for people to compete favourably. What drives a lot of people into ‘sextortion’ is

the economic challenges they face from day to day.

They become victims of such economic challenges,’’ Amaechi said.

He noted that whatever social misbehaviour people exhibit in earning a living has a direct link with the country’s economy and what they get out of the economy when compared with others in the society.

Oba did not meet with governorship candidate of PDP in the state, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere and Chief Tony Anenih, who were in the delegation of the President to the Oba’s palace.

Vanguard was informed by a top Benin Chief that “the Oba does not say the special prayers twice and you recalled that the day he prayedforAdamsOshiomhole,it was a special prayer and you remember the Esogban of Benin, declared that day during the special prayers for Oshiomhole’s reelection that ‘the oracle has spoken and whoever wants to doubt the oracle should try and see.”

But the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Matthew Urhoghide,explainedthat,“atthe palace, Oba Erediauwa, who, for reasons that the Royal palace may explain at a later date, could not have a formal and open reception for the visiting President, most courteously invited the President to his inner chambers, where they both had a meeting.

“The Oba’s invitation of President Jonathan into his highly re-

Court dismissess Mukoro's suit against Tebite

BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—A Fed eral High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, weekend, dismissed the suit by candidate of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP in the 2011 state House of Assembly election, Mr Eme Mukoro against Olorogun

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Aginighan faults zoning of political offices

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN

G H E L L I — FORMER Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, has faulted the application of zoning in the distribution of political offices in the country, particularly in Delta State.

Noting the participation of all the senatorial districts in all the gubernatorial elections held since the creation of Delta State, Aginighan said that even a son of the outgoing governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan should be able to contest the next gubernatorial election scheduled for 2015.

Aginighan who spoke to newsmen at the funeral service for the country’s first female ambassador, Princess Elizabeth Ogbon-Day at Ogoni-Olomu in Ughelli

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South Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, said that all eligible citizens of the state should be allowed to contest for the number one position in the state.

Aginighan, who in 2007 sought but failed to get the Peoples Democratic Party,

strictedbedchambershouldhave been seen for what it really is, a special meeting, the content and attendance of which was restricted only to the need-to-know.

“Thosewhospreadtherumour did our royal father grave wrong because Oba Erediauwa is reputed to be seeped in the observance of protocol and decorum. A few weeks ago, he warmly received, Vice President Namadi Sambo and his entourage, who were in Benin for the same reason as President Jonathan and paid a courtesy visit on him.”

Edo PDP said that it was unthinkablethatsomepeoplewould claim that the Benin monarch would openly refuse to see the Presidentandadvisedthose,who arespreadingtherumour tothink of the damage such malicious lie woulddototheimageoftheBenin Traditional Council.

However, it was gathered that PDP members are worried with the situation because it was an indicationthatthepalacewasnot wellpleasedwithPDPanditscandidate, Airhiavbere even though he is a Bini son.

PDP’s gubernatorial ticket in the state, noted that the first elected civilian governor of the state, Chief Alex Ibru from Delta Central contested the office against Chief Eric Opia from Delta North and the incumbent won the office at the expense of Chief Great

Taleb Tebite of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP representing a constituency in Delta State House of Assembly.

Mukoro had approached the court to review its earlier decision on his candidacy. The Court of Appeal,Benincity,EdoStatehad on December 19, 2011 sacked Mukoro from the House on the ground that his party, DPP had no candidate for the said election and declared Tebite the duly electedrepresentativefortheconstituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.

Dismissing the suit, Justice Ibrahim Buba, said the court had no powers to interfere with the judgmentofasuperiorcourt,adding that it lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the matter before it by Mukoro and DPP.

IRDC boss to partner oil firms, govt on devt

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ARRI—NEWLY sworn-in Chairman of Itsekiri Oil and Gas Producing/ ImpactedCommunitiesDevelopment Committee, IRDC, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has said that his leadership was poised to engage Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and other relevant government agencies in a bid to ensure all-round development of Itsekiri oil bearing communities.

Chief Emami, who spoke, weekend, in Warri, Delta State, during the swearing-in of a new IRDC executive to pilot affairs of Itsekiri oil-bearing communities

for the next three years, noted that the first task of his leadership was to ensure implementation of the comprehensive report of his recent three-day tour of the 23 Itsekiri oil-bearing communities.

HeadvisedIRDCcouncilmembers to visit their villages, regularly to enable them identify challenges confronting their people.

Chief Emami, who was recently conferred with chieftaincy title by the Olu of Warri, announced the dissolution of all standing IRDC committees, noting that a committee would soon be set up to address challenging

communityissueswithoutresorting to litigations.

The re-appointed Assistant Secretary of IRDC, Mr. Canaan Ajagbawa, said that members of the executive will not disappoint the people.

Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, meanwhilecalledforcorporation betweentheexecutiveandmembers and tasked the re-appointed executive to tackle the challenge of unemployment with Chevron.

Re-appointed executive were sworn in by the Edigbe of Warri Kingdom, Chief Francis Omatseye.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—11

Villagers lay siege to oil firm

S-South youths fault call for Petroleum Minister's sack

Demand reinstatement of sacked youths

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

BY EMMAAMAIZE

ARRI—THE peo ple of OvadeOghara community in Ethiope-West Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, barricaded the gate of Pan Ocean Oil Company, demanding the reinstatement of their youths, sacked by the company in May. The placard-carrying villagers, who chanted war songs, marched around with green leaves, and practically crippled activities at the company.

Some of the placards bore the inscription: “Enough is enough,” “Pan Ocean stop cheating us,” “Pan Ocean, reinstate our sacked youths,” “Employ our people in management positions,” among others.

The villagers insisted that the company should relocate from the their community, as the people had nothing to show for its pres-

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ence since 1972.

It took the intervention of men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, before the aggrieved chiefs, elders, men, women and youths agreed to tem-

porarily lift their barricade for their grievances to be addressed.

Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, has appealed to the protesting

villagers to be calm. His Senior Special Adviser on Community Relations, Mr Oseita Clement, who rushed to the flow- station, said the community's grievances would be addressed.

ARRI—THE 13y e a r - o l d Ugbuwangue Community Ruling Council in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, has been dissolved by His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 11, the Olu of Warri.

The ruling council had been led by Prince Agindotan Yonwuren, for a long time, despite agitations for change in leadership over the years.

Announcing the development before a crowd of Ugbuwague indigenes, the Olara-Aja, Dr. Preston

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BY JOHNBOSCO

YO—THE recently commissioned Akwa Ibom State e-Library will soon be opened to the public, even as a dynamic website that is fully functional with modules is already up and running.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said in Uyo that the Patron Registration is available, both for online and on-site readers; while the Online Public Access Catalogue, OPAC, links to world e-library and other eresource websites.

Umanah said the current

AGBAKWURU ALABAR—NA TIONAL Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has picked holes with the N200 billion valuation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, by the Federal Government, alleging that there was fraud in the process that led to the arrival at the figure.

General Secretary of the union and Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero, who spoke in Calabar, Cross

C Delta State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu(right) and Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed of Bank of Industry, BOI, Asaba, at a workshop on renewable energy project for Nigeria organised by BOI/UNDP in Asaba.

Egbe, said the dissolution was long overdue.

The dissolution followed a meeting summoned by the monarch to address the unending leadership tussle in the community over the continuous rulership of Agindotan and a chosen few, allegedly to the exclusion of other well meaning

sons and daughters of Ugbuwangue.

Among those present at the meeting, where the dissolution was announced were Pa. Agindotan, Tosan Okorodudu, Dickson Ajanemiwa and French Kenu for the Agindotan group while Emily Okoromadu, Turker Newportwright, Peter

Eburajolor and Omamuli led the opposition to the palace.

After listening to the arguments of both parties on the rulership tussle, the Olu of Warri gave the Olara-Aja two weeks within which to submit a comprehensive list of members to form a new ruling council.

NNPC boss assures on Nigerian Content Act implementation

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—OUT GOING Managing Director of Nigerian Petro-

Ibom e-Library to commence full operations soon

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ORT HARCOURT— SOUTH SOUTH youth leaders’ forum has described recent call for the sack of Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani-Allison Madueke by some members of House of Representatives, as misplaced.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Amachree Odiedim in a statement, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the House had lost the confidence it enjoyed among Nigerians because of the development around the oil subsidy probe.

Union alleges fraud over PHCN privatisation

Warri monarch dissolves community ruling council

BY EMMAARUBI

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The group said the House should concern itself more on how to win back the confidence and trust of Nigerians than seeking the removal of the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Madueke.

The group wondered why the House of Representatives could claim to be fighting corruption with the degree of scandal that had rocked it in the last two months.

The group hailed the recent appointments in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, describing the action of President Goodluck Jonathan as a step in the right direction.

official website address of the library is www.ibomelibrary.org, adding that the Ibom e-Library has e-resources that can only be accessed onsite (intranet) within the facility of the library.

While noting that a top level country domain websitewww.ibomelibrary.gov.ng, was being processed, Umanah said this will ensure that all components of the library are easily accessed by registered users from all parts of the world, stressing that as a dynamic resource medium, more content and functionality can be integrated to the website as the need arises.

leum Development Company, NPDC, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Abiye Membere, yesterday, reiterated the desire of the corporation to implement 100 per cent Nigerian Content Act in the award of contract.

Membere, currently the new Group Executive Director; Exploration and Production of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, spoke at a summit organised for its contractors. He blamed some contractors of the company for failing to conduct proper feasibility studies before submitting proposals, saying that the situation had led to delays in contract execution, as they often come for upward review of the contracts.

The event was co-sponsored by the United Bank

for Africa, UBA; Access Bank and Diamond Bank.

He said: "The NPDC doesn’t have a choice than to follow the Nigerian Content Act.Wewanttoensurestrictcompliance with the Nigerian Content Act. We deal with 95 per cent indigenous contractors. We have challenges with contractors changing the contract value after contract award. You have gone through all the processes and after contracts had been awardedandsigned,thecontractor will come, I can’t do this job anymore, prices have gone up by 60 per cent.

“I didn’t know this or that, which are difficult within our system to go through again when contracts had been awarded. We also recognise the fact that the Nigerian banking sector’s interest rate is very high, it is so high we are really worried about our contractors, one is to award the contract, the other is to execute them."

River State, at a reception organised in his honour by NUEE, weekend, alleged that the N200 billion valuation of PHCN was shrouded in fraud.

He said: “When you value PHCN at N200 billion, you are trying to confirm our suspicion that you want to sell it to your cronies. In the current arrangement, PHCN would be making about N25 billion a month and if you sell it at such amount, it pre-supposes that within few months, you would have realised the N200 billion."

'Why we're supporting Oshiomhole's 2nd term bid'

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG ENIN—ORGAN ISED labour, weekend, in Benin City, Edo State, said its support for Governor Adams Oshiomhole ‘s second term ambition was for him to complete the projects he started and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure one man, one vote in the July 14 governorship election.

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, weekend, held a sec-

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ond rally to drum support for Oshiomhole, whom leaders of organised labour said, had shown enough evidence that he was the person, people of Edo needed to continue the massive transformation and development of the state.

Labour leaders, thousands of workers and youths, who defiled the heavy down pour to rally in support of Oshiomhole, declared that July 14 would determine if President Jonathan was ready for transformation in the country or not.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Ban on religious programmes on EBBC Rainfall: Lagos warns

S-East CAN condemns Ebonyi govt action

BY PETER OKUTU BAKALIKI—THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South East zone, weekend condemned the ban on religious programmes on Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC, by the state government.

Chairman of CAN in the zone, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, while condemning the ban, described the decision by Ebonyi State government as ungodly, obnoxious and

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misleading and that it was an infringement on people’s freedom of worship.

According to him, the decision would not only impact negatively on the spiritual condition of the state but also institutionalize the reign of total darkness in the overall interest of the state, saying “I totally condemn it. It is ungodly for any state government to do so.

This decision of the government will bring about total spiritual darkness for the state and her people.

This is unethical and a complete violation of the codes governing broadcasting in this country. This ban will spell doom and total darkness for the state.”

The South East chairman of CAN called on Governor Martin Elechi to rescind the decision on the ban of religious programmes on EBBC, arguing that it was imperative for the people of the state to have the opportunity to watch and listen to religious programmes that would bene-

fit them".

It will be recalled that on June19, the Director-General of EBBC, Mr. Ubaka Onwuanibe issued a memo stating “This is to notify and inform all staff that due to an intended EBBC general programme audit, all religious preaching programmes are hereby put on hold. “No new ones will also be accepted until further notice. For avoidance of doubt SALT FM and SALT TV are concerned with this”.

SUMMIT—From left: Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group discussing with Warren Buffet, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy for Most Successful People on the Planet, in New York, USA.

....ACN vows to wrestle power from PDP, APGA

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has vowed to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in South East zone in the next elections, saying it has the capacity to dislodge the two parties and enthrone democratic governments in the zone.

At the inauguration of a three-man caretaker committee, Enugu State chapter of the party pending the conduct of the state congress, the party leaders said they would not rest until the entire South East states were brought under their c o n t r o l .

National Vice Chairman of the party in South East zone and former deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chudi Nwike, who inau-

gurated the committee, said ACN remained the party to beat come 2015, especially in South East zone

and the country at large.

He stressed that the party had all it takes to dislodge the PDP, because it had re-

mained strong and focused since it came on board because of the calibre of politicians in its leadership.

Oshiomhole campaign organisation blasts PDP over comment

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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SHIOMHOLE Cam paign Organisation, OCO, has condemned alleged arm twisting tactics of the Peoples Democratic, PDP, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over whether or not to use corps members for the July 14 gubernatorial election, saying such method imposes the role of INEC on PDP. The Director of Media and Publicity of OCO, Prince Kassim Afegbua, in a statement claimed that the PDP

was deliberately heating up the polity to attract unmerited attention to itself, noting that the PDP could not assume the responsibilities and functions of INEC. It said the PDP could not be “dictating to INEC what it desires before, during and after elections. It cannot possibly assume the role of INEC because the provisions of the law are very clear. When it was convenient for them, they supported the use of corps members in Kogi, Adamawa and Kebbi states elections.”

According to the statement “We find it very ludi-

crous that the PDP is crying wolf where there is none simply because they realise that their nefarious plans are not yielding fruits. We have seen the nadir of their vaunted thoughts; we have also heard their nomessage campaign from local and national officers of the Party.

Having realised that Oshiomhole is already coasting home to victory by virtue of the people’s verdict, the PDP has suddenly become avuncular and livid with anger for no just reason".

residents ...urges people to relocate from flood prone-areas

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO AGOS State govern ment may have washed its hands off the travails of those affected by the flood that resulted from last week persistent rainfall, warning those living in flood plains to relocate to safer places It also warned that last week’s rains may be a child’s play compared to what is expected in the next two weeks.

Meantime, last Thursday’s floods that wreaked havoc on Lagos residents following heavy down pour of Wednesday night persisted as major roads across the sprawling city were flooded yesterday as a result of rainfall that lasted several hours weekend. As usual, motorists and commuters spent several hours to get to their destinations.

Oshodi/Apapa Expressway was particularly a nightmare as several portions of the dual carriageway that serves as the country’s economic gateway to Wharf and Tin Can Island Ports were heavily flooded, subjecting motorists and commuters plying the ever busy road to untold hardship.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, penultimate weekend, said Lagos would soon experience a seven-day rainfall which would be accompanied by thunderstorms.

According to Mr Abayo-

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mi Oyegoke, from NIMET Central Forecast Unit, Oshodi, a total of 570 mm of rainfall had been recorded in Lagos State between January and June, 2012.

He explained that the rains being experienced in the state were the beginning of a seven-day rainfall. “In the last one week, it appears we are experiencing a prelude to the normal seven days rainfall and immediately after the seven days rain, what should be the next, is the little dry season.

“The dry season indicates the onset of the ‘August break’ and it seems the break may come early this year towards the second or third week in July, this is also normal,” Oyegoke said.

In anticipation of this year heavy rainfall, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, after an inspection tour of drainage channels in Orile Agege area during Saturday monthly sanitation, warned residents in blighted areas, particularly those on flood plains such as Aboru in Oke Odo, Mile 12, Agiliti, Isheri North, Owode-Onirin, Ikorodu, Majidun, Ajegunle, all in Ikorodu axis to relocate from the area in view of the forecast that more rain likely to lead to serious flooding were still being expected.

The commissioner declared that "several warning notices had been served to the affected areas in the state which are considered to be flood prone because they are sitting on wetland".

Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—13

FG to revamp mines, steel sector

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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AWARD—Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State receiving an award of excellence from members of Friends Royale in Umuahia.

Okorocha declares war on kidnappers Says it's fire for fire

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA WERRI—IMO State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has declared war on kidnappers and other criminals in the state, saying “it is now fire for fire.”

Okorocha, who spoke against the backdrop of continued cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the

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state, warned unrepentant kidnappers, "henceforth it will be fire for fire.”

According to him, “I want to state that one of the challenges we have had as a state has been insecurity, especially kidnapping. The time is up for the kidnappers.”

He assured the citizenry that “there will be no more kidnapping anywhere again in the state because

we have taken the necessary measures to curb the menace. Now, we have resolved to march fire for fire.”

Okorocha lamented that his appeals to kidnappers and armed robbers to repent from their criminal activities and engage in meaningful activities fell on deaf ears.

It will be recalled that Imo State had been under siege, especially from the begin-

ning of this year and despite the huge monetary reward of N1 million announced by the state government for any person that gives credible information that would lead to the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers.

Government equally purchased and equipped several Toyota Hilux vans and distributed to security agencies operating in the state

Murder of monarch: Abia police arrest 20 suspects As monarch's family fingers council's boss

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Police Command has said no fewer than 20 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of the traditional ruler of Ugwuleru autonomous community in Umunneochi Local Government of Abia as it intensified investigation into the heinous crime.

The traditional ruler, Eze Iroha Nwankwo, 65, was allegedly beaten to death last Monday in his palace by some unidentified youths in the community who invaded his palace.

However, the family through Prince Samuel Iroha, has accused the Transition Committee Chairman of Umunneochi Council Area, Prince Dan Okoli of a inciting the youths to kill their father.

But in a swift reaction, the council chairman, Dan Okoli, denied any involvement in the death of the tra-

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ditional ruler, saying he had no reason to wish him death let alone incite the youths to kill him.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Joseph Micloth said the 20 suspects had been arrested while investigation continued.

Though he did not give details of those arrested, he vowed that the police would get to the root of the matter and culprits made to face the law.

Meanwhile, Nwankwo family, through Prince Iroha has fingered the council chairman of being behind the killing of their father.

Politicians urged to fulfill electoral promises

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—POLITI CIANS and political parties seeking political offices have been urged to strive and fulfill their electioneering campaign promises to the electorate of restoring confidence of the people in the ballot box and ensure the credible advancement of nation’s democracy.

The coordinator of Ochendo Youth Foundation, Chinedum Orji said it had become habitual for politi-

cians to forget those who voted them into office by failing to fulfill electoral promises while seeking for votes.

Orji spoke in Ohafia Local Government Area during the distribution of various items to youths for supporting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2011 general elections.

According to him, “when we came here to campaign last year, we promised that we will return to thank the youths if they vote for the PDP".

According to Samuel Iroha, the council chairman addressed the youths and after addressing them, the youths invaded the palace and killed the traditional ruler.

BUJA—FEDERAL Government weekend said it was committed to ensuring that the mines and steel sector did not only become highest employer of labour but source of the nation’s revenue generation.

The government said many foreign investors had indicated interest to partner with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development with a view to developing the mines and metals sector of the country’s econom y .

It boasted that the number of job creation in the mines and steel sector in its current phase of employment in the industry would surpass the 350,000 it recorded in the last one year, thus contributing greatly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic P r o d u c t .

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mohammed Sada spoke in Abuja, during a send forth dinner organised for Alhaji Idris Kuta, Permanent Secretary in his ministry, who retired after his mandatory service in the Federal Civil S e r v i c e .

The minister urged people not to take the Federal Government’s promise of turning the industry around with a pinch of salt, saying government was committed to its transformation agenda just as he said necessary machinery had been put in place towards the realisation of the set goal.

He regretted that Alhaji Idris Kuta was retiring at a time his wealth of experience was mostly needed to realise the transformation of the mines and metals sector even as he noted that God had reason for everyt h i n g .

Obi gets award

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday in Enugu received an award as the ‘Good Financial Planning Governor of our Time”, from the Enugu Anglican Diocese.

The award was presented to the governor at a serv-

ice to mark the end of the synod of the Diocese at All Saints Church, Enugu.

Presenting the award to the governor, the bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, said Obi had continued to demonstrate prudence, transparency and accountability in using public resources for the collective welfare of all.

Soyinka, Anyaoku, others for book launch AT Concepts, a com munications and publishing outfit, will, tomorrow, launch a book entitled Portrait of Achievers in honour of great Nigerian icons and personalities.Prof. Wole Soyinka, Mr. Gamaliel

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Onosode, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, and late Dr. Olakunle Orojo are some of the dignitaries to be honoured at the event, which will be held at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA.

14—Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

TELECOMS: From left— Mr. James Wild of KPMG-NP Consultant; Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, National Communications Commission, NCC; and Alhaji Ahmed Gumel, Deputy Director, Telecom and Postal Services, who represented the Minister of Communications Technology at the Mobile Number Portability Forum, hosted by NCC and BSP Media, in Abuja.

Suspended APGA officers snub disciplinary c'ttee

BY CHRIS OCHAYI BUJA—THERE are strong indications, weekend, in Abuja, that

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the six suspended National Officers of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, might be expelled from the party, fol-

C'ttee recommends Fire Service Commission

BY VICTORIA OJEME BUJA—A sevenman Ministerial Committee on the Restructuring of Federal Fire Service, set up by Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, has recommended the establishment of a National Fire Service Commission.

The committee Chairman, Professor Femi Odekunle, who led members of the committee to submit their report, weekend in Abuja, said the Commission will, among other things, monitor and enforce fire service laws, regulations and standards in public and private fire services in the country.

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Other recommendations include: restructuring of the Federal Fire Service to include the Directorate of Prevention, Operations and Training; divest the Federal Fire Service of any regulatory/monitoring role, leaving it as a service provider, along with the states and private fire service providers.

The committee also recommended the provisions of fire stations across the country according to the classification in the 2007 Directive, ranging from market fire posts to metropolitan Fire Station Category, taking into consideration fire risks, economic indices and population density of the various communities.

NSCDC warns against biometric card issuers

BY EVELYN USMAN

IGERIA Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, yesterday, warned private security guard companies to be wary of individuals and organisations masquerading as issuers of biometric cards, describing their action as illegal.

The corps said it had begun a manhunt for those involved in the act it described as an act of criminality, warning them to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

Describing their action as a mere ploy to extort private guard companies, the NSCDC boss, Dr. Ade Abolurin, in a statement in

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Abuja, explained that in line with the Corps Act, only NSCDC had the constitutional responsibility to monitor, supervise, regulate, train and issue licence to private guard companies in the country as well as the issuance of biometric cards.

He described individuals and organisations involved in the practice without the corps’ permission as “illegal and fraudulent,” adding “government will not tolerate any act capable of destabilising the private guards industry that over the years is undergoing commendable reforms towards the actualisation of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.”

lowing their failure to appear before the sevenman disciplinary committee, set up by the party’s national leadership to investigate them.

Until their suspension over allegations of antiparty activities and unlawful breaking into the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, they were members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC. The NWC, led by the National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, had on June 21, announced the indefinite suspension of the six officers of the party over alleged anti-party activities.

Those suspended were Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Sadeeq Massalla; National Vice Chairman, South-East, Mr. Morgan Anyalechi; Deputy National Organising Secretary, Sunday Obasohan; Deputy National Legal Adviser, Bala Bako; National Youth Leader, Mr. Ferguson Okpara and National Women Leader, Mrs. Ella Ezeanya.

The NWC subsequently set up a seven-man disciplinary committee headed

by Alhaji Tayo Sowumi, National Vice Chairman, South-West, to probe the suspended officers.

The committee had invited the affected party members to appear before it over the allegations. But the committee waited fruitlessly at the party’s national secretariat as the party officers failed to turn up.

Addressing journalists in Abuja after waiting for several hours, Sowumi said: “After waiting for them for this long, we are left with no alternative than to write our report and forward same to the party’s National Executive Committee.”

Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—15

Vigilante Group submits proposal to FG

Northern govs' wives appeal to Boko Haram

BY PETER DURU

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BY CHRIS OCHAYI BUJA—AS part of its contribution towards addressing the insecurity confronting the country, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, has submitted a security proposal to the Presidency.

Commandant-General of VGN, Alhaji Ali Sokoto, who spoke while submitting the proposal to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, said the organisation was never in competition with any of the existing security agencies in the country.

The proposal, which was submitted through the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, was handed over by Commandant of the Ekiti Sector of VGN, Commander Olusefun Ojo, who doubles as Chairman of the Vigilante Reformation Committee of VGN.

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VISIT: Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State (left); Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff (right), during a courtesy call on the Governor over this year's Nigerian Army Week celebration, in Kaduna. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

Boko Haram 'll soon be contained—GOC

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS—GENERAL Of ficer Commanding 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jack Nwaogbo, has again re-assured Nigerians that the Boko Haram insurgency would

CNPP commends Ogun INEC

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GUN State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSEC, has been commended over its preparation for the state local government elections slated for July 21.

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Ogun State chapter said in a statement in Abeokuta, weekend, that the way and manner OGSEC was able to manage the crisis that rocked the state's Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over factionalisation was laud-

AKURDI—DISTURBED by the increasing activities of the Boko Haram sect and the loss of innocent lives in parts of northern states, wives of the 19 northern state governors, under the aegis of Northern Governors’ Wives Forum, have pleaded with the Islamist sect to lay down its arms and present its grievances to the Federal Government for dialogue.

The governors’ wives, who lamented the spate of killings and level of insecurity in parts of the north-

ern states, pleaded with the sect to give peace a chance, noting that dialogue remained the best option in the resolution of disputes.

Mr. Samuel Orbunde, Chief Press Secretary to the wife of Benue State Governor and Chairperson of the Forum, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, in a statement at the end of an emergency meeting of the group, lamented the serious security challenges facing the country.

They urged Nigerians to support the peace initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, which they said was aimed at fostering greater unity.

able.

The statement by state chairman of CNPP, Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, also commended OGSEC for successfully screening the 28 political parties contesting in the coming council polls, in which 14 of the parties were cleared to field candidates.

Odebudo, South-West Leader of Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, called on OGSEC to ensure transparency, free and fair local government elections.

soon be contained.

He spoke at the interdenominational service to commemorate this year’s Nigerian Army Day celebration held at the All Saints Military Church, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos, Plateau State, yesterday, urging Nigerians to bear a little more with the inconveniences caused by security measures in place in the state.

Nwaogbo, who was represented by Commander, 43 Division Engineers, Brigadier-General Bamidele Ogunkale, said everything was being done to end the Boko Haram menace, which he noted will soon become history.

He acknowledged that the security measures put in place as a result of the menace had been inconveniencing for citizens but noted that it was a necessary sacrifice to guarantee the security of all.

He said: “We used to

drive freely to our churches. But now, we can no longer drive to our churches; we have to park somewhere very far and trek to church.

“We are no doubt living in a trying period but we appeal to Nigerians to be patient because all these

attacks will soon be over.

Boko Haram will soon wither away.

“Even as a general, I can’t drive out to wherever I like because there are times that instructions come at very short notices and I have to obey them because they are for our safety.”

FG partners Indian firm on cotton

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—FEDERAL Government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with an Indian company, West African Cotton Company Limited, WACOT, to increase cotton yield by 400,000 metric tons per year.

The MoU also provides for increase in the export of cotton lint by 100,000 over a period of four years.

According to the terms of the MoU exclusively obtained by Vanguard in

Abuja, WACOT is mandated to supply certified cotton seeds to cotton farmers through the National Cotton Association of Nigeria, NACOTAN. Details of the MoU signed between WACOT and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, provides for: increase seed cotton production to at least 400,000 metric tons over a period of four years with the use of good agricultural practices, certified Seeds, recommended dosage of fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and crop protec-

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

The GOC called for prayers for security personnel, who he said had become targets of attacks, urging their family members to also bear the lack of attention from them because of the national assignments they are involved in.

tion chemicals, among others.

According to the MoU, “the Client and Investor will produce adequate quantity of breeder, Foundation Stage 1, Foundation Stage 11 and Certified Cotton Seed to achieve the seed cotton production of at least 400,000 metric tons over a period of four years.

“Increase the export of cotton lint by 100,000 metric tons over four years; provide best practices/processing techniques and market access for Nigerian cotton.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

What's your take on the subsidy probe scandal?

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T is very dicey. But the truth is that in Nigeria we are known to be corrupt generally. The people we look up for guidance— executive, legislature and judiciary— are not helping matters. This is a dent on our democracy.—Ms. Uduma Charity, Lawyer.

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T seems corruption cannot be abolished in Nigeria. This issue mus be properly investigated and the result of the investigation made available to the public. As for the culprits, let the law catch up with them.—Mr. Ajiboye Sunday, Musicologist.

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OTH the alleged giver and receiver of bribe are guilty and ought to be punished.

The giver had something in mind. If not that the giver was probably disappointed, nobody would have heard about it.—Mr. Chijioke Okons, Showbiz Person.

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T is just a display of our political and economic decay. Those we trusted are hitting us below the belt and pouring the mud right in our faces. Both the giver of bribe and the receiver are equally guilty. —Mr. Vitus Ekenomeoma, Businessman.

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HOSE who got the subsidy money have eaten it. No matter what is said, Nigerians are yet to see any benefit of the subsidy removal. Rather, what we are hearing is bribe here and there. Who is deceiving who?—Mr. Chukwudi Okafor, Car Dealer.

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OME Nigerians have always had a way of showing that they are untouchable. Mr. President should show his commitment by publicising the names of all those who are involved in these manipulations, irrespective of their status.—Mr. Israel Bright, Musician.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012 NIGERIANS are still waiting for the security agencies to prosecute Farouk Lawan, the embattled chairman of the House of Representatives Committee that probed government expenditures on petroleum subsidy. It seems it would be a long wait.

From the police asking a suspect to return marked notes (key evidence) that he took a bribe, what had happened in the past few weeks is a scandalisation of the scandal itself. The security agencies have shown uttermost reluctance to proceed with the case, which at the beginning appeared simple.

Lawan, acting for himself, or others, collected money to delist companies that had been in the report as violators of the subsidy fund. Now, there seems to be too many cases or none at all.

As we know it, Lawan made the request for the delisting on the floor of the House.

What is missing is establishing the nexus between Lawan’s request and an alleged $3 million bribe, of which $620,000 was given as the first tranche.

While reeling from the shock of knowing that the report could have been compro-

A Scandal Scandalised mised, Nigerians were further dismayed to note that the security agencies were playing games. They did not secure the evidence required to prosecute Lawan. With all the hype about a successful sting operation, the suspect was not arrested nor the marked notes, the main evidence, found on him.

The operation left the police asking Lawan to produce the marked notes they would use in prosecuting him. He promises to do so and the police appear stuck unless Lawan “cooperates”.

What was the hurry in announcing the scandal without secured evidence? To prove they are “on top of the matter” peri-

odic announcements were made about discoveries of another N11 billion and $10 million given as bribes to the committee and sundry interests. Mildly put, the case is in its infancy.

If the security agencies wanted to be taken serious, they knew what to do. They would have arrested Lawan on the spot, with the evidence intact. The rigmarole about the bribe and where the money is, are all part of a conspiracy to deny Nigerians the benefit of a report that could expose more wastes in government.

Why would the police not prosecute Lawan? He does not have immunity. He, by the police’s account, admitted collecting the money. What is stopping progress on the case? Are the security agencies playing to a script, such that they are prepared to look dumb, so long as they achieve their objectives?

The case is serious enough that Lawan should have been charged to court within weeks otherwise, those swirling the scandal should have lost their jobs for botching a sting operation.

OPINION

BY GABRIEL ZOWAM

ONSIDER the ongoing reform that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (through the Task Force on Port Reforms) is carrying out in our maritime industry, which has led to the reduction of the number of official agencies in our ports, from about 14 to about five; and to the new 24-hour port operations regime.

Their efforts were reported (as at February this year) to have drastically reduced clearing time in our ports, from about 39 days to only seven! Absolutely commendable! The only thing to worry about is “sustainability”, especially after the reformers are gone, bearing in mind our national “reformscuttle-reform” syndrome! Like all change initiatives, the port reform is up against all kinds of entrenched interests.

For example, the sacked agencies are understandably unhappy about their withdrawal from the ports, and will naturally like to be back! Characteristically, all the vested interests will simply bid their time, and wait for the reform team to disband; and then strive to scuttle the reforms! In the case of our port reform, this may be relatively easy because our maritime sector does not as of today have a clear regulator that can try to protect the gains! In other words, these gains are already vulnerable to our usual “reformscuttle-reform” syndrome!

We must break out of our national history of reforms that tend to move the country in circles, leading nowhere; reforms, which consume a lot of resources, create new institutions, and sometimes, cause a lot of disruptions and pains; only for us to still have the problem that we started with! The list is long: Our previous port taskforces, anti-corruption, public procurement, monetisation, privatisation, SERVICOM, education reforms, ghost workers, football reforms, pension taskforces, and so on! One of the factors responsible for this

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Priming our idling regulatory agencies syndrome is that our reform initiatives are often moving “against the grain”, which makes them easy to scuttle. The other factor, which concerns us here, is that our reform teams, including our various taskforces and committees, tend to drive their reforms directly, by themselves, without bothering with our regulatory agencies!

In our situation of widespread corruption, any reform that a reform team executes directly by itself will tend to disintegrate, when the team disbands, if nobody has been positioned to continue navigating it! On the other hand, it is possible for the reform team to still be the driver of the changes, but through the relevant regulatory institutions.

Such reforms will tend to become “internalised” by the system and the regulatory agencies that will remain after the reformers are gone! Every reform team has a lifetime. For example, if our past trend can be a guide, the present National Economic Management Team, NEMT and the Economic Implementation Team, EIT, are not likely to outlive the Jonathan Presidency! Compare this with the regulatory agencies which are corporate bodies with the advantages of perpetual succession, continuity and institutional memory; and which if carefully primed, can go on reforming, long after the reform teams are gone!

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f very strategic importance, considering the present state of the transformation programme, is that the transformation team, knowing that it is already running short of time, can prime these agencies, and use them to create multiple reform fronts across several sectors, thereby

dramatically multiplying the pace of the programme. Our transformation programme has lost a lot of time!

Government absolutely has to unleash it with a decisive bang to be able to achieve much before 2015!

Another vital benefit of leveraging our regulatory agencies is that the transformation team will in the process, be simultaneously rebuilding these institutions, rather than making that a separate project!

It is even the job of our regulatory agencies to optimise their sectors; and they can be excellent reformers, once properly primed! For example, some of Nigeria’s most successful transformational reforms were actually carried out by our regulatory agencies! It was a regulatory agency, the NCC, that midwifed our telecoms sector reform of 2001 which revolutionalised the Nigerian telecoms industry and has made it one of the fastest growing telecoms markets in the world! It was also a regulatory agency, the CBN, that midwifed the 2004 banking industry reform which revolutionalised Nigeria’s financial sector. Nothing prevents us from priming many other regulatory agencies and using them for similar reforms of other sectors!

In view of all these, whatever our transformation team wants to do for our health sector, power sector, aviation sector, education sector, public procurement, maritime sector, pension system, and so on, should start with repositioning the corresponding regulatory agencies and using them to create multiple reform fronts! The poor state of these agencies (which has seen many of them now driving the evils they were created to fight) should not becloud the enormous value that they can bring to our transformation programme!

Continues tomorrow *Mr. Zowan, a risk management expert, wrote from Edo State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—41

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42— Vanguard,

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—43

ESTUS Odimegwu, an Eze and former Managing Director of Nigeria Breweries PLC, has bounced back to public limelight after about five years in the shadows. But this time, he has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).

By this appointment, I am convinced that President Goodluck Jonathan is prepared to totally rejig and modernise the Commission because Odimegwu is a system reformer.

A very brilliant though often very argumentative technocrat, Odimegwu is the kind of person who fears or favours nobody when he sets his sights on achieving results. Within his five years at the NB PLC, he was able to restore it as the absolute industry leader in Nigeria. He deployed his brain power to crumble conventionalism within the system and earned the respect of its international stakeholders who mandated him to go ahead and do the necessary to make the company Africa’s number one. Odimegwu once boasted he would acquire Castel Breweries of South Africa, and single-handedly set up Heineken’s largest plant in Africa in rural Ama, Enugu State. Today, Heineken, despite being the most expensive beer in the Nigerian market, has become a preferred brand.

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t the top of his fame, Odimegwu became interested in politics, joined the Olusegun Obasanjo corporate boys (and girls) club and even vied for governor of Imo State where he got his hand burnt.

At the highest point of his travails, his amiable wife was snatched by kidnappers while in church. She, mercifully, survived the ordeal. Now, we expect Odimegwu to have become politically more matured enough to face the tough new challenge before him.

The new Board of the NPC is coming at a time the world is getting worried about the rapid increase of our population. The 2006 population census put our population at 140 million, though this was thought to be less than the real figure. Barely six years down the line, the United Nations Fund for

Population Activities (UNFPA) through its country directorate in Abuja, told a media gathering that 27 million more people have been added to bring the estimated population to 167.

The fear now is that unless something drastic is done, by 2050 Nigeria could top 400 million people. Already, she has risen to the sixth most populous country in the world behind China, India, Brazil, USA and Malaysia, having just displaced Pakistan.

While inaugurating the Board, President Jonathan disclosed that a law would soon be enacted towards reining-in the spiralling population and to ensure that every Nigerian gets authentic identification card.

The challenge facing us is beyond mere law-making.

After rolling out a similar policy restricting each family to four children, former

a bait to attract more federal allocation and political representation, which is why our population figures have always been falsified in favour of ethno-religious groups in power. Children are seen as blessings from God and those who don’t have them are often

,

Journey into politics

Odimegwu is here to count us

Festus Odimegwu military president, General Ibrahim Babangida violated it a year later in 1990 when he and his wife welcomed a fifth baby into their family! He blamed it on his faith. Our ever-increasing population is driven by politics, culture and religion. It is used as

The main challenge before Odimegwu and his Board is to re-orientate the Nigerian public’s perception of population more towards ensuring higher quality of life rather than numbers. Happily, Odimegwu is a man with enormous personal marketing skills. The NPC must come out in full spate with enlightenment campaigns on the need for voluntary population control. It must evolve policies that will reward those who meet the official policy targets while drastically reducing political rewards for real or imagined large populations.

It will not be an easy task. But there are very few problems that cannot be solved by getting people to buy into them. If a theocratic state like Pakistan can slow down and let Nigeria overtake it in population, it

The main challenge before Odimegwu and his Board is to re-orientate the Nigerian public’s perception of population more towards ensuring higher quality of life rather than numbers

stigmatised. This is in total contradiction to developed countries where more emphasis is on quality of life for those born, and hence greater effort towards population control.

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means that religious hang-ups can be overcome to achieve national goals. Let the compulsive salesman in Odimegwu come alive and get to it!

Ajimobi: humour and candour in motion

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BOUT three weeks ago, the Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Abiola Ajimobi invited senior writers and editors for a chat at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. It turned out to be a night of laughter, with the governor as the “stand-up comedian” able to snow even former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the shade in a two-cornered humour combat.

He swung from extreme wit to extreme candour. Here are just a few samplers.

“If you look around Oyo State”, he said, “You will discover it is the dirtiest state in Nigeria”.

Oyo may not really be the dirtiest state in Nigeria. As

a reporter who has been to 34 of 36 states in the federation, I have seen really dirty states. But for the governor to admit this simply means he is ready to do something about it. Some would rather grandstand. Contrast this with a former governor of Imo State who gloried in describing Owerri as the cleanest capital in Nigeria, but beyond the major roads you saw heaps of refuse in the wrong places! Ajimobi continues: “Ibadan used to be the largest traditional city in Africa south of the Sahara, but it is one of the dirtiest. So we embarked on environmental sanitation. There has been a substantial improvement since we started the campaign against dumping of refuse on medians and the

roads. If you want to go to Ibadan tomorrow I am sure you have a car. I will provide the fuel (laughter). As you are entering Ibadan now you will see the difference. When we started and we told the people “don’t trade on the streets” and started seizing their goods they came back to say: “Where do you want us to trade? After all, when you were campaigning you told us that your mother was a trader” (laughter).

I said my mother doesn’t trade on the streets (laughter) and they went to the house of our party leaders and started singing (translated) “trouble is coming, trouble is coming”.

I told them that unless we clean Ibadan Oyo State will

never be clean. The first impression is very important.

When you enter a town it is the first one or two kilometres that will give you the impression of how people live there. So we have pushed ahead with environmental sanitation, beautification and then infrastructural development.

Before reeling his achievements in one year: “It is said in politics that if you blow your trumpet people will say you are too arrogant. To me even if you cannot blow your trumpet make sure you whistle so loud that everybody will hear you (laughter).

Unless you keep making noise about what you are doing people will not know you are working”.

OPINION

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA GAIN, Nigeria wept over another avoidable colossal waste of human lives. The crash of the Dana Air Flight 0092 was a direct consequence of disregard for safety standards in pursuit of profits by the management of Dana air coupled with the corruption in the government agencies that regulate the aviation industry. As in prior air disasters in Nigeria, the Nigerian government reacted. The president did the usual. He sent condolence messages to the families of the air crash victims, visited the site of the crash, promised a full investigation into the causes of the crash and declared a number of days of national mourning for the dead. And expectedly, the legislature, also, responded. It mouthed a number of traditional platitudes, and promised to conduct its own investigation on the air crash.

The objects of these investigations,

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Culpability in the Dana air crash governing officials said are “to make sure that this (air disaster) does not repeat itself in this country”; so that “lesson should be drawn from the incident to avoid a recurrence of such disaster”; etc. In addition, the legislators’ investigation will also “ascertain the air worthiness of all aircrafts operating in the country to ensure that they conform to global safety standards.” What did previous investigations into earlier air crashes in Nigeria reveal? What lessons were “drawn” from them and why did these lessons not ensure that avoidable “air disaster (did) not repeat itself in this country?”

Surprisingly, the Senate is demanding that “the Ministry of Aviation release, without further delay, the investigation reports on all previous air mishap in the country and prosecute all those indicted

in the reports.” It then seems that the reports on earlier investigations into air crashes in Nigeria were never released and those indicted by them never punished? If that is the case, then, it is reasonable to think that the present flurry of promises and orders to investigate this last air mishap may just be mere playing to the gallery.

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t should not take a plane crash and an investigation by the legislature to ascertain that airline companies in this country adhere to global safety standards. It is the routine duties of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure the safety of the Nigerian air space and the air worthiness of all the planes registered and permitted to fly in it.

Evidently, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA have routinely failed in their work to guarantee safe air travel in Nigeria. It is understandable that entrepreneurs, even in the most advanced and civilised countries of the world, may sometimes mortgage safety standards for profits. No wonder, even in those countries of the world populated by honorable and law abiding businessmen, governments still diligently labour to maintain quality and safety standards in the aviation industry.

The need for such quality and safety controls is even most desperate in this vast scene of confusion that is our beloved country with an aviation industry replete with old, second hand and frayed planes.

Continues tomorrow on page 18 *Mr. Ezukanma, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

HAD, in a number of published articles in recent times, raised salient issues covering various aspects of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s approach to governance in Edo State. The Governor has failed to provide answers to the critical questions raised. This failure to explain to the people is taken as a confirmation of the antics created by his administration to further impoverish the people of Edo State, not only by robbing Peter to pay Paul but also by leading them into a state of financial servitude.

Instead of concrete responses supported by facts, all we could see on the pages of newspapers were lies, subjective propaganda and hire men and women singing the Governor’s praises and attacking the personality of his political opponent, Gen. Charles Airhavbere (retd) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The issues raised were deliberately ignored and this shows clearly the attitude that the Governor does not owe the people of Edo State explanations for his maladministration.

The desperate intention to sustain a dictatorial regime in Edo State is quite evident. Consider how the Governor unethically coerced labour and trade unions in the State to adopt his candidacy for the July 14 election, even when he was duly restrained from doing so by a court of competent jurisdiction. It is an affirmation of the disrespect, which the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, administration in Edo has for the rule of law.

The Comrade-Governor has also dragged the much-respected traditional leadership of the State into the murky waters of politics by insinuating in the print media that the royal fathers have endorsed his candidacy for the July election. These antics cannot

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coerce the people of Edo into blind obedience and debt bondage.

Edo State is abundantly endowed with both material and human resources, needed for economic sustainability, growth and infrastructure development.

However, my greatest worry is that we have a governor who does not consult or seek the consent of the people and who indulges full tilt in the use of propaganda and media hypes, even in such important matters as the procurement of loans and contract awards.

At the inception of the administration, the Governor told Edo people that all the projects to be executed by his administration would be funded by the tax payers’ money. Even the sign posts and bill boards he displayed in various locations of the state were selfevident. The Governor did not tell the people that he was putting Edo State on hire purchase, which is now implied by the heavy loans he has acquired from the World Bank and other financial institutions.

I am constrained to urge the Federal Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to, please, take note. The Governor cannot pretend ignorance of what has happened and what is happening to many ex-governors, including that of Bayelsa.

The Governor could not have forgotten that he told the people of Edo that he symbolised the rule of law and that there would be no sacred cows and godfathers in his administration. Is it not apparent that the Governor has failed to live up to his promise as we have seen in the series of recent employment into the Edo State Health Management Board and Civil Service? The list of the people employed is mainly ACN loyalists, selected basically on party basis

The betrayed Edo people have realised their mistakes and resolved that they can no longer be fooled; most were ignorant of the negative implications of unrestrained borrowing

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whereas the YES scheme employees are deliberately kept as intervention staff on temporary employment.

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hereas, it was the YES scheme he used as one of the antics to convince the World Bank to approve the loan facilities, whereas the government programmed the YES scheme as a political strategy; and whereas, the government regarded the YES beneficiaries as political and administrative expendables.

I posit that the Governor’s antics was to deceive the people of Edo State into believing that he was a godfather killer, whereas his hidden intention has always been to install himself as the new godfather of the State. This has become evident from the way ACN primaries were conducted in the last general elections and the subsequent series of political adoptions in Edo. If the Governor sees this as demurring, I need to quickly remind him that he has failed to allow the local government councils and people at the grassroots full participation in the democratic dispensation by his refusal to conduct LGA elections in the State. Rather, he favoured the unconstitutional method of creating and appointing transition committees and appointing chairmen, with himself as the super chairman of all the 18 local government

Beckoned to serve

BY CLEMENT OFUANI

‘

ECKONED to Serve’ is the autobiography of AlhajiShehuUsman Aliyu Shagari, the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the American-style presidential system of government. The title probably owes its origin to the mechanism through which the President found himself in high public offices at different stages of his political career. This was through a recruitment process where the political leaders at that time determined that he was required to serve in defined capacities and proceeded to get him elected to those positions. In that era, there was clear job definition that helped to narrow the choice of candidates rather than the burning ambitions of aspirants. In so far as the leaders were altruistic in the decision, the persons beckoned to serve were expected to have certain enduring qualities of leadership. While, the first generation leaders have been denigrated in some quarters, in retrospect, the quality of leadership in public office in Nigeria has been more on the decline with each succeeding generation.

Public office is high office of service which has direct impact on the welfare and wellbeing of all citizens. Therefore, it should be a calling for the most capable hands in the land. Unfortunately, military intervention in our political life has left this nation an unsavory legacy of mediocrity in public service that is not limited to the political

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class but extends to the bureaucracy. The natural process of leadership identification, grooming and maturation have been scuttled and replaced with a chaotic process that appeals to our basest sentiments.

Indeed, nowadays, emergency philanthropic activity has become one of the common devicesfor attaining public office.

Recently, I was having a conversation with some friends which invariably dovetailed to the process of leadership recruitment in our country, especially in the light of the explosion in information communication technology and pervasive access to media coverage of electioneering processes in other countries that we can benchmark. My friends seemed particularly enamoured of the American system of intense electioneering campaign that tests the capabilities of the aspirants and helps the voters to evaluate them and wondered why our own system cannot borrow a leaf from the Americans. Some were quick to point out that our historical socio-political experiences and peculiar demographics are responsible for our current political development. Perhaps, this was what the military had in mind when they insisted on home-grown democracy. Nonetheless, a process that constantly throws up mediocre performers that diminishes high offices of state such that the best minds and capable hands regard public office as being beneath

councils.

The people of Edo State have observed that the roads on which the Governor claims to have expended 40 per cent of the State budget or N80 billion in the Benin metropolis are all Federal Government roads. No Benin person has a motorable street road to his or her residence. Indeed, all residential roads in the Benin metropolis are impassable. The truth is that the roads constructed

by Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, were almost at completion stage and they include Second East Circular and Imuentiyan Street, off M.M way, which Oshiomhole deliberately abandoned.

Rather, the Governor prefers flexing muscles with the Federal Government by claiming to be working on Federal Government roads. Residents in these areas, including yours sincerely, would want to remind the Governor that, at the inception of his administration, when he went for an on-the-spot assessment of projects, he expressed satisfaction at the quality of the jobs executed

by PDP contractors. But he abandoned the jobs at the level of surface asphalt overlay. Now, these roads are among the worst of the hazardous road networks in the Benin metropolis.

Is it not notable that the billions of naira so far wasted on subways and beautification in Benin City could have been more than enough to sand-fill, double drain and asphalt 80 per cent of the major roads in Benin City? Even the iron (rods) and concrete wasted on the subways are enough to secure decent housing estate for, at least, 10 per cent of the city’s teeming population.

Since the inception of the administration, no banking institution has purchased a plot of land or laid any foundation for the establishment of branch facilities in the State. This is obviously due to the practice of over-taxation by the administration and insecurity occasioned by deliberate negligence.

The unwillingness or inability to complete the facilities initiated by previous governments in the state

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BY CALLISTUS OMOREGIE

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Why must Edo people be impoverished?

Ambition for public office is no longer propelled by as much a desire to serve as to be served, and rather than wait to be beckoned to serve, the ambition is today pursued with murderous ferocity

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their status requires speedy overhaul and reform.

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narguably, the starting point in that reform process must be altering of the motivation for public office. I was told a story of a young man who aspired to serve his people by representing them in the state house of assembly and looked forward with delight to being given his own Prado Jeep.

Yes, some elected officials are in a hurry to acquire sirens for their escort cars and to have several armed mobile policemen at their beck and call as sign of their arrival.

Evidently, in situations where public officers are over-pampered with the perquisites of office undreamed of by public officers in better developed economies, it is impossible for anyone to be beckoned to serve any longer. In the event that someone is beckoned to serve, it is even doubtful if the person is being recruited for the interest of the larger society and not those of the

is also worrisome.

This administration has deliberately ignored the revitalization of the Cassavita Plant at Uromi and the Fruit Processing Plant at Ehor because it did not consider them to be viable projects that can be used for pecuniary interests.

These plants have the potentials of generating as much as N1.1 billion 1GR annually. Yet, the Governor has chosen to abandon them and their economic dividends. The same was done to the Ewu Flour Mill and the Edo Line Transport Service, both of which could be made viable.

The Governor went to the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to borrow billions of Naira in the name of the Edo people. He manipulated and mobilized the people and the media to applaud and support the actions. The truth is that the Governor did not show the people the implications of these heavy loans.

Permit me to point out here that the betrayed Edo people have realised their mistakes and resolved that they can no longer be fooled; and that most people in Edo were ignorant of the negative implications of unrestrained borrowing.

Instead of enlightening them, the administration employed all sorts of rhetoric and antics to mesmerize them into believing that all that glitters was gold.

Additionally, Edo people were not aware that the government receives a monthly subvention of close to N5 billion from the Federal Government; and it was not brought to the knowledge of the people that over N1.2 billion is made monthly through tax and that this money was enough to fund all the roads constructed since the past three years.

The wind has now blown and the people have seen the rump of the chicken. They have refused to be mesmerized by the smooth rhetoric. *Mr. Omoregie, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Benin, Edo State

anointing godfathers.

By all available indices of development measurement, Nigeria is a poor country, yet public office holders in Nigeria are among the best maintained in the world and live in Byzantine luxury(apologies to Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon).

Maintained, is carefully chosen here to reflect the disparity between actual lawful entitlement of public officers and the perquisites that they have appropriated for themselves. Take the example of the young man that aspired to the House of Assembly in order to possess his own official Prado Jeep. Nowhere in the law specifying the remuneration of members of the house of assembly, is there provision for official car.

Indeed, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission which sets the maximum entitlements specifically does not recommend official cars for members yet I do not know of any state where members are not provided official cars.

To be fair, it is not just members of the state houses of assembly that are guilty of this breach of the law. At all levels of governance in our country from local government to federal, there is a complete irreverence for the laws of the land, especially when it comes to matters of welfare for office holders. It is therefore unsurprising that ambition for public office is no longer propelled by as much a desire to serve as to be served and rather than wait to be beckoned to serve, the ambition is today, pursued with murderous ferocity. *Mr. Ofuani, a political analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012 — 45

Charging atmosphere!

HI READERS! hen I got home from work, everywhere was quiet, and the sitting-room squeaky clean. No dirty glasses or snack plates lying around, as has been the norm since Kate and her man took up residence with us. I had skipped breakfast that morning, so that I wouldn’t be forced to hobnob with them; merely asking them how their night was on my way out, and I legged it.

On my way to the office, Seb’s mail came in. ‘Treena love, I’m very proud of the way you’re handling the Kate matter. I know it’s a bit tough on you, but please persevere so that Kate’s ambition to get married can be achieved. I was told that Rafiu turned up with Bisi, Nurudeen’s wife and there was some unpleasantness which Becky and her husband succeeded in settling.

That was tricky. I wonder who informed Bisi that her husband was at your place. Hm! If I knew that was going to happen, I wouldn’t have told you that we should forget your money the couple owes you.’

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Payment of the debt Pronto, I rang Seb to ask him if I should now pursue the payment of the debt. I mean, I could do with the eight hundred and twenty thousand naira that Dean said he would pay for the car. Yes, I know I’ve lived without the money all these ten years, but I still need it.

I haven’t changed my furniture since the children left home.

“Yes, yes, Treena darling, that sum of money is not small, but since I’ve said we should write off the debt, it stays written off.

We’ll have to find another way of

LIFE WITH TREENA - the funloving, but

hardworking single parent Kate at a point say that she was willing to pay it? I’ll re-introduce the matter when I return home in the evening.”

“And then spoil your cousin’s hope of getting married?”

“Why should that spoil it? It has nothing to do with her, and it was long before she met Dean. Look Seb dear, let’s stop pampering Kate. She wouldn’t have offered to pay if she doesn’t have the money. I’m sure she’d give me the money when I re-open the matter this evening. She’s a proud lady who wouldn’t want embarrassment for her boyfriend.”

“Then you don’t understand the true situation.”

“What’s the true situation?

Kate’s not poor.”

“Of course she’s not. But I doubt if she’s ready to hand over eight hundred thousand naira to you just like that when there’s nothing in return for it. She’s very astute about spending, and I doubt if she has much money here in the country.

If she does, she would have checked herself and her boyfriend into a hotel when she brought him to Lagos, so that they would have more privacy; instead of bringing him to your place. Her offer to pay off the man’s debt was a subtle blackmail to make you feel ashamed about wanting him to pay a ten year-old debt. She has no intention of paying at all. If she did, she would have given you the money quietly without the knowledge of her boyfriend.”

“Okay, why did you say just now that if you knew that Bisi, Dean’s

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Look Treena dear. That lady came to claim her husband back because she was told that he was having a serious relationship with a lady who lives and works in the U.S....

funding a change of furniture for you; although, what you have is posher and newer than those at my place, if you ask me. ” “Seb, please, I know the state of my furniture. I live here; you don’t. So, you can’t judge from a distance. I would like my furniture changed, and I’ve been saving towards that. If you permit that I get the money from Dean, I’d be able to achieve my aim. Why should I live in squalor? I’m not asking you to pay for it.”

“Aren’t you? Why did you bring the subject into our conversation then?”

“It was to convince you that I do need the money you’re trying to write off. I know you got the car for me in the first place, and you bought a replacement, but the car had become mine, and so, I’m entitled to proceeds from its sale.

Luckily, I haven’t told Dean to forget about the money. Didn’t

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wife was going to come looking for him, you would have asked that the payment of the debt be pursued? I can’t understand that.

It’s either you want to forget the money, or you don’t.”

“Treena dear, listen and reason.

The decision to write off the debt was because of Kate. We didn’t want any obstacle to her intention to marry the man. Insisting on collecting the money from Nurudeen may scare him off and he would ditch Kate, since he doesn’t have the money to give you. If Kate weren’t in love with him, I would have moved mountains to recover the money.”

Confusion sets in: “I still don’t understand. His wife coming to confront him hasn’t ended his relationship with Kate, so, you shouldn’t regret saying he shouldn’t pay.”

“Look Treena dear. That lady

came to claim her husband back because she was told that he was having a serious relationship with a lady who lives and works in the U.S, and who may whisk him away.”

“But she said she came to compel him to take her to her children, to whom he has been denying her access. He too confirmed that it’s because she’s been moving from man to man and has no fixed home

that the custody of the children was granted him. I don’t think she wants him back. Why, she grabbed him by the neck of his shirt and tore it. She was struggling with him most of the time.”

“There you are! She did all that because she still wants him, and wanted body contact with him at all costs. If she doesn’t want him, she wouldn’t have clung to him, but would have been raining abuses on him from a distance. You know how complicated you ladies are, Treena dear. No matter what; no lady would cling physically to a man she hates. She would keep her distance. Bisi didn’t need to come all the way to Lagos to confront Nurudeen.

Confronting the mother in law She should have gone to Onitsha where her children are, to confront her mother-in-law, with whom they’ve been living since she abandoned them. She’s going to do her best to get her man from Kate. If we had seen that coming, there would have been no need to cancel the debt. In fact, I would have asked one of my accounts clerks to go get the money from her and the husband.”

“We can still do that, but we have to move fast because Kate’s travelling out tomorrow and he’ll have to return to the east soon afterwards. Call your office and ask someone to be at my place this evening. I haven’t told them not to pay, I hope you haven’t too.”

“Er, well, through Michel, a hint has been dropped to Nurudeen that we intend to forget about the car/the money, because of Kate.

Belinda thought that would clinch the deal of Kate’s intention to marry him, as he would feel so grateful to her that the debt was cancelled because of her, that he would remain with her, and go on to marry her.”

Hm! It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Seb that it seemed the sort of crooked deal that Belinda would think up, and that I don’t think her intention was pure, but I held back. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction that his theory that Belinda and I don’t want to hear each other’s name from him was correct.

So, I told him that Belinda’s perception of the situation could be right. “You don’t mean that, Treena dear.” he shot back. “You can’t suddenly begin to approve Belinda’s ideas. That runs against the grain.”

‘You have one minute left,’ came

a voice on my phone, and before I could grasp what the lady was saying, my line went dead. I was in the car park at my office, so, that was end of the discussion. I put all my lines on ‘silent’ so I could concentrate on my work for the day.

“Where are Madam Kate and her friend?” I asked nanny when I returned home later. “Everywhere is so quiet.” “Madam, she told me that they were going to stroll to that big hotel down the road, and would come back much later. You know this is their last night here.

Madam, they like each other o!

You should see how they were putting food into each other’s mouth this afternoon. Hm! I’m beginning to like seeing two of them together, but I’m afraid for madam Kate.”

“Why? She’s a tough lady who can handle any situation. She’ll be alright.” “That’s true, madam, but did you see how the man’s wife came to embrace him before she left with that oga’s former worker?

Michel and I saw it from the garden, and I think madam Kate who had been waiting for him in malam’s hut, saw it too. Later, when they got into the house, madam Kate was very quiet and looked unhappy.

He too was very deep in thought and they didn’t converse much.

However, t h i s morning,

they were okay with each other, and they were behaving like husband and wife. Hm, if the man’s wife should come back here, he may go with her. They seem to like each other still.”

“Well, nanny, she’s the mother of his four children. They will have to do business with each other for the rest of their lives. You can’t do that with hate in your heart.

They will have to tolerate each other.”

“Yes, madam, but yesterday, when she embraced him, he held her tight and kissed her head.”

“Nanny, that’s nothing. Let’s not think of, or say something which will make us go for confession again. The priest would get fed up with you always coming to confess your sins. Let’s believe that this man wants madam Kate as much as she wants him. Papa Milwan wants them to get married.”

“Ah, madam, Michel says he believes it’s madam Belinda who’s trying to push that idea, because she wants madam Kate to get married so that she wouldn’t want to run after oga again.”

“Look, nanny, let’s wish the couple well,” I said firmly.

Malam buzzed from the gate. “Yes, malam?”

“Sorry madam. That woman who was here yesterday, the one who was fighting with our visitor, is here again. I told her that he’s out, but she says she will wait for him.

Should I allow her into the compound?”

“Certainly not. Advise her to go away that you don’t know when our visitor would be returning here.” Turning to nanny I told her that Dean’s wife was at the gate.

Excited, nanny wanted to go check her out. “Oh no! Nanny, you and I are not stepping out. Now, go get me my supper. Thanks.”

I called up Kate, apologised sweetly for disturbing her, and told her that Bisi was at the gate.

She went silent. I thought she had fainted. I had to ask if she was there. She said she was.

“What next?” she asked cautiously. “If you have money on you, Kate dear, spend the night in a guest house. We have several on the Estate. The woman can’t remain outside my gate all night. I’ll call you when malam gives the all-clear. Enjoy yourselves, Kate dear. Give Dean my regards,” I told her gaily and rang off, glad to have introduced some stress into her evening.

I then switched off all my lines, had supper, lingered around a bit and then went to bed.

Tara.

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

which has forced the increase in the price of virtually everything and our people are suffering.

So if a government is unable to provide these basic things, that government has failed.

If President Goodluck Jonathan cannot tackle these challenges, why must he talk of recontesting. Except between now and the end of his tenure he is able to address these things and there is an improvement, visible improvement, that will then provide him the platform to run again.

$3 MILLION BRIBE:

I don’t know what to think of Farouk again — Tsav

Platform to run again

ALHAJI Abubakar Tsav came to national renown as a fearless Police Officer. The erstwhile Commissioner of Police in Lagos State has carried on with his outspokenness even into retirement. In this interview with Vanguard, he spoke on issues arising from the scandal in the House of Representatives over its investigations of the fuel subsidy scam, corruption as a snare for the country, the reforms in the Police and the 2015 presidential contest among others. Excerpts:

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HE House of Representatives has been enmeshed in a scandal over its handling of the fuel subsidy probe? What is your perspective of the issue?

Before now, we were honest people , but today all that has changed. I am very disappointed at what is happening in this country. All along I held Farouk in high esteem, believing that he is a very honest person. But with what has happened, I don’t know; because the whole thing is clumsy and very complicated because we don’t know what the truth is in the matter.

If it is true that Otedola wanted to bribe him so that he can play down the involvement of his company in the oil subsidy saga, then, he should have alerted the Police. And why did he go to his house.

And because he knew what he was coming for, he laid a booby trap for him. He set up cameras to record what would transpire between them. But Farouk is saying that he did what he did to tell the whole world that the man wanted to influence him.

There is one other issue we have to look into and that is to know if the report exonerated or implicated Zenon Oil. Where is the evidence against the company? All of these must be looked into. And if the report actually implicated the company, why did Farouk go to his house in the first place?

If you are asked to probe a case you don’t do that. If it were in the Police and you were given a case to investigate and after getting the truth, you have no business with the accused person at all.

All you do is to rely on his

evidence you have got and all the things the man has told you. You do not have anything further with him. That is why I say this whole issue is clumsy and very, very clumsy indeed.

Would you now say that the report be acted upon or discarded?

I would advise that they go through the report first and see. Did the report exonerate Zenon oil of complicity in the whole matter? If the Federal Government is convinced that what is contained in the report is the absolute truth, they should act on it.

Does this gives credence to the allusion of corruption in the National Assembly credited to former President Obasanjo?

Honestly I think that there

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BY PETER DURU

*Tsav: Held Farouk in high esteem after a while nobody hears anything about it, which is obviously not good for this country.

Do you support the decision of the Acting Inspector General of Police to dismantle road blocks across the country?

To a certain extent the image of the Police has improved. But on the issue of road blocks, if they must return there should be proper supervision of the men that carryout the assignment because what happens is that if they are not properly supervised they

The primary responsibility of government is to provide security for the people and also ensure their well-being; on that premise, the fact is that this government has failed

should be a road map to address the issue of corruption in the country. I sincerely advocate that organized labour should focus on this menace.

They should insist and ensure that if anyone is accused of corruption, such a person should be made to face trial and if found guilty is sentenced or convicted appropriately.

That is a cause they should champion for Nigerians.

Because what is happening today is that if someone is accused of corruption so much noise will be made about it and

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convert the check points to toll collecting centres and before you know it a mini market springs up there and some of the kids selling petty goods are detailed to act as receivers of bribe monies for the police men at the check points.

As for the agitation for the return of the checkpoints, you will agree with me that some people feel more secured when they see the presence of the Police within their vicinity. But the truth is that the damage the road blocks are doing outweigh their benefits.

You are traveling and you see police men collect monies from motorists, they don’t see you but you see them. And the painful part of it all is that soldiers are joining them, our air force men also joining them which is extremely very bad.

If check points must come back, then there must be proper supervision otherwise the police should rely on motorized patrols in order to make sure that the roads are free of robbers and other criminals.

What is your stance on the debate as to whether President Jonathan should contest the 2015 presidential election?

The primary responsibility of government is to provide security for the people and also ensure their well-being; on that premise, the fact is that this government has failed.

There is a lot of corruption, there is a lot of insecurity, B o k o Haram insurgence, kidnapping and the rest of t h e m .

There is general hardship in the country especially with the removal of fuel subsidy

The fact is that Nigerians want a leader who can take us to the promised land; anybody who can give us electricity, anybody who can bring down the prices of goods and services, ensure the security of lives and property and anybody who can give us purposeful leadership that is what we desire.

What would be your advise to the contending political blocks in Benue State especially after the recent Supreme Court verdict that reaffirmed the election of Governor Gabriel Suswam?

To start with, that verdict came to me as a relief because Suswam came in as governor with excellent ideas to give the people purposeful leadership but this opposition thing turned into a huge distraction.

I advise the opposition to work with government by availing them necessary advises as may be required.

Lets set aside do or die politics in this country; lets shun politics of thuggery, blackmail and gangsterism and do politics of civility so that our society can be a better place for.

That is my candid advise to all politicians irrespective of where they find themselves or political party they belong.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—47

He declared, “in two years, unemployment will vanish in Edo state”.

Comrade Oshiomhole of the ACN who is the incumbent said “ Governance is not like magic”. He said job creation has been approached through the private sector and the public sector.

His government he said promised 10,000 jobs in 2007 but has employed 11,000 in its Youth Employment Scheme. He also cited the private investors rushing into the state noting that business mogul, Aliko Dangote is to set up a factory in Agenebode that will create 5,000 direct jobs among other efforts by other investors.

ANPP candidate, Chief Solomon Edebiri promised women 30 per cent participation in government.

He said “his party believes in gender equality” while, Mr. Paul Orunwense of the NCP said if elected he would focus on girl child education and ensure that there is no employment discrimination against women.

Incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole beat his chest with his record appointment of women as commissioners of education, health and head of the millennium development goals( MDGS).

•Oshiomhole, Edebiri and Izebuwa at the debate

GUBER DEBATE:

The intellectual warfare

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

T

HE debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group for governorship candidates for the forthcoming election in Edo state was indeed an eye opener.

Several issues were raised and the candidates responded to all the issues raised differently.

Party (SDMP) arrived late to the venue.

The candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) Chief Solomon Edebiri was gentlemanly in his approach to all issues.

He commended Governor Oshiomhole for moving the state forward but stated that more needs to be done to develop human capital development. In his words,

,

Whereas, all other contending candidates agreed that citizens should be led by disciplined leaders, two candidates by their conduct contradicted their views

Expectedly all the candidates including the incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole promised Edo indigenes and residents a better life.

Whereas, all other contending candidates agreed that citizens should be led by disciplined leaders, two candidates by their conduct contradicted their views.

The candidates of the National Conscience Party, Mr. Paul Orunwense and Prince Frank Ukonga of the Social Democratic Mega

,

“the graph of human capital development is going down”.

Comrade Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on his part responded calmly to all the issues including veiled attacks on his person. He recalled that Edo had been run down before 2007.

He spoke of his achievements in the area of road construction, tackling erosion, flood, boosting of economic activities in the rural areas but he said, “what is yet to be done is far much more than we have done in the last three years. We have

laid a solid foundation which we will build on in the second term”.

National Conscience Party candidate, (NCP), Mr. Paul Orunwense also promised to improve the living standard of people in the state including the introduction of vigilante groups in the village and urban areas in order to improve security of lives and property in the state. Like others, he condemned corruption but sent a missile to the PDP when he said, “people who steal in billions are walking the streets because their government is in power ”.

The PDP candidate, General Charles Airhiavbere on his part said, he has taken a critical look at Edo State since 1999 and “it is clear our people have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy” .

Oshiomhole did not fail to remind Airhiavbere that his party; the PDP ruled the state for 10 years whereas the ACN has been in government for only three years and “ the difference is what we see”.

Oshiomhole was to also launch at Airhiavbere when the PDP candidate goofed that the United Nations did

Challenging positions not want to lend money to Edo state because it was not sure the money would be judiciously utilized.

Oshiomhole educated him that the UN does not lend money informing that the World Bank which does has indeed commended his government for its unique achievement in the area of infrastructural development.

Infrastructural development Prince Frank Ukonga of the Social Democratic Mega Party ( SDMP) could not be ignored. He could best be described as the ‘Tokunbo’ candidate. He did not fail to make reference to his experience abroad “ where I came from”. He made it clear that to reform the educational system, “ we’ll re-introduce cane in schools. I don’t tolerate any act of indiscipline. Nigeria has good followership. All they need is good leadership”.

On youth employment, Prince Ukonga said his government would in the first 100 days in office create 100 cottage industries and create 500,000 jobs as “ I have seen while abroad”.

He said “We have appointed women into challenging positions” and they have performed very well.PDP candidate, MajorGeneral Charles Airhiavbere on his own part cited his wife’s involvement in his campaign as one way of boosting women involvement in society. “I have been going everywhere to campaign with my wife,” adding perhaps as an afterthought “we are looking beyond 35 per cent women participation.”

SDMP candidate, Prince Frank Ukonga promised 50 per cent employment for women.

NCP candidate, Mr. Paul Orunwense cautioned the electorate not to sell their votes. He warned against violence. He reminded all that “ only one person will be governor”. He reiterated the political slogan of Oshiomhole “ One man , one vote” and added “ one youth, one vote. Your votes will count.

It was no doubt an interesting debate but the organizers also had shortcomings. It is expected that many of the shortcomings would have been overcome during at the

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48— Vanguard,

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Vanguard,

Obama rides high on healthcare ruling OTER support for President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul rose after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it but most people still oppose the law, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll yesterday. The online survey showed increased backing from Republicans and, crucially, the political .independents whose support will be essential to winning the November 6 presidential election.

Thirty-eight percent of independents support the healthcare overhaul in the poll conducted after the court ruled Thursday the law was constitutional. That was up from 27 percent from a Reuters/ Ipsos poll taken days before the justices’ ruling.

Among all registered voters, support for the law rose to 48 percent, from 43 percent before the court decision. “This is a win for Obama. This is his bill. There’s not real-

V

ly any doubt in people’s minds, that it belongs to him,” said Julia Clark, vice president a Ipsos Public Affairs. “It’s his baby. It’s literally been labeled Obamacare ... which maybe it works in his favor now that there’s a little bit of a victory dance going on.” Repub-

lican opposition to the law stayed strong, if somewhat weaker than before the High Court ruled.

Eighty-one percent of Republicans opposed it in the most recent survey, down from 86 percent in the poll conducted June 19-23.

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and that it should arrange free elections.

“Time is running out.

The conflict must be resolved through peaceful dialogue and negotiations,” Annan told reporters. The talks had been billed as a lastditch effort to halt the worsening violence in Syria but hit obstacles as Russia, Assad’s most powerful ally, opposed Western and Arab insistence that he must quit the scene.

The final communique

—49

Militants kill 19 in Kenyan Church attack T least 19 people have been killed in attacks at two churches in Kenya’s eastern town of Garissa, according to the country’s Red Cross.

Sunday’s attack in the normally quiet Garissa is the latest in a series that has rocked Kenya since it deployed troops into southern Somalia last October to hunt down al-Shabab fighters who are said to have links to al-Qaeda.

Garissa is serving as a military base for oper-

A •President Obama

Syrian transition: Uncertainty shrouds Assad’s future ORLD powers struck an agreement that a transitional government should be set up in Syria to end the conflict there but they remained at odds over what part President Bashar al-Assad might play in the process.

Peace envoy Kofi Annan said after the talks in Geneva on Saturday the government should include members of Assad’s administration and the Syrian opposition

MONDAY , JULY 2, 2012

said the transitional government should be formed “on the basis of mutual consent”.

ations against the Islamist fighters. Witnesses said bodies lay scattered in the bloodspattered churches as scores of wounded were rushed to hospital. “It is a horrible sight to see,” said Hussein Abdi, a resident of Garissa. Regional police chief Philip Ndolo said a total of seven attackers hurled grenades inside the Catholic Church and the African Inland Church before opening fire with guns.

Iran rebuffs European Union oil embargo

A

S a new European Union oil embargo on Iran goes into effect, the country’s oil minister and central bank governor have promised that the economy will easily survive. “The sanctions have had no effect on Iran and will

have none,” Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told the ISNA news agency yesterday. He was also quoted on the website of state broadcaster IRIB as saying that “these sanctions have existed for many years and nothing has

happened, and one should not anticipate anything new”. But oil market observer bodies and analysts say that the embargo, coupled with US financial sanctions ramped up on Thursday, will increasingly gut Iran’s vital oil exports.

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50— Vanguard,

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012—51

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52—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

THE AIG-IMOUKHUEDE-LED COMMITTEE REPORT

How they shared subsidy money T

HE findings of the of imported products for which Committee are as fol- subsidy should be paid. Nigeria lows: does not have a verifiable statisThe review of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) guidelines by the PPPRA ‘in 2010 included the following amendments to the eligibility criteria for oil marketing and trading companies: •Removal of the requirement for the capacity to finance a minimum cargo size of 5,000MT of petroleum products •Removal of the requirement for proof of ownership of retail outlets, •Amendment of the requirement for the proof of ownership of storage facilities with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000MT for the particular product to include a valid throughput agreement of storage facility with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000MT for the particular product These changes in conjunction with the lack of adequate provisions for dealing with violations (including criminal activities) and of a deterrent to prevent oil marketing and trading companies from making false subsidy claims in the PSF guidelines and the inclusion by PPPRA of oil marketing and trading companies that did not meet the eligibility criteria (even after the above changes) in the PSF guidelines created significant opportunities for abuse of the subsidy process.

These opportunities were clearly exploited by both the operators and the regulators of the process

tical basis for computing its daily consumption of petroleum products and the absence of this data opened up the determination of the nation’s requirement for imported petroleum products to abuse. This situation in conjunction with the absence of regulation of the amount of petroleum products imported by NNPC led to uncontrolled importation beyond the country’s requirement.

There has been no consensus among the three tiers of Government (Federal, State and Local) to support the funding of the PSF since its creation in 2006. Funding from the States and Local Governments has not been forth-coming hence the PSF has remained under-funded. This was never sustainable and has led to a convoluted accounting process for cost recovery, with significant arrears of payment due to NNPC. While the creation of Sovereign Debt Notes (SONs) partially addressed this challenge for private importers, it did not address NNPC’s subsidy claims. This led to a situation where the Federal Government agreed with NNPC to deduct its approved subsidy claims from its crude cost obligations. NNPC was therefore deducting the approved subsidy amounts for any given month before transferring the net amount to the Federation Account. There was no documentary evidence

,

Nigeria does not have a verifiable statistical basis for computing its daily consumption of petroleum products and the absence of this data opened up the determination of the nation’s requirement for imported petroleum products to abuse

to the detriment of the country.

Abuse of the due diligence process for applicants to the PSF scheme, lack of transparency in the process for import allocations, payment of subsidies to oil marketing and trading companies in spite of lapses in presented documentation and the inability of PPPRA to use effective vessel tracking tools to verify the status and location of the vessels supposedly used to import petroleum products and to compare such information with the details on presented bills of lading contributed to the creation of opportunities for abuse of the subsidy payment process.

The inability of PPPRA to use a transparent basis for the conversion factor from metric tonnes to litres used in the PPPRA template created opportunities for abuse in the determination of the volume

,

that this process was duly authorised by law, by the PSF guidelines or by any duly designated Government agency and there is therefore no legitimate backing for the current practice.

There is an obvious need to regulate the roles of NNPC in the downstream sector in the import, refining, storage, supply, distribution and retailing of petroleum products. The current lack of regulation has led to NNPC’s introduction of practices that are not permitted or recognised by the current PSF guidelines that if unchecked by NNPC’s internal control mechanisms may allow for significant leakages.

For example, in spite of a directive issued by President Yar’Adua on June 15, 2009 that NNPC should cease subsidy claims on kerosene, PPPRA resumed the processing of kero-

sene subsidy claims in June 2011 and NNPC resumed the deduction of kerosene subsidy claims to the tune of N331,547,318,068.06 in 2011. In the distribution of DPK which was being imported solely by NNPC was skewed in favor of depot owners who have no retail outlets.

Two-thirds of the kerosene sold

by NNPC between 2009 and 2011 was sold to depot owners and “middle men” who in turn sold the product to owners of retail outlets at inflated prices of between N115.00 and N125.00 per litre (compared to the ex-depot price of N40.90), leaving consumers to pay higher prices than the N50.00 per litre directed by Government.

For several years now, the country has been incurring huge subsidy bills for kerosene and its citizens are not receiving the benefit - instead the country has been

financing “rent” for the middlemen. In order to correct this situation, the Government has to implement least one of the following options: •Allow both private importers who meet the eligibility requirements of the PSF guidelines and NNPC to import kerosene and pay kerosene subsidy under the PSF. The role of private importers in the distribution of the product should be monitored properly by PPPRA and DPR •Eliminate the current financing of rent for a few by restricting NNPC’s local distribution to only groups that own significant retail outlets - i.e. MOMAN, IPMAN and NNPC Retail at the approved ex-depot price.

While the Committee conducted detailed reviews of several aspects of the subsidy payment process, it is noted that the process for NNPC is significantly more it- than the process for the private sector and would require a thorough forensic audit covering but not limited to the following: •Funding for subsidy paid to NNPC,•Process for determination of products imported by NNPC, •Documentation for NNPC’s transactions for imported petroleum products •Verification of documentation with NNPC’s suppliers and other agencies involved in the discharge of petroleum products e.g. DPR, PPPRA, Government auditors, independent inspectors, e.t.c.

Review of documentation submitted to PPPRA by NNPC Review of PPPRA’s certification process for NNPC subsidy claims Reconciliation of the deduction

subsidy claims from the proceeds of crude oil sales by NNPC to the subsidy claims certified by PPPRA The Committee was unable to examine all the above to the extent required and therefore recommends that the Federal Government appoints consultants to carry out the forensic audit of the NNPC subsidy claim process.

This is without prejudice to the Committee’s recommendations on the process from its high level review.

Committee's recommendation The Committee recommends that oil marketing and trading companies that failed to respond to its request for information and subsequent reminder and warning through newspaper adverts should be sanctioned appropriately by PPPRA. The Committee recommends that all the affected oil marketing and trading companies found to have violated various aspects of the PSF guidelines as highlighted in this report should refund the subsidy payments for a total sum of N422,542,937,668.59 (four hundred and twenty-two billion, five hundred and forty-two million, nine hundred and thirty-seven thousand, six hundred and sixty-eight naira, fifty-nine kobo only) for the highlighted transactions to the Federal Government net of the charges they paid to the Petroleum Equalization Fund and PPPRA except where they are able to provide evidence contrary to the Committee’s findings.

The Committee recommends that the eligibility criteria for oil marketing and trading companies in the PSF guidelines should be revised by PPPRA to include the following: •The reinstatement of the requirement for proof of ownership of retail outlets, •The reinstatement of the requirement for capacity to finance a minimum cargo size of 5,000MT of petroleum products •The restriction the requirement for the use of a valid throughput agreement of storage facility with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000MT for the particular product to only oil marketing and trading companies that provide proof of ownership of retail outlets as stated in recommendation 3a. above To be continued

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012 — 53

Vanguard CLASSIFIED ELEMUO—I, formerly known and addressed as Elemuo Kate Adanne Obiageli, now wish to be known and addressed as Ikukuoha Kate Adanne Obiageli Valentine. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PAUL—I, formerly known and addressed as Paul John, now wish to be known and addressed as Ayuba Musa John.

All former documents remain valid. Lagos State University and general public please take note.

OKORIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Ifeyinwa Okorie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Ifeyinwa Maduako. All former documents remain valid. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOAU), NYSC and general public please take note.

S A L A M I — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Salami Oluwatoyin Hadijat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ramos Oluwatoyin Hadijat. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

N WA I G W E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Chibuzor Mercy Nwaigwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oparaji Chibuzor Mercy. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri and general public please take note.

SAMUEL—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Agoba Oghenenyerovwo Samuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Sambridge Agoba Oghenenyerovwo All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A D E DAY O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adedayo Idayat Temilade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunnupebi Idayat Temilade. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

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AJAYI —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Oluwakemi Helen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs B a m i s a i y e Oluwakemi Helen.

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IFECHUKWUDE— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifechukwude Unoma Jennifer, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Airhihen Jennifer Unoma. All former documents remain valid.

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ADELEYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Adeleye Jackson Abidemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Cunningham Jackson Abidemi Bajere. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeke Jane Uzoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ugo Jane Uzoma. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State University of Science and Technology, NYSC and general public please take note.

MOGBEYITEREN— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss L o v e t h Ukuoritsemofe Mogbeyiteren, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Loveth Ukuoritsemofe Omene. All former document remain valid. General public please take note.

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OYIOGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fidelia Ihuoma Oyiogu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fidelia Ihuoma Opara.

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ONAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gladys O. Onah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gladys O. Oko. All former documents remain valid. L.E.A Abuja Municipal Area Council, NPF Microfinance Bank, Abuja and general public please take note.

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C M Y K

UMORU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Umoru Alice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Owoicho Alice.

All former document remain valid.NYSC, Benue State Po l y t e c h n i c , Ugbokolo and general public please take note.

From left: HRM Oba Adesida Afunbiowo, Deji of Akure; Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo State Governor and Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, Commissioner for health in Ondo state at the Ondo State inauguration/meeting with Polio Eradication and Routine immunization Task force in Akure. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and wife, Margaret, with Dominican Sisters that worshipped with them at the Governor's Lodge Chapel, Amawbia, yesterday

Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command (l), presenting a sourvenir to the AIG Zone 2, Mr Mamman Tsafe, during the latter's coutersy visit on the FOC in Lagos.

R-l: Major Tunde Panox (rtd) Special Adviser on Security to Lagos Dr Martins John Oni, DG Police Assistance Committee, PAC, and Alhaji Imam Tijani Gbajabiamila, Alfa Agba at the Lagos Security Seminar/ workshop by the Police Assistance Committee Of Nigeria (PAC). Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

L-r: Olu of Jirinwo-elect, Oba Michael Edawole, chairman, Ilaje local government council, Banji Okunomo and Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan at the inaguration of coastal bus of Olugbo in - council at Ugbo, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State.

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

HIS weekend, the 16th edition of the flagship club competition of the Confederation of African Football CAF, the Orange CAF Champions League “CL2O12” will kick off all over the continent.

Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars of Akure will fly Nigeria’s flag.

Uncharacteristically, Sunshine is the only surviving Nigerian club still in the competition.

This time last year, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba in the Champions League and Sunshine Stars FC and Kaduna United in the Confederation Cup were in the lucrative money spinning group stage.

I remember noting then that despite the travails of our domestic league, for us to push three clubs into the group stage was a feat that could be surpassed if things were serene back home, even as Enyimba and Sunshine progressed to the semi finals.

This year we could not eat our cake and have it.

This may be the only country in the world to play two consecutive league seasons without any visible form of sponsorship and endorsement. And we have paid for it, with accelerated ousters from the continental front even by clubs considered viable and potent on and off the field.

Consider as an example the case of Dolphins whose players, ill advised, chose the wrong time to boycott training in order to ask for the settlement of their dues. Yes, a labourer deserves his wages, but I have always taken every opportunity available to me to advise footballers to discard the wrong notion that they are playing solely for their employers.

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HE CAF Champions league and Confederation Cup are a veritable pedestals for our players to launch themselves to stardom. The case becomes even more amplified now that the NFF is well disposed to offering opportunities to players on the home front. (Don’t forget that the winner of the CAF Champions League gets the opportunity of playing in the FIFA Club Championship) So, Dolphins players held the state government to ransom, some say blackmail, got their dues but by the time they returned to the field of play they had lost focus, missed the bigger picture, recorded a slight victory at home and crashed out at away.

The case of Warri Wolves can also be explained away, that of recruiting a coach and perhaps names in the short term for the purpose of winning a competition. Given last year ’s erratic football calendar, where the team had little off season periods to prepare for the continental outing, including blending and adapting to the politics of playing in Africa (Ask Felix Anyansi) failure was not too far away.

In the midst of all the disappointments Sunshine Stars stood firm to spare Nigeria’s blushes and in style too.

Due to last year ’s commendable showing in Africa, creating a record as the first club to debut in a

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All behind Sunshine Stars Today, Sunshine Stars are our sole representatives in Africa and we must all queue behind them to guarantee success.

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CAF competition and go ahead to play in the semi final, they were given a bye this year as draws for the Champions league was held, making them rub shoulders with great clubs of African football like Al Ahly, T. P. Mazembe, Al Hilal, EST, WAC and Zamalek among others.

Ordinarily, the argument would have been that since Sunshine did not win the Nigeria Premier League, the honour of a bye should have gone to Dolphins, but on the contrary, Dolphins went into the preliminaries and Sunshine occupied pride of place in Africa.

HIS has been the case in the past three years as Sunshine has proven, arguably to be the best club side in the country, not without controversies.

Before calling on the Chief Segun Adagunodo ( Alias Santana ) led Ondo State Football Agency to take a bow for proven administrative let me identify the executive Director Mike Idoko, one of Nigeria’s celebrated football administrators who belongs to a board that also has experience typified by the likes of Elder Dickson Adejube.

Perhaps greater mention should go to the technical crew led by Coach Gbenga Ogunbote and a crop of players who have always risen to the challenge. I remember with glee the 3-0 demolition of Recreativo De Libolo of Angola after they had lost 1-4 at away.

It is this same team that is fighting multiple battles on and off the field in the home front, fights that dissipate her energy and blunt concentration. The management of Sunshine will tell you that efforts are not spared on the corridors of the NPL to make

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Seedorf is a Brazil nut C

L A R E N C E SEEDORF has joined Brazilian side Botafogo on a two-yeardeal.

The 36-year-old former Dutch international, who ended a 10-year stint at AC Milan this summer, had been linked with West Ham and Tottenham.

But Botafogo have won the race for his signature — and claim is the most lucrative deal ever handed out to a foreign player in Brazil.

A club statement read: “Botafogo have formalised a contract with the Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who is 36.

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•Seedorf

“Seedorf has signed a deal for two years with Botafogo.

“It is the biggest contract for a foreigner made by a Brazilian

football club.”

Rio de Janeiro-based Botafogo sit eighth in the Campeonato Brasileiro with three wins from six matches.

HE 2012 Enugu Secondary Schools Sports Festival in which over 300 public secondary schools in the state participated ended at the weekend with the National Grammar School Nike emerging the overall champion.

The School Sports Festival which was revived by the administration of Governor Chime in the state after over 20 years of oblivion, featured events like Ladies and Boys football, basketball, volley ball shot-put, high and long jump as well as athletics.

National Grammar School Nike, lifted four trophies as champions in Football, Basket ball and

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sure that they do not succeed. Some of their sins are traceable to Hon Akin Akinbobola SA to Governor Mimiko on Sports who dared to contest the chairmanship of the NPL and insisted on his rights to the point of being suspended.

Sunshine will reel out to you what they consider as schemes to truncate their ambition, among them the insistence that they honour a league match two days to their departure date for a continental assignment and the refusal to postpone another, even when over six of their players were trapped abroad during a military putsch in Mali.

That, was yesterday. Today, Sunshine Stars are our sole representatives in Africa and we must all queue behind them to guarantee success. Before now, the Nigeria Football Association was solely responsible for the upkeep of teams that represented the country in Africa. CAF still recognizes that position hence the allocation of a certain percentage of all monies earned by clubs in the group stage to the Nigeria Football Federation.

T is always disheartening to see Sunshine play ing top continental teams in an empty stadium in Ijebu Ode. This club has been a great ambassador of Ondo State (Still waiting to be invited to their State honours event) The people of Ondo state must rise to the proverbial twelfth man position in football by trooping to Ogun State en mass. Politically the management of Sunshine have always attributed their successes to “sports loving governor Mimiko” how I wish this can be practice with his physical presence in Ijebu Ode. The day His Excellency will rise to go and support Sunshine, the whole of Ondo will follow, the NFF big guns in Abuja will join suit and the players in traditional club parlance “….will commit suicide on the field and live to tell a positive story” This year, Sunshine is up against formidable foes, starting from this week end when they engage the defending champions Etoile Sportif De Tunis.

Last year, this club beat the dreaded Al Hilal of Sudan home and away in the semi final and went on to beat Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in the final

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HIS year, they have hit the ground running, thrashing Dynamoes of Zimbabwe 6-0 at home after drawing 1-1 at away on the way to the group stage.

Other teams in the group are also as formidable including Etoile Sportif of Tunisia and the Algerians ASO Chlef who dismissed Al Hilal to the Confederation Cup play off.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the first law of Group Stage success is winning all your home matches ang going for some crumbs at away.

Go Sunshine FC of Nigeria, GO

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Nike Grammar School wins Enugu sports festival

BY TONY EDIKE Handball with the forth trophy as the overall champion in the competition with a cash

prize of N3 million made up of N2 million from government and N1 million personal donation by the State Governor, Mr. Sullivan I. Chime.

‘Legend’ Freddie joins China exodus

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R E D E R I C KANOUTE has left Spain for Chinese side Beijing Guoan.

The former Spurs and West Ham striker was described as “a legend” by Seville as he moved on after seven seasons.

Kanoute, 34, scored 136 goals in 290 games for Seville.

•Kanoute

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012 — 55

Athletics: Nigeria rules Africa •Women 4x400m set new record •Vivian Chukwuemeka breaks African record •Men’s 4x400m team qualify for Olympics

BY BEN EFE, Port Novo EW Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games champion, Ajoke Muziat Odumosu opened the flood gates of gold for Nigeria in the final day of the African Championships.

It was an evening Nigerian officials, looked forward to a rush of medals and the athletes were favoured to win gold after their semi-final performances did not disappoint.

In the first event of the day, Ajoke proved too strong for the 400m hurdles contestants as she established an early lead from the 200m mark, she held on and coasted home without much challenge to finish 54.

99 seconds, Hayat Lambarki of Morocco finished second with 55.41, while Liberia’s Rasin McIntosh placed third with 55.99. Ajoke who won at the Nairobi 2010 championships stated after that the race that she was pleased with her performance and was hopeful of making an impact at the London 2012 Olympics.

Equally excited was Gloria Asumnu, who had to fight off stiff competition from compatriot Loretta Ozoh to clinch the women 200m gold.

Asumnu powered off at the final bend, but her finishing was almost letting down as Ozoh chased her down, they both breasted the tape at 22.93, but Asumnu took the race having dipped just as Ozoh was catching up.

Noah Akwu took the bronze in the men’s 200m won by Ivory Coast’s Ben Youseff Meite with a time of 20.62 seconds. Amr Saoud of Egypt was second with 20.76, while Akwu finished 20.83.

The Nigerian women 4x400m quartet put up a brave performance and set a new championships record. It was a crowing display by the team featuring Abinuwa Enduracne, Omolara Omotosho, Margaret Etim and Bukky Abogunloko. They totally overwhelmed other competitors, and despite the

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hot chase by 400m world champion, Amantle Montsho, there was no stopping the Nigerian girls, they finish 3 .28.

07 seconds, to improve on their ranking on the top 16 list of qualifiers for the Olympics.

Botswana was second with 3.31.27, while Senegal was third with 3.31.84.

The Nigerian men also put a commanding performance and have booked a place for the London 2012 Olympics. They Finished

3.02. 41 to the gold beating Botswana to second position.

On the field shot putter, Vivien Chukwuemeka trampled down her opponents to announce her return after a two-year ban.

Looking fit and strong Chukwuemeka demonstrated that her reign in the African continent was far from been over when she heaved 18. 86m on the fifth throw, to shatter the 18.33m African record, she established in 2006.

She also booked a ticket to the London 2012 Olym-

pics Games.

Chukwuemeka was followed by compatriots into the medals podium. Chinwe Okoro 16.21m and Omotayo Talabi 15.63m ensured that Nigeria took all the spoils in the shot put.

Overall, Nigeria emerged champions, reclaiming their first position in track and field that they had lost some years ago following the decline in the sport. Now, they are winning and AFN President said “we can only give glory to God.” Below is the medal table for the top three countries.

Ogba celebrates THLETICS Federa tion of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba declared yesterday that Nigerian athletes achieved the set target at the African Championships, which ended yesterday. Nigeria emerged winners.

He argued that despite losing in areas such as the men and women 100m, where Blessing Okagbare and Obinna Metu were tipped to win, Nigeria still emerged overall winners.

“Despite the difficulties we experienced, we have met our targets.

Before we came, I said we will be in the top three but we ended up winning. God is great.”

“From all standards we have done very well. It is now left for us to focus on the Olympics.

From what I have seen I can guarantee that we will not do badly,” said Ogba.

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•Ogba

•Vivian

Beckham bust-up

NUMERO UNO — Team Nigeria athletes celebrate in one of their former outings. Nigeria ruled Africa at the Athletics Championship in Benin Republic.

Metu’s attitude shocks AFN officials D O

CLASH ... David Beckham was involved in an ugly confrontation

BINNA Metu raised the expectations of Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials, after he did 10.11 seconds at the All Nigeria/ Cross River Championships. But here at the African Championships, which ended yesterday, Metu offered no joy.

After falling short of a good performance in the men’s 100m, which he was tipped to win, Metu refused to run in the 200m. More vexing to officials was when Metu failed to realize that he was to run in the 100m final where he finished a dismal 6th with 10.44 seconds, on the second day of the championships.

“Metu did not know he

was to run the 100m. He was just walking around till he was asked by his opponent why he was not warming up. This was 20 minutes to the start of the race,” said AFN medical committee chairman Ken Anugwueje.

Dr. Anugwueje, lamented that the athlete’s attitude was very poor hence his seeming reluctance to

•Obinna Metu

perform at the big stage.

In 2009 during the world championships in Berlin, Germany Metu also refused to run. He told officials that he had fever, but it was a general conclusion that it was because he was drawn in the same lane with Usain Bolt.

AVID BECKHAM was involved in a heated on-field bust-up just days after his Olympic snub.

The former England captain, 37, announced on Thursday that he had been overlooked by coach Stuart Pearce for Team GB’s campaign at London 2012.

And if he is still smarting from that omission, the LA Galaxy star is not doing a good job of hiding it.

Beckham reminded Pearce what he has passed up with a trademark freekick during his Major League Soccer side’s 4-3 defeat to San Jose Earthquakes.

But he was also booked for starting an ugly spat in injury time when he kicked the ball at opponent

Sam Cronin — who was lying on the floor at the time.

Beckham was clearly still fuming after the final whistle too and had to be pulled away from another confrontation by teammates after squaring up with rival players.

Klinsmann SA coach Juergen Klinsmann has spoken out in support of under-fire Germany coach Joachim Loew. USA coach Juergen Klinsmann has spoken out in support of under-fire Germany coach Joachim Loew.

The 52-year-old Loew has come under heavy criticism following Germany’s 2-1 Euro 2012 semi-final defeat against Italy.

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VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012

Nations Cup: Egypt knocked out ECORD winners Egypt were knocked out of African Nations Cup qualifying on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with the rank outsiders from

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Central African Republic to lose 4-3 on aggregate.

The Egyptians will miss the finals for the second time in a row,

ECSTATIC . . . Spanish defender Jordi Alba (L) celebrates after scoring against Italy in the Euro 2012 football championships final match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. Photo: AFP

Athletics: Nigeria rules Africa •Women 4x400m set new record P.55 TODAY'S

PUZZLES

FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

representing a major setback for American coach Bob Bradley who was hired last year after they had failed to qualify for the 2012 edition.

Foxi Kethevoama put Central African Republic in front midway through the first half and the visitors equalised with a goal from Emad Moteab 13 minutes from time.

Egypt’s 3-2 home defeat in Alexandria in the first leg was one of the biggest ever upsets in Nations Cup qualification.

Central African Republic are now through to the last round of qualifying for the 2013 finals in South Africa.

Thirty teams will be drawn on Thursday into 15 final round, twolegged knockout ties to be played in September and October.

The winners go to the finals in January, along with the host nation.

Egypt have won a record seven Nations Cup titles, three of them in a row in an unprecedented spell of dominance from 2006 to 2010.

Medals Table Top three Nigeria Kenya S/ Africa

G 10 9 6

S 6 9 9

B 5 8 10

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 2 Scope (5) 7 Reigned (5) 8 Allude (5) 10 Elected (5) 12 Pinch (3) 13 Guide (5) 15 Irrigated (7) 17 Cashier (6) 19 Novel (3) 20 Condescended (7) 23 Tardy (4) 25 Rush (4) 26 Ascertained (7) 30 Child (3) 31 Condemned (6) 34 Erased (7) 37 Measure (5) 38 Hill (3) 39 Fear (5) 40 Beer (5) 41 Showy (5) 42 Force (5)

DOWN 1 Cite (5) 2 Spree (5) 3 Worshipped (6) 4 Increased (4) 5 Renovated (7) 6 Repulse (5) 9 Conifer (3) 11 Swung (7) 13 Booth (5) 14 Chosen (5) 16 Number (3) 18 Disproved (7) 21 Discourage (5) 22 Scold (5) 24 Penetrated (7) 27 Drunkard (3) 28 Harm (6) 29 Leaf (5) 32 Decoration (5) 33 Wear (5) 35 Record (3) 36 Beat (4)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Stern 7, Solo 8, Edible 9, Boast 11, God 13, Par 15, Raid 16, Dub 18, Lane 19, Berated 20, Avid 22, Idol 23, Delight 25, Even 27, Lee 28, Neat 30, Did 31, Due 33, Broad 36, Divine 37, Rout 38, Dirty.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Cocoa 2, Sob 3, Era 4, Net 5, Tip 6, Clean 10, Slur 11, Greased 12, Divided 13, Paddled 14, Replete 16, Devil 17, Bathe 18, Lei 21, Den 24, Gear 26, Visit 29, Augur 32, Rip 33, Bed 34, Oar 35, Dry.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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