Rebellion, panic engulf PDP

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61959

OZEKHOME: Community cancels age-grade festival 7

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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N150

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

I to nsid m e or ro w

Mandela returns home, still critical •P.54

Rebellion, panic engulf PDP •Jonathan meets rebel governors, others •Obasanjo urges Baraje faction to return •They are jokers — Babatope

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, HENRY UMORU, BEN AGANDE & DAPO AKINREFON

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BUJA—THE Bamanga Tukurled Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was thrown into panic, yesterday, a day after seven governors on the platform of Continues on page 5

NAIRA'S FALL: CBN compels banks to •P.21 buy dollars COLUMNISTS:

DELE SOBOWALE •P.36

LES LEBA •P.44

OCHEREOME NNANNA

•P.17

Mr & Mrs

SERVICE—From Left: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic; President Goodluck Jonathan, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and the Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe at the Aso Villa Chapel service, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

BANK LIQUIDATION:

13

Depositors paid N6.82bn in 2012 — NDIC

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — 3

4—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

2006 census controversy: CAN tells Jonathan not to sack Odimegwu ...wants query withdrawn, says 2006 census manipulated to favour North

BY SAM EYOBOKA & CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—THE Christian Association of Nigeria, yesterday, warned President Goodluck Jonathan against being used by Northerners to sacrifice chairman of National Population Commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, ahead of 2015 election, following the revelation of the true nature of 2006 census by the latter.

Odimegwu had described the 2006 census results as incredible, and his declaration earned him a query from the Office of the Government of the Federation.

CAN called on the Federal Government to withdraw the query and tender an apology to Odimegwu in the interest of fairness, insisting that 2006 census results were cooked to favour the north .

The association also decried the politicization of Odimegwu’s comment, saying they were ploys by the North to blackmail President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of CAN in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Mr. Sunny Oibe, said the call

by Arewa Consultative Forum and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State for the removal of the NPC boss before the 2016 census because he was a southerner was misplaced.

He said: “The call by ACF on President Goodluck Jonathan to make sure that Odimegwu does not supervise the 2016 census is misplaced.

“The question we are asking is: which part of the North are they saying has higher population?

Since when has ACF become a political party that every time they will always dabble into politics?

"We in CAN hereby demand that the Federal Government should withdraw the query issued to Odimegwu with immediate alacrity. Why would the government be blindfolded

by Kwankwaso?

“The government should also apologize to Odimegwu; Jonathan should make sure that nothing happens to him. We are surprised that Jonathan is allowing himself to be intimidated by the Islamic North.

"Before the 2006 census, we confronted the former chairman of NPC, Mr. Samuila Makama from Plateau State on why religion and ethnicity are not included in census matters to be able to ascertain who is who in Nigeria and the man was sweating.

“We wanted to know which tribe and religion exist in Nigeria and that this information must be included in census data. The man was sweating. The North then blackmailed and intimidated exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo that if the indices were not removed, they won’t participate in the

exercise.”

According to him, although there was a census that was conducted during the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s administration, Lagos State was given a figure more than Kano.

Oibe, however, added that

thereafter, the late General Sani Abacha came and split Kano into Jigawa and Kano states.

He said: “As at today, half of that Kano is more than Lagos.

So are we saying that Lagos is not growing, meaning that it’s only the core North that is growing?"

PORTHARCOURT CENTENARY—Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyii; Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Chimbiko Akarolo; Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru; Professor of History, E. J. Alagoa; and Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City, Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, cutting the centenary cake at the opening ceremony of the Port Harcourt Centenary Celebrations in Port Harcourt, weekend.

£3,000 visa bond: UK govt still undecided — ENVOY

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—CONTRARY to speculations that November 2013 is the date the new UK visa bond of £3,000 would take off, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Andrew Pocock, weekend, said his government was yet to take a decision on whether to go ahead with the policy or not.

Ambassador Pocock, in a chat with Vanguard in Abuja, insisted that even if his government decided to implement the visa cash bond policy, only a fraction of 150,000 Nigerians granted travel visa annually would be subjected to the policy.

Pocock said: “We don’t know, first of all, whether this will happen at all, but if 150,000 Nigerians travel to the UK every year, this scheme will probably only affect a couple of hundreds, which is a very small proportion of 150,000. So it’s not a catastrophe coming down the road.”

He noted that much of the uproar about the proposal was based on a misunderstanding of what the

scheme was all about.

He said: "What I said to your foreign minister is that as soon as I know what has been decided in London, I will tell the Nigerian government formally and we will tell the people of this country.

“But we are a long way away from that and we know what the Nigerian government probably thinks about this. We have passed those feelings back to the government in London, and they are taking it into consideration.”

On the speculation that November has been fixed for the take off of the policy, he said “Let me say a number of things, I have said this in public and am happy to say it again. First of all, there is no policy, it is simply something that is being discussed in the UK .

“If we do need to set up some kind of policy, there will be a pilot scheme, a very small scheme to see how it works and to see if Nigeria is one of the countries.

“But even if this bond scheme is put into practice, it will affect only a tiny fraction of the traveling public of Nigerians.

“Just to put things in perspective, 200,000 Nigerians apply for a UK visa every year, about a 150,000 get a visa so that is between 70 and 75 percent of Nigerians who apply to get a visa.”

He assured that the proposed policy, if implemented, was intended to eliminate abuse of UK visa regime.

He said: “So if we did put in a bond which is intended to stop people from abusing the visa system only a very tiny fraction will be affected by this.

“So with all the things I have said it is not a policy, we still need to pilot it if it is decided we don’t know whether Nigeria will be involved and even if it is, we are talking of very small numbers. It is not merely as bad as it sounds but it doesn’t mean that every Nigerian has to pay £3,000 for a UK visa. It does not mean that.”

Yakassai dissociates self from Patriot's political summit

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AHEAD of the proposed National Political Summit by Professor Ben Nwabueze in Uyo, the Nigerian National Summit Group, NNSG, yesterday, disowned and dissociated itself from it, saying the said summit was not capable of achieving the yearnings of Nigerians for a Sovereign National Conference.

In a statement by the chairman of NNSG and elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, said the problems Nigeria was going through were too endemic for what the group termed revelry and ceremonies in the name of national political summit.

He said: “We wish to bring to the notice of Nigerians that the proposed National Political Summit scheduled to take place in Uyo,Akwa Ibom State, is being organised by a distinct body, Project Nigeria which is led by Professor Ben Nwabueze.

“This clarification has become very imperative because of the numerous inquiries and clarifications sought by discerning Nigerians who have, over the years, rightly associated the Nigerian National Summit Group with the task of organising genuine dialogue to address the myriad of problems facing Nigeria through national conference.

"It would be recalled that Professor Ben Nwabueze, a respected elder statesman and leader of the Patriots, was one of the co-conveners of the inaugural National Summit Group meeting in Lagos in February, 2012.

“It is worthy to state that the meeting was well attended, drawing representations from all sections of the country.

However, midway into the meeting, our elder statesman Professor Ben Nwabueze whose main objective was to persuade participants to endorse the concept of Sovereign National Conference, SNG, which obviously was not the preferred mode of dialogue by majority of participants, staged a walk-out.

“We, therefore, wonder whether the proposed national political summit in Uyo would satisfy the yearning for a sovereign national conference".

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

MANDELA HOME, CRITICAL

MANDELA—An ambulance carrying former South African President, Nelson Mandela arrives at his house in Johannesburg, yesterday. Mandela was discharged, yesterday, from hospital where he has been treated since June 8 for a recurring respiratory illness, the Presidency said. Inset: Media keep watch outside Mandela's home. AFP PHOTOS.

Rebellion, panic engulf PDP Continues from page 1 the ruling party broke away to form a parallel executive of the party.

The panic was being fuelled by reports of the rebellion swelling to in-

clude party officials disenchanted with the outcome of last Saturday’s convention.

Another governor in the North-West was last night said to be making

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Do not despise adversity; learn from it— Pastor Taiwo Odukoya. There is definitely a lesson in everything.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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NLESS you know the basic mechanics behind the workings of the ego, you won’t recognize it, and it will trick you into identifying with it again and again. This means it takes you over, an imposter pretending to be you. You cannot fight against the ego and win, just as you cannot fight against darkness. The light of consciousness is all that is necessary -You are that light —E. Toile Lord Tennessee’s insightful message about the ego is very thorough and sums it beautifully, when he says that nobody sees anybody truly but all through the flaws of their own egos. That is the way people sometimes view others in life. Vanity, fear, desire, and competition- all such distortions within our own egos- condition our vision of those in relation to us. Add to those distortions to our own egos the corresponding distortions in the egos of others, and you see how cloudy the glass must become through which we look at each other. That’s how it is in all living relationships except when there is that rare case of people who love intensely enough to burn through all those layers of opacity and see each other’s naked hearts.

This much I do know, no matter what you do, how good your intentions, people will always see the reflection of themselves in you. It does not matter how a person sees you, if your heart holds a beautiful conviction of harmony, purity and divine love that is all that matters.

moves towards joining the rebellion just as a former female deputy governor in one of the South-West states, was last night said to be mobilising women, including a former female gubernatorial aspirant in Lagos State to join the Kawu Baraje-led parallel faction of the party today.

The sense of foreboding was reflected by the unwillingness of party and presidency officials to comment on the development which many of them said was still unfolding.

Meanwhile, Baraje, yesterday, confirmed that the faction would be opening its national secretariat in Abuja, today.

It was confirmed, yesterday, that President Goodluck Jonathan had summoned a meeting with PDP governors, including the rebel governors last night. The meeting was on-going at press time, with 16 governors in attendance.

But even before its commencement, there were indications that some of the governors had moved to frustrate or boycott the meeting.

The sense of panic which was prevalent among senior party and presidency officials was, however, played down last night by former Min-

ister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark who said the rebellion was bound to fail. He accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of orchestrating the rebellion with the purpose of foisting Governors Sule Lamido and Rotimi Amaechi as president and vice-president respectively in the 2015 election.

Also dismissing the rebellion, PDP chieftain, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said the development was a storm in a tea cup as he described the architects of the split as jokers.

The rebellion in the PDP was nevertheless welcomed by governors in the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, who through their platform, the Progressives Governors Forum, lauded the development in the PDP as they promised to join hands with the governors irrespective of partisan leanings to move the country forward.

Their assertion nonetheless, the PDP Governors Forum has pledged to stem the rebellion.

Besides summoning the seven rebel governors, the president, yesterday, met with Obasanjo during which it was believed the development in the party

was discussed. Presidential spokesmen did not give details of the meeting between Jonathan and Obasanjo which happened after the church service at the Aso Rock Villa Chapel.

Obasanjo is known to be a patron of, at least, five of the northern governors who have in the last few weeks raised agitation against Jonathan’s handling of issues in the party and polity.

The five Obasanjo governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) were joined in the rebellion against the Tukur-led PDP by Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Saturday.

Obasanjo meets Jonathan The meeting was preceded by a church service at the Aso Rock Chapel which was attended by the duo and was held behind closed doors.

Former President Obasanjo met the first family shortly before the commencement of yesterday's church service and they were later joined by visiting President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi.

The trio subsequently visited the children’s church after the service following which they went into the President’s residence for lunch.

They were joined by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati who confirmed the meetings, however, did not give details of what they discussed at the meeting.

The move by the seven PDP governors provoked concern among presidency officials who feared yesterday that it could lead the PDP to become a minority in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Besides, it was learnt that the crisis in the party could provide the basis for members of the National Assembly disaffected by developments in the PDP to formally break away from the PDP. Under constitutional provisions, legislators can only decamp from the party on which they were elected if the party is factionalised.

Presidency minders it was learnt, were yesterday desperately reaching out to the principal officials of the National Assembly to sustain party and official harmony. A senior presidency official made a circuit of the residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly to sustain the cordiality between the administration and the legislature.

Women kick against Kema Chikwe Meanwhile, there were strong indications, yesterday, that the rebellion was catching on especially among women who were displeased with the return of Dr. Kema Chikwe as National Women Leader. A former deputy governor of one of the South-West states was yesterday alleged to be mobilising women to show solidarity with the Baraje-led faction of the party today. The women were peeved that Chikwe was returned despite strident opposition and campaigns to the national headquarters by women groups against her re-

Continues on page 53

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Two pastors, 28 others nabbed over pipeline vandalism

Casket seller ‘kidnaps' self, demands N2m ranson from brothers

BY TONY EDIKE

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By EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — THIRTY sus pected pipeline vandals, among them, two pastors and two teenagers were, weekend, arrested by officials of the Ogun State command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Isheri Olofin area of the state.

The suspects, according to the Commandant, Mr Akinwande Aboluwoye, were arrested after a shootout.

Recovered from the suspects, according to Aboluwoye, were canoes and 400 50-litre jerricans filled with siphoned petroleum product.

Parading the suspects, among whom were six women, the commandant explained that the feat was achieved following a tip off.

He said: “Immediately they sighted us, they opened fire, thereby leading to a gun battle. But when it became apparent that the heat was too much for them, they abandoned the products and jumped into the river and escaped.

However, we were able to arrest their accomplices who reside in the area. We set the recovered canoes ablaze while surveillance has been intensified in that area.”.

However, when the teenagers, Michael Oyedotun(13) and Azeez Ajani(12) were quizzed, they denied their involvment, saying they are apprentices in a tailoring workshop in the area.

While Oyedotun claimed he was arrested while taking his bath at the Ogun River, Azeez admitted seeing jerricans around the area any time he wakes up.

On his part, one of the pastors who identified himself as Nikuleyi Adesola, claimed he was arrested in the company of two female members of his church.

According to him, “I live in the church. I was with two of my members when NSCDC officials ordered us to come out.

I do not know anything about the recovered jerricans or activities of vandals.”

Meanwhile, the commandant has said the suspects would be charged to court soon.

NUGU — KIDNAPPING for ransom which has remained the quickest means of making money among criminals within the South-East zone has taken a new dimension as some dubious people now hide under the evil practice to dupe their wealthy relations.

One Samuel Ani, a casket (coffin) dealer from Ugwuaji community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State was arrested by operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Enugu State Police Command, weekend, for attempting to dupe his brothers of N2 million under the guise that he was abducted by kidnappers.

Ani, whose coffin shop is at Garki, Awkunanaw area of Enugu, allegedly hid himself in a bush behind his shop for six days and alerted his brothers that he was in a kidnappers’ den.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest, yesterday, said the suspect “never knew that his sin shall find him.”

He said: “Samuel Ani hid himself in a bush behind his shop for six days from where he was making phone calls to his two younger brothers in a very convincing tone that he had been abducted and that N2 million was required to get him out of the kidnappers' den or else he would be killed. ”Following this, the case was reported to the state police command who mobilised its anti-kid-

napping unit to rescue the victim. When Samuel intensified his call that the purported kidnappers were on the verge of killing him if his people could not bring the ransom, he later reduced the ransom to N1.2 million.

"Some money was then deposited into the account number provided by the purported kidnappers and a certain girl who went to cash the initial N100,000 sent through one of the new generation banks around Agbani Road on August 29, 2013 was arrested by the operatives. ”The girl was identified as one Oluchi Faith Ogbu from Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state and a fiancee to Samuel Ani. "When interrogated, Oluchi Faith Ogbu said that the account belongs to her but was instructed

by Samuel to supply the account number so that his brothers can pay the ransom via the account and that she was to cash it as soon as she receives alert of the payment and bring it to him.”

The police spokesman said Oluchi’s confession, however, led to the arrest of Samuel, who said he was not kidnapped but maintained that he kidnapped himself so that his wealthy younger brothers could pay ransom which he would use to sort out his business dealings.

He said apart from the trick he adopted, nothing would make his brothers give him any monetary assistance even though he regretted his actions.

Ani admitted that the step he took was not good in the sight of

The suspects, Samuel Ani (right) and Oluchi Faith Ogbu God, man or law and pleaded for forgiveness.

He said he is a father of five children but never revealed to Oluchi that he was married as he had promised to marry her.

Asked if he was not making ends meet from the construction and sale of coffins, Ani said he

made low sales, and that he decided to trick the brothers to get money from them to address his immediate challenges which required huge amount of money.

Amaraizu said Oluchi and Ani had been detained while investigations into the ugly incident had commenced.

46 families rendered homeless as fire guts houses in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN & MICHAEL NWOPOKE

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AGOS — NO fewer than 46 families were, weekend, rendered homeless and property worth millions of Naira destroyed, after fire gutted over seven houses in different locations in Lagos.

Five person injured during the

One of the burnt houses

stampede were reportedly being treated at undisclosed hospitals in Lagos.

This is just as men of the fire service were attacked by the angry mob at one of the scenes in Ikorodu area of the state.

Two of the affected houses are located on 25 and 27 Owoyemi Street, Amukoko. The fire, as gathered, started at about 8

pm,with conflicting reports on the cause.

While the Police said they were still investigating it, the Amukoko Vigilante commander, Mr Oguntade Sesan said it was caused by a power generating set.

According to Sesan, the fire started from 27, Owoyemi Street, adding: “The fire started from the generator set used by one of the tenants in 27, Owoyemi Street, and spread to the twin buildings. Occupants of the buildings who were just returning from their respective work places were shocked at the discovery.

"I was tired so I decided to relax only to hear a bang on my door. When I came out, I discovered that the building was covered by thick smoke. I managed to come out alive. As at now, I have only this shirt I am putting on. Everything I have laboured for since I started working is gone.”

Another occupant, Afa Basiri said: “I was shocked when I returned home to find the house

on fire. I watched helplessly as all my property were burnt to ashes. But my joy is that I am alive.”

When Vanguard visited the scene, yesterday, the affected families were trying to salvage some of their valuables from the charred remains.

Fire service men attacked A similar incident also occurred at Alhaji Ladega bus-stop in Ikorodu area of Lagos. In this case, fire service men said to have responded to the distress call were attacked by a mob who accused them of arriving late.

Contacted, the Lagos State Director of Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, expressed disappointment over the attack on his men, noting that they arrived the scene immediately they received the distress call.

He said expensive fire trucks were destroyed, including their equipment, adding, however, that those attacked had been discharged from the hospital.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—7

OZEKHOME: Iviukwe community unites in group festival cancelled fasting, prayer zzAge Community leaders, youths speak

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

cles to the youths.

Community leaders, youths speak GENEBODE — IVIUKWE

A

community is one of the communities in Agenebode clan, headquarters of the Wepa Wano Kingdom of Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

It is an agrarian rural community with majority of its inhabitants being peasant farmers.

Members of the community wore mournful look, weekend, when Vanguard visited over the abduction of one of thier illustrious sons, High Chief Michael Ozekhome.

Chief Ozehkome was abducted between Ehor and Ekpoma, penultimate Thursday, on his way to his home town while four policemen from the Ehor Police Division, who were on rescue mission, lost their lives as they were ambushed by the kidnappers.

During the visit, Vanguard gathered that the kidnap saga has brought the different religious groups in Iviukwe together as they have embarked on fasting and prayers, appealing to God to touch the conscience of the abductors and release him to them unhurt and unconditionally.

Since the abduction, places of worship in the town have been unusually jam-packed during such exercises and this was noticed yesterday as the St. Mary Catholic Church and other Pentecostal churches in the community were filled up as they offered prayers to God.

Age group festival cancelled Sadness was clearly written on the faces of children, youths and elderly as they wondered what Mike Ozekhome might have done to warrant his kidnap.

The community also cancelled the biennial manhood festival and insisted that it cannot hold without Chief Mike Ozekhome who they all acclaimed has been their major benefactor. The aged group festival called, “Out-age Group” was usually celebrated to initiate young men into manhood.

Everybody spoken to by Vanguard agreed that Chief Mike Ozekhome is their greatest benefactor, leader and philanthropist.

They said in the past years, he had awarded scholarships to students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions running into millions of Naira, apart from giving interest free loans to women to embark on petty trading and other ventures, as well as sewing machines, dryers and motor-cy-

The following are the views of members of the community including his elder brother, Chief Pius Ozekhome, on what they felt about the abduction and whatMike Ozekhome meant to them.

CHIEF PIUS OZEKHOME (ELDER BROTHER): "I will like to appeal to those who are still holding him to please release him to us because he is the only man here in this part of the country that cares for the common man,ordinary people, for the jobless people.

"That is Mike Ozekhome for you whom the masses declared Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) even before he was conferred with the prestigious honour of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

"This is a man who has been going to the prisons to look out for detainees who were detained unjustly for one reason or the other. He would go to court and release them, spending his money after he found out the reasons they were detained.

"Here is a man who fought for this country during the military regimes and he was detained severally. He joined several protests including the one organised by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi for the return of the country to civil rule."

SUNDAY MOMOH (CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CONOIL, IVIOGHE): "It is sad that Chief Mike Ozekhome is one that has fallen into the hands of kidnappers. It is just unfortunate that this is happening to him because he cares for the people, the entire community and the country at large.

"As a human rights activist, he fought for the down-trodden and the common man in the street.

"I join his family and all Nigerians to appeal to those holding him to look at his antecedent in the

Chief Mike Ozekhome's mansion under lock and key.

society and please, release him.

He has no such money that he is being asked to pay as ransom and there is no way the community can raise such an amount.

"We, therefore, appeal to their conscience to release him unhurt and unconditionally and this is the time all Nigerians should join his family to pray for his release."

CHIEF PATRICK OKEGA (VILLAGE HEAD, IVIUKWE): "Children, youths, men and women in Iviukwe community are sad about the kidnap because he is the only helper that we have.

"He feeds us, gives scholarship to our children, builds our community hall, provides electricity for us among other social amenities.

"As the village head, I appeal to the abductors to release him to us because we are tired of weeping and our tears are running dry.

We are appealing to the Police and those concerned to do their best to secure his release."

EMMANUEL UJAH (YOUTH LEADER AND COMMUNITY CSO): "We are very sad and helpless.

We have declared mourning periods until he is released and we are still mourning because we

A cross section of Iviukwe community leaders.

have not seen him within our midst.

"What Chief Mike Ozekhome has done for us is unquantifiable.

He is the life wire of this community and when you talk about the progress and development of this community, Chief Ozekhome’s name is written in gold.

"He is the one who has raised the community from the dust to grace. He is the man who has been caring for the entire community. He bought motorcycles for the youths including the one I am riding now free of charge.

"Every year he earmarks large sum of money to buy sewing machines and dryers for the women, awards scholarships to our children.

"As a result of the incident, the age group festival that was supposed to hold has been cancelled.

We called it the Out Age Group which we normally celebrated every two years. That festival prepares young men for the manhood functions in the community.

"So, when we heard that he had been kidnapped, we decided that the festival should no longer hold.

So, for now, there is nothing like celebration in the community until Mike is released to us."

CHIEF PIUS NASAMU, IVIUKWE COMMUNITY CHAIRMAN: "Everyone of us in the community is in anguish as a result of the abduction. He is a man of the people, he is a man of the community, and he is a man that takes good care of the people of Iviukwe and apart from Iviukwe, all other villages in Estako East.

"There is no where in Edo State and the country as a whole where his philanthropic gesture is not felt. We are feeling very bad about the kidnap incident.

"We are begging those who have taken him away from us to please release him so that he can take care of us as he has been

doing. This is our appeal.

"I also pray to God Almighty to touch the hearts of the abductors to release him because he is not just somebody that should be taken away just like a small fowl.

We want to see him released unharmed and unconditionally."

HABEBO OZEKHOME (COUSIN): "Chief Mike Ozekhome, a community leader, philanthropist is my uncle. We received the news of his kidnap with rude shock and nobody in Iviukwe community is happy about it.

"He is a grassroots man who cares for the people and apart from being a human rights activist, he has been the bread winner of our family.

"My appeal to those still holding him is to release him because we love him so much, we don’t want any harm to be fall him."

HIGH CHIEF STANLEY ODIDI, FORMER CHAIRMAN, ESTAKO EAST LGA: "I am pleading and appealing to the kidnappers to please release him. Again, there is no way anybody can possibly raise the kind of money that they are demanding for to get him out. It is not possible.

"I am pleading with them to release him, he is our illustrious son and somebody that we hold very dearly.

"He has a family, friends and other well wishers who missed him.

"So, I plead with them to release him so that he can continue to do the work that God has sent him. I also commiserate with the families of the policemen that were killed. They should be very proud that they died serving this country and I pray God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their bread winners and loved ones."

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & DAPO AKINREFON

A

FTER series of postponements, eminent leaders of thought, statesmen and politicians across the six geopolitical zones will converge on Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, tomorrow to begin a twoday political summit on the way forward for the country.

Convened by Project Nigeria (National Consensus Group) in conjunction with the National Political Summit Group, NPSG, the confab will hold at Le’Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Uyo. The two-day summit, with the theme National Security and Political Stability in Nigeria, according to Malam Nasser Kura, Head of Communications, summit secretariat, would be jointly chaired by two elder statesmen from northern and southern Nigeria.

Some of the key participants nominated to play strategic roles at the confab include all former Presidents/Head of State and their deputies; all former governors and their deputies; all former service chiefs; 21 leaders of thought from each of the six geo- political zones; three first class traditional rulers from each of the six geo-political zones and six national Muslim leaders and six Christian leaders from across the nation.

Others are 18 leading women advocates in the country, 18 labour and civil societies’ leaders, 18 youths from across the federation, six leaders of persons living with disability and 21 leaders of leading political parties in the country.

Why we’re meeting — Nwabueze

Speaking on the goals of the summit, Professor Nwabueze (SAN), one of the leaders, dismissed insinuations that the purpose of the confab is to take a decision to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from seeking re-election in 2015.

He said: “This is very far from the truth. The purpose of the Uyo summit is to agree on a road map to stability, progress and unity of Nigeria.

The entire aim of the summit is to build national consensus on how to save Nigeria.

“As I said in my interview with the press after The Patriots met with President Jonathan, the President is perfectly eligible to seek reelection in 2015 and he is free to do so.

“It is a matter in his absolute discretion to decide whether to run or not to run in 2015. My position on this matter is totally irrelevant.

“Therefore, my personal advice to him not to run is only one factor that he should take into account in deciding for himself whether to run or not

PDP CONVENTION: From left— Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Governor Aliyu Wammako of Borno State and Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Special National Convention in Abuja, Saturday.

Eminent Nigerians storm Uyo for 2-day summit z2015 elections not on the agenda— Nwabueze to run.

“My advice is purely a personal one and not that of either The Patriots or Project Nigeria, organisers of the national summit, and has nothing to do with the Uyo summit as the question of election is not also a matter listed on the agenda of the summit.”

We’re not part of it — NNSG

Meanwhile, the Alhaji Tanko Yakasai-led Nigerian National Summit Group, NNSG, has distanced itself from the summit.

In a statement, Yakasai said the clarification became imperative because of the “numerous inquiries and clarifications sought by discerning Nigerians that have, over the years, rightly associated the NNSG with the task of organising genuine dialogue to address the myriad of problems facing Nigeria through national conference.

He said the group had been working for the convocation of an all-inclusive national conference, “drawing participants from the grassroots, to dialogue on the future of our country with a view to strengthening the bonds of unity.

“We believe that our strength as a nation, as diverse and multi-ethnic as could be, rests squarely on our common re-

solve to address our challenges in an atmosphere of peace, conviviality and fraternity, and not confrontation to existing realities.”

Consequently, Yakasai said the NNSG intends to consult

Nigerians on the need to convene a national conference and would “at no distant time release an alreadyprepared structured time table for zonal consultations and all requisite modalities

leading to the convening of a national conference/dialogue.

“The problems of our country today are too endemic for revelry and ceremonies in the name of national political summit.”

FG gets 21-day ultimatum from NMA

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

HE last has not been heard about the crisis in the health sector as the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, will today hand the Federal Government a 21– day ultimatum to tackle the myriad of challenges and anomalies confronting the country's health system or face another industrial action.

This is coming on the heels of the suspension of a nine-day indefinite strike by the Medical and Health Workers Union after government agreed to their demands.

However, Nigerians may now have to contend with the new threat by the umbrella body of doctors in the country.

A communique issued at the end of its 2013 National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Sokoto weekend,

said the ultimatum was also for the Federal Government to resolve the ongoing destruction of what they described as “the fabric of professionalism and hierarchical order in Nigeria’s public hospitals and the health sector.”

The communique, jointly signed by the President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele and the Secretary- General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu, said the non-negotiable stance of NEC is the enthronement of professionalism and international best practices.

It said: “NEC resolved not to further tolerate the dislocation and unqualified suffering of doctors and other health workers, who are being owed salaries due to nonpayment of wages occasioned by recurrent irregularities in the implementation of the centralised integrated personnel payroll informa-

tion system, IPPIS. “Since the commencement of the implementation of IPPIS in federal public hospitals, it has greatly undermined the welfare of doctors many of whom have had to endure over three months of non-payment of salaries due to the irregularities in the implementation of IPPIS. “NEC, therefore, calls on government to urgently correct the numerous deficiencies within the next 21 days or stop the use of IPPIS as a means of payment of the salaries of doctors in public hospitals, pending when the irregularities in the IPPIS are sorted out with a perfect innocuous system put in place.”

They also mentioned the delay in the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, despite several appeals made by NMA to Government.

Vanguard , MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—9

Benue calls for investigation into Ukum council massacre zNigeria loses $800m to medical tourism yearly, says NMA

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—BENUE State Government has urged the state’s Police Command to unearth the masterminds of the recent killings at Ayati, Agena and Agbaye communities in Ukum Local Government Area, where a local militia reportedly massacred 13 persons, injured many and burnt down houses and huts of residents.

Acting Governor of the state, Chief Steven Lawani, told journalists, yesterday, in Makurdi that “the state gov-

ernment is working in collaboration with the Police to fish out leaders of the gang responsible for the bloody attack.

“But despite that unfortunate incident, Benue remains a safe place and I can assure you that the safety of the lives and property of each and every individual residing or passing through Benue State is safe.

“Already, Police has been urged to investigate and apprehend the masterminds of the attack and I

can assure you that we are working closely with the Police to ensure that the peace of Benue is not disrupted by anyone or group.

“Moreover, the security report I have indicates that everything is peaceful and there is no breach of security in Benue State.”

The Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police, AIG, Zone 4 Makurdi, Mr. Mike Zuokumor, and Benue State Commissioner of Police, Adams Audu, have also ordered full scale investigations into the killings.

The duo gave the order after visiting the besieged communities where they assured the residents of the safety of their lives and property.

According to a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent Daniel Ezeala, “ while addressing the besieged communities, the AIG appealed for calm and also ordered full investigations into the killings.”

NMA's claim

Meanwhile, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, said yesterday that Nigeria was losing $800 million (about N125 billion) annually to medical tourism.

The National President of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, made the announcement in Sokoto at a news conference at the end of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the association.

According to him, no fewer than 5,000 Nigerians travel to India annually for medical tourism.

He said: “That is why we are commending Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State for heeding our advice when he had an accident and he stayed back in Nigeria for treatment.

“Other public and political office holders should emulate him and have confidence that there are adequate medical manpower and facilities in Nigeria.”

NAFDAC to begin herbal medicine trial

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, and Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRID, plan to commence limited clinical trial on some Nigerian herbal medicines used for life-threatening ailments like HIV/AIDS among others.

Disclosing this weekend in Lagos during a oneday symposium to celebrate this year’s International Traditional Medicines Day, the DirectorGeneral of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the clinical trial had become necessary following recent noticeable swing from the earlier bias in favour of orthodox medicine to greater acceptance of traditional medicines in the country.

Orhii said with this new trend, the need to ensure that only good quality, safe and effective herbal medicines were distributed and used became paramount to the Ministry of Health.

Ace photographer, Obe dies @ 80

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

VISIT: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (left) receiving a plaque from Engr.

Elias Nbam, Chairman, Revenue Allocation Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission during a courtesy visit by the commission to Atiku. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

US Coast Guard commends NIMASA on security code T

HE United States Coast Guard has declared that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, is on the right path to the successful implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security, ISPS, Code in Nigeria.

The leader of the US Coast Guard team to Nigeria, Mr. Tivo Romero, made this declaration at a meeting with members of the ISPS Code Implementation Committee in Lagos, weekend, during a visit to NIMASA, the designated authority for ISPS Code implementation in Nigeria.

Mr. Romero, who said they visited six port facilities in the country during their two-week visit to Nigeria, said that they noticed tremendous improvement since the last visit to the country.

He commended NIMASA for the outreach to facility operators.

Romero said: “I must commend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency for its efforts so far.

“However, the United States Coast Guard will provide required technical assistance to ensure that

infrastructural and legal instruments needed for effective implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria are put in place.

“I urge you all to see this project as a voyage, which we have all embarked on, that must be concluded.”

Romero dismissed media reports that the United States Government would embargo vessels from visiting Nigerian ports, noting that the US Government was fully behind Nigeria as a strong business partner that requires desired partnership, a reason for which both countries would always continue to work together.

F

OREMOST Nigerian photographer, Pa Peter Obe is dead.

Aged 80, Pa Obe died in his Masha, Surulere Lagos home yesterday.

Although details of his death are yet to be made public, a close family member, however, confirmed the death yesterday.

Obe became famous with the documentation of Biafra-Nigeria Civil War. The man, who in one of the interviews he granted a major Nigerian newspaper, confessed that he took to photography as a second option after his desire to be a motor mechanic, however cut his teeth as a photographer.

Obe’s name always come first when mentioning great Nigerian photo artists, including Tam Fiofori, Barber, Garba Mohammed among

others, who took and still keep negatives of historical events and architectural scene.

His lens were said to have captured scenes like the January 12, 1954, Ikeja Airport, Lagos scene where late Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe, were waiting for British Secretary of State Sir Olivier Lytttleton.

The ace photographer was said to have covered the January 16, 1954 scene at the Lagos Constitutional conference chaired by Lytleton, where late Anthony Enahoro first moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Experts decry dearth of anaesthetists in Nigeria

INCESSANT PIPELINE VANDALISM: Lagos blames negligence on FG zFlays arrest of Ejigbo residents by NSCDC operatives

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

L

AGOS—MEDICAL experts have decried dearth of anaesthetists in the country and called on Federal Government and the 36 states governors to invest in maternal and childcare through the establishment of Mother and Child Centres, MCCs, hospitals dedicated to the health and well being of mothers and children.

Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are responsible for providing anaesthesia to patients for operations and other procedures.

League of Obstetric Anaesthetists of Nigeria, LOAN, at a briefing in Lagos ahead of its 3rd Annual Scientific Conference with the theme: “Mother and Child Centre, a Giant Stride Towards the Realisation of MDGs 4 & 5 and subtheme: Lumbar Epidural analgesia: an incentive for safe child birth”, decried the acute shortage of anaesthetists in Nigeria and said in Lagos that only 100 anaesthetists were serving 18 million people.

Describing it as a serious problem on the outcomes of medical treatments, President, Lagos Anaesthetists Association, Dr. A.A Mafe said there was need to train more Nigerians in the field of anaesthesia.

Wild Fusion debuts in Kenya

W

ILD FUSION, a leading digital marketing agency, has opened an office in Nairobi, Kenya as it pursues its African expansion programme.

Wild Fusion, which was founded by entrepreneur Abasiama Idaresit, manages a portfolio of leading players in Nigeria’s Banking, Telecom and FMCG sectors.

Speaking on the expansion, Idaresit said: “We are very excited about this opportunity offering our quality digital marketing services to brands and advertisers in Kenya. We believe through our services we empower businesses to succeed.”

Its client list includes Unilever, Diamond Bank, Vodafone and other leading blue-chip companies in Nigeria and Ghana.

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS—LAGOS State Gov ernment has blamed the Federal Government for its inaction and negligence over incessant cases of oil pipelines vandalism and degradation in the state.

It equally condemned alleged ongoing arrest of innocent residents around Idimu/Ejigbo Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, without proper investigation over suspicion that they were responsible for oil pollution of underground wells in the area, saying the residents should be protected rather than being arrested.

are responsible for oil pollution of underground wells.

We recollect that successive administrations in the state has drawn the attention of the Federal Government to concomitant of hazards being experienced by residents of Baruwa-Ipaja, Ilado, AmuwoOdofin, Ejigbo among others through polluted boreholes, contamination of underground water, ruptured pipelines and seepage of pipe-

lines. Yet, no visible action has regrettably been taken till date by respective agencies of the Federal Government.

Records of official letters

“The state government has records showing that official letters were written by the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000.

More importantly, the present administration of Mr. Babatunde

Fashola, equally wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke respectively, complaining about serious oil pollution and high level of degradation that residents of these areas are daily exposed to without any meaningful result coming forth.

“Lagos State Government in these correspondences did not only complain but also suggested to the Federal Government to consider modern methods of protecting oil pipelines, including casing and tamper proof warning devices among other contemporary methods.”

Arrest

It would be recalled that NSCDC officials last week allegedly invaded Ejigbo and arrested some residents including a pregnant woman, for alleged NNPC pipelines vandalism.

Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello who spoke weekend, noted that while the state government supported every action of the Federal Government to curb stealing of petroleum products and pipeline vandalism, it, however, frowned at any act that could constitute an infraction on the rights of residents of the affected areas through wanton and unjust arrests by officials of NSCDC.

Bello speaks

According Bello “Lagos State Government expresses serious reservations over indiscriminate arrest of innocent residents around Idimu/Ejigbo areas of the state, without proper investigation over suspicion that they

BIRTHDAY: Former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipupo Diya, rtd (left) and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, at the 69th birthday of Sen. Adefuye in Lagos.

....As govt evicts 200 occupants of distressed buildings

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS—NO fewer than 200 occupants’ of three distressed buildings in Mushin Local Government area

Ashafa lauds FG on Third Mainland Bridge

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS—VICE CHAIR MAN, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has commended the Federal Government for approving N290.745 million for a comprehensive underwater inspection of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, also urged the Federal Executive Council, FEC, to ensure the prompt mobilization of experts to the site and handle the project with urgency that it deserved in the interest of the general public.

It will be recalled that Senator Ashafa had in February 2013, led a motion with other 55 Senators seeking for an investigation to ascertain the true state of the Third

Mainland Bridge which has progressive steel caisson deterioration in about 1,318 Foundation Piles and there was extensive reinforcement bar deterioration in 8 piles.

The Senator spoke yesterday while reacting to the outcome of FEC’s meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday.

Ashafa said that the controversies surrounding the underwater piles of the Third Mainland Bridge will at last be laid to rest.

He said: “No one is trying to spoil the works of others, both the Senate and the executive arm of the government are working together to provide good governance rather than playing politics with the lives of our people.”

of the state were weekend evicted by the state government.

It has also continued the demolition of one of the three buildings; a four-storey, located on 34 Adeyemi Street.

The two remaining buildings awaiting demolition are a two-storey and a shopping complex located on 32 and 33 Adeyemi Street respectively.

However, the evicted occupants have alleged that they paid N100,000 to un-named official of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, to allow them remain in the distressed buildings for another year before demolition.

It was learnt that some of the buildings were erected over 22 years ago and were never renovated, but the landlords were only collecting rents worth over N200, 000 each annually.

Vanguard gathered that five other buildings were also marked for demolition for allegedly contravening approvals among others. They may be demolished in a matter of days.

Speaking, General Manager of LASBCA, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun-Odunayo, said: “The occupants were evicted be-

cause the buildings are unsafe for habitation. They have obvious cracks and can collapse any moment. This was the reason for government action. They are dangerous for habitation and if they collapsed today, about 200 occupants of the houses will suffer severe injury. We have to be proactive to ensure that buildings especially distressed ones do not collapse on the occupants.

“To avoid loss of lives, a new slogan has been adopted; ‘kill the house, before it kills us’. We have issued the landlords of the affected buildings notices thrice directing their tenants to vacate the property. But they refused.”

On the alleged bribery, she said: “I believe they made such allegation because they were upset. They believe that if they say that we can pardon them.

Earlier, they appealed for a week extension, but we turned it down. We are all human beings.

We have seen a lot of collapsed buildings and we have seen the number of causalities that died as buildings caved in. Why will anyone collect money from someone when we know that such building can collapse any moment? We have conscience.”

Vanguard MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—11

Ondo State guber: We ‘re down, but not weakened over S/Court judgement — APC

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, weekend, said the Supreme Court judgment on the governorship election in Ondo State, last week affected its members negatively, but insisted that their spirit would not be weakened.

In a statement in Akure, the Senator representing Ondo North Senator Ajayi Boroffice, said, however, that “we must accept the decision of the court.

“This judgment might have dampened our spirit but it has not weaken our determination to rescue our state from the clutches of poverty, mass unemployment, among others. ”Though we long for a change in agreement with the feelings of the people of Ondo State, the decision of the highest court of the land has not dispensed justice in this direc-

tion.

“Leaders of our party, the professionals, and the people fought a good fight like gallant soldiers of progress. They spoke against policies that would not allow development in their communities.

“You demanded character in leadership and agitated for good governance that will provide a launch-pad for a rapid industrial development of the state. ”We salute the courage of our governorship candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and his legal team in their unwavering commitment to clean poll.

“You did not lose; you only set agenda for the new phase of activities for our great party in Ondo State.

“Let us all remain focused in our resolve to produce a progressive government in which good governance and democratic institutions thrive to guar-

antee justice, equity and opportunities for our people.

“We will continue to demand and insist on free and fair elec-

tions to ensure that the choices of our people are respected and reflected in their representation.”

....My government ‘ll not disappoint Ondo people — Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — ONDO State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday, reassured the people that his government would not disappoint, saying he had taken political risks in the past 30 years of his career without thinking of personal interest.

He spoke while addressing the people of the state who thronged the Government House, Alagbaka to congratu-

late him on last Thursday’s Supreme Court verdict.

Mimiko, however, noted that God had been sufficient for him throughout the period, saying that there were moments of anxiety but God was kind to him all through. ”The God that we serve is enough, he is a sufficient God, I can testify before you people that in the course of my career, God has been sufficient for me.

“I have taken risks that are profound as you all know. I also want to make it absolutely clear that there are moments of anxiety but our God is sufficient for us.

“Our mission here is evangelical and I assure you that we’ll not disappoint you” The governor assured unemployed youths in the state of gainful employment, insisting that the youths would soon see the wonders of God He hinged his promise of gainful employment on the near completion of the state’s Power Project with its refinery, fertiliser and petrochemical industries underway.

According to him, “efforts are on to industrialise the state.”

Olusegun Ogungbe is dead

T

HE first instructor, Weights and Measure VISIT: Chairman, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, dur- training school, Federal Mining a courtesy visit on Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (left), in Warri. Photo: istry of Commerce, Chief Ephraim Olusegun Ogungbe, Bripin Enarusai is dead, aged 71.

He died on of PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE August 28, 2013.

DISCLAIMER BY UMUAROM UMUDARA IHITE IHIALA PASSIONATE SHAREHOLDERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA Late Ogungbe, The above-named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, The general public is hereby notified that we, the UMUAROM Abuja for registration in accordance with the provision of Companies and Allied who attended the UMUDARA IHITE IHIALA in Ihiala Local Government Area of Matters Act No. 1 of 1990 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Abeokuta Grammar Anambra State, hereby state categorically that the publication of MEMBERS 1. EVANG. ADEBAYO OLUFEMI ABAYOMI - CHAIRMAN School between Thursday 8th August in the National Light precisely on page 6 2. ABOSEDEJOSEPHINE ADUROTOYE - TRUSTEE captioned " Community Change of Name" is not to the Knowledge 1956 and 1960, 3. PASTOR ISAIAH ADEMOLA JAMES - TRUSTEE of UMUAROM UMUDARA IHITE Ihiala. And therefore we state that achieved the best 4. EMMANUEL MEDAHUNSI - TRUSTEE we remain UMUAROM UMUDARA, IHITE IHIALA in lhiala Local 5. FELICIA BALOGUN - TRUSTEE results at the Board Government Area of Anambra State and not UMUZOWULU 6. ARIKAWE DORCAS - TRUSTEE of Trade Examina7. OLANREWAJU ONIKOYI - TRUSTEE UMUDARA IHITE IHIALA in Ihiala Local Government Area, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES tion in England Anambra State.

1. To promote the interest and welfare of shareholders in publicly quoted The Ogbuehi of Umudara and the Okpara of Umudara should and Wales in 1967. and unquoted companies in Nigeria. please take note.

2. To ensure a just and equitable management of publicly quoted and Ogungbe was unquoted companies in Nigeria.

Baale of Ikereku 3. To ensure ordinary behavior at company meetings.

The general public and the good people of Ihiala Local Christians.

4. To arrange seminars and/or lectures for the enlightenment of shareholders.

Government should please take Note. All former documents 5. To organize shareholders for companies’ general meetings.

He is survived by bearing UMUAROM UMUDARA IHITE Ihiala remain valid.

6. To ensure that shareholders can and do keep simple records of their his wife, children shareholdings and dividends payment.

Signed: Any opposition to the registration should be directed to the Registrar General, and grand-chilLEO O. MBAEYI Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, dren.

Chairman, Peace Committee PMB 198 Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Umuarom Umudara Ihite Ihiala Burial will be anSigned: Bar. Olarewaju Ademola (08033641678) nounced

ASUU calls on Nigerians to prevail on FG over N400bn education fund

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — ACA DEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called on Nigerians to join hands and prevail on government to approve the remaining N400billion for the university system.”

Chairman, University of Ibadan Chapter of ASUU, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, who spoke yesterday, said “As at now, the amount due for injection into the Universities in the agreement is N500billion naira and not N100billion.”

He described as insincerity on the part of government to say it had no money, saying while the Government claimed it had released N100billion for infrastructural development in federal universities, the amount due for injection was N500billion.

Government also maintained that it had met substantially the agreements reached with the union with exception of N92billion earned allowances.

Gov Fayemi condemns use of youths as political thugs

BY Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI — GOV ERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, weekend, raised alarm that Nigerian youths were being used by politicians as tools for destructive politics detrimental to the nation.

This came as the governor asked gubernatorial aspirants in the state including members of the newly registered All Progressive Congress, APC, especially a member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, to feel free to declare their ambition.

12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Stowaway: Family, volunteer lawyers beg for his release

BY EMMA AMAIZE & SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY — THE family of the stowaway teenage boy, Daniel Oikhena, who is still being detained by the Department of State Security Services, DSS, in Lagos, has appealed for his release, saying he was only an innocent boy who tried to pursue his dreams and not a criminal.

This came as a rights group, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, called on the DSS to release the 13year-old boy to reunite with his family.

Similarly, a volunteer group,De Raufs, has also concluded plans to dispatch a team of lawyers to secure the release of the teenage boy, as coordinator of the group, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, said the team of lawyers from Osun State, which would be led by Mr. Yinka Muyiwa, will team up with the Lagos coordinator of the group to secure the boy’s release.

However, younger brother of the teenage boy, Desmond Oikhena, who made the appeal, said the family was shocked that their brother was

still being detained by the DSS, explaining that that the stowaway is only a young boy who did not even know what he did and not a criminal.

He said: “My brother learnt what he did through films, he watched films a lot and that was why he had problem with my elder sister the night to that his action at the airport.

“We are missing him a lot; we are appealing that he should be released so that he can come and prepare for the coming new school session.

“My brother is not a criminal.

He is just a quiet young man

who was pursuing his dream of going to America. We thank God he survived the incident so they should allow him come home so that he can go to the hospital for proper medical check up.”

While condemning the continued detention of the boy in Lagos, Comrade Shittu, who reiterated the earlier resolve of the group to award the stowaway teenager scholarship up to university level, queried the continued detention of the boy by the DSS, saying airport officials in Benin were to blame for the security lapses at Benin

Airport and not the teenager.

Meanwhile, a group, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, has called on the Department of State Security, DSS, to release the boy to reunite with his family.

The group in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Oghenajabor Ikimi, in Warri weekend, said: “We believe that rather than crucify the above adventurous and courageous teenager, all hands must be on deck to secure his future educationally so that he can achieve his dream of travelling by air legitimately.”

Ozekhome: Afemai youths call for revolution against kidnapping

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY— AFEMAI Youth Coalition, AYC, an umbrella body of all youths in the North senatorial district of Edo State, weekend, reiterated their call for the release of their son and human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome.

While lamenting the general insecurity and killings in the country, which they attributed to bad leadership, the youths at Afemai Youth Summit, Auchi, called for a radical revolution to check

kidnapping and ensure better funding in the educational sector.

In his opening address, convener of Afemai Youth Coalition, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, who expressed worries that the youths might derail the nation’s democracy if the incessant kidnapping of people was not checked, however, described the nation’s leaders as wicked.

He said the leaders pauperised Nigerians, despite the fact that the nation was wealthy, and forced them into criminality.

“It is sad that our son, Chief Ozekhome, who has worked tirelessly for the poor masses is still being held by his captors. While we acknowledge the fact that our youths have engaged in all these illicit trade due to bad leadership, we appeal that he should be released to us,” he said.

Senatorial by-election: Ethiope East youths drum support for Amori

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI — CHAIRMAN of concerned Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, youths in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Ese Ogoro, has urged Urhobo leaders to give Chief Ighoyota Amori the opportunity to represent the people in the Senate.

The Senate seat became vacant as a result of the sudden death of Senator Pius Akpos Ewherido.

Reacting to recent media reports, Ogoro said: “Much as people are entitled to their opinions, it is only civil that such opinion should not be damaging to the persons being targeted.

“Facts should be verified before publications are made, such that the public is not misinformed and in the process bias with seed of discord is sown in the mind of voters and his teeming supporters.

“It is a statement of fact that right now there is no alternative to Chief Ighoyota Amori for the Senate. Chief Ighoyota Amori’s antecedents and contribution to the Urhobo nation are just too solid to be ignored by anybody.”

“Urhobos are in a hurry to emerge from the doldrums and regain lost grounds. This is not the time for bickering and casting of unnecessary aspersions on the person of Chief Ighoyota Amori.

“We have passed that stage. If anything, we should be working relentlessly to actualize the mandate we Urhobo people gave him on the platform of the PDP in 2011.

ASUU strike: DELSU chapter re-affirms support for national leadership

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI — THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State University, Abraka chapter, has re-affirmed its resolve to stand by the national leadership of the union until victory was achieved and thanked Nigerians for their understanding of the issues in the on-going strike.

It urged the Federal Government, FGN, to fulfill its written commitment to the disbursement of N500 billion by 2013 towards the revitalisation of public universities in the country.

Chairman of the union, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi, said: “Congress re-affirmed its earlier resolution to continue with the diligent prosecution of the on-going strike as directed by NEC until the 2009 ASUU/ FGN Agreement is fully implemented.

“Congress resolved to stand by the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between ASUU/ FGN, and called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfill its written commitment to the disbursement of N500 billion by 2013 towards the revitalisation of Nigerian public universities.”

Residents convert Igbogene bridge to car park

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — THE Igbogene bridgeend on the outskirts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, cut the picture of a car mart as residents of the fast growing Igbogene were forced to park their vehicles by the road side, following the closure of the ailing structure to traffic.

Investigation revealed that the development, if not urgently addressed, may affect work on the ongoing dualisation of the Igbogene-Yenagoa by-pass as vehicles belonging to the natives and heavy duty machines owned by construction firm compete for space.

Vanguard MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — 13

Bank liquidation: Depositors paid N6.82bn in 2012 — NDIC

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, weekend, said it paid N6.82 billion to 528,212 insured depositors of closed banks as at December, 2012.

NDIC Managing Director, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, disclosed this at the corporation special day at the on-going Yenagoa Trade Fair being held at Peace Park in the state capital.

The figure, he said, surpassed the amount paid for the same purpose in 2011 which stood at N6.68 billion for 527, 942 insured depositors.

According to him, the bank in 2012 paid the sum of N2.505 billion to 75,322 verified depositors of 95 of 103 closed micro-finance banks.

This, he said, was higher than what the bank paid for the same purpose in 2011 which stood at N2.249 billion for 72,062 verified depositors.

Ibrahim added that the sum

of N73.58 billion had been paid as liquidation dividend to 250,209 depositors of Deposit Money Banks, (DMBs)as at December 31, 2012.

The NDIC, he noted, had declared liquidation dividends and paid general creditors of eight ‘’banks- in- liquidation’’ and erstwhile shareholders of three ‘’banks -in- liquidation,’’ the sum of N1.122bn and N1.286bn as at December 31, 2012 respectively.

Ibrahim, who was represented on the occasion by the Corporation’s Acting Zonal Controller, South- South, Mr. Samuel Dauda, noted that the broad mandate of the bank was to provide deposit guarante to depositors of insured financial institutions, banking supervision, failure resolution and liquidation.

The bank, according to him, plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, soundness and stability of the financial system in the country.

PRESENTATION:From left, Mother of the N5million winner, Mrs. Elisabeth Kuti; winner, Stephen Kuti; Glo ambassador, Funke Akindele; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Globacom Nig. Ltd; Ashutosh Tiwary, Finance Manager, NCC; Sanusi Temitope, Glo ambassador; Gbenga Adeyinka, and President General, Supporters’ Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, at the prize presentation to winners in the 'Glo recharge to stardom promo,' at Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend. Photo:Joe Akintola, photo editor

Oil pollution: Bayelsa govt seeks help from Italy

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA — THE government of Bayelsa State has appealed to Italy to assist in remedying the state from environment degradation caused by oil pollution.

The Chief of Staff, Bayelsa House, Abuja, Chief Diekivie

Ikiogha, made the appeal, when he paid a courtesy call on the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Roberto Colamine.

Chief Ikiogha in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, called on the Italian government to help the state tackle its environmental challenges.

He noted that the peculiar ter-

rain of the state as well as oil pollution, occasioned by oil exploration and vandalisation of oil pipeline, had thrown up enormous environmental challenges to government.

He appealed to the Italian Ambassador to support the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson by providing

Crisis hits IMB/NUPENG Warri unit over outcome of election

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN — DISTRIBUTION of petroleum products to customers in Edo, Delta and neighbouring states was halt, weekend, by the national body of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, following alleged seizure of IMB secretariat by a faction of Warri unit of body.

This prevented the newly elected chairman, Mr. Benjamin Ifeta, and his executives from carrying out their

duties.

It was gathered that the national body of the union took the decision to halt supplies of petroleum products to the affected states until peace was restored.

Meanwhile, NUPENG national headquarters in Abuja, which waded into the crisis, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Hashimu Argungu, asking the Police authorities to properly investigate alleged forgery, impersonation, threat to lives and abuse of police escort to intimidate and

harass IMB/NUPENG members in Warri.

The petition which was signed by the national secretary of IMB/NUPENG, Mr. Chidi Nwosu, read: “ We write to bring to your notice the criminal activities of Henry Baro and Bright Edejewho who forged and impersonated our national secretarial and conducted an illegal election in a hotel where they forged our letterheads and signature of the national officers.

support to the development of the Niger Delta and the country as a whole.

In his remarks, Ambassador Colamine said the Italian government appreciated the commitment of Bayelsa government in developing the state and its people and assured of its partnership in the area of investment in agriculture and capacity building.

According to him: “Italian firms engaged in the manufacture of improved farm equipment are ready to supply tractors and allied equipment to the state as well as set up a manufacturing plant if the right environment exists.”

The Italian envoy also commended the Bayelsa governor for improving the security of the state, noting that though the Boko Haram crisis was worrisome initially, it had not stopped major economic and commercial activities in other parts of the country.

Italian companies, he revealed, were ready to invest in Nigeria, but needed the right economic environment and legal framework to operate effectively.

Sanusi, 3 CBN chiefs risk contempt of court

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT — A Port Harcourt Court, presided over by Justice Joy Akpughunum, has threatened to arraign governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, and three other executives of the bank for defiance of an order.

The court in an earlier order issued July 2, this year, had authorised the CBN to pay N123,375,780.26 owed by the Enterprise Bank to Genproghetti Company as liquidation of debt.

Justice Akpughunum inquired from Sanusi Lamido, his deputy in charge of operations, Tunde Lemo, Director, Banking and Payment Systems, Dipo Fatokun, and Director of Legal Services, MD Suleiman, why they should all not be charged for contempt.

Orido joins race for Delta Central senatorial by-election

BY FESTUS AHON

UGHELLI — A business mogul and politician, Chief Maxmiller Orido, has joined the forthcoming Delta Central Senatorial by-election while his campaign organisation has been inaugurated.

Director General of his campaign organisation, Chief Moore Ologitere, during its inauguration, said Chief Orido was the most credible candidate for the Senate job.

He said Chief Orido over the years had proved himself a worthy Urhobo son, adding that he (Orido) used his personal funds to build infrastructure when he was President General of the Agbarho (Urhobo) Improvement Union.

Other members of the campaign organisation are: Mr. Erhabor Isaac, Mr. Peter Ehare, Chief Oke Taiwo, Mr. Patrick Edatire, Mr. J. Ishaka, Mr. Sunday Adjaimue, Mr. Jerkins Gogori and Sir Joe Evuarherhe, to serve as secretary.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

No going back on October 5 date for LG polls — Gov Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has insisted there was no going back on the October 5, 2013, date for conduct of the local government election in the state.

There had been arguments in some quarters concerning the possibility of the council election, in view of its closeness to the November 16 date for the governorship poll.

But speaking at the

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FUNERAL—From left: Deacon Elder Albert; Otunba Olumide Talabi; Mrs Yeye; Mrs Dupe Talabi and Wing Commander Tosin Talabi, during the funeral service for Late Madam Comfort Adeoti Talabi (Nee Sewoniku), at the All Saint Anglican Church, Yaba, Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

Stowaway: Aviation stakeholders laud efforts to boost security at airports

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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EQUEL to the stowaway incident at Benin airport penultimate Saturday, aviation security experts have commended the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for taking additional security measures to forestall runway incursions at airports in the country.

The Chairman of Aviation stakeholders Squaretable, Capt. Balarabe Usman, told newsmen that the aviation industry had suffered many years of neglect which was inherited by the present administration.

Usman noted that security equipment and facilities were allowed to decay, even as some were abandoned, adding that there were several efforts to build perimeter fencing at the various airports in the country, especially the major airports, but were abandoned halfway.

Usman, who was the former Chief Security Officer of FAAN and an aviation security consultant, said if the agency had completed the initial projects on perimeter fencing, the situation would not have degenerated to the level where there was no perimeter fencing at some airports.

He said: “While we condemn the failure of FAAN to provide adequate security at the airside of some of these airports, we have to also commend the efforts being made by the Ministry of Aviation to reinforce security to forestall such incident happening in future.

C M Y K

“I know that what this government inherited were decayed terminals, security equipment and nonexistence facilities but since it started the remodelling programme, we have witnessed what have been achieved and we know that most airports in the country will have perimeter fencing and operational vehicles.

"The Federal Government has started deployment of sophisticated screening equipment in various airports and simultaneously kicked off training of personnel to man this equipment.”

A security expert and the CEO of Centurion Securities Limited, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said during the auditing of

airport security by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, that FAAN had failed to provide perimeter fencing and security fencing of airports in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

He said the Category 1 safety status Nigeria obtained from the US Federal Aviation Administration was in the hope that the country would improve its security systems at the airports.

FAAN said recently that bushes at airports would be cleared to ensure full view of the perimeter, allow both the control tower, FAAN fire and rescue observation posts and aviation security patrol teams have a sweeping view of the perimeter of an airport from their duty posts.

opening ceremony of a three-day training course organised for Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, in Awka, Governor Obi said his administration was determined to entrench democracy at the grass root before the end of his tenure.

The governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mrs. Azuka Enemuo, regretted that local government election had eluded the state for a long time.

Recalling that efforts to conduct the election since he assumed office in 2006 had been marred by series of litigations.

He expressed optimism that with the calibre of people in ANSIEC and the efforts being made by them, the state would witness free, fair and credible elections this year.

He charged the electoral umpire to provide a level playing ground for all political parties participating in the election to ensure true participatory democracy.

Anambra communities in Lagos, Houston hail Obiano's emergence as APGA guber candidate

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NDIGENES of Anambra State in Lagos and the city of Houston, USA, have been unanimous in their praise on the recent election of ex-banker and renowned technocrat, Chief Willie Obiano, as the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate for the gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

Obiano, whose late entry into the gubernatorial race caused a rupture in existing political arrangements in the state, has become the candidate to beat since his victory in the APGA primaries.

Speaking at a function in Lagos, Emeka Obiora, a medical doctor from

Ogbunike in Anambra State, described Obiano’s emergence as “a break from the past.”

According to him, “Obiano is a breath of fresh air. Anambra gubernatorial race is tough because Anambra has many illustrious sons and daughters who can challenge for the position.

But Obiano is different. He has a verifiable track record and a career profile that can provoke envy. We have great expectations of him.”

Also, Francis Igboanugo, a Lagos based lawyer, sees Obiano’s victory as a very wise decision by APGA. He said:

“Obiano’s profile marks him out as a natural successor to Governor Peter Obi. After eight eventful years of Obi’s leadership, Anambra State cannot afford to end up in the hands of traders and hardcore politicians again. That would be a return to the enemies of the state.”

Lawrence Oguejiofor, a Nigerian engineer who lives in Houston, Texas, USA, described Obiano’s victory at the primaries as an answered prayer of sorts to Anambra indigenes in Houston who had hoped that Obiano who owned a palatial home in Houston would emerge victorious in the primaries.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—15

British secret agency, M16, police proposed £3,000 visa bond against Nigeria — REPORT

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

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report from a United Kingdom based journal, University World News, has said the £3,000 visa pilot scheme against Nigeria was proposed by the British intelligence service, MI6 and British police headquarters at Scotland Yard.

The new UK visa scheme will impose £3,000 (US$4,740) in charges on unspecified visa applicants thought to be ‘high risk visitors’ from Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

The Nigerian government has threatened retaliatory measures if London goes ahead with the ‘refundable’ but unpopular visa bond.

The report said there was palpable anger and disappointment among Nigerians who have gained admission into British universities for the upcoming academic session.

Students already in UK institutions are also unhappy about a new ‘visa bond’ scheme to be implemented against ‘high risk’ visitors by the David Cameron's administration.

As a precautionary measure, many parents have instructed Nigerian banks to suspend, for now, sending tuition and accommodation fees to British universities, the report noted.

The report written by Professor Tunde Fatunde, a Nigerian scholar quoted diplomatic sources in Abuja, as saying that both the M16 and the Scotland Yard, are reportedly worried that some foreign students who apply for visas to study in British universities have developed, in their home countries, ideas and determination to commit terrorism on British soil.

The report said, the visa bond is believed to be a subtle way of ensuring that students who are labelled as ‘high risk’ know that they will be targets of intelligence surveillance while they are studying at British universities.

It quoted a diplomat, who did not want to be named, as saying that Ghana was included on the ‘high risk’ country list because its airport and seaports were thought to be avenues for Latin American drug cartels who use some Ghanian students as drug couriers.

The same diplomat said some students from Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh had been involved in terrorism in Britain.

He cited the examples of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, a Nigerian and former student of University College London, who tried to blow up an American plane in December 2009, and student Michael Adebolajo, a C M Y K

Nigerian-born Briton, who recently hacked a British soldier to death.

“The British government is convinced that the use of visa bond may go a long way to make Britain

safe,” the diplomat said.

The diplomat also revealed that the visa bonds would be extended to some non-students thought to be high risk and

hinted that British embassies might collaborate with local intelligence services in collecting evidence on some visa applicants.

AWARD—From left: Mr Ubong King, CEO, Protection Plus Services Limited (2nd right), with staff receiving the 2013 Best Coastline Surveillance Pipeline and Port Facility Protection Services Company award from Dr. Mourtada Deme, Country Director, UNDP Democratic Governance Development Project (3rd right), at the African Governance and Corporate Leadership Award in Abuja, weekend.

Catholic priests to fight abortion law in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—PRIESTS of the Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri, have started strategizing to tackle the anti-life legislation recently signed into law

by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the clerics held their first meeting last Thursday at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.

Feelers from the meeting chaired

by His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, revealed that one of the major issues discussed was the controversial abortion law foisted

on the people by the state.

One of the priests said: “We met to properly position ourselves to effectively battle the controversial abortion law recently signed by Governor Rochas Okorocha.”

Meanwhile, Archbishop Obinna has called for immediate abrogation of the state laws containing what he termed “anti-life legislation” signed by Okorocha and his predecessor, Chief Achike Udenwa in 2012 and 2007 respectively.

Archbishop Obinna, who was

visibly angry as he spoke on a number of issues, including the controversial abortion law and this year’s Odenigbo Lecture, insisted that all anti-life laws in the state must be abrogated.

“We are calling for immediate abrogation of all anti-life legislations in the state.

Although the church will not be mirred in the nation’s murky waters of partisan politics, it will, however, continue to demonstrate interest in the nation’s democratic process for the common good of the citizenry.”

Igbo youths hail Jonathan over Akanu Ibiam airport, decry crisis in Ohanaeze

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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GBO youths, under the banner of Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, have commended President Goodluck Jonathan for bringing to fruition the upgrading of Akanu Ibiam Airport into an international facility.

IYM President, Mr Elliot Uko, said in a statement that with the fulfillment of Akanu Ibiam International Airport promises, there was hope that President Goodluck Jonathan would also fulfill his other promises to the South-East.

Uko said: “We would also like to use this opportunity to proclaim our heart felt gratitude to President Jonathan on the fulfillment of an international gateway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

We are truly grateful. Now, we know that the modernization of the Eastern railway lines and other promises would be fulfilled in due time too. We know that the people of the South-East know how to reciprocate when the time comes. We believe that Mr. President knows that only

prompt and dutiful fulfillment of his promises to Ndigbo will sustain his relationship with our people and nothing else.”

Uko also decried the leadership crisis in Ohanaeze and advised Ndigbo at home and abroad to come together and support the group in order not to give outsiders the impression of a disunited home front, noting that the Igbo question within the context of a larger Nigerian could not be favourably resolved, if Ndigbo remained disunited and permanently at war with themselves.

UNIZIK VC begs ASUU to call off strike

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BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—AS members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, continue their nationwide strike, Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Boniface Egboka, has made a passionate appeal to his colleagues to call off the strike in the interest of the students whose academic programmes were being threatened.

Addressing the university community during which he announced the institution’s allocation from the Federal Government for infrastructural development and payment of staff allowances, Egboka said in as much as the lecturers had the right to make demands, they should also realize that the students are currently wasting away at home.

The vice chancellor observed that government had done excellent work to support the various universities and urged the unions not to abuse it so as not to be seen as playing politics without conscience.

Clerics lament attack on churches in Anambra

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—SECURITY agencies have been urged to painstakingly investigate and prosecute persons found culpable in the reported attack on seven churches in Anambra State.

Concerned Christian leaders of the South-South and South East geo-political zones made the plea in a communique they issued after a meeting in Owerri weekend.

According to the communique signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Bishop Goddy Okafor and Rev. Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, the clerics expressed grief that 50 innocent people sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack.

The clerics said: “We are aware that the governorship election in Anambra State is fast approaching. We appeal to political parties to avoid overheating the polity but ensure that the poll is peaceful and successful.”

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

PDP wins Offa LG chairmansip rerun election

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—CHAIR MAN of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, KWASIEC, Dr. Uthman Ajidagba yesterday declared Alhaji A b d u l Wa h e e d Olanipekun, candidate of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the Offa local government re-run election, weekend in Offa, as winner of the chairmanship seat with a total vote of 35,937.

The party’s councillorship candidates similarly emerged victorious in all the 12 wards in the local government area.

The Chairman of KWASIEC, Dr. Uthman Ajidagba who announced the result in IIorin yesterday, said Olanipekun polled 35,937 votes against 20,161 votes scored by the All Pregressives Congress, APC candidate, Saheed Popoola.

...as APC kicks, asks KWASIEC to release ‘authentic’ results

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L O R I N — A l l Progressives Congress, APC, has demanded the immediate announcement what it claimed is “the authentic” results of last Saturday’s rerun election in the Offa local government by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, KWASIEC. In a statement yesterday, its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, alleged that results announced by the Kwara PDP on Sunday, in which the party converted its defeat to victory, were totally unacceptable and would not stand.

It said that according to the authentic results of the elections, which were in possession of KWASIEC as well as security agencies, the APC got 11,526 votes to PDP’s 4,668, as against the figures announced by the PDP in Ilorin, which awarded the party 35,937 and the APC 20,161.

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Flood wreaks havoc in Makurdi, submerges 180 houses M

BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—OVER four hours of torrential rain has left several parts of Makurdi the Benue State capital flooded with no fewer than 180 houses submerged in the unexpected deluge.

Also lost to the downpour which started around 7pm Saturday night, were property, household items and valuables valued at more than N200 million. Areas badly affected by the flood included Demekpe, Gyado Villa, Wurukum, Idye village, Achusa and Mobile Police Barracks on Naka road and Wadata.

When Vanguard visited some of the affected areas, many residents were seen battling to rescue their property and valuables from their flooded homes and neighborhood while some could not find access to the houses to save their valuables from being swept away by the flood.

At Demekpe, one of the victims, John Adamgbe told Vanguard that he lost most of his valuables and important documents to the flood. “My family and I were preparing to have our dinner when the rain started around 7pm. We knew we were in for trouble when the rain be-

came torrential and was not showing any signs of stopping. As at 9pm it was as if the heaven would come down and the entire place was like River Benue and we started

battling to save my five children from being swept away while most of our property and valuables had already gone under water.”

When contacted, the General

Manager of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA, Mr. Adikpo Agbatse warned residents of Makurdi town to desist from dumping refuse on drainages to avert the flooding of the town, adding that he had commenced a tour of the affected areas after which he would issue a statement on the devastation.

VISIT: From left: Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris; Natinal Coordinator, Focus Youth For Progressive Peace Initiative in Nigeria, Hajiya Rahina Zubair and Kaduna State Coordinator, Lady Safiya Ibrahim Ogoh, during a visit to the monarch in Zaria. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

VC blames drop in IGR on prolonged crisis

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—VICE CHANCELLOR of the University of Jos, Professor Hayward Mafuyai weekend lamented the negative effect of the prolonged crisis in the state on the institution, blaming it for the sharp drop in internally generated revenue.

Receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Education on oversight visit to the institution, he said courses which were high revenue-yielding had become under patronised because of the crisis.

He said: ”As a result of the insecurity in Jos and its environs, our part-time programmes which used to boost our internally generated revenue, IGR, have drastically declined in terms of patronage.

“The university had to suspend its IJMB programme as a result of low patronage, the University Demonstration School is at the verge of being closed down and staff laid off as a result of poor patronage.”

The vice chancellor noted that some infrastructural facilities in the institution such as the road network, water supply network as well as residential and academic buildings were in bad condition as a result of inadequate capital grants to maintain them.

He said the return of part of

the 2012 capital grants allocation to the federation account was because of the delay in the release of the funds and the activities of contrac-

tors and consultants over which the university had no direct control.

Mafuyai said the institution would henceforth not allow

delay by contractors or consultants force it to return money to the federation account again.

SURE-P creates 21,000 jobs in North-West zone

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG

K

ADUNA—THE FED ERAL Government weekend said Community Services Women and Youth Employment, CSWYE, project of SURE-P created 21,000 jobs in the North-West Geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, who disclosed this in Kaduna,

when he led a Federal Government delegation including Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafa and the Special Adviser to Mr. President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulack, on sensitisation and appraisal of the CSWYE projects in Kaduna.

A statement by Olowookere Samuel, Assistant Director (Press) in the Ministry of Labour said Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Ramalan Yero and

five other Ministers were also represented at the event.

He said: “The present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is working and putting the masses first in its development plans, in the North-West geo-political zone. More than 21,000 women, youths and people living with disabilities are benefiting from the Community Services Women and Youths Employment Project.”

LASAA begins outdoor audience research project

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AGOS—LAGOS State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has commenced outdoor audience research project expected to reveal fascinating statistics about the opportunity in outdoor adverts in Lagos State.

The research, the first of its kind in West Africa and in line with published audience research for radio, TV and press, will produce audience estimates for outdoor advertising.

The data published will tell ad-

vertisers how many people see an outdoor advertising campaign in specific locations in the state as well as how often they do so.

The audience will be broken down in many typologies including age, sex, class, lifestyle and so on. The information is expected to be used by advertisers in planning and evaluating advertising campaigns in the outdoor medium.

It is the first time that such a project will be initiated in Nigeria since outdoor advertising commenced in the country more than

50 years ago. Speaking on this initiative, the Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah said: ‘’This is a defining moment in outdoor advertising practice in Nigeria. For advertisers to make informed buying decision, data analysis of the target audience is very essential.

“Outdoor advertising markets in developed economies are flourishing because data is available for both buyers and sellers of outdoor spaces to make informed choices and careful planning.”

VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—49

APC elects officers, promises hitch-free primaries STORIES BY VINCENT UJUMADU

Chief Godwin Ezemo, today.

The congress was supervised by a special

committee headed by Chief Romeo Anyisia, who appealed to members to jettison parochial sentiments in the forthcoming election so as to elect persons with tested credentials.

In his acceptance speech, Chinwuba, thanked the members for their sense of duty and commitment and assured that the new leadership would not disappoint them.

He said the party would give the two governorship aspirants equal opportunity to actualize their ambition urging them to eschew any form of rumour over bias on the part of the party executive members.

not been any harmonization and APC has not held its congresses and party primaries and we therefore say that instead of staying where nothing is happening, we

should pull out.

As the former CPC has pulled out to join PDM, many former members of All Nigeria Peoples Party, (ANPP) have also joined us in PDM.”

T

HE Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC), weekend, held its state congress in Awka and promised to conduct hitch-free primaries today for the nomination of its governorship candidate for the November 16 election.

At the state congress, Chief Chuks Chinwuba, a former secretary of Onitsha North Local Government was elected as chairman while Chief Samuel Igwedibia became the deputy chairman.

Also, Chief J.P.C Obikwelu was elected state secretary, while the woman leader is Mrs. Modesta Okagbue.

•Ezemo

•Ngige

Henry Emerah is the state youth leader.

With the party’s executive in

place, all is set for the primaries to be conducted for Senator Chris Ngige and

Anambra CPC pulls out of APC •Joins PDM

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HE Anambra State branch of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) which is one of the three political parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress, APC, has pulled out of the merger arrangement and joined the newly formed Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM. Former Anambra State chairman of CPC, Prince Chuba Ikwagwu, who is the interim state chairman of PDM, told Vanguard yesterday that the over 25000 members and all the structures of CPC in the 326 wards of the state have been transferred to PDM. Already, PDM under Ikeagwu, is planning the primaries of the party for Sunday, September 1, 2013 to pick its governorship candidate for the November 16 election in the state.

Vanguard gathered yesterday that one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of APC, Mr. Hygers Igwebuike, has also joined PDM as its aspirant for the November 16 governorship election.

Giving reasons for pulling out of APC, Ikeagwu said the party had failed to comply with tenets of democracy, adding that its leaders were more interested in manipulating situations to suit their selfish interests.

Claiming that lack of internal democracy might destroy APC in Anambra, he said: “We are talking of democracy where everybody will have equal say, equal right and fair participation, but what transpired in APC is so C M Y K

undemocratic and those of us who love democracy do not fit into such environment. “ Up till this moment, there is no state executive of APC. The four state chairmen of the

political parties that merged to form the party were asked to come together to form the state executive but nothing has happened. “ As we are talking, there has

ADC vows it won’t be business-as-usual AFRICAN Democratic Congress, (ADC) has picked Chief Anayo Arinze, a journalist, as its flag bearer for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

The party also said it is determined to change the way of doing things in the state.

National Chairman of ADC, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, while addressing delegates at its primaries in Awka warned that if Anambra people continue to do business-as-usual, the state would remain underdeveloped.

He said: “There is so much corruption in the system and ADC abhors corruption.

This party believes that we have the human and natural resources to make Nigeria better and that can only happen if the right things are done.”

According to him, some recurring names in Anambra politics are at it again, polluting the environment with their questionable wealth and hoping to use such wealth to move to Government House.

He warned that giving such people chance meant dragging the state

backwards.

The governorship candidate of the party, Anayo Arinze, who was elected unopposed, said that those who hope to use their money to buy the people’s conscience would be disappointed because ‘Anambra is not for sale.’

His words: “There are people sharing money for the

purpose of this election and they believe that Government House is for the highest bidder, but they will be disappointed. My advice to the voters is that they should take the money and still vote wisely. ” Delegates from all the 21 local government areas of the state participated in the primaries.

•Nwosu

Ifeanyi Ubah picks running mate

•Ubah

Labour Party Candidate, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, has picked Dr Emeka Eze as his running mate.

He said in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr Ayo Akinola, that the choice of Eze was based on his “accomplishment as a medical doctor whose practice experience spans more than two decades.

He is the managing director of Toronto Hospital Limited”.

Belonging to the younger generation and a professional, the statement added that “Prince Eze is articulate and dynamic in thinking, he is poised to strike a balance to Dr Ubah who hails from Nnewi South Senatorial Zone”.

APA nominates Udeogaranya as flag bearer Chief Udoka Udeogaranya has been nominated as the governorship candidate of the African Peoples Alliance, APA, one of the newly registered political parties.

Udeogaranya, a Lagos – based businessman, is from

Ihiala in Anambra South senatorial zone.

In his acceptance speech, Udeogaranya reminded the delegates, who came from all the 21 local government areas of the state of the enormous task ahead, urging them to

sell the programmes of the party to the grassroots to ensure that it wins the forthcoming election.

The primaries was supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

50—VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

•Vice-President Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan and Bamanga Tukur at the PDP Convention in Abuja

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HE ‘evil’ omen had for long clouded the party, but no one really expected the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to split on its 15th anniversary.

The Eagles Square venue for the Special National Convention had been decorated with 38 cake stands on which were placed inviting cakes representing one for each of the states of the country, the federal capital territory and one for the national party.

Ahead of the commencement of the convention, President Goodluck Jonathan had successfully mobilised most of the party ’s power ful governors to ride with him in a bus to the convention ground.

The sight of the party ’s governors, including the “five rebel” northern governors entering the convention ground in the same vehicle was to buttress the sense of unity that party elders desperately sought to portray.

That sense of unity was also something the president conveyed in his speech as he compared the survival and unity of the party with its original contemporaries formed about the same time in 1998.

“Of the three political parties registered in 1998, and I want you to listen, only PDP has retained its singular identify and core vision as a political

PDP:The path to disintegration movement till date while others have been imploded along the way or subsumed their identity in search of political direction and relevance,” President Jonathan declared in his speech to the special national convention of the PDP last Saturday.

It was as such an irony that on the day that the party clocked 15 years that the self proclaimed largest political

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

Kwankwanso in the presidential villa. At that meeting, the president it appeared, seemed to nudge the governor to retrace his step from the internal dissension that he, Kwankwanso and four other governors of Sokoto, Jigawa, Adamawa and Niger had been fuelling in the last few months.

Also last weekend, less than 48 hours to the convention,

The sight of the party’s governors, including the “five rebel” northern governors entering the convention ground in the same vehicle was to buttress the sense of unity that party elders desperately sought to portray party in Africa split into two.

It was the first time that the PDP which had for most of its 15 years trudged on the path of crisis would be splitting into two major factions with its elected political office holders identifying with different factions.

Dr. Jonathan it appeared had for some time had a sense of foreboding that the party entrusted to him by fate was slipping from him.

Penultimate weekend, the president met with one of his strongest foes among the governors, Dr. Rabiu

,

the president also met with Governor Babatunde Aliyu of Niger State.

Aliyu like Kwankwanso the week before appeared to be conciliatory after the meeting, telling State House reporters that he remained a member of the PDP. The sense of urgency by the president and his minders to mend fence with the five ‘ rebel’ governors was apparently based on intelligence reports that the opposition within the PDP was already making decisive moves to fracture the party

based on the long simmering crisis that had pitched some of the governors against the president and the national leadership of the party as represented by the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

At the centre of the crisis is the allegation by many of the governors that the president has completely taken over the party, punishing all those perceived to be against his 2015 presidential effort.

Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State had been suspended from the party on the basis of allegations of being opposed to Jonathan’s 2015 alleged ambition or having a presidential or vicepresidential ambition of his own.

While the president played the game of reconciling with the governors, the governors apparently did not believe the president was sincere.

So it was not surprising that in the days preceding the convention that many of the governors sustained their consultations which was now focussed on how they could sustain their political relevance in the polity given what they assumed was the determination of the president and Tukur to crush all opposition to the president’s

2015 ambition.

Along the way the governors also established contact with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who like some of the governors, was also losing relevance in the party to the new forces loyal to the president.

But teaming up with Atiku had a problem for the governors given the problems between Atiku and his home governor, Murtala Nyako, one of the five rebel governors.

Engagement in politics Atiku and Nyako have had a bitter-love relationship in recent times since the latter’s full engagement in politics in 2006. Nyako it is remembered was a direct beneficiary of the onslaught against Atiku by the forces of Olusegun Obasanjo who paralysed Atiku’s political machinery in his home base using Senator Jibril Aminu to plant Nyako as governor in 2007.

However, following his problems with Aminu, Nyako sought help from Atiku who mobilised domestic support to help Nyako win his reelection two years ago. At that time it was alleged that there was a quiet understanding that Nyako would support

Continues on page 51

VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—51

PDP:The path to disintegration Continued from page 50 Atiku for his own presidential campaign in 2015.

However, following that, Nyako was alleged to have reneged as he again resumed fighting Atiku and sided with Tukur against Nyako.

So with both Nyako and Atiku forced against the wall by the Jonathan forces, it was apparent to all that the governors had to combine forces with Atiku to confront the president. The advantage Atiku brought to the table was his nationwide organisation and structure which the governors lacked being that they were limited to their states.

But before they could forge alliance with Atiku the issue of the problem between the former vice-president and Nyako had to be sorted out.

Rebel governors The task apparently fell on Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, perhaps the most experienced of the seven rebel governors.

Lamido was the one who was dispatched to meet Atiku last Friday to prepare room for a formal reconciliation between him and Nyako. The details of the meeting between Lamido and Atiku in Atiku’s Asokoro, Abuja residence were not immediately known, but it was learnt that the ground rules

•Governor Murtala Nyako, Rotimi Amaechi, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Kawu Baraje at a parallel PDP Convention at Sheu Musa Yar'Adua Centre Abuja convention moved into election mood, the 'dissident' governors were pissed off by the seeming circulation of what was described as a unity list allegedly endorsed by the presidency. That apparently was the last stab.

When the 16 members of the National Working Committee, NWC resigned in deference to a report of the Independent National Electoral

,

So with both Nyako and Atiku forced against the wall by the Jonathan forces, it was apparent to all that the governors had to combine forces with Atiku to confront the president

for the rapprochement with Nyako were established.

It is, however, difficult to believe that the governors would have gone ahead with the split on Saturday but for the events that happened on the convention ground.

While many of the dissents who met the president in the last few days complained that the president did not bring anything to the table, they were further grieved by what some described as the brazen effort by Tukur and the party’s handlers to take what was remaining in their hands from them.

After the president’s speech on Saturday in which he highlighted the unity of the PDP and how it had defied all odds and remained one despite the fractionalisation of the opposition, and as the

,

Commission, INEC that their election was irregular, there was a general understanding that all of them would be returned at the special convention.

However, for Tukur and his allies in the presidency, the election offered them the opportunity to do away with non-conformists in the party leadership who were seen as allies of the governors or opponents of Tukur.

Dr. Sam Jaja who was nominated as the deputy national chairman by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was the first target. He was removed on the unity list and replaced by Prince Uche Secondus, a long time party veteran and associate of former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili.

Equally troubling was the decision of the Electoral Committee to remove elected delegates from Rivers, Adamawa and Anambra States following the spate of crises in the states. Given that the PDP governors of Adamawa and Rivers states could not bring delegates to the convention, it was not difficult for them to take their long planned walk from the party.

So as the president rounded up his speech and as Mrs. Patience Jonathan came down to cut the 15th anniversary cake, the ‘ rebel’ PDP governors commenced consultations.

Kwankwanso and Lamido as if in a final salutation to the party made a tour round Eagle Square and from there proceeded to the Shehu Yar`Adua Centre where they were joined by Atiku and the other governors including Amaechi who was not at the convention ground, having been suspended from the party three months ago.

Atiku's drama at the Eagle Square Atiku on his part had made some drama at the Eagle Square when he against tradition refused to sit in the VIP stand preferring to sit with delegates from his native Adamawa State.

“The essence of this is to show that the party belongs to the people and to convey to everyone that those in the VIP

stand who now control the party have lost touch with the people and Turaki is doing this to buttress his opinion that the party must be returned to the people,” an associate of the former vicepresident told Vanguard ahead of the walkout on Saturday.

But how far the dissidents can go remains an issue. The first issue is for them to unify among themselves and bury their own individual political differences and objectives under a united dream of overwhelming the Jonathan led PDP.

Reaction of the president As a step towards that move, the seven governors were yesterday at press time engaged in a meeting with Atiku in Atiku’s residence in Abuja where they were aiming to bury differences between Atiku and Nyako.

Following that, the rebels who are indeed calling themselves the New PDP, hope to gauge the reaction of the president to their move.

As a source in their camp disclosed, their plan is to see if the president would respond positively to their issues and if he does there could be some talking, but if not, the new faction of the PDP would then seek to explore options open to it.

Among the options, is going to join the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM already

registered as a political party and believed to be the child of Atiku or forging ahead with their own party, the Voice of the People.

In the end, the governors could register the VOP and allow the PDM to co-exist with it as a way of diverting votes from the PDP, given the closeness of PDM to PDP on the ballot paper.

The temptation to sustain the rebellion is fired by the popularity of the rebellion among some other party faithful.

A number of women who were opposed to the emergence of Dr. Kema Chikwe as the national women leader including some women with nationwide name recognition it was learnt, are already making contact with the Baraje-led faction to team up with it.

Another governor from the Northwest who did not join the boycott, Vanguard gathered yesterday, had also made contact to join the rebellion.

Yesterday, the president and his associates were in an overdrive to stem the rebellion. President Jonathan met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is a patron of the five northern rebel governors apparently to bring him into the trouble shooting mission.

A meeting between the president and the rebel governors it was also learnt has been arranged for late last night. The meeting was yet to take off as at press time.

52— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Adeboye advises Nigerian youths

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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ENERAL Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised Nigerian youths to embrace life of righteousness and Godly principles that would bring about the changes needed in the country.

Speaking during a special prayer organised for RCCG, Region 1 youths with the newly ordained ministers of God in EbuteMeta, Lagos, Adeboye said most challenges confronting the nation came because Nigerians failed to obey God to the letter.

In his sermon themed: “Walking in fullness of blessing” Pastor Adeboye urged the youths in attendance to serve God with their might, strength, resources and shun sin. He said God’s plan for the youths is to go higher and if only they obey God’s commandments, God will bless them in return.

Factionalisation of PDP, dangerous for democracy — NLC VP

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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VICE President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Issa Aremu, weekend, warned that the factionalisation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, could undermine the nation’s democracy.

In a statement in Kaduna, he called on members of the party to put the nation first instead of their personal aggrandizement, lamenting that Nigeria’s democracy was tall in political acrimonies, executive thuggery, bickering, elbowing, exclusion among others.

Aremu said “The weekend split within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) arising from the special convention of the Party held on Saturday, August 31, 2013 and increasing factionalisation of some of the political parties on the eve of 2015 election is a dangerous development to Nigeria’s democracy, unity and cohesion of the country as a whole.”

Chevron, Shell pull out from OKLNG wont affect Nigeria’s gas agenda—NNPC N

IGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has allayed fears that the recent decision of Shell and

Chevron Nigeria Limited to withdraw from the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas Project, OKLNG, may derail the

Atiku seeks cut in FG expenditure

By EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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ORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, weekend, threw his weight behind recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye’s Committee and charged President Goodluck Jonathan to reduce Federal Government expenditure at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. Atiku who spoke in Abuja regretted what he described as, “too much federal bureaucracy and too much centralization,” and called for the scrapping of Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Education. He said the two ministries would better serve the objectives for their establishment at the state level and that the federal

government’s roles in the two ministries should be restricted to regulation.

The former VP called for financial resources to be allocated to the two lower tiers of government to make them more alive to their responsibilities of ensuring grassroots development, across the country. He expressed support for local government autonomy and the control of their resources.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Com mission has been consulting past political leaders on the new Revenue Sharing Formula which is expected to create a more evenly distributed resource framework between the three tiers of government and among the federating units.

Ekiti Dep Gov rallies support for Ado monarch at festival

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KITI State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Modupe Adelabu has called on sons and daughters of Ado-Ekiti to sustain their cooperation and support for the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe.

She said their support was necessary for the town to continue to witness further development.

Adelabu who made the call in her remark at the 2013 Udiroko Day festival held at the palace ground of the Ewi, in Ado-Ekiti, noted that the unprecedented development the town has witnessed in the last one year was partly due to the support, cooperation and mutual understanding that the people have for the paramount ruler and their readiness to work together for

the progress of the town.

The deputy governor also reminded the people of the regard the government of Governor Kayode Fayemi has for the indigenes by appointing sons and daughters of the town into key positions and enjoined them to continue to support the administration at all times.

She urged indigenes to reciprocate the good gesture by their continued support for the administration and to protect public facilities provided in the city centre.

Prof Adelabu, who is also a princess of Ado-Ekiti, charged indigenes, especially those in the Diaspora to make it a point of duty to attend Udiroko festival.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s Gas Revolution Agenda launched in March 2011.

The corporation’s Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Tumini Green, said in a press statement, that the Gas Revolution Agenda was not only intact but has since taken off with significant progress in gas supply for power generation and industrial usage.

Green said,“The Gas Revolution Agenda which is an integral part of the gas master plan cannot be derailed just like that. NNPC can confirm that the exit of Shell and Chevron will not impact on Mr President’s Gas Revolution Agenda. In fact, very good progress is being made with domestic gas supply which has reached the highest level of 1500mmcf/d from about 500mmcf/d about three years ago.”

She noted that more than 70 per cent of the gas was being directed to the Power sector pursuant of the Gas Revolution Agenda. Green explained that the gas based industrialization

agenda of Mr President planned for Ogidigben in Delta State has teed-off with site data gathering activities noting that major new heavy gas based industries such as fertilizer, petrochemicals etc. would come on board to create the much needed jobs.

“All these are very much under way and unaffected by the recent exit of Shell and Chevron from OKLNG. Similarly the Brass LNG project is unaffected by this exit as shareholders of the Brass LNG are different,” the NNPC spokesperson stated.

She noted that in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, the NNPC was determined to continue to work with partners and stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria continues to be the desired location for gas based investments.

She said,“In a changing global gas market, OKLNG inevitably has suffered a setback as a result of the exit but effort will be intensified to secure other willing investors. NNPC and the Federal Government remain committed to this project.”

l-r: Innovation Manager, Mr Paul Osho; Regional Sales Director, Mr Afeez Ajibowu; Divisional Sales Manager, Mr Osaretin Oshodin; Marketing and Innovation Director, Mr Austin Ufomba, Innovation Manager, Ms Omosefe Odaro and Human Resources Director Mr Wale Adediran all of Guinness Nigeria Plc at the launch of Orijin at Ibadan.

PDP convention a disaster, says Junaid Mohammed

BY GBENGA OKE

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ECOND Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed, yesterday, described what happened at the Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) as a disaster and catastrophe waiting to tear the party apart.

He also urged those clamouring for true democracy within the PDP to join forces with other opposition parties to give Nigerians a viable option as the country approaches the 2015 elections.

Mohammed who spoke in a telephone interview said all Nigerians should accept and

welcome what was happening within the PDP because events have shown that the party was sitting on a gunpowder waiting to explode.

His words, “The PDP has shown Nigerians that there was never democracy within the party and I have always maintained that if the PDP is not destroyed by the same forces within the party, then the party must destroy itself by exploding.

The PDP we know will never be the same again because when this kind of pain and catastrophe befalls a party, history has shown that the party won’t remain same.”

He said that PDP was not a party but a collection of petty traders with crazy ideas that power must rotate round the whole country, noting, “The defunct Yugoslavia is today split into about six countries because of rotational Presidency which led into civil war. History has shown clearly that such arrangement will never work because even as a nation, Nigerians have never agreed over issues before”.

According to him, PDP lacked respect for the Constitution and the Nigerian people and what was seen so far was a show of shame. He said, “This

government as being led by the PDP has nothing to show for its existence since President Jonathan took over and they keep promoting ethnic sentiments in their way of appointing people in position.”

Junaid, however, maintained that what Nigerians have seen so far concerning PDP will continue to happen till the party loses its relevance, stressing, “Nigerians will continue to witness this fighting and rebellion within the PDP. It is bound to happen because the party was not built on sincerity and democracy”.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013—53

CONFERENCE—From left: Quality Control Manager, Nigerian Ropes Plc, Engr. Chimaraoke Alua; Managing Director, Mr. Joao Pereira and the Executive Director, Mr. Dayo Ogunmowo, at a Press Conference by the company on Test Certificate being falsified and faked by some business men to cover sub-standard imported wire ropes, in Lagos.

Rebellion, panic engulf PDP Continues from page 5 election or endorsement.

The women plan to make a show at the formal opening of the national secretariat of the Baraje-led faction in Abuja today.

Chief Clark nevertheless described the development as a gang-up against the president which he said was bound to fail, saying Dr. Jonathan would not in any way lose sleep over the development.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday, Clark accused former President Obasanjo of stoking the rebellion saying he, Obasanjo, had conceived a scheme to pair Governors Lamido and Amaechi to run on the ticket of the party for the 2015 presidential election.

“Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is the President of Nigeria, not PDP. It is true that PDP presented him. What happened yesterday, (Saturday) wouldn’t affect his electoral fortune, it is Nigerians that would decide his fate in 2015. No amount of gang up

would make Jonathan lose sleep over 2015.

Clark blames crisis on Obasanjo, Atiku “Obasanjo is the one encouraging them; he is pushing Governors Lamido and Amaechi to run in 2015, that’s where the trouble started.

“Amaechi thought because Senator Bukola Saraki used the Nigeria Governors’ Forum chair to contest to be president, he could also use it to become Vice-President and we have said in the South-South we wanted President, not Vice-President. So, the gang up of five governors which Amaechi has joined believe only a northerner could be president.”

He also accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of disloyalty for allegedly sponsoring the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, as a platform to contest the 2015 election.

“Atiku said he is in PDP, not PDM but all his men are in PDM. Is that a loyal member of the party? All his followers have left. PDM was cre-

ated for them by Atiku.

Even Governor Murtala Nyako had boasted that they would bury the PDP. Let them go, but I can tell you that PDP will remain stronger! They will soon know that they are alone.

Atiku has always been a disloyal person; what he is doing now he has done it to Obasanjo before.”

But in a swift reaction to Clark, the chairman of the parallel PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje told Vanguard: “Let us watch and see, by the time we put our office in place tomorrow, (today), we will know who is serious or not.”

Also speaking on the development, Governor Godswill Akpabio, chairman of the PDP Governors Forum said the disagreement would soon be resolved.

“Let me tell you that I and some of my colleagues have resolved here and now to ensure a total reconciliation of the grievances in this matter. I can tell you that there was a break in communication. I was with the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and we even took pictures with the deputy

senate president, Ike Ekweremadu at the convention venue.

“This is a family affair and I can assure you that in a few days time, this matter would be resolved”, he said, explaining that the PDP Governors’ Forum has commenced reaching out on a personal basis to some of the governors involved.”

Those involved are jokers — Babatope Chief Ebenezer Babatope in a chat with Vanguard, said the political history of Nigeria has shown that splinters out of political parties do not normally succeed in the country, saying those involved do not have a workable script.

He said: “The people who moved know why they moved away, it has nothing to do with the existence of the PDP as a party. I can assure you that the PDP is as strong as a rock. We respect our constitution and the Nigerian people who put us in power and we will

never joke with the supreme will of the Nigerian people. Those who announced that they were going to form another PDP know that they were only joking; the constitution does not guarantee what they have announced. We know very well that they were acting a script that has long been written.

“Nigerians will witness when they have finished acting out the script, but I am very happy Nigeria’s political history has never recorded a successful rebellion or revolt against an existing political party.”

On whether the South West PDP will toe Oyinlola’s path, he said: “The PDP in the South West remains one.

Oyinlola has the democratic freedom to move anywhere. The South West PDP will remain in the party and will remain firmly with the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Progressive Governors laud Baraje faction Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who lauded the action of the splinter PDP governors said the APC governors were ready to join forces with them to navigate the country unto a better course.

Fayemi in a posting on his facebook page said: “The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) welcome the PDP split of August 31, 2013 and the emergence of Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led PDP as a necessary and inevitable result of repressive rule of the PDP. “Recent events, first with the orchestrated crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), suspension and expulsion of PDP leaders, including serving Governors without fair hearing and complete demonstration of lack of tolerance and respect for different opinions are signposts of crisis that should unavoidably result in the split of any organization.

“The PGF commend the courage and resilience of the Baraje-led PDP and in particular congratulate all the serving PDP governors for standing up to be counted among patriotic political leaders of Nigeria. It must no doubt be a conscious decision that must have been borne out of

commitment to make all the sacrifices needed to rescue our dear nation from the current reign of terror and bad governance.

“As serving governors too, we are ready to support, work with our colleagues in partnership and solidarity with the goal of facilitating accelerated human development by embracing policies and programmes to improve quality of life of all Nigerian citizens, eradicate poverty and create jobs in the country. We are under no illusion that our reality as a nation today calls for both intra and inter party networking.

We are therefore ready to transform our relationship with all serving governors irrespective of our partisan differences in order to move our dear country, Nigeria, forward. Nigeria has outlived all dictatorships in the past and will definitely outlive any present or latent, manifest or potential dictatorship. Congratulations".

Obasanjo pleads with Baraje faction to return Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday appealed to a breakaway faction of the party to sheathe their sword and come back to the party’s fold saying the development was giving elders of the party great concern.

In a statement he released in Abeokuta yesterday, the former Board of Trustees , BoT, chairman of the party said: ”The situation in our ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) after the convention on Saturday and the parallel convention same day has given great concern to all wellmeaning members of the party and particularly to the elders of the party.

“While some select elders are making efforts to get the situation resolved as soon as possible, it is imperative to emphasize that the move will bring back peace and return the party to its vigorous and dynamic election-winning party that it has always been.

“I want to passionately appeal to both sides for now to sheath their swords, maintain the status quo, with earliest conveyance of the Elders’ meeting before the end of this week. Members are equally enjoined to remain calm until the Elders’ complete their peace-making meeting.”

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Syria: UN scribe supports Obama's bid to congress U

.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval for possible military action against Syria can be seen as part of an effort to forge a global consensus on responding to the use of chemical arms anywhere, the United Nations said yesterday.

Already, the United Nations has received at least 14 reports of possible chemical weapons use in Syria. After months of diplomatic wrangling, Sellstrom’s team arrived in Syria on August 18 with a 14-day mandate to visit the country.

The U.N. team was initially going to look into three incidents, but its priority became the August 21 attack. The inspectors have also been looking into Syrian allegations that the rebels used chemical weapons three times this month against the Syrian army - allegations that Washington has dismissed.

The world body was responding to Obama’s announcement on Saturday that he will ask for congressional consent before taking military action

against Syria for a poison gas attack on Syrian civilians that he blames on President Bashar alAssad’s forces.

The process of seeking a congressional vote was likely to delay any strike for at least nine days.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon views Obama’s decision “as one aspect of an effort to achieve a broad-based international consensus on measures in response to any use of chemical weapons,” U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

“The use of chemical weapons will not be accepted under any circumstances,” he added.

“There should be no impunity and any perpetrators of such a horrific crime against humanity must be held accountable.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday tests showed that sarin nerve gas was used in a deadly August 21 chemical attack near Damascus, as he sought to build the case to convince skeptical U.S. lawmakers to authorize a

U.N. chemical weapons inspection team that left Syria on Saturday.

Sellstrom is currently in

Merkel faces poll rival in TV debate

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UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon military strike against the Syrian government. The United States says 1,429 people were killed, 426 of

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Mr Sall defeated Abdoulaye Wade - who had been president for 12 years - promising to tackle poverty and corruption.

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ELSON Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader and former South African president, has been discharged from hospital and has returned home after being treated

Senegal is seen as a beacon of democracy in West Africa and remains the region’s only country never to have had a military coup.

Mursi to stand trial for violence

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GYPT’s public prosecutor referred deposed President Mohamed Mursi to trial yesterday on charges of committing and inciting violence, the state news agency reported.

The prosecutor, Hesham Barakat,

them children.

Nesirky said Ban spoke earlier on Sunday with Ake Sellstrom, head of the

referred Mursi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood members to a Cairo criminal court on charges “of committing acts of violence, and inciting the killing and thuggery ”, the state news agency reported.

for a recurring lung infection, according to government sources.

“Madiba’s condition remains critical and is at times unstable,” the South African president’s office said on Sunday, referring to the 95-year-old Mandela by his clan name.

“His team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton [in Johannesburg] home that he received in Pretoria,” the statement said.

ETERAN broadcaster Sir David Frost has died at the age of 74 after a suspected heart attack while on board a cruise ship.

A family statement said he had been giving a speech aboard the Queen

Elizabeth on Saturday night.

Sir David’s career spanned journalism, comedy writing and daytime television presenting, including The Frost Report.

Internationally, he will

The 90-minute debate starts at 18:30 GMT and will be aired on main channels.

With three weeks to go before the 22 September vote, the two candidates will be grilled by four journalists before an estimated TV audience of up to 20 million.

Peer Steinbrueck will face the first question and Angela Merkel will have the final answer, with each answer limited to 90 seconds.

be remembered for his revealing interviews with former US President Richard Nixon.

A statement said: “His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time.

Dr. Nelson Mandela being driven to his home in Johannesburg yesterday This comes after a weekend statement by a family member that he had been discharged was denied by Mac Maharaj, the presidential spokesperson.

Mandela had been receiving medical

treatment in a Pretoria hospital for almost three months since June 8.

Al Jazeera’s Tania Page, reporting from Johannesburg, said there are hopes that there will be some sort of recovery.

Egypt expels Al Jazeera journalists

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GYPT deported three Al Jazeera journalists yesterday , days after the Qatari-owned channel carried appeals from leaders of ousted President Mohamed Mursi’s Muslim

Veteran broadcaster, Frost, dies at 74

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ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel and centre-left election rival Peer Steinbrueck are due to take part in their only televised election debate.

The event is seen as the Social Democrat (SPD) leader’s biggest chance to claw back Mrs Merkel’s lead in the opinion polls before this month’s vote.

Although the chancellor’s conservative bloc is expected to win, her coalition partners are faring poorly.

Mandela leaves hospital

Senegalese President sacks PM

ENEGALESE Presi dent Macky Sall has sacked the prime minister he appointed soon after coming to power last year. Abdou Mbaye, a former banker who did not belong to any political party, has been replaced by Justice Minister Aminata Toure.

“The president has asked me to form and lead a new government. I have accepted the job,” she said. A statement issued by a spokesman for President Sall gave no reason for Mr Mbaye’s dismissal.

In March 2012 election

The Hague preparing the analysis of samples and evidence collected at the site of the August 21 attack.

Sir David Frost

Brotherhood to stage protests against the armybacked government.

The Gulf emirate was a strong financial backer of Brotherhood rule and vehemently opposes the army’s overthrow of Mursi and the ensuing bloody crackdown on his movement. Al Jazeera’s offices in Cairo have been closed since July 3, when they were raided by security forces hours after Mursi was toppled, although the channel, broadcast from Qatar, can still be seen in Egypt.

Security officials at Cairo airport, declining to be

named, said Wayne Hay, Adil Bradlow and Russ Finn had been put on an Egyptian plane headed for London, after being forced to leave their equipment behind.

The men had been held since Tuesday. An Al Jazeera spokesman said they had been released and left Egypt without being given a reason for their detention.

The station also said that Shihab Elddin Shaarawi, an executive producer for Al Jazeera’s Egyptian channel, had been arrested on Friday morning but later released.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 2,, 2013 —55

For me, nutrition means life and quality of life — OGUNTONA

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OPULARLY called “Father of Nutrition in Nigeria” Professor Babatunde Oguntona, who clocked 70 on August 28, has contributed immensely to the development of the nutrition profession in Nigeria.

Starting from his days as a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri in the mid 1970’s he pioneered the teaching of nutrition to Agriculture of Medical Students in that Institution.

His efforts to create a department of Nutrition led to the establishment, firstly of the department of Animal & Food Science and finally a department of Food Science & Technology.

As part of his pioneering efforts he started the Maiduguri Nutrition Club in 1979 when the profession was little known.

He also played the key role in the development of the Nutrition programme at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

A past President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria,and currently the Chairman of the Nigerian Beverage Panel, Oguntona, who is retiring as the Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, which he and his colleagues established at the FederalUniversity of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, in this interview, tells SOLA OGUNDIPE, about his major achievements as a nutrition advocate. Excerpts:

On human nutrition For me, Nutrition means life and quality of life. The whole essence of life is nutrition and for me what is important in proper nutrition is knowledge , food, and care. Knowledge because if you have all the money, resources and you can’t put it together to get good food is a waste; then the food can be grown or bought while care is important because it includes

health, hygiene, environment, sanitation and all that. Care is very complicated but very essential as an element of nutrition and if one is missing, there is no nutrition.

People really think nutrition is cookery and its always there like water but that is not true.

There is so much more to nutrition than just food and eat.

One could kill one self with bad nutrition. It is the whole essence of life and the way the body uses

food.

Food science is preparatory but food stops where nutrition begins and you need to take one for the other to take off.Food helps to maintain what one has in the body, the working of the eyes, heart etc and then to grow, and fight infections and the body is doing this because one has ingested elements the body needs to do the function. That is working of nutrition-how the body uses the food to grow, maintain and fight off infections. That is why it is important The start of life in the embryo needs good nutrition to form and become healthy and no one must lose sight of this. There is the school of thought which has propounded that whatever a child is fed on while in the embryo stage come to really affect the lifespan of the child.

Problem of malnutrition Malnutrition is a big problem.

In Nigeria, the leadership is missing the point and not really appreciating nutrition. We do not assert the right value to nutrition, and have not given it its rightful place and recognition.

4 cups of coffee a day keep prostate cancer at bay

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OFFEE consumption is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence and progression, according to a new study by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientists.

Co-Director, Programme in Prostate Cancer Research in the Fred Hutch Public Health

Sciences Division, Dr. Janet L. Stanford, conducted the study to determine whether the bioactive compounds in coffee and tea may prevent prostate cancer recurrence and delay progression of the disease.

Stanford and colleagues found that men who drank four or more cups of coffee per day

• R-L: Consultant Neurologist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital , Dr.Gerarld Onwuegbezie , Associate Prof / Consultant Eurologist University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr. Florence Anuma , with Country Brand Lead Pfizer, Dr. Akanbi Bayode during the 2nd Pain Academy 2013 Advancing the Management of Painful Diabetics Peripheral Neuropathy (PDPN) Lecture Organised by Pfizer Lead held in Abuja recently.

experienced a 59 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer recurrence and/or progression as compared to those who drank only one or fewer cups per week.

They did not, however, find an association between coffee drinking and reduced mortality from prostate cancer, although the study included too few men who died of prostate cancer to address that issue separately.

Regarding tea consumption, the researchers did not find an associated reduction of prostate cancer recurrence and/or progression. The study also did not draw any conclusions regarding the impact of tea drinking on prostate-specific death.

It is the first investigation of potential association between tea consumption and prostate cancer outcomes.

The results are consistent with findings from Harvard's Health Professionals Follow-up study, which found that men who drank six or more cups of coffee per day had a 60 percent decreased risk of metastatic/ lethal prostate cancer as compared to coffee abstainers.

• Professor Babatunde Oguntona It is not that the leaders are not aware of the magnituide of the problem, they are just wishing it away, but it will not go away. It is actually getting worse. Most of the problems we are having with infant death has to do with nutrition. More than 60 percent of the underlying causes of death can be attributed to malnutrition.

Isn’t that enough reason for us to be more serious about it?

Achievements Let us say some happenings have given me intense satisfaction over the years in this profession. Let me just mention a few. I have initiated and galvanised the establishment of Nutrition programmes in many Nigerian

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issues that such a survey has not been attempted 10 years after.

As President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, we took Nutrition Advocacy all the way to the Presidency in Abuja and got the President (Obasanjo) and Ministers of all relevant Ministries and other stakeholders to listen to why Government should do more for the nutrition of Nigerians.

Regrettably, despite the President’s commitment and directive on that day, not much has happened.

In the last five years I am very happy to be able to establish a fruitful linkage between the private sector and academia. About 50 students studying Nutrition at postgraduate level in several

More than 60 percent of the underlying causes of death can be attributed to malnutrition; isn’t that enough reason for us to be more serious about it?

Educational Institutions. I have published (with another colleague) the only text on the Composition of Foods commonly consumed in Nigeria. Published about 15 years ago, it is standard text for Nutritionists and Dieticians in Nigeria. The only truly National survey of ‘Food Consumption and Nutritional Status of Nigerians’ was conducted between 2001 and 2003 by a team of which I was the zonal Co-ordinator. That was a seminal work that surveyed families in every nook and corner of this country and it is an indication of the state of commitment of the cognate Federal Ministries to Nutrition

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Nigerian Universities have been beneficiaries of Scholarships provided by a Food manufacturing company through this linkage.

Nutrition Club For me to have been able to develop a programme for the department was indeed a thing of joy for me. Secondly, to create awareness on nutrition, we were able to start what we called the Nutrition Club, a small club where we brought together al the people who were in disciplines and in tangential to nutrition because we couldn’t find anybody with a nutrition qualification.

56 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — 57

58—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Why NDDC Advisory Committee should act now

BY BELEMA OPUKIRI

•Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi () with the state’s acting chief judge, Agumagu

A

•Map of the Niger Delta region

RIGHT OF REPL Y REPLY expires, tends to create the impression that there is no law in place to guide the process for appointing the executive team.

It has become pertinent, therefore, that there be some new thinking to remove this cog in the wheel of progress of the commission.

The NDDC Act upon which the commission was established is explicit regarding the appointments of members of the board and other relevant issues.

Part I Section 4 of the Act is clear on the rotational process (based on alphabetical order) for the appointment of its Chairman among the nine member states.

And Part IV Section 12 equally states how the Managing Director and two Executive Directors shall be appointed.

With current emphasis on applying the rule of law to address societal harmony, it is, therefore, of paramount importance that appointments into the in-coming board take into cognisance the letter and intent

The Advisory Committee should resolve the current uncertainties and advice the President

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by the President, Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces.

What has become obvious are the incessant challenges that seem to arise every time a new Board has to be constituted. This situation arises in relation to which of the member states will produce the three key executive positions namely, Managing Director, Executive Director (Finance) and Administration, and the Executive Director (Projects).

However, from recent publications, it appears that this persistent horse-trading and manoeuvring has reared its ugly head again. It will not be out of place to imagine that it may already be playing out in the corridors of power as to which state gets what position among member states in terms of appointment of executives for the in-coming board. This situation, which has become repetitive every time the tenure of a board

Okocha denies SANs support for Ag CJ, a rejoinder

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of the NDDC Act to avoid altercation or misapplication.

In addition to applying the rule of law, there are other critical stakeholders recognized as relevant to assuring the continued growth and sustenance of the commission.

The Act also makes provision for these important organs of government who should play a crucial role in guiding the progress of the commission, clarifying uncertainties or resolving controversies that may arise from time to time, including such issues as appointments into the board.

In fact, Part III, Section 11 of the NDDC Act defines a specific role for the State Governors of the member states, composed as part of an Advisory Committee, and it says: ”There is hereby established for the Commission, a Niger-Delta Development Advisory Committee (in this Act referred to as “the Advisory

Committee”) which shall consist of (a). The Governors of the member states of the commission. (b) Two other persons as may be determined, from time to time by the President, Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces. (c) The Advisory committee shall be charged with the responsibility of advising the board, and monitoring the activities of the commission, with a view to achieving the objective of the commission. (d) The Advisory committee may make rules regulating its own proceedings.”

The undercurrents and ongoing power-play relating to the composition of the in-coming NDDC Board is ludicrous and certainly calls for the Advisory Committee to do the needful and the lawful at this critical time.

Potential for misinterpretation This should be able to stave off the potential for misinterpretation or misapplication of the law, which ordinarily ought to be rather evident even to the lay reader.

From the foregoing, therefore, it would be a welcome development for all the governors of the member states (as contained in Part 1 section 2 of the Act) to mull over and harmonise positions in compliance with the intent of the Act, and thereafter they may be in a position to advise on the current uncertainties regarding appointments into the board.

Therefore, this is a clarion call on Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Governor of Delta State) who is understood to be the current chairman of this Advisory Committee to call an emergency meeting where he and other governors of member states, together with other primary stakeholders, would resolve the current uncertainties and advice the President accordingly.

Besides, we suggest that such meetings be held before the expiration of an existing board to minimize the time for transition to a new one. A stitch in time •Opukiri is a Port-Harcourt-based public affairs analyst

BY SIR GRANVILLE ABIBO, SAN

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ESPITE the clear directives of the Nigerian Bar Association at its Pre-NEC meeting of Sunday, August, 25, 2013 that all lawyers should refrain from comments in the press regarding the issue of the appointment of acting Chief Judge of River State, my attention has been drawn to a newspaper publication in the Vanguard of August 27, 2013, at page 11 (eleven) thereof issued by Chief O.C.J. Okocha, MFR, SAN, JP, and

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S far back as the third century B.C., the “Legist” school of philosophy in China had made a case for the existence of law in society. The underlying idea, around which this case is built, is that man is by nature evil and the law is needed to keep his evil inclination in check. It concluded that only the restraint of penal law would bring good back to the society. The school was reacting to the decadence and chaos that then characterised the Chinese society.

Interestingly, at about the same time, the “Shastra coriters” of India were making a similar argument. According to this school, man by nature is greedy and if left to operate without law, life itself would become a sort of “devil’s workshop” operating on the “logic of the fish”. The big fish will feed on the smaller ones.

In the words of Thomas Hobbes, “a society without law is a veritable recipe for disaster”. His arguments are copiously and eloquently outlined in his book Leviathan, published in 1661.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was statutorily set up by an Act and charged with various responsibilities with a view to bringing development to member states and, by implication, Nigeria as a country. Recently, the tenure of its Board expired and an acting managing director has been appointed to steer the ship of the commission pending the constitution of a new board

SANs in Port Harcourt consists of all persons admitted to the rank of silk.

They are all equal members of that body, albeit with seniority in accordance with the known and fine traditions of the Bar. There is no Junior SAN or Senior SAN. Such divisions in rank do not exist.

It is, therefore, most unfortunate to describe any member of that rank “as Most Junior ”. All members are distinguished members of the Inner Bar. Executive members and other senior members of the four branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State were invited to a meeting with the acting Chief Judge of the state; and

There was never any meeting of the Body where a Resolution was agreed upon, to write the newspaper statement under reference, against a distinguished member of that same body

captioned as above, stating false and misleading facts against my person.

Because silence will not readily be seen and understood to be golden in the circumstance, I am constrained to correct many of the half truths contained in the said publication.

Firstly, it is not true that there are nearly 20 members of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria based in Port Harcourt. The number is precisely 17.

Facts are sacrosanct It is also completely untrue that Granville Abibo, SAN is the “Most Junior of all the Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.” There are other Senior Advocates after Granville Abibo, SAN, including one just recently appointed.

It is also not true that I was admitted into the rank of Senior Advocate “just about a year ago.” I was admitted to the distinguished body precisely on August 26, 2011.

Facts are indeed sacrosanct.

It may be important to emphasise that the Body of

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being the only Senior Advocate of Nigeria present in that meeting (four others having previously sent in their apologies) and in keeping with the tradition of the Bar, I was afforded the opportunity to speak, which I did.

It may be instructive to highlight that there has never been a meeting of the Body of SANs in Port Harcourt, for over three years now. The Body is not, has never been and cannot be a one man show.

To my knowledge, there was never any meeting of the Body where a Resolution was agreed upon, to write the newspaper statement under reference, against a distinguished member of that same body.

The said write-up itself, is therefore, self-serving. It may also be important to state that those who find themselves in leadership positions must always go the extra mile to hear all sides on an issue, before reaching unsupportable conclusions.

They must act without promoting personal interests.

Let the rule of law and justice prevail always.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — 59

60— Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Vanguard CLASSIFIED

Time to end open season on those who are not like us ity supposedly confers power. In reality, a minority necessarily exercises and profits from it.

REJUDICE has become profitable in In Nigeria a narrow band of interests Nigeria. It’s boom season for ethnic has always controlled our patrimony. entrepreneurs and, indeed, for sundry The membership of this narrow band purveyors of hate. These traders in comes from all over the country. When prejudice do not inhabit any special the going is good, they care little about corners of Nigeria. They are everywhere the others. When they encounter the and they profit from nearly everything. occasional difficulty in carving up our They cut across generations, class, gen- patrimony, they enlist others in manuder, creed. Nothing escapes their atten- factured divisions of ethnicity and sect. tion and everything is sooner or later And they litter the land with red meat an ethnic conspiracy or an excuse for a for profiteers in prejudice. slur on an identity group.

All over our laws, To be fair, these profiteers being poor is in prejudice have received criminalized. The law a lot of help recently. Govestablishing the Abuja ernors in different parts of Environmental ProtecNigeria who swore to detion Board describes fend the Constitution of Nihardworking women geria have resorted to reselling agricultural moving Nigerians from one produce or seeking part of the country to another legitimate liveliother under various artifices hood in day time as from security to specious “solid waste” and humanitarianism. Others renders them liable to have sacked workers in the CHIDI ODINKAL U ODINKALU arbitrary arrest. Unpublic service of their states employed persons are based on claims that the afpunished for being “idle and disorfected workers are supposedly aliens derly”. Poor people in the wrong place from neighbouring states. are “vagabonds”. And those who suffer All this takes place notwithstanding mental disability are “lunatics” or “mad that Nigeria’s constitution expressly people”. What is notable in the recent prohibits discrimination on grounds of Transcendentalism is no longer a place of origin, ethnicity or sex. The same requirement for leadership. To have a constitution entitles all place at the table of leadership, you Nigerians to move freely and live anymust corral and bring along a filial where within the councollective tied to nativity try. Yet, women have routinely lost access to and preferment within the public serv- one-way traffic in Nigerians across state ice because they married spouses from borders is not where those affected come outside what is supposed to be their from or the race or ethnicity of those who state of origin. It gets worse: prejudice think that the response to our admitfeeds extremism. When a bomb goes off tedly profound social or political in No-Man’s Land or a security opera- pathologies is the internal banishment tion somewhere reports mass casualties, of other people. It is rather that the victhe beer-parlour - and even predomi- tims are all generally poor people. To nant policy - inquiry no less, often turns underline this point, they are also renon the ethnic or sectarian identities of dered nameless. As a category, we call those affected. them “beggars”.

Most no longer seem to harbour the It is as if being called a beggar is good capability for pause to mourn the col- reason for being put beneath humanity lective injuries to our country, to share and beneath the protections of our conin the grief of people like who must stitution. When states banish motorbike mourn the loss of loved ones or to trans- operators from the roads, the main reamit solidarity or compassion to commu- son they give is that such “beggars” connities living under the weight of vic- stitute threats to security. timization. Transcendentalism is no When banks preclude persons with longer a requirement for leadership. To disability - whose deposits they happily have a place at the table of leadership, collect - from their transaction and you must corral and bring along a filial service halls, it is because such “begcollective tied to nativity. Co-existence gars” are unsuitable to be seen in their has acquired new enemies. Online chat corporate spaces. And when we exclude rooms and electronic communities have people who do not look like us from our not helped. There is a frightening elec- various neighbourhoods, we call them tronic traffic in prejudice and vitupera- “beggars” too. tion. It is as if some electronic platforms In all these instances, we deploy these are designed to spike their own traffic usages to excuse our inability to care or metrics by deliberately promoting echo- show compassion. Yet, the only thing chambers in prejudice. that is beggared by all this sniffing at All this traffic in prejudice misses one people who are not like us is the possiessential and obvious point. In Nigeria, bility of mutual co-existence in a viable there are only two tribes that matter: the country. The use of the word “beggar” rulers and the others. The former are to describe fellow human beings and an overwhelming minority. The rest of citizens says everything about the perus are “the others”. And when you are vasiveness of status as the defining in“the other” in Nigeria, anything can fluence in how Nigeria is presently orhappen to you. The idea of an “over- ganised. This is not chosen by nature whelming minority” sounds inherently nor ordered by any ethnic or faith group. self-contradictory but not when you look To be concluded at it closely. In a democracy, the majorBY CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

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A K I N F E N WA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinfenwa Olubunmi Abimbola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Haastrup Olubunmi Abimbola. All former documents remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank, Ilupeju branch and general public please take note.

I K E AG W UA N I — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Olivia Nkolika Ikeagwuani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olivia Nkolika Okaro.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MAFO—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Mafo Temitope Tosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunniyi Temitope Tosin. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

U K PA K A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukpaka Juliet Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uhegbu Juliet Chioma. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OROWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adakpo Angela Orowo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angela OgagaOnajega. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMOYIBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoyibo Rachel Ighofuoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obi Rachel Ighofuoma. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

MAKWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Makwe Judith Ibe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fanegan-Makwe Judith Ibe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OYANNA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onayimi Mary Oyanna, now wish to be known and addressed as Barr (Mrs.) Onayimi Mary Majoroh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AUDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nancit Audu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nancit Nandul.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ORAKWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Orakwe Rosemary C., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akuezuilo Rosemary C. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc and general public please take note.

OSHIONWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Isioma Blessing Oshionwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Isioma Blessing Nwabudike. All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and general public please take note.

AIDAMENBOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aidamenbor Lenient Osaze, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okpogor Lenient Osaze. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public please take note.

IDAHOSE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faith Aituaje Idahose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Aituaje Agboola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Conirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Esua Effiong Okon, refers to one and the same person as Amami Joseph, now wish to be known and addressed as Amami Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ALEGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Titilayo Rachael Alege, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Titilayo Rachael Annan.

Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGBORIFO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Caroline Ogborifo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Caroline Ebimami Eyiango. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONABANJO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Temilade Elizabeth Onabanjo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Temilade Elizabeth Atekoja. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EFEJUKU — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Efejuku Jessica Ajolo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ejueyitchie Jessica Ajolo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AKUTA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chizoba S. Akuta, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chizoba S. Onoseme. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E R T S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , LAGOS.

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Vanguard, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — 61

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...Just back from Calabar, courtesy Mobil

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ALABAR holds a special place in my life.

It was in Calabar that I cut my teeth as a journalist when I got employed as a proof reader in the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, Publishers of The Nigerian Chronicle, after a glorious stint as editor of the Saint Finbarr’s College magazine ,The Conqueror.

In Calabar, I decided to further my studies, acquire the mastery of French Language which was to help boost my sports reportage, that is how I got admission into the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics of the University of Calabar even as a staff of The Chronicle.

Passing through Calabar Airport to Akwa Ibom always brought back fond memories of my “Malabite” days until Governor Akpabio made the Uyo Airport a reality and Calabar became far away.

Two months ago, I went back to Calabar, to negotiate the use of facilities at the U.J Esuene Statdium, facilities that The Athletics Federation of Nigeria ( AFN ) had certified world class through the yearly Mobil Trials ( Name changed recently) I needed the tartan track and the infrastructure in Calabar to camp 165 graduates of the AKS/NNPC/ MPN Schools Athletics championships. After 12 uninterrupted years of sponsorship of the competition, in Akwa Ibom Schools and Colleges, we decided( and MPN approved) a holiday camping and training programme aimed at honing the skills of the 2011 and 2012 winners of the competition.

Going to Calabar meant transporting them from the beaten earth of Eket Stadium to the tartan tracks of U.J. Esuene stadium. This also meant the use of spike shoes, introduction to starting blocks and all other paraphernalia necessary to make a difference in their athletics life.

Seven top track and field coaches in the land were contracted to handle the various departments of jumps, throws, long distances, sprints and relays, and that is how I got in touch with Armelia Edet, Utitofon Nkantah ( Nee Ukoh), Stephen Nuhu, Professor Lucas Ogunjimi, Solomon Abari, Ken Onuaguluchi and Sule Oladimeji .

For two weeks, these coaches were required to not only mentor but introduce the athletes to the basic rudiments of track and field. My plan was to set the machinery in motion and get out, only to come back and close the camp as it were. How wrong, as I had to savour all the fourteen days that those kids were in camp, having the time of their

In 100 metres boys, the 10.7 seconds returned by Ndipmong Uwem was considered good enough to get him an invitation to the national camp

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lives..

The first inspiration I drew was from the coaches who marveled at the abundance of talent on display. They started by pouring encomiums on Mobil Producing Nigeria, Operator of the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture for starting a programme that this country needs if we must recapture the lost glory of our track and Field and indeed all sports.

After one week, the coaches decided to hold the first trials and were awed at the progress made by the students, progress that the coaches insisted must be sustained if we must make any impact in the programme.

By the time the second trials came up, it was evident that we had the destiny of sports in our hands.

A few examples will suffice.

In 100 metres boys, the 10.7 seconds returned by Ndipmong Uwem was considered good enough to get him an invitation to the national camp, ditto the girls sprints queen Aniekeme Alphonsus Edem who was constant on 12 seconds in addition to a technique and pace that the coaches said was professional.

Coach Oluyomi was delighted by the 5.11 metres done by Maria Joseph in the Long Jump. Hear him.

“ She started with 4.88 metres and after one week did 5.11 metres which is as good as the jump made by some senior girls in this country. Also worthy of mention is Emenim Effiok the properly built student of Saint Brians Model College Uyo who threw a distance of 16.53 metres in Shot Put. Effiok came into the camp doing 4.88 metres and by the time coach Onuaguluchi took him on for two weeks he had done 16.53 metres. You can then imagine the progress these kids are likely to make if subjected to constant quality and progressive training.

All, repeat, all the students that went into the camp came out with personal best times, throws and jumps.The verdict was unanimous that given constant training and tracking, there exists not less than fifteen national champions in the experimental batch that we took to Calabar.

The crowning of the show was the closing ceremony held in Uyo where Governor Godswill Akpabio commended Mobil for such an initiative and urged the Oil Drilling Giant to continue to be the Good Corporate citizen that it has always been.

Represented by his Deputy, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, Governor Akpabio reiterated the need to catch them young and promised the delivery of an Olympic Sized stadium before the end of his tenure.

The State Education Commissioner Professor, Atim Antai and the Special Adviser to the Governor on sports and Youth Development Mr Samuel George Frank also spoke glowingly about Mobil and the initiative that will go a long way in shaping the lives of the students especially those who are anxious to forge a career in the sport.

Back in Lagos, I was browsing through the results returned at the just concluded Junior African Championships in Mauritius and concluded that what we have started in Calabar, if well handled, was indeed the future of track and field.

Take heart Kayode.

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IGERIA’s foremost Sports Librarian Kayode Tijani has lost his father. At 86, Pa Kayode has lived his life and his departure could only be termed a “celebration of life”, but as I told his industrious son, a father is a father and he will be greatly missed.

Take heart Kayode and welcome to the club of orphans of which I have been a member, only God knows for how long.

See you next week.

Team Nigeria’s Diogu denied Top 5 placing, Uplift FC record another wins top scorer award got the top scorer’s award win in Slovenia

BY PATRICK OMORODION

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EAM Nigeria’ captain, Ike Diogu was voted among Africa’s top basketball players by a voting panel of journalists and technical officials of all the teams which participated in the Afrobasket concluded last night in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire but the organisers denied him the honour.

They claim that since he was not on ground at the venue of the closing ceremony at Palaise de Sports, he could not be honoured in absentia and so had to give it to another player, as one official who pleaded anonymity said the reason for the action was because “they wanted a group photograph of the

•Diogu players instantly.”

Diogu who was however, named the top scorer of the competition having amassed a total of 153 points with an average of 21.8 points per match in the seven matches he played and got a trophy for his efforts, said he was

not informed of the award nor the ceremony so there was no way he could have made it to the ceremony.

“Nobody told me about any award and so I couldn’t have been there,” Diogu said, however adding that he was glad he

but stressed he would have been happier if Nigeria won the competition and got a ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Spain.

One of the assistant coaches who picked the top scorer’s award on behalf of Diogu, Ahmed Sani said it was unfair to deny the player an award he duly deserved since he was not told in advance to prepare for the ceremony.

Meanwhile Angola defeated surprise finalist Egypt 57-40 to win their 11th Afrobasket title after they missed the 2011 edition to Tunisia. Their star player, Carlos Morais who scored 21 points on the night, was voted the Most Valuable Player, MVP of the championship.

•Mrs. Olufunso Amosun

U

PLIFT Football Team yesterday confirmed their superiority by beating Bilje Football Club in a friendly match 6 – 0.

The 22-member of Uplift Football Team discovered during UPLIFTing Under15 Grassroot Football programme organised by the Wife of the Governor of

Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun in April 2013, currently undergoing a two-week Summer football internship at Udinese FC in Italy. The good football performance displayed by the Uplift Football players attracted applause from the spectators.

After the match, the Technical Crew of Bilje FC led by Coach Damir Litar commended the Uplift Football players. “Your boys are very good and they played good football as well. I admire them. Please always endeavour to encourage them. I congratulate you,” he said.

All the Uplift Football players were decorated with a medal at the end of the match for their victory and sterling performance.

62 — Vanguard, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Sturridge strikes down Man U D

ANIEL Sturridge provided a fitting tribute to the memory of Bill Shankly with a fourth-minute winner against Manchester United to maintain Liverpool’s 100 per cent start to the Barclays Premier League season.

Today would have been Shankly ’s 100th birthday, and it will be celebrated with Liverpool claiming a 1-0 victory, with Sturridge now bagging the only goal in all three matches so far.

In contrast, Manchester United manager David Moyes endured a depressing day.

He failed to claim a hoped-for first win at Anfield following 12 unsuccessful visits with Everton.

If that was not bad enough, Wayne Rooney faces a few weeks on the sidelines with the head injury sustained in training on Saturday, and with the transfer window closing at 11pm on Monday night, Moyes is still to make his first significant signing.

Not that United’s travails will bother Liverpool, who dominated the opening half, then had enough defensive muscle to resist the visitors’ late rally.

Ronaldo on target for Real

C

RISTIANO Ronal do scored his first goal of the season as Real Madrid made it three wins out of three by comfortably seeing off Athletic Bilbao 3-1 at the Bernabeu.

Osaze in London for shopping

W

Liverpool's r Daniel Sturridge (L) celebrates with Martin Skrtel (R) after scoring against Manchester United at the Anfield stadium on September 1, 2013. AFP PHOTO

Gunners edge Spurs A RSENAL beat Tot tenham Hotspur 1-0 in yesterday’s North London derby at the

Emirates Stadium.

Olivier Giroud scored the only goal midway through the opening half of the Barclays Premier League clash, applying a magnificent touch to Theo Walcott’s ball across the six-yard box.

Dortmund stay stop

H

Tevez celebrates after scoring against Lazio.

A

Juve thrash Lazio

RTURO Vidal scored twice as Serie A champions Juventus cruised to an emphatic 4-1 victory over 10-man Lazio at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday night.

Vidal’s brace had the home side 2-0 up after 26 minutes, only for Miroslav Klose to halve the C M Y K

antaway Nigeri a n a n d We s t B r o m s t r i ke r Pe t e r Odemwingie has been spotted in London a day before transfer deadline day yet again.

This time though, it wasn’t to negotiate a transfer away from the club - though he admitted West Ham were interested - it was to look for sales of his own on Oxford Street.

deficit two minutes later.

Mirko Vucinic stretched Juve’s lead four minutes into the second half, though, before Hernanes was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence just after the hour mark and Carlos Tevez completed the scoring 10 minutes from time.

ENRIKH Mkhi taryan’s first two goals for Borussia Dortmund were enough to secure his side a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt yesterday.

The close-season signing from Shaktar Donetsk opened the scoring, but Vaclav Kadlec hit back with his first Frankfurt goal in the 35th minute.

Mkhitaryan added another after the break though, to send Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga as they maintained their 100 per cent record.

Arsenal players celebrate yesterday's win against Spurs Team Liverpool Chelsea Man City Arsenal Stoke Tottenham Man U West Ham Norwich Southampton Cardiff Newcastle Aston Villa Palace Everton Swansea Fulham Hull Sunderland West Brom

P 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0

D 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 1

L 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2

F 3 4 8 5 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 1 4 4 2 3 2 1 2 0

A 0 1 3 4 2 1 1 1 3 2 4 4 4 4 2 5 4 4 5 3

D +3 +3 +5 +1 +1 +! +2 +1 +0 +0 -1 -3 +0 +0 +0 -2 -2 -3 -3 -3

PTS 9 7 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1

Vanguard, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 — 63

Liverpool land Victor Moses N

IGERIA interna tional will play for Anfield giants Liverpool this season as a loan deal has been agreed for the winger.

Both clubs finally agreed a £1m fee for the season-long loan switch for the Nigeria winger, according to the Guardian of UK. Moses, signed by Chelsea from Wigan Athletic last summer for £9m, has slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after the summer arrivals of Willian and André Schürrle, and Kevin De Bruyne’s return from his loan spell at Werder Bremen.

Chelsea have accumulated a number of players capable of operating from attacking midfield and the 23-year-old has been granted permission to seek first-team football

elsewhere.

Brendan Rodgers had earmarked him as a potential recruit earlier this summer and, despite Chelsea’s initial reluctance to loan the player to a Premier League rival, the Liverpool manager has now been given approval by the Europa League winners to pursue the deal.

Moses was in Prague on Friday for Chelsea’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the Super Cup final, in which he did not feature, but has made clear his desire to move to Merseyside - despite interest from West Bromwich Albion, Southampton and Everton over the course of the summer - and will complete the move before Monday’s transfer deadline with the loan fee now agreed.

Bale Continues from BP 12:00 BST on Monday before speaking at a media conference.

He added: “I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date.

“I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true.

“Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure this season will be a successful one for them.

“I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid.”

Bale joined Spurs as a left-back for £10m from Southampton in 2007 and scored 26 goals last season as he was named both the Professional Footballers’ Association’s and Football Writers’ player of the year.

His representatives told Spurs at the end of July that he wanted to speak to the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s claim at the start of August that they were “in talks C M Y K

to find a solution” to the transfer angered Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, but the clubs have now reached a settlement.

After his side’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal, Villas-Boas said: “Bale is a wonderful player. He is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best.

“He left us with some great memories from last season.”

Bale, who becomes Real Madrid’s fifth signing of the summer, paid tribute to both Southampton and Tottenham for developing his career.

He said: “I am well aware I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have.

“I would like to thank everyone at the club: the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players, and, most of all, the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.”

Spurs have been busy in this transfer window, signing seven players for a total outlay approaching £105m.

Elegbeleye commends Team Nigeria

D

IRECTOR Gener al of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye has showered encomiums on Team Nigeria for emerging the 2013 Africa Junior Athletics Champions in Mauritius yesterday.

Nigeria emerged overall winners, having won 9 gold, 7 sil-

•Moses

ver and 3 bronze medals at the Championship that was rounded off in Mauritius on Sunday.

“The National Sports Commission is elated about the feat of our junior athletes that emerged the overall winners and Champions of the 2013 Africa Junior Athletics Championships.

Thank God Toriola lost!

BY TONY UBANI

W

HEN Segun To riola started his electrifying strokes in Table Tennis which made him one of Africa’s most decorated Ping-Pongers, Egyptian Omar Assar was not yet born.

But the Egyptian, 22, with lightening strokes humiliated Nigeria’s pride in the finals of the Lagos International Table Tennis Classics 11-9, 11-4, 13-15, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9. It was a true reflection of the fact that sports belongs to the youths.

Assar dominated the final and was full of vim and vitality. He came to Lagos without a coach and beat Nigeria’s best.

And even with a coach by his side, Toriola could not counter the fireworks of the Pharaoh. He sent the Molade Indoor Hall into raptures with his lightening display. You may ask what useful instruction did our coach pass on to his player?.

Gov. Fashola decorates Egyptian Omar Assar, who beat Segun Toriola in the final of the Lagos Classics.

Without disparaging Toriola, our coaches still have a long way to go beyond reminding their wards that “Governor is watching you o, E ma gba fun e … No gree for am). When he made the winning point, Assar ran straight to salute Governor Fashola in the VIP for

putting up the Classics before jumping onto the table to salute the vociferous crowd that cheered him lustfully throughout.

Representing Nigeria six times at the Olympics, is no mean joke (Olympics holds once in 4 years. That means that Toriola had been to the

Nigeria Continues from BP we have won again. Indeed we have completed a hat-trick,” Athletics Federation of Nigeria technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama declared.

What thrilled the Nigerian delegation was the overall performances of the athletes some of who were in the team to the AYAC and the World Youth Championships in Ukraine. Of particular note were Omezie Akerele and Oduduru who ran his personal best in the men 200m.

Oduduru clocked 21.19 seconds to clinch the gold. He dusted off his opponents at the curve, even as

Mauritian, Permal Jonathan was on his trail, but Oduduru held on to his lead to the finish. Jonathan tagged in at 21. 26, while South Africa’s James Mokofend was third with 21.62.

In the girls race, Uwakwe was also effective with her race plan. She beat off opposition from Yuma Tamangu to finish at 24.21 seconds. The Ethiopian took the silver with a time of 24.27 and Loungo Matihaku was third with 24.62. “The era of using over age athletes is over. We can only hope that we will get the support of public and private sectors to take these athletes to the next level,” Nesiama added.

Olympics for 24 years).

Incredible! He is not alone. So also with elegant Funke Oshonaike who lost in the semi finals to Offiong Edem.

For these players to remain Nigeria’s best shows that the sport is not developing in Nigeria. The younger players have failed to retire the veterans and find joy in cheering visiting players who torment Nigerians.

The final was a splendid display of tennis.

Lagos fans, denied of good table tennis for so long, came out in their thousands to watch the classics. Credit to Barrister Enitan Oshodi and Governor Babatunde Fashola who acknowledged that he would ensure that Table Tennis returns to its origin.

In the female category, Cecilia Otu-Akpan beat Offiong Edem 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 119.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 , 2013

Top stories Curse of Anfield strikes Moyes again as Sturridge inflicts first defeat of new boss’s reign and sends Rodgers’ Reds top of table — Page 62

Bale, at long last!

•Breaks Ronaldo's record R

•Bale

EAL Madrid have broken the world transfer record to sign Tottenham forward Gareth Bale.

The Wales star has agreed a £300,000 per week, six-year deal after sealing an £85.3m (100m euros) move which eclipses the £80m Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

“I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it’s the right time to say goodbye,” said 24-year-old Bale.

“We’ve had some special times together and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Bale will have a medical and then be presented to the Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu at Continues on Page 63

•Victor Moses joins Liverpool — Page 63 •Thank God Toriola lost! — Page 63

African Championships:

Nigeria complete athletics ‘hat-trick’ Medals table top Five G 9 7 7 5 4

Nigeria South Africa Ethiopia Egypt Kenya

BY BEN EFE, Mauritius

N

IGERIAN juniors yesterday in Bambous, Mauritius topped the medals table of the African Junior Championships.

Divine Oduduru and Nkiru Uwakwe added two gold medals on the final day of the event to cement Nigeria’s position at the top with nine

S 7 7 7 4 9

Results B 3 3 8 2 4

gold medals. South Africa that threatened to spoil the fun for Nigerian officials came second with seven gold medals; Ethiopia also had seven gold medals.

“Last year in Port Novo, Benin Republic, we won the African senior championships. Then in Warri earlier in the year, we won the African youth championships and now, Continues on Page 63

EPL Liverpool 1 Man U 0 West Brom 0 Swansea 2 Arsenal 1 Spurs 0 BUNDESLIGA Stuttgart 6 Hoffeiheim 2 E’ Frankfurt 1 Dortmund 2 LA LIGA Real Madrid 3 Atletico 1 Espanyol 0 Betis 0 LIGUE I Saint Etienne 2 Bordeaux 1 Nice 2 Montpellier 2

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Moist (4) 4 Sicker (3) 6 Noisy (4) 9 Messy (6) 10 Rodent (3) 12 Over-enthusiasm (5) 14 Accustom (5) 15 Near (5) 18 Talented (6) 20 Deed (6) 24 Mistake (5) 26 Emulate (5) 28 Biscuit (5) 30 Pig-pen (3) 32 Tawdry (6) 33 Property (6) 34 Family (4) 35 Fish (3) 36 Regulation (4)

DOWN 2 Fragrance (5) 3 Forecast (7) 4 Declare (4) 5 Oaf (4) 6 Language (5) 7 Experience (7) 11 Donkey (3) 12 Beaker (3) 12 Beer (3) 16 Poem (3) 17 Spike (3) 19 First (7) 21 Intimidate (3) 22 Farm-vehicle (7) 23 And not (3) 25 Groove (3) 27 Fire-raising (5) 29 Praise (5) 30 Footwear (4) 31 Shout (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Check 7, Canoe 8, Draft 10, Panic 12, Eft 13, Fused 15, Cheated 17, Reader 19, Elk 20, Defamed 23, Ibis 25, Rear 26, Decided 30, Cod 31, Native 34, Refused 37, Metal 38, Car 39, Divan 40, Water 41, Genus 42, Beret.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Value 2, Coped 3, Headed 4, Chic 5, Breaker 6, Often 9, Aft 11, Cheapen 13, Frail 14, Elm 18, Resided 21, Debit 22, Cred 24, Secured 27, Cos 28, Damage 29, Decay 32, Tenet 33, Vague 35, Fat 36, Dire.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

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

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

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

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C M Y K