presidency 2015: Uproar greets Jonathan's posters

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61788

Lagos firecrackers 3 importer arrested, •P 4 property owners panic

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Nollywood actress Bisi Komolafe for burial in Ibadan g.7 •P tomorrow

PRESIDENCY 2015:

Uproar greets Jonathan's posters •Unknown persons remove posters; Lawmakers ask Lamido to run •They are expressing their views — Presidency •ACF, Ohanaeze, CPC, CNPP, cleric, others speak

BY SONI DANIEL, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, TONY EDIKE, LUKA BINNIYAT, CHRIS OCHAYI, PETER DURU, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, SUZAN EDEH & ALIYU DANGIDA

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BUJA—BARELY 24 hours after the re-election campaign posters of President Goodluck Jonathan hit Abuja, unknown persons have vandalised the publicity materials placed in strategic locations in the Federal Capital Territory as uproar greeted the mysterious appearance of the posters.

Checks by Vanguard revealed that most of the posters in Asokoro, where influential Nige-

Continues on page 5

Education 2013: Projecting the sector’s strides

•P.25

Resolutions and a peek into the life process•P.17

THE HUB •P.19

Mr & Mrs

BACK TO BUSINESS —Normal business activities resumed nationwide, yesterday, after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Oshodi market, Lagos yesterday. Inset: Abubakar Gumi Central Market, Kaduna, yesterday. Photos: Biodun Ogunleye/NAN.

FG moves to force down Police nab PDP chieftain over air fares...to acquire 30 aircraft •P.8 murder of Kano lawmakers •P.7

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,,2013

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4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,,2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

Presidency 2015: Uproar greets Jonathan's posters ACF urge Continues from page 1 rian politicians and economic players reside, had been either defaced or removed. As at 4pm yesterday, the President’s posters around ECOWAS, AYA, Gowon Crescent and adjoining streets had been taken off and replaced with some other religious or social publicity materials.

However, a few of the President’s campaign

Jonathan

materials displayed around the premises of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Secretariat in Wuse 5 and surrounding areas, were still intact as at press time. It was not clear who defaced or removed the posters just as no one has claimed responsibility for placing them in the first place.

Call peddlers to order, Ohanaeze,

This is coming as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged the President to call those placing the posters to order and the Jigawa State House of Assembly asked the state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, to run for the presidency.

Umbrella body of Igbo socio-cultural organizations, Ohanaeze, said the posters were plots to

years. If he decides not to keep his promise and decides to run for another term, then he must come out and say so, then Ndigbo will determine the next line of action, but that must be discussed,” he averred.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani doubted if those who placed the posters did it with the consent of President Jonathan because “this is not time for politics but for governance.”

Said Sani: “I am not aware of any posters of President Jonathan flooding the streets of Abuja. But I do not think such would be by the consent of the President, since he told the nation recently that he was yet to make up his mind as to whether to contest or not. More so that a case of whether he can stand for 2015 is still in court.

I believe because this is not time for politics, but for governance, the Presidency should call those placing the posters to order.”

They are expressing their views – Presidency

OATH OF OFFICE—Nasarawa Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Mohammed Idris-Apa, takes Oath of Office in Lafia yesterday. Photo: NAN. destabilise the polity.

Outgoing SecretaryGeneral of Ohanaeze, Chief Nduka Eya, told

BY PASTOR ITUAH Vanguard that it would Worry ends where Faith begins. Have faith in God, be difficult to believe that Jonathan had eradicate worry and expand faith. knowledge of the posters because “from what we know of the presiBY ELLA RANDLE dent’s character, he canF what you seek is Truth, there is one thing not do such a thing.

“Some evil minded you must have above all else. I know. An overpeople may be responwhelming passion for it. No. An unremitting readiness to admit you may be wrong — Anthony De sible for the printing of these posters which apMello peared on the streets of Move through life living from one moment to the Abuja on the first day of other, wholly absorbed in the present, carrying with year 2013 when Nigeriyou so little from the past that your spirit could pass ans are still in festive through the eye of a needle; as little distracted by mood. This is aimed at the worries of the future as the birds of the air and causing more crises and overheat a country that the flowers of the field.

You will be attached to no person or thing, for you is already experiencing will have developed a taste for the symphony of a lot of problems.

“2015 is still very far life. And you will love life alone with the passionate attachment of your whole heart and soul and and it is absurd for anybody to start campaign your whole mind and all your strength.

You will find yourself travelling unencumbered for the presidency now. and free as a bird in the sky, always living in the Jonathan had promised us that he will run for Eternal Now. only one term of four

LIFEWORDS

TAKE HEART

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However, the Presidency, yesterday, disowned the posters.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, in an interview, said the posters did not emanate from the presidency and that the President has not authorised anybody to print any campaign poster for him as reagrds 2015 elections.

According to Abati, those pasting the posters were trying to express their own view.

The President, he said, had stated that he would talk about the Presidency from 2014, adding that those doing this do not have the consent of the president.

"What is most important now is for the president to deliver on his electioneering promises to Nigerians and not embark on the pasting of posters.

"It has not come from the president. Nigerians should take the president for his word and ignore any other information to the contrary.

Asked whether the president would take measures to disuade

those doing that, Abati said since the posters do not have the names of those promoting them, there was little the president could do.

It’s act of desperation – Benue CNPP

Reacting to the issue, the Chairman of Benue State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Engr. Baba Agan described the flooding of parts of Abuja with Jonathan’s 2015 presidential campaign posters as an act of desperation and a calculated attempt to create confusion to heat up the polity. He noted that the brains behind the pasting of the posters were doing so in order to fly a kite that was doomed from the onset, adding that "Nigerians would not fall for it.”

Jonathan should first redeem the nation –Bauchi CPC Chairman The Bauchi State Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Aliyu Abubakar Saidu said the posters were hasty. He urged President Jonathan to redeem the country from its predicaments before talking of elections.

Saidu, in an interview with Vanguard, contended that since the election of the president into office in 2011 the country has gone through very turbulent times, which need to be addressed to restore sanity.

We need problem-solving posters – Cleric

Bishop of Calabar Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Tunde Adeleye said what Nigerians need now is not the posters of President Jonathan for the

2015 presidential election but posters on how to tackle sufferings in the country.

Opposing the move, Bishop Adeleye said: “That is very Nigerian.

That is what we do. We major in minors and then divert attention from the problems of the people.

It may be the work of some stooges who will want to divert attention from the hardship and poverty we are suffering from.”

It’s too early – SSPA chieftain

Also reacting, a founding member of South South Peoples Assembly, Dr. Ambrose Akpanika said that he was confused whether the issue of 2015 should dominate the political scene of the country now because according to him, Nigeria was facing a very difficult time.

Run, Jigawa House charges Lamido

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State House of Assembly has announced its full support for the state governor, Sule Lamido to contest the 2015 presidential election. Speaking while receiving the 2013 appropriation bill, the Speaker, Alhaji Adamu Ahmad Sarawa said it had became necessary for the lawmakers to speak up considering the pressure on Lamido from all parts of the country to run.

“We deemed it a duty to us to follow suit as those working with him, we knew his competence as well as his style and qualities of leadership. We heard so much comments of former and present political leaders and traditional rulers praying for Allah to make governor Lamido the next president come 2015. May Allah accept their prayers".

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Fire in my residence would have consumed me — Obasanjo zSpeaks on how Lagos PDP can dislodge ACN

BY DAUD OLATUNJi

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BEOKUTA — FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he would have been dead now if the fire which burnt part of his mansion in Abeokuta last week occurred in the night.

Obasanjo stated this while thanking the executive members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State, who paid him a solidarity visit in his Abeokuta home.

He recalled that the smoke which pervaded his room was enough to terminate a life.

Obasanjo had last week escaped death following the fire incident which razed the office of his private secretary which was near his bedroom.

Obasanjo said: “The fire incident which occurred in the office of my private secretary resulted in thick smoke which pervaded my bedroom. If it had happened at night, I would have been a dead person now.

“I want to thank all those who called me on phone both within and outside the country. Let us appreciate the mercy and kindness of God. “There are many we started last year together but are no more today. We are not mocking them, but we have to extol God. "In fact, that I am able to stand erect is God's blessing, many of my age group cannot stand well. I am not mocking them, but I am thanking God. My hope and prayer is that this year 2013 will be a glorious year.”

How Lagos PDP can dislodge ACN Meantime, the former President also said that if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos has the political will it can dislodge the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the 2015 elections.

Obasanjo, however, said for the PDP to take over Lagos from ACN, the leaders needed to sink their ego and sacrifice their individual interest for the general interest of the party.

The ex-President stated this when the PDP executives in Lagos State paid a courtesy visit on him at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo who described Lagos PDP as a 'party in wilderness' noted that leaders of the party needed to work together to build the party and restore it to the right path.

He expressed optimism that if the leaders and members could be united, they would capture power from the ruling

ACN in Lagos State He noted: “If only the leaders would sink their ego and regard the party’s interest as supreme and above that of individuals, then the party will come out strong and able to

wrest power from the ruling party.”

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Mr Tunji Shelle, Chairman, Lagos State PDP, said the purpose of their visit was three-fold.

He said: “We are in Abeokuta to commiserate with Obasanjo over the fire incident and to rejoice with him over the new year as well as to receive counsel and his blessings for our party.

"Baba’s advice is invaluable and we are going back to Lagos as a happy family. We would return to build our party on the platform of his advice to re-launch our party into recognition.”

From left: Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Khimi Kuku and Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Okonjo-Iweala mum's kidnapper owns up zConfesses to taking part in the abduction

BY EMMA AMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH-SOUTH

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SABA — ANDREW Dime, 32 years old suspect from Edo State, who, earlier, denied his involvement in the kidnap of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, 82year-old mother of Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has finally confessed to taking part in the abduction.

Meanwhile, fresh facts have emerged on the profile of some members of the 10-man kidnap gang and what really transpired in the morning of December 13, when the kingpin, Nwaeze Nwosa, was killed by the police in Asaba.

A top police source confided in Vanguard, yesterday, in Asaba, that “Olokpa has finally buckled. He told police detectives his role in the kidnap and how the operation was planned and executed.”

The source said: “Investigations are still on, it is not everything we will tell you (press) at this stage so as

not to jeopardize our investigations.”

Olokpa had earlier denied participating in the kidnap of Prof. Okonjo, saying he was only hired by the second-incommand of the gang, Chiboy, to supply groundnuts, bread and water to the victim in the kidnappers den on two occasions for a fee of N100,000.

The suspect, who gave his place of residence as Army Barracks, Onitsha, said he is a shoemaker and accepted the offer to supply food to Prof.

Okonjo because his job was not rewarding.

A police officer told Vanguard, last week: “It is only a matter of time, Olokpa will confess. He does not know the intelligence information we have on him, that is why he is telling you that he was merely hired to supply food to Prof.

Okonjo at where she was kept by the kidnappers.

“Our information is that he is the person in whose custody the queen of Ogwashi-Uku was kept. He is part of the

gang. A member of the gang bolted with his N1 million share of the ransom collected for the release of Prof. Okonjo and because of that, he decided to sell part of the guns left in his possession.

“The police actually acted on intelligence information that he was in desperate need of money and lured him to sell one of the guns. He fell for the bait and was trapped.”

Profile of some members of the 10-man kidnap gang Meanwhile, Vanguard has reliably gathered that late kidnap kingpin, Bolaji, went the wood market in Asaba in the morning of the day he was killed with the same Golf car the gang used to abduct Prof.

Okonjo to source for sawdust to be used in his poultry farm.

He was into grass-cutter, fishing and poultry businesses and was set to make huge sale during the Christmas and New Year when he met his premature death.

It was learnt that Bolaji was a very arrogant person and did not really care much about others.

“He was probably using the poultry, fishing and grass cutter business as a cover for his real business of kidnapping. I knew that he was a bad boy, but I never knew he was a kidnap kingpin,” one of his friends told Vanguard in Asaba.

According to him, “I am not aware that he owned many mansions as some people are saying. He even bought things and refused to pay, it took time for him to pay for the things he bought. I cannot say that Bolaji I knew was a rich man.”

Another member of the gang, identified as Bright, suspected to be in police net, was said to be a notorious criminal, who sometimes ago, sent members of his gang to rob his father of N5 million.

A member of the gang accidently shot his father when they could not locate the money.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—7

Police nab PDP chieftain, one other over murder of 2 Kano legislators

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ANO — THE Kano State Police command, yesterday, paraded a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Alhaji Sale Kura, 54, and one Ibrahim Lawal as sponsors and killers of two members of the state House of Assembly last year.

The poilce said the victims were killed for a fee of N100,000 of which N30,000 was given them as part payment, leaving a balance of N70,000.

An Assembly member, Ibrahim Abba Garko (PDP) was murdered by unknown gunmen on November 17, while his counterpart, Alhaji Danladi Kademi, was shot dead in front of his guest house on December 14, 2012.

The police said Kura was arrested following a painstaking effort by investigators which led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Ibrahim Lawal, who then named the PDP chieftain as his sponsor.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Idris, said killers of the two legislators held several meetings with their sponsor on how to assassinate their victims in his (Alhaji Kura) car park in his residence.

Briefing newsmen in his office following the breakthrough in police investigations, Idris said: “The command, based on information, arrested one Ibrahim Lawal in connection with the killing of late Danladi Isa Kademi. Lawal allegedly confessed during interrogation that he physically participated in the killing and he personally shot Kademi dead.”

Idris revealed that Lawal confessed to have joined the gang of hired killers in January 2012, naming their gang leader and armourer as one Abdullahi, alias Mabo of Filin Kashew, Unguwa Uku quarters in Kano metropolis.

Other gang members still at large The CP, however, said other gang members, including Sagir Yahuza of Farin Massalaci Unguwa Uku, Surajo Adamu of Layin Tazarce Unguwa Uku, Tasiu Shuaibu of Layin Yarabawa Unguwa Uku and Mohammed Abdulsalam of Layin Tazarce Unguwa Uku quarters in Kano metropolis were, however, on the run.

He, however, said “the alleged sponsor of the

assassination of the two legislators, Alhaji Kura also lives at Layin Yarabawa Unguwa Uku quarters and runs a boutique at Abubakar Rimi market, Sabon Gari.

Idris further explained that the gang leader and five other accomplices were still at large.

He further revealed that “the suspected sponsor, Alhaji Sale Kura, was together and observed his evening prayers with late Ibrahim Abba Garko, at the time he was assassinated at Yan’Awaki quarters.

He said investigation revealed that the name and GSM contact

number of the alleged sponsor were found in the alleged prime suspect’s telephone set, which showed different call logs between the two, adding: "Effort is on top gear to arrest other fleeing suspects.”

Davido, Chidinma, Dangote win at KORA Awards 2012 AGOS — TWO young Nigerian artistes; Davido and Chidinma, ended the year 2012 with glorious winnings for the fledgling music industry at the just concluded KORA Awards.

The award ceremony which held in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire, awarded Davido, who was absent at the event, the ‘Best Male Newcomer’ while Chidinma, walked away with the ‘Best Female West African Act’ for her single Kedike.

The penultimate winner of MTN Project Fame West Africa also enchanted the award

ceremony with the performance of her hit track,and she was presented her award by former Chelsea footballer and Captain of the Ivorian national team, Didier Drogba.

Algerian Rai singer, Cheb Khaled was adjudged the Best North African artiste and French rap group, Sexion d’Assaut, took the award for the “African diaspora” in Europe.

Nigerian pop duo, P-Square, also attended the awards and thrilled the audience with their energetic performance.

Africa’s and Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, was also honoured with a ‘Role Model Award.’

The annual award ceremony for African music which has not held for a number of years was delayed by several factors and the late arrival of American R&B singer, Chris Brown.

The award night was heavily criticized for its high cost: one million CFA francs (1,500 Euros, $2,000) for those who want a seat in the luxury hotel for the ceremony, or 50,000 CFA francs (75 Euros, $100).

Police deny banning PDP congresses in Adamawa

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OLA — THE police in Yola, yesterday, denied banning the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congresses at local government level in Adamawa.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 3, Alhaji Tambari Yabo, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

Yabo said the police only advised the party to suspend the congresses slated for today due to the lingering security challenges in the state, as according to him, some gunmen had launched attack in

Maiha, Hong and Fufore Local Government Areas.

He said the advice became necessary so that the police could concentrate on the state security instead of trying to cope with the congresses. Yabo said he met with PDP stakeholders, including members of the state caretaker committee on the matter.

Meanwhile, a Yola High Court has granted interim injunction restraining the PDP caretaker committee from going ahead with the congresses. The injunction followed a request by

BY UDUMA KALU

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Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right) presenting a cheque of N3 billion to Project Manager of Chinese Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Zhang Shi Yu, for the construction of Yenagoa- Oporoma Road, at Government House, Yenagoa.

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Nollywood actress, Bisi Komolafe, for burial in Ibadan, tomorrow

one Mustapha Njobdi and two others.

The plaintiffs, who joined PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and 10 others as co-defendants, challenged the party for dropping their names from the list of aspirants.

The plaintiffs, in a 45-paragraph affidavit deposed by their lawyer, Mr Salihu Adamu, said they bought, filled and returned their nomination forms for the congress in Mubi South Local Government and that they later discovered that their names were missing.

AGOS — THE Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, has, once again, been thrown into mourning follwing the death of its Yoruba actress, Miss Bisi Komolafe, in Ibadan.

Bisi died at the University College Hospital, UCH, in the early hours of Tuesday. Her remains will be buried tomorrow.

A family source said there would be a requiem Mass for her by 10 a.m at a Catholic church in Okepadi, Salvation Army Way, Ibadan to be followed by interment.

Bisi’s death was attrbuted to pregnancy-related complications.

Her marketer, Akeem Balogun, confirmed the sad news, saying: “It is so unfortunate we lost another rising star.”

She is survived by her father, grandmother and siblings.

Bisi who was the second child of a family of five in Ibadan where she attended St. Louis Grammar School, Mokola before graduating from the Lagos State University where she studied Business Administration. She shot into prominence with her roles in Igboro Ti Daru and Eja Tutu.

Some Nollywood actors and actresses who paid condolence visits to her house, Tuesday, included Yinka Quadri, Muyiwa Ademola, Remi Surutu, Akeem Balogun (Olasco Films), Adekola Tijani (Kamilu Compo) Majester,Yomi Fabiyi among others.

Bisi was said to have been rushed to Ibadan from Lagos by some of her family members and other friends about three months ago for an undisclosed illness. She was said to have been recuperating in Ibadan as some of her colleagues were reportedly planning to raise money for her last Tuesday at the LTV 8 Ikeja where they converged for their meeting.

The late Miss Bisi Komolafe

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Gunmen kill 26-yr-old mother in Benue

BY PETER DURU

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Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe (left), in a handshake with Governor Jonah Jang during 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and appeal fund launch in Jos, yesterday.

FG to acquire 30 aircraft, plans reduction in air fares

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE & SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—THE Fed eral Government, yesterday, said it plans to acquire 30 aircraft to boost domestic airlines in the country and ensure reduction of air fares.

It also attributed deluge of litigations as responsible for the non-removal of abandoned aircraft in airports across the country, as it was discovered that many of the aircraft were used as collateral for loans.

General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr Dati Yakubu, stated this in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, after assessment of on-going reconstruction work at the Benin Airport.

He said: “We are in the age of recycling and most of these planes were built with plastic and metals. We had advised owners on several ways to dispose the aircraft and still make profit. By the time the period we gave them elapses, FAAN will take steps to clear the abandoned aircraft because it distorts the masterplan of airports.”

He said government was determined to destroy abandoned aircraft across the country, adding that the Federal Government would go ahead to purchase new planes despite the fact that the aviation

fund was being managed by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Bank of Industry, BoI. He explained that after acquiring the aircraft, the Federal Government will give them to local operators, adding “the issue of assisting domestic carriers and removal of tariffs and taxes on aviation spare parts by the President is to help domestic airlines operate profitably and make it attractive for investors because spare parts are major cost component in the aviation industry.

“The Federal Government is making plans to bring in 30 aeroplanes to assist local airlines.

We believe eventually that we will have cheaper tickets and by the time we have cheaper tickets, there will be high traffic because if you cut down the cost of doing business, the person doing it will not have any option but to reduce the cost of running.

We believe that one hour flight in Nigeria should not cost more than N10,000 to N15,000 and the

whole idea is to make business cheaper and easier to operate, so that the beneficiaries would be the passenger. “ On the issue of abandoned aircraft across many airports in the country, he said, “we have given ultimatum to owners of abandoned aircrafts to remove them because they constitute menace to our airspace and airports. They are danger to the flying public because there may be places where these birds could hide.”

SSS releases 2 detained journalists

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WO Nigerian journalists, whose paper published a report of alleged abuses by troops battling Islamist extremists were arrested and held for eight days

by State Security Service, SSS, one of them said, yesterday, after their release.

The editor of Al-Mizan, Musa Awwal, and reporter Aliyu Saleh were on Tuesday released by SSS, Awwal said.

In raids on December 24, SSS operatives picked up the journalists, along with their wives and Saleh’s son, from their homes in Kaduna State, where the regional newspaper has an office.

Their wives and the son were released later that day.

“We were released, yesterday afternoon from SSS headquarters in Abuja, where we were kept af-

ter our arrest,” Awwal said.

“Throughout our detention, we were not told our offence, but they still have our mobile phones and laptops, which they said would be returned to us as soon as they are done with investigation.”

Awwal said they were manhandled while being arrested, but not abused while being held in custody.

The SSS declined to comment on the arrests.

The newspaper said it believed the pair had been held in connection with a story it published on the arrests of 84 people in the town of Potiskum by soldiers on suspicion of belonging to Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram.

The detainees’ families

were reportedly denied access to them.

Al-Mizan, established in 1991 and published in the Hausa language spoken throughout Nigeria’s north, is run by the Shiite organisation Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

Residents and human rights bodies have accused troops of abuses, including arbitrary arrests and killings of civilians, in connection with Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria’s northern and central regions.

Violence linked to the insurgency is believed to have left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.

AKURDI—UN KNOWN gunmen yesterday murdered a 26year- old woman at Taraku in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State while her one year baby boy is also battling for life after being inflicted with serious injuries by the attackers.

Sources said that the deceased, Sewuse Tyoor and her son were attacked last night in their sleep by the a s s a i l a n t s .

It was also gathered that the deceased also lost her husband in the same fashion few months ago in T a r a k u .

According to our source, the deceased, before her untimely death had identified four officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, as the murderers of her late husband, Chia Tyoor who was also killed in a bizarre m a n n e r .

The fingered murders of her late husband have been scheduled to face trial later this month in Makurdi.

The Chairman of Gwer local government area, Dr David Maor, said the remains of the mother has been deposited at the Local Government General Hospital while her son was receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the NKST clinic at Taraku.

ACN flays PDP

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CTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday described a statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that President Goodluck Jonathan is being criticized because he is from a minority geo-political zone as irresponsible.

The party also said if President Jonathan feels he is unfairly criticized, he should come out with facts and figures.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed shock and disappointment that a party that has always been quick to tout its “nationalist” credentials will stoop so low to stoke the fire of sectional politics.

According to him, “if the PDP feels that the President is being unfairly criticized over his administration’s poor performance, it should use verifiable facts and figures, not cooked-up statistics, to counter such criticism instead of resorting to a desperate tactics that could inflame the polity”.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—9

NEMA warns against effects of harmattan

Oke debunks Bada's allegations over Ondo guber poll

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BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the October 20 election in Ondo State Chief Olusola Oke yesterday picked holes in the allegations levelled against him by his DirectorGeneral, during the election Dr. Dare Bada.

Chief Oke said that allegations against him were meant to “ to cast aspersion on the campaign activities, subvert our esteemed party and deride all members of the campaign team and many of our illustrious leaders.”

Speaking through the Deputy Director of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Chief Alaba Isijola, he said that it was not true that the campaign was not well funded.

Alaba said that Chief Olusola Oke personally sought and brought support and influence of his highly valuable and influential friends into his campaign efforts.

“First, contrary to Bada’s claim, the campaign was reasonably funded by the candidate himself as well as through support of loyal and responsible party establishment.

“Second, against Bada’ s ludicrous claim that he had no knowledge of how the campaign funds were disbursed during the campaign and before, we wish to put it on record that Bada was not only personally in charge but was directly instrumental to disbursement.”

Remnants of the burnt buildings on Jones Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos. Photo: Monsur Olowoopejo.

Two buildings razed in Lagos on New Year day MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — TRAGEDY again struck in Lagos on New Year day as two buildings on Jones Street, Ebute-Metta, Yaba Local Government, were razed, property worth millions of naira destroyed.

This came barely a week after the firecrackers explosion at Jankara Market, Lagos Island Local Government, which razed over 10 buildings on December 26, last year.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the fire disaster, it was gathered that the house went up in flames at about 8:45p.m. on Tuesday night and spread to the next building.

It was also learnt that the

fire which started from a cooking stove, was escalated by petrol stored in the first building built with planks and roofing sheets before spreading to the next building (concrete) sited at No. 1, Jones Street.

Mr. Taofeek Taiwo, a sevenyear-old boy, who raised the alarm, narrated: “I was returning from a provision store when I saw some section of the wooden structure already in flames.

“Immediately I discovered this, I shouted to alert passers-by and our neighbours to rescue my siblings and my mother who were fast asleep.”

Mr. Ayodele Makanjuola, a resident of No. 1, Jones Street, who spoke with tears, said “I have lost all my

property in this New Year ’s inferno.”

According to Makanjuola, who is in his late 30's, “I was able to salvage from the building my two children who were inside the room and fast asleep.

He added that he was also able to recover his phone and other petty items from the raging fire.”

Explaining how the fire incident occurred, Makanjuola said “the fire emanated from the stove of one of the tenants of the wooden structure called Iyawo, who was cooking in the passage of the wooden structure, beside her generator that was filled with Petrol Motor Spirit, (PMS).

“While still cooking, she

U.S. says Nigeria may join global economic powers in 2030

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor

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IGERIA COULD join a handful of countries including China that would be pivotal in shaping the world’s economy by the year 2030 according to a report by the super secret United States National Intelligence Council, NIC. The NIC report just released, projects an idea of what the world would look like in the future.

The report which is an articulation of expertise opinion from the US intelligence community released last December, however, admits that it may not be exact.

It is a fact many Nigerian experts would appreciate given earlier expertise opinion from the United States army that Nigeria may implode by the year 2015.

The report could come handy to

Nigerian administration officials working towards the goal of putting Nigeria among the top 20 economies by the year 2020.

In the report on Global Trends 2030, the report notes that the United States and Europe would be overwhelmed by the economic powers of Asian countries as China and other Asian countries and Brazil take a leading role in dictating the pace of the world economy.

China according to the report would just overtake the US before 2030 as the world’s biggest economy.

Other powers including Nigeria according to the report, would also jump to the top in global economic ranking.

“In addition to China, India, and Brazil, regional players such as Colombia , Indonesia , Nigeria , South Africa and Turkey will

become especially important to the global economy," the report says.

“The diffusion of power among countries will have a dramatic impact by 2030. Asia will have surpassed North America and Europe combined in terms of global power, based upon GDP, population size, military spending, and technological investment.

China alone will probably have the largest economy, surpassing that of the United States a few years before 2030.

"Meanwhile, the economies of Europe, Japan, and Russia are likely to continue their slow relative declines.”

Since its establishment in 1979, the NIC has served as a bridge between the intelligence and policy communities, a source of deep substantive expertise on intelligence issues

left the house to purchase some c o o k i n g ingredients. But before she came, the fire hads begun and spread to the next building and razed it.”

In contrast, Makanjuola said that the loss would have been minimal if the men of the Lagos State Fire Service had arrived on time when calls were made through to their office.

“When the first tanker arrived at about 30 minutes after, it came without water.

Before the vehicle returned, the damage had been done,” he added.

AGOS — MR. Iyiola Akande, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency management Agency, MEMA, yesterday, cautioned Nigerians against harsh weather condition, as well as fire outbreak during the current harmattan.

Akande gave the warning in a statement signed by the Information Officer of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, and made available in Lagos.

According to him, the caution becomes necessary in view of the effects of extreme weather which brought excessive rainfall and flooding last year.

Akande said that there was urgent need to prepare against risks associated with early dry season relating to the on-set of harmattan.

“NEMA is appealing that all disaster management and municipal authorities should enlighten the public on avoidable fire incidents during the period," he said.

Man remanded over street carnival theft

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AGOS — A man, who allegedly stole N20, 000 from a motorist and damaged his bus during a street carnival on Boxing Day, was yesterday remanded in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos.

A Somolu Magistrate's Court which gave the order, said the accused, 22-year- old Taoreed Jimoh, should be kept behind bars till Jan. 7.

The complainants, Bimbo Oduyelu who chartered a bus to transport her goods to her house, and the driver, Rasak Kareem, were accosted by Jimoh and some five others still at large, who were attending a carnival in the area.

“They harassed and forcefully dispossessed them of N20, 000 and also maliciously damaged the windscreen of the bus,” ASP Akinlebi Adegoke, the prosecutor, said.

10—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

2 men arraigned for allegedly stealing he-goat

Body of drowned teenager still missing

BY EVELYN USMAN

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BADAN — TWO men, Defile Adeniji, 38, and Gbenga Adelakun, 49, appeared before an Oyo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday for allegedly stealing a goat.

Prosecutor Adedotun Alarape told the court that the accused persons stole the he-goat on December 24, 2012.

Alarape added that the goat, belonging to John Adejumo of Biguns Compound, Awe, Oyo, was valued at N3,500.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Jejelola Ogunbona granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N10,000 with one surety each.

The magistrate adjourned the case to January 9, for mention.

Cleric cautions at Ekiti’s inter-religious service

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DO EKITI—The Chief Missioner of

Ansar -Ur- Deen in Ekiti State, Sheik Ameen Adebayo, has warned politicians in the state against actions capable of distracting the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration or subverting the peace and tranquility currently enjoyed in the state.

The Chief Missioner gave the warning at an Inter-Religious Thanksgiving Service for the New Year, held at the Government House Grounds, Ado Ekiti yesterday as part of activities marking the advent of the new year.

He said the detractors should let the Governor be, in order to focus on the development strides of the administration, which according to him, had become evident in many aspects of the state.

The new year thanksgiving, an annual event in the state, was attended by principal officials of government, state commissioners and permanent secretaries as well as civil servants and representatives of the Council of Traditional Rulers.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor (right), exchanging pleasantries with, from left: Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye, State President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe, President, League of Imams and Alfas (South West and Edo); Prince Gboyega Famodun, Secretary, Osun ACN; Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, Acting Chairman, Osun ACN and others, during the Inter-Religious Service marking the beginning of year 2013, at the Governor’s Office, Osogbo, yesterday.

AGOS — THE Police in La gos yesterday said efforts were still being made to recover the body of the 17-year-old son of a pastor who drowned Sunday, in Lekki Beach, Lagos.

The deceased, Samuel Obu, reportedly went to the beach in the company of his younger brother and friends to celebrate the festive period.

Eye witnesses said he snapped some pictures with his friends before he went to swim.

But tragedy truck after he was reportedly carried away by the sea wave. His brother, Godwin, said to be swimming with him, became apprehensive when he discovered that Samuel was drowning and raised alarm.

Report said effort by local divers

FG should dialogue with Boko Haram — YCE

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — Yor uba Council of Elders, YCE, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Islamic fundamentalists sect, Boko Haram to a round-table discussion so as to stop violence and blood-letting in the country.

The advice of the sociocultural group was contained in a seasonal greeting addressed to the President.

The statement dated 31st December, 2012, was signed by the National Treasurer of the Council, Dr. Dejo Raimi on behalf of its President, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo.(rtd) ‘’We would like them to know that nothing shall be achieved

by mindless blood-letting. In all of human history, great wars that were fought were equally concluded, not on the battle field, but at the conference room,” the council stated.

It further stated that for over three years of rebellion, nothing had been achieved. The apex Yoruba organisation also advised the sect to open its doors for dialogue.

The ‘Igbimo Agba Yoruba’ urged the group to bring any issue bothering it to government rather than engage in unnecessary violence. ‘’In over three years of open rebellion against the state, Boko Haram has not achieved anything positive, rather, their activities have left behind sorrow, tears and blood in that many promising young men,

women and elders alike have been sent to their untimely graves,” the group said.

The Yoruba elders commended President Jonathan for his ‘’maturity, diligence, tenacity and charisma,” with which he handled the affairs of the nation. ‘’The major challenge that your administration has battled so seriously is the issue of security," YCE stated.

On the issue of fuel scarcity, the council recalled last year experience which it described as unpalatable. ‘’We suggest that any major policy implementation in the future should be preceded by adequate public enlightenment and sensitisation to avoid such breakdowns," the Council advised.

Lagos civil servants fail to resume

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—Lagos State government yesterday recorded a low turn-out of civil servants who ought to resume en masse after the New Year Day celebration.

Vanguard gathered that the civil servants who turned up at the state government secretariat only attended the annual thanksgiving and prayer session held at the early hours of the day at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat.

But a larger percentage of the workers disappeared immediately, others who stayed behind failed to engage themselves in serious

business.

When Vanguard visited, some ministries in the state seat of power, including the Ministry of Health and Information, turnout of staff and visitors, was very low.

A senior staff of the Ministry of Information who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said: “Nobody can blame anybody for not resuming today. Let me tell you the truth, things will pick up again here from next Monday.

“Most of the staff travelled to their home-towns to mark the New Year with members of their families and perhaps they would return today or tomorrow. By tomorrow the number of people that will resume will be better than what you have right now ”.

to rescue the teenager failed as they reportedly retreated following the heavy wave which almost drowned them.

The incident, brought the festive mood at the beach to an abrupt end as fun seekers scurried out of their respective outlets and escaped for fear of being arrested.

The late Samuel as gathered, was a drummer in Latter House of God Church, pastored by his father.

Family sources hinted that news of Samuel’s demise reached his father at about 730p.m.

A family source, who craved anonymity, told Vanguard that the deceased collected the sum of N1,000 from his mother as transport fare.

A female member of the church simply identified as Comfort, said to have gone to the beach with Samuel, was detained till the next day.

NSCDC arrests suspected pipeline vandals in Ogun

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BEOKUTA — The Ogun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday said it had arrested two suspected pipeline vandals on Ajede Road in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s spokesman, Kareem Olanrewaju, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abeokuta that the suspects were aged 35 and 55.

“The suspects were operating with guns

along side with others now at large.

“Our surveillance team deployed to monitor the activities of vandals around the place relayed the information but the suspects took off before the arrival of the combat team,‘’ he said.

He, however, said luck ran against one of the suspects " who took our investigators to the Ola Oluwa camp site of the gang near a NNPC pipeline, where we met and arrested the other suspect, “ he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—11

No going back in weeding out ghost teachers — Delta govt

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—AS the storm rages over the impending purge in the teaching service in Delta State, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr. Mike Okeme, has said that there was no going back in weeding out ghost teachers who are milking the state dry.

Okeme, however, assured genuine teachers, who are qualified, that there was no cause for alarm, as the ongoing screening exercise “is a harmless exercise to identify genuine teachers.”

Asked if there would be no lay-offs as being rumoured, Okeme said: “If there are ghosts on the payroll of government due to the negative ingenuity of some persons, since they are not humans, they will be found out and weeded out.”

God’ll rescue Nigeria this year —Cleric

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI —BISH OP of Ughelli Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Cyril Odutemu, has said that 2012 was characterized with bombing, looting and scandal, but expressed the hope that God will rescue Nigeria this new year.

Odutemu, in a sermon during the New Year service at All Saints’ Cathedral Church, Ughelli, said: “God has seen our affliction and will come to our rescue this year.”

He lamented that Nigerians faced turbulent times in 2012 “and our crossing over into 2013 is assurance of God’s mercies and the need to keep the covenant for us to enjoy his grace.

“This year, Nigerians will experience God’s peace if they are obedient to God. Our President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan needs to listen to God and the people must also be obedient.”

Quit politics, leave Jonathan alone, Okpozo tells Obasanjo, Anenih

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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E N I N — S E N AT O R Francis Okpozo has described as senseless and greedy, the appointment of Chief Tony Anenih as chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and called on Chief Anenih and former President Olusegun Obasanjo to quit politics for the younger generation.

Okpozo, who accused the duo of distracting President Goodluck Jonathan with their political activities and what he described as “selfish interests,” lamented that despite calls in some quarters that they should allow the younger generation take over the leadership of the nation, “they have continued to stay put and manipulate the system.

“If Obasanjo and Anenih, who have been in the politics of this nation for long, are still coming today to take over from these small boys, who are supposed to take charge politically today, it means they are not serious. The only meaning

that can be attached to their action is selfishness, greed, and it is time for them to quit politics because of their age.

“They have made money, they have tasted power, they are old now like me, they have children, they have so many invest-

ments. Why are they not contented and leave politics for the younger generations? Greed destroys a man and I advise both of them to stay clear from President Jonathan. They should not play politics with

SEMINAR: From left: Justice Umaru Eri (rtd), Administrator, NJI; Justice Mahmud Mohammed, JSC, (representing the Chief Justice of Nigeria); Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN and Justice Zainab Bulkchuwa, Ag. President, Court of Appeal, during the 12th National Seminar on Banking and Allied Matters for Judges, in Abuja.

2015: Atiku’s loyalists regroup in C-River

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—POLITICAL associates and loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Cross River State have started consultations towards the realization of the presidential ambition of the Turakin Adamawa.

Coordinator of Atiku Presidential Campaign in 2007, Mr. Ernest Irek, who disclosed this to Vanguard in Calabar, said machinery had been put in motion in the South-South geo-political zone, where all stakeholders are involved in the project of ensuring that Atiku emerges

president in 2015.

He said: “We are going to put ourselves together. All chieftains will be accommodated and we are going to open offices in every district.”

When reminded that the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, is from South-South and may want to re-contest for the office, he said that it was a matter of interest and that the administration of Jonathan had not benefitted the region he comes from.

He said many things the president should have done for the people of his zone had not been done, while poverty and epileptic power supply had continued

unchecked.

Irek also said that going by the zoning formula of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the office of the president was supposed to be occupied by somebody from the North, adding that the zoning formula will be religiously adhered to in the 2015 general elections and after the North had completed its tenure, power could go to the South East.

He said he was privy to Atiku’s blueprint when he met Senator Ben Obi and that the blueprint would make the country great and more united if implemented.

Amaechi swears in 6 female Perm Secs ...sacks Special Duties Commissioner

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ORT HARCOURT—RIV ERS State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has sworn in six new female Permanent Secretaries.

Governor Amaechi swore in the six female Permanent Secretaries at the Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Those sworn in are Dr. Offor Nnesochi; Mrs. C. Iragunima; Mrs. Clara Princewill; Mrs. Amie Iwo; Mrs. Wihioka Comfort and Dr. Justina Jumbo.

Meanwhile, the governor has relieved the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Emeka Wogu, of his appointment and replaced him with Mr. Omunakwe Dickson, whose name

Jonathan.”

On the 2015 presidency, Senator Okpozo insisted that President Jonathan has the constitutional right to seek reelection, warning, however that “before he does that, he must pacify the people of the South South, who supported him during the election.”

will be sent to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

Congratulating the new Permanent Secretaries, the governor said they were appointed on merit and urged them to be fair and just as they contribute to the growth of the state’s sub-national economy.

He said: “A civil servant is supposed to be apolitical, but in the Nigerian context, nearly all Nigerians are politicians, and that is because the economy is not productive. The only productive part of the economy is government and that is because government takes money from oil and everybody wants to be part of the sharing of that money, but the moment the economy be-

comes productive, a lot of people will not want to be in politics.

“We hope that as we increase our desire to improve on our sub-national economy, like all of you, the women would contribute to this growth and the way to contribute to it is to ensure that you are fair, just and that you work hard and punish those who don’t .”

He warned the new permanent secretaries not to be involved in corrupt practices, explaining that their appointment will increase the number of female permanent secretaries in the state civil service.

BIW faults Dickson on Bayelsa Assembly’s performance

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—A GROUP, Bayelsa Independent Watch, has condemned the repeated excellent rating of the performance of Bayelsa State House of Assembly by Governor Seriake Dickson, saying that the rating by the governor was done out of sentiment to soothe the bruised ego of the Assembly members.

Governor Dickson had repeatedly described the state Assembly led by Mr. Kombowei Benson, as the best in the country due to its quick receipt of executive bills and passage of same into law.

The Assembly recently passed into law 22 executive bills in eight months.

But the group said though the peaceful co-existence between the legislature and executive in the state was commendable, the repeated claim by the governor that the current Assembly was the best in the federation was a joke and a soothing balm to the failures and bruised ego of the legislature.

The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr Boluwarei Benson, said the actions and rating of the state Assembly by the governor was wrong and selfish as they lacked the will to initiate bills but only pass executive bills.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JANUARY 3, 2013

Delta assures on welfare of physically challenged

Police in Rivers arrest man for allegedly killing wife ...9 suspected cultists also nabbed

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—EXEC UTIVE Assistant on Physically Challenged to Delta State Governor, Ms Omasan Buwa, has restated the commitment of the state government to the welfare of physically challenged persons in the state.

Speaking during the presentation of rice and cash to physically challenged persons in the state, she said the gesture was in the spirit of the yuletide.

Noting that the gesture was a practical demonstration of the government’s love and passion for persons living with disabilities in the state, Buwa, said: “The Rehabilitate, Interact, Skills and Empowerment, RISE, programme of the office of Executive Assistant on Physically Challenged is aimed at making them self-reliant.”

Delta LG boss tasks residents on cleanliness

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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HAIRMAN of Ika South Local Government Transition Committee, Mr. Andrew Obiazi, has called on the people of the council to imbibe good sanitary culture by promoting environmental cleanliness.

Obiazi spoke in Agbor, while monitoring the environmental sanitation exercise for 2012, which was declared by Delta State Government.

He urged residents to always clean their surroundings on daily basis, pointing out that clean environment promotes good individual and public health.

He said: “Environmental sanitation is an indispensable thing to do if we must live a healthy life.”

The chairman, who observed that cleanliness was next to godliness, implored those who indulged in indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the area to desist from such unwholesome act.

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Police in Rivers State have arrested a man who allegedly butchered his wife at Ikata community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state. The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Nndabawa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port harcourt, said nine suspected cultists have also been arrested.

Nndabawa said the suspect, Mr. Udeh Sabastine, allegedly killed his wife, Abigail Sabastine, at 4am, yesterday, after a disagreement.

He said the nine cultists were also picked up in Ahoada East Local Government Area, adding that they had unleashed terror at Ochiyba community in the area before security men swooped on them.

He said one person allegedly lost his life during the activities of the cultists in the council.

He said: “It is, therefore, in this spirit of renewed vigour

to stamp out criminality that the Rivers State Police Command effectively brought under control, an ugly incident that threatened the peace in a community in Ahoada.

“At 11.30pm, information was received that cult men had invaded and unleashed terror on Ochiyba community in AhoadaEast council of the state, destroying many property and in the

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (left) and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, test-driving one, among the 3 amoured and 50 patrol vehicles handed over to the Police by Anambra State Government, yesterday.

Winners Chapel denies complicity in death of 3-yr-old pupil in Benin

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—LIVING Faith Bible Church (aka Winners Chapel), proprietor of Kingdom Heritage Model School in Benin City, Edo State, has absolved itself of complicity in the death of one of its pupils, Miss Imiefan Omokaro, aged three, who was found dead in one of the school toilets in November, last year.

Counsel to the Church, Miss Omoikhekpen Oguns, in a statement absolving the

school of complicity in the pupil’s death in Benin, yesterday, insisted that no medical report or any other proof had been adduced to prove the school’s culpability in the death of the child.

This is contrary to the position of the parents of the child, Mr. and Mrs. Jolly Omokaro, who attributed the death of their child to negligence on the part of the school’s management.

It will be recalled that Imienfan’s parents, in a petition to Bishop David Oyedepo,

General Overseer of the church, said that she was killed in one of the school toilets and demanded N2 billion as damages for what they called her callous and senseless killing on November 1, 2012.

The petition was written through their counsel, Mr Peter Uwadiae, who insisted that the administrators of the school had ignored all entreaties for the peaceful resolution of the gruesome murder of their child, having failed to attend all meetings called to resolve the impasse.

Soldiers intercept alleged illegal oil bunkering vessel in Delta ...15 crew members arrested

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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EN of 19 Battalion of Nigerian Army, Koko, Warri North, Delta State, yesterday, intercepted and arrested a Lagos bound vessel, MV RAAF, with 15 crew members arrested onboard, at the Escravos high sea.

The commander of the squard, Lt Col. Peter Okoye, said the vessel was carrying 200 metric tons of illegally refined diesel, which he said, the crew members siphoned

process killing one person.

“Policemen from Ahoada Area Command, assisted by men of Joint Task Force, JTF, swiftly mobilised and cordoned off the area.”

from an oil installation in a creek, near Escravos, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of tne state, adding that the suspects, who were arrested with different items, including pliers, cutting machines, and other tools, had attempted to bribe the soldiers with N2 million with a promise to double the amount on getting to Lagos State, but the move was rebuffed by the soldiers.

The 15 crew members, who were paraded before news-

men, said they hailed from Lagos State, from where they came to Delta State, for their illegal bunkering mission. They confessed that it was not their first trip, and that it was what they do for a living. They also claimed that they were sponsored by a top businessman, who also resides in Lagos.

Lt Col. Okoye said the vessel was intercepted following a tipoff by his men at the Escravos high sea, and was taken to the Army headquarters in Koko, where it was subsequently set ablaze by the soldiers.

Rivers to settle N8.9bn workers’ arrears in 10 months

BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government has renegotiated a 10month period to clear arrears of 70 percent salary relativity and new minimum wage owed civil servants.

State Head of Service, Mr. Samuel Longjohn, disclosed this after meeting labour leaders over continued negotiations for peaceful settlement of vexing salary enhancement deprivations and deductions from the state’s workforce.

Longjohn said the reviewed 10 months clearance plan, which overrides an earlier negotiated shorter commitment, became imperative because of the enormity of the amount government owes the workers, put at N8.9 billion.

On pension erroneously deducted from salaries of workers not included in new pension scheme, the new tax regime and the National Housing Fund Scheme, Director of Payroll Department in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Ernest Chapp-Jumbo, informed the meeting that refund had been made to those affected.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—13

Obi donates 3 APCs, 50 vehicles to Police

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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W KA — A P PA R ENTLY in fulfillment of his promise to make security of lives and property the priority of his administration in 2013 as contained in his New Year message, Governor Peter Obi yesterday presented three armoured cars and 50 patrol vehicles to the police.

This brings to about 350 the number of vehicles he has so far presented to security operatives in the state since he came into office.

At the presentation ceremony at the Governor ’s Lodge in Awka, which was witnessed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubarkar, Obi said other security agencies would receive their allocation as soon as possible.

He also assured the police of continued support from Anambra State government.

He said: “May I reassure the Inspector General of Police and the entire police that Anambra State will continue to work with them for the security of the state and the country at large.

We enjoin all Nigerians to do same.”

Obasanjo lauds Abia community on projects

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA— FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has has paised the selfhelp efforts of people of Amokwe Item community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

Obasanjo, who spoke as he was being conferred with the highest title of Ogbuzuo of Item by the people of Amokwe Item, noted that government alone could not engender development without participation of the people.

“No government at any level can provide all their people need, therefore the age grade system has been used by the people of Item to achieve and compliment the efforts of the state government,” the former President noted.

Man found dead in swimming pool zAs Police arrest two suspects

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BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—TWO persons have been arrested by Imo Police Command for questioning in connection with the alleged sudden and unnatural death of a man in the swimming pool of Concorde Hotel, Owerri.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the deceased, whose names and addresses remained unknown at press time, hit his head on the walls of the hotel swimming pool as he was having a good time in the pool.

Some workers of the hotel equally told Vanguard that the man was initially spotted in the Bush Bar section of the hotel before ending up in the swimming pool.

The workers also affirmed that two divers (names withheld) had been arrested and were currently helping the police in their investigation into the ugly Christmas day incident.

Vanguard also gathered that the man was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, and confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor on duty.

Confirming this develop-

ment to Vanguard in Owerri, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, said the report was first lodged at the New Owerri Police Division and later forwarded to the state police command headquarters.

“The deceased has been de-

posited at Aladinma Hospital mortuary, Owerri, for eventual autopsy.

“The Command is already investigating the matter with a view to ascertaining those involved in the matter,” the PPRO said.

Onugu appealed to Nige-

LAUNCHING: From left: MD/CEO Multi-Trex, Mr. Dimeji Owofemi;Executive Director, Supply Chain, Ms. Sade Bafunso, and Technical Consultant, Dr. Teju Bolujoko, during the Multi-Trex product launch, at the company’s premises along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

Police rescue octogenarian from kidnappers in Imo z3 suspects nabbed O

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—THREE per sons allegedly involved in the recent kidnap of 82year-old Mrs. Christiana Okere are currently telling operatives of Imo State Police what they knew about the crime.

Vanguard gathered that the octogenarian was picked up from her country home, Umuohie Ngor in Ngor Okpala local council area of Imo State on December 18, 2012, by four young men and later taken to Igwuruta, Rivers State.

A family source told Van-

guard that “not long after, the kidnappers got in touch with family and demanded to be paid N20 million ransom for her release.”

However, the fortune of the kidnappers changed when on December 28, 2012, one of them was apprehended by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Imo Police Command.

When contacted yesterday for comments, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the story, adding that the suspect confessed to the crime and later led policemen to their hideout at Igwuruta

where the woman was kept in captivity.

“She was kept in a building located in the bush. On sighting the police, the hoodlums abandoned the woman and scampered into safety. ““She was in a stable condition when the police effected her release. So far, two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime,” Onugu recounted.

In her reaction, the freed octogenarian thanked God and Imo State Police Command for quickly coming to the aid of the family, adding that throughout her captivity, she never lost hope in God.

I did not offend Kalu —Gov Orji

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, yesterday challenged the people of the state to find out what he did to his predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, to warrant opposition against his government.

The governor said he had thoroughly searched his conscience and found out that he had not done anything

rians whose relations travelled or came to Owerri to spend the Christmas and New Year season but have not returned, to report to the public relations unit of Imo State Police Command for assistance.

bad to Kalu from the time he served as his Chief of Staff till the time he left the Progressive Peoples Party, PPA. Governor Orji, who spoke during an interactive session with journalists in Umuahia, said he did not know what the former governor could point at as one bad thing he did to him since their association began.

The governor said: “I challenge you, some of you are his friend, ask him to tell you

what I did to him. Please, ask him to tell you one bad thing he can point at from the time I was Chief of Staff till the time I left PPA, as the wrong I did to him. But I have a litany of the wrongs he did to me.

“I am the only Governor who has been given a query, even on the pages of a newspaper. Let him tell you one bad thing I did to him. Let him tell you, just one bad thing.”

Benin monarch urges corporate bodies to support Igue festival

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—AS part of efforts to ensure the successful celebration of the annual Igue festival, the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has called on corporate bodies to see the significance of the festival as genuine reason for its continuous sponsorship.

He said the annual festival, which promotes Benin cultural values and unite Bini sons and daughters worldwide, could not be underestimated.

Speaking through the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, when the management of Intercontinental Distillers limited paid him a courtesy visit in his palace, the Oba commended the management of the company for its relentless support for the annual Igue festival.

Brand Manager of Eagle Schnapps, a subsidiary of Intercontinental Distillers limited, Mr. Kingsley Anuebunwa, who led the delegation, said: “The Igue festival is the leading traditional festival of the whole of Edo State and the country at large.

“We’re here basically to rejoice with the good people of Edo state who happen to be our loyalist for Eagle and Aromatic Schnapps. We are here also to celebrate the rich culture of Edo people.”

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Alhaji (Chief) Yunus Giwa Akiyode’s 100-year anniversary celebration in Abeokuta, yesterday. Pix: Wumi Akinola

Alhaja Sidikat Taye Akiyode, wife of the celebrant (left) and Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, Chairman, OGSIEC. Alhaji (Chief) Yunus Akiyode, (3rd right), Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (4th left)and children of the celebrant cutting the birthday cake.

From left; Alhaji Lai Labode, Alhaji R. Ola Bello, Alhaji Isiaka Okedara and Alhaji Taoheed Adedoja, former Sports Minister, at the event.

From right: Mr. Toye Akiyode, former Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Dr. Tayo Apampa and Mr. Sola Akiyode.

From left: Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola former Mines and Steel Minister, Imam Liadi Orunsolu, Chief Imam of Egbaland; Imam Fatiu Folarin, Imam Oke-Ona, and Imam Noah Sodeinde Chief Imam of Owu.

India, Nigeria trained doctors top UK blacklist T

BY UDUMA KALU

HESE are not good times for Nigerian doctors in the United Kingdom as Nigeria ranks second on the list of the doctors struck off the General Medical Council, GMC, register in the United Kingdom. This could have an effect on Nigeria– trained doctors who want to practise in the United Kingdom.

A recent statistics released by the United Kingdom General Medical Council on doctors showed those it has struck off its list.

The figures released under the Freedom of Information Request by Daily Mail UK, showed that three-quarters of the doctors struck off the General Medical Council, GMC, register in the past five years were foreign-trained with Indiatrained doctors topping the list of foreign-trained doctors of the GMC register in the past five years.

Nigeria-trained doctors ranked second. Egypt traineddoctors came third on the list.

The figures show that in UK, 194 of the 285 doctors struck off for misconduct or incompetence in the past five years were foreign-trained, while 29 of the 39 removed from the medical register in the past year received their medical

degree overseas. This data focuses on the number of doctors struck off in Britain since 2008.

On the reverse side, doctors from countries like Hong Kong and New Zealand have clean records. Hong

Kong has the best record, with none of more than 700 doctors working in the UK struck off or disciplined in the past five years while New Zealand’s 600 medics also have a clean record.

UBA’s restructuring: NSE places shares on technical suspension

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

L

AGOS—THE Nigerian Stock Exchange, yesterday, as statutorily required, placed the shares of United Bank for Africa Plc on technical suspension for three trading days.

This is pursuant to the Bank’s restructuring as approved by shareholders on December 13, 2012. The suspension is a usual procedure on The Nigerian Stock Exchange for companies undergoing a restructuring process, and in the case of UBA Plc,

would allow the bank to close the register of members to determine those to benefit from the shares of the new companies, (UBA Capital Plc, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc and Afriland Properties Plc) to be spun-off from the Group to existing shareholders.

It would be recalled that UBA shareholders at the Court-Ordered-Meeting held on December 13, 2013, approved a new structure for the Group including the spin-off of the Group’s noncommercial banking busi-

nesses to existing shareholders in line with the new Central Bank of Nigeria’s Banking Model.

Under the new structure, the Group’s non-commercial banking subsidiaries with the exception of Africa Prudential Registrars Plc and Afriland Properties Plc will be consolidated under UBA Capital Plc and spun-off to existing shareholders.

Shareholders shall also hold direct interests in Africa Prudential Registrars Plc and Afriland Properties Plc to be spun-off from the Group.

Anambra to procure tracking equipment for security agencies

A

WKA—GOVERNOR Pe ter Obi of Anambra State, has said that the state government will procure tracking equipment for security agencies to assist them in tackling kidnapping.

Obi made this known while inspecting ongoing state’s International hotel and convention centre project in Onitsha, yesterday.

He said the state would henceforth have no hiding place for kidnappers and other criminals.

Obi said: “With the stateof-the-art tracking equipment for security agencies within some weeks now, the days of kidnappers and other criminals operating in the state are numbered.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—15

Lagos PDP needs unity— Obasanjo F

ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, called for unity in the Lagos State chapter of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to enhance the party ’s chances in the 2015 elections.

Obasanjo made the remark while receiving members of Lagos State executive of the party, during a courtesy visit on him in Abeokuta, yesterday. They came to commiserate with him on the recent fire incident in his house, which he described as “minor.”

The former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, said

the leaders needed to sink their ego and sacrifice their individual interest for the general interest of the party.

He said: “If only the leaders would sink their ego and regard the party’s interest as supreme and above that of individual, then the party will come out strong and able to wrestle power from the ruling party.”

Obasanjo, who described PDP as a party in wilderness in Lagos State, said the leaders of the party needed to work together to build the party and restore it to the right path.

He blessed the leaders and asked God to soften their hearts

to be so accommodating and grant them direction to reposition the party in Lagos State.

Obasanjo thanked God for confining the fire to his Secretary’s office and preventing loss of life. The former president insisted that Nigerians had reasons to be thankful to God for the year 2012, notwithstanding some unfortunate incidents.

He, however, expressed optimism that the nation would experience some transformation in the new year.

PDP Chair reacts

Briefing the media after the meeting, Mr. Tunji Shelle,

Lagos State PDP Chairman, said they were in Abeokuta for three reasons.

Shelle said they came to commiserate with Obasanjo on the fire disaster, to rejoice with him over the New Year, and to seek his counsel and blessing for the party.

He said: “We are in Abeokuta to commiserate with Obasanjo over the fire incident and to rejoice with him over the New Year as well as to receive counsel and his blessings for our party.”

The chairman, who described Obasanjo’s counsels as priceless, added that the meeting was a success.

62 ships expected in Lagos ports

N

IGERIAN Ports Au thority, NPA, said, yesterday, that 65 ships were expected to arrive at the various terminals in Lagos ports between January 2 and 28.

NPA’s daily publication, Shipping Position, made available to newsmen in Lagos, said the ships contained fish, bulk wheat, rice, petroleum products, general cargo, new and used vehicles, steel products, palm oil and bulk sugar.

The document indicated that 15 of the ships would come in with petroleum products such as petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), kerosene (DPK) and aviation fuel (JET A1).

It added that 11 ships were waiting to berth and discharge petroleum products at the various oil terminals. 11 other ships are waiting to discharge bulk wheat, bulk sugar, rice, and fertiliser.

NTDC to streamline festivals

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, yesterday, said it would constitute a National Committee on Festivals to streamline all festivals in the country.

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General of NTDC, told newsmen in Abuja that the committee would be mandated to monitor festivals in states and create a comprehensive national tourism calendar.

He said: “We are going to synergise, bring together and see which festival should come at different times so that we don’t overbear the system.

“We cannot have too many festivals at the same time. Very soon we are going to have a National Committee on Festivals across the country and the committee will be domiciled in my office.

“If a tourist comes into Nigeria now, the person will have to think of how he or she will be in 20 places because most of these festivals happen at the same time.”

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

2 in prison over Igbo

Al-Makura appoints Ag CJ

I

LORIN—AN Ilorin Magistrates’ Court, yesterday, remanded two students, Bala Abubakar and Sambo Aminu, in prison over alleged possession of Indian hemp.

The accused were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Kwara Police Command on Unity Road in Ilorin.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons were arrested on December 30 after a search conducted on them revealed substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

It said when the accused persons were interrogated, they could not give a satisfactory account of the substances found on them.

The prosecutor, Insp.

Zaccheaus Funsho, told the court that investigation into the case was ongoing and urged the court to remand the accused in prison.

Magistrate Mariam Ahmed ordered that the accused be remanded in Mondala Prison, Ilorin, and adjourned the case to January 14 for mention.

L

AFIA—GOVERNOR Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, yesterday, swore in Justice Suleiman Umaru-Dikko as Acting Chief Judge of the state.

Umaru-Dikko replaced Justice Badamasi Maina, who retired on December 31. AlMakura also swore in Justice Samuel Ayiwulu and Justice Asmau Yusuf, as well as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Idris-Apa, who is physically-challenged person.

He said the acting Chief Judge and the other judges were appointed based on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council, NJC.

Jigawa employs 1,000

D

UTSE—JIG AWA State Government has recruited 1,000 workers in the past 12 months as part of efforts to provide employment for youths in the state.

This is contained in the 2013 Appropriation Bill, presented to the state House of Assembly by Governor Sule Lamido.

This was even as the state government has proposed N4.4 billion as capital investment in agriculture for the 2013 fiscal year.

LAUNCH: From left— Zekeri Dokpesi, Brand Manager, Squadron Dark Rum; Kingsley Anuenbunwa, Brand Manager, Chelsea London Dry Gin; DJ Humility; DJ Sose and DJ Frankie Fit at the Chelsea London Dry Gin DJ Classic in Lagos.

New Year day accident kills 2 in Katsina K

ATSINA—KATSINA State Sector Command of Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday, said two people died in a New Year day accident at Dandagoro, in Batagarawa Local Government area of the state.

Alhaji Habu Dauda, the FRSC Sector Commander, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Katsina.

He said a man and a woman lost their lives in the accident, which occurred at 9.22pm on January 1.

Dauda said the accident involved an unmarked motorbike and a Volkswagen Golf 3 car, with plate number CF927ABC. He said one of the two men on the motorbike and a woman in the car died on the spot, while three other victims were rushed to the Katsina General Hospital.

Dauda advised motorists to avoid driving on the wrong lane, and to always abide by

traffic rules and regulations to forestall such incidence.

Traffic rules

He pledged that the FRSC would continue to enlighten road users on the dangers associated with wrong overtak-

ing, over speeding and reckless driving.

An eyewitness, Malam Musa Aliyu, blamed the incident on the motorbike operator, who was said to have collided with the car while riding on the wrong lane.

Gaidam presents N86.6bn budget D AMATURU—GOVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, yesterday, presented a budget of N86.6 billion for the 2013 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The budget, christened Budget of Consolidating the Focused Socio-Economic Transformation Programme, is N8.1 billion higher than that of 2012.

Gaidam said the budget would accord priority to the state’s socio-economic devel-

opment, generate employment opportunities, and promote unity and peaceful coexistence.

Breakdown

A breakdown of the budget showed that 54.1 billion was for capital expenditure, while N32.5 billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure.

He said that N40.2 billion was expected from the statutory allocation, N9.5 billion from excess crude oil, N8 bil-

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

lion from VAT, N2.6 billion from Subsidy Re-investment Programme and N1 billion from ecological fund.

Immediately after Gaidam presented the budget, the legislators unanimously moved that the bill had passed its first and second reading.

The Speaker, Alhaji Dala Dogo, directed the House Committee on Finance to scrutinise the bill and report to the House within one week from yesterday.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Nigerian's New Year messages(2)

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just wish for great things in all the states of the federation. Great things that shout happiness, joy, peace and that are mouth-opening, so that those who do not wish this country well will have no choice but to rejoice with us.— Mr. Ismail Aremu, Student.

2

013 will embrace this nation with unlim ited possibilities.

Not just that, many who think Nigeria will fail will come and testify that God really blessed Nigeria for a peculiar purpose.

Who God has blessed, no one can curse. — Mr. Jerome Samson, Communicator.

O

UR government should try and ensure that there is steady power supply in Nigeria. This would make youths take up small businesses and survive. Also, security cannot be left out because a living dog is better than a dead lion.— Mr. Anthony Ekwedike, Businessman.

A

S for me, 2013 is a year of increase for Nigeria. So I wish this blessed country a blessed New Year and hope to see our leaders make good use of such opportunity. Nigeria shall flourish in 2013.

— Mr. Christopher Nduba, Businessman.

L

ET the government look at the increas ing rate of unemployment and tackle it.

Many graduates parade the streets with their certificates looking for white collar jobs because there is little or no encouragement for small scale businesses.— Mr. Chinedu Chinweoda.

G

OD our Father, You guide every thing in love. Accept the prayers we offer for our nation. By the wisdom You deposited in our leaders, let harmony and justice be secured.

May there be lasting prosperity and peace in Nigeria.—Mrs Amamchinefe Okoji, Student.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013— 17

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I

T is a New Year. We all renew hope and make resolutions. I have never been particularly conformist about many things in life. From childhood, I have asked uncomfortable questions and thrown pebbles at orthodoxies. The conventional wisdom has never satisfied my search for answers about our often mysterious but lovely world, either the natural world that conditions us and which we are very much part of or the social canons of existence. So resolutions at the beginning of a new year often resembled for me, an admission of human weakness. If there is a thing to change, why wait till the beginning of a new year? But just for once, I fell into line and made a resolution which I have never betrayed.

Sometimes in December 1981, I fell sick with malaria and had to go to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

But the more fundamental problem was that I chain-smoked and I was just three months past my twenty-first birthday. It was at the height of my life as an activist of the Nigerian Socialist Movement. I used to smoke about sixty sticks of cigarettes per day; yes sixty! I look back now and it was such a suicidal way to live; but growing up in a Muslim community, where alcohol was expressly forbidden, the cigarette was there from as long as I remembered and it seemed everybody just smoked: uncles; cousins; friends! So by the time I was 21, I had been smoking for long and a life of activism, debates and extensive reading and study made the cigarette a part of daily life. So, it was that Dr. Amurawaiye (whose younger brother, Rotimi, was my colleague at the Broadcasting House), played a very important part in my decision to kick the habit. He lives in Canada today, but that morning, he noticed that I smoked, despite my malaria.

That wonderful doctor asked how many sticks I smoked per day and

Resolutions and a peek int o into the life process without batting an eyelid, I told him that I finished three packs of twenty, each day. He drew a breath and made some calculation, after asking my age. What he said next shocked cigarettes out of my life. “At the rate you smoked”, he said, “you will not live beyond thirtyfive years”! That meant the next 14 years! A lot of things raced through my mind and for the first time, I felt the need to make a resolution: stop smoking! So a few days later, at a minute to midnight on December 31, 1981, I stuffed out my last stick of cigarette and thirty-one years after, I have not smoked. And the beauty of it is that I don’t even remember that I ever smoked! That was what they call cold turkey break from the addiction to nicotine, but again I just felt it was a supreme expression of weakness to find it difficult to break an addiction.

At the weekend, I was back home in Kaduna with my family. And because I had been away from the children for a while, I fulfilled an old promise to bring home a table tennis set as well as a badminton kit for the house. I have always been a keen sportsman and was the best table tennis player of my final year in secondary school and in my 15 year old mind, wanted to be the first

The lottery of life

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T is the tradition of the Economic Intelligence UNIT of the weekly British Magazine,The Economist, to make a global survey of values of life in countries.

A month ago,the unit published the result of its survey for the year 2013 in eighty countries. According to the UNIT, it was aware that despite global economic crises, times have in certain respect, never been good owing to decline in output growth rate.

On page 85 of The World in 2013, printed

by The Economist, Nigeria is listed as the worst place for a baby to be born in 2013.

It was an article written by LezaKekic on the verdict of the Economic Intelligence Unit. It earnestly attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe, and prosperous life in the years ahead.

Switzerland is the best country to be born in 2013,according to the UNIT, followed

by Australia,Norway,Sweden,Denmark, Singapore,New zealand, Netherland, Canada,Hong Kong, Finland,Ireland, Australia,Taiwan, Belgium,Germany and United States of America. South Africa is ahead of Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, Morocco and Jordan, while Nigeria is below Kenya,Pakistan and even Syria,which is presently at war.

It's quality-of-life index links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys- how happy people say they are- to objective determinants of the quality of life across countries. Being rich helps more than anything else, but it is not all that counts; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too. In all,the index takes 11

statistical significant indicators into account. They are a mixed bunch: some are fixed factors, such as geography; others change only very slowly over time (demography, many social and cultural characteristics); and some factors depend on policies and state of the world economy.

A forward-looking element comes into play,too. Although many of the drivers of the quality of life are slow changing, for this ranking some variables, such as income per head, need to be forecast. We use the EIU’S economic forecast to 2030, which is roughly when children born in 2013 will reach adulthood’, Mr.Kekic declared.

By co-incidence,the same magazine on page 81, published the Economic predictions of Nigeria’s Finance Minister,NgoziOkonjo-Iweala on Africa, Nigeria included.

In the article titled,Emerging from the Frontier, Mrs.Iweala said Nigeria, Ethiopia and Angola will have a robust economy in 2013.

She used all the economic jargons,typical of World Bank officials, which had never worked so far, to project Nigeria’s economic future in 2013.

Reading the two articles,I got addled and befuddled on who is credible and plausible.

If Mrs.Iweala, whom we regard as our economic miracle woman here, could be precise in her prediction, how come The Economist,was able to regard Nigeria as the worst place to be born in 2013, If she can not convince The Economist, how can she convince us all here.

Anyway time will tell whether Mrs. Iweala’s projection is a mere fantasy or day-dream typical of her or whether the findings of The Economic Intelligence

,

and swimming seems to be the most popular with the entire household swimming excellently and I keep wondering whether my oldest daughter, Innawuro, should not begin to compete with the hope that she might one day get to represent Nigeria and thus help revive that old dream of representation of our dear country! Of course, everybody has been very excited about the additional diversions, especially as they complained that there wasn’t enough sports in their boarding secondary schools.

Absence of sports in schools Late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto Nigerian world champion! I think going to work in broadcasting punctured that dream, because shift work just disrupted my ability to keep up with the training regime of the Kwara State team that I became part of. So at home, we encouraged the children to love sports

OPINION

BY ERIC TENIOLA

A lot of things raced through my mind and for the first time, I felt the need to make a resolution: stop smoking! So a few days later, at a minute to midnight on December 31, 1981, I stuffed out my last stick of cigarette and thirtyone years after, I have not smoked

UNIT could be precise and exact.

As they say, NAPOLEON IS ALWAYS RIGHT. But morning shows the day.

No American President has cared and loved Nigeria more than Bill Clinton. In and out of office, he has visited Nigeria several times.

In his 953 page book titled My Life which he wrote in 2004 after he left office, he revealed his hope for Nigeria while in power.

On page 856 of that book, he wrote,’ I got up at four in the morning to watch the inaugural ceremonies for Nigeria’s new president, former general OlusegunObasanjo, on TV. Ever since gaining independence, Nigeria had been riddled by corruption, regional and religious strife, and deteriorating social conditions. Despite its large oil production, the country suffered periodic power outages and fuel shortages. Obasanjo had taken power briefly in a military coup in the 1970s, then had kept his promise to step aside as soon as new elections could be held. Later, he had been imprisoned for his political views and, while incarcerated, had become a devout Christian and had written books about his faith. It was hard to imagine a bright future or sub-Saharan Africa without a more successful Nigeria, by far its most populous nation. After listening to his compelling inaugural address, I hoped Obasanjo would be able to succeed where others had failed’. That was vintage Bill Clinton on Nigeria in 2004. Has there been any improvement so far?

We are now in 2013, a fresh year and the year should offer us new opportunities and new challenges. Certainly 2013 should be a judgment year for Nigeria so as to avoid jumble and clutter in this country.Things can not go on as they are now.

*Mr. Teniola, a rtd director in the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

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t was that discussion about the neardisappearance of sports in schools, which made me tell tales about my days in secondary school. The Government Secondary School (GSS) Ilorin was one of the great public schools of Northern Nigeria and sport was central to our education: football; track and field; hockey; basketball; volleyball; badminton; lawn tennis; table tennis; squash and fives! We had the whole lot.

The kids asked me which was “fives”. It was a game the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto loved to play and encouraged in all the great schools of the North. Just by the Arewa House in Kaduna, are the courts where he used to play. Last Saturday I took the children there, as well as to the Sardauna’s old residence, to breathe life into lessons about our history. We toured the grounds where the Sardauna used to promenade as his generation of leaders attempted to build the society of post-colonial Nigeria.

On our way back home, one of the children asked if it was true that I wanted to be a railway driver, as a kid. I then told the story of the central place of the railways in the world that I was born into.

It was particularly poignant in the month the Nigeria Railways Corporation was re-launching its flagship Lagos-Kano route. In 1995, I did the Kano-Lagos trip, as a programme for the BBC’s TALES FROM THE TRACKS series, to commemorate a century of the railways in Africa. Apart from my trip, someone did the TAZARA; another reporter was on the OUAGADOUGOU “CHOUCHOU” and then the lovely BLUE TRAIN, which is one of the best trains in the world, in South Africa. My trip was expected to last 36hours, but we were on the train for five days! The train broke down in different stations on the route. That year, railways staff had not been paid for nine months; they were ripping parts from their trains to sell!

There’s a lot to catch up on, as we enter a New Year. Do you remember the old Chinese curse? “May you live in interesting times”. Happy 2013 and thanks for the privilege of allowing me to write for you every week!

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012 HOPES of 2013 being a better year than 2012 are built mostly on fragments of antiquated promises, worsened by public officers holding the public responsible for their lethargic performances.

“The task of making our dear nation a better place for present and future generations cannot be left to government alone. Leaders and followers alike have critical roles to play in our march towards the fulfilment of our great national potential,” President Goodluck Jonathan told Nigerians in a New Year message.

How are the people supposed to support a democracy that remembers them only during elections? What people-oriented projects were executed in 2012? Which ones are planned for 2013? The government is alienated from the people. It listens to itself and repeats speeches, further proof that it is not making much progress.

The alienation is such that either government has set very low standards for itself or the peoples’ expectations are too high.

Either way, government’s list of its achievements do not relate to realities of living in Nigeria. “We have in the last year achieved a lot in terms of the positive transformation of

Ho w TTo o Mak e 20 13 How Make 201 Wor k ork vital sectors of our national life such as public infrastructure, power supply, oil and gas, transportation, education, health and agricultural development,” President Jonathan said. Where did the transformations take place that Nigerians are unaware of them? Would transformation of oil and gas sector exclude uncertainty of fuel supplies and the sector’s fame for corruption? What specific projects did government execute in the areas it listed? Were they for the benefit of our people?

Unemployment is rising; manufacturing and industrialisation are shutting down on the wheels of exorbitant costs of doing business, particularly

electricity and the collapse of transportation systems which inhibit economic management of distribution of goods.

The public do not see the bases of the President’s optimism which could account for its near indifference to calls for more support for the administration.

People are getting poorer by the day. They are hungry. Harsh economic policies, often tailored to suit “our international friends” and insecurity, are hurting our people. Corruption further minimises chances that resources available to government would be applied to the common good.

Senate President David Bonaventure Achelenu Mark, “can see the light at the end of the tunnel”. Like President Jonathan, Mark argued that, “Those in elected offices cannot bring forth this light alone. Government alone cannot build a society where everyone is free and safe. We must come together to ensure a secure and progressive nation”.

Government needs to do more in 2013. For starts, it should stop speaking in general terms about its projects. How does one evaluate a “better year” without targets?

OPINION

BY EDWIN EKENE Continued from yesterday's Viewpoint pg

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ILL those lines remain the same if more states are created as the South –East desires and deserves? So why should we form a thesis and present its anti-thesis in the same document?

Thirdlly, it is almost like a return to the era of military government for a governor to arise and choose the zone to begin in an assumed zoning arrangement without the people themselves sitting together to negotiate and agree on the schedule, the term due to each zone and what the state must do in case they come across bad or inept leadership. To do that is to leave crisis as a recipe because we shall inherit unresolved issues in a state that is not known to sit down around the table and resolve issues when they break, but rather prefer unfortunately to petition outsiders to decide their matter. It is needless to emphasise that those who should decide on a matter like this should have the mandate of those they represent.

The constitution of Anambra State of Nigeria (3) They have to be elected, with only a few expert appointments to enrich the discussion.

Fourth and finally, the language deployed by ABS which ought to speak for Anambra, not Obi is amazing. Why would politicians in pursuit of their inalienable right to aspire to be governors be described as ‘disgruntled elements’. Why should these persons give up their aspiration in exchange for nothing and not based on the outcome of any negotiation? Is that Peter Obi’s understanding of democracy? Many have argued that the latest chorus being sang by Obi and his supporters is simply to appoint a successor who would cover up his tracks and such people whose confidence he has as close associates today come form Anambra North Senatorial zone, namely Obaze, who has been discredited by his own party, Oseloka Obaze, Dubem’s elder brother who currently serves as secretary to the

state government, Paul Odenigbo, his immediate predecessor and surprisingly Stella Oduah,Minister of Aviation.

T

he corollary to this trend of thought is that there are very competent candidates in other zones who Obi would rather not wish to succeed him, irrespective of how popular they may be and therefore finds in ‘the campaign promise I made in 2010’ a convenient platform to play the game of exclusion. Do not ask me if Obi has any right to promise any zone governorship of Anambra State.

Nothing in my essay should be seen as excluding the right of the governor to groom a probable successor, which the people must vote into office if he (Obi) convinces them that his legacy as a governor of Anambra state is worth continuing and that better alternatives are not waiting elsewhere. That is the essence of our democracy which we

need to protect with all the blood in our veins.

My take is that Obi should invest all the energy being used to preach an unbroached,undiscussed and unagreed zoning mandate into the inevitable, desirable and deserving efforts to get Anambra State to discuss their political future, broker consensus on all essential issues-not necessarily on zoning alone- and translate the agreements into ‘The Constitution of Anambra State of Nigeria’.

This one-man zoning project may not be as easy as waking up one day and changing the ‘Home for All ‘slogan of the state to ‘Light of the Nation’. Don’t get me wrong, indeed we are the light of the nation. We can be as many more things as we want, except that in our democracy and all democracies the process is as important, if not more important than the outcome.

Concluded Dr. Ozue, a political analyst, wrote from Nnwei, Anambra State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—19

, I

S it really necessary to remind ourselves that in government, what people intend is often different from what they bring about? In trying to evaluate a governmental action, one ought to consider likely, even if unintended, consequences.

Quite often, governments do the same thing, the same old way, while expecting different results.

We have been at a loss to understand why, back to Governor Peter Odili's years in Rivers State, a large cache of sophisticated arms and ammunitions was recovered from militants of that era who were beating a retreat from militancy and the weapons were set ablaze.

Yet, we kept complaining that our military and our police force lacked the type of sophisticated weapons that we were setting ablaze. At a point, we virtually surrendered to men of the underworld because of their sophisticated weaponry.

As we approach the area of the Nigerian Customs, it becomes

more difficult to place appropriate actions. The propensity to burn those exotic cars that are seized as illegal imports may be very low.

Such would be better auctioned out at ridiculously low prices or given out as birthday presents to friends and relations. As long as it serves the deterrent end of discouraging illegal importation, of course, why not?

Cartons of frozen turkey or chicken could be more combustible than vehicles. Or rather, there is the practice of burying the seized products. It may not matter much if the buried products are exhumed as soon as the officials turn their back.

Burials here may be fulfilling all righteousness as a good percentage of the seized products may have found their way to the market before the burial arrangements.

On Wednesday, 12 December 2012, eleven tankers used for bunkering activities in Edo State were destroyed by security agencies. Evidently, it is bad

,

enough that certain elements would go and plunder the common wealth of the whole people. It is also painful that vandals would consistently engage in stealing crude oil and other petroleum products in spite of the risk involved.

On 26/12/12, a barge laden with smuggled crude burnt in Warri waters, courtesy the vigilant JTF. Again, if we were to scratch our body the way it itches, we would end up bruising the entire body.

That is why we would want to dwell on the available methods of destruction: Maximum, medium and minimum destructions. In most cases, decisions are made without public scrutiny of costbenefit analysis.

N

o matter how one looks at it, the destruction of eleven tankers would result in a colossal waste. The mathematics would be quite simple:First, we are looking

Anenih and the race for BoT chairmanship seat

BY GADI NUHU

A

S the race for who occupies the seat as the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) heightens ahead of the election on January 8, 2013, it is becoming obvious by the day that the former (BOT) chairman and now chairman board Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Tony Anenih is the right man for the job for numerous incontrovertible reasons no matter what some people might think. It could be recall that before the dieminute suspension of the election into the chairmanship of the board sometimes towards the end of last year to allow for greater participation of interested contenders for the plum seat, the odds had already favoured Anenih, a man seen by majority members of the board as a seasoned leader with vision.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) being the soul and conscience of the ruling PDP needs an experience, committed and revered personality like Anenih who has since his unblemished retirement from the Nigeria Police and subsequently foray into the murky water of the country proved to be a star among the stars in political thinking, permutation and strategy for the good of the Nigerian society. No wonder, he has established himself as an icon in Nigeria's politics and democracy, a development that has endeared him to Nigerians from different works of life.

It is obvious that the BoT chairmanship seat of the ruling party is not for the chicken hearted or a position for political decampees, upstarts or greenhorns who are jostling for it now. With the glaring political atmosphere in the country ahead of the 2015 election, especially with the merger talks among the opposition parties

that want to wrestle power from PDP by all means, the party needs a bridge builder like Anenih who will keep the party together, focused and visionary. It could also be recalled that when he was the BoT chairman before his sudden removal which was instigated by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo who wanted to occupy the seat for life after being president, the party was united and stronger.

It was clear that his abrupt removal as (BoT) was instrumental to the party’s loss of some states like Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano, Abia, Imo and others to opposition parties in the 2007 general elections.

This was because the party was overwhelmed by internal crisis before the election and there was no grassroot mobiliser and strategic thinker like Anenih to put the party back to track before the election. Obasanjo’s military/ fire brigade approach to the crisis worsened the situation and the party paid dearly for it in the general election. It was that singular mistake by the Obasanjo’s administration that is still affecting the fortunes of the party in some states across the country, especially Edo, where Anenih has been working tirelessly to rebuild the party again.

I recall that when Anenih ventured into politics during the second republic, he had ample opportunity to contest elective positions where he could directly control the resources coming into the government coffer without being accountable to anybody as being witnessing in some states presently, he resisted it for humanity sake, rather he preferred to empower others politically especially the downtrodden to give them voice in the society. That is why it was easy for him to build a strong reputation and charisma

,

One bad turn deserves another

Our appreciation of the vigilant people of the State should not remain at the level of abstraction; from the sales of the products, they must be empowered to remain ever more vigilant

at the liquid content of at least 330,000 litres of crude, granting that each tanker was carrying 30,000 litres. Secondly, putting each tanker at a conservative cost of N10 million, the cost of the 11 destroyed trucks would be N110 million. Then, there is the allied cost of destruction – man hour plus cost of procuring condemned tyres and other fire enhancers. This could easily come to another N5 million.

Other hidden costs, which would come in the form of negative effects on the people and the environment, are not easily quantifiable in Naira. For all we know, considerable damage has been done to the soil and the total environment where the burning took place. In the next 15 years or more, nothing will grow there.

Although in a smaller form, what we had in the place of burning and its precinct was a re-enactment of the infamous Odi disaster of the Obasanjo years.

After that, we shall look at the depletion of the ozone layer and the consequent green house effect as well as the health hazard posed by that singular act not only to the inhabitants of the area but also to all those who were in the area on the day of the burning.

We shall now return to the modes of destruction. A less refined society would have opted for the maximum method of destruction in which case, they would have bundled the bunkerers into the tankers and burnt down everything. As it were, such society would have thrown away the bath water, the bath tub and the baby!

Thank God, we have outgrown that crude level.

Instead, we opted for the medium destruction method. This involved the sparing of the lives of the

Even when some people mischievously and politically try to drag his name in the mud for selfish political reasons, he has always come out to put the records straight to the chagrin and shame of his detractors

,

around himself as a party leader and has numerous followers across the country.

Anenih has been more of a selfless politician who deploys his personal resources to build his party to win elections without asking for anything in return other than good governance. That was why since his foray into politics, he has never been on the wrong side of it, as his party has always been the ruling party at the centre, courtesy of his combined efforts with other like minds across the country. He never believe or subscribe to political harlotry as is the case with most Nigerian politicians, rather he is always steadfast and committed to his party ideologies and principles. This is the major reason every government in power has always recognise his importance in the political equation and administration of the party and the country.

I

t is on record that in all the positions entrusted in him since he joined politics, he has always performed his duties to the best of his knowledge and abilities.

That is why he has not been on trial or indicted by any of the anti-corruption

bunkerers. Let them go and face the law while all items used for the bunkering escapade got destroyed, if only to drive home the point that anyone who wants to use his vehicles for criminal activities stands the risk of having them destroyed when apprehended.

On the whole, however, we recommend the minimum mode of destruction, which is more humane and more environmentfriendly. This method involves the sale of the liquid contents to the oil companies which will be very ready to buy them instead of striking a match on them.

Secondly, rather than set the vehicles aflame, they should be sold at a public auction in which the auctioneer and the government would make money and the vehicles would still be useful to humanity. The psychological and deterrent value of this is enormous: For instance, each time the original owner of the vehicles sees them, he would be further tormented to the marrow of his bones, unlike the case of outright destruction where the pains would be felt once and for all.

Thirdly, this method obviates all negative effects involved in burning. We have no moral right to talk of poverty if we are destroying the little we already have. Destruction by fire is arson – a clear case of one bad turn deserving another!

Our appreciation of the vigilant people of the State should not remain at the level of abstraction. From the sales of the products, they must be empowered to remain ever more vigilant. After all, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. And true vigilance cannot be sustained for too long in an empty stomach.

agencies or law courts. Even when some people mischievously and politically try to drag his name in the mud for selfish political reasons, he has always come out to put the records straight to the chagrin and shame of his detractors.

While some cynics are already whipping up sentiments to the effect that he is too old to occupy the seat and that he hails from the same geo-political zone with President Goodluck Jonathan, they failed to remember that he was the BoT chairman when Obasanjo was President of the country, and that BoT chairman being more of an advisory organ in the party is not among the political offices zoned by the party since 1999. What is most important at this point in time is to put a square peg in square hole for the good of the party and Nigerians.

The issue of which geo-political zone produces the chairman of BoT is a puerile arguement. Thus, emphasis should be on the qualities of the personality and what his choice or emegence portends for the party now and in future. Again, even if such argument is to hold water, it means that all the contenders from Southeast zone should withdraw from the race, because the zone has the position of deputy senate president, deputy speaker of House of Representatives and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SSG), while the Southwest zone has produced President for eight years and BoT Chairman for four years. On the other issue of age, it is often say that age is a blessing and it goes with experiences.

Besides, one needs to occupy positions to garner experiences, and at the same time needs experience to succeed in a position of authority, Anenih has it all and had seen it all, the bad and the ugly in the country’s politics, so he has what it takes to take PDP to the next level as its BoT Chairman.

*Mr. Nuhu, a political analyst , wrote fromSabon-gari, Kano State.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,,2013

Debate of the masses

Security dogs suffering from kwashiorkor

BY EBELE ORAKPO

From left: Dr. Olumide Sojinrin, Assistant Director Medical Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Rotn Gyorgyi Akinyooye and Rotn Olubayo Windapo, President, Rotary Club of Gbagada during the donation of Resuscitaire and celebration of Christmas with patients of Gbagada General Hospital by the Rotary Club of Gbagada

Rotary brings succour to the sick at Christmas •Donates resuscitaire to Gbagada General hospital

BY LAJA THOMAS

F

OR patients and staff of Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, the just concluded Christmas celebration will remain evergreen in their memories for a long time to come.

It was not because they received a miracle of healing and were subsequently discharged from the hospital but because they joined other healthy Nigerians to mark the Yuletide in a special way, courtesy of Rotary Club of Gbagada.

The patients who before the carnival-like celebration seemed abandoned to their fate, beamed with smiles and satisfaction as each of them received gift items from members of the Club who had come to the hospital to share the joy of the season with them.

The Rotarians drummed, sang and danced as they moved from one ward to the other to share God’s love with these sick folks.

The Club also made a donation of a Resuscitaire and 50 insecticide treated mosquito nets to the hospital.

The President of the Club Dr. Olubayo Windapo told newsmen that it was the tradition in the Rotary Club of Gbagada to visit the General Hospital to celebrate with the in-patients. “Here is the Children ward which is our own baby. The block was built by the Rotary Club of Gbagada and donated in 1992 when PDG Niji Raji was the President. Every year, we come here to celebrate with the patients and we make donations at the same time. This C M Y K

year, we are donating a Resuscitaire, which is a machine for resuscitating premature babies. We are donating a unit to the hospital. Also our younger generation, Rotaract Club of Gbagada will be donating 50 insecticide treated mosquito nets,” he said Continuing, Dr. Windapo said: “We are here to lift up the spirit of the in-patients. You could see some of them dancing, even those who are supposed to be in serious pains are celebrating.

The essence of Rotary is to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged and indigents in our society. In our Club, attention is

,

er resuscitaire, which we are going to use for the children’s ward.

The resuscitaires have helped us a lot. In fact, they started with incubators. The club brought incubators before the resuscitaries.

Incubators have helped a lot because initially we had to transfer babies to another hospital. But with the incubators, we can have our own babies and we don’t have to transfer premature babies out of the Gbagada General hospital.”

While appreciating the efforts of the Rotary Club in bringing succour to the health sector, the

This year, we are donating a Resuscitaire, which is a machine for resuscitating premature babies

really on the youth this year”.

Also speaking, the Apex Nurse of the Hospital, Mrs Rachael Oyaide commended the club for the gesture. “Rotary Club has been our partner for a very longtime. They have been identifying with us, especially during Christmas. They normally come here to celebrate with us. What we usually do is to let the patients feel the spirit of Christmas.

We want them to know that we care and that is why we don’t abandon them on a day like this,” she said.

Describing the Club’s gesture as magnanimous, Mrs Oyaide recalled that “last year, they brought a resuscitaire. This year again, they have brought anoth-

,

representative of the Lagos State government, Dr. Olumide Sojinrin, an assistant director, medical services in the Ministry of Health said the state government is ready to partner with Rotary Club in the health sector. She promised to forward the request of the Club for a parcel of land to build a befitting Children ward for the hospital, to the appropriate government agency.

Aside for the donation of a unit of resuscitaire, 50 insecticide treated mosquito nets and gift items to in-patients of the hospital, deserving nursing sisters were also rewarded for their diligence, cleanliness and professionalism in the discharge of their duties at the various wards.

beautiful. I wished I owned one,” stated Ahmed.

“Come o, are these not “Abeg shut up. You the dogs they brought in think say na easy thing from the United States a to own such dogs? These few months ago?” asked are not Bingos oo, the Okey, a passenger in the type that feed on excreta Wuse-bound bus as he in the villages. These sighted some sick-lookones eat balanced diet ing dogs being led by and take food supplesome policemen along ments,” said Abel. the road.

“What breed are they?”

“Replied Ahmed; “Of asked Ebun. course! Na dem nah!”

“Oh, they were Alsa“How come they are tians,” replied Ahmed. looking so emaciated “What do you mean and so small compared to they were Alsatians?” the healthy-looking roasked everyone laughbust dogs that arrived the ing. shores of Nigeria few “Do these things look months ago?” asked anything like Alsatians?

Okey, perplexed. “Even They were Alsatians bedogs from Afghanistan or fore but now, they look Somalia will not look like more like ‘bend down sethis!” lect’. The alsa has gone “Stress! Who does not from their name, na only know the degree of stress tians remain,” joked Merboth humans and anicy. mals go through in Ni“Poor things! They are geria on daily basis?” really suffering. So much questioned Ahmed. work with little pay. Why “What stress!?” asked did they import them Okey, to which Ahmed when they knew they replied thus; “Boko would not be able to adeHaram, insecurity, hunquately care for them?” ger, corruption, armed asked Hassan. robbery, kidnapping etc.

“Do you think there is Are they not enough no monthly allocation for stress for the inhabitants, their feeding? It’s possiespecially the security ble that some big shot is agents?” misappropriating the “But seriously, these money. Monkey dey dogs look like they are work, Baboon dey chop. suffering from kwashI pity the handlers beiokor. I am sure they are cause one of these days, not being fed,” noted the dogs will use them for Hassan. lunch,” said Abel.

“The truth is that they Said Biodun; “No. They do not get enough rest. are trained dogs from a They are always out cultured society.” working, looking for se”Bros, cultured no dey for curity threats like undetthe hungry man’s dictioonated bombs, explosive nary. A hungry man is an devices and bad guys?” angry man,” said Abel. commented Ebun. ”That’s very true. They “Their brothers in othshould be very careful. er countries do more Like the Igbos will say, work and yet look ‘giving the monkey a cup healthy because they are of water is not the issue, well cared for,” said the issue is getting your Okey. cup back,” said Mercy.

“Wallahi, you needed “It’s easy to acquire these to have seen these dogs exotic dogs but caring for when they entered this them costs an arm and a country. They were so leg.”

CONTACT: mykeboh@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 — 21

Oil communities insist on physical assessment by NEITI

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

O

IL producing communi ties in six states of the country have called for physical allocations and statutory disbursement audit of the extractive industry from 2007 to 2011 by the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI). They said this would enable the auditors have firsthand knowledge of what is on ground in the communities.

In a press statement signed on behalf of the communities

by Chief William Igere (Delta State), Pastor MaacPherson Kurobo (Bayelsa State), Chief Harry Opaks (Rivers State); Saviour James Okon (Akwa Ibom State), Princess Nomwen Uhunmwunagho (Edo State) and Comrade Samuel Ebiwanno (Ondo State), they emphasised that it is illegal and unconstitutional to pay 13 percent Derivation Fund to any state government account.

“This illegal and unconstitutional payment of 13 percent Derivation Fund through the state governments has left the actual oil and gas producing communities in abject poverty. The state governments which received this money illegally used the fund to develop their state capitals and non oil and gas producing communities, leaving the actual oil and gas producing communities in hunger and penury.

“In the light of the above, we therefore appeal to NEITI to interface with the oil and gas producing communities in their audit and investigation of the 13 percent Derivation Fund. We wish to affirm in very strong terms that any report or audit investigation without physical visit to the communities hosting oil facilities is unacceptable to the communities,” they posited.

The community leaders noted that the physical visit of

NEITI to the communities would enable the organisation ascertain the level of environmental degradation, health hazards, pollution, poverty and hunger, heightened by massive unemployment among the youths of the oil and gas producing communities.

They also expressed appreciation to all institutions they wrote letters to on the 13 percent Derivation Fund disbursed through the federation

account to the producing states including Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Engr. Elias Mbam, who confirmed that the 13 percent Derivation Fund belongs exclusively to the oil and gas producing communities and not the state governments.

T

he group equally com mended President Goodluck Jonathan for directing the audit of all oil revenues includ-

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga being shown the production process of Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC), Infantry Command Vehicle, Tactical Armoured Vehicle, Armoured Helmet and vest by Mr. Adetokunbo Ogundeyin, Group Managing Director, PROFORCE during the inspection of the factory in Ogun State.

FG to hire 1,000 inspectors to monitor Weights & Measures policy

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

T

HE Federal government has con cluded plans to hire 1,000 inspectors (field officials) to police its weights and measures policy across the country, which is meant to ensure accuracy in weighing and measuring in Nigeria.

Engr. Mohammed Sidi, Acting Director Legal Metrology, Weights and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, who disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists recently in Abuja, said that a thousand inspectors (about 28 inspectors per each state of the federation including Abuja) are needed for effective monitoring and compliance to

the laws by businesses across all sectors of the economy.

“From a consumer’s perspective, a kilogram of rice must be a kilogram and no less; a motorist needs to trust the volume delivered by a petrol pump; and mobile telephone user need to trust that one minute airtime must be one minute and no less,” he said.

He explained that the inspectors’ will be guided by metering standards puts in place by the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) based in Paris.

“Nigeria and most nations are members of this body and one of its functions is to verify and certify national base standards at regular interval.

“These are kept in turn by the weights

and measures depart of the ministry.

From the base standards other standards of prescribed tolerance are derived, maintained and verified at regular intervals as prescribed by the weights and measures ACT. This is why it is assured that a certified weights and measure of any magnitude in Nigeria will be the same in other parts of the world,” he said.

He explained that accurate measurement otherwise known as Legal Metrology is very vital in ensuring that all trade transactions in all sectors of the economy are accurate, fair and legal in line with international best practice, and also provides protection of public safety, the environment, consumers and traders.

ing the 13 percent Derivation Fund disbursed through the Federation Account to ascertain the utilization of the fund and also NEITI for its preparedness to carry out the directive of the President on full audit and investigation of the 13 percent Derivation Fund early in January 2013.

“Above all, our gratitude and appreciation goes to our National Leader Chief. (Dr) E. K. Clark for setting the record straight in its massive press statement affirming the position of the Chairman Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission that 13 percent Derivation Fund belongs exclusively to the oil and gas producing communities. They went further to advice the Federal Government to stop the payment of the Derivation Fund to any state government saying it was unconstitutional.

He also advised that the Derivation Fund should be directly paid to the oil and gas producing communities through administrative committee” they added.

In their letter to the Executive Secretary NEITI, dated 19th November, 2012, the communities restated that the legal position is that the 13 percent Derivation Fund was not part of any consolidated revenue to any tier of government nor part of state/local government joint account as 13 percent Derivation Fund is the first charge on the Federation Account as provided in Section 162 (2) of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “13 percent Derivation Fund was prior to any revenue formula. We insisted that 13 percent Derivation Fund exists before any revenue formula or revenue sharing by the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC),” they said.

146.25

-1.65

2,252.00

-3.00

19.42

-0.03

110.18

-0.62

90.62

-0.25

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.77 155.27 POUNDS 250.2476 251.0561 EURO 204.1107 204.7701 FRANC 169.0367 169.5828 YEN 1.7957 1.8015 CFA 0.2935 0.3035 WAUA 2238.3891 239.1593 RENMINBI 24.8398 24.9205 RIYA 41.2632 41.3965 KRONA 27.3561 27.4445 SDR 237.866 238.6345

SELLING 155.77 251.8645 205.4295 170.1289 1.8073 0.3135 239.9294 25.0012 41.5298 27.5329 239.4029

CBN Exchange rate as at 2/01/2013

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Wall St upbeat on signs of potential deal

W

From left: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Ace comedian, Atuyota Akporobomeriere a.k.a. Ali Baba; Tunde Adewale, a.k.a. Tee A and Mandy Uzonitsha, pioneer female stand-up comedian, at the Year End Trade Closing Ceremony of the Exchange, in Lagos.

Stockbrokers link bullish trend to low yields from govt securities

BY PETER EGWUATU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

S

OME capital market operators have attributed the 1.2 per cent growth recorded last week by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to renewed interest in the equities market.

Stockbrokers stated that market growth followed decline in yields from treasury bills and government bonds. The stockbrokers in separate interviews said that the new stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to tackle inflation and rising debt profile contributed to the market growth.

It would be recalled that Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the CBN Governor, on Dec. 26, 2012 warned Federal Government to stop accumulating debts for future generations. Sanusi said that the current level of debt, if unchecked, could cause hardship for future generations.

Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the Managing Director, Trust Yield Investment Ltd., said that investors were moving funds away from money market because of the Sanusi’s remarks on the increasing debt stock. Yussuf said that investors were also moving away from

government securities to equities in anticipation of apex bank’s review of the monetary policies in 2013.

He said that opportunities in the market were enormous and that institutional investors were taking positions in the market ahead of 2013. Yussuf said that the market was closing on a positive note this December for the first time since the market crashed.

Mr. Emeka Madubuike, the Managing Director of Compass Securities Ltd.,

said that improved results declared by quoted companies boosted investor confidence in the market.

Madubuike said that both retail and institutional investors increased their participation in the market so as to be part of the success story.

Mr. Wale Idowu, a stockbroker, said that the reforms introduced into the market needed to be sustained for sustainable growth. He said that there was the need for more

investor education to increase local participation.

NAN reports that the All Share index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange rose last week by 1.69 per cent to close at 27,866.51 against 27,402.05 recorded in the preceding week. Also, the market capitalisation of the listed equities grew by N147 billion to close at N8.907 trillion. This was against the decline of N90.95 billion recorded in the preceding week to close at N8.76 trillion.

ALL Street stocks climbed higher in the 2012 final trading day as investors reacted positively to signs of a potential deal in Washington to avert the looming fiscal cliff.

The S&P 500 rose 1.7 per cent to 1,426.20 in New York, closing near a session high and recording its best single day gain since mid-November.

The strong gains came as reports said policy makers were inching closer to a possible deal to avoid $600bn of automatic tax increases and spending cuts set to start in the new year.

Terms of a possible deal between leading Democrats and Republicans emerged just after midday, while President Barack Obama said a budget deal was “within sight”.

The benchmark finished the year with a 13.4 per cent gain, a significant improvement compared with a year ago when it finished flat.

But heading into Monday’s trade, the S&P 500 had declined in five consecutive trading sessions as fears that politicians might fail to resolve the fiscal cliff before a midnight deadline intensified of late. Signs of renewed hopes over a potential deal before the deadline helped lower a key indicator often referred to as Wall Street’s unofficial “fear gauge”. The CBOE’s Vix Index, which measures implied volatility on S&P 500 options contracts, fell 20.7 per cent to the 18 level its biggest drop in 16 months amid record trading.

Still, as reports of progress in last minute talks emerged out of Washington early on Monday, investors warned that other outstanding policy matters await.

Morgan Stanley buys North Sea Forties Crude; Shell, Total Bid M ORGAN Stanley bought a cargo of North Sea Forties crude from BP Plc at the highest price in more than a week, while Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Total SA placed unsuccessful bids for cargoes.

Supplies from Angola will increase this month while output from Nigeria will fall, according to researcher JBC Energy GmbH. Morgan Stanley paid 45 cents more than Dated Brent for a shipment of Forties, F0108, loading on Jan. 14 to Jan. 16, a Bloomberg survey of traders and brokers monitoring the Platts pricing window showed. That’s the highest since Dec. 20, when a Forties lot traded at a 60 cent premium. BP had bought lot F0108 at parity to the

benchmark on Dec. 24.

Shell bid 55 cents more than Dated Brent for a cargo loading on Jan. 14 to Jan. 16 and a second consignment on Jan. 19 to Jan. 21. Total bid 30 cents more than the benchmark for a shipment on Jan. 23 to Jan. 28, according to the survey.

Trafigura Beheer BV offered a consignment of Forties on Jan. 21 to Jan. 28 at 85 cents more than Dated Brent, without finding a buyer.

Reported crude trading typically occurs during the Platts window, which ended at 12:30 p.m. London time today, earlier than its usual finish of 4:30 p.m. because of the New Year holiday. Forties loading in 10 to 25 days was 4 cents less than Dated Brent

on Dec. 28, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That compares with a 9 cent discount on Dec. 27.

Brent for February settlement traded at $109.55 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London at the close of the window, compared with $110 in the previous session. The March contract was at $108.37 a discount of $1.18 to February.

There were no bids or offers for Russian Urals grade, according to the Platts survey. The Urals differential to Dated Brent in the Mediterranean was at minus $1.01 on Dec. 28, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. In northwest Europe, the discount to Dated Brent was at $1.35, the data showed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—23

World Bank chides Nigeria, others over poor statistics T

HE World Bank has decried the quality and relevance of data from Nigeria and other African countries, which it described as largely obsolete.

The bank’s Director, Department of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Programmes, Africa, Mr. Marcelo Giugale, stated this in a report at the weekend.

He expressed concern that a lot of money had been invested in improving statistics in a lot of countries in the continent, explaining that most of that money came as donations from

well-meaning rich countries.

He said a report tagged: ‘Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century,’ had revealed that between 2009 and 2011, Africa received $700 million to build up its capacity to collect data. He stressed that communication technology is what would revolutionise African statistics.

Giugale added: “First, we don’t really know how big (or small) many African economies are. In about half of them, the system of “national accounts” dates back to the 1960s (1968, to

be precise); in the other half, it is from 1993. This means that measuring things like how much is produced, consumed or invested is done with methods from the times when computers were rare, the Internet did not exist and nobody spoke about “globalisation. That is, the methodology ignores the fact that some industries have disappeared and new ones were born.

“How badly does this skew the data? Well, to give you an idea, when Ghana used a newer methodology to update its accounts

in 2010, it found out that its economy was about 60 per cent bigger than it had previously thought - and the country instantly became “middle-income” in the global ranking.

“Second, the latest poverty counts for Africa are,

on average, five years old.

So we only have guesstimates of how the global financial, food and fuel crises have impacted the distribution of income, wealth and opportunities in the region. This is because, to count the poor, you need

“household surveys” those face-to-face, home visits where people are asked how much they earn, own, know and so on. In fifteen African countries, this has been done only once since 2000.”

We’re committed to enhance service delivery to stakeholders — GTBank

BY PETER EGWUATU

G

UARANTY Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) has restated its commit-

ment to enhance service delivery and provide safety of stakeholders’ funds as it prepares for the 2013 financial year.

The Bank, in a statement said it had installed modern technology and also introduced a number of internal procedures that would enable it identify spurious transactions and prevent frauds on customer accounts.

In his comment, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said the bank was committed to ensure its customers are shielded from the escalating incidence of online and other forms of fraud being experienced within the industry.

According to him, “We

have introduced several new processes internally, which I cannot disclose that make it more difficult for fraudsters to have access to our customer accounts. Additionally we have a mutually beneficial relationship with law enforcement agencies, such as the Nigerian Police Force that enable us identify potential fraudsters and apprehend them before they act.”

According to the GTBank boss, the constant review of the bank’s security infrastructure and processes were pivotal to its recent success in discovering frauds and foiling attempts, which could have translated to huge losses for the bank.

Major banks close to big settlement on home loans

T

HE United States reg ulators are close to securing another multibillion-dollar settlement with the largest banks to resolve allegations that they unlawfully cut corners when foreclosing on delinquent borrowers, a source familiar with the talks said.

The settlement with five big banks would be part of a larger deal that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) hopes will include 14 banks and total about $10 billion, the source said.

Such a settlement would address an outstanding issue that was left unsettled after the $25 billion deal that the banks reached in February with the Justice Department, housing authorities, and state attorneys general.

In 2011, the OCC had separately required the big banks to “look back” and compensate borrowers wrongfully foreclosed upon in 2009 and 2010. It appears that the case-bycase analysis is proving too cumbersome, and the banks are instead opting for a lump-sum settlement.

The top five mortgage lenders — Bank of America Corp, Wells Fargo & Co, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc and Ally Financial Inc — may reach a deal in the coming days, the source said.

The largest banks would pay the majority of the $10 billion target. That money would be paid out to a group of borrowers foreclosed upon during the period of time covered by the review, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The OCC and the banks are still negotiating how to calculate individual payouts, the source said, adding that regulators will give the banks credit for compensation they have already given borrowers as part of ongoing foreclosure reviews.

“The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is committed to ensuring the Independent Foreclosure Review proceeds efficiently and to ensuring harmed borrowers are compensated as quickly as possible,” the OCC said in a statement.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

2012 in review:

For Trade & Investment sector, it’s 50-50 This report highlights some of the positive and negative development in the Trade and Investment sector of the economy over the last 12 months, and stakeholders’ expectation for 2013.

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

New investments

T

HE Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, look back and said that the problem of insecurity didn’t stop the flow of new investments into the country as $8.9 billion foreign direct investment was recorded during the year under review.

“The sector made significant achievements within the last one year. In terms of investment inflow, at least 30 per cent of the investments coming into Africa come to Nigeria, which makes the country number one investment destination in Africa.

But what makes this very important is that it does not include oil and gas investment, it is in the real sector of the economy,” he said.

Ease of doing business Similarly, the country was rated 6th best place among top ten countries with favourable investment climates for small businesses to thrive.

The result came from a survey of more than 24,000 people across 24 countries. It was conducted for the BBC by the International survey firm Globascan together with International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, U.S.A. The report said that corruption, notwithstanding, Nigeria is the 6th most favourable place for entrepreneurs to start business.

The survey ranked Indonesia first most favourable country for entrepreneurs, followed by United States of America, Canada, India and Australia and Nigeria Alhaji Bello Mahmud, Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, attributed this feat to the

Commission’s investment in ICT infrastructure.

“As you are aware, CAC is charged with the responsibility of registration of companies, business names and incorporated trustees. ICT infrastructure ensures greater efficiency of the system and high data integrity. In order to actualize its ICT thrusts, the Commission embarked on a total upgrade of its WAN from VSAT –based network to a more reliable fiber based system this was meant to improve availabili-

,

position of not only self sufficiency today but indeed potential net exporter of the product.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, noted: “With this achievement, the era of cement importation into the country is over as we now have capacity to surpass local demand.

In 2011, the total national demand for cement was 17.0 mmtpa. The current combined capacity of Dangote Cement plants alone is over 20 mmtpa and total installed

The recent increase in the price of electricity tariff, LPFO, AGO should be addressed including downward review of corporate tax to 20 percent and removal of VAT on raw materials

,

ty and also enhance transactions.”

Success story in cement sector

I

n his own assessment, Engr. Joseph Makoju, Chairman, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), said: “This year 2012 is the year when as a result of the 2002 Federal Government’s backward integration policy in cement production, we have seen installed local cement production capacity rise exponentially from 3.0 million metric tons per annum in 2003 to 18.5 million metric tons per annum with another 12 million metric tons expected from the expansion and new plants currently under construction across the country by the manufacturers.”

This, he said, has moved the country from the position of the world’s leading importer of cement in 2006 to a

•Kola Jamadu

•Olusegun Aganga

local production capacity now stands at 28.0 mmtpa.

“In fact, we are currently engaged in converting our import terminals to export terminals in readiness to export our excess capacity in cement to neighbouring West African countries, where there is a cement deficit. I am delighted that Nigeria is today transforming from being one of the biggest importers of cement in the world into an exporting nation, within a short while,” he said.

New electricity tariff

M

oving away from the positive side, conversely, the year was challenging for manufacturing companies as a result of the newly introduced electricity tariff; high level of smuggling and multiple taxes.

During the year under review, industries across the

country felt the negative impact of the new electricity tariff which they say eroded their profits margin as operating cost increased by 440 percent. The new tariff was introduced in June 2012 by Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

According to the Managing Director of Alind Nigeria Limited, a private limited company based in Bauchi, before June 2012, the company was classified as 03 (industrial) for tariff classification and paid a fixed charge of N43, 471 and an average monthly electricity bill of N110, 000. However, after the introduction of the new electricity tariff in June, 2012, their classification moved to D4, and they now pay a fixed charge of N106, 000 and an average electricity bill of N212, 231, representing 143 percent and 93 percent increases in the fixed charge and average electricity bill, respectively.

Multiple taxes

T

he Chairman, Manu facturers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Branch, Dr. Dolapo Ogutuga, commented on the menace of multiple taxes during the year: “On continuous basis, local government councils, regulatory agencies of government came out with one form of taxation, levies or charges which stalled operations of factories to a near halt.

The year was also challenging for the manufacturing due to security challenges caused by the Boko-Haram sect. The effect of this development is that supplies of product to the Northern states were adversely affected. This affected the manufacturing business in the country as companies had to maintain higher inventories,” he said.

Expectations for 2013

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oncerning stakehold ers’ expectation for 2013, Chief Kola Jamodu, President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, said they would like to see new manufacturing investments spring up and some old manufacturing plants revived this year. In 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned some new manufacturing investments in Lagos, Ogun, Imo, Rivers, Enugu and Anambra states. This is a welcome development for the manufacturing sector and I look forward to seeing more of such happening in all states of the federation soonest.”

He said that the stakeholders also wants long term loans at lower single digit interest rate and zero percent duty on all manufacturing machinery and equipment to facilitate retooling and replacement of obsolete parts; the recent increase in the price of electricity tariff, LPFO, AGO should also be addressed including downward review of corporate tax to 20 percent and removal of VAT on raw materials,” he said.

So far, now that the achievements and challenges recorded in the outgoing year have been juxtaposed, how would you rate the performance of the sector? Perhaps, the performance is 50, 50.

In the words of Mr. Yinka Akande, Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, not all is negative about Nigeria; there are a lot of good things happening in the economy. It’s high time we amply our successes and downplays the negatives.

Let’s stop being negative as opinion molders. This is the only way to build confidence in the economy.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 — 25

responsibilities.

“Moreso, only N60 billion of this is for capital project and you begin to wonder how many modern libraries or science laboratories this would be able to build. How many standard lecture theatres or students’ hostels can it build?

"This amount will not even be enough to provide adequate infrastructures in the nine new federal universities not to talk of the existing tertiary institutions in the country that are in different states of abject disrepair.”

One might not need to hire the services of a long bearded prophet to guess that more Nigerians will troop out of the country in search for quality education.

Managing Director of LADOL, Dr Amy Jadesimi, Mr Papa Omotayo & NEF Executive Director, Mr Yemi Osilaja with some of the participants of the Youth Leadership Training at NEYOCA.

Education 2013: Projecting the sector’s strides

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI, DAYO ADESULU, LAJU ARENYEKA & IKENNA ASOMBA

A

t the beginning of 2012, it would have taken an entire team of the most brilliant professors in the nation’s education sector to predict the twists and turns that the sector would face.

Even then, most events that graced the headlines of education newspapers would have taken such a team by surprise. However, with the

new budgetary allocation well underway, newly undergone projects and Federal Government policies, and views from some stakeholders in the education industry, our projections here at Vanguard Learning give a glimpse into what the future might hold for the sector in 2013.

Budgetary allocation: Lion’s share or puppy bits?

A breakdown of the 2013 N1.095trn budget shows the education sector getting N426.53bn, 8.67 per cent of the budget. Although much celebrations heralded the fact

NERDC trains Lagos teachers on new Senior Secondary Curriculum — Page

C M Y K

that the education sector led the pack by getting the highest budgetary allocation, this meager 0.24 per cent increase from last year’s 8.43 per cent could consequently imply a 0.24 per cent increase in the sector ’s performance next year.

According to Dauda Mohammed, the immediate past President, National Association of Nigerian Students, “the budgetary allocation for education is commendable, but we are not going to get it right until we meet the 26 per cent budgetary allocation

Nigerian students shine at World Robot Olympiad — Page

recommended by UNESCO.” In the words of the former Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Sonni Tyoden, “from the budgetary allocation, it seems like there is hope, but it’s not the amount of money that is the issue, but the management and commitment of the stakeholders.”

According to a respected analyst, “disbursements to each tertiary and non-tertiary institutions as well as departments and agencies may not even increase at all or only marginally given that there are now nine additional

Events that shaped Nigerian campuses in 2012

More libraries and learning materials For the Chairperson of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Gbolahan Daudu, 2013 would usher in the needed change that would reposition education, especially in Lagos State.

“A lot of efforts went into improving education in 2012 but more still needs to be done. 2013 would see us building more libraries and providing more learning materials other than text books.

“We would also focus more on teachers’ training because the teachers have to get it right for us to effect the kind of change we want. So far, we have trained teachers in 600 schools remaining 401.”

Yet another Syllabus Stakeholders fear that 2013 would be one of those years where much noise is made about a syllabus change that would happen in name only.

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

Implementation of the focal points of this review will begin in September 2013.

The Executive Secretary of the parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education, Professor Godswill Obioma, in defense of this review, said: “We will also

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

NERDC trains Lagos teachers on new Senior Secondary Curriculum

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

eachers from public and private senior secondary schools in Lagos State are now better placed to implement the new Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC) after undergoing a recently-held two-day rigorous training programme on the structure and effective implementation of the curriculum.

The capacity building workshop was put together by the South-West Zonal office of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Addressing the teachers and the state’s education policy makers at the training, the Director/Head of NERDC South-West Zonal office, Dr. Moses Salau, explained that the restructuring of the SSEC resulted in the development of 42 curricula (subjects) and 34 vocational trades/ entrepreneurship curricula, an exercise that was approved by the National Council of Education (NCE) in 2009.

He added that the curriculum will provide for a systematic connection between its contents and the learning of future contents.

Salau, who spoke on behalf of the agency ’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Godswill Obioma, further said

A cross section of NERDC executives and Lagos teachers at the seminar.

curriculum is structured in a way that will ensure that every senior secondary school graduate is well prepared for higher education, has acquired relevant functional trade/entrepreneurship skills needed for poverty eradication, job creation and wealth generation, and in the process strengthen further the

foundations for ethical, moral and civic values acquired at the basic education level.

The foregoing, according to Dr. Salau, means that the new curriculum is designed to stem the tide of mass failure in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation

Board examinations.

"The philosophy of the curriculum concerning adequate preparation of every senior secondary school graduate for higher education implies that he or she would have passed creditably well in WAEC and JAMB examinations.

"That the graduates would

succeeded in the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC).

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced three options for the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates.

Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar of JAMB, listed the options as Paper and Pencil Testing (PPT), (Based Test, where questions would be presented on computers and answers would be on paper and Computer Based Testing (CBT) where both questions and answers would be done on computer.

Ojerinde stated that candidates were at liberty to choose one of the three options in the 2013 UTME. The registrar said that the most advantageous part of the CBT was that candidates would get their scores few minutes after writing the

examination on their GSM cell phones.

It would be recalled that in 2011, 1,493,604 applicants sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Nigerian universities had space for only about 500,000 of such hopefuls. The number of applicants increased slightly in 2012, to 1,503,931 applicants but the situation as per admission remained the same without a commensurate increase in the capacity of Nigerian varsities.

Following such trends, it is predicted that the number of applicants writing the UTME this year will increase considerably and some stakeholders are of the view that the establishment of nine new federal universities would not cause any significant change.

Professor Sonni Tyoden, the former Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, refers to

have also acquired saleable skills with the capacity to set up their own businesses as a fall-out of the skills they acquired from the 34 trade subjects. This functional education will make them job creators instead of job seekers, thereby banishing poverty from their lives”.

According to Dr. Salau, each senior secondary school is not to teach its students all the 34 trade subjects but are to choose the ones for which they have facilities and workshops and the ones that are most relevant to the school’s vision and the school’s community, adding that a student is expected to offer one of these 34 trade subjects.

The facilities and workshops for teaching these trade/ entrepreneurship subjects, according to Salau, are to be provided by the proprietors of the schools as well as state and federal governments in the case of public schools.

Among the 34 trade subjects are auto body repair and spray painting, auto electrical work, auto mechanical work, auto parts merchandising, air conditioning/refrigerator, welding and fabrication.

Others are radio/TV and electrical work, block laying, painting and decoration, plumbing and pipe fitting, mechanical wood working, carpentry and joinery, furniture making and catering craft practice.

Education 2013 Continues from page 25 recall that the Nine-Year Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) had 20 subject listings and we have made known to Nigerians the structure of those listings in the last four years as we are going round advocating and sensitizing stakeholders, particularly teachers.

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

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

French is introduced in primary four, and the entire subjects have been restructured to capture basic elements of knowledge – English Studies,

Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, Cultural and Creative Art, Pre-Vocational study, Religious and National Values, Business Studies and Languages. You could see that at most, it is 10.

This proposition may look good on paper, but with many primary and secondary schools grappling under the weight of sustaining an educational system of any kind, it might not be too soon to guess that its failed implementation might constitute a headline come the end of 2013.

UTME, WAEC, NECO and admission crisis The three musketeers that constitute a stronghold for any Nigerian youth seeking university admission will most likely remain unshaken in 2013.

In 2012, 38.81 per cent of the 1,672,224 candidates

these new universities as “a drop in the ocean.”

The reason for this is not farfetched. Reports say that eight of such universities which are already established have the capacity for only about 2,700 students.

Even if that number doubles in the next academic session towards the end of 2013, there might not be much to smile about.

Closer to ‘Education for All’ by 2015?

With these projections, Nigeria is still far from achieving Education for All by 2015, despite 2015 being two years away.

This position was recently restated by the Education Minister, Professor Ruqquayatu Rufa’I when she decried the literacy rate in the country, saying the ‘Education for All’ target for 2015 is far from achievable.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—27

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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S 2012 came to a blissful end on Monday, it was imperative to take stock of issues and events that shaped various campuses of Nigeria’s higher institutions, while projecting on the way forward.

Budgetary allocation President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 unveiled budget 2012 before a joint session of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).

Put at N4.749 trillion, education seconded defence with an allocation of N400.15bn, 8.43 per cent of the total budget On Wednesday, October 11, while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly, announced the N4.92 trillion budget for the 2013 fiscal year. Similar to the 2012 budget, N426.53 billion, 8.7 per cent, was earmarked for the education sector.

This attracted criticisms from stakeholders who opined that such amount is a far cry from the 26 per cent recommended

by UNESCO for any country which intends to record rapid growth and development.

Spill over of ASUU 2011 strike Poor budgetary allocation; delay of presidential assent to the bill increasing the retirement age of academic staff of universities from 65 to 70 years; call for more university autonomy, amongst other issues, led the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call its members across federal and state universities for a total and

Events that shaped Nigerian campuses in 2012

University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State.

Though some stakeholders lauded this move as it would increase access to university education for the teeming youth populace, others described it as waste of resources as the existing universities are not well funded which led to academic and infrastructural decadence.

But as year 2012 ended, how far these nine new universities have fared in terms of academic and infrastructural facelift leaves much to be desired.

Aluu Four victims - would 2013 be a better year for undergraduates in nigeria's instutution of higher learning? indefinite strike on midnight of Sunday, December 4, 2011.

According to the the ASUU President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, the Federal Government’s failure to honour the agreement it signed with ASUU in 2009 led to the 59-day strike, which was eventually called-off on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.

Coincidentally, as the ASUU strike held sway, the nation was thrown to pandemonium by the January 1, 2012, announcement by the Federal Government to totally remove oil subsidy, which led to

increase in fuel pump price the aftermath of the strike action was the steep rise in the prices of educational materials and services across primary, secondary and tertiary levels of learning.

Nine new Federal universities Recall FG had September 2011, through the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I announced the commencement of operation of nine new federal universities. The new

Elderly, rather formal, is a polite word to describe somebody who is old.

Aged is used to describe very old people, possibly physically weak. It is a more formal word than old.

Senile describes the ‘old and mentally ill’.

Ancient refers to things or places that existed thousands of years ago.

Antique applies to a thing or an object that is old and valuable.

Frequently confused words Old, elderly, aged ld, elderly and aged are all words that express a similar meaning, ‘not young’.

Other synonyms of old are ancient, antique, obsolete and senile.

However, no two words can have exactly the same meaning. Even if they have the same conceptual meaning,

O

C M Y K

their connotations/social values will differ. Note the following distinct features of each of the words: Old is usually used to describe people, animals or object that have lived or existed for a long time. Thus, it is an adjective to qualify somebody or something that is ‘no longer young or new’.

Examples: My mother is getting old.

Her aged father lives in the village.

An elderly couple came to my office last Monday.

My grandfather is going senile.

I lived in the ancient city of Ile Ife for many years.

Note that the comparative and superlative forms of old are older and oldest respectively. You can also use

universities with a proposed National Universities Commission’s approved 500 admission quota each are: Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, and Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State, Others are Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Federal University, NdufuAlike-Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Federal

elder and eldest, especially for members of the same family, to show age differences. You can say my ‘elder brother/sister or younger brother/sister ’ but NOT ‘my senior brother/sister or junior brother/sister.’

‘Senior ’ means ‘of high rank’ e.g. senior officer, senior partner. ‘Junior ’ means ‘having a low rank in an organization or profession’ e.g. junior employees.

‘Senior ’ (abbreviation, snr or sr.) is used after the name of a man who has same name as his son. To avoid confusion, ‘Junior ’ (abbreviation, jnr or jr.) is used after the name of the son who has the same name as the father.

Narrow – thin Narrow and thin are two adjectives used to describe something that is ‘a short distance from side to side; not thick’. It is important to note that the two words are not used with the same nouns.

UNILAG to MAULAG A horrendous tsunami also hit the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, when President Jonathan, in his National Day Broadcast, announced the name change of the school to Moshood Abiola University (MAULAG) to immortalize Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (M.K.O), the assumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential elections by the General Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda’s administration.

This did not go down well with the students who protested while UNILAG’s Alumni association filed a court suit against the Federal Government. Sadly, the name change came when the school

Continues on page 28

Narrow is used to describe such nouns as street, road, bed, shelf, stairs, door way, hips, shoulder and gap. It can be used with the meanings, ‘only just achieved or avoided’, ‘limited’ and ‘ restricted’. Thus, it can also be used with range, victory, majority, escape, view.

Thin is used to describe not only things but people.

It is used for such nouns as layers, strips, blouse, cracks, ice, lime, material, cream. It is also used of a person (man, woman) or part of the body (legs) to mean ‘not fat’.

Examples: Follow the narrow way because the broad way leads to destruction.

He had a narrow escape when his car ran into a stationary vehicle.

He looked pale and thin after her long illness.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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lumni of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Osun Sate, erudite scholars and eminent personalities have commended the management of the Ivory Tower for their excellent achievements since its establishment, over 50 years ago.

Commending the university at the 50th anniversary celebration and fund raising in Lagos, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, also an alumnus, said “I am highly honoured to be here tonight.

I am ever so grateful to have passed through the four walls of the great university of Ife. "Let me say that the university has been uniquely lucky to have had as the V. C the person of Prof. Bamitale Omole.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to be at the Oduduwa hall, and I felt so great when I went there recenlty to discover that the infrastructure that made us enjoy the hall are still intact.

"So, I congratulate the present and past VCs and other alumni of the university here that we will realize our collective dream for Ife. “The university has been a great idea and we shall continue to support her to reflect the excellence that has always been its foundation. Interestingly, a lot of the people in our government in Ondo are alumni of OAU.” Also speaking, Mrs. Erelu

From left to right: The Executive Director (Int.) K.O.T. Educational Services, Mr Adegoke, the Excutive Director of Edgewood College, Mrs Kehinde Phillips, the Prinicpal of Abbey College, UK, Mr Phillip Moore during the partnering of Edgewood College with Abbey College, UK.

Mimiko, Fayemi, Momodu, others hail OAU @ 50 Bisi Fayemi also pledged her support as alumni of OAU, saying: “ in my capacity as a alumnus of the great university, we have three projects for her development, the first is the centre for gender studies, which is on-going and would hopefully be completed before

the end of 2013.

"The second project is the decision of the former members of the Kegites club to rebuild the Kegites centre in the school, and make it the world headquarters of the club, and the third is an OAU at 50 task force set up by all alumni of

the OAU in Ekiti State. We have planned to raise N10m by the end of June, 2013 for the developmental projects lined up for the university.”

In the same vein, former presidential aspirant and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Bashoru Dele Momodu,

also an alumnus, pledged his support for OAU, saying: “I am very proud alumni of Ife. And very happy that we are gathered here tonight I have been able to see a lot of people I haven’t seen for a while.

"And then we must begin to show interest in where we are coming from because of you don’t see to the development of the place you are coming from you may not get to where you are going to.

"And so it is a very worthy cause. It is not just a time for us to have sober reflection, it is also a time for us to sit back and deliberate on how we can give back to a university that has given us so much.

"The university made us what we are today. I can tell you that I spent most of my childhood days at Ife, my primary, secondary school education were in Ife and I did my first degree and second degree there also.

"So, I have an emotional attachment to the university and I’m happy for everybody and also happy to be among these great Nigerians who were also trained in Ife.” Chairman of the event, Chief Olu Akinkugbe, (CON), recalled the origin of OAU, its days of glory and travails.

Akinkugbe equally provided fun for attendees with his mature humour and interest stories about student life before encouraging the alumni to support OAU’s proposed projects.

Events that shaped Nigerian campuses in 2012 Continues from page 27 was mourning the death of its 10th VC, Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Waves of violent crises in the academia Other worrisome issues that rocked the education sector in 2012 was the kidnapping of the VC of Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) on August 15, 2012, at the university’s main gate, though he was released hale and hearty eight days later.

Worthy of mention is the massacre of over 46 students of Adamawa State University, the Federal Polytechnic and the School of Health Technology, all in Mubi, Adamawa State, by unknown gun men at midnight of Tuesday, October 2, 2012.

Three days after the Mubi massacre, four innocent and promising students of the University of Port-Harcourt C M Y K

(UNIPORT) were gruesomely murdered in cold blood by residents of Omuokiri-Aluu community, a nearby community to the university.

This led to a rampage by the students to protest the murder of their fellow students who were beaten and set ablaze by youths in Omuokiri-Aluu community.

RSUST-ASUU solidarity strike When ASUU, on August 2012, called out its members on a solidarity strike, many students, parents and other concerned stakeholders were confused as to what the problem was.

The action saw no fewer than 56 chapters of the union embarked on a one-day solidarity strike with their Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) colleagues over alleged refusal of Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State to follow due process in the appointment of the Vice

Chancellor of the institution.

Amidst the hues and cries from the union, Gov Chibuike Amaechi was unmoved, which led to RSUST remaining under lock and key as at the time of filing this report.

NANS election from December 13 th through 18th, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) held its 27th National Convention in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The convention also produced new leaders for the students.

At the end of the day, Comrade Yinka Gbadebo of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife was elected NANS President, while Comrade Jubril Ahmed (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), Comrade Peculiar Asemota ( Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma) and Comrade Ubon Marcus (Unversity of Uyo, Akwa Ibom), were elected VP National Affairs, VP External Affairs, and VP Special Duties

respectively.

Others are Comrade Olaogun Victor (Federal Poly, Offa), National P.R.O; Comrade Olusina Oyebisi (Federal University of Technology, Minna), Director Travels and Exchange; Comrade Kalib Abubakar (Kano State University), Director of Sports; Comrade Alaofin Blessing (Kogi State University), Ex-Officio1; Comrade Onukaogu Donald (Federal University Owerri), Senate President; Comrade Shima John (Benue State University, Makurdi) Deputy Senate President; and Com. Ali Abdullahi Mohammed (Kano State Polytechnic), the Assistant Secretary General.

Way forward Reviewing the nation’s education sector for year 2012, the major avoidable situations which stakeholders say have remained a clog in the wheel of success to the sector are poor budget and implementation, examination

malpractices, poor performance recorded in national examinations, huge number of out of school children, and poor remuneration and welfare packages for teachers at all levels which is responsible for the numerous strike actions.

Others are poor quality of teachers, poor quality of graduates, non-conducive learning environment, complex and unnecessary school curricula, the quest and over-consciousness for certificate acquisition, instead of quest for knowledge, developmental skills and technical-know-how, amongst others.

As year 2013 takes-off, it behooves on government, parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders to consciously work towards ameliorating, if not totally curbing, the myriad of problems bedeviling the nation’s education sector.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—29

Predicting 2013 campus trends (Pt. 2)

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

BY EMMANUEL AHANONU, UNICAL

Plaid: laid jackets are already beginning to resurface, and are likely to be a hip fashion item sometime in 2013.

Quadlifestyle predicts that it would be a yes-yes for guys, but an experimental stage for the ladies. Ladies will be more likely to try on other plaid items like bags, blouses, and yes, shoes.

N

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Tattoos: If there ever was a time when the word ‘tattoo’ was not synonymous with ‘taboo’ it’s in 2013. Expect to see more students, especially female students with tattoos. Watch out for friendly ink engravings instead of scary ones.

Bold 5: Last week, we predicted that berries and tablets have the campus runway in 2013. We also told you that in the long run, the BBM king will reign supreme.

However, right now it’s safe to conclude that for the first half of 2013, if not longer, the Blackberry Bold

5 9900 will be the most popular fashion accessory.

We have no idea: You know the fashion wave is highly unpredictable. We have no

idea what will be the lot of floral prints, knit caps, and rubber sandals.

We have no clue as to whether new weave-ons will crop up that will make the

Brazilian and her counterparts extinct. But if you do, join our conversations on www.facebook.com/ quadlifestyle. Happy new year!

Crawford VC advocates use of social media for learning

Crawford first class graduands BY: OLAYINKA LATONA

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rawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, recently graduated 253 students with the institutions Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Prof.

Peter Okebukola, calling on stakeholders in education sectors to embrace social media as one of the means of teaching students.

C M Y K

UNICAL students trained on reproductive health education

Speaking during the 4 th convocation ceremony of the institution, Okebukola noted that instead of advising youths to stay off from facebook and twitter, Nigeria educational sector should look inward and improve knowledge and skills through these social media. He added that most educational communities in the world improve their student’s knowledge and also acquire

new skills by using social media which most of youths are addicted to.

Okebukola further urged various stakeholders to look beyond negative aspects of networking and leverage on the positives of social media such as how it will improve learning, acquire new skills and students spend productive time.

“Facebook and Twitter are emerging global communication standards especially among the youth and anybody advocating that our youth should stay off such should ask the Anopheles mosquito to stay off the sucking of blood. In most advanced countries, teachers supplement their lessons with assignment given to their students on Facebook. It has been confirmed that students relate in an exciting manner to their Facebook lessons and studies which has led to improved performance in school and public examinations,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Samson Ayanlaja, said the graduation was a validation and

actualization of Crawford University’s compelling core objective of realising only those possessing unique virtue of sterling moral that is above any reproach.

According to him, the university hopes to re-brand and reshape Nigeria through its products.

Prof. Samson Ayanlaja said that 14 of the 253 graduating students made first class degrees in various disciplines; 78 made second class upper division; while 114 passed out with second class lower division. He added that 45 made third class while the remaining two had ordinary pass degree.

He advised the graduates to continue to be good ambassadors of the university in spite of the harshness of the nation’s economy.

In her valedictory speech, Babalola Oluwabusayomi the best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.87 made a clarion call to the federal government to assist private Universities financially just as government fund public schools.

o fewer than 50 students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), have been trained on Reproductive Health Education by the University of Calabar Association for AIDS and Reproductive Health Programme (UCAARHP).

The 5-day Peer Health Education training on Reproductive Sex Health was put-up by Ogbeche Ushie led UCAARHP, in partnership with State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA), Ministry of Health, General Hospital, Society for Family Health, and Dream Boat Foundation for Development.

Speaking at the event, Ushie said: “UNICAL students have paid for this and they need to benefit from it. Since it is not possible to train all the students, 50 persons were randomly selected from various departments, cutting across 100L and 300L, because we want to train those who will also help in training others on the risk inherent in sex behaviour.

For those who came for the programme, Ushie advice them to “learn and communicate to others who are not here. It’s only when they learn from here that they will know what to teach others.”

He equally charge all students to often come to their meeting every Friday where they continue the teaching of the dangers and other intuitions one need to learn about sex health education.

He equally thanked the school management under Prof. James Epoke for providing fund for the programme.

One of the Programme facilitator Bernard Enyia, who is also the Programme Officer of Nigeria Youth AIDS Programme, noted that the dangers inherent in illicit/ unprotected sex cannot be over-emphasized.

He called on the trainees and the youth to team together and fight this menace through “collective-far-reachinginformation which could be actualized by peers passing the message to others.”

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Alofos Team displaying their robotic skills at the World Robot Olympiad

Nigerian students shine at World Robot Olympiad

BY DAYO ADESULU

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mongst four African countries that represented the continent in the 2012 World Robot Olympiad, Team Nigeria emerged first.

Represented by the trio of Mfoniso Moses, Mercy Ingibina Benjamin and Dapreye Zidafamor, they were selected from public schools in Lagos and trained by Alofos Science & Technology

Foundation.

Contestants at the junior high school game were challenged to build a robot capable of exploring rough terrain in search of useful resources.

At the end of the exercise, the Nigerian pupils from Winners Academy Team were ranked second highest African team in the elementary - regular category.

While the elementary (primary) school level game

challenged pupils to build a robot that is capable of organizing objects back into their respective storage cells.

The overwhelming response from participating countries proves that the WRO has successfully raised interest among students in science and technology, robotics and ICT. The WRO provides participants with the opportunity to gain multidimensional knowledge

through innovative use of technology and creative problem solving.

It is a great platform for preparing students who are capable of facing global challenges in the twenty-first century.

By interacting with robots, children develop greater appreciation about the real world.

Learning through designing, building and operating robots can lead to the acquisition of knowledge and skills in high-tech electrical, mechanical and computer engineering areas that are in high demand in industry.

It also promotes the development of thinking, problem solving, self study and teamwork skills so essential for 21 st century living.

Since the study of robotics cuts across several disciplines, such as applied ICT, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this makes it a popular and effective teaching tool for introducing students to the science, technology and mathematics curricula.

And this is also what makes robotics and ideal career choice.

Encompassing multiple industries and multiple skills, robotics is definitely not a monolithic field with a single career path.

Robotics, today, is a major growth segment in industry and there is a marked increasing demand for young and talented robotics professional to work in the industry.

New Era trains youths on leadership qualities

BY DAYO ADESULU

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inners of New Era Foundation Spelling Bee competition over the last 12 years were camped for four days to inspire and train them on developing themselves as the next generation of leaders for Nigeria.

The Programmes Manager, New Era Foundation, Mr Bajo Adebule, said the participants who are between 17 to 30 years were drawn from the winners of the New Era Spelling Bee competitions over the last 12 years. He noted that they have maintained contact with them and put them in a peer monitoring group known as council of one day governors.

According to him, the first, second and third from year one to 12 years are in that council, making them 36.

Adebule who disclosed that the New Era president, Senator Remi Tinubu, has a scholarship programme in her C M Y K

Senatorial district comprising of 13 local governments added that since inception, she has giving scholarship to about 26 students in tertiary institutions who were also there for the training.

The SB contest which started in Lagos 12 years ago he explained has also begun in Ogun State this year, where the first, second and third spelling bee winners also participated in the leadership training held at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

He said: “Over the last three years, we have had three camps. Most of our programmes focus on the age range of sven to 17 years.

This is the first time we are going above that age range because it is the first leadership programme we are holding.

This year, we have trained about 250 in two batches young people from 7 to 17 years and two batches of leadership camp earlier this year between August and September.”

Explaining the reasons for partnering with Ladol, he said their goal is to ensure that by the time the participants leave the camp, they would have being inspired and challenged to develop themselves as the next generation of leaders for Nigeria saying, “we are going to equip them with the proper principles, ethics and values.

Adebule who pointed out that they were going to open their eyes to see the need to strive for leadership especially the type of leadership that is missing in Nigeria at the moment. ”We are going to be challenging them to go back to their communities and environment and strive to be the change that they want to see. We are also going to be encouraging them to help change people’s lives,” he added.

He was optimistic that over the next few years, some of the attendees will take places of prominence in governance,

in the industry and in various fields of endeavour.

“We have shown the participants the different styles of leadership we have in the world and asked them to identify which one they feel they will like to affiliate with and adopt.

"We have shown them that from looking at the various types of leadership, which one do they think is the best and which one do we have in Nigeria that is working for us."

According to him, because we don’t have a lot of role models, we are going to challenge them to rise up and be the next generation of role models.

Speaking on the quality of participants, he pointed out that everyone at the programme is an excellent student stressing that for you to win the spelling bee which is a state wide competition, you must already be an excellent student.

KC Old Boys’ Association inaugurates UNILORIN Chapter

BY HAMEED MURITALA, UNILORIN

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he Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, has charged Kings College Old Boys in University of Ilorin to always live and emulate Kings in all their dealings during their stay in the institution.

Represented by Dr. Yusuf, Sub-Dean, UNILORIN Students’ Affairs, Ambali gave the charge at the formal inauguration of the executives of UNILORIN Chapter of Kings College Old Boys Association.

In the same vein, members of the new executives, who were inaugurated by Professor Ogunsanwo from the Geology department, were advised to run a hitch-free administration and become role models to their fellow students. They were also encouraged to organize programmes that would be of benefits to the members of the association.

In speech, the newly inaugurated chairman of the chapter, Adeleye Nelson, 500L Agric student after highlighting a line-up of activities for the session promised to be an example to the members of the Association.

UI to resume January 7

BY HAMMED HAMZAT, UI

A

s the 2012/2013 academic session for students of University of Ibadan (UI) has been billed to commence on Monday, January 7, 2013, controversy has continued to trail a purported move by the university to increase students’ accommodation fee on resumption.

The resumption date was disclosed at a meeting between the institution’s management led by ViceChancellor, Professor Isaac Adewole and the Students’ Union executives, led by Comrade Edosa Raymond Ekhator and other stakeholders of the institution.

After an extensive discussion with the management, the students’ representatives were informed by the VC, Prof. Adewole, of five criteria if students’ accommodation fee will remain #14,000 per bed space. Out of the five positions stated by Vicechancellor, the fourth one, which raised dust was massively rejected by Students’ Union executives.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—31

El Royalithos Institute churns out 30 graduates

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

Some of the graduands displaying thier products that the road is full of thorns and swamp, expect challenges because there are situations that will make you to regret choosing this career but you must always be up looking to your Lord and He will be you sufficiency.”

One of the graduands, Ihega Christopher, said he was overwhelmed by the impact of the institute on him.

He pointed out that having toured various catering schools, El Royalithos stands out in all considerations as he

was multifariously taught what he did not expect to know.

“They have taught me 50 patterns to make things but I have 1000 patterns to effect them”, he enthused.

‘Why we instituted scholarship for Urhobo students’

BY LUCKY OJI

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an-Urhobo group of pro fessionals, Atamu Social Klub of Nigeria, has explained the reason for its recent scholarship awards to 10 students in institutions of higher learning.

Mr. Valentine Omamogho, president of the club, said they were motivated by the need to raise a team of skilled Urhobo indigenes to compete with their counterparts across the nation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sunny Awhefeada, lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, has urged Urhobo leaders to mobilise their people with a view to creating a template for the development of their land.

Speaking at the awards ceremony in Agbarho, Delta State, Omamogho noted that but for the efforts of early leaders of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) like Chief Mukoro Mowoe, Chief Jereton Mariere and Joseph Akpolo Ikutegbe, the Urhobo people would not have been able to overcome the challenges of skilled manpower that confronted them at that time.

He, however, insisted that C M Y K

BY LAJU ARENYEKA (with Agency Reports)

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he El Royalithos Ca tering Institute, OkeAfa, Isolo, has churned out 30 graduands after the completion of their practical training in nine catering and baking courses offered in 4 months.

Founded in 2005 by The Cooking Couple who were winners of the “Maggi Cook of the Year in 1994 & 2003, Mr. & Ms. Oluboro Idowu, the institute offers training in event decoration, cake making, sugar craft, Nigerian cookery, continental cookery and pastry. Others are, Chinese cookery, cocktail drinks and small chops.

Recently, in its 5th graduation ceremony which was chaired by Dr. Oloruntola, Medical Director emeritus Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the Director of El Royalithos, Mrs. Kemi Oluboro, radiated satisfaction towards the graduands while urging them to exercise their knowledge of catering and baking variety.

She added that they should harbour no regret for taking up the vocation and sit up for challenges obtainable therein.

Her words, “I must tell you

Jigawa govt allocates N426m to public schools

despite the efforts of the Urhobo leaders under the UPU umbrella, Urhobo people were still facing serious social, political and economic challenges that can only be overcomed with the availability of well-trained Urhobo in-

digenes.

Noting that a lot went into the project which started in 2006, Omamogho disclosed that the first recipients of the Atamu scholarships would get a total of N1.5m spread over three years.

The annual scholarship awards and other initiatives under the Atamu Education Endowment Fund, he pledged, would be handed over to a team of technocrats to administer after the testrunning stage.

10 schools bag N4m grant award

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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bout 10 vocational and secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have received a N4 million grant award for science and technology development from National Office for Technology Acquisition and Development, NOTAP and Raw materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC. Presenting the award in Abuja, the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, said the award grants to secondary and vocational schools in the FCT was part

of the ministry’s resolution to popularize and promote innovation while catching them young.

He said the project was in line with the African Union's declaration of African Day for Technology and Intellectual Property in the continent with the purpose of unleashing creativity, inventiveness and innovativeness in Africa to engender the culture of global competitiveness.

According to him, the project was a product of the findings of a joint committee of the agencies which visited the schools and conducted on the spot baseline assessment of technical projects embarked upon by the schools

and the report indicated that these schools have on-going projects that could be commercially viable if given a further technical upgrade.

It will be recalled that in July 1999, the Council of Ministers and Assembly of Heads of States and Governments of the Organization of African Unity, OAU now African Union, AU declared 13 th September of every year to be celebrated as African Day for Technology and Intellectual Property in the continent with the purpose of unleashing creativity, inventiveness and innovativeness in Africa to engender the culture of global competitiveness.

HE Jigawa State govern ment has allocated N426 million for the rehabilitation and construction of 174 classrooms in the state’s public schools.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim, made this known in Dutse weekend while briefing newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council Meeting.

According to the commissioner, the project will be executed in 42 primary and junior secondary schools in the 27 local government areas of the state, under the 2012 first quarter of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) intervention programme.

The commissioner added that the projects have been approved by the council. According to him, the council has also approved the UBEC/ SUBEB assessment report, which appraised the performance of the programme between 2005 and 2012. Ibrahim added that 5, 554 classrooms and 165 toilets, laboratories and hand pump well were constructed in the last five years. “More than 10, 000 furniture were also provided in schools under the UBEC/ SUBEB joint project within the period under review,” he said.

Give the youths a chance, students tell Gov Ajimobi

BY SIKIRU AKINOLA, OAU

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tudents’ Campaign for Good Governance (SCGG), an Oyo State students based organisation, has advised the Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, to include more youths in his administration to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the state.

Coordinator of the group, Ayobami Olatunde of the department of Geography, University of Ibadan made this known in Saki West Local Government, Saki, Oyo State, when an alumna of Kwara State Polytechnic, Saminu Ridwan Gbadamosi, donated teaching and infrastructural facilities worth millions of Naira to some artisans and various schools in the community.

Olatunde said the Governor should, at least, give someone like Gbadamosi the chance to serve as one of the helmsmen of the proposed community development areas so that he can be able to actualize his potentials.

32— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Graduate inspires teens with Project Four

BY SIKIRU AKINOLA, OAU

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Corona Secondary School students in action during their 20 th anniversary.

Corona Secondary Schools presents 20 years scorecard

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

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N celebrating 20 years of operating in a secondary school system of education, the Corona Secondary Schools Agbara, Ogun State recently rolled out drums and set the atmosphere agog, making it appear as if the heaven was going to kiss the earth.

The school premises wore a different look as the wide premises became unprecedentedly teemed by alumni, parents and dignitaries to celebrate along the excited pupils who have long awaited to embrace the merry moment.

Programmes set to spice the day are public lecture, Alumni Interactive Session with students, Speaking Competition Grand Finale, Christmas Concert, Cocktail and Dinner Night, Sporting activities and Time Capsule, a review of previous years achievements and careful, time-count projections for the future of the school.

The Director of the school, Ms. Folashade Adefisayo chronicled her experience about the secondary school system, the development in the schools so far and assured of significant changes in few years to come.

She said “Secondary school is different from primary which we are used to but starting the secondary level is a shift of paradigm for us and secondary school is more challenging in a kind because children are older and are not as controllable as in the primary level.

“Because we want to bring up a well rounded child beyond academic, I can tell you that we don’t know of any Corona graduate who does not measure up to standard, generally they have gone as far as internationally and are performing well in the academic consideration.” ”In a couple of years to come, there will be significant

difference in the school as you can see that we are already investing hugely in the school.”

Speaking about the students, she averred ”one thing we are also taking seriously is teaching leadership right from Year 7 (JSS1) by affording them privilege to hold offices and making them accountable for their actions and inactions in main, we invest more in formal leadership training that is the school’s contribution to ground them for the future.”

Human Resources The Director said “The school is only as good as the teacher and a significant proportion of our training budget goes into teachers’ training.

"We made a shift from workshop and seminars to focus on personal teacher’s training because, we are trying to have a

number of objectives like fund those who are doing Masters for certificate in Education and online programmes, we send our teachers on exchange visits, some of them just came back from British School of Lome where they spent about six years. We also send them to the UK so, it’s not about workshop alone and of course every year we afford them the privilege of oversea training in Cambridge, Johannesburg, among others because there is a lot they do, so we are trying to open up as many opportunities as possible.”

“We have our own indoors programme, we go on retreat to re-strategise for better package delivery. Also we are to look at our Instructional Method, so there are numerous programmes and encouraging self-online learning.”

addened by the rising spate of bad leadership and prevalent unemployment in the country, Olufunbi Falayi, a graduate, has initiated 'Project Four' to tackle issues at the grassroots.

Project Four is an intervention project targeted at public secondary schools in Agege LGA of Lagos State, which is to invest and engage the minds of the students by leveraging on four key components of mentoring, career guidance, vocational skill acquisition and project management.

According to Falayi, "the aim of the project is to, among others, equip the students with leadership capabilities, human capacity and entrepreneurship skills, thereby preparing them as change agents, future leaders, potential business owners and reducing the prevalent unemployment rate in the country.”

At the inaugurating of the project at Government Senior

Girls College, Agege, were teenagers and youths from eight secondary schools in the Council and mentors who were on hand to help motivate and inspire the students in preparation for the six month project.

Amongst the speakers were Mr. Babatunde, a certified customer service professional and seasoned banker; Mr Ayo Sanni, project management professional; Mrs Yejide Alo Akiode, an education consultant and managing consultant of I-excel Consulting.

Others were Mr. Tayo Olosoode, the Managing Partner of E-green Services and Mr. Francis Anyaegbu, a development consultant and founder of Youth Pioneers for Development; the British Council, World Bank Institute, Action Aid International, UNHABITAT amongst others.

Lagos State Ministry of Education, NYSC Lagos, Egreen Services, Leap Africa, Pro-training Centre, GSK, CWAY, UNICEF among others lent their support the initiative.

Participants at the career workshop

Rotaract Club donates to schools in Ekiti

BY DAYO OJERINDE

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HE Zone M Rotaract Club which comprises of Rotaract Clubs in Ondo and Ekiti States has donated a flat screen desktop computer to Orija High school, as well as make donation of Rotaract customized exercise books to Ijaloke Grammar School, both in Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

This was done as part of activities to mark the annual “Family of Rotary Month”.

While shedding light on the “Family of Rotaract Month,” the assistant district representative in charge of Ekiti and Ondo states, Michael Oyewole said: “Family of Rotary in Rotary International is usually done in the month of December and it is an avenue for members under this humanitarian umbrella to come together, to share love, celebrate one an-

other, familiarize and share Rotary in selfless service to humanity. Hence, Zone M which comprises of all the Rotaract Clubs located in Ekiti and Ondo States came togeth-

er to fulfill this yearly obligation,” he submitted.

In the same vein, the event also allowed members of the Rotaract club that were hosted by the Emure Community

based Rotaract Club, Ekiti state to pay a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Emure town in Ekiti state, HRM Oba Emmanuel A. Adebayo who hosted them to a breakfast.

OGITECH Rector bags Best Rector of the Year

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HE Rector of the Ogun Institute of Technology, Igbesa ,Ogun state, Professor Godwin Ejodame, was recently honoured as the Best Rector of the Year 2012 by an Ogun state based newspaper, Gateway News Update.

The annual award ceremony held at NUJ press centre, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, was attended by government officials, captains of industry, community leaders and staff of OGITECH. The feat achieved on the

back of his tremendous achievements as a pioneer Rector, setting a pace of getting 17 courses of the school accredited within six years by National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).

The Publisher/Editor-inChief of Gateway News Update, Mr. Tunde Omolaolu, said the state was impressed with the initiatives and transformation going on at the institute. He reminded that the NBTE had earlier honoured OGITECH as the

Best Fast Growing Institute/ Polytechnic in Nigeria 2012.

Appreciating the gesture, Ejodame assured that what is presently in the school is a tip of an iceberg comparing to his vision for the Institute.

He said despite many challenges facing the institute, he has been able to weather the storm by ensuring quality programmes and teaching, which is the combination of physical and product development that makes the school unique.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—33

I N S I D E

Still on Justice Kayode Eso...

NBA, the journey so far and task ahead — 35

— 34

Our procedural laws are frustrating corruption cases — Godwin Obla if you don’t take advantage of that period, you are out because they will not allow you to delay the proceedings. We should learn from these jurisdictions. We borrowed our legal jurisprudence from Britain, so, if we bring those things down here, a lot of these cases will be dealt with expeditiously.

Former EFCC Chairman had called for special courts to try financial crime cases.

What is your view on this?

The former chairmen of EFCC was so frustrated that she asked for special courts, just like we have special courts for election petition matters, why can’t we have special courts for corruption cases, whether one likes it or not, unless

BY INNOCENT ANABA

CHIEF Godwin Obla, is one of the foremost prosecutors in the country.

He is prosecuting some cases for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Obla, who recently turned 50, in this interview, spoke on the challenges facing criminal justice administration in the country and problems militating against the prosecution of economic and financial crime cases. He also counseled young lawyers on the need for hard work, noting that success only come through hard work and perseverance.

Excerpt:

S

•Chief Godwin Obla Nigerians complain that it takes a long time to conclude criminal cases, particularly those that have to do with politicians. What is your reaction to this?

Recently, we were doing a matter and within 10 months, the prosecution had opened and closed its case without asking for adjournment for

,

INCE you started prosecuting cases for EFCC, have you ever been threatened by the people you are prosecuting?

Life is a risk because even when you over eat at times, you develop constipation. In everything we do in the world, Usman Dan Fodio, said “Conscience is like an open wound, only truth can heal it.” Everything we do, if we are straight forward and honest about it, I think we have very little to fear. Man is a mortal being and there are instances where the other party, may be accused person or persons related to them may become desperate, if they see that the case is not going in their favour, but the truth of the matter is that even if they kill a prosecutor, that prosecutor would be replaced, if they kill a second one, he will still be replaced.

So it does not really help anyone.

You may not really have direct threats, but you may have what we call constructive threats because the people may not be bold enough to come to you and ‘say look, we are going to bring physical bodily harm to bear upon you,’ but they may approach you in some other sinister ways. I think it is also part of the job, we just put our trust and confidence in God. So far, He has been keeping us, He has been protecting us and we expect that He will continue to do so.

As a prosecutor, are you comfortable with the way judges handle your cases in their courts?

It is really difficult to blame judges for delay in most cases because we have an archaic legal system that needs a lot of change. The substantive criminal laws are not the problem. The procedural laws are the problem. That is, the procedure that you use to apply the substantive law. Before you apply the substantive law, the procedure will frustrate you several times.

We need to change our approach in the prosecution of these matters and the adjudication of corruption cases

,

one single day. The defence brought six witnesses, opened their case and closed same. It was now left for parties to just adopt their written addresses and for judgment to be given in the matter. Then, the trial judge was suddenly elevated to a higher court, we now have to start the entire proceedings afresh. This is at great expense to the Nigerian tax payers.

This happened because our laws did not provide for this kind of situation, because if our laws had provided for this kind of situation, this sort of frustrating experience would not happen.

How can we tackle this problem?

Some states like Lagos State have been very proactive in addressing some of these procedural issues and that is why, of all the states of the Federation, it is only Lagos State that has the administration of criminal justice law which guides the procedures in their courts. And this law has anticipated most of the antics used by prosecutors and defence lawyers to delay cases in courts and has tried to address most of them with a view to minimizing the delays associated with the trial of cases in their courts.

How well has the Lagos Administration of Criminal Justice Law worked?

If you observe, very recently, Lagos State High Courts have become the darling of prosecutors because the procedural laws of Lagos State in criminal matters are much more favourable.

They are less suffocating than the procedural laws in other jurisdictions.

We need to address these procedural laws. But having said that, if defense lawyers perceive that they have difficult cases, they will try every trick in the books to ensure that even the trial itself was truncated. But if you juxtapose this with the situation in England, you have a different experience.

If you will recall that when James Ibori’s trial was taking place in London, the court there fixed two weeks for the entire case, this is for both the prosecution and defense. So

the issue of corruption is drastically addressed in this country because it has become a serious threat to national development, we will not make any progress. I say this because when people benefit from proceeds of crime, they use those proceeds to destabilize their own countries and their institutions.

Recently, you heard the EFCC Chairman, say that some of these people being tried have so much money and they use this money to frustrate the system and the application of due process of law. So we need to change our approach in the prosecution of these matters and the adjudication of corruption cases.

We need to streamline the procedure, so that people do not take advantage

Continues on page 35

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 ONOURABLE Justice Kayode Eso has come and gone and fittingly, much ink has flowed in the acknowledgement of his service to the legal profession and to mankind. His gargantuan contribution to our jurisprudence has been appropriately chronicled and will bear no repetition.

However, as an African adage reminds us, ‘a big snake can only be killed with a very big stick or cudgel.’ Placed in an appropriate context, Honourable Justice Kayode was no vermin but his judicial might only makes the adage relevant in the sense that his life and times will continue to be x-rayed until the eulogies and encomiums are exhausted. After all, at all stages in the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria, we have had ‘Lilliputians’ and ‘Brobdingnagians’. Those who have read Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ will at once recognise that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Kayode Eso, now deceased, was not a ‘Lilliputian’. In that context therefore, although so much has already been said and written about that colossus, not all, I dare say, has been said- at least from my point of view. Having worked with him at some point in my career, it is my intention to offer further insight into the life and times of that special lawyer and jurist who worthily stamped his authority through judicial dicta and unassailable pronouncements on the colours that justice should wear.

Having refrained from joining the fray once the news of his Lordship’s demise broke, where should one start?

Much has already been written about his undoubted discipline on and off the Bench and on his fidelity to the law. As I said elsewhere in an appraisal of the abiding hallmark of judicial office: “There is no better way to begin than to make reference to the speech delivered by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham of St. Marylebone, on the retirement of the late but great Lord Denning as Master of the Rolls. He said: ‘…without him, things will never be quite the same again. I like to think that notwithstanding his retirement our period of creativity will not quite come to an end, still less relapse more into quiescence. But Master of the Rolls, we shall miss you. We shall miss your passion for justice, your independence and quality of thought, your liberal mind, your geniality, your unfailing courtesy to colleagues, to counsel and to litigants in person, who, like the poor, are always with us, particularly in the Court of Appeal. Above all, we shall miss you and your unflagging and effervescent enthusiasm.’

A tribute by the Lord Chancellor cannot be taken

lightly. His reference to judicial attributes such as ‘independence and quality of thought’, ‘liberal mind’, ‘geniality’, ‘unfailing courtesy to colleagues, to counsel and to litigants in person’, ‘gift of friendship’ and ‘unflagging enthusiasm’ speak volumes.

The SAN's Pulpit with AWA Kalu

Still on Justice Kayode Eso...

They emphasise and underpin, more or less, the belief of must jurists that one of the basic principles which underline rules of judicial conduct is the integrity of the adjudicator’” Would any of these epithets apply to the deceased jurist?

The answer is an emphatic Yes! His mien on the Bench, based on an array of accounts by lawyers who appeared before him, will be better illustrated by reference to what has been said about another distinguished but dearly departed jurist, Lord Goddard. It is said that: “An appearance before Lord Goddard was more troublesome to the stomach than a dawn attack on a heavily defended enemy position. When Sir Walter Maerkton rose to move that the Editor of the Daily Mirror be committed to prison for contempt, he was one of the

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H

•Hon. Justice Kayode Eso Directors of the Daily Mirror but everyone else held their breath. When called upon to stand up, the Editor sat immobile with fear abd had to be pushed to his feet by Counsel, Valentine Holmes.

The crisp prison sentences and equally crisp warnings of

Little wonder the Committee completed its assignment within schedule and handed in its wellarticulated report in late 1989

most distinguished leaders of the Bar and one of the foremost men in the country.

His hands were shaking uncontrollably behind his back. Was this just ordinary nerve, or possibly the consequence of a hangover? A glance at Lord Goddard put these thoughts out of one’s mind. A gleam of light shone directly upon the hunched figure of the Lord Chief Justice. The large court seemed to be quaking under the impact of his personality.

Not only the assembled

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the newspaper’s Directors followed. One left the Court in no doubt of the majesty of the law.”

Although no comparison with any other jurist, dead or alive, is necessary in order to capture his sternness while on the Bench, we need to remind ourselves about late Justice Eso’s exchanges with the late doyen of the Bar, Chief F.R.A. Williams, SAN in Architects Registration Council of Nigeria v Fassassi (Nos. 1 & 2). The law reports clearly indicate that the late Chief

Williams had undisguisedly asked for an assurance of impartiality from the Supreme Court. In response, His Lordship, in equally unmistaken terms, told the distinguished silk that the apex court would do no such thing. It was to be assumed, he emphasised, that the Supreme Court would do justice to all manner of men without affection or ill will.

Perhaps it was his penchant for doing justice and his leaning to incorruptibility that led to his appointment by the Babangida administration as the Chairman of a National Committee on Corruption and Economic Crimes. Corruption, as far back as the Babangida era, was already fingered as a demonic cankerworm which would in no time, if unchecked, consume the foundations of our economy. I had the very distinguished privilege of serving as secretary of that Committee and to underline its determination to stem the tide of that corruption, the Federal Military Government named

very eminent Nigerians from all walks of life and all critical sectors of the economy to serve on the Committee. It is generally believed that the aftermath of the Committee’s extensive work, including the recommendations, led to the rather belated establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

In search of an answer and a solution to acute corruption, the Committee was permitted by the Federal Military Government to travel to far flung places such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Hong Kong where Commissions on corruption already existed to study their situations. Part of the Committee’s work also resulted in a trip to Tanzania.

What are my recollections? At close quarters, one could see that His Lordship had no difficulty in achieving consensus just as he could whip dissentions into line.

There were no boring moments. If there was tension, a lull or a loss of momentum at the sitting, His Lordship would float a hilarious joke and would allow members to let down their hair. Professors Cyprain Okonkwo and Adedokun Adeyemi are still alive and will bear unquestionable witness to the late jurist’s integrity, astuteness and businesslike disposition. Little wonder the Committee completed its assignment within schedule and handed in its wellarticulated report in late 1989.

From hindsight, the Committee’s key finding that the underpinning element of Nigeria’s woes was mainly as a result of indiscipline cannot now be faulted.

In addition, its ‘discovery’ of a major corruption-inducing malady which it called the ‘Nigerian Factor’ remains medically unassailable. The Committee led by His Lordship had an accurate diagnosis and several cures but the ubiquitous Nigerian Factor has continued to impede the efficacy of the drugs administered to cure the malignant tumour called corruption.

•To be Continued AWA Kalu, SAN

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—35

NBA, the journey so far and task ahead A

LL over the world, building institutions is not easy, and that is even more difficult in a country like Nigeria with weak institutions.

It was this drive for strengthening our institutions in Nigeria that made me contest for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association, being my immediate constituency as an active member of the Bar. With the membership of over 80,000 lawyers, NBA has 100 branch network spread across the 36 states of the federation including the federal capital territory.

NBA has three specialized Sections, five Foras, two Institutes, and various Committees through which Bar activities are carried out.

I ran my campaign on a 10 cardinal point agenda, which I committed myself to in my inaugural speech at my swearing ceremony on August 31, 2012, this 10 point agenda are: 1. branch capacity building; 2. Professionalizing the secretariat; 3.Financial responsibility; 4. Human capacity building; 5.

Institutional synergy with regional and international organizations, bar associations and law societies; 6. Human rights programme; 7. Anticorruption crusade; 8.

Uplifting professional standards; 9. Criminal justice system and access to justice;

* Wali, SAN and 10. Robust legislative advocacy.

Since my inauguration, I hit the ground running towards the execution of the 10 point agenda, the 10 programme of action, were carefully developed.

Bearing in mind, the regulatory, representative and public interest roles, which a Bar Association should play in a country. Also, bearing in mind the enormity of this tripartite roles of the Bar association, I have set up a

total of 24 committees, including Constitutional and Law reform Committee, Rule of Law Action Group, AntiCorruption Commission, Capacity Building Committee, Welfare Trust Fund committee, among others.

The first task I performed in my capacity as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association was to organize a Bar leaders Summit on the future of NBA. The purpose of the summit, which was attended by eminent Bar leaders, was to discuss the issues and challenges affecting the growth of NBA and to develop a strategic development plan for the Nigerian Bar Association. The need for the strategic plan was borne out of determination of my administration to restructure the operations of the NBA, and bringing it in line with International Best Standards.

We believe the strategic plan will ensure continuity and consistency of programmes and policies, rather than every administration coming up with a two year programme plan that are already on ground. I am happy to say, that the first draft of the NBA Strategic Plan will be ready for consideration at the February National Executive Committee meeting of NBA. Apart from the representative and public interest roles NBA had played so far since my assumption of office, we have also played a

very strong role in regulatory issues, especially with regards to professional conduct. In this regards, my administration has set up zonal NBA disciplinary committees to investigate professional misconduct and recommend appropriate cases to the Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Committee for prosecution. We have also appointed prosecutors to handle prima facie case before the Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Committee,

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BY OKEY WALI, SAN

Since my inauguration, I hit the ground running towards the execution of the 10 point agenda, the 10 programme of action, were carefully developed

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LPDC. Another area which has received serious attention since I assumed office is the issue of capacity building.

Apart from weak institutions in Nigeria, part of the challenges we face is the apparent lack of capacity to provide various services. This dearth of capacity is glaring in the legal profession and

Our procedural laws are frustrating corruption cases — Godwin Obla Continues from page 33 of the system for negative reasons.

Prosecutors have been accused of selling out cases either by deliberately omitting to file the necessary documents or omitting the necessary procedures that would fast track the trial of the cases. What is your reaction to this?

It is very strange that people just make statements at large without backing it with evidence. The whole thing about prosecution is that it is not a cat and mouse matter, when the prosecutor is filing a charge, he accompanies that charge with a proof of evidence, saying this is what I intend to rely upon in prosecuting this matter. These are public documents, I am sure that on several occasions, journalists have asked me for these documents and I had obliged them.

There is no time that the veracity of the documents or the sufficiency or otherwise of these documents to prosecute the matter had been challenged. People say, prosecution played into

people’s hands, prosecution did this or that. How did they do it? Is there a document in your proof of evidence that you did not tender or is there a statement that you did not tender? Or you did not demonstrate this document in court during the trial?

If an accused person through his lawyer files various applications, you must take that application, that is what the law says. By the time they get through with these applications from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, you have to stay action on the substantive action.

Just recently, I argued former Governor Abubakar Audu’s case at the Supreme Court on interlocutory grounds. For seven years now, he has been going up and down. Now that the Supreme Court has dismissed it, they are going to start afresh after seven years. But you can be sure that he will come up with other antics again.

At the end of the day, who do they blame, you start saying the prosecution did not do a good job. The prosecutor is not a fighter, he is just a lawyer, we cannot carry

cutlasses to the court neither can we carry guns to the court, we go there and engage the other party on the basis of the law.

It is as frustrating to the prosecution as it is to the public when cases are unduly delayed in the courts. What the public doesn’t know is that no lawyer wants a file to continue to revolve in his office. Lawyers are paid per the number of cases they do and not on how many years their cases spend in courts.

What is your advice for young lawyers?

My advice to them is that they have a long period of hard work in front of them, but after that hard work, commitment and dedication to the profession, there is a possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel.

Not every one of them is going to be successful or a trial lawyer. Some of them may never even practice law.

They may now branch into several professions. But for those who want to practice law, there are years of hard work ahead, there are years of discipline and dedication but the breakthrough will definitely come.

Give us a brief insight into the beginning of your law practice, how you managed to get to this level.

The biggest influence to my practice is J. B Majogbe, SAN. He was the biggest legal practitioner in Kano in the 80’s. I did my law office attachment in his law firm, so the high level of organisation and professionalism there, the humble way he carried himself despite the fact that the was very successful and it really influenced me as a young lawyer.

He was highly committed to the practice of law, was always in the office very promptly and gave attendance to court a lot of priority. I was really influenced by the three months experience that I had with him.

So when I went back to the Law School and finished my programme and the mandatory one year National Youth Service, NYSC in Abuja, I decided that I would just go straight and start law practice, that was actually what I did.

I just set up Obla and Co. in 1985 and we have been growing from strength to strength ever since.

within the Bar. To tackle the capacity challenges head long, the NBA under my watch has decided to adopt two pronged approach: capacity building for branches, and capacity building for lawyers, which are to be driven by NBA Capacity Building Committee and NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education respectively. They would design and implement training programs for branches and lawyers.

It is worthy of note that, the 10 point agenda can only be implemented with financial capacity. Therefore, in order to generate the much needed revenue, I have set up 2 Committees as follows: the NBA Building Development Fund Raising Committee with the specific mandate to raise funds for the building and furnishing of the NBA National Head Office in Abuja, and the NBA Finance Committee.

Although we hit the ground running since assuming office, we have only succeeded in laying the foundation for the herculean task ahead. It remains for us to commence the placing of building blocks of the swift execution. And the 1st building block in 2013 will be the organizing of the NBA Summit on Peace and Security in Nigeria. This summit which will hold on January the 30 and 31, 2013, will address the security challenges we are facing in Nigeria, and come up with recommendations for resolutions.

In addition to building blocks for development, the NBA under my leadership has a vision of commencing in 2013 and possibly completing in 2014 a building edifice in Abuja to be known as the NBA House. This building, when completed, shall house the national secretariat of NBA. The year 2013, is a significant year for both Nigeria and the NBA. The NBA shall not only get involve in constitution review and electoral reform process in Nigeria, but also will engage the National Assembly, using the NBA legislative Advocacy mechanism to push for the enactment of the Justice Sector Bills pending at the National Assembly, especially those bills that are consolidating the legal profession.

The welfare of lawyers will be of paramount importance to the NBA in 2013, from the data base of lawyers and law firms, to issues concerning liberalization of legal services, and protecting our works from foreign lawyers.

It could be gleaned from the foregoing, that the NBA intend to fire on each regulatory, representative, and public interest cylinders in the fulfillment of its roles as a Bar Association.

36 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

LIBRA; Happenings within your working arena’ll give genuine cause to smile and with efforts on your part you’re in for a rewarding day. Take advantage of your sex-appeal to enhance your love life. Experiment with ideas creatively.

SCORPIO ; Creativity may take front in what’s happening within your base of operation and the best for you is to join them. Lovers are fairly favoured.

SAGITTARIUS ; Tomorrow is your great day. Yet your being creative today can earn you un-expected good result at the end of the day. Be family minded now.

CAPRICORN ; Needed solution to challenges along your career/business lines will come through your being creative. Prepare to take good advice on your finances.

AQUARIUS; If you take unusual ideas coming to your mind today more seriously, thins’ll work favourably for you. The more financially ambitious you’re the better.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Do you need to relocate?

N

OT long ago, Ni gerians were bemoaning their woes over the relocation of some multinationals from Nigeria. Why do you think these firms are relocating? Call it whatever you like, but the truth is that they are looking for advan-

tage. As it is with the firms, so it is with individuals.

Examine your life.

What do you need to do in order to attain success in life? Do you

TERROR MUDA

need to relocate from your present location to a more suitable place? If that is the issue, do it, relocate. It is not impossible. You can do it. I have done it

in “Never say goodbye”

and I am not regretting it.

Location is important. If location is not important, God would not have relocated Abrahim, Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; The Moon in your Star sign favours aggressive approach in a favourable way. Here is a day Artist among you can create master piece. Be stead-fast.

ARIES You’ll have much to gain if you’re more cooperative and embrace creative ideas of your close associates. And it’s good to be friendly, loving and caring.

TAURUS ; Aggressive approach is not what you need at work now, but creative approach. You’ve got nothing to lose if you take good advice from your friends.

GEMINI ; Whatever anybody says about your ambition and desire success will crown your efforts today.

The more creative you are the better for your cause.

And lovers can make it an exciting and happy day.

Show your sex appeal and be loving.

CANCER; Your ideas are brilliant and if you blend them creatively the sky’ll be the limit. Let people within your home base know that you truly care for them.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; It does not matter who initiates creative idea that lead to success what is important is you should not be left in the cold all alone. The more co-operative you are the better for you. Don’t ignore your magnetic seappeal.

VIRGO.; Good luck and happiness indicated for you today. But then, the scope of your success’ll depend on how co-operative and creative you are both with your loved one and at work. Prepare to take good advice especially from younger person(s).

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Basic characteristics of Aquarius Aquarius is ruled by freedom loving Uranus-the planet of unpredictability, eccentricity and genius.

Aquarius is friendly, loving, hopeful and very altruistic in nature. That is why they are nice persons who truly care for others, especially the less fortunate ones.

They are loyal friend willing to belong to powerful social clubs or reasonable community.

The quality of Aquarius is fixed. That means it is important for them to watch the way they change their minds on important issues; Uranus factor makes all Aquarius natives freedom loving and whoever tries to impose any idea on you will be resented The element of Aquarius is the air. That makes you an intelligent person with fair share of sense of humour. Aquarius is the star sign that rules considerable social influence, and the natives of this star have better chances to have at least some influential friends.

Then, Aquarians are truly good friends and bad enemies; it is not in the best interest of anybody to frustrate an Aquarian..

Aquarius being a scientific sign. Aquarians can be inventive. Any Aquarian who falls to take his sudden flashes of ideas seriously is doom (to fail eventually) because, Uranus the ruler of Aquarius, usually bring success to Aquarians unexpectedly through ideas that come suddenly, and unexpected luck usually accompany their sudden inspiration and/or ideas.

The most dangerous weak points of Aquarian are the tendencies to procrastinate things and willingness to take opponents or enemies for granted I mean you must not believe that some body you might have had heated argument with will not try to undermine your progress after what will look like intervention of peace makers.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—37

PRESENTATION: Presentation of motorcycles at an event sponsored by Hon. Zakari Mohammed, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member of the House of Representatives, Kwara State.

BLESSING: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left), receiving blessing from clergymen during the New Year Mass at St Joseph's Chaplaincy, Governor's Lodge, Uyo.

Chief Moses Odibo, former Delta State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs (left), and Mr. Oma Djebah, Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Relations, during the tradi- SWEARING-IN: Dr. Offor Nnesochi; Mrs. Iragunima C. M.; Clara Gogo Princewill; Mrs. tional introduction of Delta State Deputy Governor's daugh- Amie Nemi Iwo; Mrs. Wihioka Comfort and Dr. Justina Jumbo, during their swearing-in as permanent secretaries, by Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in Port Harcourt. ter, in Warri.

VISIT: Lt. Gen. O. A. Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff (right) with Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, during the Chief of Army Staff's New Year visit to the governor in Umuahia.

(LEFT): Mr. Linus Eshiet, Branch Manager and Miss Olotewo Ejiro, Administration Officer,Shoprite, Ikeja, presenting N270,000 worth of shopping vouchers to Mrs Veronica Obi, Matron, and pupils of Beth Torrey Home for Mentally Challenged and Handicapped Children, in Lagos.

VISIT: From left: Wife of Delta State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nelly Utuama; Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, and the Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Ediri Egbi, when the Deputy Governor visited the palace on New Year's Day.

PEACE CORPS: Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State with members of the established Peace Corps, at an event in Ado-Ekiti.

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Delta gov, Uduaghan

Rivers gov, Amaechi

Bayelsa gov, Dickson

Flood victims return home to uncertainties (2)

This is the concluding part of this piece. The first part was published yesterday.

H

OWEVER, the state gov ernment, which expressed concern over the plight of the victims given the colossal loss incurred during the flooding, reiterated its commitment to ensuring their quick resettlement. The government, however, ruled out monetary compensation to the victims, saying it was more concerned about how they would start life all over again, especially those who lost farmlands, properties, livestock and other means of livelihood.

Governor Seriake explained that government could not possibly meet the needs of every single person affected by the flood, noting “but what we can do is to provide some form of succour.

Those who have lost farmlands will be assisted with seedlings and other farming inputs to enable them start all over.

Impending famine We are also putting in place measures to help mitigate the impending famine by stocking our warehouses with basic food items so that people can buy them at subsidized rates, when the need arises.”

Notwithstanding the assurances from the government to mitigate their plight as they returned home, some of the flood victims are still dazed, confused and devastated. Their lives have been

shattered, as the tree struck by lightning and may never be the same again.

Why we left furious – Flood victims camped in Asaba FROM Asaba, AUSTIN OGWUDA visited the Institute of Continuing Education, ICE flood victims’camp, on a day the IDPs left the place for their respective homes. He reports that the camp, held in high esteem when the State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu held sway, as the most peaceful, coordinated and disciplined in the state, turned into a theatre of war as the internally displaced persons headed for home.

Ashiedu, it was gathered had since relocated to her office while an officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) took over the running of the camp. When Vanguard visited the camp for on the spot assessment, an open fight broke out between two officers of the Man O’War and some inmates.

The quarrel arose from a bottled up agitation by the displaced persons who were complaining that they have not been appropriately settled.

The flood victims were seen boarding buses enroute their homes. One of them, however, Mr. Hitler Enemose, a farmer from Utchi, from Ndokwa, said the general atmosphere was charged and they had one common story to tell: He said: “My brother, I am not happy at all, you can see for yourself. Nobody is happy. Yes, we are going home but angry. I lost everything. The flood covered my house up to window level before I came here.

Yes, we thank government for feeding us since. But what of the transport money of N5,000 and N3,000 for adults and children

respectively, which the governor said they should give us. They refused to give us.”

Another victim, who simply gave her name as Janet from Oko, Oshimili South said, “Do you know why they are not happy with us? It is because we just spoke to the NTA people before you came so that is the reason for the fighting.

Nothing more, can you imagine, I am a fish seller but lost all.

In addition, they are here sharing a bag of rice between four families; whereas there are plenty bags of rice and other food items in the store, who are they keeping them for. Individuals and other bodies came here to donate and they gave us little. Is

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By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South, SAM OYADONGHA, Bayelsa, AUSTIN OGWUDA, Asaba, EMMA ARUBI, Warri, JIMITOTA ONOYUME, Rivers, and FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

Victims trapped in Rivers

JIMITOTA ONOYUME reports from Rivers State that victims of the flood disaster in the state have appealed to the Federal and Rivers State governments for financial assistance to rebuild their mud houses that were washed away by the ravaging flood. Some of them who spoke to the Vanguard at a camp in Okobe community, Ahoada West local government area said they were yet to move out of the camp after it was shut down on Sunday.

The camp coordinator, Pastor Chibuzor Okpoko told the Vanguard that he got a text to shut the camp on Sunday. He said the camp inmates had come to com-

I don’t have any house to move into when I leave here because where I was living with my children has fallen. The flood destroyed everything.

Government should help us

that good.”

Yet another flood victim, Mr. Azuka Chukwuji, in a fit of anger said, “I am not happy because they are not treating us well. They are just treating us like animals. Even the transport the governor said they should give to us, we did not see.

They should please settle us, let us go, we are ready to go back and pick up life again because once there is life there is hope. I am still youthful. I can farm, I can trade”.

The paramount ruler of Oko kingdom in Oshimili South local government area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Eze Osita I, who lost his palace to the flood and ran to Asaba for refuge, lamented that his entire community was in ruins.

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plain to him that they had nowhere to relocate to and enjoined the Federal and the Rivers State government to assist the victims with money to rebuild their houses. “We thank government for the efforts they made to cushion pains of victims of the disaster in the state. Government really tried but it should compensate victims before dispersing them from the relief camp.

“Most of them do not have houses to go to because their mud houses were washed away by flood. I still wonder where they would go to when they leave here. Government should have allowed them some time here.

They have been coming to tell me as the Camp Coordinator that they have nowhere to go.”

Some victims who also spoke

to Vanguard said they need money to buy crops for the farming season. They said their cassavas; yams were among things in the farms that were washed away by the flood. “The flood has destroyed our houses. The flood has destroyed our houses. Government should bring cassava stems. I am one of the camp coordinators. The camp has closed.

They should help us, we are pleading with government.” Justina Ede pleaded.

Felicia Watson said she does not have anywhere to relocate to, adding: “I don’t have any house to move in to when I leave here because where I was living with my children has fallen. The flood destroyed everything. Government should help us.” The displaced victims said they were not in a hurry to move out of the camp, as it had become their temporary home until they would be able to rebuild their fallen huts.

When Vanguard went round Okobe town, some of the locals were reconstructing their huts.

Those who volunteered comments said they raised money from relatives in Lagos and other parts of the country to commence the reconstruction.

We require financial assistance to survive From Ughelli in Delta State, FESTUS AHON spoke to the victims, as they left the camps on their losses, experiences and expectations from government amongst others.

Kelvin Otondo from Abare Community, Patani Local Government Area of Delta State: What would you say are your loses?

The loss to the community and me personally is colossal. From the school aspect of it, all the classrooms were flooded; all houses in the community were submerged by the flood. Then in my place, crops, farmlands were destroyed by water. In fact, one cannot quantify the number of things we lost to the flood; our plantains, cassava plants, fishponds were all destroyed. It is later that we will be able to itemize them. Our children were badly affected because they were not going to school, so if you think of the loss, I will say it is very colossal.

You have been in the camp right from its inception, what would you say have been your experiences here?

I can say that the government has tried as much as they could.

In my community, for example we first migrated to Bulu-Angiama. When the water got to BuluAngiama, the government came to move us to this camp and have been feeding us after providing us with shelter and a place for our children to study, teachers reported from the communities, policemen were deployed to the camp, local government medical staff are all here to assist. I can give the government pass mark Continues on page 39

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—39

Continues from page 38

in that respect.

How would you assess the intervention of government, corporate bodies, churches, NGOs, private individuals and others during the period that you were in camp?

They all tried, they brought relief materials to the camp and as they were bringing relief materials to the camp they were also sending some to the communities because it was not everybody that migrated, some of us remained during the flood. What we are saying is that government should not leave us that way; we still need support.

Harvesting of cassava When we get back to our various communities, there will be nothing to write home about our farms. It will take some time, may be next year before we will be able to plant and harvest cassava. For now even, cassava stem and suckers for plantain are not available. All plantains were destroyed in my community, our economic trees were all destroyed, and we will have to start all over again.

Okeoghene Uyovwi from Ovwodokpokpor, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State: What are your loses?

I lost my cassava farm that would have lasted us for three years. Part of the house we are living in, was destroyed, even when I visited the community, last week Saturday, the water had receded from the house, but the compound is still flooded. There is nothing we are left with right now.

What are some of your expe-

Living with the devastating floods

Flood victims return home to uncertainties (2) Government tried, individuals tried.

Augustine Ighoruwa, Odorubu, Patani Local Government Area of Delta State: What were your losses during the flood?

My cassava, plantain, potatoes were destroyed and even my house collapsed.

What were your bitter experi-

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When we were there, it was like a hostel.

We were very many with no privacy at all.

You couldnot sleep comfortably because it is not your house and the place where you could do whatever you like

riences here in the camp?

I experienced so many things; sometimes there were quarrels among some of us the displaced persons. The food they were giving to us sometimes contains too much pepper and it aggravated problem of those who are suffering from ulcer.

How would you assess government, corporate bodies, churches, and private individuals’ intervention?

I cannot begin to recall all of them. However, it is only God that can reward them for the good they did for us here, the food which some of us could not ordinarily have been able to afford on our own were provided for us here. We ate good food twice a day. Clothing was provided and some of us acquired training in the skills acquisition centres.

,

ences?

That period was difficult because I lost so many things.

What were your experiences in the camp?

We went through a lot in the camp, though the government tried in feeding us but the other things like our benefits they are not giving us; they have refused to pay me my N5000 to transport home; they don’t want to pay my wife and my five children.

What do you hope to do now My hope is to plant crops again because there is nothing we can do without government assistance. We hope that government will give us financial support.

Paulina Ofogho from Ohoro, Ughelli North Local Government Area: What were your losses?

We lost our potatoes, pepper,

cassava and properties to the flood, even our mud houses collapsed.

How would you estimate your losses in terms of naira and kobo?

Over N2 million What will you say is your bitter experience?

My property, my crops that were destroyed as well as the business trip that I was supposed to undertake.

What is your experience in the camp?

It was terrible; we did not have money to buy anything.

What is your assessment of government, churches, NGOs and others intervention?

They did a lot in terms of provision of food.

From Warri, EMMA ARUBI, reports that the flood has come and gone with many internally displaced persons, IDPs, camped at the Caverginia Primary School and the Swamp Road residence of Chief E.K Clark, both in Warri metropolis, already back at their various homes.

First, to return to their homes were IDPs quartered at the Swamp Road camp, while the ones at the Caverginia camp went home to their Ogbe-Ijoh residences afterward. Vanguard spoke to a number of the victims, including a widow with three children, who gave her name simply as Grace and a father of six, Mr. Tare Femudoh. Grace said: “My brother, we lost everything. We have not seen this kind

of water before so we did not know what to do, so we packed a few of our belonging and run to this primary school in Warri, where we started a new and very uncomfortable life.

No privacy at all in hostels “When we were there, it was like a hostel, we were very many with no privacy at all. You cannot sleep comfortably because it is not your house and the place where you can do whatever you like. We really saw nonsense with the different characters of some women, children and boys. In fact, the small amount of cash with me finished and we became very dependent on the goodwill of the government, our people and other public-spirited persons.

“I am still ashamed of myself and the sheer indignity in camp because I could not start any trade and people were coming in just to look at us and express their sympathy. Governor Uduaghan really tried for us. If not for him, hunger would have killed some of us.

“Even sickness would have finished and our children because of the congested nature of the camp. Children from all manners of background and upbringing mixing, you know what that means. Water to bath became problematic, just as the toilet facilities were over-stretched.’

At the Swamp Road camp, Mr. Tare told Vanguard that they had some measure of comfort, secu-

rity and sense of dignity. However, to be tagged IDP with your wife and children and living quite outside your traditional home is disheartening, disgraceful and demeaning. He said: “Our situation was not really too bad when the flood came but we had to move because by the way it was coming, you never could tell what would happen the next minute. So we were able to salvage our property to a neighbouring community, while we joined others to stay at the camp since no family can accommodate me, my wife and six children.

Relief materials “We stayed there and everything was made to ensure our comfort by the government and kind people who brought relief material of all kinds to us. Although the sharing of some these material are suspect, we nevertheless appreciated it. In fact, the temporary transition period was a time for sober reflection for me that nothing is permanent in life.

I am a full time fisherman but during the flood period there was no fishing or farming as the flood took over everywhere.

Left to me, government can only continue to provide campground any time it comes again.

It is only in very advanced nations that adequate action can be taken to protect the people. We have not reached that level and let nobody deceive us.”

40—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Traffic law: Lawmaker appeals to Okada riders

Monarch makes case for retention of NYSC

BY DANIA ONOZURE

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

M

EMBER representing Iko rodu Constituency 1 in Lagos State House of Assembly, Sanai Agunbiade, yesterday appealed to Okada riders to continue to obey traffic laws to avoid arrest by the police and other law enforcement agents.

He made the appeal in an interview while reacting to claims by some residents that some Okada riders not riding on restricted lanes were being arrested.

Agunbiade said staying away from the restricted lanes was not the only provision in the traffic law.

According to him, there are other aspects of the law that stipulate the use of crash helmets, while other aspects prohibit carrying multiple passengers.

Agunbiade, who is the chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions, said the fact that an Okada rider stayed away from restricted lanes did not confer on him the liberty to flagrantly flout the law on the inner routes, saying such an Okada rider will be arrested if other aspects of the law were breached.

O

Igwe Idigo, Traditional ruler of Aguleri (Ogalagidi); his cabinet, Group Managing Director of Krisoral Group of Companies, Chief Chris Oranu Chidume and other top managers of the company during official presentation of Omega Schnapps to the traditional ruler.

Resumption of business activities at Oshodi market, Lagos yesterday after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Kidnap suspect nabbed at bank premises zWhile attempting to collect N50m ransom

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—MEN of the Del ta State police command have arrested a member of a kidnap gang at a bank in Agbor, Delta State, while attempting to collect N50 million ransom which his group asked an Agbor-based housewife to cough out or risk abduction.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the state police command, Mr. Famous Ajieh, said in a statement yesterday that investigation was in process as efforts were on to arrest his accomplices.

He said: “One Mrs. Orumgbe Veronica has been receiving threatening text messages from unknown persons through GSM number asking her to pay N50 million ransom into Access Bank account with account name (withheld) or risk being kidnapped.

“Based on the report, police operatives swung into action in collaboration with the various GSM service providers and Access Bank management. This synergy yielded result on December 20, 2012 at about 0900 hours when the said (owner of the account

number) was arrested at Access Bank, Agbor.

“Items recovered from him include a handset with GSM number (withheld) one of the GSM numbers used

for the threat messages.”

The PPRO also stated that a patrol team successfully rescued one Mrs. Ogboma of Ozoro Polytechnic in Delta State, who was

kidnapped a by a four-man gang along old Emede road, Oleh, following a hot chase the team gave the fleeing suspects shortly after the woman was kidnapped.

Fasehun to Nigerians: Take your destiny in your hands ...laments dearth of vibrant rights activists

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

P

RESIDENT of the Oodua Peo ples Congress, OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun, yesterday reviewed activities in the country in the outgoing year and conclude that Nigerians were not yet willing to challenge the political leaders to make them accountable to the people.

He resolved that unless Nigerians made it a point of duty to engage their representatives in government to ensure that the country convoked a national conference to fashion out a peoples’ constitution, the country would continue to drift.

At an interactive media roundtable in Lagos, Fasehun said: “Po-

litical office holders have over the years kept deceiving and disorganising our people without providing them necessary infrastructure, adequate security and welfare packages.

“Something has to be done fast to ensure that the system does not continue like this.”

He lamented that since the generation of the old rights activists of the likes of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Beko Kuti, Chima Ubani, Gani Fawehinmi and host of others were no more, things were taking different shapes for the worst.

“The way things are now, we are going trough a revolution in Nigeria. But what I cannot advocate is a bloody revolu-

tion.

“What can solve the wave of corruption and uneven governance we are experiencing now is the convocation of a national conference, where we can sit down round a table and determine our future together.”

On the state of the security of the country, Fasehun decried the attitude of government to lack of safety pervading the country, owing to incidence of kidnapping, armed banditry and terrorism from the Boko Haram group.

He advocated that security vote be given to the local council who are more closer to the people to address their security problem.

LOWU of Owu King dom, Ogun State, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, has called on the Federal Government to retain the 40-year-old National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, saying it had done more good to Nigeria’s growing generation.

The monarch made the call in an exclusive chat with Vanguard at the wedding of his son, Okelana Adewale Dosunmu, in Lagos.

The paramount ruler said proponents of calls for NYSC to be scrapped should realize its role in sustaining the unity that Nigeria enjoyed through inter-marriages.

He blamed collapse in family value system on non-chalance of majority of the people in matter of family foundation that is the marriage.

The Olowu said Nigeria’s path to desired change would begin the moment people started taking institution of marriage seriously.

Orji's wife pays medical bills of 11 nursing mothers

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—WIFE of Abia State governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji, has offered to pay the medical bills of 11 indigent nursing mothers totaling N1.017 million and ordered their immediate discharge.

The indigent nursing mothers have been detained at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, over non-payment their hospital bills.

The women have spent many months in the hospital for their inability to pay hospital bills until succour came their way on New Year day.

The plight of the women came to the knowledge of Mrs. Orji when she came to the hospital to see the “2013 baby of the year”, little Miss Favour Chimezie Uchendu from Obowo, Imo State on new year day.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,,2013 — 41

C M Y K

42—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Expert advises pregnant women on danger of diabetes

J

OS—A diabetes special ist with Apex Diabetes Screening Centre, Mr Chima Adinu, has said that women who experience gestational diabetes had increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Adinu told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Jos, that this form of diabetes typically occurred during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

Adinu said: “Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It is like Type 2 diabetes because the body becomes resistant to insulin. It generally disappears after the birth of the baby, but women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.”

According to him, such risk can be decreased with lifestyle modification such as healthy dieting, lesser weight, constant exercise

Ekiti govt distributes drugs worth N33.3m to hospitals

A

DO-EKITI——EKITI State Government yesterday distributed drugs and hospital consumables worth over N33.3 million to hospitals and health care centres across the state.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasubaa, who disclosed this yesterday during a visit to the Central Medical Store in AdoEkiti, said the gesture would boost healthcare delivery.

He said the stocking of the Unified Drugs Revolving Fund Scheme, UDRFS, with essential drugs and consumables would ensure success of the state’s free health services scheme.

Fasubaa reiterated the commitment government to provision of high quality drugs to ensure healthy living.

The commissioner, however, warned residents against patronising quacks and uncertified patent medicine stores.

He also advised pregnant women and nursing mothers to shun faithbased delivery homes, as well as other unqualified and unregistered centres to avoid premature death.

and routine sugar level checks.

“Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy are therefore advised to stick to a healthy diets rich in whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, poultry, seafood and nuts.

Such women should also have limited intake of red and processed meats.

“Investigations have confirmed that women who follow this type of diet in the years after having gestational diabetes, consistent-

ly reduce their risk by about half than women who did not,” he explained.

He advised that such women should also do away with sedentary lifestyle that could lead to being overweight since that could increase the risk of an individual developing Type 2 diabetes.

According to him, if gestational diabetes is left unmanaged, various health complications can occur such as it will usually affect the developing foetus.

Former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (right) and Revd.

Segun Babalola, Minister-in-Charge, Glad Tidings Baptist Church, Randa, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, to commemorate the New Year at the Church.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—43 equipments that would determine the strength of the building. All we have to do now is to be prayerful that the explosion hasn’t caused serious damage on the buildings.”

A landlady Alhaja Adio of 49, Ojo-Giwa, said: “Our prayer is that our building passes the test. This is because we do not have the money to construct another one now.”

Speaking with Vanguard about what would become the fate of the 30-year old mosque, the chairman of Lagos Mission of Anwar-Ul-Islam, Alhaji Mufutau Salau, said that they would be hoping and praying that the building passes the test.”

Salau noted “But after the test, if the result shows that it failed the test, we will accept it in good fate. We have received a notice asking us to go for integrity test to know how sound it is structurally for continuous use. We will go for the test to confirm the soundness of the building (mosque).

And if after the test they say the place is not good for use, we will have no choice than to begin to look for an alternative.”

Opportunity to test the building 45, Ojogiwa Street, Jankara area of Idumota market, Lagos, razed by firecrackers, December 26.

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

LAGOS FIRE:

Firecracker importer arrested, property owners panic T

HE Police in Lagos State, yesterday, said they have arrested the importer of the firecrackers which triggered an inferno that killed one person, injured 40 others, and destroyed 12 buildings at Ojo Giwa area of Jankara, in Lagos Island, Lagos on Boxing Day. The importer, whose identity was given as, Semilore Olalekan, was said to have been picked up by the police who have been on his trail for a long time.

Although the spokesperson of the Lagos Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the arrest, she said, however, that she had not been properly briefed. But a source who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said the importer was currently being detained at the Area A Command Headquarters, Lion Building, Lagos Island. The source added that the import-

er told policemen during interrogation that he was licensed to import firecracker which remains a contraband item into the country.

He said: “The importer told the policemen that he got permission from the Police AntiBomb Unit and the National Security Adviser, NSA, to import firecracker into the country.”

Fear grips landlords, ten-

,

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

Lagos State police commissioner, Umar Manko

It will be recalled that the state government through the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, marked over 20 structures for a compulsory Non-Deformity Test to determine the strength of the

Our prayer is that our building passes the test. This is because we do not have the money to construct another one now

ants over non-deformity test: Meantime, owners of structures and tenants of the 20 marked structures on Okoya and Ojo-Giwa streets in Lagos Island, site of the firecrackers explosion were, yesterday, gripped with fear over the commencement of the NonDeformity Test on the marked structures.

,

building. Vanguard gathered that the directive to conduct a compulsory test on the building sited within over 60 metres of the explosion site was ordered by the Governor, Babatunde Fashola, to determine the extent of damage caused by the Boxing Day explosion.

Among the structures marked by LASBCA are An-

war-Ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria, headquarters Central Mosque built 30 years ago, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Idumagbo, King Ado Junior and Senior Secondary Schools and 17 other structures.

When Vanguard visited the site one week after the explosion, the property owners expressed fear of their buildings failing the test which LASBCA through the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory commenced December 28.

Mr. Sunday Okonkwo, a tenant at 35, Ojo-Giwa Street, said “ we know that the houses have been marked for test but we cannot determine the extent of damage done by the explosion on the buildings.

The extent of damage cannot be determined through mere looking at the structure.

But through Non-Deformity

Another resident, Miss Shade said: “I have removed my property from the building to give officials of the state government the opportunity to test the building. And I will pray that the building does not fail the test. This is because I have just paid a year rent to my landlord last December.”

Speaking during the test, the Project director of Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory, Mr Gboyega Abisogun, allayed the fear of the residents, saying “the test is in the interest of the owners of the structures and their tenants.

“It gives owners of the building the opportunity to know the type of building material used by the contractor while constructing the building.

This is a scientific test that cannot be discovered through the eye and we will be using the non-destructive testing machine.”

He explained that after the explosion, some of the buildings could have experienced cracks that would not be visible to the eye, stressing that it would have caused the building to experience some deformity.

Also speaking on the test, managing consultant of the laboratory, Mr. Shola Famakin, said: “ we are removing the house from the site, but we are bringing the portable ultrasonic non-destructive digital test equipment here to test the structure.

“During the test, we will place the machine on the column (pillars), beam and the slabs in the building to determine the strength of the building. After the site test, the data generated would be sent to the laboratory for another test.”

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, January, 3, 2013 ed to see him too. He advised him not to go as he would be struck with the same illness too, since the illness was a spiritual one involving some powerful invisible hands.

The young man was so excited about the whole thing and kept on telling me, ‘Ha auntie, this is a real man of God. All that he has said is true o. I can’t believe it. This must be our lucky day’. I could only nod in response.

Perhaps, thinking that I was not totally hooked yet, the man of God tried to further convince me. He said he would give us something which we would wear on our body at all times to drive away evil powers. He asked that we spit into our palms and close them for prayers.

When we opened them, we found some cheap silver crucifix and chains, just like you will find on some children from these white garment churches. He told us it had protective powers to keep us safe from the ‘enemies’.

At that point, I guess I had already been hyponotised.The “man of God” proceeded to help me further as he claimed. He told me that those my relatives he mentioned earlier had

Deceit, danger all around I. As if the stories of kidnap ping and bombing across the country are not enough, the “ember months” including the beginning of a new year are considered precarious whether by design, myth or reality. A lot of weird, incredible stories make the rounds during this period, all of them twisted with violence, spiritual and physical manipulations, loss of property and death.

For those who are lucky of a chance to tell the bone chilling stories, life may never be the same as they once knew it. In this series, some of these people will be sharing their experiences with us. The story you are about to read today was recently told by a young lady who claimed she narrowly escaped being kidnapped after she boarded a taxi right in front of her house.

Tayo, (23), fresh graduate, says she is convinced she was hynotised.

Her story: I boarded the ill fated taxi right in front of my house in Surulere. When I waved him down, I told him I was going to Festac-Town. He told me he would collect N3500 but I told him I would pay him N3000 and he agreed.

Little did I know I was jumping into real trouble as I quickly entered into the back seat. I was happy that luck must be shining on me that morning as I had expected that the trip would cost me more than that.

In the cab already, were two men, one a bit older than the other.

The man in the back seat was well dressed in a grey suit while the other one in the front passenger seat was casually dressed. I greeted them as the taxi sped off. After a few minutes, the taxi driver turned around and asked if I knew the location of Mainland Specialist Hospital.

According to him. It was supposed to be located somewhere along Badagry Express Road. I tried hard to think if I had ever heard or seen the name anywhere along that route before but I couldn’t, so I told him I had no idea. Suddenly, he turned back again to address the well

dressed man beside me and started shouting angrily at him.

“Look, I’m going to drop you off somewhere. Nobody knows where you are going and I cannot continue to drive you around. I am only doing you a favour because you are a foreigner and man of God, that’s all.” Puzzled, I turned to look at the man and decided to ask him where exactly he was going and if I could help him. This proved to be a big mistake on my part.

The man told me he had come to Nigeria from Liberia for a special end of year miracle crusade which was to take place at the National Arts Theatre. He was asked to visit a certain sick man who was at the brink of death and pray with him to ease his suffering.

His explanation got the better side

,

H

He said if I could insert my fingers into my private part, I would be able to bring it out with the help of his prayers

of my emotions and I encouraged him to discuss his mission in Nigeria with him. In the end, I told him how sorry I was that I could not help him out. Then, he told me that he wanted to do me a favour since I had been kind enough to at least offer to assist him. He asked that we should pray and I obliged.

I can’t remember if the young man in the front seat was invited to take part in the prayer but he did. Intermittently, he shot one sentence or the other into our conversation.

After the prayer, the ‘man of God’proceeded to reveal to me the visions he had seen while praying for us. He crowned it all by telling me that I had been slated for death in seven days by some evil people, if I was not careful and prayerful.

To drive home his point, he mentioned several names which were known to me as being some of my enemies. For the guy, he revealed that he was planning to travel to his home town for the Christmas celebrations. He said the guy’s father was also very sick and he want-

,

done more havoc to my life than I could ever imagine. He said that it may not be possible for me to have babies as they had already planted some things in my womb.

He said if I could insert my fingers into my private part, I would be able to bring it out with the help of his prayers. So, with my belt still fastened, I unzipped my trousers and tried to remove the so called foreign object while he continued his prayers. When I could not do it by myself, the “man of God” offered to help me out. I was helpless and obliged him like a robot.

He unhooked my belt and proceeded to probe my private part.

This is did three times each producing a small black cowry seed. I could not believe my eyes and I began weeping while he tried to pacify me.

The man in the front seat too told me that I was supposed to be happy that my problems had been solved instead of crying.

To be continued Asisted by Onozure Dania

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Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

The role of a mistress, is it as glamorous as it seems?

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

MISTRESS is that mysterious sexy woman that a married man sees in secret to have a romantic and sexual relationship with. This is the definition of a mistress. There is good sex, hotel room adventures, late nights, seductive phone calls, exciting secret dates, gifts and the thrill of doing something bad. But is being a mistress as glamorous as it seems?

Yes, but only at first. Being a mistress has its exciting moments and these are the moments that convince women to become mistresses in the first place. In the beginning, the mistress holds all the power. She is the one who has the married man under a love spell and she gets all his attention and time that he should be spending with his wife.

She is the one he fantasizes about when he is with his wife and the one he misses.

He urges for her company and longs to hear her voice. The mistress is the woman a married man makes first priority and will shower her with gifts to keep her happy. This all sounds fun and good, but it is very short lived and eventually, the light goes on and shines on the truth of what the life of a mistress really is and eventually becomes after the sexy stage is over.

Relationships that start off in deception usually end in deception. When a woman gets involved with a married man, she turns a blind eye to the fact that he is a cheater and an unreliable partner. She sees only what she wants to see and believes only what she wants to believe. She acknowledges the fact that he is cheating on his wife with her, but refuses to see that

she too is a victim of his selfish behavior choosing to make herself his victim.

Men rarely leave their wives and family for their mistresses.

Which means that they string their mistresses along, having them believe that one day they will both be together with no more hiding around. Mistresses hang on to this fantasy, believing that their married lovers truly love them and will eventually be with them. This begins a long journey of emotional pain, emptiness and endless waiting.

There are of course cases when a married man will actually leave his wife to be with his mistress. This has been known to happen, but it is rare, plus, if it does happen, the relationship usually does not last, even if man and mistress go as far as getting married.

This is because when the relationship started, it was not planted on solid, honest ground. Instead, the seed of the relationship was planted on unstable ground, fertilised with secrets and lies regardless of whom the secrets were being kept from and whom the lies were being told to.

Secrets and lies disallow people from being their true selves, a part of you has to be put on hold due to the man-mistress circumstance.

If the man and his mistress do end up together and get married, they eventually have troubles with trust, because of the way they got together. They both know that they are capable of cheating and can go along cheating. While they may actually love each other, all the facts defining their relationship has the greater influence, whether they want to acknowledge it or not.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 — 45

CAR rebels halt advance on Bangui R

EBEL forces in the Central African Republic have said that they they have halted their offensive on the capital, Bangui, and will take part in peace talks.

The announcement from the Seleka rebels comes as the country’s neighbors said they were sending in extra troops.

Gabon deployed 120 troops on Tuesday and Cameroon was expected to send a similar number, the CAR’s defence minister told the BBC. It would be recalled that the Seleka rebels began their campaign a month ago, taking several key towns and cities, including the diamond centre of Bria.

Just last Saturday, they captured Sibut city, which

Multinational Force, known as Fomac, which was deployed to the CAR in 2008 to help end years of unrest. ‘Exclude the president’

Mandela’s recovery on track at home, says S/A govt

F Soldiers from the Congolese contingent of the Central African Multinational Force (FOMAC) jump from their vehicle in Damara, about 75 km (46 miles) north of Bangui. is about 150km (95 miles) President Francois Bozize government for help to from the capital, Bangui, has faced since he took defeat the rebels. after government forces power in a coup in 2003.

Both the US and France, However, neighboring withdrew. states agreed to bolster the It is the biggest threat the former colonial power, Central African have rejected a plea by the

Syria’s civil war death toll hits 60,000 — UN

M

Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians search for bodies under rubble after an air strike by a fighter jet loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo’s al-Marja district.

ORE than 60,000 people have died in the Syrian uprising and civil war, the United Nations said yesterday , dramatically raising the death toll in a struggle that shows no sign of ending.

Dozens were killed in a Damascus suburb when a government air strike turned a petrol station into an inferno, incinerating drivers who had rushed there for a rare chance to fill their tanks, activists said.

“I counted at least 30 bodies. They were either burnt or dismembered,”

Israel completes bulk of Egypt border fence

I

SRAEL completed the main segment of a razor-wire fence along its border with Egypt yesterday , a barrier against illegal migrants and Islamist militants hiding out in the lawless Sinai region.

The five-meter high fence, bolstered by military surveillance equipment, is touted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as proof of his commitment to the Jewish state’s security as he campaigns for a national election on January 22.

Once the final 14

CAR Defence Minister Francis Bozize, who is a son of the president, told BBC Afrique that Fomac troops had been deployed to Damara, 75km (48 miles) from the capital.

kilometer (8.5 mile) section is completed within three months, the fence will stretch from Israel’s Red Sea port of Eilat to the Gaza Strip on the Mediterranean.

In the desert beyond, hardline Islamist groups have expanded in a security vacuum caused by the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and efforts to re-impose central authority have been slow.

Islamist gunmen killed at least 16 Egyptian border guards in Sinai last August and hijacked

an armored vehicle which they smashed across the frontier before they were killed by Israeli forces.

said Abu Saeed, an activist who arrived at the area an hour after the raid occurred at 1:00 PM (1100 GMT) in Muleiha, a suburb on the eastern edge of the capital.

Meanwhile, U.N Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said in Geneva that researchers crossreferencing seven sources over five months of analysis had listed 59,648 people killed in Syria between March 15, 2011 and November 30, 2012.

“The number of casualties is much higher than we expected and is truly shocking,” she said.

“Given that there has been no let-up in the conflict since the end of November, we can assume that more than 60,000 people have been killed by the beginning of 2013.”

ORMER South African President Nelson Mandela’s recovery is ‘on track’ at his home in Johannesburg, the government said yesterday in its first statement since the antiapartheid hero was released from hospital a week ago.

Mandela, 94, who has been in frail health for several years, spent nearly three weeks in a Pretoria hospital in December for treatment of a lung infection and surgery to remove gallstones, his longest stay for medical care since his release from prison in 1990. “Madiba’s recovery

Wall Street reacts to fiscal pact

S

TOCKS surged on the first trading day of 2013 after lawmakers agreed a deal to avoid massive tax hikes and spending cuts that had threatened to hurt economic growth.

The gains come after stocks ended 2012 with their strongest day in more than a month, which put the S&P 500 up 13.4 percent for the year, after a flat performance in 2011. Late on Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted for a bill that will raise taxes

India gang rape: Indian women march on Delhi

T

HOUSANDS of women have taken part in a rally in the Indian capital, Delhi, to protest against the recent gang rape of a 23year-old medical student. The victim died at the weekend from severe injuries she sustained during the 16

December attack in a bus, even as the incident has caused a national outcry.

Police are expected to charge five of six suspects with murder today.

If convicted, they could face the death penalty, which is rarely carried

•Mandela continues on track,” presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said referring to Mandela by his clan name.

“We are now in the phase where if we do not hear from his doctors, we assume he is all right,” he said, without giving details on Mandela’s condition.

out in India. The sixth suspect is reported to be under 18 and a juvenile.

Police have ordered a bone test for him to confirm his age.

Meanwhile, her family has said they would have no objection if a new anti-rape law is named after her.

on wealthy individuals and families and preserve certain benefits. The vote had averted immediate austerity measures, like tax hikes for almost all U.S. households, although it didn’t resolve other political showdowns on the budget due in coming months.

However, spending cuts of $109 billion in military and domestic programs were only delayed for two months.

“Many investors are feeling confident heading into 2013 following a year of strong equity market returns, and the recently signed deal,” said Jonathan Golub, strategist at UBS in New York.

“Unfortunately, our sense is that the most important structural issues will continue to be pushed off into the future, leaving significant uncertainty about the long-term direction of the economy and corporate profits.”

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

Cost of Governance: Sanusi on the spot Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s campaign to reduce the cost of governance attracts a request on the cost in sustaining him in office. Will the governor now suppress his campaign or release the information?

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

We believe that the CBN governor is one of those preaching for transparency and public accountability and that is why we are starting with him, so we want to know if his office is one of those guzzling too much public money

C

ENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was in the opinion of some a surprising choice for the commencement of Mr. Bamidele Aturu's campaign to unveil the cost of governance in the country.

Sanusi after all, was considered an ally in the crusade against the proliferation of the cost of governance. Quite unlike some in public office, the CBN governor had on various occasions campaigned against the high cost of governance.

He had in separate fora in recent times traced the nation’s problems to government bureaucracy and the structure of the nation’s federation.

Hence the surprising request

by Mr. Aturu for the CBN governor to make public his emoluments including salary, allowances, number of vehicles, drivers and other government expenditure incurred by government in sustaining Sanusi in office as governor.

Speaking during a capital market capacity building conference in Warri, Delta State last November Governor Sanusi had lampooned the government expenditure on the civil service.

Recurrent expenditure Against the fact that 70 per cent of government service is spent on recurrent expenditure, Sanusi had said: “You have to fire half of the civil service because the revenue government has is supposed to be for 167million Nigerians. Any society where government spends 70 per cent of its revenue on its civil service has a problem. It is unsustainable,” Sanusi stated.

Noting the size of the legislature, he said: “The country does not need over 100 senators, about 400 members of the House of Representatives to make laws.”

Also noting the ‘wastage’ of funds on sustaining the 774 local government council chairmen with aides, councilors and others at that level, he said: “Do we need 774 LGAs; do we need 36 states some of which are unviable? Do we need 774 local governments, why not just remove them and have only state governments?”

Sanusi who has cut the image of a rebel against the system went further to castigate the profiteers from the petrol subsidy scam

,

•Sanusi saying: “People have the right to demand transparency. If you want to remove subsidy you have to show what happened to those who stole.”

Now the transparency he has so promised has now come to his door step with the demand from Mr. Aturu for the governor to

unveil government expenditure on him.

But in picking on Sanusi, Mr. Aturu who submitted his request on the basis of the Freedom of Information Act, FOI even faulted the governor’s campaign as misguided. Aturu told Vanguard that the number of civil

servants was not necessarily the problem as he lampooned government expenditure on top public officials as the major problem. Mr. Aturu wrote on behalf of another lawyer, Anthony Itedjere and according to him the demand was made to determine if the incumbent governor, Sanusi is one of the public officials guzzling public funds In effect, Mr. Aturu’s mission is to find out if despite all his public campaigns Mr. Sanusi is really one of “them” or not.

In the letter to the CBN dated December 31, 2012, Mr. Aturu is

also demanding how much and at what cost it takes for the CBN governor to travel within and outside Nigeria and whether he also uses chartered aircraft for his travels.

Mr. Aturu warned that he would go to court to compel the bank to provide the information should the bank fail to supply the information within the required seven days as provided in the Freedom of Information Act. ” We believe that the CBN governor is one of those preaching transparency and public accountability and that is why we are starting with him, so we want to know if his office is one of those guzzling too much public money,” Aturu told Vanguard.

“We are starting with the CBN governor because he is one of those that have been very vocal on the cost of governance and we are going to do it for many other offices and it is part of our action to enthrone public accountability,” Aturu further disclosed.

Meanwhile indications are that the CBN may not be in a hurry to release the sensitive information as demanded by Aturu. CBN sources told Vanguard that a similar request made by another lawyer was already being contested in court and it is now before the Court of Appeal.

Aturu’s letter requesting the information: RE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING RECURRENT EXPENDITURE (S) ON YOU AND YOUR OFFICE PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 1, 3 AND 4 OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2011 Compliments of the Season!

We are solicitors to Anthony Itedjere Esq., a Nigerian citizen and solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on whose behalf and instruction we write this letter.

Our client is interested in certain information which is in possession and or custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as ‘the bank’) and your office. Kindly provide the information to the best of your knowledge in the interest of transparency and openness which you have been advertised as championing.

Request You are hereby specifically requested to make available to our client or grant to him access to: 1. The Central Bank Act provides that your salary, fee, wages or other remuneration or allowances shall be stipulated from time to time by the Board subject to the approval of the President.

a. How much is your total remuneration (that is salary plus allowances) per month? b. Do you charge the Bank or the Federal Government of Nigeria any fee outside your monthly remuneration? If so, state any such fee you have received since becoming the Governor of the bank. c. Do you travel business class or economy within Nigeria? d. Do you travel first class, business class or economy when traveling out of Nigeria? e. Have you ever used chartered plane for any of your travels within and outside Nigeria? f. If your answer to 1e above is in the affirmative, kindly list all such instances specifying the dates, the airline(s), the cost and the duration of the charter? g. Does the Bank own an aircraft? If so, what is the cost of the craft and the cost of its servicing and maintenance? h. How many drivers are attached to your office by the bank? i. How many cleaners are attached to your office by the bank? j. How many drivers are attached to your house by the bank? k. How many cleaners are attached to your

house by the bank? l. How much is your monthly imprest? m. When you travel within Nigeria, how much is your allowance? n. When you travel outside Nigeria, how much is your allowance? o. When last did you spend your personal money on purchasing fuel since you became the Governor of the bank?

However, if you think that another agency of the Government has greater interest in the information requested for, you are obliged under Section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to transfer this request to the other agency within 3 days, howbeit not later than 7 days of receiving this request.

Our client shall pay the necessary fees for the information. Be notified that if you fail to provide the above information within the period stipulated by law we shall proceed against you in accordance with the provisions of the law.

We have no doubt that you will accede to this very friendly request. Accept the renewed assurances of our very high regards.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—47

North‘ll not suffer if Nigeria disintegrates – Tsav •Says we should be talking about Hunger Haram not Boko Haram ALHAJI Abubakar Tsav, renowned social critic and former Lagos State Commissioner of Police in this interview spoke on the state of the nation and expectations for 2013.

Excerpts:

BY PETER DURU

H

OW would you rate President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the last 12 months?

When Jonathan became president, he promised that he was going to provide security and cater for the well being of the people because these are the primary objectives of government. But he has failed.

Look at the level of insecurity in this country. What is happening in the northern states particularly in Yobe, Borno, Kano and Bauchi, it appears that these states are not in Nigeria; maybe they are not part of Nigeria completely because they are isolated and government is not paying particular attention to them. So, government has failed in providing security.

Insecurity arises from idleness, lack of jobs, poverty and the rest of them. When people are gainfully employed, they will not have time to engage in acts of terrorism and thuggery. People have no jobs; people are hungry

statement condemning him (Jonathan) that he is incapable and that he doubts whether he will win any elections in this country. So, Asari Dokubo spoke the minds of many Nigerians.

For me, I don’t think the government has done anything for us at all. Now we are hearing of employment scandal at the Ministry of Interior where they said the mother of the President has been given some slots, the wife of the President has been given some slots and certain people have been given some slots to put people in Immigration. So, they have completely thrown away federal character. Is that how it is done?

Does that now mean that you can only be employed if you know the mother or wife of the president? That should not be the case. This thing should be assigned to every state of the federation.

President Jonathan has promised that 2013 will be better than 2012. What do you have to say to that?

What stopped him from

,

The North has been ruling from time immemorial and they never talked of disintegration. Now, somebody is ruling from the South and they are talking about disintegration

and we keep on hammering on Boko Haram. I think what we should be talking about now is Hunger Haram and not Boko Haram. So, government has failed totally.

On the other hand, the level of corruption has become so high and government is not doing anything about it. Today, you hear that a lot of money is missing and yet nobody does anything about it. Recently we heard that about N2.1billion bank loan was missing and they don’t know who took it and government is not saying anything about it.

People have embezzled a lot of money; people have been caught trying to leave the country with huge sums of money, yet we have not heard anything about it.

I am happy that Alhaji Asari Dokubo has also accused President Jonathan of this same thing. He is Jonathan’s townsman but he made a

,

performing in 2012? He himself admitted that he had been slow.

What made him to be slow? The man was never prepared to be president. He is president by accident, Obasanjo just imposed on us and that is why he is doing what he is doing. If he cannot learn during the past years when is he going to learn? And the same people who are misleading him, the same people who are corrupt, the same people who are telling him lies are still in his cabinet. As long as he keeps them in his cabinet, he will even perform worse than this because we all know that everybody is looking for money now so that they can go and contest the 2015 election including him (Jonathan). That is why he has opened the safe for everybody to go in and steal. And they have incapacitated the EFCC, they have incapacitated the ICPC and that is why these organizations

are not performing.

That is why if you commit an offence and they arrest you nothing happens.

They would arrest people and make so much noise about it but the moment they go to court, nobody hears anything about that case again.

You seem not to have seen anything good •Tsav about the Jonathan’s administration…

Yes, Jonathan is weak; very weak. It is only recently that the man started becoming serious because each time you see him, you see him smiling without any reason. He is an accidental president. He never expected to be president.

Suddenly he became president and then he turned the thing into a family affair.

By 2013 it will just be about two years to the US’ prediction of possible disintegration of Nigeria. Are you not worried that that with all the happenings around us, that prediction may come to pass?

I have been to Yobe, I have been to Adamawa and I have seen the situation in these two states. The states are abandoned; they are not like part of Nigeria.

No federal delegation is sent to go and communicate with these people.

Federal Government is not assisting them. Their own politicians have deserted the states and are staying in Abuja so that those who are left behind there now are farmers and teachers.

Allowing corruption to thrive As early as 4pm everybody goes to his house. So, if this thing continues the way it is going, then maybe the US forecast that Nigeria may disintegrate in 2015 may be true. But I am happy that Asari Dokubo has spoken and has condemned the President about his governance and for allowing corruption to thrive. So, if somebody like Asari Dokubo who is from the same area with the President is criticizing him, it means that we have hope in this country because you can clearly see that there is discrimination among his own

people. So, who will be the people who will want Nigeria to be divided? And maybe if they say Nigeria should be divided now, all of us will suffer. There are some areas in this country that have no farmland. There are some areas that have farmlands; there are areas where they fight for farmlands every now and then. We have scattered and we have inter-married. There are some people whose family has stayed in other parts of the country outside their home-states spanning two to three generations.

Land to build or farm So, if we say that we should disintegrate what becomes of these people? Are they to go back to their home states, where will they get the land to build or farm?

These are things that people should think about and stop thinking about oil because oil is not the solution.

Are you afraid of disintegration?

I am not afraid because God is wonderful. God knows how He is going to look after the North in case there is disintegration.

Already I understand they have found oil in some commercial quantity in the North. So, if they disintegrate, the people who are talking about this thing will discover that the North is more buoyant than the South. Not only that; these people in the South have betrayed this country. The North has been ruling from time immemorial and they never talked of disintegration. Now, somebody is ruling from the South and they are talking about disintegration. This means that the North has genuine love for this country and is determined

to ensure the unity of this country. But because a minority now is ruling this country, they are talking about disintegration because they cannot look beyond their noses; they think that the oil they have is the whole thing man needs to survive. They don’t know that God who gave them oil in that magnitude can give oil to other parts of the world.

After all, before independence we did not know that there would be oil in the Niger-Delta region.

So, we may get oil even in Makurdi here if God so pleases.

So what is the way forward for Nigeria?

The way forward for Nigeria is for Jonathan to change his tactics; to be more serious in his war against corruption. He should also change some of his cabinet members because some of them are misleading him; some of them are responsible for his inaction and non-performance.

Also, the police should be given enough powers to prosecute whoever commits an offence.

What is happening now is that when people are arrested for being members of Boko Haram in some states, they will fly them to Abuja and as soon as they get to Abuja you hear nothing about the case again. They are neither taken to court nor prosecuted.

Then you find that the state from where these people are arrested become very frustrated.

The law creating the offences say if you commit an offence, you should be tried in the place where you committed the offence. For instance, somebody committed terrorism in Jos, instead of prosecuting him in Jos, you take him to Abuja then you hear nothing about it. Maybe the next thing you hear is that the man has escaped from custody.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

2012 challenging for workers, NLC

N

January 2012 anti-subsidy removal protest.

Pains, gains of workers in 2012

60 per cent unemployment rate “Official statistics puts the unemployment rate at above 24 percent. As alarming as this would seem, it actually disguises the enormity of the unemployment problem given the huge pool of disguised unemployment and underemployment.

The incidence of unemployment among the youths is even more alarming.

“Though official figures indicate over 40 percent of them as unemployed, the reality is that about 60% of youths remain unemployed. On average, graduates of the nation’s universities and polytechnics continue to remain unemployed four years after dischargefromthemandatoryNYSC scheme. Other categories of less qualified youths have been roaming the streets in millions without gainful employment.

Thus, resigning to a life of perpetual destitution and despondency in a country blessed with so much resources and potentials.”

“The underlying inflation in the economy has also continued to erode the purchasing power of workers’ incomes, making the N18,000 Minimum Wage largely a poverty wage. Aggregate inflation, which officially stands at 11.7 percent in the third quarter of the year, might be misleading as the fuel price hike in January, the increase in electricity tariffs and the floods in the third quarter of the year that have been major culprits driving inflation, have largely disempowered working families.”

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

B

Y this time last year, pre cisely 3 rd January, the country was literally on fire over the January 1, hike in the pump price to N141 per litre, from N65.

In Lagos and other major parts of the country, civil society groups especially, the prolabour groups, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Front, JAF, had galvanized angry Nigerians for a massive antifuel hike protest calling for a total reversal.

The January 3rd protest was a rehearsal for what followed six days later when the two labour centers, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, alongside their allies in the civil society groups declared an indefinite strike and mass protest on Monday, January 9, to force the government to revert the price to preJanuary 1.

The strike which lasted for about 9 days had a very and long lasting effect on the nation’s socio-economic and political environment.

It was called off by organized labour after President Goodluck Jonathan, during a national broadcast, reduced the price to N97 per litre.

It was argued in some quarters that if the strike did not end when it did, it would have inflicted a serious blow on the stability of the government.

The fuel pump price hike of

2012 more than anything else was very painful to workers because it eroded the little gains of N18,000 minimum wage.

agement Commission, NIMC, was reported to have sacked not less than 4,029 workers.

Retrenchment

Minimum wage

Job losses in 2012 were one of the worst the country has recorded in recent time. No sector was free from one form of retrenchment, sack or whatever name called.

In the banking industry, no fewer than 15000 workers lost their jobs. In fact, only one or two banks did not carry out retrenchment exercise last year.

Similarly, in the Oil and Gas industry, over 10,000 workers

2012 also witnessed strike in many states of the Federation including Plateau over nonimplementation of the National Minimum Wage. In fact, at the time of this report, there were threats of strike in the South East and North over non-implementation of the N18.000 minimum wage

Strikes

There were also avalanche of strikes in the health sector, oil

,

IGERIA Labour Con gress, NLC, has described 2012 as most challenging to workers declaring that it was characterized by incessant job losses and unemployment among others.

According the President of NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, in a New Year, the situation demanded for workers and the Nigerian people, more than ever before, a collective will of struggle and patriotism, to check the apparent drift in the affairs of state in the interest of working families and the Nigerian people.

He said “The economy, during the year 2012, was characterized by a number of maladies, with dire consequences for workers and the Nigerian people. In particular, the crisis of unemployment continues to be the greatest of these.

It was argued in some quarters that if the strike did end at the time it did, it would have inflicted a serious blow on the stability of the government

,

It was a centenary celebration for organized labour in 2012 as it clocked 100 years of modern trade unionism.

It will be recalled that the first registered trade union in Nigeria, the Nigeria Civil Service Union, was formed in 1912.

PHCN, govt face-off resolved

After prolonged negotiations and disagreements, the Federal Government and organized labour in the power industry; National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, in 2012 reached agreement over some critical labour issues, paving way for full privatization of assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

Lakemfa elected OATUU Secretary General including non-pensionable and gas industry, local govworkers were thrown into the job market.

In the construction industry, over 100,000 workers lost their jobs, so also the manufacturing sector where not less than 20,000 workers were sacked.

For the aviation industry, more than 1000 workers were eased out, in the telecommunication industry, not less than 3000 were affected, in the engineering sector over 4500 staff lost their jobs, while in the manufacturing sector, investigation revealed that over 6000 employees lost their employment.

The National Identity Man-

ernment, state government, educational sector among others over one form of disagreement or the other.

Oshiomhole, Mimiko re-elected

In 2012, two labour backed governors, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the immediate past President of NLC, was overwhelmingly reelected as governor of Edo State, while Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, of the Labour party, also got re-elected.

Labour marks 100 years

2012 was also very significant for workers in Nigeria as one of them, in the person of Comrade Owei Lakemfa, was elected Secretary General of Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU. Lakemfa, a trade unionist, journalist, Labour historian and human rights activist succeeds the founding president of the NLC, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu.

The new Secretary General of OATUU, a former scribe of NLC was on Friday December 7, 2012 in Algiers, Algeria, elected by 43 African countries at the 10th OATUU.

Vanguard,THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013—49

2012 was terrible for Pensioners says TUC zThumps up contributory pension scheme

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has described year 2012 as a very terrible year for the nation’s pensioners, even as he commended the feat of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS. Speaking with Pension and You, President-General of TUC, Comrade Peter Esele, faulted

those expressing reservations about the Pension Reform Act, PRA 2004 and CPS, saying “I will say it categorically that the contributing pension scheme is 100 per cent intact. Nobody can illegally access the money in the scheme and the way the act is, makes me very confident and happy that my own pension is protected.”

According to him, “The plight

of the pensioners in the country is very pathetic and terrible especially in 2012. With all the probes and investigations, one had expected the better service for the pensioners, instead, it worsened.

“What happened in the National Assembly during the investigation of Pension fraud, as late Fela Anikulapo would say “Na Padi Padi government we

Jigawa pensioners enjoy benefits of contributory pension scheme

BY TINA AKANNAM

I

N 1993, Jigawa’s Govern ment undertook an assessment of the old, non-contributory defined benefits scheme and discovered it to be inefficient, ineffective, and a burden to government finances.

Although the old pension scheme was entirely financed by the State, money made available was most often insufficient to service the pension obligations of the state.

It was characterised by nonpayment of pensions and gratuities to pensioners, as well as increasing cases of ghost pensioners, leading to unpaid heavy pension bills, and untold hardship for pensioners and among others. To solve the problem, the then government adopted the contributory pension scheme, CPS and ever since, the state has freed itself from the problems that today, Jigawa State is in the forefront in the implementing CPS in the country.

The civil servants were made to key into it in 2001, with contributions by both employees and the State. It had a gestation period of five years before employees could draw its benefits. The scheme was

Governor Lamido of Jigawa

the first of its kind in Nigeria, with employees contributing 8% of their basic salary while the state contributes 17% of the employee’s basic salary.

The CPS has had a significant impact on the state pensioners as they now receive their pensions at as when due.

Implementing the contributory pension reform in the state has help to reduce corruption and fraud in the system.

State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, Alhaji Mohammed Ayuba, told Pension and You, in an interview that state and local government pensioners

in the state were enjoying good relationship with the government .

He said this was because the government ensured that pensioners got their pension and gratuities as at when due, stressing that “pensioners are usually paid before workers. We have no problem concerning pension in Jigawa state under this administration, and I am sure with the success so far recorded in the state contributory pension scheme,subsequent government will not abolish it because it is easy for both the employers and their employees.”

Mr. Esele... one had expected better service for pensioners. dey” and that is what we have been running all the years. The Special Task force on Pension headed by Abdulraman Maina, did nothing other than to compound the woes of the pensioners.

“If things were done the way they were meant to, Maina should be facing trial today. First, the team was supposed to seat for 90 days and it has gone on for a year, two years and it is still on.

“You can ask some basic questions; Maina said the task force recovered some billions of naira, let the Minister of Finance tell us where billions are. Nobody can show you.”

“There have been several meetings that have taken place between National Pension Commission, PenCom, and the office of Head of service on what should be done. But as I speak with you, nothing has been done.

So, all these fraud stories are still under that old scheme.

“I can tell you that in the pen-

sion office of the Head of Service, there are still going to be more problems. Look for example, every time they demand that Biometrics should be done. If you are paying a worker, there are ways, there are applications you can apply.

“The pensioner goes to the bank, his money is paid into the bank, so if he goes to the bank and whenever he collects his money, he does his finger print and that is collected as his data.

“Whenever he stops collecting the money it is either he has fallen ill or he is dead. If someone else collects his money, his finger print would show. So you don’t need to call and spend money to do verification all the times. Once you do verification once, it should be enough.”

Esele lamented that “this country is the only place that you do verification every now and then, and at the end of the day those who have served this country are dying on the queues.

Pension scam in Nigeria: Role of regulator

BY IVOR TAKOR

(Continued from Thursday December 27, 2012) HE question therefore is why has it become very easy for government officials to embezzle pension fund in such magnitude. The truth is that the pre 2004 pension reform pension administration in the public service lacked transparency and accountability. Transparency is the quality of being clear, honest and open.

As a principle, transparency implies that managers and trustees have a duty to act visibly, predictably and understandably. It means that there is clarity, accuracy, and lack of confusion in the processes and ultimate results of actions taken on behalf of the people by those to whom such responsibilities have been given. It also connotes openness to scrutiny that reassures on the observance of due process. Sufficient information must be available so that other agencies and the general public can assess whether the relevant procedures are followed, consonant with the given mandate.

T

Accountability is the obligation of an individual or organisation to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

Corruption is the opposite of accountability and transparency and manifests in varied negative behaviours identified by Nuhu Ribadu to include “fraud, embezzlement, conflict of interest, extortion and misuse of power, misappropriation of public resources for purely private use, disregard for accountability in the exercise of discretion when entrusted with power, and disregard for rule of law”.

In developed financial and capital markets all intermediaries such as banks, insurance companies and pension funds are well regulated. The role of the regulator is bringing in international best practices into pension administration. The regulator is backed by regulatory authority, which is the power that the legislator gives it to enforce statutes, to develop regulations

that have the force of law, and to assist the public in ensuring that regulated entities comply with laws and regulations.

One of the reasons for embarking on pension reform in Nigeria in 2004 was that pension administration especially in the public sector had been largely weak, inefficient, less transparent and cumbersome. There was also lack of regulation.

Until the enactment of the Pension Reform Act 2004, with Section 14 of the Act establishing the National Pension Commission and Section 15 empowering the Commission to regulate, supervise and ensure the effective administration of pension matters in Nigeria, pension administration in the country was not regulated. Public servants administered pension the way and manner they deem fit with little or no accountability, which gave room for fraud.

IVOR TAKOR, Executive Director, Centre for Pension Right Advocacy, CPRA

To be continued

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

bleak, as development would never happen.

The former Education Minister stated that Soyinka’s book is such that will force readers to re-examine the continent’s developmental issues again, and to see whether lack of development is as a result of alienation of the individual from his African roots.

On Soyinka invocation of the abiku metaphor in his book, Ezekwesili debunked the myth as worth looking at, and said Africa accounted for 500 infant deaths out of 1000 births. She noted that such grim statistics made mockery of any inspiration derivable from the abiku metaphor because Africa’s growth lies in its virile population, which such monumental deaths imperil.

L-r: Former Education Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili; the author, Prof. Wole Soyinka; moderator Dr. Kaniolu Ajayi and a guest at the event

Dissecting Soyinka’s abiku afflicted Continent P

ENULTIMATE week in Lagos, and precisely at popular event centre, Terra Kulture, Harmattan Haze on African Spring, a book of critical essays written by renowned intellectual and Nobel laureate , Professor Wole Soyinka was presented to the public.

The presentation tied to the theme, Conversation with Wole Soyinka attracted the presence of foremost scholars and public affairs analysts including, Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Odia Ofeimun,Dr Kaniolu Ajayi, Tony Elemelu and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi.

Essentially, the book offers a new reading and rendering of the continent, the choices made or not made, the road taken or not taken and new visions for the future.

And at the presentation on Tuesday at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, Soyinka in company of some leading intellectuals from divergent fields of business, political economy, education, the arts, public service and journalism, sat down to examine a contentious continent lying prostrate and stagnant in the sun, seemingly refusing to yield to every entreaty to stand up and stride along like the others.

Billed as a conversation, the occasion provided a very engaging platform for a robust debate on the content of the book and the State of Africa.

The role of the interrogators of the book comprising of the quality attendees was to examine the book in the light of Africa’s poor development index and respond to some of the issues Soyinka raised concerning the continent’s retarded growth in spite of its huge material and human resources.

Africa's spirituality Soyinka’s latest work among other issues, also examines Africa’s spirituality by holding it up as a fresh ground yet to be explored and exploited to solving Africa’s many intractable problems, especially religious conflicts that afflict the peace of many countries in the continent.

For the iconic literary artist, “Africa’s unexplored geographical resources are capable of propelling society forward, but a total, atavistic, retrogression has overtaken us, with the path not taken has continued to plague us to this day”. He said the Japanese and Chinese, “By hanging onto their traditional beliefs, clinging to their traditional core, and refusing to be

alienated from their philosophies and ways of life, have managed to bring about development. Cling to what was indigenous to their societies is what has transformed their societies”.

Prof. Soyinka wondered how people from the miserable, frozen wasteland called Britain managed to hold vast kingdoms all over the world and render them ungovernable several years after they left and

,

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

enthused ruefully, “but it’s about the leadership. Nigeria has got the brainpower. The possibilities have always been there. Perhaps, we should take the example of China and draw the bamboo curtain and shut ourselves up from the rest of the world and also go by Mbonu Ojike’s ‘boycott all the bycottables’ and then see what we can do by ourselves!”

Contributing to the conversation, former Education

Africa’s unexplored geographical resources are capable of propelling society forward, but a total, atavistic, retrogression has overtaken us, with the path not taken has continued to plague us to this day

planted surrogate nationstates, like Nigeria, India, with her vast architectural grandeur as seen in the Tajmahal!

He expressed his abiding faith in the ability of Nigerians to accomplish great things that are capable of causing phenomenal transformation, as evidences of the people’s immense abilities, which abound all over the world, but that such need to be harnessed — and that’s the only missing ingredient.

“Nigerians can create a Silicon Valley in Nigeria,” he

,

Minister, Oby Ezekwesili said while the book looks at why Africa still remained undeveloped, the question that had to be asked is, “What is the essence of the human being?

Is there a process of development for Africa that we missed as originally conceived?

Ezekwesili also stated that in some countries in the Western world, that there is the pervasive view that Africa is lacking all the essential ingredients for development, with the likelihood that the future would continue to be

Intellectual slothfulness According to her, “a single description of Africa is intellectual slothfulness” the West has perpetuated against the continent, a proposition Soyinka disproves in his book.

On Africa’s spirituality as encapsulated in Soyinka’s famous poem ‘Abiku’ (the spirit child that is born and dies to be reborn again and again to torment the parents) as fitting metaphor for examining the recurring retrogression plaguing most part of Africa, Prof. Utomi, founder of the Lagos Business School and the Pan African University, said although Africa’s spirituality is dynamic, it is easy to link the colonial experience and how things were done in Nigeria.

He argued that while Africa’s young population has deep technology penetration, the problem is how to harness that penetration to give momentum for real development, adding that his “fears had been how to pluck failure from the jaws of progress”.

For astute banker Elumelu, Nigeria is full of critics, who ceaselessly bash the country senseless without lifting a hand to help. “We criticise ourselves too much,” he said.

Continuing, he asked, “how do we say good things about ourselves to the rest of the world? If all we see and say about ourselves is bad, what do we want others to say about us? We must begin to use our human capital to propel development.”

Other speakers , who contributed to the debate are poet Odia Ofeimun, Eng Yemisi Shyllon and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 —51

How I became a photo-realistic artist — Kelvin Okafor from? Wouldn’t one agree that the artist’s aim, whether they be painter or sculptor, is to arrest motion (which I call life) and have it captured eternally so that every fresh pair of eyes that see it, relives it, and experiences that moment you captured

, Kelvin Okafor with some of his works

“No way! This cannot be a drawing. It is a photograph,” Haba! Even a blind man can see that,” argued Mr. B as his friend tried to convince him that the image he was looking at is a piece of artwork.

This is the kind of argument that trails the works of Mr. Kelvin Okafor, a young talented Nigerian artist whose drawing, Adam, recently won the Catherine Petitgas Visitors’ Choice Prize for the most votes by the public in London for the National Open Art Competition. In this chat with Vanguard, Okafor speaks to Ebele Orakpo on how it all started, the driving force ,and says his love and passion for art just keeps him going. Excerpts:

Background:

Mr. Kelvin Okafor who was born on November 1, 1985 in London to Nigerian parents from Ibusa, Delta State, said as a child, he had always been fascinated with creativity. As a result, after his A-Levels at St Ignatius College, he went for a one year course in Foundation Art & Design at City & Guilds - London Art School. He then proceeded to Middlesex University where he bagged a B.A. Honours in Fine Art. “Drawing has always been a burning desire of mine. I was 15 during my studies at St Ignatius College when I discovered I could draw to a noticeably skilful degree. It became apparent to me that I had a talent or skill to draw by the reactions of my teachers and peers. I can comfortably work in any artistic medium such as sculpture, glass, printmaking, painting and casting, but it was the pencils I fell in

love with. I focus solely on pencils because I want to master its technical use. And it’s also due to the fact that from a very young age, I’ve always found the pencil to be such a humble instrument. It amazed me that with only one shade of lead, you can create so many tones and textures, and almost create the illusion of colour,” he said.

My kind of art:

After graduating from the university, Okafor who had a burning desire to master his craft, went on to study the genre of his art which is Photo-realism.

“I became fully intrigued and determined to create as such to the best of my ability. It‘s said that ‘A true artist draws from life, not from a photograph reference.’ As an aspiring ‘Photorealistic artist’, I do agree with this statement. But what exactly is your definition of life which you create art

being able to produce and create art for people to engage with. To prompt and arouse emotions, making people feel inspired and encouraged is what gives me great joy and satisfaction, and in turn, inspires me to keep creating,” said Okafor.

As an artist and even in my personal life, I strive on doing and being the best I can to the things I love

,

as motion (life)? I consider myself a very precise pencilled artist. Working from reference photos is of great help to me, especially when drawing a person as a subject model. With a camera, you capture an expression/ motion - a moment in time which can be used as tangible proof of the exactness of that moment.

“The photo can be used as a source of inspiration. When drawing from a photo, an artist has the opportunity and the option to make an exact replica, or loosely use the photo as a guide to depict an emotion which they would want pronounced, projected or exaggerated. The emotion could be sensitivity, a sense of presence, personality, mood or character.

Working from ‘life,’ you can achieve the same results and even more since you are viewing things in first person.

“But working ample amounts of time on a detailed work of , the exactness of light, composition and presence will change. And that exactness you wanted to capture will suffer in terms of proportion and tonal value.”

Motivation:

“Progression inspires and motivates me, not just as an artist, but as a human being. Productivity makes me happy,

Moving forward:

“Personally, I don’t think I have mastered my craft or ever will live to see it mastered.

It’s like the term ‘Perfection.’ Perfection

is an illusion. But as an artist and even in my personal life, I strive on doing and being the best I can to the things I love. I set goals and standards which would seem unreal to accomplish or achieve. But it’s not achieving the goal that is important to me; it’s the efforts and what it will make of me to achieve it.”

About the last award:

Okafor’s painting, Adam, did not only win The Catherine Petitgas Visitors’ Choice Prize, it has been selected to represent the National Open Art Competition at the Works on Paper/ Watercolour Fair at the London Science Museum from January 31 to February 3, 2013.

Exhibitions so far:

“I have recently exhibited my artworks at two prestigious exhibitions in the UK this year. The Mall Galleries for the Threadneedle Prize Exhibition and National Open Art Competition with four exhibitions at: The Minerva Theatre, The Prince’s Foundation, Pallant House and The Science Museum.”

Art Events

E

xhibition of works titled Removing the Evil by Abdulrazaq Ahmed, Biodun Omolayo, Soji Yoloye, Joseph Eze, Adeyemi Mathew, Francis Denedo, Kehinde Osho, Bede Umeh, Aluyia Exodus, Oyerinde Olotu.

Holding at Biodun Omolayo Gallery, the City mall (Young@ Art Hall 2nd Floor) Onikan, Lagos. Ongoing until 5th January, 2013

E

xhibition of works titled Progress of Love by Valerie Oka, Jelili Atiku, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Zanele Muholi, Andrew Esiebo and Adaora Nwandu.

Holding at Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), 9, McEwen Street, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos.

Ongoing until 27th January, 2013

O

YASAF in collaboration with Wotaside Art Studios presents the second of their lecture series titled Contemporary Art in Nigeria: Contextual Navigation Through The Web of History.

The lecture will be delivered by Dr Kunle Filani on the 26th January, 2013 at OYASAF Conference Centre, Maryland, Ikeja. Time is 10.30 am prompt.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Transfer news... Transfer news ....

Kilmarnock complete Ibrahim signing K

ILMARNOCK have completed the signing of Nigeria midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim from Celtic on a permanent basis.

The 21-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Rugby Park club after Celtic allowed the player to move on in search of regular first-team football.

Rabiu

Newcastle line up Osaze to replace Ba

N

EWCASTLE United are hunting for West Bromwich Albion’s Nigerian forward, Peter Osaze Odemwingie to replace Senegalese Demba Ba, according to The Sun. “(Newcastle manager) Alan Pardew is lining up West Brom striker, Peter Odemwingie as Demba Ba’s replacement,” a report in The Sun on Wednesday read.

According to the British tabloid, “talks were ongoing” from New Year’s Day between the clubs to do a deal on Odemwingie.

Pardew is said to be

Ibrahim had an offer from abroad and was also believed to be a loan target for other Scottish sides.

“He’s signed a two year deal with us,” Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels told STV. “I believe it’s quite a coup for Kilmarnock and we are a good fit for him.

Ba set to join Chelsea •Rabiu Ibrahim

Ronaldo dumb on Madrid future

C •Demba Ba

D

EMBA Ba’s Newcastle exit has moved a step closer after Chelsea finally triggered the release clause in his contract.

The Blues have been given permission to talk to the 27-year-old Senegal international after meeting the £7million figure stipulated in the deal he signed with the Magpies during the summer of 2011.

Ba was withdrawn from the Newcastle squad for last night’s

Premier League clash with Everton at St James’ Park as a result.

A club statement read: “Newcastle United can confirm that Chelsea Football Club has made an official offer for Demba Ba which has triggered the release clause in the player ’s contract.

“The club has given the player permission to speak to Chelsea FC and therefore he will not be included in the squad for tonight’s game against Everton.”

RISTIANO Ronaldo has refused to confirm his future lies with Real Madrid but insists for now he is happy with the club.

The world’s most expensive player has two and a half years left on his deal at the Bernabeu and has so far ignored any mention of signing a renewal.

Sir Alex Ferguson recently suggested he would love to bring the £80million-man back to Old Trafford having accepted the record fee back in 2009.

Since then Ronaldo has bagged a superb 170 goals in 169 games in all competitions and his performances have seen him rewarded by being shortlisted for the Ballon

Ar senal in ttalks alks o alcott Arsenal ovver W Walcott T

•Walcott

C M Y K

HEO Walcott looks closer to signing a new contract as the striker’s representatives meet with Arsenal on Wednesday in the latest of a series of meetings.

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, speculation has surrounded Walcott’s next move after he failed to sign an extension.

Arsenal’s top goalscorer

this season, Walcott scored a hat-trick in the 7-3 win over Newcastle last Saturday to bring his total to 14 in all competitions this term. Walcott said after that game: “I’m sure that something will be sorted very soon.

“I’ve always said I wanted to stay and I enjoy playing for this team. Now we will just see what happens.''

d’Or. However, the 27-year-old has at times had a t r i c k y relationship with the fans, something he says has improved over time.

Asked about his contract wrangle, he said: ‘That issue has already been spoken about. I will not talk any more about my renewal.

keen to lure away the 31year-old for £3 million.

Odemwingie is reported to have just 18 months left on his contract and the Toon manager will hope to capitalise on that to sign the forward as they are resigned to losing Ba, who is strongly linked with a move to Chelsea and a host of other top European clubs.

Inter, Lazio tempt Lampard

T

•Ronaldo

Reds complete Sturridge deal

S

•Osaze

TRIKER Daniel Sturridge has completed his expected move to Liverpool from Chelsea, signing a “long-term contract”.

The Reds have been pursuing the 23-yearold England international for some time, having first expressed their interest in him back in August, and are believed to have paid in the region of £12million.

“I am humbled and happy to be here,”

Sturridge told Liverpool’s official website.

“Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time - and I also see myself here for a long time. I’ve not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on.

“I’ve signed to be here for as long as possible.

It’s a humongous club for me, one of the biggest in the world and to have the fans and world-class players we have here is amazing.”

HE future of Frank Lampard has taken another twist with both Inter Milan and Lazio joining the chase for the Chelsea midfielder.

With only six months left on his contract, Lampard is now free to talk to foreign clubs and the speculation that he will leave grows everyday.

Reports in Italy from Corriere dello Sport suggest that Inter are hoping to move the Englishman to the top of their January wishlist, four and a half years on from when they first showed interest under former boss Jose Mourinho.

•Lampard

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 — 53

Keshi open to Odemwingie talks N

IGERIA head coach, Stephen Keshi has told supersport.com he is ready to talk to Peter Osaze Odemwingie “only if he shows interest in doing so.”

The 31-year-old West Bromwich Albion forward had accused the Nigerian manager and football federation of lying in order to omit him from the nation’s Africa Cup of Nations provisional squad via social media network, Twitter.

But Keshi, 50, has made it clear that he had no issues with the forward and would be ready to discuss with him.

“I don’t have any issue with him. I’m surprised with his comments but I believe he is angry with being left out of the team. Remember there are other players who

F

•Osaze didn’t make the team and they have handled it calmly. We are all different in our ways of handling issues. But we need to move on from

Vilanova back at training

B

ARCELONA have been handed a New Year boost as manager Tito Vilanova returned to training this morning just two weeks after undergoing surgery.

He suffered a recurrence of cancer in his saliva glands and temporarily stepped down from his post.

Assistant coach Jordi Roura has stepped in until he is well enough to return to work.

But Vilanova was pictured at the training ground ahead of Sunday’s derby against Espanyol.

‘Vilanova, who is recuperating from the operation he underwent on Decemvber 20, came to the training ground and greeted the players who were working out there this morning,’ the

•Vilanova club told their website.

President Sandro Rosell had expected the coach to return to work in the middle of January but Vilanova’s son, Adria, posted a picture with his father on his Twitter account after the pair played paddle on New Year ’s Eve.

Keshi Continues from B/P BBC Sport: “Shola’s refusal to answer calls gave Keshi no other option than to allow him to concentrate on his club.

“The coach and team secretary made several C M Y K

Ahead 2013 Africa U-17 Championship, Nwosu urges Garba to be focused

attempts to reach Shola but there was no answer.

The coach waited to hear back from him but a call never came.

“A decision on the next move will be made at the appropriate time,” Alaiya was quoted as saying.

•Keshi this.

“I’ve got a job to do.

There are about 150 million Nigerians or more waiting to see this team at the Nations Cup

and that is my biggest concern now. Like I said I am open to discussions with him or any other aggrieved player, only if he shows interest in doing so.''

ORMER Golden Eaglets Coach, Henry Nwosu, has urged the current handler of the team to be focused as he strives for a good outing at the Africa U-17 Championship in Morocco.

Nwosu said that Manu Garba, Head Coach of the National U-17 team should not relent in his effort at making the country proud at the championship. “The team should ensure that they perform well at the upcoming championship and come out tops,” Nwosu said.

He enjoined the coach to make use of capable players who would deliver the gold medal to the country, stressing that only the willing and

experienced ones should be given a chance. According to him, the Golden Eaglets must ensure that they perform well in order to win the event. Nwosu added that the team must also strive to go the extra mile by striving to overcome their counterparts, particularly by studying their style of play.

“Preparation is not limited to training alone but you should be given opportunities of watching tapes of matches involving opposing teams, in order to master their patterns of play,” he said.

Nigeria won the maiden U-16 World Cup in 1985, then known as the JVC U-16, the FIFA U-17 in 1993 and the 2007 edition. The team also won the African U17 Championship in 2001 and 2007 and were runners-up in 1995. The Moroccan championship has been scheduled to hold from April 13 – April 27.

Super Eagles are simply not ready — Akanni F We must aim

ORMER Nigerian winger, Waidi Akanni is worried Super Eagles are experimenting less than 16 days to the kickoff of the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

The Eagles, who start their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on January 21 against West African opposition, Burkina Faso in Nelspruit, are yet to come up with their 23-man squad required for the biennial football showpiece.

Akanni said the fact that Nigeria are yet to name

our 23-man final list cast serious doubt on the team’s readiness for the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.

“Compared with other countries coming to the Nations Cup who have selected their 23-man squad it shows that we’re not ready for the Afcon challenge.

“We’re still parading the 32-man list and not all the players have shown up. Some are being waited for and the fact that the coach is waiting to see all the players before naming

Iroha Continues from B/P his teammates have forgiven him I will say they should bring him back to the team since Danny Shittu and Shola Ameobi might not be coming,” Iroha opined.

Odemwingie formerly considered a top favourite was among the big names dropped from

the list of 32 players in the run to South Africa 2013.

That nonetheless Coach Stephen Keshi says he still has Odemwingie who is linked with a move to Newcastle in his future plans pointing out that he has no plans to invite any new player to his team for now.

his final list is cause for worry.

high, Ike Uche tells Eagles

E

AGLES’ striker, Ikechukwu Uche has urged his teammates not to have a complex when they arrive South Africa for the 2013 Nations Cup starting on January 19.

Uche was speaking against the background

of dissenting voices that greeted the announcement of the provisional list for the tournament. The Eagles are being expected to make amends for failing to qualify for the 2012 edition held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Eagles Continues from B/P Montoya minutes after.

Catalunya dominated the first half but towards the end of that half, Nigeria unfolded into the game making three attempts at goal.

The first half ended with Catalonia leading 1-0.

The second half saw a more purposeful display from the Nigerians.

Their efforts paid off in the 53rd minutes when Nigeria equalised

through a counter from a near miss by the Catalonians. Onazi Ogenyi.slotted in the goal after he confidently displaced two defenders.

Several attempts by both teams to break the deadlock proved abortive.

The match may have given the technical crew a glimpse of who will make the final list to the 2013 Afcon tournament in South Africa beginning January 19.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,,2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3,,2013 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Keshi finally drops Ameobi N

EWCASTLE appear to have won their battle with the Nigeria Football Federation after Shola Ameobi was left out of

the final squad for the African Cup of Nations.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has insisted for several weeks that the 31-year-old striker

Eagles hold Bar-Catalonia T

Continues on Page 53 TODAY'S

Continues on Page 53

Iroha begs for Odemwingie

BY JACOB AJOM HE Super Eagles of Nigeria held their Catalonian counterparts to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly decided at the Espanyol Stadium last night.

The hosts, parading numerous Barcelona star players including Xavi Hernandez, Puyol, Pique among others opened scoring in the second minute of the encounter after Sergio Gonzalez converted a penalty.

The hosts dominated proceedings for long periods during the encounter which saw Coach Stephen Keshi’s side respond with some confident play mid way into the first half.

Goal scorer Gonzalez was substituted 10mins later by Sergio Garcia.

Also in the first half, Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol was elbowed by Bright Dike which saw blood coming from his face and he had to give way for Martin

would not be joining up with his country despite warnings from coach Stephen Keshi that he would demand FIFA took action if he did not.

Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya, told

F

AERIAL CONTEST . . . Catalonia’s Martin Montoya (R) vies with Nigeria’s Benjamin Francis during their friendly match at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on January 2, 2013. Match ended 1-1. Photo: AFP

ORMER Super Eagles defender Ben Iroha has sensationally ask for the recall of erring West Brom forward Osaze Odemwingie to the Super Eagles camp ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Iroha suggested that since Odemwingie have done the needful to apologize for his twitter outburst and the fact that invited players like Millwall’s Danny Shittu and Shola Ameobi are set to forfeit their slots then Odemwingie can be considered for a place.

“Osaze is my boy, he has served this country with passion but I don’t like the way he reacted on twitter, thank God he has apologized for his mistake.

“If the NFF, Keshi and Continues on Page 53

Nations Cup: Eagles not ready – Akanni — P.53

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Mettle (6) 5 Be good (6) 8 Finish (8) 9 Fat (4) 10 Every (3) 12 Spook (5) 15 Cot (3) 17 Eggs (3) 18 Hatchet (3) 19 Statute (3) 20 Copy (5) 21 Sick (3) 22 Garland (3) 23 Barrel (3) 24 Askew (3) 26 Jumpy (5) 29 Before (3) 33 Confess (4) 34 Casino game (8) 35 Fury (6) 36 Empty (6)

DOWN 2 Lurk (5) 3 Wealthy (4) 4 Feel (5) 5 Praise (5) 6 Sacred (4) 7 Energy (5) 10 Permit (5) 11 Humble (5) 12 Urchin (5) 13 Sea-shell (5) 14 Sticky (5) 15 Cream (5) 16 Dig (5) 25 Waterway (5) 27 Premature (5) 28 Guarantee (5) 30 Proportion (5) 31 Smile (4) 32 Repast (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Waif 4, Bow 6, Fail 8, Barren 9, Vilify 10, Dry 12, Blear 14, Cheap 15, Corps 18, Recede 20, Poster 24, Draft 26, Grace 28, Fairly 30, Web 32, Devise 33, Urgent 34, Stop 35, Pry 36, Reek.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Avail 3, Furnace 4, Band 5, Wary 6, Filch 7, Inflate 11, Rap 12, Bar 13, Rod 16, Red 17, Spa 19, Earnest 21, Off 22, Stagger 23, Ray 25, Rye 27, Crimp 29, Rinse 30, Weep 31, Busy.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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

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

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

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