N255M BULLET-PROOF CARS:EFCC grills Oduah for 5 hours •Granted provisional bail

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62114

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Clark, Coomasie, Ali •Pgs.50-51 dissect Nigeria's problems N255M BULLET-PROOF CARS

From left: Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Sir Steve Omojafor; out-going GMD/CEO and CBN Governor-designate, Godwin Emefiele and Zenith Bank GMD/CEO-designate, Peter Amangbo, at the bank’s 23rd Annual General Meeting, in Lagos, yesterday.

EFCC grills Oduah for 5 hours

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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•Granted provisional bail

BUJA — IN a move seen as a sign of her further rejection by the Presidency, sacked Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, was yesterday summoned for interrogation by the Economic and Financial

COLUMNISTS:

Crimes Commission, EFCC, over her role in the purchase of two armoured BMW cars.

Vanguard gathered that the embattled former minister, who was touted as one of the closest to the President, looked forlorn, as she turned in herself to EFCC operatives for questioning in

Continues on page 5 Continues on page 5

Senate divided over inclusion of Presidency in initiating constitution admendment

National Conference, 2014: Away from the •P.17 brink

8

Making APC a credible option

Mr & Mrs

•P.19

Who were Sanusi’s •P.19 supervisors?

VISIT: Mr Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager, Publications/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers here presents a copy of Vanguard to Mr Mohammed Jameel, Group Chief Operations Officer, Globacom Limited, during a courtesy visit by Vanguard management to Globacom at Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Looking on, from left are Mr. Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager, Vanguard Newspapers, and Mr Kamaldeen Shonibare, Head of Corporate Sales, Globacom Limited. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Court verdict: Tambuwal not under pressure to 9 declare seats vacant —Reps C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 —3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

TIV/FULANI CLASHES:

72 new births recorded in Makurdi refugee camps BYPETER DURU

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AKURDI—MORE than 72 new births have been recorded in the last two weeks, in camps established in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for persons displaced by the recent invasion of some Benue communities by suspected Fulani mercenaries.

When Vanguard visited the camps at the LGEA Primary School, Wurukum, Saint Mary’s Primary School North Bank, and LGEA Primary School, Ichwua, yesterday, it was discovered that most of the babies were delivered in the camps without proper medical attention.

However, most of the babies were in good condition but the nursing mothers were in dire need of good food and proper medical attention.

Another challenge facing the new babies and their mothers was the non availability of mosquito treated nets for their personal use and protection from mosquito bites.

One of the nursing mothers at the LGEA Primary School, Wurukum, who gave her name as Mrs. Monica Lubem said she gave birth to her baby one week ago without the assistance of a midwife.

Assistance of midwife She said, “I gave birth to my baby about seven days ago. When my labour started, I could not get to the hospital because of our situation, so women gathered and helped me to deliver my baby girl. That is also what happened to about 16 of the women who recently gave birth to new babies in this camp. Our major problem is that most of us do not have access to good food and proper dedication for our babies. We also do not have enough mosquito nets to sleep with in our open camp.”

Similar complaint was also raised by Comfort Terna who gave birth to a baby boy at the Ichwa camp two days ago. She said, “It has not been easy for us. Since delivering my baby, I have not been able to access proper medical attention, besides, getting good food to eat is also a major problem for use. Only recentC M Y K

ly we were given some food supplements, nets, wrappers and blankets by the Director General of NAFDAC. Beyond that, we are actually going through harrowing pains."

When contacted, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Adikpo Agatse said the issue in question was within the purview of the state Ministry of Health. He said, “Moreover the displaced person have been advised to make use of all government health facilities in the North Bank area of Makurdi town if they are having any health challenges.”

Conference: From left, Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, Gbong Gwom Jos, Elder Jacob Gyang

Buba chatting with former Inspector General of Police, Gambo Jimeta, at the National Conference in Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Abuja, yesterday.

Okun leaders meet Wada, demand halt to marginalization

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ISMAYED by their con tinued marginalization, the Okun Yoruba people in Kogi State, yesterday, sent a delegation to Governor Idris Wada to demand immediate redress of their mistreatment by the government.

The 70 member delegation which included traditional rulers, frontline academics, politicians, religious, women and youth leaders was led by the National President, Okun Development Association, Ambassador Babatunde Fadumiyo.

In their address read by former Health Minister and convener, Okun Think-Tank, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, they expressed regret that successive civilian administrations in the state had compounded the

trend of marginalization of the Okun people to a level that had become intolerable.

Specifically, he said the Igala and Bassa people of Kogi East senatorial district occupy the positions of Commissioner for Finance, Accountant-General and AuditorGeneral which give them total control over the finances of the state.

Lambo said that while the Okun Yoruba had 41 per cent of civil service population at the creation of the state in 1991, Kogi East, which then controlled 49 per cent now has 78 per cent, stressing that Kogi State University, jointly funded by the state and local governments was being run as if it was owned by Kogi

East alone.

He said, “All vice chancellors of the university so far have been Igala. The same goes for the Director of Works.

The Registrar and Librarian of the institution are at present also from Kogi East.” Lambo added that of the 637 directorate level positions in the civil service, Kogi East alone held 318 leaving the other two senatorial districts to share the remainder.

He noted that all officers who had held the position of accountant-general of the state except one had been Igala while at the Government House, there appeared to be a total lock-out of non-Igala persons from strategic career and appointive positions in

Fayemi cautions Ekiti on relapse into anarchy •Kicks off campaign in own Council area

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KITI State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, asked the people not to allow the state return to anarchy and insecurity experienced between 2003 and 2010.

He spoke at the commencement of campaign for his reelection in the June 21 governorship election with rallies in towns and communities in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

The governor who started the campaign at Ilemeso got royal blessings from the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ajiboye.

Fayemi was joined on the campaign by his deputy, Prof.

Modupe Adelabu; his wife, Bisi; interim chairman of APC,

Chief Olajide Awe, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi and members of the state house of assembly and state executive council.

While urging the people to vote for him, the governor reminded the people of insecurity that was experienced in the State between 2003 and 2010, urging them not to allow the state return to anarchy.

He said the State was given negative reportage in the national dailies as a state of “one week, one trouble,” stressing that peace returned to the state when he assumed office in October 2010.

The governor who recalled how royalty was desecrated between 2003 and 2006 as

some monarchs in the State were physically assaulted while some others were threatened with removal, explained how they were now being well treated with respect under the present administration.

He said the state of anarchy during the era was characterized by instability as deputies, chief judge and speakers were changed thrice within the space of three and a half years, while some innocent citizens were also killed.

He stated that the best way to sustain the peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed now in the State is for the people to vote en masse for continuity by supporting and voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 21.

the Government House.

According to him, the positions of chief of staff to the governor, permanent secretary (administration), director-general (protocol), special advisers for security, special duties and media all in the Governor’s office are held exclusively by the Igala. He urged the Governor to take bold and urgent steps to correct the lopsidedness in the distribution of political offices and halt the continued decimation of Okun people in the civil service.

Correcting the lopsidedness Warning that the ship of state was being assailed by a potentially disruptive storm, Lambo counseled the governor to tackle the excruciating and pervading poverty in Okunland by increasing government presence in the area.

He called for a review of the law establishing the state university to enable it open campuses in each senatorial district while the post of vice chancellor should be rotated among the districts “since all parts of the state have an abundance of qualified materials for the position."

Professor Lambo also called for government assistance to the police and other security agencies to enable them discharge their internal security functions with greater confidence and efficiency.

Responding, Wada thanked the delegation and promised to set up a committee to examine the grievances of the Okun people. He said his background prepared him to have an open mind toward all men regardless of race or creed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

MEETING: From left: Bulgarian President, Rosen Assenov Plevneliev; President Goodluck Jonathan; Trade & Investment Minister, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Aminu Wali, during a bilateral meeting at the opening ceremony of the EU-Africa Summit in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday.

EFCC grills Oduah for 5 hours Continues from page 1 relation to the controversial bullet-proof vehicles.

Oduah, who arrived the EFCC office in Wuse 2, Abuja around 10.30 am, was not allowed to go by her interrogators until 3 p.m.

It was gathered that the former minister was questioned extensively on what she knew about the acquisition of the cars, which generated a lot of adverse publicity for the beleaguered industry and the nation until she was dropped last February.

A competent source in the commission confirmed to Vanguard that Oduah cooperated with the team that questioned her and made useful statements that might help in prosecuting her.

Granted provisional bail

Although she was granted what a source described as "provisional bail," Oduah had been asked to return to the operatives on a future date.

In essence, Oduah may be walking a tight rope in the investigations since the investigative team set up by the President in the wake of the scandal and the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, which probed the scam, had since passed a damning verdict on her.

EFCC is said to have assembled a gamut of relevant documents relating to the car purchase with which its operatives used and confronted Oduah with, making it difficult for her to advance any reasonable defence.

A competent source in the commission said: "It is true that our operatives took on the former Aviation minister for five hours and she made some

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals, and to imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible — C. Kennedy.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up decayed roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place— Rumi And from Wintley Phipps came a beautiful song of hope, faith, love and courage: ”When you walk through a storm. Hold your head up high. And don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm.

There’s a golden sky. And the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on, through the wind. Walk on, through the rain. Though your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart. And you’ll never walk alone."

Remember this too that, courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering ‘I will try again tomorrow.'

useful statements following which she was granted a provisional bail.

"She is being expected to face more interrogation soon."

Oduah was alleged to have compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to pay Coscharis Motors, an auto dealer, approximately $1.6 million for two BMW bullet-proof cars.

An online medium, which broke the story, said its investigations showed that the highest cost for each such car in US and UK was $267,000.

The transaction involved the NCAA, FirstBank of Nigeria and Coscharis Motors Limited.

The two black BMW Li HSS vehicles have chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 a n d WBAHP41010DW68044, and were reportedly delivered to the NCAA on August 31, 2013.

They were received by two store managers: F. Onoabhagbe and Y. A. Amzat, who is also the agency's head of transport.

On December 20, 2013, the House of Representatives agreed that Oduah breached the 2013 Appropriation Act. It, therefore, asked Jonathan to review her appointment for approving expenditure of over N643 million for the NCAA to procure 54 vehicles this year.

A major recommendation of the committee, which was adopted, reads: "The House urges the President to review the continued engagement of the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, for having contravened the Appropriation Act, 2013 and the approved, revised thresholds by exceeding the Ministry of Aviation's approval limit of N100 million by the purchase of 54 vehicles valued at N643

million."

The House further directed the ministry and the NCAA to terminate all the transactions relating to the bulletproof cars because they "were neither provided for in the Appropriation Act, 2013, nor was due process followed in their procurement."

Apparently bowing to pressure, President Jonathan, on February 12, 2014 shoved Oduah aside along with three other ministers, who are yet to be replaced.

Confab: Delegates want end to bloodletting

BY BEN AKANDE

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BUJA — AGAINST the backdrop of the bloodletting and destruction of property by Boko Haram terrorists and Fulani mercenaries in the north and middle belt areas of the country, delegates at the National Conference yesterday lamented the security challenges facing the country and tasked the conference to proffer lasting solutions to the problem.

The conference delegates took the position on a day President Goodluck Jonathan called on world leaders to assist Nigeria identify sponsors of the Boko Haram terrorists organization, saying that the world has the responsibility of holding the sponsors of the deadly sect responsible and accountable for their atrocities The delegates at the resumed plenary yesterday while discussing President Jonathan's address raised the security concern in the country and called for a united front against the wanton killing of innocent people and destruction of property in some parts of the country.

A former InspectorGeneral of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, representing North-West, said that the entire Northern Nigeria and most parts of the country have been subjected to insecurity.

According to him, “There is no part of Nigeria that is not being affected by insurgency.

Since 2009, the citizens of North-Eastern states are being killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed. We should therefore look at these issues holistically and ensure that we provide security for Nigeria."

A woman delegate, Dr Fati Adamu, representing Kebbi,said: “As mothers and as women, we carry pregnancies for nine months, endured the pains of labour, and delivered the children just for them to be slaughtered.

We endure the pains of childbirth and we also spent sleepless nights raising these children, please, enough is enough. As a mother and as a woman, we are pleading that whoever is involved, please stop killing our children."

In his contribution, Chief Edwin Clark, an elder statesman, said the insurgency in the country called for collective efforts to defeat it, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.

“Those who killed the 59 young children in Yobe did not differentiate between Christians and Muslims. Therefore, let us tolerate one another, let us be patriotic; we have no other country to go to. If you are a northerner or a southerner and we do not live together, then there will be no Nigeria; there will be no basis for us to come here," Clark said.

Brig- Gen Muhammad Ali (rtd), representing Zamfara, said that the security situation in the country has deteriorated adding, “life is not worth a penny anymore. The 1999 Constitution states that the security and the welfare of the citizens shall be the primary responsibility of the government. Therefore, the nation has to wake up to its constitutional responsibility by safeguarding lives and property," he said.

Jonathan tasks European, African leaders on Boko Haram

Meanwhile, President Jonathan, who spoke in Brussels, Belgium yesterday at the European Union/African Union summit on Peace and Security, argued that the world has the responsibility of holding the sponsors of the deadly sect responsible and accountable for their atrocities.

He submitted that there can be no development in Africa if the issue of insecurity is not holistically tackled, emphasizing that “peace and development are two sides of the same coin”.

While expressing appreciation of the government of Nigeria to the European Union for its support to Nigeria and other African countries to tackle the threat of terrorism from groups like Boko Haram and in the Sahel, President Jonathan maintained that “a terror attack on one nation is an attack on us all and everything must be done to expose and defeat them.

“The weapons of choice of these terror groups are the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). Of recent, they have acquired the rocket-propelled grenades and even surface-to-air missiles.

Where do they get “The weapons of choice of these terror groups are the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). Of recent, they have acquired the rapid propelled grenades and even surface-to-air missiles.

Where do they get these sophisticated weapons?

The total value of what these terrorists possess as individuals, in terms of what they wear, where they live cannot buy an assault rifle.

We all have the collective responsibility to un-earth their sponsors and supporters who are determined to destabilise Africa. We should hold them responsible and accountable for their actions” the president said.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

School bus driver arrested over rape of students

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA— ONE of the drivers of the popular ‘Uduaghan School Buses’ provided by the Delta State Government for free transportation of students to school daily has been arrested for allegedly raping two primary school pupils.

The arrested driver (names withheld) was picked up by police, yesterday, following complaint by one of the parents of the rape victims.

Vanguard gathered that two school children of Ozigwe Primary School, Asaba, aged 13 and 14 years, respectively, were victims of the randy driver, whose wife put to bed recently.

AGAIN: Ritualists' den discovered, ‘lunatic’ arrested in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA— THE Ogun State Police Command said, yesterday, that it had discovered a ritualists’ den in Iyana Egbado village in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

The police also said it had arrested a man identified simply as Gbenga, who was about to be lynched by angry mob for being in possession of several human parts.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said some human parts, including decayed intestines, were found with him before he was whisked away.

Vanguard, gathered that the suspected ritualist, who is a member of a syndicate operating in the area, had attempted to kill a woman before she was rescued by a passer-by.

Discovery

At the scene of the incident, under a bridge few meters away from the main gate of a popular cement company along the Abeokuta Lagos Expressway, were found human parts sliced into pieces, plastic containers filled with human blood, ladies pants, brassiers, ladies and men shoes, blood stained dresses and duvet.

Other items found at the den included knives, various non-functioning electronics parts and assorted soft drinks, suggesting that the

suspect and other ritualists were indeed living under the bridge.

The suspect was said to have confessed that he is from Ado- Ekiti in Ekiti State.

An eyewitness, who identified himself as Gbenga Oladele, told newsmen that the man who rescued the would-be victim, suspected the bag the suspect was holding. He forcefully tore it and discovered that the bag contained pieces of human parts.

Eyewitness account

Oladele said: “The man raised alarm, which attracted a crowd that attempted to lynch the suspect.

“Having discovered that the mob was going to kill him, the suspect thought to

be a lunatic and had lived in the area for nine months, pleaded with the crowd not to kill him, stressing that he was going to confess.

Confession

“The suspect told the mob that he belonged to a fiveman syndicate, among them a woman that has operated in the Ewekoro axis for the past nine months.

“He was rescued by Policemen from the Itori Division who arrived at the scene and whisked him away.”

The PPRO, however, said the state commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered that the man be brought to the command headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta, for the commencement of investigation.

Lagos Police yet to recover missing Jeep

BY IFUNAYA OKAFOR

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HE Lagos State Police Command yesterday, said it was yet to recover the Mercedes Benz Wagon that was stolen last Tuesday, in Victoria Island area of Lagos.

The black Mercedes Benz Wagon Jeep with number plate GG 868 AL, which belong to one Festus Igbomor of Transworld Holdings Limited, was stolen from where it was parked.

Although policemen at Bar Beach Division have reportedly launched a manhunt for the robbers, their efforts have so far yielded no positive result.

Sources at Barbeach Police Station said efforts was still on to recover the stolen vehicle with chassis number WD CYC7BF4BX193049, expressing optimism that the culprits would be arrested.

UNCOVERED: The alleged ritualists' den under a bridge on River 77, between Itori town and Larfage Cement Company, were a ‘lunatic’ was allegedly disovered with human parts, yesterday. PHOTOS: Wumi Akinola.

Police raid Oshodi, arrest 118 hoodlums

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—AS part of the efforts to boost security in Lagos, no fewer than 118 suspected hoodlums were, yesterday, arrested by the state Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) unit in Oshodi motor parks and its environs.

Vanguard gathered that the hoodlums, who were unleashing mayhem in the area, were arrested by the team which stormed the area at 1:00am.

Sources said that the

hoodlums robbed commuters of their valuables at the early hours of yesterday.

It was further learnt that over 160 hoodlums were initially arrested after the exercise.

However, after a screening at the taskforce office in Alausa, Ikeja, 118 suspected hoodlums were found wanting. The detained hoodlums include 106 males and 12 females.

Confirming the arrest, the chairman of the Taskforce, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, told Vanguard that the raid at Oshodi began around 1am

and that the exercise lasted for an hour.

He said: “We decided to raid Oshodi after a long time due to series of complaint about upsurge in petty criminal activities in

the area.

Sulaimon said suspected hoodlums were arrested in various dark spots in Oshodi, including under the bridge, abandoned properties, among others.

2 injured as building collapses

BY BOSE ADELAJA & MONSUR OLOWOPEJO

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WO people were injured, yesterday, when a twostorey building collapsed at Lekki area of Lagos.

According to eyewitnesses

account, the affected building, located at Toyota Street off Kunsela Street, Elegunshi Lekki roundabout, caved in around 1.40pm.

However, no casualty was recorded and the two people who sustained injuries were

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3 , 2014 —7

An accident scene on Airport Road, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

PROTEST: Protest against the deaths that occured at the Nigerian Immigration Service employment test that took place on March 10. Leaders of the protest, blogger and activist Japheth Omojuwa and Uche Briggs, were reportedly arrested by NSCDC officers. NAN PHOTO.

7 commercial sex workers arraigned over assault

17 trapped in Radio House lift

zComplainant refused to pay for services rendered— Accused

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AKURDI— THE Police, yesterday, arraigned seven commercial sex workers in a Makurdi Magistrate’s Court for beating and stabbing an Abuja-based businessman.

The suspects are Blessing Victor, Martha Joseph, Sonia Okafor, Esther Sunday, Grace John, Angela Aja and Princess Ojo, all of Express Hotel, Makurdi.

They are charged with criminal conspiracy, force, causing hurt and theft.

The prosecution, Inspector Terzungwe Kajo, told the court that Gabriel Oforma of Plot 24, Gwarimpa Estate, Phase 1, Abuja, lodged the matter at the ‘B’ Division Police Station on March 20.

He said that the accused persons and some men, currently at large, beat up Oforma, stabbed him and stole his Nokia Lumia cell phone and N34,000 cash when he went to visit a friend at Wukari Street, Wurukum, Makurdi.

Kajo added that other things stolen from the complainant were his travelling bag, containing clothes and his national identity card.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97, 265, 246 and 287 of the Penal

Code. If convicted, they are liable to eight years each in prison with an option of fine.

After the charges were read to them, the suspects all pleaded not guilty.

In her defence, the first accused person, Blessing Victor, told the court that she

complained he said I stole his money.”

The Magistrate, Mrs Lillian Terseer-Tsumba, granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N10,000 each and one surety each in like sum.

She adjourned the matter until May 7.

Man docked for biting off trader's finger

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

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AGOS— ONE Balogun Mukaila was arraigned at an Ebute Metta magistrate court for allegedly biting off one Emmanuel Oluwafemi’s finger.

There was no clue as to how a fight started between the two in which the victim lost his finger, the prosecutor only mentioned that the act was unlawful.

According to the charge, Mukaila on the May 17 at 5:30pm along Railway Line Iponri, Lagos, did with intent to cause permanent deformity on one Emmanuel Oluwafemi unlawfully bite off one of his fingers and caused him bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 243 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

s in Lagos taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

At press time, it could not be ascertained whether the injured persons were construction workers or residents of the area.

Meanwhile, South-West

did not steal anything from the complainant.

She said: “My only sin is that I charged the complainant N3,000 to have sexual intercourse with me for the whole night.

“After we did it, he refused to pay me and when I

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

Information Officer for National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said no life was threatened so far. ‘’Two people sustained minor injuries and have been taken to the hospital,” he said.

The accused was granted a N100,000 bail with two sureties by the magistrate, Mr. E. O. Ogunkanmi, while the matter was adjourned to April 22.

In the same court, two men were arraigned over alleged breaching of the peace, stealing, involvement in cult management and assault.

Facing a 10-count charge, Akeem Adio and Olojo Adesina and others at large on February 11 at Ajayi Crowther Secondary School gate, off Akoka area of Bariga, conducted themselves in a manner to cause breach of peace by playing game of chance for money in a public place.

Adio and Adesina identified as touts did conspire to steal five phones worth N65,000, a PSP electronic game worth N10,500 and some unstated amount of money.

Aside stealing, they also assisted in managing an unlawful society using same to intimidate and assault innocent citizens, of which Usman Balogun and Omole Oluwatumininu happened to be victims, the prosecutor, Inspector Asuu Feddy said.

He said the defendants’ acts contravenes the

provisions of Sections 166(c), 409, 285, 41, 171, 286 and 170 of the 2011 state’s criminal law.

Meanwhile, the accused counsel applied for their bail on the ground that they were victims of circumstance.

Magistrate E. O. Ogunkanmi granted each accused bail of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case for May 6.

BUJA— THERE was pandemonium yesterday, when a middle-aged pregnant woman and 16 others were trapped in an elevator at Radio house, Area, 10 Abuja.

The victims, some of who were staff of the Federal Ministry of Information, were on their way to the ninth floor, when the elevator collapsed hitting the concrete basement.

Some eyewitnesses, who spoke on ground of anonymity, said the lift collapsed when public power supply was cut at 10am.

They said problem started when the rescue operation could not start immediately, as occupiers of the building could not rescue the trapped victims for close to two hours.

Police nab fake Navy officer

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS— THE Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos, yesterday, paraded a Marine Engineer, 36, who deceived members of the public by claiming to be a senior naval officer.

The spokesman of the command, Superintended Lewis Suleman, who paraded the suspect at the command’s headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, said that the engineer was arrested on March 28.

Suleman said that the suspect paraded himself before members of the public as a senior naval officer, claiming also to be a Nigerian

Merchant Navy officer.

He said the command received a petition from one Iredia Obaze, that the suspect used navy uniform to forcefully collect four of his imported vehicles fromhis agents, stressing that none of the cars had been recovered from the suspect.

He said: “We were able to trace the suspect to his house and after search, a naval uniform with commodore’s rank and complimentary cards were recovered.

“We have been looking for the suspect for more than a year. We will charge him to court for impersonation to serve as a deterrent to others.”

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Confab: Senate divided over inclusion of Presidency in initiating Constitution amendment ...To vote for new constitution next Wednesday

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAK-

WURU

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BUJA— S E N AT O R S were divided yesterday over the proposed plan to include the presidency in the initiating process of constitutional amendment as some alleged it was a deliberate plot to give room for the presidency to ask for a referendum after the ongoing constitutional conference.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who is the Chairman, 1999 Constitution Review Committee had while presenting report of the constitution review appealed to the Red Chamber to consider the report of the Committee on Constitution Review and the Bill for an Act to further alter the Provisions of the Constitution.

Senator Ekweremadu in the proposal wants an amendment to Section 3 (b) of Clause 2 of the Fourth Alteration Bill dealing with how a new constitution can be processed, adding that Section 9 of the first Alteration Bill provided for how a new constitution can come into being through the National Assembly.

He said the aim of the insertion was to make provision for the President in addition to the National Assembly to initiate the process of a new constitution.

He also called for an alteration of Section 68 and 109 to mandate the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Clerks of States Houses of Assembly to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission in writing within seven days of the existence of a vacancy arising from death, resignation or defection of a member of the National Assembly or a member of the State House of Assembly respectively.

Besides, Ekweremadu in the proposal wants an alteration of Sections 134 and 179 which aim to extend the time for conducting presidential and governorship rerun election from seven days to 21 days as contained in Clause 4 and 5. INEC is seeking for an extension of the seven days to 21 days after results have been announced.

He further made a proposal for the empowerment of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to de-register political parties which fail to win presidential, governorship, chairmanship of a local government area council, or a seat in the National or States Assembly elections.

The Constitution Review Committee proposed for an amendment that would confer exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court for the trial of offences arising from, pertaining to or connected to the

violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act and any other election related act of the National Assembly.

Another proposal was the alteration of the Third Schedule of the Constitution in Clause 8 to include former Senate Presidents and Speakers of the House of Representatives as members of the Council of States.

He said, “What happened was that in July last year we came up with this view that since Section 9 did not make any provision for how a new constitution would come into being, we need to amend Section 9 in order to accommodate such possibility in the future. “ Senator Ahmed Lawan, APC, Yobe North, said the proposal was an attempt to allow the presidency usurp the powers of the

Legislature.

He said, “We must not dilute the functions of the executive nor that of the legislature. I can concede that any president can send request and that is provided in the Constitution but when we say initiate it is now taking some functions of the National Assembly “And because of that I oppose this proposal that we maintain the sanctity, the purity of the functions of the executive and that of the legislature in such a way that there is no lacuna and no confusion; so that in the nearest future we don’t run into a constitutional crisis where the constitution amendment process will become neither here nor there.”

Also opposing the inclusion of the presidency in initiating

amendment of constitution, Senator Kabiru Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central said, “I want the Senate to be very careful in the way and manner we repeal and re-enact laws because sometimes we make laws that make us useless as a body.

“There are laws on CBN, where we made a law and we ceded our powers to the Board of the CBN and when the time came for us to look at their budget, the former governor of the CBN simply told us that he was not bringing his budget to the National Assembly.

When we asked him why, he said we have already ceded our powers to the board of CBN. So, that is what I seek to point out.

“Today in Nigeria there is a lot of mistrust among the various components that make up Nigeria. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I think the buck should stop here. going to be completely

FEC MEETING: Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Musa Sada; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe; Minister of State for Power, Mr Mohammed Wakil; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Alleged Missing N59.6bn: Bulk passing continues at Reps hearing Federation, Fatima Nanamade

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Office of the Accountant General to the Federation and Budget Office failed again yesterday to produce evidence indicating who received the missing N59.6bn service wide vote allegedly disbursed to NNPC. as they were all passing the buck at the ongoing investigative hearing into the missing money by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts.

The drama for the missing fund continues as officials from the respective agencies responsible for the said transaction could not adequately address issues raised by the Committee, due to the absence of authentic and verifiable documents to substantiate claims made by the agencies involved.

As a follow up to the revelation made by officials of the NNPC denying receipt of the said amount

from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation as approved by the Budget office, the officials led by the Executive Director Finance, Mr. Sambo Aliyu again told the Committee that the NNPC actually sought a letter of clearance from the Budget Office and the OAGF indicating that the N59.6 bn requested was never released to it as claimed. A request he said was turned down.

However, in what seemed like a belated face-saving attempt by the OAGF, an unsigned photocopy of a letter indicating the non-release of the money and return of same was presented before the Committee with the original missing from the correspondence file of the OAGF and a register with an entry made with pencil devoid of any signature whatsoever.

This, the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Office of the Accountant General of the

tried to substantiate saying that, “the letter actually emanated from the OAGF but the original copy of the AIE is with the Budget Office”.

The Committee apparently angered by this submission pointed out that as a matter of professional competence and effectiveness, the agencies should keep comprehensive document of correspondence of transactions between one another, whilst rejecting the unsigned photocopy presented to it.

Representative of the Budget Office, the Director Expenditure, Stella Toluwase told the Committee that the original AIE request sent to the OAGF was never returned as claimed as the office does not have it in their record. She however said that the photocopy they came with was discovered after searching through the office archives following the demand by the Committee to see the document.

Worsening unemployment, threat to Nigeria’s stability — LCCI

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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AGOS—THE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, yesterday, warned that the worsening unemployment situation in the country poses a serious threat to the economic, social and political stability of the country.

The LCCI, in a communiqué issued at the end of its Council Meeting in Lagos, noted that about 54 per cent of the country’s youth population are unemployed, adding that there is a correlation between the unemployment situation in the country, with the current rate of poverty and insecurity.

The LCCI, in the communiqué signed by its Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, disclosed that the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises in the economy has been trending downwards over the years, thus affecting their capacity to create jobs.

It called for the adoption of appropriate policies to fix the unemployment problem especially through the creation of an enabling environment for the private sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to retain existing jobs and create new ones.

The LCCI acknowledged the various initiatives of government in this regard such as the YouWin programme but noted, however, that given the magnitude of the problem, a more fundamental and sustainable strategy is necessary.

It said, “The Council proposed the following policy options: Urgent support for SMEs to retain existing jobs and create new ones. Critical areas of support include funding and capacity building.

“Government should accord higher priority to investments in infrastructure to reduce the current high infrastructure deficit and moderate the cost of doing business in the economy.

Quality infrastructure would improve private sector productivity and competiveness. This will boost the capacity to create new job.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—9

How Jonathan ended Niger Delta militancy — Kuku

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—SPECIAL Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, said on Wednesday that it was actually President Goodluck Jonathan that paved the way for the cessation of the militancy that drastically reduced the nation’s oil production between 2006 and 2009.

Kuku, who spoke when he received the new leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council in Abuja, made it clear that it was actually Jonathan who while serving as Nigeria’s Vice President wrote the amnesty brief, persuaded the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to accept and implement the deal for the militants in exchange for peace.

Kuku said that beyond the persuasion of Yar’Adua to grant amnesty to the militants, Jonathan was actually the most senior Federal Government officials who risked his life and frequently went to militant camps and begged the militants to lay down their arms and accept peace.

“So, the truth must be told that it was actually Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that paved the way for the amnesty that has made it possible for peace to return to the Niger Delta and for oil to begin to flow in significant quantity, thereby making more money for the country and its people,” the presidential aide explained.

“The records are there: Jonathan went to the notorious Camp 5, begged Tompolo and other fighters to lay down their arms and accept the terms of the amnesty programme, which he drew up and showed to them.

“Without President Jonathan’s strong voice for amnesty and his personal involvement to get it off the ground, there would have been no oil for the country today. Nigeria is lucky to have him as a President and we should put the record straight,” he said.

Kuku, who frowned at what he called a deliberate attempt by some Nigerians to distort the history of the Presidential Amnesty in Nigeria, said that they IYC, which was at the heart of the Niger Delta struggle, would not allow the change of the story of the region for political reasons.

Court verdict: Reps say Tambuwal not under pressure to declare seats vacant

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—THE House of Representatives, said yesterday that its Speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal was not under any pressure to declare the seats of 37 former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC vacant against the backdrop of a court judgment, which declared their defection illegal.

A Federal High Court, Abuja presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, had last Monday asked the affected 37 lawmakers to resign from the House as they illegally left the PDP under which platform they were elected to the House. The lawmakers have however appealed against the judgment.

Deputy House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Victor Ogene while briefing journalists insisted that Tambuwal was not under any pressure to declare vacant the seats of affected members.

He cited an antecedent where a similar matter involving a Labour Party member who defected to the then ACN is still pending in court.

Said he: “I can tell you straight away that there was no pressure on the speaker to declare the seats of the 37 Reps vacant. If there were pressures, we would have held this close session yesterday, but we decided to wait until all the parties get the copies of the ruling.

“Like I told you yesterday, the House as an institution has not been served by the time we finished plenary yesterday, so there are no such pressures.

TRADE FAIR: From left— Executive Director, Enugu State University Trust Fund, Prof.

Martin Anikwe; Vice President, Membership Development, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture, Dr Emeka Nwakpa and representative of Director General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mr Ken Anikwe, during RMRDC Day at the ongoing 25th Enugu International Trade Fair yesterday.

“One of the decisions arising from our interaction is to allow the different cases in court regarding defection of some members to run their full course.

In arriving at that decision, the House took cognisance of the fact that precedence had been set even before last Friday and Monday rulings.

“If you recall, a certain member had defected from the Labour party in Ondo State to the then ACN and the case is still in court.

That member is still participating in the affairs of the House. There are some other instances that fall in that category,” Ogene said.

He also disclosed that members have decided to remove the House from the growing partisanship that is beginning to

rise on the floor of the House at plenary. He explained that the impression that both the speaker and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha had appealed the judgment was wrong.

He said, “We also observed that some publications tried to drag the person and office of presiding officers into the ongoing judicial matter.

“The speaker and the deputy speaker did not appeal any judgment in their individual capacity.

The House as an institution was made a party to the cases and so if the National Assembly management goes on appeal, it will be wrong to say the speaker or the deputy speaker has appealed any judgment.

“ They have no personal interest in the ongoing matter in court and I am sure their respective offices will address this issue.

A source however told Vanguard that the executive session which lasted for close to three hours saw the affected members complaining and begging the leadership of the House on the need to save their seats from being declared vacant.

He said, the speaker specifically reminded the lawmakers how he pleaded with them then that they should not defect.

The source informed that President Jonathan had instructed PDP caucus in the House to ensure that the court judgment was followed to the letter before he travelled to Europe.

Kaduna govt imposes curfew on Jema’a LGA ...As security agents intercept lorry-load of arms

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ADUNA State govern ment yesterday imposed a 24 hour-curfew on Jema’a Local Government Area of the state, following the alleged killing of two protesting youths and interception of a lorry load of ammunition belonging to some Fulani herdsmen by security agents.

The deceased persons were said to be among others who had insisted on meting out jungle justice against the 32 Fulani owners of the weapons in Kafanchan.

This is coming at a time when the state governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero has appealed to the residents of Kafanchan and its environs to be calm and law-abiding, saying

that government was doing all in its powers to ensure that peace returned.

The tension in the area coincided with the visit of the former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, in the 2011 election and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, rtd.

He came to commiserate with the Chief of Marwa, Malam Tagwai Sambo in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State over the March 14 attacks on three villages.

Buhari, who was accompanied by some APC chieftains, said that it was only when the perpetrators of the violence were arrested and punished accordingly that others would

be deterred from such action.

His words: “If Nigerians gave their mandate to APC come 2015 general elections, it will address the prolonged insecurity that has been bedeviling the country which the government of President Good luck Jonathan has woefully failed to address. For me, I am not a stranger in Kaura because my elder brother is a close friend of the Chief of Marwa, so I feel like I am at home here.”

During the visit, the delegation also donated the sum of N2 million to the victims.

In his response, Sambo thanked them for the visit and described the incidence as an act of God, adding that such would not happen again.

Meanwhile, Yero, who spoke through his Director Gener-

al, Media and Publicity, Mr. Ahmed Maiyaki, said, “Government is doing all within its powers to sustain peace in the entire state. ''People should remain calm and desist from taking the laws into their hands to avoid throwing the state into confusion and anarchy. ''Security operatives have intensified surveillance across the state aimed at foiling any attempt by miscreants and criminals to attack innocent citizens in the area. It is not the time for people to obstruct the course of justice by attempting to perpetrate barbaric acts of jungle justice. Government and indeed security forces will never fold their arms and allow people take laws into their own hands.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Labour rejects FG's plan to retire civil servants

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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FORUM: From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, his Deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Military Governor of the State, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), and former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, during a forum to mark the 2,500 days in office of Governor Fashola's Administration in Lagos, at LTV 8, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Lagos deserves more than Minister of State, says Fashola zDecries FG's claim to Ilubinrin land

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO KEJA—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said the state deserved more than a Minister of State position in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Fashola made the assertion in Ikeja while answering questions at a programme to commemorate his administration’s 2500 days in office.

The governor noted that President Jonathan got a substantial number of votes in Lagos during the last general election and, therefore, should have appointed a nominee from the state a full minister.

He said other states who did not give the President as much support were represented by full ministers in his cabinet.

The governor explained that Mr. Segun Aganga, the Minister of Trade and Investment, who was appointed a representative of Lagos in the Federal Executive Cabinet, was not an indigene of the state.

He said Lagos had not been represented in the president’s cabinet until few weeks ago when Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro was appointed.

Fashola said: “Under this

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presidency, Lagos just had a minister a few weeks ago with the appointment of Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro as Minister of State for Defence.

“The Minister of Trade and Investment does not represent Lagos. I think it is Section 147 of the Constitution that provides that every state is represented by a minister indigenous to that state.

“Aganga is from somewhere in Edo, he is not representing us although he has supported our initiatives well, such as our Free Trade Zone project.

“But more importantly, the President won an election here with about 1.7million votes and all the states got ministers except us, until a few weeks ago.

“That’s the reward for our votes and as if that was not bad enough, what we got was a junior minister.”

On whether Obanikoro would represent the state well, the governor said that was not for him to judge.

He said the people of Lagos were sophisticated and would be able to judge on their own at the appropriate time.

Decry FG’s claim to Ilubinrin land

Fashola decried attempts by the Federal Government to take over reclaimed land at Ilubirin, earmarked for a housing estate by the state government.

He flayed the erection of a signboard on the land by the federal government indicating it owned the property.

The governor said the state had owned the land for long and it was wrong for the federal government to claim ownership only when it had been reclaimed from the lagoon for a project.

On the state borrowing

On concerns that the state was engaging in too much borrowing to finance projects, Fashola said there was no cause for alarm.

He said the state was borrowing to finance projects that would impact on the lives of residents and the various loans had been well serviced.

Fashola said the high rating of the state’s economy by international agencies spoke of the confidence investors had in it.

“Yes we are borrowing, but we are not borrowing senselessly.

“We are borrowing to improve the lives of residents and the continuous high credit rating by international rating

organisations tells that our economy is healthy,” he said.

Fashola said his administration was irrevocably committed to the welfare of residents and had done a lot to achieve that.

He said the life-impacting projects embarked upon by the government in the last 100 days were part of efforts to make the state better.

The governor listed some of the projects to include ferry terminals at Ijegun-Egba, 110-bed Maternal and Child Care Centres in Igando and Amuwo Odofin and handing over of homes under the state’s mortgage scheme.

Fashola urged residents to continue to pay their taxes to assist the government to deliver more dividends of democracy.

Former governors of the state, Brig-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, were among prominent personalities at the programme.

Achievements within last 100 days Fashola who listed a number of projects executed by his government in the last 100 days in office, said the government had brought healthcare delivery to the door steps of the people by building healthcare complexes and offering free medical services to the residents.

The governor said many roads were commissioned in the last 100 days, while the government also intensified efforts at solving the problem of housing by giving out houses built under the Lagos State Home O w n e r s h i p Mortgage schemes.

A G O S — ASSOCIATION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday in Lagos, rejected plans by the Federal Government to retrench 1,050 civil servants on the allegation that they were in the service illegally.

According to Labour, such excuse was not only spurious, but could be a smokescreen to sack innocent workers who had served the nation meritoriously for decades.

The body in a statement demanded that no retirement in whatever form should take place until all stakeholders including labour verified the claim of the government.

It argued that if government’s decision was not a ploy to retire innocent workers, it should have no difficult in setting up a Government/Labour panel to fish out the purported “illegal civil servants.”

LASG advises residents against Ebola virus outbreak

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BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

KEJA—THE Lagos State Government yesterday, advised residents to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, to prevent the outbreak of Ebola virus in the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, gave the advice in a statement in Lagos.

He said: “The Government of Lagos State, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, is putting measures in place to prevent its entry and spread in the country.

“These measures include sensitisation of health workers, active search for cases of the disease and continuous sensitisation of the public.”

Idris said this had become necessary following the reported outbreak of the disease in some neighbouring West African countrieslikeGuineaandLiberia.

Vanguard , THURS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2014— 11

Fayose returns to Ekiti as Fayemi warns against PDP's return to power A

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI—FORMER governor of Ekiti State and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the June 21 election, Mr. Ayo Fayose, was yesterday received by tumultuous crowd of admirers and party faithful after he returned to the state from Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, paralyzing social and economic activities in Ikere Ekiti, the second largest town in the state, for several hours.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan is billed to kick off Fayose’s campaign in Ado Ekiti soon.

Fayose returned to the state after receiving the party’s flag as the gubernatorial candidate from the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu at the party’s secretariat, Abuja.

The crowd thronged the major Ikere-Akure road leading to Amoye Grammar School, Ikere Ekiti where his helicopter landed and was welcomed back to the state by some notable party leaders at about 2.15 pm Speaking, Fayose commended all the aspirants that contested along with him, urging them to work with him so that the party could win the June 21 gubernatorial election He particularly commended one of the aspirants, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, for displaying sportsmanship during and after the primaries, promising not to disappoint him.

Fayose appealed to aggrieved

aspirants over his emergence to forget the past and chart a new cause in the interest of the party, saying; “What l want people to know is that l can only be a governor, there are still many posts to share.”

He dismissed insinuations that he was at loggerheads with some traditional rulers in the state, noting that he had no animosity against any monarch in the state, promising to embark on personal visits to all the traditional rulers in the state soon as a practical way

of dispelling the rumour.

Meantime, Governor Kayode Fayemi, yesterday advised the people of the state not to allow the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to return to power, saying the seven and half years regime of PDP in the past, did not only draw the state backward, but was characterised by instability and disorderliness.

The governor also called on his supporters and the entire citizens of the state to resist any attempt by enemies of the state to rig or snatch ballot boxes during the

June 21 election.

Fayemi spoke at the various towns and villages in Oye Local Government area of the state where he campaigned for his reelection.

Some of the communities visited included: Isan Ekiti , his countryhome, Ilafon, Oye Ekiti, Ilemeso, Ayede, Imojo, Orisunmibare, Itaji, Ayegbaju and Oloje Ekit where some members of PDP led by Mr. Maxwell Bamisile and Labour Party supporters defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, at Ayede Ekiti.

CAMPAIGN: Former Ekiti State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate in June 21 governorship election, Mr. Ayo Fayose, addressing party members, at Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday.

OSUN PDP PRIMARY: Adeleke alleges threat to life zHe'brought hoodlums to party meeting—Omisore

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—A leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has alleged threat to his life by one of the aspirants, Senator Iyiola Omisore, three days to the party’s primaries.

Adeleke who spoke with newsmen in Ede, his country home, after he submitted a report on threat to his life to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, at the headquarters of the State Police Command, Osogbo, claimed he was punched several times by the aspirant and some of his supporters at a stakeholders meeting in Osogbo in the early hours of yesterday.

But in a swift reaction, Omisore denied the allegation, saying none of his men was after the life of Adeleke or any of his supporters.

Omisore who spoke through the Director of his campaign organisation, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, said: “The thugs who

were arrested by the Police claimed to be working for Alhaji Adeleke and they were at the venue of the meeting of some PDP officials to disrupt the meeting which they were not invited to.”

He said the Minister of Police Minister Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, was assaulted by the political thugs prompting his Police orderly to order for their arrest, claiming the arrested thugs were released to Adeleke

immediately he intervened and assured that they were party loyalists.

Omisore added that no individual at the meeting touched Adeleke, let alone punched him as he claimed.

Narrating his ordeal, Adeleke who was the first executive governor of the state said: “At about 11pm on Tuesday I went to a hotel in Osogbo where I was invited by the official of the party

from the National Secretariat who were in the state for the party’s ward congress and on getting there I saw some of my loyalists lying on the floor. When I inquired for the offence of those my loyalists, I was told that they were thugs and they were arrested on the orders of the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan who is a close associate of Senator Omisore."

NEW NUMBER PLATES: Lawyer accuses FRSC national newspapers, by the of misinformation FRSC in which the commission

BY INNOCENT ANABA AGOS—THE lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Ofoegbu, whose suit led to a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos judgment, declaring the new number plates being issued by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, unconstitutional, yesterday, accused the commission of misinforming Nigerians.

Ofoegbu had also in the suit, challenged the threat by the FRSC

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to start impounding motorists, who have not changed their old number plates to the new ones.

In a statement, he said the judgment delivered last week by Justice James Tsoho was the “only reliable and authentic account of the judgment,” and appealed to Nigerians to await a certified true copy of the court’s judgment, which will be made available when ready.

“My attention has been drawn to some publications, in some

purportedly offered some explanations and/or gave the account and/or meaning of the judgment delivered by Justice Tsoho on March 26, 2014, in the case of Emmanuel Ofoegbu V FRSC. “Since the FRSC is itching to offer explanations to the court’s judgment, it should state who and which law and section of the law that made the purported old number plates invalid and no longer usable in the country?"

ONDO BY-ELECTION: LP candidate seeks public debate

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—AHEAD of Saturday ’s byelection in the Ilaje/EseOdo Federal Constituency of Ondo state, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for the election, Kolade Akinjo, yesterday challenged the candidates of other political parties in the contest to a public debate over the development of the riverrine community.

Akinjo who is a former aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the Labour Party had everything required to win election in the area, declaring that he was confident that the people would vote for him to win the election.

Akinjo said “there was the need for people aspiring to such posts to be able to face the electorate to elaborate on what they had done for the development of the people and the entire community.”

While speaking with newsmen Akinjo said there was need for candidates to be able to identify the problems of the people they are aspiring to represent.

How to prevent building collapse in Lagos, by BCPG

BY PEACE ONYEUKWU AGOS—EXPERTS have said if the rate of building collapse in Nigeria is not addressed, the disaster will attain a monumental level, noting that it is better to prevent buildings from collapsing.

They also described building collapse as the nation’s version of natural disasters.

This was made known in Lagos at a stakeholders forum convened by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, BCPG, Amuwo Odofin Cell.

Speaking at the event, the Cell Coordinator, Mr. Austine Otuoke identified the use of sub-standard building materials, use of incompetentcontractors,famong others as as the major causes of building collapse.

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12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Police in Rivers impound two trucks with 110,000 litres of illegal crude

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Police in Rivers State have impounded two trucks conveying a total of 110,000 litres of alleged illegal crude oil close to Elelenwo/Akpajo area of Eleme in the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, who briefed newsmen on the development, yesterday, at the Police headquarters, said the suspected oil thieves were about loading a third truck with 55,000 litres when his men swooped on them. According to him, the first two trucks had already been loaded with 55,000 litres of crude oil each.

The Police boss said three suspects were also arrested in connection with the illegal acts during the operation by his men.

He assured that the state Police command will do everything possible to end illegal bunkering in the state.

“Let me reiterate our strong commitment and resolve in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and other forms of econom-

ic sabotage in Rivers State.

We are very unrelenting in our bid to put an end to this national menace,” he said.

He advised illegal bunkerers to quit the illicit act or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

PRESENTATION: Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, Chairman, Edo Teachers' Assessment Committee (left) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, during the presentation of the committtee's report, at Government House, Benin City, yesterday.

Emefiele’s appointment'll address marginalization of S-South —Owie

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, yesterday, said that the appointment of Mr. Godwin Emefiele by President Goodluck Jonathan as the new governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has addressed the alleged injustice suffered by the people of the SouthSouth in appointments into that sector.

Owie, who commended what he described as the wisdom of the President in making that choice, said that those who described the President as weak must now hide their heads in shame after Emefiele’s appointment.

He urged President Jonathan to continue with his laudable reforms in other sectors of the economy, just as he commended him for ensuring the resolution of the problems that arose from the recent recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Services, NIS, which was poorly conducted.

Owie, who also is a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, said: “I wish to congratulate Mr. Emefiele on his confirmation as the new CBN governor. I thank the Senate President, Senator David Mark and my other col-

leagues in the Senate, who rose above petty political considerations to get Mr. Emefiele confirmed.

“Above all, I thank Mr. Presi-

dent for the courage to name Mr Emefiele as CBN governor, the second CBN governor after the late Isong, from the South-South region. This

is a good omen for the people of the South-South because for a very long time now, we have not held that position,” he said.

My elevation as Speaker a miracle to me —Onwusanya

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—SPEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Onwusanya, yesterday, described his recent elevation to the office of Speaker as a miracle which he was yet to comprehend.

Speaking in Asaba while receiving the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, who was on a courtesy visit, the Speaker thanked the commissioner for the visit and said “as far as I am concerned, it is a miracle.

“I have not been able to comprehend, but I give glory to God. This comes with added challenge and responsibility. It, therefore, means that to keep the flag flying, the Fifth Assembly has to succeed and it is left for us to add other values to the successes we have already registered in the Assembly over time.

“I cannot, as a person, do it alone. It is a collective contribution, efforts by all my fellow

members in this Assembly.

The same thing goes with the executive arm because no one has the monopoly of knowledge.”

Earlier, Mr Ogeah, who visited with a retinue of media practitioners, told the

Speaker that he was at the Assembly complex to congratulate him on his emergence as the Speaker and offered to give adequate publicity to the activities of the House through the media.

Delta 2015: Okowa promises free health insurance

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—AHEAD of the 2015 governorship elections in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has assured Deltans that he will provide free health insurance policy for the people, if elected governor of the state.

Okowa, during a consultative visit to members of Urhobo People Integrity Organisation, UPIO, at the residence of Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, said his plan of insuring every Deltan under a free health insurance pol-

icy was to ensure that no Deltan dies as a result of not having money for medical care.

The senator, who currently represents Delta North in the National Assembly, promised to create jobs through agriculture, adding that “creation of jobs will reduce poverty and insecurity in the state. We shall create an enabling environment to attract investors. I will sustain the legacies of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with a transformation in the educational system by retraining teachers and designing education curriculum.”

Youths flay APC's disparaging remarks on Jonathan

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HE Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has condemned the All Progressives Congress, APC, for raining insults on President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement by its President, Nelly Emma and others, the group noted with dismay, the insults poured on President Jonathan recently by the party, describing same as unfortunate and urged the party to respect the Presidency.

The group, which accused APC of not seeing anything good in the administration of President Jonathan, said that the party was dead on arrival and had nothing to offer Nigerians.

“The APC, as far as we are concerned, is dead on arrival and has nothing to offer Nigerians, other than criticising the good works of President Jonathan," the group said.

Court remands traffic warden for fighting police officer

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N Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, remanded a traffic warden, Felix Osabohen, 28, for allegedly fighting a police officer.

The Magistrate, Mr. Osamudiamen Afe, said that Osabohen, a council traffic warden, had no jurisdiction to arrest, but to control and ensure free flow of traffic when necessary.

“There was no training or law guiding the accused to contravene or stop vehicles, even though he is to control traffic. The accused, who stopped a driver at the middle of the road and caused obstruction of traffic has committed an offence.

“And for the accused to fight the police officer, who now allowed the driver to go, to avoid traffic jam, is another offence.”

Afe, consequently, remanded the accused in prison custody.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—13

Murdered lawyers: Police dispel alleged involvement

Tricycle driver stabs man to death in Bayelsa

z As Uduaghan assures on justice

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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BY EMMA AMAIZE & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—THE Police in Delta State, has expressed concern over insinuations that it had a hand in the alleged killing of two lawyers, Horace Egwuono Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekwughanju in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, a team of detectives headed by the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, has been set up to unravel the mystery surrounding the deaths of the two lawyers.

Similarly, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has assured the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, of the government’s cooperation and support to ensure that the killers of two lawyers were apprehended and brought to book.

The governor, in Warri, when he commiserated with families of the deceased and the NBA over the unfortunate killings, promised that the state will get to the root of the matter.

On the team set up to investigate the killings, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, in a statement, regretted the death of the lawyers.

The statement said that the lawyers' corpses were discovered, March 27, same day a ruling was delivered in the matter by a state High Court sitting in Ozoro, asking the police to produce the two suspected kidnappers, Ogaga Enueme and Efe Edhike, in court on or before April 2.

Aduba said the two lawyers had earlier filed a motion of harbeus corpus, praying the court for the production of the two suspects, adding that the police would have arraigned the suspects on same date, but for the ambush of the police team on Ogwashi-Uku Road, during which the duo suffered fatal gunshot wounds.

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right) and Prof. Jerry Gana, when the former led a delegation from the state on a condolence visit to Prof. Gana in his home over the death of his mother, Madam Felicia Gana, who passed on recently.

Agumagu remains CJ, Rivers govt insists zAccuses NJC of constitutional violation

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—RIVERS State Government, yesterday, insisted that Justice Peter Agumagu remains the Chief Judge of the state, describing his suspension by the National Judicial Council, NJC, as a violation of the constitution.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Worgu Boms, who addressed newsmen at Government House, Port Harcourt, maintained that Justice Agumagu was the most senior judge in the state, adding that the constitutional provision for appointment as a Chief Judge was 10 years of practice as a judge.

Unconstitutional powers Boms said that the NJC does not have the constitutional powers to upturn an appointment made by the governor as it relates to the office of Chief Judge of a state, adding that only a court of competent jurisdiction can nullify such an appointment.

Accusing the NJC of ridiculing the court system with its suspension of Justice Agumagu, the Attorney General said the government, after a careful appraisal of the action of the council, had chosen to ignore the suspension of Justice Agumagu, insisting that he remains the Chief Judge of the state.

The state government further accused the NJC of subjudice, arguing that at the time it claimed to have suspended Justice Agumagu, one of the

parties in the suit before the Federal High Court that gave ruling in favour of Governor Amaechi on the issue, Justice Daisy Okocha, had appealed against the same judgment.

He said: “The position of NJC which is very unfortunate, gives equally unfortunate and misleading impression to the public that the appointment of Justice Agumagu as CJ of Rivers State, occurred in nibubus (ie from the skies) and with no contribution of NJC to it or that there is no history behind it.

Justice Agumagu, the NJC wants the world to believe, just woke up, walked to the State House and got appointed and sworn in as the CJ. This impression is misleading, self-serving and diversionary.

“By wielding the big stick against an innocent judge and purporting to use administrative measures to truncate the outcome and fruit of a judicial process, to which it submitted and participated actively in and without appealing thereafter, the NJC is using its power inappropriately and is unwittingly contributing, in an eloquent form, to the ridiculing of the court system which it should be promoting and respecting.

Rivers rejects NJC's stance “The Rivers State Government rejects the NJC’s unconstitutional and contemptuous stance on this matter

and states categorically that only a court of competent jurisdiction can declare its actions and activities unconstitutional and certainly not a council, a committee, a commission, howsoever, described, when such bodies, no matter their nomenclature and the eminence of their membership, are subject to the law of the land and the court.

“Finally, we urge the NJC to disallow personal sentiments and entrenched interests of some of its members in the Rivers Chief Judge matter, and treat the Rivers State judiciary and its judges as it treats other states’ and federal judiciaries and their judges and as provided for under the constitution, as the issue is not a family affair or succession to a family stool in which case members of a particular lineage are the only persons qualified for considera

ENAGOA—A 28year-old staff of Bayelsa State Ministry of Education has been reportedly stabbed to death by a commercial tricycle driver.

The victim, simply identified as Weke, it was learnt, met his untimely end, following a clash over fare at the Gbarantoru area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that the deceased was stabbed three times close to the neck and head.

The deceased, according to a security source, was stabbed while returning from a late night party in the outskirts of the town.

However, there are two versions of what might have led to the scuffle between the tricycle operator popularly known as Keke and the deceased.

While one account claimed that the deceased had, after the party, boarded the Keke with two girls and gave the driver N1,000 as fare and demanded for change. The latter was said to have insisted that the sum paid covered the three persons including the deceased.

Another version claimed that the deceased was in company of two other boys who tried to beat up the driver and snatch his keke.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

S-East traders lament ordeal at Nigerian ports

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU — THE South-East Amalgamated Market Traders Association, SEAMATA, importers and other stakeholders, yesterday, lamented the untold, harrowing experiences they go through at ports in Nigeria.

The group in a communique after a meeting in Enugu, regretted that the ugly experiences had disrupted trading activities in the zone in recent time, adding that the situation, if not addressed urgently, would affect the nation’s economy negatively.

“The situation has worsened in 2014 to the extent that most of our members have abandoned their goods at ports because the demurrage outweighs the cost of the items imported.

“Those who are even ready to collect their goods cannot because they do not have the pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR, to enable them clear their consignments,” they stated.

The communiqué, signed by the President General of SEAMATA, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo and Secretary, Mr. Temple Ude, presidents of the traders in the five states of the zone, as well as the Coordinator South-East traders, Chief Gozie Akudolu, blamed the development on the inability of the Nigeria Customs Service to issue the PAAR as quickly as possible.

“At present, it takes over 60 days to issue the PAAR as against two to three days by the service providers," they stated.

Ngige vs Obiano: Tribunal rejects AIT video clip

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA — ANAMBRA State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka yesterday refused to admit a DVD video clip of Mr. Vin Martin Iloh, a senior staff of Daar Communications and one of the witnesses called by the petitioner, Senator Chris Ngige, to give evidence in his favour.

The tribunal had earlier admitted similar DVDs submitted by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as exhibits.

In his ruling, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ishaq Bello, said the DVD video clip did not meet the requirement of section 83 and

84 of Evidence Act. Bello stated that the video clip could not be admitted as evidence and possibly played in the tribunal because the witness mentioned in his written statement on

counsel, Emeka Ngige (SAN), expressed shock that such a glaring evidence was rejected by the tribunal, adding that he would consider going on appeal at the appropriate time.

Governing Council honours Oko poly rector

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA — The Govern ing Council of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, yesterday honoured the rector of the Institution, Prof. Godwin Onu, for his exceptional infrastructure development on campus Chairman of the Council, Dr.

Azubike Odukwe, who presented a plaque to the rector at the council chambers, during a brief ceremony, said it was in commemoration of the commencement of the second tenure of the rector.

According to Odukwe, the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in

INSPECTION: Mrs. Rebecca Udorji, Chief Willie Obiano, and Mr. Calistus Ilozumba, at a construction site, during a recent inspection tour of a road construction project in Awka North Local Government Area.

Nigeria (COHEADS) who were in the polytechnic last week, confirmed the infrastructural strides of Onu in the polytechnic.

He said Onu-led administration had placed the institution among the best in the country.

“We are happy to say that this present governing council in the Polytechnic is God-sent and that Rector, whose appointment has been renewed for another four years is also a God-sent. He is a focused manager who is not giving in to distractions.

“So on behalf of the Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic Oko, I present to Prof. Godwin Onu a commemoration plaque for his commencement of a second tenure as Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, 2014-2017 and we wish him a very bountiful tenure because we believe and know that he will do more than he did in the first tenure,” Odukwe stated.

Responding, highly elated Onu said it was his greatest moment in the polytechnic, adding that he had never had it so good.

He said: “I feel honoured and motivated to be spurred to greater achievements with the present governing council.

To the best of my knowledge

Jonathan urges civil servants to look inwards for devt

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, urged civil servants in the country to look inward to arrest the nation’s regression and discover ways of improving their contribution to national development.

The President, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, made this call in Abuja as special guest of honour on Day Two of the 60th anniversary celebration by the Federal Civil Service Commission, FCSC. Jonathan stated that the commission had been instrumental in fostering merit and due process in the nation’s public personnel management He added that these and many other examples simply re-affirmed that whenever the country was moving in the right direction, the role of the civil service must be the prime facilitator, noting that if things were not turning out as

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oath that he monitored the election, which meant that he was not the maker or producer of the clip he was seeking to tender.

Reacting to the ruling, Senator Ngige, through his legal

expected, the service must look inward on how best to step up contributions.

Jonathan said: “Considering the challenges still ahead of us as a nation, I cannot but emphasise that there is still more to be done, to ensure that the civil service, beyond its traditional role, optimally becomes an active agent of change, good gover-

nance and national development. ”The amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates and the Lagos colony on January 1, 1914, marked the beginning of a nation state.

“No matter the level of constraints that we faced as a British territory, our founding fathers fought gallantly to achieve our

independence. ”We must never forget that a good measure of what we regard as our pride today as a nation with diverse culture and vast developmental opportunities came from the contribution of the public service whose members were selected based on merit and trained to render service to the nation.”

Bloodbath averted as Anambra electricity consumers protest crazy bills, black-outs

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA — MAYHEM and wan ton destruction of lives and property were averted in Anambra State as leaders of angry electricity consumers at Ugwuagba Layout, Obosi, near Onitsha, prevented them from extending their protest against crazy bills to Uguwagba office of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC. The aggrieved consumers, under the aegis of Ugwuagba Community Residents PHCN Power Consumers, had, early yesterday, converged on the popular Old Motor Car Spare Parts Market, Ugwuag-

ba, to visit the EEDC’s offices and Ogidi Business District, threatening to burn down every facilities in sight.

But when their leaders discovered that they were so aggrieved, that there could be a break-down of law and order and that they could actually embark on wanton destruction of property at EEDC office if allowed to visit, they directed that the protest be cancelled out-rightly.

However, before they dispersed, the consumers, numbering over 3,000, conducted prayers, sang songs of praises to God and raised up their placards before their leaders came out one after the other to intimate them on their next line of action.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—15

World Bank boosts power with $1bn investment guarantee step to make investments in Nigerian infrastructure more attractive for Foreign BUJA — INVESTMENTS in the Direct Investments. nation’s electricity power sector has “Let me talk about what MIGA is planreceived a boost, with the World Bank’s ning to do in this country. Over the next Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agen- couple of years, I would expect that MIGA cy, MIGA, pledging to provide more than would provide guarantees above $1 bil$1 billion guarantee in the sector. lion in Nigeria.

The Vice President and Chief Operat“This is primarily going to be in the ening Officer, CEO, of MIGA, Mr. Michel ergy sector and the discussions that we Wormser, told journalists in Abuja yester- are going to have today is to precisely idenday that his organisation was taking the tify with the governments and agencies where they would see the highest value from MIGA involvement, given the development priorities of the country,” he said.

Wormser explained that his organisation had provided investment guarantees in the country to the tune of $364 million in the past but decided to strengthen its involvement in the Nigerian economy, given its impressive growth records and the need to further expand its capacity for job creation.

His words: “Nigeria is a country which has been growing very fast and has become the envy of many countries of the world in terms of the growth.

“But there is an understanding that jobs have to be created and competitiveMr. Tunji Olugbodi, cutting his 50th birthday cake ness has to be assured and with his wife, Biyi. this can only happen if more investments occur in projects.

“In the past, we had provided guarantees of about HE MINISTER of directed that an interview $364 million in Nigeria.

FCT, Senator Bala be conducted as soon as “At this moment, our bigAbdulkadir Mohammed, possible for qualified senior gest area of concentration has approved the redeploy- officers for the appointment is going to be in energy - to ment of the Acting Director of a new Director. strengthen the investment of FCT Water Board, Engr.

Meanwhile, members of in the sector –whether in Jiniya B. Anto. the Governing Board had gas to power, transmission, He was relieved of his restated their loyalty to distribution –MIGA can position over alleged mal- FCT Administration under help in all of these areas." administration and a vote the able leadership of Senby supplementing all the of no confidence passed on ator Bala Mohammed. him by members of the Governing Board of the FCT Water Board, led by the Chairman, Alhaji Alhassan Gwagwa.

ORMER INSPEC- the country.

The Board members acTOR General of PoThey urged the general cused the Acting Director lice, Mike Okiro, has urged public to shun criticising of “failure to seek and provide vital information to en- Nigerians to support the the confab, stating that it able the Board perform the ongoing National Confer- was too early to criticise it.

“The delegates are still statutory functions it was ence in Abuja, saying the slow pace of development building a foundation and appointed for.”

They also accused him of in the country was due to the outcome of the founda“disobliging attitude, dis- lack of understanding in tion will determine the building of the country,” dain and disregard for the political system.

Okiro and others, who they said.

Board members' decisions, spoke at a public presentaOkiro, who was reprerequests and directives.”

Following his redeploy- tion of a book, entitled, sented by his Special Asment, the Deputy Director, ‘God’s Promise For Every sistant, Austin Obaedo CP Quality Control of the FCT Situation,’ written by Pas- (rtd), urged “the good peoWater Board, Mr. Michael tor David Itula, a senior ple of Nigeria to acquire a O. Adebayo, has been di- Area Pastor of the Re- copy of the book each for rected to oversee the affairs deemed Christian Church their children to read as of the agency in acting ca- of God, RCCG, Abuja, con- they grow. They will not pacity, pending the ap- tended that the outcome of depart from word of God pointment of a substantive the National Conference since they are the leaders director. The minister also would set a new agenda for of tomorrow.”

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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Director of FCT Water Board redeployed

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Okiro, others solicit support for national confab

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16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Bauchi gov orders arrest of Chinese illegal miners

APC members dissociate selves from Marwa's defection claim

BY UMAR YUSUF

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — BAUCHI State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda has ordered the arrest of three Chinese expatriates as well as the immediate closure of their firm over illegal mining activities that have caused health hazards to communities in Toro Local Government Area of the state.

Yuguda gave the order yesterday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the company.

He said the Chinese firm also failed to comply with all the requirements as demanded by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals before starting their mining activities.

He said: “They did not compensate the communities, neither did they make any attempt to relocate the communities before commencing their mining activities. The mining in the area has caused health hazards to both human beings and animals in the area.”

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OLA — MEMBERS of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Adamawa State have disossociated themselves from the purported defection of former Military Governor of Lagos State, and guber-

natorial candidate of the CPC in the last general elections, General Buba Marwa (rtd) Addressing the party’s stakeholders from all the 21 local government areas in Yola, yesterday, the spokesperson of the former CPC members, Malam Suleiman Abdullahi, said that they are still

part and parcel of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

Abdullahi described the claims that Marwa had defected from the party to the ruling PDP as a huge joke.

He noted that Marwa was solely on his own if he had decamped to another party.

From left, Mr. Felix Imoisili, Amen Iseghohi, and Philip Okojie, during the hand-over of a PDP secretariat to Ward 5 in Uromi, Delta State, recently.

Meanwhile, there was a hot exchange of words between the camps of General Marwa and Governor Murtala Nyako.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Murtala Nyako, Mallam Ahmad Sajo had accused Marwa of defecting to the PDP for selfish reasons.

Malam Sajo said: “We are aware that the Marwa group had approached Governor Nyako severally for money and they had equally contacted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for money as well.”

He also said the defection of Marwa will not affect the fortunes of the party as he had no electoral value with his inability to win his ward when he contested the governorship of the state under the platform of CPC in 2011.

However, in a swift reaction, the spokesman for Marwa group, Mus Bubakari Kamale dismissed the allegation as frivolous saying that the real reasons behind Marwa’s defection was due to the entrenchment of impunity, injustice, lack of internal democracy and undemocratic culture being entrenched in APC.

Sambo gives thermal power plant contractors ultimatum According to Sani, ‘’Sambo, who requested for a detailed programme of work ICE PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo, for the project, it was to ensure that the yesterday, asked the contractors han- project was commissioned on schedule. ’’He frowned at requests made by the dling the Kaduna 215mw Thermal Power Plant to ensure that the project was ready consortium for variation of optional items outside the scope of work and urged the for completion by the end of this year.

Sambo gave the directive at a meeting Ministry of Power to conclude the arrangewith project consortium, consultants and ment for the fuel storage tank and directrepresentatives of the ministries of Power, ed Rockson Engineering, one of the companies in the consortium, to provide their Transport, among others in Kaduna, This was contained in a statement by the records of procurements for the Balance Special Adviser to the Vice President on of Plant, BoP, and schedule of deliveries and commence without delay, the civil Media and Publicity, Umar Sani. works and construction for the storage tank.

He also called for a schedule of completion of alignment of the turbines

BY MARIE-THERESE Addressing the NUEE from General Electric. ’’Sambo was satisfied NANLONG officials outside the Elecwith the report presented tricity House, Ahmadu OS — THE Nigeria Bello Way, Jos, John said: by the Minister of Transport Labour Congress, “NLC says no to the unfair on the construction of railNLC, yesterday, picketed labour practices. We want way tracks that would conthe headquarters of Jos light, not sacking of our nect the rail with the powElectricity Distribution PLC members. We want foreign er plant to enable for easy which distributes electrici- investors, not foreign ex- transportation of the fuel ty to Bauchi, Benue, Go- ploiters. We demand the from source.

He also noted the chalmbe and Plateau States. recall of all our sacked lenges faced by the consorThis came on the heels union officials.” complaints of ‘’anti-labour’’ He further explained the tium at the site and directpractices against officials union officials decided to ed them to sort out all isand members of National execute their protest sues and report back withUnion of Electricity Em- against the company be- in two weeks.

Those issues were on the ployees, NUEE. cause it “disallowed unionPlateau State NLC Acting ism in the five months that eight turbines alignment, Secretary and Zonal Sec- it had been in private storage tank, electrical conretary of North East of hands; had dismissed trol system which was one NUEE, Comrade Anthony union officials among its of the major engineering John who led the exercise staff, and uses contract as issues for project delivery said the picketing would against fully remunerated and additional works. last for a week or more. staff."

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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NLC pickets Jos Electricity Dist. for anti-labour practices

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 17

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T was GG Darah who first pointed it out to me graphically, just before the commencement of plenary on Monday this week. Nigerians have always known how to move away from the brink. And while many people despair almost to the point of total rejection of their country, Darah read lines from his column for THE GUARDIAN this week, about the role Nigeria has played in peace making in several parts of the African continent, dating back to the Congo crisis of the early 1960s.

The mood inside the hall was rather friendlier at the beginning of the week, because of the deal that was cobbled together by a group of 50 delegates who Chairman Justice Kutigi interestingly chose to describe as ‘friends of the Conference’. We had gathered to hear the details, but not a single delegate was unaware of the horse-trading which finally broke the impasse that forced the adjournment of sitting last week. We arrived more sober

National Conference, 2014: Away from the brink comes imperative.

That was where GG Darah’s reminder became very relevant.

I saw in Darah, my old comrade from his years as a lecturer from the old University of Ife. Darah used to be one of the most committed of Nigerian Marxists; a genuine comrade with an infec-

,

If we succeed with the coalition building effort, then the idea is to try and unite Nigerians, especially the younger generation, to fight for those ideas that can assist in fighting underdevelopment about the realities of the conference and the fact that things were never going to be straight forward in terms of expectations. Yet, it was intrinsic to the National Conference that too much hostile passion was going to seep to the surface sooner rather than later.

And it came so early with the debate about voting percentages. I have already written about that on this page last week.

Different delegations I have watched comings and goings of members of the different delegations over these past couple of weeks, and it became even clearer to me that as we moved forward with the process, even more hostile emotions will be expressed.

There is a real difference of perception, attitude and expectation from one group to the other, mirroring the historical fault lines that have always dogged the elite rivalries of Nigeria, from the commencement of politics, as a means of securing power, dating back to the 1950s.

The fact that some of the old men of those early years of Nigerian nationhood are also part of this National Conference merely brings home the monsters that, for all these decades, have dogged Nigeria. It was therefore completely predictable that we would run into heavy weather and frightening turbulence.

The issue was how we weather the storm. The ‘friends of the Conference’ dammed the anger from the two sides of the heated debate and in an expression of that Nigerian ability to walk away from the brink, when it beC M Y K

,

tious sense of humour and that incredible ability to make you welcome.

He is a folklorist whose research into the folk traditions of the various peoples of Nigeria, starting from his own Urhobo people, is one of the major contributions to Nigerian and African scholarship. But then the years rolled by and the changes in the international system, with the collapse of the world socialist system, changed the perspectives of many socialists in all parts of the world.

Nigeria was not spared of the same troubling responses to those earth-shaking changes.

Imperialist triumphalism was expressed in Francis Fukuyama’s

arrogant thesis about the end of history. Chasms developed between and amongst Nigerian socialists too.

The politics of identity overthrew allegiance to a class-based worldview. GG Darah became a passionate ideologue of the new and strident agitations which centred on the conditions of existence of the people in the Niger Delta region of our country. The new situation also seemed to have alienated comrades from themselves across the country.

It has taken the 2014 National Conference for us to meet again.

And somehow, the bonds of old were still attractive and they were the basis of the insight that GG Darah brought to his explanations early this week. The encounter with Darah was one of many other encounters; but I think the most significant development is the effort being made by civil society organisations to help build a coalition that will bring in the labour movement, media, youth and progressive intellectuals in order to build a pan-Nigerian platform.

The idea behind this initiative is to help sweep the carpet off the feet of the regionalist and sectional agendas that have proven divisive and are always going to continue to heat up the process

as we move forward. These, in the main, have been the lifelong agendas of old men, many of them in their eighties and late seventies.

They are stuck in a time warp and in my view are far removed from the real issues which Nigerians can unite around. If we succeed with the coalition building effort, then the idea is to try and unite Nigerians, especially the younger generation, to fight for those ideas that can assist in fighting underdevelopment and building an economic system which creates jobs and works for the mass of Nigerian people.

Political battles As I never tire to remind here, the majority of Nigerians today are under the age of 35. As a matter of fact, the old people who bring the mindset of the political battles of the 1950s to this National Conference are merely 3.5% of Nigeria’s population today. It is incredible that it is this group that is frantically trying to determine how Nigeria must look like into the future; but in truth, these are people of the past!

But if we return to my thought about how Nigerians will skillfully move away from the brink,

we will have to be honest to say that the work done by the ‘friends of the Conference’ took in all segments of the Conference.

It was the inclusive nature of the team and the realisation that no group can hold the entire Conference to ransom that we all need each other to find success, that finally allowed people to return to their conciliatory best. It allowed us to break the logjam of the previous week, without removing, completely, that underlining suspiciousness that is wired into every gathering of Nigerians.

As we commenced responses to President Jonathan’s address at the opening ceremony of the National Conference, the underlining bitterness, suspicions and venom are rising to the fore once again.

Intrepid media cameramen But on a lighter note, not a few of my friends have been caught sleeping by the intrepid media cameramen covering the Conference.

Those pictures of sleeping delegates are the first items of hilarious discussions every morning before the commencement of plenary. Some of my friends have mischievously warned me not to be caught sleeping; they probably forgot that I am the quintessential insomniac!

There is something that the reader has also noticed; I am a delegate and participant in the National Conference, but I am also trying to find the detachment to be able to continue my professional existence as a journalist and commentator.

I will try to balance the dialectic as creatively as possible through this three-month assignment. Let’s see how things pan out!

Do they really think in the PDP? L

AST weekend, the PDP was in Bauchi to hold a North East regional rally. It was a roll call of the biggest names in the party, all led by President Goodluck Jonathan. As usual, Jonathan bungled his rally by playing politics instead of being Nigeria’s president.

He accused the governors from the region of creating the condition which allowed the insurgency in that region of Nigeria to fester. And betraying his inability to rise to presidential heights, he still compared what was happening in the North East to militancy in his own state. But do these PDP people think at all?

Do they honestly have a sense of honour or a sense of shame?

It is incredible that they could hold a rally in Bauchi, yet the same president could not spare

time to visit Yobe to commiserate with the people on the tragic massacre of Nigerian children a few weeks ago.

Jonathan refused to visit; he could not send his vice, Namadi Sambo; and the Minister of Education never saw a need to also visit. Those children are not theirs, obviously, and the region could have been in Sudan, or wherever, as far as they are concerned.

Presidential responsibilities A caring president who sees every part of his country, his own, would have also visited Borno in the wake of the attack on Maiduguri and the Giwa barracks in the city a couple of weeks ago.

Jonathan has continued to allow petty politicking to becloud his presidential responsibilities in respect of his relationships with Borno and Yobe. It is instructive that the same president allocated merely N2 billion as fund for the reconstruction of the entire North East part of Nigeria. Yet he found $1 billion to fight oil theft in the Niger Delta.

If the past is our guide, it won’t surprise if the $1 billion end up in the pockets of Niger Delta militants, allies of President Jonathan. The PDP cannot expect people of a region that the president has not shown any modicum of empathy to also vote for them and its president, Goodluck Jonathan.

We must collectively remind President Jonathan that he has not acted presidential in the way

that he has responded to the continuing suffering in that segment of our country. There is a long list of indecencies in the way the PDP denizens have related to the feelings of Nigerians.

That is the way the party increasingly became, having become addicted to power without responsibility since 1999. But President Jonathan and his PDP sunk much lower into absurdity over the last weekend by flying into Bauchi to hold a rally.

It was a most unfortunate display of insensitivity by a president who swore to an oath to do justice to all sections of Nigeria, without exception! Those in the ruling party as well as those who rule us just don’t appreciate the weight of the responsibility they willingly chose to carry.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 PROBLEMS associated with multiple taxation are almost as old as Nigeria. The authorities do not think Nigerians are paying enough, Nigerians counter that they would not provide more resources for governments to mismanage.

A disturbing trend in the tax regime of some States, borders on human rights violation. Some States are taxing people for providing for themselves basic services that governments do not provide.

Before now, there was this ridiculous news from Abia State that government was collecting taxes from citizens for digging boreholes in their compounds to procure water in the absence of adequate water supply from public sources. Some residents of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State protest over the N15, 000 monthly tax the State has imposed on owners of generating sets. Government sources claim that the money realised from this tax is used to address the problems arising from the pollution the generators cause.

How much do people in Ebonyi State earn for them to pay tax of N180, 000 on water or electricity?

It is the primary function of government

Abuses Called TTax ax es axes to provide water, power supply, security, education, health and other needs of the citizens. That is why citizens line up behind politicians and their political parties to surrender their sovereignty in exchange of good governance. Citizens only resorted to procuring generators, boreholes and other necessities of modern living due to persistent failure of leadership and governance.

Imposing taxes on citizens for providing basic amenities in the face of failure of governance is inhuman, oppressive and condemnable. It worsens the already existing problems of multiple-taxation. It shows that people in government are now beyond shame that the citizens are being driven to provide for themselves amenities that people in other climes take for

granted because their taxpayers’ money is properly deployed to serve the people right. It is a pity that the various state Houses of Assembly have abdicated their duties to curb the excesses of the executive branch, and in most cases, actually pride the legislation used to oppress the people.

We call for immediate stop of the generator and borehole taxes, and other obnoxious taxes in the name of internally generated revenues until governments provide public power and water. Governments must restrict themselves to regulate borehole drilling and the use of generators to enhance safety and protect the environment. Funds for environmental protection are appropriated annually to each State.

There is no further need to extort money from the ordinary folks struggling to survive.

Government officials must do away with the colonial mentality of treating fellow citizens with utter contempt.

It is ridiculous for government to fail in its duties and still punish those who find ways round governments’ comatose inducing policies.

OPINION

BY CHUKWUKA EZENDIARU

O

NLY the politically naive can fail to see that President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2015 presidential election.

Even if his now famous body language is the only signal we can read, the signs are evident that the man will stand for reelection. Naturally, his supporters see nothing wrong in that. And, expectedly, his detractors do. But what do the rest of us who are neither his supporters nor detractors think about the issue?

First of all, in a matter as sensitive as the presidency of our nation, it is admittedly near-impossible for anyone of voting age not to hold an opinion one way or the other.

But holding an opinion is one thing, having the force of conviction to act on that opinion is another. When the chips are down, how would the majority of voters vote?

Even with a crystal ball, it would be near impossible to predict precisely what the results of the 2015 presidential election will be. And while all manner of variables will affect who the people eventually elect, the factor of incumbency presupposes that the election is Jonathan’s to win or lose.

It then follows that those of us who are neither Jonathan’s supporters nor detractors owe ourselves a duty to independently assess his performance in office in order to help us make up our minds as 2015 approaches. In doing so, we may adopt a global standard for evaluating an incumbent’s performance in office, namely the economy.

When Jonathan assumed office as the president, the global economy was still in C M Y K

20 15: Jonathan's suppor s, de tract or 2015: supportter ers, detract tractor orss and the rest of us the grips of a major downturn. However, knowing too well the reliance of the Nigerian economy on oil and gas, Jonathan signed into law the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Bill 2010 (Local Content Bill), which was aimed at raising local content in the oil and gas sector.

Consequently, Shell Petroleum, a major foreign oil company operating in Nigeria, contracted a Nigerian company, S.C.C Limited, to manufacture high pressure line pipes at a cost of N7.8 billion ($49.9 million). Also, the local content law spurred Exxon Mobil to award an offshore platform contract to Niger Dock Nigeria, Plc. It is worth noting that without the Local Content Bill which Jonathan signed into law, these two lucrative contracts and others like them would have gone to foreign firms.

Moreover, with the realisation that oil and gas will not hold sway forever in the world economy, the Jonathan administration initiated the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, with three sub-funds: the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, the Future Generations Fund and the Stabilization Fund as its pillars.

Furthermore, in a bid to spur young Nigerians to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour rather than waiting to be employed by others, Jonathan’s government awarded business start-up grants of between N1 million and N10 million to 1,200 Nigerian youths on April

12, 2012. These young people, who are from all parts of the country, were the first batch of winners of the novel business idea competition under the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria, YOUWIN, initiative which was launched by the administration on October 11, 2011.

Similarly, the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was reported as showing in a presentation at an interactive session with the private sector that the Jonathan-led administration created 1.6 million jobs in the year 2013.

In the same vein, Jonathan himself said in his New Year message that: “As a result of our backward integration policies, Nigeria has moved from a country that produced two million metric tonnes of cement in 2002, to a country that now has a capacity of 28.5 million metric tonnes. For the first time in our history, we have moved from being a net importer of cement to a net exporter.”

Closely connected to the economy, and the administration’s efforts to diversify from over-reliance on oil, agriculture has received a boost under the Jonathan administration. Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, was named Africa Person of the Year 2013 by the well-regarded international magazine, Forbes. He defeated four other nominees from across Africa to win the prestigious prize.

Dr Adesina was nominated on account of the various achievements in Nigeria’s

agriculture sector, including encouraging more than six million farmers across the country to practise agriculture as a business, and not as a development initiative without any incentive for growth.

Interestingly, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Mohammed Monguno—who happens to be a member of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC—appraised Jonathan’s performance in agriculture in a televised broadcast and said: “I must say that the agriculture transformation agenda being pursued by your administration is unparalleled and unprecedented.” He went on to add: “We must learn to give credit where credit is due and I’m doing exactly that.”

Jonathan himself declared in his New Year message to Nigerians that: “We are witnessing a revolution in the agricultural sector and the results are evident. We have tackled corruption in the input distribution system as many farmers now obtain their fertilizers and seeds directly through an ewallet system. In 2013, 4.2 million farmers received subsidized inputs via this programme.”

Are these economic indices enough to help the rest of us who are neither Jonathan’s supporters nor detractors decide how we will vote at the 2015 polls? Only time will tell. *Mr. Ezendiar u, a public affairs commenator, wrote from Owerri, Imo State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014— 19

, Making APC a credible option

A

S we count down to the May 24 first national convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Party should explain itself more to the Nigerian electorate.

The recently published manifesto of the APC has not managed to project the Party as a credible alternative to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. There are many Nigerians who are tired of the PDP’s dominance of our democracy and governance. They are looking for genuine change.

The amalgamation of three major political parties to create the new APC brightens hope that the change that many look forward to might be around the corner.

It all depends on how the leaders of the upstart Party are able to position it before we go into the general elections of 2014. There is a recipe for success and another recipe for failure, and it is up to the leadership of the APC to settle for the right recipe.

By recipe for failure, I mean proceeding with the wrong vision and political attitude which have bedeviled our party system since 1998. This attitude aims to win power at all costs. If the APC goes

into the 2014 elections with this attitude, it will end up playing into the hands of a much entrenched PDP, which has perfected the art of winning at all costs and thus incurred the displeasure of democracy-loving Nigerians. So far, the leaders of the APC, unfortunately, have been treading along this path. It seems that for them, the most important thing is to snatch power from PDP through an alliance of a section of the North and the new Western political mainstream under the control of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. This merger is meant to maximise the strength of the North and West under one platform and use it to unseat President Jonathan, who is expected to run for a second term.

Part of the plot to snatch power from Jonathan, is to field a prominent Northern presidential candidate (with Muhammadu Buhari’s name getting frequently bandied). At first, speculations were rife that the running mate could come from the South East or South-South. But it seems the party has realised its fortunes in the two geopolitical zones may not yield a bumper harvest due to the

I personally fancy a situation whereby Comrade Oshiomhole contests and is able to emerge as the presidential candidate of the APC; he will be a soapbox dynamite and will be able to speak across the ethno-geopolitical divides and unite Nigerians around progressive ideals

,

Jonathan factor. The new speculation in town is that it might be Buhari as president and his coleader, Tinubu as vice president; another Muslim-Muslim ticket!

I

f this picture is correct, we can safely conclude that APC will want to employ ethnic or regional gang-up to attempt to win a presidential election. If that happens, the PDP, with its negative perception in some quarters, will appear the cleaner of the two because it is a national party that does not have the odious miasma of ethnicity, religion or regionalism shadowing it. PDP will come out as a “safer” party for those who want to distance themselves from the politics of primordial domination of the rest of the country by a group bound

up in religious, ethnic or regional conspiracies.

The second unfolding strategy that may not help the APC in the eyes of those seeing it as a possible better choice than PDP is the apparent move to adopt zoning.

We hear, for instance, that the presidential slot has been zoned to the North. Zoning is a cardinal policy of the ruling PDP. Many people have made it clear that zoning or affirmative action is not democratic. They believe that zoning of political offices, especially the presidency, has not always allowed the PDP to field the best candidates in its fold. Rather, it has encouraged god-fatherism and allowed out-going presidents to select and impose their choice successors on Nigerians.

Such Nigerians will like the APC, as a credible alternative to PDP, to adopt the principle of throwing the contest for president, governor and other elective offices open for the best to emerge through genuine democratic and transparent processes. Now, if APC zones the office of President and Vice President, and carefully handpicks and imposes them on the generality of the members, they won’t be different from the PDP. There won’t be any difference between the “Democrats” (PDP) and the “Progressives” (APC).

They will be two sides of one coin, and since the “devil” you know is said to be safer than the “angel” you don’t, the despondent electorate might either become apathetic or vote for the president’s party.

The APC must pick courage and dare to be different. They must eschew political desperation (unseating Jonathan for the North

to snatch back power riding on the back of the West). They should look beyond the next election and build a party that can offer Nigerians a better deal than what the PDP and other post-military political parties have to offer. They should desist from being seen as a regional gang-up. They should also avoid the temptation to adopt zoning as a means of evolving leaders. They must provide the electorate a credible alternative.

Many of the governors now on the platform of the APC are about to conclude their second terms of office. These include Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and others. In fact, nothing stops Raji Fashola of Lagos from seeking the presidential ticket on APC platform if the party is not mimicking PDP’s zoning approach.

I personally fancy a situation whereby Comrade Oshiomhole contests and is able to emerge as the presidential candidate of the APC. He will be a soapbox dynamite, and the PDP candidate may not want to square up to him for television debates. He will be able to speak across the ethnogeopolitical divides and unite Nigerians around progressive ideals as he has done in Edo State.

He is already a national figure and has none of the ethnic, religious and regional demons shadowing a typical Buhari and Tinubu.

Above all, he is a proven performer.

That is the kind of freshness and choice that APC should strive to offer Nigerians. Then, we will know we have a genuine two-party system.

Who were Sanusi’s supervisors?

E have already embarked on a gradual descent to anomie. Some day soon, when we arrive at destination, we shall have no difficulty in recognising it. The early signs are very clear: we now have a country where evil is constantly celebrated and where people get away with murder in the manner of providing comic relief. We just laugh and get entertained.

But it hurts for the columnist to stay awake all night, only for what he produces to be reduced to the basic entertainment levels that are not any different from the Lagos Life series of yester years. Elsewhere, journalists are the mirror through which society is viewed and their products are taken seriously as pointers to the rots in society.

In native parlance, we must now borrow leg and quickly run away from the Sanusi saga, lest monotony sets in to catch us at the middle of it all. The Sanusi episode is one area where we have written close to half a dozen articles and it is not in our character to keep flogging a dead horse, particularly against the backdrop that our main target audience may have sufficiently stuck his ears with cotton wool to ensure he is not listening to our trash.

Even where we expect no answers, there are still some salient questions that must be asked on this monotonous Sanusi affair, if only as a peep into the future.

Certainly, Sanusi is the man of the hour in this our entertainment stage. Some questions must be asked before attention shifts from him. First, it takes two to tango and it is becoming increasingly clear that in the Sanusi episode, somebody must have been sleeping on duty.

Rome, they say, was not built in one day but the building of Rome started in one day.

Sanusi’s misdeeds did not occur in one day.

They built up over time. If from the sidelines, we were able to see that much of Sanusi’s misdemeanors, those at the centre stage C M Y K

must have seen much more. The questions are: Who were Sanusi’s supervisors? Where were they when the world was crumbling on all of us? Somebody somewhere must have been sleeping on duty. These are some of the issues we shall examine here, without intending to defend Sanusi. It is even foolhardy to do so.

At the risk of repetition, we cannot undertake the current exercise without a glimpse into some of the charges against Sanusi: Mr. Governor, Sir, in about 63 “intervention projects” mainly in your native Northern Nigeria, and sparsely in the South, you turned the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, into a Father Christmas of sorts. Under this scheme, you doled out about N163 billion from the public till without any legislative approval and authorisation, in utter defiance of the provisions of Sections 80(1) and 80(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which deal with issues of revenue and expenditure of the Federation.

In August 2009, the CBN, under your watch, pumped N400 billion of public money into bailing out Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank. Again, the CBN single-handedly decided which of the commercial banks manifested distress signs and how much to give to them -- without recourse to any legislative approval.

In the eye of the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, the CBN under your watch embarked on a most reckless spending spree, the type of squander mania never imagined in the history of the CBN, which included N38.23 billion alleged missing in 2013. This amount was alleged to have been paid to the CBN subsidiary, MINT, but which never got to its destination. In 2011, CBN was said to have paid N38 billion to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, for the printing of

banknotes when in the entire year the total turnover of NSPMC was only N29 billion!

In same year, 2011, CBN claims paying

,

W

The list of rots in the CBN is an arm long; yet Sanusi had an avalanche of supervisors; if Sanusi is guilty as charged, his supervisors are ten times guilty

,

N511 million, N425 million and N1 billion to Emirate, Wing and Associated Airlines respectively, for currency distribution nationwide. While Emirate has no local charter service, Wing Airline is not even registered in Nigeria and Associated Airline had a total turnover of less than N1 billion in that year! The list of rots in the CBN, which cannot be contained here, is an arm long.

Yet, in the process, Sanusi had an avalanche of supervisors. If Sanusi is guilty as charged, his supervisors are ten times guilty.

E

nter President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan: Mr. President, Sir, you cannot feign total ignorance of the goings-on at the CBN under Sanusi’s watch. Lest you forget, from our distance, we reminded Nigerians

at various points that Sanusi was operating a Republic within a Republic. To mention but a few instances, our articles: “Still Celebrating Profligacy” and “Who Is Now the President?” in this column as far back as 2011 and 2013 were exclusively devoted to the Sanusi escapade. But it was convenient for you to remain mute because Sanusi was apparently reporting well. All the same, everyone has his day in court. It was when Sanusi touched on the sore-point, the very nerve-centre of the anticipated campaign funding source, NNPC, that you suddenly woke up from slumber!

And now, the National Assembly and its bogus Committees: Distinguished and Honourables, you cannot escape culpability in the Sanusi affair. You looked the other way while Nigeria burnt. You pretended to be tough on him during the 2013 appropriations. He bluffed you and apparently bought his way through.

That was when you descended heavily on the equity market, thus leaving its opposite number, the CBN, to operate freely, albeit dubiously. Ms Arunma Oteh, the Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, refused to play ball, hence you descended on her by denying her organisation of the needed funds since the 2013 appropriations. CBN required no discipline. After all, your man there was a mid-fielder.

Can we now see the mess into which balling has pushed us? And why is anyone still talking of Sanusi’s culpability to the exclusion of all the super accomplices?

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 21

Emefiele pledges to improve economy, commends Zenith shareholders’ loyalty

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

he Central Bank of Nige ria, CBN governor designate, and outgoing Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Godwin Emefiele has pledged to contribute his quota towards improving the economy of Nigeria, just as he commended Zenith Bank’s shareholders for their contribution towards building the bank to its present status.

Speaking at the Bank’s 23rd Annual General Meeting, AGM in Lagos yesterday, Emefiele said, “ This is the last AGM, I would attend as a director of the bank as I will resume as the new CBN Governor in June, 2014. It is a national assignment and I hope to work hard to ensure that we move the economy to a greater height. I appreciate the advice given to me and would ensure that every issue on the economy would be dealt with in fairness, firmly and objectively” On the bank’s performance for the financial year under review, he said, “No doubt Zenith Bank has performed well but there is still room for improvement. We will not

abuse the confidence the shareholders have reposed in us. I commend you all for the useful comments and hope that the management will work hard to improve on our result despite the challenges.

The profit of the bank dropped because of the deferred tax payment. The new Group Managing Director, Mr. Peter Amangbo is equal to the task as he has been an Executive Director of the bank since 2005

and has over 21 years cognate banking experience of all which has been with Zenith Bank. I wish him well.”

Meanwhile, the shareholders at the AGM unanimously poured encomium on the

From left: Past President of Nigeria Association Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, NALPGAM, Chief (Engr.) E. Aguele (JP); National President NALPGAM, , Mr. Basil Ogbuanu (JP); Managing Director, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC Mr. Haruna Momoh; and Executive Vice Chairman, Techno Oil Limited, Mrs. Nkechi O. Obi (MON) at inaugural conference of NALPGAM in Lagos.

Banks to face stiff competition from MFBs, telcos — KPMG

BY MICHAEL EBOH

K

PMG Professional Serv ices has warned that commercial banks in Nigeria will, in the near future, be faced with intense competition from Micro-Finance Banks, MFBs and telecommunication firms in the area of deposit mobilization and mobile payment respectively.

Speaking at the KPMG cost optimization seminar for banks and other financial institutions in Lagos, Mrs. Bisi Laminkra, Partner & Head, Management Consulting, Advisory Services, KPMG Nigeria, stated that consumer protection, will in the days ahead, be considered as serious issues in the banking sector, and banks that fail in their relationship with their customers will be made to pay heavily for their actions.

She maintained that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will soon, like the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, begin to impose heavy fines and sanctions on banks seen to be ripping off their customers, while adding that allowing telecommunication firms to carry out payment services will pose a serious challenge to banks in the country.

She identified key trends that have shaped the Nigerian financial institution landscape to include, challenging macroeconomic conditions, continued pressure on returns and evolving regulation.

Others, according to her, are greater leverage of direct channels and technology, changing risk universe, intense and new sources of competition.

On the issue of continued pressure on returns, Laminkra said, “Withdrawal of service charges, increase in the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) fees, interest on savings account, revision of the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) of public sector deposits and increased government spending have all put further pressure on the banks.”She disclosed that increased regulation is expected to have an impact on the banks’ profitability and operating model.

She further stated that in the next couple of months, industry rivalry is expected to increase between current incumbents and potential new entrants, while nonbank financial services providers, especially in the payment space, will bring about increased competition

for different parts of the banking value chain.

Laminkra said Nigerian banks can no longer pay lip service to costs, saying that though 2013 is a difficult year for the banks, the sector is still profitable.

Also speaking, Mr. Adrian Harkin, Partner, Management Consulting, KPMG United Kingdom and Global Head of cost Optimisation in Banking, KPMG, declared that Nigerian banks have reasonable scale, but their cost and income characteristics raise questions on their income efficiency.

outgoing managing director for the performance of the bank, just as they approved all the resolutions proposed at the meeting. The leaders of the various shareholder groups, who spoke on behalf of their members, such as Chief Timothy Adesiyan, S i r S u n n y N w o s u , D r.

Farouk Umar, Brig. Ikwue, Nonah Awoh etc commended the bank for its performance in virtually all financial indicators. They tasked the CBN Governor designate to work assiduously towards improving the economy of the country, stressing that the issue on bridge banks should be looked into with all fairness.

Shareholders also approved a total dividend payout of N54.943 billion, representing N1.75 per share. Other performance indicators show total deposits was N2.079 trillion, representing a 15 per cent increase over the previous year ’s figure of N1.802 trillion. Profit After Tx dropped by 13 per cent, from N95.803 billion in 2012 to N83.414 billion in 2013. Also total assets of the bank grew by 18 per cent, from N2.436trillion to N2.878 trillion, while shareholders’ fund rose by eight per cent , from N438 billion to N472.60 billion.

179.95

+3.60

2,977.00

+22.00

17.97

+0.10

107.20

+0.75

107.97

+0.14

CURRENCY BUYING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.74 257.2707 212.5354 174.3746 1.5114 0.3056 238.3273 24.9061 41.2585 28.4611 239.0888

CENTRAL SELLING 155.24 258.102 213.2221 174.938 1.5163 0.3156 239.0974 24.9871 41.3918 28.553 239.8613

155.74 258.9333 213.9089 175.5015 1.5212 0.3256 239.8675 25.068 41.5251 28..645 240.6339

CBN Exchange rate as at 02/04/2014

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

CBN defends naira with $9.58bn through RDAS *External reserves shed $7.81bn by $5.8 billion or 13.3 per cent in the first quarter. From $43.61 as at December 31st 2013, the nation’s external reserves consistently declined to $37.8 billion as at March 28th 2014. In January the reserves fell by 1.4 percent to $42.99 billion. It fell again by 7.1 percent to $40.12 billion in February. And as at March 28th, it has fallen by 5.8 percent in March.

The sharp increase in foreign exchange sales and decline in external reserves were caused by the decision of the CBN to sell foreign exchange to defend the value of the naira against the dollar.

“The decrease in the reserves level was driven largely by the increased funding of the foreign exchange market in the face of intense pressure on the Naira and the need to maintain stability”, said the Acting CBN Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Alade at the

94th Monetary Policy Committee meeting held last week.

The MPC however attributed the HE Central Bank of Nigeria increased demand for foreign ex(CBN) sold $9.58 billion to change in the first quarter to seasonal defend the naira in the first annual payment of dividends to forquarter of the year through the bieign investors, saying that calm has weekly foreign exchange auctions. This since returned to the market. represented 41 per cent increase when “The Committee commended the compared with foreign exchange sales Bank for its continued commitment to of $6.78 billion sold in the fourth quarexchange rate stability in the face of ter of 2013. undue pressure on the naira. It noted Analysis of Retail Dutch Auction Syswith satisfaction the calm in the fortem (RDAS) sessions conducted by the eign exchange market and the relaapex bank in the first quarter revealed tive stability in the interbank exthat foreign exchange sales rose by 48 change rate after the initial turbuper cent in January to $2.94 billion. It lence. The Committee acknowledged rose by another 2.1 percent in Februthat while this stability was at a high ary to $3.1 billion, and in March it rose cost, safeguarding short run macrby 2.54 per cent to $3.54 billion. oeconomic stability under the circumThis increased foreign exchange stance required firm and bold meassales impacted heavily on the nation’s ures”, Alade said. external reserves, causing it to decline Analysis indicated that the increased foreign exchange sales helped to stabilise the exchange rates in March. Though the interbank exchange rate rose steadily from January 1st to February, it however stabilised in March. From N159.96 per dollar in December 2013, the interbank exchange rate rose to N162.56 at the end of January, and further to N164.83 at the end of February. But in March it remained fairly stable and closed at N164.99 per L-R: Managing Director, Frontiers (Frankly Speaking on Radio), Muyiwa Afolabi; Chief Fi- dollar. The official exnancial Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Abubakar Suleiman, and Executive Director, LEAP Africa, change rate on its part stable Iyadunni Olubode, at a media briefing on Sterling Bank’s ”Get Ready For Work”- a programme remained throughout the quarfor NYSC, fresh graduates and those seeking employment held in Lagos. ter at N155.74 per dollar.

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

Brent Mortgage Bank restates commitment to boosting home ownership

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

B

RENT Mortgage B a n k , has restated its commitment to boosting home ownership in Nigeria. The bank stated this in Lagos at the official ceremony to unveil its new corporate identity. The bank is one of the primary mortgage institutions licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to operate as a state mortgage bank.

The bank’s chairman Alhaji Muri Salami said the bank, formerly known as Skyfied Savings and Loans will continue to aspire to boost home ownership in Nigeria through affordable housing.

He said the bank’s new identity would not only herald new beginning, fresh per-

ceptions and bigger opportunities but also open a new chapter in the life of the organisation.

He therefore promised that the bank will remain true to its core value of integrity by playing by the rules.

“Brent Mortgage Bank Limited would comply with the new CBN guidelines for the sector to the letter. In governance, performance and growth, we want to be the reference bank in the mortgage industry,” he said.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kola Abdul, said that the bank was now in good stead to empower home ownership in Nigeria.

“We want to be the benchmark for other mortgage banks

in the country by leveraging on the efficiency and trust we have built over the years,” he said. He said the bank has striven to succeed since the last four years through the management’s commitment to sound corporate governance, as well as strict adherence to international best practices and professionalism in its dealing with stakeholders.

He noted that the bank will continue to make efforts to understand the market and put risk tolerance measures in place in order to ensure sustained growth.

Also speaking at the event, former Minister of Finance, Chief Jubril Martins, commended the management of the institution, saying, its approach was well intended as it is in line with govern-

ment policies which are major determinants for business success in Nigeria.

“Government policies shape and reshape the operating environment and practices of corporate institutions. I have been in government twice, first as Minister of State for Finance and Minister for Commerce and Industry, and I understand that government policies can make or mar institutions. What government did say was that they want all mortgage providers to be big players because it is the strength of finance that will determine the strength of their services.

BRIEFS

FCMB’s profitability rises 12% to N18.2bn

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Plc has recorded 12 per cent growth in its profitability for the operating year ended December 31st 2013.

In a statement announcing the result, the Bank said that pre-tax profit rose by 12 per cent to N18.2 billion.

Consequently, it has proposed 30 kobo per share dividend to its shareholders.

The Group said that in spite of the challenging regulatory environment, net revenue rose by 16 percent to N84.2 billion over prior year. It attributed the increased revenue to the successful execution of retail strategy, and the growth of bancassurance and FinBank merger synergies.

The Group also reported a number of significant developments in key operating areas. In 2013, deposits grew by 11 percent to N715 billion, aided by 21.1 percent growth in current and savings accounts, while fixed deposits declined during the year. Consequently, the bank’s funding mix has improved, with current and savings accounts now accounting for 73.9 percent of total deposits.

This led to reduction in the bank’s cost of funds during the year in spite of the fact that interest rates remained high throughout 2013.

Loans and advances also grew by 26 percent to N451 billion, retail lending, oil and gas and power sector financing were the largest contributors to this growth. FCMB Plc’s total assets (excluding contingencies) now stand above N1trillion.

Accion MFB advocates affordable loans for SMEs

A

CCION Microfinance bank has advocated affordable loan for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Accion Microfinance Bank, Bunmi Lawson stated this at the 3Rd Annual BusinessDay Retail Conference held in Lagos. Lawson noted that poor access to affordable finance is a major challenge to most SMEs, adding that microfinance is the solution to this challenge.

She said, “Microfinance has made positive impact on the development of SMEs in Nigeria by granting accessible loans to small businesses without stringent conditions attached.”

She noted that SMEs are usually more credit constrained than other segments of the economy due to financial sector policy which expresses high risks inherent in lending to SMEs. To counter this challenge in funding micro-enterprise and low income businesses, Accion Microfinance Bank advocates loan facilities without cumbersome conditions. She disclosed that Accion has successfully granted N21.7 billion in loans to more than 110,000 customers since 2007 thereby promoting financial inclusion and economically empowering low income earners.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 23

BRIEFS

FDI more beneficial to Nigerian economy — FOBA president

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE president of Friends of Business in Africa, FOBA, Cooperative Multi-purpose Society, Mr. Eben Joel, has said that foreign direct investment rather than aids from foreign countries will better develop Nigerian economy.

He made the declaration at the official inauguration of the FOBA Cooperative Multi-purpose Society in Lagos.

Joel advised government at all levels to tap into the advantages offered by perceived diversity in Nigeria to grow the economy, adding that there are so many untapped and unutilised opportunities that should be maximised to the benefit of the nation.

He lamented that not even the oil wealth of the nation has proved capable of lifting the average Nigerian out of the shackles of poverty, saying that FOBA has identified key sectors and areas of service where it can produce distinct products to its membership

base as it strives to meet their needs, desires and expectations.

According to him, for broad-based inclusive economic growth to take root, certain sectors are quintessential for full scale development of economic markets and transactions.

“FOBA prides itself on catalyzing strategic relationship and considers it pertinent to intervene through cooperative business enterprises in the sectors that will continually spark the interest of its members, drive their creative and entrepreneurial skills and secure their economic welfare,” he said.

Second from left, UNIDO Director General LI Yong, flanked by the leaders of the African Union, UNAIDS, and UNECA at a joint event on local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in Africa held in Abuja.

Investors assist Nigerian startup companies with $50,000

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

A

NETWORK of investors under the umbrella of Angel Network is availing startup companies in Nigeria with $50,000 (about N8 million)and half a million dollars to help develop their businesses.

Startups are newly created companies; these companies are in a phase

of development and in search for markets Mr. Tomi Davies of Lagos Angel Network, ((LAN) disclosed this during the inaugural ceremony of Angel Fair West Africa (AWFA), organised

by LAN in the state.

According to him, Angel Network is an exclusive network of angel investors providing early stage, seed fund-

ing and mentoring to start up entrepreneurs.

“There are not many Angel investors in Nigeria. This fair is to create awareness for people to know that such opportunities exist,” Davies said.

He added that the event will have 20 specially selected early stage businesses pitching to investors from LAN, Angel Africa List (AAL), Ghana Angel Investor Network (GAIN) and the Africa Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA).

“The businesses include Proand those developed and made work, a locally in Nigeria,” he said. developed Ndubisi said the fair will among other things afford the project manageexhibitors the opportunity to ment solution build brand awareness, have from Nigeria, direct contact with respective Djoss.tv, a social target markets, showcase latest platform for live products and services and interaction with launch new products or serv- TV from Cameices. They may also exploit the roon and Farmeropportunity to deepen relation- line, a mobile apships with existing customers, plication that inexplore trade opportunities, tegrates agriculfind new agents and new chan- tural output of nels, develop import/export rural farmers, markets and forge alliances from Ghana,” he said. and strategic partnerships.

Medalion, Aulic, Ghana partner to boost regional trade

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

M

EDALLION Marketing Limited has entered into partnership with Aulic Nigeria limited, managers of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, and Ghana High Commission to boost regional trade through products exhibition at the trade fair complex.

The Managing Director/ CEO, Medallion Marketing Limited, Mr. Fidel Ikenna Ndubisis, told reporters in Lagos that for the last sixteen years, his company has been involved in the organisation and man-

agement of over 45 International, domestic and specialised fairs across the country.

He disclosed that his company is bringing thirty exhibitors from Ghana to participate in the forthcoming exhibition scheduled to start from 24th April –17th May at the trade fair complex. “We are also using the fair to launch three big brands from Gihoc Distillery Ghana. It is the first fair without gate fees for visitors and exhibitors at the fair.

“The fair will also provide platform for showcasing products from global manufacturers

Honeywell reiterates commitment to cooking talents

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH HONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc has reiterated its commitment to promote cooking talents among youths. The company just made a sponsorship programme of the Honeywell Wheat Meal Cooking Competition at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos State camp, Iyana Ipaja.

Channels Development Manager, Mr. Dayo Adeniyi, said that the sponsorship of such competition among corps members was aimed at bringing out their unique skills with a view to equipping them for future challenges; it will also endear them early enough to the company’s products by making them Honeywell Ambassadors.

Adeniyi said that the initiative would be extended to other camps on completion of the company’s expansionist programme when its products will be readily available and meet customers’ demand.

“We are looking beyond today. Our expectation is in the long run. These are prospective mothers and fathers who will be opinion molders in their respective families. They will virtually be Honeywell Ambassadors as they have affinity with the products already. Besides, we are doing this to also lift the social activities in the camp so that the corps member’ stay will not be boring”, he said.

Calypso hosts corps members at orientation camps

C

ALYPSO, a premium brand from the stable of Grand Oak Limited has hosted corps members at orientation camps in Osun and Imo state.

Speaking at the event, the Brand Manager, Calypso Coconut Liqueur, Afolabi Kasomo , said the brand has a long standing tradition of going round the country hosting the corps members to parties at the beginning of their service year to help them settle into their respective states of posting in a fun and happy mood.

“The new set of Corps Members posted to Osun and Imo States were given a warm reception party on the platform of the Calypso Coconut Liqueur brand at their ongoing orientation camps. It will be recalled that explained that the Calypso brand is specially packaged for fun lovers and the welcome party serves as a platform to connect with its core target.

“We are aware that our core target connect and relate on social media in recent times. At Grand Oak, we are always striving to connect with the core passion of our consumers, hence the Calypso Facebook page where information about the brand and updates are regularly posted. Consumers and fans are welcome to visit the page, seizing the opportunity to participate in ongoing contests where interesting prizes are to be won,” he said.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Cargo clearance: Bankers demand outright ban of manual ship manifest

BY GODWIN ORITSE

N

IGERIAN banks have demanded outright ban of the hard copy of ship manifest, saying that “the nonelectronic copy contributes to the delay of cargo clearance process and sometimes sharp practices”.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria,(CBN) in Lagos to intimate stakeholders on the enhanced system of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of PAAR real time in Abuja, Mr. Ony Egboma, said that issuing hard copy of ship manifest has been banned for a long time and remains banned.

The bankers said that about 20 percent of importers still submit hard copy of ship manifest as against the electronic copy which is meant to ease the cargo clearance process.

At the meeting, the bankers noted that the practice by local shipping firms to issue manual ship manifest in Nigeria is against the rule regulating shipping.

The law guiding international shipping says that ship manifest must leave the country of loading 48 hours before departure.

Michael Onwujika of

Citi Bank told the meeting that manual ship manifest should be

stopped so as to make the electronic one more efficient.

He said that some ship manifest are produced by

shipping companies and then transmitted to the relevant authorities for onward processing.

Taiwo Egbeyemi de-

TRAINING : Some cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Akwa Ibom State manupulating one of the hi-tech vessel simulator at the academy during the visit of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport to the institution last week.

RESIDENT of the N i g e r i a n Hydrographic Society (NHS), Rear Adm. Abdullahi Inusa, has said that Nigeria now has the capacity to carry out hydrographic survey on its waters.

Inusa made the disclosure at the stakeholders meeting organised by NHS in collaboration with Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Ports Authority hydrographic department with the visiting United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

He said that the NHS was awaiting government’s support with

fore the arrival of the vessel.

Commenting on the matter, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, said that most firms commit fraud with ship manifest that are produced in Nigeria.

He explained that when the original ship manifest gets to the local representatives in Nigeria, they (Local representatives) doctor the document such that what is originally on the ship manifest is at variance with what is produced by the local shipping firm.

“At the end of the day, what is carried on the vessel is under declared and in the process, government is short changed” .he said Effort to speak with the Chairman of the Shipping Association of Nigeria, (SAN) Chief Val Usifo was abortive as he asked the reporter to call back on Monday morning.

Tokunbo impor t: Manufacturers embark on importation of new cars

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

F

OLLOWING the extension of implementation of government policy on importation of used vehicles into the country, car assembly plants have commenced massive importation of brand new cars in readiness for July, 2014 when it will come into effect.

A freight forwarder who spoke to Vanguard on the

condition of anonymity, explained that most of the assembly plants are working ahead of government to justifying their claim that they have what it takes to meet the need of Nigerians as regards new cars.

The freight forwarder who claimed to be the agent to one of such firms, name withheld, said that his client import of new vehicles has shot up twice what it used to be about six

months ago.

The Federal Government had last year jacked up duty on used vehicles imported into the country from 35 percent to 70 percent.

At the commencement of the implementation of the policy in February, agents and importers of used vehicles had protested, which resulted in the extension of the commencement date to July.

Recall that Chief

Nigerian can now carry out hydrographic survey — Inusa “I was really impressed

P

manded that both the Customs and the banks should strategise to ensure that ship manifest get to banks 48 hours be-

facilities to help it chart the nation’s waters since the society has developed the capacity to handle it.

Inusa said that the mariners had been able to navigate the waters using available data to update the existing charts.

“You remember that the Nigerian water was last charted almost 80 years ago.

“And it was not done with the modern electronic kind of equipment now used for hydrographic document and accurate data.

“We are, however, waiting for government to give us the facility to enable us chart our waters because we have come of age.

“The mariners keep

updating the chart that is available, using any data they can acquire.

“That is why the NPA has the Lagos Channel Management Company and the Bonny Channel Company. “Every three months, they chart the channel because the risky areas are the channels,” he said.Head of the UKHO, Rear Adm. Tom Karston, commended the efforts of the NHS for proper management of the channels to keep vibrant ports in Nigeria.

Karston said that he looked forward to having the kind of interactive engagements back in his country just as he had experienced in Nigeria.

by the Nigerian Hydrographic Society.

“It’s an excellent effort, putting together all of the constituent parts of the Nigerian maritime industry.

“I wish we would in a way do the same thing back home in the UK, putting together across government, across agencies, expertise, conversations and engagements to develop hydrographic practice,” he said. Karston said he was certain that very soon Nigeria would no longer need the assistance of United Kingdom for hydrographic analysis because of the rate of development by NHS.

Executive Officer of Nissan Motors, Carlos Ghosn, recently said that the first set of Made-inNigeria 4×4 SUVs will be rolled out by Nissan Motors in April this year.

Ghosn, who said the vehicles would be rolled out of the old Volkswagen Assembly plant in Lagos, noted it was possible to produce two to three million cars in Nigeria annually.

According to him, this will lead to creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the country.

The same claim was made by other vehicle manufacturing companies, which said they have the capacity to produce madein-Nigeria cars.

Reacting to the above, former Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, and member of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike, said that freight forwarders would head for the law court and the National Assembly to challenge the planned commencement of 70 percent increase on duties of imported vehicles.Nwabunike described the new policy as anti-people. He explained that claims by

government that the new law is intended to encourage local manufacturing of vehicles do not hold water as there is no real vehicle manufacturing company in the country presently. He pointed out that what is available in the country presently are vehicle assembling plants and in some cases, importers who pretend to be manufacturers. According to him, “I challenge anybody that will come here to tell me that he is a manufacturer of automobile in Nigeria. All we have here in Nigeria are assembling plants.

Assembling Semi-Knock Down, SKDs, products or Completely Knock Down, CKDs, of products is not total manufacturing of vehicles and cars. So I wonder why federal government will think of putting that 70 percent back. I agree with those who are actually agitating not to pay it and I stand by them by all means to see that it is not done.

Director General, National Automotive Council, NAC, Aminu Jalal, said, “Nigeria spent N550billion on importation of cars, buses and trucks, which does not include tractors and military vehicles. We also spent about N500 billion on spare parts and N150billion on tyres.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 25

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

D

ESPITE the allocation of over N237 billion for basic education between 2009 and 2013, recent data shows that only about three million more students were admitted into the nation’s primary schools. With the population growth witnessed over the past four years, it is no wonder Nigeria’s 10.5 million out-of- school children are still unaccounted for.

Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike at the Nigerian Economic Summit held recently, pinpointed the challenges facing basic education in Nigeria. At the summit tagged: Transforming education through partnerships for global competitiveness, Wike said that primary school enrolment had increased from 21,857, 011 in 2009 to 24,071,559 in 2013.

Unaccessed UBE funds The reasons for this, Wike said, include: “Huge amount of unaccessed UBE funds to the tune of about N44bn; large number of unqualified teachers in the system in many states despite the fact that about N19bn was spent on training about 825,035 teachers; nonresponse from states to their responsibility of recruiting and paying of facilitators’ allowances based on minimum standard of N7,500 per month as agreed for the Mass and Adult literacy Programmes; Lack of willingness by endusers to adopt the implementation procedure for the new school curriculum, low girl-child enrolment and boy-child drop-out, conflict between public policies in education at the federal level and implementation trends at state and local levels in the primary and secondary education sub-sector,” among others.

Secondary school enrolment has faced a far worse fate; while enrolment in 2009 was 3, 107, 287, the 2013 figure is

“Hands off Varsities,” Jonathan warns host communities Pg. 26 C M Y K

*Outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Prof. Bartho Okolo, Supervising Minister of Education, Barr.

Nyesom Wike, wife of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and Pro-Chancellor, UNN, Emmanuel Ukala during a post-humous award of honorary degree at the 43rd convocation and award presentation ceremony of the University held at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena, UNN.

Why Basic Education remains a challenge in Nigeria —Wike 4,219,679.

The acting education minister blamed this poor improvement on “inadequate facilities and infrastructure to cater for some of the newly introduced subjects which include trade/ entrepreneurship studies despite the fact that the new curriculum was approved by NCE since 2007 and implementation commenced in 2011, inadequate number of

Preparations heighten in Rivers to host UNESCO World Book Capital Pg. 30

qualified teachers as well as subject officers in examination bodies for the newly introduced trade/entrepreneurship subjects; Ineffective supervision and inspection of schools continue to hinder quality assurance, conflict between public policies in education at the federal level and implementation trends at state and local levels in senior secondary education sub-

SAED: Tara, Bayo inspire Corps members on industr industryy Pg. 28

sector.”

Concerning tertiary education, Wike argued that there remains a wide gap between the extant programmes of "tertiary institutions and the requirements in the world of work,” adding that “another challenge is the epileptic academic calendar in tertiary institutions occasioned by the industrial strike actions by staff unions.

Tertiary institutions Some tertiary institutions have not been able to fully access the funds allocated to them through TETFund due to their inability to meet the laid down conditionalities and that on its own part, TETFund does not have all the human

resources required to effectively monitor the projects being executed in the institutions.”

One time Minister of Education, Prof.

Oby Ezekwesili was also a speaker at the conference. In her presentation entitled: Education: Fo r what purpose?, she argued that the “tertiary educational model is ridden with what is technically known as the funnel syndrome." She said:‘We are assimilating and educating only a fraction of the critical mass of society - the youth – while neglecting a larger uneducated mass. In essence, we are producing less and less of the leaders of tomorrow: the managers, the entrepreneurial class, the teachers, the doctors, the policy makers, the law enforcement officers, the Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

we desire can only be created if we excel in the individual small units we look after as deans, directors or heads of department.

"In my position, I have been able to also notice that the philosophy and core values of the university system are under constant threat by the rot in the wider society. I am talking about those values and traditions on which our reputation was built. We, therefore, must protect these values with all our strength if we must retain our reputation and preserve our prestige. I am also concerned about the level and extent of ‘politicking’ on our campuses.

Personal ambitions

*Outgoing Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof Bartho Okolo, businesswoman Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, and Pro-Chancellor UNN , Emmanuel Ukala during an award of honorary degree to Mrs Alakija at the 43rd convocation and award of the university held at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena UNN.

Hands off varsities, Jonathan warns host communities ....As UNN churns out 44 first class graduates

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged university host communities to respect the sanctity and federal character of institutions located in their areas.

In his speech at the 43rd Convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria, held on Saturday, March 29, 2014, the President, represented by the Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, expressed happiness that peace had returned to the University of Nigeria after it was engulfed by protests following the removal of the institution’s erstwhile Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Emeka Enejere. Enejere, a UNN alumnus and former lecturer, hails from Nsukka.

He said: “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my address would not be complete if I do not make reference to the recent disturbing developments in this university. While I am pleased that peace and normalcy have returned to the university, let me seize this occasion to reiterate that federal institutions should not be seen as the property of the communities or states in which they are situated.”

President Jonathan said the Federal Government had kept

its promise of providing additional funding for development of facilities in universities through TETFund and other high impact interventions, but insisted that the Government alone cannot provide all the funds needed to cater for the development of the education sector.

Jonathan who lauded the Vice-Chancellor of UNN for funding the major projects of the institution through private individuals and internally generated revenue said, “with

,

BY DAYO ADESULU

to strengthening all tiers of the education sector by expanding access to education and upgrading the quality of teaching and personnel across all levels of education.

In his address, the ViceChancellor of the University, Professor Bartho Okolo, announced that the institution awarded a total of 7,989 degrees comprising both 1st degrees, higher degrees and diploma certificates at the 43rd convocation ceremony, adding that 44 graduands bagged 1st

I am truly optimistic that we are on course to realising our ambition to build the 21st Century institution we desire

a large complement of alumni, many of whom are well placed in all facets of our national life, a lot more can be achieved in terms of revenue mobilisation."

He added that inadequate funding was not the only problem of university education, adding that to run a 21st Century educational system, we also need to address the challenges of poor work ethics and prolonged industrial actions.

He noted that his administration was committed

,

class honours in their disciplines.

Okolo, who would leave office by June this year, chronicled the achievements of his administration, some of which include, forging collaborations with over 80 reputable universities across the world, development of infrastructure, making investments that will boost the revenue of the university, development of on-line transcript delivery system, among others.

He said: “On the strength of these recent developments, especially the recruitment of a new generation of academics, the rebuilding of infrastructure and administrative reforms introduced, I am truly optimistic that we are on course to realising our ambition to build the 21s1 Century institution we desire.

Tempo and direction “However, to achieve this objective, we must endeavour to sustain the tempo and direction of on-going developments at the university.

In spite of these developments, a lot more needs to be done, especially in the area of staff commitment and productivity.

“As Vice-Chancellor, I believe, therefore, that the faculty and staff of the university have what it takes to build the kind of university we all desire.

However, to achieve this we must see ourselves as patriotic citizens of the university and be willing to make commitments and sacrifices in the interest of the university. We must all place the interest of the university over and above all other considerations, including personal and parochial gains.

“This is because the university

"As a matter of fact, there is nothing wrong with nursing personal ambitions, so long as we mean to serve the community. However, a situation where we allow politics, political permutations, parochial tendencies and sheer grandstanding to interfere with our judgment on. very important matters is unhealthy for the development of higher education and the university system in particular.”

At the 43 rd UNN convocation, four distinguished Nigerians received honorary doctorate degree. They were Mrs Funsho Alakija, Mr Innocent Chukwuma, Mr Samuel Onyishi and a posthumous award to the late Chief Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Their degrees were being awarded ‘in recognition of their personal accomplishments.’

Why Basic Education remains a challenge in Nigeria —Wike Continues from page 25 professionals. By 2020, we may have a significant population of highly trained, skilled and motivated criminals.”

She therefore called upon the government to create jobs, eradicate poverty, increase access to education and grow the economy through innovation using its human capital.

Her words: “Industries need new ideas, creativity, innovation and people with skills, talent and entrepreneurship to produce goods and services sold for a profit in the market.

Partnerships between government monitoring and regulating the innovative institutions developing these skills and the employers, will create a powerful network for centres of excellence.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 —27

Infrastructure in varsity will boost learning — Commissioner

BY DAYO ADESULU

C

OMMISSIONER of Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has stated that the massive construction projects going on in Lagos State University (LASU) will not only change the architectural landscape of the institution but boost learning.

Speaking at the inspection tour of LASU projects, he said he will ensure that engineering students are carried along to construction sites to enhance knowledge transfer.

According to him, knowledge transfer is very imperative as students need to see how designs and quality constructions are done and to embrace best practices in the built profession. He said for the country to rise above the educational challenge and poor output of students, the era of training scientists and other

professional courses using theoretical approach must cease.

Asked if he was satisfied with the slow pace of work in the school, he said: “I am okay with the pace of work, that is the way it is programmed because learning is going on on the campus as well. As an engineering student in University of Ibadan, I didn’t

get to see concrete till my fourth year.

Here we involve students to take part in the construction.

Even during the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge construction, we brought 84 students to also take part. The knowledge transfer aspect is important to us, we cannot continue to be bringing Chinese contractors when our students can do same."

*From left: Mrs Olabisi Owolabi Salis and other graduands of Effective Gommunication during the 4th graduation ceremony of Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos

Preparations heighten in Rivers to host UNESCO World Book Capital

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

A

S preparations heighten in Rivers State for Port Harcourt to host the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014, Project Director, Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014, Mrs Koko Kalango has said the exercise would gulp over N400 million.

Fielding questions in Port Harcourt from newsmen, she said a special committee chaired by the Deputy governor of the state, Engr.

Tele Ikuru had initially estimated about N400 million for the exercise, adding that it had become clear that it would gulp more.

According to Mrs Kalango, it would be difficult to estimate a total cost for the programme because it is impossible to put figures to the services from some institutions partnering with the organiser.“ The committee set up initially thought N400 million will do.

We are no longer sure about this.

It was our initial estimate. It will be a bit tricky to know what the total cost will be because we are partnering with several institutions. How do we place material value on all? What about the press, how do we place value on what you are doing?”

Continuing, she explained

that Port Harcourt would be the World Book Capital from April 23, 2014 to April 22, 2015, adding that it will open the country and West Africa to unlimited opportunities in the world of literature and arts.

Mrs Kalango said renowned

literary scholars would be in the country for the opening ceremonies slated for April 21 to 23, adding that the arts, culture and reading tradition of the world would be showcased during the ceremony in Port Harcourt.

Chellarams donates learning materials to school

By DESTINY ESEAGA

A

s part of its 90 years anniversary activities, Chellarams Plc recently donated recreational facilities and other learning materials to a public primary school at Isolo.

The donation which took place at the Estate Primary School compound, was witnessed by pupils of the school, teachers, local school authority, officials of Chellarams Plc and gentlemen of the press.

Headmistress of the school thanked Chellarams Plc for choosing the Estate Primary School, Isolo, ahead of others for the project, adding that the

pupils will put the recreational facilities to good use and urged the company to consider adopting for facility support Commissioning the recreational facilities, the chief information officer of Chellarams Plc, Dr. Harbhajan Batth, restated the companies commitment towards fulfilling its mission statement of being responsible, responsive, competitive and quality driven production company, satisfying all stake holders; including educational institutions.

He said that since children are the leaders of tomorrow, there is need to lay a good foundation for them by supporting their educational development.

Schneider unveils 100 teams for ‘Go Green in the City’ global contest

S

chneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, has unveiled the 100 teams that qualified for the semi-finals of the Go Green in the City global student challenge. In the first year of Africa’s participation in the global competition, three teams emerged from Nigeria and 10 teams emerged from the continent. This year, over 12,000 students from over 462 universities participated in the challenge. One hundred teams from over 462 universities emerged from the competition group stages to participate in the semi-final phase of the competition. The competition for the top 100 was even fiercer this year, as the total applications almost doubled compared to the 2013 edition.

As in previous years, candidates will present a case study focusing on energy solutions for cities, with the support of a Schneider Electric mentor. Working in teams of two, with at least one woman in the team, students will devise

viable solutions for energy management sectors critical to cities, such as: home, university, retail, water and hospital. The 2014 edition of Go Green in the City opened the challenge to countries across the globe, increasing the accessibility of the programme to students, especially from Africa and Asia-Pacific. For this edition, 12,581 pre-registrations were received from students in 143 different countries.

“This increase in participants supports the statement that future engineers and leaders are more and more aware that the increased demand for energy will have to be balanced with social progress and environmental protection,” said Karen Ferguson, Executive Vice-President, Global Human Resources, Schneider Electric. “Schneider Electric is delighted to interact with these young talents coming from all over the world, to find solutions to meet the energy challenges of our cities.”, she added.

Learning with celebrities symposium holds today

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

G

eared towards encouraging students to stay in school and embrace excellence, the notion of education as a primary focus in the pursuit of their careers, West Genius Network is organising a symposium.

The symposium, Learning with Celebrities Conference 2014 (LWCC 2014), is directed at exposing students to the intricacies and socio-economic potentials of their environment.

Celebrity instructors like Joke Silva, ID Cabasa, Naeto C, Professor Pat Utomi, M.I, Obiwon, Byno,

Kore and Olakunle Soriyan, whom students consider as their mentors, would teach them rudiments of lasting positive legacies and the importance of doing well in their academics.

With objectives such as; bridging the gap between celebrities and protégés, connecting the classroom with the market place, reducing the number of drop outs, nation-building, encouraging scholars, and improving students' cognitive capacity, workability and employability, LWCC 2014 is targeted at secondary school, post-JAMB and undergraduate students.

Winners emerge at Our Generation Foundation Math contest

BY SIMON ADEWALE

T

he second edition of the ‘Mathematics is Simple’ competition organised by Our Generation Foundation without the use of calculator has proven this adage true, that says “ what a man can do, a woman can do better”.

The grand finale of the competition which was held recently at Able God International School, Owode Yewa, Ogun State was keenly competed by five female candidates from five different schools.

This bi-annual competition which is to inspire the love

for mathematics, to solve mathematics without the use of calculator and reward hardwork amongst the Junior Students (J.S 1J.S 3), all started on February 1, 2014 with 91 students from 11 schools in Owode environ.

After a keen contest amongst the five female candidates, Akapo Faith from Area Community Junior Secondary School came 1st with 36 points. The second position was taken

by Durojaiye Bukola from Royal Eagle Model College with 33 points.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3 , 2014

SAED: Tara, Bayo inspire Corps members on industry

By DAYO ADESULU

B

ayo Omoboriowo, the 2 0 1 2 National climate change photo contest winner and a graduate of Applied Chemistry at the Lagos State University who was top of his class while in school said he developed passion for photography after a four-day training he had during his National Youth Service Corps.

Inspiring the 2014 Batch A corps members at the Ipaja Orientation Camp, during Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), on the need for corps members to embrace skills acquisition during their service year, Omoboriowo said: “I got my first camera right after my graduation. I used my father’s money to buy it and I took it with me to the NYSC camp."

He disclosed that because corps members loved his photos, he made money taking photos while in the camp.

After his NYSC in 2010, Omoboriowo was nominated for various awards and won the two categories Lifestyle and Still life Nigerian

Professional Photography Awards 2012. Also, during the AAF Etisalat Amateur Photography contest, he emerged 2nd place. At the National climate change photo contest 2012, he emerged first position. He repeated the same feat in 2012 when he won the Future Awards Creative Artist of the Year.

He said, “Start something now, no matter how small. Be clear of what you want to do.

Be consistent in whatever thing you do.

Payment for creativity Do not give up on your dreams and concentrate on what you do.” Omoboriowo who charged them to be creative in whatever job they do, added that people will always pay you for your creativity. “Be courageous and continue to learn,” he said.

He told the corps members that he wanted to be a corporate guy with a white collar job wearing suits and feeling good with himself, not a photographer. He said, “ I

Mrs Tara Fela-Durotoye, Managing Director and Creative Director of House of Tara International, NYSC, Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi and Mr Bayo Omoboriowo during the SAED programme organised for 2014 batch A corps members held at Ipaja, Lagos. partook in exhibitions like Niger-Delta Fototales, Rivers State and Delta Fototales Photo Exhibition, both in 2010 during my youth service year and people loved my pictures. “That marked the major beginning of my professional photography and God has since being blessing me.”

Speaking in the same vein, Tara Fela-durotoye, owner of House of Tara International, a bridal makeup company that has employed over 100 young people across the country said, “I started the business with N15,000.” She noted that as a graduate of law 16 years ago, the idea of setting up a bridal make up business made no sense to her friends and

Frequently confused words EXERCISE 4 Instruction Choose the British English word/spelling in each of the following sentences: 1. The Company’s (checks/cheques) always bounce; so watch out!

2. What colour/color is your skin?

3. Travelers travellers) to foreign countries have to obtain visa.

4. Why are you (quarrelling/quarreling) with your friend?

5. There is little (paraffin/kerosene) in the lantern.

6. I go to work on (Monday through Friday/Monday to Friday).

7. Put the waste paper in a (trash can/ dustbin).

8. I am going on (holiday/vacation) in September.

9. He (signalled/signaled) that it was time to leave.

10. Where can I get good (programs/programmes) for my computer?

11. It looks (like/as if) your dad is back.

12. Please (stay/stay at) home.

CORRECTION 1. The Company’s (cheques) always bounce; so watch out!

2. What colour is your skin?

3. Travellers to foreign countries have to obtain visa.

4. Why are you quarrelling with your friend?

5. There is little paraffin in the lantern.

6. I go to work on Monday to Friday.

7. Put the waste paper in a dustbin.

8. I am going on holiday in September.

9. He signalled that it was time to leave.

10. Where can I get good programmes for my computer?

11. It looks as if your dad is back.

12. Please stay at home.

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parents who have invested heavily on her education. But today, Fela-Durotoye is the Managing Director and Creative Director of House of Tara International, a leading player in the make-up sector of Nigeria’s beauty industry.

The organisation has grown into a franchise enterprise with three main lines of business: The Make-up Studio, The Makeup School and the TARA product line comprising beauty products and professional make-up kits.

Tara who is widely considered as a veteran in the beauty industry told corps members at the NYSC camp, Ipaja that her make-up business started while she was an undergraduate in the

Faculty of Law, Lagos State University.

The trained and certified make-up artist of Charles Fox, Convent Garden, London said, “do not think of big capital to start a business.

Start small, think big, and grow fast. Whatever you have at hand is enough to start a business. Live below your means, learn as you go along.

I was once my accountant, sales person, cleaner etc, now I have been able to employ over 100 persons.”

She has franchises spread across Nigeria with branches in Lagos, Ibadan, PortHarcourt and Abuja with emerging footprint on West African coastal countries of Cotonou, Ghana and Senegal.

Winners emerge at Yojus painting contest

By DAYO ADESULU

W

inners of the Yojus painting competitions among private school pupils emerged at the weekend in Lagos. In a stiff contest amongst 85 private schools, Master Oledu Victor, Lolly-Kay Nur/ Pry School, Oshodi, Iruafemi Ohikena, Rona Kings and Omowunmi Praise from Queens School, Oke-Afa emerged first, second and third respectively.

Before the final three were selected, 10 finalists were picked from the 85 contestants who displayed their painting skills before parents, teachers and the panel of judges. At the end of the contest, the trio were adjudged best among their equal as Omowunmi scored 85 per cent, Iruafemi 88 per cent and Oledu 94 per cent. The competitions which held at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) event hall in Lagos attracted thousands of pupils and stakeholders.

The painting contest centred on: Stories of my Holiday that required contestants to draw and make paintings with colour pencils of the theme within one hour of the event.

In his opening remarks, one of the judges, Mr Timothy Olaniyan, who admonished parents to encourage their wards to take up arts said, “The pupils performed beyond primary school level.” According to him, when any child picks up interest in a particular subject, parents should encourage such child in that direction. The future is bright," he declared.

On her part, the Yojus Brand Manager, Mrs Foluke Makinde who said she was encouraged with the performances of the pupils said, the contest aims at encouraging creativity and thinking among children. She disclosed that Yojus painting competitions will help children unlock their creative art and create healthy competition among students and schools. “We believe that this contest will play a significant role in demonstrating the imagination and fun loving nature of children,” she said.

She, however, reiterated the company’s commitment to continue the programme every year until the aim and objectives on Nigerian pupils are fulfilled. The winners went home with exciting prizes and certificates of participation.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 —29

Technology transfer: FG, Huawei boost IT education with N315m

BY EMEKA AGINAM AS part of its technology transfer commitment in providing more training opportunities to Nigeria in 2014, the Vice- President of the leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, Huawei West Africa, Mr. Hover Gao has disclosed that the company in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, FMCT haS committed about N315 million in ICT training in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that Huawei

was the first ICT solutions provider to establish an ICT training center in Abuja back in 2004 and since then the training center has provided more than 5,000 opportunities to ICT practitioners.

Before now, Huawei on the 4th of November 2013 had announced a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, FMCT to provide 1,000 Nigerian girls with basic ICT training, which is part of the global campaign Tech Needs Girls developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Gao who stated this in a press conference at the weekend said that this global sensitization campaign has raged for over 20 years and has produced tangible results in many countries including Nigeria.

With this, he further disclosed that , Marco Obiso, the Cyber security Coordinator of International Telecom Union (ITU), in November, 2013 had visited Huawei Nigeria to evaluate this program and to share the experience with ITU members globally.

Accordingly, the investment on this program, he said form

Patrick Adie of Redeemers’ University receives certificate of participation from CEO, Babcock Centre for Executive Development, Professor Dayo Alao at the end of the tax workshop.

Huawei worth N215 Huawei HCDA certification , million Naira and according to him, will have the additional N100 priority-access to Huawei Human million from the resources pool to be employed by FMCT..

Huawei.

The training “All the participants will be program flagged off recommended by Huawei to Ministry of Huawei Channel partners such Communications as operators, ICT solutions Technology and providers and ICT departments Huawei, according in enterprises. An awards to Gao has already ceremony will be organized this provided 424 April as ITU has designated the t r a i n i n g 4th Thursday in April every year opportunities for the as a day set to celebrate and Nigerian girls during encourage girls to take up careers 9 sessions until now. in ICT” he added.

By the end of this To grow with Nigeria, the VP of program, he said hat Huawei West Africa said that the 200 top participants ICT company increased its out of the 1,000 girls investment in Nigeria year by will get further year. training for the “Huawei is the first ICT solutions attainment of a provider who invests millions of certification as dollars to establish its regional Huawei Certified network operation center in Datacom Associate Lagos which is said to have the (HCDA). capability of maintaining all the Top achievers with Huawei networks in Africa."

Fashola, Ighodalo, others counsel school kids to remain focused

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

W

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IFE of the Lagos State governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, has called on school children to remain focused on their education and abhor vices and laziness in order to achieve success. Mrs Fashola gave the advice at a fund-raising ceremony organised in Lagos by the Courage Education Foundation (CEF), an NGO established to ensure that brilliant but indigent children are given the opportunity to be educated.

Mrs Fashola, who was represented by Mrs Abisola Oshodi, said it is only by remaining focused, hard working, and avoiding vices that school children can achieve success in their academics and in life.“You must be hard-working and remain focused as that is the only path to success in school and in life.”

She commended the promoters of the CEF for their commitment towards ensuring education for all, as she reiterated the state government’s determination to see that no child of school age is denied basic education.

“We are proud to be associated with Courage Education Foundation for this laudable initiative. The Lagos State Government, through its various initiatives in the education sector, will continue to ensure that no child is denied the right to basic education, which is why I am proud to partner with CEF and any other organisation that is passionate about educating our children. The Foundation’s effort is worth emulating by all of us,” Mrs Fashola said.

In her speech, Project Director of CEF, Mrs Modupe Ajagunna, said the NGO desires to see that no child is denied the opportunity to be educated, irrespective of social background. According to her, CEF was founded by well-meaning individuals to cater for brilliant but indigent children.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

A tik u, Dantata, FFreeman reeman Atik tiku, sponsor scholarships

A

*Scrabble Championship: Chebem Obi of Chrisland College Idimu, winner in the master's category, receiving his plaque. Inset is Halle Rumm of Grange School playing in the Opens C category.

AUN career fair for alumni, an innovation Stories By EBELE ORAKPO

A

POPULAR adage says that giving a cup of water to the monkey is not the issue but getting your cup back.

This can be likened to the situation of graduates in Nigeria today. Graduating from the university, is no longer the issue but life after school. Thousands of young people graduate from the universities every year but only very few get meaningful jobs. One of the reasons adduced by employers for the high unemployment rate among graduates in Nigeria is that they are unemployable as they lack the requisite skills.

So to help solve this problem, the American University of Nigeria (AUN), apart from training the students to be problem solvers as Africa's future leaders, goes a step further by organising career fairs during which it brings together employers of labour, its alums and students.

Graduate degrees AUN which prides itself as a development university believes that a university should go beyond awarding its graduates degrees. It should also take pride in helping them to chart career paths, make choices, and prepare them for careers. This year's fair, the seventh in the series, featured about 39 multinational companies from the telecom, oil & gas, power, transport, health,and other sectors, including Airtel, ExxonMobil, PricewaterhouseCoopers, EgyptAir, British American Tobacco, Nadabo Energy, L5lab, Nigeria Bottling Company, Education USA, General Electric International, Richfield Technologies Ltd, Voice of Nigeria, Teasy Mobile, Sci-fie Ltd, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Stallion C M Y K

LHAJI Tajuddeen Danta ta and Mr. Jon Freeman, two Board members of the American University of Nigeria, in October last year, decided to honour one of their Board colleagues, Dr Enyantu Ifenne, by sponsoring two scholarships in her name for JAMB candidates entering AUN. According to a release made available to Vanguard Learning, the first scholarship goes to the female candidate with the best JAMB score in any given year, "while any candidate with the best JAMB score from any of the three geographical zones in the North, gets the other. Scholarship winners can enrol for any course of their choice offered at AUN." Also former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and AUN founder, announced two fresh scholarships in honour of deceased AUN Board member and former US National Security Adviser, Dr Robert Pastor, who passed away in January. The Robert Pastor scholarships will be awarded annually to deserving male and female JAMB candidates entering AUN. The scholarships, according to the release, "are a further demonstration of a fundamental commit-

ment to increasing access to education, especially for females, in the educationally disadvantaged North-East region. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to enrol at AUN because of the numerous scholarship opportunities available."

"I am honoured to support the scholarship for a female AUN student in Dr Ifenne's name to honour the work she has done with girls and women in Nigeria," said Mr. Freeman. Expressing joy over the development, Professor Margee Ensign, AUN president said: "This scholarship support from Board members Jon Freeman and Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata in honour of the work and accomplishments of Dr. Ifenne is extraordinary. We thank our Board members and will identify scholarship candidates with great potential.

"By providing yearly scholarships in her name, they have recognised Dr. Ifenne's vital work in heath, particularly with regard to HIV/AIDS. We are honoured that, like Dr. Ifenne, Trustee Freeman and Trustee Dantata have chosen to support deserving students at AUN in our commitment to building a better educated Nigeria."

Winners emerge at PGSL 3rd edition •Aptitude test in progress at the venue of the 7th AUN Career Fair

Group, Newage Network, etc.

In addition to participating in the fair, companies like Dangote Cement, McKinsey & Company (which tests AUN students and alums every year), Proctor & Gamble, NIPCO, KPMG, Deloitte, Intels (Nigeria) Ltd, and Leadership Newspaper took turns to administer aptitude and problem-solving tests to AUN students, alumni, and other prospects. Those who scale the hurdles at the end of the day will get places as employees or interns.

To prepare the students/alums for the fair proper, AUN's Career Services Office had held résumé writing workshops and mock interviews for participants, while scouting for and maintaining close liaison with interested companies. This year's event which took place at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre in Abuja, featured an alumni networking reception which brought together all participants to socialize in a more relaxed setting. This gathering, according to the organisers, was the brainchild of AUN Alumni Association led by Verse Shom, Class Speaker of the university's pioneer students and current Associate Director of Admissions. Speaking at the event, Coordinator of Career Services, Ms. Grace Nwokoma said: "It is

a platform for students and alums to connect with companies, business leaders, government agencies, captains of industry, and diplomatic missions throughout Nigeria, to explore internship and employment opportunities."

She noted that the annual fair is open to AUN alums and students from second to final year.

While some graduating seniors explore job opportunities, others seek internship openings in order to gain the experience required for future jobs.

"We believe that this event will better expose corporate representatives to the next generation of Nigeria's future stars and industry leaders. The AUN alumni body comprises highly talented, smart, and enterprising young individuals who are selfmotivated and goal-oriented," said Shom.

Before the Fair proper, the Career Services Office had held résumé writing workshops and mock interviews for participants, while scouting for and maintaining close liaison with interested companies. The choice of Abuja for this year's Fair is for the comfort of much of corporate Nigeria. In the past, AUN has held career fairs in Lagos, the nation's commercial capital, and Yola.

M

ORE THAN130 students/ pupils from 24 schools across Lagos gathered at the Grange School for the Protégé-Grange Scrabble League (PGSL)final on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

According to the organisers, this third edition, supported by Grange School, Ruff n Tumble, Friesland Campina, Meg Nwobia, Mayowa Adeyemo Memorial Foundation, Cuddly Schools, the Protégé Centre and endorsed by the Lagos State Scrabble Association, recorded the highest number of participants. The final featured the Masters, Intermediate, Opens A, Opens B and Opens C categories.

Medal and cash award The Masters category saw over 30 players from secondary schools in action. At the end of the contest, Chebem Obi of Chrisland College Idimu came tops and went home with a gold medal, plaque for the Mayowa Adeyemo Memorial Award with a cash prize.

Arinze Onwuachusi of Chrisland College Idimu came second and got a medal and cash prize while Gerard Ekagbai of Queensland Academy came 3rd and received a medal.

Chijioke Ehirim (Chrisland High School Ikeja), Alu Ene (Chrisland College Idimu), Karen Eboh and Olisa (both of Chrisland High School VGC) put up excellent performances and got encouragement awardfrom the or-

ganisers.

In the Intermediate category, over 50 students/pupils majorly from year 4-6, took part. Jomiloju Ijose of Chrisland School Opebi came 1st and got a Cuddly schools award for scrabble excellence and cash prize; Rukewe Omoburuno of Queensland Academy came 2nd and got a medal while Angela Osaigbovo of Grange School came 3rd and also received a medal.

Kuti Titunlola and Ijaola Serena from Chrisland School, Ladipo Oluwole each got an encouragement award at the Intermediate level.

In the Opens A category for pupils in year three, Cuddly Schools came first, followed by Imaginations School and Nikwhales School in the 2nd and 3rd positions.

In the Opens B categoryfor pupils in year two, 1st position went to Eleazar Ulinfun of Chrisland School Opebi. He got clothings from Ruff n Tumble; 2nd position went to Adelola Joshua of Chrisland School Opebi.

In Opens C category which featured pupils from year one, winners included pupils from Grange School.

"The entire results of the event were independently handled by coaches and officials of the Lagos State Scrabble Association including Coach Sanni Moshood (Year 2000 African Scrabble Champion) and coach Adigun," said the organisers,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 31

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32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

VC chides shabbily dressed freshmen, as LASU matriculates 1,119

BY IKENNA ASOMBA LAST Friday, will forever remain a memorable day for scores of new students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, who were chided by Prof.

John Obafunwa, the ViceChancellor of the university, for improper dressing to the matriculation ceremony of the 2013/2014 academic session.

The students numbering over 70, were initially barred from entering the university ’s new auditorium, venue of the matriculation which saw 1, 119 candidates matriculating of the 1,582 candidates offered provisional admission.

After the procession of

principal officers of the university into the auditorium, they were allowed in, but were asked to sit upstairs to separate them from students who were properly dressed.

In his opening remarks, Obafunwa, who asked the shabbily dressed freshers to stand for recognition said: “Before I begin with my address, if you all look up there, you will see some matriculants who didn’t dress well to today’s matriculation.

Some are not on their matriculation gown, some put on slippers, others put on chains, necklaces, which does not speak well of a university student. You can imagine you going for a job interview and you

•Cross section of matriculating students

dress shabbily, you would already know the results.

You would actually have disqualified yourself from the beginning. Separating them from their colleagues who dressed well to this occasion sends a lot of messages.

Most importantly, it shows that the university never tolerates any form of indecent dressing and behaviour among students.”

The students who showed remorse, were however, pardoned and asked to take their seats, after pleas from the Chairman of LASU Parents Forum, and principal officers of the university.

According to breakdown of matriculants, Faculty of Arts, matriculated 126 students; Faculty of Management Sciences, 193; Faculty of Social Sciences, 194; Faculty of Science, 196; Faculty of Education, 89; Faculty of Law, 120; School of Communication, 27; College of Medicine (Physiology inclusive), 104; Faculty of Engineering, 63 and School of Transport matriculated 7 students.

Madonna University alumni lends support to physically challenged BYCHINYEREABIAZIEM IN line with its commitment of affecting lives and giving back to the society, the Lagos state chapter of the Madonna University Alumni Association (MUAALAG) has reached out to the Vocational Training Centre for the Blind in Oshodi, Lagos, pledging to support its cause going forward.

Speaking during a charity visit to students of the school, the President of the association, Gerald Obakhume noted that the visit aligned with the motto of the association, which is to show the light.

In his words, “This will be our initiative taken towards the society as a humanitarian approach and our commitment to the society by assisting people of our society who are visually impaired. We believe in saving and serving mankind as an expres-

sion of love for God. By helping the needy, we desire to dedicate our small efforts towards repaying a fraction of what we are getting from the society, from our people.”

To this end, the association donated guide sticks, writing frames and stylus, Midget, Packs of Brail Paper, to further empower the students.

Commending the association for its support, the President of the Vocational Training Centre for the Blind, Sola Ogunsiji represented by the Librarian, Clement Obasoro said that the centre was established in 1956. He noted that thy have trained over 2000 blind men and women to acquire skills in Braille Writing and Reading, Typewriting, Handicrafts, Telephone Switchboard Operation, Computer Operation, Mobility Skills, Tie and Dye and various Crafts necessary for job placement in Industry or for self-employment.

Delta Poly matriculates 1,500 students

By GODWIN OGHRE

T

HE Delta State Polytechnic OtefeOghara has conducted her 2013/ 2014 academic batch matriculation of a total of 1,500 students, with a note of warning to the newly matriculated students, by the Rector of the Institution, Dr (Mrs) Clara Sogbaike, that only students who paid their tuition fees to date are the legally admitted students who would be allowed to write prescribed ex-

aminations in the Institution.

Dr Sogbaike, at the ceremony added that the Institution has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, adding that, “It is a serious misconduct that attracts severe penalty. For the record, 10 HND II Students were expelled from the 2011/2012 academic session by the Academic Board for engaging in examination malpractice.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 33

OAU to host EduNet 2014 conference

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

T

HE 4th Edition of Educa tion Network Conference -EduNet 2014 will be hosted by the ICT Centre of Obafemi Awolowo University and the Institute for Entrepreneurship Development Studies of Obafemi Awolowo University Nigeria in Partnership with Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Centre (StarTAU), Israel.

With the Theme: Fostering Technology Entrepreneurship in Nigerian Universities.

Slated for next month, the three day event will look at issues around building Technology Entrepreneurship Ecosystem within the Nigerian University Community with key examples from the Israel Technology and Innovation Ecosystem.

“We are happy to host this year’s EduNet Conference at the ICT Centre of the University, the idea of fostering Technology Entrepreneurship in Nigeria is key to economic development of the country. That is why our centre will be playing key roles in the conference”

Prof Adeshola Aderounmu, Director ICT centre of Obafemi Awolowo University.

Oren Simanian, Founder of Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Centre and his team from Israel will lead discussions on How Nigeria can create Technology Entrepreneurship Ecosystem with lessons from Israel (Start-up Nation).

“Our Entrepreneurship development centre in Tel Aviv University has contributed greatly to the development of the entrepreneurship and the Startup ecosystem in Tel Aviv,Israel and so we are happy to partner with Nigerian Institutions to help share ideas and develop the ecosystem in Nigeria bearing in mind the triangle of innovation around the world is held together by the cooperative endeavor of the Government, the academic community, and the Technology Industry.

We see EduNet 2014 as a great platform to start off such discussions” Oren Simanian, Founder Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Centre (StarTAU),Israel.

“This year, having seen the need for Nigerian universities to lead in the development of technology entrepreneurship in Nigeria, the 4th edition of EduNet conference now has a new task hence the focus this year is on building Technology Entrepreneurship/incubation

centres to foster entrepreneurship in Nigeria” Kenneth Omeruo, Coordinator EduNet 2014 “In other to start off discussions around the building of these tech centres in Nigerian Universities, EduNet 2014 (hosted by the ICT centre and the Institute for Entrepreneurship Development studies of the Obafemi Awolowo Univer-

sity, Ile-Ife)will provide the platform for discussions with the Government, ICT directors of Nigerian Universities, Regulatory authorities of the Nigerian Universities, Funding/ partnering organizations and the Technology industry in Nigeria in collaboration with Tel Aviv University Entrepreneurship Centre (StarTAU)Israel and the Israel Startup Network, Omeruo, said.

Graduate with 1 st class, be rewarded with 1st Masters, PhD scholarship — Utuama

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

T

HE Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, has charged students across tertiary institutions in the state to work very hard in their various institutions in order to ensure that they graduate in flying colours.

While speaking during the 6th Inauguration Ceremony and Annual Lecture of the newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Joint Campus Committee, JCC, Delta State Axis, in Asaba, Utuama urged the

students to graduate with first class honours so as to benefit from the state government’s reward of automatic scholarship to undertake a Master's and PhD degrees in any university in the world.

Prof. Utuama, who gave this charge also advised the new students union leaders in the state to use unionism to enhance the individual and collective educational advancement of their members; create a peaceful environment and always open the window of dialogue in order to resolve challenging issues.

He said: “I want to charge you

all, that in carrying out your activities, you must conduct your affairs with decorum that is befitting of being students, you are the pride of our youths, therefore you must carry yourselves with dignity, with grace in order to show that you are students of Delta State origin.”

According to him, the difference education makes in the life of the people cannot be quantified. He therefore urged the students to pursue every effort that will make them excel in their educational career.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Trustfund Pensions sets up mobile offices T

rRUSTFUND Pen sion Plc, as part of its efforts to make information available to customers realtime and solve challenges associated with pension scheme, has established a mobile office.

Chairman of Trustfund Board of Directors, Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme, who launched the buses in Abuja, said the aim was to ensure that Trustfund customers went through minimum difficulties in assessing their accounts influenced the decision to establish the mobile offices.

Accordeing to her, “We are going into mobile operations because we appreciate the desirability of our customers to have their enquiries attended to promptly. So, instead of our customers to start looking for where our offices are, they can just stroll to any of our mobile office buses where they can access their Retirement Saving Account (RSA) real-time. The pension administration landscape is growing hence the increased competition that we have witnessed over the last few years and to-

wards that end, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have to be innovative on how to satisfy their customers. This also shows that we care about our customers and want them to reap full benefits of the scheme upon retirement. If contributors are able to sort out every grey area while they are still working, it is most unlikely they will have any serious issues with their account when they retire.”

Speaking, a Director in the company, Richard Uche, paid glowing tributes to Mrs. Olejeme and the

Managing Director of Trustfund, Mrs. Helen Da-Souza for their cutting-edge ideas they brought to the company as a leading PFA in the country.

Growth from strength to strength “Since establishment about seven years ago, Trustfund has grown from strength to strength due to the untiring efforts of the chairman and Managing director. These buses are mobile offices that will offer

various products that Trustfund has and to ensure our customers reach us easily.

We don’t want to sit in the office and expect our customers to come to us, but rather we have chosen to go to our customers because they are the reason we are in business,” he stated.

The Independent Director of the PFA, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, who lauded the scheme, opined that the initiative would help retain Trustfund as the leading PFA in the country. Executive Director, Corporate Services, Musa Nasir, said the

focus of Trustfund since 2010 had been to reach out to customers with a view to satisfying them and resolving any issues they may have.

He added: “We then discovered that the best way of doing this efficiently is to reach them wherever they are. We also found that it is not ideal for our customers to go to our office any time they have issues they want resolved. There are four sets of staff that include marketer, customer relationship officer, benefit officer and a Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) officer who is there to resolve every issue that has to do with the old NSITF scheme.”

According to him, the mobile offices were equipped to handle every issue relating to the new scheme with competent officers manning them.

Musa explained that the mobile office was still at pilot stage, saying “there are two buses in Abuja while there is one in Lagos.”

Trustfund plans to extend the services to Port Harcourt, Benin, Kano, Ibadan and Kaduna while extending the coverage in Lagos.

Dabo heads military pension board

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

F

OLLOWING recent re organizations in the armed forces occasioned by the appointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs, the Federal Government has appointed a new Chairman for the Military Pensions Board, MPB. He is Air Commodore Muhammad Rabiu Dabo.

Until his appointment, Commodore Dabo was the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigerian Air force headquarters.

The new chairman attended the National Defence College, Abuja and has a Masters degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.

He had his Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria. Among other appointments he has held at various times, are Command Paymaster, Tactical Air Command, Markudi, Staff Officer 1 Finance, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Commander Pay and Accounting Group, Ikeja, Deputy Director, Logistics, Defence Intelligence Agency and Director of Budget at NAF headquarters, Abuja.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—35

BITS Bits

Hucapan/ Labour ministry hold workshop

H

Oshiomhole turns 62 tomorrow

E

DO State Governor, Com rade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole will be 62 tomorrow.

Born on April 4, 1952 in Iyamoh, Edo North local government area, Adams Oshiomhole who is also the immediate past president of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) is the first trade unionist to occupy an executive position. Oshiomhole had the greater part of his career in the trade union movement where he rose from a shop floor secretary in the trade union to become the general secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers ( NUTGWU).

Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure in the NLC saw him leading series of protests against removal of oil subsidy, strikes against low wages, accountablity protest agains the National Assembly etc. In 1999, he led a protest of workers to Aso rock; the seat of the Presidency.

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Mr. Neye Enemigin

Outsourcing must conform with global best practices —HUCAPAN President LABOUR Vanguard met the president of Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, HuCaPan, Mr. Neye Enemigin who spoke on a number of contemporary labour issues, including outsourcing and its effect on the economy. Are workers being fairly treated? What role does HuCaPan play? The role of the Ministry of Labour &Productivity were also discussed during the interview. Details in this edition of Labour Vanguard:

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

H

OW relevant is outsourcing in Nige ria?

Out sourcing is the in-thing all over the world and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

We live in a global village. What we need is global best practice.

Basically, what is outsourcing?

Its an organization trying to give out a noncore area of its business to another organization that has core competence in that area so that the main organization can focus on areas where it has core competence to allow this other organization that has core competence in that area to manage the business. That’s what it is. I think that outsourcing is adding value especially in the case of Nigeria where we have rampant casualisation.

Rampant casualisation So what companies are doing now is that instead of engaging in casualization which is inhuman, which to me is also illegal, they outsource these people that used to be casual employees.

What does this mean?

It means that these people now have some benefits; I mean the employees recruited. Their salaries are better, they have conditions of employment, they get every other thing that the regular employees get — pension, health facilities etc. It means that they have structured employment and then they have decent work.

How do we tackle quacks in the business of outsourcing?

There are lots of quacks. It ought to be the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of La-

Enabling environment

This enabling environment is in terms of bour & Productivity. They are the regula- infrastructure, electricity, good roads etc. It tors of the business. I can tell you that also includes what kind of tariff you pay. under the law, Sections 23, 24, 25 and 71 When you are overburdened with tariff, penof the Labour Act, Laws of the Federal Re- sion, employees compensation, industrial public of Nigeria 2004, the Federal Minis- training fund contributions…. They are so try of Labour is supposed to issue out li- many. Of course , the reason why anybody censes to companies who want to engage goes into business is to break even and in the recruitment of employees, what they make profit. If you are doing business and call Private Employment Agencies. This the business is not paying itself, then you law is in line with ILO Convention on Pri- have a problem. vate Employment Agencies. So, these comEmployers will prefer to have a win-win panies are supposed to be licensed to look situation and not a win-lose where governafter employees in the industries. ment is just taking all the money and they What does this mean?

It means that if you are not What companies are doing licensed to do this business now is that instead of engaging in then you are a quack. If you casualization which is inhuman, are licensed, you must obthey outsource these people that used serve the laws, the regulations. The law is specific on to be casual employees what you must do for the employees. People who are doing the busi- don’t have electricity, roads. So, if the enness who are not licensed, the quacks, are vironment is right, they would contribute just doing what they like. It is the respon- more to unemployment than they are doing sibility of the Ministry of Labour to fish now. They are contributing but they can do out these people and sanction them be- more.

For example, manufacturing, agriculture, cause what they are doing is illegal. What mining are supposed to be the main stay of they are doing is against best practices.

What they are doing is not in the interest the economy. It is not service but what we of the Nigerian workforce. So, they are sup- find in Nigeria is that it is the service industry that is making money. The banks, posed to be sanctioned.

Would you say that Decent Jobs have telecommunications, insurance, these are been generated in the economy through supposed to support the productive sector; the main sector which is manufacturing, out-sourcing?

Definitely yes. For instance if you are agriculture , mining but we don’t see growth doing outsourcing, before you obtain a li- in these areas but we see growth in bankcense from the Ministry of Labour, you are ing, in telecommunications all these are serexpected to show that you will allow em- vices. Apart from oil and gas being the ployees to belong to unions, if they so de- mainstay of the economy. The real sector sire which is freedom of association in line is suffering and the service sector is growwith the Trade Union Act as amended, i. ing and this is due to government policies.

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UMAN Capital Provid ers Association of Nigeria, HuCaPan and the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, are between yesterday and today holding a joint workshop at NECA House in Lagos. The workshop will bring together the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), NECA, ILO, all private employment agencies and other stakeholders in this industry.

It is expected to be a platform for interaction between regulators and operators .

HuCaPan President, Mr. N. Enemigin said, "We will address issues of quackery, and study emerging trends in this industry. We would see if the issuance of operators license has been helpful, the condition of work for Nigerian employees has this really ensured that we have Decent Jobs , has it stopped casualization? So many companies are still employing casuals. They have not keyed into it . What is it that the government can do to stop casualization and unfair labour practices, these are issues that we intend to consider".

He added that the workshop, "will help to deepen the ministry’s efforts in dealing with unfair labour practices."

e. Trade Union Amendment Act 2005, which gives the worker the right to belong to a union if he so desires. It is in line with ILO Convention 87, it is in line with the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

Two, you must have an insurance bond. It is one of the requirements, so that if something happens and you are not able to pay, the insurance will take that responsibility to pay on your behalf.

You must have evidence that the workers are insured in line with the Pension Act 2004.

So, you must have insurance coverage for them.

Three, you must register them with Pension Fund Administrators to ensure they are pensionable, and you must show the evidence that they are registered. Four, you must also show evidence that they have health coverage. All these are to promote Decent Work because the casual employees in most of the companies don’t get these benefits so, if you are dealing with a registered agency, the outsourcing agency must make sure that these are agreed upon before the contract is signed.

You once mentioned that the private sector is being over burdened with charges, levies, etc. In view of this, do you think the private sector is making any significant contribution to the economic growth of this country by creating job opportunities for instance?

Of course the private sector is contributing in terms of job creation given the political and economic environment because government is supposed to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to continue to do business.

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36—

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Unending Rivers' CJ appointment crisis *Justice Peter Agumagu and Governor Amaechi

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HE Rivers state judiciary has been enmeshed in crisis within the last one year. Just when most people in the state thought the problem had come to an end with the appointment of Justice Peter Nwoke Chukwuma Agumagu as Chief Judge of the state judiciary by governor Chibuike Amaechi, last week another chapter of the crisis opened this time with the suspension of Justice Agumagu by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The NJC also issued him a query to explain why he should not be sanctioned.

It would be recalled that governor Amaechi appointed Justice Agumagu same day he secured a court judgement that gave him the right to do so. This was after some pro Amaechi lawmakers had held a sitting in Government House, Port Harcourt on the day the judgement was delivered by the court to screen and confirm Justice Agumagu as Chief Judge of the state.

Earlier, the NJC had recommended Justice Daisy Okocha to the governor for appointment, as Chief Judge, arguing that she was the most senior High court judge in the state, an act the governor challenged in court.

In his ruling on the matter, Justice Lambo Akanbi of a Federal High court; Port Harcourt had dismissed the recommendations of Justice Okocha by the National Judicial Commission for appointment as Chief Judge of the state Declaring the action of the NJC as wrong, null and void Justice Akanbi said there was no way the governor could be compelled to yield to the recommendations of the NJC on the appointment of a substantive CJ for the state because he is not a rubber stamp.

He said ” The letter of the national Judicial Commission of July 2, 2013, and received on July 30, by Governor Chibuike Amaechi that only the most senior judge must be appointed contrary to the recommendation

*Rivers Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree of the Judicial Service Commission is wrongful, null and void. That the letter recommending Justice Daisy Okocha in preference to Agumagu, saying that Agumagu is not the most senior judge of the High Court is wrongful, null and void”.

Greatest respect ”The criteria used by the National Judicial Commission to disqualify Justice Agumagu are wrongful, null and void.

With greatest respect to the national Judicial Commission, who is my employer, I cannot allow the argument of the defence counsel, that the Governor must accept the recommendation of the NJC. The body that is most suitable to make recommendation of a nominee of a chief judge of the state is the state Judicial Service Commission, because they have local knowledge of the most suitable candidate than the National Judicial Commission”.

Justice Akanbi who made reference to Osun state noted that there was no way the case in Rivers state would be different, adding that the reason given by the NJC for recommending Justice Okocha was not cogent enough. ”What the constitution recommends is 10 years of legal practice and we are in a dynamic world. And, so, the issue of

NJC V RIVERS: The Legality of Agumagu's Suspension P/38 C M Y K

most senior judge can no longer be the only criteria of appointing someone to such an important and exalted position”.

Rivers state government in a statement issued on the suspension of Justice Agumagu expressed worries with the action of the National Judicial Council.

While urging the NJC to respect the constitution of the country the.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari said the NJC was carrying on as an interested party in the issue, adding that Justice. Agumagu was the most senior judge in the state. ”The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement by the spokesperson of the National Judicial Council purporting to suspend the Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice P.N.C Agumagu by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

If this is true, then clearly, the NJC

,

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

The criteria used by the National Judicial Commission to disqualify Justice Agumagu are wrongful, null and void.

With greatest respect to the national Judicial Commission, who is my employer, I cannot allow the argument of the defence counsel, that the Governor must accept the recommendation of the NJC

,

The Oscar Pistorius Trial (2) P/39

appears not to have taken into consideration the judgment delivered by Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High court, Port Harcourt in which it is a party.

The state government finds this position of the NJC rather curious especially as Justice Agumagu is the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary and a very respected judicial officer.

The Rivers state government had gone to the courts to seek interpretation of Section 271 (3-5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as regards the appointment of a chief judge of the state. That section of the constitution clearly states that “A person shall not be qualified to hold office of a Judge of a High Court of a State unless he is qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years.”

However to enable it act within the confines of the law the Rivers State Government sought the court’s interpretation. The learned Justice Akanbi is delivering his judgment faulted the deliberate omission of Justice Agumagu’s name amongst the list of senior judges qualified to be Chief judge of Rivers State.

Justice P.N.C Agumagu is the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary and was seconded to establish the customary court of appeal in 2008.

The Rivers State government is well aware that there is no constitutional provision compelling the Governor to appoint a chief judge based on his or her seniority or even the arm of the judiciary to which such a person belongs. What the constitution requires is a minimum of

Continues on page 37

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

*Justice Peter Agumagu

*OCJ Okocha (SAN)

Unending River's CJ appointment crisis 10 years post- call qualification. This is evidenced even by the appointment of the immediate past Chief Judge of the State, Justice Iche Ndu, who was appointed chief judge over his senior at the bench. At the time of justice Ndu’s appointment, the Justice Sotonye Denton-West was the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary, yet the NJC did not compel the governor at the time to announce her as Chief Judge.

The refusal of the NJC to abide by the recommendations of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission on the appointment of the State Chief Judge and its insistence on a particular candidate is a cause of worry for the Rivers State Government.

Such insistence may appear to mark the NJC out as clearly partisan, self-interested and self serving, in a case in which it is a partyThe NJC has shown such overweaning personal interest in this matter, thereby raising serious and fundamental questions as to how justifiable is it to for NJC to interpose itself in a case in which it clearly has more than a passing interest.

It is a well known principle of administrative law that a party cannot be a judge in its own cause.

When Honorable Justice Akanbi of the Federal high Court struck down the decision of the NJC to preclude Justice Agumagu from consideration for the position of the Chief Judge, the Rivers State Government fully expected the NJC, as a law abiding institution, to choose the

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Continues from page 36

What I can say is that Justice Agumagu was suspended to enable the NJC investigate the events that led to his appointment as the chief judge of Rivers State

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path of civility and appeal if it was dissatisfied with the decision. Rather than do so, the NJC has chosen the path of unconstitutional bullying, lawlessness and injudicious racketeering. It is a dark day for our country when the most senior Justices and lawyers in our country resort to high-handed self help instead of judicial redress.

The Rivers State Government finds that the decision of the NJC to suspend Justice Agumagu despite a decision of the federal high court on the issue of who should be Chief Judge of Rivers State suggests a highhandedness and intolerance that is unacceptable for a body charged with the responsibility of protecting the integrity of the judiciary.

The attitude of the body has laid credence to the fears of the Rivers State Government that the body has been influenced by one of its members, O.C.J Okocha( SAN) who has filial ties with the

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*Wargu Boms Rivers' AG NJC’s preferred candidate, Justice Daisy Okocha. The impression is that the NJC in using its old boys and influence networks and could not be bothered about the propriety or constitutionality of usurping the role of the Governor of Rivers state in the appointment of a chief judge for the state or respecting the niceties of separation of powers. The NJC seeks to unleash an assault on the fundamental value of separation of powers in our constitutional system.

The Rivers State Government wishes to reiterate its respect and admiration for the judiciary but will respectfully remind the NJC that it is a statutory body, not a Court. Accordingly, we would request the NJC not to allow itself to become a tool in the hands of advocates of nepotism and sectional interest.

Interest of justice The Rivers state government will urge the NJC to respect the ruling of the Federal High court and indeed the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which it has a responsibility to uphold in the interest of justice, fair play and fair mindedness. By the way, it has acted, the NJC seeks to put itself above the law. We would respectfully remind the NJC that is not above the law. The path of legality for the NJC is to seek redress in the courts.”.

On his part, the 19th president of the Nigeria Bar Association,Chief Onuwze Chukwujuka Okocha said the Agumagu was being investigated by the NJC to know if he breached his oath of office as

Judge by accepting to be sworn in as Chief Judge of the state without the recommendations of the NJC and to also determine if Justice Agumagu breached the code of professional ethics for judicial officers with his acceptance to be sworn in as Chief Judge. ”What I can say is that Justice Agumagu was suspended to enable the NJC investigate the events that led to his appointment as the chief judge of Rivers State. The NJC could have opted to suspend Justice Agumagu to enable it to properly examine the events that culminated into his swearing-in as the chief judge of Rivers State”.

Material facts ”I believe the NJC in its wisdom feels that it is better to investigate Justice Agumagu while he is suspended to enable the body have access to all the material facts that are involved in the matter that led to his suspension.”

He further dismissed allegations that he influenced the decision of the NJC ”In their discretion other members of the NJC present at that meeting allowed me to go out of the meeting. I am not privileged to the deliberations that took place after I left. I read of the NJC’s recommendation like every other person.” ”It is clear that I have a personal interest in the matter because of our filial relationship. With that in my mind, how then can I sit among other members of the NJC to deliberate on a matter where my personal interest becomes an issue?”

“How can a small Okocha here in the city of Port Harcourt influence members of the NJC? The NJC that has the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN as the chairman; eminent serving and retired justices of the Supreme Court; five state chief judges and some of the best legal minds in the country”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government, yesterday, insisted that Justice Agumagu remained the Chief Judge of the state.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Worgu Boms, who spoke on the issue at Government House, Port Harcourt, insisted that Justice Agumagu was the most senior judge in the state, adding that the constitutional provision for appointment as a Chief Judge was 10 years of practice as a judge.

38 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

NJC V RIVERS: The Legality Of A gumagu’s Suspension Agumagu’s

Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice ALOOMA MUKHTAR

BY AHURAKA ISAH

F

OLLOWING the swearing in of Justice Peter Agumagu as a substantive chief judge of Rivers state

by Governor Rotimi Amaechi on March 18, 2014, the National Judicial Council (NJC) had on March 25, 2014 placed him on suspension.

NJC said that Agumagu’s action amounts to gross misconduct on the grounds that the swearing in contradicted section 271 of the 1999 constitution which insisted that the appointment of a substantive chief judge of any state mandatorily requires the recommendation of the council.

As a judicial officer vested with onerous responsibility to interpret the constitution of the country, Agumagu is in the position to know that he cannot be sworn in as Rivers state chief judge in the absence of NJC’s recommendation.

Besides, the council viewed Agumagu’s action as capable of setting judicial anarchy in the system or in the national judiciary if it failed to act promptly and decisively to arrest the situation.

Substantive chief judge The question is, can Governor Amaechi suo motu or solely appoint a chief judge under any condition without the recommendation of the council? While swearing in Agumagu, Amaechi praised a Federal High Court sitting in Porthacourt for declaring that the nomination of Agumagu for substantive chief judge’s appointment was in order when he stated that, “Today, we recognise and accept in totality, the judgment of the Federal High Court and we say to you, congratulations——” Taking the same question the other way round, can the court declaration become a substitute for NJC’s recommendation?

According to an Abuja base legal practitioner, Alasa Ismail, the judge ought to know that the council’s input, call it a recommendation or whatever can’t be traded for anything. If it is not available, no judge worth his or her salt ought to agree to be sworn in by any state governor. ”What a reasonable man ought to do after the court’s pronouncement and the subsequent resolution of the State House of Assembly rejecting the council’s recommendation is to advice the state governor and even insist to re-present him or her to the council. Doing otherwise amounts to violation of the provision of the constitution and a gross

misconduct of the highest order, especially coming from a judicial officer placed on the position to interpret and protect the same constitution”, Alasa said.

Coming to the main thrust of this discourse, is NJC right by placing Agumagu on suspension before issuing him a query to defend his action?

This brings us to the functions of a state chief judge which is primarily the administration of justice in the state. The chief judge of a state is in the position to post judges to courts, assign cases to judges including him, in other words, he presides over some matters too.

But it is trite law that ‘’you can’t place something on nothing”.

According to NJC, the appointment of Agumagu as chief judge runs contrary to the provisions of section 271 of the 1999 constitution which stipulates that a state governor must appoint a Chief Judge “on the recommendations of the NJC”. The swearing in of Agumagu by Governor Amaechi is a faith accopli.

Since any action that offends the provisions of the constitution is a nullity, so the bye-products of the same action.

Agumagu's appointment If Agumagu’s appointment as chief judge without the council’s recommendation is a nullity, whatever he does on the seat including cases he assign to other judges, posting of judges to courts and the judgements he deliver while on that seat are null and void.

NJC which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and constituted by other justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, some chief judges of high courts, retired judges and some senior members of the bar should be capable of estimating the collateral damage Agumagu’s swearing shall vest on the judiciary.

According to an Irish statesman and a former member of the House of Commons of Great Britain, Edmund Burke had warned that ”the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.

The council cannot fold its arm irresponsibly and watch anarchy to begin to seep into the judiciary, all in the name of so-called political expediency. Invariably, Agumagu’s suspension was meant to arrest or prevent judicial anarchy.

The Public Civil Service Rules (2008 Edition) as contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.57 of August 25, 2009, vol.96 (Government Notice N0.278) states at Rules No. 030406, ‘’suspension shall apply where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/her duties pending investigation into the misconduct” Continues on page 39

Anambra CJ host DInner

Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter N.C. Umeadi (left), Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano and wife Vicky Ebelechukwu Obiano.

Justice Samuel Okoye, President, Customary Court of Appeal (middle), his wife Angela (left) and wife of the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Mrs. Umeadi.

Irene Ndigwe (left), Ngozi Oyeka and Chinyere Osy-Okoye, all Deputy Chief Registrars of the Anambra State judiciary.

Peter Afube, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Anambra State with Mrs. Angela Okoye.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

The Oscar Pistorius Trial (2) I

N the last instalment we promised that an attempt will be made to point out the similarities between the proceedings in Oscar’s trial and what would have been, ‘had he been arraigned in a Nigerian Court’. An arraignment, according to Black’s Law Dictionary, is ‘the initial step in a criminal prosecution whereby the defendant is brought before the court to hear the charges and to enter a plea’.

It is the plea of the accused that vests the court with the jurisdiction to hear the case. In the instant case, the accused person applied for Bail soon after his arrest by the Police and despite the serious nature of the offence with which he is charged, he was released on bail by the court.

Bail, according to the Black’s Dictionary, is the process by which a person is released from custody either on the undertaking of a surety or on his or her own recognizance.

The Dictionary recognizes that bail may also signify the release of a prisoner on security for a future appearance; especially the delivery of a person in custody to a surety. It ought to be remembered that the accused is in the instant case standing trial for murder and his bail application attracted very massive interest in the media.

Exceptional circumstances In Nigeria, a court would not ordinarily release a person charged with murder on bail except upon the applicant convincing the court that exceptional circumstances exist which make it compelling to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in favour of such an applicant.

Unlike in South Africa where a conviction for murder may land the convict in jail for life, such a convict would be sentenced to death in Nigeria.

It is the severity of the offence of murder that makes it rather difficult to release such offenders on bail.

Perhaps, a high profile offender in recent times who was held in custody all through his trial is Al Mustapha who was charged with the murder of the late Kudirat Abiola, late wife of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.

Al Mustapha was arraigned before a Judge sitting in the High Court of Lagos State in 1999 and after a trial lasting over a decade, was convicted. However, the conviction of the accused was recently quashed by the Court of Appeal and his sentence was set aside and thus his freedom was restored.

A situation in which a person charged with a heinous offence is kept in custody for over a decade is not close to a favourable advertisement for our criminal process nor does it speak well of the system of administration of criminal justice. In contrast, Oscar Pistrious, after his release on bail, knew exactly when his trial would commence and was afforded the opportunity to prepare for his defence. It is to the credit of his traducers that the case for the

prosecution was made very quickly and rather efficiently and the ball is now in his court. How he approaches his defence is entirely within the purview of his learned counsel.

Perhaps, the thread that runs through South African as well as Nigerian law was noted by the Court of Appeal in Al-Mustapha v. State [2013] 17 NWLR (pt.1383) 350 which hled that it is the duty of the prosecution to prove its case, and not for the defence. The degree of proof, the court also noted, is that beyond reasonable doubt and nothing else.

Perhaps, there must be ordinary people who do not understand the hackneyed expression ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. The Court of Appeal in the above case explains it in a simple way. It is to the effect that ‘beyond reasonable doubt is the standard used to determine whether an accused person is guilty and it stems out of the compelling presumption of innocence inherent in our adversary system of criminal justice.

To displace this presumption; the evidence of the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt, not beyond the shadow of any doubt, that the accused is guilty of the offence charged.

Absolute certainty is impossible in any

human adventure, including the administration of criminal justice. Proof beyond reasonable doubt means just what it says. It does not admit of plausible and fanciful possibilities but it admits of a high degree of probability’. The court also emphasized that ‘reasonable doubt is the doubt that prevents one from being firmly convinced of a defendant’s guilt or the belief that there is a real possibility that the defendant is not guilty. It is not a mere possible doubt, because everything relating to human affairs, and depending on moral evidence, is open to some possible or imaginary doubt. It is that state of the case, which after the entire comparison and consideration of all the evidence, leaves the mind of the court in that condition that it cannot say it feels an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the truth of the charge’.

In the context of Oscar Pistrious’ trial, it needs to be recalled that virtually every fact placed in evidence by the Prosecution has been challenged by the defence through very potent crossexamination. For instance, the Prosecution introduced in evidence excerpts from text messages exchanged between the accused and the deceased.

While the Prosecution created the impression of tension between the couple, the defence elicited under dexterous cross-examination, snippets of evidence that showed a fairly warm and loving relationship between them.

Also in contention is the question whether Oscar Pistorius shot through the bathroom door, believing in the malevolence of an intruder or whether he released four gun shots in quick succession on his defenceless girlfriend, with no other intention than to kill her. We have seen from the evidence before the court that Oscar Pistorius did not shot the deceased and then fled from the scene. He admits that he shoot her and once this reality dawned on him, he alerted security and took steps to resuscitate her. She died in his arms. Was this an elaborate hoax or a mistake? Oscar Pistorius will somehow help to unravel this when his defence unfolds from the 7th April, 2014.

NJC V RIVERS: The Legality Of Agumagu’s Suspension Continues from page 38

The council however relied even on the provisions of the constitution to suspend Agumagu when it stated in its press release dated March 26, 2014 signed by the acting director of NJC that, “In the meantime, Council in exercise of its powers under paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, has suspended Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from office as a judicial officer with immediate effect,” The same council and the presidency relied on the extant laws while suspending former Court of Appeal president, Justice Ayo Isa Salami on August 18, 2010 from office for allegedly for a breach of his oath of office or ethical misconduct. NJC fell back on the same laws to suspend Justice Abubakar Talba

on April 26, 2013 following the findings by the council that he did not exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously with regard to the sentences he passed on Mr John Yakubu Yusuf who was on trial for embezzling N30 billion police pension.

Even when President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on February 19, 2014, he relied on the same extant laws by saying that Mallam Sanusi should hand over to Alade who will serve as Acting Governor until the conclusion of on-going investigations into breaches of enabling laws, due process and mandate of the CBN. In 2010, the main stakeholders in the judiciary held that NJC was wrong for recommending Salami’s suspension to

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Ogun govt resolves OkunOwa land dispute

BY PEACE ONYEUKWU

O

gun State government has resolved the lingering land crisis between indigenes of Okunowa Community in Odogbolu Local Government area of the State and a farmer, Mr Ajibola Adebutu.

Adebutu, Managing Director of JB Farms Limited, was said to have acquired over 600 hectares of land from the community for oil palm plantation and had taken possession.

But trouble started when some families of land owners in the community accused the company of forceful entry and malicious damage of their farmlands among others.

This was contained in a petition the aggrieved families wrote to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

However, Adebutu, in his reaction to the allegations, said that all lands he acquired for oil palm plantation from the first phase in 2011/2012 and also the second phase in 2013 till date were legal and had representatives of family signatories in the agreement.

He explained that his fear for communal crisis over purchasing illegal lands led him to consult the Owa of Okun~Owa, Oba G.A Abiodun, who directed the formation of a five man Panel to ensure his company buys from certified families, noting that he was ready to tow the line of peace and dialogue with both the concerned citizens of Okun-owa and the other affected families.

While reaching consensus at resolving the land dispute, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo cautioned both parties to maintain peace, as he directed JB Farms Limited to reach out to all the concerned families to renegotiate the cost of purchasing the lands from all the affected families and ensure that only the accredited family representatives were signatories to the agreement.

The meeting had in attendance, Okun-Owa representative, Mr. Olawale Shittu, Adebutu and Odogbolu Local Government among other stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of the Odogbolu indigenes, Mr. Oluseyi Olukoga, said their petition was mainly for the general interest of all sons and daughters of Okun-owa ,to prevent the community from becoming landless, adding that “peaceful resolution had further reinforced support for socio-economic development of the community.”

the President for his approval, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. Therefore the council was right when it suspended Talba without seeking the President’s approval.

Today, the same stakeholders argued that NJC was wrong for suspending Agumagu without recourse to Amaechi’s approval.

What was good for Talba should be good for Agumagu, so the ageless African wisdom dictates.

•Ahuraka is the Media Aide to CJN

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

How Nigerian citizens are maltreated in China (2)

The orator’s last bow (2) (for Columbus Chukwujindu Ihekaibeya, 1942—2004)

T

HAT short but poignant mo ment was so symbolic of student life in our university days when the cultivation of the mind was the prime passion and the pursuit of knowledge trumped the search for material frivolities.

We at the University of Ibadan strode around the campus, heads high, the way our counterparts did at Oxford or Cambridge or Harvard or The Sorbonne .

Our university in every aspect made sure that there was no exaggeration in that comparison; that our faith was no fantasy, our valour no vanity. Ibadan University’s reputation ensured a global currency of its degrees. Firstrate universities all over the world threw open their gates to its graduates.

Intellectual aristocrat This was the atmosphere in which Chuks thrived. It was the only atmosphere in which he could have thrived. An intellectual aristocrat of an urbane and liberal temper, Chuks had no tolerance for mediocrity. A lover of robust, edifying argumentation, he was constantly in the company of those who traded in ideas.

A colourful, expansive man of letters, he was never shy in his dramatic exhibition of knowledge, and in his habit of frequently running his ideas by those whose responses he genuinely respected.

With this demonstrative knowlegeability and oratorical bravura, Chuks quickly earned the nick-

NIYI OSUNDARE name ‘Professor’ in friendly circles, a jocular designation which garnered substantive credibility upon his delivery, in 1970, of a powerful citation on Professor Adeoye Lambo, then Vice chancellor of UI, after that famous psychiatrist’s winning of the Haile Selassie Award.

It was a solo effort, astonishing in its initiation, masterful in its delivery, and overwhelming in its lasting effect. An overflowing Trenchard Hall watched and cheered as Chuks enacted the

,

Map of China The first part of this discourse was published in Vanguard edition of Wednesday

BY ONAOLAPO DELON

F

EELING deserted and abandoned by the Nigerian embassy in Beijing, the Nigerian community resorted to the only way they know violence and outright confrontation with the city police which most times turns into massive fight and riots. These raids and riots (codenamed “niria mafan” which translates as Nigerian crises) are so common that there were about three in a month. The police close down their businesses, arrest them from the roads, in the malls, pubs and hotels.

This is bad for our great country’s image. So they are all in detention not having a glimmer of hope when they will go home. I contacted the Nigerian Embassy (26 hours by train) and they made me to understand that the figure is far more than 1508 but they are constrained financially and limited diplomatically and they cannot bring all these to the attention of We are a great nation reMr. President because of their of- gardless of our domestic ficial status and the bureaucratic challenges and we must route it has to go put it not only in words but through (I underalso in action stand because I was a university teacher). I do that comes to the syndicates not know any of these detain- that include very powerful ees (I can come back and mind people in the Guangdong my business) but no right government and this did thinking Nigerian (Let alone not go down well with the a responsible lender) will see service chiefs who are adthese injustice and keep mute. dicted gamblers (in macau It will take the weight of our Island) used to exortic President's office to get these lifestyles.....so the police people back and correct the will do everything to get rid anomaly as they are dying si- of Nigerians”... .he said”.

We are a great nation relently and needlessly. Out of gardless of our domestic the need to help I visited one challenges and we must of the detention camps with the “assistance” of a good La- put it not only in words but ban (Laban is the Chinese also in action. Am not making a case for our citizens word for a Factory owner).

It is the least place you will involved in crimes abroad expect citizen from another but for those who overstay sovereign nation, cited in what their visa period. I beg Your look like a hacienda, 45 min- Fatherly conscience to reutes fast drive from civiliza- spond to them because it tion, deep inside a farm ranch can happen to anyone. No with treelawns. The facility is official of our embassy can a three storey building from tell Your Excellency this but the outside but when I went it is an open secrete and it in, I realize it has six floors may need some unofficial below the earth. I could not handling because the help but weep for my coun- camps are shrouded in setrymen. The detainees I met crecy so I have to take a at first thought I was from the sheet(secretely) that has the Nigerian embassy and they name. To be concluded

,

BY NIYI OSUNDARE

most memorable performance in throughout my time in his university career. His fame Leeds. It was impossispread on the university campus, ble to keep Chuks’ comand he quickly won a place on pany and remain intelUI’s team to the next edition of lectually inactive. the inter-university debate beLet me summon two tween UI and the University of brief anecdotes to the Ghana, Legon. Chuks graduataid of this assertion. Early one ed as one of the best students in morning in February 1974, I was the 1972 set, and the next field of still trying to clear my eyes of the action shifted to the University of debris of slumber when a gentle Leeds, one of England’s top inknock unsilenced my door. It was stitutions.

Chuks on an urgent literary visit As fate - or good fortune - would to me in my little room in Hey have it, Chuks and I arrived in House, Bodington Hall, some Leeds one day of each other in one-and-half miles from where he September 1973, he on a Comresided. ‘What are you doing here monwealth scholarship, and I on so early, OgaOrator?’, I asked, an one provided by the University of expectant smile on my lips. ‘See, Ibadan. It was at this fascinating just see’, Chuks responded as he citadel of learning that our relabreezed through the door, holdtionship became closer and our ing a book in his hand. ‘Have you appreciation of each other reseen this? Have you read this? ceived a tremendous boost. On Ah, this is more than fantastic!’, our first day on the Leeds Unihe enthused as he brought out versity campus, Chuks and I sur(again, from his coat pocket!) a veyed the An intellectual aristocrat of an buildings in their majes- urbane and liberal temper, Chuks tic serenity, tracing the had no tolerance for mediocrity footprints of Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa thumb-bruised, copiously bookThion’go, Ime Ikiddeh, and oth- marked copy of Wole Soyinka’s er notable African forerunners The Man Died he had read all and authors of what is now called night and just couldn’t wait for the ‘Africa-Leeds Connection’, the daybreak to share with me. and we swore to avail ourselves For the next two hours, we flipped to the fullest of the generous fa- from page to page, mesmerized cilities provided by our new uni- by Soyinka’s riveting account of versity. We both realized that al- the Nigerian civil war, his role in though Leeds was new, it sprang this tragic event, and his travails no notable surprise in its physi- in the solitary confinement unit cal structure, curricular content of General Gowon’s prison.

The second episode occurred on and general academic culture, for our undergraduate education at March 12, 1974, (alas, exactly 40 UI had equipped us with the ca- years ago today!). Again, it was pacity for excelling at any other Chuks on a visit to me at Bodingfirst-rate university in the world. ton Hall; only this time, he was not alone. Again, that gentle knock on the door, and behind it First rate was Chucks with some five or six university other colleagues in tow.

As I opened the door, a chorus Yes, even on that first day, Chuks and I did it ‘the Ibadan of ‘Happy Birthday!’ surprised way’. As we regaled each other my ears. It was they who actually with tales of our Lagos-London reminded me, for I hardly ever flight (the first flight experience remember my birthday!

My new Akai stereo set went to for both of us), Chuks dug his hand into his coat pocket and work, and for the next two hours, whipped out a poem he had writ- we gyrated to the compelling ten about the flight. I complement- rhythms of reggae and highlife. ed his effort with one that I too Half-way through the jollification, had composed while on board. Chuks cleared his throat and said, Neither of us was surprised at this ‘Ladies and gentlemen, a gift for Niyi’. The loudspeakers went sicoincidence.

Chuks’ lines were purple and lent; the dancing crowd became poignant (as usual); mine were expectant.

Whereupon the Orator brought full of visual images and orikitenout (again, from his coat pocket!) ored tropes. Each of us had something to say about the prophetic a neatly folded yellow piece of hubris of Icarus, though we were paper from which he read ‘Crimgrateful we did not return to earth son Moments’, a poem he had in a hail of ashes. Some self-con- composed for my birthday and gratulation and mutual back-slap- typed up on his new small typeping rewarded our readings, as writer. (A few weeks before, did quite a bit of close interpreta- Chuks had celebrated the purtion and Leavis-esque criticism. chase of that typewriter, an OlThis creative and intellectual ivetti, if my memory serves me exchange characterized and right, as his initiation into the esstrengthened our friendship teemed kingdom of writing).

To be concluded

,

The first part of this tribute was published in Vanguard edition of Wednesday

chorused “praise the Lord”! some where inside the building, I heard crowd singing “Paul and Silas”.

No inscription on the building and none of them have their names written at the Camp, they are called “Hei kue” (Chinese word for black Satan) and given tag numbers. No communication, no money, no rights, no visitors, no-nothing.

They have to take off all their clothes (including panties in a - 2°c weather).

When detainees fall sick or die, they are not given the dignity of using a stretcher bed to carry them, the house keeper simply use a farm cart used in carrying animal feeds.

The detainees begged that I inform the Nigerian Authority and Dr. Ifeanyi Uba as he has been there to help several times in the past. This was around 1.a.m. The loban explain that “...this was just one of the several camps where Nigerians that overstayed are kept........that the police chief will want the world to believe that Nigerians are majorly Criminals......to him Nigerians are not but most of our citizens are infringing on a very profiting racket between the police and the Chinese buying/cargo agents who see the Africa market as an easy place to amass wealth that runs into hundreds of millions of dollars but Nigerians came and setup mega agenting firms thereby stopping the kick-backs

,

V anguard AY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 41 Vanguard anguard,, THURSD THURSDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 ARIES; Partnership related issues are becoming more important and if you try to sweep anything under carpet now, it’ll back-fire sooner than expected. Take your love life more seriously than before.

TAURUS; Hard work will not go unrewarded if not today very soon. Important development coming through your working arena soonest will place you at advantage position. The more practical you are the better.

GEMINI; Love, romance and sentimental things can not be ignored completely today unless you want your concentration to waver .Be more enterprising in the business world Anyway success indicated for you today..

CANCER; Happenings within your base of operation (both at home and at work) must be taken more seriously now, more especially as there’ll be competition LEO; Both your mood and element of luck may not be as friendly as you’ll like.. Matters of the heart may top priority lists of some of you. But mind you your mood will change tomorrow.

By Richard Eromosele

T

HIS simply means placing ourselves at a position of advantage where no enemy can get at us. For example, a good goal keeper must learn

Good positioning — 1 to position himself well at the goal post in order not to let in avoidable goals. A good soldier must know how to position

TERROR MUDA

with the soldier, so it is with every human being.

Where are you now? Are you in the right place and at the right time?...

himself appropriately in order not to become easy prey for the enemy. As it is with the goal keeper, so it is with you and I. As it is Think about it!

in “Never say goodbye”

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO; If financial success is your priority you’ll need to redouble your efforts today and tomorrow. Be protective of your possessions and personal family.

LIBRA; The Moon gives you the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the admiration of other people. You can make it a romantic day. Experiment with your personal ideas.

SCORPIO; Here is your day when element of luck will work favourably for you. Secret lovers are in for an exciting and memorable day. Keep your secrets please.

SAGITTARIUS; If you wait till tomorrow before you make an important move ,you may be disappointed , because tomorrow’s influence will bring you more challenges than you can rightly anticipate now. But greater success indicated for you today.

CAPRICORN; Very soon there’ll be important development along your career line. But today will offer you best of opportunity and good luck to achieve your desired results. Be more ambitious now

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS; Here is a loving day for those of you willing to give priority attention to matters of the heart. Planning for both immediate and far future’ll not be out of place.

And it’s good to think money.

PISCES: This is the wrong time to gamble either with your physical cash or your source of income. Take nobody for granted. Take love more seriously.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my best colour?

Dear Joshua, I want your in-depth analysis and tell me about my social life, luck and the time I am likely to have my much desired break-through in life. Which day of the week was I born. And importantly what is my best colour?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Anonymous Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, You were born on a Saturday. What you will find here-under will answer your questions.

YOUR SOCIAL LIFE Social life will always bring you attention good luck envy opposition and possibly fame. Aquarius and Leo are two most active social Star signs. And you will notice that your natal Venus in Taurus, Moon in Aquarius and Uranus in Leo formed T-Square aspects putting Venus as point-focus, meaning that the best way for you not to be constant loser in the social world is to always study situation practically and know that your finance will not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from the setting before taking responsibility.

As for influential friends you will have them but never always take them for granted.

YOUR LUCK Yes you can be a self made man but it is indicated that there will be times when both human and divine assistance will lift you up. You will have more to gain by your being spiritual .Saturday born people are favoured by BLACK and golden colours.

THE FUTURE TRENDS Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your 42th year on earth and will serve as a break-through year you can build great foundation of endless success on. But the same 42th year will bring love related challenges you must manage with all maturity or else it will linger till after your 44th year on earth.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

2015: Delta North can

achieve power shift — Elumelu NDUDI Elumelu, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Health, in this interview, spoke on why he wants to be governor of Delta State in 2015 and calls for power to shift to Delta North Senatorial District should be seen as a collective agenda by other senatorial zones. Excerpts:

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

O

N why he wants to govern Delta State in

2015 I want to run because I have passion for my people, I believe they deserve the best and I think I can represent them. One can look at what I have been doing in the House of Representatives.

Going by the opinion of my constituents I have represented them well for two terms now.

It was based on my good representation in my first term that informed their voting me again for a second term. If we leave the issue of passion for the people, you look at those things that you can do if given the opportunity to be there.

I know there is a system in place at the moment which is, of course, the existing government; I intend to continue from where the government will be stopping; to ensure that whatever project or drive that commenced from the existing government will be continued by our own government.

Party manifesto I will channel whatever I will do based on the manifesto of the party, by ensuring that we bring to bear those things that are enshrined in the party's manifesto in administering the state.

On agitation for power shift to Delta North and whether is formal agreement on that I don’t want to talk about the issue of agreement but to talk about understanding.

Understanding is natural and moral that if two senatorial zones have had an opportunity, it is also good to understand that the last one that has not yet had the opportunity should morally be considered, provided that it is not tribal; that it is for the unity of the state and that the intent is not based on bias.

Morally, such scenario should be allowed to play and I support it. What we want is to have peace and continuous unity when the existing government expires and a new one takes over. We want to continue building on the

existing structure that the present government is putting in place and the only way we can do that is to have understanding among the three senatorial zones Central, South and North senatorial zones. None can do it alone; they need one another to ensure that they have a unity government.

On the basis of understanding and morality, I agree that what is good for the goose should also be good for the gander. The senatorial zone that has never been represented should be given an opportunity but bearing in mind that it must be a collective drive.

On what he wants to do that the current administration has not been able to do There are two issues that are playing out and they are being tackled by the present government; one is revenue based on oil and revenue based on non-oil resources. What you

Orubebe:

should be asking is how the next government will ensure that loopholes, if any, that are existing are tightened up so that we can maximise revenue generation either from the oil or non oil resources.

My dynamic governor, of course, set the pace by declaring that we should look at Delta beyond oil. If he said that, what it means is that any non oil area that can generate revenue to the state should be harnessed.

Of course, our team will ensure we follow from where ever he will stop.

If at last we contest and eventually emerge, we will strengthen our IGR that is non oil based as well as fully capture oil-based revenue and channel them into infrastructure that will make life meaningful to the people where they do not exist and where they exist and yet to be completed ensure they are completed. In effect, there shouldn’t be any abandoned project.

On the avalanche of aspirants in Delta North

Before his next political calling

BY MARY OYIBOCHAAGBAJO

S

•Elumelu: Power shift to Delta North is a collective agenda

There is always a saying, ‘the more the merrier ’. The Constitution allows everybody that meets the requirement to contest and you cannot stop anybody.

The fundamental human right makes provision for everybody to air his/her mind. So, if anyone is aspiring and hopes to govern his state, I don’t see anything wrong but it is left for the electorate to decide who will best serve them.

From the senatorial district that I come from, I’m aware that there is a system that is being put in place to look at all the aspirants' antecedents, ask them questions and be able to come up with a sizeable number that can represent their interest.

In essence, whichever way it goes, the people will round round the person that is chosen.

I’m aware that such arrangement is in place and I have submitted myself to such process. Let me clearly say that ruling the state or having an ambition shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair.

If at the end of the primaries and I do not emerge, I will then support whoever emerges.

What is important is to move the state forward. It is not about selfish interest, ethnic issue or self empowerment. It is about the unity, peace and progress of the state; about the peace loving Deltans given an opportunity to select through voting, a credible governor that can effectively run the state.

TILL basking in the euphoria of diverse, positive, overwhelming and inspirational comments that are still being poured on him even after his exit from being a member of the Federal Executive Council and a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Niger-Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe has declared his continuous commitment to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.

The former minister stated this at Glory Sanctuary Christian Centre (GSCC) during its March All - Night service held inside the church auditorium. Elder Godsday Orubebe while recounting his story and testimony regaled the congregation of how God opened doors of both assignments and breakthrough for him. Orubebe said these while officially declaring the service open which according to the church is aimed at ushering in innumerable moments of praises for all his

accomplishments as a minister as well as dedicate his next political venture in Delta State to God. According to Orubebe, “in 1987, God called me to go to my community to serve my people as a councillor of Ogbogbagbene Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State. When I came home, they said I came late but I said to them, the ‘Owner’ has come despite several doubts expressed by even my relatives as they did not believe in me at that time.

Glaring victory In 1989, when I contested for the chairmanship position of my local government, I had no money. With 10 wards and two rich contestants; one of whom had so much money and works with Shell, I won five wards while they both shared the rest with victories in one and four wards respectively. Despite this glaring victory and because they didn’t want me to emerge as chairman, a re-run was conducted and I won again; this with a landslide

victory. This, if I may say, was the turning point as well as the launch pad of my selfless service to my people and my country”.

Elder Godsday also said that his testimony is a confirmation of his Christian faith and strength in demonstrating he was able to accomplish his task to impact on his people and his country especially during his tenure as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the mercy and grace of God. Speaking further, Orubebe recalled that in 1998, God told him that he will one day supervise the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and whilst there, a Niger Deltan will become President of Nigeria. This is a confirmation of the age long verdict that no matter how long or short it takes, none of God’s word will ever go unfulfilled; that He is able and just to fulfill His word at the appointed time.

With his effort in supporting the peace building process as Minister of Niger Delta, Orubebe ensured that the people of the region live in peace and harmony which, prior to his

•Orubebe assumption of office was prone to insecurity, violence, crime, youth restiveness and unrest.

He further narrated how God directed him to declare to the Gate of Abuja whilst in Abuja that he will one day become a minister in Nigeria; a promise God fulfilled even in the midst of contending impossibilities.

“On my way to Abuja, God said to me speak to the gate that you shall be Minister so I asked my driver to park the car and I came out and spoke to the gate and said ‘O ye gate of Abuja, be thou lifted, O ye Yar’Adua, you must make Orubebe Minister.’

* Oyibocha-Agbajo wrote from Warri.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—43

Be wary of opposition, Fayemi warns

BY DAPO AKINREFON

W

ITH the temporary ban on election campaigns lifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ahead of the June governorship elections in Ekiti State, the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Michael Opeyemi Bamidele on Wednesday March 26, flagged-off his campaigns.

The L abour Party campaign train birthed at Oye and Ikole Ekiti Local government areas where the the reception was grandiose and the crowd tumultuous.

The campaign train, which started last week at Ido/Osi local government area saw lovers of the Labour Party come to witness the delivery of the popular Change Speech by Bamidele, a one time ally of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

At Oye and Ikole-Ekiti, MOB, as he is fondly called, promised Ekiti people that mechanized farming will be a focal point of hs administration.

Bamidele said the initiative will empower farmers to tap into larger markets and in turn increase their income.

Issues concerning youths, who are the future of the state, Bamidele promised, will be priority in his administration, if given the

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

T

•Labour Party governorship candidate, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele addressing supporters at Oye and Ikole-Ekiti.

Bamidele preaches peace opportunity to govern the state.

While he took a swipe at the Fayemi administration for failing to conduct local government elections, he pledged to conduct such “within the first six months of

his assumption of office as Governor so that genuine development can get to the grassroots.”

On the need for the people of Ekiti to eschew violence, Bamidele said it was imperative as “ we march on

with the gubernatorial campaigns because I do not encourage violence and blood letting. in his words, Ekiti people are one and in togetherness and unity, we shall move the state forward and restore her lost glory.”

Oni’s group reviews devt in PDP

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

T

HE former governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni is in a fix over the present political logjam in the state and the emergence of Mr Ayo Fayose as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Both Oni and Fayose are not in the same political family within the PDP. Oni has his own strong loyalists popularly referred to as Irewolede Group.

Oni was said to have met with some prominent members of Irewolede Group at his IfakiEkiti country home recently where the group reviewed the political activities in the state At the meeting, which was said to have been attended by Chief Mrs Biodun Olujimi, Chief Bisi Kolawole and Dipo Anisulowo, they were said to be categorical that they would not decamp to the All Progressive Congress, APC. One of the leaders at the meeting was quoted as saying

that “we were very categorical during the meeting. We told our leader that we are not going to join APC, we will remain and win for our party.”

The leader said “the PDP leaders who met at Oni’s house in Ifaki resolved to stay in the PDP. We are not going anywhere and we are going to work for the party and those saying we are joining the APC are only hoping against hope.”

heading a committee to reconcile those who felt aggrieved with the outcome of the PDP primary, the party is

Backdrop of insinuations The meeting came against the backdrop of insinuations that some leaders of the PDP were planning to dump the party following the emergence of Fayose as the party’s candidate for the June 21 election.

But one of the aspirants Prince Dayo Adeyeye has agreed to work with Fayose, while Anisulowo has been tipped to head the PDP campaign team for the election.

While Senator Ayo Arise is

•Oni

making every effort to settle all differences among party leaders and approach the election as a united front.

HE Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organization has cautioned the people of Ekiti State to be wary of the antics of opposition in the state, saying the opposition is out to deceive the general public.

Speaking on a live political programme on an Akure-based private radio station, ADABA 88.9 FM monitored in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, spokesman of the Campaign Organization, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, said “the opposition is confused by the superlative performance of the Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.”

According to Daniels, the opposition party’s claim that certain categories of workers will be sacked if Fayemi wins reelection is untrue, baseless and unfounded, revealing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has been employing more workers rather than sacking them.

Social security stipends Daniels explained that “the opposition is overwhelmed by the numerous achievements recorded by Fayemi and they are peddling lies but I want to tell you that the people are not buying into their lies.

“How can a government that is daily employing people be sacking workers who have contributed to the success of that government? The governor has achieved so much that the opposition has nothing to campaign against him and that is why they are resorting to lies and falsehood. On daily basis and what the people are saying is that the governor has performed well.”

He, however reeled out some of the achievements of the Fayemi administration to include quality healthcare delivery, social security stipends for the aged people, job creation, youth and women empowerment, tourism development, good road network, infrastructure development and revival of moribund industries.

•Fayemi

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Boko Haram: N'Delta youths lambast Ciroma

Delta guber: Okocha tasks PDP members

...Urge Jonathan to extend emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno

TOMMY ANADUAKA

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

A

B

HEAD of the 2015 governorship election in Delta State, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Peter Okocha, has enjoined the members of the party to be proactive and remain committed to the party.

Chief Okocha in Ibusa, during his on-going consultation visits to stakeholders and party members, said his visit was to intimate them of his intention to contest the 2015 governorship race in the state and to reassure of his continued loyalty and commitment to PDP, adding that he remains a PDP man today, tomorrow and forever.

Okocha, who was accompanied on the visits by some of his associates, said he was at the residence of the local government chairman of the party, Chief Chiejina Okafor to consult with him and other PDP executive and members.

ENIN CITY— VOLUNTEER for Good Governance, VGG, a Niger Delta youth group, yesterday, faulted the call by Northern elders led by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, against alleged attempt by the Federal Government to extend emergency rule in Adamawa and Borno states.

VGG, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Chief Denis Otuaro, argued that both members of the Boko Haram sect and the majority of the people being killed in the North are youths, and called on the Federal Government to disregard the position of the elders and extend the emergency rule.

It said “these elders cannot speak for Nigerian youths anymore. The people that are being killed and the Boko Haram members are youths, so they cannot speak for us. These elders that are speaking today were at the helm of affairs in the last 50 years and they refused to give us development, education rather they gave us religious politics, ethnic politics and poverty, which

Ndoki communities allege marginalisation by NDDC

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— PEOPLE of Ndoki communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, have accused the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC of marginalising them in the empowerment and development programmes of the commission.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, under the aegis of United Ndoki Youth, president of the group, Mr Johnson Precious, said the commission had continued to ignore them despite

their cry for attention.

“We are appealing to NDDC to carry Ndoki communities of Rivers State along in the ongoing clearing of water hyacinth contract. NDDC has for long marginalised and neglected Ndoki communities in the areas of employment, empowerment and human capital development programmes.”

The group added that it had made efforts to meet with the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the commission to discuss the issues with him, but he had not responded to their letter for appointment.

is tearing the country apart today.

“That is what they gave us all these years. Today, the people that are being killed or Boko Haram members are Nigerian youths and not elders, so we are calling on the Federal Government to restrategise and extend the state of

emergency in these states. The state of emergency should be extended because Nigerian youths are being killed.

“With this, we are even suspicious about the role of the elders in the carnage in the North.

We cannot abandon a part of this

Group asks FG to probe deaths of Boko is that other detainees Haram detainees in DSS cell statement who posed no danger to the DSS

BY INNOCENT ANABA

A

civil society group, Access to Justice, AJ, yesterday, called on the Federal Government, to constitute an impartial and independent inquiry into the killings that took place at the Department of State Security, DSS headquarters on March 30, 2014.

AJ’s Executive Director, Mr Joseph Chu’maOtteh in a statement, said “The Nigerian government is under a constitutional and international responsibility to thoroughly and impartially investigate the deaths of any persons who die in custody. No 34 of The United Nations Body of Principles for the Protection All Personsunder Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment supports this position.

“This inquiry must be free from external influence or control, and undertaken by people of unquestionable integrity. We urge that the result of the inquiry be made public and any person found to have killed without clear, reasonable and lawful justification be brought to account and to justice.”

On what transpired on March 30, AJ said “The official account states that a detainee struck an operative, who had brought breakfast, with his handcuff. The report did not say whether the handcuff had been locked around the detainee’s wrist or was open.

The official statement did not say

the extent to which the actions of the detainee threatened the life or safety of the operative, and whether the detainee succeeded in dispossessing the operative of his weapon, if s/he carried one.

“The statement said that shots were fired at the detainee, but did not say what the other detainees did to deserve being killed. Some media reports quote Ms. Marilyn Ogar as saying that “… the attempt by the detainee to escape made other DSS operatives on guard to fire shots to prevent others from escaping from the facility.

“A literal interpretation of this

or its operatives, or, who, in fact made no attempts to escape from detention were fired at to prevent them from even contemplating the possibility of fleeing. There is no clear justification provided by the DSS or the Nigerian State for the killing of such a multitude of vulnerable persons.

“Many questions arise: Where were the suspects when they were fired at? Outside of their enclosures or within? Within the precincts of the DSS facility or outside? How were they fired at?

To incapacitate them from escaping or annihilate them?

Then, who fired at them?''

90% of 2014 Bayelsa Batch A Corps members to serve in rural schools

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—ABOUT ninety per cent of the 2014 Batch A’ corps member deployed to Bayelsa State, will be posted to schools in rural communities of the state for their primary assignment.

Governor Seriake Dickson, at the end of the three-week orientation course for the corp members at the NYSC orientation camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state, said same was a in line with the Federal Government’s directive on the new posting policy for

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

country and turn it to Afghanistan, no section of this country will be turned to Pakistan.

The Nigerian military, the National Assembly and the Presidency must make sure that they put in place better strategies that will end this war,” it stated.

corps members.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Salo Adikumo, the governor said that the initiative will assist the state government in its determination to revamp the educational sector with the collaboration of all stakeholders.

He described the service year as crucial to the personal development of the corps members and the country at large, and urged them to bring to bear the experiences they had gathered in the course of the orientation course to positively impact on their host communities.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

Should delegates be paid N4m each for Confab?

Why should we pay such amount to some privileged few? It is more than the gratuity of a Grade level 17 officer, who had put in 35 years in the civil service. Someone will earn that in three months for just jaw jaw on a cational conference? Ms. Amamchi Okoji- Banker

Another waste of tax payers’ money. N4m to do what should be a patriotic act?

Most likely, these delegates will spend the three months discussing things that do not affect the common Nigerian nor represent the people’s views. Ms. Onouha Miriam- Student

As far as I’m concerned, this is just another excuse to milk money from the country. That money could have been used for better things instead of mere old people talking what will lead us nowhere at the end.

Prophetess Esupofo Lawrence- Clergy woman

Why can’t these so-called delegates pay their way through the duration of this conference as a gesture of patriotism to the country.

The last time I perused the list, I did not see one poor man there. All of them were all nominated. Ismaila Aremu- Computer Instructor

Housing delegates in hotels will be too expensive.

Paying them flat rate is acceptable. Let the conference take place. We need to do something about Nigeria, but I don't support the outrageous amount being spent on them. Adaobi Adigwe- Student

Are these people going to the national conference to find solutions to Nigeria problems or they are going there to make money? N4m for one delegate? When you add other allowances, maybe each delegate will get N24 million. Ms. Mbuko Stephanie- Student

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 45

N-Delta group moves to stop pipeline vandalism

Assessment test: Defaulting teachers to be sacked

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NIGER Delta youth group, Niger Delta Youths for Transformation Agenda, has pledged to carry out awareness campaigns to stop pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft to enable the downstream sector function optimally.

The group also commended the Pipeline Products and Marketing Company, PPMC, Warri Depot, Delta State, for ensuring the effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products, despite the recent fuel scarcity.

Addressing newsmen at the end of its meeting, National Coordinator of the group, Fiawei Pathfinder, said the PPMC, a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had lived up to expectations in the downstream sector because of the modalities put in place by the Warri Depot’s Manager, Mr. Ali Abdallah, to ensure strict compliance with the mandate of the company.

DESOPADEC donates 18-seater bus to Anglican Communion

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DELTA State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has donated an 18seater bus to the Ughelli Diocese of the Anglican Communion.

Presenting the bus to the diocese, the commissioner representing Ethiope East and Ughelli North Local Government Areas on the board of the commission, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi, said the donation was to promote evangelism in the state.

Noting that the donation was in line with the peace and security agenda of the state government, he said: “We know that evangelism is another instrument of achieving peace and it is in this light that we present this bus because without peace, it will be difficult to operate in the oil sector.”

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—Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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VISIT: Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke (left), welcoming the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. John Ushie, to his office when the latter visited him at Government House, Calabar, yesterday.

Customs boss faults Adeshina over comment on smuggling of rice

BY IFEYINWA OBI

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OMPTROLLER-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, has faulted statements credited to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, that the service has not done much to curb the smuggling of rice into Nigeria.

During a public hearing on the smuggling of rice and loss of revenue at the National Assembly, last week, Adesina blamed NCS for the billions of naira the country was losing as a result of the Federal Government’s 110 per cent tariff regime on imported rice.

“The NCS must do its job of policing the borders, while my job is to encourage local farming of rice. The rice that is being smuggled is not carried on the head or brought in by ghosts. The rice comes in trailers and in large quantities,”

Adesina had told members of the Committee on Customs and Excise during the public hearing.

But reacting, Dikko described the Minister ’s allegation as misleading.

He said: "While this is not an attempt to join issues with the respected minister, we owe it a duty to let Nigerians know our commitment to the implementation of government's policies, particularly as it relates to rice smuggling.

“In the last decade for instance, poultry products and fruit juice sectors faced similar problem of domestic protection. Customs’ diligent implementation of government’s prohibition policy contributed significantly to the current steady growth being enjoyed by both sectors. Contrary to media reports, we believe that our anti-smuggling efforts will contribute in the long run to sustainable domestic rice pro-

duction in Nigeria.

“As Nigerians and equal stakeholders in the economy, we believe that it may not be difficult for any person who has a fair knowledge of international trade to appreciate the peculiar situation in which Nigeria finds itself.

Government in its wisdom has adopted a regime of tariff restriction on rice importation while being surrounded by neighbouring countries that open their doors to importation of rice from all parts of the globe.

“Despite the challenge of our porous borders, the reinvigorated anti-smuggling operations in the last one year (March 2013 – February 2014) resulted in the seizure of 220,177 bags of rice across the country. It is instructive to note that this huge seizure of rice is an aggregation of all smuggled rice."

NBA urges IG to probe assassination of two Delta lawyers those who carried out those

BY INNOCENT ANABA & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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HE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to order a thorough investigation into the assassination of two lawyers in Ozoro, Delta State, on their way to court.

NBA, in a statement by its President, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, said: “We have received with shock, the sad news of the

gruesome murder of our colleagues, Messrs Horace Eguono Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekwuaghanju, on their way to court at Ozoro, Delta State, on March 27, 2014.

“The Warri Branch of NBA had promptly reported the matter to the police in Delta State.

I have written a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abubakar, requesting for immediate and thorough investigation of the circumstances that led to the death of our colleagues.

“The NBA will ensure that

dastardly acts will not get away with this, no matter who. We can make no conclusions at this point as we await police investigations, which we will follow up very closely.

“Our condolences go to our murdered colleagues' families and may the souls of our murdered colleagues rest in peace, while their killers will never know peace and we will ensure that they are brought to justice. This is our solemn promise to our murdered colleagues and to their murderers.”

ENIN—TEACHERS in public primary and secondary schools in Edo State who failed to submit themselves for the assessment test organised by the state government may have their names deleted from the state’s payroll, says Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Speaking, yesterday, while receiving the report of the exercise from the Teachers’ Assessment Committee, led by Prof.

Dennis Agbonlahor, former Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Oshiomhole said: “I can readily tell you that no teacher will remain in the pay roll of Edo State Government if we have not assessed him and are convinced that he is indeed a fit and proper person to be entrusted with the classroom or the particular subject which our pupils are asked to learn.

“This, for us, is not politics. It is to stress the essence of governance and prepare our kids for the future, for the inevitable role they have to play.

Flipping through the report, it is clear that you did a thorough job, painstakingly analyzing all the issues like elder statesmen and good educationists. In spite of the harassment and subtle threat, you remained focused on the assignment and in the end, you have come out with a report that, I believe, will help us to have greater insight into the challenge of managing an efficient and reliable primary and secondary education.

“Even more importantly, you have ideas of what we have to do with the outcome and you gave a set of options. I believe in the innocent children whose future is an issue as well as their parents and guardians, their spirits and their wishes to prepare the children for the future.

Our God will reward you for helping to advise on how best we can help to protect their future."

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

NSCDC arrests 2 suspected petroleum peddlers

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI — Ebo nyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested two persons over illegal peddling of petroleum products at Ohatekwe in Ishieke, Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, Chukwuemeka Oge and Peter Udukwe of Ohaukwu LGA of the state were arrested in a Ford bus with Registration No. XA 364 EBJ carrying about 3,000 litres, according to the state commandant, NSCDC, Mrs. Ego Echendu.

Okorocha charges Catholic media bosses on violence

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — IMO State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has charged Catholic media directors to come up with the best way of using communication in diverse cultures to cope with the spate of communal clashes and violence.

Okorocha gave the charge at the First Annual Plenary of Catholic Media and Communication Directors Conference of the dioceses in Nigeria, in Owerri.

...urged to re-instate suspended Eze

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — OVER 1,000 indigenes of Egbelu Obube, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, yesterday, marched on Government House, Owerri, asking Governor Rochas Okorocha to lift the suspension on their traditional ruler, Eze Jude Nwaogu.

Wielding placards with inscriptions: “Government, please lift the ban on Eze Jude Nwaogu of Egbelu Obube,” “Government, please restore our traditional ruler,” among others, the protesters lamented that their Eze had been on suspension for eight months, depriving them leadership in the community.

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Why Abia govt petitioned against Wabara, The Sun editor

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — A top official of Abia State government has said Mr. Ebere Wabara, The Sun Newspapers’ Associate Editor, was arrested, last weekend, by the state police because of alleged falsehood published online against the governor, The-

odore Orji and his family.

The official, who pleaded not to be named because he was not mandated to speak to press, explained that the editor, whose arrest warrant was issued by an Umuahia Chief Magistrate's Court, had in addition to his writeups in The Sun, written several damaging lies in an on-line medium, The City Reporters, which

he alleged to be Mr. Wabara’s.

According to the source, Wabara allegedly went as far as accusing Governor Theodore Orji in the online publications of either “killing and kidnapping any person who refused to sell lands to him.”

The source said: “He allegedly also said that the Governor’s first son, Chinedu, is a terrorist

Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief/General Manager, Publications, Vanguard Newspapers (right); Mr. Jameel Mohamed, Group Chief Operations Officer, Global Com Limited (middle), and Mr. Kamaldeen Shonibare, Head, Corporate Sales, Global Com Limited, during a courtesy visit by Vanguard Team to Global com Management, at Mike Adenuga Tower, Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

and that he killed his cousin, John Ndubuka. This is interesting as he will help the police to properly resolve the issue.

“These are very serious allegations. That is why a government official wrote a petition to the Police to arrest him to come and substantiate the allegations.

“In fact, the governor did not know about the petition. But we felt as government officials that we had to do something because the allegations were weighty, damaging and inciting.

“So based on the petition, the police did their work in line with the law and arrested him, and even granted him bail, only for him to jump bail. I think the police are handling the matter.

“But let people know that Wabara, apart from the attacks, had been waging war in The Sun against the governor, his family and government of Abia State. He was also using The City Reporters online to heap unprintable libelous, inciting and damaging allegations on the governor and his family members.

“So let him come and prove these allegations so that the people will now believe him, instead of jumping bail and running away.”

DSS smashes 6–member car snatching syndicate

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — A SIX-member car snatching syndicate operating in Anambra, Kogi and Rivers states has been smashed by men of the Department of State Service, DSS, in Anambra State.

Members of the gang are Nworah Ibe from Enugu State, Levi Kelechi Eze from Imo State, Joseph Igboji and James Ukoh both from Ebonyi State,.

Stand-by buyers of the stolen cars include Titus Duruaku and Victor Ndubuisi.

State director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, who paraded them at Awka headquarters of the agency, identified the syndicate as being responsible for increased car snatching activities in Anambra State in recent time.

According to Okeiyi, Ukoh and Igboji, who were arrested at Nk-

por in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, confessed playing major roles in the syndicate, including harbouring members of the gang.

He also said that Ibe and Eze were arrested at Lokoja in Kogi State while trying to snatch a Honda Accord car from an unsus-

pecting victim at Ajaokuta.

Ibe also confessed to reporters that he started the business of snatching cars in 2009, adding that his gang’s first operation was when they drugged a driver of a Nissan Sunny in the FCT before taking away his car.

His colleague, Eze, said his

Jonathan, wife have no anointed candidates for 2015 election — S/E PDP

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South East zone has dismissed claims by some aspirants that they were anointed candidates of President Goodluck Jonathan or his wife, Patience.

According to the party, the first family has no anointed candidates

for any position any where.

The party, therefore, advised its members nursing ambitions to contest for any political office to desist from dropping the names of the President or his wife, insisting that they had no favourite candidates in any state.

The party’s position on the issue was made known by the zonal publicity secretary, Mr. Ali

Seven Energy acquires East Horizon Gas Company for $250m

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

S

EVEN ENERGY Limited has completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of East Horizon Gas Company Limited, EHGC, for $250 million.

Seven Energy Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seven Energy International Limited SEIL, the integrated oil and gas development, production and gas distribution company with inter-

special area was in disposing the snatched vehicles, adding that it was in the process of disposing stolen cars that men of DSS arrested him in Port Harcourt where he sold a Toyota Highlander and a Honda Accord for N800, 000 each before the syndicate was smashed.

ests in Nigeria.

This acquisition enhances Seven Energy’s position as a leading gas marketing and distribution company in South-East Nigeria, expanding the reach of its gas pipeline network in this growing market to over 260 kilometres, diversifying its customer base across key sectors of the economy and increasing long-term contracted gas sales volumes to 200 MMcfpd.

EHGC is a gas distribution and

marketing company that operates the 128 km East Horizon gas pipeline through Akwa Ibom State and Cross Rivers State in Southsouth Nigeria.

EHGC also has a gas sales agreement with an industrial offtaker to supply up to 25 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfpd), increasing to 50 mmcfpd upon completion of the planned expansion of the offtaker’s existing plant, under a 20-year gas sales agreement expiring in 2032.

Odefa in Umuahia, who said the party was not happy that some aspirants had been dropping the names of the first family to gain advantage over others.

“I want to tell you that Mr. President has no candidate in any state. So anybody that has ambition to contest for any position and is dropping the name of the first family is on his/her own.

“The President is a man who believes in democracy and in internal democracy and the party is very particular about internal democracy,” Odefa explained.

Emphasising the importance PDP attached to internal democracy, Odefa explained that the party would strictly follow due process in nominating and electing candidates when the time was ripe.

He said: “I advise all members of our party that have ambition to stop dropping names and market yourselves if you have the quality and what it takes to do so."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 47

PRESENTATION: From left: A beneficiary of the N215 million Kwara State agric loan to farmers, Mrs. Funke Idris, Acting Grand Khadi, Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Olohuntoyin Mohammed, Chairman, Kwara State House Committee on Agric, Hon. Abraham Ashaolu, Kwara State Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisra, and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, during the presentation of cheques` to the beneficiaries in Ilorin.

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. John Ehignese, CEO, Media Craft Associates, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporte Affairs Adviser Nigerian Breweries, NB, Mrs. Nkechi Alli-Balogun, member of jury, Golden Pen Award, NB, and Mr. Edem Vindah, Corporate Media & Brand PR Manager, NB, during the briefing on the 6th Golden Pen Award in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Mrs. Elizabeth Opanachi, founder of God's Will Orphanage, Ayingba, Kogi State (2nd right), receiving a cheque of N1.55 million from the board members, Worship for Change, led by Wale Adenuga, Convener, Worship for Change.

From left: Mr. Ayodeji Jeremiah, Editor, Timeless and judge, Mr. Onitiri, judge, Miss Oyenekwe Shalom, winner, ages 8-10 category, Mrs. Feyisara Osinupebi, Vice Principal, Redeemers Int'l Sec. Sch. and Mrs Victoria Tandoh, CEO, Kings School, at the King's School Lagos 2nd annual inter-school essay competition in Lagos.

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CONFERENCE: From left: Wife of Ekiti State Governor/keynote speaker, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Chairperson, IoD Women Directors' Committee, Dr. Stella Okoli, and Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, at the 2014 Women Directors' Conference, in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Niyi Olukoya,Coordinator, Marketing Globacom, Waje, Naeto C, Omawunmi, all Globacom Ambassadors and Manorath Shukla, Data and Devices Marketing, Globacom, at the Globacom demostration of the new offering Glo game shop in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

COUNSELING: From left: Senior Project Officer, Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network, LEARN, Mrs. Tonne Saheed, Specialist, CSR, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Tola Oduyemi, Director, Education District 1, Lagos State, Rev. Doyin Oyelowo, and Principal, Girls Senior School, Agege, Mrs. Elizabeth Osadola, at the 10th Etisalat Career Counseling programme, at Treasure-M Hall, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

Mr. Ronald Cilliers, Principal, Grace Schools, middle, back row, with overall best students, during the 19th Founders' Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving Day ceremony of the Grace Schools, at Gbagada, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

NATCOMS slams contempt suit against Telcos, NCC

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

BUJA — THE National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, has filed a contempt of court suit against the major telecommunication service providers and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, at the Federal High Court, in Lagos State.

Other defendants in the suit include the registered trustees of Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Airtel Networks Limited, Emerging Market Telecommunications Services Limited, Etisalat and Golabcom Limited.

In the motion on notice brought before the court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba, NATCOMS is asking an order to commit the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, the managing director of the 3rd respondent, Michael Ikpoki; the Chief Executive Officer of the 4th respondent, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya and Mr. Mohammed Jameel, the Chief Operating Officer of the 6th respondent to prison for contempt of court committed in connection with the proceedings in this matter.

Furthermore, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that all Nigerian telecom subscribers of the third and sixth defendants are entitled to compensation as well as a declaration compelling them to credit forthwith, the accounts of all subscribers in their networks with N10,000 worth of airtime each and or such airtime as may be determined as appropriate by the court for on-net and off-net voice and data calls.

ACF laments spate of killings in 17 northern states

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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ADUNA — THE Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday, lamented that the entire northern states were being consumed by crises, saying 17 of the 19 states in the region were either being attacked by criminal gangs including Boko Haram insurgents and herdsmen.

ACF said the massive attacks had led to the death of thousands of innocent citizens as well as loss of property worth billions of Naira.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammad Ibrahim, yesterday named some of the states under siege from Boko Haram terrorists or herdsmen attack as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna among others.

It, however, commended the military and the Federal Government in particular over their renewed efforts to rid the north of terrorists and urged them to sustain

the tempo.

ACF "noted the recent heavy deployment of troops and other security agencies in the NorthEast zone particularly, the Sambisa Forest’’ in Borno State as well as other "states like Benue, Kaduna, Plateau and Nasarawa to neutralize the enclaves of insurgents and criminal gangs," describing the development as re-assuring.

The statement read in part: "According to the Military High Command, as reported in the newspapers, the renewed synergy and cordial relationship among the armed forces coupled with their high morale, troops have recorded some successes in neutralizing the insurgency.

"ACF, therefore, commends the effort, the renewed vigour and resilience of the security agencies in tackling the menace of the insurgents and gunmen and equally calls on them to sustain the onslaught.

"The spate of killings in the northern states of Nigeria by gunmen and insurgents have continued to pose serious security challenges to the nation’s security agencies. The daily attack on villages and communities by unknown gunmen and insurgents in most states of the north is barbaric, worrisome and unacceptable.

"Reports in the last one month have shown that 17 states of the northern region have witnessed persistent attacks by gunmen, insurgents and suspected herdsmen on innocent people leading to huge loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of persons.

"ACF also calls on the nation’s intelligence communities and security agencies to reconsider and strengthen their strategy and approach on this national malaise. The communities must also get involved in intelligence gathering and alert the security."

From left: Director, Digital Africa, Dr. Amstrong Takang; Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Chairman, Digital Africa, Dr. Evans Woherem; Director, Digital Africa, Mrs. Phil Okorafor and Chief Executive, Digital Africa, Ms. Nneoma Ofodile during the presentation of the country hosting right for the 19th World Electronics Forum recently awarded to Nigeria.

AUCHI— An Islamic court in Bauchi State has discharged and acquitted two men accused of having gay sex and belonging to a homosexual club due to lack of evidence.

This is the first acquittals since Islamic courts in Bauchi city began trying a group arrested late last year for alleged homosexual offences.

Homosexual acts are illegal in C M Y K

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AGOS — THE Chair man, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has welcomed the olive branch extended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar and others who offended him.

Obasanjo said on Sunday that he had forgiven Atiku and others who offended him.

In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, Kashamu, who has been at daggers drawn with the former President over some issues, said: “Baba Obasanjo’s offer is a welcome development that should be embraced not only by all those who offended him but also by those he (Obasanjo) had offended.

“Although some doubting Thomases have said they are waiting to see him walk the talk, I strongly believe that this is one opportunity that we all must not allow to slip off our hands.

“It is in the light of the above that I hope to see a rapprochement in the days ahead between Chief Obasanjo and I on the one hand; and between him and the present administration on the other hand.

On my part, I have embraced our Baba’s offer and will do all within my powers to keep the peace. I have equally forgiven him and others who might have offended me.”

Nasarawa Assembly asks Al-Makura to sack NASIEC chairman, officials

BY ABEL DANIEL

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AFIA — THE Nasarawa State House of Assembly, yesterday, asked Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura to sack all the officials of the state Independent Electoral Commission, NASIEC, over al-

leged gross electoral misconduct.

In a resolution adopted in the chambers of the House, members directed Al-Makura to terminate the appointments of the NASIEC chairman, Dr Abdullahi Modibbo, and the

entire commissioners of the commission.

The lawmakers also had earlier passed a vote of no confidence on the commission chairman and commissioners, alleging gross irregularities during the just concluded local govern-

Bauchi court acquits 2 men accused of homosexual acts

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Kashamu hails Obasanjo’s olive branch

Nigeria under Islamic and secular law, the latter was tightened in January.

Same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection are banned throughout Nigeria.

Court clerk Abdul Mohammed told Reuters news agency that the men were acquitted because no-one saw them having sex.

”He (the judge) said sodomy is punishable with death and requires the testimony of four witnesses to the act and in the case of the two men, no-one saw them committing sodomy,” Mr Mohammed reportedly said.

The men were arrested after residents raided a home in Bauchi, finding one of them

wearing shorts while the other was fully clothed, reports said.

Five people have been convicted of homosexual offences

by Bauchi’s Islamic courts since January and sentenced to 20 lashes each.

The cases of five other suspects are pending, including that of a Christian who is expected to be tried in a secular court.

ment election in the state.

Moving the motion, the Majority Leader, Godiya Akwashiki, PDP, stated that the announcement of the local government election results by Modibbo violated the provisions of the Local Government Electoral Law, 2013 as passed by the House.

Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Ahmed Mohammed said: “A vote of no confidence has been passed against the NASIEC chairman and members of the commission.

“Based on the provisions of section 201(1) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House, through a 2/3 majority resolved that the chairman and his members should be removed from office with immediate effect.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 49

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50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

borrowed money from Shagari’s government to pay its workers’ salaries, is now one of the largest economies of the world; Brazil was suffering when things were okay for Nigeria, but now is a centre for the purchase of aircraft, among others, he said there must be restructuring and reorganisation to deal with the problems squarely and fix things like Iron and steel companies that have packed up.

Our security agencies have abandoned their jobs — General Ali In his contribution, General Muhammed Mansur Dan Ali representing Zamfara State, accused all the security agencies of failing in their responsibilities where they have been reduced to taking care of road blocks, police taking over the jobs of VIO and soldiers deployed to at least 33 out of the 36 states of the federation.

He said that the sudden retirement of 140 generals recently was not good for the country’s security, just as he called for a complete restructuring of the Nigeria Police Force for them to face their jobs properly.

•National conference in session

BY HENRY UMORU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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ELEGATES to the National Conference, for the third day, continued debates on President Goodluck Jonathan’s 27-page inaugural speech, yesterday, with corruption, marginalization of minority ethnic groups in the country and insecurity on the front burner.

Delegates, who hailed President Jonathan, described his speech as patriotic, passionate and statesmanly, harped on level of impunity that has led to what they termed, massive looting of the country’s money that ought to have been channeled into the development and growth of the country.

Some delegates, who spoke reiterated the issue of insecurity where members of Boko Haram sect have engaged in killings and destruction of property as well as the clashes between Fulani herdsmen and other tribes whose communities have been leveled, leaving the people homeless.

We must tolerate one another – Clark Former Federal Commissioner of Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who noted that at 86, he was already at the departure lounge waiting to get the boarding pass and go, urged the delegates to love, appreciate one another and see Nigeria as one indivisible nation, adding that no one must be seen as a second class citizen or from the minority to be marginalised by any group that sees itself as a majority tribe.

Chief Clark who is representing

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the Elder statesmen category said, “my duty therefore is to appeal to everybody,that we should tolerate one another.

Nigeria belongs to all of us, no one is superior to the other, no one is a second class citizen, no one is a first class citizen.

Anybody in Nigeria is qualified to hold the highest office in this country. Nnamdi Azikiwe was 42, both Obafemi Awolowo and Sadauna were in their late 30s, they ruled this country. They prepared the constitution which we were unable to develop.

“They sat down and prepared the Republican Constitution of 1963.Today we are speaking grammar about it. Let us accept where we are, love one another.

Some of us have taken religion too far. Nigeria has been in existence before some of these religions were born by some people.

Northerner or southerner The 29 young children that died in Yobe, those who killed them did not differentiate between Christians and Muslims. Therefore, let us tolerate one another, let us be patriotic, we have no other country to go to. If you are a northerner or a southerner and we don’t live together, then there will be no Nigeria.”

DSS, Boko Haram clash, fallout of detention without trial – Coomasie Former Inspector General of Police and a North-West Delegate, Ibrahim Coomasie, attributed Sunday ’s clash between men of the Department of State Service, DSS and

arrested members of the Boko Haram Sect to what he termed continued detention without trial and stressed the need for good leadership through a credible, fair and acceptable election as what Nigeria requires now to get it right.

Coomasie who is also the Chairman, Arewa Consultative We need a united, prosperous Forum, ACF also commended nation – Aremu In his contribution, Comrade President Jonathan for what he described as his inspirational Issa Aremu representing the speech, said: “The president has Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, sufficiently motivated us to work who made case for the Nation’s for the betterment of our country founding fathers to be given more Nigeria. I note with satisfaction recognition, rather than what he his emphasise on championing described as undue glorification unity and consolidating of our colonial masters, said: “I democratic governance in our join other distinguished beloved country and Nnamdi Azikiwe was 42, both h i s penchant Obafemi Awolowo and Sadauna for national were in their late 39, they ruled this consensus.

We should country. They prepared the make the constitution which we were unable best of the to develop opportunity to chart a new course for Nigeria. delegates to acknowledge the We need to be patriotic and significance of the President’s serious. We have already spent speech. I fully appreciate his call 100 years since amalgamation. for inclusiveness, oneness and What we need now is good unity of the nation. The NLC I leadership, which must emerge represent values the principle of through a transparent and unity. An injury to one is an injury credible elections. All the leaders to all is our valued slogan. “There that will also emerge must be are of course problems and servants of the people and not governance challenges in masters.”

Nigeria. But we must also recognize that we have also Past constitutions did not work made some considerable –Dokpesi progress in nation building. One Also in his contribution, Chief of the gains of Nigeria is unity in Raymond Dokpesi representing diversity.” the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, who commended South mischievous to claim President Jonathan for what he more population than North— termed a very thoughtful speech Ali and show of patriotism and Former National Chairman of statesmanship, however said the Peoples Democratic Party that all past constitutions, pre and (PDP) Col. Ahmadu Alli (rtd), post-independence, have not has accused delegates from the worked for Nigeria.

South contesting the population He urged Delegates to look at figure of the North as the speech and use the mischievous. conference to see how it would Ali’s comment, which was part lead to restructuring Nigeria.

Continues on page 51 Noting that South Korea, which

,

Clark, Coomasie, Ali dissect Nigeria's problems

,

Time conscious Kutigi CHAIRMAN of the National Conference came to the hall at exactly 10 am yesterday and proceedings began at 10.04 am with the Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi reciting the adopted prayer, which is lifted from the second stanza of the National Anthem.

It was observed that some delegates came to the hall at 12 noon, two hours after the old Kutigi began proceedings.

15 delegates absent on Tuesday

DURING the adoption of minutes of Tuesday ’s proceedings, it was observed that 15 delegates were absent.

They were no where to be seen when their names were called to make contributions on the inaugural speech of President Jonathan.

Monarchs relocate palaces to NJI SINCE the conference started, participating traditional rulers have ‘relocated’ their palaces to the National Judicial Institute where they have the complete retinue of palace staff like the guards called Dogaris who wear long red uniform.

The Dogaris, who are well over 10 for a traditional ruler, follow their kings, holding the big umbrellas shading the traditional rulers until they enter the main hall. Thereafter, they return to the NJI Club house to wait for the royal fathers.

Some of these traditional rulers include the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkido Mustapha; Emir of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammad Askirama 111; and Emir of Yauri, Alhaji Zayyanu Abdullahi.

Tea points for delegates

IT was surprising yesterday that the leadership of the National Conference, for the first time since the inception of the conference, provided tea points upstairs. But it was announced that they were for delegates only.

Separate tea points for elder statesmen

THOSE who said all delegates were equal, got it wrong yesterday as separate tea spots were created for Elder statesmen.

We're marginalized — Youths cry out

YOUTHS at the conference yesterday complained of total exclusion from the 50- man ‘ wise men’ put in place last week by Justice Idris Kutigi.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014—51

Clark, Coomasie, Ali dissect Nigeria's problems Continues from page 50 of his contribution to the president’s speech, almost caused stir as southern delegates stood up to engage him.

Ali said southerners were being mischievous to contest census conducted in the past that put the population of the North ahead of the southern part of the country.

He said the president’s inaugural speech at the confab showed him as a sincere leader, adding that it has set the guiding principles for the conference.

“The president’s speech is the guiding principle of this conference. We must first put Nigeria on the front burner in everything we are doing, “he said.

He opposed the call for creation of more states by some delegates, particularly those from the South-East just as he reminded delegates of how Southern Cameroon seceded from Nigeria soon after independence, but the northern part remained, saying the development automatically put the northern population ahead of the south.

He insisted that at independence, the population of the North was more than that of the South. “When we are thinking of creation of states, we must put certain things into considerations. The North is the only place where there is no limit to the number of wives you can marry. Therefore, the number will not diminish. We will continue to grow. It is a fabrication when people say numbers and figures are being fabricated in the North,” he submitted.

25 000 women widowed in Jos crises between 2009-2014 — Bosu A delegate representing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Emmanuel Bosu, said that over 25, 000 women were made widows between 2009 and 2014 in Plateau State on account of incessant ethnoreligious crises in the country.

He made this startling revelation when he was given the floor to speak on the President’s speech.

According to him, the religious

crises in the country within the period had led to the killing and maiming of Christians including children especially in Jos, Plateau State.

Giving details, the cleric said that as at March 11, 2009 a Christian denomination in Dogo Nawa, Jos had registered 501 widows.

The figure rose up to 900 in 2011 with yet a disturbing dimension as at February 2014, which he placed at 25 000.

He said: “Nigeria of today is producing widows and orphans in Nigeria. Religion has become a manipulative tool.”

The analysis instantly drew the ire of former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero who shouted a point of order, citing order 9 of the conference rules.

Granted, he said that “the speaker is introducing issue that was not related to Mr. President’s speech.”

With that, the hall went into commotion. But when silence returned, the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who moderated the

General Zamani Lekwot chatting with Hon. Binta Masi Garba and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah at the National Conference in Abuja, yesterday. Photo:Gbemiga Olamikan.

proceedings said: “Governor Aliero, I cannot uphold your point of order. The way we have conducted the matter is that everyone is given the chance to speak. We have all come here with a lot of fears and grievances.”

With the remarks from the chairman, the Pastor continued.

Also speaking, Pastor Tunde Bakare, a nominee from Ogun State said that “The president was clear in his expected outcome in this conference. If our expectations are different from

his, then we are in a jamboree.”

Similarly, Ms Ankio Briggs, a Federal Government delegate said that the 1999 constitution was obsolete as it does not reflect the realities of today’s Nigeria.

“The constitution of 1999 is no longer acceptable to the people of Nigeria. No one is here to break up Nigeria but to answer the question: how do we build Nigeria? We are not here to keep the status as it is because the status quo has not worked for Nigeria,” she said.

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U.S renews effort in Mid-East peace negotiation •Palestinians back peace efforts despite UN move

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ASHINGTON is keeping up efforts to put Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations back on track despite “unhelpful steps” taken by both sides in the past day, a senior U.S. official said yesterday.

A surprise decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to

sign more than a dozen international conventions that could give Palestinians greater leverage against Israel left the United States searching for a way to keep the talks alive past an April 29 deadline.

“Both sides have taken unhelpful steps over the last 24 hours. But neither

party has given any indication...that they want to end the negotiations,” the senior U.S. State Department official told reporters in Brusssels.

“We will spend the next few days continuing to discuss with both parties the options for the path ahead,” the official said.

The Palestinians had handed over to a U.N. representative and other diplomats applications to join 15 international conventions. They include the Geneva Conventions, the key text of international law on the conduct of war and occupation.

A senior Palestinian offi-

cial, voicing frustration deepened by Israel’s failure to carry out a pledged release of several dozen Palestinian prisoners, also said on Wednesday that the eight-month-old talks had become merely “negotiating about negotiating”.

Palestinian officials said Israel’s failure to free the prisoners meant Abbas was no longer bound to a commitment not to confront it at the United Nations and other international bodies.

The developments fur-

ther complicated efforts by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to piece together a three-way deal to push the faltering negotiations into 2015.

The talks were already in trouble over the issues of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War - and Palestinian opposition to Netanyahu’s demand to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.

Search for missing Malaysian jet continues, as probe narrows to crew

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ALAYSIAN police have ruled out involvement of any passengers in the disappearance of a missing jetliner, while Australian officials warned bad weather and a lack of reliable information were impeding efforts to find wreckage from the plane.

Up to 10 planes and nine ships from a half dozen countries yesterday scoured a stretch of the Indian Ocean roughly the size of Britain, where Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is believed to have crashed more than three weeks ago.

Authorities have not ruled out mechanical problems as causing the disappearance, but say all the evidence suggests the plane was deliberately diverted from its scheduled route from Kuala Lumpur

to Beijing.

Malaysia’s police chief said the investigation was focusing on the cabin crew and pilots, after clearing all 227 passengers of possible involvement in hijacking, sabotage or having personal or psychological problems that could have been connected to the disappearance.

“They have been cleared,” national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.

The search and rescue teams are in a race against time to locate the plane’s black box recorder, which has an expected battery life of around 30 days and without which it may never be possible to find the wreckage.

South Africa’s Zuma to skip EU-Africa summit

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OUTH African Presi dent Jacob Zuma will miss a controversy-tinged EU-Africa summit in Brussels this week, the country’s foreign ministry has said. Clayson Monyela, spokesman for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said on Monday that “the president has other commitments”.

Pretoria would not say if Zuma’s decision was taken in solidarity with longtime Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, whose government called for a boycott of the meeting after his wife, Grace,

was refused a visa to attend. The couple have been banned from visiting the European Union because of their role in rights abuses, but as head of state Mugabe is still allowed to attend international forums.

Zuma has battles to fight at home, where he has come under withering criticism for using $23m of taxpayers’ money to upgrade his private family residence.

A damning report last week found that he unlawfully benefitted from the improvements.

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Centre, bank seek govt support for Cerebral Palsy patients

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ITH one in 100 live births com ing down with Cerebral Palsy, CP, stakeholders have stressed the need for government at all levels to pay more attention to children with CP, lamenting the sufferings face by families with such children.

They decried that there is no single centre that takes care of such overwhelming condition throughout the country.

At a lecture organised by the Cerebral Palsy Centre, CpCENTER, in partnership with Heritage Bank with the theme: “Management of Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Family & Society”, Heritage Bank Group Head, Cowry Banking, Davidson Regha called for the right attitude to children with CP. Regha who was of the view that the society has failed these children, said: “We have failed in the sense that we have not provided the kind of social infrastructure to help them develop and grow. Attending to them is not only by building facilities but there is need to get experts that can help them in those centres.

He said: “Most parents lock their children up today. People should be proud of their children irrespective of their condition. Cerebral Palsy is not contagious. This is why we as generational bank decided to intervene to create some forms of social support to see that these children are well catered for in the society.”

“We deem ourselves to be a generational bank and when we say a generational bank, we are looking at young people from birth. We are

not just looking at children that are capable mentally and physically but we are looking at children that have challenges and if intervention is instituted early, they will become respectable persons,” he stated.

Founder, CpCENTER, Mrs. Nonye Nweke who is also a parent, lamented that Nigeria cannot boast of a suitable centre for these children.

“CP is not something you treat with a wave of hand because it is something that can break up families.

There is need for our government and the society to pay more attention to these children.

“Often times parents have to leave work, particularly, mothers to take care of these children as no house help wants to take care of such child

as a result, most of them are abandoned in homes and institution.

“This Centre which has 19 children currently lacks adequate space. Services are free. It is total care. They need attention all round the clock. Parents are not able to take care of those children because getting house help is difficult. So the CP centre is the only way out.

In her lecture entitled: “Management of Cerebral Palsy:The Role of the Family”, Head, Dept. of Physiotherapy, Isolo General Hospital, Mrs. Jumoke Smith called for total involvement of parents in treatment. “Great emphasis should also be on teaching parents on how to administer treatments at home and handling them correctly in order to get a more normal response.

• A 16 year-old girl with Cerebral Palsy found starved down to 23 pounds by her mother. Many Nigerian CP children are facing the same situation today.

Catholic Church campaigns against abortion, others

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By GABRIEL OLAWALE

HE Knights of Saint Mulumba, KSM, of the Catholic Church, Lagos, which took to the streets last week to campaign against what they described as the evil of abortion and use of contraception have made known to the world that the child in the womb is a human being from the moment of conception.

During a three-kilometer rally with the theme: “The Human Family: A Fountain of Grace”, from the Church of Annunciation, Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah, terminating at the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, Metropolitan Grand Knight, Dr Charles Mbelede raised alarm on the need for the society to shun abortion in all ramifications.“ “When you abort, then consider yourself a killer because the child in the womb is a human being from the moment of conception and any attempts to terminate it make you a killer. “Some find it hard to accept our advocacy for protection of human life through shunning abortion, and use of contraceptives among others. Every conception is God’s gracious gift to mankind, and should be protected.”

Mbelede noted that the idea of the awareness was to demonstrate the Catholic faith which preaches that life is sacred from the moment of conception till death.

He urged singles to dissuade from premarital sex, noting: “…and if for any reason pregnancy occurs, either between married couples or singles, it must be preserved. We need to control ourselves. We have to be sexually disciplined.”

Deputy Metropolitan Grant Knights, Egbert Imomoh admitted that having unwanted baby a times can be stressful and demanding in which some people may not be able to withstand the pressure. This had made Catholic Church to design different package to cope with the challenge. “To assist women with unwanted pregnancies, the Church has opened centres where they can deliver and be taken care of. Part of which is Hosanna House, also we will be giving them little amount and we are making available a toll-free line where anybody can call for help.”

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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uintuplets mark a year, Nordica pledge hope for childless couples

By Gabriel Olawale As minutes turn hours and months to year, Sofunlayo quintuplets - three females and two males born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wale Sofunlayo on December 16, 2011 turn a year.

Overwhelm with the joy of seeing their babies’ clock a year; the couple did not even remember their years of barrenness.

Her Word: “Although these children did not came at expected time and we had almost lost hope, but God later be our hope as will did not remember our years of bareness any more.”

Olayemo, the mother of the babies noted that they already had a male child before God added another five children.

“We already had one boy which was not up to two years before we had the quintuplets. So between three years, God made

54— Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

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Let’s put the record straight

M * Prof Christian Ezeigbo(2nd frm left), Prof Akachi Ezeigbo (4th L) during the event at UNILAG

Prof. Ezeigbo in literary conversation with fresh blends T

HE saying, “give honour to whom honour is due”, once more, played out last Saturday, at the Conference Hall B, University of Lagos, in the life of one of Nigeria’s finest literary icons, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo when she was honoured for her immense contributions to the development of Nigerian Literature.

The occasion was the 2nd edition of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Lagos Chapter’s novel initiative; Vintage Wine and Fresh Blends (VWFB) monthly event held in conjunction with Literamed Publications, Lagos, publishers of the popular Lantern Books and Comic series, to celebrate writers. The event commenced on a solemn note as a minute silence was observed in honour of Femi Segun, the late son of veteran writer, Mabel Segun.

Interactive session Performance poet, Iquo Diana Eke of ANA-Lagos read an abridged version of Prof.

Adimora-Ezeigbo’s literary merits before an interactive session featuring the Prof.

Ezeigbo and the editor of children’s books and comics, Lantern Books, Ms Busanyo Sanyerr, began, with Evelyn Osagie of The Nation newspaper moderating.

Explaining her journey into the world of literature, Ezeigbo said that, n“I started writing creatively for a long time but I was not in a hurry to publish because I tried to develop a style and I made sure I edited myself before giving the work to the publisher.”

On the issues of self pub lishing, Ezeigbo said that “It is not bad to self publish since there’s limited number of publishing houses and if you want to self publish, make sure the book is in good form.” She however noted that the problem with self publishing is that there are usually, so

many errors due to the fact that few editors work on the manuscript,” stressing that “Abroad, people usually have literary agents who pass the manuscript through more than ten editors before it is published.”She said stressing that there is a tendency that a writer who hurriedly submits works to the publisher would face a lot of rejections but “Do not be discouraged by rejections from publishers rather, wait and improve yourself before you take the work to any publisher. Even Chimamanda Adichie received many rejections on some of her works.”

Winning Award according to the iconic writer, “makes you know that someone is appreciating your work and makes you want to do more.

It is good to understand that everyone cannot win a prize. That you did not win a prize does not mean that you did not do well.”

The impact of criticism on a work for Ezeigbo is sometimes negative

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By PRISCA SAM-DURU

proficiency in my language has helped me a lot in my writing career.

Right now, a publisher has asked that I write an Igbo novel and it is what I am working on now.“ Contributing to the programme, Prof Christian Ezeigbo, husband to the award-winning writer, who was presenttocelebratewithhisamiable wife said: “If you are lucky to have somebody who is successful, the least you can do is to encourage that person to the utmost, because your joy and that person’s joy will multiply”.

“I advise people to encourage their partners so as to excel in their chosen career. Encourage both young and old people not just your partner but also, people around you because when you do so, you are encouraging yourself.” He added.On why Literamed publishers publish more of established writers than works by fresh voices, Busayo Sanyerr said it was because “we discovered that most

,

Do not be discouraged by rejections from publishers rather, wait and improve yourself before you take the work to any publisher

as according to her, “critics can sometimes, damage writers with blanket criticism of works. She advised parents and schools to begin early to train children in creative writing explaining that “many countries such as UK and Japan start very early to train children in creative writing. If the government is not helping, we should move on and establish things like dramatic society, teach creative writing, identify talents and train them later.”

“One advantage of being a creative writer is that you can comfortably combine writing with your profession and to be a successful writer, one must imbibe constant writing because any break makes itdifficulttolaunchacomeback.You must have a mastery of the language otherwise, you won’t be able to write well.”

Prof Ezeigbo also boasts of her ability to write in her native language as according to her, “My

fresh voices we have come in contact with, have exhibited very bad writing skills”, adding that good good script speak for itself.

She explained that, “for 45 years now, and from my experience so far, the major challenges Literamed is facing are piracy, lack of power supply, poor reading culture of Nigerians and the social media which has caught the attention of the youths, as militating factors to the growth of publishing in Nigeria.

Chairman of Writer’s Guild Lagos, Mr. Femi Onileagbon, in his opening speech said that, “This programme invites the best of established literary figures, publishers and political figures (Vintage Wine), whose experiences and life paths have the weight to influence positively the creative development of new, young or aspiring writers (Fresh Blends) with the aim to nurture them.” adding that “if we fail to build the future of the young ones, the older society would carry their burden later in life.”

Y article ‘’Nollywood: A Location or an Allocation” published July 3rd, 2008 in the Vanguard Newspaper was a discuss on the profession or the commercial name for the union of performing artists but I see that it is misunderstood that ‘’Lari Williams is against Nollywood”. I only expressed my concern in this article and as the first president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, I make bold to say that I am indeed against the word ‘’Nollywood”, not the profession or the practitioners.

Please read the cull from the article ‘’Nollywood: Location or Allocation” for better understanding instead of going on air/net to say that ‘Lari Williams is against Nollywood’.

NOLLYWOOD: Location or Allocation?

What is this about Nollywood?

We’ve heard of Hollywood in California, Pinehood Studios in England and Bollywood in Bombay. They are Locations, physically existing. Infact in December, 1980, I visited the ‘woods’ in California.

The ‘woods’ that gave name to Hollywood. Located in state of California, U.S.A, where the film city was built and established in 1932 for the sole purpose of making movies. It was set up by the American actors, elites, film producers and studio owners, one of whom was Walt Disney who was famous for producing cartoons and the establishment of Disney land. The colourful prickly leaves and small white flowers with berries of variety of colours still beautify the large expanse of land where the film city is located.

Where is Nollywood in Nigeria?

When was it christened and if ‘wood’, why ‘nollify’ it and why not Nigerwood or even more familiar ‘Calmwood’? Who were the priests at the naming ceremony or christening of Nollywood? The absence of the Oloja of Oja, The Village Headmasters, the councillors, Amebo, Teacher Ogene and the ceremony performed at the Oja Village. Nollywood should be annulled. Anyway, if that is over-ruled and name upheld, then where will the location be?

Natural beauty Speaking as the first elected president and elder in the profession and industry,I would start my suggestion and nomination by first applauding the ingenuity of the mind that found and established the Tinapa project.

I visited the complex and drove round the vast land in Cross River State. The natural beauty of the land and the shades of green that flank the cool of the land, the peaceful estuary that satisfy the thirst of beautiful creatures round made me applaud the complex masterpiece of creative minds and say ‘well if Nollywood needs any meaning, Tinapa can give it profoundly’. It gives credence to a direction for Nigeria like Hollywood did for America.

We maintain and insist that Nigeria’s entertainment industry needs a Ministry of Arts and Entertainment to grow.

This nation is losing trillions of naira every year because the arts and entertainment industry is not well structured and managed, which can only be done by setting up an Arts ministry. It is not logical to tie the plough to the long and colourful neck of the giraffe when we can employ the horse to plough the field.

Talking about leveraging economic growth through tourism, culture and value re-orientation via the federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, I hasten to ask, which of these units constituting the ministry can stand on its own and make as much money as Arts can make for this nation.

To start with, Tourism without arts is a desert walk or, at best moments of stupendous gaze at natures wonders. The Cattle Ranch, the waterfalls or just daring close to the beautiful and the wild animals, while shivering in caged vehicle, driving through open zoos. After this, the blisters from the walks and the fired heart-beats from over-excitement need to be calmed and soothed by entertainment.

What we need for the progress of the industry and profession is improved quality of work to give value to the profession. It is not good enough to make acting an all-comers affair. We should make it be for the trained professionals groomed for the business instead of infighting against each other. We have professionals administrators, where are the professional practitioners?

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Calabar 2014: Sponsors assured of full value for money

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STOPPED: Man U skipper Nemanja Vidic stops Bayern playmaker Arjen Robben in their Champions League match at Old Trafford Tuesday night. The match ended 1-1.

RGANIZERS of the Calabar 2014 National Sports Festival, tagged the Centenary Games have assured would be sponsors of full value for their money.

Cross Rivers state sports commissioner, Patrick Ugbe said yesterday that the state is planning a sports fiesta that would attract a global audience that would give sponsors good mileage.

He noted that the games marketing team have equally drawn up a package that would make sponsors get good return on investment even after the games.

He noted that anybody who was at the games logo and mascot unveiling ceremony which took place March 22 at the Venetian event centre, Calabar would agree that sponsors are in for a treat and as such should throw their weight behind the games.

“At the logo cum mascot unveiling ceremony, the marketing team came up with a wonderful blue print for

Man Utd defended like a handball team — Robben •Dutch winger criticises United's approach at Old Trafford •They played very defensively, it was almost like handball

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RJEN Robben has criticised Manchester United’s defensive approach during Tuesday Champions League 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, comparing it to the sport of handball.

Robben, speaking to the German media, said: “It was not easy, as our opponents didn’t leave any gaps. We wanted to play football but they tried to stop us. The English were just playing on the counter and have played very defensively, it was almost like in handball.

“But when you go a goal down you have to be pleased with a draw.

1-1 is a very good result that we can take home with us and then we just have to finish it off next week.”

Team-mate Toni Kroos agreed, saying: “It was

difficult: we were dominant all the time. It’s very difficult to play against a team that consistently has all its players around their

own penalty area.”

Philipp Lahm said Bayern were confident of a positive result: “We wanted to win here, but if you come back from

1-0 down you can be satisfied. It puts us in a good starting position.”

Pep Guardiola, who also criticised the red

card shown to Bastian Schweinsteiger, said: “It’s not easy when you want to control the game and there are nine players in the box, eight, nine players there. So it’s not easy.

But we controlled the game.”

Mba suspended for 3 games S

UPER Eagles midfielder, Sunday Mba has been suspended by the Ligue de Football Professionnel for 3 games following a red card he bagged on March 21 in a game against Tours.

The Nigerian midfielder was on the sidelines last Friday against Creteil, but his club, CA Bastia were able to win 3-1 nevertheless.

Unfortunately, Mba will be missing in the next two Ligue 2 matches against Le Havre and Nimes as he would be serving the match ban.

Mba’s foul was considered to be very brutal by the league governing body, despite the fact that Mba’s victim didn’t suffer any significant injury. Leo Schwechlen returned on the field about 2 minutes after the incident with Mba and was able to finish the game.

The Super Eagles star has scored 2 goals in 11 appearances for CA Bastia in Ligue 2. He also added 3 goals in French Cup, but Bastia are already out of the competition.

•Mba

sponsors. Calabar 2014 is not just going to be all about sports, but a blend of sports, tourism and entertainment which is what our great city is now synonymous with.

So my appeal to corporate bodies is to throw their weight behind the games,” Ugbe said.

It would be noted that Cross Rivers state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke had during the mascot and logo unveiling ceremony assured that Cross River will raise the National Sports Festival bar by hosting a game that is ICT compliant.

•Imoke

Solidstar bags NFSC endorsement deal

BY IYABO AINA

N

IGERIAN music star Joshua Iniyezo popularly known as Solidstar has signed an ambassadorial deal with the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, to compose and perform the theme song for Brazil 2014.

The deal will have Solidstar record the official Super Eagles theme song which will be used to unite and inspire the players on and off the pitch.

Dr. Rafiu Oladipo who represented the Nigeria Football Federation and doubles as president of the supporters club explained the choice of Solidstar. . “We picked Solidstar because we needed someone one who is passionate about Nigeria football and who has that gyration in his voice and who the new and old generation can relate with.”

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 — 63

Westerhof Continues from BP say I have just dreamt of Nigeria doing well in the World Cup in Brazil.”

Stephen Keshi, the Eagles coach was captain of Nigeria when Westerhof was the manager. Nigeria placed 5th in the FIFA ranking after USA ’94 World Cup which followed the Nations Cup victory in Tunisia. A television house is doing a documentary on what transformed Nigeria’s football and has invited Westerhof to Nigeria this April to speak on how he did it.

Interestingly, May 3 is Westerhof’s birthday and he will be in Nigeria to celebrate it.

“Westerhof could make you play like Pele,” Keshi said of the Dutch in his media chat last week.

TheDutchwasknownfor inspiring players and high discipline. And these virtues, he said, Keshi must imbibe in the current team for them to excel in

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Brazil.

Westerhof commended Keshi, advised on selection and said “Nigeria can be among the last four in the World Cup and the time for this is now. I dream that this is Nigeria’s time and I want Keshi to make the team a family so that they can play for each other on and off the field, make discipline high so that nobody loses his head, make good preparation and select well. If it goes like this, Nigeria will be among the last four, I tell you.”

He watched Nigeria’s friendly match against Mexico in Atlanta and said this of the Eagles: “You have fantastic goalkeepers. And I tell you, Nigeria have many players in Europe. Not all of them are known to Nigerians but there are many good ones. Keshi can do better than I did. He should. And he can. Nigeria can be among the last four.

You have many good players but they are silent. Ike Uche is good but he must be a team

player. And the boy in Newcastle (Shola Ameobi) can be made strong and made to play behind the central attacker. Emenike is strong. You must have a strong left footer like Amunike or Friday Elaho.

You can make the players very fit, very strong and Oyibo is in trouble, I tell you. Then you ensure there’s strong discipline. I dream every time about Nigeria. The time for Nigeria is now and I know that Keshi can do it. At Tunisia ’94 I told the government the cup is coming to Nigeria. And in Tunisia the foreign media came and I told them the cup is ours. I allowed the players to take a stroll and the media came to me and said what have you done to your players. They are very confident and already walking like champions. I told them I made them believe so and that the cup is ours. Keshi must do same in Brazil. When we reached the final I called Amuneke and told him, listen, you will

be the joker tomorrow. Are you ready to play? He said “yes, coach, I play with my heart out. I told him you play tomorrow but don’t tell anybody yet. The final was his first match and he scored the two goals that gave us the cup. Sometimes you surprise everybody. How is the Federation President?I wish Nigeria well in Brazil.”

Barca Continues from BP guilty of making or allowing illegal deals.

In addition to the transfer ban, which will effectively last 14 months, FIFA fined Barcelona 450,000 Swiss francs, (369,000 euros, $509,000).

The Spanish champions were given 90 days to regularise the situation of all 10 minor players concerned.

One of the illegitimate signings that was investigated by FIFA involved 15 - year - old Dutch - Nigerian striker Omobolaji Adekanye.

Keshi

Continues from BP

apart by including fresh faces, just for the purpose of satisfying the yearnings of ‘some people’.

“We have been trying to build a team since the past two years when I came on board, so I don’t see any reason why we have to tear the team apart by looking for

newer faces to make some people satisfied,” Keshi said.

Keshi however added that being a member of the 2013 Nations Cup winning team does not be criteria for selection, as he is only going to select the best legs from the pool of players currently available in the team

Okpala

Continues from BP Asking if the NFF ever gave any reason for slashing Okpala’s bonus by 50%, Njiogu Osondu wrote “How can our football move forward when it is run by mediocres?

Maigari hiding under the cloak of FIFA autonomy has tried several times to intimidate Nigeria. Can anyone denigrate Nigeria without being disrespectful to the President of the federation?

No. Please pay Okpalla

his entitlements plus the cost of damages that has accrued so far.”

Austin Okoro poured invectives on the NFF thus, “What cheap display of their ineptitude.

All these schemes will be exposed someday and woe betide the shylock that will be found responsible. A workman is entitled to his wages.”

Charles Agbonwaneten said, “One cannot imagine the brains that run football in Nigeria.

V anguard anguard,, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Pay Okpala now, more Nigerians demand of NFF

BY PATRICK OMORODION

T

Nigeria can surprise the world — Westerhof

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

C

L E M E N S Westerhof has been dreaming lately.

And from far away Holland, his home, the man who turned

HE uproar gener ated by the reaction of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF on the demand for justice by its disengaged employee, Sylvanus Okpala is growing by the day with more Nigerians asking the football house to pay the former coach his dues without further delay.

The NFF through its

Nigeria’s football around spoke of his dreams yesterday in a telephone chat.

“I sleep and in the middle of the night I wake up. They ask me what is the matter and I

RESULTS PSG 3 Chelsea 1 Madrid 3 Dortmund 0

Keshi: No room for fresh faces

Continues on Page 63

FIFA bans Barca for signing Nigerian teenager

S

F

IFA on Wednesday banned Spanish giants Barcelona from buying players for the next two transfer windows for “serious” breaches of rules on under-age players.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee found Barcelona and the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) Continues on Page 63

•Adekanye

Secretary General had lambasted Okpala calling him a blackmailer for “dragging the president’s name into the small matter” and asking him to name the forum and place Maigari had the said discussion with him.

Angry Nigerians have however, continued to demand immediate payment of Okpala’s dues by the NFF which they described as insensitive.

Continues on Page 63

JUBILATION: Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi (l) joins his players to celebrate a goal at the 2013 Afcon

UPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has shut out any surprises in the expected list of players to be invited for the team’s pre-World Cup camp. He has categorically said that there is no room for fresh legs in the Super Eagles as he will rest his faith in the squad he has been building in the past two years.

Speaking in Abuja, Keshi said that it would be needless to tear an already established team Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Emphasise (6) 5 Suppose (6) 9 Coins (5) 10 Nut (6) 11 Examiner (6) 12 Dissuade (5) 14 Frank (4) 17 Free (3) 18 Choke (4) 20 Jockey (5) 22 Deposit (5) 23 Quit (7) 24 Twist (5) 26 Postpone (5) 29 Scorch (4) 30 Joint (3) 32 Dandy (4) 33 Regional (5) 35 Battle (6) 36 Eraser (6) 37 Fresher (5) 38 Deserved (6) 39 Proper (6)

DOWN 1 Division (6) 2 Dared (6) 3 Rushed (4) 4 Drain (5) 5 Performed (5) 6 Prophet (4) 7 Innumerable (6) 8 Infuriate (6) 13 Gigantic (7) 15 Throw (5) 16 Not ever (5) 18 Enciphered (5) 19 Leered (5) 21 Uncooked (3) 22 Guided (3) 24 Abrade (6) 25 Roof-beam (6) 27 Grope (6) 28 Rue (6) 30 Sharpened (5) 31 Peeled (5) 33 Solitary (4) 34 Entice (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Hard 4, Pop 6, Pass 9, Rip 10, Stubborn 11, Idea 14, Fir 16, Heart 19, Consider 21, Tepid 23, Deducted 24, Pinch 27, Lie 31, Data 33, Eruption 34, Gin 35, Went 36, Rue 37, Bold.

DOWN: 2, Asti 3, Debit 4, Provided 5, Pant 6, Pride 7, Aid 8, Spear 12, Scoop 13, Union 14, Fit 15, Repel 17, Acute 18, Trade 20, Ridicule 22, Due 25, Image 26, Chant 28, Fear 29, Stab 30, Tool 32, Tin.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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