NATIONAL CONFAB:Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Arewa, others go to work

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...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61984

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

PDP CRISIS: nPDP writes POWER SALES: Jonathan, wants Oct 7 FG, PHCN unions peace talks postponed 8 resolve crisis 9

NATIONAL CONFAB:

Jonathan's many committees

Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Arewa, others go to work •P.56

•Prepare agenda; say it's way to save Nigeria •Committee'll be responsible to Nigerians — Uranta

THE TEACHER GOVERNOR

BY EMEKA MAMAH, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DAPO AKINREFON & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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AGOS—TWENTYFOUR hours after President Goodluck Jonathan raised a 13man National Conference Advisory Committee, leading ethnic Continues on page 5

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COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu •P.17

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

OSUN—Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, in a teaching session, during the official commssioning of Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo and flag off of the new school system (Re-classification) in the state, yesterday.

Apo Killings: Nothing'll be swept under— Mark

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2—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

BRIEFING—Andrew Uchendu, Leader of New PDP caucus in the House of Reps and Mohammed Onawo from PDP, Nasarawa State, addressing newsmen on an alleged $25m bribery in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

NATIONAL CONFAB:

Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Arewa, others go to work Ohanaeze to hold Continues from page 1 tionalities and other groups in the country have started consultations with a view to presenting their agenda to the panel. Vanguard also gathered that the different geo-political zones of the country may also meet to strategise and marshall their demands.

Viewing the Presi-

dent’s move as a unique opportunity to address the avalanche of socioeconomic and political problems afflicting the country, leaders of the ethnic nationalities said efforts should be made to make the national conference yield the desired result.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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OURAGE is the most important of all the vir tues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently—Maya Angelou Eric Roth has a beautiful perspective about courage. For what it’s worth: “It’s never too late or too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, start whenever you want. You can change and be whatever you desire, there are no rules limiting the onward progression in life. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

Paul Coelho wrote about having courage in a way that allows a person to learn to go with flow and rhythm of life. He says, that when we least expect it, “life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”

And know this too, as a seed buried in the earth cannot imagine itself as an orchid or hyacinth, neither can a heart packed with hurt imagine itself loved or at peace. The courage of the seed is that once cracking, it cracks all the way. Just take the first bold step towards your dreams.

inner caucus meeting

National Publicity Secretary of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nwaorgu told Vanguard on phone that immediately the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led panel, which will be inaugurated on October 7 settles, Ohanaeze would fire in its suggestions on the way forward.

But before then, he disclosed that the group would hold its Ime-Obi (inner caucus) meeting.

“Ime-Obi will meet and take decisions on the highpoint of what is best for Ndigbo and other Nigerians. The President has given the committee one month to submit its report. We will work within the timeframe,” he said.

Asked when the ImeObi meeting would be held, Nwaorgu said: “I will consult with the president-general on when to meet but we shall have our eyes on the time-frame.”

Our agenda for the confab —Afenifere

The Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, also said that it is in the process of consulting with other regions to reach a consensus before the national conference commences.

Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin told Vanguard on telephone that it also intends to agitate for true federalism, parliamentary sys-

tem of government and state police among others at the conference.

His words: “Processes will start across our region and we will collaborate with other regions that think like us so that we can harmonise our positions and ensure that this once in a life time opportunity, we do not miss it to give this country a good constitution. So consultations have started.

“Our agenda is very clear. We believe through this conference, we should save Nigeria from crash-landing and give Nigeria a soft-landing. We can forge an agenda for us to live in peace and harmony and our own response to the issue is that all delegates to the conference must first answer the question: Do we still want to live together as a people? If the answer is yes, then on what terms?

"For us in Afenifere, ours should be on the basis of federalism and once we agree that Nigeria should be a true Federal Republic of Nigeria, then the next thing to do is to draft a constitution that will spell out whether we want to continue to live together in harmony. As we speak now, all universities in Nigeria are under lock and key. If we have the six existing structures as regions and they manage the universities in their regions, there is no way ASUU will go on strike in the six regions at the same time.”

Speaking further, the Afenifere spokesman said: “Under Obasanjo, we spent $16 billion on power and there is no light throughout Nigeria. If that $16 billion had been distributed throughout the six regions and each region had gone into different power projects, all the six could not have failed at the same time. This is what we mean by regionalism. Let everybody develop at their own pace and within their areas, let the federal be lean and the regions be strong. We also believe in Afenifere that this federal structure is too costly, it promotes a lot of corruption, we should go parliamentary. For us, federalism, parliamentary, state police, devolution of powers and derivation principles are the key issues that we believe that the national conference must address so that this country can regain its lost glory.”

It must not be sovereign –Arewa

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, said, yesterday, that it would keep its plans close to its chest until "the report containing the names, the content, the scope and direction of the dialogue is made public.

Till then, ACF cannot reasonably react."

National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Mr Anthony Sani who made this known in an interview with Vanguard, however, reiterated that the North was not averse to any "national dialogue that can help strengthen the Nigerian project, provided such dialogue is not in the form of Sovereign National Conference that amounts to vote of no confidence on our democracy and its institutions, which no group has the right to do anyway."

Bayelsa to raise elders’ committee

In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Government said it would constitute a high-powered Elders Consultative Forum to enable the state prepare adequately for the proposed national dialogue.

Governor Seriake Dickson stated this in Yenagoa at a dinner party organised by the state government as part of activities marking the nation’s 53rd independence and 17th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State.

While commending President Goodluck Jonathan for always responding to reasonable concerns of well-meaning Nigerians, Dickson in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel IworisoMarkson noted that the convocation of the dialogue would promote national cohesion and stability.

On the rationale behind setting up the forum, the governor ex-

plained that the proposed forum will among other responsibilities, collate the divergent views of the state on matters of critical interest to the people as well as ensure that Bayelsans speak with one voice without jeopardizing the peaceful co-existence of the country.

His words: “Very soon we will have the need to assemble our elders to formally set up the Elders Consultative Forum, and to provide another platform for interaction. You are aware of the unfolding scenario at the national level which is positive. This Tuesday morning our President, leader and brother, who is flying the flag of the country so very well announced the intention of the Federal Government to hold a dialogue of the peoples of this great nation, and we commend that initiative.

“And so, in the course of this week, I will begin the mechanism for putting our elders together so that our representatives will be able to interact and compare notes with you which we will be forwarded at the appropriate time in that respect.”

Confab Committee responsible to Nigerians — Uranta

Meanwhile, a member of the newly constituted Presidential Advisory Committee, Mr. Tony Uranta, yesterday, described the Federal Government’s moves as the path to “stability and preservation of a heritage for future generations of Nigerians.”

Uranta said that his appointment as a member of the committee would help to actualise what he had long hoped for.

Uranta said: “The Committee owes it to the Jonathan administration, the stability of our nation, and the preservation of a heritage for future generations, to ensure that we hold candid talks round a table as equals.”

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

BOAT MISHAP: Niger goes tough on use of life jackets

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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INNA—NIGER State government is to go tough on canoe and ferry operators that fail to enforce the usage of life jackets.

Governor Babangida Aliyu made this known while reacting to the loss of over 80 lives on the River Niger along Malale Village in Borgu Local Government Area of the state last week.

He directed the state Ministry of Transport to ensure full enforcement of the laws affecting water transportation.

According to him, the state Ministry of Transport would henceforth be held responsible for failure of the operators to comply with law on provision of life jackets for their passengers.

Meanwhile, only 26 bodies have been recovered and buried.

He noted that the number of lives lost in the incident would have been reduced if the laws were strictly adhered to.

Aliyu said: “When we came to power, one of the first things we started doing was to talk of lives and property of our people and we said nobody should enter a canoe or ferry without a life jacket.

That is the law.”

... as 10-yr-old go missing in Lagos creek

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AGOS—A 10-yearold boy was, yesterday, reported missing in a boat mishap along the Five Cowrie Creek at Falomo, Lagos.

Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr. Olayinka Marinho, said the incident happened at 6:10a.m.

Marinho explained that the incident involved an EIFFEL pro-craft boat operator and a private boat operator.

“Casualty reports showed that a boy of 10 was missing after an accident between a fisherman’s canoe and a boat in the early hours of this morning, due to speeding,” he said.

BOXERS-IN-TRAINING: Boxers training on the Iganmu Interchange, Lagos, yesterday.

Magistrate tongue-lashes drunk lawyer

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—AN Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos State, yesterday, scolded a lawyer for taking alcohol before coming to the court.

The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, who was livid that the lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Benye, was drunk when he appeared in her court, asked

the legal practitioner to get a colleague to represent him as she would not allow him to go ahead with his case since he was reeking of alcohol.

Benye was said to have been reeking of alcohol when he stood up in the courtroom to announce the appearance for his client.

Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Kubeinje said: “You should not be involved in things like

this, especially when you are at work.’’

Kubeinje had initially ordered that the matter be stood down when Benye and the police prosecutor, Inspector Clifford Ogu, denied that the offensive odour emanated from them, prompting her to ask the registrar to move closer to them and determine who was reeking of alcohol.

Subsequently, the registrar

informed the court that Benye was the offender.

Although the lawyer later apologised to the magistrate and promised that such occurrence would not happen again.

The Magistrate advised him to plead with one of his colleagues to assist him handle his client’s case after expressing her displeasure over the embarrassment.

Hoodlums beat up policemen over Okada seizure

BY EVELYN USMAN & ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—PANDEMONIUM broke out, yesterday, in Idi-Araba area of Lagos, after hoodlums attacked a team of policemen that came to effect the arrest of commercial motorcyclists (Okada), leaving some of them wounded.

The Police van would have reportedly been set ablaze but for the timely arrival of reinforcement from Area ‘D’ Command, Mushin.

This is just as a 28-year-old Man ‘O War official was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for impersonating a Police Corporal.

The suspect was said to have chewed and swallowed the fake police identity card found on him in a bid to avoid arrest.

Eyewitnesses said trouble started at Idi-Araba after a team of policemen from Itire

division stormed a park close to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and seized some commercial motorcycles.

They said pleas and explanations by the commercial motorcyclists that the area was not among the designated areas of restriction by the state government fell on deaf ears.

Out of frustration, some of them reportedly attempted to seize their motorbikes, an action that led to an altercation that degenerated into a fight.

forcement that came in patrol vans from different stations under Area ‘D’ Command.

“They shot sporadically into the air. In the process a male passer-by was hit by stray bul-

‘Bar identity’

Beating up policemen

An eyewitness said: “A group of persons from nowhere came and descended on the policemen. Two of the policemen were beaten to a state of coma.

“When police reinforcement came, the protesters unleashed terror on them and they fled. They were later overpowered by another rein-

let and was immediately rushed to the hospital.”

When Vanguard visited the scene at 4p.m., normalcy had returned. But policemen were patrolling the scene.

Fake Corporal Ben Okon.

Meanwhile, the suspect arrested for impersonating a Police Corporal said he got the police badge and ranks from a beer parlour.

The suspect, who identified himself as Ben Okon, said: “I am a member of Man ‘O War and my original uniform was given to me by my boss. But the police badge and rank fell from a policeman’s who was in a beer parlour.

“After she left, I picked the polythene bag, thinking it contained money, only to find her badge.”

The suspect, according to Deputy spokes person for Lagos State Police Command, Damasus Ozoani, would be charged to court soon.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—7

3 suspected cultists arrested over murder

BY EVELYN USMAN & ONOZURE DANIA

zI was told I could become Capone— Suspect

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AGOS—THREE suspected members of Eye and Aiye confraternities have been arrested by Police in Lagos State in connection with the murder of some rival cultists in Epe area of the state.

Among them is a 200 level Business Administration student of the Lagos State Polytechnic. The suspects, as gathered, were arrested following investigation into the incessant clashes between rival cultists by members of a vigilante.

Their identities were given as Olawale Olushote 20; Idowu Gborokini 29 and Seyi Adewunmi, 26.

According to Olushote, “I was forced into cultism by some of my course mates because of my built and intimidating looks. I was told I could one day become the Capone.

But I have never killed anyone.

“Rather, I was attacked by members of Eiye confraternity, where I had gone to charge my phone. I did not know some members lived in the area.

“They stabbed me with a knife and broken bottle on the head. They even put some cartridges in my pocket, which the police found on me when I was handed over to them. I don’t own a gun let alone cartridges.”

Idowu Gborokini and Seyi Adewunmi denied being cultists. They claimed to be musician and bricklayer, respectively. They said they were arrested during a raid by policemen.

When contacted, Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, said the suspects have been transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, from where they would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

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SUSPECTS: From left— Seyi Adewunmi 26; Idowu Gborokini 29 and Olawale Olushote,

20.

Hair dresser allegedly sold by customer

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AGOS—A trader, Iyabo Adefioye, was, yesterday, charged before a Somolu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, for allegedly luring a woman into sex slavery in Libya.

Adefioye, 43, who resides at 14, Umoru St., Olosa in Mushin area of Lagos, is being tried for conspiracy and human trafficking.

The offences contravened Sections 274 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused risks 14 years imprisonment if found guilty.

A Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action had called for international efforts to eradicate sexual slavery as a human rights issue. Sexual slavery is the enslavement of

unwilling people for sexual exploitation.

According to the prosecution, the accused sold a hairdresser, Risi Adegbite, 30, into sex slavery in Libya under the guise of assisting her to seek ‘greener pastures.’

Assistant Superintendent of Police Akinlabi Adegoke told the court that the accused, with others still at large, committed the offence sometime in August.

He said the accused, who was a regular caller at the complainant’s saloon at Fadeyi Bus Stop, had promised to secure employment for her in Libya.

He said: “When the complainant arrived in Libya on September 2, she realised that

2 docked for assault, rape, theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—TWO men, Sulaimon Ganiyu and Jamiu Sulaimon, were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly raping and assaulted a 21-year-old lady.

The defendants, who reside at 26, Ajegunle Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, and 9, Church Street, Onipanu, Lagos, respectively, were docked before Magistrate Abimbola Oshodi-Makanju.

They are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, rape, assault and stealing, preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Inspector

Arowolo: Adoption of address for Oct 31

Samson Ekikere told the court that the defendants, and two others at large, committed the alleged offence on September 24, at 10p.m. at 26, Ajegunle Street, Ilupeju area of Lagos.

Ekikere alleged that the defendants assaulted the lady before raping her, adding that they also stole N20,000 and a chain valued N30,000 from the lady after raping her.

He said the offence committed is contrary to Sections 258(1), 278(9), and punishable under Section 410 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the defendants denied the charges when it was read to them.

Magistrate OshodiMakanju granted them bail in the sum of N300,000 each with two sureties, each in like sum and adjourned the matter till November 22 for mention.

she had been defrauded and sold into sex slavery.

“She promptly contacted her family to intimate them of her predicament. The accused, however, claimed ignorance of the development.”

Adefioye, however, entered a not-guilty plea.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, admitted the accused to a bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till October 16.

KEJA—AN Ikeja High Court, yesterday, adjourned the adoption of final written addresses in the trial of Akolade Arowolo, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Titilayo, till October 31.

Trial judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu, also imposed a N10, 000 fine on Arowolo’s counsel, Mr. Olarenwaju Ajanaku, for wasting the court's time.

Okunnu said Ajanaku’s failure to file and regularise the defence processes was a setback to the speedy conclusion of the case.

Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, Director, Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay.

Ogungbesan said: “I am surprised that up till now, we have not been served with his written address.

“The charge of murder is a serious offence and we can only urge the court to give him a deadline.”

Arowolo, 31, was charged to court for allegedly stabbing his wife, a banker, to death.

He was arraigned on Decemebr 21, 2011, on a one-count charge of murder and had pleaded not guilty.

Soldier to hang for homicide

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BUJA—AN FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, yesterday, sentenced a soldier, Kabiru Abdullahi, to death by hanging for killing one Musa Tanko.

Abdullahi was a private in the Nigerian Army when he committed the crime. He was found guilty of stabbing Tanko to death with a knife.

Abdullahi was charged on onecount of culpable homicide, punishable with death under Section

221 of the Penal Code.

Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, while delivering judgment, said the testimony of the witness was ‘credible’ and clearly showed the convict’s guilt.

Ogakwu said the convict intentionally, and with the knowledge that death or grievous bodily injury would be the probable consequence of his action, stabbed the deceased in the neck.

Couple knows fate over maid's death Oct 23

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KEJA—AN Ikeja High Court has fixed October 23 for judgment in the case of a couple, Elochukwu and Chiamaka Nnajiofor, accused of murdering their 14-year-old housemaid.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu fixed the date, yesterday, after the adoption of the final written addresses by the pros-

ecution and the defence.

The defendants were charged to court on September 22, 2011 on a one-count charge of murder. The accused pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr. Femi Adamson, claimed that Chiamaka had tortured the housemaid, Oliver Arakwe, to death for allegedly ‘misbe-

having.’

Adamson had alleged that the torture took place at 81, Femi Tella St., Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos, where the deceased was residing with the couple.

The prosecutor alleged that the incident had led to Arakwe’s death at Eko Hospital, Surulere, Lagos.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Govt withdraws sponsorship of 6 students in Russia over attack on embassy

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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RKED by last Monday’s attack on the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow, the Presidency has withdrawn sponsorship of six students at the Peoples Friendship University, for unruly behaviour.

The affected students are reported to have stormed the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow and protested non-remittance of their September allowance, creating image problems for Nigeria in the process.

Vanguard learnt that following the assault on the embassy, the Russian police arrested no fewer than 16 Niger Delta students and took them into custody for breach of the peace.

The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta announced yesterday that it decided to withdraw sponsorship of the affected students to serve as deterrent to others under its sponsorship in other parts of the globe.

The students were part of the 24 Niger Delta youths being sponsored by the Amnesty Office at the Peoples Friendship University, Moscow, Russia, who were found to be behind the condemnable act.

The decision was announced by Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, after it was discovered that claims of the students were untrue and that the attack on the Nigerian Mission was unprovoked.

“For going on rampage and violently attacking the Nigerian Mission, these students breached the Code of Conduct for delegates on scholarship that they all signed before their departure from Nigeria. It is also a gross misconduct, which the Nigerian government cannot tolerate. Students on its sponsorship cannot go on rampage on flimsy excuses in a foreign country and damage the image and reputation of Nigeria.

“Our records show that the students were not being owed their In-Training Allowance, ITA, for six months as they alleged."

PDP crisis: nPDP writes Jonathan, wants Oct 7 peace talks postponed zMeeting 'll determine reconciliation in PDP — Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—STRONG indications emerged yesterday that the lingering political crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will not end now as the faction led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has written to President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the October 7 peace talks between the parties is no longer feasible.

The Baraje led nPDP told the President that most of their members, as well as the G7 governors will be going for the hajj even as he said five more governors have concluded plans to join the fold next week.

The Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP, however, declared at the end of its weekly meeting yesterday that the October 7 meeting would determine the success or otherwise of the peace talks.

In the family of the Baraje-led new PDP are former Vice President Atiku Abubakart, governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State; Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, just as the speculated five intending governors to join the group were yet to be disclosed by the new PDP. It will also be recalled that at the last peace meeting summoned by President Goodluck Jonathan, which took place on September 15, it was resolved that further talks be deferred to October 7.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the NWC meeting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh who noted that the outcome of October 7 meeting would determine the state and nature of the reconciliation efforts, however added that the party was bigger than any member of the party.

He said: “We have already engaged in a reconciliation agenda as espoused by the National Chairman when he came to the office and we have been touring the country and doing it. We discussed the efforts and how we can continue. We mentioned our aggrieved brothers, we have left it for the meeting of October 7 to know how best to handle it.

“The National Working Committee, NWC, met and we hope that we will be able to achieve full reconciliation with our aggrieved brothers, but this party is bigger than any person or any group and PDP will survive all interest.

This is a national party, the custodians of the party administration are ready and capable to handle all matters that affect this party after the peace meeting.”

In a statement yesterday by the new PDP national Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Baraje led new PDP noted that it has sent an emissary to President Goodluck

Jonathan, seeking a postponement of the reconciliation meeting billed for Monday, October 7.

He said: “This decision was taken last night during the caucus meeting of the New PDP held at the Adamawa State Government Lodge, Asokoro,

Abuja, during which it was discovered that the date of the proposed peace meeting clashes with this year’s Hajj, in which several of our key members are billed to participate. Our National Chairman, Alhaji Baraje, and most of our other key members,

including most of the G7 governors and the five other governors that have indicated interest to join us next week, as well as members of the National Assembly, former governors, and business moguls, are billed to perform the Hajj, which is already in operation."

BRIEFING—From left: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina and Chairman, Senior Citizens Advocacy Network of Nigeria, Rear Admiral Christopher Sule Ehanmo (rtd), at a briefing on the International Day of Older Persons in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Apo killings: Nothing 'll be swept under the carpet — MARK

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA — SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday, assured that nothing would be swept under the carpet in an effort by the Senate to unravel the circumstances that led to recent killing of nine suspected insurgents in the Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory.

Mark, who spoke at an opening session of the Senate Joint Investigative Committee on Alleged Extra-judicial Killings in Apo, Abuja, assured that members of the committee would not inject “biases or sentiments in the course of their assignment."

He said: “There will be no biases; no sentiments and we have no preconceived ideas. All we are interested in is to get to the root of the matter. We are approaching the matter with an open mind to get the facts so that justice would be done.”

The Senate President therefore, appealed to

Nigerians who have facts about the Apo incident to freely volunteer information about the killing just as he assured that the committee was not to witchhunt anyone, saying it was rather, purely on fact-finding to address the problem and forestall any future occurrence.

He said: “This is not the time for blame game. It is time to find the facts. We must hear from all sides of the divide so that we can establish the truth and proffer solutions to the crises.”

Senator Mark regretted the ceaseless activities of insurgence in the country and reminded Nigerians that the war against terrorism was a collective fight of all if the battle must be won.

The Senate President noted that the current security situation had become worrisome and intolerable given that “we are now in a society where we do not know who the terrorists are in our midst.

“This is absurd and totally alien to us. We can no longer understand ourselves. We need to tackle this menace headlong.

The insurgents now have international connections. That is why everybody must work hard to tackle the menace before we are doomed.

“Let me assure you that the senate is committed to ensuring lasting peace, peace that you could truly imagine, peace that all of us collectively that will make us one united nation.

‘The main reason why we think that we should hold this hearing is not just because of the outcry, not just because lives have been lost but to truly learn some lessons, so that those lessons can become truly useful to us.

“The current situation in the country you will all agree with me is totally unacceptable. A situation, you don’t know who is a terrorist anymore in our midst, amongst us.

Our own brothers and sisters are the ones who are involved, that is not an acceptable situation; it is very alien to us, it is foreign to us. As Nigerians, that is not the way we were brought up. So we need to tackle it headlong. We must remain very steadfast in our fight against terrorism and the forces of darkness that threaten our people."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—9

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, CHRIS OCHAYI, MICHAEL EBOH, KUNLE KALEJAYE & AMANDI ONYEGBADUE

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BUJA—THE Federal Government and electricity workers yesterday charted a new course for the resolution of lingering labour-related crises threatening the power privatisation programme.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali, who spoke at the end of a meeting with organised labour in Abuja, said that all contentious issues have been resolved by the implementation committee.

This came even as the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, said in Lagos that the new investors will only be able to take physical possession of privatised assets after all labour issues have been addressed.

Speaking at the Power Investors Summit Nigeria yesterday, he maintained that the Federal Government is fully aware of all the issues, and has shown a level of goodwill never before seen in Nigeria over the years.

He reiterated government’s commitment to the power reforms programme, saying that the transition period will fully come on stream January 2014.

According to him, the pretransition period will afford the new owners the opportunity to test-run facilities, fine-tune things; make adjustments, so that when they take full possession, they cannot go wrong.

“It is the best thing to have a very clear pre-transition dimension, where people are doing the business as if they are in transition. But a few things have not been properly set the way they should be. So they will test it and see what needs to be done. It is an adjustment regime and it is not bad at all,” he noted.

Severance package

Dagogo-Jack noted that the labour issues are multi-faceted, adding that payment of workers’ severance package is just a small part in the entire process.

He said the physical handover of the assets will take place after the last person has been paid, saying, “The physical handover is delayed to tidy up the payment, which has been agreed with labour.”

The presidential aide further said: “The dispute resolution has to be put in place before the new investors commence operations.

However, I can assure Nigerians that the dispute resolution mechanism has been set up and all the disputes will be resolved.

“Paying the workers is not all the labour issues. All the labour issues have been done with, what remains is paying them, which is a process. We need to know who we are paying; where their banks are, what their names are. If you wire the money, it takes some time to enter the various accounts.”

In this regard, Igali after the

PHCN: FG, power sector unions zHandover to be completed after payment of resolve crisis workers; IFC to invest $1bn in Gencos, Discos

meeting with the labour unions promised that about 38,000 workers will receive their severance pay before the end of this week.

He blamed the hiccups being experienced in the payments on the large number of people involved, adding that government has enough money for the exercise, but was being careful in ensuring that money are not paid into wrong accounts.

The Permanent Secretary commended labour for the show of patriotism, adding that about 45,366 out of the 47,000 staff have so far been captured, and that the remaining persons would be done after the office of the Accountant General finalised its processes.

Negotiation with labour

Also speaking at the end of negotiation with labour, Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Jonah Otunla, expressed readiness of his office to pay all outstanding benefits after due processes.

He also reiterated the resolve of government to honour all obligations to PHCN workers.

Speaking on behalf of colleagues, General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, blamed government for sending the wrong signals regarding what led to the stoppage of payments which had commenced earlier.

He expressed the hope that workers would be fully paid as promised, adding that government should complete the process as they don’t expect the process to be indefinite.

He commended government for providing solutions to issues agitating the minds of the unions, while supporting the need for a biometric capture of all workers before payments are made.

Ajaero urged all members of the unions nationwide, to suspend their planned action and protest, as this will give room for them to watch if Government will still be committed to ensuring prompt payment of entitlements to its members.

Post-privatisation success

In a video message to participants at the programme, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, assured Nigerians that the successes recorded following the privatisation of the telecommunication sector will be dwarfed by the success that will be recorded in the power sector.

According to him, investors will be overwhelmed by the opportunities and benefits that will be derived in the power sector in the next couple of years.

In a related development, the Chairman, House Committee on Power, Patrick Ikhariale, has emphasized the need to ensure that Nigerians get value for the

SUMMIT—From left: Bernard Sheahan, IFC Director, Infrastructure and Natural Resources and Engr. Reynolds Dagogo-Jack, Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power at the ongoing Power Investors Summit in Lagos, yesterday.

promises made for the privatisation of the 17 PHCN successor companies.

He made the remark when he led his committee on an oversight visit to the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, recently.

He explained that over 70 percent of the socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians are as a result of the poor performance of the power sector.

He noted that if the promises of a stable power sector with the privatisation of the successor companies were consolidated, it would go a long way in addressing most of these challenges.

IFC to invest $1bn in Gencos, Discos

Speaking on the sidelines of the Lagos Power Summit, the Director, Infrastructure Department, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Mr. Bernard Sheahan, said the World Bank subsidiary plans to invest about $1 billion (N160 billion) in the Nigerian power sector over the next couple of months.

He said the fund will be deployed to power generating and distribution companies, especially Greenfield power projects.

He stated that the funds, which will be in form of longer term financing, will in the short term, be used to provide financing for three of the distribution companies.

He allayed fears that a number of the privatised assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN,

are obsolete, saying that a number of the assets are worthy of financing.

He said the IFC expressed interest in the Nigerian power sector since 2000, adding that its recent decision to invest in the sector is based on the seriousness and commitment of the Federal Government to the power reforms programme as well as the numerous opportunities it sees in the Nigeria power sector.

He further stated that the IFC has started disbursing funds to some developers in Independent Power Projects, IPPs, adding that its decision to invest a substantial part of the fund in Greenfield projects is based on the need to increase capacity in the sector.

According to him, the IFC will also provide financing for some of the existing projects, as the rehabilitated plants will be important in ensuring stable power supply in the short run.

Also speaking, the Country Manager, Nigeria, IFC, Mr. Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, expressed optimism that in the next three years, things will stabilise in the power sector, especially when the IPPs start to come on stream.

In another development, a representative of the Investment Sector and Development Department of the Ministry of Power, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwu, said government has put in place policies that will enable investors to operate effectively.

Chukwu, who spoke at the 2013 Power Nigeria Exhibition in Lagos, yesterday, argued that the policies are meant to ensure mutual benefits for the both investors and consumers of

power.

He said: “The role of the regulator (Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission) is to ensure that investors do not bring a different price and the end-user does not enjoy free electricity.

Meanwhile, a meeting between the Federal Government and Labour leaders in the Power sector yesterday in Abuja resolved that immediate payment of the terminal benefits of workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, would commence today and end in a week time.

The Accountant General of the Federation was said to have told the meeting that the Central Bank of Nigeria, credited N99billion to its account yesterday.

Vanguard that gathered that the meeting was told that payment was stopped after commencement because of the absence of National Council on Privatisation, NCP and the Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE. It was gathered that workers Pension Fund Administrators PFAs, would also be credited from today.

Confirming the development, General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity, NUEE, Joe Ajaero said labour would give government benefit of doubt, saying Government representatives apologized for the delay and mixup.

According to him, the Accountant General Mr. Jonah Otunla told us among others, that they would begin full payment tomorrow (today) and hope to conclude payment before the end of next week. He said he got an alert of N99 billion credited to the office account by the CBN. He equally apologized for the delay and others.

10—Vanguard THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Independence message from creative Nigerian, in Lagos

Court adjourns arraignment of 17 Boko Haram suspects A

FEDERAL High Court Lagos, Wednesday, fixed October 9 and 10, for the arraignment and trial of 17 suspected Boko Haram members, charged with acts of terrorism.

The accused are Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, and Musa Audu.

Others are Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.

The case which was slated for arraignment of the accused, was stalled due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Musa Kurya.

The case was , however, adjourned

to October 9 and 10, for their arraignment and commencement of trial.The accused are charged by the Federal Government, on eight-counts bordering on conspiracy and acts of terrorism.

At the last adjourned date, the accused were docked, but their pleas were not taken, due to the absence of an interpreter to read the charge in the language understood by them.

Justice Kurya had then adjourned the case to October 2, following an application for adjournment made by the prosecutor, Mr, Lawal Pedro (SAN).

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence on March 21, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase 1 Housing Estate, and No. 24 Oyegbeni St; Ijora Oloye, Apapa, Lagos.

Adeboye to hold special prayer for Nigerian public servants

N

The photo speaks for millions of Nigerian graduates without jobs. Mr. Victor Briggs, alias “Mr. Swag,” branded himself and his bike with the Nigerian colours on Independence Day and his message is: ‘I’m creative, but lack employment. Empower me.’

Over to government.

ATIONAL HEADQUARTERS of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG plan to hold a one-day special prayer for civil servants on Sunday, 6th, October 2013 by 8am.

In a release by the Special Assistant to General Overseer on Administrative/Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, the special prayer programme would serve as a platform to solicit and pray for God’s divine

intervention in the nation’s public service.

In his words: “ the church believed that civil/public service is the brainbox of any nation and to restore the real glory of Nigerian Public and civil service there is need for divine intervention hence our General Overseer will pray for workers at all levels in this ministry for excellent spirit that will help them to run the ministry efficiently.”

Ikuforiji calls for end to blood-letting in Nigeria

BY EBUN SESSOU

T

HE SPEAKER, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji has called for concerted efforts by Nigerians to end the spate of bloodletting that is heating up the polity of the country.

Ikuforiji, in his Independence anniversary statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, declared: “As we Nigerians celebrate our 53rd anniversary as an independent country, the time has come for us all to join hands in order to save our country from imminent collapse.

“The persistent bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians in some parts of the North is an anomie that has been with us for a while.

Though some drastic actions have been taken by the Federal Government, it appears that more stringent efforts by all are still urgently required to put an end to the unfortunate and sad situation.

Dr Jacob Adelayo Williams is dead

COWLSO invites Gombe, Edo govs to national conference

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

G

OVERNOR IBRAHIM Dankwabo of Gombe State and his Edo State counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole will feat ure at a national conference aimed at giving hope to women in Lagos.

Wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola who disclosed this at a briefing yesterday, said the two governors were specially picked to motivate the women in the forthcoming National women conference organized by the Committee Of Wives OF Lagos State Of-

ficials (COWLSO) .

Fashola who also doubled as the chairman of the committee said the 13th edition with the theme,” See Beyond Today: Enhance the Quality of life”, would showcase positive aspects of life to the women.

Fashola said the committee had spent about N42million on the treatment of 35 cancer female patients in the state, pointing out that the beneficiaries were mainly breast and cervical cancer patients.

She added that the costs of their treatments both local and foreign hospitals were borne by the committee.

NAHCo invests $70m in equipment in 2 yrs

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

N

IGERIAN AVIATION Han dling Company, NAHCo, Plc, yesterday, said it had invested about $70 million in the acquisition of modern ground handling equipment and infrastructure in the past two years.

Speaking to newsmen during the commissioning of the NAHCo training and development centre at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Lagos, Chairman of NAHCo, Mallam Sulaimon Yahaya said the equipment and infrastructure, were invested in Lagos airport

alone.

According to Yahaya NAHCo acquired 325 ground handling support equipment in March 2012 worth over N2billion.

Some of the equipment are two units of wide body Push Back, six units of motorised conveyor belt, 12 units of passenger step, three units of motorized toilet browser, 12 units of Ground Power Unit, GPU, four units of Air Start Unit, ASU, 80 units of Container Dollies, 100 units of Pallet Dollies as well as 40 units of Baggage Carts.She added that the costs of their treatments both local and foreign hospitals were borne by the committee.

Late Dr. Williams

C

HIEF (Dr.) Jacob Adelayo Williams passed onto eternal glory on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, after a brief illness. He was aged 77.

Chief Williams was a career geneticist and plant breeder at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, for over three decades. He retired after serving meritoriously as Director of the Institute.

Survived by children, grand-children and numerous family members, he will be sorely missed.

He will be laid to rest at the Victoria Court Cemetery, Lagos-Epe Express Way, Lagos State, after a funeral service at his church, New Reservation Area Baptist Church, lyaganku GRA, Ibadan on October 25, 2013.

Vanguard THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—11

We’ve met all necessary conditions for Ijebu State creation’

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

CORONATION: From left, HRM, Oba Abiodun OLorunnisola, Otutubiosun 111; HRM, Oba Michael Adedeji , JP; HRM, Oba Babatola Oladele, Olupole Iloro Ekiti, HRM, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi, Alara of Aramoko, and HRM, Oba Aderemi Obaleye, Olojudo of Ido Ile, at the coronation of new HRM, Oba Oladele, JP, as the Olupole of Ipole ILoro Ekiti, at Ipole, Ekiti State.

Photo: Shola Oyelese

AGAGU’S BURIAL: Mimiko urges Ondo people to troop out for late gov

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE— GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has urged the people of the state to troop out to honour the late former Governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, during his burial activities as announced by the state government.

In a statement by Com-

missioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade yesterday, Dr. Mimiko said his predecessor deserved to be honoured by the people, hence, his plea for their full participation at the burial activities.

The statement said the body of the former Governor, would arrive the Airport in Akure today by 9.00a.m., after which a lying-in-state session

would take place at the Democratic Park, Akure. ”The lying-in-state will take place early enough in Akure after the arrival of the body to enable it leave and arrive the deceased’s home-town in Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government for another lying-in-state cum wake-keep by 5.00p.m. on the same day at the Iju-Odo Civic Centre. ”A burial service will hold for the departed tomorrow, Friday, October 4, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo by 11.00 a.m. while the remains of the late Dr. Agagu will be interred at the same venue, and reception follows at Manuwa Memorial Grammar School in the same town.”

792 council workers may lose Sept salary for absenteeism

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — No fewer than 792 council workers in Ekiti State may lose their September salary for alleged absenteeism and dereliction of duties Given clarification on the fate of the embattled workers,Mr. Ranti Adebisi, chairman of the State Local Government Service Commission, LGSC, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said the figure represented those who were not on their duty-posts when a taskforce set up by Fayemi’s government paid unscheduled visits to all the 16 local government areas to authenticate whether they were actual member of staff of the council or not.

The chairman said it was not true that those whose names were compiled were to be sacked by the state government, saying those peddling the rumour did not have interest of the state at heart.

According to him, the state government had no intention of sacking any staff at the council level for now or future. ”There is no truth in the rumour that this commission is about to sack 800 council workers. There is a biometric team that has been going on and monitoring the attendance of workers to determine ghost workers in the local governments. ”But I have not recommended that those affected should be sacked. What the committee recommended was that the salaries of those affected should be suspended until we can clarify whether they are workers of the local government or not.”

Adebisi added that his commission had set up another committee to re-validating the lists within three days.

Patients stranded at UCH as resident doctors begin strike

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — SEVERAL patients on admission at the University College Hospital, Ibadan were stranded, yesterday, as the strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria began.

Though, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee and Chairman, Clinical Services, Research and Training, Professor Abiodun Otegbayo said adequate arrangement had been made to reduce the effects of the strike, Vanguard observed that many patients were left unattended to as a result of the strike.

Prof. Otegbayo said: “It is understandable that the strike will virtually affect clinical services in the hospital.

“However, we are trying to cope because we still have consultants rendering skeletal services and also, in the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, we have few residents doctors attending to patients.”

BEOKUTA — THE Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona has said the Ijebus have met all the necessary conditions stipulated by the constitution for the creation of Ijebu State from the present Ogun State.

At a briefing, the monarch whose speech was read by the Coordinator of this year’s Ojude Oba Festival, Chief Fasi Yusuf said the people of Ijebu had met requirements as stipulated in Section 8 (1) (a) to (d) of the 1999 Constitution and were qualified to have a state of their own.

According to the monarch, this year’s Ojude Oba Festival which would hold October 17, would be used to drum up support for the creation of the long over-due Ijebu State by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

Also, at the event was Globacom Marketing Coordinator, Adeniyi Olukoya and the Ogun State Comm i s s i o n e r for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Yewande Amusan commended the Globacom for its usual sponsorship of the festival.

Old students asked to contribute to school devt

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

T

HE NATIONAL Presi dent of Oke-Are Seminary Old Boys Association of Nigeria, OSOBAN, Mr. Ladi Taiwo, has lamented the growing infrastructure deficit in institutions of learning across the country, advising well-to-do Nigerians to cultivate the culture of giving back to schools in which they have studied.

According to him, this wouldl help remedy the myriad of challenges debasing the nation’s educational system, as the situation had become too complicated to be left to in the hands of govrenments alone.

Speaking ahead of OSOBAN’s award ceremony and fund-raising coming up at the Oyo State capital, he recommended the setting-up in dynamic old students associations that would address issues of educational facilities, basic amenities and academic quality.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Proposed National Confab: Itsekiri youths laud Jonathan

Akpabio blames Nigeria’s woes on idolatry

BY TONY NYONG

U

YO—GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, has attributed Nigeria’s backwardness to idolatry.

Akpabio, who spoke yesterday, when the President of Christian Council of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emmanuel Udofia, paid him a courtesy visit, said: “Our nation is tottering today because many people have turned away from God.” The governor observed that many Nigerians had neglected God’s instructions, choosing, rather, to worship idols, saying: “Many have set up foul altars different from that of God. So many have gone to look for powers in India and from the celestial world in order to attract people to the church. Many people are no longer preaching salvation, they are preaching prosperity.

Prosperity may be sufficient for man to live in, but it is not sufficient for salvation.

“When we started campaigning, we shouted Let God’s will be done.

When I won, I knew indeed that God’s will had been done in Akwa Ibom State.”

BY DANIEL GUMM

W

PHARMACY WEEK: Fom left: Mr. Olumide Akintola, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the 2013 Pharmacy Week of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Benin City, yesterday.

2015 Presidency: Nigerians won’t accept rigging —Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 presidential election, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has warned politicians against heating up the polity, saying that the President of the country will only emerge through the ballot box and not rigging or imposition.

Urging Nigerians to embrace peace and allow democracy to flourish, he lamented what he described as the misuse of power by politicians since the return of democracy in 1999, and stressed the need for politicians to be

mindful of the past in order to avoid mistakes and unnecessary tension in the country.

Oshiomhole stated this at the Independence Day Celebration held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. The governor who addressed the mammoth crowd, said that despite the drumbeat ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the ballot remains the only means of achieving political power, adding that it would be suicidal for any politician to attempt to manipulate the electoral processs.

He said: “The promise of independence was that Nigeria would be governed on the

basis of democratic principles.

We have had democracy unbroken since 1999 and for this we must salute the patriotism of our armed forces. They have worked hard to keep Nigeria going in spite of the way politicians try to destroy our unity based on short term calculation of political convenience.

“As we approach 2015, our mandate must be clear and bold: No one who is not the product of our ballot shall govern, or preside or function at any level of government. Our politicians must be made to understand that our people are not in the mood to tolerate imposition and one man dictatorship because civilian dictatorship is more deadly and dangerous than military dictatorship.

“On this occasion, we recognise and salute the courage and commitment of the Nigerian armed forces. In Edo State, I ask you to appreciate these men who all the time put their lives on the line so that you and I may be safe.

Nigeria is one.

There is no question about our future. It is true we have not managed our resources as judiciously as we should do across the country, yet in different parts of the country you can see evidence of progress,” he stated.

ARRI—President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to convoke a National Conference has been described as the most courageous step ever taken by any Nigerian leader, particularly in the quest to tackle the ‘national question.’

Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, National President of Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC, Mr. David Tonwe, said: "With this announcement by the President, our organisation is convinced that Nigeria is now on the threshold of addressing the lingering ‘national question’.'"

He explained that "it is further based on the assumption that those that will be saddled with the responsibility of organising the proposed dialogue will be utilitarian and honest, resisting and pruning themselves of the demands and pressures from political parties, sectional and ethnic interests, and the usual desire of national and regional majority ethnic groups to lord it over others and force their respective interests on the minority ethnic groups."

The Itsekiri youth leader called on the advisory committee to recommend that participation should be based on ethnic representations, irrespective of claimed or imaginary demographic statues with “the principle of equality of all ethnic nations taken sine qua non.”

According to Tonwe: "If population strength (real or imaginary) of ethnic groups will have any role to play in the determination of the number of delegates from the different ethnic nations, then the financial contributions to the national pause from the lands of the different ethnic nations must then come into play as one of the criteria for determining the number of delegates that will represent the different ethnic groups when the proposed conference kicks off."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—13

Bill on persons to carry diplomatic passports passes 2nd reading in House of Reps

Delta to employ 20,000 youths through SEEFOR Project

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

W

ORRIED by the high rate of youth unemployment in the state, Delta State Government is to employ over 20,000 youths in the next five years through the Small Public Works sub-component of the State Employment and Expenditure for Results, SEEFOR, Project.

In compliance with its mandate for human capital development, the state government continually creates more employment opportunities and promotes entrepreneurship by encouraging self-employment and self-reliance, encouraging youths to take to areas such as agriculture, organizing training and skill acquisition programmes that would benefit the youths and sundry in the state.

The Youth Empowerment Project, YEP, is another avenue through which the government has shown its seriousness to empower the youth and reduce unemployment.

Yet the government agrees also that training the youth to embrace skill acquisition programmes is a sure way to empower them.

To show its seriousness to tackle youth unemployment, the Delta State Government directorate of youth development recently held a human capital development initiative for youths.

The initiative was aimed at re-focusing the mindset of the youth early in their lives to embrace self-sustaining small and medium scale enterprises in other nonoil sectors.

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWAGUHIOGU

A

PRESENTATION: Senator Abe (2nd right), addressing leaders of B-Dere and K-Dere in Gokana LGA during the presentation of surveillance motorcycles and smart phones he donated to the two communities.

Ekweremadu wants higher qualifications for senators, Reps

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—DEPUTY Senate President and Speaker of African Parliament, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday asked African governments to make Associate Degree or National Diploma the least required educational qualification for legislators in the continent, saying such was necessary given the challenges of the 21st Century African societies.

Senator Ekweremadu, who decried the harsh effect of long years of military rule on the development of African legislatures, insisted that the challenges of legislating for 21st Century African societies had made possession of higher educational qualifications imperative for parliamentari-

ans in the continent.

A statement, in Abuja, by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, said Senator Ekweremadu spoke in Mahe, the Republic of Seychelles, where he is attending the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers of African Region.

The statement quoted the Deputy Senate President as saying: “The theatre of politics at the domestic and international levels is changing drastically.”

According to Eweremadu, the development had: “Thrown up many complicated issues like terrorism, piracy, climate change and global warming, child trafficking, global economic recession, trade imbalances between the North and South,

cyber-crimes, among others, which require some form of intellectual sophistication to deal with.

“Accordingly, African Parliaments must set higher standards of education for their membership in order to adequately respond to these challenges. It is only logical to prescribe an Ordinary National Diploma or Associate Degree as minimum qualification for membership of individual African Parliaments to enhance the quality of debate and the product of parliamentary businesses.”

Senator Ekweremadu, however, commended many African parliaments for the impressive pedigree of their members, despite what he called the “absence of minimum qualifications or prescription of low qualifications in their laws.”

BUJA—A BILL seeking to identify status of persons qualified to carry diplomatic passports in Nigeria passed second reading in the House of Representatives, yesterday, as members disclosed that the Comptroller Generals of both Fire Service and the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were expunged from the list.

This was sequel to the adoption of the report of the House committee on Interior on a bill to amend the Passport Act, 2004.

Mr Umar Bature (PDP-Sokoto), the chairman of the committee on Interior, said the amendment was aimed at clearly defining persons eligible for the issuance of diplomatic and official passports.

However, the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Prisons were included in the list of agencies and persons to be issued with diplomatic passports.

Sapele to showcase investment opportunity, tourism potentials

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM & KUNLE KALEJAIYE

A

LL is now set for 2013 Sapele fiesta, where investment opportunities, tourism potentials and the rich cultural heritage of the metropolis will be showcased.

This year ’s edition, tentatively scheduled to hold from December 15-30, 2013, is be-

ing packaged by Cheney and Cheney, a non-profit organisation. The theme of the programme is, Sapele: Through the Prism of our Culture, People and Resources.

Conceptualised in 1993, the programme came alive in 2012 in a highly successful event that lasted five days.

Speaking during a courtesy call at Vanguard’s Head office in Lagos, Barrister Gabriel Otuedon, chairman, Organising Committee of the event, said the fiesta would be an avenue to assure potential investors that Sapele was a peaceful place where people from all parts of the country could live and invest.

He stated that the fiesta will involve not only the sociocultural aspects of Sapele people, but also feature a

mini-trade fair, where people will showcase their wares for the Christmas season.

He said: “We want to tell the world that irrespective of their perceived idea about Niger Delta, Sapele is a peaceful place, not just to stay, but also where you can invest. The fiesta is a socio-cultural and economic event, a place where you can unwind and also make money for yourself.

“The event stands to unite the people of Sapele and those living there. Sapele is the Swizerland of the Niger Delta region. By the time you step into Sapele, all warring factions will shield their swords and embrace peace.

“Let’s not forget that the event will also feature a minitrade fair, display of different Sapele cuisines, culture and

dances, among others.

He noted that machinery had been put in place to ensure that all the necessary approvals were secured from the Ministry of Commerce, Asaba, and Sapele Chamber of Commerce and Industry, even as Nigerian Police and Joint Action Task Force, JTF, would provide security throughout the duration of the event.

Mr. Gabriel Otuedon

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Doctors strike shuts federal hospitals

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

& EMMA UNA AGOS—THE Na tional Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, yesterday, made good its threat to begin a nationwide strike throwing Federal public hospitals in the country into confusion leaving patients in the hands of nurses and midwives.

This came as indication emerged that members of NARD in the State Hospitals might be forced to join the strike.

In Lagos, though there were skeletal services in some of the hospitals, the doctors were not at their duty posts.

Only few consultants were attending to large crowd of patients.

From the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, IdiAraba, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, and Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, the situations were the same.

President LUTH-ARD, Dr Emeka Ugwu, told Vanguard in Lagos that members joined the

L

strike yesterday.

President, Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH chapter, Dr Oluwajimi Shodipo, hinted that there was an ongoing deliberation to decide whether the state hospitals should join the strike or not.

Shodipo confirmed that some doctors were still working at the hospital.

A consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, said the resident doctors at the hospital joined the strike at 12midnight.

In Calabar, Nurses and midwives were seen discharging some functions of medical doctors.

At the General Hospital Calabar, large crowd of patients were seen waiting to be attended to by the two medical directors and their assistants.

At the University of C a l a b a r Teaching Hospital, Dr Thomas Agan, the Chief Medical Director, confirmed that doctors in the hospital had joined their counterparts in the nationwide strike.

He said he pleaded to the doctors in vail to shelve the strike, saying “We know

that the doctors are on strike nationwide but we have continued to make appeals to our doctors to return to work to no avail.

Presently, we are relying on our consultants to do some of the works.”

A patient, Mrs Matilda Eteng who was admitted with her son into the paediatric section of the hospital, lamented that her son had not been attended to since Monday when he was admitted.

Some medical staff who did not want to disclose their names lamented the haphazard payment of salaries since the introduction of the e-payment mid last year.

“You can imagine as a nurse on grade level nine, what I was paid last month was just 6,000 naira and when I complained I was told the error is from Abuja and some of my colleagues and even doctors have not been paid for several months.” ”Many doctors have not been collecting salary for some months now because of the e-payment of salaries and these people have families to cater for,” our source said.

Obi donates N1bn to secondary schools

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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W KA — G OV E R NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday in Awka handed cheques totaling N1 billion to Principals of secondary schools in the state for the renovation and equipping of their laboratories and libraries.

Each secondary school received N2 million which the governor said, is part of the final push to upgrade the infrastructure in all public and missionary schools in the state.

Obi announced at the ceremony attended by school children and their teachers, as well as traditional rulers and leaders of thought in the state, that the 2000 teachers to be employed for the secondary schools this year would be in the core subjects of English, mathematics, sciences and Igbo, adding that the teachers would be adequately trained both locally and abroad to equip them

properly to enable them impart the right knowledge to the students.

Yesterday’s event came barely ten days after the governor presented cheques of N1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of primary schools returned to the Churches; N2b for rehabilitation of primary schools owned by government and N3 billion to selected mis-

sionary hospitals to upgrade their facilities to enable them secure accreditation.

Obi said the funds being disbursed were part of the N40b his government would commit in the next six months into various sectors as final push towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, MDG.

Abia commissions 4 buses for commuters According to Orji, “the

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji yesterday, commissioned four brand new buses to commute traders and customers from Umuahia to Ubani Ibeku, where the Umuahia Main Market is now relocated, saying he felt fulfilled relocating the market to make room for expansion of the capital city.

Speaking while commissioning the vehicles, Governor Orji said the Umuahia Main Market was relocated to make room for the expansion of Umuahia, the capital city of the state.

fare for the buses would be very affordable as they are made to alleviate the initial difficulties the traders and their customers may experience as they moved to the new market located at the outskirt of Umuahia.”

Handing over the keys to the buses to the chairman, transport committee of the market, Elder Onyinyechi Odum, the governor said he was fulfilled that the market had been relocated; explaining that the idea to relocate the market had been on the board since 1935 when the city was under the administration of colonial masters.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 15

FG okays new policy to check importation of cars

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Fed eral Executive Council, yesterday, approved a new national automotive policy to check the country ’s spending of over N550 billion in importing cars into Nigeria.

The council meeting which was presided over

by President Goodluck Jonathan also approved N41 billion for the development of infrastructure for the Federal Capital Territory.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said government has identified and designated automotive clusters in Lagos/Ogun, Kaduna/ Kano, and Anambra/ Enugu states as the locations for the manufacturing of the new vehicles to enable them share resources and reduce cost of investments.

According to him, the development is expected to revive, expand and develop the petrochemical and metal/steel sectors which is expected to culminate in the return of tyre manufacturing industry to support the automotive sector.

Mr Labaran Maku, who was joined by the Minister of Trade and Investments, Olusegun Aganga, and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, said the success of the policy will also mean a gradual phase out of fairly used (tokunboh) cars imported into Nigeria.

Speaking on the policy, Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegum Aganga said the national automotive policy will further encourage local manufacture of vehicles, adding that car import takes the biggest share of the country’s foreign reserves followed by other machinery.

He added that the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, is working with carmaker, Cena of Brazil, to open automotive training centres in Nigeria while two Nigerian universities have agreed to commence degree programmes in automechanical engineering to bridge the manpower challenge in the sector.

DONATION: Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (4th right), with Senior prefects of secondary schools in the state on his left, during the presentation of a cheque of I Billion Naira to the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Uju Okeke (3rd right), Chairman, Post Primary School Services Commission, Mrs. Joy Ulasi (2nd right) and Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Nze Olisa Emeka, for the strengthening of Libraries and Laboratories in schools in the state, at the Women Development Centre, Awka, yesterday.

ASUU: FG begs NUT to withdraw strike threat

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA—FEDERAL Gov ernment, yesterday, appealed to Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, to shelve its proposed solidarity strike with Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. The Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, made the appeal in Abuja, at a meeting with the members of NUT on the proposed industrial action.

It will be recalled that the NUT on September 26, 2013, gave Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to honour the agreement they had with ASUU or face total shutdown of the education sector in the country.

The Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, who was present at the meeting, said the Federal Government has already implemented 80 per cent of the 2009 Agreement they had with ASUU. According to Wike, “The 2009 agreements with ASUU have a number of issues and I want to tell you that the Federal Government, has already met 80% of the critical needs. It is remaining only two major components which are earned allowances, and they are expecting the Federal Government to release N400billion annually for infrastructural development.

“ASUU now asked the Federal Government to develop the universities annually, and it shouldn’t be part of Federal budget and not part of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and that the Federal Government should allocate N400 billion for capital projects in the universities. This is not realistic, because we have Polytech-

nics and colleges of education”.

Most universities haven’t accessed their 2012 intervention funds so there are still funds for them.

On earned allowances he said: “The N30billion was for a start and then if it is not enough we would find a way to pay ASUU.” The Minister of Labour, Mr. Wogu in his contribution said, discussion with ASUU is still ongoing, and that dialogue has not broken down.

“One thing that is clear is that Federal Government has started implementing the 2009 agree-

ment so if there are grey areas, the appropriate thing to do is to settle it. The thing is that those grey areas cannot be settled when ASUU is on strike, the grey areas can still be settled if they go back to the classrooms.

I think the issue is going back to the classrooms, intimidations would not resolve it, but for all hands to be on deck to resolve it.

"We have got to a stage where even ASUU has realised that government has done enough towards the implementation of the 2009 agreement.”

About the proposed sympathy strike of NUT he said: “I want to appeal to you to call off the proposed threat of strike. We just want to reassure that Federal Government would soon resolve the ASUU strike. Do not compound what is on ground, but rather suggest solution to government on how to end the strike.”

In his response the President of Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Alogba Olukoya, said the union was not happy at the state of education in the country."

2015: INEC begins constituency delineation He further explained that as part of the preparation for the BUJA—AS the 2015 gen exercise, the commission had aleral election draws nearer, ready sensitized key stakeholders the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced fresh delineation of BUJA—THE Irish Ambas constituencies nation-wide. This sador to Nigeria, Mr Patrick was disclosed, yesterday, by the Fay has said Ireland has at least Chairman of the Commission Proa thousand year history in the fessor Attahiru Jega during the production of Spirits (distilled alsigning of a memorandum of understanding between INEC and cohol) and a world reputation for the Office of the Surveyor-Gen- excellence in the production of whiskey. Mr Fay said this at the eral of the Federation.

He further stated that the com- unveiling of Irish Mayor Cream mission had already inaugurated Liqueur, at his Abuja residence.

Irish Mayor cream liqueur was two committees for the purpose created

by Rotimi Adebari, the of carrying out the exercise. first elected Black African Mayor His words: ”We have inaugurated the National and Technical in Ireland to showcase Irish welCommittees and it is these two coming nature. Presenting the committees that would take the product, Rotimi said Irish Mayor exercise to the next stage which captures everything that makes would be the nitty-gritty work of Ireland such a special and loved place in the hearts and minds of constituency delimitation”.

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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that would be involved.

Jega said other stakeholders that have been sensitised include the National Boundaries Commission, the National Agency for Space Research and many others.

Irish Mayor Cream Liqueur unveiled

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anyone who has ever come to its shores. He described Irish Mayor as a special drink for grand occasions.

Speaking at the event, His Royal Highness, Oba Olurotimi Fagbenro, The Oloke Odan of Oke-Odan said the introduction of Irish Mayor into Nigeria market will further strengthen the ties between Nigeria and Ireland.

The unveiling of Irish Mayor cream liqueur was performed by Victor Oladokun, a former TV presenter with CBS news and now the Director 3D Global Leadership. Victor commended the smoothness of Irish Mayor and its impressive packaging.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

National confab, attempt to deceive Nigerians —CNPP M

BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—THE Confer ence of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has declared the President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed National Conference as another dummy by the presidency to deceive Nigerians.

According to them, ”the process will definitely be manipulated by the government to suit their own purpose. The fact is that, at the end of the day, it will turn out to another jamboree and avenue for people to make money from the system.”

Benue State Chairman of the CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan who spoke, yesterday, with Vanguard in Makurdi, said: “Mark my word, money will be the determining factor in everything that will transpire at that conference; they just want to deceive Nigerians. ”Nobody can trust this PDP government to diligently convene a national confab without the process being manipulated and exploited to suit the purpose of the conveners. ”They will influence the entire process and at the end of

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the day, the wishes, aspirations and voice of the ordinary Nigerian would be subsumed by the wishes of our leaders who do not care about the poor and needy. ”The truth is that Nigeria is

faced with array of problems but corruption and the Boko Haram menace are the most devastating, and if we are serious with the fight against corruption in this country, let us emulate the Chinese example.

”We need laws that can bite, stiffer penalties for corrupt practices are what we need in this country. If we do that, every other thing will fall into place. We are tired of these talk shops.”

Army to destroy seized IEDs in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—THE 7 Division of Nigerian Army in Borno State is to destroy large quantities of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, recovered during the fight against terror in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by Operation BOYONA in the state as from tomorrow.

It therefore, asked residents and members of Chabbal community, including farmers and herdsmen to remain indoors during the period.

Speaking, yesterday, at the Joint Task Force, JTF, headquarters in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, the acting spokesman of the division, Lt.

Col. Sagir Musa, said the detonation would be carried out at Chabbal area on MaiduguriGubio road to prevent casualties arising from exploded bombs.

He said: “In view of the exercise, the military division wishes to inform members of the general public, particularly herdsmen; and those people living and farming around those areas, as well as motorists, not to panic on the massive movements of troops and their vehicles and sounds of explosives on Friday (tomorrow).”

He specifically warned farmers and herdsmen to keep away from the Chabbal general area, until the exercise was completed.

On the recent attacks and killings on MaiduguriDamaturu road and Benishiekh town, the spokesman said: “The 7 Division of Nigerian Army is seriously concerned and is acting with a view to containing this ugly trend, not only on the affected road, but other roads, as well as in its area of responsibility.

“The whole effort is to contain terrorism and ensure the protection of people’s lives and property. Members of the public are requested to continue to remain resilient and security conscious at all times, as the 7 Military Division is poised to eradicating this madness.”

Youths slam FG over fight against corruption

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BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI—THE Nigeria Youth For positive Change, NYPC, has accused the Federal Government of allegedly paying lip service to the fight against corruption in the country.

National Coordinator of the NYPC, Mr. Nasiru Kabiru, who levelled the accusation at a news conference in Bauchi, yesterday, on the state of the nation lamented that corruption has eaten deep into all arms of the government.

His words: “The fight against corruption in the country has been reduced to empty sloganeering by anti-corruption agencies and the chorus is echoed loudest by corrupt public officials. ’’The EFCC, ICPC, the police and other anti-corruption agencies have not been doing their best to curtail corruption.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013— 17

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IGERIA’S sundry ‘tribes’ of agitators, fromcivilsociety activists through to gerontocratic “have-beens” and ethnic entrepreneurs, finally scored a notable victory on Independence Day, when President Goodluck Jonathan appointed an AFENIFERE chieftain, Dr. Femi Okurounmu, to chair an Advisory Committee to work out modalities for a national conference. The committee, according to Jonathan, “will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to form, structure and mechanism of the process (for a national dialogue or conference)”.

It has been so long in coming; the calls for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) have roots in the days of military dictatorship.

The SNC platform had been used in the smaller Francophone countries like Mali, Benin and Togo to end decades of military dictatorship. There was an uprising in Mali against the Moussa Traore regime which shot and killed dozens of people on the streets of Bamako.

General Amadou Toumani Toure organised a coup and reached a historical compromise with the Malian people for a SNC. Structural Adjustment Policies, SAP, had also wrought so much

Now they will have their national conference class of Nigerian society. But before long, SNC, like a gene, escaped the confines of leftwing circles, and became the agitation handmaiden of reactionary, ethnic-based circles like AFENIFERE and Professor Ben Nwabueze’s The Patriots.

They want SNC to ‘restructure’ Nigeria, after the “tribes” (in the Twenty-First Century people still talk of tribes!), must have held this much-vaunted conference. It became so persistently monotonous, that serious issues of national development, located in the political economy, social injustice, class struggle and the widening gap between a tiny

building traditions of Borno, the Sokoto Caliphate, Oyo Empire and Benin, for example. The problem was that Chief Enahoro and Prof.

Nwabueze had backgrounds in villages and clans. Chief Enahoro once wrote that the Ishan worldview recognises only the village and the clan.

He and Prof Nwabueze have therefore always understood history from these backgrounds and have attempted to impose that clannish worldview on the •Prof Ben Nwabueze complex historical forces which forged the Nigerian one indeed. So on Independence peoples. Especially in the North, Day, GEJ announced a committee people ignored the SNC to work out modalities for a agitation because they found national conference/dialogue. It Their national conference might end up unacceptable the “tribal’ frames came as no surprise that an taking the dead-on-arrival ride to the of Enahoro and Nwabueze. AFENIFERE chieftain, Dr. mortuary of politics, because “tribes” sitting There were other reservations Okurounmu, was called to chair too, especially the not-too-subtle the committee; the man very in conference will not invent any golden secessionist agenda embedded much fits the part! bullets that can shoot the problems of our in the agitation, after the June It will be most interesting what 12, 1993 elections. the criteria will end up to be. Are society The crises of governance in we going get Enahoro’s and havoc on society and there was business elite of bandits in an the past few years and the Nwabueze’s “tribes” sitting the loss of a whole decade of incestuous alliance with the emergence of the Boko Haram around the table? Will they African development, the political elite and the mass of the insurgency rekindled the SNC confirm that Nigeria is just the consequences we continue to Nigerian people, with the agitation. Again, it was by sum total of “tribes”? What will like Prof they make of the social forces suffer today, with neo-liberal attendant social contradictions, gerontocrats Nwabueze; old men who took created by the political economy policies. are reduced to issues which need everything from Nigeria in their of colonial and post-colonial In its Nigerian incarnation, the a conference of “tribes”. The late younger more vibrant years, but capitalism? Are we going to agitation for SNC originally Chief Anthony Enahoro and emerged from leftwing Professor Nwabueze, even have been bypassed by the witness shouting matches unelected, organisations with genuinely identified the “tribes” that must realities of time, but have between remained fixated with “tribes” in unrepresentative ethnic progressive platforms not only to sit to re-negotiate Nigeria. But the Twenty-First Century!

They entrepreneurs?

What about the defeat military dictatorship, but those venerable old men miss to also halt the imperialist- vital historical issues which make re-mounted their old hobbyhorse demographic reality of inspired SAP, which destroyed the their platforms illogical, of SNC agitation at a time that contemporary Nigeria, with the fabric of Nigerian society, but had reactionary and unacceptable. the Jonathan administration majority of Nigerians under the wrought far more fundamental Pre-colonial state formations in needed newer weapons in the age of 35? Plus the fact that we effect on the socio-economic what became Nigeria, were not arsenal of division of Nigeria; it have become increasingly urban, condition of the working classes “tribal” but territorial. These were found the agitation for a more cosmopolitan and more and the petty-bourgeois, middle particularly so in the empire conference a most convenient class-based and more fluid, than the fixed, reactionary platforms of “tribes” that the likes of Professor Nwabueze inundate us with? But maybe we are stepping WAS born in the last month of supplement the poor diets in many homes and too far ahead. We will have to colonialism in Nigeria. I came into the world learning just seemed to open our minds to the wait to see the criteria set; the 25 days before the lowering of the Union Jack, in world around us and the changes, perceptible or issues to examine and the social the early hours of September 5, 1960. My parents intangible. forces expected to thrash out told me the final days of colonial rule were of issues which contemporary, postOne of the roads of my childhood was the Oyo hopeful expectations for a new country. I am very Bypass that became Ibrahim Taiwo Road in 1976. colonial, neo-liberal capitalist much a child of an independent African country It had been substantially made motorable by Tiv crises have wrought in our and we were born in a world of changes, when prisoners from the uprising in the Benue Province country.

Africans began to make their mark as equal in the 1960s; we passed them in the morning as My take on this is that their citizens of the world. national conference might end we attended United School, Ilorin. They sang very We grew into early childhood in a country of sad but evocative Tiv songs. Most commuters on up taking the dead-on-arrival promises and I entered school in my fifth year the very busy Ibrahim Taiwo Road in Ilorin today, ride to the mortuary of politics, really, but by January 1966, I had my earliest won’t know their road owes a lot to prison labour because “tribes” sitting in recollection of a national event: the tragic killings of our compatriots from Benue State! conference will not invent any of 1966. It was during Ramadan and I still recall golden bullets that can shoot the Just like Nigeria, we have endured very how my uncle, Ahmadu, who also taught us the crowded 53 years, and much of what I have problems of our society. We have Qur’an, said our shield had been broken, experienced, make me love Nigeria very an irresponsible, corrupt and because the Sardauna, Ahmadu Bello, had been passionately. My favourite Nigerian poet of the thieving ruling class killed in Kaduna! superintending very younger generation is Olu Oguibe. He wrote in These events formed the backdrop to our lives, one of his poems, that I am tied to this land by incompetently, a neo-liberal as we went through primary schools, which, with blood; that is very much the story of the crowded capitalist process that cannot work hindsight today, appeared very well run. There 53 years that I share with our beloved country! for the majority of the Nigerian were wheat meals and weekly drinks of milk to people.

,

These crowded 53 years

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That majority is young and is under the age of 35. Its problem is not “tribal”, contrary to what Prof. Nwabueze posits; it is that category of young people that is at the heart of anti-state resistance, either in the insurgency of Boko Haram, or the kidnappings, ‘militancy’ and other crimes so rampant in the Southern part of the country. If these manifestationsof resistance have “inter-tribal” connotations, they are only secondary contradictions. It is these secondary contradictions that the Prof. Nwabuezes are turning around as problems that “tribes” must sit down and solve!

Furthermore, there is a grand political element to the decision

by Goodluck Jonathan to call a conference and its name is the 2015 election.The Jonathan camp hopes to use the conference to further deepen the division of Nigerians. Issues like “ restructuring” and “fiscal federalism”, could pit the South against the North. The North itself is at its weakest, open to the willful exploitation of its fault lines of ethnicity and religion by political adversaries. The emergence of APC signals political understanding across the divide between the West and the North.

Re-election project It is a stumbling block for the Jonathan re-election project. But the emergent understanding can be soured or damaged when contentious issues heat up the conference, as they did the 2005 National Political Reform Conference which Obasanjo called as part of his Third Term Agenda. But when all is said and done, let them bring on their conference. Time has come for the persistent agitators to crawl out of their laagers to face off Nigeria. Let us even see the stuff they are made of! For too long, the SNC agitation became the veritable instrument of grand political blackmail, with the North always accused of being against the ‘restructuring’ they posit will magically solve Nigeria’s problems!

So after years of persistent blackmail and abuses on the one hand, and the re-assessment of its interests on the other, the Northern political elite seemed to have concluded that there was far more smoke and mirrors to the agitation, and not much it will not appropriately respond to, that might be thrown at it, if such a conference was called. But Jonathan’s desperate bid for 2015 re-election is ultimately the clincher. It will be most interesting to see how the conference gets organized and what its most important outcomes will be. The agitators will get their conference,‘sovereign’ or otherwise! But can that be enough to give us respite to face the serious business of building our country or might they ambush Nigeria again along the way, especially if things did not go as they want at their conference? We will wait for answers but it is not likely to be a long wait!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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HERE is a paradox governments have built around education — they are spending billions of Naira on education, yet the financial issues around education are not being resolved. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike is only one of many matters that are dogging education.

Government’s supposed interests in negotiating with ASUU, the speed being applied, and the uttermost neglect of other aspects of education confirm the diminishing importance that governments attach to education.

ASUU’s case is exceptional, in that governments appeared concerned. When the Academic Staff Union Polytechnics, ASUP, went on strike, it took almost three months before governments started talking to the union.

The issue remains partially resolved.

With the ASUU strike, the failure of governments and their programmes are obvious.

Governments sign agreements they do not intend to keep. ASUU is on strike over a 2009 agreement. Governments want to re-negotiating implementation of a four-year-old agreement.

They also know that the negotiations for a new agreement are due. We have governments that plan for immediate needs, if they

After ASUU … ever do. They are exhausting themselves over ASUU strike as if meeting ASUU’s demands would resolve the challenges that our education faces, among them irrelevant curricula.

How do governments spend billions of Naira they budget annually for education?

Bureaucracy consumes the bulk of the money. Duplication of agencies that manage education is the biggest cost centre in our national education management. Governments are running up new costs.

New higher institutions are being built with emphases on physical structures. Laboratories, libraries and research centres that they require to be centres for meaningful academic engagements are available in inadequate numbers.

It is absurd that governments — the owners of the universities — would need an

ASUU strike to determine the status of the facilities in universities.

What plans do governments have for education? How would they tackle sustainable funding so that we are not soon back to another wave of strikes in a matter of months?

Would governments ever consider education important enough that it should run without disruptions from strike?

There would be no easy solutions. Many of the federal agencies on education just drain resources that should have been invested in improving learning facilities. States imitate the federal waste, making education one of governments’ biggest cost centres, without commensurate value for the expenditures.

Governments can save costs by eliminating duplication in the functions of education agencies. There should be clearer lines about the roles of governments at different levels of education. The Federal Government should not be dabbling into primary school education.

Finally, the future of education is too important to be left to haphazard funding. Governments should provide resources for education beyond ASUU’s demands.

OPINION

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BY OKOFU UBAKA

EVERY old person who dies in Africa is like a library destroyed by fire”. An assertion by Ahmadou Hampate Ba that is beginning to make an inroad into our subconscious in the form of a clearer meaning.

It was, and has always been a festival of ‘oneness’.

That is what Storymoja or Umoja dictates in Swahili. Now, it is a story of blood, ‘Mogya’ as the Asante or Fante-Twi would speak. Finally, ‘Kutsiami, the benevolent boatman has ferried Awoonor across’ The Horns and The Nile of African on a ‘Journey Beyond’ . Indeed, Al Shabab has treated us thus.

It has led Africa-"a senseless Cathedral of doom among the sharps of the forest" of Al Quaeda. Yet "on this dirty patch" called Africa, a tree call Awoonor once stood.

As a student of African Literature, there is no compromising an early meet with Prof.

Kofi Awoonor, either in African oral literature, poetry or the prose narrative, and in rare cases, in all the genre of the study. I met Prof. Awoonor for the first time, albeit casually, as a green horn in the studies of African literature during my first degree days at the Department of English and Literature, Delta State University, Abraka. We had to make a choice between Awooner’s This Earth, My Brother (1971) and Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Beautyful Are Not Yet Born(1968). Prof. Sam Umukoro, perhaps, for Amah’s ingenious marching of theme with copious corrupt symbols of phlegm, dirt, filth, rot, ugliness, aging, opted for The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born at expense of Awoonor’s This Earth, My Brother. The reason we needed to make a

Awoonor: A library destroyed by familiar fire choice between both texts was essentially because both writers were from the same country (Ghana). I wasn’t satisfied with just a mention of Awoonor’s. Further, I was nudged by a burning curiosity to meet Awoonor again, and more intimately . That opportunity did not come until the rare privilege of being an MA student under the ever towering Prof G.G Darah, a living oracle of African oral literature.

That chilled morning of August 28, 2012, (as the last page of my assignment sheet still bears the incision of Darah’s red ink: "A brilliant and scholarly effort" ) Prof. Darah tossed a copy of "Oral Literature: Ritual Drama, Prose Narrative, Poetry", a 58-page extract of Awoonor’s book: The Breast of the Earth: A Survey of the History, Culture, and Literature of Africa South of the Sahara (1975), on my desk and said "do a critic and submit in two weeks". This opportunity turned out the most intimate I was to have with Awoonor since my dream of meeting him in person at this year’s ISOLA (International Society for the Oral Literature of Africa) conference at Abidjan in October has been cut short by his sudden demise.

Awoonor, no least, can be compared to the likes of Kwabena Nketia, Mazisi Kunene, Djibril Tamsir Niane, Isidore Okpewho, J P Clark, Anene-Boyle, G.G Darah and Prof.

Wande Abimbola in their chequered efforts to sustain studies in oral African literature.

Unlike Anene-Boyle who relied on Isidore Okpewho’s effort in a more innovative classification of African oral literature, Awoonor

weaved his classification of African oral literature of drama, prose narrative and poetry around performance, transmission and occasion. Perhaps, it is because Awoonor was an unrepented student of Ruth Finnegan that his classification of African oral literature essentially, is hinged on the conventional genre of drama, prose narrative and poetry.

Awoonor contributed so well to the studies of African oral literature to have pointed out that masquerade performance of mask dance was the best class or form of dramatic performance. He further stressed the symbolic essence of the mask which, itself is impersonation and an imitation of the real to railroading his view of ritual drama. There is no doubt that Awoonor, by this sort of beamed a light on ritual as source of African drama.

A lot has been said, referring to Ruth Finnegan and Allan Ricard as floodgates to the studies of African Literature. In as much as I would want to salute Ruth Finnegan who left all the comfort of Europe to commence a doctoral dissertation on African oral literature in 1961, I’d add here that what Finnegan did was documentation. Africans couldn’t have commenced a study or research into what to them was a culture. Like every other aspects of the African culture, folktales, myths, dance, song, proverbs, epics, legends and oratory are inherent, and are picked up as an African child grows up in his ancestral home . Hence, there is usually no need to create a study. Incidentally one of Finnegan’s challenges, and indeed a surprise to her in 1961 that there was no easy accessi-

ble studies on African oral literature to which she could turn to give her some ideas of what was known in the field.

The pressure to have Finnegan eat her vomit didn’t come easy. It should be noted that Finnegan’s two and a- half- page “Note on Epic” argues that “ epic hardly seems to occur in Sub-Sahara Africa”- a comment that provoked reactions and a proof of abundance of the epic tradition in Africa.

Scholars of African oral literature such as Awoonor, and his Ghanaian kinsman, Kwabena Nketia reeled out copious Akan dirge; Mazisi Kunene of South Africa did Emperor Shaka the Great; Djibril Tamsir Niane of Mali came out with Sundiata and our own Clark used his "Ozidi Saga" to stun the literary world and browbeat Finnegan into a much expected apology which came 37years after.

Indeed, Finnegan erred in her claim that Africans had no epic in their oral tradition.

Yet it is now our responsibility to preserve materials of oral literature henceforth.

Admittedly, we can only give a better account of this liability lowered on our shoulders by Finnegan’s admittance, and at the same time ensure that the effort of Awoonor’s Akan dirges ("Songs of Sorrow") and efforts of other scholars of African oral literature in convincing the world that the epic tradition remain relevant in Africa.

*Mr Ubaka, a scholar and political analyst, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013— 19

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HIS year, Aka Ikenga, the Igbo think-tank, celebrated its 25 years in style. Its President, Chief Anayo Uwazuruike, an eminent lawyer, reflected the mood of the day by decking himself out in grand royal raiments. The high table at the anniversary lecture was star-studded, with retired Major General Ike Nwachukwu as the Chairman of the day; Bishop of Sokoto, Father Matthew Hassan Kukah as the Distinguished Lecturer; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim representing the Chief Guest of Honour, President Goodluck Jonathan; Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, Special Guest of Honour and Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Emeka Ihedioha, Guest of Honour.

For some reason, many guests at the event did not expect Governor Fashola’s to show up in person.

When the State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Ben Akabueze came into the hall, I expected him to be announced as the Governor ’s representative.

Rather, after recognising Akabueze, the Master of Ceremonies still informed the packed hall at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, NIIA, that the Governor’s convoy was “very nearby”. Then, shortly after, Fashola strolled into the venue and was immediate ushered to his seat.

It should not be news to anyone that Fashola attending the event in person should be a matter of considerable interest. After the “deportation” of some indigent people said to be Igbos and their shabby dumping on the shores of the River Niger in Onitsha by officials of the Lagos State Government a couple of months ago, the event not only raised ethnic tensions, it also became a great political issue against the All Progressives Congress, APC and its candidate in the Anambra guber election, Dr Chris Ngige.

Even Bishop Kukah expressed his surprise that Fashola not only came to the event personally but would speak. He concluded that the Governor must have come to address the matter. The man of

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God, as if to heckle the Governor, said he had considered entitling his lecture: “Importation, Exportation, Deportation and the Future of Democracy”. The hall roared with laughter. Fashola kept a straight face.

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HEN he took to the podium, the Governor made it clear that the “deportation” was very regrettable, and offered his “unreserved apology”. He said those who were making it seem that he had problems with Igbos were only being mischievous or playing to the political gallery. He recalled the warm solidarity Igbo people extended to him recently when his father left for the great beyond, pointing out that the Igbos were the first to bring cows to his family. But he also forgot to point out the leading role he and the state government played when the great Igbo leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was given one of the grandest burials ever known in Nigeria.

But in tendering his apology, the governor handed an assignment to

Paralysis of the Judiciary E

VEN without all the niceties that normally accompany major policy shifts, the Nigerian Judiciary was quietly sentenced to death some four years ago, when President Goodluck Jonathan was yet functioning in an acting capacity. The decision to go the quiet way must have been informed by the need not to give the Judiciary a doze of its own medication.

There was no trial, no judge and no jury – only a policy of attrition.

Nigeria today is striving to be among the 20 greatest countries of the world by the year 2020. If she attains this, it will be double honours – that is also the year she will attain the status of being the only country without a judiciary. For some, that will be the very definition of unfettered freedom – freedom for unlimited looting and freedom even to commit murder without being questioned.

On Monday, September 23, 2013, it took the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhatar, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali (SAN), to cry out that the third arm of government, the Judiciary, was being gradually incapacitated by dwindling budgetary allocations.

We see a grand design by the Legislative and Executive branches to rig the Judiciary out of existence. Available statistics show that funding from the Federal Government has witnessed steady decline of N10 billion annually from N95 billion in 2010; to N85 billion 2011; N75 billion in 2012 and N67 billion in 2013.

This type of design also demands that they play around with figures so as not to expose their game plan, hence they deliberately put down an allocation of N67 billion instead of N65 billion for the Financial Year 2013. There is an inverse relationship between the general budget and that of C M Y K

the Judiciary: While the Nigerian budget is rising geometrically, the allocation to the Judiciary is dwindling.

By extrapolation, an annual reduction of N10 billion will bring the Judiciary to zero allocation by the year 2020. What will happen then? We shall return to this aspect after a brief history.

Our government stands on a tripod: According to the literary theory of the Constitution, the framers developed a practical arrangement of the separation of powers under which the Legislature makes laws and formulates policies that are administered by the Executive branch while issues of interpretation and settlement of disputes are referred to the Judiciary. It was reasonably thought that the concentration of too much power in the hands of one man or in a single institution would lead to tyranny.

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Y functionality, the legislature was supposed to be the most senior partner in the tripod but many things have happened to whittle down that effect. The first is a function of instability. Each time the military adventurers intervened in governance, their first bus-stop was to sack the legislatures and send members packing while the Executive and Judiciary remained in place. That explains why the Legislatures had to begin again whenever the military juntas retreated to the barracks.

Second, when money talks, nobody walks.

By the singular fact that the President controls the power of the purse, the Executive branch has gained a lot of prominence over time. Even the legislators look up to the Executive to feather their own nests.

Without prejudice to the highly educated politicians, of the three branches of government, the Judiciary parades the most

educated lot.

W h e r e a s virtually any warm body that possesses the “ S c h o o l Certificate or its equivalent” can be President or a member of the Legislature, the Judiciary remains the only collection of lawyers of several years standing. After the legal education at the university and the law school that leads to

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Behind Fashola’s “unreserved apology”

Part of the Igbo agenda should be to develop Igboland so well that other Nigerians, Africans and foreigners should want to also come there with their investments

Aka Ikenga and agender-setters for the Igbo nation. He asked them to reflect on the factors that prompt people to leave home in massive numbers to other parts, with people who obviously could do better at home joining this migratory stampede. What are the factors behind the trend, he asked.

Is it because of lack of resources back home? Or is it because governance has not provided enough enabling environment for some of these migrants to sit down and make a good life for themselves?

Well, as a member of Aka Ikenga, I can list a few reasons for the Igbo migrations. The first is that Igbo people are large in population but are seriously disadvantaged by paucity of land and their inland location, as opposed to the Yoruba whose vast land extends to the oceans. The Igbo republican culture did not encourage empire building in the dim past. Even when people fought wars, they settled through symbolic reparations. It was not usual to overcome your neighbour and annex them. Most Igbo groups did not even have militaristic culture.

Paucity of land and large population also predisposed Igbos to trading, an activity they are second to none. Business people look for places where opportunities exist. Lagos is one of such prime spots. Apart from its sea and airports, Lagos as the former capital of Nigeria, was developed infrastructurally with the wealth of the nation and this furthered its appeal and opportunities for all sorts of economic activities. Lagos has come to be home for all, and this is one reality that those who call themselves “original Lagosians” had better adjust themselves to.

Our current Judiciary can pass for a 19th century institution; the situation portends real danger to society; the moment we allow justice to openly become cash and carry, there will be anarchy

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the call to bar, a judge must also posses many years of cognate experience in the field of law. This could be a source of envy to the other branches.

In a broad sense, the doctrine of separation of powers is not absolute. At best, it creates a situation of interdependence. For example, the courts have little independent power to compel compliance to their orders, other than the punishment of individuals for contempt; but even contempt action still requires the cooperation of other agencies engaged in the enforcement of the law. In general, the authority of the courts rests less on the use of force than on the acceptance of their orders by those directly affected.

For over five years now, the Federal

That time will never come when non-indigenes will be driven out of Lagos so that indigenes will seize their “abandoned property”, an evil design some are now harbouring.

But Fashola’s point about people needing to develop their home states in order not to run away to other lands is sound. It is one truth that is not even bitter. Part of the Igbo agenda should be to develop Igboland so well that other Nigerians, Africans and foreigners should want to also come there with their investments. They would come if the opportunities are there.

Nigerians feel cheated that Igbo come to their door mouths in large numbers and they cannot find enough of their own people in Igboland. Whatever is keeping them away should be addressed.

Why would they even come when the owners of the land are leaving in such droves?

Fashola’s unreserved apology was greeted with thunderous ovation, but I wonder if those clapping even realised the hidden message behind it. Uncontrolled migration will destroy the Igbo nation. It will extinct the language, custom and values of the people.

It will attenuate its majority status and bastardise its population which is rapidly being absorbed by their various host communities. It will continue to increase the insults the Igbo people suffer from their oft-aggrieved hosts and expose them to hostility and xenophobia.

The Yorubas and Hausa-Fulanis also migrate and settle outside their native lands, but they do not suffer the level of hostility aimed at the Igbos because back home, there are enough indigenes and non-indigenes living profitably.

Only a person who loves you can tell you the home truth.

Government has been sitting on the Supreme Court decision declaring the Excess Crude Account illegal.

By world standard, our current Judiciary can pass for a 19th century institution. It is naïve to think that these relics can be starved to death. The situation portends real danger to society. The moment we allow justice to openly become cash and carry, there will be anarchy.

Meanwhile, judges will begin to show symbolic presence in courts – sit for five minutes or just enough time to enable them adjourn all cases! The list of awaiting trial cases will become overwhelming. Election riggers will have a field day as there will be no facilities for election tribunals anymore.

People that approach the courts will have to provide the biro and foolscap papers on which their judgements will be scribbled, as they do in some police stations.

Is this the type of Judiciary we want? We must quickly halt the open invitation to anarchy. To do otherwise is not to recognise the importance of the Judiciary.

Honourable Justice Moses Oyemade is relevant here: “The only thing we have now in this country is the Judiciary. We have seen politicians changing from one policy to another and from one party to another but the only protection the ordinary people have against all these inconstancies is a fearless and an upright judiciary. An independent and fearless judiciary is the greatest hope of the ordinary citizens. It gives form and substance to the spirit of liberty and man’s yearnings for justice….”. This spirit shall not die in our time!

20— Vanguard ,

THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 3 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Nigeria and the culture of importation

BY EBELE ORAKPO

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*Fuel station where the robbery took place

Aftermath of robbery attack:

Fear grips Bauchi residents B

AUCHI State has for some time been featuring regularly in the news for the wrong reasons, especially those bordering on terrorists attacks. As if to compound the situation, stories of armed robbery have also begun to make the front pages. The frequency of these tragic occurrences leaves one with the impression that people in the state had become inured to them.

But that does not seem to be the case as recent events have shown.

For instance, some residents of the state are still traumatized and yet to recover from the shock of a recent armed robbery attack at the popularly known AA Rano petrol station in the area that left one person dead while three other sustained injuries.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the robbery which occurred on September 24, 2013, caused pandemonium among the residents of the area as they scampered for the safety due to the sporadic gunshots that accompanied the attack.

Although relative calm has since returned in the area, business activities remain low-keyed due to fear of another robbery attack. But when VM visited the scene, normal business activities had resumed, but security measures have been intensified in the place.

The Station Assistant Manager,Nuru Gambo, told VM that the robbers stormed the place “around 7.30 to 8.00 pm when we had finished the business of the day and were getting ready to close”.

Continuing he said: “At that time, the station just received a consignment of a petrol and as the station assistant manager, I was working to en-

sure that we offload the petrol into the underground tank, which usually supplies petrol to the pumps of the station.

“Although it was quite dark for me to know how many robbers came to the station, I noticed that when they came, they went straight to the office of the Station Manager who was still on duty.

Some staff of the station who were on afternoon shift were still in their offices trying to balance their sales when some of the robbers went to the cashier’s office and collected all the money in his possession. I ran for my dear life when I started hearing gunshots. I was not the only one who ran away, most passers-by also took to their heels; some even left their cars with the keys

‘

Although relative calm has since returned in the area, business activities remain low-keyed due to fear of another robbery attack

‘

BY SUZAN EDEH, Bauchi

inside”.

One of the staff( name withheld) who was on the afternoon shift said that they were fortunate to survive the attack because there was an exchange of gunshots between the police who arrived the scene and the robbers.

He said: “When the robbers came inside the administartive office, they went to the Manager’s office and ordered him to give them money or they will kill him. He led them to the cashier’s office where they collected all the money in his possession. Some of us had to lay flat on the floor to escape stray bullets”.

The staff added that it was in the course of the exchange of fire between the police and the robbers that the vigilante man attached to station was killed, while three police men sustained injuries.

The Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ladan confirmed the incident. He said: “The hoodlums first attacked the filling station where they killed the vigilante and immediately we received distress calls from the public on the attack, we deployed our men to the scene but when the robbers sighted our men, they started shooting and we responded immediately and during the exchange of fire, three police men sustained injuries.

When the robbers fled, we decided to take the vigilante who was shot and the injured policemen to the hospital, but unfortunately when we got to the hospital, the vigilante man died”.

The Commisoner said the armed robbers abandoned their vehicles and escaped with bullet wounds, adding that the police has commenced investigation into the attack and condoled the area in search of the hoodlums that escaped with bullet wounds.

Items recovers from the armed robbers, according to the commissioner, are one Ak 47 rifle, two pistols and over 100 ammunition.

He called on the general public as well as management staff of various hospitals in the state to assist the police with information on any patient with bullet wounds.

A security source who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the armed robbers carted away huge amount of money from the filling station.

OME, are we pro gressing or retrogressing? asked a perplexed Iyke, a commuter in the Apapa-bound bus as a young girl walked up to the commuter bus at OshodiOke busstop hawking her wares which included potato chips.

“We are doing both,” replied Bisi, tongue-incheek.

We import everything importable– table water, toothpick, banana, apple, yoghurt, rice, etc.

“Banana? Haba! We have enough bananas here,” replied Charles.

“You think the bananas at Shoprite are grown locally? Definitely not! They are imported from South Africa. It’s so painful but true,” said Nike.

“But isn’t that foolishness, creating jobs and wealth for others? I think the perpetrators should be prosecuted,” stated Iyke.

Said Phil: “By those who patronize them? What do you expect when majority of our people, especially the elite, think buying imported items portrays them as sophisticated?”

“Sophistication indeed!

Why do we always choose to stand things on their heads? We copy the good, the bad and the ugly from Oyibo culture and call it civilisation so that anyone still attached to African traditions, no matter how good, is seen as uncivilised,” lamented Mercy.

“It’s quite unfortunate.

Why should a country as blessed as Nigeria be importing things from less endowed nations. How do we explain that?” asked Nike.

“Kai, God should really be angry with us for not utilising all He has endowed us with. If you go round Nigeria, you will know that we are really blessed. Is it the vast arable land, the rivers, mineral resources, human resources, name them, we’ve got them all, yet, here we are, with nothing to show for it,” noted Comfort.

“As the Igbos would say, ‘those with buttocks don’t know how to sit and those

who know how to sit have no buttocks. With all the resources we’ve been blessed with, Nigeria has no business being called a Third World nation,” stated Mercy.

“We have no business importing certain food items like rice, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, etc, as we can be self-sufficient in these things if we mean business. We can grow both tropical and temperate crops in Nigeria but we are too disorganised to take advantage of that to create jobs. I am aware that tea, coffee, apples, passion fruit, celery, parsley, etc., do well in Plateau State, so why are we not exploring that option to create jobs and engage the raw energy of the youths in productive ventures? We would rather sow seeds of discord and hatred amongst them and arm them to kill and maim one another and destroy infrastructure that took years and money to build. It’s really a pity,” lamented George.

Narrated Mercy: “I was travelling to Abuja from Lagos last year by road and somewhere around Edo and Kogi states, we saw vast arable land, hundreds of acres, just lying fallow and I thought to myself, why can’t the government employ people, give them hybrid seeds and all the necessary equipment and dam to provide water if need be, to cultivate the land? What stops them from doing that?”

“That is correct my sister,” agreed Iyke. “That will solve the problem of unemployment, food shortage, crime, etc.”

Said Phil: “ You should know that some people are benefitting from importation. Or could it be that we have gotten so used to importation that we cannot do otherwise? Just like the story of the dog that sent a friend to buy him mat. After a long wait, he sent another person to tell the friend to return his money because he is so used to squatting that he may be uncomfortable lying down.”

This caused laughter.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 21

New code to strengthen advertising regulations, says APCON

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

he Chairman Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, Lolu Akinwumi has said that the introduction of a new code of advertising practice would help to strengthen regulation and ensure professionalism in the industry.

He stated this during a presentation of corporate licences and certificates to organisations under the new APCON regime in Lagos.

He said the regulatory body has undergone series of transformation which resulted in the 5th code of the advertising practice, which has since become a law, and would enable it to further regulate the sector and make it more productive.

He added that, “The council has also developed various frame works for the relevant licensing procedures, which would follow the approval of the Code.”

According to him, the implication of the development is that, “For the first time in the history of Nigeria, advertising practice has become completely professionalised like medicine, law, engineering etc., and charlatans can no longer practise unhindered. With the new code, APCON has introduced very strict procedures for practice, such that media companies cannot do the work of creative agencies, and clients cannot buy media illegally. Under the new dispensation, those who manage advertising functions must be specifically registered for the services they offer.”

He further explained that, “APCON has government’s full support and backing to enforce compliance now that the first sets of certificates and licences are being issued.

Under the law, APCON can have defaulters prosecuted, and if such people are found guilty, they stand the risk of paying a hefty fine or being imprisoned or both.

Government through its regulator is determined to protect what messages are developed and exposed to Nigerians through the advertising medium, by ensuring that those who work in the industry are qualified and operate under the right code.”

114.1

0.4

2,631.00

-9.00

18.33

0.19

106.97

-1.40

101.28

-1.05

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.75 249.8129 208.8506 170.8623 1.5847 0.3004 236.4131 25.2727 41.2634 27.9974 237.1699

SELLING

155.25 155.75 250.6201 251.4272 209.5254 210.2002 171.4144 171.9664 1.5899 1.595 0.3104 0.3204 237.1769 237.9408 25.3548 25.4369 41.3967 41.53 28.0879 28.1783 237.9362 238.70251

CBN Exchange rate as at 02/10/2013

L-R, General Manager, True Tales Publications, Ms. Anne Omezi; First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Deputy Managing Director, Resources, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, during the official launch of Hello!

Nigeria, in Lagos.

NDIC, judiciary, police to prosecute operators, debtors of 103 MFBs

By PETER EGWUATU

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC has disclosed that plans are underway to prosecute operators and debtors who contributed to the collapse of 103 Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) in 2012.

The Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, who revealed this, said NDIC in collaboration with judiciary and the police authorities had concluded plans to prosecute operators and debtors who were culpable for the breach of trust and abuse of office that contributed to the collapse of the 103 MFBs in 2010.

A case in point, he said, was that of Integrated MFB which accounted for over 60 percent of the fund lost in the subsector. “This would go a long way to institute the right attitude and financial discipline in the subsector for the future” he added.

Ibrahim also emphasized the need for adequate risk management framework and sound corporate governance practices as well as self regulation and market discipline to promote confidence and stability in the micro finance subsector. He pointed out that MFBs should be prepared not only to comply with the IFRS financial reporting standards but also to seek deferment on the date while negotiating with FIRS on the exemption from VAT and other tax related matters.

On the MFB regulatory reform guidelines, he advised the National Association f Microfinance

Bankm, NAMB to see the reform as a welcome development as the new licensing regime which allowed the participation of state and local governments should be viewed as a relief and positive contributions toward growth and inclusive ownership. This would encourage more grassroots support at policy making level considering all the benefits associated with such a review for the subsector.

He advised the MFBs to take advantage of the N220 billion MSME fund recently launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for onlending in the subsector. The fund, he said, would inject the much needed liquidity and raise the standard of entrepreneurship in commerce and agriculture value chain in the country at the rural settings.

Meanwhile, the NAMB President, Chief Jethro M. Akun (MON) has commended the NDIC for its technical and capacity building efforts toward ensuring safety,

stability and soundness of the MFB sub sector and called for more collaboration between the regulatory authorities and the association.

Chief Akun, however highlighted the various challenges bedevilling the association by the new governing structure of each category of MFB, particularly the abolition of branches and cash centres for unit MFB, the conversion of all MFBs with over 50 shareholders to Public Limited Company (PLC), compliance with IFRS and removal of NAPEP funds from the books of the MFBs. He therefore appealed to the corporation to allow the MFBs to have access to the NDIC N16 billion intervention fund to resolve illiquidity challenges facing the sub sector, pointing out that the 6 million customer base of the MFBs could be increased with the support of the Corporation in the areas of advocacy, client services, sustainability, capacity building and accountability.

22— Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

FCMB commits over $275m to power sector value chain

By PETER EGWUATU

F

CMB Group has disclosed that it has committed over $275 million to the power sector reform and the value chain opportunities in Nigeria.

It also reaffirmed its commitment towards providing the necessary support to ensure the successful implementation of the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector. This, it stated, is in line with its contribution towards national development.

The Bank gave this assurance at a special forum titled, ‘’Financing the Power Sector Reforms for Economic Development’’, held in Abuja on Friday, 27 September, 2013, to showcase the N300 billion Bank of Industry-Power and Aviation Intervention Facility (BOIPAIF) initiative which was launched in 2010.

According to the Group Head, Project and Structure Finance of FCMB Capital Markets Limited, Mr. Robert Grant, FCMB has committed over $275 million to the Power Sector reform and the value chain opportunities. He added that FCMB Capital Markets is actively involved in the ongoing Niger Delta Power Holding Company ’s (NDPHCs) privatization of its National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs).

Also speaking at the event, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (GCON) stated that reforming the Power Sector is integral to developing Nigeria’s economy. He acknowledged the support provided by the Nigerian banking industry to the Power

Sector to date, and urged continuous support towards achieving 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation by the year 2016.

He pointed out that the Federal Government and other stakeholders like the Bureau of Public Enterprise were determined to ensure that the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was concluded on schedule and that the Roadmap for Power Sector Refor m Programme is on course and that that all hands must be on deck to realize the

20,000 MW objective.

FCMB was one of the first banks to access the BOI-PAIF with provision of a N3.2 billion Term Loan Facility to Tower Power Utilities Limited (TPUL) for their 17.75 MW combined cycle gas fired power generation plant in Otta Industrial Estate, Ogun State. The feedstock is gas supplied by Shell through a pipeline which terminates in the Ota Industrial Estate.

Apart from scheduled maintenance, the gas supply has been uninterrupted since inception. The plant provides power to several

enterprises including but not limited to Aluminum Rolling Mills, Kolorkote Nigeria Limited, Eagle Packaging & Printing, Green Fuels, Dychem, Covenant University and Euro Global & Food Distilleries. The clear value proposition is the constant power supply that has significantly i m p r o v e d e f f i c i e n c y, competitiveness and profitability as almost all TPUL’s customers have effectively de-mobilized their existing diesel-fired assets.

The Securities and Exchange Commission , SEC, Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh, receiving the award from Africa investor (Ai) CEO, Hubert Danso in New York, USA.

Operators advocate adoption of Kenyan mobile money payment system

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

O

perators in e-commerce industry have advocated the adoption of Kenya’s mobile money payment system, M-pesa and building strong brands as effective e-payment solutions in Nigeria.

The operators, who spoke to Vanguard on how lack of effective e-payment options is stifling the growth of ecommerce in Nigeria, said that considering Kenya’s ‘M-pesa’ model for Nigeria’s e-commerce space will help to drive growth.

Head of Marketing, OLX Africa, Ms. Browyn Johnson, whose e-commerce retailer, Kalahri pulled out of Nigeria recently, cited payment challenges, saying that what Nigeria needs is a safer and

C M Y K

more efficient payment system like M-pesa, for ecompanies to really begin to thrive.

According to her, “It’s about the efficiency of the payment system. For instance, in Kenya we have the M-pesa (mobile money) and because of it we have the largest site in Kenya and it started at the same time with Nigeria. People’s lack of trust in the e-payment does stifle the growth of ecommerce in Nigeria because if you look at Kenya, with M-pesa, mobile payment is secure, and that is not the case in Nigeria yet.”

“There is another system working effectively in South Africa, it is similar to M-

pesa and it is also secure and efficient. So what Nigeria needs is a more efficient and safer payment system for ecommerce companies to really thrive,” she added.

On her part, the Managing Director of girlyessentials Nigeria Limited, Chinma Nwaozuzu while acknowledging the challenges posed to ecommerce operators by lack of effective payment system, said brand loyalty would help to drive and strengthen people’s confidence in epayment.

“Lack of effective payment system is really a huge challenge. Because right now even the leading operators in the industry like Jumia and Konga despite having e-

payment gateways are still pushing for cash-ondelivery because they realize people are still very reluctant to use their cards online. They are worried about security. There is no confidence in the system,” she said.

“But I think that what would boost confidence is if operators build reliable brands, then people will be more willing to use their cards because they know and trust the brands they are dealing with.

“Also, if the right security measures, policies and legislations are put in place, then people would feel more confident and willing to shop online using their cards,” she added.

MasterCard connects Nigeria’s e-commerce firms to global consumers

By FRANKLIN ALLI

M

asterCard has connected three of Nigeria’s ecommerce companies to global consumers, said Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Vice President and Area Business Head for MasterCard in West Africa.

They are Jumia, Konga and Wakabout.

Fielding questions from journalists after the launch of MasterCard’s Priceless Africa in Nigeria, she disclosed: “We have put Nigerian E commerce companies on the global market as MasterCard cardholders in various destinations across the globe, as consumers can buy from these companies anywhere in the world.”

“We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone,” she said.

She explained that card users (debit, prepaid and credit) can use the technology to transact business locally and when they step out of the country.

Daniel Monehin, Divison President, Sub-Saharan Africa, said the launch of ‘Priceless Africa’ in Nigeria, was to reward consumers in the country for their loyalty and to enhance their journey towards embracing cashless transactions.

He said the platform is also aimed at making Nigeria an attractive destination for visitors traveling to the country for business or leisure. It will also give Nigerians cardholders access to a plethora of experiences and offers in their preferred travel destinations around the world,” he said.

He noted that some of the offerings that consumers in Nigeria will enjoy vary from luxurious beach retreats, food and dining discount offers at selected restaurants, unforgettable entertainment experiences, travel and shopping from around the world, and access to exciting sporting events.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—23

govt to inaugurate 2,500 firms spend N24bn on genera- Bauchi MSME Council tors maintenance annually B

BY KUNLE KALEJAY E

M

ANUFACTURERS Association of Nigeria(MAN) has revealed that 2,500 manufacturing companies nationwide spend N24 billion yearly to maintain their generating plants, diesels and gas turbines used for their operations.

Chief Kola Jamodu, MAN President, who disclosed this when he addressed the 3rd WorldStage National Electricity Power Conference 2013, said these companies spend an average of N1.950 billion monthly to run and maintain their plants.

Jamodu, in a paper titled: ‘Electricity Power Audit Conducted on members of MAN in 2012 revealed that the real sector operators spend a lot of money to provide alternative source of energy for their operations.

He said more manufacturers are planning to relocate to the neighbouring countries like Ghana and Togo, if the National Electricity regulatory Commission (NERC) refuses to give them some concessions to perform well.

Represented by the Chairman, Infrastructure Committee, MAN, Reginald Odiah, Jamodu said the total number of power plants owned and installed in-house by manufacturers was 4,480 units.

He said the plants include diesel/gas powered turbines, generators, among other powereddriven facilities.

He explained that an in-house installed power generating capacity of manufacturers was 5,150 mega watts, while the power supply from Power Holding Company of Nigeria was 1,018 mega watts.

On average peak , he stated that power demand of manufacturers was 4,850 mega watts, adding that the figure is far higher than 1,018 mega watts coming from the national grid.

He said: “This is apart from the average monthly PHCN bills paid by manufacturers which run into hundreds of millions of naira. The consequences are high cost of production, uncompetitive pricing, low production capacity and inability to compete effectively with our foreign counterparts, inability to contribute optimally to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which currently stands at about four percent or less.”

Jamodu added that poor returns on investment,

From left: Daniel Lanre Monehin, Division President, Sub-Saharan Africa at MasterCard; Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Vice President and Area Business Head for MasterCard in West Africa and Tarek Abdelnabi, Vice-President Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa, MasterCard, during the MasterCard Priceless Africa launch to the media at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday, September 30, 2013 closure of factories and migration to greener fields by manufacturers, uncertainty of investment climate among others are the consequences of the poor power supply in Nigeria.

Also, the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo said the government would leverage on its reforms programme to im-

prove electricity supply.

In his paper titled, ‘Delivering Government Promises on Power’ Nebo said the government was aware of the gross effects of power failure on national productivity.

According to him, ageing workforce has cumulative effects on power sector, stressing that they caused part of the prob-

lems experienced in the process of generating and distributing power in Nigeria. Similarly, the President/Chief Executive officer, WorldStage Limited, SegunAdeleye, said the conference came at a time the country is entering an era of private-driven initiative in the power sector.

Rep commends PZ Cussons on human capacity building T

HE Committee on Industries of the Federal House of Representatives has commended PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc for funding human capacity development in the country.

The committee led by its chairman, Hon. Mohammed Onawo, paid a courtesy visit to PZ Cussons recently as part of their Industrial Training Fund oversight function to appreciate the company’s prompt statutory contribution and support to the Fund in human resource training and development.

Onawo, applauded the good rapport PZ and ITF have enjoyed overtime and urged them to continue.

He acknowledged the challenges industries are facing, particularly on infrastructure and assured the management that appropriate legislative steps are being taken to improve the situation.

He commended industries like PZ Cussons, which in spite of these challenges, continue to create employment for

teeming youths in the country.

He requested the company for more support to the Fund in the provision of ICT infrastructure and other equipment to assist them realise their goal of training young graduates.

In her opening remarks during the visit, the Director, Human Resources, PZ Cussons, Ms. Joyce Folake Coker, thanked the committee for having recognised the contribution of the company in employee engagement and capacity building.

The Executive Director, Corporate Affairs and Administration, Mrs. Yomi Ifaturoti, said PZ Cussons activities have gone beyond production and sales of house hold products and payment of statutory dues. ‘’ We undertake CSR projects in appreciation of our host communities in the areas of education, health, provision of portable drinking water and road development. We are currently sponsoring PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge to encourage secondary school stu-

dents in the study of science education,’’ she said.

Mr. Alex Goma, Managing Director, Family Care, appealed to the committee to consider the impassable state of Ikorodu– Shagamu road and requested members to take up the matter with Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to improve its condition to enhance productivity.’ The road requires urgent attention’ he appealed.

AUCHI State gov ernment has concluded arrangements to inaugurate its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Council in an effort to facilitate the development of the sub sectors of the economy in the state.

The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hajiya Amina Katagum, made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Director General/ CEO of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari.

She told the DirectorGeneral that all machinery has been set in motion to inaugurate the State Council on MSMES in line with the Federal government’s drive towards propelling MSMEs to serve as vehicle for job creation, wealth generation and poverty alleviation.

“The state already had its local committee on

MSMEs, whose membership cuts across the 20 Local Governments of the state and some stakeholders“, she said Hajiya Katagum thanked the DirectorGeneral for the support Bauchi State Government has been receiving from the Agency, stressing that the state would key into SMEDAN’s One Local Government One Product (OLOP) programme.

She said that BauchiNorth is rich in Bee-farming and solicited the Agency’s support to leverage on the comparative advantage the state has in it.

The Commissioner also revealed that the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda ,has approved the renovation of the Industrial Development Centre (IDC) located in Bauchi, so as to boost the MSME sector in the State.

LCCI decries lack of linkages among economic sectors

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has decried the lack of linkages among the different sectors of the economy.

In a parley with pressmen on the preparatory arrangements for the 2013 Lagos International Trade Fair , the Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, said one of the major challenges hampering development is the glaring lack of linkages among the different sectors of the economy.

He said that in view of this, LCCI will be using this year’s edition of the international fair to connect with other similar important sectors and build an enduring linkage which would in the long run ensure that the Nigerian economy is not only properly linked, but also

inclusive.

“The theme of this year’s fair is ‘Harnessing Trade Potentials for and Inclusive Economy’ “One of the major shortcomings of the Nigerian economy is disconnection between economic growth and the welfare of citizens.

“The import of an inclusive economy is the value of indigenous participation and sector linkages.

These are the channels through which the benefits of growth could be transmitted to improve the well being of the citizens.

“The Chamber intends to showcase the various opportunities for trade, investment and industry in the Nigeria economy, with a view to promoting greater integration and synergy between players in the various sectors to boost Nigeria’s economic and social development,” he said.

I’ll make Nigeria proud in China — Acquafina Model

E

IGHTEEN-YEAROLD Miss Neoma Anosike who was recently crowned winner of the Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria 2013 sponsored by Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, maker of Aquafina table water, said “I will make Nigeria proud in China.”

Neoma , who said her win is a dream come true. stated, “I can’t believe it,” will represent Nigeria in the global Elite Model Look contest

taking place in Shenzhen China on November 27, 2013.

She has a chance to win $150,000 US dollars and modeling contract with Elite Model Look, one of the leading modeling agencies in the world.

Managing Director of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc , Mr. Sawhney, who was represented by Mr. Akram Shakeel a Senior Manager with PepsiCo International, urged the girl to be fo-

cused and use the platform provided by the show to reach world acclaimed status.

He said the company will continue to support worthy projects that enable the Nigerian youth to reach their potentials either in sport, entertainment or education.

Of the 1,853 auditioned for the show, only 14 made it to the final runway at the iconic Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos venue of the event.

24 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

APMT demolishes Dangote Cement factory at Apapa port

By Godwin Oritse & Mariam Eko

M

A J O R concessionaire, A .P. Moller Terminal limited, has demolished Dangote Cement bagging factory located on the control tower of the Apapa port complex to create more space for its operations.

It was gathered that the factory was demolished few months back following moves by the terminal operator to commence phase three of its expansion programme.

Vanguard learnt that the management of Dangote’s cement

bagging factory was given a long notice to vacate the portion of land it occupied following the conclusion of the concession programme.

The portion of land that was occupied by the cement factory had been concessioned to A. P. Moller and for more than

six years, Dangote’s cement company refused to vacate the said premises.

During a media tour of the terminal conducted by the Commercial Officer of A .P Moller, Mr. Neil Fletcher, it was observed that the cement factory

before its demolition was a beehive of activities as all kinds of traders were seen around the place.

Speaking on the development, the Media Advisor to A.P .Moller, Mr. Bolaji Akinola said that the terminal operator had no business with Dangote, adding that it has a binding agreement with the mnagement of the Ngerian Ports Authority (NPA).

He explained that the factory had to prevail on NPA for them to also prevail on the Dangote to vacate their premises.

Akinola also said

that the factory had to be demolished to give way for the commencement of the phase three of its expansion project and that the part occupied by the cement factory was part of the project.

Speaking on behalf of Dangote’s group Mr. Esan Sunday , said that before now, the cement factory was used for bagging, adding that now that the company has capacity to produce the commodity locally, the bagging facility is of no use.

Maritime security report indicates improved VIEs

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

ELECTION : Newly-elected President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt.

Adegboye Olopoeniyan (left), being congratulated by the outgoing NAMM President, Capt. Adejimi Adu, after a new executive was elected to pilot affairs of the association, at Command Guest House, Apapa, Lagos.

Congestion: FG orders stoppage of vessels to terminals

By GODWIN ORITSE

I

N a bid to resolve the issue of port congestion currently being experienced at the Lagos ports, the Federal Government has ordered that vessels should not be stemmed to terminals until their backlog are cleared.

This was part of the resolution reached by the Committee set up by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, on the lingering port congestion that has almost grounded port operations in Lagos.

The Committee which was headed by the Executive Director, Marine Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) also resolved that containers positioned for examination should be done within 36hours.

It was further resolved that any stakeholder that causes any form of delay in the course of examination will bear the cost that comes with such delays, adding that terminal operators should ensure that cargo handling equipment is made available for multiple examination.

Parts of the resolution reads “ It is agreed that

the Minister of Transport would request the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance to direct the Comptroller General of Customs to consider allowing for rerouting of containers (from scanning to physical examination) to ease congestion”.

It was also resolved that freight forwarding

groups should stop the collection of members’ fees inside the port premises to avoid delay in the exit of cargoes out of the ports.

It was further agreed that the managements of NPA and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) should collaborate to streamline and harmonise charges for the use of Off- dock terminals just as terminal operators are encouraged to adopt the use of barges where applicable for the transfer of containers to

Imoke makes case for increased local participation in marine business

By GODWIN ORITSE ROSS Rivers State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has urged the Federal Government and its agencies to deepen local participation of Nigerians in maritime business within the country.

C

Imoke who spoke recently at this year ’s celebration of the World Maritime Day held in Calabar harped on the need to encourage local ship building and address the lopsided domination of foreigners in the nation’s shipping sector and marine

pollution which has affected inhabitants of coastal communities adversely.

Represented by the Deputy Governor,Mr Effiong Obong, Imoke lamented the continuous carriage of the nation’s crude oil by foreigners, a situation which he said

HERE are indica tions that the monthly security reports from the Lagos maritime Zone, has shown increased security surveillance in virtually all the terminals in Lagos maritime Zone.

The security zone now ensure that their Verification Inspection Exercise are done regularly.

The report also indicated that some unscrupulous elements still lurk around the ports in Lagos as some pirate attempt on a vessel berth at the Capital Jetty just as five persons were arrested at the ENL for illegal entry, assault and pilfering.

In the report it was stated that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been on its feet to ensure that every security loopholes are blocked.

The agency in a bid to keep faith with the demand of the International Ships and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has also increased its unscheduled visits to the terminals to ascertain their security preparedness.

The security report, which reviewed activities within and around the ports and other facilities in the month of Auhas reduced job opportunities of Nigerian professionals in the shipping sector.

Speaking on the theme of this year ’s WMD celebration - Sustainable Development : IMO’s Contribution Beyond Rio+20, Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar reiterated government’s drive to improve the nation’s economy through

gust also showed that VIE Team from NIMASA visited Joseph Dam port services just as Improvised Electronic Device (IED) training team from the Police Bomb Squad also visited Kris oil terminal.

Besides NIMASA’s visit to Joseph Dan and Kris oil, the agency also visited the Snake Island integrated Free zone, Capital Oil and Gas, Folawiyo Oil and Gas, Rahamaniyya oil and gas and the Lagos Deep Off-Shore Logistics Base (LADOL), all in the Lagos maritime security Zone for either the VIEs or on the spot assessment.

The report also indicated the Fire and Safety Drills and Exercises conducted at the Apapa Bulk terminal during the month under review.

The NIMASA and the Port Facility Security Officers Forum are currently working in tandem to assess Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP) and Port Facility Security Assessment (PFSA) and ensure that no port facility is lagging behind in any way.

NIMASA as Designated Authority (DA) has constituted a Task Force that will be visiting facilities from time to time just as it has also begun the registration of Registered Security Officer (RSO). various means including the maritime sector.

The minister who was represented by Engr.

Nebolisa Mordi, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transport, added that the Goodluck Jonathan administration is committed to providing institutional framework for sustainable development in the maritime industry.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—25

For Justice Regina Nwodo, a social justice activist (2) TRIBUTE

By FEMI FALANA

This is the concluding part of this tribute on Justice Nwodo which was first published yesterday

I

N Dododo v. E.F.C.C. (2013) 1 NWLR (PT 1336) 468 the Appellant requested the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate serious allegations of corruption made against an ex-governor.

As there was no reply to the petition the Appellant prayed the Federal High Court for mandamus to compel both anti-graft bodies to publish their report and prosecute the suspect. The case was struck out for want of locus standi by the trial court. On appeal, Nwodo JCA held that the anti-graft agencies could not be compelled to prosecute anyone.

However, s h e expanded the narrow ambit of locus standi in the case of Abraham Adesanya v.

gu last week Justice I.I. Umezulike JCA (rtd) disclosed that in 2006 Justice Nwodo “ was adjudged by a Committee of the National Judicial Council as the most productive judge in the entire country. She was then a judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt. Her elevation to the Court of Appeal was solely on merit. It has no geographical flavor. And she rose to the challenge of that Court with extra-ordinary strength, grace, dignity, intellect, honesty and elegance.”

Whenever I met her darling husband during her life time I always requested him to continue to encourage and support her as the society needs good and courageous judges like her. On June 3, 2013, I appeared before the

Good governance The President (1981) All NLR 1 when she declared that “the African Charter provision encompassing public rights should be so construed broadly to vest locus on a tax payer who is interested in good governance and shows such interest by writing a statutory body •Late Justice Regina Obiageli Nwodo to complain on misappropriation of public funds”.

Accordingly, Nwodo JCA, upheld the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal right of the Appellant to the investiga- presided over by Justice Nwodo. She tion report in accordance with Article radiated her characteristic charm and 9 of the African Charter which guaran- vivacity. On the conclusion of my mattees unimpeded access to information. ter she wished me a safe return to LaJustice Nwodo made her mark in oth- gos and urged me to keep up the struger areas of the law as clearly borne out gle for human rights and social jusin her well researched judgments. She tice. administered law with human kindness I thanked her and assured her of my and dispensed justice with compassion. unwavering commitment to our shared Her guiding philosophy can be found values and concern for the society. I in Idegwu v. The State (2013) 24 WRN was therefore flabbergasted and shocked when I By sheer dint of hard work and learnt on August 6, 2013 that Jusknowledge of the law Justice Nwodo tice Nwodo had had a meteoric rise from the Magispassed on having succumbed to tracy to the Court of Appeal cancer. I was reliably informed that 84 where she held that “there is equal- she had confronted the dangerous disly strong need for the court to main- ease with uncommon courage for over tain regularity in attaining justice while a decade. interpreting the provisions of the law…

Two months before her transition she when discretion is exercised it must be had urged me to remain steadfast in judicially and judiciously”. By sheer the fight against injustice. I never knew dint of hard work and knowledge of it was a farewell wish from a comrade the law Justice Nwodo had a meteoric in the struggle for an egalitarian socirise from the Magistracy to the Court ety. No doubt, Honourable Justice of Appeal.

Nwodo will be sorely missed by family Throughout her career on the bench members and the legal profession.

Justice Nwodo was never linked, even But they should take solace in the fact remotely, with corrupt practices or that through her judgments many of abuse of judicial power. which are landmark pronouncements Even though some of her judgments she lives forever in the law reports and were upturned on appeal the errors in the hearts of those whose lives she identified by the appellate courts in touched. As a devout catholic that she such decisions were never attributed was in her life time I wish Justice Reto ignorance of the law, undue influ- gina Nwodo requiescat in pace. ence or corruption.

In a fitting tribute paid to her at EnuConcluded

,

,

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Bits NASU returns to NLC

Participants at NECA 47th Advanced Course on Human Resources Management and Labour and Employment Relations

worker (including workers in Free Trade Zone, FTZ and Export Processing Zone, EPZ) to be unionized and bargain collectively and should not be overtly or covertly hindered. The principal should facilitate union and collective bargaining of the contract workers.

Trade union membership of Labour contact is determined by the economic activities of the principals, whilst that of service contractor is determined by the economic activities of the contractor company. Where a service contractor is engaged in multiplicity of economic activities that makes it difficult to pin the contact down to a particular area in the 3rdschedule of part B of the Trade Union Act, staff off such contractor company shall belong to the Trade Union where the contractor in reference operate without prejudice to deployment.

Information concerning outsourcing arrangements should be made availa-

Practitioners brainstorm on current trends in HR, employment relations I

T was a five-day intensive training for a cream of human resources practitioners from leading companies across the country that took place at the ancient city of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Between Monday and Friday, participants at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, 47th Advanced Course on Human Resources Management and Labour and Employment Relations, were drilled theoretically on current trends in human resources and employment relations as well as practical negotiation exercises.

Issues: Seasoned resource persons took participants through topics such as Structure of collective bargaining in Nigeria, Core conventions of International Labour Organisation, ILO, and its impact on workplace industrial relations practice, audit of Human Relations and process: Issues at stake, managing and retaining a multigenerational and multi-cultural workplace:

New sourcing strategies Issues at stake and contemporary Human Resource recruitment tools, social media network and new sourcing strategies. Others topics were the concept and practice of human resource business partner: The clear addition to business, employee relation model of industrial relations, effective conduct and management of redundancy, managing outsourcing without stress: Perspectives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Service provider, the existing legal framework for the practice of labour and industrial relations in Nigeria: The right bases approach, challenges and the way forward, preparing for negotiations: Issues, strategies and tactics, effective conflict and strike management and management’s workers and union rights, duties obligation and limitation in the workplace.

Collective Bargaining: Presenting a paper on “Current environment of C M Y K

employment and Labour Relations in Nigeria: Impact Assessment, Issues and the Way Forward, NECA’s Deputy Director Economic and Labour matter, Timothy Olawale, said among others, globally, "collective bargaining is a means to institutionalise labour relations and settle workplace disputes through dialogue; build trust and cooperation- bedrock of sound employment relations. Collective bargaining is a tool for genuine social partnership between employers and employee organizations, it is used to address change such as the recent global economic crisis, regulate relationship between management and workers, determine the wages and conditions of service workers and set

,

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

It is the right of every worker (including workers in Free Trade Zone, FTZ and Export Processing Zone, EPZ) to be unionized and bargain collectively

out the rules that would govern the work place." "Collective bargaining agreements are an important means of guaranteeing decent working conditions and sound labour relations. Overtime, collective bargaining agenda has expanded in many parts of the world."

Presenting a paper on “Managing outsourcing without stress: Perspectives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity”, Lagos State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs Nofisat Arogundade, said while the business of a company into core and non-core, contended that jobs on the organogram of the company were core jobs and must be occupied by permanent employees of the company that outsourcing should be restricted to non-core business of the company such as driving, cleaning, off loading of goods, etc.

Represented by an Assistant Director in the Ministry, Olayanju Omoniyi, Arogundade said “Contract staff who meets company recruitment standards should be given opportunity for regular employment when vacancies exist in line with company ’s recruiting standards.”

Unionization: “It is the right of every

,

ble to the union when required.”

“Contract agreement between principal company and the contractor should make collective bargaining between contractors and their employees mandatory. The collective bargaining shall be between the relevant trade unions and the workers direct employers or contractors’ forum and not the principal. Employers and employees alike shall respect and uphold the sanctity of collective bargaining agreements.”

Job Security, capacity building for contract staff: According to her, “In order to ensure job security for contract staff ,parties should endeavour to make contract tenure to be 2 years. Where there is a change of contractor, roll over/ rehiring of employees of the former contractor should be encouraged subject to satisfactory performance of the affected staff. Contractors should be required to submit remuneration and training development plan for their employees in accordance with extent labour legislations during prequalification for contracts. Every contractor shall have recruiter’s licence and it shall be an offence for the principal to deal with a contractor without valid recruiter’s licence.”

THE National Executive Council,NEC, of the NonAcademic Staff Union of Universities and TAssociated Institutions,( NASU, has resolved to return to the Nigeria Labour Congress after it with broke away from the central labour centre in December 2011.

Nasu's NEC took the decision to return to the labour centre at its meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara state, last week.

Sources familiar with the meeting said this decision was taken in the interest of Nigeria workers who have been at the receiving end .

Generally, the leadership of the NLC seems to have lost focus with the organisation sounding more like a parastatal of government.

The NLC statement on the Governors' Forum Election lends credence to this.

Besides, officers of the organisation spend more time outside the country than in Nigeria. It has become usual for them to return from overseas programmes sometimes

Da-Souza confirmed Trustfund CEO

N

ational Pension Commission, PenCom, has approved the appointment of Mrs. Helen Da-Souza as the substantive Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, MD/ CEO, of Trustfund Pensions Plc. The Board of Trustfund Pensions Plc chaired by Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme earlier confirmed the appointment of Da-Souza, the erstwhile Acting Managing Director/CEO as the substantive Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Trustfund Pensions Plc during the company’s Annual General Meeting held in July, 2013.

Da-Souza’s appointment has been applauded by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC,; major stakeholders in Trustfund Pensions Plc She joined Trustfund Pensions Plc as Director, Finance and Administration in 2010.

Mrs. Da-Souza worked with Akintola Williams Deloitte from 1985 to 2010.

She is the first female managing director of Trustfund Plc.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—27

'Why labour must act on pensioners' woes' “Since we were retired, no kobo was paid to me. Every time, we would be called to come to Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, to fill one form after another. Sometimes, we sleep at Awolowo Road on the bare floor, for us to be attended to. In spite of that, nothing has come out of it. It was only in 2010 October that I was paid, since then, no payment. My children are in school, I can’t provide for them. Anytime they come back, we all starve and they will cry all day till they go back. There is nobody to help me except God. My husband died since 2003.”

A cross section of pensioners during verification - file photo HIS was how the Vanguard entitlement after committing their newspaper of August 22, adult lives to the country. If you of retirees is bleaker under the 2013 reported Mrs. Thompson feel that the inhuman treatment pensioners. Pensioners’ woes are over to the private companies contributory pension scheme made worse by the virtual organized under Pension Fund of senior citizens is limited to the Imakop, a retiree from the Nathan under government pension collapse of social services, which Administrators (PFAs) and Cusfederal government, then ask state tional Bureau of Statistics, “who, arrangement. For instance, the in effect has turned every housetodians (PFC).

Indeed, these priretirees in Lagos, Osun, Oyo, retired in 2007, was only paid in pension reform act allows pension hold into a mini-government. vate companies are made up of Abia, Delta or Kano, and you will 2010, lamenting that before and managers to invest these pension Public education has been bankers, politicians and big be proven wrong.

Yet, public and after 2010, she had not received funds for business. taken beyond the the reach of business people. essentially for political office holders continue to a dime as pension.” (Vanguard, the poor and working people profit purposes.

Moreover, the live opulently on the blood of long 22/08/2013).

If her story is not pathetic suffering retirees while Senators with LASU, UNIOSUN, EKSU new pension has become a basis Banking enough, then listen to that of Mr. want to award themselves live demanding an average of N150, for politicians to shun investment sector Muftau Baruwa, Senior foreman pensions for four-year “service”. 000 as fees from students; while in social services like education, While Mrs. Imakop and Mr. public hospitals are more like healthcare, job provision, etc.

There are serious doubts about in the Federal Ministry of Works death centres for serious ailAccording to this Contributory Baruwa are lamenting, just one the success of this new scheme. and Housing, “who retired since 11 years and three months ago, John Yakubu, allegedly converted ments. In this kind of milieu, Pension Scheme, workers and Indeed, the recent collapse of employers (both government and banking sector has said he was just a living dead, Workers and pensioners at all levels must private) are to contribute 7.5 per- Nigerian already put paid to official statesaying “I served 35 years and recent of each worker’s salary into ments that private businesses are mount serious pressure on trade union ceived merit award twice by the the pension fund, to be adminis- more effective and less corrupt. It Federal Government through two leadership to lead the campaign and tered by PFAs and PFCs. Aside took government’s commitment of different level 14 officers. I joined the fact that the idea of deducting over N2.5 trillion of public funds struggle for adequate, promptly-paid, living the service on 19 May, 1967 and workers’ salaries as pension is ex- that could have been used to fund I retired May 25, 2002. As we pension for all retirees ploitative ; workers are being se- social services, to revive these speak, I have not been paid a kobo, both my gratuity and pen- N23 billion of police pension fund retirement is more like being riously shortchanged with this banks, albeit temporarily. sion. I have been to the hospital to his own. While he was only sentenced to permanent poverty, arrangement. For instance, what However, the maddening twice since my retirement… I given a slap on the wrist with a except for the few big a worker gets as pension after gambling and crazy quest for think death is better than this suf- fine of N750, 000, another man bureaucrats. Even when workers retirement is this savings which quick profits have not stopped fering. Most times, I will go into who was employed to uncover the are in service, they can hardly is divided into pension and either in the banking or any other the streets to beg for money to mismanagement of pension make ends meet with their gratuity. This is unlike sector. Effects of the collapse of government guaranteed pension stock market or banking sector will feed. Severally, for two days I will funds, Abdulrahman Maina, was meager salaries. himself “uncovered” by a Senate As if that’s not enough, the rul- scheme, where a fixed surely reverberate in the pension not feed.””

These are just two of several Committee to have allegedly ing elite, in order to legalize and percentage of workers’ salary is administration with lots of thousands of cases of suffering re- mismanaged billions of Naira legitimize the looting of retirees’ given as pension with the defaults in payments of tired workers from government from the pension fund. Mr. Maina pensions came up with the Con- possibility of increase. By this pensioners. Meanwhile by this and private employment across is believed to have jetted out of tributory Pension Scheme, en- policy, what a retiree in the time, these private profiteers the country. Hundreds have died the country with the support of the acted in 2004 under the Pension contributory pension scheme will would have gained enough of curable diseases and poverty powers that be. These are just two Reform Act. By these laws, get is just a fraction of what he/ wealth via awarding huge among these retired workers, who individuals out of several others government is shedding off the she would have collected under salaries, allowances and bonuses to themselves, as witnessed in have been criminally, denied their involved in feeding fat on the load of ensuring pension for government pension scheme.

More is the fact that the future the banking crisis. misery of poor and hapless workers, while handing them Already, many contributory pensioners are groaning under unpaid pension arrears by pension fund managers. Furtherthat affect the progress of the more, according to Pencom; the OAU Chapter, the chairman of the

BY GBENGA According to him: “Nothing regulatory pension agency, more association, Alhaji Wahab Olaitan has changed since the institution.

OLARINOYE, Osogbo On the ongoing strike by the employers are now defaulting, Salau, charged government to fill introduction of the contributory RETIREES of the Obafemi up the gaps that have not allowed pension scheme. A process Academic Staff Union of while others are simply Awolowo University OAU, Ile Ife retirees to enjoy their retirement whereby retirees have to wait for Universities (ASUU), Salau converting workers’ salaries to Osun state under the maximally.Salau who expressed three and four years before urged the two parties to find an pension contributions or Contributory Pension Scheme, disappointment at the treatment getting their stipend is amicable way of resolving the deducting workers’ salaries by CPS, have called on the Federal of retirees in Nigeria, called for a demeaning and should be crisis in the interest of the dubious means to pay the Government to review the scheme measure that would put smile on corrected. If the newl policy is not students and the future of the employers’ share of contribution. to give succor to those that have the faces of these senior citizens working, then it should be nation, especially the young Governments at all levels are also generation. served their country faithfully and in the country. reported to be defaulting in rediscarded forthwith.” Salau He called on the federal mitting their contributions even selflessly.

On the objective of the reiterated the association’s At a briefing in Osogbo on association, Alhaji Salau said it commitment to the ideals of the government to embrace the when workers’ contributions are activities lined up to mark the would provide a forum where founding fathers of the university, university teachers and do being deducted from source. inauguration of Association of issues that concern members are stressing that the association everything to ensure that the Nigeria Universities Contributory properly coordinator for effective would guide the university teachers return to the classrooms •Kola Ibrahim, is of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Osun without further delay.

Pension Retirees, (ANUCPR) performance.

State management on all vital issues

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,

,

OAU retirees seek CPS review to serve pensioners better

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

ASUU strike not against varsity system – UNILAG VC Sekibo sues for varsity autonomy

BY DAYO ADESULU s the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU enters its fourth month, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Rahamon Adisa Bello, has stated that the industrial action embarked upon by the union is not against the university system.

The Vice-Chancellor who made this remark at the UNILAG Alumni Cocktail/Dinner held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, noted that one of the reasons for the strike is to enhance funding of the university.

“ASUU strike is not against the university system as the Union is fighting for the good of the varsities due to the huge infrastructural decay present today. Whether funding comes from the federal government or other stakeholders is a different ball game, the truth remains that we must be able to fund varsities to enable them perform their functions.”

Pointing out some gray areas that need attention, Bello noted that research must be funded. “Each time we see varsities global ranking, we say our varsities are not doing well.

However, some of these highly ranked varsities are not better than some Nigerian varsities, but because we don’t have enough funds to take to that direction, we can’t compete in some areas with them.”

The VC, who dismissed insinuations that ASUU is after its selfish interest, said the union is fighting for the institutions.

“Without supporting that they are out in the industrial action for too long, we need to find a way to get it resolved so that we can move forward. We do not support strike as a means of getting things resolved, but this has come up and we just have to live with it. ASUU and government are communicating and we believe very soon, this will be over.”

In same vein, Chairman of the Advancement Board of the University of Lagos Alumni, Mac Ovbiagele, said:

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School children at the first Independence Day celebration on October 1, 1960.

New school year, old crises in the education sector

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI, EBELE ORAKPO, LAJU ARENYEKA, IKENNA ASOMBA & JOSEPHINE MBAEBIE

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illions of Nigerian students celebrated the country’s 53rd year of independence from the comfort of their homes, kudos to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU).

Without any doubt, the 40 students killed in their sleep at College of Agriculture, Yobe State on Sunday would have wished for the same op-

portunity.

Out of the 1.7 million who wrote this year ’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, (UTME), about one million would be denied the opportunity to at least lament about the strike.

Students of polytechnics and Colleges of Education walk on egg shells, aware that their academic staff unions might down their tools any second.

The future seems quite bleak for the country’s 10.5 million out-of-school children as Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has already threatened to

EDUCATION SECURITY:

Experts call for state of emergency in sector — Page 37 C M Y K

join the band wagon of strikes.

In this piece, Vanguard Learning examines the state of the education sector 53 years after independence.

Five strikes and a sack Nigeria had just turned 49 when the Federal Government signed the 2009 agreement with ASUU. Four years later and few days to the country’s 53rd anniversary, President Goodluck Jonathan said that the agreement was negotiated by officials incapable for such a responsibility and is “not im-

Continues on page 29

LearnAfrica lauds NECO Candidates’ performance in exams — Page 36

Continues on page 32

ASUU STRIKE:

Public varsities students will miss-out of batch ‘C’ NYSC — Page 36

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—29

Continues from page 28

The North’s many troubles Very rarely in Nigeria’s history has insecurity brought the education sector to a halt like in the recent times. This year, over 150 primary, secondary and tertiary students have been killed by terrorist attacks specifically aimed at students in Northern Nigeria.

The state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, states has made learning erratic in those areas, with schools shutting down, and parents afraid to let their children out of their sight.

According to statistics of UNESCO, there are about 10.5 million Nigerian children out of school. This is among the largest population of such out-of-school kids globally. A major percentage of these children are Almajirai’s from the north.

Enrolment in the 80 new

Students of Reagan Memorial Baptist High School, Yaba, reading in the library in the 1960s.

New school year, old crises in the education sector schools set up for these children have only just begun, but experts doubt that they will go a long way in addressing the issue.

Social media was awash a few months ago with news that the Senate had signed a

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plementable.”

It might be safe to conclude that the former Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquatu Rufa’I, was one of the incapable officers because she was removed from office in the wake of the crises.

ASUU has been on strike since July 1st over FG’s refusal to implement its 2009 agreement with the union.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), halfheartedly called off its eight week strike barely a month ago as a result of Government’s failure to implement the agreement reached with them in 2010.

According to its National President, Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, the union has been agitating for the nonconstitution of Governing Councils of Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Technology and the noncreation of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC), which it preferred against the National Board for Technical Education (NBTC), among others.

NUT, the umbrella body of all teachers at both primary and secondary schools in the country, at the end of its recent meeting in Abuja, said it would not hesitate to close down the nation’s schools, should the FG and ASUU “fail to reach agreement after two weeks.”

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) also began an indefinite strike from Monday over non-payment of August and September salaries to university workers. The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) also just called off a seven day warning strike and has given FG a 60-day ultimatum to meet its demands.

not been removed for the purpose of marriage, in the first place. Consequently, 70.8% of young women aged 20-29 in the North West zone are unable to read or write.”

Stakeholders speak

Science so was the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“In this decade before the civil ended, we had only six varsities, but today, we can boast of 124 federal, state and privately owned varsities, thereby offering more openings and access than we had in 1960.

“If within this period, we have grown to such an extent that we can, in one year, ad-

We have packaged all the issues facing the teaching education sector. If we do not see concrete action within 60 days, we will employ non conventional industrial methods to make our voice heard

‘child marriage act’ into law, legalizing marriage for girls under the age of 18.

Although lawmakers have corrected this notion, the ruckus has created ample opportunity for well meaning Nigerians to campaign for education for the girl-child instead of under-aged marriage.

“Child marriage ultimately hampers the efforts of these young adolescents from acquiring an education, as sooner than later, they find it difficult to combine the onerous responsibilities of being a wife and mother, with schooling,” says Maryam Wais, chairperson, Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative.

“They drop out, if they have

Scoring the sector pass marks, the immediate-past National President, ASUU, and present Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Owerri, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, held that having lived for 53 years as an independent nation, Nigeria’s education sector has had some achievements, especially as it offers more access to university education.

“There’s cause to celebrate because we had only one University College in 1948, and when we got independence in 1960, we still had only one university, though the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was established from the former Federal School of Arts and

,

mit about 400,000 to 500,000 people into varsities and over 200,000 into our polytechnics and Colleges of Education, then, I would say that we have not failed woefully.”

Despite these achievements, Awuzie pointed out that the sector could have been better in terms of facilities, quality, policy formulation and proper utilization of the products of our tertiary institutions for national development.”

In agreement is the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, National Universities Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Yakassi, who said the sector has fared well as more people have access to education and there are more schools unlike what was

obtainable in the past.

Pointing out that attention to details is lacking on the part of teachers today, the Vice President, Kings College Old Boys Association, KCOBA, Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, added that facilities are being stretched to accommodate more students.

“When I was in Kings College about 40 years ago, we were about 500 students and the teachers knew us by our names and mentorship was very strong. The was a chain of obedience and discipline, making the students easier to be controlled.

“Now, teachers’ attention to details is lacking and the existing facilities are being over-stretched to accommodate more students, leading to wear and tear.”

On his part, an education policy consultant, Mr. Wale Samuel, is of the opinion that there are more causes for concern as all sectors in the country, education inclusive, are in a sorry state.

“The education sector is heading south as varsity lecturers have been on strike for too long, standards are falling and the relevance of the school curriculum to the market place is very low.

“Because education is expensive and there are competing demands, stakeholders need to acknowledge their failure and seek ways of moving the sector forward if we don’t want to reap the social consequences that would consume the whole nation.”

Agreeing that the sector is on the downward slide, the Chairman, Board of Directors, You-Nik Academy Nursery and Primary School, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Mr. Brown Ekanem, said “in the first 15 years after independence, the sector was up and doing but somewhere along the line, something went wrong and standards began to drop because the federal and state ministries of education neglected their supervisory role so schools were properly monitored and head-teachers of public schools no longer mark or scrutiniz teachers’ lesson notes or carry out trainings.”

Acknowledging that the sector is bedeviled with a lot of problems, the Principal, Royal Rainbow International School, Lugbe, Abuja, Mr. Okon Ekanem Samson, blamed the leadership and people in the system.

“The sector is where it is today because the people who are supposed to effectively manage it are not doing their jobs. To this end, we now witness constant strike actions, low implementation of the curriculum and the teaching methodologies are nothing to write home about.”

30— Vanguard ,

THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 3 , 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 31

ASUU accuses FG of deception, vows to continue strike

BY DAYO ADESULU

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s the national struggle of ASUU to save Public Education especially the University system entered its third months, the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has accused the Federal Government of paying lip-service to Education development in Nigeria.

Dr Karo Ogbinaka,

ASUU Acting Zonal Coordinator, Ibadan Zone said: “ After the meeting of Tuesday, 19th September 2013 with the Vice President, it is clear that the FGN is merely paying lip-service to Education in Nigeria and deceiving the Nigerian Public on their commitment to its transformation agenda.”

Ogbinaka who urged the Nigerian people not to be deceived by the

Federal Government said, “How can there be a meaningful transformation when the Education sector is neglected and gradually taken over by Private entrepreneurs including g o v e r n m e n t functionaries who are busy building private Universities with stolen funds in and outside Nigeria?”

Can these Universities be truly called private,

he asked.

He re-affirmed ASUU decision not to back-out in its struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian people through ensuring that the government of the day is made to do what is right in the Education Sector.

According to him, this is a commitment that all members of the Union have vowed to pursue to its logical conclusion.

“Our appeal to all patriotic Nigerians is for them to support ASUU in this struggle to safe our Public Education in Nigeria and secure the future of this great country, he added.

In a released, Ogbinaka said that in spite of the spirited efforts of the Union to revamp the rot in the system, the government has remained adamant and intransigent in honouring the agreement it freely entered into with the Union in 2009.

He noted that ASUU has demonstrated great commitment and patriotism since 2006 when the negotiation started and culminated in the 2009 agreement.

He pointed out that the Union has allowed government to use its agencies to verify the claims of decrepit infrastructure in the University System. “This resulted in the production of the Needs Assessment Document of 2012,” he said.

Ogbinaka disclosed that in the negotiation of the agreement, the government was made up of important personalities in Nigeria under the Chairmanship of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode with Professor Musa Abdullahi, Professor Greg-lwu,

Professor Mahmood Yakubu adding, Professor Julius Qkijie, Professor ibidapo Obe, Professor Peter Adeniyi and several notable individuals served as Advisers.

He explained that for many years after the agreement was signed by both parties, ASUU has expressed its frustrations at government negative disposition in honouring the agreement.

He said: “When it became obvious that the Federal Government is bent on reneging on the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement and 2012 MOU, the Union had no alternative than to commence this painful strike action.

“Since the commencement of this strike, government has equally demonstrated to Nigerians its unwillingness to implement the agreement freely entered to with ASUU, After several meetings between ASUU team and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, there has been absolute demonstration of bad faith by Government.

“This led to the intervention of the Vice President of Nigeria, Arch, Nnamadi Sambo.

NYSC Lagos adjudged best in SAED

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he National Youth Service Corps NYSC, Lagos under the leadership of the State Coordinator, Mrs Adeniyi Adenike has been adjudged as the best in the 36 states of the federation including Federal Capital Territory in Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurer Development SAED. Speaking at the meeting of the 2013 batch C planning meeting with SAED officers from the 36 states and the federal capital territory held at the NYSC Lagos State secretariat conference hall, the Director of SAED, Mrs Mary Dan-Abia said: “At the last debriefing and planning meeting held at the global suite, keffi in Nassarawa State, it was generally agreed that there was the need to see the Lagos SAED facility which is adjudged for now as a model of the SAED implementation.”

Dan-Abia who lauded the performance of the state coordinator, Mrs Adeniyi Adenike on SAED in Lagos said: “ I wish to thank the State Coordinator, Head SAED, the entire staff and corps members Lagos for accepting to play host to the meeting. Your contributions are enormous.”

C M Y K

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Don’t reject undergraduates for Industrial Training — FUTA VC

BY LAJA THOMAS

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passionate appeal has gone to industries in the country to stop the rejection of undergraduates posted to their firms for industrial training. The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA Professor Adebiyi Daramola stated this while receiving officials of the Industrial Training Fund/Students Industrial Working Experience Scheme (ITF/SIWES) who were in FUTA for the Ekiti /Ondo axis Zonal quarterly meeting. The ViceChancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Adedayo Fasakin, lamented the experience students have when they are rejected by some industries which often cause them to lose a number of months in the 6-months period of the training. He also urged the ITF management to look into the issue of prompt and timely payment of the stipend due to students to avoid unnecessary agitation and crisis. The Vice Chancellor commended the role of the ITF in building students for the future and expressed his delight in the cordial relationship FUTA has enjoyed with ITF. In her response, the Head of Training, Industrial Training Fund, Mrs. Martina OkpereAmpofo expressed the delight of ITF to FUTA for the support received from the institution over the years and promised to convey the message of the management to the headquarters for appropriate actions. She further promised continuous cordial relationship with FUTA. Declaring the conference open, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Professor Tolulope Akinbogun said SIWES programme is central to FUTA’s operations. His words “To us in FUTA, we cannot afford to handle the SIWES programme with levity and management will continue to support the programme to enable students benefit maximally, so they can be more productive, and established in their chosen career”.

In his welcome address Professor Zacheaus Opafunso, the Director, Industrial Training Unit, FUTA commended the tremendous impact of the scheme through the bridging of the gap between theory and practice in training students in higher institutions. According to him “the Industrial Training Unit which constitutes a vital and integral part of the training of undergraduates is the only Unit that links all students to industries, ministries, parastatals and research institutes irrespective of their course of study”.

C M Y K

It is FG, not ASUU that is lying —ERC

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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he Education Rights Campaign (ERC), has refuted the statement made by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matters, Mr. Jude Imagwe, that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is being economical with the truth on the issues of contention in the on-going strike.

In a press statement, the ERC National Coordinator, Mr. Hassan Soweto said: “It is not ASUU but the Federal government that is keeping students at home and if anyone is lying, it is the Federal Government which failed to honour the 2009 agreement. It shows how those in charge of

the affairs of this country have lost touch with reality. Mr Imagwe wants everyone to believe that if the ASUU strike is indeed about the need to revive public Universities then the striking lecturers should have sheathed their swords since the Federal Government earmarked N100billiom for infrastructural development and released 30 billion for payment of outstanding allowances.”It would be recalled that Imagwe, while speaking to newsmen recently, said: “It is important for the public to know that government did not say this is all that it will give, but government says go and start the payment with this amount and let us know the amount it will add.”

government that does not correspond with the provision of this agreement is null and void; such proposals are insincere and a betrayal of the other party in the agreement.

Meanwhile the proposal of N100 billion, which Mr. Imagwe expects ASUU to gratefully accept, is ridiculous considering that the least the agreement stipulated as yearon-year provision for upgrade of facilities in Universities is N400 billion. One pertinent question which Mr. Imagwe should answer is: How reasonable is the theory that the Federal Government cannot afford N400billion to jumpstart its ailing Universities when the same government once spent a whooping N620 billion to bail

President Jonathan, a former University lecturer and his Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Jude Imagwe a former NANS president ought to be more sensitive to the needs of the sector. He said: “As a former NANS president who now occupies such an exalted office, one expects a more positive contribution from Mr. Imagwe towards the resolution of the crisis rocking the education sector.

We respectfully ask Mr Jude Imagwe to do his job properly by advising the President to be honourable not merely in words but also in deeds by implementing agreements reached with ASUU and other unions and to also be sincerely committed to improving the funding of public education.”

ASUU strike not against varsity system— UNILAG, VC Continued from page 28 “I think the government is making efforts to solving the problems. We have got to admit that there is wide spread decay in the varsities and we can’t, as a country, look away from that area. Many countries who are doing well are those who have taken education seriously.”

Lamenting the present state of education, Ovbiagele pointed out that some countries have moved beyond education and are concentrating on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM. “We have to look at our education sector and invest more in our education because that is our future.”

Meanwhile, the former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, said that the varsity system is at cross-road, especially with the prolonged ASUU strike.

Pointing out that it is cheaper to keep the children in school than at home, Sekibo said the cost of keeping students at home on the family finance is such that we should begin to calculate, adding that the cost on our nation and its economy is enormous.

“Those of us in government have a

responsibility to ourselves and the nation. Is there no other way to fund education and for the union to get their point across? It is our duty to find other ways of resolving these issues, and until we find alternatives, we will not be doing the right thing for our nation.

“The truth is that we must find a different ways of funding universities.

I suggest that it is time for universities to be autonomous to raise their own fund, run their businesses, charge fees where applicable, and pay their lecturers whatever money they want to pay as they negotiate with them without reference to any superior body.”

On his part, the Chairman, Publicity and Publications Committee UNILAG Advancement Board, Mr John Momoh, urged the alumni to use their influential positions in the society to change Nigeria for the better, adding that Nigeria need leaders like them to act as agents of change.

“UNILAG graduates cover the globe

in their search for knowledge and meaning as their contributions make a difference everywhere. The Alumni Association has steadily been building traction and capacity, to create a truly great institution; such greatness requires four things: students enjoying a tremendous student experience; very successful faculties; a supportive campus learning environment; and substantial financial resources. We need you to engage with your Almamata as it strives to attain this greatness.”

Dignitaries present at the meeting were former Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Wole Olanipekun SAN; chairman of Channel Television, Mr John Momoh; former Minister of Transport, Dr Sekibo Abiye; Senator Ganiyu Solomon; Olorogun Sunny Kuku; DVC Management, UNILAG, Prof Duro Oni; Dr Folashade Taiwo Ipaye, Registrar, Senator, Ogunlewe Adeseye, Pro-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, among others.

From left: Prof.

Rahamon Adisa Bello, VC University of Lagos; Prof Duro Oni, DVC, (Management Services) Unilag; Mr. Mac Oveiagele, Chairman, Unilag Advancement Board; and Mr. John Momoh, Chairman, Publicity and Publications Committee, during the institution's Advancement Board Alumni cocktail and Dinner.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 33

UNESCO lauds Rivers govt’s free books to students

BY DAYO ADESULU

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he Rivers State Government has flaggedoff its 2013 Free Education Project. The flagging-off ceremony took place at the Dr.Christie Toby Model Primary School, Elekahia, Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The FEP is an annual event where the state government distributes free books, uniforms, bags, sandals and sportswear to students and pupils in the State.

The initiative started when Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi officially launched the free and compulsory education for every child in the state.

Meanwhile, the Team Leader Planning of UNESCO Headquarters Dr.Nyi Thaung said he is impressed with the achievements of the Rivers State Government. He said that the dreams of UNESCO are to provide access to education to children around the world.

“First of all, I must say that I am impressed and also very proud of the commitment and the achievements being made

by Rivers State Government.

This is our dream which is to have the textbooks, good uniforms and all the learning materials” During the flagging-off exercise at Model Primary School in Port Harcourt, the Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi said that the passion of the Governor in education prompted him to transform the sector immediately he took over the

BY DAYO ADESULU

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The Commissioner for Education(m) flagging-off the free books distribution programmeat the Dr.Christie Toby Model Primary School, Elekahia, Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt. mantle of leadership in the state.

“He has built good infrastructure, recruited 13,201 new teachers to ensure there are teachers in the classrooms. Also, every beginning of the academic session, the Governor always flag-off the free book, free uniform, sandals and bags to all schools in the State. He has not only given you free books, free uniforms, he has also given you conducive learning environment” Lawrence-Nemi who noted that the Governor Amaechi declared a State of Emergency in the education sector when he assumed office in 2007, added that its administration has transformed the education sector which was in a state of comatose.

She disclosed that Rivers State will be celebrating four

years of free education in the state and that the ministry will celebrate it with an art exhibition as stakeholders in the education sector will be invited.

The Commissioner explained that the State Government has established institutions so as to ensure sustainability of the free education programme in the state when it leaves office.

According to her, the Education Quality Assurance Agency and School Based Management Committees SBMC were established to ensure sustainability of these schools when this administration leaves the office.

She pointed out that SBMC will involve local participation in the management of the schools saying, “f you look at the Quality Assurance

Agency, the Ministry has not to be everywhere. Because we have also set up the School Based Management Committee to ensure that communities are part and parcel of what we have on ground. The community will be part of a team that will ensure that these schools are maintained and clean.”

On his part, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Dr.Richard Ofuru commended the Governor of the State Rt.Hon.Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON, for his investment in the education sector. Ofuru who lauded the educational drive of governor Amaechi and the Commissioner for Education, stated that the investments have exposed the pupils, students and teachers in the State to what they were ignorance of.

EDUCATION SECURITY: Experts call for state of emergency in sector

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

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or more than two decades now, there seem not to be any sector of the Nigerian economy that has generated much ado and giving much cause of worry in a comparably equivalent degree as the Education sector hence, the condition of the sector formed the bone of contention in the 17th Annual Prof. Fafunwa Educational Foundation Lecture held recently at the National Institute of International Affairs(NIIA), Victoria Island.

The lecture title, “Education and National Security in Nigeria,” received

C M Y K

FG backpedalss on bid to rename UNILAG

comprehensive analysis from Professor AbubakarMomoh, Director General, The Electoral Institute of INEC FCT, Abuja and Dr. Kola Babarinde, Department of Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, who gave a bird-eye-view from different but relevant perspectives.

Prof.AbubakarMomoh, speaking on “Education and National Security in Nigeria,”observed that we need to understand that, poverty,corruption, health challenges, others, endanger our national security adding that problems in the university and the entire education sector are structural,

multifaceted, hydra-headed and deep-rooted.

He argued that apart from the fact that the nature of colonial education, its purpose in Africa and foundation of post-independence education development ideologies as predicated upon false definition of development and national security saddle stakeholders who are yet to decolonize the system and fasten it to meet up our indigenous development and securityneeds that are relevant to our challenges with contradictions said, another key problem we have is that our schools are not open to those who cannot afford to go to private schools

most of which constitute national security risk.

He averred that, “We must go beyond the realist perspective or the statecentric definition of national security to see national security as not just protecting the integrity and sovereignty of a state or those who control administration or the regime to seeing in the context of globalized and transnational world, national security as being citizens’ security, wellbeing of people and their rights and entitlement being protected and the provisioning of groups, community, religious rights entitlements.

he decision of the Federal Government to change the University of Lagos UNILAG, to Moshood Abiola University has been reverted, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahamon Ade Bello has said. He disclosed this during the UNILAG Advancement Alumni cocktail/dinner held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos on Saturday.

He said: “I must inform you at this gathering that I have with me the letter from the Federal Ministry of Education on the instruction from the presidency that the Federal University of Lagos shall remain the University of Lagos.” He noted that what the alumni need to do is to ensure that the law that named the university of Lagos does not change.

He said: “I make bold to say that since inception, UNILAG has endeavour to live up to expectations of the funding fathers in providing a conducive teaching, learning and research environment so as to produce high quality graduates nationally and internationally.”

Rahamon pointed out that over the years, UNILAG has been identified as the most preferred university in Nigeria saying, it has consistently top the list of students seeking admission into universities as about 73 per cent yearly chose UNILAG as first choice.

Will recalled that May 29, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan during its democracy day broadcast renamed University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University. The decision that triggered riot and condemnations amongst students, alumni of the institution and other stakeholders in education sector.

Dignitaries at the meeting include: “Professor Wole Olanipekun SAN, former Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Mr John Momoh, owner of Channel Television, Former Minister of Transport, Dr Sekibo Abiye, Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Olorogun Sunny Kuku.

Others were; Prof Duro Oni, DVC Management, UNILAG, Dr Folashade Taiwo Ipaye, Registrar, Senator, Ogunlewe Adeseye, Pro-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to mention a few.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH

Udeme Archibong The class of champions

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hampions live in a separate class; they think differently, talk differently and behave differently. Champions’ living in a separate class does not mean they are snobbish; proud or full of ego rather it means they possess distinctive qualities that sets them apart from the crowd.

Champions give credit to others even to their opponents.

When Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States, there was a man who publicly opposed him.

He travelled across the country, proclaiming many destructive things about Lincoln in order to destroy his character and person.

At times he would criticize Lincoln’s looks, “You don’t want a lanky, ignorant man like this as the president of the United States”. At other times, he would write malicious statements about Lincoln. In spite of this treatment, Lincoln eventually became the president of the United States.

When it was time for President Lincoln to choose a cabinet, he decided to appoint the man who had spoken ill of him as secretary of war. When Lincoln mentioned his decision to his advisors, they said to him: “President Lincoln, are you a fool?

Do you know what Mr. Stanton has been saying about you?

Do you know what he has done...tried to do to you? Do you know that he tried to defeat you on every hand? Do you know that, Mr. Lincoln? Did you read all the derogatory statements that he made about you?” Abraham Lincoln replied, “Oh yes, I know about it; I read about it; I’ve heard him myself. But after looking over the country, I find that he is the best man for the job.” Yes! Champions have class.

Zig Ziglar beautifully states, “Success (a win) doesn’t make me, and failure (a loss) doesn’t break me”. Champions win triumphantly and they lose gracefully; no anger, no embarrassment, and no depression. Champions recognize that losing is part of winning which lead to growth and development and ultimately peak performance.

Champions never play the blame game because they know that the blame game is a game for losers. If they blew it they accept full responsibility for their mistakes and grow through them.

Champions are contributors; they give back to the society.

True Champions think distribution rather than possession; contribution rather than recognition.

Champions are men and women with vision or purpose.

They are clear about whom they are; where they are going and what they want to accomplish and they develop a plan and work their plan. Champions let their purpose consume their mind and time which is the key to winning.

Champions believe in themselves and their abilities. They are positive minded; they like themselves; they like people; they believe people will also like them.

University education: Take your choice – 2

By DELE SOBOWALE

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he sub-heading of this column was announced last week – 'why religious organisations should do more.'

Last week, it was pointed out that university education in the United States was started by private individuals and groups who recognized, more than 500 years ago, that advanced education provided the most enduring competitive advantage to societies universally.

Even today, secondary school kids from the nations of the Southeast, whose economies now dictate the pace of global commerce – China, Japan, South Korea and India, to mention a few – out-perform their American counterparts in mathematics and basic science.

Granted, the Western nations still lead in the amount spent on research and development, but the “learning nations” of Asia are best in the application of the products of research.

That explains why every invention in ICT by American companies – e.g Apple – is matched almost immediately by the introduction of clones or superior substitutes from SAMSUNG or LG or from China. They very quickly grasp the science behind it.

By contrast, Nigerian secondary school kids fail math and science in droves and we have failed to develop the critical mass of people who understand basic science and math out of which the geniuses will emerge.

Again, unlike the developed countries, we have, for too long relied on governments to provide education at all lev-

els. That is a model of development of education which has not worked anywhere.

And, it is not working in Nigeria.

But, like Nigeria, America, back in 1636, when Harvard University was founded, had few really wealthy individuals who could single-handedly fund universities.

Meanwhile population was expanding and more kids needed university education in order to exploit the benefits of the industrial revolution for their country and to even overtake the leading nations of Europe.

Fortunately, America had abundant land and supportive state governments, which, at first grudgingly, but, later, willingly donated land for every new proposed varsity.

Among the first groups to take advantage of these opportunities were religious, virtually all Christian, organizations. Parents and kids who wanted to obtain higher education, without losing touch with their chosen faith, were therefore gradually accommodated by the churches which established universities based on their own creed.

Even, American Jews, tired of discrimination against their brightest students and insults (“kike”) by school mates established Brandeis University in 1948, situated at Waltham, Massachusetts – which is regarded as one of the best funded small private universities in the world.

Certainly, if Nigerians want to advance quickly in the development of varsity education, we should put aside the frivolities of private jets by leading members of religious organizations and

From left: Mrs ROSANA FORSUELO Provost WaveCrest College, Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Olawumi Gasper and Mr Laolu Oguntuyi Director LASTVEB at the workshop organised for teachers, held at WaveCrest, Lagos.

C C M M Y Y K K

get the religious organizations behind varsity education.

One fact argues for this step - they generate continuous amounts of cash which can be put to good use in this direction. It is quite possible that the big Christian and Muslim denominations nationally receive more donations than some of our poorest states - every week, and there is always more where the money came from.

Religion based universities in Nigeria.

Fortunately, Nigerian religious groups are finally waking up to their responsibilities. Among the 50 private varsities now operating in Nigeria, the following are affiliated to religious groups.

Muslim universities: Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State; founded in 2005.

Al-hikman University, Ilorin, Kwara State; founded in 2005.

The two universities are still admitting students. For those wanting to ally education with excellent moral instructions based on the teachings of Islam, these are the best choices available.

Christian universities: Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan, Oyo State; founded in 2005.

Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State; founded in 1999.

Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State; founded in 2001.

Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State; founded in 2002.

Joseph Afe Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State; founded 2006.

Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State; founded in 1999.

Novena University, Ogume, Delta State; founded in 2005.

Redeemers University: Mowe, Ogun State; founded in 2005.

Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo State; founded 2007.

These varsities had been established by the following churches: Anglican, Winners, Catholic, Methodist, Christ Apostolic and Redeem. They need to be commended for their efforts but they need to do more.

Last line The year 2005 was the bumper year for establishing private varsities in Nigeria as 15 or 30 per cent of our private varsities were founded in that year alone.

The next big jump occurred in 2011 and 2012 when nine were established.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 35

Nestle reiterates commitment to develop nutrition education

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

he Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon has asserted that its organisation can make significant contributions to the development of nutrition education due to their extensive knowledge of nutrition for the past years.

He made this open remarks during the Nestle Healthy Kids Programme Teachers Workshop in Lagos.

Gordhon, however said that while Nestle’s nutrition expertise is at the heart of the Healthy Kids programme, the company is not education specialists, adding that the programme is based on a multi-partnership approach.

“It is designed in collaboration with national health authorities, child nutrition experts and educational authorities,” he said.

According to him, Nestle is also collaborating with the State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, the Ministries of Education,

Population and Nutrition, a non governmental organisation to implement the Healthy Kids programme in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Nestle Healthy Teachers’ workshop is to ensure that the Healthy Kids teachers use innovative nutrition education techniques adding that teachers often need more help with innovative teaching techniques than with content.

He explained that the partnerships are vitally important to ensure that the programme benefits from the appropriate knowledge and the expertise necessary to succeed.

He said: “The primary goal of our nutrition education is to help children adopt eating behaviours that will promote health and reduce risk of disease.

“Knowing how and why to eat healthily is important but knowledge alone does not enable children adopt healthy eating behaviours. Cognitive-focused education results in gains in knowledge but usually have little

From left: Creating Shared Value Field Officer, Nestle Nigeria PLC, Mr Bola Audu; Creating Shared Value Field Officer, CHEPON NGO implementing the healthy kids programme in Nigeria, Dr .Mrs Bisi Atinimo; Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Adenekan; and Founding President, Federation of African Nutrition Societies, Professor Tola Atinmo, during the Nestle Healthy Kids Programme Teachers Workshop in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele effect on behaviours “Nestle Healthy kids programme emphasises

behavioural-based nutrition education which encourages specific healthy eating

Diamond Bank launches multipurpose debit card for students

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

D

iamond Bank Plc has launched an international multipurpose debit card for students of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, which would enable them carry out financial transactions such as paying for school fees, online payments as well as voting during their students’ Union elections.

Speaking at the launch of the card which is valid for four years and bears the logos of Covenant University, Visa and Diamond Bank, the Executive Director, Lagos Businesses and Retail Banking, Diamond Bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, promised to partner with the varsity in more areas.

“This is the first time Visa has allowed this kind of card to be issued and it is the first of its kind in this part of the world. We were here a few days back to discuss what we could do together in respect of the product. We had similar objectives with Covenant University and we decided to partner together for the pilot stage of the introduction of the Visa approved

C M Y K

international card for students of the institution.”

“Presenting the card, the Business Manager, Diamond Bank Plc Ota, Mr. Amedu Simeon, described it as a world class multipurpose card

with biometric features, such that the card can be used to pay school fees, vote and do other financial transactions among others.

Present at the launch were

the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ayo; DVCs, (Academic and Administration), top officials of the school as well as the executive of the Student Union.

From left: Dr. (Mrs.) Taiwo Abioye, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Covenant University; Mr. Uzoma Dozie, Executive Director, Lagos Businesses and Retail Banking, Diamond Bank; Professor Charles Ayo, Vice- Chancellor, Covenant University; and Professor AAA Atayero, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) during the launch of Diamond Bank Multipurpose card (International Debit Card) at Covenant University

behaviours(eg eating less fat and sodium and eating more fruits and vegetables)

Ogun NANS inaugurates new executives

DAUD OLATUNJI New executive of National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun State have been sworn in to paddle the canoe of the body.

The ceremony which was held at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro was anchored by the Convention Chairman, Comrade Adu Oyeyemi Joseph from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

The members are; Yusuf Jamiu from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro as vice chairman, Apooyin Taiwo, FCE, Osiele (Secretary), Okunnowo Ayosile, FUNAAB( Assit General Sec), Ogunkoya Paul, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, IjebuIgbo(PRO), Shobowale Yinka, Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu(Treasurer), Uthman Amuni, Ogun State School of Health Technology, Ilese(Fin. Sec) and Sijuade Abiodun, Cooperative College, Ijeja(Sports Director).

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Graduating pupils at the Wise Generation School, Ladegboye, Ijede road, Ikorodu.

LearnAfrica lauds NECO candidates’ performance in exams T

he nation’s learning resource company, Learn Africa Plc, has congratulated the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the candidates that sat for the NECO June/July 2013 Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) on the Significant improvement recorded in the performance

of students and the reduction in the incidence of examination malpractice.

Results released recently by NECO indicated that about 70 percent of candidates obtained five credits above – an improvement of about 18 percent when compared to the 2012 figure of about 52 percent.

In a statement, Learn Africa Plc attributed the improved outcomes to quality teaching by teachers, hard work by students, availability of quality resources and seamless organization by the examination body.

The company expressed satisfaction with the result.

The Head of Marketing

Learn Africa Plc, Mr Allwell Nwankwo in a released said:”As partners in progress with NECO, we are quite delighted that students are taking up the challenge to perform at their optimum at the NECO examinations. We have no doubt that there is still room for improvement. That is why we are investing in

motivating Nigerian students through the LearnAfricaNECO Excellence Awards and other initiatives of our foundation.”

It will be recalled that in 2012, the corporate social responsibility arm of the company, the LearnAfrica Education Development Foundation, instituted the Excellence Awards to recognize and reward outstanding NECO candidates, schools and teachers in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Nwankwo said:”We are set to reward outstanding candidates, schools and teachers. We request that candidates and schools watch out for the announcement of the 2013 LearnAfrica-NECO Excellence award-winners.

In the same vein, we wish to call upon local and state governments to recognize and reward the award-winners as some did last year. By so doing, the governments will be sending a clearly motivating message to the young ones that hard work and diligence have their reward.”

The awards, he noted considered the first of its kind in scope and coverage, were so successful last year that some state governments decided to grant scholarships to some of the award-winners.

While restating its commitment to funding the awards for five years, he urged other corporate organizations to partner it by sponsoring specific awards under the auspices of the LearnAfricaNECO Excellence

ASUU STRIKE: Public varsities students will miss-out of batch ‘C’ NYSC

BY DAYO ADESULU

H

ope of final year students in Nigeria public universities getting call-up letters to participate in the batch ‘C’ National Youth Service Corps will be dashed, due to the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU. A reliable source close to the NYSC authority who pleaded anonymity, yesterday said: “Presently, the potential graduates from private universities are being given call-up letters for the batch ‘C’ one year mandatory service of their father ’s land. But for those in the public universities, there is no way they can participate in the batch ‘C’ while ASUU is on strike.”

The source explained that since ASUU strike does not affect all facet of the tertiary education, it can not deprive students from other

institutions who are qualified and ready to serve their father land.

Meanwhile, the NYSC Director-General, BrigadierGeneral NT Okorie Affia

while addressing SAED officers who came for planning meeting from the 36

From left: National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Nike Adeyemi; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Nigeria, Mr. Tim Akano; Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Nnamdi Okore-Affia and National Director, Skills Acquisition Entrepreneurship Development(SAED), Mrs. Dan Abia, during the visits of the NYSC DG and State Coordinators to New Horizons Office in Ikeja, Lagos.

states and Federal Capital Territory yesterday in Lagos stated that he is satisfied with the disposition of corps members to the SAED programme. He said: “The innovation has culminated in over 180,000 of corps members gaining the necessary information that will galvanize their live.”

He urged participants at the meeting to make useful contributions and critique of aspects of the programme for the sole purpose of designing a legacy for the nation building project.

On her part, the State Coordinator, NYSC Lagos Mrs Adenike Adeyemi pointed out that since inception of SAED in the state, NYSC have empowered thousands of corps members with entrepreneur skills that have better their lives.”We can safely say over a hundred entrepreneurs have been created by Lagos State SAED.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—37

I N S I D E

53 years independence is not worth celebrating — SANs, lawyers P. 38

Nigeria @ 53: Beyond our low key celebration P. 39

SAN should not be about charging exorbitant fees — Adekoya, SAN

BY INNOCENT ANABA

MRS. Funke Adekoya, SAN, is former Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. She is chairman of NBA Committee on Branch Capacity Building and the International Legal Practice Committee of NBA Section on Legal Practice, SLP. In this interview, she spoke on the programmes of her committee, the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, globalisation of legal services and sundry national issues.

Excerpts:

C

HIEF Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was recently released from captivity by his abductors, what is your reaction to this and how do we overcome the challenge of insecurity of lives and property in the country?

We all welcomed his release from captivity. But for the grace of God it could have been any one of us. The security situation in the country is deteriorating by the day and it seems that our leaders are helpless in protecting us. Society is structured on the coming together of individuals who agree to give up to selected or elected leaders certain rights and freedoms, in exchange for obligations which the leaders will fulfil.

As an example at a very basic level, I give up my right to defend myself and my property by beating, torturing or killing any intruder in exchange for the government’s commitment to protect me from robbers and kidnappers. I give up part of my earned income to government by way of various taxes in exchange for their obligation to provide social services such as roads, light, etc.

I give up my freedom to remain uneducated, or to learn whatever subjects that interest me and in

•Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN advice for the new SANs? I congratulate the new Senior Advocates and welcome them into the

,

The Nigerian legal profession needs to become technologically proficient as the use of ICT in our practices will enhance practice delivery

whatever manner I think fit, in exchange for the government providing me with quality education. Presently, the government is not keeping its part of the bargain and society is falling apart.

The insecurity in the country is the direct result.

New Senior Advocates of Nigeria were inaugurated last week by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, what is your

,

fold. I urge them to remember that the privileges attached to the rank have corresponding responsibilities which I urge them to live up to. They must be role models to our colleagues in the Outer Bar by way of legal scholarship, mode of legal practice, comportment and most especially, by way of ethical behaviour. The rank should not just be seen as a means of enhancing one’s

income by charging exorbitant fees. I advise the new entrants not to become involved in any unethical behaviour.

What is the agenda of the Branch Capacity Building Committee of the NBA in the next one year?

One of the committee’s terms of reference is to organise capacity building training for branches on the basis of the six geo-political zones in the country.

Between November and December we will focus on holding these training workshops for the branches in the six geopolitical zones. The first two workshops will take place in the South West and South South zones in November. The topics will focus on branch administrative issues, fund raising and investment strategies and providing membership benefits at the

branch level.

The NBA recently held its annual general conference in Calabar with the theme: Law, leadership and Challenges of Nationhood in the 21st century Nigeria. What did we take home from that conference and what were the contributions of the Branch Capacity Building Committee to that conference?

The keynote address delivered by Professor Elaigwu during the Opening Session provided food for thought on the challenges of nationhood for nearly all the delegates and I believe it was one of the highlights of the conference. He highlighted the fact that nation-building is a process, which attempts to extend sub-national loyalties to coincide with State boundaries, and ultimately to ensure that such loyalties were subsumed within a greater commitment to the State. He however noted the degree of attachment in Nigeria to subnational loyalties, which may threaten the creation of a Nigerian nation.

My take away from the conference is that if we really want a Nigerian nation, we have to actively create it and work for its continued existence.

As for the Branch Capacity Building Committee, we provided training on fund raising to Branch Chairmen during the Chairmen’s Forum at the preconference NEC. It was the consensus of those present that the training be repeated to a larger group, and so it will feature again at the zonal level. We will also continue to provide such capacity training to Branch chairmen at this Forum which now precedes each NEC meeting.

The NBA President, Okey Wali, SAN recently inaugurated the Stamp and

Continues on page 38

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

53 years independence is not worth celebrating — SANs, lawyers ••Nigeria still limping at 53

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

S Nigerians mark their 53rd independence anniversary, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and some lawyers say that there is no reason to celebrate.

Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN, pointed out that poor governance and leadership had characterised the 53 years journey of Nigeria into nationhood.

“People are ready to celebrate notwithstanding the challenges we have individually and collectively. How do you explain this kind of progress, a country with 160 million people, which

is supposedly endowed with human and natural resources?” he queried.

Oditah noted that Boko Haram scourge and kidnapping should have been dealt with first before any celebration.

“Last week, a High Court judge was kidnapped in Edo State. A month ago, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was kidnapped. The idea that a judge, with all the authority, can be kidnapped and ransom demanded by the hoodlums tells you how badly we have been dealing with security issue” Oditah said.

According to him, there are substantial issues confronting the country and

Professor Fidelis Oditah, SAN

Prof Itse Sagay, SAN

what was required was a meaningful dialogue, “not to go on television in a self and wasteful mood to dissipate the resources we have.”

Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, a constitutional lawyer, on his part, described Nigeria’s 53 years of independence as a depressing journey, noting that “what is more depressing is that there is no hope that it is coming to an end very soon.

“It's been a journey of hope unfulfilled, of potentials that were not met, of failure in every parameter. Look at security,

welfare, education, infrastructure, rule of law, leadership, political maturity, they are all negative. So, we have been retrogressing. It has been a depressive journey.

“Since the military first took over, we have been retrogressing and we have been completely left behind by countries such as South Korea and Malaysia, who used to be at the same level with Nigeria. It is a dismal picture, it is a sad picture, it is a depressing picture.

“People who can bring it to an end will be

SAN should not be about charging exorbitant fees Continues from page 37 Seal Committee, what do Nigerian lawyers stand to gain from the committee?

Nigerian lawyers stand to gain a lot if the use of stamps and seals by lawyers will finally be implemented. Since the project was launched in 2004, it has not taken off.

The use of stamps and seal by lawyers will enable non-lawyers identify members of the profession. I do not understand what is holding it back. The Digital Bar Initiative (under which all lawyers were to‘re-register’ with the NBA) should have assisted the issuance of

the seals embossed with Call to Bar numbers, which was proposed as an amendment to the programme. I do not know why it has taken more than eight years to implement, however I am glad it is finally coming to pass. It is the surest way of eradicating fake lawyers from the profession and ensuring that non-lawyers do not provide legal services. I campaigned for the use of stamps and seals by lawyers when I ran for Vice President in 2002 and implemented it during my tenure.

The International Bar Association, IBA, conference kicks off in Boston, USA this week,

what is your advice to Nigerian lawyers attending the conference?

The IBA is one of the best networking events for lawyers in the world.

Nigerian lawyers should endeavour to not only attend sessions, but also mix and network with lawyers from other countries at the social events. When we attend international conferences, we move around together as the ‘Nigerian contingent’ and do not mix. Then when we return from the conference we should try and maintain contacts with the new friends we make in Boston. That is how to expand our

practices internationally.

How do you think we can take advantage of globalisation to improve the quality of service delivery in the country?

Globalisation is riding on the back of technology.

It is the internet that has broken communication barriers between countries, and made the world a smaller place.

The Nigerian legal profession needs to become technologically proficient as the use of ICT in our practices will enhance practice delivery by making turnaround time faster. We must establish a presence on the web, and use mobile technology for practice delivery.

Chief Morah Ekwunoh leadership that is determined to provide service rather than selfservice. In other words, a leadership that has principle, wants to serve Nigerians rather than serve himself because that is what has been happening. The quality of politicians we have been getting have been getting bad. Each time we complain of one and that one goes, the next set comes and make it worse.”

A renowned human rights lawyer, Chief Morah Ekwunoh opined that the 53rd Independence anniversary of the country only serves as a reminder of the “our abysmal failure of our political leaders as epitomised by obscene display of wealth massively looted from our collective treasury, unprecedented insecurity, youth unemployment and complete collapse of sectors and institutions of statehood, particularly in the educational and economic sectors.

“It also reminds us of collapse of governance, which should take a deserved front seat with a view to addressing the myriad problems that militate against our development as a nation.

Instead and most regrettably, it has taken the back seat whereas desperate politics towards 2015 have taken the front seat.

“The cumulative result of the above indices of

Mr. Taiwo Taiwo complete failure of governance, as unleashed and inflicted on us by the political leaders, is that Nigeria is left as a near, if not fully, failed state in the class of Somalia.

“In sum, our 53 years as an independent state call for sobriety of reflections and prayers for Nigeria, and not for any celebration, talk less of the present lavish spending being earmarked for it in the midst of unprecedented insecurity, massive youth unemployment, complete shut-down of educational and economic institutions, and massive looting of our national wealth. Finally, it reminds us of the brazen trampling of the selfless labour of our founding fathers.”

Former Chairman, Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Taiwo Taiwo, said that there is virtually nothing to celebrate.

“I can tell you emphatically that there is nothing worth celebrating in the so called independence celebration of Nigeria. But the only thing I can say that is worth celebrating in this country is nothing but sorrow, tears, blood, corruption and undemocratic values,” he said.

Human rights activist cum lawyer, Fred Agbaje, expressed appreciation to God for still keeping the country together as a nation despite what he termed moves by greedy leaders to tear the country apart.

Agbaje also expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that Nigeria at 53 was still limping on wounded legs, insisting that insecurity and corruption were the orders of the day.

He said: “The country is blessed with abundant resources, but those in the leadership position don’t know how to tap into those resources. No country can grow where leaders cannot see beyond their nose.

There is no visible development and Nigeria is in total darkness. Most of our leaders are political looters.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—39

wk ey celebration Nigeria @ 53: Be Beyyond our lo low ke O

N Tuesday this week, Nigeria as a country probably had a low key celebration to mark the 53rd anniversary of political independence from our colonial masters. Perhaps, the anniversary was celebrated without fanfare or pomp and pageantry in acknowledgment of the increasing global unrest that is on top of the agenda of most developed, developing and less developed nations occasioned by unexpected security incidents.

It is also possible that the avoidance of any form of gloating in our celebrations is a clear acceptance of the argument of the majority that we are yet to arrive at our destination 53 years after our journey began. Does any nation ever arrive at its destination or is the life of a nation a continuous journey punctuated by events whether remarkable or not? Yet again, one may ask, when did the life of this country begin? Some would say it began in

master stroke or an unmitigated error. As has been acknowledged, every journey has a beginning and it will be left to the discerning reader to determine whether our journey as a country truly began in 1914.

Snippets from our colonial history show that Lord Lugard made way for Sir Hugh Clifford in 1919 or thereabouts. It was indeed Sir Clifford that laid the foundations of democracy in the colony in that the first Nigerian constitution of 1922 was appropriately called the Clifford Constitution.

That constitution introduced a Legislative Council and for the first time, enlightened Nigerians were afforded the opportunity of a say in the political affairs of their country.

No matter how tenuous their emergence in government was, what cannot be contradicted is that it was that constitution that sowed the first seeds of nationalist movements in that time. The early Nationalists were the principal actors in the

,

It is also possible that the avoidance of any form of gloating in our celebrations is a clear acceptance of the argument of the majority that we are yet to arrive at our destination fifty-three years after our journey began

,

1914 when the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and its counterpart, the Southern Protectorate was achieved. At this juncture, it may simply be noted that what is presently known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not a country, at least prior to the amalgamation of 1914.

The indigenous and heterogeneous groups, often derogatorily referred to as ‘tribes’, which make up this country existed independently of each other with different cultural and political systems. However, the colonial masters, largely for economic and administrative reasons, felt that there was a need to merge the Northern and Southern Protectorates into a single colony.

The fusion was achieved

by Lord Frederick Lugard, the then Governor General. It has often been wondered in several quarters whether the amalgamation was a political

struggle against colonialism. Late Herbert Macaulay, for instance, is often referred to as the father of Nigerian nationalism. He was later joined in the struggle by the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the late Sardauna of Sokoto and other patriotic leaders.

It is believed that women were not left out of the agitations that eventually led to the ouster of the Colonialists. What is popularly known as ‘the Aba Women Riots of 1929’ was a revolt against the involvement of women in the payment of tax. Of course, the effort of women in the achievement of political independence cannot be ignored and this has been touted as one of the reasons the Central Bank of Nigeria presented the Amazons of yester-years to be printed on the face of the proposed N5,000 note. Even though now suspended, it cannot be doubted that in

Awa Kalu, SAN the nearest future, an opportunity for acknowledging the efforts of women in nation building will present itself. What needs to be repeated is that the combined pressure from men and women culminated in democratic self rule, first for the Western and Eastern Regions and later for the Northern Region as a prelude to the independence of the nation from Great Britain.

However, in light of the fact that what calls for celebration is the 53rd anniversary of our independence from Great Britain, it would then seem incontestable that Nigeria was born on the 1st of October, 1960 and that it was on that date that its journey as a nation began.

Providing instruction A nation is akin to a human being, born naked and unable to do things for itself, assisted for many years, weaned and let loose to cater for itself. For the human being, it is those who bring the child into the world that are responsible for its upbringing including providing instruction as to how to survive in a competitive environment. In the words of Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and Secretary of State of the United States of America, ‘it takes a village’. If it takes a village to bring up a child, you may wonder, how many persons or villages would it take to ‘bring up’ a nation? All that can be said is that: for a nation, the burden is

often cast on the proverbial ‘founding fathers’ whose dreams, wisdom and foresight propel the nation to greatness.

According to that belief, it was the founding fathers of the United States who dreamt of a strong nation propelled by the ideas of equality of all human beings, that government itself is instituted for the welfare of the governed and that every person is entitled to the pursuit of happiness. The dream of America’s founding fathers has been vigorously pursued by their successors in the course of several decades or even centuries of democratic governance. In our own case, it appears that the dreams of our founding fathers were encapsulated in that first National Anthem which my generation recited effortlessly.

We hailed Nigeria, our own dear native land, and we pledged that though tribe and tongue may differ, in our brotherhood we stand. We then agreed that we were proud to serve our sovereign motherland. For reasons that have not been completely satisfactory, that National Anthem which acknowledged our diversity and affirmed our unity was hastily jettisoned. In its place, we are beckoned as compatriots to arise and to obey Nigeria’s call. That call is to serve our fatherland with love, strength and faith. We then resonate in the belief that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. In unison, we confirm our preparedness to serve our fatherland

with all our might and to produce only one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. Whichever of the two anthems you choose or prefer, there is no iota of doubt that the ingredients of a national ideology are inherent in both. The question at this time, at our 53rd independence anniversary, is whether we have struck the chord embedded in both anthems- the task of building a great Nigeria?

In addition, can the successors to the founding fathers of this nation claim to have fulfilled the promise of the anthems recited by our youth?

The answer is not hard to find and we do not need any rocket scientist to grant us any illumination into our current travails in the build up to our independence anniversary.

A careful examination of our recent history and social condition will leave no one in any doubt that following an incremental deterioration in our security situation there has been a downgrading of our individual and collective well being. Were we statistically-minded, for instance, it would have been easy to quantify the havoc wrought by unmitigated armed robbery, car snatching and allied offences. How do you quantify the economic danger posed by the rise in kidnapping in many states in the Niger Delta and South East Regions? Where is

aturu last week? What about the understated impact of strikes such as the one occasioning a disruption of the studies of students in various Federal tertiary institutions across the country?

What about the notable consequences of natural disasters such as the repeated flooding in Lagos and more recently other parts of the country? Can we be oblivious to the declaration of a state of emergency in parts of the Northern States? In the aggregate, it cannot be in doubt that the security of the state is the only guarantee for order, peace and good government.

Founding fathers This was obvious to our founding fathers for which reason our extant constitution, in section 14(2)(b) declared that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.

National security is inseparable from the welfare of the people for which reason it is accorded the status of a fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy. Can a nation celebrate without security?

In further answer, we may borrow a few words from a book (Foundations of a New Nigeria) edited by two great and celebrated scholars, Sam Oyovbaire and Tunji Olagun-

,

By AWA KALU

A careful examination of our recent history and social condition will leave no one in any doubt that following an incremental deterioration in our security situation there has been a downgrading of our individual and collective well being

the barometer with which we can measure the economic mayhem arising from sustained militancy in the Niger Delta which, fortunately, was ameliorated by the amnesty programme initiated by the Federal Government?

What about the confusion now generated by the random deployment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in different parts of the country leading to the dislocation of social and economic life? What about the degeneration of public safety in the North East typified by the killing of sleeping youths in Dam-

,

ju. In their introduction, they argue that ‘History is a succession of events in the life of nations, of peoples or of communities. Historical events are social cumulations. Fundamentally, one set of identifiable events in time and space is as much rooted in a preceding set of events as it is the root of succeeding events’.

‘Similarly’ they contend, ‘historical events in one place could become the genesis of events in other places depending of course on the critical nature of the former.

To be continued.

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

A time to think

BY FEMI FANI-KAYODE

south zone desperate to take or to hold on to power at any cost respectively, we need to begin to ask ourselves some basic and fundamental questions about our future.

For example is our interest better served by remaining as one nation or is it time for those nationalities that wish to leave the federation in a peaceful and orderly way, as a result of a legitimate and honest referendum, be allowed to go?

If the breaking up of larger countries into smaller and more viable ones is good enough for India (which broke into three), the Sudan (which broke into two), Czechoslovakia (which broke into two), Yugoslavia (which broke into five), the Soviet Union (which broke into fifteen), United Arab Republic (which broke into two) and numerous other countries over the years why is it not good enough for us?

O

Over the last 20 years Britain itself has finally acknowledged the fact that the cry for regional autonomy, secession and ethnic nationalism cannot be resisted forever

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THER than the usual con gratulations, platitudes, expressions of joy and offerings of thanks to God I believe that as we celebrate our nation’s 53rd independence anniversary it is time for us to bare our minds in a candid and frank manner and to really sit down and think.

During her election campaign just a couple of weeks ago, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany and the world’s most powerful woman, said ‘’multiculturalism is dead in German.’’

In 2011, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, echoed the same sentiment when he asserted, in his first major speech as Prime Minister, that ‘’multiculturalism has failed in the United Kingdom’’.

Can we learn anything from these assertions as Nigerians about the shortcomings and dangers of a multicultural state?

What are the implications of these observations for Nigeria’s massive multi-cultural and multiethnic super-state?

Are we really a nation or are we nothing more than a melting pot of squabbling and bickering ethnic and cultural incompatibles? Was Chief Obafemi Awolowo right when he described Nigeria as ‘’not being a nation’’ but a mere "geographical expression’’?

Geographical expression These questions surely need to be answered. On September 11, 2013 1.6 million people of the Catallan region in Spain staged a dramatic protest and expressed their desire for secession by forming a 400 km long human chain which stretched from one end of the region to the other.

According to the polls 52 per cent of the people from that region wish to break off from Spain and establish a new European sovereign state. Similar agitations have emanated from other parts of Spain over the years some of which have degenerated into a bitter and protracted armed struggle such as that of the Basque people in the north who share their boarders with France.

Again the palpable tensions that exist between the Frenchspeaking Walloon people of northern Belgium and the Flemish of the south are legendry and the call for a break-up of that nation into two separate entities is as old as the hills. Such aspirations and agitations for ethnic emancipation from unitary and quasi-unitary states is by no

Contempt and insults

means limited to the European mainland.

For example the beautiful ‘’emerald island’’ of Ireland successfully broke off from Britain in 1921 after much agitation, conflict and bloodshed. Northern Ireland, which remains part of Britain till today, still experiences varying degrees of tensions between the protestant and the ‘’Finian’’ catholic communities, one of which wishes to remain in the UK whilst the other wishes to be part of mainland Ireland.

Over the last twenty years Britain itself has finally acknowledged the fact that the cry for regional autonomy, secession and ethnic nationalism cannot be resisted forever and she has gradually devolved power from Westminster in London to the various regions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each of whom now have their own parliaments.

As a matter of fact later this year the people of Scotland are having their own referendum to determine whether or not they wish to stay in the United Kingdom.

From the polls, it is very clear that the majority of Scots wish to have their own new sovereign state and that the Scottish Nationalist Party, which has championed the secessionist cause, enjoys massive support.

Nobody in Spain, Belgium,

Ireland or the United Kingdom has insulted those people or labeled them as ‘’ethnic jingoists’’ or ‘’primitive tribalists’’ for wanting to break off from the greater whole and establish their own country.

This is because everyone respects the right of the various ethnic groups and nationalities within their wider nation to exercise their right of selfdetermination which is an integral and fundamental aspect of international law.

Exercising that right does not turn them into villains and does not make them any less patriotic than their compatriots who do not share their views. It just means that they have a different perspective and that they believe, as many believed before Malaysia and Singapore broke up and before Indonesia and East Timor broke up, that the interests of their various peoples are better served when and if they go their separate ways.

They opted to be friendly neighbours rather than to be compelled to remain within the same territory against their collective will.

As we in Nigeria approach the 100 year anniversary of our 1914 amalgamation and, as the 2015 elections are fast approaching with both the northern region and the south-

Again why should those that believe that Nigeria ought to break up be subjected to so much suspicion, ridicule, contempt and insults from those that do not share their views? Some of the questions that need to be answered are as follows- firstly is our union working? Secondly is our marriage a good one and if it is it a happy one as well? Are we satisfied with what has essentially become a country that has been turned into nothing more than (with apologies to Chief Bode George) ‘’Turn-byTurn Nigeria?’’ where each ethnic group simply looks forward to enjoying its time to control the federation and all the nations resources from an all powerful centre? Are we not meant to be far more than this?

Is this what the founding fathers of our nation envisaged?

More than anything else the recent Igbo/Yoruba debate over the issue of who owns Lagos state and the deportation of a handful of Igbo destitute back to the east has proved to me that we as a people are very different from one another and that our interests may be better served if we are no longer bound together as one.

I dare to voice this opinion even though many Yorubas share it but will not say so publicly. Is it not time for us to begin to accept the bitter truth that our marriage is uncomfortable and unhappy and that it may not have been made in heaven or Continues on page 41

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—41

A time to think Continues from page 40 ordained by God? Is it not clear that each region or each nationality ought to be able to develop at their own pace? Is it not time for us to have a confederation of nationalities in Nigeria and to restructure the country drastically to give maximum autonomy to the various regions and nationalities or indeed is it not time to just break up and go our separate ways?

Many may disagree but one thing that I believe that we can at least agree on is that perhaps it is time for us to be courageous enough to begin to talk about these issues openly and debate them.

We must not sweep our differences under the carpet and ignore them as if they do not exist but instead we must find the courage and muster the resolve to acknowledge them and understand them.

As far as I am concerned this is the challenge of our time and these are the questions that need to be answered. Whatever happens in 2015 and whoever wins, whether it be a northerner or Goodluck Jonathan of the south-south, I see blood on the horizon and I see disaster approaching.

Constitutional conference

Bellicose murmurings Stark promises from notable players such as ‘’there will be bloodshed if Goodluck is not reelected’’ do not help and are not encouraging. There are equally strident and bellicose murmurings from the other side as well and some have threatened that if there is a repeat performance of the massive rigging that the north witnessed in the Presidential election of 2011 anywhere in the country in 2015, ‘’Nigeria will burn’’ whilst another key player said that ‘’both the dog and the baboon shall be soaked in blood’’.

These words must be taken very seriously indeed and they reflect the thinking and mindset of millions of people from both sides of the political and regional divide. Worst still, whether we like to admit it or not, religion has now become a major factor in our politics with Christians being told in their churches that it is their solemn duty to support a Christian presidential candidate and Muslims being told in their mosques that it is theirs to support a Muslim. We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder and in my view 2015 really will be the year of make or

break for Nigeria. Sadly, in my humble opinion, it is far closer to ‘’break’’ than it is to ‘’make’’. If we wish to avoid the road to Kigali we must change our mindset and make the necessary concessions that we need to make.

We must begin to think outside of the box and be far more innovative and adventurous.

For example why is it a must in the minds of some that the PDP must field a southern Christian as its presidential candidate and why are some in the APC of the view that the party must field a northern Muslim as its own?

These hard and fast fixed positions are most unhelpful and the right thing and proper thing to do is to completely discard them and attempt to find a presidential candidate that is a Ni-

gerian before being a northerner, a southerner, a Christian or a Muslim. And thankfully there are quite a few of such people around in the new generation if only the system will be far-sighted and enlightened enough to allow them to emerge and run.

Failing that we must open up the space now and consider the unpleasant assertion that the premium that a united Nigeria attracts may not be worth paying simply because we are getting nothing but failure after failure and sorrow after sorrow as our consistent return.

I do not have all the answers and neither do I claim that I do.

Indeed I may well be wrong which is why I would be interested in hearing the views of others. Whichever way it goes and

Yet the question that often comes to my mind is as followsIf the oil and gas had been situated in the core north, the west or the east would the major ethnic groups that hold sway in those areas have willingly shared it with the rest of Nigeria? Would they have remained in the federation?

Secondly at the 1954 Constitutional Conference that was held in Lagos, the Action Group, under the distinguished leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, demanded that the “right to secession” be included in the proposed new constitution.

This was rejected by the Colonial Secretary, Oliver Lyttleton. Prior to this, in 1953, after the Kano riots, the Northern Nigeria legislature passed an eight-point programme which in effect demanded the dissolution of the Federation. Again this was rejected by the British. By way of contrast the ‘’right to secession’’ clause was incorporated into the Ethiopian constitution in the 1990’s though it has never been invoked.

Perhaps if we had been permitted to adopt that provision in 1954 we would have avoided a whole load of problems including a very brutal civil war between 1967 and 1970 and today ’s challenge of Boko Haram. Perhaps it is not too late to adopt it now. Perhaps that is what may save us from the impending carnage of 2015.

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regardless of what we all think let us not allow this debate to be driven by the uninformed or ignorance, pettiness, hate and acrimony.

Let us not insult one another or act as if any tribe or nationality is a collection of angels whilst others are nothing but demons. Let us join issues and exchange ideas in a civil, restrained and decent manner without hurling insults at one another or allowing our emotions to becloud our thinking.

At the end of the day we all want the same thing- namely, to put in place a system that is in the best interest of the Nigerian people and to empower a new leadership that will allow them to achieve their full potentials.

That is the objective and that alone.

Permit me to end this contribution with two points that are worthy of note. Firstly Chief Bola Ige once said that ‘’the oil of the Niger Delta area acts as a glue that keeps Nigeria together’’. This is true.

Failing that we must open up the space now and consider the unpleasant assertion that the premium that a united Nigeria attracts may not be worth paying simply

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42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Politicians must stop heating up the polity — Onyema BARRISTER Allen Onyema is the facilitator of the amnesty programme for repentant Niger Delta militants and chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN). At 53, he says that Nigeria has under-achieved and her unity faces threat from unpatriotic activities of politicians.

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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What we need in Nigeria are nationalist politicians, not sectionalist politicians.

We don’t need tribal or whore mongers

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HAT do you make of Nigeria at 53?

We have come a long way, but one is not totally happy. There are signs of dangers looming.

Certain things are not done properly. At 53, Nigeria has attained serious adulthood.

Yet, it’s still grasping with issues that should have been addressed some 30 years ago.

Some of the issues that the present administration is addressing today are issues that should have been addressed some 30 years ago.

So, you can trace our problems not just to bad governance over the years but also on the attitude of the governed themselves. It’s nothing to write home about.

May be, the attitude of the military did a lot of havoc to this country. That is why at all times the word ‘democracy’ is better than the best military regime.

Most of the problems this government is trying to tackle today are things that should have been done years back. For example: the issue of airport.

Nobody will believe that a country like Nigeria will be running the kind of poultry farms we regard as airports.

They looked like poultry farms before this regime came in. Our railways for the past 30 years have never been attended to. It’s being done now. Institutions were not allowed to grow. Instead, what we had were powerful individuals as presidents or heads of state.

And no country makes progress anywhere in the world where we have powerful individuals with weaker institutions. So, this is part of the impediment to the growth and development of this country. Institutions were not allowed to grow at their own pace, and that is one thing I can say this government is doing right.

This government is allowing institutions to grow at their own pace, not having a powerful and all-conquering President. No! But because Nigerians are not used to having a President who allows institutions to grow, people think this is a weakness on the part of the President who is saddled to steer the affairs of this country. This is very wrong.

So many people have not

•Allen realized a lot of things that this government has done right. They only tend to look at the things it has done wrong. This government has really done well considering where we are coming from.

Before now, our airports were just like poultry farms. Today, we have some differences going on not minding the insecurity some people foisted on this country deliberately. So I think democracy is being allowed to grow in this country. What the seven governors are doing and the insults this President has been receiving right from the time his victory was announced through the polls, no President in this country has ever endured that kind of insult. What I’m saying is that we must tarry a while and remember that there’s a limit to stupidity. What is happening now is arrant foolishness. Some people have taken it upon themselves to destabilize the polity because of 2015. It’s unacceptable.

I strongly believe that criticisms must be constructive but that is not what we are having now. This is an outright insult to the President of this country. I have not seen any country in Africa or in the world where people will just wake-up and start disturbing their President at will. What is

happening today is totally unacceptable.

We can’t be attaining 53 years of nationhood and 100 years of coming together and this kind of things is still happening. It’s because for once, we have a President who doesn’t want to use arbitrarily the powers that the constitution can afford him, and now it’s being taken for weakness.

What Nigeria is looking for is a President that can bring retroactive laws to kill people or send people to jail without trials.

That’s not what we need. I’m not a member of PDP or any other political party, but I must speak the truth, no matter whose ox gored. What the seven (aggrieved PDP) governors are doing is highly unacceptable.

And it seems they are getting supports from members of the legislative arm, which is not good. It has never happened before. If people seek powers, they must do so based on democratic ideals and pursuits.

The rein of impunity and arrogance must be done away with. This is a country of 328 ethnic nationalities. And it behooves us in our actions to respect the sensibility of the diverse ethnicity in this country.

If you fail to do that, you will becausing problems.

We don’t want to go to war in

this country again. But what these seven governors are doing is capable of throwing the entire country into turmoil. I’m saying this because I’m closer to people whose lives are into violence and I know the kind of things that can irk their sensibilities. So they should stop it.

The question is if President Jonathan is intimidated out of power through sectional sponsored and destabilizing activity, what will be the lot of the next President? He must surely come from a section of this country, and you think the other sections of this country will let peace be?

No, because a precedent must have been created and people will always follow the precedence. So, what we are saying is that these people should be careful the way they mount ethnic politics. No, it must be North, it must be SouthSouth, it must be South-West.

Why can’t Nigerians come out and contest elections based on what they can offer, and not based on the region they come from.

53 years after, do you think Nigeria is united?

The country is not united at all because of ethnicity and the activities of politicians. These politicians know what they are doing. They bamboozle the ordinary people to take to certain selfish tendencies of theirs.

Selfish tendencies So, the ordinary barbecue seller does not really care who the President is as long as he is allowed to sell his barbecue (suya) peacefully. The Igbo trader does not care who the president really is so far he is allowed to do his marketing peacefully. The people in civil service also do not really care but politicians keep on heating the polity.

How do we make the country united?

The only way Nigeria can be united is for our politicians to give peace a chance and start doing things the right way. What we need in Nigeria are nationalist politicians, not sectionalist politicians. We don’t need tribal or whore mongers.

This country should never listen to anybody who is aspiring to rule this country based on regional politics, that it’s my turn because their activities are based on sectional interest.

Some people have attributed the problem of this country to faulty federalism. What’s your take on that?

According to our constitution, we are running a Federal system of government. But in the actual fact, what we are running is more or less a unitary system.

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—43

Let's not forget what Anambra went through — Obiano STORIES BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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HE candidate of APGA, Chief Willy Obiano has urged the people of Anambra State not to forget in a hurry what the state went through between 1999 and 2006 when politicians who held sway within the period made Anambra a pariah state.

His campaign director general, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike said in Awka that it has been observed that many of the people who participated in destroying the people’s commonwealth during the ugly days have come again and are angling to be given another chance to continue where they stopped, adding that it would amount to a great disservice to the state to give them the opportunity.

According to him, even one of the characters who were seen in video clips with jerry cans of petrol during the burning down of government facilities is aspiring to enter the Government House and warned the people of the consequences of allowing such people to come near the seat of power.

Uzodike also urged the people not forget the tension that prevailed in the state then because of the characters of those in government, warning that it would be disastrous to go back to such an era after the peace and tranquility that had prevailed in Anambra State since 2006 when Mr. Peter Obi assumed office as governor.

In his independence anniversary message to the people, Obiano told the people that ‘’their long deferred hope of a life of abundance has finally come within a touching distance.

“As Nigeria marks her 53rd Independence anniversary, I am reminded of the fact that most countries in Africa owe their independence today to the vision and sacrifices of the sons and daughters of Anambra State. I am reminded of the overawing influence of the Rt Hon. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha, on the nationalist movements across Africa, the intellectual activism and rigour of Mokwugo Okoye, Nwafor Orizu, Kenneth Dike, MCK Ajuluchuku, Prof Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu and Sir Louis Mbanefo among others.

“When I look back at the pioneering contributions of our ancestors to Nigeria and Africa’s greatness, I am assured

of our collective capacity to turn things around in Anambra State and reclaim the glory that once belonged to our people. I am assured of our capacity for greatness once again because we know the sons of who we are.

“Today, we see the sun rise with greater certainty than before because we can see hope in the near horizon.

Governor Peter Obi has given us hope. He has laid the superstructure for our greatness and with your kind support and votes; I hope to push the frontiers of development further in Anambra State. I want to make you live your dreams; today, not tomorrow, not one moment longer,” Obiano said.

According to him, the

foundation for good governance, transparency and accountability that the APGA government under Obi has laid in Anambra State is a visionary and revolutionary basis for the emergence of a modern society where people’s aspirations and dreams are matched by the favourable realities of their daily lives.

“Governor Obi has demystified governance. I am here to continue that tradition and bring the benefits of purposeful leadership closer to our people. Anambra State is too blessed with human and material resources to be trapped at the bottom of development with other less gifted states.

I have a well-articulated plan that enunciates what we shall do in education, health, infrastructural development, agriculture, security and social welfare, housing and urban development, tourism, sports and youth development, the environment, commerce and industry and civil service and administration to unlock our people’s hidden potentials.

All these are a part of the larger manifesto of APGA which was conceived to usher

My aim is to reposition Anambra —Ubah

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P governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah says his aim for seeking to govern Anambra State is to reposition and transform the state and make it a place of excellence in all spheres of life.

Ubah, who was addressing a group of his supporters at Nnewi, said Anambra people need a governor who will lift their living conditions and properly manage the resources of the state.

He said: “Anambra people need a governor whose primary reason of being in

government is to make the state secure for human development, make life meaningful and match words with action; I have a proven record of achievements and the capacity to create wealth and employment opportunities which makes me ideally suited to tackle the challenges facing our state.

“Since I have created thousands of jobs and empowered Anambra youths, Anambra State under my leadership will be a better place for providing economic

opportunities, peace and security.”

According to Ubah, successful businessmen normally make great leaders, citing United States of America’s Nelson Rockefeller who, he said, as governor of New York State, vastly enhanced the state’s capacity to provide quality education, environmental protection, transportation, healthcare, welfare and the arts.

Ngige flags off campaign today

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LL is set for the flag off of the governorship campaign of the candidate of APC, Senator Chris Ngige today.

The campaign headquarters of the APC candidate, located opposite the Government House in Awka, has been a beehive of activities preparatory to the big event expected to attract most of the APC governors and other notable politicians from across the country.

Wards and local government

officials of APC have been holding meetings to make adequate arrangement for their full participation at the flag off ceremony.

Already, the APC campaign team has been enlarged to include members of the state House of Assembly elected on the platform of the party, as well as all ward chairmen who, in the words of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, would serve as ‘ ward commanders’ during the November 16 election.

•Ngige

•Obiano in a new approach to governance in Igbo land.”

Ezeemo to unveil 5-point agenda

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PA candidate, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo has promised to use his five –point agenda to transform Anambra State if elected governor of the state.

The five points include security, agriculture, enabling environment for investors, education and health.

Ezeemo, who described governorship as serious business noted that November 16 will be a great opportunity for Anambra people to make choice of their lives, advising the electorate to ensure that they vote in somebody who has family values.

His director media and publicity, Chief Okey Nwoke, who spoke on his behalf, said in an interview in Awka that ordinarily Ezeemo would have stayed back to enjoy his God –given wealth, but his desire to serve the people prompted his decision to vie for the office of governor.

“Ezeemo believes in investing at home and that is what he has been doing as a business man. He is indeed an apostle of think home philosophy and he is determined to rescue Anambra State from socio –economic decay,” Nwoke said.

According to him, the five – point agenda would be fully unveiled on October 21, 2013 when Ezeemo would officially flag off his campaign, adding that the PPA candidate has attributes that have endeared him to the people.

44—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

APC leaders move to reconcile Emerhor, Keyamo

Okolugbo commends NPF leader

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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A R R I — N AT I O N A L leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, have intervened in the disagreement between the party’s flag bearer in the October 12 by-election in Delta Central senatorial district, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor and lawyer/ activist, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, who pulled out of the primaries last month.

Vanguard learnt that APC did not want to go into the election with a divided house and resolved that apart from the candidate, who had personally reached out to Keyamo, the party should approach him to sink his grievances and work for Emerhor’s victory.

To ensure victory for the party, National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lai Mohammed, and other national officers

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HE Commissioner representing Ndokwa on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, Sir Henry Okolugbo, has lauded the emergence of rear Admiral Onah as the Leader of Ndokwa Political Forum, NPF. He said for the political stakeholders in Ndokwa to unanimously back Onah, was testament to the fact that Onah could lead the Ndokwa people.

Okolugbo added that Ndokwa should be given a chance to represent Delta State on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo had, at various times, represented the state in NDDC. The Admiral, in his acceptance speech, promised to protect the interests of Ndokwa nation and called on the Federal and state governments to consider an Ndokwa son as the next commissioner representing Delta State in NDDC.

have been on ground in Delta Central in the last few days.

A reliable source hinted that the national Vice Chairman, South-South of the party, Chief Tom Ikimi and Governor

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State also summoned a meeting, Wednesday, in Benin, to prevail on Keyamo to join forces with Emerhor.

A party leader said: “If not

Costituents fault rotational agreement between Owan East, West

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, Concerned Citizens of Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State have expressed reservations over the continued adherence to the rotational arrangement between Owan West and Owan East local governments in the choice of who represents the area in the

House of Representatives.

A statement by Amionota Aigbodion for the group, yesterday in Benin, insisted that the rotational arrangement by those that contrived the idea had never benefited the people except those voted into office.

It said: “Whatever arrangement that is presently on ground serves only the elected member of the House of Representatives to enjoy

Oshiomhole tasks pharmacists on ethics

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has asked pharmacists in the country to imbibe high ethical standard in the interest of the masses.

Speaking, yesterday, while declaring open the 2013 Pharmacy week of Edo State Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, in Benin,

for the pressure from concerned party leaders, Keyamo would have gone to court to stop the candidate, but he was told to suspend his action in the interest of the party.”

Oshiomhole said pharmacists must imbibe the best practices obtained in other parts of the world.

The governor, who criticised the way some pharmaceutical companies advertise their products as cure-all, said: “In my view, some of the adverts here will not pass the scrutiny elsewhere as it may easily pass for

open drugs market.

“All of us do need to interrogate some of the things we have taken for granted. If it is wrong elsewhere, it shouldn’t be right in Nigeria.”

The governor said there were appropriate laws to regulate the medical health industry, but that the problem was the lack of implementation.

their salaries and allowances without recourse to the electorate that sent them thee.

“They have no blame whatsoever because they are not in any position to influence anything meaningful for the constituency as ranking exists in the National Assembly.”

They also challenged the elders in the constituency to wake up and face the reality of modern day polity, adding that the arrangement should b re-visited with a view to focusing on what could bring democratic dividends to the people of the area.

Among those that served under the rotational one-tenure agreement are late Benson Alegbe, Mr. Abdul Oroh and Mr. Johnson Abologba. The incumbent legislator for the constituency is Mr. Pally Iriase.

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Delta commissioners to SURE-P beneficiaries: Don't sell starter packs

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ATANI—TWO Commissioners in Delta State have charged the 164 beneficiaries of the Patani Local Government Council Subsidy Reinforcement and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, scheme not to trade their starter packs, but to prudently utilise them

to change their lives.

They are the Commissioners in-charge of Directorate for Local Government Affairs and Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Newworld Safugha and Mr. Timi Tonye, respectively.

They gave the advice while speaking at the graduation

and presentation of starter packs to beneficiaries of the council’s SURE-P in Patani, by the Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, represented by his deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Lucky Avweromre.

Safugha commended the chairman of the council, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, for keying into the programme.

Utuama, in his address, noted that the problem with most government and its agencies was not the policies and programmes, but lack of monitoring.

He added that SURE-P was designed for empowerment so that those trained in various skills would earn a living and reduce unemployment and

S part of its corporate social responsibility, Platform Petroleum Limited and its partner, New Cross Petroleum Limited, made payments to beneficiaries of its scholarship scheme in Umutu, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

Representatives of host and right-of-way communities and chiefs witnessed the event.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Scholarship

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Nigeria @ 53

HAT are we celebrat ing? Do we want to celebrate bad roads? Welfare that is close to the worst? Education that is in comatose? Employment that is like lying in the desert or the Boko Haram scourge?— Miss Nwosu Njideka, Graduate.

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NTIL there will be no first class and second class citizens; until children of the poor can attend the same school as those of the rich; there is nothing to celebrate. In 53 years education has become an expensive commodity.— Mr. Paul Onu, Graduate.

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ET us not loose faith.

With President Goodluck Jonathan on the saddle and our collective prayers, we will get to where we want to be. I wish Nigeria a happy 53rd anniversary and prosperous years ahead.— Mr. Bassey Moses, Businessman.

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ET us celebrate a coun try at 53 for lack of water and good health care. Let us celebrate the failure a non-productive but a consuming nation, where second-hand products have all become the favourites.— Mr. Ikechukwu Geoffrey, Worker.

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IFTY-THREE years of failure, 53 years of darkness, 53 years of poverty, 53 years of injustice, 53 years of greedy leadership. But for time and space, I can go on. It would have been better if Britain was still ruling us.—Miss Ugochi Mbah, Businesswoman.

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T is an opportunity to cel ebrate our politi-cians’ exalted sense of self-importance, inflated ego and unmatched arrogance.

Drunk on absolute power, our politicians claim freedom from arrest and privilege to remain in their seats.— Mr. Nelson Nwamara, Communicator.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013—45

Delta Central: Aguariavwodo promises good representation if...

FG urged to subject national confab to referendum

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BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT— FEDERAL Government has been urged to subject the recommendations of the proposed national conference to a national referendum.

Making the appeal in Port Harcourt, Past Rivers state students Leaders’ Forum, PARSSLEAF said a national referendum would give Nigerians an opportunity to be part of the process towards evolving a stronger and more united Nigeria.

While lauding the Federal Government for its decision to convoke a national conference, the former student leaders appealed to all parties in the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to urgently resolve the problem in the interest of stakeholders in the education sector.

Chairman of the forum, Mr Amakiri Amakuro who spoke at the end of the meeting, lamented the deploring security situation in the country, saying “The forum welcomes the Federal Government decision to convoke national conference.

It is our view that the united, peaceful and prosperous Nigerian of our dream can only be realised by sincere and frank negotiation through a national dialogue.

Police chief hails security in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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SSISTANT Inspector General of Police AIG, Zone 5 Benin, Mr. Hashinu Salisu Argungu, yesterday, lauded the security formations in Bayelsa State for collaborating with the state police command in tackling kidnap cases, sea piracy, armed robbery and other crimes.

Argungu who was in Yenagoa on a two-day official visit , described the command as the best in the country, saying peace and stability had returned to the one time troubled state.

The AIG lauded Governor Seriake Dickson and members of the public for partnering with the state command in combating crime.

BY FESTUS AHON

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FORUM—From left: Femi Taiwo, CEO, INITS; Robin Miller, Global Development Advisors; Tomi Davies, Executive Chairman, Mobie Monday Nigeria and Titi Akinsanmi, Manager, Policy and Governemnt Relations, Google Nigeria, during a forum on impact of Internet in the Nigerian Economy organised by Mobile Monday Nigeria in Lagos on Monday.

Delta Teaching hospital begins kidney transplants Feb 2014

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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SABA—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said the state University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, will start kidney transplant

by February 2014.

Speaking on a Radio/Television phone-in-programme at the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, he said the state government was presently benefiting from its partnership with the University of Texas Teaching Hospital, Dallas, with some of its doctors and nurses undergoing training on renal issues and treatment in Dallas.

“Hopefully by February, next year, the Renal Unit of the State University Teaching Hospital will start kidney transplant in Oghara

in conjunction with the Texas University Teaching Hospital”, he stated.

The governor said that there had been an increased medical tourism to the state due to the ultra-modern facilities at the State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.

Uduaghan noted that as a result of the pressure on the hospital facilities and personnel, additional 300 bed-facilities would soon be added to the University Teaching Hospital, stressing that this would ease pressure on the hospital and reduce the waiting time for beds, especially for surgical cases.

According to him, various health programme in the state, especially the Free Maternal

and Rural Health scheme had benefitted both Deltans and non-Deltans alike, especially the needy in the state, stating that “the programme is open to Nigerians, irrespective of states and tribes in the spirit of brotherliness and peaceful coexistence.

“As a trained doctor, it will be harsh and inhuman for me to turn back a pregnant woman from the state free maternal programme because she is a non-Deltan. We are all Nigerians and we have to help ourselves in areas of need”.

Uduaghan explained that the state was paying more attention to primary healthcare to reduce pressure on the secondary and tertiary healthcare levels.

Lagos almost self-sufficient in power generation — Fashola

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AGOS State Government has said its energy reform initiatives are yielding positive result with the state close to being self-sufficient in its power needs.

To this end, it said a number of public institutions was being moved out of the national grid and connected to the power being generated from the power plants built by the state government.

Governor Babatunde Fashola disclosed this during his engagement with a spectrum of residents and the Diaspora community on the social media platform, Google Plus Hangout.

The session was part of the buildup activities to mark October as the Energy Conservation Month, declared by the state government to sensitise residents on the

importance of energy conservation and efficient use of available power.

The governor who answered wide range of questions from participants, said the objective of de-connecting some public institutions from the national grid and connecting them to the state power infrastructure was to ensure 24-hour uninterrupted power supply so that they could be more efficient in the delivery of services.

He said: “Working within what the Power Sector Reform Act permits, we are gradually entering self generation in Lagos State through our independent power plants. As you may be aware, we have an IPP at Akute and the Island

Power Plant. In a few days, we shall be commissioning the Alausa Power Plant. Once this is done, government offices will be taken off the supply from the national grid and the power which we no longer need will be made available to Lagosians.”

The Google Plus Hangout was hosted by popular music rapper and Lagos State Energy Ambassador, Mr. Jude Abaga (M.I). He was joined by five ‘Power Kids’ from Iju Senior Secondary School led by Master Gideon Osadare and Dimeji Lawal-Are, a 500-level Computer Science student, University of Lagos, leading four others from some tertiary institutions in the state.

GHELLI—CANDIDATE of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the October 12 Delta Central Senatorial byeelection, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, yesterday, flagged off campaign with a vow to give the senatorial district adequate representation if elected.

Flagging of the campaign at Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State, Aguariawodo said he would work towards the appointment of Urhobo indigenes into the Federal Executive Council and creation of additional federal constituency for the Urhobo nation.

He said: “Whatever it will take to bring what belong to us, I will do not only in the legislature but also in the executive.”

He stressed the need for the Urhobos to vote massively for the PDP to raise the standard of living of the people.

Aguariavwodo who also in Sapele, appealed to the people to speak with one voice and queue behind President Goodluck Jonathan and the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, saying urhobos could no longer afford to be in opposition.

Independence: PFN calls for reconciliation

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—THE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has called on Nigerians to use the 53rd Independence celebration to seek for forgiveness and reconciliation.

In the Independence day message by the PFN President, Dr. Felix Omobude, it urged Nigerians to eschew discord and “take on the task of nation-building in one accord. Let us show love to one another, as we let peace and justice prevail in our land."

Noting that the tendencies that tend to “pull us apart are infinitesimal when placed side- by- side with the interests we share as a people”, the PFN President however, lamented that the country was presently under siege with a wave of violence threatening to capsize the ship of the state.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Oko Poly commences computerbased PUTME test

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—THE Federal Polytechnic, Oko has started Computer-Based Test, CBT, Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, PUTME. The CBT PUTME examination according to the college Rector, Professor Godwin Onu was in line with his administration’s emphasis on digitalizing the polytechnic.

Some of the candidates who spoke with Vanguard said the CBT remained the easiest form of examination and called on the Ministry of Education to compel other tertiary institutions in the country to adopt it.

One of the candidates, Chidi Okeke of the Computer Engineering noted that what impressed him most was the orderliness in the conduct of the election, adding that he was initially afraid of what the examination would be like but when it started he did not know when it ended.

BSN asks FG, ASUU to end rift

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS—THE new General Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN,Mr. Dare Ajiboye, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off the lingering strike and embrace dialogue with the Federal Government.

Ajiboye who spoke at a briefing in Lagos, expressed sadness over the strike lamenting that students suffered the adverse effect of the lingering industrial action.

He called on the Federal Government to honour the pact it entered into with the ASUU as a matter of priority, explaining that invoking the ‘no work, no pay’ labour policy against the protesting lecturer would not solve the problem.

Ajiboye said the Federal Government should explain why it could not afford the money demanded by the striking lectures.

Controversy trails appointment of new Imo SIEC members

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—CONTRO VERSY is now trailing the appointment of new members of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC. Already, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Jude T. U. Nnodum, has written the leadership of the State House of Assembly, giving reasons why the lawmakers should not approve the appointments forwarded to the House by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

In the letter dated September 26, by Mrs. N. Chibuisi, on behalf of Nnodum, the lawyer drew the attention of the House to the pendency of a suit on the matter.

“The attention of our clients has been drawn to the purported appointments of some persons to the offices of Chairman and members of ISIEC, and that the said purported appointments have been transmitted to your distinguished House for approval,” Nnodum stated.

He reminded the lawmakers that in the suit, HOW/534/ 2012, Paul Ogujiofor and three others dragged the Governor of Imo State, Attorney General of Imo State, ISIEC and Imo State House of Assembly on the same subject matter.

Chief Nnodum also reminded the lawmakers that the suit was transferred recently by an Owerri High Court to the National Industrial Court, Owerri, for hearing and determination.

“As a party to the litigation aforementioned, the Imo State House of Assembly is obligated to observe the rule of law in this case, by not taking. Any

step which would prejudice the pendency of the suit”, the learned SAN stated.

Continuing, Chief Nnodum stated that the House was expected to decline to approve the purported appointments on the simple ground that the whole exercise falls within the purview of the reliefs sought in e pending suit.

After referring the a house

to 4 Nigerian Weekly Law Report, (Part 158) 514 and 537, Nnodum equally made it clear that the stance of his clients has nothing to do with the persons whose names have been forwarded to the House for confirmation but stressed “it is rather an issue of rule of law”.

PROMOTION: From left: Mr Abayomi Ajao, Marketing Manager, Brian Munro Campari, Mr. Paul Wilson, MD, Mrs Nkechinyere Nwackukwu, Brand Builder and Mr. Paul Omekwe, National Sales Manager, during the 2013 Campari consumer promotion reward ceremony in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Owerri church gets demolition notice

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—BARELY one week after Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA, threatened to demolish an Owerri based private radio station, HOT-FM, the government has now shifted attention on churches.

Lifeline Assembly Church, owned by Imo State Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Bishop Maxwell Korie, may be demolished if available information is to be relied on.

Part of the OCDA letter issued September 16, 2013, read: “You are hereby required to remove/pull down the illegal/ defective structure(s) located at the address indicated above within 14 days from the date of the issuance of this Violation Form, to reinstate the piece of land to the state in which it was, prior to the commencement of the illegal/defective structure”.

The letter went on to warn that “on the expiration of the 14 days notice, the Authority will, in exercise of its powers under the said laws, enter the illegal/defective structure to be

demolished/removed”.

Replying to OCDA’s letter, counsel to the Church, Mr. O. C. Ewurum in his mail, E/ MIS/24/9/13, dated September 24, 2013, stated among other things: “We are at a loss as to which of the two structures on the land is an illegal or defective structure and we will be glad if your representative will be available to show our

client such, since the renovated office building received due approval from OCDA in 1999, for the renovation work to be done”.

Ewurum equally reminded OCDA that “the other heads of your complaints like illegal change of use, illegal variation, illegal land use, are difficult to comprehend because there has been no restriction

or limitation as to use or user since 1999, when our client occupied same”.

“We therefore urge you to quickly get in touch with our client in order to clear the air on your above mentioned Development Violation Form except if there is a hidden script to be acted out”, Ewurum to OCDA management.

Strike: No new grounds from FG, ASUU alleges

BY ANAYO OKOLI MUAHIA—THE Calabar zone of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the Federal Government has not shifted to any new ground on the dispute between it and government, saying government has not changed from mere promises.

Rising from a zonal meeting, the Calabar zone of the union noted that the “intervention by the Vice President did not significantly address the issues of the MoU of January 24th, 2014,” and appealed to Nige-

U

rians to “prevail on the government to urgently address the issues in the MoU.” A statement by the ASUU chairman of the zone, Dr. Charles Ononuju said “it is very sad and unfortunate that Federal Government is politicizing the issues. Our struggle has nothing to do with politics. Anybody saying so is being economical with the truth.

“ASUU has never shied away from pointing out ills of the society irrespective of government in power. We call on

all Nigerians to shun ethnic, religious and political sentiments and emotions. Agreement has nothing to do with region, religion or politics.

Let us join hands to save public education.”

“The zone is convinced government has not changed from mere promises as ASUU has in the last three and half years. No new ground which government can now be trusted. The intervention of by the Vice President significantly address the issues of MoU of January 24th 2012.”

Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 2013 —47 ,

WORKSHOP: From left, Dr. Chinyere Ezeaka, Associate Professor of Paediatrics, LUTH; Dr. Efunbo Dosekun,Chief Executive Officer Outreach Medical Services; Dr. Seni Oyesola, Consultant, Anaesthesia and Critical Care, and Dr. Niyi Ade-Ajayi,Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, Kings College Hospital London, and Elizabeth Whistance, Sales Executive Outreach Medical Services, during 3-Day Training Workshop on Paediatric Emergency Update, at Outreach Training Academy, Festac Town, Lagos, organised by Outreach Medical Services, in Lagos.

Photo: Akeem Salau

TOUR: From left, Director of Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Head of Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics, Kenya, Mr. Manoj Changaranpatt, and head of Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics, Ghana, Mr. Jaspreet Singh, at the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear World Tour 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa.

AWARD: Human Resources Manager, CAP Plc, Mr. Olumide Adediji; Acting PR Manager, UAC, Mrs. Adetutu Yakub;Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC, Mr. Joe Dada; Head, Human Resources, UAC, Mrs. Osa Osowa; Corporate Marketing Services Manager, UAC, Mr. Olaseni Fawehinmi, at the 'Great Place To Work 2013 Award' ceremony, in Lagos, where UACN won the award for 'Highest Best Practices Adoption and Impact' in Nigeria.

COMMISSIONING: From left, Principal, Ilupeju Junior Grammar School, Oshodi, Mrs. Elizabeth Akinola; Managing Director, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Chidi Okoro; Managing Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Ltd, Mr. Lekan Asuni; President, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Roger Scarlet-Smith; Ex-Deputy Director of Education, Estate Junior Grammar School, Ilupeju, Mrs. Iyabo Etti-Williams, and a Junior Secondary School 3 student, Master Victor Akwuobu, during the commissioning of a computer laboratory donated by GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, at Ilupeju Junior Grammar School, Oshodi. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

CARE: From left, Dr. Aina Olugbemiga,Head of Department, Paediatrics, General Hospital, Isolo; Mrs. Tanimola Latifat,Coordinator, Public Private Partnership Initiative,PPPI on Neonatal Service from Ministry of Health, and Dr. Efunbo Dosekun,Chief Executive Officer, Outreach Children's Hospital , at Lagos State PPPI on Neonatal Intensive Care with Outreach Children's Hospital, on Independence Day, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

RAFFLE: From left, Electrical Engineer, Lagos State Electricity Board, LSEB, Demola Fashola; Energy Conservation Raffle Draw winner, Abiola Ojelere, and Public Relations Officer, LSEB, Abosede Martins, at the energy conservation awareness campaign by LSEB, in Lagos.

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VISIT: From left, Christina Binga, Chairperson, Customs Wives Association, Tincan Island Chapter, presenting gifts to Florence Kayode, Principal, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Yaba, Lagos.

EDUCATION: Mamador Vegetable Oil ambassador educating women about the health benefits of good oil for cooking meals, in Mushin, Lagos.

WINNER: From left, Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston; AQUAFINA Elite Model Look Nigeria, EMLN, 2013, Neoma Anosika, and Mr. Akram Shakeel, Senior Manager with PepsiCo International, during the grand finale of Aquafina EMLN 2013, weekend, in Lagos.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Court jails two for conspiracy, possession of firearms

Adamawa lawmakers pass vote of confidence on Speaker

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OS—AN upper Area Court in Jos, yesterday, sentenced two young men to various terms of imprisonment for conspiracy and illegal possession of arms.

The court sentenced Ndubuisi Eluwa and Usman Sarki to nine months imprisonment each, with an option of N9, 000 fine on the first-count charge of conspiracy.

Eluwa was also sentenced to 9 months imprisonment with an option of N9, 000 fine for the second-count charge of illegal possession of a locally made gun and and ammunition.

Sarki on the other hand, bagged a prison term of 30 calendar months without option of fine on the secondcount charge, having previously appeared before the same court on similar charges.

The Judge, Malam Mustapha Hassan, said the prosecution had done an excellent job of convincing the court on the culpability of the the two.

He said: “The prosecution has tendered evidences against the accused that convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt that they committed the offence."

New bursar for UNILORIN

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LORIN—THE Govern ing Council of the University of Ilorin has appointed a new Bursar for the institution. He is Mr. Abiodun Saka Yusuf.

This is contained in a press statement signed the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs of the University, Mr. Kunle Akogun.

Until his appointment, Mr. Yusuf was the Managing Director of Splendid Microfinance Bank Limited, Abuja.

According to Akogun, the new appointee takes over from ‘’Mr. Ayo Sijuwola, who completed his tour of duties in August."

The statement also noted that Mr. Yusuf ’s appointment, followed the recommendation of the Selection Board, constituted to assess applicants for the position of Bursar.

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AWARD—From left: Keith Pearson, General Secretary, World Packaging Organization; Pierre Pienaar, Coordinator, Australian Institute of Packaging, and Ahmed Omah, 1st VicePresident of Africa Packaging Organization, at the dinner award presentation of 1st Africa Packaging Organization residential training programme in Lagos. Photo: AKEEM SALAU.

Kwara govt, US foundation begin free spine surgery

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—KWARA State Government in partnership with Nuvasive Spine Foundation, USA, has commenced free spine surgery for 20 indigent patients at Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin.

The free surgery operation often said to be performed in overseas countries are being carried out freely for the 20 patients.

Declaring the exercise open on behalf of the governor, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa, said the free spine surgery was in furtherance of effective health care delivery promise made to the electorate, adding that it would cost the government about N140 million.

He said that medical professionals from the state who live in the USA organised three free

medical missions, including free screening of Kwara people for non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension in the three senatorial districts of the state last year.

Issa further said that the government, in collaboration with Rotary International had earlier carried out free surgery for about 1,500 people suffering from various types of diseases, and commended the organisers of the free spine surgeries.

According to him, the exercise would improve the health care needs of the patients.

The leader of the medical mission and Chairman of Department of Neurosurgery, University of Queensland, USA, Professor Wale Sulaiman, said that several other patients would also be

treated for minor spine problems.

Sulaiman, an indigene of Kwara State, who was accompanied to Nigeria by another personnel from Nuvasive Foundation, Dr. Pitchou Malaba, said beneficiaries of the free spine surgery would be treated with modern and cutting edge equipment.

Malaba stressed that the beneficiaries had earlier been screened by officials of the state government, adding that the spine surgery alone ought to cost about N7 million aside other minor surgeries that would be carried out.

He also, explained that the state government would fund the free surgery, while the Foundation would provide consumables for the operation.

Kaduna pigrims board bars 21 women from Hajj K

ADUNA—THE Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board has barred 21 women from performing this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, Dr Ibrahim Aliyu, the Director of the state Medical Team, has said.

Aliyu said 19 of the women were dropped when they were found to be pregnant while two others were barred from performing the Hajj due to serious medical conditions.

The director disclosed this when he received the wife of the state Governor, Hajia Fati Yero, who was at the state Hajj Camp

for medical screening preparatory to her journey for the pilgrimage.

He said those screened out were carrying pregnancies of between three weeks to six months, adding that the screening would continue until the transportation of the pilgrims was concluded.

According to the official, the women came from nine out of the 21 local government areas where the medical screening was conducted.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that only pilgrims from Birnin Gwari and Kaduna North Local Governments were yet to be screened.

NAN also reports that the wife of the governor was cleared after the result of her medical test came out negative.

In his comment, Alhaji Kabir Kasim, the Executive Secretary of the board assured the women affected that they would be given priority during the 2014 Hajj exercise.

OLA—ADAMAWA House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, and Gov. Murtala Nyako for purposeful leadership.

The vote followed a motion by the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Adamu Kamale ( PDP-Michika), and seconded by Alhaji Abdulsalam Juggal (PDPShelleng).

Kamale, who moved the motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, said the speaker had demonstrated high sense of responsibility and dedication to duty since his emergence two years ago.

He also said that the cordial working relationship between the house under Fintiri and the executive under Gov. Nyako was commendable and a model for other states to emulate.

Kamale said the motion became necessary to inspire confidence in the leaders in their commitment to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the electorate.

Eternit creates business devt unit

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TERNIT Limited, Nigeria’s has announced creation of a special business development unit as part of decision to meet customers’ needs.

According to the Managing Director, Eternit Limited, Mr. Dirk Modderman, the creation of a business development unit represents an extension of the company’s business beyond the traditional provision of roofing and ceilings.

He stated that the unit would focus on providing turn-key building solutions to clients wherever they might be in Nigeria.

Modderman said: “We have created a special business development unit due to current market realities and in response to demands by many of our clients. A lot of our clients have come to trust the quality of our products and have demanded that we assist further in helping to deliver high-quality housing solutions.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 —49

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50—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

SECURITY

Nigeria, US, UK, others hold joint military training

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BUJA—NIGERIA will today participate in a three-week joint military training with special forces from The Netherlands, U.S., UK, Spain and Italy.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said this in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja.

He said that the exercise would take place at the general area of the South-West and SouthSouth coastal areas.

Olukolade said the exercise, code named AFRICAN WINDS, is being spearheaded by the Nigerian Navy.

Olukolade said: “It will be facilitated by a combined Mobile Training Teams, MT Ts, of Marines and Special Forces drawn from The Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy under the auspices of African Partnership Station, APS. “The Netherlands Navy Amphibious Support Ship, HMNLS ROTTERDAM, which is scheduled to arrive in Lagos and later proceed to Calabar, will feature as a major platform in the exercise.”

He said it was designed to improve the capacity of Nigeria’s Armed Forces to plan and execute joint operations in the maritime environment.

The director said that the exercise would also focus on training activities in Joint Maritime Security Training Centre, JMSTC, and the Nigerian Army Amphibious Training School, ATS. Olukolade said the Ar my, Navy and Air Force were expected to participate “in this important training event with the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, monitoring and superintending the exercise”

CONFAB: From left— Mr. Chris Brown, General Manager, Nokia West Africa; Mr. Kelechi Amadi-Obi, renowned photographer; Mr. Timi Dakolo, musician; Fola Akinboro, Marketing Coordinator, Etihad Airways; Deborah Shepard, Head of Marketing, Nokia West Africa, and Layi Onafowokan, Head, Data and Terminals, Etisalat Nigeria, during the TEDxLagos conference sponsored by Nokia.

Kaduna clash death toll rises to 100

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ADUNA—THE death toll from last Saturday’s attack on Zangan village in Attakar Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State

has risen to about 100, with 500 houses destroyed and over 10,000 persons displaced.

Foodstuffs and household items lost were also estimated at about N500 million naira.

This was made known, yes-

terday, by the National President of Attakar Community Development Association, ACDA, Mr. Ishaya Samaila at a briefing in Fadan Attakar, the headquarters of the Attakar Chiefdom.

Afe Babalola commends Jonathan on national confab F

OUNDER of Afe Babalola University Adeo-Ekiti, ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), has commended President Goodluck Jonathan, on the commendable step he has taken by setting up a Planning Committee to look into the issue of national conference with a view to solving the multivarious problems afflicting the country.

A statement by Tunde Olofintila, Director, Public Affairs said: “Babalola is particularly happy that the 13-man committee, headed by the erudite Dr. Femi Okurounmu, is coming as Mr. President’s independence anniversary gift to Nigerians.

“He also believes that the conditions for the country’s continued co-existence need to be properly and conclusively discussed, for which he had previously submitted some well-thought out papers to the office of Mr. President and Justice Alfa Belgore, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria.”

Babalola, who applauded and commended the new boost

to the issue of national conference, added that it is apposite to state that Nigeria, a huge country with multitude of tribes and scores of ethnic groupings, speaking over 250 languages and dialects, with multiplicity of religious beliefs, varied cultural backgrounds, social exposures and political antecedents among others, has problems.

These problems, according to him, were acknowledged by the founding fathers of the country, who advocated regional system of government which emphasised each region to develop at its own pace with a relatively weak centre as practiced in the First Republic.

He said this was against the federalism foisted on the country by the military and which the successive civilian governments have retained.

“It, therefore, goes without saying that the SNC will afford Nigerians the opportunity to frankly marshall their differences, fears and commonalities and address such sundry issues as insecurity, corruption and intoler-

ance, among others,” he said.

He hoped that Okurounmu’s committee will do a thorough job with a view to solving the nation’s multivarious problems, adding that Nigeria must be pulled back from the brink and from the precipice with a constitution made democratically through a conference and affirmed in a referendum by Nigerians, not subject to anybody’s approval.

He added that the National Conference will, therefore, have to discuss institutions such as the National Assembly, whether it should be full time or part time; whether it should be bi-cameral or unicameral because the National Assembly as presently constituted, was too expensive for Nigeria.

He said it needed streamlining to reflect the country’s realities and the worth of its contributions to governance.

With the president’s bold step, he pointed out, a new era had begun in the history of the country for which Nigerians of today and future generations will be grateful.

This was even as the paramount ruler of Attakar Kingdom, the Agwam Takad I, Chief Tobias Nkom Wada, expressed disappointment in the members representing the area at the National Assembly for their inability to sponsor a motion calling the attention of the Federal Government to the plight of the Attakar people since alleged Fulani gunmen started attacking his communities in March.

Samaila said: “On March 19 and 20, Stephen Aboye was killed at Mafan and Markus Aba was shot dead in Telak by suspected Fulani gunmen.

“On March 21, Attakar villages on the Plateau State axis (Kirim, Danti, Mayit, Zadian, Dajak, Tinga Mogwai and Durag) were invaded, leaving 14 people dead, while 247 houses were burnt, including four churches and two schools.

Personal items worth about N150 million were destroyed in that attack.”

On his part, Chief Tobias said: “We are not impressed with our representatives at the state and National Assemblies.

We acknowledge their private donations and concerns, but our displaced persons cannot keep feeding from such gestures alone.

“We expect them to raise a serious motion calling on relevant authorities to intervene so that, we can have permanent security and sustainable way of feeding our displaced persons.”

The Attakar people dwell mainly on the Attakar Hill, about 220km South of Kaduna metropolis.

51 — Vanguard, THURSDAY OCTOBER 3, 2013

US shutdown threatens intelligence operations — Spy chief •As Obama, Congress meet about who would be furBY UDUMA KALU with agency reports

T

HE government shutdown is “extremely damaging” to U.S. intelligence operations, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Wednesday.

Clapper noted that he has worked in the intelligence field for 50 years, and “never seen anything like this.”

The shutdown “seriously damages our ability to protect the safety and security of this nation,” he told a Senate panel.

The law allows intelligence agencies to hold on to the employees needed to protect against “imminent threat to life or property,” he noted. Following that guide, approximately 70% of employees were furloughed, he said.

“We do not consider any of our employees ‘non-essential,’” and officials had to make “very painful choices”

loughed, he added.A string of cancellations and delays caused by the US government shutdown rippled across the country Wednesday, ruining dream vacations, upending carefully laid wedding plans and complicating the lives of millions of people.

However, President Obama Wednesday met with congressional leaders in search of a way to end the government shutdown and increase the debt ceiling.

The evening meeting was the first time Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, have convened with Obama in person on such issues. It was unclear whether the meeting signalled that both sides were ready to negotiate.

Obama hoped to reiterate his position that Republicans pass a “clean” spending bill, according to the White House, and Republicans also sig-

Italian center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, left, talks with senators after Prime Minister Enrico Letta asked for a confidence vote to be held immediately, in Rome on Oct. 2, 2013. nalled that they wanted less if Democrats were US Senate Majority Democrats to give in on still unwilling to negoti- Leader Harry Reid ate, Republican leaders in Wednesday offered to ensome of their demands.

Reports said the meet- both the House and Sen- gage in wide-ranging ing would be meaning- ate suggested. budget and policy nego-

Novelist Tom Clancy dies at 66 B

EST-SELLING U.S. author Tom Clancy, who thrilled readers with vivid descriptions of soldiers and spies in novels including “The Hunt for Red October” and “Patriot Games,” has died at 66, his publisher said on Wednesday.

Clancy’s publisher, the Penguin Group, said the author died in Baltimore

US agency denies spying on social network vestigating “someone who go after is those that are the

T

HE head of the Na tional Security Agency said Wednesday the secretive intelligence service does not compile data on Americans’ use of social networks, dismissing a media report as “wrong.”

General Keith Alexander told a Senate hearing that a New York Times article “jumped to the conclusion this was done on Americans, that’s not true.”

He told the Judiciary Committee that the NSA, which has been under fire following revelations about vast surveillance efforts which collect data on Americans, only uses social networks when it is in-

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is part of a terrorist investigation.”

“The fact that people assume that we’re out there mapping the social networks of US persons is absolutely wrong. What we do

subject of a terrorist investigation or something like that.”

Alexander said the agency can use social networks to “enrich” the information it has on a terrorist suspect.

ICC charges Kenyan with bribing witnesses

T

HE International Criminal Court said Wednesday it had issued an arrest warrant for a Kenyan charged with trying to bribe witnesses to withdraw testimony against Deputy President William Ruto.

Walter Barasa, a journalist in Ruto’s political stronghold of Eldoret, northwest of Nairobi, told

tiations with House Republicans, marking the first formal overture from congressional Democrats since parts of the government shut down on Tuesday. Reid, in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, didn’t offer policy concessions. But he said if House Republicans passed a simple shortterm measure to reopen the government, Democrats would agree to begin broad negotiations on 2014 spending and other matters.

“We’re pleased the president finally recognizes that his refusal to negotiate is indefensible,” Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said. “It’s unclear why we’d be having this meeting if it’s not meant to be a start to serious talks between the two parties.”

Reuters he denied the charges and said police had not tried to detain him. There was no immediate comment from Kenyan police.

Kenya’s Attorney-General said the arrest warrant would be subject to “judicial consideration” before a decision was taken on whether to enforce it.

on Tuesday. The written statement did not indicate the cause of death.

Clancy, whose books sold more than 100 million copies, died on Tuesday in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, Penguin said.

“I’m deeply saddened

by Tom’s passing,” said David Shanks, a Penguin executive who had worked with Clancy from the start of his writing career through the upcoming “Command Au-

thority,” which is due out in December.

“He was a consummate author, creating the modern-day thriller, and was one of the most visionary storytellers of our time. I will miss him dearly and he will be missed by tens of millions of readers worldwide,” he added.

U.S. media reports said Clancy died at Johns Hopkins Hospital, though a hospital spokeswoman was un-

Tom Clancy able to confirm those reports. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

UN urges Syria to boost aid access

B

UILDING on a frag ile unity, the UN Security Council Wednesday urged the Syrian government to allow cross-border aid deliveries and called on all parties to Syria’s conflict to agree on humanitarian pauses in fighting and key routes for aid convoys.

More than 2 million Syrians, mostly women and children, have fled during the 2-1/2-yearold civil war, which the United Nations says has killed more than 100,000 people. Millions more inside Syria are in des-

perate need of help, but aid has slowed to a trick-

le because of violence and excessive red tape.

Berlusconi abandons plan to bring down Italian PM

I

TALIAN Prime Min ister Enrico Letta won a confidence vote in the Senate on Wednesday after center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, faced with an imminent party split, backtracked on his threat to bring down the government.

The Senate voted 235 to 70 in favor of the government, while about a dozen of Berlusconi’s most hardline followers abandoned

the chamber and did not vote at all after their leader’s unexpected U-turn.

Berlusconi abruptly changed course as dozens of rebels in his center-right People of Freedom party prepared to vote for Letta.

“We have decided, not without some internal strife, to support the government,” the media tycoon told the senate at the end of a sometimes fiery debate.

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

By JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

A

S the count down to October 9, date for the announcement of the winner of the 2013 edition of The Nigerian Prize for Literature draws closer, one thing at the mind of many is the question who goes home with the $100, 000 coveted prize?

Except in 2009, when no winner emerged,The Nigerian Prize for Literature, an annual literary competition instituted by NLNG in 2004 to honour the author of the best book of the current year or the previous three years has produced winners. The prize rotates amongst four literary genres—prose fiction, poetry, drama & children's literature and this year's prize is for poetry and is expected to produce a winner based on the quality of the books shortlisted.

Penultimate week, the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature which is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited released the final shortlist of three Poets for the 2013 edition of the prize.

The three shortlisted writers, are Tade Ipadeola (The Sahara Testaments), Amu Nnadi (Through the window of a sandcastle) and Promise Ogochukwu

•Tade Ipadeola

Who wins $100, 000 NLNG Prize for Literature?

Tade Ipadeola, Launko Okinba and Raji Remi.

The journey to the last three was not easy, it started with a total of

,

As the literary community anxiously awaits that day, what is on the minds of many now, is who will take home the prize

(Wild Letters). And come the 9th of October, 2013, the eventual winner of the competition will be announced at a World Press Conference.

The final shortlist of three follows an initial shortlist of eleven; Obi Nwakamma, Afam Ake, Ede Amatoritsero, Nnadi Amu, Iquo Eke and Ogochukwu Promise. Others were Egbewo G’ebinyo, Gomba Obari,

•Promise Ogochukwu

•Amu Nnadi

,

201 books submitted for this year's prize, from which 11 were longlisted and finally to the last three standing. As the literary community anxiuosly awaits that day,what is on the minds of many now, is who will take home the prize as the last three standing are seasoned writers who have all that it takes to win the prize.

A look the last three reveals that, all the three writers are

based at home, contrary to the fear that the foreign-based Nigerian writers would emerge again, as was the case last year when the Belgian-based Chika Unigwe won the prose prize.

Poet and Lawyer, Tade Ipadeola who lives in Ibadan from where he writes and practices law, he has authored three volumes of poetry along with other published short stories and essays. He is the current President of PEN International, Nigeria Centre, an organization which promotes literature and advocates freedom of expression.

For Amu Nnadi, his debut Poetry won the maiden edition of ANA/NDDC Gabriel Okara Prize for Poetry. He is also the author of pilgrim’s passage.

Nnadi, who is renowned for writing poetry without punctuation

and capital letters as well as publishes without any personal data and name, lives in Port Harcourt, and currently works at the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Children's literature Armed with a PhD in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan, Ogochukwu Promise has published several literary works including novels, children’s literature, short stories, drama, poetry and essays.

In 2005, Ogochukwu was on the shortlist of three for The Nigeria Prize for Literature with her volume of poetry, Naked Among These Hills. Ogochukwu lives in Lagos, Nigeria, where she is actively involved in various charity programmes and

activities.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara for his volume of poetry The Dreamer, His Vision (co-winner 2004 – poetry); Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto, for his volume of poetry Chants of a Minstrel(co-winner 2004 poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2005 – drama) for his book Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner 2007 – children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner 2007 – children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy.

Others were KaineAgary (2008 – prose) for her novel Yellow Yellow; Esiaba Irobi (2010 – drama) who clinched the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011 – children’s literature) with his book The Missing Clock and Chika Unigwe (2012 – prose), with her novel, On Black Sisters’ Street.

FG to establish Nigerian Air Force Museum

By CALEB AYANSINA

T

HE Minister of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke had disclosed plans by the Federal Government to establish the Nigerian Air Force Museum.

The Museum is to be built through partnership between the Nigerian Air Force and the Ministry Of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

Chief Duke disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Bade to discuss the mechanism to be employed in the project. Duke said that the Air Force Museum would aid the Federal Government and the

C M Y K

Nigerian Air force to preserve equipment used by the Force which would act as a learning field for Nigerian students.

“The project will promote the desire for Nigerians to enlist in the service and promote our image as a country to the rest of the world,” he said.

The minister said that the Ministry through the National Commission for Museums and Monument (NCMM) would incorporate private sector to actualise the establishment of the Air Force Museum, which would be a world class museum.

According to him, “I am irrevocably committed to realize this vision; military in Nigeria has a

very rich history, right from precolonial, to colonial, to independence and even to the present day peace keeping mission.”

The minister called on the oth-

*Central Airforce museum

er services to emulate Air Force, while urging President Goodluck Jonathan to see the project as part of his legacy, thereby lending his support to it.

Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh said that his visits to other countries Air Force museum motivated the Nigerian Air Force to establish its own. He explained that the service had since 1980s been striving to have a world class museum but the effort was aborted, before it was revisited in 2010, adding that the service was to site the project in its permanent site along Airport express way in Abuja.

In another development, Chief Duke has called on the Government of Kebbi State to involve strategic local and international partners to ensure that the 2014 Argungu Fishing Festival is a success.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013‘ — 53

Soyinka, JP Clark, others mourn Kofi Awoonor in Lagos I

T was a unique gathering of writers at the Freedom Park, Lagos as Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Prof. John Bekederemo-Clark led a group of Nigerian writers to pay glowing tribute to the slain Ghanaian poet and diplomat, Prof. Kofi Awoonor. Awoonor was killed at the Westgate Shopping Mall shooting in Nairobi.

Although Soyinka and Clark were rarely seen together in public, their mutual respect for Awoonor made it necessary for both of them to attend the event, which was a special one.

Speaking at a memorial reading session tagged Humanity and Against held in honour of the late Ghanaian poet., Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said that the late Ghanaian diplomat and poet, Kofi Awoonor and himself could have been together at the Storymoja/Hay Literature Festival held in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said he was invited to the same festival but could not attend. Awoonor was killed by terrorists last Saturday at the Westgate Shopping Mall shooting in Nairobi. Soyinka said two commitments: a public conversation with a very brave individual, Karima Bennoune, an Algerian national, whose trenchant publication – Your Fatwa Does Not

Apply Here, and the annual conference of international investigators in Tunis, were responsible for his inability to attend the festival.

He said: “My absence was particularly regrettable, because I had planned to make up for my failure to turn up for the immediate prior edition. Participant or absentee however, this is one edition we shall not soon forget.

It was at least two days after the listing of Kofi Awoonor among the victims that I even recollected the fact that the Festival was ongo-

,

By JAPHET ALAKAM

plained why Soyinka and himself were not at the funeral of the late Chinua Achebe at Ogidi, Anambra State, blaming it on politicians that hijacked the funeral. He noted that Prof Soyinka and himself did not sit and plot action on whether or not to attend Achebe’s funeral in Ogidi. Clark said critics might be wondering why a memorial is being held in honour of Awoonor in Lagos unlike when Chinua Achebe died. President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Prof Remi Raji, who read

African literature has indeed lost an influential voice

ing at that very time.

He described the late Awoonor as a passionate African who gave primacy of place to values derived from his Ewe heritage.

“That, in turn, means that he was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of ecumenism towards other systems of belief and cultural usages – this being the scriptural ethos that permeates belief practices of most of this continent.

We mourn our colleague and brother, but first, we denounce his killers, the virulent sub-species of humanity who bathe their hands in innocent blood,” he added.

Renowned poet, Prof JP Clark also used the forum and ex-

,

from his collection of poems, The Fire Next Time, said of the late Ghanaian poet: “African literature has indeed lost an influential voice. The name, Kofi Awoonor, was very present in our minds as young students. Though I never met him in person, his writings have been influential.

The ANA has sent a condolence letter to the Ghana authority. Today’s memorial is very instructive. His death is a reflection of the urban barbarisms in the globe today.”Other scholars who read excerpts at the memorial were Prof Kole Omotoso, Prof Femi Osofisan, Dr. Wale Okediran and Lola Shoneyin.

Artistes battle against extinction

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VERY nation preserves signments of the artists and for their arts to remain the nation’s sake they are cultured. Every nation’s culture assigned to keep the tinkers remains her identity and arts and the bellows busy.

Since there is a ministry for becomes a vibrant and commercialy viable industry. the preservation of the art and This is necessary to keep her culture,it’s duty should be to country alive, preserve her preserve the viability and identity, style, carve its history propagation of our nation to the and originality; and to identify rest of the world.

It should not be too tedious a people. to reach through the gobal Nigeria’s Arts industry is village.

After all, we have able facing a nose dive.Rumour has it that the minister incharge of representations in every nook Culture,Tourism and National and cranny. We also have minOrientation is spearheading the isters and ambassasdors that team in a plan for the concession can arrange timely invitations of land around the National for regular and continious Complex, Iganmu in prepara- propaganda tours of exhibition to build a Five star Hotel tions of our sculptors, paintthereby displacing, indeed ings, photography, dancers, erasing several Arts parastatals theatre productions, movies. I off the complex, sad to say, am sure such interactions will including the only Artists’ help to keep the smile on our Village,the only and indeed first nation’s coffers. Our cultured and articulate gentleman with of its kind in West Africa.

I must say in all my travels gradeous position of a high visiting Art centres and training chief knows enough to wheel schools through England, these for Nigeria during his America and Africa; I have not tenure in service. Restructurcome across one such Arts com- ing in the Arts and culture can build a vibrant and prospermunity. structureItoris unique not for the looks but The Nigerian artist is swimfor its conming tupstream against viotents and service. lent current, indeed violent The Artist undercurrent Village at the National Theatre Complex ous economy for this nation. is a supply source for the best Show business industry has of dancers, actors,drummers, done it for America,Italy,and painters,graphic and fine ArtEngland. Japan and India can ists e.t.c. testify to that. When show busiArtists cry havoc! The days ness makes oil business a far of guns and bombs in nations second, strugling position with against nations have passed agriculture then Nigeria with time, now greed and economy will be healthy. callous oppression have turned Our cities can get better and whirl wind aggression stronger African identity; what destroying itself. People now with our skillful sculptors, fight against their own.Society painters, architect being kept against itself; rulers against busy. All they need is encourtheir subjects, individuals now agement and proper seek power to overpower their chanelling of Mr president’s nation embezzling enough generous support. money to buy a city, or state or It is over two years now since evev buy their own country. the president flushed the artThe Nigerian artist is swimists ‘’Greenroom’’ with an unming upstream against a vioprecedented gesture of finanlent current, indeed violent cial support for the arts. By now under current. at least 10 artists would have Till date the Nigerian profesbeen singing ‘’hallelujah we sional artist is on his own; withhave arrived’’. out legitimate expectations for In my open letter to the presigratuity or any form of social dent after the generous act, i support, gratis or financial bensuggested the building of a efits in life or in death. ‘’Hall of Fame’’ which will Culture through arts preimmediately get at least 5000 serves and protects a people’s artists employed. Architects, identity in dances, paintings, sculptors, painters, photograsongs, sculpture as in costume phers, and folklore.

Such are the duties and as-

,

*Prof. Wole Soyinka(m) Prof. JP Clark(5th from left) and other writers at the reading session

Ekiti to sponsor 100 students to Ake festival

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KITI State Government is sponsoring 100 students to the Ake Arts and Book Festival, taking place in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The one-day online registration process will commence today. To qualify, students must be from Ekiti State and must be attending a tertiary institution in Ekiti State. Following verification, the names of the approved students will be available on the website on 1 November.

The hundred lucky students will not only receive a full one-day pass to attend events at the festival on 22, 23 or 24 November, they will receive a travel stipend and Twenty Thousand Naira in book tokens which can only be spent at the Ake Arts and Book Festival book fair where

they will find a large variety of books on literature, philosophy, anthropology, history, sociology, cultural studies and other fields of study.

Speaking to the press, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi said, “This is an opportunity for students from Ekiti State to be inspired by the guests that have been invited to speak at the festival. Effective scholarship demands that students have books that broaden their horizons, yet academic texts can be very difficult to access in Nigeria."

I am confident that our students, especially those in the humanities, will find books at the festival that will make their learning experience more meaningful.”

,

54 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 from Anambra.

Behind closed doors A

couple of weeks back, we published some stories under the above caption. The theme of the stories was hinged on the risks people take when they engage in romantic relationships of cladestine nature. It is possible that most of us might have experienced it at some point; the rush of adrenalin when we are engaged in an exciting and dangerous romatic relationshp.

By this, I mean, a sexual relationship that is morally wrong and capable of undermining one’s integrity, should one be caught.

However, a few people are willing to take these risks and even prepared to sacrifice anything for it.

According to a friend who almost walked into such a relationship out of boredom and neglect, it is the conflicting emotions involved in such a relationship that lures some people into it. The article featured an opening story and three narratives by three young women. The opening story recounted how a young, woman betrayed her older friend by dating her husband and even acting as spy between the couple.

As expected, our readers had a few comments on the three stories. Today, you get to read some of them. Remember that you can still write in on this or any other issue you may have read on this column. Feel free to also send us any story of your choice based on a true life experience. Our address

remains: thehumanangle 93@yahoo.com we look forward to reading from you.

Thank you!

Dear Philomena, My sister, you are wasting your time with a man that has gotten two children. What you both are doing is betrayal of the highest order. The man took advantage of his wife to hang out with you while you knew him to be a married man. The question is that if somebody does such a thing against you, will you like it? In fact, you are even loosing the chances of having your own real man as husband. Let’s come back to the bible. You may be a christian, so this act is a sin and you need to desist from it. Remember that not every woman will marry and not every woman will have children. But when will you marry and have your own children?

The choice is yours. I expect you to meet your man friend and break this relationship. If not, it will continue even after you marry in the future. Messiah Gbabire.

By email I have only one question for these women. Is it that these men’s penis are so sweat? You must be out of your minds! The evils that ladies do,is in their skirts.

Olasojufunsho By email

Dear Yetunde, I came across an article that reported a case of a lady who has been dating her boss despite her boss being is also a family

man. I felt pity on the story and decided to drop some pieces of advice via the email address below the article. My advise is that the lady in question has to be blamed. The mistake has been made and yet the secret is not yet known by the boss’ wife. What else is she waiting

,

HI

Dear Yetunde, what manner of crazy world we live in, where vain sex and primitive acquisition of materials seems never enough. At some point we emmerse ourselves in this huge cocoon of self deceit without a thought as we tow the line to ask “how long more shall I continue on this self-destruction path”. It happens virtually to everyone in some way or another, not just hyper fun loving folks like Phelomena... I am kind of happy that she reached that point of self realization quicker. Some don’t and head straight for the rock, crashing. Human flesh is weak... We better focus on building the inner spirit man.

Nice write up!

Obinna.

In fact, you are even loosing the chances of having your real man as husband, come back to the bible, you may be a christian, this single act is sin and you need to desist from it

for?? Quit the so called relationship!!! Even if it will cost you losing your job. Go on and take the bull by the horn. As for the boss, he is not your God. Meet him and tell him why the relationship should be suspended.

If the cat is let out, he will be the one to suffer it more because his marriage is at risk. What is his excuse for the affair? Even if the wife misbehaves, having an affair is not the best solution.

Secondly, from the whole issue, I observed that the lady has not truly repented though she may claim to be a Christian. The way she allowed evil to ruin her is a clear evidence that she is still living a worldly life.

Repentance or being a born again is necessary in every soul.

You cannot do without Christ Jesus. There is life after death and you have to prepare while you are still alive in this world.

Let’s embrace Jesus. This advise might be disregarded, but the truth cannot be hidden.

Thanks ... John Onyebuchie

,

Philomena, Who do you think you are deceiving?As far as I am concerned, you are deceiving yourself. Dating a married man and blocking opportunities for suitors to come your way...My dear, please leave him alone and wait for your own.

Blessing Madu

by E-mail

Dear Yetunde, My candid advice for the young lady is that she should seek for God’s mercy and forgiveness and put an end to such wicked act capable of destroying her soul for eternity. And, she should also go to the man’s wife and ask for her forgiveness, show her genuine remorse and make peace with her for she has betrayed her trust and confidence. Please, sin no more and God will give You a man of your own heart.

Celebrity Smart

by Email

Hi Yetunde, I’m responding to your story of Adeola, the 34 year old Pharmacist’. It makes a good read. I think Adeola, the introducer cousin and the man (his name is not in the story) are a very careless bunch! I’m restraining myself not to use words that could sound like I’m being judgmental or sympathetic. I nevertheless must say that the lady and the man need to understand that cheating (extra marital and extra ‘engagement sexual friendship) is sweet.

Oh yes! It is so much fun. But we know better what “sweets” can do to an adult, don’t we? A straight thinking adult, I mean a complete adult must strive to learn to remember where, when and how to draw the boundaries.

A married man with a 3year old son and an ill wife comes to a party and meets a girl that is in a ‘serious’ relationship with a guy in the UK whom she believes is cheating on her however, makes out and hopes to live happily ever after!

Grin!

Grin!

Grin!

Like seriously?!

Ade didn’t date that man for a year. I think what she did was provide him sex (a service his wife can’t anymore provide effectively the way she did) and pleasure company and he in turn paid (generously because he could) for it. I’m sorry to say that Ade is a cheat. The man too is a cheat. They both are good for each other because what I think is common between them is that sexual urge- fun - friendship inspired by lust and attraction to money come before reason and common sense! Lastly, using this story as one of some other similar instances Ade and the man has involved in cheating due merely to attraction and money and some other personal filial reasons, I think Ade should quit her relationship because she is obviously insecure (suspects her man is making out in the Uk hence she is doing the same back in Nigeria).

Are beautiful girls mean?

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

RE good looking girls mean to guys or are they actually nicer than the less beautiful girls? There are a lot of misconceptions about good looking girls out there. But more often than not, they are more of a stereotype than anything else.

Have you ever heard the line that good looking girls are mean and arrogant? There are a lot of mean girls out there, and perhaps a few good looking mean girls too.

But that does not mean all good looking girls are mean.

It is true that a few good looking girls are completely full of themselves. They think they are a gift to mankind and believe they need to be treated better than everyone else. They are the annoy-

ing kind of good looking girls and definitely, the shallow ones too.

They like the attention, almost all good looking girls know they get attention all the time. They know they are hot stuff and they intend to use their good looks at every possible instance to get something favorable. It may be to date someone rich and have a sugar daddy, or it may be something to do with getting a better job. The attention works for them and they fully use it to their advantage.

Some good looking girls are intentionally mean, some are just terribly mean. Have you ever noticed a beautiful girl who bat her eyelids at a guy and make him approach her only to spurn him away? It is terrible and annoying, and these are the kind of girls that give good looking girls a bad

name. But this is more like the exception than the rule. All good looking girls are not heartless.

There are also good looking girls who are not intentionally mean but are just misunderstood? No matter what a good looking girl does, it’s always bad. There’s just no way out, people just assumes that they are mean. Guys always exaggerates good looking girl’s rejection to feel better about themselves. Too many guys hit on good looking girls all the time and they really don’t have the time to play nice to all the guys. What would you do if girls threw themselves at you all the time? You obviously can’t play nice to every girl you meet, especially if you know that you are never go-

ing to be interested in that person. Guys are always mean to good looking girls.

They expect a good looking girl to be snappy, so the guys go all out with their rude remarks. Some guys get incredibly rude when they are rejected, so a great looking girl has always got to be on guard, or she will end up getting insulted by guys all the time. People love to see a good looking girl punished, sometimes, petty jealousy can make people really mean.

When a good looking girl gets a great guy, everyone else just hopes for her to get dumped or cheated on. And almost always, everyone wants the good looking girl to date a guy who would treat her like

crap just so she can feel their pain. This is especially true for guys who get rejected often. But really, why? What have good looking girls ever done to you? Well, maybe some good looking girls have rejected you in the past, but why stereotype all good looking girls into evil witches?

The real mean girls are the ones who constantly want attention or are the ones who think they are really good looking when they really aren’t good looking.

They act snotty and constantly want attention because somewhere deep down, they are all insecure because they are not sure if they are pretty. People get mean when they want to inflict pain on someone else for their own shortcomings.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 55 THURSDA

Get the power to stop strokes!

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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RE you a stroke patient, at risk of stroke or you have a relative or friend with stroke?

Even if none of these is applicable to you, here is a piece of news that will interest you.

Stroke Action Nigeria, an NGO working with stroke survivors and their carers, has lauched a “Stroke Helpline” - a landmark response that will enable callers have access to prompt stroke advice and information, as well as, how to find available stroke services within Nigeria.

The initiative is part of a monthlong national Power to Stop Strokes Campaign across Anambra, Imo, Delta, Lagos, and Edo States, including the Federal Capital Territory.

The campaign is targeted at stroke survivors, their family and friends to highlight the causes of a stroke and how to prevent it.

Data from the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the World Bank, shows over 195,846 Nigerians suffer a stroke every year, 60 percent of who will die within three months while others end up with severe disabilities.

“The Power to Stop Strokes Campaign was organised to deliberate on the various issues that border on stroke in the country and was launched as an

initiative of Stroke Action Nigeria to help propagate its mission of eradicating strokes in Nigeria and improving outcomes for stroke survivors and their carers,” says Rita Melifonwu, Founder/ CEO, Stroke Action UK and Nigeria.

“The campaign has various

been affected by stroke,” she added.

This is one campaign offers a chance for Nigerians at all levels to come together to flearn about initiatives such as the “Life After Stroke Services” and the “Stroke Awareness Forum” which are

strokes in the country.

Part of the sensitisation activities is the “Walk & Run” against strokes event which is open to all. Stroke Action Nigeria is also the convener of the Nigerian Stroke Assembly which is set to take place on the World Stroke Day on Tuesday 29th October 2013, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The assembly, which seeks to promote meaningful and quality “life after stroke”, also provides a joint working platform for partners in the care and prevention of stroke; stroke specific organisations and medical care providers.

Tip of the week

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ANY people don't know how to brush their teeth properly. Improper brushing can cause as much damage to the teeth and gums as not brushing at all. Hold your toothbrush in the same way that would hold a pencil, and brush for at least two minutes. This includes brushing the teeth, the junction of the teeth and gums, the tongue and the roof of the mouth. You don't need a fancy, angled toothbrush – just a sturdy, soft-bristled one that you MUST replace after two months.

US Senate commends NAFDAC

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activities that have been designed to empower Nigerians and also create awareness on how individuals can reduce their risk of stroke and what support is available to people that have

held in various states of the country. The “Power to Stop Strokes in Nigeria” will also demonstrate ways by which participants can be empowered to prevent the incidence of

IGERIA'S drug regulatory body, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has been commended by the Senate of the State of Georgia in the United States of America, for effectively curtailing activities of drug fakers and counterfeiters in the country.

In a resolution, the Senate recognised the Agency’s Director General, Dr. Paul Orhill for "his many outstanding achievements and contributions to the world.” Presenting the certificate of recognition to Orhii at the Award/lnvestment Forum organised by the African Leadership Magazine in New York City, USA, Senator Steen Miles said the DG "has been recognised by numerous organisations for his leadership and professional excellence and is applauded for his passionate work regarding the latest technology to fighting drug counterfeiting."

Orhii, who dedicated the Award to the NAFDAC staff noted that the overwhelming support of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Health, Prof. Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu and the team spirit of officers of the Agency contributed to his success.

The recognitions would continue to spur NAFDAC towards greater successes in its concerted effort against counterfeit drugs, unwholesome food and other substandard regulated products.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

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56 — Vanguard, THURSD AY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 THURSDA

Senate in full support of National Confab —Abaribe

By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, said it was in full support of the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to convoke a national conference, saying the development was in line with earlier call of its president, David Mark, to that effect.

The upper legislative chamber said it was aware that the national conference, as

being designed by President Jonathan, would be limited to the scope where the sovereignty of Nigeria was not called to question.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who stated the position of the Senate in a press statement, insisted: “It is, therefore, given that the proposed conference is in tandem with the time tested

stand of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as enunciated by the President of the Senate, Senator David A. B Mark in his address at the last Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Calabar and to senators penultimate week.

“The Senate has always canvassed the position that it will always welcome a conference where all ethnic nationalities would converge to

discuss all critical issues and proffer the very best way that will enhance national unity.

The Senate red-line and for which was aptly factored in the President’s broadcast is the conferment of a sovereign status to the conference.

“The Senate is happy that it is a conference that will hold with due respect to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. It has always been

Senate’s considered stand that there cannot be two sovereigns at a time.”

It said it was “gratified with the development and see it as an opportunity to address all of Nigeria’s structural problems that keeps agitating the mind of her ethnic nationalities,” adding, “the Senate is confident that the conference’s final outcome would go a long way to cement Nigeria’s unity.”

Only a sovereign national confab can save Nigeria —Chris Uche, SAN •North ready for any conference—Ango Abdullahi, Northern Elders Forum

By SONI DANIEL

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HE National Dialogue being arranged by President Goodluck Jonathan might end up in the trash can like similar conferences bankrolled by his predecessors without the elevation of the talk to the status of a Sovereign National Conference.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Chris Uche, made the assertion while speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday.

Uche, who specialises on constitutional and electoral matters, said that there was no need to embark on the talk just for the fun of keeping Nigerians busy while their myriad of challenges continue to mount.

He said, “My take on the announcement by the President is that once the dialogue does not have the status of a SNC it would not achieve any purpose for Nigeria. At best, it would serve to douse tension in the land by diverting the attention of Nigerians from the real issues and help politicians to prepare for 2015.

“At the end of the day, the outcome will not have the force of law as long as it is subject to the approval of the President or the legislature. As far as I am concerned, only a SNC, which will have the force of law can save the real purpose of a conference and nothing else.”

On the other hand, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, said, yesterday, that it would welcome anything in the form of dialogue or conference aimed at dousing the tension in the land and move the nation forward.

National Secretary of NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, told Vanguard that the region was ready for whatever decision

that the Presidency had taken.

Abdullahi said, “The North is ready for whatever has been decided in order to give the nation a better future. Nigerians really desire to have a better country. Our belief is that whatever the motive of the conference or dialogue is would be exposed at the right time. We believe that no gimmick will be hidden.’

L-R: Founder, Little Saints Orphanage, Mrs. Dele George; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; founder, Olubunmi Healthcare Delivery Assistance Programme (OHDAP), Ms. Olubunmi Aboderin and Senior Pastor, High Life Church, Pastor Carlton Williams, during the commissioning of hospital equipment donated by OHDAP to the Oncology Unit of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

Confab may give Nigeria brand new constitution—Sen Enang •Hails Jonathan over committee •Says it won’t seize NASS functions

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, said, yesterday, that the national conference which committee President Goodluck Jonathan set up, Tuesday, shortly after his speech to mark this year’s Independence Day, may be a process of giving Nigeria a brand new constitution.

In a telephone interview with Vanguard in Abuja, in reaction to President Jonathan’s proposal for the national conference, Enang who represents Akwa Ibom North East in the Senate, said his statement was based on the grounds that the National Assembly, during its last constitution amendment, stated that if there would be need for a new constitution for the country, then there must be a process towards it.

He said, “You remember that when we were amending the constitution, we stated in the amendment that if there be need for a whole new constitution to be promulgated, then there must be a process.

So, this may be part of the process for promulgating a brand new constitution.

That is when people will say what they want and then, they will bring it to the National Assembly to be considered.”

Enang warned that its handlers should be careful the way it will be treated so that the development won’t become a campaign

tools for the opponents of President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party just as he prayed that the exercise should not just be an effort in futility.

He said, “I pray that it should not just be a waste of time or a diversion because you remember, during Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime, there was something that Nigerians said they wanted to talk about and he set up a similar thing which result we have not seen. I pray also that it should not be what the opposition will use against the president and the PDP in the next election. Let us not also be praying that there will be no court injunction stopping it in one way or the other.”

Enang who said the conference cannot be sovereign as being canvassed by some Nigerians, since according to him; the president and the National Assembly were representatives of Nigeria’s sovereignty, noted, “You cannot have two sovereignties. The president is the representation of Nigerian sovereignty; the National Assembly is the representation of Nigerian sovereignty.

You cannot constitute sovereignty because that means you have nullified your own sovereignty.”

He thanked President Jonathan for setting up an advisory body preparatory to convocation of a national conference.

LIT ANY OF JON ATHAN’S LITANY JONA COMMITTEES 1. Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force chaired by Malam Nuhu Ribadu 2.Subsidy Reinvestment and Empoerment Programme – Dr. Christopher Kolade 3. Presidential advisory committee on constitutional amendment –Justice Alfa Belgore 4. Mediation Committee on Subsidy Removal – Justice Alfa Belgore 5. Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies – Stephen Oronsaye 6. Presidential innovations and strategy advisory committee – Fela Durotoye 7. Presidential Advisory Council on the formation of policy – Lt-General Theophilus Danjuma 8. Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons – Amb. Emmanuel Imohe 9. Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North – Kabiru Tanimu Turaki 10. Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments – Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede 11. White Paper committee on the reports of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force —Chief Emeka Wogu 12. White Paper Committee National Refineries Special Task Force — Arc. Mohammed Sada 13. White Paper Committee on the Governance and Controls Special Task Force — Ms. Ama Pepple

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 —57

C M Y K

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard Vanguard,,

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

— 59

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Success is within your reach but you must do away with mental arrogance and take good and practical advice from the professionals. Work harder.

LIBRA; Your being enterprising will go a long way to further enhance your prospects and if financial advancement is your priority you will fare better. Be more loving.

SCORPIO; Prepare to take the lead and exhibit your special talent. Advice from younger people may look good but not practical enough thus if you must take advice today take it from matured personality who may appear authoritative.

SAGITTARIUS; Element of luck will work in your favour, however that is not to say you can not back your reasonable plans with practical action. Keep your secrets.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

PLATFORM is simply machinery, a vehicle, an avenue for the propagation of your skill, knowledge, teachings, messages etc. Every one of

Do you need a platform? us needs a platform to excel. For example, if you are a great speaker, you still need an avenue to showcase your speaking skill.

The problem with some of us that we see only our own end of the equation.

That ought not to be. If you have a

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

product and there is no market for your product, of what use therefore is your product? A platform assists us to reach the end users of our products.

By Lanre Kehinde

CAPRICORN; You will have your ways; much will depend on how ambitious you are, the bigger your aspiration the better. Take your tried and trusted friends seriously.

AQUARIUS; Here is an ambitious day for many of you and with moderation things will go according to your plans. Financial success is actually close to you than you think.

PISCES; Make sure your plans for both immediate and far future are legal friendly. This is day of success you will need to savour with your partners/spouse.

ARIES; Even if you think your health is ok you better make sure you confirm your fitness from your doctor before giving in to strenuous activities. Success at work indicated for those of you who are truly healthy. Be practical please.

TAURUS; It will not be a bad idea trying to consolidate on progress made recently. And the more co-operative you are today the better it will be for you..

GEMINI; You will be in good position to take good advantage within your working arena.. Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make important future plans.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER; Tomorrow may bring more challenges than anticipated that is why you will need to prosecute your plans now. Lovers are fairly favoured.

LEO; Those of you who are moderate and practical with their financial plans are in for a good day. Live up to expectation within your family circle.

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,

Why all these?

Dear Joshua, I am not having any terminal disease but some times am afraid of life. Bluntly ‘am I meant for early death?

What are my weak points health-wise? Please tell me about my career line.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Philips, Abeokuta.

Dear Philips, You are not meant for sudden death but that should not be a license for reckless life style .Although Cancer is said to be one of weak Star signs, with potent and positive aspects the Sun and Mercury got from planets in Virgo and more powerful Scorpio yours is a strong constitution meant for good health. .

Certainly you must have gone through rough times when you were younger, once you are out of it your health path is clearer.

And nothing is pointing to early death.

Naturally Cancer born people must be more careful about their tummy (stomach related ailments) and you are not an exception. Other thing you will need to watch carefully include the circulatory system (because of Aquarius influence).

Your sense of taste is distinctive and capable of making you a little bit stout as a result of little enlargement of liver because of your sugar intake, which you can control perfectly. As a tropical man fever can come and go, but nothing fatalistic here please.. If you notice toothache symptom do not ignore it.

But yours is a sound and good health, astrologically.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self.

Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political.

HOME AND ABROAD

by Lawrence Akapa

60—Vanguard, THURSD AY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 THURSDA

Blame govt for Yobe killings —Education stakeholders

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

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TAKEHOLDERS in the education sector have blamed the Federal Government for the massacre of about 42 students of Yobe State College of Agriculture by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect on Sunday.

National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Mr. Hassan Soweto, in an interview with Vanguard said the attack was as a result of the Federal Government’s failure to provide security for schools in crisis prone areas as well as its inability to provide gainful employment for Nigerian youths.

Soweto said: “We at the ERC put the entire blame at the feet of the government.

The government had promised to put up perimeter fences and security operatives round the schools, but it did not. On a larger scale, however, there are underlying social and economic issues that must be addressed. Government must champion youth employment and provide opportunities to keep youths in the north engaged. Boko Haram is feasting on the socio-economic ills this country is facing.

“It would be difficult for any sane mind to understand why Boko Haram would attack these innocent students. But from stand point that western education is a sin, it seems that they are attacking the people they see as

symbol of Western education; the students. We are appalled by these mindless killings. Schools in these states were closed when the state of emergency was declared, and were only reopened few days before the killings.”

A university lecturer who did not want his name in print, questioned government’s decision to send students in crisis-prone areas back to school if there were no concrete measures in place to protect them. He said: “Why would the government ask them to go back to school only to be killed like chickens. This happened because government and security officials refused to do their jobs. In a state of emergency, it should be next to impossible for such an attack to take place at such magnitude.

People shouldn’t even have been moving about; the attackers did not drop from heaven, neither do they stay around the school.

Under normal circumstances, they should have been caught at one of the numerous roadblocks before making their way to the school.”

Describing the killings as dastardly, an education policy consultant, Mr. Wale Samuel, called for increased security vigilance around schools in the hot bed of Boko Haram in Nigeria. He said, “Government must, as a matter of urgency, provide proactive security measures and standards in public institutions to forestall

Army to detonate Bombs recovered from Book Haram

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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HE 7 Division of Nigerian Army in Borno State is to destroy large quantities of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, recovered during the recent operations of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, Operation BOYONA, in the state. The army has, therefore, warned residents and members of Chabbal Community, including farmers and herdsmen to remain indoors, as the exercise commences Friday, October 4, 2013.

Speaking, yesterday, in Maiduguri at the Joint Task Force, JTF, headquarters, the acting spokesman of 7 Division Nigerian Army, Lt. Col Sagir Musa said the detonation exercise of IEDs by the military at Chabbal general area on Maiduguri-Gubio road was to prevent them from exploding and destroying lives and property in the state.

He said, “in view of the exercise, the military division wishes to inform members of general public, particularly

herdsmen; and those people living and farming around the general areas; as well as motorists; not to panic on the massive movements of troops and their vehicles; and sounds of explosives on Friday.”

On the recent attacks and killings on MaiduguriDamaturu road and in Benishiekh town, the spokesman said, “following the recent strikes on this road and Benishiekh, by the suspected Boko Haram terrorists, the 7 Division of Nigerian Army is seriously concerned and is acting with the view to containing this ugly trend, not only on the affected road, but other roads; as well as in its area of responsibility.

“The whole effort is to destroy terrorism and ensure the protection of people’s life and property. Members of the public are requested to continue to remain resilient and security conscious at all times, as the 7 Military Division is poised to eradicating this madness.”

reoccurrence of such acts. If this isn’t done, most public schools in these crisis-prone states would record low patronage as no one would want to die because of education.”

The Director, Press and Public Relations of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Mallam Ibrahim Yakassai, said: “It is unfortunate, sheer madness for anyone to attack such young defenceless students. We call on the government and other security agents to put more effort into fortifying schools in these areas where a state of emergency has been declared.

The NUC spokesperson, however, said it would be fool hardly to close schools in the area until the state of emergency has been lifted. His words: “We cannot stop schooling because of criminals. The school calendar will not wait for students in Yobe or any of the other states. What we must do is to fortify these schools and guarantee protection for the students.”

In the same vein, a parent, who declined to give his name also called on government to beef up security, especially of students in such states so that students can concentrate on their studies without any fear of attacks on their lives and property.

What have students done to deserve this?—NANS Condemning the massacre, President of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, described it as pathetic, and called on the Boko Haram sect to look inwards and ask themselves what Nigerian students have done to deserve these killings. He said: “We are calling on Boko-Haram to look inward and tell us what the students have done to warrant the killing. Students who were busy sleeping in their hostels were killed for doing nothing to them. We are appealing to them to stop it and embrace peace. Can we stop madness, enough is enough.

Boko-Haram should not force Nigerian people to react. If they continue like this, we students may be forced to face them, some of us can mobilize students to the place. The Federal Government should fish-out those who are behind this act. We have heard of cases where some of them were arrested but released later.”

Gbadebo also called on government to take drastic measures towards forestalling future occurrences. “We hereby call on government and other relevant authorities to tighten the security on campuses by drafting members of the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, to campuses secure the lives of the students on campuses. It is a failure on the part of our government if they cannot protect the lives and property of its citizenry.”

From Left: Brand Manager, Johnnie Walker, Mr. Amaechi Okobi, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Brand Manager, Smirnoff, Mr. Femi Akinrinade and Head of Reserve, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Joe Nazzal at Dinner Party Jimmy’s Jump Off sponsored by Smirnoff. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

••Lagos Assembly condemns killings

BY EBUN SESSOU

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EMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Monday, condemned the killing of 40 Students of College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State which occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

The House also called on the President to intensify surveillance of the area and investigate the matter to stop the killings.

Member representing Mainland Constituency, Bashiru Oloto, who raised the matter under Matters of Urgent Public Importance said he was depressed by the continuing attacks of Boko Haram on innocent students.

His words: “My fellow colleagues, I read in the dailies about the killing of some students in the College of Agriculture, Yobe by the Boko Haram sect.

This act is despicable and requires urgent solution by the FG in order to stop this senseless killing ravaging the northern part of the country. The affected students I believe did not belong to any political party, but rather they are our future leaders”.

In his contribution, Ahmed Omisore representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency II said “there is need for the Federal Government to convey sovereign national conference”, stressing that this would be the only solution to the Nigerian crisis.

Also, Bisi Yusuf, deplored the nation’s security which had been relegated to the back ground, adding, “North is very porous.

Innocent People were been killed indiscriminately without the fear of God. This latest killings called for sober reflection as Nigeria celebrate 53rd Independence Anniversary.”

NTI, stakeholders strategise to halt mass failure in Mathematics

T

HE National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, has met with Mathematics and Science education teachers to strategise on how to stem the current mass failure in mathematics and science subjects.

Meeting under the aegis of Mathematics and Science Education Stakeholders, in Kaduna, NTI, and the teachers took decisions towards methodologies that could simplify teaching and learning of mathematics and all science subjects.

A communiqué issued after the one-day strategic meeting, indicated that there was a consensus that a body to implement Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education, SMASE, be established to give a sustained push to the abilities of student in the subjects affected.

It was, therefore, recommended that SMASE Desks should be established in all State Basic Education Boards which would devote all their staff to the promotion of the teaching and learning of Mathematics and all other science subjects.

Similarly stakeholders at the meeting recommended that the private sector should be involved in the push for a more effective mathematics and science education in view of the fact that products of the nation’s education system also feed the private sector for its operations.

In this regard, it agreed that there should be a greater synergy between all institutions in the country that have various roles in ensuring a better national education system such as the: Federal Ministry of Education, NTI, Universal Basica Education Commission and the States Education Boards, National Commission for Colleges of Education, as well as, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.

In his address to the participants, the NTI Director General, Dr. Aminu Sharehu, said his organization has undertaken a series of specialized capacity building workshops for Mathematics and Science teachers in which 413 of them have been trained.

Vanguard, THURSDAY OCTOBER 3, 2013 — 61

Amadu: NFF is taking Ethiopia match very Lagos Triathlon targets over 600 athletes serious G L ENERAL Secre tary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Musa Amadu stated emphatically on Wednesday that the Federation is not in agreement with those thinking Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes belong to the featherweight category and would be easily over-run by the Super Eagles in next weekend’s World Cup qualifying cracker in Addis Ababa.

“Yes, we believe that the Super Eagles, champions of Africa, will come out of Addis Ababa with a good result, but we are not taking the match lightly. We do not subscribe to the suggestion that all we need do is turn up in Ethiopia and we would decimate the opposition without lifting a finger.

“There is this cliche that there are no longer minnows in international football. That is why the NFF is making all the arrangements to prepare the Super Eagles adequately for the match, and ensure the team travels in comfort to and from Ethiopia. “ We h a v e a l r e a d y written to the NSC for use of the refurbished mainbowl of the National Stadium, Abuja for the team to train between Monday and Friday, before the departure to Ethiopia on Friday night.”

Amadu spoke in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, led by the President-General, Dr. Rafiu Olalere Oladipo.

“That we are the African champions is a fact, and that Ethiopia is lowest-ranked African side remaining in the race is also a fact.

But we are not going to look at those statistics and discountenance the Antelopes. The Addis Ababa Stadium is one of the most difficult venues for visiting teams in African football.

C M Y K

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

BREAKING LOOSE••• Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi pulls away from Yaya Toure (L) and Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast.

World champion tops Obudu elite race cast R EIGNING world mountain running champion,Philip Kiplimo of Uganda tops the cast of elite runners who will be competing for the $50,000 top prize on offer at the 9th Obudu international mountain race which holds next month at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu,Cross River state.

Kiplimo,who led Uganda to sweep the top four places at the 29th World Mountain Running Championships in Krynica Zdroj in Poland last month and earned a gold team medal with a

perfect score of 10 will lead an elite cast that includes his fellow c o u n t r y m a n , Pe t e r Kibet who came fourth in Poland to the highly regarded Obudu international mountain race.

Obudu mountain race local organising committee member and Cross River state Commissioner for Youth and Sports,Honourable Patrick Ugbe expressed delight at the confirmation of the two top mountain runners in the world among the rich cast that will compete come November 23 at the Obudu ranch resort..

•Philip Kiplimo

Milo football clinic kicks off in Abuja

T

HE fourth edition of the Milo Football Clinic with Peter Rufai kicked off yesterday at the Abuja Old Parade Ground, Sports Complex, Garki.

The exercise will transverse six states including Abuja with Super Eagles former captain, Rufai, leading other top coaches to tutor the kids on the rudiment of the game.

As the clinic began in Abuja yesterday, it will be concluded in Lagos on November 16.

With the theme ‘Let’s Build Champions’, which

is in line with Nestlé Milo’s tagline of being the energy food drink of future champions.

This year’s clinic witnessed an impressive growth in the number of cities from five in 2012 to seven this year with centres like Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Akure, Abeokuta and Lagos hosting the exercise, which is open to boys and girls between the ages of nine and 13. Two thousand kids are expected to participate in each city.

According to Category Business Manager, Bev-

erages, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Doja Ekeruche, the clinic is a grassroots programme, which is aimed to develop the champion spirit in children across the country.

“Through the clinic, the children develop the technical skills of the football games while also imbibing the lifelong social values learnt from sports (Determination, Discipline, Respect, Honesty and team work). This makes them champions not only in sports but also in life,” she said.

AGOS State Triath lon Association said yesterday that it expects well over 600 particiants from schools, clubs and the military in this year’s Triathlon fiesta which comes up on Saturday and Sunday at Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos.

Speaking yesterday at a media briefing in Lagos heralding the event, Chairman of the Lagos State Triathlon Association, Dr Sikuade Jagun said this year ’s event which marks its second edition was occasioned by the huge success of previous year’s edition which had about 300 participants basically from schools and clubs Dr Jagun also said

that they are targetting eight groups from six to 18 and that means prymary and secondary schools adding that the aim of the fiesta is to discover talents and nurture them to stardom through the “Adopt a talent” programe of Lagos state government.

“We have the eight groups as in primary between the ages of six to 11 years; junior secondary between 12 to 15 years and Senior Secondary between 16 to 18 years. we think that if we address the school, we are grabing athletes from known background, athlethes that are not likely to lie about their ages, we are grabing athlethes that are trainable , that have respect and culture built into their ways of life.

Keshi

Continues from BP keen to make further additions in the coming days despite naming an unchanged side for Nigeria’s last two international fixtures and for the upcoming 2014 World Cupplayoff game against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

“No matter how long you have a team, there are still one or two players you will see that you will like to bring into the team. There is no way you are going to have 11 or 18 players for two years and you don’t see the need to make one or two changes,” Keshi told Supersport.

“If I have one or two good players better than what I have here, I may have to change.

“It’s part of building (a strong team) too because when they come in, they will have to learn our style of play,” he added.

The “Big Boss” then went down memory lane to highlight the importance of freshening up the squad with new additions as he recalled the earliest days of former captain, Sunday Oliseh in the Nigeria national team.

“When I was captain of the national team, I still recall vividly when in 1993, (coach Clemens) Westerhof introduced a

young player called Oliseh into the team.

“A lot of eyebrows were raised because at that time, the late Thompson Oliha had made that position in midfield his own with strong performances over the previous four years.

“Oliseh (who went on to amass 63 caps for the Super Eagles) played marvelously in his first two games for Nigeria and Oliha was never first choice again.

“My decision to look at new players is not based on sentiments. I do this in the interest of the country.

“We need players that will get us results and that is the most important thing because the present team is not the finished article,” he said.

Keshi has only lost 4 games in 31 as coach of the Super Eagles since taking the reins in 2011.

His first defeat was in an international friendly against Egypt on April 12, 2012. He also tasted the bitter pill of defeat when Nigeria lost 0-1 to Peru in another friendly on May 23, 2012.

Nigeria’s two other losses under Keshi were recorded at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup against Uruguay on June 20 and Spain on June 23.

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY OCTOBER 3, 2013

Wenger hails Ozil impact A

RSENE Wenger de scribed Mesut Ozil’s masterclass in Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli as the complete performance.

The 24-year-old club record signing inspired a devastating opening 15 minutes that saw him stroke home the opener with the classiest of finishes before setting up the second for Olivier Giroud.

Wenger was delighted with the club’s record signing, a £43million arrival from Real Madrid, and admitted Arsenal were “lucky ” to have lured him to the Emirates Stadium.

“Ozil is like the team in that he had an outstanding first half that had everything you want to see from a great player,” Wenger said.

“There was individual skill, team play, finishing and final ball. Just sit there and enjoy it.

“I loved him when he was at Madrid, I thought he was great there. We are lucky to have got him.

“He enjoys playing football and enjoys playing with his team-mates - he’s integrated very quickly.

WELL-DONE.... Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger hails Mesut Ozil’s form against Napoli.

“We got so much stick at the start so now I’m cautious, but of course he’s given belief to everyone around the club. Belief is part of success in football.”

Arsenal have a great

chance of progressing from a challenging group after recording victories over Marseille and Napoli with a home clash against Borussia Dortmund their next assignment.

Napoli were feared as strong opponents, but

Fergie not keen on United return

A

Ferguson

LEX Ferguson says he has no interest in returning to Manchester United and that he has full confidence in David Moyes as manager of the reigning English Premier League champions.

Ferguson, in a US interview aired on Monday night on PBS, said he was content to stay retired and not fretting over the current two wins, three losses and one draw of the club he guided from 1986 until

retiring earlier this year.

“I’m not interested in managing again or getting myself worked up about Manchester United’s results,” Ferguson said.

“United are in good hands with David Moyes. He will be fine. He is a good manager.”

Ferguson, 71, also said he rejected overtures from Chelsea when Roman Abramovich took over the London-based club.

Marseille remain hopeful

M

ARSEILLE coach Elie Baup says his team’s Champions League ambitions now hinge on the upcoming double-header with Napoli after slipping to a heavy defeat at Borussia Dortmund last Tuesday night.

Last season’s beaten fiC M Y K

nalists cantered to a 3-0 win, with Robert Lewandowski hitting two goals either side of a Marco Reus free-kick, although Marseille had plenty of chances of their own and could perhaps count themselves unlucky come the final whistle.

Marseille’s defeat comes on the back of a damaging home loss to Arsenal on matchday one and leaves Baup’s men bottom of Group F, but the coach does not believe all is lost just yet, with their first game with Napoli to come at Stade Velodrome on October 22.

they were swept aside with ease by the Barclays Premier League leaders.

Coyle relishing special atmosphere W IGAN boss Owen Coyle expects a ‘special’ night today as the DW Stadium hosts European football for the first time.

Slovenian side Maribor are the visitors as the FA Cup winners go in search of a first victory in continental competition following their goalless draw against Zulte Waregem a fortnight ago.

Maribor have never beaten an English side but they have a lot more experience at this level than Wigan and lost out to Victoria Plzen in the final round of qualifying for the Champions League group stages.

The Slovenians lost 52 to Rubin Kazan in their first Europa League match and sacked manager Ante Cacic on Sunday, with Ante Simundza stepping in to take charge in time for Thursday’s game.

Coyle said: ‘It’s the

Coyle first home tie. We’ve obviously had the experience of the first European tie for the club against Zulte Waregem in Belgium, where we acquitted ourselves very well.

‘And what we want to do now is achieve maximum points tomorrow night, which would put us in a nice place in terms of the standings in the group.

More injury woe for Bale G

ARETH Bale has been diagnosed with a muscle contracture in his left thigh but it remains to be seen how long the Wales forward will be sidelined for, Real Madrid have announced.

Bale - who missed most of the pre-season while uncertainty over his future continued has been hampered by injury since completing his world record transfer from Tottenham in August, appearing in only two league matches and one in the Champions League for Madrid.

Hewas ruled out of yesterday ’s Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen but this latest diagnosis suggests a longer absence.

“After the tests carried out today, the player Gareth Bale has been diagnosed with a muscle contracture in his left thigh,” said a statement on the Real Madrid website.

“It remains to be seen how the condition develops.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 2013—63

Families of shot teenagers demand N115 m from NDLEA

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN — THE Fami lies of two teenagers allegedly shot by officials of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Owan West Local Government area of Edo State are demanding for the sum of N115million as compensation from the federal government agency.

A petition by their counsel, Darlington Enereba and Elefan Saturday, titled, “A Petition Against Unethical Conduct of Officers under your Command”, said the money was to offset medical bills expended by the families for the treatment of their children and for future medical attention.

The petition alleged that Omage Omon and Omozuanvbo were on August 27, 2013 shot by men of the Auchi office of the agency at Okpuje town in Owan West local government area.

They alleged that the NDLEA officials engaged in shooting spree at about 4pm when they stormed the community in a bid to effect arrest of suspected persons engaged in illegal production and trafficking of cannabis.

The petitioners also insisted that the affected teenagers were to undergo series of checkups in India hospitals, for emotional and psychological trauma suffered by them and their families.

The petition dated Sep-

tember 25, 2013 was addressed to the officer in charge of Auchi office with copies to the State Commander of NDLEA, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Commissioner of Police, Edo State police command, National Human Rights Commission, Public Complaints Commission, Edo State Attorney_ General and Commissioner for Justice.

According to the petition, “on the 27th of August 2013, some of your officers using a white Hilux van which is attached to your office at Auchi, Edo State, invad-

ed the otherwise peaceful town of Okpuje to effect arrest of people suspected to be engaging in the illegal production and trafficking of cannabis”.

“However at about 4pm without any form of confrontation or provocation, real, perceived or imagined, those officers started a shooting spree, gleefully shooting everywhere and nowhere in particular. This action caused reasonable apprehension of fear, chaos and panicked residents into utter confusion as they ran for their dear lives.

Aliyu says planned national dialogue, welcome development

M

INNA — GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger has described the plan by the Federal Government to convene a national dialogue to discuss the future of the nation as “a welcome development”.

The governor made the remark on Wednesday while inaugurating the SURE_P mass transport scheme for the 25 Local Government Areas in the state.

He said the planned dialogue would ensure justice for all segments of the country.

“Mr president has constituted an advisory committee on national dialogue.

“We should not be afraid to discuss our future and our present sit-

uation; how we came about where we are and how we want to move from that place.

“Nobody should be afraid to discuss it, we should not be afraid of whatever may be the outcome of the conference.”

Aliyu expressed optimism that Nigeria would emerge stronger and remain one indivisible entity at the end of the conference.

“Let us not be afraid of going to discuss with fellow Nigerians on how to move the country forward and ensure that we have justice in our body polity and in our society.

“So we welcome this desire and plan for the national dialogue,” he said.

Independence: Nigerian Children call on FG to end insecurity

BY SUCCESS UZOKWE

A

BUJA – THE Nige rian Children Parliament has called on the federal government to end the rising spate of insecurity in the nation as a way to seek a secured future devoid of violence.

This was part of the resolution reached at the special sitting of the parliament in commemoration of the country’s 53rd anniversary in Abuja.

The speaker of the parliament, Thomas Idara said: “We seek the establishment of family court as a matter of utmost urgency for the protection of Nigerian children

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across the country.

“Proceeds of prosecution should be more transparent and conclusive to serve as deterrent for other offenders, especially rapists. Security agents should be deployed to all schools and institutions should also forestall the re-occurrence of the ugly incidence where students get killed.”

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, in her address noted that children require certain forms of protection in addition to their normal entitlement to the fundamental human rights laws based on their vulnerability.

She added that trafficking of children for the purpose of domestic service, prostitution and other forms of exploitative labour was now a common practice in the country.

According to her: “Violence and marginalization still affect the lives of most Nigerian children as exemplified the situation of child trafficking, rape and other issues of the child rights violations.

“For this reason, my ministry shall continue to promote structures and programmes that will ensure children’s participation and protection from any form of abuse,” she stated.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

S-H-O-C-K-E-R!

I don’t have a team yet—Keshi H

EAD coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has astonishingly revealed that he does not have a team yet as he continues his “rebuilding project “ with the Super Eagles.

Keshi replaced Samson Siasia as Super Eagles trainer in 2011 following the latter ’s failure to lead Nigeria to the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial

Guinea.

He gained legendary status when he became the first man to win the Africa Nations Cup as a captain and coach after masterminding success with the Super Eagles at the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.

The 51-year-old gaffer however believes his current squad is “not the finished article” and is

Continues on Page 61

Europa League matches today A Mak’Kala

v

Tottenham

5:00pm

Kuban

v

Valencia

5:00pm

Sevilla

v

S C Freiburg

6:00pm

Rijeka

v

Real Betis

6:00pm

AZ Alkmaar

v

POAK Salonika

6:00pm

Wigan Athletic v

Maribor

8:05pm

Swansea City

v

St Gallen

8:05pm

ApoelNicosia

v

Frankfurt

8:05pm

Bordeaux

v

Maccabi Tel Aviv 8:05pm

Amadu: NFF is taking Ethiopia match very serious P.61

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

•Keshi

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Embrace (6) 5 Shaped (6) 9 Wrath (5) 10 Delay (6) 11 Tuft (6) 12 Satan (5) 14 Heroic (4) 17 Performed (3) 18 Kiln (4) 20 Giver (5) 22 Fruit (5) 23 Brave (7) 24 Twist (5) 26 Weary (5) 29 Scorch (4) 30 Mire (3) 32 Manage (4) 33 Soothed (5) 35 Mention (6) 36 Tunic (6) 37 At no time (5) 38 Totter (6) 39 Cure (6)

DOWN 1 Engraved (6) 2 Hold (6) 3 Fat (4) 4 Finished (5) 5 Foul (5) 6 Spoken (4) 7 Accident (6) 8 Erase (6) 13 Spiteful (7) 15 Vestibule (5) 16 Shroud (5) 18 Gin-measure (5) 19 Slumber (5) 21 Uncooked (3) 22 Insect (3) 24 Frightened (6) 25 Butted (6) 27 Revolve (6) 28 Fatal (6) 30 Manufacturer (5) 31 Dissuade (5) 33 Sea-eagle (4) 34 Challenge (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: Alive 7, Turned 9, Axe 10, Lid 12, Lance 13, Matt 17, Thieve 19, Torn 20, Cloud 22, Era 24, Soaring 27, Lit 28, Order 31, Cede 33, Dinner 35, Scene 37, Will 38, Lasso 39, Gap 41, Air 42, Talent 43, Beryl.

DOWN: 1, Atomic 2, Grotto 3, Gel 4, Axle 5, Learnt 6, Vicarage 8, Dire 11, Diverting 14, Thus 16, Peri 18, Idol 21, Liberate 23, Anon 25, Aide 26, Grew 29, Driver 30, Relate 32, Essay 34, Neat 36, Coil 40, Pad.

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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