A MONTH TO RETIREMENT: Kwara CP murdered by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 61830

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N150

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

BOKO HARAM:

We did not declare cease-fire — Shekau ...Threatens factional leader

•Pg. 8

N1.5trn bad debts

GET to know which 10 Nigerian banks are currently suffering from N1.5 trillion bad debts in addition to other exposures to their customers in the Energy industry. Some are probably so ashamed of loans that they refused to disclose them in their yearly statements to their shareholders. All these and more in the March edition of Sweetcrude.

Grab your copy in tomorrow's Vanguard!

A MONTH TO RETIREMENT:

Kwara CP murdered

Orderly, driver in stable condition Killers have murdered sleep —IGP

‘I'm looking forward to my retirement. I’ll be out of the public glare for about one year before I come out again. It will afford me time to be closer to my family. I have served Nigeria and I need to serve my family now’

BY EMMA NNADOZIE, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, TONY EDIKE & DEMOLA AKINYEMI

NUGU— BARELY 24 hours after he told Vanguard that he had served his country meritoriously and it was Continues on page 5

•P.17 COLUMNISTS:

DELE SOBOWALE •P.33

LES LEBA •P.40

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P. 45

Mr & Mrs

NOLLYWOOD @ 20: From left: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Patience; wife of the Senate President, Mrs Helen Mark; Nollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze (aka Aki) and President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu, during a dinner to celebrate Nollywood @ 20, in Lagos, Saturday night.

Man, 30, kills •P.9 Police arrest 70 over father in Ebonyi murder of LASU student —P.6 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

The Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market during the visit of Governor Babatunde Fashola, yesterday. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (middle); Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello (left); Director of Enforcement, Ministry of the Environment, Oluwatoyin Adesina Onisarotu (2nd right); Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Mr. Babatunde Adepitan (2nd left) and President General, Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association, Comrade Ikechukwu Animalu.

Kwara CP murdered Continues from page 1 time to retire to serve his family, Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mr Chinwike Asadu, was murdered by assassins, Saturday night. His body was riddled with bullets 100 metres from his home after seeing off his guest. His police orderly, Aloha Olaniyi and driver, Oliver Omeh, who were with him at the time of the incident, sustained bullet wounds and are said to be in critical condition at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. The incident occurred at Amorji Nike, near the densely populated Abakpa Nike area in Enugu East Local Government Area

within the state capital at about 10 p.m. The Police Commissioner, who reportedly visited his home in Enugu, weekend, was driving into his private residence when the assailants, who might have laid ambush for him, attacked. CP Asadu, according to sources, had a visitor whom he escorted with his driver and a police orderly posted to guard his residence from Abakpa Police Division, leaving behind the official escort team that came with him from Kwara State Police Command. They were returning to the house after dropping the visitor when they suddenly noticed a bus

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

See God’s hands.... Those who joyfully leave everything in God’s hand, will see God’s hand in everything.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

OVE is not dependent on someone or something outside of you. One chooses to be loved in each moment as the moment unfolds, regardless of what happened in that moment — Cardwell Nuckols. The experience of truth comes naturally for anyone who brings a loving attitude to others. It burns brighter and brighter for there is only love! Dhyan Giten made a remarkable observation that is very revealing in the quest for a higher consciousness or for anyone aspiring to live a more spiritual life. He said it is astonishing to realise what growing up actually means, it is to become one with Life. It means to find the whole Existence within oneself; it means to discover that Existence is alive in your heart and being. The song of a bird echoes one’s own inner voice, the beauty of a flower reflects one’s inner beauty, a dog or an animal becomes an expression of unconditional love and friendship, the majestic mountains create an ecstatic joy, and one discovers all the shining stars of the sky within the heart. It is to realise that the whole Existence is alive, and that the underlying thread of consciousness is God.” In a nutshell, love God, love thyself and love thy neighbour.

trailing them as they turned into his street. The gunmen opened fire on them, killing the police commissioner instantly and injuring two of his aides. Before the gunmen escaped, they reportedly took away the rifle of the orderly whose body was riddled with bullets. The orderly was shot on the chest, stomach, hands and leg while the driver was shot on both legs.

Asadu was to retire next month Asadu was to retire from the Police next month. In a telephone chat with our Crime Editor, Mr Emma Nnadozie, on Friday, he excitedly spoke about his retirement and how he would return to Enugu to rest after his meritorious service to the country. He had said: “I’m looking forward to my retirement. I’ll be out of the public glare for about one year before I come out again. I’ll just be home resting. It will afford me time to be closer to my family. I have served Nigeria and I need to serve my family now.” Barely 24 hours after this, Asadu’s dream of serving his family was killed by the assailants. The CP was in Port Harcourt for the opening ceremony of the Police Games and was said to have decided to “touch his home city, Enugu, on his way back to Ilorin when the murderers struck." According to a source, “the CP was driving into his personal residence in Amorji Nike after dropping a visitor that night. He was with a police orderly and his driver at the time of the incident. Just about 100 metres to his house they noticed that a bus was trailing them and before they knew what was

Federal Government, through the security agencies, has been doing everything possible to strengthen the security of the country and improve the quality of protection for lives and property.” Vanguard gathered that the Commissioners of Police of Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia State Commands have also put their men on alert for possible interception of the killers.

Police launch manhunt for Assassins

The late CPr Chinwike Asadu. happening, the gunmen opened fire and killed the CP instantly. “The gunmen escaped in their bus before the CP’s escort team that was inside his compound noticed what was happening. When the escort team and sympathizers rushed to the scene, they met CP Asadu and his orderlies in a pool of blood. They were rushed to the National Orthopaedic Hospital where doctors confirmed the CP dead. The other two policemen are now on admission at the hospital.”

Killers have murdered sleep —IG The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, in his reaction, yesterday, declared that the killers of Asadu had murdered sleep. Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, in a statement on behalf of the IGP said: “It is the belief of the IGP that those who murdered CP Asadu have murdered sleep and they will find no rest. They will find no comfort and they will find no hiding place until they are fished out and brought to justice.” According to Mba, IGP Mohammed Abubakar “described the incident leading to the death of Chinwike Asadu as most unfortunate and heartrendering. Particularly coming at a time when the

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident when Vanguard contacted him, yesterday, describing the attack as very unfortunate. According to him, the police would do everything possible to fish out the assailants as investigations into the bizarre incident have already commenced. The new Police Commissioner in Enugu State, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa, was said to have directed his men to launch a manhunt for the gunmen within and outside the state capital.

Orderly, driver in stable condition Meanwhile, doctors at the National Orthopeadic Hospital, Enugu are battling to save the two wounded police officers.The orderly who was seriously battered by bullets, according to doctors, was said to be in a stable condition after the surgeries conducted on him throughout Saturday night. The driver was also said to be in a stable condition. Meanwhile, the incident rattled the command, yesterday, as Asadu's deputy and other top police officers sobbed profusely at the police officers mess, Ilorin when Vanguard visited. The officers, both male and female, who all came in casual wears at about 1 p.m wailed uncontrollably There was no official statement by the command at press time as the

spokesman of the command, Olufemi Fabode, was said to be outside the state on official assignment.

It's shocking, unfortunate —Gov Ahmed In his reaction, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, described the death of the Police Commissioner as shocking and unfortunate. Governor Ahmed, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said: “Late CP Chinwe Asadu, in the discharge of his duty in Kwara State, contributed immensely to the sustenance of peace in the state and in the upholding of our values as a state of harmony.” Ahmed also noted that it was particularly painful that late CP Asadu had become another index in the annals of the growing national insecurity, adding that it had become very expedient for us as a nation to rally round in finding enduring solution to the national malaise.

His last media assignment The last media assignment of the slain Police Commissioner was on February 21,2013 when he paraded six highway robbery suspects who had been terrorising the state capital and its environs. Three of the suspects found to be experts in highway robbery were also said to have specialised in stealing commercial motorcycles from their owners using ground pepper and other corrosive substances. According to him,”three of the robbery suspects specialised in motorcycle theft. They steal motorcycles in Kwara State and sell them in neighbouring states. “The hoodlums always pretend to be innocent passengers to hire the motorcycle and put pepper or other corrosive substances into the eyes of the riders and take the motorcycles away from them. But luck has run against them.”

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

N384bn benefit: Labour alleges 12 PHCN staff kidnapped

Man, 30, beheads father in Ebonyi Over alleged prophesy from a pastor BY PETER OKUTU

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

RGANISED Labour in the nation’s power sector weekend in Abuja, raised alarm that no fewer than four workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, have been killed while 12 others have been kidnapped, with several others injured in less than two weeks after the Federal Government announced the release and payment of N384billion alleged workers’ terminal benefits. The union under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, claimed the said amount was not only fictitious, but used to deceive investors that labour issues had been resolved for them to sign agreement with government. At a briefing on the outcome of the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, the union handed down a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to among others, withdraw the announcement of what the union called N384billion terminal benefits, including the use of “sacked workers” to describe PHCN staff failing which the sector will be shut down from March 15, 2013. Speaking on behalf of the union, its General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said while over 12 members had been kidnapped in the South East, four had been killed in the North East and several others, including union’s chairmen sustained various degrees of injury in Borno State among others. Ajaero said: “NEC -in-session expressed worry and disappointment at the pace the Federal Government is misinforming the general public over payment of staff emoluments in the power sector thereby exposing our members to serious security threats. "NEC- session condemns the delay in completing the biometric reconciliation committee’s assignment which should have been concluded within two weeks of its inauguration . "Consequently, the union demands that the committee winds up its activities for the regularisation of casuals by March 15, 2013.”

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police command, weekend, said it had arrested a middle-aged farmer, Okechukwu Ogbonna, who allegedly severed the head of his 60-year-old father, Ogbonnaya Okereke over alleged mystic issues. Vanguard gathered that the incident which took place around 5:30 pm last Saturday at Isundiede village in Izzi Local Government Area of the state saw the 30-year-old suspect, who returned from Church, brought out a machete and proceeded to attack his defenceless father in their residence. Okechukwu, it was learnt, carried out the attack following a prophesy he received from the Pastor of a Pentecostal church (name withheld) who allegedly told him that his father was spiritually manipulating his destiny, thereby making it impossible for him to make progress in life like his mates. However, sources close to the family revealed that the suspect before committing the dastardly act had displayed animosity against his father for not sending him to school or showing any interest in his future.

Confirming the arrest of the suspect, Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, stated that the body of the deceased had since been deposited at a mortuary while investigations were on to unravel the identity of the pastor.

“When the suspect was arrested he said he took the action because of the prophesy he received from a pastor that his father was manipulating his destiny and that the reason he also committed the act was because his father did not show any in-

terest in training him in school.” It was also gathered that barely two weeks ago at 1 Elias Street, Abakaliki, a middle-aged woman and a school teacher, Mrs. Joy Uchaji allegedly killed her two children with a machete then fled to Lagos.

Wukari yam market burnt during a sectarian crisis in Taraba State. Photo: NAN.

Police arrest 70 over murder of LASU student, Damoche BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & DONALD ARJI

HE Police has arrested not fewer than 70 persons in connection with the death of Damilola Damoche, a 400 level student of the Lagos State University, LASU, who was murdered in cold blood last Thursday by suspected cultists. Vanguard gathered that the arrest was made by a combined team of the Area E police command who paraded the streets of Ojo, Iba, PPL, Igbo-Elerin, Igando, Okokomaiko, Iyana-Isashi and Onireke communities to fish out those involved in the clash. The 25-year-old, who was a final year Banking and Finance student was brutally killed few metres away to the gate of the institution after writing a test. Meanwhile, some pictures of corpse suspected to be students of the Lagos State University went viral on the Internet on Saturday, heightening tension in the school and its environs.

Consequently, students of the institution have expressed fear that some cult members might want to avenge damoche's death. Speaking with the Student Union President, Ibrahim Tunji, who denied the death of

more students, stated that the campus is calm. he said: “I have not received news of the death of any student. I left the school on Friday and I came back on Saturday. So I wouldn't know if anything had happened. You know anyone

can fabricate any story but I don’t think there is need for panic”. The police as at the time of filing this report, have transferred the arrested suspects to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad for further investigations.

Police nab 3 robbery suspects in Lagos BY DONALD ARJI

AGOS—THE Ilemba-Hausa police division in Lagos command, has arrested three suspected armed robbers said to have been terrorising Ajangbadi community in Otto-Awori Local Council Development Area. According to the police yesterday, one locally made pistol, a toy gun, an expanded cartridge, the sum of N1,3000, five blackberry phones and two laptops were recovered from the suspects. The arrested men are Johnson Bright 27, Ezike Chigozie 20 and Ekene Bid 18, were allegedly

rounded up after robbing residents of 29, Elaje streets in Ajangbadi of their belongings with a locally made short gun and a toy gun. One of the suspects, Ezike, claimed that greed led him into the business. According to him: “Greed led me into this mess when I accepted an offer to be a member of a robbery gang and be paid N5,000 from every operation by some group of students of an unnamed university when I went to them to borrow money to retrieve my blackberry phone from my gambler friends but instead of lending money to me, they talked me over into robbery. According to a confessional

statement made by another suspect, Ekene said things fell apart for him after the death of his parents in a car accident two years ago when he was still at the village which made him to decide to find quick means of making money. “ I joined the robbery gang two years after the death of my parents when things became hard for me, I joined so as to keep myself from starvation. Meantime, sources from the Ilemba Huasa police division who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that the suspects were however handed over to men of the Special Anti-robbery Squad for further investigations.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013—7

Fire razes 10 houses in Warri BY EMMAAMAIZE, EMMA ARUBI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

ARRI—DISASTER struck,

weekend, in Iyara, a sprawling area of Warri in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, as a midday fire rendered many persons homeless

after destroying over 10 houses and property worth millions of naira. The fire, aided by combustible materials in the affected homes,

Fire razes 10 house in Iyara area of Warri, Delta State. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

consumed every property in sight. Men of the Fire Services in Warri could not get to the affected houses to put off the fire because of inaccessibility. When Vanguard visited the scene, youths and sympathizers with buckets of water mixed with soap, were making frantic efforts to quench the fire, but to no avail. David Etete, a youth leader in the area said, “I was in the next street when I heard shout that there was fire in my area, I rushed there and we made efforts to contain the fire but there was little we could do.” Asked the cause of the inferno, Etete said, “I don’t really know but I think it is from electric spark, I was told that there was electric power when it started.” An unconfirmed source said the fire started because of explosion from a television set in the houses. However, no life was lost in the fire outbreak.

....Rainstorm destroys 200 houses, renders 5,000 homeless BY EMMAAMAIZE

KWUKWU-IGBO, DELTA— RAINSTORM destroyed at least 200 houses and rendered over 5,000 homeless at AkwukwuIgbo, headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend. Rainstorm pulled off roofs of houses and deposited them at diverse places in Ogbe-Iyase, Ogbeani, Umuonai, Ogbeonihe, Umuekeke, Ogbeobi and Achala villages in the community. The traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Obi David Azuka, described the incident as a calamity and called on the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State Emergency Response Agency, Oshimili Local Government Council and other relevant agencies of government to come to the aid of the victims. Managing director of Haalimonwo Ventures, Akwukwu-Igbo, Mr. Jude Eziuno, whose company was affected told Vanguard, yesterday, on phone, “what happened in Akwukwu-Igbo was a calamity. I can tell you that no fewer than 200 roofs were carried away by rainstorm.” “The rains was severe and stormy. It started at about 5.30 pm, everybody in the community was affected, if it is not your house, it is your kitchen, toilet or shops in front of your house". “There is wailing everywhere, we have never seen this kind of hurricane before,” he added.

Detention: Court orders IG to pay girl, 14, N10m compensation BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—THE Federal high court holden at Asaba, has ordered the InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP, to pay N10 million as exemplary damage, following the brutalization and illegal detention of a 14-year-old secondary school student in 2011. The student, Amanda Atigbi of Saint Paul’s Grammar School, Ebu in Delta State, according to the facts of the case was handcuffed, tortured and kept in solitary police cell while in detention at Illah police station, and denied access to his parents or a lawyer. Justice C.M.A. OlatoregunIsola awarded the cost against the police authorities, on Friday, while delivering judgment in a suit seeking to enforce the fundamental rights of the girl brought about by her mother, Mrs. Anthonia Atigbi, describing the brutalization meted on the girl as act of wickedness. Mother of the girl had in a 69-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating motion stated that “that about 10am on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, I sent the 1st application (daughter) to a daily marked called Aja-ilo, Ebu located about one kilometre away from my house to buy fish and other condiments with which to prepare a meal for me. “That I was informed while 1st applicant (daughter) was busy shopping for the items, she had an argument with the 1st respondent (Mrs. Priscilia Ajamah) over the price of fish. That the argument degenerated into an altercation and unexpectedly, the 1st respondent without any provocation whatsoever slapped the 1st applicant. “That in self-defence, the 1st applicant responded with a slap and a fight ensued between the two of them. “That the 1st respondent vented her anger on the 1st applicant by beating her up mercilessly into coma and subsequently threw her into a pond of erosion water and forced her to drink the muddy water. “That while the 1st applicant was trekking home the 6th to 9th respondents (police officers) in company of the 1st respondent (Mrs. Ajamah) in an ash-coloured Sports Utility vehicle with registration number Lagos CX 939 APP ordered her to enter the car".

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

20 gunmen killed in Borno Army Barracks attack As Boko Haram denies dialogue with FG AQIM commanders killed in Mali, Chad BY NDAHI MARAMA & HUGO ODIOGOR, with Agency Report

AIDUGURI—BARELY 24 hours after the Boko Haram sect denied a ceasefire and dialogue with the Federal Government, gunmen suspected to be members of the sect attacked the Monguno Military Barracks in Borno State. They were repelled by men of the Forward Operation Base, FOB, and Joint Task Force, JTF, who killed about 20 of the sect members in the early hours of yesterday. A statement issued by JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, said gunmen came in four SUV vehicles and eight motorcycles to attack the military barracks at Monguno, a border town with Chad Republic. The town is 175 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the epicentre of activities of the Islamist sect. The clash lasted over an hour. He said apart from killing some of the suspects, it recovered arms and ammunition, including 10 units of Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPG, and two RPG tubes.

JTF's statement The statement said: “Information available to the Joint Task Force operation indicated that some Boko Haram Terrorists attempted to attack a military barracks at Monguno, Monguno Local Government Area, Borno State at 5am today (yesterday). “The attack was repelled by the FOB and JTF troops at the outskirt of the barracks. The encounter led to the death of 20 Boko Haram Terrorists. “Three four-wheel vehicles and eight motor cycles used by the terrorists were destroyed. Arms and ammunition recovered in the clash include seven Kalashnikov rifles, 10 rocket propelled grendes, two RPG tubes, large quantities of assorted ammunition and eight assorted magazines.” In a related development yesterday, JTF also arrested two top Boko Haram commanders that were allegedly responsible for the Maiduguri multiple bomb blasts of last Thursday, while 11 governors were holding their meeting under the auspices of the All Progressive Congress, APC, party at Government House. The arrested suspects, according to the statement, are in JTF custody undergoing interrogations.

In Mali

Meanwhile, the global war against terrorism in Mali claimed two top Al-Qaeda commanders where the one-eyed terror leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar,

who masterminded the bloody siege and hostage-taking at an Algerian gas plant in January, was killed by Chadian soldiers fighting in Mali. This came barely 24 hours after another top commander of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, AQIM, Adelhamid Abou Zeid, lost his life in the hands of vengeance-seeking Chadian troops who had lost 12 of its men to the Islamists sect in Northern Mali. Belmoktar is one of the world’s most wanted jihadists and his death has been described as a major blow to AlQaeda in the region and a tremendous moral boost to the Chadian troops which had suffered heavy casualties in the hands of the Islamist rebels which have been forced to flee towns they had seized in northern Mali.

Chad

Chad’s President, Idriss Deby, had announced on Friday that his soldiers had killed another Al-Qaeda commander, Abou Zeid, with 40 other militants who died in a military operation in the Mali’s Adrar des Ifoghas Mountains near the Algerian border. This was followed on Saturday with another report by Chad’s armed forces in a statement that “On Saturday, March 2, at noon, Chadian armed forces operating in northern Mali completely destroyed a terrorist base. The toll included several dead terrorists, including their leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar.” Andrew Lebovich, a Dakarbased analyst who follows AQIM, said: “Both men have extensive knowledge of northern Mali and parts of the broader Sahel and deep social and other connections in northern Mali, and the death of both in such a short amount of time will likely have an impact on militants’ operations.” France, which led the air strikes against the militants’ mountain hideouts, has declined to confirm the killing of either Abou Zeid or Belmokhtar. Similarly, Washington has kept mum on the killing of Belmokhtar. A United States official and a Western diplomat said, however, the reports about Abou Zeid’s death appeared to be credible.

Shekau on ceasefire, dialogue with FG

Shekau, in a video message, denied reaching any ceasefire agreement with, or having a dialogue with the Federal Gov-

ernment. His translated message reads: “May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. This is an important message to all people. “There is this wicked rumour making the rounds that we have dialogued with government of Nigeria which led to a ceasefire on our part. We have also heard how some of our operations and attacks are being credited to criminals. “As such the security agents have been killing our armed members in the name of criminals. We have seen how our members who were out on holy mission are being attacked and killed with the label of criminals. “We are telling the world that whoever kills any of our members in the name of being criminals would surely be avenged unless such person repents now. We are stating it categorically that we are not in any dialogue or ceasefire agreement with anyone. And we have never asked anybody in the n a m e Abdulazeez to represent m e , Abubakar Shekau, the leader of this movement.

Denies Abdulazeez

“I swear by Allah that Abdulazeez or whatever he calls himself did not get any authority from me to represent me in any capacity. I do not know him. And if we peradventure encounter Abulazeez and his group, I swear by Allah we are going to mete out the grave judg-

ment that Allah has prescribed for their likes in the holy book. “I want the world to know that we have no dialogue with government. I have on several occasions attempted to pass this message across via the Internet and Youtube and we later realised that some agents of government kept removing our messages from the net and preventing its online publication so that our messages will not be heard. “They know that if the world hears our position on this fake dialogue, their efforts of deceit would be exposed.

Threatens Yobe, Borno, others

“We are also sending this strong message to the people of Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, and any state, that whoever kills any of our members should await a grave retaliation from us. “God knows that we don’t kill unjustly except those that conspired against us or those that directly fight us, or the

government that is waging war upon Allah and His Prophet. We will continue waging war against them until we succeed in establishing an Islamic state in Nigeria. “This message is prepared by me and targeted towards clarifying the issue of ceasefire. We have never had any dialogue with anyone. How would we have had dialogue with the government when our members are being killed and detained in cells, both women and children? Do you call this dialogue?

‘We’re workers for Allah’

“That is not dialogue or truce in Islam. In Islam there are conditions prescribed for us to go into dialogue, and there are also situation in which we cannot go in to dialogue. What we are doing now is what is prescribed for us by Allah and his holy prophet. “We are workers in the vine yard of Allah. We are not out to cause destruction, but correct the ills of the society. And Allah is more powerful than all, and He has the might.”

Vanguard , MONDAY, ,MARCH 4, 2013 —9

ACN slams Jonathan over Boko Haram menace Blames failed leadership on FG BY OIASUNKANMI AKONI

AGOS—ACTION Con gress of Nigeria, ACN, has said that part of the reasons why the Boko Haram has festered was due to failure of President Goodluck Jonathanled Federal Government, to show leadership, as he had stayed away from the affected parts of the country, since the crisis started in 2009. The party, however, hailed the progressive state governors, under the aegis of All Progressives Congress, APC, who visited Borno State last week, saying their pace-setting, courageous and compassionate action was a boost to the country’s unity and a blow to anarchists. National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Mr. Lai Mohammed, yesterday, said that the action of the governors had reassured the people of Borno and Yobe states, which are mostly affected by the Boko Haram crisis, that their fellow Nigerians had not abandoned them to their fate. He said: “No part of Nigeria should be a no-go area, especially for the President, Commander-in-Chief.

‘’Part of the reasons this needless Boko Haram crisis had festered was that the President in particular had failed to show leadership. By staying away from the affected parts of the country since the crisis started in 2009, for receding behind the safe walls of Aso Rock fortress to celebrate inde-

pendence anniversaries, the President has unwittingly emboldened the anarchists, who have killed and maimed thousands. ‘’When Presidents in other lands defy terrorists, it is not that they don’t care about their own safety, but that they simply want their compatriots to

know that whatever fate befalls them was shared by their leaders. That was why President George Bush of the US flew to Iraq in the heat of the insurgency there, and President Barack Obama also of US travelled to Afghanistan even amid threats. By the way, both places are thousands of kilometres from the United States.”

BRIEFING: From right; Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy; Dr. Olatunde Williams, Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Lagos State Ministry of Health, and Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, during the briefing on 2013 National Immunization Plus Days Exercise in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Fashola visits shut Ladipo market Insists on clean-up before reopening As leaders promise to comply BY OIASUNKANMI AKONI

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, paid unscheduled visit to the Ladipo spare parts market, in Mushin Local Government Area, shut last Monday over violation of environmental law, insisting that the market must be cleaned it would be reopened. In addition, he said the traders must sign an undertaking that never again will trading take place on the road or the edges of the canal. The governor ’s visit was to assess the situation of the market, following pleas by the traders and the leadership of

the Igbo Council in Lagos State led by Professor Anya O. Anya, who visited the state House, Ikeja last Monday to present the new Council members to the governor. Fashola, who addressed newsmen and leaders of the market unions, described the state of the market and its environs as “massive degradation of a section of Lagos,” noting that the good thing in the visit was that the traders had seen the lack of caution in their deed, and were ready to make amends. Fashola said: “It is a massive degradation of a section of Lagos and this is not acceptable. People should not carry on like this. But what is, perhaps, worthy of note is that those who are

involved have seen the error of what they had done here and are ready to work with us to clean-up and I have said here that they must take the lead. “The blockage of the canal poses a lot of danger and we are expecting heavy rains this year. I don’t want to come back here to pick any dead body. We built the canal and we must make it work by not trading on it or dump refuse in it. “People told me that they picked engine parts, spareparts and other things from the canal. It must stop.” Also addressing the leadership of the Ladipo Auto Dealers’ Association led by its President General, Mr.

Ikechukwu Animalu, Fashola made it clear to them that before government will reopen the market, the traders must clean-up the place and put measures in place to ensure that there was no trading on the roads in the market.

Contempt: Court adjourns Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy suit to April 18 BY INNOCENT ANABA

AGOS—JUSTICE Opeyemi Oke of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, weekend, adjourned till April 18, 2013, to hear the contempt proceedings by members of Oshodi Tapa family in Lagos over the Iga Oshodi chieftaincy title. The head of Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy family, Pa Fatai Amao Oshodi and a member of the family, Dr. Mustapha Oshodi had filed Form 48 against some members of the family to ensure the enforcement of a court order, following allegations that some family members were allegedly flouting the court’s order. The alleged contemnors, Chief Babatunde Oshodi, Alhaji Rasaq Oshodi, Alhaji Sura Oshodi and a lawyer, Victor Otuyemi, were alleged to have violated the consent judgment delivered by Justice T. Ojikutu Oshode (rtd.) two years ago. In the judgment, the court had ordered the defendants to vacate Iga Oshodi and stop parading themselves as custodians of the Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy family and as Council executive members.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Urban renewal: Ladoja accuses Ajimobi of insensitivity Says Governor was unfair over demolition of shops, stalls I

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—FORMER Gover nor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, has accused

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of insensitivity with his urban renewal programme. He said that Ajimobi was be-

ing unfair by first demolishing shops and stalls belonging to traders before thinking of building alternative

VISIT: From left: Immediate past President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Azibuke Okwor; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Akintayo; and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Sola Fasuba, during a visit to the Governor in Ado Ekiti.

Ogun Assembly crisis deepens

BY DAUDOLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—THERE was palpable tension in the camp of Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, over the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly. This is following the controversies trailing the composition of the Assembly’s Tender Board. Vanguard gathered that, the alleged threat of showdown by some members of the Assembly last Thursday, against the leadership of the House, who were believed to be loyal to the governor, had giving members of the governor’s camp sleepless nights.

It will be recalled that, the Assembly held a rowdy session over the composition of a tender’s board, which was recommended by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, over the purchase of 28 cars, which were alleged to be illegally bought. The Assembly had been divided into two, Pro and Anti governor legislators. The development, Vanguard, gathered had sent dangerous signals to the executive arm of government in the state, who feared that it might affect it. The House, which comprises 26

members had 11 lawmakers, said to be anti-governor, four were still undecided while only 10 were for the governor. To counter the move by the antigovernor camp, his loyalists at the House, who were mostly at the leadership , were reported to have concluded plans to suspend three of the ‘rebellious’ lawmakers. It was gathered that the decision to deal with the ‘recalcitrant’ members was taken during a meeting after last week’s session at the official home of a leader of the Action Congress Nigeria, in the state.

New Ondo CP warns criminals BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—WORRIED by the spate of robbery and burglary in recent times in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the new Police Commissioner, Mr Patrick Dukumor, weekend, said henceforth, the state will no longer be friendly with criminals. Dukumor at his maiden press briefing in Akure, said he will smoke out criminals from their hideout. He advised criminals to take their leave as he promised to make the state “too hot” for them to operate. “I am therefore warning all criminals, be they armed robbers, 419nees, kidnappers, thieves, rapist, pipeline vandals and bunkerers to either change from their criminality and be-

come good citizens or relocate from the state. I will make Ondo State very uncomfortable and unconducive for them.”

He promised to reduce crimes and criminalities to the bearest minimum, if not eradicated.

Ogun PDP chair lauds members for resolving crisis

B E O K U T A — OGUN State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commended party faithful for their steadfastness during the internal wrangling of the recent past, thanking God that no life was lost to the crisis. Chairman of the party, Mr. Adebayo Dayo, commended members “For their civility and maturity, and for maintaining the highest level of restraint through the period the crisis lasted”. Dayo said all the issues had

been resolved, saying “all party men and women that are yet to join the winning train should come on board, so that we can work together in the interest of the party.” According to him, now that the much-awaited declaration by the national leadership of the party on the State Executive had been made, “it behooves on all genuine party members to join hands with us to take the party to the next level and restore its lost glory.”

markets for them. Ladoja, spoke, weekend, at an empowerment programme organised by a member of the state House of Assembly, elected on platform of Accord Party, AP, Mr. Niyi Adeoye, at Agugu area of Ibadan. To Ladoja, for any beautification exercise to have any meaning, it must have a human face. According to the leader of Accord Party in the state, it was tantamount to putting the cart before the horse by chasing people away from their means of livelihood.

He said the government should have adopted what late Chief Bola Ige did, when he first provided alternatives at New Gbagi and Alesinloye markets. He said: “It is a fact that most of these traders that have been displaced are using the proceeds they made to train their children, and for any government to remove them before thinking of where to move them to is an act of wickedness to these poor traders. “I believe it is only reasonable that the government should have provided alternatives before driving them from their shops.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2013—11

Ex-militants to FG: Return our guns, ammunition BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI—LEADERS of no fewer than 315 ex-militant camps in Delta State, who alleged that their members were sidetracked in the ongoing documentation exercise for Third Phase amnesty, have demanded the return of guns and ammunition they surrendered to Joint Task Force by former militants, between January and May, 2011. The ex-militants, under the aegis of Coalition of Omitted Third Phase Militant Camps, COTPC, Delta State, in a statement by their chairman, 'General' Ebis Adu, said it was either their members were included in the list of ex-agitators or they would paralyze government activities by carrying out peaceful protests and occupying the streets.

Fresh oil spill hits Bayelsa community BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—A FRESH oil spill has reportedly hit Ikarama community in Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Though the immediate cause of the spill could not be ascertained, it was gathered that it occurred at a Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, facility conveying crude oil to Rumuekpe axis of Rivers State. The spill, it was learnt, is currently spewing crude oil from three points into the environment; two spots in gaseous form and one bubbling in liquid form, including the Taylor Creek Wellhead (A). Environmental group, ERA/FoEN field monitors, led by Mr. Alaba Morris, who were at the site, said: “At the spill point close to the wellhead along the pipeline, the point where the crude oil is escaping from the oil bearing pipeline is very visible, as the spot is open and the pipe is visible.

“Due to the fact that the last spot was submerged with crude oil, it was not possible to see the pipe from which the crude oil was spewing. There were visible signs that the spill sprayed high into the air before Agip lowered the pressure; trees, grasses and the immediate environment of the spill sites clearly showed this fact as indicated by the crude oil which soiled plants

and the surroundungs. “The spilled crude oil was noticed on very high trees. At the third spill point, it was observed that the crude oil was streaming into the environment through a furrow. If it rains heavilly, the crude oil might spread into Taylor Creek. Crude oil sheen was also observed on the big borrowed pit about 15 metres

away from the leaking oil wellhead. The surrounding of the Taylor Creek Wellhead A, which is leaking, has much crude oil deposits and if not cleaned up might be washed into the borrowed pit, and that is not good, environmentally speaking.” It called on the oil company to take urgent steps to contain the spill.

SERVICE OF SONGS: From right: Wife of Delta State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nelly Utuama; the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Beatrice Omeni; Chief Chinoye Daphey and Chairman, Transition Committee, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Mrs. Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju, during the service of songs in honour of late Princess Selina Ebinum, Omeni's mother, at Obiaruku.

N'Assembly'll unravel Oyerinde’s killers, Edo lawmakers assure BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN —ACTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, lawmakers in Edo State, weekend, expressed optimism over the ability of the Committee on Public Petitions in the House of Representatives to ensure that Nigerians know the truth as regards the true killers of the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, late Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde. It will be recalled that the House Committee, led by Mr. Uzo Azubuike, held a public hearing last Wednesday, where all the parties, including Governor Oshiomhole, appeared to make their submissions, following the emergence of two reports by the police and Department of the State Security, DSS, on the investigation into the May 4, 2012 killing. However, the member representing Oredo Federal constituency of Edo State in House of Representatives, Mr. Rasaq Bello-Osagie, who spoke to newsmen shortly after he donated internet facilities to Edo State chapter of Nigeria Union of Journal-

ists, NUJ, said the reason why the House decided to probe the reports of the investigation was to ensure that Nigerians were told the truth. He said: “You can see that we received contradictory reports on the in-

vestigation and it is an embarrassment to the entire nation. We have had series of killings in this country that had been swept under the carpet but we have said that this is a murder that cannot be swept under the carpet."

Delta police declare war on kidnappers, armed robbers BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—DELTA State Police Command, weekend, said it had since declared war on kidnappers and armed robbers in the state, appealing for public support to succeed in the task. Performing the foundation laying ceremony of a new police station at Igbodo in Ika North-East Local Government Area, embarked upon by the community through self help, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said: “Every information given to the Police for the arrest of any kidnapper in the state attracts N5,000 to the informant.” Aduba said some persons had received the award, adding that Delta State Government recently released N2.5 milion to

complement the efforts of the command in information gathering, describing Delta as a flash point. Maintaining that the police have a duty to protect lives and property of the citizenry, he explained that community vigilante groups were being strengthened for greater efficiency. He said that those alleged to be collaborating with kidnappers had been sacked. He described the ground breaking ceremony for a new police station in Igbodo as a step in the right direction and commended the people for the self help project and appealed for compromise between the traditional ruler and his subjects over the marriage issue that was threatening peace in the community. He said; “every society has a history as well as a unique culture and tradition.”

12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013—13

Merger fall-out: You're a failure, PDP tells Okorocha .I’ve shamed PDP with excellent strides in Imo — Okorocha By SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

PPARENTLY angered by his romance with the newly-formed All Progressives’ Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, descended on the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, describing him as a failure and a disappointment to the people of the state. PDP accused Okorocha of squandering the goodwill and support of the people by failing to deliver any tangible project nearly two years after he assumed office, regretting that they made a big mistake in entrusting the state to the governor. PDP National South-East Vice Chairman, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), in a statement, challenged Okorocha to point out any project he had started and completed since assumption office in 2011, accusing him of being clueless, unfocussed

and unprepared to tackle the challenges of the state. Akobundu said, “Under Okorocha’s watch, Imo has slipped into the failed states category. A state that was once celebrated for strides in education, peaceful coexistence and environmental renaissance has rapidly descend-

ed into a beehive for criminality and ecological disaster as a result of abandoned road projects by the Okorocha government." But Okorocha fired back at the PDP, calling them a bundle of ungrateful elements, claiming that he had put the party to

WERRI—AN Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, has declared that the appointment of persons indicted in the White Paper on Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, into positions of authority was “illegal, immoral, null, void and of no effect.” Justice Ngozi Opara handed down the judgment in suit by Incorporated Trustees of Every Child Educational A d v a n c e m e n t Foundation, against Imo Governor and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. The court said, “I declare that the state governor's appointment of persons who were indicted in the said White Paper dated June 2009 into positions of authority is unconstitutional, illegal, immoral, null, void and of no effect.” Saying that the White Paper on IMSU was binding on the state governor, Justice Opara held “the first defendant (state governor) is duty C M Y K

wa, warned that he was ready to use his membership of APC to flush out PDP from Imo State and the entire South-East so as to pave the way for the emancipation of the geo-political zone and its people, who had been denied development for about 15 years by PDP.

Uba begs Fashola to re-open Ladipo Market

HE CONTINUED closure of Ladipo Mar ket in Lagos State, has been described as a set-back to the livelihood of the traders and a drain on the state’s economy, as the Lagos State, Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has been urged to re-open the market to guarantee the survival of the traders and revenue by the state. Speaking, weekend, the Senator representing Anambra South, Dr. Andy Uba, said: “The continued closure of Ladipo Market, which is one of the biggest spare part markets in Africa is not only a drain on the country’s economy, but has adversely affected the traders and their families. “I believe the government had made its point and the traders have also learnt their lessons. In the best interest of economic development, Ladipo cannot, but be re-opened," Uba said.

Appointing indicted persons in govt is illegal, immoral — Court BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

shame by spreading monumental development projects to all parts of the state unlike what obtained when the last PDP governor held sway for eight years. The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ebere Uzouk-

bound to implement it. “I make an order directing the first defendant to disengage from her services, all those

indicted in the said White Paper. There shall be costs assessed at N10,000 only,” the court said.

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From left: Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Chief Godspower Agbonifo, Chief Mary Agbonifo, National Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Distributors' Association and Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, MD, Nigerian Breweries Plc, at the NB Plc Distributors Awards 2013, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

N20bn unauthorised loan: Reps give AGF, DMO 30 days ultimatum for repayment BY EMMA OVUAKPORIE

BUJA—THE House of Representatives Committee on Environment, at the weekend, gave the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla and the Director General, Debt Management Office, Abraham Nwankwo a 30-day deadline to ensure that N20 billion is paid back into the Ecological Funds Account, EFA. The said amount represents the outstanding loans given out to states and local governments from the Ecological Funds since 2010. The legislators noted that the loans were given without full disclosure and non-approval of the National Assembly. Chairperson of the committee, Uche

Ekwunife accused the Accountant General’s office of “abuse of processes,” wondering if the Ecological Funds Office is “now a lending bank.” According to the committee, apart from the fact that the loan was given without the authority of the National Assembly, the fund was also misapplied as it was strictly meant for ecological and environmental challenges. Also, the committee noted that the recipients of the loans ought to pay with interest since they have been holding on to the funds for three years. The House Committee also insisted that states and local governments should be on first line charge as regards the collection of their share

Minister berates FGC principal over e-library BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

INISTER OF State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday, berated the principal of the Federal Government College, Kwali, over e-library project which the school sited miles from students’ classrooms and hostels. The minister who was on a tour of facilities of ongoing projects in the Federal Government Colleges, within the FCT, said he could not understand the rationale behind siting two libraries in a school while some schools are still struggling to have one. Wike also reprimanded the principal, Mrs. Celestina Omokhede for not officially informing the ministry of its on-going library project, adding that she misled the government into investing funds in e-library in the same school. Wike learnt that the school management has in the last four years (2009) been pumping a minimum of N8 million each year into the school library yet the library was far from being completed.

of the ecological funds. Ekwunife said the state and local governments should have their ecological funds paid into separate accounts so that the funds would be utilised specifically for environment-related issues and would not have to run to the Federal Government over every little environmental challenges. The committee observed that the releases to the National E m e r g e n c y Management Authority (NEMA) should be given their allocations on a monthly basis and not quarterly as is currently the case in order to ensure efficiency of operations.

Works ministry commissions road, design office to save cost for FG

HE FEDERAL Ministry of Works has commissioned a road and bridge design office in order to reduce cost and save the country about N500 million yearly which hitherto was used on design consultancy outside the ministry. This was disclosed by the Hon. Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, when he commissioned the newly established Federal Highway Design office with modern equipment in the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters. Onolememen stated that when he came in as the minister piloting the affairs of the Ministry, he ensured that a full-fledged road and bridge design office was established, because an engineering ministry like Federal Ministry of Works needed to be selfsufficient on road and bridge design which the ministry has the capacity to carry out. The minister also stated that before the establishment of this office, engineers of the ministry had gone on

training in various institutions abroad and are already posted to the design office in order to demonstrate their level of competency in the field. He added that the young newly employed engineers also have opportunity of being trained in the design office. Earlier, the Director, Highways (Roads), Engr. (Mrs.) Josephine Nnoruka, expressed gratitude to the Hon. Minister for the approval of the design office which had never existed in the history of the Federal Ministry of Works She said the ministry could now be designing various road projects internally which is another expression of the agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in transforming the road sector in the country. The occasion was graced by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Koro Muhammad and directors of the ministry.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013—15

IMMUNISATION:

From left— Mrs. Morenike Williams, Chairman, Ikotun-Igando, Local Council Development Area; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mr. Bisi Yusuf, member, Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Alimosho 1, and Mr. Jude Nzeata, Senior Sales Manager, Multi Pro-Enterprise (HYPO), during the 2013 National Immunisation Plus Day in Ayobo area of Lagos, weekend. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Man loses 4 children to haemorragic fever in Kebbi BY SAAWUA TERZUNGWE

IRNIN KEBBI—A disease, suspected to be Haemorrhagic fever, has killed four children of Alhaji Lawal Buhari, one time chairman of Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Buhari told Vanguard in Jega yesterday, the four children, between the ages of seven and 15, died within three days when the fever attacked them. He said three of his children got infected from one of them who died earlier from the infection. He said he rushed the three to the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, where they died. When contacted, the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, confirmed the deaths, saying it was suspected to be Haemorrhagic fever and not Lassa fever as some people thought. He said the symptoms of the disease include high fever, rashes on the body and weakness.

The head, clinical service at the Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Aisha Adamu, who had been attending to the affected children, said tests had been carried out and sent to the World Health Organisation, WHO, representatives. She added that health workers had also been mobilised for further tests and preventive measures, especially in Jega town. Dr. Aisha said samples of the tests had also been forwarded to a qualified medical facility in Irrua, Edo State, for more tests

while the results were yet to be released. When contacted, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sani Ka’oje said: “We will get the final result before making conclusions.” Ka’oje, advised the authorities in Jega Local Government Area to improve on environmental sanitation, adding, “as soon as we are done on this issue, we will liaise with the local government council to improve on the environmental sanitation in the area.”

Firms in court over trade names

HE Federal High Court sitting in Benin has refused the plea for an interlocutory injunction filed by a Benin-based educational firm, International Project Management Professionals, IPMP, against a sister organisation, Project Management Professional Institute, PMPI, to restrain the latter from transacting business with the

PUBLIC NOTICE

PROPHETIC GRACE GLOBAL MISSION The general public is hereby informed that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied MattersAct Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The Below Listed Persons Have BeenAppointedAs Board Of Trustees: 1. Prophet Joel Edoho - President 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Mfonobong Joel Edoho - Vice President 3. Evang. Kufre Silas - Member 4. Evang. Bassey Etim Job - Member 5. Elder Patrick Ewona - Member 6. Elder Clement Ekpor - Member 7. Bro. Israel George Okpon - Member AimsAnd Objectives: 1. To preach and teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His coming. 2. To teach, preach; hold seminars, conventions, revivals, camp meetings, crusades, workshops, and conferences on vital and practical Christian life. 3. To prophesy, give revelations to people’s spiritual problems and to reveal the mind of God to the people according to the word of God. 4. To establish chapels, Churches round the world, house-fellowship centers, and to establish mission houses and pastoral residence for our ministry. 5. To take the gospel of Jesus Christ round the world to the glory of God. Any objections should be forwarded within 28 days of this publication to the Registrar -General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Signed: F. M. ANOM Ogbejok Chambers, Legal consultant

current name. IPMP had gone to court to seek for an interlocutory injunction restraining PMPI from using the name and style “Project Management Professional Institute” to carry out project management consulting, pending the final determination of the substantive case. However, the application in suit number FHC/ B/CS/76/2012, was rejected by the Presiding Judge, Justice A. M. Liman, who urged the parties to “buckle down to prosecute the suit expeditiously.”

C M Y K

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 IT is important the Federal Government knows its assets, at home and abroad. It is equally important that efforts in that direction attain the level of seriousness that matches the importance of the assignment. We do not see such attention to details in the announcement Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku made about an interministerial committee to take inventory of all Nigeria’s properties abroad. Maku said the committee to be headed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, had membership from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Bureau for Public Enterprises, the Bureau for Public Procurement, and the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, would evaluate assets of the Nigerian Navy, Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Ports Authority, and other agencies abroad. The aberration should not be allowed. The minister gave no figure of membership of the travelling committee. There were no details of the duration of the assignment, or the financial implications of the assignment, especially considering the calibre of officials on the committee. Most importantly, Section 85 (4) of the

BY CLEMENT OMENEGOR

ITH the emergence of Chief Tony Anenih as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after many months of political horse trading and scheming, political sycophants who had before now vilified him on the pages of newspaper and levelled false allegations against him are already scrambling for spaces in the newspapers to congratulate him. Reason for all these sycophantic displays by these failed and disgruntled politicians is nothing but to curry undue favour or protection from Anenih ahead 2015. They have just realised that Anenih as BoT chairman will be influential and strategic in PDP politics in 2015. So, the current barrage of congratulations to Anenih borders on the rat race for political relevance and survival in 2015. Surprising is the calibre of politicians congratulating Anenih now even after they have written him off politically following his sudden removal as BoT chairman of the party by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007 and his party ’s loss of Edo governorship election last year. So guess who first congratulated Anenih after his re-emergence? It was Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State who had been desperately seeking for political relevance and attention after many years of being in political wilderness following the collapse of his Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, after the 2007 general elections. Some weeks ago, Kalu claimed he has returned to the PDP with the issuance

Verifying Government Assets Constitution is explicit on powers of investigating the properties of the country, wherever they may be. This is simple audit. “The Auditor-General shall have power to conduct checks of all government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities, agencies, including all persons and bodies established by an Act of the National Assembly. (6) In the exercise of his functions under this Constitution, the Auditor-General shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person”, the section states. Why ignore the Constitution just to create another avenue for waste? Each of the nearly 600 ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, including the armed forces and paramilitary services,

have Finance and Accounts Departments, with competent auditors from the AuditorGeneral’s office. There is no need for a special committee to do a job that is lawfully assigned to that office. According to Section 85 (2), “The public accounts of the Federation and of all offices and courts of the Federation shall be audited and reported on to the Auditor-General who shall submit his reports to the National Assembly; and for that purpose, the AuditorGeneral or any person authorised by him in that behalf shall have access to all the books, records, returns and other documents relating to those accounts.” Lapses in auditing accounts of MDAs, matters the National Assembly ignores, is responsible for making routine accounting of government properties seem extraordinary. The junket Maku suggested would neither fulfil the constitutional requirement nor achieve anything meaningful. Should government assets be verified? Yes, at home and abroad, following stipulated constitutional provisions. Anything less is a continuation of the wastes that leaves the country without resources to provide basic facilities.

OPINION Return of Anenih and the political sycophants of the party membership card to him by the party executive in his ward. However, the claim was promptly refuted by the party leadership in the council area, state and the zone. Recently, thousands of party members from his zone, Abia North, staged a peaceful protest to Government House Umuahia over the claimed return of Kalu to PDP. But since his claimed re-admission into the party, Kalu has not attended any of the party meetings anywhere in the country, not even in Abuja, which puts a lie to his claim of having been re-admitted into the party. It also appears Kalu has abandoned his Njiko Igbo group and Igbo Presidency 2015 crusade to float another political party? May be he has realised that the trick cannot work. But what are all these schemings, intrigues and inconsistencies by Kalu all about? Did Kalu want to use his sudden congratulatory message to Anenih to find his way back to PDP through the backdoor after party members in his state rejected him? Maybe he has forgotten that Anenih and the rest of Nigerians know him more than he knows himself. Is it not the same Anenih whom Kalu alleged was planning to kill him when he(Kalu) was governor of Abia State? Kalu had then alleged that Anenih told his deputy, the late Chuma Nwafor, in Abuja that he (Anenih) would kill Kalu. And as if that was not enough, Kalu went further to allege that Anenih, as Minister of Works, mismanaged the huge sum budgeted for the Enugu/Port

Harcourt road which was impassable for years. But when called upon to substantiate his allegations against Anenih, he was not forthcoming with any concrete evidence.

ather than do this, he reportedly rushed to the Oba of Benin's Palace with his mother to apologise to Anenih. So where is integrity in all this? Anenih is too experienced a politician to be flattered or carried away by Kalu’s sudden volte face. Such message looks more like a Greek Gift that must be received with caution. Nigerians and PDP members certainly would be surprised to read a congratulatory message from Obasanjo to Anenih over the latter’s re-emergence as BoT Chairman, considering the former disgracefully pushed out the latter from office some years ago. If anybody has told Obasanjo before now, that Anenih would return as BoT Chairman at this time, Obasanjo would not have believe it. But here is the irony of life. Or will anybody be surprised to read about Senator Andy Uba or his brother, Chris Uba’s sending a congratulatory message to Anenih on his re-emergence as chairman of BoT on the pages of newspapers in the days ahead? It was the same Chris Uba and his brothers who took Anenih to the cleaners during the Anambra 2010 governorship election over Anenih’s perceived support for the emergence of

former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. Charles Soludo as the PDP candidate for the election against their wishes. They reportedly colluded with other forces within the PDP to ensure that Soludo lost at the election. They called Anenih names and warned him to steer clear of Anambra politics. Just watch it. In the days ahead many without integrity and desperation for relevance will rush to take advertorials on the pages of newspapers to congratulate Anenih, especially as the Anambra governorship election 2014 is fast approaching. They will do everything human possibly and otherwise to warm their way into his heart just to curry immediate favour, forgetting that a killer might forget, but the man in whose house the grave is located hardly forgets. Even Works Committee members in the House of Representatives who recently summoned Anenih to appear before them over some issues during his tenure as Minister of Works will now make a u-turn and join the bandwagon to congratulate him over his re-emergence as BoT Chairman. So, there is need for Anenih to be wary of these political sycophants who would stop at nothing to get what they want, because they did not truly mean well for him and the party. They are more of chameleon than human beings and must be closely watched ahead of 2015 to ensure their ulterior motives, which can be detrimental to the success of the party and the people, does not see the light of the day. *Mr. Omenegor, a systems analyst, wrote from Toronto, Canada.

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‘Kidnap value?' No need! South-South. In my native Abia State, a vicious cell of this crime developed around Aba and surrounding villages. One felon, Obioma Nwankwo, better known as Osisikankwu (the tree that’s mightier than the palm tree) mounted a reign of terror and even succeeded in forcing banks, markets and businesses to close down and people to flee the

Arunma Oteh should step aside

OR the first time in the history of this nation, a federal budget was passed by the two arms of the National Assembly and forwarded to the President of the country with one agency of government – the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - given zero allocation in the 2013 Budget. This was due to the personal vendetta against Ms. Arunma Oteh, the Director General of the SEC, whose brushes with members led to the disgrace of Hon. Herman Hembe and some members of the Ad Hoc Committee of the House of Reps on the Capital Market over alleged bribe demands. When that Committee was reconstituted with Hon. Ibrahim El Sudi as Chairman, it recommended that Oteh should be removed because she was “not qualified”. Following President Jonathan’s refusal to abide by the resolution the House decided it would never have anything to do with SEC so long as Oteh remained its DG. It was because of this and a few other reasons that the budget was delayed on the President’s desk for two whole months before he reluctantly signed it into law last week Tuesday. I am asking Oteh to voluntarily step down because the SEC is bigger than any individual. The House of Reps is

willing to wreck the economy and a crucial federal institution regulating a capital market that trades with trillions of Naira worth of funds belonging to Nigerians and foreign investors. It is a path of honour for Oteh to quit rather than give them the pleasure of forcing the President to sack her. It is the civilised and honourable thing to do. The President can also break the deadlock by giving her another job which does not require any encounter with the witch-hunting federal lawmakers.

Kidnap-for-ransom has gone out of hand. It is about time we as a community threatened by a few (though everincreasing) hoodlums put all hands on deck and defeat it. What happened in Abia three years ago is proof that when there is a will there is always a way out of any problem

Ms. Arunma Oteh, SEC DG

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE Continued from Fridayviewpoints BVIOUSLY, the rumors of his purported death in an Indian hospital that was awash in the mainstream and social media until his sudden appearance last week must have damaged his self esteem and caused preventable anxiety and political tension for the good people of Enugu state. The same applies to the governor of Cross River state,Liyel Imoke who till date is ostensibly on a long vacation since last year but allegedly managing his failing health abroad like Sullivan Chime. Although,the duo of Chime and Imoke may not have breached the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria because they observed the due process of taking extended leave of absence from work,they need to be reminded that it is exemplary leadership quality ,respect for their lives and moral duty for them to consider stepping aside if their ill health would be exacerbated by the burden of office and if their long absence from work any time in future would cause avoidable anxiety to their family,friends and political constituents. While Pope Benedict XVI might have renounced the Papacy on account of failing health,King Edward VIII of England did it about seventy seven(77)years ago for lovesomething monarchs don't do. Interestingly,there is a resemblance which the

legendary commercial town. In fact, Osisikankwu was already transforming into a political figure, as he started making demands for political and economic concessions to his Ngwa people as one of his conditions to lift the siege. That was when the Governor, Theodore Orji, went for broke. He

EING from Abia State, I come from the Niger Delta. At least, that is what the legislation that established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says, though those from the “True Niger Delta” (Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and, to a lesser extent, Akwa Ibom) would laugh at those of us from Abia, Imo, Edo and Ondo States with the question: “How many oil wells do you have?” In those earlier days when kidnapping was popularised within the “True Niger Delta” both as a tool for criminality and agitation for “ resource control”, a colleague of mine here in Vanguard came to work one Friday in full “Niger Delta” regalia, bowler hat and all. As he approached me, I jibed: “Old boy, the way you are dressed today it seems you want to kidnap me?” He looked at me from head to toe and answered: “But you have no kidnap value!” Slowly but surely, kidnapping as a crime spread from “True Niger Delta” to all parts of the South East and

brought in the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), the same force that had all but broken the backbone of the militants in the Niger Delta, to smoke out Osisikankwu and crush his well-oiled network of kidnappers. For some time, the body snatchers kept away from Abia State, even though some relocated to villages (including my village, Abiriba) and continued to wreak havoc.

In those (will I say “good” old days) kidnappers had their eyes out for the politically highly placed or connected individuals, including their relations. They also carefully chose those they felt were “wealthy”. Sometimes they even sent spies to big events, such as special church services, weddings, fundraising ceremonies, burials and any celebration that drew in those eager to show off their material accomplishments and report back. It became a case of “the rich also cry”. The rich from the South East and South-South either stayed away in the safety of Lagos and Abuja, or they came home only with the full compliment of armed mobile police escorts which they paid through the nose to acquire. After a respite, kidnapping has not only returned in full force, it is in fact now a national fad, even though Edo and Delta remain the flaming flashpoints of this high crime. Last week Friday, I woke up as usual at 5.00am and started consulting my ipad for news. I came across a chilling story leading page six of Vanguard: “Kidnappers abduct five Lagos-bound passengers along Benin – Shagamu road”. According to the story, armed kidnappers blocked the express road with a lorry and the first bus that came up bore people from Warri going to Lagos. They abducted five of the passengers and released the driver and a passenger to go and break the news of the crime. Then they got in touch with the families of their victims and started making silly ransom demands. Kidnapping no longer targets the rich You know the import of this. Kidnapping is no longer targeted at the rich. Most people who travel by public bus fall into that class formerly regarded as having “no kidnap value”, but times have changed! If they can do this to mini bus travellers what will they do to people travelling home in their Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)? So, beware. Kidnap-for-ransom has gone out of hand. It is about time we as a community threatened by a few (though everincreasing) hoodlums put all hands on deck and defeat it. What happened in Abia three years ago is proof that when there is a will there is always a way out of any problem.

OPINION Pope, monarch, leadership and Nigeria (2) abdication speech by King Edward VIII on January 12th,1936 bears with the renunciation speech of Pope Benedict XVI ,february,11th 2013 .In a radio broadcast,the king announced "l have found it impossible to carry on the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge the duties of king,as l would wish to do,without the help and support of the woman l love"The difference in the speeches is that while King Edward abdicated the British throne for love of a lady,Pope Benedict is renouncing the Papacy due to advanced age and love of the church. According to history of the English royalty,the abdication paved the way for the king to marry the love of his life,Mrs Wallis Simpson,an American socialite who was previously divorced and married to Mr Simpson.The king's brother, Bertie took over the throne but when he died,as he had no sons but only daughters,and Edward had no offspring,the eldest daughter of the late king,Queen Elizabeth II , became the queen in 1952.This perhaps,explains why a queen instead of a king is the monarch in England today. Similar to Pope Benedict's situation,the British Prime Minister at that time , Stanley Baldwin felt that the monarchy's action threatened to weaken the monarchy

like the Catholics are now concerned that the Holy Father's renunciation is taking the church into paths unknown in over six centuries for which the Vatican is in quandary. Coincidentally,like King Edward VIII ,who historians testify "just wanted to be like everyone else" by falling in love and marrying a two time divorcee , who could have become the Queen of England had he not been forced to abdicate,Pope Benedict XVI might have made a decision to concentrate on his intellectual and scholarly life as he is probably the only Pope in contemporary history to have written a book thereby relieving him self of the monumental task of administration of over one billion Catholics world wide which being the Pope entails. Then again,we may never really know until and unless the Pope in retirement authors another book detailing the reasons for making the amazing decision. Be that as it may, it seems to me that the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to renounce office due to incapacity arising from advancing age,is a leadership decision which all leaders and indeed men and women of goodwill across the world must strive to emulate for the good of the organization ,entity or government that they lead. Cardinal Arinze put it succinctly in his reaction to the Pope's resignation by saying on Youtube "Pope Benedict may be teaching us more than we realize". How true!

Concluded

Mr. Onyibe, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

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•Akpabio: Where is Governor Judas?

•Tukur: Backing Akpabio's onslaught

•Amaechi: Chairman of NGF

God’s will against Governor Judas THE awesome power and bearing of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF had in the recent past raised concern among some stakeholders in the polity. Now an internal discord driven by external power peddlers is about bringing the once powerful body to its knees

T is a name perpetually framed in infamy for the betrayal of the Righteous One. Judas Iscariot, the kiss and tell associate of Jesus Christ was perhaps disappointed by the determination of Jesus not to use His seemingly magical powers to overpower the Roman colonial powers who ruled over ancient Palestine . By choosing the meek life, Jesus disappointed Judas, an accountant who perhaps saw himself as a shoo-in for Minister of Finance in the kingdom he expected Jesus to establish after driving away the Roman powers. It was such ambition of money and power that drove Mr. Iscariot towards the path of betrayal and a perpetual place in the hall of infamy. So, given the combustible effect of money and power, it is not surprising that a Governor Judas or more of such may have infiltrated the ranks of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF. Chairman of the newly formed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum, PDP GF, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State made the revelation last Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Intimating the national

chairman of his agenda, Akpabio who was reportedly appointed by the party leadership in concert with presidency officials, said: “What the PDP is trying to do now is to cleanse its house; to try to identify the ones they call Judases and say to them ‘go out, the train is moving’. We will ask them not to remain

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

of the governors. The governors or the Judases, according to sources had been planning to root out Tukur as national chairman arising from the mutual differences between him and the majority of the members of the governors’ body. Governor Akpabio’s assertion last Tuesday apparently revealed to all that

Some are affirming that one man’s Judas is also another man’s Jesus

standing otherwise we will crush them,” the Akwa Ibom governor, popularly known by his associates and followers as the agent of uncommon transformation said. The identification of Judas or Judases in the midst of the country ’s elitist Governors Forum was an unprecedented effort by the ‘uncommon transformation’ agent. That Governor Akpabio was chosen for the challenging job of rooting out the Judases in the PDP would have been based on some traits found in him, even above his fellow governors. Governor Akpabio’s remark was understandably welcomed by the national chairman who himself, had lately been in battle against the NGF, in a confrontation apparently instigated by the Judas or Judases in the midst

he, Akpabio, was undoubtedly not in league with the governors who are opposed to Tukur. The NGF had had cause to confront Tukur on several occasions and most recently, on the sustenance of the party executive in AdamawaState. The NGF led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi had forced the party’s NWC to reverse itself on the earlier decision to dissolve the Umar Kaguma led executive. Following the reversal of the dissolution, it also emerged that some governors were allegedly against the second term ambition of the president, a plot, many newspapers reported earlier last week, was being championed by Governor Amaechi. Amaechi, however, had in the past denied such suggestions,

saying that his assertions on the performance of the president were aimed towards helping the president who is from the South-South geopolitical region. Once Governor Akpabio gave his agenda of rooting out the judases in the governors’ body to Tukur and the NWC members gathered last Tuesday, the national chairman heaved a big sigh of relief indicating in his response that Akpabio had touched on an issue that had worried the president. “I can now tell Mr. President to sleep well." "Now, if he has been sleeping for three hours before, I can even ask him to start observing his siesta regularly,” the national chairman disclosed.

Regular siesta Given that Akpabio did not identify the Judas or Judases among the Governors Forum, permutations would only be a guess work. It is, however, certain that Governor Serikae Dickson, a close associate of President Jonathan who went the extent of appointing the president’s wife as a permanent secretary is not one of them. Governor Dickson has been profuse in supporting Akpabio in his agenda of crushing the Judases, pulling out several

pages in the newspapers to identify with the chairman of the PDP-GF. There are others who would also not fit the mould of Judas as imagined by those in authority at the party secretariat. Among them are Governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State who by several accounts was the party’s choice to replace Amaechi in the aborted election of last Monday. Shema is also being touted as a possible running mate to President Jonathan in 2015 being that he is in his second term. However, the same worries that have been raised about the incumbent vicepresident, Namadi Sambo are also being raised about Shema.

Compilation of Judases The question asked by several stakeholders and probably Jonathan minders is, the extent to which Shema can bolster Jonathan in the far north. Though Governor Shema has been praised for performing above many of his peers, his political clout outside Katsina remains an issue. Others that would be excluded in the compilation of judases in the NGF include Governors Theodore Orji of Abia, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi. Governor Orji’s proclivity to the Jonathan agenda has been largely predictable since he championed his state’s “liberation” from the alleged hold of a mother and son dictatorship. As nearly every one knows, Continues on page 47

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 — 47

Cardinals converge, select new Pope T

HE Roman Catholic Church marked its first Sunday in nearly eight years without a papal blessing, as cardinals gathered to elect a new leader of the 1.2 billionmember faith in one of the most troubled periods of its history. The windows of the papal apartments overlook-

ing St. Peter ’s Square were shut, which is normally the case only when a pope is outside Rome and delivers the Sunday blessing elsewhere. There was no papal blessing of any kind, the first time the church has been in such a state of limbo since Sunday, April 3, 2005, the day after Pope John Paul died.

“It’s strange, very strange to come to Rome to St. Peter’s Square and not to hear the Angelus (Sunday blessing) of the pope, especially because the pope is still alive - it’s a unique situation that we are living through,” said Fabio Ferrara, who was one of the few people in the square at noon.

RITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth went into hospital in London on Sunday with symptoms of gastroenteritis, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Sunday. All the monarch’s engagements for the coming week, including a trip to Italy, have been canceled or postponed as a precaution, the spokesman said. The queen had been due to visit Italy as a guest of President Giorgio Napolitano on March 6-7. At

Queen Elizabeth hospitalized 86, the queen is known for her robust health. She was last hospitalized in 2003 when she had a knee operation. The spokesman said the queen was at the King Edward VII Hospital for

precautionary assessments and may remain there for a couple of days. She was last at the hospital last year, visiting her husband Prince Philip who was treated for a bladder infection.

Romney rues White House defeat

ITT Romney says it “kills” him that he’s not president. But he doesn’t blame Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or anything else on his loss to President Barack Obama—except his campaign’s failure to connect with minority voters. “I lost my election because of my campaign,” Romney said on “Fox News Sunday” in his first television interview since his November defeat,

“not because of what anyone else did.” The former Massachusetts governor refused place blame on Christie, who some Republicans say elevated Obama in his embrace of the president in the wake of the storm. Romney said his inability to win over black and Hispanic voters— and the damage done by those disastrous “47 percent” comments—ultimately derailed his White House bid.

Kenya election: Odinga and Kenyatta hold final rallies

HE two front-run ners in Kenya’s presidential election have been holding their final rallies in Nairobi, ahead of Monday’s vote. PM Raila Odinga and deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta are favourites to succeed President Kibaki, in the first poll since the post-2007 election violence. Tens of thousands of people attended the rallies in central Nairobi. President Mwai Kibaki has urged Kenyans to

vote peacefully on Monday and for the losers to accept defeat. Already, all the candidates have promised to respect the result of the vote and urged their supporters to refrain from violence. The election is the first to be held under a new constitution, adopted in 2010 in an attempt to avoid a repeat of ethnic clashes in which more than 1,200 people were killed and an estimated 600,000 forced from their homes.

Clashes between rebels, army erupt in central Sudan

IGHTING has bro ken out between government forces and rebels in central Sudan, as both sides said yesterday , in a possible escalation of violence that has hitherto been concentrated closer to the African country’s borders. Rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) from the western region of Darfur said they had launched an attack on the army in North Kordofan state. JEM and two other Darfur rebel groups formed an alliance with a rebel group from southern Sudan, the SPLM-North, in 2011 to try to topple veteran President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Fighting with the army has been so far mainly limited to Darfur as well as South Kordofan and Blue Nile states bordering South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in 2011. The state of North Kordofan is closer to the Sudanese capital Khartoum and a large producer of gum arabic, a substance extracted from acacia trees used by the food and drinks industry and an important sources earnings for cashstrapped Sudan. JEM said it had seized the western area of Wad Bahr in North Kordofan from government forces on Saturday.

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Tribalism - a barrier to progressive democratic dialogue

RIBALISM is a barrier to progressive democratic dialogue in Nigeria. A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for Vanguard newspapers. The title was “Obasanjo says the darndest things.” In this article, I was generally critical of leaders who only understand Nigeria’s problems in retrospect. In fact, I alluded that this has become a trend with Nigerian leaders. They correctly identify the problems with Nigeria only once they leave office and lack the political power to positively change the lives of Nigerians. Doing so offers them an easy path to statesmanship and transforms them into kingmakers that Nigerians should revere and follow. To buttress my point, I used Obasanjo as an example because of his recent statement made at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He said that the problem with Nigeria and Africa is corruption and a lack of infrastructure. I do not wish to comment on this issue again. I have covered it extensively in my previous writeup. And, as a matter of principle, I do not write sequels or followups. Otherwise this article would have been a sequel or response

to some of the comments made by readers. For instance, one reader wrote that an Igbo man will never be president of Nigeria. Considering that I was critical of Nigerian leaders not as an Igbo man, but as a Nigerian who is deeply worried about the future of Nigeria and its citizens, I wondered what such a comment had to do with the opinion I expressed in that article. The only fact revealed by that reader ’s comment is that tribalism is a barrier to any type of meaningful and progressive democratic dialogue in Nigeria. However, I partially agree with the comment. An Igbo man will hardly be president of Nigeria. The only way an Igbo man can become president is if Nigeria’s political landscape allows progressive and honest dialogue about the future of the country. When Nigeria’s political discourse begins to revolve around real democratic values, and when Nigerians begin to make political decisions based on who is suitable to tackle the problems that face them, only then will the chances of an Igbo presidency be realistic. Obviously, the current system of quotas, zoning and desire for tribal dominance does not allow the discussion of real problems.

Besides enhancing the chances of Igbo presidency, a political system based on real democratic values will offer Nigerians the opportunity to choose from the best of its citizens. No other form of government offers its citizens the privilege to choose from the best amongst them besides democracy based on sound principles. That was why Winston Churchill said “democracy is the worst form of government, except for those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” To promote this very important democratic idea, the system must allow honest, open and unbiased dialogue about the future of the Nigerian society. Jonathan Casper captured this notion when he wrote that “free expression,

All hail King Eagles BY DAVID ATTAH

THE cheery news that the Super Eagles of Nigeria against all odds, have been crowned the new king of African Soccer with their victory over Burkina Faso in the finals of the 2013 African Cup of Nations, has been heard in all the football regions of the world. Here at home, the echos of the sweet victory will be heard in every nook and cranny because of its meaning and significance. The reason is not far-fetched. In one single stride, the Super Eagles have taken Nigeria 19 years out of soccer wilderness to limelight. What a feat! For us in Nigeria, football is the greatest national passion and a tremendous unifying factor, a bridge over our numerous divisive forces as a multi-ethnic and multireligious society. This is why football elicits the interest of most Nigerians, young or old, big or small. As we bask in the euphoria of the heroic victory therefore, it is important that we spare sometime to distil and reflect on the lessons inherent in the entire episode, particularly the resilience of Coach Steven Keshi and his faithful soccer ambassadors. Throughout the entire course of the championship, including the preparatory stage, Keshi became a Philosopher and Preacher of sorts on some virtues implicit in life such as strength of character and positive mental attitude. It was like a dialogue of the deaf as nobody seemed to be listening to his admonitions but he was unrelenting. Interestingly, the Super Eagles and their handlers we celebrate and eulogize today, were yesterday caricatured, derided and called names. Nobody gave them an outside chance of even qualifying from their group let alone winning the cup. They

were harangued and variously described as “Super Chickens”, “Featherless Eagles” and “Wingless Eagles”, etc. The one that amused me most was the cartoon of a little boy who went to court to seek a court injunction to live neither with his mother or his father. Asked why by the presiding judge, the boy said it was because the mother and father beat him every so often. Asked further who then he would like to live with? The boy answered, the Super Eagles because they beat nobody. Can you imagine! Thank you King Eagles for freeing us from the suffocating grip of negativism and cynicism. We are really grateful to you for a gift so precious, something to love and cherish and something different from the misery and despair we feel from the daily dose of stolen billions, armed robberies, kidnapping and other myriad of social malaise. What is more, you and your dedicated handlers refused to be distracted by the barbed and irritating criticisms of pundits and analysts. Rather, these criticisms fired your spirit which has produced the result and handsome dividend we are celebrating today. It will be recalled that these pundits, for whatever reasons, dissipated so much energy in drawing parallel between you and your fore-bearers who won the African Nations Cup 19 years ago and hastily concluded that you were inferior to them. To begin with, there is no rational basis for the comparison. You are just starting and half of your players are debutants. There is no need to mention names as these impatient pundits know themselves. Today, some of them are singing a swan song. In fact, some have been bold enough to apologise for their hasty predictions, while only a few still remain defiant and unrepentant. That is neither here or there.

openness and honest dialogues are crucial to the process of true democracy. For any nation to survive the sophistication of democracy it must allow these values to reign supreme.” That is how a democracy survives. That is how the collective dreams and the collective aspirations of any society are achieved. If these were the guiding principles of Nigerian democracy, my opinion about Obasanjo would not have been seen from a tribal perspective, especially when my criticism of him had no tribal connotation. When the values that promote true democracy, as Casper outlined, are absent, the ultimate losers are the people. It is obvious that Nigerians are the ultimate losers in the current system. When the values that Casper outlined are not the guiding principles of any democratic society, the ultimate losers are the common citizens. On the other hand, the winners are the current crop of leaders and politicians who have zero interest in improving the lives of common Nigerians. They have traded the progress of Nigerians for selfish interests. They prey on the minds of that reader who commented that an Igbo man will never be president of Nigeria. It is depressing that the very element of diversity that makes other nations great has been turned into a disadvantage in Nigeria. This is the handiwork of leaders who have discerned that when the real values of democracy are

BY HAMILTON ODUNZE

When the values that promote true democracy are absent, the ultimate losers are the people; it is obvious that Nigerians are the ultimate losers in the current system

For the Super Eagles, it has been a triumph of determination over cynicism; while the rest of us wallowed in despair, the King Eagles and their handlers waxed stronger in faith and spirit

It can’t change anything now but suffice it to say that in the battle of wits, the Super Eagles and their handlers are the winners. They fought many battles on and outside the field of play and won all of them. For the Super Eagles, it has been a triumph of determination over cynicism. While the rest of us wallowed in despair, the King Eagles and their handlers waxed stronger in faith and spirit. Their avowed intent was to win the Nations Cup. Happily, they have achieved their supreme objective and nobody can deny them the glory which richly belongs to them and by extension, to all Nigerians both detractors and supporters. What is really important now is for all of us to emulate the worthy examples of our glorious soccer ambassadors. This is reminiscent of John Kennedy’s inaugural address as President of the United States in which he passionately enjoined his people not to think of what America can do for them but what they can do for their country. It is important also to stress that people imbued with sense of character like Steven Keshi has demonstrated, are like possessed creatures, men and women in the thrall of belief so powerful that they ignore all else, including criticisms,

plugged into the Nigerian equation, they have no business leading and looting Nigerians. Do you remember who first preyed on the nature of Nigerians as tribal irredentists? The British colonial masters were the first to prey on Nigerians as tribal beings. The British colonialists knew that the Nigerian tribal nature gave them the opportunity to exploit Nigeria’s natural resources. Today, many of us blame the British for bringing people of different cultures and heritages together as a nation. Yet, we fail to see that Nigerian leaders have continued to benefit from the British legacy. Nigerians are divided as a people. This is why when the argument that a Nigerian revolution is imminent is made, it is reasonable for one to argue that tribalism stands in the way of an all inclusive revolution that will save Nigeria in its current hodgepodge form. In fact, it will not be outlandish to argue that the prospect of ethnic cleansing is more realistic than the prospects of an all inclusive Nigerian revolution. But let us give credit to the current crop of Nigerian leaders who realise this fact. They know that the idea of a Nigerian revolution is impractical. They also know that if the Nigerian revolution happens, Nigeria will never survive as a united nation. *Mr. Odunze, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

however barbed and discouraging. This is similitude of what Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world”. Yes indeed! Negative thinking limits the potentials of what we can do. Think positive, believe, have faith. What is more, be patient, be diligent and you will overcome. The danger is that if the impression of what we are, is reduced by shallow or demeaning images, that impoverishment pursists for a long time if not nipped in the bud. Happily, the “Big Boss”, Steven Keshi has shown us how to nip negative thinking in the bud through sheer strength of character and unshakeable determination. I salute your courage and the dedication of your young soccer ambassadors. You are winners by every consideration. It is plausible to allude our cynic impotence, discouragement and despair to the myriad of social problems we have endured over the years and having stayed for so long in bad situations, we feel that good times are gone for ever. No! Keshi and his all conquering boys have proved that with faith and determination, trials and tribulations can be overcome. As a distinguished speaker once said “history is not yet done with its exploration of what it means to be human especially the image of our limits and possibilities. On this note, all Nigerians are invited not only to hail the heroism of the King Eagles but to share in their optimism that our lost glory will soon return in all facets of our national life. That is to imply that the Super Eagles’ victory is capable of ushering in a new era in Nigeria. In this wise, the Federal Government’s transformation agenda this time around, should go beyond rhetorics. Our newly crowned kings of African soccer have shown the way. *Mr. Attah, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

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Vanguard, MONDAY MONDAY,, MARCH 4, 2013—51

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OWINJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Owinje Sandra Jolomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adiotomre Sandra Jolomi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKORRO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okorro Stella Ola Oluwatoyinloba Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osaji Stella Ola Oluwatoyinloba Abosede. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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L-R: Events and Sponsorship Manager, MTN, Dola Bamgboye; Member, Lagos Polo Club, Femi Akande; and Senior Manager, Master Brand, Emamoke Ogoro at the Black Tie Nite; part of the activities of 2013 MTN Lagos Polo Tournament at the Civic Centre in Lagos

Captain Dave Rollo of United States Navy and coordinator of Obangame Express 2013, presenting a plaque to Captain Adeseye Ayobanjo, the Nigerian Contingent Commander and Commanding Officer NNS Thunder, at the end of the exercise in Douala Cameroon

Motailatu Church International Sub-Headquarters Superintendent, Superintendent (Dr) Israel Akinadewo; CAN Chairman Osun State, Superior Evang. (Dr) Abraham Aladeseye; and other ministers of God; at the foundation laying of Motailatu Church Cherubim & Seraphim Worldwide, Osogbo, Osun State

Film academy plans youths empowerment programme

AGNUS Film Academy, a major player in the film industry, has designed an empowerment programme as its corporate social responsibility, CSR, aimed at taking the youths off the streets of Lagos and getting them meaningfully engaged. The training programme which enjoys the support of the Lagos State Ministry of Youths Sports and Social Development is billed to hold at the Ikeja Youth centre between March and April 2013. The programme package entitled: “film making and media practice training” entails training on acting, voice modulation, directing, cinematography, editing, scripting (screen interpretation and screen play), the Art of making documentaries, as well as continuity and film production management. Speaking on this novel event, managing director of Magnus Film Academy,

Mr. Cyril Odenigbo, whose company recently concluded a similar training programme at the Enugu training centre, Enugu State, said the programme is open to every youth with desire and willingness to take up career in the film industry. Odenigbo explained that part of the motivation behind the programme was the fact that the film industry in Nigeria lacks a formal training and as such the vision of the film Academy is to create a solid platform for talented youths to master there craft and provide the opportunity to build a career in film production and directing. He stressed that the film making and media practice training is a youth empowerment scheme designed to reach out to the less privileged youths and members of the public who desire to take up careers in film making and media practice but are hindered by the high cost of training.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4 , 2013

have been reliably informed that the Nigeria Football Federation has concluded arrangements to hold a pre-season Match Commissioners seminar in Abuja this week. What this tells me is that the March 9 kick off date of the Premier league may be a reality after all. Just last week, some notable and informed football administrators were mandated to go take a look at some stadiums begging for approval beMatch commissioners and fore the commencement referees appointment comof the league. There has been one beemittees must learn to ighive of activity after annore calls for appointments other as all parties concerned have been inbased on states and number volved in meetings and dialogues to guarantee the kick off that has come months too late. tive costs. A popular football parlance says a naComing on the heels of government’s promise to release some grants to the tions national team is as good as its Management Committee to start the league, a saying that has never applied league, and in an effort to guarantee a here due to our tradition of depending hitch free kick off, the House of Repre- on wholesale on foreign based stars. sentatives Committee on sports waded in Happily, the Nations Cup success has to broker peace by inviting ousted Chair- proven that stars do exist in the domesman Chief Rumson Baribote and the NFF tic league that can hold their own leadership to a dialogue that I gathered against the foreign armada, that is why there is greater emphasis now on the did not really go as planned. Despite the muscular efforts by the development and proper administration Honorable Minister of Sports and Chair- of the league. This takes me back to the Match Comman, National Sports Commission Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi to resolve the issue, missioners seminar, a yearly ritual that selfish considerations, blackmail, mer- has to evolve. Last year, the Linus Mba chantilistic and anti patriotic tendencies led Resource Persons went as far as setting questions and including prachave become the bane of such efforts. That not withstanding, as earlier ar- ticals in the seminar that was meant to gued, my confidence rises by the day, my grade and classify the Commissioners. belief is strengthened that the league is I want to believe that this year we will move a step further. due for a take off at last. There is need to eliminate the state Immediately after the Nations Cup, there was this sudden belief in the do- by state appointment of match commismestic league, one that drew some blanks sioners , now that our league holds when it was reported that due to the non promises of a brighter future. I want to commencement of the league no home believe that from this season the NFF based star was likely to get a call up by and the NPL will have the courage to Stephen Keshi for the March World Cup appoint only those match commissioners that know what match commissiondate. How do you invite players who have ing is all about. Men and women with visible signs of livelihood. Honest, who been inactive for five months or more? Sadly, the Nigeria league may be the will not faint at the sight of fifty thouonly one in the whole world that is yet to sand naira only to resurrect and turn kick off its current season. Those with the the rules and regulations up side down! I believe I can say the same thing opinion that this season could be scrapped are humbled by the need to about referees. Who will worry if we produce representatives for continental have only twenty qualified referees to run the league? It happens in the Encompetitions next season. Otherwise put, to scrap the league glish Premiership. Let it happen here. means to lose a whole year in the history We should start now to classify the refof our football both locally and in the con- erees and the match commissioners. Match commissioners and referees tinent. I will not mind the above stated position if there was any guarantee that appointment committees must learn to our league will be better off for it. As it ignore calls for appointments based on stands the kick off of the league will be a states and number. If we must appoint welcome development in the short term. referees from Abuja alone, so be it as But what happens after the 200 or so mil- long as they are competent. We should lion naira promised by the National never yield to the claim that “……since Sports Commission runs out? By my es- the league started no referee has been timation one match is expected to cost appointed from one state or the othabout three hundred thousand naira, er….” March 9 is tomorrow. Good luck Ni(match Commissioners and referees indemnities alone) multiplied by the num- geria. See you next week. ber of matches not including administra-

…As match commissioners go back to school

52 —

Ondo, Oyo win Adeboye U-20 National Table Tennis Championship

HE dominance of South West states in table tennis continues at the maiden Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye National U-20 Table Tennis Championship, as Ondo and Ondo claimed the titles at the one-week tour-

nament held at Redemption Camp, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. In the men’s final, Ondo’s Ojo Onaolapo was in fine form against her compatriot, Adewale Fagbamila as he won 4-2 to claim the title, while

Oyo’s Funmi Ajala announced her emergence when she defeated Fatimo Kazeem 4-2 also to lift the coveted trophy. The final match was preceded by a seminar titled Maximising The Potentials Of Nigerian Youth In Table Tennis Towards The 2016 Olympic Games.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 — 55

Stop stabbing NFF Continues from BP he was primed for sack by the NFF during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa. He said, “I believe enough is enough of his blackmail of the Nigeria Football Federation. We won the Nations Cup in South Africa and everyone is happy. Why can’t Keshi thank God for the success and share the joy of all Nigerians? What is he constantly complaining and criticizing the Federation for? Did he just assemble players and fly them to South Africa and won the Cup? Was the NFF not behind him? Were there no people who played great roles and sacrificed a lot for the success of the team as well?” Anyansi admitted that as part of their oversight functions, the board held several meetings with the

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coach in South Africa and questions were raised as to why the team was performing below expectation early in the tournament. “After our first two draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia, the NFF was put under pressure by a lot of Nigerians who demanded to know why the Super Eagles had performed below expectations. During this time in South Africa, meetings were held by members of the Federation to work out a way to improve the performance of the team. Keshi himself was a part of these meetings.” The Enyimba boss denied that the board ever lost faith in the team and the technical crew during the tournament. “After our victory against Ethiopia, everyone knew we needed a lot much

more to overcome Cote d’Ivoire. To show our faith, support and belief in Keshi and his players, we gave $30,000 bonuses to all players and Coach Keshi received $60,000. This bonus should not have been since the team should have earned $5000 for each draw and $10,000 for the win, making it $20,000 for the players and $40,000 for him. “So, he should be honest to himself and stop his criticisms of a Nigeria Football Federation that provided him a platform to succeed. He should stop stabbing the NFF in the back by putting himself under the spotlight and cast the NFF in bad light. His success is our success, so there’s no way we are not going to be supportive of him and give him all the assistance he needs to do well.”

Lagos Polo Int’l Tournament: Ibah emerge Dansa Cup winners •as Trojan retain Lagos Open Cup

DDO Ismail scored three of his side’s goals as Kano Ibah upstaged Lagos Ericsson 8-5 to win the Dansa Cup at the Lagos Polo International Tournament yesterday. In the final of the Lagos Open Cup of the doublephased tournament which will resume on

Wednesday Tavia Trojan beat Goodfellows/Ark 5-4 to retain the trophy with Santiago Cernadas producing a man of the match performance for the Trojan. Defending champions Ericsson rallied from a goal deficit to lead 2-1 after Damien Duncan replied twice following

Police Games Continues from BP activities will be positively impacted while the Games last. CSP Mba revealed that the athletes will be competing in 28 events, three of which are nonscoring. The three venues include the Liberation Stadium which will also host both the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the new Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and the Agbani

Derego Sports Complex; all in Port Harcourt. The 25 scoring events featuring at the Games are athletics, football, badminton, boxing, chess, cycling, baseball, golf, handball, hockey, judo, karate, kick-boxing, swimming, scrabble, squash, table tennis, shooting, taekwondo, tennis, tug-of-war, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu kunfu.

Murtala Aliyu’s opening goal from a 40-yard penalty. Duncan broke away from the roll-in of the second chukka but could not connect his shot at the vital area thus allowing Aliyu to clear.

Kenya Continues from BP regain fitness and the Super Eagles game will come too soon.” “Besides, it is only fair that he concentrates with Parma at this point in time.” Mariga’s absence could open the door for Israeli-based midfielder Patrick Osiako and Gor Mahia anchorman Anthony Akumu to feature in midfield alongside Victor Wanyama and Peter ‘Pinches’ Opiyo.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

2014 W/Cup qualifier: Kenya’s Mariga muscle, three minutes out of Nigeria clash into his full debut

ENYA and Parma m i d f i e l d e r Macdonald Mariga is likely to sit out the upcoming highly anticipated 2014 World Cup qualifier away to

Nigeria, after failing to recover from injury. The Inter Milan midfielder, who is on loan at the Stadio Tardini, was stretchered off after pulling a

Stop stabbing NFF in the back — Anyansi tells Keshi V

ICE-CHAIRMAN of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee, Chief Felix AnyansiAgwu, has hit out at the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, over the ‘disdainful and dishonest’ statements credited to him in recent times. Anyansi, who is also the chairman of two-time African champions, Enyimba Football Club of Aba was leader of delegation of the Nigerian contingent to the pre-Afcon camp in Faro, Portugal and the tournament proper in South Africa. In an exclusive interview with EnyimbaFC.net, the softspoken Anyansi could not hide his displeasure as he criticized Coach Stephen Keshi for, as he

Police Games: 4,200 athletes, 500 officials storm P/Harcourt •As IG assures on fair officiating

KING OF SPORTS: Action recorded at the Lagos Int'l Polo Tournament yesterday as Kano Ibah beat Lagos Ericsson 8-5 to win the Dansa Cup

Paul Bassey's column on Page 52 put it, “spending too much time ridiculing and damaging the image of the Nigeria Football Federation

(NFF)” since the triumph of Nigeria at the 2013 AFCON tournament in South Africa.

PUZZLE

Anyansi was particularly miffed by statements credited to the coach, alluding that

Continues on Page 55

OUR thousand two hundred Police athletes and 500 officials are in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State for the 10th Biennial Police Games beginning today through 9th March, 2013, in three different venues in the Garden City. This was made known by the Deputy Force Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, at Force Headquarters, Abuja . Speaking on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni, the Force Spokesman informed that the athletes are Police men and women drawn from Police Commands and

MD Abubakar Formations across the country, to represent Zones 1- 12 Commands of the Nigeria Police Force and Force Headquarters. The presence of these athletes he said, will add glamour to the social life of the people of Port Harcourt and its environs. It is also expected that economic Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

against Genoa in a league match three weeks ago. A source close to the family confided in Goal.com that the player is still nursing an injury. “[Mariga] wont be available and the Harambee Stars technical bench has been informed of that development. I believe he will be fit very soon, but should need time to Continues on Page 55

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Vain (5) 7 Staggered (6) 9 Shelter (3) 10 Odd (3) 12 Cattle-farm (5) 13 Cradle (4) 15 Melody (5) 17 Agile (6) 19 Volume (4) 20 View (5) 22 Label (3) 24 Waned (7) 27 Child (3) 28 Stadium (5) 31 Alcove (4) 33 Smoke-stack (6) 35 Degree (5) 37 Rouse (4) 38 Crest (5) 39 Sheep (3) 42 Felt (6) 43 Poor (5)

DOWN 1 Uproar (6) 2 Purify (6) 3 Through (3) 4 Fairy (4) 5 Respond (5) 6 Rare (8) 8 Mute (4) 11 Host (9) 14 Tie (4) 16 Scorch (4) 18 Encounter (4) 21 Consist (8) 23 Vegetable (4) 25 Couch (4) 26 Sketched (4) 29 Pass (6) 30 Corrects (6) 32 Urged (5) 34 Information (4) 36 Depend (4) 40 Fish (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Grip 4, Cap 6, Gasp 9, Rim 10, Strainer 11, Alas 14, Oil 16, Reply 19, Renowned 21, Lever 23, Defender 24, Large 27, Lid 31, Pure 33, Critical 34, Sue 35, Reed 36, Ode 37, Deal.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Rite 3, Plan 4, Confined 5, Part 6, Grave 7, Ail 8, Small 12, Frail 13, Under 14, Owl 15, Level 17, Pride 18, Yearn 20, Definite 22, Red 25, Amuse 26 Greed 28, Echo 29, Find 30, Data 32, Rue.

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