Why fuel scarcity persists —Marketers

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62092

Dangote remains richest 8 African; Bill Gates reclaims world's richest man position

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N150

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Boko Haram kills 36 in Borno 8

Why fuel scarcity persists —Marketers

BY SEBASTINE OBASI, MICHAEL EBOH, KUNLE KALEJAYE & CHRIS OCHAYI

•Call for claims payment, release of allocations •Say hike in fuel price due to increase in ancillary costs •How Ejiofor's 12 Years A slave won three Oscars•P.68 L

IN SEARCH OF POTABLE WATER

AGOS—AS the fuel scarcity enters the fourth day, with commuters and motorists in Lagos and its environs subjected to severe hardship, marketers, yesterday, denied hoarding the product. They, however, blamed the current scarcity on the delay in the release of the first quarter import allocations.

The marketers said: “We cannot hoard what we don’t have, government should avoid fire brigade approach to importation of petroleum products since we do not refine petrol in Nigeria.”

Continues on page 6

COLUMNIST:

•P.17

Mr & Mrs

EPIDEMIC —Epidemic looms in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital as residents fetch water from the gutter in Kugba Area of Adatan, Abeokuta, yesterday, due to scarcity of potable water. Photo: WUMI AKINOLA.

FG to lose N100bn as textile intervention programme fails 16 C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

FUEL SCARCITY—Crowd at Total filling station in Agege,Lagos, yesterday, as the fuel crisis bites harder. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Why fuel scarcity persists —Marketers Continues from Page 1 Another marketer attributed the unofficial price hike to increase in the ex-depot price from N91.50 kobo to N95 per litre. Added to other ancillary costs, he said that pump price is now between N100 and N105 per litre. “For instance, the union fees, which was 30 kobo, now hovers around 50 kobo. The transport cost has also increased”, he said.

However, the current situation is beyond the monitoring of outlets, as according to the marketers, “Federal Government could have avoided this current scarcity if they really wanted to.”

Those who spoke with Vanguard in confidence recalled that marketers have been raising alarm of the impeding scarcity since the delay in the release of the Q4 allocations last year as well as the non-payment of outstanding subsidy claims, which are now in arrears for two quarters.

They noted: “If there is no allocation, you cannot go to the DPR to get import licence. Without the import licence, you cannot open a Form M. Without the Form M, you cannot approach the banks to open Letters of Credit, LC, for you to import.

Without the LC, there is no dollar to buy the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Looking at a challenge with fresh eyes can make a huge difference to the success of your solution, take time out of your challenge.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every Problem Has a Gift — Steve Goodier In 1916 young Glenn and his brother Floyd were involved in a tragic accident. Their school’s potbellied stove exploded when the boys struck a match to light it. Somebody had mistakenly filled the can with gasoline instead of kerosene. He was severely burnt. The local doctor recommended his legs be amputated because of his injury.

Glenn overheard the remark and decided that day that he WAS going to walk, no matter what. But he couldn’t climb from a wheelchair for two years. Then one day he grasped the white wooden pickets of the fence surrounding his home and pulled himself up to his feet. Painfully he stepped, hanging onto the fence. He made his way along the fence, back and forth. He did this the next day and next – every day for weeks. He wore a path along the fence shuffling sideways. But muscles began to knit and grow in his scarred legs and feet.

When Glenn could finally walk, he decided he would do something else nobody ever expected him to do again – he would learn to run. If there was a gift in the tragic accident, it was that it forced Glenn to run. And run he did. He competed as a runner in high school and college. Then Glenn went on to compete in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He set world records for the mile run in 1934 and 1938. By the time he retired from competition, Glenn had amassed a mountain of records and awards.

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product and what you have left are empty depots and empty filling stations.”

Beyond the release of the quarterly allocations by the PPPRA, there are also the outstanding issues of reimbursement through subsidy claims as well as accruing banks' interest charges, which are unresolved.

Added to these, is the non-approval of the 2014 national budget, which according to the marketers, is a drawback for all businesses, as expenditure for each sector of the economy is derived from the budgetary allocations.

“This is March, and the budget is not yet approved; of course, this will affect every other projection for the year,” an independent depot operator said.

Oil marketers are of the opinion that the only way to close the supply gap is to increase allocations for Q2, in view of the shortfall in Q1, while also resolving all outstanding issues with regard to subsidy payments and banks’ interest charges.

NNPC injects 50m litres of petrol into market Meanwhile, as the scarcity lingered, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, announced, yesterday, that it has injected additional 50 million litres of premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol into the market.

Nigeria’s daily national demand hovers between 30 million and 35 million litres depending on the season.

With the new 50 million litres, major marketers are optimistic that the scarcity will begin to ease from Thursday, when marketers’ product vessels are expected to start

arriving.

Confirming the release of the 50 million litres from NNPC, the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr. Obafemi Olawore, in a telephone chat with Vanguard, yesterday, disclosed that of the 50 million, the majors had received 30 million litres, and were expecting the balance of 20 million litres before the close of work today.

Meanwhile, the NNPC in a statement, yesterday, said it has supplied additional volume of 33 million litres of petrol to MOMAN for onward distribution to fuel stations across the metropolis and beyond.

But Olawore said the actual quantity is 50 million litres, “ which is being shared among the six majors - Total, Oando, Forte Oil, Mobil, Conoil, and MRS. But currently on ground is 30 million litres and we are expecting the balance of 20 million litres this evening or tomorrow (today).”

NNPC’s Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said in a statement that an extra volume of 25, 000 metric tonnes of fuel, the equivalent of 33 million litres of petrol was supplied to the marketers.

He said this was part of measures by the Corporation to end the artificially induced scarcity.

He added, “ while we intensify our ongoing direct monitoring of fuel stations across Lagos and its environs, we are providing the extra volume of product to eliminate the noticeable queues arising from the induced scarcity.”

Filling stations remain dry Notwithstanding the NNPC’s largesse, many petrol stations remained closed at press time, thus leaving motorists and commuters stranded and confused.

The few outlets that were open sold their products far above the pump price. Prices ranged from N100 to N150 per litre, depending on the outlet, while black market hawkers had a field day, as halffilled 10-litre jerry cans sold for between N1,500 and N2000.

Out of the six outlets visited from the Berger Bus Stop up to the Toll Gate, at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, none was open. But vehicles queued up in anticipation that they would get petrol.

At the Techno Oil sta-

tion, Ojodu-Berger, petrol was sold for N120 for a litre, while its Oando counterpart sold for N125. From Abule Egba to the Airport Bus Stop along the OshodiAbeokuta Expressway, only the NNPC outlet had petrol, thus causing a huge traffic grid lock, on an already heavy traffic area. From the Oshodi end of the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, the story was the same, as none of the outlets was seen dispensing petrol.

Along the LASU-IyanaIpaja Road, only few independent outlets including Energy, Swift Oil, Capital oil and Adebass Petroleum sold petrol to the public, while majority of the stations on this axis had run out of stock.

Vanguard findings showed that all the oil depots in Kirikiri had depleted their stock due to the late release of fuel allocation in the first quarter of 2014, by the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency, PPPRA.

Commuters pay the price

Commuters, as expected, bore the brunt of the scarcity as well as the sudden unofficial petrol price hike, with attendant sharp increases in the cost of transportation.

Fares from Berger to Mile 2, shot up to N400 from N300, while from Berger to Oshodi increased to N250 from the usual fare of N150. Also, commuters from Oshodi to Mile 2 were charged N200 against previous N100.

A visibly angry motorist, who identified himself simply as, Wale, blamed government for the current scarcity. “This is just an indication that the government is insensitive to the people who voted them into power.

“I have been here since morning in search of where to get fuel but most of the filling stations along this road have stopped selling.

Government should please act fast because not all of us can afford to

buy from black market,” he said.

Early reprieve The NNPC had initially anticipated an early reprieve from the scarcity, based on suspicions that marketers were hoarding the product.

Accordingly, the Corporation had promised to arrest the situation in conjunction with the PPPRA, by commencing detailed monitoring of fuel stations in Lagos and environs.

Why scarcity may linger Apart from the delay in the payment of arrears for subsidy claims and delay in the release of import allocations, the current scarcity may linger longer than anticipated for a number of reasons.

First, marketers noted that it takes about two weeks from the placement of order with an oil trader or refinery to the arrival of the vessels at the depots.

However, this cycle may be reduced if there are vessels waiting at sea, then the turnaround time may be reduced, but the process remains basically the same. This is because, even while the vessel is hovering at sea, it will still require placing a formal order with the owners in Europe, mostly, Rotterdam.

However, the majors are optimistic that the current scarcity may not last beyond this week, as some of their members had already placed orders as soon as the allocations were released.

Accordingly, Conoil is said to have brought in 20 million litres and expecting another cargo of 18million litres. Similarly, Mobil Oil is expecting a vessel with five million litres by tomorrow, and a second vessel with nine million litres before the week ends.

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Gunmen abduct 3 polio immunisation workers in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — BARELY three weeks after a senatorial aspirant was kidnapped in Bauchi State, gunmen struck again, yesterday, abducting three polio immunisation workers in Darazo Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer DSP Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident, saying although three workers were abducted, two of them were released.

According to him, "among the three health workers that were adducted, a man and a woman were released, but the second man is still in the custody of the gunmen.

"The Police are making efforts to secure the release of the victim who is the health officer of Darazo Local Government."

Haruna advised the people to remain calm and law-abiding and assured that policemen were working hard to secure his release.

A health worker in the local government who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that after the day ’s job, the health workers were in one of the dispensary units to draft their report when the gunmen stormed the place.

According to him, "from what we gathered, the four gunmen who stormed the dispensary wore military uniform and tried to abduct a female vaccinator, one supervisor and a community leader."

Unity Schools Old Students Association, USOSA, and parents of government schools children protest over killing of 43 students of Federal Government College, Bunu, Yadi, Yobe State by Boko Haram, in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez

13 killed in Kano auto crash K

ANO— THE Kano State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has confirmed the death of 13 persons in an early morning auto crash on the Kano-Zaria road.

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AGOS— A 53-year-old busi nessman, Sunny Enebeli, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's court over alleged theft of N15 million.

The defendant, who is standing trial before Magistrate Abimbola Oshodi-Makanju, is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and receiving preferred against him by the police.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the alleged offence in

while four were injured.

“The bodies of the deceased and those injured were taken to the Murtala Muhammad General Hospital.

“A bus ran into a stationary articulated vehicle around 6.10a.m on the Kano-Zaria

road at Tashan Kofa, killing five men, seven women and a child on the spot."

He said the two vehicles involved in the crash were marked XJ930AKR and XA748FUN respectively.

N82.8m theft: EFCC seeks arrest of Cross Country Motors boss L AGOS —THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, asked an Ikeja High Court to issue a warrant of arrest against a transporter, Bube Okorodudu, charged with N82.8 million theft.

The commission made the request through one of its counsel, Mr Emmanuel Jackson, before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

Okorodudu and his transport firm, Cross Country Ltd., were charged alongside another company, Car Link Ltd.

According to reports, the defendants are facing an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.

According to the EFCC, the defendants stole the money through the fraudulent sale of

17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Ltd and Mr Adeloye Olukemi.

During yesterday’s proceedings, Jackson noted that the accused had failed to appear before the court since the matter began and had yet to take his plea.

He, therefore, asked the court to issue the bench warrant against Okorodudu so that he would be produced to face trial.

N30 million fraud charge against The second accused was arOkorodudu’s counsel, Chief First City Monument Bank Plc, raigned by the Special Fraud Robert Clarke (SAN), however, FCMB, and its former Branch Unit on December 5, 2013. objected to the application, inManager, Rosemary Usifo.

She was alleged to have sisting that there was a subsistFCMB is standing trial along- fraudulently obtained N30 miling application by his client chalside Usifo, a former Manager of lion from a fixed deposit account lenging the jurisdiction of the the Okerin branch of FinBank Plc of a customer, one Archibong court. (now FCMB), on a one-count Nkanga, a retired Deputy InClark argued that the proper charge bordering on the offence. spector General of Police. procedure was for the court to When the case was called, yesThe accused was alleged to first resolve the issue of jurisdicterday, counsel to FCMB informed have committed the offence in tion before ruling on the EFCC’s the court that the bank was pre- 2011, while she held sway as application for bench warrant. pared to proceed with the trial. branch manager of the bank.

According to him, the court Counsel noted that his client She had however pleaded not cannot make pronouncement on had never conceded to settling the guilty to the charge, but the a case where its jurisdiction is debt stated in the charge as rep- judge had ordered her remand still being challenged. resented to the court by the pros- at the Kirikiri prisons, pending The judge, after hearing the ecution at the last adjourned date. her bail application. submissions of both counsel, He prayed the court for an adAccording to Asuquo, the acasked them to provide the court journment to proceed with trial. cused who had been at large with relevant authorities to asThe prosecutor did not object to since the perpetuation of the sist him in his ruling on the isthe prayer foran adjournment.

Are you eye-witness to crime an accident, robbery, fire outbreak, kidnap, buildin 2011, was eventually sue.

Lawal-Akapo, subseConsequently, Justice Saliuit with arrested by the Police,readers. in Novem-Send ing collapse, etc?

Share Vanguard pix, text or e-mail to quently, adjourned the matter till Saidu adjourned the case to April ber 2013.

The News Editor on 08023145558, or kayodematthew@yahoo.com April 8, for ruling.

7 for trial.

Court adjourns hearing on fraud charge against bank, manager

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till April 7, a

Bizman docked over N15m theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Mr Kabir Nadabo, the command's Head of Operations, said in a statement, yesterday, in Kano that the accident occurred at Tashan Kofa village.

He said: “Seventeen persons were involved in the crash and 13 of them died on the spot

August 28, 2013 at about 10pm.

He said that the incident happened between Cele and Ilasamaja Bus stop along Mile 2 Oshodi Expressway.

Ekikere said the defendant stole a 40ft container full load of aluminum valued N15 million, property of Rofic Winner Ltd located at Dopemu area of Lagos.

The prosecutor also said on the same day the defendant received one 40ft container, which he knew to have been a stolen property, at about 11:30pm, at Meiran Bus Stop along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

Be our eyes

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Kutigi heads national conference

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has appointed former Chief Justice of the federation, Hon. Justice Idris Kutigi as chairman of the National Conference.

Chief Anyim Pius anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in a statement, in Abuja, yesterday, also announced former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof.

Boaji Akinyemi as Vice Chairman.

Dr. Valerie Azinge is to serve as secretary of the conference and therefore in charge of the secretariat. The appointees are to resume tomorrow, in Abuja, where the SGF would brief them on modalities of the conference.

Bill Gates retakes world richest man crown ...Dangote still Africa No 1

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ILL Gates has, according to Forbes regained the title of Richest Person in the World following an upsurge in the value of Microsoft stock.

Although Bill Gates has held the top spot for 15 of the past 20 years, the last four years had seen Mexico’s Carlos Slim take the crown from the former Microsoft CEO. Thanks to a marked increase in the value of Microsoft stock over the last year, though, Gate’s fortune has risen to new heights, with Forbes estimating his net worth as being $76 billion. In comparison Slim is now worth $72 billion.

Gates has risen to the top again despite his Microsoft stock taking up less than a third of his fortune, with Forbes pointing out that Steve Ballmer may soon have more stock than Gates, making him the company’s biggest shareholder.

Meanwhile, Nigerian business mogul, Aliko Dangote has made history as the first black man to break into the rank of top 25 richest people in the world with a wealth of $25 billion from $16.1 billion in 2013, according to Forbes Magazine lists of the richest people in the world. For the fourth year running, Dangote retained his position in Africa as the richest man of the continent.

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Again, Boko Haram kills 36, razes houses, schools in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— SUSPECTED Boko Haram terrorists, who have been holding Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to ransom yesterday invaded Mafa, the headquarters of Mafa local government area of Borno State, killing over 36 residents before setting ablaze many residential and public buildings.

This fresh incident is happening barely 24 hours after another set of terrorists laid ambush on Mainok village on Saturday night killing over 40 residents with the sacking of the whole community after destroying property worth millions of naira. On the same Saturday, some suspected terrorists detonated twin bombs at a densely populated area of Ajilari, Gomari Airport area of Maiduguri Metropolis killing over 70 civilians, mostly football fans watching a live match in a nearby viewing centre.

Within the last one week, more than 300 people were killed while property worth billions of naira were destroyed in separate attacks masterminded by insurgents in troubled Borno.

The gunmen it was gathered invaded the town on Sunday night where they had a field day after overpowering the security operatives on guard and wrecked havoc on innocent civilians.

Mafa is about 40 kilometres drive from Maiduguri metropolis located East on the Maiduguri Gambouru Ngala, a boarder community with Chad and Cameroon Republic.

Our Correspondent gathered that prior to the attack, there were reports last week that some gunmen were sighted close to Mafa, which forced many residents to relocate to Maiduguri and settled with their relatives. When the gunmen

eventually invaded the community, only few courageous residents were still around with security operatives, and after the clash, there were casualties on all the sides including the security operatives, innocent civilians and the terrorists.

The gunmen according to sources, “ came into Mafa town

at about midnight using Hilux Toyota vans armed with AK47 rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s), Rocket Propelled Launchers, petrol bombs and opened fire on residents who were asleep.

“Property destroyed include schools, residential houses, shops, vehicles, motorcycles, and telecommunication masts, over 80% of the structures in Mafa have been destroyed during the clash”, the source said.

A resident, Mallam Aji Modu

Usman who attended the mass burial of the victims in Mafa on Monday morning said, “ we have so far buried 32 dead bodies this morning in Mafa according to Islamic rites. Among the dead was an old woman while others are men, but we are still recovering more dead bodies in and around Mafa bushes because we suspected some of those who attempted to flee the attackers were however gunned down”. Usman narrated.

PARADE: Department of State Security Services (DSS) yesterday paraded, from left, Yakub Abdullahi (a.k.a. Alhaji Bala/Alhaji Kano Yakubu Bulunkutu); Ibrahim Shuaibu (a.k.a Kawal Abu Amar); Bilyaminu Usman, Sahabi Ismail; Umar Farouk; Yasir Ibrahim Salihu (graduate of English Literature ABU Zaria) and Musa Abubakar for the murder of Sheikh Auwal Adam Alban, his wife and son at Gwagwaje area of Zaria, Kaduna State in Abuja . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

US damns Nigeria's human rights record

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new report by the United States has described Nigeria as a country where corruption, official impunity, and gross human rights violations occur at will.

The report described the human rights violations to include extra-judicial killings, rape, torture, mistreatment of detainees, destruction of property, violence against women, vigilante killings, child labour, forced and bonded labour, and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This assessment of Nigeria is, according to the 2013 Country Report on Human Rights. The

report, which is now in its 38th year, is sanctioned by the U.S. Congress. It, amongst other things, helps inform the U.S. government policy and foreign assistance. According to the report, the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and the Nigerian Government are the worst perpetrators of human rights abuses in the country.

“The most serious human rights abuses during the year were those committed by Boko Haram, which conducted killings, bombings, abduction and rape of women, and other attacks throughout the country, resulting in numerous deaths,

injuries, and widespread destruction of property; those committed by security services, which perpetrated extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, beatings, arbitrary detention, mistreatment of detainees, and destruction of property; and widespread societal violence, including ethnic, regional, and religious violence,” the report said.

The report came hard on the Goodluck Jonathan administration for institutionalising impunity with the state pardon granted to serial money launderer and former governor of Bayelsa State, Dipreye Alamieyeseigha.

PDP is the only platform for disadvantaged Nigerians like “Members of the PDP are not “PDP is not owned by any me to rise — Jonathan individual or group of dictators but those who have the

BY DAPO AKINREFON & DEMOLAAKINYEMI

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LORIN—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the only platform for Nigerians born into disadvantaged families like him to rise to eminence.

Speaking at the formal reception of defectors from other parties to the PDP in Ilorin, Kwara State, President Jonathan declared that the era of imposition and godfatherism is no longer obtainable in the party.

The rally witnessed a large turnout of the party hierarchy

that also included Vice President Namadi Sambo, governors from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa and Niger states.

The rally organized by the Solomon Edojah led state caretaker committee of the party also had the deputy governor of Kogi state, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, Chairman of the PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, former national chairman, Dr Ahmadu Ali, ministers, National Assembly members among others in attendance.

Addressing the crowd at the rally, Dr. Jonathan said:

persons. There is no more imposition or gathers in the PDP. “It is only in PDP that the people of Kwara can have the freedom they desire and its in the party that any Nigerian can come from nowhere and become somebody.”

“It is only in PDP that you can come from nowhere like me and become president of the Party, it’s only in PDP the people of Kwara can have the freedom they deserve”, he said.

Noting that the era of imposition of candidates in the party was past, he said:

interest of their people at heart. It is only in our party that we encourage everyone irrespective of where he comes from”.

Speaking further, he said “I am a president but I have a governor, I don’t control, we at the apex level of government can only monitor people in position of authority to make them deliver dividends of democracy to the people and we don’t dictate to them”. “if you are not in PDP you are not in politics, it is only PDP that can guarantee your freedom in the state and the country at large”, the president said.

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2013 SILVERBIRD MAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS & HONOURS

From left, Governor Peter Obi and wife, receiving an award from Mr. Ben Bruce, and Mr. Odein Ajumogobia.

From left, Governor Babatunde Fashola, receiving an award from Dr. Thomas John, former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, and Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Silverbird Group, during the 2013 Silverbird MAN of the Year Awards & Honours, at the Muson Cenre, in Lagos, week-end. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

From left, Senator Ita-Giwa, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, Chairman of the occasion.

From left, Mrs. Joy Jonah, Professor Akin Oladele, and Mrs. Magaret Murray Bruce.

Chief Joop Berkhout, Chairman, Safari Books (left), receiving an award from Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce.

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, an awardee, and his wife.

From left, Princess Uche Elendu, Uche Ogbodo Mrs. Obehi Imojie, and Dr. Susan Okonkwo.

Cross-section of members, South East Women Progressive Initiative.

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From left, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, Professor Chinyere Okunna, Hon. Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, and Chief Mike Inegbese.

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Oil spill in Delta: One feared dead, 49 hospitalised ...40 communities ravaged

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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APELE—AT least one person has died, and 49 others hospitalised following their intake of polluted water and consumption of meals prepared with the contaminated water, after an oil spill from the facility of Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, ravaged no fewer than 40 communities in Warri North and Warri South West Local Government Areas of Delta State.

Vanguard gathered that the pollution occurred on February 24, 2014, from oil pipelines that were laid over 40 years ago, believed to be too old and rusty to transport crude oil, belonging to the oil firm.

The pollution allegedly affected all the creeks along Benin River inhabited by over 40 Itsekiri communities in Warri North and Warri South West councils.

Some of the communities affected by the spillage include Jakpa, Jakpatie, Gbokoda, Tebu, Udo, Ajamitan, Bateren, Baterentie, Bobi, Ugbeyen, Ogbodugbudu, Arunton Daire, Adegba Daire and Orere. Others are Obbe Ogheye-Eghoroke, Ogheye Dimigbun, Tonrila, Oboro, Ogogin, Arunton-Tebu Egheyo, Ajoboyo, Obaghoro, Eborighim, Aja-Olulan, Abe-

Abalagbewa and Daloketa, among others.

Leaders of the affected 40 Itsekiri communities, Mr. Jeffrey Wilke, Mr. Esimaje Omaghomi Besidone, Mr. Appearance Tomwe, and Mr. Justice Akpala, who addressed newsmen, yesterday, said the spillage has also caused great economic loss to their people as domestic and aquatic lives have died, leaving the affected communities on the verge of famine.

Fishing, which is the major

occupation of the people of the areas, according to the community leaders, has been halted. At press time, the condition of one of the victims simply identifies as Mrs. Magbami, was getting worse and a doctor at the private clinic in Sapele, where is currently lying critically ill, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had suggested that she should be flown abroad for urgent medical attention.

PDP RALLY: From left: PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu; President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark; former Kwara ACN governorship candidate in 2011, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN); and PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Tony Anenih, at a PDP rally welcoming Belgore, Senator Gbemisola Saraki and others to the PDP in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday.

Councillor assassinated in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—A SERVING Councillor of Ward 2 in Akuku Toru Local Government Srea of Rivers state, Mr. Sotonye Georgewill, has been killed on Accra Street, Town area of Port Harcourt.

It is not clear if the late Sotonye decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC, before the sad incident, though the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement on his death, maintained he was their member.

Meantime, eyewitnesses said the late Sotonye was hacked to death by his assailants, who came in a saloon car to his residence at 9.15p.m. on Sunday. They reportedly called him on phone, saying they were at his house waiting for him, the sympathiser said, adding that when Sotonye rushed to meet them, one of the assailants allegedly came down and hacked him to death.

Meantime, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, has said the kill-

In a joint petition by the communities to President Goodluck Jonathan, a copy of which was sent to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammad Abubakar, the people accused NPDC of frustrating all peaceful moves to check the spillage, adding that some of the company officials had threatened to use security men to beat them up members of the communities, who attempt to pressurize the company to check the spillage.

ing was cult related, adding that his men were working to arrest those behind it. ‘’We are aware of the incident and it was a sad thing. We have established that it was a cultrelated case and I have ordered my men to identify and arrest all known cult leaders in the state immediately. We shall deal

ruthlessly with anybody caught, regardless of his status,” he added.

The PDP, on its part, has condemned the killing, saying the late councillor was its member. State Chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Obuah, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Jerry

Needam blamed the death on opposition politicians, adding that it was part of a ploy to provoke crisis in the state.

The party said: “The killing coming few days after the kidnap of three stalwarts of the party, who are still being held captive, is nothing short of a calculated plot by political opponents to provoke the party and ignite crisis in the state.”

Amaechi, 17 lawmakers fault centenary celebration

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, has lashed at the Federal Government for rolling out the drums to celebrate the country’s 100 years of existence at a time citizens were facing challenges of mindless murder, kidnapping, assassination and other related vices.

The governor, who addressed the state House of Assembly at the old auditorium, Government House, Port Harcourt, said most Nigerians who could have been actively involved in the cente-

nary celebration in Abuja were at filling stations queuing up endlessly for petroleum products, adding that the country was gradually losing appetite for celebrations because of what he blamed on inept political leadership.

He said: “Can we really celebrate when our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters are being slaughtered like chickens? Can we really celebrate when our fellow citizens live in constant and growing fear of kidnappers, hired assassins and armed robbers? Can we really celebrate when those constitu-

tionally empowered to protect us turn their fury on us?

In these questions lie the state of the nation.”

Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, who presided over the session, later gave room for members to debate the address presented by the governor. At the end of their various speeches, the 17 lawmakers called on the government to declare two days of mourning in memory of the deceased students of Federal Government College, Yobe State, who were slaughtered by the Boko Haram sect.

Oshiomhole inaugurates teachers' assessment panel

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has inaugurated a team of six Professors of Education, led by former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, to conduct an assessment of teachers in the state.

Addressing the team at Government House, weekend, Governor Oshiomhole said: “Primary education is the foundation for upward mobility in life.

“In Edo State, we have chosen to deal with it squarely. We have made huge investment by building physical infrastructures, pay salaries as at when due, provided free, but compulsory basic education.

“All that will amount to nothing if the human resource is not developed, hence the need to carry out this new assignment to differentiate the knowledgeable teachers from the quacks."

Customs C-G orders arrest of Deputy Comptroller

BY GODFREY BIVBERE, IFEYINWA OBI & OLAITAN AYOOLA

C

OMPTROLLER General of Customs, Mr. Dikko Abdulahi, yesterday at the Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, ordered the arrest of some customs officers for their involvement in hindering smooth cargo clearance at the port.

Sources close to the command told Vanguard that the C-G allegedly ordered the arrested of Deputy Comptroller, DC Shoboiki, the officer in charge of Vehicle Terminal B2, at the Tin-Can Island Container Terminal, TICT, which is the biggest terminal in the command and one Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Egesi, for alleged involvement in revenue risk to the service.

14— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 —15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

National confab not to promote Jonathan — GULAK

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

A

BUJA—THE forthcoming National Conference is not a forum to promote the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan or parochial political agenda of any naional group but a timely call on Nigerians to set another milestone for a brighter future and national renewal.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matter, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak stated this yesterday as he expressed satisfaction with the quality of delegates that are being nominated by states and groups to represent them at the Conference, which is expected to start this month.

In a statement yesterday, Alhaji Gulak said President Jonathan is not using the National Conference as a platform to advance his personal political agenda as the issues to be deliberated on are greater than the aspirations of any individual or political group.

He said: “We are talking about the structure of our country and the relationship between and amongst its people, we are faced with determining how we get our resources and how we utilise them for development that will make life meaningful and sustainable for millions of Nigerians.

"We are concerned about the structure of government and the cost of governance, and cannot relegate issues of peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and also respect for gender, human rights, rule of law, freedom of worship and honouring international obligations in a fast changing world.”

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade had told Vanguard last week “that President Goodluck Jonathan would have missed the opportunity to build a new Nigeria and immortalise his name as a statesman and nationalist, if he allows the National Conference to be turned into an avenue for presidential politics.”

FG to lose N100bn as textile intervention programme fails …Raw materials, machineries, responsible — NACCIMA BYMICHAEL EBOH & ROSEMARY ONUOHA

L

AGOS—ABOUT N100 billion invested by the Federal Government to revive the Nigerian textile industry seems to have gone down the drain, as the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, yesterday, disclosed that the Cotton Textile Garment Intervention Fund has failed.

Speaking during a visit to Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, National President, NACCIMA, said the intervention failed because the issues of raw materials and machineries were not taken into consideration before putting up the programme.

He said, “If you give loan on an existing factory to develop, when the raw material is not being supplied competitively, when the loan is not enough to change the machineries completely to be competitive to world standard, you are not going to make it. It is just like putting a new engine in a broken car. You cannot get the result.”

According to him, to ensure the revival of the textile sector, a number of issues should have been put in place, such as ensuring that the country is competing effectively in the production of cotton according to world standard and also that our machineries are producing effectively and efficiently to world standards and are able to make the companies compete favourably.

He said, “Firstly, the major raw

material is the cotton, secondly is the machineries, if they are not around how can we be competitive by world standard?

Thirdly, training, how do we train people to work competitively?

“So these are the issues being developed on the textile industry.

When they finish the research we will start first with the agricultural development of long fibre cotton and if it is being produced and developed competitively, then you get the investors, maybe in conjunction with other existing investor to go mega with bigger industries that will give that competitive edge.

“We allow ourselves to be importing the textiles and those factories in China are really mega and huge. To be able to

compete with them we need to have a scheme similar to that of cement and that is what the government is doing now.

He disclosed that at present, NACCIMA and the Federal Ministry of Industry are looking at the reasons why the intervention did not work, in order to forestall future occurrence.

He also announced its intention to partner with Vanguard Newspaper and other media houses in setting up a National Working Plan on how to increase the production and availability of newsprint in Nigeria.

He lamented the increasing importation of newsprint into the country despite the fact that

the country has the capacity to be a major exporter of the commodity.

According to him, Nigeria has the competitive advantage of producing newsprint because we have vast landmass and our agricultural development, if well enhanced will be able to produce the raw material at a reasonable price.

“We will put up a consortium of business men and investors and also work with newspaper houses and other users of the product to determine the actual demand of the product, draw up a work plan and then we will talk to the appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to discuss our proposals and also ask for incentives,” he said.

VISIT: The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar 111(right) presenting a gift to DirectorGeneral, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu after the Sultan's endorsment as ambassador of standards during the DG's working visit/campaign on Zero Tolerance to substandard products in Sokoto State yesterday.

42 consortia enter financial bids opening stage for 10 NIPPs BYEMMA UJAH

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has approved the opening of the financial bids of the 42 prequalified bidders out of 66 bidding consortia for the 80% equity in the 10 NIPP power plants.

That was the outcome of the joint meeting between the National Council on Privatization, NCP, and the governing board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, held in Aso Villa last Friday.

The joint meeting chaired by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, directed that the bids be opened on Friday, this week, in keeping with the published timeline for the transaction, according to Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, the spokesman of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

66 proposals were submitted on 8 November, last year,

...bids to be opened on Friday prospective investors interested in the 10 NIPP plants, following which an inter agency evaluation team, including security agencies met from 12 to 22 November to evaluate them.

The evaluation report was subjected to the scrutiny of the Joint Transaction Committee and the Joint Technical Transaction Committee before

approval by the Joint NCP/ NDPHCN Board meeting.

In order to be deemed technically qualified, the bidders must meet the following criteria in three broad areas as set out in the requests for proposal; namely: completeness and substantial responsiveness; ability to finance the acquisition and relevant experience and

quality of business plan.

At the end of the evaluation, 42 bidders met the criteria set forth in the Requests For Proposal, RFP, and passed the due diligence verification conducted on technically qualified bidders.

The 10 power plants for sale are: Alaoji, Benin, Calabar, Egbema, Gbarain, Geregu, Ogorode, Olorunsogo, Omoku and Omotoshho.

...As global firms invest $1bn in new IPP

M

EANWHILE, Global firms is making the fresh investment of about $1 billion in a new Independent Power Plant, IPP, to be located at Azura in Edo State.

The Azura Edo Independent Power Plant comprises of two phases, the first of which will generate 1,500 MW upon completion.

It is a Green field project (that is, a fresh project that will be developed from the scratch by the investors, as opposed to investing in existing facilities.)

This connotes that the investors have a lot of confidence in the prospects of the Nigerian economy in general and the power sector in particular.

Dr, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance said at a meeting with the investors in Abuja, yesterday that, “the project reflects the positive multiplier effects created by the capitalisation of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and the concomitant provision of the

Put Call Option Agreement being provided by the Federal Ministry of Finance”.

The Federal Government, according to her, “is reviewing the various consents and approvals such as the Power Purchase Agreement and the Put Call Option Agreement needed

by Azura”.

She said that the major benefit of the project would be the 450 MW the project would generate in the first phase which would boost power supply to industries, businesses and homes.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 17

MONG the different ethnic A groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are without a doubt, one

of the most remarkable. So remarkable, indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to biblical Israel, as the far-flung descendants of Jacob, the Jewish patriarch.

Gad, Jacob’s seventh son, is said to have had three sons who settled in South-eastern Nigeria. These sons; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have fathered clans in Igboland and to have founded such Igbo towns as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri.

Igbo genius Even the bitterest adversaries of the Igbo cannot but admit that, as a people, they are very resourceful and ingenious.

Indeed, this has often been the cause of their envy and dislike by others. However, more enlightened non-Igbo Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. While today, the centre-point of Nigeria’s manufacturing is situated in the Lagos/Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the real locomotive of Nigeria’s indigenous industrialization lies farther afield in Aba and in the mushrooming cottageindustries of the Igbo heartland.

In one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the terrible civil war provoked homespun industrialization in the SouthEast. Military blockade left the Igbo with little alternative than to be inventive in a hurry.

While Nigeria as a nation failed woefully to harness this profitably after the war, it has nevertheless ensured that the

Re-inventing Igbo politics in Nigeria Ekwueme; mathematical genius Chike Obi; literary icon Chinua Achebe; worldclass economist Pius Okigbo; world boxing champion Dick Tiger; international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; and worldclass artist Ben Enwonwu.

Permit me to include in this illustrious list even some of my very good Igbo friends: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke, Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu, and Stanley Macebuh.

Let us get one thing straight: Nigeria would be a much poorer country without the Igbo. Indeed, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them.

Can you imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? Not likely! Who can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Kay Okocha and our very own Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the Igbo? Impossible!

Just think of Stella DamascusAboderin; Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye. And then there are the diaspora Igbo who many are unaware are of Igbo descent, including concert singer and actor Paul

Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians

,

Igbo are at the forefront of Nigeria’s economic development today. Indeed, the way we disregard “made in Aba” today is the same way we disregarded “made in Japan” yesterday. For those of us who believe against the odds that Nigeria is the China of tomorrow, we equally recognize that the ingenuity of the Igbo is an indelible part of the actualization of that manifest destiny.

Hall of fame The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. They have given us a great number of our favourite sons, including international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; military leader Odumegwu Ojukwu; regional leader Michael Okpara; vice-president Alex

,

Robeson; Oscar award-winner Forest Whitaker; mega-pastor T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; and BAFTA actor award-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor.

You may well wonder why I have found it necessary to present this small litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is important to emphasise how the Igbo have been very vital to the Nigerian project. They have more than represented Nigeria creditably in virtually all walks of life. This makes it all the more absurd that this same people have been consistently denied the position of executive president of the country in all but six months of Nigeria’s 54 year history.

Civil-war legacy

Of course, a major reason for this was the 1967-1970 civilwar which had the Igbo on the losing side. But that was over 40 years ago. If there is really to be “ no victor, no vanquished” in anything more than mere rhetoric, then the rehabilitation of the Igbo back into post civil-war Nigeria will not be complete until an Igbo man finally becomes president of the country.

That imperative should be of interest to every Nigerian nationalist, committed to the creation of one Nigeria where everyone has a deep sense of belonging. The problem, however, is that the Igbo themselves seem to be their own worst enemies in this regard. They appear to be doing their very best to ensure that this inevitable eventuality continues to be denied and delayed.

The Igbo need to forgive Nigerians. No one who lived through the horrors that precipitated the secession of Biafra and led to the civil-war cannot but admit that the Igbo were abused and maltreated in one of the worst pogroms ever.

It was not just that they were senselessly massacred in their own country; it was that they were butchered. I remember vividly gory pictures of scores and scores of the Igbo with hands chopped up and with legs amputated. And then there were the ravages of the three-year civil-war itself, resulting in the death of millions of Igbo; many through starvation and attrition.

The end of the war brought no respite, as the Igbo were pauperized by fiscal decrees that wiped out their savings and their properties were blatantly sequestered by opportunists. All this is more than enough to destroy the spirit of any group of people.

But God has been on the side of the Igbo. It is a testament to their resilience that, in spite of this terrible affliction, they have survived, bounced back and have even triumphed in Nigeria. Forty years have now gone by. The Igbo may never forget what happened to them and, indeed, should never forget. But it is past time for

them to forgive.

We are sorry his is one voice in the T Nigerian wilderness saying to the Igbo from the

depth of his heart: we are sorry. We are sorry for the way we mistreated you. We are sorry for the way we abused you. We are sorry for starving your children to death. We are sorry for killing your loved ones. We are sorry for stealing your properties. We are sorry for making you feel unwanted in your own country. Please forgive us. It is time to forgive us. It is way past time for the Igbo to forgive Nigerians. We beg you in the name of God. There was a civil war in the United States, but the defeated South rose from the ashes.

Five of the last nine presidents of the United States have been from the South, including Jimmy Carter from Georgia, George Bush from Texas and Bill Clinton from Arkansas.

The time is overdue for an Igbo president of Nigeria, but it is not going to happen as long as the Igbo continue to hold a grudge against Nigeria and Nigerians.

There is no question about it: the Igbos cannot elect a president of Nigeria on their own. To do so, they have to join forces with others. They have to form alliances with people from other parts of Nigeria. That is not going to happen as long as the Igbo continue to bear a grudge against practically everybody else. The Igbo have a gripe against virtually all the people they need. They have this tendency to antagonise their possible alliance partners.

They keep dredging up the past, refusing to let sleeping dogs lie. Until they drop these gripes, they are not likely to realise their dreams.

Demonising Yorubas For example, the Igbo have this tendency to demonise the Yorubas. It is alarming when reading the Vanguard blogs today to see the animosity often expressed between Igbo and Yoruba contributors. The hatred is most unhealthy.

Insults are traded with abandon. What is the point of this? For how long will the Igbo demand emotional

retribution from every Yoruba for the betrayal of Awolowo?

Most of the contributors were not even born when the civilwar took place more than a generation ago.

There is now even transferred aggression against Babatunde Fashola, who made the blunder of repatriating some destitute Igbo from Lagos back to their home-states. The man has apologised for the infraction.

He should be forgiven.

Blunders are not the exclusive preserve of the non-Igbo. The Igbo have made more than a few themselves and will yet make others.

Paradoxically, the redemption of the Igbos to prominent national office moved apace under President Obasanjo; a Yoruba man.

Recognising that Igbos are some of the most seasoned, competent and experienced public-servants, Obasanjo relied heavily on their expertise. Thanks to him, we got Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at Finance, Charles Soludo at Central Bank, Obiageli Ezekwesili at Education, Ndidi Okereke at the Stock Exchange, and Dora Akunyili at NAFDAC. Indeed, Igbo statesmen came into more prominence under Obasanjo than did Yoruba statesmen.

But for some strange reason, this does not seem to have succeeded in assuaging the ill-feeling of the Igbos toward the Yorubas.

Bad politicians ithin the framework of W Nigerian politics, the Igbo also have a fundamental

problem. Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians. They have no recognizable leaders, and have no discernible strategy as to how to negotiate power at the centre. As a result, the Igbo have tended to be short-changed at the federal level. Traditionally, the inconsequential ministries, such as the Ministry of Information, have been zoned to them.

The Igbo need to work out a plan that will take them to Aso Rock. First, they need to choose and groom a de-tribalised leader of the Azikiwe mould who can be sold to non-Igbos.

Then, they need to give him undiluted support. At the moment the internal politics of the Igbo militates against this.

The Igbo seem to hate themselves as much as they hate others. They seem to fight themselves with as much venom as they fight others. Every potential Igbo leader seems to have more enemies within than without. This must not be allowed to continue.

The Igbo need to help themselves in order that their friends can help them. In this centenary of Nigeria’s amalgamation, as we embark on the arduous process of crafting our future through a National Conference, we salute the Igbo for their fortitude and implore them to stake their claim in Nigeria. Nigeria cannot survive without the Igbo.

18 Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 ONE of the most urgent bills before the National Assembly is one seeking amendments to the 2004 Passport Act. It has gone through the second reading at the House of Representatives and it is a matter of time for the amendments to become law.

What would the law contribute to the wellbeing of Nigerians? The importance of the law is its establishment of privileges it confers on certain classes of Nigerians. The law is to clearly determine, its proposers say, those who should be entitled to bear diplomatic, and official passports.

How important is this? Members of the National Assembly in executing their oversight functions, engage in extensive travels abroad. They want to change Nigeria to resemble their choice travel destinations. They have largely failed in the past 14 years to reflect lessons from their travels in the Nigeria they build.

Another major reason for their travels is leisure, which is found in parts so far flung that diplomatic passports ease their passages.

Similarly, when they venture abroad for medical attention, their status and importance must be flaunted at every stop.

Passpor t, Privileges, assport, Pov er ty erty Diplomatic, and official passports are therefore important. They are status symbols, they cannot be allowed to stray into too many hands, otherwise, they become ordinary and reduce the status of their users.

Formerly, the executive arm of government issued the documents at its discretion. There are fears that some people, including some members of the National Assembly, may be excluded from the privilege, unless the law clearly confirms their status. Moreover, the House of Representatives has started deciding those who would not get the passports.

The Comptroller Generals of the Fire Service and the Nigeria Security Civil Defence

Corps, NSCDC, were removed from the list the House Committee on Interior compiled.

Our concerns are with the importance the National Assembly attaches to laws that extend the privileges of its members while neglecting the issues that result in the poverty that is ravaging the land.

How many laws has it made to facilitate policies that would minimise poverty? How do privileges like these benefit millions of Nigerians who in their lifetime would never need passports, not to mention diplomatic, and official ones?

When the National Assembly moves for its benefit, the urgency is obvious. The rapidity of delivery assumes a national importance disproportionate to the issue. Even at the apogee of abuses visited on similar official privileges, less than half a million Nigerians would have the diplomatic, and official passports at any given time.

The National Assembly can have its passports. It should however attend to the worries of most Nigerians – education, employment, food, health, infrastructure, justice, security. Nobody requires diplomatic passports to fix Nigeria.

OPINION

BY ADEDOYIN ADEWUMI

T

HE headlines have all been about news of the attack on innocent students of the Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, in Yobe State by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents. Yobe is one of the states where the state of emergency is ongoing. The only offence of the children was that they were Nigerians who believed in the importance of acquiring Western education. The females who were spared were threatened with death if they do not abandon their educational pursuit and get married.

The recent victims of the marauders were children of secondary school age.

Meanwhile, before this development, about 20 girls were abducted at Konduga village, to be coerced into marriage.

Though the military have confirmed the rescue of the girls.

The latest attack seems to be a taunt at President Goodluck Jonathan who barely a day before the latest incident had extended another olive branch by stating that the government was still open to constructive dialogue with the sect. He also urged them to table their grievances before the FG so that a solution and an end to the insurgency could be achieved. The seeming courteous gesture was made at an International Seminar on the Imperatives of the Observance of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Norms in Internal Security Operations in Abuja.

With the latest strike, the insurgent simply sent a strong message that they

Enough

of

rhetorical

were not interested in any peace or dialogue. In the light of the attack on innocent students, the FG should realise that this is not a sect that wants its olive branch and now is the time for the FG to deal decisively and promptly and stop pussy-footing. They have shown that they are here for business and nothing short of absolute power is their goal. How can you negotiate with that?

When the former American president, George Bush Jnr said America does not negotiate with terrorists, he knew what he was talking about and the rate at which the insurgency is going, all hands must be on deck to tackle it before it goes beyond even the military’s control.

All that the military needs to win this war must be given to it. Financial, moral, technical assistance must not be jettisoned on the altar of corruption. A clear and total victory is what is needed in this case so that the people of Nigeria can breathe a sigh of relief!

Despite what others may think, I believe that the presence of the military has reduced the spate of attacks and the hold of the insurgents, because without them, the situation would unarguably have been worse, but the military also has to act within the purviews of the rule of engagement in avoiding a situation whereby it may be brought to book over unlawful killings, one of which exacerbated the insurgency with the death of the group’s leader, Malam Yusuf Mohammed, of

rules

of

which the court has ordered the government to pay his family compensation for his death. The conviction of about 40 terrorists is also heart-warming, as mentioned by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.

The Attorney-General, while commending the roles of members of the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies in containing terrorism in the country, urged them to comply with relevant human rights and international humanitarian laws and norms during internal security operations. He even claimed that some communities were awarded billions of Naira as damages against Nigeria by the International Criminal Court, ICC. It is also alarming to realise that the country is militarised due to heavy presence of the military in curtailing domestic security crises. The National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) testified to the startling and worrisome fact when he said the armed forces have been deployed in 32 out of the 36 states of the federation to check security challenges. While saying efforts are being made to tackle Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, he gave assurance that the Federal Government will encourage troops to observe human rights, rules of engagement and international humanitarian law norms.

From all these, several issues came to mind: The Presidential appeal for

engagement constructive dialogue with Boko Haram, more conviction of arrested terrorists and the overflogged clamour that Nigerian troops should abide by the rule of engagement when confronting their enemies who do not believe in any rule.

There should be no reason to compel security personnel under threat to observe human rights and rules of engagement when dealing with enemies that are brutal and callous in their murderous exploits on innocent girls, students and ordinary citizens.

It is an undeniable fact that military intervention sometimes attracts negative reactions from affected communities, political rhetoric and dogood statements should not deter our security men in waging the war against terrorism.

It is unfortunate that the military has to take over the internal policing in various states. The government should ensure the police are adequately trained, funded and motivated to take up their statutory responsibilities. This is an anomaly that needs to be corrected as the military has no business in the internal affairs of the country. What happens when we need the military for its real duties of protecting our territorial integrity from external aggressions when they have been stretched thin for internal purposes?

*Ms Adewumi, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 19

S

OMETIMES it baffles Nigerians the kind of personalities who are being saddled with the responsibility of running the affairs of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Just like every other organisation, Ohanaeze have had its share of crises and many had thought that the organisation has been repositioned with responsive and responsible leaders who can see beyond their nose, and work for the collective interest of the Igbos at all times. But that appears not to be the real situation for now, following the recent action of the President of the organisation, Chief Gary Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey which had raised a lot of questions on his motives.

Recently Igariwey was in the news following his arranged and solicited visit to the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu in his Abuja residence on the pretext of persuading him to shelve his 2015 presidential ambition. But If I may ask: which 2015 presidential ambition are we talking about? Who, where and when did Kalu said that he would be contesting the 2015 presidential election? On which party platform will he be contesting the election, if at all he decides to contest, considering that his party, the Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, which he has abandoned for long is good as dead. But If I may recall,

Kalu has consistently denied having presidential ambition in 2015. So which presidential ambition did Igariwey visit Kalu on behalf of the organisation to urge him to shelve or was the drama an attempt by Kalu to seek for political relevance ahead of the 2015 general elections?

Nigerians may not be surprised to discover that the visit was arranged by Kalu and his political allies, one of them a former senator from the same state with Igariwey. If not, where and when did the Ohanaeze leadership sat and agreed to send Igariwey to visit Kalu on the matter of his purported 2015 presidential ambition? Why was Igariwey alone on the visit, instead of going with other members of his executives? That speaks volume of the circumstances surrounding the arranged visit and what it was meant to achieve for those behind it. Besides, the grave silence of members of the executive is a sign that they may be or are beneficiaries of the charade.

It is an indisputable fact that there is no way Kalu’s alleged 2015 presidential ambition will be a problem to the unity of Igbos in 2015. If not how would ambition of a man who has not attended any meeting convened by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo or any other Igbo groups since he left office as the governor of Abia State be a problem to Igbo unity. Even the Nzuko Igbo group which he floated sometime ago to feather his political nest, has since lost its

,

voice and presence in the polity.

Of what political value was Kalu to the Igbos when and after he left office in 2007 as governor of Abia State, apart from opening political fights against his people, and making unguarded utterances in the media. Who among Kalu’s colleagues in the zone is still grandstanding politically for his people: Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Chief Sam Egwu, Achike Udenwa or Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju? They have all elected to work with their people for the good of the zone, having realised that they are out of office. f, Kalu has such political value and acumen as he, his allies, and Igariwey want the world to believe by the visit, why was he unable to manage the success of his party in Imo and Abia states in 2007? Why has he been so desperate to return to PDP by hook or crook, instead of teaming up with the members of the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to prove his political worth in 2015?

Besides, Igbos have not forgotten his roles in the leadership crises that rocked Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So

I

RIGHT OF REPLY

RE: E. K. Clark, PHD

BY PRINCE ABUGO

O

CHEREOME Nnanna's write-up on Dr. E.K Clark published on page 48 of the Vanguard newspaper of Monday February 17, 2014 seem to fall into the category of the usual puerile, derogatory piece by some critics who delight in castigating the elder stateman for supporting President Goodluck Jonathan.

The intention of such critics is to get at the President whom they hate for ethnic and religious reasons. These critics are without a voice of their own, but good in blackmail for political reasons. They are moles, sycophants, with a price tag to attack the President and Chief Clark.

The blackmail campaign has been on since 2010, without regard to Chief Clark's age and the office the President occupies.

The reason borders on the hatred they have for Clark and the President as Ijaws, an ethnic nationality many chauvinists are uncomfortable with. Nnanna referred to Clark’s marriage in his odyssey but what has Clark’s marriage got to do with President Jonathan? These provocative but sarcastic insults to defame the political records of Clark are unmerited.

Any Nigerian who reads these blackmails will see a correlation between the Nnanna piece and others. Raymond Dokpesi’s AIT in a vengeful exercise took 20 minutes on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th February, 2014 to castigate Chief Clark and concluded that he is an ethnic bigot who is more of a burden than an asset to the President’s aspiration. After reading Nnanna’s position on Clark, I was filled with sadness and disbelief, as he descended so low to embrace bats who don’t see good in President Jonathan and Dr Clark. This was the same Clark who stood by Gen. Yakubu Gowon in his travails, ex-President Shehu Shagari and the late President Musa

Yar’Adua who were not Ijaws of South-South origin. So, why should Jonathan’s own fan ethnic colouration?

Despite these derogatory and provocative campaigns of calumny against Clark, he remains resolute, steadfast and committed to building a society based on equity and Justice. Clark will continue to stand tall above political bitterness and divide.

Nnanna insulted Clark’s age and service to Nigeria when he said “they are supposed to have vacated the stage for the generation of today to tackle today’s challenges with the vision and vigour of today’s people”.

Unknowingly, Nnanna is ignorant of Clark’s contributions to youth development.

Nnanna words are contradictions of our values because a society without the wisdom of elders is doomed; the society under sole leadership of youth Nnanna is advocating can only end up in chaos and anarchy.

Nnanna should not blame the failure of his generation on personalities like Clark.

Clark, as a youth, never blackmailed anyone to climb to the pinnacle of leadership because excellence cannot be bought through blackmail. Many youths who are excelling today see Clark as a model of emulation and their hero. In most societies, leaders of Clark’s pedigree are celebrated and idolised but Nnanna’s “younger generation” despises them. Obafemi Awolowo, a Yoruba leader; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo leader and Ahmadu Bello, a Hausa/Fulani leader were respected by all, including the younger generation. Today the South-South leadership is bestowed on Clark by merit.

Clark’s Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, is merited and cannot be synonymous with the “Pull Him down PHD” syndrome of mischief makers. There is no dearth of academic laurels in Clark’s family and Nnanna could have, as a student or scholar, benefited from Clark’s family educational contributions to knowledge. The language of blackmail

why turn around to use the same Ohanaeze leadership to shore up his dwindling political image ahead of 2015. It is obvious that the purpose of the visit, which Kalu’s newspaper editors have been celebrating in their columns, is to pretend that Kalu is still a force to reckon with ahead of the 2015 polls. While it is Kalu’s constitutional right as a qualified Nigerian to seek for any public office in the country, which he has done in the 2007 presidential election and the 2011 Abia North senatorial election and failed woefully, he and his allies should draw a parallel line between his personal ambition and the general political interest of the Igbos. This is because the Igbos know where they are heading to politically in 2015, without Kalu. Kalu as an individual is not and can never be a factor in determining the Igbo interest politically in 2015, because he has no such charisma or Midas touch to do so. Igbos have leaders in their state governors, representatives at the National Assembly and other public office holders to chart the way forward for them in 2015 based on the political realities on ground.

It is these political leaders that the leadership of Ohanaeze should partner and work with to ensure that the people of the zone get what belongs to them from the government. Even if there is need to incorporate the ex-governors, former public office holders and others in the political affairs of the zone, such persons should be ready to key into the agenda of the people, and obediently work with the present political leaders of the zone.

That was what happened in the 2011 general elections and the zone is presently reaping the dividend of their massive support

Despite these provocative campaigns of calumny against Clark, he remains resolute, steadfast and committed to building a society based on equity and justice

,

BY CLEMENT OMENEOGOR

,

2015 Igbo presidency, Kalu and Ohanaeze’s delusion

There is every need for Igbos to be alert and beam their searchlight on the activities of the present leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo ahead of next year’s elections

,

employed to ridicule Clark “as a selfacclaimed Ijaw leader and professional agent provocateur” was provocative and reveal the poverty of ideas behind it. There is no Ijaw man living or dead who have laboured for the Ijaw nation as selflessly as Clark had done over the years. Clark in public and private never called himself Ijaw leader, but his people have in recognition of his accomplishments for them called him their leader. Clark in his track records have treated every Nigerian equally without ethnic bias. What better qualification has Nnanna to question Clark’s electoral records? Apart from the Ijaws, the South-South, a home to different ethnic nationalities, call him leader because of his track records, character, commitment, which he employs to foster unity. In the 1995 constitutional conference, Clark was the leader of the South-South delegates, the support he received from South-South delegates was awesome. A tribal figure Nnanna portrayed could not have achieved this.

The Igbo sentiments Nnanna raised against Clark are conspiratorial theories. His activities during and after the Nigerian civil war, including his association with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe under the Zikist Movement of which he was the pioneer secretary in London 1957, revealed his love for the Igbo nation. Clark before and after the Nigerian civil war stood by the Igbos. For instance, when a debate was on whether an Igbo man could head NNPC and the debate was

for President Goodluck Jonathan in the election. Apart from holding more than 35 per cent of the public offices in the country, the zone has witnessed tremendous infrastructural development, courtesy of the present government.

So looking at the political atmosphere in the country today and the body language of the political leaders in the South East zone, there is no doubt that the zone would do something in 2015 different from what they did in 2011 with or without the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo which appeared to have sold itself to Kalu for a pot of porridge. Igbos will definitely throw their weight behind President Jonathan if he accepts to run for second term in office.

With the present political situation in the country, Igbos can only make moves to contest the Presidency in 2015, only if it is clear that President Jonathan will not be contesting the election. And if by commission or omission such need arises, Igbos know whom they will go for, which will not be Kalu.

There are better educated, committed, die-hard, authentic Igbo presidential materials to choose from.

There is every need for the Igbos to be alert and beam their searchlight on the activities of the present leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo ahead of next year ’s general elections. They should not allow their values to be dragged to the mud for selfish interest. The Abuja visit to Kalu is enough evidence of what the leadership of Ohanaeze, especially the President, is capable of doing without minding whose ox is gored. *Mr. Omeneogor, a System Analyst, wrote from Toronto, Canada.

replicated in the cabinet meeting with Gen. Gowon for decision to be taken, it was Clark who challenged the status quo and quipped: “We fought a war to unite Nigeria, if an Igbo man cannot be appointed to head the NNPC after your declaration of 'no victor, no vanquished', Your Excellency, why fight to unite the country? We should have let them to go”. This made General Gowon to give his approval. Clark has a school house named after him in Queens College Onitsha in recognition of his services to the Igbo during and after the Nigerian civil war.

D r. Odili when he attended the Ohaneze Ndigbo meeting in the United States, publicly declared himself an Igbo man. This crisis of identity was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. How do you declare yourself an Igbo man of the South East and at the same time want to use the South-South to achieve your aim of Presidency? This was what pulled the rug from the feet of Dokpesi’s SSPA and dimmed Odili’s aspiration which Nnanna attributed to Clark. Clark’s statements on Tinubu remains sacrosanct because Tinubu once called the President “a drunken fisherman” to desecrate the President’s background. Tinubu should come out to contradict Clark’s claims and he will be surprised at evidences that will confront him. Nnanna’s Dokpesi never believed in our aspiration as a people and wanted to trade our agitation for self economic interest; the backing of Babangida when Jonathan was interested is a pointer, appointing such an individual as Chief of Staff to Jonathan is like putting a snake in one's pocket.

These premeditated attacks will not deter Clark from standing up for truth and justice.

The reference to Governor Uduaghan and James Ibori to score cheap points has been overtaken by events. Today there is no division in Delta State PDP chapter because Clark as an elder statesman has accepted forgiveness and reconciliation as a tool to development.

The constant reference to Chief Clark’s marriage is a ploy to deplete his moral strength. *Mr. Abugo is Media Assistant to Chief E. K. Clark.

20— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 21

Nigerian economy in dysfunctional state — Makanjuola

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

he former Managing Director of Vitafoam, Mr. Bamidele Makanjuola, has blamed the “dysfunctional state of the Nigerian economy and the country in general” on the failure of the country’s leaders to do things the right way.

Speaking at the investiture of Mr. Francis Meshioye, as the seventh Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Makanjuola noted that inability of individuals at the various levels of leadership to do the right thing is mainly because of the fact that they are ill-advised.

He maintained that the dearth of good advisers has plunged the country into backwardness, making it impossible for leaders, both in the public and private sectors of the economy to make good decisions that will help improve the fortunes of the country.

To this end, he stated that members of ICSAN have a huge role to play to salvaging this situation and therefore, help in moving the country forward with their special skills set.

Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza (2nd right); Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Ms Ijeoma Aso (1st right); Director, Clinical Services and Training, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Ayoade Adedokun (1st left); and Head of New Born Unit, LASUTH, Dr Elizabeth Disu, during the presentation of sponsorship cheque for the overseas training of LASUTH doctors and nurses on Neo-Natal care in India.

He called on members of the Institute to show commitment to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy and also to the Insitute.

The new Chairman, Francis

Meshioye, promised to increase and strengthen the Chapter ’s partnership with governments agencies, as well as corporate organisations, non-profit organisations and individuals in the country,

especially in Lagos State, in the area of nation building and also to achieve its set goals.

He said during his tenure, it will strive to ensure that the Institute demand of its members high level of quality

Industrialisation: Stakeholders advocate steel sector revitalisation

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takeholders have called for the revitalisation of Nigeria’s iron and steel sector to boost the industrialisation of the country.

Dr. Muhammad Sanusi, the SecretaryGeneral of African Iron and Steel Association (AISA), said the Federal Government should engage credible organisations in Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) to revitalise steel companies in the country. Sanusi said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that such partnership was necessary to establish a strong industrial base for the country.

“We have been proffering a number of options to the government and the government has its own advisers, advising it on what to do . Eventually, the government decided on the PPP arrangement and I think is a good one, provided the government is serious about seeking partners from reliable and authentic steel experts,’’ he said.

Sanusi said that it was unfortunate that some of those who had been involved in such arrangements in the past had

not been sincere in the implementation of the agreements.

He said some of the partners destroyed equipment in some of the plants, including those in Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi. The secretary-general said that the involvement of the private sector in the industry began in 2003 when the Federal Government invited Solgas Company to run Ajaokuta Steel Company.

He said that Solgas claimed to have three million Dollars to rehabilitate the firm as well as technical and managerial ability to run it. Sanusi said it was later found that the company’s claims were false. He said after the disengagement of Solgas, the Federal Government entered into another agreement with an Indian company – the Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd – which impersonated Steel Expert Company, a well-known multinational steel company in the world.

Sanusi said that few weeks after the

engagement of Global Infrastructure, it was discovered that Steel Expert Company was not involved in the deal. He said the agreement was between the Federal Government and another company, Global Infrastructure Holding Ltd from India.

Sanusi said that Global Infrastructure was registered as a company in Nigeria and in 2008 and that the late President Umaru Yar’Ardua set up a committee to investigate its activities.

He said the contract was terminated after the investigation.

Sanusi said the association recently learnt that Global Infrastructure Company would soon be engaged to take over Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company. “And the Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company was the genesis of efforts leading to the establishment of Ajaokuta Steel Company, as it is the source of the primary raw material for the steel company.

output in all their activities in other to help maintain its reputation.

He further stated that it will embark on community development projects, in line with its goals of imbibing the principles of corporate social responsibility, while also ensuring that it put up structure that will guarantee sustainability in all its activites.

He said, “A past president of of our Institute, in one of his speeches reminded us that the virtue of a chartered secretary and administrator must reflect what today is known as the principles of good corporate governance, namely; honesty, ethics, trust and integrity, openness, performance orientation, responsibility and accountability, mutual respect, commitment to the organisation and the boldness to speak the truth always. I must confess here that I share this same view with him.”

The immediate past Chairman of ICSAN, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Adeyinka Hassan, commended the members for their support during his tenure, noting that the Chapter was able to recorde remarkable achievements due to the support it enjoyed.

According to him, the Institute was, during his tenure, able to establish an advisory and mentoring centre at its secretariat, for prospective students and aspiring chartered secretaries.

He further stated that the Institute was able to uphold cordial relationship with the national body and other state chapters, while its also establish a web and social presence for the chapter.

168.05

-0.75

2,934.00

-16.00

16.63

0.3

109.66

-0.64

102.09

-0.66

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA

154.75 258.123 212.1777 173.8764 1.5102 0.3053 238.3459 RENMINBI 25.4025 RIYA 41.2601 KRONA 28.4279 SDR 238.7638

155.25 258.957 21 2.8633 174.4382 1.5151 0.3153 239.116 25.485 41.3934 28.5197 239.5352

SELLING 155.75 259.791 213.5488 175 1.52 0.3253 239.8861 25.5676 41.5267 28.6116 240.30

CBN Exchange rate as at 03 /03/2014

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Big names to square up at confab

•Junaid

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

A

FTER some lethargy many states last week roused themselves to nominate their delegates to the forthcoming National Conference. In many cases, the states have chosen men with prominent name recognition to champion their causes at the conference.

Retired generals, activists and retired senior government bureaucrats are at the frontline in the talks expected to open this week.

Kano State has the trio of Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, Mallam Sule Hamma, and Hajiya Aishatu Ismail all with well known national recognition as the three delegates nominated by the state government.

Many would have been surprised at the nomination of Dr. Junaidu Mohammed given his unrelenting criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan. The criticisms which have bothered on the personality and personae of the president gave the impression that Junaidu would not participate in anything that has the imprimatur of the president.

A Russian trained medical doctor who cut his teeth in politics in the second republic, Dr. Mohammed gained prominence as a member of the House of Representatives from Kano and was a member of the board of the dissolved Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC when Dr. Jonathan was a staff of the agency.

Hamma on his part is another intellectual who served as the intellectual power base of General Muhammadu

CONFERENCE COVERAGE TEAM Ochereome Nnanna, COORDINATING EDITOR Emmanuel Aziken, POLITICAL EDITOR Soni Daniel, EDITOR, NORTHERN OPERATIONS Clifford Ndujihe; Umoru Henry, CHIEF PLENARY CORRESPONDENTS

•Gambo Buhari’s presidential campaigns. Hamma was the Director General of The Buhari Organisation, TBO. The feminine touch to the Kano delegation is not least political. Haija Ismail was a minister for women affairs and was well acknowledged for her role in mobilizing women during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The delegation from Lagos State is to be led by Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN), a former federal commissioner for works and housing who is reputed to have supervised many of the country’s major highways built during the Yakubu Gowon administration.

Okunnu is a respected voice in the nation who is expected to bring experience and maturity to the advocacy for the interests of Lagos. He is expected

•Bakare to champion the crusade for a special status for Lagos, not least to ensure the maintenance of many of the infrastructure he helped build which are presently in a state of dilapidation.

High powered delegation Adamawa State is coming to the conference with a high powered delegation to be led by the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Jimeta.

The former police boss who quit the stage in the early nineties has from time to time intervened on national issues.

He surprised many two years ago when he hit at some northern elders in the vanguard of the crusade for a Northern

•Anisulowo presidency when he said that some of them were worse than Obasanjo, whatever that meant.

The second man in the delegation is Moses Ngbale, the chairman of the National Agric Extension and Research Liaison, of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The feminine touch to the Adamawa State delegation is in the form of * Hon. Binta Massi Garba, a two term member of the House of Representatives.

An astute politician, Garba had the distinction of being elected into the House of Representatives from two different states, first from Kaduna and subsequently from Adamawa State. A shrewd politician and sometimes with acerbic delivery, Ms Garba could prove Continues on page 32

Kukah flays bigwigs-turned ethnic champions

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

B

ISHOP Matthew Kukah, bishop of Sokoto Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church has flayed the nominations by some ethnic nationalities to the conference saying that Nigeria was being reduced to an ethnic centred nation with no one focusing on the interest of the country.

In an interview with Vanguard, Kukah who was secretary of the National Political Reform Conference in 2005 said it was illogical for people who got to prominence through the collective resource of the nation to be reduced to ethnic champions.

“If you say that Alex Ekwueme should lead Ohaneze Ndigbo, just as another Yoruba man will lead Afenifere, who is going to lead Nigeria? I am amazed and thoroughly embarrassed at this. We have reduced ourselves into ethnic conscious people. And yet all these so called grandstanding is till going to be based on Nigeria’s money. We are saying that somehow people are going to lead different ethnic groups. Does it make sense that at this point in time

•Bishop Kukah that people who have served Nigeria at different levels will suddenly return to their villages to lead processions of people protesting against Nigeria.”

“It is immoral to say that you will be funded by the resources of Nigeria and yet nobody is going to represent Nigeria. What I am seeing is that everybody is representing every little group, none of which is standing on its own. If you want to represent Ohaneze Ndigbo, the

Ijaw or the Yoruba, tell them to fund you and don’t take Nigeria’s money. If I were the President of Nigeria I will say so.”

“All these guys posturing and grandstanding should be asked how they got their education. Where have they been fed from? Is it only now that they have realised that they come from tribes and villages when they had been trained from the resources of this country? Many of them don’t even live in those villages.”

“All the guys making the noise today are stealing Nigeria’s money and funding their children in Europe and America. They stand here and grandstand over the fact that this country is not working. I cant tell you how angry I feel about all these nonsense. And somehow we are supposed to be running a country that has so much promise. It does not make sense. I belong to an ethnic group, we may be small but no body has called us. So which ethnic groups are you talking about? If you insist on ethnic groups, then your ethnic group should sponsor you to the conference.

It is morally wrong that federal government should distribute those resources to ethnic groups and ethnic warlords.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014—31

Niger-Delta leaders seek environmental justice

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

HE National Conference is dear to the people of the South-South region. At the Pan-Niger Delta conference held in Port Harcourt leaders of the region drummed up support for the dialogue, saying it is an ample opportunity for the region to address issues of environmental pollution, neglect and marginalisation by the Federal Government.

Key speakers at the event included eminent History teacher, Professor Ebiegberi Alagoa; Professor Ben Naanen; former President, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Bar Ledum Mitee; former Petro-

to deny the reality of several civil wars of which the Boko Haram episode is one.

On his part, Bar Ledum Mitee called on the government to subject the recommendations of the conference to referendum organised in line with the principle of people’s suffrage as against universal suffrage.

He said a people’s suffrage would give room for the various nationalities in the country to be part of the final document.

Season environmentalist, Reverend Nnimo Bassey in his presentation lamented the high level of pollution in the region a situation he blamed on the failure of governance at the centre. He accused the

This criminal bent continues because the Nigerian Constitution pays scant attention to issues of environmental rights and related injustices

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leum Minister, Chief M. T. Akobo; former President Ijaw National Congress, Professor Kimse Okoko; foremost environmentalist, Reverend Nnimo Bassey; Ms Ann Kio Brigss and Dr Otive Igbuzor.

Chairman of the organising committee of the conference and Executive Director, Social Action, Dr Isaac Osuoka urged the Federal Government to ensure that the conference addresses the defects in the nation’s federalism. He maintained that what the nation parades as democracy at the moment is a subversion of the people’s wish and aspiration.

Flawed structural foundations His words, ''There are primary issues of uncompleted state building that we cannot sweep under the carpet. Nigeria is in crisis arising from flawed structural foundations as originally erected by British colonialists and remodelled by forces of internal domination that have not succeeded considering the happenings in the country. We must rebuild the Nigerian state on a proper foundation of equity and social justice. To ignore the necessity for restructuring is

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Federal Government of not paying attention to portions of the constitution that protect the environment of the Niger Delta.

“The Nigerian state has relied on the revenue that originates from the Niger Delta over the past five decades and finds it difficult to be weaned off this vampire-like grip on the veins of the territory and her people.

The creed appears to be one that sees those who damage

•Ledum Mitee the environment as untouchables because they bake the toxic cake while the people and environment are seen as absolutely dispensable.

“The alliance of the State and oil companies works excellently for both parties and to the detriment of the peoples on whom environmental costs are unashamedly cast.

Environmental rights This criminal bent continues because the Nigerian Constitution pays scant attention to issues of environmental rights

•Ann Kio Briggs and related injustices. In addition, the laws and regulations that ought to defend the people and the environment are often not enforced or are simply ignored,” he said.

Bassey charged the region to harmonise positions contained in various bill of rights in the region for the conference, adding that the region should demand an immediate audit of the entire area “using the UNEP process for the assessment of the environment of Ogoni land as a template” He further called for “closure of operations of default-

ing firms that fail to comply with international best practices, replacement of all pipelines that have exceeded their useful life spans, creation of a Niger Delta Survival Fund (NDSF) which would have two components.

A) Immediate actions in terms of environmental remediation detoxification of our water bodies and lands) and B) A separate account kept for future use to help our people adapt to the coming climate change and other catastrophic changes that have already been set in motion by decades of despoliation.

The 49 wise men who inspired 2nd Republic Constitution The members nominated were: Chief Obafemi Awolowo Alhaji Aminu Kano Dr Pius Okigbo Alhaji Nuhu Bamali Mr Richard Akinjide Dr Ozumba Mbadiwe Alhaji Sule Gaya Alhaji AGF Rasaq Dr. AY Aliyu Dr Christopher Abashiya Professor Sam Aluko Dr Tam S. David-West Mr Mamman Ali Makele Professor Ben Nwabueze Sam Ikoku Mr Bola Ige Mr M.s Angulu Professor E.U Emovon

The Second Republic process On October 4, 1975, a 50-man committee was set up to draft a new constitution for the country in preparation for the return to democracy in 1979.

Headed by Chief Rotimi Williams, the committee comprised two representatives of the 12 states and prominent people drawn from the Bar, private sector, universities and local government.

Mr Rasheed Gbadamosi Alhaji Femi Okunnu Alhaji Baba Ardo Dr I Ahmed Dr Yusuf Usman Dr Obi Wali Alhaji Shehu Malami Dr E. Edozie Mr Kanmi Isho-Osobu Mr David Dimka Mr P. Balabo Mr Ekanem-Ita Chief I.I Murphy,

Alhaji S.M Liberty DR Kole Abayomi, Dr O. Idris Dr U.O Eleazu Professor Billy I dudley Dr GA Odenigwe Dr. O. Oyediran Mr. Paul Unongo Alhaji Mamman Daura Mr Ibrahim Tahir Dr V Diejemoah Alhaji Ibrahim Imam Dr S Aleyideno

Dr Segun Osoba Alhaji Ahmed Talib Dr O Ikime Alhaji Mamu Tukur Monsignor Pedro Martins

* Chief Obafemi Awolowo, however, declined his nomination and panel was eventually dubbed the 49 Wise Men.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Awo would have supported the Jonathan conference — Pa Fasaronti

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HAT would have been the stance of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the proposal for another National Conference?

One of the surviving disciples of the Yoruba leader, Pa Rueben Fasaronti in an interview gave an inkling on how one of Nigeria’s greatest nationalists would have reacted to the proposal.

Awolowo, it would be recalled had rejected his nomination to the 50 man committee constituted by the military government in 1975 to draft a new constitution. Then his argument was believed to have been the fact that his name was announced on radio with-

For Fasoranti, the national leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Chief Awolowo would have supported the initiative and even participated if he were alive.

He told Vanguard that “Awolowo would have been very much in favour of it because he had always complained that we were a loose confederation and that it was necessary for us to sit down and talk about the modalities for governance.”

“For instance, on resource control, we ought to have a provision where the regions will be independent and make contributions to the centre. He was very much in favour of a federal

,

Awolowo threw his weight behind the redistribution of wealth, narrowing the gap and divide between the rich and the poor

out prior consultation.

Pa Fasaronti, however, discountenanced suggestions that Awolowo would have snubbed the Goodluck Jonathan National Conference.

According to Pa Fasoronti Awolowo was in the forefront of those agitating for a proper restructuring of the country and believed that Nigeria had the capacity for economic growth and selfreliance that was enormous if necessary steps were taken in this direction.

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state, but what we are having now is a quasi system. He would have very much liked it and he would have made his own inputs to the conference.”

His thoughts on restructuring were all encompassing. But public perception of these qualities and prerequisites today a far cry from that envisaged by Chief Awolowo.

Awo, as he was fondly called by his loyalists, had famously stated that, “If rapid political progress is to be made

•Awolowo in Nigeria, it is high time we were realistic in tackling its constitutional problems. Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression.”

Awolowo threw his weight behind the redistribution of wealth, narrowing the gap and divide between the rich and the poor through macro-economic policies, creating opportunities and that government should create an enabling environment for this to occur.

The late sage had warned against the inherent dangers in the present structure of the Nigerian federation where he said that “If a country is unilingual and uni-national, the constitution must be unitary. If a country is uni-lingual or bi-lingual or multi-lingual and also consist of communities,

Big names to square up at confab •Continues from page 30 to be one of the many younger stars of the conference.

Ekiti State, the state with the moniker Fountain of Knowledge is unsurprisingly sending a delegation laced with academics in the persons of Prof. Akin Oyebode, an international law expert, Prof.

Bisi Aina and Dr. Kunle Olajide, secretary of the Yoruba Unity Group.

Also in the delegation are Most Rev. Felix Ajakaiye, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Oba Idowu Babalola, chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Oladeji Fasuan, who was chairman of the defunct Movement for the Creation of Ekiti State.

Osun State is also sending a delegation to be led by Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), a former chief of army staff and subsequently, chief of defence staff in the second republic.

Akinrinade who subsequently endeared himself with the populace with his struggles for democracy was one of the brains behind the agitations of NADECO during the Sanni Abacha regime.

The Ogun State delegation is also spiked with democracy activists including Senator Senator Biyi Durojaiye and Pastor Tunde Bakare. Whatever fears some members of the congregation in Pastor Bakare’s church would have

about the conference affecting the spiritual flow from the pulpit, would be countered by the fact that the pastor had just three years on a similar political escapade which apparently did not do permanent damage to the congregation.

Bakere is bound to be another interesting personality at the summit.

Other members of the Ogun State delegation include former banker turned politician, Mr. Fola Adeola and former Senator Iyabo Anisulowo.

Positive political accommodation Imo State has a delegation led by Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, one of the new breed politicians in the Babangida era who ironically has so far not found positive political accommodation since his adventure in political arena commenced.

The reality about the Abia State delegation remains a mystery. Last week there were indications that the state had constituted a 17 man delegation to represent the interest of the state at the conference. However, Vanguard learnt that those nominated were first nominated last year after President Jonathan indicated his willingness to stage the conference. The Abia State government had immediately developed a super

delegate list of contenders listing among others former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe that also has * Prof. Joe Irukwu * Prof. Anya O. Anya * Prof. Chibuzo Ogbagu- Vice Chancellor of Abia State University * Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, * Gen. Ike Nwachukwu * Prof. Herbert Orji * Air Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe * Dr. Ihechukwu Madubuike- former Health Minister, * Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu - former Finance Minister, * Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, the Secretary to the State Government * Hon. M.A.U. Ohuabunwa * Prof. Uche Ikonne, Deputy Vice Chancellor [Academics] Abia State University. * Chief Emma Adiele * Dr. Eme Okoro, * Elder Emma Adaelu * Chief Chukwu Wachukwu * Lady Bridget Nwankwo - former commissioner in old Imo state The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA is the only one of the major political parties to have announced its delegation to the conference.

Those announced are Chief Chris Ejike Uche - Deputy National Chairman (South) and Dr. Sagir Auwal Maidoya - National Secretary.

which over a period of years, have developed divergent nationalities, the constitution must be federal and the constituent states must be organized on the dual basis of language and nationality.”

In addition, he argued that, “If a country is bi-lingual or multi-lingual, the constitution must be federal and the constituent states must be organized on a linguistic basis. Any experiment with a unitary Constitution in a bi-lingual or multi-national country must fail in the long run”.

Don’t come back home if you don’t pursue Yoruba agenda — Yoruba delegates warned

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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ORUBA delegates to the forthcoming National Conference who deviate from the agreed position adopted at the meeting of regional elders last Thursday have been warned not to return home.

Gen. Alani Akinrinade, a former chief of army staff and chief of defense staff who subsequently became a NADECO activist during the Sani Abacha years who was chosen to lead the ethnic nationality gave the warning at the summit of Yoruba elders in Ibadan, Oyo State last Thursday.

Akinrinade while presenting the harmonized position agreed at the summit charged those leaders not chosen to be delegates not to be hurt as he inferred that nomination was a responsibility to champion the agenda agreed at the summit. He, however, cautioned anyone that planned to deviate from the Yoruba agenda not to come back home to the Southwest.

Among the recommendations adopted at the summit were that the Yoruba should pursue the adoption of the parliamentary system of government, regionalism based on the six geopolitical zones and autonomy for the zones among others. It also resolved to push for the reintegration of Yorubas in Kwara and Kogi States into the Southwest.

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Experts worry over menace of rotavirus on Nigeria children ...Call for introduction of routine rotavirus vaccination

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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ESEARCHERS from the Institute for Child Health, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Nsukka, Enugu State, the World Health Organisation and the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria, have raised alarm over the menace of rotavirus-associated diarrhea among hospitalised infants in Nigeria.

The research group who include a host of respected experts such Professor Oyewale Tomori, a professor of Virology at Redeemer's University, Oyo State, and Dr George Armah, Senior Research Fellow & Associate Professor, University of Ghana, recently examined the prevalence of rotavirus in hospitalised children under 5, and found that infants were the most affected in the relatively high incidence of severe rotavirusassociated diarrhea disease in Nigeria.

The study, which is specific to rotavirus, the most common cause of deadly diarrhoea, among children younger than five years in Enugu, Nigeria, painted a gloomy picture of the Nigerian situation.

The researchers noted emphatically that their findings show that there is an urgent need to protect Nigeria’s children from rotavirus.

In their view, “Vaccines offer the best protection, and have been shown to be safe and effective in Africa and around the world.”

In the study entitled “Epidemiology of Rotavirus Diarrhoea among Children Younger Than 5 Years in Enugu, South East, Nigeria”, the urgent need for

introduction of rotavirus vaccine into the national immunisation programme is highlighted.

The findings published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, highlight the urgent need to adequately equip health facilities to enable them administer intravenous fluids to severe diarrhea patients to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Their findings observed that hospitalised children are not likely to be representative of the situation in the communities where health facilities and specialised care are not readily accessible. They recommended a population based study to further evaluate the level and pattern of disease burden in the country.

Noting that Nigeria is a country with wide ethnic diversity and the study is the first evidence-based study in Enugu and Nigeria to determine the burden of rotavirus disease, the researchers noted that, “There is relatively very high burden of severe rotavirus-associated diarrheal disease in the population studied. The disease burden is highest among infants during the dry cooler months of the year. These findings highlight the urgent need for introduction of rotavirus vaccine into the national routine immunisation programme as well as other preventive and improved case management measures,” while remaining optimistic that if Nigeria’s leaders take action, the lifesaving vaccines could be introduced as early as 2015.

Rotavirus vaccines are yet to be included in Nigeria’s immunisation programme, even though many other

• Vaccinators immunising children against vaccine-preventable diseases during one of the ongoing NIDs in the country. Experts say introduction of routine rotavirus vaccination is paramount. sub Saharan African countries such as Malawi and Rwanda have included it in the last two years.

According to the study, more than half (56 percent) of children under 5 hospitalised with diarrheoa were found to have rotavirus. The researchers discovered that almost all (96 percent) of the children were under the age of 2.

According to the result, the percentage of positive cases reported in Enugu was the highest level observed to date by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in Africa. Reports usually indicate that January is the peak month for rotavirus infections — 95 percent of rotavirus cases occurred between December and April.

Hospital records show that diarrhoea is one of the biggest threats Nigeria’s children face—it causes more than 160,000 deaths in children under 5 each year. Rotavirus is responsible for 20-30 percent of these deaths.

Severe rotavirus diarrhoea in children

is a major cause of morbidity globally and mortality in developing countries.

It is estimated to be responsible for at least 453,000 deaths in children below 5 years of age globally and 232,000 in the African region.

It was gathered that the aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis among hospitalised children below 5 years of age in Enugu and to support awareness and advocacy efforts for the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in Nigeria.

Of the 615 diarrhoea stool samples collected, 344 (56 percent) were positive for human rotavirus. Of the 344 positive samples, 329 (96 percent) were children below 2 years of age, while 247 (77 percent) were under1 year of age. Peak rotavirus season occurred during the cold dry months of December to April during which 95 percent of all cases occurred.

Community pharmacists threaten to boycott drugs with MAS logo

By CHIOMA OBINNA

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NDICATIONS have emerged that community pharmacists may henceforth stop the stocking of pharmaceutical products that have the Mobile Authentication Services, MAS, logo authorised by the National Agency for Food Administration and Control’s, NAFDAC, unless there is urgent intervention to reduce the high failure rates being recorded on such products.

The pharmacists have also vowed to stop outright sale of such products should the authorities and the companies whose products are failing refuse to address the problem with immediate effect.

Giving the indications in a chat with Good Health Weekly, Lagos State, Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists, ACPN, Pharm. Aminu Abdulsalam Yinka said that pharmacists are threatening to pull out of what they described as “failed devices” following

continued embarrassment products with MAS have caused some of their members.

He further queried the scientific nature of MAS to authenticate genuine medicines if medicines purchased directly from companies are also recorded as fake by MAS. He said with the high rate of failures being recorded on drugs with MAS, it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that MAS has not been scientifically proven to guarantee safe medicines.

“If nothing urgent is done about the high failure rates, we will immediately ask our members to stop stocking or selling all products with MAS.” “ACPN believes that government should promote policies that would encourage accessibility, availability, affordability and efficacy of medicines in line with the National Drug Policy of 2005.

“We have several occasions raised

questions on the ability of the unscientific MAS to authenticate genuine medicines. The truth is now emerging as many companies are now promoting their own products as fake through MAS. “This development has embarrassed many of our members who sourced their medicines genuinely. This situation is unacceptable. If NAFDAC and the companies are not looking at our own side of the story and develop a way to solve the problem, then we shall consider such as tyrannical.

“With all efforts of NAFDAC on fake medicines, from enforcement of NAFDAC number to hologram, use of truscan and lately MAS, the road to reducing the extent fake products circulating in Nigeria is obviously not clear, this is because the markets for fake products have continued to increase geometrically unchecked,” he stated.

Lamenting that efforts to checkmate fake drugs have been on while little or

nothing on what he described as “major factor, environment”, he called on NAFDAC to collaborate with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, PCN, to make sure that Nigeria is rid of fake drug outfits. “Reports have shown that many of the fake medicines are abounds in those illegal premises.”

He added that rather than to play to the gallery with the use of alleged failed devices, the Federal Tax Force established by counterfeit and fake drugs and wholesome processed food decree 25 of 1999 neglected over the years should be revamped and made to work as it was done in the past with success.

“The way and manner medicines are distributed call for concerned. It is going to be difficult to control circulation of medicines if medicines are sold in unapproved places or hawked both in the day and at night. The issue of environment should be addressed,” he stressed.

42—Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 4, 2014 TUESDA

NHIS boss tackles staff indiscipline

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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EWLY appointed Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas showed his no-nonsense side Friday last week when he ordered members of his staff back to work after they closed before the stipulated closing time.

Thomas was returning to his office in Utako District, Abuja from an official engagement around 3.00pm, when he observed some members of staff stepping out of the NHIS premises as he drove in.

Surprised at the development which he described as a gross act of indiscipline, Thomas reportedly ordered the errant workers back to their duty posts.

“I will not tolerate this act of gross indiscipline. Henceforth, nobody goes home until the official closing hour,” he directed, promptly ordering the security crew to shut the main gates until the official closing time.

The incident occurred a day after the new ES locked out staff who reported late for work at the Wuse, Abuja branch of the Scheme.

It was gathered that Thomas who unexpectedly turned up at the branch without prior notice, was not pleased to discover that several workers were yet to be at their duty posts as at 8.00am.

The ES/CEO promptly ordered the main gate to be shut while he waited for the late comers, who on arrival, were shell- shocked to find their boss manning the gate.

Thomas, who expressed dismay at their lackadaisical conduct, admonished all NHIS staff to desist, henceforth, from late-coming but rather, conduct themselves as exemplary symbols of transformation through which the civil service can reclaim its lost glory and respect. The NHIS is no more business as usual where workers can stroll in at will, he warned.

A cardio-thoracic surgeon from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. Idi Araba, Lagos and former Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Thomas was recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to reinvigorate the National Health Insurance Scheme for

• Dr. Femi Thomas wider acceptability and efficient service delivery.

Since assuming office, he has expressed commitment to attaining the universal coverage target. This, he said,

could only be achieved by driving high level professional conduct, punctuality across all cadres of the organisation’s zonal formations and innovative service delivery premised on people and knowledge.

Since he resumed office, the new ES/ CEO has initiated various aggressive initiatives to raise workers’ esteem in the scheme and restore public confidence as well. He has made his intentions clear to fully expedite action on the universal coverage mandate given by President, Goodluck Jonathan to ensure all Nigerians are covered and can access quality healthcare on the NHIS enrolee platform.

Thomas called for dedication to achieve the universal coverage mandate target while emphasising his resolve against tardiness and acts capable of derailing his vision for the scheme.

Assuring better staff motivation through creative incentives, he said the present era of management was aimed at boosting staff morale and self-esteem.

• Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Maina Zainab chatting with Taraba State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Batulu Mohammed, Commissioner Women Affairs, Abia State, Mrs. Bridget Nne Nwaejike and Commissioner, Women Affairs, Delta State, Chief Mrs. Betty Efekodha, during a sensitisation workshop on Maternal and Child Health for State Commissioners and Directors of Women Affairs and Child Development in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

SWOGE makes case for cervical cancer

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HE Society for Women and GirlChild Empowerment SWOGE has charged the Federal Government to stop paying lip service to the threat posed by cervical cancer in women and girls.

SWOGE says the extended impact of the disease is undervalued when setting health priorities.

“Of the energy and resources put in by government on HIV/AIDS, if 20 percent is given to cervical cancer, this should help wipe it out. It is the only cancer for now that has a vaccine, and if the vaccine can be given at an early age to girls aged 8-9, then the fight is already won.”

SWOGE founder, Lauretta Anaza said: “Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers, since it takes many years to develop from detectable precursor lesions. Early detection and treatment intervention has been used in many developed countries by well-organized programs over the years and this has resulted in a remarkable reduction in mortality and morbidity from cervical cancer.

Chinyere Remi, Programme Officer, SWOGE noted: “As long as one is within the reproductive age, cervical cancer may just be at work. Our mothers in rural areas and even those in urban slums where sex workers abound are more vulnerable because they don’t have access to adequate information.”

• Cervical cancer screening.

Immunisation: Lagos targets 4.8m children

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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S the first round of 2014 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) campaign rounds up today, no fewer than 4,795,312 under-five children were targeted in Lagos.

The campaign held simultaneously in other states of the Federation, between March 1 and 4, 2014.

The immunisation campaign is to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to be vaccinated against preventable childhood killer diseases such as poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, diphteria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis, yellow fever and measles.

Speaking in Lagos, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina said Lagos State had completed all arrangements, including availability of the bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), to ensure successful campaign.

Adeshina stressed that polio vaccine is very safe and well tolerated by children.

• Governor Babatunde Fashola She hinted that already, vaccinators have been trained to give only two drops of the OPV vaccine into the child’s mouth, followed by the marking of the left little finger of the child.

“The service is free and the vaccine effective. All children ages 0-59 months will receive OPV, irrespective of their

previous immunisation status.”

The nationwide exercise is in collaboration with the Federal Government, United Nations and other development partners. While Lagos has not recorded any case of Wild Polio Virus since last December 2013, the continuous immunisation exercise is important, especially for its prevalence in Northern part of the country (53 cases recorded in 2013) and daily influx of migrants into Lagos.

“The state continues to address, among others, the challenges associated with a huge number of migrants on daily basis, which contributes in no small measures to the number of un-immunised children.

“But as parents, caregivers, guardians, community leaders and rulers, we should ensure that all under-five children living in our environment are adequately immunised as cases of rejection by parents and caregivers constitute a risk to other children in the same neighbourhood.

“This four-day campaign, targeting 4,795,312 children less than five years of age would be implemented by 2,174

house-to-house teams, 1,712 transit and 752 fixed/transciently fixed post teams.

“Children at homes, markets, churches, mosques, major car parks and social event venues would be specifically targeted. The house-to-house and transit components of these teams will administer only OPV to children aged 0-59 months. These teams will also encourage the eligible children in the houses to visit the immunisation posts for the other antigens, which will be offered to such children based on their immunisation status.”

The responsibility of children immunisation is not that of the parents and caregivers alone, but rest on everyone to ensure that our children are fully covered.

She called on leaders in the community, politicians, councillors, traditional leaders and religious leaders to take full responsibility in ensuring that every child in their community receives polio antigen during this campaign and other scheduled immunisations. The next round of the campaign exercise will hold in April 2014.

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‘Excellence Award will reduce brain drain’

By CHIOMA OBINNA

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HE maiden edition of the Nigerian Health Care Excellence Awards, NHEA, would not only provide a virile platform for proper recognition in the health sector, but checkmate brain drain in the nation’s health sector.

The award which is recognized by the Federal Ministry of Health and other professional and regulatory health bodies, is initiated by the Global Health Project and Resources, GHPR, in partnership with Anadach Group, USA. Project Coordinator, Dr. Shola Alabi, disclosed that 43 individuals and organisations have been nominated for the various corporate and individual categories listed for recognition.

“NHEA is aimed at acknowledging positive development in the health sector and the ability of individuals and corporate organisations to promote change and herald quality performance in Nigeria and globally.”

Alabi noted that the award by celebrating success, growth and development would reduce the brain drain in the health system. Specifically, the award was instituted due to the discovery of massive brain drain to countries like India.

“We believe that when you celebrate success, professionalism amongst others, Nigerians seeking for healthcare will know where to go and professionals would no longer go abroad in search of greener pastures and Nigeria will no longer lose huge money to medical tourism but rather become a tourism destination of choice.”

As the event holds March 21 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, it is expected to focus on elevated performance; creation of new business models;

embracing new trends; market leadership; inspirational performance, etc.

Promoter of the awards, Dr. Lanre Alabi, said: “It has a total of 16 categories including; the Lifetime Achievements Award, Outstanding State Government Health care Programme of the Year, Outstanding CSR Health Project of the Year, Health care Media Excellence, Private Health care Provider of the Year, Public Health care Provider of the Year, Laboratory service provider of the Year, and Radiology Service Provider of the Year, among many others.

Experts urge action to transform health sector

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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HE Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, HFN, has called for a coalition of Nigerian private health sector stakeholders to promote and enhance medical care in the country.

President of the organisation, Mrs. Clare Omatseye, made the call during a consultative Forum organised by HFN in Lagos.

Omatseye said that there was the need for unified healthcare professionals to improve patient care and foster positive changes in the health system.

•L-R: Adesimbo Ukiri ,MD/CEO AVON HMO, Abiodun Thorpe, Lead Consultant RainyLemon Ltd, Noble Igwe, CEO 360 Nobs and Owen Omogiafo, Director, Human Resources, Heirs Holdings during the Social Media Week, Lagos held recently at the Four Points Hotel, Lagos.

“A recent report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said that the private sector is responsible for the provision of 60 per cent of the healthcare services in Nigeria. But the health sector is faced with many challenges ranging from multiple taxation, finance, poor enabling environment, inconsistent regulations and policies”.

“Poor incentives for investors, lack of confidence of the general populace in the Nigerian healthcare system and many other problems. All these challenges hindered quality healthcare and there is also an increase in demand for quality and affordable healthcare by citizen in the light of growing burden of non-communicable diseases.”

“We can resolve these problems when we reduce the fragmented nature of our private healthcare system at present and speak with one voice on major national healthcare issues,” she said.

Dr Festus Oshoba, the National Secretary, Guild of Medical Director said that there is an absence of a robust Public-Private Partnership policy to protect private investors in healthcare.

Oshoba said there was the need to transform the private healthcare sector and build a robust tertiary healthcare system. “The private sector investor requires fiscal and non- fiscal incentives like tax exemptions, duty waivers, and access to affordable finance. “Also passing of enabling health legislation before the National Assembly which will create a basic framework for sustainable healthcare delivery and set standards for healthcare services and healthcare providers, “he said.

The HFN comprises Nigerian private health sector stakeholders with the purpose of improving the Nigerian health sector through advocacy.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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OMETIMES when I am having intercourse I hear sounds that feel as if I am farting from my vagina.

Should I be worried? Hauwa There is no need to worry. Those sounds occur as a result of air displacement, especially when the man is coming from behind – Uche Please can a pheromone be effective when one has other things they are using that are scented such as body cream, roll on and perfume? John Yes pheromones can still be effective but if you are using a pheromone perfume like the Yes pheromone Cologne, you don’t need to wear an additional perfume on top of that – Uche I am 30 years old and experiencing poor erection and very quick ejaculation. Please what do I do? I want to know the recommended drugs for this if any. Please I need urgent answer as I am about to marry and need my manhood to be strong and last long enough to satisfy her. Thanks – Seyi Seyi, for your age, it is too early to panic. Age related erectile dysfunction is an ailment suffered by older men and it is usually caused by the limited supply of blood to the erectile tissues of the penis due to shrinking veins. So if you experience weak erection once in a while, it won’t be serious. Alcohol, hard drugs, depression and anxiety can all affect a man’s sexual ability and performance. If that is the case with you, simply changing your mental state and the stimulants you may be taking can restore your erection to its normal healthy state. But if you are diabetic, hypertensive or have undergone nerve or arterial damage due to surgery, then you have got a major problem on your hands. Men with such health problems can still get help with the use of the right aphrodisiacs but your doctor must approve.

Supplements like Exploding Thunder and Stiff 4 Hours have helped a lot of people with similar problems.

As for your premature ejaculation, there are many

ways to approach it. The use of ointments that prolong intercourse is one option. If you choose to go with that, then get the Prolonging Delay Cream or Rock Hard Delay Cream. There are many of such ointments out there. You can also wear a penis sleeve to help control your quick ejaculation. The Nasstoys Penis Extender and the Cyber Skin Transformer are both examples of penis sleeves you can wear to last longer. They also make the penis appear much bigger than it actually is, which men like. There are also condoms and wipes that can help you such as the Pasante Delay Condom and the Sex on the Go Delay wipes. So you can get help for this in a variety of ways – Uche Are there risks involved in the use of a vibrator for a woman and which vibrators do you recommend? Ify A vibrator is a plastic stimulator and when used with a lubricant, there are no risks involved. Are you allergic to rubber or plastic? If you are not then you have nothing to worry about. If you are looking for a really good vibrator to use, go for the Remote Control rabbit Pearl or the Jelly Chocolate Wall banger – Uche Sometimes I use cooking oil as a lubricant when I don’t get wet. Is it okay? It works for me – Silifat There are women who use cooking oil as well. If it is good enough for food, it is certainly not a health risk but I don’t advice using oil based lubricants. Oil based lubricants are more difficult to wash off afterwards especially because they enter inside the body. So use water base lubricants instead. The Swiss Navy Water Based Lubricant is a good example – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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Ebonyi community gets electricity first time ever

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

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HEN stories about lack of infrastructural facilities in most communities in Nigeria are made public through the media, some misguided politicians often believe that such reports are sponsored by their political opponents to undermine them.

The discovery of Okpuma in Amangwu community in Edda East Development Centre of Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi State has not only revealed the pitiable condition of rural dwellers, but also the need for the Federal Government to sustain the existence of the third tier system of government in the country.

Until recently, nobody knew that the people of Okpuma in Amangwu community in Edda East Development Centre had never enjoyed public power supply since their community came into existence. But the story changed when Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State appointed Mr Kenneth Eseni as the Coordinator of the development centre in the area.

Mr Eseni who is a journalist and former General Manager in

,

supply in the area as the contractor handling the project has assured of not only completing the electrification project on time but also promised steady power supply in the area within the first week in the month March, 2014. ”This community never had electricity since the creation of the world. They have never had light all through their history; since the creation of humanity, this community has never seen public electricity. It is not that they had light and it went down; they have never seen public electricity; whatever light they have seen is through power generating sets. ”We are taking this light from the high tension that is running from Amasiri down to Amangwu because we feel that this community has been so long neglected by previous administrations and we feel that their socio-economic life needed be turned around.

Connecting to the national grid: ”Since Amangwu community where Okpuma belongs to already has light, it is just morally justifiable that we give Okpuma light; connecting them to the national grid, and after this

This community never had electricity since creation; they have never had light all through their history; they have never seen public electricity

charge of South East operations of Daar Communications Plc, operators of Africa Independent Television, AIT, Raypower and Daarsat, is of the school of thought that developmental initiatives and provision of infrastructural facilities should not be concentrated in a particular geographical zone but rather allowed to spread evenly across all nooks and crannies of the state.

According to investigations

by Vanguard Metro, VM, the community had suffered repeated marginalisations in the hands of previous administrations who were only interested in their votes during electioneering campaigns rather than actualising their campaign promises.

In a chat with VM, Mr. Eseni who stated that the council approved the sum of N9 million for electrification project, stressed that arrangements were being made for the people of Okpuma in Amangwu community to get public power

,

project we are moving power to Asaga from Amangwu; we are extending it from the high tension from Amangwu to Asaga via Owutu. ”We have for some time now seen that Owutu took light from the Unwana axis and the power supply there has been quite epileptic to the extent that for several months, they don’t have light. The Amasiri-Amangwu route is more reliable and our people are clamouring for a better power supply. That is why our administration through the directive of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi has concentrated much of our capital into this kind of project. ”We see rural electrification as a key project that will turn around the economy of Edda East development centre and that is why we intend extending it from Amangwu through Asaga to Owutu and of course we will move into other parts of Edda east development centre.

I can assure you that this

*Electricity project at Okpuma project will be completed after the next ten days.

Capital intensive projects: ”We identify the projects we want to execute and do appropriate costing and also categorise them so as to know those that are capital intensive and those that are routine. Maintenance of roads are routine projects, so we don’t really see them as capital intensive. Now from day one, we started saving; like this electrification project that is N9 million, you can’t just remove the cash from the monthly allocation at once, so we have to save it”.

Expressing joy over the electrification project, a community leader in the area, Sunday Ogbonnaya, stated that the project was a welcome development against the backdrop that the community had over the years been marginalised and excluded from both local and state governments’

interventions projects.

Ufulfilled campaign promises: ”Previous administrations have been coming to us with their campaign promises without fulfilling them but this young man between one to three months in office said enough was enough on lack of power in our community.

Democracy dividend ”I’m very happy over this project; I say this project is sweeter than sugar for us in this community; we are happy. I’m reminding those in political office to emulate what our Coordinator is doing for us here. The Coordinator has brought democracy dividend to us and we are happy. Politicians occupying various positions should use their office to assist the poor and downtrodden masses like you. We are located at the boundary between

Afikpo North and South LGAs of the state. ”With this light, water will come; the youths and aged among us have promised that the materials will be secured; we are 100 percent prepared to ensure that all the materials for this project are adequately protected,” he assured.

In his remark, the Consultant handling the electrification project, Ogbonnaya Oko expressed hope that with the pace of work, the project will be completed within the first week of March 2014. ”I think by Saturday, the job will be completed; we have made consultations with the Enugu distribution company for other necessary logistics, so that power will get to the people. I want to assure them that by next week there will be power supply in this locality”.

Niger Delta violence: US govt launches conflict mitigation

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

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HE US Consulate General in partnership with the US Department of State Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation Operations, CSO, recently launched a conflict mitigation initiative in the Niger-Delta region.

The new legacy, which will ensure a nonviolent activism, is expected to stabilise the resource-rich Niger-Delta, a region noted to be the economic engine of the country, and the US, through a core group of Nigerian civic leaders and activists has declared a strong interest in supporting the country’s effort towards achieving a peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria.

Although the region is historically prone to violence, the absence of a social contract at the local level, coupled with poor public service delivery, youth unemployment, environmental degradation, upcoming national and statelevel elections, in addition to the planned end

of amnesty, leave the region vulnerable to renewed conflict.

It is noted that by reducing this vulnerability, which is in the interests of both the US and Nigeria government, the issue of violence in the Niger-Delta region would be addressed and Nigeria would have succeeded in inspiring growth and improvement through such supported efforts.

Interestingly, a large number of Nigerians are striving for a future of peace and prosperity in the NigerDelta, including journalists and religious leaders, and theUSgovernmentalsohopestoplayacatalyticrolein the region to assist in reducing the likelihood of mass violence in the region in the next 2 years.

And by partnering with Nigerians who are already shapingthiscourse,theUSgovernment,throughsupported efforts from the community and government willensureimpactfultrackingfrequencyandintensity of violence using open source, ‘big data’ tools.

They would also conduct SMS and in-person surveys to measure attitudes and behaviour regarding violence,activism,andgovernmentresponsivenessin order to break the cycles of violence in the NigerDelta.

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By Theodore Opara

Mercedes Benz S-Class and new benchmarks S

ELECTING the luxu ry car of the year for 2013 was not a very difficult task for the Nigerian auto journalists. The SClass simply stood out and when it was announced at the Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, the audience applauded the decision of the judges. No one faulted the judgement.

And the S-class took the crown.

From the onset, the SClass has carved a niche for itself as the preferred luxury car model in Nigeria, a position it has maintained for decades.

As a pacesetter in the luxury car segment, the Mercedes Benz S-Class has even broadened the gap with it new innovative models - the new S-500 plug-in Hybrid, the S-500 Intelligent Drive and the S63 AMG,which it unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany late last year.

Though nothing is impossible in today’s automobile world, Mercedes Benz with its S-Class has been breaking new barriers. How on earth would you believe that an S-Class could cover 100 kilometes with just three litres of fuel? This has become possible with the new S500 plug-in Hybrid.

The S-Class as a three litre per 100 kilometres car sound like a dream. The third Hybrid sets new benchmarks with regard to efficiency as well as drivesystem and climate comfort.

With 69g C02 per kilometre (3 litre/100km) the S-Class sets new benchmark for luxury saloon that just a few years ago was thought impossible. The 80-kw electric drive with externally rechargeable battery make emission-free driving for about 30 kilometres possible. It combined with the new 3.0 litre V6 turbo charged engine.

With the new S-Class, Mercedes Benz expands the hybrids line-up in this model series to three models: the S400 Hybrid, S300 Blue Tec Hybrid and S500 plug-in Hybrid.

According to Prof. (Dr) Thomas Weber, responsible for the Daimler Board of management for Group Research and Head of Mercedes Benz cars product Engineering “with the S500 plug-in Hybrid Mercedes Benz sets another milestone on the road to emission-free mobility on the basis of our modular hybrid matrix.”

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•Mecedes Benz S-Class

• S-Class interior

“In this way the S-Class turns into a genuine threelitre car with generous space and superlative drive-system comfort.”

Another Feat

Also, when it sent its S500 Intelligent Drive research vehicle along an historic route in August 2013, Mercedes Benz became the first motor manufacturer to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous driving on both inter-urban and urban routes.

The route in question, covering about 100 kilometres or so from Mannheim to Pforzheim (Germany), retraced that taken by motoring pioneer Bertha - Benz exactly 125 years ago when she boldly set off on the very

first long distance drive. In the heavy traffic of the 21st century, the self-driving SClass had to deal with number of complex situations – traffic lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and trams.

According to Mercedes Benz the trailblazing success was not achieved using extremely expensive special technology but with the aid of near- production – standard technology, very similar to that already found in the new E and S-Class.

The project thus marks a milestone along the way that leads from the self-propelled (automobile) to selfdriving (autonomous) vehicle.

Another Benchmarks is the new Mercedes Benz

S63 AMG. The new Mercedes Benz S63 AMG also raised driving performance in the luxury segment. Mercedes Benz unleashed the new S63 AMG, the most power-

ful high performance saloon in the luxury segment sets new standards in terms of driving dynamics, lightweight construction and efficiency. The AMG 5.5 V8 biturbo engine – the most

powerful member of the BlueDirect engine family with an output of 430kw (585hp) and torque of 900Nm delivers effortlessly superior performance.

Thanks to systematic lightweight construction based on the AMG lightweight performance philosophy, the S63 AMG is up to 100 kilometres lighter than its predecessor. A combination of an efficient drive system and reduced weight result in an NEDC combination fuel consumption of 10.1 to 10.3 litre per 100 kilometres.

The new S63 AMG is also available with performanceoriented AMG all-wheel drive system 4 Matic as an option for the first time. This not only enhance traction – the S63 AMG represents a new dimension in driving dynamics in its segment.

The design, equipment and appointments of the S63 meet the highest standards in term of high-class appeal, quality and perfection.

We place enormous value on CSR — BriscoeFord

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RISCOEFORD, an authorized Ford dealer in Nigeria has received the 2013 CSR Company of the year Award from the Guild of Motoring Correspondents, an umbrella body of Motoring Journalists in Nigeria. It was a night of pomp and pageantry for the automobile

stakeholders who trooped in their numbers to be part of the epoch making event at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The event was attended by stakeholders in the industry, including Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State.e Reacting to the

award, the Managing Director/CEO of R.T. Briscoe Nigeria PLC, Mr. Seyi Onajide, expressed gratitude to the organizers for recognizing the enduring efforts of both R.T. Briscoe Nigeria PLC and Ford Motor Corporation in giving back to the society where they operate.

54 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Crimea: Russia order complete military action R USSIA’s Parliament has given President Vladmir Putin the legal backing to take complete military operation in Crimea as us, France, Britain continue to threaten action against Kremlin.

President Putin has ordered the Russian Navy to have “complete operational control” of Crimea, amid condemnations from U.S. and G7 leaders that condemned Russia’s action as “clear violation” of Ukraine’s sovereignty. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Kiev today while Ukrainian PM says Russian actions are “a declaration of war.”Kiev mobilized troops and called up military reservists in a rapidly escalating crisis that

Former Ukraine's Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko has raised fears of a conflict.

And world leaders pushed for a diplomatic solution.

In a post on his official Facebook page, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the recent ouster of Ukrainian

President Viktor Yanukovych a “seizure of power.”

“Such a state of order will be extremely unstable,” Medvedev said. “It will end with the new revolution.

With new blood.”

Kenya celebrates actress' Oscar win

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OU are the pride of Africa,” Kenya’s president exclaimed on Twitter as he celebrated Kenya’s first major Oscar win by actress Lupita Nyong’o.

Nyong’o was the topic of the day on Kenya’s radio and TV stations Monday, the day after her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress in the movie “12 Years A Slave.”

At a conference at the United Nations headquarters in Nairobi, more than 300 people broke out into applause after Wanjira

Lupita Nyong’o accepts the award for best actress in a supporting role for “12 Years a Slave" Maathai — the daughter of the late Kenyan Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai — mentioned her mother and Nyong’o in the same sentence.

“We all had hoped of course that she would win. Everybody feels a sudden attachment to her, she’s a Kenyan woman,” Maathai said in an interview later. “A lot of her work, a lot of her experience in film started in Kenya.”

Nyong’o, 31, was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents but was mostly raised in Kenya. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Nyong’o had starred in several productions in Kenya before landing her breakout role alongside Brad Pitt.

Uganda’s Anglican Church considers break with mother church

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HEAnglican Church of Uganda said yesterday it may consider breaking away from their mother church in England if it puts Uganda under pressure over a tough new antihomosexuality law.

“The issue here is respect for our views on homosexuality, same sex marriage as a country and church. If they are not willing to listen to us. We shall consider being on our own,” Uganda’s top Anglican, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, told AFP. “Homosexual practice is incompatible with scripture, and no one in the leadership of the church can legitimise same sex unions or homosexuality,” he said, urging the “governing bodies of the Church of England to not

take the path advocated by the West”.

“If they do we shall have no choice but to be on our own,” he said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last week

signed a bill into law which holds that “ repeat homosexuals” should be jailed for life, outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and requires people to report on homosexuals.

Zimbabwe backs Uganda’s anti-gay law

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IMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has thrown his weight behind Uganda’s draconian anti-gay laws and hinted at a crackdown on gays in his own country, state media reported Monday.

He castigated the West for punishing Kampala

with aid cuts after President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill that banned homosexuality in the east African country.

“They (the West) want to tell us... that it’s a violation of human rights, that is what they are doing to Museveni right now,” Mugabe said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 —55

Menace of Omo-Oniles Home ownership mortgage scheme to the rescue

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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UE to the stress associated with building and owning a property in Lagos, many residents of the city have given up hope of ever owning a house of their choice.

Tocompoundtheproblem,themenace of land grabbers popularly called Omo-Oniles is on the increase and this has discouraged many would-be property owners.

Indeed, some people have, in the process, either been maimed, killed or sent back to their villages due to various atrocities perpetrated by the hoodlums at building sites.

During Vanguard Home and Property's visit to some construction sites, some property owners complained bitterly about the menace of Omo-Oniles, alleging that they have made developers a ‘spinning machine’. According to them, these omo-oniles visit the sites at will to demand several unauthorised levies such as owo foundation, owo lintel, owo roofing, owo atunta-ile and owo receipt ( levy for foundation , lintel levy, roofing levy, ratification fee and payment for receipt), to mention but a few.

A lady who identified herself as Faith Alfred told H/P that her mother-in law, Madam Serifat Owoeye, was murdered when some land grabbers engaged her community in a tussle. In a related development, another victim of the omo-oniles, Mr. Johnson Orilowo, told H/P that he was deprived of two plots of land which

*Standard apartments under the scheme he bought, although he paid for them on installments.

A former resident of Igando in the Igando -Ikotun Local Council Development Area, Mr. Bernard, said he will live to remember a recent event which led to the premature death of his wife. The family had gone to inspect the work going on in their site when suddenly they discovered some new faces at the site. The strange persons warned them to steer clear of the property or be prepared for the consequences.

Apparently annoyed by this threat, the deceased who was identified as Maureen, challenged the

people. The ensuing scuffle led to her death.

Until her death,Maureen was described as hypertensive.

Residents of Unity area of Bayeku in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area also have bitter tales to tell about land grabbers.

The residents of the community are presently at logger-heads with the omo-onilesover land sales and acquisition.

Succour, however, seems to be underway for Lagos residents following the launch of the Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, HOMS. HOMS is a government initiative to encourage and support home ownership of first-time buyers, FTBs. The scheme will enable Lagos residents to purchase decent and affordable homes through the provision of mortgage finance as ad-

ministered by the Lagos Mortgage Board, LMB. The scheme stipulates that applicants must be first time buyers of property; must be residents in Lagos and will be required to provide proofs or submit copies of their Lagos State Residents Registration Card where applicable. Also, an applicant must be 21 years old and above and a proven tax payer. The prospective home owner must be able to make the 30 per cent down payment (equity contribution) with monthly repayments.

With the take-off of the scheme barely two weeks ago, the state government said it has provided 4,620 housing units in various sizes. They range from a one-bedroom flat to the four- bed room units.

While many Lagosians applauded the gesture as one that

would bail residents out of the rigours often associated with conventional building acquisition, others urged government to ensure security in such locations as well as make the roads leading to them motorable.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said the step was a bold approach in solving the housing deficit in the State. ‘’As a mega city with 21million people, Lagos is the smallest in terms of land mass but harbours more than 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population. As a result, there is need for shelter and we know we can solve the problem through creativity,’’ Ibirogba said, adding that for the initiative to be meaningful, it must get to those who need it. ‘’It is not for Shylock commercialisation or money bag politicians,’’ he added.

Environment, Communications ministries sign pact on EIA in telecom sector

BY FUNMI OLASUPO

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HE Federal Ministry of Environment and its Communications counterpart have signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU aimed at improving and facilitating service delivery in the telecom sector in the country.

Supervising Minister of Environment, Mr.Darius Ishaku, an architect signed on behalf of the Ministry, while Mrs. Omobola Johnson initialed the agreement for the Communications Ministry.

Vanguard Homes and Property gathered that under the agreement, all telecom operators currently in violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment EIA regulation, will now pay the specified non-compliance and administrative fees to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency. NESREA, after which, all related pending cases in court should be withdrawn, and affected sites reopened within 48 hours of payment. Remedial actions are being taken to address identified violations.

Similarly, all base stations that predate the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication and Broadcast facilities Regulations No.11 of 2011, which are in violation of the Nigerian Communication Commission’s Guidelines, should be referred to the NCC for appropriate remediation.

Furthermore, all base stations sites that were in existence prior to the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication and Broadcast Facilities Regulations No 11 of 2011 that are in compliance with NCCs Guidelines should be reopened, provided they are not in violation of the Environmental Impact assessment, E.I.A Act. The agreement also provides for the setting up of an inter-ministerial standing committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Communications Commission charged with the responsibility of handling issues arising from location of telecom base stations and related matters.”

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Fashola meets lawmakers over dwindling federal allocation

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, met briefly with members of the state House of Assembly and expressed worry over the dwindling monthly federal allocation to various states as well as what he called Federal government’s uncoordinated fiscal policies.

Fashola, in an impromptu meeting with lawmakers at plenary, stressed that the situation called for urgent attention.

He declared that the National Economic Council meeting which ought to be held on monthly basis had not been held for six months.

According to him: “In almost 14 years of our democratic experience, the first time that commissioners for finance worked out of Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, in Abuja was in 2011."

The governor also recalled that there was a similar occurrence last year, when commissioner of finance walked out during FAAC, when the account could not be reconciled.

While stressing on the decline

in allocation, Fashola explained that some states had resorted to borrowing in an attempt to avoid running the government aground.

Fashola said some of the factors responsible for the decline include uncoordinated, discretionary application of the

federal government on waiver, fiscal policy and also decline on oil production, pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

He explained that Lagos had been able to cushion the effect of the decline through revenue from tax payers and thus had managed not to engage in borrowing except

for special intervention projects.

Responding, the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, commended the governor for; “coming to the House to brief us on what pertains to the future and even our today. We need a lot of time to be able to get to the root of the matter.”

RECEPTION: From left: Former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, Chairman, Ogun State chapter of the PDP, Mr. Adebayo Dayo and Alhaji Agboola Alausa, during a reception for 2,000 defectors into the PDP, at Ado/Odo, Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State.

Parents protest killing of 43 FGC students in Yobe

BY MONSURU

OLOWOOPEJO AGOS—SCORES of parents yesterday stormed the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to protest the killing of students of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi in Yobe State and others who have been killed in the northern region by the Boko Haram.

The aggrieved parents arrived the governor’s office, Alausa early in the day.

The protesters who dressed in black attire, also chanted different elegy to call on the Federal government, state governors and the security agencies in the country to end the insurgency immediately.

Aside the general placard with the inscription: ‘Boko Haram, stop killing our children’, each of the protesters were armed with placards bearing the names of the students.

Some of the names on their placards were: Peter John, Abbas Ibrahim, Musa Y. Buba, Hamadu Bala, Ali Ayuba and others.

The parents under the aegis of Unity Schools Old Student Association, USOSA, lamented that the state of insecurity in the North, had defeated the essence for the establishment of the unity schools in the country.

They explained that the unity schools which they all attended were established to foster unity irrespective of the language, faith, ethnic and tribe and

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development in the country.

One of the protesters, Mrs. Ibiyemi Olufowobi, lamented that her child in one Unity schools in Lagos, was already panicking that his school could be attacked by the group.

Another protester, Mr.

Bestman Izi, explained that they were all graduates of different Unity Secondary Schools, adding; “The only thing we could do was to embark on this protest, to draw the attention of the President, Goodluck Jonathan and the governors of the 36 states

to the plight of the students of these schools.”

Responding, Fashola assured the protesters that he would deliver their message immediately to the president, to expedite action on their demands.

DSS parades 7 suspects over assassination of Sheik Albani Centre, Tudun Wada, Zaria on the spokesperson and a Deputy

BY CHRISOCHAYI

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BUJA—THE Department of State Service, DSS, yesterday, paraded seven members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect who allegedly assassinated Sheikh Auwal Adam Albani at Gwagwaje area of Zaria in Kaduna State over a month ago.

Sheikh Albani, his wife and son were murdered in cold-blood while returning from a preaching session at Markaz Salafiyya

February 1, 2014.

The seven suspected killer gang who confessed to committing the crime told newsmen that they decided to assassinate the Islamic scholar because he divulged the secret of their activities to the state government.

They said they got information that Sheikh Albani submitted some documents to the government in which he reportedly indicted them and exposed their activities as the members of the Boko Haram sect.

Parading the suspects in Abuja,

Director of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, said consequent on the murder, investigation to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime was initiated and between 13 and 21 February, 2014 this Service arrested seven persons involved in the killing of the Sheikh.

She said those arrested are, Yakub Abdullahi, a.k.a Alhaji Bala/Alhaji Kano Yakub Bulunkutu, Ibrahim Shuaibu, a.k.a Kawu Abu Amar, Bilyaminu Usman, Sahabi Ismail, Umar Farouk, Yasir Ibrahim Sallhu and Musa Abubakar.

Lagos ex-Chief Architect's daughter appeals over father's property

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—A daughter of the former Chief Architect of Lagos State, Adesoye Simeon Osinuga has appealed to the state governor, Babatunde Fashola over the revocation of right of occupancy of her late father’s property in Omole Estate, Lagos.

Osinuga during his life time worked with the Lagos State

government under Mobolaji Johnson tenure as the state’s Chief Architect.

In a letter dated May 30, 2013, his daughter, Tobi Osinuga said although approval for his father’s plan to build a duplex was granted by the state government, however he (Osinuga) became psychotic for several years after being severely duped.

She stated further that the development had resulted in her

father under-going psychiatric treatment until he died on July 14th 2011.

According to her; “The letter notifying him of the intention to revoke the landed property was not received because he had not been to the address where he used to live at 4, Little Road, Yaba for over 10 years before his death after which the notice of revocation was received by the family.’’

CBN, IFC partner to promote sustainable banking in Nigeria

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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AGOS—THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and International Finance Corporation, IFC has entered into partnership to drive the implementation of the sustainable banking principles in Nigeria.

CBN said the partnership is a demonstration of the strength of the sustainability agenda in the country.

Speaking at an international sustainable banking forum organized by the two finance bodies in Lagos, Acting governor of CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, said the partnership is an approach to driving socially responsible and sustainable banking.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, she said in a keynote address, that the forum was to upscale knowledge in emerging markets by meeting the needs of today without compromising the opportunities of tomorrow through sustainable banking.

Artiste raises N10m for hole -in-heart baby

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AGOS—SUCCOUR has finally come to Sumaya Olayinka Dali, baby with a hole in her heart as popular Nigerian R&B/ Soul singer, Praiz Adejo has presented a ten million naira (N10 million) cash donation to her parents to cover medical bills for Dali’s postsurgery treatments.

After a successful heart operation in late 2013 to close the hole in Dali’s heart, doctors noted that she would need post-surgery treatments, monitoring and care to keep her alive.

This, however, goaded Praiz who embarked on a fundraising campaign to save the little girl’s life by encouraging mobile phoneuserstosubscribehissingle “Oshe” as a caller tune.

Through this effort, Praiz was able to raise N10 million and the total money was recently presented to Dali’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dali Salaiman Akibu of IkoroduTown,Lagos, forherpostsurgery treatments.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 57

Abia set to hand over Cocoa Estate to private investor

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MUAHIA — ABIA State government has concluded plans with a private investor to take over the ‘Agbozu’ Cocoa Estate at Uzuakoli.

This is contained in a statement issued at the end of a meeting between the government and officials of a Lagos-based firm, Providence Bond Global Resources Limited, in Umuahia.

The statement by the Information Officer of the ministry, Mrs. Ngozi Abel, quoted the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Kenneth Nwosu, as saying that the government had expressed its determination to revive the estate.

It stated that the estate would help create job opportunities and wealth for the host communities and the state in general, when resuscitated.

The commissioner assured the investors that the government would provide the enabling environment and support to ensure their success.

Ex-S/E CAN chairman delighted over airlift of pilgrims from Akanu Ibiam Int'l Airport

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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MMEDIATE PAST Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South-East zone, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, has expressed delight over the regular use of Akanu Ib-

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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N EFFORTS to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, for 2015, the Japanese government and two non-governmental organisations, NGOs, yesterday, signed a grant of N34 million for the provision of two projects for Agyana and Pagada communities in Abaji and Gwagwalada local government areas in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The two NGOs, Love-NCompassion of Nigeria and Doma Educational Development Foundation, are to implement school construction and cassava projects at Pagada 2 and Agyana respectively.

Speaking at the signing of the deal, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project, GGP, in Abuja, the Japanese Ambassador to NIgeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, said the projects were initiated to make the lives of the people better.

Easter pilgrimage to Israel that the airport had become international, having played host to the fourth airlift.

The pilgrims terminal was built by immediate past Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, and Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, represented President

INSPECTION: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, arriving at Federal Government Girls' College, on an inspection of fire incident, in the school premises, in Umuahia.

FG says it's determined to reshape Imo Airport

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Japan gives 2 NGOs N34m grant for grassroots development projects

iam International Airport Enugu as take-off point for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Bishop Chukwuma, who is also the Bishop of Enugu Diocese of the Anglican Communion, said in Enugu, weekend, after the ceremonies to mark the departure of Anambra pilgrims to this year’s

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WERRI — THE Federal Government has expressed its determination to ensure that on-going work at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, SMICA, Owerri, was completed according to specifications and on schedule.

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, who doubles as the Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom, gave the assurance, yesterday, while inspecting the current face-lift going on at the aqirport.

The Supervising Minister of Aviation was accompanied during the unscheduled working visit by his counterpart in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Professor Viola Onwuliri, and Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Muonye.

The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport is one of the airports in the country currently receiving serious attention from the Federal Government.

The Minister said that “with the total remodelling of the airport, which is nearing completion, the Federal Government is also embarking on the extension of the runway and construction of the cargo terminal to not only ease transportation, but to also boost economic activities in the South East.”

The minister explained that he embarked on the unscheduled inspection tour to ensure the job was executed according to specifications.

Speaking to newsmen after the tour, Dr. Ortom said he was satisfied with the quality of job so far done on the project.

“I am glad to say that what is going to be done here at the cargo terminal is just the foundation because every other equipment is being fabricated and will be installed in the shortest possible time,” Ortom said.

The minister explained that the extension of the apron was a demonstration that President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation programme was on course.

Speaking also, Professor Onwuliri, who drew the attention of her colleague on the need to accelerate work on the installation of night

landing facilities at the airport, also described the project as strategic to the people of the South East.

Her words: “We are travelling people. We are trading people.

We are business people. So, this very Airport is very important and central, not just to Imo people but also to Ndigbo. So, we are very grateful to Mr. President for this project.”

In his remark, Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Muonye, said government was working hard to ensure that the on-going transformation in various sectors achieved the desired results.

Goodluck Jonathan to perform the flagged off ceremony.

Chukwuma said: “We are now happy that we are packaging our pilgrims from Akanu Ibiam Airport. This (Anambra) is the fourth state; the first state we packaged from here was Abia, the next one was Ebonyi, the third one was Enugu last year.

“Anambra State is now being packaged for Easter pilgrimage and we are happy that the Atlas Jet is taking them from Enugu Akanu Ibiam Airport, making this place an international airport, indeed, and we feel so happy.

“So we are hoping that the pilgrims will go as good ambassadors of Nigeria and will allow this pilgrimage to go through them so that they can be transformed and come back not the same again, but transformed as better Christians to influence others.

“So we thank the governors of South-East states for what they have done to make sure that this year’s pilgrimage is a success and we pray that it will continue.”

Similarly, Federal Commissioner, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, the Presidency, Rev. Dr. Zion Solomon Ibenye, who represented the South East zone, described the flag-off of Easter Pilgrimage as a good development, noting that everything had gone on as planned.

“You can see that Federal Government is committed to the project and the state governments in the South East zone are also committed,” he said.

In his prayers for the pilgrims, Primate of All Nigerians, Anglican Communion, who also doubles as the Chairman, Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Commission, Rev. Dr. Nicholas Okoh, prayed for all those that made the pilgrimage possible, including President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Obi.

We spent N400m on Ohafia Rd rehabilitation — GOV. ORJI

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji has said that his administration expended N400 million on the rehabilitation of dilapidated Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal Road before the Federal Government waded in to award the contract and took over the job.

According to Governor Orji, the Federal Government has since taken over the road, awarded contract for its rehabilitation while work on it has since commenced.

Governor Orji disclosed this

while reacting to a statement credited to one Onwuka Ukwa of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who alleged that the governor said he would not repair the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, being a federal road.

Orji denied ever saying he would not repair the road, adding that before the Federal Government took over the road, his administration had spent about N400 million to make it motorable.

"The road has been like that even during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and I have consistently lamented the condition of the road until we start-

ed work on it before the Federal Government took over," he said.

Governor Orji said that Abia State government would rehabilitate all the roads in the state, irrespective of who owned them.

He disclosed that his government was working on the Ndioji Abam-Ndiokereke Road, also in Arochukwu, and had gone very far on the long stretch of the road designed to give the people a sense of belonging and ease their difficulty.

He stated that he had severally visited contractor who was awarded the Arochukwu-Ohafia federal road to ensure the job would be done.

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

IYC exco inaugurated

Prevail on soldiers to leave Ohore land, Uvwie PG urges FG

...Wants oil bunkering legalised

BY FESTUS AHON

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—IJAW elders and leaders have resolved the contentious leadership crisis rocking Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide with the inauguration of a new executive headed by Udengs Eradiri.

The new IYC executive, inaugurated Sunday at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State promised to lobby the Federal Government to legalise bunkering in the region to encourage local participation of the people in the petroleum sector.

The apex Ijaw youth body was factionalised in the wake of its controversial October national convention with all the presidential aspirants laying claim to the position of the President of the council.

However, the leadership crisis was resolved last week after a series of meetings brokered by Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Kingsley Kuku, Elder Timi Ogriba, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs and pioneer President of the IYC, Dr. Felix Tuodolo,

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GHELLI—PRESIDENT General of Uvwie Kingdom, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief MacDonald Ugbewanku, has urged the Federal Government to prevail on the Nigerian Army to leave Ohore land for the indigenes, describing the planed demolition of houses in the community by soldiers as mischievous and unfortunate.

Ugbewanku on the recent protest embarked upon by Uvwie women, said the people decided to embark on the protest to ask for justice.

“Government usually acquires land for a purpose, the purpose was definite, they wanted to put a Defense Academy, which they did not do.

“What has been put to use is less than 10 percent of the total land acquired. We have been asking government to deacquire the area since the purpose for which the place was acquired had not been achieved.

“But instead of doing that, we now found that the army has now incorporated a property company and through that they are now selling Ohore land to their cronies. Even we the indigenes are not even

Oba settles Ughoton community tussle

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GHOTON community in Ovia North/East Local Government Area of Edo State, has commended the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa for upholding Pa Victor Aigbovbiosa as the traditional head of Ughoton community.

It will be recalled that Oba Erediauwa, through the secretary of Benin Traditional Council, BTC, Frank Irabor had in Benin City, when rivalry groups visited the palace for the settlement of the Ughoton community headship tussle, held

that Aigbovbiosa was the Ohonkun.

Irabor had maintained that the position of the palace was in conformity with statutory laws of the land dating back 1938, till the present day, which has been hereditary with the rightful Ohonkun being Aigbovbiosa.

Chairman of Ughoton community, Rev. Osagie Iyonmahan and the Odionwere (head) representative of the 38 communities in Ughoton thanked the Oba for resolving the dispute.

privileged to buy.”

An indigene of the community, Chief Jimoh Eshenake on the development, said “about a week ago, the Army came to Ohore and marked all the houses for demolition. In fact, they gave our people 48 hours to move out of their houses that the Army was coming to demolish the place.

They told us that their reason was that the land being occupied by the community belong to the army. That it is part of the army acquisition, but I must tell you the story behind it.

“In 1975, that land was

acquired for the army by the defunct Mid-Western government, but before 1975, Ohore and other villages around that place had been in existence. The law is very clear on this; you cannot acquire a land where people are already occupying. If there is even a need to occupy it, you must reallocate them, but this didn’t happen. And somehow our king wrote to the acting President then in March 2010 to complain about this acquisition.

“The truth is that the army acquired over 2,000 hectares of land, and the area they

Elumelu joins Delta guber race, visits Olu of Warri

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—THE aspiration of a House of Representatives member, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu of becoming the next governor of Delta State has received a boost.

Elumelu with his entourage was at the palace of the Olu of Warri, Atuwatse II, who gave him his fatherly blessings and prayed for him to succeed.

Also a pressure group, ‘Move Delta Forward’ in a statement in Asaba, yesterday, said that it was throwing its support behind Elumelu because of his willingness to serve the interest of all Deltans.

General Secretary of the group, Ogbueshi Peter Ezioyi in a statement, said “it is very obvious that Elumelu is out to serve the interest of all Deltans and not sectional interest because he believes in the oneness of Deltans, irrespective of their ethnic bearing. Although he is from Anioma, but other districts such as the Urhobos, Itsekiris, Isokos, Ijaws, are saying they are solidly behind him, knowing fully well that apart from the fact that he is a performer, he does not discriminate and is humble.

“His pedigree is going for him too. Remember how he stood

resolute despite all manners of threats against him as the Chairman of the Committee on Power, he didn’t bulge. Even when tempted, he wasn't swayed by the huge money offered. That is the type of person that should

succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan because governorship is not a tea party. It requires somebody with the strong will to wheel the machinery of governance in the state.”

Oghiadomhe lauded over Jonathan's transformation agenda

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—COUNCIL of elders of Avianwu clan in Estako Central Local Government Area of Edo State has commended the immediate Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe for the role he played in the realisation of the transformation agenda of the current administration.

The elders in a statement, by Pa Gabriel Ogboalo, the Anwu of Avianwu clan at the end of their meeting, congratulated the former Chief of Staff for his meritorious service to the nation, and described his resignation as a welcome development.

They noted that with the resignation, Oghiadomhe now has time to concentrate on his political future and the

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

occupied, the army barrack, mammy market is less than 10 percent of the land, but they are now selling it to private companies and individuals. They have turned landlords in our own land. We the original landlords have turned refugees in our own land.

“We are calling on the Federal Government to look into this issue critically because we want to de-acquire those lands because Ohorhe people are farmers, who need enough land for farming. The Federal Government must come to our aide and it must be immediately.”

leadership role which he has provided his people over the years.

They said “having given a good account of himself as a most resourceful, highly diligent and notably innovative leader with uncommon traits of patriotism, nationalism, we gladly welcome him back home to the warm embrace of our people.”

Describing him as a bridge builder and a motivator, the council of elders of Avianwu clan, added “You have made us proud and you have done well for your name to be written in gold in the nation’s history. We say that your meritorious and value added service to the nation has become an enduring source of pride to all Afemai people in particular and Edo State and Nigeria in general.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On NJC's suspension of two Justices over misconduct

I pray this teaches judges a lesson. Thanks to the Minister of Justice for a job well done. I also pray that this good job continues because there are more of their kinds in the system.

Kudos to the NJC in this fight against corruption in the judiciary. Ms. Esther Adichie- Student

On the sack of Justice Gladys Olotu of the Abuja Federal High Court and Justice U. A. Inyang of the Federal Capital Territory High Court over misconduct. Well, for me, we have corrupt judges all over the country, and it is a shame. Mr. Patrick Sampson - Businessman

What message is NJC sending by allowing them to retire? Does the term compulsory retirement mean they will continue to collect their retirement benefits? If there is enough proof of corruption against them, they should be made to face the law. Ms. Ukogu Chinasa - Vocalist

The NJC should not take more than a few months to complete its investigation and make recommendation. Many judges who ought to have been suspended from the judiciary in Nigeria. There are too many black market injunctions. Mrs Funmi Razaq - Photographer

If the judges are accused of collecting bribe and the case is proved, it should be outright dismissal.

Compulsory retirement comes when you don't retire and you have to retire because you are not longer fit for the job and you are not for dismissal.

Ms Glory Moses - Student

When you talk about corruption in the judiciary, what about the judges that decided all those political and election tribunal cases? They are not touched because the judgement favoured federal government, I presumed. Mr. Peter Ekpo - Worker.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 59

Airtel seeks to stay execution of garnishee order

Confab: Esan advocates restructuring

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...calls for 8 regions

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—THE Esan people in Edo State have called for the restructuring of the country into eight functional, autonomous and competitive regions, noting that the MidWest region has till date remained the only democratically created region in the country since 1963.

The regions, they said, can create other structures such as states and local governments as they deemed fit.

The regions, they added, should leverage on their human and natural endowments to keep their citizens engaged in productive ventures, retaining not less than 50 percent of their revenues and pay taxes to the centre for common services such as the Armed Forces, Customs/ Immigration, common currency, Foreign Affairs and the Federal Supreme Court.

The Esan ethnic nationality frowned at the situation where most military hardware are kept in the Northern part of Nigeria and consequently advocated for the decentralisation of the military hardware among the proposed eight regions such that no region can intimidate others as a result of their proximity to military hardware.

These and others were arrived at weekend, during a meeting of Esan Traditional Rulers, Esan Elders Forum, Esan Professionals Ikolo Esan and Esan Youth Council of Nigeria at the palace of the Onojie of Opoji, Ehidiamen 1, in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

They also frowned at the expensive nature of the Presidential system of government as practiced today in Nigeria and advocated a return to part-time parliamentary system, which is less expensive, more transparent, accountable, and representative.

Besides, they advocated the decentralisation of the current Nigeria Police Force into regional and community policing because they are closer to the people, more friendlily and would be wellkitted, well trained and well oriented to prevent and prosecute crimes.

WEDDING: Former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere (right), with the President of Adaha Akwa Ibom, Chief Michael Afangideh, during the wedding of Mr. Cletus Ekpo, younger brother of PDP State Chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo, weekend, in Uyo.

How Itsekiri can tackle political challenges as minority —Sagay W

ARRI—PROMINENT social commentator and university don, Prof. Itse Sagay, has identified what he called “making power friends” and ensuring peaceful relationship with its neighbouring Urhobo and Ijaw as experienced in the days of late Chief Dore Numa, as the only way Itsekiri can tackle the current political challenges confronting it in the three Warri local government areas of Delta State.

Prof. Sagay, at the maiden public lecture organised by National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, weekend, in Warri, posited that unlike in the days of the defunct Mid-West, when the political rights of Itsekiri as a minority were protected in its homeland of the present day Warri

South, Warri South-West and Warri North councils, the Itsekiri nation was presently in a weak political position without any form of protection in terms of representation at both federal and state legislatures.

His goodwill message was read by a former Commissioner in Delta State and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Dr. Alex Ideh.

Former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Temisan Omatseye, at the lecture tasked Itsekiri people to strive to be in government and opposition as a result of the dynamics in politics.

Others such as Prof. Oritsegbemi Omatete, Dr. J. Ireyefoju and A. S. Mene, who spoke on the challenges of Itsekiri as minority in a multi-ethnic Nigeria, proffered historical, economic and socio-cultural solutions that will rescue Itsekiri nation from its present politically disadvantaged position.

National President of NAIG, Miss Alero Tenumah, in her address noted that the maiden lecture was part of strategy to unearth new approach to engage the oil majors and other companies doing business in Itsekiriland on the need to employ Itsekiri graduates as well as ensure local contract award.

Why only few women participate in politics —Olejeme

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HAIRMAN, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSTIF, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has attributed the low participation of women in politics to the prevailing social and economic condition in the country, as well as the existing political structures.

These hindrances, she said, must give way for the African woman to realise her full potentials and contribute meaningfully to nation building and democratic governance.

“The absence of the African women from political decision making has a negative impact on the entire process of democratisation, as it undermines the fundamental concept of a democratic form of governance,” she said.

Olejeme spoke on the role of African women in promoting de-

velopment in democratic governance at an interface between the Peoples Democratic Institute and the International community in Abuja.

Olejeme said that the place of the African woman in systemic development has not been properly captured and remains unappreciated because of primordial perceptions about her, adding that “women involvement in the democratic process is essential to broadening and deepening the commitment of the societies to democratic governance.

“The African woman has been a major target of extreme forms of violence in the region. Women in the horn

of Africa have experienced the full impact of violent conflicts as civilians and combatants. But the truth remains that they are usually excluded from the decision making processes that ignite wars or put an end to hostilities.”

She urged the women to go beyond asking for 35 percent participation.

“African women have proved over the years that they can be trusted as they have delivered in several areas they had occupied in government. The persistent exclusion of women from formal politics raises a number of specific questions regarding the achievement of broad-based democratic transformation,” she added.

telecommunication firm, Airtel Nigeria, has urged the Court of Appeal in Lagos to stay execution of a Garnishee Order Nisi made against it by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

It is in the appeal, praying the Appeal Court to set aside the order of the lower court.

The appellate court has reserved ruling on the case, while the lower court has adjourned till April 7 for further hearing in the substantive suit.

The lower court, presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, had asked Airtel to pay a telecoms firm, Procomtel Limited, the sum of N1.17 billion, which represents awards made by an arbitrator on June 27, 2007 and on August 24, 2007, including interests, over a dispute.

Procomtel said it had an agreement with Airtel for the construction of 28 cell cites in 2001, but the GSM company allegedly terminated the contract on March 5, 2003.

The claimant said it successfully executed the contract, and provided other services to Airtel, including importing of equipment, and that the company was indebted to it. Procomtel had urged the lower court to enforce the awards, claiming that the defendant’s failure to pay the money had adversely affected and almost paralysed its business.

A-Ibom’ll remain PDP State —Ekere

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HE immediate past deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, has predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will sweep the polls and retain control of the state in the 2015 general elections.

Ekere, during the wedding reception of Mr. Cletus Ekpo, younger brother of the state Chairman of PDP, which he co-chaired with the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Ayua, hinged his arguement of Akwa Ibom remaining a PDP state, on the performance and transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan at the centre and the strides of the PDP administration in the state.

60—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Lilypond moves to stem delay in clearance of cargoes

BY MARIAM EKO AGOS—LILYPOND Terminal Limited says it is partnering with some shipping companies like CGM, CMA, PIL and Danish firm Maerskline to start Sunday clearance of containers from its off dock terminal. This is part of its measures to stem the delay in clearance of cargoes from the terminal.

In a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos, Managing Director of the terminal, Mr. Tristram Denyer disclosed that there were ongoing plans to bring more equipment to the terminal in order to accommodate more containers.

He expressed optimism that with the new innovation, the terminal could handle 40,000 to 50,000 containers from the current 20,000 containers it handles.

Meanwhile,Terminal Manager in charge of commercial service and inter modal, Mr Kayode Daniel, told stakeholders that the terminal had created a conducive environment for stakeholders to clear their consignments.

Judiciary Staff to embark on three-day strike

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Cleric escapes terror attack

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BUJA—PASTOR Francis Irabor, founder of a new generation church, Great Calling Ministry, GCM, escaped death from a group of armed men, suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents, on his way home after last Sunday service, in Abuja.

Narrating the incident, Pastor Irabor, who was visibly shaken by the incident, stated that he was going home after the Sunday service when he was attacked by a group of armed men in a black Camry car, with its number plate concealed.

The car, according to him, was parked few meters from the church, but as he was driving home in the company of his armed mobile police guards, the suspected armed men shot at him and shattered the windscreen of his Sport Utility Vehicle. And when they noticed that he was being guarded by armed mobile policemen, the assailants escaped. Irabor said that before the attack, he received series of threat text messages from suspected terrorists, which he ignored and “fully putting his trust in God.”

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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VISIT—President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left) receiving a souvenir from Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu when Dangote visited the governor at his residence in Minna.

Why FG granted visa to Islamic preacher, Abu Philips — Minister A

BUJA—THE Minister of Interior, Aba Moro, on Sunday clarified that government granted visa to the Islamic preacher, Abu Philips, because he was not in the country ’s blacklist.

Moro made the clarification to newsmen at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, shortly after the Centenary thanksgiving service attended by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He reacted to online report which alleged that government granted visa to a controversial Islamic preacher.

The online report described Philips as “an extremist and Islamic terror preacher, who lives in Qatar and was banned by governments in UK, U.S., Australia, Germany, Kenya and other countries across the world”.

Moro said: “let me say this that every country has its own requirement for the grant of visa and in Nigeria’s situation, especially against the backdrop of our security challenges, we also have our requirement for granting of visas.

“We have our own blacklist too of people that, because of our security situation, should not be allowed into the country.

“And this preacher that you talk about, for instance, did not fall within the list of people black listed for their activities that are inimical to internal security.

“If his preaching and the content of what he has submitted for the granting of visa will not undermine the security of the country, then certainly we will grant him the visa.

“That is the purpose we have

achieved here.”

Moro added that Nigeria as a sovereign nation, should not be guided by the dictates of other countries and should be able to take its decision at every point in time.

“Let me also say here that we should not set some double standards.

“When the Nigerian govern-

ment signed the Anti-Gay Law and the West was complaining, we stated that the Nigerian nation is a sovereign country that should be allowed to determine its destiny and practices.

“And so, we will not use the refusal of visa by Germany, UK as a basis for refusing anybody visa here,” he said.

LORIN—MEM BERS of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, have concluded plans to embark on a three-day warning strike, from March 12 to March 14, over the refusal of both federal and state governments to comply with the Federal High Court, Abuja’s order on the union’s financial autonomy.

This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the union in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday.

The Federal High Court had early this year ruled that the federal and state governments’ “failure, neglect and or refusal to pay the funds/ amount standing to the credit of the states’ judiciary in the federation/ consolidated revenue fund directly to the heads of courts in the various states’ judiciary is a constitutional breach which has to be abated forthwith.”

NNPC’s crude oil transactions conform with int’l best practices— Sahara Energy boss

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA— THE Executive Director, Sahara Energy, Mr. Wale Ajibade said the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has conformed with international best practices in all dealings with their international and Nigerian-owned trading partners.

Mr. Ajibade, who made the declaration in his presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Upstream currently investigating the alleged connivance of NNPC with Swiss Oil Traders,which a copy was made available to Vanguard in Abuja, noted that SWAP arrangement referred to by the Bern Declaration was in line with the known practices in the oil industry.

Ajibade commended NNPC for promoting the Nigerian Local Content Act of 2010 as well as encouraging Nigerian Companies to deepen and

expand their participation in the Upstream and Downstream Sectors of the Petroleum Industry, which had hitherto been left to foreign concerns.

Mr. Ajibade further revealed that currently Sahara Energy employed 600 Nigerians since the Nigerian Local Content Act came into being in 2010, and the transformation of the power Sector, the company ’s staff strength is expected to add 3000 Nigerians.

Ajibade who is the representative of Trafigura Trading Oil Company based in Switzerland confirmed that his companies SWAP arrangement with NNPC/PPMC is in line with international standard, transparent and complies with all audit requirements.

"Furthermore, NNPC in its records noted that Nigerian traders collectively account for 98.2million barrels on 2013. The other international

traders, including the “Swiss Trading Companies’ lifted 61.2million barrels while offshore and the Nigerian refineries took 36.2 and 38.3 million barrels respectively. The NNPC trading companies account for 83.5 million barrels.

"In view of the above, NNPC sees no remote possibility of the loss of USD6.8 billion from sales below market value to the companies described by the petitioners as “Swiss Trading Companies.

"The SWAP arrangement referred to by the Bern Declaration was in line with the known practices in the oil industry, adding that the NNPC had to dispose unrefined portion of its 445,000 barrels to meet domestic needs of petroleum products.

"It is to be noted that the NNPC delivers the international market value of the crude oil to the federation on the basis of the general sales agreement and conditions."

61—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHER'S DAUGHTER'S WEDDING IN LAGOS

From left: Wilson Andrew, groom's father; Alexia and Herbert Peile, couple, Olorogun Oscar Ibru, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru and Emily Morgan at the wedding.

From left: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Jim Ovia, Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of Lagos State governor and Mr. Toke Ibru, Executive Director, The Guardian Newspapers.

The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Herbert Peile.

Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chairman, FCMB, and Chief Rasak Okoya, Chairman, Eleganza Group.

Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman, Forte Oil (left) and Mr. Martins Oloja, Editor, The Guardian Newspapers.

From left: Mr. Martins Oloja, Editor, Guardian Newspapers, Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock and Mr. Emeka Izeze, MD, Guardian Newspapers.

Pastor Paul Adefarasin (left) and Mr. Toke Ibru, Executive Director, The Guardian Newspapers.

Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher, This Day Newspapers (left) and Mr. Laide Bonuola, Executive Consultant, The Guardian Newspapers.

62— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

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How Chiwetel Ejiofor’s 12 Years A Slave won three Oscars

BY JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

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TEVE MCQUEEN'S epoch adaptation of the memoirs of Solomon Northup, a free man sold into slavery -12 Years A Slave - starring Nigerian Britain-based actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was last Monday morning declared Best Film at the 86th Academy Awards. It becomes the first movie from a black director to win the film industry’s highest honor in 86 years of the Oscars.

Chiwetel Ejiofor’s outstanding performances had led to his winning three in- Chiwetel Ejiofor in the film ternational awards, including Best Actor award for ‘12 Years been made.”

“I dedicate this award to everya Slave’ at British Academy of one who endured slavery and Film and Arts, BAFTA. It was this those who still endure slavery excellent performance that helped get the three Oscars for the film, today,” he said.

“Everyone deserves not just to Kenya’s Lupita Nyong’o in the survive, but to live ... This is the film winning the best supporting most important legacy of Soactress award, while John Ridley was honored as best adapted lomon Northup,” McQueen said, referring to the drama’s central screenplay.

12 Years A Slave, stars Nigeri- character and the man who wrote an born, UK based actor, Chiwe- the memoir on which the film was tel Ejiofor who played the lead based.

McConaughey won best actor actor. for “Dallas Buyers Club,” while Though Chiwetel Ejiofor lost Blanchett won the best actress out in the lead actor’s award, his brilliance saw to it that the story Oscar for her role in “Blue Jasof a black man kidnapped into sla- mine.”

Jared Leto walked away with very and his struggle for freedom, the best supporting actor award triumphed over Gravity, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street for his role as an HIV-positive transgender prostitute in “Dallas and more in the category.

Sadly, its total of three awards Buyers Club.”

Alfonso Cuaron won the best could not match Gravity’s seven as was announced yesterday at director Oscar for “Gravity” - the the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, space thriller which also won a number of technical awards.

Los Angeles.

The best animated feature OsDirector Steve McQueen praised the legacy of Solomon car went to Disney musical “FroNorthup, played by Chiwetel zen.” It is the first time the studio from whose memoirs the movie has won the category since its creis based and in an emotional ation for the 2002 Academy speech, McQueen, who was in- Awards.

It had been up against 'The troduced by the movie’s fellow Croods,' 'Despicable Me,' 'Ernest producer, Brad Pitt, thanked his & Celestine' and 'The Wind Ris“wonderful cast and crew” for their part in the film’s success, es.'

Italian drama, 'The Great Beaualong with Brad Pitt without ty,' took home the prize for best whom the movie “would not have

...with BAFTA plaque foreign language film. Directed

by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Toni Servillo, the movie examines the life of an ageing socialite in Rome.

The Oscar for best documentary feature went to “20 Feet From

Stardom,” which focuses on the lives of backup singers whose voices are recognisable while their names are unknown.

The biggest loser of the night went to crime caper 'American

Hustle,' which failed to win a single award despite 10 nominations.

The 86th Academy Awards was hosted by US comedian and talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

Daddy’s death spurred Chiwetel Ejiofor to Oscars —FAMILY

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HIWETEL EJIOFOR’S life was turned upside down when his father was killed.

•His father Arinze Ejiofor died in a car crash in Nigeria in 1998 - Chiwetel was the sole survivor of the accident.

•His sister, Zain, said she believes the death of their father inspired her actor brother to ‘make the most’ of his life and follow his Oscar dream.

Chiwetel 's late dad, Arinze.

Chiwetel and his sister, Zain •She said: ‘It’s such a shame our father is not alive to see how well travelling in was involved in a given a miraculous chance head-on collision with a lorry. The to live and he was deterChiwetel has done.

It’s a photo that paints a picture 12 Years A Slave actor was the only mined to make the most of of an idyllically happy family life. survivor it."

His sister Zain, so happy beside Chiwetel Ejiofor, now a Hollywood Initially it was thought star and a strong contender for the him in the photograph, has now Chiwetel had also been Best Actor Oscar Monday night, spoken of how that devastating killed in the accident. beams broadly as he hugs his little heartache fuelled Chiwetel’s de- "When they dragged his sister on the stairs of their London sire to be the best actor he could body from the wreck, he be – and helped bring an inten- was very badly injured home.

But just months after this snap sity to his performance in 12 Years and lucky to still be alive,’ was taken, Chiwetel’s life was hit A Slave. says Zain, now a financial Had Chinwetel triumphed at the correspondent with CNN. by tragedy when his father was killed in a car crash, which almost Academy Awards, he certainly "He’d broken several would have paid emotional tribute limbs and sustained an claimed his young life, too.

His father Arinze Ejiofor was to his father, Arinze. injury in head that left him Chiwetel was just 11 in 1998 in a coma for a while. Dockilled in a car accident in Nigeria.

Chiwetel was 11 years old in 1998 when, on a bonding trip to Arin- tors told my mother to exwhen he joined his father on the ze’s native Nigeria, the car they pect the worst." bonding trip. The car they were were travelling in was involved in Though only five at the a head-on collision with time, Zain vividly recalls the anguish of her mother a lorry.

"He had been very close Obi and several adult relto his father," Zain says. atives as they maintained "And while the whole fam- a vigil by her brother’s ily was suffering from his hospital bedside.

It would be ten weeks death, the impact on Chiwetel was especially in- before the traumatised tense. He became very fo- child was able to leave the cused and threw himself hospital. And from that into everything with an moment, Zain says, he seized life with a previousintense passion.

"It was as if he had been ly unseen passion.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014—69

70 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Mexico travel to United States a man short

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EXICO National Team fullback Miguel Layún has been dropped from the list of players summoned for the exhibition match against Nigeria on Wednesday in the United States.

The Club America defender has a shoulder injury which he picked up last weekend against UNAM Pumas.

He has since left the training camp to start rehabilitation with the physiotherapists at the capital club.

That means the Tri Color will travel to Atlanta with 22 players instead of the 23 - man roster that was originally envisaged.

Nigeria is also a man short following the injury to Toronto FC striker Bright Dike.

The Mexican domestic based players will leave for the United States on Sunday, March 2.

Eagles bubble into Atlanta for Mexico friendly

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OMORROW’s in ternational friendly between Super Eagles and their Mexican counterparts is the talk of the town here in Atlanta city as both teams and their officials arrived the American city for the World Cup preparatory game.

The Nigerian delegation which left Lagos on Sunday night arrived the Atlanta International airport at about 5:05 am local time, which is 12:05pm in Nigeria. After airport formalities, the team of officials and four players were taken to the W. Hotels in the city centre where they will stay for the encounter.

At the hotel, the Nigerian Ambassador/Consul General, Ambassador Geoffrey I. Teneilabe, was on hand to receive the team and assured that the Nigerian community will come out to back the team

Miguel of Mexico

Glo to Eagles: You can beat Mexico T

HE major sponsor of Nigerian national teams, Globacom, has urged the Super Eagles to triumph over the El Tricolor of Mexico in the pre-World Cup friendly billed for Houston, USA on Wednesday.

The Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, had said that the friendly will be used to assess his players’ readiness for Brazil

2014. It is likely that players that will make the final 23-man list will emerge after the encounter.

“For us, the game is more than just a friendly. Our mational pride is at stake and we expect the Eagles to exert as much energy and resolve to triumph just as they will do at the World Cup finals,” Globacom said in a statement in

Lagos on Monday.

“We expect the Eagles to consolidate on the momentum achieved at last November’s friendly with Azzuri of Italy by taking this match to the Mexicans.

“As the reigning African champions, the Eagles should use the match to demonstrate their readiness to make the continent proud at

District five takes centre stage at Lagos Premier Lotto Schools Athletics

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HE turnout of schools from district four yesterday overwhelmed the organisers as teams district five take to the track on Tuesday at the season two of the Lagos Premier Lotto Schools Athletics Championship.

According to the secretary of the Lagos Athletics Association, Ige Jenyo, district two and four recorded large turnout with some of the athletes performing excellently in their various events.

“In each district, four

athletes will qualify for the grand finale especially in the sprint event, while in the long distance events, two athletes are expected to make it to the finale. We have been having good turnout even from the private schools and this is a major improvement from the maiden edition. We hope that new champions will emerge by Saturday, while records will also be erased and set by these athletes,” Jenyo said.

Schools from Ojo,

Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi and Badagry will on Tuesday March 4 compete for places in the grand finale scheduled for Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Meanwhile, eight states and eight tertiary institutions in Lagos State have confirmed their participation in the invitational relay of the grand finale, while athletes believe the competition would help them to improve as well as get call-up to the state team.

on Wednesday against Mexico. He believes the team has the ability to overcome the opposition.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi joined the team at lunch time and to his delight most of his foreign based invited players for the encounter had arrived. First to arrive At-

lanta, was John Mikel Obi of Chelsea of England who was soon joined by Monaco of France new boy, Elderson Echejile and Emmanuel Emenike. All invited players were being expected before the team departs for training.

DOAMF golf gathers steam

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OP corporate bod ies and individuals have confirmed their support for the Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOAMF) Charity Golf Tournament, holding March 8 at the Ikoyi Golf Club in Lagos.

According to the coordinator of the tournament, Mr. Pat Bassey, Diamond Bank Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Radial Circle, Standard Alliance Group, Arik Air, Airtel, Nigerian Bottling Company Plc (NBC),

VCP Hotel, PESLEYPBTG Group and Southern Sun Hotel have signed on to be part of the charity initiative this year.

“We consider the support of the corporate and individual supporters as an endorsement of the ideals of the Foundation and, a challenge for us to do more with what we have. Securing the confidence and support of corporate bodies for charitable causes in our environment is often challenging, given the high level of accountability expected."

Elegbeleye hails IGP on Police Sports Awards

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IRECTOR Gener al of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye has showered encomiums on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) M.D Abubakar for honouring both serving and retired Police Officers who served the country meritoriously through sports.

The IGP honoured 137 serving and retired officers at the maiden edition of the Police Sports Awards Ceremony held at the Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja last Friday.

A very happy NSC top officer spared no room in praising the IGP for rewarding the officers through the awards.

“I am very happy because it was an example of Police showing appreciation to sportsmen and women in the force who had won laurels for Nigeria and has done the country proud in the

Former Green Eagles goalkeeper and Superintendent of Police (rtd) Godwin Efejuku (right) receiving his award from the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye at the police sports award at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

past.

“I am particularly happy about recognizing late Sunday Bada. He is late now but they still recog-

nize him for representing the police and country in international sporting events and had done the force and Nigeria proud.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 71

S-C-A-N-D-A-L! Eagles World Cup jersey to be probed T

HE House of Rep resentatives Committee on Sports have criticized the colour of the recently unveiled Nigeria national team jersey and threatened to carry out a probe to ascertain why the traditional colours were not selected by the manufacturers.

Chairman of the Committee, Godfrey Ali Gaiya, while expressing his dissatisfaction with the new jersey faulted the shade of green used, stating that it is contrary to the traditional national colours.

“For me, the Green is not our national colour, I would have preferred the green that we know, I would have preferred the colour that is in our flag, but again, those that designed it have their reason that they have to explain.”

CONTENTIOUS JERSEY: Ejike Uzoenyi, Abdullahi Shehu and Chigozie Agbim model the new jerseys during the unveiling in Abuja

Pardew charged by FA

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EWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has been charged with improper conduct after his clash with Hull midfielder David Meyler, the Football Association has announced.

The 52-year-old has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge, which has been described in an FA statement as “non-standard”.

The statement said: “Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been charged in relation to an incident in his side’s game against Hull City on March 1, 2014.

“It is alleged that in the 72nd minute of the fixture, Pardew was involved in an incident with a Hull City player that amounted to improper conduct.

“Due to the serious violent and/or aggressive nature of the reported behaviour, this case has been designated as non-standard.

“Pardew has until 6pm on Thursday, March 6 2014 to respond to the charge.”

•Pardew Designating the alleged offence as “non-standard” means there is no real precedent and that it cannot be treated in the same way as other more common disciplinary matters.

As a result, there is no prescribed punishment and should Pardew admit the charge - his swift apology afterwards suggests he has little alternative - or be found guilty, he could find himself hit with a significant penalty which could even amount to a stadium ban.

Eagles have what it takes to defeat Pistorius’ neighbour ‘heard screams’ Mexico, says Onigbinde neighbour of

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former Super Eagles Head Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde said yesterday that the Eagles “have what it takes” to defeat Mexico in their upcoming friendly match tomorrow in Atlanta, U.S. Onigbinde made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The Super Eagles would lock horns with El Tri of Mexico, as part of their build-up for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. The former FIFA and CAF instructor added that the Eagles handlers were capable of getting a good result from the friendly encounter.

“I think the technical crew has what it takes to deliver, nobody knows their plans for the friendly and that includes me but I believe that they won’t fail us.

“I think the team should do its best to make Nigeria proud, which is in the hands of

the players and technical crew.

“I don’t know what Keshi has in his programme and I don’t

A

want to confuse him.

“We have been having some good results and I believe that it will spur us to perform better,” Onigbinde said.

Enyimba fire coach E

NYIMBA have a x e d goalkeeper trainer Sulaiman Shuaibu and given an ultimatum to the coaches to win in Mali or be sacked.

This followed the team’s 2-1 loss at home to AS Real Bamako of Mali in a CAF Champions League first round, first leg match.

Enyimba chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu told MTNFootball.com after a marathon meeting with the team at Abia Hotels that Shuaibu has been suspended till further notice for fielding an unfit goalkeeper in Femi Thomas.

Anyansi also disclosed that the coaches led by Zakary Baraje have been ordered to win and qualify the team to the

next round in Mali or else be sacked.

Enyimba were lack lustre, while AS Real Bamako were a lot more organised and deserved their win.

Pistorius and slain girlfriend Reeva Streenkamp

Olaitan recovering in Athens hospital

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LY M P I A K O S striker Michael Olaitan is “stable” in a Greek hospital after collapsing during the first half of a 3-0 defeat by Athens rivals Panathinaikos.

The Nigerian, 21, was running off the ball when he fell to the ground.

Earlier, Panathinaikos manager Yannis Anastasiou, a former coach at Reading, fell to the ground after being hit with an object thrown from the crowd.

Olaitan, who helped Olympiakos beat Manchester United 2-0 on 25 February, regained consciousness before being taken to hospital for tests.

“I am pleased to inform everyone that after initial tests there is no sign of a serious medical condition,” Olaitan’s representative Paschalis Tountouris said..

“What appears to have happened is that Michael had a mild case of viral myocarditis. As a

precautionary measure he will remain in hospital for the next few days to undergo further tests.”

The game was goalless when Olaitan collapsed but Olympiakos, the runaway leaders, fell behind just before half-time when Croatian midfielder Danijel Pranjic scored.

Marcus Berg doubled the lead in the 67th minute before Mehdi Abeid completed a miserable day for the home side.

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has told a court in Pretoria that she was awoken by a woman’s “terrible screams” in the early hours of 14 February 2013.

Mr Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He shot dead the 29year-old model and reality TV star at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

The neighbour, Michelle Burger, said cries for help were followed by shots.

“She screamed terribly and she yelled for help.

Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help,” Ms Burger told the high court in the capital.

She said she called security and then heard four gunshots.

The arrest of the national sporting hero astounded South Africa.

The 27-year-old double amputee won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

S-C-A-N-D-A-L! Eagles World Cup jersey to be probed Enyimba fire coach BONE OF CONTENTION — New Jersey

, ANGRY — Gaiya

For me, the Green is not our national colour, I would have preferred the green that we know, I would have preferred the colour that is in our flag, but again, those who designed it have their reasons that they have to explain

Alan Pardew charged by FA

,

Eagles have what it takes to defeat Mexico, says Onigbinde

Details Pistorius’ neighbour Inside ‘heard screams’

Olaitan recovering in Athens hospital QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Bury (5) 7 Particle (4) 8 Bureau (6) 9 Money-bag (5) 11 Free (3) 13 Odd (3) 15 Paradise (4) 16 Equality (3) 18 Lake (4) 19 Smallest (7) 20 Voucher (4) 22 Cab (4) 23 Unaffected (7) 25 Flat (4) 27 Fish (3) 28 Gala (4) 30 Performed (3) 31 Defective (3) 33 Fold (5) 36 Easy (6) 37 Greedy (4) 38 Hobo (5)

DOWN 1 Sober (5) 2 Demon (3) 3 Hill (3) 4 Fish-eggs (3) 5 Astern (3) 6 Scrub (5) 10 Bridge (4) 11 Saved (7) 12 Delineated (7) 13 Eased (7) 14 Deserved (7) 16 Annoyance (5) 17 Emulate (5) 18 Rug (3) 21 Brown (3) 24 Stagger (4) 26 Call (5) 29 Flower (5) 32 Fitting (3) 33 Favourite (3) 34 Epoch (3) 35 Pat (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Happy 7, Rugged 9, Col 10, Mad 12, Naked 13, Cant 15, Tiger 17, Carafe 19, Male 20, Styli 22, Fad 24, Lowered 27, Tor 28, Fresh 31, Team 33, Rested 35, Arena 37, Wind 38, Adage 39, Tie 41, Ink 42, Devote 43, Erect.

DOWN: 1, Fracas 2, Agency 3, Hem 4, Hone 5, Alarm 6, Peerless 8, Data 11, Difference 14, Tall 16, Gear 18, Riot 21, Toreador 23, Deft 25, Wore 26, Drew 29, Editor 30, Hidden 32, Magic 34, Said 36, Rent 40, Eel.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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