BOKO HARAM: Catch Shekau, get N1.1bn — US Govt

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61896

NGF: Amaechi, Jang take battle to court •P.8

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N150

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Dangote is world's 25th .9 •P richest man — Forbes

BOKO HARAM:

From left: Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida; Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde (CFR) with his wife Saladiya during the presentation of the 2013 African Public Servant of the Year Award at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel Ballroom, Central London on Saturday.

Catch Shekau, get N1.1bn — US Govt •Slams N3.3bn price on Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in W-Africa; Boko Haram leader tops list •FG welcomes development

DANA AIR CRASH: ONE YEAR AFTER

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR, CHARLES KUMOLU, UDUMA KALU,ADEKUNLE ALIYU WITH AGENCY REPORT

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AGOS—THE United States took an unprecedented step, yesterday, when it posted a price tag of $23million, an equivalent of N3.3 billion on the head of top AlQaeda-linked terrorists in Nigeria and West Africa. Nigeria’s Boko

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST:

•P.19

See SweetCrude inside

Mr & Mrs

DANA—Top: Some family members of victims of the Dana air crash during Remembrance Services in honour of the victims in Abuja and Lagos, yesterday. Below: President Goodluck Jonathan (R) laying a wreath in their honour in Abuja, while Governor Babatunde Fashola lays a wreatth at the scene of the accident in Lagos. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida & Bunmi Azeez. More pictures on Pages 5&16.

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

DANA CRASH CENOTAPH—The Cenotaph built by the Lagos State Government in honour of the Dana air crash victims, during the First Year Memorial and Unveiling of Cenotaph held at the crash site in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

BOKO HARAM: Catch Shekau, get N1.1bn — US Continues from Page 1 Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, attracts the highest reward of $7 million (N1.1 billion) for anybody that can provide information that can lead to his capture.

The $23 million reward money shelled out by the US include the sum of $5 million placed on

Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the Algerian-based AlQaeda, who led the hostages attack in Southern Algerian town of Menas in February 2013. He was later reported to have been killed by Chadian troops in Mali.

Another sum of $5 million was placed on Yahya Abou Al-Hammam, a top

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong –Leo Rosten. Be strong and cruel not!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed – Maya Angelou

T

HE Law of Attraction teaches us that like at tracts like; that we receive in our lives that which we are thinking about and focusing on. It follows that we need to make an effort to entertain only those thoughts that are aligned with the positive and good things that we want and deserve.

The Law of Attraction teaches us that our thoughts are energy and that they, like all energy, have a frequency. When we send out positive thoughts charged with heartfelt emotion, we receive back things and circumstances in our lives that are equal to those vibrations we sent out.

It then follows that if we would be more aware of practising gratitude in our lives, we would be in a constant state of joy and, receiving more and more good and wonderful things to be grateful for. Make it a habit of practising gratitude, expressing thanks for all the good in your life. If you have challenges with finding things to be thankful for, thank God that you are still breathing. You are alive! If you can see, hear, smell, talk, and feel. It is one of life’s blessings that count greatly.

leader of Ansar Dine in Mali, while the names of two others were not available at press time.

A US official in Washington told AFP that US is determined to hunt down the leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

The US which has been hesitant to declare Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, (FTO), has set in motion a massive manhunt for the terrorist leaders, who have spread insecurity across Nigeria and West Africa.

Officials of US Embassy told Vanguard that they were awaiting clarification from Washington but would not rule out the possiblity of such move from the US government which is growing impatient with activities of the Islamic militants in West Africa.

The US has already set up a surveillance drone base in Niger Republic.

The US State Department, last year, designated three Boko Haram leaders as terrorists.

They are Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid el Barnawi, all thought to have ties with a branch of Al-Qaeda.

The move meant any assets belonging to the men in the US would be frozen, and contact with US citizens banned.

The United States thinks that some members of Boko Harem have connections with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group already designated as a terrorist organisation by the US. Also last year, some US lawmakers wanted the US State Department to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization, FTO, a formal move that would trigger automatic sanctions against the Islamist militant group. The lawmakers said the Justice Department in Washington supports the designation.

Three US senators introduced a bill that would force the State Department to take a decision, because they felt that Boko Haram is “becoming increasingly lethal and forging closer ties to Al-Qaeda and AlShabab,” an Islamist militant group in Somalia.

US Senators Scott Brown, Saxby Chambliss and Jim Risch say Boko Haram is a threat both to the international community and US national security.

JTF's earlier reward The JTF had earlier

placed N50 million bounty on Abubakar Shekau; N25 million on Habibu Yusuf (a.k.a Asalafi), Khaho Albarnawai, Momodu Bama and Moyamme Zangina while N10 million was placed on 14 other Boko Haram commanders including Abu Saad, Abu Kaka, Aboulamakka Bama and Umar Fuyata.

This was contained in a press statement released by the spokesperson of the JTF, Lt.Col Sagir Musa, on November 23, 2012.

It's good development — FG The Federal Government has welcomed the decision by the United States of America to place a $7m bounty on the leader of the Boko Haram sect.

In an interview with Vanguard, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the stand of the United States government is a welcome development.

Abati said: “It is a positive development, we welcome any effort of the international community to support Nigeria’s effort at waging war against terrorism and its perpetrators. What this proves is that terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires global effort at combating it. Nigeria believes that the international community needs to come together to combat terrorism.”

Bio Data of Abubakar Shekau Abubakar Shekau, leader of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, is Nigeria’s most wanted man. He has also been designated a terrorist by the US govern-

ment.

He is said to be a fearless loner, a complex, paradoxical man - part intellectual, part gangster. Fondly called Imam or leader by his followers, Shekau was born in Shekau village in Yobe State.

Some say he is 34 or 35, others say that he may be 43 - the uncertainty adds to the myths surrounding Nigeria’s most wanted man. A radical theology student, Shekau was once thought to have been killed by security forces in 2009 - only for him to re-appear in videos posted on the internet less than a year later as Boko Haram’s new leader. “I enjoy killing anyone that God commands me to kill”, the Boko Haram leader once said.

The group’s founder, Muhammad Yusuf died in police custody, and hundreds of others were killed during that massive crackdown - which many blame for making the group even more violent.

Shekau has not been seen in public since. Instead, still images and video clips of him are released from time to time, mostly online, by the group’s faceless “public enlightenment department”.

Shekau is said to have met his predecessor in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State and now Boko Haram’s headquarters, through a mutual friend, Mamman Nur. Authorities say Nur masterminded the August 2011 bombing of the UN office complex in Nigeria Abuja.

All three were theology students - and Shekau was seen as the quietest and perhaps the most radical of them.

“He hardly talks, he is fearless,” says Ahmed Salkida, a journalist with good access to Boko Haram.

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Kidnap kingpin’s escape a mirage — Delta CP

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BY EMMA AMAIZE

SABA— DELTA State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, has described as a “mirage” the escape of Anambra State-born kidnap kingpin, identified simply as Ifeanyi, from police cell, two weeks ago.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP and four other police officers alleged to have aided his escape from the custody of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Asaba have been cooling off in detention since May 19.

Aduba, who spoke in a Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State, Showtime programme in Asaba, said police were still investigating the bizarre incident.

Meantime, some politicians in the state have mounted pressure on the Anti-Kidnapping Squad to release the chairman of a vigilance group in Ndokwa area arrested over a week ago, for allegedly acting as an undercover agent for suspected kidnappers.

A police officer told Vanguard: “The vigilante chairman was fingered by suspected kidnappers in our custody as the person who was providing them information on the location and movement of security agents in the area as well as tips on lucrative victims.”

A former chairman of a local government council in the state were among those said to be piling pressure on the police to release the suspect, said to have helped some politicians to power with his violent ways.

Oil thieves now convert trawlers to tankers — Navy

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — THE Nigerian Navy, weekend, said crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta region have devised new tactics of converting fishing trawlers into oil tankers for illegal lifting of crude oil along waterways of the region with a view to evading arrest.

The ploy was uncovered last week following the arrest of a vessel, MV DALAL, laden with 120,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil, diesel, allegedly lifted from illegal refineries at the Akassa Creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Authorities of the Nigerian Navy, through the Command Operations Officer, Central Naval Command, Commodore Emmanuel Enemor, who disclosed this in Yenagoa said the confession obtained from the captain of the seized vessel showed that fishing trawlers were now being converted to tankers for the purpose of illegal bunkering.

Enemor said the Naval operatives intercepted the vessel while on patrol off the coast of Brass following suspicions that the ship had on board illegally refined AGO. According to him, at the time of the arrest, the vessel did not have Nigerian Ports Authority bunkering permit, ship’s log, Naval Headquarters approval and the certificate of the Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Pulo Shield.

He said: “Laboratory analysis of the sample of the product from the vessel also indicated that the AGO on board was of poor diesel quality. There was a need to institute a proper legal action against MV DALAL and the navy had handed over 10 crew members arrested on board the ship and other exhibits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.”

Fire guts property worth millions of naira in Abuja

BY ALICE FESTUS

A

BUJA —PROPERTY worth millions of naira were gutted by fire in Durumi-1 in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, yesterday. About six houses were affected.

According to an eye witness, Joshua Paul, the fire started around midnight and was allegedly caused by power surge. He said, however, that no live was lost in the incident.

Paul said: “I wasn’t here when the fire started. I was just passing by so I saw people trying to put out the fire. I saw smoke so I decided to come by and see what happened so I saw people putting out fire and packing things out of the houses, which made me to immediately call the Federal Fire Service.

“The fire had been burning for more than one hour before the arrival of the firemen. Over four houses were affected.”

Meanwhile, one of the victims, Mr. Clement Ihuoma, a student of the National Open University, Abuja said the houses affected were about six was grateful to God to have been able to recover his credentials.

Police patrol vehicles inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar,

We’ll make Nasarawa killing zSays Amigo, Wonderland sealed to safeguard Nigerians

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BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BUJA — THE InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, vowed that killers of 49 Police officers in Nasarawa State would not go scotfree and that the report of the investigation would be made public at the appropriate time.

Abubakar gave the assurance in Abuja just as he disclosed that the sealing of Amigo Stores and Wonderland Amusement Park belonging to a Lebanese businessman believed to be behind the large arms cache discovered in Kano was done to safeguard Nigerians.

He spoke at the Force Headquarters shortly after inaugurating 12 patrol vehicles for the Abuja-Kaduna highways.

The 49 police personnel in addition to 10 operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, were killed at Alakyo village on May 7.

The killers were alleged to be members of Ombatse cult, the ancestral shrine of the Eggon people in Nasarawa State.

According to the

IG,“investigation is ongoing and the outcome of the investigation will be revealed to Nigerians at the most appropriate time.

“We cannot keep quiet to allow anybody in this country, whether individual or group of persons, under whatever canopy, to kill officers of the police and go

HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS:

Warehouse belongs to Sierra

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO — ACTING Lebanese Consul in Kano, Khallel Musliman, has revealed that the private residence that housed cache of weapons of mass destruction linked to international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah, belongs to a Sierra Leonean.

Speaking in Kano, Musliman said the property owner who is already in custody over his infamous role in the arm saga is Abdu Hassan Tahir.

The controversial property located at Gaya Road within Bompai GRA is within a striking distance to the police headquar-

82 stalls razed in Kano market fire

K

ANO — EIGHTY-TWO stores were, yesterday, deststerroyed by fire near the Kasuwar Rimi Market in Kano metropolis, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Alhaji Kassim Musa, spokesman of the State Fire Service disclosed this to NAN in an interview in Kano.

According to him, the cause of the early morning fire is still being investigated.

He said the stalls affected were outside the market, adding that the damage was re-

scotfree.

“There has never been any speculation, we have always given out the number killed. We lost 49 police officers.”

On the closure of Wonderland Amusement Park and Amigo Supermarket, the IG said the closure was not a new development

duced by the quick response of the fire service.

"The large number was recorded because the security men did not invite firemen on time.

“It was only when it became obvious that they could not contain the inferno that our men were called in at 4:55 am this morning,” he said.

Musa appealed to members of the public to always call on the appropriate authority on time in cases of fire disasters to minimise damage.

ters that was sacked by the dreaded Boko Haram members in January 20, 2012.

Heavily armed soldiers are still keeping vigil on the property thereby impeding access to the popular street off Milar Road in Kano metropolis.

The Lebanese consul who made available to Vanguard a copy of business permit granted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2004 to the accused to conduct business activity in Nigeria further revealed that he is a nationalised Sierra Leonean.

The Brigade Commander, 3rd Motorized Brigade, Nigerian Army, Kano, Brigadier-General Ilyasu Abbah, had named three suspects in their custody as Abdallah Hassan Fadallah, Mustapher Fawaz and Abdullahi Tigani, adding that they have all been moved to Abuja for further investigations.

The army chief recalled that one of the suspects, Tahini, was once arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport over undeclared $60,000 on his way to Lebanon, adding that he is an Abuja-based businessman.

A copy of the business permit ref number MIA/B 24332/T/403 and signed by one Alhassan M.Fawu for the Director Citizenship and Business for the Minister of Internal Affairs, Abuja, in 2004 allows the suspect to estab-

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 7

Six killed in fresh Plateau violence

BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

J

OS — SIX people have been killed in a fresh outbreak of hostilities between suspected Fulani herdsmen and natives in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attackers were said to have initially attacked Gwande in Manguna District of the local government, Saturday night, killing two people.

However, the villagers who launched a counter-attack succeeded in killing two of the attackers, resulting in another reprisal on Sunday night that left two more people dead.

Members of the Special Task Force, STF, maintaining security in the state were reported to have responded to a distress call from the village, which forced the attackers to flee.

The member representing Bokkos Constituency in the Plateau House of Assembly, Mr. Titus Alams, confirmed the killing of four people and appealed to the STF to send more men to the area to prevent a breakdown of the law.

STF’s Media Officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, confirmed the attack, explaining that the force moved to the village on getting the distress call and succeeded in dislodging the attackers.

DPO fingered in alleged UNIBEN student’s murder

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

report public — IG but done as part of measures to secure the nation.

He said: “There is nothing new, security is security. You know what is happening in the country. We will go ahead to take any measure that deserves to be taken to ensure that Nigeria is safe and Nigerians are given safe and secured environment.

“We shall do everything hu-

manly possible, beyond reasoning to ensure that Nigeria is safe and our people are safe and secured no matter what it takes.”

On the inauguration of patrol vans, the IG said it was aimed at boosting security along AbujaKaduna highway, noting that five patrol vans will take charge of Abuja-Kaduna and the other five Kaduna-Abuja lane.

Leonean —Lebanese Consul lish a business venture in Kano.

The Sierra Leonean suspect had obtained the business permit with a registered company name d, Amfat Nigeria Limited, that specialized in manufacture of plastic products, general merchants, importer and exporter.

The Lebanese Consul was quick to differentiate the Sierra Leonean suspect from Taheer Fadhlala, owner of Taheer Guest Palace in Kano, adding that the clarification becomes imperative in the light of misrepresentation in some media.

ENIN —VEHICULAR movement was dis rupted, yesterday, in parts of Benin City following a protest by students of the University of Benin over alleged shooting to death of late Momodu Ibrahim, a 22-year-old 500 level student of the Faculty of Laboratory Science.

The students dressed in black attire marched through some major streets, calling for the arrest and prosecution of the Divisional Police Officer, in charge of Ogida Police Station, Mrs. Carol Afegbai, over her alleged complicity in the murder of Momodu.

Late Momodu who was the only male child of his parents was allegedly shot a stone throw from his family house at 1, Igbobaewaye Street, off Siluko road by Textile Mill junction.

Addressing newsmen later, an elder sister of the deceased, Ebohon Rebecca Egbe, while calling for justice to be done in the case, gave an account of how the life of his brother was cut short by the bullet allegedly fired by the DPO. She said: “I was in my office in Port Harcourt when I received a call from a cousin of mine in Benin who is a policeman, saying that he wants to tell me that we lost Ibrahim my younger brother.

Unlawful detention: Court grants N7.6m against police

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS — JUSTICE Samuel Candide Johnson of a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, ordered the police authority to pay a security man, Umoru Musa, N7.6 million as compensation for his unlawful detention, after ordering the prison authority to unconditionally release him.

In his ruling, the judge held that no amount of money could quantify the terrible experience of Musa in prison for over six years, adding that the applicant is still languishing in prison custody and the police are yet to send his case file to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye (second respondent).

The judge said: “The applicant's detention is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void.

It is an infringement of his fundamental human right, personal liberty, fair hearing and presump-

ICPC sacks Benue NAVC leadership

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Vandalised petroleum pipeline at Ijedodo in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

“I called my mother and she said they had been looking for him in for two days. Normally it is after 48 hours that you report such thing to the Police.”

She said she later went to the Police only to be told that he was allegedly killed by Carol Afegbua, the DPO of Ogida Police Station and was buried the next day without the family knowing.

She added that his brother’s cell-phone which was with the Police rang all through as “we were trying to locate his whereabouts until the Police finally picked the call and asked my mother to come to the police station.

“When the DPO was confronted over why her men shot my brother, she explained that they did not know his identity because her men asked him to stop and he refused. The DPO alleged that he was carrying a gun and wanted to shoot her men on patrol before they shot at him in self defence.”

The family, according to the sister of the slain student, was informed that the body of late Momodu had been buried at a public cemetery in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

When called for his reaction on the issue, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Eguavoen, said the Police Commissioner was about addressing the students at press time, saying he would then speak with journalists.

BY PETER DURU

AKURDI — THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission , ICPC, yesterday, ordered the immediate sacking of the Benue State leadership of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps, NAVC. In a statement in Makurdi by the legal officer of the ICPC, Jennifer Ode, the commission cautioned the Peter Akaahar-led leadership to stop parading themselves as executive of the corps.

No reason was, however, given for the dissolution of the NAVC leadership in the state.

tion to be innocent as defendant pending the competent court proving otherwise.

“I hereby order the immediate release of the applicant from the custody of the prison authorities at Ikoyi without condition while the second respondent should pay the applicant N100,000 per month from day he was detained to the day he was released.”

Musa, who worked as a security man at 10, Olayide Benson Street, Maryland, Lagos, was said to have been kept in prison for six years and two months, following his arrest by the police over the allegation of being in possession of firearms in April 2007.

Kidnapped lecturer’s son freed

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT— THOMAS Chinujinim Ogbeoleka, son of Dr. Godstime Ogbeoleka, Senior Lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, Rivers State who was abducted last weekend has been released.

Thomas’ abductors had demanded N15 million ransom after whisking him away to unknown destination last Thursday from his father’s compound at Ihuapa community in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

A family source, however, disclosed that the kidnappers released him unconditionally to his family after his father called their bluff and maintained he would not give away a dime to get his son back.

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

BY EMMA AMAIZE & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE politics of ac rimony currently tearing the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, apart, has assumed a fresh dimension, as the warring factions have through two separate suits, asked different Abuja high courts to recognize them as the authentic body of Governors in the country.

This was just as monarchs from the South-South geo-political zone have commenced moves to resolve the face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, which dovetailed into the crisis rocking the Governors Forum.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is leading the faction loyal to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, while the other faction in court has Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who is equally a lawyer, as its leader.

The Akpabio group are urging the high court to hold that only Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has the valid mandate to represent and speak on behalf of all the Governors of the 36 states of the federation, having emerged as the consensus candidate for the chairmanship position of the NGF. It is their contention that 19 Governors of the federation had unanimously endorsed Jang, insisting they have proof of evidence to that effect.

On the other hand, the Fashola group has asked another Abuja high court to in the meantime, not only to stop Governor Jang from parading himself as their leader, but to further issue an order of injunction restraining him from using the name “Nigeria Governor’s Forum” in respect of any other organisation that does not have the 36-Governors as members and/or in any other manner inconsistent with the Constitution of the Governor’s Forum.

Besides, the pro-Amaechi group urged the court to also restrain one Mr Osaro Onaiwu from parading himself as the Sole Administrator of the Nigeria Governors' Forum in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.

“Before the said election the Governors of Bauchi and Katsina states withdrew from the election leaving the contest for the governors of Plateau and Rivers states. The 35 governors voted for the candidates of their choice.

“At the end of the voting the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi scored 19 votes while his rival, the governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang scored 16 votes.

“Consequently, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was declared the winner of the election.

Meanwhile, Vanguard learnt that 14 royal fathers from the South-South geo-political zone

NGF: Amaechi, Jang take battle to court

CENTENARY LAW SUMMIT—President Goodluck Jonathan (left) being conducted round an exhibition by the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof.

Epiphany Azinge, during the Centenary Law summit in Abuja, yesterday.

involved in the peace move between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi led by the chair of the Steering Committee of the South-South Monarchs’ Forum, King Edmund Daukoru, Amanyanabo of Nembe kingdom in Bayelsa State, met for over four hours on May 7, with Governor Amaechi in Port-Harcourt.

South-South Monarchs' move to reunite Jonathan, Amaechi However, due to conspiracy which was said to have crept into the move and divided the house the monarchs have been unable to meet President Jonathan, and up till yesterday, some of the royal fathers have been in Abuja for over one week, without seeing the President.

They have reportedly contacted the chair of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark for assistance.

In the meeting with Governor Amaechi, one of the royal fathers from Rivers State told Vanguard that “Amaechi laid bare the reasons for the quarrel as they are, but promised to obey the monarchs in whatever decision(s) they take to resolve the matter in the interest of the South-South zone.”

He said, “The royal fathers were categorical that President Jonathan is senior to Governor Amaechi and the governor has to apologize to him and Amaechi agreed. He assured them he would prostrate before Jonathan as his “big brother” and ask for forgiveness if that is what they (royal fathers) want him to do for peace to reign.”

Another traditional ruler from Bayelsa State confided in Van-

guard, yesterday that, “The plan after the meeting with Amaechi was to proceed and meet President Jonathan before the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, election. But somehow, some of the royal fathers met secretly and schemed out the monarch, who initiated the move in the first instance, Charles Ayemi-Botu, the Pere of Siembiri kingdom in Delta State from the delegation.

“It was HRM Ayemi-Botu, former national chair of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, who spearheaded the peace move and rallied the other traditional rulers. Nevertheless, as I speak to you, some royal fathers have gathered in Abuja for over one week now to see President Jonathan without the man that initiated the effort. You can see the disunity among those calling for unity”.

Contacted on the matter, HRM Ayemi-Botu, aka Lion of the Niger, confirmed that he, indeed, started the move by South-South monarchs to mediate in the face-off between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi, adding, “I was beseeched by indigenes of the region and concerned stakeholders to do so because of similar roles I played in the past.”

His words, “I am taken aback by the development, actually, I contacted the South-South Monarchs Forum because it is something that concerns the South-South region. I was the anchor and got some royal fathers from Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, etc. We were with Governor Amaechi on May 7, we were together for close to four and half hours, from 8.00 pm to about 12.30 am.

“We discussed, the man was also very favourably disposed and was even ready to go and prostrate before Goodluck Jonathan as a senior brother.

This is to say that he was ready to apologize and this arrangement was well-concretized, but before we could meet Jonathan, I and other royal fathers were eradicated from the team.

“But for internal power struggle, we would have got this thing done even before the governors’ election that came up the previous Friday. Those of us that met with Governor Amaechi resolved there and then that 14 of us would move to Abuja to see Jonathan. Incidentally, the President was in South Africa for trade mission, we now had to wait.

“And because we got information that the NGF election may either hold on May 9 or likely to be shifted to end of the month, we thought we had some respite, and that between this period, we were going to broker peace and see how things will follow. Unfortunately, among the monarchs, we now see ourselves acting less than royalty demand”.

According to him, “Whenever there is problem, there are some people who try to benefit from it. Instead of holding the bull by the horn and ensuring that they give peace a chance, they will be dilly-dallying.”

Ayemi-Botu disclosed, “I was surprised to hear they are in Abuja more than a week now without letting me know, but I do not want to blame anybody.

Not even those who know that I started it all, how we met in Victoria Island, Lagos on May 5, to fashion how to go about it and all that. I leave them to their conscience.”

The monarch, however, stated that the dispute between President Jonathan and Amaechi “is a very sad commentary and a setback to the people of South-South region, that two of our sons, the President at the helm of affairs and a governor, who is the chair of the Nigerian Governors Forum are now seen to be the two combatants.”

He asserted, “I strongly feel that this problem is not for President Jonathan and Amaechi alone, it is a matter that affects the entire South-South geo-political zone. It is a mockery of sort because it has not happened in other geo-political zones, and it is in our region this kind of thing is happening.

So, we have to unite them, it is better for you to fight outside than fighting in the house.

“If you fight outside and you come home where there is peace, you can settle and go back to fight again. So, let Goodluck Jonathan, as a senior partner, grant audience to the people who are there. As we say in Warri, nothing spoil. We must first organise our affairs before we can go out for any engagement or any assignment.

“If he (Jonathan) concedes to Amaechi that he is already the chair of NGF, although they have split into two, that notwithstanding, one vote is something for us.

He should understand with Governor Amaechi, there are certain important things that we have to discuss; I cannot say them on the pages of newspaper.

“If Amaechi remains as the chair of the NGF, he has to forget the idea of running against his own brother, big brother for that matter, in the race for presidency, either as a presidential candidate or a vice presidential candidate.

Because that alone will make nonsense of whatever efforts that monarchs and other sympathizers are trying to broker,” he said.

“We have to firm up the contending issues to resolutions, such as if this happens, I will not do this, if this does not happen, then I will do this and by so doing, people will not be seen as oil flowing on top of water. We want everybody to be very earnest in his or her dealings to see that agreement reached will be kept,” he added.

The monarch counseled, “In that premise, I will say that President Jonathan should give chance for the monarchs to have audience with him and subsequently, we will still all come in, we can still be playing the various roles we are known to have been playing .”

He also admonished, “in politics, they say no permanent enemy, no permanent friend, but permanent interest, they should not rock the boat; they should reconcile and forge ahead.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 9

Nigerian women lead in skin bleaching — WHO

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

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HE World Health Organisa tion, WHO, has said 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products, the world’s highest percentage. The figure compares with 59 percent in Togo, and 27 percent in Senegal.

The WHO report said the reasons for this are varied but most people said they use skin-lighteners because they want “white skin”.

WHO also said skin bleaching comes with hazardous health consequences. The dangers associated with the use of toxic compounds for skin bleaching include, blood cancers such as leukemia and cancers of the liver and kidneys, as well as severe skin conditions. It said hardcore bleachers use illegal ointments containing toxins like mercury, a metal that blocks production of melanin, which gives the skin its colour, but can also be toxic.

The report said in many parts of Africa, lighter-skinned women are considered more beautiful and believed to be more successful and likely to find marriage. It also said

it is not only women who are obsessed with bleaching their skins.

Some men too are involved in the practice.

WHO investigation said lightening creams are not effectively regulated in Nigeria where even roadside vendors sell tubes and

plastic bags of powders and ointments from cardboard boxes stacked along sidewalks in market districts. Many of the tubes are unlabelled as to their actual ingredients.

Qatar based Al Jazeera also reported that business is booming

for shops selling skin-lightening products. A trader said, “About 90 percent of my clients come asking for skin whitening products,” adding “I sell it to them and give advice on what product is best for them and how to use them.”

SUMMIT—From left: Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke at the Centenary Law Summit organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, yesterday.

Forbes rates Aliko Dangote world's 25th richest man

BY BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

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ENOWNED international journal, Forbes, has said Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is now 25th richest man in the world.

Forbes also said Dangote is now the first African entrepreneur to lay claim to a $20 billion fortune as the stock value of his largest holding, Dangote Cement, leaped just three months after it released its annual ranking of the world’s richest people.

The report noted that Aliko Dangote’s 93 percent stake in the cement company is now worth $19.5 billion.

This was in addition to his controlling stakes in other publicly-listed companies like Dangote Sugar and National Salt Company of Nigeria and his significant shareholdings in other blue-chips like Zenith Bank, UBA Group and Dangote Flour.

His extensive real estate portfolio, jets, yachts and current cash position, which includes more than $300 million in recently awarded Dangote Cement dividends, Dangote is now worth more than $20 billion. The price is largely a market response to the company’s impressive 2013 Q1 results.

The cement manufacturer’s unaudited results for the three months, ending on March 31, showed that the company’s pretax profit rose to $339 million, rep-

resenting an 80.6 percent increase from last year and a strong indicator of the company’s future earning potential.

The results also indicate a 79.5 percent rise in its earnings per share over the corresponding period last year.

Explaining the company’s share price boost, Carl Franklin, Dangote Cement’s Head of Investor Relations in the U.K said

in the first quarter of 2013, the company had a huge increase in demand across Nigeria, gas supply improved considerably and the capacity was much more ramped up.

“So Q1 was the first sign of just how profitable we can be in Nigeria. The amazing thing is that 66 percent of our gas-fired production in Q1 was done at 84 percent gas.

"Imagine what would happen to margins if we did the same amount at 95 percent. This has given investors a good sense of what we can really do when everything goes in the right direction”.

With a current market cap of $20.5 billion, Dangote Cement becomes the first Nigerian company to achieve a market capitalization of over $20 billion.

....Aig-Imoukhuede, Access Bank boss, emerges 2013 African Banker of the Year

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IGBOJE Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, has emerged the winner of the 2013 edition of ‘African Banker of the Year’ Award.

This announcement was made at the Awards ceremony organized by African Banker Awards, the publisher of African Banker Magazine, IC Events and Business in Africa events during the annual African Development Bank, AfDB, meetings on May 29, 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco.

In its seventh edition, the African Banker Awards was one of the biggest landmark annual events that recognize and celebrate achievements of Africa’s banking and financial sector.

It is a ground-breaking event that brings together more than 500 key industry players and top gov-

ernment officials from Africa and around the world to celebrate excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.

The Access Bank Chief Executive emerged as winner in the ‘African Banker of the Year’ category which had two other Nigerian bankers, Andrew Alli, President/CEO, Africa Finance Corporation, Segun Agbaje, CEO/Managing Director,GTB Bank and other established Bankers from Mozambique and Tanzania, Joao Figueiredo, CEO and Chairman, Unico Bank; and Dr Charles Kimei, Managing Director, CRDB, as contenders.

It was yet another recognition of his contributions to the African financial services landscape and his visionary leadership which has situated Access Bank in the region of global admiration.

Commenting on this year’s entries, Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher of African Banker Magazine, said in a statement, “I remain a staunch defender of the positive role banking institutions can play. The two biggest listed companies in China are both financial institutions and they play a critical role in the economy".

Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, GMD, Access Bank.

Nigeria's total debt stock now $54bn — DMO

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IGERIA’S total debt stock stood at $53.46 billion as at end-March 2013. This was the aggregate of Federal Government, State governments and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, debt.

The Director General of Debt Management Office, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo gave this figure at a world press conference on “Advances in, and status of, Public Debt Management in Nigeria” in Enugu.

Giving a breakdown, Dr. Nwankwo put the total external debt of the country (Federal Government, State Governments and FCT) at $6.14 billion, while the larger part of $47.65 billion is domestic debt.

Nwankwo, however, assured that the country’s public debt is quite sustainable. He said relative to the size of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, the country has not over borrowed and, is therefore not likely to suffer any debt overhang. He also explained that compared to countries at the same level of development and similar GDP size, Nigeria has not borrowed too much, either in terms of domestic or external debt.

Unemployment may rise to 208m by 2015 — ILO

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

T

HE International Labour Or ganisation, in its report released, yesterday, warned that the number of unemployed persons could rise to 208 million by 2015.

According to the World of Work report released in Geneva, Switzerland, the ILO stated that global unemployment is expected to reach 208 million in2015, up from 200 million today”.

It noted that “long-standing labour market imbalances, such as high levels of labour market informality in developing countries and long-term unemployment in advanced economies, will remain acute”.

In countries like Nigeria where unemployment is on the rise, the ILO suggested that to check the trend, countries could benefit from well- designed social protection and a boost of labour income.

The report titled, “repairing the economic and social fabric”, recommended “ Investment in key infrastructure projects, along with measures to facilitate the transition to formal employment and to expand well-crafted social protection and minimum wages would help to further that objective”.

10—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Ogun Okada riders raise alarm over possible ban

2015: PDP ready to discipline erring members — Tukur

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—NATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, warned that to avoid distractions as the party prepares for 2015 presidential election, it was prepared to wield the big stick against any erring member.

Tukur said that failure of PDP in the past to strictly enforce its laws for whipping non-conforming members into line had accounted for the frequent breakdown of confidence among members on one hand and the troubles with the leadership on the other hand.

He added that party discipline and supremacy were also parts of the major foundation upon which PDP was built.

He noted that enforcing discipline in PDP was now a task for the present National Working Committee, NWC, saying the party would no longer tolerate any acts of indiscipline and sabotage.

According to him, the party was tired of reports of anti-party activities being levelled against members in some states, adding that henceforth, he will not hesitate to invoke relevant sections of PDP’s constitution against those he termed errant members if only to maintain discipline within its fold.

Speaking with journalists on 14 years of democracy, Tukur stressed that the party’s constitution had always been a veritable tool for promoting harmonious relationship and cohesion among members.

This coming barely four days after Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih canvassed for automatic ticket for President Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election, against the backdrop that he had performed.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS This is to inform the general public that I, Prof. Isa Hashim of Taurani Qrts, Kano lost my Fagge L.G.C Certificate of Occupancy (original) for Plot No. 20 Aba Road S/G Kano.

VISIT: From left— (FRONT ROW) Ven. Philip Oyebolu, former board member, Olabisi Onabanjo University; Mr. Mustafa Shehu, President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president; Mr. Habu Gumel, Fellow, NSE; Mr. A. Awolana, Chairman, NSE, Abeokuta branch and other officials, during a visit of the NSE president to Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

Atiku, Tambuwal, Tinubu, el-Rufai, others unveil Opon Imon

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—THE official launch of Opon Imon, Tablet of Knowledge, by Osun State government yesterday, turned out to be a political gathering of yet to be registered All Progressives Congress, APC, members.

The roll call of politicians, who graced the launch of the special computers at Ilesa, home town of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State include former Vice President, Atiku Abubarkar; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Others are former Presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and governors of Niger and Kano states, who were represented by their respective Commissioners for Education.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu; National Chairman of ACN, Chief Adebisi Akande; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Orelope Adefulure; wife of Ekiti State

Governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi and representative of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ajimobi and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi commended Governor Aregbesola for setting the pace for other states in the country.

Tinubu, who expressed delight at the performances of Governor Aregbesola in two and a half years, said he was not disappointed with the laudable achievements of Aregbesola and other can gov-

ernors in the country.

He said the governor has through the launch of Opon Imon given real dividends of democracy to every home in the state, as according to him every single home in the state would directly benefit from the government’s gesture.

In his speech, Aregbesola who expressed gratitude to God and the people of the state for the opportunity to serve said his government believes in education as the solution to mirage of problems in the country, hence its interest in the education sector.

Fayemi dedicates S/Court victory to Ekiti people his court victory had com- Court decision had affirmed

G

OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has said his victory at the Supreme Court, last Friday, was for the people of the state, who have kept faith with his administration for the almost three years he had been in the saddle.

The governor, in a broadcast late Sunday night, said

pelled him to face the task of banishing poverty from Ekiti with greater vigour, adding that the judgment had also strengthened him to work harder.

Fayemi said he had no choice but to fully and wholeheartedly rededicate himself to the task of renewal and rebirth of Ekiti State.

He noted that the Supreme

PDP disowns Ladoja/Akala c'ttee

BY OLA AJAYI

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BEOKUTA—COMMERCIAL motorcyclists in Ogun State, numbering about 10,000, yesterday, cried out against possible banning of commercial motorcycles in the state, saying it would trigger more insecurity and unemployment problems.

The motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, who converged on Abeokuta under the aegis of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycles Riders Association of Nigeria, ACOMORAN, said banning of motorcycles would do more harm than good to any government.

Chairman of the association, Chief Adebayo, speaking at a seminar organised for members tagged Ride to Live, said commercial motorcycling ranks among the highest employers of labour.

He said: “Banning of commercial motorcycles is not the solution to the problems associated with commercial motorcycling.

"At a point in this country, we had very serious problems with fake drugs.

The pharmaceutical companies were not shut."

BADAN—PEOPLES Demo cratic Party, PDP, in Oyo State has denounced a 10-man committee allegedly set up by two former governors of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Senator Rashidi Ladoja in preparation for the 2015 elections.

According to the party, the alliance of the two was aimed at feathering their own nests. The party, through Mr. Dare Adeleke, said: “Neither the National Working Committee nor the National Executive Committee of the party is

aware of such move.”

However, Alao-Akala has denied having any intention to join the Accord Party, led by his former boss, Ladoja.

He said: “Some people are misconstruing the inauguration of a reconciliatory committee we are putting up at Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s house, saying I am joining Accord Party, AP. I’m not joining AP and I will never join AP. “We are just trying to see how we can work together and bring some PDP members, who are not happy, back into the fold and make them happy.”

the people’s collective efforts, prayers, support and desire to have a government elected by them and responsible to the electorate.

He reiterated his call for punishment for election “thieves,” while praising the justices of the Supreme Court for “exhibiting the highest level of courage by standing on the side of the truth.”

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF FINISHED TEXTILE DEALERS OF LAGOS The general public is hereby notified that the above-named Association, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies andAllied MattersAct, 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Mr. Patrick Uzomah 2.

Pastor PaulAnichie 3. Mr. ChijiokeAniuno 4.

Barrister KennethAkunebu 5. Mrs. Cynthia Ekechi AimsAnd Objectives: 1. To bring together finished textile dealers resident in Lagos State and its environs in love and unity and promotion of their economic well being.

2. To promote the general welfare of its members.

3. To dissuade and discourage ignoble trade conduct among its members.

Any objection thereto should be addressed to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent (Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street), Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: BARRISTER KENNETH AKUNEBU

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013—11

Dana crash victims get cenotaph z23 families fully compensated— Mgt

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, DANIEL ETEGHE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—ONE year after the ill-fated Dana air crash in Iju, Ifako-Ijaye Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Federal and Lagos State governments, yesterday, unveiled the cenotaph for victims at the crash site.

This came as the management of the airline said 23 families of the victims of the McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft had been fully compensated with each receiving US$100,000.

Managing Director of the Dana Airline, Mr. Jackie Hathiramani, spoke at a procession that took off from the domestic terminal 2 and ended at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, headquarters in the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

He said the process of compensation was, however, slowed down due to incomplete documentation and multiple claims presented by some families.

He said: "By Friday of last week, over 23 of the families of the victims have been paid US$100,000 as full compensation, including ground victims; about three of them have been settled.

"The process slowed down due to incomplete documentation and multiple claims presented by most of the families of the victims.”

It would be recalled that the aircraft flying to Lagos from Abuja killed about 159 people on June 3, 2012, at Iju Ishaga, Lagos, where it crashed into a residential building.

However, while victims’ families complained of not being compensated as promised by the Dana Air, the residents complained about neglect and shoddy job by contractors, who handled the construction of the cenotaph and road project.

Meanwhile, speaking at the remembrance ceremony, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said: “This cenotaph, which we are unveiling here

today will ensure that their memories never die."

Speaking on behalf the Federal Government, Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, assured that the ministry had implemented policies to ensure that similar disaster did not happen again.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. George Efunaosi, she

E

UROPEAN Union has criticised the National Assembly for passing the law criminalising same-sex marriages in Nigerian.

High representative of the Union in Nigeria, Ms Catherine Ashton, said in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, that although the union does not support same sex marriage nor oppose it, it was against making it a crime.

She said: “EU seeks neither to promote nor discourage same sex marriages, but has been clear it opposes discrimination or any form of legislation that persecutes someone on the basis of sexual orientation.”

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

PREACHER: Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, preaching at the church's Excel Programme by City of David, Apapa Family, held at TBS in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

Centre for rape victims underway in Lagos

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—RESPITE is on the way for victims of rape and all forms of sexual assault in Nigeria as a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, will soon take off at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. The centre, first of its kind in Nigeria, is being set up by the Partnership for Justice, PFJ, supported by Justice for All Programme, JAP; Department of International Development, DFID, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

It is aimed at providing com-

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act of 1990.

Mr. Emeka Ifezulike Mr. Temitayo Eben-Spiff

lation guiding the aviation industry.”

Mr. Steven Abuyere, one of the victims’ family member, lamented that her mother’s name was missing on the list engraved on the memorial tomb.

He said: “Rather than my mother’s name, the government pasted the name of another person who is still alive.”

I stand before you today,

CJN urged to probe Okeke's allegation

PUBLIC NOTICE BORN TO WORSHIP FOUNDATION

The Trustees are: Mrs. Chizoba Onejeme Mrs. Ngozi Nzekwe

said: “I am personally touched by the event of today.

"I wish to assure Nigerians that the Ministry of Aviation is making frantic efforts to ensure that the country doesn’t experience any plane crash again.

"The ministry has instituted security programmes to ensure that all the operators in the country adhere to the international rules and regu-

EU faults NASS on same sex law

Mr. Godwin Wiggle Mr. Nathaniel Bassey.

Aims & objectives are: 1. To support and encourage gospel musicians 2. To help young people to start a career in gospel music 3. To enhance the growth and development of gospel music in Nigeria 4. To discover young gospel music talent 5. To organise gospel music concerts and shows Any objection to this should be addressed to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Oke .I. Omezi Esq. Legal Practitioner

prehensive and quality services to victims of sexual violence in a compassionate and caring manner, free of charge.

Already, 30 doctors and nurses drawn from various government-owned health institutions in the state are undergoing a two-week training workshop facilitated by a forensic expert, Dr. Sarah Redvers, from St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Managing Partner, FFJ, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba, told Vanguard, that the centre would provide free medical, psycho-social and follow-up support services to rape victims and sexual assault.

She said: “The centre is going to provide pregnancy tests, initial medical services like possible HIV tests, which will be done with the consent of the victim and all information will be kept confidential and private."

Eze-Anaba lamented that generally, victims of sexual violence found it difficult to report due to inability to pay for cost of treatments and lack of awareness.

She said: “We are going to install a system that will provide disaggregated data so that we will be able to say how many rape victims there are in Lagos State and how many came from Ikorodu, Yaba, and so on."

A

call has gone to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, to institute a probe into the alleged interference in the course of justice levelled against a justice of the Supreme Court by a retired federal High Court Judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

A statement by a group, Lagos Collectives, LC, through its chairman, Professor Tejumade AkitoyeRhodes said: “We at the Lagos Collectives respectfully demand that Chief Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar should, as a matter of public urgency, set up a powerful panel of enquiry.

"The panel will carefully look into the allegations and summon those who are mentioned in order to arrive at the truth and clear the highest court of possible complicity in the perversion of justice.”

Rationalisation 'll strangulate LASU

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BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

DUCATION Rights Campaign, ERC, has said the rationalisation of academic programmes at Lagos State U n i v e r s i t y, LASU, will strangulate the institution's workers.

It called on students of the institution to

rise against any move to rationalise.

According to the Lagos State Coordinator, ERC, Mr. Adams Lateef, in a statement, the university’s Governing Council at its 100th meeting with the backing of the Lagos State Government, resolved to embark on rationalisation of courses that would see to the scrapping of departments and sacking of some teaching and non-teaching staff.

The statement read in part: “This plan was kick-started

with the commercialisation of LASU, wherein students, who gained admission in the 2011/ 2012 academic session, were asked to pay between N193,750 and N348,750, a situation where only 1,951 students (39.8%) of over 4,903 students offered admission were admitted.

"This shows the obvious failure of the policy of commercialisation in the education sector. Failure to challenge the fee hike policy has led to the slow destruction of LASU."

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

PDP alleges division in APC over Buhari's Boko Haram comment

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR AND HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—THE Peo ples Democratic Party, PDP, last night slammed opposition parties involved in the formation of the All Progressive Congress, APC alleging a sharp division among them over recent comments by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on the government’s campaign against Boko Haram.

The PDP in a statement yesterday, alleged an internal fight among elements in the APC over comments attributed to Gen. Buhari in which he had slammed the Federal Government's military campaign against the insurgent Boko Haram militants as unjustified.

The PDP statement followed a statement issued by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, one of the leading parties involved in the formation of the APC in which the party flayed the PDP as a big for nothing party.

The ACN had in the statement accused the PDP of political cannibalism noting that the recent family dinner was a charade that vainly sought to cover the party’s descent into ignominy.

Alleging that Buhari has been finally unveiled as a religious and tribal bigot, the PDP in the statement issued by Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, said: “Instead of unnecessarily attacking the PDP, the ACN and its cotraveller, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, should be bold enough to tell Nigerians the outcome of their meeting where their members were sharply divided over comments by their leader, General Muhammadu Buhari condemning the decision by the Federal Government to root out insurgency in the country and describing it as an attack on the north.

“Many of their members have now realised that they are in the wrong boat captained by insensitive religious and tribal bigots."

Edo to demolish buildings used to habour kidnappers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State Government, yesterday, resolved with security agencies in the state to demolish any building used by criminals to harbour kidnap victims in the state.

The decision was reached at a Security Council meeting at Government House, Benin City.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, said: “The council has resolved that any house used for kidnapping purposes will be demolished.”

Flanked by Mr. Bakori Tukur, the state Director of Department of State Security and representatives of Brig- General Pat Akem, Commander, 4 Brigade and Air Commodore Umar Atiku, Commander, 81 Air Maritime Group, Adebanjo said: “We have arrested many armed robbers and kidnappers and they are being interrogated.

“If you consider the calm in the state, it is as a result of the efforts of the security agencies. The state will not be safe for armed robbers and kidnappers, either they

repent or leave the state because we have resolved to make Edo State very comfortable for law abiding citizens. We will not allow criminals to take over this state and that is our pledge to the people of the state,” he said.

He said that the State Security Council had taken a strong position to stem the tide of kidnapping in the state. “The council had resolved that any house used for kidnapping purposes will

be demolished. The response we have been getting on distress calls has been very encouraging. We, the security agencies, are doing our best and the people are appreciating what we are doing.”

MTN 21 DAYS OF YELLO CARE: From left: Director, MTN Foundation, Nigeria, Dr. Dennis Okoro; Human Resources Executive, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; Chairman, Dr. Pascal Dozie; Chief Education Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Adebayo Orunsolu; and Director, MTN, Mr. Victor Odili, during the kick-off of MTN 21 Days of Yello Care, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Amaechi gives hope to physically challenged R

IVERS State grovernor and re-elected Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that his administration was set to build a special school for the physically challenged in the state.

The Amaechi administration, according to the state Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Nemi, would build the special school for the physically challenged to give them hope and provide special opportunity for them to learn.

Governor Amaechi gave directive for the speedy execution of the special school project at a youth interactive forum held in the state.

At the end of inspection of the land for the school for the physically challenged, which lies between Kpondo and Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, on the road accessing Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, with a team of journalists, yesterday, Dame Nemi and her Social Welfare and Rehabilitation counterpart, Mr. Joe Poroma, spoke on the effort by the Amaechi administration to fulfil its dream of

building a special school for the physically challenged in the state.

Nemi said that the school was already at the design stage, adding, “Let me, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, my colleague, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, and the Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, thank Governor Amaechi for giving hope to the physically challenged in the state. I am happy

that my colleague and I are here at the site for the school.”

She said Amaechi’s vision for the physically challenged in the state would now a reality.

On his part, Mr. Poroma said the physically challenged in the state was have a new beginning with the school.

He said: “It is a great day in the lives of those that are physically challenged in our

state. It has always been the dream of this administration to come up with a dream home, as you may call it, a school for those that are physically challenged in the state. Today is a new beginning; we have come here to inspect the land and I promise that by the time this administration comes to the end of its tenure, there’s going to be a befitting school for those that are physically challenged.”

Refuse heaps take over Bayelsa capital

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—RESIDENTS of Yenagoa, Bayesa State capital, have expressed concern over the heaps of refuse across the city, warning that they could lead to an outbreak of epidemic, if urgent remedial steps were not taken.

Many street corners in Yenagoa have been converted to refuse dumps, despite notices prohibiting dumping of refuse in such unathorised places.

Though the state government had made efforts through relevant agencies, to keep the cap-

ital city clean, heaps of refuse still litter the streets and road sides.

This reporter, who went round town, noticed the random dumping of wastes within the state capital by residents and suspected waste vendors.

The stench from the waste, some of which are very close to residential buildings, poses serious health hazard to residents.

A health officer, who spoke anonymously, said the situation if not addressed on time can lead to an outbreak of epidemic especially

among children due to their weak immune system.

Also, a staff of the state Sanitation Authority, who pleaded anonymity, blamed the situation on what she described as inefficiency on the part of the contractor handling the collection of waste in the capital. She urged the state government to make available more waste disposal trucks to ensure the speedy evacuation of such wastes from the streets and roads as well as the establishment of a waste recycling plant with a view to turning the wastes into wealth.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Arrest Uwazuruike, divide Nigeria —MASSOB O

By OKONKWO EZE

NITSHA—MOVEMENT for the Actualization of Sovereign State of, MASSOB, has threatened to divide the country if their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, was arrested for trial over treason.

MASSOB members who marched in large numbers in their Biafran uniform to all major streets of Onitsha, yesterday, carried placards with various inscriptions.

Speaking through its regional administrator for Onitsha Region 4, Chief Arinze Igbani, MASSOB said the protest was anchored on the basis of injustice, incessant harassment and killing of Igbo people across the country.

It made reference to Apo six killing of Igbo youths who are yet to get justice after several years the crime was committed and urged the federal government to refrain from the arrest of MASSOB members who he described as non-violent agitators.

Igbani lamented that Igbos had continued to sacrifice their lives for the unity of the country without any commensurate compensation, adding that Boko Haram militants that had carried out vio-

lent attacks on Nigerian citizens and institutions was on the verge of being granted amnesty by the federal government.

He vowed that MASSOB would continue to agitate for self-determination no matter the govern-

ment’s harsh approach that exposed their lives to danger.

He called on all “Biafrans” both at home and in the Diaspora to observe June 8 as a day of sober reflection to pay their respect to all Igbos killed in Ni-

geria by the powers that be.

He said: “I call on Igbos in Nigeria and in diaspora to remain at home on June 8, this year as a mark of respect for all fallen heroes of “Biafra who have been massacred

in the Country for the simple excuse that they’re Igbos.

“Why must the Federal Government subject Ndi-Igbo to second class citizens in a country they have helped to build?”

Emergency: Nyako, community leaders laud military’s conduct in Adamawa

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

Y

OLA—GOVERNOR Mur tala Nyako and community leaders in Adamawa State have hailed the conduct of both the military and the people, following federal government’s declaration of emergency rule in the state.

Adamawa is one of the three states the government declared a state of emergency recently, in the aftermath of activities of radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, others being Borno and Yobe states.

Nyako, who spoke when he received Defence Headquarters’ assessment team at at State House, Yola, last weekend, however, expressed surprise that the declaration of emergency by the federal government came to him as a surprise.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Chris Olukolade, quoted Governor Nyako as saying that though the state was not expecting the

declaration, he, however, commended the Armed Forces on the way it was being executed.

Nyako said there had been no report of human rights’ abuse within the state, adding that the troops had been living in peace with the

populace.

He said: “The children are more disciplined and the soldiers well-behaved. The youths are beginning to see the need for togetherness and the advantages of it.”

UNIABUJA students protest again

A

BY CALEB AYANSINA

B U J A — A G GRIEVED medical students of the University of Abuja have once again stage a protest over failure of the authorities to put an end to their plights and demanded N10million compensation for each student for wasted years in the institution.

The students, who disrupted activities within the main

campus and environs, barricaded the highway, disrupting flow of traffic.

Wielding placards with such inscriptions as “8 years and still in 300 level.” Without MBBS exams since 2005,” the students said their request to be transferred to other institutions as their counterparts in the affected departments had been kept in the cooler, saying time was running out.

The angry students described their plights as a deliberate move on the part of the management of the institution and the federal government to frustrate their graduation from the institution.

They also demanded a compensation of N10 million each per student of the medical department for the years wasted.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 —15

Achebe drew the world closer —Obama L

BY UDUMA KALU

AGOS—UNITED States President, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle have described the late Nigerian novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe as a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.”

In a letter made available to Vanguard but addressed to the Achebe family and read by a White House representative, at the Celebration of Life event for Chinua Achebe, last Sunday night, at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC 20240, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama said Achebe was a “Revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador.

“Achebe shattered the conventions of literature and shaped the collective identity of Nigerians throughout the world.

With a dream of taking on misperceptions of his homeland, he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated understanding and drew our world closer together.

His legacy will endure in the hearts of all whose lives he touched with the everlasting power of his art.”

The event which also featured an arts exhibition and reception kicked off at 6 pm. Other highlights of the event included tributes from public and private friends and dignitaries, cultural dance troupes, music, masquerades and tributes.

The Francesca Harper project

provided a thrilling ballet and the former Nigerian based US citizen, Chuck Mike theatre group enthralled the crowd with a theatrical production of a scene from Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.

Professor Mike reportedly had the audience laughing with his rendition of his experiences in

Nigeria and the idiosyncratic tendency of Nigerians to respond with the phrase “we thank God” when asked a variety of questions in various scenarios.

The Afrobeat band Eme and Heteru thrilled the crowd with electrifying music. Speakers included the host, Johnnetta Cole, President emeritus of Spelman and Bennet

Colleges and now director of the Smithonian museum of African Art; Ruth Simmons, former president of Brown University, Poet Sonia Sanchez, Micere Mugo and Simon Gikandi, Scott Moyers, president of Penguin, and Jules Chametzky, professor emeriti of Umass Amherst, where Achebe spent time in the 1970s and 80s.

AWARD: From left: Dr. Nkosana Moyo, Director General, Nelson Mandela Institute, Johanesburg, presenting a plaque to the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, to commemorate the award of African Public Servant of the Year 2013.

FG spent N126bn on 32 completed road —Onolememen Plans N850bn for Northern roads

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment yesterday said it had spent N126billion in the last two years on 32 roads which the present administration had so far completed.

The government also spoke of plans to spend N850billion on road projects in the Northern

parts of the country.

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, made these known at the on-going Midterm achievements report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for 2013 Ministerial platform in Abuja.

He said the federal government had spent a whopping

N126 billion on the 32 roads completed across the country, adding that of the N126billion, government had paid out a total of N120billion.

According to him, the completed roads include the repairs of 3rd Mainland Bridge (Phase 11), covering additional works for the replacement of 8 Nos., expansion joints in Lagos State, completion of the duplication of Onitsha-Ow-

British firm, FG to assemble 200 locomotives in Nigeria

A

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a British conglomerate, General Electric Company (Transportation), to assemble 200 locomotives in Nigeria.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who disclosed this at a media briefing to showcase the mid term achievements of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, under his ministry in Abuja yesterday, said the locomotives were to be assembled over a period of ten years under a

special country- to-country relationship.

Describing the MoU as investment incentive, the minister explained that the agreement also covered upgrading and development of a multi-modal locomotives’ assembly facility in Nigeria.

Senator Umar said further that the government had already procured 25 new locomotives from General Electric, with 366 coaches and wagons refurbished to service the existing rail, adding that the country was expecting the arrival of four new

locomotives next month.

According to him, “order is placed for two sets of Diesel Multiply Units, DMUs, of capacity of 640 passengers each to arrive in December 2013.

“Order placed for the procurement of six modern air conditioned coaches with capacity of 68 seaters each to arrive in December 2013.”

The minister said President Jonathan had approved the remodeling and redevelopment of major railway stations to incorporate modern commercial outlets under Private Public Partnership, PPP, arrangement.

erri Road (Section 1) and Onitsha Eastern Bypass in Anambra State and completion of the rehabilitation of the access road to the Kaduna Refinery in Kaduna State.

Others are rehabilitation of Jebba Bridge in Kwara State, completion of the rehabilitation of Efon-Alaaye-Erinmo Iwaraja road in Ekiti and Osun States, and rehabilitation of OtukpoOweto Road in Benue State.

He said: “Very impressive progress has also been made in the on-going dualisation and rehabilitation projects. For example, the journey from Benin to Lagos which hitherto took upwards of nine hours in 2011, now takes between three to four hours.

Travel time between Abuja and Lokoja has equally improved from an average of four hours to about two hours.

“Travel time on Kano-Maiduguri road has also been reduced by half in the completed sections.

In the same vein, while travel time from Owerri to Onitsha is down from two hours to just forty-five minutes. It now takes only about six hours to travel from Owerri to Lagos from an average of fifteen hours it took in 2010.”

CJN blames corruption on obsolete, alien laws

BY IKECHUKWU NNO-

A

CHIRI

BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar, yesterday blamed the corruption that had bedeviled Nigeria for the past 100 years on archaic, obsolete and alien laws which were no longer consistent with current realities.

Speaking at the Centenary Law Summit organized by the Nigerians Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NAILS, in Abuja, the CJN, lamented that many laws which had either been repealed or substantially modified in Britain, Nigeria’s former colonial power, still operated in Nigeria without any changes.”

Consequently, she called on the National Assembly to intensify and sustain ongoing efforts at reforming Nigeria’s laws, with a view to making them relevant to contemporary socioeconomic and political realities.

Corruption: ICPC confiscates ex-banker, others’ property

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—THE Inde pendent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has confiscated some movable and landed property belonging to three suspects, including an exbanker, over allegations of corruption.

The three suspects, are coordinator of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteers Corps, NAVC, Lagos chapter, Amb. Akinyemi Badejogbin, his treasurer, Lanre Bakare, and a former banker, Mr. Olaniran Yemi-Aris. Their property were seized over acts bordering on illegal diversion of public funds for their personal use.

A statement by the Head of Media of ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, noted that the commission took the action against Akinyemi Badejogbin and Lanre Bakare in respect of an ongoing investigation contained in a petition received by the commission in 2011.

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

DANA AIRCRASH: IST YEAR MEMORIAL AND UNVEILING OF CENOTAPH AT CRASH SITE

From left: Mr. George Ossi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, representing Minister of Aviation; Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Special Duties; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Chief Host, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, First Lady, Lagos State, during, the First Year Memorial and Unveiling of Cenotaph in honour of the Dana aircrash victims, at Dana Air Crash Site, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Cross-section of families of the victims

Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala condoling with Mrs. Nneka Orakwe, as President Goodluck Jonathan unveiled a Memorial Cenotaph in honour of the victims of the June 3, 2012 Dana Air Crash, during a solemn ceremony, at the Domestic Wing, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

From left: Alhaji Hakeem Kosoko, Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Religious Matters and Rev. Monsignor Bernard Ayodele Okodua, Chairman, CAN, Lagos State Council

Oba Abass Ajibode, Olu of Iju-Ishaga, laying wreath

OSUN STATE LAUNCHES OPON IMON TABLETS FOR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

From left: Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Fromright: Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Editor in Chief/ GM,Publications,Vanguard Media Ltd, with other guests.

From left: Oba Okunade Sijuade, Ooni of Ife; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Ahaji Atiku Abubakar; Chief Titi Laoye Tomori, Deputy Governor, Osun State; and Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, wife of Osun State Governor, during the state government's launch of state of the art tablet Opon Imon for Senior Secondary Schools students in Osun State, at Ilesha. Photo: Dare Fasube.

From right: Mr. Kola Olabisi, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, Director of Publicity Research and Planning, ACN, Alhaji Ajao Adelakun, APC Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation Committee and Alhaji Waheed Lawal, Osun State NCP Chairman.

Cross-section of traditional rulers

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 17

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 TWO years into his presidency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is celebrating the achievements of the administration. The President and his acolytes at a May 29 event that exalted sycophancy awarded himself high marks, egged on by Ministers, who one after the other applauded whose wisdom was behind the achievements, of course the President’s.

For hours, live television beamed the plaudits to millions of Nigerians, some of who had great reasons to wonder if their President, his men and women were talking about a country other than Nigeria. If things were as bright as the statistics painted, why the more glittering doom and gloom? Why were Nigerians unable to relate to the gains?

Who did the Transformation Agenda affectAre there other ways of capturing the prosperity without the befuddling statistics?

Why is the public unable to feel the gains in the economy?

The management of the economy is not a picnic. Those who choose to dramatize the task can only arouse more curiosity. What was the point? How would it have hurt the President and his interests if he admitted he

Mid TTerm, erm, Mix ed Mixed For tunes ortunes was not where we wanted to be? Nigerians always expect more, especially where they are promised superlative performances.

Inflation rate is close to single digit and external reserves are almost $50 billion. The Nigerian Stock Exchange is bouncing back to pre-crisis levels and the exchange rate has stabilised for over two years. What do these mean for the ordinary Nigerian?

We must admit that the Nigerian economy and polity are vast and so are the issues they address. The tendency to group everyone and everything together makes it particularly tasking to appreciate the changes that are

taking place.

If you travel by air, the remodelling of the airports shows some work is being done until a strike torpedo. In contrast, most of the roads present a picture of eternal neglect and with even the most modern ones lacking basic lighting to aid night trips.

The Federal Government sets itself up for more criticisms with the high marks it awarded its performances. If the strides that have been taken deserve such praises, government presents itself as mediocre and loses the understanding of those who appreciate what has to be done.

Electricity remains a mystery. Efforts at explaining generation, transmission and distribution and assigning change indicators to them have failed to deliver electricity to users. The devastation this does to the economy is evident. Security challenges, the worst in peace time, dispelled the President’s efforts.

The presentation of the mid term report lacked the modesty that would have earned the President sympathy. If he thinks he has done so well, we would be left pondering what standards he uses.

OPINION

BY RENO OMOKRI Continued from yesterday's pg 17

I

T is glaring that instead of being idle, Chief Clark has decided to throw stones into his own domain from the outside not caring whether innocent persons are hit in the process. It is important to note that Elder Godsday Orubebe is from Ogboagbene, a village close to Clark’s in the same Burutu Local Government Area of the state. Clark’s petulant desire and disposition to be heard and obeyed on all state and national issues (especially those involving his dear Ijaw Nation and/or Goodluck Jonathan) has greatly eroded the initial positive view of his emerging persona as palpably Pan-Nigeria or overtly altruistic.

To many, Chief E. K. Clark has battered and trivialised Ijaw nationalism out of shape and intentions. The questions that readily come to mind are: *How many friends and enemies has Clark made for the Ijaw Nation and its strident campaign against marginalisation, under-development, environment degradation, etc., through his unregulated and unrestrained verbal attacks, barefaced insolence, innuendoes, ascerbic condemnations and provocative threats? *Can Clark appropriate and “colonise” the wishes of more than two million Deltans in the free choice of who should govern them in 2015 and beyond?

When mortals play God Many plants climb, rest or lean on other

E. K. Clark and the season of wolves (2) ones to grow, bloom or blossom. We humans are no exceptions. That Elder Orubebe was assisted by the “almighty” Chief E. K. Clark to access the position of Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is no news. The reference by Clark of his “crucial” role in enabling Orubebe appointment as a minister is neither here nor there in the context of the gentleman’s “offensive” declaration that he wants to be the governor of Delta State in order to fill the Ijaw quota.

What interests the imagination of Clark is his bid to install a puppet governor of his own definition and programming in 2015, not minding the holistic interests of other Deltans. It is general knowledge that Clark has always condemned, with magisterial aplomb, past aspirants or sitting governors who were not ready to dance to the old man’s tunes. His Delta Elders Forum has not made things easier for Deltans.

Many of the members were known to have worked, albeit covertly, for the opposition Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in the last general elections in 2011 because his preferred and anointed aspirant lost out in the jostling for the PDP governorship ticket.

In fact, Clark’s biological son, who contested under the DPP for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly, literally “lost his deposit” as he was white-washed by the PDP candidate. If the much-touted “total acceptance” and reverence for Chief

Clark was a truism, the junior Clark would have been a sitting member of DTHA today, courtesy of the God of Kiagbodo!

C

hief Clark’s avuncular disposition to issues, unsubstantiated territorial claims and the window-shop acquisition of the grand title of the “Leader of Ijaw Nation” are the petty indiscretions of a man who rode consciously on the back of the militancy of that period to achieve national recognition, relevance and reckoning.

I am Ijaw, Ijaw is me When leading lights of the Ijaw struggle such as former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, Ateke Tom, Henry Okah, John Togo, Soboma George, etc, had their separate travails and even death in some cases, Chief E. K. Clark lost his voice and “Ijawness” and played the proverbial ostrich. He needed to get all these young men off his path to retain his “undisputed” title of the “Leader of the Ijaw Nation”.

It is speculated that Chief Alamieyeseigha’s woes during the latter part of the Obasanjo administration may have been heightened and aggravated due to “insider” connivance in the undeclared war of who was the authentic Leader of the Ijaw Nation. In spite of this, the popular and universally-acclaimed “Governor-

General of the Ijaw Nation”, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, has always radiated soberness, dignity, serene demeanour and decent discourse on state, national issues without descending to the abyss of insolence, callousness and unconcealed threats. * Epilogue Rather than start a fiesta of stonethrowing to shoo away those probable servants of the people, the positive prospects of 2015 should engage all Deltans in the search for that quintessential person who will encapsulate and personify their hopes and aspirations. Amongst the horde of Orubebe, Okowa, Obi, Ochei, Okubor, Ogboru, Omo-Agege, Keyamo, Utuama and many others aspiring for the governorship of the state in 2015, let them be, let the people decide and let God approve.

Deltans are becoming irritated with the divisive agenda of those ethnic chauvinists whose forte is warehousing violence and threats of mayhem to oil their personal agenda.

Concluded.

*Mr. Alaowei-Green, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013— 19

, T

HE Guardian Tuesday May 28 2013 carried a story recording the African Union outrage on the ICC’s global prosecution of those charged with crime against humanity. The African Union, reports The Guardian, “has accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of “hunting” Africans because of their race and hence, it expressed opposition to plans by the Court to try Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on charge of crimes against humanity. The chairman of the body and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegu, who disclosed this yesterday at the end of The AU Summit said African leaders would raise their concerns with the United Nations (UN)… Kenyatta is due to be tried in July on charges of crime against humanity.”

The African Union’s position in no way is taken as dismissal of the charge against the Kenyan President. It has stated that such crimes to which Uhuru Kenyatta is possibly culpable should be prosecuted by the Kenyan Courts.

The reality of such alternate suggestions of venue for the trial must be accepted. The Government of Kenya is not likely to convict the President on what is a political charge, a crime arising out of electoral conflicts. Is it not this probability that ‘crimes against humanity are not likely to be justly prosecuted by National Courts that led to the establishment of the ICC in the first place? Africa has recorded more than its share of conduct that can be described as crimes against humanity. We only

need to remember the course of conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to be aware of their genocidal consequences. Such crimes have been recorded in Balkan’s Central America and in the regime change conflicts of Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and in the ongoing Civil War in Syria and the ArabPalestinian conflicts.

Africa’s disquiet concerning the history of the ICC thus far is accounted for principally by two noticeable facts: (1) That the ICC has not brought such charges and sought to try the Heads of Governments of the major powers like US and Russia.

(2)That Africans are preponderantly the ones so charged.

“The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) cited Hailemariam as saying at the AU submit in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, that African leaders had expressed regret that out of those indicted by the ICC, “99 percent are Africans.” Why is this the case?

Is this a reflection in the international societies of a racialist structure of power where the courts disproportionately indict and convict the weak while being protective of the strong?

Perhaps, this disproportion in the indictment and conviction rates is what has led the African Leaders to draw the conclusion that the bias of the ICC is a reflection of the racialist infrastructure of the ICC ‘jurisprudence’ I believe the AU have good grounds to be worried about this imbalance in the ICC “judgments

,

on the issues of crimes against humanity but I also believe the AU’s case be better argued. The first port of call in the argumentation is the issue of what constitutes the humanity that is the aggrieved.

What is this humanity? Is it an abstract concept? Is it a codification of the human conscience about human rights?

Should not the victim of the crime against humanity be the specifically affected by the conduct of the “Criminal”. The Guardian’s quote of the AU Chairman in this regard is relevant to the question of whose humanity had been affected by the crime. “According to the Chairman, the ICC is “chasing” Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, despite the fact that the rival Kalenjin and Kikuyu ethnic groups- who had fought after the 2007 election had come together to vote for him in the March (2013) polls. Kenyatta and Ruto were on opposite sides in the 2007 election, after which some 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 people fled their homes”.

I

t should stand to reason that it is the process of the electoral contestations of these two rival groups that should be criminalised because of the outcome of their political rivalry. If the two groups who were rivals in 2007 have become partners in the pursuit of their electoral interest in 2013, this fact shows that the two ethnic groups are not in inhuman enmity with each other and that the issue of inhumanity in conduct and the

Continental govt, a must for Africa

BY HENRY LARTEY

S

ATURDAY, May 25, 2013 was the 50th anniversary of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now known as African Union (AU).

The AU Day has been overwhelmingly embraced by Africans across the entire continent. This display of continental solidarity amidst social, cultural and linguistic diversities is indicative of the longstanding dream and aspiration of African peoples to unite. Indeed, the time has come in which the AU must be turned into a continental government that is capable of shaping the will and destiny of Africans.

I want to use this medium to salute the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which is now the African Union (AU), the current leadership of the AU as well as the innumerable civil society organisations and institutions for their commitment and contribution towards the development of the continent.

Most distinctly, the memory of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of the Republic of Ghana, whose articulation of the principles of African unification contributed

immeasurably to the political emancipation of the continent in its struggle against the yoke of colonialism, will continue to be honoured.

In comparing Africa against the socioeconomic development of other continents, we see that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is vindicated in advocating for a continental government to lead the peoples of Africa.

Most African countries today are experiencing economic hardships which can only be mitigated through a centralised government. The proof of this is exemplified by the fact that virtually all governments on other continents today are exploring policies of integration to achieve their economic developmental objectives.

The approach of using sub-regional economic groupings across the continent is the wrong path for addressing the demands and challenges that confront African peoples on a daily basis at the social, economic, and political levels. The success of a single regional block would bring limited value to the peoples of this continent, as no sustainable merit can be found in achieving economic prosperity in one region while the rest of the continent is

,

AU and the ICC: Issue of election violence in Africa

Electoral Contestations escalate into contestation for leadership, because the questions of Who Rules African Countries have remained unresolved and this is so because of the circumstance of the granting independence to countries

criminalisation of such conduct has to be addressed on a case by case basis most importantly in the specifics of the Kalenjin and Kikuyu contestations. Herein lies a structural problem, that is thus phrased. If the purpose of the ICC’s criminalisation of the outcomes of particular courses of political contestations is to discourage particular structuring of political rivalries, can the ICC’s objective be realised by law? Can permissible structuring of political contestation be legislated for all countries? And even if this were possible, can autonomy of action in the pursuit of sovereign interests, and interest of sovereigns be legally determined without the ICC becoming the Almighty Sovereign? There is however the difficulty of attempting to “hold a moon beam” in the hand through post facto criminalisation of political struggles and their outcome by the Court. As the case of the Kalenjin and Kikuyu conflict shows, conduct is not essentialist but situation- specific and the two ethnic groups who were sworn enemies in 2007 are in 2013 political friends.

Third party views of relations between the Kalenjins and Kikuyus differ essentially from parties-inconflicts views. The question then is why third party interests in specific courses of conflicts should be privileged above the Parties in Conflict Interest in the same course of conflict? Implicit in the fundamentals of the ICC is a superior-subordinate hierarchy of a sovereign court and subject nations. What is defended in the establishment of the ICC is orders of subordination of the lesser powers permitted by the Great Powers whose affairs are outside the practical jurisdiction of the ICC. This is how African Politicians come to form the core of indictable subjects of the ICC, and why none of the permanent members of the Security Council has been indicted by the Court. We have thus far not addressed the two substantive issues that should constitute the principal objections of the African Union to be discussed with the United Nations.

They are namely: (1)The value of the human in polities national and international(2)Why electoral politics in Africa generate conflicts that easily escalate into vicious

We believe that the AU must take immediate steps to pull down all barriers, obstacles and hindrances towards the creation of an African continental government

,

plagued with poverty, famine, ignorance, and war. For this reason, the call by Dr. Nkrumah for a continental government needs to be heeded. By integrating the vast resources and skills of the current subregional groupings into a singular economic bloc — the African economic bloc, in which member- countries collectively facilitate trade and commerce through a single currency, Africa can manifest itself as an economic powerhouse within the global community. We have what it takes. Today, we understand the potential of our natural resources but more importantly, amongst our citizens are those with an immense depth of understanding in

courses of war and violence. These issues of values touch on what is substantively the right of communities, nations, imperial states or corporate entities. We need to be clear on what can be practically considered to be a right that can be qualified as divine, sovereign, national or human. A right can only said to be a right if threatened can be defended by the Owners and when abridged can be restored by the owners of such rights. A right to life is a right if threatened can be defended by the persons possessing such right and if abridged can be restored by the person possessing such right. It is clear from such usage that a right secured by a third party is not a right but a statement of status, a normative ascription. The power to secure the right and to defend its abridgment is inherent in the assertion of a right. Rights postulated as a possession of individuals or groups by third parties who are covenanted to defend and maintain that right demonstrably deserve to be defined as right, be it of a class or humanity.The problem is that there is no Third-Party Agent Covenanted to secure, protect and defend the right of humanity and to place such covenants above its responsibility to its nation.

Human Rights are not political rights secured by government as rights have been defined in this essay. Thucydides continues to have the last say-the weak suffer what they cannot avoid, and the strong do what they cannot be prevented from doing. This addresses the issue of the value of rights, in national and international jurisprudence and diplomacy. The point is that the giving of laws and their implementation are functions of givers not those of subjects. The second issue addresses electoral violence in Africa. Electoral Contestations escalate into contestation for leadership, because the questions of Who Rules African Countries have remained unresolved and this is so because of the circumstance of the granting independence to countries who were provinces of empires.

Decolonization of provinces left unresolved who would rule the excolonies! This was the type of decolonization sanctioned by the Allied Powers who also set up the Post World War II Order.

the areas of science and technology, transport and communications, so that the continent can transform itself from being a mere commodities provider to a modern knowledge-based society.

We believe that the AU must take immediate steps to pull down all barriers, obstacles and hindrances towards the creation of an African continental government.

We need to foster a borderless alliance.

Developing closer international trade cooperation within the continent is vital.

We believe that the continued division of the continent along old colonial influences such as language, i.e. French vs. English vs.

Portuguese, is anachronistic to the spirit of African unification and the aspiration of African peoples. We call upon Africans both on the continent and in the Diaspora to advocate and impress upon their governments the urgency of African unification and the need for a continental government. We call upon all Africans to come together so that we can take our rightful place within the global village of humanity.

Africa has to energize and galvanize the peoples of the continent toward an African Renaissance. Domestication is the best Policy for the total economic emancipation of Africa. *Dr. Lartey, chairman of Great Consolidated Popular party, wrote from Ghana.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Deplorable road at Ira-nla , Oke Ira in Eti-Osa Local Government Area last week.

Photos: Lamidi Bamidele

Lagos community of pain: Residents, orphanage cry out over bad roads

BY LAMIDI BAMIDELE

P

ROVISION of infrastructural facilities, especially road construction, is one of the reasons why the Lagos State Government has been receiving accolades from many residents since Governor Babatunde Fashola came into office.

Indeed, roads construction or rehabilitation has become a common feature in virtually all the nooks and crannies of the State.

But while many Lagosians are enjoying this dividend of de-

mocracy, the reverse is the case at Ira Nla, Saliu Obodo and Akilapa streets of Oke-Ira nla areas in Ajah, Eti Osa Local Government Area where residents endure a lot of pains to move round the town, no thanks to the bad road which has forced many of them, especially workers, to relocate to other parts of the city.

For Arrows of God Orphanage Home, situated in Ira-Nla, it has been a bitter tale of woe on account of the bad road which has continued to undermine its existence and opportunities.

Narrating the ordeal of the or-

Arrows of God Orphanage home, Ira nla, Ajah, Lagos

phanage in this regard, its Managing Director, Mr David Ogo said: ‘’I have more than a hundred students that I transport to various schools everyday and what we go through on this road is not a good story to tell. Most of the time our buses break down on the road and we have to beg for a ride from others so that the students don’t get late to school”.

He further revealed how the poor condition of the road has scared away so many friends and donors to the orphanage. ‘’We appeal to the Lagos State Government to assist in rehabilitating the road as this would

enhance a better living standard for the residents,” he said.

Arrows of God orphanage was founded in 1998 by Rev. Lt. Col. D. C. Ogo, an ordained Minister and former Principal of the Nigerian Army School of Nursing and Midwifery and a former Chief Matron who blends her military discipline with the warmth of a seasoned nurse to provide an enduring care and motherhood for the children.

Private schools The home has many children and still counting. It has a government approved Nursery and Primary School on its premises for the children, while many of them attend private schools on sponsorship.

Many residents of Oke-Ira Nla who spoke to Vanguard Metro, VM, appealed to the Lagos State government to save them from the rigours they are subjected to as a result of bad roads. According to them, the few people remaining in the community now pay through their noses to move around, while commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada remain the only means of transportation to them.

VM, on a recent visit to the

community, discovered that the streets are in a very deplorable state. In fact, the Okada which conveyed this reporter got stuck on one of the roads and this almost terminated the journey.

A commercial driver who simply gave his name as Mr Adedeji recounted his plight to VM thus: “I have been living in this area for the past five and half years and this is what we have been going through every year. This road has really impoverished us and we are sad about the situation’’.

Asked what efforts the residents have made to bring their plight to the attention of the government, he replied: ‘’Some officials of the state government came here about two years ago and assured us that they will look into the matter, but nothing has been done till date’’.

Some commercial motorcyclists plying the road also recounted their ordeal. They pleaded with the Lagos State government to help rehabilitate the Salau Obodo, Akilapa, Iranla roads and others within Oke-ira community. One of them who identified himself as Ojo summed it up in these words: ‘’ It is true that we charge exorbitantly, but we end up spending all the money to repair our motorcycles”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 21

African Banker magazine names GTB ‘African Bank of the Year’

G

UARANTY Trust Bank, GTB, has scooped the prize for African Bank of the Year at the biggest African Banker Awards ceremony to date.

Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa for MasterCard, the Platinum sponsor of the event presented them with the Award at the close of the ceremony of which the guests included HE Regis Immongault, Minister of Mines for Gabon and Senegalese R&B and hip hop recording artist, Akon.

The High Patron of the Awards, the African Development Bank, was represented by the President of the bank, Donald Kaberuka, with opening remarks given by the head of the private sector operations, Tim Turner.

Hon. Nizar Baraka of Morocco was declared Minister of Finance of the Year for his achievements in the past year including the $1.5bn dollar issuance and prudent economic reforms. Nigeria yet again had a strong presence on the winners with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, clinching the award for Central Bank Governor in his last year in office.

Two bankers were recognised in the African Banker of the year category: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede GMD and CEO of Access Bank, and Joao Figueiredo Chairman and CEO of Banco Unico, who were given awards for Outstanding Performance and Bold leadership. South Africa performed particularly strongly in the Investment banking division with Rand Merchant Bank scooping Investment Bank of the year and Standard Bank wining the fixed income and deal of the year categories.

Guests were treated to a star-studded cast of performances at the ceremony that took place during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings at the Taj Palace Marrakech.

Michael Joseph, renowned for bringing the mobile banking innovation, MPesa, to international recognition and Jean-Louis Ekra, President of Afreximbank, and, were also amongst individual winners. They won the African Banker Icon and Lifetime Achievement Award respectively.

From left: Ronald Lauder, Founder, Robert S. Lauder Foundation; Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank Group and Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, during the African Development Bank Annual Board of Governors’ Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.

ICAN creates whistle blowers’ protection fund

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

HE Institute of Chartered Account ants of Nigeria (ICAN) has put in place an anti-corruption fund to protect whistle blowers as the outgoing President Mr. Adedoyin Owolabi gives his final words.

Although the stipulated fund was not disclosed, but Owolabi at a media chat, said the bill will soon be sent to the National Assembly for onward check and approval.

According to him, “Nigerians are hard working, it is not every Nigerian that wants to be fraudulent and corrupt, but however, those who do it, do it to a criminal rate that there is so much noise about it and they dent the image of this nation.

“We have another category of Nige-

rians who are aware of what is going on but afraid that should they talk, something terrible may happen to them. So, we decided that the institute can help to support such people to sponsor this bill, as a private member bill on the floor of the National Assembly and they too can always feel protected to criticise corrupt officers without any bad thing happening to me.

“We are mindful of the fact that, that umbrella of not losing your job may not be able to shield every body, some will fall victim, so the Institute on its own has put in place an anticorruption fund, a fund with which we are going to sponsor the bill to make it feel good in order to protect this whistle blowers. Very soon, the bill will appear on the floor of the National

assembly. Once it becomes law, we will make sure that it encourage as many Nigerian professionals and as many Nigerians to join us in applying that bill to the latter.”

“The institute has done a survey and discovered that it is not unemployment per say but the fact that a lot of our members want to change job, seeking better opportunity. To help members who want to change job or who wants to secure employment afresh, we have employment bureau and we encourage our members to submit soft copies through our website,” he said.

1.1

126.95 2,191.00

-20.00

16.56

-0.09

Cashlite economy: Etihad grants discount fares to Nigeria MasterCard users

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

E

TIHAD Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has announced about 15 percent discount fares to Nigeria MasterCard holders in a bid to encourage Nigerians to embrace cashless transactions.

A statement from the organisation revealed that the card users would only enjoy the benefit if it is used to purchase tickets on their website between June 3 and August 3, 2013.

“The promotion is available to both MasterCard credit and debit card holders, and is exclusive to the Nigerian market. A roundtrip or one-way ticket in Pearl Business Class using a MasterCard card will be discounted by 15 percent, while Coral Economy Class travelers will receive a 10 percent discount on the airline’s standard list-

ed fares. All travel must be completed by December 10, 2013,” the company said.

General Manager Etihad Airways’ Nigeria and West Africa, Mr. Maurice Phohleli, said: “We are pleased to partner with MasterCard on this promotion, which provides our customers with the added convenience of being able to buy their tickets quickly and safely online, and at great value.”

Meanwhile, Omokehinde Ojomuyide, MasterCard Vice President and Area Business Head, West Africa, said: “MasterCard is delighted to be part of this initiative to help the Nigerian market gravitate towards global best practices in card commerce.

“This promotion is exclusive to MasterCard cardholders in Nigeria as an incentive to encourage Nigerians to embrace cashless transactions.

101.20

-0.99

92.84

-0.77

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

154.74 233.9824 200.3883 160.5686 1.5221 0.2865 230.4177 25.2376 41.2596 26.8706 231.6148

155.24 234.7384 201.0358 161.0875 1.5271 0.2965 231.1623 25.3196 41.3929 26.9575 232.3632

SELLING 155.74 235.4945 201.6833 161.6063 1.532 0.3065 231.9068 25.4016 41.5262 27.0443 233.1116

CBN Exchange rate as at 03/06/2013

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Investment beyond shares

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

O

WNERSHIP of a company by buying its shares is not the only way to invest in the capital market. You can also buy bonds or put your money in what is called collective investment schemes.

Investment in shares is risky.

You may lose your money. The market may crash; the company might close shop, or be nationalised as it happened to former Afribank, Bank PHB and Spring Bank. You may also lose your money to fraudulent stockbrokers etc. All these make investment in shares quite risky. These risks are either non-existence in bonds and collective investment schemes or they are reduced to the barest minimum.

In furtherance of the objective of encouraging investment through enlightenment, we would devote some time to explaining these other investment options. And the primary target is the non-experts especially ordinary people on the street.

First, we talk about bonds. A bond is essentially a debt.

That is why bonds are called debt instruments. Bonds are certificates or documents issued by any organisation that wants to borrow money from the public.

Individuals, governments and companies borrow money from time to time for various purposes. They can either borrow from banks or from the investing public. One of the reasons they may not borrow from banks is the interest rate the banks would charge. This can be quite high. Another reason is that if they need the money to finance projects that would take a long time to execute and generate money, say ten years or twenty years, the banks may not be able to lend money for such a long time.

This is because most of the money that banks have are people’s money i.e. your money and my money, and we keep the money for short period. In fact about 70 per cent of money people keep with banks is for less than six months. You can imagine the consequences of a bank lending such money for 10 years.

When depositors come for their money, it would be wahala!

To avoid the burden of high interest rate and the limitation of short term funds, governments and companies resort to borrowing from the public by issuing bonds. The bonds are evidence of indebtedness or

evidence that a government or company (the issuer) is indebted to you. The issuer of the bond will indicate how much it wants to borrow (e.g.

N100 billion), for how long (the tenor, usually more than one year), when it would repay (maturity) and the interest rate (coupon rate) it wants to pay per annum. Usually bonds are sold in 1000s and multiples of 1000. But the minimum you can buy is 1000 and you cannot buy 1005 units or 2005 etc.

So when you buy bonds, you are lending, or selling debt to the issuer of the bonds. Also all the details of the debt, the tenor, the coupon rate, the maturity date are indicated in the bond.

Top 10 performing stocks

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

n the top 10 stocks last week are McNichols Consolidated Plc, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Union Bank, Ikeja Hotels plc, Livestock Feeds, and IPWA. Others that garnered enough patronage to make it to the top ten performing list include Evans Medicals, UTC Nigeria Plc, Jos International Breweries and Champion Breweries. cNichols plc, re M corded 31.40 percent price ap-

preciation or N0.54 gains to emerge the highest p r i c e gainer during the week. It started the week at N1.72 and closed at N2.26 per share.

Listed in the food product sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, under the Alternative Securities Market, AseM, McNichols manufactures, packages and distributes vitamin A fortified sugar,chocolate powder, powdered milk, cereals and other food products.

Of the 11 companies quoted in the emerging market segment of the NSE, McNichols is one of the four stocks which share prices trade above two digit level, while the rest still lurk around the nominal price (50 kobo)s. Starting the year at 72 kobo, McNichols, has

therefore achieved 213.89 percent return on investment when compared with the current market price. At the end of transaction on Friday, investors bought 160,100 shares of the company. Determined to keep up the pace of returns to shareholders, the company said it plans to increase its installed capacity by 300 percent during the year. Avaliable financial statement from the company showed that it posted a turnover of N389 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as against N388 million in 2011, while profit after tax stood at N9.2 million, up from N6.01 million in 2011. eimeth added 25percent N or N0.20 to its share price from N0.80 at the begin-

ning of the week to N1.00 t o emerge second on the list of top ten gainers.

Listed in pharmaceutical sector, Neimeth is involved in the manufacturing and sales of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and animal health products.

Already, the share price has risen by 72.4 percent y-t-d from N0.52 at the beginning of the year to N1.00 at the close of transactions on Friday. The company’s financial position both in top and bottom line has not been encouraging in recent time. The company recorded a loss after tax of N69.3 million for the year ended 30th September, 2012 compared with a profit t of N113.1 million in the previous year. Though there

was a 22.74 percent growth in turnover for the period from N1.89 billion in 2011 to N2.33 billion in 2012, operating profi t dipped from N241.14 million in 2011 to N48.18 million in 2012. he third highest price T gainers, Union Bank, rose by 22.49 percent or N2.08

to close at N11.33 from N9.25.

Union Bank, one of the eight banks rescued by the central

bank in 2010, managed to escape bridged bank status and was later recapitalised on stand-alone basis, though under very controversial circumstances. As at date, the share price has risen by 384.19 percent from N2.34 at the beginning of the year to N11.33 at the close of business on Friday.

The 2012 financial statement for the year ended 31st December, 2012 showed that gross earning rose by 35 percent to N96.5 billion, while profit before tax for the period stood at N8.1 billion, up from a loss of N102.6 billion the previous year. Also, the earning per share improved, rising to 46 kobo in 2012 compared to negative N12.51 kobo in 2011.

Ikeja Hotel Plc garnered 21.13 percent or N0.15 capitalgain to emerge the fourth on the list. It started the week at N0.71 and closed at N0.86 per share. Ikeja Hotel has enjoyed some level of patronage in the year, as it opened the year at N0.62 and

had risen to N1.72 before declining to the present price.

Investors have, therefore gained 32.25 percent from their investment in the company. The share price has been on continuous decline since it hit N1.72 sometime this year.

Livestock Feeds Plc appreciated by 20.54 percent or N0.68 from N3.31 to N3.99 to emerge the fifth in the list.

Livestock is the only company quoted on the livestock/ animal specialties sector of the NSE, and it has enjoyed as much price rally as other blue chip stocks within the year. Starting the year at N0.68, the share price has rallied 486.76 percent increase compared with the closing price on Friday. The company recorded an improved turnover of N5.43 billion in 2012, a 50 percent increase over N3.62 billion reported in the previous year. Its profit after tax was N139.1million; earnings per share improved by 42 percent at 11.59 kobo compared with 8.16 kobo in 2011.

Others are IPWA, which gained 20 percent or N0.12 to close at N0.72. Evans Med garnered 19.23 percent or N0.50 to close at N3.10; UTC added 18.06 percent or N0.13 to close at No.85, while Jos International Breweries and Champion Breweries added 15.04 percent or N0.17 and 10 percent or N0.44 capital gains to close at N1.30 and N4.84 respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 23

INVESTORS SPEAK

Shareholders’ Groups: What are the benefits?

Alhaji Yekini Adeyemi Abas

ent companies.

To me, it is those that belong to no association that run in and out of the market.

We that have been in the system for a long time allow our stocks to fall and rise with the market.

S

ome shareholders and I have plans to establish our own shareholders association, which will be registered with the name ‘Galaxy Shareholders Association.’

This is because we are not satisfied with some of the attitude and behaviour of the many of the leaders of the shareholders.

Some leaders, without the consent of their members, will go and have pre-AGMs with some companies. Some of them will collect gifts from these companies for their members. So, instead of using the gifts for the benefit of all the members, they would covet the gifts to themselves.

Another reason is that we believe that Rome was not built in a day. Groups like Independent Shareholders Association and others that have grown so big all started from little beginning.

Some of the benefits we derive from being members are, for instance, we get to know each other when we meet and we meet occasionally to discuss important issues, ranging from those that have to do with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Stock Exchange and other regulatory agencies and their policies. We also learn how best to relate with the brokers.

For example, in the AGM I am just coming from, they discussed sending important information to investors with compact disks, but the point was emphasized that it is better to bring printed copies because not all the shareholders have what it takes to access information that is saved on disks. But for shareholders in our association, this is not our first time of hearing this. We are well acquainted with this already.

Another point I want to raise is the way some shareholders behave in meetings.

They behave in an improper manner. In our association, we enlighten members on the proper attitude expected from investors when they are in meetings. There was a time about three years back, when somebody died due to his attitude towards matter. So, we enlighten ourselves to be orderly and diligent.

In life, we have advantages and disadvantages.

Elder Okoh Israel Ngozi

I

Alhaji Yekini Adeyemi Abas The advantages may be more than the disadvantages. So, as a result, I don’t believe there wouldn’t be any disadvantage of not belonging to a shareholders association.

I have been in the system since 1978 and I bought NCR and the reason for buying it is that I happen to be a Computer Science Professional. Later, I realised the benefit of buying shares. As at now, I have shares in nothing less than 100 differ-

am a member of the Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association founded by late Chief Akintunde Asalu. The current president is Chief Timothy Adesiyan.

There are a lot of benefits to derive when you are a member of a shareholders association. One of the benefits of being a member is that you have the opportunity of becoming a member of the audit committee of any company provided you are recommended by your association and you can as well become a member of the board through their recommendation.

There are also a whole lot of disadvantages when you dont belong to any shareholders association. One of such is that you will not be

entitled to any of the benefits that the members may be entitled enjoy. Like many associations do, they educate, encourage and enlighten their members on issues regarding the market.

They advise them on steps to take and how to solve certain problems. And if you do not belong to them, you cannot enjoy all these advantages.

Other benefits attached to being a member includes: meeting with other shareholders either at their places of meetings or during AGMs and this kind of relationship will also help to make informed decisions which is very important when you are operating in the market.

They will educate you for instance on the shares to buy and those not to buy, when to buy and when to sell, including how to go about matters regarding your investment so that you will be protected from falling into the wrong hands.

For instance, when I bought my shares and discovered that the price is going higher, I sold some and bought others in their place. I did this because I am in the market for profit making, but not every shareholder knows this. So,

Elder Okoh Israel Ngozi there is need to rub minds together. Two good heads are better than one.

Most of the shares I am buying now are for the future and it is quite unfortunate that during the last economic meltdown, everything went down. It is now that it is recovering and by the special grace of God, it will continue to grow.

I am selling some of my shares that are appreciating.

For instance, those of the International Breweries which I bought with 80 kobo per share in those days, and the last I sold about a month ago was at the rate of N25 per share. This implies that I have made a lot of gains compared with the price at which I bought them. Two things attracted me to the market-dividend and bonus, and they are what we are always particular about.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS

I

need a stockbroker.

I bought shares from Honeywell Flour Mills in 2008. But since then I have not been able to get a stock broker I don’t have a stockbroker, any hope for me or my money is gone (Innocent Onuvi, Asaba) Investors Forum: You can obtain the list of registered stockbrokers by visiting the website of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (http://www.nse.com.ng/ Regulation/ForBrokers/ Pages/DealingMembers.aspx) How can I get forms for Transcorp Rights Issue?

It is about Transcorp Plc; They said something about right issue but one cannot get the forms from anywhere even other stockbrokers cannot give or get it for their clients. It will

close on May 31st and their UBA Capital is not in another place other than Lagos. I hope what they are doing is not fraud (Chuka from Onitsha) Investors Forum: You can download the forms from the website of transcorp (i.e. http:// investor.transcorpnigeria.com/ news/77/) No dividend from UBA and Ecobank I bought shares of UBA/ Oceanic Bank, now Ecobank during their public offer in 2007. Both banks have issued certificates to me. But since then, I have not received any dividend.

Meanwhile they asked me to update my bank’s mandate and to send my ten digit NUBAN bank account number (Dania Sunday Victor, Benin)

Investors Forum: Okrikri, Delta State) The best thing to do is to contact the registrars of both Investors Forum: banks if you have not. Don’t It depends on the shares send your bank details in you want to buy. With as response to any text or email low as N1000 you can buy asking you to do so. It may 100 units of some compabe from fraudsters. For UBA, nies, while for some you contact Africa Prudential may need up to N10, 000.

Registrars Plc at 97/105, Broad Street, Raymond House, 3rd & 4th Floor, Marina, Lagos Island, COMPLAINTS Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: AND +234-1-4612373 INVESTIGATIONS Origination Desks +234Do you have any 1-4612379 challenge with your e-mail: investment in the registrar@ubagroup.com. stock market or with For Ecobank, contact any company ESL Registrars Ltd, 16/A (stockbroker, Rauf Taylor Close, Off Registrar Company Idego Street, Victoria etc), write to Island, Lagos Least amount to buy shares.

What is the least amount a person needs to buy shares? (Okiro

vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 25

Mandilas Group begins renovation of 16-storey Lagos building G

ONE were the days when Mandilas House located along the ever-busy Broad Street in the Lagos Island Business District, was the cynosure of all eyes and the toast of property investors on the Island. The 16- storey edifice owned by Messrs Mandilas Group, has remained largely unoccupied due to the deplorable state of the building.

In fact, only about seven floors have tenants while Floors 8-16 remain completely vacant.

But the owners are not sleeping over this development. Last week, the Group unveiled plans to remodel, renovate and restore the highrise building to its lost glory with a view to attracting the going rent in the neighbourhood.

The remodeling and renovation of both interior and exterior parts of the 40-year old flagship of Mandilas Group would be handled by Messrs Tabak Construction Nigeria Limited.

Renovation works Managing Director the construction company, Mr. Babatunde Akinyeye, an engineer, said the renovation of the building will bring a lot of changes to the edifice. According to him, there would be improvement in the entire structure at the end of the renovation works.

Conducting newsmen round the building, the Tabak CEO explained that work on the reconstruction is progressing at an acceptable pace.

Also speaking to newsmen during the facility tour, the Project Director of Tabak Construction Nigeria Limited, Mr. Taju Adedayo explained that the idea behind the renovation works was to change the taste of the building in line with the standard of other sprawling edifices on Broad Street.

Adedayo who is also an engineer, disclosed that the exterior and interior of the building will be renovated from the 8th to 16th floors. According to him, the two floors earmarked for car park which have not been functional, will equally be renovated. “Our plan is to make the car park functional and add more space to it,” he said..

Explaining that the remodeling will change the old partitioning system of office spaces to open space office system, the project director said the idea is to discourage heavy partitioning in the building. He further disclosed that a central air conditioning system and two lifts would be installed in the building.. All doors, he said, would be replaced with modern ones; the toilet system will also be changed to the modern ones while a 1000 KVA generator will be installed. Furthermore, the exterior wall of the building will be cladded with aluminum tiles.

The Property Manager of Mandilas Group, Mr. Ernest Onyeze posited that the general renovation became imperative in view of the fact that every building at some point requires reha-

bilitation. Onyeze who said the renovation would be completed before the end of this year, revealed that the fabric of the building is still very strong. The building, he maintained, has no structural defect.

The Mandilas property manager disclosed that all necessary approvals were obtained from the appropriate authorities before embarking on the renovation works. The current rental value in the building is N15,000 per square metre but this will be increased to N20,000 per square metre after the renovation. Each floor in the building has a lettable area of 480 square metres .

Mandilas House, Broad Street, Lagos, undegoing renovation

Corruption: Construction cost experts task FG to strengthen anti-graft agencies

BY JUDE NJOKU & CHRIS OCHAYI

W

ORRIED by the rising occur rence of corrupt practices in the building and construction sectors of the Nigerian economy, construction cost experts have called on the Federal Government to strengthen security operatives attached to the anti-graft agencies to enable them tackle the challenges of corrupt practices in the sector.

Rising from a two-day business and economic roundtable in Abuja, the Quantity Surveyors canvassed more stringent screening of prospective operatives of anti-graft agencies as well as regular integrity checks on serving officers as a way of enforcing transparency and accountability in this sector which is regarded by many as a conduit pipe for corrupt practices.

Corrupt practices These calls were contained in a communique issued by the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, QSRBN, at the end of a two-day business and economic forum which is the third in the series. In the communique signed

by Messrs Hussaini Adamu Dikko and Godson Moneke, President and Registrar of the QSRBN respectively, the construction cost ex-

perts charged the leadership at all tiers of government to demonstrate stronger political will and commitment to check and punish infractions against transparency and accountability in the building and construction sector and wider society.

The further tasked the Federal government to enact more effective and compre-

,

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

ogy of service in political and public life. The authorities should foster and promote enabling conditions of public service to enhance professional and ethical standards.

Then, the public services can really play catalytic roles in enthroning transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs,” the quantity surveyors said.

Government should strengthen institutions and instruments responsible for enforcement of transparency and accountability in the building and construction sector

hensive legislations and stiffer penalties against economic and financial crimes “Government should strengthen institutions and instruments responsible for enforcement of transparency and accountability in the building and construction sector. Similarly, regulatory bodies should review their extant procedures to cope with increasing sophistication in economic and financial crimes. Reforms in the public services have to be vigorously and conclusively pursued; sustaining a psychol-

,

They further advocated systematic and impartial prosecution of violators.“The authorities need to re-visit the Immunity Clause for certain categories of public officers,” the cost experts advised.

The experts suggested that Nigeria should fully subscribe to the African Peer Review Mechanism to promote collective self-governance in all sectors of the economy and society. “Nigeria should undertake comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure that its leaders are really the people’s choices who would be ac-

countable to them.”

Other recommendations include: The resources and other support should be provided to establish both a National Cost Data Base and a Data Centre for the building and construction sector.

“There is a strong case for Mandatory Cost Audit to enhance the performance the Quantity Surveyor in instilling transparency and accountability in the sector.

The forum advocated the setting up of a Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, COSTI like is operational for the extractive industry. “There should be increased synergy amongst relevant regulatory agencies on the enforcement of transparency and accountability in the building and construction sector.

The relevant authorities should expedite processes to review such policies as those on Land Use, Housing and Mortgage Financing. There should be open competitive bidding, including appropriate publicities, for public procurements. Public Private Partnership PPP options should be progressively entrenched as means of ensuring decent levels of transparency and accountability in the B&C sector.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Residents protest sale of community park in Festac town

BY JUDE NJOKU

W

HAT an irony! At a time when the Federal Government is collaborating with the Lagos State Government and key stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the bastardization of the master plan of Festac Town and the decay of its infrastructure, an unidentified developer has bought one of the few remaining open spaces in the Town.

The alleged acquisition of the park has not gone down well with some residents of the estate,

hence they have begun moves to stop any development on the land.

Some of the residents

under the aegis of Community 111D Residents Association, have already petitioned the

The controversial open space in Festac Town

Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple to wade into the

matter with a view to halting any development on the site. The group alleged that the

acquisition of the community park would lead to a major dislocation of key infrastructural facilities that serve thousands of residents of this section of the town.

The Chairperson of the Residents Association, Mrs Carol Olowole, explained why they are kicking against the sale of the open space. In a press statement made available to Vanguard Homes & Property, she alleged that the “said parcel of land is situated along the very busy 11 Road by 112 Road, behind FO Filling Station, underneath well tarred area and infrastructural facilities such as large water pipes, storm-water drainage pipes, water valves, manholes, inspection chambers, large sewage pipes, heavy duty armored electrical cables and telecommunications lines among other critical facilities”.

Collapse in the system Another resident of the area, Mr. Rufus Ogundana, an Engineer, posited that any construction on the site would result into total collapse in the system, thereby leading to a major environmental catastrophe which is bound to have serious social dimensions. Some of the envisaged environmental problems include: sewage overflows, excessive flooding during the rainy season, disruption of electricity supply and damage to all roads and walk-ways in the area.

“The said parcel of land was originally designated by the Federal Housing Authority, FHA since 1977 as a community park and preserved over the years in conformity with the master plan of Festac Town.

Ironically, some of the town planners, engineers, architects and estate managers who were foundation management of the Federal Housing Authority are members of the association and live within the community,” the Association clarified.

Vanguard Homes & Property learnt that until a few days ago, the site was occupied by auto mechanics. They have however been dislodged

by FHA officials to pave way for the developer to commence construction works.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 27

Amosun’s wife charges youths on the three Rs of waste mgt

BY JUDE NJOKU

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From left: Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Govt Area; Vice-Chairman, Alhaja Qudrat Dada; and Council Manager, Mr. Segun Ajayi, during an interactive session with stakeholders over insecurity in Festac.

IFE of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun has launched Green Education for the Youth GEFTY initiative in Abeokuta, with a call on the youths to save the environment through reducing, reusing and recycling of wastes.

Launching the initiative as part of the Children’s Day celebration, Mrs Amosun used the opportunity to distributed free green education book to thousands of children and

youths in the state.

She also gave Gmelina arborea trees to all the children to plant as a way of encouraging them to imbibe the culture of aforestation. The whole exercise, according to the First Lady, was to equip the future leaders with the tools of green education to enable them nurture the environment for their future benefits.

She described children and youths as GEFTY ambassadors who are expected to flag off the Ogun State Youth 10,000 Tree

Planting exercise.

Mrs. Amosun advised children and youths in the state to support and promote her campaign for the going green initiative through tree planting to ensure a sustainable and healthy environment.

The initiative, she explained is geared towards promoting a clean and healthy environment that is void of environmental pollution as well as teaching youths to protect their future.

“The world is going green and job creation is going green and we do not want our children to be left out in the sensitisation of the green initiative. Today, we shall be flagging–off 10,000 tree seedlings to be distributed to our children for planting in their homes and environment to ensure greener and better condition of the environment.”

Firm to develop 11,000 housing units in Ogun

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PRIVATE firm, Art & Stil Global Alliance Limited said last week that it has concluded plans to construct 11,000 housing units at Atan Ota along Sokoto Road and three other locations in Ogun State. The housing scheme is to be developed by Model Satellite Towns Development Limited The estate which is expected to uplift the standard of living of those who would eventually purchase the units, when completed, would also have 50,000 lock up shops for commercial purposes.

The company in a statement disclosed that about 25,000 youths within Sango, Idiroko, Ilaro and Agbara would be trained in June and July in the construction of Interlock brick production and assembling for the proposed estate as a way of generating employment for the youths.

It said that the company has also concluded a $1 billion off shore finances to be warehoused

by Union Bank Plc, Balogun branch where contractors, assemblers, beneficiaries and off takers of the units are expected to have accounts as mandatory.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

By Theodore Opara

Ford records 38% sales increase in Q1

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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ORD Motor Compa ny, said it recorded 38 percent increase in sale in the first quarter of 2013, compared to 8 percent sale in 2012 in Nigeria.

The company also said that in 2010 to 2011 it recorded over 40 percent rise in sales, a sale if divided between both years is about 20 percent per year, an indication that sales was favourable to the company in 2013.

The company through its Regional Sale & Marketing Manager Sub Sahara Africa Ford Motor Company, Ozio Tuniz, said this was achieved despite challenges facing the Nigerian auto industry.

According to him, “Our sales performance for the first four months of 2013 has been impressive showing a 38 percent increase in comparison to the first four months of last year. Total sales through April were 1,264 compared to 914 units

sold during the same period of 2012.

The growth in sales was led by the high demand for the All-New Ford Ranger; its sales were up 31 percent through April 2013”, he reiterated.

He went further to say “The driving factor for the increase in our sales, so far, can be attributed to stock of more vehicle choices from the new product lineup at our dealerships, our extended warranty programme, as well as, our continued focus on strengthening dealers’ parts and service departments. Continu-

ing, he said, “The ongoing extended warranty programme tagged the ‘Extended Service Programme, ESP,’ is offering customers free after-sales service of vehicles up to 4-years or 120,000km,

whichever comes first through Ford’s major dealers till the end of August, this year. The offer is available on new Ford Focus, Fusion, Taurus, Edge, Escape, Ex-

HE 2013 Hyundai Genesis sedan was named Best-in-Segment, topping the near-luxury car category in Strategic Vision’s 2013 Total Quality Index® (TQI). Overall, Hyundai Motor Corporation tied for third place with General Motors Corporation for Best Total

Middle East Parts Distribution Center (PDC) to dealers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), getting parts to customers in the region more quickly than ever before.

New Range Rover designed to break new market, says Maduka C

OSCHARIS Motors, representatives of Jaguar/Land Rover in Nigeria has unveiled the all-new Range Rover into the Nigerian market. The all-new Range Rover, otherwise known as Range Rover L405 made its

world debut early this year.

Speaking at the launch at the Orientals Hotel on Thursday, President Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka said that “the new Range Rover is another example of how

Land Rover is taking the brand forward by thinking globally and targeting modern trend in automobile design to meet specific regional expectations”.

Said he: “This latest L405 is designed to break

Hyundai Genesis leads in 2013 Total Quality Index

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plorer or Expedition, FSeries trucks, and E-Series vans.”

“As you are aware, we recently improved on our parts availability by expanding service of our

Quality for an individual brand. The Total Quality Index measures total vehicle satisfaction among new car owners, reflecting not only the quality of the vehicles, but the emotional connections which accommodate all aspects of the ownership experience.

“Hyundai continues to

be an industry-leader in terms of overall quality and satisfaction,” said Alexander Edwards, President, Strategic Vision. “The only thing that keeps the Hyundai Genesis from competing in the luxury category is its price point. The car’s ability to rub shoulders with its more expensive

European rivals really shows the depth of Hyundai’s product lineup, and serves as an example for foreign and domestic brands alike.”

The Hyundai Genesis beat out competitors including the Lexus ES 350, Acura TSX Sedan, Lincoln MKS, Cadillac ATS and Volvo S60 in the near-luxury category.

“Receiving a 2013 Strategic Vision Total Quality Index award is recognition of our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America.

“We strive to give our customers the highest-quality products, delivered in a package which is both exciting and engaging to drive.”

new market and sustain old customers” by delivering all terrain response performance while vividly demonstrating Land Rover’s cutting-edge engineering technologies and world-class design excellence.

Continuing, he said: “Land Rover as a global responsible organisation in its drive for sustainability, has set new benchmark with the new Range Rover, the world’s first SUV with a revolutionary lightweight allaluminum monocoque body structure”.

According to him, the new Range Rover is 39 per cent lighter than the outgoing model, enabling total weight saving of up to 420 kg.

To this end, he said that Land Rover has created a vehicle that is environmentally friendly and instantly recognisable in the new Range Rover, while taking a significant step forward with a bold evolution of the models iconic contemporary design language.

The Coscharis boss however noted that this new model will widen the Range Rover market share in Nigeria and the world over.

He therefore, promised his customers that “Cos-

charis will continue to be a pacesetter in the automobile business in Nigeria, setting standards for which other will be judged by giving value to its customers.”

“We will strive to be more efficient and dynamic. While others try to promise everything, we promise one, the most personal cherished customer care value-for-money.

To him, every customer is guaranteed a quality service that will go much deeper than just owing a premium brand, assuring all stakeholders a feel of their first class sales and after-sales nationwide.

Dr. Maduka also expressed optimism that the new Range Rover would build on the exceptional strong sales performance achieved by the outgoing model in the recent years.

To ensure that customers enjoy their Land Rover models all year round, Dr. Maduka explained that they will continue to invest in sales and aftersales facilities, develop new technologies and enrich the skill of their employees.

The launch was attended by Land Rover bigwigs from the sub-Sahara Africa headquarters in South Africa.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013—29

All-new Range Rover, the benchmark raised again tHE all-new Range Rover L405 is unarguably one of the most powerful vehicles in its class and the first in class to be built on an all-aluminum monocoque structure platform resulting in weight reduction of about 420 kg when compared to its predecessor. Land Rover also introduced an all-new Terrain Response on the new Range Rover aimed at overcoming every terrain, no matter how difficult.

The five door luxury large off-road 4 x 4 is built at Solihull plant, England and is in its fourth generation.

Although four engine variants are available on the all-new Range Rover line-up, two diesel and two petrol, the Nigerian market will be settling for the petrol engines due to the poor quality of diesel available in the country.

The petrol engine include a single 5.0 litre V8 engine unit which has two versions: naturally aspirated engine that produces 380ps (279 kw; 375 horsepower) of power and 510 Nm (376 1b ft) of torque, while the supercharged version produces 510ps (375 kw; 503 horse-power) of power and 625 Nm (461 1b.ft) of torque.

These engines are mated to eight-speed automatic transmission and the gears can also be selected from Drive Select Rotary Shifter from the Centre Console or driver can manually select gears via the paddle shift control on the steering wheel.

Equipped with permanent intelligent four wheel drive with 50/50 torque split and a twospeed transfer box for high and low range options, helping to maintain traction and stability in challenging conditions on-road, off-road or when towing, the new Range Rover comes with a new Terrain Response.

It's all-terrain capability features a new second generation Terrain Response system. The system monitors ground conditions to determine the most appropriate response to the terrain and automatically optimises vehicle settings for enhanced and assured experience for almost all driving conditions. Also the system provides settings for grass, gravel, mud, sand and rock crawl, Terrain Response technology instance, reconfig-

ures transmission, suspension and traction settings for maximum drivability in almost all conditions.

Range Rovers Control Acceleration Control prevents excessive speed downhill and Hill Start Assist prevents the vehicle from inadvertently rolling backwards.

As a pacesetter in its class, the all new Range Rover is equipped with electronic cross-linked air suspension (with variable ride height) and multiple suspension adjustment modes are provided as standard, including access, normal on-road, offroad and extended

height. A new extra intermediate setting adds greater convenience and improves handling across the vehicle’s breath of capabilities.

Another exciting feature of the suspension is the automated load leveling mechanism. Advanced intelligent suspension technologies assist the Range Rover’s performance and achieve consistent driving refinement on and offroad while adaptive dynamics continuously analyse vehicle movements over 500 times per second, reaching instantaneously to road conditions and driver actions. Infinitely variable dampers adjust to

maintain a composed and balance ride.

Also Dynamic response system transforms handling and comfort for all occupants. It independently adjusts and monitors front, and rear suspension units, reducing the amount of body roll during cornering, as well as enhancing control stability at higher speeds.

The all-new Range Rover is no doubt one of the safest SUV in its class especially with its aluminum body. Driver and passenger airbags, cornering brake control, which helps to maintain stability when cornering by adjusting

the driver ’s generated brake pressure, along with dynamic stability control to maintain control by reducing engine torque and applying braking to the appropriate wheels and correcting under-steer or over-steer.

Generally, the new Range Rover interior is a specious five star setting with quality leather trim, DVD, individual air-conditioning control, multifunction steering wheel etc.

No wonder it the choice car for the high and mighty around the world when it comes to SUVs.

Nissan posts $4.13b profit; targets $4.42bn in 2013

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EO Carlos Ghosn said the full-year earnings are in line with expectations, and Nissan was on course to meet its twin mid-term goals of 8% market share and 8% operating-profit margin by fiscal 2016.

“Overall, these are good results, our balance sheet has never been stronger, we have never had as much cash, we hit our net income after tax, ” said

Ghosn. “I would say 2012 was not an exceptional year for Nissan but overall it’s good.”

Nissan sales were especially strong in fastgrowing auto markets including Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil, offsetting business headwinds in the U.S. and China.

Ghosn said Nissan has fixed supply issues that slowed sales of new Altima and Pathfinder mod-

els in North America, while retail sales in China have recovered since political tensions tempered demand last year.

“We should be fully recovered by the end of the year 2013, when our market share will be back to a higher level than before the event,” Ghosn said.

“We will resume our progression, not only the progression of sales but also of market share in China.”

For the full year, Nissan delivered a record 4.91 million vehicles, an increase of 1.4%, with cumulative LEAF electric vehicles sales reaching 62,000.

Ghosn said ten new models, including a first new Datsun brand vehicle, will spur momentum with sales this year set to hit a new best of 5.3 million vehicles worldwide with a projected net profit of $4.42 billion.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

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terrorism, the criminal code states what should be done, but because of the inability of the government to enforce these laws, these issues are rising up. I want to align myself with the fact that actually the rise of Boko-Haram or all these sects that are coming up is as a result of the fact that our leaders have failed to tackle the problem of what they want and how to go about it.

The issue of amnesty is even an aberration, if you look at the country, like I have said earlier, you find out that there are laws and some group of people take arms up against their own people and you said you want to give them amnesty. On what basis are you granting the amnesty?

In America, when they were Government should fortify the faced with terrorism recently, security agencies so that they can the US President go out and fish out the people who Barack Obama did not say I want to are responsible for these things, give amnesty. He they are not ghosts ordered the security agencies the whole thing borders on the failure to go all out and flush out the people of governance both at the Federal, State responsible and punish them. That and Local Government levels and that comes down to what I am talking about, has caused the uprising that we are governance; as long as our leaders fail seeing now. If you can remember, the to do their duties, so will these kind of northern part of this country has ruled things continue. Actually, what we have far more than any other part and yet on ground now is a kind of disaster and they are still complaining of I wonder what will happen. To talk marginalisation. When Mrs. Clinton came to this country, she surveyed what was happening, and stated clearly that the Federal Government should try hard to build institutions and not strong individuals. The failure of our governments to do what they were elected to do. This has caused all these uprisings. I want to state clearly that the problem we are having in this country is governance, and until we address the issue of governance, obedience to law, then there will be more problems.

There are laws to deal with what is happening currently in the country, but it seems nobody is ready to enforce the We are not grounded on the law and people are not obeying the definition of the ideology of the laws. When there is violence like insurgents that has shown up here

HE recent presidential initiative to set up a committee to study the possibility of granting amnesty to the Islamist insurgents in Northern Nigeria and the payment of compensation to states where we had electoral violence in the 2011 general election, have sent mixed signals about the entire issue of crime and punishment and the capacity of the Federal Government to handle the challenges facing the country, let me start with Barrister Ndubisi, Sir, do you think the Federal Government is getting it acts right?

Barrister Ndubuisi: First of all let me thank you for inviting me to this conference. I want to say first of all that

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•Re. Ladi Thompson, Special Adviser to the CAN President of Terrorism, Mr. Hugo Odiogor, Foreign Affairs Editor / Co-Ordinator of VCH, Barr. Godfrey Ndubisi and Sheik Sulaiman Adangba President of Al-Faith-Ul-Qureeb Soceity of Nigeria,at the Vanguard Conference Hall, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Granting amnesty to totalitarian agenda about the issue of amnesty, it is given when there is a show of remorse, even in the court, but such a person must have shown a level of regret.

The same issue still comes back on the governance and it was the late President Ya’Adua that started it and many Nigerians opposed it because it was a wrong decision,if you grant amnesty to Boko-Haram, I can tell you that tomorrow, some people from the East will start their own, or some people from the other parts will start their own ,and you will continue to grant them amnesty, then there will be a state of anarchy where the centre can not hold.

Well, my stand on it is that, amnesty

Until we address the issue of governance and obedience to law and order, we will continue to have these problems

should hold on for now. Government should fortify the security agencies so that they can go out and fish out the people who are responsible for these things. They are not ghosts, they are human beings like us, they should be punished in accordance with the law.

Rev. Ladi Thompson: I will like to come in from the more than ten years experience I have in the field during which period I have travelled between Sokoto across to Maduguri and back to the southern part of the country.

Ideology of the insurgents I would not want us to put the issue of amnesty on the table first, because we are not grounded on the definition of the ideology of the insurgents that has shown up here. I want to tell you that for the past ten years, one of my biggest challenges is that, just like in the health sector, where the Nigerian Medical Association is not positioned to diagnose certain health challenges, when you have a medical challenge that is beyond what is available in Nigeria, you may not find out what your problems are until you are there.

So, if we bring that into what we are talking about here, my first response is that; it is very clear from the structure of the government, that we are yet to understand the ideology that we are talking about. The challenge we are having in Nigeria is that there is a Continues on page 33

insurgents with is political suicide Continues frompage 32 mixed global resurgence of what we call "Islamism". Please don’t mistake it for Islam. And the global resurgence of Islamism has found a confluence with an ancient strain that had always been around in Nigeria slowly being sponsored step by step from outside and has been making progress. But when the global resurgence mixed with the ancient strain, it exploded into what we have today.

Actually, these are complement problems; they are not the root cause.

The root cause of what we are facing is an ideology that radicalises any body that it can and the source of this is that if you enter into a community where there is peace for years ,you introduce the ideology; it has no respect for democracy, no respect for voting. What they are demanding is that by force or by all means, the nation must change its form of governance and Sharia must be the basis for governance. All those who decide to go against or do not agree with this ideology, will be weakened by terrorism.

This is a group that has made its demand known. By the way, there is nothing called Boko-Haram as a core name of the western press; Boko-Haram came to be in 2008. Before 2008, there were more than 26 radical groups in the North East, radicalising people within this country and their demands are not different from the demands all over the world.

If you go back to the history of the world, in 1956, there was a hajj camp where there was a huge uproar at that time and one of the people who came back to report this was the late Sheik Gumi. The cause of the problem was that in the camp there, the Nigerian flag in those days has a star in its design and a cry went up in the camp that a Zionist symbol was been flown and that was a haram.

Western education Gumi came back and spoke about the incident to the then prime minister.

Sheik Gumi was one of the prime movers of Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI). Gumi go and study his biography, by his own stories, he refused western education.

When you study the global model of the current trend, you will find that there is nothing that Gumi taught or did, that is different from what Boko Haram sect is demanding today.

Unfortunately, what has happened in Nigeria was because of our military experience, we would have diagnosed these things earlier. But I am telling you that the one that was most popular was the Maitasine, which was an aberration.

The reason why I am saying this, is for us to know that we are dealing with and the area where we need a lot of education and consultation, because the more people hear of these things, the more they will appreciate that Nigeria

is in deep trouble. to ensure that they will always have a If a medical doctor is handling an HIV steady supply of recruits. The case and the actual thing is malaria, radicalised clerics do not preach Islam, what he thinks is the solution will make but Islamism. The fourth arm that we the case become worst. What I am have refused to recognise is the media telling you right now is that the management team. The group that ideology we are talking about is clearly manager the propaganda of the defined, the demands have never terrorists. changed. Bornu state have nothing less They know that the reporting of terror than 1.4 million adherents who are is very important the way it is handled. registered. I am citing Bornu state as First of all, in the earlier years when an example, because I have a mission you want to keep it invisible, it makes there and I monitored what goes on in progress. The problem we are having the state. Before Boko Haram emerged right now is because we have refused in 2009, there were over 29 different to be thorough. The fire brigade groups with different uniforms and approach that Nigeria is always taking colours, some of them operated Islamic towards everything is what has brought security agents and they have different us all what we are facing. uniforms. They have their roots deeply entrenched in Borno state ever before Managing this conflagration. At one point, they propaganda have engaged the Nigerian Army in three battles for two weeks.

What we have now is that we are The report we have been handling and attacking the least ingenious, those who agitating there was that these people have been brainwashed and radicalised are working on an ideology based on a to throw bombs and shoot guns. We have modernized model of Islamism, which left those in government who are was created by Osama Bin Laden. It is moving the money around, we have left easy to get Osama Bin Laden out, but those who are colluding with the foreign very difficult is to get rid of the ideology bodies, we have left those in the media, that was behind his actions. And to who are managing their propaganda. handle the ideology behind it takes a For instance, all of a sudden, the lot of wisdom, experience and clarity of Nigeria media began to erase the word mind. The ideology we are talking about "Boko-Haram sect" in their description is rooted on four legs The ideology we are talking about is but at the propagated and currently standing on its momemnt.

W h e n four legs, the ideology is anti democracy Osama Bin and anti secularism, it seeks to entrone a Laden was theocratic state based on the tenents of in Sudan around Islam based on the jurisprudence of 1991 and Sharia, the terror we are shouting about in 1994; he developed Nigeria is just one of the legs a model for global terrorism which had never been of the terrorists and began to call them seen on this planet. What he did was to "gun men". Now, the way it appeared look at the brand of Islam that they in all the Nigerian newspapers at the practiced and disdained their same time, shows that it was coordinated process and the story that came from methodology, ideology and all that.

While in Sudan, he had a favourable the Nigerian press was that, "we don’t environment to create a model of Islam want to over-emphasise the spread that he wanted, using modern corporate terror." Unfortunately the media methodology to create a global franchise professionals donot understand the which will operate on self sponsorship. ideology behind their action. They have This brand of Islam stands on four legs high intelligence that is doing the and what are the four legs? The terror thinking and knows best to manage the we are shouting about in Nigeria is just information about their actions. They one of the legs. They are those who have know who to face and strike terror, so been radicalised for bombing missions, that it further creates panic in the society. but behind them, we have an Whether you under-report or overadministration of intelligentsia we have report their action, it is to their favour.

You remember the case of radicalised clerics ,who carry out the task to radicalise and mobilise the Almajiris, Abdulmutallab, who went to America to blow off the plane that was radicalised in Yemen. He was not from a poor home. Whereas, poverty is corruption and hunger is complicit, the real problem is the Islamic ideology that has entered Nigeria. It has penetrated the government, and the high places. When it was announced that Nigeria was going to send troops to Mali, members of the the Boko-Haram went to their camp to bomb them.

Moderator: Some people have argued that the proposed amnesty for the insurgents is a double edged sword, yet the likes of Sultan Abubakar Sa’ad, a former military man and intelligence office, believes that the In the era of Prophet Moham- best option to the Boko Haram crisis med (SWS), the prophet lived is to grant Amnesty to a group that with Jews in Medina and they does not believe in dialogue or Continues on page 34 even prayed in his mosque.

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BEFORE the imposition of state of emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the three states that emerged from the old Gongola State had become the hot bed of Islamist insurgency, spearheaded by the Boko Haram sect.

The orgy of violence in the old Kanem Borno empire had become a threat to sovereignty of Nigerian state, and direct challenge to the authority and power of the Federal Government, as the insurgents had vowed to topple the democratic order by the use of force, to enthrone a theocratic state, based on Sharia's jurisprudence. The unrestrained killing of secuity personnel, diplomats, women, children and men in farms, churches, markets, schools, parks, had gone on with glee. Instead, the Federal Government bowed to pressures from Northern leaders to set up the Presidential Committee on Peace and Dialogue to study prospects of granting amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect. In this edition of Vanguard Conference Hall, Rev. Ladi Thompson, Special Adviser to the CAN president on Terrorism, the President of Al-Faith-UlQureeb Soceity of Nigeria Sheik Sulaiman Adangba, a Lagos- based Lawyer, Mr. Godfrey C. Ndubisi, join the Vanguard team of Mr.Hugo Odiogor, and Mrs. Nkiru Nnorom, to examine the issue of Islamic insurgency in Nigeria and amnesty for Boko Haram terrorists in Northern Nigeria.

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34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Boko Haram's ideology is Jihad, power control Continues frompage 33 diplomacy outside its own world view so where does this leave us?

Barr. Ndubuisi: The proposed amnesty for Boko Haram is only a ploy by some Northern elders and political leaders to buy time, collect money from President Jonathan, to fight him in 2015 and in the meantime to buy more arms to fight security agencies and kill more innocent people.

Liberal democratic values I perfectly agree with Rev. Thompson that the insurgency that we are having today is externally directed but it mixed with the local strains caused by misgovernance, poverty among all the segments of the society. The so called Northern elders that are protecting the insurgents will eventually discover that they are on the back of Tiger.

The insurgent have shown that they have no respect for liberal democratic values, the feudal and secular authorities. They are opposed to anything outside their own brand of Islam, anti-modernism and anti-Christian faith. We must therefore deal with this insurgency decisively, before we degenerate into Libya, Syria or Sudan.

Those who are pushing for amnesty are toying with the sovereignty of

From left: Rev. Ladi Thompson, Hugo Odiogor, Barr. Chijoke Ndubisi, Sheik Adanbga: Photo: Bunmi Azeez

will continue to be at disadvantage ing to say? Is it that Islamism and Sharia while experts who have never studied is the same thing?. Is Islamism forcing the ideology of Islamism, will come from Sharia on everybody? all corners of the world to profer solution There is nothing like that, if you are to what they do not know. The insurgents not a Muslim you are not compelled to will laugh and create more problems. observe Sharia, religion is not to be Moderator: Sheik Sulaiman: the forced on non believers. When you are issues facingt us now is radicalisation talking about the globalisation or of young people and believers by Islamism, my question is who is ruling Islamic clerics; it is now a threat to this world now? Why is Islam not forced national security. What is your take on on people in America, Germany and this? all other places?

Sheik Adangba:: I want to thank Rev. Be that as it may, this Boko Haram of Ladi for all his submissions, but I also a thing that we are talking about now want to let him know that Islamism but it has been there since 1990, they comes from Islam. And all about have been teaching their people the Islamism is Sharia, and when you talk way to read and understand the Quran. about sharia, it means a path, a Is Islamism forcing Sharia on everytype of rules body?, there is nothing like that, if you and regulation.

And it is clearly are not a Muslim you are not comstated in the pelled to observe Sharia, religion is not Quran, chapter 2 verse 234. it to be forced on non believers is there that there is no compulsion in religion, you don’t force Yusuf has been there since 1990, they have been practicing what they are anybody to become a Muslim. practicing, they are not imposing anything on anybody.

International But the fact is that Islam is a fundadefinition mental religion and nobody can tell us And even before our own era, in the not face the Ka"aba when we pray, you era of Prophet Mohammed (SWS), the cannot change it. Our prayers are just prophet lived with the Jews in Medina the way they are and that is to tell you and they even prayed together in his that there are certain things that canmosque. Therefore, Islam is a religion not just be changed because that was that absorbs everything. If you are a the way it was revealed to prophet MoChristian, we can live together, there hammed (SWS) In the South-West here, why are there are even verses in the Holy Quran that make it lawful for us to eat from what no radicals? Are there no Muslims here?, and do not also have Madrasas Christians prepared.

So, when you talk about the interna- in the South West? What we call tional definition of Islamism, who is Madrasa is the Islamic word for school. adopting it?, who are the rulers of the What you have in the English schools world? The Jews, the Christians or the are in line with what we teach Madrasas Muslim? The Jews are the rulers of too. For instance, I teach geography this world and when we are talking and mathematics, in Arabic language about, Zionism I believe in that, no- as a teacher in Arabic training school body is disputing anything about that, in Agege where I taught for 14 years. we leave it to them. When you are talk- The radicalisation process can happen ing about Islamism, what we are try- in anything not in Islam alone.

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The problem we are having right now is because we have refused to be thorough Nigeria and my advice is for government to deal with this insurgency decisively. We must deal with this insurgency decisively before it degenerate into Libya, Syria or Sudan.

Rev Thompson: On the issue of BokoHaram, the fire brigade approach is not going to work, let us just stop scratching the surface. The issue of Boko-Haram was once arrested in the early days; they have been operating in Maduguri for the past ten years before the explosion. Yusuf was arrested that time and taken to Abuja, but instructions came from above asking for the release of Yusuf. He went back to Maiduguri and later began what the people are now calling Boko-Haram.

What I am trying to point out is that; until people understand this ideology, understand how it works and it's multiple faces of warfare, this country

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What I want to point out here is that we are dealing with radicalisation of the faith, I was in Kano State sometime ago when a Muslim man was told to bring his car for a suicide bombing and he refused.He was killed because of this. Till today, the Federal government has not seen any reason to compensate his family.

After the man's death, the family came forward and reported those who organised the killing to the Joint Task Force. Based on that tip-off, the JTF arrested some Boko-Haram leaders in Kano State. The question I now asked is: has that man died in vain?, That was a Muslim that said: “No, you cannot use my car for radical issues”, nobody has compensated his family.

What is the message you are sending to other Nigerians?

What am saying is that look Islam and Islamism and Sharia they are the same thing, radicalism may be the word I am not against that, people could be used for different purposes be it negative, positive or whatever, the matter with the north is that there is complete followership.

Those who are pushing for amnesty are toying with the sovereignty of Nigeria

Vanguard Vanguard,,

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 35

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CAPRICORN; Love, romance and sentimental things can not be ignored completely today unless you want your concentration to waver .Be more enterprising in the business world Anyway success indicated for you today..

AQUARIUS; Happenings within your base of operation (both at home and at work) must be taken more seriously now, more especially as there’ll be competition PISCES; Both your mood and element of luck may not be as friendly as you’ll like.. Matters of the heart may top priority lists of some of you. But mind you your mood will change tomorrow.

ARIES; If financial success is your priority you’ll need to redouble your efforts today and tomorrow. Be protective of your possessions and personal family.

TAURUS; The Moon gives you the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the admiration of other people.

You can make it a romantic day. Experiment with your personal ideas.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

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OR those that know me intimately well, they can identify me with my principles of “anything is possible”. Yes! there is nothing impossible. Even

Do it any way when everybody around me believes otherwise, I do not allow it to weigh me down. Look around you and tell me which notable human achievement has ever

seemed possible in the eyes of cynics? Did the whole Nigerians not say Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t win the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

All you need is to believe in yourself.

Have faith in God. Get started. Get along.

Anyway, anyhow keep on going and the Almighty God will perfect your effort.

Do it anyway, today!

By Lanre Kehinde

GEMINI; Here is your day when element of luck will work favourably for you. Secret lovers are in for an exciting and memorable day. Keep your secrets please.

CANCER; If you wait till tomorrow before you make an important move ,you may be disappointed , because tomorrow’s influence will bring you more challenges than you can rightly anticipate now. But greater success indicated for you today.

LEO; Very soon there’ll be important development along your career line. But today will offer you best of opportunity and good luck to achieve your desired results. Be more ambitious now VIRGO; Here is a loving day for those of you willing to give priority attention to matters of the heart. Planning for both immediate and far future’ll not be out of place. And it’s good to think money.

LIBRA: This is the wrong time to gamble either with your physical cash or your source of income. Take nobody for granted. Take love more seriously

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

SCORPIO; Partnership related issues are becoming more important and if you try to sweep anything under carpet now, it’ll back-fire sooner than expected. Take your love life more seriously than before.

SAGITTARIUS; Hard work will not go unrewarded if not today very soon. Important development coming through your working arena soonest will place you at advantage position. The more practical you are the better..

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my best colour?

Dear Joshua,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

I want your in-depth analysis and tell me about my social life, luck and the time I am likely to have my much desired break-through in life. Which day of the week was I born. And importantly what is my best colour?

Anonymous Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, You were born on a Saturday. What you will find hereunder will answer your questions.

YOUR SOCIAL LIFE Social life will always bring you attention good luck envy opposition and possibly fame. Aquarius and Leo are two most active social Star signs. And you will notice that your natal Venus in Taurus, Moon in Aquarius and Uranus in Leo formed T-Square aspects putting Venus as point-focus, meaning that the best way for you not to be constant loser in the social world is to always study situation practically and know that your finance will not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from the setting before taking responsibility.

As for influential friends you will have them but never always take them for granted.

YOUR LUCK Yes you can be a self made man but it is indicated that there will be times when both human and divine assistance will lift you up. You will have more to gain by your being spiritual .Saturday born people are favoured

by BLACK and golden colours.

THE FUTURE TRENDS Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your 44th year on earth and will serve as a break-through year you can build great foundation of endless success on.

But the same 44th year will bring love related challenges you must manage with all maturity or else it will linger till after your 46th year on earth.

HOME & AWAY

by Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Edo High Court strikes out suit against LG chairman

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN — AN Edo State High Court sitting in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area, has struck out the suit by Mr. Godwin Eshieshi, an Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, council chairmanship aspirant, against the council chairman, Mr. Abdulmalik Afegbua, for lack of jurisdiction.

Eshieshi had challenged the candidature of Afegbua, also of the same party, allegBY TOMMY ANADUAing that he was not From left: Aliyu Attah, former Inspector General of police and founder of Nigeria Police Force, NPF, KA validly nominated Microfinance Bank Plc; Florence Adebanjo, Chairman, and Mohammed Hassan, Managing Director, by the party to con- during the bank’s Shareholders' Forum, in Lagos.

S PART of his contest the April 20 lotribution to the cal government socio-economic developpoll in the state. ment of Ibusa community Afegbua was dein Oshimili North Local clared winner of Government Area of the election on Delta State, a community April 20, 2013 for

BY FESTUS AHON not,” adding that thanksgiving the red sea, he urged the people leader, Chief Tony the chairmanship was supposed to be a daily busi- to sign contract with God and they Azuya has donated a GHELLI — MINISTER of Etsako East Loness.

7.5KVA transformer and shall be safe. of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder cal Government He said “it is only God that can step-down equipment for Admonishing the congregation, Godsday Orubebe, weekend, said Area of the state. use by the community.

Dismissing the that his destiny was in God’s take us to the promised land. A he said: “The Egyptians you see Azuya, the Chief Exsuit, Justice Victor hand, adding that it was only God man’s enemies are members of his today, you shall see no more. Whoecutive Officer of ever stands on the way of God’s Oviawe held that that has the capacity to destroy a household.”

Expressing confidence that his children will be crushed by God. Technocrime Securities, the Electoral law of man. in an interview, said the Orubebe, who was guest enemies would be swallowed in God is the giver of power.”

Edo State did not donation was to save the speaker during the mid-year make provisions people from epileptic thanksgiving service of Christ for an aspirant to power supply. go to court over is- Foundation Ministry, Sapele, He remarked that over sues arising from Delta State, said “all we need to the years, the people of party primaries, live is God. Anybody fighting to Ibusa, his home commuPEOPLES Democratic interrupted democracy based on insisting that the destroy us is swimming against nity as well as other resiParty, PDP, chieftain in Delta the level of development in the issue of nomina- the tide. dents, including those “God is the Alpha and Omega. State, Chief Godwill Obielum, country. tion was an intradoing their businesses Obielum said that the country’s We perish for lack of knowledge. said, weekend, that Nigerians departy affair. in the area had suffered God is still God; He changeth served to celebrate 14 years of un- democracy was developing very untold hardship due to fast with the level of freedom lack of electricity supply. witnessed in the country.

Chief Azuya, the Observing that the most imdents of the area.

BY EMMAARUBI Omekokwu of Ibusa, cleanliness to the environ- portant benefit from democCommissioning the project ment. noted that there was racy was freedom, Obielum with a stand-by power generneed for well meaning He also called on the resi- said that Nigerians were enARRI — THE Rotary ating set, the Assistant Gov- dents to key into the scholar- joying freedom and called for Deltans to rally round Club of Ovwian, Delta ernor, Ikpemwomsa ship programme of Rotary support for elected and apthe current administraState, has donated a water Ogiemudia representing the Club, noting that if they did, pointed representatives of the tion in its determination bore-hole project worth over District Governor of District it would reduce their burden people in government. to put smiles on the faces N500,000 to the Steel Town 2 9140, Rotary International, of payment of school fees and of all and appealed to He said: “14 year period is community of the Delta Steel charged the people to ensure other educational needs for still young, but what we have the people to protect the Company, DSC, regular maintenance and se- their wards, adding that Ro- witnessed in the country today transformer and stepOrhowhworun town, to solve curity of the project, to make tary Club was noted worldwide deserves to be celebrated." down equipment from the acute water shortage problife more meaningful for them for its philanthropy. vandalisation. lem being suffered by resias water gives life and brings

Azuya donates 7.5KVA transformer

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My destiny is in God’s hand, says Orubebe U

'Nigerians deserve to celebrate 14 years of democracy'

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Rotary Club gives N.5m borehole to community

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By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

31 days of ASUP strike: What is your view?

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HAT pains me most is that what ASUP is demanding will not cost the Federal Government much. It is just that those ogas at the top are very selfish, their children are not in the system. But they should know that students are running out of patience.

—Miss Kemi Magnus, Student

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his strike is totally the right way to go, though I am getting tired of it now. Federal Government should, please, attend to our needs. It is better that ASUP nips it in the bud now because polytechnic students are suffering in the labour market. — Miss Janet Egberongbe, Student

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E who laughs last, laughs best. I join ASUP to say no going back, until the demands are met. Enough of this discrimination. However, let them also consider the students too because it is not good staying away from school for too long. —Miss Temmy Williams, Student

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think we should begin to soft pedal for the Federal Government. I suggest there should be serious protest and massive riots so that the government will know how serious polytechnic students are. — Miss Judith Ekwu, Student

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LEASE, ASUP, exercise patience. Help us students, especially finalists. We are in critical situation with the postponement our graduation.

Call off the strike since the government does not want to address the issues. — Miss Adewunmi Yusuf, Student

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E are tired of this strike. Government should, please, act fast and hear our complaints on the issue of discrimination between HND and B.Sc. certificate.

HND holders are even more trained and qualified — Mr. Kazeem Aremu, Businessperson

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013—37

Delta Speaker assures on friendly legislations for children

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PEAKER of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, has assured children in the state of friendly laws aimed at assisting them realise their full potentials.

Ochei gave the assurance when the Delta State Children’s Parliament, led by its Speaker, Miss Onoberhie Eloho, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, as part of activities to mark the 2013 Children’s Day celebration in the state.

Ochei urged the budding legislators to always pay serious attention to their educational aspirations as it was the only way they could realise their ambition in any chosen field.

Earlier, the Speaker of the children’s Parliament, Miss Onoberhie expressed gratitude to the Speaker for the progressive legislations ascribed to the Delta State legislature, especially the Child’s Right Law.

Delta LG boss bags award

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HAIRMAN of Ughelli South Local Government Transition Committee, Delta State, Chief Ovis Uto, has bagged the prestigious Excellence Award of the Nigeria Print Journalism Development Organsation as the Best Transition Committee Chairman in the state.

Presenting the award, News Editor of the organisation, Mr Austin Oshiomah, said: “We need a new era of responsibility on the part of Nigerians that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world.

These are duties we did not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit than giving our all to a difficult task.

“Your service demonstrates commitment to the institution that moves Nigeria a step closer to its great promise at a time our country faces the most challenging economic crisis in its lifetime."

C M Y K

Nigeria loses $1.6bn to crude oil theft annually —Shell

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—SHELL Petroleum Development Company, has expressed concern over the activities of crude oil thieves and illegal refineries operators in the Niger Delta, saying that the country was losing $1.6bn annually to oil theft.

The company cited its forced shut down of the Nembe Creek Trunklines, NCTL, in Bayelsa State, a facility which produces about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day and its declaration of force majeure on Bonny Light export.

This, according to the company, was to enable it remove crude oil theft connections, investigate suspected oil theft leaks and effect repairs.

Speaking at a workshop organised for media practitioners in Yenagoa, Shell Manager, Government/Community Relations, Evans Krukrubo, said over 90 per cent of its pipelines in the region had been ruptured by suspected oil thieves.

He noted that the shut down of NCTL production would impact negatively on

Bayelsa's share from the Federation Account.

Represented by Funkakpo Fufyin, the company said the recent upsurge in illegal refining business in the Niger Delta should be a major concern to all stakeholders.

He said: “We are not wor-

ried by the money lost by Shell, but the harm and destruction unleashed on the environment.” He blamed most of the spills in the region on crude oil thieves and illegal refinery operators, when compared to operational failures.

He cited Bodo, in Rivers

From left: Mr. Cornelis Zegelaar, MD, Mr Xinmin Wu,Chairmanm and Mr James Clark, Manager, Organisation and Development, all of ADDAX Petroleum at the company's 2013 Photo: Biodun Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Week, in Lagos.

Ogunleye.

Jonathan’s midterm self-appraisal flayed

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—COORDINATOR of Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, has rejected the scorecard, which President Gooluck Jonathan gave his administration at midterm, describing the verdict as ridiculous.

Reacting to the President’s rating of himself, Ikimi said: “The recent self-appraisal verdict delivered by President Jonathan in his midterm report to bewildered Ni-

gerians is laughable and I disagree with him since our developmental growth as a nation is not just stagnant, but retrogressive, to say the least.

“I make bold to say that two years after the inauguration of the Jonathan administration, the foundation of his administration’s transformation agenda and policy thrust is yet to be laid, hence the chaotic state of affairs in our polity.

“Under the Jonathan administration, public funds are still being mismanaged,

wasted and looted by public office holders, thus the above has helped in no small way to fuel official corruption, unemployment, infrastructural decay, insecurity, poverty and hunger in the land.

“It is on record that over 40 million youths are unemployed nationwide. The above, no doubt, is a sad commentary about a nation aspiring to be among the 20 top economically advanced countries in the world, come 2020 and a non-UN permanent security council member."

Ihonvbere faults Anenih on automatic tickets for President, govs

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—SECRETARY to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday, described the call for automatic tickets for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors and President Goodluck Jonathan, by the Chairman of Board of Trustees of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, as undemocratic.

Ihonvbere, former Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said: “The credibility I have to make my comment, is that I

State, Imo River, NCTL and offshore of the Niger Delta as areas identified as major hotspots for oil bunkering and sabotage.

Krukrubo called on security agencies and state government to assist the firm in curbing the activities of oil thieves and illegal refinery operators.

was in the frontline of those who fought for this democracy. Whether at the level of the UDFF or the level of JACON, with people like the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Akinade, Bolaji Akinyemi, Fayemi, Bola Tinubu, Bola Ige and others. This is not the democracy we all fought for.

“That is his (Anenih's) usual style, contaminating the political process. When they are afraid of competition, they look for short cuts.

It is one way of telling people, not to even bother. But

that is not in the PDP constitution or in the constitution of Nigeria. It does not help democratic development, it does not help democratic contestation, it does not help the strengthening of political institutions. If they have performed well, their records will stand for them and they will win.

“In Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole performed to the point that across the three senatorial zones, religious divide, ethnic divide, the support was overwhelming."

Delta DPP chieftain decamps to PDP with 2,000 followers

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A CHIEFTAIN of Democratic People’s Party, DPP, in Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Gideon Johnny, yesterday, returned to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with over 2,000 of his followers.

Speaking during the reception ceremony at Ekiugbo-Iyede, Johnny explained that they had earlier left the PDP as a result of the failure of an indigene of the community to secure the House of Assembly ticket of the party in the 2011 general elections.

Noting that he was a founding member of the party in the council, Johnny maintained that their decision to return to PDP was borne out of their desire to return to where they rightly belonged and follow the pathway of their departed political leader and patriarch, the late Chief J.J Johnny.

Chief Clement Utuedhe, who also returned to PDP alongside Gideon Johnny, said that the PDP was the only political party in Isoko North council and reiterated their resolve to work relentlessly towards consolidating on the growth of the PDP in the area.

38— Vanguard ,

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

FG flags-off 30 kilometre Mbaise road

Dismissed army officer arraigned for impersonation

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—A 27-year-old man who had been dismissed from the Nigerian Army was, yesterday, arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, for unlawful impersonation.

The suspect, Buhari Mohammed, is facing a three-count charge of impersonation and escape from custody before Magistrate Miss Akinde.

Police prosecutor, Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on May 27, 2013, at about 5pm at Morikas bus stop in Agege area of Lagos.

He said Mohammed unlawfully wore Nigerian Army camouflage uniform, having been dismissed from the Army.

According to him, the defendant impersonated himself knowing fully well that he has been dismissed from the Army.

The prosecutor also alleged that on May 30, 2013, at about 1pm, the defendant, who was at Elere Police station in Agage area of Lagos, escapee from police custody.

Jonathan to launch National agenda for children

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—A new National Priority Agenda that will comprehensively address the plight of children in the country would be launched next month by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Disclosing this when she received the new UNICEF Country Representative for Nigeria, Ms. Jean Gough, in her office, weekend, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said the new agenda on children would be multisectoral in nature and in alignment with Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020.

According to her, the purpose of the National Priority Agenda 2013-2020 is to contribute towards the achievement of Vision 20:2020 by reducing children’s vulnerability, and eliminating the unfair and avoidable circumstances that deprive children in Nigeria of achieving their maximum potentials.

C M Y K

CONVOCATION—From left: Prof. Kayode Makinde, President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University; graduating student who lost her parents on their way to the campus in an auto crash, Miss Margaret Okwuikpo crying; her colleague, Miss Rabiu Olabimpe Sakirat consoled her, with Pastor Gillbert Wari, Chancellor of Babcock University praying for the departed souls of the deceased at the 11th convocation of the university in IlishanRemo, Ogun State. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Forget issue of successor, PDP chieftain tells Obi

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—PIONEER chair man of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Chief Joseph Okonkwo, has advised Governor Peter Obi to drop his plan to produce his successor in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, saying such an arrangement had never worked.

He also dismissed as untrue and embarrassing the allegation that the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, was his driver.

He explained that Umeh had served as his special assistant and was highly pleased by his (Umeh’s) rising political profile.

Chief Okonkwo, who is popularly called Ofia-di-ulu, said he had personally admonished Gov-

ernor Obi on the need to complete his tenure successfully and quit honourably without wasting his time to pursue the installation of his successor.

He said: “I have told Peter Obi not to bother himself about installing his successor. It doesn’t work particularly in our Anambra State and we will not allow it this time around.

“The votes will count and whoever succeed wins. Nobody will write result in his room. There is nothing like incumbency factor in Anambra because there are so many interests and everybody will come out to ensure that only the best emerges as the next governor ”.

Okonkwo, a first republic politician, said he was confident that the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, would ensure that Anambra

State election was not hijacked by any group, stressing that the best candidate which would emerge from the PDP would have a better chance to govern Anambra State after Obi. Faulting the description of the APGA chairman as his former driver, Okonkwo said Umeh had worked diligently with him in the past as his personal assistant and was proud of him.

He added hat it was his political mentorship that had contributed to Umeh’s successful political career which produced two governors in Anambra and Imo states respectively.

Okonkwo said: “I read in a newspaper where the Obi people said Victor Umeh was my driver. That is a complete fallacy.

“The truth is that Victor was never my driver, he was my special assistant.

Mixed reactions trail take off of FCT transport scheme

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE & GABRIEL EWEPU

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BUJA – THE commence ment, yesterday, of implementation of the new transport policy of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, turned awry as frustrated mini-bus operators smashed the windscreen of the high capacity buses deployed by the FCT Administration.

This came as mixed reactions also trailed take off of the new system by commuters and other members of the public.

The attack prompted some passengers to appeal to government to urgently provide security for

both the drivers and passengers of the buses deployed to convey passengers to the city centre.

Meanwhile, commuters expressed divergent views about the take off of the new transport policy.

While some described it as the best thing to happen to the transport system in the FCT, others flayed the problems it had created for commuters who now have to trek some distance to board the buses.

A commuter at Mpape, a suburb of FCT, Mrs Joy Thompson, told Vanguard that the mini-bus operators had refused to convey passages to the junc-

tion where the high capacity buses were stationed to convey passengers to the city centre as they were technically thrown out of business.

She said: “People are trekking down Mpape hills to board the high capacity buses because the Araba (mini-buses) drivers have refused to convey passengers to Mpape junction.

Meanwhile, some of the drivers parked their buses, and the busy Mpape road is less congested.”

A passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the policy of the government was good but noted that the buses were inadequate.

WERRI—THE 30 kil ometre Mbaise Ring Road in Mbaise, Imo State, has been flagged off by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godsday Orubebe. Orubebe was represented on the occasion by the Minister of State in the Ministry, Arc. Darius Ishaku.

The road was attracted to the area by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a native of the area, Chief Emeka Ihedioha.

Former Minister of Education, Prof Fabian Osuji, members of national and state assemblies, traditional rulers, General Manager of Arab Contractors, Mohammed El- Darous and Anglican Bishop of Mbaise Diocese, His Grace, Chamerlain Oguledo were among the top personalities that graced the occasion.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chief Ihedioha said the project which would cost N6.178 billion was the first phase of the 59 kilometre project.

He said the project would be completed in 18 months, pointing out that funding would not constitute any problem.

Anambra PDP guber aspirant promises welfare for the aged if...

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S Anambra State gets ready for the 2014 governorship election, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, guber aspirant, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu said he would introduce a conditional cash transfer if he became governor of the state.

Obiogbolu who stated this at the PDP stakeholders meeting at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, said in the package, aged citizens from 60 years and above who are not pensioners would be entitled to a monthly stipend from the state government.

He said the move would take pressure off the children of the concerned aged persons and provide an enabling environment for them to fully enjoy their old age without anxiety over what they would eat.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013—39

SWEARING IN: Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right); Justice Patricia Oduniyi (right); Justice Sonia Akinbiyi (2nd left); and Justice Sikiru Owodunni, after the swearing in of the newly appointed judges in Abeokuta.

COMMISSIONING: From right: Assistant Director, Community Forum, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Tunbosun Oyintiloye; Chairman, Oranmiyan Obokun Local Government Area, Mr. Jamiu Olawumi and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, during the commissioning of the governor's campaign office in Ibokun, Obokun LGA, Osun State.

CERTIFICATION: From left: CEO, Westlink Airline, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia (left); receiving the Airline’s Air Operations Certificate, AOC, from Director, Airworthiness Standards, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt.

Benedict O. Adeyileka (middle) and Certification Project Manager, NCAA, Capt. Afaha Akpan, at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

AGM: From left: MD/CE, Mr. Demola Aladekomo; outgoing Chairman, Board of Directors, Professor Adebayo Akinde and newly appointed Chairman, Board of Directors, Very Rev. Ayo Richards, all of Chams Plc., at the 29th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left: CEO, Metro Taxi, Mr. Niyi Oguntoyinbo; Coordinator 1, Ikeja GRA Residents Association, Mr. Muiz Banire; Chairman, Transport Committee, Ikeja GRA, Prince Kayode Tejuosho and Coordinator 2, Ikeja GRA Residents Association, Mr. Ade Atobatele, at the presentation of a brand new patrol van to GRA Ikeja residents association by Metro Taxi in Lagos.

BRIEFING: Dr Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC (middle); Mr. Garba McDonald, Director, Investigation & Enforcement Directorate (right) and Alhaji Hashim Ubale, Director, Narcortics & Controlled Substances, at the briefing on seizure of counterfeit drugs in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

PEACE MEETING: NIDPRODEV officials with security men and community leaders, at the just concluded " Dialogue on Peace" in Koko, Warri North LGA, Delta State.

LAUNCHING: From left: Mr. Dare Kafar, Marketing Manager, GOtv; Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa, General Manager, GOtv; Mr. Akinola Salu, General Manager, Trade and Distribution, MultiChoice Nigeria and Mr. Segun Fayose, Head, Public Relations, MultiChoice Nigeria, during the launch of GOtv at Aba, Abia State.

OPENING: From left: Mrs. Ifeoma Nwuke, CEO, Simply Gifts and Interior; Mr. Okey Nwuke, and Mr. Richard Akerele, during the official opening of Simply Gifts and Interior to the public on Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Kebbi moves to promote environmental health

Corruption killing Nigeria —David-West

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IRNIN-KEBBI—THE Kebbi Government, yesterday, said it would employ 1, 500 youths to undertake the fumigation of the entire state, to promote environmental health.

The state Director of Public Health, Alhaji Isa Argungu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that N150m would be spent by the government to purchase the herbicides needed for the fumigation.

Argungu said the youths would be engaged under the Subsidy Fund Reinbursement Programme, SURE-P. “We will not relent in efforts to improve public health especially hygiene for environmental protection."

5,000 women benefit from Borno Govt empowerment programme

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AIDUGURI—THE Borno State Government has trained about 5,000 less privileged women in different skills and trades as part of its women empowerment programme.

Hajiya Inna Galadima, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, disclosed this, yesterday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, in Maiduguri.

Galadima said the state government also gave the beneficiaries trade tools such as sowing, knitting and grinding machines, to enable them start their own businesses.

She said the government also presented cash assistance of N100,000 each to about 40 widows, who lost their husbands as a result of the prevailing security challenges in the state.

Galadima said that the government also rehabilitated 80 women suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF, who had undergone successful surgery.

“Part of the rehabilitation programme, include training in various profitable trades and vocation, to empower them economically to stand on their own,” she said.

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INAUGURATION—From left: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed inaugurating the pioneer Chancellor, Kwara State University,Malete, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, while the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Senator Mohammed Sha'aba Lafiagi watches during the university's first convocation ceremony on Saturday.

103, 080 Nigerian children living with HIV/AIDS — UNICEF

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI —THE United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has said that over 103,080 Nigerian children require retroviral drugs to stay alive as a result of their HIV/AIDS status.

UNICEF also said that, “56, 681 out of the 6, 000, 000 newly born babies in the country are HIV positive.”

A HIV/AIDS specialist at the UNICEF ‘A’ Field Office, Dr. Femi Adeyemi, made this known at a three-day Networking meeting for media practitioners on Public Advocacy and Alliance Building for

the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, held in Makurdi.

Adeyemi who gave an overview on the prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, also lamented that, of the 2.9 million HIV infected persons in the country, 1.7million were women. ”At the moment, the annual figure of pregnant women who are living with HIV/ AIDS in the country is about 56,681,” he said.

While making a state by state assessment of the HIV/ AIDS prevalence in the

country, he stressed that the figure ranged from one percent in Kebbi State which he said was the lowest to 12.7% in Benue State, which according to him was the highest.

He however, urged the media to pick up the challenge of leading the advocacy for policies and actions to accelerate prevention and elimination of paediatric AIDS and also accelerated action on the mother to child transmission of the virus. ”We must leverage on existing media partnerships to foster the cause of children and women affected by HIV,” he said.

CLASFON condemns proposed grazing route for Fulani herdsmen

BY EMEKA MAMAH

L

AGOS—THE Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship of Nigeria, CLASFON, has condemned the proposals for grazing route for the nomadic Fulani herdsmen from the northern part of the country to the south, pointing out that “it is anti–human, anti– societal and a clear violation of the provision of the Land Use Act and the 1999 Constitution (as amended.) ”CLASFON also lampooned the Federal Government over its alleged failure to provide

security for the people of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Kaduna states were persistently being attacked by Fulani herdsmen.

CLASFON frowned at the proposed amnesty for the Boko Haram insurgents, warning that granting amnesty to criminals would make crime an attractive and profitable venture.

In a statement after its executive meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State weekend, CLASFON said that the attack on the people of the Middle Belt states had led

to the killing of hundreds of people, pointing out that the government had done literally nothing to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

The statement jointly signed by the National President of CL ASFON, Mr. Sunny Akanni and the National Secretary, Mr. Arome Okwori respectively, lamented the continued silence of the Federal Government over the raiding of rural communities in the Middle Belt and then urged it to take adequate steps to bring an end to the massacre.

AGOS—FORMER Petroleum Minister Prof. Tam David-West, has said that it is not only that officials in the country are corrupt, but corruption has now become official.

He said this in Lagos at the The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Integrity Awards 2013 with theme: ‘Probity and Accountability in GovernanceWhat role for the citizenry?’

West stated that the high rate of corruption in the is gradually destabilizing the country which is the major cause of the insecurity in the country and must be checked to avoid anarchy.

“No man fighting a good cause will fail. I was jailed during the military regime because I refused to sin. While I was a minister, over 80 per cent of the country’s wealth was under me, yet I refused to steal," he said.

“I am happy that 22 years after, I am climbing the same podium with Chief Gani Fawehinmi (posthumous) to receive the same award."

MTN Link Forum debuts in Kaduna

L

AGOS—MTN Link Forum has made its appearance in Kaduna, specifically at the Asa Pyramid Hotel in the metropolis. It was witnessed by hundreds of MTN subscribers.

Speaking at the event, both the Chairman, Finance Committee, House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, and a former State Co-ordinator of NAPEP, Alhaji Musa Zubairu, who were guest speakers for the day, said that for one to succeed in life and business, vision, passion and dedication must be the watch words.

Jibrin told the participants that, there was the need to create a vision on “ what you intend to do; be it long- term or short-term."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 41

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 43

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

OSHODI-APAPA EXPRESSWAY:

Train hitch-hikers still reign supreme

How illegal parking delays reconstruction — Official

D

•Lagos-NRC strategise over menace

I

T is a general knowledge that some train passengers from various Lagos terminus through Ikeja, particularly, hang on train cabins to avoid payment of fares. Few unlucky ones had lost their lives in the process while the lucky ones either sustain injuries or got maimed.

There is the fable of a highly placed, chauffeur driven Lagos resident who on sighting the hikers asked his driver “whether those people (passengers) were trying to commit suicide”.

Apparently, the reason is not far fetched, because in a civilized society it is an anathema for people to act in such a manner.

Most hikers are residents of neibouring Ogun State who earn their living in the megacity, and on their way home after work board the passenger train.

Indigenous online media In a survey conducted by an indigenous Online Media, it was revealed that most passengers who hang on trains are peasants, who go as far as Lagos Island on daily basis. They engage in petty trading and menial jobs.

Move to end menace: Determined to stop this trend, the state government, in collaboration with the management of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, has concluded plans to put an end to the act.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who spoke after a brief meeting with the management of NRC, led by its Managing Director, Engineer Adeseyi Sijuwade, in Alausa, said the partnership would also tackle all issues that posed security challenges along the various rail routes through a special task force to be set up to ensure success of the exercise.

He listed the challenges to include, incessant hanging of passengers on the train, street trading and encroachment by members of road transport workers on the rail line.

He said: “We have been fully briefed and you need to appreciate the fact that we don’t want people hanging on the train.

We have also learnt from the rail way Police Command that these people that hang on the train are tough and they also avoid arrest.”

Opeifa said the government was also mindful of how the railway police carry out

enforcement to avoid fatalities, stressing that all the stakeholders involved would be mobilised to ensure that the menace is stopped headlong.

Prescribed punishment: It will be recalled that the state Special Offences Court, sometime last year, sentenced 10 people to 10 hours of community service for hanging on coaches of the Mass Transit Train Service.

In her judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs. I. O Omotosho, said the community service would be determined by the Lagos State Community Services Department.

The magistrate said she was lenient with the convicts because they had spent one week in custody since their arrest at Ikeja Train Station.

“I hope this will serve as a deterrent to others,” she said.

The men faced a three-count charge of obstruction of justice, breach of peace and assaulting some policemen.

The prosecutor, Mr Tunde Sunmonu, had told the court that the convicts “rowdily hung on a train in motion and endangered

their lives and those of others.

“When Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Idris Muritala and Corporal.

Azeez tried to arrest them, they assaulted them and injured the corporal,” he said.

Sunmonu said the offences contravened Section 27 of the Lagos State Environmental Law 2003 and 166 (2) and Section 171 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Provision of alternatives According to a passenger at Iddo, Lagos terminus, Munirat Adeosun, “If the government stops us from climbing train, I expect the same government to provide alternative or make more trains available at affordable fare for the masses.

“It is not even comfortable for anyone to hang on train neither is it safe, for the good of the society, I want to appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola, to come on top of the situation and salvage the people from

•Train hikers at Oshodi abject poverty.” She appealed.

At Ikeja, rail station, Olaiya Olorunesan, said that train is the fastest and safest way to journey through the “traffic infested” Lagos roads. “If the government does not want people to hang, the solution is that of making more trains available for the masses of this country. I know that the proposed legislation is for the

good and safety of the people but the government knows what to do.” He stated.

The state Taskforce on Special Offences and Environment, Chairman, Chief Superintendent o Police, Bayo Sulaiman, said the state government had declared zero tolerance for hanging on trains.

He said, “The taskforce will

Ayobo-Ipaja road: Hold us to the

continue to monitor train movements in the state and anyone caught hanging on trains would be arrested.

“Hanging on trains constitutes environmental nuisance, which must not be allowed to go on unchallenged in a mega city like Lagos. The taskforce will continue its raid on train hikers until further notice.”

EPUTY Director, F e d e r a l Ministry of Works, Mr Godwin Eke, has said that illegal parking of trucks on OshodiApapa Expressway is delaying reconstruction work on the road.

Eke, in charge of Section I of the highway, said in Lagos last week that parking of trucks and petrol tankers constituted nuisance on the highway.

“Last month, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, we removed the tankers, but they came back after one week.

“Aside the tanker drivers, we started receiving threats from commercial motorcyclists who just come and park in Sunrise area, but the police helped to remove them,” Eke said.

He said both the ministry and the state government could not sustain the war against the trucks and tanker drivers because there was no place to park the impounded vehicles.

Eke said that when the Presidential Monitoring Team and Navy intervened, it only gave a temporary relief as the drivers returned shortly after.

He said that the level of

W

ITH renewed vigor, Plycon Construction company, the indigenous construction firm awarded the reconstruction of Ipaja Ayobo road, by Lagos state government seems to be marching steadily to fulfil its commitment to deliver the dual carriageway latest in November.

Residents last week noted with sense of satisfaction the professional touch being accorded the most difficult section of the road between Oluwaga and Megida. Apart from shifting from the use of traditional red sand to crush stones and gravel for the terrain, work now goes on there day and night.

No doubt, the slow pace of work on the reconstruction has become a source of worry to road users and residents of Ayobo and Igbo-Ilogbo, in Ipaja-Ayobo Local Council Development Area, LCDA. The road is the only major strategic route linking over 10 communities in the area and others within Alimosho Local Government Area.

However, from all indications, respite

is on the way for residents and road users in this area as government gave its commitment to deliver the project for use unfailingly, sometime in November this year, therefore, urging residents to give their support and understanding towards the completion of the project.

The project which was awarded in May 2011 by the state government with work commencing in October, same year, has entire length of about 7.5 km and 16.0 in width.

Drainage construction It is a dual carriage way, with the scope of work comprising of drainage and culvert construction, median, walkway, earthwork, crush stone base course, paving stone, provision of streetlight, fire hydrant and beatification among others.

For years, residents have resorted to either abandoning their vehicles at home or relocated their parking space to safe and more accessible places. Those who are not fortunate enough suffer the pain of exorbitant transport fares as commercial vehicles jerked up the fares

due to the bad situation of the road.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Femi Hamzat, while speaking about the level of work, assured residents of the state government’s commitment to delivering a standard road at the end of the day as the situation has gotten the attention of Governor Babatunde Fashola who is interested in early completion of the project.

To further demonstrate his seriousness and commitment on early completion of the project, some weeks ago, Governor Fashola paid an unscheduled inspection of the project and gave an ultimatum to the contractor to deliver the project as soon as possible without further delay.

Last weekend, the contractor, mobilised more workforce to the site in apparent response to the Executive Order on the project, as workers were seen moving the tractors and trucks around the site even in the light showers of rains.

Speaking with curious journalists, the Project Manager, Mr. Femi Awokoya, while confirming the delivery period of the project, explained some of the challenges and constraints facing being experienced saying; “The state government awarded

slowed down by the rains.

He said that about two kilometres of road had been done to binder course level, adding that asphalt would soon be laid on the portion.

•Parked trucks on Apapa-Oshodi expressway

November date – Contractor

•As Lagos begs residents for understanding

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

work done on the section was about 12 per cent with the lining of drains in progress up to Cele Bus Stop.

The deputy director said also that excavation work was being

•Ongoing reconstruction work on Ayobo Ipaja Road the contract to us in May 7, 2011. We spent a couple of months to engage in the road design. And we moved to site in October of the same year.

“We have completed 60 percent of the road median, 90 percent of the drains and 65 percent of the walkways. From this section of the road, Ipaja Road, what we will be doing on the road next week (this week) is the paving work.

Challenge/Constraint: According to him; “The challenges we had in completing the project has been the nature of the terrain in the community.

Most incredibly also is the amount of rainfall experienced yearly.

The rain posed a serious challenge for road construction in the community.

From Baruwa to Megida Bus stop, we have completed 90 percent of the drains

which represent the most challenging aspect of the project. “What we are doing now is to raise the carriage way up to the required level before we commence the grading of the surface. We have been able to more or less complete that. “ However, from this section of the road-Oluwaga, to Megida Bus stop, this is where we have a herculean task. It required utmost concentration.. In that section we are carrying out the earthwork. And the challenge we had here was that apart from the waste water that passes through the channels where the water naturally turns, there is also water coming from the same end of the road, discharging into the drainage under construction and then flow onto the road. We are concentrating much effort to arrest this situation.

“The normal material we use for filling

the road which is laterite, but in other to ameliorate the suffering of the residents, we begun to fill the road with sharp sands and stone based sand. Although it is very expensive for any contractor to cope with this but we are doing it to reassure the people that the state government and we (contractor) are committed to the quick completion of the road.”

Appeal to residents In appealing to the residents for understanding, Awokoya said his company understands that they are Lagos state residents who pay their taxes regularly.

“For this act, they have the right to air their opinion on what affects their well being.

Whatever they say, we understand their expectation on the road. “For people who are going through this daily, it seems like it would go on forever. We share in their pains, apprehension and worry on this project.

“We understand and that is why we are trying to explain to the leaders of the community and individuals on the progress made on the construction work. “Some of the things we told them was that they should be patient with us because this is a flood prone area. We are fully committed to the actualisation of the project.

All we demand from the residents of the area is to exercise patience with us. We will deliver the project within the shortest possible time,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 43

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

OSHODI-APAPA EXPRESSWAY:

Train hitch-hikers still reign supreme

How illegal parking delays reconstruction — Official

D

•Lagos-NRC strategise over menace

I

T is a general knowledge that some train passengers from various Lagos terminus through Ikeja, particularly, hang on train cabins to avoid payment of fares. Few unlucky ones had lost their lives in the process while the lucky ones either sustain injuries or got maimed.

There is the fable of a highly placed, chauffeur driven Lagos resident who on sighting the hikers asked his driver “whether those people (passengers) were trying to commit suicide”.

Apparently, the reason is not far fetched, because in a civilized society it is an anathema for people to act in such a manner.

Most hikers are residents of neibouring Ogun State who earn their living in the megacity, and on their way home after work board the passenger train.

Indigenous online media In a survey conducted by an indigenous Online Media, it was revealed that most passengers who hang on trains are peasants, who go as far as Lagos Island on daily basis. They engage in petty trading and menial jobs.

Move to end menace: Determined to stop this trend, the state government, in collaboration with the management of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, has concluded plans to put an end to the act.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who spoke after a brief meeting with the management of NRC, led by its Managing Director, Engineer Adeseyi Sijuwade, in Alausa, said the partnership would also tackle all issues that posed security challenges along the various rail routes through a special task force to be set up to ensure success of the exercise.

He listed the challenges to include, incessant hanging of passengers on the train, street trading and encroachment by members of road transport workers on the rail line.

He said: “We have been fully briefed and you need to appreciate the fact that we don’t want people hanging on the train.

We have also learnt from the rail way Police Command that these people that hang on the train are tough and they also avoid arrest.”

Opeifa said the government was also mindful of how the railway police carry out

enforcement to avoid fatalities, stressing that all the stakeholders involved would be mobilised to ensure that the menace is stopped headlong.

Prescribed punishment: It will be recalled that the state Special Offences Court, sometime last year, sentenced 10 people to 10 hours of community service for hanging on coaches of the Mass Transit Train Service.

In her judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs. I. O Omotosho, said the community service would be determined by the Lagos State Community Services Department.

The magistrate said she was lenient with the convicts because they had spent one week in custody since their arrest at Ikeja Train Station.

“I hope this will serve as a deterrent to others,” she said.

The men faced a three-count charge of obstruction of justice, breach of peace and assaulting some policemen.

The prosecutor, Mr Tunde Sunmonu, had told the court that the convicts “rowdily hung on a train in motion and endangered

their lives and those of others.

“When Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Idris Muritala and Corporal.

Azeez tried to arrest them, they assaulted them and injured the corporal,” he said.

Sunmonu said the offences contravened Section 27 of the Lagos State Environmental Law 2003 and 166 (2) and Section 171 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2011.

Provision of alternatives According to a passenger at Iddo, Lagos terminus, Munirat Adeosun, “If the government stops us from climbing train, I expect the same government to provide alternative or make more trains available at affordable fare for the masses.

“It is not even comfortable for anyone to hang on train neither is it safe, for the good of the society, I want to appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola, to come on top of the situation and salvage the people from

•Train hikers at Oshodi abject poverty.” She appealed.

At Ikeja, rail station, Olaiya Olorunesan, said that train is the fastest and safest way to journey through the “traffic infested” Lagos roads. “If the government does not want people to hang, the solution is that of making more trains available for the masses of this country. I know that the proposed legislation is for the

good and safety of the people but the government knows what to do.” He stated.

The state Taskforce on Special Offences and Environment, Chairman, Chief Superintendent o Police, Bayo Sulaiman, said the state government had declared zero tolerance for hanging on trains.

He said, “The taskforce will

Ayobo-Ipaja road: Hold us to the

continue to monitor train movements in the state and anyone caught hanging on trains would be arrested.

“Hanging on trains constitutes environmental nuisance, which must not be allowed to go on unchallenged in a mega city like Lagos. The taskforce will continue its raid on train hikers until further notice.”

EPUTY Director, F e d e r a l Ministry of Works, Mr Godwin Eke, has said that illegal parking of trucks on OshodiApapa Expressway is delaying reconstruction work on the road.

Eke, in charge of Section I of the highway, said in Lagos last week that parking of trucks and petrol tankers constituted nuisance on the highway.

“Last month, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, we removed the tankers, but they came back after one week.

“Aside the tanker drivers, we started receiving threats from commercial motorcyclists who just come and park in Sunrise area, but the police helped to remove them,” Eke said.

He said both the ministry and the state government could not sustain the war against the trucks and tanker drivers because there was no place to park the impounded vehicles.

Eke said that when the Presidential Monitoring Team and Navy intervened, it only gave a temporary relief as the drivers returned shortly after.

He said that the level of

W

ITH renewed vigor, Plycon Construction company, the indigenous construction firm awarded the reconstruction of Ipaja Ayobo road, by Lagos state government seems to be marching steadily to fulfil its commitment to deliver the dual carriageway latest in November.

Residents last week noted with sense of satisfaction the professional touch being accorded the most difficult section of the road between Oluwaga and Megida. Apart from shifting from the use of traditional red sand to crush stones and gravel for the terrain, work now goes on there day and night.

No doubt, the slow pace of work on the reconstruction has become a source of worry to road users and residents of Ayobo and Igbo-Ilogbo, in Ipaja-Ayobo Local Council Development Area, LCDA. The road is the only major strategic route linking over 10 communities in the area and others within Alimosho Local Government Area.

However, from all indications, respite

is on the way for residents and road users in this area as government gave its commitment to deliver the project for use unfailingly, sometime in November this year, therefore, urging residents to give their support and understanding towards the completion of the project.

The project which was awarded in May 2011 by the state government with work commencing in October, same year, has entire length of about 7.5 km and 16.0 in width.

Drainage construction It is a dual carriage way, with the scope of work comprising of drainage and culvert construction, median, walkway, earthwork, crush stone base course, paving stone, provision of streetlight, fire hydrant and beatification among others.

For years, residents have resorted to either abandoning their vehicles at home or relocated their parking space to safe and more accessible places. Those who are not fortunate enough suffer the pain of exorbitant transport fares as commercial vehicles jerked up the fares

due to the bad situation of the road.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Femi Hamzat, while speaking about the level of work, assured residents of the state government’s commitment to delivering a standard road at the end of the day as the situation has gotten the attention of Governor Babatunde Fashola who is interested in early completion of the project.

To further demonstrate his seriousness and commitment on early completion of the project, some weeks ago, Governor Fashola paid an unscheduled inspection of the project and gave an ultimatum to the contractor to deliver the project as soon as possible without further delay.

Last weekend, the contractor, mobilised more workforce to the site in apparent response to the Executive Order on the project, as workers were seen moving the tractors and trucks around the site even in the light showers of rains.

Speaking with curious journalists, the Project Manager, Mr. Femi Awokoya, while confirming the delivery period of the project, explained some of the challenges and constraints facing being experienced saying; “The state government awarded

slowed down by the rains.

He said that about two kilometres of road had been done to binder course level, adding that asphalt would soon be laid on the portion.

•Parked trucks on Apapa-Oshodi expressway

November date – Contractor

•As Lagos begs residents for understanding

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

work done on the section was about 12 per cent with the lining of drains in progress up to Cele Bus Stop.

The deputy director said also that excavation work was being

•Ongoing reconstruction work on Ayobo Ipaja Road the contract to us in May 7, 2011. We spent a couple of months to engage in the road design. And we moved to site in October of the same year.

“We have completed 60 percent of the road median, 90 percent of the drains and 65 percent of the walkways. From this section of the road, Ipaja Road, what we will be doing on the road next week (this week) is the paving work.

Challenge/Constraint: According to him; “The challenges we had in completing the project has been the nature of the terrain in the community.

Most incredibly also is the amount of rainfall experienced yearly.

The rain posed a serious challenge for road construction in the community.

From Baruwa to Megida Bus stop, we have completed 90 percent of the drains

which represent the most challenging aspect of the project. “What we are doing now is to raise the carriage way up to the required level before we commence the grading of the surface. We have been able to more or less complete that. “ However, from this section of the road-Oluwaga, to Megida Bus stop, this is where we have a herculean task. It required utmost concentration.. In that section we are carrying out the earthwork. And the challenge we had here was that apart from the waste water that passes through the channels where the water naturally turns, there is also water coming from the same end of the road, discharging into the drainage under construction and then flow onto the road. We are concentrating much effort to arrest this situation.

“The normal material we use for filling

the road which is laterite, but in other to ameliorate the suffering of the residents, we begun to fill the road with sharp sands and stone based sand. Although it is very expensive for any contractor to cope with this but we are doing it to reassure the people that the state government and we (contractor) are committed to the quick completion of the road.”

Appeal to residents In appealing to the residents for understanding, Awokoya said his company understands that they are Lagos state residents who pay their taxes regularly.

“For this act, they have the right to air their opinion on what affects their well being.

Whatever they say, we understand their expectation on the road. “For people who are going through this daily, it seems like it would go on forever. We share in their pains, apprehension and worry on this project.

“We understand and that is why we are trying to explain to the leaders of the community and individuals on the progress made on the construction work. “Some of the things we told them was that they should be patient with us because this is a flood prone area. We are fully committed to the actualisation of the project.

All we demand from the residents of the area is to exercise patience with us. We will deliver the project within the shortest possible time,” he said.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 45

Scientists advocate zero tolerance for child abuse Imo State adulthood.

BY CHIOMA OBINNA institution for bringing up manifest as maladjusted Speaking at a Symposium to and protecting children, but adults.

SSG faults CIENTISTS at the mark this year ’s Children’s unfortunately, in a number of To manage child abuse, she S Nigerian Institute of Day organised by Maternal, instances, this institution can advocated for legislation on the Medical Research, NIMR Reproductive and Child be the cause of violence, pain child protection, (adopting advocated for zero Health Research Group, and suffering. the articles of the child’s constitutional have tolerance for any form of NIMR, Director-General, In a lecture entitled: rights convention into law), Prof. Innocent Ujah called for “Health Implication of Child prosecuting child abusers to violence against children. right to Making the call in Lagos, the implementation of UN Abuse”, Chief Research serve as deterrent to others, the scientists opined that convention on the Rights of Fellow, Dr. Nkiru David noted legislating against corporal medical direct experience with the Child and several national that the immediate effect of punishment in schools/homes violence and neglect during and state policies and child abuse could manifest as and that all schools should abortion childhood, increases the risk programmes: “The family is physical, psychological and have rigorous anti bullying the accepted and ideal

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

of violent behaviour during

social deficits while long term

policies.

A

WOMAN may not exercise her right to undergo medical abortion in Imo State, as provided under Section 40 (1) (i) of the constitution if the Secretary to the Imo State Government, Professor Tony Anwuka has anything to do with it.

At the opening of a 2-day ProLife International Conference organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri Anwuka condemned the inclusion of the portion which allows “medical abortion” in the body of the law saying, “as a Knight of Saint Molumba of the Catholic Church, I will ensure that this portion of the law is expunged and abrogated soonest”.

The SSG argued that all Catholics must and should vote for pro-life and that no government should violate this right in whatever form including enactment of laws.

It would be recalled that Governor Rochas Okorocha signed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill into law on May 29 2012 .

Titled: Imo State of Nigeria 2012 Law No 12, Section 40 (1) (i) states as follows: “Every woman shall have the right to enjoy reproductive rights including right to medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the continued pregnancy endangers the life or physical, mental, psychological or emotional health of the mother” Anwuka noted that: “Every person should have the courage to preserve life rather than destroy it; medical doctors, pharmacists and all healthcare givers as well as government should have a rethink because if they have a life, they should think only about how to keep other lives and not how to terminate these at whatever stage”.

In response, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri and Metropolitan of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Anthony Obinna noted that aside acceptable methods of natural births no other artificial method such as use of contraceptives for family planning is morally approved.

• In Nigeria, when a woman dies from maternal causes, it should be reported. Photo; Courtesy nigeriafilms.com

No woman should die unnoticed in Nigeria again — PATE

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

I

N reaffirmation of the centrality of women’s health to human development, the death of a woman from maternal causes is to become a reportable occurrence in Nigeria. Currently, Nigeria has an average maternal death rate of over 600 dealths per 100,000 live births.

Disclosing this development at the end of a meeting with the Nigerian Country Caucus during the just concluded 3rd Global Women’s Conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the intended move is one of the mutual agreements for stemming the tide of maternal death in the country towards attainment of the Millennium Development Goal, MDG 4.

Pate, who held a ministerial forum with Nigerian Civil Society leaders under the theme

“Country Caucus and Policy Dialogue: Advancing Commitments to Reproductive and Maternal Health” told Good Health Weekly of his conviction that maternal deaths should be notifiable.

“I strongly agree with the forum that maternal deaths should be notifiable. It is a positive call to action, not about sharing blame, but to learn what to do to fix the problem so that it does not happen again.”

“No woman should die unnoticed. When a woman dies from maternal causes, it should be reported. This will enable lessons to be learned. This way, civil society should help us to bring such instances to the fore ,” Pate argued.

The goal of the 2-day country caucus was to identify shared priorities and opportunities for advancing commitments to maternal, newborn, and reproductive health throughout

the participating countries that included Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, India and Indonesia.

Others were South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

The forum was aimed at providing political leaders with a platform to engage in dialogue with civil society and reinforce mechanisms for on-going collaboration, joint planning, and information-sharing in each country.

Maternal mortality Giving a rundown of the outcome of the forum, the Minister of State for Health said Nigeria shared successes with the Midwifery Services Scheme and the SURE-P Pre-maternal Health and Child programme which has so far reached 1,500 facilities, and one million women in the last year, while the Maternal Mortality Ratio has

reduced by 47 percent in 2012 compared to 2009 in facilities of intervention.

“At the Ministerial forum, we were able to learn from successes of other countries, there were learning points and there is alot more that we can do to go forward.

“In contrast with the past, it was acknowleged that even in the face of notable challenges, there are areas in which Nigeria is doing reasonably well, and this has been acknowleged.”

Further, Pate argued that the role played by President Goodluck Jonathan in enabling provision of the life saving commodities, was acknowleged, particularly for making them available for the child, mothers and newborns.

“This is just the beginning, and there is a lot more work ahead for the country in tackling the MDG 4 and 5 agenda towards

Continues on page 47

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Ignorance, negative attitude, bane of voluntary blood donation

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

E

DNA Ogba has just put to bed, but lost a lot of blood in the process. She requires urgent blood transfusion.

There is no blood available at the blood bank, so Peter, her husband is asked to donate blood.

But Peter’s reaction took health workers by surprise, “I don’t think I am fit to donate blood. I think I should be given some drugs to boost my own blood supply,” he argued.

Efforts to make him cooperate were futile. As the drama was unfolding, Edna passed away.

In another incident, Gabriel Adoh, victim of a road traffic

accident requires urgent blood transfusion. His younger sister who was around at the time of accident has objected `to donating for him on the basis that her faith forbids blood donation or transfusion.

Before long, Gabriel has given up the ghost for lack of the lifesaving blood.

These are just some of the challenges facing blood transfusion in Nigeria. Most affected are the patients who lose their lives in the process.

Medical personnel are so frustrated when blood needed to save lives is not readily available.

In the country today, the demand for blood and blood products far outweighs

supply. The current practice is a dependence on relatives, friends or paid donors.

Usually, when blood is required in emergencies., it is not available.

Findings show the situation is worrisome. Although, blood and blood products are not to be sold, many hospitals in Lagos largely depend on commercial donors since only 10 percent of blood needs in the State are being met, according to the Commissioner for Health.

The reluctance to donate blood has led to severe shortage of blood and blood products.

A surgeon at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,

• A voluntary donor donating blood during a donation exercise organised by Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, LSBTC, and New Insight Baptist Church weekend in Lagos.

LASUTH, Dr. Saeid Ahmad states that challenges of blood and blood products are linked to the challenges of economy, knowledge and enlightenment about the role of blood and blood products as well as challenges of religion.

“Somebody is in dire need of blood but the person professes a particular faith that says; according to my religion I don’t accept blood transfusion.

It puts pressure on the doctor to start thinking of what alternative ways he can save this patient’s life. The challenge of cultural perception is also there. A person that brings a relative and is yelling at the doctor to attend to them, the moment the doctor comes out and announced that the patient needs blood, the response you will get is where will we buy it and how much is it?.

“Human blood must come from another human being.

Blood in our local culture is serious business, in religion is very serious.”

He said from empirical observation, only two out of every 10 people will readily donate blood.

Ahmad who narrated personal experiences as a surgeon said: “It has a serious negative impact because it puts additional stress on the surgeon who wants to save the life of that patient that just had an accident and lost plenty of blood.

You need to get the person back to an acceptable blood level even because you carry out a life saving surgery, so not only that the person needs blood for what he or she has lost but needs blood for the

Schizophrenia: On the human side of mental illness

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

T

HE first time I watched "People Say I'm Crazy", a film by John Cadigan who documented his life for 10 years following diagnosis with schizophrenia, I fully understood the human side of mental illness.

The unfiltered realism, honesty and optimism portrayed by the film, essentially highlighted what it is like to have a mental illness and also to appreciate that people with mental illness can not just survive, but also thrive.

No doubt a serious and often debilitating illness, schizophrenia is quite more common than envisaged, and this film is proof more than anything else that mental illness can be properly managed if only people are enabled to cope, understand and relate to its effects.

On this year's World Schizophrenia Day, May 24, the need for critical examination of the nation's general wellbeing, physically and mentally, was

paramount, as Cutler Ogilvy PR took up its wellness campaign tagged "Promoting the General Wellbeing of Nigerians" in managing physical and mental health with focus on schizophrenia. An estimated 1 in 100 persons are affected in Nigeria. "Schizophrenia is part of our reality and Nigerians should neither stigmatise nor discriminate against people with this mental illness," noted Laura Oloyede, Chief Operating Officer, Cutler Ogilvy PR. "Rather they should join in proffering a solution by pointing such people to the direction of where they can get professional help. We must realize that our health status is important and we should seek professional help when the need arises."

Dr. Deji Morenikeji, Medical Director, Triumph Medical Centre, Lagos, says, basically, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects personal health, action, thought and view of the world.

"Early signs include social withdrawal, hostility or suspiciousness, deteriora-

tion of personal hygiene, expressionless gaze and inability to cry or express joy.

"It can be characterized by breakdown of thought, with punctuations of hallucinations, causing the sufferer to be frightened and paranoid. Other signs of schizophrenia include inappropriate laughter or crying, depression, irrational statements, loss of memory, excessive sleep or insomnia among others.

Morenikeji notes that common causes are genetic or environmental in nature and could be linked to abnormal brain structure. " Schizophrenia can be diagnosed through psychiatric evaluation, medical history and laboratory tests. It has no cure but is a treatable mental disorder. The key is to have a strong support system to provide the right treatment."

On treatment, he noted: "If you are getting the right treatment and stick to it, you are much less likely to experience a crisis situation that requires hospitalization to keep you safe."

procedure you want to carry out and this can range from low to medium to high risk procedures.

“Nobody is going to carry a cardiac patient into a theatre without blood or blood product because you may end up being the first to kill that patient even before his disease will kill him.

“The only acceptable replacement for blood is blood.

Blood transfusion saves human life in danger after a significant blood loss. There are conditions that the person may come up with like inherent blood disease like a child with sickle cell who carries haemoglobin SS. The component of their blood easily gets destroyed. People like that benefit significantly from transfusion of fresh blood or healthy blood that will help to dilute the sick blood and improve quality of life of that patient.

“Significantly, it adds to the safety of surgical operations.

Most surgeries involve cutting and to a little or more of degree letting of blood. Although in modern practice, the surgeon tries as much as possible to minimise how much blood is lost even in surgery. But wherever you cut the blood will flow. When you have a backup it increases chances in the case the patients loses some quantity of blood more than envisaged.

Excessive blood cells For donors, he noted that certain individuals will actually benefit from giving blood particularly, people that have excessive blood cells in the body. Some people with blood diseases also benefit because donating blood helps to reduce the thickness of the blood and brings it to a normal level.

Ahmad noted that voluntary blood donation helps when acute need arises to save more lives. He said money paid at the blood bank is not for the screening, processing and storage of the blood.

“Who knows whether it is somebody you know, your relative or friend, well wisher or neighbour, husband or wife that will benefit from that blood you donated tomorrow. You don’t need to have accident before you need blood. A woman who gives birth and end ups losing excessive amount of blood the only way is to replace the blood loss, if the relatives and husband have not been part of those who are donating where will the blood come from?

“It is better we make provision for saving lives before the demand for that life will arise. If our people have inculcated the practice of voluntary donation nobody will be running from pillar to post for blood.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 47

No woman should die unnoticed Continues frompage 45

•L-R: Mr Frederic Lieutaud, Regional Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Bayer Healthcare AG; Mr Isaac Amos, president/CEO, Abiagait Healthcare Solutions Limited; Mr Momodu-segiru Momodu, Chemical Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC and Mr Walter Vonden Driesch, Consular General of Federal Republic of Germany at the official launch of Contour TS blood Glucose Monitoring System and A1CNOW+Multi-Test HBA1C system in Lagos last week.

2015. “But we have proven that it can be done. It was great to be here to share that, and also to learn from others, for instance Niger had a school for husbands and Senegal presented a model for pushing commodities, and “In general there is an alignment. Civil Society and the government are working in the same direction. We discussed the issue of data. Six years ago, people were giving all kinds of estimates about maternal mortality, it was only in 2008 that we had good household survey that showed us true picture of maternal mortality.

“Right now we arare having another survey in 2014 that will be giving us a more robust data about what has been done in the last five years. But that we should be more fact based, more open in sharing information, both civil society and

Diabetes: Novel blood glucose device debuts in Nigeria

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

R

ESPITE has come the way of diabetic patients following introduction of Bayer Contour Ts Blood Glucose Monitoring Device, an easyto-use meter which enables easy monitoring of blood glucose without assistance from a health care provider.

It can also be used in hospitals by doctors to get instant result for their patients with 100 percent accuracy.

At the launch of the product last week in Lagos, Professor Olutayo Alebiosu, Provost, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo said Nigeria has about three million people suffering from diabetes and with the

highest mortality rates due to the disease.

He explained that management of diabetes is very expensive and not affordable by majority of sufferers, noting that while people living with HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis receive medications and do laboratory test free, there are no subsidies for diabetes care.

Speaking, Guest lecturer, a Consultant at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Professor Geoffrey Onyemelukwe called for lifestyle change especially by urban dwellers from processed foods to natural foods: fruits, vegetables, etc to stem the diabetes onset. He said regular

exercise of up to 150 minutes a week can help in preventing the onset of causative factors of diabetes.

Onyemelukwe called for the establishment of a National Diabetes Centre to provide framework for the management of the disease,.

Chief Executive of Abiagait Health Solutions Limited, Mr. Isaac Thompson Amos said the partnership with Bayer Health Care, Germany to bring the Bayer Contour TS Blood Glucose monitoring system to help government in providing quality health care for the people. The product which is currently marketed in 100 countries, is to be taken to the grassroots.

government and should have a forum to take stock with CSO to take stock of progress.”

Pate who noted he was a bit skeptical at first,said his feeling was that more of such issues should be discussed in Nigeria. “I also mentioned to the caucus that when you look at the situation in Nigeria, relative to other countries, we are endowed with quality human resources which, sometimes, does not always translate into better outcomes, and the challenge is out of execution, not talk, but actually getting things done. But it would be fair to things are getting better where they are so that people can go and check.

So in the context of what we shared, there are the facilities where we have posted Midwives and the women attending, and their telephone numbers, and the commodities that are being bought.

“That is very real, and that peple should be able venture and check. Go out on the field, that is the way to make progress.

Let us not take the bad apple theory. If you look at the system and try to fix it, you’ll find you cannot fix a complex system overnight. You fix it by picking on an area, working hard on it over time, and the entire system will feel the impact of that change.

“That is what we have done. We have human resources, primary health care, commodities and stated to do afew things here and there. There is improvement, it hasn’t solved everything, but there is improvement. “We shouldnt take other people’s narrative, we should tell our own story. Every country has its problem, but Nigeria is in its stride. It hasn’t solved all its own problems, but these problems can be solved.

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48 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

KUDIRAT ABIOLA: 17 YEARS AFTER

A First Lady that never was significance of that incident undermines the unanimous mood across the land today over the assumed martyrdom of the First Lady that never was.

First Lady that never was: While some have described the day MKO Abiola declared his intention to contest the polls as the moment Kudirat began her journey of no return, others believe the June 23, 1993 annulment of the election heralded her journey to the great beyond.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

K

Incarceration of husband

•Kudirat: Fell in the struggle today be on the same page in nursing the pains and loss of that tragic day.

Not even the failure of concerned authorities to officially acknowledge the

This is not the democracy my mum died for — Hafsat Abiola-Costello

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

E

LDEST daughter of Kudirat Abiola, Hafsat AbiolaConstelo was still in her formative years when her mother was killed on June 4, 1996 in the crusade to reverse the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by her husband, Bashorun Moshood Abiola.

Since then, she has come of age and helped to establish KIND – Kudirat Initiative for Democracy as an institution to immortalize those values that her mother fought for and died for.

Abiola-Constelo who is presently special assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State on Millenium Development Goals reflecting on her mother ’s death yesterday expressed her disappointment over the level of governance in the country.

She also decried the level of poverty in the country and advised governments at every

•Hafsat: Women have a role levels to give women more prominent roles to play in politics.

When asked whether the type of democracy being practiced in the country is the one her late mother died for, AbiolaCostello said “no, it is really not. The democracy we have today is still a far distance from democracy my mum fought for.

“She fought for a democracy that will enthrone responsible government that will fight

poverty in Nigeria. But, there are more poor people today in Nigeria than we had in 1993,” she said. She was especially critical of the failure of the government at the federal level to impart positively on the majority of the populace.

Abiola-Costello also advised governments to allow more women in political offices across the country, adding that, her mother did many things which according to her some men were afraid of doing.

She said “ we have to recognize that women have a role to play. In the past, we used to have a very low proportion of women participating in politics, only 13 per cent but the number has jumped to 46”.

When asked how the family has been coping after the demise of their mother, Hafsat said “ it is not easy to lose one’s mum, but, we thank God for everything. We remember Kudirat Abiola today who did what many men could not do.”

Following that annulment and the subsequent incarceration of her husband, the late Amazon fought for the actualization of the June 12 victory through activism and advocacy.

She mobilised market women, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, NUPENG, students, activists and the human rights community to stoke the fire of the struggle.

But that move proved her greatest undoing, as she became a target and subsequently fell to the bullets of assassins alleged to be acting on the orders of the state during the regime of While the judgment generated late Gen commendations across the S a n i Abacha. country, as it was argued that Confirming, justice had been served, calls t h e allegations for her immortalisation have that the continued to be the major murder was s t a t e feature of every anniversary of sponsored, her death a witness in a case filed against the former Chief of is why it would not be out of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Ishaya place to see similar calls Bamaiyi, Mr. Mohammed resonating today.

Abdul, aka Katako, in 2007, The recurrence of this call by said, ‘’On the day of the attack, scores of human rights activists we followed Kudirat Abiola’s and others alike, is predicted white Mercedez Benz from on the consensus that she Ikeja to Allen Avenue and then displayed uncommon courage, to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. virtue and doggedness in her When we got to the Toll Gate struggles for the enthronement area, Rogers asked me to get of democracy. close to the Benz and I did.

Kudirat was born in 1951, in Then, he (Rogers) leaned out Zaria, where she also had her of the window and started early education. Testimonies of spraying the victim with bullets her times at Muslim Girls High with the P 90 rifle. After that School, Ijebu Ode, indicate the we immediately drove to evolution of a powerful mind Dodan Barracks.’’ that married the qualities In the beginning, AlShe got married to Chief Mustapha, Shofolahan, Rabo Abiola at 21 in a union that was Lawal and Mohammed blessed with seven children.

Abacha, son of late head of state, General Sani Abacha in

,

UDIRAT Abiola fell to bullets from a P 90 riffle, allegedly on the orders of the state. That death on LagosIbadan Expressway brought a beautiful, brilliant and bold life, which Kudirat was generally believed to have lived to an untimely end.

Aside terminating a promising and inspiring life at 44 on that Tuesday, June 4, 1996, a new chapter was opened in Nigeria’s chequered political history, as the deceased became one of the prominent matyrs in the struggle for a truly democratic nation.

This is why 17 years after the nation appears unanimous on the assumption that her death changed the course of the struggle for the enthronement of civil rule in the country, given that she has been made a martyr on account of her activism for the revalidation of the June 12 mandate.

Against the backdrop of the deceased’s place in history, it is believed that both the then antagonists and protagonists of the June 12 struggle, would

December 1999 were brought before the then Chief Magistrate Paul Gbogodo of Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos where they were charged with conspiracy and murder over the assassination of Kudirat Abiola.

The legal battle, which lasted for 13 years ended with the sentencing of Al Mustapha and Shofolahan to death by a Lagos High Court on January 2012.

Longest criminal trial in the nation’s history: Instructively, Kudirat’s murder case is adjudged to be the longest criminal trial in the nation’s history, with five successive judges, while the accused persons were in prison within that period. The duration in prison calendar is equivalent to 20 years.

The prosecution led by Lawal Pedro had accused AlMustapha of ordering Sgt Barnabas Rogers, who was then a member of the Strike Force within Aso Rock to kill Mrs. Abiola.

While the judgment generated commendations across the country, as it was argued that justice had been served, calls for her immortalisation have continued to be the major feature of every anniversary of her death. This

,

Lagos: On

course

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 49

AFTER sprinting off from the starting block in 2007, Governor Fashola has settled to a measured pace in his second term as he projects and ponders the place of Lagos in the long term future. Most Lagosians with the noticeable exception of the political opposition are, however, not complaining

S

OME have called him the Actualiser. Still, others have hailed him as the Brighter, Rewarding Future, BRF, after his acronym. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State in his first term was a godsend to Lagosians from his political godfather and political benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In the first four years he moved with a speed that evinced the fact that Lagos could in fact be made to work.

At the point of deciding for a second term he was almost certainly a shoo-in for the office given the spectacular performance of the first term.

However, the jury is still out there if Fashola has kept pace with the first term. But the governor is certainly not in doubt as concerning his mission, looking beyond temporary assessments to the future.

“We are already looking beyond 2015. We are planning to see how Lagos can comfortably become home to 40 million people, and support it efficiently,” he declared recently revealing the administration was already projecting towards what Lagos would be in twenty years time.

The second term has mostly been focused at complementing already initiated projects across the state. These developments include the emerging light rail project, Eko Atlantic City project, greening and beautification of Lagos, the Lagos - Badagry ten lane road expansion project, the Lekki-Ikoyi link Bridge, among others.

The Fashola administration is also focusing on environmental renewal with an eye on over 500 massive de-flooding projects involving dredging, desilting and maintenance of primary and secondary collectors.

Towards revitalizing critical access roads, the Fashola administration has committed significant public resources to improving and expanding them to a level where they can effectively support the Lagos megacity status.

Over 312 road projects are also being undertaken across all council areas. Other major efforts include: completion of the alternative route to Toll plaza II, completion of EgbeLiasu Road Phase I, on-going upgrading of Ozunmba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island.

Also ongoing in the first half of the second term is the construction of the six-lane Mile 12-Ikorodu Expressway with Bus Rapid Transit, BRT lanes.

One of the striking points in the second term was the enactment of the Lagos state 2012, Road Traffic law, which in part, restricts activities of commercial motorcyclists from some major highways and bridges in the state. Fashola signed the bill into law on August 2, 2012.

It provoked a violent reaction from operators and stakeholders who condemned the act in its entirety. Not only throwing operators into the job market, it has also

made life more tasking for pedestrians.

The administration was also flayed for the demolition of Ijora - Badia slum, causing the displacement of over 20,000 residents. In the place of the demolished shanties is a proposal for a housing complex to have 1008 housing units.

The chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Capt Tunji Shelle, rtd, however, asserts that Fashola has failed to live to promise.

“He performed fairly in the first four years fixing the rots his predecessor, Tinubu left for eight years. That’s why people felt he was doing great work.

His administration is selective in project implementation so many areas are still left untouched.”

“In the area of transportation he has failed as there is always gridlock on Lagos roads. The light rail is already causing confusion and there should be effective water

transportation, but there is none. What they did is to buy a yacht in the name of Sunborn for several billions of naira, they celebrated it as if it was their project but later denied any involvement, only God knows what they have done with the boat but they have to be accountable for the cost spent.”

“They tolled the Lekki - Epe expressway, houses were demolished with a lot of people displaced without providing alternatives, and there is multiple taxation. They have the highest debt profile in the country and the rich are getting richer.”

The PDP chairman’s assertion were, however, dismissed by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN state publicity secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe.

“The greatest achievement Fashola has recorded in two years into his second term in office is firm and intelligent consolidation of the progress made in the last 14 years of our renascent democracy.”

“Since he came to power in 2007 he has through dint of hard-work made Lagos a powerful destination not only in Nigeria but in Africa. The economy of Lagos has grown to surpass the economy of some countries like Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and some other African countries.”

,

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

One of the striking points in the second term was the enactment of the Lagos State 2012, Road Traffic law, which in part, restricts activities of commercial motorcyclists from some major highways and bridges in the state

,

Kudirat: Pain is still fresh on son, Jamiu

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

T

HE pain arising from the killing of his mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola is apparently still biting for Alhaji Jamiu Abiola. It is thus no surprise that Jamiu on the eve of the 17th anniversary of the killing of the pro-democracy icon demanded that the perpetrators be brought to

book.

He told Vanguard yesterday in Lagos that there was still more to do by those in charge of administration of justice as, according to him, there is no reason why alleged accomplices mentioned as having participated in the killing should be free.

Major Hamza alMustapha, who was Chief Security Officer to erstwhile

•Jamiu: Missing mum head of state, Gen. Sanni Abacha was last year

convicted over the killing of Kudirat.

Jamiu, who described his mother as a loving mother to her children and a loyal wife to the vision of her husband, submitted that he as well as his other siblings continued to miss the presence of his departed mother.

“Well, my mother was a diligent mother to us who are her children and to

other children who found her in good position of motherhood in their lives.

She was also a good wife to our father and loyal to his vision as you could see in what eventually took her life and for the reason she has persistently been celebrated till today.”

“Above all, my mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was a thoughtful Nigerian who held the passion for building a better Nigeria."

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Woolwich murder: Adebolajo appears in court •Changes name to Mujahid Abu Hamza

outside his barracks.

Adebolajo, the 28year-old, from Romford Essex, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London, with his left arm heavily bandaged and wearing all white. After

•Re-appears in court on June 28

D

EFIANT Michael Adebolajo, the Nigerian born killer of British soldier Drummer Lee Rigby,made his first appearance in court yesterday where he caused a stir by changing his name to Mujahid Abu Hamza His partner, Adebowale, 22, who is facing charged with

killing Drummer Rigby, appeared in court yesterday via video-link from Belmarsh Prison.

He appeared in the historic Court 1 at the Old Bailey on a video screen link from Belmarsh, the high-security prison where he is being held, which is just a short

•Adebolajo distance from where the soldier was attacked

Bakassi: Nigeria, Cameroon meet over GTA

N

IGERIA and Cameroon are billed to meet in Geneva in August to resolve knotty issues conerning the controversial Green Tree Agreement which was the legal backing to the hand over of Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon.

This will be the twentysecond session of the

Follow-up Committee which monitors the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement on the Bakassi Peninsula was held in Geneva on 27 and 28 May 2013.

The Head of the Nigerian Delegation, Mohammed Bello Adoke stated that the Follow-up Committee has over the

years provided a unique forum for the two countries to further their common resolve for the security and the well being of their people.

“The successes recorded so far are attributable to commitment and sacrifice on the part of all the parties,” he said.

an hour long delay to the start of the hearing Adebolajo made various comments on the court procedure while clutching a copy of the Koran.

As he entered the court, he waved and blew

kisses to a relative in the public gallery before both men pointed to the sky. The court heard that Adebolajo is accused along with Michael Adebowale, of the alleged murder of Drummer Rigby in Woolwich on May 22.

Sex scandal rocks British seat of Government Mail on Sunday cannot

N

UMBER 10 Downing Street has rocked by secret love affair which has stunned’ Prime Minister David Cameron and forced him to hold crisis talks amid fears that it will become a full blow political conundrum. ‘ Worried: David Cameron held crisis talks at Downing Street after being told of allegations of a sensational love affair which has potentially

•Cameron British PM significant political implications for him.

For legal reasons, The

disclose the identities of the people involved or any details of the relationship – even its duration – other than that they are middleaged figures. The affair has now concluded.

But this newspaper can report that when aides told Mr Cameron the identities of the alleged lovers he was ‘stunned’, and, according to sources, ‘immediately realised the importance of the story’.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 51

Blues confirm Jose return J

OSE MOURINHO has been confirmed as the new Chelsea boss The Blues yesterday announced that Mourinho had signed a four-year deal to be their manager for the second time.

Chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “I am delighted to welcome Jose back to Chelsea.''

Mourinho brings with him three coaching staff in Rui Faria, Silvino Louro and Jose Morais — all of whom have been given the title of assistant first-team coach.

The Portuguese boss will be officially presented during a Press conference at Stamford Bridge next Monday.

But speaking to Chelsea TV, Mourinho said: “Let’s make a little bit of a difference.

“I’ve never hid that in football I had two great passions — Inter and Chelsea. And Chelsea is more than important for me.

“It was very, very hard to play against Chelsea and I did it only twice which was not so bad.

“So now I promise exactly the same things I promised in 2004.”

Ronaldo just can’t escape his markers

•A dot on his mind ... Cristiano Ronaldo

C

IT’S OFFICIAL ... Jose Mourinho poses with new Chelsea kit after his appointment as new boss

We want Roo …..Wenger hints at swoop

A

ON HIS WAY? ... Rooney is unhappy at Man Utd

RSENE WENGER has hinted he could make a sensational summer swoop for Wayne Rooney. Wenger is ready to pounce and could battle Chelsea, Paris SaintGermain and Bayern Munich for the England forward should he be put up for sale. The Arsenal manager, who has been handed a £100million warchest, admitted: “Rooney could be an interesting player for everybody in the world, who would turn him down?

“David Moyes’ first challenge is to go in to Manchester and bridge the gap between him and Rooney.

“If that is feasible or not depends on his personality. we will see.

“It will be interesting to see how that will be handled.”

RISTIANO Ronaldo sits topless as more pics emerge of the footie star being measured up for his waxwork.

He cut a serious sight as experts dotted his face with a pen, to ensure artists create an exact replica of the Real Madrid winger.

The life-size Ronaldo likeness will be going on display at Madrid Wax

Museum in the Spanish capital.

With his styled hair thick with products and a face that appeared to be caked in cosmetics, Ron didn’t look far off a waxwork himself.

He looked similarly dummy-esque in previous snaps of his measuring session, standing as still as a statue in only a pair of shorts.

First day at your Nou job ….£46million man Neymar checks in at Barca

N

EYMAR yesterday touched down at Barcelona following his stunning £46million switch to Spain.

The Samba superstar last week sealed an eyewatering move away from Santos.

And hitman Neymar, 21, has arrived in Catalunya to begin life with the European giants.

He exits Brazil with an astonishing 138 goals in just 230 games following his debut for the Sao Paolo-based side in 2009.

Jesús tto o sign ffor or City ffor or £1 7m £17m

J

ESÚS Navas is set to become the first signing of the Manuel Pellegrini era at Manchester City. The Sevilla and Spain rightwinger is on the verge of completing a deal that will take him to England for an initial 20m (£17m) fee, plus a further 5.5m based on performance, of

which the Spanish club believe that €3.5m are virtually guaranteed.

The length of his contract and his salary are not yet known but sources suggest that he will earn more than double the amount he did in La Liga, where he was reportedly on €2.5m a year.

Navas will travel to the

Confederations Cup with Spain a City player.

Following Sevilla’s final game of the season on Saturday night the club’s manager Unai Emery admitted: “All the signs are that Navas will leave.”

He added: “It is the best thing for Navas and for the club.”

BADGE OF HONOUR ... Neymar arrives at Nou Camp.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Confusion in Kenya Continues from BP assignment abroad. He quickly welcomed the advance party of the Nigeria Football F e d e r a t i o n and instructed mission staff to provide the team with full support.

A source close to the Football Kenya Federation stated on Monday that tight security is being put in place for the match, with more than 1,500 policemen to be on duty at the Moi International Sports Centre.

NFF’s advance party on Monday frowned at the 680 Hotel reserved for the Super Eagles.

The hotel is right in the centre of town with so much noise around it.

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria High Commission are working on alternative

accommodation for the African champions.

Already, the FKF has made arrangement for the Eagles to train at the Moi International Sports Centre at 4pm on Tuesday, but would be willing to allow them there should Coach Stephen Keshi prefer a morning work-out, according to FKF President, Sam Nyamweya.

The pre-match meeting is scheduled for the Bulemart Hotel at 7pm o n Tuesday, even as the match officials, led by Ivorian referee Noumandiez Doue arrived in Nairobi on Monday.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari is expected to lead a delegation from Nigeria aboard a Kenyan Airways flight on Tuesday afternoon.

F-Eagles Continues from BP U21 to win 2-1 in their opening game, before they stopped an impressive Mexico 1-0 and on Sunday they put World Cup-bound Portugal in their place with two early goals.

The Flying Eagles, on the other hand, are yet to really lift up in France

after they lost 2-0 to Mexico and forced Belgium to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

The six-time African champions have used the first two matches to try out some players for the World Cup but would most certainly put forward their best foot against the Samba Stars at Stade Louis Hon in St.

Ideye

Continues from BP

who netted from the penalty spot in a 2-2 with Mexico at the weekend.

“We did our best and played well against Mexico, but like we all know, the fans expected us to win. We now hope to improve on this against Kenya and Namibia.

“Personally, I expect a big challenge from Kenya and Namibia. It is going to be difficult, but

we must conquer them to get closer to our World Cup dream.”

African champions Nigeria lead Group F on five points from three matches. Malawi are also on five points, but boast an inferior goals’ difference, while Namibia are third on three points.

Kenya are bottom of the group with two points.

Kenya host the Eagles on Wednesday and a week later Nigeria will be guests to Namibia.

Raphael from 7pm local time.

This means defenders Ikechukwu Okorie, Kingsley Madu, Shehu Abdullahi are expected to return with Belgiumbased John Felegha getting his chance in goal on Tuesday.

This defence will have to put an eye on Brazil twinkling stars like Danilo, Ademilson and Yuri

Mamute.

Strikers Kayode Olanrewaju, Samuel Eduok as well as Edafe Egbedi will also return after they were rested against Belgium.

The last time both teams clashed at this level was in 2005, when they played out a goalless draw in a group game at the World Cup in the Netherlands.

Kenyan Minister Continues from BP who earned a 1-1 draw against the Africa champions in Calabar on March 23, would triumph.

Publicity for Wednesday’s game has been at a premium in the East African nation, even as most analysts believe their team has its work cut out trying to stop the Super Eagles.

However, aside the fact that history is heavily

skewed against them, the Harambee Stars would definitely struggle against Nigeria on Wednesday.

They miss four of their top guns, including goalkeeper Arnold Origi, and reserve goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng has not inspired confidence since the team started camping in Naivasha and moved to Nairobi on Sunday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 53

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 — 55

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

Confusion in Kenya as Mikel lands ahead of Eagles We’ll beat Nigeria 1-0 — Kenya Minister boasts

T

HE drumbeats of war roared louder in Nairobi on Monday, with Kenya’s Commissioner for Sports, Gordon Oluoch stating emphatically that the Harambee Stars would defeat the Super Eagles 1-0 in Wednesday ’s 2014 World Cup qualifier at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Oluoch, who works with Sports Minister, Dr. Hassan Wario, said at a public function that he had no doubt the Stars,

Continues on Page 52

T

HE Kenyan camp has become depressed that midfielder John Mikel Obi was on his way to Nairobi after missing the friendly against Mexico in Texas at the weekend.

They actually thought he was not coming for the game.

Chelsea FC of England ace Obi was instrumental to Nigeria’s 3-2 defeat of the Stars at the same venue on November 14, 2009 – a result that sent the Super Eagles to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

The midfield lubricator flew into Nairobi aboard a British Airways flight on Monday evening, hours ahead of the rest of the delegation that was being expected from Frankfurt around 1.30am on Tuesday.

Government sources say Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta or Vice President William Ruto would be special guest of honour at the big match. On Sunday evening, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador Akin Oyateru flew into Nairobi from official Continues on Page 52

D

YNAMO Kiev striker Brown Ideye said Nigeria have to take their chances against Kenya in Wednesday ’s crunch World Cup qualifier.

“Whether it is tough or easy, we will go for all the three points, we just need to be more ruthless and be confident and we will get the result we need,” declared Ideye, Continues on Page 52

Fumbling F-Eagles confront Brazil Kick-off: 7p.m.

N

IGERIA’s Flying Eagles readiness for the 2013 U20 World Cup will be put to full test today by world champi-

ons Brazil at the Toulon Tournament.

Brazil may not be at Turkey 2013 after they failed to qualify from the South American qualifiers, but they have been

PUZZLE

flying at the Toulon Tournament having won all their three matches thus far.

They overcame a firsthalf scare by Belgium Continues on Page 52

•Mikel

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

Eagles ‘ll be ruthless — Ideye

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

DOWN ACROSS 1 Writer (6) 1 Climbed (6) 2 Unusual (8) 5 Soil (4) 3 Exhilarated (6) 8 Twelve (5) 4 Able (9) 9 Manage (3) 5 Fall (7) 10 Particle (4) 6 Creep (4) 11 Scrutinise (4) 7 Favour (4) 12 Era (5) 8 Rabbit (3) 13 Margin (6) 14 Disclosing (9) 16 Adroit (4) 15 Pig-pen (3) 18 Observe (4) 17 Conifer (3) 20 Butt (3) 19 Decorate (8) 22 Strive (3) 20 Rank (3) 23 Attempt (3) 24 Unaccompanied (4) 21 Check on (7) 26 Wan dering (6) 25 Sea-eagle (4) 27 Stocked (6) 28 Absentee (6) 29 Fever (4) 30 House (5) 30 Urn (4) 32 Animal (4) 31 Append (3) 33 Thought (4) 34 Spike (3) 35 Valid (5) 36 Always (4) 37 Said (6)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 3, Spear 9, Avenue 10, Poster 11, Ended 12, Eros 15, Clan 17, Demoted 20, Lid 21, Duvet 23, Emit 25, Teem 26, Deter 28, Ave 30, Descend 33, Pert 35, Hate 36, Atlas 38, Repose 39, Teller 40, Sweet.

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Famed 2, Besom 3, Sue 4, Penned 5, Apex 6, Rod 7, Stall 8, Grand 13, Receive 14, Solid 16, Ailment 18, Duped 19, Bet 22, Teach 24, Tea 27, Relate 28, Apart 29, Erupt 31, Early 32, Decry 34, Stew 36, Ass 37, Set.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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