Outrage trails Mubi massacre

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61724

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Patience Jonathan leaves German hospital, checks into hotel •P. 14

INEC's broke, can't pay •P. 15 salary— Jega

Outrage trails Mubi massacre

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, BEN AGANDE, UMAR YUSUF, LUKA BINNIYAT &

ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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•It's tragic, sad, barbaric, shocking —Jonathan •Orders security agencies to fish out killers •Police arrest some suspects •Senate wants capital punishment for culprits

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, ordered the security agencies to fish out and prosecute those responsible for the massacre of 40 students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; Adamawa State University and the School of Health Technology, Mubi last

Monday in their hostel in Mubi.

The presidential order came as the Senate condemned the killing and charged the Federal Government to invoke the provision of capital punishment in our statute on perpetrators of the massacre and other terrorists to serve as deterrence to others.

Adamawa Police

Continues on page 5

Utomi, Fashola call for entrepreneurship in school curriculum

•Pgs 25-32

Of nostalgia and punishing reality •P. 17

OCHEREOME NNANNA Was it an empty broadcast?

Four Nigerian peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in an ambush by unidentified assailants some two kilometres from the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) regional headquarters, Sudan. LEFT: One of the survivors recovering at the UNAMID hospital in elGeneina; TOP: One of the UNAMID vehicles caught in an ambush and RIGHT: Interior of a destroyed UNAMID vehicles,Tuesday. See story on Page 15.

Tension in House of Reps as plot against Tambuwal thickens •P. 6 C M Y K

•P. 19

Mr & Mrs

President to present 2013 budget October 11 •P. 13

2—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—3

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4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

16 DAYS TO GO

ACN takes redemption rally to Mimiko’s back yard •Tinubu, Osoba, Aregbesola, others make case for Akeredolu Other speakers at the rally include former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba; Osun State Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye-Tomori; and her Lagos State counterpart, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

Osoba in his speech urged the people to be ready to police their votes after voting on October 20.

The former Ogun governor said the people of Edo State policed their votes and the ACN won, saying that the people should not allowed themselves to be intimidated. Aregbesola said since democracy started in Owo with the formation of Action Group (AG), Ondo State should

not be left out in the revolution going on in the South-West zone.

“Because of the present situation in the country there is the need for the Yoruba states to be in the same party, we should belong to the same thing. There is nothing we don’t use to beg him, there is nothing we have not used to plead with him to join us and despite what we did for him when he was in the trenches and during the election. Ondo should not be the odd one out, the October 20 vote is Oduduwa vote, it is Yoruba vote, so whoever believes in the progress of Nigeria should support ACN and put the opposition to

shame.” In his response Akeredolu thanked the teeming supporters and promised not disappoint them.

He spoke extensively on his vision for the state, which include comprehensive health care that would benefit mother, child, youth and father; massive infrastructure development across the state to create an enabling industrialization; 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office to be generated through Private Public Partnership businesses, waste environmental managements, social welfare package for the aged, retired civil servants and other senior citizens of the state.

Fresh attack: Opposition planning to eliminate LP members – MCO

Ondo State Governor on Direct Labour Agency, Mrs Mobolaji Suara on Tuesday evening cheated death by whiskers when they were attacked by thugs at Uka area of Owo with guns, axes, cutlasses and clubs.

“While we have continued to prevail on our people to remain calm and not to be provoked into retaliating which was their intention, we wish tell them categorically that they should perish the thought of capturing Ondo State to their flagging empire. The people of Ondo state are resolved not to change a winning horse, Dr Olusegun Mimiko will win the October 20 election by a very comfortable margin and that is why they are desperate, bringing dangerous

weapons into Ondo State and their thugs to maim and possibly kill. But God will stop them and expose their evil deeds," Olabisi said.

Indeed, Mrs Suara was shot in the arm while Mr. Atiba was clubbed on the head after several bullets fired at him missed their targets. The member of the House of Representatives was however lucky as he escaped from his assailants who chased him into a bush after damaging his car. Mr Atiba who spoke on his hospital bed at a private hospital in Akure described the incident as sad and a pointer to the fact that the oppositions in the state was hell bent on killing and provoking violence in order to win the October Election at all cost.

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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N their quest to oust Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party, LP, from the Ondo State Government House, leaders of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria ACN yesterday took their redemption rally to Ondo town, the governor’s home town.

At the well-attended event, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande said in Nigerian politics the Labour Party was an orphan and urged Ondo people to liberate themselves by voting out the party of a

“labourer”.

ACN leaders said for four years the LP had not brought any meaningful development to the state. “Ondo State deserves responsive and responsible leadership and this will be offered by our governorship candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,” they said, adding that the ACN would reposition the state and make it one that was worthy of emulation, if voted into power. According to them, the LP had no “relation” as Mimiko is the only governor of the party throughout the country and should be shown the way out come October 20.

•They ‘re seeking undeserved sympathy – ACO

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HE Mimiko Campaign Organisation (MCO) has cried out over series of attacks by the opposition parties on supporters and members of the Labour Party (LP) in Owo town, saying plans were on to eliminate its leaders.

The MCO raised this alarm in Akure yesterday following fresh attacks on its members in the ancient city on Tuesday night.

Noting that two weeks ago, a similar attack occurred in the city in which several LP supporters were shot, injured with cutlasses and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed, MCO in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Kolawole Olabisi, said the latest development had vindicated its numerous cries in the recent past that the ACN and

the PDP were out to foment trouble with a view to stampede the electorate.

Says Olabisi: “Since it has become impossible for them to win this election in a free and fair situation, they have adopted this ‘strike the shepherd, scatter the sheep’ tactics of targeting senior members of our party for elimination as was the case in Edo State.

“But on our part, we are aware of this dastard and evil plans and that is why we have been strident in our cries to the security operatives and the whole nation that the oppositions in Ondo State have formed a common evil intention to collaborate in attacking our people to weaken us. We are calling on the security operatives to bring all the

perpetrators of the series of violence in Owo to book to serve as deterrent to others and ensure the security of lives and property because only yesterday (Tuesday) the leaders of the ACN publicly lampooned the police for doing its jobs very well and vowed to unleash violence on us in their bid to capture Ondo state."

Indeed, four of those arrested by the security apparatus in Owo over similar attacks on the LP members are still being remanded at the Olokuta Prison.

A member of the House of Representatives representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Mr Eni Omosule, the Chairman of the State Environmental Task Force, Mr Gbenga Atiba and a Senior Special Assistant to the

*(L-R) A clergyman, Elder Tunde Adesida; Rtd Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; Ondo State Health Commissioner, Dr Dayo Adeyanju; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and wife, Olukemi shortly after a church service to mark his 58th birthday anniversary in Akure, yesterday C M Y K

They ‘re seeking undeserved sympathy – ACO

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OWEVER, the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described the MCO’s allegation on the fracas that occurred at Owo as concocted and twisted to win undeserved sympathy from the people of Ondo State for the Labour Party.

According to Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, ACO’s director of publicity, “it is a notorious fact that it is LP which has been carrying out unprovoked attack on the opposition since the beginning of the campaign and we have also raised alarm over the importation of arms and ammunition by the sinking LP to which the security agents are aware since they have arrested several culprits in different parts of the state including a special assistant to one of the prominent traditional leaders in the southern part of the state, who is a staunch supporter of LP.” “Yesterday on their way back from Ondo vehicles belonging to ACN supporters were vandalized. We have to appeal for the umpteenth time to the Nigerian Police Force to bring these LP thugs to book. In the words of the National Leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to every action there is a reaction.

They should not allow our

supporters to result to self-help in the face of continued unprovoked attacks while the police stand at hands akimbo,” he added.

Ondo must no longer depend on federal allocation – Fafunmi

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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ON. Dayo Fafunmi, a lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), has challenged Ondo electorate to vote for a candidate, who could unlock the economic potentials of the state and make it less dependent on federal allocations.

Speaking at the Lagos State University (LASU), Faculty of Faculty Law dinner, Fafunmi said that the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN’s flag-bearer, Rotimi Akeredolu, possessed the technical knowhow to free citizens of Ondo State from poverty and underdevelopment, which he said they had suffered over the last 13 years of democracy.

Vanguard, THURS DAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—5 THURSDAY,

POCKET CARTOON

Outrage trails Mubi massacre Continues from Page 1 Command has also announced that some arrests have been made over the killings, which were condemned by Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC Jonathan, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described it as tragic, sad, barbaric and shocking.

According to the statement, “the President has directed security agencies to investigate the matter and get to the root because this kind of incident, where people are called out and shot is really shocking.”

He further disclosed that the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, had briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the killings.

Gunmen, last Monday, stormed the off campus hostel of the students of the higher institutions at Wuro Fatuje, in Mubi, Adamawa State, killing 40 students while many others sustained injuries. The gunmen who were said to be in army uniform reportedly

called out the names of the students one after the other and slaughtered them.

While the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi lost 26 students, the other institutions lost 14.

Senate advocates capital punishment for terrorists In its reaction, the Senate charged the Federal Government to invoke capital punishment on terrorists and those behind the massacre of the 40 students.

The upper chamber upon considering a motion, yesterday, moved by Senator Jibralla Bindowo, PDP, Adamawa North, condemned the killings, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.

Senate President, Senator David Mark, expressed concern, saying the insecurity situation in the country had reached an alarming proportion.

Mark, however, disagreed with the notion that unemployment was responsible for the unmitigated killings and other insecurity problems in the country, maintaining

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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ESTERDAY is a cancelled cheque, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is all you’ve got, so it’s a precious present.

And you can begin your life over today, if you live by these words: ‘Today I will delete from my diary two days—yesterday and tomorrow— and fill my today.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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OU don’t need to get anyone else to agree with your truth. You just need to live it— Alan Cohen

I stood at the cliff overlooking the New Jersey River flowing by peacefully and it occurred to me that upon this sacred ground many persons may have stood still and contemplate inner peace. It’s a beautiful day, the azure skies of luminous clouds is resplendent with formations of imageries reflecting the natural landscape.

The atmospheres exude such beauty and a calm essence just like the flowing water below.

I pondered on these thoughts. We scurry through life, sometimes too busy to stop and reflect, too busy to create special moments to connect with the beauty of Soul. To invest in our happiness, health and spiritual life, and that means taking special interest in the things that matter to us.

I looked up into the sky and saw this magnificent hawk flying high, soaring with such abandoned freedom and I longed for the infinite but I am also aware that at this moment, I am joined with the source of all love within and though I long for that which seems to be beyond this world, yet I feel the presence of divine love eminent in my heart and everywhere. Always find time to recharge the divine energy of Soul and rekindle the spark in your life.

that government must stop looking for excuses.

Mark also condemned the slow pace of government in tackling crimes, maintaining that investigations get swept under the carpet just as soon as it happens.

He said: “It is not that crimes don’t take place in other countries. They do.

But it is the reaction of government, the speed, with which those who are involved are arrested, tried and punished accordingly. But when they happen in this country, after a week we just try to forget it and wait for the next one to happen.

“I think we have gone beyond the time for us to sing these songs of lamentation every now and again. We should not be lamenting. I think we should be able to act and government needs to act as quickly and as fast as possible. Terrorists will succeed once they can stop government from doing what government wants to do.

Senators react Senators were unanimous in condemning the massacre, as some of them blamed the worsening security crisis on lack of political will by government to tackle terrorism. Those who spoke against the killings were Mohammed Bello, PDP, Adamawa Central; Oluremi Tinubu, ACN, Lagos Central; Dahiru Kuta, PDP, Niger East; Joshua Lidani, PDP, Gombe South and Barnabas Gemade, PDP, Benue North-East.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, blamed the incidenct on the failure of security.

According to him, “let’s just for a moment imagine that we are the parents of those students who were killed on Monday. Some of them were in their final year.

What happened in Mubi is a failure of security. It is the inability to secure the people that gave rise to what happened. It is bad that at this level of our development, we cannot protect our people."

Senators Tinubu and Matthew Nwagwu said the wanton killings were typical of a nation under siege by terrorists.

Nwagwu said: “It is barbaric. How long do we continue to watch this carnage? Last time it was corps members, then

churches and then mosques. Very soon they will go for Senators. We are under siege and something should be done fast and fast enough.”

Also condemning the dastardly act, Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central said government must be held responsible because it had failed to protect Nigerians.

He said: “There is complete absence of political leadership that drives the state and the country. People who are not supposed to be governors are governors, ditto for lawmakers.

When incompetent persons occupy positions of power, and are required to draw road map, what are they going to do?

“Since the problem started, nobody has been prosecuted. We only hear of arrests. The political class, all of us, have failed. We have not been able to go beyond ethnic and religious leanings to protect our country. We only have elections, no genuine government.

The security agencies have to be held accountable for budgetary allocations made to them yearly.”

Police arrest some suspects Meanwhile, Adamawa State Police Command had said it had made some arrests in connection with the massacre. The police spokesman, DSP Muhhamed Ibrahim, said, yesterday, that a number of arrests had been made and the Force Headquarters would come out with facts to inform the general public on what really transpired in Mubi town According to thePPRO, “investigation into Mubi killings is in progress.

The relatives of the students killed said the assailants called them out by their names before they were killed.

Honestly, there is an insider in this killing.

Really, we cannot rule out the possibility that the attack was carried out by one of these groups— Boko Haram, cultism, politicians— but investigation will reveal the real perpetrators of the crimes.”

Ibrahim explained that students who recently won an election

were among those killed and this informed the thinking by the police that the massacre might be connected with the outcome of the students election, adding: “There was an election at the Federal Polytechnic Mubi and the second day after the winners were declared, the killing took place.

“There have been arrests but we cannot say that those arrested are the perpetrators of the crime. And we will not disclose the number of those arrested as we don’t want to jeopardize our investigation till investigation is completed before we inform the public.”

Adamawa govt condemns killings Meanwhile, Adamawa State government has condemned the gruesome murder, and promised to work with security agents to bring the perpetrators to book.

The government described the incident as barbaric, saying a responsible government will not fold it hands and allow those who committed such act to go unpunished.

It's barbaric – ACF Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, described the murder as “barbaric.” In a statement in Kaduna, yesterday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, ACF said: “The news of the attacks and killing of some innocent students of Federal Government College, Mubi, is very shocking to all lovers of peace, humanity and sanctity of life.

"This is because the young students could not possibly be part of what might have caused any perceived grievances.

“The attacks are, therefore, condemned as barbaric for what they

are. Towards this end, Arewa Consultative Forum appeals to the security agencies and to all Nigerians, especially those around Mubi local government, with patriotic courage to go as far as efforts can go and fish out the perpetrators of the abominable attacks and bring them to justice as deterrence against any future occurrence."

Height of bestiality —MURIC An Islamic non g o v e r n m e n t a l organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, also yesterday, condemned the attack, saying such action was the height of bestiality.

In a statement signed by the executive director of the group, Professor Is-haq Akintola, it said the attack was barbaric and “unthinkable that anyone would carry out an attack of this magnitude on an institution of higher learning.”

The group said: “What is most worrisome is the ease with which the attackers carried out the killings before melting into thin air. It is a serious indictment on our security agencies.

This massacre further amplifies the helplessness of our security network.

Nigeria is no longer safe. People are living in fear. The details of the attack further compounds our fear as it becomes difficult to point an accusing finger at any group.”

Calling on the government to look inward to identify pernicious policies which have caused "this animalistic behaviour," it urged the government “to fill the empty stomachs of the hungry masses by creating job opportunities for this angry army of u n e m p l o y e d graduates.”

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Sanusi over PTDF fund

BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU BUJA— S E N AT E Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) has summoned the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to appear before it to explain the reason why funds have not been released to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF. The committee also summoned the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Jonah Otunla to appear before it and explain why the agency has been starved of funds in the last three years.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Emmanuel Paulker who issued the summon yesterday during the budget performance interface with PTDF was surprised that the agency has

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COMMISSIONING OF 176 BATTALION BARRACKS—President Goodluck Jonathan unveilling the plaque to commission the 176 guards battalion barracks in Kuje, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House.

Tension in House of Reps as plot against Tambuwal thickens

BY SONI DANIEL, ASSISTANT EDITOR

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BUJA—SIMMERING tension in the House of Representatives over attempt by some lawmakers to unseat Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, might have accounted for one of the reasons why the leadership shut down proceedings for a week to calm frayed nerves, Vanguard has learnt.

Those at the forefront of edging out Tambuwal, are said to be latching on the fact that the leadership has not paid them ‘proper allowances’ since the inception of the current session of the National Assembly.

The protagonists are said to be angry that Tambuwal had used his position to gain popularity among the members and Nigerians without taking ‘adequate care of them’ as was done by his predecessors.

Findings by Vanguard revealed that contrary to the belief that the anti-Tambuwal lawmakers had backed down on their plot to remove him, they were actually working hard to achieve their ambition.

The lawmakers opposed to the Speaker had two weeks ago attempted to stage a ‘coup’ against him by asking for an upward review of the allowances but the pro-Tambuwal group, which appears to be in the majority, quickly mobilized and frustrated the move.

The anti-Tambuwal

group, which has more of first-time lawmakers in its fold, could hardly summon a meeting to firm up their plot when the plan was leaked to Tambuwal loyalists.

However, it was gathered last night that the anti-Tambuwal group had not given up on its plot to get at the Speaker because of what some of them see as ‘Tambuwal’s growing popularity’.

One of the anti-Tambuwal lawmakers admitted that it was in a bid by the leadership to avert a major confrontation with the angry lawmakers, who are mostly first-timers that the leadership shut down the House for a week.

Why Reps declared week's recess Although the lawmaker admitted that the members were also using the opening to oversee some of the projects being implemented under the 2012 budget, he made it clear that the budget issue was more of a ‘smokescreen’ to buy time and heal the crack in the House.

Another lawmaker in the group noted, “The truth is that the House Leadership is using the vacation to defuse growing pressure from the members and seek support from wherever it can find.

Reminded that the House leadership was keen on verifying the extent of the budget implementation by

the administration, the source asked rhetorically, “How many places or projects dotted across the length and breadth of this country can the committees inspect in three or four days?

“Look, let me say that before long the real truth of the adjournment will be blown open for Nigerians to see.

Upward review of allowances “In reality, we want to know why Tambuwal administration started paying us only N15 million as constituency allowances per quarter and eventually moved it up to N21 million.

“Currently, there are plans to increase it to N27 million per quarter following last week’s protests by some members. Do not forget that during Bankole’s time, each member got as much as N27 per quarter.

“So, I can tell you that there are some issues that require explanations from the leadership and Nigerians will soon get to hear.

But the Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, insisted in an interview with Vanguard that the need to carry out serious oversight over projects captured in the current budget informed the oneweek recess by the House.

Zakari stated that the members needed the short period to undertake visits to the projects said to have

been executed by MDAs since it is the same President who presented that budget to the members for approval.

Need to carry out oversight functions He dismissed as untenable claims that the leadership was buying time to calm frayed nerves as the members were working together as a united family.

Zakari pointed out that those behind the plot failed woefully to get the required support to advance their wicked plan because the majority of members were satisfied with the transparent and all-inclusive leadership being provided by the Speaker.

He said, “But Tambuwal is not worried because he believes that he should work for the overall wellbeing of the Nigerian people on whose mandate he stands.

“The protagonists of the move failed to achieve their goal because the matter leaked to the rest of the members even before the conclusion of the discussion and it became a hard sale like a bad product.

“It would be difficult for those planning Tambuwal’s ouster to get enough support for their plot because majority of the members are fully aware of the desperation to edge him out and plant a stooge to undo the Nigerian people but that will not happen because we now work as members of the same family."

been operating without funds since 2010.

He said: “The fund for PTDF is statutory. Nobody has the right to withhold this money. We are going to invite CBN governor, Minister of Finance and accountant general, to explain to us why the funds have been withheld. We will help you locate where your money is".

The Executive Secretary of PTDF, Engr. Muttaka Rabe Darma, in his briefing to the committee, however, informed the Senators that the agency has been operating on a grant of $100million since 2010, adding that they have written to the Ministry of Finance asking for money without success.

According to him, “we have written to the Ministry of Finance for cash backing since 2010 but no response. If monies are not released all contracts including ongoing ones will be stopped.”

We 'll sanitize our armed forces — Jonathan

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday vowed he will do all that is required to sanitize the armed forces, warning that anything or conduct from any arm of the forces capable of bringing embarrassment and bad image to the country would not be tolerated.

Speaking at the commissioning of the 176 Guards Brigade Battalion barracks in Kuje, the President noted that the armed forces of Nigeria have brought pride and given the nation positive reputation.

Declaring that his administration will never toy with the welfare of officers and men of the armed forces, he said,” These are the people who stay awake for us to go to sleep."

Emphasizing the importance of the armed forces, he said, “In countries where lives and property are secured, such countries are respected in the comity of nations than those that pay little attention to security".

While assuring that his government will support the military in terms of their professionalism and welfare which would enable them to compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world, he said, “Let me

assure the armed forces that this administration will work with them because one thing I believe is that the strength of any nation depends on the strength of their security. It does not depend on how powerful their politicians are, it depends on the security.

“Even from history, for a king to defend his kingdom or an emir to defend his emirate, he must have very strong security and even in modern times, people respect nations not because they have talking politicians who will always talk but because they get strong security.

"Government would continue to work with the services to make sure that we strengthen the Nigerian security services.”

He said he has directed the setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of the Vice President Namadi Sambo whose terms of reference include seeking for adequate funding for the security services outside the annual budget.

Jonathan added: “Already I have set up a committee headed by the Vice President and the committee was set up in one of our security council meetings and we are looking at different areas to fund some of the activities of the armed forces outside budgeting."

Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—7

Nigeria's Foreign reserve rises to $41.3bn zAs CBN sells at $177m

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE HE nation’s foreign ex change rose further to $41.3 billion even as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, sold $177 million at the bi-weekly Wholesale Dutch Auction System, WDAS, session.

According to the CBN, foreign reserves rose to $41.33 billion on Tuesday from $41.186 billion at the end of last month. This represented a 0.3 per cent increase and a 26 month high when compared with its level of $38.59 billion as at August 10, 2010.

Meanwhile, the CBN sold $177 million at the WDAS session, while the naira appreciated in official market and interbank market.

Result of the WDAS showed that the official exchange rate dropped to N155.77 per dollar from N155.78 last week, representing one kobo appreciation for the naira.

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At the interbank foreign exchange market, the naira gained 10 kobo following foreign exchange sales by two oil firms.

Consequently, the interbank exchange rate dropped to N157.15 per dollar from N157.25 the previous day.

On the international scene, the dollar rose against most of its major peers as investors seeking a refuge from signs of slower global growth ignored U.S. reports showing the service industries and private employment expanded more than forecast.

Australia ’s dollar slid to the least in almost a month after the nation had its widest trade deficit since 2008 and data showed China ’s services industry expanded the least in more than a year.

The euro was little changed versus the greenback after a report showed the region’s services and manufacturing shrank.

FG vs Okah: Alaibe denies complicity in Oct 1 bombings

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—TRIAL of al leged masterminds of the October 1, 2010, bomb blasts that killed 12 persons while Nigeria celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary resumed yesterday, with the erstwhile chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Timi Alaibe, testifying as a prosecution witness The Federal Government brought Alaibe to testify before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, following allegation that he had prior knowledge that the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr Henry Okah, planned to detonate bombs at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

It would be recalled that earlier in the course of the trial, an ex-militant whose identity was masked by the State Security Services, SSS, while under cross examination, told the court that Alaibe was among those he said were promptly notified about Okah’s plans to bomb Abuja.

The witness who was simply identified as “Mr X”, accused the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timi-

pre Sylva, former Secretary to the Brass Local Government Area and member of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty, Mr Victor Ben, as well as a repentant exmilitant, Ebikabowei a.k.a Boyloaf, of complicity, insisting that they failed to act on prior information regarding the planned bombing.

The witness had informed the trial court that he got wind of the planned attacks from his friend, one Emmanuel Allison, a man that was earlier declared wanted by the SSS, saying he was the person that informed one of the accused persons standing trial over the incident, Mr. Edmund Ebiware.

Though Ebiware was initially facing trial alongside the younger brother to the ex-MEND leader, Charles Okah and the 3rd accused person, Obi Nwabueze, however, sequel to his request, presiding Justice Gabriel Kolawole okayed separate trial for him.

Ebiware was specifically alleged to have exchanged incriminating text messages with the erstwhile Director-General of the Ibrahim Babamasi Babangida, IBB, Campaign Organization and Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, prior to the twin bomb explosion.

RECOVERED: Arms, ammunition and some improvised explosive device materials allegedly recovered from two arrested suspected Boko Haram members by the Kaduna State Police Command in Kaduna and Zaria, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

FG to immortalise Azikiwe zApproves N1.4bn for mausoleum

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Federal Executive Council yesterday took a bold step towards immortalising the first president of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as it approved N1,496 billion, for the building of a Mausoleum in his honour in Onitsha.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who briefed newsmen after the meeting of the council yesterday said the President had given his commitment during his visit to Anambra State that the issue of the Mausoleum would be revisited.

Dr Abati who was flanked by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, and the Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Sada, said the Mausoleum has been an issue since 2006.

He said: “The President during his visit to Anambra State had given his word that the issue will be revisited and that was done today because the country owes it to posterity and the memory of the great Zik to ensure that the mausoleum is built and there is assurance by the Ministry of Lands and Housing that this time around the Mausoleum will be completed".

The Minister of Housing and Urban development in

her contribution said “the Federal Executive Council approved the award of contract for the completion of Zik’s Mausoleum, in memory of our first President. It was given out for a sum of N1,496,531,483 with a completion of 13 months. This contract was originally under the Presidency but it was stalled and had to be cancelled three times, but in 2010 it was transferred to the new Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

She added that they were confident that the contractors would carry out the work competently and finish within the 13 months given to them.

She said the funds for the project had been split into the 2012 and 2013 budget.

“In this year’s budget we have N530million with which we are going to start off the project and we have also put N1billion in the budget for next year and if that is given to us we should be able to complete it within the time stipulated. So we are very hopeful that we will get the needed funds and the ministry is quite ready to ensure that we get value for money for the job that we are giving out” she said.

Speaking on the approved roadmap of the mining sector, Sade said the document was to awaken “ourselves to the various governmental policies to

work on and targets to achieve”.

According to him the reforms which started in 2005, yielded nothing, but had started showing prospects from 2007.

The minister who said this was the first time Nigeria was having a road-

map for the mining sector added that the foreword for the roadmap was written by the President himself.

He said government had also given incentives to encourage investors in the sector, stating that mining equipment brought into the country will be duty free.

PSC promotes 19 policemen

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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HE Police Service Com mission yesterday announced the promotion of 13 Assistant Commissioners of Police, four Chief Superintendents of Police, one DSP and one ASP. According to a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekpe, Chief Information officer, the promotions were in fulfillment of the promise of the commission to reward hardworking and deserving police officers with promotion to the next rank.

The 13 Chief Superintendents of Police officers elevated to Assistant Commissioners of Police are: Ojeka Odama Paul, Edung Patrick Ogon, Kayode Akande Sikiru, Arop Augustine, Lawal Badara Banji, Adelayo Adewoye Olukayode, Onyeka B. Nnamdi, Yusuf Suleiman A., Anyasinti Josephine Nneka, Godwin N, Ekot Effiom

Emmanuel, Kanayochukwu Ude Stanley, Mozie Charles Ifeatu Similarly, the Commission approved the promotion of four Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendents. Also, a deputy superintendent of police and an assistant superintendent of police were elevated to the rank of superintendent and deputy superintendent respectively.

All the promotions are with effect from October 3, 2012.

Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande while congratulating the successful officers, advised them to live up to the new responsibilities their elevation had placed on them.

He also admonished members of the Nigeria Police Force to work hard to earn promotion as it is only competence and hard work that would earn an officer promotion.

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8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Nigerians cry out as Cameroon tightens security on Bakassi

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

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AGOS—Aboriginal Bakassians still on the Peninsula have cried out against Gestapostyle repression of Cameroonian authorities as the final date for complete cession of the peninsula approaches.

With Nigerian government dithering on its avowed responsibilities “to protect and defend its citizens” even on the Peninsula, the Cameroonian government has gone on the offensive to frustrate emergence of militant groups, after the expiration of the October 10 date to appeal the judgement of the International Court of Justice verdict that gave the sovereignty of Bakassi to the Central African country.

Sources from Calabar the Cross River State capital told Vanguard that Nigerian citizens in Bakassi are living in fear and physical torture from Cameroonian security agencies. Said source: “The security blanket at Bakassi is total and oppressively more brutal than ever. The gendarmes, who are traditionally known for their Gestapo-style repression, have surpassed themselves with new and

evil ways to keep the aboriginal locals under check and control” A statement from an advocacy group called Save Bakassi Group released to Vanguard said those who expect aboriginal Bakassi people to pack their things and flee from the oppressive Cameroonians are missing the point because "We are talking about Nigerians who were born as

Nigerians, nurtured as Nigerians, grew up as Nigerians, paid their taxes and allegiances to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and told their children that they are Nigerians, but are today on the fringes of losing their freedom and nationality all because the Executive arm of the Nigerian government would rather “mis-conceptually” wear the toga of international political correctness instead of defend the lives of her

hapless citizens and by extension her territorial integrity. We need not continue to sermonise about the Bakassi story, as it is now a matter of national and international discourse.”

The Statement which was signed by Mr. Maurice Ekong said Bakassi people “are a body of “indigenous people,” a people whose rights are protected within the charters of the United Nations, a people whose ancestral ties and

affinity link them to Africanism and African traditional way of life which would haunt them forever, if they consider abandoning their pasts behind.”

The Save Bakassi Group stoutly rejected any compromise solution that the Federal Government may be contemplating to effect boundary adjustments that would include some oil wells into non-littoral Cross River State.

PRAYER: From right: Former President Ibrahim Babangida; Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Durbin Zazzau, Alhaji Ali Bamalli; during the third day Fi'dda'u prayer of late Dallatun Minna, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, at the deceased's residence in Minna, yesterday.

Ondo guber poll: Tinubu warns against rigging, violence L

AGOS—THE Na tional Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, warned against rigging and violence during the October 20 governorship election in Ondo state, saying the consequences of such would be grave.

A statement issued by ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday, said the National Leader also charged prospective voters in Ondo State to foil the rigging plan of the Labour Party, LP, with determination, adding that power shift will halt the trend of backwardness in the state.

“We know he is buying voters card. We will prevent any form of rigging.

Don’t sell your voters card for a little sum. It is your licence to freedom.

It is your instrument for progress. It is the value of your character,” Tinubu said during the party ’s governorship C M Y K

candidate’s campaign in Ondo.

Reiterating why Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State should not get a second term, the former Lagos State Governor said Mimiko has failed the infrastructure battle in the state, hence he should be voted out on October 20. Waving the broom, the party ’s symbol, at the crowd who turned out in large numbers at the rally, the National leader urged them to sustain the tempo of political steadfastness throughout the electioneering period.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, presented the flag of victory to the ACN governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, describing him as a better choice for the people of Ondo State. “Who is that Yoruba man without kith and kin? Where is the kith and kin of Labour Party in the West, North, East and South?’’ Chief Akande queried. ‘’If you

ask Aregbesola to point to his kith and kin, he will mention Fashola of Lagos, Amosun in Ogun, Ajimobi in Oyo, and

Fayemi in Ekiti. I pray Labour Party will not ruin Ondo State. What I saw yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday)

shows that ACN will win.

After the victory, I will return to thank you for listening to good men,” he said.

Reps invite Deziani over sale of oil bloc

BY OKEY NDIRIBE &

A

OVUAKPORIE

BUJA—THE House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on sale of Petroleum oil blocks has invited the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani Alison -Madueke and other stakeholders to explain the mysterious sale of OPL 245 oil block.

The investigative panel is expected to start sitting today at National Assembly by 10am.

Sources close to the panel revealed that there are enough evidence to show that the Federal Government was ripped off in the racket which involved several millions of dollars when the block was bought off Malabo Oil and Gas. It will be recalled that the House of Representatives had resolved several months ago to investigate the scandal over the sale of the N155 billion naira oil block involving Nigerian government officials, two multinational oil giants and Malabu Oil and Gas company Ltd. The decision by the legislators followed a motion brought under “matters of urgent national importance,” by Robinson Uwak who represents Akwa Ibom state in the lower house.

AccordingtoUwak:“Therewas a purported sale of OPL 245 to two oil giants for the sum of $1,092,000,000 and immediate transfer of the entire amount to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, an indigenous oil company, as compensation for its alleged prior interest in the oil bloc.”

Oil spill: Senate slams Total Oil, Mobil, others

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Senate, y e s t e r d a y , tonguelashed Total Oil Nigeria, Mobil and other multi national oil companies over what it described as their poor response to oil spillage as a result of their exploration for the product in these communities.

Also, yesterday, the Senate ordered Total Nigeria to ensure that as a company with its social responsibilities to host communities, it must continue in the provision of relief materials to victims of Gas Eruption in 17 communities at Ibewa, Rivers State, un-

til the people were able to go back to their farms.

These were raised yesterday at a meeting with the companies and stakeholders by the Senator Bukola Sarakiled Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, just as the Committee observed that since the eruption occurred in April, the people have been prevented from going to their farms, adding that they can neither cultivate nor harvest their crops and the people have been complaining of neglect.

According to the Committee, the companies had continued to show

what it termed insensitivity to the plights of the people where these oil spillages occur, adding that Total’s gas explosion in Egita in Rivers State had rendered the farmlands of the people of the area useless, thereby denying them of their source of livelihood.

The Saraki led Committee further observed that since the incident which it described as dangerous occurrence, the Multi-National Oil Company failed to carry out health care mechanisms as well as post impact assessment to find out the effect on the people and the Community at

large.

The Committee also berated Total Company, stressing that it lacked management commitment to safety in which workers work without helmets and other standard procedure, adding that the information provided to the Committee was not reliable, but designed to mislead the Committee and Nigerians.

The committee however expressed displeasure over Total’s disrespect for the sector’s key regulator, and observed that Total was not telling the whole truth on the management of the spills.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—9

Fashola approves statewide motor-parks construction, upgrade

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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OVERNOR B A B AT U N D E Fashola of Lagos State has approved the immediate construction and upgrading of existing motor-parks across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state.

Also, the state government has directed property owners to henceforth, report any abandoned vehicle around their vicinity to appropriate authorities or face necessary sanctions according to the state law.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Bureau, Mr. Musiliu Folami and state

Director Vehicle Inspection Services, Mr. Gbolahan Toriola, disclosed this yesterday, at the sensitization and safety week campaign, with the theme; 'Challenges and Potential Benefits of Keeping Unroadworthy Vehicles Of Lagos Roads', jointly organised by the Ministry of Transportation, MOT and Vehicle Inspection Unit, held at Ikeja Motor-park, on Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

According to Folami, the approval was part of measures by the government to further provide basic infrastructure aimed at complementing voluntary compliance with the state Road Traffic Law when enforcement properly starts.

Pakistani, accomplice docked for drug trafficking

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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PAKISTANI citizen, Bukhari Syed Waseem and a Nigerian accomplice, Benjamin Okereke, have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for alleged illicit traffic in drugs without lawful authority.

Waseem, according to investigation conducted

by NDLEA, was a specialist in the business of importing heroin and

other hard drugs into Nigeria from Pakistan.

Waseem and Okereke were said to have conspired with one Chukwudi Okereke, who is said to be now at large, to import 13 kilogrammes of heroin, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation 2004.

The offence was allegedly committed sometime in February 2012 in Lagos and various other places.

Akitoye tasks Lagos council bosses

I

N VIEW of the persistent rain and the deplorable conditions of feeder roads in Lagos State, chairmen of local governments in the state have been advised to show more commitment to the welfare and comfort of the people by rehabilitating the feeder roads in their respective d o m a i n s .

A Port-Harcourt based legal practitioner, Prince Gbogboade Akitoye, who made the remark in Lagos, charged local government operatives to make service to the people paramount than

what they would gain from governance.

He noted that since governance was all about responsibility, the LG bosses should strive to leave a legacy for which they will be remembered, adding that they should borrow a leaf from Governor Babatunde Fashola whose meritorious service to Lagosians has placed his name in the global Hall of Fame.

Akitoye advised the political class to be more responsible and committed to the aspirations of the electorate rather than amassing wealth.

L-R: Akinkugbe Akinyosoye, his wife, Abosede; celebrant, Sunday Adegeye, Olugbo of Ugbo (King Sunny Ade); Oba Obateru Akinruntan, his wife, Olori Iyabode, at a visit of King Sunny Ade to Oba Obateru as part of activities marking King Sunny Ade's 66th birthday in Ibadan on Monday.

Cynthia: Court wants all suspects produced

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

YABA Magistrate Court, Lagos has ordered the Ikoyi Prison authorities to produce in court, all suspected killers of Cynthia Osokogu, who was allegedly killed after she was drugged, noting that the matter ought to have been at the appropriate court by now.

Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Bashorun gave the

order, yesterday, following an oral application by the prosecution team lead by Mr. Chukwu Agwu, to consolidate the three separate charges in the case.

The court said that it would be impossible for the prosecution to consolidate the charges unless the defendants were present in court.

At that stage, Mr. Agwu urged the court to

issue a reproduction warrant on the Ikoyi Prison to produce the defendants in court at the next adjourned date.

However, counsel to the defendants, Jude Ngobili, John Aroh, Mr. I. Osimiri and Chris Obiaka urged the court to compel the prosecution to make available to them, proof of evidence and other documentary evidence that would be used

Dana Air begins test flight

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU AND DANIEL ETEGHE

D

ANA AIR yesterday began its test flight in preparation for resumption of scheduled passengers’ flight operations.

The test flight will be followed by a demonstration flight.

Vanguard witnessed the test flight that took off from the domestic wing of the Murtala

Muhammed Airport Lagos around 4:00p.m.

When contacted, the spokesman for Dana Airlines, Mr. Tony Usidamen, confirmed that after yesterday ’s test flight, demonstration flight will commence very soon and that will finally lead to scheduled commercial flight operations.

According to him, the purpose of the test flight was to determine the serviceability of the

aircraft and equipment on the ground.

It will be recalled that Dana Air was cleared by the Federal Government to resume its scheduled commercial flight operations after three months suspension by the government following the ill-fated plane crash of one of its aircraft, MC Donnell Douglas MD 83 on June 3, 2012 at Iju-Shaga area of Lagos that killed 163 people.

during trial.

Objecting to the defence counsel application for proof of evidence, Agwu said “the proof of evidence is neither here nor there.

This is not a court of trial.

It is not my duty to inform my learned colleague where to go and make the application.”

Aroh argued that he had made a written application to the prosecution to forward to defence lawyers proof of evidence but, the prosecution failed to comply, adding that in the spirit of fair hearing, the defendants are presumed innocent until contrary in proved.

“If they are saying that it is premature to ask for proof of evidence, which is obviously what we are going to rely on, justice is not a one way traffic.

Fair hearing demands that both parties be given adequate opportunity to defend their case,” Obiaka argued.

Man jailed 28 years for conspiracy, robbery

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

T

HE LONG hand of the law yesterday caught up with a serial motorcycle snatcher, Jamiu Rasaki, as he was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for the two count charge of conspiracy and robbery by an Ikeja High Court.

The trial judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru found Rasaki guilty of each of the two count charge against the convict three years ago and sentenced him to 14 years each of the charges.

Abiru ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently beginning from Oct. 27,2009 when Rasaki, was arrested for the offence.

Justice Abiru said from the evidence before the court, it was clear that Rasaki had acted in concert with the other men to dispossess their victim of his motorcycle.

According to the prosecution, the convict was apprehended at 31 Road, House 3, Gowon Estate, Egbeda on Oct. 27,2009, while attempting to rob one

Sunday Vandi of his Bajaj motorcycle.

Subsequently, he was arraigned two years later on a two count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery, which he pleaded not guilty.

The judge, however, exonerated him of the armed robbery charge, which the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

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10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 Sunburn Yacht Hotel ordered to leave Lagos shore

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

L-R: Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Osun State Deputy Governor; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor; Dr. Paul Akintulire, Action Congress of Nigeria, Deputy Governor candidate; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, gubernatorial candidate, Ondo State; his wife, Mercy; Chief Bisi Akande, ACN, National Chairman; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ACN National Leader and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, during the party rally for governorship election at Ademulegun in Ondo yesterday. See story on page 4

Amosun laments economic loss from Arepo vandalism

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — OGUN State governor, Ibikunle Amosun yesterday lamented the acute shortage of petroleum products being experienced in the SouthWest which has resulted in serious economic losses to the region and the nation in general.

The governor spoke in Abeokuta while receiving, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Western Zone, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo,

Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi, led by its chairman, Mr. Olumide Ogunmade.

He called for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to end the menace of pipeline vandals' unpatriotic activities.

According to the governor, pipeline vandalism results in bunkering, fire explosion, loss of lives, scarcity of petroleum products, loss of valuable time at fuel stations, increase in transport fares and general economic losses, causing further hardship on the masses.

Meantime, the state government has been cautioned against indiscriminate acquisition and revocation of lands.

Speaking at the First Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Premiere Lecture at Abeokuta, former National President of Nigerian Institute of Town Planning and Chairman, African Planning Association, Mr. Waheed Kadiri said the acquisition and revocation of lands in the state recently were propelled by failure of government to manage urban development.

Daniel re-emerges leader as Ogun PDP reconciles

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HE FACTIONAL crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was substantially resolved yesterday, when three major factions settled their differences and resolved to work together for the progress of the party in the state.

The three factions that came together are those led by the immediate past

UK-based Nigerian homosexual set to be deported Oct 6

U

K AUTHORITIES are insisting on deporting a gay Nigerian asylum seeker, despite him facing a pos-

2 policemen, another killed as robbers attack bank in Oyo

BY OLA AJAYI

EXCHANGE OF gunshots between the police and some dare-devil armed robbers yesterday at Iseyin, Oyo State led to the death of three persons including two traffic wardens.

The robbers numbering 25 were said to have attacked some commercial banks in the sleepy town around 9.30a.m. but were confronted by policemen.

Among the injured in the 45-minute operation was a mechanic who was said to have been hit by stray bullets.

The policemen were said to have fought the robbers to a standstill.

At the end, a robber was killed, while another one was arrested with bullet wounds.

The robbers were said to have besieged the town shooting sporadically to scare people

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away.

The hoodlums, before gaining entry were said to have used explosives to force the security doors open.

After this, it was gathered that customers and staff of the first generation bank were held hostage. The two traffic wardens allegedly killed were said to be on duty at a nearby junction.

After successfully robbing the first bank, the robbers were reportedly

heading to another when the policemen confronted them.

The police team from the area command also got one of the two vehicles used by the rampaging robbers.

E x p e c t e d l y, commercial and vehicular activities were temporarily suspended as people ran for dear lives.

The robbers who escaped were said to have made away with undisclosed amount of money from the bank.

A policeman from the state command confirmed the robbery incident but quickly added that two robbers were killed and not traffic wardens as claimed by some eye witnesses.

AGOS — SIXTEEN ships are waiting to berth and discharge petroleum products at various oil terminals in Lagos, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA..

The “Shipping Position”, a daily publication of the NPA made available to the

News Agency of Nigeria yesterday in Lagos, said that 11 of the ships were carrying petrol.

According to the publication, two of the ships are carrying kerosene; two, diesel; and one, aviation fuel.

It also indicated that six other ships are waiting to discharge

sible death sentence and a campaign to let him stay in Bradford.

Olalekan M. Ayelokun fled from Nigeria eight years ago to escape persecution because of his s e x u a l i t y .

A judge at Bradford’s Immigration Court stated he was not convinced Ayelokun was a gay and ordered his deportation by 6 October.

Mr. Ayelokun was detained last Tuesday after a routine appointment at the UK Border Agency’s Waterside Court offices in L e e d s .

Osun PDP accuses Aregbesola of financing Ondo election

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO — THE P e o p l e s Democratic Party in

'16 fuel-laden ships waiting to berth at Lagos ports'

L

governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the two-time former Minister, Chief Jubril MartinsKuye, and Prince Buruji Kashamu.

In the meeting held at the Lekki home of Chief Martiins-Kuye, it was unanimously resolved that Otunba Gbenga Daniel should be the overall leader of the party in the state.

S ALL issues relating to the controversial Sunburn Yacht Hotel had been cleared, while arrangement had also been reached to take it back for rehabilitation and repairs, the Lagos State Government, said it had issued a notice to the owners to remove it from Lagos shore for security purpose.

It would be recalled that a group had staged a demonstration to the office of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, to protest over what they termed government’s financial involvement by using tax payers’ money to fund the yacht project.

Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-governmental Relations, Oladisun Holloway, made the clarification while speaking on the recent public comments that Lagos State government has financial interest in the yacht.

Holloway, while debunking the reports, stressed that Governor Babatunde Fashola, had on several occasions stated that the state government never invested in the project.

He said: “We have to correct that impression that Lagos has investment in the vessel. Lagos State government did not invest its money into acquiring Sunburn Yacht. It did not invest the tax payer ’s money into the acquisition of the Yacht."

On the continuous stay at the Lagos shore, the commissioner said, plans have reached advance stage on how to remove it from the shore any moment from now.

general cargoes, including rice, fish, bulk wheat and containers.

The publication added that 88 ships with different cargoes would arrive at the ports between Oct. 3 and Oct. 28.

It said that 13 of the expected ships would sail in with petroleum products.

Osun State has accused the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of spending N4billion of the state scarce resources to finance Ondo State gubernatorial election.

According to The Director of Media and Strategy for Osun PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi; “We have it on good authority that each ACN controlled governors have been ordered to donate N2billion towards Ondo State gubernatorial election but our concern is that our own governor is donating N4billion.”

But his counterpart in the ACN, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, described the allegation as a figment of the imagination of the PDP, asking why the main opposition party in the state was always in the habit of concocting frivolous figures when it comes to issue of money.

Oyatomi queried where the PDP expected Aregbesdola’s administration to cough out N4billion to finance election in another state when there are lots of projects in Osun State begging for attention.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—11

Kero explosion: Family hospitalised in Delta

BY EMMA ARUBI

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FLOOD: Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, paddling his way to a flooded village at Anwai-Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini.

Delta monarch drowns in flood z120 more communities submerged

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AUSTIN OGWUDA

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ARRI—A traditional ruler in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State has reportedly drowned when the boat in which he was being evacuated from his flooded community capsized, as an additional 120 communities had been submerged in different parts of the state.

A villager told Vanguard that for traditional reasons, the name of the royal father could not be disclosed at this time.

Chairman of the Flood Disaster Committee and deputy governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama, who briefed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, on the activities of the committee, said the flood disaster was getting worse in the state.

As at yesterday, no few-

er than 220 additional communities had been swamped. Vanguard learnt that the situation at Aboh, Oko Kingdom and Gbekebor communities was heart-rending.

It was gathered that the surge had spread to Ogheghe and other riverine communities in Warri North Local Government Area.

He noted that the committee had visited the affected coastal areas, opened rehabilitation

camps and ensured that relief materials were distributed to the rehabilitation camps.

On his part, Uduaghan decried the nonchalant attitude of the local government areas to the flood disaster, noting that it was also the responsibility of the councils to cater for displaced persons in their jurisdictions.

The governor, who also received a delegation from Oko community in Oshimili South Local Gov-

Flood renders 800 homeless in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— NO fewer than 800 persons have been displaced by flood in parts of Rivers State.

The communities affected are in Ahoada West and Ndoni in Ogba Eg-

bema Ndoni Local Government Area.

Some of the victims who narrated their experiences when the Senate Committee Chairman on Environment, Senator Bukola Saraki, visited the areas, said the flood occured when Orashi River in the area over-

Ex-council boss lauds Uduaghan's response to flood disaster

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — FORMER Vice Chairman of Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Elijah Ologe, has sympathised with the people of Abare and other communities sacked by the recent flood that ravaged some parts of the state due to the overflow of River Niger.

Ologe, who spoke to newsmen, yesterday, com-

ernment Area, one of the worse hit communities in the state, said his administration would embark on the embankment of shorelines of coastal communities on the banks of the River Niger, as part of measures to protect them from the current deluge.

In particular, he said there would be massive sand filling and reclamation of the shoreline from the Anwai end of the state capital, Asaba, through the bridgehead to Oko.

mended the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for his timely response to the pains of those affected by the flood.

Thanking the state government for setting up camps for the displaced persons, he said Governor Uduaghan was committed to the wellbeing of Deltans.

Meanwhile, the people of Ibedeni community in Ndokwa East have raised

alarm over the devastating effect of the flood on their community, lamenting that their roads had been cut off.

The Ogene of Ibedeni Kingdom, HRM Eze Jonathan, who spoke to newsmen, said their farmlands and houses had been submerged by flood, adding: “We have suffered untold hardship due to the flood that submerged all our farmlands, which is the main stay and source of our income."

flowed its bank.

It was learnt that until the Senate Committee Chairman visited the area, the state government was not aware of the situation, which had been on for days.

A resident in Ahoada West council, Mr. Frank Ikpoki, said the development had forced some residents to relocate to other places.

Some of the community folks were seen ferrying their belongings on canoes to safety. They lamented that since the incident, no arm of government had come to their aid.

Those who spoke to the Senate Committee Chairman appealed for government assistance to cushion their pains.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nyema Weli, confirmed that the government was not aware of the incident when contacted.

ARRI—A FAMILY of seven was, yesterday, burnt by fire at Ekurede-Urhobo area of Warri, Delta State, following a kerosene explosion that engulfed the family in their home.

The incident was said to have occurred between 8-9p.m., when it was alleged that the mother of the home, poured kerosene into a lit lamp.

The victims, who were rushed to the Accident and Emergency Ward of Central Hospital, Warri, sustained 70 per cent burns, except for one of the boys. Efforts were being made to transfer them to University of

Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, in Edo State, when Vanguard visited the hospital.

At the make-shift apartment of the Edafe family at EkuredeUrhobo, it was observed that only the occupants were burnt, as there were no visible signs of the fire outbreak. The family's household property were unaffected by the mystery kerosene explosion, causing neighbours, family members and sympathizers to ponder what manner of explosion it was.

A neighbour who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said they were still in shock over the circumstances surrounding the fire.

UNIBEN uncovers 142 fake students

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—AUTHORITIES of University of Benin, UNIBEN, have identified 142 persons, alleged to be fake students and warned the affected persons to desist from parading themselves as students of the university.

The affected students are from the faculties of Social Sciences, Engineering, Management Sciences and Life Sciences.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the University, had raised alarm over the ravaging effect of gully erosion in the university and appealed to

the Federal Government to urgently come to the aid of the university.

Vanguard observed that four buildings at the Senior Staff quarters had already caved-in while other buildings in the university and the neighbouring communities are being threatened.

The list of fake students was made public by Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Harris Osarenren. When contacted on the issue, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.

Osayuki Oshodin, said some of the students were arrested at the examination halls and had since been handed over to the police.

Truck load of unregistered drugs impounded in Rivers

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HAR COURT—NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has taken delivery of impounded truck load of unregistered pharmaceutical products worth N14.8 million.

Zonal Public Relations Officer, South-South, of the agency, Mr. Cyril Monye, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, said the unregistered drugs were impounded by the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’.

NAFDAC Coordinator, Edo State, Mr. David

West, was quoted as saying: “The truck loaded with drugs worth N14.83 million was intercepted by men of the Customs on routine patrol on Benin– Asaba highway and on close examination, the consignments were discovered to be unregistered.”

He said no arrest was made as the driver of the truck abandoned the vehicle and took to his heels on sighting the customs officials.

The impounded pharmaceutical products included Ampiclox (ampicillin + cloxacillin) 250mg/ ml, Nilstat (Nystatin) oral drops 30ml, and Aeroline Evohaler 100mg, among others.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

419: Pastor bags 5yrs jail

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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PRESENTATION: From left: Local Organising Committee, LOC, Chairman, 2014 World Running Association Championship, Sir William Archibong; Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, during the presentation of the official documents for the hosting of the championship to the governor in Calabar.

Flood: Food crisis imminent in Nigeria —Cassava growers

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — CHAIRMAN of Bayelsa State Cassava Growers Association, Mr. Ekiye Akainza, yesterday, described this year as a disaster year, following the flood that sacked communities in the state and other parts of country, warning that it could lead to food crisis across the country next year.

Already, Odi and Amassoma town in Kolokuma-Opokuma and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas, respectively, two of the biggest settlements in the predominantly riverine state, had been submerged with hundreds of families displaced and farmlands destroyed.

Also affected was Niger Delta University while Patani town in Delta

State is also on the verge of being sacked by the surging Forcados River.

Akainza told Vanguard, in Yenagoa, that several farmlands had been wiped out by the surging flood.

Describing this year ’s flood as the worst in the last 48 years, the cassava growers association

boss, said: “We are in for a hard time next year as virtually all the farmlands across the country had been washed away by flood.

“To further compound our woes, we were caught napping by the flood as all that we had laboured for this year had gone down the

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ENIN—NATIONAL leadership of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has expressed concern over the health of flood victims camped in the affected areas and urged the Federal Government to be proactive in disaster

Amaechi tasks FG, N'Assembly on flood in N-Delta

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME ORT HARC O U R T — G OVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, has called on the Federal Government and National Assembly to come up with measures that would permanently end the perennial flood and other environmental challenges in the Niger Delta.

Speaking when the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecolo-

P

gy paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, Amaechi called for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, noting that it would address the challenges in the region.

He said: “We all know that derivation funds are paid to the states, but all of us must work together and ensure that the problems faced by these communities are addressed.

We should do something fast to help our people."

Fuel subsidy: Oil firm's top management ...swears in new Head of arraigned for alleged bribe

BY INNOCENT gos, for alleged bribe of- grated Oil And Gas Ltd, Service ANABA

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NTEGRATED Oil and Gas Limited; its Managing Director, Mr. Anthony Ihenacho; the Assistant General Manager Supply, Mr. Humphrey Okoh and the Financial Controller of the company, Mr. Akinwusi Julius, have been arraigned before a Tapa Magistrate Court, La-

fered to members of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Verification.

Three members of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Verification, charged alongside the oil company and its workers were Alalade Abioye, Buhari Ganiyu and Oni Oluwasola.

The defendants were alleged to have, on August, 30 2012, at Inte-

Flood: NMA warns of looming epidemic

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

drain. The magnitude of this year ’s flood could plunge the country into food crisis since we do not have strategic food reserves to mitigate this type of natural disaster.”

He noted with sadness that the fertilizers they bought recently to boost their output had all gone with the flood.

SABA—AN Asababased pastor, Joshua Egwu, has been convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and advance fee fraud (419) for obtaining the sum of N700,000 from one Benedict Obidinma under false pretence, by an Asaba Magistrate Court, Delta State.

Pastor Egwu was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour.

He was sentenced to three years on the first count and two years on the second count. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

Chief Magistrate S. Ehikwe also sentenced his accomplice, one Ekene Ilona, to the same five years imprisonment,

for luring the victim, who was a bosom friend to him.

Prosecution called two witnesses and tendered six exhibits to prove its case.

The charge against the convict read: "That you, Ekene Ilona (Melody) and Pastor Joshua Egwu, on or about September 15, 2011, at Asaba, within the Asaba magisterial district, did by false pretence, obtain the sum of N700,000 from one Benedict Obidinma by presenting a proposal for the supply of blue gas, a proposal you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 419 of the criminal code cap C21 volume 1, laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.”

management.

National President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, yesterday, during a visit to flood victims at Etsako West and Etsako Central Local Government Areas of Edo State, where NMA presented relief materials, including drugs and other items to the victims, lamented that the victims were suffering due to the

failure of government to establish a proactive emergency management unit.

Expressing fears of epidemic in some of the camps, Enabulele explained that NMA decided to visit the camps to see how to assist the victims, by ensuring that women and children accessed good medical care.

190 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, in the Lagos Magistrate District, conspired with others (now at large) and offered N1.5 million to members of the Presidential Committee for the performance of their duties, an offence punishable under Section 63(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Police Prosecutor, Mr Effiong Asuquo, of Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos, told the court, yesterday, that the alleged bribe was offered to members of the Presidential Committee, namely, Alalade Abioye, Buhari Ganiyu, Oni Oluwasola and Chukwujekwu Akabueze.

When the charge was read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail by Magistrate Matins Owumi in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

BY JIMITOTA

ONOYUME

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ORT HARC O U R T — G OVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has appointed Mr. Samuel LongJohn as the new Head of Service in the state.

Swearing in the new Head of Service at Government House, Port

Harcourt, the governor urged civil servants to partner his administration to promote good governance and accountability.

The governor, who said that part of his resolve was to build an efficient and effective civil service in the state commended the outgone Head of Service, Mrs Ether Anucha.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—13

Man rapes 12-yr-old girl in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—A lo cal government staff of Okposi Development Centre in Ebonyi State, Chieze Nwankwo, was Tuesday, reported to have allegedly raped a 12-yearold girl, Miss Chioma Nwankwo, who resides in his compound.

The incident, which has received a lot of condemnation from the people of the area, was reported to the police station in the area and later transferred to Obiozara Police Station for proper investigation.

Vanguard learnt that the victim, a primary six pupil of Umunoka Primary School, Okposi, was lured

by Nwankwo with an apple when she went to fetch water to take her bath.

Narrating her ordeal in the hands of the rapist, Miss Chioma Nwankwo explained that the accused lured her with an apple and that before she knew what was happening, he had removed her clothes and over powered her.

“When I took my bucket to fetch water at the well, Chieze called me to his house and said I should come and collect an apple.

I went in to collect the apple and asked him whether he too would also eat but before I could understand what was happening, he

quickly pulled off his clothes, pushed me to the ground and fell on top of me.

“I told him to get off me but he refused and I started crying but there was nobody in the compound until my mother started calling me.

I told him that my mother was calling me but he refused to listen to me until my mother came and pushed the door open.

“As soon as he saw my mother, he took his towel and told my mother that it was an apple he wanted to give to me.”

Father of the victim, Mr. Peter Ogbonnaya, who is a motorcycle mechanic, won-

dered why such an immoral act should be committed against his daughter and called on the state government, Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs and relevant security agencies in the country to come to the aid of the family so that appropriate punishment could be meted out on the culprit.

Meanwhile, mother of the victim, Mrs. Nnena Nwankwo, was said to have taken her daughter to Okposi general hospital where medical examinations had been conducted to ascertain the state of her daughter.

When Vanguard visited

the police post where the matter was first reported, the Investigation Police Officer, IPO, (name withheld) who confirmed the incident, said the matter had been transferred to Obiozara police station for proper investigation to ascertain whether the allegation of rape against the local government staff was genuine or not.

At the time of this report, the culprit, who is a Management Committee member in charge of Works department in Okposi Development Centre, was alleged to have been released from police custody by some of his colleagues.

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BUJA— PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan will present the 2013 budget proposal to the National Assembly on October 11. The new date was reached at the meeting held between the President and the leadership of the National Assembly, yesterday.

The President was earlier scheduled to present the budget today but the execise was put off due to the insistence of the House of Representatives that it has other assignments on that date. It specifically said that it was embarking on oversights of projects to ascertain the level of implementation of this year’s budget by ministries and agencies.

However, the excuse adduced by the House was seen as interpreted by many as an extension of the seeming rift between it and the presidency. A source at the meeting held by the National Assembly leadership and the presidency said they agreed that a new date of the budget presentation will now be October 11.

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to urgently embark on the dredging of the River Niger as a way of checking over-flooding of the river banks and to save lives and property of those living along the coast.

Umeh also urged the Federal Government to urgently come to the aid of the flood victims by

On whether the issue of acrimony between the National Assembly and the presidency was discussed

at the meeting the source who pleaded for anonymity said “it was raised but they agreed that it was not

personal. David Mark and Tambuwal told Mr President that they have nothing against him”.

Nkire wants S-East Govs to meet Jonathan over failed federal roads

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MUAHIA—WOR RIED by the deplorable condition of federal roads in the South-East zone, the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, yes-

terday called on governors from the zone to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan for solution to the problem.

Chief Sam Nkire, the National Chairman of the

Community sues commissioner, monarch over election

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—THE peo ple of Egwu Achi community in Oji-River Local Government area of Enugu State have dragged a commissioner in the state and their traditional ruler to court over alleged plans to impose a new town union executive on them.

In the suit No: HOR/36/ 2012 which has Godwin Ogenyi, Commissioner for Poverty Reduction and Igwe Victor Meniru whose stool is seriously being contested in court as respondents, the community is seeking an order

restraining the respondents from further proceeding to install a new executive.

Secretary of Egwu Achi Town Union, Mr. John Dibe, who instituted the action on behalf of the community, is also questioning the powers of the respondents to unilaterally dissolve the town union executive without recourse to the constitution of the people. He argued that the commissioner in the said position of arbiter has “displayed bias; and has no colour of right whatsoever to do what he has purported and/or threatens to do.

party, made the call in Umuahia in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. He expressed confidence that the meeting, irrespective of party affiliation, would produce ‘meaningful and urgent’ result in addressing the challenges faced by commuters using the roads. “There is no state in the South-East geopolitical zone that does not have deplorable federal roads and this is adversely affecting socio-economic activities of the area. “The Enugu-Port Harcourt, AbaOwerri, Enugu-Abakaliki, and Onitsha/-Enugu roads are all in deplorable and appalling conditions,” he said.

The PPA chairman said that though Nigerians from other geo-political zones had problems with the condition of federal roads in their areas, the situation in the South-East was worse.

sending relief materials to the state through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to alleviate their suffering, since the scale of the disaster was too much for Anambra State government alone to handle.

Speaking with newsmen in Enugu, the APGA Chairman noted that what happened through the current flooding had clearly brought out the urgent need for the Federal Government to dredge the River Niger.

COWA, Lagos zone lauds Customs boss

THE Customs Officers’ Wives Association, COWA, Lagos Zone, has commended the fairness, sense of justice and equity exhibited by the ComptrollerGeneral of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, CFR, in the recent promotion exercise in the service. The action, according to the association, has liberated their spouses from several years of rank-stagnation and enhanced the economic status of the individual families From right: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State; Chairman, Board of who benefitted from the Internal Revenue, BIR, Mr. Chiedozie Umeh, and Mr. Chidi Okorafor at the exercise. formal flag off of the tax-payer identification number programme at the govIt will be recalled that the ernment House, Umuahia.

Nigeria Customs Service recently promoted to the

President to present 2013 budget, October 11

By EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

Flood: APGA calls for dredging of River Niger

next rank, over 5, 000 officers and men after rigorous written examinations and interview. Merit, federal character and availability of vacancy were used as the only yardsticks for the promotions.

Before the assumption of office of the present Comptroller-General, in August 2009, most officers and men of the Service stagnated on one rank for upwards of eight years. COWA places on record that apart from the recent promotions, the Comptroller-General has achieved, to his credit, a cardinal re-positioning of the Service since assumption of office.

Tribunal upholds Uba's election

BY VINCENTUJUMADU W KA — T H E Anambra State National Assembly tribunal headed by Justice G. Kaigama, yesterday, upheld the election of Dr. Andy Uba as the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone.

Uba contested the election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The judgment put to an end, the protracted legal battle over the senatorial zone between Uba and Chuma Nzeribe of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. Nzeribe had based his challenge of Uba’s victory on what he considered anomalies in Uga, Aguata Local Government Area; Uri, Osumenyi and Ihiala, which he claimed were invalid due to corrupt practices, falsification, inducement, over voting and non compliance with the Electoral Acts of 2010 The tribunal held that the petitioner failed to establish the allegations of corrupt practices, falsification and over voting leveled against Uba in the re-run election.

The Tribunal resolved the

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two contending issues formulated for determination against the petitioner and awarded the cost of N50,000 each to the three respondents.

An elated Uba, in his reaction, said : I am grateful to God because he is the one that helped me win the election in the first place. I thank the good people of my constituency for standing by me through all these litigations. This is a victory for democracy.”

In his reaction to the judgment, counsel to Nzeribe, Mr Okwy Ejezi, said they will appeal against the judgment.

Revival

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HE HOLY Church of Christ, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, will commence its seven-day revival on Sunday, October 7, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions and a vigil on Friday, October 12.

The event which ends on October 14, will have Prophet A.S. Akinmuleya as the revival preacher and His Eminence, Dr. M.A. Kalejaiye, as chief host.

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14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

From left: Mrs Enyioma Anaba, Head, Group Marketing, Interswitch Ltd, Mr. Winson Aitemoh, Head, Innovations West Africa, GSK Nigeria Plc, Ayo Animashaun, CEO, Headies Award, Mrs Saidat Mohammed-Lawal, Youth Segment, MTN, and Mrs Megbele Omawumi, at the press launch of Headies 2012 MTN in Lagos. Photo. Diran Oshe.

Patience Jonathan leaves German hospital, checks into hotel

By UDUMA KALU

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HE First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has left the Horst Schmidt Klinik in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she was treated for an undisclosed ailment for about a month, Vanguard can authoritatively report. She reportedly left the hospital two days ago.

Doctors at the Horst Schmidt Klinik in Wiesbaden last week were reported to have told the media they had been in touch with Nigerian officials on Patience’s condition. “They wanted us to discharge Mrs. Patience Jonathan but we have notified the Nigerian government through its embassy here that we will not be able to discharge our patient at this time because her situation is not stable,” a doctor who did not want

her name used said last Wednesday, adding: “We still need to monitor her very well before we can ask her to proceed on any long-distance trip.”

To hasten the recovery of the First Lady, officials at German Hospital last week barred visitors and some top Nigerian officials who went to see her. A source close to the

Alleged imposition: Community wants monarch sacked

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—OBOSI community in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State has called on the state government to revoke the certificate of recognition issued to their traditional ruler, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, on the

Abia farmers express concern over late fertiliser distribution

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BA—ABIA State farmers have expressed concern over late fertiliser distribution in the state which has made it difficult for effective use of the input to enhance crop growth during planting season.

Mr Uzoma Nwaogwuogwu, the President of Abia Farmers Co-operative Union, stated the farmers’ position in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Aba yesterday.

Nwaogwugwu said the distribution of fertiliser in July would not augur well for crops.

According to him, fertiliser distribution should be between Janu-

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presidency confirmed that the daily morning devotion which Jonathan and his wife usually attend at the Villa, is being used to offer special prayers for the first lady.The president’s office had continued to say that Patience Jonathan was expected back in Nigeria by the end of the last week.

ary and February, which is the beginning of the farming season.

H e , however, commended the Federal Government for the Growth Enhancement Support scheme, w h i c h guarantees farmers direct access to fertiliser at subsidised rate.

The president canvassed for soft loans to enable peasant farmers to purchase the fertiliser N3,000 per bag of NPK and N2,750 for Urea.

He said: “We are working towards raising funds for our farmers from the state government and international bodies.

“That was why we at

grounds that his imposition had plunged the community into an unending crisis.

Elders of the community noted that since the emergence of the royal father, the community had known no peace, and that his imposition ran foul of the extant laws of the community. ”Since his ‘imposition’ on the community by some powerful individuals, in connivance with government officials, we have been having one crisis and another,” the elders said.

Anambra State government had in the heat of the kingship tussle that engulfed the community, issued a Certificate of Return to one of the contenders, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, against Igwe Chimezie Anene, who was said to have been preferred by majority of the people.

Speaking with journalists in Onitsha, a spokesman for the community, Mr. Emeka Orizu, said there was breakdown of law and order in the community as hoodlums allegedly sponsored by the monarch had continued to unleash terror on the people.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—15

ACN threatens court action over council polls

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From left— Mr. Austin Ufomba, Marketing Director; Lisa Nichols, Commercial Director; and Seni Adetu, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, all of Guinness Nigeria Plc at the 2012 Arthur Guinness Day Celebration in Lagos.

4 Nigerian peacekeepers killed in Darfur

BY UDUMA KALU, with Agency Report

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I G E R I A N peacekeepers, serving with African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur, UNAMID, were Tuesday night ambushed while on patrol. Four of them were killed instantly, while eight were injured.

The Nigerians were reportedly ambushed by unidentified assailants in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan.

A statement from Communication and Public Information Division of UNAMID, yesterday, said the incident, which involved a Nigerian military patrol, occurred approximately two kilometres from the Mission’s regional headquarters.

The statement said the personnel, who were heavily fired upon from several directions, returned fire, adding that UNAMID and local authorities were working at the scene of the incident.

UNAMID Force Commander and Mission’s Officer-in-Charge, Lt. General Patrick Nyamvumba, said: “The Mission condemns in the strongest terms, this criminal attack on our peacekeepers, who are here in the service of Darfur’s people.

“I call on the government of Sudan to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

2013 budget: Sanusi faults review of crude oil benchmark zReports of $82pb totally false— NASS

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, kicked against proposals by members of the House of Representatives that the proposed crude oil benchmark of 75 dollar per barrel be reviewed upward in the 2013 budget.

He said the benchmark was not an issue but production of more oil, which will bring more money into the federation account.

Sanusi said: “Benchmark does not bring money into our account but more production of oil. So the issue of benchmark is a non-issue.

“Over 80 percent of our recurrent expenditure is spent on personnel and the only option is to retrench but this political system does not have that kind of stomach to retrench.

“2010 and 2011 were very bad years and we were very critical of how things were being managed but the managers there now are really doing their best at the ministry.”

Chairman, Joint Committee on Finance, Legislative Budget and Research, National Planning and Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Jibril Abdumuminin, yesterday, also debunked reports making the rounds that Reps had submitted a report that indicated an

upward review of the current benchmark to $82 per barrel.

Abdumuminin displayed a newspaper saying “this is not the opinion of this Committee or House but the opinion of this newspaper; we, therefore, advise all Nigerians at home and abroad to discounte-

nance it.

“What the newspaper reported is not true because the committee is still working and we are yet to conclude not to talk of writing our report. So there is no way we would have come to the decision to raise the oil benchmark.”

The Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, forwarded to the House on September 20 by President Goodluck Jonathan, preparatory to the transmission of the 2013 Appropriation Bill, proposed a crude price benchmark of 75 dollars per barrel in the 2013 fiscal year.

CTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has warned Kaduna State government that the much-anticipated December council elections in the state may not hold if the government continued to sideline the duly-constituted state executive of the party in favour of the one it described as “rogue statesponsored faction.”

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ACN said as a law-abiding party it had resolved to ask the courts to stop the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the polls on grounds of exclusion.

The party said despite the fact that Kaduna State government was officially notified in a letter jointly signed by its National Chairman and National Secretary, of the removal of Mr. Soba as its state chairman, the government, especially the State Independent Electoral Commission, had continued to work only with “a rogue faction of the party” in the state in blatant disregard of the relevant laws.

INEC's broke, can't pay salary— Jega

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, is so broke that it may not be able to pay staff salaries from next month.

Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, disclosed this to bewildered members of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, who visited INEC headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

Dr. Abdulkadir Sulaiman, who represented Prof. Jega, said: “If we don’t do anything about it on time, we may not be able to pay salary by next month.”

Following this development, the chairman called on the legislators to quickly intervene and save the situation, else the commission’s aspiration of conducting the 2015 general election in line with international best practices would be a mirage.

He also told the visiting legislators, led by the

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Jerry Manwe, that the paucity of fund had drastically slowed down the pace of work on all the capital projects being executed by the commission.

According to him, no other release has reached INEC as the second quarter release did not come directly to the commission.

Jega said: “Of the N35 billion earmarked for the commission in the 2012 budget, only N10 billion was released to the commission in March. That was seven months ago.

“The second quarter of the money was released to the commission last month, September.”

“However, it was not sent directly to the commission, it was lodged in the Treasury Savings Account under the office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation.

The commission is yet to access this fund.

“It has sent complaint to the Minister of Finance,

requesting for exemption from the TSA scheme in view of the autonomy granted this commission in the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act. “The commission is still awaiting the Minister’s response. And in view of the fact that the N10 billion released to the commission is quite low, the commission has to suspend most of its projects, pending the time the remaining money is released.

He said the projects include renovation of INEC offices nationwide, printing of permanent voter cards, purchase of 100 KVA power generating sets in INEC offices nationwide, construction of residences of INEC Resident Commissioners, and electrification of state offices of INEC. He commended the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral

Matters for finding time to visit the commission to find out things for themselves.

Jega said the commission was ready to cooperate with relevant bodies in ensuring that its operations were carried out as spelt out in the constitution.

Manwe said the revelation about the state of the commission by its leadership was worrisome.

He said his committee condemns Federal Government’s handling of the affairs of INEC in totality, stressing that an urgent letter would be sent to both the Minister of Finance and AccountantGeneral of the Federation to appear before the House to explain reasons behind the Federal Government’s position.

He said the committee was totally committed to assisting the commission conduct hitch-free elections in 2015.

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16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 17

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Of nostalgia and punishing reality thought; the Western traditions of philosophy and political philosophies along with the emergence of socialism and the African liberation movements. We consumed books, richly debated possibilities of national liberation and independent development of our national productive forces and we became part of a worldwide movement of struggle and solidarity.

But that seemed a long time ago in a different Nigeria! Hindsight can be very satisfactory and almost romantic. When the present is as difficult as it has become in our country, the consciousness seems to long even more for a romanticized version of the past. As the pre-Socratic

•Nigeria...peopled more by younger people veterinary services for animals all over Northern Nigeria and up to the 1970s those services were free. As we grew into teenage and young adults, the sky was not even the limit of what was achievable for members of my generation. The intellectual ferment of the world of the late 20th Century influenced us a great deal and who would not

flower in the context of the rich intellectual traditions that seemed to be eternally at our disposal?

I recall the traditions of Islamic scholarship that was the heritage of my forefathers and which we were richly grounded in at home and the settings of Ilorin; there were the modern wonders of scientific

Now we will buy electricity from Otedola & co

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AST week the Nigerian state announced the decision to sell the nation’s power plants to groups of Nigerian and foreign capitalist firms, in pursuit of the unconstitutional, anti-people process of privatization. Stripped of subterfuge, Femi Otedola; Obasanjo’s TRANSCORP & co. will soon be selling us electricity, just as they sell us diesel and other products.

Nigeria is being systematically unbundled and sold to our fraudulent bourgeoisie. The various companies buying up the power systems are: Transcorp: Ughelli Thermal Power Plant for $300m; Amperion Consortium: Geregu Power Plant for $132m; CMEC/ Eurafric: Sapele Thermal Plant for $201m; Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited: Kainji Hydro Plant for $50.76m as yearly rental fee; North-South Power CompanyLimited: Shiroro Hydropower Plant: $23.6m annual rental fee for a 15-year concession.

Chapter II of the Constitution (the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy) is its most important section. Section 16 (2) (c) specifically says that “the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that the economic system is C M Y K

not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group”. Yet since 1999, a succession of PDP regimes has been selling our country to just a handful of “government-approved billionaires”; they get richer as the poor get poorer and despair takes over the land.

It was this unending “unbundling and sale” of Nigeria’s national assets which alarmed Anthony Cardinal Olubumi Okogie sufficiently enough last week, to issue a statement about the corruption of privatization and unacceptable sale of national assets to a handful of billionaires.

Policy failure The same government came out a few months ago to declare that privatization efforts of the past couple of years have been a failure; but entrapped in the mindset that only the ‘private sector’ can lead development, they have persisted with the same policies they have declared a failure.

Nigeria’s assets must be sold to themselves and their friends; and the laughable aspect is

when the ultra-reactionary Atedo Peterside, chairman of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) played up the “integrity of the process”. They “transparently” sell our national assets and we are expected to applaud their very “patriotic” effort! The fundamental philosophy of our crony capitalism is to institute a process which hands over the country to a handful of billionaires. The assumption underlying that is that they will somehow then develop the country; create jobs; and there will be trickle down to the Nigerian people.

It is baloney because it has not and cannot work. Capitalism is without doubt the most revolutionary socio-economic formation in history; it transformed the productive forces of society.

Its Nigerian variant has been a disaster aiding and feathering a very corrupt national ethos that has compromised everything in our country.

The people are left behind and in their despair they are fighting back; anyhow! They are scared stiff of Boko Haram now, but they are sowing the seeds of crises far worse! The poor will soon have nothing else to eat but the rich, presently sharing Nigeria amongst themselves; mark my words!

and nothing can underline the poignancy of the new times, than a presidential celebration of Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Anniversary away from the Nigerian people, under the protective surroundings of the Aso Rock Villa. It was more comical to see the Nigerian president in the full ceremonial uniform of the armed forces’ Commander-in-Chief! The alienation from the Nigerian people is complete and those who claim to have won their mandate to rule the country handsomely are now scampering under rocks to celebrate away from their people.

The new times are a mix of the anarchic; the cynical and even the suicidal; but they are also pregnant with possibilities for liberation, change and development. Which of the various tendencies dominates requires the subjective factor of intervention by social forces. If we can somehow build national platforms of liberation, and overcome the tendencies towards the dismemberment of our country, which remains the longings of certain elite groups, especially in Southern Nigeria, I have no doubts in my mind that the more positive possibilities can

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WAS born in September 1960, the last month of colonial rule in our country. I am, therefore, a typical son of an independent Nigeria. One of my earliest recollections of a national political event was the coup d’etat of 1966. I have always wondered just why those tragic events have been etched on my memories forever. I think it was during the month of Ramadan with the piety and somberness which normally surround the month. But children would ever be children; we were playing in groups in our compound, when my late uncle and Qur’anic teacher, Ahmadu, ordered everybody to abandon whatever we were doing and return to the more assured surroundings of the houses.

Didn’t you kids know that they have killed the Sardauna in Kaduna? Oh, you don’t even know that our protective shield was broken? Words to that effect! Of course we scampered away in different directions wondering why we would not be allowed to play! I have never forgotten that moment and can see in my mind’s eye as I write these lines the sad outline of my late uncle’s face.

Those were truly difficult moments in Nigerian history, what with the counter-coup; the killings of Igbo people in many parts of the North and the mass movement of people in different directions that culminated in the civil war.

But there were the remarkable efforts at expanding access to education, including the daily meals that kept a lot of children in school. Things were at best rudimentary but they seemed to work, almost like clockwork: hospitals functioned, including

If the population is so overwhelmingly young, it means that public policy must directly address the worries, needs and aspirations of the young. But the disconnect between the ruling elite and this mass of young people is underlined by the fact that the “youth leader” of the ruling PDP is a man of 65 years!

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Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus famously said,“No man ever steps in the same river twice” because “ever-newer waters flow on those who step into the same rivers.” He added further that “all entities move and nothing remains still.” So it became with our beloved country. Change came; but it was not always positive and on an incremental basis, it seemed to have been largely bad for most of our people. And today, “most of our people” are young!

Life expectancy of 52 years According to a most oftenquoted statistical data, 70 per cent of the population today is under the age of thirty. There is an ironic sense in which I can even add that I have become a very old man, since the Nigerian life expectancy is 52 years, my age and that of our country!

If the population is so overwhelmingly young, it means that public policy must directly address the worries, needs and aspirations of the young.

But the disconnect between the ruling elite and this mass of young people is underlined by the fact that the “youth leader” of the ruling PDP is a man of 65 years! Those who rule us are a joke, when they are not plainly stealing the nation into a crisis!

It is certainly a new Nigeria

triumph. As Malam Abba Kyari noted in his Independence Day essay for Thisday newspaper, Nigeria matters and its patriots must appreciate that we owe duties to Nigeria, West Africa and the African continent to work assiduously for the change which the Nigerian people yearn for and truly deserve.

Those who belong to my generation can indulge on strolls on the shores of hindsight and somehow find ways to romanticize their past. And things seemed to have been incredibly different from the Hobbesian jungle we all inhabit today.

The younger people today did not experience those times we speak so fondly of; they have grown in the wombs of the violence and corruption of military dictatorship and have come into adulthood in the ambience of the corruption and irresponsibility which have characterized the past thirteen years of civil rule in our country.

The responses of the younger population are mainly cynical: armed robbery; kidnappings for ransom; yahoo-yahoo crimes; and the ideologically driven violence of Boko Haram, amongst others; and the rate we are going, things can even get worse!

Those cocooned in their false lives of unearned privileges are deaf to entreaties to change their ways, but willy-nilly, things will have to change in this land. I see no other way!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

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EITHER the official reaction, nor the reasons adduced for the killing of more than 40 students of tertiary institutions in Mubi, Adamawa State, can excuse another round in the loss of lives. It is becoming normal for Nigerians to be killed in this manner and typical for governments to blame one sect or the other for it.

The fact remains that hundreds of Nigerians are dying in a way that should provoke tougher measures from government.

A new dimension to the massacre in Mubi should necessitate this.

Police confirmed that the attackers had a list of their victims. They had the luxury of calling out their victims before killing them.

How did they compile the list? Who were their targets? What was the motive?

The attackers obviously had enough intelligence on their victims. It takes some work to know where targets would be in a hostel complex that harboured students from three institutions. More information would be required for the attackers to know they could execute their task without any interference from the security agencies

Continued from yesterday

By OKOFU UBAKA HE ridiculous take-home-pay of university dons, if not poor funding of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria by most regimes which is the reason scholarship is at its lowest ebb, cannot be disputed. The grim realities staring us in the face is the turnout of half-baked graduates into the Nigerian labour market. Applicants are subjected to written interviews because employers of labour are critical of the competence of Nigerian university graduates, particularly those from the 1990s till date.

Add to the foregone is the limping Nigerian economy which has further worsened the situation. Times are so hard that the intelligent ones are compelled, upon graduating, to seek for job no matter how menial. The resultant effect has been an unimpressive number of students taking up doctorate studies. Commonsense will tell that in the long run, an acute dearth of don in the Ivory Tower will definitely be our Achilles’ heel. The dearth of dons in universities across the nation did not occur all of a sudden. Past Nigerian governments have been alerted of the imminence of this, but such warning was

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Another Mubi massacre who again have been outwitted.

Soldiers in house to house searches on Wednesday should not expect that the attackers would have waited after the Monday attack. Slow pace of responses in assisting those attacked or repelling attacks have placed attackers at advantage in these encounters.

The motive for the gruesome attack is important in resolving this matter. Was it a reprisal attack for the military’s recent arrest of some alleged members of an extremist sect? Or could it be linked to the students’ elections that were held a day earlier?

Whatever it is, the attack was planned and executed to the letter.

Calling out of the students, shooting or slitting their throats were deliberate actions

and the attackers had time to please themselves.

Curfew, imposed in Mubi following other killings including 13 indigenes of Adazi-Nnukwu, Anambra State, last year, has not had the expected impact. Where were the security agencies when the killers executed their plan? How did they evade security? How effective is the curfew?

More questions would be asked as the new dimensions of the latest attack unfolds.

It is not enough to suggest the attacks were related to the students’ elections or the arrests of extremists. The security agencies should work more on stopping these attacks rather than explaining them.

The heightened security activity around Mubi is not the answer as it is not a guarantee to stop attacks on Mubi or other locations.

Emphases should be more on measures that would stop the attacks, not futile chasing the attackers long after they have gone.

Nigerians deserve protection from these attacks, government owes them that protection.

OPINION G.G. Darah and dwindling scholarship in nation's ivory tower not taken seriously. Today, most universities are not running doctorate programme because they lack the personnel to do so. Every year, scores of professors come within the brink of retirement with few to step into the big shoes of the retiring professors.

Prof G.G Darah happens to be one of such professors whose shoes, I am sure, won’t be too “hallow” for Dr. Sunny Awhefada to step in. But who steps into Dr. Sunny Awhefada’s to make the circle a complete one? This remains the big question begging for answer. Although, the situation might be biting excruciatingly in the Delta State University, Abraka, but Dr. Moses Omoniyi Ayemoni of the English Department, University of Ife affirmed that the crisis was not peculiar to the Delta State University, but a threat to all the nation’s ivory towers.

It was wet morning in July, and I was going to have a meeting with Prof. Godini Darah. I couldn’t get by the pulsating feeling and the building up anxiety.

Without any sign earlier that morning that it was going to rain, I set out for

Abraka. The lecture was taking place in Prof. Darah’s office, so I was informed by another Masters student who came late, and like me, she was coming for the first time. Prof. Darah’s office, although far beneath the status of his scholarship, he seemed comfortable and happy in it. I installed myself on a chair to the extreme of the left hand side of Prof. and not at a direct view.

At the end of the lecture, it was obvious that the Delta State University was going to miss the scholarship of Prof.

Darah. More painfully will be the vacuum his absence, on retirement, will create in the English and Literature Department of the university. With Prof.

Mabel Osakwe also at the verge of retiring, the English and Literature Department of the Delta State University for a while, may be deprived of the services of a professor.

The mass drift of brains from the shores of the country notwithstanding, Nigeria is blessed with enormous human and natural resources. But the economy as well as the university community has not helped much in encouraging

scholarship. While some MA students have not been too zealous about this level of study owing to matrimonial and job commitments, MA supervisors have also been backslapped for not being too friendly and dedicated. There is a dire need to inspire, and sometimes veer out of one way to assist students, particularly MA students to get books and journals. Our bookshops no longer stock academic books because patrons do not come for them as they do for religious and inspirational books.

More importantly, the likes of Prof.

Darah, who is yet 80 years, but incredibly energetic should not be allowed to go on retirement without an extension of contact and time to shop for a replacement. Even at above 70, Darah has not betrayed any sign of weakness; so why retire him? Speaking the minds of very many, a Darah cannot be exhausted, no matter how much toll age is going to have on him.

Mr. Ubaka, a social critic, wrote from Koko, Warri North LGA

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—19

, Was it an empty broadcast?

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T has become the norm now for people to grumble after listening to President Goodluck Jonathan. Whether he is talking to Nigerians through his few and far between Presidential Media Chats or reading a prepared text in nationwide broadcasts on important days, many who flock to their radio and television sets often come out feeling they’ve wasted their precious time listening to the President precisely because he gives them few things to go home with.

The Independence Day broadcast of October 1, 2012 was not different. Personally, I listened to hear more about the Federal Government’s intentions towards the reclamation of Bakassi Peninsula. He said nothing on the issue or on foreign affairs altogether, except: “I am confident that Nigeria will continue to be a source of pride to its citizens; to Africa and the Black race and to humanity, a land that is known for progress, freedom, peace and the promotion of human dignity”. That was a sure signal

that, for him, the Bakassi issue is dead.

I am not even sure he painted a realistic picture of the country. If Nigeria were known for progress, freedom, peace and the promotion of human dignity, there would be no bitter ethnic rivalries ending in sectional coups, counter-coups, a secession attempt, civil war, religious violence, sectional domination, selective justice, marginalisation, ethnic militancy and Jihadist terrorism. I would understand it better if he had promised to strive towards enthroning these values in a bid to build a new nation. It is the nature of our rulers to paint a picture that is totally at variance with the colour of reality, such as “We, the People…” in our Constitution which was merely decreed to Nigerians by a selfserving military junta.

Why do people abandon everything they are doing to listen to the President speak to the nation?

The answer is simple. They are listening for information that will inspire and raise their hope

President Jonathan’s broadcasts are usually rated empty because they contain very little useful information about the activities his administration is pushing to meet the expectations and aspirations of the people

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not only in their country but more immediately, in the regime itself.

President Jonathan’s broadcasts are usually rated empty because they contain very little useful information about the activities his administration is pushing to meet the expectations and aspirations of the people. He just drops lines without substantiating facts and figures that transform those lines into useful information.

An example can be located in paragraph 15, where he languidly mentioned that power supply is “improving gradually” and government is successfully implementing a “well-integrated power sector reform”.

That power supply is improving is all too evident. Why not tell us exactly what you have done to bring this about; what you met, where we are now and what we can expect in the near and dis-

tant future with the integrated power sector reform? The improving power supply and a bit of salesmanship on the power reform will sow the seeds of expectation and hope in the listener. He will go away, somewhat reassured that the improved power supply may not be a fluke that will disappear when the dry season comes. It will give Nigerians something to talk about.

The President gave us nothing to talk about the power reform, the “millions of job opportunities for our youth” he said government programmes are creating and how government programmes in the oil sector will impact on the people. He merely mentioned how they will impact on the government through higher revenue. We are living witnesses to the fact that higher government revenue does not translate to better living standards for the ordinary Nigerian. Rather, it is the fuel that stokes corruption and squandermania in governing circles and the ruling elite.

Again, what is the import of 7,000 new companies registered in Nigeria during the second quarter of 2012 without a corresponding concrete number of new jobs? Is it not an irony that while the President is extolling his government’s effort to upgrade health in Nigeria over the past two years, our beloved First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is away on medical vacation in Germany? We pray fervently for her full recovery, and hope under the watch of this administration the health sector will be so highly upgraded that Nigeria will become the new destination for health tourism in the world, with our thousands of medical experts excelling around the world coming

back to form the backbone of our indigenous medical force.

We have seen presidents come and go, with their respective styles of addressing the nation.

Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, liked to pretend to intellectualism. His broadcasts were like lectures, and it was obvious they were written by his many hired professors. Perhaps, President Jonathan’s style is to keep his speeches short, sharp and direct. It is possible to achieve this without sacrificing the provision of useful information or passing up the opportunity to communicate the activities of government to the listening public in a worthwhile manner.

A day after the October 1, 2012 broadcast, the President’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, was on Africa Independent Television, AIT, substantiating the speech. This simply justified the claim that his boss’s speech was empty. The only presidential speech that needs substantiating is the budget presentation. The Minister of Finance is required to spell out in greater detail the policies of government for the year and strategies for attaining them.

Other speeches should be pretty self-sufficient. They must have all the relevant (but not boring) information, and the language used to communicate them must be people-friendly. If the President has the additional gift of oratorical delivery as the Barack Obama’s of this world do, it takes the message further afield.

We do not need presidential aides coming to tell us what the President told us! Most people want to listen to the President, not presidential aides.

Policy incoherence and inconsistencies T times, it is prudent that you throw a stone on a house with a view to finding out the actual location of the house owner. Similarly, at the level of perceiving a particular policy, it is allowed that you fly a kite with a view to determining what the people think of the proposal. Certainly, flying a kite cannot be embarked upon when the policy is already on the front burner of public discourse.

For some time, two issues dominated the debates in the popular press in Nigeria – the N5, 000 note and the prospect of our permanent loss of Bakassi. The former was soon elevated to the level of serious confrontation between the Legislative and the Executive branches of government.

At the height of it all, the government spokesman, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, came up with bold and seemingly unequivocal assertion that there was no going back on the issues of the N5, 000 note and Bakassi. Coming directly from the government mouthpiece, one would have thought that Maku was speaking not only the mind of his boss, the President, he was also speaking the minds of all Nigerians.

But no, he was on his own. The President came up the very next day to announce that the proposal to print the N5, 000 note had been suspended. This was embarrassing to the President and his administration. It shows a serious disconnect between the President and his team; and total incoherence on the policy domain. It happens all the time; that the President would be saying one thing while his Ministers would be saying something totally different.

Maku has since honoured the invitation of the Senate Committee on Information on this issue. We think this invitation was not the most appropriate. If anything, one C M Y K

man that was most embarrassed by the inconsistencies is the President himself. It was therefore more the duty of the President to point his Minister to order, not the Senate.

Elsewhere, the morning after the serious embarrassment, the Minister would have walked into the President’s office with a bag of apologies and with his resignation paper in his hand. But here, anything goes.

For a moment, can we imagine a situation in Libya where the American Consulate in Benghazi was bombed resulting in the death of Ambassador Chris Stephens and three others; and the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in a press conference is saying one thing while President Barack Obama is saying something totally different? That type of thing is possible only in Nigeria!

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ike on the issue of fuel subsidy in which government deliberately alienated itself from the people, Maku spoke with a voice that seemed to suggest that government had already decided on ceding Bakassi to the Cameroun and whoever disagreed with government’s stand could find his way to hell.

Again, this was at variance with the people’s mind. Many thought that ceding of Bakassi to the Cameroun was not properly handled. For one thing, there was the thinking that there should have been a referendum for the residents of Bakassi to decide which side they wanted to belong. For another thing, no nation ever cedes any part of its territory without a fight. It is after a big fight in which you have been conquered and subdued that you let go. This was not the case in Nigeria.

In any case, Nigerians suddenly saw the opportunity of regaining the lost territory.

For whatever it is worth, Nigerians saw that

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If Nigeria is carefree, many other nations are not; these nations are interested in the resources of the Bakassi Peninsula and they are lurking around to recognise the people of Bakassi

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there was a little window for them to appeal to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment which gave the territory to Cameroun. What would be wrong in trying the appeal option, even where the chances of succeeding were very slim?

We were at this level when Maku jumped in to shut us up. That was as crude as it was rude. All told, Nigeria should not be in a hurry to give up on Bakassi – particularly as the full consequences of giving up have not been addressed. We are reminded of the provisions of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute which stipulates that a judgement of the court could be reviewed whenever new facts that were not brought to light at the time of the judgement emerge, provided the process for the review is lodged before the expiration of 10 years from the

date of the Judgment, which means that we have up to October 10, 2012 to put in our appeal papers. Why should we throw away such an opportunity? Is it no longer true that if you meet an antelope in the bush, you should pursue it for you never can tell if it has a bad leg?

If we do not want to listen to the voice of the impoverished people of Bakassi who have consistently cried out against the ICJ verdict, we should at least listen to experts in the field. Hear Prof Bola Akinterinwa, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA: “Nigeria is not a monist state that accepts the superiority of international law without domestication by the National Assembly as required by section 12 of the 1999 Constitution”.

Prof Akinterinwa maintains that unless urgent steps are taken to resolve the Bakassi question, the situation could degenerate to self-help and blossom into the type of ugly situations with the Kurds who are a people without a home land or Palestinians that have been denied home state by international conspiracy.

If Nigeria is carefree, many other nations are not. These nations are interested in the resources of the Bakassi Peninsula and they are lurking around to recognise the people of Bakassi in their quest for self-determination. The Bakassi Self-Determination Front means business. Already equipped with a flag and a coat of arm, it is simply a time bomb waiting to be detonated! Nigeria still has barely four days to appeal the self-imposed death sentence or face the hangman’s knife!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—21

Economist faults FG on GDP growth

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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N economist, Mr. Wale Oluwo, has faulted the federal government over the estimated seven percent GDP growth rate, saying that the numbers are not correct.

Oluwo, who spoke to Vanguard in an exclusive inter view, said that going by some economic indices like rate of employment generation and death of manufacturing companies, the number re-

mained contestable.

Oluwo, who is also a capital market operator, said that China that has become the economic nerve center of the world grows by just 10 per cent.

He said, “I don’t trust those numbers. You know why, because if you look at the whole world, you are not likely to find more than 10 countries growing at seven per cent. Even China that is being celebrated today grows at about 10 per cent.”

He argued that any

country that grows at seven percent would be importing employment from other parts of the world because ‘they must have sucked all the employable hands.’

“So, any country that can grow at about five percent for the past five, six years that they said we are growing at seven percent, that country will even be looking for people to employ from other countries because that country would have sucked in all the employable people. Then, we will be telling Ghanaians to come and work.

“That is an

economy that is growing at five per cent, not to talk of seven per cent for the past seven years. Those numbers are not correct. Who-

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NVIRONMENTAL Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoN), has accused multinational oil prospecting and exploration companies of tax evasion and under-

paying royalties to the government.

ERA/FoN’s Director, Programmes and Administration, Dr. Uyi Ojo, a Political Ecologist, quoting the audit reports of NEITI at a one day Community Town Hall Meeting/ Media Parley with the theme: ‘NEITI: HOLD-

last seven years and we say it is growing.

So, where is growth coming from and where is it going to,” he queried.

From Left: Chief Olabintan Famutimi, Chairman Tricontinental Group; Chief Funso Abiri, Abuja Coordinator of NAMEBIS (Nigeria-America Business & Investment Summit); Professor Ade Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the US, being presented with the official package of NAMEBIS by Chief Olabintan Famutimi, in Atlanta, America, the venue of the NAMEBIS summit.

ERA accuses multinational oil coys of tax evasion

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ever put those figures together should go and look at them again. This economy has not generated employment since the

ING Shell Accountable for Oil Impacts in the Niger Delta of Nigeria’, said, “So far, the NEITI Secretariat has successfully conducted three audit cycles, the latest being the 2006 – 2008 period. In the three reports, the following has been observed: - tax evasion

and underpayments of royalties”.

“In 2006, companies paid in $4,457.9 million while government received $4,418 leaving an un-reconciled difference of $39.4million; short-payment and inconsistencies in the payment of Signature bonuses. From

2006 to 2008, the companies paid a total of $1,470.80million to government, while government received $1million, under declaring of oil pumped.”

He insisted that following the development, the oil companies, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had conflicting figures about the total earnings from petroleum.

While urging oil companies to publish what

they got and the actual quantity of crude oil pumped from Nigeria daily, he disclosed that whereas the official figures fed to the Nigerian government stood at2.2 millions barrels of crude oil per day, what actually goes out was over 4 million barrels .

Commenting on the NEITI law of 2007, Dr. Ojo said, “We believe that the Act is mainly Industry driven and that is why there is a major focus on publishing what you pay to government.

LCCI seeks to promote quality product at LITF 182.00

+3.95

2,475.00

+25.00

21.42

+0.29

111.82

-0.37

92.62

+0.14

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

154.78 250.0007 200.1925 165.3632 1.98 0.2848 237.5961 24.626 41.2725 26.8473 238.4386

155.28 250.8083 200.8392 165.8974 1.9864 0.2948 238.3637 24.706 41.4058 26.934 239.2088

155.78 251.6159 201.4859 166.4316 1.9928 0.3048 239.1312 24.786 41.5391 27.0207 239.9791

CBN Exchange rate as at 03/10/2012

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By RITA OBODOECHINA

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AGOS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, said it will continue to work with various government agencies like NAFDAC, SON, and Consumer Protection Council to ensure that products at the exhibition are of the highest quality at the upcoming Lagos International Trade Fair.

Chairman of Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase, who disclosed this, to press men preparatory to the 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair, appealed to all exhibitors -local and foreign, to ensure that only products of high quality, duly certified by Nigerian regulatory authorities are sold during the Trade Fair.

He said arrangements have been concluded to provide a “Feed Back Desk” and “Dedicated Phone Lines” where visitors to the Fair can report any unto-

ward act, especially as it concerns the conduct of exhibitors and quality of products sold by the exhibitors.

He noted that the LCCI will work with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment for the provision of services to its various agencies, like KAI Brigade and LAWMA, for proper environmental sanitation and provision of a good ambiance at the Fair.

However he said, LCCI has engaged a good security firm, which will work in close collaboration with the Nigeria Police and the Federal Fire Services.

He explained that the theme of this year’s fair which is “Promoting Trade for Sustainable Economic Transformation” is a manifestation of the LCCI’S commitment to the development of both local and international trade, towards the realization of a speedy transformation of the Nigerian economy.

Ruwase added that with the theme, the fair will focus attention on the pro-

motion and development of indigenous and international trade with a view to increasing volume of trade, as well as boosting economic activities of industrialization, which is critical to the achievement of a sustainable economic transformation.

He stressed that this also placed emphasis on how far LCCI have gone to fulfill all promises made to intensify and sustain its critical role as catalyst for business promotion and keeps to its promise of improved and better Fair that will deliver value to all stakeholders, adding that with the continued recognition of the role of the private sector in the economic development in Nigeria, and the move by the government to transform the Nation’s economy , the Fair seeks to use the medium of trade to support government concerted efforts and provide an avenue for both Nigerians and foreigners to have windows of opportunities , not only to interact , but also to strike highly mutually beneficial and lucrative business relationship.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Four states, C&I Leasing to raise N517bn from bond market …Spring Mortgage to list on NSE

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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OUR States — Osun, La gos, Gombe and Rivers states — are set to raise N507 billion from the Nigerian bond market.

According to the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s, NSE, XCompliance Report, the four state governments have filed their application for quotation on the bond segment of the capital market with the NSE’s Listing Regulation department.

The NSE said the applications are at various stages of approval — Gombe State’s bond has gotten an Approval-in-Principle, while the remaining three are in the book building process.

Osun State Government is seeking to raise N60 billion through an offer for subscription; Lagos State plans to raise N167 billion, with an initial offer for subscription of N80 billion due 2019 at N1,000 per unit.

Gombe State Government is raising N30 billion, with an initial offer for subscription of N20 billion at N1000 per unit and due 2018.

Rivers State Government is to raise N250 billion and it

is presently offering for subscription N100 billion at N1000 per unit, due 2017.

Also C&I Leasing Nigeria Plc is to raise N10 billion from the bond market, with the initial issuance of a N8 billion Fixed Rate five year

bond.

The NSE also disclosed that it has received an application from the International Finance Corporation, IFC, for the offer for subscription of fixed rate senior unsecured notes.

Both the IFC and C&I Leasing’s bond programmes are in the book building process.

Also, the market capitalization of the NSE is set to be buoyed by about N9.789 billion with the Listing by

From left: Hakeem Oguniran, Past President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration of Nigeria (ICSAN); James Obiegbu, representing Head of Civil Service of the Federation and Olatunde Busari, President, ICSAN during the ICSAN 36th Annual Conference, theme “Investing and Sustaining Business in Nigeria: Issues of Governance” in Abuja.

Outdated tax system ’ll impede FDI flow — FIRS

BY PETER EGWUATU

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AX experts have empha sized the need to increase the country’s tax base and have an extensively high measure of predictability in order to attract investments, just as they said foggy policies and outdated legislation are serious impediments to foreign investment and Nigeria The Director, Nigeria Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan said, “Nigeria has come to understand that certainty is what attracts investment. Investors thrive on stability and detest surprises. ‘We are reengineering our tax systems in their entirety so that there is transparency, understanding and certainty on legislation and practice when doing business in Nigeria. Tax matters need to be made easy to administer given the important role they play in the economic and national development of the country.”

Vanguard gathered that, Ogungbesan, made the revelation at the 2012 Ernst & Young’s Africa Tax Conference in Hermanus, South Africa, saying, “Nigeria, with its 37 state tax authorities has always been in danger of being C M Y K

confusing. However the system has undergone significant changes in recent times; the laws are being reviewed with the aim of ridding them of obsolete legislation and simplifying the main ones. A new National Tax policy has been drafted and awaits government approval.

Continuing, he said, “The policy, which will be enforced by the Federal Ministry of Finance, calls for standardisation between tax law and practice across all tiers of government.

It also provides for exchange of information and statistics across all spheres in order to keep tabs on taxpayers”. The Policy will facilitate coordination between all agencies of government and harmonisation of laws and practices across State Internal Revenue Boards.”

Meanwhile, on the rationale for the conference, Abass Adeniji, Partner, Tax, Ernst & Young, said the annual event was designed to showcase Ernst & Young’s strength and expertise as well as integration to its existing and potential clients globally.

According to him, Africa Tax Conference provides an opportunity to demonstrate how connected Ernst & Young is as a single firm through- out the

sub area.

Speaking, Ogungbesan, further revealed the tax authority has stated educating taxpayers on tax filing and fully support-

ing them to comply. “These efforts are to ensure ownership by all stakeholders in the process of building a great tax system” he added.

Introduction of Spring Mortgage Plc. The NSE said it has received the application of the company to list 4.894 billion ordinary shares at N2 per share.

Activity is expected to return to the primary segment of the capital market as the NSE said it has given approval to UACN Property Development Company Plc Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to raise N30 billion through an initial public offering of three billion units of N10 each at par.

The NSE also disclosed that it has received the applications for the conduct of initial public offerings of 15 million units of N100 each at par for the FBN Money Market Fund and 1.5 million units of N1000 each at par in the FBN fixed income fund.

Prestige Assurance Plc has submitted an application to raise N1.254 billion from the capital market through a rights issue of 2.508 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at 50 kobo per share, while Oando also applied to N36.386 billion from the market through a rights issue of N3.032 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N12 per share, on the basis of four new shares for every three ordinary shares held by its shareholders.

The NSE will also witnessed the listing of another Exchange Traded Fund, as it said it has received an application for the listing of 100 million units of VNSE 30 Index securities.

Dangote Sugar, Access Bank, 7 others join market making stocks

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change, NSE, has included Dangote Sugar Refinery, Access Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Union Bank Nigeria Plc and Nestle Nigeria Plc to the list of stocks that the newly inaugurated Market Makers can make market on.

Others that made the list include Academy Press; Custodian & Allied Insurance, AIICO Insurance Plc and National salt Company of Nigeria, NASCON. This, in addition to initial 16 stocks the market making with on 18th September, has effectively brought the number of the stocks to a total of 25.

The market makers are expected to fully start trading on newly included stock today, 4th September, 2012, said Mr. Wole Tokede, Head, Media

Relations, NSE, in a statement made available to Vanguard.

He explained that the development was in line with the promise made by The Exchange that all the stocks quoted on the Bourse that are trading above par value would be added to the Market Making list over a period of six months.

Speaking at the workshop that the Exchange organised on September 11, 2012 as a prelude to the take off of the programme, the Chief Executive Officer of The NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema assured all stakeholders that the introduction of market making would help drive liquidity in the marketplace to the benefit of retail investors, institutional investors, the Broker Dealer community as well as regulators.

He also said that it would improve the price discovery

process, thereby reflecting the true value of companies.

Speaking further, he said, “I believe you will agree with me that the market is in for better times with the introduction of the Market Making, Securities Lending and Short Selling initiatives. Let us collectively give it all the support it needs, especially during the six month rollout period.”

The following are the 16 stocks the programme kicked off with on September 18, 2012: PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Company Plc, Presco Plc, International Breweries, Lafarge Wapco, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Redstar Express Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, D.N.Meyer, Diamond Bank, FCMB, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and UAC Nigeria Plc. (UACN).

VANGUARD, THURSDAY , OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 23

Forex: CBN lists documentation requirements for BDCs

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has listed the various documentation requirements expected from bureaux de changes (BDCs) in the country.

The CBN said that BDCs are expected to keep documentation and render returns on: Statement of Assets and Liabilities; statement of profit and loss account.

The documents also include Foreign exchange purchases and utilisation.

Speaking at a workshop organised by the apex bank for BDCs

on returns rendition and a d e q u a t e documentation, Deputy

Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision department

From left: Chairman, Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Nigerian banks and Chief Compliance Officer, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Pattision Boleigha; Executive Director, Diamond Bank PLC, Mrs. Caroline Anyanwu; and Chief Compliance Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Mr. Olusiji Adeyinka at the monthly meeting of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Nigerian banks held at Diamond Bank Plc head office.

(OIFSD), Mr. Yemi Bedu said, “This workshop is been organised to get the BDCs operators to understand the expectations of the CBN from them, in terms of rendering their returns, in terms of operating their business.”

“All BDCs are required to maintain adequate accounting and other records of its transactions, render the statutory returns, renew their annual license within the stipulated

period, put in place the necessary anti-money laundering policies and procedures in place”, he said Bedu who represented the Director of OFISD, said further, “The bank had observed that operators have difficulties adhering to the rules and requirement of the CBN. And we at our end recognise that these difficulties might be due to inability to understanding what is required of them. So this workshop has been put in place to build capacity to have better understanding of what is required from you.

Also to facilitate understanding of the relationship between the various departments in CBN that BDC reports to”, he said.

The workshop was held in Abuja, Calabar and Lagos and it featured presentations by the three department of the CBN namely OFISD, Trade and Exchange Department (TED) and Financial Policy and Regulation Department (FPRD).

CBN, others converge for cashless policy summit

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other international and local institutions and experts will converge in Lagos from Monday for a conference on the ongoing cash-less policy in the country.

The experts will be drawn from various relevant sectors of the economy like banking, manufacturing, telecommunications, services, and even the informal sector from outside Nigeria, would be meeting and deliberating on the issues surrounding the cash-less policy.

The conference which is expected to hold at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, between October 8th and 9th is being organised by De Novo (a strategy brand and media firm) and Legal Reach, a UK law firm.

The two-day programme, sponsored mainly by the central bank focuses on the country’s transition to a cashless society, with respect to the possibilities and challenges.

The forum is expected to bring together experts in the global payments industry, who would provide insight and C M Y K

present key developments from other jurisdictions to benchmark the way forward.

Key speakers at the forum include Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN; Governor, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, Minister of Communication & Technology, Mrs. Mobola Johnson; and top relevant members of the National Assembly.

The CBN governor is expected to open the conference, while banks, telecoms companies, epayment service providers, law firms, e.t.c are expected to participate.

Lagos is the pilot state for the cashless programme.

Among the international experts is the Head, Payment Systems Development Group and the World Bank, Mr. Massimo Cirasino.

Cirasino would be speaking alongside the Vice-President, Global Mobile Solutions, Citibank, USA, Mr. Kevin Brown.

FirstBank backs cocoa transformation drive

F

IRST BANK of Nigeria Plc (FirstBank) is aligning with efforts geared towards transforming cocoa production and boosting its contribution to the economy through its support for the Cocoa Investment Conference slated for October 4-5, 2012 at the Jogor Center, Ibadan.

The event which is organized by the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will seek to identify and implement a sustainable growth path for the production and exportation of cocoa in Nigeria.

Themed “The Cocoa Value Chain: Policy, Finance and Sustainability,” the Conference will also help plan, mobilize, activate and regulate the growth and development of the Nigerian cocoa economy.

Cocoa experts and stakeholders expected to address several sessions of the conference include Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; President, Cocoa Association, Sayina Riman; Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, among others.

Onasanya will be one of the discussants of the round table interactive session titled ‘Policy, Finance & Sustainability of the Cocoa Value Chain’, while FirstBank’s Executive Director, Corporate Banking Group, Mr. Kehinde Lawanson will present a paper on ‘Financing Cocoa Production, Processing and Trade.’

According to the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication FirstBank, Mrs. Folake AniMumuney, FirstBank’s participation in the Cocoa Conference is informed by its desire to contribute to efforts that would ultimately restore the nation’s leading position in global cocoa trade by moving the market share from the current position of 7% to its pre-oil boom era position of 28%.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

APPOINTMENT & PROMOTION

30 ex-militants get international employment

Ozodinobi gets Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award

T

HIRTY trainees under the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty programme have secured international employment from Proclad Group, United Arab Emirates.The youths who trained in Dubai between November 2011 and May this year had returned home after completing their programme in welding and Fabrication but were later employed following their outstanding performances.

The Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, who presented the appointment letters to the youths expressed satisfaction that the programme had reached a stage where Nigerians could secure international jobs, describing it a development worth celebrating.He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for being focused and committed to sustaining the peace in the region which has resulted in a stable high opil output for the benefit of the entire nation.The SSA said he was confidence that President Jonathan achieve a similar success in the ongoing power sector reform, aimed at rejuvenating the nation’s economy. He recalled that well over 1, 000 youths from Niger Delta who were involved in the armed struggle had been gainfully employed by various Nigerian Companies and foreign companies in other countries, especially in South Africa and Ghana where the youths proved their very high competences in their training.

Kuku said that the employment of the ex-militants after their training by foreign firms should not be interpreted to mean that the country was training manpower for other countries. The SSA urged the youths to see themselves as members of the same family, without regard to their ethnic nationalities back at home in Nigeria and good ambassadors of the country. According to him, “ we are all one people. Do you know your family?, your family is the Presidential Amnesty programme.

That is your family- not your ethnic nationality- that doesn’t matter here anymore. The Ogoni man must see the Ikwere man as his brother; the Omoku man must see the Urhobo man as his brother; the ijaw man must see the Ogoni man as his brother. This is the

T

A cross section of the lucky ex-militants way I want all of you to relate. Some of you are destined to be Council Chairmen not too long; some of you are destined to be House of Assembly members; some of you are destined to be governors, deputy governors.

AFREXIMBANK names Emekekwue external communications chief

A

FRICAN Export-Import Bank, AFREXIMBANK, has appointed Obi Emekekwue, a former United Nations Communications Specialist and a former journalist, as its Senior Manager, External Communications, to lead the design and implementation of the Bank’s external communications outreach. According to Jean-Louis Ekra, President of AFREXIMBANK, “As AFREXIMBANK has grown, the need for us to better communicate our services and activities to our various clients and stakeholders has become even more important and evident.

Obi brings extensive international and African communications knowledge and experience to this new position which would be a great asset in our messaging as we seek to deliver even more effectively on our mandate to promote and finance intra- and extra-African trade.”

Until his appointment, Mr. Emekekwue was a Press Officer at the United Nations in New York where he worked in the Press Section of the Meetings Coverage Service of the Organization’s Department of Public Information. He first started working for the United Nations in 1994, serving, in addition to the Secretariat, at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). At UNDP, he was the Communications focal point for English-speaking Africa from 1996 to 2000 as well as the focal point for the United Nations Special Initiative on Africa. From 2006 to 2007, he was the United Nations Communications Specialist for the United Nations Country Team in Papua New Guinea.

Starcomms appoints Oladokun interim chief executive

S

TARCOMMS Plc, has announced the appointment of Olusola Oladokun as Interim Chief Executive in succession to Logan Pather.

Until this appointment, Oladokun has held the position of Finance Director at Starcomms since December 2011 and will for the next few months combine the responsibilities for both roles.

A statement by the company said Logan Pather has decided to leave Starcomms after 12 months as Chief Executive.

He remained in his post until 31 August to ensure a smooth handover to the new Interim Chief Executive.

Speaking on the development, Chief Maan Lababidi, Starcomms Chairman, said: “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Logan for his contribution to Starcomms.

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vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 08033348923

HE Federal Capital Territory Permanent Secretary, Engineer Anthony Zikoro Ozodinobi has been honoured with the Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS. The award will be bestowed on him Tuesday at Shehu Musa Yar ’Adua Centre The award will be preceded by a public lecture to be delivered by Chief Philip Asiodu a seasoned administrator and former super Federal Permanent Secretary with a title “Public Service and Transformation Agenda: Redefining the Rules Engagement”.

According to the Institute, Engr. Ozodinobi was nominated after a careful and thorough screening of all entries, applications and nominations for the award before being found worthy. The FCT Permanent Secretary was first nominated amongst the top three out of which he won the award.

NAWOJ honours Mrs Mohammed,Tanza

W

IFE of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Aisha Bala Mohammed and the Senior Special Assistant, to FCT Minister, Jamilah Tangaza have received distinguished awards from Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT branch.

The awards were tagged “Meritorious Service’ and ‘Excellence in Achievement’ awards respectively.

At a ceremony in Abuja as part of NAWOJ Week Lecture/Awards, other Nigerians that were honoured were the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Diko Inde Abdullahi as well as Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu apart from four other corporate and NonGovernmental Organizations. In her Goodwill Message at the occasion, Hajia Mohammed appreciated the honour done to her and called on well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations in the country to come to the aid of the needy in the society.

While saying that the theme of the week “Insecurity: the Burden on Women and children”, could not have come at a better time, the Minister’s wife dedicated the award to Dame Patience Jonathan, the First Lady who she stated was a catalyst and an inspiration in the global campaign for support and care towards vulnerable groups.

Lagos promotes 2,815 workers

T

HE Lagos State Civil Service Commission has released promotion letters to successful candidates in the Y2012 Promotion Examination Exercise, held on the 14th and 21st of April,

2012.

The letters were released following the approval of Governor Babatunde Fashola The Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Eniola Yonwuren, revealed that out of the 3,459 eligible candidates that sat for the examination, 2815 were successful representing 81 percent success rate.

She stressed that the Civil Service Commission raised the standard of the promotion examination this year with the introduction of a compulsory question on the use of English language to test officers’ ability to communicate effectively.

While stating that the new salary grade for the promoted officers commences on the 1st of September, 2012, Yonwuren added that the exercise was concluded within four months with the cooperation of members of staff.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 25

— Page 29

Ten Nigerians get ESSO/ NNPC Int’l PG scholarships

BY DAYO ADESULU

G

overnor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State has called on the Federal Government to tailor the education curriculum towards entrepreneurship in order to achieve national transformation.

“It is urgent for us as a nation to tilt our curriculum towards entrepreneurship education in order to achieve national transformation,” ○ ○ ○ ○ said. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Fashola According to him, "while we cannot shy away from the need for proper understanding of ICT, Science and the likes, we must also understand the fact that, it is only a creative mind that can turn things around for the development of our nation."

He noted that most of the successful conglomerates in Nigeria are not owned by professors or academics, but by those who dared to be different by veering into entrepreneurship.

Fashola,who spoke through the Commissioner for Education, Barr. Orelope Oladunjoye, at the 16th Fafunwa Educational Foundation Memorial Lecture entitled, Entrepreneurship Education: Repositioning Nigerian Education for National Transformation, said there is no better time for this discourse than now, when the nation is going through various transformations.

While he agrees that education remains the bedrock of any meaningful development in a nation, he, however, noted that "the best economies of this world cannot shy away from entrepreneurship education as a means of solving unemployment and reducing to the barest minimum, the reliance on the non-existent white collar jobs that most of our graduates and youths are searching for today."

He said; “Over the years, we have laid so much emphasis on academics and university education, the resultant effect of this is that, we have succeeded in

C M Y K

Why we introduced Chinese language in public schools

As the blazers blaze the trail… — Page 28

— Page 31

Utomi, Fashola call for entrepreneurship education in curriculum

*Pat Utomi

*Gov. Fashola

producing graduates who have become unemployable, not because they are not educated but because they cannot express their Godgiven talents combined with the education they have, to make a living for themselves and help their society to grow.”

Our system of education so

far, he added, have produced more frustrated youths, who despite having qualifications, cannot find jobs to earn a living, stressing that many of our homes now have overgrown babies who by every standard, should be bread winners in their own right.

The governor who pointed

*Fafunwa

out that this precarious situation has led to more crime and insecurity in our society said, our system has produced more monsters and hardened criminals who are bent on making a living by hook or by crook.

His words; “Most of the young ones being used by unscrupulous people in our

society to cause havoc and wreck our economy by creating a state of insecurity thereby scaring foreign investors, could have or can still be used to transform our nation, if we make a deliberate turn around in our education policies by engaging these

Continues on pg 26

E-LIBRARY PROJECTS: Education Minister threatens to revoke contract over delay six geo-political zones of the prompted the Minister of

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

M

inister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to revoke contracts awarded to some private companies for the construction of elearning libraries in some unity colleges across the

country.

The contracts were awarded by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education for the construction of e-libraries and supply of furniture, but most of them have since remained uncompleted.

The development had

State for Education to summon a meeting of all the stakeholders in Abuja recently.

Wike said government was disturbed by the lackadaisical attitude the stakeholders deployed in handling education projects across the federation.

He particularly took a swipe

Continues on pg 32

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

UBA Foundation flags Off 2nd national essay contest

ERC decries state of education, S calls for reversal of hiked fees

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & LAJU ARENYEKA

T

he Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has decried what it refers to as the “collapse of public education across the country” and has called for “immediate government investment to arrest the decay and revive quality and standard in primar y, secondary and tertiary tiers of the educational system.”

In a press statement on the state of education 52 years after independence, the National Coordinator, Comr.

Hassan Taiwo Soweto said; “We also use this occasion to call for the immediate reversal of hiked fees at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the Osun State University (UNIOSUN). We reject all attempts to introduce tuition fee as recommended by the Oronsaye Committee report.

We call for the provision of free and functional education at all levels.”

According to the ERC boss, “The only fitting way to mark this independence anniversary is by mass protests and demonstration of the working masses, students and the poor against the ruinous policies of successive governments in Nigeria which has turned Nigeria to an under-developing nation 52 years after independence.

While all socio-economic indices certainly point to

enior Secondary school children in Nigeria have another opportunity of winning university educational grants from UBA Foundation. This follows the commencement of the National Essay Competition among senior secondary school students, organised by the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

The call for entries from eligible students began last week and will end on November 2, 2012. Students are expected to write on the topic; As an African President, what would your plans be for the educational sector? The three winning finalists, who will be selected by a panel of three Nigerian professors, will get educational grants to study in African universities of their choice.

Applicants are expected to send in hand-written essay entries of not more than 750 words on the competition topic, with their complete contact information (name of school and address, residential address, phone number and e-mail) to UBA *From left: President, Family & Community Life Re-orientation, Ekundayo Olusegun, NYSC Foundation in Lagos . ” We are excited at hosting & Millennium Development Goals Schedule Officer, Lagos chapter, Mr. Adewuyi Akeem, his partner, Mrs Grace Oso, principal partner, E-Green Services, Mr. Tayo Olosunde and Programme this competition again. As Director, Bethesda Child Support Agency, Ms. Ijeoma Ukwadinachi, during a workshop for with most of our programmes NYSC members in Surulere, Lagos. and initiatives, the National Essay Competition is annualized and we hope to reversals in all fields of life highest fees in any university per cent! Indeed, in this use this opportunity to again including infrastructure, in Nigeria today. The fees of year ’s post-UTME, students touch the lives of some health, housing, job some of these universities seeking admission to LASU Nigerian children,” said provision, security etc., as the mentioned above, rival sharply dropped. Most Ijeoma Aso, CEO, UBA nation clocks 52, the condition private universities’ and alarming was the over 2,000 Foundation. of public education is indeed these monstrous fees were students who merited A total of N2, 250 ,000.00 hiked by supposedly admission having passed will be doled out by UBA very appalling.”

From ERC’s point of view, progressive ACN state post-UTME aside other Foundation. Apart from “there is hardly any state in governments upholding the requirements but had to forfeit laptop gifts, the overall Nigeria today where fees legacy of Obafemi Awolowo!” their admissions because they winner, 1st and 2nd runners Last year, LASU fees were could not afford the fees! have not been hiked beyond up will get N1,000,000, The ERC warns that by N750,000.00, N500,000.00 what poor working families increased by as much as 750 can afford. Fees at the Lagos per cent with medical students introducing tuition fee, the respectively. Last year, Miss State University (LASU), Ekiti being charged up to N345, already bad condition of Enitan Amodu from the State University (EKSU) and 750! Because many could not public education will take a University of Lagos the Osun State University afford it, admission in 2011/ sharp turn for the worse. Fees International School, Akoka, (UNIOSUN) are some of the 2012 session fell by about 30 will soar beyond the Lagos , emerged the overall imaginable! With the situation winner, getting an of mass poverty amidst educational grant of N1m. plenty, vast numbers of The essay competition is the nation.

“Africa is poor because African students will drop out of running concurrently with the leaders have made a wrong school. Not just the working ‘Read Africa’ project of the of growth in a nation’s choice of policy. If you can get class but even big sections of Foundation, which was economy which include the policy right, all other things the middle class will find it flagged off recently by the hard to pay. Enrollment will Kenyan author, Ngugi wa entrepreneurship, human will fall in place,” he said. capital, culture, leadership, On his part, Professor fall. The impact on teaching Thiong’o. Under the ‘Read policy choice, and institutions. Kayode Alao while and non-teaching staff will Africa’ initiative, role models in He said education is not where highlighting the purpose of the also be phenomenal because as the society and top management you go and get a certificate but Fafunwa Foundation said the enrollment drops so also would of UBA Plc will be visiting where you shape the human foundation which was founded courses and programmes be secondary schools to mentor the mind adding; “We have 17 years ago was meant to rationalised with the grim students and give out copies of equipped people with titles in reflect the life of the late prospect of retrenchment and job this year’s literature book, Weep not Child, by Ngugi wa Nigeria without Professor Aliu Babatunde losses.

“A s e x p e r i e n c e h a s Thiong’o to the students, entrepreneurship knowledge.” Fafunwa education legacy. He The professor who cited Haiti noted that the Fafunwa award s h o w n , f e e h i k e s m o r e courtesy of the Foundation.

As the corporate social as an example of a country is out to promote research often than not does not which started well in 1789 with among PhD holders in six translate to better learning responsibility arm of United the highest GDP in the world, selected universities in Nigeria condition for students or Bank for Africa, UBA however, became the poorest where financial reward to the good working conditions Foundation has three focus in the world today because the tune of N500,000 will be given for education workers. We areas; Education, Economic and culture of entrepreneurship is to the best researcher. The do not believe Nigeria has Empowerment missing in their policy. Utomi chosen universities include, no money. Indeed, Nigeria Environment. Through these added that if a country University of Nigeria Nsukka, c u r r e n t l y h a s h u n d r e d three focus areas and its Special cultivates the habit of teaching Obafemi Awolowo University, times more than it had in Projects unit, the Foundation her people how to get Ile-Ife, University of Ibadan, t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d has made positive impacts on education in certificate where Amadu Bello University, republics when the nation Nigerian and African societies, the employment is not there, University of Lagos and Lagos made impressive advances particularly in countries where there will be lack of economic State University to represent in the expansion of access UBA operates. to public education.” development in the people and state universities.

Call for entrepreneurship education in curriculum Continues from pg 25 idle hands in a very worthwhile project like entrepreneurship education.

May I, therefore, implore us to come up with urgent intervention plans and programmes that will help arrest the ugly situation of paper graduates without skills and job seekers rather than employers of labour.

Nigeria is a blessed country in human and material resources, all that is needed and will be needed for us to transform the country is placed at our disposal, and it will only require our political will and determination to make us achieve our aim of making Nigeria a great nation of our dreams.”

Speaking in the same vein, Professor Pat Utomi who was the guest speaker at the occasion pointed out six drivers C M Y K

By VICTOR IGIRI

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 —27

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

A

fter three months of writing their 2010/ 2011 end-of-session examination without resumption for a new academic session, students of the Lagos State University External System (LASUES), penultimate Monday, took to the streets in a peaceful protest to agitate for the immediate resumption of the 2011/2012 session.

The placard-carrying students who convened at

STUDENTS ON RAMPAGE:

Remove LASUES Director, students urge Fashola ...as Police shoot one

the Anthony campus of the school, barricaded the ever-busy Anthony/ Ikorodu expressway, causing traffic snarl which disrupted human and vehicular movement for several hours on the four- lane road. As one of the students was reportedly injured by stray bullets from men of the Nigerian Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the process, the aggrieved students have swiftly called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to remove the Director of LASUES, Dr. O.T. Abanikanda.

The crux of the matter

Before taking to the streets, the students had earlier convened a congress at the LASUES Anthony campus, under the aegis of Joint Campus Students’ Representatives (JCSR), comprising the nine campuses of Agege, Anthony, Festac, Ikorodu, Iponri, Isolo, Jibowu, Ogba and Surulere.

According to them, the protest became necessary as management of the university has failed to brief them when they are billed to resume for the 2011/2012 academic session, even though they are one year behind their counterparts in the full time studies.

The JCSR also gave Quadlife a copy of the communiqué it issued and sent to the Director of LASUES, which it also copied the office of the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Lagos State House of Assembly; Office of the Commissioner for Education, Lagos State; Office of the Dean of Students’ Affairs, LASU; all the Assistant Directors of the nine LASUES campuses; Office of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and various media houses, proposing a scheduled meeting to discuss one-on-one with the management on the myriad of

Insert: The injured Chris Omumu problems bedeviling the Press and Public Relations, Lagos external system.

State University (CIPPR-LASU), Dr. Sola Fosudo in a chat with The myriad of problems Quadlife disclosed that the delay Following a recommendation then was due to alleged by the Governing Council of irregularities and financial the university in August 2011, improprieties bedeviling the the Lagos State Government system.

He had stated that the new announced the abolition of parttime programmes in the administration of Prof. John institution, when the 2010/2011 Obafunwa is doing its best to clean up the anomalies in the set graduates. assuring that Before the last exams which system, held between May 21 and June preparations for the long-awaited 19, 2012, the students took to exams have commenced. the streets having stayed at The students’ prayers home for about eight months Meanwhile, the communiqué without writing the 2010/2011 second semester examination. titled: “Send Out Succour,” dated In the wake of their protest to August 27, 2012, was signed by the Lagos State House of presidents of the nine satellite Assembly (LAHA), Alausa, the campuses amongst whom are Director, Centre for Information, Com. Henry Adekunle (Agege

academics – academicians M any users of English as a second language often confuse academics with a c a d e m i c i a n s .

Academicians relate to the

C M Y K

academy; academics to the university or any tertiary institution. An academy ‘is a society of learned persons united to advance art,

campus); Com. Balogun AlAlmeen (Anthony campus); Com. Savage A.B. (Surulere campus); Com. Ibironke Ife (Isolo campus) and their counterparts at Festac, Ikorodu, Iponri, Jibowu and Ogba campuses.

It reads in part: “It’s disheartening that after our last exams on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, the running of Lagos State University External System (LASUES) has become dormant due to power politics and sectional scuffle between the Director of LASUES, Dr. O.T.F. Abanikanda, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman in the External System administration. And this has no doubt reaffirmed the saying that when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.

Among other things, the students prayed that the

science or literature’. It is ‘an important official organisation consisting of people interested in the development of literature, art, science, etc. of which membership is an honour.’ Examples are The Royal Academy (of Arts), The Nigerian Academy of Science and Nigerian Academy of Letters. Members of an academy are academicians; teachers in a university or tertiary institutions are academics . Do not use academics and academicians interchangeably.

similarity in pronunciation.

The two words are different in spelling and meaning. A circle ‘is (1) a round space enclosed by a curved line, every point on the line being the same distance from the centre; (2) a group of people who are connected by having the same interests, profession, etc.’ A cycle is (1) a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order; (2) a complete set or series. Do not write ‘a vicious cycle’ when what you intend to write is ‘a vicious circle’.

circle – cycle Circle and cycle are often confused because of a near

Examples: The life cycle of a butterfly can be divided into four

management should facilitate efforts for “the resumption of their academic activities, provision of missing results, provision of transcripts to all students, proof of assurance in black and white for provision of NYSC exemption letters and certificates.”

The student who got shot

When Quadlife contacted Com. Balogun Al-Almeen, who doubles as president, Anthony campus, and head of JCSR, the alleged shooting of one of the protesting students, Chris Omumu, was confirmed.

Explaining the ugly incident that occurred during their peaceful protest, Al-Almeen said; “During the course of our protest along Anthony/Ikorodu Road, some policemen from Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RSS) in their bid to disperse us shot sporadically into the air. We certainly obeyed their directive and left the expressway, but they still pursued us into our campus at Anthony, throwing canisters at us.

“As if that was not enough, one of the policemen fired a shot on the ground and stray bullets hit Omumu from Surulere campus. Omumu was hit on his mouth which made four of his teeth pull-out and also on his hand. Some of us immediately rushed him to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he was discharged after receiving medical attention. Presently, we thank God that Omumu is recovering at his elder brother ’s residence at Ojo area.”

Management’s reaction

Reacting, Dr. Abanikanda told Quadlife in a telephone chat that the administration of the school was working on the backlog of results.

stages.

I do not have a motor cycle.

Nigeria has passed through the cycle of economic booms and slumps.

He has a large circle of friends.

Otunba Mike Adenuga is well known in business circles.

‘To go round in circles’ is to work at a task without making any progress.

One problem leads to another and this makes the original problem worse; it is a vicious circle.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

BRIEFS

As the blazers blaze the trail…

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

T

he home videos lied to us. They made us believe that Nigerian University campuses were filled with girls wearing spaghetti tops and micro miniskirts.

They showed us pictures of the ‘happening’ guys wearing jersey tee shirts, big chains, and ill-fitting face caps. It’s one of two things; the trend has changed, or the movies lied. Just like any student on campus who doesn’t own a blazer would be

Coping with difficult roommates

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

I

t’s hard enough to live with the people you love. The ones you grew up with and know inside out still down right annoy you most of the time. How much more a total stranger whose only affiliation with you is the admission list?

A full semester, session or an entire quad life is too long to spend in utter torture or to avoid your room altogether. If you’re sure you’re not the problem, read on and discover how to deal with the different classes of difficult roommates.

THE MIDNIGHT CALLER: A taste of your roommate’s own medicine might do the trick. Hopefully, you too have someone you wouldn’t mind talking to all night. If this won’t work, you could find your roommate a secure location in the hostel, or better still, get some ear plugs!

BEFRIENDER OF NATIONS: So much bad news could come with a roomie who has too many friends. Constant knocking, noise, filth, and missing items are just the beginning of the list. What to do? Discuss with your room mate to see how you can reduce visiting hours. You could also ‘occupy first’ and get your study group, or prayer squad in the room before your additional roommates arrive. Or you could stop being a wet C M Y K

blanket and become their friend too.

THE PICK POCKET: You don’t really understand how it happens, but stuff gets missing from your wardrobe and ends up in your roommate’s. No need wondering whether it was an accident, get some padlocks, and guard your stuff with all diligence.

THE TROUBLESOME: This six-letter word could be the most important word you’ll ever read-IGNORE. You could also try to befriend this roommate by being kind, but ensure you keep your selfrespect. Also, beware of his/ her ‘trigger spots’ and teach your visitors to do the same.

T H E NOISEMAKER: Loud music and continuous chattering are not the ideal elements for studying or resting. Spoiling your roommate’s equipment could be criminal, or worsetemporar y. Seeking long lasting solutions might work better. Surely your noisemaking roommate would fall asleep sometime; that’s the right time to reduce the stereo. You could also do things that require concentration when your roommate is asleep. The occasional ‘please you’re disturbing’ could make your roommate consider your predicament or get angry and leave the room…yippee!

Good luck, and watch out for part two next week.

lying to himself… or herself.

The blazer gives a sense of playfulness with a touch of seriousness; a look of maturity, with an underlying youthfulness. Coming in a variety of colours, designs, and sizes, the blazer is the most practical fashion tool for a work-to-play transition. It gives proper fitting to massive clothes, and covers the weaknesses of revealing clothes.

On campuses in the North, South, East and West, the blazers blaze the trail.

Don’t teach our children hatred, Gov Nyako tells teachers

BY BASHIRU ABDULLAHI, FCE-YOLA

T

he Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Hammanyero Nyako, has warned teachers in the state not to teach students hatred against one another on the basis of religion or ethnic background.

Governor Nyako gave the warning at the closing ceremony of the 2012 teachers professional development workshop held at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola. Nyako, who was represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Sajo Gela, commended FCE Yola for training no fewer than 4,555 teachers in the state on teaching techniques in collaboration with the State

Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB).

“Here in this hall, we have Muslims, Christians, we have Fulanis, Hausas, and we have Marghis and so on. Don’t go and teach the pupils and students hatred. This state belongs to all of us.

“There is no need to go and teach hatred or indoctrinate our children. You have to desist from propagating falsehood.

This is how God wants us to live and we must live that way to move the state forward,” Nyako warned.

On his part, the Provost of the College, Professor AbulMumin Sa’ad, while thanking the State government for partnering the college in training teachers stressed that the state will get the best out of the trained teachers.

College holds orientation for freshers

BY FAITH EMENIKE, BABCOCK

T

he Principal of Babcock University High School, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Elder Timothy Adetayo has advised Nigerian students to show love to one another and also be their brothers’ keeper. Elder Adetayo gave this advice during the school’s 2012 -2013 orientation programme for students and staff organised by the school recently. He said that with love for one another, the students can help build

themselves, the school and the nation. He added that they should always focus their minds on achieving academic excellence and high moral standard that will make their parents and schools to be proud of them.

Elder Adetayo who warmly received the new students told them that they were lucky to have been offered admission into the school, where God is at the centre of every activity.

He told them to be happy and obey rules and regulations of the school and also take their study seriously.

NPDC donates bus to UNIBEN

BY IYOKE UDOKA JEREMIAH, Corps Member, UNIBEN

I

n line with its Corporate Social Responsibility, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has donated a brand new Toyota Hummer Hiace bus to the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Presenting the bus, the Executive Director, Services, NPDC, Mr. Ishaya Timothy stated that this was in line with their policy of Community Development Assistance, aimed at assisting their host community to meet their needs, as a way of giving back to the society.

This, according to him, was geared towards strengthening the mutual relationship which exists between the company and the department. He also applauded the relentless efforts of the Head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering and the Dean, Faculty of Engineering aimed at repositioning the entire faculty for good.

Protests rock college over fee hike

BY SIKIRU AKINOLA

F

or two days, students of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, (EACOED), Oyo, took to the streets to protest the increment in their school fees.

The students, mainly those studying under the sandwich degree programme of Ekiti State University, (EKSU) in affiliation with EACOED, stormed the provost's office to express their displeasure over the hike in tuition fee.

They were later addressed at the Alao-Akala Lecture Theatre by principal officers of the university.

Their displeasure, according to the students, was that some of them have already paid before the memo arrived from EKSU that their fee has been allegedly increased from “N40,000 to N82,000.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 29

Minister advocates promotion of indigenous languages

BY NDIDI UCHE

I

N a bid to ensure the promotion of Nigerian languages, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation recently gave their quota to the education sector during the handing over of the Harmonised and Standardized Orthography of Four Nigerian and other related Languages to the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation,Chief Edem Duke, said that most African and Nigerian languages are facing threats of extinction.

Quoting UNESCO, he said 30 per cent of the world’s languages were spoken in Africa but now on the verge of extinction due to use of

English.

He said that in most African homes, there is growing lack of use of African languages; indigenous languages are no longer spoken with pride adding that the values we place on the use of our indigenous languages have over time been eroded by our preference for foreign languages.“It is disturbing to note that most parents encourage the use of European languages by their children and this is at great risk to mental, linguistic and cultural development of our children.”

He also stated that Nigeria’s growth and development depended on the premium it placed on its indigenous languages and culture, hence Nigerians must take pride in the use of their languages.“We must begin to see the use of our languages as essential component of empowering our

country and the continent because if we fail to promote it, we risk stagnation, backwardness and amnesia.”

He mentioned that poor indigenous language skill was one of the causes of low achievements in the education sector.

He said that the first realistic step towards reversing the decline in education was to d o c u m e n t local languages and revitalize their usage through the production and dissemination of reading materials.

The DirectorGeneral, Centre for Black and African Arts and C i v i l i z a t i o n , Pr o f. Tu n d e Babawale, emphasized that the government

I

*Chief Edem Duke should encourage the development of indigenous languages and improve on their terminologies.

BY DAYO ADESULU

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NAS holds AMASA-8 in November

BY EBUN SESSOU

Ten Nigerians get ESSO/NNPC Int’l PG Scholarships EN Nigerians have been awarded ESSO/NNPC International PostGraduate scholarships for studies in engineering and geosciences disciplines in schools located in the UK and the US, Mr Jide Ayo-Vaughan, Executive Director, EEPNL has said.

Speaking at this year’s award ceremony held in Lagos,Vaughan noted that the 10 beneficiaries have already secured admissions to study different engineering-related courses in various universities abroad, adding; “The scholarship award covers full payment for tuition, accommodation and other fees as specified by the respective institutions, as well as provisions for personal upkeep.”

The 10 awardees include, Oyewunmi Oyeniyi, Oyedele Akinola, Aremu Oluwaseye, Adautin Charles, Okuwobi Oluwatosin. Others are: Omoya Olanrewaju, Okoroafor Kelechi, Aigiomawu Obehi, Momodu Momohsani and Agbarakwe Uchenna.The awardees are first class and second class upper division engineering graduates from different institutions across the country.

According to Ayo-Vaughan, the purpose of the scholarship

BRIEFS

N its bid to address the risk of climate change in the country, the Nigerian Academy of Science, NAS, will on November 13 through 14 hold its Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA-8) in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, Climate Change in Africa: Using science to reduce climate risks, Professor Oye Ibidapo Obe, NAS President, said, the event which is supported by African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI) is to provide the platform for African Science Academies to meet annually in order to address issues surrounding climate change in Africa.

ASADI was said to have started in 2004 basically with the objectives to rebuild the capacities of African academies of science to support their governments by providing the evidence to inform policy.

According to him, the forum would kick off with a keynote address stating the problem of climate change in Africa.

Education is my priority —LG boss

T *From left: General Manager, Upstream Nigeria Exploration, EEPNL, Mr Chikwendu Edoziem; representative of NNPC, Mrs. Iyabo Ayobami-Ojo; Executive Director, EEPNL, Mr, Jide AyoVaughan; Manager, Major Project, MPN, Mrs. Rita Umoren; Executive Director and In-house Country HR Manager, Mr. Udom Inoyo with the scholarship beneficiaries at the presentation of the Esso-sponsored International Scholarship Award at Mobil House, Lagos. is to help build the capacities of young and brilliant Nigerians in order to boost the pool of qualified manpower for career opportunities in the country’s oil and gas industry, noting that the gesture was in line with the company ’s philosophy of corporate social responsibility, whereby it contributes substantially to the development of the society.

He said that since the inception of its international post-graduate scholarship scheme, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, in production

sharing contract with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has awarded a total of 100 scholarships to deserving Nigerian students.

Vaughan pointed out that the 10 awardees of this year make a total of 100 Nigerians who have been sponsored for international post-graduate studies in engineering and geosciences disciplines in schools located in the UK and US. The Executive Director who also used the occasion to counsel the beneficiaries to justify the confidence the company reposed in them,

urged them to display good conduct and academic excellence at the end of their Master's degree programmes.

On the screening and selection process, Mr. Udom Inoyo, the Executive Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria and In-Country HR Manager, who was involved in every stage of the process, said the selection was transparent and rigorous. He disclosed that it was not an easy task for the 10 beneficiaries to emerge as winners due to the fact that about 10,000 applications were received.

HE Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, has reiterated that education tops his priorities in the primary and post-primary categories and encouraged excellent students with award and scholarship in the council.

Mr. Joseph made this known to parents, students and invited guest who attended the 5 2 n d I n d e p e n d e n c e anniversary hosted by the council boss.

“I am happy to inform you that the trio of Jessica Gabriel, Joseph George and Saliu Al-Mustapha who excelled in their academics and were sponsored for an overseas trip are now back from the UK where they have been for two weeks.

That was in fulfillment of our promise that exceptional performance will be rewarded handsomely,” he said.

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

BY EBELE ORAKPO with Agency report

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Researchers find industrial uses for soybeans has worked with the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) to develop a soy-based toner for copy machines and computer printers. They are currently working with potential marketers to bring the product to consumers. Work continues with other research agencies regarding the possibility of soy ink in pens and other writing applications.

"Soy-based coatings, such as wood and concrete stains, caulking, and other building products are making a mark on consumers and have shown versatility in new applications, including ultraviolet and electron beam-curing roof coatings and faux finishing in building artwork.

"For many years, soybean oil has been a major ingredient in making alkyd resins, which are dissolved in carrier solvents to make oil-based paints. The popularity of latex or waterborne paints has presented a challenge for soybased paints." USB is working with some companies to develop soy-based paints for consumers.

Other areas of development include: stable, waterborne architectural coatings; highperformance, volatile organic compound (VOC)-free coatings for industrial applications; and 100 per cent solid powder coatings.

Adhesives Faced with increased prices for petrochemical products, environmental concerns, and human health issues, the researchers were able to develop new soy-based products for the wood adhesive

,

R

esearchers in the US driven by the need for more environmentfriendly fuel from renewable materials in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and its attendant consequences for the earth, have turned to soybeans. A report published in the R & D magazine said researchers funded by the United Soybean Board (USB), a farmer-led organisation which invests farmer check-off funds into research, market development, and expansion, including research, development, and commercialization of new industrial uses for soybeans, have come up with amazing results.

The report said apart from using soybean as food for humans and animals, they have been able to make from it, products for everyday use such as foam, inks, coatings, etc.

Soy-based foam for car seats: “Ford has partnered with USB to develop renewable soybased technologies. Ford pioneered the use of soy oil in foam for seat cushions, seatbacks and vehicle headliners. There are over two million Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles on the road today with bio-based foam content," and by so doing, "Ford has annually reduced its petroleum oil usage by more than three million pounds, and its carbon dioxide emissions by 11 million pounds," said the report.

The company has also succeeded in replacing 25 per cent of the petrochemicals in rubber by using renewable soybean oil thereby "more than doubled rubber’s stretchability and reduced its environmental impact. Soy-based rubber parts, such as radiator deflector shields, air baffles or deflectors, cup-holder inserts, and floor mats, may be installed in future Ford vehicles,” the report added.

“Ford researchers found that soy fillers could provide an inexpensive and environmentfriendly partial replacement of carbon black, a petrochemicalbased material traditionally used to reinforce rubber. Used together, soybean oil and soy fillers could replace up to 26 per cent of the petrochemicalbased content in automotive rubber applications,” it said.

Inks and coatings "Soy ink, which is used to print more than 90 per cent of America’s 1,500 daily newspapers and recently celebrated 20 years in use, can be found in soy-based toners as well. The Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio,

*Ford's soy-based foam seat which won them the 2009 R&D 100 Award Photo: USB

*Soybeans

Application of technology could move millions of Africans from poverty to middle-class living standards

industry.

PureBond, according to the report, "is a formaldehyde-free plywood technology developed with funding from USB. To date, 40 million PureBond plywood panels have been installed in the US. The manufacturing company "uses approximately 15 million pounds of flour processed from U.S. soybeans annually," said the report.

,

Plastics "Soy-based plastics can be divided into two main groups: polyurethane using soy polyols and thermosets. As more manufacturers look for alternatives to high petrochemical prices, soybased plastics provide a viable option. Soy polyols perform exactly like their petrochemical counterparts or better in some

cases when it comes to total weight, strength and durability. Plastic composites and polyurethanes, used for plastic body and interior parts for automobiles, boats, and agricultural equipment, could potentially replace an

estimated 300m pounds of thermoset resins in a market totaling 2.7b pounds in North America," stated the report.

Lubricants The researchers were also able to meet the need for "high-performing and low-toxic lubricants in environmentallysensitive areas" as they incorporated soy-based oils into lubricants.

"When compared to mineraloil lubricants, soy lubricants have higher viscosity, lower evaporation loss, and a potential to enhance lubricity, which could lead to improved energy efficiency."

The report added that soy lubricants are used in the Statue of Liberty and other structures in the US. "Other soy lubricants include cutting fluids, bar and chain oils, and soy-based transformer fluid."

Green products USB whose mission is to "increase soybean demand through advancements in soybased research and technology, in conjunction with interested companies, has continued to review research proposals and partner with companies with promising new soy technologies."

It will be recalled that the US entered the global market with soybean in the early 1960s and today, researchers have added value to the product making it relevant not just in the food industry but also for industrial use, reducing the US dependence on foreign petrochemicals.

A soybean farmer and vicechair, New Uses Committee of the USB, Bob Haselwood, believes that “with the price of crude oil high, soy remains a cost-competitive alternative for many industries.

“Everyone continues to look for sustainable and ‘green’ alternatives, and soy will play a part of the sustainable movement for a number of industries.”

Nigeria, a mono-product economy which allegedly uses almost all her oil revenue on salaries with very little left for infrastructure development, could borrow a leaf from the USB. Instead of exporting eaw materials, researchers should be equipped and motivated to go to work on products like oil palm, cassava, cocoa, and groundnut.

As a US-based Nigerian, Dr. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, has rightly said, "application of technology could move millions of Africans from poverty to middle-class

*Soy-based mattress foam

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 31 Monsuru Olowoopejo G o v e r n o r B a b a t u n d e Fashola has justified the reason for the introduction of Chinese Language into Lagos State public schools' syllabus, saying “it is an economic decision from the government.”

Fashola who spoke at the third edition of the youth stakeholders’ forum and the graduation of over 900 trainees under the Lagos Ignite Enterprise Employability Project III, held at the 10 Degrees Event Centre at Oregun, Ikeja, added that it would enhance the commercial skills of the pupils who will be the next generation of businessmen in the state. He said that the decision was taken to prosper the country ’s economy especially Lagos State, adding; “it was also based on the inroads that China is making in the global economy through industrialisation.

According to him, “It is an economic decision.

And the debate is now in the public domain. The China Economy is ranked among the first five economies today.

They have started doing business in Nigeria and many African countries.

“And there is need for us to understand that if we must engage

Why we introduced Chinese SUCCESS RECIPE language in public schools UDEME ARCHIBONG —Fashola The anchor of success WITH

countries with such economic potentials, we must learn their language urgently, if they (Chinese) can learn our local language with ease,” Fashola added.

He said in Lagos for example, Government often finds it difficult to get Nigerians who can act as interpreters even at contract vetting sessions which often leave the state with the choice of employing Chinese to act as interpreters of documents prepared by the Chinese.

The Governor, however, said that learning Mandarin as the Chinese language is called, is not compulsory but optional for the pupils.

Fashola noted that in the past, “our parents learnt Latin before it became a dying language in the country.

And when t h e y discovered that the F r e n c h economy has g r e a t potentials a n d possibilities, they began to learn their language and abandoned Latin. This was made easier with the influx of F r e n c h companies in the country.”

On whether it would affect pupils from speaking the local language, the governor explained; “The responsibility for teaching local language lies at home. Parents should speak their mother tongue to their children. Leave them,

N *Minister for Education when they get to school they will learn how to speak English.

He lamented the attitude of parents in the state, saying “ we have become too English that we do not speak our local languages at home anymore. This is the internal change and internal value.”

Youths tasked on career choice

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

N

igerian youths have been urged to be disciplined, self-reliant and hard working as they prepare for the future.

This advice was given by an educationist, Mrs Olukemi Lawal, Chief Education Officer, Education District 1, Agege, at a seminar for youths organised by the Ladies Auxiliary Knights of St. John International, KSJI, of Christ The King Catholic Church, Akowonjo, Lagos.

Speaking on the topic: Choosing a Career, Lawal who was the guest lecturer said; “There is no doubt that one of the major causes of the current upheaval and spate of economic and violent crimes may not be unconnected with the state of the Nigerian economy. There are so many uneducated, educated, unskilled and skilled yet, unemployed youths roaming the length and breadth of

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this country. The downturn of the economy has given rise to general despair and has turned a large segment of productive population to idle hands. Available data from the Federal Office of Statistics showed an estimate of about 5.0 million Nigerian youths as unemployed.

While advising the youths to be circumspect when choosing a career, the guest lecturer said, “in making realistic career, the ability, interest and aptitude of

an individual should be taken into consideration.

In making career decision, with respect to the Nigerian economy, we need to inculcate in our students skills that can lead to self-reliance.

Youths need to be empowered, that is, they should be encouraged to choose a skill that will enable them to have more control over their lives or any situation they find themselves in.

She also admonished parents not to foist a career on their wards rather, they should help

them by awakening the right potentials in them and help them to make important decisions about their career.

Also speaking on the occasion, the President of the Ladies Auxiliary Knights of St. John, District 1, Lagos, Sister Funke Igwillo explained that the programme was organised for youths to awake their consciousness on various issues that affect them, especially on the use of social media network.

Urhobo youths laud Atamu on scholarship scheme

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fforts by Atamu Social Klub of Nigeria, a panUrhobo group of professionalsbasedinLagos, to lift the Urhobo nation through a scholarship fund, have started generating massive interest among youths of school age.

Conceived as a tool for engendering growth and development in the Urhobo nation, the Atamu

Scholarship Scheme is open to brilliant but indigent Urhobo students in all tertiary institutions in the country.

The students who are required to complete a form designed for the scheme, would be selected after thorough screening and interview by a team of experts led by Fidelis Odia, the vice-president of the

club.

Atamu, according to Valentine Omamogho, the president of the club, came up with the initiative after a series of consultations with experts and leaders from the Urhobo nation affirmed that educational support for students was necessary to realise the club’s objective of promoting social, cultural and economic development in the Urhobo nation.

othing great has ever been accomplished without the force of faith. Behind every success story, there lies a potent force that demolishes the obstructions that lie on the pathway to destiny.

He was a painter and had never handled clay in his life. He became the newly elected President of the society of Arts and Sciences and they planned to give a medal to Thomas Edison. The artist who was to sculpt the portrait for the medal disappointed them. And the painter decided to do it himself. “It was very unwise for me to do, perhaps, because with such a great man as Edison as my subject, I might not have survived a failure.” He stated. “But I never let the thought of failure enter my mind.

My knowledge of my unity with the Universal One and the fact that I must do this thing, and the inspired belief, that I should do it as a demonstration of my belief in man’s unlimited power, made me ignore the difficulties that lay in the way” he revealed. He headed for Florida with a mass of Clay. On his way, he did not allow his mind to wander off his goal but he took control of his mind and engaged in inspirational meditation with the God Mind in order to be able to draw the unlimited power and wisdom within to produce a masterpiece. He affirmed, “I knew in advance, from long experience in trying to achieve the unachievable, that meditation and communion between me and Universal Self was the only way to achieve that impossibility.” Walter Russel accomplished his task and it was one of the greatest mile posts in his career.

When we reach life cross road; will we take the high road of faith or will we tread the path of doubt and fear? In the moment of emergency, will we respond to faith or will we react in fear?

Faith is a highly prized virtue that is simple but not easy to receive and maintain. And therefore, it cannot be found in every mind. Faith can only be found in a prepared mind because it takes a prepared mind to receive faith. Faith can only be received and sustained by the mind that exercises full and absolute control of its thought processes.

Love is the soil by which faith thrives and grows to maturity. Before faith can be received and sustained, you must rid your mind from a negative mental attitude. It is impossible for faith to co-habit with thoughts of fear, doubt, worry, hatred, envy, greed, vanity and the like. The mind left on its own cannot breed faith. Faith is the deliberate state of the mind acquired by an individual.

Faith is an inner conviction of the reality of your purpose triggered into manifestation by deliberate action which is dictated from within. Faith is the transformational dynamite that turns impossibilities into possibilities. Faith never gives up but always persists until the prize is won. Faith is a singular force that has defied the rule of science. Every invention and discovery came to being by the force of faith. At the core of civilization lies the creative force of faith. Without faith human advancement becomes paralyzed. Faith is what turns adversity into advantages. You can never outperform the level of your faith. Your life is as great as your faith capacity or as small as your dominating fear. Faith is the connecting link between the finite mind of man and the infinite mind of God. For faith to become your ally, the mind must be dominated by positive emotions.

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

E-LIBRARY PROJECTS: Continues from pg 25

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NIVERSITY dons from Africa and the United States at the weekend spoke with one voice that, it is high time Nigerian government acquired her DNA database in order to bringdown the rate of crime in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar has said that in order to aid DNA test and track down perpetrators of crime, the Federal Government should acquire a national database for its citizenry.

The I.G who made this plea during a two-day DNA forensics colloquium, titled; From Crime Scene to the Courtroom, held at the University of Lagos said the rate of crime in the country would have been reduced to the barest minimum if a database was instituted where there will be no hiding place for anyone who commits crime, adding, “The issue of Boko Haram insurgence would have been a thing of the past.”

Speaking through the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Forensic Science Service), Mr Ovie Oyokomino, he noted that if a police detective in the process of crime investigation comes across fingerprint, palmprint, saliva, blood stain or any other means of identification at crime scene, we can compare it with the ones already stored in the database through DNA to know the actual suspect.

The Police Force boss who sponsored 20 police officers to the programme which attracted speakers from the US and South Africa, noted that DNA test is a new technology that aids the investigation of cases.

According to him, the unique thing about DNA is that any part that is left at the place of crime contains DNA that helps to solve the crime.

He explained that DNA test can be used to identify individuals except an identical twin, stressing that their fingerprints are,

Varsity dons, IGP call for national DNA database however, different from each other as God has created fingerprints to identify different individuals.

However, he pointed out that the setback in DNA test is that since a lot of criminals know that fingerprints can implicate them, they resorted to wearing gloves. With gloves, you don’t leave fingerprints at the crime scene.

Nonetheless, if in the process of committing the crime, he gets injured, he may leave blood stains somewhere or if his hair falls, DNA could be carried out on it and the perpetrator will be discovered.

"Besides, if the criminal smokes, we can get the DNA through the remains of the stick of cigarrate or if he drinks, we can get his

,

BY DAYO ADESULU

identified because they were burnt beyond recognition, a DNA test will be carried out on the victim and a family member to see if they are the same.

He said: “The Nigeria Police Force are in the process of building DNA capability. We have trained three officers to that effect.

The necessary equipment are being put in place.

However, DNA technology as known all over the world, is not cheap to acquire so because of the cost, we are taking it in batches. Our personnels received their training in the USA. "We have two more phases to go to complete the process, so that if any thing happens that demands DNA test, we will not

All ministers have signed performance agreement with Mr. President; hence we are putting more pressure to see that we all meet our targets and boost our performance rating

fingerprints on the glass or beer bottle."

It is not limited to criminals alone, he said, adding that DNA test could also be used to detect the paternity of a child where two men are claiming ownership of the child from the same women.

"Not that we cannot use other methods to detect this, but the best approach is DNA test."

Again, when a crime is committed and the victim’s body is no longer at the scene, but the blood stain or hair is found, DNA test could be performed on their relatives to get the similarity of the victim's blood.

A typical example of such is during a plane crash where victims' bodies could not be

,

be referring them to foreign laboratories.

We have used DNA to solve a number of cases. In 2007, we used DNA test to identify the killer of the Dutch woman who was murdered in Ikoyi. Even as we speak, we have cases that the public may be helpless saying that the police is not doing anything. But, we are using DNA test to arrive at the proper identification and prosecution of the offenders."

Speaking in the same vein, the Director of Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences, US, Dr Matthias Okoye who delivered lectures on Crime and Crime Scene, DNA Evidence Presentation in Court and The Need for Legislation said, the limitation of forensic sciences is

Dr Matthias Okoye based on the knowledge of people who practise it, it should be collected, preserved and analysed appropriately. From where it is taken to the laboratory for analysis, the person is important because it can destroy the whole process.

Was the sample appropriately collected before it was brought to the lab for analysis? Was it done according to standards? There must be a good quality control in DNA test.

Because of the importance of DNA, many cases have been thrown out of court in the US and other parts of the world."

On the inability of DNA test to detect the perpertrator of a crime by a twin, he said the twins must be identical before it can be difficult for DNA test. If the twins are not identical, DNA test can detect the one who actually committed the crime. If they have similar profiles, it will be difficult to identify.

However, with DNA test and police investigations, you identify the crime suspect even if he is an identical twin. Forensic investigation, police, individual investigation and other experts will help to arrive at a perfect investigation. Many of us in the diaspora are trained experts in the field of forensics."

Oando Foundation vows to transform Nigerian schools

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HE Oando Foundation, an arm of Oando PLC, at Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York emphasized the urgent need to transform education in Nigeria and across the African continent. The Foundation is calling on government, business and donor organisations to make the investments necessary for C M Y K

Nigeria to meet the Millennium Development Goals to achieve universal primary education and lower poverty rates.

Established in 2005 by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, CGI convenes a community of global leaders to address the world’s most pressing challenges and proffer solutions.

The Oando

Foundation is a CGI member and for the first time, will pledge a commitment to action to address the urgent need for sustainable development across Nigeria’s education sector. As Africa’s most populous nation, this commitment promises to transform education for more than 60,000 children in 100 public primary schools by 2015. ” We know that knowledge is

the bedrock of world-class aspirations,” said Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC. “To ensure future generations of Africans can compete on the global stage, we need to ensure excellence at every point in the education experience.”

The Oando Foundation is improving the quality of education at every level –

at some of the commercial banks holding the funds in trust for government and the contractors, saying “their dubious banking policies constitute hindrance to achieving set targets in the education sector.

“It may please all the stakeholders, comprising the banks, contractors and UBEC officials gathered here today, to know that this meeting was convened to unravel the root problems militating against the completion of most government projects bordering on education.

“This meeting is not just for the Girl-Child or Almajiri projects, it was called to find out why there is slow pace of work going-on on all educational project sites.

“Let me warn that government will not hesitate to revoke any contract or mete out sanctions where necessary, if it finds out that UBEC officials, the contractors or the banks themselves are the ones constituting these problems for us.

“Government is aware of some of the shady dealings of Nigerian banks, most of them keep our funds unnecessarily in their coffers to generate interest but we do not say don’t keep our money, what we are saying is do not allow it jeopardise government projects.

“All ministers have signed performance agreement with Mr. President; hence we are putting more pressure to see that we all meet our targets and boost our performance rating.”

Meanwhile, as the meeting was being presided over by the minister, some of the contractors, UBEC officials who ought to monitor the projects and heads of banking institutions traded blames over delay in the contracts.

Some contractors claimed the banks are unyielding in the release of mobilisation grants, hence delays in mobilising their workers to site, while the banks observed that the contractors usually fail to submit their Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) document to them for processing on time. investing in renovation and building of schools; books and teaching materials; school-based management committees; teacher training; creative center development and scholarships.

"We are also putting early learning centers in all our funded schools. The Foundation is working with the Federal Government of Nigeria to shape education policy and the Local Government Education Authority to implement best practices at the primary school level.

Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 33

*Aerial view of flood submerged Delta communities

Aftermath of Delta flood: Gov, others cry for help I

T was an unexpected and unwelcome visitor and ruthless in the magnitude of the disaster it left in its wake. Indeed at the last count, two persons have lost their lives, no fewer than 100 communities submerged by flood and more than 300,000 persons rendered homeless across 10 local government areas of Delta State.

Some people climbed trees to escape from the flood after their houses were submerged in Patani, Isoko South and North, Ndokwa East, Bomadi, Burutu, Oshimili North and South, Ughelli North and Ughelli South local government areas. Nevertheless, from available reports, the coast is not clear; more communities could still go underwater.

Clearly, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who has been moving from one affected community to the other, in the last few days, to assess the situation, seemed overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster. And this is why he has called on the Federal Government, the private sector, philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the state.

However, he has set up rehabilitation camps to cater for victims at Asaba and other parts of the state as well as directed top government officials from flood-prone areas to return to their communities to help in rescue operations.

“The first camp will be at Saint Patrick’s College, Asaba. We will also set up other camps in the following areas: Tuomo in Burutu, Bomadi in Bomadi, Okwagbe in Ughelli South, Patani in Patani, Aboh in Ndokwa East”, the Governor said in a broadcast.

Reviewing the damage caused by the flooding in the state about four days after, Uduaghan said that the scope of the damage from the flooding was far beyond the C M Y K

capacity the state could cope with. His words: “One thing is clear: Despite clear warnings about this happening, we may have completely underestimated the capacity of the flood to destroy. This force of nature has been extremely ferocious.

“As many of you know, the latest disaster was triggered by the unusually heavy rainfall that was recorded this year and the opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun, which was thought to be

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BY EMMA AMAIZE

From available reports, the coast is not clear; more communities could still go underwater

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a proactive step to contain what, if they had delayed further, would have been a major catastrophe.

“Now, if that decision has caused this level of havoc, imagine what would have happened, had there been a further delay?

We shall be seeking federal assistance in view of the destruction”.

According to him, the situation on ground was “grave and grim” with over 100 communities in no less than 10 local government areas of the state impacted negatively.

In particular, he said that the River Niger has spread over its banks covering an average distance of between six kilometres and 10 kilometres inland in the affected communities, stressing that the tide was increasing by the day.

His words: ‘’Within a period of three days the number of communities affected increased astronomically and for now there is

fear of total flooding of the affected communities”.

Describing the situation as “devastating and a huge challenge”, he said most of the rehabilitation camps were already recording about 100,000 displaced persons explaining that mattresses, food items and medical facilities were being arranged for the victims in the interim.

H

e lamented that two per sons have died from the flooding, but added that the committee headed by the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) to tackle the challenges of the flooding, was working round the clock to ensure that no more life was lost. He charged members of the committee to be transparent in their dealings and ensure that no item meant for the victims were diverted. The Governor charged the committee to set up subcommittees in the local areas and involve residents of the affected communities in the distribution of relief materials and movement of the people and their property.

Dr Uduaghan appealed to those who were still in the flood prone zones not to wait until they were in danger before coming out, explaining that the state government was ready to assist them with both land and river transportation to relocate. ‘’The river is surging into the communities on a daily basis and increasing in tempo, let everyone in the flood prone areas come out before it is too late because a stitch in time saves nine,” he added.

Access denied Briefing the Governor, the chair of the Rehabilitation Committee on Flood Victims, Prof. Utuama sounded a note of alarm that it was becoming increasingly difficult to access some of the communities affected by flood.

Prof Utuama said the Commit-

tee has gone round to take physical counts of communities affected in the state and assured victims of the state government’s determination to secure their lives and property and make them comfortable.

He said for now the rehabilitations camps were well secured and commended some Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, particularly the Red Cross Society for their support.

Prof Utuama said though the task was herculean, members of the committee would work day and night to bring succour to the victims.

Massive reclamation Meantime, the Governor has announced that the state government would soon embark on massive reclamation of land along the River Niger banks in Asaba, Okwe, Oko and other communities affected by flooding in the state.

He also said, for the time being, government would not allow victims of the flood disaster to reside in the flood-prone areas after evacuation to save them from future occurrences.

Governor Uduaghan, who stated this after an aerial inspection of some flood-ravaged communities in Isoko, Ndokwa and Oshimili South areas of the state, added that no structural development would also be allowed within 10 kilometres inside the flood prone areas, to ensure that no life or property was lost.

Clearly shocked at the level of destruction in Aboh and environs, he said the decision became necessary because no matter the temporary measures taken, the place would still be flooded in future.

His words: “There is a lot of work to be done; first, the extent of the flooding is quite deep inside, about 10-km inside, those places are regarded as floodprone areas, and we will not

allow development to take place in the area and there is need for reclamation.

“It is obvious that there is need for a lot of relocation before embankment. The ones camping must leave, while some will be relocated”.

Navy joins rescue operation In the words of Uduaghan: “In some of our effected communities, the situation was so bad we had to send the Navy to mount a rescue operation. n the last few days, Delta state, as some other states across the country, has witnessed heavy damage to our communities, where lives and properties have been lost. In our state, it has been tales of woe for our people.

Lives have been lost. Properties and farmlands have been submerged, roads and bridges washed away. The situation has been desperate for our people.

“I am aware of instances where people rendered homeless climbed trees to survive. People have had to adopt different strategies to stay alive. I salute the courage of those who survived in the teeth of this great danger.

I condole on behalf of the government those who lost their loved ones”.

I

Flood protection system to be improved “Following what has happened we cannot continue to be ignorant or negligent of the environment. We are also going to improve our enlightenment mechanism to educate our people more on the issue of environment and climate change.

Old ways of thinking and doing things have to change. It is for this reason that earlier in the year we took steps to remove structures that block natural water channels; we are not going to relent in our efforts”, he stated.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

BAKASSI: Boundary law places Peninsula in Nigeria Prof Walter Ofonagoro in this segment argues that the Law No.126 of 1954, placed Bakassi in Nigeria, and not in Cameroon, at independence.

This shows that Rio del Rey has remained the Boundary since 1893.

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C M Y K

have stated that during their one-on-one meeting in April 1971, President Ahidjo asked his surveyor to produce a map, and stop arguing, and turned to his Nigerian guest, and asked him to indicate the spot on the map where the Thalweg of the Akwa Yafe River should start, to draw out the three mile line which should indicate where the maritime Results of the voting in plebiscite districts in southern Camerouns demarcation should begin. Surveyor ry ratification of the Agreements, Coker pointed to a spot and Genon the basis of which the ICJ eral Gowon drew the line. It made its controversial ruling, has turned out not to be the center of already implemented it by ruling the navigable channel of the Akwa that Cross River State is no long- Yafe River, which the Treaty of er a Littoral State. The significant March 11, 1913 stated, must be point here is that the Federal wholly to the East of the NavigaGovernment signed into interna- ble Channels of the Cross River tional law, the Ngo/Coker line of and Calabar River: demarcation of sea frontiers be“The line that General Gowon tween Nigeria and Cameroon, drew, on the advice of Chief Coksince June 1, 1975, and the er, was not the Navigable ChanYaoundé I and II Declarations of nel of the Akwa Yafe River, inAugust 14, 1970 and April 4, I971, stead, it ran into a ridge, and cut ignoring the Nigerian Interna- across the Navigable Channels of tional Border which we inherited the Cross and Calabar Rivers, at independence, which had which the British had intended, been there since 1893, and al- (with German agreement), to be lowed Cameroon to be drilling completely on the Nigerian side, Nigerian oil, even at the cost of west of Akwa Yafe channel”. destroying the old Calabar River Drawn out to its nautical limit Navigable Channel since 1971. of 18 miles, it gave away to Cameroon a huge area of the seas offCalabar river shore Cross River State, and navigable channel brought Cameroonian oil drilling platforms right into the navigaWhat this means is that Nige- ble channel of the Calabar River, ria has been maintaining two in- since April 1971. What did Nigeternational boundaries since ria do? She went right in there 1970-75, the one, at Rio Del Rey and sank her own drilling rigs. is the legal one. It is inviolable, In 1972, the Nigerian Ports Auand therefore not nullifiable, by thority was instructed by Commoan established principle of inter- dore Wey, to dredge a new Navnational law. The other is, the igable Channel for Calabar Port, Ngo/Coker line, drawn and this time, more to the West of the signed by General Gowon him- old one. The only problem is that self, on the advice of his Director the new one is dangerously close of Surveys, at the Yaoundé meet- to the Ibeno Springs, a whirlpool ing, where he reached an agree- area, in the Sea, close to the Ibeno ment with his Cameroonian coun- shore, which has been proterpart, Alhaji Ahmadu Ahidjo, nounced a hazard to shipping. who also signed. Some scholars, Every Head of State, including both Cameroonian and Nigerian General Gowon, has rejected and

denounced that line, and that includes General Muritala Mohammed, General Obasanjo (1977), President Shagari, President Babangida, and General Abacha.

The Supreme Military Council refused to ratify it in 1971 and 1975, but because it had been signed, Nigeria was caught! It was on that line, trickishly extorted from General Gowon by Alhaji Ahidjo that the World Court decision has been based. It was not drawn as stipulated in Article 21 of the “dead” Agreement of March 11, 1913, “due wholly East of the Calabar and Cross River Navigable channels”. Instead, it was drawn West across the two channels of Calabar and Cross River. It destroyed them both for the purposes of Marine Navigation. Can the Ngo/Coker line be therefore said to have been established as stipulated in Article 21 of the Treaty of March 11, 1913? Certainly not.

Continues tomorrow

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that Region.” This same provision is repeated in Article 140 (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1963. At independence, Nigeria was a true federation, and Law No. 126 of 1954 defined the territories of the Federation of Nigeria, in terms of the territories of its component units.

The only territory belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions as defined by the Boundaries Definition Law No.126 of 1954, was the Federal Capital Territory of Lagos. Thus, the continental shelf of Eastern Nigeria, in 1960, included the land under the seas off-shore Bakassi Peninsula. That was why the Eastern Region, and after 1967, its successor littoral states of south-eastern Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa, have continued to enjoy off-shore oil derivation revenues from the Federal Government. This constitutional confirmation, makes Bakassi part of the territory of the Eastern Region, and part of the territory of Cross River State, because the east end boundary of Eastern Nigeria at the Rio del Rey is right on the Bakassi Peninsula. Thus, clearly, the Law No.126 of 1954, placed Bakassi in Nigeria, and not in Cameroon, at independence. This shows that Rio del Rey has remained the Boundary since 1893.

In a recent advertisement in The Punch Newspaper of August 3, 2012, the Government of Cross River stated, in connection PROF WALTER OFONAGORO with the matter of the 76 oil wells dispute ern Region of Nigeria, in the Con- with Akwa Ibom State: “The disstitution of the Federation of Ni- pute over the 76 oil wells is simgeria, 1960; and the Constitution ple. The territory and oil wells of the Federal Republic of Nige- have always been in Cross River State as part of Bakassi, Akpabuyo ria, 1963.

We have noted that the Bound- and Calabar South Local Governaries Definition Law No.126 of ment Areas. Because Bakassi has 1954, defined the southern been handed over to Cameroon, boundary of the Eastern Region Akwa Ibom State now wants to of Nigeria as “the Sea”. Article take over this portion of Cross 134 (6) of the Constitution of the River State which did not go to Federation of Nigeria, 1960, states Cameroon”.

The Nigerian Supreme Court, that “the continental shelf of the Region shall be deemed part of without waiting for parliamenta-

Continues from yesterday HE BOUNDARY LAW No. 126 of 1954. Let us return briefly to the Boundary law No. 126 of 1954. That law referred to the Southern Boundary of Eastern Nigeria as the “Sea”. There is, therefore, no doubt that the Sea referred to in that boundary law was the Sea at the South shore of Bakassi Peninsula. The border is on the Western bank of the Rio Del Rey, and that entire Western bank is the Ports limit. That law is still in force. What this means in effect, is that Britain never passed on any Bakassi inheritance to the Cameroons. Britain had simply returned Bakassi to its original owners before leaving Nigeria.

Consequently, Nigeria is the one with the title to Bakassi.

Therefore, under the principle of the inviolability of inherited Colonial boundaries declared by the OAU Resolution AHG/Res. 16 (1) of the Organization of African Unity, in Cairo, Egypt, on July 21, 1964, the Uti Possidetis, Ubi Possidetis, so far as the Rio Del Rey boundary is concerned, belongs to Nigeria. Definition of the “Sea” as the Southern Border of East-

The line that General Gowon drew, on the advice of Chief Coker, was not the Navigable Channel of the Akwa Yafe River, instead, it ran into a ridge, and cut across the Navigable Channels of the Cross and Calabar Rivers, which the British had intended, (with German agreement), to be completely on the Nigerian side, west of Akwa Yafe channel

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—35

The Etinyin of Bakassi, Dr. Etim Okon Edet, is not only the paramount ruler of Bakassi but also chairman of the Cross River State Council of Chiefs. With less than a week to the final date for a possible appeal for the review of the ICJ judgment and reluctance of the Federal Government to hearken to the cries of Bakassi people, Dr. Edet tells Vanguard that those who ceded Bakassi and threw over three hundred thousand people into destitution should face trial for crimes against humanity.

By HUGO ODIOGOR, Foreign Affairs Editor.

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HE power that the people of Bakassi gave to the Obong of Calabar was attorney that is the Obong should help them to sign the agreement.

Which means there is an original owner who has now mandated that you act on their behalf? So the Obong acted on behalf of the people of Bakassi and signed that treaty on their behalf.

Now, the third party who is the British people, they also signed another treaty. Just like the Obong of Calabar, what he did not have, he cannot give out. So we are going to ask the British authority why they did that to us.

Why they say the land belong to them? They have to tell. The world would come to know what part they played. Was it their land?

Were they right in giving it out?

Which is now a topic of controversy today? So we are going to face that.

The Federal Government said if they ask for a review, the world would laugh at them, do you agree with this, and what do you expect in such a situation?

You can even see that Gowon is silent on this issue up till today.

Obasanjo has not made any statement about the mistakes they have made.

Protection of destiny and integrity Like I said, I will continue to pray to God to prolong life for them to see the end so that they can tell the story. Now we have heard that Nigeria will be laughing stock over the going back of the review of the judgment by the ICJ. Is it that Bakassi is now made a sacrificial lamb? They swore an oath to protect the destiny and integrity of this land. They have not done so. But they should understand that as it is now life of people are involved. Both Gowon and Obasanjo should be tried for war time and peace time atrocities visited on Bakassi land. Our oil and land they have given to Cameroon and made us refugees for ever.

When Bakassi people talk about resettlement, what is it that comes to their mind?

As far as I am concerned, we want back our land. At the initial C M Y K

point we were deceived. We were told that for us to be obedient servant, we have to obey our president. For the president of your country to call you one on one and plead with you. Obasanjo deceived us. There are other implications that you are not aware of now. He had said: “Please you guys should leave the place, we are going to put you somewhere and almost a similar place that you were before.”

Your majesty, you mentioned Donald Duke that he was in government. You also mentioned that the president as that time called you to meet with them but why is it that since this problem came up; Cross River has kept quiet for very long?

Thank you very much. In other areas it is not so but they are playing politics with the lives of people but the almighty God himself will definitely visit all those who took part in the Bakassi problem one after the other. Today nobody is saying anything that he/she did this and it was done wrongly and that he was sorry and nobody is asking any question which means there was coherence from top to bottom.

Peoples' complaints If you are a minister and you gave out job and the job was not properly done and the people are complaining and whatever the decision they write to the minister, he suppresses it. The minister that did not take part in it would want to know if at all the job was not properly done if at all it was done. But you see the whole thing he just gave out the money.

You are talking about the N4 billion set aside for resettlement, well I don’t know about that. All of them are playing politics but for how long will they continue to play politics. Today, let me say it clearly it is Bakassi today, tomorrow it may be Bekwara, the day after tomorrow it may be Bayelsa. And it would go on like that. So when they view what is happening here as the end, it is not so. So it can happen to any person. Let’s look at our own example to be a case study.

When you become a refugee you become an immigrant in your land. There is nothing we have

Etinyin Dr. Etim Okon Edet, paramount ruler of Bakassi

not done. We have written to the United Nations General Assembly likewise others. Nigeria today is a global village. Going to the court is a serious matter and taking judgment is a very serious matter. Nigeria in the world today is a global village. Nobody can say he is ignorant of the Bakassi problem and that injustice that has been done to a community in Nigeria.

Well, maybe the Court is thinking that if justice was done or that area was given out was a no man’s land, whatever they were looking at. But we never participated in the war. We never knew what was going on at the ICJ. In fact even when the war was on, we did not know because we never participated in it.

It was in 2001 that I started hearing about the case in ICJ because we never took part in it we were not taken along. In any case those people do not have the right to decide for us where we want live.

But I will tell you that our area is not going over to Cameroon. The ICJ has finished their work; the Attorney General of the federation recently said so to the president and the foreign affairs minister that they are not going back to ICJ.

ey but the money they are already making in Bakassi is blood money. Whoever is making money there now or is trying to make money there in the nearest future is making blood money except the proper thing is done, except justice is done and except the people are no more dying. People are no more interested in the human factor but the oil money. They are looking for blood money.

Well the situation is the same.

We built about three secondary schools in Abana including several primary schools. But these schools are no more there again.

Each time I attend May 27 Children’s day and October 1 Independence day I kept on telling the political leaders that I would not attend these ceremonies again if I don’t see the primary school at Abana and children passing.

The schools are no more, the people are scattered. The people you only see there are the councilors, chairman without a local government.

The allocation given to Bakassi is not a hidden thing. It is on the internet. Bakassi is still existing on that law and the allocation Bakassi is getting is because of that law. So I don’t know anything more than that. That is why I said

Concluded

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Nigeria should leave Bakassi alone – Paramount ruler

Why has the issue of Bakassi only centered on oil and its resources and not the people?

That is the question we should ask the people and the entire world. You know people are just looking at where they can make money even when they steal mon-

they must be removed for us to be able to conduct issues because we existed before Nigeria, we existed before Cameroon and we existed before the local government.

We have been there before the local government was attached to Bakassi. We were known as the Bakassi people and not Bakassi local government. So why have they refused to leave us alone with their laws and allow us to stand how we used to stand?

Cameroon had never entered there before. They know they can never enter there ordinarily. We are riverine people and in that time, to leave Bakassi to Calabar is a long journey that takes days.

They know how we catered for them then.

We need to be left alone. Nigeria, please leave us alone. You don’t need us again. You don’t need the people but you need their resources. Come to think of it where are the Bakassi people that were in the Peninsula. They are not there. So if they do immunization Bakassi local government is not there to do immunization. Where would they live, they are not there. So let them release us. If they release us Cross River will be willing to release us.

So what is the message for Bakassi people?

The message is that very soon, the problem would be over.We have few days to go and if God will perform His miracle, the few days is nothing. He can use one day to change event. He would allow you to flourish in your stupidity and ignorance and just like He told that rich man in the Bible that today that was the end. I am assuring all our people that this whole situation will come to an end and I that they should be constant in their prayers that He should do for them just like He did for the children of Israel. Today, Bakassi people is living with enemies surrounding them. So they should pray constantly.

Both Gowon and Obasanjo should be tried for war time and peace time atrocities visited on Bakassi land.

Our oil and land they have given to Cameroon and made us refugees for ever

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36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

The subsidiarity principle and federalism fissures in Nigeria — Pg 37

Fashola signs 4 bills into — Pg 37 law

NIGERIA: 52 years of what?

BY AWA KALU

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HREE days ago, Nigeria as a country, celebrated 52nd anniversary of its political independence from our colonial masters.

The anniversary was celebrated without fanfare or pomp and pageantry in acknowledgement of the global and widespread economic crisis that is top of the agenda of most developed, developing and least developed natons. It is also possible that the avoidance of any form of gloating in our celebrations is a clear acceptance of the argument of the majority that we are yet to arrive at our destination fifty two years after the journey began. Does any nation ever arrive at its destination or is the life of a nation a continuous journey punctuated by events whether remarkable or not? Yet again, one may ask, when did the life of this country begin? Some would say it began in 1914 when the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate with its counterpart, the Southern Protectorate was achieved. At this juncture, it may simply be noted that what is presently known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not a country, at least prior to the amalgation of 1914. The indigenous and heterogeneous groups often derogatorily referred to as ‘tribes’, which make up his country, existed independent of each other with different cultural and political systems. However, the Colonial masters, largely for economic and administrative reasons, felt that there was a need to merge the Northern and Southern Protectorates into a single colony. The fusion was achieved by Lord Fredrick Luggard, the then Governor General. It has often been wondered in several quarters whether the amalgamation was a political master stroke or an unmitigated error. The Jury is still out.

As has been acknowledged, every journey has a beginning and it will be left to the discerning reader to determine whether our journey as a country truly began in 1914.

Snippets from our colonial history show that Lord Luggard made way for Sir. Hugh Clifford in 1919 or thereabout. It was indeed Sir Clifford that laid the foundations of democracy in the colony in that the first Nigerian Constitution of 1922 was appropriately called the Clifford Constitution. That Constitution introduced a Legislative Council and for the first time,

enlightened Nigerians were afforded the opportunity of a say in the political affairs of their country. No matter how tenuous their emergence in government was, what cannot be contradicted is that the 1922 Constitution was the first of many in the annals of this country. Historians equally acknowledge that it was that Constitution that sowed the seeds of nationalist movements at that time.

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C M Y K

•Kalu (SAN)

•President Jonathan

We then agreed that we were proud to serve our sovereign motherland. For reasons that have not been completely satisfactory, that National Anthem which acknowledged our diversity and affirmed our unity was hastily jettisoned.

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The early Nationalists were the principal actors in the struggle against colonialism. Late Herbert Macaulay for instance, is often referred to as the father of Nigerian nationalism. He was later joined in the struggle by the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Sardauna of Sokoto and so on. It is believed that even women were not left out of the agitations that eventually led to the ouster of the Colonialists. What is popularly known as ‘the Aba women riots of 1929’ was a revolt against the

involvement of women in the payment of tax. Of course, the effort of women in the achievement of political independence cannot be ignored and this has been touted as one of the reasons for presenting the Amazons of yester-years on the face of the proposed 5,000 Naira currency. Even though suspended, it cannot be doubted that in the nearest future, an opportunity for acknowledging the efforts of women in nation building will present itself. What needs to be repeated is that the combined pressure from men and women culminated in democratic self rule, first, for the Western and Eastern Regions and later for the Northern Region as a prelude for the independence of the nation from Great Britain. owever, in the light of the fact that what calls for celebration is the 52nd anniversary of our independence from Great Britain, it would then seem incontestable that Nigeria was born on the 1st of October, 1960 and that it was on that date that its journey as a nation began.

A nation is akin to a human being, born naked and unable to do things for itself, assisted for many years, weaned and let loose to cater for his or herself. For the human, it is those who bring the child into the world that are responsible for its upbringing including providing instruction as to how to survive in a competitive environment. In the words of Hillary Clinton, formerly First Lady of the United States and new Secretary of State, ‘it takes a village’. If it takes a village to bring up a child, you may wonder, how many persons or villages

H

would it take to ‘bring up’ a nation?

All that can be said is that: for a nation, the burden is often cast on the proverbial ‘founding fathers’ whose dreams, wisdom and foresight propel the nation to greatness. According to that belief, it was the founding fathers of the United States who dreamt of a strong nation propelled by the ideals of equality of all human beings, that government itself is instituted for the welfare of the governed and that every person is entitled to the pursuit of happiness. The dream of America’s founding fathers has been vigorously pursued by their successors in the course of several decades or even centuries of democratic governance. In our own case, it appears that the dreams of our founding fathers were encapsulated in that first National Anthem which my generation recited effortlessly. We hailed Nigeria, our own dear native land, and we pledged that though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. We then agreed that we were proud to serve our sovereign motherland. For reasons that have not been completely satisfactory, that National Anthem which acknowledged our diversity and affirmed our unity was hastily jettisoned. In its place, we are beckoned on, as compatriots to arise and to obey Nigeria’s call. That call is to serve our fatherland with love, strength and faith. We then resonate in the belief that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. In unison, we confirm our preparedness to serve our fatherland with all our might and to produce only one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.

Whichever of the two anthems you choose or prefer, there is no iota of doubt that the ingredients of a national ideology are inherent in both. The question at this time, at our 52nd independence anniversary, is whether we have struck the chord embedded in Continues on page 38

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—37

The subsidiarity principle and federalism fissures in Nigeria

BY EDOBA OMOREGIE

I

HAVE carefully followed the debate on Nigeria's federal system with mixed feelings. While it is heartening that some of the contributions manifest a growing culture of enlightened engagement necessary for democratic consolidation, many needlessly constrict the debate to ethnicity and choose to haul insults as substitute for sense. The unwarranted fissures generated by such posturing only help to exhume primordial passion when indeed the federal question is neither about our obvious ethnic divide nor is it about who governs the country, but definitely about how best to organize and govern it. The truth is that if we focus on the real issues thrown up by the question and we get it right, every ethnic group within the country's borders should be able to realize their aspirations.

There seems to be general agreement that the federal system in Nigeria is broken because of too much accretion of power in the federal government. In spite of this apparent national consensus, there remains an intense disagreement on how to resolve this obvious imbalance in the powers distributed to the federal government and the states.

In this contribution, I propose a principle to help refocus the debate on the future of federalism in the country. I propose that we adopt the Principle of Subsidiarity as the template on which to erect our federal system and resolve the lingering question of which tier should exercise what power. The principle postulates that in a federation, the powers of government should be exercised by the sub-national units (states) because they possess more competence in solving problems which confront government daily and that the national (federal) government should only exercise power in respect of those matters in which the sub-national units are incapable of achieving result acting on their own because such matters are wide in scope, complex in nature or are of broad national effect. Implicit in the subsidiarity principle are the notions of cooperation C M Y K

and coordination. Both governments must cooperate; and must coordinate their activities to achieve set goals.

There is no question of closed

compartments of the domain of powers. Thus, a power ordinarily possessed by one government in the constitutional design could be exercised by the other if

properly donated depending on the scope, nature and effect of the goal.

The principle forms an integral part of federalism theory and manifests in the practical workings of successful federations the world over although not often expressed in their constitutions. Johannes Althusius in Politica Methodice Digesta, published in 1603 first formulated and proclaimed the subsidiarity principle as the cornerstone of federalism.

Most recently in 2011, two scholars (Calabresi and Bickford) took a hard look at the principle and reaffirmed

its indispensability in federal formation. In their paper, "Federalism and Subsidiarity: Perspective from Law", they identified four of its obvious virtues, namely: 1) subsidiarity ensures subnational variation in preferences; 2) it deepens competition for tax payers and business and thus improve the quality of service delivery; 3) it enhances experimentation to develop the best set of rules; and 4) it makes policy monitoring less costly and more effective when performed by state officials than when performed by federal officials since it is easier for people to physically observe and question government officials who are in close proximity to them than those far away in the federal government.

To be continued

Dr. Edoba Omoregie Faculty of Law, University of Benin edobaomoregie@yahoo.com, 08023381110

Fashola signs 4 bills into law

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

2012.

Fashola while signing the bills into law said he had no difficulties in giving assent to OVERNOR Babatunde the bills because of their Fashola of Lagos state, importance in the areas of has, signed four bills budgetary, educational presented by the State House improvement, and Land Use of Assembly into law aimed at Act performance. enhancing service delivery in Harping on the essence of the state.

The newly signed bills are for the laws, Gov Fashola expressed his an Appropriation Amendment & Re-Ordering Law 2012, a bill administration’s commitment towards ensuring delivery of to establish the State qualitative service to the Scholarship Board Law, while teeming populace as the other two bills which are indicated in the recently related are namely; the launched Lagos State Service Electronic Signatures Charter.

Regulations of 2012, and the The governor said the Survey Law Electronic newly signed Appropriation Signatures Regulations of Amendment and Re-Ordering

G

Law amended a previous law proposed earlier in the year with a view to attending to pertinent budgetary issues.

According to him, ‘’the new Lagos State Scholarship Board Law amends earlier provisions such as giving four year tenure for the membership of the board instead of two years as provided in the old law, and formalizing supervision by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education.’’

He added that the other two laws which are the Electronic Signatures Regulations Law and Survey Law Electronic Signatures Regulations were both designed to improve on the state’s land management system by making it possible

for Certificates of Occupancy and Surveys issued by state personnel to be signed electronically.

Fashola pointed out that the laws became necessary following the landmark achievement of the state in completion of its digital land mapping and conversion of Certificates of Occupancy which is almost ready for deployment.

Earlier, the Lagos state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye while presenting the drafts for the governor’s signature disclosed that the laws were meant to formalize activities in the affected sectors.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

NIGERIA: 52 years of what?

Continues from page 36 both anthems - the task of building a great Nigeria? In addition, can the successors to the founding fathers of this nation claim to have fulfilled the promise of the anthems recited by our youth?

The answer is not hard to find and we do not need any rocket scientist to grant us any illumination into our current travails in the build up to our independence anniversary. A careful examination of our recent history and social condition will leave no one in any doubt that following an incremental deterioration in our security situation, there has been a downgrading of our individual and collective well being. Were we statistically minded, for instance, it would have been easy to quantify the havoc wrought by unmitigated armed robbery, car snatching and allied offences. How do you quantify the economic danger posed by the rise in kidnapping in many states in the Niger Delta and SouthEast regions? Where is the barometer with which we can measure the economic mayhem arising from sustained militancy in the Niger Delta which fortunately, was ameliorated by the amnesty programme initiated by the Federal Government?

What about the confusion now generated by the random deployment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in different parts of the country leading to the dislocation of social and economic life? What about the understated impact of strikes such as the one occasioning a disruption of fuel supply to the nation’s capital which resulted in trauma for several residents?

What about the notable consequences of national disasters such as the recent flood in Lagos and more recently, other parts of the country? Can we be oblivious of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in parts of the Northern States? In the aggregate, it cannot be in doubt that the security of the state is the only guarantee for order, peace and good government. This was obvious to our founding fathers for which reason our extant constitution, in section 14(2)(b), declares that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.

National security is inseparable from the welfare of the people for which reason, it is accorded the status of a fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy. Can a nation celebrate without security?

C M Y K

•Senate President, David Mark In further answer, we may borrow a few words from a book (Foundations of a New Nigeria) edited by two great and celebrated scholars, Sam Oyovbaire and Tunji Olagunju. In their introduction, they argue that ‘History is a succession of events in the life of nations, of peoples or of communities.

Historical events are social cumulations. Fundamentally, one set of identifiable events in time and space is as much rooted in a preceding set as it is the root of succeeding events’. ‘Similarly’, they contend, ‘historical events in one place could become the genesis of events in other places depending, of course, on the critical nature of the former. In this manner of conceptualizing events, history could be said to be unrestricted by space and time.’ The authors further opine that history and historical events are not amorphous or shapeless occurrences. On the contrary, historical events and processes possess uniqueness which marks them as much the product of the past and of particular places, as they are sufficiently differentiated from their antecedents. Such uniqueness of history provides both the basis from a break from either the past or from events of other places, as well as the basis of a completely new future history.

The decisiveness of the unique nature and character of historical events and processes provides the basis for the differentiation in history. They then affirm a truism, on which basis our country may be judged, that a set of events and processes could be quite profound and long drawn-out with the attendant consequence that existing structures and values of a nation become completely broken or overturned, giving rise to new structures,

•Speaker, House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwa institutions, values and patterns of social conduct.

With the history of Nigeria as a plank on which to analyze her problems, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, a foremost nationalist and public affairs analyst lambasts this country in his book NIGERIA: THE POLITICAL TRANSITION & THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY as a nation in search of identity and consciousness. He argues that

We are resilient and we will make it even if slowly and painfully. The fact that we have had 12 years of unbroken civil rule is eloquent testimony to our steadfastness the dilemma of contemporary Nigeria is mind-boggling.

Nigeria is bedeviled by a myriad of problems which require radical therapies. In very strong words, he compares ‘the enormous problems of the polity’ with ‘the reality of a tragic dance of death; a ritual with no purpose and a rite in celebration of decay and putrefaction’. Arthur Nwankwo further contends that ‘in examining the Nigerian condition’, he is ‘reminded of that parabolic signification of communal ethos in a society caught in the web of organized intrigue.

The belief that a disease which is ravaging a land needs the blood of an animal matching its potency for exoneration, exorcism and amelioration holds absolutely

true for the Nigerian State’. In a tone brimming with resignation and surrender, he alleges that ‘the only qualification to the timehonored liberationist paradigm is that not even the blood of a mortal, and a clansman’s at that , may have the efficacy of purgation, or the potency of regeneration’.

As angry as his words indicate, he however takes the path of a statesman and asks; ‘what are the basic tentative measures likely to arrest the calm strive towards chaos and the fatalistic journey into the molting abyss and morass of the unknown?’ He concludes that Nigeria’s drift into chaos is both attitudinal and institutional and his belief is that arresting the drift demands the re-orientation of individual and collective awakening to realities.

I have listened to radio and television discussions aimed at appraising Nigeria at 52. It appears that there is a consensus that so soon after its Golden Jubilee anniversary, our country is afflicted with pre-pubescent and adolescent problems.

Some analysts even remind us that the Jubilee was celebrated with an unprecedented bombing. We need not be deterred by negative tendencies. Touted as the most populous black nation on earth, recognized as a country endowed with vast and extensive human and natural resources, blessed with the potential to be what it can be, we still suffer the misfortune of a burden of who will bell the cat i.e. the cat of liberation from self-imposed stagnation and an unwillingness to march into unrestrained prosperity. We are often in search of the ideas that will give fillip to our destiny. Thus, at independence, we were given a constitution which tied us somehow to the Monarchy of

Great Britain. By 1963 when we parted ways with that constitution, we gave unto ourselves a Republican Constitution. Then, anchored on allegations of corruption and misrule, a coup d’etat overthrew that constitution and for several years we laboured under military leadership and fought a bitter civil war which deepened the schisms in the polity. In 1979, the military retreated to the Barracks in the belief that politicians had learnt their lessons. On the last day of 1983, there was yet another coup d’etat, followed by another in 1985 and 1993.

Historians are familiar with the flip-flop in the formulation of policies that followed including the failure of a well designed transition to civilrule programme. Recognizing that it is the inalienable right of the people to choose who should regulate their affairs, the military again retreated to their Barracks in 1999 and have not given any overt indication of an intention to return despite the predilections of our politicians, some of which may sound as an invitation of some sort. We are presently labouring under the burden of electoral reform, constitutional amendments complicated by dog fights at the National Assembly, a seemingly ugly cat and mouse game with the Presidency, financial and personal insecurity and a legion of other problems. But we are resilient and we will make it even if slowly and painfully.

The fact that we have had 12 years of unbroken civil rule is eloquent testimony to our steadfastness.

Truly, it is a wonder that despite our wobbling and fumbling, we have lived under the umbrella of one Nigeria – an umbrella which is bigger than those of other rainmakers; an umbrella that is bigger than those of ethnic jingoists and chauvinists; an umbrella that is bigger than those of professional politicians, of certain fraudulent professors and other professionals, and of even those who do not like Nigeria. I remember that date, 1st October 1960. As a primary school pupil decorated in a new school uniform and brand new converse shoes, I took part in a march past on the day that the Union Jack was lowered and the Green-WhiteGreen was hoisted. That flag will continue to fly, our frailties notwithstanding. It is my belief that we will continue to hail Nigeria, our own dear native land. Indeed, the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—39

In the valley of darkness(4) Without much rhetoric, I will go straight to the crux of the matter today.

The story you are about to read was narrated to me by a woman I met a couple of weeks ago. For the sake of this publication, we will call her Monica. Monica just recently gave birth to a bouncing, healthy, baby boy after almost a decade in a childless marriage.

One would think that she ought to be the happiest woman on the planet right now, but Monica’s situation is far from this as she is deeply depressed and almost mentally unstable right now.

Her story in fact, raises a number of questions which I’m hoping we will be able to analyse and put in proper perspective.

Please do write in for possible solution or simply contribute to this interesting and mind blowing story. The deed has already been done, but there ought to be a way out for Monica. Our addresses remain: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos and e-mail, humananglepage@yahoo.com Hoping to read fro you soon. Cheers!

He has brought so much joy into my life and family that I feel he is God s e n t .

However, from time to time and of recent, even in my dreams, I find myself revisiting the trip to the old man on the mountain top, the cat and how I backed it all the way to Lagos, my subsequent pregnancy and now, the bundle of joy in my home.

At such moments, it seems as if a cold hand is gripping my heart and I become scared, sweating p r o f u s e l y .

A couple of times, my husband has noticed this and feels concerned.

When the news of my pregnancy was reported, my in-laws and friends, including the church members, our joy knew no bounds.

People kept coming to visit and take care of me

,

H

I.

and even put the house of God and His people to shame.

Yet, my heart is not at peace. Sometimes, when I look at the boy, I think I see a glint of the kitten in him. When I told my Pastor’s wife, she said it is my mind that is playing me tricks, that there is noth-

However, from time to time and of recent, even in my dreams, I find myself revisiting the trip to the old man on the mountain top, the cat and how I backed it all the way to Lagos, my subsequent pregnancy and now, the bundle of joy in my home

as if the baby had already been born.

My once hostile mother-in-law even apologised to me, attributing her behaviour to the devil. Almost everyone started bringing gifts for the baby even before it was born.

In my heart, I wished I could share the secret with my husband but all the warnings from my pastor’s wife kept ringing in my ears.

In the end, I reasoned that there was nothing to gain from such a revelation anyway. Besides, I want to believe what my friend has told me, the ritual only helped to hasten God’s plans which the devil was holding down.

The child is from God and since it is going to Sometimes, I feel like telling him some of the things I’ve done, if not everything, but I am scared of what he might do. What if he gets mad and decides to tell people, especially his mother?

What will I do? Once his mother hears, the whole church and family has heard, in fact, the whole world would hear. I will put everyone in trouble

,

ing wrong with the boy.

Everyone says there is nothing wrong with him too, but I just find it difficult to believe them. I know it is because they have no clue of what I did to get the baby. Perhaps if they do, they will see what I think I am seeing too.

My friend soon became worried and started threatening me that I am loosing my sanity and that if I was not careful, I will spill the bin. She warned me that she will not go down with me, should I tell my husband or anyone about what we’d done.

She added that she was very optimistic that no one will believe me anyway. I had no choice but to start looking at the brighter side of things.

It was difficult for me because of the state of my mind. One day, my husband came home to inform me that the doctor wanted to see me and the baby.

My heart nearly jumped out of my mouth. I was really scared. I thought they had seen something wrong with the boy and wanted to ask me questions.

I probably wouldn’t

have gone, had my husband not insisted on taking us there by himself.

It was at the hospital that I realised that it was all about me.

I found out that my friend had convinced my husband that there was something wrong with me. I was either going through depression or having a mental problem.

This she told him it happens to some women after childbirth, especially if they had been through some traumatic experience.

He should talk to our doctor and get them to evaluate me.

My husband too had gone and confirmed things with the doctor who advised him to bring me.

I was relieved, yet, unhappy that I was becoming the object on some gossip between some people. I knew my friend was trying more to save herself, rather than to save me.

I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression and loaded with all sorts of drugs which I have been taking ever since.

The church has also organized series of prayer sessions for me and so has member of both our families.

I have two house helps to assist me care for the boy, so I don’t have to hold him by myself all the time.

Because of the drug, I’ve had to stop breastfeeding the boy too.

Eventually, I had to open up to my mother. However, I discovered that she did not believe me.

Instead, she turned to her church people for spiritual assistance. Her church, a white garment church, concluded that it was my enemies from my father’s family that were at work. I was subsequently bundled off to her house for further prayers and care, which is why I am here.

My husband has remained as loving and caring as ever and this makes me ashamed of myself sometimes. I feel better now that I have confided in some people.

Whether they believe me or not is not my problem again.

Concluded Asisited by Onozure Dania

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•Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

Getting over someone you love

BY ONOZURE DANIA

E

VERYONE has a dif ferent way of getting over someone.

The first step to it is, do not keep it all in inside, cry, scream, swear, do anything to let it all out. If you keep it in, it will only result in you emotionally exploding.

This way, you will keep on hurting yourself.

If you have a close friend, confide in them.

Let all your emotions pour out. I know that it is hard but life goes on.

Remember that you had a life before them and you will have a life after them.

Don’t try to get yourself into the mentality that you are over that person when really you are not, be true to yours e l f .

One of the things you need to do is that, you must first realise that the person whom you have been showing love to and who does not love you back, does not deserve you.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, it just shows that he is not meant for you. if someone is not interested in you, it is in your best interest to find someone who does love and adore you for who you are.

Know that you are worth all the love that you require and there are plenty of people who will love you the way you want to be loved.

Never settle for someone who is not treating you and respecting you the way you deserve.

Ask yourself this question. What is in his/her head or heart? It takes two people to be in a relationship and even though you feel the way you do, maybe it was meant to be this way.

Save your love for someone who feels the same way about you. In my case, I know I deserve

better.

I tell myself this all the time too. Any man who takes a woman for granted isn’t worth the love of that lady. It’s not about getting over a person.It’s about feeling good about yourself.

It’s about knowing that you are the most important and you need to be happy.

If this other person doesn’t feel the same way, it doesn’t really matter. This situation is always an unfortunate one. It is ideal for two people to love each other the same and at the same pace. But life is never ideal.

To get this kind of relationship to work, you need patience.

You have to weigh either waiting for her or moving on as options. If your feelings are real and you choose to hang in there, you must not scare her away.

If things are meant to work out, you should be great friends before lovers anyway. While you let both your feelings reach equilibrium, you’ll discover that it becomes easier sometimes just to ignore your strong feelings and just kick back and chill with her. It’s not always important to impress her or do nice things for her in a loving way.

It may give you hope to know that she can see you in the same light, just not so quickly.

Being in love with someone who does not feel the same way as you do is not a problem.

You can fix it. If someone doesn’t feel the same way as you do, walk off.

Don’t even give them the privilege of friendship because you’ll suck yourself back into the delusion.

Do things for yourself.

Keep busy. Bury yourself in work and keep searching for what you really want and need.

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40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—41

We 're facing the consequences of leaving the path of sanity —Ciroma Mallam Adamu Ciroma, 78, a journalist, administrator, politician and leader is a very strong voice for the North. He was appointed Governor of the the Central Bank of Nigeria in 1976 and served as Minister of Industry, later Agriculture and then Finance. As a politician, in 1979, he was one of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN presidential aspirants; but he came third where former President Shehu Shagari got the ticket and Maitama Sule came second in the primary. The founding member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was the chairman of PDP Convention Electoral Panel that produced Prince Vincent Ogbulafor-led National Working Committee, NWC in March 8, 2008.

Ahead the 2011 polls, he became the chairman of the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum, NPLF that produced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the northern consensus candidate against President Goodluck Jonathan at the PDP presidential Primary. After the 2011 political scenario where the PDP jettisoned zoning, the Elder Statesman decided to go on recess. In this interview with Vanguard, the Potiskum, Yobe State- born politician bared his mind on Nigeria at 52, Boko Haram and the powerful nature of the governors among others. Excerpts:

BY HENRY UMORU

N

Creating of disorder In 1966, we abandoned that part and we started along the path of self destruction.

The military, the people who did the coup d’état accused the politicians of the First Republic of corruption and of creating disorder. After the coup, the military started accusing the civil service of being mindless because they disobeyed financial instruction, that is, the rule which governs how to spend public money.

With the breakdown of constitutional and legal order followed by the breakdown of the order of conducting the civil service and followed by the abandonment of the

*Ciroma financial instructions on how to conduct public finances, gradually, we left the path of sanity and of good conduct. We adopted the path of self selection of the rules we want to follow, of the general order we want to follow and of the laws we want to follow.

Once you do that, the consequences become bigger and more serious as the years go by.

Apart from the military, what about civilians, who came to power in between?

After 1966, there was an attempt by General Gowon to restore the country to civil rule and he changed his mind and so the military went again, intervened to remove a military man in government. To me, this is double jeopardy. Then, Murtala and Obasanjo outlined a programme for return to civilian rule which they implemented, but at the end of 1986, there was another coup, after the 1983 election, I repeat, after the 1983 election, there was another coup. So, you will see this occasional interruption and the return to unconstitutionalism and lawlessness has become the habit.

Even though we are in democratic regime No democracy. You have to see the thing from 1966, military coup, military coup, return to civilian rule, and

another military coup. In 1985, there was another military coup, so, it has become a habit. Series of interruptions, series of abandonment of the rule of law and to me, this habit of regular abandonment of the rule of law is departure from how to conduct public affairs.

How can we get it right?

,

IGERIA is 52 years, are we where we ought to be?

We are where we are and there is no call to cry over spilt milk. If we have been different people doing things in different ways, we would have been somewhere else, but because of the nature of people here and the way events are being conducted, we are able to achieve what we have done. You will become dissatisfied with yourself if you compare yourself with countries like Malaysia where in 1960 we are about the same state. Today, they have become practically a developed country whereas you know and I know where we are today.

We have no cause to blame anybody. We have ourselves to hold responsible for where we are.

Where did we get it wrong?

I personally will say that we started going off the track in 1966 with the military coup. Before then the law and doing things constitutionally and legally was the parameter for conduct of public affairs,the might was not the right, the right was the might.

he is leading but in Nigeria, this has become the standard behavior and if you believe as I do that the condition of the leaders must not be too far away from the condition of the ordinary people but now the distance is too far.

What informed your your obvious silence after President Jonathan

We adopted the path of self selection of the rules we want to follow, of the general order we want to follow and of the laws we want to follow. Once you do that, the consequences become bigger and more serious as the years go by

,

Nigerian leaders especially at the top, federal and the state, ought to be people who are morally upright; whose objective for being in government is the improvement of the economic and social condition of the ordinary Nigerian. That objective must be kept, focussed and constant.

The objectives of leadership should be the improvement of the condition of the led, the masses, and the ordinary people. It is not for the benefit of the leader or the politicians that his condition should outpace the condition of the people

emerged as PDP candidate? Before the 2011 PDP Presidential Primary election you were very vibrant with NPLF where you were the Chairman.

We formed the PDP in the hope that PDP will be able to deal with the problem which I have outlined and politically, we got it right because we wanted a party that will be able to cover the whole country and that will give opportunity to people from all parts of the country. So, anybody who is capable can aspire to the leadership of this country, in other words so that we will be

able to get one thing right, that is the issue of leadership.

And the party took position knowing the problem of the country; we agreed there should be six zones, three in the North and three in the South.

Two, that the presidency should rotate between North and South, when it comes to the North, it can be any of the three zones, when it is the South, it should be any of the three zones and that was the position of the party.

The decision was firmly established and President Obasanjo was the president while the present president was the Governor of Bayelsa. They were all there when the decision was taken and when Obasanjo’s time was about to come to an end, he tried against the established position of the party to extend his rule, we all refused it and it didn’t workout.

Criticising his decision So, he then singlehandedly choose Yar’Adua to replace him and we from the North did not contest his decision, we did not criticize his decision; we agreed with the position he took because the position he took was in conformity with the decision of the party.

Unfortunately, Yar’Adua died after he had done nearly four years and some of us argued that this issue ought to be examined and properly discussed so that we can deal with the situation which arose. The South had done eight years; Yar’Adua had done four years for the North, what happens to the remaining four years of the North.

Every problem has a solution unless you are not looking for it. We told them that we should discuss this thing and arrive at something which is fair and just. The leaders of the party made wuru wuru and they decided to abandon the position of the party Continues on page 42

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42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Why northern leaders can't address Boko Haram — Ciroma Continued from page 41

Agreement and renegotiation So, my position is based on moral position. It is based on sticking to agreement and the renegotiation if there is need.So, nothing has changed.

On rising insecurity and Boko Haram insurgency The way forward is to find a away to bring insecurity to an end. Without security, law and order, the country can only become confused and disorderly and development of the resources of this country human capacity, materials resources, minerals and others, in terms of petroleum crude and others may not be possible.

On synergy with governors in the North to address the Boko Haram issue Last week, General T.Y Danjuma publicly complained about the powers of the governors.

Some weeks before he had made similar observation C M Y K

*Ciroma and generally most of us agreed with the position he has indicated. The number one problem of development and advancement I think is in the North where the governors have not been able to correctly identify what the problems of their states are and how to deal with these problems.

Because of the total powers they have, General Danjuma said they have pocketed the Houses of Assembly and all other institutions.

So, talking to them, or talking to somebody like that may not be easy. I will confess that I have not, except on one or two occasions discussed this particular insecurity and the matter of conducting the affairs of Yobe State. And the first issue I raised with the governor was that, he being the governor, irrespective of the party he belongs to, should know that he is the governor of all and should be just and fair to all. I made this statement relating to the distribution of fertilizers when they were available.

They were giving the fertilizers to political party leaders who resell to the farmers and I told him that was wrong.

The second, some leaders in the state were identified as belonging to different parties and those local governments where they have influence were not paid their salaries, I told him that was wrong. There was no party that was in control of the state except the government party and so, it was wrong to identify certain people and refuse to pay them salaries because they belonged to certain political parties. In other words, the issues I raised with him were issues of justice and fairness, not the issue of party, even when I was a

federal minister I never influenced the state government because they belong to another party. If you want to be a democrat you must act as one.

So, the origin of Boko Haram and insecurity as I see it is because of injustice and lack of fairness in the way the citizens of the state are treated. When the leaders of Boko Haram were killed in Borno and they went to bury the leaders, some of the leaders were again shot and the way the police treated the murder issue, which was filmed and shown on television nationally and internationally showed that these people were unjustly treated and it is this that made them become anti-authority, anti-prison, anti-police, anti-emirs anti-chiefs, antitraditional Mallams.

So, if you want to effectively deal with this matter, you must go back to fairness and justice. No outsider or the Northern leaders, who are not in control of the state, who cannot deal with the matter

,

and adopt a new one so that legally the acting president can become the president.

Let me tell you that nobody contested this position, we all agreed. We wanted the party to deal with the political situation which is the South has done 8 years and the North has done only 4 years. They took a position to allow the president to continue to replace Yar’Adua and of course there are advocacy of situation where he should continue after that.

I will not mention what took place and I from that time felt that this party has lost its way, lost the moral position of sticking by its words, of sticking by politics and that if you are going to change, you must discuss so that we can agree.

This party has abandoned that moral and legal position and from that time to now, I avoided getting involved in the affairs of the party because I did not want to adopt a moral and political position which I believe is not right, I don’t want to be seen as always been critical.

Won't the present leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur change things?

I took my position before Bamanga Tukur became the leader of the party.

But he is pleading that aggrieved members should please come back I am saying no, that is the position I took before Bamanga Tukur became the chairman of the party.

position first before you can dialogue with anybody. If the constitution says there should be democratic local government, that they should be elected, in what part of Nigeria are they elected? You said there should be revenue from the federation account to the local government, the revenue does not go there, the state government will hold unto the revenue. The purpose of joint account was to enable the state government to add more before distributing it to the local government. Instead of adding more, they steal all. Everybody knows this, from the president, members of the National Assembly to governors, to all ordinary people. What is happening is in complete disagreement with the constitution. The governors who were elected have abandoned the constitution, have pocketed the local government and in a situation where they do what they like, how do you think things will be correctly conducted? So,

No outsider or the Northern leaders who are not in control of the state, who cannot deal with the matter of Police and Army can solve this problem of Boko Haram for you, it is the duty of the federal government and state government

of Police and Army can solve this problem of Boko Haram for you, it is the duty of the federal government and state government. And how the state government has taken over the control of the local government, all these combined are going against the provision of the constitution.

What about dialoguing with members of the Boko Haram?

You have to know your

,

there are basic issues in this country that are not right.

Does that explain the fear that governors may hijack state police, if introduced?

I have refused to get involved in this kind of discussion. When things are done basically wrong or for the wrong reason, it is pointless taking a position.

On Constitution amendment

I believe that the review of the constitution should be done for the right reason to eliminate what is wrong, to put in place what is right and to ensure that the way things are run in this country is according to the constitution and the rule of law. Since 1960, I know that Nigerians have been talking about how to review the constitution. But I am saying that it is not the lawb or the constitution that is wrong, it is the way people behave, it is the way leaders behave and that is the problem.

If you have good leaders, even if the constitutional document is flawed, they will operate it in the right way. Even if we have the best constitution in the world and you ask Nigerians to operate, they will find ways of going around it. So, if you want to put things right, you must do the right thing.

As a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, what is your position on the proposed N5, 000 note?

I don’t know. Normally I only want to commend the Central Bank, I know that before it was proposed, it went through certain processes and then the National Assembly and other institutions opposed and the opposition found and overwhelmed the proposal. The only right thing I can say is that those in opposition appeared to be more numerous and they also have arrived to talk about it, so, in that regard, we appear to be going about it in the right way.

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ormally, how I know Central Bank works, they consider all sorts of things, clinical and intellectually upright way of doing things before they take a position because normally Central Bank avoids controversy. As I said, I don’t know enough to oppose their position.

Instinctively, I should support Central Bank, but I don’t know if I am right.

Members of the National Assembly are not happy that Mr. President does not implement their resolutions and some passed bills not assented to and Impeachment threat handing. What is your position on this?

The National Assembly is made up of a number of people with different backgrounds and experience and politically unimpeachable and some, but they have a constitutional role. What I will like to say about the people in the National Assembly is to stick to their rules in the constitution.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 43

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44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Sure and Steady Transformation ••Glimpse into Presidential Stewardship

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

T

OO much politicking has been identified as the bane of governance in Nigeria. This revelation was made in Lagos recently by Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Oronto Douglas on the occasion of media presentation of the book, Sure and Steady Transformation.

The book coming in the heels of President Jonathan’s second year in office chronicles milestone of achievements recorded by the administration in its short life span.

This publication of the book becomes necessary because of the barrel of attacks and allegations of non performance being levelled against government despite threatening climate of insecurity in the country.

he is doing. It is an unarguable fact that this government is delivering its promise on power to the people. “ The improvement on power is not due to rising water level as some claim, but improved gas supply to Egbin Power Station.

He reminded the country to remember one of President Jonathan’s electoral promises of the declaration of emergency on the power sector.

“In a few years, agriculture will be contributing 20 to 25 per cent of what oil is generating into government’s coffers. President Jonathan is delivering on his promises; the Transformation Agenda is on course”.

Continuing he said, “Our duty to you is to simply report to you what is going on in government through this compendium Sure and Steady Transformation. We need to allow

,

The book coming in the heels of President Jonathan’s second year in office chronicles milestone of achievements recorded by the administration in its short life span

At the presentation done by Oronto Douglas and Presidential Spokesman on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, Douglas was quick to point out that against the practice in the civilised world, where elected leaders are given time to provide governance that Nigerians on the other hand derails the wheel of governance as they take to politicking immediately after elections.

Critical areas of electricity Douglas, who is the Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, noted that President Jonathan was delivering on his promises to Nigerians in the critical areas of electricity, agriculture, aviation and other key areas that would transform the lives of Nigerians.

On his part, Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Okupe, said he was excited about the book, Sure and Steady Transformation, as it would help to explain government’s projects to the people and erase the notion of non-performance held by a majority of Nigerians.

According to him, “People have been made to believe that this government is doing nothing. It’s a sad perspective to hold that this government has not performed.

“There is no ambiguity on what C M Y K

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government to focus on the job. What is happening in the electricity? What is happening in agriculture? What is happening in Aviation? Government must report to the people what it is doing. Reporting to the citizens is a major responsibility of government because citizens have the power to define who governs them in a democracy”.

This important document, perhaps the first of its kind coming from any

President Goodluck Jonathan Nigerian President in the present democratic dispensation marks an important milestone in the nation’s democratic journey.

Against the rule of ‘ I know it all’ power play, the present leadership of the nation despite the avalanche of unhealthy criticisms being levelled against it, still comes out and strongly defends its position.

Whether these claims are real or fictitious, the book, Sure and Steady... has established a new kind of Town Hall Meeting for Nigerian citizens to engage government on its programmes.

It is in the light of this climate of debate initiated by the Presidency through the publication of its stewardship for public consumption that one may begin to have a rethink on the quantum criticisms directed at government.

While reviewing the book, Dr.

Otive Ogbuzor commended the team for writing the book pointing out that transformation was needed in all aspects of the polity including economic, political, social and cultural aspects.

National Visual Art Competition for Abuja

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S part of its mandate to hunt for talent as well as encourage enthusiasm and appreciation of Visual Arts and complement Federal Government Policies, the National Gallery of Art is organizing the 4th National Visual Art Competition on October 23, 2012 at the Auditorium of Shehu Musa Yar’adua Center, Abuja.

Preparation for the Competition has reached an advanced stage as four categories of participants have been announced to give opportunity to artists at all levels, who may be interested to participate in the contest to submit their works for entry.

Pupils in Primary schools, students of secondary and Tertiary

Institutions will compete in categories one to three, respectively, while professional Artists will participate in the fourth and last category.

The competition also allow for flexibility as it gives four different subthemes from within which participants should choose to develop and present their works for the contest.

The sub-themes are Unity in Diversity, the Nation of my Dream, National Security, Everybody’s Business and One Love One Nation.

Moreover, competitors are at liberty to use medium of their choice to present their finished works for the competition.

The Competition which debuted in 2008 is aimed at discovering and nurturing the talents of Nigerian

pupils, students and professional artists across the nation.

The theme for this year ’s competition is titled ‘’ National Security and Tolerance: A Roadmap to Development.” The theme is apt as it catches the present mood of the nation.

The works to be displayed at the grand finale will therefore focus on love, Unity, Tolerance and repulsion of all kinds of social atrophies in the society.

Zonal and final selections of works have been slated for September, while award of prizes to winners at the grand finale, which is the climax of the event is expected to come up on October 23, 2012 by 11:00 am at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Center, Abuja.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—45

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46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

NLC no longer serves interests of Nigerians--- NASU

BITS BITS

THURSDAY, September 27, 2012, Labour Vanguard published Comrade Adeyemi's response to Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, interview on alleged plot to break the NLC. This is the concluding part.

By COMRADE PETERS ADEYEMI

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E only need to make reference to one or two opinion to get an idea of how disenchanted Nigerians are with the remnants of the NLC. For this, we take the views of well known conservative journalist, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu and that of the radical liberal intellectual, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim.

Writing under the title, “Economic Saboteurs in Our Midst”, in ThisDay of Monday August 27, 2012, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu wrote, among other things that: what is expected of NUPENG and NLC is to push for improved management of the fuel subsidy scheme and the prosecution of fraudulent oil marketers and their accomplices in the public sector that the government continues to shield. When they threaten to stop fuel supply and hold the government and nation to ransom, what they don’t realize is that they become allies of the fraudsters in the system and will be painted with the same brush.”

On his part, Dr. Ibrahim wondered, in an article entitle: “Is me the fuel subsidy cabal too powerful,” and wrote, inter alia: “The Nigeria Labour Congress owes Nigerians an explanation for their shameful action in support of the mega thieves. How can they come out to openly support the mega thieves? In January, we had engaged in a struggle in which lives were lost to compel Government to look inward at their friends in the oil cabal who were responsible for the spectacular increase in the amount of money spent on the so called fuel subsidy.

Prosecution of the cabal We called for investigation and prosecution of the cabal. When NLC chickened out of the struggle, their excuse was that they had been threatened. Who is threatening them now to support the same cabal that we fought against? They must apologize to Nigerians for selling out. Government must be very pleased with itself that the trade unions are now wheelers and dealers and are no longer in a position to organize a credible strike but are available to organize strikes on behalf of those looting our national treasury.”The conclusive import of these two arguments made on a same day but from different parts of the country in two frontline national dailies in Nigeria located in different and distant cities from each other shows that both conservatives and radicals have agreed that the NLC does not exist for Nigerians anymore but for a clueless cabal.

So, it became more than clear to us in

the Non-Academic Stall Union, NASU, that we were risking too much lasting damage to our relationship with the wider movement, the building of which has our bold imprint. We recall that NASU and its principal officers have every reason to be proud our contribution to the building of a modern labour Comrade Adeyemi' m o v e m e n t symbolized by the NLC up to March, leadership of Congress where our 2011. Our Union was proscribed by the immediate past President served as Abacha regime between 1996 and 1998 Deputy and later, Treasurer of Congress. for hosting NLC affiliates who So, we ask: where were people like determined to maintain the Omar when some of us were making independence of the NLC from the these sacrifices to build the labour government. Not only did we lead our movement? He was nowhere and that is Union to survive this proscription bill why the conspiracy of branding our we were also of the Caretaker alternative as government inspired will Committee that emerged to reconstitute not work because he doesn’t know what the NLC following the demise of Abacha he is talking about. in 1998.

Comrade Adeyemi is the General Our Union was in the forefront of all Secretary of Non-Academic Staff Union that was positive during the- eight years of Educational and Associated of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s Institutions (NASU).

Leadership insincerity, bane of Nigeria’s development, says Nted

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has said the insincerity of Nigerian political leaders has been part of the nation’s draw backs since independence, calling for God’s intervention to change Nigeria’s leaders for the better.

At a prayer session to mark the nation’s independence anniversary which also coincided with the 52 birthday of the President-General of MWUN, Comrade Tony Emmanuel Nted, leaders of the union argued that once the nation’s leaders became sincere and people oriented, Nigeria would return back to the part of progress.

Leaders of MWUN who gathered at the President-General house for the annual prayer for the country and the Comrade Nted who share a common birthday, lamented that though the citizens were ready to move the nation forward, but leaders had been the greatest handicapped to the nation’s quest for development.

Addressing the gathering, Nted urged Nigerians to “be sincere and love one another and have the fear of God in our dealings. We need to imbibe the culture of love. One of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria is the insincerity of our leaders.

Besides that, they are not transparent at all. They need also to separate politics from the welfare of the citizens.

It is unfortunate that at 52, Nigeria is still struggling to find her footing. We need to pray for God’s intervention for our leaders to do the right thing and formulate people oriented policies.”

On the industry, he assured that he and other leaders of the union would continue to do their best to ensure that workers got the best that they industry could offer, saying “I want to assure that I and others at the national level of the union will continue to do our best to ensure that workers in the industry get the best.

"Today, there no more fighting in the ports because of good union leadership and we appeal to our employers to do the right things to avoid disharmony with labour.”

NLC tasks leaders on pro-people’s policies

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IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has called on Nigerian leaders to jettison International Monetary Fund, IMF and World Bank, anti-Nigerians socioeconomic policies and formulate alternative development paradigm that focuses on job creation, the welfare of the poor and other vulnerable groups rather than capital and big business.

NLC in a statement titled “Nigeria at 52: We shall out grown our challenges”, to mark the independence celebration, issued by its President and Acting General Secretary, Comrades Abdulwaheed Omar and Chris Uyot, said “it is apparent that the challenges facing our country in this generation and generations unborn can only be outgrown and fulfilled not by the prevailing political class and their Brenton Woods neo-liberal economic philosophers, but by the will, resilience and proactiveness of the working class and working families, to push for an alternative development paradigm that focuses on job creation, the welfare of the poor and other vulnerable groups rather than capital and big business.

IMF, World Bank blackmail: Nigerians urgently desire to see their country’s economy back in sound health, and have given all support required through long years of self denial and sacrifice, but are yet to see practical and reassuring steps by government towards this direction.

“From the above, it is apparent that our policy makers need to free themselves of pressures and blackmail from foreign institutions whose neo liberal economic policies that were imposed on previous governments never worked in our collective interests as a nation, but ended up weakening our socio-economic structures; widened the gap between the rich and the poor; destroyed jobs and industry as well as education. We believe that if policy is directed towards reindustrialization with all the energy and resources required, more idle hands will be engaged in productive employment.

This way, we would have less challenge in crimes and insecurity.

While majority of our people can’t afford one meal a day, corruption in high places has grown to disturbing heights. No country will ever develop with economic criminals feasting on the commonwealth of the nation. The huge amount involved in reported cases of corruption when put together will be enough to rapidly wake up our economy, re-energize our education sector, create jobs and reduce tension.

Corruption at high places: “Even when Mr. President continues to express his commitment to anti corruption policies, we do not see the same seriousness reflected in the activities of the administration and the legislature. For instance, those listed as having diverted or misappropriated petroleum subsidy funds are yet to face serious prosecution due mainly to undue interference by the powers that be. It will be a tragedy, and one that would have serious repercussions from the working people, if government is seen to be protecting those who have been accused of stealing public funds. While Nigerians eagerly look forward to their immediate prosecution, some of those listed as subsidy thieves are regularly seen around the corridors of power openly hobnobbing with the Presidency.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 47

Gratuity not a retirement benefit—Mokikan SINCE the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, which came as fallout of the Pension Reform Act of 2004, there has been an ending controversy over continuity of gratuity as part of terminal benefits of employees especially in the private sector.

In this chat with Pension and You, Executive Director, Human Resources, 7UP Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Femi Mokikan, a lawyer, said Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2004 did not abolish gratuity and that negotiation between employers and organized labour remains the only way out.

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

ENDLESS debate over gratuity: It depends on which company or sector of the company you are in. The two serve different purposes where they existed or where they still exist. Gratuity, the history of it was to encourage people to stay on in a particular employment. Ok, shortage of staff, it is difficult to get them, so the ones I get, I do not want them to leave. So, you work with me for 10 years, I will give you this, 15 years and so on and so forth. That was what gratuity was designed to do.

For me, gratuity is no more rele-

so gratuity does not exist anywhere there anymore. But I know also of many companies where they tried many approaches but the staff said they wanted gratuity to continue.

So what they eventually decided was to reduce the burden by changing the way they used to compute it. Now, it is cumulative, before it used to be retroactive. I work with you for 30 years, my salary when I resumed was hundred naira, at the time, I retired my salary was 1000 naira. So every month, you will use the 1000 to compensate me for 30 years.

Today they are cumulating it, use the salary to determine gratuity and

There is a difference between retirement benefit and end of service benefit. Service can end any time. Retirement means that retirement age is sixty, you have reached 60, go. If you have voluntary retirement, you must leave at sixty, and I say when you have put in 35 years, go

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vant. Even these young ones, do not want to stay in a place for too long, so why should I then be worrying about gratuity. The guy wants to move round, let him move. Secondly, the person discussing it will determine what manner of response you will get. Every employer of labour will tell you that gratuity is an added burden and I want to jettison it.

Of course, every employee including myself wants it because gratuity is an extra money in the pocket.

So it would be a miracle if somewhere down the lane both the employer and employee agree. Let it not be too hard on the employer when it exists, and let it not also deprive the employee. Over time, it became a negotiable item.

Once you have negotiated it and reached agreement with the union, management cannot unilaterally pull out of it, except you want another crisis on your hand. I know a few companies that gave carrot. If you drop gratuity we give you this,

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set it aside, so next year you add to it, and that makes it lighter. I think it does not meet both sides hundred percent, but it is an acceptable compromise for the two. The way gratuity was going at that time, if something did not change, believe me, a lot of companies would have suffer from it to a point where even the employees will not have anything to take. So which one is better? Take less or take zero. It is better to take less, which is what we do in 7U. As I said, I am an employee, the more money you will give me, the happier I will be, but I do not want my company to go under to a point where I cannot get anything again.

So the pension reform act did not mention gratuity anywhere from the beginning to the end. What you have there is “retirement benefits”.

Gratuity is not a retirement benefit.

As soon as you have worked somewhere for five years, you should be entitled to gratuity, it can be 10, 15, 20. I can join 7 UP at 20 and retire at 25, and as soon as I am 25 I am

Femi Mokikan

entitled to gratuity. Since I am not retiring at 25, you cannot call it a retirement benefit. I can be here till thirty, meaning that I am entitled to ten years gratuity.

There is a difference between retirement benefit and end of service benefit. Service can end any time.

Retirement means that retirement age is sixty, you have reached 60, go. If you have voluntary retirement, you must leave at sixty, and I say when you have put in 35 years, go.

So whether I am fifty, after 35 years I can go. We do not even argue about it anymore.

Future of CPS The people who will benefit from this reform are not in my generation, those people who have more than 10 years. I have less than ten years because the money I have put in is too small. Anybody who is twen-

ty or thirty today, by time the person has worked for thirty years; they are the ones that will really benefit from it. The operators themselves are very flexible. If your contribution is N500,000 they give you everything.

Do you know that it is possible for some people to contribute up to N50 million? If your money is small because you are contributing small, you will complain. So we need to categorize even the beneficiaries themselves. Those of us who are contributing less than five years before we retire; anything we get, we should not think that it is the system itself that is wrong. Believe me, I do not know what it will be but anybody who will contribute more than twenty years in this scheme should be thanking God. Why? Your salary is going up at least every year.

If your salary is going up, your contributions are also going up. Just be adding it, every year, every year.

By the time you sit back and you look at your contribution, it could be N25 million, although you can argue that the value of money at that time will also be something else.

But compare that with nothing or with something that is significantly less. At the end of the day, we are talking about percentage, whether there is inflation or not, you are still talking about percentage. So, let us start from somewhere and fine tune the process along the way. Take for instance, when I fully disengage, and I know that 7UP would pay me something and if after one month or two months, I did not get anything from 7 UP, it could kill a retiree.

But if I register with a Pension Fund Administrator, PFA, somewhere, and go through the whole process, let us say the process takes about five months, six months, at least, I am not looking for a new wife, my children, maybe the last one will be in Secondary school, and the investment in the elder ones who should also be working, they will remember their brother or sister. You know the last born is always the luckiest in terms of homes that have peace and unity.

They will say Daddy has tried for us, let us take over the last one. So it will be able take care of your health and what you will eat. And you know old people do not eat much, so it will be primarily about your health. If God favours you as he has favoured me, you won’t have any challenges.

I think the future for employees is this new scheme. I am not saying it’s perfect. There are loop holes, as they come up, they should be addressed. But I think we are heading in the right direction as far as pension is concerned.

Operators fault withdrawals from Contributory Pension scheme

BY EMMA UJAH

A

SSOCIATION of Pen sion Operators in Nigeria, PenOp, has faulted the withdrawal of some federal government organization from the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, especially the military, warning that the old scheme is unsustainable.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Chairman of PenOp Mishahu Umar Yola, argued that a return to the old pension scheme would spell doom for the Nigerian economy, arguing that it could bankrupt the government.

Yola who is also the Managing Director of Legacy Pension, said “The old pension scheme is unsustainable. In fact that was why the federal government came up with the CPS as an alternative scheme that can be sustained over the years and will not constitute an unnecessary drain to public coffers. The old order can run the

government bankrupt. That is part of the trouble in the Eurozone where the governments are bearing heavy pensions burden and some now have to increase the number of years of service before their citizens are allowed to retire.”

“We now have in Nigeria, a situation where some people worked for only between 2025 years and have been enjoying pension for more than 40 years. It is only in Nigeria that you can see someone retire and is still receiving a pension that is close to what he was earning as salary when in service.”

Future of employees Chairman of PenOp urged all employers to embrace the CPS, which he described as the most functional way to secure the future of employees and that the aggregate pool of pension funds could also be

deployed to provide high profile infrastructure in the interest of the general public.

In a presentation, Ms. Idu Okwuosa of Stanbic IBTC Pension, said about N1.414 trillion has been contributed by 5.24 million contributors since the beginning of the scheme in 2006.

According to her, 60 per cent of the fund had been invested in federal government instruments considered as the safest, with investment in government securities standing at N1.009 trillion; Ordinary shares N136.6 billion; state government securities, N64.019 billion; corporate debt securities, N27.168 billion; money market securities, N150.587 billion.

She added that N7.256 billion has been invested in open/close-end fund, another N386 billion in Real estate; private equity holds N2.480 billion; while other assets have N16.996 billion.

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48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Vanguard, THURSD AY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 — 49 THURSDA

Childbirth: Save a woman’s life with N20,000

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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VEN as you read this, some where in Nigeria, a woman is dying while giving birth. But with just N20,000, her life could have been saved.

Before the day is over, 145 women would have died attempting to give life. With N20,000 made available for each of these women, they would have access to a reputable hospital, manned by a qualified medical doctor, nurse and midwife, and their chances of surviving the ordeal of childbirth would be more realistic.

The N20,000 per woman initiative is the key strategy of an initiative dubbed the “Rural Help Maternity Project” – aimed at enabling pregnant women in rural settings have access to proper medical care and services as a way of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity and help meet the Millennium Development Goal 5.

The initiative is brainchild of an experienced medical doctor, Dr. Uchendu Alaefula, popularly known as “Dr. Nothing dey Happen”. According to him, the project visualizes a community where women deliver their baby safely and healthily, thereby reducing the rate of maternal mortality and child death. The project is designed to reduce death of women while giving birth.

One of the most common reasons for women dying in childbirth is poverty. Most of the pregnant women who die everyday

•A midwife taking history from a pregnant mother at an antenatal clinic.

Photo courtesy PBL

in Nigeria are poverty-stricken.

They reside in the rural areas where there is little or no access to adequate healthcare services.

Data shows that 14 percent of the world’s deaths related to childbearing are in Nigeria. At least 80 per cent of the 52,000 women who die in Nigeria are from the rural communities. Yet the nation is aiming to cut the maternal death rate in half by 2015 in line with target of the MDG 5.

Efforts have been on to drive home the message that women’s lives can be saved when their babies are born in hospitals. One of the most recent initiatives aimed at nipping in the bud the

trend of poverty fueling maternal deaths in the rural communities, is the Rural Help Maternity Project.

Alaefula, who is Executive Director of the programme, describes the Rural Help Maternity Project as being solely about helping poor rural pregnant woman to have access to quality medical care from antenatal day till delivery. Essentially, the aim is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and help meet the MDG 5.

“It is only poverty that will make a woman patronize unregistered TBAs amongst others. Many of these women come down array

of disabilities and illnesses that result from complications of pregnancy, labour/delivery and up to the immediate six weeks after delivery” Alaefula remarked that women should not die giving birth, hence the introduction of the project.

Components of the Rural Help Maternity Project comprises free antenatal care covering registration, drugs, treatment, laboratory tests, pelvic scan and normal delivery. Others are free male circumcision, immunisation and mosquito bed nets.

“The project is enormous,” he told Vanguard in an interview.

“We are achieving good coordi-

nation. First, we identify rural communities where there are very poor people who are used to delivering their babies in places such as churches, mosques, chemist shop, traditional homes, etc. The idea is to relate with village heads and traditional leaders to help pick the indigent pregnant women who need our support. “ Second, we identify a reputable hospital, manned by a qualified medical doctor, nurse and midwife, and who is located around that rural community or possibly, the nearest General Hospital. Third, we negotiate and pay a sum of N20,000 per pregnant woman for the hospital to take care of all expenses mentioned above.”

Monitoring the project is straightforward. Ten women are picked from each community where the payment is done at the nearest hospital. The doctor provides the appropriate medical report for each patient before and after delivery. Each beneficiary enters the programme at the 5th month of pregnancy on confirmation by a certified pelvic scan.

“We know there are several individuals and organizations who are interested in contributing to such a worthy project for their social corporate responsibility.

They can be part of this project which is a worthy humanitarian service. It is just N20,000 per woman. Even if every individual donates N500, it would make a difference.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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OOD afternoon. My girlfriend and I have been together for two years. She is a really nice and generous woman and I will like to marry her. But I recently discovered that she has a five year old son.

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As a result, lots of babies get aborted every day all around the world. But once in a while, you find a woman who has the courage to make the difficult decision of keeping her baby.

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50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

CHARITY: From left— Mr. Adetola Adebanjo, Chief Marketing Manager, Stormberg Power Limited; Mrs. Omolaja, Proprietress, Heart of Gold Hospice, Lagos, and Mr. Nnamdi Madueke, Assistant Marketing Manager, Stormberg Power Limited, during the company’s visit and presentation of gifts to the hospice as part of its annual celebration of Nigeria’s independence in Lagos.

Delta lawmaker makes case for flood victims

BY SIMON ADEWALE

M

EMBER represent ing Ndokwa East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, has said that River Niger brought hardship to his people, following the flood disaster that destroyed property and agricultural products in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

Osanebi, on behalf of Governor Emmanuel

Uduaghan and members of the state House of Assembly, commiserated with the people of Ndokwa East on the flood that had ravaged their communities, assuring that efforts were being made to evacuate the victims and provide relief materials.

Areas affected are OwelleObalu, Oboma, Okpai Beneku, Wari-Irri, and Inyi communities of UmuInyagbo, among others.

Nigerians tasked on indigents' welfare

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S Nigeria celebrates her 52nd independence anniversary, privileged citizens have been urged to show concern to the plight of the physicallychallenged and disabled in the country.

This charge was given by Mrs Owolabi Makinde, Lagos State Co-ordinator of Asabe Shehu Yar ’Adua Foundation, who represented the Founder and President of the NGO, Amb. Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua, during a visit to the Golden Gate Paradise

orphanage home in Lagos.

Owolabi said: “When I look around our society, I can only see a few that believe that the physicallychallenged persons in the country deserve to live and enjoy other privileges we all deserve as human beings.

“Many have lost their souls. They are pre-occupied with what they get from the system and not what they can do towards making Nigeria a better place for the weak, the young, the old and the poor.”

Royal father bags AASU award

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HE traditional ruler of Offa community, Kwara State, HRM Oba Gbadamosi has been voted the Grand Patron of Association of All Africa Students Union, AASU, for his leadership qualities.

Yinka Dallas, Nigeria representative in AASU and Dominque Smith, AASU, head of parliament stated that the association sees the traditional ruler as a torchbearer with his unique leadership style.

The students, in a statement said the royal father C M Y K

was elected as grand patron of the association at the event which was held at Koffi Anna Centre, Accra, Ghana.

Retreat

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INCENTIAN Retreat Centre, Ojodu, Lagos, yesterday, commenced its monthly three-day retreat.

The retreat, on the theme No More Spiritual Stagnancy, will continue today by 5pm. It will end tomorrow with a vigil at featuring Stations of the Cross, Adoration and Holy Mass.

AWARD: Vivian Ikem (2nd right), CSR/Sustainability Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, receiving the award for Best Company in Supply Chain Value Creation for the company at the SERA CSR Awards 2012 in Lagos.

‘Boro doesn't merit re-appointment into DESOPADEC board'

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—HOST Communities of Ekakpamre, Iwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have urged Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan not to consider Mr. Johnson Boro for reappointment to the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, arguing that Agbowhiame, the home town of Boro was not an oil-producing area.

The communities, in a statement by their representatives, Mr. Andrew Onovughe and others, argued that the three communities were the major oilproducing communities in Ughievwen Kingdom, insisting that one of their own should be appointed to DESOPADEC board.

Distancing themselves from a purported call on Governor Uduaghan by the Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom to reappoint Boro to the board, they said: “Boro doesn’t merit reappointment due to his neglect of the communities.”

Meanwhile, the Ughievwen Kingdom, in a statement issued by Chief Benson Itietie and Chief M.B Jamaho, Secretary,

Ughievwen Traditional Council of Chiefs and President General, Ughievwen Union, respectively, said the kingdom has settled the rift between Chief Sunday Apah and Chief Johnson Boro.

It said: “Boro hails from Agbowhiame community, which is not a major oil-producing community but just a community classified under Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, SPDC, as impacted community. As such, he does not deserve reappointment.”

Noting that his earlier

appointment was done out of the magnanimity of the deputy governor, whom they said they respected, they alleged that “Boro failed because no DESOPADEC project was included in the last budget of the commission for the three major oil-producing communities in Ughievwen.

They added: “We call on the respected royal father not to be involved in political matters because the position of DESOPADEC board membership involves three local government

areas of Uvwie, Udu and Ughelli South.

“Even if it is on Ughelli South level, there are six kings and none of them have projected any of their own except politicians because they know very well that they are traditional rulers and do not belongs to any political party.”

They vowed to protest to any level if Uduaghan includes the name of Boro in the list to be sent to the state House of Assembly for reappointment and expressed their confidence in the state lawmakers.

Sapele Okpe raises alarm over failed drainage Ekariko said the drainage and reptiles.

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE—SPOKESMAN of Sapele Okpe community, Delta State, Dr. Vincent Ekariko, has said the recent efforts of the state government to sanitise Sapele and its environs was yet to make any meaningful impact on the lives of the people as the blocked drainage system, which were cleared by the Ministry of Environment, was not working.

system was yet to flow due to failure of officials of the ministry and the local government area to live up to their promise of demolishing illegal structures that had been erected on waterways in the town.

He noted that waterways that had been blocked by roads were yet to be linked up with gutters, adding that excavations done on the waterways had gathered stagnant waters, which have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes

Ekairko appealed to the state government to return the street light generator, which had been disconnected and taken away more than two months ago, leading to the return of darkness to the streets.

He urged Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to install the transformer sent to Sapele from the Ministry of Power in Abuja, and ensure that old and fallen electric poles and cables were replaced to save the area from darkness.

Court quashes N595m theft charge against Lagos bizman

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, has dismissed a N595 million theft charge against Chairman of Cross Country Transport Limited, Bube Okorodudu, by the state government.

Okorodudu, who was charged for obtaining by

false pretence and stealing N595 million from Chief Executive Officer of Tetrazini Foods Limited, Donatus Okonkwo, through his lawyer, Chief Ladi Williams, sought an order of court quashing the two-count charge.

Ruling on the application, yesterday, Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson said the prosecution did not exhibit

both the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP and the police investigation report on the matter, noting that it was unfair to ascribe criminality to a respondent in the face of inconclusive evidence.

The judge noted that the absence of DPP’s advice left himwithnochoicethantodismiss the charge, adding that theinformationconstitutedan

abuse of court process and consequently quashed the two-countcharge.

Lagos DPP, represented by one Uche Nnaji, had said in the charge that Okorodudu, sometime in April 2008, at Victoria Island, Lagos obtained N595 million as full purchase price of property at Plot A14, Lekki-Pennisula Phase 1, from one Prince Donatus Okonkwo.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—51

52— Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

Abdullahi charges Flamingos P T HE Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has charged Nigeria’s Under17 Women’s football team The Flamingos to go all out for victory in their quarter final match against France tomorrow.

The Minister urged the team to remain consistent and maintain the form, which saw them defeat their last two opponents in the preliminary round by wide goal margins. The girls had beaten host Azerbaijan by 11 goals to nil and Colombia by 3-0.

“They have been very impressive so far; very fast, good dribbling skills and decisive in front of goal. If they maintain that form and do not make careless mistakes, I’m sure they are going to come out of the game victorious.

“I urge the girls to remain focus. And confident of the fact that Nigerians everywhere support the team and are wishing them well,’’ Abdullahi said.

CELEBRATION . . . Flamingoes’ Oluchi Ofoegbu celebrates a goal with teammate, Chinwendu Ihezuo

Akpabio's $15,000 goes to Thailand

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HE highlight of the just concluded 6 th Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Championship just concluded in Uyo was the winning of the star prize of 15,000 US Dollars by world champion Pakorn Nemitramansuk from Thailand.

Amajita Continues from BP Sunday.

The Flying Eagles had on Sept. 21, held the Amajita to a 1-1 draw in Nelspruit in the first leg of the final round of the qualifiers.

Amajita took the lead in the first half through Thabani Mthembu but Abduljeleel Ajagun equalised for Nigeria in the second half after the

defence failed to clear a corner kick.

Ishola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that everything was being made ready for the match.

“We are preparing for the match; trying to get the stadium set, security set and other facilities as well,” he said.

Eagles Continues from BP match.

“We sure need money for the players and officials but that is not the motivation now. The need to return to the Nations Cup is the driving force and the players are angry that they missed out the last time and want to prove that they have returned to be among Africa’s best. Money will surely come later ”, he said.

He also said the team will be delighted to see President Goodluck Jonathan in Calabar for the game and that in itself will boost the team spirit against the Lone Star. Keshi used the opportunity of the media chat to plead for

RESIDENT of Nige ria Olympic Committee, NOC, Engineer Sani M. Ndanusa has joined the long list of eminent figures mourning the death of Dr Abdullateef Oladimeji Adegbite.

Dr Adegbite died in his house in Lagos at the age of 79, last week.

As Nigerians mourn a man of many parts, Ndanusa recalled his selfless and exemplary leadership in office as the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee from 1978 to 1985.

“Despite leaving office, he continued to show interest in sports. He was physically present in Abuja at the investiture of Pres-

support from the media, government and the Nigerian people generally as that will help team composure.

“In Calabar, even when we don’t score early they keep cheering, believing that the goals will come, same thing happens in Kaduna, we must tell Nigerians particularly the media to spread the news that we want that type of spirit not only to qualify but to do well at the Nations Cup. The Super Eagles Sweat merchant also revealed that some players based in Europe have pleaded with him to arrive the country on Tuesday and he has granted their request.

After three unsuccessful attempts it was time for the versatile player to say hurray and with it the increased prize money for the highest paying, much sought after championship in the world outside the world championship.

In an elaborate and

colourful closing ceremony of an event that was attended by representatives from eight other countries, The Pillar of Scrabble in Africa Chief Godswill Akpabio urged all present to learn from the Pakong example of steadfastness until glory is attained.

Sunshine Continues from BP All we are after is winning and nothing short of it. I’m not concerned about an emphatic victory but all I want is a manageable home win against Al Ahly.

“We have what it takes, the team is in good shape and all areas regarding the team has been worked on to ensure we get the all important win,” he said.

He, however, noted that Al Ahly were a good

side, adding that he was conscious of the threats they posed as six-time winners of the Champions League.

The coach urged Nigerians to come out en mass and support the team to ensure they get the all important win.

“They are a good side, six-time winners; therefore it’s no mistake that they have achieved this feat. We respect them and we know they would be tough."

Flamingoes Continues from BP “We create chances and that’s the most important thing, as there are some teams that play and don’t create chances, and if you don’t create you don’t score goals,” the Nigerian coach told FIFA.com.

“I’m happy that at least my team are creating chances, but what we want to do is work harder on getting the opportunities and taking them too.”

Although 15 goals are a more-than-healthy tally, they had a monumental 92 shots. Just 47 hit the target.

“After the match against Canada we went back to

the drawing board to work on our finishing, which we did, and it paid off against Azerbaijan,” he said.

We don’t know how many chances we will make, but if we create five chances against France we want to take four.

Dedevbo has two of the tournament’s most prolific goal scorers in Chinwendu Ihezuo and Halimatu Ayinde, with the former playing a part in 11 of their goals so far.

On the pair, Dedevbo said: “I’m happy with their performances, it’s great that they are both scoring and providing goals.”

NOC mourns Adegbite ident Goodluck Jonathan as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Olympic Committee. His loss is a big blow not only to the Muslim community, but to Nigerians as a whole, especially in sports”, Ndanusa said.

Dr Adegbite was a Jack of all trade and master of all. He was an erudite scholar, Lawyer, former Attorney General for Western Nigeria, Secretary General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, a member of Nigeria Interreligious Council and former President of Nigeria Olympic Committee. ‘’He had a rich credential in all aspects of life. He was an example of citizen-

ship, intelligence and political consciousness.

We’re going to miss him’’, Ndanusa mourned.

Meanwhile, sports administrators, fans and Journalists have been trooping to the headquarters of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Lagos, to sign the condolence register opened for the late icon.

Secretary General of NOC, Hon. Tunde Popoola said that he was saddened by the death of the acclaimed religious bridge-builder and prayed God to grant his family and Nigerian sports family the fortitude to bear the loss while praying God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

Upsets galore at Chevron Masters year-old secondary school

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

WO major upsets were recorded yesterday at the 2012 Chevron Masters, a junior tennis tournament holding at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC) in Onikan, Lagos.

First to write his name in gold was 10 years old Michael Oshewa, who beat Kolade Sunday, a 17

pupil, in straight sets of 75, 6-1 Next to fall like Goliath on the tennis court was 10year-old, Michael Ayoola, who battled from a set down to beat 16-year-old Aisosa Odiase in three thrilling sets of 2-6, 6-0, 63.

A thrilled Ayoola, who hails from flood-ravaged Kogi State, said that fans should expect more impressive performance from him in the future.

SONigeria team sure of Unified ners, travelled Tuesday Cup ticket night to South Africa, for

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

S

PECIAL Olympics Nigeria soccer team to the Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup in South Africa have vowed to pick a ticket to the FIFA endorsed Special Olympics Unified Cup holding next year in Rio, Brazil The team made up of ten players; six Special Olympics athletes and four part-

the competition which kicks off yesterday.

Team Nigeria athletes joined 16 other African countries in the Unified 7a-side football event to battle for a place at Rio event.

Speaking on their readiness, team captain, Emmanuel Chukwudi said, “we have trained hard and are ready to battle for a ticket to represent the country in the Special Olympics Unified Cup.

South Africa ref Continues from BP against Angola, which finished 1-1 and virtually handed Angola the ticket to Germany 2006.

The 36-year-old, English-born South African referee, who has been an international referee since 2003, leads a list of six officials

appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for this game.

Bennett was at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, where he handled the semi-final clash between Mali and Cote d’Ivoire in Libreville.

FIFA Rankings Continues from BP ratings, Ger many,

while Portugal

Argentina and England complete the top five countries.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—53

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54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012—55

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCT0BER 4, 2012

Amajita fly in for F-Eagles today Sunshine T

HE South African U-20 National Team, Amajita, will arrive Lagos today ahead of their second leg

Eagles don’t need Dollars to beat Lone Star — Keshi

Eagles tumble in FIFA Rankings

S

UPER Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has reacted swiftly to news making the rounds that Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has promised the Lone Star huge dollar rain if they can upset the form books by defeating Nigeria in Calabar, in the final round qualifier for the Nations Cup 2013.

Speaking in Abuja, during the weekly media parley, Keshi said it was good motivation for the Liberians, but said that the Super Eagles

N

IGERIA have dropped five places to 63rd in the world in the latest FIFA Rankings made public Wednesday by the world were already motivated enough by the football federation, the government and people of Nigeria to win the October 13 Continues on Page 52

TODAY'S

football governing body, FIFA The country also dropped three places from 10th to 13th in the Africa ranking with Central Africa Republic making

the highest leap of 15 places to 49th in the world and ninth in Africa.

Cote d’Ivoire still top the Africa ranking as they are 16th in the world, while Algeria moved up four places to occupy Africa’s second spot and 24th in the world.

Mali are third on the Africa ranking after climbing five places and now ranked 27th in the world.

Spain top the world

*Flamingoes attack France Lone Star

N

•Keshi

tie against the Flying Eagles in the African Youth Championship (AYC)qualifiers.

The Chairman, Kwara Football Association (FA), Alhaji Busari Ishola, said on Wednesday the South Africans were expected in Ilorin on Friday for the match at the Kwara Stadium on Continues on Page 52

IGERIA will today take on France at the quarter-final match of the on-going FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan. The Flamingoes have been something of a revela-

PUZZLE

Eagle

Kick-off 4 p.m. tion in Azerbaijan 2012 – confident, free-scoring and fast-paced, but when they face France today coach Peter Dedevbo plans to YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

present an even slicker Flamingoes outfit.

They racked up an impressive 15 goals over three games in Group A, but while the majority

ACROSS 2 Awry (5) 7 Enthusiasm (4) 8 Inborn (6) 9 Illumination (5) 11 Bribe (3) 13 Wand (3) 15 Gang (4) 16 Owns (3) 18 Wan (4) 19 Eyed (7) 20 Toll (4) 22 Mature (4) 23 Reading desk (7) 25 Jot (4) 27 Sheep (3) 28 Unfasten (4) 30 Weep (3) 31 Gratuity (3) 33 Besom (5) 36 Interfere (6) 37 Summit (4) 38 Coach (5)

Continues on Page 52

may have come in their 11-0 victory over the hosts, they were not efficient in taking their chances, an issue Dedevbo is keen to work on before their quarterfinal.

Continues on Page 52

positive on beating Al Ahly

T

HE Head Coach, Sunshine Stars FCof Akure, Gbenga Ogunbote, on Wednesday boasted that they must beat Al Ahly of Egypt to progress to the final of the CAF Champions League.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sunshine will host the North African side on Saturday in the firstleg semi-finals of the championship.

Ogunbote told NAN on telephone that their primary concern was how to get a win, saying that they were focused on achieving that.

Continues on Page 52

SA ref Bennett for Eagles

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OUTH African referee Daniel Bennett will be at the centre when Nigeria host Liberia on October 13 for a ticket to the 2013 AFCON. Bennett was in charge of the ill-fated Eagles 2006 World Cup qualifier in Kano Continues on Page 52

DOWN 1 Singer (5) 2 Every (3) 3 Barrel (3) 4 Intelligence (3) 5 Finish (3) 6 Bench (5) 10 Warmth (4) 11 Doubter (7) 12 Fine (7) 13 Beaming (7) 14 Evolve (7) 16 Hurry (5) 17 Frighten (5) 18 Through (3) 21 Meadow (3) 24 Pitcher (4) 26 Command (5) 29 Plunged (5) 32 Poem (3) 33 Wager (3) 34 Choose (3) 35 Spoil (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Sword 5, Debris 8, Auger 10, Member 11, Ajar 14, Garish 15, Coulomb 18, Wed 19, Bob 21, Debt 23, Glued 24, Weld 27, End 29, Ail 31, Doughty 32, Swivel 34, Rite 35, Inmate 38, Waned 39, Defend 40, Waver.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Wee 3, Rabble 4, Due 5, Drag 6, Blared 7, Sachet 9, Grumble 12, Jaw 13, Ride 16, Ogre 17, Bound 20, Bedouin 22, Bolt 24, Wished 25, Lair 26, Divine 28, Agenda 30, Let 33, Lewd 36, New 37, Tee.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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