100 killed in Borno communal clash

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62158

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Tribunal upholds Obiano's election, dismisses Ngige, 3 others' petitions 14

Enugu magistrate dies in prison 7

100 killed in Borno communal clash

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

M

•Cameroonian soldiers kill 60 Boko Haram members •Say war against insurgents must be on all fronts •Police arraign 8 LASU students over fee protest 6

AIDUGURI— MORE than 100 persons were killed, yesterday, in a communal clash involving three border communities in Gwoza Local Government Council of Borno

Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Borno: Witness to leadership in a season of killings •P.17

Let's support our mighty army •P.19

In the De-worming of Edo State APC (2) •P.19

Mr & Mrs

PRAYING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS—Prayers during the National Prayers for release of the Chibok Girls in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Lawmakers induced to Jonathan nominates Oruh, others impeach me — Oshiomhole Shekarau, for ministerial jobs 12

8

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

CONGRESS—From left: Minister of State for Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda; Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen and Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo on arrival for the first International Road Federation Africa Regional Congress in Abuja, yesterday.

100 killed in Borno communal clash Continues from page 1 State. Members of Attagara, Aghapalwa and Gwoshe border communities were said to have taken up arms against one another. It, however, turned out to be a religious war between Christians and Muslims.

It will be recalled that no fewer than nine Christian worshippers were said to have been killed last Sunday, by Islamic militants during a Sun-

day service in Attagara village, leaving many others critically injured.

According to reports, the youths in a spontaneous reprisal attack mobilized themselves and killed 37 of them.

However, following the reprisal attacks, sources said, some Muslim youths believed that the Christian youths killed other Muslims rather than Boko Haram members, who were respon-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Is it possible your dreams are the result of who your parents think you are? Who others think you are? Who you wish you were? Or are they the result of who you really are and what God meant you to be?

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit— Napoleon Hill

T

O be aware, you must be present, so that when changes come along and they take place, instead of being in a state of surprise, you can step back and look at it and say, “oh my gosh!” And get down on your knees or be open in your heart and be in a state of gratitude for the pain that you’re experiencing right now, for the depression, for the anxiety, for the stress. Whatever it might be – saying thank you and, “I’m listening,” and whatever it is that I have to learn from this, I’ll accept. This brings you to enlightenment.

Wayne Dyer in his writings surmises: “Enlightenment is like getting out in front.” You get to such a place that your intuition is so polished and so firm and you have such a trust in your connection to your source that you know, as it says in A Course in Miracles, if you knew who walked beside you at all times on the path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.

sible for the death of the nine Christian worshippers as well as the burning of churches in Attagara Village.

The Muslim youths were said to have mobilised against Christian youths, leading to the burning of the whole village and the killing of more than 100 villagers.

Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, an elder and member of the community told journalists in Maiduguri that Boko Haram members attacked the villages at about 1 a.m for killing their members, who earlier attacked churches and communities in the area.

He explained that most of the villages in Gwoza are now divided along religious lines, as Christians who are living among Muslims have fled their homes to settle in Christian-dominated areas, while Muslims who were living in areas dominated by Christians have also fled their homes for Muslim-dominated areas.

Cameroon’s military kills 60 Boko Haram members M e a n w h i l e , Cameroon’s state radio reported that the country's military has killed at least 60 Boko Haram members who crossed over from Nigeria seek-

ing refuge.

According to the national radio, the heavilyarmed militants, reportedly killed in the village of Dabanga in far Northern Cameroon, crossed over from Borno State.

They were then ambushed by Cameroonian soldiers, the report said.

Fonka Awah, governor of the far north region of Cameroon, said his office had received information that some Boko Haram members might be hiding in Cameroonian vil-

lages, and asked for specialized troops to be deployed.

He told the Voice of America, VOA that the military had done a good job.

“Of course yes, without mincing words, after such a situation, you reassemble the forces and map out strategies, you galvanize them and put them back into action and I think that is what we have just done,” he said.

Ebenezer Akanga, a journalist who works with Cameroon’s national broadcasting station, told VOA in a telephone interview that if the military had carried out similar attacks in the past, Boko Haram would not be using Cameroon as a safe haven.

“The opinion many people have is that from the beginning, the government seemed to have been caressing the Boko Haram, the government did not seem to have been taking this fight very seriously. This is what was expected to be done from the very word

‘go.’ In fact, if the military had this type of reaction it would have deterred the Boko Harams from crossing to Cameroonian territory,” said Akanga, adding that security forces from Cameroon and Nigeria should work together to eliminate Boko Haram from the two countries.

“The military has to adopt different strategies because it does not only suffice chasing away the Boko Haram.

“The fight needs to be taken to their backyard.

Even if officially there may not be agreements authorizing the Cameroonian military to cross over into Nigerian territory, I personally think that this fight can not be won by fighting the Boko Haram only in the Cameroonian territory.

"The fight should be taken to their own camp out there in Nigeria.”

Last month, Cameroon and Chad both declared war on Boko Haram.

Cameroon has since deployed 2,000 troops along its border with Nigeria.

New Cement standard: Court orders Aganga, SON to appear June 10

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, summoned the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Segun Aganga and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to appear on June 10 to show cause why they should not be restrained from enforcing a new cement standard in the country.

The summon followed an ex-parte application filed before the court by Lafarge WAPCO Cement.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order after he declined to grant the ex-parte application the

plaintiff filed through its lawyer, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, on May 28.

Osipitan had, while moving the application, yesterday, prayed the court to restrain the defendants from enforcing the new cement standard.

It was the argument of the plaintiff that the defendants had no power to force it to manufacture according to the new standard which it said was illegally introduced without any regard to due process of the law.

Osipitan insisted that the licence his client obtained for manufacturing of the former All Purpose 32.5 cement still had up till August 2016 before

expiration.

According to him, “There was no notice from SON to vary standard. All we had was a letter written on behalf of the Director-General (of SON) that they had set up a technical committee, and the next thing we heard was an advertisement.

“The Larfarge WAPCO cement had been in use for 50 years. We still have till 2016, two years and two months, to continue to produce what we have been licensed to produce”, he added.

Consequently, he urged the court to stop the two defendants from enforcing the provisions of sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the SON Act.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Two docked for promoting secret cult activities

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN— THE Police in Edo State have arraigned two persons, Omoregie Ikhelue, 24 and Buhari Mohammed, 25, before an Oredo magistrate's court in Benin for encouraging activities of Supreme Eiye secret cult.

Police prosecutor, ASP Sylvester Omor, told the court that the offences which contravened Sections 4 (b) and 3 (a) of Edo Government Secret Cults (prohibition) Law 2000 was committed on June 3, 2011, at Edokpolor Street, off Costain Road, New Benin, Benin-City.

He said the accused persons conspired with other students of higher institutions, now at large, by directing or permiting, promoting, encouraging and facilitating the membership of others, adding that they aided the existence of activities of Supreme Eiye secret cult in higher institutions.

The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the counts of conspiracy and directly or indirectly encouraging activities of secret cult, were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 by the chief magistrate, Mr. Mike Osayi.

In a related development, one Iziegbe Izevbigie, 26, has appeared before the same court for allegedly stealing money from another person's bank account with an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, card.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Sylvester Omor, told the court that the accused and three others now at large, committed the offence at Unity Bank Plc on Airport Road, Benin, on May 15, 2014.

Police arraign 8 LASU students over fee protest

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS — EIGHT protesting students of the Lagos State University, LASU, arrested by the Police on Tuesday were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja chief magistrate's court for alleged breach of public peace.

The students were arraigned before Magistrate Eniola Fabanwo for conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace.

Moments after the charges were read to them by the court registrar, they all pleaded not guilty to the one count offence.

The students, who were brought to the court untidy, alleged that they were maltreated by the Police, who apart from beating them also forced them to evacuate waste from a septic tank.

They were accused of allegedly hijacking a vehicle, LAGBUS No P004 with number plate SMK 719 XK, property of Lagos State Government.

The five male and three female students arraigned are Bolarinwa Olamide (male, 23 ), Oludare Samuel Olayinka (male, 18), Oni Victoria (female, 18), Fatukasi Timilehin (male, 19) and Babatunde Bolarinwa (male, 24).

Others are Ajayi Taiwo (female, 24 ), Olatimihan Taiwo (female, 20) old and Akani Segun (male, 27).

The trial magistrate has since granted them bail in the sum of N10,000 each with a surety each, who should be their relative.

According to the Police, the students allegedly committed an offence which contravenes Section 166 (D) of the Criminal Laws No 11 Vol. 44 Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The LASU students took to the streets in Lagos, Tuesday, causing traffic gridlock along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, protesting hike in their school fees.

They also blocked the road leading to the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, forcing motorists to spend

hours in traffic.

Our wards are not students —Parents

Meanwhile, some parents of three of those arraigned have argued that their wards were not students, but were wrongly arrested by the Police while walking along the streets during the protest. They urged the government to intervene to ensure the release of their children.

Earlier, the protesting students had urged Governor Babatunde

Conductor taking a nap while the vehicle is on motion along Ayetoro Road, Ogun State.

Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Robbers flee, abandon weapons in Warri

BY EMMAAMAIZE

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ARRI— A gang of armed robbers abandoned its weapons and absconded, following a confrontation with a Police patrol team from the 'B' Division, Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday.

Acting Police Public Rela-

tions Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Charles Muka, said the team was on patrol along Eboh Road, Okumagba Avenue, when it encountered the hoodlums robbing unsuspecting members of the public.

According to him, "the team confronted the gang and after a hot chase, the hoodlums fled

and abandoned a bag containing one locally made, cut-tosize double-barrel gun and seven live cartridges "Investigation is in progress while effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects."

Meanwhile, policemen on surveillance patrol at Obiaruku have arrested two persons, one Dafe and

Auto parts dealer nabbed with 900g of cocaine

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BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS—Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have foiled attempt by a 36 year-old auto parts dealer to smuggle 900 grammes of cocaine to Milan, Italy.

The suspect, identified as Anabaronye Tochukwu Ken, who was alleged to have ingested 52 wraps of the substance, reportedly said he embarked on the failed trip to earn money with which to take care of his expectant wife.

Explaining how he was ar-

Fashola to direct the closure of the institution’s payment and registration portal, but there was no response from the authorities.

They also demanded that the state government immediately reverse fees payable to N48,500 maximum or nothing.

The new fees are: Education, N193,750; Social and Management Science, N223,750; Law, 248,750; Communication/School of Transport, N238,750; Science, N258,750; Engineering, N283,750; College of Medicine, N308,750.

rested, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said: "The arrest took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while the suspect attempted to board an Air France flight to Milan.

"Anabaronye Tochukwu Ken tested positive for drug ingestion during the outward screening of Air France passengers at the departure hall.

While he was under observation, he excreted 52 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, with a weight of

The suspect, Anabaronye Tochukwu Ken.

900 grammes. He is helping us in our investigation."

On his part, the suspect, during interrogation, reportedly pleaded for mercy on grounds that his wife will soon put to bed.

The Imo State-born suspect said: "I sell motor spare parts but at present, I have no shop and my wife is pregnant with our first child. I got myself involved in drug trafficking to take care of my family.

"I ingested 52 wraps of cocaine for a fee of 4,000 Euros. I sincerely plead for mercy. My greatest desire is to be released from custody before my wife's delivery date."

Ochonogo, with a pump-action gun, seven rounds of 9mm live ammunition, expended cartridge, Police bullet proof jacket, battle axe, long cutlass, hammer, gun jacket, two photocopies of firearms licence, Police belt, one handcuff, one chieftaincy photograph and a complimentary card.

Muka said the suspects were in a Nissan Titan Sports Utility Van with covered number plate belonging to Dafe, who claimed to be a United Nations peace ambassador when the surveillance team stopped them for a search.

He said the two suspects are currently cooling off at the Department of Criminal Investigation, Asaba.

The police spokesman appealed to members of the public in possession of illegally acquired firearms to surrender them to the nearest security agency forthwith, as the command is embarking on mopup operation of all such firearms in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—7

Enugu magistrate dies in prison

BY TONYEDIKE

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NUGU — A magistrate in Enugu State Judiciary, Mrs. Ifeoma Nneji, has reportedly died inside her cell in Enugu Prison, Tuesday night, from alleged complications arising from shock.

She was remanded in Enugu prison with her husband on Monday after they were arraigned for conspiracy, false information and attempted murder.

The deceased magistrate served at Oji River Magisterial District before she was recently suspended by the state Judicial Service Commission on account of her involvement in the alleged abduction of a nine-year-old girl.

Mrs Nneji and her husband, Mr. Ifeanyi Nneji, were on March 2, 2014 arrested by the Police for the alleged abducting.

closed that "the couple abducted the victim in 2011 at a tender age of five years without the consent of the mother, who is said to be a widow from Amuda, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

"Operatives of the anti-human trafficking unit of the SCID of the

Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force swung into action by visiting the residence of the couple at Ibagwa Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state, where the victim was seen with bruises and multiple injuries on her body.

"She was successfully rescued

and the couple nabbed for alleged conspiracy, child abuse and assault."

The Nnejis were later arraigned but were granted bail after which they reportedly committed the latest crime which landed them in Enugu prison.

Scene of an accident at a military check-point on the Outer Northern Expressway in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Alleged impersonation, fraud: Embattled Ondo monarch released

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE —Police authori ties in Ondo State have released the embattled traditional ruler of Igburowo community in Odigbo council area of Ondo State, Oba Pius Akinfesola Adewola, who was arrested for alleged impersonation and fraud.

Oba Adewole was arrested by men of Criminal and Investigation Department, CID, of the state Police Command, Akure, Ondo State. He was alleged to have impersonated staff of Odigbo Local Government Council and duped the council area of several millions of naira.

Men of the CID picked the royal father up in Ondo town following a petition written against him to the Police by the people of his community.

The petition written by the community through their counsel, Gabriel Ohre (esq) said the monarch allegedly injected names of some people into the payment voucher of chiefs in the community.

The petition said: “Some appointed chiefs of Igburowo community are entitled to allowances payable to each of them in their respective names by the Odigbo Local Government of Ondo State.

"Some of the late high chiefs and others who had died since 2002, still have their names on the voucher for payment of allowances to chiefs of Igburowo community by Oba Pius Adewola with the conspiracy of four other suspects.

“The chiefs who are alive and whose names are on the voucher for chiefs allowance for Igburowo community are denied access to the allowances, while Oba Pius Adewola, allegedly in collaboration with the suspects forged their signatures, impersonated them and stole their respective alowances."

The abduction

The police had said their arrest followed a petition received in respect of alleged child abuse, abduction and assault of one Chinasa Amah.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Amaraizu had dis-

BY EMMAAMAIZE

O

How she died

Sources said she became ill some 24 hours after she arrived the prison following her remand by an Enugu magistrate's court for allegedly assaulting one of her husband's female tenants.

Mrs Nneji, her husband, Ifeanyi Nneji and another unnamed person living with them were said to have beaten and injured the tenant over an undisclosed squabble which resulted in the arraignment and remand of the couple.

According to the source, "the magistrate and her husband were brought into the prison on Monday and were detained in different cells but she complained yesterday that she was sick.

"She was seen with a doctor inside the prison's clinic at about 3 p.m and was later escorted back to the female prisoners' cell. This morning (yesterday) she was confirmed dead and her body was taken to the mortuary."

Controller of Enugu Prison, Mr. Alloy Uchenna, confirmed the incident but said the deputy controller in charge of the prison was yet to brief him on what transpired.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said Mrs Nneji and her husband were re-arraigned for another case of conspiracy, false information and attempted murder on Monday and were subsequently remanded in prison.

"They were remanded in Enugu prison custody where she died yesterday. The matter for which they were charged commenced from Abakpa Division and was later transferred to State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, from where they were arraigned on Monday and the court remanded them in prison," the state police spokesman said.

DELSU student attacked for refusing to join cult

Accident at Gwako on Abuja-Lokoja Road that involved several vehicles. PHOTO: NAN.

LEH— SUSPECTED cultists at the Delta State University, DELSU, Oleh campus, have attacked and wounded an Engineering student of the institution, Obadoni Ifeanyi, for refusing to be initiated into a cult group.

Ifeanyi's girlfriend, Padra, who was with him during the confrontation was mercilessly beaten.

It was gathered that when Ifeanyi rebuffed the attempt to forcefully initiate him, two of the cultists, Jerry and Joshua, approached him and demanded N300,000 ransom for having the impunity to turn down their request to join the cult group.

Delta State Police spokesperson, DSP Charles Muka, who confirmed the incident, said the two suspects have been apprehended by the Police and were undergoing interrogation.

Man seeks divorce over alleged threat to life

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BEOKUTA — A 43-year-old man, Rafiu Adelaye, yesterday, urged an Ake Customary Court in Abeokuta to dissolve his five-year-old marriage over alleged threat to his life.

Rafiu, who resides at Owode Idi-Oroko, also accused his wife, Mutiat, of public embarrassment and provocation.

He told the court that their five-year marriage was blessed with only one child.

“My wife is very troublesome, she usually curses and embarrasses me in public anytime we have a misunderstanding.

“She usually threatens me that she would kill me if I don’t accept her back into my house.

“She decided on her own to pack out from my house. I don’t know what she wants me to do for her because even the child she claims she had for me was a forced pregnancy.

“She was pregnant for over six months and she did not tell me and we saw each other every day. I am tired because I think she has another man.

Rafiu urged the court to dissolve the marriage before Mutiat would kill him.

Mutiat did not appear in court.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, meets with Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—THE leader of the Anglican Church worldwide and Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, met with President Jonathan behind closed doors yesterday.

The Bishop, who spoke with newsmen after the meeting, said he came to pray with President Jonathan and condole him over recent incidents, especially the Jos bombings and the killings

by Boko Haram.

According to him, the world is united in prayers for Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said: “In the meeting, the President talked about the need of a solution that will reach all Nigerians. Not just security, but the economy, spiritual and every part of the human life.

“The bombing in Jos was deeply disheartening because I know Jos very well. I came to pray with His Excellency and express our condolence for the losses.

“God is faithful. In one of the letters that Paul wrote to the church, he talked about the sufferings they were going through being known throughout the world and that is true here, because the suffering in Nigeria is known throughout the world.

“People throughout the world pray for the country.”

VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury (left) and Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), on Welby's arrival at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

House orders N225m bullet-proof cars returned to contractor

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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HE House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, yesterday, ordered the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to return the controversial N225 million bullet-proof cars that were purchased during the tenure of former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, and recover the money.

Chairman of the committee, Nkiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, said NCAA have no business keeping the cars, stressing that the contract terms between NCAA and Coscharis Motors should be cancelled and the money recovered from the supplier.

She made this call while on an oversight visit to the agencies at the Murtala

Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

She said: “What we said about the bullet proof cars is that the contract should be cancelled and that they do not have any business keeping the cars. It should be returned to the supplier and then recover our money,” adding that due process was not followed in the contract.

Earlier, the acting DirectorGeneral of NCAA, Engr.

Benedict Adeliyela, said that the cars were parked at the NCAA’s office in Abuja.

Fault concession agreement

Commenting on the concession agreement entered into by Federal Aviation Agency Nigeria, FAAN, and First Bank, Onyejeocha said the concession agreement was not favourable to FAAN, noting that the bank was not supposed to be doing revenue automation at the airport.

She was reacting to the statement of the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Donuma, that FAAN did not have any relationship with Avitech, who is the company responsible for airport automation.

According to Donuma, First Bank was the party that partners with Avitech to be collecting money from the airport on behalf of the bank.

Onyejeocha said the house was not satisfied with the concession agreements, saying “ we have a strong opinion about some concessions, especially the one with Avitech.

“They said they were not directly in contact with Avitech, that it is First Bank that they know. They know that we are not satisfied and that is why they said that the zero car park had been terminated, which means their concerns is also our

MINISTERS: Jonathan nominates Shekarau, Oruh, others

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

B U J A — P R E S I D E N T Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, submitted the names of the former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and a former senator from Ekiti State, Prince Adebayo Adeyeye for ministerial appointments.

Also on the list as ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation and read by the Senate President, David Mark during plenary

were Dr. Abdul Bulama from Yobe State and the Peoples Democratic South South zonal Vice Chairman, Dr. Stephen Oruh.

The President's letter read: “In accordance with Section 147, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I have the honour to forward the under listed ministerial nominees for consideration for senate confirmation.

“Dr. Abdul Bulama, Yobe State; Dr. Stephen Oruh,

Delta State; Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Kano State; and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, Ekiti State.”

It was gathered that three out of the four ministerial nominees will fill the vacancies created by the exit of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe (Delta); Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade (Ekiti), and State for finance, Yerima Ngama (Yobe).

It will be recalled that Hadjia Jamilia Salik from

Kano State was among the 12 ministerial nominees forwarded to the senate for confirmation by President Jonathan in January, but she was not screened.

However, the latest nomination indicates that Kwara and Anambra states are yet to get ministerial nominees to fill the slots of their states, following the removal of Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi from Kwara State as Sports Minister and Princess Stella Odua, former Minister of Aviation, Anambra State.

concern.

The Bi-Courtney example

“On the issue of Bi-Courtney and Meavis, I think it will be better than what we have with First Bank. That was why during the bullet-proof issue, you already access more than N600 million from First Bank because they are collecting your money. So it is wrong.

“You said it with your mouth that Avitech is a technical partner to First Bank. The bank collects revenue. Do we need a bank for automation? A bank cannot come and do automation in airport. It simply means you just exist.

“You are just sitting here and your money goes somewhere else. So I do not know how you will balance that. If we say Meavis is bad business, First Bank should be the worse. They do not have any business collecting our revenue.

“I know that you should have somebody that should be collecting revenue and paying to the bank and that person is answerable to you since you do not have direct relationship with Avitech. It means that something is wrong because you said you do not have a relationship with Avitech that you only have relationship with First Bank. “ How will FAAN have a relationship with a bank apart from keeping of your money? There cannot be even proper accounting of the revenue because as they are progressing, you are retrogressing.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 —9

Doctors resume today, threaten indefinite strike if... zWe're still on strike— LUTH-ARD

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWALE

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S resident doctors in the various public hospitals across the nation return to their duty posts today, after a threeday nationwide warning strike, the aggrieved medical doctors have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to accede to their demands.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, are yet to resume, following what they described as the insensitivity of the hospital management to their various demands.

Yesterday in Lagos, the striking doctors made good their threat as services in most of the hospitals remained almost unavailable.

In most of the hospitals Vanguard visited, patients seemed to have stayed away due to the strike. Only consultants were attending to the few patients who showed up.

Reacting to the situation in a telephone chat with Vanguard, the National President of the Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Dr. Jubril Abdullahi, confirmed that the doctors resumed yesterday.

Meeting FG

Abdullahi, who also hinted that the Federal Government had earlier invited the association for a meeting last Tuesday, explained that his executive got the letter late and could not, therefore, mobilise other executive members in different parts of the country.

He said: “We received a letter for a meeting from the government Monday night for a meeting on Tuesday. But we told them it was not possible for us to honour the meeting as our executive members expected to be at that meeting were not on ground.

“Right now, we are planning for a meeting on the 17th of this month, but before that time, we are going to hold a meeting with our parent body, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, on the 11th on the impending issues.

“We are hoping that the government will resolve the issues before that time. But if nothing is done, we will go on with our already planned indefinite strike from the July 1.”

Contrary to the position of the national body, LUTH chapter of the association has said the

status quo remained.

LUTH-ARD

The President of LUTH-ARD, Dr. Omojowolo Olubunmi, said there has not been any improvement from what the situation was since Monday when the strike started, as the

hospital management is yet to sit with them.

He said: “The status quo remains. No meeting with the management yet. We may meet tomorrow or next; it depends.

“The nationwide strike is ending today, but LUTH’s case is a peculiar one. We have our own local strike which is indefinite and the

hospital management is yet to address the issues we raised.

For now, resident doctors in LUTH are still on strike.”

He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with them and also prevail on the management of LUTH to urgently address the major issues raised as it concern their training and other issues the management was yet to resolve.

New CBN gov meets President Jonathan, unveils agenda today

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—NEW CBN governor meets President Jonathan.

The new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday for about an hour, ostensibly to brief him about the planned unveiling of his agenda for the apex bank.

Emefiele, who resumed as the CBN governor Monday, declined comments when approached by newsmen yesterday, saying he would unveil his blueprint as the CBN governor today

INSURGENCY: VISIT: From left— (Front row) Mr. Olumide Akintayo, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives; Dr. C. G. Okara, Chairman, Joint Health Sector Union; Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, Chairman, House Committee on Health and others, during a courtesy call by the union on the leadership of the House at National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

Jonathan paying lip service to anti-graft war— OBE, MELAYE, UBANI, OTHERS

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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AGOS—SEVEN days after Nigeria attained 15 years of unbroken democratic rule, some legal practitioners and rights activists, yesterday, said there was nothing to celebrate and fingered pervasive corruption for the country’s retarded growth and development, lamenting that President Goodluck Jonathan was not prosecuting the antigraft war seriously.

Those who shared this view are Professor Akin IbidapoObe, Head, Department of Public Law, UNILAG; Mr. Dino Melaye; Mr. Monday Ubani, former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja Branch; Mr. Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders; and Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye of Harvard Law School.

They spoke at an anticorruption symposium organised by the Gani Fawehinmi Students’

Chambers at UNILAG, Lagos.

They said President Jonathan’s lack of political will to fight corruption and his failure to prosecute some of his aides indicted of corruption would spell doom for the development of the country, adding that it behooves on the citizenry to vote out corrupt leaders in the next general elections.

Speaking on the theme Corruption, Mis-governance and Official Impunity: The Bane of Nigeria’s Socioeconomic Development and Prospects, Melaye said: “I make bold to say that the government of Goodluck Jonathan is the most corrupt in Nigerian history.

“Impunity is operating at its highest level in the history of this country. This government is not fighting corruption, rather it’s romancing, massaging and housing corruption.”

On his part, Ubani said: “Fifteen years after return to

civil rule, it is unfortunate we have not even got to the point of practicing true democracy because if we are practicing real democracy, most of the things our present crop of leaders do or say against the people will not be in place.

“Our electoral system must be one that allows for the triumph of the people’s will to ascertain who their leaders are. Here, there are a lot of electoral malpractices, violence and blood-letting.”

To Ugwuonye, “there is no doubt that the Nigerian citizenry have the onerous responsibility to hold government accountable.

“Though we claim to be in a democratic dispensation, we hear all the time of government making efforts to stop people from protesting.

“Therefore, there is an urgent need for people to come out and protest, seek and demand changes.”

FG seeks assistance for victims

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA— THE F e d e r a l Government, yesterday, appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to assist in donating relief materials to victims of Boko Haram insurgency, just as it donated materials to some communities in the affected states in the North-East region.

The National Coordinator of National Information Centre on security situation across the country, Mr. Mike Omeri, made the appeal in Abuja.

Omeri, who is also the Director General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, said Chibok, Kano, parts of Yobe State, among other communities, had been visited by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, with relief materials.

He said: “The Federal Government’s efforts at reaching out to affected communities in the North-East have achieved some results, following the successful delivery of relief materials by NEMA.”

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Final position on LASU fees coming soon – LASG

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—FOLLOWING continued protests by students of Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, over increase in tuition fee introduced two years ago, Lagos State government, yesterday, said it would announce the final position on the controversial issue next Monday.

Students of LASU, in collaboration with the Joint Action Forum, JAF, a coalition of civil society groups, on Tuesday, shut down traffic along the LagosAbeokuta Expressway to protest the hike in tuition fee, and demanded that the state government immediately revert the fee to N48,500 or nothing.

The state government, appealed to the students to maintain the peace and exercise patience until June 9, when the executive committee set up by Governor Babatunde Fashola to look into all arguments surrounding the hike in fee hike, would submit its findings to the state executive council for deliberation.

Speaking at a joint media briefing by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, and his Transportation counterpart, Kayode Opeifa, as well as members of the executive committee on LASU, expressed disappointment that despite meeting with the governor and the committee during which time they (students) stated their position, which was being looked into, the students were still involved in protests thereby further raising

BYVICTORAHIUMAYOUNG

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LAGOS HOMS DRAW: From left: Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, Commissioner of Finance and Chairman, Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme board; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mr. Bosun Jeje, Commissioner of Housing and Akinola Kojo Segoe, executive secretary of the board, during the 4th draw of Lagos HOMS, at LTV-8, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo by Bunmi Azeez. tension over the issue.

Govt releases additional N2bn for housing projects

In another development, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday said his administration had released additional N2 billion to contractors handling housing projects under the Lagos State Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, Lagos-HOMS. Fashola, who spoke at the fourth draw, where 92 new home owners emerged, reiterated his

government’s commitment to providing affordable houses for residents.

He said: “Nothing delights me more than seeing citizens who are happy. My day is made; this is the reason why I have this job.

All of the home owners today, their joy and their happiness and excitement make this day worthwhile for me. We have 92 new home owners.”

Fashola, also charged the contractors of the housing scheme to work harder to deliver more houses in the shortest possible He expressed satisfaction with

N5bn fraud: Court to begin trial of Chevron’s ex-Accountant BYABDULWAHAB ABDULAH& BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—THE Trial of a former accountant with Chevron Nigeria Ltd., Michael Adenuga, accused of fraudulent conversion of a property worth N5 billion has been fixed for June 15 by an Ikeja High Court.

The date by the trial Judge, Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, was sequel to a request by the prosecution; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that the matter be adjourned to enable it serve the defence with an additional proof of evidence.

The prosecution was to open trial yesterday, however, the EFCC counsel, Emmanuel Jackson, notified the court that there were some vital documents which the prosecution intended to add to the charge to enhance its case.

However, lawyers representing the defence led by Mr. Muiz Banire and Mr. Ehis Agboga did not oppose the prosecution’s application to serve the additional evidence as well as the adjournment.

The defendant, Adenuga and

Labour demands repeal of Akwa Ibom Pension Law

his company, Covenant Apartment Complex Ltd. were charged on a three-count offences of Stealing, forgery and use of false documents.

EFCC alleged that between September 2011 and February 2008, the defendants fraudulently converted to their own use, a land measuring about 22.68 hectares.

conduct of the mortgage system, saying the level of transparency demonstrated by home allocation system was a clear indication that democracy was working in the state.

LASU-Iba rehabilitation

road

Meanwhile, the state government has begun rehabilitation works on four additional cross culverts on LASU–Iba Expressway.

The rehabilitation works which started yesterday is scheduled to be completed within 56 days.

According to Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the contractor would commence works on the first two locations at Olorunfemi and Elero-Akesan Bus-Stops for the first 30 days, starting from Wednesday 4th June, 2014, to Thursday July 3rd, 2014.

Money laundering: Ikuforiji’s trial resumes today

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AGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday, adjourned till today, the trial of Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji of the Lagos State House of Assembly, LAHA, charged with money laundering.

Ikuforiji is standing trial alongside his aide; Oyebode Atoyebi, on an amended 56count charge bordering on the offence.

The case which was earlier slated for continuation was stalled, following the absence of the prosecutor, Chief Godwin Obla, SAN. When the case was called, Counsel representing the accused, Mr Tunde Akirinmisi informed the court of a letter from the prosecutor, intimating him of his absence from court.

Following the information by defence counsel, Justice therefore ordered the court registrar to read out the letter

in the open court.

In his letter the prosecutor informed the court that his absence was due to a matter he was also handling before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

He craved the indulgence of the court that the matter be adjourned to June 5 and June 6, to enable him attend

and prosecute his case.

The defence counsel did not object to the letter for adjournment.

Buba in a short ruling, accordingly, adjourned the case to June 5 and June 6 for continuation of trial.

He said the accused persons should maintain their bail.

IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday asked Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to abrogate the new Pension Law entirely instead of trying to review it.

NLC and ASCSN in separate statements in Abuja and Lagos called on the National Assembly to use its extant powers to overrule the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly if it failed to overrule itself.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Lawal, regretted that in a state where the majority of the citizens lived below poverty line on less than one dollar per day, Governor Akpabio drafted the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2014, which contained humongous benefits for himself, his wife and the Deputy Governor.

It contended that the Governor ’s attempt to review the Pension Law by introducing Health Insurance Scheme for himself, his wife, and Deputy fell short of public expectation.

Also, NLC, in a statement by its President, Abdulwahhed Omar, said “In a state where pension benefits of retired civil servants have not been fully paid in accordance with the provisions of the National Minimum Wage, and pensions of some categories of the state employees, especially teachers, health workers and local government employees have not been harmonised, it is totally unacceptable to fix the pension benefit of the governor in spite of countless perquisite of office in this manner.''

UNILAG to graduate 89 first class students

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AGOS—A total of 89 of the 9,729 graduating students of the University of Lagos, will be awarded first class degrees during the 2012/2013 school's convocation scheduled for June 11 and June 12.

The Vice-Chancellor, VC, Professor Rahamon Bello, told newsmen in Lagos that there would be an award of first and higher degrees, diploma,

certificates as well as prize giving.

Bello said 482 students would be graduating from the Faculty of Arts, 535 from Business Administration and 246 from Environmental Sciences.

He said 209 others were from the Faculty of Law, while 141, 420, 344, 655 and 493 others would come from the faculties of Pharmacy, Education,

Engineering, Social Sciences and Sciences, respectively.

The VC said 415 would be graduating from the College of Medicine, comprising the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences and Dental Sciences.

The Distance Learning Institute, would be graduating 968 students, while the School of Post Graduate Studies would graduate 4,821.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—11

Vote against bad leaders, Amaechi urges Nigerians

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, urged Nigerians to vote against bad leaders at all levels in the country ahead of the 2015 general elections, saying Nigerians should resist all forms of tyranny and dictatorship currently manifesting in the polity.

The governor spoke at the 3rd annual lecture of the Ogun State Correspondents’ chapel held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat, Iwe Irohin, Abeokuta.

Amaechi, who was the guest speaker condemned the current form of federalism, saying ''the situation whereby the Federal Government determines what allocation should accrue to states must be reviewed.''

The governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, and spoke on the theme; Nigeria: The Leadership Question, said unless Nigerians rose against bad leadership and

2 docked for stealing council mace in Ogun

installed leadership that was passionate about the country, the country would not make a headway.

According to him, “Leadership is an extremely important factor, if we are going to build a nation.

Unless and until we have leaders with ability, integrity, commitment and vision, we cannot succeed as a country. We cannot succeed by leadership that is not functional.

It is in your hands to choose and to change the leadership. ''Nigerians must begin to insist that they deserve better than they are getting. We believe that Nigeria of our dream is Nigeria with leaders who are not only consistent, transparent but also passionate about our country.

“Can we say that the crop of leadership at various levels is passionate about us as a country? Can we say that the current crop of leadership at the federal level is transparent in its

dealings? Can we say that the present crop of leadership at the federal is consistent with policies that will build the nation? I think that the answers to that is the reason why some of us left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.”

Citing another form of unconstitutional act, the Rivers State governor however, lamented that the National Judicial Council, NJC, had foisted the chief judge on him contrary to the constitution.

VISIT: From left—Mr. Bunmi Onafowokan, G.M. Corporate Services Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, TNL; Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, G.M. Treasury and Correspondent Banking, Zenith Bank; Mr. Peter Amangho, Managing Director, Zenith Bank; Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, Managing Director, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited; Mrs. Ada Okafor, Manager, Consumer Banking, Zenith Bank, Matori and Mr. Ifeanyi Dike, AGM/Zonal Head, Zenith Bank, Matori, during a recent courtesy visit to Toyota by Zenith Bank. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Police command yesterday, arraigned two suspects before a magistrate court in Abeokuta for allegedly stealing a mace belonging to Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects: Nurudeen Sauban, 22 and Ahmed Jimoh, 25, were arrested by policemen after they allegedly stole the mace valued at N2.5 million.

The prosecutor, Sunday Eigbejiale told the court that the offence was committed on May 3,2014 at Akomoje Local Government Area of the state.

Eigbejiale added that the offence was contrary to and punishable under sections 516; 383 and 390 (9) of the criminal laws of Ogun State, 2006.

The accused however, pleaded not guilty to the two count charge of conspiracy and stealing leveled against them.

Counsel to the accused; Gbenga Apanishile prayed the court to grant bail to his clients in the most liberal term.

The Presiding magistrate, Martins Akjnyemi granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in the like sum.

2015: PDP'll win Oyo guber poll —ALAO-AKALA

BY OLAAJAYI

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BADAN—FORMER governor of Oyo State, Adebayo AlaoAkala, yesterday boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would win the 2015 gubernatorial poll in the state.

Alao-Akala, who spoke to

newsmen in Ogbomoso, said: “There is nothing that can stop the PDP from winning in 2015.

We will capture Oyo. We have all it takes to do so; it is just a matter of time. Everybody will line up behind the person in the front, that I can assure you.”

Speaking on his gubernatorial

Group decries rising insecurity in Nasarawa resulted in the death of over five

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AGOS—CIVIL Society Co alition Against Corruption, CSNAC, has expressed concern over the increasing rate of communal strife and violence in Nasarawa State.

The group was disturbed that the state, hitherto reputed as conducive to both the residents and visitors, has now become a place where people now live in fear.

CSNAC, in a release by its coordinator, Olanrewaju Suraju noted that the crisis has rendered government security machinery and political actors helpless.

"Since, 2012, violent communal clashes had assumed a worrisome dimension in the state, making residents and visitors to live in perpetual fear and uncertainties.

Series of sectarian violence had

hundred and thirty-four (534) persons across the state.

“The prevailing insecurity situation in Nasarawa State was made worse owing to the failure of government at the state and local government levels to provide timely intervention towards restoring peace in the affected communities.”

The group regretted the murder of 74 policemen by the Ombatse cult and the Alakyo violence in the outskirts of the state capital, which claimed over 500 lives between December, 2012 and September, 2013.

CSNAC, urged the state and federal security agents ''to take urgent steps to prevent further loss of lives and wanton destruction, particularly in view of the forthcoming general elections.

ambition, Akala said he was still consulting and would make an official declaration at the appropriate time, saying; “When the time comes, I will let the people know. For God’s sake, I am very old in this game and I have the experience. Don’t rule out the possibility that I may come out soon. The signs you are seeing now is that a big masquerade is coming out. You know that the big masquerade dances last. The others are also eminently qualified,” he said.

The former governor, said the next election would be determined by experience.

Reacting to the controversial harmonised list of executives by some stakeholders, Alao-Akala said what was released was a factional list and should be challenged.

He said the party was not divided, noting that “There is nothing wrong with the PDP executive in Oyo; some members are only aggrieved because they felt disenfranchised and want to be part of the things in the party.”

Alao-Akala urged party members to resolve their differences rather than seek resolution at the national headquarter in Abuja.

Jubilation in Ekiti over Adeyeye's ministerial nomination

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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DO EKITI – IT was wide jubilation yesterday in Ekiti for the family of Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyalists, when news broke out that the former image maker of Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, is a minister-designate.

Adeyeye, a former governorship aspirant of PDP in the state, was among the four names sent by President Goodluck Jonathan, to the senate for consideration as ministers.

They described Adeyeye’s nomination as the right thing in the right direction.

Aerospace Centre workers protest unpaid salaries

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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S O G B O — WORKERS of Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys, RECTAS, Obafemi Awolowo University OAU Ile-Ife, campus, yesterday protested the non-payment of their six months salaries by the Executive Director of the Organisation, Professor Isidahome Ikhuoria.

The protesting workers of the inter-governmental institution under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, accused Ikhuoria of mismanagement of the institute’s fund, making the institute unable to pay salaries.

The workers claimed Ikhuoria had abandoned the centre since March when they started protesting their unpaid salaries.

They displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Ikhuoria, pay us our salaries and stop exploiting us”, “Enough is enough of Ikhuoria’s academic fraud.”

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Edo lawmakers induced to plot my impeachment —Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, raised alarm that huge sums of money from Abuja was being used to induce some members of the state House of Assembly to impeach him.

He also said that the four All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers, who defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were ingrates, adding that any attempt to impeach him will not succeed.

It will be recalled that the four former APC lawmakers, had last week denied the allegation that they were plotting to impeach the governor. But Oshiomhole, who addressed thousands of youths from the three senatorial districts, who paid him a solidarity visit, regretted that he was stabbed on the back by people who rode on his back to become lawmakers.

Commending the youths for their visit, Oshiomhole said: “I know that you have read in the newspapers that some of them (lawmakers) are planning through corrupt means to change a popular mandate that was conferred on me by the great people of the state, including your good selves. History will have it, whether they like it or not, that for the first time, Edo Central, North and South, everybody voted for me

overwhelmingly in all the local governments.

“Now they have brought in a lot of money from Abuja paying Assembly members who we campaigned for, marketed some of these people who are not known in their neighbourhoods, who rode on my back to get to the House of Assembly. Some of them cannot walk on their streets.

“I heard that they are going to

pick up more money to buy the people. Let them bring it.

But the day the devil will rise to say that he will dare what God has willed, they will increase the fire power in heaven. So, I need you to remain resolute and not to be disturbed. When I was not in government, I laid down my life to fight for Nigeria. I confronted those in powers then.

We are determined to be on the side of the people.”

Leader of the group, Mr Solomon Okoduwa, in his remarks, expressed support for the governor, but appealed to the state government to make grants available to youths who had acquired different agricultural training skills which would help address unemployment in the state.

BIRTHDAY: From right: Mr. Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Fred Udueme, AGM Brand, Vangaurd; Mr. Dada Adekola, Cartoon Editor; Mrs Judith Ufford,Assistant Editor, Features/Celebrant and Mr. Victor Omoregie, Corporate Affairs Manager, Vangaurd, during Mrs Ufford's birthday celebration at Vangaurd Newsroom, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Confab: Retention of 13% derivation unacceptable —Odje

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—A RIGHTS activist and lawyer, Dr. Akpor Mudiaga-Odje, yesterday, said that the retention of 13 percent derivation to the oil producing states by the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Powers, was unacceptable.

Odje, in a statement, in Warri, Delta State, said: “It will be recalled that this same committee retained oil, gas, oil pipelines in the Exclusive legislative list of the constitution for the control by the Federal Government through the National Assembly. In addition, they also retained Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which pungently vests all oil and gas resources, in both land and water including the Territorial Waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, in the Federal Government.

“Consequently, there was a total rejection of resource control by the Committee of Devolution. Having expropriated our resources to the Federal Government, one would have expected that we would be compensated by an increase in the

derivation percentage from 13 percent to at least 25 percent, and at most 50 percent. Regrettably, we have been short changed again by the Nigerian state. It is disheartening to observe that the people of the Niger Delta who produce the resources that have sustained this nation for over 50 years have continued to live in pandemic poverty and arrested development.

“Meanwhile, other areas, which actually contribute nothing meaningful to the nation’s

revenue, have been feeding fat on the resources of our people. Whilst we do not quarrel about sharing our resources with our fellow brothers from other parts of the nation, we must, nevertheless, be given priority as producers of the resources in terms of a reasonable percentage as derivation i.e. 25 percent minimum.

Above all, it should be emphasised that the 13 percent derivation retained by the said committee in practice and re-

ality is even less than 13 percent.

“For example, the Federal Government does not pay 13 percent on Excess Crude Oil Revenue into the Federation Account, which ought to be part of gross earnings from oil sales. Rather the Federal Government pays derivation based on its budget benchmark i.e. $77.5 as in 2014 budget, which is lower than the current international price of $108 per barrel."

Edo APC chieftain, group berate PDP Chair over Reacting, Ehimeka, said state. comments “the furniture were made by Orbih had, in a recent pub-

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CHIEFTAIN of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo North senatorial district, Edo State, Alhaji Dada Akpeji, and the Owan Progressive Vanguard , OPV, yesterday, took a swipe at the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih over comments on school furniture supplied by a contractor in the state.

OPV, in a statement by Mr. Ohis Ehimeka, chided Orbih, saying he has lost focus as an opposition party chairman in the

lication, called on the state government to make public, the findings of a panel that was set up to look into the award of contracts for supply of school desks to secondary schools in the state a few years ago.

Orbih had said “a contract for the supply of 75,000 school desks was awarded to a furniture company by the state government at a contract sum of about N1.5 billion, but the desks have not been sighted in any school since then.”

a proud Owan son and delivered. Orbih needs to go round the over 700 schools renovated and reconstructed by the Adams Oshiomhole- led administration to see for himself rather than these unwarranted attack and misinformation."

On his part, Akpeji, said: “If Dan Orbih has no work or does not known what it takes to act in the capacity of a state party chairman and one in the opposition, he is advised to resign. Orbih’s wild allegations simply show that he is not in touch with reality."

Terrorism: Bayelsa drums support for security agencies

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has called on the political class to sink their differences and support the security agencies in winning the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.

Governor Seriake Dickson made the appeal when he granted audience to the Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, MajorGeneral Ebibowei Awala and the Joint Task Force, JTF Commander, MajorGeneral Emmanuel Atewe, in Yenagoa.

He described the nation’s military as a treasured institution that deserves the support of all and sundry with a view to assisting the operatives in performing their constitutional role of protecting lives and property and the territorial integrity of the country.

Urhobo media professionals hail Utuama at 67

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EPUTY governor of Delta State, Prof.

Amos Utuama, has been described as a great illustrious son of the Urhobo nation, who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the state and Nigeria in general.

The assessment came from the Urhobo Media Practitioners Forum, UMPF, as the deputy governor marks his 67th birthday today.

A statement by the Chairman of UMPF, Prince Orhomonokpaye noted that Prof. Utuama has contributed to human capital development in various ways.

The forum said that, being the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Delta State for eight years and deputy governor also for eight years, he has done a lot of good things for the people.

The group wished him many happy years full of God’s blessings and protection as he marks his birthday.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—13

Reactions trail NJC directive on assigning of cases in Rivers courts

BY INNOCENT ANABA & JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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EACTIONS have continued to trail the order by the National Judicial Council, NJC, directing the most senior judges in the Rivers State High Court and Customary Court of Appeal to oversee the assigning of cases to judges in the state.

By the directive, Justice Daisy Okocha, who is the most senior judge in the state High Court, automatically becomes the acting Chief Judge. The NJC had also recommended Justice Okocha to the state government for appointment as CJ, but Governor Rotimi Amaechi preferred Justice Peter Agumagu, whom he appointed and swore in as Chief Judge of the state on March 18.

It will be recalled that Justice Agumagu, after his swearing in, was suspended by the NJC. It is worthy of note that before the appointment of Justice Agumagu as substantive CJ, the Rivers State Government obtained a favourable judgment from a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which held that the function of the NJC was only to recommend and nothing more, while it was the constitutional duty of the state governor to appoint the CJ.

Confusion

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Mr. George Sokari, yesterday, said the union received a circular from the state government directing judiciary workers in the employment of the state to ignore directives from Justice Okocha as Administrative Chief Judge of the state.

Mr. Sokari, who read some portions of the circular to journalists at the premises of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, said that judicial workers in the state were in a dilemma, noting that they were confused by the conflicting development.

Meantime, the state’s chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has said it welcomed the directive of the NJC.

Reactions

A former President of NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, on his part, said “I cannot speak much on this matter as I participated in the matters in court. All I will say here is that the judgment of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt by the Akanbi FJ is correct until set aside on appeal that is if the NJC appeals and its appeal is considered meritorious. Until then, the sound legal analysis provided by the learned and trial judge remains the law. The installation or appointment by the state governor of the suspended Chief Judge is an off-shoot of the judgment of the Federal

High Court.

“If the NJC is dissatisfied with any of the steps flowing from the judgment, its remedy available to it under section 6-(6)-(d) of the 1999 Constitution is to appeal and not engage in strong arm tactics to declare the perceived interpretation by the state governor of the judgment of the Federal High Court as wrong. That is the constitutional path that the NJC must follow. It cannot and should not be seen to be engaging in brigandage against the rule of law when it ought to be the repository of such good behaviour.

“The NJC when compared to the Federal High Court or any other court of law is an inferior tribunal.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi It is not above the law and lacks the capacity to adjudicate on the should take over and if Justice steps taken by the governor of RivOkocha - whose brother is a memers State pursuant to or in compliber of the NJC - is indeed the ance with the judgment of the Fedsenior-most judge, why does she eral High Court.” need the NJC to demote her to Another SAN, Mr Yemi Candide“administrative judge”? And if Johnson, said: “Its a complete the NJC’s decision over the “susbloody mess. This comedy of erpension” of the Governor’s CJ is rors playing out so clumsily before in court, doesn’t the NJC come a public that once held the judiciacross as manufacturing subterary in spiritual awe is grinding the fuge in order to invent it’s “adlast remaining fragments of reputation and authority to dust. This institution and the process for selection and appointment of judicial officers has demonstrably collapsed and it is a tragedy for our governance and democracy.

“That the NJC itself, ostensibly housing the leading minds of our law and judiciary cannot show careful and sound judgment, some caution and political astuteness to resolve the result of its own incompetence models the problem of judicial leadership in Nigeria. They are now locked in a political battle in one of the most partisan and hotly contested political theatres in the country.

“Did they take independent legal advice? Did they consider their responsibility (above self and ego) to the due and proper administration of justice? I very much doubt it. This unfolding fiasco belies political and legal maturity and the level of judgment that a leading national institution must possess and display.”

Prof Chidi Odinkaku, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, said “Democracy is messy, but it works best when the institutions are allowed to work effectively. Separation of powers means folks should not migrate from one arm to another in order to end-run other arms.

“Here is the story: a Federal High Court rules NJC out of line. Rivers State governor proceeds to appoint a CJ. NJC believes governor of Rivers State acted unlawfully in not returning to it for a recommendation, says the CJ appointed by the Rivers Gov is suspended. The “suspended” CJ heads to court against the NJC. While he’s in court, NJC says someone should become “administrative judge.” There’s one word for it: “end-run.” It’s not on.

“You see, when people are talking about “Ag. CJ,” and NJC speaks about “Administrative Judge,” when did NJC start designating “Administrative Judge?” Clearly, they know it’s not their province to designate “Ag. CJ,” which is why their release avoided that nomenclature. So, from where did they derive the power to designate “Administrative Judge” - whatever that means for a State?

“The Constitution speaks about Chief Judge; Ag. Chief Judge. But Administrative Judge? That’s entirely in the imagination of the alchemists of the NJC. Clearly, the institution is now damaged by clear perception that it’s serving cause(s) entirely of its own making here.

“If the Constitution says the senior-most judge

Justice Aloma Mukhtar ministrative judge” gig?

“Quite apart from this, the NJC is an executive body. Never mind that it is headed by the CJN and dominated by judges. As NJC, they are exercising executive power. But they are using superior judicial positions to intimidate lower courts and make it impossible for courts to do what they

are there for. We don’t have to agree with the courts.

But if we don’t defend what they do and protect them in doing so, even the powerful people in the NJC today will be endangered tomorrow when they’re no longer as powerful as they think they are today. To endrun a system like that brings the idea of rule of law to ruin."

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

APC national chairmanship: Intrigues as South-South leaders meet

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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EADERS OF the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the SouthSouth are to meet to put forward a consensus candidate for the national chairmanship of the party.

Proposal for the meeting came as intrigues over the contention for the position of national chairman continued to deepen within and outside the SouthSouth, the zone from which the national chairman is expected to emerge at the forthcoming national convention of the party scheduled for next weekend.

Party sources disclosed, yesterday, that party "stakeholders are looking up to the two governors from the region, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to lead the way in resolving the issue that is dividing party operatives from the region along four lines carved by the four major candidates from the region."

The four major candidates are Chief John OdigieOyegun, Chief Tom Ikimi, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja and Chief Timipre Sylva.

Party sources also revealed, yesterday, that the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu might have finally resolved to push OdigieOyegun for the office of national chairman after earlier contemplating Sam Jaja, who it was learnt, is being backed by Governor Amaechi.

Ikimi, it was learnt, is being backed by some governors in the party and elements of the old All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, led

by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Sylva, a late entrant into the race, Vanguard learnt, had reached out to former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for support, but Vanguard could not confirm the level of response from Buhari.

However, despite the support from Tinubu for Odigie-Oyegun, some party operatives were, yesterday, raising issues on the propriety of replacing Chief Bisi Akande, the 75-yearold interim chairman with Odigie-Oyegun,who is also 75 years old.

MEETING: The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu (middle); the Registrar, Mr. Tony Nwaokolobia (4th right) and members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRAI, after a crucial meeting with the Management of the Polytechnic, yesterday.

Tribunal upholds Obiano’s election, dismisses Ngige, 3 others' petitions ...as youths take to streets in jubilation tion.

He held that Obidigbo lacked the locus standi under Section 137 of the Electoral Act to file the petition because it dwelt on an intra-party AWKA — ANAMBRA State gov- matter. ernorship Election Petitions Tribu“It is highly illogical, inconceivnal in Awka, yesterday, upheld Gov- able and injurious for APGA which ernor Willie Obiano’s election and won an election to petition itself at dismissed four petitions filed the tribunal. against him by other candidates.

“The failure of the petitioner to Shortly after the ruling, youths produce forms CF001 and CF002 under the aegis of United Anambra cast a huge doubt on his claim of Youths Association, U-AYA, took to nomination as candidate in the electhe streets in jubilation for the vic- tion,” he held. tory.

The judge discountenanced the The tribunal Chairman, Justice allegation of multiple registration Ishaq Bello, held that the petitions against Obiano for lack of evidence of Chike Obidigbo, belonging to a by the petitioner. faction of APGA; Chris Ngige of On Ngige’s petition, he held that APC, Tony Nwoye of PDP and the the petitioner’s witnesses failed to PDP lacked merit. produce the voters’ register to exBello, in four separate judgments, plain or demonstrate how they were held that Obiano’s election com- disenfranchised in the election. plied substantially with the Elector“The petitioner failed to prove that al Act 2010 and the 1999 Constitu- the failure of all INEC staff to swear an oath of neutrality substantially affected the validity of the poll.

“In our view, the case of multiple registration is baseless; the submission that Obiano’s voter’s card is a forged docBY ENYIM ENYIM ument is misconceived.

The judge said only ONITSHA — ANAMBRA State government is INEC could prove the owing state hospital mortuary contractors N189 mil- falsification of its document, adding that the lion for 300 abandoned corpses across the state Chairman of the state government hospital mor- petitioner ’s failure to tuary contractors, Chief Frank Igboka, who dropped call INEC to give evithe hint, yesterday, described as unfortunate gov- dence was fatal to the ernment’s inability to pay their bill so that the corps- case.

Ngige had alleged dises could be evacuated for a mass burial. ”The mortuaries where the corpses are abandoned enfranchisement of votare Enugu- Ukwu General Hospital, Okija General ers, invalid voters' regHospital, Ihiala General Hospital, Ekwulobia Gen- ister, multiple registration by Obiano and coreral hospital and Onitsha General Hospital. ”We have written to the new governor, Dr. Willie rupt practices as some of Obiano and nothing has been done in that regard. the electoral malpracticWe cannot bury them without government, police es that substantially afor court clearance and most important, government fected the poll.

On Nwoye’s petition has to pay our bills before anything is done in that seeking nullification of respect,” he said.

The worrisome aspect, he said, was that the po- the election for alleged lice had turned the government hospital mortuar- irregularities and disenies as dumping ground for the deposition of corps- franchisement, Bello es, thereby increasing the numbers of abandoned held that the petitioner failed to prove the case. corpses day by day.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU & NWABUEZE OKONKWO, with agency reports

Abandoned corpses: Anambra govt to pay contractors N189m

He held that PDP’s petition which alleged corrupt practices in four polling units out of 4,608 polling units was not substantial to nullify the election.

Meanwhile, youths under the aegis of United Anambra Youths Association, U-AYA, yesterday, embarked on roadshow in jubilation for the victory of Governor Willie Obiano.

The governor said his victory was for Anambra and not only for him, promising to do more to develop the state.

Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths Mobilisation, Mr. Chinedu Obidigwe, and the Vice President of U-

AYA Central, Ogochukwu Egolum, who led the youths, described the judgment of the tribunal as a landmark verdict.

Also speaking, factional National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, stated that the judgment of the tribunal had vindicated his party and absolved it of any wrong in fielding Obiano.

Umeh said: “We have been vindicated. We sponsored only one candidate in the election, and that is Obiano, and he is the winner. We won the election in a landslide victory, and the tribunal has now confirmed so."

Vanguard, THURSDAY,JUNE 5, 2014—15

Jonathan presents N322bn NDDC budget proposal to Senate

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, presented a budget proposal of N322.6 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for the 2014 fiscal year to the Senate.

The budget forwarded to the Senate through the Senate President, Senator David Mark, showed a 2.1 per cent increase of about N7 billion over the 2013 budget for the ministry which was N315.85 billion.

President Jonathan in the letter read by the presiding officer, Senator Mark, stated: “Pursuant to section 18 sub section one of the NDDC establishment Act, I wish to submit the 2014 estimates of expendi-

ture and income of the Commission for the kind consideration and approval of the National Assembly.

“The Commission has submitted a budget proposal of N322 billion for 2014 as against N315 billion in 2013 presenting an increase of about 2.1 per cent over last year’s budget.

"Furthermore, the budget is made up of personal expenditure of N15.80, 73 billion only.”

According to the budget estimate, recurrent expenditure stood at N10.186 billion, capital expenditure, N2.281 billion, while project development expenditure was expected to gulp N295.051 billion.

The President stated that the sources of revenue for the proposed budget included revenue brought forward, which was

...appoints three new perm secs

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RESIDENT GOOD LUCK Jonathan has approved the appointment of three new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

This was disclosed, yesterday, in a statement by Mr Mohammed Manga, the Assistant Director, Press, in the Office of the Head of Service of the federation. ”The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji, who announced the approval, said the new appointments

have been made to fill vacant slots, following the retirement from Service of Permanent Secretaries representing Ekiti, Katsina, and Plateau states,” the statement read.

The newly appointed permanent secretaries are: Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye for Ekiti; Mrs. Binta Lami AdamuBello, for Katsina; and Mr. Nanpon Danjuma for Plateau.

Dr. Ajakaiye is the immediate past Director of Press, at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

N23 million, and federal government contribution excess crude arrears of N50 million.

Other areas included oil companies' contributions and others which was N130 million, ecological fund of N57 million, other internally realised income of N100,000, million, and unpaid arrears from 2012 approved budget of N12.5 million, which summed up to N322.6 billion “While hoping that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the Senate, please, accept the assurances of my highest regards,” Jonathan stated.

FEC approves $242.2m loan for Lagos

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA —A sover eign warranty for two separate loans amounting to $242.2 million (about N40billion) from the International Development Association for Lagos State was, yesterday, approved by the Federal Executive Council.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that $200million was approved to support infrastructure in Lagos State, while $42.2million was for secondary school education.

According to Maku, Lagos State has secured in the first phase the sum of $200million, while yesterday ’s approval was the second phase of the loan regime.

Maku, who was flanked by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala

Muhammed, and Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said: “The objective of the project is to improve on public finance and sustainable manner and consolidate on the achievements recorded under the first phase of the project. ”The project covers the construction of a 2-kilometre light rail, construction of schools and the construction of Adiyan Mini Water Works to provide two million gallons of water per day. ”Council approved that the ministry obtain additional credit facility in the sum of $200 million from the IDA in support of the development operation. ”Council also approved that the minister should execute the financing agreement on behalf of the Federal Government; and directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to issue the legal opinion required to render the credit effective.”

Maku added that the

council also approved that the ministry obtained an IDA credit in the sum of $42.3m as additional financing for Lagos-Epe Secondary Education Project.

Also speaking, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the council also approved the award of contract for the operation, maintenance and staff training for Wupa Basin Sewage Treatment Plant in Abuja, in the sum of N2.6billion with a completion period of 20 months.

In his own contribution, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said the council approved the commissioning of consultancy services for the Shore Protection and Rehabilitation of Escravos Breakwaters and Greenfield Port Development at Ogidingbe, Delta State, for the Nigerian Ports Authority.

He said the contract was awarded to Messrs Royal Haskoninb DHV in the sums of N722.29million and $2.05m.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Niger govt, security operatives dislodge Islamist sect from forest zGovernment revokes sect's Certificate of Occupancy One year in existence

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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I N N A — T H E Niger State Government assisted by a combined team of security agents yesterday demolished a forest at Lapai, in the state which was being used as a training ground for a new sect of Islamist fundamentalists. The security personnel included the Army, Navy, Airforce, police,Department of State Services, DSS, as well as Civil Defence Corps.

240 members found

Security sources told Vanguard

that no fewer than 240 members of the sect named Nibrassiya Huda Islamist sect headed by Sheik Mohammed Mohammed Abubakar were found in the thick forest on the outskirts of Cheche village which was close to the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBU.

Revocation of C of O

The state government also immediately revoked the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, earlier granted the leader of the sect, Sheik Abubakar on April 13, this year, after discovering that the vast land was not being used

for the purpose it was granted.

The Islamist fundamentalists allegedly included mostly male and female teenagers.

It was alleged that the fundamentalsits were being indoctrinated based on similar principles guiding the operations of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents now killing and maiming people in the northest states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the last five years.

Varsity students as members

Some of the sect members also, reportedly included students of

IBBU who were lured into the group.

The security team led by Lt.Col Adamu Yakubu of the 313 Artillery Brigade, Minna was said to have invaded the forest at about 4am when the sect members were preparing to go for their morning prayers (Asuba) and dislodged them. No life was, however, lost during the exercise.

The sources said: ‘’The sect members were immediately rounded up and pulled out of their different tents built with straws and grasses before the tents were leveled.

The camp had been in existence for over one year with members of the sect said to be operating completely at variance with Islamic injunctions. ‘’After taking the census of those involved, it was discovered that most of the sect members were from Niger State. They were immediately transported to their various local government areas while those who were not from Niger were being ferried to their different states.’’

Monarch lauds action

Meanwhile, the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida had while addressing members of the Task Force before evacuating the members commended the action of the state government.

The monarch said: “We thank the state government for its proactive ways of doing things especially, those bordering on security.

If this sect members were not dislodged now, there is the tendency for them to go out of hand and their actions may eventually consume all of us.”

Secretary to Lapai local government council, Alhaji Mohammed Evuti also commended the state government for the action taken in dislodging the sect members pointing out that if left to grow and stay longer, they will become security threat not only to Lapai town but to the state and the entire country.

Spokesman of the group, Sheik Yusuf Usman who was mandated by the sect leader to speak on his behalf debunked the allegation that they are hostile and trying to cause mayhem in Lapai or state, adding that they are purely propagating Islam and the Holy Qur’an being their guide.

Denies Boko Haram link

“We are not an extension of Boko Haram sect. We do not have any link with Boko Haram. Infact, we do not share any belief with them or have anything common with them. Boko Haram’s agenda is to unleash terror on innocent people but we are not only peaceful Islamic scholars but also farmers,” he explained.

Speaking in flawless English, he continued, “Most of us were in the Mosque when the security men came this morning and we did not attack them."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 17

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“ F I say I was not petrified travelling through that 135km of road to Gwoza, I would be lying because that road had been designated a no-go area for about two months now due to incessant attacks and killings that occur there. But leadership requires courage and sacrifice. Courage, I believe is not the absence of fear but the belief that there is something greater than that fear” - Kashim Shettima, Borno state Governor We had not left the Abuja airport last Friday, when news broke of the attack on the convoy of three Borno emirs. The initial story, which online news sources carried, was that these traditional rulers were kidnapped by Boko Haram; that was as scary as it could get. But then, things got clearer, but not less tragic: the elderly Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Shehu Idrisa Timta, had been killed in the ambush and those of Uba and Askira, managed to escape.

This is the Boko Haram crisis at a new low for the people of Borno, Northern Nigeria and our country in general. It was the point that everyone in the group I was travelling with was discussing, as we were called for embarkation.

The backdrop made for a tense flight and my mind turned around all types of subjects, especially because we were flying into Maiduguri airport, which had been audaciously attacked by Boko Haram, late last year. The knot in my belly resembled the one I felt when we flew in a similar turbo-prop plane from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum to El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, at the height of the crisis in 2006.

This is my first visit to Maiduguri since the middle of last year. I have planned to visit severally but just

From Jigawa to Plateau: The digital broadcasting resolve

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Borno: Witness to leadership in a season of killings choices in leadership; faulty economic projects and a notoriously persistent level of corruption. This heady mix has finally caught up with the country, threatening to tear it apart at a time when there seems to be a terrible deficit in leadership. Our country resembles an old Mammy Wagon; the break is failing, tyres are not good, our driver is notoriously incompetent and we are stuffed into that contraption, about to travel down a steep hill, on both sides of which are deep ravines! We are in trouble if we don’t become vigilant codrivers, to assist us navigate our way safely downhill!

Well in Maiduguri last Friday, I was privileged to sit through a fascinating debate between the Governor, Kashim Shettima and a group of officials, that included the Deputy Governor; Head of Service; Chief of Staff; a commissioner and two advisers. It was on the appropriateness or otherwise of travelling to Gwoza, for the burial of the Emir. It was clear

,

Self-preservation is vital; but in moments of trying crises, when the ordinary people are being called upon by their circumstances to make sacrifices, then leaders also have an obligation to show that they can share the privations of followers

couldn’t manage to pull it through. Travel by road had become too hazardous, with Boko Haram brutally slaughtering wayfarers. The joy I get from driving around the different geographical spaces of our beautiful country has increasingly become subverted by the dangers that haunt Nigeria today; from Boko Haram, to kidnappers through to the familiar robbers, who not only take property but often stuff out life.

The other dangers of driversmade-in-hell and lunatic government convoys merely spice up the danger on Nigerian roads. Hobbes must have had Nigeria in mind, when he railed against a reality, where life was “nasty, brutish and short”. It sums up the tragic paradox of an incredibly rich country; an enterprising people who nevertheless suffer the consequences of tragic

,

that the governor was determined to go. He argued that not to attend the funeral was to concede defeat; dampen the spirit of the people and betray their sacrifices.

Without attempting to sound heroic, Kashim Shettima vowed that he would attend the funeral ceremony, in order to provide leadership from the front.

For those on the other side of that debate, they argued that the governor must not be endangered; while there was the need to seek the opinions of the security forces on the advisability of such a trip so soon after the killing. We dispersed because they had a meeting of the state security council for that evening, but I knew in my mind that with the resolve I saw, Governor Shettima would convince his colleagues to do the trip. And they did on Saturday, as the media has reported. They

went accompanied by soldiers and policemen; members of the civilian JTF and local vigilantes.

W

hen we saw again on Monday afternoon, I asked why he didn’t ask his people to pick me up for the trip, he answered that he did not have the right to endanger my life. He didn’t know that what I wanted most of all, was to be able to experience the rush of adrenaline which comes with danger, that seems to be wired into the life of every true journalist!

Again he re-iterated his views that there are certain steps that a leader must never be afraid to take. Selfpreservation is vital; but in moments of trying crises, when the ordinary people are being called upon by their circumstances to make sacrifices, then leaders also have an obligation to show that they can share the privations of followers and provide hope that no matter the length of the night of despair, it must give way to the light of day.

It is particularly poignant, at a time when there are political circles who still believe that the Boko Haram insurgency is a Northern conspiracy against President Goodluck Jonathan.

It is a narrative that even the president does not shy from exploiting. That mindset has paralyzed the administration and has led to a benumbing

befuddlement that has cast a frightening pall on the Nigerian state. This is the basis of the serial missteps that continue to dog the administration, the most recent and certainly most incomprehensible, is the ban of all #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS demonstrations, which Abuja police chief, Mbu Joseph Mbu, described as “nuisance” and “lawlessness” he “cannot fold my hands and watch”.

On Monday, the Chibok abduction became more than an event in far away Chibok, when I was also invited to attend a meeting the governor held with 27 of the girls that escaped by jumping from the vehicle which Boko Haram used to convey the girls and the three that ran away from Sambisa Forest when they told their abductors they wanted to urinate, and their parents.

They were typical teenagers, who obviously felt ill at ease in the setting of the Government House, but whose presence brought home so graphically the events of the past fifty days!

The Borno government is organizing counseling sessions and has plans to take their education to very high levels. In a tragic season of killings in Borno, Governor Kashim Shettima is providing the leadership that Nigerians also expect from President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

Kayode Fayemi: One good term deserves another

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SPENT Easter 2013 in Ado Ekiti, as guest of Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State Governor. I took the opportunity to travel round the state to see some of the landmark achievements of his administration but spent even more engaging time, discussing his views of politics as the governor of his state and as a Nigerian intellectual with solid pedigree in the struggle against military dictatorship. Kayode is not the archetypal politician; he is certainly not the rabble-rouser.

He thinks through actions and he reflects very deeply; and in a sea of ordinary politicians dedicated to the service of their bellies, Fayemi represents the few that can inspire belief that we are not doomed afterall.

The Ekiti state elections will be due in the next few days, and it is my hope that INEC will get things right this time, so that we do not get sucked into the type of controversy that will portend serious danger for the 2015 elections. The parties involved in the election must also display utmost responsibility and live up to the billing that Ekiti State is truly, “Ile Iyi, Ile Eye” (Place of Honour). I do hope Kayode Fayemi gets a renewed mandate to be able to consolidate the work he began four years ago. The success of types like Kayode Fayemi, might just be the harbinger of a more qualitative level of leadership in Nigeria. Believe me, Nigeria can do with truly patriotic, dedicated and responsible leadership!

AST Tuesday, the new Jigawa State Television organized a live interview with Governor Sule Lamido, as part of test transmission which commenced in March.

I have told the story of the work we have been doing as the Interim Management of the JTV, since March 2013.

In Jigawa, the government took a decision to construct one of the most imposing broadcasting complexes in Nigeria.

But more forward looking was the decision to procure some of the most advanced digital-ready equipment for the television service along with the ambitious challenge the Interim Management was set, to institute programming and news at the highest levels of professionalism.

The vision was to tell the Nigerian and African stories from the setting of Jigawa state, and from that mandate, parochialism was banished deliberately. Out team is resolved to deliver on the mandate with the hope that the JTV can become an object lesson in uniting our country, through the power of broadcasting.

It seems obvious that one good example can often become a trigger for a copycat action. Last week, Pinnacle Communications Limited, which delivered the Jigawa TV procurement was also awarded the contract for the supply of equipment for Plateau State Television. As worked out, it will also be a walk on the path of digital upgrade that will position television broadcasting in Plateau state. It is no surprise that Governor Jonah Jang has taken such a decisive step, because Jos has always been a frontline city for media in Northern Nigeria dating back to decades.

The crises of the past couple of years overshadowed the remarkable story of that beautiful part of our country.

But things are gradually taking a turn for normalcy, not even the tragic bombings of the past few weeks, can destroy the resolve. From Jigawa to Plateau, we are witnessing the gradual consolidation of the digital transition, with all the exciting possibilities that we will harvest into the future. I say this with the optimism of a long-term participant in the broadcasting industry.

A lot of new opportunities will open in broadcasting that will challenge our creativity and give access to the most daring. So the investments being made by states like Jigawa and Plateau, are the necessary platforms that will open the aperture for the exciting future of digital broadcasting. So welcome to the future of broadcasting, Plateau state.

18— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 CAPACITY building has become a favourite lingo of all who claim to be improving the economy. The abuses can be imagined. Small and medium enterprises are hailed for the promises they hold. The Bank of Industry’s efforts apart, empowerment schemes have become platforms for containing the youth rather than exploring their zeal and passion.

The Delta State Micro-Credit Scheme appears different. Its consistently winning of awards from the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other reputable bodies, aside, it forms a pillar of the State’s ambitious Delta Beyond Oil project, a visionary state economic policy that aims at weaning the State from dependence on oil.

Participants in Delta’s MicroCredit Scheme are trained and advanced loans to start businesses. To minimise the risks of startups, the state government has introduced an insurance scheme to

Delta’s SME insurance protect the business from the vagaries of markets. It is an important step other governments involved in SME projects should emulate.

Businesses, especially small ones, can benefit greatly from the certainty of knowing that if things go wrong they can get help to continue their journey. For start-ups, it would be immeasurable relief.

Mr. Fola Daniel, Commissioner of Insurance of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, doused fears about those the scheme covered being paid their claims quickly. “This is an insurance that is accessed by low in-

come operators. NAICOM would withdraw the licence of any insurance company which fails to pay claims and also prosecute the owners of the companies for economic sabotage”.

Insurance schemes for SMEs will encourage more participants to test their talents in starting their own small businesses. It is a progressive step for rapid industrialisation of the rural areas. It would also assist in arresting the ruralurban drift, which has left the rural economies in a state of abandonment. SMEs have played the leading role in launching the economies of Asian countries to

the world stage. As the largest economy in Africa, the growth and protection of our SMEs through insurance will bode even a brighter future for an economy striving to become the 20th largest in the world by 2020.

The smaller businesses could create the jobs that governments announce only as figures. A new economic foundation away from the one which was ravaged by neglect at the peak of the oil boom would serve Nigeria well. High unemployment rate, youth idleness and poverty, which in turn, account for increase in violent crime, including robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, baby “factories” and terrorist insurgency, are some of the consequences of the over dependence on oil.

Any development that would sustain the rising impact of SMEs is welcome; insuring small businesses against failures would win more converts to personal enterprise.

OPINION

BY HABIB YAKOOB

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T is hard to understand exactly their mission, but the mindboggling massacres that bear their atrocious signatures have become widespread. The Boko Haram have sent thousands to their graves since they began a mindless insurgency in 2009. Hitherto, when they struck - gunning down and bombing innocent souls - the response to their heinous act usually followed a relatively familiar pattern. The media would be dominated by stories of their attacks with prominence given to the casualty rate; parents and families would go distraught, grieving and wailing over the loss of their beloved ones; government would condemn the killings and assure the citizens that there was no cause for alarm and that it was on top of the situation. Then, gradually, the resilience of the average Nigerian comes to the fore - life bounces back to normal as if nothing has happened - until the news of another murderous attack finds a screaming headline in the press.

It seems that much as the Boko Haram boys revel in the success of their violent campaigns, they tend to feel unfulfilled seeing that their attacks have not drawn “maximum respect” and recognition to them. So, they changed tactics and plot something which would inflict an enduring agony on our psyche and force us to keep their issue in the front burner of national discourse for a long, long time.

One day, April 14, 2014, the Boko Boys armed to the teeth with assorted guns and explosives came in a convoy of trucks to Chibok, a town south of the terrorstricken Borno, “stole” over 200 female

Bok o Haram: Be tw een sw apping and st orming Boko Betw tween swapping storming students and reportedly disappeared into the Sambisa forest. Though angry reactions to this callous abduction were not spontaneous, when they started coming occasioned by government’s insufferable insouciance and dilatory response, they were not only widespread, but enduring.

Of course, if the girls had been slain like many other victims of Boko Haram, the incident would have been dead in the media for long, and the current ‘bring back our girls’ project would have been meaningless; nobody would have had any need to stage melodramatic performance calling on Nigerians to ‘Chai chai’ remember that ‘diar is God oo’; nobody’s hopes would have been dashed because President Jonathan refused to visit Chibok to sympathise with the parents and families of the abducted girls.

But the Chibok saga lingers on and would continue to impose a baleful suspence in the air, in spite of the fact that on the same day the girls were taken away, hundreds of people, according to conservative sources, perished in the Nyanya bomb explosion in Abuja, and that more attacks, unfortunately, would come.

No doubt, the act of abducting over 200 young girls deserve the ongoing outcry and global condemnation, paradoxically it is just the right state of affairs that the terrorists desire, as it puts them on the spotlight and offers them a veritable platform to make certain demands. We learnt that the Shekau boys

have agreed to release our girls to us, but not for free. They want in return the freedom of their men and women who have been arrested or detained by the government in the last couple of years. This demand must have put the Jonathan administration in a much more prickling dilemma than it is willing to admit, which is why the government’s aides are singing discordant tunes, saying their mind instead of their master’s.

N

ow, the basic question is whether the government would accede to the demands of the insurgents or simply storm the forest or wherever they are hibernating and rescue our girls. At the moment, it is pretty unlikely that the international military troops contributed by countries such as the US, UK, Israel, France, China and others who have been in the country for weeks now, would take the first option. Of course, they haven’t come all the way to Nigeria to serve as go- between in a swap exercise they don’t believe in, to start with. They are simply thirsty for war against a bunch of fundamentalists; after all, they don’t have much to lose in the process as none of their citizens – either among the captors or captives, are in the Sambisa.

While it easy to dismiss as unreasonable the idea of swapping young innocent and responsible girls with a bunch of insane and blood-thirsty terrorists, what is difficult is to imagine oneself in the shoes of one of the girls; or that one’s beloved daughter or sister

is held hostage there and at the brink of losing her life.

Refusing to agree to the swapping demand of the terrorists is only meaningful and wise if the military troops would move into the Sambisa forest or wherever the terror agents are, overrun them and get our girls back without exposing them to much fatality. If this is unrealisable, it is only sensible and human to allow this exchange take place – except the terrorists renege on their earlier demand or fresh facts emerge which make the storming of their den highly necessary.

There’s a nightmarish concern that any undue and badly prosecuted attacks may make us lose the girls as they are likely to be turned into shields or killed by the insurgents themselves when the battle gets tough. I think that the blood-thirsty insurgents know that the primary reason for deploying the military into their enclave is to rescue the girls; so releasing or losing the girls without anything in return would mean that the abductors have failed in their mission, which may even result in killing the girls in cross-fires.

Our basic priority now should be how to save these children first; then, our hired troops can help start a full scale war with the insurgents and smoke them out of every hole or cave they are hidden. And the earlier we understand this approach the better for us all. *Mr. Yakoob is a staff of the University of Abuja.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014— 19

, degree and pedigree; an allconquering military behemoth that has never lost a war, be it internal insurrection or external peace enforcement. Except for the Francebacked irritations often mounted by the Cameroun gendarmes during the tussle over the Bakassi Peninsula, no foreign country has ever attempted to invade the country.

The Nigerian military fought with distinction during the Second World War, WWII, in Europe and Asia, and helped to curtail the Congo independence crises. They returned home to prevent a breakup of the country. Our armed services are the most powerful forces in Black Africa, the muscle on the right hand of Africa's peace management endeavours and the guarantor of peace and democracy in the West African sub-region. After our exploits in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire and Mali, where we almost singlehandedly ended the civil wars and assisted in the restoration of

its invaluable local ally in the West and Central African sub-region. It was based on a well-earned reputation and track record of onfield gallantry irrespective of theatres of operation.

This is the first time that Nigeria's mighty military is suffering from doubts over its capacity to do what it knows how to do best: protect our territorial integrity from internal rebellion and external aggression.

For the first time, we are hearing that our mighty army is reluctant to move into Sambisa Games Reserve, an open brush land in the poor Savannah zone, and dislodge an otherwise rag-tag band of terrorists because of miserable landmines! For the first time, and in the face of withering waves of assaults on isolated villages on a daily basis in the semi-desert North East, we have been reading reports of mutinies and the near-murder of a commanding officer over sloppy handling of matters in the troubled

,

Chibok area in Borno State. For the first time, a state governor became so bold as to tell the world that a local enemy was "better armed and more motivated" than our mighty army. The terrorists are walking majestically and driving freely through our territorial precincts in Toyota Hilux SUV's, killing our children, abducting young female students whom they want to "sell into slavery" and forcing Nigerians and even government officials to beg them tearfully to #Bring Back Our Girls Alive!

W

hy is this happening? It was never the case with Biafra, where the entire nation and her international allies closed ranks with a single-minded purpose of conquering the Igbos and destroying them politically, economically and socially. The

In the de-worming of Edo State APC (2) Saint Thomas: Occupy till I come.

Decampees: OK Boss but you must continue to do all the collateral damage from within so that the party shall be totally decapitated by the time you leave.

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ASED on this covenant, Saint Thomas is carrying on like a big bull in a China Shop. He is working to specification. He has just installed a partially moribund state executive for the party through his diabolical impositions and interference.

By far the most celebrated decampees are the four legislators. Their calculations make sound economic sense. These are people who will expire with their tenures.

Truly, how many of them stand any chance of winning nomination to recontest any position? The answer is zero point naught (0.0). In a situation of that nature, why don’t they grab the purchase price and vamoose from the APC? Any investment on these decampees is like time spent in sleeping with a barren woman. They have no added value and there is the growing disenchantment among the original PDP members that these interlopers are coming to push them out of their houses and take over the masters’ bedrooms. They will soon explode!

Imagine 100,000 people in one room!

There is a lot of rabble-rousing in Edo South.

We shall soon see how the decamping merchants expose themselves with their cheap lies. We are made to understand that the decamping enterprise has suddenly become highly capital-intensive. Chief Solomon Edebiri is perhaps right that the population that followed him at defection was 100,000.

Chief must have been very active in the “Rent-a-crowd” market. We hear that the going rate per day is N1000. By simple mathematics, Chief must have invested

N100 million on his “followers” on the decamping day.

Yet, it sounds absolutely ludicrous that as a gubernatorial candidate in the immediate past election, Chief scored less than 3,000 votes statewide. And he has forgotten that he has never really been in the APC train and not even a single vote from his “millions” of supporters has ever entered into the ACN/APC victories. Where then is the support and how does his empty exit from the APC affect the fortunes of the party?

So quickly, he is stepping down the political transformer. We hear he has littered the entire PDP Secretariat with his posters. He wants to go to the Senate, even where those ebullient PDP politicians have their eyes on the same position. He must be another “mune mune joker”. One of them was caught thinking aloud the other day when he said that this man should go and seek relevance at the ward level. Certainly, Isi-South PDP does not forbid having a good publicity secretary in the ward executive.

Enter Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, et al: We have waited in vain for this Man of God to say he has been severally misrepresented by those who say he is a founding member of the APC in its original form. The claim would be as unpastoral as it is fraudulent.

Pastor was the Secretary to Edo State Government under Governor Lucky Igbinedion. Clearly, he could not have been the Secretary of a PDP administration and at the same time a member of an opposition party in the same State.

As a matter of fact, Ize-Iyamu was a ranking member of the group that dubbed our party at the time, AC, “An AC without compressor”. As the “AC without compressor” became attractive, he and his co-travellers jumped into the bandwagon, after May 29, 2007, apparently with

united front against the nation's internal and external enemies.

Perhaps, the evil our leaders committed in the past against our national unity due to their narrow regional interest is catching up with us.

Our armed forces must be mighty again. They must regain their invincibility, impregnability and indomitability. We must support the armed forces with all our might, sparing nothing to back it financially, morally and with intelligence support. Let us remember that the men and women who work for us in the armed forces are putting their lives on the line for us. But they will not want to do it for a bunch of ingrates and noisy booers. Why will anybody agree to die for someone who will not even say thank you to the departed? We must support the military! Otherwise, there are grave consequences for us.

If the military refuses to defend us, Boko Haram will win. Fancy that? Nigeria will be the first place terrorists will be winning. It will become their festering ground to launch a worldwide attack. You and I will be dislodged from our comfort zones and we will start looking for a place to hide in other parts of Africa and the world.

Fancy 170 million Nigerian refugees across the face of Africa!

However, I know the military will not allow Boko Haram to win.

Rather than allow that, they will truncate our democracy (as their counterparts in Mali did two years ago) with irresistible logic. Then it will be back to square one. We may never see democracy in our lifetime if that happens.

I support the Nigerian armed forces to defeat terrorism. What about you?

the sole aim of becoming the Edo State Governor after A d a m s Oshiomhole. He came with this mindset.

As soon as signs began to emerge that the gubernatorial ambition was not immediately attainable, they must collapse

,

Let's support our mighty army ES, ours is a mighty army. democracy, the United States, in The Nigerian Army is a tested setting up the African Command, Y and certified war machine with AFRICOM, has relied on Nigeria as

Our armed forces must be mighty again; they must regain their invincibility, impregnability and indomitability; we must support the armed forces with all our might, sparing nothing to back it financially, morally

army was together in containing the Niger Delta militants and forcing them to give up their armed struggle or face total annihilation. But when it comes to stamping out an unlikely challenge by Boko Haram, our mighty army begins to dither and give us reason to fear the enemy.

We begin to hear of alleged corruption and breakdown of discipline, internal sabotage and doubtful or divided loyalties, as well as power tussle issues playing out among the political leaders.

Much of this is rumour or speculation, though. It is fuelled by those in the struggle for the presidency in 2015 and their media backers. It is also being stoked by foreign media and other interests who may not have the best interests of Nigeria at heart.

Matters are not helped by the fact that the New Media - the fancy moniker for the social media - is bedevilled by lack of control.

Everybody just goes in there to vomit and transmit their ignorance, mischief and personal grudges to the whole world. It is exacerbated by the fact that historically, our armed forces, police and security agencies were built, in the main, with personnel from a section of the country, the North. So, if indeed sabotage and double loyalty in this campaign against Boko Haram is coming from there, it becomes difficult to handle, especially as the North is the theatre of this war.

The lesson here is that we must never build our army, police, security or any other national institution around the narrow interests of any section of the country. Rather, we must build truly national institutions, as that is the only way we can maintain a

Some of the defectors are no longer worth their purchase price; in a short spell, they have moved round all the political formations and for some, this is about their fourth movement in and out of the PDP

,

the party and return to base. That’s what is now playing out.

I

t is instructive that all along, many of the Pastor’s converts did not genuinely depart from the PDP. In the main, they were political jobbers who feigned one annoyance or another immediately before every election, for which they were settled on both sides, after which they still voted PDP, only to pretend to return to the party after the election.

In essence, their pretentious departure from the APC has removed nothing from APC, and has also added nothing to the PDP. After all, that’s where they have always been!

What goes around comes around. We have always believed in the aphorism that failing to plan is planning to fail. As

usual, the game has started in earnest. The APC is busy planning how to better the lot of Edo people and how to organise purposeful and issue-driven campaigns for the forthcoming elections; while the PDP is busy celebrating empty defections. They will suddenly wake up and want to win the elections, oblivious of the fact that the electorate in this part of the world is highly enlightened. They are no longer excited at the prospect of APC members who are replicating their defections with the busybody state leadership of the PDP following the decampees to perform the same pseudorituals at the ward, local government and state levels, as if they are different defections.

Mr. Dan Orbih is boring the people stiff with his new job. Some of the defectors are no longer worth their purchase price. In a short spell, they have moved round all the political formations and for some, this is about their fourth movement in and out of the PDP. Their memories fail them.

They are returning to the PDP with the same oft-abused reason for which they left in the first place – “lack of internal democracy”.

For all we know, by the time a man makes himself a purchasable commodity, he becomes an article of trade, like salt and pepper. If the market price falls, he falls along; and when the stock market fails, he fails along. He then becomes repugnant to genuine people. That is the fate of professional decampees. Edolites are too serious-minded to be moved by their antics!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 21

Nigeria, Chinese investors plan trade facilitation

Lafarge WAPCO to merge Nigeria, South Africa operations

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By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

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USINESSMEN from Ni geria and China have promised to maintain existing business relationship between both countries through consistent trade promotions and trade facilitation.

The businessmen, who made the pledge at the just concluded China-Nigeria Business and Investment meeting in Guangzhou, China, charged the Federal Government of Nigeria on the need to develop better strategies aimed at balancing trade statistics between both countries.

Addressing participants at the seminar, the Secretary General of the association, Mr. Chuka Jude Onwualu stated that Nigerians who are doing business in various cities in China are eager to move away from buying of finished goods to industrialising the Nigerian economy.

He said, “One of the reasons behind setting up Association of Nigeria Registered Representative Companies and Offices in China, (ANROC) was to balance the statistics of trade between Nigerians and the Chinese.

We are aware that the future of China-Nigeria trade relationship would eventually shift from buying finished products to acquiring machineries for production and also purchasing of semifinished products that will be used as raw materials for the factories.”

From left: Partner, Steward Redgueen, Dr. Rene Kim; Corporate Affairs Manager, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Joke Adu and Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Diran Olojo, at a press conference on the bank’s African Report Road Show, in Lagos.

Continuing, he said, “Nigeria is on track to becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020 and the manufacturing sector is expected to make that possible.

According to a Citigroup report published in February 2011, Nigeria will get the highest average GDP growth in the world between 2010– 2050, when such Institutions

begin to raise reports like this, then something positive is happening.”

Speaking also at the business seminar, a member of ANROC, Mr. Markson said that all attempts made in the past to bring together Nigeria Business Community members in China into a strong and vibrant body was futile.

“All attempts made to organ-

ize business communities into one vibrant body fizzled out until we were able to seriously put our heads together to map out an avenue through which Nigeria Business Community could harness the wealth of individual experiences gathered over the years through active participation in the Chinese economy to growing our own economy.

AFARGE WAPCO has disclosed plans to merge the Nigeria and South Africa businesses by transferring its shares in both countries into a single entity.

When finalized, Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria Plc will be renamed LafargeAfrica Plc, and will be strongly positioned to benefit from growth and development opportunities in Nigeria and Southern Africa.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of the year, will be subject to shareholders’ approval and regulatory authorization.

The transaction will be concluded through a cash consideration of US$200m and the issuance of 1.40 billion Lafarge Africa shares to Lafarge Group The company said in a statement that the resulting entity on completion of the merger will be the 6th largest company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange by market capitalization.

The new entity will have nationwide coverage in both Nigeria and South Africa, with cement capacity of about 12 million tons per annum, as well as operations in aggregates, ready-mix and fly ash.

SEC, CAC responsible for multiplicity of shareholders’ group — Investors Stories By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, have been blamed for continuous proliferation in shareholders’ association in the country.

-1.6 170.75 Participants, who include shareholders, companies’ secretaries, 3,065.00 -4.00 and corporate affairs managers of different companies, issued the blame 17.17 -0.01 at a 2–day workshop organised by the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, in conjunction with PR Plus Consulting 108.85 +0.02 in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Sir Sunny 102.67 +0.20 Nwosu, National Coordinator, ISAN, said the only explanation for CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING multiplicity of shareholders’ DOLLAR 154.73 155.23 155.73 association in Nigeria is failure of the STERLING 259.0954 259.9326 260.7699 regulatory agencies, including SEC EURO 210.6185 211.2991 211.9797 and CAC to monitor the activities of FRANC 172.4203 172.9775 173.5347 already existing shareholders’ YEN 1.5156 1.5205 1.5254 associations and inspection of the CFA 0.302 0.312 0.322 WAUA 237.5917 238.3594 239.1272 incoming ones to ensure that they fully RENMINBI 24.7611 24.8415 24.922 comply with the necessary regulatory RIYAL 41.2547 41.388 41.5214 requirements.

KRONA 28.2148 28.306 28.3972 He observed that in many cases, the SDR 238.3306 239.1008 239.8709 so-called associations do not have the CBN Exchange rate as at 04/06/2014 required membership to be registered

by SEC, yet they get registered.

He said, “Multiplicity of shareholders’ association is a creation of SEC. When you have a regulator that will not perform its duty well, that is what you have at hand. SEC should inspect these associations to ensure they really exist.

“The Securities and Exchange Commission and Corporate Affairs Commission should as a matter of duty, attend the meetings of these associations to make sure they have complied with all the regulatory requirements before registering them.”

According to him, most of the associations simply engage legal practitioners to concoct un-existing names for them at the point of registration, saying that some of them only have their family members, who in most cases are not shareholders of any company as their members.

“While we are not stopping people from registering as shareholders’ association, such associations should be geared towards adding value to companies which shares they hold,” Nwosu stated.

Speaking on the theme of the

workshop, ‘AGM as a Platform for Value Optimisation’ Mr. Babatunde Savage, Chairman, Guinness Nig. Plc, said that what should be of importance to shareholders during Annual General Meetings, AGMs, is to ensure that companies they invested in is managed in such as way that delivers optimal return on investment to them.

Part of this, according to him, is to ensure that sound corporate governance practices are embedded in the company and that it is run in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

He stated that companies that fail to hold AGM within 15 months of holding the last AGM should be subject to statutory sanction as provided in Companies and Allied matters Act, CAMA. “We have noticed instances whereby shareholders can be indifferent to their company’s affairs or to its Board of Director, often failing to attend AGMs or even submit proxy votes. Some are only interested in the immediate share price movement and dividend prospect until something goes wrong.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 Greenhouse technology offers better alternative to the open field farming because of the effect of climate change and bacterial blight disease associated with open field tomato production

BUSINESS

Ogun woos investors on tomato production

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE

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gun State government has highlighted various investment opportunities that exist in agribusiness in the state, with a promise of attractive incentives and profitable returns.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun said at the 2nd Ogun State Investors’ Forum held recently in Abeokuta, that his administration resolved to aggressively promote agriculture as the pivot of its industrialisation plan.

“Our vision for agriculture includes expansion into the agro-processing industry along the value chain.

Presently, only 20 percent of our farm produce is processed. The rest is sold as cash crops or left to rot due to insufficient processing

Date 3/6/14

identified some particular sectors in agriculture as presenting viable business opportunities for investors,” he stated.

GREEN HOUSE TOMATO PRODUCTION According to Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chairman, Efugo Farms, Nigeria spends $100 million (about N16 billion) annually to import tomato paste from China.

Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture has alerted investors to opportunities that exist in greenhouse tomato production in the state. This involves the installation of hundreds of units of greenhouse facilities of 8m by 24m size per unit with drip irrigation system that creates controlled environment for all season production of high quality pepper and tomato.

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Nigeria spends $100 million (about N16 billion) annually to import tomato paste from China

capacity, which must change.

Having realised that land is a key factor for meaningful agricultural development, our administration has allocated over two hundred thousand hectares of land to willing investors in agriculture at a minimal cost.

Also, in order to compliment available acquired agricultural land belonging to the government, the state government is taking steps through collaboration with host communities to make more agricultural land available for large scale commercial farming. We have

NIGERIAN NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES

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Greenhouse technology offers a better alternative to the open field farming because of the effect of climate change and bacterial blight disease associated with open field tomato production.

There is ready market for tomato and pepper in the country as well as potential for export. The State promises to make land available for serious investors, with the Ministry of Agriculture ready to share its experience with new comers and provide technical support to ensure successful take off of the project.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR GREENHOUSE TOMATO PRODUCTION Total Fixed Cost

N2,366,000

Total Variable Cost

N858,000

Revenue

N1,925,000

Gross Margin per unit

N1,067,000

Return on Investment

33.1%

Payback period

20 months

*Source: Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture

Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N) 154.73 259.312 211.0208 172.709 1.5121 0.3021 237.5593 24.7337 41.2547 28.2694 238.2068

Central(N) 155.23 260.15 211.7027 173.2671 1.517 0.3121 238.3269 24.8141 41.388 28.3608 238.9766

Selling(N) 155.73 260.9879 212.3846 173.8252 1.5218 0.3221 239.0946 24.8945 41.5214 28.4522 239.7463

A

re you one of those who dreams of owning your own business? How do you go about turning your dream to reality? There are some tried and true ways of creating your own business.

SET OUT THE BASICS

Have an idea: It might be a product you’ve always wanted to make, or a service you feel people need. It might even be something people don’t know they need yet, because it hasn’t been invented!

It can be helpful and fun to have people who are bright and creative join you for a casual brainstorming session.

Start with a simple question like: “what shall we build?”.

The idea is not to create a business plan, just to generate some ideas. Many of the ideas will be duds, and there will be quite a few ordinary ones, but a few will emerge that have real potential.

Define your goals: Do you want financial independence, eventually selling your business to the highest bidder? Do you want something small and sustainable, that you love doing and want to derive a steady income from? These are the things that are good to know very early on.

Create a working name: You could even do this before you have an idea for the business, and if the name is good, you may find it helps you define your business idea.

As your plan grows, and things begin to take shape, the perfect name may come to you, but don’t let that hinder you in the early phases. Create a name that you can use while you plan, and don’t mind changing later.

Define your team: Will you do this alone, or will you bring in one or two trusted friends to join you? This brings a lot of synergy to the table, as people bounce ideas off each other. Two people together can often create something that is greater than the sum of the two separate parts.

How to start a s business Think of some of the biggest success stories in recent times include John Lennon and Paul McCartney; Bill Gates and Paul Allen; Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; and Larry Page and Sergey Brin. In every case, the partnership brought out the best in both sides of the equation, and every one of them became billionaires. Is a partnership a guarantee of being a billionaire? No, but it doesn’t hurt!

Choose wisely: When choosing the person or people you’re going to build the business with, be careful. Even if someone is your best friend, it doesn’t mean that you will partner well in a business operation. Things to consider when choosing your coleaders and support cast include: Does the other person complement your weaknesses? Or do both of you bring only one set of the same skills to the table? If the latter, be wary as you can have too many cooks doing the same

thing while other things are left unattended.

If interviewing people, do some reading on how to spot real talent beyond the certifications, degrees or lack thereof. People’s innate talents can often be somewhat different from the conventional education streams they’ve pursued or failed to.

WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

A business plan helps to define what you think you need to launch your business, large or small. It summarises the sense of your business in a single document. It also creates a map for investors, bankers, and other interested parties to use when determining how they can best help you and to help them decide whether or not your business is viable. Your business plan should consist of the following elements:

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—23

With the current situation of businesses today, no organisation can achieve sustainable results working with employees that will only do what is convinient for them

& YOU COMMODITIES (4/6/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 103.36

Change ($) +0.70

% Change + 0.68

Natural Gas

4.62

- 0.01

- 0.28

Sugar

17.14

- 0.05

- 0.29

Coffee

170.15

- 1.00

- 0.58

Cocoa

3,081.00

+11.00

+ 0.36

Do competitive analysis: As you develop the above sections, you will learn who your key competitors are. Find out who is doing something similar to what you are planning, and how have they been successful. Just as important is to find the failures, and what made their venture fall apart.

Write your development plan: How will you create your product? Is it a service that you are offering, or if it’s more complex software, a physical product, how will it get built? Define the process, from sourcing raw materials to assembly to completion, packaging, warehousing, and shipping.

mall

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A business plan helps to define what you think you need to launch your business, large or small

,

Do an executive summary: There is need for several basic parts in your business plan. The first is the executive summary.

Describe the overall business concept, how it will be monetised, how much funding you will need, where it stands currently, including its legal standing, people involved and a brief history, and anything else that makes your business look like a winning proposition.

Write your business description: Describe your business more specifically, and how it fits into the market in general.

Who will you be selling to, and how will you deliver your product. Describe your product, its big features, and why people will want it.

Have marketing strategies: You must know your market if you are to be successful, so spend a great deal of time analysing just who it is that will want your

Plan your operations: Who will lead, and who will follow?

Define your organisation, from the receptionist up to the CEO, and what part each plays in both function and financials.

Knowing your organisational structure will better help you plan your operating costs, and fine-tune how much capital you will need to function effectively. Keep in mind that your business will continue to evolve and that this will be a rough idea of who is needed to keep things functioning; as the business grows, you’ll likely make changes to the hiring plans to fit what is happening at the time.

Cover the financials: This describes how much you plan on spending, and how much you’re making. Since this is the most dynamic part of your plan, and perhaps the most important for long-term stability, you should update this monthly for the first year, quarterly for the second year, and then annually after that.

(Culled from WikiHow.com)

Commitment determines progress in every organisation BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

“There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses – only results…. ” — Ken Blanchard.

In today’s changing business world, it is no more enough to spend so much in training employees without having them fully committed to doing whatever they have learnt.

Without seeing the need to be committed to one’s job, training may not bring about the expected returns – and this is why so many people think training does not yield results.

Something very important is lacking in today’s employees.

Just one thing! Could it be any of the following: lack of skills, lack of expertise, lack of experience, lack of education, lack of communication skills, and lack of customer service skills?

Surprisingly, it is none of all these things. The number one key thing that is lacking in our workplace of today is COMMITMENT. The bad news is that it is getting worse by day.

Let us take lack of experience as an example. The solution to not having experience is to work and gain as much experience as possible, but having fifteen years cognate experience without a corresponding high level of commitment could be suicidal.

Now, many people give so many reasons and justifications for their failures. In the last 5 years employee’s productivity has gone down and may likely become worse in the future.

When you listen to some employees excuses and reasons for non-performance, it would be very easy to pick out the fact that the main cause of their nonperformance is simply lack of

commitment to their jobs. Let’s look at it, when one is not committed, he/she will never go the extra mile for his/her organisation, like Blanchard said, the person will only do what is convenient to do. With the current situation of businesses today, no organisation can achieve sustainable results working with employees that will only do what is convenient for them. Every organisation needs staff members who are committed and are ready to deliver results regardless of any circumstance.

During one of my “Developing

,

product, and how you plan on appealing to them to take cash out of their bank account and give it to you. What is the size of your market, will there be opportunities to expand the initial market, and what are your sales potentials?

Budgets can be reduced or cut down, but nobody can ever succeed in cutting down or reducing the flow of someone's attitude

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a Highly Productive Workforce” workshops, a staff of an engineering firm raised up a point that over the years has created a false impression on employees. He believed that without adequate resources, employees might not deliver expected results. This has been the thinking of so many people till today. The truth of the matter is that resources can never be enough. Employees must learn to make the most out of the available resources. Budgets can be reduced or cut down, but nobody can ever succeed in cutting down or reducing the flow of someone’s attitude.

The commitment gap in many organizations is continuously increasing. Many people are just earning salaries without justifying their pay.

“Presenteeism” is now the order of the day. Presenteeism is really difficult to discover as opposed to absenteeism. It exists when employees are fully present in the office, but they are not working, not adding value, and

not committed to their jobs.

Someone might ask, is it possible for one to be in the office and not working? Yes, when one is present but not adding value to the organisation. A committed staff member is always adding value and will keep doing things differently in order to achieve a better result.

Points to ponder: It is very important to know that, people do not do what you expect but what you inspect. If you want better results, be ready to inspect. Do not assume that results will naturally comeyou might be disappointed.

Leaders and managers should show commitments first. People do what they see others doing.

Leaders and managers are expected to set the examples. It is much easier to lead others when you are committed.

Employees should focus less on things that are nice to do, but instead should focus more on things that matter most to the company. For your business to grow, you need staff members who are committed. Without commitment, there would be no growth.

Final note: We must ensure we close up the growing commitment gap in our organizations. Growth, progress, increased Profit after Tax/Profit before Tax (PAT/ PBT) and business sustainability may be farfetched with noncommitted workforce who is not productive on a daily basis.

Leaders should not focus more on compliance in this age and time; they should preach more of commitment, because an employee who is committed will naturally comply to set rules. As leaders and managers, let us pass the message to our subordinates that nothing can cut short their level of commitment or attitude to achieve any result they want.

Show me a man who is committed and I will point to that same man as someone who has the key to his organization’s growth.

Call or email us for your views or perspectives.

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

NSIA, GuarantCo create facility for infrastructure deficit financing

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From left: Executive Director, Investment One Financial Services Limited, Mrs Abimbola Afolabi-Ajayi; Mr Oyelade Oke, first place winner of the third edition of Investment One “Virtual Investment Simulator” game and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2013, Miss Anna Banner at the “Young Investors’ Forum,” in Lagos.

he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and GuarantCo, a development finance fund have entered into an arrangement to explore the potential creation of a Nigerian Credit Enhancement Facility (NCEF) with the specific objective of attracting the investment interest of a pool of capital for whom safety is paramount such as the pension funds, insurance companies and Sovereign Wealth Funds.

A key barrier preventing these forms of capital from investing in infrastructure projects is the absence of an appropriate credit enhancement mechanism that helps bring infrastructure projects up to a credit quality

CBN’s deposit rate discouraging interbank lending —MPC member

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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he ten percent interest rate on banks’ deposit with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) is discouraging banks from lending to each other, and to the economy.

A member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the apex bank, Garba, AbdulGaniyu, raised this alarm in his personal statement at the meeting of the committee held last month.

The SDF was introduced in 2006 to encourage banks to place their excess liquidity with the CBN as deposits. The interest rate on such deposits is 200 basis points below the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) of the CBN. Given that the MPR is presently 12 percent, interest rate on bank’s deposit with the apex bank is presently 10 percent.

Garba however observed that this deposit rate is discouraging banks from lending to each other hence the low level of activity in the interbank money market, and high patronage of the SDF. He therefore called for a 300 basis points reduction in the rate to seven percent.

Garba said, “I am convinced that there is a need for an asymmetric corridor to gradually reduce the incentive for the rapidly expanding activities in the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) window.

It is axiomatic that an active interbank lending market

(ILM) is necessary for the efficient pricing of risks and financial assets, for allocative efficiency as well as for the effectiveness of monetary policy to stimulate the growth in investments, employment and economic development.

“Indeed, both the interbank lending market and Open Buy Back are pivotal to the transmission mechanism of the monetary policy regime guiding the MPC decisions.

Since the interbank call rate became the operating target for monetary policy, the call rate also became the benchmark for short-term rates (prime and maximum lending rates). Until recently, strong linkages were successfully established between MPR, call rate and the short term rates in the tightening regime that began with the September 2010 MPC

meeting. When the interbank lending market becomes significantly less active for whatever reason (s), the call rate becomes a less effective benchmark for the pricing of short-term risks and rates and for the efficient allocation of financial assets.

“I am convinced based on analysis of available data and from institutional perspectives that (1) the AMCON effects on the interbank market are exaggerated; (2) a 10 percent rate on SDF has been a consistently strong incentive for inverted intermediation.

Ecobank partners FG, Akwa Ibom on MDGs fund disbursement

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cobank has enetered into partnership with the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom State on the disbursement of Millenium Development Goals MDGs/ Family Life Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Scheme.

In his goodwill message at the disbursement of a total sum of N375 million to 2,275 benefiting households in Uyo,

Akwa Ibom State, Managing Director, Ecobank, Mr. Jibril Aku, said the bank is poised to consolidate its existing partnership with the Federal and State Governments in all parts of the country, adding that it is with a view to ensuring that all beneficiaries of the MDGs - CCT Scheme have equal opportunity to financial services such as micro-savings

Skye Bank, Emirates Holiday unveil summer vacation package

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

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that represents appropriate investments for their stakeholders. To address this gap, GuarantCo is partnering with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority to explore the potential for establishing a Nigerian Credit Enhancement Facility that would provide credit enhancement for critical infrastructure projects by improving their credit ratings to investment grade. Such a vehicle could also potentially attract international capital.

NSIA and GuarantCo see this partnership as a potential catalyst for unlocking longterm patient capital, typically required by infrastructure projects to be commercially successful. It is expected to have positive effects on the Nigerian economy given the strong correlation between critical infrastructure and accelerated economic growth.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Uche Orji, Managing Director and CEO of the NSIA stated, “One of the statutory mandates of the NSIA is the enhancement of Nigeria’s infrastructure and in fulfilling this mandate we are desirous of establishing the necessary institutional frameworks and sustainable enablers that will attract long term capital necessary for this purpose.

kye Bank Plc has entered into partnership with Emirates Holiday to introduce a vacation plan for its priority banking customers. The package known as Skye Emirates Holiday package, allows holders of Skye Bank’s Select Account to deposit only 20 per cent of the total travel cost while the bank provides the 80 per cent balance in form of loan.

Travellers who take advantage of the package will be able to travel to all Emirates Airline’s destinations across the world.

Unveiling plan in Lagos, the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer designate, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the product has an overriding theme of luxury and class deliberately built around it.

He said, “Skye Bank is partnering with Emirates Holidays to treat our customers to exclusive summer and Christmas vacation experiences. Our customers can now book their vacation in style through Skye Bank with only a 20 per cent upfront deposit of the total holiday cost. Skye Bank will complete the 80 per cent payment and enable our customers enjoy the best advance booking rates for all Emirates destinations across the world. In addition to this, our customers can enjoy two free lounge visits during the summer travel period from May to September.”

He further explained that the bank’s strategic partnership with Priority Pass International guarantees its Premier and Priority Banking customers access to over 600 airport VIP lounges in over 275 cities of the world.

and micro-loans.

Aku, who was represented by the Executive Director, South South/South East, Mr. Kingsley Umadia, further stated that, “the partnership is clearly in line with our mission to provide customers with financial products and services that are convenient, reliable and accessible.”

He explained that the bank is running the programme on the Ecobank MobileMoney platform, noting that wallets have been created for the beneficiaries and disbursement of funds into their wallets monthly on instructions from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs. Also speaking, Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Valerie Ebe, said the participation of the state in the MDGs - CCT scheme was targeted at eradicating poverty in the state. She restated the state government’s commitment and determination to improving maternal health and reducing child mortality in the nooks and crannies of the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 25

*Cross section of graduating students during the 12th Convocation ceremony of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State. Photo:Diran Oshe

'What it will take to end COEASU strike'

By LAJU ARENYEKA THE strike embarked upon by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, last December, has triggered mixed reactions from different sectors of society. The union has accused government of indifference. The Federal Government’s no work, no pay approach does not seem to be helping the situation. The Academic Staff Union of Polyechnics, ASUP, has taken a solidarity stance. Frustrated students and other concerned citizens have embarked on mass protests. Policemen have attacked many of these protesters, and many Nigerians, with deeper issues to worry about, do not even know that COEASU is on strike.

In the midst of all these, two questions are most pertinent: Why is COEASU on strike, and what will it take to end the strike?

In September 2013, COEASU went on a seven-day warning strike, threatened to go on a fullfledged strike action if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands.

Few weeks before the now sixmonth old strike began, VicePresident of the union, Mr. Smart

Olugbeko, in an exclusive interview, gave Vanguard Learning some insight into the issues: 2010 agreement Olugbeko argued that government had refused to implement an agreement signed with the union in 2010 which was due for a renegotiation in 2012. Some of the features of the agreement include addressing the infrastructural deficits in Colleges of Education (CoE) as

well as the peculiar academic allowances to the tune of N5 billion which the government has refused to pay the lecturers.

COEASU’S fresh demands It would be recalled that apart from the agreement, the union also laid some fresh concerns in 2013: “One of our grievances is that government has not released funds for the accreditation of courses in CoE since 2009 and

the importance of accreditation in any tertiary institution cannot be overemphasized.

"Government also owes some of our members monetisation arrears to the tune of N1 billion since 2010. Despite correspondence with the government offices involved, this issue is yet to be resolved. There is also the issue of under-funding as it relates to teaching practice. Teaching pracContinues on page 26

12m Nigerians living with learning disability — Expert

By DAYO ADESULU

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IRECTOR, Helping Hands Special School, Miss Chinenye Okoye has stated that 12 million Nigerians are living with learning disability adding that out of that number, six million are children. She noted that the learning disability ranges from poor mental math ability, inconsistencies in basic computation of addition, multiplication, division and subtraction. Others, according to Okoye, include; difficulty with understanding money and credit concepts, failure to understand how small steps add

up and near-total unawareness of mistakes.

She explained that it could also be in form of high proficiency with book work but failure of math tests and above average ability in reading, writing and other subjects, but seeming inability to understand mathematical concept.

According to her, dyslexia is a phonologybased learning difficulty which is usually manifested as a reading difficulty and gradually evolves into difficulties in other subjects. This challenge, she pointed out, is not

Continues on page 26

De-emphasise paper qualification, educationist tells stakeholders Pg. 27

Who will teach economics in the North-East? (2) Pg. 27 SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG

‘Right wrongs

and make fewer mistakes'

Pg. 30

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

BRIEFS

What it will take to end COEASU strike Continues from page 25 tice is to CoEs what a teaching hospital is to a college of medicine. As a result of under-funding, teaching practice is not producing the desired result and is bound to have an adverse effect on the education sector as a whole.”

COEASU also called upon government to carry out a National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, (NEEDS) assessment of CoE to accurately access the dilapidation and infrastructural deficit across the campuses.

Though government sent a visitation panel to the CoE in 2012, but is yet to release a white paper to that effect. Another issue that CoEs have hammered on for

years is the harmonisation of the conditions of service in tertiary institutions. The union believes that this will, to a large extent, help stop the brain drain from the CoE. “CoEs are the lowest in the tripod of tertiary institutions.

Lecturers from our colleges run to the universities because of the poor conditions of service here.

The management of these colleges find it difficult to sponsor lecturers to further their education because as soon as they get their PhDs, they want to go to the universities. Olugbeko also rejected FG’s proposed Information Payroll Personal System (IPPIS) where government plans to pay all its workers from a central point in Abuja. He argued that the sys-

A cross section of NYSC members and Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi (3rd left) during the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) inter-zonal competition held at the NYSC Camp.

tem will be fraught with irregularities, cripple the recruitment efforts of tertiary institutions and put lecturers’ sabbatical at a disadvantage.

The situation today Flash back eight months after COEASU’s warning strike, and six months into its full-fledged strike, the solution to the union’s strike is just in its infant stages.

The government had earlier said that it would pay 50 per cent of the arrears by March and the remaining 50 per cent in April.

Olugbeko in a more recent interview said: “When the Government brought that option on the table, we took it back to our congress and the house accepted it. This is June and none of those monies has been paid.”

Olugbeko also revealed that at a meeting with the National Assembly, the union and the Supervising Minister of Education, the house directed the minister to set up a committee to look into the issues. “The committee will have other subcommittees that will look into issues such as salary arrears, degree- awarding power of the colleges, etc. It is the outcome of the committees that will determine whether or not we will have a congress to discuss on the next steps to take.

We know that the outcome of some of these sub-committees might take time, but we are interested in seeing their genuineness and capacity first and foremost.”

12m Nigerians living with learning disability Continues from page 25 due to either lack of intelligence or desire to learn but usually having a neurological basis as the root cause. She said: “We believe that every child has potentials and that if given the right enabling environment and the encouragement they need to thrive, most would make dramatic improvement.”

Having conducted researches on this subject, Okoye asserted that no two children can ever be the same. “We have designs that are individually tailored with ample considerations given to the individual deficit, learning styles, behavioural patterns and personality profile of each child.

Addressing journalists during her courtesy visit to Ajeromi Local Government Area in Lagos, Okoye reiterated that children with speech difficulty are curable through speech therapy. Her words: Speech interactive programme is designed to help children with communication difficulties make positive gains. The programme comprises of various standardised programmes to effectively improve areas of

speech deficits.

Such speech deficits include: Speech delay, as in the case with autism and other developmental delays. Sound production disorders (including articulation and phonemic disorder).

Dysarthria or weakness of speech muscles. Others are; Verbal dyspraxia and apraxia of speech and lisps (difficulty pronouncing ‘L, R, S, etc sounds)” Asked what the challenges are, she said: “My challenge

goes beyond funding. A lot of schools are not doing the course. Many who are in the field are not trained. Every child cannot be the same. Identify the key area and deal with it. It must be through test before you can know the state of each child. We have poor manpower. In Nigeria, we have just one university doing the course. For speech therapy, there is no Nigerian university doing speech therapy.

Grand Alliance Summer Programme kicks off

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TWO -week summer pro gramme for youths from Adamawa State kicked off on Monday, May 26, at the American University of Nigeria.

Declaring the program open, Mr. Muhammadu Sani Jada, a member of the Grand Alliance for Adamawa and Project Manager of the state-owned Local Apprenticeship Scheme, described the program as a “pilot project” which would be expanded if the objectives are met.

Describing it as an eye opener for the students, Mr. Jada en-

couraged them to “maximize and exploit the opportunity” so that they will in turn serve as mentors to their school mates.

Mr. Reginald Braggs of the AUN Student Affairs Dept, who chairs the Alliance’s Youth Committee, welcomed the participants and explained what was expected of them. The 100 students are from two secondary schools in Yola: Aliyu Musdafa Sec. School (public) and REMI Educational Foundation (private). Each of them provided 50 students across both genders but combined and divided into age groups for effective

Council boss cautions students against violence

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BY IKENNA ASOMBA

HE Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin Local Council Area, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, last Thursday, advised students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, to always seek dialogue and logical ways of making their grievances known to government and the university authorities, rather than taking to violent protests which only lead to wanton destruction of property.

He made this charge at the 2014 Phage Awards/Dinner Night, organised by the Nigerian Association of Microbiology Students (NAMS), LASU chapter, saying the call became necessary, as the January 23 violent protest embarked upon by the students over closure of registration portal, still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth as property belonging to the university, running into millions of naira were destroyed.

Book survival: Publishers solicit govt support

BY ANINO AGANBI

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S part of efforts to ensure the survival of books and build capacity in the book industry in Nigeria, the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has asked the Federal Government to relax policies such as the recent introduction of tariff and duty regimes on books.

This was made public at the recent summit organised by the NPA, a forum through which publishers meet and deliberate on various issues affecting the publishing industry and the book trade at large.

According to the Executive Secretary of the NPA, Mr. Banji Aladesuyi, the purpose of the mini-summit was to examine critically, the survival of the publishing industry and the effect of a number of current practices and nuances of Government and individuals on the industry.

Such Government policies include the sudden introduction of tariff and duty regimes of 50 per cent on school books.

Although this has been put in abeyance till 30th September, 2014 (end of school year), following an all-round condemnation. Other policies discussed include the frequent changes in the school curriculum, which necessitates change of textbooks and an inability to follow the National Book Policy by the government. Also, on the issue of piracy, the publishers resolved to work more closely with Nigeria Copyright Commission and more importantly, requests that government funds the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

Firm boosts students' knowledge in ICT

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

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NFORCING its commitment to knowledge development in the education sector through ICT, Vodacom Business Nigeria has organised a field trip for schools aimed at further development of students' understanding of information and communication technology with practical learning beyond the classroom.

The company recently hosted the Senior Secondary students of Children’s International School, Lekki on a one day field trip to its facility in Lagos, taking them on a tour of its Data Centre, exposing the students to the technology behind cloud computing, online gaming and other applications like Facebook and Instagram while encouraging them to develop skills required in ICT innovation.

The Managing Director of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr Guy Clarke said: “Given early access to information and communication technology, the youths tend to become early adopters of new technologies, developing skills, spurring innovation required for economic growth. Our goal is that bringing these students to our environment will afford them the access to required exposure and entrepreneurial skills to help them excel in an ICT-driven environment.”

Mr Chidi Nwankwo, Head, ICT Academics said: “We believe in practical learning for our students and this field trip is an opportunity for our students to be cognitively engaged and challenged, as they explore areas of personal interest and curiosity and engage in bidirectional communication with each other and the adult facilitators.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 27

De-emphasise paper qualification, educationist tells stakeholders

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HE Principal, Phidel College, Lagos, Mr Ben Akintelure has urged stakeholders in the education sector to place less emphasis on paper qualification and focus more on skills and talents of students.

He said: “The era of emphasising on paper qualification should have gone by now because there are a lot of people who are talented with skills without the paper qualification.” Akintelure who spoke during a sensitization programme organised for secondary schools students in Lagos said that the statement was not to play down on certificate but to ensure that parents and employers reduced the emphasis they place on certificate at the expense of skills.

“Because we place too much emphasis on certificates, the students are already hypnotised thinking that as long as they are able to pass the theory, skills are not necessary. Supposing we are grading them by their talents, you will see a lot of people showing more interest in other skilful exercises,” he said.

Speaking on the decline in our education system, he heaped the blame on our national policy on education.

He said, “The national policy on education states that some people have to be trained to become teachers. However, because of the unemployment created due to bad governance, a lot of people run into teaching and from day one, they zero their minds on just making ends meet. When such people are employed, they will be busy with newspapers searching for jobs.”

According to him, in teaching profession, to give the best to students, the time you spend preparing lesson for students should be greater than the one you spend teaching the subject. Akintelure argued that if teachers don’t have passion for the job, they cannot give time to think and carry out research on a topic. As a teacher, you should ask yourself, do I impart knowledge in grand-style? “ If you don’t have the passion, you won't go the extra mile, if you don’t go the extra mile, there is no way you can deliver. “Most schools don’t have professional teachers, they just have graduate teachers. Not that the graduates are not good but my argument is that because it is not their field, their mind will not be there."

Winners emerge at The Nigeria of my dream essay competition

BY EBELE ORAKPO

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N celebration of the 2014 Children’s Day, the Outreach Department of Chapel of His Presence, Ajao Estate, Lagos, organised an essay competition with the title: The Nigeria of my dream, for primary schools in the OshodiIsolo area. According to the organisers, the competition was aimed at fulfilling one of the cardinal missions of the *Ijeoma Eronini, flanked by Joshua Okere Church which is impacting communities and affecting (left) and Chioma Ifezie displaying their plaques. lives positively.

At the end of the keenly congave birth to the Federal Republic of Nitested competition which featured 10 geria. The world is ruled by dreamers schools and took place in the Church and I am one of them. auditorium, 10-year-old Miss Ijeoma First and foremost, I dream of a new Eronini of Kiddies Kingdom Private Nigeria where security of lives and School, Isolo emerged winner and went property is guaranteed. A Nigeria where home with a plaque and N30,000 scholbasic amenities like potable water, arship fund; second position went to electricity and good roads will be in Master Joshua Okere of Newland Eleexistence, a Nigeria where there will mentary School, Mafoluku and he went be improved level of education up to home with a plaque and N20,000 while world class standard.

Miss Chioma Ifezie of Dominican Furthermore, I dream of a Nigeria Group of Schools, Mafoluku clinched where the term ‘Leaders of tomorrow,’ the third prize of a plaque and N10,000 actually refers to the youths and not the scholarship fund. old men and women in power. A Nigeria where the future of the unborn Winning essay: babies is secured and guaranteed. A The Nigeria of my dream Nigeria where public offices are seen

By Ijeoma Eronini as a privilege and not a do-or-die affair.

“Nigeria is a country made up of 36 Again, I dream of a Nigeria where states. President Goodluck Ebele public officers are responsible for their Jonathan is the leader. It is a country wrong acts; a Nigeria where job opporendowed with milk and honey by natunities abound, a Nigeria where ture but greed and selfishness have human rights are respected, a Nigeria eroded God’s free gift. where fraud becomes history.

Our forefathers had a dream for an This dream is not a flying horse, I am independent Nigeria. They fought one of the Nigerians who believe that colonisation with so much zeal. Many there is a very big hope for the country. of them were prepared to pay the suThis is the Nigeria of my dreams." preme price. Eventually, their dreams C M Y K

Who will teach economics in the North-East? (2) Only 18,667 out of the over 1.6 million candidates who applied for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, are seeking admission to the nation’s private universities…

PUNCH, April 29, 2014. p 49.

This is the concluding part of this article. The first part was published last Thursday.

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S students are fleeing from the zone, instructors, lecturers, tutors, administrators, bursars, games masters, etc, are also moving away — leaving whole departments of institutions without teachers. A reader/friend who just returned to Lagos, after securing an appointment with a school, after spending over twenty years in the North-East where he had a house, as well as a thriving business, abandoned everything when his wife and children were slaughtered in a church attack. That he failed to drop everything and flee when other tutors were leaving two years ago, was his major regret.

Now, he has neither wife nor children to inherit all he accumulated. Furthermore, he cannot even imagine returning to the place.

Every night brings with it nightmares regarding his failure to act when lives could have been saved. He had miscalculated and under-estimated the staying power of Boko Haram.

Incidentally, he was teaching economics. He actually read political science, but started with economics. He was asked to change on account of the mathematics in economics. But, he could handle economics at secondary school level. He was the only tutor in several local government areas around who could teach economics. Conse-

,

BY DAYO ADESULU

We had elected or appointed several thousand people all over Nigeria, engaging in economic activities, making decisions affecting our economy – without a simple understanding of what they are doing to our nation’s economy

,

quently, few of the students in the area applied to read the subject at university level. That, to me, is the tragedy.

We had elected or appointed several thousand people, all over Nigeria, engaging in economic activities, making decisions affecting our economy – without a simple understanding of what they are doing to our nation’s economy.

Let me close by telling a true story. In 1974, shortly after returning to Nigeria, it occurred to me that I might want to teach at secondary school level. I approached the Lagos State School Management Board and my application was accepted. Then it was time for posting. The officer in charge looked at my application form and saw Igbobi College.

So, he said, “You want Igbobi College, don’t you?” “No,” I said, because I knew Igbobi College had Economics tutors. I asked for a school without an Economics teacher and ended up with Ansarudeen School, Falolu Road, Surulere, which had very few graduate teachers.

I ended up teaching Economics, Government, and even English Literature.

Until my arrival, no student had ever received a Credit in Economics, because there was no one to teach it.

About six months ago, I was at WAKA CLUB 1945 in Lagos, when a middle aged man came and prostrated in front of me. I later found that he was a retired banker. He identified himself as one of my five pupils at the High School, in 1974/75, who took Economics at WAEC. Three, including himself, received upper Credits –without “expo”; one became an Assistant Professor. So, who will teach Economics in the North-East?

Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

28— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Samsung Academy graduates 72

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

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AMSUNG Engineering Academy, a public private partnership initiative involving Samsung Electronics and the Lagos State Government through the World Bank-supported Lagos Eko Secondary Schools Education Project has graduated 72 technicians from the academy.

The graduating students drawn from Government Technical College, Agidingbi, successfully completed one year specialised training at the academy.

They were trained to repair and service modern digital electronic devices such as LCD TVs, Smartphones, refrigerators, air conditioners, laptops etc.

Each graduate received a certificate of completion and certificates of achievement were also presented to 14 students for their academic brilliance. The top four achievers were awarded prizes comprising various Samsung electronic

products.

The Academy was launched two years ago

by Governor Babatunde Fashola, to fast-track employability of African youths in the electronics job market. The new graduates are equipped to work in the electronics industry either as employees in repair centres, assembly lines or as independent entrepreneurs.

Addressing the graduands, Ms. Ronke Azeez, Special Adviser to the Governor on Lagos Eko Sec-

ondary Education Project said: “It is heart-warming to see the graduation of the first set of students from the academy. These graduates have been equipped with world-class skills to build a better future for themselves and to play an integral part in driving the economy of the state forward. The partnership between Lagos Eko Secondary School Education Project and Samsung Electronics is one of quality and excellence.”

While appreciating Samsung for maintaining an

international standard for the Academy, Azeez appealed to Samsung to double its present enrolment due to the high demand for such skills in Nigeria. She observed that more qualified technicians are critical to the country’s development noting that Nigeria is faced with an urgent need to fill the supply and demand gap that has emerged in the industry for technical skills and the number of students that enter the job market each year possessing these skills.

•From left: Training Manager, Samsung Engineering Academy, Dickinson Odikayor(left); Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Brovo Kim and one of the graduands, Ogundipe Oluwaseun at the Academy's first graduation in Lagos

BRIEF Council boss hails foundation over quiz contest

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HE Caretaker and Transition Committee Chair-man of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Sunday Onoriode Eromedoghene, has commended a Non-Governmental Organisation, Ovu Foundation for organising quiz and reading competition for both public and private primary schools in Ovu community.

The council chairman who was represented by his Vice-Chairman, Hon. John Esenone, gave this commendation during the quiz and reading competition at the community town hall, Ovu, saying that the foundation’s ideology to improve the lives of the primary school pupils through its rich educational programmes and empowerment is a welcome development worth emulating.

The quiz and reading competition which featured four private and eight public primary schools was won by Oquodi Primary School. Second position went to Oviorie Modern Primary School, Ovu while Patmos Primary School took third position.

In an address, the president of the organisation, Dr. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, said that the essence of the quiz and reading competition was to stimulate reading culture among the pupils from the foundation level and that is why they are starting from the primary schools. He pointed out that the foundation will soon embark on establishing reading centres in all the primary schools in Ovu community. Rim-Rukeh, who said since inception, the foundation has given over 30,000 exercise books and 20,000 writing materials to primary schools in Ovu community, explained that the foundation is also working towards putting up an electronic library at the Ovu junction to serve the schools around.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,JUNE 5, 2014 — 29

during these community service programmes that I felt the sense of accomplishment that comes with giving back to the society. I am sure that this was not solely my experience; it was a shared one.”

For Ahmad: “Life in AUN is not comparable to any other.

Everything about this university is super amazing: from the unforgettable experience, the super smart and friendly faculty, the awesome state-of-the-art facilities, the conducive learning environment, the diligent and tough President, and our generous founder. AUN has helped me pin down a career path, find a purpose, understand my community, and AUN has made me feel indebted to the society.”

*A cross section of graduating students

Near standing ovation

AUN ‘graduation’ day of celebrations and inspiring speeches

By MIKE EBONUGWO

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AY 10, 2014 was certainly a day of joy for 250 graduate and 23 post-graduate students of the American University of Nigeria, AUN, as they proudly filed out to be counted during the institution’s Sixth Commencement (Graduation) ceremony for its Class of 2014.

Indeed, for most of them, the occasion was a joyful climax of a journey that began four or more years ago, hence the reason they revelled in it, beaming with smiles and rolling out the drums to celebrate the happy moment with family members and well-wishers. Even the fact that Adamawa State is presently under emergency rule was not enough to

Sciences.

The commencement ceremony which was a grand occasion in itself, and was held in the recently built new Lamido Aliyu Musdafa Commencement Hall, reputed to be the largest events building in Northern Nigeria, witnessed moving speeches, procession of graduating students and also flag procession of 32 countries represented in the university community courtesy of students and staff.

The speech-making moments did not fail to stir the gathering that included AUN Founder and former VicePresident of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; US Ambassador to the African Union, AU, Ambassador John A. Simon who was conferred

,

Class of 2014, reach high, work hard, commit yourself to the common good, participate in civic life; make the world a better place than it is today; you can do it

diminish the palpable festive feeling of the occasion.

This was more so for Ahmad Ahmad Idris and Lotana Nwosu who emerged joint overall best graduating students. Apart from that, both bagged five awards each for academic excellence in both undergraduate and corporate categories.

Miss Nwosu graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics, while Ahmad has a Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Chemistry, both from the School of Arts and C M Y K

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with a Doctor of Letters(Honoris Causa) at the occasion; university administrators, staff, parents, politicians, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps and other well-wishers.

Remarkably, the graduating students represented by Lotana, Ahmad and Odera Okakpu, the Class of 2014 Speaker, stole the show during their Senior Reflections speeches.

Reflecting on the period she spent in the school, Lotana had this to say: “AUN has

shaped me in ways that will make the path to my dreams simpler, smoother and shorter.

AUN not only taught me but showed me that it is possible to excel in every aspect of my life without making compromises to my dreams and aspirations.

This institution also opened my eyes to the challenges that confront Nigeria and taught me that I can be a vital part of the solution. I am more than grateful for the opportunity provided by AUN for me to serve the community. It was

Perhaps the best speech of the day was presented by Odera if the near-standing ovation that greeted it is anything to go by.

Testifying to her conviction that AUN is in every right a development institution where students’ dreams become Africa’s future and the American model it represents “can work without making us less Nigerian,” she had gone ahead to posit thus: “... I assure you in the next 10 years, at least half of the students you see here today will be influential in local governments, states, countries and the world at large. The hope of this great country lies in this room.”

But AUN also spoke most poignantly through its energetic and motivational President, Margee Ensign. According to her, listening to her students speak brought home to her the evidence that the institution is indeed truly on the path of

success in training a young generation of African leaders who can hold their own anywhere in the world. But she also has a piece of advice for them.

“The core of education at AUN, Nigeria’s first ‘Development University’, has been participation. Participation in your classes. Participation in research. Participation in group projects. Participation in the many activities of student life. Participation in our local development projects through community service.

“We have sent you out in the community to experience first hand the problems faced by so many poor people - the schools without books or desks or sometimes roofs, the clinics without reliable medicines or equipment - so that you would come up with the right questions, and we hope the right answers.

“Today’s world needs your dreams and your actions.

Today ’s world needs your courage and the university education that you have obtained here with us. Your answer to an AUN education must be that you will face the future with determination and dedication not detachment and despair.

“So class of 2014, reach high, work hard, commit yourself to the common good, participate in civic life. Make the world a better place than it is today.

You can do it,” she told the graduating students.

The highlight of the ceremony was the conferral of Bachelor's and Master's degrees as well as the presentation of post-graduate diplomas. The new graduates were also at the occasion inducted into the AUN Alumni.

Guarantee - Warranty

Guarantee and warranty have both similarities and differences. The sense relation between them is that they are synonyms. A warranty is a type of guarantee. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, International Students Edition, guarantee means ‘a written promise given by a company that something you buy will be replaced or repaired without payment if it goes wrong within a particular period’. Warranty uarantee and guaranty are similar and different words. Both have similar meanings: denotes ‘a written agreement in which a ‘an agreement that was made to pay a debt … or any pay selling something promise to repair or replace if there is a problem something that is given as security.’ Guarantee ‘is the promise that an act will be carried out or a within a particular period of time’. You have a guarantee or warranty on good or condition will be fulfilled.’ Guaranty is ‘the promise to pay the debt or fulfill the obligation of services. The two words are used to safeguard the rights of a consumer another if that person fails to do so’. Nonetheless, guarantee is the broader and more common term while guaranty is the narrower term and it Examples: The motorbike comes with a year guaranappears mostly in banking and other financial contexts. It seldom appears in non-legal context. tee.

The two words are also different in spelling and The motorbike comes with a full two-year warranty. pronunciation.

The difference is that a guarantee is more Examples: of a goodwill statement and is usually I signed a guaranty for my brother's bank loan. more open ended than a warranty (not as I guarantee you this machine will work. many rules attached if the item or service does not satisfy.

Guarantee – Guaranty

G

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 33

34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

How prayers chased Pastor Ize-Iyamu out of APC — SHUAIBU, HOUSE LEADER HON. Philip Shaibu is the Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly. He was a key member of the Grace Group, the political pressure group headed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, erstwhile National Vice-Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Following the defection of Ize-Iyamu and his loyalists to the PDP recently, Shaibu in this interview reacted to some of the claims made by Ize-Iyamu in a recent television interview. Excerpts:

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

R

ECENTLY some leaders of the APC defected to the PDP, what is the problem with your party?

If I must borrow from the word of the Comrade Governor, ‘Agaracha’ must go. APC is too hot for some people that don’t wish the state development; the kind of prayers that people of this country and Edo state are praying is for a government that will remember them, a government that will remember that the essence of governance is about the welfare of the people.

This kind of prayer led to the emergence of the Comrade Governor and his team in Edo state and as you can see that same wind is blowing across the country. It is not by mistake that Edo State has the leadership that

motions moved in the House and the bills you have proposed. And from the project angle, one may ask how many projects have the lawmakers done?

The only way they feel they can continue their evil doing is to join the party that encourages evil doing. But the only thing that will save them from being burnt by fire is when they refund all the money they collected in the name of constituency projects and the bad things they have done in the name of governance.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu had in a TV interview claimed that his Grace Group structure brought in Oshiomhole, as a member of the group, how would you react to that?

It was three of us that actually formed the Grace Group but the mission statement was written by Morrison, the Ovia South West

,

He lost an ordinary intra party congress and he was defeated heavily by the deputy Governor in his own village, so of what political relevance is he?

it has today and it is because of fervent prayers of the people.

So anybody in APC that cannot imbibe that culture of development and change whether he or she is elected or selected the seat will be hot for that person and when the seat becomes too hot and he refuses to change to have the look of what the party represents, such person will have no choice than to leave the party.

So those people that have left, am sure the fire of the prayer of the people to have development enshrine in the heart of their leaders have burnt them and that was why they left.

They can go to the PDP because their slogan is share the money, so those who have the character of the PDP can’t survive in the PDP, some of them are already leaving. We don’t have regrets about it.

Are you not worried that four APC lawmakers defected at the House to join the PDP? That is why I am saying that we know our selves and you the pressmen also know legislators that are legislators in the Edo State House of Assembly and for you to be a lawmaker it is measured from the number of

,

chairman, and myself.

Everything was orchestrated in my residence in Abuja before we came to Benin and that reminds me about the allegation by IzeIyamu that the Comrade Governor is a dictator. We wrote the mission statement of Grace Group but later it was hijacked

In Safe Hands to ensure development in Edo State.

And when we went out with our own program we didn’t do it with the intention to make the governor happy because we saw ahead that Ize-Iyamu and his group were almost decamping even at the eve of the governorship election in 2012 but when he saw that the Edo in safe Hands Mass Movement and the Edo Solidarity Movement were determined to rescue Edo State the way they did in 2007, he didn’t have any choice than to remain. We stood our ground and worked for the governor.

I think that because of his fixation to his governorship ambition is affecting the way he behaves. How many elections has Ize- Iyamu contested and won?

Intra party congress

*Shaibu: APC is too hot for some people

by Ize-Iyamu and he became dictatorial in the organization and that led us, the original bearers of the mission to withdraw at a certain time because our plans were derailed and hijacked.

Our mission then was that we wanted good governance in Edo State but he hijacked the process and some of us pulled out.

Morrison and I had to leave because pastor was now using the group to fight Chief Anenih within the PDP and that was not our plan. Our aim was to ensure that whoever is there as governor gives our people good governance and not to fight Anenih.

He is the real dictator because he hijacked Grace Group to use to fight his interest.

And I also heard him say that he was instrumental to Oshiomhole wining in the 18

Local Governments. The question I want to ask him is that if he was responsible for the agents in his polling booth? All the agents of ACN in all the units in the 18 local government Areas were not brought by Ize-Iyamu even though he was Director General of Oshiomhole’s campaign.

The truth was that we never trusted him and that was why some of us kicked against it when the governor appointed him as DG of his campaign. But we managed him but watched him carefully.

Yes in this dispensation, we formed Edo in Safe Hand and we did that to checkmate people like Ize Iyamu.

Even when the governor was not happy with the formation of Edo in safe Hands, we went on because we knew we formed Edo

He lost an ordinary intra party congress and he was defeated heavily by the deputy Governor in his own village, so of what political relevance is he?

There is this rumor that more APC members may defect in the House to the PDP. What is your take on that?

I can tell you that when you go to Edo North, Edo Central and South, if you go to our constituencies, all the hardworking members are doing very well. Those who believe in development just like the Comrade Governor cannot leave.

They are respected men. This fight is beyond physical, it is spiritual and I we will continue to seek God’s face in all these.

We are united and I can assure you that some of the PDP members are already talking with us and very soon one or two of them will join us and I want you to know that they are still some good people in the PDP. Those that do not mean well for Edo are leaving to PDP from APC.

Fayemi, Fayose: Their deeds'll speak for them

BY DARE BABALOLA

A

S the countdown to the June 21 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State begins, the candidates have been delving into their respective individual histories to convince the electorate to vote for them. For former Governor Ayo Fayose, his singsong has been that he is no longer the Fayose that was governor ten years ago.

From one rally to the other, especially in locations where many of his actions had alienated the people from him, Fayose repeatedly claimed that he is now •eborn again•f and would be a different governor if given another chance.

It has been another ballgame

with the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is leveraging on the execution of his 8-point agenda to convince the electorate that he deserves a second term on the crest of his performance.

The flagship of the Fayemi government is the infrastructure development of the state. Fayemi has used his campaign rallies to point at many roads he has constructed or rehabilitated in all parts of the state, bringing the attention of every community to how they have benefitted under the scheme. He had promised in 2010 that the scheme is to establish optimum communities that will improve citizen•fs lives and attract investments so much

that by 2014, all parts of the state is accessible by major roads, making water dams in the state functional to increase water supply by 80percent and engage in private-public partnership for independent power projects. To actualise the vision, he embarked on the construction of 5 kilometre road in each of the 16 local governments bringing the total to 81.5 kilometres in the first phase. The second phase covered another 91 kilometres across the 16 local councils. In all, a total of 958 kilometres of federal, state and local government roads have been rehabilitated, reconstructed and/ or constructed in the last three and half years. The highpoint is

the dualization of major highways in the state capital complete with road furniture that has transformed the face of Ado Ekiti into a modern state capital. The government is also currently laying 400 kilometres long water pipelines to provide pipe-borne water for every community in the state as envisioned in the 8-point agenda.

The vision of the Fayemi Government is to establish a knowledge economy that will ensure that skilled manpower, for which the state is renowned, becomes an economic advantage. In three years, the government renovated 836 primary schools and 183 Continues on page 35

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 35

North’s position on Igbo is insulting — Ezike, Executive Director, CLO IBUCHUKWU Ezike , Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, is one of the delegates at the on-going National Conference representing South-East civil society groups. He spoke to Vanguard recently on a wide-range of issues that have generated heated debates at the confab. Excerpts: constituted the country.

BY OKEY NDIRIBE Therefore, when the Committee HAT is your view on the on Land Tenure recommended current controversy over the expunging of the Land Use the Land Use Act at the National Act from the Constitution, it was a reflection of the popular wishes Conference?

My view is very clear and has and aspirations of Nigerians.

It was also resolved by the support of majority of delegates at the National delegates that any state or region Conference. I believe that that wanted to adopt the Land majority of Nigerians who have Use Act as part of its body of laws was free to do so but it been affected by the Land Use Act also support our position on should be deleted from the what is happening in Nigeria Constitution.

What is your reaction to the today. The truth of the matter is position of delegates from the that a few people have for a long time cornered the land property South-West that the region must and resources of the people for have regional autonomy or their own selfish interest but they nothing from the confab?

I totally support their position. have always claimed to have done so in the interest of the If you recall what I said earlier, I had advocated for return to the people.

In the first place, I want to 1963 Constitution with regions as emphasize my earlier position federating units.

In the first republic, every that the nation should return to the 1963 Constitution which region experienced rapid provided for regional autonomy development. Every region and retention of 50 percent from developed at its own pace. the proceeds of regional Returning to the 1963 resources while the remainder is Constitution would enable the paid as tax to the Federal zones or regions to develop. Any region that wants to create a Government.

During the first republic when million states and a million local the 1963 Constitution was governments could do so. As it operational, there was visible is now, if states continue to development and progress in the remain as the federating units, different regions which made up there would continue to be the country. There was relative suffocation, disagreements and peace and harmony among the crisis. This is because the federating units which distribution of states is lopsided.

W

*Ezike: It is agreed that the North has a larger land mass Some people have advocated that the criteria for creating states or local governments should be population and land mass, but what about economic viability?

It is ridiculous for some people to say that the Igbo nation has only 15 million people in Nigeria. Everybody knows that all over Nigeria, the population of Igbos is second only to that of the indigenous population.

Indigenous population For instance, in 2006 Lagos State conducted an independent census and discovered that Igbos alone constituted 43 percent of the population of that state. So, if Igbos in Lagos alone constitute 43 percent of the population of that state, it is an insult to say that the population of Igbos is 15 million. If you recall what happened during that 2006 census, members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,

MASSOB, actually mobilized against the conduct of that exercise in the whole of the South-East. They disrupted the exercise in Igboland. So, this tells you that the 15 million population figure for the Igbos cannot be correct.

Secondly, if you recall the confession of one Harold Smith, a British colonial officer who served in Nigeria during the colonial era; he revealed that the British manipulated census figures in favour of the North.

In Kano which also has a huge population like Lagos, the Igbo population there is only second to that of the indigenous Hausa people. I believe that the population of Igbos in Kano State can’t be anything less than 30 percent.

Can you comment on the claims, demands and general content of some documents presented by some groups to the conference?

It is bad when such documents are used to denigrate and insult

Fayemi, Fayose:

Their deeds 'll speak for them

Continues from page 34 secondary schools. The government also established 24 new primary schools in 2011 and another 18 in 2012 bringing the number of primary schools from 776 in 2010 to 836 by 2012.These initiatives has led to remarkable increase in primary school enrolment which jumped from 155,296 in 2010 to 170,768. This trend has been repeated in secondary school enrolment making Ekiti State the highest per capita in terms of public school enrolment in the country.

In its effort at promoting elearning and making the students competitive in the global economy, it distributed 33,000 laptops free of charge to students and 18,000 laptops to teachers at a subsidised price. The government also introduced the payment of Rural Allowance to

teachers in the rural areas. It introduced the payment of Core Subject Allowance to teachers of subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and Biology to promote the teaching of science and ensure that Ekiti students are competitive in this age of technology. In tertiary education, the government restored peace and industrial harmony to Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti; reduced fees paid in higher institutions and introduced various scholarship schemes to help many indigent and brilliant students of the state. Between 2011 and 2013, a total sum of N315.7Million was disbursed as scholarship to 2,329 students while bursary awards of N148.2Million were paid to a total of 9,919 beneficiaries.

These initiatives have not taken time to yield fruits.

*Fayemi Although Ekiti State has always been renowned for high literacy level, the level of literacy in the state has further gone up from 67 percent in 2011 to 72.2percent by 2012. In the formal sector, the state has recorded many recognitions of the advancement

in education. The state has won the Best Overall Performance State in the Annual National Mathematics and Science Competitions by Science Teachers (STAN); first position in Mathematics for Senior Secondary School Category in the National Quiz competition organised by MAN in 2013; first position in ANCOPPS National Stage Quiz/Essay Competition in 2013; Best Male Student in 2013 WAEC Result and for two years running; has produced the best student in the Nigerian Law School.

It is in recognition of these remarkable strides that the World Bank recently announced a USD10Million support for the state under the State Education Programme Investment Project (SEPIP).

Beyond the walls of the

other component ethnic nationalities in the country. The position of the North on the South-East zone is insulting. In that document, it was claimed that the North possessed 80 percent of the nation’s land mass.

They declared that before any additional state could be created for the South-East, the SouthWest should have a minimum of nine states based on their land mass and population. It was also argued in that document that the North deserved to even get more states.

Although, it is agreed that the North has a larger land mass than the South-East but definitely they don’t have a larger population.

This is because the Igbos were identified as the single largest ethnic nationality in Africa by 1960.

What is the source of that information?

This information was provided

by Europeans at the beginning of colonial rule. We know there was a civil war that was fought in this country. It is very clear that the Northern position paper was produced to insult the sensibility of the Igbo nation. I totally reject the submissions made in that document. The claim that the North has more population than the South is fake.

Secondly, you would recall that Festus Odimegwu, the immediate past Chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, was sacked for saying the truth that there has been no credible census in Nigeria since independence. He was removed because he was about to expose all the fraudulent census conducted in the past. You would also recall that during the past census exercises that were conducted by the military regimes, figures were merely allocated to different parts of the country. Nobody can say the Igbos are a minority in Nigeria; it is insulting.

hospitals and the health facility centres, Fayemi introduced a regime of health missions through which specialized teams of medical personnel travel across the communities to provide healthcare services to the people. At the last count, 363,050 persons have benefited from the programme. Another 7,850 persons have benefited from the Ilera Lafin programme through which health care services are taken to the palaces of the traditional rulers for the benefits of the communities, bringing number of beneficiaries of the health outreach programmes to 370,900.

The benefits of these initiatives are beginning to manifest. The State now has the lowest Infant Mortality in the country. It has the lowest maternal mortality in the country as well.

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Nigerian Judiciary and 15 years of democracy N

o doubt, the Nigerian Judiciary has had to contend with powerful variegated democratic forces since 1999, forces that are at once centripetal as they are centrifugal. It has been buffeted from all sides; assailed by inglorious politicians who lost their electoral legal battles in Court; bled internally by some irredeemably corrupt Judicial elements; mocked by a noncooperating Executive that denies it of much needed funds, and ridiculed by a legislature that makes laws for everything, except for the peace, order and good government of Nigeria.

Alexander Halmiton was right when he theorised that the Judiciary is the weakest arm of Government as it has neither purse, nor arms to effect its decisions.

Inspite of these mountainous challenges, the Nigerian Judiciary can unarguably be said to have fared better than the other two arms of Government – the Legislature and the Executive. It has held its head high, above murky waters, refusing to be cowed or vanquished by the two other more powerful sister arms of Government. It has continued to serve as the bulwark against tyranny of the vociferous minority and oppression by the all conquering majority.

Even under autocratic Military dictatorships, the Judiciary refused to blow muted trumpets, inspite of the ubiquitous blaring sirens of power and sheer repressive jack-bootism.

The Nigerian Judiciary sided with the common man and woman, delivering scathing, and at times derisive judgments, against repressive

Heads of state and self styled Military Presidents.

In Ojukwu v s Governor of Lagos State (1986) 1 NWLR (part 18), for example, both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court dscribed the action of the Lagos State Government in forcibly ejecting Ojukwu from his “Vilaska lodge” residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, whilst his suit against the State Government was still pending, live and extant, as amounting to “Executive lawlessness”.

In Nasiru Bello vs. Attorney General of Oyo State (1986) 2 NSCC 1257, the apex Court of Nigeria condemned the Oyo State Government for executing a convicted armed robber whose appeal was still pending before the Court. The revered late Justice Aniagolu bemoaned this dastardly act, thus: “This is the first case in this country, of which I am aware, in which a legitimate government of this country – past or present, colonial, or indigenous – hastily and illegally snuffed off the life of an Appellant whose appeal had vested and was in being, with no order of Court upon the appeal, and with a reckless disregard for the life and liberty of the subject and the principles of the rule of law. The brutal incident has bespattered the face of the Oyo State Government with the paint brush of shame”.

In Nemi vs. A-G, Lagos State (1996) 6 NWLR, 42, at 55, the Court of Appeal innovatively

*MIKE OZEKHOME (SAN)

This is the first case in this country, of which I am aware, in which a legitimate government – past or present, colonial, or indigenous – hastily and illegally snuffed off the life of an Appellant whose appeal had vested and was in being, with no order of court upon the appeal, and with a reckless disregard for the life and liberty of the subject and the principles of the rule of law

,

BY MIKE OZEKHOME (SAN)

held that notwithstanding that a convict was on death row, he was still entitled to challenge his torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, arising from the prolonged delay in executing him.

Thus, the Nigerian Judiciary affirmed the fundamental rights of even a convict not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, because every minute of being left on the death row means instalmental

A case of judgment without justice? (2)

,

torture and indescribable psychological trauma.

It is true that there have been isolated cases of bad eggs within the Judiciary, in terms of corruption, bribe taking, compromise of cases, et al. yes, just like in every 12, there must be a Judas Iscariot. Such isolated cases have not only been promptly dealt with by the National Judicial Council (NJC); they have also not diminished or dimmed the good

work of a vast majority of hardworking Judges who have shown exceptional courage, daring bravado, and activist orientation in handing down judgements that have deepened democracy, promoted good governance, protected Civil Rights and liberties, shielded the Rule of law from assault, and fought corruption in governance.

The lofty and far reaching recommendations of my Committee on Law, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Reforms at the ongoing National Conference, if adopted by the Plenary session, and enshrined in a brand new constitution to be approved and adopted by the Nigerian people in a popular Referendum or plebiscite, will go a long way in empowering the Judiciary, and bestowing on it, the much needed independence and autonomy.

CONSTIITUTIONAL LAWYER AND HUMAN RIGHTS A C T I V I S T, F E D E R A L GOVERNMENT DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

NBA PRESIDENCY:

Adekoya, Alegeh solicit Igbo lawyers' vote Page 38

... Adesina unfolds agenda

Page 39

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—37

JIBRIN ISAH Vs INEC:

A case of judgment without justice? (2)

I

n another breadth,my Lords at the supreme court willfully ignored the evidence in a manner inconsistent with the records before the court and proceeded to make another finding when it held in paragraph 8 of the lead judgement that: “This suit was filed by appellant on 9/2/12.

That is,it took the appellant over two months to complain about an election he did not take part in...”

With much respect to their Lordships,Suit no. FHC/ABJ/ CS/807/2011 – UMAR LAWAL & ALHAJI JIBRIN ISAH V. INEC, PDP & CAPTAIN IDRIS WADA before the Honourable Justice B.B Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Abuja was filed before the illegal primary election in September,2011.

So,how did my Lords arrive at the mathematics of appellant filing the suit 2 months after the election?

Permit me to also pointedly state that, their Lordships decision to uphold the lower courts decision on the issue of jurisdiction conflicts with the decision of the apex court in ORHENA ADUGU GBILEVE & ANOR v. MRS. NGUNAN ADDINGI & ANOR (SC.193/2012) ,where, his brothers Justices, declared in that case that, Addigi as one of the aspirants in the primary election, had acquired the right to approach the Federal high Court, Makurdi as she did in her originating summons to seek redress in that court which was vested with jurisdiction by virtue of the provisions of section 87 (4)(c) (i) (ii) and (9) of the Electoral Act 2010, the federal high court, Makurdi had the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case as it was determined by it in favour of Addigi on the 31st of January,2014. Are they now different rules for different classes of people?

Finally, let us assume without

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor)

conceding that the Supreme court was tangentially right in restricting itself to the purported election that produced Idris Wada on 3rd December 2011,the Supreme Court is duty bound by the Nigerian Constitution and the statutes to let Nigerians and the international community know what section of the constitution or under which provision of the electoral act, was the said election conducted. INEC would not have deliberately acted to overreach an appeal it filed by taking a pre-judicial step during the pendency of that appeal. Put more pointedly, it was because INEC was convinced that the provisions of the Sections 180(2) and (2a) of the Constitution were clear and unambiguous that it filed an appeal in SC/357/2011. The Supreme Court agreed with INEC as per INEC’s appreciation of the clear and unambiguous provisions of these Sections.

INEC is therefore estopped from avoiding the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution with regard to the effect of that judgment of the Supreme Court and also forbidden from taking prejudicial steps during the subsistence of the said appeal.

,

Continues from last week

*Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC The questions I am constrained to ask their Lordships are: If, by constitutional imperative and a judicial pronouncement of the Apex court,the tenure of the last holder of the office of Governor of Kogi State ended on May 28,2011,was the election conducted after May 28,2011 during the pendency of INEC’s own appeal before the Supreme Court,constitutional?

If Wada was actually a Governor-in-waiting after the judgement of the Supreme Court on 27 January,2012,why did the PDP approach the same Court vide an application on 1st. February,2012 praying the Supreme Court to exempt Kogi

INEC is, therefore, estopped from avoiding the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution with regard to the effect of that judgment of the Supreme Court and also forbidden from taking pre-judicial steps during the subsistence of the said appeal

,

State from the effect of the judgement of the Supreme Court on 27 January 2012?

Recall that the Supreme Court in a ruling on 16th February 2012, dismissed the said application.

On another leg, when the facts in this case are assessed and properly distilled, it will be safe to also conclude that, the primary elections of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Which held in Kogi State on the 22nd day of September, 2011 as well as gubernatorial elections that was held on the 3rd day of December, 2011 were held in utter disregard and contempt of the orders of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The orders

Eastern Bar Forum to honour Oputa, Okocha, Agbakoba

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

ate eminent jurist, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, is to be honoured posthumously by the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), alongside former presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), OCJ Okocha SAN and Olisa Agbakoba SAN, are among dignitaries to be honored at the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF).

Other eminent legal personalities to be honored by the forum are: Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, Chief Tony Mogbo SAN, Chief Mike Ikenna Ahamba SAN, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa State, Kemasuode Wodu, Justice Kate Abiri and Marc Enamhe.

The event slated for June 13, at Newton Hotel Owerri, Imo State, is also expected to honor the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, chairman Senate Committee on Police affairs, Senator Polycarp Igwe Nwagu, Governor Owelle Rochers Anayo Okorocha, Governor Seriake Dickson, Governor Godswill Akpabio,

Governor Liyel Imoke and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obio.

Two corporate citizens that have contributed immensely to the development of the States in the old Eastern Region, Innoson Industries Nigeria Limited and Moni Pulo Limited, would be honored as well.

According to the chairman of the governing council of EBF, Ogbonna O. Igwenyi: “The EBF has a tradition to normally hold a seminar on topical issues in Nigeria every

year . Last year, we had one on partnership for lawyers, in 2012 we had one on security in Nigeria where we looked at the possibility of having State Police to compliment what the Federal Police is doing now.

“This year we are taking a holistic view of Nigeria in view of what is happening, the insecurity in the northern parts of the country and indeed in every part of Nigeria. The terrorists have carried their activities to Abuja, we now have frequent bombings there.

referred to the above are the orders of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division contained in the judgment delivered on the 23rd day of February, 2011 by Hon. Justice A. Bello in Suite No. FHC/ABJ/ CS/651/10 which was also upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja and that of the Court of Appeal were all subsisting and building when in a show of unbridled and arrogant impunity, the PDP and INEC decided to engage in frolics of their own when they organized the primary elections and the gubernational elections respectively that produced the Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada as the Governor of Kogi State.

For all purposes and unequivocally, the judgment of the lower courts subsisted until the 27th day of January, 2012 when the judgment of the Supreme Court was delivered.

It is therefore an elementary law to say that all things done in disobedience to the clear orders contained in the judgment of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal are to the extent of their inconsistency thereto improper, unlawful and illegal and the product of such illegality and illegitimacy must be dismantled.

From the foregoing,it is clear that the verdict of the apex court was based on non-existing facts and wrong legal foundations.

So,its validity remains questionable.

It is my considered opinion this action amounts to an established case of bias vide an abuse of judicial powers which the Chief Justice of Nigeria must investigate to bring sanity to the Judiciary. It is hoped that the Supreme Court will have another opportunity to reverse the judgment so as to restore the confidence of the common man in the judiciary.

Ogbonna V Ogbonna is of the Lawyers for Justice and Equity, Lagos.

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

By DAYO BENSON

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head of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, election scheduled to hold in July, candidates have intensified their efforts to win votes as Mrs Funke Adekoya SAN and Mr. Austin Alegeh SAN stormed the monthly meeting of Otu Oka-Iwu Lagos to seek support for their bids. Otu Oka-Iwu is a union of lawyers of Igbo extraction.

Speaking at the events, Adekoya started by condoling the union on the demise of one of its elders, Chief Theodore Ezeobi (SAN) and Chief Ralph Uwechue, the brother to another elder of the union, Chief George Uwechue (SAN). She noted that Ezeobi was a courageous lawyer who spoke truth to power, adding that he was a “ready ally” in raising critical issues that touched on the integrity and independence of the Bar.

Adekoya informed the union of her intention to contest the NBA presidency, adding: “If we are to tell ourselves the truth, the association is declining. The things that our Bar Association should be doing for us are so many and so simple; but we are not doing it. And I think they are not doing it because those who seek office have not given it sufficient thought.”

She said that many NBA members are unhappy with the hike in practicing fees and Annual General Conference fees, adding: “Many members are disenchanted. Everyone is asking, what are they doing with our money?

Even me, I don’t know. What I do know is that my leadership will take immediate steps to review downwards these fees

•Funke Adekoya, SAN

•Augustine Alegeh, SAN

•Dele Adesina, SAN

NBA PRESIDENCY:

Adekoya, Alegeh solicit Igbo lawyers' votes which I personally consider as very high. We will also institute a Group Life and Accident Insurance Policy at no extra cost to members by deploying a portion of the practicing fees as premium.”

She promised to reverse the ban on non-attendance at NEC meetings by observers, saying the decision is “very unpopular.” Adekoya said her administration would prosecute estate agents and sundry practitioners who encroach on work reserved for lawyers, since the conduct infringes the Legal Practitioners Act which bars the practice of law without licence.

The former NBA National Treasurer and 1st Vice President said that an NBA under her leadership would, like the Law Society of UK among others,

advertise legal services to expand the volume of work available to lawyers. She would also engage the Nigeria Police and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) “to ensure that they see reason why it is in their best interest to hire lawyers” for their activities, while the leadership will make a strong representation to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to ensure that it does not circumscribe work available to lawyers.

On his part, Alegeh told the union that NBA needs “somebody new and fresh with new ideas. I believe that there are changes we need to make in the association and we need a new person to make those changes. I offer myself as that

agent of change for the association.”He said he believed that NBA activities should be “branch driven,” adding that “the idea of four, five people upstairs forming policies, implementing the policies and when there is change at the helm, these policies are jettisoned is not good for the NBA. We need an NBA that starts from the branches, that gives powers to the branches that all policies formulated by the NBA originate from the branches.”

He expressed concern that work reserved for lawyers are “being done by third parties and NBA does nothing about it. We have foreign law firms today who take 80 per cent of our arbitration work. We have the Legal Practitioners Act that

….Adesina unfolds nine-point agenda

By DAYO BENSON & ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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presidential candidate in the coming Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, has enunciated a nine-point agenda he intends to implement if elected the association’s president.

Adesina who described himself as a veteran in NBA activities said the association under his leadership would fight impunity, arbitrariness, high handedness and misuse of power.

The one time secretary general of the NBA also vowed to uphold high standard of professional conduct and responsibility as well as the rule of law.

Speaking on his plans to elevate the Bar from what is presently obtained, Adesina said rule of law would form the bastion in which his administration will rest and that impunity will have no place at all.

The lawyer who said where the Rule of Law operated at its maximum capacity, everybody is under the law,

noted the rule of law will be in play rather than the rule of man. ”The Nigerian Bar Association under my leadership shall be bold and courageous. The Bar shall commend when it is necessary to commend, and condemn when circumstances call for condemnation. The NBA shall vigorously and demonstrably defend the oppressed, the abused, the cheated, the weak and the poor in the society. ”The Bar under my leadership shall wage sustained war against impunity, arbitrariness, high hardiness, mis-governance, misuse and abuse of power and injustice in all ramification and shall play a dominant role in the affairs of the Nation. ”To this end, the NBA shall re-invigorate its campaign for and promotion of pro bono, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Public interest litigation and pursue a deliberate policy for sustained campaign of maintenance of law and order.” He added.

Adesina emphasized that the administration of Justice committee would be

reactivated and operational if elected. ”The Nigerian Bar Association in collaboration with the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall also establish a functional Administration of Justice Commission at the National level.

He also promised that the Nigerian Bar Association shall play active role in public interest issues such as Prison decongestion, Prison and Penal Reform, Police Reform, Pre-trial Justice and Detention, Child Rights, Violence against Women, Electoral Reform and Process, and Security.

He said further: “In our quest to defend democracy in our land, to defend the rights and liberties of the Nigerian people and enthrone law and order, the Nigerian Bar Association under my watch shall be guided by the principle that Lawyers are nation builders and as such, the lawyers in Nigeria have a duty to move the Nigeria society “from tradition to modernity, from authoritarianism to democracy and from intellectual slavery to liberty” .

provides that all legal services should be done by lawyers.

How then do we sit down as NBA and allow funds from public corporations to be paid to foreign lawyers in flagrant breach of our laws?”

He promised to refocus the Continuing Legal Education programme to equip lawyers with requisite skills, noting that there are rights that already exist which lawyers are not sufficiently equipped to pursue.

Like Adekoya, Alegeh is also worried that the national body is not speaking when it ought to. “The whole world is agog with Chibok,” he observes. “But can anybody here tell me where NBA stands on Chibok? Nobody can say where we stand. Do we support Boko Haram or do we support Federal Government?

We don’t know where NBA stands.” He said the NBA should be the “leader of all civil society in Nigeria,” adding that “when anything happens in the country, the voice of NBA should be the loudest; currently, the voice of NBA is muffled.”

Alegeh promised to “refocus” on the welfare of members, saying he is being called a “stranger” by the so-called Barmen “because I do not join in the chop-chop. To be a ‘Barman,’ you have to chop.”

Expressing his concern with the current state of affairs in the NBA, Alegeh said: “We fail to tap the enormous potentials that we have. I do not see why in this day and age of branding and advertising, of giving tax breaks to companies, NBA still has to pay by itself for bags, biros, jotters and all of that. If I go to SEC and say SEC, I want bags; you can brand them as you want. We don’t want money, it will be done. But we are running NBA as though we are in the Dark Ages. And because they make money from giving out contract awards to make biros and bags.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 39

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Lagos guber race: No kingmaker except God Dear Sir,

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,

,

How to make Nigeria better Dear Sir,

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IGERIA would be better if the leaders and the led change their attitudes, love one another, and turn to God, for him (God) to heal our land.

We all need to turn around and sow in righteousness, so that Nigeria would see better days.

Prophetically, I want to assure Nigerians that we should not lose hope in the country, despite the socio-political and economic challenges. We should always be in fervent prayers, repent of our sins and look unto God with faith.

This is because God will shower his blessings and favour on the faithful (believers).

Also, our economic management team should adopt policies that have human face and the effective utilisation of the nation’s resources for the development of the country.

The leaders and the led should shun selfish interests, as capitalism is returning Nigeria to the era of slavery and the solution is the abolition of

greed and antagonistic competition in our economic system.

The Federal Government should use its political will to tackle the seeming insurmountable power problems in the country to fast-track our country’s socio-economic and infrastructural development.

Nigeria will be great if we do the right things; if we embrace righteousness and listen to God’s word and the Holy Spirit.

I want to plead that all of us should work seriously to ensure that Nigeria remains one united nation. By 2014 Nigeria will be 100 years and we just have to make it work, as there is power in number …. As in China, India, USA and Indonesia We cannot fold our hands and see our unity shattered. Let us all join hands to see Nigeria work. Also, we must all be concerned about the security of our nation that has been threatened Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel babasekunderin@yahoo.com 08033733470

Mass protests must stop

Mass protests by citizens of countries, is a veritable tool to draw government’s attention to fundamental problems affecting society. It is in the light on the above that I understand and sympathise with the on- going mass protests in Nigeria and overseas over the missing Chibok school girls.

However, my observation now is that the mass protests have gradually turned into a jamboree .

Time therefore has come to halt these protests and allow the government and security agencies concentrate their efforts on how to rescue the innocent school girls. The protests are becoming distracting and negative in nature. The protesters have made their point and government has taken note.

Pressing the protests further will mean that the protesters have hidden agenda. Halt the protest

five years down the Jonathan’s government, including the completion of his predecessor’s tenure, nothing tangible has been achieved other than accusations, counter accusations, complaints and stealing of public funds by his appointees and other politicians.

Emeka writes via email

Kidnapped Chibok school girls

Our leaders are becoming more insensitive as the days go by, especially Mr. President. Innocent girls who were sent to study have been abducted, and nothing has been done yet!

My heart is heavy. The parents of those girls should not be troubled, Jesus never fails those who call on him in time of trouble.

We are all helpless, only Jesus can help us.

Anonymous 2348077065314

,

candidates have their own supporters too who may even outnumber that of his HE Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Os anointed candidate. uolale Akiolu, for reasons best known The Oba should also realise that there to him, dabbled into politics in a way that is no kingmaker except the Almighty is unbecoming of his position.

God. He should realise that it is only God Although the Oba has the right to have who has the final say on any matter. He a preferred candidate for the should ponder over this Yoruba saying governorship of Lagos state, he should “Riro ni ti eniyan, sise ni ti Oluwa which note that this is not a chieftancy title that means a man proposes, but God he alone can confer on his subjects. The disposes. The Holy scriptures aptly position of governor of Lagos State captured this in Psalm 62: vs 12, -“God transcends his domain. The population has spoken once, twice I heard, that of Lagos is over 21 million. Apart from power belongeth unto God”. the Oba, Lagos has many paramount One would want to counsel the Oba to rulers. For the Oba to therefore believe tread softly. This earth is not the that he has what it takes to chose a property of anybody. The land belongs governor for Lagos, is beyond my to all of us. Let the Oba play his roles as comprehension . befits his position and let the over He is a monarch and if the white cap ambitious candidate quickly realise that chiefs in Lagos have their way, they will inordinate ambition is like the proverbial depose him because of his many alleged tortoise and elephant. The elephant later high handedness. It is evident that the fell into the ditch that was cunningly and Oba cannot win a free and fair election in indiscreetly prepared for it.

Lagos Island where his palace is located.

I wish to appeal to our prominent and revered Obas, such as The land belongs to all of us. Let Awujale of Ijebu land, the the Oba play his roles as befits his Alake of Egba, Ooni of Ife Alafin of Oyo to call Oba position and let the over ambitious and Akiolu to order because he is now a threat to the integrity candidate quickly realise that of Obas in Yoruba land. inordinate ambition is like the The Oba must realise that proverbial tortoise and elephant all aspirants are his children.

Although he has the right like any citizen of Lagos to The most absurd of all is the way and support a candidate of his choice, he manner Kabiyesi denigrated other should not impose his candidate on his candidates. Kabiyesi should realise that subjects.

A word they say, is enough for the wise. in a proper election, the wishes of the people are respected and honoured. It Wakil Adedayo, is not only Oba Akiolu and his preferred Secretary candidate supporters would vote for as Committee for Culture and Values’ the next governor of Lagos state. The Emancipation Kabiyesi should realise that his unwanted Lagos.

The time has come to halt these protests and allow the government and security agencies concentrate their efforts on how to rescue the innocent school girls; the protests are becoming distracting and negative in nature

,

now.

Chukwuma 2347054911808

Dioka.

Owerri Immigration tragedy and

President Jonathan’s kind gesture

Nigeria as biggest economy in The recent loss of lives and numerous injuries on innocent job Africa No electricity, no water, unemployment rate is on the high side , no conducive environment for business to thrive. The average Nigerian is angry, yet somebody would come up and give a figure and urge Nigerians to celebrate that our economy is the biggest in Africa. It is amazing!

Clara +2348038761506

INEC and 2015 National elections

There is no credible voters register in Nigeria. Election rigging has gone nuclear. INEC seems ill-prepared to do the needful yet time is running out...

A.0.Obi Esq 2348056009586

Nigerian leaders should focus on electorate

It is high time the current government decided to focus on the poor Nigerians who actually come out on election day to pick those they think can change the country’s misfortune to fortune. It is pathetic that almost

seekers with the Nigerian Immigration Service, is very unfortunate. However, it beats my imagination, how a kind gesture of President Goodluck Jonathan has been nicknamed, “Death for Jobs”.

It marvels me the way Nigerians came up with a cliche, to describe a kind gesture to ammeliorate an unfortunate situation. Would it have been better if Mr. President offered his condolence to the affected families, and leave it at that and the direct relations of the victims suffer?. Critics would have turned round to criticise him of insensitivity to the plight of relatives of victims.

Now, he has offered some help and succour to the families left behind, it has become death for jobs. This has actually shown that in real terms, no one can please the world!. One should do his or her best and allow posterity to be the better judge!.

Chukwuma Dioka 07054911808

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable.

Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 41

Benefits of a Veg diet: Improved weight management I Hakeem Jimo’s FOUND this article on Kenya's rising obesity in their national newspaper 'Daily Nation' and was stunned by the similarities in regards to Nigeria.

Vegetarians are not only likely to outlive their meat-eating counterparts (last week's column), they could also have a leg up on weight management as well.

Here are some excerpts from a 'Daily Nation's' article published two and a half years ago.

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com

Junk food

“Well, we drive everywhere, mostly for convenience but also because we don’t feel safe on the streets with our expensive mobile phones and fancy clothes. We eat an awful lot of junk food — when a famous American fast food chain recently opened a branch in one of Nairobi’s malls, the queue of middle-class Nairobi kids lining up to pay a fortune for deep fried chicken and chips was so long, it flowed out into the parking lot of the mall. We never let our kids run wild outside on Nairobi’s “dangerous” streets, and so we keep them indoors, drip-fed on a steady diet of television and junk food.” (Culled from Daily Nation) Lifestyles: This closely parallels our lifestyles in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and most urban areas.

That obesity in this country is on the rise along with unhealthy

•Fast food invasion in Africa eating habits is telling. As the Kenyan article shows it is not a phenomenon in Nigeria alone.

Countries with a similar developing economy equal a growing socioeconomic class follows the same path. As we earn more, we simply eat more and we

eat worse, for example processed and fast food: in Kenya the number of overweight people could double in the next five years; in Mexico obesity rate surpasses that of the United States. People are calling on African governments to declare

obesity a national disaster since the situation is responsible for the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.

Obesity:That being said, the bleak reality of obesity creeping in on our societies, there is a positive aspect to a vegan or vegetarian (veg*n) diet.

Researchers from Loma Linda University , California, found that average body mass index BMI was lowest among vegans, while average BMI was highest among the meat-eaters.

Looking specifically at obesity (defined as having a BMI over 30), researchers found that vegans had the lowest percentage of people who were obese - just 9.4 percent - while meat-eaters had the highest percentage of people who were obese: 33.3 percent.

About 24 percent of semivegetarians were obese, 17.9 percent of pesco-vegetarians were obese, and 16.7 percent of lactoovo vegetarians were obese. Even though calorie intake was similar across all the groups, there were differences in the types of nutrients consumed. Meat-eaters had the lowest intake of plant proteins, beta carotene, fiber and magnesium, and the highest intake of heart disease-linked fatty acids.

You can also get fat on a vegan diet if it is grossly unbalanced and without the right nutrients. In whatever we eat, we need to make a smart choice. So we do not end up like the giraffe on the picture.

‘PPP, solution to healthcare challenges’

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EALTHCARE professionals who gathered at the justconcluded two-day conference on Public Private Partnerships, PPP, in Health tagged; “Connecting the Dots: Policy, Practice and Profitability” have advocated PPP as the solution to healthcare problems in Nigeria.

Public healthcare delivery has remained a major concern for all government and this has led to the emergence of the practice of Public Private Partnerships, PPP, in the healthcare sectors of the economy.

The PPPs in Health Nigeria 2014 conference which held in Abuja among others, examined PPP models from other countries with history of successful practice in the healthcare sector.

The conference also witnessed an award event which according to the organisers was targeted at providing a reinforcement and advocacy for more and improved PPP contracts in Healthcare.

Pathcare Laboratories, the internationally accredited Pathology laboratory, emerged winner in the diagnostic segment of the healthcare service providers’ categories, for providing improved access, quality, efficiency and accountability in the public healthcare delivery Other winners are; Garki Hospital, General Electric, among others.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO everybody and welcome. In this epi sode, we will be discussing new lubricants, instructional adult videos, performance enhancers and lingerie. Anybody who has followed our column over the years does know how important sex education is to us.

With the right sexual information, a lot of the sex and relationship problems that wreck families and relationships can be averted.

So starting with lubricants, a visit to your average pharmacy shop will reveal just one or two oil based lubricants on sale. That option is so limited. That is why Zee Virtual Media is introducing five different types of lubricants that will be joining a list of over fifty available lubricants we have for adults. Did you know that silicone based lubricants are the safest lubricants that adult s can use?

They are nonabsorbent and mask the epidermis of the skin during intercourse to limit the risk of catching certain diseases. So for this reason, we bring you the i Lube personal Silicone Lubricant. This however does not mean that you should have unprotected sex. Always use your condoms even when using silicone based lubricants.

Adults looking for a lubricant that can be swallowed during oral sex, should go for the L S Oral Sex Gel. It is flavored, tastes great and safe for human ingestion. But if you are in need of a basic water based lubricant that eliminates vaginal dryness and sexual pain, then we recommend the Sensura Personal Lubricant. It is the largest lubricant in this collection and lasts the longest. And for fans of back door adventures, the perfect lubricant for you in this category would be the Clean Stream Relax Anal Lubricant. It is thick, long lasting and mildly numbing for comfort during use.

And last but not the least is the ideal lubricant for men who suffer from premature ejaculation. It is called the Sta Erect Delay Spray. It is very easy to apply, requires no prescription or dosage and is capable of enabling a man last up to twenty minutes

before ejaculating. So this is quite a diverse collection of lubricants that meet a variety of adult needs.

And for those who are interested in perfecting their art of love making, you will find the following movies very helpful. If you utilize the same sexual positions each time you have intercourse, sex will become boring and predictable after a while.

To add variety to your sexual routine, we have the instructional videos 101 Sex Positions and The Art of Sexual Positions. These two movies can teach you so much that you will hardly repeat the same sex position in six months. With the increasing popularity of oral sex, we also bring you the educational movie The Art of Oral Sex, a detailed compilation of oral sex tips and styles.

And for adults who are worried about their intercourse not lasting long enough to be satisfactory, you will benefit from the movie 10 Ways to go Longer & Stronger.

So reach out and get the education you need. Nobody is born and expert on sex. If you want to be good at it, you need to learn first.

And finally for this week are two performance supplements that will excite both men and women. They are Rock On for Him and Rock On for Her. Do you have problems getting aroused? Are you a man that gets tired immediately after climaxing the first time, such that you have no energy to go again?

Do you suffer from weak erection or lack of erection when you need it? Are you a woman with no sexual desire who does not enjoy intercourse? The Rock On range of supplements fixes all of the above listed problems within minutes of consumption. They are all natural and have no side effects.

And that’s it for this week. More new products to follow next week. Be rest assured that there is a solution for whatever sexual problem you have. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

42 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 43

Attempt to ‘kidnap' students in Owerri school causes panic

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THERE was stampede and palpable confusion yesterday at Madonna Model Schools, Works Layout, Owerri, following the attempt by a group of men, whose identities were not immediately known, to ‘kidnap‘ some students of the institution.

The men, who the public suspected to be kidnappers, turned out to be operatives of the state’s environmental transformation commission.

An eyewitness account had it that as soon as the hefty men grabbed about two students of the institution and were on the verge of herding them into a waiting vehicle, an alarm was immediately raised.

“The alarm attracted students, parents and some nuns, who run the schools. The men were stopped from taking the students away,” a hawker, who identified herself as Amaka told Vanguard.

The reactions of the people shook the men badly, leading one

N16bn Imo market underway

of the suspects to make frantic calls to some of their men for reinforcement.

“Please, see how you can call in the police to come and rescue Ikechi before he is lynched by some aggressive parents at Madonna Model Schools,” the man was heard screaming the message into his mobile phone.

The men, who later identified

themselves as members of the the State Environmental Transformation Commission, ENTRACO, said they apprehended the students for allegedly throwing the refuse they collected from the school compound on the ground.

A parent, who claimed to be a Magistrate, told the men that “it was very wrong to pick any student of the institution, for whatever perceived offence, without contacting the school's

management.”

What irked the parents most was that the dump site approved

by ENTRACO was still overflowing with refuse when the students allegedly threw in the dirt they picked from their classrooms.

Efforts made by Vanguard to reach the Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment, Professor Okey Okoro, failed as his mobile line could not be reached at press time.

AGM: From left; Mr Timothy Oguntayo, Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Designate, Skye Bank Plc; Mr Olatunde Ayeni, Chairman;Mrs. Abimbola Izu, Company Secretary /Legal Adviser, and Mrs Amaka Onuwughalu, Deputy Managing Director Designate, during the bank's 8th Annual General Meeting at Orential Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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W E R R I — ARRANGEMENTS have been concluded for the construction of a N16 billion Imo State Heartland Gateway International Market at Mgbidi, Oru West local government area of the state.

Disclosing this to journalists during the pre-construction site visit, the facilitator of the project, Dr. Innocent Okoro, explained that the market would cover a land space of 28.097 hectares.

“This project will be the most ambitious International Market project, comprising 10,000 shopping units and 3,000 housing units ever built anywhere in Igboland,” Okoro explained.

According to the project facilitator, every effort had been made to make it different from the usual shed or lock-up shops traders are used to in Nigeria.

Airlines operators flay FG over stoppage of royalty payment by foreign airlines fund major aviation projects.

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIELETEGHE

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OMESTIC airlines, under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, yesterday flayed the decision of the Federal Government to order foreign carriers into the country to stop payment of royalties, effective October 27, 2014.

Royalties are monies paid to Nigeria by foreign airlines due to the inability of the country to reciprocate Bilateral Air Services Agreements, BASA. Chairman of AON, Captain Nogie Meggison, said the new government directive will make domestic carriers unviable.

Captain Meggison noted that the stoppage of royalties by the foreign carriers would make government lose huge revenue needed to fix infrastructure in the aviation sector.

According to him, the usage of BASA funds from royalties have assisted Nigeria in the past to

Orji tasks accountants on graft

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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AGOS—ABIA State governor and Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, Chief Theodore Orji, yesterday, enjoined accountants in the country to join the war against

‘Lagoon State has resources to stand on its own'

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AGOS—CHAIRMAN of Lagoon State Movement, Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN, has said the proposed state to be created from Lagos State, has abundant human and material resources to stand on its own, when created.

Benson also noted that the state would would benefit Nigerians.

Speaking in Lagos, Chief Benson said: “A look at the map of the proposed state shows it would be made up of seven of

the 20 local government areas of Lagos State, namely Apapa, Epe, Eti Osa, Ibeju Lekki, Ikorodu, Kosofe and Shomolu. ‘’It would have over 50 major towns and smaller communities occupying a land area of 2,408 square kilometres and a population of 2,407,000 people by virtue of Gazette N0 24, volume 94 of 15th May, 2007.”

He said existing records showed that the state would be larger than some states in Nigeria, including

He stressed that industry experts were not carried along by the government, stressing that the government took the decision in a hurry to cancel the agreement for which the benefitting international carriers have been officially communicated.

Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Yobe, Taraba, Kwara, Nasarawa and Gombe states.

He noted that a recent World Bank report showed that, of the $33.6 billion contribution to Nigeria’s GDP

by Lagos State last year, the proposed state contributed an estimated $10 billion, which is more than the contributions of 26 states in Nigeria and 4 states in the South West.

corruption and boost collective efforts at nation-building.

Hoping that Nigeria would soon overcome the heart-rending Boko Haram insurgency, and encouraging Nigerians “to be patient and endure what was happening now,” Orji noted that the contributions of accountants to nation-building were invaluable.

Orji spoke at the investiture of the golden jubilee President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Mr. Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, in Lagos.

“You know the value of accountants in the society. Now that we are talking of nationbuilding, they have a very vital role to play because they occupy very strategic positions in the society. So, if they are out to fight corruption, it’s commendable,” the governor said.

APC vows to take over Abia in 2015

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to win next year’s elections in Abia State.

The party’s youth leader in the state, Mr. Kalu Kalu, said the APC had what it took to sack the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

He said after the party’s coming national convention, aggressive mobilization of its members would commence, with the aim of winning 2015 elections.

Kalu, who spoke after the inauguration of the 34member Executive Committee (Exco) of the youth wing in Umuahia, assured the youths that the leadership of the party was solidly behind them.

He assured members of the party in the state that the party had the capacity and resources to take over power from the ruling PDP, and appealed to them to remain focused on theobjective.

“All we need do to win this election is to work with unity of purpose. As far as I am concerned, victory is already beckoning on us, because Nigerians are desirous of change,” he said.

IMSG shuts Concorde Hotel

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State government has shut Concorde Hotel, Owerri, for what the workers described as inexplicable reasons.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the two commercial banks operating within the hotel premises, Union Bank Plc and Ecobank Plc, were equally locked out by government.

Also locked out of the hotel premises were shop owners and workers, who have been battling with Rochas Okorocha’s administration over the security of their jobs.

When Vanguard visited the hotel yesterday morning, the stranded workers were seen in groups discussing their fate and complaining to whoever cared to listen.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Benin monarch, NCMM disagree over reception for returning antiquities

Okolugbo lauds Anglican cleric

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

HE Commissioner representing Ndokwa nation in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, Sir Kenny Okolugbo, has attributed the growth of the Ndokwa diocese of the Anglican Communion to the selfless service of Rt. Rev David Obiosa, the Bishop of Ndokwa Anglican communion, Delta State.

Speaking at the second synod of the diocese in Ashaka, he thanked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for always identifying with the diocese.

He was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Government House, Gloria Okolugbo.

Okolugbo assured of his continued support to the diocese.

B

ENIN— CRISIS is brewing between the palace of the Oba of Benin and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments over the proposed June 22 reception for the British-born Mr. Mark Walker, who is expected to return two Benin bronze works that were among the antiquities looted from the monarch’s palace during the 1897 invasion.

Mr. Walker is the greatgrandson of Captain Philip Walker, who took part in the Benin invasion.

Vanguard learnt that after months of communication between the palace of the Benin monarch, through the Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, it was agreed that Walker will arrive Benin on June 21, where he will present the two bronze antiquities as gifts to the Oba, and then be hosted to a reception by the monarch on June 22.

Consequently, the palace of the Oba through Prince Akenzua, who also is the Chairman, Great Benin Centenary Committee, extended invitations to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria and other dignitaries.

DGN backs Jonathan's policies

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EMOCRATIC Group of Nigeria, DGN, a non-governmental organisation, has pledged its support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

According to DGN’s National Chairman, Chief Kunle Adeyoyin, Jonathan has been doing well for the citizenry in roads construction and rehabilitation nationwide, privatization of the power sector, among other reforms.

Change of plans

It was gathered that the palace received a letter from the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, Alhaji Yusuf Usman, who said the proposed reception for Mr. Walker will now be in Abuja, where the objects will be

handed over to the Minister of Culture and Tourism.

Replying the letter, the Palace of the Oba faulted the change of the venue, informing the NCMM boss that “ your unilateral attempt to scuttle the arrangement is an act of disrespect and embarrassment to the monarch.

“I am to let you know that the Oba is aware of the statecentric status the objects have assumed since Nigeria came into existence.

“It is in that spirit that His Majesty had always turned over to the museum all antiquities previously returned to him.

We won't compromise on academic standard—UDUAGHAN

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OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said that institutions of higher learning in the state will not compromise standard in the government's policy of ensuring that graduates are not only academically qualified, but also worthy in character.

Speaking at the convocation and 12th anniversary of Delta State Polytechnic, OgwashiUku, Uduaghan urged the host community to be involved in the development of the polytechnic, adding “if you appreciate what you have, more projects will be executed in your community.”

The governor assured them that the Delta Beyond Oil initiative was designed to provide job and make Deltans employers of labour.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha, said that the state government will not relent in providing world class facilities and necessary assistance to the polytechnic to enable it compete favourably.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Edna Mogekwu, said 19,078 students were found worthy in learning and character to graduate from

the institution, adding that there had been efforts at improving the quality of

academic programmes to ensure that the students get quality education.

Traders abandon Trade Hub Centre

BY IFEYINWA OBI

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ESPITE the huge investment by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in the Nigeria Trade Hub Centre located at the International Centre for Commerce, ICC, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, the place has largely not been used after its launching last December.

Located at the main gates of the BBA Market, it was learnt that the Centre was facilitated by the Customs Consultative Committee, CCC, and supported by the Customs management, which funded the refurbishment of the building housing same into a state-of-the-art facility.

It was commissioned on December 3, 2013, by Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko

Abdullahi during a town hall meeting to flag off of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR, scheme.

The CCC comprises the Customs, Customs agents, importers, and the media.

The core objectives of the CCC include promoting good relations between the Customs and the trading public to facilitate best practices and trade.

The Centre, it was learnt, is the first in the series of such facilities planned for major trading centres across the country.

It was gathered that the NCS, having trained candidates selected by the BBA Market leadership at the Zone ‘A’ Headquarters, Yaba, Lagos, as well as on site, on operating the facility, had handed the centre to the leadership of the traders to manage.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

“You are requested to cooperate with the palace in receiving the objects Walker is bringing back to Benin instead of dissipating energy on bureaucracy or allowing it to overshadow our sense of history and scuttle the process initiated several months ago by the monarch.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents

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T will be better to exchange Nigeria’s past leaders for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. These are girls who had nothing to do with whatever gripe Boko Haram has with the Nigerian State, police, army or security forces.— Ms. Chika Dike, Student.

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HEN you negotiate, you make demands. If the government cannot meet the demands, then they have a mandate to refuse negotiation.

Government should do everything possible to bring back the girls.— Ms. Nkiruka Ikwunne, Businesswoman.

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HAT will the government learn from this matter? We should also be looking at how to prevent a repeat of same. What measures are we putting in place to prevent another kidnap or slaughter of students?— Mr. Abigail Oguntola, Worker.

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NTIL some difficult decisions are made and changes implemented, we would be wasting time. How are we securing the states and local communities with more legitimate local security that can prevent even more crimes?— Ms. Maggie John, NYSC Member.

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MERICA is now negotiating with terrorists. It is only just realising that there is little point in creating a conflict and then learning how to resolve it. My advice is for government to employ the instrument of negotiation.— Ms. Regina Osakwe, Accountant.

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F Federal Government’s negotiation with Boko Haram insurgents will bring about the release of those girls, then it is fine. My fear is that swapping a confirmed terrorist for the girls could be hazardous to the communities.— Ms. Mabel Ogechi, Hair Stylist.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 45

NUPENG Marine inaugurates Warri zone exco

2015: Group projects Edevbie for Delta guber

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HE Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Warri zone, has inaugurated a new executive for the Marine Equipment and Oil Suppliers branch, NUPENG Marine, with a promise to continue the fight for the welfare of its members.

Inaugurating the executive, Zonal Chairman NUPENG, Mr. Cogent Ojobo, noted that unionism was about resilience, doggedness and not giving up and advised the new executive to promote the welfare of members, enjoining them to do so within the confines of the law.

He said that what people enjoy as democracy today was the sweat of workers, adding that NUPENG played a major role in the enthronement of democracy in the country.

The Marine Equipment and Oil Suppliers branch which was formerly called Marine Equipment Association, but later unionized as a branch of NUPENG in 2006, is to unite, protect and promote the interest of members and operators in the maritime industry across the country’s ports, especially those that engage in equipment leasing and other implement deployed in oil prospecting and other activities on Nigerian waters.

The new exco include Mr. Monday Tenkumor, Chairman; Emma Emebrando, Duputy I; Emeka Ndubisi, Deputy II; Lucky Agbominido, Vice Chairman; Kess Okeligbho, Secretary; Parkinson Bigha, Public Relations Officer; Isaac Akpotu and Sanni Yakubu, Financial Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.

Others are Ashigba Benjamin, Asst. Secretary; Frank Laye, Auditor; Chukwuma Festus, Trustee; Stanley Idehen, Publicity Secretary; Francisca Esukuseide, Welfare; Nwanchukwu Smith, Asstant Welfare; Jimoh Amoda, Chief Adviser; Roland Eyetan, Chief Inspector; Daniel Awinoje, Ex-Officio; Nonso Chukwudi, C.S.O; Akpos Okumagba, Chief Whip and Alex Adjenughure, Inspector.

In his remarks, Mr Tenkumor, commended his fellow comrades for their support, saying that there can’t be a good leader without good supporters.

BY FESTUS AHON

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CONVOCATION: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left); His Royal Majesty, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi Okonjo (right) and Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof.

Hope Eghagha, during the 2004-2013 Combined 1st Convocation and 12th Anniversary Ceremonies of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku. Photo: Henry Unini.

Edo govt warns LGs against illegal levies E

DO State Government, has called on local government chairmen in the state to stop the illegal collection of monies in the name of revenue generation, warning that those who ignore the directive will be made to face the law.

The state government, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said: “Despite repeated warnings and meetings with chairmen of the councils by the Edo State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, the state government is still being inundated with reports of unabated illegal collection of revenue by purported agents of the councils in the state.

“Government seriously frowns at this continued illegal collection of monies by the

council chairmen and their functionaries from unsuspecting members of the public, an act, which has continued to cause the state serious embarrassment.

“The state government therefore warns, again, that any council chairman or functionary, who continues in this illegality in whatever guise or means will be arrested and handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

“Members of the public are hereby, encouraged to apprehend and hand over to the Police and other security agencies or the state government, anybody found to be collecting illegal monies by whatever guise or means.

“For the avoidance of doubt,

council chairmen shall be held responsible and liable for the illegal collection of monies by their functionaries or other agents in their councils. Whereas council functionaries or other agents will face prosecution, any Chairman of the affected council shall also be held vicariously responsible.

“Also, the state government has noticed the illegal activities of some men in pink Tshirts purportedly working for the Ministry of Transport as Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, and hereby states unequivocally that they are impostors as they are neither employees of the state government nor Vehicle Inspection Officers of the state Ministry of Transport as they claim."

Defence Hq lauds JTF over fight against crude oil theft

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Chief of Training and Operation, CTOP, Defence Headquarters, Major-General Ebibowei Awala, has commended the operation of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, in the ongoing efforts to stamp out crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other criminalities inimical to the growth of the nation’s economy.

Gen. Awala, during a visit to the JTF headquarters in

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State said the oil sector remains the nation major source of income and as such must be protected by all means against economic saboteurs.

He commended the Commander of the JTF, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe and troops under his command for their doggedness and determination in carrying out the mandate of the task force professionally.

General Awala also called on troops to be good ambassadors of their units by adhering strictly to the code of conduct of the JTF by carrying out their

job in a professional manner.

He said: “You must desist from any act capable of tarnishing and undermining the activities of the task force.

Integrity should be your watch word.”

He assured the troops of the support of the Defence Headquarters through the provision of adequate logistics, equipment and welfare of personnel for effective policing of the waterways in the Niger Delta.

Responding, Major-General Atewe thanked General Awala for the visit which he said was a morale booster for the troops.

G H E L L I — AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, the Delta Grassroots Mobilization Forum, DGMF, a political pressure group within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has stressed the need for Principal Secretary to the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua, Mr. David Edevbie, to contest the Delta State governorship poll.

Unveiling the profile of Mr. Edevbie in Ughelli, Delta State, Chairman of the group, Mr. Francis Onobruchere, said: "Edevbie is the most qualified person to govern Delta State in 2015 going by his track record.

He is very eligible considering his educational background in both local and international institutions.”

Onobruchere noted that former Governor James Ibori appointed Mr. Edevbie into his cabinet in June, 1999 as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, due to his wealth of experience in the private sector.

....as group urges Biukeme to contest for Senate or House of Reps

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HE Niger Delta Political Coalition has called on the governorship aspirant of Mega Peoples Progressive Party, MPPP, in 2011 in Delta State, Chief Afro Biukeme, to contest for the Delta South senatorial district seat or the Bomadi-Patani federal constituency before vying for the governorship position in future.

The group, in a statement by its president, Mr. Ebisan Akpobrakaimi and Secretary, Mr. Lewis Akpobaro, said that Chief Biukeme, a successful businessman, was experienced and qualified to be in the National Assembly.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Adamawa govt distributes chicken, poultry feeds to farmers

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LAUNCHING: From left: Mr. Nnamdi Ezeigbo,MD/CEO, Slot, Mr. Nitin Anand,Director, Products, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Obinna Aniche,Director, Brands and Marketing, Airtel Nigeria and Mr. Sachin Verma, Country Manager, Core Group Africa, at the launch of iPhone 5s in partnership with Airtel Nigeria in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Politicians contributing to insecurity in Nigeria —Gov Idris

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA—GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has blamed politicians in the country for contributing to the current insecurity in the country.

He said that politicians employ the services of thugs and hooligans warning, however, that the state government would deal with anybody who patronised thugs or encouraged any act of violence with the approach of the 2015 general elections in the country.

Wada spoke yesterday, during the third anniversary of the Kogi State House of Assembly, in Lokoja.

The governor said that the state government will no longer tolerate thuggery, hooliganism and indiscipline and asked politicians in the state not to patronise thugs or encourage any act of violence as the government would deal decisively with offenders.

According to Wada, acts of thuggery and hooliganism as encouraged by the political class

had contributed greatly to the insecurity being witnessed in the country now.

“The era of thuggery and acts inimical to peace and security of lives and property of the people of the state have gone for good.

The concern of every politician now is to see to the development of the state.

“I urge the political players in the state not to engage youths as thugs for whatever purpose and should not by any means patronise thuggery.

“Any one caught in the act of

thuggery would not be spared, no matter how highly placed in the society,” Wada said, urging politicians to use their body language to discourage hooliganism that used to characterise the state’s political landscape in the past.

The governor also called on the people of the state to be security conscious, pointing out that security was everybody ’s business hence it should not be left in the hands of security agencies or government alone.

Why Jonathan can't curb corruption alone, by CAN

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG OS—THE Plateau State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Soja Bewarang has said it will be difficult for President Goodluck Jonathan to curb or eradicate corruption in the country except every citizen gives his/her support in the fight.

Bewarang noted that corruption is sinful and conquering corruption means eradicating sin which was not possible as long as man lived on the earth.

He spoke yesterday in an interview with Vanguard in Jos, the state capital.

He said that if every citizen whether a farmer, teacher, business person or politician takes a bold step and say no to corruption, the scourge would be curbed and the country freed from it.

His words: “As long as man lives on the earth, sin will continue to exist and corruption is sin. If each Nigerian would say no to corruption in the farm, in the classroom, in business, in the market, if we will all take a position and say to ourselves, I will not be corrupted, neither by giving or receiving bribe, we will overcome corruption.

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“The President is doing his best but his effort alone cannot stop corruption except we take the bold step to stop sin, support him in stopping corruption for development to take place in this country.’’

He described as “laughable”

the recent claim by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, that Muslims were being marginalised in the country asking, how can the Muslims be marginalised? It is politics.

“This is laughable. How can Muslims be marginalised? They

have been leaders in this country for many years, they have all the resources and the privileges. Who own the big businesses in Nigeria? For the Sultan to say such is laughable, I don’t even want to believe he said such,” he said.

Pharmacists decry poor drug distribution channels

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

I

LORIN—THE National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Olufemi Adebayo has decried what he described as the chaotic drug distribution channels in the country and asked the Federal Government to intervene over the issue.

Adebayo said that the

disorderly distribution channels were the major reasons why counterfeit drug business and corruption thrive in the system in the country.

He spoke in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, during the 33rd Annual Conference of the association with the theme,”Evolving Best Practices in Community Pharmacy.” He noted that the prevailing development must urgently be

reversed in the collective interest of Nigerians.

His words: “For better health care delivery, our roles as pharmacists need to evolve from drug producers and dispenser to that of provider of quality drug products with patient-centred care which includes array of functions of counselling, drug information and monitoring of drug therapy in patients."

Group faults PDP on furniture for Edo schools

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ENIN CITY—THE Owan Progressive Vanguard and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Alhaji Dada Akpeji, have faulted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state over its comments on furniture supplied in schools in the state.

The state chairman of the PDP,

Chief Dan Orbih had challenged the state government to make public the report of the Panel allegedly set up to look into the award of contracts for the supply of school desks to secondary schools in the state.

But the group in a statement

by Mr. Ohis Ehimeka, said the PDP chairman does not have details of the contracts but only

decided to play to the gallery because he is in opposition.

He said: "The furniture was made and delivered by an Owan son . Orbih needs to go round the over 700 schools renovated and reconstructed by the Adams Oshiomhole-led administration to see for himself rather than these unwarranted attacks and misinformation."

O L A — T H E Adamawa State Government, yesterday, distributed 45,000 chickens, poultry feeds and equipment to farmers in the state.

The coordinator of Millenium Development Goals, MDGs, in the state, Alhaji Adamu Garbajo, said the gesture was under the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, programme cosponsored by MDGs and the State Government.

Garbajo said over 2,000 poultry farmers from five local government areas benefited from the programme which included a six-month training programme.

The CCT Project Manager, Malam Abubakar Musa, commended the state government for cofunding the programme which he said would go a long way in empowering farmers.

Musa urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the opportunity in order to improve their lives and those of their families.

....As Jigawa farmers seek expansion of tractor hiring scheme

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UTSE—SOME farmers in Hadejia, Jigawa, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to expand the tractor hiring scheme to rural farmers in the country.

A cross section of the farmers who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Hadejia, said that expansion of the programme would enhance productivity.

Malam Gambo Aminu, a farmer, urged the government to review the programme to include small scale farmers.

Aminu said they were not accessing tractors and other services under the programme due to high cost of the equipment and cumbersome processes.

His words: “The tractor hiring scheme is favouring large scale farmers since most of us could not meet the laid down conditions to access the services."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—47

Armed men invade college, molest female students in Makurdi

THREATS TO ATTACK SCHOOLS:

Bauchi govt assures of adequate security

BY PETER DURU

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Government has pledged its commitment to provide adequate security in all schools in the state.

The pledge followed alleged threats by suspected gunmen to attack schools in the state.

State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, made this known, yesterday, while speaking with newsmen in Bauchi.

Teachers and students in boarding secondary schools and other two tertiary institutions in state had told newsmen that they received threat letters from Boko Haram that they would attack their institutions.

However, Aminu said: ”We are aware of the threats and any information we receive, we expedite action immediately by taking proactive measures.

"Secondly, we alerted the security agents in the state to carry out intensive investigation into the threats in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order in schools. We do not joke with any threat message or useful information we get. We act on it immediately ”Threats of attack on schools is not a new development in the state. Our responsibility as a government in such a situation is that we do not take for granted any information we receive on security. We always ensure that adequate security measures is taken through partnership with security agents, parents and the host communities to ensure that all our schools are safe.

"Sometimes, some of the threats usually come every third term. Some of the threats emanate from students who feel they cannot not pass the promotion examinations because they did not prepare for it.

"After series of investigations into the threats by security agents, we have discovered that some students were responsible for the threats."

He also said the government had sensitised teachers and students on what to do whenever they see any strange face or movement.

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From left: Mr Hakeem Ogunniran, Managing Director, Property Development Company Plc; Mr Larry Ettah, Chairman and Mr Godwin Samuel, Secretary, during the Annual General Meeting of the company, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Suspected fraudsters hack Gov Yero's phone number K

ADUNA —GOVERNOR Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State has complained that some fruadsters had cloned his telephone number and using same to send dubious text messages to certain people in the society.

Yero, therefore, disclaimed such alleged false text messages from him soliciting funds from people, saying any-

body dealing with such fraudsters were doing so at their own risk.

The Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Ahmed Maiyaiki, who made this known in a statement yesterday, said: "For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Yero has not directly or through any third party asked people to make deposit into

certain bank accounts.

"Suspected fraudsters have obviously hacked into the governor’s phone number and are using it to defraud unsuspecting people. ‘’The general public is hereby advised to disregard any such text messages as they are mere attempts at defrauding them of their hard earned money."

You are a colossal failure, APC tells Niger govt ...as Aliyu accuses APC of cheap blackmail

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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INNA — THE Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state as a colossal failure.

However, the state government in a swift reaction accused the opposition APC of blackmailing it to make cheap political points.

APC said there was nothing to show for the seven years' administration of the party despite billions of naira collected from the Federation Account by the government within the period.

In a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Jonathan Vasta, the party said the last Democracy Day, which was celebrated without funfare in the state was because the government had nothing to showcase for its seven years administration.

Vasta said that apart from the revenue that accrued to the state within the period, the government collected N36 billion bond without anything tangible to show for the collosal amount.

APC further noted that while other state governments used the opportunity of the Democracy Day to showcase their achievements in all spheres of life, the Niger State failed to do

signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, however, said the interaction programme held in Abuja was organised by association of civil society groups and not the state government.

He said: “As a responsible government, we embraced the public debate which was indeed a litmus test on the dividends of democracy provided in the last seven years.

"We, as a government, are not afraid of critical appraisals and we have gone beyond petty talks from the opposition which is only trying to propagate self agenda.”

Aliyu, therefore, asked the APC leadership to engage in constructive criticisms rather Cheap political points Reacting to the accusation, than resorting to blackmail and Governor Aliyu in a statement trying to score cheap popularity.

so, and instead, chose to move its officials to Abuja for what was termed “interactive session on the seven years of governor Babangida Aliyu as governor of Niger State.”

“Apart from the over N200 million tax payers money that was wasted on that jamboree in Abuja, Governor Babangida Aliyu has demonstrated that his administration has failed the people and has nothing to show for the several billions of naira that the government has collected from the Federation Account in the past seven years apart from the N36 billion bond he has collected,” Vasta added.

AKURDI — BARELY a week after some suspected cultists raided the female hostel of the Benue State University, BSU, another gang in the early hours of Tuesday attacked and molested some female students of the College of Advanced and Professional Studies, CAPS, in Makurdi, the state capital.

Sources told Vanguard in the institution that the armed men, numbering over 12, broke into the hostel at about 5 am while the students were fast asleep.

According to the sources, ”the armed men stormed the school and gained entrance into the school, after disarming the security men whom they tied up before carrying out their operation that lasted over one hour. ”They molested and beat up female students and made away with their cellphones, money and other valuables. ”At the end of the operation, at least 11 students sustained varying degrees of injuries while most of them were traumatised .

The Sole Administrator of the college, Dr. Tyotom Keghku, however, denied the story on telephone, saying that no student was raped during the incident.

Keghku ,who alleged that the perpetrators of the crime could be from the host community, however, stated that the two students who were injured in the incident had been treated, pointing out that the state Police Command had been informed of the development.

Parents advised to inculcate discipline, family values in children

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N industrialist, Dr Bamidele Azeez, has appealed to parents to inculcate discipline and family values in the upbringing of their children.

Azeez made the appeal during the burial of his mother, the late Deaconess Beatrice Tanimose Azeez, in Abigi Ijebu

Waterside, Ogun State.

He warned parents on the resultant consequence of entrusting such responsibilities on teachers and the nation alone.

The industrialist urged Nigerians to improve the society better than they met by encouraging the children to be hard

work, humble and disciplined and also counsel the them to be good future leaders the society would be proud of.

Azeez reiterated the need for parents to constantly monitor the activities of their children and also urged the parents to be role models and worthy mind builders.

48 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

CORONATION: His Royal Highness, Oba Moshuood Osanyintola Alani, the 3rd Olota of Ota- Awori Land (right); Managing Director /Chief Executive, Intercontinental Distillers Ltd, Chief Patrick Anegbe, and his wife, Dorothy, during their coronation ceremony as Baase Maraya and Yeye Baase Maraya of Ota, Awori Land by Olota of Ota Land, Ogun State.

CONFERENCE: From left, guest speaker and Chairman, APCON, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, 1st Vice President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN; Mr. Rotimi Olaniyan, President, NIMN; Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye, his wife, Mrs. Chika Koledoye, during the NIMN 2014 Annual International Marketing Conference, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

DRAW: Deputy Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, Mr. Daniel Onyemenam; Assistant Brand Manager (Spirits), Diageo Brands Nigeria, Ms Ufuoma Udjoh; winner, Johnnie Walker Step -up to VIP Lifestyle Promo; Chief Adeshina Abass, Mrs. Lola Ashafa-Oladunjoye, Senior Brand Manager, Diageo Brands Nigeria, and Deputy Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, Ms. Ayo Aworunse, during the presentation of the fifth BMW Car, at the final draw, in Lagos.

COMPETITION: From left, Mrs. Funmi Demi-Ajayi, Chief Magistrate, Lagos State, Mrs . Folashade Lawal, representative of Commissioner , Head, Planning, Ministry of Youth Sport & Social Development, and Mrs. Victoria Tandoh, CEO, Kings School, at the 7th Children Art Competition, organised by Kings School, Lagos with the theme, 'A New Begining,' at the Tera Culture, on Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

EXHIBITION: From left, Mr Charles Odunukwe,Chairman Chandon Ltd, Dr Paul Orhii, DG NAFDAC and Mazi Sam Ohuanbuwa, Chairman 151 Products at the FoodBext West Africa Food & Beverage Exhibition/Tasting in conjuction with NAFDAC, at the Eko Hotel, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

AWARD: Chairman, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Dr. Dele Makanjuola (left), presenting the Chairman's Merit Award in the non-management category to Mr. Bankes Yusuf and wife, Mrs Yusuf, during the 2013 Chairman's Merit Award, organised by Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, at Neca House, Ikeja, Lagos.

OPENING: Representative of Managing Director, First Deepwater Discovery Ltd; Ebele Omani (left); Managing Director, Hadeart Petroleum Ltd, Titilayo Jimoh; Petroleum Truck Driver, zonal finance secretary, Olufemi Olorunfunmi, and head of marketing, Zenith Bank (Abulado Branch), Victoria Okoli, during the official opening of Hadeart Petroleum's ultra modern office complex, in Lagos.

FINALE: Winner, Road Users Friendly Game, RUL, Senior Secondary School category, Miss Jumobi Jumoke of Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta, receiving her award and prize from the Head, Public Education & Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Mr. Adeolu Yoan, and Deputy Director, Education District 2, Mrs. Olubunmi Ajibola, during the 2014 grand finale of RUF game, at SUBEB Hall, Maryland, Lagos.

MATCH: Team Comedians (blue), made up of Princess, Bovi, Shakara, MC Bishop, MC Prince, Ogbolor, O’tega, Oluwa Bimz and others, with Team On-Air Personalities (red), Yaw, Colin Udoh, Frank Edoho, Femi and the Gang, D.O.2D.T.U.N, Sensei Uche, Jimmie, Nedu, Niran, and others, in the 2nd edition of anti-malaria novelty football match initiative, tagged, 'Join the Cast,' organised by 3Ra’Fique Communications, in collaboration, with Ali Baba and Good Knight Insecticides, in Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 49

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 51

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Oil subsidy is a scam — Nwuche •Proposes 5-month phase-out timeline

BY SONI DANIEL, NORTHERN REGION EDITOR, HENRY UMORU AND JOSEPH ERUNKE

F

ORMER Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, has described the subsisting oil subsidy regime by the Federal Government as a scam that must be phased out by December, 2014.

Nwuche, a delegate on the platform of House of Representatives Forum, said though the subsidy had very good intention, its impact on the poor was questionable and dubious because “it is a known fact that the poor for whom it is meant are not getting it. But we should ensure we give adequate time for people to be aware of the benefits that will accrue from the savings that will be derived by targeting the subsidy allocations for other sectors and while removing it

from oil products. This is because it has been proven that it is a scam.”

Suggesting that the subsidy regime be phased out by December 2014, he said: “Five months is not bad. The time from

now till then should be used for education and enlightenment and to also craft alternative relief for the poor. Subsidy tends to favour only a very few.

There should be some order of ensuring that the funds from

subsidy get to the masses. I believe that subsidy is wellintentioned but as it stands now those that it is intended for hardly get it. Therefore there is no point wasting money."

Speaking further, he said "Let

us find other targeted measures to alleviate the suffering of the masses to cushion the effects of hardship and poverty on them.

“What we should do is that we should first of all fix our refineries and make them work optimally.

There is no reason for a country that produces oil to be importing refined products. It is a shame and we must try to correct this quickly.

We must refine as much of the crude we produce as possible and export products to other countries.

“We must not be importing refined products when we produce the crude here. I am proposing we find some more targeted and more transparent avenues of deploying some subsidy, not from petroleum products as such but from other areas to cushion the impact of difficulties that people currently face and to support those who are underprivileged.”

“The fact is that government has not been a good manager of such assets. I will recommend they be privatised and let Nigerians manage them maybe with foreign partnerships. This way it will be more efficient," he said.

Confab recommends part-time legislature •Cancels pensions for former lawmakers, ex governors, deputies •Rejects 65 years as retirement age

D

ELEGATES, yesterday, agreed that, Senators, members of House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly should be on part- time basis as against the present structure of full time.

While discussing the report of the Engr. Ebele Okeke-led Committee on Public Service, delegates also agreed that payment of pension, severance and life insurance to governors and their deputies and legislators at all levels be cancelled.

The recommendation under consideration read: “Legislators at the national and state levels should function on part-time basis while their allowances should be comparable with what obtains in other arms of the public service.

Payment of pensions, life insurance and severance for legislators (where they exist) should be cancelled in line with global best practices.”

Another recommendation was that lawmakers, governors and their deputies should receive salaries and allowances commensurate to the functions they perform.

Delegates also approved that any civil servant who engaged in contract for pecuniary gains be dismissed from service and urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHI. While delegates rejected the

recommendation of the Committee that retirement age for civil servants be moved upward from 60 years or 35 years of service to 65 years, they however voted for the retention of status quo of retirement age of 60 for workers in public service.

There was also succour for people living with disabilities as delegates voted that governments at all levels should grant allowance to them which will be equivalent to government workers on grade level 06 as that would enable them employ the services of private aides to assist them in carrying out private and domestic activities.

Recommendation on the creation of Foreign Service Commission was unanimously accepted by delegates, who also

approved that the President appoints members of the Federal Character Commission on recommendation of state governments and subject to Senate confirmation.

They also agreed that the Head of Service be appointed among federal and state permanent secretaries, adding that the civil service at the federal and state levels be operated on equal levels, just as they voted for the establishment of State Character Commission in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

While opening the debate on the committee’s report late Tuesday before adjournment to yesterday, Engr. Okeke explained that it was the recommendation of her

committee that payment of pension, Life insurance and severance for legislators, where they exist, should be cancelled in line with global best practices.

The committee in its recommendation also called for the review of the salaries of the lawmakers toward ensuring that their allowances “should be comparable with what obtains in other arms of the public service, even as it recommended for upward review of retirement age to 65 years of age or 40 years of service from the present practice of 60 years of age or 35 years of service.

On high cost of governance, the committee recommended that Ministers, Commissioners and Local Government

Chairmen should discontinue with the appointment of ‘Special Advisers’ and Special Assistants’ as cost-saving measure, adding that these categories of political office holders should utilise the staff of their ministries where it becomes necessary as contained in Circular Ref. No.B63833/73 of January 3, 2000.

The Committee said, “While it is appreciated that the nature of Presidential system of Government necessitates the appointment of ‘Special Advisers’ and Special Assistants’ to the President, the Vice President, the Governor and the Deputy Governor, its extension to Ministers, Commissioners and Local Government Chairmen should be discontinued as a costsaving measure.

Akwa Ibom delegates insist on state control of resources

A

KWA Ibom State delegates have insisted that states must be made to control their resources and remit an agreed percentage of taxes to the Federal Government as a means of stimulating national development.

The state’s position, which has been handed over to the National Conference, is contained in a document released by the Head of the Akwa Ibom State Secretariat, Mr. Udeme Nana, and made available to Vanguard, last night.

The delegates argued that contrary to the impressions being held by antagonists, the control of resources by states did not amount to mineral-producing states keeping back 100 percent of their revenue but prompt remittance of what the constitution stipulates.

Defending states’ participation and control of their resources, the delegates pointed out that it was the only way of identifying and exploiting available resources in each state of the federation for national growth.

“Participation by state governments will provide a level playing field for indigenes of mineral-bearing states to have stakes in companies operating in their areas and stem the tide of oil theft and smuggling,” they argued.

“It will also reduce to the barest minimum the problems of militancy and economic terrorism and encourage the exploitation of the untapped mineral resources in the northern part of the country.”

According to the delegates,

the value of solid minerals buried in the northern states of Kaduna, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Kogi and Nasarawa far exceed whatever is derived from oil, saying that exploitation will make them earn derivation revenue.

The delegates noted "it is imperative on the grounds of fairness and equity, historical antecedents and prevailing practices that fiscal federalism and resource control/participation by states must be restored in the Nigerian constitution."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014—53

PDP celebrates Adeyeye’s nomination as minister

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

P

AY back time came for Pince Dayo Adeyeye, one of the governorship contenders on the platform of the PDP when he was yesterday nominated to be minister.

Adeyeye was the first of the aggrieved PDP gubernatorial aspirants to throw his weight

behind Mr Fayose’s after the controversial PDP primaries where Fayose beat his 13 rivals hands down.

A politically rugged man, Adeyeye if confirmed as minister would be expected to use his ministerial office to put pressure on the APC in the forthcoming election. It was as such not surprising that the news of the

nomination immediately threw the PDP into a celebratory mood.

They described Adeyeye’s appointment as a step in the

Bamidele unveils manifesto

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

T

HE Labour Party Governorship candidate in June 21 governorship candidate, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele yesterday formally unveiled his manifesto, saying the unveiling marks a turning point in the history of the state.

Speaking at the well attended ceremony, in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Bamidele pledged to engender unprecedented economic growth and development in all facets if elected governor of the state.

The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, however, acknowledged the fact that the incumbent Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has done his best, pledging to surpass the level of achievement.

Bamidele promised to improve on the lives of the people through Integrated and Commercial Agriculture, robust Infrastructure that would provide jobs for over 400,000 unemployed youths, regular water supply, low cost housing units, Human capital Development and other pivotal areas of the economy.

Said he: “I concede to the fact that Governor Fayemi has done his best for Ekiti people. But the best one can do under any circumstance, is his best . So, based on the extent of his understanding, experience and exposure, I want to say he has done his best. But the reason why I am in this race to take over from Governor Fayemi in the June 21 election is simply because I know I can do much better.”

Speaking further, he said “today marks a turning point in the history of this State. Our LP manifesto, which involves massive agriculture, quality and affordable education, water supply to rural and urban centres and robust infrastructure will be implemented in a manner that will generate jobs for our youths.

I call this manifesto a blueprint for Ekiti Growth and Development because I know that this is a contract with Ekiti people and we will do our best

to wipe away poverty and raise the bar of governance to the admiration of all”.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Elders’ Forum in Labour Party, Professor Joseph Oluwasanmi,urged the people of the state not to compromise by voting for a wrong candidate.

According to him, the electorates must prevent those without dignity and honour from assuming the governorship seat in the forthcoming election.

He added that “Ekiti is known to be Land of Honour and dignity and we have to live by this. We should not allow those who cannot spell the names of their parties correctly or those who don’t worth being elected chairmen and are parading themselves as governorship candidates from taking over the reign of leadership in our land”.

•Adeyeye

L

ABOUR Party ’s governorship candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele says he will change the names of some existing tertiary institutions in Ekiti State and ensure they are properly funded.

Bamidele, who said this in Ifaki-Ekiti also promised to return the university to Ifaki Ekiti within the first quarter of his first year in government adding that “this would come with proper

•Bamidele

eulogised President Jonathan for finding Adeyeye worthy for the appointment.

He also thanked the PDP governorship candidate, Mr Ayodele Fayose for standing

by Adeyeye, describing Fayose as a “man of his words.”

Also speaking, the only PDP member in the State House of Assembly, Mr Dele Ajibola said Adeyeye’s appointment was a reward for his loyalty to the party, adding that “ with this appointment, those peddling unfounded rumour for their own selfish political gains have been silenced permanently.”

The ministerial vacancy arose from the exit of Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade from the cabinet. Olubolade left the cabinet purportedly to contend for the PDP gubernatorial ticket but lost out to Fayose.

Stop playing expert in matters you know nothing about — KFCO tells Bamidele

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE APC candidte, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has accused the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, to stop spreading what it yesterday

Bamidele vows to return varsity to Ifaki-Ekiti — Bamidele

BY DAPO AKINREFON

right direction.

Adeyeye’s Ise-Ekiti country home was thronged by thousands of PDP supporters, who cane to congratulate him on the appointment.

PDP Secretary in Ise/Orun Local Government, Mr Toyin Okoro said “This is the best news that I have heard this year. With Adeyeye as minister, Fayemi should begin to pack his belongings from government house.”

Also speaking, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Sola Ajigbolamu hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for the appointment, saying; “for the first time in recent times, Ekiti will be having a minister worthy to be called a minister.”

Reacting to the appointment, the Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Ajayi,

autonomy and adequate funding.”

He said “the university that was taken away from Ifaki Ekiti shall be returned in our first quarter in office and commercial activities shall be returned to your domain.”

“Ask the current administration what it has achieved with their hurried educational policies that took away the USTI from you. The only thing is that they have left the state-owned institutions worse than they met them. As a former student leader who has understanding of university administration over the years; my government will return your university to you with proper funding and full autonomy”, he said.

He said his government would further expose Ekiti State to global educational opportunities instead of narrowing it as being done by Fayemi’s government, despite Ekiti’s thirst for knowledge.

Bamidele also promised to revive the state-owned radio station once located in Ifaki Ekiti but abandoned by the current administration.

claimed as lies in an attempt to win over the electorate. Dr. Fayemi in a statement yesterday, said the people were far more informed than he had assumed.

The LP candidate had during his campaign rally in Ifaki-Ekiti on Monday promised to reverse the merger of the University of Science and Technology in the town with two other state-owned universities if elected governor.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Fayemi Campaign Organisation said it was laughable that both the candidate of the LP and the PDP have now turned the university merger into an object of lies with which they are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the enlightened Ekiti electorate.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Dimeji Daniels, the campaign explained that the decision to merge the university was not unilateral, but "a product of painstaking deliberations at an education summit peopled by eggheads of the state origin such as the late Professor Sam Aluko, Professor Akin Oyebode and other eminent educationists who are very knowlegeable in the management of university education."

Daniels added that the merger of the universities had brought a new lease of life to Ekiti State University (EKSU) which now ranks 17 in the webometic ranking of universities as against its earlier ranking of 79.

According to Daniels, the confusion about which of the

•Fayemi three universities to give the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) to was only laid to rest after the merger.

“The ability of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) to access the TETFUND, coupled with the capital grants it receives from the State Government, has enabled it to build new structures, thereby sky-rocketing the institution from a hitherto glorified secondary school to a world class university.”

Daniels said it was out of sheer desperation that Bamidele who as a member of the defunct ACN was part of the decision-making process could turn around now to ridicule same on the alter of desperate politicking.

He chided Bamidele for his promise to revive the AM radio station in Ifaki, adding that AM radio is no longer in vogue saying Fayemi had promised to upgrade it to an FM station.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

Let’s try theatre therapy T

Dissecting the creative streak in Ekwueme’s Tip of the Iceberg

By JAPHET ALAKAM

E

DISON Ekwueme was one of the household names in the Fine and Applied Arts department of University of Benin in the early 90s and since he graduated in 1994, he has been in the vanguard of training many up coming artists.

Though he has participated in many group exhibitions, but his challenge was that after over 20 years of practice, he has no solo exhibition to his credit, but that jinx was broken last week when he opened his first solo exhibition tagged Tip of the Iceberg, an exhibition of paintings and drawings.

works being showcased for this exhibition, presents a versatility of pictorial elements that hinges their essence on good draughtsmanship. His expressivity of lines and contour are carefully calculated and applied with precision. His use of colours are also accurate, thereby making viewers admire the compositional abstraction that conjures figural and cubic landscapes.

Some of the works include;Grass to grace; Leap on runway; Sakponba love;Sarah of our time; The richness of black nation, Varieties, Emergency meeting of the elders, Proud Amina, Married to a vir-

,

His use of colours are also accurate , thereby making viewers admire the compositional abstraction that conjures figural and cubic landscapes

The Imo State born University of Benin trained sculptor and painter,who has affected the lives of many artists with his creative gifts says that the exhibition is just to show some of the works he had done for the last three years mainly paintings, but that he will soon come out with a another show that will showcase both sculptures and paintings.

The exhibition which is organized by Purpleva Nigeria Ltd and curated by George Edozie featured about 27 works that address some of the immediate issues in the nation. The first phase of the exhibition opened on May, 16 at the Pan African University, Victoria Island and ended on May, 18 while the second phase which opened on May 24th, at the National Museum, Onikan and ended on May 30th.

A cursory look at some of the

,

gin etc. Edison as some one who grew up in the country and is versed with some of the issues, in the works address some of the issues like, Variety, which depicts present day Nigerian women who are sophisticated in their dressing, the artist says that with the level of application of artificial things, almost all Nigeria women look beautiful now; another

piece Emergency meeting of the elders , which depicts some elders possibly from Igbo extraction because of their cap discussing, and that takes many to the on going national conference in Abuja, but the big question is what becomes of the outcome of the discussion; another piece Married to a virgin, depicting a young man and the wife in an unhappy mood, the man desired to marry a virgin which he got and instead of been happy he is not because of the problems of enjoying the virgin .

Speaking about the exhibition, Dr Nelson Edewor an artist and lecturer at Delta State university, Abraka said, “the title of the exhibition alludes a temperate regional oceanic aphorism, which gives credence to a forestate of abundant resources with a little of it exposed at a time. This title captures the essence of this exhibition from two perspectives. First, it is Edison’s first solo show, at that , we should be expecting more exhibitions from him. Secondly, Edison is a continuous creative surprise, his dynamism in both formal and stylistic adaptations makes him an artist that can not be pig-holed to a particular creative fringe.”

Salami's tourism book for launch A NEW book “Tourism in Nigeria: The Incredible Journey into the Heart of Nature” written by Fidelia M. Salami will be presented at the NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos today, Thursday June 5, at 11:00am.

A press statement signed by the author said Governor Babatunde Raji Fasola of Lagos and his wife Emmanuella, Bashorun J.K. Randle, Chief

Edem Duke, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Munzali A. Dantata, DG National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, DG Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Professor ‘Bola Akinterinwa, DG, NIIA and Mrs. Loretta Smith, are some of the guests expected at the event

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Sisi Eko and Variety, some of the works by Edison Ekwueme

HEATRE talks what happened, help people see why it happens so people can share healthy talks that can rebrand this nation. Theatre is about the whole truth always half truth is a whole lie, let’s try theatre therapy and rebrand Nigeria free from falsehood and violence, indeed, preach peace to the people.

Many individuals have sampled the stress-soothing magic of theatre and would recommend it as a national therapy againststress and curb the streak of violence, and madness in the community.

The government should consider increasing the masses. Substantial government involvement can improve the lots of this nation in no small measure.

As a mirror to the society, this service of course requires the close monitoring of a Knowledgeable Censors Board. People who can discern and extract good morals, proper and cultured reasoning in the script and

our today dance styles”.

This is therefore a challenge to the designers to begin to redesign our native wears, for instance, Chief Tunji Braithwaite, a popular politician contested for the presidency of this nation in his smart design of Danshiki which has become a vogue among some young artists and administrators.

If the industry is well supported and structured, the army of good directors, producers, set designers, fashion designers, stage and screen-play writers, critics, actors and of course a powerful Censors Board, this nation will soon be packaging plays and exporting them round the world for good amount of strong currency.

The stage will feed the screen with good performances to make good movies, and good money. It is also a good way to maintain the culture of the people; otherwise the western world will obliterate our existence. We

Let us take the college to the village for research, because we can't find or know our history from the city

stage scripts and so eliminate some of the unnecessary and meaningless copying of foreign culture and social styles.

Censors Board should criticize and help eliminate these unnecessary excesses from our society.

On good example is costuming our plays. We need to encourage our designer to update our indigenous attire.

Indigenous attire A lot of our youths, male and female refuse to wear babariga or agbada because they reckon it is not smart and too heavy for their vibrant social activities. Fancy dancing hiphop in Iro and buba (native blouse and wrapper) or bob dancing in agbada, “it does not favour most of

,

must not forget that we no more need guns and bombs to colonize any country now, but simply blot out their culture and install yours.

Nigeria is now sharing her losses between America and Europe.

Our broadcaster, pop musicians designers; even models are becoming so Americanized that the boys are wearing earrings and girls are wearing sneakers to weddings. Since most parents have deserted their villages and gone to settle in the cities, the children and grand children have no idea of their origin and style. My ode to culture: “Let’s take the college to the village for research, because we can’t find or know our History from the city”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 55

C M Y K

56—V anguard 56—Vanguard anguard,, THURSDAY, JUNE 5 , 2014

THE SOUTH SOUTH POSITION:

A stitch in time saves nine Today we publish the second batch of the South South's reaction to the "Key Issues before the Northern delegates to the 2014 National Conference," issued by the North.

BY AYAKEME WHISKY

I

NTRODUCTION: One sub ject that has remained contentious since contributions of oil and gas proceeds became dominant in the fiscal arrangements of the Nigerian federal state has been how the revenue should be shared between the federal government and the constituent units.

This is more so since the military took over the reins of administration and power was made to effectively oscillate among the top Northern military brass, using the barrel of the gun in the country. But it must be noted that the country had practiced fiscal federalism by allowing regions that produced resources to earn 50 per cent of the proceeds in accordance with the provisions of Section 140 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1963, which states inter alia:(1)There shall be paid by the Federation to each Region a sum equal to fifty percent of-

It is important to state that the Raisman Committee feared that the great potentials of oil proceed, which had then earned an estimated 65,000 Pounds Sterling could unbalance the development of the country in favour of the Eastern Region. Accordingly, it introduced four variables to wit: continuity, minimum responsibility, population and balanced development of the federation as indices for revenue allocation.

Before then, the Chicks Commission of 1953 had recommended the full allocation of proceeds to regions of origin, providing 100 per cent allocation of mining royalties and rents to the regions of origin.

When the Midwest region was created in 1964, the Federal Government headed by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa appointed Mr. K. J. Binns to review the fiscal arrangement with respect to proceeds on mining royalties and rents and duties payable on any commodity aside from some items. Central to the recommen-

Debtors don’t dictate, they plead for understanding and help

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(a) the proceeds of any royalty received by the Federation in respect of any minerals extracted in that Region; and (b) any mining rents derived by the Federation from within that Region 2) The Federation shall credit to the Distributable Pool Account a sum equal to thirty percent of(a) the proceeds of any royalty received by the Federation in respect of any minerals extracted in any Region; and (b) any mining rents derived by the Federation from within any Region.

Constitutional conferences Even the above provisions were influenced by the report of the Sir Jeremy Raisman and Prof.

Ronald Tress Fiscal Review Committee put together at the aftermath of the 1957/58 constitutional conferences in London. The conferences had received strong agitations from the regions, including the minorities of the Oil Rivers Province and CalabarOgoja Province who were agitating for separate states. The Raisman’s Committee recommended as follows: Region of origin •50 per cent Federal Government •20 per cent All other regions •30 per cent

,

dation of the Binns Committee was the increase in the proportion of distributable pool funds from 30 per cent to 35 per cent as a result of the increased responsibility incident on the creation of an additional region. Further, it remarkably recommended that proceeds of excise duty imposed on locally produced motor spirit and diesel oil shall be paid to the regions based on the consumption in the various regions.

Whereas all the recommendations clearly elected the practice of fiscal federalism in a pluralized Nigeria, the military incursion into governance following the January 1966 coup and counter coup and the subsequent 30 months civil war necessitated an alteration of the fiscal order. Consequently, the Gowon administration reduced the derivation percentage from 50 per cent to 25 per cent.

The Murtala/Obasanjo military administration that overthrew the Gen. Gowon regime further engaged in systemic reduction of the derivation proportion to zero and this even applied until the famous resource control suit instituted by late Prof. Ambrose Ali, then Governor of Bendel State overturned it in 1982.

Although the Gen. Gowon regime was said to have paid about 25 per cent as derivation on inception, it set up the Dina Com-

Map of Nigeria mission in 1968 which report was rejected by the Council of Commissioners of Finance, chaired by foremost nationalist and apostle of federalism, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was the Federal Commissioner of Finance.

The Dina Commission had recommended the reduction of the derivation percentage to 15 per cent and the transfer of “all rent royalties of offshore mining to the federal government”. Despite the rejection by the Council of Finance, the Gowon administration went ahead to enact Decree No. 9, 1971 and effectively transferred all offshore proceeds to the federal government. What the helpless resource owners consistently experienced was that each succeeding Military government which was headed by a northerner had as a priority the establishment of revenue review committees, starting from Prof. Aboyade in 1976, with specific prescriptions to ensure that the ‘ghost’ of derivation as a core principle of revenue sharing in a federalized system of government was buried.

Derivation principle These self appointed leaders whose access to political power was “pulling the trigger” neither understood the politico-economic logic nor the advice of history behind the fundamental essence of derivation principle. They failed to understand that the Nigerian nation came on stream in 1914 and, therefore, actions and practices had become precedents.

They were merely interested in appropriating the commonwealth of the people to enrich themselves and their cronies while those who bear the brunt of the oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities wallow in disease, poverty, squalor, environmental and ecological degra-

dation.

But the facts of history are that before oil was discovered in 1956 and explored in commercial quantity at Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa in 1958, the economy of Nigeria was sustained by groundnut, cocoa, timber, tin, coal, hide & skin. Interestingly, the Northern region was the major producer of groundnut, cotton, tin and hide and skin, the major export earners. The Western region was known for timber, rubber, bauxite; and a predominant producer of cocoa, a produce that earned so much wealth. And the Eastern region was host to coal, oil palm, rubber and timber. At the time the Nigerian economy was sustained mainly by these produce receipts, derivation allocation was in the following order; 1914 - 1946 - All proceeds were commonly administered in line with the unification order of 1914 (there were no regional governments) 1946 - 1950 - All declared revenues were retained 100 per cent by regions. Undeclared revenues were shared as follows: Northern Region 46 per cent Western Region 30 per cent Eastern Region 24 per cent 1951 - 1953 - The derivation principle to the regions was applied as: •50 per cent of the import and excise duties on tobacco •100 per cent of the import duty on motor spirit 1953 - 1957 - 100 per cent derivation on mining royalties and rent •50 per cent of proceeds from other duties to Federal Govt.•50 per cent residue from other duties for the distributive pool to be shared as follows: • Import and Export tax - on the basis of consumption •Duty on Motor spirit - on the basis of consumption •Export Tax on Hides and Skins - 100 per cent to the North •Mineral royalties - 100 per cent to region of extraction

•Company Ta x 100 per cent to the Federal Govt.

1957 - 1960 - 50 per cent to Region of origin of mining rents and royalties •20 per cent Federal Government •30 per cent Distributable Pool for all regions 1961 - 1963 -50 per cent to Regions of Origin of mining rents and royalties •20 per cent Federal Government •30 per cent Distributable Pool for all regions 1964 - 1967 - Applicable distribution formula until the civil war broke out in 1967 •50 per cent to Regions of origin of mining rents and royalties •15 per cent to the Federal Government •35 per cent to the Distributive Pool for all regions.

Mining royalties We have earlier noted that General Gowon who prosecuted Nigeria’s war of unity was magnanimous enough to permit the allocation of 25 per cent of proceeds of mining royalties and rent to the region/state of origin. Although he introduced the vexatious Decree No. 9 of 1971 transferring offshore proceeds to the Federal Government it is incomprehensible that subsequent Military governments defiantly confiscated and denied the natural resources bearing states their right to resource ownership, including benefiting from the proceeds through the introduction of draconian laws.

The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in absolute deference to his federalist principles even as the then Federal Commissioner of Finance that should have presided over an over-enriched federal treasury, used the instrument of the Council of Finance to reject the recommendations of the Dina Committee on Fiscal Review and had this to say in his triology: In a capitalist society Continues on page 57

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5 , 2014 —57

Table A: SCHEDULE OF OIL AND NON-OIL REVENUE (N’Million) Description

A stitch in time saves nine Continues from page 56 whether is a Federation or not, it is dishonest in the extreme to insist on sharing another state’s wealth on any basis other than that which the rules of the capitalist game allow. In this kind of society every state is perfectly entitled to keep whatever accrues to it eitherby the sweat of its brow, by cunning of the unaided bounty of nature. And to accuse a rich state of lack of fellow feeling or patriotism simply because it insists o keeping practically whatsoever accrues to it is unrealistic and untenable” It is against the background of our historical past that we find it ridiculous and absurd when a group of persons in the name of Northern intellectuals deliberately embarked on a voyage of misinformation to sway opinion based on fathom claims, to insult the sensibilities of natural resources bearing states. Some Northerner irredentists, desperate in their attempt to survive on blackmail, having lost their “supremo” mien with the exit of mil-

the North over the years is extremely understated.

The above statements clearly smack of enlightened self-interest and a shameless recourse to fraudulent fabrication for self emulation. It is in a bid to use population to strengthen and justify their unwarranted share of the federal revenue that population, population density and social development factors were assigned weights in their proposed horizontal distribution formula, having used same in the past to enrich their state treasuries. Similarly, in their proposed vertical formula, local government is given a weight of 45 per cent.

The intriguing question is how and when did local government councils become federating units in a federal system of government where states exist as constituent structures? Are we now justified in saying that the basis for the whimsical creation of the 774 local government areas by the Hausa-Fulani hegemony that superintended over the affairs of this country for almost 40 years

,

When a debtor attempts to dictate or show signs of arrogance, it provokes the patience of the creditor benefactor. And the consequences are dire, better imagined than said

itary government arrogantly wrote in their advice to the Northern delegates to the on-going National Conference in Abuja that: We recommend a vertical revenue sharing formula as follows: Federal Government, 26 per cent; States 39 per cent; Local Government Areas 45 per cent.

Also we recommend a horizontal revenue sharing formula for the states and local government areas as follow: equality 35 per cent; population 30 per cent; population density 2 per cent; land mass 20 per cent; terrain 5 per cent; internal revenue generation effort 5 per cent; and social development factor 3 per cent.

They further recommended a downward review of the derivation percentage from the present 13 per cent to a debasing 5 per cent and attempted to reintroduce the offshore/onshore dichotomy which had since been settled by an Act of the National Assembly in 2004.

Spurious use of population size This band of intellectuals also tried as usual to continue to justify the spurious use of population size as a basis of revenue distribution. Expressing some elements of audacity, they wrote: The North rejects the frequent assertions by the South on the population figures of the North and state clearly that the rate of population growth attributed to

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was to create avenues to milk the federal treasury funded with oil and gas revenues? We are little surprised even in this age that our Northern brethren is full of democratic rhetorics and aristocratic assumptions.

All apostles of federalism and genuine democrats like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Prof. Charles Soludo are united in their prescriptions for a federalized Nigerian state, a tax focused revenue base, controlled and managed by the constituent states in line with the greater authority given to them.

Highest epitome of ingratitude Whilst the audacious call for the reduction of the derivation percentage to 5 per cent is both arrogant, insolent and full of indignation, and expresses the highest epitome of ingratitude, we regret that a people that have been parasitic, who contribute nothing to the national coffers (see Table B below) but have persistently enriched themselves at the expense of resource owners, would not stop at disparaging their benefactors.

If such innuendoes were intended to blackmail those who produce oil and gas, and on whose sacrifices our parasitic ingrates have continued to command wealth and prosperity to cheaply jettison the demand for proper tax based revenue allocation formula in line with glo-

2009

2010

2011

2012

Oil Revenue 3,191,900.00 5,396,100.00 8,879,000.00 Non- Oil Revenue 1,652,700.00 1,907,600.00 2,237,900.00 Total Revenue 4,844,600.00 7,303,700.00 11,116,900.00 % of Oil Rev. to TR 66% 74% 80% Source: Federation Accounts Allocation Committee

8,025,953.48 2,628,771.39 10,654,724.87 75.4%

Table B: SCHEDULE OF OIL AND NON-OIL REVENUE (N’Million) STATE

2009 OIL NONREVE OIL NUE

2010 OIL NON- OIL REVE REVE OIL NUE NUE

2011 NONOIL

ABIA 41,495 2,066 59,324 2,384 62,153 2,799 ADAMAWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 AKWA IBOM 1,062,903 2,066 1,332,096 2,385 2,379,572 2,979 ANAMBRA 0 1,653 0 1,908 0 2,238 BAUCHI 0 0 0 0 0 0 BAYELSA 405,371 0 825,144 0 1,713,647 0 BENUE 0 1,653 0 1,908 0 2,238 BORNO 0 0 0 0 0 0 CROSS RIVER 0 3,305 0 3,815 0 4,476 DELTA 584,118 2,479 879,075 2,861 1,971,138 3,357 EBONYI 0 0 0 0 0 0 EDO 16,052 1,653 48,538 1,908 177,580 2,238 EKITI 0 0 0 0 0 0 ENUGU 0 0 0 0 0 0 GOMBE 0 0 0 0 0 0 IMO 351,109 0 539,310 0 976,690 0 JIGAWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 KADUNA 0 0 0 0 0 0 KANO 0 0 0 0 0 0 KATSINA 0 0 0 0 0 0 KEBBI 0 0 0 0 0 0 KOGI 0 0 0 0 0 0 KWARA 0 0 0 0 0 0 LAGOS 0 1,322,160 0 1,526,080 0 17,903,200 NASSARAWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 NIGER 0 0 0 0 0 0 OGUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 ONDO 175,554 0 177,972 0 328,523 0 OSUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 OYO 0 0 0 0 0 0 PLATEAU 0 1,653 0 1,908 0 2, 238 RIVERS 871,388 165,270 1,143,337 190,760 2,148,718 223,790 SOKOTO 0 0 0 0 0 0 TARABA 0 0 0 0 0 0 YOBE 0 0 0 0 0 0 ZAMFARA 0 0 0 0 0 0 Source: Federation Accounts Allocation Committee bally practiced federalism, we wish to state without equivocation that such blackmail would be a total failure.

Our advise to these self seeking Northern apologists is to take wholeheartedly the advice of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a Northerner scion and former Vice President, that those seeking economic perpetual reliance on the resources of others should study and adapt the fine points of federal Unions in other climes for self sustenance and subscribe to a smaller, leaner federal government with reduced responsibilities. Alhaji Atiku’s views found corroboration in Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s postulates in his paper, “Restructure Nigeria for Posterity”.

He argues for the: •Expunge of Section 162 establishing a Federation Account as this has created “a feeding bottle syndrome” of all federating units.

•Restore the part of 1963 Republican Constitution that deals with fiscal federalism of 50 per cent as derivation or grant rights over mineral resources to the respective regions and states and let them pay taxes to the Federal Government.

•Ensure True Federalism and a new fiscal federalism that is developmental.

•Devolution of revenue power to the States, especially VAT and

Corporate Tax Laws.

•Review of derivation principles to provide incentive for states/regions with natural resources endowment to exploit them.

•Debate on how a far leaner and more effective Federal Government should be funded on a sustainable basis and the kind of transfer to distressed States/ regions. These unassailable reasoning are recommended for every patriotic citizen as we build a just and egalitarian Nigerian society.

The law of giving and taking There is a natural law that says a giver never lacks. This is perhaps responsible for a number of philanthropic acts by some wealthy individuals and corporate groups. Similarly, it is also said that there is a “curse” on someone who perpetually takes without giving. That makes you a chronic debtor. There is no debt without conditions; you lose certain opportunities and privileges.

Debtors don’t dictate, they plead for understanding and help. When a debtor attempts to dictate or show signs of arrogance, it provokes the patience of the creditor benefactor. And the consequences are dire, better imagined than said.

OIL REVE NUE

2012

0 0 2,391,734 0 0 1,500,853 0 0 0 1,725,580 0 168,545 0 0 0 802,595 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 04,980 0 0 0 1,781,761 0 0 0 0

NONOIL 0 0 3,287 2,629 0 0 0 0 525,754 3,943 0 2,629 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,103,017 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,620 262,877 0 0 0 0

This is why we are saddened that a group of authors who prepared the brief for Northern delegates titled “Northern Agenda” could exhibit such bigotry to assault the sensibilities of the people of Southern Nigeria who have been providing the financial resources to fund their infrastructure, build their schools, pay their salaries and emoluments and provide opportunities for the emergence of billionaires amongst them.

For these same persons to have the audacity to not only dictate a reduction of derivation percentage to 5 per cent but also query the right of ownership of resource bearing states is an absurdity. For a people who contribute virtually nothing to the distributable coffers of Nigeria to challenge the propriety of others over ownership and what they receive as compensation for making available the resources for our common good defines shamelessness.

As can be seen from Table A below, Nigeria continue to depend only on oil revenue despite the billions of naira annually budgeted to explore and exploit other resources. Hence till date, oil revenue accounts for about 74 per cent, 80 per cent and 75.4 per cent of total federally collectable revenue (TFCR) in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.

To be continued

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

stakeholders to provide more affordable, livable and durable houses to workers; restructuring of the bank to accommodate the interests of major stakeholders such as NLC and TUC; and the amendment of the Act establishing the Bank to increase its capital base as well as remove restrictions that make access to houses difficult.

BITS Bits Abducted girls: Nothing is too much to ensure release — NUTGTWN

Confidence building

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CSWYE gets project vehicles, trains drivers

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OWARDS ensuring ef fective implementation of the Community Services Women and Youths Employment, CSWYE, Project of SURE-P, project implementation unit domicile in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, has taken delivery of locally-made IVM G5 sport utility vehicles recently approved for purchase by the Federal Executive Council.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, who was represented by the Project Director of CSWYE, Dr. Martina Nwordu during one-day training for project drivers, stated that: “The training programme which has resource persons drawn from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), is aimed at sharpening the skills of project drivers and to ensure that the newly procured Utility Vehicles are effectively utilized guided by road safety consciousness and proper maintenance for road worthiness.”

Timothy Olawale, Head of Social, Economic and Labour Affairs, NECA, Bola Ogunshola, Executive Director Loans, FMBN and Benson Upah, Head of Information Department, NLC, at the forum in Lagos

Stakeholders step up efforts at affordable housing scheme for workers …FMBN disburses N76.5bn for housing projects VICTOR AHIUMA- YOUNG

F

EW days ago, stakeholders made up of union leaders, human resource managers, and management of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, gathered in Lagos, at a one-day interactive session organized by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, to find ways of quickening affordable housing scheme for workers.

Welcoming participants to the event, Director-General of NECA, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, recalled that after organized labour agreed to resume participation in the National Housing Fund, NHF, the association passed the resolutions to member companies to follow up with necessary action.

Mr. Oshinowo who was represented by NECA’s Head of Social, Economic and Labour Affairs, Mr. Timothy Olawale said member companies continued to raise issues in spite of the explanations by NECA, saying “ we decided to bring representatives of employers, the banks for the interaction to address issues of concern towards affordable housing scheme for workers. We want members to speak directly with the management of the banks instead of us.”

Oshinowo, added that to make houses available to Nigerians, various stakeholders including governments must collaborate, saying the current national housing deficit was unacceptable.

Speaking, Managing Director of FMBN, Mr. Gimba Kumo, lamented the challenges that confronted his management on assumption of office.

Represented by the Executive Director, Loans, Mr. Bola Ogunshola, Mr. Kumo said one of the challenges, was that there was no complete records of contributions and their contributors According to him, to address the challenge, the management deployed a technology known as E-collection where contributors would be issued with E-cards like Automatic Teller Machine, ATM cards that contributors could use to among others, monitor contributions.

Presenting a paper at the event, Special Assistant to the Managing Director of the bank, Oladapo Fakaye, said N76, 571 billion loans had so far been disbursed for various housing projects.

He gave a breakdown of the loans as follows: Estate development, N39, 425; NHF mortgage, N23, 396 and mortgages financed via mortgage banks N13, 750.

Break in momentum

“As part of the process of confidencebuilding, transparency and hitch-free operation, the NEC-in-session also resolved that: The Federal Mortgage Bank makes the necessary effort to update the records of past contributions by workers; FMBN in line with the spirit of electronic banking, should ensure contributors receive notification of transactions; a functional committee comprising FMBN, Government and Workers be set up in each state.”

The head of information said “On November 15, 2013, these decisions were formally conveyed to FMBN, heralding a new chapter in the relationship between the Bank and the workers after over a decade. Although, we at the NLC do not want to hold brief for the bank, it seems the frequent changes at the ministerial level seem to be affecting the spirit of momentum and continuity. The mortality rate of CEOs at the bank has been quite high. This has affected the good intentions of some of the CEOs as well as frustrated the execution of their programmes. There is therefore need for security of tenure for the CEO. The on-going amendment of the FMBN Act provides a good opportunity to reflect this.

“Land reforms are key to successful housing delivery. With land being a source of wealth and political patronage at both state and federal levels of government, it will be interesting how far these reforms can go. We at NLC believe land belongs to the people and the citizenry should have reasonably free and unfettered access to it. It is not and should never be a personal estate of the President, Minister or Governor. The reform NLC looks up to in the housing sector should at once be all-encompassing, people--driven and caters for the interest of rural dwellers, those out of work and indigent old people.”

However, recalling circumstances leading to organized labour's withdrawal and resumption of contribution into the NHF, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, faulted the sluggishness in housing delivery, warning that this unacceptable pace in delivery of houses to contributors to the fund, could again strain labour’s fragile re-union with the managers of the fund.

Speaking through its Head of Information Department, Benson Upah, the NLC said although the FMBN in keeping with A break in momentum of delivits promise of commisering the houses could be dangersioning pilot housing schemes to woo workers ous to the fragile re-union of the had completed a housing NLC with the NHF scheme project in Katsina, this was a far cry in view of the housing gap in the country.

He warned that “a break in momenWorld Bank loan tum of delivering the houses could be Upah lamented that “recently, the govdangerous to the fragile re-union of the ernment secured a $300 million World NLC with the NHF scheme”, decrying Bank loan to set up a Mortgage Refinance frequent changes of ministers of hous- Company, MRC, which is expected to ing which he said could lead to incon- open up the housing sector. While it will sistency in policy implementation. increase liquidity in the sector and probRecalling NLC National Executive ably create an enabling environment for Council, NEC, meeting that endorsed public-private partnership, we have our workers resumption of participation in fears and suspicions. We believe MRC is the NHF, Upah said the “NEC-in-ses- pure business for high net-worth individusion noted that its decisions were in- als and will cater for little or no interest of formed by the positive changes in the workers. Globally, mortgage rates are a bank by its Managing Director, Mr single digit but not in Nigeria. Here, PriGimba Kumo, which include improved mary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) have housing delivery to workers, the readi- a penchant for charging double digits ness of the bank to collaborate with the making it difficult for prospective mortNigeria Labour Congress and other core gagees to access houses.

,

ATIONAL Union of Tex tile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has said nothing is too much to do to ensure immediate and unconditional release of the more than 200 girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted over a month ago by Boko Haram insurgents.

The union in a statement by its President and General Secretary, Tunde Oladele and Isa Aremu, respectively, commended nationwide strike and protest by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Thursday May 22, 2014 “against the abduction of the female students and the heartless murder of as many as 173 teachers” by the faceless terror forces.

According to the statement “It is increasingly clear that the current security challenge is indeed an assault on our nascent depressed educational sector. Whoever abducts pupils and indiscriminately kills their teachers invariably declares war on education in a country struggling to return education to its glorious past.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 59

60 — V anguard anguard,, THURSDAY, JUNE 5 , 2014

DAY 51

#BringBackOurGirls campaigners write IG zTo resume protest today

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By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

B U J A — FOLLOWING clarifications by the Inspector General of Police, IG, that the police did not ban protest in Abuja over the abducted Chibok Schoolgirls, the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group that is leading the protest wrote a letter to police boss yesterday informing him of the resumption of its protest today.

The FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu had announced a ban on protest arguing that there was an intelligence report that the protest would be hijacked by hoodlums to unleash terror on Abuja residents.

The announcement elicited angry reactions from Nigerians. The IG later explained that the police merely issued an advisory notice enjoining citizens to apply caution during the rallies.

The campaigners’ decision to write the letter, according to them was in line with the advice from their

counsel, Femi Falana, SAN. “In line with advice from our legal counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, we are writing a letter (today) to the Inspector General of Police on our seat-out proceedings given the advice from the police boss as a result of the overturn of CP Mbu’s ban,” they said in the letter.

With the letter sent to the IG, the group resolved to meet in the FCT High court tomorrow (today) before taking the next line of action on its meeting.

The group insisted that nobody has the power to stop them from holding peaceful meeting to press home its demand for the release of the abducted Chibok girls, and felt that it was only right to officially write the Police boss before resuming its usual seatout meeting.

Citing the constitution, the group said: “Any action that violates our constitutionally guaranteed rights as citizens, particularly our rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, among others as enshrined in

Chapter Four (Section 40) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) is illegal and unconstitutional.

“Our Movement is legitimate and lawful and cannot be arrested by the police whose responsibility is to enforce, not betray the law.”

It will be recalled that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu had on Monday, June 2, at a news conference in Abuja, issued an order banning all forms of protest for the release of the abducted Chibok girls, saying that such protests demanding the rescue of over 250 girls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, pose a serious security threat to the country.

The IGP’s intervention came on the same day the #BringBackOurGirls group, that is behind the protest, filed a N200m suit at the Abuja High Court, challenging the powers of the Nigerian Police Force to ban any form of protest within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, after an outrage from members of the public greeted the decision of the FCT Police Commissioner.

Stop distracting Jonathan, group warns campaigners

By SONI DANIEL BUJA—A new group, Men and Women of Action Campaign Team, has emerged and joined the fray to campaign for the release of the abducted Chibok school girls.

But unlike the original #Bringbackourgirls campaigners, the new group, headed by Solomon Akaya, has warned those behind the campaigns for the girls, to desist from attacking President Jonathan, whom they said has done the needful since the abduction saga in April.

Akaya, who spoke to Vanguard, said they had discovered that the sustained campaign by the other Bringbackourgirls campaigners was

A

targeted at embarrassing Jonathan and making him unpopular so as to withdraw from the next election.

Akaya, who was flanked by other officials of the group, pointed out that they had since discovered that most of the campaigners were out to create tension in the land and give a wrong message to the international community about Nigeria and Jonathan.

His words: “We have, therefore, decided to come out and support President Jonathan and his administration to do their best in bringing back the girls and highlighting the major achievements of this administration, which the others have tended to rubbish for their selfish interest.”

The group’s Director of Strategy, Mr. Osa Asemota, who was part of the team that demonstrated for Jonathan on Tuesday, said that there was no need for any group of individuals to turn the Chibok abduction into an albatross for Jonathan, since he has been doing his best to free the children.

Asemota explained that having marshalled out the needed resources of the state for what is needed to be done to free the girls, President Jonathan should be accorded the needed support and encouragement to carry on in the administration of Nigeria rather than being unduly chastised for purely political reasons.

800 babies buried in Irish home for girls D

UBLIN —- Almost 800 babies and children were buried in a mass grave in Ireland near a home for unmarried mothers run by nuns, according to new research Wednesday which throws more light on the Irish Catholic Church’s troubled past.

Death records suggest 796 children, from newborns to eight-year-olds, were deposited in a grave near a Catholicrun home for unmarried mothers during the 35 years it operated from 1925 to 1961.

Historian Catherine Corless, who made the discovery, says her study of death records for the St Mary’s home in Tuam in County Galway suggests that a former septic tank near the home was a mass grave.

The septic tank, full to the brim with bones, was discovered in 1975 by locals when concrete slabs covering the tank broke up.

Until now, locals believed the bones mainly stemmed from the Great Irish famine of the 1840s

when hundreds of thousands perished. St Mary’s, run by the Bons Secours Sisters, was one of several such ‘mother and baby’ homes in ear-

ly 20th century Ireland.

Thousands of unmarried pregnant women — labelled at the time as ‘fallen women’ — were sent to the homes to have their babies.

MH370 crash heard by Indian ocean microphones — Scientists

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EEP-SEA micro phones picked up an intense sound that may have been Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 crashing into the Indian Ocean, Australian researchers have announced – while stressing that the likelihood of a connection to the plane could be as low as 10% and a natural event like an earthquake might also have been the source.

Scientists from Curtin University in Western Australia gave a highly cautious account on Wednesday after analysing low-frequency noises picked up by a combination of underwater sensors – some set up by the UN to monitor for nuclear tests, and others put in place for Australian re-

search purposes.

The Malaysian Airliner went missing almost three months ago on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. Satellite signals point to the plane having gone down in the Indian Ocean but a massive international search effort led by Australia has turned up nothing.

Underwater sound recorders from Curtin University’s Centre of Marine Science, placed about 40km off Rottnest Island, picked up a signal on 8 March that may have represented a “high-energy event” around the time the plane was thought to have crashed, said Dr Alec Duncan, a senior research fellow at the centre.

Thousands mark Tiananmen anniversary T ENS of thousands gathered in Hong Kong for the only major commemoration in China of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. The organisers said some 180,000 attended the vigil, but the

police put the crowd size at just under 100,000.

The city retains civil liberties not permitted to mainland Chinese. The 1989 protesters wanted political reform, but the crackdown was ordered after hardliners won a

Obama backs Ukraine’s president-elect

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HE US president says it was ‘a wise decision’ by Ukrainians who elected Petro Poroshenko to lead them through the country ’s current crisis. Barack Obama made the comments at a meeting with

Poroshenko in Warsaw, Poland, as he announced the US is sending an additional $5m (£3m) for military aid in Ukraine.

Obama says he is ‘deeply impressed’ by the businessman-turned-politician.

power struggle within the ruling Communist Party. In Beijing, the authorities imposed blanket security, particularly on Tiananmen Square, to prevent any attempts to mark the anniversary.

Dozens of activists were detained in the run-up to the anniversary, with foreign journalists ushered away from the square on Wednesday.

The Chinese authorities classify the 1989 protests as counter-revolutionary riots and hold no memorial.

But in Hong Kong, a large crowd joined the Tiananmen remembrance rally, which has been held every year since the massacre.

Libya bomb targets wrogue general

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SUICIDE bomb attack at the home of a rogue Libyan general - who has been leading an offensive against Islamist militia groups - has killed four people. General Khalifa Haftar survived the blast,

which happened at a farmhouse in the town of Abyar, about 60km (37 miles) east of Benghazi.

Several people were wounded. Gen Haftar’s forces have been waging a campaign against Islam-

ist armed groups in Benghazi for almost three weeks.

The general, who was an army chief-of-staff under Col Muammar Gaddafi, accuses the government of supporting terrorism, which the authorities deny.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 61

Greece frustrate Osaze S

UPER Eagles star, O s a z e Odemwingie was left frustrated by a stubborn Greece side as Nigeria drew 0-0 in their latest World Cup warm-up match in Pennsylvania Tuesday night.

The City forward played the opening 54 minutes at PPL Park, home of Philadelphia Union, but was unable to find a breakthrough in his second game back following his return to the international fold.

Odemwingie couldn’t find the target when he struck towards goal in the opening stages, whilst his through ball to Ogenyi Onazi culminated in a smart stop from Greek keeper Panagiotis Glykos.

He will be hoping for a more successful stint in front of goal if named in the team to take on the United States of America at the weekend, with Geoff Cameron in the opposition squad for Saturday’s game at the EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

•Osaze

HE Technical Committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has moved the finals of the AFN Golden League earlier slated for Benin City June 7, to Warri, Delta State on June 14.

According to Yussuf Alli, a member of the technical committee who is also the Golden League meet director, the decision was taken to give the home based athletes the opportunity to be in top form to compete in the money spinning Warri Relay/CAA Super Grand and the AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championships.

“June is very busy month for track and field in Nigeria. Our home based athletes have been competing since

African coaches out to beat imports

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HE first ambition of Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah and Nigerian Stephen Keshi at the World Cup is to reach the second round and end decades of failure

by African coaches.

Since 1978, when Tunisian Abdelmajid

Keshi Continues from BP played unlike itself in the first half and only started to play to style 15 minutes to the end of the game. “It’s a game we should have won easily.

But we did not play to our style. We play possession football and press the opposition to give up but we didn’t do that till towards the end of the game. Its part of the learning curve and we will get there before the World Cup starts’’, Keshi promised On players output, Keshi said all the players picked were desperate to impress in the game against Greece but noted that when such happens, the manager has to understand the realities. Speaking specifically on Osaze Odemwingie, Keshi said the player wanted to give what he he has not given in the last two years and in the process made mistakes.

“Osaze is one of our versatile players who can play anywhere in the for-

T

ward line and he tried to give his all against Greece, but it was simply not his day, even when I shifted him to the right wing he kept pushing but as a footballer myself I knew he has to rest and give his best at the World Cup.” He also praised the output of Skipper Joseph Yobo, who played in the second half of the game describing him as sharp and ready to go. “Ofcourse that’s why he is the leader of the team.”

The Nigerian coach when asked about what to expect in the game against USA, said that he expects a better game from his wards. “With Jurgen Klinsmann in charge we expect a little bit of German mentality but we have a Nigerian antidote and we hope to see a better game”.

The Super Eagles left for Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday afternoon, with Keshi promising that his wards will give their all in the game against the Yankees.

Chetali became the first African coach to lead his country at a World Cup, all 11 have failed to secure a place in the knockout stages.

Despite this grim record, Appiah and Keshi are strong backers of African coaches, although three Europeans achieved the best results for a continent that has never gone beyond the quarterfinals.

Russian Valery Nepomniachi guided Cameroon to the last eight in 1990 and Frenchman Bruno Metsu and Serb Milovan Rajevac equalled the feat with Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) respectively.

“The white guys are

coming to Africa just for the money – they are not doing anything we cannot do,” Keshi said in an interview.

“When an African is appointed, he must win every friendly, the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup."

•Appiah

Ameobi

Continues from BP have to bring, that’s what we want to do — go into the World Cup on the back of a win.

“Obviously the U.S. are a great side and it’s going to be tough for us.

But we have to make sure we control the game the way we want to, and that’s what we’re focusing on.”

Nigeria go into the game on the back of an underwhelming 0-0 draw with fellow World Cup finalists Greece at PPL Park, with coach Stephen Keshi admitting afterwards that he had been left disappointed by his team’s slow start

but encouraged by their strong finish.

Keshi is, therefore, hoping to see a more complete performance from his troops against the Americans in Jacksonville this weekend - but he has the utmost respect for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side, who won both of their warm-up games thus far, against Azerbaijan and Turkey.

“I expect a good game from the United States,” the Nigeria coach said.

“Klinsmann is going to have this German mentality that they’re going to go all the way.

AFN Golden Keshi’s listLeague: raisesWarri hosts finals June 14

eyebrows

February; it will be good for the home based athletes to be fresh for the Grand Prix and our trials.

“Competing in Benin and moving straight within a week to Warri and Calabar a few days later may lead to some of them

either sustaining injuries or burning out. After consultations with all the stakeholders and leaders of the athletes, clubs and states, we decided to do the final of the Golden League during the Grand Prix in Warri”, said Alli.

Rufai, Chiejine speak on ARS

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high powered technical committee made up of highly revered ex-internationals will oversee the selection of talented youngsters that will take part in this year’s Airtel Rising Stars football programme.

At the launch of season 4 of the programme at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja yesterday, it was a galaxy of several ex-internationals that included former Nigeria goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, their female counterparts Ann Chiejine and Chioma Ajunwa.

They all spoke in glowing terms on the ARS programme, which they agreed was of tremendous benefits to the country.

“If I could wind back the hands of the clock to become a small girl again, this is one programme I would have loved to take part in. This is the kind of opportunity we never had in our days,” Chiejine, former Nigeria goalkeeper said.

NTI boss calls for increased sporting activities

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HE DirectorGeneral and Chief Executive of the National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu has called for more sporting activities and participation by educational institutions across the country. He made the call at the sports Week of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Dr Aminu, who led the National Teachers’ Institute’s Squash Team to the Squash tournament. also added that sporting activities apart from keeping the body fit and healthy fosters unity and collaboration amongst

participating Institutions.

The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof.

Abdullahi Mustapha thanked the NTI Team for the participation and outstanding performance.

He reiterated the importance of sports to the well being of individuals and as a unifying vehicle for educational institutions in the country.

Participants and team players expressed their satisfaction with the organization of the squash tournament while calling on other institutions of learning to engage in more sporting activities.

Messi

Continues from BP lower performance levels slashed •19 million from his market value, he was still worth almost twice as much as archrival Cristiano Ronaldo, second in the ranking on •114 million.

CIES said that Messi’s higher value was mainly related to his younger age – he turns 27 this month, while Portuguese icon Ronaldo is already 29.

Ronaldo’s heroics this season with Champions League winners Real Madrid, meanwhile, saw his market value climb by four million euros.

The study also showed that Real Madrid did the worst deal – in market terms – for a single player when they spent a record •100 million to sign Welshman Gareth Bale from London club Tottenham.

62— Vanguard, JUNE 5, 2014

Keshi's 23 disciples

•Odunlami

•Moses

•Enyeama

• Omeruo

•Gabriel

•Echiejile

•Ejide

•Oshaniwa

•Yobo

•MAN OF THE MOMENT — Mikel

•Odemwingie

•Agbim

•Nwofor

•Oboabona

•Uchebo

•Ameobi

•Emenike

•Musa

• Onazi

•Egwuekwe

•Ambrose

Brazil World Cup I no go fall una hands, Keshi tells Nigerians

BY TONY UBANI

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S the days approach swiftly for the kick off of the World Cup, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has promised not to ‘’fall the hands of Nigerians’’, as they say in local parlance which means not disappointing Nigerians at the World Cup. Having played two friendlies – 2-2 with Scotland and a scoreless

draw with Greece, Keshi may have finally realised the task that awaits him as he plays in the World Cup as coach having been denied to take Togo to the World Cup despite qualifying them. ‘’My brother, it is not an easy job’’, he admitted to Sports Vanguard before embarking on the journey to Brazil.

Two games without a win, Nigerians are hissing and sighing on the chances of the Super

Eagles moving beyond the second round which has been their best mark since making their debut in USA ’94.

‘These players are careful not to get injuries. Some of them wanted to impress us after announcing the list to the World Cup’’, spokesman of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya quoted Keshi as saying.

Keshi knows the expectations of Nigerians

and his last friendly against United States of America is expected to be better than the Greece game. ‘’I know what Nigerians want and I promise not disappoint Nigerians. It was not easy selecting these final 23 players to represent Nigeria. But, I promise that these 23 are the best we have and they will make Nigeria proud in Brazil’’, he vowed.

•Azeez

•Michael

•Keshi

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

It ‘ll be ‘war’ against USA —Ameobi

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You did not play like Eagles, Keshi blasts •Players were desperate to impress

HOLA Ameobi insists that there will be nothing friendly about Nigeria’s World Cup warm-up clash with USA, claiming Saturday ’s game in Florida will be “volatile”.

The forward says the Super Eagles are desperate to win their final match before departing for Brazil and is expecting their hosts to be just as motivated.

“It’s going to be volatile,” Ameobi said.

“It’s our last game before entering the World Cup so we have

•Keshi to be really hitting top form. The fact that they’re at home makes for a great atmosphere.

“It’s going to take our best game to beat them, and that’s what we’ll

Continues on Page 61

‘Messi more valuable than Ronaldo’

•Osaze wanted to cover two years of absence in one match

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ARCELONA and Argentina star Lionel Messi remains the world’s most valuable footballer, even though his crown slipped this season, a market study showed on Tuesday.

In its annual report on the player market, the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory put Messi’s value at •216 million.

Even though Messi’s Continues on Page 61

S

UPER Eagles Man ager, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi came hard on his team when he said the team did not play to style in the international friendly against the Greece national side that ended goalless in Philadelphia USA on Tuesday night.

Keshi said at the post match that the team Continues on Page 61

•Messi

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Voucher (6) 5 Scrutinise (4) 8 Cog (5) 9 Obscure (3) 10 Precipitation (4) 11 Peel (4) 12 Moral (5) 13 Strangled (6) 16 Dejected (4) 18 Discharge (4) 20 Guided (3) 22 Spot (3) 23 Barrier (3) 24 Broad (4) 25 Consider (4) 28 Audacious (6) 30 Woo (5) 32 Foundation (4) 33 Press (4) 34 Tavern (3) 35 Coin (5) 36 Act (4)

37 Mania (6) DOWN 1 Infer (6) 2 Calm (8) 3 Deserved (6) 4 Satisfied (9) 5 Barred (7) 6 Fashionable (4) 7 Naked (4) 8 Fasten (3) 14 Tottering (9) 15 Vigour (3) 17 Sorrow (3) 19 Conjuror (8) 20 Cover (3) 21 Dedicated (7) 26 Method (6) 27 Means (6) 29 Trampled (4) 30 Manage (4) 31 Attempt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Refer 9, Clever 10, Vision 11, Dazed 12, Aged 15, Hero 17, Pleased 20, Den 21, Revel 23, Meek 25, Rule 26, Digit 28, Cup 30, Largest 33, Arid 35, Ever 36, Auger 38, Accuse 39, Nodded 40, State.

DOWN: 1, Scrap 2, Melee 3, Red 4, Eraser 5, Even 6, Rid 7, Liked 8, Union 13, Glamour 14, Dated 16, Release 18, Devil 19, Her 22, Lunge 24, Kit 27, Talent 28, Canal 29, Pitch 31, Evade 32, Trade 34, Duet 36, Ass 37, Roe.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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