Dasuki meets BokoHaram leaders soon

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61659

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Ghana, Nigerian bizmen face-off: FG, ECOWAS—P.13 sue for truce

Deregulation looms as 2012 subsidy budget depletes

Pg.8

Dasuki meets Boko Haram leaders soon •Says he has their phone numbers, contacts •To meet President on lifting of emergency rule in four LGAs

BY TAYE OBATERU, WITH AGENCY REPORTS OS —THE new Na tional Security Adviser (NSA) retired Col. Sambo Dasuki assured yesterday that he will soon meet with Boko Haram leaders for possible dialogue with the group, saying he already had their contacts.

Dasuki, who spoke in Jos during a meeting with stakeholders in Plateau, said he was planning to meet with the group on the need for it to cease fire and embrace dialogue as soon as possible.

“I was in Yobe and

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Court stops FG from acting on subsidy probe report —P.5

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

Amnesty my most difficult decision — Tompolo —Pgs.26 &27

VISIT—Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert with Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, during a visit to the governor in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Knocks for NUC's ban on part-time programmes —P.29 Et vous David Mark?

—P. 17

2 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 3

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4 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

Dasuki meet Boko Haram leaders soon Continues from Page 1 Borno States last week and I have got the telephone numbers and contacts of key Boko Haram members and I will meet with them. I saw the dangerous effect of Boko Haram in these states and what I saw was pathetic. But I have the mandate to put heads together with religious and traditional leaders as well as the state governments to ensure an immediate ceasefire,” Dasuki said.

According to him, he was in Plateau State for on-the-spot assessment of the security challenge and in furtherance of the Federal Government’s peace efforts, particularly across the northern part of the country.

He expressed confidence that the people of Plateau could put their problems behind them and forge ahead with genuine peace and reconciliation.

“I have a stake in Plateau because I lived in Pankshin and Jos when my father resided here.

So if we lived peacefully way back then, it is possible to go back to

those good old days.

“Before now, it was difficult for me to believe that you could see a Fulani and Berom man together on the street of Plateau fighting. But the presence of various ethnic and religious groups at this parley is a pointer to the fact that we want to forge ahead.”

The Security Adviser also promised to work with state governors in finding solutions to the security problems in the country. He said that he believed working with governors who know the peculiar security situations of their states would achieve better results than working with individuals.

“They (governors) are the chief security officers of their respective states. Our job is to complement. If there is peace, there would be less burden in Abuja.

We will not work with individuals but the governors”, Dasuki who spoke at a meeting with various interest groups at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos, said.

He solicited coopera-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Be nice to people on your way up , because you’ll meet them on your way down — Wilson Mizner Being courteous is a great virtue, it costs nothing but comes with unquantifiable rewards.

It opens doors for strangers and creates ways for the wayfarer.

For those that are courteous and polite others usually are on the lookout for their good.

Courtesy and favour are brothers in the same pod.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

If you can imagine it you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it —William Ward UCINDA Bassett in her writings reminded us of those beautiful dreams we had while growing up, when we were young. But then, again, how the reality of making a living took over, when we had to pay our bills, rent our apartments, raise our families, and take care of others. We sacrificed our dreams, repressed them, or delegated them to the background until they were so far away that we forgot they ever existed.

Indeed, there is a popular saying which best illustrates this point succinctly. ‘There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, “Yes, 1’ve got dreams, of course, I’ve got dreams".

Then they put the box away and bring it out once in a while to look in it, and yep, they’re still there.

These are great dreams, but they never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, Yes! I can! That’s where courage comes in. But mostly insight and a great deal of common sense too!

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tion of various stakeholders for the success of his assignment and appealed to the people to put aside past anomalies and work together towards attaining peace in the state and the country at large. He promised to look into allegations of the involvement of some security personnel in crises in the states but noted that keeping a soldier away from his base beyond six months could be frustrating.

After listening to various stakeholders, he promised to discuss with the Presidency on lifting the state of emergency declared in four local government areas of the state.

In his remarks, Gov. Jonah Jang regretted that the emergency rule in the state had not achieved the intended effect as the attacks on the affected local government areas had continued unabated.

On dialogue with Boko Haram, Jang said that it was difficult to dialogue with the group since its leaders and members were not known.

He therefore urged the group to come out and identify itself. “We only hear that Boko Haram claims responsibility for this and that attack but we never heard anybody coming out to say he is Boko Haram. We know the Niger Delta militants had leaders and a cause they were fighting for which made late President Yar ’Adua to succeed with the amnesty programme but, who is Boko Haram?”

Jang alleged that some influential people were behind the sect in view of the sophistication of its operations and insisted that the sponsors must be dealt with by the appropriate authority.

In his remarks, a member of the House of Representatives, Bitrus Kaze, alleged insincerity and lack of will on the part of the government to implement various reports on Jos crises.

“In the last 10 years, no single person has been convicted for the crisis on the Plateau.

“So what you have is a situation whereby the assailants have become

hardened and continued to carry on with the attacks with impunity. ” The parley had in attendance, traditional, religious and community leaders, heads of security services, women, youth groups, and government functionaries, among others.

Court stops FG from acting on subsidy probe report

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA —A FED ERAL High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, restrained the Federal Government from acting on the report of the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee that probed the subsidy regime, especially as it relates to one of the indicted oil companies, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited.

The court, in an interlocutory injunction it granted yesterday, further restrained the Inspector General of Police from taking any action against the oil firm, pending the hearing of a substantive suit it filed before the court.

Besides the Attorney General of the Federation and the Police boss, others joined as defendants in the suit were the House of Representatives, Hon. Farouk M. Lawan (for himself and on behalf of the House of Reps Ad-hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the subsidy regime), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. It will be recalled that the Lawan-led probe panel, had in its report, indicted Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, which was reportedly owned by the former Minister of Interior, Captain Emeka Iheanacho.

In its report, the House of Reps Ad-hoc Committee, alleged that the company illegally collected petroleum sub-

sidy funds from the Federal Government, saying it was liable to refund the sum of N13, 252, 055, 429.00 into the federation account.

Dissatisfied with the recommendation of the probe committee, the oil company approached the high court, asking it to go ahead and determine “ whether having regard to the provision of section 6(1) and (6) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), it is competent for the 1st and 2nd defendants, (House of Reps and Farouk Lawan), in the exercise of their powers under section 88(1) (a) (b) (i) (ii) of the Constitution, to take a decision or adjudge that the Petroleum Products in respect of which the plaintiff received subsidy refunds in the sum of 13, 252, 055, 429.00, from the Federal Government is not sustainable and therefore not good enough to attract any subsidy payment.

“Assuming without conceding that the answer to question one is in the affirmative, whether the 1st and 2nd defendants were not bound to make available to the plaintiff, particulars of the allegations concerning the importation, distribution and consumption of petroleum products and/or the payment of subsidy by the Federal Government from the year 2006 to year 2011, in so far as they affect the plaintiff and afford the plaintiff as opportunity of making representations to them in respect thereof, before taking a decision or adjudging that part

of the subsidy refunds paid to the plaintiff by the Federal Government in respect of petroleum products imported by the plaintiff between 2008 and 2011 were not sustainable and therefore not good enough to attract any subsidy refunds and consequently that the plaintiff should refund the sum of 13, 252, 055, 429.00, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

As well as, “whether it is lawful for any of the defendants to act or take any action or step against the plaintiff or any of its officers, servants, agents or representatives, in respect of any matter relating to, pertaining to, connected with or arising from the report of the House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee on the monitoring of the subsidy regime, as adopted and/or approved by the 1st defendant in its resolution passed on 25th April, 2012, in so far as it affects the plaintiff.

While granting accelerated hearing on the substantive suit, Presiding Justice Gladys Olotu ordered all the parties to maintain their statusquo, pending the determination of the court case.

Meanwhile, counsel to the Federal Government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, expressed his satisfaction that the case was granted expeditious hearing, saying the government was committed towards conducting a holistic investigation into the alleged subsidy fraud with a view to bringing all the culprits to book.

6—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

DANA AIR:

22 bodies released as 68 families submit insurance claims

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

AGOS — TWENTY two bodies of victims of the tragic June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash have so far been properly identified and released to the families for burial, just as 68 families including four crew members have so far submitted completed insurance forms to the airline management.Nine of the claimants have obtained claims of cheques for interim benefits following legal verification of documentation and next of kin status.

A statement by the Dana Air management on the ongoing response to the incident also confirmed the airline had made direct contact with 119 of the 120 families who lost loved ones in the accident, and was in contact with the nine embassies managing communications with the families of the foreign nationals involved.

According to the statement released, yesterday, the families and embassies have been sent letters of condolence and subsequent communication about the insurance documentation necessary in order to facilitate compensation payments even as final DNA samples of unidentifiable bodies of the victims, were sent to a laboratory in the United

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From left: FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawal during the weelky meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Jonathan seeks Senate's confirmation of Mukhtar as first female CJN As Senate walks out Onagoruwa, BPE boss

BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has named Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar to be confirmed as the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, by the Senate.

In a letter to the Senate and read at the plenary by Senate President David Mark, Jonathan said her nomination was in conformity with Section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, there was, however, a mild drama at the Senate, yesterday, when the Senate Committee on Public Petition walked out the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, during a hearing organised by the committee.

The President’s letter to the Senate seeking the confirmation of Justice Mukhtar read: “In conformity with Section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which gives the president powers to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria, acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate, I have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, CON, CFR for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“It is my hope that this request will receive the

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usual expeditious attention of the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Jonathan, in another letter to the Senate President sought the confirmation of Hon. Justices Kumai Bayang Akaahs (North West zone) and Stanley Shenko Alagoa (South South zone) as Justices of the Court of Appeal.

In the letter, Jonathan said both “appointments have been necessitated by the impending retirement from service of Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Chief Justice of Nigeria, and Hon. Justice F F Tabai.”

Senate walks out BPE boss Ms Onagoruwa was ordered out of the committee hearing by the Chairman, Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, LP Ondo Central when she appeared before the committee to answer summons based on a petition written by a staff of the BPE, who alleged wrongful dismissal.

When she appeared before the committee, the senators refused to recognise her as the chief executive of the BPE, in compliance with the Senate’s resolution which indicted her and recommended her sack over the handling of the privatisation process.

It would be recalled that the Senate while considering the report of Senator Ahmed Lawan-led Committee on Privatization

process had recommended, among others, that Onagoruwa be sacked.

Senate refuses to recognise her as BPE CEO Before she was asked to leave the venue of the hearing, Akinyelure had requested Onagoruwa to send a senior officer of the BPE to represent the agency at the hearing.

Responding, Onagoruwa informed the committee that she remains the substantive chief executive of the BPE and refused to

send a representative as demanded by the senators to answer issues raised in the petition.

It was at this stage that the committee chairman, after consultations with senators present, asked Onagoruwa to leave the venue of the hearing as the committee does not recognise her as the chief executive of the BPE and as such would not allow her to participate in the exercise.

An angry Onagoruwa, accompanied by her aides, thereafter stormed out of the hearing venue.

Kingdom for testing.

The statement said: “The company is in contact with all other families who have submitted relevant documents to Dana Air’s Crisis Management Centre, CMC, in Lagos and Abuja, and has advised that they come forward to the Chambers of Yomi Oshikoya & Co, appointed by the insurers in Lagos, to conclude advance payment formalities.”

The airline said on Tuesday that it presented cheques to seven severely affected families to secure accommodation, as a palliative measure, noting: “The decision to monetize the gesture was based on the request by the affected families at a meeting between them and Dana Air officials last Thursday.

“Dana Air is aware and perfectly understands and respects that most of the next of kin or legal representatives who submitted documents, or are yet to visit the CMC and submit documentations to us, are still observing the customary mourning period. Advance payment claims will be concluded on a case by case basis as and when claimants find it convenient to come forward.

“The company continues to maintain contact with these families, as well as other residents who are affected in varying degrees."

FG assures corps members of safety

BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA — WORRIED by the widespread rejection of posting to volatile states by members of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, the Federal Government, yesterday, said it was committed to the protection the lives of corps members nationwide.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who briefed State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting also disclosed that with the commissioning of the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, bullet proof vest production factory, it would be unpatriotic for any security agency in

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the country to continue to import such materials.

Speaking on the safety of corps members, the minister assured that President Goodluck Jonathan places premium on safety of corps members, adding that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure they are safe wherever they are deployed.

He said: “The president places premium on safety of corps members.

It is our responsibility to ensure they are safe wherever they are deployed. The Federal Government will look into issues relating to the corps members’ safety now and in the future."

In her briefing, Acting Minister of Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, said with the recent feat

achieved by the Nigerian military with Nigerian Navy’s locally designed and constructed Seaward Defence Boat and the Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, locally produced by the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps, the era of the nation’s total reliance on foreign suppliers for the country’s security needs was over.

The local production of these security equipment, the minister noted, would help ensure a more rapid response to internal security issues, adding: “We are becoming more and more self sufficient in our armed forces. The response time to providing equipment will be short.

“The alpha jets that

have been grounded for seven years have been rehabilitated and back in the air. We have started with the first step and the journey has really began.

“We believe that this will go along way in all things to solve our security problems. More so when you look at the issue of time if these things are needed you know if we have ordered from abroad we will have to wait maybe months or years before these things are brought into the country, but when we do it here in Nigeria locally , that means we can respond, we have better respond time in any given situation. It will also help in creating employment for our people” she said.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—7

NYSC reschedules camp activities in volatile states To redeploy those yet to report to camp

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA — NATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, yesterday announced the rescheduling of the posting of all prospective corps members deployed to Yobe and Borno States for the 2012 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Course.

In a statement by Director General of NYSC, BrigGen Nnamdi Okore-Affia in Abuja, the NYSC authority also directed those posted to some volatile states in the North such as Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna, but have not yet reported to the camp to immediately report to the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.

Okore-Affia maintained that corps members in Yobe and Borno states would undertake their induction activities in Nasarawa and Benue respectively on Thursday, July 26Thursday, August 16, 2012,

as earlier published.

According to the statement, “Yobe State prospective corps members will now hold their orientation course at the Nasarawa State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi, Keffi LGA, and not as stated on their callup letters.

“Borno State prospective corps members will undertake their orientation programme at the Benue State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Wanume, Tarka LGA, and not as stated on their callup letters. Date: Thursday 26th July-Thursday 16th August, 2012, as earlier published.

“In addition, all 2012 Batch ‘B’ prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna states who have collected their call-up letters but are yet to report in camp should immediately report at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja for redeployment.”

$620,000 SCAM: From left: Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Victor Ogene; chairman of the committee, Mohammed Zakari and Lanre Odugbote addressing newsmen on the investigation of Ethics and Privileges Committee, at National Assembly, Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

N44M SEC BRIBERY SCANDAL:

Hembe, Azubogu lose bid to stop trial As court says they’ve case to answer

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — AN Abuja High Court, yesterday, held that the erstwhile

LAWAN VS OTEDOLA

House dismisses broadcast of audio records Says it's attempt to distract the lower chamber

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

BUJA — THE House of Representatives has dismissed the broadcast of purported audio records of how Mr Farouk Lawan allegedly collected $620,000 bribe from Mr Femi Otedola, as part of attempts to distract the lower chamber of the National Assembly from its commitment to ensure that the report of its adhoc committe on petroleum subsidy is implemented.

This assertion was made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Zakari Mohammed, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the House during the week.

On what transpired between Otedola and members of the House

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Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Tuesday, Mohammed said the House had no problem with the oil mogul.

Said he: ”We are not trying Otedola, he was only invited as a witness in a case of alleged misconduct against our colleague.”

Throwing light on why the committee decided to hold its investigative hearing on the bribe saga in camera, Mohammed said it wasn’t only the Houses’s Committee that observed such rules, citing the orderly room trial and court martial normally undergone by policemen and military personnel involved in misconduct as examples.

Said he: ”Even the Ethics Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, sits in camera when hearing cases of misconduct involving

lawyers,” and urged relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the report of the ad-hoc committee was fully i m p l e m e n t e d , acknowledging that it had been partly implemented.

He denied that the House was trying to cover up the case involving Lawan, adding that “he was on his own.”

He explained why Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.owned by Otedola had to be relisted among companies indicted by the House, adding that it was because of the circumstances surrounding its initial delisting.

He further stated that what was happening was that the House was paying the price for some of the decisions it took on behalf of the Nigerian people.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Other Institutions, Herman Hembe and his deputy, Chris Ifeanyi Azubogu, have a case to answer regarding their alleged complicity in a N44 million bribery scandal.

Trial Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar okayed the two lawmakers for prosecution after he declined to quash any of the two-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The judge maintained that having gone through the substantive charge visà-vis the accompanying proof of evidence before the court, he was satisfied that the anti-graft agency successfully established a prima-facie case against the accused persons.

Consequently, he dismissed two separate preliminary objections that sought to insulate the two embattled lawmakers from prosecution, even as the court fixed July 18 and 19 to commence accelerated hearing on the substantive allegations against them.

Besides, Justice Umar ordered the EFCC to produce its witnesses before the court on the next adjourned date.

The prosecuting agency had in the charge it entered in court, alleged that its investigations revealed that the accused persons sought

gratification from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, with a view to compromising standard in the probe of alleged sharp practices in the Nigerian Capital Market.

It told the court that while under interrogation, the accused persons admitted pocketing various sums of money from SEC on the pretence of attending different kinds of workshops abroad.

EFCC said at one time, the accused persons pretended they were attending a capacity building workshop in the Dominican Republic, and collected a “huge” sum of money from SEC, but failed to either attend such programme or refund the money.

It said the fraud was discovered while investigating allegation that the suspended SEC DG, Ms Arunma Oteh, lavished N30 million on hotel bills alone.

Oteh had in the heat of probe into circumstances behind the near collapse of the Capital Market insisted that Hembe was “unfit” to head the investigative panel, alleging that he had demanded N44 million from SEC as gratification.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers had in their separate preliminary objections, contended that the high court was bereft on the requisite jurisdiction to

try them over a charge they said was baseless and grossly incompetent.

They equally queried the legal propriety of the leave the court granted the EFCC to prosecute them, just as they declined to either mount the dock or enter their plea to the charge pending the determination of the objection which was thrown out yesterday.

Arguing through his counsel, Chief Jibrin Okutekpa, SAN, Hembe had urged the court to quash the charge, saying the House of Reps Committee on Ethics and Privileges, was still investigating the uncanny feud that ensued between him and ousted SEC DG, Oteh, when he headed the probe panel.

Alleging that EFCC falsified information with a view to ensuring their prosecution at all cost, the 1st accused person, Hembe, told the court that “the prosecution is nothing but persecution and a waste of Nigeria’s public money. By virtue of Section 89 of the 1999 constitution, it is the National Assembly that has the jurisdiction to investigate this matter.”

His arguments were adopted by the 2nd accused, Ifeanyi, who through his own counsel, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, argued that since the report of the House’s Ethics committee was yet to be released, it would not be in the interest of justice to try the accused person, saying

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Deregulation imminent as 2012 subsidy budget depletes Lloyds disowns vessels used in 'moving' N58bn petroleum products

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU & KUNLE KALEJAYE

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S controversies over the fuel subsidy rage, there are indications that the Federal Government may adopt the option of deregulating the downstream petroleum sector, in a bid to stop the corruption that has trailed the process, particularly in the last three years.

Government has already spent more than half its budget for subsidy payments in 2012, and has declared that it is very unlikely it will seek a supplementary budget to support the funding of claims for the rest of the year as suggested by a committee it set up to review subsidy funds management.

The committee, in a report submitted to government last month, said: “The total provision for subsidy payments in the 2012 budget of the Federal Government was N888.1 billion, inclusive of N231.8 billion for 2011 outstanding subsidy claims,” and N656.3 billion for 2012 subsidy claims.

It is obvious that the 2012 budget provision will be insufficient given that N451 billion had been spent already for 2011 claims (N241 billion to private importers and N21 billion to NNPC).

Against this backdrop, government may decide to deregulate the sector sooner than anticipated as recommended by a committee rather than choose the option of either increasing the budgetary provisions for subsidy payments or making drastic changes in the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, used for financing subsidy claims.

C'ttee's recommendations The Aigboje AigImokhuede 10-man committee suggested three ways to end the malfeasance that is fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

They include: Deregulation of product pricing, i.e. elimination of subsidy Increase in the 2012 budgetary provision for subsidy payments

Implementing drastic changes to the PSF scheme and enforcing stringent compliance going forward.

It added: “This is without prejudice to the Committee’s recommendations for refund of subsidy payments to the Federal Government for a total sum of N422 billion (provided that the parties involved in the transactions are unable to provide evidence contrary to the committee’s findings).

Of the three choices prescribed, the most likely may be deregulation, which process government started on January 1, amid nationwide protests before resorting to partial deregulation.

Even with partial deregulation, the money realised from the difference between the old and new pump prices could hardly finance the palliatives envisaged, let alone provide a buffer for subsidy payments.

Furthermore, considering the plethora of regulatory lapses associated with PSF, through which fuel subsidy is managed, it may be difficult to prevent oil marketers and trading companies from resorting to the numerous ways of using false documentations to make claims.

Lloyds’ evidence Of the N422 billion to be recovered from the identified oil marketers and traders, shipping intelligence agency, Lloyds, disowned false s h i p p i n g documentations through which about N60 billion were paid to them as claims.

In some cases there were no proof of the mother vessels claimed to have been used to import the products, while in some others the vessels were anywhere in the world but near West African waters or Nigeria’s for that matter.

In yet more curious cases, the vessels were already declared dead and could not have carried any petroleum products at the time of the claims. As shown in the various Lloyds’ ob-

servations and committee’s conclusions below, the committee observed that there was “no proof of the existence of the mother vessels' bill of lading or the daughter vessels' bill of lading for some transactions for which subsidy was paid.

“The total value of subsidy paid in respect of these transactions was N11,762,998,358.89.

“It appears that PPPRA paid subsidies for products that were not sup-

were no longer operational as the vessels had been declared dead, yet they were claimed to be in operation by some oil marketing and trading companies: A dead vessel named MT Louisiana Getty, which was changed to Philip Lousiana since 1975 before she eventually died as duly reported by Lloyds’ List Intelligence, was used to consummate PMS import transaction.

tune of N8,138,502,416.70. This implies that subsidy claims were paid on transactions that were not certain.

Masters Energy Oil & Gas Limited and Caades Oil & Gas Limited made subsidy claims using the same mother vessel, MT Zhen Star that could not be located on the Lloyds’ List Intelligence. This mother vessel’s bill of lading,

claimed to have taken a total of 11,096.97MT using the Bill of Lading dated February 1, 2011, from MT Anema E. Core, the same vessel which had purportedly discharged fully into the MRS Dantata Jetty.

There is no copy of the Bill of Lading for ship to ship transfer from RBD Anema E. Core to MT Greataf.

The implication is that all the transactions above should not have been

Brila Energy Ltd & Nasaman Oil Services Ltd PMS transaction details. plied and/or delivered.”

The Lloyds’ List Intelligence (as of June 1, 2012) revealed that the mother vessels for the transactions were not in the location claimed at the time that the daughter vessels supposedly loaded from them. However, subsidy was paid on PMS that might not have been delivered for a total sum of N21,361,071,313.24.

The List also revealed that the mother vessels that daughter vessels supposedly loaded from at Offshore Cotonou in respect of the transactions could not be traced and thus may not exist.

Yet subsidy was paid on the transactions for a total sum of N9,039,699,976.06. This implies that subsidy might have been paid on non-existent transactions.

‘Resurrected’ vessels The Lloyds’ List Intelligence (as of June 1, 2012) revealed that mother vessels for the following transactions

The name of another dead vessel, KRITI AKITI, which was changed since April 17, 2010 before she was decommissioned and eventually died on July 06, 2010, was also used for PMS import transactions.

Another dead vessel, originally named MT Hellenic Blue that had her name changed to MT Nireus since January 26, 2006, before she eventually died on February 17, 2010.

There was also a case of another vessel called MT Envoy River, originally called MT Envoy, which was decommissioned and later died on January 9, 2012, but at the date of claimed shipment on December 30, 2010, she was in far away Norway.

This vessel, which is now dead could not have trans-shipped to MT Madonna 1 at Offshore Cotonou.

Therefore, petroleum products could not have been loaded aboard these vessels for which subsidy was paid to the

dated October 19, 2011, supposedly had 58,617.005MT of PMS. The total subsidy claims on the shipments was N3,902,554,490.16.

However, the subsidy on this transaction must have been wrongly paid since MT Zhen, which was supposedly used could neither be located on the Lloyd’s List Intelligence nor anywhere on the West African Coast.

More shady deals lt was noted that a mother vessel, MT Anema E. Core, discharged her cargo, using 2 jP Bills of Lading i.e. 28,370.198MT, dated February 1, 2011 and 31,647.147MT dated February 2, 2011, into MT Greataf (mother vessel), which subsequently offloaded all her cargo of 60,017.346MT into MRS Dantata Jetty, using four daughter vessels namely: OTB S125, OTB Hestia, OTB Kirikiri and OTB Hera.

However, it was noted that IMAD Oil also

processed for payment if proper scrutiny of documents presented were made considering the capacity indicated on the Bills of Lading of the mother vessel (MT RBD Anema E. Core).

Between Cotonou, China, South Pacific It was observed that two oil marketing and trading companies (Brila Energy Ltd & Nasaman Oil Services Ltd) benefited from subsidy payments using PMS purportedly discharged by two mother vessels off the coast of Cotonou.

However, these mother vessels were at that period located precisely in the Far East (China) and in the South Pacific using the Lloyds’ List Intelligence Vessel tracker.

There is no basis for the subsidy payments made to the two companies since the mother vessels that discharged PMS were nowhere near the West African coast at the time of purported discharge of PMS.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—9

Policemen beat driver to death over bribe

Briefly

Ejigbo-Idimu road

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

AGOS—THE Lagos State Government, has finally awarded the rehabilitation of the dilapidated Ejigbo-Idimu road, for immediate rehabilitation. The road had remained impassable for the past three years.

Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, said this during a tour of the 71 community development associations in the area and assured residents that his administration would ensure that bad roads were rehabilitated.

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NCAA warns pilots

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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KEJA—DIRECTORGeneral of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, yesterday, warned pilots to avoid flying during hazard weather conditions due to the prevailing heavy rains.

Dr. Demuren said: “We are in the mid-stream of rainy season which is usually characterised by severe thunderstorm and line squall and its attendant turbulence, microbusts, lightning and low-level wind shear.''

He advised pilots to always observe the weather and if there was bad weather, to be patient to allow the weather subside or pass over the airfield before commencing their flight operations.

Girl-child education

BY NNAMDI OJIEGO & IKENNA ASOMBA

AGOS—WIFE of La gos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, yesterday, said for Nigeria to be among the industrialised nations by 2020, there was need for more commitment to new and innovative teaching methods and techniques to attract female children to technical education.

The first lady stated this while declaring open, the Women in Technical Education and Employment, WITED, National Coordinating Committee meeting and award ceremony, at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

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BY ALBERT AKPOR

AGOS—SOME po licemen attached to Lagos State security outfit, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, yesterday, in the Egbeda area of the state, reportedly beat a bus driver to death at an illegal checkpoint for refusing to bribe them.

According to sources, the driver identified as Taiwo Ogundipe, was accosted about 10p.m, in his bus, number-plate XB224FST, by the team with patrol van marked RRS274 at a bus-stop close to a popular eatery with a demand to part with an undisclosed amount.

Ogundipe, said to be an orphan from Osun State, was reported to have told the team, led by a Police Inspector that he had paid for the night as was the practice, but his entreaty was ignored by the policemen who dragged his conductor down and threatened he would not go until he paid.

Irked by the uncompromising attitude of the policemen, the driver attempted to leave the scene but he too was held down by one of the policemen for what they called ‘disregard for their superior.’ They allegedly descended on him beating him to a pulp.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the rampaging policemen resumed beating the driver until he passed out close to the eatery. Reports said the policemen immediately zoomed off in their van when it was apparent that the man might not survive the beating. The victim was later rushed to a nearby hospital, but was confirmed dead shortly after.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said she had not been fully briefed on the matter.

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From left, Mr. Vivein Ikem, CRS/Sustainability Manager, NB Plc; Alhaja Wonuola Idris, Tutor-General/ Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Lagos, and Mrs. Iyabode Akinjogbin, Principal, at the commissioning of block of classrooms donated by Nigerian Breweries Plc to Okesuna Senior High School, Lagos. Photo: Sylva Eleanya.

Judge imprisons 3 Ogun PDP chieftains for contempt

BY INNOCENT ANABA AGOS—THREE chieftains of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, were, yesterday, ordered to be remanded in prison custody for six months by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, for flouting the order of the court.

The three persons, ordered remanded in custody are Chief Ireti Oniyide; Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye, media aide to Agriculture Minister, Professor Akin Adesina, and Mr. Faisiu Bakenne, who claimed to be principal officers of a purported Caretaker Committee of the party in the state.

Justice Charles Efanga Archibong, in his ruling, held that the three alleged contemnors, being agents of PDP, should be remanded in prison for their continued violation of the order of the court made on May 2, 2012.

The court said PDP was a party in the substantive suit in which the May order was made. The court did not specify the prison the three should be remanded.

The ruling was on a committal proceedings initiated against the PDP chieftains, Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, and its officials, by Chief Adebayo Dayo and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo for them-

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selves and on behalf of the Ogun State Executive Committee of PDP. The contemnors were alleged to have continually subverted the order of court by dealing with the party through other bodies aside the Adebayo Dayo -led Executive Committee, which the court had declared the valid management body of the party in the May 2 judg-

ment.

They accused the OGSIEC’s officials of circumventing the court order contained in the May 2, judgment by accepting lists of candidates for the July 21 council election from other sources other than the Dayo-led executive.

The court did not make any order against officials of OGSIEC on the

ground that the agency and its officials cited for contempt were not parties in the substantive suit.

The court noted that the court should not be seen as obstructing the electoral process in the state in view of the fact that the forthcoming council elections in the state formed the kernel of the dispute between parties.

UNILAG name-change: Court extends restraining order

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA KEJA—JUSTICE Steven Adah of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, extended the order restraining President Goodluck Jonathan from proceeding on renaming University of Lagos, UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, MAULAG. The renewal of the court’s order was sequel to the inability of the respondents in the case to file their reply to motion on notice filed by the students and the application by the counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Wole Olanipekun,SAN, asking for the extension of the June 25 order.

Seven students of UNILAG and the alumni association dragged the President, the National Assembly and the Senate and Council of the school to

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court asking for a restraining order as well as declaration to the effect that the action of the president renaming the school was illegal, null and void.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Justice Adah restated his order asking parties to maintain the status quo until further notice.

Apart, Justice Adah directed plaintiffs in the suit to marry the suits instituted for convenience, stating that the students and the association were asking for same prayers from the

court.

When Chief Olanipekun, SAN, prayed the court to extend the restriction order, counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (Federal Government) and defendants, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, representing UNILAG and its Council and Mrs. Titi Akinlawon, SAN, appearing for the Senate did not oppose the request.

The court adjourned the matter till September 21, to enable the defence file their reply to motion on notice of the students.

Group tasks FG on torture victims

BY EBELE ONUORAH & RITA OBODOECHINA

AGOS—PRISON ERS’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, PRAWA, Lagos State branch, has called on Federal Government to show more concerns for victims of torture in the country.

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This call was made in Lagos recently in commemoration of the 2012 International Day in support of torture victims.

In a statement, Programme Research Assistant of the group, Osude Uju, said: “It is disturbing that victims of violent acts

in Nigeria have to experience social stigma, bear the responsibility of paying the bills for the treatment of any injuries sustained, regardless of the cost and if they decide to bring civil action against their offenders; they bear the cost for that as well.”

10—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Gunmen kill septuagenarian, woman in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

From left: Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekitti State; President, Governing Council, AES Excellence Club, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu and Dr. Nike Akande, Chairman, at the club's Bi-monthly Business luncheon, in Lagos.

Insecurity: NYSC members get martial arts training ...as Aregbesola tasks ‘corpers' on national unity

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Directorate in Ogun State, yesterday, introduced martial arts training for corps members posted to the state as part of security measures.

This came as Governor

Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State reminded Nigerians that the primary aim of NYSC were the promotion of the country’s unity and the enhancement of its strength and cultural diversities.

Ogun State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Theresa Anosike, spoke at the swearing in of the 2012

'Batch B' corps members at NYSC Per manent Orientation Camp in Sagamu.

She said: “The 2,000 corps members comprising 999 males and 1001 females who have so far registered at the camp will be trained in martial arts to equip them with self-defence skills

Ondo LP, PDP woo aggrieved ACN guber aspirants

BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—SOME ag grieved governorship aspirants of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ondo State are now beautiful brides of Labour Party, LP, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the October 20 election.

Already 10 of the aspirants, who were peeved with the imposition of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu by leaders of the party as its candidate, have opened talks with the two parties and carrots are been dangled at them.

Negotiations by high level delegations from the two parties, according to an inside source, is ongoing with the aggrieved aspirants of the party.

Also, following the emergence of the immediate past National Legal Adviser of PDP, Chief Olusola Oke, as the party's candidate, some chieftains have been meeting with some of the aspirants

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to come back to the party.

National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, had said the choice of Akeredolu was irreversible and that genuine party members would stay.

Akeredolu is, however, the only aspirants out of

the 40 that had collected his nomination form as at yesterday. The nomination form closed yesterday.

Screening is tomorrow while the congress of the party is July 10.

Fayemi appeals to Ewi, Babalola over devt

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DO-EKITI—GOV ERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, yesterday, appealed to Ewi of Ado- Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, to support his government to enhance peace and development.

He made the appeal in Ado-Ekiti, at a meeting with the two leaders who played prominent roles in the creation and development of the state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi appealed to the duo leaders to join him in

working for peace in AdoEkiti and the state at large.

The governor declined comments on the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, when accosted by journalists.

Fayemi said he was happy that the two leaders pledged to cooperate with the government for the development of AdoEkiti and the state .

He also emphasised his administration’s commitment in ensuring that the state continued to live up to its rating as one of the most peaceful states in the country.

in addition to the normal para-military drills and physical training during the three-week orientation programme.''

M e a n w h i l e , Aregbesola has described youths as veritable tools of cultural transmission.

The governor, in an address, entitled: “Stay on, Get on,” delivered at the camp opening in Ede, said the primary objective of the NYSC scheme was the promotion of unity in diversity.

He noted that such interaction through the scheme, bred mutual understanding, harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence.

Aregbesola stressed that the scheme was a preparatory knowledge base for corps members in understanding the complex social-cultural, ethnic and religious diversities of the country.

He noted that the flexibility to learn new things was part of what higher education the corps member received which the NYSC scheme sought to impart in them.

Aregbesola said: “The objective of the programme is to promote unity in diversity among all ethnic nationalities in the country and the world over, youths are said to be a veritable agent of cultural transmission, which NYSC is meant to facilitate.”

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BEOKUTA—A sep tuagenarian and a woman were Tuesday night killed while no fewer than 10 other persons were injured after suspected land speculators invaded Ajambata village near Atan in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the sad event took place about 9p.m. when the hoodlums attacked the villagers with guns and cutlasses. They shot sporadically and forced the villagers to scamper to safety.

It was gathered that the three-hour incident led to the death of the septuagenarian, identified as Bayo Odunaro, and a yetto-be identified woman.

The hoodlums also at-

tacked African Church building at the entrance of the village and vandalised the chairs and other property.

Speaking with Vanguard, Otun of Ajambata, Chief Adeleke Akinde, said: “The unfortunate attack started since 2001 before degenerating to this extent and we had complained to the law enforcement agencies, but nothing was done to nip the crisis in the bud. ''But rather than solve, the problem of the harassment, the land grabbers have been using law enforcement agencies to intimidate and harass us.”

When Vanguard visited the village, yesterday, the community had been deserted with the youths barricading the roads leading to the village.

Ondo residency card project not abandoned — Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—GOVER NOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday, said the implementation of residency card project initiated by his government would soon commence to put paid to speculation that

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the project had been abandoned.

Mimiko, who spoke when he visited the Mother and Child Hospital in Akure, said the card would afford all legal residents of the state opportunity to enjoy government social services and facilities without stress.

Vanguard,THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—11

Police arrest 5 over plan to sell stolen boy for N.3m BYAUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—A syndicate, which specialises in stealing infants from their parents, has been smashed in Delta State, with five members of the gang arrested.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, while parading the suspects at the state police headquarters in Asaba, said the gang planned and executed the stealing of a seven-year-old boy from the mother at Umunede area of the state, and following a tip-off, the boy was recovered from the gang’s hideout.

He said: “Delta State Police Command wishes to warn parents to make diligent efforts to secure their children and wards as gangs, which believed in child stealing are on the prowl.

“On July 2, at 3am, one

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Trust Ndidi, a seven-yearold boy was stolen at 2, Idumuisioji Obi Quarters, Umunede from his mother, one Lynda Madaka.”

He added that detectives

from Umunede police division based on information trailed the suspects to Agbor, “where the child was recovered in good health” from the wife of one

of the suspects, who is a mother of seven, adding that the suspects confessed that they bargained to sell the child to her for N250,000.

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ORT HARCOURT— G O V E R N O R Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, has been hailed for his achievement in the state. Some of the governorship candidates in the last governorship election, in the state, under a coalition, said they were impressed with his performance so far.

Chairman of the Coalition of the Rivers 2011 Governorship Candidates, Prince Uchechukwu Ichenwo, who led other members on a courtesy call on Governor Amaechi, said they were impressed with what they had seen so far.

They said: “We salute your (Amaechi) sincere purposeful leadership in Rivers State. We appreciate the enormous investment the government had made in the area of power generation. So far, you have done well with your primary

BY JOHNBOSCO

AGBAKWURU ALABAR—AS ero sion threatens to cut off Calabar, the capital of Cross River State from other parts of the state and indeed the country, the state government has embarked on the construction of a 1.45 kilometre underground water channel, that would run through the western part of the city to drain water off flood prone areas into the Calabar River.

An Assistant Director and Civil Engineer with the state Ministry of Works, Mr. Robert Etu, who disclosed

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this at the project site on UNICEM Road said the channel would drain water from residential areas, including Parliamentary Village, Ikot Ishie, State Housing and Old Odukpani Road .

Etu said the channel was being constructed at the cost of N2 billion and that the design was in segments to allow for regular entry of engineers to the channels to clean debris that would accumulate in the channel to allow for free flow of water all year round, particularly during peak periods of rainfall.

INEC warns corps members on Edo guber poll From left: Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah; Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and Prince Emeka Obasi, at the Business Hallmark Public Policy Forum lecture delivered by Governor Orji in Lagos, yesterday.

Ex-guber candidates hail Amaechi on devt

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

C-River govt tackles erosion, flood

healthcare system.

“In the same vein, you have done well in the educational sector. We wish to particularly congratulate you on the recent N400

million Universal Basic Education Award, which you decided to re-invest in the construction of more model primary schools.”

On road, the Coalition commended Amaechi for rehabilitating and constructing new roads in the state."

Tension in 3 Delta LGs over NULGE election that they were unlawfully Council.”

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—CRISIS is looming in Udu, Patani and Ughelli South local government areas of Delta State over the outcome of last Thursday’s election of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, held in the 25 councils of the state.

While the chairmanship aspirant in Udu, Mr Olori Delekpe, alleged that the election was rigged, his Patani and Ughelli South counterparts, Mr Daniel Amgbare and Mr Jimmy Faka, respectively alleged

excluded from the election.

In Udu, Delekpe, who addressed newsmen after the declaration of the results, alleged that the total vote cast announced was above the actual number of accredited voters for the election by a “margin too wide to ignore.”

“I call on the state NULGE authorities to take proactive action to immediately correct the irregularity for peace, fairness and justice to prevail in Udu

A source in Patani told newsmen, yesterday, that the election in the council was postponed, following protest against the exclusion of Lafua by the workers, adding that it took the intervention of the council’s Head of Personnel Management, the State Security Service, the Police and the Patani monarch for the election to be put off until the issue of exclusion of Lafua was addressed.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHO-

LASE ENIN—EDO State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Kassim Gaidam, has warned National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members in the state not to allowed themselves to be used to derail the electoral process during the July 14, governorship election.

He gave the warning in Benin, yesterday, when he visited Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC training centres in Oredo, Egor, IkpobaOkha and Orhionmwon

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....As Edebiri pledges to discourage multiple taxation

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— FRONTLINE gubernatorial candidate in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has assured that his administration will address

Godfatherism underdeveloped Edo —Ize-Iyamu

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— SOUTH South ViceChairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday, attributed the failure of Peoples Demo-

cratic Party, PDP, in the state as the handiwork of a godfather, who fought all the duly-elected governors in the state.

He said it was as a result of the overdomineering nature of the godfather, that

Local Government Areas of the state, where NYSC members were undergoing a two-day training programme at the centres ahead of the governorship poll.

He urged the corps members not to compromise the process, saying that they should be proud to have been saddled with a critical national assignment.

He said: “You should therefore endeavour to resist any attempt or bait to derail the electoral process.

What you have agreed to do on the election day is a patriotic and selfless service, which no money can buy."

forced him to form the “Grace Group”, while he was Secretary to Edo State Government during the administration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion, which metamorphosedintothepresentACN.IzeIyamu and his group fought the Chief Tony Anenih-led PDP machinery then with their slogan “NomanisGod”.Theiractionled to their being de-registered by the PDP. He also declared that the politics of ethnicity being introduced by the PDP ahead the July 14 governorshipelectionwillfail,because “Oshiomhole is more Bini than other candidates who does not seem to know the problems and the people of the state.

the issue of multiple taxation in the state.

The governorship hopeful, who is contesting of the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and a coalition of eight other political parties, said he will harmonise tax system in the state and do away with double taxation currently in place in the state.

“We will harmonise tax payment in the state. We will remove the burden of double taxation on the people. We will not encourage a situation where people are taxed for the same service more than once.”

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Oil firms should give equity shares to Niger Deltans —Kuku

Urges Jonathan to admit Itsekiri ex-militants into amnesty programme

BY EMMA UJAH &

HENRY UMORU BUJA —S E N I O R Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku, yesterday, made a strong case for Niger Deltans to own equity stakes in the oil companies operating in the region.

Addressing the Senate Committee on Niger Delta in, Abuja, he said that ownership of equity by members of the oil producing communities was critical in ensuring sustainable peace in the region,postamnestyprogramme.

He said: “It is only a mad man, who will destroy what belongs to him. If the people of Niger Delta see that they have equity stakes in the oil companies, they will know that the pipelines that pass

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through their communities must be protected because it is in their interests to do so.

“I have always said this- the fundamental reasons that led to militancy in the region must be addressed. Theseincludeunderdevelopment, ownership of oil companies, environmental remediation and land rights.”

Taking Niger Delta people on boardasequitystakeholderswas one of the major recommendations of the Niger Delta TechnicalCommittee,whichworkgave birth to the declaration of the Presidential Amnesty by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Kuku enlisted the senators support in urging President Goodluck Jonathan to “open at leastasmallwindowtoadmitthe Itsekiri ex-militants who submitted their arms to the Joint Task

Force, JTF before the expiry date.

“The key objective of the amnesty proclamation was to help create conditions for the stabilisation, consolidation and sustenance of security situation in the Niger Delta as pre-requisite for promoting economic development in the zone, which is the nation’s oil and gas base.”

He noted that 5,067 of the programme’s beneficiaries had graduated in skills-acquisition fields such as Welding & Fabrication, 1,847; Entrepreneurship, 1,609; Pipe fitting, 150; Carpentry and plumbing, 206;, Oil drilling,32;Electricalinstallation,232; ICT, 125; Marine related courses, 564 and others, 302.

Kuku added that 95 delegates had been offered direct employment in various governmental and private establishments.

Rivers has enormous potential —Ex-Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert

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ORT HARCOURT— A former Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ehud Olmert, has expressed confidence in the dynamic leadership of the Rivers State Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, to continuously use the state’s potential to benefit the people.

Olmert spoke when he paid a visit to Governor Amaechi in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said: “The impression that I always get when I came to Africa was that these countries had

enormous potential and your country and your state (Rivers) has enormous potential and I think that you happen to have at this time in history also, a dynamic, energetic and capable leadership, that can make the dreams of building up the state into a reality of life for the 5.1 million residents in Rivers State, who want their lives to be of much higher and greater quality.”

On the prospect of promoting partnership between Rivers State and the

State of Israel, Olmert said: “I believe that there is a possibility that we will find ways to explore together, how to bring in investors, how to develop areas of interest that are of importance to the development of Rivers State in agriculture, waste management, water, building up greenhouses and growing vegetables that will be of the highest quality, as we do in Israel instead of buying them overseas.”

New exco for Bomadi LG NULGE OMADI—THE Bomadi Local Government Area chapter of Nigeria union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has elected new executive to pilot the affairs of the union for the next three years.

The council workers, who trooped out in their numbers amidst heavy down pour, converged at the council’s pavilion to cast their votes for Mr Roland Osonu.

Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after being declared winner of the chair-

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manship position, Osonu said thanked the workers for electing him.

He said that his victory was a clear mandate by the workers to serve them, explaining that he would put the interest of the workers first in piloting the affairs of the union and promised to deliver on his campaign promises.

He also called on the losers to accept defeat, adding that he would extend an olive branch to the losers in the spirit of sportsmanship,aseveryonewillbecarriedalong.

“The welfare of every worker willbemypriorityinthenextthree yearsaschairmanofNULGE.At

CDC lauds Uduaghan on devt ARRI—CHAIR MAN of OdeItsekiri Community Development Committee, CDC, in Warri, Delta State, Mr. Ebobo Araye, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state for his laudable achievements and developmental strides in the state.

Speaking in Warri, he

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noted that the state had witnessed tremendous human capital and infrastructural development initiated by the current administration in the state.

Araye, also commended Uduaghan for the construction and renovation of schools across the state, noting that the government deserves commendation in this regard.

this point in time, I want to extend an olive branch to all those who failed in the contest, so that we can join hands to move the union to a greater height.”

ECTS boss loses mum ADY A.O. IZE-IYAMU, JP, Nee Ighodaro Ehanire, 82, is dead. Lady Ize-Iyamu was one of the foremost Londontrained Bini female nurses and proprietorofIze-IyamuMaternity Home.

She is survived by six children including Mrs.HelenOsula,Justice Adesuwa Oke-Lawal, Mrs. Edugie Agbonlahor MD/CEO, ECTS, Pharm. Flora Ozua, Barr.

Osahon Ize-Iyamu and Mrs. Eriamiye Adeyinka.

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Late Lady Ize-Iyamu

Vanguard , THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—13

Ghana, Nigerian bizmen face-off: FG, ECOWAS sue for truce

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—NIGERIAN government in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is working with the Ghanaian government to reconsider its harsh condition imposed on Nigerian businessmen in Ghana.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku who stated this yesterday, noted that the long existing cordial relationship between the two countries would not be jeopardised by the harsh policy of the Ghanaian government which Nigerian businessmen alleged were targeted at them.

Under the policy, businessmen are required to have an initial capital of $300,000 and employ 10 Ghanaians before they can start any business in Ghana, regardless of the size of the business.

However, the Information Minister said, "with the Federal Government and ECOWAS intervention,

Ghanaian authorities will reconsider their stance.

“Nigeria and Ghana enjoy very cordial and friendly relations, it is one of our foremost business partners in the West African subregion.

“In ECOWAS, we share common values, vision for this sub continent and Ghana has always supported Nigeria on major issues within and outside Africa and we also always stand

by Ghana. These two countries perhaps have more cordial relationship in this sub-region and our people have learnt to live together.

“But in particular reference to the incidence in Ghana, the government within the rules outlined by ECOWAS and other international conventions made presentations on behalf of Nigerians in Ghana and currently the information available is that Ghana is also considering the suspension of the demands on Nigerians in Ghana, following the intervention of the Nigerian government

and the ECOWAS parliament. That doesn’t mean that the problem is finally resolved, but that it creates an opportunity for both Nigeria and Ghana to resolve these problems amicably.

“What is most important for us as a leading nation in ECOWAS and in the African sub region is to create an environment where our citizens sould be able to participate freely in economic activities. ECOWAS is one of the greatest examples of regional integration in the continent and it has served the economies of member states in West Africa.

“We have also collaborated with other countries even on security stretched across to all member countries and Nigeria believes that in working together this region has more to benefit and that in allowing our citizens to compete freely in the market place we also create the synergy that will lead to competition, development and indeed defeat poverty in the sub region.

“So I assure you that both

Nigeria and Ghana will continue to work together to resolve any teething problems that will arise as we continue to integrate West Africa and promote economic development, fight poverty and the development of this sub-region,” he said.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—IN what was seen as a home coming, Governor Peter Obi yesterday visited his alma mater, the Christ the King College, CKC, Onitsha during which he handed a cheque of N20 million to the principal of the college for the construction of science laboratory building in the 79-year old college. CKC was one of the schools returned to their original missionary owners.

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Obi donates N20m to alma mater for lab project He said the donation was in line with the commitment of his administration towards the promotion of qualitative education and again to fulfill a promise he made earlier to the authorities of the school.

Edo poll: IG deploys more policemen, warns politicians

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN CITY—THE In spector General of Police, Abubakar Muhammed has ordered the deployment of more policemen in Edo State ahead of the July 14, governorship election.

The Assistant Inspector of general of Police, AIG, Zone 5 in-charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, Hashimu Argungu, also announced that there would be no vehicular movement in the state on the day of

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the election except those on essential services. He declared that the police was battle ready for the election and warned politicians planning to foment trouble to ‘forget it because we will deal ruthlessly with any body involved in election rigging”.

The AIG who was flanked

by Edo State Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun, also denied rumours that there was influx of arms into the state ahead of the election, just as he disclosed, however, that the

police is determined to stop such movement of arms in the state.

Argungu disclosed plans for a joint meeting with other security agencies in the state today (Thursday) with a view to mapping out strategies to curtail violence on election day, adding that a detachment of anti-riot policemen have already arrived the state while police formations in neighbouring states would also be deployed to boost the capacity of those already on ground.

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Senate gives FG knocks over N8bn spent on prisons' decongestion

Ban on Okada: Sanity returns to Enugu metropolis

Says it's a waste, asks Legal Aid Council to take over project

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BY HENRY UMORU BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, accused the Federal Government of spending N8, 723,12,391:66 on prison decongestion with little to show for it.

The Senate also declared, that the programme which is under the Ministry of Justice is expensive and not sustainable, just as it directed the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Justice to take over the prisons decongestion programme.

According to the Senate, with the coming into effect of the Re-enactment Act 2011, the Legal Aid Council, has been repositioned for effective and efficient performance, adding that "the Legal Aid Council, which has the statutory mandate to represent indigent Nigerians, if well funded, can effectively dis-

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charge this mandate on a sustainable basis rather than embark on an interventionist programme that was to all intent and purposes unsustainable.”

The resolutions of the Senate followed the report presented by the Senator Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto South)- led Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Interior and Police Affairs on the plight of persons awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said the prisons decongestion programme had failed despite the huge sum of money sunk into it, adding, "since 2006 till date, a whopping N8.7 billion has so far been expended on the programme with little to show for it.”

The Senate also approved the amendment of the con-

stitution to remove the prisons from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list to allow states build and maintain prisons, just as it also approved an increase in the funding of the Nigeria Prisons Service to address the problem of infrastructural decay and boost the welfare of inmates and prison officers.

State governors and chief judges of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were further mandated to visit any prison in their respective states at least twice a year in exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, ICPC, Director General of State Security Services, SSS, Inspector General of Police and other law enforcement agencies were asked to train their officials on effective and efficient investigation before arrests

and detentions were made to check incidences of unnecessary arrests.

Confirms appointment of 2 Supreme Court judges In a related development, the Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of Justices Clara Ogunbiyi and Musa Muhammed as justices of the Supreme Court.

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—SANITY re turned to major streets and roads in Enugu state capital yesterday as several commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada deserted the town in compliance with the state government’s order banning their o p e r a t i o n s .

However, few recalcitrant operators continued to ply the roads conveying passengers who were willing to patronize them.

As early as 7 am yesterday, motorcycles were off the roads as the operators converged at strategic locations discussing their fate.

Some of the operators were seen conveying their bikes in trucks to other states like neighbouring Ebonyi and Anambra where their activities has not been outlawed.

However, mixed reactions trailed the ban as most residents interviewed applauded the decision of government, which they said would go a long way in curbing crimes in the c i t y .

They said apart from curbing violent crimes like robbery and killing which some men who disguised as Okada riders had perpetrated in the city, rampant accidents involving Okada operators would be elimin a t e d .

Orji canvasses regional integration

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE OVERNOR of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji yesterday called for regional integration to drive the nation’s economic transformation, noting that

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it will promote development of states and regions.

Speaking during a public policy forum organised by the Business Hallmark Publishers, Lagos, Orji noted that regional cooperation in identified areas was key to the liberation of growth, through the facili-

tation of contiguous states.

“And that harmonization of various activities, including the elimination of the duplication of capital intensive projects, will usher in shared-services that improve management of the economic resources of states,” he added.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 15

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16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

NPHCDA blames polio in Sokoto on elite

BY ABDALLAH ELKUREBE

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OKOTO—EXECUTIVE Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NHCDA, Dr. Ado Mohammed, has blamed the elite over the inability of the government to eradicate polio virus in Sokoto State.

Mohammed spoke, yesterday, during the official launch of Polio-Free Torch Campaign in Sokoto.

He said: “As a matter of fact, the non-compliance and resistance of polio vaccines by the elite in Sokoto State, is worrisome. Each child must be immunised.

“I, therefore, call on the governor of the state to address the issue of non-compliance and rejection by the elite.”

Mohammed further said that the direct local government involvement in the fight against polio was paramount if success was to be

achieved.

He said: “I urge the governor to ensure punctuality of routine immunisation in the state and also disqualify any council chairman in whose local government area cases of polio outbreak occurs.”

He commended the state government for directing local councils to contribute N500,000 monthly towards the eradication of the disease.

Sultan Saad Abubakar also attended the flag-off.

DISPLACED: From left— Mr. Tony Usidamen, Communications Manager, Dana Air; Capt. Oscar Wason, Director of Flight Operations; Mr. A.B. Anand, Head, Admin., and Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, GM/CEO, LASEMA, with persons displaced by the Dana plane crash at the relief camp, Ayobo, Ipaja, Lagos.

Gunmen kill Borno housing corporation boss

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— GENERAL Manager of Borno State

Housing Corporation, Mr. Isa Ngaram, was, yesterday, killed by unknown gunmen in Maiduguri, capital of

Borno State.

He was killed in front of his office located at one of the troubled spots in the metropolis.

Kwara offers solution to unemployment

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that vocational training and youth empowerment remain the key to addressing the unemployment challenges confronting the nation.

Governor Ahmed stated this at the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation, YESSO, meeting held at the state Banquet Hall in Ilorin, the state capital.

The governor said his administration, in line with the Federal Government SURE-P Programme, has updated its database to include uneducated youths and school drop-outs to en-

sure effective engagements of the teeming youth population.

Ahmed said the Malete Youth Farm, Old Yidi Road Fish Farm and the upgrade of three technical colleges in the three Senatorial districts of the state, were all geared towards achieving his administration’s youth empowerment programmes.

He assured participants that various other programmes were ongoing to ensure that the youths were adequately catered for to reduce the tendency towards social vices.

While congratulating the Federal Government and the World Bank for taking youth matters seriously, the governor, represented by the deputy governor, Elder Peter

Kisira, expressed optimism that the YESSO meeting of relevant stakeholders across the country would yield desired results.

In his remarks, the Leader, Public Sector Group of the World Bank, Professor Folusho Okunmadewa said the Federal Government was ready to support the state government KWABES programme to increase employment capacity of the state.

Prof. Okunmadewa, who spoke later in an interview, explained that the idea of the meeting was to allow input by every state government into the generic paper being developed by the World Bank to assist the employment drive at the various tiers of government.

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at about 11.00am when the gunmen trailed the deceased to his office situated in the state’s low cost housing estate and shot him dead, while he attempted to enter his private car behind his office.

The gunmen, it was learnt, also went away with the private car of the deceased who was left in a pool of his blood.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Jubrin Gideon in a telephone interview, said that Madu was killed by yet to be identified assailants, who also made away with his vehicle, before the arrival of security agents.

The PPRO said investigation was still on to apprehend the fleeing assailants, even as he urged the public to assist police and other security agencies with information on the hideouts of criminals and terrorists in the state.

Security challenges 'll end soon— Shettima

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ANO—GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State has expressed optimism that the security challenges bedevilling some parts of the country will soon be a thing of the past.

In an address during a courtesy call on Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, Shettima explained that his optimism emanated from relative peace currently being enjoyed in some affected areas in the country.

Shettima was in the state to condole with the government and people of Kano State over the demise of Yobe-born politician, Senator Usman AlBashir in a road accident in Kano last Monday.

He said: “We have witnessed some element of calmness in the past couple of weeks in the affected areas and with the approach of the Ramadan period, we hope and pray that calmness, as well as the restoration of peace and

PEOPLE SPEAK

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normalcy will continue.

“Kwankwaso can be described as an achiever and he has consistently sustained the tempo in his second coming. With all these achievements, posterity will judge him.

Kano people will also recognise his efforts and the people of Kano will put him in the right position he deserves,” the Borno State governor added.

Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who expressed appreciation over the condolence visit, described Al-Bashir’s death as a great loss to the family, Borno State and the country as a whole.

He described the deceased as a gentleman who, through his companies, created jobs for many Nigerians, pointing out that late AlBishir was also a successful international businessman.

Kwankwaso said that was needed was prayers for God to guide leaders on the right path in running the affairs of the state and the country.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

Do you support state police?

TATE police is a very good and bril liant idea because it brings about close monitoring. When the police and the policed know each other, checking of excesses will be possible. A centralised police structure cannot do this.—Ms. Amune Ofumi, NYSC Member.

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ECURITY should be jointly handled by the three tiers of government. A singularly Federal structure is bad.

I don't think Nigeria, as a country, has to wait for 100 years before practicing community, state and federal policing.—Mr. Owolabi Lateef, Lawyer.

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TATE policing is still the best. It is working in some countries like America.

When you have a police of your state guarding your state, such police will do well since its personnel know the people and place.—Mr. Ezugo Nwashili, Supermarket Owner.

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TATE policing is the only way we can address the insurgency disrupting commercial activities in the country. People in the various communities know each other and can easily fish out criminals who live among them.—Mr. Olatunde Kolawole, Lawyer.

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do not think there is need for state police.

If you look at the current security challenges in the country, you will discover that it started with state governments trying to control the state, especially during elections.—Akanni Oluseyi, Civil Servant.

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am really in support of state police. I believe it is a very good idea if the Federal Government would be efficient enough to monitor everything. Otherwise, it might be turned into a private ar my.—Mrs. Arit Offem, Guidance Counsellor.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—17 ARLY last week, one of the greatest beneficiaries of all that is good in Nigeria, David Mark, the Senate President, addressed a Senate retreat at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Given the state of things in our country, it was appropriate enough, that the theme of the retreat was “National Assembly and National Security: Securing the Future for Development”. Mark warned that Nigeria risked breakup if the cycle of church bombings by Boko Haram was not checked on time: “We cannot just go with the rule of law…the way Boko Haram is going, if nothing is done to halt it, God forbid, it may result in the break-up of the country”. David Mark was not done, asking ‘the leaders of Northern States’ to think properly before they allowed what he called “a few selected cabals in Boko Haram to bring the North to its knees with what they are doing”. The Senate president also momentarily played the religious zealot, adding: “if we allow it to go on, it will encourage disunity and religious war, because there is limit to patience. Christian leaders have been appealing against vengeance. But for how long will the people continue to listen, while they are being killed?”

Responding to arguments that the insurgency might have socio-economic roots, Mark disagreed, accusing that “the same people who are crying about underdevelopment in the North are responsible for the current situation”.

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Well, well! How do we deconstruct David Mark’s speech? Did the man forget that he is the second highestranking Northerner in the administration? Who are the “Northern leaders” he warned to think properly before ‘a few selected cabals in Boko Haram bring the North to its knees’?

Mark should go the whole hog by unmasking “the same

more division in the region”.

Belatedly recognising the faux pas he committed, David Mark offered an amendation to his original accusation against Northern leaders: “ when I made my comment, I didn’t exclude myself from Northern leaders. I am part of them”. But in recent days, all kinds of dubious groups have been rented to attack Northern leaders on Mark’s behalf!

Self-servicing opportunism Senator David Mark people who are crying about underdevelopment in the North”, while being actually “ responsible for the current situation”.

This absurd, typically self-serving statement, true to Mark’s entire political career, has naturally shocked people around the North. Prof.

Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of ABU and a notable Northern elder, offered Mark a riposte: “ we are replying David Mark, President of the Senate, because he was biased and not honest in his take on failure to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency. What he said is false. He is the third person in Nigeria and second in the North and yet he is accusing us of doing nothing on Boko Haram. He was to say all of us (along) with him had failed but he removed himself and blamed us for the Boko

Haram issue. If he is saying that he is not a Northerner, there is no problem and now we know where he stands. He has also failed to organise a meeting and means of approaching this

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Mark's absurd statement

Et vous David Mark?

For me, what is worrisome is this serial, self-serving opportunism, that is the hallmark of the man’s political career. When he distanced himself from “leaders of the Northern states” to denounce “a few selected cabals in Boko

Given the crisis which faces the country today, its no use for those in positions of leadership like David Mark to engage in banal generalisations or opportunistically attempt to exploit the situation to further political ambitions

challenge as number three and second in the North. All we know is our traditional rulers and religious leaders of JNI and CAN are working and it is him that failed, and wants to create

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Haram (whatever sense that statement made!), he was only opportunistically trying to position himself as championing the concern of Christians in the North; and by

stating that “there is limit to patience…for how long will people continue to listen, while they are being killed?” Nigeria’s number three citizen was subtly encouraging/justifying revenge attacks! Yet, as a politician with a rumoured ambition to run for presidency in 2015, he quickly retreated and now said “I didn’t exclude myself from Northern leaders.

I am part of them”. David Mark is a past master of hunting with the pack and running with the hare! His years in Nigeria’s Senate, especially since 2003, have been dogged by the controversy of stolen mandates, which somehow ended decided in his favour, by an increasingly compromised judiciary. But have we forgotten that this serial opportunist was one of the greatest defenders of Obasanjo’s Third Term Agenda? Yet, when the Nigerian people defeated the obnoxious attempt to crock our constitution, David Mark was imposed as Senate President

by Obasanjo; he thus emerged the greatest beneficiary of the democracy that he laboured to subvert!

Given the crisis which faces the country today, its no use for those in positions of leadership like David Mark to engage in banal generalisations or opportunistically attempt to exploit the situation to further political ambitions. If he knows people responsible for the carnage in the land, his patriotic duty is to name names!

Besides as one of the leaders from the region, how much work has Mark done to help stem the slide to anarchy before raising the red herring of war?

As an ex-soldier, he knows more about war than most of us; unfortunately, there are very few Nigerians who own golf courses abroad that they can run to, if war breaks out. That is why people like David Mark who has spent his entire lifetime taking so much undeserved goodies out of Nigeria, should help heal wounds not add salt to injuries or join the chorus of war in this land!

Sambo Dasuki: Re-architecturing the security infrastructure

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ITHIN a week of his appointment as the new National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki has displayed a greater appreciation of a more nuanced approach to the raging insurgency in the country. He has visited Yobe and Borno states, the epicenter of the Boko Haram problem; he held discussions with the Borno Elders’ Forum and the governors of the two states. This was far more than was done by his predecessor, Andrew Owoye Azazi. Azazi got things wrong from the beginning, largely because of his mindset. He saw the insurgency as a political weapon in the hands of Northerners with grievances against President Goodluck Jonathan. He then tried to link the fight against Boko Haram to the broad international narrative of ‘ war on terror ’, hoping to enlist the United States in his fight. The huge sums appropriated for security, like bee to nectar, was attracting dubious security contractors to partake in the

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feasting on contracts. Security then took a life of its own, and there was no longer an incentive to end the crisis.

Azazi, who had been retired

from the army for controversies, was too much sucked into a wrong-headed analysis of the insurgency and therefore proved more of a

liability in the struggle to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency. ambo Dasuki seems to appreciate the fact that

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Sir Lucky Omoluwa: Award for an intrepid businessman S part of activities to commemorate Africa Day 2012, in the US, the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa in collaboration with the Congressional African Staffers Association (CASA), recently honoured the Nigerian Businessman and philanthropist, Lucky Babatunde Omoluwa for his work in advancing business relations with the USA and in philanthropy. The honouring hosts were US Senators Patrick Leahy and Mark Begich and US Reps. Chris Smith, Bobby L. Rush, James Clyburn, Sheila Steve Cohen, Andre Carson and Karen Bass. Omoluwa has interests in several areas of

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business but I have known his work over the years in broadcasting procurement and installation. For years, these were fields that scammers dominated and skimmed off huge sums of money, with often, shoddy performance, in return.

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moluwa’s company has become a leader in the broadcast business because of an admirable commitment to delivery and installation of very high quality equipment. It was his attitude which has largely revolutionised the business in Nigeria; and the fact that his company is the exclusive representative of the Broadcast

Communication Division of Harris Corporation, the largest manufacturers of radio and television transmitters in the world, speaks volumes for his success in the field. But I think his greatest attributes include an uncommon modesty despite his business success as well as mentoring of others to find success in different areas of life.

Lucky Omoluwa is the quintessential Nigerian who speaks many Nigerian languages, a Southerner who found tremendous success in Northern Nigeria. The only passion he has that I don’t share is his love for golf!

Congratulations Sir Babatunde Lucky Omoluwa.

there can be no shooting through the insurgency and has stated that the best way out was to engage in dialogue. If that reflects the desire of President Jonathan, I do hope all those concerned will assist to get the process of dialogue going. I have taken my cue about dialogue from the Borno Elders as well as governor Kashim Shettima; they have consistently argued that social and economic life has become paralysed in the state; that much I verified, having spent a week in Borno, recently. And by extension, we are facing the same paralysis in several parts of Northern Nigeria. I hope that Sambo Dasuki nurses no delusions that his will be an easy task; he has his work cut out! But I do wish him success, because we cannot sustain life in the North the way things are at the moment, and by extension, Nigeria will not know meaningful peace and development, if we do not bring closure to the Boko Haram insurgency.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY , JULY 5, 2012 JUNE 23 was the United Nations’ International Widows Day. Many interests and nongovernmental groups, in Nigeria, took to the streets with placards calling for an end to crises and violence, the major sources of widowhood – especially among young women.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, while bemoaning the worldwide incidents of human rights violation of widows, such as disinheritance, denial of right to land and property of their dead spouses, absence of social safety nets and outright denial of sources of livelihood, called on countries to invest more efforts in reducing conflicts and violence. He also wants more protection for widows.

The problem of widowhood is universal but of particular concerns are horrifying practices in Africa and Nigeria against widows. In most communities, once the man of the home passes on either through illness or accident, his wife or mother is usually accused of being responsible for his death. She is cut off from possessions of the family under the guise that she is in mourning. It would not matter if she contributed her money, sweat and initiative to the acquisition of the prop-

More Protection For Widows erty.

Harmful traditional practices, such as keeping her in seclusion for months or years, making her drink the water with which the corpse was bathed, being forced to remarry are invoked. Her children could drop out of school due to poverty or lack of care from the husband’s relations. The widow and her children bear the double tragedy of losing their family head and facing untold marginalisation and stigmatisation.

We support Moon’s call for a universal resolve to “end all discrimination against the world’s widows and to enable them to enjoy

their full human rights”.

One way of protecting widows is by law. The 1999 Constitution provides for such protection, under provisions that award basic human rights, but the specific laws to achieve these are inadequate.

Human rights violations against widows are entrenched in ancient cultural practices that have managed to survive the times. Widowhood often forces women to go through unimaginable hardship as they struggle to provide for the needs of their children. The larger society is poorer by denying some of its members their rights.

We call for the enactment of laws to protect widows and their children, provide some social benefits for them and ensure that they are not denied access to possessions of their dead family heads.

Places, whose traditions are against widows, can initiate the changes by weighing the losses to their communities through these practices. Traditions are meant to enhance societies. Where they become harmful, society should change them.

Attitude change towards widows could be a faster solution than the rigours of legislation.

OPINION

BY PETER AFUBA

Continued from yesterday NDEED, even after obtaining the Council’s approval, the Governor in some cases was able to prevail on some contractors to further reduce the cost of projects before the contract documents were signed.

On the particular case of the Hotel and Convention Centre project at Onitsha, I will demonstrate that Mr. Offodile again failed to verify the story he heard regarding the project. The contract was awarded to Constain (WA) Plc for the sum of N5,599,625,670.12. At the time the contract award was approved, the State Executive Council directed that the project be scaled down by removing one floor in the hotel and reducing sitting capacity of the convention centre from 800 to 700 so as to further reduce the cost of the project. After the project had been downsized as directed by Council, Constain (WA) Plc for inexplicable reason and contrary to government expectation submitted a fresh bid of N8,063,282,213.87 as its new cost for the project. The company was invited to a meeting at which it insisted that its final tender figure for the project was N8 billion. This, of course, amounted to a fresh offer which government rejected.

Following the above development, the tender process for the project was started afresh and this time, the project was phased, starting with the hotel and external works only. Four companies tendered, namely: Interkel Nigeria Limited, Brunnel Limited, Akiota, Works Limited and Formwork Limited.

At the end of the tender process, the contract for the hotel and external works was awarded to Akiota Works Limited at the contract sum of N1,980,000,000 and work is presently progressing satisfactorily. Mr. Offodile asserted that due to lack of due process, serious companies avoid working in Anambra State, but nothing can be further from the truth than that.

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Re: Anambra: The limits of propaganda(2) To mention just a few, R.C.C. Ltd, CCC Ltd, Nigercat Ltd which are very reputable companies are engaged in various projects in Anambra State today.

Akiota Works Ltd now doing the Hotel project is a first class indigenous company that has done and is still doing several projects for the Federal Government and its agencies.

Some of these projects include the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabuchi, Abuja, for N360 million; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Library, Awka for N1 billion; Centre for Environmental Studies at University of Nigeria Nsukka, sponsored by Shell Company Ltd for N350 million; Flood and Erosion control at Itigidi, Cross River State, by Ecological Fund Office, Abuja; New Administrative Block at University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus for N700 million; Centre of Excellence sponsored by Central Bank of Nigeria at University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, for N6.5 billion; ICT Centre at University of Nigeria, Nsukka for N540 million. I wonder what else a company needs to do to qualify as serious, by Mr. Offodile’s standard.

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inally regarding the structure plans for Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi produced with the technical support of UNHABITAT, it is clear that Mr. Offodile never made any effort to read the documents despite the fact that they have been available for sale to the public for over two years. Let me first correct Mr. Offodile’s erroneous assertion that UNHABITAT produced base maps for the three cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi. What the international agency helped us to produce were structure plans and not base maps.

Secondly, if Mr. Offodile had read the structure plans, he would have realised that these plans are policy documents

containing proposals for the holistic development of those cities and programmed to be implemented over a period of 28 years. Not having read the structure plans, it does not surprise me that Mr. Offodile failed to appreciate that the Government of Anambra State had since commenced with the implementation of the plan.

Let me demonstrate my point with the following illustrations: The Structure Plan for Awka prescribes the removal of Awka Industrial Layout from Awka as heavy industries should not be located in the heart of the state capital. In compliance with this prescription, government de-zoned the industrial layout into a residential/commercial layout now named Greenwood City, Awka. The new Government House, new Legislative Complex and the new Judiciary Headquarters are all provided for in the master plan for Greenwood City. Ironically, while complaining that nothing is being done regarding the structure plans, Mr. Offodile is at the same time asking the Governor not to proceed with the building of these projects.

Again at Onitsha, the structure plan makes provision for the slum upgrading of Onitsha. The State Government had since engaged a consultant who has completed the generation of adequate current and reliable baseline survey of the socioeconomic characteristics of Okpoko slum residents and submitted the report in two volumes. Proposals have also been received for the development of an implementable and sustainable action plan for the slum area. This is being processed.

These are just a few illustrations. I have written this piece in order to put in proper perspective a few of the numerous misleading and unfounded statements contained in Mr. Offodile’s write-up.

Concluded *Mr. Afuba is a former Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning in Anambra State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—19

, Should governors earn pension?

T started like a joke when news made the rounds that some states were planning to pay pension to their elected exgovernors. The trend started in Kwara and since then, others like Lagos, Gombe and Kebbi have followed suit. The one that is currently causing heated public debate is the Rivers State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension and Fringe Benefits Bill 2012. It has already been passed by the state House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

It provides that governors who successfully serve two terms should be provided with houses in any part of Rivers State and Abuja, while Deputies will be entitled to a house in Rivers. They will also be entitled to pension for life equivalent to the basic salary of a sitting governor/ deputy, three cars replaceable every year with full complements of domestic and security staff, all paid by the state government. In other words, they will retire into a life of relative comfort and

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security at the expense of the state, provided: (a) they were not impeached from office and (b) they were not found guilty of any infraction of the 1999 Constitution which they swore to uphold.

The law has an interesting, albeit brief history.

It was sponsored by Chidi Lloyd on February 22, 2012. He said it was “God” who sent him to do so. The 32 members of the House deliberated on it. Thirty of them led by the Speaker of the House, Otelemaba Amachree supported it, saying it would stop such office holders from stealing. But two others, namely Victor Ihunwo (PH) and Kelechi Nwogu (Omuma) kicked against it, saying it was “anti-people” and their constituents were not for it.

Though it had a smooth passage on the floor of the House, groups outside the legislature are spoiling for war. For instance, the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Rivers State Chapter and

We must find a way to look after those who served us as presidents and governors meritoriously and without blemish; we should insure against destitution for those who won’t steal

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the Niger Delta Citizens and Budget Platform, NDCBP, say they will have none of it. Even though the executive branch did not sponsor it, the government is concerned that it is attracting unsavoury public attention to it.

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s far as I am concerned, the law attempts to provide the answer to the much vexed question: How do we guard against public officers, especially the Chief Executive of a state and his Deputy yielding to the temptation of stealing public funds to protect themselves from poverty after the glory years in power? How do we ensure that honest occupants of these coveted seats do not become bad in fear of a bleak future after power? How do we ensure that one does not have to be a multimillionaire before contesting for governor or deputy governor; and more importantly, how do we prevent people of simple means

from coming out of power now turned into multi-billionaires through graft?

It is true that no pension or gratuity will stop thieves from stealing, but at least it will reassure those who won’t steal that the state will cover them. But these questions are relevant based on experience.

For instance, the late Dr Michael Okpara, Premier of the defunct Eastern Region and the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of the defunct Northern Region were not rich when they emerged regional premiers. They served their people with all their strength, enriched many party leaders but took nothing for themselves. They built housing estates but took none for themselves. In fact, it was not until 1982 when Okpara returned from exile that a group of friends built a modest country home for him in Ohuhu, Umuahia. And it was not until 1986 when the late Air Commodore Emeka Omeruah was Military Governor of old Anambra State that he allocated a plot to Okpara’s family at the Independence Layout, Enugu. But for these acts of benevolence, their families would continue to wallow in want after their fathers served the people with distinction. Should we not provide for those who serve us well as a matter of entitlement rather than leaving them at the mercy of their successors who might choose to marginalise them on political grounds?

Amaechi himself boasts to anyone who cares to listen that he has no house of his own anywhere in the world. I personally don’t believe it, but it is a claim that is verifiable.

Assuming it is true, is it too much for such a person (who would have handled over two trillion naira by the end of his eight years in office) to look forward to minimum guaranteed comfort as an entitlement? The law makes it clear that anyone found guilty of infringement of the constitution would be disqualified.

I am strongly in support of giving our leaders guaranteed minimum comfort after office, provided the extravagance is pared down. I am not too sure if the range of benefits is not too elaborate. What does an exgovernor need a house in Abuja for? He can always use the state lodges any time in Lagos and Abuja. Building a house in Abuja means it has to be in a highbrow area with maintenance cost implications. And three cars replaceable every year? I know that top retired military officers replace their retirees’ cars every four years. Why not go for this model?

We must find a way to look after those who served us as presidents and governors meritoriously and without blemish. We should insure against destitution for those who won’t steal, even if they choose to go back to their humble careers (as teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists or farmers) after service.

Occupants of high public office should always bear in mind that their days in power are numbered from the day they are sworn-in.

They should abide by the golden rule: Do not live a lifestyle in public office which you cannot sustain when you rejoin civilian society.

Peace in our land

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realise that after the new yam festival, people must still go to farm and there is life after election.

Edo State must move! We cannot afford to miss it this time around. There is too much violence pervading the air around us. If nothing else, the maintenance of public peace and order is a basic requirement in any community so that people can conduct their daily lives without fear of physical harm, or destruction and loss of property. This is even a major reason for the establishment of government in the first place.

Today, we shall attempt to outline why we must have a clean break from the past in the forth-coming governorship election.

The second part shall concentrate on how this marvelous feat can be achieved. In all of this, there are roles for everyone in Edo State. During the electioneering, we saw the ugly instances of the tearing of opponents’ posters and the destruction of their bill boards. Some have remained at the level of making hate-speeches and heaping abuses on opponents instead of telling the electorate what they would do if elected. In some societies, these are clear offences that are normally visited with severe sanctions. In fact, no society ever elects anybody based on his track record as a murderer. And if a leader suddenly embarks on the killing of all his perceived opponents, he may eventually end up having nobody to govern. Doesn’t it make sense therefore, that the time has come for us to put an end to all forms of violence in our elections?

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ome to think of it, your worst enemy today could be your best friend tomorrow. All those who pulled the triggers on us on April 14, 2007, are on the same side with us today. As I cast my

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HE countdown to July 14 – the gubernatorial election in Edo State – has started in earnest. This column is just two editions away from that day: July 5 and 12, 2012. Both editions shall be devoted to the search for peace in Edo State.

Admittedly, the time has come for us to talk less of the forest and more of what we did with the woods – the doors, the windows, those fine school desks, tables, the roofing woods, the books, etc. We are not about to forget those beautiful beds on which the beautiful people of Edo State were manufactured and born. There must be peace in our land. At the election, there will be winners and losers. Whoever emerges as governor will be the Governor of Edo State, not Governor of a political party.

Yes, in the democratic process, controversy is inevitable and sometimes healthy. There must be an opportunity to introduce new ideas and test them through debates and campaigns. In fact, politics would be dull and uninteresting without the rounds of heated arguments we have had to put up with in the last six months or so, when the campaigns began. After all, it was in realisation of the importance of open debates that the framers of our Constitution made very liberal allowances for free speech and free press.

We watched some of the ugly trends in the campaigns thus far. They may have been a few inches above the campaigns of previous years but they are still very far from the ideal. A campaign that ran into muddy waters in which some people died at the onset; and a campaign that was marred by name-calling, smear tactics, mud-slinging and character assassination has absolutely nothing to recommend it.

This is not what we want to carry into the election and the post-election era. We must

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Nothing good takes place in an atmosphere of acrimony; based on all we have heard during the campaigns, we are now better equipped to make intelligent choices

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mind back to 1983, I remember my old friend, the late Olaiya Fagbamigbe, who represented Akure Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during the Second Republic. He was wasted in the politics of that turbulent era. That would have been a fine party leader today were he alive.

One thing is clear: If you kill to get there, you must also be prepared to kill more to remain there. Funny enough, killing cannot improve the lives of people.

Starting from this election, we must all learn to say NO to killing and maiming of anybody!

For good or for evil, ours is still a democracy. Much as democracy may not always provide the best system of human governance, we know not of any other system that is half as good.

Essentially, democratic institutions – elections and parties – are important only for their symbolic value. They help tie us to the political system by giving us roles to play during elections and providing us with a political party we can identify with.

Nothing good comes easy. Nothing good takes place in an atmosphere of acrimony and in-fighting. Based on all we have heard during the campaigns, we are now better equipped to make intelligent choices as to who can best serve our interest. Rather than killing and maiming, rigging and snatching of ballot boxes, we must develop a soft spot in our minds for the development of Edo State. The task here requires earnest, patriotic and ceaseless work from all of us. Immediately after the election, everyone from Edo State, irrespective of party affiliation and irrespective of religious and ethnic differences, must quickly banish from his heart, all feeling of disappointment, all sense of chagrin, and, like the gallant soldier, fall in line, salute the colours and face the common enemies.

The common enemies are many. They include unemployment, bad roads, environmental degradation, inadequate education and health services, infrastructural deficiencies, insecurity, etc. We have enough problems to engage our collective energies for the next decade. Why must we dissipate efforts on violence?

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

My life under threat, cries out Lagos traditional ruler whose son was killed last week

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI S you can see the entire place is peaceful, no insecurity, no violence, nobody was killed, people are going about their normal businesses.

The rumour making the rounds that hoodlums have taken over Isheri-Olofin is unfounded and baseless, it is the handiwork of mischievous people in the community.You can go around the community to verify things for yourself and get the truth”.

With this statement, the Oniseri of Isheri-Olofin, Oba Wahabi Ayinde Balogun opened this conversation when Vanguard Metro, VM, visited him in his Palace to get his reaction to rumours of crisis in his dormain and the sudden death of one of his sons, Ibrahim, who was killed by a fast moving vehicle about 200 metres away from his father’s palace.

The Oba recently won the case in a land that has been in dispute for 40 years between indigenes of Isheri-Olofin and Idimu. The land is located in old Isheri comprising Egbe, Igando, Meshindi (Ogbomosho) villages and others.

At the time of VM’s visit on Tuesday, family members, relatives, friends, and sympathisers were trooping into the palace to commiserate with the Oba on the death of his son. All present was in a sombre mood, except the traditional ruler who managed a stoic disposition, having resigned to fate with the expressed belief that God giveth and taketh any time He wishes. Prince Ibrahim was said to have been buried on Monday according to Muslim rites.s Sequel to the death of Ibrahim, the Oba was hosting other Obas from adjoining communities at the palace on the fateful day. It was in the course of that the news filtered into the palace, sending the entire area into commotion.

Ibrahim, a popularly acknowledged lovable person in the community, was born on April 14, 1968 to the royal family of Ayinde Balogun and was a mechanic before his death.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at about 4.30 pm last Sunday opposite Idimu Primary School. Ibrahim, who was on a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada was hit by a car on

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high speed. His body which was trapped under the car was dragged some distance before the car sped off. He was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital by the people around who were oblivious of his status as a Prince of Isheri.

Three victims were involved in the accident: the prince, the Okada rider and a petty trader, who fries bean cake and yam nearby. But while the Okada rider and the woman were later discharged after medical treatment, the story ended

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*Oba Wahabi Ayinde Balogun

I have been receiving threat messages from the other party on the land dispute that they were going to invade the palace and unleash mayhem

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tragically for Ibrahim as he was later confirmed dead by the family doctor at St Williams Hospital, Seliat, along Egbeda, same day following the serious injuries he sustained.

As the news of Ibrahim’s death spread like wild fire on Monday, shop owners who were just settling down for their normal business activities for the day, hurriedly closed shops, while parents and guardians rushed to various schools to retrieve their children and wards, following rumours that there was going to be a local

*The late Prince Ibrahim...knocked down by a vehicle of my guests developed a fault masquerade called Oro that and being a Sunday, no normally comes out at midnight mechanic was around to fix it. for a specific traditional rites.

So I called my son, Ibrahim, But, it was later confirmed who is also a mechanic to help that there was no such plans him, which he gladly accepted to organise the Oro, but the to do. figment of the imagination of “He went to get the spare part some people who capitalised that needed to be replaced at on the situation to cause chaos.

Idimu Market, but when he got It was said that some Okada back from the market, the spare riders gathered and went in part did not fit the type required their large numbers to for the faulty car. So, he decided commiserate with the Oba on to take Okada to go and change the death of his son. Their the spare part. He boarded the appearance, however, triggered fear in the people who thought there was going to be break down of law and order. ith the news of impending

By ALBERT AKPOR violence spreading among the IR Officer Commanding people, the Area M, AOC Logistic Command, Commander of the Lagos State Police Command, Alhaji Ikeja Lagos, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Kaoje, quickly AVM, Hassan Nashehu has dispatched armed policemen said that most air accidents are on patrol to maintain peace in traceable to inability of airline operators to service plane the area. engines, stressing that there Kaoje, who was cornered at shouldn’t be any compromise the Oba’s palace when he to constant aircraft engine visited to commiserate with the maintenance. He noted that family, said there was no crisis aircraft was a machine that flies whatsoever as the area was in the air and therefore, has a calm and orderly, adding that regime of maintenance those who were spreading the regulations that must be news of violence were being complied with.

He spoke at the Sam Ethnam mischievous. “The driver was immediately arrested and is Air Force base Ikeja, Lagos on being detained. He will be the occasion of his ‘flying out parade’ from the military. He charged with manslaughter,” said, though military aviation he said. was slightly different from civil The father of the deceased, aviation, in both engine has a Oba Ayinde Balogun narrated regime of maintenance that thus: “I was hosting other obas cannot be compromised. around this area who have According to him, civil aviation come to rejoice with me and is a little different from military the people of Isheri-Olofin over aviation. “If you are talking the court victory on the about civil aviation, there is no disputed land. The car of one alternative to ensuring regular

Okada so as to return early as the night was fast approaching.

The next thing we heard was that he was involved in a serious accident few metres away from the palace. I quickly asked my other sons and daughters to rush down to the hospital; they later came back with the sad news of his death.

I have resigned to fate, God knows why. I have no premonition of his death.

“Before the death, I have been receiving threat messages from the other party on the land dispute that they were going to invade the palace and unleash mayhem and I have already reported this to the police authorities. As I speak now, my life and the lives of my family members are under serious threat from this faceless people, but I know they will not succeed.

“I thank God the Idimu Divisional Police Officer, DPO, has provided us with a 24-hour police surveillance for protection. The people in the community have also assured me of their support all the time.

We are peace-loving people; if not there would have been pandemonium by now in the area but we will not descend so low in doing that. I am the custodian of our tradition, I owe my people the duty of ensuring there’s peace and tranquillity in the area”.

Most air-mishap caused by lack of maintenance — AVM Nashehu

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compliance to aviation regulations.

Aviation regulations, especially as it concerns maintenance. Aircraft is a machine that flies in the air, and it has regime of maintenance regulations that must be complied with, and there is no compromise. There is no managing any problem with aircraft. I think there is need for concentration on maintenance and compliance with statutory regulations as stipulated by international civil aviation organisations.

In the military, it is a little different, but we also comply with the standards stipulated,” he said. The former AOC who went down memory lane on the Nigerian Air Force at the time of enlistment said there has been tremendous improvement in the organisation but quickly added that there was room for improvement. He attributed his achievement as the AOC logistic command to dedication and commitment in line with the chief of Air staff ’s developmental agenda.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 21

CPC threatens to sanction retailers on warranty, consumers’ rights

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU HE Consumer Protection Council, CPC, has ordered retailers across the nation to always give warranties to customers on goods purchased from them, maintaining that it was part of the consumers’ rights across the world.

Director-General of CPC, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Felicia Umenyi, gave the matching order at a meeting with the retailers which was attended by representatives of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, and the National Agency for Foods Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in A b u j a .

Umenyi explained that “the law provides for manufacturer’s warranty and in some cases retailer’s warranty”, adding that the exercise of consumer’s rights under warranty must be done through the retailer.

She said: “It is no excuse for the retailer that they only sell the goods and do not manufacture them. They must be the middle men in all situations between the producer and the manufacturer. It must be noted that where consumers should have an assurance of support when a product is faulty, there is likely to be a repeat patronage in the same shop.”

The director general also frowned at their alleged refusal to accept goods from consumers once purchased even where the goods have not been used and are not perishables even when the warranty has not elapsed. He noted that in some cases, even an exchange is denied the consumer.

“This is not acceptable. Nigeria must operate within the global best practices, which includes refunds where an unused product is returned within a reasonable time and where exchanges are for products wrongly purchased for as long as they are unused and within reasonable period”, she stressed.

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180.00

+5.40

2,347.00

+57.00

21.98

+0.58

100.57 87.19

+3.23 +3.44

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA KRONER POUNDS RIYAL SDR FRANC DOLLAR WAUA YEN RENMINBI

0.2784 26.2175 242.853 41.3129 235.1524 162.3428 154.94 234.7197 1.9414 24.3883

0.2884 26.3021 243.6367 41.4463 235.9113 162.8667 155.44 235.4772 1.9477 24.4675

0.2984 26.3867 244.4204 41.5796 236.6701 163.3906 155.94 236.2346 1.9539 24.5467

CBN Exchange rate as at 04/07/2012

Umenyi further noted that consumers are not being given receipts automatically by many shops unless by force, saying “a consumer is entitled to be given a receipt which should clearly describe the product bought, price sold, date/time of purchase and name and details of the r e t a i l e r . ” She added that all products sold must be properly labeled to provide

consumers with adequate information like the dates of manufacture and expiry, batch number among others, as required by SON and NAFDAC before purchase as some product were found in some supermarket without NAFDAC numbers. She stated that the agency is aware that NAFDAC allows the importation of some goods under the Global listing scheme but are required to provide the evidence

of Goods that have been imported under this scheme as it will be enforced s t r i c t l y .

The CPC boss, who also condemned badly packaged goods which have overstayed on the shelves in some shops, warned their traders to remove them even if they have not expired “as the poor packaging may affect quality”

From left: Udochi Nwaodu, Auditor, Committee of Chief Inspector of Banks in Nigeria (CCIBN); Tunde Dawodu, 2nd Vice Chairman, CCIBN, John Obiekwe, Deputy General Operations, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc, and Abas Alhassan, 1st Vice Chairman, CCIBN, at the 21st Quarterly General Meeting of the CCIBN in Lagos.

Tension in Promasidor as mgt, workers’ meeting over pay ends in deadlock …Labour tells mgt to pay or risk industrial unrest

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG NCERTAINTY and fear of industrial unrest now pervade the premises of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk and other consumables, as the meeting between the management and union leaders over the management refusal to pay the workers for the three weeks it locked out the workers in June has ended in deadlock.

Vanguard gathered both parties refused to shift ground.

While management maintained that it would not pay for period of the lockout among other punitive measures; which included stoppage of salary advances, housing and other loans and staff sampling products, the union insisted that the management must pay because it was the management that locked out the workers.

It was also gathered that the management of the company at the meeting told union leaders that it was exploring legal option to escape payment of the worker ’s benefits.

But the labour union had insisted that the management could not hide under any legal technicalities to deny workers their rights, saying “the management is just wasting time. We will get our salary and other benefits.”

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Already, national secretariat of the workers’ umbrella body, the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, has advised the management of the company to pay the workers their salary and other benefits to avoid another round of industrial unrest in the Isolo, Lagos, based company.

On Monday, after the meeting became deadlocked, the angry workers had wanted to down tools immediately, but it was gathered that the unit union leaders prevailed on the workers to maintain peace as the national secretariat was on top of the matter.

It was further gathered that the national secretariat and the management of Sustainabiliti, an outsourcing company, were scheduled to hold meeting at NECA the next day, which was Tuesday.

An official of the union at the national secretariat said it was only following due process and wanted to exhaust all peaceful options before embarking on industrial action.

It will be recalled that the management of Promasidor had on June 4, shut down the company and locked out workers to apprehend the planned strike the workers scheduled to commence same day following the

disagreement with management over the termination of the contract of an outsourcing company — Sustainabiliti limited.

Close to 800 workers of Sustainabiliti limited that were sacked because of the termination of the contract, were members of the Promasidor’s unit of NUFBTE. Leaders of NUFBTE claimed the manner the workers were sacked because of the termination of the contract was illegal and unprocedural as it was done without recourse to their membership of the union and existing collective agreement in the industry.

The union asked the management to recall the affected workers unconditionally and issued Monday June 4, strike notice should the management fail to recall the sacked workers.

But before the workers of Promasidor resumed work on Monday, June 4, the management had shut down the company and locked out the entire workforce.

For three weeks, the company was shut down.

While the workers insisted that they were not on strike, the management said the lock out was necessary to safe guard company ’s equipment and property.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 23

Shareholders condemn swift resumption of Dangote as NSE President

By PETER EGWUATU

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HAREHOLDERS of Forte Oil Plc, have condemned the immediate resumption of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as President of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) following the recent Federal High court ruling upholding his election.

Speaking to Vanguard, National Secretary of I n d e p e n d e n t Shareholders of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Adebayo

Adeleke, who spoke the minds of its aggrieved members said, “We don’t know why Dangote quickly resumed as President of the NSE, when we have already indicated our intention to appeal the case in the highest court.

This is not good for a person who has the ambition of leading the Exchange. How can confidence return to a market that is characterized with malpractices.

Besides, the case challenging the election, the major case of masterminding the manipulation of AP shares now Forte Oil shares is still there. All these need to be addressed before he should preside as the NSE President.”

Prior to his election in 2009, Dangote was the council’s first vicepresident. He joined the council in February 2008, as the chairman, K a d u n a / K a n o / Yo l a

Zonal Council.

It will be recalled that Dangote was elected the 17th President of the NSE in August 2009.

However, Dangote’s election was nullified by the Federal High Court in Lagos in March 2010 following the application made to the court by some shareholders of African Petroleum , who had sued him, Nova Finance and Securities Limited, NSE and others, over alleged

manipulation of AP shares. But Dangote challenged the suit and filed appeals which were upheld by the Appeal Court Presided over by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved AP shareholders, dissatisfied with the appellate court decision, and the resumption of office as NSE President

by Dangote, through their counsel, Mr Onyebuchi Aniakor, have asked the apex court to set aside the judgment, contending that the appellate court erred in law, in proceeding in the face of the undisputed facts on the record to hold, that “the order to maintain status quo had no basis. The pleadings, as stated in the originating summons, showed that there was nothing done at that point in the proceedings that could worsen the position of the plaintiffs.”

The AP shareholders

are further contending that the Court of Appeal erred in law in proceeding, as they so did, to substitute and/or set aside the trial court’s exercise of its discretion and to replace same with the lower court’s own discretion contrary to the settled legal principles and the law and in the absence of any lawful or justifiable ground.

The shareholders have, meanwhile, asked the Court of Appeal to restrain Alhaji Dangote from howsoever taking any step and/or further step to occupy and/or assume the duties, rights and perquisites of President of NSE, whether in pursuance of the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered in this appeal, or otherwise, pending the hearing and final determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal in this appeal, delivered on June 15, 2012.

Honeywell Flour anticipates growth in 2013, turnover hits N38bn Student of Brilliant Secondary School, Mangoro in Lagos giving a speech during the Read for Life' book donation project by Guinness Nigeria's Friend of The Community, an employee driven charity-initiative, while Nkiru Ogboruche, Sponsorship Manager, Guinness Nigeria and others listen.

Japaul to grow profitability through investment, acquisitions

By MICHAEL EBOH APAUL Oil and Maritime Services Plc has assured of a significant improvement in its financial performance in the years ahead, saying its investment in the acquisition of vessels, oil and gas equipment and other machineries will help bring about an improvement in its profitability.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the company, in Ondo state, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Jegede Paul declared hat the company currently has tender for business in excess of N31.4 billion ($200 million), expressing optimism that securing at least 45 per cent of the contract will boost its profitability.

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He assured that the company’s bottom line will improve significantly in the next couple of months as its contract with some oil and gas majors in the areas of dredging and vessel chartering have been renewed.

Paul disclosed further that the substantial amount of debts which would have gone is already in the process of being negotiated for conversion to equity with its debtor company NAFTO Gas. He said, Our continued acquisition of new assets, in terms of vessels, oil and gas equipment, dredgers etc, were geared towards our company positioning for future and healthy competition in the oil and gas and the maritime industry.

“The shareholders are

key in our operation or business this is why we are determined to ensure that dividend are paid year in year out and bonus issue once the business environment improves because the reason why we are still in business is because they are there supporting us to forge ahead. The company’s earnings per share during the year stood at N15.66kobo from N12.66 kobo.”

In its financial performance for 2011, the company’s turnover grew from N7.1 billion in 2010 to N10.25 billion in 2011; gross profit went up to N4.7 billion in 2011 from N3.2 billion in 2010 profit before tax of N1.4 billion as against N1.1 billion recorded in 2010 while profit after tax was N980.4 million for the year under review against N792.7

million in 2010.

The company declared a dividend of two kobo per every 50 kobo ordinary share.

According to the Chairman of the company, Major General Joseph Omosebi (retd), the Japaul was able to withstand the storm and challenges in the economy and have been able to improve on its financial performance.

He said, “With the deployment of some of our vessels and equipment with some oil and gas major, the future is bright bearing any challenges.

“The business activities in the maritime industry as it relates to Oil and gas is improving and the efficacy of the local content law coupled with cabotage policies have created room for Japaul to triumph wonderfully.”

BY PETER EGWUATU

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ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc has declared that it anticipates more impressive results and appreciable growth in the financial year, 2013, as its turnover for the year ended March 31, 2012 hits N38 billion.

The anticipated growth is hinged on when additional capacity from its 1,000MT/day twin mill facility, which is close to completion, will come on stream. This capacity increase of 62 per cent, will take total milling capacity to 2,610MT/day and will be reflected in increased sales and profit.

To support its longer term aspirations, the company is looking to expand its growth platforms via the introduction of new brands, in the near term, that will participate in fast growing food segments to meet the needs of consumers.

Honeywell Flour is one of the largest flour millers in Nigeria and is

the preferred producer of high quality bread flour and other wheat based foods. Its range of products include: Honeywell Superfine Flour, Honeywell Semolina, Honeywell Whole Wheat meal and variants of Honeywell pasta and Honeywell Instant Noodles.

M e a n w h i l e , Honeywell recently released its audited annual financial results for the year ended March 31st 2012 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Turnover, represented by revenue from sales of products grew 12 per cent from N34 billion in the 2011 financial year to N38 billion in 2012.

Growth in turnover was constrained by current milling capacity of 1,610MT/day which is fully utilised at the moment as the company operates a very efficient flour milling operation with an average capacity utilisation of over 90 per cent, well above the industry average of 50 per cent.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Investors plan N6.6trn investments in Nigeria—Jonathan Stories by NAOMI UZOR RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, has said that efforts at attracting local and foreign investors into the economy is yielding positive results as over 16,000 local and foreign prospective investors have registered their intention to do business worth over N6.6 trillion in Nigeria in one year.

Speaking at the 40th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria,(MAN),tagged "Strategies for Accelerated Development of Manufacturers in Nigeria: The Way Forward" in Lagos, Jonathan said his administration is hopeful that these prospective investments will be executed and will provide the right foundation for that

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vibrant economy the country desires.

"We are leaving no stone unturned in tackling any impediment to our success.

Government is on top of the security challenges in some parts of the country and we are determined to prevail. I wish to assure all Nigerians and foreigners alike of their safety in Nigeria," he said.

According to him, the country has a requisite market volume and a youthful and energetic hardworking population to drive the economy to prosperity, adding that all that is required is willingness and commitment.

Jonathan said that his administration is fully committed to the economy, enhancing prosperity and generating employment for the teeming youths, syaing he believes strongly that the well being of the

manufacturing sector is very critical to the realization of the federal government’s objectives.He added that his government will continue to partner with MAN, in addressing the structural weaknesses that stand between them and the revitalization of the sector.

"We are aware that our global competitiveness in manufacturing is hampered to a large extent by inadequate infrastructure, particularly power supply. Let me assure you that I remain resolutely committed to addressing these challenges. Some of these problems are deep but with your support and a collective determination, we shall overcome them. Our power sector reform is on course," he stated.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the President of MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu, said in spite of the

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Representative of the Director DPR and Guest Speaker, Mr. Alphonsus“Mudei, Vice President LCCI, Adam Idufueko and Chairman, Petroleum“Downstream Group, Engr. Emma Osagie at the Chamber's Forum on 'Sharp“Practices in the Downstream Sector

country's oil wealth and GDP growth rate of 7.45 per cent recorded in 2011, poverty is still widespread with 71 per cent of the population living on less than US$1 per day, according to the Monetary Policy Committee Communiqué of March 2012.

According to him, transforming the manufacturing sector into a dynamic and virile sector of the Nigerian economy is a central part of the strategy of the vision 20:2020 which envisages a long term intensification

BRIEF

Campari rains gifts on consumers and traders brand new 2012 Kia Rio was won by a lucky Campari consumer,Mr. Michael.F Oyidi, from Port Harcourt. The management of Brian Munro Ltd, sole marketers of Campari in Nigeria, presented the star prize to the winner.

The Campari Trade & Consumer Promo, lasted for 8 weeks, and took place across five cities in Nigeria; Aba, Onitsha, Warri, Port Harcourt and Lagos.

A range of prizes such as Deep Freezers, Generator Sets and Nokia phones were won by traders, while Blackberry Phones and I-Pads were won by consumers in the "Campari Dare to Mix Promo".

The promo grand draw which took place recently at King Size Bar & Lounge, Oregun, Lagos had over 1,798 entries. The winner of the star prize, Mr Michael Oyidi, received the good news through a telephone call placed on speaker with a deafening scream of jubilation.

The Managing Director of Brian Munro, Mr. Paul Wilson, disclosed that Campari originated from Italy and has been in existence since 1860. It is an alcoholic spirit obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water.

This is what produces Campari's distinct color, aroma and flavor.

"Campari has always been a symbol of passion passion that expresses itself in terms of seduction and sensuality. These are the values that have made the Campari brand famous as an icon of Italian style and excellence, which explains why Campari is currently being served in over 250 different cocktails throughout the world" he said.

Speaking to Journalist at the Grand draw, Campari Brand Manager, Mr. Victor Ikem, stated that the brand has come to stay in the country. He said that the product has become a household name among cocktail consumers in Nigeria.

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FDI not possible in Nigeria without local participation- Ibru Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, will only come into the country when Nigerians consider it fit to invest in their economy, says Mr. Goody Ibru, President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. Ibru who spoke at the 2012 Crystal Nite of Excellence organised by Commerce & Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) in Lagos called on Nigerians to take advantage of the challenges in the nation to invest in the economy.

The chairman of the event, while citing the Chinese said that they become what they are today because they learnt to take hold of opportunities in every challenge they encounter. According to him, the picture-like letterings of

the Chinese alphabets spell the same word for challenge and opportunity, which is the reason they see opportunity in every challenges where ever they go to.

He challenged Nigerians to never mind the many challenges bedeviling the nation, but instead, to see the very opportunities in them and invest in the economy; adding that it is only then that foreign direct investment would come into the nation.

Ibru also assured the CICAN of his support and praised their efforts at doing a good work at reporting the industry.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of CICAN, Mr. Toba Agboola, described the Crystal Nite as history making event.

He said in the four years it

had held, it had identified and honoured many distinguished and eminent Nigerian who have in one way or the other aided the growth of the real sector of the economy.

Agboola said as industry correspondents, a cardinal objective of the members is to contribute significantly to the growth and expansion of the economy, in line with the

transformation agenda of the present administration, and also help in the making Nigeria a conducive destination for investment.

"It is in this regard that we

Okolo makes case for summit of Nigerian Engineers HE immediate past president of NACCIMA, Dr Simon Okolo, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call a summit of all the Nigerian Engineers to brainstorm and come up with solutions to address the problems of infrastructure deficit in Nigeria.

"The former President Olusegun Obasanjo started something like this when he asked Nigerian Engineers to come up with the design of the second Niger Bridge at

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Onitsha, though this was not carried to the latter as the efforts stopped with the stepping out of power by the former president. On road infrastructure, the engineers should find solution to address high cost of road construction in Nigeria and its poor durability.

Government should encourage them to embark on research to come out with the right road construction materials that will best withstand Nigeria's two

extreme weather conditions of extreme dryness and heavy rainy seasons and last to the expected duration. Nigeria is a country with the highest cost of road construction in the world even above America that has the highest labour cost.

Government must find ways to eradicate the over invoicing and official corruption that have aided the skyward rise of cost of road construction in Nigeria" he stated.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—25

APPOINTMENT & PROMOTION

Five professors jostle for UNILORIN vice-chancellorship IVE professors from the University of Ilorin are now jostling for the position of vicechancellor of the institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the office is due to be vacant in October when the incumbent, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, would have completed his tenure.

NAN also gathered that as at the close of the application for the job of Vice-Chancellor on Monday night, five of the professors from the institution had applied.

They included Prof. Hassan Salihu of the Department of Political Science, Prof. Ganiyu Hambali, Dean of Veterinary Medicine, and Prof. Luke Ayorinde, immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management) of the university.

Others are Prof. Albert Olayemi, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and Prof. Musbau Akanji, Director of Academic Planning.

The authorities of the institution had in an advertorial on May 14, declared that the exalted office of the Vice-Chancellor, currently occupied by Oloyede would be vacant by Oct. 16.

The university had thus urged interested qualified candidates to submit application on or before June 25.

Part of the criteria set for the prospective applicants include 10 years experience, as a professor, who must also be administratively inclined.

The criteria also include a provision that the applicant must be a professor in one of

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the disciplines being offered at the University of Ilorin.

Some of the applicants, who spoke with NAN, confirmed that they had submitted their

applications and were ready for screening, preparatory to clinching the job.

The Registrar of the institution, Mrs Olufolake

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) congratulates the new President, Customary Court of Appeal, Edo State, Hon Justice Peter Isibor and his wife after the swearing-in of the new Court President in Benin City.

Unionisation: Industrial court rules in favour of MWUN N ATIONAL Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Lagos, has ruled that Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has no right to unionise Workers of Polmaz Nigeria Limited, a labour contractor to Chevron

Nigeria Limited, but the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN. But the NUPENG has rejected the judgment and directed its lawyers to appeal against the ruling of NIC which the highest court in industrial matter in Nigeria.

Forbes celebrates top 25 African companies ORBES Africa and ABN Productions have hosted the Forbes Africa top listed West African Companies Awards Ceremony.

The list covered the top 25 companies in the West African capital market comprising of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ghanaian Stock Exchange and the Abidjan-based Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières SA (Regional Securities Exchange SA) or BRVM. The awards were ranked in terms of market capitalization, revenue and profit.

Mr. Chris Bishop, Managing Editor Forbes Africa, before presenting the awards to the top five companies said “All too often the lists of the world have overlooked the success of African companies. Nights like this show how important successful African companies are in the progress of the world economy.”

Also speaking at the ceremony was Mr.Rakesh Wahi,

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Oyeyemi, said that the management would endeavour to give all the applicants a level playing ground.

Vice Chairman ABN 360 Group, parent company of CNBC Africa. Mr Wahi stated “We have a 5 year history of analysing and reporting economic and commercial data on the continent, and now believe we are in a unique position to begin celebrating the success of African companies and business leaders who have performed exceedingly well despite the economic crisis.

These awards will be the most sought after on the continent especially because of the brands associated with them and the high level of diligence and integrity connected with them.

Mr Wahi congratulated Mr. Aliko Dangote and Dangote Group for winning the award for the top West African Company.

In the judgment delivered by NIC on June 21, 2012, the court said NUPENG had not right to unionise the said workers and awarded the right of unionising them to MWUN. It will be recalled that the NUPENG and MWUN had since 2006 be engulfed in legal dispute over the right to unionise said workers.

Rejecting the ruling, NUPENG in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Isaac Aberare claimed the workers of Polmaz Nigeria Limited were unionized by NUPENG in the year 2006 and had established a working relationship with the management, including deductions and remittances of check of dues before the Maritime Workers Union contested the jurisdiction with NUPENG.

NDE focuses on women empowerment programme

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HE National Directorate of Employment, NDE, has directed all its state offices to liaise with state chapters of the National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, in their activities to ensure that women are adequately taken care of not only on employment but its empowerment programmes.

Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed

who gave the directive in Abuja, when the leadership of NCWS visited NDE management, said this became necessary following his administration’s policy to ensure women’s employment quota was not short-changed.

He said in furtherance to NDE’s commitment to ensuring there was no deviation from the policy, had estab-

lished women employment department to take care of issues regarding employment for women.

The NDE Director-General said the agency had set up a scheme with a view to assisting women to go into large income generation enterprise for the purpose of self-employment.

vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 08033348923

BRIEFS Olympus appoints Astra Instruments distributor LYMPUS Europa Hold ings GmbH, Hamburg, Germany has appointed Astra Instruments Limited as a distribution partner for the Olympus Micro-Imaging Solutions division.

Olympus Europa Holdings GmbH is responsible for the Olympus business in Europe, Africa and Middle East.

As a result, Astra Instrument, an analytical solutions provider based in Lagos will sell, install and support the Olympus Life Science and Material Science Microscope range.

According to its Managing Director, Uchenna Okpara, “for many years, Astra Instruments has supported the Industrial, Environment, Education, Health, and Oil and Gas sectors with high quality and innovative laboratory equipment and scientific instruments, offering solutions for water analysis, flue gas/emission monitoring, advanced laboratory and industrial weighing systems, viscometry, rheometry, powder and texture analysis.”

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Red Media celebrates anniversary communication and Pub lic Relations company, “Red Media”, has announced plans to commemorate what it considered an impressive year.

The company which commenced operations on July 1, 2011 with a focus on public relations, youth marketing, street activations, and New Media.

The company had last year, formally moved out of its erstwhile company RedSTRAT, with two of its directors to form the brand Red Media.

Activities to commemorate the anniversary include the Red Reception to celebrate the firm’s clients and associates, a thanksgiving service, the launch of a new group website, amongst others.

Speaking , a partner in the firm, Adebola Williams, said “Red Media stands at the cusp of a new direction for media businesses for two reasons: first, we are headlining a new model that combines a strong marketing communication business with media content ownership, and in a new media space defined by ubiquitous new/digital media platforms. We are one of a very small community that has deep experience with both traditional media and new media and understand how brands should integrate both spaces.”

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26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Accepting amnesty my most difficult decision —Tompolo •Most bizarre thing in his life •Most difficult decision ever taken •Says Ijaw people descended from Israel •Egbesu the link between Ijaw and Almighty God In this concluding part, the “generalissimo” announces intention to find solution to the Boko Haram menace.

Excerpts. somebody and ask him, you are receiving N100, 000 or N60, 000, why are you still doing something that is not in line with the law. But if you don’t provide anything for them to survive on, they will always capitalize on that to do evil. This is the more High Chief Government Ekpemupolo...President Jonathan cannot reason I am bent on stopdevelop the whole of the Niger Delta ping these illegal activities. other one to two years. It is a gradTalking about putting a stop to EXCLUSIVE ual process, that is why we are illegal activities, some oil thieves

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional still mounting pressure on the in your domain were after you Editor, South-South Federal Government to see that some time ago for daring to obthey start something now. struct their activities. I heard they Continues from yesterday Can you say that militancy has either pulled a gun at you or HAT challenges are you achieved anything for people of wanted to attack you. What realfacing in the execution of the Niger-Delta? ly transpired? this contract?

You know, some people call us When you are fighting crime, The challenges we are facing militants, but we feel that we are you come across a lot of things, it are not much, I know that in a con- freedom fighters, fighting for our is one of those things. When we tract like this, you will definitely rights. People may say that we started this struggle, the governface challenges, but I am prepared have not achieved anything, but ment was using our people against for them and know that after some as a leader in my capacity, I know us, but at the end everybody now time, we will overcome them. that things are changing gradu- stepped aside.

Three years after you accept- ally and that is the more reason Now, can you tell me what life ed amnesty, can you say the gov- that I have continued to appeal to is like for you outside the creek? ernment is keeping to its side of my fellow brothers, leaders and There is not much difference, it the bargain in terms of develop- followers that we should still give is just that you can travel on your ment of the Niger-Delta? government some time. Whatev- own, maybe to Abuja, Lagos and Not really. For people to devel- er we have today, let us still man- other places you want and come op the Niger-Delta, it will take age it well. back with ease unlike before. some time, and that is the more Apart from providing securireason we are even appealing to ty for pipelines and chasing oil Acceptance our governors because there are thieves, what other activities are of amnesty things the states are supposed to you involved in now? handle. Like you don’t expect I am not involved in anything.

Before we even started the somebody from the presidency or My agreement with the President struggle, I had a small house in Abuja to come and do roads in then was first of all, to provide an Warri like in Okerenkoko, so that Warri. They have their own func- alternative means of survival for if I come to Warri, I wouldn’t even tions and the states have theirs those who are not highly educat- want to spend more than one too. ed. week, before returning home.

We are appealing to all of them That was how I lived. Even now, to try on their own to do what they ou know, it is not everybody since I accepted amnesty, I have are supposed to do. Even Presithat went to school, I didn’t never spent up to a month here dent Goodluck Jonathan cannot go to school, so not everybody can in Warri. I would travel to Abuja, develop the whole of the Niger- go abroad to train or go to uni- maybe spend two, three weeks or Delta if he happens to rule for versity. Once you find a way to a month, come back to Warri, spend eight years because for you to con- take care of the people, you will about two to three days, then I struct a bridge from here (Warri) solve the problem, and of course, move back. to Forcados, it may take up to six it is the duty of government to take What is your social life like? or eight years, so if you want to care of its people. Once they have Where can one find you relaxdo it, before you will put the pa- jobs to do, then you can control ing? Are you a club person? per works together, it will take an- your people. At least, you can call No, I am not used to clubs.

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Where I am used to is where old men and women are playing drums, doing things that have to do with tradition. This is where you will find me. I am not used to this township life.

At Oporoza, when the JTF stormed your base, I was there few days after. I saw shrines, charms and a lot of fetish objects.

What have all these to do with Christianity since you describe yourself as one?

Before Europeans came to meet us in Nigeria and Africa, people knew about God. Everybody had his or her own way of worshipping his or her gods in their different tribes. It was maybe another civilized way of enslaving our people: somebody would come to your house and say this thing is not good, remove this one and take mine. I was declared wanted by the Nigerian government, which was headed by a Muslim and later supported by a Christian. I am giving you an example, somebody like Rimtip, a former JTF commander, he is a man of God, if I were to be relying on Muslims fully… because even Mohammed told me that no matter how I hide, by the time they slaughter up to 10 rams, they would get me and I told him that I am more than that.

The Almighty God knows that I am fighting for my rights. We don’t even have any shrine there, what you saw there

was Egbesu temple and maybe, Amasikeumor, where the masquerade that our people use to celebrate every year comes out from.

I believe very strongly that the connection between our people and God before the coming of Jesus Christ was Egbesu and that is the more reason that if there is any problem today, the highest Christian in Ijaw land will move to the shrine of Egbesu. So, Egbesu is not something that somebody just invents, it is more than what human beings can conceive.

I am surprised that you are holding on to Christianity and Egbesu deity at the same time, but Christianity does not permit that. You don’t worship God and Mammon at the same time. Any other god outside the God of Israel, who commanded Dagon, the god of the Philistines to fall flat on its face, in absolute worship and obedience to Him, in the presence of His ark, is an inferior god?

(Long laughter), No, I don’t believe in this your story. The way that story is, in the same Bible, Micah 4:5, said every nation will walk in the name of God. Then, the people of Israel will walk in the name of the Lord, their God. Ordinarily, we feel that we are the owners of even the Bible. We, the Ijaw people feel that we came from Israel, the Igbo people may say that they came from another place, the Hausa feel that they came from another place.

The most difficult decision was my going to accept amnesty. It was not my intention, but I felt that if I failed to do that at that point in time, my people would continue to suffer

Egbesu and the true God

If you are talking about your own god, which one are you referring to. The one that I am talking about is the true God, that is our belief. If anybody comes here to say that we are idol worshippers, they are the idol worshippers because everybody has his function. Angel Michael has his function, in some areas in the Bible, he is referred to as God, you understand, that is the way life is. Egbesu is the link between us and the Almighty God. I can tell you that Jesus Christ is happy with Egbesu and that is the more reaContinues on page 27

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—27

Kola Animasaun: Songs for the Voice of Reason @ 73 Accepting amnesty my most difficult decision —Tompolo Continues from page 26

son why I can go to church, I can do anything.

Any way, we are not in a religious class, let me leave that, but Jesus Christ, certainly, would not be happy with a god that you call Egbesu because besides Jehovah, there is no other God and His mission was to reconcile man to this God through Him, not through any other intermediary.

That is not true my brother. If you come to the shrine of Egbesu, we have the seven Bibles, both New Testament and Old Testament, and so any area that you come from, we will confront you, we are the owners of the Bible.

You said you left the country for about two weeks when the hunt was on, which country did you flee to because we thought then that you would not have been able to get out of the country, except hibernate in the swamp?

I will not go into that (laughs) Can you tell me the most bizarre thing that has ever happened to you in life?

Hmm, I think it was only that day that I was taken away from Camp 5 It was painful and amazing to you the way it happened?

And I know that it happened because it was the will of God. The soldiers came, both land and air and everybody had to run away?

Yes, something happened, that is the more reason why people were crying here and there that Tompolo has finished killing our people. But they did not say what they did to our people.

it can handle this?

Yes, I think maybe, by next week, we will start work on that.

What I believe in is to dialogue with them. And like what E.K Clark said, in every local government, in every state, if the people are sincere, we can engage these people in this process. Now that they cannot do it properly, we can help them.

I wanted to come in earlier, but you know, everybody is looking at me and thinking that if I go to any place, I will start another trouble again. So now that the thing is almost getting out of hand, I can move into Muslims area because they know that I don’t have bad intention for anybody. You cannot accept somebody in the physical only, spiritually, you can access somebody also.

I want to be involved in finding a lasting solution by engaging them and discussing with them. I want to hear from the real Boko Haram leaders directly, what is the problem and by the time I hear from them, I will proffer my solution.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo intervened sometime ago and after he left, somebody was murdered. Are you not worried about the danger of your mission?

In the process of trying to solve any problem, a lot of things would still happen, but that will not stop you from taking the right step. I prefer to take a tour of the area to meet with the people involved and I know very well that I have been into situations like this, but not like the one they are doing.

Going to churches to kill people

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I want to be involved in finding a lasting solution by engaging the Boko Haram and discussing with them

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What will you say is the turning point in your life?

What marked the turning point in my life, I will go back to when we started this struggle. Before, we cannot speak our own dialect (Ijaw) in Warri, but we started this struggle, people started to say, Ijaw, Ijaw people. Now, almost everybody in Warri is trying to speak one Ijaw language or the other. They wear the traditional Ijaw cap - that is the turning point for me.

What is the most difficult decision you have ever taken in life?

The most difficult decision was my going to accept amnesty. It was not my intention, but I felt that if I failed to do that at that point in time, my people would continue to suffer. That was my most difficult decision.

The government appears not to have a concrete answer to the menace of Boko Haram. Do you have any suggestion on how

who are not fighting with you, even the God of Muslims do not support that, but you need to take your time to talk to these people.

I would have to explain to them that the way and manner they are going about this thing… even if they have grievances against the government, there are ways to express their grievances.

You led the offensive on Atlas Cove even when the JTF was searching everywhere for you and you are the brain behind the fear-provoking MEND. Where did you acquire this heart of steel from?

That is what we are saying, if God knows that people are oppressed, he will always bring out somebody to save his people and that is why I strongly believe that all I am doing today,it is through the God of our people. And that is why if you see me ordinarily, just like you have put it now, you know I cannot hurt a fly, but for the direct calling from God.

TRIBUTE

By RAUF AREGBESOLA, Governort, Osun State

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N the same manner in which world’s greatest writers had shaped the world into what it is today, Nigeria must look at Alhaji Kola Animasaun as one great chronicler of the Nigerian polity whose thoughts had helped shaped Nigeria and at least, held it together. The world, they say, is divided into people; those who do things and those people who get the credit. What men of honour do to remain immortal is to try to belong to the first class. Indeed, those who know him and follow his steady career-rise will surely agree that Animasaun certainly belongs to the class of those who not only do things but also make things happen.

Before he decided to take a deserved rest, Animasaun had risen to the pinnacle of his journalistic career, bowing out as the Editorial Board Chairman of the Vanguard Newspapers. Even in retirement, no one has been in doubt that the ink of his energetic pen has not dried up. So, writing, one can possibly infer, is Animasaun’s life; a compelling fact that makes him produce his weekly column with such religious fervour. At 73, we join all people of good conscience to celebrate an achiever, a role model, a journalist par excellence and a top-on-theshelve columnist. Those who have observed him have no problems concluding that here is a fine writer, urbane thinker and a philosopher in his own class.

The clear testimony to the above assumption could be gleaned from his regular Sunday column which he appropriately styled Voice of Reason. The column which has spanned almost three decades is a sophisticated thought process from an informed mind.

Documentation of history Those who know Animasaun and his trademark Voice of Reason will attest to the fact that here is a teacher of men. He could write on any subject be it politics, economy, religion, culture, international politics and what have you, with the precision of an authority in that profession. His Voice of Reason is a kernel of numerous purposes. It is a documentation of history of past and present events not only in Nigeria but of events around the world. He possesses a unique style of writing. Voice of Reason is written in simple, straightforward language devoid of undue grandiloquence.

Yet, like the wordsmith the he is, he has a way of weaving his sentences in intricate webs which yield their meaning at first contact as readers read on. All these attributes make him a respected columnist among his peers and his column a must read every Sunday.

Olusegun Obasanjo had fortuitously become President out of the ashes of June 12 and sadly over MKO Abiola’s death while fighting to reclaim his popular

mandate. Yet, Obasanjo found it Tinubu in the Bag’ over an alleged extremely difficult to honour and agreement by Tinubu to a immortalise Abiola, his fellow Egba compromise for release of the man. Absurdly it seems. Even seized fund without violating the when the National Assembly at verdict of the Supreme Court and that time resolved that a national the tenet of federalism. Arguably, monument be named after Abiola, Animasaun insinuated that Obasanjo remained adamant, Tinubu, by that supposed exhibiting an in-your-face compromise, ‘has thrown in the posturing to the popular call for towel and that there is no more fight in him.’

Abiola’s immortalisation.

In his response to Animasaun’s This legendary rivalry of never wanting to be surpassed by anyone write up that week, the former nourished by Obasanjo became a Commissioner for Information and subject-matter of Animasaun’s Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, subtly column, which the Nobel Laureate, disagreed. His argumentative Professor Wole Soyinka later language and rejoinder was referred to in his massive volume elderly, elevated and reverential. autobiographical work, You Must The opening paragraph of Alake’s Set Forth at Dawn. Soyinka wrote, rejoinder he entitled ‘Bola Tinubu “A veteran journalist, Kola Animasaun, writing in The Va n g u a r d , summed up the General, who came back from the dead, in a unique expression: ‘… his ego is bigger than his head.’”

Even when his fellow columnists disagree with him, as they sometimes do, on a particular issue, they do so in their rejoinder with utmost deference to this man of erudition.

Interestingly, he •Alhaji Kola Animasaun....documents history has a‘cantankerous brother’, who shares a page with in which Bag? goes like this: “I him in the same newspaper. There really do not understand what my you will see vintage Animasaun distinguished professional senior and Shobowale - the former an and respected elder brother, Alhaji Egba and the latter an Ijebu. Kola Animasaun, meant in his Shobowale also has a popular column …” column called Frankly Speaking.

These carefully chosen words Having followed the duo for a long undoubtedly demonstrate the time, both of them make interesting respect his colleagues in the pen readings on any solemn Sunday profession and outside of it have they disagree on an issue. In for the man being celebrated in this disagreement, you will see a piece. Without being immodest, display of in-depth logic, rationale Animasaun has weaned hundreds and coherent analysis, meticulous of journalists, some he trained on and methodical approach to issues the job and some who admired and at stake without essentially or followed in his footstep. He is needlessly attacking personality in indeed a man to emulate in all the process. Their columns were ramifications. It will be a costly and still are treasures of knowledge oversight if one focuses on this on every Sunday. man’s journalistic life alone.

Animasaun is also a politician, at least of moderate school. Like Criminal in the field of journalism, silence Animasaun also distinguished Another critic of the ace himself as a politician when he was columnist is one time given a role to serve his people as Commissioner for Information and the Chairman of Abeokuta North Strategy in Lagos, Mr. Dele Alake. Local Government during Aremo Interestingly, Animasaun could be Olusegun Osoba’s administration. said to be an ardent supporter of The record he left at the council former Governor Bola Ahmed was one of optimum performance.

He left the fray without soiling Tinubu. All the same, whenever he felt strongly about his his hand or tarnishing his image admirer’s policy, he would speak and the name he had built for out rather than elect to maintain almost half a century. In the criminal silence. One of such pantheon of men of letters and circumstances played up during columnist of no mean the controversy of creation of local achievements, Alhaji Kola governments in Lagos State and Animasaun has occupied a eventual illegal seizure of the prestigious position to be forever state’s local governments fund by referenced and remembered. As he clocks 73, we pray that Allah President Obasanjo.

Animasaun, in his usual continues to enrich him in objective style, wrote a column on knowledge for humanity to drink August 14, 2005, entitled ‘Bola continuously from his fountain.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Media support critical to curbing money laundering crime — GIABA

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE HE support of the media is very critical to the successful implementation of anti-money laundry measures in the West African region, says Dr Abdullahi Shehu of the InterGovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

He spoke at the seminar on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) for Journalists from Anglophone ECOWAS Countries orgainsed by GIABA last week in Banjul, The Gambia. Speaking on the rationale for the seminar, he said, “We recognise the critical role of the media in collecting and disseminating information about money laundering and terrorist financing. Money laundering is a crime of exploitation that depends on the commission of other crimes and actions that offend the law. The media thus has a great role to play in adequately reporting all the 21 predicate offenses of money laundering and must take concrete actions towards illuminating the minds of the populace on the ill effects of money laundering. It is expected that when the media takes ownership of these roles and do it conscientiously, then we can move greatly towards achieving a peaceful region.

“The need to build the capacity of media practitioners and to have them as informed al-

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lies in the fight against these scourges is critical to the overall success of the implementation of the AML/CFT framework in the region. It is in this regard that GIABA has conducted series of training and media-oriented programmes towards facilitating their understanding on AML/CFT is-

sues. over 100 (one hundred) journalists were trained in Freetown, Abidjan, Monrovia and Cotonou for the Anglophone and Francophone Countries respectively. As the fourth estate of realm, capacitating and empowering the media towards

raising the desired level of awareness in combating transnational organized crimes require concerted efforts geared at enhancing their understanding of the deleterious effects of crimes both at national and individual levels.

•From left: Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, Executive Director Central, Unity Bank Plc; Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations, Unity Bank Plc and Mrs Ebhote Felicia, winner of the consolation prize during the "Aim and Win" promo draw of the bank, in Abuja.

CIBN to assist bankers realise their potentials URTHER to the efforts by the regulatory bodies to improve on the Competency level in the banking industry, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to address key issues that assist bankers maximize their potentials in their carrier.

This is coming on the platform of the Graduation Ceremony/Prize Awards of the Institute scheduled for this week, where Certificates will be presented to over 671 students who successfully completed the various qualifying examinations of the Institute in the year 2011.

Not fewer than 155 students who have successfully completed the professional examinations will be admitted into the Associateship category while 468 graduands will step up to the Microfinance Category. Also 46 candidates will be presented with Certificates in Banking Programme and 2 people will be bag the Treasurers Dealership Certificate. The Highpoint of the event will be the presentation of various

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*To induct 671 graduates Prize Awards to the students whose performance in these examinations were outstanding.

Dr. Olabode Oluwasola Ayorinde, ACIB, Pro Chancellor, Archievers University, will deliver the Lecture titled: “The Future Workforce of Nigerian Banking

Industry” in line with the tradition of the Institute to use the programme to prepare the minds of the new inductees for the challenges ahead as well as to ensure that they imbibe the professional banking tenets. Similarly, Mr. Abubakar A. Jimoh, FCIB, Managing Director/Chief Executive,

Associated Discount House Limited will use the opportunity to share his wealth of experience and knowledge with the graduands.

Special Guest of Honour is Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Ida, CON, FCIB Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Retired Permanent Secretary, Federal Civil Service.

CORRUPTION: Asian DFI to halt $615m loan to bridge project AGENCY REPORT

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SIAN Development Bank (ADB) will be unable to extend $615 million of credit for a Bangladesh bridge project after co-financier World Bank halted its funding because of alleged corruption.

The World Bank on Friday cancelled a $1.2 billion credit for the 6.2-kilometer (4-mile) bridge over the Padma River, which would be the country’s longest water crossing and would link the underdeveloped south to Dhaka and the ports of Chittagong and Mongla.

The Manila-based ADB hasn’t said it is cancelling its credit, though the person with knowledge of the case said legal arrangements for the co-financing mean the ADB cannot continue its funding after the World Bank’s withdrawal.

In a statement, the ADB said on Monday it “understands and respects the reasons that have led the World Bank to its decision. ADB and the World Bank follow similar policies, rules and procedures on governance and fiduciary oversight.”

“However, given the importance of the project to the country and the region, ADB also deeply regrets that both parties were unable to reach a workable agreement to move the operation forward.” it added.

The World Bank said its decision followed an “unsatisfactory” government response to the allegations, adding that the Washington-based lender “cannot, should not, and will not turn a blind eye to evidence of corruption.”

On Saturday, Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith blasted the World Bank’s decision as “unacceptable” and said the country would find other means to complete the project.

AMfB commends election of Segun Aina as new President of CIBN

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH CCION Microfinance Bank has commended the election of a director of the bank Mr. Olusegun Lawrence Aina, as the President/ Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the umbrella body for all bankers in Nigeria.

Chairman of the Bank, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan said, “One of the key success factors of a bank is the quality of its board and management.

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That is why Accion Microfinance bank’s board comprises individuals with proven track record of professionalism and high ethical standards. That is even more important given that we manage deposits of low income earners” Similalrly, Bunmi Lawson, Managing Director / CEO of Accion Microfinance Bank stated that, “Mr. Aina is a valuable member of our board.We are pleased and honored to have the President of the CIBN on our board as

Accion continues to help create a vibrant microfinance industry in Nigeria”.

With a staff strength of over 200 staff spread across twelve branches and its Head Office, Accion Microfinance Bank with total assets in excess of N2.2 billion and gross loan portfolio of over N1.6 billion, has disbursed loans well over N12 billion since inception to over 75,000 customers.

Accion is a full service microfinance bank committed to empowering low income earners to ensure their future

is bright.

However, Aina is a professional banker, past Managing director of Fountain Trust Bank and prior to that, an Executive Director with Ecobank. He currently sits on the Board of many organizations and also engages in community development related activities like the United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Fund, Osun State, where he sat as Chairman Board of Trustees, among others.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012— 29

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

FG directs parents to report refusal, denial of free books to UBEC, Ministry

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

ETERMINED to ensure unhindered access to it free textbooks and instructional materials, the federal government has

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directed parents of pupils and students in public schools to report any denial or refusal of textbooks and instructional materials to Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC and the Ministry of Education.

Nigeria lags behind in computer education Continues on page 29 here, and the school doesn’t have a generator. The students barely visit the computer lab. So we just teach them theory.” hen asked to rate the computer knowledge of students in his school, he replied:” Less than five percent. For them to be able to define the internet and not be able to use it is a big problem. For many students Out of a class of about 60 people, only one person claims to have worked on a computer before, on his uncle’s laptop.”

Professor Olu Jegede, a lecturer at the Institute of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University said: “Illiteracy is now beyond being able to read and write. Once computer education is out of it, that person is an illiterate. Very few of the schools that have access to computers also have access to the internet and that is a very big problem.”

Eyitemi Ogunjimi, a JSS1 student in a state secondary school said: “I’ve been to the computer lab once when the corps member that taught computer studies was around, we had classes, but I can’t really remember what he taught us.”

Mr. Festus Ogunmola, an education practitioner in Northern Nigeria, gave his perspective on the reason for the lack of computer teachers in many Government schools.

“A computer teacher knows that he has many opportunities, that is why he is not likely to restrict himself to teaching in a public school except on contract. Private schools on the other hand, have a competitive edge and use computer studies as an incentive.”

Professor Jegede and his colleague, Josiah Abiodun Owolabi in 2003 did a research on ‘Education in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Gaps between Policy and Practice’ where they compared the National Computer Policy (1988) with existing

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school practice at that time.

The now obsolete policy, whose objectives were to “Bring about a computer literate society in Nigeria by the mid-1990s, and enable present school children to appreciate and use the computer in various aspects of life and in future employment” obviously passed on with the tenure of the policy makers as a 2010 report showed that 90 per cent of primary school teachers are not computer literate.

Prof. Jegede, in an interview with Vanguard Learning, said: “Computer education should not just be in the domain of the computer teacher, but the responsibility of every teacher. We should apply the social learning theory here and understand that students learn by continuous practice.

If the teachers use computers, it would be a better way to inculcate computer skills than just the strict subject approach that we practice in Nigeria.”

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lthough Computer Education is now a subject at the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations level, there is still much progress to be desired. Another corps member, who teaches JSS1-3 computer classes in

Minister of state for education, Barr Nyesom Wike at flag off of the distribution of over 2.3million textbooks and over 67,000 instructional materials to primary and Junior secondary schools in the South West geo-political zone.

The delivery of the textbooks for the South West geo-political

which comprise of Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti and Osun states, was delivered to Ondo state government for onward distribution to other states in the zone.

Wike directed, “Parents whose children are not without those textbooks after today’s launch should not hesitate to demand for them from the heads of their schools and upon refusal, contact UBEC for appropriate action” ”We are going to have special numbers in my office through which parents of children in public schools must let us know if their children have not been given the free textbooks” ”It is not just all about flagging off but more importantly about ensuring that the books get to the pupils” The Minister also warned that government would not

condone any one found to be selling or hoarding those textbooks ”I implore security agencies to arrest and person selling those books or hoarding them in strange places” Minister of state for education who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo, said that government woud not take it lightly with the chains of distribution if the books failed to get to the pupils and students in the public schools of the zone.

He stated, “This year, not less than 14million copies of the primary education textbooks and about 5million library resource materials have been procured for distribution nationwide”.

Teachers and pupils of Oremeji Primary School 2, Ajegunle, on an excursion to the National Museum, sponsored by Airtal a school in Anambra complained. “This issue (of lack of practicals) is of grave concern to me. For example, I’ve been teaching a class on Corel draw, and I gave them a test.

They all failed. It’s not really the students fault because all we can teach is theory and it’s supposed to be practical. It’s no wonder that they are con-

fused.”

Prof. Jegede summed up the effect of this situation when he said: “This same situation is what translates into our higher institutions. There are still a lot of people who aren’t computer literate in the universities. What this means in the long run is that our graduates will eventually become

unemployable. The three Rs of education are ‘Reading, Writing, and Reckoning.’ It’s in reckoning that computer education finds its essence.

We must focus on producing students who can compete favourably with their peers around the globe.”

Knocks trail NUC's ban on part-time programmes Continues from page 29 es?

“Once again, it seems we apply the same ‘smash and destroy’ Nigerian mentality, kick against any form of innovation, if it has any faults, ban it and disregard its advantages. Of course, there are faults with any method to deliver education, but we should be looking for ways to improve and properly regulate them, rather than banning.”

Calling the ban an insane move by the NUC, a banker who simply gave his name as

James, said NUC’s job is to ensure delivering of quality education not stop part-time studies.

“This is insane because when you go to other climes, part time programmes strive because that is the last hope for those who can't afford to attend full-time studies.”

For Ogenetega, who intends to run a part time programme due to his job, said “it is better for NUC to suspend the programmes in schools that are ill equipped for such as some schools have solid part time programs. Do you know how many people will be de-

nied the opportunity to gain from such programmes so I urge NUC not to throw the baby away with the bath water.”

Tasking Professor Okojie to appoint people that will monitor part time programmes in schools, a part time student said NUC is supposed 2 set the rules rather than create confusion by suspending the programme.

“Sanction any varsity can't stay by the rules because the programme is meant for a particular category of people in d society and it’s done in developed countries. As far as

thurs learning July 3, 07 2012

I'm concerned, it’s senseless for the NUC to suspend it.”

Pointing out that the ban is just another means to increase patronage for the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), a respondent who declined to give her name said “ïf the programme is successfully stopped, the only alternative for those who can’t go for full time courses will be the NOUN, which is a pet project of the Federal Government as there will be a massive rise in admission rate in this pet project.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 —31

State govts must adequately fund teacher education — FASHOLA

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has reiterated the commitment of his administration to adequately fund teachers’ education, even as he gave reasons why a Teachers’ college of education was established in the state.

Addressing the 29th, 30th and 31st convocation of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), OtoIjanikin, Lagos State, held last Thursday, the Visitor to the College, gave reasons for the pre-occupation of the state with education, including teacher education.

He said: “Education is arguably the most important factor for achieving the full developmental potential of any society. If that is the case, teacher education must certainly be an essential part of that process.”

Fashola who was represented by the Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, affirmed that, “as teachers are the drivers of the society; curators of the past and the architects of tomorrow’s building blocks, it is therefore understandable that our determination to invest in quality teacher education, and our insistence on nothing less than production of high calibre teachers in Lagos State, are fundamental aspects of our socio-economic agenda.”

Stressing the need for state governments across the country to adequately fund teacher education, as stipulated by

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•Pix from left Mr. Oladeinde Agoro, Deputy Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya college of Education, ijanikin, Lagos; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Fellowship Awardee and Mr Olalekan Bashorun, provost during the conferment of Fellowship Award on Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora at the 29th, 30th and 31st Joint Convocation Ceremony of the School on Thursday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele the National Policy on Education, he said: “As the National Policy on Education (2004) rightly observes that no educational system can rise above the circumstances of its teachers, we on our part has over the last few years, embarked on the massive renewal of educational infrastructure across the various levels of education in the state, and this college (AOCOED), has not been left out.”

Frequently Confused Words BREAK – BRAKE Break and brake are homophones but not synonyms. Break as a verb means ‘fracture, split, crack; to smash or shatter; (rules) to violate; to discontinue’. The past tense and past participle of break are broke and broken respectively.

Brake can be used as a noun or verb. As a verb, brake means ‘to check; to slow down or make a vehicle slow down using the brake. Brake, in noun form, is ‘a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle; a device for slowing or stopping the motion of a wheel by friction.’ A brake-light ‘is a red light on the back of a vehicle that comes on when the brakes are applied’. It is also called C M Y K

Meanwhile, the Provost, AOCOED, Mr. Wasiu Bashorun thanked the Visitor for the 25 per cent increase in monthly subvention accrued to the college. This he said was approved late 2010, amidst the industrial challenges faced by the college.

Bashorun also acknowledged the huge sum of N180 million and N250 million approved by the Governor respectively for the construction of Phase One of the college’s

administrative Block and for the procurement of equipment and general upgrade towards the college’s preparation for its just concluded accreditation exercise.

The don, however, congratulated the graduands on the successful completion of their National Certificate Examination (NCE) training, even as he urged them to at all times be great ambassadors of their Alma mater.

stop light in American English. Do not confuse break with brake!

Examples: If you drop the plate, it will break into pieces.

When he got to the T-junction, he had to apply the brake on the vehicle.

When driving, you don’t need to break at every bend.

CAST – CASTE Cast and caste are two distinct words though they sound alike.

Cast as a verb means ‘to throw or fling’, cast also refers to actors in a play, film or movie etc. The past tense and past participle of cast is cast. Caste‘is a breed, a social class, especially one where members do not allow others to join; any of the Hindu hereditary social classes’. Pay attention to the spelling of the two words.

Examples ’Cast your burden upon Jesus’, says the Scriptures.

Dr Akin Sofoluwe was a member of the cast of Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are Not to Blame.

The caste system is found in the Hindu society.

Canon – Cannon Do not confuse canon with cannon. The two words are different in spelling and meaning. A 'cannon‘is a large, heavy, powerful gun; an automatic gun that is fired from an aircraft.’Canon has more than one meaning. A canon is ‘one of the clergy in the staff

Lagos holds quiz competition

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

T

HOUSANDS of primary and secondary students gathered in Lagos last week to witness the grand finale of the Brighter Rewarding Future (BRF) quiz competition organized by the state government.

The state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola in his address presented by the Commissioner for education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye said: “It is noteworthy that this competition will ignite your quick thinking ability, instill confidence in you as well as prepare you for the challenges ahead as future leaders.”

The competition, which took place at the primary, junior secondary and senior secondary levels centred on questions from English, Mathematics, Sciences and current affairs. In the senior secondary school category, ably represented by Emeka Joshua and Johnson Temitope, Mbari Mbayo school from Jibowu District 4 came first. Coming first in the Junior Secondary category was Ansarudeen Comprehensive school represented by Adesina Grace and Abisiga Damilola. Topping the list at the primary level was Ifeoluwa primary school, from Agege district one, represented

by Adelanwa Sherifat and Jimoh Nafisat.

Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, Permanent Secretary, the annual competition is organized to “improve the intellectual capability of these children as well as instill in them confidence which will enable them compete with their counterparts locally and internationally.” of a cathedral; a Christian priest.’ A canon is also ‘a basic rule or principle; a generally accepted rule, standard or principle by which something is judged’. It also means ‘a list of the books or other works that are generally accepted as the genuine work of a particular writer or as being important.’Another meaning of canon is ‘a piece of music in which singers or instruments take it in turns to repeat the melody’.

Examples: The troops returned fire with machine guns and cannons.

Christian women can also be made canons.

Things Fall Apart is a central book in the canon of African literature.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Covenant University releases the ‘Perfect set’

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

The role of education in the society

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, 372 students of Covenant University turned their tassels from right to left last Friday, signaling a transition from their status as students to graduates or in Covenant University parlance from eaglets to eagles. They are seventh batch of graduates since the University ’s inception in 2002 hence the name “Perfect.”

The Chancellor of the University, Dr. David Oyedepo in his welcome address said: “As we release the 7th batch of Eagles today, we are confident that they will surpass all our expectations for them as they go out and serve our world with new zeal and inspirations.”

Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili who was the Keynote speaker at the convocation ceremony, conversed on what she termed “the turning point generation.” According to Ezekwesili, “this generation is best poised to challenging the model of simple resource allocation to the economic transformation approach.” The former World Bank executive also spoke on the need for governments to place sufficient premium on education, especially of the female gender.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Aize Obayan also addressed the audience at the convocation ceremony which included Royal fathers from Ogun and Lagos states, the Deputy Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Bode Ageoye, Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Faye, Vice Chancellors, and principal officers of the University among others. The VC said: “In the course of this 7 th Convocation ceremony, we reaffirm our commitment to our foundational vision of charting pathways for the change that our world desperately needs.”

Taking no prisoners from the 88 first class students, 644 students in the Second Class Upper Category, 567 students in the Second Class Lower Category, and 73 students in the Third class categor y, Egem-Odey Wuke MatthewJustin emerged as the best graduating student in the set, with a CGPA of 4.89. The Accounting graduate, in his speech said: “Let no man think that this has been by my intellect or hard work. The C M Y K

BY AJARI BLESSING FEDPOLY, BIDA

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•Cross section of graduating students raising of a man is in the praising of his God. He also called on the 7 th batch of eagles to hold fast to the core values imbibed in them during their stay at the University.

In addition to the first

degrees, higher degrees were also awarded including 62 Masters degrees, and 19 PhDs. Oyedepo also used the ceremony as an opportunity to speak on what he titled “Towards the rescue of a nation on the brink of collapse;

Necessity for a new generation of thinkers.” The chancellor called on Nigerians to take up “intellectual arms instead of violence,” and “seek help from above through prayer ” to salvage the country from collapse.

YABATECH hosts conference of Registrars

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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O fewer than 40 Registrars have convened at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, on a two-day Conference of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COREG), holding to chat a way forward for technological education in the country.

While declaring the conference open, Rector, YABATECH, Dr. (Mrs.) Magaret Ladipo urged the Registrars, whom she described as advisers to the chief executives (Rectors) of institutions to continue to be innovative, especially when it comes to entrenching global best practices for the good of the Polytechnic system.

Being the 58th edition, the Chairman, COREG, Mallam Labaran Ibrahim said the association of Registrars formed in 1978 serves as a platform where all Registrars come together to interact among themselves.

He said: “This annual conference was formed to meet notable objectives like promoting discussion of issues of common interest to member institutions; encourage the interchange of information and ideas towards effective management and join hands with the Council of Heads

*From left: Ms. Biekoroma Amapakabo, Registrar, Yabatech; Malam L. Ibrahim, Chairman, COREG; and Rector, Yabatech, Dr. Kudirat Ibiyeye-Ladipo, at the opening of COREG 58th Regular meeting held at Yabatech.

of member institutions (COHEADS) in all matters regarding the growth and development of technological education.

Adding, he said that the conference also aims to “express its views and resolution and make known to government and the public, such conditions and difficulties that hinder the smooth running of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in the country.”

However, rising from the twoday conference, COREG amongst other things, “condemned in its entirety the prevailing insecurity of lives

and property of innocent citizens in some parts of the country. COREG notes the various efforts of government on the issue and urges it to take more steps to bring the situation under control; commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the tremendous successes recorded in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) since its introduction and urges the Board to embark on aggressive enlightenment of candidates on the choice of institutions and the impending JAMB eexamination.

ducation is the best legacy that can be given to any child. It is a process of teaching, training and learning especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.

It is also a process of cognitive cartography, mapping your experiences and finding a variety of reliable routes to optimal states when you find yourself in non-optimal states.

The role of education in a society cannot be over emphasized, as it is the bedrock of any society and country at large. A society where its population is not educated will be regarded as a doomed society. This is because education serves as tool through which a society can achieve positive transformation.

Education has a great social importance especially in the modern, complex industrialized societies.

Philosophers of all periods have over the years devoted great attention to it.

The main social objective of education is to complete the socialization process. The family gives birth to the child but the modern family tends to leave much undone in the socialization process. The school and other institutions have come into existence in place of family to complete the socialization process.

Today, a lot of people feel that it is the responsibility of the school to train the whole child even to the extent of teaching him honesty, fair play, consideration for others and a sense of right and wrong.

The school devotes much of its time and energy to the matter such as co-operation, good citizenship, doing one’s duty and upholding law. This is done directly through textbooks and indirectly through celebration of academic programmes.

Through education, societies maintain themselves by exploitation of culture.

Culture here refers to a set of beliefs and skills, art, literature, philosophy, religion, and music that are not carried through the mechanism of heredity. They must be learned.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012 — 33

Vanguard holds annual children's confab

BY AISHA MOHAMMED TIFFIN

I

N commemoration of 2012 Day of The African Child,Vanguard Media held its 4th Annual Children’s Conference last Thursday. This year’s theme was Child Abuse: Enforcing the Child’s Rights for a Peaceful Nation.

With more than 32o schools in attendance, each school was represented by five students and a staff. The children were addressed by stakeholders from non- governmental organisations. Some of the speakers include Mrs Christiana Akindolie, Child Counsellor and CEO of Christiana Faith Foundation, Alhaja Risikat Akiode, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Bisi Awoyomi, project director, Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), Mrs Oluwatoyin Jaiyeola, a director in the Ministry of Youths and Social Welfare, and Mrs Funmi Adesegun, wife of the deputy governor of Ogun state among many other’s where present at the occasion The children learnt a lot as each speaker urged them to take ownership of their body and report anybody who touches them in any inappropriate man-

ner. They were also enjoined to disregard threats usually made by abusers such as’’ if you tell your mummy you will die or I will kill you,’’ while they should shun all forms of sexual activities before marriage because such may lead to complications in future.

Telephone numbers where also given to the students that attended the conference to report such incidents to law enforcement agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of

apprehending offenders to seek redress in court. They where also told that hiding such occurrences cannot solve the problem as victims need to be counselled to prevent depression,for documentation and reference purposes. Parents were also told to educate their children about child abuse and ask them to be on a look out as such devilish act can come from any angle of the society — relations, neighbours, teachers and even close family friends.

Commending Vanguard for its effort to protect the rights of the African child, Mr Paul Ebuka Chinwuba, a public servant said it was a very good gesture by Vanguard to educate children about child abuse because getting the knowledge of something before you finally see it gives you a better understanding of the situation at hand. Preinforming them is very good and necessary. Black T, an upcoming musician said if Vanguard could go out of his way to organise such an event the nation should be grateful because abuse is one of the things that disturbs the African child.

He then shared the story of a boy that was raped by the house help. He did not tell his parents and today that child is now a 29 year-old adult.

young Nigerian has emerged the top graduating student from the Faculty of engineering at the Eastern Mediterranean University in the Turkish republic of North Cyprus, obtaining a status of High Honours (first class).

Tunji Anthony Olu-Taiwo, from Ifako-Ijaiye Local government area of Lagos State, finished with a Grade Point Average of 4.00 out of a possible 4.00 (straight A’s).He is the first African to obtain this status from his department. He obtained a degree in Computer Engineering.

Tunji hopes to further his education in the field of software Engineering. His dream is to become a reputable Software Engineer by improving the world of computing

BY TOSIN ADESILE, UNILAG

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From right; Mrs Funmi Banire; Mrs Funmi Adesegun, wife of Ogun State Deputy Governor; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM Publications/ Editor-in Chief, Vanguard newspapers; Mrs Toyin Jaiyeola, HOD, Family Social Service, Office of Youth &Social Dept, and Mr Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard newspapers, during the 4th Annual Vanguard'Children's Conference last Thursday at Muson Centre, Lagos.

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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C M Y K

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Students organise breast cancer awareness

Deputy speaker at UNILAG, tasks dons on constitution amendment LL roads led to the University of Lagos recently, when its Political Science department hosted the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihediora, as the guest speaker in their annual lecture tagged: “The Legislature: Roles, Misconceptions & Experience in Consolidation of Democracy in Nigeria.”

The crème de la crème of town and gown were present. The Deputy Speakers entourage included Mrs. Rose Okoh, Acting Chairman on the House Committee on Education, Mrs. Abike Dabiri, Chairman Committee on Diaspora, Owoyemi Bamidele, Chairman of the House Committee on Research, Kolawole Taiwo, Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly amongst others. The University community was well represented and led by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Rahamon Bello.

Although the theme of the lecture was well handled, it was without doubt that the question on the minds of students, staff and the general public about the House’ stand on the change of the University was itching to be asked. It was therefore not

Nigerian bags 1st class in North Cyprus

•Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha (middle); Acting VC, UNILAG, Prof.. Rahamon Bello (right) and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, UNILAG, Prof. Babajide Alo, at the public lecture last week. surprising that this was the resounding theme of the management staff and even students who had the opportunity to speak at the event. Some subtly so, and others, not so subtly.

In response, the Deputy Speaker said that before making any decision considering the President’s Bill, the House will take into consideration the views

of the students, staff, Alumni and majority of Nigerians.

Ihedioha in his lecture, called on the electorate to empathize with the Legislature saying that they have had more than their fair share of doubts from critics.

According to him, one major reason for such criticism and misconception is the “crisis of expectation from the electorate” The deputy speaker said that

“even enlightened people confuse the role of the legislature with that of the executive.”

He also called on the academic community to make their input into the ongoing process of amending the constitution while stating that the constitution will be amended again in April next year.

HE University of Lagos chapter of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS), and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited have joined forces to promote breast cancer awareness amongst Nigerians with view to checking the spread of the disease.

The campaign which is sponsored by SEPLAT, an indigenous Petroleum company, was part of the activities designed to commemorate the 2012 edition of PANS’ annual health week.

The health week which has as its theme, “Global Trend in Pharmacy Practice: Nigeria’s Position”, was held between 25th to the 30th of June 2012.

During the period, the students organised a breast cancer awareness programme in Mushin, Surulere and Akoka areas of Lagos, with special focus on Mushin model Market, Randle General Hospital, Surulere Local Government and University of Lagos campus, Akoka.

According to the President PANS, UNILAG, Alao Ishaq the objective of the campaign was to help draw attention of people to the danger of breast cancer as well as assist in educating the public, especially the female folks on how to detect and prevent the disease and its scourge.

Speaking on the sponsorship, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs and New Business Development, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, said that “the programme is consistent with the vision of the company’s

34— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5,

2012

Scrapping NMEC 'll worsen Nigeria's illiteracy profile — PAIKO A

GAINST all odds and speculations to scrap the only agency with the sole mandate to reduce national illiteracy in the country, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-For mal Education (NMEC) refuses to be perturbed by the side distractions while firmly aims at helping the federal government to attain education for all by 2015f and beyond. NMEC’s Executive Secretary, Mr Jibrin Paiko in this interview with FAVOUR NNABUGWU says NMEC is alive to its mandate and responsibilities. Excerpts.

What are really the objectives of NMEC? Nigeria’s population is currently put at about 160 million, and 35 per cent of this number is considered to be illiterate. By estimation, that is about 56 million illiterates. For the past three years, implementation of government policy on literacy has been dwindling at the state level. Of course, our responsibility at the national level is fundamental – formulation of policy documents, curriculum development, capacity building, developing programmes, and supplying teaching/learning materials.

But the federal government cannot eradicate illiteracy alone; the state government has to be fully involved. Even then, there is need for the private sector to come in: NGOs, faith-based organisations, development partners, corporate companies and individuals. All hands must be on deck.

•Jibrin Paiko, NMEC boss Because of these soaring illiterate figures, we believe that there is need to reawaken Nigerians’ interest in the menace. We know that reducing illiteracy statistics would go a long way to reducing the increasing wave of violence and insecurity currently facing us as a people.

Is the level of cooperation from stakeholders to NMEC’s expectations?

In particular, the development partners have been doing quite well, especially the UNESCO and UNICEF. In fact most of our policy documents and

curricula were developed with the help of UNICEF. UNESCO, on the other hand, has been giving us expertise advice and technical support.

The major problem lies with the state government, at implementation level, as I have said before. Even though we have liaison offices in all the states, only few are properly funded by the state governments to perform their functions.

I can say that Zamfara state is trying though. In fact, the state is even paying salaries to our facilitators. The state has a dedicated fund, coordinated from the local

government areas, for the furtherance of mass literacy.

Other states like Cross River, Jigawa, Lagos and Kaduna are all making some efforts to pay our facilitators. The minimum benchmark in our policy document for the payment of facilitators is N7 500. Even as paltry as this sum is, many states are paying below that, while others are not even paying one kobo to the facilitators.

What should be noted is that, the first factor on the priority scale in this programme is the teacher, which is called facilitator. If there are no facilitators, it means there would be no programme. It is the facilitators that enrols learners and then teach them.

What is the agency do to improve facilitators’ fees in states?

We have however realised that we cannot get the fund.

We have seen that, if we don’t just kick-start it, the money may just never come. So the idea of a public/private partnership was conceived.

So the campaign would be done with the support of all, not that we have funds on our own to do it. We have to call for the support of all – the GSM operators, oil companies, foundations, individuals, and so on. We need the support of all, in one way or the other, to succeed in this campaign.

We have also put in place measures to ensure that our corporate sponsors also get value for their money. For example, they are at liberty to state their sponsorship when supporting the campaign with an advert. That is good PR for them. A company may also wish to support us by reprinting in large quantity any of our instructional materials, with advert of its own products on them. Or again, a company may go to a community and employ a number of facilitators and pay them allowances.

On an individual basis, a literate person may volunteer to serve as facilitator, perhaps convincing others, maybe his family members and friends, to

join him. Together, they could take on an illiterate class for three months, six months, depending on how much time they can volunteer. They could do this until the class achieve basic literacy. Or a community may employ a qualified person among its members and pay him the minimum pay. So these are the kind of contributions we are soliciting from the public, not necessarily cash. The aim is to eradicate illiteracy at the end of the day.

What lesson has this agency learnt from other countries that have achieved mass literacy?

There is no illiteracy in America, as almost 100 percent of its adult population are literate. Yet the government of that country allocated $635 million which is about N103billion to adult basic and literacy education this year. That is more than a quarter of the total education budget for Nigeria. Ironically, with almost half of the entire adult population being illiterate, this country allocated only N1 billion to mass literacy last year.

What is your reaction to scrapping of NMEC? It is still speculative. But if you ask me, I would say it is unimaginable that there is a recommendation for our commission to be scrapped. As you rightly observed, the level of illiteracy in the country is worrisome.

Only recently, we all read in the papers that the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) raised an alarm that more than half of the teachers in some Northern states are cannot read and write, especially Sokoto. Now tell me, how can these ones teach their students how to read?

We are talking about pupils in formal schools who don’t have teachers that can teach them how to read and write.

What about the 9.5 million Almajiri who are out of school?

So the problem of illiteracy is too gargantuan for anybody to think of recommending scrapping the sole agency responsible for eradicating illiteracy in the country.

the Rock.

Asked the secret of her academic success, Adeshina said: “When I was at Ansaruden Comprehensive School, Okota, I saw it wise to get close to a teacher who assisted me academically on difficult subjects. I spent most of my time in reading and assisting other students in their difficult subjects” He pointed out that his studying habit became better when he enrolled for A level courses at Edgewood College which prepared him for overseas admission. “At Edgewood, I was opportuned to use well equipped functional library, Information

Communication Technology (ICT) and committed teachers who brought out the best in me,” he said.

Speaking at the valedictory service, Director, Edgewood College, Mrs Phillips Kehinde said that students should have the confidence to commit themselves, strive for success, gain merits and confront challenges. Phillips charged students to hunger for diligence, honesty and service stressing that they should go with all the assurance that they can make the world a better place.

“Shake the world with your abilities and create a positive mark in all that you do,” she added.

‘Only educated youths can move the nation forward'

BY DAYO ADESULU

f the youths are not educated, Nigeria cannot move forward, talk less of being able to fulfilling the vision 20:2020.” This was the remark of a less privileged, Adesoji Adeshina who despite his humble background studied hard to have scholarships both in College and university.

The 17-year-old boy who emerged best graduating student at Edgewood College, Lekki, Lagos, said that as a less privilege person, the only way to attract the sympathy of people was to take his academic

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seriously. According to Adeshina, his success story began when he came second at the Lagos State spelling bee and subsequently became the deputy governor of Lagos State for one day in 2010.

Moreover, when he made eight distinctions and one credit in his Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), Lagos State government and House of the Rock took knowledge of him and gave him scholarships to university level. However, because of his academic performance at the A Level examinations at Edgewood College, provisional admission has been given him

•Mrs Phillips Kehinde to study Bio Medical Engineering at Imperial College, United Kingdom with a scholarship from House of

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—35

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG

From right: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Ben Ibe; Minister of State for Education, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; and Director, Federal Scholarship Board, Hindatu Abdulahi; at the official launch of the National Framework on Girls' and Women Education by the Minister in Abuja.

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

N a bid to elevate the standards of girl child education, the Federal Government has launched the policy framework on Girls and Women Education.

Minister of State for Education, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who made the public presentation of the framework in Abuja, Tuesday, said the outline is a proposal for giving the girl child as well as women access to sound education.

The minister noted that investing in girls’ and women education is one of the most effective ways to reducing poverty and advancing national development.

Wike pointed out that Nigeria has over the years strive to ensure that all children, irrespective of gender and socio-economic background have equal access to basic education with the implementation of the universal basic education.

He stated that since the launch of the basic education scheme in 2004, Nigeria has recorded appreciable increase in enrollment figures of both boys and girls.

The minister however regretted that certain factors such as cultural and traditional values have created noticeable barriers between girls and their prospects for basic education.

This he said has created gender imbalance in the education system which according to him is leading most of these girls and women into living deprived lives of missed opportunities and poverty.

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According to the minister, “the existing gender gap in education which is especially pronounced in the Northern part of the country is

unhealthy and inimical to women empowerment and the rapid socio-economic development of the country” .

The ministry of education

Corona trains fresh graduates to boost teaching profession

BY DAYO ADESULU

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HALLENGED by the low quality graduates in the teaching profession and its consequences on our school children, Corona Schools has introduced i-Teach programme to develop best graduates in various disciplines into the teaching profession.

Speaking at the media parley, the Executive Director, Corona Schools’ Trust Council, Mrs Olufunto Igun said: “Corona iTeach Program is a 21st century teacher development and recruitment programme which is intended to attract our nation’s most promising best graduates and future leaders into the teaching profession.”

According to her, a significant area that has and continue to pose a serious challenge to schools is the dearth of trained, technically qualified teachers adding that experience shows that the best graduates are not in the teaching profession where they should belong.

“We feel strongly that it is critical that we change this and enthuse these talents with the attractiveness of teaching as a viable, profitable and noble career,” she said She said, the objectives of the

programme are to re-establish the dignity of the teaching profession in Nigeria by attracting qualified trainable youth who will be ready to impact students’ academic achievement in a positive way; re-skilling graduate entrants into the profession, equipping them with higher order skills for an effective teaching and learning process.

Others are, to institute a teacher pipeline for the future and ensure maintenance of standards of the Trust Council and education in Nigeria and to draw into the teaching profession dynamic individuals well prepared with workplace and professional values to impact our children and ultimately the nation The director, who sees the gesture as a way of giving back to the society said that Corona sees the initiative as part of their corporate social responsibility by providing the platform for a wide spectrum core teacher and personal development training.

Igun, however noted that there are several built in evaluation processes in the programme. stressing that at the end of the training, the best candidates who meet the short listing criteria will graduate into the trainee scheme.

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HENEVER there is a natural storm human activities or human lives are disrupted depending on the mildness or the severity of the storm. The effect of the storm could lead to loss of properties and even the loss of life. Assuredly, no storm will leave you the same way it met you because it will cause changes in your life. The severity of the storm will determine the impact it will have on you. It is not really the storm that determines the quality of our lives but how we perceive and handle it; however, the storm influences the outcome of our lives. As it is in the natural dimension so it applies in the human dimension.

There lived a man who travelled to another city to attend series of meetings due to the nature of his job. One night he was awaken by the ringing tone from his phone. From the other end he was told by his friend that fire swept through his home and killed his wife and two children while sleeping. In hearing the breaking news the man was completely devastated. In a state of utter despondency he left his hotel room and headed for the river which flowed through the town. While in an inner turmoil; he repeatedly told himself that it was impossible to go on and that he must die now in that flowing stream. He wrestled within himself and finally got on his knees and the tears flowed freely from his eyes. In that state of brokenness he prayed fervently for understanding and strength to handle the tragedy.

Eventually, he married again and raised a family. His story ends with this note: he composed songs that had inspired thousands of people to believe that nothing is impossible for the human spirit. Indeed, nothing is impossible for the person whose spirit is not broken; nothing is impossible for the one who has an unwavering faith in his Creator that glory can come out of the storms of life.

The first step to handling challenges is to face it squarely; you can’t run away from challenges or play the blame game because if you do the situation gets worse. Don’t shrink from the storms of life; expand and deal with it forthrightly.

Be mentally calm, relaxed and think positively, creatively and productively; tension, panic, doubt, worry, bitterness are mental poisons that will distort your sense of perception and judgment which will lead you in making wrong choices that will empower circumstances to control your life.

Get into partnership with God; believe and depend on Him for wisdom, guidance and help. Take a clue from the little mouse that was crossing a

,

FG launches policy framework on girl child, women education

Bouncing back after life’s storm

Don’t take the easy way out but the right way.

Choose to do only what is right at all times despite the pressure

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bridge over a very deep ravine with an elephant. As the elephant and the mouse crossed the bridge, the bridge shook. When they crossed over to the other side, the mouse looked at his big partner and said, “Boy, we really shook that bridge, didn’t we?” When God is your partner through life you will discover that you and God are the unbeatable team.

Probe into the root cause of the challenge; think objectively.

Until you know the root cause of a problem you cannot effectively solve it. At this point we need to tell ourselves the truth because many of the life’s storms are self-induced. Examine and evaluate the challenge and keep it in the right perspective; don’t use a “magnifying lens” to see through the challenge.

Search within for an answer; you may not know immediately all the steps needed for the solution but if you know and take the first step, other steps will fall into place at the appropriate time. To achieve this get physically and mentally quiet; expect that God’s wisdom will flow through you. Listen attentively within for guidance.

Don’t take the easy way out but the right way. Choose to do only what is right at all times despite the pressure. Realize that the pathway of error leads faster to ruin but the right pathway may seem slower but inevitably leads to enduring success and happiness.

Keep thinking, keep believing, keep working, keep praying.

The best way to get out of your problem is to help someone get out of his problem. If you need money, give money to someone who is less fortunate than you. If you are frustrated; go and encourage someone that is beaten down by life. Shift your focus from yourself to others and help them in any way you can. Leave people better than when you met them and you will attract success.

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 37

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Forget Vision 20-2020 without a healthy population — Samuel Okafor

even more dangerous than bromate because it has long half-life in the body. It can cause a lot of things like prostate cancer, cancer of the thyroid, breast cancer etc.”

He warned bakers to desist from using potassium bromate. “They can use ascorbic acid though the argument is that loaves treated with ascorbic acid cannot withstand handling abuse as those treated with potassium bromate. Apart from that, the way a seller handles bread,

BY EBELE ORAKPO

H

EALTH is wealth and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, so if the Nigerian government does not take care of the health of the citizens, then they should forget about making the nation one of the top 20 economies by 2020. In this chat with Vanguard in his office in Awka, Dr. Samuel Chike Okafor, a lecturer in the Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka says improper storage of salt, use of aluminum foil in cooking and potassium bromate in bread, could be contributing to the rise in cases of cancer, kidney and liver problems in Nigeria. Excerpts:

P

otassium Bromate: Dr Okafor said although potassium bromate was banned in 1993, it is making a come-back.

“Potassium bromate increases the volume of bread and because of the harsh economic reality of our day, sometimes we go for quantity rather than quality so if you look at the volume of the bread, you will go for it. A lot of alternatives have been developed but it seems potassium bromate keeps beating them. In fact, bakers just decided to use it as an additive that gives the most reliable result. It imparts so many qualities on the loaf like flavour and colour. These qualities endear potassium bromate to bakers so it has been very difficult for them to go for alternatives. Also in terms of price, potassium bromate is relatively cheap and readily available so I decided to do the research to find out if

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bakers are complying with NAFDAC directive that they should stop using potassium bromate and the levels in our products. I discovered that some bakers still use it because last year, NAFDAC intercepted N100 billion worth of potassium bromate.

Result: “We found 7 – 9 parts per million (ppm). Although the level may be low, it is higher than the level prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration of the US but some scientists believe that potassium bromate is very toxic at any level. We fed the bread to rats and the highest level we got was over 9 ppm and that the bread had deleterious effect on the livers and kidneys of the rats. So this may be contributing to the rise in cases of liver and kidney diseases so doctors will have to include it in the list of culprits when a patient presents with liver or kidney problem.

Rule of thumb: kafor said there is a sim

O

ple way of knowing whether a loaf contains potassium bromate or not.

“Just compress the loaf and if it bounces back to its original size, then it gives you an idea that it doesn’t contain potassium bromate but if you compress it and it slowly gets back to the original size, it is an indication that it has potassium bromate.”

He, however, noted that bread that has been baked long enough at high temperature even if it contains potassium bromate, a lot of it will be converted to potassium bromide so tests will not show the presence of potassium bromate. “Bromide poses its own health problems called bromide dominance so at times, NAFDAC will check a loaf for bromate but they don’t find it and they will say the baker is complying but the baker bakes the loaf to a level that all the bromate is converted to bromide. Bromide is

you notice some particles chipping off but if you use potassium bromate, the particles do not easily chip off. And then when you eat such bread, you have a feeling that it contains so much butter and ascorbic acid does not give that same effect although it is safer,” he said.

Aluminum foil: ccording to Okafor, in time past, “our forefathers used to wrap food in plantain leaves but the in-thing now is aluminum foil for grilling, boiling, roasting and packaging food. I embarked on a study to check if aluminum at high temperature will leach into the food because it has been found that aluminum is a metalloestrogen. It enhances the ac-

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tivity of estrogen as a carcinogen so it has been discovered that estrogen, especially in post-menopausal women can lead to breast cancer. So metallo-estrogen can activate estrogen receptor and act in the place of estrogen. This can have synergistic effect with estrogen to initiate or boost cancer effects.”

He noted that aluminum is also implicated in anaemia and osteomalacia. It is also a neurotoxic and neurodegenerative substance.

“What I did was to expose the content of the foil to a temperature of 140 degree Celsius for 30 minutes. At the end of the day, I checked the level of aluminum in the food.

I had done the baseline aluminum study before this. I discovered there was increase in the level of aluminum in the food from over four to over 14 so it means that the aluminum foil is not to be exposed to high temperatures. So instead of cooking food in aluminum foil, we should find an alternative.

I want the society to take note of this because any society that is down with ill health will not be productive and the economy will be affected,” he said.

Asked if it has contributed to the increase in the incidence of cancer in Nigeria , Okafor said: “Yes, I believe so. Further studies have shown that antiperspirants contain a lot of aluminum and what it does is to block the sweat duct and the person will not perspire. I noticed that antiperspirants are applied very close to the breast and you find out that the cancer is more in the area very close to where the antiperspirant is applied.

Iodized salt: Speaking on his work on iodized salt, Okafor said exposing salt to air/moisture decreases the level of iodine in the salt and could lead to iodine deficiency. “It is expected that the salt we consume must contain iodine which is a very important micronutrient and it has been found that iodine deficiency is one of the problems plaguing humanity."

38 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5 , 2012 — 39

Email: godfrey_bivbere@yahoo.co.uk

VOL. 02

No. 12

JULY 2012

www.vanguardngr.com

Group calls for International hydrographic co-operation for safer navigation

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GROUP under the aegis of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS) has called for co-operation of International Hydrographers to ensure safer navigation.

Making the call in Lagos at the just concluded 2012 World Hydrographic Day celebrations, President of the NHS who doubles as the Hydrographer of the Navy, Commodore Achinge M. Maiha, said that “Supporting safer navigation for all seafarers cannot take place in isolation, as was the case a few centuries ago.”

Maiha who is Nigeria’s representative at the International Hydrographic Conference (IHC), said the crux of this year’s celebrations is “to raise awareness on the importance of international co-operation in the field of Hydrography...with the view to attracting them to the profession.”

Hydrographic equipment The NHS boss said, “As part of the public awareness campaign, simultaneous visits were made to select schools in Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri on the 19th of June 2012.” This was in addition to the Hydrographic equipment exhibition, which he said was “to showcase some hydrographic equipment and promote the practical aspect of Hydrography.”

The World Hydrographic Day according to the United Nations’ (UN) Resolution A/ 60/30 is “celebrated annually on 21 June by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), with the aim of giving suitable publicity to its work at all levels, and of increasing the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis,” he noted.

Nigeria joined the 80-member Organisation in 1976 and is a member of its East-Atlantic Hydrographic Commission (EAtHC) which covers the West African sub region. Thus, the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic Office (NNHO) is the focal point for IHO activities in Nigeria and payment of its annual contributions.

L-R: John Jenkins, MD Ports & Cargo Handling; Isaac Orolugbagbe, Director Projects & Group Services; Barrister Tunji Olusinde, GM Legal & Claims at a news briefing in Lagos.

Port reforms has led to 178% increase in cargo traffic —NPA

By GODFREY BIVBERE & DAVID SAGUA

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ANAGING Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Omar Suleiman has attributed the consistent improvement in cargo throughput up 178%, to the ports reforms of the government.

Suleiman made this assertion at the on-going 35th Council Meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), being held in Lagos. He acknowledged Nigeria government’s “realisation that the private sector remains the engine for (economic) growth.”

Speaking further at the meeting with the theme“Impact of Port Concessioning on the Socio-Economic Development of our Countries,” the NPA boss said that the port reforms “has led to consistent improvement in cargo throughput from 46,150,518 metric tonnes (mt) in 2006 to 82 million mt in 2011.

Container traffic has similarly witnessed 12-15% annual growth.”

To this end, the government limits its roles to policy-making and the creation of an enabling environment through “the adoption of the ‘landlord model’ of ports management in 2005.”

To further enhance these growth potentials, NPA boss said, ”government has embarked on: capital and maintenance dredging to deepen and expand the channels; dredging the Niger River for inland water transportation and removal of wrecks from the chan-

nels.”

“Rehabilitation of the moles in the Lagos area, improved maritime security and comfort for shipping and massive investment in rail rehabilitation across the country.”

Suleiman noted that in line with the increased economic potentials following the government’s revised stance, the private sector is taking the lead, adding that “private sector initiative was encouraged to develop the Onne Federal Lighter Terminal, FLT and Fed-

eral Ocean Terminal, FOT which support the oil and gas sectors of our economy, and serve as the hub for the oil and gas sector in the sub-region.”

Listing other such efforts to include: “Lekki Free port in Lagos; Badagry Deep-Sea Port; Olokola Deep-Sea Port; Ibaka port in Akwa Ibom state; and concerted efforts to improve the development of Inland container depots.”

The NPA helmsman called for co-ordinated activities amongst

West and Central African countries to “confront and stop the menace of the increased piracy and armed robbery.” This he said “have made shipments to our sub-region more expensive.”

He urged delegates to “draw lessons from the challenges of the global economic recession and the bitter experiences of certain developed economies.” This is to “position the sub-region as the alternate investment haven while insulating it from its dangerous consequences.”

Training institutions need not own vessels — NIMASA

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IGERIAN Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has said that it is not important for training institutions in the country to own vessels for practical for its cadets.

Speaking at a day forum organized by the maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria, MARAAN, to mark this year’s celebration for Nigerian seafarers on Monday in Lagos, Executive Director in charge of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of NIMASA, Hon. Ibrahim Zailani, said that ocean going vessels remained the best option for a more realistic and practical sea time training.

According to the NIMASA boss who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Labour and Cabotage Services department of the agency, Mallam Ibrahim Jibril, noted that though there had been recent attempts to improve on the

welfare of the seafarer by the agency, the country still ranked low when compared with seafarers’ expectations in Europe, North America, or even in Singapore and the Philippines.

In his words, ““It is important to note that the mandatory 16-month sea time training typically involves handling of cargoes, as well as managing of passengers. That is why ownership of a mere training ships by training institutions is not good enough, but rather vessels that operate on commercial ventures are most appropriate.”

Maritime stakeholders at the forum had advocated for better engagement terms and improved welfare for seafarers in the country.

The participants at the interactive forum observed that lack of sea time training opportunities for cadets remained the bane of quality shipping capacity in the

country and therefore, called on all relevant government agencies to cooperate in implementing the nation’s local content development laws, especially the Cabotage Act 2003.

They pointed out that this is to ensure that local shipping companies get jobs to enable them contribute in the provision of sea time training opportunities for trainee seafarers. They also called on the private sector, especially maritime investors to join in developing the nation’s shipping capacity in training seafarers.

Earlier, the MARAN President, Mr. Bolaji Akinola saluted the courage of Nigerian seafarers, whom he said despite the hazard they faced and long-time separation from their families and loved ones, still had to cope with little pay and despicable engagement terms.

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

As Ojo Maduekwe leaves for Ottawa — Pg 42

Courts' refusal to grant adjournment not denial of fair hearing (4) — Pg 43

The Supreme Court doctrine in the interpretation and construction of statutes (5) — Pg 43

Contentment prevents me from chasing dollars at 80 — B. O. Benson (SAN)

By DAYO BENSON, & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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S you clock 80, how does it feel like as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria?

Just like every other birthday of one, 80 years also is a very special one, in the sense that in between the date of my birth July 4th, 1932 and July 4th, 2012 a lot of things have happened; of which I have to thank God. Most especially you referred to my status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. I have had the opportunity of practicing law for 50 years, in between that is great achievement; and in between, I have practiced law as it should be because I have not added anything to it. I have always been either in court, tribunal or arbitration, which relates to the practice of the law. So I want to feel fulfilled in my chosen career. In between, I have played politics mainly in the profession, as treasurer of a branch, being the General Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), President of the association, Chairman of African Bar Association and Vice Chairman of Common-Wealth Lawyers Association, there is nothing that could be more fulfilling than that.

You have practiced law for 50 years, what memorable moment would you want to recall now that you are marking your 80th birthday and 50 years of your profession?

The most memorable thing is that I have produced two lawyers. One of them is now handling my chambers and I think he is over ten or eleven years in practice. The other one, the elder sister, is a judge of the Lagos State High Court. What would be more memorable C M Y K

The most memorable thing is that I have produced two lawyers.

Chief B.O. Benson (SAN). Photo by Sola Oyelese

than that?

What of in the course of the practice of the profession itself because you mentioned some landmark cases which you handled in your memoir, when you celebrated your 70th birthday?

Like you rightly mentioned, if you look into my memoir, you will find a lot of cases there. I had to lead a very big

,

CHIEF Babatunde Olusola Benson (SAN) clocked 80 yesterday. For one who has practiced law for fifty years, he has many professional achievements in his kitty. He was the former Vice Chairman of Common-wealth Lawyers Association; former President, African Bar Association and former President, Nigerian Bar Association. He also holds honorary Doctor of Law, LLD of the Lagos State University (LASU) where he was legal adviser for many years.

In this interview, Chief Benson, who is also a member, Body of Benchers and member Disciplinary Committee of the Bar, spoke on his life at 80, his career and the legal profession, which he said is now infilterated by questionable characters. Excerpts:

People should be contented with what they have...........That is what my father left for me and that is what I want to leave for others

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chamber of my uncle (T. O. Sobowale Benson & Co). At the age of three years at the bar, I had to sit down as head of chambers to handle cases all over the country. Our chambers zeroed on mainly Insurance matters, which was all over the country. I had to travel far and wide in the country. There is no part of Nigeria that I have not been to.

I remember my first appearance in the Supreme Court was what you may call a case which was given to one by the government. You know in government or in the practice of Criminal law, people who are convicted of murder charges, whether they like it or not, must go on appeal up to the Supreme Court. And this murder case that was won, was that this gentleman met his wife having affairs with a man, he was said to have killed the man. So he was convicted and he had to go through

appeal to the Supreme Court. In such cases, they (accused persons) don’t have money to hire lawyers, the government had to pay us lawyers to appear for them. I was one of those lawyers who was called to handle this man’s case.

The case led to what we call “Maliki Law”. It is an interesting case to me as a Christian and as a lawyer.

The other case was that five people were charged for murder. What happened was that by the Ebute Meta landing of the 3rd Mainland Bridge, there is a place called Makoko. At that time, there was no electricity in that area.

These area boys, popularly known as touts, were fighting in that Makoko over illicit gin, so they decided someone was taking more. They started to fight one another. In between, one of them died.

My client ran out of the place and went to the Police Station to report that he has been stabbed. He stabbed himself, as was disclosed by people. The judge who handled the case is still alive today, Honourable Justice IShola Oluwa.

So he convicted my client and two others and discharged the others. When my client was convicted he was sent to the gallows, to die by hanging.

And my client said “no way”. He said he wanted to urinate and went down to the toilet in the High Court with a policeman following him. He later requested for a bottle of water, which was given to him. My client then smashed the bottle given to him and stabbed himself. His intestine came out and he was taken to the General Hospital where he was given sixteen stitches. I was at home around 4pm when the news came up, saying that such a person convicted for murder had stabbed himself and stabbed the policemen. However, my client did not

die. They took him to Kirikiri after coming out from the hospital.

I had to go and visit him at Kirikiri.

They don’t allow rope in their trouser or whatever they have on, so he had to hold his trouser with handcuff on his feet. I saw him crying and I said “no, you are not going to die. Definitely not!

You still have a chance to go appeal.” So we went on appeal and he was discharged because we raised a point of a doubt. Five people were fighting in darkness and they were using sharp objects; which of the sharp objects killed the man, could it be my clients own, could it be another person’s client own, and so on? The Supreme then said that there is a doubt already created, so my client was discharged. That is a very memorable one. So my client, today, is still alive and lives at the Mainland. He is a strong Muslim and whenever I see him, we just laugh over the matter.

There are other cases, the case that you referred to against Justice Lambo, who is a very close friend of my uncle and he went to a Lower Bench as a Continues on page 41

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—41

Questionable characters have infiltrated legal profession Continues from page 40 Magistrate. So when he came back to Lagos and retired (as a Magistrate), he could still go back to practice (as a lawyer).

So he decided to go back to practice. We had a case in which a man was charged for manslaughter because he was driving a car and he had an accident in which somebody died. He (Lambo) was appearing for the dependant of the person, while I was appearing for the insured of an Insurance company. He went on with the case and somehow he lost. Then he went to the Bench and became a judge of the High Court of Lagos State.

Justice Lambo was one of those who encouraged me to do law because he was staying with my uncle.

And then this other case came up after he became a judge of the High Court and I had to defend the driver. It was at the junction, my client was driving a lorry and the deceased was riding a bicycle. The policemen stopped my client, he did not stop and he ran over the cyclist.

So I have to defend the driver of the lorry. I appeared before Honourable Justice Lambo, who was my benefactor, whom I have had cases against and had a nice time.

Cross examining a policeman I just cross-examined the policeman, “you stopped my client like that, did he stop?”

The policemen said yes. The policeman said he did not stop.

“Did you pass the cyclist?” He said he did not pass the cyclist.

So thereby you created “Contributory Negligence” on both sides. So we won the case.

There are other cases in my memo that are fantastic too. I feel really fulfilled. So when I retired at the age of 70, I had to put everything in black and white.

At what age did you stop going to court?

When I became 70 years, I stopped going to court. I remember when I retired some journalists came asking me why did I retire, saying that lawyers don’t retire. Well, I have had relationship with European Solicitors both overseas and here and I had a friend when we were handling a case in France. He said he retired at 60 years and I asked him why. He said he had been practicing for over thirty years and why carry more burden. I wanted to retire at 60 too but I did not; I retired at 70.

Also, elder brother of late F. R. Williams, Akintola Williams, who is an accountant, retired at 60. When people came asking why retire so early. He said that in his profession it is addition and subtraction. He said two C M Y K

plus two is four; and four minus two is two, so whatelse! And I said that is a good thing. We have had seniors like F. R. Williams practiced to the end of his life. I have practiced for 50 years and that is good enough.

Fifty years at the bar, what legacy would you say you are leaving behind for people in the legal profession?

I am not a politician but I played a professional politics. I was a treasurer of a local branch at NBA, I became the Secretary and also the President. In between, there are lots of things that I have contributed to that took me to various associations and I became the President of African Bar Association. I also give advice on legal matters even as I have retired. It is a good footstep that people can follow.

Recently, I was in a seminar on Criminal Law Administration of Justice. There was a provision of that law which says that if you steal land, you go to jail for stealing. So people were asking the Attorney General that how can one steal land when in the law of stealing there must asportation. You must take it away, how are you going to take land away? I knew what they were talking about was ‘Ajagun-Gbale’ (forceful acquisition of land). So I said to the Attorney General that such law is for Lagos State whose language is Yoruba. I advised them to put the law there (in Yoruba) and people will appreciate it that a law has been made against ‘AjagunGbale’. They should leave such law and people will appreciate it.

Are you satisfied with the standard of the legal profession compared to what obtained in your time?

When I came in as a lawyer, we were 1,000 lawyers, now there are thousands of lawyers.

When I was solicitor to Uniport, their legal adviser who had practiced law for seven years

Chief B.O. Benson (SAN)...If you see what comes out of the Disciplinary Committee of NBA, you will be sorry for the profession.

suddenly wanted to do his Masters’ Degree of Doctorate Degree, which he had to submit his script. So he went back to the law school to forge his script and they asked him if he had ever been convicted or sent out of the university. He answered no to the questions. So when he was submitting his papers, he now went and dubbed it with white ink. His juniors in the department found out and wrote petition against him and he was arrested. He is presently in jail. He went into the university with false statement; he left there after being sent out of the polytechnic. He went to Jos and then went to the law school with such a statement.

There are so many of such in the legal profession. We have what is called the ‘Disciplinary Committee’ and if you see what comes out there, you will just be sorry for this profession.

In our days, there was no law school. When we apply to the Inns of Court, they will send our application to Nigeria and they must paste it in every High Court of the area you come out from, so that people could see.

The outgoing NBA President has said that he will fight corruption in the Bar and the Bench to a stand still, what is

your take on this?

How many years does NBA President have to spend in office to fight corruption to a stand still, he will only have two years. Talking about corruption in the judiciary, in Lagos State alone we have 57 judges and over 100 magistrates. They are in their own cubicles everywhere. How do you know whether they are corrupt or not, if people don’t say it out.

Are you satisfied with the criteria used for the award of Senior Advocates of Nigeria?

Yes! One is satisfied with the criteria. In England, we used to have certain number per annum. We used to have here in Nigeria, five per annum. But then you find out that out of the five, three or four are from the Yoruba side because they are qualified. And then, it will become an issue of not having anybody from the East or North, even if they were qualified.

How they started it was that they will come to people like us and say ‘I want you to be a SAN, will you give me some cases’ because you must do some cases in court. And so we will give them out, that also is corruption.

I saw one from the current list

of applicants for SAN and I was surprised. The people told me that they go to the High Court to buy cases and the cases were just about the police versus, police versus all arranged like that, and they will say he has done cases.

The question of marginalization has eaten in, you must have 5 to Yoruba and so so number to this and that and people will say no they have not had enough. It is all with K-leg.

Who are your contemporaries in the legal profession?

My contemporaries in the legal profession are Honourable Justice Baba Alake. He is retired as justice of the Supreme Court. We qualified on the same date and we did exam on the same date. I recall when he took us to his house; he prepared food for us and went upstairs to sleep because he knew that we could not eat without taking beer. He is a strong Muslim, so he could not stay with us drinking.

Honourable Justive Morenikeji Onalaja, we call ourselves ‘16 of June’, for those of us who were called to bar on June 16, 1959. Alhaji Okunnu too is there. A good number of them are there and some are still practicing but I have decided to retire.

What would you want to be remembered for, as you celebrate your 80th birthday?

I used to preside over a body and recently the body came visiting, I told them Nigerians don’t rest, no matter the amount of money they have.

Also, one has to be committed to whatever one does. My father taught me that and he called it ‘contentment’. People should be contented with what they have. If not, at 80 one will still be running after dollars.

That is what my father left for me and that is what I want to leave for others.

42 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Vanguard Law In Pix As Ojo Maduekwe leaves NBA, Section on Business Law holds 6th annual conference for Ottawa …

The Section on Business Law, SBL, of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, held its 6th

BY AWA KALU, (SAN) TTAWA is in Canada and Canada is a leading commonwealth country just as Nigeria.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan recently presented letters of credence to a fresh team of envoys and easily, the most visible in that team is Chief Ojo Maduekwe, CFR, eloquent and well read Lawyer, astute politician, skilled administrator, public affairs analyst, great orator and thinker extraordinary. That is the man that has been dispatched to Canada to represent the interest of this country to the best of his ability and as circumstances may warrant being that time and circumstances have over the years shaped the contours of International diplomacy.

Ojo Maduekwe’s nomination as ambassador elicited as much commentary as his posting. In some quarters, it appeared infra dignitatum that after climbing the Olympian height as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, it was sheer madness for the same man to return to the same Ministry as an envoy subject to the control of a Permanent Secretary and a Minister. His posting to Canada, though elevated, generated another type of controversy. Why should a man who has served gloriously in several capacities not be given a choice Ambassadorial posting such as to the United Nations as this country’s Permanent Representative? What about St. James’ Court, as our envoy to the United Kingdom. The arm chair analysts indeed offered many reasons why our man for the season ought to ‘rest on his oars’. However, other events have shown that a significant number of people think that Ojo’s twilight has not yet arrived. Rather, his trajectory in the public domain is in full bloom.

This is attested to by a flurry of activities that have unfolded since the presentation of the letters of credence to the Ambassadors. A few of such events will suffice

O

C M Y K

to show that the high and mighty think that Ojo is indeed a worthy Ambassador.

Senator Ita Enang hosted five of the new Ambassadors in a vivacious evening of utmost conviviality. On hand were the Ambassadors to North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Switzerland, Russia and Canada. A star studded Live Band provided entertainment at the highest level punctuated by a welcome speech by the amiable chief host and responses from the lively quests. On that occasion, although the MC thought that chief Maduekwe would be circumlotous, he merely reminded his audience that the present crop of Ambassadors were ‘Ambassadors of Transformation’. He promised that the only item on the agenda was to go out and to perform to the satisfaction of the generality of Nigerians.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha assembled the crème de la crème of Abuja to say farewell to Chief Ojo Maduekwe and his wife and it was another round of emcomius that was the order of the day. Then on the very first day of July, a Sunday, the ‘high command’ of the Presbyterian Church gathered with a powerful congregation at the Church’s Abuja 1st Parish in Wuse 2 to send Ojo and wife forth to Ottawa, Canada. Led by the Prelate, the Most Reverend Professor E.M. Uka, the Presbyterian Church heirachy bid farewell to one of the church’s most decorated high flyers.

The church struck a chord in the minds of discerning worshippers when it combined the ambassador’s send forth with a birthday celebration for Mrs. Ucha Maduekwe (beloved wife of Chief Ojo Maduekwe) and her twin sister, Mrs. Nnenna Anigbo. Both sisters, born 66 years ago, are only alive today because of the humanitarian intervention of a Presbyterian legendary missionary, Mary Slessor whose sojourn To be continued.

annual conference recently with the theme: "A Globalised Legal Regime-Prospects and Challenges in Lagos." Pictures below show some faces at the conference.

Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips and NBA president, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN

Lagos State Solicitor General, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, Guest lecturer, Mr. Simon Davies & Chair, SBL, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode

Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, Prince Adelusi Adeluyi & Dr. Konyin Ajayi, SAN

Mr. Olumide Aju, Mr. Dele Oye & Chief Funlola Okunnowo

Prof Idonigie's daughter weds Prof. Paul Idonigie of Nigeria Institute of Advance Legal Studies, NIALS, daughter, Emo Idornigie, wedded at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

L-R: Prof. Paul Idornigie and daughter, Emo.

L-R:Chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator, Abdulahi Adamu and wife.

L-R: Director General Bureau for Public Enterprise, BPE, Mrs. Bolanle Onagoruwa and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN.

L-R: Prof Epiphany Azinge, Director General, NIALS and wife Dr Val Azinge.

L-R: Dr Amachi Nwaiwu and wife.

L-R: Mr Ekerem Isichel and wife Ijeoma Ischel.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY JULY 5, 2012 —

The Supreme Court doctrine in the interpretation and construction of statutes (5) Continues from last week What remedy the Parliament hath resolved and appointed to cure the disease of the Commonwealth; and (4) the true reason of the remedy.

This rule was again echoed by the Supreme Court in Ugu v. Tabi when it said: Whenever there is ambiguity and the intention of the legislature is unclear as to the mischief the law is supposed to obviate, the court can look outside for aid to construction. The previous law sought to be cured by the legislature or lawmaker, the history of the social, economic or political changes that the legislature sought to address, will come in handy as aid to construction.

But when

the words of the statute, looked at as a whole are clear, devoid of any ambiguity, the statute must be construed to reflect its clear, true meaning and no extrinsic aid to construction will be needed.

According to Dias, the approach laid down by the mischief rule contemplates a wide inquiry into the policy and purpose behind the statute. Lord Denning succinctly brought out the point when he said.

We no longer construe Acts of Parliament according to their literal meaning. We construe from according to their object and intent.

It has been argued that the propositions in Heydon’s case is today inadequate to deal with the kinds of statute which are today in vogue. Statutes of

•CJN, Dahiru Musdapher today put into effect new social experiments and operate on a much larger scale.

A further submission by Dias is that an application of the mischief rule would require a greater degree of judicial legislation than any other

approach. This conclusion is to be expected as the mischief rule requires an in dept study of the position of the previous legislation. It also gives a wider degree of flexibility to the judge in deciding what the mischief was which the present law had sought to remedy. In order to prevent a naked usurpation of the legislative function under the thin disguise of interpretation of judge must tread wearily.The above rules of statutory interpretation and construction are not rigid rules but principles which afford some guidance when then intention of Parliament is being ascertained. Finally, according to Willis, a court invokes which ever of the rules produces a result that

43

satisfies its sense of justice in the case before it.

In Onuoha v.Okafor, the Supreme Court identified the main issue to be whether a court of law can make an order directing a political as to which of two persons it ought to sponsor for an elective office.

The court placed emphasis on section 83(2) of the Electoral Act. This Section provides thus: Where there is doubt as to whether a candidate is sponsored By a political party, the commission shall resolve same

by Consulting the leader of the political party concerned.

Justice Obaseki was of the view that the matter before the court was not justiciable. Similarly, in Dalhatu v. Turaki, the Supreme Court followed the decision in Onuoha v. Okafor.

To be continued

Law Report

Courts' refusal to grant adjournment not denial of fair hearing (4) Continues from last week •When court may make order for performance of Act not statutorily provided for, Order 47, rule 1 of High Court of Bendel State State (Civil Procedure) Rules, applicable in Delta State considered By the provisions of Order 47, rule 1 of High Court of Bendel State (Civil Procedure) Rules, applicable in Delta State, courts are enjoined to make such order which it considers necessary in order to do substantial justice even though the law failed to make express provisions for the performance of an act. [P. 1936, para. E] •Meaning offimctus officio and when a court is – The phrase functus officio is a Latin expression meaning task performed. In legal or judicial parlance it means a Judge cannot give a decision or make an order on a matter twice. In other words, it connotes that a court after finally adjudicating on a matter after consideration of the issues canvassed by parties before it on the merit, it cannot rehear or redecide the matter again or twice. It is only where a court delivers judgment/ruling on a matter it heard on the merit that it becomes functus officio. It then ceases to be seised of the matter and can thus not redecide, reopen or rehear it for whatever reason. This is moreso because a court cannot sit on appeal on its own decision or review its decision. In the instant case, the matter was not decided by the court on the merit, therefore, it had not become functus officio to prevent it from relisting the matter and it erred by holding

AUGUSTINE I. ODIGWE V JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, DELTA STATE COURTOF APPEAL (BENIN DIVISION) AMIRU SANUSI JCA (Presided and Read the Lead Judgment) GEORGE OLADEINDE SHOREMI JCA OYEBISI FOLAYEMI OMOLEYE JCA so. [Ogbom v. Ibori (2005) 13 NWLR (Pt. 942) 319;Sun Insurance (Nig.) Pic v. LMBS Ltd (2005) 12 NWLR (Pt. 940) 608;Ukachukwu v. Uba (2005)

18 NWLR (Pt. 956) 1, (2006) All FWLR (Pt. 300) 1736;Ubeng v.

Usua (2006) 12 NWLR (Pt. 994) 244, (2007) All FWLR (Pt. 348) 1000;Mohammed v. Husseini

(1998)14 NWLR (Pt. 584) 108 referred to] [P. 1942, paras. D H] ?

Impropriety of court basing decision on issue raised suo motu Decisions of a court of law ought not to be founded on any ground in respect of which it has neither received argument from or on behalf of the parties before it nor even raised by or on behalf of such parties or either of them. In the instant case, the trial court raised the

issue of being functus officio suo motu without affording the parties a hearing on ot, therefore, it erred by basing its decision thereon.[Ihiakim v.

JSC (1998) 14 NWLR (pt. 584) 1; Bay v. Federal Public Service Commission (1981) 1 SC 40; v.

Abdullahi (1989) 7 SCNJ 216; v.

Ogodo (1984) 4 SC 84; v.

Nnaife (1972) 3ECSLR (pt. 1) 261 referred to] [P. 1943, paras.

B-C].

Concluded.

Review of Lagos State Criminal Law, inevitable — AG

BY OLASUNAKNMI AKONI

T

HE Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, said that the lacuna in the old criminal law enacted since 1914 makes the comprehensive review of the law by the state government inevitable.

He added that the reviewed of the 98 year-old criminal law of the state was to accommodate new trends and wave of crime as well as defences and punishments for offenses and accused persons.

Ipaye, speaking at a oneday legislative awareness and sensitisation programme organised by the Office Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, recently, also said the old criminal law lack some provisions that are very

essential in the adjudication of justice in recent times, “continuous changes in the society demands a continuous review of the state laws to fast track prompt administration of justice.”

Ipaye, said the old criminal law only provided for imprisonment and fine as only penalties for crime while other options such as noncustodian and restitution probation were not considered, which, according to him, saw offenders convicted for minor offenses.

He however added that in the new criminal law, compensation and some new conditions that may serve as defence for the accused person have been put in place for consideration in the new laws, adding that the new laws have been simplified to make it more comprehensible for all the citizens.

The Attorney-General disclosed that the state government will embark on periodic enlightenment and sensitisation of the public on the new laws to enable every citizen in the state keep abreast of the provisions of the law.

Ipaye said: “It is said that ignorance is not an excuse for flouting the law, true, but government must go a step further to ensure that the law is made public. We want forums like this that we can promote the law in local languages then we can say we have an inclusive poised to serve the people”.

On his part, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Legislative Powers Bureau Mr Muslim Folami said reaching a violent free Lagos is task that must be accomplished by the state government and the general public, the state government

would continue to promote an enabling environment for the smooth administration of justice in the state.

Folami described the law review as attempt by the Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to modernize and update the administration of criminal justice system, saying the programme would give the opportunities to citizens to have better understanding of the dictates f the law.

“It will afford the stakeholders to participate in the good governance of the state as vital issue inherent in the law will be analysed since all legislation passed often form the bedrock of the cardinal objectives of the present administration towards making Lagos economic hub and nerve centre of Nigeria and indeed Africa,” he said.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Our youth employment creation programme in Edo — Oshiomhole LESS than nine days to the Gubernatorial election in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole who is seeking a second term on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in this piece, gives insight into some of youth empowerment programmes of his administration among others aimed at putting the state on the right track of development. Excerpts

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

P

OVERTY alleviation: There are various ways of dealing with poverty, including access to some of these basic needs of life. When you borrow to extend electricity, build roads; build health centers to address basic social infrastructures that are where we spent money. I will not borrow and use the money for poverty alleviation. How do you alleviate poverty? We are building roads to communities that have been abandoned, but you alleviate poverty by constructing roads to communities, to enable the villagers to take their farm produce to the market. That is when you are helping them economically. The Chinese will say: you rather teach them how to fish, than give them the fish.

So, if you borrow to give a road to a community that has been abandoned, if you borrow to extend water to a community to meet one of the basic Millennium Development Goals, you are dealing with poverty.

The responsibility of government is to create an enabling environment for the private sector people to set up their businesses. The real thing around the world is that government must invest in infrastructures such as roads, water, education so that you can have citizens that are skilled and therefore are employable.

You have roads so that those who want to invest their businesses do not use their capital to construct or repair roads; you extend electricity so that they can be connected to power.

Government does not have a good history for running business. In any case, which one comes first; if you locate a business in a place you can’t access. It will not make sense, if you are to build a factory at Okpekpe for example. How do you carry the raw materials to Okpekpe? How do you evacuate the finished products?

How do you get your skilled workers to agree to work there?

In fact, the reasons we started

with roads is to be able to deliver on the basic needs of the poor, the starting point is access to site.

To eliminate p o v e r t y, you must integrate e v e r y Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State community into the economy of the state and the that those funds are meant to starting point is road. support and create an When you talk about the environment for ordinary Chinese economy growing with people to be able to do their ten percent digit over the years, businesses and the response we it is not just so because they are getting is very interesting. started building factories. Go to villages and you find that Those factories are the result in villages you don’t expect that that they have already put the anything can happened. All of basic amenities in place such as a sudden petrol are provision of electricity. First, station springing up, they made sure that their pupils go to school and when the people are buying multi-nationals come to build land to setup business, they don’t have to businesses. So, you spend their money to build have to understand roads, to bring water and to that to fight poverty, the bring electricity. starting point is infrastructure. The Nigeria's business report of that study environment shows that we need to construct more The business of Nigeria canals in about five private sector today, is that different basins every business man is expected within the city to be to be a municipality to himself. able to drain flood He has to build roads, he has from the roads we to sink his own borehole, he has are constructing to bring his own generator, he into those primary has to provide his own security canals that will take guards and when he adds all them eventually to of that together, the business is either Ogba River no longer competitive. or Ikpoba River.

The challenge of government Now, if you do everywhere in the world is to not deal with that, provide these amenities and you could wake up that is the much talk about one day, as you saw enabling environment. As we in Lagos and in are doing with Bank of Industry some part of the for example, to now give credit country that Benin to people who want to set up City is inside what you call cottage industries. water. This has It is better we encourage Edo happened not only people to set up industries than in Nigeria but, in for Edo State government to set so many parts of up the cottage industry. the world.

Government can’t run business I tell you that that is the truth. So, just to say nobody will come to

Edo State and will be feeling unsafe during raining season now. Ask people and commuters plying the Lagos/Ugbowo road and they will tell you that, if it rains for five minutes, people will avoid going through Benin City. If you are already at the University of Benin, you won’t dare to go to the King Square because, you can’t pass through the traditional ground and you can’t pass through Adolor or Tomline area and these are things you need to do to clear the environment for the ordinary people, before you go to set up industries.

Youth development policy The starting point is that our investment in education is our foundation. We are talking of young people who are out of school and how to equip them, to enable them to earn their living and be able to look after themselves and their families; the starting point of that is that, we needed to reinvest in public education, I emphasize public education because, there are few people who can afford to take their children to private s c h o o l s .

When you have youths that are uneducated and because they are uneducated, they are unemployable. They might have passed through those abandoned and worn-out schools without teachers, and without facilities.

They even claim that they have a certificate but in truth, they are s i m p l y unemployable. They can’t even benefit from this training because they do not have the basic education.

From my understanding, for the two hands to be able to feed one mouth, they need to be skilled and to acquire skills, you need to be educated.I think with the investments we have done in the public education, we have not done half of it looking at what is yet to be done.

We are shifting focus to technical education. We have already established contacts with a number of foreign organizations for example, the Benin

The real thing around the world is that government must invest in infrastructures such as roads, water, education so that you can have citizens that are skilled and therefore are employable

Technical College. When I visited the place, I saw how the facility had been ruined down and I said: what can we achieve by re-equipping it?

We have resolved that we have to build that technical schools so that, people who want to acquire basic skills such as electrical, plumbing, wood work among others could get those basic skills.

These are areas where you find that across Nigeria, not only in Edo State people have gone to school and outside clerical work, there is simply no employment. In the 21st century, clerical works are no longer available because every office has its laptop; you can produce your letters, use you email among others. So, having a team of clerks is no longer in v o g u e .

With ICT, one computer operator can feed-in all kinds of data and retrieve them effortlessly. So, the era of clerical work is almost completely out and therefore what we now need is to acquire the basic education; primary and secondary education.

We now must create opportunity for people to acquire technical skills. So, only the point we have been focusing on in our second term is to begin to invest in these technical schools so that our people can have exposure in work and basic technical jobs.

Construction companies I mean it is unacceptable that around the country, you find a lot of the construction companies even as they say no vacancies for X Y Z, they will tell you that they require electricians to do their jobs. They want plumbers but they can’t find good plumbers and people like you go about looking for mechanic to repair your vehicle. Outside the major mechanic garage, you simply can’t find very competent mechanic to repair your car now. These are things we believe we can do by equipping the technical schools.

My understanding of youth empowerment is basically to give them skills and I also believe that the state should lead by example.

I am convinced that government can’t create all the jobs. I also believe that government can lead by creating some jobs in the public sector and that is why we have already set up Edo Youth Employment Scheme. Under that scheme, we have employed people and the disable people or physically challenged also have their quota, where we train them on traffic control, sanitary inspectors, environmental sanitation, road maintenance, road and street sweeping and neighborhood watch.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—45

STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

N

ATIONAL Pension Commission, PenCom, has said that to further enhance the effectiveness of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, the commission is proposing the amendment of the PRA 2004 to review the rate of pension contributions.

The review will also cover the definition of total emoluments, provision for funding of the minimum pension guarantee and provision for contributors to use part of their Retirement Saving Account, RSA, balance to secure mortgage amongst others.

At a one-day interactive sesDirector-General of PenCom, Mr Mohammed Ahmad, PenCom's Commissioner, Inspecsion with leaders and affiliates torate, Dr. Musa Ibrahim and Mrs Hellen Jemerigbe, Director Training and Consultancy, of Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, at a programme in Lagos.

NLC, in Benin City, Edo State, Director-General of PenCom, Mr. Mohammed Ahmad, explained that the Commission had been making efforts with a view to ensure a vibrant and sustainable pension industry that positively impacts on the welfare of the worker, particularly at retirement, while providing the much needed funds for the economic development steady growth and that PenAhmad noted that the opment of the country. of our dear nation.

According to him, “In an efsion assets as a percentage of Scheme had accumulated Represented by the Commis- Gross Domestic Product, GDP, N2.4 trillion investible funds fort to promote a stable and sion’s Head of Compliance had grown steadily from 1.5 that would enable payment of sustainable pension industry and Enforcement, Muhammad per cent in 2006 to about 8.5 retirement benefits as well as that would guarantee reasonUmar, the DG said the indus- per cent by December, 2011. assist in the economic devel- able income on retirement, the try had continued to witness Commission adopted zero tol-

PenCom seeks review of pension contributions

Reason for massive fraud in defined pension benefits M

EANTIME, the commission has blamed the massive fraud in the old defined pension arrangement of the public sector in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Police Pension and others on their exclusion from the direct supervision of PenCom. Giving some of the challenges of CPS, the Director-General said “the failure/refusal of some MDAs to provide their nominal rolls makes it difficult for the Commission to credit their employees’ RSAs with monthly pension contributions.

Thus, some Public sector employees still have zero balances in their RSAs. Other challenges include the unwillingness of some private sector organizations to join the Contributory Pension Scheme while others who have joined do not remit the monthly contributions as and when due.

To address these challenges, the Commission is soliciting the support of relevant government agencies to ensure that all MDAs submit their nominal rolls bi-annually.

Also, the Commission has engaged recovery agents to

recover outstanding contributions with interest from defaulting employers in the private sector.”

“The Commission would want to reiterate that the pension scam uncovered related only to the old Defined Benefit arrangement of the Public Sector. The Pension Boards/ Offices have operated as Pension Department within their parent MDAs from the commencement of the PRA 2004.

This arrangement, allowed the Pension Board to retain the symbiotic link between them and their parent MDAs while also reporting to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

This arrangement weakened and reduced the regulatory and supervisory oversight of the Commission over the Pension Departments. The Commission was therefore unable to exert supervisory control over the pension Departments as they do not regard the Commission’s supervisory role over them, a clear violation of Section 30 to 38 of the PRA 2004.

Funds are released to the Pension Departments for payments of pension benefits by

the Government without recourse to the Commission.

This has resulted in the lack of external independent review that could serve to authenticate the accuracy of pensioners’ entitlements determined by such budgetary estimates, thus, ensuring that pensioners are not underpaid or on the other hand, that government liability is not overstated.”

erance for non compliance and consultative supervisory philosophy in the issuance of guidelines and regulations of the pension industry.

The Commission continued to issue guidelines and regulations while reviewing existing ones to further entrenched sound corporate governance in the industry and ensure adequate protection of pension assets.

To this end, the Commission has issued Revised Investment Regulations (which introduces the multi fund structure), Guidelines for registration of State and Local Government

employees and Circular on New Minimum Capital Requirement for Pension Fund Administrators among others.

“The minimum capital requirement would ensure that operators deploy adequate resources to enhance the provision of service delivery to their clients. We are also working with other regulatory agencies to promote the development of alternative assets classes in which pension funds could be invested to promote national development.

In addition, the Commission would soon issue a guideline for informal sector participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme which will provide an opportunity for those in informal employment to make voluntary contributions as savings to cater for their retirement.”

In its efforts to ensure adherence to all extant laws, the Commission issued a circular to all Self Funded Parastatals to implement the constitutional provision as stated in the Circular from National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission relating to increase in pension portion of the accrued rights of employees that transited from Defined Benefit Scheme to the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Not only does this ensure compliance with constitutional provisions, but it also ensure that benefits under the Contributory pension Scheme are adequate and in line with economic realities. To further enhance the effectiveness of the Contributory Pension.

Scheme, the Commission is proposing the amendment of the PRA 2004 to review the rate of pension contributions, the definition of total emoluments, provision for funding of the minimum pension guarantee and provision for contributors to use part of their RSA balance to secure mortgage amongst others.”

Recapitalisation: PFAs knows fate in four weeks ENSION Fund Administrators will in the next four weeks know their fate if they met the new N1billion minimum capital base ordered by the National Pension Commission, PenCom. The one year deadline given to the PFAs ended on June 30 and PenCom said it would from within the next four weeks, beginning from July 2, verify claims the PFAs that they had complied with the N1billion new minimum capitalize base.

A statement by PenCom’s Head of Communication unit, Emeka Onuora, recalled the circular on minimum capital

P

requirement for licensed PFAs issued by the commission on 31 May, 2011.

According to the statement “The Circular stipulated a minimum shareholders’ fund of N1 billion unimpaired by losses for PFAs and also prescribed a deadline of 30 June, 2012 for compliance. The prescription of the N1 billion under the Circular is to improve the business processes and service delivery of the PFAs. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the new minimum capital requirement would encourage healthy mergers which would ultimately promote stability in the pension industry.”

“The PFAs have submitted evidence of compliance with the minimum capital requirement and the Commission has commenced the process of verifying the claims and will within four weeks issue a formal statement presenting the list of PFAs that have complied.

Meanwhile, Crib Pension Fund Managers Limited and Evergreen Pensions Limited are in the process of being acquired by another PFA. It would be recalled that Amana Capital Pensions Limited had since been acquired by Sigma Pensions Limited.”

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

The unbreakable cord (2) i, The story you are reading reminds me of one of the best home movies I ever saw, Unfinished Business, featuring Genevieve and Desmond Eliot.

In the movie, Desmond goes for the mandatory Youth Service in a village where he meets Genevieve, a young secondary school girl. Despite their age and class difference, they fall in love before the end of the one year and Desmond promised to love her for ever.

Back home in Lagos, however, Desmond discovered he could not fulfill his promise as he was forced by his parents to marry the daughter of one of their friends to seal a business relationship. And you can guess what happened to the c o u p l e .

The story of this couple is similar, but with its own twists and turns.

Today, it has become a trend among the rich, famous or powerful to pair off their children in marriage in order to consolidate a relationship or to ensure that they remain within a certain circle in society.

Dear reader, your views/ reaction/or contribution to this story and trend is very much welcome.

Please write and share it with us. Send your contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007 Apapa, Lagos, or our email address: humananglepage@yahoo.com Please stay glued to this page. Happy reading!

Ekanem, (29), shares her classic love story: That evening, I couldn’t wait for Akin to

come as usual. He noticed my mood and demanded to know the problem. I told him all I’d heard earlier, demanding to know the truth. He bursted out laughing, calling me a fool.

He asked me to examine my friends and mention just one of them who had a relationship as

,

H

ous tongues. Akin became my only friend, lover and confidant.

Fate has a way of playing games. Once, there was a bachelor ’s party for one of Akin’s friends who was getting married.

The party had been the talk of the town for quite a while and there were serious plans by

Though there were no conspicuous traces of Tosin around, one day while cleaning up the flat, I discovered a pair of lady’s slippers and some underwears, they were neatly locked away in a wardrobe in one of the spare rooms

steady as our ’s since I knew them. Of course, there was none.

He denied the story, telling me that he had observed that people were now becoming jealous of what we share and would like to see us part ways.

He told me not to listen to any of such rumours as people were dangerous. That night, he decided we should spend the night together and like a fool I was too happy to go with him. I concluded that it must be because all my friends who had picked a boyfriend at the party that night had packed it up that they wanted Akin and I to split as well.

For telling such blatant lies, I stopped talking to my childhood and bosom friend. We had both attended Primary and secondary school together and were also attending the same Univ e r s i t y .

As for the rest of my friends, I kept a safe distance from their poison-

,

most of us to appear at the scene, bamh! Akin and I were supposed to be there. When they came to pick the other girls, I refused to follow them, convinced that Akin would be coming along later as planned.

He did not show up until the early hours of the day. I spent the night all alone. Except for me, there was no one else on my floor of the hostel.

I didn’t sleep a wink till the other girls started arriving one after the other, with Akin at their tail. His excuse was that he had an unscheduled call by his boss.

In his bid to make it down, his car developed some problems which he could not get a good mechanic for. I did not come with my friends as he had hoped. As it was too late for him to come down again, he decided to wait and come home with them.

I asked some of the girls and they confirmed that he had come very late to the party. What other excuse could I ask

for?

He did not go home till very late in the evening.

We spent the rest of the morning together in my hostel as I prepared him breakfast. I later escorted him to the bus stop to get a taxi home in the evening. It was much later that I was opportune to hear the truth about the events of that night.

Things continued without any disturbance from rumour mongers. As for Akin and me, things couldn’t have better. We had been going out for over a year then.

Suddenly, there was unrest on the campus and the school was shut down. We had assumed that it would be only for a few days, so many of us thought it wiser to put up with friends in town. Naturally, I went to stay with Akin instead of going home to my parents in Awka.

My parents knew about the relationship, having met Akin twice when he came to visit me at home.

However, they had not particularly liked him because of our ethnic differences. It was here that the events stated unfolding to me.

I began to see things I’d never imagine could be true.

Though there were no conspicuous traces of Tosin around, one day while cleaning up the flat, I discovered a pair of lady’s slippers and some underwear. They were neatly locked away in a wardrobe in one of the spare rooms. I was really puzzled because I just couldn’t think of who they could belong to.

Akin had only one sister who is older and married. She had never visited his place, at least, not to my knowledge. Even if she had and forgotten them, he would have returned them to her.

Even so, why hide them away like this. I showed the stuff to his house boy and asked if he knew the owner. His answer was negative, adding that he wasn’t even aware of their presence there.

To be continued Asisted by Onozure Dania

Friends Searching Males

•Desmon , 24 , from Delta state, needs a girl, for an

affair.07065121997 •Johnson, 37, average height, a teacher, single and

resides in Lagos, needs a woman, for marriage.

08I54294806, 08162693251 •Edidiong, 25, from Delta state, needs a beautiful, loving and comfortable lady, for a relationship.

08185230351 •Daniel, 28, from Ogun state, but resides in Lagos, needs a beautiful, God fearing lady, who is a graduate, for a serious relationship, aged 25-27.

08075787946 •Josh, 33, tall, needs a romantic lady, for a relationship, aged 24-40.07052650602, 08037512688 •Jerry , 23, from Delta state, needs a lady, aged 2530, for a serious date, that will lead to marriage in f u t u r e . 0 8 1 3 9 5 0 7 8 5 0 •Ola, 49, needs a God fearing fat woman, how can take good care of him, aged 35-40,in Lag o s . 0 8 0 2 0 7 3 1 7 6 3 •A guy, 26, from Delta state, needs a lady, aged 25-

35. 07032615816 •Jerry, 29, resides in Delta state, needs a girl, for a serious relationship, aged 19-25.

0 7 0 6 2 0 6 3 7 7 0 , 0 8 1 5 5 5 6 6 8 7 3 •Dan, 20, , fair in complexion and handsome, from Delta state, needs a lady, for a relationship.

0 8 1 3 3 4 0 3 3 2 2 •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

Feeling frustrated in trying to get your relationship back

BY ONOZURE DANIA

AVE you ever been in love, then all of a sudden, the relationship went sour?

Or you were no longer getting the attentions that you used to get back when you first fell in love?

Take a second and think back to a time when you and your boyfriend or husband were madly in love with each other. You both felt that intense love, attraction and excitement with one another just by being in each others presence. You couldn’t even go a few hours, let alone a whole day without wanting to talk or connect with each other and you couldn’t get enough of one another even when you spent all night alone, just the two of you.

Do you remember that feeling? Can you think back to how you looked and felt then? Was your energy level at an all time high? Were you taking better care of yourself and feeling sexy, beautiful, joyful and energized?

Did your guy do little favours for you? Or surprise you by bringing you small gifts or create spontaneous moments with you? Thinking back, does all that now seem like a thing of the past in your relationship? Has that passion and excitement faded away? Well what if you could have things back to the way they were in the beginning of your relationship?

Your relationship likely started off with a whirlwind of passion. But now that you’re thinking about it has the thing that felt so great at first lasted with your boyfriend or has your relationship seemed to fizzle out over time?

If things have seemed too slow or come to a stop altogether, then you are probably feeling like being together is more work than fun. Maybe you are just not talking the way you used to. Or maybe you can

H

tell he’s just not there as much with you in his heart or mind? Or maybe you are fighting all the time.

Maybe something even more serious has been going on, and you have no idea how to feel about it, let alone deal with it.

Well, what if you knew an easy way to keep that intense passion, love and excitement going strong with your boyfriend for as long as you want it to last?

And what if you knew how to make your relationship bullet-proof with the things that break most other couples apart?

And what if you knew how to continually experience and set off new sparks with your man to reignite the love and passion between you, so that anytime you feel your relationship is dimming or falling into a new phase you both couldn’t help but make sure and stay close, loving and connected.

If you have ever felt this way in your relationship, then you might be asking yourself: how do I pull our love and passion back out from under the rubble it’s under and get back to the easy, free flowing affectionate relationship we used to have together?

Well, for starters how did things get to where they are today? Before things began to feel so difficult, there was probably a time when you were able to effortlessly share what you were thinking and feeling.

You made each other laugh.

He would send you affectionate notes and text messages just to make your day and you felt that you could really rely on him to do what he said he would do, and follow through.

He almost seemed to anticipate your needs before you had a chance to ask for anything. He used to care deeply about your happiness and would do just about anything to make sure you knew how much he loved and appreciated you.

•Onye, 23, From Ebonyi state, needs a Christian beautiful and fair in complexion lady, who is from Ebonyi Origin, aged 19-21, for a serious relationship.08136270390 •Azu, 52, Ibo and separated and a business man, in Lagos, needs a Christian lady, who is educated and employed, aged 35-42, for marriage, single mothers with only one child are also welcomed. 08057002189, 07065557964 •Godwin, 22, average height, chocolate in complexion and resides in Abuja, needs a rich and sexy lady, aged 18-26, who also resides in Abuja, for a relationship.07032888035 •Tony, 39, needs beautiful and mature lady, aged 4045, in Delta state for a serious relationship.

08066288401 •Emmanuel, 28, from Delta state, needs a lady, aged 18-27, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.07038170587 •Johnny, 45, slim, tall a businessman from Delta state, needs an attractive beautiful lady, who is a born again, aged 35-40, from Delta.08034494204

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 47

48—Vanguard , THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

NGO rates Jonathan average on economic devt

Airhiavbere kicks off door-to-door campaign

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY EBUN SESSOU HE NOI Polls Limited, a research and knowledge management organisation, has rated the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan average in electricity supply, job creation and educational development, among others, after one year in office.

The report also indicated a declining performance for the administration, saying, “President Goodluck Jonathan should realise that although his administration is currently ranked average notwithstanding, his approval rating is on the decline.”

The report, further stressed the need for the administration to double its efforts and focus on critical areas that would have farreaching implications on the lives of Nigerians.

It also warned that if these were not implemented, the current approval rating might continue to experience further decline.

The administration, it noted, urgently needed to tackle security challenges facing the country, particularly bombings by terrorists.

The report, which was signed by Dr. Bell Ihua, Director of Research NOI Polls Limited, conducted a snap poll to gauge the opinions of Nigerians regarding the performance of the President Jonathan administration.

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From right; Mr Mark Bickerton, Director, International Development , London Metropolitan University; Mr Ayorinde Rufai, 2012 Post Graduate Scholarship Award; Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje, Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology and Prof Olukayode Amund, Dean of Student Affairs, University of Lagos, during the scholarship award presentation of London Metropolitan University in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Enugu govt tasks cab operators

A Tom Chukwuniku Katule, 75, of EmuEbendo in Ndowka-West Local Government Area, Delta State is dead.

There will be a Christian wake-keep at his residence, 70 Orodu street, Ajegunle, Lagos on Friday, August 10.

Interment holds at Katule compound, EmuEbendo in Ndowka- West Local Government Area, Delta State on Saturday, August 17.

She is survived by children, grandchildren and relations, among whom is Ngozi Owete.

Late Pa Katule C M Y K

AB operators in Enu gu State have been urged to assist the governments in its efforts to transform the transport sector in Enugu State through the distribution of brand new cars for commercial purposes, by not only honouring their obligations to the banks but by operating according to laid down rules.

This advice was given by the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr.

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From left: Mrs Kemi Adeyeye, Director, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development; Prof Kayode Oguntuashe, Guest Speaker, Mrs Lara Otujo, Director, Community Child Education and Development, COMED, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, representing Perm Sec Lagos State Ministry of Women Development and Poverty Alleviation, and Mrs Mosunmola Dada, Director Child Development, Lagos State Ministry of Women Development and Poverty Alleviation during training for teachers, caregivers and parents in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Police affairs minister decries killing of policemen BUJA—POLICE AFFAIRS Minister, Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd), yesterday, decried incessant killing of policemen during terrorism attacks and suicide bombings, pointing out that police officers have now become victims of human rights abuses.

Speaking when he received the Chief Researcher of the International Human Rights body, Amnesty International in Nigeria, Mrs. Lucy Freeman, the minister denied allegations that policemen were involved in flagrant human rights abuses, especially in the northern part of the country where the Boko Haram insurgents have made life unbearable for the people.

He insisted that “it is the policemen that have become victims of human rights abuses as a result of incessant and unprovoked attacks on them.”

As a way of minimising

A

perceived human rights abuse cases, however, Olubolade told the Amnesty International official, that his ministry had established a Police Performance Monitoring Unit which had been mandated not only to monitor and evaluate activities of police officers, but also to handle public complaints against them.

Expressing the Federal Government’s readiness to welcome assistance by the international community in its efforts to address the current security challenges facing the country, Captain Olubolade regretted that the ministry’s effort to reform the Nigeria Police Force was being hampered by activities of the insurgent groups in some parts of the country.

He, however, expressed the hope that the ongoing reforms would result in an improved police force in all departments, including intelligence gathering, and training.

Earlier, Ms Lucy Freeman had told the minister

that Amnesty International wanted to know the ministry’s position on the human rights implications of the security situation in the country, particularly on detention of suspects and processes of investigation.

She noted the concerns of her organisation on two critical areas, including the sustained killing of policemen and inadequate equipment at the disposal of the police for optimum performance.

Chuka Utazi, during a meeting with the cab operators at the Ofuobi Cultural centre, Enugu.

Utazi admonished the operators to be hardworking and also to imbibe the spirit of maintenance and caution while doing their businesses, stressing that without proper maintenance and caution, the government's intention of giving a new image to city transport would be defeated.

Yobe govt begins sales of fertilizer at subsidised rate

BY NDAHI MARABA

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

Passage

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ENIN—WITH less than two weeks to the July 14, governorship election in Edo State, Gen Airhiavbere Volunteer Organisation, yesterday, kicked off its door-to-door campaign in Benin City.

During the exercise, thousand of youths and women in the 18 local government areas of the state were mobilised and sensitised on the election process.

Coordinator of the group, Mr. Chris Enehikhare, said, “the volunteers will share the manifesto and the flyers to people as they move around campaign-

B

ing.

With the volunteers, the impact of the campaign has really been carried to every part of the state, this we can testify as you can see Action Congress Party, ACN, which said it does not need to campaign last year is now running helter skelter, as it had suddenly realised that they cannot win election with the volunteers that had taken over the campaign across the state.”

He condemned some traditional chiefs, who for the sake of money sold their birth right by allowing themselves to be used in betraying the people they were supposed to protect.

AMATURU—IN an attempt to boost food production and ensure food security, the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam has launched distribution and sales of fertilizer at subsidized rates.

Speaking, yesterday, at Government House, Damaturu, the state capital, Gaidam said the agricultural sector had been accorded priority as a way of creating jobs for farmers and achieving

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national food security in 2015.

Gaidam said with the procurement of over 17, 500 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer at the cost of N1.5 billion, each bag is subsidized by 66.7 per cent, adding that 300 bags had been allocated to each of the 178 wards in the state.

The governor further said the market price of Urea was N2, 000, while the NPK brand was N1, 900 per bag of 50 kilogrammes.

Delta assured on even development

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—POLITI CAL Adviser to the Delta State Governor, (Delta central), Chief Fred Majemite, has assured communities in the State of even and sustainable development.

Majemite, who spoke during a sensitization and advocacy tour/town hall meeting at Okpara-Inland,

Abraka, Uvwie, Oghara and Idjere said the essence of the tour was to take “stock of what the government has done and what government has not done as well as what you people need.”

According to him, the state government was committed to ensuring that the dividends of democracy get to all the nooks and crannies of the state, adding that; “government policy

thrust is to touch the lives of all the people of the state and to move it beyond oil.”

He also expressed the government's determination to take youths of the state off the streets and eliminate youth restiveness through empowerment in agricultural programmes, adding that “Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is determined to leave a lasting legacy at the end of its tenure.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 49

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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ECIDING who to support between Adams Oshiomhole and Charles Airhiavbere should ordinarily not be an issue for Senator Ehigie Uzamere, the highest elected public officer from Edo South.

After all, he has made the Bini agenda a primary concern.

That decision ordinarily should not be tough given that Airhiavbere is Senator Uzamere’s first cousin as the PDP candidate’s mother is from the Uzamere family. It should also have been easier for Uzamere in that Oshiomhole is not a Benin man as some anti-Oshiomhole enthusiasts have been dubiously aiming to point out.

Remarkably, many would also remember Senator Uzamere’s recent role in ensuring that for the first time that a Bini man became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin.

How Sen Uzamere dumped first cousin, Airhiavbere for Oshiomhole

Looking beyond the blood ties But Senator Uzamere is apparently looking beyond the blood ties with Airhiavbere and is now said to be fully backing Oshiomhole against his first cousin. Uzamere, it would be recalled, was first elected to the senate on the platform of the PDP in 2007. Even though a PDP member it was no secret that Senator Uzamere in his first term did not hide his feeling on what his associates saw as Chief Tony Anenih’s dominance of the politics in Edo South.

“To say that he was uncomfortable is an understatement,” one top politician close to Anenih and Uzamere said yesterday.

Some allege that it was his money and the determination to stop Daisy Danjuma in 2007 that

*Uzamere: Where is Bini Agenda?

made way for Uzamere to clinch the PDP ticket in 2007. It was as such believed in some circles that Uzamere not having his political strings tied to Anenih saw himself as an independent man.

Well to some extent.

However, push came to shove after Oshiomhole became governor in 2008. In July 2009 President Umaru Yar‘Adua allowed Governor Oshiomhole

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has raised an alarm over the alleged mass purchase of voters card by some people whom he described as desperate politicians.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria yesterday warned that “despite repeated calls on people of the state not to sell their voters’ cards, some desperate politicians in the state have intensified their devious plot to mop up voters’ cards by inducing the people with cash gifts and in some cases invoking the name of the Comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, as their sponsor with the sole aim of deceiving the people and thereby frustrating the One Man, One Vote principle of the

while Ugbesia and Braimoh opposed the nominee. Again, Uzamere successfully mobilized senators to endorse the nominee.

It was one of the few times that the interest of the Anenih camp in the Senate would be so publicly trampled upon by a senator from Edo State.

But for Uzamere it was clear his days in the PDP were marked. It was as such not surprising that soon after, he crossed over to the ACN and caused a major problem for Oshiomhole. Before Uzamere’s entry into the ACN the way was almost clear for the popular Benin politician, Matthew Urhoghide to emerge as the ACN senatorial candidate for the 2011 election.

However, given the past support he had received from Uzamere, Oshiomhole was forced to back the incumbent senator for re-election.

Urhoghide apparently in annoyance left the ACN for the PDP. Now, Urhoghide is up in arms against Oshiomhole’s election and is the spokesman of the party. But for Uzamere it is Oshiomhole to the tilt over and against his first cousin, Airhiavbere!

Osunbor harps on credible poll

BY DAPO AKINREFON

W

ITH few days to the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, former

governor of the state, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor has harped on the need for the will of people to prevail at the end of the poll.

Don’t sell your voter’s card — Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

to nominate Mr. Jude Ise-Idehen as Edo State commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Uzamere and the other two senators from Edo State reached an agreement reportedly under the instruction of their political leader to oppose the nomination. However, the other two Senators, Odion Ugbesia and Yisa Braimoh, themselves two acolytes of Anenih, however, turned back to back Ise-Idehen. Uzamere was reportedly instructed to tow the line on the instruction of the leader.

Uzamere, however, rebelled and stuck to his opposition citing sundry political reasons. The Anenih camp was rattled over the seeming rebellion. Uzamere remarkably successeded in mobilizing the senate to stop the confirmation of the nominee.

After being stopped with IseIdehen, Oshiomhole in December 2009 nominated a replacement in the person of Don Omorodion and this time, the Anenih camp reportedly directed the senators to stop the nomination, but Uzamere again rebelled and fully threw his support behind the nominee

Governor.”

“While we note that it is both a criminal and electoral offense to buy or sell the voter ’s card, we are e q u a l l y concerned that the voters’ cards so procured may be used for other criminal purposes, thus putting the original owners of these cards in trouble.”

“We are aware that some highly placed individuals are involved in this unwholesome criminal act and we wish to warn that the security agencies have been given clear instructions to bring anyone found culpable to book, no

matter highly-placed the offender is.

“We insist that the July 14 gubernatorial election in the state will be based on the timetested democratic principle of One Man, One Vote and the people are ready to resist unscrupulous politicians who believe people in the state are for sale” he said.

Speaking with Vanguard, the former governor said it was imperative that the will of Edo voters is not subverted unlike what obtained in p r e v i o u s elections.

The former governor and lawmaker, who was visible at the campaign rally of the governorship *Osunbor...July 14 election should be free candidate of the PDP, MajorGeneral Charles Airhiavbere Edo State, including the (rtd) said “the concern of political parties and their everybody is that come July 14, candidates.” the election will be free, fair Reiterating the need for a and credible and devoid of credible poll, he said “for me, violence.” the most important thing is that Speaking further, he said “for the will of the electorate should my party, the PDP, the Vice be respected and the true President was in Benin for winner declared. With the campaign just over two weeks calibre of people now heading ago. Exactly two weeks later, the Court of Appeal and the Mr President was there again Supreme Court, it is my earnest last Saturday for the grand hope that the will of Edo voters rally. His promise to ensure that will be upheld and not the election is peaceful and the subverted by the courts as true result is declared has been happened before.” well received by everybody in

50 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 51

C M Y K

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

KWARA: Ahmed finds harmony in continuation of Saraki’s legacies

*Governor Fatai

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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OPULARLY called Maigida by his admirers, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah literarily rode on the crest of the personality of his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki to power. It is thus not surprising

that Ahmed has set his sights on ensuring that the achievements of the Saraki era are not easily forgotten. That is not in any way astonishing given the leading role that Ahmed played in the eight years of Governor Saraki.

That is while perhaps, that the political slogan ‘’Legacy

Continues” of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is indeed the summary of the performance of the present administration.

Governor Ahmed has in the last one year largely consolidated on the achievements of the Saraki administration towards ensuring that there are no abandoned projects in the state.

It should however be noted that shortly after the advent of this administration, there was a retreat by the stakeholders in Lagos where some of the legacy projects and organs of government were reappraised and fine-tuned for optimum performance.

For instance in the education sector, there is now the Ministry of Education and Human Development, distinct from the former Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

From the "Every Child Count” philosophy of the last administration, the present administration has advanced into developing not only

Former aide turns against Oshiomhole A

ONE time aide of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonnayinma has accused the ACN candidate of panicking over a possible defeat in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

Agbonnayinma who was once Special Adviser to the governor (Governor's Office) alleged that the panic in the ACN camp may have prompted the governor ’s media team to allegedly instigate last weekend’s media reports that President Goodluck Jonathan was shunned at the palace.

“Oshiomhole is anxious about the July 14 governorship election. He is scared stiff about the PDP governorship candidate, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) who is a bona fide Benin son, and had decided to set the Benin Palace and our revered Oba against him (Airhiavbere),” Agbonnayinma said in a statement issued yesterday.

“It is now very clear that Oshiomhole was trying to destroy the Palace. How could he and his camp say that the

Oba shunned the President?

He wanted to pitch the President against the Oba of Benin having failed in his bid to cajole the President against giving full support to the governorship bid of the PDP candidature General Airhiavbere.

“It is sad that Oshiomhole would expect the President to work against the interest of his political party in the forthcoming governorship election, especially when it has become imperative for the

President to ensure that the PDP controls the government in the entire South-South zone where he comes from.”

The former aide as such urged Bini sons and daughters to “ rise in defence of our cherished tradition and valuable heritage before they are dragged in the mud by a man who is consumed by a passion to perpetuate himself in office even when a vast majority of the elements are obviously against his reelection.”

infrastructure, but children’s skills by providing vocational centres across the three senatorial districts in Erinle, Patigi and Ilorin to complement academic activities.

Govt performance The present administration has also given school principals and head teachers the power to preside over their schools as they will be held responsible for any lapses while the assessment of teachers will be based on the performance of their students.

Also in health, to ensure access to quality health care delivery within a radius of 500 km, the three state hospitals in Offa, Ilorin, Kaima and Share are being upgraded. The sum of N200M has been provided in complementing the already existing facilities in the hospitals.

As part of its programme of strategic infrastructure development, the Kwara State Government has constructed over six hundred kilometers of roads across the three senatorial districts of the state as a deliberate effort to open up the State for agricultural and economic development.

“Operation No pot holes” was launched in the early period of the administration to ensure strict maintenance of the roads to the extent that road users would have comfort on the road.

Also, Kwara State Traffic Management Agency has been provided with equipment and other facilities for effective monitoring of traffic while six fire service trucks of the State Fire Service were renovated for effective service delivery.

Two major projects, the Aviation International College and the Cargo Terminal, at the Ilorin international airport which could not take off during the lifetime of the last administration are now fully

operational.

In the first one hundred days, the administration it would be recalled also created jobs for 2000 youths who were posted to various private organizations in the state and some ministries but being paid by the state government.

In order to ensure economic prosperity among the residents particularly, the artisans and those involved in various businesses, N250m has been released as soft loans to enhance their businesses. It is expected that the loans issued under various cooperative societies by selected micro finance banks would be repaid with 5 per cent interest to ensure that others benefit.

Rehabilitation of classrooms The administration in the last one year also carried out the rehabilitation of 240 blocks of secondary school classrooms, rehabilitation of school for special needs, construction of Pakata-sooto road, Omu-aran to Landmark University road, among others.

Other sectors such as sports, agriculture are being sustained based on the existing system, while the present administration has also signed various MOUs with local and foreign partners towards increasing agriculture productions in the state particularly in the area of rice productions and packaging.

According to the Senior Special to the Governor on Media and Communications Dr Muyideen Akorede, the rational behind the ‘legacy continues’ slogan in Kwara is to ensure that there is no more abandoned project anymore in kwara before new ones are created, while fresh policies are fashioned out to complement the existing ones.

How Oshiomhole can lose — Omo Omoruyi

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ORMER Director General of the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS),Prof Omo Omoruyi has warned that Adams Oshiomhole could lose the election if the PDP succeeds in scaring voters away from the polling booths on election day in Edo South Senatorial district.

Omoruyi warned that the

tactics of scaring voters had partially succeeded in the past and yesterday said he and some other likeminded stakeholders were determined to stop the scaremongers.

“I associate myself with a group called Edegbe Forum and the kind of campaign we are waging is that apathy should not occur, people should get up and vote and defend their votes,” as he

cautioned voters not to yield to whatever temptation.

“Edegbe in the sense means a wake-up call because people want to scare you from voting.

Mark you in the calculation, PDP will want to reduce the number of voters in Edo South, scare them.”

“We found that in 2007 in Ikpoba Okha where we were expecting about 80,000 or 90,000 votes I don’t think we

got up to 10,000 because PDP went to those areas, used scare tactics, shooting into the air to scare voters in some cases.”

“They made sure that the ballot boxes were hijacked and burnt so we are still in that same situation today. Those who did it at that time, they are still in the PDP but I don’t want to mention their names. Some are still there, some have decamped to the ACN.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY,JULY 5, 2012— 53 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

From left,Chief Phillips Asiodu unvieling the book while Mr Oge Udeagha , Prof David Aradeon and Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole, celebrant watch

High Chief Onoye Joseph, representing Obi of Onistsha and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General at the event

Sunmi Smart-Cole’s day of honour

By JAPHET ALAKAM

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HE Harbour Point events centre, Victoria Island, Lagos was filled to the brim as people from all works of life defied the afternoon’s heavy down pour and trooped to the centre to identify and celebrate with award winning photographer, author, musician and a fellow described as a man of all seasons, Mr Summi Smart-Cole who turned 70 recently.

The event which brought what could be described as the crème de la crème of society together was the 70th birthday celebration and the public presentation of his new book titled Sunmi’s Lens- A medium Between Man and Nature/ a photography exhibition of his works spanning 36 years.

Exchange of banters It was indeed a celebration of excellence and the high level of attendance coupled with the calibre of people that attended, paid credence to the popular saying that failure is an orphan while success has many relations. The people exchanged banters with one another as they went through the exhibition hall where the celebrant displayed over 100 sparkling black and white images of great individuals and important events he captured with his lens over 36 years ago. Some of the pictures displayed include images of great icons like

Wole Soyinka, Nelson Mandela, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Maryam Babangida, and others. There were also rare exclusive images of events like that of Obasanjo's release from prison, his audience with Pope John Paul 11, etc.

The occasion which was chaired by Mr. Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard Newspapers also witnessed the presence of many dignitaries including Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Akintola Williams, Paschal Dozie, Prof. David Araden, Prof.

Yusuf Grillo, Tunji Braithwaite, Chief Philip Asiodu, Gen,

that enrich the mind and make the country better. He noted that in the pursuit From left: Mr. Seni Williams, Mr. Akintola Williams, Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole, Celebrant of material and Prof. Johnson Ekpere at the event things Nigerians have lost so much that were are so real that only good monSmart-Cole because both of very essential to them in the ey can buy them.” them were in the business of days of innocence.

He also expressed his joy for Making reference to a picture the involvement of First Bank promoting culture. He said: titled, Solitude on the exhibi- Nigeria Plc in promoting Sun- “We are glad about the partnertion, Amuka said: “In the pur- mi Smart Cole’s great artistic ship because it is a partnership that is going to grow. The bank suit of material things, we have accomplishments. has a very robust policy of prolost so much which are very esAlso speaking, Ambassador sential to us. As a nation or Emeka Anyaoku who described moting the art especially theatre arts and photography and the celebrant as a versatile inin future the public will see dividual said that by virtue of One of the things that strikes me more of First Bank as they conwhat he has done in many tinue to sponsor anything that about Smart- Cole is his consistenfields he is qualified to be will promote our cultural hericalled a man of all seasons. He cy, he has been consistent for years tage.” thanked him for the great In his review, Prof. David and has been able to capture works he has done especially Araden who described art as a the historic pictures he capthrough his lens some of the things testimonial noted that the book tured with his lens saying that was a compendium of contemthat we cannot see he is truly a man who belongs porary history in pictures. to all social strata of the sociAlso speaking, the chief Mobolaji Johnson, Oge Odue- country we need to look back ety. launcher Odein Ojumogobia Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi of Tanus da, Odein Ajomogobia, Serah and speak to ourselves and ask who was thrilled with the rare Sosan, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, ourselves the question: the way communications also described works said, “one of the things Sammy Olagbanju, and a host the country is going are we bet- Smart Cole as "a special breed that strikes me about Smartof others. ter or happier with it? the an- that you don’t see often.” Re- Cole is his consistency. He has Speaking in his capacity as swer is no.” He advised the counting his days with Smart been consistent for years and chairman of the occasion, people to appreciate creativity Cole at Lagos Life, he told the has been able to capture Mr.Amuka who started with a and works of arts which accord- audience about some of the through his lens some of the minute silence for the duo of ing to him make a happier na- spectacular jobs he did that things that we cannot see.” nearly put them into trouble but late Ambassador Segun Oluso- tion.

Finally, Chief Philip Asiodu la and Angela Onyeador who Describing the celebrant as a was later resolved. with these words “it is a great In his contribution, Oge were supposed to be at the man who lived a very fulfilled pleasure to participate in unevent but died within the week life, he said ”in every thing he Udeagha of First Bank Plc, veiling of the book which is enjoined Nigerians to do away did he was successful. Here is sponsors of the event said that going to be a classic” presentwith the pursuit of material an artist who brought passion First Bank was very happy to ed the book to the public. things and seek those things into photography. His works partner with the brand, Sunmi

,

,

54 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—55

THE AIG-IMOUKHUEDE-LED COMMITTEE REPORT Continues from yesterday

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HE revision of the eligibili ty criteria for oil marketing and trading companies in the PSF guidelines by PPPRA amended the requirement for the proof of ownership of storage facilities with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000MT for the particular product to include a valid throughput agreement of storage facility with a minimum storage capacity of 5,000MT for the particular product. This opened up opportunities for participation by companies with no investment in infrastructure relevant to the role on oil marketing and trading companies in the PSF scheme.

The inability of PPPRA to use a transparent basis of determining the conversion factor created opportunities for manipulation of the volume of imported products for which subsidy was paid. •The Committee recommends that only oil marketing and trading companies that meet the eligibility criteria set in the guidelines for the administration of the Petroleum Support Fund should be given allocation to import products by PPPRA.

Proof of ownership

Protest rally against the oil subsidy removal in Lagos in January....but has the protest changed anything? Photo: Bunmi Azeez

How they shared subsidy money (4)

•The Committee recommends that the requirement for proof of ownership of retail outlets be reinstated in the eligibility criteria panies in the PSF guidelines be for oil marketing and trading com- amended to restrict the use of a panies in the PSF guidelines by val’ throughput agreement for a PPPRA. •The Committee recom- storage facility with a minimum mends that the PSF guidelines capacity of 5,000MT of the parmust be strengthened to make key ticular product to only oil marketparticipants personally responsi- ing and trading companies that ble for any violations of the guide- provide proof of ownership of relines, including criminal acts. tail outlets as stated in recommendation 2 above.

•The Committee The Committee recrecommends that the ommends that the dePSF guidelines be termination of the conamended to include version factor of PPPRA the presentation of be made transparent to guarantees or perforeliminate manipulation mance bonds (issued of the volume of import

by Nigerian banks) by products for which suboil marketing and sidy should be paid. trading companies There was no eviparticipating in the dence that PPPRA exscheme on a transaccluded any oil markettional basis. This shall ing and trading compabe a deterrent against ny from the PSF the presentation of Scheme for two succesSubsidy false subsidy claims by sive quarters or more as oil marketing and on petrostated in the terms of trading companies and provide recourse leum prod- the import permits from PPPRA in spite of the to the banks if subsi- ucts has fact that there were vardy was on the basis of been an ious instances where oil false claims. marketing and trading •The Committee issue since companies did not imrecommends that the port the allocated volrequirement for ca- the 1970s ume of petroleum prodpacity to finance a when deucts. minimum cargo size PPPRA approved of 5,000MT of petro- mand for subsidy payments to oil leum products be re- petroleum marketing and trading instated in the eligibilproducts companies in instancity requirements for oil es of their non-complimarketing and trad- was met ing companies in the solely from ance with requirements of the PSF guidelines PSF guidelines. that all deliveries to •The Committee local prodepots must be witrecommends that the duction nessed by representaeligibility requiretives of PPPRA, DPR, ments for oil marketGovernment auditors, ing and trading com-

marine inspectors, Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Navy who must also sign the shore tank reports.

•The Committee recommends that PPPRA suspends oil marketing and trading companies that are unable to deliver their allocated quantity of products within the validity of the allocation from the PSF scheme to ensure that only companies with the proven capacity to deliver are given allocations.

•The Committee recommends that PPPRA stop the payments of subsidy where violations of the PSF guidelines are detected. In addition, oil marketing and trading companies must comply with the guidelines going forward.

NNPC’S VALUE CHAIN (IMPORT, SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS) The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation was set up to manage both the downstream and upstream sectors of the oil industry. The Corporation’s role in the downstream sector involves ensuring that the country has optimal supply of petroleum products for consumers. Subsidy on petroleum products has been an issue since the 1970s when demand for petroleum products was met solely from local production.

At that time, the subsidy was paid based on the difference between the price at which NNPC sold to the marketing companies and the cost of crude oil refining.

Prior to November 2003, domestic crude was sold to NNPC at a discount in terms of price as well as exchange rate. Strategic petro-

leum products were then sold at highly subsidised prices.

From October 2003 on the directive of Government, NNPC was allotted 445,000 barrels of crude daily for domestic consumption at the prevailing international market price. NNPC refined the crude oil and sold the derived petroleum products at controlled and highly subsidised prices approved by the Government. The imbalance created by the arrangement led to the introduction of the subsidy scheme in existence today.

Challenges in the subsdy scheme The creation of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) in 2006 was therefore an effort at addressing the challenges in the subsidy scheme.

Imports: Refined petroleum products derived from the portion of the 445,000 barrels/pd meant for domestic consumption. The PSF scheme was under-funded and therefore the NNPC used a combination of proceeds from its subsidised collections from products sales at the depots and the subsidy claims approved by PPPRA to settle the gross amount for the cost of crude oil it purchased. NNPC despite being the largest player in the industry claims it is unable to generate enough revenue/cash flow from the subsidised ex-depot prices to settle the cost of crude it purchased from Government.

The role of NNPC as a supplier and distributor of petroleum products could be summarised as follows:

•The NNPC collects its daily allocation of 445,000 barrels/pd and processes the crude into refined products.

•The refined petroleum products are evacuated from the plants.

The evacuations are witnessed by PPPRA and DPR staff.

•Volumes produced and evacuated are verified and cleared in the presence of NNPC by representatives of PPPRA, DPR, the Nigerian Navy and independent inspectors.

•The verified documents are forwarded to PPPRA for computation of applicable subsidy.

•PPPRA if satisfied issues a certificate to NNPC which is submitted to the Federal Ministry of Finance appointed auditors for clearance.

•The NNPC imports refined petroleum products.

The petroleum products are discharged at the jetties, SPM and depots, in the presence of representatives of PPPRA after obtaining clearance from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Customs Service.

•Imported volumes are verified in the presence of representatives of PPPRA, DPR, NPA, the Nigerian Navy and independent inspectors appointed by PPPRA; •Authenticated documents are forwarded to PPPRA for computation of applicable subsidy; •The combined value on the certificates is applied against the crude cost due in a given month.

•NNPC advises the Federal Ministry of Finance to remit the certified equivalent sum to the Federation Account for full settlement of crude cost by NNPC. To be continued

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

JULY 4: Obama urges immigration reform Mali’s military tackles rebels P M RESIDENT Barack Obama used an Independence Day ceremony in which immigrants serving in the U.S. military became citizens yesterday to renew his election-year call for new immigration laws popular with an important part of his political base.

Wearing a red tie to celebrate the July 4th holiday at the White House,

•Obama

Obama addressed about two dozen foreign-born military personnel who were taking advantage of a program that offers them citizenship in return for their service.

Obama, who is running for re-election in November, seized the opportunity to talk up his recent order lifting the threat of deportation for hundreds of thousands of illegal

Nigerian troops back from Darfur

BY EVELYN USMAN HE last batch of the 244 battalion, of the Nigerian Army who went on Peace Keeping mission in Darfur, arrived the country yesterday, in a UN chartered aircraft EC- LEY .

However, out of the 800 personnel who left the shores of the country seven months ago,

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one soldier reportedly died of cardiac arrest while in Dafur..

This is just as the Nigerian Army debunked report that allowances meant for the officers and men on Peace Keeping mission were yet to be paid.

Rather, the representative of the Director of Peace keeping of the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Major Igwe

Omoke, who was on ground to welcome the troop , stated emphatically that all of them had been paid their allowances to the last kobo.

Boasting that the role of the Nigerian Army in peace keeping mission worldwide can never be over emphasized, as it was an important player in the international affairs.

immigrants who came to the United States as children.

The move appealed to Hispanic voters, a major voting bloc that could swing the election to the Democratic incumbent in battleground states such as Nevada and Colorado.

“What a perfect way to celebrate America’s birthday - the world’s oldest democracy - with some of our newest citizens,” Obama told the group of military members and their families.

ALI’S embattled interim government has ramped up diplomatic efforts to save the north from rebel fighters who have destroyed World Heritage shrines in Timbuktu and have reportedly rigged another city with mines.

The interim government in the capital Bamako, set up after the March 22 coup which led to a takeover in the north as

armed groups exploited the resulting chaos, has been scrambling for assistance to regain its territory.

“We will do everything to recover our territory,” Sadio Lamine Sow, Mali’s foreign minister, told the AFP news agency, speaking at the end of a two-day visit to Algeria, where he held talks with authorities in Algiers.

Palestine authority to exhume Arafat’s body ALESTINIAN au thorithies yesterday accepted the call by the widow of late Yasser Arafat, Suha, to exhume her late husband’s body from its grave in Ramallah for further investigation following revealations that the former Palestine State leader died

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of plonium poison. Her call came in the wake an Al Jazeera report that he may have died of polonium poisoning, If tests show that Arafat’s bones contain high levels of polonium, it would be more conclusive proof that he was poisoned. “I know the Palestinian Authority has been trying to

discover what Yasser died from,” Suha Arafat said in an interview. “And now we are helping them. We have very substantial, very important results.”

Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that he “sees no reason why Yasser Arafat’s body should not be exhumed”.

Understanding the power game at the United Nations

BY HUGO ODIOGOR HE United Nations is a global institution that only very few people can claim to understand the internal workings of its bureacracy and diplomatic intrigues that goes within its fortess that was founded to ensure peace and stability after the second world war.

The UN was founded on the philosophy that all nations, irrespective of their demographic and territorial size, resource endowment or military capability, are equal in sovereignty as outlined in the in the 1648 Westphalia peace treaty that established the sovereign status of modern states.

This may be true, but the realities as revealed by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, is that small nations are pawn in diplomatic chess game.

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The Curse of Berlin Amiable Prof. Gambari who was in Lagos to chair a book presentation of a book entitled: The Curse of Berlin: Africa After the Cold War written by Dr. Adekeye Adebajo, who had enojed some intellectual tutelege from Professor Gambari in his foreign mission.

It is generally believed in diplomatic circles that “United Nation is lagging behind contemporary global realities and meeting the needs of the 198 member countries of the body”. During the cold war, the organisation was “of little importance in relation to more potent factors in world politics such as super-power diplomacy, multinational corporations, regional communities international political movements and even terrorist organisations”. Other watchers of the UN merely took it for granted, as a fact of life, but of little importance to them.

Professor Gambari would not be drawn to either side of the arguments for and against the calls for the reforming of the United Nations to meet with the contemporary realites. Nevertheless, he would shrae his personal expeirences with the audience at the book prsentation in his personal experiences to warn African countries of the type of politics within the UN even in the post cold war era.

OBJ Debacle It was a rare moment to gain insight in the Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo’s

failed bid to become the frst post cold War Secretary General after the end of Javier De Cuellars tenure in 1991. recognitin told the story of how the western nations conspired to frustrate General Olusegun Obasanjo who was one of the six Africans that contested in 1991 to become the Secretary General of UN. According to Prof. Gambari, In the heat of Nigeria’s campaign for the election of General Obasanjo , a British diplomat and a colleague at the UN called him and told himm bluntly “Ibrahim your candidate does not stand a chance in hell of becoming a Secretary General of the United Nations.” A surprised Prof. Gambari sort to know why the Briton should make such a negative comment about General Obasanjo who according to him was the most qualified of all the six candidates from Africa that were vying for the office.

Prof. Gambari told him that “General Obasanjo was the only candidate among the six contestants that administrative experience at the highest level having being a former head of state. Obasanjo was former military head of state in Africa that vol-

untarily handed over power to a democratically elected government.

He was also a co-chairman of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group that negotiated the release of Dr. Nelson Mandela of South Africa and therefore most eminently qualified to hold such office”.

But the Britishdiplomat quietly replied: “look Ibrahim, when we say we want a Secretary General, the emphasis is on Secretary, not on the General”. Of course, the lesson was that the big powers would prefer a Secretary General and not the one that would give them orders. “Knowing General Obasanjo, for who he was, he would have given them orders” The West versus Boutros Boutros Ghali In the end, Egypt’s Boutros Boutros Ghali was selected, but at the end of his first term, the US moved against him and the diplomatic chess game begun all over. According to the Prof. Gambari, in the straw ballot that was cast for the election, 14 countries voted for Ghali to continue while on country, the United States voted of US nullified the other 14 votes,

because it was a veto. It was a throw back to the 1980s when the US consistently vetoed the candidature of Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim. An inquisitive Prof. Gambari went to ask another British diplomat why he chose to vote along with the majority when he knew that their cousins, the Americans would vote against.

The British diplomat responded by saying “Why annoy the Africans by voting against Boutros Ghali, the second term bid was not on offer, so why vote to annoy the Africans? It is instructive to note that Dr. Kofi Annan, a Ghanian, was given that broke the tradition of appointing Prof. Gambari as Under Secretary of Political Affairs department. The five permanent members of the Security Council always insist on having their respective citizens installed as head of key department Agencies, Funds and Programmes in the UN system. Nigeria learnt another bitter lesson this when it pushed Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a candidate for the President of the World Bank. America chose a non-economist and financial expert as its candidate and he got the

job.

Season of confessions As the UN Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Prof. Gambari has a Ghanian as a secretary who had some image of Nigeria and after one month of working with a Nigerian as her boss, the secretary went to Prof.

Gambari one morning to say sir, I have a confession to make, his bemused boss turned round and said, I have never believed in my entire life that I would one day work for or with a Nigerian one day work for or with a Nigerian because I have always had this impression that they are rude, bossy, loud... but after one month of working with you it seems you don’t fit into that mould.” She begged her boss for forgiveness. Professor Gambari told his secretary that he too has a confession to make: said Gambari of all my years, I have in all my life, as a Nigerian, I never thought I could work for a Ghanian, of course, Gambari did work with Kofi Annan as the only non-European and nonAmerican to have been appointed as a Principal Under Secretary for Political Affairs.

To be continued

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012—57

Oby Nwankwo, gender rights activist appointed into CEDAW

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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IGERIAN female lawyer and gender rights activist, Ms. Oby Nwankwo has been elected into the United Nations' Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women, CEDAW. The keenly contested election involved 24 candidates, six of whom were Africans for the 11 •Children with Downsyndrome at work at the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria’s resource centre after a heavy downpour in Lagos, rendering equipment ranging from music equipments, available seats in the CEDAW Experts Committee. vocational training machines, computers, printers and documents damaged.

10,000 students to benefit from free heart screening O fewer than 10,000 Senior Second ary School students in Lagos are to benefit from the on going free heart screening exercise organised by Chike Okoli Foundation in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

The free screening exercise billed to hold July 3rd through July 24th, 2012 was part of the strategies to check the spate of heart diseases as well as sudden death among Nigerians.

Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise which held at Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Yaba, experts cautioned against unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles associated with heart related diseases.

The Project Coordinator, Chike Okolie Foundation, Mrs. Beauty Alfred, said the initiative which will be extended to 10 selected Secondary Schools in the state and the target of 10,000 students was borne

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out of the need to create awareness among the youths as most of them were ignorant of the consequences of unhealthy living.

Alfred who noted that statistics have shown that about 80 percent of young people die annually as a result of heart-related diseases said that the exercise would ensure that as many young people as possible would be educated Chief Nursing Officer, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Mrs. Aderonke Adenekan, LASUTH, lamented the growing incidences of heart diseases, hence the need to educate teenagers and youth on the importance of living healthy lifestyles as major strategy to nip in the bud unhealthy practices.

Adenekan who identified obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of regular exercise, worry and anxiety as major causes of heart diseases noted that it was necessary to en-

sure that all these factors were avoided.

She regretted that hospital records have shown that children also die of heart related diseases as a result of hereditary which meant there was a history of the disease in the family. “It is important that as teenagers and youths, they understand they need to watch what they eat and drink.

Sugar and fat intake should be reduced to the barest minimum and they should also learn to exercise regularly. Some children do not engage in any form of physical activity which is very wrong. If a child’s school is not too far from home he or she should be encouraged to walk to and from school “This would ensure that they get to exercise and parents should also ensure that they watch the type of foods that the household consumes “Fried and fatty foods should be discouraged as much as possible.”

The six African states are Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nwankwo, who said the election which was closely fought through three rounds, saw her candidature being threatened because of events at home.

"Nigeria really needs to get its act together. There was a struggle between Nigeria's reputation and a candidate they were convinced was highly qualified for the post and who had really campaigned hard. What matters is that we made it at last. The hall erupted in applause when my score was announced because there was tension when we were not making it,'' she said.

On her expectations, Nwankwo remarked: “I will endeavour to push the values and human rights principles for which we have put in so much efforts and resources in my work within the committee” She added that the election afforded opportunity to make preliminary contacts with state parties.

In a statement, Nigeria's Permanent Mission in New York said Nwankwo's election into “the prestigious UN committee will enable her continue championing the cause of liberty, freedom, justice, and equality for women and every girl child in Nigeria and around the world'''.

Nwankwo holds a Masters degree in Criminal Law and served in the Anambra State Judiciary as a Magistrate for 23 years, voluntarily retired from the Judiciary in 2004 and has been in the forefront of the campaign for the respect for women's rights, gender equality and good governance.

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58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Kola Animasaun presents autobiography, Voice of Reason 2

By BASHIR ADEFAKA ll roads will, no doubt, lead to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), venue of the launch and public presentation of two books written by former Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard, Chief Kola Animasaun.

With look of things, the occasion, which is expected to rock the whole of the arena by the weight and caliber of guests coming would provide the long awaited opportunity for many beneficiaries of the veteran journalist’s inspiring writings in the Sunday Vanguard to express their appreciation in all its ramifications.

The launching and public presentation of Voice of Reason 2 and One Thousand Nine Hundred & Thirty Nine books authored by the veteran journalist will be held 12pm, today. The second book; One Thousand Nine Hundred & Thirty Nine, is an autobiography of the Sotofa’ye of Aiyede-Ekiti, Chief Kola Animasaun.

nir Ja’afar; Prince Abdul-Jabaar Bola Ajibola (SAN); the Uthokpo Na Eze Achalla, HRM, Igwe (Dr.) Ezeoba Alex N w o k e d i (OON); GMD, Global Fleet, Dr. J i m o h Ibrahim; Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon; Senator Gbenga Asafa; Senator Gbenga Kaka; Senator Adegboyega Obadara; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senator Femi Ojudu and many others will also be at the event.

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he programme, which is being co-hosted by the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Lagos State’s Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and Chairman, Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Sam Amuka, will witness the coming together of great Nigerians like Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State; Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who have indicated their intention to honour the great journalist with their presence.

The Asiwaju of Lagos and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the chairman of the occasion and the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (GCON) will be the Chief Launcher.

Other dignitaries expected include, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Comrade Governor

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As in the first volume of Voice of Reason, the author packs a lot of humour, wit, insight and candour into his incisive style of writing

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Adams Oshiomole of Edo State; Aare Arisekola Alao; Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former Minister of Communications, Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju; former Federal Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Lateef Okunu and his wife and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateefah Okunu.

Former Chairman, Nigerian Export Processing Zones (NEPZ) and Crown Prince of Zauzzau Emirate, Alhaji Mu-

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ccording to the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee and Editor-In-Chief, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, the books will be reviewed by two respected Journalists in person of the Chairman, Editorial Board of the Nation, Mr. Sam Omatseye and Managing Director, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

As in the first volume of Voice of Reason, the author packs a lot of humour, wit, insight and candour into his incisive style of writing. Alhaji Kola Animasaun was born on the 5th of July, 1939 and attended Abeokuta Grammar School, the London Institute of World Affairs (University of London) and the prestigious Regent Street Polythenic, London (now University of Westminster). A prolific writer, he is also the author of “Essentials of Sub-editing”, published in 1992. He is married to Alhaja Siliphat Modupeola Animasaun.

Lagos Photo Festival kicks off in style

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ll is now set for the 3rd edition of the international LagosPhoto festival entitled Seven Days in the Life of Lagos Addressing the press in preparation for the event, Zainab Ashadu, Head,Public Relations, LagosPhoto disclosed that this year ’s edition which aims to explore and capture the very essence of the city, Lagos will feature twenty-one local and International photographers.

The festival according to her will open with an indoor exhibition and Grand Opening ceremony on the 13th of October 2012 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island Lagos and will include

other indoor venues throughout the city.

The outdoor exhibitions will open early October 2012 at the Falomo roundabout, Muri Okunola Park, University of Lagos and the OworonshokiAlapere Median Continuing, she stated that the festival will showcase energy and soul that make the city such a unique place as captured by the most talented photographers working today.

Stanley Greene five time world press photo award winner and one of the most respected photographers in the photo world will co produce the festival, while Azu Nwagbogu of AAF will direct the event with Caline Chagoury.

Let Entertainment swing Lagos uild Entertainment In the entertainment voyage for dustry and Business into which it is built. The main this total re-branding of La- bowl of the great and magnifgos Metropolis. Step out of icent Bulgarian architecture Lagos for a few days, step has not had an audience back in and there is a remark- breath for nearly two decades able change. Roads are wid- and from the feel and look of er and cleaner, traffic flow is things is not likely to do so improved, Estates springing for many more years if the two out of swamps, music blaring billion naira proposal for the from road side shops to blend repair of the central air conwith the hooting, screeching, ditioning is not met. Talk and revving announcement about inflation, the magnifiinto Eko-Lagos. The jungle cent edifice was built for 75 jangle looks of Oshodi has million naira, now it is estilost all the junks leaving a mated to cost N 2b (two bilscenic sanity of a world class lion naira) to replace the air business metropolis and La- conditioner in one hall only. gos lovers are laughing in the or the Federal Govern joy of brightness and beauty. ment, it is a national monA Beautiful Lagos will be tourists joy and a business- ument. It merits need and men’s pleasure tour if the sewed its purpose at the grandmaster of this new look World Festival, then it was in will see to it that Entertain- the national capital, now that ment is built into the founda- things have changed and tion of this great improve- Abuja is the capital, it might as well be sold or dismantled ment.

Lagos has the natural en- and re-assembled at Abuja. dowment already. If Nnamdi England sold London Bridge Azikiwe street is made into to America and it was moved.

We have a cultured, artist on an Entertainment boulevard, to flow into Tinubu Square to the driving seat as Culture embrace Glover Memorial Minister. Let this nation take Hall, all seated with well fur- advantage of his expertise nished cinema houses, Enter- and personal endowment to tainment centres for Variety allow him build the industry. shows in We believe cabaret. that if his Let the government One of budget is encourage pools of Nigeria’s met, he best Enperformers in groups can restore tertaindreams of dancers, repertory the ments is of the Dances founding theatre companies, and we Fathers to drummers, actors h a v e build an and designers enough to Entertainshowcase ment Inthem in rows of Dance Halls dustry that can make for fees tantalizing, so too are Nigeria’s revenue and finan“live” stage plays, allowing cial draw from Entertainment them run in the auditoria for triple that of oil. Nigeria has a good length of time to cre- the best and greatest amount ate a tradition and build a of talent in Entertainment in trade. the world if encouraged to practice the art as it should be. ith the improvement of Oil wells may dry but Nigeriwaterways, such devel- ans are breeding talents daiopment can take tourists to ly in dancers, actors, sculpthe spotted islands around tors, painters, photographers, this great city such as Imoren, singers. Let these talents see Ibeshe, Ibasa, Ikare, etc. and the light of the commercial Lagos lovers will roar in world and turn their skill into peace and laugh in love. May- currencies for Nigeria. be the Lagos State GovernArts Councils are merely ment should bid to buy the administrative agents. Let the National Theatre over, before government encourage pools it becomes a national pool of of performers in groups of tears. It is standing still in a dancers, repertory theatre whirlwind, turbulence companies, drummers, actors enough to heave it into a so- and designers (fashion and cial and national disaster. stage), lighting and audio There have been talks about experts to work as professionselling it to private business, al bodies and produce works and artists have protested pro- that will re-brand this nation fusely, matched with placards and exploit the world’s marhollering, but it only stopped ket. the sale not set the sail, for To be continued

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59 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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60 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 61

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

Fireworks as Federer, Djokovic clash R

OGER Federer earned a record 32nd Grand Slam semifinal berth and moved closer to a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title when he beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday.

Federer’s opponent Friday will be defending champion Novak Djokovic, who beat Florian Mayer 6-4, 61, 6-4.

Federer has a 14-12 edge against Djokovic, who is ranked No. 1. They’ve met in Grand Slam semifinals five times in the past two years, with Djokovic winning four of those matches.

They’ve never played each other at Wimbledon.

Federer had been tied with Jimmy Connors for the most major semifinals. He reached the final four at Wimbledon for the first time since 2009, when he won the title.

Against the No. 26-seeded Youzhny, Federer showed no sign of the back ailment that prompted him to seek treatment during the first set of his previous match. In the second game he converted his fifth breakpoint chance, and pulled away from there.

A brief rain delay couldn’t

slow Federer, and neither could Youzhny, who seemed pleased at times just to win a point. Late in the first set, when he hit a running scoop forehand cross-court for a winner, he raised both arms and grinned as the crowd roared.

When Youzhny failed to convert a rare break-point chance in the third set, he let out a primal scream that had fans laughing. The Centre Court audience included Prince William and wife Kate, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Rod Laver, all sitting in the Royal Box. Federer improved to 140 against Youzhny, his best

Radwanska stays in title hunt

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•Federer record against any opponent.

Federer has lost only three of the 35 sets they’ve played.

The No. 3-ranked Federer seeks to match the record of seven Wimbledon titles set by WilliamRenshaw in the 1880s

GNIESZKA Radwanska reached the first grand slam semi-final of her career as she saw off the challenge of Russian Maria Kirilenko in a late-night finish at Wimbledon.

Despite her mediocre history in the •Djokovic majors, third seed Radwanska can replace Maria Sharapova and tied by Pete Sampras Court 1, closed out his as world number one if in 2000. If he wins the tiquarterfinal victory a few she wins Wimbledon.

She was tied at 4-4 in tle, he’ll reclaim the No. 1 minutesafterFedererandhad the deciding set with ranking from Djokovic and onlyalittlemoredifficulty.The Kirilenko when play was tie Sampras’ record for Serblosthisservefortheonly halted on Court One due most weeks at the top. time in the fifth game but im- to rain.

Djokovic, playing on mediately broke back.

Almost two hours later they were moved to Centre Court, where Radwanska sealed the set under the roof to secure a 7-5 46 7-5 win.

Williams, 30, won un- The Pole will next play Kvitova, a 22-yearold Czech, had a forth- der the roof with the Germany ’s Angelique right answer when benefit of 13 aces. Next Kerber in the last four on Thursday. asked whether up for Williams will be Radwanska said: “I’m Williams, 30, will win a semifinal against sec- just very, very happy. It’s a fifth Wimbledon title. ond-seeded Victoria Az- the first time I’ve reached ”I think so,” Kvitova arenka, who also played the semi-finals so there under the roof. said. are no words to describe how I feel.

Serena, Azarenka meet in semis W

HOOSH. Serena Williams heard it.

Whomp. Williams heard that too.

The sounds of Williams’ massive service, still the best and biggest weapon in women’s tennis, were amplified

Tuesday.

Williams beat defending Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 7-5, with the Centre Court roof closed on the rainy grounds of the All England Club.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 — 63

Jonathan stops govt delegation T from Olympics

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation has charged the technical crew of the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, to shun acts of pursuance of personal interests and face squarely the job of raising a formidable squad that will do Nigeria proud.

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja HERE would be no official federal government delegation to the London Olympics next month, Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi disclosed yesterday.

According to Abdullahi, the move which has been approved by President Goodluck Jonathan was aimed at saving cost and preventing the athletes from being distracted.

He said the practice where such events are converted to jamborees for government officials must be stopped. ”What I can assure you for a start, there is not going to be any official Nigerian delegation to this Olympics. So this is the first time in a long while that I know that you will not have an official Nigerian delegation to the Olympics, a global delegation like this. ”I want to also add that it is not always the case that there is anything wrong in officials being

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•Bolaji more than the athletes, for example you have only one boxer, that boxer must have a physiotherapist, a doctor, a coach, and even a psychologist in some cases.

If you look at the American contingent, it is al-

Sports Club where he played and emerged a prominent defender into mourning.

Speaking on the circumstances that led to the death of the ex-Super Eagles star, the Oyo State Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Seun Ajayi-Obe said the deceased had been battling with the disease for quite a long time.

He said he had earlier undergone surgical operation at the University College Hospital but the sickness that later claimed his life relapsed.

He said, “the sickness relapsed last year February. He died at the UCH this morning(yesterday). He was placed on oxygen due to the deterioration of his health”.

According to his former club, which posted the death of the footballer on its Facebook page, it said, “the entire Shooting Stars family has mourned the death of former IICC Captain and 3SC chairman, Samuel Ojebode who died in

disturbed. The NFF is not encouraged by your performance in South Africa and you have to

Eagles 2 steps forward Continues from B/Page

D’Ivoire commands the 16th place in the world and first in Africa.

Algeria also dipped by

the early hours of Wednesday at the University College Hospital UCH”.

The club stated that the death was received with shock considering the recovery of the late soccer icon from the sickness last year.

Ojebode played for the Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation now known as 3SC. He was the captain of the team that defeated the Zamalek of Egypt to win the African Winners Cup in 1976.

He retired from active football and later joined the State Sports Council from where he retired in the last one decade. He was chairman of the 3SC board during the 11 month reign of the former Gaovernor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Akala Africa Cup winners club was Nigeria’s first continental trophy and the late Ojebode was the captain of the team. He captained the Shooting Stars team from 1974 to 1980.

He was also a member of the then Green Eagles, playing in the left full back position.

three steps but commands the fourth place in Africa and 35th in the world. Pharoahs of Egypt made a remakable leap by six steps to occupy the seventh position in the continent, but maintained a 42nd place in the world.

Cameroon also made an apreciable leap by five steps to queue behind Nigeria both in the continent and in the world Reigning World Champions, Spain have managed to extend their lead significantly by defending their European title, while finalists Italy (6th, up 6) have also been richly rewarded for their performances in Poland and Ukraine with a return to the top ten. Defeated semifinalists Portugal (5th, up 5) and Germany (2nd, up 1)

have equally seen improvements in their positions, as have England (4th, up 2), Greece (12th, up 3), Czech Republic (18th, up 9) and hosts Poland (54th, up 8) and Ukraine (46th, up 6).

The Netherlands, on the other hand, have slipped down (8th, down 4), while Brazil (11th, down 6), currently sit in their lowest position since the start of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Thanks to their surprising victory at the OFC Nations Cup, Eddy Etaeta’s Tahiti have made great progress, climbing 41 spots to currently occupy 138th and securing their spot in next year ’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Van Persie Continues from B/Page

with Gazidis this month.

In a statement, he said: “This is an update for the fans about my current situation.

“I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr Gazidis and Mr Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.

“As announced earlier this year I had a meeting with the boss and Mr Gazidis after the season.

“This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy.

Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all.

“I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days.

“Out of my huge respect for Mr Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

work hard and be c o m m i t t e d to a much better output in the qualifying series.

London'll bless Okagbare — Kalu EIJING 2008 bronze medalist Blessing Okagbere Thursday earned accolades from former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu who tipped her for a long jump gold in this year ’s London Olympic Games.

Kalu held that even with Okagbare’s splendid form,London meant a lot to both Nigeria and the female Long jump event.

He said,”London will favour Okagbare and

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Team Nigeria.It was there in 1948 that a Nigerian first reached the O l y m p i c final.Adegboyega Folaranmi Adedoyin,an Ijebu-Remo Blue blood, finished fifth in the men’s long jump event.As a Medical student of Queen’s University Belfast,the Prince competed for Great Britain since Nigeria was a colony.The women’s long jump also debuted at London’48.”

Andre Villas Boas Continues from B/Page

Ojebode Continues from B/Page

most like the contingents of many of the countries put together. What we are doing is that we are taking all reasonable measures to ensure that every single person that is going to the Olympics has a business in the Olympics.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari said this on Wednesday at a meeting with the crew of the team, led by Head Coach John O b u h .

Maigari made no secret of the unhappiness of the Federation and the generality of Nigerians over the team’s poor outing at the Cape T o w n International Challenge at the end of May. “We are really

NFF reads riot act to Flying Eagles’ crew

Modric set for a move to either Manchester United or Real Madrid — and striker Jermain Defoe also a target for several clubs — the pot could easily hit £100m... and beyond.

On top of that, AVB has been guranteed a bonus scheme that could net him a further £3m above his annual £4m-a-year salary.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has taken a monumental gamble on Villas-Boas after firing Harry Redknapp last month.

But he believes the Portuguese boss — who won the Europa League with Porto — will be able to lead the White Hart Lane club to glory too.

AVB, 34, sacked just eight months into a three-year contract at

Stamford Bridge, is kissing goodbye to £11m still owed to him

by Chelsea so that he can get back into the Premier League.

He is determined to prove the Blues were wrong to dump him and he has assured Levy that it will take just four or five new players to get Spurs challenging for the title.

He is expected to open his spending by securing the signings of Ajax’s Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen, 25, and Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, 22, who impressed on loan at Swansea last term. He also wants to secure a powerful striker and could compete with Chelsea for the signature of Hulk, whom he managed at Porto.

Eagles Continues from B/Page

Meanwhile, Fit again SuperEaglesskipper,Joseph Ikpo Yobo, says it would be a delight for him to be part of the team that will play the prestigeinternationalfriendly against London Gunners; Arsenal FC, already scheduled for August 5 in Abuja.

Yobo, who is in London at themomentonholidayswith his family as well as trying to sort out the transfer jig-saw between his club; Everton and Turkish top side Fernabahce, however said it would be dependent on whether his team would be in pre-season at that time or if

the Super Eagles technical crew thinks it good for top players to feature in the friendly.

Yobo, who was touted at a point to be on the radar of Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger declaredthus:“itwouldreally benicetoplayagainstArsenal but we have to wait and see howthingswillturnout”.Yobo again said he is disturbed by the rumblings over his move toFernavahceonapermanent basisfromEverton,sayinghe has resigned himself to the will of God. “No matter how bad the situation seems, I know it would eventually be sorted out the right way”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012 NDRE VILLASBOAS will be given a £100million war chest as he begins his Tottenham revolution.

The ex-Chelsea boss was offically appointed Spurs’ new head coach yesterday on a threeyear contract — as revealed by The Sun. AVB will get a transfer kitty of around £40m — with a guarantee that he can also spend every penny he recoups from player sales.

With midfielder Luka

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S-H-O-C-K-E-R! Eagles: 2

steps forward

Van Persie set to leave Gunners N

Continues on Page 63

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

OBIN VAN PERSIE is set to leave Arsenal after announcing he will not sign a new contract with the Gunners.

The Dutch striker — who has one year left on his current deal — took to his website to end speculation over his future yesterday.

Van Persie confirmed that after a meeting with club chief executive Ivan Gazidis and manager Arsene Wenger it became clear that they disagreed on the way Arsenal should move forward.

Last season’s Premier League top scorer added that no financial terms or a contract were ever discussed and he will hold further meetings Continues on Page 63

IGERIA has moved two places up in the latest FIFA rankings for footballing nations to rank 58th in the world.

Nigeria’s rise on ranking table released on Wednesday, is aided by the victories recorded by the Super Eagles in the month of June against Rwanda, Kenya and a draw with Malawi.

Nigeria is ranked 10th in Africa with Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana leading the African

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Cancer claims ex Eagles star, Ojebode

BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN •Keshi football fraternity in first and second positions respectively even though, Ghana dropped

by Eight steps and occupying 33rd position in the world while Cote Continues on Page 63

ORMER football leg end and Eagles player, Mr. Samuel Ojebode died yesterday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan after he unsuccessfully battled with lung cancer.

His death has thrown the Shooting Stars Continues on Page 63

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Eagles not afraid of any team — Keshi UPER Eagles boss, S t e p h e n Okechukwu Keshi, who departed Tuesday night for South Africa along side, NFF Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Christopher Green, said while he is

S •I'M GUNNER GO— RVP

not afraid of any team in the draws he is hoping for a favourable draws on Wednesday.

“No team is too small or too big in Africa and world football, but we must avoid some big names but if at the end

of the day we are drawn against any of the powerhouses we will have no option but to ensure that we qualify.

We want a good draw for the team in the interest of the nation”, he said.

Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD TODAY'S

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Engrave (6) 5 Measure (4) 8 Passage (5) 9 Charge (3) 10 Headland (4) 11 Extol (4) 12 Custom (5) 13 Maintenance (6) 16 Snare (4) 18 Image (4) 20 Tavern (3) 22 Freeze (3) 23 Plaything (3) 24 Impel (4) 25 Close (4) 28 Rural (6) 30 Thresh (5) 32 Loyal (4) 33 Ache (4) 34 Spoil (3) 35 Fragment (5) 36 Fog (4) 37 Squirm (6)

DOWN 1 Inflow (6) 2 Curbing (8) 3 Poem (6) 4 Vanish (9) 5 Unlawful (7) 6 Tidy (4) 7 Conceal (4) 8 Tree (3) 14 Chief (9) 15 Demure (3) 17 Expert (3) 19 Scorn (8) 20 Irritate (3) 21 Disregard (7) 26 Athlete (6) 27 Scanty (6) 29 Particle (4) 30 Ado (4) 31 Circuit (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Homage 5, Seethe 9, Emend 10, Absorb 11, Adroit 12, Merry 14, Tree 17, Roe 18, Melt 20, Hated 22, Melee 23, Roasted 24, Again 26, Tarry 29, Mere 30, Let 32, Line 33, Pared 35, Needed 36, Natter 37, Elect 38, Settle 39, Hardly

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Hearth 2, Musket 3, Germ 4, Ember 5, Snare 6, Eddy 7, Trowel 8, Estate 13, Rooster 15, Range 16, Eerie 18, Medal 19, Learn 21, Don 22, Met 24, Amends 25, Arrest 27, Rioted 28, Yearly 30, Ladle 31, Tench 33, Peel 34, Data

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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