PDP CRISIS: Tukur declares war on Baraje, 7 nPDP govs

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61962

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Generator fumes kills OZEKHOME: Abductors newly-wed couple, one reduce ransom to N100m other in Calabar •P.6 12

PDP CRISIS:

Tukur declares war on Baraje, 7 nPDP govs

BY HENRY UMORU, DEMOLA AKINYEMI & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

•Says they're impostors; insists he's in charge •Wants court to jail new PDP officers A •Threatens rebel senators, Reps •Asks DSS, Police, others to go after them •He's ignorant of party politics — Baraje

BUJA — THE cri sis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took another turn yesterday as the

Continues on page 3

OFFA RE-RUN:

•P.25

PDP candidate rejects victory •P.48

COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu •P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA•P.19

WAEC exam cheats risk 5-yr jail term •P.9

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

PRIVATISATION:

Committee, BPE clash over procedures •P.9 C M Y K

$9BN REFINERY: —From left: Chief Executive Officer, GTB, Segun Agbaje; Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, London, Anil Dua; Vice President Namadi Sambo and President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote during agreement signing ceremony of US$3.3 billion facility for Dangote's $9bn Refinery /Petrochemical /Fertilizer Complex at OKLNG Free Zone in Abuja,yesterdday.

2— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—3

POCKET CARTOON

NES—From left: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs Sola David-Borha and the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, during the opening ceremonies of the 19th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Tuesday.

Tukur declares war on Baraje, seven nPDP govs Continues from page 1 party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur vowed to declare vacant the seats of sena-

tors, House of Representatives members and other elected officers who identified with the seven governors that

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

THE more you see yourself as what you’d like to become, and act as if what you want is already there, the more you’ll activate those dormant forces that will collaborate to transform your dream into your reality — Wayne W. Dyer

L

ET go of our need to have more. The language of the ego is more. It is never satisfied. No matter how much you achieve or acquire, your ego will insist that it isn’t enough, you find yourself in a perpetual state of striving, and eliminate the possibility of ever arriving. Yet in reality, you already have arrived and how you choose to use this present moment of your life is your choice. Ironically, when you stop needing more, more of what you desire seems to arrive in your life. Since you are detached from the need for it, you find it easier to pass it along to others, because you realise how little you need in order to be satisfied and at peace.

The universal source is content with itself, constantly expanding and creating new life, never trying to hold on to its creation for its own selfish means. It creates and let go. As you let go of ego’s need to have more, you unify with that source. You create, attract to yourself, and let it go, never demanding that more come your way. As an appreciation for all that shows up, you learn the powerful lesson that St Francis of Assisi thought “....It is in giving that we receive.” By allowing abundance to flow to and through you, you’ll match up with your source and guarantee that this energy will continue to flow.

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formed a parallel executive of the party.

Some of the affected lawmakers and other stakeholders of the party have, however, dismissed Tukur’s threat as an empty boast that has no legal basis and advised him to go and read the Electoral Act on the issue and be properly guided. This came as the Kwara State chapter of the party aligned itself with the Baraje-led faction, saying the Tukur-led executive no longer exists.

Also yesterday, the Tukur-led PDP approached an Abuja High Court, asking it to commit new PDP Chairman, Baraje and other officilas of the nPDP to one year in prison, even as it emerged yesterday that Tukur's confidence might have taken root from the presidency..

Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Tukur, who claimed that he was fully in charge as the National Chairman of PDP, stressed that there was no faction in the party and there was no room for such a claim under any guise.

Tukur who threatened to send men of the Department of State Service, DSS; the Police and other security agencies

after the rebellious governors and their sympathiszers for operating illegally, however vowed that the party will not hesitate to declare vacant, seats of the 26 senators and the 102 members of the House of Representatives, as well as other elected officers of the party that have dclared for the new PDP (nPDP).

But in a swift reaction, the chairman of nPDP and former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje described Bamanga Tukur and others who might not understand how party politics works, as jokers. He said: “They are all jokers, they don’t know what party politics is. We are not surprised because he (Tukur) is ignorant of party politics.

In any case, the process of declaring a seat vacant or recalling members of the National Assembly is well known in the constitution; to wake up and say he is going to recall people or declare their seats vacant is sheer ignorance. He is not fit to be called the National Chairman of the PDP.” Speaking in a similar vein, spokesman of the House of Representa-

tives, Rep. Zakari Mohammed said: “The man should go and read the Electoral Act and be guided as that will guide his utterances.

This is about the law.

What he does not understand is that when a party is factionalised, I can decide to say that I belong to PPA today, it doesn’t matter because it is public knowledge today that we have two factions of the PDP and nobody can pretend about it”.

Tukur's statement Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who simply read a twopage statement that was made up of eight paragraphs without taking any further questions from journalists said: “Gentlemen of the press, you are aware of the current developments in our great party. Our reason for being here is to inform you without any iota of doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party has no faction and there is neither room nor reason whatsoever for such a claim under any guise.

“The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) under my chairmanship. I wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of NEC or any other organ of our party are impostors and I urge all Nigerians, especially the security agencies and other institutions of democracy to regard them as such.

“Let me state categorically that the PDP as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians and which in the last 14 years has lifted high the banner of democracy will not fold its arms while some undemocratic and unpatriotic elements destroy our common destiny by causing divi-

sions and confusion among the people.

“Consequently, we shall ensure that any person who is not duly elected into any leadership position in our great party and has not been duly assigned any role but goes ahead to arrogate such to himself will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Similarly, all persons elected on the platform of our great party at all levels who identify with these enemies of the oneness and greatness of our party shall have their seats declared vacant as required by law.

“We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that such persons and indeed any other individual who attempts to subvert the leadership of the PDP shall reap in full, the consequences of such actions.

“I wish to emphasize that the PDP has adequate mechanism for internal conflict resolution. All party members are, therefore, advised to ventilate their grievances through this medium. There is only one lawfully recognized PDP and I am firmly in charge. I thank you and may God bless you."

Tukur ’s confidence, it was learnt, followed President Goodluck Jonathan’s apparent rejection of the demands of the rebel governors at the Tuesday night meeting he had with loyalist governors.

At the meeting, President Jonathan was said to have flatly rejected the requests of the rebel governors that he should among others not contest the 2015 presidential contest.

Sources close to the presidency disclosed that the president was quoted as saying that he would not lose sleep over the matter saying “those who ignited the

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4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

hind the claim to PDP in the state as "hungry people", the chairman stressed that,” Baraje remains our national chairman of new PDP and Senator Bukola Saraki is also our leader and no one can lay claim to the PDP leadership except the affected leaders”.

Tukur’s not in tune with realities—Ugochinyere

VISIT—Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (left) presenting a gift to Man-

aging Director, Bank of Industry, Evelyn Oputu when the shareholders committee (Board) Bank of Industry, paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Kaduna.

Tukur declares war on Baraje, seven nPDP govs Continues from page 4 fire should go and quench it.”

A presidency source privy to the development was quoted as saying: “What is happening in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nothing to do with the president; it is not his headache at all and he is not losing sleep over it.

"The president believes that those who ignited the crisis should also look for ways to put it off.

And from security reports, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is behind it; he cannot start a crisis and now pretending to be finding a solution to it."

Presidential aides it was learnt, are worried that former President Obasanjo and his associates may be determined to use the crisis to stop President Jonathan from seeking reelection using the opportunity offered by the crisis.

PDP urges court to commit Baraje, others to prison The Bamanga Tukurled faction of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) has also urged a Federal High Court, Abuja, to commit to prison for alleged contempt of court, factional chairman of the party Alhaji Kawu Baraje, the faction’s National Secretary Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Dr Sam Jaja.

The party wants the court to jail the three for a minimum of one year each for allegedly violating a judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered on January 11.

In the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, which was said to have been violated by the alleged contemnors, the court had nullified Oyinlola’s candidacy as a nominee of the Southwest Zonal Chapter of the PDP. The Tukur-led party however argued that Oyinlola, “ with guilty knowledge” “appointed and declared” himself as the National Secretary of the PDP “for the purpose of rendering the judgment of this Honourable Court nugatory and of no effect.”

The motion on notice for committal of the alleged contemnors, filed yesterday, was brought pursu-

ant to Order 35 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009.

Counsel to the PDP, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, who made the court processes available to newsmen at briefing in Lagos, said he was directed by the Alhaji Bamanga Tukurled PDP to file the action.

He said they have also filed a Preliminary Objection against the suit filed by Oyinlola, Baraje and Jaja at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

Kwara PDP backs Baraje Meantime, Kwara State chapter of PDP, yesterday, aligned itself with the Kawu Baraje-led executive of the party, saying the PDP under the chairmanship of the Tukur-led executive council no longer exist.

The party leadership in the state expressed its resolve to back the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje nPDP because of his sterling leadership qualities which brought the party to its peak when he held sway as the acting national chairman of the now troubled party.

The state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani speaking at a press conference at the party secretariat in Ilorin, recalled that Baraje was able to maturely handle all the crisis in the party to a minimal level and even won more electoral victories for the party.

According to Fulani, who was represented by his secretary, Prince Yemi Afolayan,”the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP has violated the constitutional breaches and its national working committee should vacate office in the interest of the growth of the PDP. “It was under Bamanga Tukur-led national leadership that leaders of the party have been treating members without following due process, causing disaffection among members of the party.

“As far as the PDP is concerned now in Nigeria, Abubakar Kawu Baraje remains the only leader that can salvage the PDP from its present predicament and so Bamanga Tukur has gone”, he added.

According to him,”we are authentic PDP in Kwara and no one group can lay claim to it any where”. While describing the politicians be-

Also, a Chieftain of the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has likened the purported threat by the embattled Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to suspend lawmakers that have given support to Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led faction as a desperate crying speech of a reckless fisherman that had lost control of his boat.

Ikenga Ugochinyere who is the Convener of the New PDP Stakeholders Forum in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, said that Tukur was not in tune with realities on ground, accusing him of destroying a party that was once united.

The statement which was titled, “reaction to Bamanga Tukur ’s drowning fisherman press conference" read: “The attention of the PDP Stakeholders Forum and die-hard supporters of the New PDP which is on a rescue mission has been drawn to the ranting and impotent statement made by the drowning PDP factional chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to the emergence of the popular new leadership of the party.

“I want the press to know that the statement made by Tukur at his today’s (yesterday) press conference is nothing but a desperate crying speech of a reckless fisherman who has lost control of his boat as a result of recklessness and is fast sinking.

“We urge members of the party to ignore the speech like they have ignored the ranting of the impostor Chairman in the past.

“Tukur is not in tune with realities on the ground. We urge him to stop crying and bow his head in shame for destroying a united party.

We dare him to use his

impotent childish suspension option which has faded away with his dislodged rotten reign.

“As Tukur continues to hallucinate, more National Assembly members, members of the State Assemblies elected on the party’s platform, members at all levels, Governors, BoT (Board of Trustees) etc continue to join the new PDP rescue mission.

“Let nobody listen to a man who is not even a member of the party. Let him face the legal battle fired on him and forget noise making as he lacks the power to declare anybody ’s seat vacant as such power is with us now,” he stated.

How it all started It will be recalled that last week Saturday at the Special National Convention of PDP, there was crisis when the party split into two parallel National Working Committees, NWCs, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and seven northern governors staging a walk out to later address a press conference on the formation of a new PDP with governor Chibuike Amaechi in attendance.

Baraje had named himself the National Chairman and announced Sam Sam Jaja as Deputy National Chairman and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as National Secretary.

The governors who were at the venue of the convention until 2.45 pm last saturday when the names of candidates to be voted for were read and discovered that the name of the immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja was removed leaving only the former National Organising Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus as the sole candidate, with others screened out had to immediately leave for Shehu Musa Yar ’adua Centre to address the media.

They were governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State; Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013— 5

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6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

21 commercial sex workers arrested in Jigawa

BY ALIYU DANGIDA

D

UTSE — JIGAWA State Hisbah Command has arrested 21 commercial sex workers, as part of efforts to stop them from operating in the state.

The commandant of Hisbah in the state, Alhaji Aliyu Galamawa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse, said the arrest followed a security report that they had invaded different parts of the state after they were dislodged from neighbouring Bauchi, Kano and Lagos states.

The commercial sex workers were said to have divided themselves to various towns and villages such as Ringim, Chaichai and Dutse.

Galamawa explained that men of the command arrested 21 of them in Ringim and Dutse with their traditional musicians, while some were arrested in Chaichai town with the owner of the house who gave them rent.

Prison warder kills taxi driver, injures 4 others

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ORT HARCOURT — A taxi driver was shot dead by a trigger-happy prison warder in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Four other persons were also hit, including a pastor.

The shooting happened at Woji, with the warder claiming that the fatal shot, was ‘an accidental discharge’.

Witnesses said the driver conveying some prison officials drove recklessly against the traffic on Woji Road in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

Not minding the rights of the law compliant drivers on the road, the driver of the prison vehicle ordered a taxi driver to give way for his vehicle.

“As the taxi tried to reverse to pave the way for the prison warders, one of the armed Prison warders came down from the vehicle.

"With his hand still on the trigger, perhaps forgetting that he had already cocked the gun, he pointed the nozzle at the driver. All we heard were gunshots. The driver died on the spot. Two others were seriously injured. They may not survive.”

Angela Agabe, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident but said only the driver, one Ebere Emmanuel, died, while Nathaniel Ibinabo, a Pastor who sustained bullet wounds has been admitted in the hospital.

Generator fumes kills newly-wed couple, one other in Calabar

BY EMMA UNA

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ALABAR — A NEWLY mar ried couple, who packed to their house soon after wedding have been reportedly killed by generator fumes in Ikot Omin on

the outskirts of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The couple, Bassey Effiong (27), his wife, Glory (21) and her younger sister, Emem (16), were said to have packed to the house

yet to be completed by Bassey.

“When he got married, he decided to work on one of the rooms and moved in, while hoping to gradually complete the house,” Mike, a neighbour to the couple

Rubbles of a four-storey building that collapsed at Obanye Street, Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

told Vanguard.

However, tragedy struck, Sunday night, when the couple turned on their generating set and placed it on the corridor close to the room, where they slept but fume from the generating set was said to have subsequently gained entry into the room in large quantity and suffocatded the couple along with Emem, the wife's younger sister.

They were discovered dead several hours later by a naval officer, David Ekanem, Bassey's uncle, who said he went there after he called Bassey's mobile number several times without response and on getting there at 5 pm, Monday, he met the tragic sight.

“I knocked several times on the door but there was no answer, so I had to force the door open. It was then I saw my nephew and his wife along with the young girl lying dead,” the Naval officer said.

Spokesman of the Cross River State Police Command, Mr Hogan Bassey, said the matter was reported by the naval officer and the bodies evacuated to the Infectious Disease Hospital mortuary, Edgerly Road, Calabar.

Uncompleted 4-storey building collapses in Onitsha

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NITSHA — A FOUR-STO REY building under construction in Onitsha, Anambra State, collapsed after a downpour, yesterday.

The incident occurred at 24 Obanye St. near the Onitsha General Post Office at 3.30 p.m.

A correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria, who was at the scene of the incident, gathered that no life was lost.

An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said that builders and labourers working on the building were not around as the downpour started at 6.30 a.m.

He said: “We heard a heavy sound and as most of the neigh-

bours in the street rushed out, we saw the uncompleted building collapsing.

“It was a big surprise to all of us because we noticed that re-

A

KURE — FOUR suspected killers of a Police constable, Omoniyi Edema, attached to Bolorunduro police post in Ogbese Division of Ondo State, have been arrested.

Those arrested include the receiver of the motorcycle of the deceased policeman.

Police detectives picked up the suspects following tip-off.

Confirming the arrest, police image-maker, Wole Ogodo, said they were being detained at the police Criminal Investigation Department, CID, section in Akure,

ing today (yesterday) and no one was injured in the incident.”

At press time, the cause of the collapse had yet to be ascertained.

Woman docked for killing 7-month-old daughter

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AKURDI — A WOMAN, Terdoo Aleva, was, yesterday, arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court in Benue State for allegedly killing her seven-month-old daughter.

The 42-year-old housewife was charged with culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 222 of the Penal Code.

Police prosecuting officer, In-

4 suspected killers of policeman nabbed

BY DAYO JOHNSON

cently work on the building was going on at a very high speed.

“It is just a pity for such a huge financial loss. But thank God that no one was working in the build-

the state capital.

Ogodo gave the names of the suspects to include Amen John (21) from Benue State; Aboi Michael (19) also from Benue; Olowolagba Toyin (22) Ikaram Akoko in Akoko North West and Adeniyi Friday (27) from Kabba, Kogi State, who is the receiver of the deceased motorcycle.

The deceased policeman was ambushed and gunned down, September 1, 2013, while riding on his motorcycle at 5.40 am to resume for his morning duty.

Edema, according to Ogodo, was shot dead and his killers made away with his motorcycle.

spector Hyacinth Gbakor, told the court that the woman’s husband, Terhemen Aleva of Ako-Yawe Street, Gboko in Gboko Local Government Area of the state, reported the matter on August 19, at the Gboko Police Station.

He said the complainant had accused his wife of feeding the deceased with a liquid substance locally called novan or otapiapia, which he claimed she bought at N20.

According to the prosecution, the baby died instantly and the the woman had in the course of

investigation confessed to the crime.

The prosecutor also told the court that the accused had also confessed to the police that she terminated the baby’s life because she wanted to return to her former husband with whom she had three children.

The plea of the woman was not taken but the Chief Magistrate, Cecilia Bakare, ordered that she be remanded in Makurdi Prisons and adjourned the case till September 27.

Tents at the new safer ground in preparation for 2013 anticipated flood disaster in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, during the visit of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, director-general, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—7

Four killed, one injured in Ebonyi auto crash

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI — NO fewer than four persons, were, yesterday, killed, while one person is reportedly in critical condition, following an accident involving a Mazda Infinity car and Mercedes truck on Amuzo Onueke road in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Confirming the incident, the state commandant, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Jide Fehintola, said the accident occurred as a result of tyre burst, which led to a head-on collision.

Vanguard gathered that the Mazda Infinity car was heading to Onueke with five passengers from Abakaliki when one of its tyres ruptured.

While the driver tried to gain control of the vehicle, it collided with an oncoming truck, killing four

Court remands man, 34, for alleged rape of 12-year-old

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NUGU — AN Enugu Magistrate Court, yesterday, remanded one Monday Okoye, 34, of Obuofia, in Awgu Local Government Area of the state in prison custody over alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The police in Enugu had arraigned Okoye before the court over alleged offence.

The prosecutor, Mr Peter Eze, told the court that the matter was reported to the state Criminal Investigation Department on August 11.

Eze said the rape victim was absent in the court because she was hospitalised following the injury she sustained from the rape.

The prosecutor called seven witnesses to testify in the matter.

The magistrate, Mr Frank Chukwu, asked the accused if he had a counsel and he said he had none.

Chukwu said that the case would be transferred to the high court because it bordered on rape, adding that such was outside the jurisdiction of a magistrate court.

He, however, added that the prosecuting witnesses would testify in the high court on the matter.

He warned that each witness would pay N50,000 if they failed to appear in the high court for the case.

The magistrate ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case indefinitely.

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persons, while one was critically injured.

The FRSC commandant said the dead had been deposited in the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, mortuary while the injured was

receiving treatment in the same hospital.

He said: “The casualties were three men and a female and it was in the process of taking them to the hospital, that the army informed our

team about the incident. We had to follow them to the mortuary.”

Fehintola advised road users to avoid over speeding to ensure the safety of lives and property of travellers.

PROTEST: Members of the Mile One Market Traders Association on a protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State over alleged imposition of a new chairman, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Woman, 5 others in court over alleged robbery

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — AN Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos, yesterday, remanded a woman, Chioma Ezekwesili, 36, and five men in Kirikiri prison, Lagos custody, pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, over alleged robbery charge against them.

The defendants were alleged to have while armed with two double barrel rifles and 12 live cartridges, attempted to rob one Alahaji Bamidele.

The other defendants are Emeka Igwe (41), Ignatous Ezerele (37), Michael Madu (52),Oke Jerom (28) and Bright Ikubor (23).

They were arraigned on a threecount charge of conspiracy, attempted robbery and unlawful possession of firearms, preferred against them by the police.

Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe ordered that they be remanded in prison custody pending the legal advice from the DPP. The Police prosecutor, Inspector Iranus Nnamonu, said the defendants and others at large, committed the alleged crime on August 18, 2013, at 10 pm, adding that the incident took place at Bolatito Hotel, Kola, Alagbado area of Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to section 5 (b) and punishable under section 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap 398 Vol XXii, laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2003.

However, when the charge was read to the defendants, their pleas

were not taken. The court adjourned the case to October 22, 2013.

...another woman for alleged possession of gun

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — AN Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos, yesterday, remanded a 25- year - old woman, Taye Omiata, in Kirikiri, Prison, Lagos, pending the legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for allegedly being in possession of a gun.

Magistrate Abimbola OshodiMakanju ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the DPP’s advice.

The defendant, who resides at Lusada, in Ogun State, is facing a three count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and robbery.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, said the defendant and others at large, committed the alleged crime on August 22, 2013, at 8:30pm, in Iju area of Lagos.

He said the defendant and others at large, while armed with gun, did attempted to rob.

Ekikere, told the court that the defendant, unlawfully had in her possession and controlled one locally made double barrel short gun, with five live cartridges without licence duly issued to her by the Inspector General of Police.

When the charge was read to the defendant, her plea was not taken as the magistrate ordered that she should be remanded in prison.

Fire razes Hausa community in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — SEVERAL buildings in the Hausa community in Aretallin area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were, weekend, razed by a midnight fire which rendered 400 families homeless.

The inferno, it was learnt, was caused by electrical fault in one of the razed buildings.

Eyewitnesses blamed the exten-

sive damage caused by the blaze on the poor response of the fire service department.

Though no life was lost, property worth millions of naira were reportedly destroyed.

A resident of the community, simply identified as Abubakar, said the fire, which started at 11.30 pm, rendered many families homeless.

The fire, according to him, started after power was restored to the area.

Suspected gay docked for abusing 7-yr-old twin

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT — POLICE in Rivers State have arraigned a 30-yearold Godface Ibama before a Port-Harcourt Magistrate Court for defiling a sevenyear-old twin brothers.

The suspect alleged to be gay was arrested by the police at a waterfront in Mile 1, Diobu area of Port Harcourt for sexually abusing the victims.

Ibama, who is facing a two-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of the minors pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Mr Elkawah Fubara, the trial magistrate, consequently ordered the suspect to be remanded in police custody and adjourned till September 11, for hearing of the accused bail application.

Police arrest 2 men for allegedly defiling infants

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — THE Police have nabbed a 26year-old man in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State for allegedly having canal knowledge of a five-year-old daughter of his father’s tenant.

Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, said the accused was arrested on August 28, 2013, after an attempt to lure the girl with a loaf of bread.

According to Babayemi, the accused in his confessional statement said he had been using bread to entice the girl and her sisters since he works in a bakery.

The suspect was said to have brought a loaf of bread and invited the girl to his room where he allegedly abused her sexually.

In a related development, a 57-year-old man, one David (surname withheld), who allegedly defiled his five-year-old step-daughter in Igede-Ekiti, has been paraded by the police in Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North, & JOHN MKOM

A

BUJA—BARELY 24 hours after Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it had resolved the political crisis in Taraba State, eight members of the House of Assembly, who are loyal to the ailing governor, have rejected the peace move brokered by the party.

The eight lawmakers, led by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr. Joseph Kunini, met in Jalingo, the state capital, yesterday, and renounced the action of the PDP fact-finding panel, headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma.

They accused him of working in concert with the state deputy governor, Garba Umar, to cause more problems for the state.

The pro-Suntai lawmakers told journalists that they had to openly dissociate themselves with the decisions arrived at by the Uzodinma panel because the team could not provide solutions to the problems plaguing the state.

The lawmakers, in a prepared statement read by Kunini, said: “We are miffed by Senator Uzodinma’s dubious misadventure and his cocktail of contradictions, which he clearly displayed yesterday at the end of the visit of the fact-finding committee.

Constitutional crisis

“Senator Uzodinma’s hurriedly contrived solution to the constitutional crisis in Taraba State turned out not only poisonous but has left the entire state in more confusion than it has been in recent times.

“Well-meaning Nigerians have expressed the fact that the solution to the problems lies in strict adherence to the Constitution.

“Even a member of the PDP panel and Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, has quoted the Presidency as saying that the issue is a constitutional matter.”

While accusing Uzodinma of implementing a hidden agenda hatched by the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur against Suntai, the lawmakers, warned the party to respect a court order that had already restrained the team from going further with its assignment as far as Taraba was concerned.

They said that they were shocked to discover that the Senator still went to the United States to assess the health condition of the governor and came back to Jalingo to give a verdict that Suntai’s deputy should continue to act as governor despite the subsisting court order barring it from working on the Taraba matter.

The lawmakers insisted that Suntai had completed the process of taking over the mantle of leadership with the transmission of the letter of resumption of work and did not need any other steps to fulfill the constitutional provi-

C M Y K

AGREEMENT: From left— Investment Officer, FMO, Jeroen Harteveld; Director, Financial Institutions, FMO, Linda Broekhuizen; President and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, Andrew Alli; Chairman of the Management Board, Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, DEG, Bruno Wenn; Director, Financial Institutions, DEG, Gudrun Busch and Director Africa, DEG, Karl weinfurtner, at the DEG FMO US$60 million debt facility signing ceremony between Nigeria and Germany.

Pro-Suntai lawmakers disown Uzodinma, reject PDP terms sion on the matter.

Fault Tukur

They accused Tukur of using the Uzodinma Committee to do the bidding of the acting governor, who they claim, wanted to take over through the back door while Suntai was hale and hearty to do his job.

They said: “It is instructive to note that the Deputy Governor, Garba Umar, flew in the Uzodinma team from Abuja. On arrival, they held a closed-door meeting at the airport and later went straight to the exco chambers of the Government House.

“They were about to commence their business when they realised that they should have first of all paid a visit to the Executive Governor, Danbaba Suntai.

“After their visit to Suntai, Uzodinma said that the governor was hale and hearty and did not need to go to the market square for people to know that he was okay.

“But in what is now the most dubious thing to happen to democracy in Nigeria, Uzodinma announced a power-sharing arrangement whereby he gave the deputy governor the task of continuing to run the state, while Suntai remains as the ceremonial head.

“This is totally unconstitutional and designed to benefit Umar in his relentless quest to unseat his boss, Governor Suntai, who was democratically elected by the overwhelming Tarabians.

“It is obvious that Uzodinma was not interested in deep-seated solutions, but mercantile and narrow arrangement capable of leading to a breakdown of law and

order. He was clearly not interested in peaceful reconciliation based on party supremacy.

“We want to unequivocally state that the solution to the leadership crisis lies in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. This is the supreme document, which forms the basis of our common existence and as a nation and guarantees our democracy.

“It portends great danger if a sensitive Constitutional matter of this nature is handled with political manipulation or at whims and caprice of certain individuals and groups.

“We want to believe that there is an agenda beyond our lenses, otherwise other state governors have been away on medical grounds for even longer periods to unknown destinations yet no issues were raised.

‘Due process ignored’

“We viciously reject the verdict of Senator Hope Uzodinma team, assuming but not conceding that there was no court order against the Uzodinma team, the committee ought to have reported back to the party before

decisions are taken.

“We want to strongly call on our President Goodluck Jonathan, who himself has shown unprecedented maturity in handling similar situations in the past as deputy governor and Vice President, to use his wealth of experience and authority to ensure the matter is settled as provided by the Constitution.

“We also urge Tarabians and other Nigerians to disregard Senator Uzodinma Committee’s pronouncement on Taraba State as it lacks the power to do so.”

Signatories

Apart from Kunini, others who signed the document were, Charles Maijankai, Haruna Gbana, Abel Diah, Daniel Gani, Mark Useni, Charles Audu and Gambo Maikudi.

Lending his voice to the state lawmakers, a member of the National Assembly, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, and close ally of Suntai, said that it was wrong for the acting governor, Garba Umar to plan a ‘coup’ against his boss with a view to taking over from him through the backdoor.

Bwacha said Uzodinma’s visit

was stage-managed by Umar to enable him actualise his agenda of taking over from Suntai, when he was still alive and able to discharge his duties.

He noted that what Uzodinma did was wrong and unconstitutional and could, therefore, not stand as the position of the party.

‘What we want’

Bwacha said: “What we want is absolute adherence to the constitution and not a stage-managed decision to fit into a hidden agenda by Umar and his group against Suntai.”

It is not clear if Suntai was able to discuss with members of the team, who visited the state on Tuesday, as the visit was restricted to a secret location in his house.

The members later emerged and asked Umar to continue acting based on their assessment of the governor’s health condition.

It was learnt that while the governor was willing to step aside to take care of his health, desperate loyalists led by some close aides were urging him not to surrender his exalted position, as they were ready to rule by proxy, a development that PDP was opposed to.

US Senate backs strike on Syria

BY UDUMA KALU, with agency reports

T

HE Senate Foreign Rela tions Committee, yesterday, approved a resolution authorising a U.S. military response to chemical weapons use by Syria, sending the measure to

the full chamber for debate next week.

The vote was 10 to 7.

A new draft resolution was agreed by leaders of the Senate foreign relations committee after Secretary of State, John Kerry, pressed a forceful case for striking against the Assad regime.

Earlier, Barack Obama secured the backing of the Republican leadership at a key White House meeting.

The President headed for Europe on Tuesday night for what promised to be a testy meeting of the G-20 group of industrialised nations.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—9

WAEC exam cheats risk 5-yr jail term

BY BEN AGANDE

A

PANEL ON AGRIC: Mr. Bisi Onasanya, GMD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited (left) and Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, during a panel discussion on Growing Agriculture as a Business to Diversify Nigeria's Economy, at the ongoing Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja.

Power privatisation: Atedo Peterside's committee, BPE clash over procedures

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

T

HE Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, and its implementation arm, Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, are almost at daggers-drawn regarding procedures for the conclusion of processes for the just-concluded sale of 15 power assets.

Vanguard gathered that the two arms are quarrelling over the modalities for publicly conveying the end of transactions, upon expiration of the deadline for preferred bidders to pay the balance of 75 percent of their bid values on August 21.

A Presidency source told Vanguard in confidence that while the Atedo Peterside-led Committee wants to get on with laiddown procedures, by meeting and taking a decision on the transactions and possibly decide on the fate of bidders that could not meet the deadline, leadership of BPE is foot-dragging, thereby raising suspicions among members.

Defaulters get deadline extension

This development comes as Vanguard gathered that bid defaulters have till September 18, going by the rules of the engagement, or 20 working days after the expiration of the initial deadline to pay up.

At the close of work on August 21, 12 of the 14 bidders met the full obligations of the 75 percent of their bid value for the 15 companies unbundled from Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. While the CMEC/EUAFRIC Energy JV, preferred bidders for Sapele Power Plant, made partial payment, Interstate Electrics

Limited, for the Enugu Distribution Company, DISCo, could not pay due to foreign bank transfer issues.

While the Sapele plant had no reserved bidder, Enugu DISCo had been calling to be invited to take up Interstate’s bid.

However, NCP has not issued any such invitation, neither had BPE declared end of transaction process.

Terms of engagement

Although a newspaper report on Tuesday (not Vanguard) had claimed that BPE had given a 20day extension to Interstate, which reportedly had deposited about $12 million, the truth is that BPE had no such powers.

The 20 working days extension is embedded in the rules of the transactions approved by NCP for the sale of the 15 companies signed by all the bidders.

Section 2.5.0, entitled Default Prior to Completion of Bid, in the Request for Proposals, cited by Vanguard, read in part: “The vendors shall not be obliged to complete this Agreement unless the Purchaser complies with Clause 2.3.

“The Purchaser shall not be obliged to complete this Agreement with Clause 2.2 if the completion does not take place on the date referred to in, or as otherwise agreed by the Parties in accordance with Clause 2.1, as a result of a failure by a party to fully comply with its obligations in this Clause 2.

“The Purchaser (in the case of non-compliance by the Vendor) or the Vendors (in the case of noncompliance by the Purchaser) shall be entitled by the written notice to Vendors, or as the case may be, the Purchaser served on such date.”

Section 2.5.1: “To effect comple-

tion so far as practicable, having regard to the defaults which have occurred (without prejudice to the obligations of noncompliant Party.”

2.5.2: “To fix a new date for completion (no more than twenty (20) Business Days after the agreed date for completion) in which case the foregoing provisions of this Clause 2 shall apply to Completion as so deferred, but provided such deferral may occur only once.”

Accordingly, NCP will be compelled to invite the reserved bidders upon the expiration of the extended deadline to take up Enugu DISCo if Interstate failed again.

But it is not immediately clear what will become of the Sapele Power Plant, which has no reserved bidder, if CMEC Group also fails to meet the deadline.

Peterside’s letter

Based on the reluctance of BPE to agree to a meeting of the Technical Committee, of which it is also a member, its Chairman, Mr. Atedo Peterside, had written to the 22 members complaining of BPE’s DirectorGeneral’s attitude.

A copy of the letter to members, obtained by Vanguard from a source, explained why the committee had not been able to meet “to consider and deliberate upon updates on PHCN’s privatisation.”

The letter is entitled Re: Update on PHCN Privatisation – Inability to Convene a Meeting of the Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation – ‘Confidential’.

It read in part: “The reason we are unable to meet is because the DG of BPE, who controls the BPE’s budget and therefore releases funds to

pay for hotel bills and sitting allowances, has ‘surreptitiously’ vetoed all my efforts to convene a meeting of our Technical Committee of recent.

‘I got a text message’

“His latest ploy was to copy me a text he purportedly sent to the Vice President, requesting approval for our Committee to be allowed to meet and refusing to give me any feedback even after I gave him (the DG) 24 hours within which to revert to me.

“He did not reply my e-mail and did not even bother to explain why he did not reply.

“As you are all aware, the Technical Committee serves as an advisory/due process ‘watchdog’ over BPE and we are accountable to NCP. “Accordingly, I find the DG’s surreptitious attempt to keep us ‘in the dark’ objectionable in the extreme. I do not believe for one second that the DG is acting on instructions from above.”

BUJA—CANDIDATES who cheat during examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, now risk a five-year jail term under an amendment to the 2004 WAEC Act being proposed by Federal Government.

Under the proposed amendment, examination malpractice will fetch five year jail term for offenders or the option of N200,000 fine or both.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa'i, said the 2004 Act, to which an amendment is being sought, stated that WAEC is empowered to take disciplinary action against those that have committed both the offences and penalties for illegally using examination papers and leakage of examination papers, etc.

The section reads in part: “Such candidate shall not take or be allowed to take or continue the examination.

“In addition, he shall be prohibited from taking any examination held or conducted by or on behalf of the Council for a period of two years immediately following upon such contraventions.

“And if a candidate aforesaid has already taken any papers at the examination, his result therefrom shall be cancelled.”

In addition, the candidate may be prosecuted and if found guilty shall be “liable on conviction to a fine of N2,000 or imprisonment for a term of five years or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

FG should curtail rising crude oil theft — Makinde

BY DAPO AKINREFON

A

SWEARING-IN: From left, Commissioner for Finance, Yele Ogundipe, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), and the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, at the swearing-in of two new commissioners, in Akure.

Private doctors hold workshop on better healthcare

Customs seals up SAHCOL, NAHCo for unwholesome practices

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

P

RIVATE MEDICAL doctors will today, in Lagos, commence a two-day capacity workshop to canvass the private health sector towards a better healthcare system in the state.

Lagos State Chapter of Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, said, yesterday, that it had mapped out strategies to discourage or reduce the level of medical tourism outside Nigeria.

At a briefing to herald its conference from September 5 - 6, 2013, the association chairman, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo, called for cooperation among healthcare professionals in the private and public health sector.

According to him: “There is urgent need to discourage Nigerians from foreign medical tourism as a strategy to developing local healthcare system.

“Nigerians should also begin to look inwards for their quality healthcare needs.

“Our target with focus is to introduce quality healthcare delivery to our teeming population and make it possible to get value for healthcare expenditure.

“The issues of availability, affordability, accessibility, acceptability, all form the fulcrum of good health system in the 21st century.”

MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Ife Federal Constituency, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, has expressed concerns over the spate of oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country, urging the Federal Government to adopt a home-grown tactics to curb the menace.

At briefing in Lagos, Makinde lamented that

L

AGOS — COMPTROLLER -GENERAL of Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, yesterday, ordered the closure of two cargo warehouses operated by Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, and the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company, NAHCo, Plc at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos for alleged unwholesome practices including illegal clearing of goods and non-remittance of appropriate revenue to the service.

The Comptroller-General was said to have ordered full scale investigation into the unethical and fraudulent practices with a view to bringing

those directly and indirectly involved to book.

Vanguard gathered that Federal Operations Unit, FOU, of Customs, which sealed up the two warehouses, yesterday, returned to the warehouses to begin detailed investigation which an insider said must have denied government very huge sums of money.

Speaking on the closure through the Customs Public Relations Officer, Airport Command, Thelma Williams, Abdullahi said the service approved closure of the two warehouses after series of meetings with key players in the aviation warehouse business failed to yield positive results.

He lamented that improper documentation on the part of ground handlers had led to massive revenue loss for the government, which he said the service would seek to address before reopening the warehouses.

According to the C-G, inability to explain exit of goods from the warehouse without proper documentation, inability to produce Customs’ release documentation and evidence of payment of import duty and other statutory charges by the companies, are some of the reasons for the closure of the warehouses.

However, spokesman of NAHCo, Mr. Sanya Onayoade, in a statement, said: “This is to inform our stakeholders, especially our esteemed customers, that the Nigeria Customs Service has temporarily closed the Customs bonded warehouse at the NAHCo Complex to enable a sanitisation exercise that will ultimately improve service delivery and block all revenue leakages.”

Fraud: Ajudua battles EFCC on fresh bail application

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

LAGOS — MR.Fred Ajudua, who was remanded by an order of Justice Joseph Oyewole of an Ikeja High court, yesterday, argued a fresh bail application before Justice Gafaru Safari on medical ground.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, prosecuting him, vehemently opposed the application, saying granting him bail would further delay his trial.

In the fresh bail application argued before the vacation judge, Ajudua’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, said there were fresh facts which emerged after his client was denied bail by Justice Oyewole.

an estimated 400,000 barrels per day, translating to about 20 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil output, was being lost to the illicit activities of vandals and thieves.

He said: “Sadly, the activities of oil thieves,which hamper the amount of barrels of oil available for export and the insufficient investments in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, have remained major impediment to our economic growth and it appears that the government is indifferent.”

Makinde, a member of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, Committee, expressed doubts about the current security arrangements for petroleum products pipeline in the country

CIA blames Nigeria’s woes on misrule

C

HARTERED INSTITUTE of Administration, CIA, has blamed Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political woes on mis-rule from bad administrators, who find themselves in government offices unprepared.

President/Chairman of CIA, Goddy Idaminabo, who spoke at 25th induction of members into associates, full and fellow memberships, in Lagos, suggested that only tested and seasoned administrators should be elected into leadership positions or allowed to run the affairs the country.

According to him: “We are looking forward to a situation where anybody who wants to contest as president, governor, chairman or even councillor, must past through a system where they can be taken through the rudiment of administration “Then they can come into contact with knowledgeable men and women, including resources that they can learn from.

“We are ready to partner with the present government through impartation of modern day administrative techniques.”

Vanguard THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—11

Indian doctors separate Nigeria’s conjoined twins I

NDIAN DOCTORS declared, yesterday, that a pair of formerly conjoined twins, born in Nigeria, were healthy after they were successfully separated in a marathon “nerve-wracking” operation in India by a team of 40

specialists.

The one-year-old girls, sporting matching bright pink dresses, sat patiently on their parents’ laps as doctors explained the separation that lasted 18 hours at a New Delhi hospital.

“They were fused at their back when they came to us, which is very rare,” paediatric surgeon, Prashant Jain told AFP. “Usually, twins are joined in the head or the upper body. It posed a huge challenge to

DECORATION: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, receiving a Certificate of Honour as Special Ambassador of the Bible Society of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, from the Chairman of the body, Pastor Peter Adewunmi, during his decoration at the Governor's Office, in Abeokuta. With them is a National Board member of the Society, Pastor Emmanuel Ademuyiwa.

our team of doctors,” Jain said.

Doctors held the media conference in New Delhi as the twins, Hussaina and Hassana, sat happily, grabbing at a mobile phone, clutching a rattle and trying to pull off their mother ’s earrings.

Malama Badariyya Badaru, the mother of the twins, said she was overjoyed at finally being able to hold the girls in her arms “individually.”

The girls, sporting hair bands of different colours to make recognition easier, looked curiously at the cameras during the conference at the BLK Super Speciality hospital.

“It was all nerve-wracking work. But it feels great to see them happy, healthy and independent,” Jain said.

The single surgery was carried out in three stages, preparation, separation and then reconstruction of their shared organs which included the lower spine, lower intestinal and urinary tracts as well as genitals.

Aregbesola to pay Osun workers rural allowance

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO — GOV ERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, has said the state will soon introduce rural posting allowance to encourage its public servants to serve in rural areas with commitment.

The governor spoke, yesterday, at the second edition of an interactive public feed-back programme tagged, “Gbangbadekun” at Baptist Day School, Oke Ejigbo, Ila-Orangun.

He said the allowance, 25 per cent of their basic salary, would be paid to workers from grade level 12 that wanted promotion and must pass through the rural areas for at least three years.

SYF flays govs’ walk-out

on Jonathan

FG disburses N5bn to 56,500 women under CCT scheme

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO EKITI — FEDERAL Government has disbursed N5 billion to 56,500 vulnerable women under the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, scheme.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, during the National Launch of the CCT scheme, the Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDs) to the President, Dr Precious Gbeneol ,said the beneficiaries were drawn from 24 states of the Federation .

According to her, all the beneficiaries of the scheme would be entitled to a monthly stipend of N5,000 for 12 months, after which they would be given N100, 000, noting that “beneficiaries are expected to invest in agriculture or finance the education of their children or look after their health needs.”

The SSA disclosed that N370 million will be disbursed to carefully selected 2,250 poor women in Ekiti, drawn from five local government areas.

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — YOUTHS from 17 southern states, yesterday, condemned the manner some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors walked out on President Goodluck Jonathan during the party’s convention in Abuja, last weekend.

Under the aegis of Southern Youths Forum, SYF, the group led by Mr. Odeyemi Oladimeji, claimed the “the walkout staged by these aggrieved party members when Mr. President was seated in the same venue is a total disrespect to the office of Mr. President” who happens to be the leader of the party.

At a briefing in Ibadan, SYF said the walk-out was nothing but political rascality.

Govs Amosu, Aregbesola, Fashola expected at Redeemers varsity convocation

BY IKENNA ASOMBA & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

G

OVERNORS IBIKUNLE Amosun, Rauf Aregbesola and Babatunde Fashola of Ogun, Osun and Lagos states, are among dignitaries expected at the 5th Convocation of Redeemer ’s University (RU), Mowe,

Ogun State on September 13, 2013.

Also expected are Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, Visitor/General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, among others.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Ozekhome: Abductors reduce ransom to N100m ...as brother commiserates with families of slain police officers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE bandits who abducted human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Athanasius Ugbome, have reduced their ransom to N100 million and N40 million respectively, sources told Vanguard.

The kidnappers had earlier demanded N150 million as ransom for Ozekhome and N100 million for Ugbome.

Condolence

Meanwhile, as the Iviukwe community in Agenebode, Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State continues to fast and pray for the release of Ozekhome, who was abducted about two weeks ago on the Benin /Auchi highway, his elder brother, Chief Pius Ozekhome, has commiserated with families of the four policemen who lost their lives while trying to rescue his brother and others abducted

with him.

He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the policemen and appealed to the Federal Government to do all within its powers to take care of families of the departed officers just as he asked the Almighty God to touch the conscience of those still holding his brother and others to release them to their loved ones unhurt.

Protest by civil society groups

Meantime, civil society groups in Edo State, under the aegis of Conference of NonGovernmental Organisations, CONGOS, protested on the streets of Benin City, yesterday, calling for the unconditional release of Ozekhome, who, according to them, was a member of Board of CONGOS, and four other persons believed to have been kidnapped on the Benin-Ehor Road penultimate Friday.

The placard carrying protesters, led by the President of CONGOS, Jude Obasanmi, urged the Federal Govern-

ment to urgently declare a state of emergency on security and youth employment.

The protesters, who were received at the secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, by the secretary of the union, Mr. Titus Akhigbe, opined that making kidnapping a capital offence that should attract death penalty was not the solution but that government should spend time and resources to ensure that security outfits were equipped to do their jobs.

Meanwhile, the leader of Iviukwe community youths, Mr. Emmanuel Ujah, said: “We are still mourning, fasting and praying and the entire community is in suspense as nothing had been heard about Ozekhome for almost two weeks and he is nowhere to be found. Whether the government is doing anything about his release, we cannot say.”

Etsako Youths League, which appealed to the kidnappers to release their kinsmen unconditionally, in a statement, yesterday, by Mr.

Roland Igbadumhe, urged the state government to take steps to stem the upsurge of kidnapping in the state, saying that it had assumed a frightening dimension.

The ace comedian, who hails from the same community with Ozekhome, while expressing concern over the plight of his kinsmen, regretted that Ozekhome, a Nigeri-

an noted for championing the cause of the common man, could be kidnapped.

“I am appealing to the state government to urgently do something drastic to arrest kidnapping in the state.

Ozekhome is a voice of the voiceless. I urge the security agencies to do all within their powers to ensure his immediate release,” he said.

....As Edo professionals condemn kidnap

BY GBENGA OKE

A

SSOCIATION of Edo Professionals, yesterday, condemned the kidnap of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, just as it appealed to the kidnappers for his immediate release.

The group also said that the lingering strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, was sad and worrisome.

In a statement by a member of the Board of Trustees of the group, Mr. Victor Osarenren, he said it was high time government provided gainful and respectable jobs for the youths.

He said: “The issue of kidnapping has assumed very frightening and disturbing dimensions in Edo State and Nigeria and this brings to the fore, the issue of glaring moral deficit in our society.”

VISIT: Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo (middle); Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard Newspapers (2nd right), with Mr. Keyamo’s team during a visit to Vanguard Newspapers, yesterday. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

Leave Amaechi alone, activist urges Clark

A

LABOUR and political activist in Rivers State, Mr. James Kobah, has called on Ijaw leader and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, to leave Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, alone, and refrain from witchhunting him.

Kobah, who bemoaned the political travails of Governor Amaechi, accused the Ijaw leader of misleading President Goodluck Jonathan in the current political crisis in the country.

He alleged that Chief Clark did not show political wisdom when he re-

C M Y K

cently called for the expulsion of Governor Amaechi from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for alleged anti-party activities.

Kobah, who addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt, said: “Chief Clark says he has a new wife at 84. He should rest at home and manage his new wife. He should rest at home and enjoy his new wife since he has nothing to offer Mr President. We are not happy over what is going on now in the state, especially when people like Chief Clark are involved in misleading Mr Presi-

dent. We want to ask him to leave Amaechi and Rivers State alone. He can continue to deceive Mr President if Mr President decides to accept his advice. There is a crisis of this magnitude in which people, governors, national and state Assembly members are pulling out of PDP and he’s still there deceiving Mr. President.

“When Amaechi became governor of this state, yes, most of us anticipated that he would have problems with some people because of his philosophy and ideology.”

Vanguar THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—13

Don’t destroy varsity system, PFN warns ASUU, FG

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—PENTECOSTAL Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has expressed worries over the prolonged strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and urged the Federal Government to hasten peace moves in the interest of Nigerian students.

PFN, in a statement by its National President, Rev. Felix Omobude, in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, acknowledged the alleged failure of the Federal Government to honour the agreement reached with ASUU in 2009, and appealed to parties to find urgent solution to the problem so as not to destroy the university system.

He said: “While PFN salutes the spartan courage of the leadership of ASUU for its positive position on the urgent need to revamp and reposition the education sector, PFN is of the strong view that the need has arisen to bring into sharp focus, the crushing brunt the country is now being made to bear for the continued closure of the universities.

“PFN appeals to ASUU not to throw away the baby with its bath water but should return to class as soon as pos-

sible in the interest of parents, students and indeed, the country.”

It urged the Federal Government to treasure the integrity that goes with honouring agreements by implementing the said agreement with ASUU with candour and greater commitment as that will reposition and service the education sector on continuous basis, instead of waiting to be stampeded into ac-

tion by strikes.

PFN called on “the three tiers of government to urgently address the issues of insecurity and unemployment currently posing serious threat to millions of Nigerians. We urge government at all levels to, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of unemployment in the country with particular emphasis on youth restiveness.”

Group urges Delta to hold LG polls

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—FORUM for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, has called for the conduct of credible local government elections in Delta State, as the current situation where caretaker committees are in-charge, denies the people of true representation at the grassroots.

The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, said: “We call on the Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to immediately democratise the 25 local government areas in the state in accordance with Section 7 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

FJHD said: “The people at the grassroots have consistently been robbed of true representation at the councils to their detriment because of this contraption, and for the umpteenth time, we demand the conduct of credible council elections in the state.

“Furthermore, we also call on the National Assembly to pass into law, the bill for the autonomy of local governments nationwide as a way of galvanising infrastructural development at the grassroots.”

The group also urged the state government “to observe strictly the provisions of Section 4, subsections 4 and 5 of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Terrorism Law.”

Okumagba joins Abbey Building Society board

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R. Bernard Okumagba, former Delta State Commissioner for Finance, has joined the board of Abbey Building Society Plc, a mortgage bank, as non-executive director. A statement from the company said the board of the mortgage bank approved the appointment on August 22, 2013. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Mr. Okumagba holds a BSc degree in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria in 1987. He is also a qualified chartered accountant and an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN. He worked in several banks from 1991 to 2007.

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His banking career commenced in Oceanic Bank Plc, where he served from 1991 to 1994, working in both the Financial Control/Strategy as well as the Corporate Banking Divisions. Thereafter, he worked in Crystal Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, First Atlantic Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, from 1994 to 2007. He held various positions at these banks including Senior Manager, Corporate Banking Division, Head of Internal Control/Audit Division, Chief Inspector and Principal Manager, Consumer and Commercial Banking Division among others.

He left UBA in August 2007 following his appointment as Delta State Commissioner for Eco-

nomic Planning. He served from August 2007 to November 2010 and was subsequently appointed Commissioner for Finance and served from November 2010 to May 2011. Mr. Okumagba was reappointed Delta State Commissioner for Finance in July 2011 and held this position until July 2013. He is also currently Chairman of Regents Consults Limited and Noly Insurance Brokers Limited.

Mr. Bernard Okumagba

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Nekede Poly suspends dons over alleged extortion, sexual harassment

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THE Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, has suspended some heads of department and lecturers for alleged involvement in either exploitation or sexual harassment of students.

The institution’s Registrar, Mr. Matthew Aligbe, made the disclosure while addressing students at the All Saints Catholic Chaplaincy in the polytechnic.

He said: “Management has suspended some heads of department and lecturers involved in either exploitation or sexual harassment of students. We have done that and will continue to do it.”

Delivering the rector’s message, the Deputy Rector, Mrs. F. Eleke, condemned exploitation of students by lecturers and warned that any lecturer caught in the act would henceforth be summarily dismissed.

Loloanyi Ugwu, 115 years, passes on

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NE of the oldest women leaders in Nsukka zone, Enugu State, Loloanyi Veronica Ugwu, has passed on at the ripe age of 115.

Burial arrangement begins today with a Christian wake keep at her residence in Amasakoba village, Obimo, while interment follows tomorrow after a requiem mass.

She is survived by children, great grandchildren, in-laws, brothers, sisters, including Benson Eze, an Abujabased business man.

zLate Loloanyi Ugwu

Imo's abortion law still in force despite Okorocha's apology — CLERIC

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—DESPITE Governor Rochas Okorocha’s recant on the Imo State’s abortion law, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, said yesterday, that the campaign against the legislation was not yet over, noting that the Gender and Equal Opportunity Law signed by Chief Achike Udenwa in 2007 was still in force.

Obinna made his view known while reacting to Okorocha’s public apology and the executive bill he forwarded to the legislature for amendment of the controversial abortion law he signed on May 29, 2011.

Archbishop Obinna said: “Nobody should be fooled by what the governor did last Tuesday. Imo State is still under the firm grip of the abortion law signed by Chief Achike Udenwa in 2007.”

Section 18 (e) of Law No. 7 of 2007 read: “Medical termination in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the continued pregnancy endangers the health of the mother or the married girl child on the advice of a medical doctor”.

While noting other vexatious sections in the laws signed by both Udenwa and Okorocha, the Archbishop also opined that the best thing to do about a bad law was to repeal it completely.

Chairman, Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, ACMPN, Dr. Phillip Njemanze, described Okorocha’s

Chime donates vehicles to DSS

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU— AS part of providing essential support to security agencies in Enugu State, Governor Sullivan Chime, yesterday, handed over three brand new KIA saloon cars and three Hilux patrol vans to the state command of the Department of State Services , DSS. Governor Chime, who was represented by Special Adviser on Security, Mr Richard Chime, said the vehicles were intended to assist the command and enhance operational efficiency.

He noted that security would be hard to obtain without effective intelligence gathering mechanism, saying he hoped the vehicles would support the efforts of the DSS in this regard.

Chime added that the government would continue to pay attention to security matters to ensure that the state remained a safe and secure place for both social and business activities to thrive.

move as “deceptive”.

He said the abortion law in the state remained in force, even with the repeal of Law 12 of 2011, despite the apology tendered by Governor Okorocha and the House of Assembly’s Deputy Speaker, Mr. Do-

natus Ozoemena.

He argued that pregnancy was not a disease which, under the circumstances, would have to be terminated to regain health.

Njemanze also stressed that Law number 7 failed to define

what it meant by “health”, adding that “even headache could be assessed as a threat, hence this law provides for legalization of abortion at any time during the nine months of pregnancy under the term, medical termination.

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (right), making appeal to the State House of Assembly members over the abortion law.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—15

DANGOTE GROUP SIGNS $3.3 BILLION PETROCHEMICAL DEAL

President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd right) flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo; Vice President Dangote Group, Hajiya Halima Dangote while President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (right); Chairman Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola (left); MD Access Bank Plc., Mr. Aigboje AigImokhuede (2nd left) and others, during a courtesy visit to President Jonathan after signing a $3.3 billion petrochemical agreement at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Pix: Abayomi Adeshida.

Vice President Namadi Sambo flanked by President Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, MD GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Minister of State Finance, Yerima Ngama (right); CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed and MD, GTBank Plc, Segun Agbaje.

From left: Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and Managing Director, GTBank Plc, Segun Agbaje, at the signing of $9 billion debt financing for the Dangote Refinery Complex located at Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ondo State, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in Abuja, yesterday.

From left: Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Managing Director, GTBank Plc, Segun Agbaje, CEO West Africa Standard Chartered Bank, Anil Dua, Vice President, Namadi Sambo, and CEO/President Dangote Group Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

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President Goodluck Jonathan welcoming the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Vice President Dangote Group, Hajiya Halima Dangote. Others are President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (2nd right); and MD GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje (right); Chairman Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola (2nd left); MD Access Bank Plc., Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede (3rd left) and others.

From left: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Segun Agbaje, CEO West Africa Standard Chartered Bank, Anil Dua; Vice President, Namadi Sambo, and CEO/President Dangote Group Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

From left: MD/CEO, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje; Regional Head, Origination & Client Coverage Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Anil Dua; Vice President Namadi Sambo and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Dangote signs $9bn deal to build oil refinery, petrochemical complex

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA

BEREAU CHIEF & BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—THE Dangote Group yesterday made history by signing of a combined $ 9.05 billion facility agreement with a consortium of local banks and international investors for the establishment of a refinery, and petrochemicals cum fertilizer complex in Nigeria.

Agreement

Under the agreement signed at a crowded ceremony in Abuja, a $ 3.3 billion medium term loan will come from local banks and international finance organizations; $2. 25 billion from the Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, and Dangote’s equity contribution of $3.50 billion.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also made a contribution of N50 billion with interest rate of 7 per cent to be repaid in 15 years.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, described the complex to be located at the OKLNG Free Trade Zone, between Ogun and Ondo states, as the largest industrial complex in Nigeria’s history and that he embarked on the project as a demonstration of his confidence in the Nigerian economy.

His words: “As an investor who believes in Nigeria, knows Nigeria well and whose prosperity was made in Nigeria, we have responded to the challenge with our decision to invest $9 billion in a refinery/petrochemical and fertilizer complex to be located at the OK-LNG Free Trade Zone.

This complex will be the largest industrial complex project ever in the history of our great nation.”

Lauds Jonathan

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country, saying “We are happy to inform your excellences that because of the improvement in the enabling environment for investment created during this

present government’s tenure we have had excellent response from the international finance organizations and today we are here to sign the agreement for the medium term loan of $ 3.3 billion.”

Dangote said the project had effectively taken off, with the award of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, contract to Saipem of Italy for the fertilizer plant, noting that the Basic Engineering Design and optimization for the refinery had also been awarded.

When completed, the chairman said, the fertilizer plant would produce 2.75 metric tons per annum of Urea and Ammonia; while the refinery would process 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

We ‘ll produce high grade petrol —Dangote

He said the refinery would produce a higher grade of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, compared to imported ones, saying “in addition to high grade petrol, the refinery will produce: diesel, aviation fuel, household kerosene, slurry as raw material for carbon black, as well as 650,000 metric tons of polypropylene per annum. Our mission is to through industrialization, reverse the historical trend of the export of foreign exchange and jobs and replace it with foreign exchange conservation and job creation.”

Dangote added that the recent discovery and development of the shale oil and gas in “our traditional markets has further stressed the urgent need for us to diversify our economy on a fast track to avoid a reversal of the current steady improvement in all indices of economic performance.”

FG’s transformation agenda working—Sambo

Speaking, Vice President Namadi Sambo, called on other rich Nigerians to emulate Dangote who had invested in several sectors of the Nigerian economy as a demonstration of its confidence in the Nigerian economy.

Sambo said: “Let me use this medium to call on other prospec-

tive investors to take a que from the Dangoste group by seizing the opportunities offered by our various investment incentives; our economic policies, adequate market size, vast natural resources, arable land, labour capital and friendly environment to invest massively in Nigeria. We remain the number one investment destination in Africa and indeed all over the world. We are resolute in our effort to offer all the necessary support and encouragement for the private sector to thrive. The transformation agenda and the Vision 20:2020 cannot be actualized without the active participation of the private sector.

“The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has made significant inroads in the creation of the enabling environment for private sector investment. This ceremony underscores and it is indeed a testimony of the positive mark our policy measures and directives are making in stimulating private sector investment both from within and outside our country.”

The vice president said that the Dangote complex would go a long way to reduce products costs , increase industrialization and improve the general well-being of the people, particularly farmers who had been yearning for fertiliser to boost outputs.

He said with the coming on stream of the refinery and the petrochemical plant, “Nigeria will reclaim its place of pride as one of the largest exporters of fertilizer, refined products and other petrochemical products, to consolidate on its efforts in ensuring the rapid development and the contribution of Africa to the global economy.”

CBN to subsidise refineries

The CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who announced that the N50 billion cheap loan had been made available to Dangote for the complex, said that the institution was prepared to support the real sector of the economy by providing subsidies to create wealth across various sectors.

He said that the complex deal was made possible through “the culmination of the results of the various reforms that the CBN carried out under Professor Charles Soludo and himself to strengthen Nigerian banks to make them big enough to finance mega projects.

Sanusi addede that the the facility was ”a demonstration that Nigerian banks are lending to the real sectors of the economy”, adding, “lending to

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PRESENTATION: Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh (left) and Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sidi, during the presentation of relief materials to flood victims in Bauchi, yesterday. the agricultural sector has jumped by about 600 per cent since 1999.”

Petroleum Minister speaks

On her part, Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke expressed satisfaction with Dangote’s decision to establish one of the largest private refineries in the country and called on other investors to move into the sector as “Nigeria has the capacity to take more of these.”

In the same vein, the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Nigeria, Ms Bola Adesola, said: “Standard Chartered is proud to support the Dangote Group in a project which will significantly boost Nigeria’s economic productivity and create valuable jobs with specialist skills from key growth sectors. This project is an historic example of self-empowerment and leadership for the continent as a whole – and is made possible through effective partnerships between the Nigerian private sector, Government and international financial institutions.”

Largest syndication by banks —Agbaje

The Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Segun Agbaje said: “This is the largest syndication by Banks in Nigeria and it is being undertaken with the knowledge that the successful implementation of Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer project will have far reaching implications for Nigeria’s economic growth.”

Other participating banks are Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc. First Bank Nigeria Limited, Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, UBA Plc, FirstRand Bank, First City Monument Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc.

Jonathan lauds Dangote Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan pledged that his administration will continue to implement policies that will

continuously improve the operating environment for entrepreneurs and investors in the Nigerian economy.

Speaking at an audience with the President of the Dangote Group and leading Nigerian investors and bankers, President Jonathan said that his administration was fully committed to progressively removing all impediments to investment in Nigeria such as inadequate infrastructure and unsteady power supply.

The President lauded plans by Dangote Group to build Africa’s largest refinery, petro-chemicals and fertilizer manufacturing complex in Nigeria and thanked the consortium of banks who are providing a $3.3 billion credit facility for the project.

According to him, “we are pleased that you are now investing in refining, petro-chemicals and fertilizer production. It is the downstream sector of oil and gas that can really create many jobs.

Your interest and investment in that area will help in the area of job creation which we had been emphasizing.”

Alhaji Dangote who led the team from his company, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and Nigeria’s leading banks had earlier told the President that they were at the Presidential Villa to thank him for his administration’s policies which have greatly encouraged further investments in Nigeria.

Alhaji Dangote was accompanied by Chief Executives of participating banks including First Bank of Nigeria, UBA, StanbicIBTC, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Rand Merchant Bank.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Alhaji Dangote reiterated that Nigeria’s current fuel importation would end by 2016 when the proposed Dangote Petrochemical project come on stream AlhajiDangotesaidtheprojectwould create about 85,000 jobs for Nigerians at the initial stage and 8,000 engineers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013— 17

T

PDP implodes like an old NEPA transformer

,

“Hi Di Hi nga atstohuwar transhomar Nehwa dai ta kai.

In tai tirihin sai a mayassuwa, in tassake kuma a zaka mayassuwa har ta gaji tai bindings baaammmmm!”

(Roughly translated from a mischievous presentation of Sokoto Hausa dialect: “THIS PDP IS LIKE AN OLD NEPA TRANSFORMER. IT WILL TRIP AND SOMEONE WILL GO FIX IT UP, IF IT TRIPS AGAIN SOMEONE WILL GO BACK AND FIX IT UP UNTIL IT GETS TIRED AND IMPLODES BAAAMMMMM!” Taken from a friend’s contribution to an online forum.

HIS is the time that Nigerian politics could have done with the flowery language of the late Dr. Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, one of the most colourful characters to walk the minefield of Nigerian politics.

If we attempt a post-humous reading of his fertile imagination, the earth-shaking event of last weekend, with the walk out of seven governors, and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, from the PDP convention in Abuja, would certainly have elicited an absolutely quotable line for posterity! Okay, the venerable old man died a long time ago, but one of his pithy statements might have anticipated things, and would just have conveyed the colour of last Saturday ’s event: “when the come comes to become”! Well, the “come came to become” and it unfurled before the Nigerian people, thanks to live television which, ironically, had been set up to give a contrary impression.

NTA’s live coverage was to underline the legitimacy of the process while presenting the “family-like unity-of purpose”, so central to PDP’s narrative since 1999.

Like soap bubble, the charade exploded in their faces, much to the utter embarrassment of the denizens of the party. Not even Jerry Gana’s “House Nigger” smiles and ubiquitous groveling display of servitude could prettify the gaping crater, deep enough to consume the entire vote-rigging contraption.

The PDP is in utter disarray!

I spoke with a very close

The PDP is a basket of scorpions, stinging themselves to death. But access to power and lucre made it imperative to ensure that lethal doses of poison do not take root so as not to end that much coveted access permanently

confidant of top-most leaders of the party on Tuesday evening and he was brutally frank about the situation. “These people studied us very carefully and they struck when it hurts most”, my interlocutor told me.

Unfortunately, he added, we do not have people in leadership, with knowledge and wisdom.

Even the fixer-in-chief, Tony Anenih, appeared shellshocked on television on Monday morning when he read a meaningless two or three line statement to the media, that a meeting held and it would continue. Those who made a career of mischief, intrigue and are past masters of cloak-anddagger, were beaten to their game. Stories emerging in the media, say that “New PDP” wrong-footed the old PDP assembled at Eagle Square, because security reports hadn’t foretold what happened. The riposte of a parallel

,

presentation of an alternative leadership was so well choreographed, that those assembled around President Jonathan, who were already strutting triumphantly, deluded they had clipped wings of the

Prof. Jerry Gana dissenting governors fatally, found to their chagrin, that PDP’s implosion truly resembles the proverbial old NEPA transformer indeed!

Let us be clear about a few

Bamanga

Tukur

basic points here. The PDP operates from a premise that elections can be securely and successfully rigged, when its governors control the levers of power in states. The governors that pulled out, in the majority, are from states with large number of voters: Kano, Sokoto, Rivers and Jigawa, for example.

The emergence of “New PDP” narrows very dangerously, President Jonathan’s base of support in 2015 and this is a self-inflicted humiliation, arising from the desperate effort to seize initiative in the lead to that landmark election. There is the earlier emergence of the APC, which continues to consolidate its place in the consciousness of the Nigerian people as a potentially viable alternative to the PDP behemoth. The sweep of the APC already takes in the Southwest; a part of the SouthSouth and some states in the North. As things stand today,

Governor Kashim @ 47 L

AST Monday, September 2nd, 2013, Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima clocked 47 years. I read that he had vigorously declined an offer by some friends to organize a birthday party for him in Abuja. I was not surprised that Kashim declined, because it just isn’t in his character! I have known Kashim Shettima long enough to say, that he is one of the outstanding individuals in Nigerian political leadership today. Many of his peers who met him in the course of the politics which culminated in the formation of the APC, such as Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti state governor, have very good things impressions about Kashim’s intellectual capability and genuine devotion to the cause of Borno state and Nigeria’s progress.

Kashim is a very passionate individual whose modesty and sincerity mask his deep intellect and a genuine love for scholarship. He reads avidly and follows intellectual trends

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passionately and over the years, he amazes me, with his down-to-earth, humane qualities.

Kashim was manager of the Maiduguri branch of Zenith Bank, when my wife was transferred there in 2002; she resumed with our very young second child. Kashim made her stay comfortable, arranging food delivery everyday from his own house at the bank’s

guests’ house where my family had lodged. The fact that she was the wife of a journalist he had read avidly over the years, was a coincidence he appreciated so much. We became family friends ever since. When I saw the trajectory of responsibilities that he was assigned in the Ali Modu Sherriff’s administration: Finance and Economic Development; Local

Jerry Gana, Suntai and the Taraba charade

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ERRY GANA is unlikely to be absent in political, ethnoreligious/regional controversies. When he became the chief orchestra conductor besides Danbaba Suntai at the Abuja airport the other day, it was clear that mischief was in its elements. The Geography professor from Niger State and arguably Nigeria’s number one AGIP (Any Government In Power), declared with professorial surety that Suntai was capable of returning to power. The days since have been anything but edifying in Taraba state. Jerry Gana moved on, organizing the convention which led to PDP’s implosion! That is the man and his nature. How Jerry Gana sleeps well at night with his conscience, or what he tells his grandchildren of his place in the Nigerian loops of power and religion, must be interesting indeed!

Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Education; Agriculture and Health, it seemed he was highly trusted and was actually being prepared, almost inadvertently, for the position he now occupies as governor of Borno State. It is his fate to provide leadership in one of the most tragic phases in Borno’s history. And the fact that he has remained committed to development, peace-building and reconciliation, tell of his strength of character. I once told him that he has a historical precursor to inspire him: one of the greatest rulers of old Kanem-Borno, Mai Idris Alooma. Alooma was a superb administrator and organiser of a brilliant empire in one of the great periods of African history. Kashim Shettima is still a very young man, but he has demonstrated intellect, wisdom and statecraft enough, for us to comfortably predict that he will make definitive marks on the future of Nigeria.

Happy Birthday Governor Kashim Shettima.

President Jonathan’s PDP has narrowed dangerously to a South-South party, with presence in Benue and Plateau states in North Central Nigeria.

Even in the National Assembly, the Jonathan PDP is becoming a minority. While insults and insensitive statements by people like Chief EK Clarke, alienate more sections of the Nigerian society. In politics, as we all know, perception is everything. Unfortunately for President Jonathan, his presidency is perceived to be very divisive and polarising; there is too much effort to manipulate the fault lines of ethnicity and religion, and the administration has narrowed in base, pandering ever more to elite preferences of the Niger Delta, including rehabilitated criminal elements who became modern-day Nigerian (or more appropriately, Niger Delta billionaires!). It is not good strategy to open so many battlefronts then expect to be victorious; the battle within the PDP was so badly handled because of the arrogant assumption that the Tony Anenihs, Jerry Ganas, EK Clarkes and Tukurs, will deploy time-tested cunning and ruthlessness to subdue dissenters within the party. But they miscalculated! There are too many endangered interests that the surprise would have been refusal to respond, as “New PDP” did!

The leading individuals in the “New PDP” have a serious dilemma which obliges towards the denouement we are witnessing today in Nigeria. It is very easy to pick on individuals, but together, they are formidable foes for Jonathan/Bamanga Tukur/Tony Anenih. In the long run, Jonathan might have to accept a most humiliating climb down, to ensure return of the “New PDP”. The contours of rapproachment are beginning to form. The most important issues for individuals like Bukola Saraki, who is very central to the new arrangement, are the termination of the EFCC’s investigation into his alleged corrupt practices in power and at Societe Generale bank as well as stay of action from efforts to seize party machinery from his grip in Kwara State. Such grievances can be extrapolated into other recesses of the “New PDP”. So for the sake of PDP’s bearhug on power and access to lucre, they are likely to rally around face-saving compromises in the long run. In truth, neither Jonathan’s PDP nor “New PDP” is concerned about genuine interests of the Nigerian people. We are witnesses to a manifestation of what the much-lamented Chief Sunday Awoniyi saw with clarity, a couple of years ago: the PDP is a basket of scorpions, stinging themselves to death. But access to power and lucre made it imperative to ensure that lethal doses of poison do not take root so as not to end that much coveted access permanently. The Sokoto analogy perfectly fits PDP’s politics that resembles a cheap, badly produced old American Western film.

The selfacclaimed ‘largest party in Africa’ is actually not better than an old NEPA transformer; it cannot serve the needs of modern Nigeria!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 IT is worrisome that Nigeria’s former capital and still its current economic capital, Lagos, is ranked the fourth most difficult city to live in the world. A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, a subsidiary of The Economist, ranked Lagos as 137th out of 140 cities polled.

Among cities in the bottom 10were Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tripoli (Libya) Harare (Zimbabwe) and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), the worst of the lot. Canadian cities do we want our people to live? The indices Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, and used in the cities’ survey are largely covered Australia’s Adelaide, Sydney, Perth and in the 15-year Millennium Development Melbourne were in the top 10 most liveable Goals, MDGs, which the United Nations cities on earth. launched in 2000. Nigeria largely ignored the Indices taken into account included initiative and is at the verge of not achieving stability, healthcare, culture, environment, any of the goals by 2015. education and infrastructure. Lagos is the Best indications that Nigeria participated in flagship metropolis in Nigeria, setting the the MDGs are many abandoned construction pace in most critical development areas due projects round the country that bear the to its history, geographical location and MDGs sign boards. residual federal infrastructure and The failure of the MDGs pulls more people institutions from its days as the political into Lagos. People seeking opportunities they capital of Nigeria. think exist in the city – the skilled, the The survey draws attention to Nigeria as a unskilled, and criminals – come in their country, not just Lagos State. What standards numbers. Everyone thinks there is something do we apply in developing our cities? How in Lagos for him. In such situations,

Lagos’s Poor Metro Ranking

developing infrastructure to meet the elastic needs of the city is more challenging.

The MDGs offered opportunities for Nigeria to wholesomely develop her peoples and places. The neglect of the MDGs meant that poverty kept growing without any effective initiatives to tackle it. With fewer cities offering the seeming opportunities in Lagos, it became more attractive and its infrastructure further suffered.

Again, since the relocation of the capital to Abuja in December 1992, maintenance of federal infrastructure in the city has been neglected. The impact on the city shows.

If Lagos is to be redeemed from this parlous situation, the state government must work at better partnerships, principally with the Federal Government, and the private sector to re-develop the city. It is important too that other States adopt similar initiatives to develop their principal cities, such that the choices available to Nigerians increase.

There are better reasons to develop Lagos, and other Nigerian cities, than global rankings – Nigerians deserve to live in healthy and sustainable environments.

OPINION

BY DADA AYOKHAI

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IFE, they say, begins from the cradle.

Born on Sunday, September 4, 1955, in Fugar, young Mike Oghiadomhe knew onset the uphill task ahead of him. While some would chicken out so early, the ‘giant genius’ in him woke up and nudged him on as he set out to conquer. Taking his late father’s advice, he dug out success out of personal struggles, hard work and determination.

Young Mike showed traits of exceptional brilliance and leadership at a tender age and became the darling of his teachers at both St. Theresa Primary School and St. John College in Fugar, his native land. He also participated and excelled in sporting activities and eventually passed out in flying colours as one of the most promising products of the school, a production now justified.

After a short stint at the famous Edo College, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate, H.Sc, a determined and restless young Oghiadomhe set off to the premier tertiary institution in Nigeria, University of Ibadan, and he left in 1978 clutching a second class upper honours degree in Agriculture, majoring in soil science.

Ibadan had its own influences too on this impressionable young man. Like his peers then, he did all sorts of things, both curricular and extra-curricular and, in the spirit of the high tempo student unionism of that era, he joined campus politics and along with other progressives they moved to uproot the dark force s which reigned in the ivory towers.

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Oghiadomhe @ 58 From Ibadan, he came back to his roots and settled at the University of Benin where he obtained an MBA degree in Business Administration in 1982, all in a bid to equip and fulfill his mission in life. Between 19791980, he worked as Research Officer in the defunct Bendel State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Still restless and seeking new adventures in life, young Oghiadomhe who, by now had matured and started shouldering family responsibilities, opted out of the drudgery of civil service for the fast-paced and target-driven life of the private sector.

He joined Freedom Development Ltd, Benin and rose rapidly to become its vice president. Thereafter, he went solo and founded Enterprise Foundation Ltd, a solid mminerals processing company with vast business interests in mining, construction and consultancy. He ran this outfit until sometime in 1999, when he took full sabatical, having caught the irresistible bug for partisan politics.

Politics

His foray into Nigerian politics was deliberate with the sole mission to render service to his people as well as show the light that will lead them to the Promised Land. To an extent, it is almost mission accomplished.

Unlike his peers, he drew up a political blueprint, a sort of compass to navigate his

way through the murky waters that is Nigerian politics. Integrated into that blueprint was a political philosophy which emphasized service to humanity. In simple language, his brand of politics may be branded as ‘politics of the commoners’.

In 1998, he was elected unopposed into the House of Representatives on the United Nigeria’s Congress Party, UNCP, platform: This was short-lived due to the death of Gen. Sani Abacha. Abacha’s successors, Gen. Abdusalami reinvented the transition to democracy wheel and, riding on the crest of his popularity, Oghiadomhe pitched his political tent with the PDP. Early in 1999, he flew the banner for the top job in Edo State, but as a faithful party man, he submitted self to party supremacy and was cajoled into running as deputy to Gov. Igbinedion, his principal, on the party platform. For the eight years they were in power, the PDP ruled Edo State and was able to deliver, despite the challenges of that period.

Enjoying cult political followership in Edo State due to his humility and absolute loyalty, Chief Oghiadomhe’s personality must be viewed in the context of his political philosophy, pedigree and reputation as a fantastic mobiliser of men.

Face of Jonathan in Edo

E

do State is like a mini-Nigeria.

President Jonathan knew he needed a loyal and reliable politician who is also

well loved and articulate to serve as his face in the state. There could be no better choice than Chief Oghiadomhe, a man who has traversed the length and breadth of the state like a Colossus. The only other person above him in terms of followership and respect is Chief Tony Anenih.

Without mincing words, Edo State continues to receive special attention from the Presidency, courtesy of the role being played by its illustrious son. Also, acting as a rallying point, Chief Oghiadomhe has been able to bring all Edo indigenes in the federal service, whether as ministers, advisers, civil service, etc., to brainstorm and chart ways to elevate the standards of living of his people.

This is aside the increased federal presence via road reconstruction, appointment of qualified Edo indigenes into federal agencies, tackling the menace of erosion, etc.

Importantly, Oghiadomhe’s Abuja residence is a Mecca of sort, the first port of call for all Edo indigenes, irrespective of party affiliation, who visit the seat of power for whatever reason. They are well received, accommodated and catered for while in sojourn. The idea is to make Abuja home away from home for the visitors.

As Jonathan’s face in Edo State, the President can, therefore, afford to go to sleep and be rest assured that he has put his political face in capable hands and, that, come 2015, presidential elections, Edo State votes will even surpass that of 2011. *Mr. Ayokhai, a public analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013— 19

, W

HEN the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, election politics was raging and some commentators said Their Excellencies were wasting time on an irrelevant issue that had no bearing on the average Nigerian, I laughed. It reminded me of what Mohandas Gandhi said about religion and politics: “Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics don’t know what religion is”. They did not remember that a governor is first of all a politician, and a politician’s first reflex is to play the power game. The NGF election of May 2013 was a dress rehearsal for the shape of things to come, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The PDP knew it was going to expose the treachery, disloyalty and rebellion of the governors bent on ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan does not win his second term. The Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, was advised to forgo that election and avoid being used by Northern governors to divide the solidarity of the South-South. He refused to listen.

Egged on by the opposition All

Progressives Congress, APC, governors, the rebellious Northern governors as well as their vocal supporters in the media and open forums, Amaechi plunged into the contest.The recently concluded national convention of the PDP ended with the rebellious Northern governors – Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Aliyu Babangida of Niger, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Amaechi of Rivers and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara (who was then dancing on the sidelines) – pulling out to form what they termed “new” PDP. A familiar newcomer, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his handy political peripherals were there.Within the space of one week, we saw the registration of Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, as a political party, the announcement of the intention of the rebellious Northern governors to register a new party to be called Voice of the People, VOP and the “secession” to form the “new” PDP. They do not quite seem to have made up their minds exactly what to do,

,

except that they are all united in their determination to pull the rug from under the feet of the President come 2015. The central question trailing this development is what effect this will have on the ruling party. The question is best answered by looking at every midterm to a presidential election year since the return of democracy in 1999. In 2001/2002, there was turmoil in PDP because Atiku’s PDM faction wanted former President Olusegun Obasanjo to “do a Nelson Mandela” and hand over to Atiku after only one term in 2003.

T

hey failed because Obasanjo not only ran for second term but also forced Atiku to run with him as Vice President.In the 2005/

Stop the blames game T

HIS column today is dedicated to two Nigerians – Master Daniel Ohikhena, that wizkid who flew from Benin City to Lagos without paying a kobo; and Alhaji Danbaba Suntai, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, who travelled to hell and back.

The blames game has always been with us. We blame everybody and everything for our failures. Until recently, there was no natural death. Every death was attributed to witchcraft. Meanwhile, these people have never seen a stethoscope and no matter how ill they were, as long as they still had some breath in them, they still struggled to the cassava farm, sometimes after swallowing two tablets of expired panadol.

Yet, when we come face to face with actual wizardry, we throw away all its advantages.

The penultimate weekend, 13-year-old Daniel Ohikhena hid inside the wheel of an Arik airplane from Benin City to Lagos. This is a great feat for which that wiz-kid deserves an award.

Were he an American, the following day, he would have been in the White House, early enough to have lunch with the President.

From there, he would have been dispatched to the best school around where he would have been carefully nurtured to greatness.

But here we are, the little boy is at the very centre of the blames game and his mother is being hunted all over the place. The mother has given enough lead on him to enable us discover his latent qualities. He tries his hands on everything electrical. This JSS I student started his early education in a private school, but because of lack of funds, he has found himself in the public school system. Under a good system, the boy would have been whisked off to the Federal Government Academy for gifted children or even the Defence Academy, for further development.

C M Y K

But here, he must be punished for attempting to expose the porous nature of our security network. The blames machine is now on him and his mother. Meanwhile, no one is talking about the Nigerian Airports Authority and its security lapses. It is possible that rather than face the task of providing security at the airport, the security officers were elsewhere looking for smallsmall paje.

Why are we challenging God? As it were, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State fell from the sky. Others who fell like that died but Suntai did not die. Is it not clear that God has a purpose for sparing his life?

Even in his illness, Suntai has kept clearly within the letters and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution. A combined reading of Sections 189 and 190 which deal with the incapacitation and subsequent absence of the Governor, will show that Suntai has fulfilled every aspect of the Constitution.

Section 190 requires that: “Whenever the Governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Deputy Governor as Acting Governor”.

Clearly, anything that is amended is patched. All those who expect Suntai to still be as strong as he was before the accident, as the Taraba State House of Assembly is doing, is ungrateful to God. That is why the Assembly is now going outside the Constitution to make the extra demand that he must come and address them as a precondition for his resuming duty.

We expected the Deputy Governor, Umar Garba, to welcome his boss wholeheartedly

2006 midterm toward the 2007 presidential election, another series of crises erupted in the party.

The first was over the determination of Obasanjo’s camp to de-register those big stakeholders in the party opposed to his third term ambition as members of PDP. That was how Atiku and many others were pushed out. This eventually resulted in Atiku becoming the presidential candidate of the opposition Action Congress, AC, for the 2007 election. The second was the attempt by Obasanjo to use the then ongoing constitution amendment to give himself a third term. Atiku vehemently opposed this bid, along with majority of Nigerians. A crisis-riddled PDP was very instrumental to the abortion of its leader ’s unholy ambition.Come the year 2010, the nation was in a heated transition from one president to the other when President Umaru Yar’Adua passed away. Some Northern leaders did not want then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed Yar’Adua because they said it was the turn of the North to rule for eight years after Obasanjo’s eight. Later, they grudgingly caved in to pressure, only on the condition that he would not seek an election of his own. Therefore, the PDP crisis in 2010/2011 was basically a section of the Northern leadership versus President Jonathan. Jonathan successfully defeated the regional gang-up against him, and some say the Boko Haram terrorism is a fulfillment of their threat to make Nigeria ungovernable.Against this background, I tend to see this PDP crisis as a teacup storm. The party is used to them. The party always comes out of these storms intact and strong enough to win the next

and assist him to serve out the remaining part of his tenure, but rather, having tasted the office, Garba started nurturing private ambition on how to unseat the man.

It is undermining of faith in our system for a man to be kind enough to bring you on board to serve as his deputy and as soon as

,

PDP’s stormy tea cup

The PDP is a veteran of many civil wars; these wars will never end because they are normal jostling and positioning to hijack the party and use it to win; the president, being the leader of the party, is always best placed to hijack the party for his own political ends

Clearly, anything that is amended is patched; all those who expect Suntai to still be as strong as he was before the accident, as the Taraba State House of Assembly is doing, is ungrateful to God

,

he has an accident you begin to wish him dead.

In sharp contrast, this is where we have a profound admiration for President Goodluck Jonathan. While the Abujainduced war raged in Bayelsa State, he remained calm and calculated and did not move near the door to the office of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha until he was finally evicted.

W

hen the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua became critically ill, Jonathan remained a reliable ally, even when the man was virtually vegetable. We

election. The PDP is a veteran of many civil wars. These wars will never end because they are normal jostling and positioning to hijack the party and use it to win. As it happens, the incumbent President, being the leader of the Party and the man who holds the proverbial knife and yam, he is always best placed to hijack the party for his own political ends.

Much is being made over the “splitting” of the PDP after the convention. It pays to ruminate more on the possible long term survival of the “split”. Ordinarily, the pullout of seven out of 23 governors of the Party to form a “new” PDP is considerably earthshaking. In 2010 when the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, queued behind Atiku to drag the PDP presidential ticket with President Jonathan, the governors had kept their distances, obviously because they were looking for second term tickets. Now that all of them are on their ways out, they can afford to join the effort against the President.

The question is: Who will step down for whom? Lamido, Atiku, Kwankwaso and Aliyu are all known to have presidential ambition. Lamido, an ardent Obasanjo supporter, is several times on record pouring vitriol on Atiku as a political leader.

Kwankwaso is also an Obasanjo lackey. Would they agree to step down for Atiku when the time comes? Will they go with Atiku to PDM? It does not seem likely.

Some of them may reconcile with Jonathan any time, especially when Obasanjo gives the President one hundred per cent support.

Nigeria politicians are not known to voluntarily jump down from the gravy train.

are sure that if Yar’Adua had returned to Nigeria half as healthy as Suntai is now, Jonathan would have faithfully assisted him to serve out his tenure. Like Shakespeare, Jonathan believes that: “If fortune would have me king, let fortune crown me without my stir”. And it is paying off, isn’t it?

Why is the Taraba State House of Assembly becoming over-bearing to the extent of standing the Constitution on its head? They certainly cannot feign total ignorance of the provisions of Section 189(1) (a), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Constitution, which set out the full procedure for declaring a Governor incapacitated. Why are they jumping the gun? Is it not clear that the antics of the House of Assembly, notwithstanding, Suntai remains the duly elected Governor of Taraba State? Garba must wait for his turn. And the back door is locked.

The Suntai case has parallels elsewhere: As President of the US, Woodrow Wilson became incapacitated by partial paralysis and was unable to cope with the responsibilities of his office, his wife took over effectively and the country was able to survive the simmering crisis.

Again, President Dwight Eisenhower was twice disabled between 1955 and 1957 by a heart attack and a stroke. A Presidential Assistant, Sherman Adams, took over his responsibilities. However, in 1967, the 25th Amendment was ratified and this gave the Vice-President definite roles, including the assumption of the President’s office in the event of incapacitation.

Suntai is on course and we wish him well.

20— Vanguard ,

THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 5 , 2013

Debate of the masses

We have a very long way to go! (3) ing us so that as we fight

BY EBELE ORAKPO Continues from last week one another on the basis of religion and ethnicity, HERE is a saying we will have no time to in Igbo that a well- ask them to account for travelled man is wiser their stewardship. I realthan a grey-haired man. ly felt sorry for this counYou don’t just sit in the try when I read what Femi comfort of your zone or Fani-Kayode, an ex fedstate and believe all the eral minister, not a Southtrash about others. These West minister oo, had to guys are just playing pol- say. It’s really sad. If an itics, using us to make ex-minister could think themselves relevant. Ni- and talk that way, what do gerians should be wise. you think of the common The ordinary Hausa, man on the street?”

Igbo, Yoruba, Efik or Ijaw “My own thinking is man on the street does that all this is foolishness. not give a hoot where his None of us brought anyneighbour comes from thing into this world and because the two are go- when we leave, we go ing through the same with nothing,” said deprivations,” said Ada. James.

N a rrated James: “An Replied Austin: “That’s Igbo guy who lives in not true. Some are buried Kaduna told me that all with their wealth, I’ve the talk about religion and seen such happen.” ethnicity is just politics.

“Of course, only for He said the traders in some smart alec to go and their market are so close dig up the whole stuff to that most times, they for- go and enjoy his life. I get they are of different heard the story of a man religions and tribes. He who died and as the cofsaid if his Hausa neigh- fin was about to be lowbour wants to go to the ered to mother earth, his mosque, he leaves his close friends decided to keys with him and what- do something for him to ever he sells, when he make his life in the great returns, he hands over beyond more comfortthe money and the keys able. The Yoruba friend and that is what happens placed about N100,000 when he goes to church plus some tubers of yam or travels.” in the coffin, his Hausa friend placed N300,000 in Living in the coffin. They then hometown turned to the third friend, an Igbo man and asked Said Ada: “There is this him to do something. He Hausa family living in brought out his cheque my hometown. The two book, made out a cheque children were born there. for N2 million and collectThey call the landlady ed the N400,000 dropped grandma and she treats by the other two, saying them as her grandchil- the man will cash the dren. In fact, they speak cheque when he needs to Igbo better than some so- replenish his foodstuff,” called indigenes. Mind narrated Iyke. This elicyou, these children had ited laughter. never been to the North.

“Like I keep saying, So tell me, will it be fair this is God’s world and to tell them to go back to God’s land. We are all vistheir state? For God’s itors here. We brag we sake, as far as they are own the land, the buildconcerned, they are from ings and all the fineries, Anambra State. We no problem! But rememshould stop all this non- ber that God owns each sense and face the major and everyone of us and issues confronting us. whatever we think we Why should we allow pol- own,” concluded James. iticians to keep distractConcluded

‘T

*Victim

*Suspect

*Parents of victim

Escape from a lynch mob: Story of 64-year-old suspected rapist B

UT for the timely inter vention of men of the Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, a suspected serial rapist, Mr. Peter Edigbo, 64, would have been lynched by members of Agbaenyim community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State last weekend. The suspect was later arrested by the Command’s division in Izzi Local Government Area for allegedly raping a sixyear-old girl, Miss Nkwegu Chinwe, at midnight when the victim was asleep in her house.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the suspect sneaked into the little girl’s room and allegedly forcefully had carnal knowledge of his victim. According to a resident, the screaming of the girl had attracted members of the community who rushed to the house without knowing what was initially happening but discovered that the victim’s screaming was as a result of the immoral behaviour of the suspect.

Incidences of criminality In a chat with VM, the State Commandant of the Corps in Abakaliki, Mrs. Ego Echendu, who described the incident as abominable charged parents to always keep their eyes on their children at every point in time.

She expressed the readiness of the Command to clamp down on incidences of crime and criminality throughout the state as NSCDC was fully positioned in the 13 local government areas to nip any act of criminality in the bud.

Parading the 64-year-old susC M Y K

pect before newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Abakaliki, the Corps Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Corps, ASC, Emmanuel Nwali, stated that the incident which angered members of the community was also confirmed by women on examining the little girl after the incident.

According to him, this confirmation enraged the villagers who wanted to lynched the suspect because that was not the first time he had committed such act.

VM learnt that the suspect’s wife had left him as similar past action on his part had brought

‘

ers, confirmed the incident, adding that the man has been in such act for quite some time despite warnings from community members. And if not for the timely intervention of our men the man would have been lynched. The only thing, according to the victim, she noticed when she was sleeping at midnight period was a hard thing inside her body.

This is the second time such thing is happening in the village by the same man”.

Reacting to the incident, the grandmother of the victim, Mrs. Mary Nwofoke, who spoke in her local dialect added that: “I told

The child was screaming and calling me; when I ran into the room, the man ran out immediately; I asked what happened and she said “the man urinated on me”

shame and embarrassments to their marriage.

Nwali noted that the suspect had been notorious for such act as confirmed by the village Head and other members of the community.

According to the Command’s spokesman: “Yesterday at about 6pm we received a signal from one of our divisions in Izzi that an old man defiled a girl of six years old. When we got the report we told them to transfer the matter to our command headquarters in Abakaliki so that we will handle it appropriately. So far we are still investigating the case and after that we are going to hand over the case to the appropriate quarters because that is not one of our core mandates as NSCDC. “The suspect, Mr. Peter Edigbo, hails from Agbaenyim in Izzi LGA of the state. The village head and villagers, among oth-

‘

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

Chinwe and the other children that when they were ready to go to sleep, they should alert me so that I will come and lock the door but they forgot and slept off. And so because the door was not locked that gave the rapist the opportunity to sneak into the room and forced himself on the girl.

“The child woke up and was screaming and calling me. So when I ran into the room, the man ran out immediately. I asked the little what happened and in her own naivety, she said ‘the man urinated on me’; so when I heard this I raised alarm and the matter was brought before the village Council. If not for the intervention of the Civil Defence Corps, the man would have been burnt to death. Another lady who came when the alarm was raised also said the man had raped her before,” she stressed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 — 21

Bad governance threatening Nigeria’s existence — NIM …Says attainment of Vision 20:2020 doubtful

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Management, yesterday, said Nigeria’s corporate existence is being threatened by the many leadership and governance challenges besetting the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, heralding its 2013 Annual National Management Conference, Mr. Michael Olawale-

Cole, President and Chairman of Council, NIM, also stated that the country’s attainment of the Vision 20:2020 objectives is in doubt, unless the leaders and citizenry adopt a change of approach, strategy and governance style.

According to him, the country’s quest to rank among the top 20 economies by 2020 is very doubtful and may be unattainable, mainly because majority of

the leaders and individuals in authority are not showing commitment and loyalty to the development of the country.

However, he said the objective of the Vision 20:2020 can be attained if every individual embraces hard work, loyalty and if good governance is entrenched in all spheres of the national life.

He said, “Nigeria can actually be very great. Vision 20:2020 is doable, good governance will help us in achieving it. We have

all it takes — both human and non-human resources, from the country can tap. Bad governance is why we are still where we are in this country, despite the abundant resources at our disposal.

“The will and courage to do the right thing is our challenge in this country. We should strive to adopt an attitude of loyalty to the country, as this will lead to a situation whereby will have the good interest of the country in their heart.

The conference, scheduled to

hold at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, between September 15 and 17, 2013, has as its theme; ‘Essentials of Good governance in the progressive transformation of Nigeria,’ to be delivered by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

Olawale-Cole said, “The theme was chosen because the institute came to the painful and sad conclusion that more than ever before in the history of its existence, Nigeria needs an urgent solution to the many leadership and governance challenges besetting it which are threatening the nation’s corporate existence.

“Instead of sitting by, criticize government and trade endless blames on why the nation has come to this pathetic leadership crossroads, the Institute which believes in supporting government in finding solutions to the problems of governance is using the opportunity provided by the Conference to contribute its quota by proffering viable and workable roadmap to the leadership question through the focus on ways to deliver good governance to Nigerians.”

Agriculture:

AfDB urges FG to boost regional trade

T

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman (left); Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (right) during a visit to Promasidor Nigeria Limited’s stand at the opening of 2013 Nigerian Economic Summit, in Abuja, Tuesday.

0.9

113.0

2,400.00

-13.00

16.48

0.14

115.58

+1.25

108.21 +0.56 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.76 240.6363 203.8344 165.2889 1.5543 0.2933 233.752 25.2834 41.2627 27.3225 233.9662

155.26 241.4138 204.4929 165.8229 1.5593 0.3033 234.5072 25.3655 41.396 27.4108 234.7221

SELLING 155.76 242.1912 205.1515 166.3569 1.5643 0.3133 235.2624 25.4477 41.5294 27.499 235.478

CBN Exchange rate as at 04/09/2013

Customs, APMT at war over physical examination bay

By GODFREY BIVBERE

A

PAPA Area1 Command of the Ni geria Customs Service, NCS, and the Management of the APM Terminals Apapa Limited are presently engaged in war of words over the health condition of the physical examination bay at Apapa port. The Command’s Customs Area Controller, CAC, Charles Edike, had taken some journalists to port to inspect the facility following claims by APM Terminal that they have provided the Service with new examination bay.

Edike showed the journalists the current site being used by the Customs which is said to be a temporary site. He said that despite the visit of the Minister of National Planning, Shamsuddeen

Usman, and directive that a stop gap measure be put in place, the site is still as it was when the minister visited weeks back.

The Customs boss reaction followed a claim

by APM Terminals that it has handed over a multi-million naira facility to Customs for physical examination.

However, Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa Limited, Mr. Andrew Dawes, said in Lagos that the present condition of the physical examination site at the terminal is temporary as a new physical examination facility is being built and will be ready by the second quarter of next year.

Dawes said that the physical examination site built earlier and handed over to the then Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Mr. Joshua Asanga, in 2010, could not be used by Customs at the time due to process variance.

He said a new physical examination facility is already being built for Customs use and will be ready by the second quarter of 2014.

HE President, African Development Bank Group, Mr Donald Kaberuka, has urged the Federal Government to help boost regional trade through its Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

Kaberuka said this at the 19th Nigerian Economic Summit with the theme «Growing Agriculture as a Business to Diversify Nigeria’s economy.»

He said that if Nigeria was to succeed in its transformation agenda, especially in agriculture, it must start doing serious trade with its neighbours and Africa as a whole.

«Sometimes, we think that the global market is somewhere else; but it is next door — in Benin, Togo, Cameroon and across all African countries. Within Africa, we have the solution to our problems. Nigeria alone has 20 percent of the population in Africa.

“By the year 2050, Africa will represent 20 percent of the population of the world.

«The markets are here. By 2050, there will be two billion persons on the continent, more than China and India.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Nigeria, Japan set to improve bilateral trade

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

he Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has expressed confidence on the positive response and willingness by the Japanese companies to partner with Nigerian businesses.

The National President of the Association, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, said this at the NigerianJapan business forum held in Lagos recently.

The NACCIMA boss explained that the peculiar challenges of Nigerian business and investment environment like any other developing economies in the world have tremendously improved with numerous opportunities in agriculture manufacturing, solid mineral, oil and gas, tourism, electricity (power) and telecommunication.

He therefore called on the visiting Japanese firms to take advantage of the existing numerous incentives and enter into long-term business relationship with their Nigeria counter parts.

Also speaking at the event, the Director- General of African Affairs in Ministry of Foreign Affair of Japan, Ambassador Yoshifumi Okamura, said Japan is committed to building partnership with Nigeria, especially in the area of energy, infrastructure and transport.

He expressed confidence that participants at the forum will benefit from the business opportunities that might arise from contact and the networking that would take place at the event.

“I have a strong hope that this business forum would also give us the opportunity to provide long lasting mutually beneficial business relationships through which we will get to know each other with new ideas and perspective” he said.

In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Uhomoibhi, said the visit was in response to the Federal Government foreign investment drive which was meant to stimulate economic growth and job creation.

He noted that in order to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FID), the Federal Government of Nigeria has strengthened relevant government ministries and agencies.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Director, Asia and pacific division of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mrs. Adekunbi Osunaike, noted that Nigeria and Japan had enjoyed robust trade relations, noting that there was need to balance the gap as it favoured Japan more.

He also told the visiting firms that Nigeria is open to investment in agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, oil and gas, infrastructure, with each sector having its incentives to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Other incentives include tax holiday, pioneer status, company income tax etc.

WORKSHOP: Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, flanked by

Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Ikem Odumodu and Mrs Abimbola Amimashaun, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency at a workshop organised for sandcrete block makers in Lagos. Photo: Jimoh Babatunde.

FG orders certification of blocks, concrete industry

By JIMOH BABATUNDE & FRANKLIN ALLI

A

s a way of checking incessant building collapses in the country, the Federal Government has ordered certification of blocks and concrete sector of the economy by Standards Organisation of Nigeria under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, MANCAP, for local manufacturers.

Government gave the order through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment during a sensitisation workshop organised by SON, for manufacturers of sandcrete and allied products.

Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State in the ministry said the Federal Government was worried over the high incidence of building collapse despite technological development, especially in a situation where most collapsed buildings were recently built or under construction.

He said it is for the same reasons that the SON launched its campaign of Zero Tolerance to Substandard Products, and also put in place its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), saying all sandcrete block makers are expected to be certified under the MANCAP. ”I urge all the participants to listen to what SON officials would say at this forum. Unlike other stakeholders, sandcrete block makers are not facing competition from imported products”.

Ortom said he would direct the SON to commence complete implementation of the MANCAP after the workshop, saying that no operator would have any reason not

to comply.

He expressed satisfaction at the passion and commitment that Odumodu was brining to the work, and urged stakeholders to support it.

Dr. Joseph Odumodu, SON Director General, said the issue of buildings collapses has become worrisome, costing human and material resources while also affecting the local

and international image of the government, its agencies and the country.

“Any time a building collapses, it casts aspersion on regulatory agencies. We are set to sanitise the sandcrete block production sector; we want to ensure that operators earn their living without endangering lives. Any time a building material fails durability or safety

tests, it leaves a question mark on all stakeholders concerned.

In fact, it is incidences of this nature that have continually affected the i n t e r n a t i o n a l acceptability of Nigerian-made products, an unfortunate situation which the SON intervention policies have been fighting doggedly.” the SON’s chief helmsman deposed.

Ailing industries: Gov Ahmed canvasses tax holiday

K

wara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has suggested the granting of tax holidays to the manufacturing sector as part of strategies to reactivate the nation’s ailing industries.

Governor Ahmed, who gave the suggestion during a visit to his office by a delegation of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) led by its National President, Chief Kola Jamodu, also said that high interest rates, poor national road network, irregular and inadequate power supply were critical challenges hindering sustainable industrial

growth in the country.

According to Dr Ahmed “granting tax holidays to genuine manufacturers would not only bring ailing industries back to life, but provide employment to millions of idle hands which have become devil’s workshop”.

The governor noted that unemployment, which he described as major challenges in the country, was compounded by the high number of unemployable out of school population.

This, he said, painted a frightening picture for the country, especially in terms of national security.

The President,

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu, in his address said multiple taxation is a disincentive to industrial stability and growth, calling on governments across the country to discourage the trend.

Chief Jamodu called for a reversal of exportation of raw materials and importation of finished products, which has not helped the economy of the country. “Nigeria must add value to its natural resources before export as this will also create employment opportunities for greater number of people in t h e c o u n t r y ”, he emphasised.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—23

8 missing containers cause leadership tussle at Ikorodu terminal STORIES BY GODFREY BIVBERE

E

IGHT missing containers at the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (ILT) has resulted in a leadership tussle between the substantive Customs Area Controller (CAC) whose name could not be ascertained at press time and a Deputy Controller (DC) identified as Nasiru, who allegedly came from Abuja with a staff order to assume office.

Vanguard gathered that some Customs officers and clearing agents are already in custody over the missing containers while two of the containers have been recovered.

A source at the terminal told Vanguard that the CAC was summoned to Abuja about three weeks ago to explained circumstances leading to the missing containers. After his visit to Abuja, the CAC was said to have returned back to his office in Lagos and his effort led to the arrest of some those involved.

However, a week after, DC Nasiru was said to have reported with a staff order allegedly directing the CAC to hand over to him. The CAC Vanguard gathered refused to hand over saying that he would only do so when he gets a staff order directing him to hand over.

Following the stand off between both men, Vanguard learnt that operations at the terminal were grounded as there was a vacuum. The source said that importers and their

agents were left wandering about, unable to take delivery of their consignment.

When contacted on phone, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Wale Adeniyi, said there may have been break down in communication in the dispatch of the staff orders.

Adeniyi also explained that there should be two letters, one to the person leaving and the other to the person taking over.

He noted that both should have their staff order before a proper hand over.

Another reason for the delay could be where the CAC is going to, regarding whether there the necessary space has been created. He pointed out that the DC has been properly assigned to take charge at ILT and that is it.

On the missing containers, the Customs spokesman said he is not aware of any such case but noted that should it be true, there will be an investigation to ascertain how it happened.

When reminded of the detained officers alleged to be involved in facilitating the movement of the containers outside the terminal, the line went dead.

It was not clear as at press time whether the handover has been concluded while operations at the terminal was greatly affected following the power tussle between the two senior Customs officers.

DINNER:

From left: Peter Okocha, Chief Executive Officer, Chrismatell; former Managing Director of NPA, Chief Ade Sarumi (standing) and immediate past Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers' Council, Capt. Adamu Biu, at a dinner for stakeholders by the council .

Operators want shippers council to take over commercial regulatory function

BY GODFREY BIVBERE, EDIRI EJOH & MAGBEGOR ZINO

O

PERATORS in the maritime industry have expressed desire for Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to take over the function of commercial regulator for port operations in the country.

The operators noted that

the shippers’ council is already working in that line and should therefore take up the duty to save Nigerian shipping community from the exploitation that is presently going on in the industry.

President of the Nigeria Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Barr Jean-Chizo Anishere, said government should empower

Destination Inspection hand over: Operators warn FG of crisis ahead According to him,

T

HE National Coun cil of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) has warned the Federal Government that there is crisis ahead of the expected handover of the destination inspection functions by the Service Providers to the Nigeria customs Service (NSC).

Giving the warning in Lagos in an interview with Vanguard, National Secretary of NCMDLCA, Uchu Block, noted that there is congestion at Apapa port presently because there was no proper

hand over between the former operators of the scanners, Cotecna Destination Nigeria Limited to Globalscan System which presently operators them.

Block said there was chaos at Apapa port scanning site after the take over of the machines by Globalscan because there was no proper handover. He noted that the above is a pointer to what will happen by November when the Service Providers are expected to handover to Customs, unless government makes the necessary arrangement to ensure

that a proper and official handover is made.

The NCMDLCA scribe further explained that another problem expected will be the platform to be used by the Customs in the operation of their Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR).

He stressed that there is need for government to work closely with the Service Providers in the gradual integration of PAAR into the platform (data base) of the Service Providers. He disclosed that there are problems presently with the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) issued by Globalscan.

lack of handover between the two Service Providers created confusion as RARs issued by Cotecna with a particular value before the handover, were re-issued by Globalscan but with a far higher value.

The situation he said has contributed to the congestion at the port as there are so many containers with the above problem trapped at the port. The Customs he explained are not willing to make a change on the value of such RAR even when it is confirmed and Globalscan has owned up that there was a mistake on such RAR.

NSC as the commercial regulator of port operations in the country.

Anishere noted that the empowerment of the Council is better and more cost effective for government as the Council is closer to the shipping community as well as working for the interest of shippers’.

She explained that it would be more expensive to create a new body to perform that function while in the case of the Shippers’ Council; it will only be an addition to its present function.

Similarly, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, (NAGAFF), said it will work closely with other stakeholders to ensure that the Shippers’ Council becomes the commercial regulator of port operations in the country.

The National President of NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke, while addressing journalists in Lagos, said that the association has resolved to join forces with stakeholders for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to play the role of the nation’s commercial port regulator.

He pointed out that lack of a commercial regulator in the nation’s port system is the main cause of

lapses that occur frequently in port operations.

He said “We cannot continue to wait indefinitely for the government who is not willing from all indications to evolve a process that will bring about a regulator for the industry, therefore we want to merge forces with other key stakeholders who believe more can be achieved in the maritime industry if the Shippers’ Council metamorphoses into the national port commercial regulator”.

Nweke, who also spoke about the role of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), said it is one critical factor in repositioning the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria for better.

“There is need to embrace, cooperate, to align and subject ourselves to the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.

“There has always been issue of one person’s interest or the other but that should not overrule the common interest of the general work force. The common interest is that a regulator is here to instill what we call a professional code of conduct, and also to say “this is the performance indicator”.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 — 25

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—27

ILO, others move to end workplace discrimination against disabled persons W

ORRIED by increasing discrimination against physically challenged persons in the workplace, the International Labour Organisation,ILO, and other stakeholders have taken new steps to put an end to the development.

According to an estimate of the United Nations, disabled persons experience unemployment rates as high as 90 per cent in some low-income countries, and up to 70 per cent in developed countries of the world.

To address this challenge in Nigeria, stakeholders gathered recently in Lagos under the aegis of “Network on Disability and the Business” to brainstorm on the way forward.

Organised by “Theseabilities Limited in partnership with ILO, participants included ILO, StanbicIBTC Plc, Total Nigeria Plc, Workforce Management Centre, Fate Foundation, Gallaudet University, Washington DC, S.I.A.O (firm of chartered accountants), Startrite Mayton and Co. Nigeria Limited, Trinity House, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, The Nation Newspapers, Senviron Properties Limited and Enable Africa limited.

Increasing awareness The aims include increasing awareness on the need to increase employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities, sensitize organizations on the Lagos State Special People’s Law, identify and discuss the challenges faced by employers in hiring persons with disabilities and discuss strategies for overcoming such identified barriers and making the workplace more inclusive.

Welcoming participants, Executive Director of Theseabilities Limited and convener, Network on Disability and Business, Adeboye Abioye, shared the vision of the Network and the benefits of membership. He equally encouraged participants to be open as possible in sharing their perspectives during the forum, advising them to interact with each other and learn from each other.

On his part, Dr. Gabriel Soje, an Assistant Professor at the Gallaudet University (for the Deaf, Hearing-Impaired and Regular Students), Washington, D.C. who spoke on the Challenges and Solutions to Employing Persons with Hearing

FG committed to job creation, says Wogu

plicable to the disabled in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It also ratified the ILO Convention 159 on 26 August 2010.

With these legal instruments in place, the disabled people have what it takes to ensure their full employability – education, skills, knowledge and competenCONFERENCE: Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Partner, S.I.A.O. (Chartered cies - which Accountants) left, and Mr. Adeboye Abioye, Executive Director, Theseabilities indeed is a Limited, at the conference. gain-gain situation for all."

"These conImpairments, highlighted the Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone ventions and enactment guarchallenges that communication and the Gambia and Liaison Of- antee, among others, prohibiand prejudices played in the fice for ECOWAS , represented tion of discrimination, protection process of hiring and keeping by Mr. Pius Udoh , cited a study of just and favourable condithe deaf in employment. undertaken by the ILO in 2009, tions of work, exercise of trade He emphasized the need for using 10 countries – 3 in Asia union rights, availability of voorganizations to be more open and 7 in Africa - which conclud- cational training, promotion of and ready to include the deaf ed that “economic losses relat- employment opportunities and in the communication process- ed to disability are large and continued advancement, proes and encouraged employers measurable, falling into a band motion of self-employment, proto do away with negative atti- between three and five per cent vision of employment in the tudes and unwholesome prej- of GDP.” public sector, promotion of priudices that were capable of She said it was gratifying to vate sector employment undermining the chances of note that the international com- through affirmative action, inqualified persons with disabil- munity, including the ILO as centives and other measures, ities.

Soje advised organizations to It is a crime for any employer to discriminate ensure that members of staff against any person with disability with regard also learn the sign language to the job application procedure, the terms and which usually is the first language of the Deaf and posited conditions of employment, opportunity for that the disabled and especialpromotion, training or other benefits. ly the deaf were capable of coping intellectually and emotionally in the workplace. ensuring the provision of reaSimilarly, Chairman of the well as countries had made ad- sonable accommodation or adLagos office of Disability Af- equate provisions aimed at en- justment, promotion of work exfairs, Mrs. Tolu Animashaun, in suring that disabled people at- perience in open employment, a message to the organizers of tain their full rights, saying and promotion of rehabilitation the conference, said "The "when the disabled people re- and return-to-work protheme for the Forum "employ- alize that they are protected by grammes."

ABILITIES: Creating a win-win law, they need to take steps to Nigeria’s decree of 1993 situation for disability and the ensure their integration in line went further to grant 15% tax with the provisions of the laws business" spoke volumes and is deduction for organization that in keeping with the provisions and conventions."

According to Ms. Chuma- employ disabled people while of the Lagos State Special PeoMkandawire, "the Federal Gov- reserving 10 % of both labour ple's Law of June 2011. The ernment of Nigeria, in an ef- force and training funds for the mandate of the Lagos State disabled. The question is how Office for Disability Affairs ( fort to ensure the protection of much of these provisions have LASODA ) is to ensure the disabled people enacted the we translated into practice?" proper implementation of the Nigerian with Disabilities DeDeveloping positive aspiraLagos State 'Special People's cree 1993, stating as its gener- tions is a key factor in securing Law' and policies which guar- al principle that “the purpose good educational and occupaantee inclusion, equal rights of this Decree is to provide a tional outcomes, and an imporand opportunities and self-es- clear and comprehensive legal tant component of autonomy. teem of people living with dis- protection and security for Ni- Persons with Disabilities who gerians with disability as well ability (PWD)." have the required education, Speaking, Ms. Sina Chuma- as establish standard for en- skills, knowledge and experiforcement of the rights and Mkandawire, Director, ILO ence should assert themselves Country Office for Nigeria, privileges guaranteed under and others will support them. this decrees and other laws ap-

,

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

Bits

,

MINISTER of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has assured that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to employment creation and job retention.

Wogu gave this assurance in Abuja, while receiving visiting members of the Public Service International, PSI, team in Nigeria, led by its Secretary General Rosi Pavanalli. According to him, “since the inception of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, we have not witnessed any job loss. I want to re-assure you that the present administration is more concerned about employment creation and job retention.”

The minister noted that progress was been made in resolving the industrial action declared by the Academic Staff Union of University ASUU, while appealing for maturity by trade unions in handling labour crisis in Nigeria, saying “This is what we do in Nigeria, Government and labour unions dialogue to resolve crisis.

NDE urges Benue youths to embrace farming

N

ATIONAL Directorate of Employment (NDE) has advised unemployed youths in Benue State to embrace farming as a sustainable means of livelihood and shun the search for nonexistent white collar jobs.

The Director General, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed gave the advice, during the flag-off of 2013 Rural Agricultural Development Training Scheme, RADTS, at Otobi; in Benue State.

Abubakar Mohammed who spoke through the State Coordinator, NDE Benue State, Mr. Ocheme Adoga, said the Directorate introduced agric training as part of its efforts towards employment generation and to reduce poverty and create wealth.

He said the Directorate had established Agricultural Skills Training Centres in every State of the Federation to groom unemployed youths to go into farming for self employment.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

More FG pensioners in Lagos decry unpaid benefits

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

T

ALES of woe from Fed eral Government retirees in Lagos, have continued to elicit emotional reactions as the retired civil servants battle to draw attention of government to their plight.

Felicia Ndelegbu and Afolabi Shotimbo, who were

branch, Lagos, of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, told Pension and You, their predicament.

According to Felicia Ndelegbu: “I retired from the Ministry of Defence in 1991 after 30 years service. To the glory of God, I have been paid my gratuity and I have been on pension since then. But surprisingly, last year Novem-

,

I was paid last in November and from December last year till today, I have not received anything

at the Lagos Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Yaba office for the recent election of officials of the Federal Civil Servants

,

ber, they stopped paying me my pensions. Nobody has been able to explain to me why my pension was stopped.”

Mrs. Felicia Ndelegbu

“I was paid last in November and from December last year till today, I have not received anything.

Wat I am hearing is that there was a fraud; that there were people who have defrauded us of our money. If people have defrauded government of the money, government should go after them and pay us our

Afolabi Shotimbo

money. We did not appoint them and we must not be made to suffer because of that.

Since then, God has been sustaining me and has been kind to me and has been carrying me along. God has been using my children to sustain me.”

For Afolabi Shotimbo, of Federal Ministry of Informa-

tion and National Orientation, downsized by the Olusegun Obasanjo government in 2006' after 22 years of service, “In 2008, we were paid gratuity.

Since then, we were not paid pension arrears until 2010, when a task force came to the Federal Civil Service, Ikoyi, to capture our images. After then, they effected the first payment of our pension for November 2009.

All our arrears from 2006 till date have not been paid. We have filled a lot of forms, done a lot of capturing, verification exercises and a lot of our documents have gone to Abuja. We have equally gone there ourselves severally, nothing has been done to date.

We appeal to government to have mercy on us and pay our entitlements from 2006 to 2009. Now, our monthly pensions have been regular, but the arrears have not been paid.”

Why Pension Reform Act 2004 needs amendment—PenCom Continues from last edition The Commission submits that the National Assembly should deemphasis the issue of qualifying years of experience and adopt the model of the CBN Act where no requirement of specific years of post-qualification experience is stipulated by the CBN Act. This is the position that is consistent with global best practice which emphasizes competency rather than years of post-qualification experience, which does not necessarily translate into capacity and capability. b) Staffing and Funding of PTAD (Ss. 42 – 49 of the Bill): The Bill does not provide for the staffing and funding for the FGN and FCT PTADs. Consequently, it is recommended that additional provisions should be inserted to empower the PTADs to employ their staff and make provision for their sources of funding, which should primarily be from Government subvention. c) Re-admission after recertification of medical fitness (S.16(3) of the Bill): The re-integration of persons certified by a medical board or suitably qualified physician upon securing another employment was made subject to Guidelines to be issued by the Commission from time to time.

The purpose is to ensure that whenever such persons are employed, the onus of confirming their fitness for employment is on the employer based on extant labour laws. d) Exemption from the Scheme (S. 5 of the Bill): Section

Acting Director-General of PenCom, Chinalo Anohu-Amazu

5(1) of the PRA 2013 included under the list of persons exempted from the Scheme, professors covered by the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act 2012 and categories of employees entitled by virtue of their terms and conditions of service to retire with full retirement benefits. This is not the intention of the amendment. These two categories of persons are not meant to be exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme. Rather, they will continue to be under the CPS but would, upon retirement, get their full retirement benefits.

We recommend that this should be rectified to reflect the true intendment of the amendment.

Flowing from the above, there is a need to also review the provision of Section 46 and 49 of the Bill. Thus, the expression “exempted under section 8 of this Act” in Section 46 of the Bill should rightfully read “exempted under section 5(1)(b) of this Act” because the PTAD would not be

responsible for payment of pension to judicial officers and personnel of the military and security services. The benefits of these categories of persons would be administered in the case of judicial officers, by the NJC and in the case of the Military and Intelligence and Security Services by their respective pension Boards or Offices. In all case however, PenCom shall continue to regulate and supervise their activities. e) Pension component of the accrued rights of retirees (S.15 of the Bill): The requirement for amounts derived from the pension reviews to be credited into the FG and FCT Retirement Fund Account respectively with the CBN is being recommended for change in order to read that the amounts so derived from such reviews shall be credited into the RSA of the retirees since they have already retired and have nothing to do with the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund. f) Transition of Closed Pension Fund Administrators (S. 51 of the Bill): The provision should be amended such that it would guarantee the existence of CPFAs for existing employees while every new employee of the sponsor of the Scheme shall join the CPS. g) Requirements for PFC Licence (S. 62 of the Bill): The provision should be amended to read that applicants for PFC License shall be limited liability companies incorporated by financial institutions with the sole ob-

ject of keeping custody of pension and retirement benefits assets to avoid engaging in any other activity. Also, the requirement for a minimum paid up capital of N25bn to read a minimum paid up capital of such sum as may be prescribed, from time to time, by the Commission and wholly owned by a licensed financial institution with a minimum net worth of N25bn and an annual fidelity insurance cover for the full value of the pension and retirement benefits funds and assets it holds.

Publication of accounts h) Proper books of accounts and audit (S. 66 of the Bill): this is recommended for review in order to exempt CPFAs from the requirement for publication of accounts and include the sponsors of approved retirement benefits schemes under the exemption as they are also Defined Benefit schemes. i) Operation of branch offices by PFCs (S. 72 of the Bill): It is recommended that due to the centralized nature of their business, PFCs should not open branch offices. j)Penalty for persistent offenders (S. 76(2) of the Bill): The provision to revoke licence of the operator in the event of persistent contravention of section 76(1) of the Bill is recommended to read “the imposition of additional penalties, including the removal of any top management staff

who had knowledge or ought to have had knowledge of the commission of the offence, but failed to take action”. k) Acquisition of primary home under the CPS (S. 89(2): The provision on application of a percentage of the pension assets in the RSA towards the acquisition of a primary home is recommended for amendment to read that the money be applied towards the payment of equity contribution for securing residential mortgage as the term ‘primary home’ is nebulous. l) Operator’s Board meeting to consider the Commission’s examination reports (S. 95 of the Bill): The provision for suspension of operator licence for not convening of board meeting to consider the Commission’s examination reports is recommended for amendment to read the suspension of the operator’s board as the suspension of licence without transfer of assets under management would jeopardize the interest of the members of the schemes. m) Letters of Administration (S. 8(4) of the Bill): The exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court (NIC) to issue Letters of Administration for payment of retirement benefits may result in multiplicity of Letters of Administration in respect of the estate of one deceased person. It is therefore recommended for deletion.

Continues next week

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 — 29

One of the burnt school buildings in Maiduguri

State of emergency stalls education in the North-East T

he state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states due to the activities of insurgents, is now over three months with no end in sight.

Moments after the imposition of emergency rule, social and economic activities were initially paralysed, including the education sector.

Things picked up later, but at a slow pace.

The education sector in Adamawa State hasn’t suffered any set back since the imposition of the emergency. Rather, the enrolment of school aged children into schools has been on the increase as schools are running their normal curricula and teachers and students go to school without fear of attacks by insurgents.

However, the same cannot be said of neighbouring Borno State as statistics from the state's Ministry of Education put the number of children that have stopped attending classes since February 2013, as the insurgents continued waves of attacks on state schools, at over 15,000.

So far, over 50 of Borno State’s 175 schools have either been burnt or destroyed, several teachers and students have been killed or maimed while the lucky ones are either at home for fear of attacks or have transferred to private Islamic schools.

Some of the schools undergoing renovation by the state government have been set ablaze, thus, C M Y K

Some of the schools undergoing renovation by the state government have been set ablaze, thus, sabotaging government’s efforts at improving on education in Borno State

,

By AMAKA ABAYOMI & UMAR YUSUF

sabotaging government’s efforts at improving on education in Borno State.

Worst-affected are schools in old Maiduguri city and local government areas of Marte, Kala-Balge, Gamboru Ngala and Mabar, and this led to the influx of students to safer areas to take their May/June exams, protected by a heavy military detail.

,

Despite this measure, three WAEC officials were brutally murdered by gunmen on their way from Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the conduct of the last WAEC examinations.

As a result, some students had their results withheld.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, some principals and teachers in Adamawa State said the

Continues on page 30

ASUU STRIKE:

Mothers say ‘Enough is enough’ ready for protest, if...

BY DAYO ADESULU

T

HE lingering industrial action by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which enters its third month, has been greeted with reactions from Nigerian mothers who lamented the face-

LSAME increases mass literacy to 91% — Page 33

off between the Federal Government and the union and vowed to mediate to end the strike.

Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor, the national leader, ‘Mothers in Nigeria,’ who spoke in Lagos under the auspices of ‘Mothers in Nigeria’

Improper waste disposal reduces quality of life – Charles Reith — Page 35

a non-governmental organisation said; “Nigerian mothers are tired of seeing our children seated at the cybercafes browsing and chatting away their time with Black Berry. These students are turning gang because they have Continues on page 30

The only way to save higher education in Nigeria — Page 36

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

BRIEFS:

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The scholarships are awarded to students with the best grades in their previous education at renowned universities outside the

Netherlands and who is admitted to any of the TU/e Master ’s programs. ALSP scholarship students launch their international career in technology and engineering at their sponsor employer once they have successfully completed their two-year TU/ e Master ’s program. Applications for 2014-2015 academic year close on February 1, 2014.

Study Subject(s): Scholarships are available to

students who are admitted to any of the TU/e Master ’s programs.

C o u r s e L e v e l : Scholarships are available for pursuing master degree at the Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/ e).

Students of all nationalities except the Dutch nationality can apply for the scholarships.

Each year a considerable number of scholarships are

*VISIT: From left: Jess Castellote of Pan Atlantic University; MD/CEO, Heritage Banking Company Limited, Ifie Sekibo; Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Juan Elegido; and Executive Director, Enterprise/Institutional Banking, Heritage Bank, Robert Mbonu, during a courtesy visit by officials of the university to Heritage Banking Company Limited head office, in Lagos.

‘Enough is enough’ Continues from page 25 nothing to do. Enough is enough, we’ll take the bull by the horn, we must now face the fact.”

She said that mothers of these undergraduates will in the next two weeks approach ASUU and the Federal Government separately in crucial meetings to demand reasons why their children are still at home and how to put a lasting solution to the incessant strike.

Ogbebor who vowed to work in collaboration with renown mothers in the education sector noted that after their meeting, they shall first approach ASUU to find out the way forward. She said, “We are aware of their grievances, but our interest is to see how we all can sit together and find a practical way forward. After our meeting with ASUU, we shall proceed to the government, sit with them to practically find out how we can solve the problem.”

The human rights activist who put her weight behind ASUU demands stated: “They say ASUU is looking for money, but ASUU's demands are legitimate and reasonable. They are requesting for infrastructure in the universities because there are no adequate lecture rooms, science laboratories and the existing structure are in deplorable state.

“Apart from the issue of strike, we realised that there are lots of malpractices in the university. Buying papers, giving worthless certificates; boys who have not been to the university or attended any lecture, getting certificates? These are the issues we are going to talk about.

"As a mother and employer of labour, I know we have a problem in the sector. Most of the applicants we employed for work are not up to the standard in other countries of the world. Our graduates cannot rub shoulders with other students from the rest of the world.

Years back, students from other countries came to Nigeria

C M Y K

for studies, but it is not so any more.

Today, our children go to Togo, Benin and other parts of the world for education. I am ashamed that we are not seeing these as problems.

However, we mothers have seen these problems and we are saying, we do not want half-baked graduates as a result of inadequate funding. There is no going back on the right of our children; qualitative education is

awarded. The scholarship covers a period of five years: two years studying for your Master’s degree at TU/e and three years working for the company that sponsors your scholarship.

To apply, go to www.scholarship-positions.com FMI International PhD Program in Switzerland, 2014 The Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research is funding an International PhD Program in affiliation with the University of Basel in Switzerland. The duration of PhD course is 4 years. Applicants from all nations with a Master degree or equivalent are eligible for this international PhD program.

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To apply, go to www. scholarship-positions.com The deadline for applications is November 30, 2013.There are two deadlines each year in May and November.

their right."

The national leader who is passionate about seeing students go back to school, reiterated that mothers will not tolerate from the Federal Government the excuse that they have got no money to fund education. According to her, “if you are a father of six children, I am sure you will look for a way to ensure your children have education."

State of emergency stalls education in the North-East Continues from page 25 trend will set back the affected students. They equally called for necessary measures to be put in place to address the situation.

“WAEC and the ministries of education in the affected states should, as a matter of urgency, put a machinery in place to address the issues and appeal for restraint on the side of the affected students and schools,” they said.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer, WAEC, Mr. Ari Yusufu, said the affected students would retake the exams during the November/December diet which would still be conducted in

the affected states, though with better security.

In spite of the presence of security personnel in Borno State, parents and children are still skeptical about returning to school for fear of attacks.

Speaking the minds of many parents and students, Adamu Mustafa, whose son was a student of one of the torched schools, said though he wants his children to have western education, “it’s difficult for them to properly understand what they are being taught or the teacher to be in the best frame of mind because all they would be thinking of is their safety.”

Winners emerge in Mike Okonkwo essay competition

F

olatomi Alli-Balogun of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Mark Nwanbiankea, of Lagos State Senior Model Collage Badore, and Samuel Edet of Government Technical College Calabar, Cross River State have emerged top winners in the 10 th edition of the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools.

Folatomi Alli-Balogun won N100,000, a laptop for herself and three sets of internet-ready desktop computers with printer for her school.

Mark Nwanbiankea won N75,000 and two internet-ready desktop computers with printer for his school, while Samuel Effion Edet, who came third won N50,000 and a set of internet- ready desktop computer for his school.

Thames Valley College motivates enterprising students

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hames Valley College has announced a tuition-free scholarship to deserving and enterprising students who show outstanding promise in the Arts, Sciences, Mathematics and Music.

Thames Valley College is a purpose-built, world class international secondary school built on a sprawling 21-acre serene environment along the Sagamu- Ikorodu road, beyond the reach of the hustling and bustling of surrounding towns and cities.

Describing what many consider as groundbreaking, Education consultant and member of the school’s Governing Board, Mr Babatunde Kolade announced that the Board of Governors of the school, standing true to its philosophy of creating and nurturing great minds for the future has decided to reward students who demonstrate their above average inclinations in the given subject areas.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—31

BY LAJU ARENYEKA & JOSEPHINE MBAEBIE

I

Teaching ranks highest employing profession in Nigeria

t is often said that a teacher ’s reward is in heaven alone. The reason for such a belief is not far-fetched because of the subjects being - teachers in this part of the speaking on this development classroom attracts the largest offered. This is why there is world are some of the most said; “It is easy to get number of hands. The upsurge more vacancy in educational poorly paid professionals, employed in the educational of private schools as a result sector than in other fields.” with some graduates being sector one because a lot of of government’s inability to Mrs. Chinyere Nwabueze is paid as low as N20,000 per school administrators don’t fund the public schools has also an employer of labour in month. In spite of this, a really pay well. This backfires given rise to the need for more the education sector. She recent survey carried out by on the sector in the sense that and more teachers. “It is no opined that many in the the National Bureau of because the sector pays surprise that more people are teaching profession see it as a Statistics (NBS) rates the peanuts, it tends to attract low needed to attend to students second option because they teaching profession as the quality teachers who are than in other professions,” she could not get employment in highest employer of labour in simply trying to pass the time said. “Children need more other fields: “I agree with Nigeria, garnering a total of 70, until they find something people to attend to them and these statistics, because some 183 people from the better to do.” educate them; for example in of our teachers here studied employment market.

For Mrs. Maureen Emedike, primary schools, you will need medicine, engineering, According to the survey the Proprietress, Crystal up to 10-12 teachers while in political science and they were which covers the third quarter Foundation School, this is not secondary schools, you will not employed in their fields. of 2012, for 29,308 of this the only reason why the need close to 15 or more figure, with primary school teachers following closely with 16, 970 and lecturers in higher education standing at 9, 757. This development does make stakeholders wonder: “Has education become a dumping ground for people who cannot get jobs elsewhere? What could this mean for the quality of education children are receiving?

And how many more teachers need to be pumped into the sector to solve the education crisis?

In this report, stakeholders in the education sector give answers to these and more. *LAUNCH: From right: Head of Marketing, LearnAfrica Plc, Mr Allwell Nwankwo; Mrs Yetunde Aina, member, Board of Directors, Learn Africa and Publishing Director, Learn Mr. Emmanuel Africa, Mr Gbola Ayedun, during the launch of the Support-A-Library initiative.

Jonathan, the principal of Pricom College in Lagos,

NUC boss tasks ACE project c'ttee on objectivity

BY DAYO ADESULU

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he Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, has tasked members of the National Project Performance and Review Committee (NPPRC) of the African Centres of Excellence (ACE) project, to be objective and thorough in the discharge of their assignment. He gave the charge while inaugurating the committee at the NUC Secretariat, Abuja. Professor Okojie reminded them that they were ‘ambassadors of the Commission’, with the responsibilities to create awareness on the relevance of the ACE project and assist interested universities in formulating award-winning proposals.

The Executive Secretary expressed pleasure with the composition of the Committee, acknowledging that it was made up of respectable academics who had C M Y K

contributed in various ways to growing, developing and uplifting the Nigerian University System (NUS). He appealed to them to bring their wealth of experience to bear, to ensure that whatever peer review mechanism they came up with, would enable the system to regain its lost glory.

Professor Okojie observed the deficiencies in the NUS,

which he linked to indiscipline and mismanagement of the universities, adding that these anomalies required the collective action of all wellmeaning academics to tackle.

He decried the level of corruption in the universities and tasked the Committee to be critical, above board and transparent, to justify the confidence reposed on them.

He lamented that mentorship and mentoring, which used to be the hallmark of academics,

had disappeared with the new breed of lecturers unwilling to mentor those behind them, insisting that there was no pride in bearing the toga of a Professor, when as an academic, one failed to replicate himself in supervising PhD projects.

The NUC scribe said that the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) initiative, had not witnessed much progress due to distortions caused by the striking academics in the universities.

UNILAG hosts African Regional Conference on Engineering Education

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he Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Chairman, National Organising Committee for African Regional Conference on Engineering Education (ARCEE) 2013, Professor Rahamon Bello has stated that Nigeria will be hosting the fifth edition of the regional programme. He said; “The

regional conference is to provide a forum for engineering educators, professional organisations and industry leaders worldwide in general and African region in particular to discuss common problems in engineering education.”

According to the chairman, during the four-day conference, efforts will be

made to critically examine different pedagogical approaches, different student learning styles, curriculum development to mention a few.

He explained that the conference has as its integral part, capacity-building workshops for teachers in the areas of teaching methods, ICT, leadership etc.

LearnAfrica boosts reading culture with Support-ALibrary project

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

I

N its quest to boost students’ learning, LearnAfrica Education Development Foundation has launched a new initiative to improve reading culture among Nigerian youths through the provision of upto-date books in school and public libraries.

Speaking at the launch of the Support-A-Library initiative, its team leader, Mrs Yetunde Aina noted that the Foundation embarked on the project in response to the observed deplorable conditions of school and public libraries in the country.

She said; “In recent times, many commentators had observed that a lot of libraries in Nigeria have become mere reading rooms, a situation that does not help students in their quest for knowledge.”

Aina who passionately pleaded for a revival of libraries in the country stated that Nigeria is blessed with bright and talented children, millions of whom study under unimaginable conditions.

She explained that if an individual or a group of individuals can buy a bundle of N50,000 books, our libraries will be equipped with educative books that will enhance learning.

Aina who added that many of the children had never read a book apart from school textbooks supplied by government said, yet many of these youths have strong desires for books.

Aina, a board of trustees member of the Foundation insisted that libraries in the country must assume a pride of place in academics if the country would continue to produce world-class manpower to support its development. She, therefore urged individuals, organizations, alumni and diaspora associations to support the initiative.

On his part, the Head of Marketing, Learn Africa Plc, Mr Allwell Nwankwo said the initiative offers specially discounted book bundles for various levels of education for N50,000, N100,000, N150,000 and N200,000, in addition to general interest books to cater for the needs of various categories of readers.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—33

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

Female engineer wins 7-Up MBA Harvard scholarship

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etermined to attain 91 per cent literacy rate before the 2015 Education for All deadline, the Lagos State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, LSAME, in conjunction with the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), UNESCO and the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Office, has concluded a six-day training workshop organised for the 111 facilitators of the adult literacy scheme in some of the local government council areas of the state. with the theme, Revatilising Adult and Youth Literacy in Lagos, the 111 participants were drawn from three local government areas of Lagos, namely: Epe, Ifako-Ijaiye and Apapa.

Declaring the workshop open, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, who noted that education is a key to economic development of any society, restated the state’s commitment to the development of education at all levels in the state.

Pointing out that their contributions to the literacy scheme and economic development of the state was highly recognised and commendable, Alawiye-King urged them to take the selfless

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

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CONFERENCE:

From left: Council member,Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD),Mr Laolu Oguntuyi; President, Dr Kayode Ogungbuyi and First VicePresident, Rev. Tunde Salawu at the institute’s 21st Annual Trainers Conference in Abuja.

LSAME increases mass literacy to 91% service more seriously.

Also speaking, Mr. Bayo Adeyemo of the National Mass Education Commission challenged the participants to ensure that the new knowledge they acquired should reflect in their future assignments, adding that the

agency was ready to support any individual, group of people or establishment towards eradicating illiteracy in the country.

Noting that thousands have benefited from the literacy scheme, the Director, LSAME, Mrs. Fola Amore, urged

participants to always come down to the level of their students, some of whom are either drop-outs or never been to school.

“The success of the programme would go a long way in achieving the MDGs, especially as regards the eradication of illiteracy particularly in Lagos State and Nigeria.

ERC holds free holiday lessons

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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ver 300 students in the Ajegunle environs of Lagos State have benefited from the six-week free holiday coaching organised by the Education Rights Campaign (ERC).

The ERC Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Hassan Soweto, while speaking to Vanguard Learning about the coaching said; “We are not just a traditional NGO; we want to demonstrate the practicality and possibility of free education.

"Government propaganda has always been to bring down the idea of free education by

opining that anything that is free will be taken for granted.

But as we have seen in the past three years of free coaching, that is not true.

"The only way to get standard, qualitative education to the 10.5 million out-of-school children in this country is by making education free at all levels.”

Mr. Babatunde Yusuf, the coordinator of the coaching said; “There are peculiar realities confronting people in Ajegunle, there are issues of poverty. As a result, many parents cannot afford to pay for holiday coaching, this is the reason we do this for free

for the past eight years. We have over 20 volunteer teachers, who are either graduates or undergraduates in different fields. The graduates teach the SS3 classes as well as GCE candidates, while the undergraduates teach students in SS1 and SS2. We have over 300 students and more are willing to come.

There are students in Junior secondary schools who really want to attend the lessons, but we can’t accommodate them at the moment, we are hoping that we would be able to do so by next year. But there are a lot of constraints involved,

out-going students of Havanah College, Igando, Lagos, during the school's prizegiving and graduation ceremony

*Out-going students of Havanah College, Igando, Lagos, during the school's prize-giving and graduation ceremony C C M M Y Y K K

the classrooms are packed, and there aren’t so many people that are willing to teach for free.”

The programme also accommodates special students. Sunday Akpute is a blind student with the vision of becoming a lawyer in the future. He says; “If we were asked to pay, I don’t think that I would have been able to afford the quality of teaching and learning here. I don’t feel disadvantaged at all. I am a very fast learner, and the teachers are very good, so it has been a really wonderful experience for me.”

While his counterparts are lamenting the ongoing ASUU strike, Sunday Taiwo is committing his time to students at the ERC free coaching. An undergraduate of the Lagos State University, as well as a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Taiwo said; “As a secondary school student, I couldn’t afford to pay for lessons. I wish someone had done something like his when I was at that stage in my life. I know what it is like to be in such a position where you can’t afford to learn more even though that is what you desire.”

he 2013 winner of MBA Scholarship to Harvard has emerged. She is Miss Mayowa Kuyoro, a graduate of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Warwick, UK. Out of the seven contestants, she emerged as best.

In 2010, the 7Up MBA scholarship scheme was instituted to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the 7Up Bottling Company. Ever since, the company has been awarding full scholarship to one Nigerian for a two-year MBA programme at the Harvard Business School. The first award in 2011 was given to Miss Misa Rewane, Economics degree, Stanford University, who has just completed her programme at the Harvard Business School and the second recipient, Mr. Olujimi Williams, Master's in Mechanical Engineering with Business from the University of Manchester, has only just completed his first year of the programme. The three scholars were Nigerian graduates who only had their O’level in Nigeria and went to study abroad and qualified by 7Up’s definition of residency.

In his remarks at the ceremony held in Lagos, the Executive Director of Human Resources, 7Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Femi Mokikan said though delighted that the recipients are Nigerians, however, said that he wished they emerged from our local universities.

He urged Nigerian graduates from local universities to apply for admission into HBS to qualify for the scheme with absolute belief in themselves and with the hope of getting funding from the company. He said; “We are looking forward to that day when the recipient would be somebody that went to University of Calabar or University of Ilorin, one who has never even been to the international airport so that we can feel fulfilled that at least this project is accomplishing that for which we instituted it."

He also noted that the scholarship scheme is aimed at providing Nigerians with the opportunities to acquire skills and competencies that will improve them to become global leaders.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Rivers gives automatic employment to 36 medical scholars

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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HE Rivers State Government has given automatic employment to 36 doctors that graduated from the Kuban Medical School in Russia. The 36 medical doctors were beneficiaries of the Rivers State scholarship scheme to study medicine in Russia. The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi stated this in her office when the medical doctors visited her on their return from Russia.

She said Governor Rotimi Amaechi, mandated the Ministry of Education to forward the names of the medical doctors to the Ministry of Health for immediate employment.

Alice Lawrence-Nemi also said that the state Government needs the services of the medical doctors at the sick bays in the model primary and secondary schools and also the model health centres in the state. “I have mandated the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to have your names and addresses becausethe Governor has asked the Ministry to hand you over to the Ministry of Health so that you can start work immediately and also ensure that you get your employment

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letters,” she said.

Lawrence-Nemi revealed that the Rivers State Government has increased the number of scholarships given to students since the inception of Governor Amaechi-led administration.

She stated that the state government through the Ministry of Education and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) has awarded scholarships to students to study in different countries like Canada, Russia etc. She revealed that many overseas scholarship students who have graduated in their

various fields of study have been employed by the state government.

The Education boss noted that the Government has improved the health sector in the state by building model health centres equipped with modern facilities across the state.

She commended Drs Nwankwo Chinalurum, Nzokuru Cynthia and Princewill Matthew who made distinction in their courses and tasked the doctors to give their best while practising their professional careers.

The Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Education, Dr. Richard Ofuru said he is pleased to see the medical doctors who he conducted their screening exercise seven years ago, return as professionals.

He advised the medical doctors to take their work very seriously so as to justify government's invested in them. He noted that the government will be willing to do more if they give their best during their one year housemanship and the NYSC service year.

*MEDICAL SCHOLARS: Sitting middle: Commissioner for Education, Rivers State, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi with the 36 medical doctors in Port Harcourt.

Group commends NLC’s decision on ASUU

By AMAKA ABAYOMI & EKEMINI EYOH

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he Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has commended the decision of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to mediate in the current negotiation between the Federal Government and striking lecturers under ASUU. In a statement singed by its protem National Chairperson, Segun Sango, SPN, while commending NLC’s intention to mediate in the present face-off between ASUU and the Federal Government, tasked the Congress to go beyond scratching these issues on the surface and call for a mass protest to save the education sector.

“While we welcome the decision of the NLC NEC to intervene in ASUU strike, we feel that the ‘negotiating’ approach of the Congress, rather than helping the striking lecturers achieve their demands, will lead to unwarranted compromise.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012—35

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

incineration, or contained pyrolysis (anaerobic combustion), the latter of which can be controlled to sequester carbon and produce a valuable soil amendment; or they could be taken to a dump site so the waste is isolated. That is the key; having isolation every step of the way.

But in Nigeria, we don’t h a v e t h a t . We h a v e c o mingling of wastes from humans and other aspects of the environment like the water they drink, the air they breathe and that is what presents as lifeshortening risk to us," he said.

Improper waste disposal reduces quality of life – Charles Reith n most urban and semiurban centres in Nigeria, you find waste piles of various sizes and shapes with foul smell oozing from them.

These wastes include plastics, papers, clothes, food scraps, bottles, cans etc. Apart from being an eyesore which does great injustice to an otherwise scenic environment, these wastes can migrate and accumulate in ways that pose risk to humans, according to Dr. Charles Reith, the Director of Sustainability and Interim Provost, American University of Nigeria, Yola. In this chat with Vanguard Learning, the Professor of Environmental Science and Entrepreneurship, says there is need to practise controlled waste disposal to safeguard the environment and health.

Excerpts: Waste migration: According to Reith, there are different pathways through which wastes such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs, half-empty paint cans, medical waste and dead animals, migrate from the dump site into the environment. These pathways include "surface runoff, leaching, vermin, livestock, crops, and atmospheric transport, both of resuspended particles and residues of combustion."

Combustion/Inhalation pathway: Said Reith; "One of the ways that people dispose of waste is by burning. They take particularly the plastic bags and bottles and set them on fire and that creates toxic chemicals which are inhaled by people in the community.

This creates risks for them because the residues emanating from the waste pile hang over fields and neighborhoods. It is a respiratory hazard; it is lifeshortening because they could get lung cancer from it."

Water pathway/Sinks: "Another way that waste can move from waste pile into the environment is by water. You have water falling on waste piles and going into sinks or receptors. Sinks include street sides, neighborhoods, water bodies and farms. Whenever it rains, some of the waste get washed off the surface, then move into pools that are near the waste pile and those pools are actually used for bathing and irrigating crops. Some even move further all the way into a river. We know there are toxic constituents like C M Y K

*Dr. Charles Reith incinerator where they undergo contained

AUN holds Fall convocation lead and mercury and these toxic constituents are mobilised from the source which is the pile, through a pathway which is through the air or water, to a sink which is for instance our lungs or liver.

Direct exposure: Children sometimes go to waste piles and actually sift

,

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By EBELE ORAKPO

means the child is going round the pile, touching it and if he doesn’t wash his hands and ends up eating food, he may ingest it.

Livestock: Livestock like cattle go to waste piles and sometimes, it is their main way of feeding.

Then you have crops that

Residues emanating from waste piles hang over fields and neighborhoods; it is life-shortening because they could get lung cancer from it

around the waste looking for things that might be valuable. We identified five different waste piles in Yola and in one of them, children were sifting around and we discovered it was a pile with medical waste - hypodermal syringes, gauze, blood-borne pathogens etc. They could get their hands punctured or they they could become infected through the ingestion pathway which

,

grow on the pile and sometimes you actually have people who build their houses close to the pile.

Proper waste disposal: "In countries where there is more funding and more government resolve, wastes are very carefully dealt with.

They are isolated from the beginning. They go into trash bins and then into trucks and the trucks haul them to either an

T

he Fall convocation of the American University of Nigeria in Yola took place on Monday, August 26, during which the institution welcomed new students and their families from across the country into the AUN community and reaffirmed the university’s goals, values, and ideals.

In her address, President of AUN, Professor Margee Ensign introduced the students to the American-style education that awaits them at AUN which, according to her, is marked by small classes of one or two dozen students, active classroom discussion and participation, and a focus on development issues facing Africa.

She noted that the institution which has taken a leading role in fostering local peace initiatives in the area, thrives in spite of the challenges of emergency rule in the state.

Ensign emphasized that the students should expect to be challenged to “participate, persevere, and play - all with

passion.”

President of AUN’s Student Government Association, Mr. Yazid Suleiman, challenged the new students to tackle Africa’s development issues.

“You have come, you will learn, and you will go out into the world and change it. One day, Africa will depend on us, and I believe we will deliver.”

A parent, Mr. Tunde Alabi, said; “My first child graduated last year and from what I saw after she came out of the university, I was encouraged to bring a second child to the school. I kept wondering was Yola safe? But from what I have seen for myself, I feel better reassured that the security of our children is being given the ultimate priority it deserves."

The ceremony ended with a community-wide recitation of the AUN Integrity Oath - all students, faculty, staff, and families rededicating themselves to work marked by honesty and high ethical standards, a university tradition first instituted in the US more than 200 years ago.

Wellspring discloses secret of 100% WAEC results

BY DAYO ADESULU

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ellspring College whose students had 100 per cent in 19 subjects in the 2013 WAEC has attributed the achievement to some salient factors.

The Principal, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade while speaking with media men who were keen to know the secret behind the feat said; “it is a collective effort of stakeholders in school.”

According to the results presented, students scored 100% in 19 subjects including English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Technical Drawing, Further Maths, Agricultural Science,

Geography, Government, Economics, Accounting, Literature in English, Commerce, Music, Christian Religious Knowledge, Food and Nutrition, Igbo Language and French.

She said: “God has blessed the school with seasoned teachers who are dedicated and committed to the mission and vision of the school.

“Teachers put in their best to make sure that they record 100% score in their subjects as we present students for the various examinations each year.

“Besides extra coaching hours, Saturday lessons were employed to make sure that the syllabus in each subject was covered.

Before examination, thorough

revision was carried out and coaching clinic organised for students lagging behind in various subjects to enable them meet up with the expected standard.”

For students in Wellspring, Oloriade said that the school is blessed with teachable students who were ready to learn and also willing to give their best shot at achieving greatness.

According to her, students' ability to yield to corrections and humble themselves under the guidance of their teachers and the Holy Spirit have often resulted in their being honoured with good results.

She disclosed that parents and guardians have helped in

no small measure to see these students come up with success story.

“Before examination, both staff and students gave ourselves to fasting and prayer,” she added.

Her words; “The proprietor of the school is supportive in providing all needed resources for effective teaching and learning processes. He also gave me free hand to lead and manage these resources as God leads.”

Oloriade who urged teachers to give their best said, “as a teacher, if you will not give your best, better quit the job. Teachers should go the extra mile to ensure that delivery is achieved.

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH

Udeme Archibong successrecipe2009@mail.com

Building the image of a champion

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for Education, Ogun State, Mr. Olusegun Odubela and member, Board of Governors, Thames Valley College, Mr. Babatunde Kolade during a tour of Thames Valley College by the commissioner in Sagamu.

IMPLEMENTATION OF FG/ASUU AGREEMENT

The only way to save higher education in Nigeria

By BAMIDELE ATURU

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t is amazing that the Federal Government has allowed the ASUU strike to continue without any serious attempt to resolve the impasse. In the first place, it needs to be stressed that once an agreement has been reached by parties, it ought to be respected and implemented. If there is any intervening factor or reason that makes full implementation of an agreement impossible, then the parties must agree as to the way forward. It is, therefore, unacceptable that the Federal Government should attempt to bully ASUU to accept that it can renege on the agreement as it pleases as it is doing at the

moment.

Second, the expenditure profile of the government and politicians does not show that government is unable to meet the financial requirements of the agreement. In a country where politicians buy private jets at will and send their children to private primary schools overseas, only the politicians would believe the lie that government cannot afford to fund higher education in the manner requested by ASUUFGN Agreement.

Third, unless the agreement is respected, higher education is doomed in Nigeria. We may have to return to the suggestion made

by Professor Soyinka many years ago that we should close down all

the universities and declare a state of emergency. When the sage first made that suggestion, it looked unrealistic and alarmist.

Now, it is clear that we are pretending to have higher education. What takes place in our dilapidated universities is little better than kindergarten education, if we must be honest with ourselves. The only way to begin to rescue higher education in Nigeria is for the Federal Government and its officials to begin immediate implementation of the agreement it voluntarily reached with the academics.

FG has no vision for education – Kogi ASUU Chair

By EDIRI EJOH

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hairman of the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria, Kogi State University Chapter, Sylvester Osakwe Ukwuteno, has said that the ongoing strike by the union will continue because the Federal Government has not straightened its vision for the sector.

Ukwuteno who spoke with Vanguard Learning via telephone interview, explained that if there are plans for the sector, government would have speedily concurred with the plea to innovate the sector being pursued by the union, adding that the pursuit of the union is to ensure that the country meets up with the international standard

of education.

“We hope this would be the last strike that will surface on this particular discourse, hopefully if the government cares for education because we will not budge until our demands are met. The much emphasis of ‘no money syndrome’ is all lies as the president could convey over 300 entourage including himself, to China coupled with their allowances, welfare and other incentives, they should tell Nigerians where the money is coming from.

“The quest is not money motivated as speculated, but to ensure that facilities and other necessary equipment needed to update the students are made scalable for effective learning.

Universities are currently operating with little or no equipment in the labs, making the labs nonfunctional for practicals, thereby sterilizing what is supposed to be practically inclined.

“It took Ghana a year and some months strike before the government came to their senses and the outcome is currently obvious, we would do even more till our request is granted.”

He therefore urged the public to join in the struggle by mounting pressure on the government to hasten up in its decisions because the students are the casualties now, but will be the benefactors if eventually granted.

,

*TOUR: From left: Managing Director, Brandeis Limited, Mr. Femi Ashiwaju; Commissioner

is father spent most of his time assuring the youngster that he will never amount to anything. As a result through his teen years his self image was battered.

On the reverse, his mother spent most of her life assuring him that that he could be Number One. “Joey” said she, “there is no one else in the world like you”.

Fortunately, the youngster bought into his mother’s words. And his self-respect took a quantum leap. The youngster grew into adulthood and became a successful person but not an overwhelming success.

Suddenly, the unexpected happened, his business took a downward slide and he was dead broke. His self-confidence nose-dived as fear fastened its grip on him. However, his lovely wife took him in her arms and said, “Joe, we had nothing when we were first married. Then, for the while, we had everything.

Now, we have nothing again. I had faith in you then and I have faith in you now. You can become successful once more. I believe in you”.

With those elevating words, his self-confidence level soared and his image experienced an upward boost. Consequently, he reached the peak of his career and made history as his name was inscribed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the

Your sense of value cannot be based on your achievements, how well you perform, how somebody else treats you, or how popular or successful you are

,

World’s Number-one Car Salesman.

His name is Joe Girard. Our Self-image is affected by people who love us and believe in us and by people who do not love and believe in us.

Developing a champion image could be likened to our daily diet. You do not refuse eating today because you had eaten yesterday because you know that the body needs nourishment in order to be energized and fit to serve you effectively.

Therefore, our self-esteem needs daily nourishment and renewal to satisfy our psychological needs which is next to physical survival.

Supposing you are watching a particular channel on television and you do not like the programme, you will probably change the channel to another that you will enjoy watching.

So it applies, our self-image is like watching a programme on television on a particular channel.

Peradventure, the programmes you are watching mentally are full with pictures of your faults, weaknesses, past mistakes, failures, rejection and other painful experiences.

You will need to change the channel by switching to another that display better programmes.

However, in this case you are responsible for creating the programmes you enjoy watching on the new channel.

Champions begin by building their self-image on the right foundation by recognizing their intrinsic worth. Joel Osteen reveals, “Your sense of value cannot be based on your achievements, how well you perform, how somebody else treats you, or how popular or successful you are.

Your sense of value should be based solely on the fact that you are a child of the Most High God. As His unique creation, you have something to offer this world that nobody else has, that nobody else can be.”

Vanguard, THURSD AY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 —37 THURSDA

Why mosquitoes cannot transmit HIV — EXPERTS

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

ODAY, available statistics have shown that estimated 1.6 million people die of HIV&AIDS annually. In Nigeria alone, government reports claim that over 300,000 Nigerians die yearly of complications arising from AIDS. If these estimated numbers die of HIV/AIDS, have you ever imagined what the situation will be like? Thank God, HIV doesn’t have that ability. If mosquitoes spread HIV the way they spread malaria, millions of people will definitely lose their lives on daily basis, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria where mosquitoes are endemic.

Before now, there have been reports about concern of the possibility of mosquitoes transmitting AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) when the disease was first recognized and many people still feel that mosquitoes may be responsible for transmission of this infection from one individual to another.

However, Entomologists say that although mosquitoes function the same way as hypodermic needles - they can both inject chemicals and extract blood but cannot transmit HIV. According to a former Navy Entomologist and Current

Technical Advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association, Joe Conlon explains; “If mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus and other blood-borne diseases, shouldn’t they logically be able to transmit HIV, too? It is definitely not a stupid question, but that is not the case. Mosquitoes can not transmit HIV. Conlon reassured that first of all, when a mosquito bites you, it draws your blood into its gut.

Acids there kill the HIV virus.

“Even if the mosquito’s stomach acids did not render the virus harmless, it would not be able to get back out of the insect.

That is because mosquitoes use two different tubes to suck up blood and to inject you with saliva that stops your blood from clotting up while it’s drinking. Even if a mosquito had virus-containing blood from another human inside it, the blood would never exit the bug through its salivary glands and into your blood stream.

“For a mosquito to transmit a disease, it must pick up the virus. The virus has to survive in the gut and then get outside the gut into the body cavity and then eventually into the salivary glands to be injected into something else. It is a very complicated process, and with HIV, it just doesn’t happen,”

• Anopheles mosquito. he explained.

Malaria parasites, on the other hand, are able to grow in the mosquito gut, then, migrate specifically to the salivary glands to continue their lifecycle in another human.

Reasons Mosquitoes’ mouth parts do not operate like a hypodermic needle. The tube which injects the host with saliva is separate from the canal which the mosquito uses to suck blood from the same host. Therefore blood only flows into the mosquito

and only saliva is injected; blood is not flushed out of the same canal.

Insect-borne diseases like

Encephalitis and malaria are spread because they multiply within the mosquito, these diseases then move into the insect’s salivary glands and are injected into the host with the saliva. If a mosquito feeds on an HIV-positive person the virus cannot survive and replicate within the mosquito’s gut as HIV requires specialist cells found only in humans in order to multiply.

HIV circulates in the blood at lower levels than malaria and other inset-borne diseases. The mosquito does not take enough units of HIV from the infected person to initiate infection.

Even if it was possible for the mosquito to inject HIV into an uninfected person, the person would have to be bitten by 10 million mosquitoes who had previously been feeding on an HIV positive host in order to receive one unit of HIV.

MART-Medicare debuts in Lagos

M

ART-MEDICARE, a new state-of-the-art health facility and expanded fertility centre opens today at LOFOM House, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos. Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu is expected to declare the facility

open during a special ceremony.

In a statement, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, Medical Director and Founder, Medical ART Centre, said the new outfit is part of the MART Group of advanced reproductive health services of international standard.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

G

OOD day sir. I have a problem that has con cerned me since I was a teenager. My penis is curved to one side. I am very conscious of this especially when I am with a woman. Is there anything you can do to straighten it? Thanks – Benjamin Dear Benjamin, you will be surprised to hear that there is no normal way for a penis to look. The penis comes in different sizes and curves in a variety of directions. Some penises are straight while others curve upwards, to the left or to the right. Secondly, you will also be pleased to know that women don’t care which way your penis is pointing, provided that you know what to do with it. for you this could mean shorter thrusts during intercourse to avoid it slipping out. You can also go with the option of having the woman on top so that it stays firmly in place when inserted. So this isn’t something that should bother you. Consider that men are fascinated by all manner of breast shapes and sizes, even though the left and right side of a woman’s breast are never the same size and nipples generally point in all manner of directions.

Having said this, there is a form of penis deformity known as Peyronies disease and it is also characterised by extreme curvature or distortion of the penis which brings about pain during erection. If this is what you are experiencing, then you should go and see a doctor for tests and possibly corrective surgery – Uche I am getting married soon and I am currently taking marriage classes. Sex education is a big topic in these classes and Zee Virtual Media was recommended as the place to get necessary educational materials. Please do you have materials that can help young couples have a great love life that will stand the test of time? Thank you – Maria Hello Maria and congratulations on your coming wedding. You are smart to be taking your love life seriously. Many people make the mistake of not do-

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38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

No strings attached relationship

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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If only I knew! (2)

I

NSTANTLY, all sorts of emotions raced through my body and mind. All my earlier apprehensions about Dave and his weakness for women came flooding back, as if my mind was trying to tell me, "didn't I tell you so?" Like, finally, the die is cast! my worst fears have been confirmed.

If the girl in question were to be a normal girl, I could try to understand the whole situation and even second guess what she was capable of doing. But this one? I was scared for my life. I was scared of what she could do to me, my child and even Dave, if she goes on to have the baby and Dave did not marry her, or the two of us as she was suggesting. I had been hearing of similar stories but never imagined I will be the principal character in one.

I felt ashamed to be caught in such a ridiculous situation.

I was angry and bitter, not only with Dave but myself. If I had not allowed myself to fall for a guy like Dave, I definitely will not be in such a problem. I had no choice but to confide in my mother who could also not hide her shock and disgust for Dave and the scene that I described to her. Her first reaction was that I must be patient since it was me Dave wanted to marry and not

the other girl. She would scold me about my condition and why I must control myself because of the growing baby.

However, as the days went by, her real feelings began to creep to the surface. She would sometimes express fear that a marriage that kicks off on a note like ours was not likely to be a successful one.

She would point out that but for the pregnancy, she would have prefered that I do away with Dave. "You are still young and would always get someone else, even better than Dave”, she would chip in.

Kind of problem Other times, she would just start grumbling that no one in her family has ever had the kind of problem I have and she doesn't know how to deal with it. She doesn't know any juju man that will help her should anything happen to me because of all the threats from the Shola girl. Besides, if Dave starts having children outside wedlock right from the beginning of the marriage, how many would he have by the time we have been married for 10 years or more?

,

HI! Often time, when in a state of confusion and helplessness, we may take some rash decisions. Depending on our state of mind at the time, the decision may not be in our best interest or suitable for the situation or problem at hand.

Eventually, the consequences of these decisions may turn out to be our nemesis and we find ourselves wishing we could turn back the hands of the clock.

The story you are about to read happened about 15 years ago to a young lady named Susan who I ran into a few weeks ago. Susan is the typical fun-loving, happy, working class girl from a middleclass family who fell in love with a guy who loved the skirts more. Unfortunately, her nice, neat world was turned upside down when her man finally bit more than he could chew. A quick, spiral of events after and 15 years later, Susan says she wished she’d handled the situation differently. Susan concludes her story. Happy reading!

She said some people had been telling her that it was Shola that Dave wanted to marry and not me. And even though she recently confronted Dave and he denied it, she had seen Shola and him together at a friend's party. She too admitted being afraid of the girl and was sure she was slowly charming her way into Dave's life. She advised that I fasten my girdle belt tightly as the matter was no joke at all.

That did it! The humiliation was getting too much for me. I had never bargained for the kind of lifestyle Dave was slowly leading me into. how would I be explaining to people that I was getting married to a man who is also expecting a baby by another woman?

Above all, I couldn’t even begin to imagine a life with the likes of Shola as a mate or a constant figure in my life. And so, I decided to do what I thought could free me of my predicament.

I traveled to England and there had the pregnancy terminated. It was just a little over three months. I sent a message to my parents that I had fallen ill and lost the pregnancy. Everyone sympathised with me over my loss but in my heart, I

Other times, she would just start grumbling that no one in her family has ever had the kind of problem I have and she doesn't know how to deal with it

Of course, we were no longer talking about the planned wedding, just waiting for Dave to announce that he had sorted out his problem with the girl. Sometimes when Dave comes around to the house, I would just refuse to see him and insist that they tell him I am either out or sleeping. And when we did see, it was one quarrel after another. Of course there was no GSM then, so communication was not this easy.

Then one day, my cousin, the one dating of one Dave's friends came to visit me with the update on Shola's pregnancy. She said she had been hearing funny stories from some of our circle of friends and wanted to confirm with me, what the true position was.

,

felt remorseful. I called off the relationship with Dave and he went ahead to marry his gutter wife.It would take me about five years to confide in my mother that I deliberately terminated the pregnancy and it was not a miscarriage as I had led them to believe back then.

15 years after, I am still single and wondering if I will ever find a man to call my own.

Because of my faith, I know I will one day but the question is when. My father has lost hope of seeing me married off before he dies and what hurts me most is that he believes it is deliberate on my part. However, there is still great pressure from everyone, especially my mother who is convinced that Shola must be responsible for what is happening to

ANY guys and girls love the idea of a no strings attached relationship, all the fun with no hassles of being tied down. The idea seems really exciting, because you get to have the cake and are eating it too. But is it all so rosy and fun?

Quite frankly, no strings attached relationships are a lot of fun, but it isn’t for everyone.

Not everyone can handle the delicacy of this fake relationship that feels like love but isn’t anything more than a few moments of lust and fun.

For some, it starts off with fun and turns into a one sided romance. For others, it ends with insecurity and jealousy and for almost everyone else, it ends in awkward encounters where one or both partners try to avoid eye contact for the rest of their lives.

You have had a bad breakup and just want to have some fun.

You don’t have time for a committed relationship. You love your space, but you love sex too.

You want to stay single and avoid commitments for a while.

Long term relationship There are so many cute and sexy things all around you that you just don’t want to be tied down to a single person. You have been in a long term relationship and just want to explore a few fun opportunities before settling down again.

A no strings attached relationship works only when your mind has the maturity to disassociate love from sex. But unfortunately, it’s not something most people can do. As humans, we always end up emotionally attaching ourselves when we have frequent sex with one person.

Don’t lie to yourself. Don’t try to convince yourself that you can enjoy sex with someone, get intimate and have personal conversations with them and still stop yourself from falling in love with them. me. If I cannot find a husband, at least, I should be able to have a child or two by one of the men I hang out with.

If it were possible, I will turn back the hands of the clock and give the situation everything that it demands. Even if it means just having the baby outside wedlock. After all, even though I will be the first to do such a thing in my family, I will not be the first single mother. Besides, I am financially capable of taking care of myself and my child.

Back then, I acted out of anger, fear and childishness.

There are many ways to get a no strings attached partner.

It all starts with a flirty glance and a naughty conversation where you hint at someone that you like them, and yet make it clear that you don’t want to date them.

After all, if you just tell someone that you like them, they’d assume you want a serious relationship. So if you are looking for a naughty fling thing, just make these three things clear, subtly while talking to your target. One, you have had your share of relationships and are just looking for some fun right now. Two, you are single. And three, you find them very attractive and sexy. Use the same order when you are trying to send the message across.

Making it clear that you aren’t interested in a relationship first makes it seem like it’s your lifestyle choice for the moment. But if you tell someone that you find them attractive, and then tell them that you are just looking for fun, it would appear like you are making a proposition for free sex! Just let the person know you find them attractive.

You have already made it clear that you are looking for a no strings fling thing because you have mentioned that before flirting with them. And when you do start flirting with them, they’d start flirting back with you if they like the idea of having a no strings attached relationship with you.

Once you find yourself in this arrangement, you need to ask yourself if you’re happy to have this arrangement with one or more people. If you are, well, then that’s great for you.

But when a no strings attached relationship starts to take too much importance in your mind, or if it starts to make you feel unhappy, you’re probably falling for this person and you need to either back away or confess your intentions.

Though I have made my peace with God, I now know better.

The world is about fighting for survival, even if it means fighting dirty!

Concluded

Dear readers; comments, opinions and views on this story are very much welcome. Please send contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard Media Limited, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Email Address: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com hoping to read from you soon.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 , 2013—39

I N S I D E

Required proof for criminal allegations in election petition (4)

Colour Carnival and Conviviality at Calabar AGC

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Unending controversy over Rivers' Acting Chief Judge’s appointment

Court made him the most interesting person to work with.

In his response, Agumagu said, “I can perform with confidence because your visit has shown me the Bar is solidly behind me. With the confidence, I can face all odds that may come my way. The little I can afford to do within my short time, I will do”.

Following reports of lawyers visits to the Acting CJ, former National President of the NBA, O.C.J. Okocha SAN , denounced the statements credited to Granville Abibo claiming support of the Port Harcourt Body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria for the appointment of Agumagu.

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, Port Harcourt

A

S the infighting in the Rivers State ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lingers by the day, every action and inaction of one faction somewhat aggravate the situation.

Penultimate week, it was the appointment of an Acting Chief Judge of the State that provoked a new war of words between both sides.

Indication that Governor Rotimi Amaechi's appointment of an Acting CJ two weeks ago was going to create a fresh controversy emerged the day before when the Governor and his allies were conspicuously absent at the valedictory session in honour of immediate past CJ, Justice Iche Ndu as he retired from the office.

While Amaechi and key functionaries of his administration stayed away from Ndu's retirement ceremony, Myefon Wike made a robust showing at the event with the State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah in a guests list that also included current President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Okey

Appointment of Agumagu Justice P.C.N Agumagu (l) and Governor Amaechi until the niceties of appointing a substantive Chief Judge are fulfilled.

Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha happens to be the same Judge that both the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Commission recognized and recommended

,

Judges have their rules about succession and the NJC is loudest voice. This is not new and many states of the federation have had to use the same uniform rules in choosing a succeeding Chief Judge

Wali SAN. The next day however, the Governor waspresent at the swearing in ofthe Acting CJ following the vacancy created. In a brief event early in the day, Amaechi swore in Justice P.C.N Agumagu who was the President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal before the latest appointment.

In spontaneous reaction, the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, a group championing Wike’ s political course picked holes in Amaechi’ s choice of Agumagu . In a press briefing in Port Harcourt, President General of GDI, Bright Amaewule noted that where a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chief Judge, Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that until a substantive appointment is made, the most Senior Judge of the High Court assumes the position.

He said, ” Now, Amaechi and Worgu Boms (Rivers Attorney General) in clear violation of the provisions refused to swear in Justice Daisy Okocha who is the most Senior Judge of the High Court of Rivers in an acting capacity

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to Governor Amaechi for appointment as the new substantive Chief Judge.”

Stressing that Justice Agumagu is not qualified as appointed by the Governor pursuant to Section 271(4).

Amaeawulethus advised Governor Amaechi to resign from office.To the new Acting Chief Judge, the GDI said, ” His Lordship knows that he is not a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State and anything he does or purports to do in the period of his usurpation are null and void. Please, do not further lend your name to this travesty”.

Harping on same section of the constitution, the leadership of Rivers PDP in a statement by Jerry Needam, Media Assistant to the State PDP Chairman, called on the national leadership of the party to expel Governor Amaechi.

Towing same line of resentment, the League of Rivers State Lawyers in Abuja also warned that, ” While we are still battling to restore the outsourced State House of Assembly, it is wrong for the Governor to open another battle with the judiciary.

Judges have their rules about succession and the NJC is loudest voice.

This is not new and many states of the federation have had to use the same uniform rules in choosing a succeeding Chief Judge”.

However,while those opposed to the appointment fumed, Rivers State branches of the NBA and the state’ s Body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria paid solidarity visits to the Acting CJ at the Judiciary Complex, assuring him of full backing.

Courtesy call Chairman of the Port Harcourt NBA Lawrence Oko-Jaja, who spoke on behalf of the visiting Rivers branches said, “Once the head of the judiciary is appointed, the Bar must pay courtesy call on the person.The judges were here yesterday to congratulate him.

Who are the NBA to do otherwise. I think he deserve the appointment”.

Head of the Port Harcourt NBA Human Rights Committee Austine Ojekudo , branded those criticising Agumagu as not knowing the law. saying “ The law recognises that the President of the Customary Court of Appeal at anytime shall rank next to the CJ. In order of precedence he shall rank the highest to the other judges both in the Customary Court of Appeal and in the High Court, so the appointment of my Lord is in order”.

Granville Isetima Abibo (SAN) who led the senior advocates said they were very happy to associate themselves withthe Acting Chief Judge, stressing that Agumagu s contribution in establishing the Customary

Okocha said, “ While the said appointment of Agumagu is under the purview of the NJC, it is important for me as Chairman of the Port Harcourt Body of SANs to state that we did not pay any courtesy call, and neither did we issue any statement that it supports the appointment.

The Port Harcourt Body of Senior Advocates has a membership of nearly 20 and none of them except Granville Abibo was present at the said courtesy call. Abibo is the most junior of the SANs in Port Harcourt. He does not have and has never had any authority to speak for the body and ought to be aware of that incontrovertible fact”.

The State Attorney-General, Worgu Boms, in defence of Amaechi’ s choice of Acting CJ said “ Agumagu is the oldest Judge (in terms of service) now in Rivers State. There is no judge older on appointment. Agumagu was appointed a High Court Judge, was never appointed a Customary Court Judge. I sit as member of the state Judicial Service Commission. Papers there reveal that he was seconded to

Continues on page 55

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Appointing Customary Court of Appeal President •Acting Chief CJ of Rivers State is a Greek gift

BY EMMANUEL AGUMA

A

S arguments rage over the legality or otherwise of appointing the President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Agumagu, the Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State by Governor Rotimi Amechi, a PortHarcourt based legal practitioner and former chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), PortHarcourt branch and Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Rule of Law Action Group, Mr. Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, examines the exercise in the light of extant laws of the country. And described it as a greek gift, wrong, illegal and unconstitutional.

I start with an unequivocal statement. The appointment of the President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal as the acting Chief Judge of the

State is legally and unconstitutional. I rely purely on the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended (the 1999 Constitution) and case law to so contend.

Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution makes it absolutely clear that when the office of the Chief Judge is for any reason vacant as in this case where the incumbent Chief Judge of Rivers State has recently retired and the appointment of the substantive new Chief Judge has not been confirmed in consonance with the provisions of section 271(1) of the said constitution, the Governor shall appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court as the acting Chief Judge.

The Governor of Rivers State, his Attorney General and his Chief of Staff have all contended that the appointment of the President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal is in

Aloma Mukhtar (CJN) order because he is the most senior Judge of the Rivers State Judiciary having been appointed into the High Court Bench in “1990 or thereabout” according to the Attorney General before his “secondment” to the Customary Court of Appeal in 2008. Brilliant argument, but totally misleading and unconvincing. Had the Governor and his Chief of Staff been the only ones making this contention I would not have bothered at all. I am however intellectually pained and distressed that such a contention

can also be made by the Attorney General of Rivers State who is the official leader of the Bar and is, in my opinion, a distinguished legal practitioner and a leader at the Port Harcourt Bar. First, the words of section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution are restrictive, clear and unequivocal. The appointment of the acting Chief Judge must be made, from the rank of Judges of the High Court. The President of the Customary Court of Appeal is not a Judge of the High Court but of the

Unending controversy over Rivers' Acting Chief Judge’s appointment Continues from page 39 go and establish the Customary Court of Appeal. I have heard all sorts of comments on this appointment and they are mostly misleading, with no foundation in law. Nobody should drag the judiciary into politics.”

Human Rights lawyer, Ken Atsuwete in a different perspective

said other states before now have also appointed Senior Judges outside the High Court as Chief Judge, citing a case of Governor Rauf Aregbesola s appointment of a Chief Judge in Osun last year.

Taking exception to Atsuwete s argument, Livingstone Wechie, Spokesman for the Civil Liberties

organisation (CLO) in Rivers state said ” There was obvious error in the Osun instance, because it was unquestioned, can never substantiate the conflict of Agumagu s appointment with the law”.

With the prevailing scenario, the Judiciary seems to have been plunged into crisis. The inherent danger is that

the people s quest for justice and reliance on the institution as last hope of the common man is being threatened.

Wechie added that “the right thing to do is for Governor Amaechi to shun sentiments and do what is proper as the Justice Agumagu will remain unpopular just as his appointment is unpopular”.

Customary Court of Appeal, which he heads as President. He therefore is not the most senior Judge of the High Court even if he is the most senior Judge in the Rivers State Judiciary by date of appointment which said Rivers State Judiciary comprises of the High Court of Rivers State, Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates’ Courts of Rivers State and Rivers State Customary Court.

Secondly, section 281(4) of the 1999 Constitution makes a similar provision with regard to the appointment of the acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal restricting it to the most senior Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal, which no Judge of the High Court is.

Nothing in the constitutional provisions for the establishment and appointment of Judges of both the High Court and the Customary Court of Appeal including the Chief Judge of the High Court and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal make provision for the much-bandied word, to wit, “secondment”.

Sections 271(1) and (2) and 281(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution are very clear on this issue of appointments with regards to the High Court and the Customary Court of Appeal respectively.

The fallacy in the secondment theory is further illustrated by the qualification required of Judges of the High Court vis-à-vis their brothers in the Custom-

ary Court of Appeal as specifically provided for by sections 271(3) and 281(3) of the 1999 Constitution respectively.

Section 271(3) of the 1999 Constitution makes it mandatory that you must be a legal practitioner to be a Judge of the High Court. However, by the provisions of section 281(3) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, once the National Judicial Council is satisfied that a person has considerable knowledge of and experience in the practice of customary law, he or she can be appointed a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal regardless of the fact that he or she is not a legal practitioner.

Reasoned contention It is therefore my reasoned contention that the High Court of a State and Customary Court of Appeal of a State are distinct and separate Courts even though they are part and parcel of the Judiciary of a State.

Their judges are different. Beyond being constituent parts of the Judiciary of a State headed by the Chief Judge of the State, nothing connects both courts. We are supported in this contention by the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in Ado v Dije (1984) 5 NCLR 260.

In that case, one of the questions for determination is whether a Judge of the Sharia Court of Appeal that sat as a Judge of the High Court in the High Court’s appellate jurisdiction from a decision of an Area Court is a Judge of the High Court. The Federal Court of Appeal held at page 267 and I quote: The 1979 Constitution of Nigeria prescribes in sections 234 and 235 for the establishment of the High Court of a State and the mode of appointment of its judges and of their qualification.

Similarly, Sections 240 and 241 of the same Constitution provides for the establishment and Jurisdiction of a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State and the qualification for appointment of its members.

To be concluded.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—41

NBA CALABAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, last week held ts week-long general annual conference in Calabar, Cross River State. Photos: Innocent Anaba

Colour Carnival and Conviviality at Calabar AGC

BY DAYO BENSON

T

Left: Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, former NBA President and Chief Joe Kyair-Gadzama, SAN.

Left: Prof Jonah Elaiguwu, Keynote Speaker at the conference and Mr Emeka Obegule, NBA Secretary.

HE just concluded Nigerian Bar Association NBA Annual General Conference AGC, in Calabar, Cross River State Capital , had the trappings of colour, carnival and conviviality. Obviously nothing less was expected from the state , what with it’s soaring tourists destination identity, For lawyers, estimated at over 10,000 who kept the serene city awake from Sunday August 25 to Friday 30th, when the conference lasted, the experience transcended normal Bar Conference.

NBA President Okey Wali SAN’s description of the Calabar Conference as the best so far probably captures general feelings of participants.

Wednesday Gala night which held at the expansive fully airconditioned conference venue which host Governor Liyel Imoke, described as the “biggest in this part of the world’’ was the highlight of the event.

Grandiloquent deliveries

Left: Mr Rafiu Lawan Rabana, SAN, former Secretary of NBA and wife, Nelly Andem-Rabana, SAN.

Left: Mr Kunle Ogunba, SAN and Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN.

According to the Governor ,it cost Cross River a whopping N157m to provide the cool,cosy, comfort ambience befitting of such an event. It was a night of few speeches but more of wining and dining and live carnival. It was indeed an oppurtunity for lawyers to unwind after the eloquent and sometimes grandiloquent deliveries of speakers at the opening ceremony and subsequent sessions.Lawyers and non lawyers who started arriving at the venue from 7pm which the Gala Night was scheduled were welcomed by a mini cultural dancing troop outside.Warm admiration and appreciation of the display did not guarantee direct access to the chilly embrace of the multiple entry hall.

Beefy and well built security operatives were busy frisking everyone with deserved

•Carnival at the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, annual conference in Calabar. politeness.What many were probably not expecting came on after some performances by a female lead life bound.

The surprise of the night was preceded by a short documentry on Calabar carnival 2012 .It was a street carnival at its best beamed on the two giant screens inside the hall.The documentry which featured some notable Nigerian artists and stand up comedians unraveled the attraction of calabar as a compelling tourists centre.

The already enthralled audience got more than what they asked for when the live carnival train stepped on the stage in a larger than life costumes.Their sublime super colourful display saw a sizeable segment of the audience stepping foward with cameras, Ipads and mobile phones of diverse shapes and sizes to capture the display.

The message passed at the end of the captivating show which lasted about 20 minutes was that Calabar 2013 December carnival promises much more.

Cross river Attorney Gnereal Attah Ochinke captured the mood of the night aptly when he recalled how lawyers have relished the hospitality of Calabar.He also commended NBA for a successful conference.

NBA President noted that Calabar hosting the AGC was a best decision of the NBA.

proud Governor Imoke affirmed that the State is running an economy driven by tourism and hospitality.

He stated that the theme of the conference was meaningful.

For the five days that the conference lasted,the city was a bee hive of activities.Hotels and cab operators experienced an unusual patronage.Same for food and drink joints.

Indeed, the busiest part of Clabar was the Tinapa achepelago, a seperate world on its own.

The undulating landscape was too massive for conferees and others who had one item or the other to sell to occupy. It is as easy to go inside the mega complex as it is to miss your way while navigating the space.Tinapa is still waiting to be explored.The state Government is already constructing another link road that will make access easier.Also under construction is a modern conference centre.

Lake side hotel, located inside Tinapa provided accomodation for NBA officials and some senior lawyers including few State Attorney Generals.The hotel bar was a relaxation spot for revellers at the bar.Some of them spent the days drinking rather than attending any session of the conference.

Clabar hospitality was incomplete without

ladies who were available for those interested in what they had to offer. Some lawyers were not left out in the amoral game of the flesh.

Undoubtedly,the 53rd AGC of the NBA tagged Calabar 2013 with theme ‘’Law,Leadership and the Challenges of Nationhood in the 21st century Nigeria” was an experience worth reliving.

Among several other activities ,the class 1985 of the Nigerian Law School honoured their own who had distinguished themselves.Among them was the outgoing Director-General of the school, Dr Tahir Maman.

The set was hosted by Cross River First Lady Mrs Obioma Liyel Imoke, who is a member of the class.The Class Chairman Chief Emeka Ngige SAN noted urged members to participate in the school’s 50th anniversary as well as it’s endowment fund.

Similarly, class 2003 of the Law School held a lunch to mark its 10th anniversary in which NBA President made a brief Appearance.

As lawyers departed Calabar Friday,it was with a feeling of satisfaction.Despite the usual flight delay at the Margret Ekpo Airport which is under renovation,the Carnival train was at the departure lounge to bid them bye.

42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Review of the Corporate Immigration Framework

BY OLIVIA AGBAJOH

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP NY foreign national who possesses specialised and relevant skills, abilities and technicalknow-how required in Nigeria for the development of its economy may be employed to work in Nigeria for a period of time in order to transfer such skills, abilities and knowledge.

Before such skilled foreign national can be employed in Nigeria, the employer must prove that no Nigerian citizen possesses the same skills, abilities and technical knowhow; it must also have obtained a work permit for the prospective employee to the skilled migrant to work legally in Nigeria. i. Work permits. No person can legally work in Nigeria without first obtaining a work permit subject to the consent of the Comptroller General of Immigration.

Two kinds of work permit can be issued: a TWP, if the employee’s services are only needed for a short time (e.g., for erection or installation work, feasibility studies, repairs of equipment, audit and accounting, research work); or a CERPAC, if the expatriate is to be employed for a long period of time or on a permanent basis (see Section I.i, supra).

A

Employment in Nigeria Before a CERPAC can be issued, the expatriate seeking employment in Nigeria must obtain an STR visa at the Nigerian high commission in his or her country of residence.

Upon application to the employer, without reference to the Comptroller. General of Immigration and upon entry into Nigeria, the expatriate will be regularised by the Nigerian Immigration Service within 90 days of the validity of the STR. Employment criteria include the expatriate’s expertise, experience, qualificationsand investment amount, and also the need for certain skills in Nigeria for the development of the nation’s economy.

There are no statutory provisions for appeals by foreign nationals against the decisions of immigration officers and the Minister of Interior.

Investors, skilled migrants and entrepreneurs Foreign nationals wishing to establish a genuine business in Nigeria or to invest in the nation’s capital market (whether directly or indirectly, through foreign direct investment or foreign portfolio investment) must obtain a business permit and other requisite permits and licences by applying to the Executive Secretary of the National Investment

Promotion Commission, and secure the authorisation of the Minister of Internal Affairs; failure to do so is an offence under Section 8(2) of the Immigration Act and will result in the deportation of such immigrant. By virtue of Regulation 3(2) of the Second Schedule of the Immigration Regulations, the business permit requires the applicant to state the name of his or her business, its nature and where it will be located.

A foreign company wishing to set up business operations in Nigeria should take all necessary steps to incorporate the Nigerian branch or subsidiary as a separate entity in Nigeria for that purpose. Until so incorporated, the foreign company may not carry on business in Nigeria or exercise any of the powers of a registered company.

A foreign investor wishing to incorporate a Nigerian subsidiary can do so by engaging the services of a lawyer in Nigeria; the lawyer will act as an agent of the foreign investor who, by giving the lawyer power of attorney, authorises him or her to incorporate the Nigerian branch or subsidiary of the foreign company on behalf of the foreign investor.

Exemption from incorporation By virtue of Section 56 of the

Companies and Allied Matters Act, a foreign company that falls under any of the categories listed below may apply to the National Council of Ministers for an exemption from incorporation (whether as a branch or a subsidiary). Section 56(a)–(d)8 provides exemptions for the following: a. foreign companies invited to Nigeria by or with the approval of the government to

any of their agencies or with any other body or person, where such contract has been approved by the government.

Once a business permit is obtained, the foreign investor or entrepreneur can only enter Nigeria through the approved port of entry (whether by land, overland or inland waters).

It should be noted that grant of a visa does not automatically

execute any specified individual project; b. foreign companies that are in Nigeria for the execution of a specific individual loan project on behalf of a donor country or international organisation; c. foreign government-owned companies engaged solely in export promotion activities; and d. engineering consultants and technical experts engaged on any individual specialist project under contract with any of the governments in the Federation,

guarantee entry into Nigeria; the foreigner’s documents will be subject to thorough scrutiny at the port of entry.

Outlook and conclusions The Nigerian government has made efforts to create an enabling environment that is conducive for foreigners to come to Nigeria and invest in the country in order to contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy. However, to successfully achieve this objective, some elements need to be addressed.

Nigeria’s immigration laws are obsolete; they have suffered abuses and require review.

There is also a need to intensify Nigeria’s security standards in order to combat the increased threat of terrorism, the smuggling of small arms, light weapons and radioactive materials, child trafficking and cross-border crimes.

The need to set up appeal tribunals is urgent. In addition, companies that employ expatriates must be inspected on a regular basis to make sure that no foreigner is working in N i g e r i a illegally.

However, it is w o r t h mentioning that, in spite of the above shortcomings, the government is working hard to achieve a safe environment for foreign investment.

In addition, in a fresh move to check the influx of illegal immigrants into the country, the government has taken steps to establish electronic surveillance posts at different locations; these are to be connected to the NISS to ensure the effective monitoring of the nation’s borders.

Required proof for criminal allegations in election petition (4)

BY AKINTAYO IWILADE

N

O! Do the fundamental components, like SummonsDrafting of ChargesPreferring of Information- Plea Taking and Mandatory recording of plea- Bail IssuesMandatory presence of Accused person throughout Trial- Acquittal- ConvictionAllocutus- Sentencing etc, which distinguish criminal trials from civil ones, ever find place in Election Petitions which are uncontrovertibly civil in their procedural rules and final outcomes sought?

No! Answering these posers in the negative make it tortuous to locate any logical jurisprudential rationale for imposing a burden of proof required in criminal trials, with unique fundamental components, on so-called criminal allegations in Election Petitions and other civil dispute scenarios.

It is arguable that the Courts may have created the concept of ‘severance of pleadings’, under civil proceedings, to mitigate the injustice that often result from the narrow insistence on the onerous proof beyond reasonable

Akintayo Iwilade doubt standard for so-called criminal allegations made in civil disputes.

The concept stipulates that the judex must attempt to separate the pleadings with criminal imputations from those without; and thereafter do justice to both- using the two different statutory proof standards respectively. In Arab Bank Ltd v. Ross (1952) 2 Q.B. 216 at p. 229, Lord Denning attempted a simplification of the position, when he humored that; “Even with ordinary common sense, if I happen to find my lost coat with AB, and on a claim for the recovery thereof, I alleged that AB stole the Coat, the fact that I could not prove AB to be the thief does not deny me the recovery of my coat once I establish the coat to be mine and not AB’s”.

Following the Omoboriowo v. Ajasin (supra) authority, the Court of Appeal held, in Aregbesola v Oyinlola, (full judgment as reported in The Nation Newspaper of Friday, December 3, 2010, at pg. A7), that “The interpretation of the foregoing authority presupposes that application of section 137(1) of the Evidence Act to a civil case depends on the contents of the pleadings of each case. In other words, if the averments alleging the commission of a crime are severable and if following such act of severance, the petitioners’ pleadings still contains sufficient averments which suffices and discloses a cause of action devoid of criminal imputation against any of the parties to the proceedings, then the burden of proof laying on the petitioner is not of a criminal nature beyond reasonable doubt but that which requires proof on preponderance of evidence.

The principle of severance in cases of this nature is of great significance and has been emphasized by their Lordships as seen in the case of Omoboriowo v Ajasin (supra). In other words, the determining factor is whether the allegations, if severed and

put into two separate compartments, can be sustained as an entity. If the answer is positive, then proof of one is not dependent on the other but side by side. The crucial determinant factor certainly is dependent on the pleadings of the parties”.

On the severance concept, the key point is simply that pleadings are to be ‘severed’ into two places- the ones with criminal imputations on the one hand and the ones without, on the other.

The ones with criminal imputations will require the proof beyond reasonable doubt standard to succeed while the ones without, will be resolved on the balance of probabilities upon preponderance of evidence. If upon severance, a civil claim still rests solely upon the pleadings containing criminal imputations, the standard will be proof beyond reasonable doubt, failing which the claim also fails.

While highly commendable, the concept of severance failed to cure the illogicality, and fatal legislative and jurisprudential misconception, which necessitated the retrogressive importation of the proof beyond reasonable doubt doctrine into civil proceedings in the first place.

Vanguard Vanguard,,

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

— 43

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Mercury will start to go on backward motion soonest, therefore you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family minded.

GEMINI: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

CANCER: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LEO: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

VIRGO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

AM sure you know what a defender is? Incase you do not know. I guess you have watched or seen a football match? If you have watched a football match, you surely will know the duty of the defender.

Are you a good defender?

Simply put, the defender is the back man that repels the rampaging attacker from scoring goals against his side.

Now, I can hear you ask: what has being a good defender got to do with it? The truth is that every good thing in life is

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

subject to attack. The good man is subject to attack; the good fruit is subject to attack; the genius is subject to attack, the successful man is subject to attack etc.

See why you need to be a good defender?

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

SCORPIO: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

SAGITTARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

CAPRICORN: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today and if you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

AQUARIUS: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic”

By Andy Akman

PISCES: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

ARIES: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

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

What does future have for me Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Tony, Lagos.

Dear Tony, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday.

You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

44—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Bayelsa, Pakistan begin biz talk

Amori absolves self from Ewherido's death, Obule's illness

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE—FOLLOWING speculations that trailed the sudden death of the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Pius Ewherido, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Chief Ighoyota Amori, who doubles as the National Chairman of Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, has denied claims in some quarters linking him to Ewherido’s death.

Amori also denied any link with the cause of the ailing business mogul and multi-millionaire of Urhobo extraction, Chief Charles Obule, who is currently down with paralysis.

He said that he was innocent of the condition that befell the two men, describing the relationship he had with Ewherido as cordial.

Amori spoke at an event in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, where he declared his intention to contest the forthcoming Delta Central by-election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to fill the vacuum created by the death of Ewherido.

He asked Urhobo to send him to the Senate where he intends to bring “succour to the marginalisation and pains of the people at the national level of government,” given his performances in the affairs of the state government and his faithfulness to PDP and Governor Uduaghan.

He said: “The last time I saw Ewherido was September 2012 in USA during Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, event.

Have you ever read anything I published against Ewherido or any he published against me in the newspapers?

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has expressed its preparedness to collaborate with the government and the private sector in Pakistan for a more mutually beneficial trade and business relationship.

Receiving an 18-member trade delegation from Pakistan in Yenagoa, the state deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd.), said that the government would also partner Pakistani industrialists to explore areas of collaboration in the development of industrial estates, agriculture and sports accessories among others.

The Pakistani trade delegation is made up of industrialists from various areas of specialisation such as rice production, textile and manufacturing of hospital equipment among others.

According to him, Nigeria and Pakistan have a long-standing bi-lateral relationship, leading to increased trading activities and military partnership that had been mutually beneficial to both countries.

Jonah, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson, noted that Nigeria had a lot to learn from Pakistan in view of the progress it had made in the manufacturing of industrial goods and reduction in unemployment.

“We were to meet at Owhorode of Olomu birthday, but as he was going out, I was

coming in.”

He said late Ewherido told him of his intention to run for

... as another Delta Central aspirant make promises said that Urhobo was the fifth ership of the Urhobo Progress

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—A senatorial aspirant in Delta Central Senatorial District by-election, Mr. Solomon Edoja, yesterday, said that he would ensure the delineation of more federal constituencies from the district if voted into the Senate.

Edoja, in a chat with newsmen in his Ughelli residence,

largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

“However, Urhobo is not being given its fair share in the political scheme of things.

“I am prepared to pave way for a smooth relationship based on justice with other ethnic groups in the country.

“I will also endeavour to create a tempo and platform to unite the Urhobo nation working closely with the lead-

Union, UPU. “I am hungry for the development of my area and it is this drive that is motivating me to run in the forthcoming senatorial by-election.”

Edoja is a former House of Representatives member.

He said: “I can also assure my people that I will build on those things late Senator Pius Ewherido did that endeared him to the people.”

EGCDF communities tasked on illegal bunkering, litigations

C

HAIRMAN of Egbema/ Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny has urged communities under the foundation to shun illegal bunkering activities and other antisocial vices that are capable of jeopardising their relationship with Chevron Nigeria Limited.

Johnny, during the Founda-

tion’s familiarisation tour of 13 communities of Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms in Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas in Delta State, said that the visit was aimed at fostering cordial relationship between EGCDF executives and the communities for effective and efficient planning.

He advised the communi-

ties against taking the foundation to court as it had spent huge sums of money on court cases since its inception.

He said had those that took the foundation to court adopted dialogue, the money spent on lawyers would have been channeled into good projects that would have affected members of the communities positively.

We're marginalised, Etche people cry out

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—THE people of Etche in Rivers State have decried what they termed their continued marginalisation by the Federal and Rivers State governments.

Chairman, Etche Heritage, Dr. Acho Nwokogba, said it was

sad that the area was yet to feel the impact of oil that was discovered in commercial quantity over five decades ago.

He said: “It is noteworthy to state that crude oil was struck in commercial quantity in Umuechem community in 1958, barely a year after it was

discovered in commercial quantity in Oloibiri.

“Despite Etche's contributions, when it comes to sharing of dividends of good governance, such as political appointments, and federal presence, in terms of infrastructure and human capital development, the people are left out.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

the governorship of the state in US, where he asked him (Amori) to support him.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On boy found on airplane's wheel well

E is bold and desperate to succeed.

Many Nigerians lack these. His mentality for taking this kind of risk may reflect his poor upbringing. Instead of punishment, he should be advised and possibly helped to the right path.— Miss Okereke Bukola, Secretary.

H

EDERAL Government should take good care of Daniel for letting them know that the aviation sector security personnel are not doing their job. They need to be re-retrained. We just have to imagine a situation where the boy was a terrorist.— Mr. Desmond Tutuz, Researcher.

F

F this boy could stay in there from Benin to Lagos, then he is indeed destined to live. He has been used by God just to awaken our security at the nation’s airports and to keep them at alert. Government should please help this brave boy.— Mr. Azuka ThankGod, Engineer.

I

NE question for Nigerian airport managers: where were they when the little boy by-passed them and went hiding in a dangerous part of the plane? It is a very big shame to the management.

They should investigate the personnel.— Mr. Ninetin Chijioke, Manager.

O

T is obvious that the desperate boy want to succeed by all means.

I suggest that the government consider helping him for his bravery and the risk he took up there. You will get there Daniel. God will work it out for you. It is a matter of time.— Mr. Kazeem Aremu, Graduate.

I

HAT happened is a revelation. The boy, to me, is a saviour that revealed whatever the devil has in his agenda against air travelers. Nigerians, God is on our side. Let us do more of prayers and less talking.— Mrs Patricia Adesoji, Businesswoman.

W

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—45

Law school class of '83 holds reunion dinner Nov

Women investment fund marks 5th anniversary

T

W

HE reunion dinner of the 1983 Class of the Nigerian Law School is set to hold on November 22, 2013 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The disclosure was made at the lunch of the class at the just concluded annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Calabar, Cross River State, where no fewer than 30 members of the class were present, including Justice Igwe Agube of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Aloy Nwankwo.

At the launch, members pledged their support for the inauguration of the Law School 1983 set as an organised body aimed at the development of the legal profession and Nigeria as a whole by using all the resources of individual members of the class, be it financial, intellectual, political and filial.

Coordinator of the class, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde, SAN, said “The Nigerian Law School ‘83 set met again at the NBA annual conference in Calabar in continuation of our preparation of a reunion dinner to be held later in November."

Delta guber: Group drums support for Obielum

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — COORDINATOR of Delta Progressive Movement, DPM, Chief Johnbull Ekama, has charged Delta youths, particularly youths in Delta Central senatorial district to support the 2015 gubernatorial ambition of Chief Godswill Obielum.

Addressing members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at the Evwreni country home of former youth leader of the party in the Delta Central senatorial district, Chief David Imoh, Ekama said, “the Urhobos will not be in opposition in 2015.

“We have the population and the votes. So we must translate this into meaningful development of the Urhobo ethnic nationality by giving support to a visionary leader, an astute politician and a dogged fighter like Chief Obielum.”

C M Y K

TRAINING—From left: Mr. Timothy Aregbesola, Acting Registrar; Mr Paul Bebenimibo, Executive Secretary Tompolo Foundation; Dr. Clarkson Agagha, Director of Health Tompolo Foundation; Chief Moses Bebenimibo and Sir Wellington Uduboh, during the free training for public school science teachers in Warri, yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire

Mother expresses concern over whereabout of stowaway boy

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—MOTHER of the 13-year stowaway boy, Mrs Evelyn Oikhena, yesterday, expressed confusion over the whereabout of her son, Daniel after officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, handed him over to Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Tuesday.

The family of the boy, including the father, Mr Osaigbovo Oikhena, who surfaced prior to the meeting between the family and Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House Benin City, Tuesday, appealed to the state government

to release the boy to enable him return home to his family.

The meeting between the family and Governor Oshiomhole held at close door lasted till about 8:30pm, but Mrs Oikhena, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said that the governor had instructed the security agents and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs to release the boy to the family but that she was yet to see him back home.

“I just don’t know what is happening now. The governor said he should be released to us but I think the ministry

officials have their own plans. I don’t even know where my son is kept now, I am still trying to find out what the problem is. We are missing him and we believe that he is a small boy and should not be subjected to further trauma. We thank the governor for his concern and God will bless him.”

Vanguard learnt that ministry officials believe that the stowaway boy should be in their custody to educate him on how to avoid any form of criminality in future with a view to ensuring he uses his talents positively.

Niger Delta youths allege plan to hijack NDDC projects

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—NIGER-DELTA Youth for Positive Attitude and Progress, NDYPAP, has vowed to mobilise youths in the nine states of Niger Delta to resist the alleged attempt by some politicians to take over Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, projects, meant for indigenous contractors to the detriment of oil-bearing communities in Delta and Bayelsa states.

President of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Enisuo, in a statement, said “NDYPAP is joining forces with the coastal/swamp oil producing communities of Bayelsa and Delta states to declare that the people will not fold their hands and watch the selfish machination of politicians, who are bent on taking over projects meant for indigenous contractors.

“The oil communities have suffered enough deprivations of basic amenities and development from multinational oil companies, NDDC, and Federal Government.

We will march on the National

Assembly and NDDC headquarters if their ulterior agenda was not discontinued forthwith.

“We are strongly behind the indigenous contractor from the

coastal oil producing communities of Bayelsa and Delta states to be given a chance to develop their communities, as they can be held accountable if they fail to deliver.”

Delta Central bye-election: Urhobo group canvasses support for Dafinone

T

HE National Publicity Secretary of Urhobo Network, Mr. Mike Umukoro have called on the Urhobos in Delta Central to rally round Ede Dafinone to ensure that he gets the ticket to run for the Delta Central Senatorial bye-election.

Umukoro while addressing a meeting of Urhobo stakeholders forum, said the only serious and most qualified amongst all the aspirants that are jostling to become senator is Ede Dafinone.

Umukoro said the Urhobos will no longer accept a situation where retired and unserious politicians who lack the political

chemistry and pedigree to represent the Urhobos at the National Assembly are put forward for election.

We have had situations where people with questionable character and background have gone there with nothing to show for it.

Umukoro enjoined all Urhobos to be very careful and reject external intervention and imposition.

He asked: "Do we loke what we are seeing today? Our youths now pay heavily and change their birth name to another tribal name to be employed.?"

OMEN’S Investment Fund, WIF, Nigeria’s first, and currently the only gender-specific investment fund set up by Chapel Hill Denham, is now five years old. The WIF was launched on September 1, 2008 with an initial public offer for 25million units at N100. There will be a series of events to mark the fifth anniversary over the next few weeks.

Considered a pioneering product, some of the WIF’s key objectives include, to encourage an investment culture among women, advance the financial and entrepreneurial position of women in Nigeria and support women-owned businesses.

The fund focuses on offering its investors competitive returns (while minimising risk) on a diversified portfolio of investments spread across quoted equities, bonds, real estate and money market instruments.

Speaking on the occasion, Chapel Hill Denham Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Bolaji Balogun, said: “The fund was the first product of the merger between Chapel Hill Advisory Partners Limited and Denham Management Limited in 2008.

It is a perfect example of our firm’s product development and investment management capacity, and we are confident that the fund will continue to deliver competitive returns to its unit holders in the future.”

Insecurity blamed on unemployment

A

socio-political group, Consolidation Plus, CP, has blamed the insecurity in the country on lack of jobs and called for entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities.

The group’s National President, Mr Peter Essien, at a sensitisation campaign, decried a situation where thousands of youths graduate from universities every year without any hope of finding jobs, noting that same shows that the government needs to do a rethink.

Essien recommended technical skills to be promoted in universities as that was the only way more youths can graduate with entrepreneurship abilities and become self-reliant.

46—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Driver docked over alleged manslaughter

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS—A 38-yearold driver, Hakeem Quadri was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for alleged manslaughter.

The defendant, who is facing a two-count charge of reckless driving and manslaughter, brought against him by the Police, was docked before Magistrate Abimbola OshodiMakanju.

Quadri, who resides at 62, church street, Ijora Badia area of Lagos, committed the crime on August 23, 2013, at about 3pm, in Ikeja area of Lagos.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the incident happened at Ikeja under bridge along Obafemi Awolowo way.

Ekikere said the defendant, who is the driver in charge of one Mack Truck with number plate LSD 856 XA, drove in a dangerous manner on the public high way.

He said Quadri drove the truck in a reckless manner, which caused the death of one Agnes Okafor, who is 68 years old.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to section 19 and punishable under section 27 vol 45 of the road traffic laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2012.

Ohanaeze decries imposition of multiple taxation on traders in Lagos zFlays incessant closure of markets by LASG

L

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

AGOS—IGBO youths, un der the aegis of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, have condemned the multiple taxation imposed on traders by Lagos State Government.

They also condemned the constant closure of markets on flimsy excuses by the government and recent imposition of one Alhaji Abibu Oladotun Oki as Babaloja of All Mushin Motor Spare Parts Markets (Ladipo market).

The youths, in a statement issued by OYC’s Secretary, Board of Trustees, Mazi Okwu Okwu, said: “We have watched the Lagos State Government’s anti-poor and antiIgbo policies of Governor Raji Fashola, ranging from unlawful deportation, detention, multiple taxation, displacement of Igbos from their places of business to incessant harassment and closure of Igbo interest-dominated markets.

“Until the coming of Mr. Fashola, and his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu, Lagos had been an enabling and business-friendly haven for the Igbos and other non-Yoruba ethnic nationalities.

“The Igbos are through legalisation of illegalities and

A

WKA—NO fewer than 200 youths trained in various skills by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation have received financial empowerment totaling N30.3 million from the founder, Sir Emeka Offor, to enable them start their own businesses.

Each of the beneficiaries was handed a cheque of N100,000, at a ceremony which took place at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Offor charged the youths to be dedicated and committed to enable them harvest millions with the grant given them and pledged to continue C M Y K

made to pay millions of naira before reopening them.”

On imposition of Babaloja on Ladipo market traders, the youths wondered why a Yoruba man would be made leader of a market exclusively developed and long operated by the Igbo people, even in the face of Ndi Igbo market

leaderships, headed by president-generals?

“In view of this, we call on Governor Fashola’s government to leave Ndi Igbo alone, since its actions and selective policies are exposing the Igbo nation to internal social phobia not good for Igbo-Yoruba relationship.”

WORKSHOP: From left: Commissioner for Engineering, Safety and Standards, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mrs. Mary Awolokun; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sam Amadi, and Commissioner for Legal, Licence and Enforcement, Mr. Steven Andzenge, at a workshop on Nigerian Electricity Health and Safety Code in Abuja, yesterday.

APGA not fielding candidate in Anambra guber poll, says party scribe

A

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—THE All Pro gressive Grand Alliance, APGA yesterday declared that the party lacked the constitutional

Emeka Offor Foundation empowers 200 youths with N30m

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

fraudulent financial regimes, made to bear the burdens of financing Lagos budgets and projects to the detriment of their respective business interests.

“Igbo dominated markets in Mushin and other areas of Lagos had under the veil of not carrying out sanitation been closed, only for the Igbos to be

to support those who judiciously utilised the fund.

According to him, at the end of every year, ten beneficiaries who are adjudged the best performers would get additional 10 per cent of the amount they would present.

He explained that the second batch of the empowerment programme would take place next month, adding that the aim is to ensure that every Oraifite youth has something doing.

Offor said the Foundation was not competing with anybody or group, but noted that if well-todo Nigerians evolved similar schemes in their communities, youth restiveness would drastically reduce.

capacity to field candidate for the forthcoming 2013 governorship election in Anambra State.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bernard Akoma, the party insisted that any candidate fielded during the election would be disqualified if his or her candidature was challenged by the opposition in any court of law.

According to him, the APGA led

by Chief Maxi Okwu has already

dragged Chief Victor Umeh, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging their eligibility to present a candidate for APGA in the Anambra poll.

His words: “Despite the emergence of Dr. Obiano as the Victor Umeh/Peter Obi-led APGA candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, the party may after all contest the governorship race in the

Enugu govt moves to demolish Church

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THERE are indi cations that the South East regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, Enugu, situated along the popular Zik Avenue, would be demolished any moment from now.

Enugu State Government, which had insisted that the large temple of the church must be brought down for being erected without appropriate approval, has allocated to the church an alternative place at Idaw River Layout by

Emeka Ebila Street off Agbani Road in Enugu capital city to enable the worshippers relocate without further delay.

The new site is about 20 plots of land or 4,000 square metres according to the Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Housing Development, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam.

The new site is spacious enough to accommodate both the church auditorium primary and secondary schools which the church did not have before now.

state.

“The sharp division in the party notwithstanding should Umeh-led APGA faction goes ahead to endorse any candidate for the election, such candidate stands to be disqualified if his candidature is challenged in any court of law.

“APGA constitution states that a person is entitled to occupy any position in the party for a maximum of two tenures of four years each.

“The current national secretary of APGA, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, was elected the Secretary of the party January 10, 2003. By August 2013, Shinkafi will be spending his 10th year and seven months in the same position as the secretary of the party.

“This is over two clear years above his statutory right to such office in the party. Should the same Shinkafi and Umeh who was also not properly elected to the office of the national chairman according to the constitution of the party forward any candidate’s name to INEC for recognition, it will amount to building a house on sand dome.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 , 2013—47

SESSION: From left, Chief Charles Ufuoma Obule, Mr. Lucky Oteheri, Chief Joe Omene, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, Delta Central senatorial aspirant, during a consultative session, at Sapele.

HARVEST: From left, Rev. Ogunyombo, Assistant Priest; Senator Anthony Adefuye, Patron; Rev. Oladipo Timothy, Minister in charge; General Oladipo Diya (rtd) Patron, at the declaration by the clergies and 2013 Society Harvest of United African Methodist Evangelical Church, in Lagos.

FORUM: From left, Commissioner for Information, Enugu State, Chuks Ugwuoke, and Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Corporate Communications of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, at a forum on corporate communications, organised by the NCC, in Enugu.

INDUCTION: Mrs. Chioma Okigbo (left) of Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, being inducted into the prestigous Paul Harris Fellows by Rotarian Vidon Jaule, at Abuja Sheraton.

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Maurice Lakanu, Registrar/Chief Executive, Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, (Chartered); Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President/Chairman of the council, NIM, and Engr. Mohammed Kudu Sulaiman, Director, Membership Services, NIM, at a press briefing on Pre-2013 Annual National Management Conference, at the NIM House, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu

KICK-OFF: From left, Mr. Peter Esihikera, MD, Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria Ltd; Mrs. Ore Famorewa, Corporate and Communication Manager, and Mr. Robert Maduekwe, Human Resources Manager, during the kickoff of the 2012 WAMCO MD Football Cup competition, at Cocoa Field, Ogba, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

CONFERENCE: From left, All Progressives Congress, APC, Kwara State House of Assembly member, Mr. Hassan Oyeleke; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, National Working Committee member, Alhaji Femi Whyte; Kwara State APC House of Assembly member, Mr. Olayonu Tope, and Offa LGA, Kwara State APC chairmanship candidate, Prince Saheed Popoola, during a press conference on alleged rigging of Offa LG election by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, organised by APC, in Offa, Kwara State, yesterday.

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PRESENTATION: Samsung Electronics West Africa Product Marketing’s Ms. Nkem Odini (far right); Head of Sales, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo (2nd right); Director, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas (2nd left back); Digital, Mobile Content and Services Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Bolade Oyekanmi (left back) with winners of the Samsung Galaxy Star “Reach for the Star” contest, at the presentation of the prize of an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai to winners, at Samsung Electronics’ offices, in Ikoyi, Lagos.

UNVEILING: From left, Mr. Muyiwa Akintunde, MD, Lead Communicatons; Mr. Akinwumi Dickson, Publisher of BrandCampaign magazine; Dr. Bola Olaosebikan, Publisher of Healthcare Magazine, and Mr. Kayode Oluwasona, MD, Rosabel Leoburnett Advertising, during the unveiling of BrandCampaign's special edition, in Lagos.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Insecurity: Okiro calls for introduction of civil security force

Imposing Suntai on Taraba people not acceptable — PDP chieftain

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

K

ANO—CHAIRMAN, Police service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro, has advocated introduction of a civil security force to complement the police in handling the multi-faceted problems associated with internal security.

The former Inspector General of Police, said this at the passing out parade of cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP and Inspectors at the Police Academy, Wudil, near Kano that “the new thinking is now a vogue in developed world."

Okiro explained that “the civilian JTF in Maiduguri has already shown the way to us , there has to to be volunteers youths, government will have to recognize them, kit them, arm them and organise them under the command of a local police for the protection of themselves and their local environment”.

Katsina govt distributes drugs worth N227m to 34 LGs

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ATSINA State Government has distributed drugs worth about N227.5 million for the third quarter to the 34 local governments in the state.

The drugs are for the comprehensive health centres and clinics to treat various ailments affecting people in the grassroots.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Press Affairs, Abdulhamid Danjuma, Governor Ibrahim Shema distributed the drugs through the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari at the Youth Craft Village with a call on the transition committee chairmen of the local government to ensure proper utilization.

Shema said for the first, second and third quarters, N680 million was spent on the purchase of the drugs.

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A

INAUGURATION—Members of the National Assembly Service Commission taking the Oath of Office before President Goodluck Jonathan during their inauguration in Abuja, yesterday.

Offa rerun: PDP councillorship candidate rejects victory zSays I did not win the election attributed to me by KWASIEC

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN—CONTROVERSY trailing last weekend re-run election in Offa local government area of Kwara State took a strange dimension, yesterday, when one of the councillor ship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Shao South West Ward, Mr Jimoh Afolabi Olawole, earlier declared winner alongside others

by Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, KWASIEC, said he did not win the election.

Similarly, former chairman of Offa local government, Prince Saheed Popoola of All Progressive Congress, APC, also called on stakeholders in the nation’s polity to prevail on KWASIEC to release the alleged authentic results which he claimed he won as the chairman with all the councillors of the party.

The councillor at a briefing said

his rejection of the victory awarded to him by KWASIEC became necessary because as a true son of Offa, he stood for equity and justice, stressing that one day everyone would account for his deeds before God almighty.

According to him, “I did not win that election. In all the eight polling units, APC won convincingly, we did not win. I am a loyal member of the PDP, but first and foremost I am a Muslim and as a person I won’t allow anyone to take what belong to me neither will I take what belong to another person.”

The embattled APC chairmanship candidate, also said that he would do everything possible, “within the ambit of law and our

democratic rights to retrieve this mandate and exercise it to the benefit of the people of Offa and the glory of God. We shall not rest, we shall not sleep and we will not be tired until the people’s mandate is respected and the rightful candidate is sworn in. It is going to be a long struggle, but we are ready for it in the most decent manner. We have petitioned Radio Kwara for breaching the electoral laws by announcing the results when it should have been announced at the polling centres.

"We have also petitioned KWASIEC for making itself an appendage of PDP. In the next one month, I can say that we will get them out of that place by all legal means because the place does not belong to them.”

BUJA—AS the political crisis in Taraba State continues unabated, former Minister of Water Resources and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Salome Audu Jankada, yesterday, said imposing the ailing governor of the state, Danbaba Suntai is not acceptable.

Jankada at a briefing claimed that the governor had been indoors since he returned to the state, and lacked the capacity to carry out his official duties.

According to him, “I deemed it necessary at this point to tell the world about what is happening in Taraba State and to speak the truth of the state of things there. We know what the constitution says, and the learned ones have been at logger-heads over what should be and what should not be because of the ambiguity of the constitution.. If the constitution permits a governor to leave the state for that long that constitution should be reviewed.

“The same constitution stated that if a governor cannot rule his state he is declared incapacitated. The situation of Suntai is best described as been incapacitated. He cannot talk, he does not know his environment, and despite the overwhelming welcome we gave to him at the Taraba airport he could not put up his face and say, ‘hello’ to us, and that is not the Danbaba I know.

"It is not acceptable with us in the state for the cabals to impose Danbaba on the people."

Union Homes depositors' beg FG to intervene in bank's strike palaver

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA— AS Union Homes Saving and Loans Plc, remains grounded due to industrial unrest that has crippled activities of the bank nationwide for over a month as a result of unpaid salaries and other benefits to workers, depositors have called on the Federal Government to intervene to save the leading mortgage institution from imminent collapse.

Speaking on behalf of the depositors under the auspices of Public Welfare Support Organisation, its coordinator, Kemi Komolafe said the strike by workers has adversely affecting

the business operations of the institutions as depositors’ money had been trapped.

Komolafe lamented the inability of the management to resolve the crisis that led

to the strike, knowing well that closing the bank for a day would affect its customers.

Rights group mobilises against child marriage bill

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

A

coalition of civil societies from the 36 states of the federation under the aegis of Gender and Constititution Reform Network, GECORN, gathered at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, yesterday to plot means of enforcing the deletion of the controversial clause supporting girl-child marriage

in the 1999 Contstitution.

According to the group, which vowed to employ every possible means to achieve the required 75 votes for the deletion of the clause, lobbying parliamentarians would also become neccessary.

National Coordinator, GECORN, Dr.Abiola AkiyodeAfolabi, who said the agenda was to sustain and mount pressure ahead of the Senate

return from recess later this month, said, “Nigerian women would sustain the heat from across the 36 states and ensure the clause is revisited and voting is redone.

Right from the very day of their return, we would welcome our legislators with our grievances over this issue. They will have no rest until the desire of every Nigerian woman is met, which is the deletion of the clause by October 2013."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—49

How not to break immigration rule

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

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HE rate at which Nigerians get involved in diverse misconducts in foreign lands which subsequently leads to their being prosecuted, makes it a matter of priority importance for all intending travellers to ensure that before making any trip, they observe the entry and customs regulations of countries they intend to migrate to.

Interestingly, these countries already have competent consular authorities on ground to provide detailed information to applicants requiring them. They are expected to furnish the consulates with documentations that are in accordance with the stipulated prerequisites for intended visa types.

To achieve a smooth through visa processing, these embassies have prompted applicants who wish to gain entry to their countries for various intended reasons, to ensure that documents forwarded to the consulates for processing are genuine and from the right issuing authorities of countries of domicile.

the forms in line with the prerequisites set for the submission of forms before final submission, bearing in mind that each application is handled individually, with no guarantee of issuance of a visa or not.

In other words, applicants

Intending travellers...at an airport would have to be forwarded to authorities in Switzerland, and in cases as these, decisions on visas may have to take longer periods of time, even as long as twelve weeks. Applicants in such cases are, therefore, advised to submit their applications well on time, at least eight weeks before departure dates.

Considering the fact that each visa type has its specific requirement, added up to the general requirements, applicants are advised to ensure that they obtain the right information as well as documentation needed for intended visa type.

Applicants are also requested to pay the embassy’s new visa fee in cash, which took effect since August 1, 2013.

Entry permit

Migration to Switzerland An applicant who intends to migrate to Switzerland for instance, is expected by the Swiss visa issuing authority to equip himself with the general requirements needed for acquisition of Swiss various types of visa.

In this regard, applicants are usually expected to submit their documentation to the embassy. This exercise is specifically conducted Monday through Thursday, from 09.00 to 11.00 am, with the exception of Fridays which are set aside for collection of applications only.

Application forms can either be downloaded and printed out from the embassy ’s website or obtained at the embassy, following information about the embassy’s various visa categories and the requirements for each desired visa.

Applicants are required to fill C M Y K

should note that an embassy or consulate does not have the final decision on issuing of a visa and should not be held

responsible for visa processing fee, and or held responsible in a situation whereby a visa is refused.

It is also important for applicants to note that in certain cases, applications

The Swiss law allows persons who do not wish to get engaged in any gainful activities a stay for a period up to three months without a residence permit, while visitors who make repeated travels to the country, and stay less than three months on each visit are expected to apply for a permit. This is especially if their total stay would exceed six months within a period of twelve months.

Travellers should note that in a situation where they do not hold national passports of countries of residence, but have refugee documentations, it becomes imperative for them to contact the embassy to obtain information as to how they can obtain visas to enter Swiss.

It is also important that applicants ensure they obtain documents in line with diverse visas, as well as titles of each visa type.

consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

50— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—51

Inside Assad’s embattled regime

BY HUGO ODIOGOR with agency report

report by UN investigators as one of the people who might have RAB leaders are planned the assassination of the generally known to be des- former Lebanese Prime Minister, potic and brutal, with a high Rafik Hariri.

Rami Makhlouf sense of insecurity. Syria's PresiA first cousin of Mr Rami Madent, Bashar Al Assad is no difkhlouf is the first cousin of Bashar ferent from the likes of Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi, al-Assad and unarguably the Hosni Mubarak, Ben Ali Omar most powerful economic figure in Al Bashar and others that build Syria. Born in 1969, Mr Makhlotheir security round their inner uf took over the businesses built Bashar Al Assad circles of family members and up by his father, Mohammed, the brother of Hafez al-Assad’s wife, cronies.

Bashar al-Assad, who inherit- Anisa MakhlAfter ed Syria’s presidency in 2000 af- ouf.

Bashar beter his father’s death, has surrounded himself with people came presiwho are either related to him or dent in 2000, are members of his minority Alaw- Mr Makhlouf’s financial ite community.

Maher al-Assad, Republican empire expanded. He Guard chief Maher Al Assad is the young- has been acest brother of the president but cused severalthe second most powerful man ly of corrupin Syria. He commands the elite tion and cronyRepublican Guard, whose six bri- ism in Syria.

Ali Mamgades protect the regime from domestic threats, and commands luk, director the fourth armoured division, con- of the Nationsidered one of the army’s best- al Security equipped and highly-trained. Bureau (NSB) Maher Al Assad Rami Makhlouf Lt Gen Maher who was born in 1967, studied at the University of Dam- Mamluk who ascus and joined the military with was born in 1946, is the director ha, and former Defence Minister his older brother Basil who died of the Baath Party Regional Com- Hassan Turkomani, who was in in 1994.He later followed his into mand’s National Security Bureau charge of the security forces’ cri(NSB), which co-ordinates the sis management office. the military.

On the death of his father Hafiz work of Syria’s intelligence agenAbdul Fatah Qudsiya, deputy many people thought he was to cies and formulates recommen- director of the National Security be the successor but he was too dations for the president. In prac- Bureau young this paved way for Bashar tice, however, the agencies operGen Qudsiya - an Alawite born to be chosen. In 2000, shortly af- ate with a high degree of autono- in 1953 - served as head of the ter Bashar became president, my, answerable mainly to the Republican Guard’s security ofMaher became a member of president. fice, and as personal secretary to Between 2005 and 2012, he the president. Gen Qudsiya who Baath Party’s second highest body, the Central Committee. was head of the General Security became deputy director of the National Security Bureau (NSB) in July 2012. Was formerly the Bashar al-Assad, who inherited Syria’s head of Military Intelligence, the presidency in 2000 after his father’s death, paramount security agency in Syrhas surrounded himself with people who are ia.

He replaced the president’s either related to him or are members of his late brother-in-law, Assef minority Alawite community Shawkat, as military intelligence chief he was head of Air Force Before his promotion to general, Directorate (State Security), where Intelligence. In 2008, Gen QudMaher commanded a Republican he was involved in some of the siya was appointed to lead the Guard brigade. This provided most sensitive issues concerning security committee investigating him with valuable military expe- Syria. His agency had repressed the assassination of Hezbollah rience that allowed him to estab- internal dissent, monitored indi- military commander Imad Mughlish personal ties with many of- vidual citizens, and had been “in- niyeh in Damascus. ficers.

Gen Qusiya was appointed Gen volved in the Syrian regime’s acHe has a reputation for being tions in Deraa, where protesters Ali Mamluk’s deputy at the Naexcessively violent and emotion- were killed by Syrian security ser- tional Security Bureau following ally unstable, and allegedly shot vices”, it alleged. President As- the bomb attack on its headquarand wounded his brother-in-law, sad asked Gen Mamluk to lead ters in Damascus on 18 July, SyrAsef Shawkat. In 2000, Maher is the National Security Bureau af- ian officials and Lebanese media reported to have helped persuade ter its director, Gen Hisham Ikh- reported.

Bashar to put an end to the polit- tiar, died after a bomb attack on Rafiq Shahada, head of Miliical openness seen during the first its headquarters on 18 July 2012. tary Intelligence few months of his rule - the shortMajor General Rafiq Shahada The blast also killed Mr Assad’s lived “Damascus Spring”. In brother-in-law, Deputy Defence is the head of Military Intelli2005, Maher and Shawkat were Minister Gen Assef Shawkat, De- gence, the paramount security both mentioned in a preliminary fence Minister Gen Daoud Raji- agency in Syria, which has a rep-

A

, C M Y K

,

Rastum Ghazali

utation for ruthless efficiency and whose leaders have wielded considerable influence over presidents. Gen Shahada was promoted to chief of Military Intelligence in July 2012 after his predecessor, Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, became deputy head of the National Security Bureau.

Jamil Hassan, head of Air Force Intelligence Major General Jamil Hassan replaced Abdul Fatah Qudsiya as head of Air Force Intelligence in 2009.

Though smaller than Military Intelligence, AFI is seen by some as the elite agency of Syria’s intelligence empire.

Eastern governorate The agency owes its power to Hafez al-Assad, who was air force chief before coming to power in a coup. Gen Hassan, an Alawite, previously served as a security official in the eastern governorate of Deir al-Zour.

Mohammed Dib Zaitoun, head of the General Security Directorate Maj Gen Zaitoun, a Sunni born in 1951, is reportedly the new head of the General Security Directorate (GSD), which is the most powerful civilian intelligence agency and plays an important role in quelling internal dissent.

Tasked primarily with safeguarding against and preventing domestic subversion and organised crime, the GSD is organised into three branches - internal security, external security and Palestinian affairs. It controls the civilian police and the border guards, and has primary responsibility for surveillance of the Baath Party, the state bureaucracy and the general population.

Gen Zaitoun was previously head of the Political Security Directorate (PSD) between 2009 and 2012, and before then deputy head of the GSD.

Gen Zaitoun became head of the GSD in July 2012 following the bomb attack on the National Security Bureau in Damascus which killed four senior security chiefs.

Rustum Ghazali, head of the Political Security Directorate Gen Ghazali is the head of the Political Security Directorate, a civilian agency that is responsible for monitoring organised political activity, including surveillance of registered parties and political publications. It also has a regional surveillance brief, covering Arab, Palestinian and Israeli affairs.

Born in 1953, he is a former chief of Syrian Military Intelligence in Lebanon, and was in the post when Rafik Hariri was assassinated. Gen Ghazali assumed command in 2002, and was the “implementing agent of Syrian policies in Lebanon” until the Syrian withdrawal in 2005.

In July 2012, Gen Ghazali was appointed head of the PSD following the bomb attack on the National Security Bureau in Damascus.

Hafez Makhlouf, head of the General Security Directorate.

Col Makhlouf is head of the Damascus branch of the General Security Directorate, the overarching civilian intelligence service in Syria.

Childhood friend Born in 1971, he is a maternal cousin and childhood friend of President Bashar al-Assad, and the brother of Rami Makhlouf.

Col Makhlouf is perhaps best known for being one of the two survivors of the high-speed car crash in 1994 that killed the president’s elder brother, Basil, who was being groomed to succeed their father, Hafez.

In 2007, the US treasury department designated him an individual “furthering the Syrian regime’s efforts to undermine Lebanese democracy” and froze his assets. It alleged that he had “supported the reassertion of Syrian control or otherwise contributed to Syrian interference in Lebanon”. Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in April 2005 after a 29-year military presence.

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Syria: Obama puts US, global credibility on line P

RESIDENT Barack Obama has said the credibility of the US, its Congress and the international community is on the line over their response to Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons.

Speaking in Sweden, he said the world should stick to its own “red line” against the use of chemical weapons.

Mr Obama is trying to build support in the US for punitive military action against the Syrian government.

The US Congress will vote next week on whether to support his proposed action.

FRANCE France - whose government has strongly backed the US plan for intervention - is holding an extraordinary debate in the National Assembly, though MPs will not vote on the matter.

Prime Minister JeanMarc Ayrault stressed the need to take action together with France’s partners, saying: “Faced with barbarism, doing nothing is not an option.”

He said it was “France’s honour, France’s duty” to act and that President Francois Hollande was continuing efforts to bring together a coalition.

can continue,” he added.

Iran has rejected Western claims that it is seeking to build a nuclear

•••Congressional support optional “But I did not take this

P

•Obama “What message would this send to other regimes, and I am think-

•Assad ing like you of Iran and North Korea? The message would be clear: You

‘I didn’t set a red line’ on Syria — Obama R

E-WRITING his role in setting a “ red line” on Syria, President Barack Obama insisted Wednesday that Congress and the world will lose credibility if Bashar Assad’s alleged chemical weapons massacre goes unpunished.

“My credibility’s not on the line. The international community’s credibility is on the line, and America and Congress’ credibility is on the line,” Obama said during a visit to Stockholm, Sweden.

“I do have to ask people, well, if, in fact, you’re outraged by the slaughter of innocent people, what are you doing about it?” Obama asked. “The moral thing to do is not to stand by and do nothing.”

The president rejected any notion that he needs to use military force against Syria in order to preserve his personal standing in the world af-

ter calling a chemical weapons attack a “red line” in an Aug. 20, 2012 press conference.

“I didn’t set a red line.

The world set a red line,” he insisted. “The world set a red line when governments representing 98 percent of the world’s population said the use of chemical weapons are abhorrent and passed a

treaty forbidding their use even when countries are engaged in war.”

And “Congress set a red line when it ratified that treaty. Congress set a red line when it indicated, in a piece of legislation titled the Syria Accountability Act, that some of the horrendous things that are happening on the ground there

Russia insists on UN verdict

P

RESIDENT Vladimir Putin offered a glimpse of international compromise over Syria on Wednesday, declining to entirely rule out Russian backing for military action as he prepared to host a summit of world leaders. As the United States and allies prepare to bypass any Russian U.N. veto and attack Damascus, there is little chance of Putin’s support. But his words may herald new ef-

forts to overcome great power rivalries that have let Syria descend into bloody chaos.

At the same time, Moscow said it had sent a warship it calls a “carrier killer” to the eastern Mediterranean, where a U.S. fleet is waiting for Congress to approve orders from President Barack Obama to launch punitive strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Castro commits suicide in prison

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•Castro

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HE Cleveland man serving a life sentence for holding three women captive in his home for a decade hanged himself in his prison cell, officials said Wednesday in another startling twist in the case that appalled and transfixed the city.

Ariel Castro, 53, was found hanging around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday at the

weapon, while North Korea has a nuclear bomb but not yet the means to deliver it via a missile.

state prison in Orient, said JoEllen Smith, a spokeswoman for the corrections system. Prison medical staff performed CPR before Castro was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“He took the coward’s way out,” said Elsie Cintron, a neighbor who lived up the street from the former school bus driver in Cleveland.

need to be answered for,” he added.

RESIDENT Barack Obama bluntly told lawmakers on Wednesday that he does not need their permission to strike Syria, but he challenged Congress to do more than “sit on the sidelines (and) snipe.”

“As commander in chief, I always preserve the right and the responsibility to act on behalf of America’s national security. I do not believe that I was required to take this to Congress,” Obama said during a visit to Stockholm, Sweden.

to Congress just because it’s an empty exercise; I think it’s important to have Congress’s support on it,” Obama said at a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The president expressed confidence that Congress will ultimately give him its green light for military action against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces, whom Washington accuses of massacring civilians with chemical weapons on Aug. 21

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 —

53

Echoes from Veronica’s dialogue with the wood Woodcarving or sculpturing is a man’s world but the works displayed by Veronica Otigbo-Ekpei in her solo exhibition at the Terra Kulture house last week is a perfect example of the popular saying that “what a man can do, a woman can do even better.”

By JAPHET ALAKAM

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campaign against deforestation and bush-burning. “I painted the wood with acrylic paint to breathe life into it , to show that out of waste, something beautiful can be achieved.”

The second category of sculptures on display carved out of different kinds of wood expresses the diligence of Nigerians. They are works that reflect the downtrodden in the society, they include such works as Fisherman, Drummer and Shoemaker. “The works represent the doggedness, tenacity, resilience and the survival real Nigerian.

The sad thing is that they work so hard, but have little or nothing to show for it.”

The third category consists of the experimental button art. The works include: African Lady, Flower, Sunset, Dripping Colours, Teenage and Broken dream among others. This group can be seen as an uncommon but innova-

HE exhibition titled Echoes from the wood, an exhibition of sculp tures and button art which was declared open by renowned art collector and founder of OYASAF, Prince Yemisi Shyllon is a practical show of the creativity and doggedness of a woman who is still blazing on in the male dominated art.

Featuring about 67 works done in varied medium and through the works, Otigbo-Ekpei like many artists who use various media to tell stories and express themselves, tries to document her views, feelings and thoughts about life through wood. “The exhibition is an attempt to share the thoughts in wood, what has become my voice and language that are clearly translated through my sculpture works”. she said .

A view of some of the works displayed at all the corners of the My sculptural works speak gallery reveals volumes about my thoughts and that, OtigboEkpei has been feelings from the sketches to work able to achieve inward view by balancing a realistic sculpture technique tive art forms which points to her versawith addition of symbolic allegorical el- tility and the urge to widen her specements. Her works can be seen as a trum beyond the subtractive. She said, form of visual storytelling, with each “I realised each time I visit the market work suggesting a narrative and emo- where I purchase materials for my sculptional quality. Through the body of tures, I found lots of bright-coloured works, Veronica shows how she com- buttons staring me in the face and could municates with the invisible forces not resist the temptation of making experiment with them. The buttons are housed in the wood.

The works were in three categories,first colours:’ shapes and sizes; they are category consists of three-dimensional made of plastic, glass, metal, clay and wood with natural formation. The works resin. I used them to transform a plain in this category includes, Out of Waste, surface, to an original work of art using Something Beautiful 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 . adhesive to fasten them together.”

In her artistic statement, the univerAnd on these, she says is one of the things she saved from ashes following sity of Lagos trained sculptress said that outcry by the wood and as part of her , “Echoes from the Wood, is an attempt efforts to support the ongoing global to share the thoughts in wood, what has

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Martin Luther King, alive in The March

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

he screening of the docu mentary film on "the March on Washington" and “I Have a Dream” Speech by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the US Consulate General in Lagos last week, greatly exposed the importance of non violent revolution all over the world.

Screening of the film titled “The March”, a 1964 documentary by James Blue was part of activities organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the march led by Luther King Jr. whose non violent struggles, resulted

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in the emancipation of black Americans.

The 40 minutes film describes the events of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which has remained till date, one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history.

The March, which took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963 had American footsoldiers of about 250,000 participating in the campaign for civil and eco-

•Veronica on duty

become my voice and language that are clearly translated through my sculptural works.

My sculptural works speak volumes about my thoughts and feelings from the sketches to work. It gives me joy and satisfaction seeing wood in its rough and shapeless form being transformed into an unbelievable object to communicate.”

For excited chairman of the occasion, Yemisi Shyllon, “I have always held the view that sculpture is dying in Nigeria.

But I am very much encouraged with what Veronica put on today. Female artist start work, get married and get lost, they never get to continue. But the case of Veronica is different, she has continued with her work despite the family pressures, I am impressed for a woman putting up something like this. We need to promote our culture and heritage because that is what differentiates us,” he said.

Jnr's spirit comes march, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech advocating for racial harmony. The March is widely credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting *Rev. Martin Luther King Rights Act of 1965.

In his opening speech, Financial nomic rights for African Management Officer at the Americans. During the U.S. Consulate, Mr. Carl

Scotts said “the program was a follow-up to the Consulate’s program on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.”, adding that it is “expected the documentary to serve as a reminder of the importance of the march and the need to continue to fight for freedom and equality all over the world.”

Addressing participants at the screening, president of Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin stressed the need to employ Martin Luther King Jr’s method of peaceful protest and for individuals to unite in the fight against inequality all over the world.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

In search of a beautiful Nigeria I

T is in every word and de scription the Nigerian story. At a time in the history of the nation when after 52 years of independence, various ethnic groups are working and scheming assiduously to control the political space especially ahead of the 2015 elections, the menace of terrorist groups, kidnapping, corruption as well as the growing religious and sectarian divide in the nation, the dance drama, Nigeria The Beautiful, aptly comes alive.

Renowned poet and intellectual As part of the programme celebrating the Osun Osogbo Festival, renowned poet and intellectual, Odia Ofeimum, had packaged the dance drama at a well attended event at the government House, Osogbo. The occasion had in attendance, the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his cabinet, foreign dignitaries, Nollywood stars, musicians, comedians, art enthusiast, and tourists.

Despite a bit of hiccups in terms of sound and delivery, the play which is the story of Nigeria from Lord Frederick Lugard, the first colonial Governor-General to President

Goodluck Jonathan, addresses the beauty in the diversities and cultural differences that many consider the national albatross aside the challenges, difficulties and vision of the founding fathers of the country.

With vigour and enthusiasm, the cast, in the 120 minute dance drama displayed unbridled passion in sending the message of unity in spite of the myriad of the challenges facing the country.

One must acknowledge the effort of Paul Alumona who played the role of Lord Lugard. He brought his experience into the play as he not only played the role of Lugard but other characters effortlessly as well. Despite a little bit of stage wait on the part of

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By SAM ANOKAM

*Odia Ofeimun with the cast and crew

stage to deliver his part.

The importance of the sequence of each scene must be commended as Lekan Adedeji, Ibitoye Olukolu, Abiodun Ganiyu with their band

With vigour and enthusiasm, the cast, in the 120-minute dance drama displayed unbridled passion in sending the message of unity in spite of the myriad of the challenges facing the country

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Babatunde Adeniyi which was on account of his forgetting his lines, he was able to interpret his character convincingly.

Austine Onuoha who is a singer and a model did not disappoint the gathering as he also made good use of the

almost perfectly coordinated the timely dance drama which the rest of the cast followed religiously.

Odia’s all season director, Felix Okolo showed the gathering why he remains a force to reckon with as far as stage directing is concerned

in Nigeria .

In all, it was a wonderful master piece that will always be relevant in the history of this country.

The number one citizen of the state could not agree less with the theme of the drama and he has this to say: “Indeed Nigeria is beautiful and the title is quite apt. How I wish we can agree to the title of the play.

I wish and pray that Nigeria indeed in no distant future, be the beautiful country of our dream and our expectation. I thank the cast and commend the director, and others involved in the production. It’s a wonderful show by my own assessment. To our visitors from far and near, this is the best way known to us to entertain you.”

Colours on parade at culture institute's convocation

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

W

HEN “The Bombers” stormed the stage with a most exhilarating performance, the entire audience comprising the honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; representatives of Centre for Black Art and Africa Civilisation (CBAAC), National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), National Theatre, Ministry of Education, Professors from different universities across the federation, etc, knew the afternoon was that of super entertainment.

The occasion was the maiden convocation of the National Institute for Cultural Affairs (NICO) Training School where the Director of Bauchi State Arts/Culture and 216 students were awarded the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration. The event also doubled as the 20th anniversary of the institute which took place last week at the Cin-

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ema Hall, National Theatre, Lagos.

Starting from the drummers who opened the floor, with melodious sounds, the exotic dancers whose dance steps and stunning choreography, took the audience on a trip round the three major tribes of the nation and beyond, as well as their colourful costume, the performance was simply

Local Government Area should have a cultural officer who should oversea cultural monuments and general affairs relating to the nation’s culture, advised the graduates to be good ambassadors of Nigeria. He also stated that “NICO should design a curriculum with content that must be Nigeria culture, submit it to the Minister of Culture and canvas it at the Senate Committee and then, make it compulsory at the Culture Institute.”

The Honourable Minister, Edem Duke while commending the executive Secretary of the Institute, Dr Barclays Anyakoroma and every NICO staff for putting together the colourful event, declared that NICO will not be merged with any other parastatal. uke also noted that henceforth, all training programmes for officers in the ministry must be directed to NICO for execution.

In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Aminu Makailu expressed joy that the graduates have been adequately prepared to support Nigeria’s drive toward cultural re-orientation, soft diplomacy and good governance.

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A cultural performance at the event an art for cultural integration.

An excited Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Ben Nwankwo praised the performers for integrating all the tribes of Nigeria in their cultural dance adding that the entire event was an advancement in the culture sector.

Nwankwo who proposed that every

In Ofeimun’s view, the sassy play which is loaded with paradox but truism is a deliberate reversal of received opinion.

He says: “True as the story reveals, the discordance once acknowledged and unpacked can be streamlined and given qualitative thresh. It is a matter of total conviction: believing that this is an eminently saveable country which gets happier the less we seek to reduce it to the mono-cultural dead end of one nation, one religion, one idealogy, one song, one goal. Which is to point not towards an unviable polity but a promised land of vibrancy and unflappable creativity in search of transformers, unafraid of dreams and dreamers.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013—55

•Nwoye: PDP

•Ubah: Labour

•Ngige: APC

•Obiano: APGA

The guber line up SENATOR Chris Ngige, last Monday, emerged the candidate of the All Progessives Congress, APC, joining the trio of Tony Nwoye, (PDP); Willie Obiano, (APGA) and Ifeanyi Uba (Labour) as candidates of the major parties in the governorship contest due on November 16. Charles Kumolu who was in Awka for the primaries gives a rundown of the intrigues that shadowed the parties' primaries

PDP

Indeed the state chapter of the PDP, did not fail to disappoint those who have for years looked up to it as a centre of intrigues.

Despite the acclaimed agreement by all 15 candidates to abide by the rules put forth by the national party through the Ike Emeakayi led executive, one of the candidates pulled out at the last minute to participate in the primaries conducted by the Chief Ejike Oguebego faction of the party.

The mainstream primaries conducted by the Emeakayi faction and supervised by the Governor Ibrahim Shema led team delegated by the national secretariat was originally scheduled to hold at the Alex Ekwueme Square at 10 am, but did not commence until 5: 45 following a tedious accreditation exercise at the Women Development Centre, WDC.

Conducting of primaries While the accreditation was ongoing at WDC, the faction headed by Oguebego, was also conducting its primaries at Emaus House.

It was gathered that many of the 1500 delegates from the 326 wards that voted were financially enticed by agents of the aspirants. But how many of them succumbed remains an issue especially given that Nwoye, who won the primaries would not be considered the richest or a moneybag in the Anambra sense of estimation of money.

Also, delegates had a hectic time entering the venue, as some were refused accreditation for non possession of the party’s

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membership card.

A Director General of the campaign of one of the aspirants, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, regretted that eligible delegates were disenfranchised through that process. “Delegates are being stopped because they don’t have party card. That is not supposed to be the criteria. I have never voted with a voter’s card before.

Once you are a delegate, it is assumed that you have fulfilled all the needed requirements to participate in the exercise,” he said. However, delegates were later driven in buses to Alex Ekwueme Square for voting at the end of the exhaustive accreditation exercise.

While this was going on, the Oguebego group, whose leadership is believed to be inclined to the Ubas, had commenced voting an hour earlier. Not surprisingly, Senator Andy Uba emerged victorious in the contest that was boycotted by all but one of the 15 aspirants.

Nwoye’s victory at the end of the exercise conducted by the team delegated by the national secretariat was shocking to many, especially to those outside the mainstream of the PDP in Anambra State. This was especially so since he was not regarded as one of the money bags in the party and was not known to be among the frontline aspirants.

APGA’s coronation party/ Maxi Okwu factor

While stakeholders were still imagining the developments in the PDP, the outcome of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA primaries confirmed insinuations on the possible role of the incumbency factor in the polls. The APGA primaries

which took place two days after the PDP primaries at the WDC turned out to be a coronation exercise of sorts.

Before it commenced, there were rumors that three aspirants

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BY CHARLES KUMOLU

was declined by Chief Martins Agbaso, the chairman of the electoral panel. He insisted that aspirants could only step down either physically or through a written note. It was therefore,

Nwoye’s victory at the end of the exercise conducted by the team delegated by the national secretariat was shocking to many, especially to those outside the mainstream of the PDP in Anambra State

had stepped down for Obiano.

And that however played out when one of the candidates Mr. Patrick Onochie announced that he was stepping down.

An attempt to step down in absentia by one of the aspirants

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easy to know were the pendulum would swing to, even before the end of the exercise.

Though Obiano’s victory did not trigger off feelings of disquietness among the party faithful analysts are still to be

convinced that the former banker is rugged enough to trudge the difficult Anambra political terrain.

Chairman the party’s Board of Trustess, BoT, Chief Tim Menakaya, is, however, not one of such skeptics saying in a chat with Vanguard that Obiano is an asset to the party. “His emergence is an asset to the party because he is clean and has got good background. He represents a new dawn. That was why he was elected. He emerged because he will continue the good work the party is doing in Anambra.”

The impression that Obiano’s emergence, had foreclosed any possible controversy, appears to be a mere imagination following the election of Obidigbo by the Maxi Okwu faction. Obidigbo was returned unopposed with a score of 450 votes and was also handed the party’s flag by Okwu, who commended the delegates for the large turnout.

Ngige and the APC prospects

Before the September 2 All Progressive Congress,APC, primaries, the news that the national leadership of the party, had settled for Senator Chris Ngige, was generally hailed across the state. Though Chief Godwin Ezemou refused to step down despite entreaties from the APC hierarchy, Ngige still triumphed in the statewide Option A4 primaries conducted last Monday.

His emergence nonetheless, the once famous electoral potentials of the former governor have been seriously desecrated by the recent saga arising from the deportation of some alleged destitute persons from Lagos to Anambra State.

Obi’s commissioner hits Okwu

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

T

HREE months ago, Governor Peter Obi and his entourage in Anambra State were all over Chief Maxi Okwu who they had proclaimed the national chairman of APGA. But with the prospect of proclaiming a successor for the governor slipping by their hands after the court proclaimed Chief Victor Umeh as chairman, Obi and his men quietly changed allegiance.

It was as such not surprising that the Anambra State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Planning Mr. John Akirika yesterday hit at Okwu over the latter’s conduct of a parallel governorship congress following the emergence of Obi’s man, Willie Obiano as winner of the primaries done by Umeh’s faction.

Chike Obidigbo emerged at

that primary conducted by Ume Akirika, who is a former state secretary of the party, told Vanguard that Obidigbo’s emergence from the Maxi Okwu faction, would not affect the chances of the party in the polls.

“I am not aware of any other congress outside the congress duly convened and held at the Women Development Centre, Awka in which the leader of the party, Gov Peter Obi and other national officers of the party participated. Secondly, nobody ever raised any issue questioning the authenticity and legality of that congress.

“Chief Maxi Okwu never raised any molecule of protest against that congress. So it is a very great surprise for me to hear that another congress was purportedly held. I will say that the purported congress organized by Chief Maxi Okwu

•Obi that produced Dr Chike Obidigbo did not satisfy the requirements of the law neither will it be acceptable to the leadership of the party.”

“An APGA event in which the national leader, Mr. Peter Obi, the authentic national chairman of the party confirmed by the judiciary, Chief Victor Umeh and other national officers were not there, cannot stand the test of time. So sounding personal and legal, I don’t think that the presentation of Chike Obidigbo will stand.’’

56— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013— 57

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58—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Ogun 2015:

Amosun at the battle front

GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun political prowess is famed in and outside Ogun State. While his performance in the provision of infrastructure has been applauded by some stakeholders, the governor’s approach to a second term is increasingly faced with challenges on different fronts.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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HALLENGES seem to be everywhere starring Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in the face as he prepares to bid for a second term in office in 2015.

The challenges against a second term for Amosun are coming from the just reinvigorated Labour Party; the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Ijebu/Yewa-Awori ethnic irredentists; and a faction of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Two years after he assumed office as governor, Amosun’s imprint in the style and structure of government is evident on ground. In particular, the administration brought about a wholesale turnaround of infrastructure that led to the demolition of obstructive houses and shops.

Indeed, his government achieved the feat of being the first government to construct state-owned overhead bridges since the creation of the state 37 years ago.

While the governor has pushed through many of his plans, notably with salutary policies in the areas of education, and helped to polish infrastructure, some of the other much expected

governor ’s comfort in his stronghold in Ogun Central which has been his strength since 2007. That could leave Amosun bare and force him to force for full reckoning in the two other senatorial districts.

The PDP, it is believed, is also mobilizing the support of the Federal Government which is controlled by the PDP. The interest of Abuja it is alleged, is to use the state as a springboard for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. The saying in Abeokuta is that the PDP is ready to match Amosun money for money to get the seat in 2015.

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The PDP/FG battle front The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which lost the governorship in 2011 is believed to be considering fielding an Egba man for the 2015 election with the aim of dividing the votes from Ogun Central, where Amosun has his stronghold.

The PDP’s calculation, according to the findings by Vanguard is to spoil the

The APC battle It is no more news that the APC in Ogun state is facing a serious crisis which has led to an exodus to opposition parties in the state.

Aremo Segun Osoba, a national leader of the party and the governor are reportedly at daggers drawn over the leadership of the just merged party.

Osoba it would be recalled, was the undisputed leader of the party in the state prior to the emergence of Amosun as governor in 2011. Since Amosun's enthronement in the Government House, both men sought to manage the situation until recently when Osoba boycotted the launch of the APC in Abeokuta.

To worsen the chances of the party, some members of the party in the state House of Assembly led by Remmy Hassan from Odogbolu and Khadihat Adeleye-Oladipo have pulled out of the party.

The LP, Mimiko and Daniel battles The newly emerged Labour Party in the state is also reshaping itself into a potent force and a threat to the second term ambition of Senator Amosun. The threat from Labour is based on the increasing membership strength of the party which swells on daily basis due to the exodus of members of the PPN and aggrieved members of APC and PDP to the party.

Labour has zoned its 2015 gubernatorial ticket to Ogun

Aremo Segun Osoba, a national leader of the party and the governor are reportedly at daggers drawn over the leadership of the just merged party

promises seem to remain in the pipeline. Notable in that category are the governor ’s campaign promise of free health care service.

this, the region has begun moves to choose a consensus candidate to represent the zone which is well known as the food basket of the state.

Remarkably, out of the three prominent parties in the state, only Labour has ceded its governorship ticket to the zone which is being contested by two powerful politiciansAkinlade and Isiaka.

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West which has not produced a governor since the creation of the state.

The party is also receiving the patronage of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and the immediate former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel among other numerous political heavyweights in the onslaught against Amosun.

Among the political giants in the camp of Labour are the exminister of Mines and Steel; Sarafa Ishola; a member of the House of Representatives representing Yewa South and Ipokia Federal constituency,

Other problems •Amosun: Tasked on several fronts Abiodun Akinlade; his counterpart from Yewa North and Imeko Federal constituency, Raak Adewusi and former governorship candidate of PPN Gboyega Nasir Isiaka ; son of business mogul, Chief Kensington Adebutu, Oladipupo among others.

The Ijebu front Amosun’s problems in the Ijebu front follows his earlier attempt, at the beginning of his administration, to scrap the first ever University of Education in Ijebu-Ode, the Tai Solarin University of Education which was resisted by the Ijebus led by the Awujale of Ijebu land Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

That effort irrespective of the advantages canvassed by the

administration helped to diminish the governor ’s popularity in the senatorial district which parades the largest number of local councils in the state.

Besides, the recent set backs for the Olokola Free Trade Zone in the senatorial district have also sought to raise suspicions that, the state administration is not favourably disposed to the people of the zone.

The impression by some Ijebus is that the governor is biased towards his Egba kith and kin in the distribution of infrastructure.

The Ogun West battle The people of Ogun West, popularly called Yewa/Aworis have been yearning to rule the state given that none of its indigenes has ever been elected governor of the 37year-old state.

Towards the realisation of

However, the failure of local government chairmen to perform at the grassroots level in the state, as well as appointment of nonpoliticians in his cabinet as commissioners may also add to the burden of the Governor in the cause of his second term bid.

The party, according to findings is challenged in the grass roots, especially in Ijebu and Yewa areas due to the failed performances of some of the local government officials who are loyalists of the governor.

That nonetheless, Governor Amosun’s remarkable achievements on ground continue to count well for him among non politically biased individuals.

He is, however, expected to sharpen his strategies in ways to draw support from major Yewa and Ijebu personalities to strengthen his electoral chances.

Vanguard, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 — 59

Enyeama, Onazi promise victory against Malawi •As team trains for rain ball S

UPER Eagles stand in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, was in jolly mood as the team held its media parley with the national team on Wednesday morning, declaring that he was not in competition with any of the goalies for the number one shirt of the national team.

Enyeama also gave a hint that sooner than later he will quit the Super Eagles, even as Lazio of Italy midfield youngster, Ogenyi Onazi assured that the team will come out clean against Malawi on Saturday.

Enyeama, who spoke first told the media that all the three goalkeepers in the national team, himself, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim are in the form of their lives and any of them will man the post well if chosen by the national team handlers. “All of us are good and I must say I am not in competition with any of them neither are they with me. Nigeria is blessed with great talents and it’s always good when you are called up to play”.

Onazi on his part said he along with his teammates are fired up for Saturday ’s game and assured that the team will not disappoint despite the furore that has been generated ahead of the encounter.

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IGERIAN play ers campaigning in the ITF West Africa

Uplift FC: Udinese FC assures Amosun’s wife

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DINESE FC of Italy yesterday promised to sustain its partnership with Uplift Football team by ensuring “a wider collaboration” with the wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun to make the Summer football internship programme a yearly event.

Speaking at the press conference to mark the official closing ceremony of the two-week Summer football internship programme put together for the 22 players from Ogun State at Udinese FC in Italy, the Serie A Club Youth Sector Manager, Angelo Trevisan described the initiative of Mrs. Amosun to bring the 22 talented players to Italy as “a great start” of good partnership between Mrs. Amosun’s Uplift Development Foundation and Udinese FC.

•Enyeama

Calabar is very safe — Maigari P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has insisted that the city of Calabar, capital of Cross River State, was

Malawi delegation Continues from BP “On behalf of the Football Association of Malawi, I would like to thank you and the entire Nigeria Football Federation for the warm welcome that you accorded me and my accountant (advance party) both in Abuja as well as in Calabar. We are now in Calabar where your Director of Technical (Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme) gave us a fantastic reception.

Thank you for welcoming us at your offices in Abuja and football is a unifying factor and we

Nigerian players in flying start in Cotonou

are indeed brothers.

“We will be accommodated at DANNIC Hotel which is generally very good.

We will inspect the training pitch and the venue of the actual match...,” Nyirenda wrote in a mail to NFF’s Head of International, Mr. Bola Oyeyode.

The Nigeria Football Federation has already guaranteed visa-on-arrival for the delegation, which will be flown to Calabar aboard Arik Air’s morning flight from Abuja to Calabar on Thursday.

very safe, and had always been very safe, for i n t e r n a t i o n a l matches of all the national teams.

Maigari who was speaking with sports journalists in Abuja yesterday applauded the efforts of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and his administration in hosting the Super Eagles and the U-17 teams.

“The Government and people of Cross River State deserve nothing but high commendation for their generosity and hospitality. They have continued to be great hosts for the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets.

“On our part, the NFF has perfected all arrangements to host a hitch-free World Cup qualifying match, and we are assuring the

•Maigari Government and people of Nigeria that our Super Eagles are adequately prepared to achieve victory against Malawi on Saturday,” said Maigari.

Nigeria need only a

draw in Saturday’s clash at the U. J. Esuene Stadium to progress into the 10-team final elimination round of the African series for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

Under-18 Junior Circuit in Cotonou, Benin Republic began their quests for glory in flying starts yesterday as most of the country ’s representatives cruised easily into the next round.

Joseph Imeh, ranked number 628 in the world beat Benin Republic’s Gandonou Dominic 6-0, 6-1. Another Nigerian, Sylvester Emmanuel beat Aboufirassi A. of Morocco 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 to advance.

Nigeria’s Mohammed Mohammed also had an easy 6-1, 6-1 victory against Diarra Amadou.

Christopher Emmanuel sent Russian Potapov Nikita packing in 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Eagles Media Officer loses father

T

HE leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has mourned the passage of the father to the Media Officer of the national team,Ben Alaiya, whose father Pa Moses Jemila Alaiya, died in his hometown of Ososo in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State on Tuesday night.

Pa Alaiya took ill only last Thursday but passed on Tuesday. NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, told Alaiya in a telephone conversation that he was shocked at the news of the demise but assured that he was sure the man lived a fulfilled life.

Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barr Chris Green, said he was also shocked at the passage and prayed God to help stop deaths in the football fraternity and among their families.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi was simply short of words assuring that as a man, the Media Officer will have to bear the burden as the first son of the great Alaiya family of Ososo. Burial arrangements will be announced soon according to Ben Alaiya. The late Moses Alaiya, was born on January 13, 1942.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

Djokovic, Serena in awesome form W

ORLD No. 1 No vak Djokovic and Serena Williams ruled supreme on Tuesday, sending ominous warnings to their rivals with dazzling, runaway victories over Spanish opponents at the US Open.

Djokovic said he played some of his best tennis on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court in trouncing Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0, 6-0, and Williams could not have done better, handing Carla Suarez Navarro a 6-0, 6-0 beating at the National Tennis Center.

Djokovic said his game was clicking just as planned.

“Today, the second and third set have been some of the best tennis that I’ve played on Arthur Ashe in my career,” said Djokovic, who won the title in 2011 and was a finalist last year and in 2007.

“I was wishing to be more aggressive as the tournament progresses,” added the Serb, who won the first 25 points on his serve and 28 of 30 points he contested at the net.

Djokovic moved into the quarterfinals against Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, who ended the magical run of 2001 US Open winner Lleyton Hewitt by escaping a 1-4 hole in the fourth set and a 2-5 stranglehold in the fifth.

Youzhny won 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5 win.

Youzhny, the 21st seed, took pride in outbattling renowned fighter Hewitt in the nearly four-hour match.

“I know he’s a great player and he’s great fighting player, who is fighting for every point, every match.

“For me, this way that I beat him today, it’s really important,” he said.

Dominant performances are not out of the ordinary for those rankings leaders.

But fifth-seeded Na Li provided something special by breaking another barrier for Chinese tennis.

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•Djokovic The 31-year-old Li became China’s first semifinalist ever at the US Open by beating Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 at a windy Flushing Meadows.

Li pumped both fists in joy after 24th seed Makarova sailed a backhand long to end the two -hour, 20-minute match at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the crowd showered her with cheers.

“For me, this is the first time to come to the semifinals, so I’m very proud of myself,” said Li, who looked about to claim victory in two sets after winning the first three points of the tiebreaker but was extended to a third set.

The US Open had been the last Grand Slam where Chinese women had stalled before reaching the final four.

Li smashed 44 winners against just 15 for 25year-old Makarova,

though the Chinese struggled with eight double faults.

But Li will not have too long to revel in her achievement as the win set up a semifinal date with defending champion Williams.

•Serena

Kanu: I would not be here without 1993 title

I

T is 20 years since one of Africa’s most recognisable faces made his first mark on the international stage at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Japan 1993.

In the centre of Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, Nwankwo Kanu lifted his first piece of international silverware of what was to be a prestigious career, but also took his first steps to becoming a legend in the green of Nigeria.

Speaking to FIFA.com, the former Super Eagles forward looks back on his trip to the Far East fondly, having opened up the

path to becoming his nation’s second-most capped player.

“It’s a long time ago isn’t it! I’ve got great memories of that tournament,” he said from Lagos. “Representing your country is always an honour and to go on and win the tournament was huge for all of us in the team – it helped put us on the map.

“Personally I did well, and it started me on the road to joining clubs like Ajax and the ones which followed, but without it I wouldn’t be here today. It was very

important.”

The tournament began well for the former Inter Milan and Arsenal man, scoring in just the first minute of Nigeria’s opening match against Canada, on the way to scoring 14 without reply in a group that also contained Argentina and Australia. “That goal relaxed me, and it’s very important to score early to settle the team,” Kanu recalled. “From there the team were able to gain more confidence and just grow from there.”

The tournament culminated in a West African

•Kanu grudge match, pitting the Golden Eaglets against Ghana, making a huge game for the then-youngsters that little bit more important.

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62— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 , 2013

Malawi delegation arrives today T

Air scare: Bad weather stops Eagles A

Calabar - bound aircraft yesterday avoided disaster when it diverted to Port Harcourt after it failed to land in Calabar after two attempts.

Among the passengers were Super Eagles duo of Elderson Echiejile who plays in Portugal and Newcaslte’s Shola Ameobi who will be playing his second match for the Eagles when Nigeria play Malawi in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. Ameobi’s first cap for Nigeria was in a friendly match agasinst Venezuela in Florida. He impressed the coaches in that outing. Both stars had to embark on a four hour journey to Calabar by road. .

•Shola

HE delegation of Football Association of Malawi to Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against African champions, Nigeria will land in Abuja on Thursday morning. The contingent will arrive from Accra, Ghana.

Already, General Secretary of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Mr Suzgo Nyirenda is on ground, having arrived in Niger-

ia on Monday, and is now in Calabar to see facilities for himself ahead of his team’s arrival.

Nyirenda, who fired a letter to world-football governing body, FIFA last month suggesting that Calabar is not safe for the qualifying cracker, has turned around to praise the NFF for its professionalism, maturity and hospitality.

Continues on Page 59

Come rain, come sunshine, Eagles will maul Malawi — Keshi

T

HE Eagles trained under rainfall yesterday at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, where Nigeria will take on Malawi in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Calabar is Nigeria’s preferred tourism destination. Stephen Keshi, Nigeria’s head coach said during the training that whether it rains or sun shines on Saturday, the Eagles would maul Malawi in the match. He said that they were battle-ready. ‘’We are focused. We will be focused under the rain

•Echiejile

•Keshi and under the sun.

Whatever happens we will beat Malawi,’’ he said, exuding confidence.

•Mikel

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Raid (5) 7 Soothing (6) 9 Sever (3) 10 Summit (3) 12 Ignominy (5) 13 Region (4) 15 Originate (5) 17 Reviewer (6) 19 Row (4) 20 Foul (5) 22 Appraise (3) 24 Determined (7) 27 Sicken (3) 28 Darkness (5) 31 Threesome (4) 33 Offer (6) 35 Blockade (5) 37 Dejected (4) 38 Implicit (5) 39 Consume (3) 41 Fish (3) 42 Burrow (6) 43 Captivate (5)

DOWN 1 Benefit (6) 2 View (6) 3 Insect (3) 4 Bustle (4) 5 Alternative (5) 6 Rebuke (8) 8 Animal (4) 11 Right (9) 14 Perched (4) 16 Frozen (4) 18 Thought (4) 21 Intrude (8) 23 Nurse (4) 25 Quote (4) 26 Expired (4) 29 Earth (6) 30 Twist (6) 32 Willow (5) 34 Tidy (4) 36 Detailed (4) 40 Bath (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Plot 4, Eye 6, Task 9, Ewe 10, Stripped 11, Rent 14, Hill 16, Level 19, Consider 21, Never 23, Devotion 24, Peril 27, Let 31, Fast 33, Distract 34, Tee 35, Beer 36, Lad 37, Tidy.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Late 3, Trip 4, Exploded 5, Eddy 6, Terse 7, Awe 8, Sense 12, Scrap 13, Under 14, Tin 15, Revel 17, Valid 18, Lying 20, Reversed 22, Rot 25, Elate 26, Inter 28, Idol 29, Fret 30, Acid 32, See.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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