We won't dump PDP

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62007

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

GREAT NIGERIA HOUSE ON FIRE

N150

ADORATION GROUND TRAGEDY:

Oritsejafor, S-East CAN disagrees on probe •Obi renames state varsity after Ojukwu FIRE

—Fire fighters battling to save the burning Great Nigeria House, Marina, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Biodun Ogunleye and Lamidi Bamidele. See story on Page 6.

14&15

We won't dump PDP •Meet with Obasanjo, Shonekan, Danjuma; slam Police over role in crisis •Amaechi meets APC leaders today

Taraba Speaker slumps, dies 15

— G7 Govs Mr & Mrs

BY SONI DANIEL, CHARLES KUMOLU, GBENGA OKE, LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU & DAUD OLATUNJI

COLUMNIST:

•P.17

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BUJA—TWENTYfour hours after men of the Nigeria Police disrupted the meeting of the G-7 governors at the Kano State Governor ’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, the governors, yesterday,

denied any plans to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for any opposition party, saying resolution of the crisis ravaging the ruling party was in sight.

Continues on page 5

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

NOVEMBER 5 , 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

NOVEMBER 5 , 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—From left: Former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; the Secretary, Dr. Akilu Sani Indabawa

with the Chairman, Senator Femi Okurounmu and Senator Kahayarat Gwadabe when the National Dialogue Committee members visited the former president in his residence in Sokoto, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

We won't dump PDP — G7 Govs Continues from page 1 They spoke after series of closed-door meetings with elder statesmen in Ogun and Lagos states.

Those they visited over the crisis in the PDP and the state of the nation were former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of the Interim National Govern-

ment, Chief Ernest Shonekan; and former Defence Minister, LtGeneral Theophilus Danjuma(rtd).

At the closed-door parleys with the elder statesmen were Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Sule Lamido

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Build the trust in people you want them to accord you. Trust is a two way door; it goes in either way.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Y

OUR encouraging word, given today, may for ever change a receptive life. I wonder who needs to hear it — Steve Goodier At book signing, people waited in line for a guest author to autograph a copy of his latest novel. An encouraging, elderly woman at the front of the line turned around and said with obvious enthusiasm, “I just have to say – this is the BEST book I’ve ever read. Why, I couldn’t put it down until the very last page.”

Before anyone could respond, the author glanced up and said, “All right, Mother, that’s enough!” Although a mother’s praise is a bit on the biased side.

Besides, if we’re looking for more warm vibes and verbal support, we certainly can’t take our mothers with us wherever we go. That said, there is tremendous power in words of encouragement. Power to change lives.

A young Polish boy wanted to play piano, but his teacher told him that his fingers were too stubby and that he would never play well. The boy was advised to try the cornet, but was later told by an expert musician that he did not have the lip to ever be good. Discouraging words.

Then, one day, he met the great pianist Anton Rubinstein. The famous musician gave this young boy the first bit of musical encouragement he ever received. “Young man,” Rubinstein said, “you might be able to play the piano. In fact, I think you can...if you will practice seven hours a day.”

He did practice for many hours every day and his hard work was r ewarded. Years later, Jan Paderewski became one of the most famous pianists of his time.

of Jigawa and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State. Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) did not make it.

After a two-hour meeting with Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which began at 12:06 pm and ended at 2: 05pm, the governors in a chat with reporters denied any plan to dump the PDP for any other party, saying, they were all back in the PDP contrary to speculations that they were planning to leave their party for the All Progressives Congress, APC. The governors, who were in the same Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), were driven by Governor Amaechi while five other cars with their number plates covered followed them.

They also brought some cars with Oyo State Government number plates which included two black Hyundai space buses marked OIA 01OY and OIA02 OY, a Hilux with number plate OIA 32 OY and a luxury bus marked OY 667 AOI while three Hilux trucks with no number plates were also part of the convoy.

It’s another round of consultation – Aliyu

Aliyu described the meeting with Obasanjo as another round of consultations over the crisis rocking the party. Asked

why they visited Obasanjo, Aliyu said: “You may recall that when issues started, we consulted our elders, so this is part of the consultation. More so, we are coming to the resolution of the matters. We’ve been discussing with the president, discussing about these matters and we believe after the pilgrimages, we are all back, we needed to consult again to find out if there is any variable that has intervened and we are very happy things are going normally.”

On whether they came to say goodbye to PDP by visiting Obasanjo, the Rivers State Governor, Amaechi interjected, asking “ where did you get that?” Aliyu on his part said he was not aware of it.

We’re waiting for the president to summon another peace parley

After meeting with Obasanjo, the governors headed for Lagos where they met with Shonekan and Danjuma at their Ikoyi and Victoria Island residences respectively.

Their first port of call was the home of Shonekan, where they arrived at about 3:40 pm in the same BMW Sports Utility Vehicle, which was driven by Amaechi with the other governors seated inside.

They were escorted by a small band of security aides into Shonekan’s expansive Ikoyi resi-

dence at about 3:40pm.

The meeting lasted about one hour and 10 minutes.

Amaechi and Shonekan addressed reporters after the parley.

On why the group met with Shonekan, the Rivers State Governor said: “We are consulting with the elders across the country on the issues that affect the party and the nation in general. We are talking about the ills in the country.”

The governor, however, stated that the planned meeting with the leadership of the APC, which was initially scheduled for yesterday will now hold today.

On the discussion with President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the PDP, Amaechi said: “We are waiting for him to call for the next meeting.”

Commenting on the visit, Shonekan thanked his guests and sued for cooperation among political elite in the country as a way of pulling the nation out of the current doldrums it has found itself.

“God has given us all the things needed for growth and progress. We must try as much as possible to cooperate with one another, to make sure that the country becomes the envy of all.”

Shonekan said.

He, however, maintained that he might offer himself in the efforts to reconcile the warring members of the PDP, saying “I will consult with relevant people.”

A similar scenario played out at the Victoria Island residence of General Danjuma where they met with him for about one and half hours to discuss the same issue.

They were quickly ushered into the private living room of the former army boss where they met for some time only to emerge at exactly 6pm

and proceeded straight to their vehicle.

Police now PDP armed wing— Opposition govs

Meanwhile, opposition governors, yesterday, carpeted the Nigeria Police, for invading the Kano State Governor ’s Lodge, Abuja, where members of the G7 governors were meeting.

In a statement by the Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, the governors described the police action as primitive, tyrannical and unbecoming in a democratic system, particularly as it was the second of such despicable and brutal act to be visited on the governors in a week.

The PGF expressed shock and disgust that the police had become the official armed wing of the PDP, allegedly working against the rest of non-PDP Nigerians.

The governors said: “The police action is not only alarming but also demonstrates clearly that the force, instead of carrying out its constitutional responsibilities of maintaining peace and order in the society has become no more than the armed wing of the ruling PDP. “Coming barely a week after storming the Adamawa State Governor ’s Lodge in Abuja to disrupt a lawful meeting of like-minded individuals, and despite public outcry at the tactics of the police, the Force, in clear violation of all rules of civility still went ahead to disrupt a G7 caucus meeting at the Kano State Governor ’s Lodge on the November 3, 2013, in Asokoro, Abuja.

“If the Nigeria Police Force has not become the armed wing of the PDP, why should the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of

Continues on page 42

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

2 docked over N3.1m theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS— A 47-yearold engineer, Bashiru Shoetan and one other, Kayode Akinde, 25, a casual worker, were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja magistrate’s court for allegedly stealing goods worth N3.1 million.

The suspects, who reside at Jegede Street in Ogijo and 4, Jesu Street, Ifako, Gbagada, respectively, are facing a twocount charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against them by the Police.

The defendants, who are employees of Erisco Food Ltd. at Oregun in Alausa area of Lagos State, were arraigned before Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo.

The police prosecutor, ASP Bath Nwaokoye, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence sometime in July, at Plot 2, Oyeleke Street, Oregun.

The magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

She adjourned the matter till December 16 for mention.

8 women jailed for prostitution

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UBA (ABUJA)— A Zuba Grade 1 Area Court in the FCT, yesterday, sentenced eight women to six months imprisonment each for prostitution.

Those sentenced were Felicia Dominic, Vivian Agubuzor, Ifeoma Patrick, Comfort Jacob, Gift Obi, Tina Osagie, Mercy John and Joy Ayo, of no fixed address in Zuba.

The judge, Mallam Alhassan Kusherki, sentenced the accused persons after they pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of soliciting men for the purpose of prostitution.

Kusherki, however, gave the convicts an option of N20,000 fine each.

Prosecutor, Momoh Ibrahim, had told the court that the offence contravened Section 405 (Paragraph 1(b)) of the Penal Code.

Fire guts 25-storey Great Nigeria House

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO, UJU MBANUSI & PATRICIA NWOSU

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AGOS— NO fewer than three persons were, yesterday, injured in a fire that engulfed a 25-storey building on 45 and 47 Martins Street, Lagos Island Local Government Area, owned by the Great Nigeria Insurance Company Limited, popularly called Great Nigeria House.

More than 200 traders occupying the building were displaced, as business activities around Oluwole Market and other adjourning streets were paralysed and property worth billions of naira destroyed in the inferno.

Hundreds of bystanders and staff of corporate organisations in the building watched helplessly as fire service men battled to put out the fire.

A senior officer of the Federal Fire Service identified as Mr. Obiah Onoh was, however, manhandled by the angry mob for the service’s alleged late response to distress calls.

Vanguard gathered that about three cars parked on the second floor of the building were also burnt by the fire, which started at 6a.m. on the first floor and spread to the third floor of the over 30-year-old building.

Officials of the Federal and Lagos State fire services, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, their Lagos State counterpart, LASEMA, and other emergency management agencies were still battling the fire at 3:30p.m., nine hours after the outbreak.

It was further learnt that the fire was made worse by inflammable goods stocked in the building, especially air conditioners, rubber foot wear among others.

‘How it started’

Mr. Olawale Ajayi, a trader, said: “I operate a shop here, and my shop is on the third floor. I was already here about few minutes before 6a.m.

“Suddenly, we heard sounds of footsteps, an indication that people were running. They started screaming to alert us of the fire on the first floor.

“I cannot say what caused the fire. All I can say is that five minutes after PHCN restored power, we saw a thick smoke.

“Before we could do anything, the entire first floor of the building was already engulfed.”

‘I lost N2.5 million’

Speaking to Vanguard, Mr. Kingsley Ogochukwu, a trader, said: “I sell footwear in this building. I received the call at about 7a.m. All my goods have been burnt.

“I have a shop on the third floor, while my warehouse is on the 10th floor. I re-stocked last week in anticipation of Yuletide season sales.

“I have lost N2.5 million worth of goods and N20,000 cash. This excludes the goods I sold to some of the traders on the first floor, which they have not paid for.

“I don’t know how to describe this because we have over 200 traders on the affected floors and none of us have goods less than a million.

“For instance, my friend also lost over N15 million because his warehouse and shop were on the first and third floors, respectively.”

Mr. Ganiyu Olayiwola, Operational Commander, Federal Fire Service, who spoke with Vanguard, said the cause of the inferno could not

be immediately ascertained.

He added that there would be an investigation into the cause of the fire and the damage done to the property.

‘I lost everything’

Mr. Daniel Ebhefu, one of the traders on the first floor, said: “I have lost all my investments.

“All I can say is that the country’s fire fighters aren’t effective. There is need to improve. If not for the assistance from a commercial bank and a construction firm, they couldn’t have contained the fire.

“I was at home when I received the call that my shop has been affected. When I got here, the fire was still at the first floor, where it started.

“They have not been able to put off the fire and it has extended to the second and third floors.”

3 injured

Mr. Babatunde Jimoh, an eyewitness, said: “I was one of the early persons to arrive. We entered the building at about 9a.m. to remove some of the cars parked on the second floor.

“After we had succeeded in removing five cars, we couldn’t withstand the thick black smoke.

“We decided to leave. As we approached the first floor, the smoke increased. While I was able to escape unhurt through the entrance, my friends Yusuf Adeshina and Mueez could not go through the fire.

“They, therefore, jumped from the first floor and sustained injuries. Another trader also sustained injuries while trying to escape from the inferno.

NEMA confirms attack on fireman

NEMA Information Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “The mob attacked Obiah at 10a.m., while he was trying to put out the fire.

“I don’t know why they attacked him because at that time he was busy removing some fire-fighting equipment from the truck. He has been taken to the hospital for treatment.”

Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said that the service received a distress call 6:34a.m.

The building on fire. INSET: Firefighters at work. More picture on Page 16.

Rivers residents protest bad roads

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— THE ever busy Iwofe Road in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was shut down, yesterday, by hundreds of protesting residents.

The protesters, who stormed the road in the early hours of yesterday, dug a ditch across the road, making it impassable for vehicles.

They said the road would remain closed to vehicles until rehabilitation work was done on it. According to some of the protesters, they had persistently

appealed to the state government to fix the road.

They said the deplorable state of the road was making life unbearable for residents and creating traffic jam for several hours.

The protest caused a heavy traffic that stretched from Ada George Road to Ikwerre Road.

Motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles and trek very long distances to their destinations.

Commissioner for Works, Mr. Victor Giadom, could not be reached for comments at the time of this report.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 7

Banker accused of N24.15m theft

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SUBMERGED: Passengers being helped out of a commuter bus that fell at Bucknor Road, along Jakande Isheri-Oshun in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, after a downpour yesterday. PHOTO: Adekunle Aliyu.

ACCIDENT: Another bus lost control and veered off the highway at Alapere in Ketu area of Lagos State, yesterday.

NAN PHOTO.

Mobile court convicts 47 traffic offenders in Katsina K

ATSINA— THE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Katsina State, yesterday, said it had arrested and secured the conviction of 47 traffic offenders in Katsina metropolis.

Alhaji Habu Dauda, the Sector Commander, said in Katsina that the offenders were convicted by a mobile court on Saturday at a patrol organised by the commission.

He said: “They were convicted for various traffic offences such as seat belt violation, lack of driver ’s licence, dangerous driving among others.”

He said similar exercises would be conducted by the FRSC in other major towns of the state before the end of the year to reduce violations of traffic rules and regulations.

The sector commander therefore warned motorists in the state to always obey traffic rules and regulations, to ensure

safety of lives and property.

Dauda also commended the state government and

MU-ARAN (KWARA)— TRADERS and transporters in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, yesterday, said that they were recording low sales due to scarcity of low denomination currency notes.

According to reports, traders said that they now depend on divine intervention to remain in business.

Worst affected are petty traders, commercial motorcyclists, vehicle operators, petrol attendants and recharge cards sellers, who needed low denominations for business.

The traders said that scarcity of small denominations notes such as N20, N50, N100 and N200 was hindering smooth business transactions.

The situation is further compounded by the closure of commercial banks in the town

Faruk Umar, had on Friday held a meeting with stakeholders on how to address the rampant traffic violations in the emirate.

Pregnant mother of two, 7 others paraded as robbery suspects

BY ONOZURE DANIA & IFEANYI OKOLIE

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HE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, paraded eight armed robbers, who were said to have killed two Policemen and wounded several others at Iju-Ishaga area of the state.

Among the suspects is a married woman, Taiwo Obafunsho, 28, a mother of two who is also three months pregnant.

Obafunsho said that she knew the gang through one of their girlfriends called Shade, who she met at Mushin where she

Kwara traders bemoan scarcity of N20, N50 notes

O

traditional rulers for their support to the FRSC in its effort to reduce road accidents in the state.

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji

since May 14, following attacks on banks by armed gangs in which three people were killed.

The closure of banks is forcing residents to travel to neighbouring Otun-Ekiti and Ilorin, a distance of more than 60 kilometres, for banking transactions.

Some of the residents blamed the situation on the new Central Bank of Nigeria banking reforms initiatives.

Mr. Victor Akeh, Manager of MRS Petrol Station in OmuAran, said the scarcity of low denomination notes was impacting negatively on the station’s monthly sales target.

He said: “In spite of the high patronage, customers often leave in annoyance due to nonavailability of these lower denomination currencies to give as change.”

has a shop.

The other suspects are Ife Olubaba, 29 who is the alleged gang leader; Saheed Wasiu, 23; Sedu Idowu 20; Wasiu Rafiu, 23; Odelade Kabiru, 26; Waliu Sanni, 29, and Taiye Agege said to be dead.

The suspects were found with two AK-47 rifles, one automatic pump-action gun, four locallymade pistols, two fully-loaded AK-47 magazines, 135 live cartridges and a Hyundai Tucson sports utility vehicle, number plate MUS 350 BG.

Confessions

Rafiu said: “The first operation we went for was at Agege and I was given N10,000. I was arrested at Oshodi.

“I did not know anything about it. But because they saw Taiye and me together, I was arrested. I did not even know what was happening. I did not follow them during the second operation.”

Another suspect, Sanni, said they took three vehicles for the operation, but that they did not find anything or any body to rob.

The Police Public Relations

The suspects.

Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident, stating that it was a follow-up to what happened on November 3, where some robbers attacked policemen attached to Iju Police Station in Lagos at 3a.m.

She said: “On October 9, when a group of armed robbers carted away two police riffles, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, directed the officer in charge of SARS Ikeja, SP Abba Kyari, to launch a massive manhunt for the robbers and recover the snatched rifles.

“Police efforts paid off when eight of the armed robbers, led by one Ife Olubaba, a boy to Godogodo, kingpin of SouthWest armed robbers, were arrested at various locations in Lagos and Ogun states.

“During the exchange of fire between the armed robbers and crack SARS operatives, one Taiye Agege was fatally wounded.”

She said all the arrested suspects confessed to have taken part in the Iju operation, where Policemen were fired.

She said efforts were on to arrest the remaining gang members.

AGOS— A 26-yearold employee of a first generation bank, Omotayo Alabi, was yesterday, charged before an Igbosere magistrate’s court in Lagos over alleged stealing of N24.15 million.

Alabi was a Customer Care Officer at an Ondo State branch of the bank.

He is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, intent to secure unauthorised items and theft.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Babatope Julius, told the court that the accused committed the offences between June 10 and July 16.

Magistrate F. Aigbokhaevbo, granted the accused a N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till November 15 for mention.

Ex-arbitrators sue Labour ministry to court over entitlements

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BUJA— TWO former Arbitrators of the Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP, yesterday, prayed the National Industrial Court to compel the Minister of Labour and Productivity to pay their entitlements.

Mr. Jacob Jeminiwa and Mrs Patima Abasi, who were employed by the Ministry of Labour as arbitrators in 2005, sued the defendant, claiming nonpayment of their entitlements.

The claimants joined the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Finance and Minister of Labour and Productivity as defendants in the suit.

They alleged that the upward review of public officers’ salaries in 2007 by the Federal Government affected them but the defendants refused to pay them.

The claimants prayed the court to order the defendants to pay them N40.8 million each, being their unpaid salaries and emoluments between 2007 and 2009.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Maureen Esowe, adjourned the case till December 9 for judgment.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

ILLEGAL EVICTION

We'll retaliate if targeted, Nigeria warns India ANAJI, INDIA—A Nigerian consular official warned yesterday that thousands of Indians in Nigeria will be “thrown out on the streets” if Police doesn’t stop evicting Nigerians from their rented homes in Goa. Speaking after meeting members of the Nigerian community in Goa, bureaucrats and police officials over the last two days, consular attache Jacob Nwadadia said the Goa government had until 9pm yesterday to stop the illegal eviction process.

"There are only 50,000 Nigerians living in India but there are over one million Indians living in Nigeria.

Thousands of Indians living there will be thrown out on the streets if forcible eviction of Nigerians in Goa does not stop,” Jacob said.

The official said Nigeria was five hours behind Indian Standard Time and that there would be time for the Nigerian government to order action against Indians living there.

The Goa government has ordered a crackdown on all foreigners living in this tourism hub after a bitter clash between a mob of over 200 Nigerians, police and locals.

The Nigerians, who were protesting the murder of one of their compatriots, had blocked National Highway 17 for several hours, demanding the presence of Nigerian consular officials for the autopsy proceedings.

During the clashes, the Nigerians not only smashed a police hearse van, but also dumped the corpse in the middle of the road, blocking all traffic. Over 50 Nigerians were arrested following the violence.

Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar later claimed that the murder was as a result of a war between two narcotics gangs, while the Nigerians said their fellow national was murdered by the local drug mafia which had the sympathies of a minister.

Jacob, who spoke on his way back to New Delhi after a two-day tour of Goa, also said that police had been going from home to home in places where Nigerians resided and were forcibly evicting them out.

"They are evicting Nigerians forcibly. There is no rule of law,” the attache said.

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N140bn needed to complete East-West road — ORUBEBE

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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140 BILLION is required to complete 35 percent of the remaining work on the East-West road criss-crossing the Niger Delta region, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe said yesterday.

In an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos, Orubebe also lauded what he described as the security situation in the region as he asserted that the spate of recent kidnappings in the region to armed robbers who he said were operative in all parts of the country. He said the improved security had rubbed positively on the

country through improved oil earnings.

Orubebe who has been variously linked to the governorship of his native Delta State, however, shied away from a question on whether he would be on seat to herald the completion of the road project which he said remained fixed for December, 2014.

BRIEFING—From left: Governors Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State; Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State addressing newsmen after a closed door meeting with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the Hilltop Mansion, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

Private sector can't build infrastructure for Nigeria — Sanusi

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU & UDEME CLEMENT

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OVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamdio Sanusi, has said that Nigeria should never expect the private sector to build the type of infrastructure it needs for sustainable development.

He stated this while delivering a keynote address at the second biennial regional conference of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM, in Lagos.

He said that despite the call for involvement of the private sector in infrastructure development, the state will continue to fund and build basic infrastructure.

According to him, “We need to be very careful about the new belief that is going on now that the private sector will build the kind of infrastructure that Africa needs. It is not going to happen. The private sector will not build your rural roads that would connect the hinterlands from where agricultural produce will be moved to the markets. It will not necessarily build your rail lines and the airports. The state would have to continue to build these infrastructure.”

He noted that, “Infrastructure

development worldwide is primarily public sector driven.

You are not going to expect the private sector to build your rural roads. They are not going to build those infrastructure that are unprofitable to them even if they are going to benefit the general economy. So what is important is to identify those projects that are profitable and stand on their own like large commercial airports and sea ports and have public private partnership projects for that.

Then the government will have to face the rest.”

He added that part of what the countries in the ECOWAS subregion needed to do was to look beyond the traditional sources of funding and pull resources together to address the challenge of infrastructure in the region.

Commenting on the recent handover of PHCN to private investors and explaining the roles that the Central Bank played in the exercise, he called on the successor investors to explore new investment windows on power infrastructure to increase electricity generation,

transmission and distribution to enhance sustainable development and improve the economy.

He noted that building power plants across the country without the required infrastructure and gas supply to generate electricity would not achieve the intended purpose of the privatisation.

On the role the CBN played in the exercise, he said, “The bank approved a grant of N1.6 billion to the Bureau for Public Enterprises to support the engagement of Human Resources and Actuarial Valuation Advisers for successor companies of PHCN.” Also speaking at the event, the Director General of WAIFEM, Professor Akpan Ekpo, noted that, “The theme of the conference, which is, ‘Financing Infrastructure for Sustainable Develoment in West Africa’ comes against the backdrop that in spite of the improved macroeconomic and governance conditions across the African continent, its share of global infrastructure investment remains inadequate.”

Flanked by senior officials of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, he said the present administration took over the project when it was just 10 per cent completed and without a design.

Orubebe said: “Today we stand at over 65 percent completion and as we stand over N209 billion has been spent on that road and what is needed to complete that road is about N140 billion.”

He assured that funding for the project was no longer a worry given financial framework worked out with the President and other stakeholders upon which N50 billion was obtained from the African Development Bank. Besides, he said funding for the project is also being derived from SURE-P and the annual budget of the Federal Government.

He said: “Based on the pressures from us and the understanding of Mr. President, we have been able to put a financial framework that is geared for us to complete the road and we believe that in the way forward, that finance may not be a serious problem again.

“We are making arrangements with the African Development Bank and we have been able to get about N50 billion from the African Development Bank and of course, the SURE-P fund is also there as support for the East-West Road and besides that, the annual budget.

“So with these three areas put together we are on course to say that the road is completed by December 2014.”

Affirming that whatever crisis in the area is largely due to activities of criminals, he said that the former militant movement instigated by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, has been confirmed dead by its former leadership.

“So whatever crisis we are having now, I think that they are criminals, it is not Niger Delta youths that are doing that, these are criminals which we have in every society.

“The kidnapping that you hear of today is done by criminals. It has nothing to do with the challenges that we have, these are purely criminals that are doing their activities and I think that the security agencies are handling them very well.

"The former leader of MEND came on air in a paid advert and told Nigerians and the world that MEND is dead. I am talking of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). So, anybody talking about MEND should go and talk to Tompolo, he announced to us that MEND is dead and as far as government is concerned, MEND is not in existence because the leader said so.”

“Today, Tompolo is doing a lot of good job for this nation, he is working with government in tackling the issues of security in the Niger Delta.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—9

Strike: Jonathan dialogues with ASUU zAs lecturers' meeting with Senate ends in deadlock

BY BEN AGANDE, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

zScores still trapped

A

BUJA—MOMENTS after the meeting between the Senate President David Mark and the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, ended without any agreement on how to resolve the four-month old strike, the university lecturers immediately went into another crucial meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan The meeting with the President which kicked off at about 2:30pm had in attendance, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, as well as Minister of Education and Labour, Nyesom Wike and Emeka Wogu.

The ASUU delegation comprised National President of ASUU, Dr Nasir Fagge and other executives of the union.

President of Nigerian Labour Congress, Mallam Abdulwaheed Omar was also in attendance.

While exchanging pleasantries with the ASUU delegation, President Jonathan said: "I hope this strike will end today. Our children have suffered enough.

We must find a solution."

Earlier, at the end of their meeting, both ASUU and the Senate President did not agree to call off the strike after the union had presented its position before Senator Mark, although the union expressed optimism that the intervention of the Senate might bring a lasting solution to the crisis.

Speaking in an interview after a closed-door session with the Senate, ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge said the meeting was convened at the instance of the Senate and that after presenting their position, the union was waiting for the Senate’s reaction to their position.

When asked whether the closed door meeting was conclusive, Dr. Fagge whose answer was in the negative, however, said that the intervention by the Senate President was a welcome development to get the crisis sorted out for the universities to be re-opened and that the union was waiting for the outcome.

Senate President, David Mark said: “As you are aware, I have been mandated by the Senate to meet with you and the Federal Government to resolve this crisis as soon as possible so that the children will go back to the classrooms and I believe that is what you also want.

“So we are on the same wave length, just a matter of approach

3 killed, 15 rescued as 5-storey building collapses in Lagos

BY MONSOOR OLOWOOPEJO

L

DISCUSSION—Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala discussing with Chairperson House Committee on Aviation, Nkiruka Onyejiocha during a meeting with House Committee on Aviation at the National Assembly, yesterday, over the purchasing of bullet proof cars by Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

to get it right. I sympathise with your cause and I believe whatever can be done for you to go back to your work should be done and as quickly as possible.

“I think this is long overdue for us to sort out. So, the intervention as you may know, the Senate mandated me to talk to both ASUU and talk with Mr. President and that is precisely what am doing.

“At the end of the day, it is not how long we dragged this matter that is important but how soon we

sort it out. We will sort it out so that there will be no winner, no loser.

“It is not a matter of ego, it is not a matter of who has an upper hand or who has won in this dispute. National interest is what is at stake. Our students have been out of classrooms for four months now and that is not in the best interest of anybody.

“We are not happy about it, the parents are not happy and

the government is not happy.

So if something is going on and we are not happy about it the proper thing is to have it resolved as quickly as possible.”

ASUU President, Dr. Fagge said, “Members of ASUU are not just lecturers. We are also parents and also among us we have students who are pursuing post-graduate degrees so this strike directly affects us negatively."

Court grants lawyer's plea on constitution amendments

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN – A Federal High Court sitting in Benin has granted leave to a Benin-based legal practitioner, Mr. Eddy Ehi Osifo, to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the Senate and the House of Representatives to amend as a first step, the 1999 Constitution by inserting a referendum clause as the last process of any constitutional amendment before Presidential Assent.

The order of the court followed an ex-parte motion brought before the court by the lawyer who had argued that the constitution cannot truly be called the Nigerian

Constitution in its strict sense if the document was not finally subjected to the will of the people.

He also averred that every Nigerian Constitution has always been preceded by a preamble, ‘We the people of Nigeria’ without the people having a say in its making, which makes it abnormal.

According to him, “this application is seeking to cure that abnormality.”

The motion was supported by a 31-paragraph affidavit.

The court presided over by Justice Muhammad Lima also

granted leave for an order of mandamus directing that any constitutional amendments undertaken by the two Houses of the National Assembly without referring same to the people of Nigeria for endorsement by, at least two thirds majority of the voters in a free and fair referendum, is a nullity and of no effect.

The court further granted leave to the applicant to serve all the processes in the application by means of courier services while further hearing in the case has been fixed for November 28.

AGOS—A five-storey shopping complex under construction at 9, Muri Okunola street, EtiOsa Local Government, collapsed yesterday, killing three persons and injuring 15 others.

At 8:30 pm, when Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that scores of persons were still trapped under the debris.

At the scene, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Red Cross and men of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, attached to the Maroko station, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Command, were sighted at the scene still battling to rescue the trapped persons.

Of the 15 rescued, five were said to be in critical condition and have been admitted at the Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, Ikeja while others were admitted at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, hospital, few metres from the scene.

It was learnt that the construction workers were casting the decking and the pillars when the building caved-in on them at about 4:00 pm.

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Adetayo Olaseni, he said that the building collapsed at about 4:00 pm while construction works were still ongoing which led to pandemonium, as every one scampered for safety.”

Another eyewitness, Miss. Blessing Osundare said: “I heard a loud bang and all I saw was that the entire building had collapsed on the workers.

While some escaped unhurt, others are still trapped under the debris. I can’t say the number of people here but, I know that they were more than 60 persons working at the site,” she added.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Lagos court fixes Nov 21 for Ubah’s case

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS — A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till November 21, 2013, to rule on an application by the Anambra State Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate and Chairman Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah.

Dr. Ubah is seeking court’s nod to introduce fresh evidence by way of a further affidavit, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in which he is challenging his arrest, detention and prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

Trial judge in the matter is Justice Saliu Saidu.

The judge arrived at the date after counsels in the matter argued their respective application on Ubah’s application to introduce fresh evidence.

MMIA connected to International drug data base — Giade

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

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HAIRMAN AND Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, yesterday, said the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos was now connected to the international database and communication network on drug control and other related crimes.

Speaking at the launch of the Airport Communication Project, AIRCOP, at the conference hall of the MMIA, Lagos, Alhaji Giade affirmed that with the full implementation of the project, the agency would be able to intercept illicit shipment of drugs, materials as well as curtail transnational crimes.

ANNIVERSARY: From left, Mr. Martins Adaji, Chief Executive Officer, National Troupe of Nigeria; Mr. M.M. Maidugu, Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Arts and Culture; Professor Tunde Babawale, Director General Centre for Black African Art and Civilisation, CBAAC, and Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Culture and Tourism, during 20th anniversary of Nollywood Celebrity Glam Night, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Poisonous fume: LASEPA team visits affected school L

AGOS — OFFICIALS of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, yesterday, visited Ogba Junior Secondary School, Ogba as investigation continued into Thursday’s collapse of more than 25 pupils of the school.

The pupils allegedly collapsed after inhaling fumes suspected to have come from a nearby laboratory.

Though they were all revived

Thursday, four of the pupils had to be hospitalised for more medical attention.

The LASEPA team was led by the General Manager, Mr. Adebola Shabi.

Shabi, who did not disclose the team’s findings so far, however, said investigation was still on-going.

He said a team of environmentalists would tomorrow visit the photo laboratory where the emission was sus-

pected to have come from.

“Investigation is still ongoing; we will be inspecting the laboratory Tuesday (tomorrow) with representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,“ he said.

It was observed that academic activities had returned as pupils were seen learning.

Teachers and other workers were also seen going about

their duties.

A school official who refused to mention her name said almost all the hospitalised pupils had been discharged.

“We are all happy; everything is back to normal; we are grateful to God,” she said.

The pupils of the school were, Friday, kept out of classrooms as a safety measure, and were directed to go home at noon.

NDLEA, Army raid Lagos again, recover 680.266kg of drugs L AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Lagos State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and military officers have again conducted raid in search of drug barons and their drugs.

The joint operation led to the arrest of 15 suspected drug traffickers with 680.266kg of narcotic drugs mainly cannabis.

Among the recovered drugs were 316 grammes of methamphetamine and 200 grammes of heroin while others were cannabis.

The areas covered by the raid were Akala and Akerele Agege, Lagos. The NDLEA Lagos Commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule said the operation was in response to intelligence report received on the affected locations.

“We daily collect and process information on the activities of drug traffickers and conduct raid when it is expedient. The total weight of drugs seized is 680.266kg. Those apprehended are being investigated and very soon they will be charged to court,” Aliyu said.

The Army Commander in charge of 9 Bri-

gade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade assured the NDLEA that he would always provide army officers whenever their support was required.

His words: “The Nigeria Army will continue to lend its support to the anti-drug campaign. The level of success anytime we get on joint operations

encourages us to deepen our relationship with the NDLEA,” Oyebade said.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade thanked the Brigade Com-

mander for his continuous support to the Agency.

“The support from the Nigeria Army is commendable. We shall continue to conduct similar raid

operations on locations where drugs are sold and abused. This partnership with the Army shall be sustained and strengthened.

Lagos screens 850 cases for out-of-court settlement LAGOS — THE Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, LMDC, yesterday, said it had screened 850 cases for out-of-court settlement during the 2013 Lagos Settlement Week.

The Director of LMDC, Mrs. Caroline

Etuk, said this in Lagos on the sidelines of the Settlement Week.

The week, which ends on Friday, is set aside for the resolution of cases through arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, processes.

Etuk said: “After screening the cases referred to us from the high courts and magistrates' courts, we are now left with 850 cases.

“Of the 850 cases, we have received submissions from both sides in about 350 cases.”

She said ADR was gaining ground and acceptability, noting that more lawyers and litigants had shown interest in resolving their cases through the process.

Etuk, however, clarified that not all cases would be entertained during the week.

Vanguard,TUESNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—11

Bamidele’s supporter killed at Emure-Ekiti

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

ADO EKITI — TWO supporters of Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, were reportedly shot by gun-men at Emure Ekiti Sunday night while attending a political meeting, with one of the victims dying few hours after.

Bamidele, a member of All Progressives Congress, APC, representing Ado Ekiti, Irepodun -Ifelodun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, plans to contest against the incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi in next year’s governorship election in the state.

According to a source at the meeting, who pleaded anonymity, the duo were shot by the gunmen who intruded into the venue of the meeting.

Shortly after the deed was done, the killers who came on motor bikes were said to have disappeared into thin air A statement by Mr. Ahmed Salami, an aide to Bamidele in Ado Ekiti yesterday described the killing as political.

According to Ahmed: “Mr. Foluso Ogundare was shot at a close range in the stomach by his killer, while the other victim, Mrs. Beatrice Ige, who was shot at the buttock and seriously wounded, is now receiving treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

“Bibire Coalition members were holding their meeting at Ward 03 in Emure Ekiti when gun-wielding goons besieged the place and started shooting sporadically.

“In the process, the two members of the group, were shot at close range and in various parts of their bodies.

Specifically, Mr. Ogundare was shot in the stomach and later died at about 10.25p.m. Sunday night at Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, while Mrs. Beatrice

Annual Lecture

S

T. PAUL Senior Citizens Foundation’s Annual Lecture is billed for November 7, 2013 at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

St. Paul Senior Citizens Foundation was co-founded by late Dr. Iseoluwa Aworinde, former Chairman of May Clinics Ltd, Lagos and his wife, Deaconess Esther Aworinde, in 2002.

Ige was shot in the buttock and is currently being treated at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

The Police image maker in the state, Mr. Victor Babayemi confirmed the killing, saying the police had dispatched officers to unravel the circumstances sur-

rounding the killing of the 37year-old timber contractor. “ l am yet to get the details of the incident, but l learnt the sister of the deceased came to Emure Police Station yesterday to report the incident. The Command has dispatched some of its men to get to the root of the matter."

Meantime, an Afenifere Chieftain and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye had called on the police to brace up and arrest the perpetrators of all political killings in the state.

HOLIDAY: A crowd hails Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, at Osogbo, as he declares public holiday in celebration of Hijrah 1435 in the state.

3 killed, 15 rescued, as shopping complex collapses in Lagos

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — A five-storey shopping complex underconstruction at 9, Muri Okunola Street, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, yesterday, collapsed killing at least three persons and injuring 15 others.

At 8:30p.m., when Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that scores of persons might still be trapped under the debris.

At the scene, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Red Cross and men of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, attached to the Maroko Station, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Command, were sighted still battling to rescue the trapped persons.

Of the 15 rescued, five are said to be in critical conditions and have been admitted at the Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, Ikeja while others were admitted at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,

PUBLIC NOTICE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN STUDENTS This is to inform members of the general public that the above named organization has applied for the amendment of its constitution with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

Articles amended are as follows: 1. Old constitution: Articles 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 2. New constitution: Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40.

Any objection to the proposed amendments of the constitution of the organization should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama Abuja within twenty eight (28) days of this publication.

(Signed) Arome M. Okwori, Esq., A.M. Okwori & Co., 25 Tafawa Balewa Street, Jos, Plateau State

hospital, few metres away from the scene. It was learnt that the construction workers were casting the decking and the pillars when the building caved-in on them at about 4:00p.m.

An eyewitness, Mr. Adetayo Olaseni stated: “The building collapsed at about 4:00p.m. while construction works were still ongoing. This led to pandemonium, as everyone scampered for safety.”

Another eye-witness, Miss Blessing Osundare said: “I heard a loud bang and all I saw was that the entire building had collapsed on the workers. While some escaped unhurt, others are still trapped under the debris.

“I can’t say this is the number of people here, but I know that they were more than 60 persons working at the site.”

Confirming the tragedy, the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said: “A twin four-storey building located at Muri Okunola Street, Vic-

toria Island collapsed.”

“Fifteen persons have been rescued so far while three corpses have been recovered from the debris.

“Rescue operations are still on-going and we are assuring residents that they should not panic. We are on top of the issue."

Amosun reshuffles cabinet The Ogun State Government yesterday announced a minor reshuffle in membership of its Executive Council.

According to a statement from the office of Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the exercise involved four Commissioners and four Special Advisers to the Governor.

Those affected are Dr. Lanre Tejuoso who before now was the Commissioner for the Environment. He moves to the Ministry of Youths and Sports. Mr. Gbenga Otenuga who used to be the Commissioner for Youths and Sports now moves to the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning.

Also affected are the Commissioners for Forestry, Engr. Ayo Olubori who is now to superintend the Ministry of Environment while Mr. Adebayo Fari of the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning now oversees affairs at the Ministry of Forestry.

The affected Special Advisers are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development, Mr. Tunde Sanusi who now moves to the Ministry of Environment; Mrs. Lanre Balogun, hitherto of the Ministry of Environment moves to the Office of Secretary to the State Government, among others.

Aregbesola declares Islamic holiday

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO — OSUN State Governor, Mr. Aregbesola, yesterday, announced his government determination to give equal recognition to all religions in the state.

According to Governor Aregbesola, the declaration of public holiday in the state heralding Hijrah 1435 was aimed at promoting justice and fairness among religious groups.

Speaking in Osogbo at this

PUBLIC NOTICE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN STUDENTS This is to inform members of the general public that the above named organization has applied for change of Trustees with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

The old Trustees are as follows: 1. Prof. Ishaya Audu 2. Mr. Yusufu Pwol Ja 3. Mr. William Balogun The new Trustees are as follows: 1. Rt. Rev. Dr. Danu Wonasiku 2. Mr. Othniel N. Akume 3. Hon. Justice James Ogebe JSC (RTD) 4. Rev. Dr. Mike Oye 5. Dr. Christopher Abashiya 6. Mr. Reuben Ariko 7. Mrs. Hauwa S. Gofwen Any objection to the above change of Trustees of the organization should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight (28) days of this publication.

(Signed) Arome M. Okwori, Esq., A.M. Okwori & Co., 25 Tafawa Balewa Street, Jos, Plateau State

year Hijrah 1435 celebration where he joined other Muslims at a prayer session, the governor admonished Islamic adherents in the state to bring to bear moral and spiritual rebirth as the hallmark of lessons of the migration of Prophet Muhammed from Mecca to Medina.

Aregbesola challenged all religious leaders as well as market men and women in the state to let uprightness be their watchword in all their dealings with fellow human beings.

LETTER OF APOLOGY I, Mr. Williams Abiodun Olajide, a Director of Senafoll Global Resources Limited with RC NO. 978624, erroneously used the name of Mr. Salako Toheeb Olawale as one of the Board of Directors of my company on our website. The said Mr. Salako Toheeb Olawale’s consent was not sought. I want to use this medium to apologize to him and the general public for the error my action has caused.

Signed: Mr. Williams Abiodun Olajide Director

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

ATTACK ON DELTA COMMISSIONER: Police arrest PDP chieftain

BY EMMA AMAIZE & FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—POLICE have arrested a ward Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State over the September 7 attack on the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof Patrick Muoboghare.

He was allegedly apprehended by some youths in Ohoro, who took him to the “A” Divisional Police Station, Ughelli.

It was gathered at press time that the said ward chairman had been taken to Asaba for interrogation.

A source, who gave a different version, said that the ward chairman was kidnapped on Saturday night by a group of youths and held in the bush overnight, adding: “He was manhandled by the youths, but luck ran out of them when they were taking him from Ohoro to Uwheru, as they were intercepted by men of the Federal Highway patrol, who rescued him.”

The suspect was alleged to be among those whose houses were destroyed in a recent invasion of Uwheru community by gunmen.

Mr. Igho Aragba, who told

Vanguard that he was among those that handed the party leader to the police, said: “When we came from Ughelli, he refused to enter my car, so we had to charter a taxi to take him to Ughelli. On our way to Ughelli Police Station, between Ohoro and Uwheru, he, on sighting men of the Federal Highway patrol,

brought out his head through the window and raised alarm, which attracted the police.

“The police stopped us to ask what happened and we told them what had happened on September 7, and that we were taking him to the police station. He has been on the run, but thank God some of our youths apprehended

him. When he insisted that he would no longer go with us, the police decided to use their patrol van to take him to the station and handed him over the Ughelli police.

“This morning, (yesterdaya0, police came from Asaba to take him, so he is at the police headquarters now as we speak.”

FAILED VISIT: A crowd of supporters yesterday at the Rivers State Government House after a failed visit by the leadership of APC to the state. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

IYC vows to end sea piracy, kidnapping in N-Delta

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—IJAW youths have has said that they are ready to put an end to the cases of kidnapping and sea piracy in their territory and the Niger Delta region as a whole.

The newly elected President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, Mr Udengs Eradiri, in Yenagoa, after receiving his certificate of return from the chairman of the 2013 national executive committee election, Mr. Sunny Diritolofari, said that the new leadership of IYC would re-introduce the clan and community youth leadership system to ensure that those involved in sea piracy and kidnapping were identified.

He counselled those involved to desist from the nefarious acts.

Eradiri added that the leadership of Ijaw youths would ensure that the orientation of the youths changed from violent crimes to peaceful engagement for the development of Ijawland and the Niger Delta region.

On its plan for the council, he said the IYC would be

based on pragmatic leadership that will ensure more disciplined, loyal and respectful Ijaw youths, dedicated to respect constituted authority and change the perception of the people of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

“I am going to run an IYC that will do serious cleansing of the council. We must make discipline our watch word.

We will not tolerate nonsense. There is sea piracy going on in Ijawland. Ijaw people are being robbed and

killed every day.

“Our priority in IYC is to see how we can bring all these people to the round table and see how we can stop this brigandage. It is our society, and we cannot turn it into a no-go area,” he said.

No valedictory session for late Rivers Assembly Speaker

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT—AS activities commence today for the funeral of former Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Harry, who died last month, his colleagues in the House will pay their last respects without the usual valedictory session at the House in his honour.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Chairman of the Tonye Harry Burial Committee, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, who unveiled the funeral programme, yesterday, said that the House was constrained from formally holding the valedictory session because of the takeover of its functions by the National Assembly, following the crisis in the House.

Amachree, who expressed the

ities commence today. shock of the House over the sudOther activities lined up inden death of Tonye Harry, clude a novelty football match, Speaker of the 6th Assembly and candle light procession and servmember of the current House, ice of songs before Saturday’s fusaid: “We do not want to under- neral service and interment at mine the law. You know that the Obuama, his home town, in National Assembly has taken Degema Local Government Area, over the functions of the House. which he had represented since So, we may not have a valedic- 1999 in the Rivers Assembly tory session, but a Night of Trib- before his sudden death last utes for the former Speaker on month.

Friday.”

PUBLIC NOTICE The Port Fashina Foundation (FFFoundation) would like to correct a Harcourt statement on Page 91 of Tuesday, October 1st Vanguard which states that the Foundation “has opened the first ever Nigerian Club, where Movement Disorder Clinic at the Lagos University Teaching the late Tonye Hospital, LUTH”. This is untrue.

Harry was an a c t i v e The Movement Disorder Clinic in LUTH was not newly opened as stated in the publication. The clinic has been in existence and member, will, operation for a while and FFFoundation did not play any role in the however, hold clinic’s opening nor play any role in its operation. We have only a tennis tourrequested to partner with LUTH to open a help desk and to provide nament in his more information about MSA. We do regret any inconvenience this publication might have caused. honour as the Signed: Michael Nwoye funeral activ-

Edo PDP to play active role in Akhigbe’s burial

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

E

DO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the late Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd), as a democrat, whose contribution to the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria cannot be quantified, saying that the party would play active role in his funeral arrangements.

It also regretted that Akhigbe died at a time when his contribution to national development, would be greatly needed.

Speaking in Lagos during a condolence visit to the Lagos residence of the late Admiral Akhigbe, the party ’s Edo State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who led other party chieftains on the visit, said: “He was an inspiration to many young men and women, who looked up to him. He was able to impact on his community and the country.

I must say that we are going to miss him at this period of national development because he had a lot of brilliant ideas, which would have helped in the journey to nationhood.”

Those in attendance include Chief Johnson Abulagba, Edo North Senatorial Leader, Chief Paschal Ugbomah, Lady Uwa Osunbor, Edo North Senatorial Woman Leader, and Mr. Ogbeide Ihama, among others.

CHANGE OF NAME

NGEREM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amarachi Scholar Ngerem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amarachi Scholar Onyekwere. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EMENIKE—I, formerly known and address as Miss Chinwendu Felicity Emenike, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chinwendu Felicity Emenike Igboanugo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—13

Why I advocated amnesty for kidnappers —Ozekhome

Perform or quit, Delta Commissioner charges contractor, consultants

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

B

ENIN—A LAGOSbased lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhomhe, SAN, weekend, in Ivieukwe- Agenebode, in Weppa-Wano Kingdom of Edo State, advanced reasons why he called for amnesty for kidnappers by the Federal Government.

He also recalled how he was kidnapped at 3.25pm on August 23, 2013 and how the policemen that were on rescued mission were killed by the kidnappers.

Chief Ozekhomhe, at a thanksgiving Mass at St. Mary ’s Catholic Church, Ivieukwe, to mark his safe return from the kidnappers den, explained that he was misunderstood by those who criticised his call for amnesty for kidnappers, insisting that he was only acting in consonance with the Lord’s injunction that “vengeance is mine.”

He said: “Yes, I called for amnesty for kidnappers, but people did not understand me. They asked why I should call for amnesty for people who kidnapped and tortured me. Thank God that the Bishop preached along that line, that we must learn to forgive.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for by so doing, you will be hopefully pouring hot charcoals and fire on his head. So, I did not curse, I did not ask for retribution for vengeance. God sees my mind for even calling for amnesty for them. What did God do? In the last two weeks after I was released, the kingpins of the kidnapping gang that kidnapped me who called themselves ‘Generals’ were arrested. It was after their arrest that we discovered that we were in their dens around Kokori area of Delta State.”

Speaking on how he was abducted, he said that he was not the target of the kidnappers, adding that he ran into them.

MEETING: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (left); the General Manager, Finance, Brass LNG, Andre Jerome, and the Managing Director, Vincenzo di Lorenzo, during a meeting at Government House, Yenagoa.

We didn’t approve construction of Ikoyi-Lekki Link Bridge —NIWA

BY INNOCENT ANABA

T

HE National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that the Lagos State Government did not get its approval before constructing the Ikoyi-Lekki Link Bridge in Lagos.

At the resumed hearing in the suit by Lagos Lawyer, Mr. EbunOlu Adegboruwa, challenging the tolling on the bridge by the state government, contrary to its earlier position, Mrs. Queen Uba, counsel to NIWA, denied claims by the Lagos State Government that the Federal Government gave approval for the construction of the bridge, which Adegboruwa is contending that same, having been constructed with tax payers’ money, it was double burden on the citizens for them to be asked to pay toll on the bridge.

According to Mrs. Uba,

“NIWA is the only agency of the Federal Government that has statutory and lawful powers, to the exclusion of all other agencies including state governments and their agencies, to manage and control all activities within the coastal and navigable waterways in Nigeria.”

She contended that NIWA “was established by an Act of the National Assembly pursuant to section 315 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Therefore, Section 8,9,10,11,12,13 and 23 of N-47, LFN, 2004, and by the enable law, NIWA is the proper agency of the Federal Government seized of the statutory powers to manage, control and regulate the navigable right of way of inland waterways for the nation, including the one in Lagos and Lekki Lagoons.

“We submit with respect, that there is no evidence before this Court to show that Lagos State

Government has complied with the provisions of NIWA Act as enunciated above. We therefore, urge your Lordship to so hold.

“It is humbly submitted that NIWA is the regulatory agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria with the exclusive powers to manage and control all activities within the navigable inland waterways, supervise all shipping and marine activities by providing regulations for inland navigation in Nigeria.

“We submit that a joint reading of the above Section in relation to Schedule 2, paragraph 5, NIWA Act and Section 12 therein will show clearly that all land within 100 meters perpendicular of all declared federal waterways, including Lagos and Lekki Lagoon is within the administration, management and control of NIWA, and by extension the Attorney General of the Federation.”

Dickson, deputy undergo staff verification, biometric capture exercise workers.

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, yesterday, gave January 2014 as deadline for the ongoing verification and biometric capturing exercise in the state, warning that any worker not captured would forfeit his or her salary.

Dickson and his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd), were captured by the team of experts at the Due Process Office in Yenagoa and

issued certificates as well as automated verification cards, with serial numbers.

The exercise when completed and fully operational, it was learnt, would also enable public servants use the automated verification cards to have access to their salaries, clock in and out from duty as well as tax payment.

Speaking with newsmen after the exercise, Dickson stressed his administration’s resolve to rid the state government’s payroll of ghost workers to enable government plan effectively for its

He said: “As you are all aware, this state is on a new course. The state is on the course of doing things properly. I call on the public servants of this state to cooperate with the officers conducting this exercise which means so much to us because we want to, for once, put an end to the syndrome of ghost workers on our payroll.

“We want to be able to identify who our workers are and plan and cater for them well.

I am happy that the measures that we have put in place since coming on board have yielded some dividends.”

A R R I — D E LTA State Commissioner for Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, has charged the contractor and consultants handling the construction of the state High Court Complex, Warri, to “perform or pack and go.”

Akpeki, who expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of work, during his inspection visit to the project site, said that the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was keen on the completion of the inherited complex.

He said: “Any contractor and consultant not ready to perform should pack and go. The state High Court complex in Warri, which is one of the projects inherited by this administration, is one of the land mark projects in the state that the governor wants to complete before the end of his administration.”

Court dismisses director’s move to change firm’s ownership

A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja, has thrown out a case by Valenza Holdings Limited against the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Trial judge, Justice A. Chikere, dismissed the case for lack of merit, warning counsel to the plaintiff, Olatunji Salawu and Sifiade Kayode, against engaging in “forum shopping by leaving Lagos and coming to Abuja to obtain ex-parte order.”

The judge said: “It is unbecoming of a person, who parades himself as a legal practitioner. It is unethical for counsel to engage in forum shopping by leaving Lagos and coming to Abuja to obtain ex-parte order.

“In view of the fact that this suit is pending in Lagos, this application is hereby refused and accordingly dismissed.”

14 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Adoration Ground tragedy: Oritsejafor, S-East CAN disagree on probe

BY SAMEYOBOKA, TONYEDIKE&ENYIM ENYIM

A

WKA—NATIONAL President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, urged the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi to investigate the stampede that claimed the lives of 28 Nigerians during a crusade last Friday at Uke, in Idemili Local Government Area of the state.

However, South East zone of CAN, disagreed with Oritsejafor saying that the Federal Government was better placed to set up a panel of inquiry over the issue saying that Obi cannot be a judge in his own case.

CAN in the zone also banned political campaigns in churches across the area.

Chairman of CAN in South East and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who made this known in an interview in Enugu, said the group is becoming worried about how politicians come into churches to campaign, a development he described as a menace.

The Bishop spoke as the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Anambra State also described Governor Obi’s promise to set up an investigative panel into the issue as deceptive.

Oristejafor asks Gov Obi to set up probe panel Pastor Oritsejafor who reacted to the controversy surrounding the Uke episode said the news brought sour taste in the month especially as the Nigerian Church was grappling with many security challenges.

His words: “It is indeed a sorry situation and I am deeply touched by the news. I really sympathise with those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy and pray God to comfort them.”

According to him, details of what transpired at the vigil were still sketchy, even as the conflicting reports by politicians were meant to use the ugly incident to canvas for votes.

Oritsejafor maintained

that the only way to avoid a repeat of such occurrence was to fish out the culprits and deal with them decisively to appease those who lost their loved ones in the stampede.

But in his own reaction, Bishop Chukwuma said: “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South East to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their teams for campaigns. The church should also steer clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties.

Church and party manifestos

”So it is wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos. It is not going to be acceptable any more because it causes commotion and disrespect for one another. ”We appeal to bishops, priests, pastors and clergymen to please avoid politicians coming to use churches as campaign arena. This does not augur well for our spiritual growth. ”We therefore urge the Federal Government to set up a probe panel to find out what actually happened because we feel very much worried. Since the state government is involved, I think there should be a neutral body for the investigation.”

APGA Chairman, Umeh calls for Ngige’s arrest However, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has called for the immediate arrest of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, Senator Chris Ngige for allegedly masterminding the stampede at the Ebube Muonso Adoration Ministry at Uke. A statement by James Eze, the media aide to the APGA governorship candidate, Chief Willie Obiano quoted Umeh as saying that Ngige was behind the crises.

Ngige, Obiano suspend campaign

This was even as both the APC and Ngige Campaign Organisation suspend campaign, fly party flag at half mast for victims.

The APC and the Chris Ngige campaign organiza-

tion headed by Chief George Morghalu yesterday, suspended electioneering campaigns for the APC candidate, Senator Ngige to attend a solemn prayer for the victims of the tragedy at Uke worship centre, yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Moghalu said: "It is very unfortunate that about 28 innocent souls had to lose their lives for no just cause.

These were people who went to the house of God to seek the face of God. Why must Governor Peter Obi go to Uke to campaign for his APGA candidate when he should have been there to atone for the sins of his government.

Moghalu further stated that the statement credited to the Anambra State Government that the stampede was caused by Senator Ngige "should be regarded as a tissue of lies.’’

He said that Ngige did not visit the Adoration centre two days earlier as alleged by Obi’s supporters.

My greatest challenge, by RMRDC boss EMMANUELELEBEKE

A

BUJA—THE Director General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, Professor Peter Onwualu, said the council has granted 50 research grants and trained 5,000 small and medium scale enterprenuers in the eight years of his reign.

Prof. Onwualu stated this in Abuja, yesterday, at a valedictory ceremony and public lecture/book presentation organized by the agency in his honour.

The RMRDC boss, who was praised by different stakeholders from public and private sector, however, said that his greatest regret and challenge was the inability of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs to pick up technologies developed for them by the agency.

Prof. Onwualu said in eight years, the agency was able to give 50 research grants, of which 25 of them produced commercialisable results and others currently being operated by SMEs and producing goods and services for the economy.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—15

Taraba Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa, slumps, dies

BY SONI DANIEL & JOHN MKOM ALINGO—TRAGEDY en veloped Jalingo, the Taraba State capital in the early hours of yesterday, when the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, slumped and died.

Tsokwa, who led the team of lawmakers opposed to the resumption of work by ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai despite his plea, was said to have slumped in his house and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre. His corpse was later removed from the FMC Jalingo to Taraba Specialist Hospital.

Before his untimely death, Tsokwa had come under attack by unknown gunmen on his way out of Taraba State. One of his aides was killed in the attack even though Tsokwa escaped unhurt.

The late speaker was being expected to lead a delegation of the state Christian community to the yearly pilgrimage in Israel, when he died. Tsokwa was said to have been down with some heart-related ailments, which eventually claimed his life at the prime of his political career.

He was among the majority lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, who insisted that Governor Suntai could not resume work after his foreign medical treatment because of his frail condition.

Angered by the affront, the governor approached the court to give judicial interpretation of Section 190 of the Nigerian Constitution, dealing with resumption of work by a governor after prolonged absence arising from illness or incapacitation. The court has already referred the matter to the Appeal Court following the inability of the

J

parties to settle out of court, as earlier directed.

Suntai eulogises late Taraba speaker

Meanwhile, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba, yesterday, described the death of Mr. Haruna Tsokwa, as a great loss to the state.

The governor said this in Jalingo via a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa.

The statement said that Tsokwa was a politician of considerable standing, adding that he had performed well in his representation

of Takum 1 Constituency in the state legislature since 2007.

“The late Hon. Tsokwa will be remembered for his ability to stand firm by any cause he believed in and his contribution to the democratic experience in Taraba State,” it said.

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, has described the death of the speaker as a painful loss that will take a long time to heal. In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said the deceased lived an exemplary life of dedication and

commitment to duty.

According to him, the late speaker was a patriotic Nigerian whose commitment to the development and independence of the legislature will be greatly missed especially by his colleagues in the Taraba State House of Assembly.

Tambuwal said late Tsokwa combined family life and his duties as a public servant in a commendable manner, and prayed to Almighty God to give his family, the people of Taraba State and Nigerians as a whole the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

BIRTHDAY: From left: Mr. Tim Menakaya, Victor Umeh’s wife, Bianca Ojukwu, Dr. Willie Obiano, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Governor Obi’s wife, Margaret, Chief Victor Umeh, Dr. Nkem Okeke and Emeka Ojukwu, during the cutting of cake to mark the 80th posthumous birthday of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Permanent Site of the Chukwumemka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University, Igbariam, after Governor Obi presented the cheque of N5 billion to the university, at Nnewi, Anambra State, yesterday.

Senate accuses Finance Ministry of undermining Navy’s fight against oil theft

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—FOLLOWING the disclosure by Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that the nation may lose N12 billion revenue to crude oil theft by the end of 2013, the Senate, yesterday, accused the Finance ministry of being responsible for the problem saying it has failed to release budgetary allocation meant for purchase of offshore patrol vessels, patrol helicopters and procurement of spare parts for the Nigerian Navy to fight the menace.

Chairman, Senate Committee on the Nigerian Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu who made the disclosure, said: “The capital releases so far amount to only 55.8 per cent of what they need. That is not even enough to deal with one of the major capital items, the funding of the offshore patrol vessels.

“We are very unhappy about it.

And we want the ministry of finance to ensure that our obligations to the clients with regard to this OPV’s are met because if we fail in the payment schedule then it may lead to forfeiture of the project.

“We are not also happy that major areas like the development of the jetties and purchase of a helicopter was in fact put in the budget as a replacement of the one that crashed, which left a vacuum in the operations last year.”

Emphasizing the importance of funding the Navy, Anyanwu said: “We urge the Finance ministry to understand that it doesn’t make sense to constantly complain about the failure of the Navy to avert the massive theft of our oil resources when in fact you are shooting them in the foot.

“You are not giving the Navy the resources and you are not funding

their projects. If they don’t have the vessels, they can’t walk on water. If they don’t have the money to even put fuel in existing vessels, they cannot do miracles so we have to see the ripple effect of the tardiness in re-

leasing their funds.

“What it comes up to is that at the end of the day you are making it impossible for them to do the work, and there is no need complaining.”

Anambra renames state varsity after Ojukwu

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THE Anambra State Government, yesterday, renamed the Anambra State-owned University, with campuses at Uli and Igbariam as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

Governor Peter Obi, who announced this at a ceremony to mark the posthumous 80th birthday of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chikwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu at the permanent site of the university at Igbariam, also issued a cheque for N5 billion for the infrastructural development of the university.

The money, Obi said, was made available in collaboration with the Federal Government.

He said that an arrangement has been completed for a cooperation between the university and a renowned foreign university to beef up academic programmes of the institution.

Obi further said that the N500 million debt owed by the institution would be paid by the state government immediately, just as its monthly subvention had been increased by 15 per cent with effect from January this year.

The governor also donated two buses to the Students Union Government, SUG, of the two campuses of the university and four other security vehicles for the maintenance of peace and security in the institution.

Obi informed the audience at the ceremony, which included members of the university community, ex Biafran soldiers, members of the late Ikemba’s family, including his wife, Bianca and Emeka Ojukwu Jr, that the naming of the university was most critical in view of what Ikemba stood for in Igboland.

Anambra: S-Court upholds Nwoye’s candidature

A

BUJA—THE Supreme Court has upheld the election of Mr. Tony Nwoye as Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi held that the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was right in holding that the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Her words: “After a careful perusal of the record of the court’s proceedings, we so hold that the appellant (Ukachukwu) was

given sufficient fair hearing at the Court of Appeal. We are equally convinced that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case in the first place.

“It is evident from the appeal that the appellant did not challenge the process leading to the election of Tony Nwoye as PDP’s candidate for the November 16 Anambra State governorship election. The appellant has devoted this appeal to challenging the purportedly non-adherence of the third respondent (Nwoye) to the prompt payment of taxes.

“It has, however, discovered

that Ukachukwu failed to prove that Nwoye actually did not pay his taxes as at when due. Consequent upon the above, the appeal fails in part and Mr. Tony Nwoye is hereby upheld as the valid candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.

“The full reasons for this judgment shall be delivered on January 31.”

Ukachukwu had through his counsel, Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN, sought the reversal of the decision of the Court of Appeal which upheld the judgment of the trial court.

16—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

FIRE @ GREAT NIGERIA HOUSE

The Great Nigeria House along Martins Street, Lagos was gutted by fire, yesterday.

Sympathisers at the scene. Photos: Biodun Ogunleye.

Fire fighters battling to put off the fire.

LEFT: Traders removing their wares from the scene of the inferno.

FG, ASUU MEET The Federal Government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan met with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in a move to end the current nationwide strike by the ASUU, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar (left) and other Labour leaders at the meeting.

President Goodluck Jonathan (left); ASUU Vice President, Mr. Biodun Ogunyemi Onabanjo (2nd right); Vice President Namadi Sambo (2nd left) and ASUU President, Nasir Faggae (right) during the meeting.

Supervising Minister for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike (middle); Labour Minister, Mr Emeka Wogu (right) and Special Assistant to the President on Media, Dr Reuben Abati.

Supervising Education Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike (2nd left) discussing with ASUU President, Nasir Faggae.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 17

M

Y good friend, Jide Akintunde, ManagingDirector of Financial Nigeria Limited, is what is known as a football aficionado. That means in simple English he loves the game. There is only one problem: Jide is a Nigerian and, in Nigeria, football aficionados are orphans.

They live in motherless babies homes. They are football lovers without football teams. They are pounded-yam in search of edikaikong soup.

Should Jide say something like: “we are doing so much better this new season,” don’t be confused.

He would not be referring to anything really belonging to him.

He would be referring to Arsenal; a football club that happens to be in London, England. Arsenal is this season’s revelation in the English Premier League.

Surprisingly, they are currently sitting unusually pretty at the top of the pops. But as I said, Jide is a Nigerian: he is not English.

The anomaly is even more pronounced because he does not live in London. He lives in Lagos.

Nevertheless, Jide has so adopted Arsenal completely as his club; he sees no contradiction in referring to it with a possessive “we.”

Can you imagine a white Briton in far-away London referring to Enugu Rangers as “we?” Can you imagine him wearing in London a t-shirt with the caption “Kano Pillars” emblazoned on it?

I don’t think so! However, the Arsenal football jersey is a common feature in the streets of Lagos. So are those of Chelsea and Manchester United. Why is it that we, as Nigerians, are football orphans, forced to adopt foreign clubs as if they were ours?

In 2011, Andrew Uba, residing in far away Okigwem in Imo State, Nigeria, even went as far as commit suicide because

Who says Nigeria will not win the World Cup in 2014? more. The Lagos crowd is notoriously fickle. If the national team does not perform to expectation in the first few minutes, the orphan mentality of Nigerians quickly comes into play. The Nigerian crowd jettisons the national team and adopts the opposition. Every Nigerian move is jeered. Every opposition move is cheered. What this means is that if Nigeria plays against Cameroon in Lagos, it could very easily become homecourt disadvantage. With a few hitches and glitches by the Super Eagles, Nigerians become Cameroonians in a heartbeat; cheering the visitors to victory.

Bad administration: Nigerians have never believed we can win the World Cup; and success must start at the level of belief. Since we refuse to believe, we have never prepared to win. On the contrary, we always prepare to fail. Indeed, we are such good failures, we succeed at failing. It takes four years to prepare for preeminence at the World Cup. But in Nigeria, we take four years to fail. We choose our coaches at the last minute. We choose coaches that are not world standard. We choose our players

,

Stephen Keshi was good enough to get Nigeria to win the African Cup. But he is not good enough to get us to win the World Cup

Manchester United failed to defeat Barcelona in the European Champions League final.

Fickle supporters: Years ago, I stopped watching the Super Eagles play. I only make sure I know the results of their matches as soon as possible. At best, I watch the highlights, especially if they happen to win. I came to this resolution because watching them play can be dangerous to the health of a Nigerian. You might get a heart attack out of sheer anxiety, especially given their shoddy style of play.

According to reports, those who watched the last World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ethiopia nearly died of high blood pressure in the first half. That is the predicament of Nigeria’s teeming football lovers. They die many deaths during national football matches.

As a matter of fact, the Super Eagles hardly ever play their home matches in Lagos any C M Y K

,

politically. At the last African Cup of Nations, we went without some of our best players. We failed on that occasion because we won, in spite of putting in our best effort to fail.

We don’t think it matters if the players are not familiar with one another. We only reward them if they win; otherwise they are unlikely to get paid, or to be paid on time. Recently, Stephen Keshi, the current coach, complained that he has not been paid for seven months. That is how we ensure he will not be motivated. But you can be sure the Nigerian Football Federation administrators are paying themselves even what they don’t deserve.

According to Sunday Oliseh, when Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State gave the Super Eagles money for qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the NFF pocketed the money and refused to give it to the players.

Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach

Therefore, on the eve of a friendly match with Egypt, the players threatened to boycott the game.

As in everything in Nigeria, we are simply not serious. You may well ask why we should take football seriously until you realize that the game is one veritable instrument of national unity in Nigeria. It is the one thing about which virtually all Nigerians are in agreement: we want to win.

Nigerian prodigies: Football is also a sport where Nigeria can definitely excel. Indeed, I daresay, some of the very best footballers in the world are, and have been, Nigerians. We are the country of the football prodigies, such as Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Rashidi Yekini, Segun Odegbami and Stephen Keshi. We are still producing quality players today, including Victor Moses, Vincent Enyeama, John Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike, and Osaze Odemwingie. So why is it that, in this particular area, Nigeria is not on top of the world? That is one of the many tragedies of this dear country called Nigeria.

Semi final On three different occasions, Nigeria actually won the under 16/17 World Cup. It is on record that we have won it three times; in 1985, 1993 and 2007. We have also been runners up three times.

Indeed, Nigeria is the most successful country in that competition; better than even Brazil, the second most successful country. This year, we have already qualified for the semifinals taking place today in Dubai.

Even more significant is the fact that Nigeria won the gold medal in football at the 1996 Olympic Games, beating Brazil and Argentina in the semi-final and final respectively. This is itself is eloquent testimony that we have what it takes to win the adult World Cup. When we first won the under 16 tournament in 1985, many saw the handwriting on the wall.

Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, otherwise known as Pele, predicted that Nigeria would soon be a major football nation.

Major football nation We named a road in Lagos after Fatai Atere, one of the star performers. Thereafter, virtually all the players in that victorious team fell off the football raider.

What exactly happened? The inside story is that they went into retirement. We called them under 16s, but they were actually already over thirty.

Keshi’s limitations: What needs to be done? In the short-term; Nigeria needs to get a world-class foreign coach. Stephen Keshi reigned supreme at the African Cup of Nations, but by the time we featured at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, he was completely out-foxed. Keshi does not have what it takes to tactically outsmart coaches like Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Scolari or Spain’s Vicente Del Bosque. Football matches are not only played between teams: more fundamentally, they are tactical contests between coaches. In the Confederations Cup, Keshi was tactically outplayed where it mattered. We went down to a

woeful 3-0 defeat by Spain.

There is no room for misguided nationalism with regard to the choice of a coach or technical adviser. He does not have to be Nigerian. Luiz Scolari is Brazilian; nevertheless, he coached the Portuguese national team. Fabio Capello is Italian; nevertheless he coached the British national team. It is not about being nationalistically pigheaded. It is about insisting only the best is good enough for Nigeria. Stephen Keshi was good enough to get Nigeria to win the African Cup. But he is not good enough to get us to win the World Cup. To retain him without sophisticated technical backing for the World Cup is to resolve we cannot win.

There is no indication that the Super Eagles have improved since the Confederations fiasco.

You don’t improve by playing friendly matches against nonentity football nations like Jordan. Jordan has never ever featured in the World Cup. So what exactly was the point of Nigeria playing against the Jordanian team as we did recently? How do we explain the fact that we even lost? You don’t improve by defeating nondescript Ethiopia by sheer luck as we did recently, with an Ethiopian goal that clearly crossed the line mistakenly disallowed.

Adroit manager of men Keshi is also temperamentally unsuitable for the World Cup. He is a politician. He went to the African Nations Cup without star players like Odemwingie, and somehow got away with it. But this proved to be disastrous at the Confederations Cup where it became clear that both the coach and the players lacked experience. Can you imagine Argentina going to the World Cup without Lionel Messi? A coach must be an adroit manager of men. Apparently, Keshi cannot handle the temperamental but experienced players. It is the job of a good coach to tame them.

Disbanding the NFF: In the medium-term, Nigerians of integrity need to take over the NFF. At the moment, it is yet another institution where moneygrubbing Nigerians go to make money. That needs to come to an end. The onus here is not on the government to bring this about.

The government is not allowed to interfere in football according to FIFA rules. The onus is on us, Nigerians, deciding that enough is enough and then mobilizing to get serious-minded people elected into the NFF. One of their jobs will then be to completely overhaul the local league. Let us bring back the glory days of the Stationary Stores. Let us get the Jide Akintundes of Nigeria excited about Nigerian football and not just the foreign English Premier League. Let us use football as a test-case. If we cannot excel at football, then we cannot excel at anything.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

N June this year, a combined effort of I the security agencies and the Lagos State Government led to a massive secu-

rity sweep of some suburbs of Lagos, where some suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamic insurgency sect were apprehended before they could hit targets in the nation’s commercial capital.

Specifically, four suspects were arrested in the Orile-Iganmu area and charged with plotting to attack the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos. One of the suspects is also being prosecuted for helping the sect monitor the activities of security agencies and reporting back to the terrorists.

This is yet another indication that though beaten back and put on the run, the nation’s number one arch enemy is still active and determined to spread terror and cause maximum panic in the system.

They are looking for soft spots and exploiting every available laxity in the security system to hit back.

It should be clear even to lay people that the prisons are among the prime targets of terrorists and highly sophisticated rob-

Preventing terror attacks on prisons bery gangs. Some of their colleagues, who have been convicted in the courts are cooling their heels there, and some of these felons are their leaders and valuable hands. They would like to set these people free and further win for themselves the false air of invincibility.

It is for this reason that security at our prisons, particularly the high security ones, where the toughest criminals are being warehoused, must be guarded with the greatest sense of vigilance and sophisticated equipment possible.

Correctional professionals must upgrade their mentality to the needs of modern era plagued by tougher new crimes, such as terrorism waged by suicide at-

tackers. Gone are the days when criminals regarded the prisons with awe. They now know that the prisons are among the least equipped in terms of arms, and that its officials are much easier to tackle than, say, military personnel.

Bearing in mind the havoc the society suffers, whenever prison breaks take place, particularly the freeing of suicideready terrorists, the system must wake up and fortify our prisons to meet the challenges of the moment.

It is high time we leveraged on the impending national conference to explore the possibility of decentralising correctional functions to enable states and even private security contractors to build and operate prisons just as it is done in many advanced societies. As the criminals specialise in their nefarious activities we must also adjust accordingly in order to stay ahead of them.

In these days of globalisation of crimes such as terrorism, we must explore every opportunity to align our correctional practices with the best in the world, protect our people and secure our nation.

OPINION

BY SIMEON NWABUNDU

I

T beats my imagination when journalists whom peo ple are look up to for knowledge and information go out of their way to delude the public with bare-faced lies in the name of opinion writings in newspapers all in a bid to please their paymasters. Refer to a recent article written by a popular columnist, Mr Ebere Wabara, titled “Charlatanism By Igbo Political Elite” in a national newspaper. Wabara had launched severe attacks on all the current elected and appointed political office holders from the South East zone, describing them as mere charlatans.

In the article, he specifically singled out Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, his family and government for severe attack for obvious reasons. It is often said that liberty is the right of every man to be honest, to think and to speak without hypocrisy. Ordinarily Wabara is at freedom to write anything he feels strongly about, including what may be considered jaundiced and myopic point; but when such is lacking in truth and fact, it becomes hypocritical and misleading.

The obvious height of mischief and hypocrisy in Wabara’s article was his failed and insulting effort at trying to use his paymaster, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu’s eight years as governor of Abia as a parameter to measure the performance of the present crop of elected and appointed public office holders in the South East. But it is quite unfortunate and disheartening that the only thing that made Kalu politically vibrant by Wabara’s poor assessment was his unwarranted and consistent attacks on the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s government and policies.

This was even when it is clear to all Nigerians that the attack was Kalu’s ploy to divert attention and attract cheap popularity. So such comparison or parameter is a huge insult to the intellectual, educated and hard-

Attack on South East public office holders working people of the South East, including Wabara himself, if he can tell himself the bitter truth. So, it means that the zone is only good at producing political noisemakers, without credible record of performance?

Or is Wabara saying that unless the current elected and appointed political office holders from the SouthEast start fighting or attacking President Goodluck Jonathan, and making baseless political noise like his paymaster to attract undue attention, they are not representing the zone well? How can an indigene of the zone and renowned journalist canvassed for such a bizarre move that does no one any good in a democratic setting? It is obvious that the zone has fared better in President Jonathan’s administration than at any other time since 1999.

I

t was the late Chuba Okadigbo who said that it takes political sagacity to understand political arithmetic. The current political officer holders in the SouthEast zone have represented the zone well so far. They talk when there is need for such, dialogue or disagree when necessary without paying lips service.

Wabara should concentrate on the failings of his principal and how to recover from these, instead of attacking Governor Orji, his family and government for selfish reasons. This is not the first time, and will not be the last Wabara and his colleagues in the newspaper will launch vain attacks on Gov. Orji, his family and government.

It is their stock in trade and expected, especially as 2015 is around the corner, and Gov. Orji had

parted ways with their paymaster, liberated the state from his stranglehold and has been providing the people of the state with good, accountable and transparent governance. This was something Wabara’s principal and publisher of the newspaper that has continued to be used to attack Orji’s government never wish him and the people of the state before now. But to their greatest disappointment, God has used Gov Orji as a tool to end permanently the era of impunity and years of locust in the state between 1999 and 2007.

W

ithin the shortest period of liberation in the State, there has been remarkable, mas sive and obvious improvement in the area of infrastructural development across the state. The infrastructural developments are on ground and ongoing. It is not prototype work or media propaganda. They are real.

Prominent among them are the New Government House, International Conference Centre, New Workers’ Secretariat, several housing estates, Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Centre. Wabara should be bold enough to state his master’s achievements while in office as governor of Abia State for eight years.

That is the only way he can convince Nigerians, especially the people of the South East that his paymaster is a model for the present crop of South East elected and appointed public office holders to emulate.

•Master Simeon Nwabundu, an undergraduate wrote from New Heaven, Enugu State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013— —19

Genesis R Sullivian Iheanacho Chime is a veteran of many “religious wars.”

For so many reasons, the Governor of Enugu State, will gladly do without another festering religious controversy with its attendant klieg lights considering the pivotal role he played as the Chief of Staff to the then Governor of the State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani. This is moreso considering the negative exposure his friend, Ikedi Ohakim, the immediate past Governor of Imo State, had over a Reverend Father who he (Ohakim) was accused of assaulting corporeally. In that episode, the entire Roman Catholic clergy in that state literally went up in “arms” against the embattled Ohakim who apologised and made peace before the heat was put off.

If you think that Governor Chime has developed “battle fatigue” and has repented, then you have another think coming as James Hadley Chase will say!

This time, Chime is involved in a face-off with the authorities of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles, MFM, Ministries over the illegal demolition of the church’s Regional Headquarters complex adjoining the Zik Avenue bridge in Uwani, Enugu. The precipitate act has drawn the ire of wellmeaning Nigerians across socio-political, ethnic and religious divides due to the glaring impunity and lawless abandon with which the agents of the Chime administration conducted themselves.

It is no gainsaying the fact that the MFM, as a well-known responsible and lawabiding religious organisation in Enugu State, nay Nigeria as a whole, has always conducted its activities and actions within

M

the ambits of all relevant statute books, with no known case or incident of either tangential or head-on collision with any government or its agents or agencies (Enugu State inclusive). Rather, the religious organisation has been a good corporate citizen actively involved in providing strong spiritual bulwark against evil spirits and principalities for all, including governments at all levels.

Apart from the rumour that went viral on the Enugu grapevine circuits that some allies of the then ailing Governor Chime were prevailing on the authorities of the MFM to “ waterdown” the tone and intensity of its “by fire by fire” prayer mode, as they suspected it was aggravating the Governor ’s celebrated ill-health. It is apparent that the Governor has been having health challenges, which to all intents and purposes cannot be laid at the doorsteps of any religious organisation. On that, all the churches in Enugu State prayed for the quick recovery of the Governor with the MFM taking prime position in devoting prayer sessions to the reinstatement of Governor Chime’s good health in good time. It is an irony of fate that an organisation that spear-headed the quick recovery of Governor Chime has become the butt of his discriminative action(s)!

If it is true that the Governor and his henchmen are visiting the full weight of government’s might and monopoly of coercion and impunity on a religious organisation that has supported his administration with prayers to succeed in providing good governance to the people of the state, then it is also true that Governor Chime has not purged himself or shorn of the toga of one who relishes religious persecution.

Obsolete guns and other issues

BY DOMINIK UMOSEN

T

O remind the military top brass of evergreen truism in the saying that the sanctity of truth is neither destructible nor violable, no matter elaborate attempts made to do so, could never amount to being too forward or volunteering unsolicited advice. Among the Ibibios of Akwa Ibom State, for example, a popular variant of this proverb is that as difficult as it may be to pin down nauseating fart to a particular individual, especially in a crowded room, you could not deny that some one inside farted and polluted the entire space. A few months ago, some one farted and despite desperate attempts made to deny that fact, all that appears to be history now that the breeze, as they say, has blown open the ugly warts and freckles on the bum of a fowl for every one to see.

For the sake of those who are yet to latch onto my drift, as it were, I draw your attention to the fact that when some distraught villagers in Riyom area of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State alleged, a while ago, that some military members of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in that state encouraged them to flee because invading Fulani militiamen descending from surrounding hills were better armed than they were, we were greeted with strident denials, despite the curious failure of soldiers present to protect the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Fulani Dantong, who was subsequently killed in the disorderly flight from the invaders.

Neither the personal testimony of the late Dantong’s younger brother who witnessed the slaughter nor another version by a federal legislator who also witnessed the tragedy could convince those denying to hesitate before advancing an argument that was, and still remains, clearly inadequate as defence.

This spate of controversy, hopefully, has been laid to rest with the categorical stateC M Y K

ment by Governor Ibrahim Geidam of strifetorn Yobe State that Nigerian soldiers are hopelessly ill-equipped compared to apprehended Boko Haram insurgents whose alleged exploits and cache of arms invariably taunt the supposedly superior fire-power of security agents. Governor Geidam did not mince words recently when he lampooned the combat-readiness of our troops, insisting that weapons either seized or recovered from the insurgents indicate that only a miracle could tilt the battle in favour of what he described as “poorly-armed” Nigerian troops. And unlike the flurry of denials that greeted earlier allegations in Plateau, the Governor’s observation may have categorically rested the controversy regarding the so-called imbalance of terror (weaponry), between both sides. Could this alleged inferiority in weaponry be the actual reason why the war against terror is yet to be won convincingly by the military, despite tales of huge investments allegedly made by the Federal Government?

The Yobe State governor should know better because his state has been a most savage and tear-jerking epicentre of the insurgency, as no day passes without chilling reports of atrocities like school pupils killed in their sleep or some hare-brained fanatics cutting down some defenceless citizens because of misplaced hatred for the same Western education which, ironically, provides the guns and bombs that the terrorists rely on to dramatise their outrage. And now that a high-profile witness in this major killing field has alleged embarrassing unpreparedness of soldiers in terms of fire-power, may be the futility in further denying what actually happened in Barkin Ladi would eventually be accepted and acknowledged by all parties in this self-sustaining controversy.

This writer recalls, with some trepidation, the pervasive panic and alarm that prevailed following initial reports that some professionals, who are trained to dig in and fight, not to run or scamper for safety, actu-

,

It is pertinent to recall that Chime, a former local government council chairman, latched on to Governor Chimaroke Nnaman’s nacent political machine, Ebeano, a neomilitant political structure programmed to perpetuate Nnamani’s strangle-hold on Enugu politics as a countermeasure to that of his enstranged mentor, Senator Jim Nwobodo. When Chime was appointed as the Chief of Staff to Governor Nnamani, he became, effectively, the fulcrum of all the negative and positive aspects of that administration and the Ebeano family as its ideological arm.

One of the most-publicised and longdrawn activities of the Nnamani/Ebeano/ Chime triumvirate was the persecution of supposed political oponents and strident critics of the administration.

Honourable Ugwu, a member of the then House of Representatives was virtually sent into compulsory exile for propagating opinions diametrically-opposed to Governor Nnamani’s. That chapter of political repression and rule of impunity remains one of the darkest periods of Enugu State’s political history.

Concurrently, the famous (or infamous?) case of Governor Nnamani versus Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, the founder of

,

BY IFEANYI COSMAS CHUKWUEMEKA

,

The MFM building demolition saga and the rule of impunity

The organisation should be compensated financially for the destruction of its property and provided with an alternative site to house its Regional Headquarters and teeming devotees who were rendered homeless

The honest admission that a genuine challenge exists, but is being reassessed for resolution, is a more realistic definition of pragmatism than the false dismissal of terrorists as inconsequential irritants

,

ally urged ambushed hill billy folks to flee, allegedly because invaders paraded better armoury and it would have been suicidal to play a dumb hero by confronting them- a tactically-sound argument.

Instead of dragging the matter further with, perhaps, more hilarious allegations and counter-allegations, what the country requires most, at this point, is sober re-assessment of aggregate strategies since the commencement of the war against terror which every patriotic Nigerian agrees must be won.

And won convincingly, so that this and maybe future generations of terrorists and anarchists would settle for a more legitimate way of life. Since most Nigerians are aware that the terrorists receive support from both within and outside the country, adjusting to the possibility of this support conferring on terrorists some degree of sophistication, both in terms of weaponry and training, is a more pragmatic option as the military authorities themselves have admitted. According to the Director of Defence Information, BrigGen Chris Olukolade, necessary adjustments have been made by the military, as an institution, as a practical response to the growing desperation (add sophistication), by the religious terrorists.

“From the perspective of the Armed Forces, this only proves our earlier position on the desperation of the insurgents; the military authorities have noted it and have ad-

Adoration Ministries (a spiritual prayer body within the larger Roman Catholic Church) is a case study in calculated official persecution of a religious organisation by an intolerant government.

It is on record that Reverend Father Mbaka, an unreprentant critic of the then administration’s profligacy and nondelivery of dividends of democracy to people of Enugu State, cried out that he was being trailed by shadowy people (presumably state security agents or hatchet men) with intent to eliminate him.

With this backdrop of some previous human rights violations to stifle opposing views, it is instructive to say that Chime would not have treated the MFM Ministries any better.

The only difference, this time around, is that the MFM has not taken it upon itself to pretend to be the conscience of the people or provide an alternative governance portal.

It has only concerned itself with the propagation of the Word of God and the application of strident prayers and intercessory sessions to deliver people from bondage, afflictions, generational curses, etc.

In view of the foregoing, it is suggested that Governor Chime should tarry a little and revisit the nagging issue of the rule of impunity that attended the distorted processes that led to the illegal demolition of the Regional Headquaters of the MFM Ministries in Enugu. The organisation should be compensated financially for the pre-meditated and wilful destruction of its property and provided with an alternative site to house its Regional Headquarters and teeming devotees who were rendered homeless.

In these trying times, the authorities of the MFM Ministries and their members nation-wide should take solace in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 41, Verses 11, 12 and 13.

•Mr Chukwuemeka, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Enugu, Enugu State.

justed accordingly to it,” he said, adding that “having discovered new tricks of the insurgents in advancing their desperation, the military authorities have adjusted and directed appropriate responses to nip the trend in the bud and re-assert the security and protection of Nigerians as mandated by Mr President through the state of emergency declaration, ”Olukolade further said.

As a matter of fact, what makes this new emphasis on adjustment by the military more gratifying is the implicit admission of awareness of and familiarity with the fact that growing sophistication by the insurgents imposes the burden of appropriate and commensurate response by the military- exactly the lingo that multitudes of worried Nigerians have been dying to hear. And as tribute to this adjustment by the military to the increasing desperation of the insurgents, Olukolade revealed that some foreign nationals, including a mortally-wounded Chadian who fought alongside the insurgents, have been arrested. This much, he said, was revealed by the wounded Boko Haram combatant who was captured by Nigerian soldiers.

Evidently, Olukolade’s theory of systematic adjustment by the military to the desperation of terrorists is better and more confidence-inspiring than unconvincing denials that there are ancient guns in the house, as exemplified by the Plateau incident.

Knowing that solution to a formidable challenge is undergoing consideration is always better than pretending that the challenge does not exist in the first instance. In other words, the honest admission that a genuine challenge exists (theory of constant adjustment), but is being re-assessed and re-evaluated for resolution, is a more realistic definition of pragmatism than the false dismissal of terrorists as inconsequential irritants even when sensational reports of upsets recorded by supposedly- rag-tag insurgents against better-trained soldiers continue to make the rounds.

•Mr Umosen, a communications strategist, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

NOVEMBER 5 , 2013

*Accommodation rush: A residential building being converted into a makeshift hotel. INSET: Buildings patronised by worshippers

By AZEEZ SANUSI

T

HE growing global popularity of a church located in Ikotun-Egbe, a suburb of Lagos, can be attested to by the mammoth crowd that graces its many services and programmes every week.

Such worship days and programmes usually create serious traffic challenges in the area as human and vehicular traffics are not only disrupted but sometimes come to standstill, especially at the end of such programmes when worshippers troop out of the expansive and magnificent church building and start making their way home. The resulting chaos on the road can last for hours, a nightmare that most road users in the area dread.

On the positive side, apart from its regular army of worshippers, the church and its programmes have also become a welcome blessing to residents of the area where it is located given the economic boom it has engendered for them. For instance, it has attracted business operators who deal in small and medium scale businesses, especially those tradC M Y K

ing in items which many worshippers find indispensable. Particularly common are restaurants due to the usual increase in demand for food products at every large congregation of worshippers.

But the most lucrative of the business opportunities it has created is one night-stand commercial accommodation that has seen landlords and indeed all who had a room or two to spare smiling to the banks.

Shelter for distant members To be able to accommodate the ever growing congregation of the church, house owners in Ikotun and environs now rent out available rooms to worshippers on nightly basis, at least while the programme they are attending at the church lasts. In fact, many landlords in the area are now converting their buildings into hotels as shelter for distant members of the church who come for special services, thereby making more money in return.

On a regular service day, the church is usually flooded with

people from different backgrounds, states and countries and of various walks of life. And because of the large number of people that attend the church during special programmes, it is often difficult for those coming from far to get convenient seats, according to one Mr. Godwin, who says he belongs to this category.

According to him: “The programmes usually last all day, most especially the Thursday deliverance service, and it is always more enjoyable when you get a good place to sit.” Godwin who came from Benin City told Vanguard Metro that he got to know about the makeshift hotels from residents in the area who directed him to one of the landlords in the area.

The houses are usually partitioned in the format of an ideal hotel and charged at N3,500, N4,000 or more per night. “It is very conducive, in fact it is no different from a normal hotel,” said another member of the church who resides in Lagos but explained that coming from home would make him late for the weekend services.

When VM approached some

owners of the houses, it was gathered that the business idea was informed by the vast population of the church members who are willing to pay any amount to stay the night in order to be able to attend various services offered by the church. In fact, some of the members of the congregation already have their favourite houses to stay whenever they arrive.

According to Mr. Michael, a Ghanaian who specialises in housing members from his country, “there are a group of people from Ghana who come here all

,

Why landlords in Lagos community now smile to the banks

reservations as to the motive of certain unscrupulous elements who might want to hijack such trend for selfish reasons. He, however, assured that the church is doing everything to complete its own quarters for accommodating members who have plans to stay for days, especially those coming from distant places.

The conventional hotels in the area are few and far between from bus-stop where the church is located. The hotels presently charge between N4,400 and N8,800 per night depending on

House owners in Ikotun and environs now rent out available rooms to worshippers on nightly basis, at least while the programme they are attending at the church last

the time and they usually prefer to stay in the same building.” He also explained that he has a place he takes them to which is on the same street with the church.

VM also noted that some new hotels are being built in the area while others which had been residential now carry names of hotels to attract people who may be unwilling to patronize the makeshift ones due to their lack of proper identity.

Meanwhile, a church authority confirmed knowledge of this trend but expressed mixed feelings. He welcomed the idea of having places people can stay around the church but expressed

,

the room and the level of services rendered, including hot bath, air conditioning, size of rooms and other facilities available.

House owners and agents in the area are currently taking full advantage of this trend which promises to go on for a long time due to the increasing population of the church. Except new real hotels are built in and around the bus-stop, chances are that the locally improvised ones will continue to thrive as members prefer proximity to the church and only the houses already existing around the church offer such remedy.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 21

From left: Managing Director, Juhel Nigeria Limited, Mrs Amaka Okoye; Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu; and Chairman/ CEO, Juhel Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, during the presentation of ISO 90001:2008 to Juhel Nigeria Limited

by SON in Awka.

No economy is an island —NACCIMA

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

Rice smuggling booms as Nigerian importers troop to Cotonou Port

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

HERE are confirmations that the twin factors of high tariff on rice and the high demand associated with the end of the year festivities have instigated a boom in smuggling of the essential commodity.

An authoritative source at a private terminal in Apapa Lagos confirmed to Vanguard that: “90 percent of all the vessels discharging rice in Cotonou are Nigerians, so their rice end up in Nigeria and no duty is being paid to the government.”

He also confirmed that the Federal Government’s policy on increased tariff on rice importation is already taking

106.0

0.6

2,650.00

-27.00

18.24

-0.08

106.62 94.94 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIY KRONA SDR

negative toll on revenue accruable to the country as rice importers have now found a safe haven in Cotonou port.

According to him, the tariff payable on imported rice at Cotonou port is about 10 percent, while in Nigeria, government has increased the tariff to 110 percent in order to encourage local production.

He reiterated that terminal operators, who major in rice importation are currently suffering because importers have left for the Cotonou port.

“For rice, the duty has discouraged importers, if you take rice to Cotonou, you pay 10 percent duty, but if you bring it here, you will pay 110 percent.

So tell me, where you will take it? Government wants to dis-

154.8 248.670 212.9893 172.4407 1.5762 0.3065 238.6277 25.4011 41.2745 28.554 238.9338

155.3 249.4739 213.6773 172.9977 1.5813 0.3165 239.3984 25.4836 41.4078 28.6463 239.7056

-2.22 -1.44 SELLING 155.8 250.2771 214.3652 173.5546 1.5864 0.3265 240.1692 25.5661 41.5411 28.7385 240.4773

CBN Exchange rate as at 04/11/2013

courage importation”, he stressed.

“Importers now take their rice through Cotonou border, all the motorcycles are in Cotonou now, they take10 bags of rice at the back of the motorcycle and one bike man can do 10 trips in one day which is about 1000 bags per day”.

Our correspondent also gathered that the trend has forced one of the rice milling companies in Nigeria; Flour Mill Nigeria Limited, to reduce the price of its rice commodity from N13, 000 to about N9, 000 per bag.

Our source disclosed that, “We have rice here for N9,000 per bag, but we can’t sell it, they have reduced the price to N8,700; 13,000 metric

tonnes has been here since more than a year ago and we are trying to get rid of it” “Even though the rice we mill here is quality rice, but an average Nigerian does not care about quality, a lot of rice vessel discharging rice here during the festive period are no longer seen again”, he lamented.

Also confirming the current situation, Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents (ANLCA) Tin Can Island Chapter, Mr. David Chuks Kanikwu, explained that Nigerian importers are afraid to make a long term plan for importation as a result of alleged policy summersault of the Federal G o v e r n m e n t .

Vigeo Power seeks criminalisation of electricity thef theftt

V

igeo Power Limited, the new owner of the Benin E l e c t r i c i t y Distribution Company Plc has advocated for the criminalisation of electricity theft and application of appropriate penalties for recovering lost revenue arising from theft. Speaking in Benin, Edo State when he was handed over the Benin Disco at the weekend, the Chairman of Vigeo Power Limited, Victor Gbolade Osibodu, also called on the Federal

Government to ensure prompt release of the subsidy contained in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) model for each of the 11 Discos. Osibodu harped on the need for adequate funding of the Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN) to ensure that the agency could adequately evacuate power produced for delivery to Discos.

He said approving a framework for Private - Public Partnership options to fund some TCN projects would also be a viable option. Osibodu stated that in order to achieve a smooth transition and attain the desired successes of pri-

vatisation, the government should create regulatory certainty with a well defined and predictable tariff methodology.

He added that the conclusion of payment of workers severance benefits and pension would guarantee a stable working environment.

He noted that the physical handover of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company to Vigeo Power Ltd, as the 60per cent core investors, was an epic occasion and commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the political will and commitment.

HE Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has said that recent developments around the globe have also pointed out clearly that no economy in the world is an island, and cannot experience a sustainable level of real growth and development.

Speaking at the on-going Lagos International Trade Fair, tagged “ Harnessing Trade Potentials for an Inclusive Economy”, the President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, who was represented by Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said, no economy in the world is an island onto itself, nor can experience a sustainable level of real growth and development. ,if the necessary economic reforms and incentives that would spur and position the economy in better stead to attract and encourage both local and foreign investors in the country, are not put in place. ”It has therefore become necessary for our governments at all levels to ensure the enhancement and development of the private sector with appropriate and effective enabling policy measures and programmes that will make businesses, most especially Small and Medium Enterprises to thrive in the country” he said.

He applauded the Federal Government for demostrating high sense of forward planning in the interest of our national economy to bring about all inclusive growth by producing the proposed 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framwork (MTEF) , which is before the National Assembly for passage. ”We wish to counsel that the National Assembly should, without further delay, fast-track the consideration of the MTEF and give its approval. In addition, we wish to plead with the Federal Government to hasten the process of revisiting the concessioned Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and hand it over to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry for proper management of trade promotion activities, as was done for Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, which is in tandem with global practce” he said.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY,NOVEMBER

5, 2013

SEC, NSE review this database NOW!

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

I

N recent times, investors have been complaining that the contact telephone numbers supplied by registrars and stockbrokers are not functioning. What makes this a major issue is that most of these phone numbers were sourced from the one published by the Nigeria Stock Exchange and (NSE) and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). This implies that some (not all) of the contact numbers of operators published by these regulatory bodies are obsolete. It also implies lack of effort to regularly review these contacts.

But it is a reflection of a larger problem in the market.

Since the crash of the market in 2008, so many changes have happened in the market.

Lots of capital market operators have closed shop, some suspended, some acquired, while some just disappeared. But most of these changes are yet to be reflected in most of the data base in the market, including

that of SEC and NSE. This became obvious from complaints received from investors and our attempt to provide answers to them. For those who request for services of a stockbroker, we usually refer them to the website of NSE for the list of registered stockbrokers. We also rely on the data base of the SEC and

others for information on mutual funds, and registrars.

But sometimes, the information we get or give to investors turn out to be invalid or no longer functional.

This, however, is an attitudinal issue. What stops a capital market operator from providing functional phone numbers? Very few of the

registrars have mobile phone numbers through which investors can reach them. We have made this case before, but it was ignored. Most of the people that suffer this are investors out of Lagos, who call these landline phone numbers without success. It is a reflection of the respect these operators have for

From left: James Woods, Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS); Jurg Haller,Global Vice Chairman, UBS Wealth Management; Azu Nwagbogu, Director, Lagos Photo Foundation, and Marc. Andre Schmachtel, Director, Goethe Institute, at the Fourth edition of Lagos Photo Festival on Megacity and the Non-City opening, in Lagos.

Top 10 performing stocks W

ema Bank Plc, UBA Capital plc, Associated Bus Company Plc (ABC), Academy Press Plc, IHS Plc and Continental Reinsurance Plc were among the stocks that garnered enough investors’ patronage last week to emerge on the top 10 performing list.

Others were Nestle Nig. Plc, Lafarge WAPCO Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Vono Products Plc. Wema Bank led with 14.04 percent o r N0.16 price gain to close at N1.30 f r o m N1.14 p e r share.

Following a successful Tier 1 capital raising where it raised N40 billion, the bank said it would seek regulatory approval to upgrade to a national bank status. It presently operates as a fullfledged commercial bank in two contiguous geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory. The nine months financial statement for the period ended 30th

September, 2013, showed a return to profitability. The pretax profit and post tax profit rose to N563.800 million and N479.230 million from loss position of N1.79 billion and N1.87 billion in equivalent period of 2012 respectively. It grew its gross earning to N26.322 billion from N21.56 billion in nine months of 2012.

The bank projects profit before tax of N1.757 billion, N2.734 billion, N4.515 billion, N11.768 billion and N24.17 billion for the years ending 31 December 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in that order. 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in that order.

UBA Capital, listed in the Other Financial Services sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, emerged second with 12.31 percent or N0.16 gains to close at N1.46 from N1.30 at the beginning of the week. UBA Capital’s four billion ordinary shares, which amounted to N4.64 billion, were earlier this year admitted in the Daily Official List of the NSE. Listed at

N1.16, the stock has risen by mere 25.86 percent when compared to the closing price last week.

The company recorded N2.16 billion pre-tax profit, a 337 percent increment over N49 million recorded in 2012, while profit after tax stood at N1.72 billion, representing 57 kobo earnings per share and an annualized 38.5 per cent return on average equity. It quadrupled its gross earning to N3.23 billion in the nine months period. UBA capital is a non-bank financial service firm that engages in investment banking, trusteeship, asset management, insurance and stock brokerage.

The lone listed road transport company, ABC Plc, advanced by 11.84 percent or N0.09 from N0.76 it started the week at to N0.85.

The company was incorporated in Nigeria on 5th April, 1993, as a Private Limited Liability Company with the name- Associated Bus Company Limited to engage in the business of transportation and ancillary services. Presently, the company is recording

declining fortune as it recorded N782.83 million g r o s s profit for half-year to June, 2013, down from N876.69 million in the same period of 2012. However, the revenue rose to N2.23 billion from N3.16 billion, while profit for the year stood at N 5 6 . 7 3 million.

Academy Press plc’s share price rose by 10.39 percent or N0.24 from N2.31 to N2.55.

Involved in security printing, the company had in 2012 announced that it would take advantage of ban on importation of security and sensitive print materials by the Central Bank of Nigeria to upgrade its facilities to full blown security printing outfit.

Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s services company, IHS Plc, trailed behind with 9.96 percent or N0.24 gains from N2.41to N2.65. Only recently, the company announced that it entered into a definitive agreement

investors- the small investors.

It is, however, the responsibilities of SEC and NSE to ensure that these operators provide multiple functioning avenues for easy access for investors. But a situation, where the two bodies do not even care to review the contact of these operators published on their website, how they would know that the contacts are not functioning, or inadequate for easy access by investors.

Hence, we are throwing it as a challenge to SEC and NSE, if you so much care about the credibility and validity of the contact address and phone numbers of market operators you publish on your website, conduct a thorough review now. Furthermore, all the operators should be made to provide at least three mobile phone lines for investors’ access, and request for periodic reports on how these operators respond to investors complaints. The CBN has done that because it is passionate about protecting depositors. In the capital market, that is what SEC should also do if it is passionate about protecting investors.

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

with MTN Group Limited (“MTN”) (JSE: MTN) pursuant to which, it will acquire up to 931 mobile network towers from MTN Cote d’Ivoire for US$141 million and up to 827 towers from MTN Cameroon for US143 million. Following the agreement, IHS became 100 percent shareholder of the

tower companies to be set up in each country to manage the towers and other passive infrastructure.

Continental Re advanced by 8.49 percent or N0.09 from N1.06 to N1.15; Nestle went up by 7.40 percent or N77.76 from N1, 051.00 to N1, 128.76; Lafarge appreciated by 6.60 percent or N6.50 from N98.50 to N105.00; UBA added 6.79 percent or N0.44 to close at N8.04 from N7.60, while Vono Products advanced by 5.66 percent or N0.09 from N1.59 to N1.68 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 5, 2013 —23

INVESTORS SPEAK

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

A

DEWALE Abiodun: We are affirmative about market condition. It is our prayer that the market bounces back. This is because as investors, we are always affirmative and positive about the condition of the market, since it is when the market is progressing that we make money.

We experienced the bad phase of the capital market during the last meltdown and our prayer is that there should not be a repeat. We also hope that this improvement we are seeing today in the stock market will be sustained, while the Nigerian Stock Exchange tries to restore shareholders’ confidence, most especially the minority investors.

We don’t want to talk about the negative thing when it comes to the market because we have done enough of it in the last few years. This is because it is when the market is booming and doing well that we can say that we are expecting declaration of dividend and possibly bonuses, the reason for our coming into the market in the first place.

To me, I will say that the market is progressing no matter how slow it may be. We have left where we used to be in the last few years, but we are not there yet. And just as there may be

some investors that may dispute this, I believe that a huge number of investors can see this and will share the same mindset with me on this matter.

Take for instance; some shares that I bought at cheaper rate before now sell at high prices. Some shares I bought at the rate of N200 some times ago are now selling at higher and profitable price. I currently have 200 units in Nestle and can’t believe that N200, 000 is the value of my share now and that is only with Nestle.

Oscar Onyema, CEO, NSE

Stoc k mar ket pr ogressing, albeit slo wly ock mark progressing, slowly

If I have to sell those of other companies where I have higher units of shares whose stocks are doing well, like Guinness, Nigeria Breweries and Lafarge WAPCO, that means that I will have enough money to throw around for whatever purpose I want. And that is our wish; that the improvement might be progressive and not retrogressive.

But as we are enthusiastic about the growth of the market, we cannot run away from the reality that a lot still have to be done. And the good thing about the market currently is that the regulators are working tirelessly to ensure sustainability of the growth that is currently being experienced.

Also, the exchange has put series of measures in place to sustain the growth, as well as restore confidence

in the market and all these innovations and programmes show and speak volumes when it comes to their commitments to protecting the market from going down while championing the interests of minority shareholders.

(Adewale Abiodun is the Chairman of Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Shareholders Association) Sonibare Waheed: We are not there yet.

Though currently we can see some price appreciation in the market, but in real terms, the minority shareholders are not really benefiting because if you look at what we call the artificial effect of the price, you can see that majority of the money available in the market today is from

foreign investors. Because of this, one needs to be very careful when it comes to investing in the capital market.

On my personal opinion, the confidence is not yet there because majority of the people that left the capital market prior to and after the meltdown are not back in the market and until a good number of this category of investors are back; we cannot really say that the market has gained the confidence of investors.

What we have in the market today is just the influence of the market makers. Their shares are selling at high prices, but the dividend is not worth it. For instance, Nestle is selling around N1500 per unit, but it will be unwise of an investor to buy such stocks now simply for expectation of N20 dividend.

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS

Iw ant tto o sell want my W ema Bank Wema shares I BOUGHT 1400 units of share at Wema bank during 2004 public issue but I have not received any dividend.

My certificate no is 690419 &account no is 563219. Please help me with interested buyer.

(IDUWE ENDURANCE ESOSA)

Investors Forum

You have to first dematerialize the certificate before you can sell the shares. You need the services of a stockbroking firm to dematerialize the certificate and to sell the shares. Visit the website of Nigeria Stock Exchange (www.nselive.com) for list of registered stock brokers.

I need update on Transcorp, Vono Product

Please kindly help me to find out if these companies below still exist and their current update on bonuses and dividend. I have not received any news from them after their public. The companies are Vono Products Plc, Transnational Plc, NFI Insurance Company Plc. (Sani Abubakar)

Investors Forum

Transcorp and Vono Products still exist while NFI Insurance has been merged with AIICO Insurance Plc. You need to contact their registrar for update on your investment in each company.

For Transnational Corporation contact Africa Prudential Registrars Plc at 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos. You can call 018401153, 01-8931501, and 01-4606460 or send message to info@africaprudentialregistrars.com.

For Vono Products Plc contact UAC House (2nd floor), 1-5 Odunlami Street, Lagos; Tel: 877300080-6; Email: uacreg@uacnplc.com. For AIICO Insurance PLC contact United Securities Limited 10, Ojikutu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Telephone: 012714566 or 01-2714567)

I need update on First Bank shares

l want to find out the true position of First Bank shares. Is there anything for the shareholders?

Investors Forum

First Bank shares are actively traded on the stock exchange and the bank has been consistent in dividend payment to shareholders

No communication from Union Bank

I bought shares from Union Bank Plc Effurun branch Warri, since 2004. Up till date I have not received any

dividend. Please, help me. I contacted the Union Registrars Limited in Benin, Name is Nwadiaru Stanley the branch manager he told me that they will work on it, up till now I have not heard from him again his mobile no is currently swtiched off. Please, help me find out what the problem is. Thank you God bless (I am ADAIGHOFUA PATRICIA, Warri)

Investors Forum

You did not indicate that you have received share certificate, which is evidence of shareholding. We advise you contact the headquarters of Union Registrar in Lagos via Union Registrars Ltd 2, Burma Road, Apapa, P.M.B 12717 Lagos Nigeria. Tel: 2793160 – 2; 0700 826 7341. We advise that you contact the company by phone and if the response is not satisfactory write to them. If they don’t respond to the letter, forward the letter t o vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com and we would take it up.

Ecobank imposing arbitrary charges

Please I opened account with Oceanic Bank in 2008. When my ATM card expired for the first time I did not renew it because I don’t want to be using it again. Then Ecobank bought over Oceanic and without prior notice this year Ecobank removed N1000 from my account, saying they are

charging me for ATM card which I stopped using since 2008. Then last week again money was removed from my account for Verve card without prior notice. And I ask must they force customers to use what he/ she does not want. Please help because I intend to close my account with them.

(Janny)

Investors Forum

There is no law that compels banks’ customers to collect and use ATM card. Also it is improper for the bank to charge you for services you did not request for or use. But it is advisable you collect ATM card to avoid charges for cash transactions across the counter. Finally, you also have the right to close your account with the bank if you are dissatisfied with the bank. But before doing so, we advise you make a formal complaint to the bank.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Alcatel, West and Gate row may end in $250m law suit

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

he disagreement over purported breach of contract by Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria has pitched French multinational against a local firm, West and Gate Nigeria Limited, which has threatened a $250 million law unless counsel to both parties takes advantage of peaceful resolution.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos recently, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of West and Gate, Chief Paul Okogbule, said that while their frame agreement subsisted the French multinational poached a crop of his personnel contrary to what they entered into agreement in 2004 when his firm was contracted to execute jobs for Alcatel.

Okogbule, who demanded for $250 million compensation for aggravated damages occasioned by the breach of contract narrated how Alcatel-Lucent unilaterally initiated the agreement without consulting his firm and turned around to recruit all his key staffers contrary to the terms of the agreement that stated that neither should engage the services of staffers of either party while the contractual

relationship lasted, even six months after.

Alleging that Alcatel displayed brazen disregard for local content act, Okogbule said that the agreement violation was premeditated to cripple his firm, so that the French multinational could use his trained personnel to execute the jobs his firm was contracted to do.

He explained that he had severally petitioned to French authorities which necessitated them to instruct the country manager to look into the matter, and after which the truth of the matter was found to be in favour

of his company.

According to him, Alcatel therefore directed that their company lawyer, Laolu Adeyeye & Co, should engage the counsel to West and Gate, Seni Tobun & Co, in a dialogue to find common ground for peaceful resolution.

“However, Alcatel Lawyers have deliberately frustrated peaceful resolution of the case, insisting that we should go to court and that Alcatel did not violate any contract,” Okogbule told newsmen.

Reacting, Laolu Adeyeye & Co, solicitors to Alcatel, dismissed the

facts relied upon by West and Gate as ludicrous, unfounded and absolutely baseless, saying “it is nothing but a desperate last gasp for breath by a firm on its way out simply because it proved unworthy of its mettle.”

In a letter dated March 12th, 2013 Laolu Adeyeye & Co argued that Alcatel never had business relationship with West and Gate even as he claimed that West and Gate was incompetent in respect of the quality of the work and the accuracy of representation in terms of manpower and equipment.

The Alcatel solicitors argued that if West and Gate had any valid case to make why did it take the company so long to go to court with evidence of their claim, insisting that time has invalidated their claim.

West and Gate, countered Alcatel’s argument saying if his firm was a c t u a l l y incompetent, why the multinational company poached the same personnel that he trained to execute the contract he was given to deliver in less than one month despite inherent challenges.

From Right: Group Chief Managing Director of Primlaks Group, Mr. Anil Hemnani; R & D M a n a g e r , Wa d h a w a n ; Executive Adviser, .

Piyush Nair; Accounts Officer, Olaitan; Admin Officer, Agunbiade and Production Manager, Ajayi at the Venus Packaging and Processing Ltd (VPPL) stand at the recently concluded ANUGA 2013 World Food Expo in Cologne, Germany.

Fidelity Bank creates wealth through power sector financing

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

idelity Bank’s massive involvement in the Federal Government’s power sector reforms has been described as a deliberate attempt to create wealth and improve the living standards of the people.

This came out of the realisation that a healthy workforce leads to an increase in the productivity of any nation.

The Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi states this in Lagos during the commissioning of the 10MW Island Independent Power Project (IPP) phase 2, which saw the expansion of the project in order to increase power supply to more government

facilities in the area.

“The important thing for us as a bank is that this is not just about capital, it is about the people. It is because the people who travel on Carter bridge, the people in the hospital and others around Lagos Island can now go with confidence because there is light. It is because people who want to start small businesses will no longer be worried by power. It is because people in the areas served by this power plant can live like other human beings and these are the things that give Fidelity Bank a lot of pleasure.”

He described the project as the evidence of vision, followed by discipline and creative implementation of the Lagos State government and pledged the bank’s

continued support of more power projects in the state and in other parts of the country.

“I can promise you that so long as the vision we see in Lagos State is accompanied by discipline and creative implementation, Fidelity Bank will continue to support the state,” he explained.

The extension of the plant increased the power distribution network from 18km to 57km. Also, the number of substations was also increased from 22 to 120, while the number of Lagos State facilities powered by the project was increased from 10 to 38. It also increased the amount of public lightening from 12.6 to 70.7km.

Potentially, the Lagos State government saves about N600 million per

annum based on the services enjoyed from the Akute Power Plant financed by Fidelity Bank in 2001, whilst ensuring that many Lagosians have access to uninterrupted supply of potable water to their homes. The power plant which operate a 12.15MW Independent Power Plant (4Nos. 3MW gas-fuelled engines) for Lagos Water Corporation in Akute, has helped the Lagos Water Corporation to achieve a 300 percent increase in its existing capacity utilisation, through the delivery of 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply to its two main water treatment plants (Head Works) at Iju and Adiyan in Lagos State. Both the Iju and Adiyan water treatment plants account for approximately 72 percent of the total capacity of

Lagos Water Corporation.

The Island Power Plant, on the other hand, operates a 10MW plant to provide 24hr uninterrupted power supply to the General Hospital (Lagos Island); High Court (Catholic Mission Street); High Court Annex (TBS); Magistrates Court (Igbosere Street); Island Maternity Hospital (Lagos Island); State House (Marina) and the provision of street lights within 20 Streets within Lagos Island, an 18km d e d i c a t e d underground distribution network; all being powered using gas engines.

BRIEF Foundation sets aside $150,000 prize for African innovators

By Princewill Ekwujuru

T

o

encourage

new

generation innovators from African descent, the African Innovation Foundation through its pet project Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) said it is mobilising African innovators by providing the sum of $150,000 to winners who deliver marketoriented solutions for African-led development.

The IPA is an initiative that mobilises Africa innovators and entrepreneurs, who deliver market-oriented solutions that increase efficiency or cost-saving in Africa.

However, the organisers of the initiative has extended the deadline for the IPA 2014 applications to 30 November 2013.

Speaking at the IPA innovation round table in Lagos, IPA Programme Director, Pauline Mujawamariya, said ‘Africa has experienced one of the fastest economic growth in recent history, with six per cent on average.

“Innovation has and will continue to play a vital role in this growth, and with this in mind, the IPA is continuing its work to identify innovators, who are contributing to African sustainable development and creative solutions to the continent’s challenges.”

Union Bank deploys full services at Lagos Fair

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

U

nion Bank of Nigeria PLC is at 2013 edition of Lagos International Trade Fair with full range of world class services to delight its teeeming customers.

The bank has continuously and consistently participated in major international trade fairs like the Kaduna fair where it won most the courteous award, and Enugu Fair where it emerged “Most Consistent Participating Bank “and “Most Supportive Bank” in February and April this year.

As a way of harnessing trade potentials for an inclusive economy, the bank is parading an impressive array of eproducts using POS terminals, internal transfers -account to account; Card transactions for bills payments and Union mobile for commerce as well as ATM services.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 —25 TUESDA

I need a helper, mother of quadruplets cries out

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

T

•Mother of many children: Grace Omatie Tijani on her hospital bed at LUTH

HESE are not the best of times for Mrs. Grace Omatie Tijani. The thirty-somethingyear-old caterer and mother of many children has many concerns. For several weeks, Grace, who hails from Batel in Delta State, has been on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos.

During her stay at the health institution, precisely on October 1, 2013 Nigeria’s Independence Day, she had the good fortune to be delivered of a set of quadruplets following a successful Ceasarean Section.

The babies, three girls and a boy Oritsematosan, Oritsewenyimi, Tuoyo and Temisan, weighed 1.65kg, 1.45kg, 1.60kg and 1.50kg respectively, at birth.

The quadruplets are from Grace’s fourth pregnancy. Her first three pregnancies produced three boys - Farouk, Yusuff and Ishola.

Prior to becoming mother of the nation’s first set of independence quadruplets, Grace went through

Lagos prepares guidelines on medical waste management

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

D

ETERMINED to ensure sustainable safe management of healthcare wastes, the Lagos State Government is set to release official guidelines on proper healthcare waste management in 2014, in accordance with the National policy on healthcare.

Lagos has also canvassed the need for annual Health Care Waste Certification, HCWC, to remain a major condition for renewal of annual licenses by the Ministry of Health for all

healthcare facilities in the state.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this at the 2nd National healthcare waste Summit in Lagos, hosted by the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, with the theme: Healthcare Waste Management and the Environment.”

The 2-day Summit, was organised in collaboration with government agencies of Federal/ state ministries of health and environment, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, Lagos Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA

Private doctors seek review of health sector funding

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

P

RIVATE medical doctors under the auspices of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Lagos Apapa Zone, have called for the review and appropriate funding of the country’s health sector with a view to enhancing efficiency as well as guarantee patients access to quality care.

Speaking at their annual

conference in Lagos with the theme: “Nigeria’s Healthcare System-an Appraisal of the Primary and the Secondary Healthcare System in Lagos and the Place of Private Medical Practice”, they urged stakeholders to embrace new approaches in the nation’s healthcare delivery.

Zonal Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA and AGPMPN, Dr. Johnson Continues on Page 26

and Waste Management Society of Nigeria, WAMASON, among others.

Bello, who was represented by Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Environment, Dr. Taoofek Folami, explained that the guideline became necessary for all stakeholders in ensuring that healthcare givers, facilities, operatives, academia, students and service providers, key into the campaign for safe healthcare waste management.

“The major landmark in the history of HCWM was made this year when the Federal Ministry of Environment launched the National Policy on Healthcare Waste Management. The giant stride is a plus to our Nation in general and right on track.

“The LAWMA guideline on proper healthcare waste management drawn from the National Policy is to be released in the 1st quarter of 2014 thus making Lagos State the pioneer state to draw up a guideline for healthcare waste management,” Bello remarked.

He advocated annual Health care Waste Certification as a major condition for renewal of annual licenses by the ministry of health for all healthcare facilities Continues on Page 27

a major gynaecological surgery for removal of uterine fibroids.

On one hand, her successful fibroid surgery and CS have brought joy and gratitude, but on the other hand, they have been a major source of concern.

“I need a helper,” she confessed to Good Health Weekly. “God should please raise a helper. We still have the bill of the operation to settle. My husband has been given the bill which is about N600,000. Yet the bill for the care of the quadruplets is stilll there. Now they are in the incubators and that costs money,” she stated.

Grace who is still recuperating from effects of the multi-foetal pregnancy and multiple birth at the Ward D2 at the LUTH, is at a crossroads about successfully mothering seven very small children without a sustainable source of income.

Source of income Narrating her ordeal, Grace said: “I’m a caterer, I’m usually called out for cooking assignments, but I stopped work as soon as I got pregnant.

Although I had three boys earlier, I got pregnant again because I wanted a girl. I did not set out to have seven children and initially I was so sad and depressed when I was told I was pregnant with quadruplets, but I later became encouraged and grateful. I just accepted it as God's will.”

Continuing, she stated: “These children are a gift from God. I went througha lot to give birth to them, but I also have a lot to be thankful for. I went through severe pain, I really suffered. I had two surgeries, only the grace of God kept me.

“For now I am okay, although I need to do a few tests concerning my kidneys, but money is a hindrance. I need to do about six tests in all. But no money. My husband is trying his best, but we need assistance. a lot of assistance.

• The Tijani quadruplets.

“For instance, I just did a scan and the doctors are saying there is a problem with my urinary system. Although there are series of other tests I need to do, but money is the hindrance. Lack of money is the hindrance. I need money to get better, money to feed, money to cater for my children, money to survive.

“I thank God my children are okay. I have not seen my older children since I came here. The y are with my mother .

While Grace is in agreement with the need for a better accommodation, she nevertheless sees money as key.

“Of course we need a house. A house is important, but money is key. I know what my babies need.

There are four of them. They need to be fed, clothed, and generally looked after. We need money first.

My older children are still very small, they were forced to stop schooling when I got pregnant.

“My expectations, as I see it today, is for God to give me good health. God should not let my suffering over these children be in vain. I pray God should spare their lives.

“My husband has really tried within his ability. He comes and drops what he has, but I am the one who knows what the children need. He buys baby food for them because only one of them takes breast milk, and there is not even much of that to provide. To look after four small children is a big task and full time job. Looking after seven children is a career.

But if it is what its going to take, I will do it to look after them.

“I’m begging anyone touched to please offer help. If I see help it will be much easier easy to carry on with them till they are older and less dependent. I pray not to give up these children to foster parents or for adoption.

The thought has not even crossed my mind, it is not possible for me to give up these children.

• If you wish to assist Grace and the quadruplets, kindly contact the PRO, LUTH on +23418777845.

26—Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 TUESDA

Probe misconduct at Federal Staff Clinic, PSN tells HoS

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

T

HE Head of Service of the Federation has been called upon to investigate allegations of unethical practices bordering on corruption at the Pharmacy Department of the Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, Abuja. Attention of the HoS has also been called to established cases of physical assault orchestrated against staff of the clinic.

Making the call in a petition made available to the media in Abuja yesterday, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nige-

ria, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, urged for full investigation to establish culpability with respect to violations of the Procurement Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act, ICPC Act and other breaches of available Anti-corruption Acts in addition to vitiations of Public Service Rules & Ethos.

“I am compelled by recent disturbing events at the Pharmacy Department Federal Staff Clinic, Jabi Abuja to reach out to your office. The official account has been communicated to the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Staff Clinic, Abuja, Alhaji Ladi

Private doctors Continues from Page 25 Emene faulted the imbalances in the set up of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS noting that while some have more than 30,000 enrollees, others have none.

The Guest Speaker, Professor Christiana Campbell said with the public sector seemingly incapable of meeting consumers’ demand, it was logical to encourage growth of the private medical care.

“This could be done by providing soft loans to private medical and dental practitioners who wish to establish or expand their business, by also granting additional tax concessions to employer in respect of expenses on staff medical benefits.

Campbell urged government to establish and equip hospitals and other health institutions and to allow private practitioners to run the centres.

The Chairman, Lagos AGPMPN, Dr. Jimmy Argbabuwo commended the Zone for its professionalism while Professor Edmisan Temiye who chaired the occasion was optimistic that problems in the

sector were surmountable through collaborative effort. The Physicians’ Week was an avenue to consolidate on past achievements in the sector and also to pull resources together to upturn any failures identified.

Hassan,” he remarked.

Further, Akintayo observed that: “Various consultations with Alhaji Ladi Hassan clearly suggests that the very unwholesome event in this very strategic establishment is certainly not getting desired attention, hence a need to refer the matter to your exalted office.

“The PSN therefore counts on your esteemed office to urgently expedite action on this sensitive professional matter in ultimate public interest.”

In the petition, the PSN is seeking a probe of the personnel who engaged in dispensing of medicines in the hospital’s Pharmacy Department uja contrary to the provisions of the poison and Pharmacy Act Cap. 535.

The PSN is also praying for application of sanctions as appropriate and prosecution in tandem with statutes to all found wanting after investigations to serve as deterrence in the public service.

Nutritionists want NCDs tackled through public awareness

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

N

UTRITIONISTS and al lied health professionals at home and abroad who gathered in Abuja recently to tackle the menace Non Communicable Diseases, NCDs, such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory conditions, and obesity, have restated the need for sustained public awareness on the essence of moderation in diets, balanced and safe nutrition, as key to management and control of NCDs in the country.

The experts who attended the 37th annual conference and General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, NIFST, blamed changing lifestyles, drastic reduction in physical activities, consumption of diets rich in salt, sugar, fats, alcohol use and

• L-R:Fred Chiazor,Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager,Coca-Cola Central East and West (CEWA) Business Unit, Nigeria; Julia Otaya, Health and Wellness Manager, CEWA Business Unit; Nkem Akobundu, Hadiza Ibrahim Presenter, Nutrition and Health Programme, Radio Nigeria; Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs and Comunications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited during the 37th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the NIFST in Abuja.recently.

Healthcare providers task NAFDAC on safe medicines

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

K

EYPLAYERS in the healthcare sector; notably hygiene and healthcare, have harped on the need for Nigeria to take a cue for accelerated development of medicines that is relevant to Nigerians and Africans as a whole.

In line with this, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has been tasked to reduce complexities in product requirements so that Nigerian consumers can access the cheapest and most effective medical solutions.

The regulatory body must also correct the incidence of parallel import especially in the area of importing goods that are already listed and registered in Nigeria.

Noting this at the Reckitt Benckiser/University of Ibadan

International conference tagged; “Medicine Regulation of Claims” under the auspices of the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP), the experts advocated establishment of partnerships that would promote better Director -General, NAFDAC, Dr, Paul Orhii, challenged companies to emulate such core values and commitment towards development of safer medicines in Africa.

He emphasised the need for standardising herbal therapy in the country given the pharmacological effect of various herbal products available to consumers.

Managing Director, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Rahul Murgai, urged parties to work together to ensure faster access to quality household and medicinal products.

Middle East and Turkey

Operations, Reckitt Benckiser, Dr. Soufia Hanna, who shared an overview of regulatory trends of medicines across Africa and the Middle East, emphasised need for collaboration to enable

students of medicine and pharmacy encouraged to do much research on local medicinal herbs to enhance medical practice and develop our local age long medical practices.

abuse among others.

At the event organised by NIFST in collaboration with Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and others, it was stressed that Nigerians have the knowledge and the tools to prevent the problems of non-communicable decreases in a cost effective manner adding that one cannot pin point a particular nutrients or beverages as the cause of NCDs. Speaking on “Balanced and Safe Nutrition: A Critical Pathway to Prevention of NCDs” the Health and Wellness Manager, Coca –Cola Central, East and West Business Unit, Kenya, Ms. Julia Otaya Otaya explained that in stemming the tide of NCDs in Africa, it is paramount for various governmental bodies, NGO’s and stakeholders to educate and inform their various communities about the danger of NCDs. In stemming the tide of NCDs in Africa, Otaya said it is paramount for various governmental bodies, NGO’s and stakeholders to educate and informed their various communities about the danger of noncommunicable diseases.

“There should be a lot of advocacy, various communities should be educate and informed more on the danger of NCDs, various stakeholders should partner with government and non-governmental organizations in arresting NCDs in Africa as a whole because it is a lot of work.

“My advise is that people should ensure that they lower the risk of getting NCDs, take care of their diet, watch your weight, engage in physical activity because it is important and then an intake of lots of fruits and vegetables in the diet is very important and then the intake of fibre, that is also very important and of course other lifestyle changes.”

Otaya argued that “You cannot pinpoint the cause of NCDs to a particular source because we eat ranges of other foods over the day”.

Minister tasks nurses on good attitude

BY WILLIAMS JIMOH

M

INISTER of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has implored nurses and midwives across the country to always apply humanitarian attitude which the profession is known for, while carrying out their duties, saying that, lack of this has remained a major challenge undermining the development of the health sector.

Chukwu who made the appeal during the 7th edition of Nigerian Nursing Excellent Awards,

NNEA, in Lagos, stressed the important roles nurses and midwives play in ensuring a vibrant healthcare sector that delivers quality and equitable healthcare service for the masses.

Represented by the Director of Hospital Services in the Ministry, Dr. Patience Osinubi, the Minister noted that there is need for nurses to look inward in the quest to bring back the values on which the profession rest.

“We need to stop the blaming game, the condition of the hospital should not be an excuse

for losing the sight of the values on which this profession rest.

“Nursing should be seen as a calling to serve humanity and not just a career. What is most important is not your qualification but how much understanding you have about exhibiting kindness, patience, empathy, sacrifice and endurance even in the face of unfavourable working environment. Because this is a caring profession, it requires that the practitioners display these

Continues on Page 27

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 —27 TUESDA

LASG restrains cholera outbreak

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

E

FFORTS by the Lagos State govern ment to arrest the cholera outbreak in the state appear to be yielding dividend as no new cholera cases have been in the wake of the disease outbreak.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris confirmed that the death toll from the epidemic-prone disease had not escalated spoke on efforts to curb the spread of the disease, said various organs of the government were working assiduously to contain the spread, but warned that all diarrheoa cases were being treated as cholera.

"Following the notice alerting the public to the cases of cholera in some parts of the state, various organs of the government such as the Ministry of Health, Information and Strategy, Environment, Water Corporation, Waste Water Management Office, Rural Development and Water Regulatory Agency have risen to the occasion, and have been working tirelessly to contain the spread. Since that time, we have not recorded any new cases of confirmed cholera".

Idris observed that ongoing surveillance activities have identified the consumption of a local salad called “Abasa” and polluted well water as the common causes of cholera infection, stressed that outcome of investigation on the local salad shows that the sample contained germs which can cause cholera, typhoid and other serious diseases.

"We still need to identify other sources and the cooperation of the public in this regard is of utmost importance. We as a government will continue to carry out our responsibilities to the people, however the people themselves have a greater role to

play by maintaining good personal, environmental hygiene and sanitation at all times.

Warning that cholera is very dangerous and kills within a short period of time if not treated properly, Idris urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspected cases of cholera to the nearest local government stressing that the disease should be suspected in any person who develop frequent rice water stool with or without vomiting, weakness, excessive loss of body fluid, dehydration or dies from frequent stooling.

Health workers are on the alert all suspected cases are to be reported to the State Ministry of Health or through hotlines-

08023169485 or 08023213333 for assistance.

Meanwhile the Integrated Measles Campaign for children aged 9-59 months which kicked off weekend ends tomorrow.

The campaign is an initiative put together in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and 36 State Federation including the FCT to combat the measles.

During the exercise, measles and oral polio vaccine are being administered to children under the age of 5 years, children aged 0- 59 months are receiving the oral polio vaccine, while children of ages 9-59months receive measles vaccine. Both vaccines are being given irrespective of the immunization status of the children.

Waste management Continues from page 25 in Lagos.

Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said before 2006, 99 percent of healthcare wastes generated in the State could not be accounted for suggesting that these wastes were comingled with domestic waste.

Oresanya, who disclosed that LAWMA had hosted five series since inception of the National summit, from 2006-2010, assured that the authority would continue to champion the course for best practices in proper HCWM as well as mobolise stakeholders to adopt and implement best practice aim at reducing risks associated with special class of waste which remained a major concern on infection prevention control.

He said the preferred treatment option adopted by the state is the hydroclave medical treatment which treats 1,000kg of waste water per cycle and a minimum of eight cycles per day.

Nurses Continues from page 26

• From left: Deputy Directors Simidele Onabanjo and Titilope Owolabi, both of NAFDAC with Regional Director, Regulatory Affairs & Medical Services, Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Soufia Hanna and MD, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria, Rahul Murgai during the International Conference on Medical Regulation of Claims, organised by the CDDDP, University of Ibadan, in conjunction with Reckitt Benckiser, in Ibadan recently

qualities always,” she added.

In her remark, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, from Lagos Central Senatorial District who was also represented by Rev. Funmi Braithwaite, the Secretary, Surulere Local Government area, stressed the need for nurses to look beyond their academic qualification and deliver their service to the best of their ability.

Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, of BETCY group of companies Nigeria, stated that the viability and sustainability of a country’s economic and social growth depend largely on a vibrant healthcare sector that delivers comprehensive, quality and equitable health care services to her populace.

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28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

C M Y K

NOVEMBER 5 , 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2013 — 29

C M Y K

30— Vanguard ,

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

By Theodore Opara

All-new Nissan Sentra flaunts new innovations N

ISSAN has restyled the Sentra with upscale features that are evidently glaring and trendy to give the car an edge over competitions in the mid-to-up-class segment, where Toyota’s Corolla and Honda’s Civic had over the years held sway.

The new Nissan Sentra is viewed by Nissan as the most revolutionary design in the Sentra’s 30year history. This model represents the most innovative, highest quality, highest value sedan lineup in Nissan history, and with the complete redesign, it is closer in look and feel to D Segment vehicles than a typical compact sedan.

The 15.2-foot-long Sentra now has ample rearseat legroom, measuring 37.4 inches, which is more than the back-seat legroom of a typical compact car in its segment.

Also five percent lighter than the previous model and slightly larger in overall dimensions with more interior room and aerodynamic looks, the Japanese automaker says the new Sentra epitomises Nissan’s new tagline, innovation that excites.

Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (Stallion NMN) the new Nissan sales company told local media at the celebration of the Nissan dealership at Oriental Hotel Lagos that the

new Sentra tops 68km pergallon fuel economy rating for combined city/ highway travel, and it’s easy to see why the Sentra is a noteworthy new model.

“And don’t think that 68km per gallon is an unattainable figure. The 2013 Sentra SL averaged 68 kliometeres per gallon, even though the car was driven in normal fashion and the travel included a highway in the mountains and foothill roads. In fact, the fuel economy is enough to give the car an impressive score, Mr. Amit Sharma, head of sales and marketing, Stal-

lion Nissan Motors Nigeria, the Nissan national sales company affirmed.

All 2013 Sentras come with 130-horsepower four cylinder that produces a maximum 128 footpounds of torque at 3,600 rpm.

The new Sentra, no doubt has upscale feeling, inside and out, such as the

light-emitting diodes accent headlights and taillamps on all 2013 Sentras, and chrome-look door handles which are standard on all models.

The dashboard also has soft-touch feel with a pleasant appearance, and the center armrest between front seats is cushioned.

While leather-trimmed

LAMATA boss tasks African countries on transport authorities

T

HE Managing Direc tor of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport

Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola has challenged African coun-

Ford Focus maintains position as best-selling nameplate

T

HOUGH not very popular in the Nigerian market, the Ford Focus, the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world in 2012, retains the title for the first half of 2013, according to a statement by Ford Motor

Company.

In addition, Ford Fiesta ranks as the fourth bestselling vehicle – making Ford the only brand to have two nameplates among the global top five best-sellers, according to Ford analysis of Polk

seats are available, the premium gray-colored, clothcovered seats provided good support especially on hot summer afternoons.

The optional navigation package, which added voice recognition control, hands-free text messaging, a rearview monitor and colorful, 5.8-inch display and touch screen,

could attract a little more, yet it is amazingly priced when compared with competitors’ pricing.

A Peep at Sentra’s dash is convincing with electroluminescent gauges and upscale touch. However, Nissan didn’t scrimp on the front-seat legroom to add space to the back seat. Front-seat passengers get a full 42.5 inches of legroom, and the front seat tracks are long to accommodate many sizes of passengers.

Nissan Sentra’s 39.4 inches front headroom is remarkably better than competitions, particularly Toyota’s Corolla and Honda Civic.

Couple with this is the 15.1-cubic-foot trunk which is generously sized and is 18 percent bigger than the Corolla’s trunk. All this comes from a 2.3-inch longer car than last year’s Sentra.

The 2013 Sentra is though a bit shorter in height than last year ’s model, but at 58.9 inches is still taller than a 2013 Civic sedan and a 2013 Corolla.

global vehicle registration data. Ford Focus grew 20 percent in the first half of 2013 from the same period last year, to 589,709 vehicle registrations, driven primarily by increasing demand from customers in China and

other Asian countries.

Focus in China is up 137 percent from 2012, to a total of 202,380 vehicles, making China the single biggest global market for the car with one-third of Focus sales.

Xiao Bing, a 31-yearold sales manager for an IT company in Beijing, is one such new Focus customer.

“The new Focus looks high-tech and meets my aesthetic expectations,” Bing says. “It has significantly changed from the previous model.

The car ’s handling is great. When I test-drove it, the new Focus cornered smoothly. Overall, it’s the best combination of looks, performance, value and fuel economy.”

tries to set up transport authorities to drive the transport vision for their cities as more cities in the continent become more urbanised. Dr. Mobereola while speaking to a five-man delegation from Uganda on a two-day study visit to LAMATA to understand the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and its sustenance for over five years, said apart from having a political champion, there was the need for governments to set up the transport institution and put together the technical personnel before implementing the system.

He said experience has shown that transport initiatives put up in the Western world were successful largely because they first put in place the institutional and legal frameworks to ensure the sustainability of the institution. Dr. Mobereola further noted that the case of Lagos was unique as several studies carried out identified the need for

Lagos to implement an integrated intermodal transport system to cater for its expected population surge.

He therefore enjoined the Ugandan government to borrow a leaf from Lagos by first establishing the agency by an Act of Parliament, recruit the required technical staff and provide the necessary framework for its operations.

The LAMATA boss advised the Ugandan government to consider an integrated, intermodal public transport system for the city of Kampala, with a population of two million people, saying cities as economic hubs attract a lot of people and when implemented, it would make the economy work optimally.

Leader of the delegation, Mr Godfrey Wandera, a Director in Uganda Ministry of Works and Transport, said the visit has brought to fore the need to consider an integrated transport system for the city of Kampala.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—31

By Theodore Opara

Kia's ranking soars on top 100 brands list K

IA Motors Corporation has increased its brand value by 15% over the past year to reach the 83rd position on the exclusive list of ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands,’ according to a 2013 study released recently

by Interbrand, the world’s largest brand consultancy agency.

Kia first entered the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ last year, coming in 87th place, but has since risen four spots to reach an estimated brand value of USD 4.7 billion. This represents a 15%, or USD 619 million, increase from last year’s estimated brand value and far exceeds the overall top 100 brands’ average value growth rate of 8.4%. Strategic brand building activities in 2013 have included the continued roll out of “A Different Beat,” a newly developed brand identity system that embodies three core brand characteristics: vibrant, distinctive and reliable. This new brand identity system is being driven across Kia’s global network both internally and externally and has paved the way for innovative marketing initiatives such as the collaborative branded entertainOYOTA Nigeria Lim ment campaign with ited (TNL) has said DreamWorks Animation’s “The Croods” motion pic- that it is working with the ture for the global launch Federal Road Safety of the all-new Carens Corps (FRSC) to arrest MPV (known as ‘Rondo’ the incidents of roads mishap involving mini buses in some markets).

In the U.S., the new on the highways. The brand identity system has FRSC sometime ago idengiven added momentum to tified mini-buses as acKia’s cutting-edge leader- counting for highest acciship in music, with signif- dent rates in the country.

Executive Director, Toyicant credibility gained ota Nigeria Limited, Mr. within the industry and with consumers thanks to Kunle Ade-Ojo who spoke continuing sponsorship of to the press at the just conthe MTV Music Awards cluded Abuja Motor show and Van’s Warped Tour, noted that Toyota is workalong with the successful ing with the FRSC with a Soul hamster ad series view to arresting the situand Super Bowl ads. In ation.

According to the execuaddition, striking an appeal with Kia’s young-at tive director, people usuheart target customers ally mistook every minithrough major sports spon- bus in the category of Toysorships such as the FIFA ota Hiace to be a Toyota World Cup, Australian brand, adding that the Open and NBA, along Hiace is one of the safest with a strong focus on dig- vehicles in its class with ital and social marketing, array of features, includhave been key components ing anti-lock braking sysdriving the Kia brand for- tem (ABS) as a standard safety feature. ward globally.

He noted that as a reOver the past few years the Kia brand has gar- sponsible corporate organered a significant pres- nization, Toyota Nigeria ence within the digital Ltd would not join issues realm by taking an inno- with the Federal Road vative communications Safety Corps which it approach in connecting holds in very high esteem, rather, they would work with customers online.

Toyota, FRSC to curb mini-bus crashes T

together toward finding lasting solutions to the problems.

Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo however attributed major causes of the accidents to human errors. “If you look at some of the accidents, they are usually head-on collisions which could have resulted from the state of the road and poor judgement by the drivers,” he stated.

Commenting on the new government auto policy which encourages automobile companies to set up assembly plants in Nigeria, the executive direc-

tor noted that Toyota Nigeria Limited will support the policy but is still carrying out feasibility studies on the possibility of setting up a Toyota plant in the country.

According to him, “Toyota Nigeria welcomes the new policy and is studying the feasibility of setting up a plant in Nigeria in the near future.”

He explained that automobile production is not an easy task as it entails a lot of work and huge investment, hence, they are discussing with the National Automobile Coun-

HE management of ABC Transport, has said that the re-fleeting programme in coach and midi-buses, combined with major improvements in road condition nationwide, have seen a great number of its loyal customers enjoying shorter travel times: timely departures and early arrivals almost on a daily basis.

According to a statement by the company, a striking feature of ABC Transport’s re-fleeting programme is the deployment of Super Sleeper coaches for late travellers.

Each of the coaches is configured to suit the peculiar needs of late travels, and is equipped with fully-reclinable seats, comfortable footrests, toilet facility, spacious

automobile maintenance, informed the introduction of Toyota national skills contest.

Mr. Krishnadas Thampy made this known recently when five Toyota technicians qualified for the final round of the 2013 national skills contest slated for this month.

According to the him, the national contest aims at continually availing their customers,with excellent after-sales experience in the business so as to keep customers’ cars in best conditions at all times.

Hyundai, Diamond Bank float sales offer H YUNDAI Motors Nigeria Limited in collaboration with Diamond Bank PLC has rolled out a sales offer aimed at showcasing Hyundai’s ‘live brilliant’ experience and inspiring more perceptive customers to discover Hyundai cutting edge technology at affordable price.

Announcing the incentive which promises to be resilient, Mr. Jatin Nadkarni, Head, Sales and

Marketing, Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited said: “the objective of the campaign is to woo perceptive customers to ‘live brilliant’ by buying precision engineered Hyundai vehicles that reassures on value.” He explained that the campaign was part of effort to implement Hyundai’s brand essence of ‘Modern Premium’ – which seeks to reassert Hyundai’s commitment with new experience and

ABC recharges Super Sleeper, adds cargo outlet

T

cil (NAC) on how to make it work effectively.

He identified the issues of infrastructure such as road, power etc, as some of the challenges that the auto assembler will have to overcome in their effort to assemble vehicles locally.

Meanwhile, the managing director, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Chandrasheker Krishnadas Thampy, has explained that the desire to expose Toyota dealer technicians to world-class technical know-how and excellent after sales experience in

seating arrangement, security surveillance cameras onboard, GPRS tracking technology, and speed limiters.

The Super Sleeper coaches depart Abuja, Gwagwalada, Lokoja, Ibadan, Amuwo and Jibowu in Lagos every evening to their various destinations. In striving to satisfy service demands within Benin City, ABC Transport has opened a more convenient terminal at INE Oil Limited, Edo State, while ABC customers resident in the LekkiEpe axis can now book their tickets and send parcels and goods as ABC Cargo opened an outlet at Elegushi Shopping Centre.

values that are beyond customers’ expectations.

The offer which is ongoing and valid till stocks last is applicable to select Hyundai models including Accent 1.4Litre and 1.6Litre respectively. Others are Elantra 1.6Litre and 1.8Litre; Santa Fe 2.4Litre and the2.0Litre iX35. The sales offer is exclusively seamless without any hidden charges and is open to individuals and fleet buyers’ Mr. Nadkarni reiterated.

Prospective customers including those without pragmatic account with Diamond Bank can also access the scheme to procure any of the aforementioned Hyundai vehicles, the sales and marketing helmsman affirmed.

“You could experience Hyundai cutting edge technology by simply contributing the encoded monthly installment starting from NGN47, 000

through NGN107, 000.”

The least monthly installment for the Accent variants for instance is NGN47, 000 whilst Elantra is NGN62, 000 and iX35 begins at NGN87, 000, and Santa Fe is set at NGN107, 000, the Hyundai sales and marketing helmsman clarified.

Also adding that the scheme offers the first three services free of charge in line with Hyundai Service Schedule, Mr. Nadkarni said: “The Hyundai experience begins from the very moment a customer into any Hyundai Motors Nigeria showrooms nationwide to process an application for a Hyundai car to discover Hyundai’s Brilliant Moment,” he sighed.

Mr. Nadkarni however said: “Hyundai is keen on providing best of products and services to customers to enable them enjoy value-added experience.

32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

By Theodore Opara

Carmax established to fill the void — Ogunlana C

ARMAX Nigeria a state-of-art- auto care centre in Ikeja has vowed to change the way auto care service is done in the country by providing excellent services to Nigerians at affordable price. The auto care service centre which started operations barely a year ago said that the quest to raise the standard of auto maintenance brought them into the business.

Mr. Andrew Ogunlana, managing director Carmax Autocare Centre told the press that the last one year has been quite eventful for the company as it has proved that the company was established to fill a void and solve problems for car owners who hitherto have been subjected to undeserving hardship due to wrong diagnostics, use of wrong or counterfeit auto parts and incorrect Lubricant Specification including Engine, Transmission, Brake and Power Steering Oil.

booth for all body work. He said an accurate diagnostics addressed with genuine auto parts and fixed with the help of these piec-

es of world class equipment can only guarantee the cars optimum performance and the owner’s peace of mind.

Skoda delivers 685,000 vehicles in 9 months

Š

L-R: Uyiosa Imafidon, Admin. Manager, Andrew Ogunlana MD, and Yinka Odubeko, Head Technician, Carmax, during a press conference to celebrate the first year anniversary of the company, in Lagos.

Ogunlana said the goal of Carmax Autocare Centre is to provide individuals, groups and organizations excellent service and auto care on a all brands of cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), Buses and more. He said the company is able to work on all brands because they have access to a comprehensive knowledge base from all manufacturers on service

intervals and vehicle specifications, which provide information on exactly what to check and what to change at such intervals.

This has therefore eradicated cases of trial and error as their operation is guided by informed procedures and decisions.

The carmax boss explained apart from providing accurate diagnostics, the company possesses set

of advanced automotive repair tools and equipment including auto diagnostic machines, 2 and 4post lifts, computerised alignment machines, tire changers, wheel balancers, ac diagnostics & service machines, battery chargers, engine jacks, transmission jacks and multiple air compressors, which power several tools.

Also a newly install spray

KODA delivered 685,000 vehicles between January and September 2013. Ninemonth sales revenue well over seven billion euros. Sound result: operations after third quarter at 371 million euros. Operating profit increases by 8.8% in third quarter.

The Czech car manufacturer Škoda achieved a sales revenue of 7.4 billion euros in the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2013. In a period of high investment, ŠSkoda ’s operating profit reached 371 million euros in the first nine months; during the third quarter alone, op-

erating profit increased by 8.8% over the same period last year. By the end of September, Škoda had delivered 685,000 vehicles to customers.

Most recently, ŠKODA’s sales rose on a monthly basis by 3.3% – which was also a new ŠKODA record for the month of S e p t e m b e r .

“With eight new or completely revised models, 2013 is Škoda’s year dedicated to the biggest model offensive in corporate history,” says Škoda CEO Prof.

Dr. H.C. Winfried Vahland. “We have all but replaced or completely revised the Škoda model range.

Rationale for new national automotive policy framework

BY LUQMAN MAMUDU

T

HE new automotive policy is a deliberate government effort to rescue the strategic and critical automotive sector of the economy from the strangulating grip of dumping. This is to give Nigerians the opportunity for mass employment and innovation in automotive technology. If a country fails to produce the goods that rich countries produce, it may never be rich.

Someone said it and evidence abound in support. With no intention to change the meaning of dumping, dumped products in the context of this write-up, mean automotive vehicles and products import that have lost integrity and can no longer pass standard appraisal tests elsewhere (if you like, “Tokunbo”) and new Fully Built Up vehicles (FBUs) aggressively subsidized by home governments to over-ride Nigeria’s efforts at tariff protection (averaging 15%). It means that deliberately or otherwise, Nigeria’s capacity and capability to meet a significant portion of its automotive needs has been undermined by massive whole sale, seemingly, juicy imports.

Operating capacity Facts about the operating capacity of Nigeria utomotive sector in the past are well documented. The assembly and component manufacturing plants in the 1970s and 1980s peaked at the total of over 120,000 cars, commercial vehicles and tractors, per annum. Even today, an entirely green plant, Innoson Vehicle Motor Manufacturing (IVM) in Anambra State, is churning out Light Commercial vehicles, Buses and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). In spite of the daunting investment environment, the membership of Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has swelled recently with new Bus and automotive body building companies. All the privatized Assembly plants including

Volkswagen of Nigeria, now VON Nigeria; NTM, Kano; Steyr Nigeria, Bauchi; Leyland, Ibadan (now Leyland Busan); Anammco, Enugu and Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (now PAN Nigeria Ltd) are all operational but limping from effect overwhelming effect of more or less free imports. Their idle capacity and expansion potentials are clear opportunities to fast track production in partnership with global automotive firms if protected. For instance, Nissan has already announced its partnership with VON Nigeria to assemble budget cars locally at the later’s plant in Badagry, Lagos. Even today, there is sufficient local capacity to meet Nigeria’s need for buses if confirmed orders can be placed with Innoson, Leyland Busan, Styre Bauchi and ANAMMCO. Discussions are ongoing to seek such intervention under the Federal Government SURE-P Scheme. Buses are a lot easier to build than cars so capacity can be quickly ramped up to flood Nigeria with buses of all sorts The Nigerian automotive policy was launched in 1993 and consequently, the National Automotive Council was established as institutional frame work to revitalize and develop the automotive industry. At the time, government observed that the absence of a policy framework and an implementing agency at the industry’s inception may have been partly responsible for its failure to survive the 1984 structural adjustment program (SAP). Over the years, however, the policy impact has been paltry because of the lack of political will to give it teeth to bite or strength to assert. Considering the enormous potential for the automotive industry in Nigeria including a population of over 150 million people, a middle class currently estimated at 38 million people and the growing annual automotive import bill of over $3billion, Nigeria’s success as an automotive manufacturing nation is given.

She does not even need an export market to succeed as South Africa did, although it

can do with one. The ECOWAS region is there for the taking, more or less. The new 2013 policy therefore, essentially overhauls the existing one and gives it teeth by raising the bar against all those who will rather export to Nigeria as well as offer protection/ incentives to potential and existing local investors. The importation of used automobiles is discouraged, not banned. It will be treated as new in value for duty payable with provision for depreciation according to age.

Irrespective of its age, however, it will not be depreciated below 30% of its value as a new vehicle. Overall, the new policy plan is designed to stimulate employment of Nigerians and domesticate the automotive

local components and parts suppliers up till early 1990s when it achieved over 40% local content in the popular Peugeot 504.

Most of the companies collapsed as Assembly Plants (APs) capacity utilisation shrank in the late 1980s. Motor plants have preference for local suppliers once standards are adhered to. If for nothing else, the additional cost of transport and time is saved. The bottom line is profit especially for private firms. The argument that Nigeria has not enough raw material may be true but it shouldn’t be a hindrance. In any case, how so elusive are the basic raw materials.

The country’s robust petrochemical industry presents an opportunity to produce automotive plastics and composite materials

The assembly and component manufacturing plants in the 1970s and 1980s peaked at the total of over 120,000 cars, commercial vehicles and tractors, per annum technology by leveraging on funds that which have increasingly gained applicawould otherwise create employment and tion in motor manufacturing. Four cold roll support technological advancement abroad. flat steel sheet production plants with huge Additional investment to ramp up local capacity have been established in Nigeria. capacity and new investment by global This implies that the needed raw materials motor companies would not even begin to can be developed or imported for value happen if government did not take this new addition if not available locally since in policy position. The attention of the global manufacturing, what you do to the material automotive investment community is now is equally if not more significant in value. focused on Nigeria because of this bold For instance, cutting, trimming, pressing, stance. The honorable minister of Federal welding, coating, folding, painting etc of a Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, flat steel sheet costs more to perform than Dr. Olusegun Aganga should be roundly the sheet itself and this value will reflect applauded for this remarkable effort. proportionately in the final product.

Assembling operations alone can In the design of this policy plan, there constitute as much as 25% of automotive was concern that increased tariff might result vehicle value. It should not therefore, be in a shortfall in supply of automobiles to dismissed as most Nigeria’s are wont to do the economy as import dropped so provision when they say, “Oh..., they are only was made to guarantee supply and keep assembling’. components parts prices steady. manufacturers around the world tend to also Continues next week locate near assembly plants. This drives local content programs for the eventual Luqman Mamudu is director Policy and emergence of truly indigenous automobiles.

Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria had over 50 Planning; National Automotive Council.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—33

BY CHIEFS BROWN MENE & CHARLES IKOMI

P

REAMBLE: In a country as diverse and vibrant as Nigeria it is not surprising to have the mixed and varied reactions that have trailed the announcement by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for us to finally have the long-sought-for National Conferernce.

Irrespective of whatever motives may have been imputed rightly or wrongly to the President for this bold move, he has blown the start-off whistle and it is for us to get to work for it to augur well for us in our quest to build a nation we shall be proud and glad to call our own. The committee to work out the modalities has since been inaugurated by Mr. President who also gave them a short time frame - one month - within which to conclude their work and revert to him for the conference to be convened, hopefully, shortly afterwards. They have already hit the road to consult with various segments of the country.

This can easily be read to indicate that Mr. President means for this project to take off without losing momentum. What remains to vindicate this assumption is the combination of the integrity and the equity that should be evident in determining the participants at the conference, the conduct of the business of the conference and the timely implementation of the conclusions freely reached by the conference.

For those of us who are deeply rooted optimists and, therefore, maintain an abiding hope that, God helping us, we shall one day do it right for Nigeria to rise uprightly and stand with the status of greatness that is commensurate with the enormous endowments we have as a country. This chance should be used, all hands being on deck, to enable us get there. We should get to that state

•Nigeria

is termed the winner and to get there, we have relied on headcount majority, money in large enough volume (or its derivatives), guns and related arms, brute force, violence and fraud.

Whoever has these (invariably some combination of them) considers himself to have the right to coerce, downtrod, oppress, pillage or plunder.

Flowing from this is the culture of impunity which has since become the order of the day as opposed to the rule of law that is applied with consistent even-handedness that harbours neither fear nor favour, inertia or mediocrity. We need no search light to find that these are among us to our detriment.

The predominant drive to be a winner or a mighty has been in order to be positioned to take as much as is available for self as opposed to being positioned to give as much value as possible for the benefit of our collectivity.

Although this is widely found in all segments of our national life, this has become more prevalent in the political arena of our country. Any country or nation that operates on these principles and practice will ultimately self destruct in only a matter of time. We reject that for Nigeria, not at the level of wishful thinking but by rolling up our sleeves to work assiduously, We reject that for Nigeria, not at the giving it all that we have for it to level of wishful thinking but by rolling up be so and, therefore, make Nigeria great. our sleeves to work assiduously, giving it really Where we should and want to all that we have for it to be so and, be: The Nigeria we envisage and yearn for and for which we should therefore, make Nigeria really great labour to build and, therefore, set where we should be lifted from the doldrums the proper platform for achieving is aptly of our hitherto self imposed afflictions that have expressed in the words of the third and last stanza of our initial National Anthem which the been crippling us for so long.

The thoughts that are expressed here are in Obasanjo military regime dropped for the current this context and they are meant to highlight one. Here are the words: some of the issues which the committee will O God of all creation do well not to ignore or neglect as they consult Grant this our one request and deliberate on the factors that will set us on Help us to build a nation the right course for this project. Some or all of Where no man is oppressed these may have been presented by others, in And so, with peace and plenty which case they will serve to underline and Nigeria may be blessed We desire and will gladly work to build a nation strengthen what might already have been gleaned by the Committee for consideration. where integrity, excellence and equity are values that are promoted, nurtured, defended, We shall still be the better for that,in the end.

The long standing problem to address: applauded and rewarded. A nation where the Given what has been expressed at different weak and the vulnerable are well protected in fora over the years, our problem has stemmed every part of the country, where the bully and from the way the different ethnic nationalities the fraudulent would be too ashamed to operate. of this country were fused together without A nation where citizens are encouraged and appropriate input from them. It has been a incentivised to think and do first what will be for structural defect. This is what has set the stage the benefit of our collectivity and everyone is whereby we have been operating on the welcome every where as a fellow Nigerian where principle of winner takes all. This is the same no one will seek to rob Peter to pay Paul. This is as the principle of might is right. As this has the nation with sufficient safeguards deliberately flowed from the structural defect stated above, put in place to ensure respect for one another, so have other problems have continued to where all nationals stand on equal footing one spring up which have been plaguing us as a with another and talents are allowed to blossom country, making us to keep limping and and opportunities explored for our collective benefit. wobbling till date.

To be continued The winner is termed mighty and the mighty

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N his media chat with a team of journalists in September this year, President Goodluck Jonathan declared his government’s commitment to end the logjam with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, by effecting the changes demanded by the lecturers.

This followed an earlier directive to the Federal Government’s negotiating committees, the Universities Needs Implementation Committee and the Earned Allowances Committee, to take immediate action to end the ASUU strike.

Chairman of the needs committee, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, told journalists after a meeting held by the President with the committees, “The President has instructed us as to what to do, and has shown commitment to flagging off projects worth about N100 billion in all the Universities in the country!

About 61 of them. He gave assurance that the lecturers would call off the strike in no distant time.

Several months after those assurances were given, the

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At the national confab, let’s do it right

ASUU logjam: Need for sincerity National Council on Finance and Economic Development, in Minna, Niger State, that the nation’s economy cannot for now, accommodate the demands of the striking lecturers. She said, “At present, ASUU wants government to pay N92 billion in extra allowances over and above their salaries. Though we are in discussion with them, the problem is that the resources to take care of the demands are simply not there.”

It should, however, be noted that the intellectual quality of the Nigeria graduate is a direct reflection of the academic standard of the universities.

Only recently, it was alleged that many National Youth Service Corps members cannot write application letters. A state government official lamented in her office recently that corps members posted to her department, who were graduates of statistics, could not interpret figures. Examples abound everywhere. The bottom line is that academic standards in the nation’s universities have fallen to an all time low. Facilities are overstretched and grossly

If government says it has released N100 billion for the upgrade of facilities in public universities, then the money should be made valuable to them

funds are yet to be released.

Investigations at several universities indicated that no one has received a dime. A vice chancellor spoken to said, “The Federal Government has only sent us a memo through the Ministry of Education that we are getting N650 million of the fund. When we get alert into the University’s account we will know how sincere the government is. But presently, we are yet to receive the money.”

So far no university has confirmed the receipt of its share of the N100 billion. This translates to insincerity on the part of the Federal Government. The ongoing ASUU strike is not based on fresh demands by the lecturers.

They are, on the contrary, demanding the implementation of an agreement it signed with the union in 2009 on the proper funding of the country’s public universities. In that agreement government negotiators agreed with ASUU on the needs assessment of the universities and agreed to release money for its implementation.

The situation was aggravated when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo–Iweala, declared in a key-note address at this year’s

,

inadequate. Libraries and laboratories are ill equipped.

The lecturers are not provided with the funds for researches.

In the face of all these challenges, the falling standards in the universities, as reflected in the poor quality of the graduates, are often blamed on the lecturers. That is, perhaps, why they are insistent that Nigerian universities must be made to compete with those in other parts of the world.

It is not enough for government to claim that the strike is politically motivated.

This is no time to play the ostrich. If government says it has released N100 billion for the upgrade of facilities in public universities, then the money should be made valuable to them. Since President Jonathan has assured that his government is committed to effecting the desired changes in the universities, then he must be seen to do just that. The people need to have confidence in their president. Telling ASUU that they should not expect him to close down other sectors solve their probe overnight, could be seen as fueling an already inflammable situation.

All that is needed now is sincerity on the part of government.

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34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

FCTA defends Govt’s abuse of Abuja master plan •Says green areas are kept for unforeseen circumstances • Why VP’s residence is uncompleted

Group charges government to ban the use of lead in paints manufacture

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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ustainable Research Action for Environmental De velopment, SRADev Nigeria, an environmental nongovernmental organisation, NGO championing the campaign to eliminate lead in paints making under the auspices of the International POPs Elimination Network, IPEN, last week called on the federal government to urgently enact mandatory national regulations for limiting lead concentrations in paints. The group also canvassed immediate efforts by the government to eliminate lead in paints as it was done in petrol phase out.

Abuja Masterplan

BY HENRY UMORU

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HE federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has said that abuse of the city’s master plan was as a result of changes in government policies that affected the plans of the government before the movement of the seat from Lagos to Abuja.

The Administration also defended the rampart abuse of the Abuja Master plan where areas hitherto regarded as green areas and recreational gardens are being re-allocated to private developers.

Examples of such flagrant abuses abound within the metropolis as well as in the suburbs.

Addressing newsmen recently, Director, Urban and Regional Planning of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Abdurahman

Salami noted that green areas in the city were sometimes kept for unforeseen circumstances.

“Green areas are not just for that purpose, but sometimes kept for unforeseen circumstances. Although some have been altered or changed to suit the taste of time and be in tune with current trends. If they are negative, we disallow it and if they are positive we incorporate it”.

In another development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed said the residence of Vice President Namadi Sambo being built by the administration would be completed when funds appropriated in the 2013 budget are made available.

According to him, the FCFA had last year proposed to spend the sum of N1 billion for the completion of the official

Planners storm Owerri for AGM

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he 44th annual conference and general meeting, AGM of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, kicks off today at Imo Concorde Hotels, Owerri. The conference which will focus on land use planning and national security, is expected to be opened by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The chairman of the conference planing committee, Dr Femi Omolola, explained in a press statement that the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha will deliver the key note address.

Buttressing the choice of the lead topic, Dr Omolola noted that Nigeria is passing through security challenges hence every sectoral group should contribute to finding solutions to the scourge. The settlement experts will also use the conference to award honorary fellowship to the first military governor of Imo State Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu [Rtd] and the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso for their enormous contributions to creating a humane environment.

residence of the Vice President located in the Maitama Extension (renamed Goodluck Jonathan District) in Abuja.

The Minister who spoke to Journalists through the Director of Public Building, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Mr Bernard Lot, an architect, promised that work on the project would be completed. He however explained that poor budgetary allocation in the 2012 appropriation has stalled the completion of the project.

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ccording to Lot, “For a whole year (2012), there was no budget for that project but under 2013 we had an appropriation and the contractor is working. We had a course to seek for a variation on the contract to implement the second phase of the project.

But it was stood down on the grounds that no project will have a variation above 15 percent. ”So, we are having an implementation strategy to ensure that we complete that project on time including the very essential aspects of the work like the gatehouse, bedroom, storage among others. ”The contract is ongoing and we are going to complete the contract while we leave the issue of furnishing. The issue of furnishing is part of the phase two of the project which includes the banquet hall, guest houses, and some security installations which are very vital for the Vice President to live in because of the current security situation in the FCT.”

Making the call at the just concluded celebration of International Lead Poisoning Week of Action with the theme ‘’Eliminating Lead in Paints’’ , Mr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, SRADev Nigeria also called for a complete ban and eradication of continued sale of leaded paints. While advocating for a regulatory mechanism to bar adulterated, unregistered, unlabelled, repackaged and uncertified paint products, he stated that national re-branding should be synonymous with product re-branding.

The former Executive Secretary of Nigerian Environmental Society, NES further called on the government to set example by prohibiting procurement of paint products with lead. He noted that public structures such as schools, hospitals and others should not be finished with paints that contain lead substance. ‘’We urge government and civil society to take immediate action on public awareness: There is a need for information campaign to inform the public about the hazards of lead exposure, especially in children. We call upon paints manufacturing industries in the country to eliminate lead compounds from their paint formulations, especially from those paints likely to contribute to lead exposure in children and others. Paint manufacturers also are encouraged to consider voluntary participation in programmes that provide third party paint certification that no lead has been added to, and to label products in ways that help consumers identify paints that do not contain added lead’’, Adogame said.

The SRADev boss highlighted the dangers inherent in leaded paints. According to him,’l ead is added to most paints to improve their covering power and durability. Lead is used during the production stage as drying agent for preservation of paints. But unfortunately, lead is a powerful poison. Both inside and outside the home, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and soil. ‘’Children may become lead poisoned by putting their hands on lead-contaminated objects which they put into their mouths or by eating paint chips found in homes with peeling or flaking lead-based paint. Kids eat peeling paint because it tastes like lemon drops. Lead is more dangerous to children because children’s growing bodies absorb more lead and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. ‘’Lead exposure is a well-known source of harm to children’s health that can cause adverse lifelong effects, such as decreased intelligence, poor school performance, mental retardation and violent behaviour. Its exposure in childhood is now known to be associated with lower vocabulary and grammatical-reasoning scores, increased absenteeism, poorer eye-to-hand coordination, and lower class standing in high school. It is therefore important that sources of lead hazards such as lead paint and dust in children’s environment be identified and minimized, if not entirely and safely removed, to protect kids from such harm.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 35

Jakande harps on importance of housing in human survival By: AZEEZ SANUSI

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IRST civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande has stressed the importance of housing in human sufvival. Jakande spoke at the 17th annual general meeting, AGM, of the Estate, Rent and Commission Agents Association of Nigeria, ERCAAN. He also urged members of the association to take advantage of the present administration’s interest in real estate, describing the future as great for ERCAAN members.

The event which had effective system and service delivery of real estate in a mega city as its theme, also had in attendance the Special Adviser to the Lagos state governor on Housing, Mr.Jimoh Ajao. He also represented Governor Babatunde Fashola who was given an integrity award which according to the body was borne out of his “proven track record of running a corrupt free and honest administration.”

Ajao was also given an integrity award while Alhaji Jakande bagged an award of integrity for laying the foundation for low cost housing in

A housing estate in Lagos Lagos state.

Chairman of ERCAAN, Mr. Godwin Alenkhe highlighted the association’s achievements in the areas of expansion, corporate partnership, capacity building and enlightenment.

Accoding to him, “our expansion drive was quite remarkable with conversion of some groups of Estate Agents from the NIREA fold to ERCAAN body.”

He explained that “the part-

nership concept was basically designed to improve the financial ability of the state chapter and adding value to the services of our members.” He noted that the enlightenment agenda was based on qualita-

tive information with the print and other media organisations to expose the activities of the association and the need to fully invest in the capacity building of the members of the association through seminars and training.

Speaking on government policies in real estate, the president of ERCAAN, Mr. E.T Dare enjoined his members to embrace these policies rather than antagonise them. He also called on the national assembly to pass a law recognising ERCAAN as the authorised body for estate agents.

Dare also charged the government to enforce the law on the registration of estate agents to avoid fraud and foster recognition of members.

The General Manager, Lagos State Residential Registration Agency, LASRA, Ms Olayinka Fashola, enjoined residents of Lagos state to register for the latest exercise embarked upon by the agency. The exercise, she said, will give birth to a database that has the number of male and female residents in a certain locality and their economic capacities.

Global warming: NESREA partners NDLEA to reduce carbon emission

By CALEB AYANSINA & FUNMI OLASUPO

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ORRIED by the rate of car bon emitted into the atmosphere from the burning of illicit drugs , substandard materials and similar items by regulatory agencies, the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency, NESREA, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA,have launched sustainable burning equipment to prevent and minimise the destruction of the country’s ecosystem.

Vanguard Homes & Property gathered that the air curtain machine which comes in various categories has the capacity of destroying any material at the lowest rate of carbon emission, thereby reducing the effect of greenhouse gases on the ecosystem.

At the launching ceremony, which witnessed the destruction of 7, 224.2kg of various illicit hard drugs, in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Darius Ishaku, an architect, said there were immense benefits in the new environment-friendly technology burning in comparison with the conventional practice.

Speaking on the adverse effects of hard drugs, he maintained that, “the agency has spared this nation and indeed the world from harm through its effective regulatory machinery”. Aside this, the minister said there were

environmental costs that might be incurred “ from emissions and the resultant air pollution, when open burning is employed as the means of disposal” of those hard drugs. “This is applicable not only to hard drugs, but also in

cases of disposal of substandard goods, counterfeit, contraband, expired and unwanted materials, by other regulatory agencies,” he said.

The Minister represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs.

Olufunke Babade, explained that “environmental pollution arising from such open burning is becoming worrisome, considering the impact of smoke being released into the atmosphere.

“The circulation of these particulates in the human respi-

ratory system often leads to persistent cough, sneezing, wheezing and general body discomfort. It also aggravates existing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.”

Lagos seeks acquisition of waste certificate for renewal of licences

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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AGOS State Government has advocated that henceforth, annual healthcare certificate will be a major condition for renewal of annual licenses by the state Ministry of Health for all healthcare facilities in the state.

This was disclosed by the state commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello at the just concluded 2nd National Healthcare Waste Management Summit organised by Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Health and Environment (HEFAMMA) and Messrs. Global Health Resources and Partners in Lagos.

In his keynote address presented on his behalf by by the Special Adviser to governor Babatunde Fashola on Environment, Mr. Taofiq Folami, Bello noted that the goal of jointly sustaining the campaign of safe management of healthcare waste in Lagos and beyond the state is a task that must be accomplished.

Bello who disclosed that the major landmark in the history of healthcare waste management was made this year when the Federal Ministry of Environment launched the national policy on healthcare waste management, added that the giant stride is a plus to the nation in general and on the right track. He pointed out that the LAWMA guideline on proper healthcare waste management drawn from the national policy is to be released in first quarter of 2014 thus making Lagos State the pioneer state to draw up a guideline for healthcare waste management in the country.

Welcoming the participants earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya said the theme of the summit was chosen to assess the current practices of managing healthcare waste as a crucial focus on infection prevention and control towards a disease free environment. Explaining that the

summit was equally meant to discuss strategies to bridge gaps in healthcare waste management and set out definitive plan on the quest for sustainable environment in line with the millennium development goals, he noted that the programme fell within the World Development Information Day pointed to the joint responsibility in dissemination of information on issues of common interest.

According to LAWMA boss who

hinted that the Authority currently services 3500 hospitals across the state, “the World AIDS Day is also by the corner in December and we will know there is direct correlation between healthcare waste management and prevalence of this killer disease known as HIV/AIDS, hence the healthcare waste management discuss for today and tomorrow is key to our wellbeing”.

The Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, presenting an award to Lt. Commander E.C. Bitrus, of National Medical Centre, Ojo, for excellent performance at the 2nd National Healthcare Management Summit in Lagos.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Tackle oil theft, illegal bunkering N'Delta youths urge FG

Isoko Eminent Persons task nat'l confab c'ttee

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SOKO Eminent Persons Group, IEPG, has suggested, among other things, that the outcome of the proposed national conference be subjected to a plebiscite.

In a memorandum submitted by the group to the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, IEPG, speaking on behalf of the Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta State, also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for creating the opportunity for national discourse.

The statement by Prof.

Emumena Akama, Chairman and Uzazuviemu Ogeki, Secretary, said the conference must be sovereign in nature, so that the outcome would be subjected to a plebiscite.

It said that the largest five ethnic nationalities should have five representatives each, while the others would have two each.

Aside the structure of the conference, IEPG said issues to be discussed must cover the country’s corporate existence, structure and tiers of government, regional autonomy and resource control, rotation of elective positions, tenure of legislative and executive positions, electoral umpire, elections and party system among others.

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

A WINNER: Mr. Peter Eshikena, MD, Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria Plc (middle), presenting the winner's trophy to Captain of the winning team, Mr. Nwankwo Ikechukwu, after the finals of the Friesland Campina Wamco's MD Cup at Agege Stadium. PHOTO: Joe Akintola (Photo Editor).

Obey court ruling, sacked lawmakers tell NASS, INEC

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA— TEN members of the National Assembly from Katsina State, whose sack from the National Assembly was voided by the Appeal Court in Abuja, have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the National Assembly to allow them regain their seats.

It will be recalled that the members, made up of two senators and eight representatives, were removed in January 2012 on the ground that they were not validly

nominated by their political party, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, during primaries.

They were replaced by members alleged to be loyal to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Masari, who himself vied for governorship position in Katsina State but lost.

The members are Senator Abdu Yandoma, Senator Ahmed Stores, Abba Sada, Muntari Dandutse, Aminu Mani, Murtala Isa, Musa Salisu, Abdu Dankama, Tasiu Doguru and Umar K. The lawmakers headed for the

Why Delta needs expanded revenue base, by Okocha

BY GBENGA OKE

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ELTA State governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Okocha, yesterday, warned that to meet the yearnings of the people of the state, the state cannot live on monthly allocation from Federal Government, hence the need to further expand the revenue base of the state.

Speaking on his plans for the state, Okocha noted that to meet the expectations of the ordinary citizens of the state, certain measures needed to be put in place to drive its economy.

He told Vanguard: “In trying to meet the aspirations of Deltans, there is need for the expansion and effective utilisation of the Asaba and

Osubi airports, cargo and revenue drive from Sapele, Koko and Warri ports, imposition of sales tax and VAT on the hospitality industries and new roads and toll gates construction.

“In addition to these, there is need to accelerate the rate of human development and equip citizens to become significant participants in the oil and gas sectors, while we will nurture an economy that will stimulate and challenge the entrepreneurial skills of Deltans and other residents of the state.

“There is urgent need to identify a minimum of nine industrial locations reflecting spatial equity in each of the three senatorial districts, while enabling environment will be provided to enhance internally-

generated revenue, particularly non-oil revenue.

“The state of affairs in Delta State now and in the future demands a leader and leadership that acknowledge the value of the people, because people matter in any developmental agenda.”

high court and on January 13, 2013, got judgment in their favour, saying that INEC and the National Assembly erred in withdrawing their certificates.

Speaking to newsmen, weekend, Mr. Sada said now that the Appeal Court had upheld their election, INEC and the National Assembly should allow them reoccupy their seats.

He said that the judgment had confirmed their earlier victory at the Federal High Court, which validated their elections in 2011.

Sada said: “We expect total compliance because there are now two court judgments saying the same thing. We expect the National Assembly, being the highest lawmaking body, to have respect for court ruling.

“They make the laws and the court interprets these laws. If the law you make is being interpreted, it is only good and fair that you comply and show respect for it.

“Our seats were taken over illegally because the certificates they issued to the others were not backed by any consequential order whatsoever.”

Niger Delta youth group, Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Transformation Agenda, has call on the Federal Government to take concrete steps to tackle the menace of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.

The group also passed a vote of confidence on the Pipeline Product Marketing Company, PPMC, Warri Depot Manager, Mr. Ali Mohammed, for reengineering the entire process for effective distribution of petroleum products and its availability.

The resolutions were reached at a meeting of the group in Warri, Delta State, attended by some ex-militant leaders in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo and Edo. It was to appraise the petroleum sector in respect to the actualisation of the transformational agenda of President Goodluck Jonatha in the oil and gas sector.

Addressing newsmen, National Coordinator of the group and an and ex militant ‘General,’ Fiawei Pathfinde, said that the resolutions were reached after considering efforts put in place by the PPMC Warri Depot Manager in overhauling and restructuring the depot for effective service delivery.

He said that the manager was transparent and fair to all petroleum marketers, including IPMAN NUPENG and other major marketers.

Host communities get oil firm's CSR benefits

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HE Base Manager of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Ltd., Sapele, Delta State, Dr. Chukumah Igelenyah, yesterday, said that no fewer than 20 of its host communities have benefited from the company ’s social responsibility packages meant to better their lives.

Igelenyah spoke at an interactive session between the company and its host communities, in Okirighwre, Sapele Local Government Area of the state.

He said: “Other communities that are contributing in one way or the other to the smooth running of the operations of the

company, classified as 'impact communities,' have also benefitted immensely from the developmental projects of the company as provided for by the Grand Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, which the company entered into with its host communities across the Niger Delta area.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—37

Foreign Affairs Minister emerges President of Knights of St. John

Uduaghan, good senatorial material — Obiuwevbi

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—AHEAD of 2015 general elections, member representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government Areas on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi, has appealed to the people of Delta South senatorial district to give Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan the opportunity to represent them in the Senate.

Speaking after bagging Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, youth Vanguard award for producing the best unit/ ward result in the October 12 Delta Central senatorial byelection, Obuiwevbi said “Governor Uduaghan will be a good Senatorial material in 2015 and it will only be proper for the people to send him to make laws for the betterment of Nigerians.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on the people of Delta South senatorial district to give the senatorial position to Uduaghan in 2015 and I appeal to Deltans to support the re-election quest of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015."

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Petitions mar Edo NDDC nominees list

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— PETITIONS have continued to pour in against the names submitted by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State to the presidency, as nominees for the state representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Also, ahead the 2015 and 2016 National Assembly and governorship election in the state, a leader of the party in the state, Captain Hosa Okunbor, has donated N40 million to the Edo South PDP with a view to strengthen the party for the elections.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other opposition governors also have their nominees for the NDDC job, even though the PDP hierarchy is still battling to convince President Goodluck Jonathan not to give the slot to opposition governor, which was what he did the last time.

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INSPECTION—From left: Mrs Ebele Okoye, Regional General Manager, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria; Mr. Olanipekun Ogundolapo, Deputy General Manager Comunication, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and Mr George Uriesi, Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, during inspection of Port-Harcourt International Airport, yesterday.

Rights group, Delta elite seek legal backing for confab B

BY EMMA AMAIZE

ENIN CITY—FORUM for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, and Delta Elite, in Delta State, have called on the National Assembly to back the proposed national conference/ dialogue with an act of parliament.

National Coordinator of FJHD, Mr. Oghenjabor Ikimi, made the call in a memorandum submitted to the National Conference/ Dialouge Committee in Benin City, Edo State, while the National Coordinator of Delta Elite, Mr. Hope Agadaigho, adopted the same position in a statement in Warri, Delta State.

Ikimi said: “Though we believe that sovereignty belongs to the people and that the National Assembly is part and parcel of the fraud to be discussed by the conference, we, however, submit that the National Assembly should not be sidelined in terms of making

a law to back the conference.

“We are not oblivious of the recent declarations of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in Duste to the effect that the idea of a national conference/ dialogue was illegal and as such the people of the state would not be sending representatives to the conference.

“The Federal Government should constitute a Constituent Assembly to inject the outcome of the conference into a new constitution and into the Laws of the Federation to fast track development and nation building.”

Delta Elites on its part said “The national confab has come at a most auspicious time, as it can be used as a veritable platform for vast majority of Nigerians to express their opinion on issues that affect

them and cause government to carry out the wishes of overwhelming majority of Nigerians on issues such as resource control, fiscal federalism and even carry out a review on the constitution, as well as the amendments that are being contemplated in the recent constitutional amendment process.”

Agadaigha, opined “The confab must secure legal backing if the engagement must be resourceful, constructive and purposeful and its decisions should be subjected only to a referendum before it becomes a law and to that extent, the National Assembly must be generous in donating its powers in this regard and must see it as a necessary sacrifice to a worthy national cause and not as selling its birth right.”

...Nigerians in Diaspora protest non-representation, call for SNC

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IGERIANS in the United Kingdom have expressed concern over the nonrepresentation of the Diaspora in the 13-member National Dialogue Committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan.

They expressed their view in London at the International Dialogue Forum, where leaders of the various ethnic associations living in the UK voiced their thoughts about the proposed national dialogue.

Jonathan had set up the committee to come up with modalities of convening a national dialogue to resolve what he called “issues that currently caused

friction in the polity.”

However, the Nigerian community in the UK want a review of the committee membership to include representation from the Diaspora.

They also stressed the need for the national dialogue to be sovereign, noting that its submission should not be sent to the National Assembly, but adopted through a referendum.

Chief Ejike Uzoalor, the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo UK chapter, said the national dialogue was long overdue.

He said “given our diversity and interest, it is necessary to

have a common position on issues that affect us.”

Dr Ojibulem Lawrence, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Forum, said: “we want this dialogue to be a sovereign conference where its outcome will be decided by the people and not the National Assembly.”

Mr Alistair Soyode, the organiser of the Forum, said the international dialogue was to enable Nigerians in Diaspora to voice their opinions on the national conference and identify areas of concern that would be their contribution to the dialogue.

HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, has emerged as President of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Ladies Auxiliary, Nigeria, following her election, weekend.

Profesor Onwuliri becomes the leader of the over 8,000 Catholic Lady Knights of St John, a Catholic Knighthood in Nigeria with its headquarters in the United States of America.

The election, during the biennial Convention of KSJI in Enugu, saw the gathering of Knights from across the country for the convention with the theme “Knighthood and the Year of Faith.”

Professor Onwuliri, who until this election was the National Treasurer of the body, is expected to bring her wealth of experience as an Ambassador of Peace of the World Union of Catholic Women Organisation, Ambassador of Mary National Awardee, Ezinne Catholic Women Organisation, District Respected President of Ladies Auxiliary, Knights of St John International amongst others, to bear on her new position.

Speaking after the election, Professor Onwuliri urged all to be prayerful and leave exemplary lives as Lady Knights of St John, adding “I thank God for the opportunity to serve, and call for prayers from all of us as we rededicate ourselves to the service of God.”

Delta 2015: Group rallies support for Obielum

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ELTA State youth under the auspices of Delta Progressive Youth Movement, DPYM, have called on Chief Godwill Obielum to contest the state governorship election come 2015.

The youths made the call at a meeting in Ughelli, which had in attendance, the senatorial district coordinators, Blessing Egbagbara (Delta Central), Vincent Obemaero (Delta South), Eze Edike (Delta North), and all the 25 local government area coordinators and other members.

Addressing newsmen, National Coordinator of the body, Mr Pedro Obi, said that they have strong confidence in Chief Obielum to transform the state and take it to greater height, hence they were persuading him to join the governorship race.

38—Vanguard , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Anambra: Ubah sacks media consultant

Ex-Finance Minister, Okongwu slams FG over privatisation of power sector zSays government handed over public assets to their friends

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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WKA—THE Media Consultant of Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation, Mr. Nkemjika Ibekwe has been sacked Nkemjika was reportedly fired on Saturday, November 2, 2013, following alleged discovery that he embarked on activities inimical to the interests of Dr. Ubah, his client who is also the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the November 16, 2013, election in Anambra State.

A statement by the Acting Director, Media of Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation, Mr. Emmanuel Ibeleme read: ‘’Nkemjika was found to be a double agent. He was engaged by Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah but was also later discovered to be working for other candidates and political parties. ‘’Nkemjika is a mole whose only aim was to make money using all means possible. His desperate need to make money pushed him to the extent of sponsoring a negative and harmful story against Dr. Ubah who engaged his services as media consultant. Nkemjika has been in police net since Saturday, November 2, 2013.’’

Ibeleme did not give further reasons for Nkemjika’s sack but Vanguard learnt that the former media aide was linked to a story published in a national newspaper on Thursday, October 31, 2013 to the effect that ‘’Ubah’s campaigh tempo’’ had slowed down due to lack of cash.

Award

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GBOMOSO GRAM MER School Old Students Association, Lagos chapter holds its Annual Dance and Award Night on Saturday, November 9, at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

One of the major highlights of the event is the Chief Gesinde 2013 Memorial Lecture Series with the theme: “Infrastructural Development in School System-The Alumni Perspective.”

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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NUGU—FORMER Minis ter of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Chu S.P. Okongwu has criticised the poor handling of the privatisation of the power sector, saying that what the Federal Government actually did was to hand over public assets to their friends in the name of privatisation.

Okongwu who spoke in an interview with Vanguard in Enugu also called for the promotion of small scale industries as well as encouragement of farmers through deliberate and favourable government policies to grow the economy.

He specifically asked government to reduce the high interest rate on loans for small scale industries to flourish in the country, as according to him, politics was about transforming society from bad to good or good to better.

His words: ‘’They have completely damaged the economy.

This was what Obasanjo and Abacha did or started. Look at the privatisation of PHCN. Malaysia imported crops from Nigeria and developed her palm produce.

Same thing with the rubber imported from Nigeria. There are no rubber estates again in Nigeria.

You have now had insight into certain models of privatisation (in Malaysia like FELDA) where farmers have 51 per cent control, why can’t we use that as a model, same thing as Britain. ‘’Why is this thing, Power Hold-

ing Company of Nigeria, PHCN, being sold to private people? Why not give labour 51 per cent ownership of PHCN and government still retains 49 per cent. What is all these business? It is carpet bagging: giving people’s assets to your friends. ‘’On the issue of metres, they have gradually jacked up the price of renting of the metre to N700 without people knowing and they are targeting N1000 plus. Multiply that by just one million subscrib-

ers which of course you know are well over that and you see how many billions they would make for doing nothing. What point does it make for me to generate electricity when already I am making so much money and it is just me carrying the whole thing?

And it is a monopoly.

“I own it now, so why should I go into the sweat of production?

Again, thinking of what they can get from the meters; the corporate law says that you must have

a metre even if you are on solar energy or generator. ‘’It is just like in townships, whether you get water or not, you must pay for it. How does that encourage people to produce? It is rent and that is why I said that I will go deeper into it later because the main instrument of control or compensation is rent. You can say that Okongwu said that they are not going anywhere.”

ANNIVERSARY: From left: Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, MD, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, and Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the first Agbeloba Agribusiness Forum, at Ikogosi Natural Resort, Ikogosi, Ekiti State.

Adoration Ground tragedy: Okeke absolves Ngige, Obiano of complicity

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH WKA—THE Catholic Arch bishop of the Onitsha Archdiocese and the Metropolitan See, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke has absolved the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and the All Progressive Grand Alliance’s governorship candidate for the November 16 gubernatorial election in the state, Chief Willie Obiano of blames over the stampede that claimed 25 lives at the Adoration Ground of St. Dominic Catholic Church Uke, in Idemili Local Government Area weekend.

The cleric spoke during a pastoral visit to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nnokwa Parish at the weekend. This was contained in a statement in Awka, yesterday, by the Head, Media and Communications, Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation, Mr. James Eze. Eze’s statement reads in part: ‘’Arch-Bishop Okeke dismissed the growing rumour that Governor Obi and Chief Obiano’s presence at the prayer night held to mark the celebration of the All Saints Day may have led to the

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stampede, pointing out that there was nothing political about Obi’s presence at the celebration in Uke on the fateful night.

The Arch-Bishop who laid the blame squarely on some desper-

ate politicians in the state looking for another backdoor route to power also pinned the cause of the stampede to a false fire alarm raised by some mischief makers at the Adoration Ground.

Although he refused to name anyone in particular as being

culpable for the stampede, the leader of the Catholic Church in Onitsha and its environs with overseeing powers over St. Dominic Catholic Church Uke where the tragedy happened wondered why politicians should not leave the church out of their intense rivalry.

....As Orji condoles with Obi, Anambra people

BY ANAYO OKOLI MUAHIA—GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has condoled with his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi and the people of the area on the death of over 25 persons at an adoration programme in Uke, Idemi-

U

li Local Government Area of the state.

The stampede occurred at a crusade organised by Rev. Father Emmanuel Obinma of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry.

In a letter of condolence by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr.

Charles Ajunwa, Orji said he was saddened by the ugly incident.

He however, prayed for the quick recovery of the injured ones just as he prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.

Enugu LG poll has vindicated Oshiomhole —Ex- LG boss

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, chapter of Forum of former local government council chairmen in Edo State, weekend, declared that the conduct of last Saturday’s Local Government election in Enugu State has vindicated Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as a true democrat.

The leader of the forum in Edo

South and two-time former chairman of Egor Local Government Area, Crosby Eribo, alleged that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State did not conduct elections in any of the councils, as a result won the entire Local Government councils in the state.

He said: “Unlike in Edo State where the Comrade Governor remained neutral in the affairs of

the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, and that was why you saw that the PDP won some councillorship positions in Edo State in the last council election.”

Briefing newsmen in Benin City after a meeting of the forum, Eribo asserted that “all those abusing Oshiomhole about the Esan North East election should now hide their faces in shame.”

Vanguard , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013 —39 ,

CONFERENCE: From left, Professor Kabiru Bala, Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, CORBON; Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation; Dr. Muiz Banire, former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, and Mr. Asimiyu Olusegun, newly elected Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, Lagos State Chapter, at the NIOB AGM/conference on facility management, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

CONFERENCE: From left, Chairman, Planning Committee, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria, APEN, Olufunke FowlerAmba; Senior Manager, Small & Medium Enterprises, SMEs, Airtel, Unu Eke; members, BoT, APEN, Adenike Adamolekun and Maggi Ibru, at the 5th annual conference of APEN, in Lagos.

EXHIBITION: From left, Director, Consumer Electronics, IT and B2B, Mr. Sunil Kumar; Business Leader, Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances, Mr. Parikshit Chadna, both of Samsung Electronics West Africa; winner of Samsung 32-inch LED TV, Mr. Adebayo Adepoju, and Head, Channels, Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Chukwuma Ofoma, during Samsung's Smart Africa Tour Exhibition, at Teslim Balogun Stadium, in Surulere, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

AWARD: From left, Mr. Ladipo Nylander, General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN; Mr. Rodney Emeka, CEO, McMeka/winner of MTN Young Designer of the Year Award, 2013; Miss Damilola Akinyemi, Executive Assistant, Style House, and Mr. Dola Bamgbose, Event and Sponsorship, Manager, MTN, at the just concluded Lagos Fashion and Design Week, sponsored by MTN. Photo: Shola Oyelese

AWARD: Ejigbo LCDA Chairman,Kehinde Bamigbetan (middle), being presented with an award of appreciation by All Progressives Congress, APC, Conference of Ward Chairmen, in Lagos State, at the council secretariat.

SEMINAR: From left, Augustine Nkwume, audit leader, Deloitte Nigeria; Ved Prakash Rustgi, chief finance officer, African Steelmills, and Tawanda Gumbo, transitional leader, Deloitte Nigeria, during the Deloitte IFRS seminar for consumer business companies, in Lagos.

WORKSHOP: From left, Wunika Mukan, Brand Director; Azu Nwagbogu, Director, both of Lagos Photo Foundation; Ayana Jackson, Artist/Photographer, and Joseph Gergel, Co-curator, Lagos Photo Foundation, at the Foundation’s workshop as part of activities marking 2013 Lagos Photo Foundation Festival, in Lagos.

COMPETITION: From left, Mr. Modupe Ajibola, Chief Executive Officer, OTG Playa LLC Limited; Mrs. Pauline Mujawamariya, Programme Director, Innovation Prize for Africa/African Innovation Foundation; Mr. Bastian Gotter, Chief Executive Officer, Spark and Co-Founder Iroko Partners Limited, and Mr. Jusus Nwaoga, 2013 Special Finalist, Innovation Prize for Africa, during press breifing by Innovation Prize for Africa/African Innovation Foundation, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde PROGRAMME: From left, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, Nige- Gbadamosi rian Institute of Management (Chartered) (4th left, front row) and a cross-section of participants and faculty, at the maiden Cambridge/NIM Top Executive Leadership Programme on Leadership and Governance, at Cambridge University Campus, United Kingdom.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Uba condoles with families of stampede victims

MENINGITIS:

Kano traditional leaders to drum support for vaccination

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BUJA—FOLLOW ING the stampede that claimed 25 worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration camp in Anambra State on Saturday, Senator Andy Uba has condoled with the families of the victims, even as he expressed deep shock over the tragic event.

He,however condemned the politisisation of the incident, saying that people must desist from such act as the situation calls for sober reflection.

In a statement in Abuja, the Senator representing Anambra South, said: “I received the news of the tragedy with deep shock as this was an avoidable incident. It is disheartening that people who left their homes to a place of worship without the premonition of death will meet their death in such a horrific, painful and senseless manner.

“I enjoin all political players to have respect for the sanctity of human lives and people’s right to worship their God".

Niger Govt to expand Sabon Gari-Kuta Road

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INNA—ALHAJI Mu’azu Bawa, Niger Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, yesterday, said that the state government had approved the expansion of Sabon Gari-Kuta Road as a dual carriage way in Minna.

Bawa told newsmen in Minna that the proposed carriage way was to ease movement within the town.

"Government is aware of some roads in the state that have become death traps; we will ensure that they are repaired or rehabilitated."

He said that work would soon begin on the Sabon-Gari, Old Garage, Obasanjo Shopping Complex, Kuta and New Market roads.

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APC VISIT—From left: Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari; Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during an invitation visit to Kano and Jigawa states governors by All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains and leaders to woo them to APC on Thursday.

Sultan blames elite for nation's woes S

OKOTO— THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, yesterday, blamed the elite for most of the challenges facing the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Abubakar said this when members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the proposed National Dialogue paid him a courtesy visit in Sokoto. ”The elite are the main problems of Nigeria and most of the woes of the nation as they are now, were brought about by them.

“The elite are the problems and not the teeming masses of the country who are toiling daily, to put food on their tables.

“Most of the leaders have gone astray and they forgot the Day of Judgement. On that day we will account for our deeds and leadership before God,” Abubakar said.

The Sultan, who said he welcomed the idea of the proposed national conference, urged that all the thorny issues should be squarely addressed.

“Blames should be apportioned where they are supposed to be apportioned. We should also remember that life is a passing phase,” the Sultan, said.

Abubakar advised leaders to practice the teachings of their religion.

“If we had done that, as Christians and Muslims, and as leaders and followers, this proposed conference would not have been a necessity,” the monarch said.

He commended the commit-

tee for going round the country to collate the views and aspirations of Nigerians.

The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Femi Okorounmo had earlier told the Sultan that the visit was to pay their respect to him as a committed leader.

“The visit to Sokoto is part of the committee’s efforts to meet with all the stakeholders, in line with its mandate. ”We are also going round Nigeria to collate the views and aspirations of Nigerians, on the conference,” he said.

ADUNA—SOME traditional leaders in Kaduna State, yesterday said they would adopt various means, including the use of town criers and religious leaders, to ensure the success of ongoing vaccination against meningitis.

Alhaji Gambo Yero, the District Head of Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area, gave the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He noted that the local chiefs, had in the past made valuable contributions in mobilising people for various immunisation exercises, assuring that they would not waver in their support.

Yero said religious leaders had been actively involved in sensitising and mobilising their followers to avail themselves for immunisation, adding that their support was vital to the successful conduct of the exercise.

Plateau Govt spends N12bn on agric services, training centres J

OS—THE Plateau State Government has spent N12 billion to improve its Agricultural Services and Training Centres, ASTCs, according to Mr Steven Barko, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Barko announced this, yesterday, at a one-day Rice Field Day at Ajikamai in Shendam Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the “huge investment” was aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in Plateau and beyond.

The commissioner said that the country’s dream of attaining food sufficiency would remain a mirage if there were no concrete structures on ground.

“Structures must be on ground before we meet any policy on food sufficiency.

“That is why the Plateau Government has taken steps

to put on ground structures to provide extension services for agricultural practitioners.

“We need mechanised farming to meet food sufficiency and that made the government to invest over N12 billion in its ASTCs. “We have 300 tractors, nine combined harvesters and other machines in the centres.

“With structures like the ASTCs, the Federal Government’s plan to ban the importation of rice by 2015 would be achieved.”

He gave an assurance that the Plateau Government would establish more processing industries to process crops into value added products.

Barko advised other state governments to complement the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and the Plateau Government efforts by

investing in agriculture.

He commended Romarey Ventures, the organisers of the Rice Field Day. The occasion, he said, affords farmers the opportunity to practically see how to plant the improved varieties of rice seedlings.

Also speaking, Mr Nathaniel Longmut, the Managing Director of the venture, said that the field day was organised to show farmers how the improved varieties could enhance local production.

“Romarey Seed Company organised this Farmers’ Field Day to showcase improved rice varieties commonly distributed under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) programme.”

Longmut explained that the company set up demonstration plots to show case the performance of improved varieties like Faro 44, Faro 55, Faro 57, Faro 60 and Faro 61.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2013 — 41

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

We won't dump PDP — G7 Govs Continues from page 5 Asokoro Police Unit, CSP Nnanna Ama, burst into the venue and ordered the meeting stopped, threatening to mobilize troops to abort it if his order was not obeyed?

“For a DPO to have the impudence to force his way into the meeting of perceived opponents of President Goodluck Jonathan to disrupt a meeting of governors and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives that were duly elected by Nigerians, and also threatened them with arrest can only indicate that the orders must have come from the Presidency.”

While saluting the G7governors for their resilience, tenacity and commitment to their democratic ideals, the PGF asked them to continue with their patriotic fight to rescue Nigeria from the grip of a tiny clique that had cornered

the political space in the country and now regards the rights and commonwealth of Nigerians as disposable in their desperation to continue in office despite growing unrest in the polity occasioned by PDP’s politics of poverty and exclusion.

“We wish to emphatically restate our resolve to join hands and work with our colleagues in G7 and nPDP to ensure that the current regressive trend towards authoritarianism, increasing poverty, unemployment and incompetent leadership is arrested,” they said.

Chartered aircraft grounded in Abuja Also, yesterday, a chattered aircraft meant to convey some members of the National Assembly of Rivers State origin to Port Harcourt for a state event was grounded on ‘orders from above.’

The members consisting of two senators and

10 members of the House of Representatives were travelling in solidarity with Governor Amaechi over the visit of APC leaders.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, two of the affected lawmakers, Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) and Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke representing Omumu/Etche Federal Constituency said the owners of the aircraft suddenly acted on orders from ‘ the top’ not to fly the aircraft.

The members who are loyalists of Abubakar Baraje- led new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP described the development as embarrassing and politically motivated.

Nwuke, who was the first to speak said the name of the chartered aircraft was Manga.

“A couple of members of the House of Representatives and Senators who are from Rivers State travelling to Port Harcourt this morning

got a shock of their life.

An aircraft (Manga) that we had chartered to take us to Port Harcourt was suddenly grounded and we feel it is politically motivated because the APC people were supposed to come to Rivers and some of us, in the sense of accommodation decided to go listen to what they are going to say. So, the aircraft that was supposed to take some senators and members to Rivers State was suddenly grounded by some orders from above.

We are beginning to wonder why all of this is happening in the country that was supposed to be in a democracy.

“The aircraft owners said they have orders from above not to fly anywhere. We had wanted to get in there as quickly as we can and join our governor in receiving visitors who are coming. I think that what is going on now has become increasingly undemocratic and increasingly very embar-

rassing. Freedom of expression, movement is under attack. I don’t think we should encourage a return to the days of the military when people embarked on unilateral action just like that.”

Lending his voice also, Senator Abe corroborated Nwuke’s position, saying that the incident amounted to act of impunity.

He said: “In fact, we had arranged an aircraft to take us from Abuja to Port Harcourt to enable us join other Rivers people to receive the visiting delegation of Nigerians that are coming to visit the governor today and we received information that the owners of the aircraft had called to say that they had instructions from above not to carry off. So, we are stranded here at the Airport, struggling to make other arrangements.

"My fear is that this country may be worse than a Banana Republic if we don’t do something. Because the people who now think that the laws of Nigeria exist

only for them to use it to further what personal purposes they may have is not for the benefit of all Nigerians equally and that is always a dangerous signal in a democracy.

Senator Abe also said he had lodged a complaint with Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

“I have called Senator Hope Uzodinma who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, he said he will look into it”, Abe said.

Abe said the development had affinity with their involvement in the new PDP. “Of course, it is the reason and people fail to understand that the constitution of this country guarantees freedom of movement, guarantees freedom of association and that people are free to talk to one another.

And I have said before and want to repeat it here that if we are talking of a national dialogue, you cannot talk of a national dialogue in an atmosphere of intimation."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2013 — 43

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

PDP swarms communities with buses, cash

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & VINCENT UJUMADU

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UPPORTERS of the PDP, in Anambra State are indeed smiling following the

distribution of hundreds of buses to them by the Tony Nwoye Campaign Organization.

The campaign has also extended support to victims and families of the bereaved at

the Adoration ground last weekend.

All the 177 communities in the state were said to have received at least a bus and mouth watering amount of money to follow.

PDP is on ground — Emeakayi, PDP chairman

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HAIRMAN of PDP in the state, Prince Ken Emeakayi has assured party men and other stakeholders that the party was up to its duties in mobilizing support for its candidate in the election despite the challenges it has faced in recent times.

The PDP has been particularly challenged in pushing forward a candidate following legal challenges against Comrade Tony Nwoye who won the party primaries.

Plans by the party to flag off its campaign last weekend was aborted following a court order arising from the latest appeal

by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu against Nwoye’s affirmation as the candidate.

“You see what I don’t understand is how people seem to be drawing conclusions.”

“Is there any law that says for you to campaign and win election you must flag-off?

Flagging off is the way you choose to begin your campaign.

PDP was never planning a

flagging off, what we were planning and still planning to do is a formal launching, whereby the national leadership of our party will come and present the candidate of the party and formally launch our campaign.” “Our campaign has started in earnest in Anambra State, we have been touring all the wards, all the local governments, we have inaugurated our canvassers long time ago and our canvassers have been visiting homes, markets.”

“If party A decides to do fanfare, decides to do road show and if they believe that that is what is going to make them win, that is their strategy.

I am not bound to copy them.

Party B is not bound to copy them. There is nothing stopping us from doing our programmes and all our programmes are ongoing. It is the electorate who will decide who their governor will be, it is not by fanfare,” he said.

“There is nobody in Anambra State who will say that he is not aware that PDP is campaigning, our target is to meet the electorate and we are meeting them by our own design, by our own style.”

The gesture had rejuvenated the hitherto inactive local government branches of the party as officials in the various local government areas say they are set to sell their candidate despite the short time they have to do that because of the litigations that trailed the party’s primaries.

Commiserating with the families of the victims of the mishap which occurred Sa at Uke Holy Spirit Adoration ground in Anambra state, Comrade Nwoye expressed shock at the magnitude of casualties in the incident. He urged the bereaved families to see it as the will of God and

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HE major line up for the gubernatorial election firmly came to view yesterday after the Supreme Court affirmed former students’ leader Comrade Tony Nwoye as the candidate of the PDP. Nwoye is now freed to tackle the candidates of the other major parties who are Chris Ngige for APC, Willie Obiano (APGA) and Ifeanyi Ubah (Labour).

Nwoye’s victory at the Supreme Court puts to rest the agitation by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Andy Uba to displace him from the ticket of the party.

•Ubah: woos voters with jobs

Anambra stampede: Ban politicians from Adoration ground — Rights group

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•The APC Anambra State Governorship candidate, Sen. Chris Ngige, his wife, Dr. Evelyn Ngige and Hon. Charles Odedo, House of Representatives member representing Idemili North/South Federal Constituency during a campaign rally at Nnobi, Idemili South LGA yesterday

It’s a four-way race with Nwoye

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Let’s try Ubah, youths demand HE mouth watering promises of Labour Party candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah has apparently gotten to a youth group which is pleading that the self confessed money magician be crowned as governor.

Among the mouth watering promises by Ubah who once admitted in an interview that he looks at people and creates jobs is to create 8,000 jobs within the first 100 days in office if elected.

bear the loss with fortitude.

In the statement, Comrade Nwoye pledged the sum of one million naira towards offsetting the bills of those who sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention at nearby hospitals. He also sympathises with Rev Father Emmanuel Obinma popularly known as Ebube Muo Nso, the spiritual leader of the center for the unfortunate incident, urging him not to relent in his efforts towards assisting adherents to attain spiritual fulfillment.

ISTURBED by the loss of lives at an Adoration ground at Uke in Anambra State weekend, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, has called for a ban on politicians to attend services at the adoration ground in view of the negative consequences they were bringing to the holy ground.

Reacting on the stampede that claimed the lives of 28 persons in Anambra State at Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, chairman of the rights group, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi said it is unacceptable for politicians to turn adoration centers to places for soliciting votes.

He said: “It is our advice to the authorities of the Adoration Ministry led by Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma to ban the official attendance and recognition of politicians and their political parties. Such politicians may be allowed to attend in their private

capacities. Ban should also be placed on their mass of supporters, who at times turn mischievous.

“Donation of vehicles by politicians to convey devotees to the Adoration Ground should also be banned. It is shocking and sad to note that some politicians have formed the habit of sending and stationing their hatchet men on the Adoration Ground to disrupt their opponents’ successful participation in the Prayers sessions either by voice or physical disruptions.

“The authorities of the Adoration Ground should reorganize the entire security and exit and entry procedures in the premises of the Ministry.

The mammoth crowd that graced the stampeded prayer session is dotted with suspicion of “menacing rented crowd” possibly imported by some politicians to create such homicidal atmosphere.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013—45

Council Polls: Different strokes in different lands POLITICAL parties in the country seem to be taking turns to dominate council polls in states they control. They have often used ingenious and sometimes crude means to have their way.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, TONY EDIKE AND DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has won approval from near and wide for his respect of the sacredness of the democratic structures of the local governments in his state.

He is perhaps an exception among his gubernatorial colleagues, being that Enugu State under his administration has not taken the undemocratic course of appointing local government administrators or caretaker committees in aberration to the provisions of section 7 of the constitution.

Compared with some states, Enugu shines as gold. Across the border in Anambra State is the inglorious reputation of sorts. Anambra under Governor Peter Obi’s nearly eight years in power has not conducted a local government election.

The record in repugnance for democracy at the local government level which he inherited from his predecessors many stakeholders from the state say, has been taken to a height which peraphs no other governor can beat. Dr. Chris Ngige and Governor Chinwoke Mbadiniju before him, did not also conduct local government elections putting Anambra State as the only state in the country never to have conducted a local government election since the inception of democratic rule in 1999.

Governor Chime’s shinning example nonetheless, the local government election holding in Enugu tomorrow is already laced in controversy. The major opposition political party in the

•Chime: Only governor to have kept LGs running

•Oshiomhole: Flayed over LG polls Independent Electoral Commission, KWSIEC conducted local government elections in the state.

The APC chapter in that state was in dire straits after it was sidelined in the council upon the ruling of the court that the party did not meet electoral qualifications to participate in

,

While the PDP has been largely seen as the oppressor in Enugu, Kwara and Cross River, in Edo State the APC has also been accused by the PDP of using its control of the state administration to forcefully have its way in the 18 local councils in the state

state, the All Progressives Congress, APC has been precluded from the contest, putting a credibility question to the otherwise commendable contest.

The exclusion of parties has become the latest instrument with which ruling political parties in the states are using to dominate or intimidate the local opposition around them.

It was a totally ingenious story of political oppression in Kwara State last weekend when the Kwara State

,

the local government polls.

The PDP won all chairmanship and councillorship positions on offer in the poll.

It was a similar story in Cross River State when the Cross River State Electoral Commission, CRSIEC conducted elections into the local councils in that state at the ending of September. The PDP which rules the state not unexpectedly won all chairmanship and councillorship positions in the election.

•Obi: No LG elections in eight years

•Ahmed: Outsmarted opposition

The oppressor and the victims were, however, reversed in Edo State penultimate Tuesday when elections into the local governments drew to an end with the rerun election for Esan Northeast local government council.

The state chapter of the PDP had sought to disqualify the APC from presenting a candidate upon the claim that the APC was not a participant in the earlier election that was declared inconclusive last April. It was a thought that was quickly perished given the APC’s control of the state administration.

The result of the poll has, however, become a matter of interest to democracy stakeholders upon allegations that the APC candidates who lost in the chairmanship and councillorship contests were sworn-in after elections allegedly doctored were announced in the state capital.

The APC in Kwara State had taken the KWSIEC to court to stop it from conducting the election last weekend upon the fact that the party was not recognized to partake in the polls upon provisions that the party did not meet the 90 day

limit required of parties to exist before participating in an election under the electoral act.

Section 84 (2) of the electoral act requires a party to be in existence 90 days before an election.

Justice Sulaiman Kawu of the state High Court delivering a judgment on the interlocutory injunction filed to stop the election said the applicant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), failed to meet the requirements to stop the election.

Popular election For this reason, the judge ruled, “the application is hereby dismissed”.

But the interim APC Chairman in the state, Comrade Sola Iji described Saturday’s election as a contest between “PDP and PDP”, saying it was not a popular election.

According to him, “We have listened to the decision of the court in the application. What we expect is that opportunity should be given to all the political parties to participate in the election. That was why we

came with this application in the first instance, that was why we came to the court in the first instance.

“Unfortunately this is a contest and it is going to remain a contest between the PDP and PDP. It is not a contest to test the popularity of political parties in the state but an election that is going to be conducted purely for PDP”.

In Cross River State where the local government elections were conducted on September 21 without the APC, the same argument was used in excluding the APC. It had been envisaged that the merged parties in the APC as a combination would for once give the PDP a stiff opposition in the poll, but that was averted after the courts upheld the decision of the CRSIEC to exclude the APC from the polls on the eve of the elections.

The exclusion of the APC in the election coming up tomorrow in Enugu was, however, another tale. All of the party ’s chairmanship candidates were excluded following what the chairman of the Enugu Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC, Dr. Boniface Eneh described as their failure to present their tax clearance certificates.

Tax clearance certificate While the PDP has been largely seen as the oppressor in Enugu, Kwara and Cross River, in Edo State the APC has also been accused by the PDP of using its control of the state administration to forcefully have its way in the 18 local councils in the state.

At the end of the local government elections in April the APC cleared all 17 chairmanship seats in an election that the PDP described as well below average. The same scenario repeated itself penultimate Tuesday at the rerun polls in Esan Northeast local government area, the base of the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

At the end of the polls, the PDP based on what it claimed as collated results from the wards claimed victory in the chairmanship contest.

However, while they were celebrating their ‘victory’, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC was announcing the ACN candidate in the state capital as the winner of the election!

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

NOVEMBER 5 , 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 47 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

F

OR those that know me intimately well, they can identify me with my principles of “anything is possible”.

Yes! there is nothing impossible. Even when everybody

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

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

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

All you need is to believe in yourself.

Have faith in God. Get started. Get along.

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

Do it anyway, today!

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but.

CAPRICORN; The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed AQUARIUS; The Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powers-that-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation PISCES; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today. Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now.

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being co-operative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today. It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

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,

About my success?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen quickly.

Morufu, Ogun Dear Morufu, There are indications of financial success for you but you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world.

Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your innerself. Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity.

One major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life which looks not totally balanced.

Basically you are a family minded person.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

read read

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Reading room overtaken by weed

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

T

HE peace of Igbogbo-Bayeku Local Council Development Area, LCDA, was last week shattered, as residents took on the governor, Batunde Fashola and political office holders from the area over the poor state of infrastructure in the council.

The confrontation which had been brewing for long came to the peak last Tuesday during the commissioning of the Ikorodu skid gas plant in Ginti, Ikorodu.

At the commencement of the commissioning, the residents defied the scorching sun to embark on a protest to demand for explanation from the governor who was billed to perform the ceremony, why infrastructure in the council area were in such terrible state.

Speaking to Vanguard , residents alleged that the state government, council chairman and other political office holders representing the council have done nothing to improve their living standards.

Some of the projects complained about by the protesters were: the Bola Tinubu Road and the Primary Health Centre, PHC, the Igbogbo library tagged ‘reading room’ and the EwuElepe road amongst others.

They lamented that the Igbogbo library has been taken over by weeds and is now home to reptiles.

Mrs. Adetayo Ogundare told Vanguard : “This place ( reading room), has become home to reptiles. Just last week, one of the hunters in the community killed a big snake there.

“This has impeded our children from having a better place to read frequently.

“You can also see the PHC. It has also been taken over by weeds except for the path to the structure.”

Mr. Victor Adeyemi, another resident said; “Look at this road, Ewu-Elepe Road, which is a major road that helps decongest traffic on the ever busy Ikorodu Road, is bad.

“It was because of today’s commissioning that the state government through the State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, quickly patched some portions of the road to aid easy vehicular movement.

“Whenever it rains, our children stay indoors because the road becomes impassable.”

Another resident, Mrs Olabimpe Adekoya said; “We are tired of empty promises.

About three years ago, Abike Dabiri promised that she will discuss with the governor Fashola and the Commis-

Protesters

Igbogbo-Bayeku residents take on Fashola, legislators over decayed infrastructure sioner for Works and Infrastr ucture, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, to aid the prompt award of this Ewu-Elepe road, to a contractor. But till today, nothing has been done.

“The population of the council is increasing daily, but with no infrastructure to

complement it.

“If this road (Ewu-Elepe) is reconstructed, it will serve as the link road for anyone going to Ipakodo and other adjoining communities. And it will decongest the traffic on Ikorodu road.

Responding, Mrs. Abike

Dabiri assured the residents that the infrastructure in the council will be upgraded, adding; “Key public infrastructure in the area have been captured in the 2014 budget .”

Also reacting, the LCDA chairman, Hon Adegbenga

Basanya said that a larger percentage of the projects complained about were stateowned, stating categorically that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road falls under the purview of the state government and not the council.

Ijebu-Epe, Eko-Epe

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

FTER 15 years of communal clashes which has claimed at least 100 souls, the two groups in Epe town, the Ijebu-Epe and Eko Epe in Epe Local Government Area, are beginning to work towards peace.

For the first time, after several years of internal crises that had deprived residents of peaceful co-existence, the wind of peace blew across the land recently when old and young ones trooped out in droves to the OdoObara Senior High School, Epe, Local Government hall, in an epoch making event, to officially re-ignite the togetherness that used to exist between the two groups.

The participants at the parley, led by their traditional rulers - The Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun and the Olu of Epe, Oba Shefiu Adewale, for the Ijebu Epe and Eko Epe respectively, were dressed in their regalia to rekindle the peace that reigned between their ancestors

•After losing more than 100 lives to clashes for about 150 years.

These groups, who had co-existed even before independence in 1960, had about 15 years ago, engaged in discord which Vanguard gathered started gradually before it degenerated. At least 100 lives are said to have been lost while others were maimed as a result of violent clashes in the past.

Origin of the crisis It was learnt that the cause of the dispute that had threatened the peaceful co-existence in the town was more political than culture and traditions of the town.

“No one can really say this is what sparked off the crisis. Sometimes, it would be land tussle and other times it could be power tussle,” said a source.

The dispute between the tribes had in the last years had polarized the town and undermined the development of Epe, a town originally tipped by colonial masters to be the commercial nerve centre of the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

L

AGOS residents remain divided over the propriety of installing of Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of former governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as Iyaloja-General of Lagos.

The investiture, held alongside the 70th birthday ceremonies of the Oba of Lagos, HRH Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu, was performed at the Iga Idunganran Palace on Lagos Island.

Her appointment in July, was said to have been witnessed and endorsed by market leaders of all the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in Lagos State.

Before her appointment, Folashade was the Deputy President-General of the Market Men and Women.

It will be recalled that controversies trailed her appointment last July, as her father was accused of imposing her, following the death of his mother, Abibatu Mogaji, the late Iyaloja, who died last June.

All major markets throughout Lagos metropolis, including Ayobo-Ipaja, IyanaIpaja, Abule-Egba, Dopemu, Ogba, Egbeda, Agege, Balogun, Oke-Arin, Oyingbo, Oshodi, Mushin, Ojuwoye, Ikotun, and others were all shut on the day of her installation.

Being the commercial hub of

—49

Knocks, kudos for Iyaloja-General’s choice over whether Folasade-Ojo should have been chosen.

According to Chidiebere Nzube, a merchant in Oshodi said; “So all these poor market women are contributing money for the Tinubu family.

This is wrong.

“I am amazed that the whole markets were shut for a mere installation. So the Yorubas can’t tell the Tinubus to do the right things. Why do they depend on them so much for everything?”

z Iyaloja-General, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo Nigeria, millions, perhaps billions of naira would have been lost in trade transactions

as a result of this closure.

When Vanguard spoke to residents, they were divided

Hassan Zubairu reacting said; “Robbing our collective wealth to feed their generations yet unborn! Is there a God who sees all these?

“I couldn’t sell my cows on that day. I came to Lagos 15 years ago and I have never seen anything like this.

For Abidemi Oyeyemi, a trader in electronics products at Balogun, Lagos Island: “It is Tinubu that is running all things in Lagos now, all documents are signed in his house in Ikoyi. I understand that the Iyaloja is a major title and the marketers should honour it. But this state has more people than several countries of the world.”

Durojaiye Akinpelu, while supporting the choice said; “My grandma was the Iyalode of my small village and now my mum is the Iyalode, So I don’t see anything wrong in giving the post to Mama Mogaji’s grand daughter.

“Moreso, that it’s the Tinubus that hyped the post.

So anybody that does not know anything about some peoples’ tradition should just shut up.

Julius Uzezi, said; “The family history suggests that they have been instrumental in the rise of Lagos, right from the days of Saka Tinubu who used to rent out buildings to Lagos State to be used as prisons. They are land owners and have historically always been involved in the development of the state.

Makinde Ajiboye said; “For those of you that do not know, the title, Iyaloja is a position among the hierarchy of chiefs in any Yoruba town or village and the appointment is usually by birth. However there are honorary Iyalojas.”

communities re-unite, 15 years after

• Epe town

However, the colonial masters chose to reside in Oke-Oyinbo axis of the town, where they administered several towns because of its unique location as the entire communities could be viewed from the axis.

Olu of Epe, Oba Adewale said that the disunity led to confrontations between all sections of the community including the youths who confronted themselves with machetes, and other dangerous weapons of destruction.

One of the illustrious sons of the area, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji said “ “It is a dispute that one cannot say started yesterday. It started gradually, and it is more of political issue than tradition or culture. It has been accentuated by politicians from the past. But I cannot say this is when the crisis started.”

According to the Lisa of Epe, Chief Waheed Korede; “The disunity was caused by some people who have ulterior motive.

“But we held series of meetings and we

came up with a proviso, that the only way to compete favourably with other towns in the state is for everyone to unite. And set up a non-partisan council that will further strengthen the unity in the town. Korede said.

He added “There are many towns that had over two tribes but irrespective of their differences, they still come together to develop their community, for instance Abeokuta.”

The Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, noted that the intention of the council is to ensure that unity returns to the town.

“We have been on the issue for over four years. We have married ourselves. We discovered that this is affecting the development in the town,” he said.

Epe, is a suburb in Lagos, the people are basically farmers and fisher men and women due to nearness to lagoon, numerous swamplands and creeks and the wide expanse of arable land. Epe is located on the north side of the Lekki Lagoon.

Re: Predators all around HI, Sometime ago, we published the heart wreaching story of Chinwe, a young undergraduate female who men and fell in love with a young, handsome doctor on one of the social network platforms. He turned out to be a predator and did what most of them do to unsuspecting victims to Chinwe.

Today, she has a severely scared and maimed body to show for her escapade.

Some readers wrote in to console Chinwe and also to sound a note of warning to other young girls and parents. Some of them are published below today. Please note that you are free to send in any story of your choice, but based on a true life experience to us. Our address remains: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com Happy reading!

Dear Yetunde, ndeed it is a pleasure to be hooked up to this column again. Thanks Yetunde Arebi for the continuous effort. I read the second part of the Predators all around and it was clear to figure out what really transpired between Chinwe and this internet predator.

These predators are real and sincerely, they can work with patience to get at our ladies. I am just baffled and perturbed that our young girls don’t heed to the signals from others, until they have experienced it. They seem to enjoy the gamble with their life far better than the instructions of staying away from all these evil and wicked people.

I wouldn’t want to write off totally that there are sensible people on the internet but the chances are abruptly slim. Our ladies should understand that their lost sense of self worth, value, sensible patience and love for stupid pleasure is driving our girls to do crazy things and live recklessly.

I don’t want to flog this issue too much because I believe it is a lesson learnt for every female gender, even myself. But I just want to speak to Chinwe’s heart

I

if she would hear and listen. She has taken her turn of mistake and the havoc has been done. That does not mean she should write off herself like she is dead.

There is still hope for her to live a positive life, still hope for her to set a pace and an example and reach out to the lives of other girls.

It is a painful mistake but indeed it can be a positive one. Chinwe, you need counseling, acceptance and need to forgive yourself.

SOW by e-mail Dear Yetunde, Chinwe has gone through a bad experience you might not want even your enemy to go through.

I would advise her to start again.

By this, I mean she should go to the University and graduate as this would be a form of victory over the situation, because obviously the man wanted her dead and be forgotten.

Chinwe, continue with your life, I believe that one day you would meet that man again (I’m so sure of it). Do you want to do so as a beggar on the streets, as a prostitute or as a dependent person?

When Chinwe graduates and they meet, she would be able to hold her head up high. Anyone

who laughs at your deformity has a small mind. Take care.

Yemisi from Abuja by e-mail Dear Yetunde, I never thought this could happen. Just to say sorry to the lady. Please forward the story to this mail so I can pass it on to my family too. thanks.

Titilayo by e mail Dear Yetunde, Thank God for her life because she has come to her senses. If it was somebody that advised her to stop that nonsense, she would say that person is envying her.

She should pray to God for forgiveness and that God should give her, her own man.

Dechi in Abuja, by e-mail Dear Yetunde, This story is a pathetic one.

A young, beautiful and promising girl who got herself maimed for no reason. I empathise with her. Perhaps this case will convince other young girls who fall in love without thinking, or those who go about engaged in secret relationships, and those engaged in things that they know their families and society will not approve of, that there is grave danger all around.

When you see some of these Nigerian home movies about the escapades of some of these young girls, you will marvel.

All the things they do to them are true and a young girl must be cautious of her activities as well as environment. Lack of moral value and lapses in parenting are some of the reasons these young girls also fall into these traps. Yetunde, let’s continue to pray for the young people of this country, after all, they are the future.

Gbemisola by e-mail Dear Yetunde, I find it surprising that even you with your wealth of experience about life and relationships can still express shock about what happened to this girl called Chinwe. It is a pity that many people are not aware of some of the strange things going on in our society now.

Those who know are not doing much to curb it maybe because they believe that their own children cannot be involved and most of them are the ones doing it to the children of the poor.

Yetunde, the truth is that many of these young girls around these days are everything but innocent.

The society has lost all moral and social values and everybody is corrupt in body and spirit. The love of money and the need to be accepted into the circle of the affluent has blinded us so much that we no longer have respect for anything, sometimes, even ourselves as individuals. You will not believe what happened a few weeks back to a friend of mine at the office. He was given a free escort girl while out of town and because he refused to sleep with this girl, she claimed she has fallen in love with him. She started sending text messages, pleading and vowing how much she loved him. The next thing, she started sending nude pictures of herself in the shower, on her bed

Olniyi Coker, by e-mail Dear Yetunde, What happened to Chinwe in that story is not a new thing. It is something that is now recurring all the time. So many strange things are happening all around but as typical Nigerians, we always act like the Ostrich, pretending that the problem is either not there or it will soon go away and all will be back to normal. Unfortunately, things don’t always happen that way. This internet predator issue is a world wide problem and Nigeria is just awakening to the realities of it.

If it were in a much sophisticated society, Chinwe’s assailant will not just walk off into thin air like he did. He would have been promptly and thoroughly investigated and brought to book. This is not however to condemn the Nigerian Police, after all, they have been able to resolve a couple of similar cases successfully. However, our Forces still need to be properly equipped to perform in a modern, highly technological manner that will be comparable to those in other climes. There are several Internet crimes out there and it is real people that are behind and sponsoring them. Many young people are of the erroneous belief that when on the internet, they are either talking to some faceless individuals or that the other person is either like them or they are wiser than them. No one likes to think

When you see on Nigerian home movies, escapades of some of these young girls, you will marvel, all the things they do to them are true and a young girl must be cautious of her activities as well as environment

,

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

and elsewhere. She claimed she wanted him to see what he was missing.

What if my friend and some others that saw these pictures decide to take her up and teach her some hard lessons like she ought to be taught? Some mothers out there are just not taking care of their children and our society will continue to suffer for it.

Thanks so much for bringing Chinwe’s story more publicity.

More ink to your pen and may God continue to be with you and your loved ones.

,

that he/she is the fool or vulnerable one. This is where many of the mistakes begin from. It is my opinion that children should be educated on the dangers of using the internet.

They should also be taught the dangers of taking internet relationships off the internet to the real world. Not all the information you get on the internet is correct and one has to be careful.

Chinwe should simply take heart and face the challenges that her new life and physical body now pose for her.

Real signs of true love ONOZURE DANIA

T

RUE love is the true defi nition of a perfect romance in a relationship. Only it is not easy to find. True love is not felt in a heartbeat or in a second glance. True love takes time to take shape. And contrary to popular belief, love at first sight is not really love at all. In fact, love at first sight is nothing but an infatuation. It’s a strong surge of romantic emotions that overwhelm you.

Before you wonder what true love is all about and what the signs of true love really are, you need to understand that it is very important to take things slow in a relationship if you want to ensure its success.

When you first start dating someone or fall for someone at first sight, what you experience is not love. As much as you feel like you are head over heels in love, you really are not.

You are just experiencing the first stage of love, a small part in the stages of love known as the infatuation stage.

What is true love then? Ironically, true love can’t be defined.

It’s the kind of love many of us chase after, but few truly find or realize it until it’s too late.

True love is the kind of love and affection you have for someone that is not bound by the laws of human behaviour. When you experience true love with someone, your primal instincts and behaviour changes only towards this person. True love transcends

typical human behaviour. It makes you a better human being towards a special someone.

As the bursts of infatuation start to fade with the first few arguments and the first few misunderstandings, that’s when love starts to enter the picture. And this is where most relationships start to drift away emotionally, or even end up breaking up because of incompatibilities.

If you are in a relationship where both of you truly understand each other and feel compatible with each other, and most importantly, love each other, chances are, you’re experiencing true love already.

Is true love a once in a lifetime experience? Not really.

You can experience them many times over, and with many people

at the same time. You can experience true love with your spouse or your lover, your children and any other person you are attached to in your life. But true love too, can fade with time. For most of us, our first love is the first time we would have experienced the purest form of true love. We are not afraid to let this special someone into our heart and we are not afraid to experience heartbreak because we still don’t know what heartbreak feels like. We are fearless in love and we love passionately with all our heart.

But when the first romance dies, the true love we had for our first partner too eventually fades, even if it takes years and several new relationships to overcome. And as we enter more

relationships, most of us split into two groups.

One that believes in true, romantic love and the other group that convinces itself that true love doesn’t exist. The kind of relationships you have had in your lifetime can play a big part in your understanding of, and expectations from, true love.

If you are wondering whether true love and romantic love are the same, it really isn’t, even though we almost always associate true love with romantic love. True love is love in its purest form, while romantic love needs sexual attraction to stay alive.

True love can’t be forced. True love has to be experienced naturally and wholeheartedly. You can’t fake true love no matter how hard you try.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2013 — 51

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2013

BRIEFS

Russians rally against migrants

Morsi defiant, as court adjourns trial E

MERGING from four months in secret detention, Egypt’s deposed Islamist president defiantly rejected a court’s authority to try him Monday, saying he was the country’s “legitimate” leader and those that overthrew him should face charges instead.

The trial, which was adjourned until January 8 after several interruptions, marked Mohammed Morsi’s first appearance since he was ousted in a military coup in a step by the military-backed authorities to show respect for due process after international criticism over the secrecy that has shrouded the case.

But Morsi’s rejection of the proceedings signaled the effort would do little to resolve the conflict that has embroiled the Arab world’s most populous country in a fresh round of turmoil.

The longtime Brotherhood leader rejected the proceedings and said he had been forced to attend.

“This is a military coup whose leaders must be put on trial in accordance with the constitution,” Morsi told the court.

“I am the president of

the republic and I am here against my will,” he said.

“What is happening here is providing cover for the military coup,” he said, as his co-defendants chanted “down, down with military coup.”

Yesterday’s raucous session reflected the highly

charged atmosphere of a nation deeply polarized between Morsi’s Islamist supporters, and the military-backed administration and moderate Egyptians who support it.

Morsi was flown by helicopter to the police academy compound where the

S

Supporters of Morsi at the trial venue yesterday

US rules out clemency for Snowden

A

senior White House aide and top US lawmakers rejected intelligence leaker Edward Snowden’s request for clemency following his disclosures of widespread government surveillance.

White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer and the

T

heads of America’s Senate and House intelligence committees spoke on Sunday, just days after a German lawmaker published a letter from the fugitive and said Snowden was ready to testify to Congress to shed light on “possibly

stricken” atmosphere at the News of the World at the time as rivals reported allegations of widespread illegal eavesdropping and police increased their inquiries.

•Rebekah Brooks engulfing the News of the World tabloid as the hacking scandal erupted in July 2011, and Brooks — then-chief executive of Murdoch’s British press operation — was at its center.

Edis said yesterday. there was an “extremely anxious, if not panic-

hani’s historic outreach to Washington.

Such protests occur every year outside the former embassy compound to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover following the Islamic Revolution. But the

serious offenses.”

“Mr Snowden violated US law,” Pfeiffer told ABC television’s “This Week” program. “He should return to the US and face justice.”

But Senator Dianne Feinstein said the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor had missed his chance.

“He had an opportunity, if what he was a whistleblower to pick up the phone and call the House Intelligence Committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee and say, ‘Look, I have some information you ought to see,’” she told CBS Television’s “Face the Nation.”

Kerry hails US-Saudi ties

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ECRETARY of State John Kerry said yesterday that US ties with Saudi Arabia are “strategic and enduring”, insisting Washington and Riyadh shared the same goal in the Syrian conflict. “Our relationship is strategic, it is enduring and it covers a wide range” of issues, he

Iranians protest dialogue with US Tens of thousands of demonstrators packed the streets Monday outside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran in the biggest anti-American rally in years, a show of support for hard-line opponents of President Hassan Rou-

EVERAL thousand Russian nationalists rallied yesterday in Moscow, venting against the migrants they accuse of pushing up the crime rate and taking their jobs.

The protest took place on Unity Day, a national holiday established in 2005 to replace commemorations of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Many demonstrators carried Russian imperial flags. One group dis-

played a banner reading “Young People Against Tolerance.”

Animosity is strong among nationalists against migrants from the former Soviet Central Asian republics and against non-Slavs from the largely Muslim Russian Caucasus region.

Central Asian migrants are widely employed in big cities in construction and do other low-paid jobs that Russians are not eager to do.

Saudi clamps down on aliens

News of the World Editor hid notebooks from Police — Prosecutor OP Rupert Murdoch executive Rebekah Brooks hid her notebooks, a computer and other evidence to keep them out of police hands as she was about to be arrested over allegations of phone hacking, a prosecutor told jurors yesterday.

Andrew Edis said some of the material was only recovered by accident, when a cleaner found a garbage bag containing a laptop computer and other items behind trash cans in a parking garage at Brooks’ London apartment building.

The prosecutor said a “media firestorm” was

trial was being held, then transferred to the courtroom in a minibus. The trial was not televised live, but state TV later released video of him buttoning up his dark blue jacket, flanked by policemen, as he stepped out of the minibus.

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latest demonstration is the largest in years after calls by groups such as the powerful Revolutionary Guard for a major showing, including chants of “death to America” that some of Rouhani’s backers have urged halted.

told reporters as he wound up a visit to the kingdom aimed at easing tensions with the traditional ally over US policies on Syria and Iran.

“There is no difference in our mutually agreed upon goal in Syria,” Kerry told a joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal.

The US top diplomat insisted aWashington “will not stand idly by as (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad continues to use weapons” against his own people.

Prince Saud, meanwhile, said any proposed talks to end Syria’s 31month-old conflict could not go on forever.

AUDI authorities yesterday began a clampdown on illegal immigrants after the end of an amnesty that gave over-stayers and workers a grace period to leave or legalise their status.

Police patrols will be searching for illegallystaying foreigners and those who help them, interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki

said late Sunday.

Violators will be arrested, penalised and deported, he said. Nearly a million Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis, among others, have taken advantage of the three-month amnesty — announced on April 3 and then extended for four months — and left the country.

DRC troops cage rebels

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EMOCRATIC Re public of Congo troops on Monday drove M23 rebels from one of their key hilltop positions in the east of the country, pushing on with their assault despite calls for a truce.

The Congolese army has “completely conquered” the Mbuzi hilltop, a senior official said, as fighting raged in the

mountainous region where rebels holed up after being forced from their last stronghold of Bunagana last week.

Troops launched a fresh assault despite calls by an M23 leader for a truce which prompted United Nations special envoys to urge Kinshasa to refrain from pressing on with the offensive.

UK military eyes training rolehotspots

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RITISH troops are to ramp up training missions in the world’s insurgency trouble spots after they leave Afghanistan, the head of the military said in an interview published Monday.

General Nicholas Houghton told The Times newspaper that after their Afghanistan combat role ends by January 2015, emphasis will shift to conflict prevention in Africa and the Gulf, plus east and Southeast Asia.

Kenya charges four over mall attack

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OUR people were charged yesterday, accused of involvement in the attack on the Westgate mall in Kenya, but each pleaded not guilty.

The Somali terror group Al-Shabaab, an

affiliate of al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the bloody four-day siege at the upscale mall in Nairobi, during which at least 67 people were killed. The attack began on September 21.

Slain Journalists: Mali arrests 12 suspects

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O fewer than 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the death of French President Francois Hollande called an emergency meeting with min-

isters Sunday, a day after two French journalists were killed in northern Mali.

Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon worked for Radio France International.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2013 — 53

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2013

We’ll cause an upset in Nigeria — Ethiopia E

THIOPIA’s prepa rations are in top gear after the arrival of Finland based Fuad Ibrahim in camp ahead of the do or die Nigeria return leg on the 16th November.

Despite the cancellation of an intended friendly against Burkina Faso, coach Sewnet Bishaw has been conducting training in Addis Ababa with 23 players in camp .

Bishaw is delighted that the morale in camp was upbeat and he was happy with the training programme.

“The mood in the camp is very positive. It was disappointing for the Burkina Faso friendly to be cancelled but sometimes this things happen. Our focus is on ahead of the Nigeria game as I always believe anything is possible and we will work on our mistakes “ “It will be a tough match in Nigeria but the truth is that we will fight for the entire 90 minutes as we intend to cause an upset “ he added.

•Emenike

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HE regular fun and excitement of UEFA Champions league awaits fans tonight (Tuesday) courtesy of International premium lager beer, Heineken. Former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, is set to thrill football fans on digital platforms during match day four of the UEFA Champions League from Port Harcourt.

Heineken recently extended its sponsorship with UEFA for another three years until 2018.

Over the last few seasons, the International premium lager beer has been rewarding its Nigerian consumers with a premium viewing experience of UEFA Champions league football, in the Heineken Champions Planet in VictoriaIsland, Lagos. For the

FIFA U-17: Nigeria is endowed with talents says youths could do if pro- Sharks FC of Port HarAmiesimaka ered. vided the right oppor- court said if the tempo

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ORMER Green E a g l e s w i n g e r, Adokiye Amiesimaka said the country was endowed with abundant football talents waiting to be discov-

Amiesimaka told NAN in Port Harcourt that the Golden Eaglets’ 2-0 victory over Uruguay in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, had shown what Nigerian

Fun galore at Milo football clinic in Akure

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T was fun galore as the Akure leg of the Milo football clinic was rounded off with a novelty match which team B won through penalty shoot out after a pulsating 1-1 draw at regulation time. The event which held over a five day period at the Akure township stadium had in attendance 2,000 students drawn from secondary schools from where the 32 finalists that played the match were selected.

Speaking at the grand finale, the brand manager of Milo Mrs Funmi Osineye said “ I am so excited that the final of Ondo version of the Milo clinic has produced worthy champions for the future.

I was so surprised with the talents that were discovered because Ondo state is famous for producing more swimmers than footballers. Without this clinic, we would never have seen the potentials of

Okocha engages Heineken UCL fans in PH

Brand Manager Milo, Mrs Funmi Osineye receiving the Milo football from Mr. Peter Rufai, initiator of Nestle Milo Football clinic in Akure. the state in football as well .The aim of the clinic is not just to coach the children with world class football skills, but also to equip them with key value like discipline, determination,, respect, honesty and team work to make them succeed in life.These values are essential building blocks in raising a generation of future champions for which Milo is known.

She disclosed that over 14, 000 football champions will be trained from the season 4 of the event which will climax in lagos with the grand finale.

Also speaking, Ondo state sports commisioner Honourable Bekekhimi Idhiari said “ We are proud to have hosted the final of the milo clinic Which tallies with our state’s developmental program..

tunity.

He said the good thing about the team was that FIFA confirmed that they all passed the Magnetic Resonnace Imaging (MRI) test.

The MRI test were carried prior to the competition by FIFA to ascertain that all players were within the age range of 17 and under.

“Congratulations Nigeria, we have qualified for the semi final.

“I understand that FIFA has confirmed that our players passed the MRI test and that shows that we are truly endowed.”

Amiesimaka, a former chairman of

was sustained, the country would reap the benefits in future.

“This shows that if we keep it up, sooner than later, we will be unstoppable, not just at the age grade level, but where it matters most, the senior National team,” he said.

The former Eagles star also praised coaches for their ability to raise young talents.

“I am happy for our coaches, who are all Nigerians. That also shows that they have the ability at the coaching level to do better than many others.

“So, we should look inwards not only for the talented young players but for our coaches too,” he said.

on- going season, the brand has been showcasing the unique Heineken experience at 100 premium bars with the aim of getting closer to its consumers in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Abuja.

Okocha, who was engaged by thousands of Arsenal fans on match day 2 as they interacted with him during the 2-0 win against FC Napoli at the Emirates stadium, would be available to hundreds of UEFA Champions League fans at Casablanca bar, GRA 2 in Port Harcourt this evening. Consumers will have the opportunity to interact with the football legend while the match is underway.

Chukwumerije for leadership confab in Lagos

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OLLOWING his enormous contributions to Taekwondo and sports in general, threetime Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije will be speaking at this year’s Excellence in Leadership Conference holding in Lagos.tomorrow.

The conference which is organized by Daystar Christian Centre has ‘’Corruption Free Leadership - Key to personal and national success” as its theme.

According to the organisers, Chukwumerije, a bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games and Founder/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ChikaChukwumerijeSports Foundation (CCSF) will be speaking on promoting values through sports.

Bankers Games: Skye, UBA set up epic finals

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EFENDING champions, Skye bank again survived a penalty lottery to see off ambitious Standard Chartered that looked to making their second finals appearance in the Nigeria Bankers Games.

Skye bank won 5-4 on penalties to set up a classic final with rivals, UBA that also scrapped through 1-0 against

First Bank in the second semi finals clash of the 2013 Nigeria Bankers Games. It will be Skye Bank’s third consecutive finals as the two finalists chase a record fifth title.

Shola Akintayo opened scoring in the 20th minute for the Cup holders but the Standard Chartered side restored parity in the second half through mercurial mid-

fielder Adegboyega Adegbenro. Both teams were allowed 20 minutes extra time, but failed to find the back of the net resulting in a penalty shootout. Emmanuel Ebhodaghe lost the third kick for Standard Chartered Bank while Skye Bank scored all their five kicks to land the finals ticket on 6-5 scores.

Vanguard, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2013 — 55

Hayatou visits Eaglets, praises team’s resilience

Isaac Success: Manu keeps 'em guessing

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RESIDENT of the Confederation of African Football, Alhaji Issa Hayatou, yesterday paid an inspirational visit to the Intercontinental Hotel abode of the U-17 National Team of Nigeria, during which he encouraged the Golden Eaglets to set a tournament record by winning a fourth world title here in the United Arab Emirates.

Hayatou, in company with CAF 1st Vice President, Almamy Kabele Camara and FIFA Executive Committee member, Mohamed Raouraoua, praised the resilience of the Nigerian youngsters especially in the quarter final duel with Uruguay on Saturday.

“You have displayed a high level of skill and intelligence in this tournament that we have not seen in an African team for a long time. I am not surprised at your progress here because I saw you at the CAN U-17 Championship in Morocco and I was highly impressed.

“I am particularly excited with your

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Chidebere Nwakali vies for the ball with Iraqi’s Mustafa Mohammed during the FIFA U-17 World Cup Group F match. Nigeria won 5-0 Photo: AFP performance against Nigeria’s three earlier own names in gold.

“Yes, Nigeria has won Uruguay, despite missing triumphs in the a number of injured competition and rather the competition three players. I believe you are focus on writing their times before, but that was done by other players. already in the final. The African football family is fully behind you,” Continued from BP Hayatou said.

The African football who were held to a 3-3 fending because if you supremo also charged draw by the Eaglets in have to beat Nigeria, the boys to forget the group phase of the you have to score goals. tournament.

“We have respect for Featuring in the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the each other but we are first time, the Scandina- not afraid of them beAlso speaking, Coach vians, whose Cinderel- cause when you are in Manu Garba said the la run here have amazed the semifinal, you are match will be played the world, go into good. The first game is with all the game as underdogs history. Nigeria have seriousness, noting that but Coach Larsson is lots of high quality play“ we can’t afford to go adamant that his side ers, who know how to back to Nigeria empty will match up with the score. They use the handed without the cup. attacking skills of their wings well. They are a These boys will win to- foes from West Africa. complete team for attackmorrow (today) and go “It is going to be anoth- ing and counter-attackon to win the Cup. It’s er interesting and high ing. the Cup or nothing for intensity game. We “We have nothing to us. The game will be were close to beating lose but we would not tight but the players are them the last time we lose because we know ready to score many met. It was the best what to do to get the goals against Sweden. game for me and the win. It is the little details “I repeat that it is the next one is going to be that will matter in this Cup or nothing for us. el clasico. We are pre- match because at this We have come a long pared and hope to win. stage, some of the boys way and can’t afford to “If you are going to are tired and are losing lose now. We will beat play a good match stream. It is going to be Sweden”, added Garba, against Nigeria, we tactical and psychologiwho conceded that Swe- have to be focused, cal. Sweden are always den are good in the air. ready to run, fight and the underdogs because “They have tall players, cover spaces. In the last we are a small footballwhich make them good game, we had more pos- playing country”, added with aerial balls but I session in the first half Coach Larsson, during have the antidote to cut but tomorrow (today) is the pre-match conferoff their crosses” not going to be about de- ence yesterday.

Eaglets Continued from BP held to a 3-3 thrilling draw at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, the Nigerians, who could only manage to score twice in Saturday ’s quarter final win against Uruguay, say goals will come aplenty against the Scandinavians.

“I am confident the team will score many goals against Sweden”, said midfielder Akinjide Idowu, ruled out of today’s game because of two yellow cards. “Even though I am not going to play, I am very confident that the other players will do well. Sweden are good but we want this win more and are ready to go the extra mile to achieve our target”,added Idowu at the pre-match conference.

Sweden

HE likelihood of top Eaglets striker Success Isaac featuring in today ’s FIFA U-17 World Cup semi final match against Sweden remains top secret.

Isaac, last played against Sweden in a Group F second match at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on October 22, where he cropped an injury and has subsequently been in the doctor’s room for treatment.

He scored in the match and his return will be a massive boost to the Nigerians, bidding for a record fourth World Cup

trophy.

His replacement, Taiwo Awoniyi has been in sizzling form, scoring a brace in the 2-0 quarterfinal defeat of Uruguay and when asked about the possibility of Isaac returning today, Coach Manu Garba was coy in his response.

“If I tell you that Isaac will play in the semifinal, the Swedes will start panting because they know the quality that he brings to our team. I rather leave them guessing on whether Isaac will play or not”, said Garba.

Saletros predicts tough match

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WEDISH midfielder Anton Saletros expects a tough match against the Golden Eaglets, who they confront in today’s FIFA U-17 World Cup semifinal match at Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

Speaking at the prematch conference, Saletros, who described the Eaglets as the best attacking team here, said that the Swedes have devised a strategy to restrict the Nigerians to their own half of the field. While admitting that the Scandinavians go into the match as the

underdogs, Saletros said that they would jump at the opportunity of reaching the final to cap a remarkable year for junior football in their country.

“We are a small football country. We are happy to make it to this level of the competition in our first appearance. It is fantastic and it is going to get better if we beat Nigeria, who are a very good team, with good offensive but we also have good defence, which will make the match a very interesting one. It is going to be a high-octane game.

Brazil coach Continued from BP The Brazilians were knocked out of the competition by Mexico in the quarter finals via penalty shoot out, and the Brazilian already ‘crowned’ the Eaglets as the next champions with his comments.

Nigeria will face Sweden in the semi final game on Tuesday, still favourites to maintain

their unbeaten run.

And their impressive displays of footballing prowess has drawn praise from Gallo.

“A strong side who play a similar game to the Brazilians. Their style is what we call football,” Gallo enthused about Nigeria in an interview with FIFA.com Nigeria and Brazil are both tied on three titles each at this level.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013

We ‘re not afraid of We’ll swoop on Eaglets — Sweden Sweden — Eaglets C OACH Roland Larsson insists that his Swedish side are

Kick-off: 5 p.m.

Argentina vs Mexico 2 p.m.

Continues on Page 55

Brazil coach bows to Eaglets

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OLDEN Eaglets have promised Nigerians a goals feast in today ’s FIFA U-17 World Cup semifinal match with Sweden at Rashid Stadium, Dubai.

Eaglets have scored 20 goals in five matches, the most by any team in the tournament holding in the United Arab Emirates and as they gear up for another match with the Swedes, who they Continues on Page 55

Nigeria Vs Uruguay

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PREDATOR — Kelechi Iheanacho out-runs two Swedish defenders in their 3-3 draw. They meet again today by 5 p.m.

HE coach of the Brazil U17 team to the FIFA World Cup in Dubai, Alexandre Gallo, has revealed that he holds the Nigeria team in awe.

Continues on Page 55

Hayatou visits Eaglets, praises team’s resilience QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

not afraid of the Golden Eaglets, who they confront in today’s crunch FIFA U-17 World Cup semifinal match at the Rashid Stadium, Dubai.

The Nigerians have notched up a mind-boggling 20 goals in their campaign here and are itching to score more against a Swedish side,

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Lariat (5) 5 Help (6) 8 Command (5) 10 Writer (6) 11 Splinter (4) 14 Consecrate (6) 15 Nevertheless (7) 18 Rabbit (3) 19 Weight (3) 21 Attack (4) 23 Revolt (5) 24 Scheme (4) 27 Cur (3) 29 Rotter (3) 31 Highest (7) 32 Lover (6) 34 Eat (4) 35 Escaped (6) 38 Viper (5) 39 Myth (6) 40 Kind (5)

DOWN 2 Curve (3) 3 Dirty (6) 4Sphere (3) 5. Cunning (4) 6 Seaman (6) 7 Melted (6) 9 Erased (7) 12 Owned (3) 13 Excused (4) 16 Gemstone (4) 17 Automaton (5) 20 Denied (7) 22 Bird (4) 24 Hand-gun (6) 25 Tart (4) 26 Indigenous (6) 28 Tempt(6) 30 Fellow (3) 33 Peruse (4) 36 Limb (3) 37 Stray (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Scaled 5, Ship 8, Angle 9, Oaf 10, Ball 11, East 12, Limit 13, Exuded 16, Mere 18, ;Harm 20, End 22, Fan 23, Try 24, Late 25, Ewer 28, Design 30, Gouda 32, Alas 33, Iris 34, Ire 35, Leant 36, Died 37, Invent.

DOWN: 1, Stolen 2, Affluent 3, Emblem 4, Enlivened 5, Sleight 6, Heat 7, Pity 8, All 14, Defending 15, Pry 17, Raw 19, Artifice 20, Eat 21, Deposed 26, Reason 27, Inject 29, Hand 30, Gale 31, Art.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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