Trouble in PDP as govs tackle Tukur by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 61790

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N150

MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Fashola writes FG over worsening condition 9 of the road •Pgs.43&4

ONE YEAR AFTER FUEL SUBSIDY PROTESTS:

Who is occupying Nigeria now?

Trouble in PDP as govs tackle Tukur •Accuse Tukur of dictatorship; Plan to dissolve party's NWC •Party's national officers panic

•P 8

OSHODI-APAPA EXPRESSWAY:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & HENRY UMORU

AGOS—TROUBLE is looming in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as governors on the party's ticketare rallying for a showdown with the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur over his alleged unsavoury attitude towards them. The hard stance of the governors, it was learnt, had last night sent some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party into a panic mode, following

Continues on page 5

LCCI lambasts FG's N60bn phones-forfarmers policy •P. 17

DELE SOBOWALE •P.38

LES LEBA

•P.40

Mr & Mrs

CELEBRATION—From Left: Emeritus Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Kelvin Aje; President Goodluck Jonathan; Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; mother of the President, Mrs Eunice Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark and other bishops at the 30th Episcopal Ordination Anniversary and Celebration of the Elevation of John Onaiyekan as Cardinal, at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Romney, Buhari and Tinubu: Courting defeat by the politics of •P.52 exclusion C M Y K

PIB: FG to set up asset management coy for NNPC— P.7

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

FATAL—About 15 people were feared dead, yesterday, in an accident involving a fuel tanker and a commercial bus at Odo Oba in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Trouble in PDP as govs tackle Tukur Continues from page 1 agitation by the governors for the dissolution of the body. “There is trouble,” one senior party official said yesterday evening in between trouble-shooting meetings, one of several held in the federal

capital yesterday. The governors, Vanguard learnt, yesterday were mobilizing to convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party which is expected to reverse some of the actions of the NWC, particularly as it affects Adamawa State.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Don’t envy the signs of happiness in any man, because you do not know the secret grief he is experiencing; an average man has a grief unknown to most. Happiness is the capacity to carry life experiences well!

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

T isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it —Dale Carnegie Anthony De Mello wrote that happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the follies of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don’t have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don’t you experience it? Because you’ve got to drop something. You’ve got to drop illusions. You don’t have to add anything in order to be happy; Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels- Abraham Lincoln sums it aptly: “People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Yesterday, Governor Sule Lamido who heads the committee instituted by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the Adamawa crisis, met with some members of the committee including Governor Theodore Orji during where issues affecting Adamawa were reviewed.

Govs to use NEC against NWC The governors who nominated most of the members of the NEC are now poised to use the body to reverse the actions of the NWC concerning Adamawa. Besides, the governors are also threatening to mobilize the NEC to convene a special convention of the party for the singular purpose of dissolving the NWC. It was as such not surprising that the hitherto unanimous support Tukur was getting from NWC in his battle with Governor Murtala Nyako has dwindled as the NWC members moved to save their necks. A number of the NWC members, yesterday, had sent emissaries to the seething governors on their readiness to soft pedal. The grouse of the governors flowed from the dissolution of the Adamawa State executive of the party on the

instruction of the NWC led by the national chairman, Tukur. Tukur is from Adamawa State and until his election, he did not have much say in the affairs of the party in his state as the whole party structure was controlled by Governor Nyako. However, following his election last March, Tukur moved to strengthen his hands in the state with the dissolution of the state executive of the party. The NWC said the reason for the move was that the state chairman, Alhaji Umaru Mijinyawa Kugama had overstayed his tenure and was from the same senatorial district as Governor Nyako. The dissolution of the state executive was, however, opposed by the governors who alleged, among others, that it would inspire anarchy and lead to a situation where NWC members at the least provocation would dissolve state executives of the party. The state executives of the party are in almost all cases loyal to the governors and the decision against the Adamawa State chapter was seen as something that, if not checked, could in future affect all of them. Yesterday, the same fear was expressed at the meeting of the governors in Abuja.

The governors at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan, had agreed to the establishment of the Lamido committee as a soft landing for Tukur. The expectation, it was learnt, was that Tukur would use the report of the Lamido committee as the basis for reversing the dissolution of the Adamawa executive. However, to the chagrin of the governors, Tukur using the NWC forged ahead with the fresh congresses in Adamawa State last month with the aim of putting the state executive out of the control of Governor Murtala Nyako. Besides sacking the Adamawa executive, Tukur is being accused of dictatorship following the suspension from of-

fice of the National ViceChairman, North-East, Alhaji Girigiri Lawal by the NWC on the allegation of not collaborating with the National Chairman’s agenda to weaken Nyako in Adamawa. Tukur is also being accused of hobnobbing with the party ’s local enemies in Adamawa State for the purpose of humbling Governor Nyako. It is claimed that supporters of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC candidate in the last Adamawa State gubernatorial election, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.) had been integrated into the structure of the PDP faction sympathetic to Tukur in Adamawa State drawing concerns from Nyako's loyalists.

Reps move to curb CBN’s supervisory role

BY PETER EGWUATU

AGOS—IN appar ent move to abridge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s autonomy, House of Representatives plan to hand down bank supervision function to the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, (CIBN). This move was disclosed by the Chairman House Committee on Banking and Currency, Mr. Jones Onyereri who said this would be an integral focus of the House in 2013 to ensure that it separates bank supervision function away from CBN. Meanwhile, there is a bill before the House, which seeks to amend the CBN Act 2007 by

transferring the power of the board of the apex bank to approve its budget to the National Assembly. The bill also proposes to cut the membership of the board from 12 to seven and to appoint another person, other than the CBN governor, as the chairman of the board. According to Onyereri, “The core function of the CBN is really on the monetary policy matter; in Nigeria, CBN also uses its core mandate of bank supervision, now we need to hear from CIBN, we are looking at the institute critically. “With the kind of challenges we have, it has come to the time that we should separate that function away from CBN."

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

BY SONI DANIEL & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN — FORMER Director General of the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies, CDS, Prof. Omo Omoruyi, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to own up that he authorised his campaign posters for 2015 if he was sure that he had evidence of good performance in office so far instead of keeping Nigerians in suspense. In an interview with Vanguard in Benin, Edo State, Omoruyi said it was not too early for Jonathan to start 2015 re-election campaign because campaign starts with the end of an election. President Jonathan campaign posters flooded Abuja last week. His aides distanced the president from the posters, reiterating Jonathan’s comments that he THANKSGIVING: From right: Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Pastor Enoch Adeboye, would tell Nigerians whether or General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG; Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye; Mrs. Adejoke Orelope not he would contest the election Adefulure, Deputy Governor of Lagos state and Justice Ayoola Phillips, Chief Judge of Lagos State during the Lagos State in 2014, adding that for now he Government Annual Thanksgiving Service, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez. was concentrating on governance. The political scientist, who just returned from a medical trip abroad, faulted those who are asking President Jonathan not to re-contest. He also picked holes in the opposition of the North to the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB,, saying if the North had oil they the region of crime and public would have seceded from Nigeria. order, which should be handled Omoruyi spoke as the by security agencies and not Independent National Electoral INEC. According to Idowu, the Commission, INEC, gave reasons it could not act on the because in some of these things, from Kano to Tripoli in Libya. He posters of President Jonathan on commission does not deal with controversial campaign posters. you must stand to be counted. He said he wanted quick exploration the New Year, the Independent unknown elements but with must say, I have achieved this of oil. Why were that going on National Electoral Commission, registered political parties in the thing, I have stabilised this country, and why were these three issues INEC, yesterday, advanced discharge of its duties as It's not too early for I have given Nigeria a leadership, so important? It is because they reasons it could not act on the enshrined in the law. Jonathan to begin The chairman’s spokesman said and you must make a choice. did not believe that Nigeria will posters. campaign Chairman of the Commission, since neither the People “We are gradually going to the last. If Nigeria breaks up, they will Prof Attahiru Jega, said there was Democratic Party nor the His words: “Why will he not nomination year now and if he not have to go through the ports nothing the commission could President had owned up to the cannot put an end to those seeking of Lagos or Port-Harcourt.’’ contest? Look, constitutionally, is do about posters displayed posters, there was nothing it could to replace him within the PDP in he not qualified to contest? If yes, the third year, he should forget it. Why we can’t act on randomly by unknown persons do. then, his performance will be Idowu said: “If an identifiable in the Federal Capital Territory. If he cannot make those seeking Jonathan’s posters judged by the people and not him. party or persons acting for a party The Chief Press Secretary to the to replace him from outside the — INEC When people said, ah, there are INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode campaign outside the purview of posters here and there, it is even PDP in the third year, he should Idowu, told Vanguard that the the law, then it becomes a matter forget it.” As controversy continues to trail action of the masterminds of the of interest to INEC. The present too late. Why is it too early? the emergence of the campaign controversial posters fell within scenario does not add up.” Haven’t you seen what is going on in the United States of America If North had oil, they today? The man (Barack Obama) would have seceded will be sworn in on January 20, long ago 2013 and the Republicans are On the attempt by the Northern already looking for an alternative BY HENRY UMORU Jibrin’s statement read: "I want the Board of Trustees shall elect to him; within the Democratic Governors and federal lawmakers to confirm that the preparation Chairman and Secretary from to kill the PIB following allegation Party they are looking for BUJA — AHEAD of for the process that will led to its members and that when somebody who would replace him that its provisions were anti-North, tomorrow’s election for a the emergence of the PDP BoT elected, they will serve a period “So, it is not too early because Omoruyi said: “Who owns oil now Chairman, Board of Trustees, chairman is in full gear. I will of five years and no more. has become an issue. It is for all of election starts once election is "That is to say that the position BoT, of the ruling Peoples present the full list of us. It is for everybody. That is only conducted. Period! You do not of the Secretary was declared contestants to the board to wait. I have said it that in first the beginning of the crisis we have Democratic Party, PDP, the vacant after the resignation of enable them decide accordingly. party said, yesterday, that no year, you are busy trying to plant in this country, otherwise, I can I want to assure that up till today Governor Abdullahi Adamu and aspirant for the position had assure you of one thing... If oil was something; second year it must nobody has been picked and no that vacancy was duly filled by germinate, third year is a found in the North many years been endorsed by anybody or authentic and legitimate screening has taken place. nomination year and this is ago, the North would have picked from any quarter. "Meanwhile, I will like to election held. In a statement, BoT nomination year. So, what is so seceded long ago. "The insinuation, therefore, confirm to you that insinuations Secretary, Senator Walid "That is why this craze for early in it? exploration. There is still that fear Jibrin, also warned aspirants created in some quarters that I that I was completing a tenure shall step down wes blatant lies for Abdullahi Adamu is Jonathan should own up that the country would break up. against what it termed and used by a contestant to dangerous and reckless and a campaign of calumny in You see, one document I put to the posters together for General Ibrahim desperate moves to become the garner cheap popularity in a sign of lack of full knowledge chairman of the board, saying desperate bid to become the BoT of how the party and BoT “The man (Jonathan) should Babangida contained two final operate. that the contest was not a do- chairman by all means. own up and say, look, I am points. One, he wanted former "May I cease this opportunity "I was duly elected in or-die affair seeking a second term or President Yar'Adua to pursue the The fight for the BoT conformity with the provision to advise contestants not to dredging of the River Niger up to whatever term it is. So any group chairmanship started under BoT in the party make the campaign a do-or-die that is rooting for him is in order. Baro and Baro is Babangida’s following the resignation of Constitution, Part Nine, Section affair and never to apply the He has never owned up to that. locality. It is his home. "The second is that he also Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on 32, Subsection 1, under A, B, Based on what I have said, I do Continues on Page 7 C, which specifically says that wanted the building of a highway April 3, last year. not know what he has done

2015: It's not too early for Jonathan to begin campaign —Omoruyi

zSays if North had oil, they would have seceded zWhy we can’t act on Jonathan’s posters —INEC

BoT: No aspirant has been endorsed —PDP

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013—7

PIB: FG to set up asset mgt coy for NNPC zAs corporation introduces cost reduction measures BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

AGOS — RATHER than the outright privatisation of some units under the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Federal Government has decided to set up an asset management company, as a holding company, for some of the corporation’s subsidiaries. The holding company will include all the assets of the corporation, excluding the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS; and the Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, 30 per cent of which will be given up for private equity to investors. NAPIMS and NGC will then become separate entities to make up the three National Oil Companies, NOCs, instead of one, as being proposed in the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, currently undergoing scrutiny at the National Assembly. The development comes even as the Exploration and Production Directorate of the NNPC has put

in place measures to address the high cost of operations in the nation’s petroleum industry, one of the bones of contention with the International oil companies, IOCs, in the fiscal regime proposed in the PIB. Clarifying further on the development, Executive Director, E & P, NNPC, Mr. Abiye Membere, told journalists in Lagos, weekend, that the new PIB was not the monster bill, being described by the IOCs.

Rationale for decision He explained that rather, the bill merely seeks to enhance the Federal Government’s take from petroleum resources in a very competitive and unambiguous manner, in line with global trends. Other objectives of the PIB include: To enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources; to significantly increase DomGas supplies especially for power and industry; create competitive business environment; to establish fiscal framework that is flexible, stable

and competitively attractive; to create commercially viable national oil company'; to create efficient regulatory institutions; to engender transparency and accountability; to promote Nigerian content development; to promote and protect Health Safety and Environment He disclosed that the government had to toe this line after considering all the issues involved in the privatisation of the NNPC assets, particularly the refineries, which he said were being priced as peanuts because of their current states. He noted that with the Joint Venture, JV, assets as well as those of the National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, the value of the refineries would be shored up, once the 30 per cent equity is privatised. He said the move was meant to “preserve the very profitable JV arrangement that contributes over 82 per cent of the total revenue from petroleum, ring fence so there is no divestment of the National Asset Company in addition to providing opportunities for IJV with the JV

From left: Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State during the wedding fatiha of the daughter of the Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, at the National Mosque, Abuja, weekend.

partners. Contrary to criticisms, he argued that the fiscal policy framework was “derived from a strategic national interest and incentives for attracting sustainable investment in the region." Expatiating further, he said the holding company would require a seed loan for two years to prepare it for self funding, adding that this will also provide private participation as it is in similar other NOCs like Petrobras of Brazil, Petronas of Malaysia and a host of others; promote cultural change to a fully accountable and commercial company; and provide adequate funding for the NOC. He said all these were part of the presentations made by the National Working and Group Executive Committees of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, with a view to understanding the draft PIB better.

Cost reduction measures With regard to the cost reduction measures, membere said there was an industry wide standardisation of processes and evaluation mechanism for estimation of drilling and drilling services costs, using a common template across all the IOCs. Part of the standardisation include personnel and common costs, while also benchmarking major projects costs in line with international best practices. Furthermore, he said the NNPC also intended to rank projects and select proposals in accordance with well established project selection, particularly on life cycle costs, and unit technical cost. Other cost reduction measures include develop synergy among operators by pooling common services and resources to avoid duplication of costs; address security challenges in alliance with security agencies, and reducing management costs induced by lengthy contracting cycles.

Sokoto is poorest state — NBS BY UDUMA KALU

BUJA — SOKOTO State has retained its position as the poorest state in the country, with 81.2 per cent poverty rate, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has said. In a report released on its website, the NBS stated that Sokoto remained the poorest state in the country, followed by Katsina just as Adamawa and Gombe States shared the same poverty rate of 74.2 per cent. According to the information, other states with high poverty rate include Jigawa and Plateau states with 74.1 per cent each; Ebonyi, 73.6 per cent;

Bauchi, 73 per cent; Kebbi, 72 per cent and Zamfara, 70.8 per cent. Niger, with 33.8 per cent has the lowest poverty rate in the country followed by Osun with 37.9 per cent and Ondo, 45.7 per cent. Others with less than 50 per cent poverty rate include Bayelsa State, 47 per cent and Lagos State, 48.6 per cent. However, the north still maintained the lead in the average poverty rate of states in the country with North-West geopolitical zone clinching the top spot at 71.4 per cent followed by North-East 69.1 per cent and North Central, 60.7 per cent.

The six states in the SouthWest recorded an average poverty rate of 49.8 per cent, followed by South-South, 55.5 per cent and South-East, 59.5 per cent. According to NBS, national unemployment rate in the country stood at 23.9 per cent at the beginning of last year. Apart from Bayelsa, Lagos State is also said to have recorded about 48.6 per cent poverty rate in 2012. There were no figures for 2011 but the 2012 statistics represented an improvement in the figures released by the bureau for 2010. The Statistician-General of the

NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale, had said while releasing the 2010 profile that 112.519 million Nigerians, representing 69 per cent, lived in relative poverty conditions. According to the NBS boss, the agency arrived at the 2010 figure, by collecting data from 20 million households having an average of four family members. In 2004, Jigawa State had the highest poverty rate of 95 per cent, while Anambra, had the lowest,22 per cent. For unemployment rate, Zamfara State had the highest rate of 42.6 per cent, followed by Bauchi, 41.4 per cent.

Robbers kill seven in Zamfara zInjure another seven

ANO — SUSPECTED armed robbers terrorizing North-West zone of the country raided three villages, killing at least seven people and wounding seven more in Zamfara State. Zamfara State I n f o r m a t i o n Commissioner, Ibrahim Birnin Magaji, said, yesterday, that the attacks focussed on the villages of Akuzo, Makera and Usu in the rural region adding that the gunmen attacked the villages, Saturday morning, as people left the mosque following morning prayers. The assault appeared to be the work of a violent gang blamed for several mass casualty attacks in the region in recent months as they raid rural villages in Zamfara and neighbouring Kaduna State. In June, gunmen killed at least 27 people in Zamfara State in attacks on villages preparing for a local market day. Another 20 were killed in an October attack.

BoT: No aspirant has been endorsed —PDP Continues from page 6 campaign of calumny in a desperate desire to become the BoT chairman. "We must accept that the BoT is a concern of the party that need a man of high integrity, honour and respect. He must be a man without any blemished record of any kind. He must garner respect of all Nigerians. The constitution of the party further clarifies that membership of BoT shall reflect the federal character of Nigeria. Every zone must be adequately represented especially in the case of chairman and secretary. "Finally, I want to make it abundantly clear that I will never step down or resign my position of secretary because I was duly and unanimously elected by 98 members of the BoT and I have since been endorsed by my North Central Zonal Committee including all the governors and legislators in the zone.”

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

*Occupy Nigeria: Protesters at Ojota during the January 2012 fuel subsidy strike

ONE YEAR AFTER FUEL SUBSIDY PROTESTS:

Who is occupying Nigeria now? •Subsidy fraudsters —Ambakaderimo, SSEPU BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

T was a year ago that the cracks in the country were temporarily put aside in a united protest against the government. For once, Christians and Muslims across tribal lines stood as one against the administration's 2012 New Year increase in the price of petrol. Unarguably, one of its most infamous actions, the Goodluck Jonathan administration had on New Year day, 2012 announced the increase in petrol prices from N65 per litre to N141 per litre. The increase, the administration claimed, was in line with the deregulation

policy that had for long been mouthed by several administrations since the Ibrahim Babangida regime in the 80's. It was an irony. Many iron fisted regimes before it, including the Sani Abacha junta, had shied away from implementing full deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector.

Universal disapproval The Jonathan administration maybe out of sheer lack of political or management counsel, or maybe as an act of bravado, decided to tread where many angels had in the

past dreaded. The result was met with near universal disapproval. It was especially painful for many Nigerians who had travelled prior to the Christmas holidays as they found themselves trapped where they travelled for holidays as a result of the more than 100percent increase in transport fares. It was one notable action that many Nigerians saw as an act of bad faith from an administration that they had in the past supported. Remarkably, one of the first groups to mobilise Nigerians against the increase was the Pastor Tunde Bakare led Save Nigeria Group, SNG. Remarkably, the same group

had just a year or so earlier championed the enthronement of Dr. Jonathan as Acting President in the face of the intrigues played by the Aso Rock cabal in the dying days of the Umaru Yar ‘Adua administration.

•Corruption continues unabated —Odumakin

Remarkably, the same protest was also at the same time replicated in some major towns across the country, notably in Kano, Abuja and Illorin. In Lagos, participants at the gatherings cut across social and economic classes who joined hands to denounce the increase. Celebrities were not left out. Among those who thronged the Lagos gatherings were Banky W, Funmi Iyanda, Seun Kuti, Raskimono, 9ice Dede Mabiaku among several others. Madam Ganiyatu Fawehinmi, widow of the late Fawehinmi carrying on with the social crusades of her late husband told the gathering at Ojota. The prices of everything will increase - transport,

The regret is that because the struggle was not taken to the logical conclusion the corrupt elite still retain power and they have been able to shield all the subsidy thieves and as you can see today most of them are still walking free

A day after the increase, Nigerians inspired by the SNG started gathering at the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota to denounce the increase. Their action was partly motivated by the gatherings in Tahir Square, Cairo, Egypt that led to the fall of the Hosni Mubarak regime.

housing, school fees, food, etc. The common man will not be able to survive. Leading Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Vice-President, Comrade Issa Aremu, in seeming echo of the frustration of many former supporters of the

Continued on page 9

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2012â&#x20AC;&#x201D;9

Who is occupying Nigeria now? Continues from page 8 president said: "Jonathan has shown that he cannot be trusted. He said he was engaging in dialogue and all of a sudden, he increased the price!" With civil society groups leading the charge, Nigerians anxiously waited for organised labour to take the lead and by January 5, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC gave a joint demand that the increase be reversed. The nation was heading towards the precipice. The two arms of the National Assembly were also in revolt.

Rescinding the increase The House of Representatives in an unprecedented action sat on Sunday, January 8, and passed a motion urging the executive to rescind the increase and at the same time urged Organised Labour to sheath its sword. The Presidency defied the House resolution and also the ultimatum from labour. Given the political tide that swept away regimes in North Africa just before that time, it was not surprising that friends and foes of the administration in Nigeria took interest in the protest that came to be termed as Occupy Nigeria. The centre of the protest in Lagos was the Gani Fawehinmi Park in the Ojota area of the

â&#x20AC;˘Jonathan: Forced to reduce hike in fuel price

â&#x20AC;˘Odumakin: Corruption occupying Nigeria now

however, almost non existent in most of the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones. In the South-East the view of many opinion leaders was that petrol had for long been selling for the new price announced by government and so it was for them no big deal. Two weeks after the protests and with the country on a meltdown, the presidency after marathon negotiations with organised labour, announced a concession that saw the price

could not increase it again shows that the protest created a fear in the minds of government and they didn't know how the people would react it." That is a fact that Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, agrees with. According to him the protests would have taught President Jonathan the lesson of a social contract between him and Nigerians. "The protest more than any other event reminded President Jonathan that there is a social contract between the leader and the led and most importantly that this is democracy not dictatorship," Okechukwu said. He asserted further that the protest also caged the administration from initiating other anti-people programmes. He, however, regrets that the administration did not do more to win approval for itself through good works.

After the protest who is occupying Nigeria now, he was asked? "Corruption" , he replied

metropolis. In Kano protesters defied pleas by Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso not to join the protests as they converged on the Silver Square vowing not to leave the square until the increase was reversed. The demonstrators also repeatedly denounced top government personalities with the president as the major hate figure and they repeatedly demanded his resignation. As Muslims sat down to pray instead of going to the mosque, Christians formed a chain around them to protect them from the security forces in an action that put the protests beyond any religious colouration. Following the intervention of anti-riot policemen who invaded the square to uproot them, the protesters in Kano relocated to Sabuwar Kofa where they continued the demonstrations against the fuel price hike. Protests were,

reduced to N97 per litre. Labour agreed to call off the strike alas to the disappointment of many Nigerians who indeed wanted the strike to continue. Many who did not see the justification for the increase at all wanted the price restored to the original price of N65 or less. The arguments for increase were seriously punctured by revelations at that time of wastages, and the question about benchmarking local production with international production. Especially worrisome was the administration's inability to answer the question as to the cost of production for petrol made in Nigeria . Also riveting is the administration's failure to answer the question on how the subsidy on imported fuel skyrocketed to trillions. Though later day revelations have helped to reveal the fraud

inherent in the subsidy regime, a definitive explanation has yet to be given. So, a year after and after billions of naira of lost productivity and 16 lives lost through the Occupy Nigeria protests, the question as to the benefit remains unanswered. An administration sympathiser, Mr. Joe Ambakaderimo, national coordinator of the South-South Elements Progressive Union, SSEPU, who has in the past been defensive of the Jonathan administration, however, faulted the government's action, describing as regrettable that the subsidy fraudsters are yet to be put in jail. Asked if the Occupy Nigeria protests were successful, he said: "Yes, the protest brought out the endemic corruption in the oil sector which the government have not been able to tackle over the years and it is still yet to be tackled. Inspite of the mind boggling revelations unearthed by investigative and probe reports those indicted are walking tall on our streets. Many Nigerians can now appreciate the level of corruption that has taken root in this country even if govt has deliberately refused to prosecute the so called subsidy thieves."

Subsidy thieves Yinka Odumakin, one of the leaders of the SNG concurs, albeit partially. He said: 'I think the protests partially achieved its objectives in the sense that we know that the pact with labour to back down to N65 per litre was to move it back to N141 in April last year and that they

Arbitrary petroleum tax "Without the protest we could have witnessed other arbitrary petroleum tax increase or electricity tarrif increase from a government preoccupied with taxation without service, a government which erroneously hangs on a nebulous economic concept that government has no business in business. A patriotic government could have by now been constructing two or three refineries with the unprecedented oil revenue." Odumakin on his part

despite the regrets counts the gains of the protest to include the exposure of corruption in high places. "Don't forget that it was that protest that gave rise to the Farouk Lawan Committee which exposed the fleece in the oil industry and also the Ribadu Committee that was set up by the government."

Corrupt elite "But the regret is that because the struggle was not taken to the logical conclusion the corrupt elite still retain power and they have been able to shield all the subsidy thieves and as you can see today most of them are still walking free." "They continue to hold the country to ransom and what they cannot get from us at the pump price they are getting from government. Don't forget that few days to the end of last year that the presidency asked for N161 billion for subsidy. "So the fact that corruption continues unabated in the country is a result of the fact that the struggle was not taken to its logical conclusion. "But we believe that a template has been laid and that template would be useful for the fire next time. Asked when the next fire is coming, he said: I cannot be talking of date now, but I know that if the country continues the way it is that there is no way that Nigerians will not,we cannot continue this way and people will not say that enough is enough. After the protest who is occupying Nigeria now, he was asked? Corruption,he replied.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

MOSOP factions mark 20th Ogoni Day BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HAR COURT—THE leadership crisis rocking Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, played out, weekend, at the 20th Ogoni Day celebration as the two factional leaders of the movement issued separate statements to commemorate the day. President of one of the factions, Mr. Goodluck Diigbo, said the Ogoni were committed to what he termed the gradual implementation of self government declared by the Ogoni in August last year, advising Ogoni to remain focused and committed to the realisation of the declaration. On his part, Chairman, Provisional ruling council of MOSOP, Prof. Ben Naanem, called for creation of Bori State, appealing for the implementation of the United Nations Environment Project report, UNEP, for the area. “The creation of Bori State is crucial to the people. Ogoni should not be shoved into a situation where it will once again be forced to take its case to the international community.”

Delta leaders flay Uduaghan's critics

ELTA leaders have disagreed with some critics of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, saying the governor has continued to carry himself with grace and dignity without compromising his integrity. The leaders in a statement by the Director of Communications of People’s Movement, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, expressed their disappointment over the incessant attacks on the governor, warning against any action that could bring confusion and create tension among the people. The leaders bemoaned the pull him down syndrome by some elders against the governor, identifying the governor ’s open and honest style of governance and his refusal to pander to the whims and caprices of the elite as the sources of his problems with them.

Three feared dead as car plunges into river in Delta BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

ARRI—A Volkswagen Audi 80 saloon car, plunged into Agbarho River, on East-West Road in Delta State, weekend, killing three out of the five persons on board, believed to be workers of an oil servicing company in Enerhen, Warri, Delta State. One of the victims was said to be married with four children. Details of the incident were still sketchy at press time, but it was gathered that the accident could have been due to the foggy weather on Saturday morning. A source said the straightforward plunge of vehicles into the river in recent times was due to the alleged failure of the contractor handling that section of the East-West Road to provide a barrier after the initial iron barrier was broken down. The victims were said to be going to work when the accident occurred. Officials of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and military personnel were on hand to control traffic and salvage the remains of the car when Vanguard got to the scene.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the car plunged into the river at 5.30 a.m, and that only two out of the five occupants came out alive, while the three others were still missing, six hours after. Mr. Taiye Akinmola, who

claimed to be a brother to one of the victims, said: “My brother was a staff of Python Engineering Company at Enerhen. He left with four staff in his car. I was later called on the phone by one of the survivors that their car plunged into the river.

BRIEFING: From left: Delta State Head of Civil Service, Mr. Okey Ofili ; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bernard Okumagba and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Kenneth Okpara, at a press briefing on Delta State 2013 budget proposals, in Asaba.

Police demolish kidnappers’ hideout in Delta ...Delta Varsity SSANU official rescued BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—POLICE in Delta State, weekend, demolished a bungalow used as hideout by suspected kidnappers in Eboh-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state. The demolition, which came on the heels of Friday’s killings of three suspected kidnappers and arrest of three others, according to the state Police Public Relations

Officer, Mr. Famous Ajieh, was on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba. The raid on the hideout in the early hours of Friday, led by Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Chris Sorgbara, saw the rescue of the Treasurer of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Delta State University, Abraka, chapter, Mr. Martins Denedo, who was abducted on January 1. Ajieh said the police was

determined to smoke out all kidnappers in the state and bring them to book, adding that the police was still on the trail of other members of the gang. He warned kidnappers to vacate the state before they were caught, insisting that the police was determined to deal decisively with kidnappers in the state. One of Denedo’s family members who pleaded anonymity, commended Mr. Sorgbara and men of the division for the rescue of his brother.

Northern leaders’ position on PIB unfortunate — INC Scribe BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN—SECRETARYGENERAL of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Mr. Robinson Esite, has described the position of governors and National Assembly members of Northern extraction to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, did not see the light of the day over allegation that its provisions were anti-North, as very unfortunate. He insisted that should

“As I talk to you, my brother is missing with two others. The caller who is one of the workers said he swam out of the river with another worker, but my brother and two other workers were trapped in the vehicle.” Divers located the car and brought it ashore at 1:49 pm, but the three others were not in it.

they go ahead to kill the bill, their action would be counter-productive as it would not be in the best interest of the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians. Esite, who spoke to Vanguard, weekend, in Benin, Edo State, also said that the current 13 per cent derivation paid to oil producing states was unfair and should be increased to 25 per cent, noting that the economic dislocation of the people and environmental devastation

occasioned by oil exploitation and exploration was only felt by Niger Deltans. He said: “One aspect that the Northern governors and their members in the National Assembly must understand is that the crude oil is not the property of all Nigerians. It is the property of a people and communities where the crude oil is found. It is out of sheer magnanimity and love for neighbourliness, love for all Nigerians, that this property should be shared among Nigerians.”

Fresh crisis brews in Edo NMA ...splinter group emerges BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—FRESH crisis is brewing in Edo State chapter of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, following the emergence of a splinter group opposed to the leadership style of the Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro-led NMA in the state. The new group called the Guild of Medical Doctors, GMD, comprising doctors practising in Edo North and Central senatorial districts of the state, passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the association in the state, after they accused Ighodaro of alleged insensitivity to the peace initiative of elders of the profession with a view to bringing lasting peace to the association. But in his reaction, Ighodaro described the action of the group as unconstitutional, adding that the allegations against his leadership were unfounded and laughable. He alleged that members of the group took the association to court, an action which he said was punishable “and because they don’t want to face the consequences of their action, they decided to commit more illegality.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 —11

Kidnap saga: Omo-Irabor gets N3m bail BY EMMAARUBI

ARRI—A WARRI Magistrate Court in Delta State, weekend, granted a Warri-based lawyer, Mr. Casely OmoIrabor, bail in the sum of N3 million, following his arraignment for alleged involvement in attempting to bribe police authorities to secure the release of an alleged kidnap kingpin in the state, Mr. Vincent Akpokona. Also granted bail on same condition is the wife of Vincent Akpokona, Mrs. Patience Akpokona, who is standing trial alongside Omo-Irabor for attempting to assist in the release of her husband. Trial magistrate is Mr A. Odjugho. The two accused persons were docked on a three-count charge of conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice; induced the police to release the kidnap suspect by corruptly giving the sum of N700,000 to one Inspector Samuel and

attempting to assist “one Vincent Akpokona, a kidnap suspect, who is to your knowledge guilty of the offence, to escape punishment.” Before the commencement of proceedings, Magistrate Odjugho told the court that the case had assumed a larger than life dimension because of the

threats to his life, adding that at the last sitting, he was accosted by four men at the court premises close to “A” Division Police Station to name his price and hands off the case. He said he had to shout aloud to attract the attention of the policemen, who came to his rescue and succeeded in arresting two

ANNIVERSARY: From left: HRM Igwe E. Umeonnonankhume, Obi Alabor I of Amesi; Mr. Simon-Jude Onwuka,President Amesi Improvement Union, Lagos; HRH Igwe Goddy Obiora Idegwu II of Achina, and Madam Christiana Mbakogu, at the Amesi Improvement Union’s 50th anniversary.

Why Bayelsa PDP withheld result of Dec 15 LG primaries BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

E N A G O A — FRESH facts, yesterday, emerged on why the Bayelsa State leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had failed to announce the result of the December 15, primaries conducted to elect flag bearers of the party for the March local government polls in the state. While most members of the state Central Work-

ing Committee of the party declined comment on the alleged shoddy conduct of the party primaries in eight councils and the crisis rocking the names listed as party flagbearers, some members of the party are blaming what they described as the undue interference of the governor in the process for the delay in the release of the list of candidates. Though it was learnt that the crisis over the list of candidates for the elections was put on

hold due to the unfortunate demise of the former National Security Adviser, late General Owoye Azazi, the nonavailability of the list and the alleged illegal substitution of names had delayed take-off campaigns of some candidates. A senior party source, who spoke anonymously, however, assured that the list of candidates was intact and dismissed claims of alleged interference by the governor for the delay in the release of the list.

Friends celebrate Obioma Imoke @ 50

RIENDS of Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, wife of Governor of Cross River State, have organised a birthday party in Calabar, to commemorate her golden jubilee. Born January 3, 1963, Mrs. Imoke, who is currently in the United States of America with the husband, was honoured in a colourful birthday bash that was well attended by friends and well-wishers in recognition of her laudable contributions to the development of the state.

of the men while two escaped. After the charges were read to the accused persons and plea taken, the court ordered that the accused persons be granted bail on N1 million each with two sureties in like sum, after their counsel argued their bail applications.

Speaking on behalf of the friends, Mr. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, disclosed that the group decided to honour Obioma, though in absentia, because she is a virtuous woman, a compendium of every good thing whose life has impacted positively on Cross Riverians in many ways through her various pet projects. He pointed out that in the last five years as the wife of the governor, Obioma had dedicated her life in joining her husband to take governance to those who needed it

most, as can be attested to by some of her lofty initiatives under the auspices of Partnership Opportunity for Women Economic Realization, POWER, to improve and protect lives of vulnerable women and children.

Mrs. Obioma Imoke

Why LGAs are unproductive —Oroh BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—FORMER member of House of Representatives, Mr. Abdul Oroh, weekend, attributed the seeming decay in the local government system across the country to the failure of people at the grassroots to elect credible people at the helm of affairs. Oroh, at the 3rd Onaivi Mozai Memorial Lecture, in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, urged people of the grassroots to insist on voting the right people and reject the practice of imposition and selection of candidates by political parties. Speaking on Good Governance: Is Nigeria on the right track?” Oroh said there was need for accountability by political office holders and this, he added, must be demanded by the governed.

12—Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Obi assures on devt

APGA to probe Okorocha, Anyanwu face-off

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WKA—GOV E R NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday assured churches in the state that the tempo of infrastructural development would be sustained. Among the churches he visited were St Edward’s Catholic C h u r c h , Amawbia, which was dedicated by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, the Anglican Cathedral of St, Michael, UmukwuAnam and Cathedral Church of St. James, Atani . He called on the churches to be ready to work with him this year as they had always done, adding that his government had planned to execute many projects that cut across all sectors of the economy. He commended the churches for what he called their wonderful collaboration in the area of education.

WERRI—THE All Pro gressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Imo State has set up a committee to probe the recent clash between Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Chris Anyanwu. This came as angry reactions have continued to trail the recent clash between the governor and senator, which resulted in the bloody brutalization of the senator’s driver, Mr. Odirichukwu Ukah. APGA chairman in the state, Mr. Marshal OkoroaforAnyanwu, who confirmed the setting up of the probe committee, however, noted that Senator Anyanwu had a history of disrespecting constituted authorities. “The senator has a history of disrespecting her elders and constituted authority,” Ukah alleged. The Imo APGA boss, however, commended Okorocha for “exhibiting maturity and utmost humility in handling the situation that could have led to loss of lives.” When reminded that he had already taken a position ahead of the expected report of the com-

mittee, the APGA boss insisted that the panelists would still do their job. At the time of going to press, the composition of the panel and their terms of reference remained a guarded secret but careful political watchers in the state believe that the setting up of the committee was to fulfill

AGOS—LAGOS State government has reaffirmed its resolve to attract foreign investment into the state, with its business-friendly policies, infrastructure and tourist attractions. This is coming on the heels of the just concluded Lagos Countdown Carnival, which climaxed on New Year’s eve, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, who spoke for the government, said this during the Lagos Countdown, a cross-over event, driven by Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA. Ibirogba explained that the government was leveraging the proposition of Lagos as a premium destination for business and leisure with tourism platforms such as the countdown. He said: “The Lagos Countdown was conceived to place Lagos on the same scale with cities such as Sydney, London, New York and Los Angeles, which have been known world-wide to celebrate the entry of each year with colourful festivities, while at-

tracting thousands of tourists and businesses with each edition.” He noted that the event was used to boost microeconomy activities in the state, rehabilitate and employ majority of high-risk youth and individuals, popularly called Area Boys, who usually cause nuisance to their communities during the festive seasons. According to him, an es-

timated 615 individuals were employed during the course of the event, as majority of these previously unemployed individuals also benefited from the training programmes that were organized to assist them discharge their functions. Ibirogba said a total of 108 shops were erected, while licensed vendors received stalls, tables and chairs free of charge.

Army pledges to sustain security in Abia BY ANAYO OKOLI

M UA H I A — T H E Nigerian Army has pledged to be more committed towards sustaining the prevailing peace in Abia State. The commander of 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Brigadier General Jubril Abubakar, made the pledge at the maiden edition of Brigade’s West African Social Activities [WASA] held at the parade ground of Ohafia Baracks last weekend. According to Abubakar, the soldiers deployed to all the parts of the state have been working very hard to ensure that kidnapping and other crimes are elimi-

the senator ’s convoy was blocked by the governor’s team who pulled out Ukah and beat up mercilessly. He showed Archbishop Obinna a picture of Ukah’s battered and bleeding head, even as he denied that Senator Anyanwu hit the governor’s security detail as claimed.

WEDDING: From left: Prince Athur Eze, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, during the traditional wedding of Gov. Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha, at Ogboko, Imo State.

Lagos boosts investment with countdown festival BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

all righteousness. Meanwhile, while a group known as Friends of Senator Chris Anyanwu, FOSCA, were at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, to appeal to Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna to call Governor Okorocha to order. Speaking on behalf of FOSCA, Chief Obinna Ibe narrated how

nated. This, he explained, had encouraged investors to come to the state to do business without fear of insecurity of their lives. The Brigade Commander commended Abia State government for the logistic support the army was receiving and promised that the army would continue to partner the state government as well as patriotic citizens to sustain the security of lives and property of the people. Abubakar explained that WASA provided the military the opportunity to interact with their families and friends to mark the end of the year.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 —13

Obi’s N2m Christmas palliative divides community A

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—TENSION is mounting in the once peaceful Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, following alleged hijack of the N2 million donated by Governor Peter Obi to the town to enable presidentsgeneral of the 178 communities in the state provide security and grade roads during the last Christmas season. While presidents-general of other communities received their cheques from the governor before the Christmas and utilised the money as directed, the cheque for Ekwulobia was allegedly missing such that the president-general of Ekwulobia Development Union, Mr. Emeka Maduabuchi, who was present to collect the cheque, went home empty handed. As a result, no community work was done in the area during the festive period, which has made the people to complain bitterly and threaten to get to the root of the matter. In an open letter to Governor

Obi weekend, the town’s president-general, Maduabuchi, and secretary, Mr. Vincent Okonkwo, accused the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Emmanuel

Onyeneke, and transition committee chairman of Aguata council area, Chief Titus Anigbogu, of allegedly conniving with the special adviser to Governor Obi on

Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Chief Godfrey Muotolu, of hijacking the money, thereby undermining the good intentions of government.

From left: Chief Christopher Ezeh, Chairman, Fidelity Bank, Rear Admiral Toye Sode (rtd), immediate past Chairman of the Club and Mr. & Mrs. Richard Giwa- Osagie, Chairman, Ikoyi Club, during the Elders’ Day Party of Ikoyi Club 1938, in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Why Anambra has not conducted LG poll —SSG

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

W K A — S E C R E TARY to Anambra State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has said the court case against the state government on the conduct of local government election remained the major drawback against LG polls in the state. Obaze, who spoke during an interaction with reporters in Awka weekend, said the state government had nothing to lose if the election was conducted, assuring that the exercise would be carried out as soon as the court case was vacated. The sacked chairman of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, Professor Titus Eze, had dragged the state government to court, challenging his removal and an Awka High Court hearing the matter had warned the state government not to appoint another chairman for ANSIEC until Eze’s case was disposed of. The resultant effect was that all preparations made by the electoral commission for the conduct of the election, which was earlier scheduled to take place in December 2010, were put on hold. The SSG said: “The reason we have not conducted the election is because there is a case in court and there in an injunction stopping government from going ahead with the election until the court injunction was vacated. “The governor, Mr. Peter Obi, as a law-abiding citizen of this country, cannot just order that the local government election be conducted when there is a case in court. That will amount to undermining the judiciary.

“If those who instituted the case in court withdraw it tomorrow, we will not waste time in conducting the election. “The governor is even more desirous to conduct the local gov-

ernment election because he is a true democrat and would want democracy to be entrenched at the local government level.” Governor Obi had set the machinery in motion for the election

by constituting members of the commission, some of whom were clergy men, before the state House of Assembly removed the ANSIEC chairman over alleged offences.

Boundary dispute: Monarch demands amendment of community’s constitution BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE traditional ruler of Enugu Urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North Local Government Area, Igwe Moses Nnamdi, has asked the state government to compel Enugu-Ngwo community to expunge chapter 5 of its constitution that tend to suggest that parts of his community was under the control of Enugu Ngwo. Igwe Nnamdi in a-four page statement, alerted the state government that despite the rulings on its white paper issued after a judicial panel of inquiry into Enugu Ngwo civil disturbances in 2005, Enugu Ngwo village had not, as ordered by the state government, expunged chapter 5 of their constitution which claimed that some parts of Enugu Ngwo community were located at Ajagu/Agangwu community enacted as Enugu urban 1 autonomous community in Enugu North Local Government Area. The monarch maintained that as far back as 2005, Enugu State Government had on page 10 of its white paper issued after the findings of the Judicial panel of

enquiry into the disturbances by Enugu Ngwo youths, stated that Igwe I.O.U Ayalogu of Ngwo Assa autonomous community in Udi LGA “is not and cannot be the traditional ruler of another autonomous community in Enugu North LGA.” The white paper stated in page 4 that Enugu Ngwo village which is located in Udi LGA does not have any of its own compo-

nents in Enugu North LGA. The white paper also stated on page 4 that the Enugu State Government shall set up a committee to re-write the Enugu Ngwo constitution and especially to delete chapter 5 of the old constitution of Enugu Ngwo which claimed that Enugu Ngwo village has some of its geographical locations in Enugu North Local Government.

Ighodalo now FAMAD chairman

AGOS—FOOTWEAR and Accessories Manufacturing and Distribution, FAMAD, Plc, has appointed Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Managing Partner of SIAO (Chartered Accountants and Auditors) as its chairman after his election into the board at the just concluded Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos. Ighodalo succeeded Chief (Mrs.) Olutoyin Olakunri, who declined re-election on account of age. Elected along with Ighodalo, is Mrs. Susan Omame, a solicitor of Law Society of England and Wales. The two new board members, together with two serving members, Mrs. Mayen

Adetiba and Alhaji Mohammad-Kabir Haruna, have been given the mandate to reposition FAMAD for a profitable future. In her address to shareholders at the AGM, Mrs. Olakunri said the local shoe industry had faced various challenges in the last 12 years which included the flooding of the Nigerian market with Chinese and secondhand footwear. She said that the good news is that the board is restructuring the production units “and with the planned injection of new machinery, we are hopeful of servicing our niche of the market effectively”

How to check official corruption, by SERAP

AGOS—SOCIOEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has said that “rooting out high level official corruption, ending impunity of perpetrators, and turning around Nigeria will take more than mere promises and preaching of decency: it requires strong leadership at the highest level of government.” In a statement by its Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said that, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s New Year statement promising that his administration would move faster in 2013 to meet the basic needs of the citizens is rather routine and rhetorical. What is required now is for this government to act more and promise less. The President must show strong leadership and lead by example if he is to earn the trust of Nigerians and convince them that he is truly committed to the fight against corruption. “Half measures which avoid public scrutiny of the President’s own asset declaration, and effective prosecution of corruption cases when they involve those connected with this government are utterly inadequate and tend to throw the government into disrepute. “The lack of accountable leadership–together with the deficit of transparency in the management of public finances and public spending–has continued to exacerbate the country’s growing poverty and underdevelopment. “Ultimately, the responsibility for sorting out Nigeria rests with President Jonathan. The buck stops with him. Nigerians will judge him not by the number of promises he has made but by the number of roads repaired, decent hospitals established, and how much difference he is able to make to ensure the enjoyment of other basic necessities of life for millions of impoverished Nigerians.”

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

LAGOS ANNUAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE Lagos State Government held its annual thanksgiving service at the Lagos House, Alausa, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTOS: Bunmi Azeez.

From left— Alh. Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State; his wife; and Chief Kemi Nelson.

From left— Otunba Henry Ajomole, Chairman Action Congress of Nigeria, Lagos State; his wife; Chief Abiodun Ogunleye and Princess Serah Adebisi Sosan, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

From left— Bishop Ephraim Ademowo, Bishop George Amu and His Eminence, Sunday Makinde.

From left— Justice Ishola Olurunnibe (rtd), Chief Olumuyiwa Sosanya, Senator Muniru Muse and Chief Ayo Opadokun.

From left— Mr. Ademola Fashola, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Alh. Fatimah Tinubu and Mrs S. Fashola

From left— Pastor S. K. Abiara, Bishop Mike Okonkwo and other pastors.

Participants.

Choir.

COMMISSIONING OF ORI-OLOKUN GARDEN

Mr. Aina Samuel, Ori-Olokun sculptor (in black suit); Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (in white), officials and traditional rulers,

Governor Aregbesola (right) and Oba Okunade Sijuade, Oni of Ife, during the official commissioning of Ori-Olokun Garden and unveiling of new logo for Ife Central Local Government Area at Ile-Ife, Saturday. PHOTOS: Shola Oyelese.

From left— Prince Felix Awofisayo, President of Oranmiyan Worldwide; Prof. Bukola Oyawoye, Osun State Commissioner for Environment; Mr. Olayinka Owoeye, Head of Service of Osun State; and Dr. Ayodele Owoade, Special Adviser on Land to the Osun State Governor.

From left— Senator Babajide Omorare, Governor Aregbesola, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) and Chief Adewoyin Adeleke

Crowd at the commissioning.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013—15

Fulani herdsmen proffer solution to clashes with Tiv, others BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—WORRIED by the persistent bloodbath between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Benue, Nasarawa and other parts of the country, a group, Miyette Allah Cattle Rearers Association, an umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen, has called on the Federal Government to create grazing routes for cattle rearers across the country. The association maintained that if created the persistent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in Benue State and other parts of the country would be affectively curtailed. Secretary of the association in the Benue State, Mallam Haruna Gololo, lamented in Makurdi, yesterday, the incessant loss of innocent lives in Benue communities arising from the Tiv/Fulani conflicts. Gololo, who lamented the death of several herdsmen in the crisis, expressed reservations over the appointment of a Kanuri instead of Fulani as Special Adviser on Fulani

Jigawa to distribute fertilizer, seeds to farmers BY TINA AKANNAM

U T S E — JIG AWA State government has procured 1,050 metric tons of assorted fertilizers for sale to irrigation farmers in the state this year as part of measures to boost food production. The state commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Rabiu Taura, who disclosed this to newsmen, weekend, said last year the government, through his ministry, procured high yield seeds and other agricultural input that will be distributed to farmers to boost their irrigation farming this year. Taura explained that the fertilizers will be sold to farmers at 40-50 percent subsidy, while the high yield seeds will be distributed free of charge to farmers in all parts of the state.

Matters by the state. Gololo attributed the continued hostility between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Benue State to the lassitude of the governments of Benue and Nasarawa states, whom he said had not contributed to the recommendations submitted by the committee they set up to look into the crisis.

He said: “In spite of the killings and destruction of property, the report of the committee, which many hoped would give lasting solution to the crisis, seems to have been shoved aside by both governments.” He, however, said efforts were on to forestall further crisis, disclosing that visiting Fulani herdsmen were now

being registered by the Ardos (Chiefs) in the different local government areas to enable them have the identities of all visiting herdsmen in the state. In the last few years no fewer than 1,000 lives were lost to persistent conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and native Tiv farmers, which had defied all attempts at amicable resolution.

AGM: From left— Alhaji Mohammad-Kabir Haruna, Director; Mrs Mayen Adetiba, Director, Mrs Olutoyin Olakunri, outgoing Chairman; Mr. Kayode Sunmola of Rosewater Partners; Mrs Susan Aronke Omame, Company Secretary; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, new Chairman, all of FAMAD, and a representative of First Registrars Ltd., at the Annual General Meeting of FAMAD, held in Lagos.

How North can produce president in 2015 — Arewa Patriots BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

OKOTO—FOR the North to produce the next president in 2015, it would have to correct all ill-feelings caused by the selection of candidates based on sentiments, the Concern Arewa Patriots, CAP, has suggested. National Coordinator of the organisation, Maiyaki Idris told newsmen in Sokoto, yesterday, that “ re-balancing of power

sharing formula based on merit will make peaceful advent of a new formula, during and after 2015 - 2019 dispensation, rancour-free.” “Towards the emergence of the Northern Presidency come 2015, CAP appeals to the North to dispassionately address the crucial choice of candidates with credibility standards that are devoid of ethnic, political and religious sentiments. “It should be one that exem-

plifies incorruptibility, that is saleable, that is reliable and one that has track record of nationalism and performance, for a nation in need of a promised land.” Idris called on all stakeholders in the North to lend their support to the course “ without undue tension, debate and legal tussle that have given rise to suspicion and insecurity in our nation today.”

Basic Education boss flays Al-Makura's critics

HAIRMAN of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Mallam Abdulkarim Mohammed, has said critics of the Governor Umaru Al-Makura-led administration were not being fair and objective. According to Mohammed, AlMakura’s government in less than two years in office has brought peace and normalcy to governance in the state. He called on the critics of the governor to be fair in their assess-

ment. Speaking in an exclusive interview in Lafia, Abdulkarim said within a short period, the governor has achieved a lot in several sectors and the impact of his administration can be felt in all the localities of the state, especially in the areas of education, road construction, agriculture, health, water supply and provision of security. He said: “Anyone who has been monitoring events in the

state would know that Governor Al-Makura is fighting all forms of corruption both individually and institutionally. “He inherited the greatest debt burden in this country. People are not seeing that, instead they are saying he has not achieved anything. “There is no basis for comparing the present administration with the past one in terms of achievements. Al-Makura’s administration is more of a blessing to the state.”

NSCDC nabs 5 suspected vandals, marks 10yrs BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

LORIN—THE antivandal squad team of Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested a five-member criminal gang of pipeline vandalism syndicate terrorising the state. Head of Anti-Vandalism Unit of the Corps, Quasim Sheriff, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, weekend. Sheriff also said the pipeline vandals were arrested late last year at Igboho, Oyo State, by men of the State Security Service, SSS. He said members of the criminal gang, who were initially handed-over to the civil defence corps were being presently prosecuted at the Ilorin High Court. In a related development, the state commandant of the corps, Yerima Gana, weekend, led men and officers of the command in an annual interdenominational prayer and thanksgiving service to herald in the new year, just as the corps clocks 10 years of establishment this year. The state commandant, Yerima Gana told journalists at the end of the programme that the prayer session, which was a national directive by the CommandantGeneral to all commands, was meant to ask for God’s continued protection, particularly with the present security challenges in the country. “The prayer sessions, which were coordinated by the Mukadam, Muslim spiritual head of the command, Ustaz Busari Shuaib, and the corps’ chaplain, Oluyemi Busola, saw the members in prayers and praise-singing sessions.” The clerics, who asked God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding for the leadership of the country and the corps, also prayed for God’s protection.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 THE Federal Government should stop ridiculing Nigeria globally by celebrating belated discovery of schemes other countries are pondering their effectiveness. The latest mockery is planned provision of mobile phones to 10 million farmers. Farmers in Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda have been using mobile phones - with limited successes - to improve crops, livestock, marketing, and share information, for more than four years. In Lesotho, rural farmers outside Maseru, the capital, have used phones in the past seven years to run their farmers’ cooperatives, and address health matters, cutting costs of traversing long, mountainous distances. A South African farmer attaches them to his sheep to check rustling. Phones for rural farmers have access to current commodities prices, farm inputs, practices, insurance, and links to international commodity buyers. Insurance companies, commodity dealers and ICT companies develop and deploy the phones, not governments. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina is

Farmer s Need armers More Than Phones

mystifying the issue. In denying reports that the Federal Government would spend N60 billion on the project, he refused to disclose the cost - a real cause for worry. What is he hiding? Phones alone would not improve agriculture, anywhere, least of all, in Nigeria. Unknown to Adeshina, many rural farmers have them. Besides poor seedlings and storage facilities, the biggest challenge Nigerian farmers face is evacuation of products to markets. Transportation systems barely exist in rural Nigeria and are definitely not planned with farmers in mind. Our farmers are already producing more than we can store or transport to markets. The Ministry’s backwardness is evident in promoting a scheme the United Nations’ Food

& Agriculture Organisation, FAO, noted its limitations in a March 2009 study. FAO listed them as, “the relatively high costs of handsets, limited network coverage and quality of service, limited capacities of rural people to use mobile devices, and the functional limitations of the basic handsets/ software available in developing countries, rapidly evolving technologies, and increasing diversity of makes/models of handsets in use.” According to Adeshina, “In today’s world, the most powerful tool is a mobile phone. I want the entire rural space of Nigeria and farmers to be included in the advantages of the mobile phone revolution.” Has he read the FAO report? How would this scheme tackle Nigerian issues? Our farmers need cooperatives to lower their costs. They need buyers for their products. If we improve rural infrastructure, farmers would gain higher efficiencies in their operations. We would not have to worry about charging their phone batteries, an unresolved issue in countries with better electricity supplies than Nigeria. Mobile phones can assist organised farmers to improve operations, as is the case in the countries we mentioned.

OPINION BY GABRIEL ZOWAM

Democracy in need of inspiration

Unmistakable Lessons A dead end! Every year, since the advent of this democracy, the lion share of our nation’s resources has gone to “recurrent expenditure”, which is what our democracy uses on itself, as its own fuel (as against capital expenditure, which it uses to create development). In this way, our democracy is presently consuming over 70 percent of federal government’s budget. In 2003, during the windfall, it was over 80 percent! The situation is

even worse at the state and local government levels. How then will development come? It is time to come to terms with the reality of this democracy: It has absolutely no capacity to develop us, the way it is going. It is an unmistakable dead end! Not a problem of funds. As we saw in Part I, the resources available to government for developing the nation, doubled, tripled, and increased many folds, during this democracy; but without anything to show for it.Therefore, there is no basis to expect our lots to improve, even if the resources available to this democracy should once again increase. Our problem is not that of inadequate resources. The 13 percent derivation controversy: That also makes it laughable, when some northern state governors try to attribute the poverty in their states to the 13 percent derivation amount going to the oil-producing communities.Even if that 13 percent is completely withdrawn and shared to all the federating units, how much will each state get as increase? Is that what will eradicate the poverty that these states failed to eradicate, when their allocations doubled, tripled,

N the first part of my contribution, we looked at Nigeria’s oil revenue, 1970 to 2006, and summarised the revenue streams as follows: “Gross oil revenue in the 29 years, from 1970 to 1999 3.0 “Gross oil revenue in the next 7 years (from 2000 to 2006) 20.8 Total 23.8 We saw that our cumulative oil revenue in the 29 years, from 1970 to 1999, was only N3 trillion; while a whopping N20.8 trillion was received in the next seven years, from 2000 to 2006! We also observed that while we could easily point at many things government achieved from the N3 trillion of the first (mostly military) 29 years, it was not the same for the N20.8 trillion of the following seven democracy years (2000 to 2006). We can draw many unmistakable lessons from this!

quadrupled, and increased many folds, between 1999 and 2006? The military as saints? Our politicians are fond of blaming our nation’s woes on the military. But is it not an irony that after 13 years of democracy, almost everything left of our collapsed infrastructure, is a legacy of the military era? Even in terms of corruption, is their N3 trillion vs. our politicians’ N20.8 trillion not making them look like saints? In any case, is the average Nigerian better today, after 13 years of democracy, than in 1999, even with the N20.8 trillion windfall? The NBS figures for 2010 show that over 112 million Nigerians now live in poverty compared to 67 million in 1996!

oot repatriation programme: As offensive as it might sound, should we not start thinking of a national programme to encourage a friendly laundering of our looted funds (for example, a reverse loots-inflow, through real investment projects that can create jobs and reduce poverty) instead of continuing with our uninspiring fight against money laundering? As angry as most of us may find this, will it not be better than seeing the loots trickle back in the form

of private planes and luxurious yachts, which are only aggravating our nation’s woes? Opportunities in the global economy: Our democracy, designed around statutory allocations, does not fit into the global economy. Meanwhile, other countries, including those we used to consider poorer, are reaping the vast, unlimited opportunities of that economy; and overtaking us! We can still remember when Indian professionals (both men and women) flooded this country, teaching even in our secondary schools. Today, while we face escalating poverty with a federal government budget under N5 trillion, India’s export revenue in 2011 (without oil), was over N45 trillion! Its software industry alone, is expecting to rake in N10.5 trillion, in 2012! Similarly, China is today being celebrated for the giants strides of its export-driven economy. But it is estimated that more than 50 percent of China’s exports are not by Chinese companies, but by foreign-based multinationals operating in China. Continues on the Viewpoint pg

*Mr. Zowam, a social critic, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 — 41

Jonathan orders Force headquarters to take over police pension BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BUJA—AFTER years of fraudulently fleecing of billions of Police Pension benefits by external bodies hitherto constituted to run it, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the Nigerian Police authorities to take over the Police Pensions scheme. This disclosure was made on Saturday just as it emerged that the President will on January 10, 2013, inaugurates a ‘Professional Code of Conduct’ for the Nigeria Police Force. Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, who made the announcements while hosting newly promoted junior officers of the rank and file to a party at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, said following the approval of the President, the force would have its scheme manned by personnel of the police. Abubakar said: “The fight that has been on, which has to do with Pension Scheme of the Nigeria Police is now history. Today, the Nigeria Police will have their own pension scheme".

Reps deny vengeance against Oteh BY OKEY NDIRIBE

BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives has denied that its refusal to appropriate funds for the Securities Exchange Commission, SEC, for the 2013 fiscal year was tantamount to an act of vendetta against the Director-General of SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh. The position of the lawmakers was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Afam Ogene, while speaking to newsmen on activities of the House in 2012. It would be recalled that the House had earlier adopted a resolution demanding for the sack of the SEC DG on ground of alleged non-qualification to head the commission. The House’s resolution has so far been ignored by the Presi d e n c y .

N-Assembly 'll enact law on religious intolerance — Mark zAs Cardinal Onaiyekan urges peace, respect amongst Nigerians

ENATE President, Senator Dav id Mark, has said the National Assembly was willing and ready to enact a law to address religious extremism in Nigeria. Mark made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, at a reception organised in honour of John Cardinal Onaiyekan on his 30th Episcopal ordination and elevation to the College of Cardinals in Abuja yesterday. He said the National Assembly was willing to make the religious environment much friendlier by enacting laws that would fight all forms of religious intolerance and extremism in the society. The senate president said the legislature was holistically looking at immorality in the society without preference to any particular one. Mark said: “We are ready to support religious activities that will foster unity in the country. We are ready to make laws that will fight religious extremism in the country. The issues would be addressed as they were presented to the National Assembly". Mark said the senate had already passed the bill on gay marriage and was awaiting the report of the House of Representatives before it would be sent to the executive. Earlier in his homily at the church service, Onaiyekan reminded Nigerians of the need for religious tolerance and mutual respect. He said

tolerance and mutual respect would help in building peace and harmony amongst Nigerians, irrespective of their backgrounds and status in the society. The cardinal spoke against the practise of what he described as ‘the religion of exclusion’. In the same vein, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, called on

Nigerians to use religion to fight social and moral vices in the society. Kaigama, who is the Archbishop of Jos, said corruption, kidnapping, drug addiction and terrorism, could be fought using the instrumentality of religion. He decried the use of religion to cause disaffection, violence and destruction in parts of the country. He said Nigerians possessed the capacity to use reli-

gion for the good of the society, the transformation of the economy and the moral development of the citizenry. Kaigama urged Nigerians to take advantage of the positive image created for Nigeria by Onaiyeka’s recognition by The Vatican and reverse all the negative stories told about their nation.—NAN.

From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State; National Planning Minister, Dr. Samshudeen Usman and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abubakar Kachala arriving for the Fatiha as the National Planning Minister gave out his daughter, Aisha, at the National Mosque, Abuja, weekend. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Capital market: Controversies trail supremacy of IST BY PETER EGWUATU

ONTROVERSIES are trailing supremacy and independence of the Investment and Securities Tribunal, IST, on capital market activities, thus defeating the purpose for which it was created Vanguard gathered that why most cases brought before the tribunal were not completed within the 90 days stipulated by the enabling statute. The IST is supposed to be the final court for capital market activities as stipulated by the enabling statute, the Investment and SecuritiesAct, ISA. Mr. Sola Ephraim- Oluwanuga, a legal practitioner and former judge of the IST, told Vanguard that the IST is constrained with myriad of problems, ranging from lack of independence, financial incapability. According to him, “the delay in the dispensation of justice by the IST was caused by regular court; some of the cases that come to the IST were also handled by regular court. For instance, in a situation where the IST after delivering judgment on a case and the defaulter goes to the

High court for appeal makes the tribunal inactive and cases delayed. The IST is a specialized court whose judgment is supposed to be final as entrenched in the Investment and Securities Act of 2007.” Ephraim-Oluwanuga called on the National Assembly to make a law that will include IST in the constitution to enhance its

power and make it independent. Vanguard gathered that the Minister of Finance presently appoints and remove member of judges in the IST, a situation that market operators said impede the development of the market. He further said, “whether IST has exclusive jurisdiction over capital market is not yet settled. Some argued that IST is not spe-

cifically listed under section 6(5) of the 1999 constitution as a superior court of records. However, the constitution stated the categories of superior courts to include “such other courts as may be authorized by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly can make laws”; capital market falls within this purview.”

Constitution amendment: Ekweremadu urges Nigerians to partake in online, sms polls BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—DEPUTY Senate President and Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said the committee was polling opinions of Nigerians to enable them be part of the review process. Ekweremadu, however, urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Short Message Service, SMS, and online opinion poll in the constitution review project to air their views on critical matters on the Nigerian state.

Speaking to newsmen, Senator Ekweremadu noted that the opinion poll was in keeping with the promise and commitment of the committee to popular participation, inclusiveness, and transparency. He emphasised that the major aims of the poll were to demystify constitution-making, get more Nigerians involved and correct the wrong perception of constitution-making as an elite’s affair. He said: “We want to discourage the usual situation where a vocal and privileged few expropriate the voices of the rest of

the people, foist their personal opinions and narrow interests on the polity, claiming same to be the views of their people. “We took cognisance of the appreciable teledensity in the country that makes the GSM service available to an average citizen and thought that we should seize the platform to give the Nigerian masses yet another novel opportunity beyond the public hearings we conducted at national, zonal and constituency levels to make inputs into matters that concern both them and their posterity.”

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

READ with bemusement Ogaga Ifowodo’s piece on the Vice President’s official residence. I do not understand his quarrel with the cost of the nation’s Number Two’s official residence. That the residence of the vice president is to cost a mere sixteen billion naira is a surprise to me. When I first heard of the cost, I thought they were referring to the official residence of a deputy governor of a state. What is so special about this amount that has made Ogaga Ifowodo have sleepless nights? Has Ifowodo forgotten that this is Nigeria and not a tiny country like Gambia or Seychelles or even Eritrea? This is Nigeria! The most populous black nation in the world! The giant of Africa! The most blessed country in the continent! Rich in oil and other mineral resources! Rich in human resources! Has Ifowodo forgotten that Nigeria was paying the salaries of some South American nations in the early seventies? This is a country where ordinary citizens like me have purchased private jets worth over a trillion naira in the last five years. Is Nigeria such a poor country that the Vice President’s official residence should be like those found in Ajegunle or Suleja? Money has never been our problem as Ifowodo rightly quoted Gowon. The problem has always been how

to spend it. Now that we are wisely spending our money, enemies of this government are quarrelling with it. The Vice President’s residence must befit the status. Let us equally remember that it is not the personal property of Sambo. Ifowodo may reside there in future as the nation’s vice president. The place must have a worship centre. There must be a mosque, church and traditional place of worship for people like the Kongi and others of his ilk. The place of worship is meant as place where the Vice President will go and ask for forgiveness if he mistakenly misplaces a few billion naira. He can equally go there to ask for miracle for a better Nigeria even though he has planned for a better Nigeria. A state of the art hospital is also ear marked for the Vice President’s residence. It will be manned by specialist doctors from Saudi Arabia and Germany. This is to prevent another Yar ’dua and Chime’scenario where Nigerians will be wondering where their leaders are receiving treatment. In this case, special assistants in the Vice President’s Office can be signing documents on his behalf and claiming it is signed by the Vice President if (God forbid) he falls sick. The Vice President’s official residence is also to have a banquet hall that will accommodate about a thousand people. The place

The said amount is not even half of what some fuel importers were paid as fuel subsidy; Delta State spent N7.4billion to demolish anthills in Asaba Airport in ten days; that is the way money must be spent. Nigeria is rich; we must show that we are rich; the Vice President’s residence is an example of showing that we are rich

will be used for official and none official functions. Once in a while, Dbanj, Tu Face and others could be invited to entertain the nation’s big wigs with undergraduate females being invited to learn the art of governance. The Vice President will no longer run to Kaduna and in fear too when giving out his daughters for marriage. The banquet hall serves that purpose. There must be enough rooms too in the official residence where the Vice President’s relatives and friends can lodge thereby saving money that would have

Democracy in need of inspiration (2) Continued from page 16 BY GABRIEL ZOWAM

HY can’t such multinationals operate from Nigeria? The answer is that our democracy, designed purely for “statutory allocations”, does not even see the global economy. Instead, our governors focus all their energies, scheming to protect, or increase their miserable statutory allocations. Ironically, this jostling for more allocations illustrates the tragic resource-trap of this democracy, and the greatest threat to our national unity. Since the shareable pool is not increasing, and you can only grab more allocation by scheming to reduce the allocations going to other federating units, we can expect this jostling to get nastier in the coming years, as the pressure for more resources (and attendant frustrations) build up. Fifty percent civil service reduction: The CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, recently came under very stringent attacks for daring to propose a 50 percent cut in the size of the bureaucracy. Poor Sanusi! It is an irony that the few public officials that dare to query our dysfunctional system, are often the most vilified! Yet, the nation owes its little progress to such persons. In a free-enterprise system, the role of

government is to create the necessary infrastructure and enabling environment for businesses to come in and do what they are best at - that is creating jobs and wealth for the society. It is disastrous when government assumes the role of the big employer, and spends all the nation’s resources paying the salaries of its officials, who are a tiny fraction of the population! How many citizens can government employ? Compare it with India, where the software industry alone creates direct and indirect employment for 12 million people (high-quality jobs, not the artificial, NAPEP-type)! All the same, the real point I want to make is that this democracy is simply not structured for prudence and productivity. For example, even if a retrenchment takes place under this government, the next administration will simply reverse it. The Obasanjo administration did some retrenchment; but as Mallam el-Rufai once lamented, the Yar’Adua’s administration restored many of those retrenched; and of course, brought in its own wave of new people. There is no incentive to be productive in an “isit-your-father’s-money” democracy. In any case, what is the goal of carrying out such a retrenchment? If it is to free more funds (and put some funds into government’s hands for development), my question will be: And so what? Didn’t we see such

been used for hotel accommodation. The security of the Vice President is equally important. While monitoring devices will be installed both within and without the premises, a missile shield will also be installed. Nobody knows what these Boko Haram people may come up with. Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Armoured cars will be permanently stationed there. What will happen if kidnappers kidnap our Vice President? That is why the residence must be well secured.

s prophetically suggested by Senator Smart Adeyemi, the furniture for the Vice President’s residence will be made in heaven. The famed Benin furniture makers will not be good enough. The kitchen materials will cost over a billion naira. Every other material that will be used to furnish the residence will be imported. There will equally be a landing pad for helicopters to land and take off (not the type of helicopters used by the Nigerian Navy). Because of the good nature of our roads and for security purposes, the Vice President will no longer be using our roads. The Vice President will be flying from and to office so that we do not have another Murtala Muhammed in our hands. President Jonathan, you will agree with me has be very frugal in spending. He is spending less than a billion naira next year for feeding. He now eats only cassava bread found only in Aso Rock supermarket. Abakiliki rice is now his favourite. In next

BY EDDY AGHANENU

VP's residence: Much ado about nothing

The last thing Nigeria needs today is our usual ethnic-minded, rogue-politics; Nigeria’s democracy is gasping for statesmen - those who can, for once, look out for themselves and their tribes by looking out for their country

resources double, triple, and increase many folds, from 1999 to 2006? What was the result? This democracy is just not structured for prudence and productivity! Long stay for poverty:

lementary logic should tell us that our current poverty problem can only get worse. Every year, this democracy spends over 70 percent of the nation’s resources on itself. And we dare not talk of slashing the bureaucracy, as Mallam Sanusi has been warned. So how will poverty be eradicated? Meanwhile, the oil revenue on which this democracy was structured, is not growing, while our population (which the revenue should cater for) continues to grow every year, meaning that the resource pool will become more and more inadequate. So how will poverty go? It is a dead-end!

year ’s budget, some amount have been ear marked for generator repairs because there will be constant power by 2013. I learnt that an order has been given that no diesel should be bought to power generators next year. The new banquet hall in Aso Rock is a mere two billion naira. He is buying just one more to add to the presidential fleet. This project is not expensive. With some other features that will be provided in the official residence of the vice president, I see no reason with Ifowodo’s anger. To me, the amount is inadequate. The agency required to vet all contracts have seen the need for contract variation. Ogaga Ifowodo talked about building schools and hospitals. How can the Vice President brainstorm and think properly on how to make Nigeria better if he sleeps in a “matchbox house”? This was the type of residence Jakande was staying in Ilupeju while he was governor of Lagos state. The same with Bafarawa while governor of Sokoto State. The era where our leaders stay in their inadequate personal residences to administer the people is over. The said amount is not even half of what some fuel importers were paid as fuel subsidy. Delta State spent N7.4billion to demolish anthills in Asaba Airport in ten days. That is the way money must be spent. Not frugal like some war torn countries. Nigeria is rich. We must show that we are rich. The Vice President’s residence is an example of showing that we are rich.

Mr. Aghanenu, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Conclusions Going Forward The real damage the military has done to Nigeria, is the disastrous democratic structure it foisted on us, which has become a direct engine of poverty, unemployment, collapsed infrastructure, collapsed education and health systems, and spiralling inter-ethnic hatred! Our politicians have only one wise option: to take advantage of the ongoing Constitutional amendment, and surgically repair the flaws of this democracy! It is probably our last chance to get things right before 2015, already predicted (by those we dare not ignore) for our national disintegration. Ironically, as if in enthusiastic endorsement of that prediction, we seem to be galloping towards 2015 with spiralling forces of violence and inter-tribal hatred! I have a special note of warning for those politicians clamouring that it is “our turn”, and even for the opposition parties jostling to take over the government. The last thing Nigeria needs today is our usual ethnicminded, rogue-politics. Nigeria’s democracy is gasping for statesmen those who can, for once, look out for themselves and their tribes by looking out for their country! Finally, our governors, the National Assembly, and the Presidency must not give the impression that this democracy is incapable of correcting its tragic flaws; or that the military needs to come back to do the correction! May the Ekweremadu Committee save the day!

Concluded *Mr. Zowam, a social critic, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 — 43

OSHODI -APAPA EXPRESSWAY:

Fashola writes FG over worsening condition of the road •Seeks urgent regeneration of Apapa By JUDE NJOKU

A big pothole at Mile 2, one of the several bad portions on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

Photo:Diran Oshe

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has complained to the Federal Government about the worsen-

ing condition of the OshodiApapa Expressway, a major highway that links the nation’s busiest sea ports to other parts of the country. In separate letters to President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Nemadi Sambo, the Governor also drew attention to the horrific traffic congestion on the expressway and the need to take urgent steps to fix the ever-busy road. But the pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears and the result is that once again, the everbusy expressway has been plunged into an eyesore and a commuter ’s nightmare. Specifically, Governor Fashola had on September, 17, 2012 forwarded a detailed presentation of what should be done to fix the road and ease the traffic congestion to Vice President Namadi Sambo. In the letter entitled “Re: Report of the Deterioration and Regeneration of Apapa, Lagos,” Fashola sought to make a presentation on the state of the road and what the restoration would cost, to the National Economic Council.

Proposed presentation to NEC The letter read in parts: “Further to your Excellency’s indication of no objection to our request to make presentation to the National Economic Council, NEC, on the above subject matter, please find attached for your information, a copy of our proposed presentation to NEC. All necessary copies of the presentation have been forwarded to the NEC Secretariat for listing and further action as may be necessary. We are hopeful that the matter can be listed for the next meeting of NEC and will follow up with the Secretariat in this regard”. Apparently overwhelmed by the contents of the presentation, the Continues on page 49

44—Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Hands of offf wor workk at air por ts, airpor ports, terminal buildings — Bi- Courtney

NN arrests 22 ships for illegalities on waters BY EVELYN USMAN

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

HE FEDERAL Gov ernment has been urged to hands-off remodelling and reconstruction of airports and their terminal buildings across the country just as the Minister of Aviation Princes Stella Oduah is warming up to commission the remodeled airport’s terminals in Benin, Abuja and Kano this month. Spokesman for BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited, Mr. Stephen Omolale Ajulo, who made the call over the weekend, said that it was wrong for the government to involve itself in the building, reconstruction and remodeling of airports. He stressed that government would not be able to maintain such infrastructure due to corruption in the system, just as he cited Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as the worst airport in Africa in 2012.

Balogun traders urged to obey sanitation rules

AGOS — TRADERS in Balogun market, Lagos, have been advised to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding environmental cleanliness in the state as this will not only make the area healthy but will save them from the wrath of the Lagos State government. Balogun Okolo of Lagos, Chief Ganiyu Ariori, weekend, in his New Year message, thanked the traders for their cooperation in 2012 in the areas of peaceful co-existence, security and observance of environmental laws, among others. Also, Secretary of the family, Mr. Niyi Adesina appealed to the government to give the official instruments of office to Chief Ganiyu Ariori, who had been Balogun Okolo elect for almost ten years.

From right: Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile Oke Ona Egba and his Oloris, Omolara, Yetunde and Olabisi, singing, during the first Sunday service in the year 2013, at St. James African Church, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

LAGOS —Twenty-two vessels have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy for various act of illegality, ranging from oil bunkering and illegal entry into the nation’s waters within the last 12 months. Among the ships arrested were: MT Onne, MT B Cupid, M Barge, MT Ortkoyi, MV Chijioke, MT I Hinosen, Tug Boat Alk, MT Ezi, MT Rockfish, MT Aegle and MV God Time. Others are MV Aths Milandros, Barge Princess Sophie, MT St. Vanessa, MT Ina and MT Peyor. OTHERS ARE MV ATHS MILANDROS, BARGE PRINCESS SOPHIE, MT ST VANESSA, MT INA AND MT PEYOR. Also arrested were: a wooden

Harmattan: Doctor s advise against communicable diseases L

AGOS — Some doctors have advised people to protect their bodies against various communicable diseases that go with harmattan period. They gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. Harmattan is usually a dry and dusty period associated with low humidity which simply means there is very little amount of water in the atmosphere. As a result, the weather appears harsh to the hair and skin. Dr. James Asoka, Medical Director, Sheffi Hospital, Egbeda, Lagos, said that harmattan season has health implications like pneumonia, asthma, nasal congestion and other health complications that might arise because of the dust. “People should wear warm clothing to minimise the likelihood of contracting these communicable diseases." Asoka said that the skin should be protected against the effect of the harmattan. “It is also safer sometimes to wear sunglasses to protect the eyes against dusty and harsh winds,“ he said. Dr. Olaleye Adewale, a medi-

cal practitioner at the General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, also advised people to always keep away from the dusty environment. ‘ "People should ensure that their windows are closed always to avoid dust which can trigger asthma and sickle cell disorder,” he said. Adewale said: “Due to the dusty atmosphere, there is need

to imbibe healthy food preservation culture, especially fruits to prevent food borne diseases. “Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before eating. Drinking water containers should also be properly covered." Also, Dr. Femi Alade, a pharmacologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, said that harmattan is a natural hazard that people have to live with.

FAAN debunks acquiring air cr af or domes tic aircr craf aftt ffor domestic airlines

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

AGOS — General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, yesterday, debunked rumours that the agency had borrowed $US500 million from China to acquire aircraft for domestic airlines operating in the country. Mr. Dati, who affirmed that FAAN had not borrowed any amount of money whatsoever either from China or from any other country, stressed that the agency was not saddled with

the responsibilities of acquiring the 30 aircraft as acclaimed by those peddling such rumours. “FAAN has not borrowed $US500 million from China or any country for that matter. Furthermore, FAAN is not acquiring aircraft, as claimed in the statement. FAAN is a service provider in the industry and is currently occupied in translating the aviation transformation master plan into concrete realities. “At present, the Authority is focused on the reconstruction of 22 airports across the

Boko Haram's temporary madness will pass —Cardinal Onaiyekan

BUJA—Catholic ArchBishop of Abuja Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, weekend, described the menace of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as a temporary madness that would soon fade away. Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke during the ordination of 17

boat, Light II, a wooden tugboat, Oyah II and Tug Boat, Ramat II, among others. One of the ships, MV Myre Seadivers, arrested by the Western Naval Command in October 2012 was discovered during search to be carrying assorted arms. Its 15-man crew members,all Russians, according to spokesman for the Western Naval Command, Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omodara, would be handed over to the Police for prosecution.

new Catholic priests at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria ProCathedral in Abuja. Allaying fears of total extinction of the church in the Northern part of Nigeria as a result of the activities of the Islamist sect, Onaiyekan said churches in the north would survive the onslaught.

“ But please, don’t forget, it is not only churches they are attacking, they are attacking police stations, army units, private houses, they are killing Christians, but they are also killing Muslims. This is a madness that I am sure by God’s grace will pass,” he said.

country as initiated by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. The Lagos terminal 1, popularly known as GAT has since been commissioned while the remaining airports are at different stages of completion.” He, however, pointed out that it is the Ministry of Aviation that is saddled with the responsibilities of making arrangements to facilitate the acquisition of the 30 aircraft to boost the operations of domestic airlines. According to him, “the modalities are being fine-tuned, to checkmate the abuse of the aviation intervention fund. This strategy will plug the loophole that allows fortune seekers free access to these funds. Other strategies are being deployed to grow the domestic airlines” Mr. Dati further noted that the Ministry of Aviation was also making frantic arrangement towards the construction of brand new airports in 2013.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013—45

Stop sending children overseas for courses we have here — Gambari tells parents

Ondo NURTW secretariat looters confess BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE —THE Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Oladutele Obayoriade, weekend, said that those who caused mayhem last week in the state, have confessed and were imported from other states. Obayoriade said the vandals were brought from neighbouring states to loot the union’s secretariat in Akure. Speaking with newsmen in Akure, Obayoriade said that those arrested by security operatives in connection with the incident were not members of the NURTW in the state. According to him the suspects, who have been charged to court had confessed that they were mobilised from neighbouring states by an executive member of the union in the state. Obayoriade pointed out that “the aim of the executive member was to violently terminate his four-year tenure which was put in place in 2011 through a democratic arrangement and instal himself by force.” He said: “On the 30th of December, 2012 at about 1:00a.m. I was informed that about 60 men armed with guns, cutlasses axes, had invaded our secretariat in the Ijapo areas of Akure.

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

From left: Comrade Biyi Odunlade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Sports and Special needs; Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East Senatorial District; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor; Hon. Rotimi Makinde, representing Ife Federal Constituency and General Alani Akinrinade, Balogun of Ife, during the commissioning of Ori-Olokun Garden and unveiling of new logo for Ife Central Local Government, at Mayfair Round-About, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

15 die in Oyo auto crash BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN — SADNESS punctuated the joy associated with a new year as 15 persons died in a multiple auto crash on Ogbomoso-OyoIbadan road yesterday. The sad incident happened when an 18-seater passenger bus collided with a fuel tank-

er. The bus was said to be coming from Ilorin and heading to Ogbomoso when it crashed at a sharp bend on Odo- Oba village about five kilometres to Ogbomoso. According to an eye witness account, the collision resulted into explosion. It was gathered that the commercial driver lost control of

Crisis brews in Ekiti ACN over 2015 guber race BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI — The last week endorsement of the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi by some leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the state to run for the second term in 2015, has met a stiff opposition, as one of the prominent members of the party in the state, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele has kicked against the whole arrangement, saying it was a mere expression of opinion.

Opeyemi who is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing Ado Ekiti and Irepodun -Ifelodun Federal Constituency, said the endorsement of a sitting governor was normal in politics. According to him, the adoption of Fayemi by a section of the party does not foreclose other party members against challenging him. In a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Ahmed Salami and made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti yester-

day, the federal lawmaker pointed out that endorsement of a sitting governor is normal in politics, but noted that such cannot rob other party members of the rights to aspire for the same seat at the primary. Bamidele who is believed to be interested in the plum job of the state’s chief executive, said the adoption does not have any legal effect since the national leaders of the party are yet to ratify Fayemi as stipulated by the party’s constitution.

JTF destroys 35 bunkerers' refineries, 18 boats BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE — OVER 35 ille gal oil refineries and 18 local boats used by bunkerers were, weekend, destroyed by the Joint Task Force on Oil Bunkering operating in Ondo State. The Joint Task Force which stormed the riverine communities burnt down all illegal refineries in a two day opera-

tion in the coastal communities of Ondo, Edo and Delta states. The operation was in conjunction with a private security outfit, Gallery Security Services Limited owned by an ex-militant High Chief Bebopiri Ajube that intercepted over 1.6million litres of stolen crude last week. Vanguard which witnessed the destruction of the illegal

refineries discovered that it lasted for over five hours and it involved soldiers from the 19th Battalion in Okitipupa, Naval officers from the Forward Operation Base at Igbokoda. The illegal refineries are hidden in the creeks of Dababilebu, Akitogbo, Adiloseimo, Obontonu and AkinaZion communities..

the bus and its passengers were flung out of the vehicle. When the dust settled, only three persons reportedly survived out of the 18 passengers. Men of the fire service, Nigeria Army and the National Emergency Management Authority {NEMA} were at the scene to help the victims. The spokesman of NEMA in the South West, Alhaji Ibrahim Farinloye said they diverted on-coming vehicles to other alternative routes. Victims of the accident were said to have been taken to Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. Confirming the accident, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogbomosho Unit Commander, Adedipe George said that the auto crash happened some minutes before 9a.m. about 15 kilometres after Ogbomosho. He clarified that three vehicles; two tankers marked XB 476 AKK, XS 732 AGL and a Toyota 18-seater bus were involved. According to him, three victims were burnt beyond recognition. He said 23 people were involved in the accident, 21 of them were male and two females. “Three persons were killed instantly while nine others were injured,” he said. According to him, two of the deceased were trapped inside one of the vehicles and burnt to ashes. George said that the injured were taken to Ebun Oluwa Clinic, Sabo Ogbomoso, while the dead were taken to mortuary.

DO EKITI — A leading traditional ruler in the country, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulu Gambari, has called on the parents to stop the idea of sending their children overseas for training when alternative institutions are available in the country that offer sound and qualitative courses. The monarch was speaking at the weekend during a visit to the first private university in the Ekiti State, Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Ado Ekiti, noting that most of the funds used to train the students abroad, could be saved and used at home for other productive venture The emir noted that ABUAD can compete favourably with any private university in any part of the world in terms of manpower, working tools and good structures that can stand the test of time “With Afe Babalola University and other good privately owned universities in Nigeria, I think it is unnecessary for our leaders to be sending their children abroad for university education because some of the universities they are attending there are private ones,” Emir said.

Prof. Opeke is dead

ROF. L.K. Opeke of Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, is dead. He passed away on January 1, 2013, aged 87. During his lifetime, he was Director, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria; pioneer faculty member, Federal University of Technology Akure and Secretary General of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria. Prof. Opeke is survived by his wife, Chief Esther A. Opeke, many children and grand-children. Burial arrangement will be announced later by the family.

46 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

•Mrs. Christiana Okere at Police Headquarters, Owerri shortly after her rescue.

•The suspects

How Police rescued octogenarian kidnapped in Imo State •Found in a building in the bush in Rivers State woman’s husband, Barnard, to lie flat on the floor, facing downwards. Knowing that what separated him from imECEMBER 18, 2012, is one date minent death was obeying the order, the Okere family of Umuohie Bernard obliged. The poor woman was moved out of the Ngor in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo State, will not forget in a house. The hoodlums sandwiched Mrs. Okere on one of the waiting motorbikes hurry. On that fateful day, Mr. and Mrs. Bar- and sped off through the village marnard Okere ate their supper and said ket area. On getting to a market square, the their night prayers before retiring to their separate rooms for the night’s rest at escaping hoodlums shot sporadically about 8.30pm. Neither the duo nor any into the air which made people to scammember of the family had an inkling that per into safety. She was thereafter takdanger was lurking around the corner. en to unknown destination. That was None of them knew that armed hood- how the story of her kidnap started. When the family came to terms with lums were putting final touches to their nefarious onslaught. It was also not clear the sordid drama that just played out, how long it took the hoodlums to perfect they reported the matter to the Divisional Police HeadquarOn getting to a market square, the esters, Umuin the caping hoodlums shot sporadically into neke, Ngor Okpala the air which made people to scamper Local Govrnment into safety. She was thereafter taken to eArea. The matter was unknown destination equally transferred to Antitheir operation or who their sponsor(s) kidnapping Unit at State Criminal Inwere. vestigation Department, CID, Owerri. Vanguard Metro however gathered The kidnappers later made a call to that it was not long after the family had the son of the victim. They demanded their night prayers, that about four N20 million ransom for her release from armed kidnappers stormed the home of captivity. Acting on credible information the harmless, hapless and helpless Ok- they got on December 28, 2012, police ere family and went straight for the oc- operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping togenarian, Mrs. Christiana Okere. Unit, arrested one of the suspected kidThe gun-totting gangsters, who came nappers. on two motorcycles, quickly ordered the BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Confirming the story to Vanguard Metro, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, said the suspect confessed to the crime and later took police operatives to the kidnapper’s hideout, a building in a bush, at Igwuruta in the Isiokpo Local Gov-

ernment Area of Rivers State. “On sighting the police, the kidnappers fled, abandoning the old woman. Police condoned the building and she was found in a room in the building where she was kept”, Onugu recounted. Answering another question, Onugu said she was in stable condition at the time of her rescue, adding that “so far, two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime”. In her reaction, Mrs. Christiana Okere thanked God and the Nigeria Police for her rescue, pointing out that throughout her captivity, she was praying and did not lose hope. She advised members of the public not to pay ransom because that is what is encouraging the kidnappers.

Abia gov’s wife pays medical bills of 11 indigent women

HE wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji has directed the immediate release of 11 indigent nursing mothers at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia over non payment of their hospital bills totaling N1.017m. The women had remained in the hospital for several months, despite being officially discharged. Mrs Orji who gave the directive at the Nkasiobi ward of the hospital where she had gone to pay the traditional homage to the State’s 2013 “Baby of the Year ”, little Miss Favour Chimezie Uchendu from Obowo, Imo state. The baby who was born at Amachara General Hospital was however admitted at the

FMC. The first lady also promised to pay the hospital bills of Messrs Ufere Ibe (N158,000), Sylvanus Umoh (N364, 000) both of the male surgical ward and Mrs Ndidi Nwobike (N41,000) a pregnant woman on admission in the hospital. The indigent nursing mothers who could not contain their joy, sang and danced in appreciation of Mrs. Orji’s gesture. Some of them have spent about four months in the custody of the hospital due to their inability to clear their debts. She commended the medical personnel of the hospital and that of Amachara General Hospital for ensuring safe delivery of their children and for their dedication and diligence to duty.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013—47

Jonathan to declare National security summit open in Abuja zPolice, Vanguard convene confab on insecurity BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BUJA—ZONAL As sistant Inspectors General of Police from the 12 zones in the country and some of the 48 commissioners of police from commands and departments have started arriving Abuja for the first national security summit starting in Abuja today President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to flag off the summit being organised by the Police Force, in conjunction with Vanguard Newspapers. A statement signed by the Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, on the summit read: “As part of efforts at encouraging a broad-based approach to tackling emerging contemporary security challenges in Nigeria, the Nigeria Police in conjunction with Vanguard Newspapers will be organizing a two-day National Security Summit with the theme “Addressing Nigeria’s Security Challenges for Sustainable Peace and Development”. “The event is billed to take place on January 8-9, 2013, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, commencing at 10 am each day. “The summit which will be officially flagged off by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will be attended by Military and Police Chiefs, security experts/practitioners from within and outside the country, as well as other critical stakeholders in the Nigeria Project. “The summit which is a public-private partnership initiative is expected to provide an avenue for Nigerians from all walks of life to make informed input into concerted efforts by the Police and other security agencies at providing lasting solution to Nigeria’s myriad security challenges. “While emphasizing the importance of the summit to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, particularly as it relates to safety and security of the nation, the IGP urged participants to seize the opportunity provided by the summit to make sincere and informed input on mat-

ters bordering on the general security of Nigeria and Nigerians.” He stated that the rationale for the summit was predicated upon the belief of the Force that the business of policing and securing Nigeria was the responsibility of all and that no single individual or organization had monopoly of security knowledge. Mba assured participants that inputs, suggestions, contributions and decisions reached at the summit will be given pride of place in new security policies and strategic operational plans by the Government and Police High Command. He also promised that the Force would do everything humanly possible to guarantee a safe, conducive and democratic atmosphere at the summit to enable participants undertake a free, candid and unfettered intellectual discourse. He urged participants to see their participation in the summit as a call to national service and do all within their powers to deliver on the targets and objectives of the summit. Other participants expect-

Group holds lecture

9C, a group of Nigerian professionals formed as a result of the fuel increase protests of January 2012 has instituted an annual lecture series to stimulate healthy discourse on the socio-political developments in the country Mr. Wole Olagundoye, Publicity Secretary of the group, in a statement, said the inaugural lecture with its theme “Elite,Leadership and National Transformation” is scheduled for tomorrow with leading politicians, professionals and opinion leaders as panelists and speakers. The keynote speaker is Mr. Jimi Agbaje, entrepreneur, pharmacist and politician, who made a mark with a sterling campaign during the 2007 Lagos gubernatorial election. Olagundoye said J9C aims to build a body of Nigerian professionals, who are passionate about Nigeria and have a clear cut direction through constructive engagements on burning national issues.

ed at the summit include representatives of state governors, special advisers on security to state governors, principal officers of National and state assemblies, CEOs of registered and active private security agencies and representatives of ethnic forums and nationalities. Others are representa-

tives of National Human Rights Commission, invited NGOs and civil society groups, labour groups, such as NLC, PENGASSAN, TUC, and professional groups as NBA, NMA, Guild of Editors, NUJ, representatives of PCRC at national and state levels and other invited participants.

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

BUJA—THE House of Representatives Committee on Environment yesterday observed with dismay incessant burning of bushes in different parts of Nig e r i a . Considering the volatility of the season, the Committee, therefore, frowned on the life-threatening actions and called on perpetrators to desist from such activities with immediate effect. The committee noted in a statement that “it has become more worrisome, given that besides the dangerous effects of the carbon emitted from smoke generated by these acts on the health of the people and the

Reps warn against bush burning environment in general, people’s houses also stand the risk of being razed down by the fire. ”The committee hereby call on the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency, NESREA, as well as the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria to ensure that all those involved or may be involved forthwith in carrying out these nefarious acts are brought to book, noting that ”members of the public should take note and be guided”.

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 — 49

Fashola writes FG over worsening condition of the road Continues from page 43 Vice President wrote back to the Governor, suggesting that the matter should be brought to the attention of President Jonathan. In the reply dated October 3, 2012, the Vice President through his Deputy Chief of Staff, Engr. M.A.K Abubakar, stated that in appreciation of the detailed nature of the presentation, which is reckoned to be beyond the consideration of the National Economic Council, NEC, the matter should be brought to the attention of the President for his consideration. Heeding the counsel, Fashola on November 1, 2012, wrote to President Jonathan stressing the need to follow up on the initial successes that were achieved in bringing sanity on the ever-busy road. The letter read in parts: “Your Excellency will recall the deterioration and congestion of vehicular traffic that characterised the Apapa area and TinCan Island which host the two largest sea-ports in Nigeria. "Apart from the congestion and deterioration, the social and economic impacts of closure of businesses and devaluation of real estate values prompted me to direct the commencement of a clean-up and a clear out with a view to commencing a restoration. Because the congestion and deterioration were connected to the operations of the ports and activities of persons dealing with the operations and some Federal Government agencies, we were delighted to get the cooperation of the Federal Government through a delegation led by the Honourable Minister of Finance, who visited us on your directive.

Initial successes "In a bid to follow up the initial successes that were achieved by the clear-out, our Government developed a restoration plan and a budget. I had written to His Excellency, the Vice President to seek permission to present the plan and the budget at the National Economic Council because of my view of national importance and implication of the consequences if we failed to take further action”. Sources said the Federal Government has not responded to the letter. Vanguard investigations

show that deep craters and gully-like potholes have resurfaced at several sections along the expressway, causing unprecedented traffic gridlock. The palliative repairs by the Federal Ministry of Works and its agency, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, which involved pouring laterite and granite on the bad spots, lasted only a few weeks before they were washed away by floods. Commuters who plied the road a few days to the Christmas, literally went through hell as a result of the traffic snarl which was aggravated by the worsening state of the road and the rush by importers to clear their goods from the ports before the public holidays declared by the Federal Government to mark the festival. Vanguard gathered that the road would not have gone into its present state of disrepair if the Federal Government which rakes in over a trillion Naira as revenue from the ports, had reacted promptly to various pleas by the Lagos State Government.

Restoration plans by Lagos

The restoration plan which Fashola wrote about in the letters were fashioned out by a Lagos State Executive Council committee headed by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello. The committee was mandated to work on problems such as the traffic gridlock, business paralysis and environmental degradation currently plaguing the Oshodi-Apapa axis. The nine-man committee which

was set up after the State’s executive council visited the area on April 29, 2012, said it has reduced the traffic gridlock by 70 percent although there are still occasional bottlenecks particularly in the evenings. This gridlock is caused by tankers/trailers as a result of the delay at the entrance to the ports. The Committee said it has also succeeded in dislodging miscreants from under bridges even as all illegal structures have been pulled down. The Apapa regeneration agenda covers Marine Beach, Ijora 7Up, Costain, Ijora Olopa and their environs. Previous efforts to restore sanity

along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

anguard recalls that on May 7, 2012, the Presidential Task Force on Ports Reforms collaborated with the Lagos State Government to dislodge tankers and trailers parked indiscriminately along the ever-busy expressway. Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the Kick Against Indiscipline KAI also participated in the enforcement. The operation which was carried out in the night, saw to the seizure of over 80 illegally parked trucks from the road, paving way for the free flow of traffic

thereafter. Impressed with the return of orderliness along the road, the Federal Government sent a delegation led by the Finance Minister to Lagos. Receiving the Federal Government delegation, Governor Fashola vowed that the state government would stay on the road for as long as it would take to prevent the dislodged trailers and tankers from returning. Dr Okonjo-Iweala, together with the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, and Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, at a meeting with Fashola, had praised the joint efforts of the Federal and Lagos State governments in restoring sanity to the road. She said the clearing of the road would reduce travel time and cost of doing business at the ports, as goods emanating from the ports would get to their destinations faster and safer.

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; You will be in good position to consolidate on progress made yesterday. However you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm. LEO; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments. VIRGO; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded. LIBRA; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during mid-morning and early afternoon periods.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

GREAT thinker, Senera once said: “it is not because things are difficult that we do not try, it is because we do not try that thing are difficult” Did you get that? Let me illustrate: A

Why are things difficult? child said he is late home, rather than go home straight, he still stays half-way because he is afraid his father will punish him, is he not aggravating the issue?

TERROR MUDA

That is the case with those who do not try? They worsen an already bad situation. If you do not sow can you reap? If you don’t plant can you

in “Never say goodbye”

harvest? If you do not knock will you be opened for? Do something today. No matter how difficult your situation seems now, the solution to it, is doing something no matter how small.

By Lanre Kehinde

SCORPIO; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider. SGITTARIUS; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise. CAPRICORN; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm AQUARIUS; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected. 9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive. PISCES; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues. However you will not be wrong if you take matters-of-the-heart more seriously now. Be more loving. ARIES; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm. GEMINI; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as co-operative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm

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,

Who am I? Dear Joshua, I don’t want my data published but tell me everything I should know about myself. Sometimes I am confused the type of a person I am, especially when others misunderstand me. Thus I am asking you who is actually in me- Astrologically. Eniola-Ogun.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Eniola, At face value one may be tempted to wrongly take you for a very soft person but, with the preponderance of fixed quality and fire element in your Astrological make ups here is a determined and ambitious Soul with stronger will-power (actually once your mind is made up on any important issue you rarely change). Saturn as the only planet at home when you were born pointed to a person who will always take important decision when and if his career will not be put in danger; meaning my career first. Although, the Sun is the Centre of the Solar system and wherever is placed in any given horoscope is the heart of that horoscope, by implication placement of the mighty Sun in Cancer here means that you are mainly a Cancer born person, with more than two (there were actually four) heavenly bodies placed in Kingly Leo when you were born, you are equally a Leo born person as Leo was serving as the stellium during your birth hour. Equally it is important to point out prominence of bold Aries in your chart as it hosted your natal Moon. Anyway equal distribution of planetary placement in push-full and non-push-full positions will ensure balanced personality with powerful LEADERSHIP skill in you. Your natal Sun, Moon and Stellium in Cancer, Aries and Leo respectively are indications of your being mainly a Cancer born person and partly Aries/Leo; meaning that basic characteristics of the three Star signs mentioned (namely Cancer, Aries and Leo) are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 — 51

US minority leader rules out more tax hikes S

ENATE Minority Leader Mitch McConnell yesterday ruled out raising tax revenues again on top of the tax hike on the wealthy in the “fiscal cliff ” deal, saying that the full focus must now be on spending cuts. “The tax issue is finished, over, completed,” the Kentucky Republican said on ABC’s “This Week.” “That’s behind us. Now the question is what are we going to do about the biggest problem confronting our country and our future, and that’s our spending addiction.”, he added. In an another appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” McConnell said he favored tax reform, but it should not increase revenue. McConnell said the White House should start working with Congress immediately to

determine spending cuts to reduce the deficit, before the March deadline to raise the federal borrowing limit brings another fiscal crisis. “We could do things very quickly, these are not new issues,” he said on ABC. Congress and the White House reached a deal last week in the nick of time to avoid the fiscal cliff of severe tax increases and spending cuts that many economists said could have tipped the country into recession. But Republicans

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaking with reporters on the opening day of the 113th Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington

Opposition scorns Assad’s peace plan S

YRIAN President Bashar al-Assad, yesterday rejected peace talks with his enemies in a defiant speech that his opponents described as a renewed declaration of

Nelson Mandela has recovered, says official

ORMER South African President Nelson Mandela has recovered from a lung infection and surgery to remove gallstones, the government official has said.. “President Mandela has made steady progress and... continues to improve,” President Jacob Zuma’s office said. Mr Mandela, 94, spent almost three weeks in hospital last month, and has since been receiving treatment at his home in an East Cape

complained the deal was focused almost entirely on raising revenue through a tax increase on families making more than $450,000 a year, and did not make significant spending cuts or reduce deficits. Asked whether Republicans would threaten a U.S. credit default in its press for spending cuts, McConnell told ABC, “It’s not even necessary to get to that point. Why aren’t we trying to settle the problem? Why aren’t we trying to do something about reducing spending?”

•Mandela province village. It was his longest stay in hospital since he left prison in 1990. Mr Mandela served as South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999 and is regarded by many as the father of the nation.

war. Although the speech was billed as the unveiling of a new peace plan, Assad offered no concessions and even appeared to harden many of his positions. He rallied Syrians for “a war to defend the nation” and disparaged the prospect of negotiations. “We do not reject political dialogue but with whom should we hold a dialogue? With extremists who don’t believe in any language but killing and terrorism?” Assad asked

President Bashar alAssad, supporters who packed Damascus Opera House for his first speech since June. “Should we speak to gangs recruited abroad that follow the orders of

foreigners? Should we have official dialogue with a puppet made by the West, which has scripted its lines?” It was his first public speech to an audience in six months. Since the last, rebels have reached the capital’s outskirts. George Sabra, vice president of the opposition National Coalition, told Reuters the peace plan Assad put at the heart of his speech did “not even deserve to be called an initiative”: “We should see it rather as a declaration that he

will continue his war against the Syrian people,” he said. “The appropriate response is to continue to resist this unacceptable regime and for the Free Syrian Army to continue its work in liberating Syria until every inch of land is free.” The speech was seen by many as a response to U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been meeting U.S. and Russian officials to try to narrow differences between Washington and Moscow over a peace plan.

Father of Indian rape victim demands her name made public users and may pressure across India and newspaper.

HE father of an Indian student whose brutal rape provoked a global outcry said he wanted her name made public so she could be an inspiration to victims of sexual assault, a call that was quickly taken up by social media

authorities to allow her identity to be revealed. The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died on December 28 in a Singapore hospital, two weeks after a gang rape on a moving bus in New Delhi that ignited protests

neighboring countries and government promises of tougher punishments. “We want the world to know her real name,” the woman’s father told Britain’s Sunday People

“My daughter didn’t do anything wrong, she died while protecting herself,” he added. “I am proud of her. Revealing her name will give courage to other women who have survived these attacks.

Head of Libya’s parliament survives assassination attempt leaders after Tripoli Muammar Gaddafi.

HE head of Libya’s parliament survived an assassination attempt unharmed at his home in the remote desert interior of the country, his spokesman said yesterday. Mohamed alMagariaf ’s residence in Sabha, 800 km (500

miles) south of the capital Tripoli, came under gunfire on Thursday evening. He was unharmed and escaped the attack but three of his guards were injured,” spokesman Rasmy Burwein said. Magariaf was in Sabha for meetings with local officials and community

declared the region a closed military zone to try to curb rampant lawlessness. Sabha and the rest of the Saharan south has been plagued by tribal violence since the start of the armed uprising in 2011 that ousted and killed veteran dictator

Tribal power is much stronger in the south than on the Mediterranean coast. Porous borders with neighboring states and the easy availability of arms have turned the south into a security headache for a weak central government.

Indian women carry placards as they march during a rally organised by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit calling for justice and security for women, in New Delh

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

NIGERIA AND THE WORLD:

Romney, Buhari and Tinubu: Courting defeat by the politics of exclusion Map of Nigeria By FEMI ARIBISALA

OR over eight years, Mitt Romney fought assiduously to be President of white Americans. He put up a considerable amount of his personal resources into this ambition. He also spent over one billion dollars of other peoples’ money; far more than the annual budget of most Nigerian states. When the election results were finally tabulated on November 4, it was immediately clear Romney had achieved his objective. Mitt Romney was elected President of the United States of White Americans with 58% of the votes. As a matter of fact, he won the largest percentage of white votes of any Republican since 1988. Unfortunately, however, the election was not merely for white Americans. It was for all Americans. Mitt Romney’s faux pas in the U.S. is similar to that of Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria. Buhari was the Northern candidate in the 2011 presidential elections in Nigeria. He hardly bothered to campaign in the South.

Convincing win in core northern states When the results were announced, he won convincingly in the core Northern States with over 12 million votes. However, the election was not for the President of Northern Nigeria. It was for the President of the Federal Republic of all Nigerians. Nigeria’s system of government is modelled after that of the United States, but neither Romney nor Buhari seem to understand the system. A lot of noise was made by Yorubas in particular about the annulment of the election of Moshood Abiola in the 1993 presidential elections in Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that Abiola did not win that election because the Yorubas voted for him. The Yorubas cannot elect a president of Nigeria. To do that, they have

Muhammadu Buhari...won in the core north

to form alliances with other Nigerians. The Nigerian Constitution requires a victorious presidential candidate to obtain a minimum of one-third of the votes in a minimum of two-thirds of the states. Indeed, most of the people who voted for Abiola in 1993 were not Southerners but Northerners. In 1999, the Yorubas, refused to vote for Olusegun Obasanjo, their kith and kin. Nevertheless, he was elected president. He became president by stringing together a coalition that stretched across the Niger into the far reaches of Nigeria, uniting the South-South, the South-East, the Middle Belt and the far North.

Romney’s debacle In light of a similar requirement, Mitt Romney really bungled it. He fought an election he could not lose. No sitting American president had ever been elected with as many as eight per cent of the people out of work. Romney drummed this into everyone that would listen: no less than 23 mil-

Bola Tinubu...ACN can't be elected by mere south west votes

lion able-bodied Americans are out of work. The parlous state of the American economy, still reeling from the throes of recession, ensured that the people would blame the incumbent for failing to redress the situation after four years. Obama was toast. The pundits on the Republican side were convinced Romney’s election was a foregone conclusion. However, Mitt Romney lost; and he lost woefully. Since American elections are won or lost on the basis of the Electoral College, the 2012 presidential elections were not even close. Obama obtained 332 Electoral College votes to Romney’s 206. That is something of a landslide. Romney lost in eight of the nine key “battleground-states” in which American elections today are won or lost. When the final votes were tallied, Romney lagged behind Obama by over two and a half million votes. According to exit polls, the electorate was 72 per cent white. Romney prevailed here 58 per cent to Obama’s 40 per cent. 13 per cent of electorate was African American. 93 per cent voted for Obama. 10 per cent of

electorate was Latino. Obama prevailed 71 per cent to 27 per cent, along with 73 percent of Asians. When you add 55 per cent of female voters, many of them young and single, Obama was unstoppable. This makes

vention and saw on display the new coalition ushered in by Obama’s election as the first African-American President of the United States. Whites and Blacks; Latinos and Asian-Americans; men and women; young and old; they were all together on a soul train. Mitt Romney and the Republican Party refused to acknowledge this new America to their disaster at the polls. As a matter of fact, they went out of their way to antagonise every constituency that was not part of their majoritarian white base. The Republican Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, who proclaimed the emancipation of slaves in the United States, disregarded the African-American voters as lost to the Democrats. Romney antagonised Latinos, the fastest growing bloc of voters in the United States, with his far-right stand on illegal immigration during the primaries, as he tried to beef up his conservative credentials. He really blew it by calling for “selfdeportation” of illegal Latinos. Romney antagonised women voters by threatening reproductive freedom, abortion rights and federal subsidy of contraceptives. Missouri Republican candidate for the Senate, Todd Akin, added fuel to the fire by declaring in a television interview that “legitimate rape” rarely results in pregnancy. In Indiana, Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said pregnancy caused by rape is something “God intended” and does not justify abortion. Women voters signified their disgust by giving Obama a plurality of their votes; 13 per cent more than Romney. Romney was unrelenting in courting defeat. He made no appeal to Asian-Americans. He antagonised the gay and lesbian communities by speaking against homosexuality and gay marriage. In short, he put all his eggs in the white basket. When the elec-

Mitt Romney was elected President of the United States of White Americans with 58 per cent of the votes Romney’s defeat something of an achievement in itself. Romney succeeded in losing an election that could not be lost. How did he manage to defeat himself so resoundingly? I watched Romney’s Republican Party Convention in consternation from the comfort of my Lagos home. I could not believe how antediluvian it was. I marvelled at rows and rows of mostly white men. No blacks, no Latinos, no Asians, no Indians. How in heaven’s name could this be representative of the United States of today? Then I watched Obama’s Democratic Party Con-

tion results were announced, the white votes had shrunk by three per cent from the 2008 figure. The Latino share had increased to 10 per cent for the very first time. The African-Americans came out in larger numbers in favour of Obama, angry at the failed attempts by Republicans to prevent them from voting by changing the rules. Obama cruised to an easy victory. The election that pundits predicted would be a long night was over only a few hours after the polls closed. Romney and the Republicans went into shock, dis-

Continues on page 53

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013—53

Vanguard CLASSIFIED

Romney, Buhari and Tinubu: Courting defeat by the politics of exclusion Continues frompage 52 belief and denial. There were calls for a recount in Ohio. But it soon sank in that they had committed one big blunder. New realpolitik ” We’ve lost the country,” concluded Rush Limbaugh, a conservative talk-show host. He angrily described the United States as a “country of children.” “There is no hope,” said Ann Coulter, another disgruntled Republican commentator. Added Bill O’Reilly: “It’s not a traditional America anymore.” O’Reilly is correct;

tional party currently in Nigeria. It is the only party that strings together a national coalition in the elections. Its closest rival, the ACN is essentially a regional party. It has no effective foothold in the North, the South-East or the South-South. The ACN has three years left to address this imbalance before the 2015 elections. Its leader, Bola Tinubu, should recognise that the President of Nigeria must appeal to a broad coalition of Nigerians. Presidential candidates cannot be elected by mere reliance on South-West votes. Neither can they be elected by Northerners, who for long had a lock on elections at the centre. In the new political dispensation of democratic Nigeria, the president of Nigeria must be a true representative of the people. In the primary season of the 2011 elections in Nigeria, a big song and dance was made about choosing a Northern candidate for the PDP. Some Northern electoral college was cobbled together and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was proclaimed the Northern candidate. That proved his undoing.

Disgruntled Americans The Northern candidate had a problem transforming himself into a national candidate. He lost to Goodluck Jonathan, a man from a minority ethnic group, but with a majoriMitt Romney...won among white Americans tarian political calculus. After Romney lost, some disgrunObama’s America is the new America. If tled Americans signed petitions calling for the Republican Party does not want to be the secession of their states from the Amerconsigned to the sidelines for the foresee- ican union. When Buhari lost in 2011, able future, it has to re-fashion itself and some core Northerners went on the ramdevelop a genuine, creative passion for in- page, burning, looting and killing. They clusion. This is what Reverend Jesse Jack- were clearly fed up with the union. The son has long-called the Rainbow Boko Haram was revived, asking for the Coalition. Republican Maine Senator division of Nigeria into a Moslem NorthSusan Collins told the New York Times: ern state and a Christian Southern state. “We have to recognize the demographic But that is hardly the answer and that is changes in this country. Republicans can- just not going to happen. Nigeria will not not win with just rural, white voters.” be divided. To be successful, the next Northern candidate must not be a NorthPeople of ern candidate: he must be a national cancolour didate. The Igbos deserve to have their kith and Felicia Davis of the Black Women’s kin elected as President of Nigeria. The Roundtable provided insight into the alli- election of an Igbo as president is long ance of groups that gave Obama four more overdue. More than anything else, it will years: “The Obama campaign was able to signal the effective end of the Civil War, put together a progressive coalition that and the successful re-integration of the included people of colour and white wom- Igbos back into Nigeria. But that is just en that then put white men in the minori- not going to happen unless the Igbos learn ty. This broader coalition now has broken from the failure of Mitt Romney. up 200 years of white male privilege to the In the past several weeks, Igbos have advantage of everyone else. been engaged in a war of words with the Should Obama be successful in rebuild- Yorubas over culpability for the 1967-70 ing the U.S. economy during a second Civil War as a result of Chinua Achebe’s term, and once voters grasp that “Obam- provocative new book: There was a acare” has liberated them from the fear of Country. That is bad politics plain and being driven into bankruptcy by medical simple. No Yoruba is likely to be president emergencies, the new Democratic coali- of Nigeria for the next 20 years, given tion could prove to have a kind of staying Obasanjo’s recent eight years in power not seen since Franklin Delano power. That makes the Yorubas, the sinRoosevelt and Harry Truman. gle largest ethnic group in the country who Lessons for Nigeria have a tendency to vote en bloc, the kingThe lessons of the U.S. presidential elec- makers of Nigerian presidential politics for tions should not be lost on Nigerians. the foreseeable future. Nigerian presidenMany are dissatisfied with the Peoples tial aspirants should be careful not to anDemocratic Party, which has been in pow- tagonise the Yorubas. They should be er since 1999 to little avail. But the truth of courted.That is the new political calculus the matter is that the PDP is the only na- of democratic Nigeria.

AKANMEN—I, formerly known and addressed as Aitokhaemen Akanmen and also Aitokhaemen Mike Akanmen, now wish to be known and addressed as Akanmen Michael Ikhide. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOKOLO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dorothy Ifeyinwa Nwokolo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dorothy Ifeyinwa Nwankwo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGUTA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aguta Ihuaku Nneoma Kelechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Unegbu Ihuaku Nneoma Kelechi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

RILIWAN — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Riliwan Bekisu Onagie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ismail Bekisu Onagie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. OROGUN—We, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Orogun Ejiro, and Mrs. Orogun Edith Ufuoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ejiro Israel Timothy, and Mrs. Ejiro Edith Ufuoma. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OPEYEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Opeyemi Mosunmola Tessy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tomisin Mosunmola Tessy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AZI —I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Azi Omagbitse Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Eruwa Omagbitse Blessing. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKPARA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Paulette Vwede Okpara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Paulette Vwede Okolie. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Economic Planning, Asaba, Delta State SEEFOR and general public please take note.

ANETOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anetor Imaria Celia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Imaria Celia Sindi Agwai. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan, HLF and general public please take note.

ESO —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ambo Eso, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ambo Godfrey. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and general public please take note.

ASIBOR —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Asibor Inekhomon Josephine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eledemhinlin Egbokhon Inekhomon Josephine. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKWEDI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekwedi Joy Oghogho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awaziakpor Joy Oghogho. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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OSENI—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Oseni Rashidat Omolara, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Salau Omolara Rashidat. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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U WA D I A L E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Uwadiale Fatima Vivian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Unior Enobhohien Vivienne. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

United are determined to win FA Cup, says Vidic M

ANCHESTER U n i t e d ’ s Nemanja Vidic has revealed that the FA Cup is still a priority for his side, while also admitting that improvements must be made in defence in order for them to challenge for the trophy. The Serbia international insisted that despite the busy schedule, winning the FA Cup is important to the players and fans, especially given an eight year spell since they last won the trophy. Speaking after the match the centre-half told reporters: “We did not win the trophy for the last eight years and it’s a trophy we are looking to win. ”We showed that in how

we celebrated the goal, and I am hoping at home it will be a different game.” United conceded twice, both set up by debutant Joe Cole and finished by James Collins, but the Hammers were unable to see out the FA Cup third round tie, with Robin Van Persie’s well crafted equaliser forcing a replay. Vidic, who has only just returned to action, added: “We always know that on set-pieces they are a tough team to play against and eventually they scored two against us from crosses. ”They scored from the second ball which we should look at again, and we are definitely a bit disappointed."

SKILLFUL... Nimanja Vidic of Manchester United displays his skill.

Short takes

Djokovic ready to peak

OVAK Djokovic has warned his rivals that he expects to peak at the perfect time for the Australian Open. The Serb struggled during the recent Hopman Cup, losing to Bernard Tomic, but believes his ball striking did improve as the week went on. The Serb has won the last two tournaments in Melbourne and is understandably the favourite to make it a hattrick when the competition gets underway later this month. Djokovic is now

THANK YOU ALL... Chelsea's Frank Lampard hails fans.

H E L S E A midfielder Frank Lampard has thanked the club’s fans for their continued support as speculation continues to swirl around his future with the European champions. Lampard came off the bench to score a penalty as Chelsea crushed Southampton 5-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday, after Blues fans had greeted his entrance by chanting ‘Sign him up!’ The 34-year-old’s

Wenger unhappy with penalty denial

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger felt his side had been wrongly denied a penalty during the 2-2 draw with Swansea in their FA Cup third-round tie at the Liberty Stadium. With the game goalless early in the second half, Aaron Ramsey raced on to Olivier Giroud’s through ball with Swansea right-back Dwight Tiendalli in pursuit. The Welshman went to ground but referee Howard Webb waved away the Arsenal

appeals, and replays appeared to suggest Ramsey had clipped his own heels. But Wenger firmly believed his side should have been awarded a spot-kick. “It was a penalty and the referee saw it,” he said. “Do you know why he did not give it? Because he thought the guy had not done it on purpose, and I also think it was accidental. “But he (Ramsey) did not trip himself, he was caught clearly by the leg

•Wenger of the Swansea player. The referee hesitated and he did not give it.” Swansea manager Michael Laudrup admitted he had believed at the time it was a penalty, although he had not had a chance to see the incident again.

contract expires at the end of the season, although British media reports on Sunday suggested Chelsea had opened talks over an extension to his current deal. Lampard’s strike at St Mary’s took his tally of Chelsea goals to 193, equalling Kerry Dixon’s club record and putting him joint-second behind Bobby Tambling’s haul of 202. The former West Ham United player seemed particularly emotional as he celebrated, and he revealed he had been touched by the warmth shown to him by Chelsea’s supporters. ”They supported me throughout my career here and particularly in recent weeks,” he said. ”The way they were with me then is the way they have been recently and all the time I’ve been here. I just wanted to say thanks back. ”That is our platform to say thanks back when we’re on the pitch, to first of all do the business because they pay the money to come and watch, and when they have been so good to me, just to say it back to them.

planning a week of intense practice ahead of the event and has warned his rivals that he expects to be on top form going into the opening rounds.

Haye gives Klitschko summer deadline

Lampard thanks Chelsea fans

•Djokovic

•Haye

ORMER WBA heavyweight champion David Haye is giving WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko a deadline by this summer to show interest in a fight. If it doesn’t happen, Haye says he’ll retire again from boxing. He

doesn’t want to fight anyone in the division, even the two best heavyweights from his own country David Price and Tyson Fury. It doesn’t seem to matter that Haye would make oodles of cash if he fought those two; he only wants Vitali. Haye said to Sky Sports News “The contracts are already agreed. Everything’s agreed. It’s just a matter of when and where. I’m more than happy to fight in Germany like I did before. I expect the fight to be in Germany. But if it’s not happened by this summer then I’ll accept the fights never going to happen.

Ryder Cup heroes confirmed for Qatar Masters

N-FORM Ryder Cup heroes Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer will both return to Doha Golf Club to compete in this month’s US$2.5million Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The duo will join fellow Ryder Cup team-mate and defending champion Paul Lawrie for the event which will be held from January 23-26 and comes hot on the heels of the opening tournament of the Desert Swing in Abu Dhabi. Garcia tied for fifth last year for his fourth top-10 finish in six straight

•Garcia appearances at Doha Golf Club, while Kaymer, the 2010 US PGA Champion and a former World No1, has competed since 2008 and enjoyed a best finish of joint ninth last year.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 — 55

NFF assures players of entitlements ahead of AFCON S

A N U S I Mohammed, Director of Competitions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Friday assured Super Eagles players of their entitlements, ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). The The nations cup is scheduled to hold from Jan. 19 to Feb. 10 in South Africa. Mohammed said that the welfare and match bonuses of players were crucial to their performance, stressing that the players’ welfare would not be compromised. “The players are already in camp and we are doing all our best to ensure that they are well taken care of in order to ensure a good outing. “The players are aware of their entitlements and all their match bonus and allowances would be settled whether they win or lose,” Mohammed stated.

Rangers CCL campaign gets boost

philanthropist and patron of Rangers International Football Club, Enugu, Chief Engineer Arthur Eze has promised to give the club a bus to be handed over this month. Chief Eze made this pledge December, 2012, when management of the Coal City outfit led by the General Manager, Ozor Paul Chibuzor paid him a solidarity visit in Ukpo, Anambra State. The club boss said the visit was to solicit for financial and moral support for the club’s CAF Champions League campaign this year. Rangers also received financial and sponsorship support from Chief Poly Emenike, Odenigbo Nanka, MD/ CEO Negros Pharmaceuticals when they visited him in the course of the annual Inter-State football match between Rangers and Nanka selected on December 31, 2012 at the Negros Stadium. Expectedly, Rangers won the encounter 4-0.

NSC to recall Federation secretaries

•Super Eagles players in Faro camp.

What I told Keshi — Adamu BY JACOB AJOM

OR the love of the game, Dr Amos Adamu, the former Director General of the National Sports Commission can’t stop talking football. On the occasion of his 60 th birthday, marked with pump and revelry at his Ikoyi residence, the former FIFA and CAF Executive member broke his long self-imposed silence. In an interview with AIT’s Felix Okugbue, Adamu spoke on various

Continues from B/P and on the pitch with the ball, but since the two former national team skippers have left, there seems to have been a vacuum over who occupies the ‘jest master’s’ position in the national team. Well it seems Lazio midfield man, Ogenyi Onazi has stepped forward to claim the position with his ribcracking jokes and talks that keeps players laughing endlessly whether on the air or during water breaks at training sessions. And once on the pitch his output is usually tremendous as he showed in the game against the Catalonia Selected last Wednesday. Onazi has also been on Bright Dike and Victor Moses to stop speaking from their noses and get in the groove by

issues affecting Nigerian sports, from Nigeria’s poor outing at the last Olympics to the dilapidated state of sports facilities in the country. Above all, the former WAFU President spoke passionately about the Super Eagles and the impending Africa Cup of Nations campaign in South Africa and he recalled his conversation with head coach, Stephen Keshi. “Keshi called me from their Faro camp, early this morning(Wednesday 26 December, 2012) to

wish me a Happy Birthday. I thanked him and told him to do everything humanly possible to bring back the Cup of Nations trophy,” Adamu recalled. “I told him, ‘bring that cup back. I know you can do it because I know Nigeria has the potentials and we want that cup back.” The revered sports administrator said that it beats him hollow each time he sees the country’s football teams struggling against hitherto lesser known oppositions.

Onazi

players by asking them to keep up the friendly spirit and be very serious when the need arises. For now Onazi is Ali Baba, I Go Dye and Teju Fine Face rolled into one in the Eagles camp.

speaking pidgin English. “That na the official language for Naija”, he told both players. Head Coach, Stephen Keshi was to softly acknowledge the conviviality among the

Eagles Continues from B/P hour under the early morning chilly condition of Faro. At the end of the exercise it was obvious that all the players are primed for action in Afcon, as all turned out as early as 7:00am Portuguese time which was 8:00am Nigerian time. Keshi again took time off to drum it into the ears of the players that they should not pressurise themselves but must be aware that Nigerians are very expectant of a super

outing at Afcon 2013. Team Skipper, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, declared that he was in camp with his mates to make sure that the glory days of Nigerian football are returned with a major trophy. “We are here, ready to don the colours of our nation and we will not relent until we reach our goal. Luckily, we have a coaching crew that understand us well and I’m sure the players are ready to deliver ”, Yobo was quoted as saying by Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya

HE Honorable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has directed Secretaries of the Sporting Federations to prepare their handover notes ahead of their redeployment to the Commission. This is in line with the Honorable Minister ’s commitment to reform the Federation and reposition them for greater efficiency. At the moment, all Sporting Federations are deployed from the NSC and this has affected the internal cohesion of the Federations, which has been used as excuse by some Federations for non-performance in the past when they complained of interference.

•Bolaji Abdullahi As part of this reform, the Federations will now have the power to appoint their own Secretaries, thereby granting them greater autonomy. However, the NSC will set the guidelines for the appointment of Secretaries. Similarly, the NSC is developing eligibility guidelines that will guide elections and appointments into the Boards of these Federations.

Keshi

Continues from B/P

Saturday and Keshi said the poor run of form of the Chipolopolo is quite deceptive. ”Keshi is not worried about our opponents because we are solely focused on our preparation which so far has been very encouraging. “We can’t really judge the Zambians on the basis of the friendly matches, Super Eagles’ spokesman Ben Alaiya told futaa.com in response to the poor run of results by Harve Rehanrd’s team ahead of the championship billed to get underway on January 19. He added: “He recalled we beat them some weeks before the last Nations Cup and they went ahead to win the tournament so we can’t get carried away by their poor result in the friendlies. It’s quite deceptive and it will be our undoing to conclude that they are not a good side based on the results of their friendly matches.” Aside the 2-0 win in Kaduna about a year ago, the Super Eagles have emerged victors in their

recent meetings with the Southern African team at the tournament the most memorable was the comefrom-behind 2-1 win at the final match of Tunisia ’94.

Mikel Continues from B/P Gideon Akinsola, were watching the unfolding drama. So what do you want us to tell Nigerians, since many believed you were not listed for the FA Cup game on Saturday because you were still nursing an injury?. Noooo, I had a knock two weeks ago and was told to rest for sometimes, but now am fit and I actually started training two days ago with the Chelsea first team. So there is no fears about any injury. I’m ready for the Nations Cup”. With that he dashed to join his mates in knocking the ball around before Big Boss Stephen Keshi gives his familiar howl of “ Hey guys bring it in”. Training wan start be dat as we say in pidgin parlance.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

Onazi is Eagles rib cracker •Schools Dike, Moses on pidgin

ESPITE the fierce battle for shirts in the Super Eagles camp, players still find time to

unwind by sharing banters during and after training and especially when in the air in many

Eagles’ Faro camp full

•31 Eagles fight for shirts •Yobo says trophy is ultimate T

HE last set of players arrived the Faro, Portugal camp of the national team early Sunday and some of them still find time to train with the rest of the squad same day as the bell tolls for the naming of the list of 23 players that will make the Afcon 2013 championship. The last two players to arrive camp were Villareal of Spain hitman, Ikechukwu Uche and Israeli based goalie, Austin Ejide. By lunch time Sunday, 31 players including injured Rizespur of Turkey striker, Uche Kalu were in camp battling for shirts, as Head Coach, Big Boss Stephen Keshi took time off to drill the players on fitness and game reaction for over an

Continues on Page 55 TODAY'S

•Onazi of the flights that they take across the globe. Before now, Austin ‘Jay Jay ’ Okocha, was identified as one of the wittiest in the national team, Nwankwo Kanu, also jokes off the pitch

Continues on Page 55

I’m fit, ready for Nations Cup — Says Mikel O

NO INJURY WORRY: Mikel ready to roar.

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

N Sunday morning in the chilly weather of Faro, Portugal, which was running at 10 degrees celcius, John Mikel Obi, was one of the first players to step out for the morning training and the moment he entered the football pitch of the Browns Sports and Leisure Club, he went around exchanging pleasantries. When it was the turn of the Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, to shake his hands, the first thing after the happy New Year greeting, was what is this

Across: 4 Traded (5) 7 Ditch (6) 9 Loose (3) 10 Child (3) 12 Tuna (5) 13 Encounter (4) 15 Wide (5) 17 Bower (6) 19 Resound (4) 20 Boat (5) 22 Male (3) 24 Spotted (7) 27 Fish-eggs (3) 28 Stadium (5) 31 Raise (4) 33 Gazed (6) 35 Go in (5) 37 Desire (4) 38 Accustom (5) 39 Tear (3) 41 Mournful (3) 42 Guard (6) 43 Principle (5)

talk about your fitness level and readiness for the Nations Cup?. Mikel threw a bewitching smile and said “Bros, I okey.

How to Play Sudoku

Continues on Page 55

Keshi won’t be fooled by Zambia

IGERIA’s coach Stephen Keshi is wary of the threat posed by Zambia in group C of the oncoming Nations Cup in South Africa. Defending champions suffered a third straight defeat in their warm-up for the tournament by losing 2-0 to Angola on

Continues on Page 55

•Keshi

Down: 1 Nuclear (6) 2 Lower (6) 3 Perform (3) 4 Facts (4) 5 Ooze (5) 6 Meal (8) 8 Tramp (4) 11 Instrumentalist (9) 14 Trampled (4) 16 Spoken (4) 18 Carry (4) 21 Spectators (8) 23 Close (4) 25 Position (4) 26 Sketched (4) 29 Revised (6) 30 Refer (6) 32 Short (5) 34 Parched (4) 36 Tidy (4) 40 Favourite (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

Across: 1 Whim 4, Pal 6, Crux 9, Out 10, Composed 11, Veto 14, Boo 16, Stark 19, Temporal 21, Basin 23, Likewise 24, Press 27, Set 31, Rule 33, Ambience 34, Gel 35, Peal 36, Lie 37, Teem

THE VIGILANTE

Team Secretary Dayo Enebi Achor and Chief Security Officer, ACP

Down: 2 Hood 3, Mope 4, Pastoral 5, Lady 6, Covet 7, Rue 8, Utter 12, Stoop 13, Ample 14, Bob 15, Oasis 17, Admit 18, Kneel 20, Likeable 22, Net 25, Rouge 26, Shell 28, Wail 29, Pelt 30, Ache 32, Lea

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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