Boko Haram abducts 11 more girls in Borno

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62138

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SIGNING: From left, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Olusegun Aganga and Canadian Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Hon. Christian Paradis, at the signing of the Foreign Investment Protection Agreement between Nigeria and Canada, in Abuja, yesterday.

Boko Haram abducts 11 more girls in Borno

BY BEN AGANDE & NDAHI MARAMA

•US to deploy personnel, assets in rescue effort •Jonathan inaugurates committee on abducted girls M •APC flays First Lady's intervention

AIDUGURI—AS the Federal Government intensifies efforts to locate and rescue the more than 200 school girls abducted three weeks ago in Borno Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Boko Haram's satanism: see where politicisation of religion has led •P.19 us

Either Jonathan goes to Sambisa forest or... •P.19

Mr & Mrs

FOR CHIBOK GIRLS—Protesters outside the Nigerian Embassy in Washington,D.C., United States, demanding robust action to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, Borno State. Inset: President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo in a group photograph with members of the Presidential Committee on rescue of the abducted female students, yesterday, in Abuja.Photos: AFP/State House. See full list of committee members on Page 11.

BRAZIL 2014: Osaze, Yobo, Agbim make Keshi's list; Ike Uche out zSee Back Page for full list C M Y K

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SUMMIT—From left: President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, at a summit on child health in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Boko Haram abducts 11 more girls in Borno Continues from page 1 State, Boko Haram terrorists struck again, Monday night, abducting 11 teenage girls between the ages of 12 and 15 in Warabe village of Gwoza Local government area of the state.

The gunmen also carted away foodstuffs and livestock belonging to the villagers before fleeing into the bush.

Gwoza is about 160 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

A resident of Warabe village, Mallam Bello Umar, in a telephone call, confirmed the incident, pointing out that he was in the village when the terrorists struck before he ran to Gwoza.

Umar said: “A group of

terrorists invaded Warabe village on Monday night, abducted 11 of our teenage girls before carting away our foodstuffs and livestock. As I am talking to you now, I have escaped to Gwoza council headquarters, and even in Gwoza, we are restricted to the council secretariat due to the fear of the terrorists. The situation is so pathetic as almost all Gwoza people including villagers who came for safety are only restricted to a safer zone close to the council secretariat where there is enough presence of security personnel”, Bello stressed.

He explained that the gunmen numbering over 20 armed with AK-47 rifles did not kill anybody,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH Sometimes the word ‘no’ simply means ‘not now, but ask again’. So don’t let rejection stop you. Only when you see failure as final, are you finally a failure.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Let your light shine. Shine within you so that it can shine on someone else. Let your light shine— Oprah Winfrey

S

TAYING true to who you are means going right whenever everyone else goes left, it means leaving a place because you aren’t comfortable while everyone else stays, it means not wearing the same masks that everyone else wears, and showing your face, showing who you really are, while everyone else would rather wear the same masks in order to fit in. Not everyone will like you when you are yourself, but those that do will genuinely like you.

Not only will people like you, but they will like you for who you truly are and everything will become so much easier. Follow your own intuition, and follow what your heart says at all times, no matter what consequences come out of doing this. It is better being who you are than it is to pretend to be someone that you are not. As soon as you discover who you really are, take advantage of this knowledge of yourself and follow your heart!

but scared everybody and the parents by abducting the teenage girls in the presence of their parents, before fleeing towards the hilly border areas between Gwoza and Cameroon Republic.

Meanwhile, protests across the country continued yesterday to put pressure on the government to step up its rescue efforts of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Protests were held in Abuja, and Ebonyi even as President Goodluck Jonathan said that the Presidential Committee on the Rescue of the Abducted School girls was neither an administrative nor a judicial panel, and was not a replacement of the search and rescue effort by the security services.

The president has also accepted a definite offer of help from the United States of America in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the abducted girls.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on its part described the intervention of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan in the abduction of the schoolgirls as distracting.

US to deploy personnel, assets in rescue effort The offer of help from US President, Barack Obama, was conveyed to President Jonathan by the United States Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry in a telephone conversation which began at 3.30 pm yesterday.

Giving details of the assistance to be provided

by the United States, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in a statement said they include the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation.

He said Mr. Kerry assured President Jonathan that the United States was wholly committed to giving Nigeria all required support and assistance to save the abducted girls and bring the reign of terror unleashed on parts of the country by Boko Haram to an end.

President Jonathan, Dr Abati said, thanked Mr. Kerry for the call and offer of further assistance, saying that Nigeria’s security agencies who were already working at full capacity to find and rescue the abducted girls would appreciate the deployment of American counter-insurgency know-how and expertise in support of their efforts.

“After speaking with the United States Secretary of State, President Jonathan today (yesterday) met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and heads of national security agencies in continuation of the national efforts to find and rescue the abducted girls” he said.

The Presidential Spokesman said President Jonathan also received updates on the ongoing search and rescue effort, and gave approval for recommended further actions.

Jonathan inaugurates committee on Chibok girls President Jonathan also declared, yesterday, that the Presidential Committee on the Rescue of the Abducted School girls was neither an administrative and judicial panel nor a replacement for the search and rescue effort by the security services.

President Jonathan who spoke while inaugurating the committee however assured the international community and indeed all Nigerians that everything would be done to rescue the abducted girls.

“Let me assure the families and our dear daughters that in conjunction with international community that government will do everything possible to get our girls back.

“We share your pain and suffering and are with you in prayers. We urge you to co-operate with the investigations in spite of your understand-

ably difficult situation.

We implore you to remain strong,” the president said.

The President reiterated that the committee is neither a judicial committee nor an administrative committee to look into the affairs of the incident, pointing out that the clarification is necessary to avoid misconception and litigation.

He said that the operation of the security and intelligence services will continue to intensify till the girls are rescued and brought safely home to their families. Jonathan said that the committee would be primarily concerned with providing public interface with all directly concerned in the tragedy.

He said the objective was to provide a well-coordinated citizens’ inputs into the overall investigations. “Fellow country men and women, this is a trying moment for our country and it is reassuring that we have the empathy and cooperation of friendly countries from across the world at this time. “I am appreciative of the fact that this sad incident has attracted global outrage.

“This is a clear testimony to the fact that humanity can come together and stand as one against evil no matter how it is presented.

“This is the time when we must dwell together beyond all political, religious or regional divide against our common enemy.

“We must remain vigilant and be ready to assist security agencies and authorities at all time,” he said.

In his response, the chairman of the committee, Brig-Gen. Sabo thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would work assiduously to meet the expectation of Nigerians and the World.

Sabo also assured that they would discharge their duties without fear or favour.

Earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Fed-

eration, Sen Anyim Pius Anyim had said that the work of the committee would be largely factinding.

He said the terms of reference of the committee would be to liaise with the Borno State Government and establish the circumstances leading to the school remaining open for boarding students when other schools were closed. He said the committee should liaise with relevant authorities and the parents of the missing girls to establish the actual number and identities of the girls abducted.

Anyim added that the committee should interface with the security services and Borno State Government to ascertain how many of the missing girls have returned.

First Lady’s intervention distracting, counter-productive — APC Meantime, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the intervention of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan in the abduction of over 200 school girls as “distracting, counter-productive and calibrated to scapegoat others with the sole intention of exculpating her husband rather than finding the girls.

"Make no mistake about it, there is nothing wrong in the First Lady, as a woman and the mother of the nation, playing a role in resolving the unfortunate abduction of the girls, but that role must be within the realms of social activism, not in policy making or conduct of state affairs,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

It warned that melodrama, highlighted by the shedding of madefor-television crocodile tears, cannot and will not bring the girls back safely to their parents."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Police recover rifles from dustbin in Kano

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ANO —THE Police Command in Kano State said yesterday that it had recovered two rifles from a dustbin in Kano metropolis.

ASP Magaji Majia, the command’s spokesman, said this in a statement in Kano.

He said the recovered weapons included one K2 and one G3 rifles, adding that the feat was achieved following a tip-off.

"The command is particularly happy with the piece of information given which led to the recovery of two rifles concealed in a dustbin," Majia said.

He called on residents to continue to give valuable information to law enforcement agencies in order to maintain peace and order.

Man docked over theft of N45m house document

BY ONOZUREDANIA

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AGOS—A 64-yearold man, Adio Adeboye, who allegedly stole original title house document worth N45 million was, yesterday, charged before an Ikeja magistrate’s court.

The defendant, who was arraigned before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, ASP Eranus Nnamonu, told the court that Adeboye and others at large conspired to commit the offence sometimes in August 2012 at 25, Onipede Street, Lawanson area of Lagos.

He said the stolen house document belonged to one Alhaji Oseni.

Earlier the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and Magistrate Komolafe granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the matter till July 17, 2014.

Father jailed 6 yrs for killing his 9-month-old sick son with herbicide

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — THE Bauchi State High Court Number 10 presided by Justice Abdulkadir Hussein Suleiman has sentenced a father to six years in prison for administering chemical herbicide to his 9month-old child.

Counsel to the state Ministry of Justice, Mr Sha'awanatu Yusuf, earlier told the court that on June 6, 2013, the convict, Shitu Adamu of Zakshi village in Toro Local Government Area poisoned his nine-month-old biological son by administering herbicide chemical on him and as a result, the son died on the spot.

He said the act was culpable homicide punishable with death contrary to section 221 of the penal code.

In his evidence, the Police prosecutor, Sgt. Caiphas Adamu, told the court that the accused, who is a father of two, confessed to have committed the crime during investigation.

He said his nine-month-old son was sick and his wife, who was four-month pregnant, took him to hospital.

The Police prosecutor said his wife gave her husband a list of prescription, but he complained that he had no money at that time, so he administered a chemical herbicide on his son, thinking that it will cure the sickness, unfortunately the boy died.

The prosecutor said the accused attributed his action to poverty and unemployment and regretted his action in his confessional statement.

In her evidence, wife of the

accused, Lantana Shitu, said she went to fetch water in a pond and when she came back, she saw that her son was vomiting and later died.

She said: "I did not know what happened until three days later when our village head called my husband concerning the issue

and he confessed that he was the one that poisoned his son with herbicide."

In his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Abdulkadir Suleiman, said he considered the accused's plea for leniency made on his behalf by his counsel.

Illegally refined diesel in Gbekbo community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta, Monday. Photo: NAN.

Hunter mistakes man for antelope, shoots him dead in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — A 40-year- old hunter, Oguntola Joel, was yesterday arraigned before an

Abeokuta magistrate's court sitting in Isabo for allegedly shooting dead one Obasi John while pursuing an antelope in the bush.

Ogun police arrest 11 land grabbers with rifles, charms

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & SEGUN OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command said, yesterday, that it had arrested 11 land grabbers with weapons and charms while allegedly launching attacks on residents of Idi- Agbon, in Ilogbo-Ota in Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the suspects were arrested Saturday at about 6pm by men of anti-robbery team attached to Ota Area Command According to Adejobi, two AK-47 rifles, three pump action guns, 38 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition , 48

According to Justice Suleiman, "I have also taken into account that the convict is the first offender and appears to be remorseful throughout the trial. I hereby sentence him to six years imprisonment commencing from June 24, 2013, the day he was remanded in prison custody."

live cartridges, some offensive weapons and assorted charms were recovered from the suspects at the scene.

“Those arrested, who came from neighbouring states, include Wasiu Musa,33; Nasiru Olanrewaju, 28; Segun Iseotan, 25; Friday Onakpise, 24; Owolabi Shobayo, 32; Nurudeen Akanni, 21; Damilola Oluwole, 32; Segun Tehela, 33; Ajibola Adekunle, 33; Ademola Adenuga,30 and Olakunle Sholeye, 32.

“The activities of land grabbers or so-called Ajagungbales have been a concern to all and sundry in Ogun State particularly the police because of the terror they unleash on innocent people of the state and the sophisticated weapons they possess.

“The command will not in anyway tolerate any act of ter-

ror or hooliganism or vandalism in any form that is capable of causing mayhem, threats or fears in the minds of the good people of the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, has directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta to carry out a thorough investigation on the case and those found culpable be charged to court accordingly.

“The command, therefore, appeals to the general public to always inform the police or other security agencies around them of the criminal activities of these miscreants called Ajagungbales for necessary action and proper investigation as the command will not leave any stone unturned to get Ogun State rid of them.”

The prosecutor, Inspector Augustine Ozimini, told the court that Joel committed the murder on March 28, in a farm at Orile-Ilugun, Abeokuta while on hunting expedition.

He said that the offence was contrary to section 316(1) of the criminal code laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

But the accused denied that he deliberately killed the man, saying he went to his farm to hunt as usual on the fateful day when he saw an antelope and shot towards the direction of the animal, but surprisingly, he heard the groan of a human being.

According to him, I went to the police station to report the matter and I later took the man to hospital for treatment but he died the following day.

“I did not shoot him intentionally, I was running after an antelope not a human being,” he said.

The magistrate, Emmanuel Adekunte, who did not take the plea of the accused due to the nature of the charge, remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case till July 11, 2014, pending the advice of the Director Public Prosecution, DPP.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—7

Suspected kidnapper set ablaze in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — A WOMAN ac cused of an attempt to kidnap three primary school pupils in Ekoro area of Abule-Egba, Lagos was yesterday set ablaze by an angry mob.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after two primary school pupils were rescued from a suspected kidnapper at Ile-epo area of Egbe.

Report said the three pupils, two males and a female, whose ages were put between seven and 10 years, were on their way to school at about 7 a.m when the unnamed woman accosted them on a pretense that she was taking them to school.

But a female hawker said to have suspected her moves reportedly alerted bystanders along Ekoro Road who challenged the woman.

Eye witnesses said the woman claimed the children were hers, but the names she called them differed from those the children gave.

Eye witnesses further said the direction the woman was taking the children to was not that of the school the children attend.

According to an eye witness, who gave his name as Chionye, "All the responses she gave were contrary to that given by the pupils.

"When asked of the name of the school, she had to strain her eyes to see if she could read it from the badge on the children's school uniform. When we asked the pupils if they knew her, they shook their heads.

"It was at that point that a man from the crowd that had gathered round her said the woman parked her car somewhere around the direction she was taking the chil-

dren.

"Not satisfied with her explanation, the mob was said to have descended on her, in the process of which she was set ablaze before the arrival of policemen.

The incident reportedly caused a hitch in the free flow of traffic.

Effort to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, failed as she could not be reached on

phone.

Meanwhile, effort by another woman to kidnap two primary school pupils, Monday, at Ile-epo area of Egbe was foiled by passers-by.

Report said the woman had succeeded in abducting the children and took them under the bridge and was making calls to some unknown person that she had found some ‘goods’ when she was ap-

Executive Secretary, Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Arab Rukuje (right), with the Head, Department of Education and Social Development, Billiri Local Government Area, Malam Ibrahim Puma, presenting relief materials to victims of April 17 windstorm in Gombe State, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Siblings in remand for drug trafficking

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered the remand at the Ikoyi prisons, Lagos of two siblings, Innocent Okafor and Uzoamaka Nnamani, charged with drug trafficking.

The accused are being prosecuted by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful importation and possession of a restricted narcotic.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution informed the

Female worker stabs colleague to death in Aba

BY ERIC UGBOR

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BA— A FEMALE worker identified as Miss Chiamaka Osondu, 30, who works in a local custard manufacturing factory in Aba has been arrested by Policemen from Ndiegoro Division for allegedly stabbing her colleague, Miss Chizoba Nwachukwu, 22, to death with a knife.

According to reports, the factory located at 18, Adimora Street in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State was deserted by other workers shortly after the incident when it became clear that their colleague was dead.

It was gathered that the Chiamaka had been absenct from work for two weeks and within the period of her absence, the deceased was making use of a plastic rubber that belongs to her colleague which the suspect didn't like on resumption.

A source who didn't want to be mentioned for fear of being victimized said: "On Monday, when Chiamaka resumed work unan-

prehended.

Passers-by among whom was one Colonel Adeniran, reportedly kept the woman hostage before the arrival of policemen from Ejigbo division.

Sources at the division said investigation was ongoing.

The arrest brings to fore, five cases of foiled kidnap attempt in two weeks.

nounced, she met Chizoba using her plastic rubber to mix custard.

She confronted her.

It was while they were exchanging words that Chizoba hit her with something on her cheek and in retaliation, Chiamaka stabbed her on the neck with a sharp object which resulted to bleeding and her death."

It was gathered that the victim fled the scene after she noticed that her colleague was gasping for breath. She was said to have died before help could come her way.

Contacted, Geoffrey Ogbonna, Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, said he was yet to be informed of the incident.

Workers of the closed Arewa textiles factory protesting the sales of the factory without paying their outstanding salaries and other benefits in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

court that the accused committed the offence on December 24, 2013, as they were arrested by officers of the NDLEA at the Nigerian Postal Service in Jos, Plateau State.

The accused were said to have conspired with one Ikechukwu Nnamani who is now at large, to import about 1.8 kilogrammes of cocaine from Trinidad and Tobago, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja into Nigeria.

The prosecution said the accomplice had also conspired with the accused to conceal the narcotic as a parcel and transferred same to them from Lagos to Jos, through NIPOST. According to the prosecutor, operatives of the NDLEA, on a tip-off, discovered the content of the parcel and then decided to carry out a “control delivery,” by disguising as officers of NIPOST in Jos. He said the accused were eventually arrested when they arrived the NIPOST office in Jos to claim the parcel.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 11, 14, and 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Justice Musa Kurya in a short ruling, fixed May 23 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded in prison pending the determination of their bail.

Woman, daughter arraigned for abduction in Benin

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BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN— A WOMAN, Magdalene Ohenhen, 47, and her daughter, Grace, 23, have been arraigned by the Police in Edo State magistrate's court for allegedly abducting a 19-year-old girl, one Miss Precious Ogiefa.

The duo are being charged for conspiracy to commit felony and unlawful abduction and if convicted, they are liable to seven years imprisonment.

Police prosecutor, Sylvester Omor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, told the court that the accused conspired to commit the felony on March 22, at Noghahase Str., off First East Circular road, Benin where they abducted Miss Precious Ogiefa.

According to the prosecutor, the accused capitalized on the girl’s health challenges to abduct her contrary to the provisions of sections 516 and 361 of the Criminal Code.

He said it was the victim’s father, Mr. Paul Ogiefa, who lodged a report with the police, accused the suspects of abducting his daughter.

When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty and Chief Magistrate Mike Osayi admitted them to bail in the sum of N300,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

He adjourned the case till May 15, 2014 for hearing.

...2 for impersonation In another development, two persons, Faruke Usman, 25 and Shehu Abubakar, 23, have been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrates Court for alleged impersonation.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Sylvester Omor, told the court that on April 14, 2014, the accused presented themselves as Army officers before the public in Benin-City and fought with a police officer, Ahonle Igein, thereby committing an offence contrary to sections 109 and 351 of the Criminal Code.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

PETAN, NCDMB, Shell to train 100 engineers

CHIBOK C'TTEE:

From left— Vice President Namadi Sambo, President G o o d l u c k Jonathan and Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (Rtd.), Chairman of the committee on the kidnapped C h i b o k schoolgirls, during the committee's inauguration in Abuja.

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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O U S T O N (TEXAS)—TO enhance and grow indigenous capacity, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, said it had entered into agreements with the Nigerian Content Development Board, NCDMB, and the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to train fresh graduate engineers.

Giving more details about the programme, which is still in its pilot stage, the Assistant Publicity Secretary, PETAN, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, said at a briefing in Texas, it was to bridge the capacity gap in the industry.

He explained that part of the objectives of the internship, which will last for one year, is to produce home grown engineers that will be groomed to become specialists in their respective fields to strengthen capacity in the industry.

Lawal said: “There will be a rippling effect in the economy. We will also be adding value in the industry and creating our home grown engineers.”

He explained that under the pilot scheme, 100 of the graduates will be sent to the NCDMD, while 40 will be sent to Shell, to acquire handson experience from their various fields.

He added that after graduation, the engineers will be absorbed by the organisations, but strictly on a need basis for which Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, have already been signed by the respective parties.

He said PETAN was talking with other organisations to key into the programme with a view to signing similar MoUs with them.

Why turnaround maintenance of refineries was stalled— NNPC

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

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OUSTON (TEXAS)— FACTS have emerged that the refusal of the original equipment manufacturers of Nigeria’s refineries to do the longawaited turn around

maintenance, TAM, may have stalled the project.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, gave the indication at the ongoing Offshore Technology

Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas.

According to Yakubu, who represented the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, the major thrust of the TAM was to invite the original equipment manufacturers

... says domestic gas supply 'll increase by 250m SCF

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU & SEBASTINE OBASI

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OUSTON (TEXAS)— THE Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has promised that domestic gas supply will increase by 250 million standard cubic feet, SCF, before year end.

If it happens, the constant agitation by Nigerians on account of lack of access to gas for domestic use, particularly for power, may be a thing of the past.

Yakubu told journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, that domestic gas supply is an essential ingredient in the Federal Government’s gasto-power project.

He said: “Today, NNPC is the largest producer of gas for domestic use. We produce over 400 million SCF, and as we speak plans are underway to jack it up to 250 million SCF by the end of the year.

“There is a lot that is going

on in terms of gas investment, particularly gas-to-power investment, which is a key component of the Federal Government’s agenda.”

The GMD also said that gas production in the last three years has been on the increase despite the challenges faced in the sector.

Yakubu said: “Within the current physical regime, we have been able to move from 300 million SCF to 500 million SCF. This, by any global standard, is impressive. We also intend to continue to build on that.”

He also explained that one of the major challenges of domestic gas supply was the commercial framework.

He said: “Gas investment is capital intensive. Commercial framework has been put in place and gas price is one major factor in the process today, because gas investment is demand driven.

“We have a good framework now than what we had before. Are we there yet?

No, we are not there yet. We are working with the relevant agencies to ensure that the right environment is there.”

Recall that power operators continually complain of gas

shortages to feed their plants, thereby resulting in the very poor electricity supply that Nigerians have faced in the recent time.”

Multinational gas suppliers have used the excuses of unfair pricing and constant pipeline vandalism as major obstacles to sustainable gas supply for gas to power.

As regards the low level of foreign direct investment in the oil and gas sector due to the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the NNPC helmsman said that before the bill, there were some enabling laws governing the industry, which have made it possible for the sustenance of the sector.

He said: “Before the PIB, there were quite some enabling laws governing the industry and within the provisions of these laws, we have been able to acquire this.

“The essence of the PIB is to further enhance and create a better environment for investments. It is certainly going to add value when it comes, but before it comes, we have to make do with what we have.”

from Japan to undertake the project.

He said: “The turnaround maintenance is actually scheduled for certain interventions that require total shut down of the plants.

We are aware that we scheduled the turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery for instance.

“A lot has happened in Port Harcourt turnaround initiative.

Orders for virtually all the long list of items required for it have been placed. We will soon receive their delivery, and we are also having challenges with equipment manufacturers.

“The major thrust was to invite the original equipment manufacturers to come into the country to do this.

Unfortunately, we have challenges. Port Harcourt refinery, for instance, was built by Japan Gasoline Corporation, JGC. “The company had a challenge of coming to Nigeria, but we have quite some fall back arrangement with their partners, and that constituted a setback.

“We are still talking to them. We are still getting the numbers. We must be happy that the numbers are good enough to back up the turnaround initiatives.

“We do not have to do it at all cost. We have been able to meet the vendor that original equipment manufacturer introduced.”

He explained that the maintenance is supposed to be carried out regularly by NNPC, which has the statutory requirement to maintain and operate the refineries.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 —9

Reps summon PPMC, MD over N10bn aircraft charter scandal

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA— THE House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, PAC, mandated to probe the alleged air charter services scam involving the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke, has again summoned the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, and its Managing Director, Mr. Haruna Momoh, to appear before it or face criminal charges.

According to a memo dated April 30 and signed by the Chairman of PAC, Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and addressed to Momoh, PPMC and its MD have within one week to submit in a written form all they knew about the charter of the 850 Challenger Aircraft.

The Committee, in the memo, said that the summon was “based on the response from Vistajet International

Limited one of the companies involved in the transactions.

“It was emphasised that you and PPMC played a central role in the charter of the 850 Challenger Aircraft. You are, therefore, requested to submit a memorandum on your involvement and that of the PPMC in the said transaction,” the memo stated.

Contents

The memorandum, according to the Committee, shall include but not limited to details of the financial transaction on the amount paid by NNPC/PPMC to Vistajet International Ltd for the charter and maintenance of the 850 Challenger Aircraft and other related aircraft such as the OE LXR GLOBAL EXPRESS XRS from January 2012 till date; Details of any financial liabilities that may be currently outstanding on the charter and maintenance of the 850 Challenger Aircraft and other related aircraft used by the

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Alison Madueke for both national and international trips; Copies of the agreement (if any) between NNPC/PPMC and Vistajet International Lt over the charter and maintenance of the 850 Challenger Aircrafts OE LXR GLOBAL EXPRESS XRS and other related aircraft by the Minister.

The memo also read: “The manifest in the custody of the committee revealed that you have always been in the company of the Minister while on international trips on board the said aircraft, you are therefore required to furnish details and particulars of trips (with the Minister) embarked upon by yourself with the Minister and the justification for such tips.”

It was further stressed in the memo that failure of the PPMC and its MD to submit the memorandum as required would be considered as a

criminal offence and would be treated as such.

It said that apart from the submission of the memorandum, PPMC and its MD would also appear before the committee for a public hearing on a date to be communicated to them.

Although Olamilekan could not be immediately reached for comments on the fresh invitation, a member of the committee confirmed the development in confidence to the Vanguard, yesterday.

Operations during WEF

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said yesterday that all airports would remain operational during the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Abuja between May 7 and 9.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, disclosed this to aviation correspondents in Lagos.

Stallion floats farmers' group

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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TALLION Group, yesterday, said it had formed a farmers' association to boost commercial rice production in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company said: “Stallion owns and operates the country ’s largest integrated rice milling facility and has formed Popular Progressive Farmers Association that is working tirelessly to improve farm yields and bring in sustainable and scalable growth to farmers.

“Under its Rice Backwards Integration Scheme they now have a direct approach to more than 5,000 farmers and almost 20 various cooperatives, which ensure that farmers become scalable into their approach and farm income becomes lucrative.”

Glo repositions for customers

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BRIEFING: From left— Mr. Olumide Akindele, Head, Consumer Proposition Group; Mrs Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communication Division; Mrs Chidinma Lawanson, Head, Human Capital Management and Mr. Peter Bamkole, Director, Enterprise Development, all of Diamond Bank Plc, during a briefing on the 4th edition of Building Entrepreneurs Today, BET4, programme in Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Indigenous ship owners seek 60% oil lifting rights

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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HE Nigerian Indigenous Ship Owners Association, NISA, has asked for 60 percent oil lifting rights for Nigerians instead of the current 40 percent.

Chairman of NISA, Chief Issac Jolapamo, who made this demand at a briefing, yesterday, said Nigeria was the only oil producing and exploration country that does not lift its crude oil.

He explained that the

carriage of Nigeria’s crude had always been on free-on-board, FOB, as against Cost Freight and Insurance, CIF. Jolapamo noted that the 40 percent crude lifting rights granted to Nigerians is against the law, adding that the law gives 60 percent lifting rights to Nigerians.

Commending the Federal Government for making Nigerians part of the crude oil carriage rights, he said that the 60 percent provision must be adhered to with a view to

developing the shipping industry in Nigeria.

He said: “It is gratifying to note that part of the conditions to grant the right of to lift crude oil is that they must work with Nigerian ship owners for the carriage contract in order to develop the Nigerian shipping industry in particular and the Nigerian economy in general by creating employment for Nigerians.

“This is in line with the provision of the Nigerian oil

and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, particularly the aspect of schedule which fits into the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“We humbly ask the Minister of Petroleum Resources to review the list of successful oil traders and publish the names of the local shipping companies.

“This is the least require-ment if the government wants to demonstrate transparency.”

UBSCRIBERS of Globacom will soon begin to enjoy best quality in both voice and data services.

This promise is driven by the company ’s massive network expansion, swapping of old base stations with new ones and modernisation of existing infrastructure, which is done to position the company’s network to deliver best quality service that is comparable with any network anywhere in the world.

These were the promises of Globacom’s Chief Operating Officer, GCOO, Mr. Mohamed Jameel, at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

The GCOO addressed the media in company of other top executives of the company, including its Head of Operations, Mr. Bisi Koleosho.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Jonathan, Amosun mourn Otedola

Poisoning in Lagos school caused by reacting chemicals – GOVT

BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

BY BENAGANDE

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday commiserated with the Otedola family and Lagos State government on the death of the former governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola Sir Otedola, 87, died Monday around 9 a.m. at his Odoragushin residence in Epe, Lagos State.

President Jonathan in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan joined other Nigerians “In mourning the very distinguished politician, elder statesman and philanthropist who served as Governor of Lagos State between 1992 and 1993 with commendable courage, wisdom and fortitude.

President Jonathan extended his heartfelt condolences to Governor Babatunde Fashola, the government and people of Lagos State on the passing away of former governor of the state, Sir Michael Otedola.

On his part, Governor Amosun also commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State on the death of former governor, Sir Michael Otedola.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, governor Amosun recalled the victory of the former governor when he was elected on the platform of the National Republican Convention, NRC, between 1992 and 1993 and described him as “a fulfilled politician and an accomplished technocrat.

“Baba contributed his bit to the development of Lagos State as governor between 1992 and 1993 before that d e m o c r a t i c dispensation was truncated by the then military junta,” he said.

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government, yesterday said the recent poisonous emission that affected the pupils of Ogba Junior Grammar School, Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA was a chemical reaction that affected breathing when inhaled.

According to the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and the Special Adviser to the governor on Environment, Mr. Taofiq Folami, who spoke at Alausa, the reacting chemicals caused serious irritation especially in the pupils respiratory system.

Two cases of gaseous emission were recorded two months ago in the school, leaving 15 pupils hospitalised. Folami, explained that the incidents made the state government conduct comprehensive investigation into the cases and in found an old and disused septic tank in a corner of the school.

According to him, “During our investigation, what we did was to establish the source of the poisonous fumes. I can say authoritatively that 15 pupils were affected by the poisonous fumes.

They had some respiratory challenges after inhaling the poisonous fumes. We found out

VISIT: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle) with the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Commission, Chief Wale Mogaji (4th left); Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left); Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Adejoke Odeyemi (2ndleft); Mr. Sunmi Lanre Odesanya (left back row); Head of Service, Mrs. Seyi Williams (3rd left); Hon. Mrs. Risikat Adeniyi-Adegeye (3rd right) and other members of the State Executive Council during the courtesy call on Governor Fashola at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday. that the problem was particular to that school because there was a primary school next to the Ogba Junior Grammar School, interestingly; none of the primary school pupils was affected.

“Based on that, we shut the

school for 15 days and we found experiment within and outside the school. With our effort, we were privileged to discover an isolated and disused septic tank.

This was where larger percent of the emission came from. And

because it was old, the school management did not understand the impact of the septic tank on their pupils. The poisonous fumes are prevalent whenever it rains heavily in the community, at this time, the fumes will increase.”

Nigeria, others declared worst places for pregnancy

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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new report released by the United Nations shows a 45 percent reduction in the global incidence of maternal deaths in the last 25 years as Nigeria and other sub_Saharan countries are said to be the riskiest places for pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Estimates by a new UN report show that 289,000 women died in 2013 from complications in pregnancy and childbirth, compared to 523 000 in 1990 just as results of a World Health Organisation, WHO, study, revealed that more than 1 in 4 maternal deaths are

caused by pre-existing medical conditions including diabetes, HIV, malaria and obesity.

Nigeria ranks high among countries with high maternal mortality rates with a ratio of 545 per 100,000 live births according to the Federal Ministry of Health.

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AGOS—THE United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, yesterday in Lagos, faulted the United States warning of terror strikes in Nigeria, saying it did not conform to responsible dissemination of information?.

At a briefing after its 15th Emergency Executive meeting,

Nutrition and Population, World Bank Group, Tim Evans, said “Thirty-three maternal deaths per hour is 33 too many. We need to document every one of these tragic events, determine their cause, and initiate corrective actions urgently.”

Lagos Assembly okays tolling on Lekki - Ikoyi Bridge

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—LAGOS State House of Assembly, yesterday approved the introduction of electronic tolling of Lekki-Ikoyi Link

UNDEDSS condemns USA terror alert

BY DAPO AKINREFON

Already, no less than 52,900 women and girls in the country die every year from pregnancyrelated causes. For every woman that dies, at least 20 others suffer obstetric fistula, infections and other disabilities.

Commenting on the study report, Director, Health,

its chairman and secretary, Professor Pat Utomi and Mr. Tony Uranta, said “Whether intentional or not, the mode by which the United States chose, last week, to warn its citizens and others, of suspected terror strikes in Nigeria, do not conform to responsible dissemination of information, and could even be said to be enhancing the alarmist objective of all terror acts and threats”.

Bridge, saying the passage of this resolution would serve as legal backing and appropriate maintenance of the Bridge.

It will be recalled that Lagos State Government had secured a judgment at a Federal High court on 24th April for stay of execution of an earlier judgment stopping the tolling of the link bridge.

The Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye, had at the sitting, read a motion on the floor tagged; “Concession Agreement for Electronic Tolling System of the LekkiIkoyi Toll Bridge.”

He said: “That pursuant to section 33 of the Lagos State Public Partnership Law, 2011 this House does resolve to approve the request for the ratification of the Electronic

Tolling System Operations and Maintenance; Concession Terms and condition as forwarded by the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.”

While urging speedy ratification of the governor ’s proposal, the Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo noted that there had been “a backlog of infrastructural delay in Lagos.

This is one of the ways to solve the problems.”

The House leader explained that there were two main benefits associated with the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, saying: “It serves dual purposes: apart from being the shortest route to Obalande, it also being used for exercises, going by the level of patronage on the Bridge.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—11

APC crisis: Ikimi raises alarm over exodus of members zSays all is not well

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — V I C E Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, South- South region, Chief Tom Ikimi, has raised the alarm over the impending exodus of members of the party nationwide, urging party leaders to urgently wade into the crisis rocking the party in some states, including Ogun, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Edo states, to avoid a political disaster.

Chief Ikimi, in a letter written to the interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, said he consulted nationwide and discovered that “all is also not well."

He lamented being almost rendered incapacitated in the region to resolve the political logjams in the party, accusing the party leadership of establishing ‘strange channels of communication’.

Ikimi also claimed that he had gathered that “some secret names are now being compiled to form National Convention Committee.

How we are to proceed to a National Convention under the present circumstance baffles me.”

According to him, "I have spoken to party members and leaders across the country and the

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INTERACTIVE SESSION: Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party's ,PDP, candidate for the 2014 gubernatorial election in the state, Dr. Ayodele Fayose at an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Automobile Technician Association, NATA, in the state. feeling is unanimous regarding the downward trend of things. I am writing this from Benin, you must have gathered from the press and other sources all is also not well.

“The latest problems arise from the Congresses, where in the South-South region, there are fundamental problems in Delta,

Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Edo. I have been informed of similar problems in other states across the country.

“Parallel Excos have emerged in Ogun State. Here in the South South, I could personally do nothing as a leader or the South South Vice Chairman since the arrangements on

ground give me no powers to operate.

“Party headquarters has established very strange channels of communication with my region and State. I accepted the position of South-South Vice Chairman just to assist build our party in this region. Unfortunately I have not been allowed to do so.

Bamidele resumes cam paign ttour our aults FFa ayemi campaign our,, ffaults

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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DO EKITI—THE Labour Party, LP, gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti

Jonathan inaugurates c'ttee on Chibok schoolgirls

State, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele yesterday resumed his suspended electioneering campaign tour.

Fayemi faulted the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC-

led government’s claim of free education and access to basic health care, saying "this runs contrary to what is on ground Bamidele noted that parents in rural areas pay through their noses to send their children to school."

According to him, what he was seeing said nothing of the existing health care centres being properly equipped to cater for the residents.

Bamidele made this assertion

during his electioneering campaign tour in communities and farm settlements in Ise/Orun Local Government Area.

The LP chieftain lamented how successive governments neglected them since the creation of the area council.

Bamidele took a swipe at the current administration for failing in its duties even with the huge debt incurred for projects without direct impact on the lives of the people.

Osun LP chieftain alleges threat to life

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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S O G B O — A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has raised the alarm over threat to his life, claiming some unnamed persons plan to assassinate him.

In a petition to the state Commissioner of Police through his lawyer, G.A Adesina & Co with reference number GAAC/ LP/2014/01 and dated 3rd May, 2014, Akinbade alleged that there were plans also to disrupt his planned declaration billed for Freedom Park in Osogbo, tomorrow.

Akinbade in the petition titled, “Destabilisation of Labour Party and plan to Assassinate top Labour members”, the former Secretary to the State Government accused the opposition, particularly the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, of being the brain behind the alleged plot.

“It is necessary to intimate you these groups have also perfected plans to disrupt our client’s planned declaration of intention to run on the platform of the Labour Party scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 8, 2014.”

However, the APC advised Alhaji Akinbade to look elsewhere for his suspected assailants, not in APC.

R E S I D E N T G o o d l u c k Jonathan yesterday inaugurated the Presidential Committee on the Rescue of the Abducted Schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The list: (i) Brig. General Ibrahim Sabo (rtd.), Chairman. (ii) Mr. Femi Falana (SAN ), member. (iii) Hajia Hawa Ibrahim, member (iv) Hajia Fatima Kwaku, member. (v) Two representatives of National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, member. (vi) Two representatives of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, one whom shall be a female, members. (vii) Two representatives of Parents Teachers Association, members. (viii) Two representatives of the Nigeria Police, members. (ix) Two representatives of the Department of State Services, members. (x) Two representatives of the Nigerian Army, members. (xi) Two representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, members. (xii) One representative of the Federal Ministry of Information (who shall be the Committees’ spokesperson), member. (xiii) One representative of the Federal Ministry of Justice, member. (xiv) Three representatives of Borno State Government (two of whom, preferably, shall be women), members. (xv) One representative of the United Nations, member. (xvi) One representative of ECOWAS (who shall be a woman), member (xvii) Permanent Secretary (Special Services Office) OSGF, Secretary.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

APC crisis: Gunfire by police officer causes panic in Edo Assembly …as APC accuses Ize-Iyamu of “pathological fixation” on becoming Edo Gov

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN—THERE was anxiety, yesterday, at the premises of the Edo State House of Assembly, Benin City, following sporadic gunshots fired by a police officer attached to one of the lawmakers.

Tension heightened at the Assembly following the resignation from the All Progressives Congress, APC, of the members loyal to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu last Monday.

Four of the lawmakers are loyal to the group.

Meanwhile, the party has accused Pastor Ize-Iyamu of having a “pathological fixation” on becoming the governor of the state, no matter what it took.

Interim state Chairman of the party, Chief Osaro Idah, in a statement, reacting to the resignation of Ize-Iyamu, said that while the party’s congresses were still in progress and not yet concluded, IzeIyamu who is a pastor and a few of his friends were already protesting a process which was still ongoing and yet to be concluded.

According to the statement, "Ize-Iyamu’s resignation from APC will not in any way affect the fortunes of the party, rather, the party will consolidate on growing its stature in the state.

“Leaders of APC in Edo State met May 6, 2014 to review the recent development

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in the political space in the state, in particular, the action of Ize-Iyamu and a handful of his friends who have resigned their membership of APC. “This development is directly related to actions arising from the long-planned and all-consuming pathological fixation of Ize-Iyamu of becoming the next governor of Edo State without regard for truly building the party and respect for established rules and regulations. It is no wonder that after giving a seven-day ultimatum, within a

couple of days, the Pastor and his friends were in Abuja holding meetings with leaders of the opposition party from this state, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP national leaders and the President of the country, which in itself is nothing short of anti-party activity.

“We note that contestations on issues of party registration,congresses and even primaries are not peculiar to APC in Edo State, but to party politics in gen-

eral, especially in emerging democracies.

“We state categorically that the APC has well-established structures, mechanisms and processes to redress grievances of all aggrieved party members, it is regrettable that Ize-Iyamu and his friends have not deemed it fit to avail themselves of this opportunity. It is instructive to note that the congresses are still in progress when they threatened to leave the party."

PRESENTATION: From right: Deputy Governor, Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) presenting Delta Football Association (DFA) Lifetime Achievement Award to the Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku, represented by Executive Director, South-South/ South-East, Mr. Kingsley Umadia, during the 15th Ecobank/Delta State Federations Cup Final in Warri.

Jonathan visits Gbaramatu zAs youth leader hails maritime varsity take-off

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YOUTH leader in Okerenkoko community, Delta State, Mr. Timi Oluba, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, for the flag-off of the Maritime University, that will take place on Saturday.

Oluba, in a statement yesterday, expressed satisfaction with the preparations being made by Tompolo to give President Jonathan and his entourage a warm reception.

He said: “I can assure you that our leader, Chief Tompolo, is doing everything possible to ensure the successful flag-off of the university.

“Tompolo will also give the President a colourful reception and I urge all sons and daughters of Gbaramatu to join our leader, Tompolo, to welcome President Jonathan to Gbaramatu, an opportunity we have long waited for.”

Don’t turn Chibok girls' abduction into jamboree —NAIG President

Madam Itabor passes on at 92

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ARRI—ITSEKIRI graduates across the world have cautioned the Federal and state governments, political parties, groups and other stakeholders not to turn the issue of the kidnapped Chibok school girls into another social jamboree, stressing that if the spate of organised protests and politicisation of the abduction was not properly managed, the girls may never be found.

The Itsekiri graduates, under the aegis of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, expressed fears that the conflicting figures on the actual number of girls abducted, the unusual silence of security agencies as well as the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan on the whereabouts of the missing girls, were issues that should call for deep reflection, so as not to make the abduction another endless story that may

cause the entire nation deep hole in the heart.

NAIG, in a statement by Alero Tenumah, said: “The porous nature of our territorial borders, particularly between Nigeria, Cameroun and Chad, against the backdrop of state of emergency declared in Adamawa,

Yobe and Bornu states, is another aspect of the missing girls’ story that should bother Nigerians and the international community.”

It called on the Federal Government to step up efforts in the areas of intelligence gathering and trust-

ed synergy among security agencies in the country to ensure the rescue of the missing girls, rather than the on-going socio-politicisation of what is “gradually becoming a national embarrassment.”

List of abducted girls underreported —Temi Harriman

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FORMER House of Representatives member, Ms Temi Harriman, has expressed worry that the number of girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, may have been underreported.

Harriman expressed concern and called for prayers for the release of the abducted girls, noting that the list of abductees released on Sunday did not

include all the missing girls.

She particularly noted two of the girls related by birth to two of her aides, whose names were not among those mentioned in the list.

Lamenting the fate of the students, she called on the authorities to ensure the immediate release of the girls.

She said: “We are all sad over the killings by Boko Haram for so many years

and now the dehumanising abduction of over 200 brave young women, who sought betterment of their lives through education. We pray to God for their safe return to their families and entreat government to ensure the release of the girls and protection of lives and property of all in the North-East of Nigeria.”

ADAM Priscilia Itabor of Ogbegbo Village, Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government of Delta State, is dead, aged 92.

She was a devout Christian and is survived by children, grand children and great-grand children.

According to the programme by the family, interment takes place on May 9, 2014 at their family compound in UbuluUku.

Late Madam Itabor

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 13

Jonathan’s visit to Maritime Varsity, new beginning for Okerenkoko —Tangbowei

C-River to rehabilitate NigeriaCameroon highway

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PROMINENT woman leader in Delta State, Chief Vero Tangbowei, has said that the proposed visit by President Goodluck Jonathan to flag off the Maritime University in Okerenkoko/Kurutei, Gbaramatu Kingdom on May 10,20014 will mark the beginning of massive transformation and development of the area.

Tangbowei told journalists that the flag off of the Maritime University at the temporary site in Kurutei will afford the people of the riverine area and the vast majority of Nigerians the opportunity to be trained in the maritime institution as certified maritime officers for various categories in the maritime industry.

She said that the proposed Nigeria Maritime University will provide the people of the area the needed encouragement and incentive to invest in academics, adding that the university will boost the socio-economic life of the area.

She said: “The Maritime University will throw open the doors of employment for jobless graduates, who roam the streets thereby reducing the prevalence of crime in the society.”

Madam Afam for burial

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RS. Priscilla Afam aged 83, is dead.

A service of songs will hold on May 8, 2014 at her residence No 38, Memeh Street, Agbor at 4 pm. Burial takes place on Friday, May 9, 2014 at her residence.

She is survived by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Late Mrs Priscilla Afam

DONATION: From right: Miss Omasan Arubi, Mrs. Misan Astedosan, Mrs. Rosemary Tiemo, Mrs Grace Nwaduegbo (Financial Sec.) Mrs. Juliet Aghante (President); Mrs. Rita Amuka (Vice President ); Mrs. Lizzy Barry, Mrs Kate Aghante, Mrs Juliana Awonuga, Mrs. J. Aderinlowo and Mrs Eunice Lube, when members of Ogho – Oritsewarene Itsekiri Ladies Society, Lagos, donated books and provisions to Akwarajo Primary School, Koko, Delta State, recently.

Terrorism: Minimah orders promotion of 296 soldiers for gallantry A

BY FKINGSLEY OMONOBI

BUJA—FOLLOWINGof a display of gallantry by soldiers of the Nigerian Army when they successfully repelled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General K.T.J. Minimah, has ordered the promotion of 296 soldiers.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Olajide Laleye, made the disclosure, yesterday. He said that prosecuting large scale counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations as well as numerous other operations in aid of civil authority, in virtually every state of the federation, had put enormous pressure on the personnel resources of the Nigerian Army.

He said: “In several instances, Nigerian Army personnel have paid the supreme price for the safety of all of us while others have sustained life threatening injuries which they may have to manage for the rest of their lives.

"To ameliorate the sufferings that could emanate from operational conditions, the COAS recently came up with some new directives regarding the welfare of the injured and families

of deceased personnel “The COAS has directed that forthwith, the Army would ensure continued sustenance of the family of any deceased personnel until all the entitlements of the affected personnel have been settled.

“Towards this end, all personnel have been directed to ensure that documentation and records on their next of kin are brought up to date to ensure expeditious payment of entitlements when necessary.

“Also, allowances and promotion of personnel are to receive prompt consideration. For instance, the COAS recently directed the immediate promotion of soldiers who displayed gallantry in the face of the enemy.

“Similarly, in a bid to ensure the provision of timely and adequate medical attention to personnel who sustain injuries in the course of the ongoing campaign in the North East, the Army has established dedicated wards in the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, to provide specialised services to affected personnel.

“Additionally, personnel whose medical cases merit medical evacuation abroad would be accorded that opportunity without delay.”

Expatiating on the new

directives, Laleye said, “The import of these new measures should not be

lost to anyone because they are potential force multipliers."

S part of efforts to promote socio-economic relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon communities, Cross River State Government has promised to undertake the rehabilitation of the failed portions of the NigeriaCameroon road in the state.

Governor Lyle Imoke disclosed this in Nyaje Village, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, during the reception for the marriage between Mabel Effiong and Supol Paulinus Effiong Njah, the commander of his escort fleet.

Imoke, who lamented the deplorable condition of the road which stretches from Calabar through Ekang to Manfe in Cameroon, noted that though the area was endowed with rich natural and human resources, they were poor due to lack of access road to convey their agricultural produce to urban areas.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Oko crises latest: Banished man sues monarch, town union leader for N50m

Police parade medical doc for selling babies in Anambra

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — A medical doctor and owner of Nkemefuna Hospital, Umunachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Dr. Daniel Ikebuilo, was paraded yesterday, by the state police command over alleged sale of babies and sponsoring young girls for purposes of buying up their babies after delivery in his clinic.

The command also paraded six others for alleged involvement in kidnapping, gun-running, others across the state.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, who paraded the suspects at the headquarters of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu, said it was the second time Dr. Ikebuilo was being arrested for the same offence.

Ezinna Nkwocha goes home

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NITSHA — A native of Oko in Orum ba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Sopulu Ezeonwuka, has dragged the traditional ruler of the area, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, and the President-General of Oko Peoples Union, OPU, Mr. Ike Nwammuo, to court, claiming N50 million as general damCOMMISSIONING: From left, Financial Controller, Stanbic IBTC, Tosin ages.

Ezeonwuka is one of the 13 indigenes of the Odutayo; Director, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Ifeoma Esiri; Head Teacher, GRA Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. Bridget Osayande; Chief Architect, Lagos community allegedly banished by the tradiState Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Olabodunrin Oki, and Education tional ruler recently over their involvement Secretary, Local Government Education Authority, Ikeja, Alhaja Risikat Shit- in the crisis in the community.

In a statement of claim filed at Ekwulobia tu, at the commissioning of a library donated by Stanbic IBTC to the school.

High Court Registry in Aguata Judicial Division, the plaintiff, through his legal counsel, Joe Onuoha, was claiming the amount from the defendants for the loss and injury allegedly suffered by him on account of the banishment for life, ex-communication and

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO Ajagu directed all the Muslem wanted to see the much cher- ostracism meted out on him by faithful to adhere strictly to the ished Paradise of God. the defendants since March fasting and prayers since, acAjagu appealed to Muslim 31, 2014.

NITSHA — THE Nigeri cording to him, it is only God that leaders and fathers of Boko The plaintiff is also seeking an Supreme Council for can restore peace and harmony Haram members to call their sub- a declaration of the court that Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has in- in the country. jects to order now that they were the resolution taken by the troduced one month fasting and He condemned the activities of over-stepping their bounds be- General Assembly of OPU on prayers to seek God’s interven- the Boko haram sects, adding that fore it was too late.

March 31, 2014, banishing tion in the current activities of what they were doing was unAccording to him, "God’s wrath him for life, ex-communicating Boko Haram insurgents in the Islamic and could not in any way, awaits those who shed innocent and ostracising him from parcountry. draw any support from Islamic blood for whatever guise." ticipating in all programmes Vice Chairman of the council, leaders.

He commended the Federal and social activities without Alhaji Dauda Ajagu, who disHe said the council was com- Government and the Joint Task giving him the opportunity to closed this yesterday in Onitsha, pletely dissociating itself from Force, JTF, for their efforts so far be heard, infringed on his funAnambra State, said fasting and Boko Haram activities and in fighting the insurgents and damental rights to fair hearprayers would take place every warned insurgents to desist from urged them not to relent until ing and, consequently, unconMondays and Thursday kidnapping and bombing and be their nefarious activities were stitutional, null and void and throughout this month of May. of good behaviour, if they really stamped out completely from the of no effect. surface of the nation.

Boko Haram: Islamic body declares fasting, prayers ...dissociates self from insurgents

O

S-East women protest abduction of Chibok girls, demand immediate release

BY TONY EDIKE

Late Nkwocha

E

ZINNA NZE Nk wocha, the patriarch of the Nkwocha family of Umudulu Emii in OwerriNorth LGA of Imo State, is dead.

Until his demise, Ezinna Nze Nkwocha was a devout christian and community leader.

He retired in 1991 as Chief Ports Personnel Officer, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Warri. Before joining NPA, he had worked with Allen & Elliot and UACN. He is survived by his wife, seven children, amongst them are Nicholas Nkwocha and Emeka Nkwocha, Group Advert Manager of Vanguard Newspapers, many grand children and relatives.

He will be buried on May 10, 2014 at his hometown, Umudulu Emii, OwerriNorth, LGA, Imo state.

E

NUGU — SOUTH East women, under the auspices of Women For Peace and Justice, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest in Enugu, calling for the immediate release of the abduct-

ed students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The protesters, who were drawn from different churches and women groups in the South East, marched from Okpara Square to the Enugu State House of Assembly where they were

addressed by the speaker, Mr. Eugene Odoh.

The women, dressed in red, carried placards with different inscriptions, including: “Freedom, Freedom, Freedom of the Girls is all we Want,” “Bring Back Abducted Girls” and “What is Our World Turning Into?”

CONFAB: Chidoka faults Judiciary over Amigo Illegal arms importation case

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA — THE Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. Chidoka Osita, yesterday took a swipe at the Judiciary on the handling of importation of illegal arms by the owner of Amigo Super market in Abuja, expressing dissatisfaction at the manner the case was handled.

Speaking when he appeared before the Committee on National Security at the ongoing National Conference on how the services of the commission could be repositioned, Osita, who noted that it was only in

Nigeria such a case could be determined in such way, stressed that in other countries, the foreigners involved in the illegal arms would have been deported by the government.

Chidoka, who decried the nation’s security record keeping, said he was surprised that foreigners involved in illegal arms importation in Kano returned to their businesses.

“Some people were caught in Kano with keeping arms underground, these were tried and they are backed to their normal businesses. There is nowhere in the world where such people will not be deported,” he said.

The Corps Marshal said his only concern was that there was

need, when the case was going on, to go to Kano, but challenged the judiciary to tell Nigerians what they would like to see as evidences when people bring terrorism case to the court.

“The Judge said there was no need and he later said the SSS did not provide enough evidences,” Chidoka said.

It will be recalled that co-owner of Amigo Supermarket, Mustapha Fawaz, and three other Lebanese, were charged for terrorism and alleged importation of firearms but Magistrate Muyiwa Oyeyipo of the Chief Magistrate Court in Karu, an Abuja suburb, in June last year stuck out the suit, following an application by the prosecutor, Cliff Osagie.

Speaking at the premises of the Enugu State House of Assembly, convener of the protest and Founder/President General of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and Dispora, Dr. Kate Uzoamaka Ezeofor, appealed to the abductors not to harm the innocent girls.

He said women and girls had right to life, calling on the abductors to return the girls safely to their parents. ”We, the Women for Peace for and Justice South East are shocked, worried, concerned by the recent abduction of 234 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on the night of April 14, 2014. ”We pray God to intervene. We are calling on the abductors to please not harm the innocent girls and return them safely to their parents. Women and girls have right to life. Parents, pray, we are also praying, have courage. God will see us through,” she stated.

The convener urged the Federal, state, local governments and security agencies to beef up security for the whole country just as she thanked the women that participated in the protest.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—15

Abduction scare in Nyanya: Army, Police move in .No child abducted, snatched school bus recovered —FCT

BY SONI DANIEL, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, VICTORIA OJEME, GBEMIGA OLAMIKAN & KAYODE SANNI

A

LARMED BY the alleged hijack of a school bus belonging to Divine Kiddies Academy Phase 4, Nyanya, in the Federal Capital, by unknown persons at Nyanya, a contingent of soldiers, anti-terrorism policemen, security operatives and bomb disposal squad moved in to beef up security in the area.

The siren-blaring convoy with over 20 trucks, tanks and vehicles, was racing towards Jikwoyi as more and more parents made desperate efforts to take back their children from schools.

But the police in Abuja debunked the story of abduction, saying no child or student was kidnapped, even as FCT Administration disclosed in a statement that the stolen bus was recovered at Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.

The armed officials, in battle mood, sped through Nyanya, which was rocked last Thursday for the second time in three weeks, even as more of the residents opted to remain indoors as security situation remained fluid.

Parents had invaded schools at Nyanya to evacuate their children, following the alleged hijack of a school bus with children this morning.

The suburb was struggling to recover from twin bomb blasts that killed scores and left many others injured.

There had been confusion as to whether the abductors took away all the children with the bus or whether it was the bus alone that was taken.

As a result of the fear of the hijack, most primary and secondary schools at Nyanya, Jikwoyi and Karishi had been thrown into chaos as parents rushed in different directions to evacuate their wards from the schools to avoid being abducted.

Meanwhile, the Police in Abuja had debunked any such ab-

ductions, declaring that no child or student was abducted.

Speaking jointly from Nyanya Police Station, Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba and Executive Director of the school, Mrs. Temitope Fola-Kolade, disclosed that what actually happened was a case of car snatching by armed robbers at a car wash close to the school.

Fola-Kolade said one of the drivers of the school buses called her in the morning while she was on her way to the office to say he had been attacked by armed rob-

FORUM: Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President, South-East SouthSouth Professionals of Nigeria, presenting a branded T-shirt to elderstatesman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence, during South-East South-Development Forum, in Asaba where a South-East South-South 20 year Development Roadmap was presented.

bers who snatched the bus.

She said on hearing the news, the first question she asked was if there was anybody in the bus before it was stolen and was told no.

She added that on reaching the school, she went straight to the classes and counted all the children and was re-assured that no child was missing.

“So let me say authoritatively, no child was taken away as is erroneously being insinuated. No child was kidnapped.

“All my kids are safe and they have been safely returned to their parents. No parent has called me to say their kids are missing.”

On his part, the driver of the bus, Abu Sunday, said: “This morning, I reported to my office, took a bus, went to pick the children and took them to the school.

"After dropping them, the bus was looking dirty because of the rain that fell. So I took it to the car wash. As I was coming out of the vehicle, three men walked up to me and said I should give them the keys to the bus or they would shoot me. They were carrying guns, two of them had pistols and one had a long rifle that looked like AK 47.”

Also speaking on the development, CSP Frank Mba, said: “The information that got to the Police at about 7. 30a.m., was that some armed men had snatched a Toyota Hiace vehicle with registration No. SG 246 GW of the Vine Kiddies International Academy.

As soon as that report got to us, we mobilised our men and a response team was sent there.

Jonathan’s rating drops — Survey

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA — AN opinion polls carried out by the NOIPolls Limited on job performance of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government has revealed that the administration recorded a decline of four-point on last month’s poll.

The survey particularly ranked Jonathan very poor in his performance on job creation, power and security as only 29 per cent of Nigerians experienced an improvement in power supply over the past one month.

The results for April 2014 revealed that 49 per cent of adult Nigerians approved of the job performance of the President over the past month; this figure represents a four-point decline in his approval rating from 53 per cent in March 2014.

The poll results released yesterday in Abuja showed that less than half of adult Nigerian population, 49 per cent, approved of the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This represents a fourpoint decline from March 2014 and a one-point drop from his 16-month average of 50 per cent.

12 Nigerians to speak at WEFA opening today

BY OMOH GABRIEL

T

WELVE DISTINGUISHED Nigerians will be led by President Goodluck Jonathan to speak at the World Economic Forum Africa on some issues affecting Africa and the global economy, in Abuja today.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare the forum open and deliver a key note address.

The President is listed in the programme of speakers as President of Nigeria; 1981 graduate in Zoology, University of Port Harcourt; Master’s in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology; Doctorate in Zoology. Former Preventive Officer, Nigerian Customs Service; Science Inspector of Education, Rivers State Ministry of Education; Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, Rivers State College of Education; 1993; Assistant Director of Ecology; Oil Mineral Producing Areas Develo p m e n t Commission,OMPADEC, in charge of Environmental Protection, among other political appointments from 1999 as Deputy

Governor of Bayelsa.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gradiuate of Economics, Harvard University; Ph.D in Regional Economics and Development, MIT; 2003-06, with Nigerian government: Finance Minister, then Foreign Affairs Minister. 2006-07 Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution. With World Bank: 21 years as Development Economist; Country Director, Malaysia, Mongolia, Laos and Cambodia; Director of Operations, Middle East; Director of Institutional Change and Strategy; Vice-President and Corporate Secretary.

Since 2011, Minister of Finance; currently also Coordinating Minister for the Economy, among other high-flying personal and NonGovernmental Organisational endeavours.

Diezani K. Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria Bachelor’s in Architecture, Howard University, USA; MBA, Cambridge University, UK; Worked in the United States; Returned to Nigeria to join Shell Petroleum Development Corporation. 2006 appointed as Shell’s first woman Executive Director;

Nigeria. 2007 Minister, Transportation Ministry of Nigeria; 2008, Minister of Mines and Steel Development of Nigeria.

Others are Aliko Dangote President and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, Nigeria; Yonov Frederick Agah Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation, WTO, Geneva Biola Alabi Managing Partner, Al-

abi Media Consulting, Nigeria African media expert. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Friends Africa (Friends of the Global Fund Africa), Nigeria Kola Karim: Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Shoreline Energy International, Nigeria, Maupe Ogun, Presenter, Channels Television, Nigeria, Stephen

Olabisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria, Muhammad Ali Pate, Professor, Duke Global Health Institute, USA MSc in Health Systems; MBA with health sector concentration, Duke University. Medical doctor. US board-certified in internal medicine and Group Chief Executive,

...forum, means of addressing insurgency in Nigeria — Sen Adeyemi

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA — SENATOR Smart Adeyemi has said the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa, WEFA, would address the growing insurgency in Nigeria.

He said the hosting of the event was a way of addressing most of the root causes of social vices not only in the country, but also the African continent as a whole.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Adeyemi,

who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, said most investors that would attend the global event would key into the nation’s economic potentials, with a view to investing in it. ”This is a good develolment that is coming at this time, because more investors will come and invest. Once people are gainfully employed, frustration will disappear and the risk of temptation of somebody considering suicide action, would be greatly reduced,” he noted.

He, therefore, tasked Federal

Government and policy makers to key into the WEFA ideals with a view to ensuring that the hosting of event translated into increased social and economic growth of the country.

The senator also urged President Goodluck Jonathan and his economic team to do everything possible to encourage industries and foreign investors to come to Nigeria and establish.

Adeyemi said: “We must also find a way of bringing back, those multi - national companies that had left the country, especially now that we are making appre

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014

Boko Haram kills 300 in fresh Borno attack—Sen Zannah

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI — SENA TOR representing Borno Central, Senator Ahmed Zannah said, yesterday, that Boko Haram terrorists have killed no fewer than 300 people from Gamborou Ngala town in Borno State on Monday night. He spoke with BBC Hausa service which was monitored in Maiduguri. According to the senator, the insurgents targetted a local market and fired sporadic shots into the crowd be-

fore proceeding into the town to wreak more havoc.

Gamborou, which is situated along Nigeria-Cameroon border is the administrative headquarters of Ngala local government of the state, about 200km from Maiduguri, the capital city.

Senator Zannah, said the invaders spent 12 hours wreaking havoc on defenceless civilians and that several other persons were also injured in the attack, while almost all the houses and shops in the town were burnt

down. He pointed out that the attackers were armed with dangerous weapons such as Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, petrol bombs, assault rifles and Rocket Propelled Launchers, RPGs. He said, “The attackers stormed the communities in the night when residents were still sleeping, setting ablaze houses and shot residents who tried to escaped from the fire. About 300 persons were confirmed dead after the incident, with several oth-

ers injured. Almost all the houses in the communities were destroyed by the hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, at the buildings.

"My brother who was at the scene of the attack told me that the actual number of the dead cannot be ascertained but at least they are up to 300. In fact as we spoke he wept following the high number of the dead bodies which littered the market.”

He said that the security forces earlier deployed to the area,

moved to the Lake Chad axis when they received intelligence report that some gunmen were sighted with abducted schoolgirls moving to the area, adding “initially there were many security operatives in the town to secure it from possible attacks.

However upon receiving information over the movements of insurgents with kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls towards Lake Chad area, they withdrew and moved further to confront the gunmen."

CONDOLENCE VISIT TO LATE SIR MICHAEL OTEDOLA'S FAMILY

L-r: Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Lady Doja Otedola, widow of late Sir Michael Otedola, former Governor of Lagos State; Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, and Mrs. Lola Idaho, daughter of deceased, during the condolence visit to late Sir Michael Otedola' s family, at his residence, in Epe, Lagos. Photos: Bunmi Azeez

From left, Oba Olawale Olagoke Ogunsanya, Aladegunshebi of Odoragunshen and Oba Sikiru Adewale Odukoya, Omola of Odomola Kingdom

AWUJALE'S 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBBRATION

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (right), Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (3rd right), his wife, Olufunso (2nd left); Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona (2nd right), his Oloris, Iyabo (3rd left), and Oluwakemi (left), during a Thanksgiving Service to mark Awujale's 80th birthday at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ijasi, Italowajoda, Ijebu-Ode

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan(m) with her guest, wife of Kenyan President, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta (l) being entertained by the National Association of Nigerian Market Women during the visit to the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Abuja. Photo:Abayomi Adeshida

Ajuwale and some celebrity guests.

l-r: Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta with President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to Abuja for the World Economic Forum, Africa holding in the federal capital

L-r: Comrade Issa Aremu, Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chief Oseni Elamah, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Dr Rafiu Ladipo, President-General, Nigerian Football Supporters Club at the 2nd edition of the 10km Okpekpe race in Edo State,

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014— —17

C M Y K

18— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 FOR the world to come to Abuja at this point is a huge vote of confidence that should create some relief from the tensions that insecurity has imposed in the past couple of years. The benefits of the World Economic Forum, WEF, that begins today, stretche further than the businesses that it could sprout for Nigeria.

Many investors have heard earfuls about Africa’s largest economy; this WEF event is a great opportunity for them to have a feel of the country that should be any investor ’s delight with its abundance of natural resources.

We welcome the world to Abuja, one of Africa’s most modern cities, and enjoin the delegates to relish the city as they crack the challenging economic questions that burden the continent.

The focus of the summit on Africa is a welcome development. The choice of Nigeria to host the event is in recognition of Nigeria’s

BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

F

ROM the beginning of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the argument has raged on whether he will recontest or not when his first term expires in 2015. While the call on him not to present himself for another election was most vociferous coming from a section of the country, majority of the people stood their ground that since he is constitutionally empowered to run for the second term it would amount to a grave injustice to deny him the opportunity.

Then there is the assertion from some quarters that having served out the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua’s term, it was unjustifiable for him to contemplate taking another shot at the exalted office after his first term spanning from 2011 to 2015.

But all these have been in the realm of individual or sectional opinions and conjectures. What is paramount and indeed should concern all right thinking people is whether the law permits Mr. President to run for a second term in 2015, and so far all the pronouncements emanating for our law courts indicate that President Jonathan qualifies to recontest in 2015. Therefore, it is his discretion to exercise the right which the Constitution grants him, and not that a section of the country will wait to put a stop to his aspiration.

In advocating for his emergence in 2015, perhaps Nigerians ought to focus on his performance within the period under review. Going by all indicators, it is easy to conclude`that President Jonathan has tremendously achieved a lot through his transformation agenda. From power to road infrastructure , railways, agriculture, aviation, C M Y K

WEF – A Needed Vote For Nigeria importance to Africa and the imperatives of paying attention to a continent whose resources are still being explored without majority of the people benefitting from them.

Africa has challenges. There is no doubt that most of them could be addressed with investments in areas that would generate new capacities for the peoples of the continent. We are in an era when investments are driven by too many factors that tend to exclude Africa, which now faces the additional challenges of security and weak capacities in sectors that

should drive its economies.

WEF is a platform for the world to see bits of Africa in Abuja. The presentations, the atmosphere, mirror the enthusiasm of the continent to benefit from the synergy that international partnerships could generate.

There would be abundance of ideas and ideals at the meeting that runs until Friday. The results would take years of more formal, less crowded meetings to materialise into those businesses and wealth creating opportunities that Africans anticipate.

For Nigerians, the pains of the

OPINION Jonathan and 2015 education among others, Nigerians are witnessing appreciable improvement in service delivery compared to all the previous administrations put together, in spite of the various acts of sabotage from certain quarters to derail the administration.

In fact, available statistics show that under this administration, Nigeria’s economic growth has risen to about 6.8 percent and as the first week of April 2014, Nigeria, under Jonathan’s leadership, has overtaken South Africa and emerged as Africa’s biggest economy.

Obviously, this significant development added with the high interest of foreign direct investors in Nigeria portends a good omen, and this implies that our economic managers are focused and taking us to the Promised Land.

It is agreed by all well meaning citizens that but for the distractions caused by the senseless terrorist acts in the Northern part of Nigeria, the country would have witnessed an unprecedented leap in social, economic and infrastructural development. Yet, it is an undeniable fact that the Jonathan administration has remained tenacious in implementing the Transformation Agenda.

The impact of the giant strides achieved in different sectors of our economy can be felt in all the six geo-political zones. Furthermore, the midterm report his administration presented during the 2013 May 29 Democracy Day is a synopsis of the determined effort on his part to transform our lives.

Since then, the country has continued to witness development in other areas, and this

is in line with his avowed commitment to raise the bar in governance, and demonstrate government’s commitment towards ameliorating the problems of the country.

From the inception of his administration, Mr. President ensured that he brought on board men and women with consummate knowledge and ability in their various fields of endeavour. Though one can refer to them as technocrats, but the good news is that they were able to key into Mr. President's vision, and together developed suitable blueprints that today are being translated into tangible projects for the benefit of all Nigerians.

In this wise, we can mention people like Professor Barth Nnaji, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Princess Stella Oduah, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and many others. This transformation team has committed themselves towards helping Mr. President to realise his vision of leaving the exalted office of President better for Nigerians than he met it.

In other words, what has been in the realm of theories under previous administrations, he has in a diligent and patriotic manner translated them into concrete actions for the progress and prosperity of Nigeria.

Now, to counter some ethnic champions who are opposing a second term for Mr. President. First, they need to be reminded that under his watch, more water dams have been built in the North compared to all past administrations put together. He has equally built over 120 almajiri schools in the North as a way of reducing illiteracy among the people. Similarly, the Federal Government

meeting are evident in the shutdown of Abuja. Security has been intensified, the long public holiday and the searches that are conducted on vehicles are some of the inconveniences of hosting the world to this great forum.

The pains would be worth it, the joys of seeing changes the WEF would bring to the continent would easily take care of today ’s sufferings.

As Africa looks up to the economic opportunities that the world would be offering, the biggest outcomes of the meetings would be from Africans finding ways of establishing businesses that are rooted in Africa and in African understanding.

There is a limit to how the world would help us, if we do not help ourselves. WEF Abuja is a challenge to Africans to build Africa.

has built federal universities in all the Northern states that hitherto had none.

These are landmark achievements unprecedented in the history of the country, more so when he has remained the most antagonised president. In the face of all the antagonism and opposition, he has remained fair and committed to the sacred oath of his exalted office. As a devout Christian, he has never failed to turn the other cheek to his traducers, yet his olive branch in most cases is repudiated.

One now begins to wonder what is it that those opposing him want. As president, he has developed a lot of infrastructure in the country but mainly in the North that sometimes it appears as if he is of Northern extraction.

But this is the true nature of genuine patriots, and not those who camouflage under the pretence of nationalists to execute their hideous and narrow ethnic agenda that has today left a zone like the South East with only five states, and dilapidated infrastructure.

If the Niger Delta from where the country earns her livelihood is not allowed to hold power for two consecutive terms, what is the hurry by the North to regain power meant to achieve, considering that they held federal power unhindered for almost 40 years? The question to ask is: Are Northerners better leaders than the rest of the country?

Assuming there was an agreement by a few people with Jonathan, now majority of Nigerians who are directly affected by such agreement denounce it and ask Jonathan to go on and govern them as such agreement was not entered into with their consent and approval. *Mr. Enekwechi, a public affairs analyst, wrote fromAbuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014— —19

,

Jonathan must

B

EYOND any thing we’ve ever seen in the past, Nigeria is today under the siege of terrorist insurgents. We are a besieged people. The yet unresolved abduction of nearly 250 school girls in Chibok earlier brought home loud hints of this.

Last Thursday’s attack at Nyanya motor park confirms it beyond any doubt. With this confirmation the terrorists have placed two clear choices before President Goodluck Jonathan: either he accepts their invitation to visit their hideout in Sambisa forest or risk their permanent presence at his doorstep in Abuja.

This puts the President between a rock and a hard place if he truly understands the import of this open challenge to his authority and presidency. But the choice is his- to respond to this ‘in-yourface’ challenge or go down in history as the worst politician yet to take up the tenancy of Nigeria’s seat of power.

And if the President thinks he can continue to play the ostrich, holed up in endless meetings inside the presidential chamber when he is

not on one of his interminable campaign rallies for 2015, events in the last several days during which Nigerians across the country and people in different parts of the world have demanded through street protests and the social network that the President stop sitting on his hand- the rising calls across the world that he acts like the leader he is supposed to be, should tell him that he’s been mistaken all the while he thought he could drivel his way through the whole abduction fiasco in his usual manner. Mr. Jonathan must, hopefully, be coming to the sobering realisation that there is more to being president than flaunting the unimpressive credential of being the fortuitous candidate of a ‘minority’ group or gorging oneself on cassava bread.

Three weeks after he sought to clear his thoughts of the nightmare of the Nyanya bomb blast that had claimed nearly 100 lives with even higher figures of the injured; three weeks after he thought he could cut off scenes of his dance macabre at

,

a Kano campaign rally less than 24 hours after the Nyanya gory attack; indeed three weeks after the outrage of Chibok, thunder once more struck at the same place when bombs shattered the fragile silence of Nyanya motor park and prematurely sent more Nigerians to their grave . This happened right under the nose of the heavily-armed troops which Jonathan as Commander-in-Chief had sent to secure Nyanya motor park!

W

e have read of the traffic gridlock created by these troops in their efforts to keep Abuja safe from terrorist attack.

Nigerians have had first hand experience of travelling in the direction of Nyanya and Abuja as a whole in the wake of the terrorist attacks and have unpleasant tales to tell of it all. The last thing they could have expected is another attack at the same place that is yet a crime scene under Jonathan’s ever watchful security personnel.

But it happened, incredible as it might sound, telling us that the terrorists are set for a showdown with President Jonathan and the ruling cohort that have become

Boko Haram's satanism: See where the politicisation of religion has led us

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MIDST the grief and outrage that swept the land in the aftermath of Boko Haram's latest acts of Satanism-Abubakar Shekau and his fellow psychopaths are disciples of Satan-I crave the indulgence of the reader to allow me a moment to ask the simple question: How did we get here?How did we become a nation that murders at midnight sleeping school children and burns down their hostels, as happened at Federal Government College, BuniYadi?How was it possible, less than two months after, for 300 girls of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, to be abducted from their beds and their school razed to the ground, and for them, save the lucky few who escaped, to remain in captivity 20 days after? How did we get to the point of assassinating individuals; bombing buildings, churches, mosques and motor parks; burning down whole towns and villages while looting and raping, yet doing so in the name of God? The answer, to borrow a refrain from the musician, Bob Dylan, "is blowing in the wind." It is also to be found in a little but trenchant book written 27 years ago by the late Dr Yusufu Bala Usman: The manipulation of religion in Nigeria. His focus was the decade of 1977-87, spanning the bitter Shari'a law debates at the Constituent Assembly and the first Maitatsine riots but his observations are as valid today. Our power elite, he found, use false piety as a cover for morbid selfinterest, a cheap means of gaining political leverage over opponents in the fierce struggle for power. As he put it, they do so to "cover themselves with religious and ethnic disguises in order to further C M Y K

entrench division among our people (and) slow down their awakening at any cost."

Because the religious manipulator cannot afford to "appear as what he really is in the political economy of Nigeria," he must "find a cover. He cannot claim political leadership openly on the grounds that he is, or wants to be, an exporter-importer, a contractor (etcetera) . . . he has to take cover as a Muslim or Christian."

And once false piety has been turned into a political tool, the public space ceases to be the arena of persuasion, of civilised discourse. Colonialism offers us the prime example: the coloniser had to impose his god as the only God so he could gain undue political advantage by first conquering the heart and mind of the colonised.

Which then extends the political battle to the cultural terrain, making a retreat to sanity very difficult. The one safeguard is the separation of state (politics) and religion, as in Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, its countless faults notwithstanding. But our so-called leaders destroy its true intent and meaning by a noisome display of sanctimoniousness while giving dailyproof of their dubiousness through the yawning gulf between their words and their actions. They steal, and lie, and rig elections, and pervert justice, and indulge in all manner of debauchery without remorse. Why, a governor even went as far as claiming that God rigs elections for his chosen candidates!

And once we have made God in our image, turned him into an election-rigger, treasurylooter, murderer, arsonist, rapist, etc., we give a licence for any fraudster to proclaim himself God's anointed prophet or avenging

angel. Ironically enough, this can even serve a perversely plausible causedemocratising the religiop o l i t i c a l p l a y i n g field!Take for instance the recent news report about a Satanist group in the United States getting ready to install on the lawn of the Oklahoma

,

Either Jonathan goes tto o Sambisa forest or Shekau remains at Nyanya

know that as president he carries the fate of Nigeria in his hands; he must either go to Sambisa forest today or cede Nyanya to terrorists

hostage of their own shadows in the country’s capital. While they spurned the direct invitation to Sambisa forest that the Chibok abduction demanded, the terrorists have decided to take the battle to the oligarchs of Abuja.

They know what cowardly blather is being spewed at Nigerians by the braggarts in power and are no longer ready to keep things on a low key.

Like Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, the terrorists have issued an open challenge to Jonathan and the battle ground is Nyanya, not Mount Carmel or any other place Jonathan may choose to go.

Jonathan and his men cannot, must not ignore this challenge.

They must either prove their presence in Nyanya and other places where the insurgents have taken over or they would have washed their hands off the safety and security of Nigerians. I have recently asked in this space if Jonathan can go to Sambisa forest. It didn’t look like he was prepared to even though that was an opportunity to let off his inhibitions about bringing down fire on the terrorists. Even when Chibok mocked his Janus-faced approach to fighting terror and made nonsense of his pacifist rhetoric, Jonathan continued to prove to Nigerians and the rest of the world that he is a politician incapable of making hard choices, that he is only fit to attend meetings where empty threats are issued.

Jonathan might not have given a damn about offering excuses for the corruption in which his ministerial aides swim; he may not see any thing worthwhile asking questions of his footloose ministers who continue to pile up hundreds of thousands of carbon footprints in extravagant air travels; the President may surely not see any reason why

How did we get to the point of burning down whole towns while looting and raping, yet doing so in the name of God?

,

State Capitol bronze statue of Baphomet being adored by two exultant children. They want it "directly next to a highly controversial monument of the ten commandments that was donated by a state legislator and subsequently placed on the grounds of the Capitol."

A

ccording to their spokesman, one Lucian Greaves, the statue is meant as a symbol to "celebrate our progress as a pluralistic nation founded on secular law."

But his group, he says, would not "petition to have the statue installed should the ten commandments monument be removed," adding that there is no "shortage of public locations across the US where religious monuments await a contrasting voice." (See "Satanic group reveals crowd funded

he should be expected to be firm against terrorism when politicians from the region most affected by terror all but invited it into their home and gave it a large room to grow. But he was the one Nigerians made their president, the one millions through an electoral process, however flawed, invested with the presidential authority to act on their behalf. He it was who swore on oath to serve and protect Nigerians. It is to him Nigerians now turn for answer to the menace and curse of terrorism. He must do what he swore to do. It is neither a favour nor something he could choose to do or not without losing the basis of his present position.

This is his duty, his manifest destiny as the Nigerian president.

President Jonathan must know that as president he carries the fate of Nigeria in his hands. He has failed up to this point to meet the expectations of the people. Like a confused child he has blundered his way through many fateful events. He must give up his childish ways and begin to act like a true parent aware of his responsibility by his children. The power he has must be exercised in the service of Nigerians as a matter of course. He cannot continue in the same helpless manner he has so far maintained his presidency like someone beholden to his aides, one who looks up to them like a child looks up to his parent in confusion. The forbidden territories of the Jonathan presidency must be stormed. They must no longer stir fear in him or make him weak at the knees. Among the previous disasters of his presidency, Sambisa and Nyanya are proving the most tricky and dangerous.

They are the immediate elephants in his room of dereliction. He must either go to Sambisa forest today or cede Nyanya to terrorists.

monument for Oklahoma State Capitol", The Verge, 3 May 2014, http:// www.theverge.com/2014/5/3/5678782/ satanic-group-reveals-crowd fundedmonument-for-Oklahoma-state-capitol).

Evidently, this is a protest action, whatever the actual belief of the group might be. Still, it points to the slippery slope of religious anarchy that non-strict adherence to secularity in a plural society presents. That is how we got to our current troubling state of pre-Armageddon. We must beat a quick retreat to the fortress of sanity: secularity in word and deed. And so I propose to the 492 wise men and women at Jonathan's National Conference who will save Nigeria the addition of a subsection to Section 10 so the whole reads as follows: (1) "The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion. (2) In the performance of his- or her duties, a public officer shall not expend public funds, act or conduct him or herself in a manner that may be reasonably construed as promoting or favouring a religion, religious belief, faith or practice."

We must return to the quiet and peaceable practice of our individual faiths and beliefs. No debate about this if we must be one nation.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Abducted schoolgirls: Who’s to blame? (1)

Onitsha prison as a relaxation centre

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

T

HIS may sound far-fetched but all considered, possible. In time to come, the poor, hungry and lessprivileged segment of the society who are not criminally-minded, particularly those residing within the metropolitan city of Onitsha, Anambra State may volunteer to serve various jail terms in the Onitsha prison yard.

This is because the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiatical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke has joined some humanitarian groups and individuals in almost turning the *His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke flanked by Gov Willie Obiano prison yard into a conducive relax- and wife during the visit to the prison. ation center through his frequent pastoral visits to the inmates. And the join him in the prison to celebrate He said that “when Christ died, we outcome of this? Jail break or attempt- his birthday for the year and in died with Him and when He rose from many cases, such invitees, after seeed jail break has since become a death, we also rose with Him”, adding him donate generously to the thing of the past. ing: “Those who crucified Christ Archbishop Okeke had for the past prison, would be compelled to also thought that was His end but that four or five years visited the prison make their own donation or even death actually became His begintake up one project or the other, yard at least three times annually, ning”. which explained why the Onitsha including Christmas days, Easter In his remarks, Governor Obiano and his birthdays to celebrate mass prison is currently adjudged as the disclosed that the state government with them. best in Nigeria. is to review the cases of all the AwaitHis most recent visit to the prisIn each of the occasions, the Arching Trials, ATM, Inmates of the Onitbishop would go with a large quan- ons was on Easter Sunday, April 20 sha prison, with a view to freeing those tity of cooked food, meat, pastries, and he was accompanied by the who are not supposed to remain in toiletries and raw food items with a state governor, Chief Willie Obiano. the custody.

In his homily at the well-attended live cow to celebrate his mass, after Obiano who stressed that the need special mass, Archbishop Okeke, which he would hand them over to to review their cases cannot be overthe prison authorities for onward dis- who preached peace and love emphasized because most of them had tribution to the inmates, reminiscent among the people, enjoined the spent over seven years as ATM inprisoners to always see their conof how Jesus Christ fed the multimates, expressed concern that out of tude in the desert during His days finement as a necessary experience a total of 892 inmates currently in for their transformation. on earth.

Onitsha prison, only 85 of them are The Archbishop who noted that he While handing over the consumconvicts, while others are still awaitvoluntarily chose to visit Onitsha ing trial, adding that it is even possible that some of them are innocent of The Archbishop would go with a large the crimes they were accused to have committed. quantity of cooked food, raw food items He therefore noted that after the with a live cow which he would hand review of their individual cases, those over to the prison authorities for onfound not to be culpable would be freed to decongest the prison, while ward distribution to the inmates those criminals who are outside the prison custody would be arrested and sent to the prison to replace the perables, both raw and cooked, Arch- prison thrice a year, said that virtuceived innocent ones, now that his bishop Okeke would also announce ally all humanity are prisoners, addadministration has declared a total war a cash donation for certain projects ing that any prisoner must know against criminals in the state. or for procurement of certain items that he had already been set free by In his vote of thanks, the Deputy that would be of immense benefit to the death and resurrection of Jesus Controller of prisons in charge of the inmates.

Christ. He expressed joy that in less Onitsha, Mr Azuka Ndupu expressed For instance, Okeke had taken up than two months after he was sworngratitude to the governor and the water bore-hole projects in the pris- in as the Governor of Anambra State, Archbishop for their concern to on yard, both sinking of new ones Chief Obiano had come to worship Onitsha prisons. Ndupu told the and rehabilitation of existing ones and identify with the inmates of Governor that Onitsha prison was to ensure that water is always avail- Onitsha Prison, an action which he highly overcrowded, pointing out that able for the inmates. He had equal- said was significant of great things the prison which was meant for about ly taken up building projects, pro- that would happen in Onitsha 300 inmates, now has 892 inmates. vided sewing machines for the arti- prison.

He therefore appealed to the sans and even installed cable faciliThe Archbishop stressed the need Governor to assist the prisons with ties for their relaxation. for Christians to always bear in mind schools for the inmates where they On each visit, particularly during the reason for celebration of Easter could receive formal education and his annual birthdays, Okeke would which is the resurrection of Christ some bags of cement to plaster and invite his friends and well-wishers, after his death on the cross, pointing reinforce the perimeter fence of the even the sitting governors, local out that if Christ died and did not prison yard, for security reasons. government chairmen and legisla- resurrect, we should not have been tors who are favourably disposed to worshipping and celebrating Him.

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C M Y K

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BY EBELE ORAKPO are we playing politics with this abduc‘‘WHY tion issue?” asked Dave, a commuter in the

Mile-2-bound vehicle.

“How do you mean?” asked Julie.

Said Dave: “The army seems reluctant to fight this battle. Are they telling us that the accursed Boko Haram guys are better than them?”

Replied Steve: “No! The point is that these Boko guys are ready to die while our soldiers are not. They still value their lives although they swore to protect us with their lives. They complain of inadequate funding so why won’t government channel the security votes given to governors to the army? The governors are not securing anything as far as I am concerned. They just use it to enrich themselves and their cronies without being asked to account for it. I hear the least they get as security vote is N500 million a month! Is that fair?

That should go to the security agencies.”

“The President is just too slow. Obj would have crushed them long ago,” said John.

“Na lie! This is not Odi oo. Terrorism is an entirely different kettle of fish. It took US and others years to subdue Al-Qaeda. What did Obj do when Sharia violence broke out? Nothing, he hoped it will fizzle out,” said Dave.

“My grouse with GEJ is that he still carries on as if nothing is happening. He is not giving us information on what government is doing about the abducted girls,” complained Ade. “What do you want him to do, fight the animals himself? Not giving information is an African thing; so I get really riled up when people compare us with the West. Here, a mother will tell her young girl that any day a man sees her nakedness, she will be pregnant and the girl will take it literally whereas in the western world, a mother will say it as it is. Anyway, the army has been given the nod to go all out against the enemies. I only hope the poor girls won’t be hurt in the process because they would want to use them as human shields. I just pray for divine intervention,” Steve stated.

“Oh pleeease, do not call them animals, that is an insult to the animal kingdom. Animals are more compassionate than these demons in human skin,” said Ade, adding: “I’m not expecting him to go and fight them but he should show some concern. Most times he looks so relaxed as if all is well.”

“Let’s stop tearing ourselves apart. The politicians know what is going on. The senator representing Chibok area was once fingered as one of the sponsors of Boko Haram. But today, guess what? He is still sitting pretty in the hallowed chambers. So what are we talking about?” asked John visibly angry.

Said Steve: “So is it the President that is going to remove him? Come on, be real! The onus is on his people to recall him because they sent him there.“ “If my memory serves me right, he was arrested and interrogated and then let off the hook when no evidence was found against him,” said Julie.

“The people are not helping matters too. These devil incarnates live in their midst and they know them but fail to give information to security agencies probably out of fear or camaraderie,” noted Julie.

“The President said they need the cooperation of the parents of the girls to locate them. What nonsense! Is that how a leader should talk?” queried Abdul.

Replied Mercy: “Pray, what is wrong with what he said? Security is the duty of everyone and should not be left for security agencies alone. That is the problem we have here. These security guys are not spirits; they are human like us so they need the cooperation of everyone to make their job easier. So long as we continue to hide vital information that could assist them in the discharge of their duties, so long will we continue to grope in darkness. Remember Bama? The insurgents lived among them in the community, they knew them very well but refused to report to the authorities. So when their madness came to a head (they pulled down Nigerian flag and hoisted their own), the soldiers went to dislodge them and in the process, some civilians were killed and then the human rights groups and some northern elite suddenly found their voices, alleging extrajudicial killings.”

“It’s even possible that nobody is missing as Mrs Jonathan said,” noted Julie.

“Is that possible?

“O yes. In Nigerian politics, anything is possible and we are so, so gullible,” replied Mercy.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 21

By FRANKLIN ALLI

T

HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has clarified why industries and homes in the country are still having acute power shortage more than six months after government handed over to new investors in the power sector.

Dr. Sam Amadi, Chairman of the Commission, while addressing the business community under the aegis of the Nigerian-Danish Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, said that things were not going as envisaged but that radical steps were being taken to address the situation.

In “November 1st last year to April 30th is just about six months and it is a very little time for an industry that is so finance - sapping and structurally- chained to have achieved much,” he said.

He blamed the slow turnaround on vandalisation of power infrastructure across the country, specifically those targeted at disrupting gas flow to various power stations.

Represented by Dr. Uche Okoro, Special Assistant Research and Strategy, NERC, he said that poor choice of location of some National Integrated Power Projects, NIPPs, and the fact that the new investors were not able to do the required six months’ shadow trading prior to taking over from the government contributed to the problems.

He added that the investors were not well acquainted with baseline losses, baseline demand and baseline gas supplies in their various jurisdictions due to labour stand-offs with government. “One thing that is sure is that Nigeria

Why power shortage persists — NERC needs electricity to power its industrialisation and when we get it right, economies of scale tell us that all the smaller countries around us are going to source electricity from us because they cannot produce,” he said.

Nigerian and Danish investors at the event were of the notion that the recent reform in the power sector has not made any significant progress in rectifying the acute shortage of power to industries and service providers in Nigeria prior

to the sector’s recent reform.

Ben Koya Adako, President Nigerian-Danish Chamber of Commerce, noted that the theme of the meeting, ‘Power sector reform: Overcoming institutional and regulatory challenges in an era of liberalisa-

tion, was apt, more so now that electricity was undergoing a major reform in the country.

“There is still much to be done to really stabilise the business and economic environment as a condition for the private sector to thrive and indeed realise installed capacity and boost production.

“While we duly support the on-going power reform, we are not oblivious of the fact that electricity generation is still far from the huge expectations that heralded the reform. From the challenges of the Discos, finance, gas, infrastructure, power distribution to metering, the dynamics of the reform are pretty complex. Yet we believe that the reform is the way to go as we crave for expeditious turn-around. At the end of the day, the overall interest is the availability of power to run the various industries and factories,” he noted.

Brent oil rises on Ukraine clashes, Libya uncertainty From left: Mr. Henry Egbiki, Regional Managing Partner for West Africa; Mr. Dayo Babatunde, Partner, Financial Services; Mrs. Bunmi Akinde, Partner, Advisory and Ms. Yemi Odutola, Partner, Assurance Services; all of Ernest & Young, at the media launch of ‘Africa by Numbers’ Report, released by Ernest & Young for World Economic Forum (Africa) in Abuja.

Transcorp, NNPC sign production sharing contract on OPL 281 T

RANSNATIONAL Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc, Nigerian shareholders, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have signed a production sharing contract for the exploration and production of OPL 281, under which Transcorp committed to a work programme to -3.2 197.4 prove and develop an estimated 104 million barrels of oil reserves, an addi2,921.00 +11.00 tional 335 million barrels of probable reserves, and approximately 4 trillion 17.49 0.04 cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas reserves.

The addition of OPL 281 to its portfolio of oil and gas assets is another milestone in Transcorp’s strategy of creat107.53 -1.06 ing Nigeria ‘s leading integrated energy company, operating in production, 99.31 -0.45 refining, power generation, petrochemical and fertiliser production.

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING The chairman of Transcorp, Tony DOLLAR 154.73 155.23 155.73 Elumelu, said, “Integrating across the POUNDS 261.014 261.8575 262.7009 energy value chain is the foundation EURO 214.5022 215.1953 215.8885 of Transcorp’s strategy. OPL 281’s gas SWISS 175.9895 176.5582 177.1269 reserves will be deployed directly into YEN 1.5096 1.5144 1.5193 CFA 0.3084 0.3184 0.3284 Nigeria ’s power generation industry, WAUA 239.5119 240.2858 241.0598 as we seek to transform the economy RENMINBI 24.7179 24.7983 24.8786 of our country.”

RIYAL 41.2558 41.3891 41.5225 Transcorp’s existing investment, the KRONA 28.733 28.8258 28.9187 Ughelli power plant in Delta State , is SDR 240.0636 240.8393 241.6151 undergoing extensive rehabilitation, CBN Exchange rate as at 06/05/2014 adding 1,000MW to the existing 1,000

MW capacity, thus doubling the plant’s electricity output to 2000MW over the next three to five years, in collaboration with GE and other partners. Ughelli is Nigeria ’s largest gasfired power generation facility and will be powered directly by the natural gas delivered from OPL 281.

“OPL 281 is rich with nearly 4 tcf of natural gas, and will support the newly-expanded Ughelli power plant for up to 25 years at 2000 MW per day,” Mr. Elumelu continued, adding, “This volume of reserves also guarantees 15 years of feedstock supply for our future fertilizer and petrochemical plants, which will utilize the gas stores to bring value for Nigerians locally, instead of the wastage in flaring and environmental destruction that has historically characterised the industry.”

In addition to directly investing in the Niger Delta, Transcorp continues to contribute to the social development of the communities in which it operates. Recent community engagement includes a medical clinic in Ughelli, part of a wider programme of improving access to quality healthcare.

Elumelu said, “I commend the Honourable Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke, and the NNPC for implementing policies that directly encourage indigenous participation.

B

RENT crude rose above 108 dollars per barrel yesterday supported by clashes across Ukraine and lingering uncertainty over Libya’s supply recovery.

In Libya, the vital southern El Sharara oil field remains closed, while new protests shut the Zultun and Raquba oil fields in the central eastern region of the OPEC producer. Oil output totals just 250,000 barrels per day.

“This shows once again just how difficult and stony the path towards normalising oil production in Libya really is,” said Carsten Fritsch of Commerzbank. Meanwhile, Pro-Russia rebels shot down a Ukrainian helicopter in fierce fighting near the eastern town of Slaviansk. Kiev moved police special forces to the port city of Odessa to stop the rebellion spreading westward, therefore, affecting the oil market.

“The Brent price should remain supported as a result. The escalation of the situation in east Ukraine also points to a price recovery.” Brent crude climbed 37 cents to 108.09 dollars per barrel. US oil was up 27 cents at 99.75 dollars. The American Petroleum Institute (API), an industry group, is to issue its weekly inventory report while the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) will issue its report on Wednesday.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

BRIEF Businesstoday online unveils nominees for 2013 insurance award BUSINESSTODAY Online, a Nigerian business news website has released the names of nominees for the 2013 Nigerian Insurance Businesstoday award.

According to a statement released by the Publisher/editor Businesstoday Newsonline, Nkechi Naeche, the yearly award which is in five categories will be contested by underwriting, broking firms and individuals who distinguished themselves and have contributed immensely to the success of the organization in 2013.

She said the nominees for the Insurance Man of the year category are, the Managing Director/CEO Goldlink Insurance Plc, Mr. Gbolahon Olatayo; Managing Director Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc , Mr. Wole Oshin; Group Managing Director Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr.Akin Ogunbiyi; Managing Director Linkage Assurance plc, Mr. Gus Wiggle and Managing Director Staco Insurance Plc Mr. .Sakiru Oyefeso.

She noted that firms nominated for Insurance Company of the Year are: Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc; Goldlink Insurance Plc and IGI Insurance Plc. While the Companies nominated for Micro Insurance Company of the year are Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mansard Insurance Plc and FBN Life Insurance.

She said that Former Managing Director of Crystalife Assurance now ARM Insurance, Mrs. Seyi Ifaturoti and Mrs. Yetunde Ilori were among those nominated for Insurance woman of the year award.

Alpha Choice Insurance Brokers and Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers were nominated for Insurance Broking Company of the Year Award.

She called on operators interested in nominating anyone to do so through the Businesstoday online email info@businesstodayng.com or nkechinaeche@yahoo.com a n d nkechinaeche2013@gmil.com.

She said the award is its maiden edition and is going to be a yearly event aimed at refocusing the industry for better performance and enable the industry to be among the leading voice in the financial sector in Nigeria. The Event is scheduled to take place this May in Lagos.

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Police can change PFAs with transfer window –PenCom

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

T

HE National Pension Commission, PenCom, has said that every police officer will, in line with section 11(2) of the Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2004, be at liberty to transfer to another Pension Fund Administrator, PFA, of his/ her choice as soon as the transfer window is opened by the Commission.

PenCom, through its spokesperson, Mr. Emeka Onuora, stated this when it debunked allegations that the Federal Government has granted approval to the Nigeria Police to pull out from the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS. According to PenCom, the NPF Pensions Limited, which is incorporated as a Private Limited Liability Company, will be managed

independently by professionals who must satisfy the fit and proper persons due diligence requirements and approved by the Commission in line with the guidelines for appointment to board and top management positions of PFAs and PFCs. Furthermore, the NPF Pensions Limited will be exclusively for police personnel.

PenCom said that the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force are still under the Contributory Pension Scheme by virtue of Section 1 of the Pension Reform Act 2004.

“Indeed, the Whitepaper recently issued by the Federal Government on the Report of the Orasanye Committee on the Rationalisation of Federal Government Institutions clearly indicated that the Federal Government has

accepted the recommendation that, with the exception of the Military which has already been granted exemption, no Federal Government Institution or Force should be exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme.”

“It would be recalled that following the enactment of the Pension Reform (Amendment) Act 2011, which exempted the personnel of the Military and State Security Services from the Contributory Pension Scheme, the Nigeria Police and other Agencies agitated for exemption from the Scheme.

However, the Federal Government decided after careful consideration of the submission made by the Nigeria Police that the Police personnel should remain under the Contributory Pension Scheme and that the Nigeria Police Force should

seek administrative solutions to the grievances of their personnel within the framework of the Scheme.

Accordingly, after extensive consultations with the Commission, the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force decided to incorporate a limited liability company (NPF Pensions Limited) and apply to the Commission for licence to operate as a Pension Fund Administrator exclusively for the Nigeria Police personnel in order to address their peculiar concerns.

Following a rigorous and thorough review of that application, the NPF Pensions Limited was found to have satisfied all the normal stringent A-I-P conditions without any concessions.

Consequently, the Commission granted the NPF Pensions Limited an Approvalin-Principle for a licence to operate as a PFA,” PenCom said. The Commission noted that in order to ensure the smooth take-off of the NPF Pensions Limited, the Commission has developed an Operational Framework that will guide the reassignment of Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and transfer of records of all Nigeria Police contributors to the NPF Pensions Limited, which would be spread over an 18 month period.

Licensed operators

From left: Mr. Tayo Philips, Rasaq Jaiyeola, both members of the Governing Council of ICAN, Rotimi Omotoso, Registrar/Chief Executive of ICAN, Alh. Kabir Mohammed, President of ICAN, Wajdi Zard, Managing Director, Zartech Nig Ltd, Adedoyin Owolabi, Immediate past President of ICAN and Lukman Dauda, Chairman of Ibadan District Society, ICAN, during a visit to Zartech by ICAN team.

Custodian & Allied records 90.7% profit increase in Q1 Custodian & Allied Plc has announced profit before tax of N1.3billion for the unaudited first quarter results ended 31 March 2014.

This indicates an increase of 78.5 per cent over the N746.9 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Head, Corporate Affairs of Custodian, Mrs. Bunmi Aderemi, who made this known in a statement released, said the results have been transmitted to the stock market.

She noted that profit

after tax increased by 90.7 per cent from N587 million to N1.1 billion for the period in review, while the gross written premium was N5.9 billion from N4.1 billion written in the same period in 2013 representing 41.8 per cent increase. The Group’s asset base increased from 45.6 billion as at 31 December 2013 to N47.6 billion for the first quarter ended 31 March 2014, indicating 4.2 per cent growth within a three-month period.

Commenting on the performance, Aderemi said, “Our performance in the first

quarter of 2014 is a reflection of our expertise in delivering quality innovative service whilst offering a varied product portfolio to our clients, ultimately giving value to all our stakeholders. As we strive to be Africa’s insurer of choice, our aim is to keep improving on past performance, realize untapped potential in the various sectors we operate in, whilst maintaining efficiency in the system.”

The Custodian Group offers services including general and life insurance, pensions, trusteeship and property investment.

“Accordingly, in its usual consultative approach, the Commission has engaged and would continue to engage other licensed operators and stakeholders regarding the modalities of reassignment of PINs and transfer of records of officers and men of the Nigeria Police, with a view to ensuring a smooth exercise for the benefit of the pension industry,” PenCom said.

According to the Commission, “The issue of threat to pension assets does not arise under the Contributory Pension Scheme because the management and custody of pension assets are respectively undertaken by separate licensed operators, namely the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs), under the strict supervision of the Commission. Accordingly, the NPF Pensions Limited will operate like any other licensed PFA where the pension assets under its management will be held in custody by licensed PFCs under the supervision of the Commission.”

Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—23

Pension funds and pensioners’ benefits A

Unity Bank plans N39.2bn hybrid offer

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

LL is now set for Unity Bank Plc to commence a hybrid offer of N39.2 billion, made up of N20 billion Private Placements and N19.2 billion rights issue.

The rights issue being made to the existing shareholders, whose names appeared on register of members as at close of business on December 31, 2013, is comprised of 38.447 billion ordinary shares of 50kobo each at N0.50 per share, while the private placement is comprised of 40 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N0.50 per share.

Application for the rights issue will be opened on May 12, 2014 and close on June 18, 2014, while that of the private placement will open on June 20, 2014 and close on June 23, 2014.

The offer proceeds would be deployed toward branch development, information technology upgrade, products and channel upgrade, human resource development, corporate communications and enhancement of working capital, the bank said.

Speaking at the Completion Board meeting in Lagos, the Managing Director, Mr. Henry Semenitari, described the dual capital raise as a new dawn in the history of the bank, while assuring that the proceeds would be judiciously utilized to

drive its business.

He noted that the 2014 quarter one financial statement already in public domain is a testament that the bank is already on a growth trajectory and will continue to deliver value to its shareholders. “Our journey is very precise as an institution; two challenges are eminent to drive our growth. One is capital and the other is the right size and means of man power.

The issue of human capital is been addressed. On the aspect of capital, the importance of capital in a business, beyond been regulated, is something you need to run your business,” he said.

Also speaking, the chairman, Alhaji Lamis Dikko, said: “This is what we call penny stock; it can only get better.”

“We are bringing in the correct expertise; we are developing large scale of skills and market and I think this is the right time for shareholders to invest. I have no doubt that they will have the right return,” he added.

He stated that the dual capital raise will put Unity Bank on a firm footing by providing additional working capital and meeting the regulatory guideline as set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The dual capital raise, according to the offer document, will increase the market capitalisation of the bank from N19.223 billion to N58.446 billion.

Fidson announces 29% annual turnover increase in 2013 F

IDSON Healthcare Plc has announced the full year results for the period ended December 31, 2013.

Turnover for the period increased from N7.2 billion to N9.2 billion, representing 29 percent growth over previous year.

Gross profit was N5 billion as against N4 billion made in the year before, a 26 percent increase.

Operating profit increased from N854 million in 2012 to N1.3billion due to increase in turnover and better management of operational costs leading to increase in gross margins.

Profit before tax, however, declined by C M Y K

54 percent to N250 million from N540 million in 2012. Similarly, profit after tax declined by 25 percent from N207 million to N155 million.

The drop was due to impairment loss incurred on Fidson Products Ltd., an associate company that was adversely affected by changes in government policy vis-a-vis ban on importation of diapers, the major product of the company, a statement from the company said.

This would be the first time the associate’s result will be consolidated with that of the company in compliance with IFRS provisions, it added.

,

From left: Mr. Paul Uduk, MD/CEO, Vision and Talent; Rose Oputa, Director, Administration and Corporate Programme, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and Mr. Oluyinka Williams, Deputy Human Resource Manager, Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS, at The People Plan-Human Resource Development Workshop organised by Vision and Talent, in Lagos.

T Nigeria’s independence in 1960, government corporations such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, ECN, that were established by specific laws set aside funds each month for the pension benefits of their employees. Other government agencies such as the federal universities that were subsequently established by specific laws also had pension funds for their employees.

However, during the 1970s, the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, introduced a unified salary structure and conditions of service for all government ministries, agencies and corporations following on the recommendations of a panel headed by Chief Jerome Udoji.

One effect of the unified salary structure and conditions of service was that funds were no longer being set aside for the pension benefits of employees. Payments of pension benefits were then made from the current income of government. By the year 2000, the FGN had come to the conclusion that it was not feasible to continue making payments of pension benefits from its current income. The FGN therefore brought up a new scheme for pension benefits which scheme was eventually passed into law as the Pension Reform Act 2004.

A contributory pension scheme was specified in the Pension Reform Act 2004. The first objective of the scheme is to ensure that each person who worked in either the public service or private sector receives his or her retirement benefits as and when due. The second objective is to assist persons who have not planned for their future by ensuring that they save in order to cater for their livelihood during old age. The third objective is to establish rules, regulations and standards for the administration and payments of retirement benefits for the public service and the private sector.

Each employee should have a retirement savings account with a pension fund administrator. Contributions to the employee’s retirement savings account shall be made by the employer and the employee with each party, contributing a minimum of 7½% of the employee’s monthly emoluments. On retirement, an employee has three alternative methods for making withdrawals from a retirement savings account. The employee could make programmed monthly or quarterly withdrawals calculated on the basis of an expected life span. The employee could also obtain monthly or quarterly payments from an annuity for life purchased from a life insurance company. In the third method, the employee could take

The employee could make programmed monthly or quarterly withdrawals calculated on the basis of an expected life span

,

a lump sum plus an annuity or a programmed withdrawal. The significant thing is that whatever approach is adopted the employee is expected to receive an annual retirement benefit of at least 50% of his/her final annual remuneration.

The National Pension Commission, PenCom, has stipulated that funds held by a pension fund administrator could be invested in government securities, quoted equities, the money market and other fixed income.

The contributory pension scheme had only been in operation for a few years at the time the capital market crash occurred in 2008. Up to 25% of pension funds could be invested in quoted equities and the 2008 market crash has significantly affected the pension funds. For a number of years, the portfolio value of a retirement savings account had only a little difference from the total net contributions received into the account.

More recently, between early November 2013 and April 2014, there have been drops of about 25% in the market prices of shares of the major companies that have consistently paid dividends following the 2008 market crash.

PenCom should therefore consider reducing the permissible investment in quoted equities to 5% of the amount available in a pension fund. It has been suggested that the correction in prices of quoted equities between November 2013 and April 2014 is due to the withdrawal of foreign investors. One wonders if the price drop would not have been higher if there were no pension funds to purchase the shares from the foreign investors. PenCom should begin to look at how pension funds could be invested in non-speculative housing projects for the benefit of holders of retirement savings accounts.

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 25

DIARY zTelecom CEM World Congress 2014 April 2014, Venue TBC, London zHong Kong ICT Expo 13 – 16 April 2014 Hong Kong. z Cards & payment Asia holds in Singapore 23-24 April 2014. zTransport Networks for Mobile Operators 2014 13 – 14 May 2014 London. zCritical Communications World 27-29 May 2014 BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

DNA nanodevice capable of evading the body’s immune defenses Researchers from Harvard University ’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have developed a cloaked DNA nanodevice capable of evading the body ’s immune defenses. The design was inspired by real world viruses and could be used to diagnose cancer and better target treatments to specific areas of tissue.

The researchers used a method known as “DNA origami” to construct the nanoscale device. This method involves folding a long strand of DNA into three-dimensional shapes and programming them to carry molecular instructions to specific cells.

I N S I D E C M Y K

OFAB TO NIGERIA...!

‘You can’t feed future generation with yesterday’s technology'

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

HE fourth annual Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa, OFAB review and planning meeting in Abuja ended Monday with Stakeholders calling Nigerian government to shift attention to new technology in their agricultural transformation programme.

The advice was that Nigerian should learn to key into world best practices by adopting the latest technology if they must realise their dream of achieving food sufficiency in 2015.

Samsung delivers world’s first triangle AC

Views of several participants who are mainly experts and Agriculture majors were that the nation must begin to adopt the modern technology in mass production of food as it obtains in other economies that have attained the feat of food sufficiency rather than allowing the farmers to keep relying on yesterday’s technology.

Yesterday's technology However, one way they advocated Nigeria could easily overcome the dangers of relying on old technology was by adopting bi-

otechnology in the country, even though the bill is yet to be passed into law by the legislators.

Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products, or “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

Biotechnology crops were first commercialised in 1996 in USA. Since then, the planting of biotechnology crops increased every single year between 1996 and 2013, with 12 years of double digit growth rates, reflecting the confidence

one of the experts, Prof.

Oyebiodun Longe said there is need to increase food production substantially giving that the problem of food scarcity in Africa had become of great magnitude.

For Longe, developing technology that can help African farmers increase yield per hectare and produce crops with improved quality traits could be a way out of food shortage, malnutrition and poverty.

But in her remarks, the Director General of National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, Prof. Lucy Ogbadu said the size and population of Nigeria calls for additional support by African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF, the soul initiator and sponsor of O F A B .

Nigeria should learn to key into world best practices by adopting the latest technology... and trust of millions of riskaverse farmers around the world.

Another worry was that Nigeria is yet to establish a legal framework, without which the commercialisation of biotechnology in the country becomes impossible.

In her keynote address,

Mobile-broadband penetration to reach 32% by 2014 — ITU report 3-time winner: Glo scoops three at BoICT awards

Continues on page 27

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Pandit advocates functional ICT in tertiary institutions

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

A

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

D

ESIGNS in Air-condition er took a twist with Samsung Electronics delivering the world’s first triangle Airconditioner in Nigeria recently.

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, SEWA, Mr. Brovo Kim, said: “at Samsung we believe and take pride in our innovation with design and features, with a view to delivering World class products, which enrich the lives of our consumers and deliver the future of technology, today.”

He said that the triangle designed Air-conditioner is engineered around the concept of delivering, faster, farther and wider air, while saving on energy costs.

The Samsung patented

Samsung delivers world’s first triangle AC

features of Triple Protector which helps work the air conditioner without a stabilizer and the Virus Doctor which helps kill all air borne bacteria and viruses up to 99.9% effectively, helps in delivering uninterrupted and hygienic cooling environment.

Unlike the conventional air conditioner, the Samsung triangle air

conditioner has a self-diagnosis feature (Smart installation) as it automatically checks for installation faults that can cause problems when the air conditioner is in use. Thus, ensuring the air conditioner is installed properly by the service engineer.

This particular models of Triangle design air conditioner comes with a

smart check automatic error-monitoring system that detects and diagnoses problems and provides easy troubleshooting solutions using a smart application. This saves users time and prevents unnecessary costs prior to a service callout.

Chams’ partnership with FirstBank gives Osun smart identity cards

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

I

istration and revenue collection that enabled us to increase our internally generated revenue by 100 per cent within the first few months of our administration. We have since intensified our effort to make ICT an inherent part of our public administrative system. The introduction of this new smart electronic identity card is another component of that overall effort.

“It will expectedly bring about many benefits to all of us; the individual civil servants and the government. It will be given to all workers across all ministries, departments and agencies, including local government council

workers. The smart identity card is electronic, and personalised with biometric features, to each of its users. It will add immense values to the functioning of workers and will equally improve the capacity and cost of administration by government,” Aregbesola disclosed.

On his part, Ademola Aladekomo, Group Managing Director, Chams Plc said launch of a smart identity card for civil servants by the government of the State of Osun is another first in the Information and Communication Technology ecosystem in Nigeria.

He noted that the smart identity is multifunctional, and is more than an identity card because it has e-payment capabilities and can be used as debit or credit card by holders across the country, and anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Mutairu Akinfolarin, said the idea of the card was a product of good thinking. He commended the governor for successfully pioneering the card, saying the From left: Representative of the Managing Director of FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mutairu Akinfolarin; Group Managing bank was very proud Director, Chams Plc, Demola Aladekomo; and Governor Rauf to be part of Osun techAregbesola of Osun State, during the launch of the Osun smart nological success.

DENTITY management and transaction payments firm, Chams Plc and First Bank of Nigeria have entered into strategic partnership with the government of the State of Osun on the deployment of smart identity cards for enhancing salary and pension payments to civil servants and retirees in the state.

The biometric smart card will provide non-repudiable identification and authentication of civil servants and retirees in the state while also serving as credit or ATM cards, household utility pre-payment cards, among other functions.

Launching the smart identity card and the automated Osun Pensioner Verification exercise tagged, ‘I am alive’, Executive Governor of the State Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said introduction of the smart card is beneficial to both government and the workers in the state. He stated that the card would help to eliminate sources of financial waste and leakage being used by some dishonest workers to deprive government of needed funds, while also helping to block the possibility of defrauding workers of payments due to them.

“It was through the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to our tax admin- identity card in Osogbo.

SSOCIATE Provost for Interna tional Education, University of Georgia, USA, Prof. Kavita Pandit, has advocated for functional Information and Communication Technology usage in Nigeria tertiary institutions.

Kavita made this call recently at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos while giving a lecture titled, ‘’Internationalization of higher education: Opportunities and Challenges’’.

While noting that facebooking, chatting, pinging, and e-mailing are most reasons Nigeria students use the internet, she stressed that learning through skype, we-chat and other apps remained areas where students can divert their attentions to.

Noting the impact ICT has on the educational system, she stressed that, ICT remains one reliable means of information used by many firms as well as enhancing big data generation by policy makers, inventory and control unit departments, research banks and institutions among others.

She urged the government to invest more in ICT as many Nigerians in the university of Georgia perform better in ICT related tasks, and most of them after graduation, prefer staying behind and using the gained technical knowledge in developing different apps that will aid communication, thereby developing their IT industry, while Nigeria suffers from brain drain.

“Investment culture in ICT by Nigerians is very poor, technical skill is not directed to international standard, harsh economic situation, high rate of insecurity, collocation issues among other reasons prevent development in ICT”, Pandit stressed.

Interswitch partners e-Commerce start-up Tripcan on Quickteller movies

By RICHARD UDOFIA

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AN-AFRICAN integrated pay ments company, Interswitch Transnational, has announced the use of its value added service platform, Quickteller, to boost a Nigerian e-commerce startup, Tripican.com, in offering customers ‘Quickteller Movies’.

Quickteller Movies provides a convenient way for movie-lovers to pay for their cinema tickets using the Quickteller platform. This means Quickteller users no longer have to queue to purchase tickets at the cinema box office. The tickets themselves are also cheaper when purchased through Quickteller.

The partnership with Tripican is part of Quickteller’s drive to help Nigerian startups to make the most of the fastgrowing Nigerian e-commerce industry and get more consumers to appreciate the benefits of digitally delivered services and payments.

Quickteller provides customers with a simple and secure way to recharge, pay bills and transfer funds. Quickteller services can be accessed through multiple channels including: ATMs, mobile, PoS and online.

Group Managing Director and CEO, Interswitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, said that “Interswitch is delighted to have partnered with Tripican.com to deliver Quickteller Movies to cinema-goers across the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 27

InfraCos’ll not deliver internet ubiquity, NIG declares …calls for sale of NigComSat

By PRINCE OSUAGWU

get these global licenses at the moment are mainly deploying services in the most lucrative cities and until their license tenure expires, nothing can be done to them”. He added.

D

ESPITE the huge support by many Nigerian telecom operators and other stakeholders, the Nigerian Internet group, NIG, at the weekend, took a swipe at the idea behind the creation of Infrastructure Companies, InfraCos, by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, saying it would only end up not giving Nigeria the much needed broadband freedom.

President of the Association, Engr Adebayo Banjo, at a press parley in Lagos, at the weekend said InfraCos was another way of bringing government back into business on the areas it has previously failed to make impact.

This is even as he advocated that instead of government coming back into the broadband business indirectly, through InfraCos, it should actually divest its interests on the areas it has allegedly failed, like NigComSat and sell them off to private investors.

He also hit out at the way the regulator, allocate spectrums, saying that it does not only discourage competition, but also reduces the pace of growth of internet services in rural areas.

What is InfraCo The InfraCos are seven regionally-based infrastructure companies to be licensed by the NCC to help in the deployment of critical Information and Communication Technology, ICT, infrastructures in the six geopolitical zones of the country towards accelerating broadband access. These companies are expected to be licensed by the end of December this year.

The InfraCos will roll out national fibre optic network for broadband, guided by the country’s plans to boost high speed internet services across the country. The services would help the over 30,000 kilometres of domestic fibre optic cables connect with international cables which are lying on the shores of the country and distribute internet services to a greater percentage of the country’s population.

According to the regulator, creating this sector was particularly to ameliorate the discriminatory and high cost of moving broadband access across the length and breadth of the country.

To the commission, its efforts with these new companies could be described as a direct approach towards resolving Nigeria’s poor broadband internet penetration.

This is essentially so, as the InfraCos would be offered oneoff subsidy based on peculiarity of the business model and

Sell NigComSat

Bayo Banjo

Dr. Eugene Juwah

geographical coverage to meet the broadband objectives faster.

However, that is where Banjo said the commission got it wrong.

According to him, all the government needed was to subsidize bandwidth by supporting operators for about five years, encouraging the reduction of cost which would allow more entrepreneurs and more job creations.

where they clearly should not.

Another thing we should discourage is spectrum allocation on a global basis. Why would license be given to only seven people?

The spectrum could be broken into many pieces and licensed as so. So if anybody wants a global license he can now fill the forms based on the number of the pieces. This is because those who

7 InfraCos, poor idea He also noted that creating only seven operators, one in each geo-political zone, in a country like Nigeria with massive population was a poor idea and neither encourages competition nor fast deployment of services in rural areas.

“Let’s face the fact, when the government put the kind of money they are budgeting for these InfraCos, don’t you think it would be difficult for them not to get involved and monitor how the money is spent? That is indirectly getting back to business

He said the provision of internet infrastructure is one way the Federal Government can create employment opportunities for the army of the unemployed youths and reduce the spate of criminal activities in the country, but frowned at any attempt to use the opportunity to get government into business.

“We have severally, seen the consequences of government being in business when it is not supposed to be. Take NigComSat for instance; in spite of its abundant bandwidth capacity that could take internet to every home of the 774 Local Government Areas of the 36 states of the federation, it has failed woefully to be of any use because

CWG, Huawei to address African security challenges with IP surveillance

BY EMEKA AGINAM

C

OMMITTED to proffering solution to the challenge of insecurity plaguing the society, Pan African ICT Company Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG), in collaboration with Huawei, ICT infrastructure manufacturers have deployed Internet protocol (IP) surveillance to address securi-

ty challenges in the country and the rest of the African regions.

At an event with the theme, Detect and Curb Physical Security Threat in Your Environment, held recently in Lagos, security experts, IT professionals and other stakeholders examineed how the IP surveillance Technology could be ex-

‘You can’t feed future generation with yesterday’s technology' Continues from page 25 Ogbadu said NABDA had through increased sensitization programmes in different parts of the country, made Nigerians, especially farmers, more willing to embrace modern biotechnology.

According to her, the policy makers and legislature are not left out in the campaigns as they had become much more positively inclined to work towards the establishment of a national biosafety law in the country, expected to help the country reap the benefits of biotechnology.

“We have embarked on highlevel sensitization seminars at the National Assembly to educate them on the technology and what the country stands to gain when the law is established. At one of the workshops held recently one of the anti

government is involved in running the affairs.

“Now, the best thing to do is sell it off to private investors with real money and not those with unreal money. The investor with real money would invest wisely, manage wisely and create a robust internet platform from its facilities to help create job for Nigerian youths.

“The internet is a tool that can help create jobs for our unemployed youths. If there is good internet infrastructure, our youths can get jobs overseas while being in Nigeria. India is one country that is using the internet to the advantage of its citizens. It has led to the creation of applications which have boosted the economy of India.

“I agree that Government should intervene in the provision of internet infrastructure but such intervention should not be disguised as active participation in the industry, because government has no business in doing business” he averred.

GM lawmakers was won over and strongly agreed that Biosafety law was a necessary prerequisite for agricultural development in Nigeria.

“We know that the struggle is still on but NABDA will not rest until the National Biosafety bill is passed into law because biotechnology can improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” she said.Recall that the bio-safety bill was passed into law by the seventh National assembly in 2011 but was not assented by the then President. However, the current Assembly had re-introduced it and are working on the bill.

Announcing the 2013 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM crops report at the occasion, the founder and Emeritus Chairman of ISAAA, Clive James said, biotech crops increased in 2013 in their 18th consecutive year.

In 2013, it was expected that

growth continued to plateau for the principal biotech crops in industrial countries and in mature biotech crops markets in developing countries where adoption rates are sustained at an optimal rate of 90 per cent, leaving little or no room for expansion.

The report said biotech markets blossomed in the year under review especially in developing countries, such as Burkina Faso with 50 per cent growth in 2013 and Sudan with 300 per cent growth in 2013, and for the fifth consecutive year, Brazil posted an impressive 3.7 million increase, equivalent to 10 per cent growth between 2012 and 2013.

The global value of biotech seed alone was $15.6 billion in 2013. A 2011 study estimated that the cost of discovery, development and authorization of a new biotech crop is $135 million.

ploited to provide security both for personal effects and corporate assets.

Earlier in his welcome address, Associate Vice President of Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Mr. AdedayoAbegunde told the participants that the event was aimed at bringing the IP surveillance technology to the fore as an answer to the challenge of insecurity facing the nation.

He explained to the participants the privilege of exploring the novel solutions the event affords.

In his presentation titled “Smart Technology, Enhance Security”, Huawei enterprise solution manager, Mr. Joseph Olayemi highlighted the features of the Intelligence Video Surveillance (IVS) surveillance solution. According to him, IP surveillance is a digitized and networked version of wellknown closed-circuit television (CCTV).

He observed that the video surveillance systems have undergone significant changes, shifting from the earliest analogue surveillance to digital surveillance, which was prominent in the past few years, to the present burgeoning IP video surveillance.

He noted that there has been a gradual shift from the use of CCTV systems to the IP surveillance globally owing to its greater efficiency.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Mobile-broadband penetration to reach 32% by 2014 — ITU report

BY EMEKA AGINAM

E

fforts aggregated by several stakeholders in Africa to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through broadband access has started yielding expected results as the latest statistics released by the International Telecommunication Union , ITU, on Monday indicated that global mobilebroadband penetration will reach 32 per cent by end 2014 in developing economies.

ITU statistics are widely recognized as the world’s most reliable and impartial global data on the state of the global ICT industry.

Accordingly, the new figure by end 2014, there will be almost 3 billion Internet users, two-third of them coming from the developing world.

This corresponds to an Internet-user penetration of 40 per cent globally, 78 per cent in developed countries and 32 per cent in developing countries. More than 90 per cent of the people who are not yet using the Internet are from the developing world.

In Africa, almost 20 per cent of the population will be online by end 2014, up from 10 per cent in 2010.

Highest penetration rate In the Americas, close to two out of three people will be using the Internet by end of 2014, the second highest penetration rate after Europe.

Europe’s Internet penetration will reach 75 per cent meaning that three out of four people by end there, will be using internet by end of 2014, the highest worldwide.

One-third of the population in Asia and the Pacific will be online by end of 2014 and around 45 per cent of the world’s Internet users will be from the Asia-Pacific region.

In developed countries, the figure further indicated that mobilebroadband penetration will reach 84 per cent, a

Dr. HamadounToure, ITU Secretary General level four times as high as in developing countries (21%).

Similarly, the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions, according to the figure will reach 2.3 billion globally and 55 per cent of all mobilebroadband subscriptions

are expected to be in the developing world.

By end of 2014, fixedbroadband penetration, according to the figure would have reached almost 10 per cent globally.

Forty-four per cent of all fixed-broadband sub-

scriptions are in Asia and the Pacific, and 25 per cent are in Europe.

In contrast, Africa accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s fixed-broadband subscriptions, and despite double-digit growth over the last four years, penetration in Africa remains very low.

Africa, the Arab States, and CIS are the only regions with double-digit fixed-broadband penetration growth rates. The Americas region stands out with the lowest growth in fixed broadband penetration, estimated at 2.5 per cent and reaching a penetration rate of around 17 per cent by end of 2014.

Europe’s fixed-broadband penetration is much higher compared with other regions and almost three times as high as the global aver-

age.

Home internet access According to the new figure, Home internet access approaches saturation levels in developed countries.

By end of 2014, 44 per cent of the world’s households will have Internet access.

Close to one-third (31%) of households in developing countries will be connected to the Internet, compared with 78 per cent in developed countries.

The analysis shows that household Internet access is approaching saturation levels in developed countries.

More than one out of two households in the CIS will be connected to the Internet. In Africa, only about one out of ten households will be connected to the Internet.

However, household In-

ternet access in Africa continues to grow at double-digit rates.

Mobile-broadband penetration levels Mobile-broadband penetration levels are highest in Europe (64%) and the Americas , 59%, followed by CIS, 49%, the Arab States, 25%, Asia-Pacific -23%), and Africa 19% respectively.

The number of mobilebroadband subscriptions, according to the new figure by ITU will reach 2.3 billion globally. Fifty-five per cent of these subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world.

By end of 2014, the new figure from the ITU also informed that there will be almost 3 billion Internet users, twothirds of them coming from the developing world.

Fixed line subscriptions on decline.

According to ITU results, fixed-telephone penetration has been declining for the past five years. By end of 2014, there will be about 100 million fewer fixedtelephone subscriptions than in 2009.

3-time winner: Glo scoops three at BoICT awards S ECOND national car rier, Globacom at the beacon of ICT awards last week, scooped three awards becoming the Best Telecoms Company of the Year, Most Innovative Mobile Player of the Year and Undersea Cable Company of the Year.

Organizers of the award said Globacom emerged tops in the award categories in an online poll conducted from December last year to March 30, 2014, in which over 250,000 respondents participated.

Glo was voted the Best Telecoms Company of the Year because of its revolutionary role in the industry. Organisers noted that the company had continued to ensure that Nigerians benefitted from technological advances by pioneering revolutionary products and crashing telecom service tariffs.

On the second award, the Most Innovative Mobile Player, Glo was chosen for continuing to distinguish itself as a leader in introducing in-

novative voice and data services in the industry.

In voting Glo Undersea Cable Company of the Year, Beacon of ICT Awards organizers said respondents took into account the emergence of Glo 1 as a major bandwidth provider in the West Africa sub-region.

Other winners at the event included First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Vodacom Business. Dataflex, DHL Unified Payments, Phase 3 Telecoms and Interconnect Clearing House.

Service provider They noted that Glo 1 had become the first choice service provider for several companies across different sectors including telecoms, oil and gas, construction, banking and manufacturing.

The Beacon of ICT Awards was instituted to reward the vision and enterprise of individuals and companies that have contributed to the growth of the ICT industry.

Communication Week said the objectives of the awards were to evaluate and recognize standards of excellence in the country ’s quest for growth and development in the use of ICT.

Dr. Mike Adenuga, Glo Chairman

… spends over $100m on network expansion

T

HIS is also as the op erator at the weekend announced that it has almost swapped its legacy network facilities with modern equipment which would stand it far from competition in the industry.

Announcing the new development, Globacom Head of Operations, Mr Kola Osho, also hinted that the company has penned down a contract of over $100 million for network upgrade.

Osho said that to modernize operations, Globacom has fully completed swap legacy facilities in its Lagos, Abuja, Ogun and Oyo operations among others while that of Port Harcourt is 70 percent ready.

He also disclosed that in the next three months the network was going to move from the 46 percent 3G coverage of the country to 90 percent; roll out about 1,500 3G enabled new sites that will be data

enabled from the start.

He also dropped a hint that the company had placed an order of about 100G backbone modernization system in preparation of an eventual fibre cut in the future, saying that all these, would not only significantly impact on the coverage of data services but also create confidence and build trust, conviction, satisfaction, loyalty, goodwill, commitment and more in Glo customers.

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32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Odemwingie braces for WBA return

Weimann backs Lambert to stay at Villa

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toke striker Peter Odemwingie is preparing for a frosty reception when he returns to West Brom for the weekend’s seasonclosing Premier League clash.

The former Nigeria striker, 32, famously tried to engineer a move away from The Hawthorns in 2013 - handing in a transfer request and travelling to QPR on the evening of January transfer deadline day.

A move failed to materialise and Odewingie endured a difficult stay with the Baggies before he was sold

A

ndreas Weimann is hop ing manager Paul Lambert stays at Aston Villa, saying: “There’s no reason for him not to be here.”

Villa have had an indifferent season, and only secured their Premier League status on Saturday when a 3-1 home win over Hull City moved them on to 38 points and up to 14th place.

Lambert’s troops have won just 10 of their 36 league games so far, and face Manchester City on tonight.

They have lost 18 times and Saturday ’s win over the Tigers, in which Weimann netted a double, ended a sixmatch winless run featuring five defeats and a draw.

Villa chairman Randy Lerner is set to make an announcement on his future plans at the end of the season, with rumours of a potential takeover circulating Villa Park.

Sharapova Survives Madrid Scare

•Pellegrini

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•Sharapova

Howson hopes for Baggies favour

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orwich midfielder Jonny Howson is hoping Brom can do his side a favo ur and West bea t Sunderland today. The Canaries secured draw at Chelsea last time out but Sunderla credible at Manchester United on Saturday has leftand’s win points adrift of safety with just one game them two remaining.

The Black Cats have a game in hand as West Brom today, with the north east outfit they host the two sides immediately above Norwand Albion table. Both Sunderland and the Baggies ich in the has vastly superior goal differences to Norwich and reali stically Howson’s side need Sunderland to lose both their remaining games if they are to avoid the drop, with the Canaries also needing to beat Arsenal in their final game. Howson admits surv at home unlikely for his side at this point but he ival looks West Brom can take all three points todais hoping would ensure the battle to avoid Prem y, which ier League relegation goes on until the final day of the season.

City focus on Villa victory P

remier League favourites Manchester City are not getting carried away with possible League glory as they face Aston Villa tonight. The Citizens are now in the pound seat to take this year’s title after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday, yet coach Manuel Pellegrini insists his side are merely

focused on winning their next encounter.

“We have to win the game against Aston Villa; then at the end of the week, we will see which team has more points,” the Chilean told a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s (today) matchup. “We will prepare exactly the same as we have done in all the games during

the year. The next game is always the most important.

“It is a difficult game because all the teams are under pressure. A lot of people said Everton were not going to win because they didn’t want Liverpool to win the title but we had a very tough game against them.”

When asked if he watched Liverpool’s

Poyet: Sunderland Premier League survival will feel like trophy win S

UNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet claims Premier League survival will feel like winning a trophy. claims Premier League survival will feel like winning a trophy.

If the Black Cats avoid defeat against West Brom at the Stadium of Light tonight, they will stay up and condemn Norwich, who have a vastly inferior goal difference, to relegation.

And that will cap a remarkable revival for Poyet’s side who were seven points adrift and seemingly doomed just three weeks ago.

At the time, the Uruguyan claimed Sunderland required a miracle and a haul of ten

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to Cardiff last summer. He then moved on again to Stoke in January, for whom he has scored five goals in 14 appearances.

Odemwingie said of returning to face his old employers: “I played against West Brom at Cardiff, but this will be my first time back at The Hawthorns.

“It’s going to be a mixed reception after my last six months there and I’m not expecting anything different.

points out of 12, including wins at both Chelsea and Manchester United, has provided one.

The Black Cats reached the Capital One Cup final in March only to lose to Manchester City but Poyet admits if they do can stretch their unbeaten run to five games in front of another 42,000 plus crowd on Wearside, it can provide ample consolation.

“It will probably feel like winning a Cup,” he said.

“Normally, you don’t celebrate finishing 15th, 16th or 17th in the league but we will!”

draw at Selhurst Park, Pellegrini replied,”No, I didn’t. “It is just one result and it is very difficult to win games in the Premier League.

You cannot be sure you are winning until the end. Crystal Palace are a good team in a good moment. “Crystal Palace did not have anything to fight for but they were very strong.

“I am sure Aston Villa will be a difficult team for us but I hope that if we play at home as we have done so far, we can win.”

Villa will attack City, declares Lambert

P

aul Lambert has warned Manchester City that Aston Villa will be seeking to cause an upset in Etihad .

The Citizens will win the Premier League title if Manuel Pellegrini’s side claim four points from their remaining two games after Liverpool slipped up at Crystal Palace on Monday.

The 2012 winners are expected to comfortably beat Villa, although Lambert’s men were shock 3-2 winners against the Eastlands outfit at Villa Park earlier in the season.

And the Scot promised Villa will be seeking to beat the Premier League title favourites despite securing safety with a 3-1 win against Hull City last weekend.

“We’re not going there just to make up the numbers, we’re going there to try to win,” Lambert said.

aria Sharapova staged an 11th hour comeback to defeat Christina McHale and book her place in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open.

A few years ago, Christina McHale seemed to have the tennis world at her feet. But no sooner had she been earmarked as American tennis’ new young hope than she hit a major bump in the road, with her rapid rise up the rankings put on hold by a bout of glandular fever.

While the return journey up the rankings has not been quite so smooth, judging by a recent runner-up finish in Acapulco, McHale seems to be on the right track again. Her reward for a polished first round win over Lauren Davis was a rematch with Sharapova, who won, 6-2, 6-1, when they met at the same stage of the tournament 12 months ago.

Gay will come back strong T

yson Gay is set to return to the track next month, after the United States Anti-Doing Agency (USADA) chopped his two-year ban for multiple failed drugs tests in 2013, to one year .

The American - the second fastest man in history - was shown leniency because he provided information that is considered beneficial towards the fight against doping in sports. This is in line with the ‘substantial assistance’ plea bargain clause, which is an amendment made to the January 2015 World Anti-Doping Code.

Days after news surfaced of the American’s ban, a couple of his countrymen, who served drug bans themselves, chimed in on the development.

Delta Province 5 wins RCCG games

I

t was fanfare all through as Delta Province 5 emerged overall winner of the 1st Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Region 13 Mini-Regional Sports Fiesta concluded at the sports complex, Paragon Group of School, Benin City. At the end of the five days of sporting competition held across six centres in Benin and Warri respectively, the Pastor Benson Osawaru, PICP Delta 5 led Team topped the medals chart with 10 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals ahead of Delta 6 who had 5 gold, 3 silver and 9 bronze medals while Delta Province 1 which bagged 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals to place third.

Also, Edo Province 1 garnered 4 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal to place fourth ahead of Delta Province 7 that had 3 gold, 3 silver and 1bronze medal. Besides, the influx of Pastors in charge of Provinces (PICPs) and their assistants (APICPs), Pastors, ministers and large turn-out of members both from Delta and Edo States added glamour to the closing ceremony of the sports fiesta tagged ‘Overflowing Sports for Life 2014’. In the football final played to wrap up the fiesta Delta province 6 defeated Delta 2 by a lone goal.

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 33

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Odemwingie braces for WBA return

Weimann backs Lambert to stay at Villa

S

toke striker Peter Odemwingie is preparing for a frosty reception when he returns to West Brom for the weekend’s seasonclosing Premier League clash.

The former Nigeria striker, 32, famously tried to engineer a move away from The Hawthorns in 2013 - handing in a transfer request and travelling to QPR on the evening of January transfer deadline day.

A move failed to materialise and Odewingie endured a difficult stay with the Baggies before he was sold

A

ndreas Weimann is hop ing manager Paul Lambert stays at Aston Villa, saying: “There’s no reason for him not to be here.”

Villa have had an indifferent season, and only secured their Premier League status on Saturday when a 3-1 home win over Hull City moved them on to 38 points and up to 14th place.

Lambert’s troops have won just 10 of their 36 league games so far, and face Manchester City on tonight.

They have lost 18 times and Saturday ’s win over the Tigers, in which Weimann netted a double, ended a sixmatch winless run featuring five defeats and a draw.

Villa chairman Randy Lerner is set to make an announcement on his future plans at the end of the season, with rumours of a potential takeover circulating Villa Park.

Sharapova Survives Madrid Scare

•Pellegrini

M

•Sharapova

Howson hopes for Baggies favour

N

orwich midfielder Jonny Howson is hoping Brom can do his side a favo ur and West bea t Sunderland today. The Canaries secured draw at Chelsea last time out but Sunderla credible at Manchester United on Saturday has leftand’s win points adrift of safety with just one game them two remaining.

The Black Cats have a game in hand as West Brom today, with the north east outfit they host the two sides immediately above Norwand Albion table. Both Sunderland and the Baggies ich in the has vastly superior goal differences to Norwich and reali stically Howson’s side need Sunderland to lose both their remaining games if they are to avoid the drop, with the Canaries also needing to beat Arsenal in their final game. Howson admits surv at home unlikely for his side at this point but he ival looks West Brom can take all three points todais hoping would ensure the battle to avoid Prem y, which ier League relegation goes on until the final day of the season.

City focus on Villa victory P

remier League favourites Manchester City are not getting carried away with possible League glory as they face Aston Villa tonight. The Citizens are now in the pound seat to take this year’s title after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday, yet coach Manuel Pellegrini insists his side are merely

focused on winning their next encounter.

“We have to win the game against Aston Villa; then at the end of the week, we will see which team has more points,” the Chilean told a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s (today) matchup. “We will prepare exactly the same as we have done in all the games during

the year. The next game is always the most important.

“It is a difficult game because all the teams are under pressure. A lot of people said Everton were not going to win because they didn’t want Liverpool to win the title but we had a very tough game against them.”

When asked if he watched Liverpool’s

Poyet: Sunderland Premier League survival will feel like trophy win S

UNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet claims Premier League survival will feel like winning a trophy. claims Premier League survival will feel like winning a trophy.

If the Black Cats avoid defeat against West Brom at the Stadium of Light tonight, they will stay up and condemn Norwich, who have a vastly inferior goal difference, to relegation.

And that will cap a remarkable revival for Poyet’s side who were seven points adrift and seemingly doomed just three weeks ago.

At the time, the Uruguyan claimed Sunderland required a miracle and a haul of ten

C M Y K

to Cardiff last summer. He then moved on again to Stoke in January, for whom he has scored five goals in 14 appearances.

Odemwingie said of returning to face his old employers: “I played against West Brom at Cardiff, but this will be my first time back at The Hawthorns.

“It’s going to be a mixed reception after my last six months there and I’m not expecting anything different.

points out of 12, including wins at both Chelsea and Manchester United, has provided one.

The Black Cats reached the Capital One Cup final in March only to lose to Manchester City but Poyet admits if they do can stretch their unbeaten run to five games in front of another 42,000 plus crowd on Wearside, it can provide ample consolation.

“It will probably feel like winning a Cup,” he said.

“Normally, you don’t celebrate finishing 15th, 16th or 17th in the league but we will!”

draw at Selhurst Park, Pellegrini replied,”No, I didn’t. “It is just one result and it is very difficult to win games in the Premier League.

You cannot be sure you are winning until the end. Crystal Palace are a good team in a good moment. “Crystal Palace did not have anything to fight for but they were very strong.

“I am sure Aston Villa will be a difficult team for us but I hope that if we play at home as we have done so far, we can win.”

Villa will attack City, declares Lambert

P

aul Lambert has warned Manchester City that Aston Villa will be seeking to cause an upset in Etihad .

The Citizens will win the Premier League title if Manuel Pellegrini’s side claim four points from their remaining two games after Liverpool slipped up at Crystal Palace on Monday.

The 2012 winners are expected to comfortably beat Villa, although Lambert’s men were shock 3-2 winners against the Eastlands outfit at Villa Park earlier in the season.

And the Scot promised Villa will be seeking to beat the Premier League title favourites despite securing safety with a 3-1 win against Hull City last weekend.

“We’re not going there just to make up the numbers, we’re going there to try to win,” Lambert said.

aria Sharapova staged an 11th hour comeback to defeat Christina McHale and book her place in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open.

A few years ago, Christina McHale seemed to have the tennis world at her feet. But no sooner had she been earmarked as American tennis’ new young hope than she hit a major bump in the road, with her rapid rise up the rankings put on hold by a bout of glandular fever.

While the return journey up the rankings has not been quite so smooth, judging by a recent runner-up finish in Acapulco, McHale seems to be on the right track again. Her reward for a polished first round win over Lauren Davis was a rematch with Sharapova, who won, 6-2, 6-1, when they met at the same stage of the tournament 12 months ago.

Gay will come back strong T

yson Gay is set to return to the track next month, after the United States Anti-Doing Agency (USADA) chopped his two-year ban for multiple failed drugs tests in 2013, to one year .

The American - the second fastest man in history - was shown leniency because he provided information that is considered beneficial towards the fight against doping in sports. This is in line with the ‘substantial assistance’ plea bargain clause, which is an amendment made to the January 2015 World Anti-Doping Code.

Days after news surfaced of the American’s ban, a couple of his countrymen, who served drug bans themselves, chimed in on the development.

Delta Province 5 wins RCCG games

I

t was fanfare all through as Delta Province 5 emerged overall winner of the 1st Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Region 13 Mini-Regional Sports Fiesta concluded at the sports complex, Paragon Group of School, Benin City. At the end of the five days of sporting competition held across six centres in Benin and Warri respectively, the Pastor Benson Osawaru, PICP Delta 5 led Team topped the medals chart with 10 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals ahead of Delta 6 who had 5 gold, 3 silver and 9 bronze medals while Delta Province 1 which bagged 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals to place third.

Also, Edo Province 1 garnered 4 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal to place fourth ahead of Delta Province 7 that had 3 gold, 3 silver and 1bronze medal. Besides, the influx of Pastors in charge of Provinces (PICPs) and their assistants (APICPs), Pastors, ministers and large turn-out of members both from Delta and Edo States added glamour to the closing ceremony of the sports fiesta tagged ‘Overflowing Sports for Life 2014’. In the football final played to wrap up the fiesta Delta province 6 defeated Delta 2 by a lone goal.

C M Y K

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

My social life facilitates business – Princess Aofiyebi FOR different folks, attaining the diamond jubilee means different things. For Princess Teni Aofiyebi, it has been, amongst other things, a time to regroup resources and begin a new business whose fulcrum is to be an eye honed from decades of attending Lagos’ hottest social events and being on the central social scene. And so it was that after wide consultations and painstaking procurement methodology, TKM Essentials was born; its aim being to cater for the high end of the social spectrum and for event decorators and discerning members of the society to create spectacular events that Nigerians are well known for. .

A warm chat and a facilities tour with Morenike Taire of TKM Essential’s Lagos offices reveal more.

HAT makes this hiring business more attractive than sales?

In the hiring business you can’t take something away until you pay for it. Not only do you pay for it you also leave a deposit. Also, a portion of that for replacement should it be broken or whatever.

Does that ever happen?

A few things have been lost already. I’d rather they didn’t pay and got their deposit back So it’s a lower risk business?

Most certainly. And eventually lucrative because between the going out and coming back and going out and coming back, you are making money rather than on what you sold.

This sector is suddenly really huge. To what would you attribute that?

It is huge. And I intend to maximize it and take advantage of every facet of it.

We are not into decorating at the moment but eventually we would. I’d love at the end of the day to have my own events center, so there are prospects.

I think people are becoming more conscious of the events they are having and you go somewhere and it’s beautifully decorated; next event you are having you are thinking…

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In the midst of people saying they don’t have money you still see affluence all over the place. Somebody had an eightieth birthday party a few weeks ago and a Chinese garden was actually created under a marquee. There was water on either side of a little bridge with floating flowers on top of it. People tend towards showy when they are having an event particularly when they are getting married.

Governor Fashola was quoted to have said recently that Lagosians spend 2 billion naira a month on owambe parties every month. Is it true?

I know that as far back as six years ago a friend of my mum’s passed on and I know the florist alone charged them over 6 million.

Artificial flowers I’m not sure what florists are charging now. We have artificial flowers and unless you actually touch them... We have some of the very best artificial flowers in the world here.

More and more people are mixing fresh flowers with artificial flowers to cut costs.

At my son’s wedding the decorator had some white roses and I’m a lover of flowers so I have fresh flowers

What do you have on the competition?

We have quite a few things because decorators and planners come here and they are truly wowed. They are also amazed, the fact that I bought the kind of things that I have.

We have a lot of crystal, silver; some of our chairs are not available here in Nigeria. We have an edge.

Where are you taking this business?

I sincerely hope that this little baby of mine makes me enough money to spread my wings How easy was it to source your things?

I went to china myself for a few weeks. I didn’t have experience before I went and not even a napkin ring did I buy without sending a picture to my consultant out here to ask if it was kosher. I have my contact over there so I do not have to keep going back.

What have you done in your past to prepare you for this?

Basically I’ve been in the media- sort of. I’m an actor, a facilitator. I train public

speakers on how to speak. I don’t like selling. Even though I like to buy good things for others to have.

I’ve found something that I love to do. It agrees with my personality- decorating, making a place look nice.

Would you say you were a socialite?

It depends. I love to socialize. I don’t jump at every invitation. I don’t have

,

W

in my house every week.

Three or four days later some of the roses were rotting and some were not. I went and touched them and realized that they were not real. We have florists come in and touch the flowers seeing how life like they are.

So people are ready to pay for decorations.

people come here because somebody that I gave a brochure to had told them and I tell people “please help spread the word”.

Most of the parties are really not fun. You sit down, you recycle one another. After a while there’s nothing to say, the music is blaring, you don’t hear one another. The dancing is basically to go up to the celebrant, spray, then go back to sit down. If there’s

I don’t jump at every invitation. I don’t have to be in places I’m invited to. I don’t like parties that are too big; I’ve walked out of parties where I felt I hadn’t been taken good care of. I would attend friends’ children weddings, relations’ dos but I don’t go to third party things

to be in places I’m invited to.

I don’t like parties that are too big; I’ve walked out of parties where I felt I hadn’t been taken good care of. I would attend friends’ children weddings, relations’ dos but I don’t go to third party things. Maybe I’m a socialite to a certain extent. I love to enjoy myself.

Does that help with business?

I understand network marketing; that word-ofmouth does a lot so there is nowhere that I go to that I’m not prepared with my brochure. Marketing is in my blood. I attend some events purposely for that. Nothing beats word of mouth. I’ve had

,

an engagement and wedding you’ll never find me at the two; or there’s a funeral and there’s a wake I’ll never do the two unless it’s relations.

I looove to get dressed; I enjoy looking good. But it’s a pressure. You have to take the clothes out, know what goes with what a few days before the event. Uugghh. It’s really not easy to be a so called socialite.

It’s a full time job…

It’s really not a full time job but it’s involving. If you want to be a socialite in the right sense of it and maintain certain standards, it’s a lot of work.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—35

Kema Chikwe

The Chibok Girls

S

TILL trending in cyberspace, and all over the globe, are the 234 girls who were snatched in Borno State weeks ago in the most bewildering of circumstances. from Johannesburg to Jakarta, Australia to Argentina, groups consisting civil society, government, media and just private citizens have carried placards demanding for the release of the Chibok girls.

It has also become all the rage to have Bringbackourgirls posters as profile pictures and such like on all the social media. So far so good, but few ideas have been propagated as per strategy, and no leads whatsoever in the midst of all the euphoria.

G

ETTING hit over the head all over blogosphere is former Aviation minister and National Woman leader of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, who questioned the very fact of the kidnap of the Chibok girls in the first instance at a political meeting in Abuja.

Speaking at a prayer session held for national security at the party’s secretariat, Mrs. Chikwe rightly said there were many unanswered questions concerning the kidnap: “How did it happen? Who saw it happen? Who did not see it happen? Who is behind this?”

Towards obtaining answers, she demanded that the principal of the school should release the names and photographs of the abducted girls. She has quickly released an explanation for her “unmotherly” comments. So far, her excuses have been mostly ignored on cyberspace, and the bashing continues.

Yewande Sadiku Chika Ike

S

INCE Nigerians took to Twitter to cam paign for the release of the over 200 abducted school girls with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, A-list celebrities have joined train. Trust fans who would always watch for hits and misses. So it was that when screen diva, Chika Ike, spoke out in support that

I

Ini Edo

NI Edo jolted cyberspace last week when she celebrated her 32nd birthday. Hey, don’t be angry she didn’t invite you; it was only a quiet party. Anyway, commentators on cyberspace are worried about Ini’s age as they strongly feel her stature and aura betray her purported age. No doubt, the actress has had a fast ride to the pinnacle of her career and her beautiful, robust, velvety frame, coupled with her professional experience, absolutely seem to disagree with age 32. The star was spotted jollying on Elegushi Beach in Lagos with her celeb friends Bryan Okwara, Monalisa Chinda, Annie Macaulay-Idibia, Emem Isong and Moses Inwang while also on set. Congratulations, though!

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some fans ticked her off over her choice of attached photograph, accusing her of turning the subject into a jamboree of some sort.

The UN Refugee Ambassador for Displaced Persons had obviously forgotten the upheaval triggered by her recent Dubai shopping-spree and had attached a picture of that trip to her brilliant piece. The piece read in part: “My heart is broken; our daughters have been taken away from us. 234 has become a memorable number but not for a good cause. It’s been weeks and all we hear is that our daughters have been abducted…. I can’t imagine the pains and agony their parents are going through now… It could have happened to anyone…”

W

HILE the controversy rages over the suspension of the Nigerian release of the movie version of book Half of a Yellow Sun by Nigerian MacArthur fellow Chinamanda Adichie by the country’s broadcasting regulatory body, another woman is getting all the attention in blogosphere, and it is not Onyeka Onwenu, musical legend and the elegant stallion herself.

Yewande Sadiku had been little known before the release of the controversial film, but now critics salute her extraordinary courage for stepping out of the box as it were, and raising funds for the flick. The investment banker supposedly raised a whopping $10 million (N1.7 billion), making Half of a Yellow Sun the biggest Nigerian production ever.

It is particularly important at this time, with fears that the showing of the movie will raise buried ghosts amongst Biafrans and engender fresh hatred between them and their perceived enemies. Sadiku, who is Yoruba, says she believes the cinematic interpretation of the awardwinning novel was worth all the trouble. She sees the film as a bridge between Nigerian cinema and the international film community.

Film investment She also believes that the success of the film will improve the comfort of Nigerian investors with film investment and allow Nigerian film makers to raise formal financing in the future beyond their circle of family and friends. According to her, “Most of the local crew members, who make up roughly 60 per cent of

the production, are getting their first chance to work on a film with a high level of technical detail, acquiring skills that will help the local industry moving forward.”

One major fear expressed by critics is the success of the movie at the box office so that Sadiku can recoup her nearly N2 billion investment and help others to raise funds for other ambitious film projects.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Implications of porous border control

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU AND PRISCA SAM-DURU

N

IGERIA is facing a tough time as a result of porous border control which many of the citizens have maintained, has created easy passages for aliens and illegal immigrants who troop into the country without restriction.

The porous borders have enabled abduction, suicide bombings and of course, smuggling of individuals in and out of the country, particularly, through the northern part of the country.

In sampling opinions from many concerned Nigerians, Vanguard Consular Advisory gathered that the recent development which involved the abduction of a large number of teenagers who were writing exams at Chibok in Borno State, and probably transported outside the country through loose borders, is disheartening.

Many are of the view that the Nigerian government is being slow in providing needed

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technology and manpower to challenge the porosity of its borders, stressing that, people have been smuggled in and out of Nigeria unnoticed but the case of Chibok abduction attracted the attention of the entire world, due to the number of victims involved.

While criticising the Federal Government for its lackadaisical attitude in dealing with the matter, a source, James (other names withheld for security reasons), said that the Federal Government of Nigeria is equally porous, so why wouldn’t their borders be porous?”

He said "President, Goodluck Jonathan, is just being too lenient over the abduction and has refused to deal with the northerners who are, of a fact, perpetrators of the majority of the insurgencies in the country. President Goodluck should damn any consequence and deal squarely with the Boko Haram insurgency, and ensure that serious minded Immigration officials are mounted on borders, to arrest aliens without authentic entry permit.”

Dismissing calls for foreign assistance in the fight against terrorism, James said “it makes no

•Border patrol sense seeking international military assistance or thinking that the international community will provide protection, when we know where the problem and kidnapping emanated from.”

He further stated that Nigeria has the capability to track down those who are involved in the act of human trafficking and smuggling before they are dispersed throughout Africa and beyond. Also stressing the urgency in locating the many porous borders in the country which pose serious treat to security of Nigeria, another aggrieved individual, Uche Ogbene, told VCA that he does not think it is necessary to continue to expose our inefficiency to other

countries.

He said that Nigeria has enough technology and manpower to counter every challenging issue, stressing that the whereabout of the girls was not a huge challenge that a responsible government cannot overcome. Ogbene, however, urged the authorities of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, to intensify effort towards ensuring that all roads leading in and out of Nigeria is secured.

“The situation on ground has made it imperative for authorities of the Nigerian Immigration Service to show their efficacy through strict monitoring of both the land and air borders in addition to ensuring that

smuggling and trafficking of persons from N i g e r i a becomes a thing of the past. The recent abduction of over 200 girls from Nigeria is a big insult to the Nigerian Immigration authority, as it is to other responsible Nigerian authorities,” Ogbene submitted.

A business woman Stella also told VCA that she is aware of all the things that go on and about the Nigerian borders, owing to the fact that she is a frequent traveler to Cotonou, Ghana and other ECOWAS countries through the Seme border.

According to her, she had on several occasions, slept with some immigration officials so as to allow her smuggle in contraband goods into the country. She said, “All you need to do as a woman is expose a little part of what a Custom or Immigration official needs to see and you will scale through smoothly into the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 37 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

LIBRA; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis may bring you personality clashes base on envy from the other party. Slow down and give peace a chance at least for now.

SCORPIO; Full-Moon in Aries points to possible misunderstanding (probably) within your working arena. This is the wrong time to fan the embers of discord.

SAGIT TARIUS; Although the full-Moon is generating tension, your wish is to have your good time. It’s wrong to under-rate the havoc jealousy can wreck.

CAPRICORN; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis will bring pressure from many fronts, the more noticeable ones are career/business and domestic related types

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Share your experience

E

XPERIENCE sim ply put is the skill and knowledge you have gained from doing something over a period of time. No doubt experienced personnel is a rich reservoir of knowledge.

Unfortunately, many

of these experienced people do not like to share their knowledge with any one. The issue is why horde your knowledge? Some body taught you and

TERROR MUDA

that is why you suddenly become somebody to be reckoned with. If you share your experience, you produce your kind and multiply. This is what

in “Never say goodbye”

human immortality is all about. Document your experience so that generation after generation will be enriched by your knowledge.

Share your experience today. Don’t die with your rich and vast experience.

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Full-Moon in Aries warns you to watch what you sign and verbally agreed to do. If you fail to respect the law, it’ll back-fire very soon.

PISCES; Today ’s full-Moon in Aries does not encourage carelessness with money as such can actually lead to avoidable but serious troubles. Avoid jealous approach ARIES; Full-Moon in your Star sign will encourage you to under-rate many to their resentment the way you too’ll be negatively affected. Don’t ignore your spouse TAURUS; Full-Moon in Aries warns you to do away with whatever can not be placed above board. Take your health seriously today more than before GEMINI; Today’s full-Moon in Aries can tempt you to expose your love life unnecessarily. Separate your private/personal affairs and open friendship CANCER; Full-Moon will certainly affect your mood and make you aggressive but, encouragement of tension along your career line and/or within your business circle can not help your cause now.

Protection of your image is important however.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LEO; Full-Moon may bring you what you’re likely to see as an insult but in reality it is not one. You only need to be on the right side of the law so that you’ll have the last laugh to the detriment of your opponents. Discourage of jealousy within you.

VIRGO; Full-Moon across Aries/Libra axis may generate tension around you but, the best way for you not to be the loser is to make sure your finances are well protected. Then green eyed monster called jealousy may make things a little bit difficult.

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,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Basic characteristics of Pisces Pisces is 12th of the twelve Zodiac signs ruled by mysterious Neptune. It quality is mutable while it element is water. Mutable aspect of Pisces indicates that people born under it are changeable, by this I mean they change their minds often times. Being a water sign, naives of this Star have very strong intuition and can flow into anybody heart and/or mind.

Neptune as the ruler of Pisces brings compassion and ARTISTIC talent into Pisces born people’s creativity quotient. Neptune rules psychic related thing and many of things that cannot be placed above board; Neptune makes most natives of this star sign secretive, hard to understand and dreaming.

Two opposing fishes as joint symbol of Pisces oftentimes responsible for occasional confusion suffer by all natives of Pisces one time or the other. It is truly important for them to learn how to control both their emotion and mind.

Because it is easy for Pisces people to become pessimistic unnecessarily The reasons are while one of the fishes may head for optimism and day dreaming, the other ’s inclination may be of fear, despondency and timidity. Thus, confusion can creep in and that will be to the detriment of their confidence.

Cultivation of practical nature and adoption of realistic method in all you do will be of great importance. It is equally important for Pisces born people like you to take psychic related things more seriously because they can make use of psychic and/or spiritual related things.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

accused of some things and we asked him to defend himself and he explained his action. How can we give the report to somebody who is part of the matter, it is not done and is not correct”.

The way out: Proffering a solution to the political logjam Senator Kaka said “ what is happening is normal and I am sure nobody will expect us to fight on aimlessly. If there are disagreements, which I don’t regard as fights, it should mean that justice needs to be done.

Once there is readiness to ensure justice is done, there will be peace.

Semblance of peace

•Amosun: Leading his faction

•Osoba: His supporters are peeved

Ogun APC: War cries

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

T

HE feud, according to findings is a struggle for an absolute control of the party’s machinery in the state. Though , the crisis is not peculiar to Ogun State, it is happening in some other states like Oyo, Ondo among others.

Findings have also shown that, the crux of the matter is that while the national lawmakers are gunning for return tickets, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on the other hand is desirous of cornering the same tickets for his loyalists.

The governor was accused of attempting to scuttle the chances of members of national assembly caucus through alleged scheming to foist only his loyalists as members of the Harmonisation Committee members.

Speaking on the relationship between the governor and federal lawmakers, Senator Adegboyega Kaka who is the leader of the National Assembly caucus said “ It is an open secret that the relationship is not exactly cordial. But as I said, we disagree to agree. We are moving towards resolution of whatever the disagreement that exists between us”.

But the governor ’s camp acussed the other faction of working against the party guidelines and planing to scuttle the governor ’s efforts to reposition the party in the state.

It also acussed the other faction of planning to stop Governor

Amosun from realising his second term bid in 2015.

Speaking on the crisis, Chief Isaac Olu Agemo, a factional chairman of the party loyal to a former governor of the state, Aremo Segun Osoba , said “Nobody should be blamed for the crisis. I don’t believe there is crisis in the party, it is an in-house misunderstanding, it is not crisis per se, but, misunderstanding between A and B. We are saying that let the governor take care of the governance and the party leaders take care of the party, so that you will have a lighter load of what to carry simple”, he said.

Second term election Agemo who described the crisis rocking the party as “an in-house misunderstanding”, said Chief Osoba did not contribute to the crisis rocking the party in the state. Agemo also said that neither the faction nor the national leader was against the second term election of the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, urging him not to nurse any fear.

He said “I have not seen Chief Osoba playing adverse role, he has been quiet, gentle in his general disposition to what is going on in the party and he believes things would settle.”

“Amosun can seek for second term, we are all together, we are in the same party, we can disagree to agree, that is human nature “, he said. Addressing his loyalists during the factional state

congress at MKO Abiola stadium, Abeokuta, Senator Amosun, on his part called on members of the party to unite in order to overcome the challenges ahead.

Amosun who noted that its month-long congresses have produced no victors, no vanquished , said those who won should be magnanimous in victory while those that lost should take it in their strides.

“One thing we should all take away from the conduct of our congresses is that there was no overt or covert attempt to impose candidates or disenfranchise anyone. The exercises were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and all electors exercised their right of franchise without let or hindrance,” Amosun said. Commenting on the protests that nearly marred the sitting of the Appeal Panel three days before the congress, Amosun said such was not totally unacceptable in politics. “Once people don’t take laws into their own hands, then all is well and good. “I spoke with our party leader, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, this morning and we shall continue to work together so that we can face the next elections as a united body,” he said.

But , in what could be described as a swift reaction, appeal committee of the All Progressives Congress in the state denied the media reports that it said the congresses held by the faction loyal to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle

Amosun has complied substantially with the guidelines of the party. The Chairman and Secretary of the appeal committee Hon. Ikra Bilbis and Udochukwu Ezekwe respectively stated this, describing the report as fallacy which they said did not emanate from them. According to them, the chairman, state congress committee, Ope Salami had no authority to disclose the content of the report of the appeal committee which he did not even see. The duo said Salami was a party in the matter and could not have been the best person to represent either the appeal committee or national leadership to disclose the content of the report. Bilbis said “I did not send my report to anybody except the national body that sent me. I did

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THE two factions of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ogun State are engaged in a battle of wits for ascendancy. The outcome of the ensuing battle would be crucial in upholding the integrity of the ruling party in the state. As at the moment, Chief Isaac Olu Agemo and Chief Roqeeb Adeniji who are both from Ogun West Senatorial district emerged chairmen of the two factions of the party in the state.

So, if you are seeing peace or semblance of peace, it is because we have promised our people that justice will be enthroned and once it is enthroned, there will be peace”. A chieftain of the party in the state, Mr Wale Okunniyi, called for the intervention by its national leaders to resolve the issue.

Okuniyi, a former governorship candidate in the state under the Congress for Progressive Change, one of the legacy parties of the APC while reacting to the crisis rocking the party warned that overlooking the crisis may affect the fortunes of the party in the state.

He said “It is a pity that we have found ourselves in this situation, where we have to do with two structures in the state.

If nothing is done about it, considering the way some Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party are ganging up, they will oust APC in 2015.

Meanwhile, both sides are now awaiting directives by the national body on the political

The governor’s camp acussed the other faction of working against the party guidelines and planing to scuttle the governor’s efforts to reposition the party in the state not send the report to Ope Salami .Why didn’t they find out from the headquarters. I was given an assignment it took me two days and I have submitted. I don’t know what the party would do with the report”.

Corroborating his chairman, the Secretary said “We have a procedure the way we do things in APC. The committee was given the mandate to look into the complaints of the petitioners, so, we did it, we have finished and submitted , we were very careful . Salami is not a member of the appeal committee.

“If Salami said we sent the report to him, is not true, we did not send it to him, Salami has his own committee, he was

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logjam in the party in the state before they take further steps.

It was being rumoured that if the national body upholds the congresses held by the faction loyal to Aremo Osoba, the other faction loyal to Governor Amosun, may dump the party for either Accord Party or Labour Party.

While it was also gathered that if the congresses held by the the faction loyal to Amosun are upheld, the other faction may head to court to challenge the decision. The national body needs to make hays while the sun shines before it would be too late to resolve the crisis which is becoming multifaceted and more complex.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—39

Edo APC: Our problems with Oshiomhole —Ise-Idehen JUDE ISEI-IDEHEN is the member representing Ikpoba/Okha state constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly and an aspirant for the Ikpoba/Okha and Egor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Idehen who belongs to the aggrieved Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State in this interview, spoke on the recent congresses of the party in the State now tearing the party apart. Excerpts

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

W

HAT is your comment on the recent outcome of the ward and congresses of the APC in the state?

The APC crisis started from the membership registration of the party and then followed with the conduct of the ward and local government congresses.

They were done very poorly, it was not organized properly and I don’t know if it is the national body of the party or the state that should be blamed. But I believe both of them should be blamed because the national body ought to have given a clear directive on ways of conducting the membership registration and the

problem you complained about are not resolved properly, then, they have no option than to leave because if their agitations are addressed properly, I don’t see any reason why they would not leave. But unfortunately, a lot of people are saying that these problems are not being addressed, so they are weighing other options.

Your group within the APC in Edo State recently met with President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Tony Anenih and other leaders of the PDP. Can you tell us what may have influenced the meeting?

It was just a familiarization visit to our leaders and it is always a welcome thing to be able to meet

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They said the governor ‘say’ the governor ‘say’ and they always use the name of the governor in every thing they do when they are committing all sorts of crimes congresses; unfortunately, there were no directives, materials did not arrive at the centres on time for the registration and when it came, people were hoarding the materials; They said the governor ‘say’ the governor ‘say’ and they always use the name of the governor in every thing they do when they are committing all sorts of crimes which is very bad and unfortunate.

And when it was time for the congresses, it was even more unfortunate when members of the same party started to fight themselves even for positions that do not attract the payment of salaries i.e, ward chairmen and executives, local government chairmen and executives. It is so unfortunate because this is the first time in my political career that I have seen such things happen.

I am really disappointed in the way things were handled right from the national body of the party down to the state and I only hope that they can do something very quickly about the whole thing; if not there are a lot of disenfranchised members of the party who are not happy with what is going on.

Some of the members that belong to your group are threatening to defect to other parties; do you think this is the way to resolve the issues raised by them?

That is definitely not the way to resolve the issues raised but if you are aggrieved and the

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with the president of a country even if it is just a hand shake, but it is always a privilege and honour to meet with the president of your country. As a Nigerian, it

is an honour to meet and talk with him one on one. So, it was just a friendly visit and Chief Anthony Anenih is a national leader in Nigeria and it does not matter what political party that he belongs to, he is a leader in his own right and no matter how you look at it, he is a national leader.

He welcomed us very well, lavishly in his house and we were well entertained. That is all that I have to say for now What is the inspiration behind your bid for the Egor/Ikpoba Okha seat in the House of Representatives?

There are so many things I believe that the federal government can help us to do if I get there. I believe that I can do more for the people of my constituency if given the chance.

I believe that I will be able to influence more things from the federal government to Edo State in collaboration with my colleagues in the National Assembly.

Ikpoba/Okha local government remains one of the most underdeveloped local government councils in the country and if I am there, I believe

•Idehen that I will be in a better position to monitor resources accruing to the area are utilized and assist in providing other sources of funding to the constituency and address issues that are beyond the state government.

Would you say that your local government and constituency Ikpoba/Okha has benefited much as an oil producing local government?

I cannot really say whether the local government has not benefited from oil revenue accruing to the local government or not, but for me it is mismanagement of fund because if you read the newspapers and see the revenue that comes to Ikpoba/Okha monthly, it is only second to Oredo local

My plans for Aniocha South — Osammor CHIEF Fidelis Uchedike Osammor recently retired as a director in the Federal Civil Service and is now set to enter the jostling for political ascendancy in his native Aniocha South Local Government of Delta State. He spoke in an interview on his plans and prospects. Excerpts:

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

N

OW that you have retired from the civil service, what would be your next step?

I always have plans to go back home and say thank you to my people in the form of service, because my people are the basis of my success, that I served for thirty five years without much problems and I have good health, my people were always there, my immediate community in Ogwashi-Ukwu, and the local government, they were always there to help and advice to ensure that my service was sincere in the right direction.

What are the critical areas you will attend to?

When you go to the rural areas, the people are yearning for the minimal

•Osamor dividends of democracy.

There is need to build more primary schools and make them accessible within a trekking distance of two or three minutes and then retrain the graduates to become good

teachers so that they can teach in the various primary schools in the area. To look into the Ubulu-Utu erosion situation and revive the Nsukka Plantain Plantation and make farming lucrative and enticing so that over young men and women would be interested. That will stem rural urban migration.

Get the rural area a bit comfortable and lucrative in living there with their families and earn a living Under which party do you intend to contest the election?

Of course, the most viable party is PDP, and contrary to what people say PDP is very democratic because it has room, it is inclusive, and has room for variety of opinions.

What would be your advise to the electorate?

My advice to the electorate

government in the state.

So, the money is coming, but it is just the mismanagement of fund from the local government all the way up.

You have represented your constituency in the House of Assembly for over seven years; would you say your representation has impacted meaningfully on your constituents?

Yes. I will give myself a pass mark.

What is your rating of the Edo State House of Assembly of which you are a member?

Well, I will give the House of Assembly a pass mark. I cannot say that we have not done well. I cannot shoot myself in the foot and say that.

is to jettison the idea taking five and ten thousand naira to vote.

If you push me to go and borrow and run my campaign, how are my going to pay it back? I am not going to manufacture money. The only thing I can do if you push me to borrow, is to deep my hands into the local government treasury which belongs to everybody to pay back what I had borrowed. But if you look at what I have to offer and look at my experience and you see that the pedigree is there, okay!

What advice do you have for your co-contestants?

The advice is that they should dwell on issues, let us dwell on issues, let us not rely on secret cults, relying on belonging to associations, not relying on money. Let us dwell and talk about issues, and explain to our people what the issues are and also letting them to know that the issues can be handled and resolved.

There are international NGO’s that are ready to partner with us if the right atmosphere is created.

40— VANGUARD,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Why am I going off it?

Dear Inyene, Being parted by work for six days a week from the man you love makes you pine for a greater sense of togetherness and intimacy, and coming home from work to often discover him having laddish fun made you feel somehow redundant.

You might be angry and want to spoil your boyfriend’s fun but have a heart! The man works all week and pays the bills. Does that make your role in this relationship somehow

insignificant to you? This shouldn’t be. You both came together to create a home and hopefully, a family.

Don’t throw tantrums and become a party pooper and a kill-joy. You need to feel reassured about where this relationship is going.

Suggest to your boyfriend

that it is time to talk about the future. At every stage of life, dare to confront your needs instead of running away from them.

The next time you’re smack in the middle of a laddish gettogether, find a fun thing to do then make your point when the session is over.

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Dear Bunmi, I am in my 20s and live with my 30-year-old boyfriend.

He has a good job and pays almost all the bills. I work in a bank and work on Saturdays as well. On Saturdays, my boyfriend’s close friends come around to the house to watch sports and leave the flat looking like a dump.

When I arrived home last Saturday, they were all watching football and there were dirty plates, cigarette stubs and beer bottles all over the place. I lost my temper and switched the TV off and my guy got really pissed off.

He tried to grab the remote control and I ended up falling down in an unflattering heap on the floor. Then I started crying and they all left to go to one of the guys’ flat to continue watching the match.

We haven’t spoken to each other because of the incident and I don’t know where our relationship is going. I can’t put up with his unfeeling behaviour much longer.

Inyene, by e-mail.

Each of you writes 20 bedroom activities you’d like to participate in

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She’s not sexually adventurous Dear Bunmi, Do you know of a way I can get my girlfriend to be more adventurous in bed?

Whenever I asked her for oral she looked totally disgusted. She eventually agreed to give it a go but it wasn’t an enjoyable experience at all.

She told me it seemed dirty to her, and she couldn’t understand why I liked the idea of it in the first place.

She won’t even entertain the idea of allowing me to give it to her, although I’m pretty sure she’d enjoyed it.

Do you think she’s a prude?

The only position she’s willing to try is with me on top of her. How can I get her to relax and enjoy intimacy?

She seems to see it as

nothing but a chore at the moment.

Monsuru, by e-mail.

Dear Monsuru, It might be possible that your girl has received negative messages in the past about lovemaking. Spend time talking with her and encouraging her to give and receive sensual messages from you.

Also encourage her to explore her body when she is alone and relaxed.

But if she remains adamant that she dislikes oral, you’ll have to admit this very intimate form of love making is not for her.

It’s now up to you to decide if you can live with what she has to offer!

I can’t keep up with her libido Dear Bunmi, My current girlfriend’s sensual appetite is amazing.

She wants it every day sometimes twice, and she’s wearing me out so much that I’ve started trying to avoid lovemaking.

She’s not satisfied with a quickie either and she wants to do all sorts of weird and wonderful things in bed.

After slogging it out in the office, I just don’t feel like acrobatic lovemaking.

It was refreshing having

uninhibited intimacy when we first met and I happily encouraged it. But since then, I’ve got a new and much challenging job. I’m tired out when I get home.

If I say no, she gets annoyed and I am afraid that she will find someone else to satisfy her, if I don’t play ball.

What should I do?

Joshua, by e-mail.

Dear Joshua, Have a talk with her on how you feel and try to strike a

compromise.

For instance, let her say what she wants to do in bed three nights a week and you get to choose for the other three.

Then on Sunday, you both go for what you could come up with! If she can’t accept that, it might be better to rethink your relationship.

Loving relationships are about other things besides lovemaking and if it is all she wants, you’re better off without her.

Dear Molly, One thing you have to realise is that the chemicals your body produces when you’re initially in lust/love

evaporate after about a year (scientific fact). So it is not possible to recreate that level of excitement. Instead, you need to create brand new thrills— and there are loads of things to do to help.

One common suggestion is the love jar. You’ll need some 20 pieces of pink paper, 20 pieces of white— and an empty jar. Each of you writes 20 bedroom activities you’d like to participate in.

Pour some of your favourite drinks, dim the lights and put on a romantic CD and start picking out the papers. Role reversal can also be explored. Whilst you’re at it, you could try odd locations around the house. That should keep you busy for a while!

She’s sleeping with a friend of her dad Dear Bunmi, My 21-year-old daughter is in the university and we’ve always encouraged her to make friends from both sexes. Whilst cleaning her room recently, I saw a few complimentary cards belonging to one of my husband’s friends in one of her drawers.

He scribbled on some and there are now proofs that he’s bought her a few things for the room she rented near the university, including fridges and a telly— things my daughter had already collected money from us for.

I find it disgusting that a man that calls on the family fairly regularly will be sleeping with a daughter of the house. It seems almost incestuous. How should I go about tackling our daughter?

Justina, by e-mail.

Dear Justina, Sad and betrayed you must

be, but this is not a case of incest. Rather, it is a case of your adult daughter being infatuated with a much older man. She is obviously fascinated by receiving the attention of a grown man.

And she’s undoubtedly on his mind, hence the expensive gifts.

You can’t rule out her being intimate with him. So you have to urgently discuss contraceptive with her no matter how unpalatable you find it. Be rest assured though that sooner or later, this girl-man relationship will fizzle out.

A relationship with huge age gaps may be exciting, but the mixture of fantasy and idealism which they depend on is seldom sustainable.

Whatever you do, don’t ask her to stop or that might spur her on. Don’t even let the old lecher on to the fact that you know what he’s up to— you were not meant to find out.

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His obsession with football is ruining our relationship

Dear Bunmi, I’ve been with my partner now for a couple of years.

Initially, love making was great and spontaneous. We couldn’t keep our hands away from each other.

Recently, however, lovemaking doesn’t turn me on as it used to. This is quite frustrating for both of us and I genuinely care for my partner.

We’re both in our late twenties and have strenuous jobs. Can we ever get the old feelings back or is this the end of romance?

Molly, by e-mail.

Suggest to your boyfriend that it is time to talk about the future. At every stage of life, dare to confront your needs instead of running away from them

,

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—41

FULANI HERDSMEN:

Now that we know their identity••

BY SAM EYOBOKA

Excitement, emotion follow canonization of 2 Popes J

OHN Paul II and John XXIII are now saints.

Pope Francis elevated them to the altars before hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

"For us, it's been wonderful, truly wonderful to be here during this historic moment for the Church.”

"We felt lots of joy, lots of happiness, tranquility, and comforted by our faith.”

"Never in my life, I've had this excitement, a very very overwhelming feeling.”

Once the ceremony ended, Pope Francis boarded his Popemobile and greeted pilgrims in the Square, and neighboring Via della Conciliazione. It only added to overall excitement of the event.

"I was about 80 feet from the Holy Father. I love it. It's been a unique experience. I got goosebumps, I'm telling you.

For me it was very important.”

Though wariness showed on some of their faces, their ela-

Pope Francis celebrates mass during the canonisation ceremony in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. tion and emotion won out. Few even continued singing and celebrating, hours after the event. We slept what we could, but we're not tired now. Good spirits keep you fresh, they keep you awake. Not tired, just a bit sleepy.”

But that wasn't the case with everyone. After waiting for so

long, several pilgrims gave in to hunger and fatigue. We want to eat and sleep a little.”

Now that the event is over, St. Peter's Square will slowly get back to normal. Pilgrims will return back home, having lived through a unique experience in the history of the Catholic Church.

Shonekan, Daniel, others defy rain to attend Apostolic Faith musical concert

By OLAYINKA LATONA T was another time of music fiesta at the Apos tolic Faith Church West and Central Africa headquarters in Anthony Village, Lagos as the church Choir and Orchestra presented their annual Easter concert. Theme of this year's event was: “The gain of Calvary.”

Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Ogun State governor, Mr. Gbenga Daniel, former ministers, captains of industry, members of various churches amongst others attended the event.

The Choir and Orchestra consisting of young and old ministered in songs which not only

I

thrilled the congregation but also ministered life and hope of eternal life in God’s kingdom.

Explaning the purpose of the event, the District Superintendent, Rev. Bayo Adeniran said Christ suffered for mankind, adding that there is still room at the cross for those who truly care to be set free from the shackles and bondage of sin.

His words: “A leader with the character of God will want to give his life for the people and not to take what belonged to the people. This is the example Jesus Christ gave.

"It is unfortunate that man lives like an animal as if everything ends here on earth, but there is eternity and more-so,

Cleric tasks Nigerian youth on socio-economic dev

A

SENIOR pastor of Glorious Christ Evangelical Ministries, Pastor Emmanuel Ifinedo has called on Nigerian youths to harness their potentials and form the nucleus of the economic, social and political development of the country, reports EDIRI EJOH. Speaking during a youth convention tagged; “Fulfilling your fulfilled destiny”, Pastor Ifinedo said there is no way God’s people should respond to a culture hostile to faith.

Also speaking, the CEO Mindset Media Limited, Mr. Godday Odidi, said there is need for youth to be creative in what they are engaged in and make adequate use of time as time is the only reliable source to impeccable fulfillment.

According to him, “I stay in Ajegunle and I have never limited myself to my environment but instead I choose to be outstanding among my equals by getting all the necessary materials that can boost my passion,” he said. He maintained that passion is a principal channel to achieve greatness and there is need for the youth to read to improve his power of creativity.

when we perceive one another as creatures of only One living God and that we will give account of ourselves to Him one day, we will fear greatly.”

Adeniran prayed that Nigerians will find a place for God in their hearts, homes and allow the Spirit of God to deliver the country from corruption.

The man of God advised Nigerians to cease from doing evil and seek righteousness, which he said, can exalt a nation.

"We should not live selfish lives but a life of love, have compassion for the less privileged and I think Nigeria will be a better place,” he said.

Chief Shonekan expressed confidence in the on-going national conference, adding that it is essential that Nigeria remains one, strong and united country. He enjoined people to pray to God to expose the perpetrators and sponsors of insurgency in Nigeria.

Appreciating the organisers, the former governor of Ogun State, Chief Daniel described the programme as soul inspiring capable of making one to retrace his or her step back to God. He also threw his weight behind the national conference, adding that the conference was a way to solve the challenges facing the country. Daniel also advised Nigerians not to neglect the place of prayer in tackling the country’s challenges, saying that Nigeria needs a miracle from God.

R

ECENT revelation by Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade that some arrested Fulani herdsmen operating in the Middle Belt states that recently killed scores of people in Zamfara State, have links with the dreaded Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram did not come to many as a surprise.

The Middle Belt Dialogue (MBD), an association of professionals and new breed politicians in the Middle Belt, had alleged that Fulani herdsmen were behind the raiding, killing and destruction of properties in rural communities in Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, the southern part of Kaduna State and other parts of the country which had continued since after the 2011 presidential elections.

But the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), an umbrella organisation of northern Muslims, at a press conference in Kaduna, warned against unguarded and misleading utterances over the issue, maintaining that it was unfortunate that without any investigation, and out of prejudice and hate, some people are pointing accusing fingers at certain tribal groups.

The embattled governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan did not mince words when he said that suspected Islamic extremists were responsible for escalating deadly attacks in the region; being blamed on Fulani herdsmen. But Fulani herdsmen fired back at him, saying that he, Gov. Suswam, was the architect of the clashes between them and the Tiv. Eminent Nigerians including the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor had cried themselves hoax about the unorthodox modus operandi of these so called Fulani herdsmen who had turned several parts of the country into one huge theatre of war.

A group known as Benue People’s Front actually came out last week to challenge the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido who said the allegation that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for terrorist attacks in the country was one too bogus to be true.

National chairman of Benue People’s Forum, BPF, Mr. Sunday Oiji said: “It’s unfortunate that elite of the North like Gov. Lamido can defend condemnable acts being perpetrated by obvious insurgents among them. If Lamido, elected to lead people in Jigawa State, irrespective of tribe and religion, is sincere why did it take him so long to respond to all the killings in different parts of the country? Why did he wait till 30 Fulanis were killed in Nassarawa?

Chemical weapons As a state governor, has he wondered how a person ‘who doesn’t patronize your school, doesn’t benefit from scholarship and does not benefit from medical facilities’, come about sophisticated AK47 and chemical weapons? Who trains them on how to use these weapons, since they had nothing to do with our education system?” BPF asked, noting that the Nigerian nation would be a better country if its leaders speak the truth at all times.

Another document at our disposal avidly shows the frustrations of the Middle Belt people. It states: ‘It is common knowledge even from the news in our news media that the attacks on Wukari and its environs are carried out by insurgents of the Boko Haram. The Federal Government of Nigeria needs to find out who brought the insurgents to this area, and where they got the sophisticated weapons they have used to take many innocent lives of our people.’

According to the document, Acting Governor of Taraba State (Mr. Garba Umar) and Senator Jummai Al-Hassan Aisha (Taraba North) have shown suspicious concern and care over the wounded insurgents, feeding and supporting them with funds. The statement therefore urged the Acting Governor to explain his extraordinary show of concern over the wounded insurgents.

At the public presentation of Effective Media Relations for Churches & Pastors written by Sunday Oguntola, Senior Pastor of Living Water Unlimited and Special Adviser to the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on Anti-terrorism and Security Matters, Pastor Ladi Thompson reiterated his warning that Nigeria is at war.

According to him, “everywhere in the world where this thing is happening war has been declared, a new kind of war. And the whole country must be galvanised to fight this new kind of war. It is not the old kind of war where soldiers would wear uniform and shoot. It is a new kind of war which Nigerians refuse to understand. Therefore, there is trouble as long as people in high places continue to be stubborn and refuse to listen to sound counsel. There are people in high places who are members of Boko Haram in Nigeria.

There are people who have infiltrated the ranks of Boko Haram.”

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 —43

Stakeholders task employers on malaria in the workplace S TAKEHOLDERS in the oil and gas sector have lent their weight to the war against malaria, describing the disease as a major cause of workplace absenteeism.

The stakeholders who participated in the 10 kilometre walk against malaria by Global Oceon Engineers, stressed the need for employers of labour to prioritise the health of their employees to ensure healthy staff and better productivity.

Addressing participants at the health walk which was part of its 2014 Health, Safety and Environment Week, the Managing Director, Global Oceon Engineers, Mr. Seun Faluyi regretted that although malaria needs no introduction in Nigeria, the world has not been able to eradicate the disease.

He said the WHO statistics for 2012 showed that malaria afflicted 207 million people and killed between 473,000 and 789,000 people.

Lack of knowledge “Even though malaria needs no introductions, it appears that we still do not know enough about it to completely eliminate it. In addition, even though other exotic ailments such as heart disease and glaucoma are more prevalent than most of us think, it is malaria that is the most common cause of sickness related absences in the workplace today.”

•One of the distributed Insecticide Treated Nets during the World Malaria Day activities in Lagos.

Faluyi added that there is more lost time due to malaria in the workplace than lost time due to injuries. “It is one thing to have health facilities and use medicines or treatments to reduce the number of sick days employees have. It is quite another to keep them from falling sick and make sure they are happy, healthy and working together as high performing teams.”

Pointing out the need for companies to invest on high performing team that is healthy and productive, he said due to their strict adherence to health and safety, the company under seven years of existence has made an average of N2 billion in revenues every year over the last three years, courtesy of healthy and productive staff. “The more we in business can assist our employees in being more responsible for their healthcare, the more their dependants will be healthier and the more the society will be healthier.”

Corroborating his views, the Head, Health Safety and Environment, Mrs. Ochuwa George, encouraged the workforce to engage in habits that sustain and promote healthy living.

Oceon decided to raise awareness on prevention and distribution of treated nets to Itedo, Lekki area of Lagos because it directly contributes to poverty, low productivity and reduce school attendance.

Speaking, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who noted that most deaths from malaria in 2013 were in children, stressed the need for people to keep their environment clean.

“A healthy home is the pivot for a healthy society and therefore we must all be involved in malaria control. We must ensure that our environment is clean and free of any collection of water that can serve as a breeding site for mosquitoes. Citizens are encouraged to visit the nearest health facility when ill and demand for laboratory testing prior to the administration of antimalarials.”

In the past, the Week had focused on wellness, glaucoma and heart disease.

What happens in Intensive Care?

I

NTENSIVE Care Units (ICUs) are specialist hospital wards. They provide intensive care (treatment and monitoring) for people in a critically ill or unstable condition.

These patients may be unable to breathe on their own and have multiple organ failure.

Medical equipment will take the place of these functions while the person recovers.

Many have not seen or experienced an intensive care unit as a patient. I pray you never do.

These patients may be unable to breathe on their own and have multiple organ failure.

Medical equipment will take the place of these functions while the person recovers.

Experience: Many have not seen or experienced an intensive care unit as a patient.

I pray you never do. It is its own separate world, different from the wards or operating theatres.

In the ICU the first thing you will notice are various equipment that monitor bodily functions like; heart and pulse rate (measured by an electrocardiogram or ECG) air flow to the lungs blood pressure and blood flow pressure in the

veins ("central venous pressure" or CVP) the amount of oxygen in the blood body temperature.

These equipment track the smallest change in bodily functions and alert the ICU staff (beeps and flashes) if there are any changes that could be dangerous. They consist of tubes, wires and cannulae attached to the patient and to complex devices.

In head injury cases or after brain surgery, the pressure inside the head may be monitored.

Rising pressure Sometimes the pressure inside the abdomen is monitored. Rising pressure levels can prevent enough blood from reaching vital organs and may require further treatment. Perhaps the most obvious and most important machine noticeable in the ICU is the Ventilator. This replaces the human lungs, and has extra tricks on top. When the lungs have failed and the patient's breathing requires support a ventilator is attached.

Sedation and analgesia is needed beforehand and during the period of support so that the patient can tolerate the machine. The ventilator blows oxygen and air via a tube in the trachea or a hole created in the trachea (tracheostomy). The tracheostomy is necessary for longer term support and to ease the clearing of the lungs.

Sometimes breathing is assisted by air passed through a mask or thin tube fitted over the nose, mouth or both.

Other tubes are inserted into a vein in the arm, chest, neck or leg. They provide the body with a steady supply of essential fluids, vitamins, nutrients and medication.

IV Lines: They are called IV lines, IVs or drips, are connected to bags of fluid hanging on "drip stands" and attached to "syringe drivers" that constantly regulate the supply.

Blood is sometimes given through these IV lines, as are medications like: sedatives - to reduce anxiety and promote sleep antibiotics - to treat infections caused analgesics painkillers The kidneys remove blood waste products and

doctor@lagospainclinic.com manage body fluid levels.

When they fail, blood is fed through a dialysis machine, which removes waste products, and returns the blood to the body. When on a ventilator, swallowing is impossible.

A feeding (nasogastric) tube can be placed in the nose into the stomach to provide liquid food containing the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats.

If the digestive system is not working, nutritional support can be fed directly into the veins too.

Drains: After surgery, tubes, called drains, may be used to remove any build up of blood or fluid at the wound site and are usually removed after a few days. Catheters are thin flexible tubes inserted into the bladder to allow free passage of (measurable) urine without leaving the bed.

The cost of ICU care depends mostly on the number of organs and degree of support for each organ, the length of stay, the severity of the clinical illness and the level of "fitness" of the patient.

An ICU may therefore require a deposit of funds to draw down and topped up as necessary.

When I practiced at major London teaching hospitals, I treated and discharged many critically ill patients and seemingly hopeless cases home to their families.

More recently, working at some of the top major trauma centers in the USA (Parkland in Dallas; Grady in Atlanta; MCG in Augusta) we have returned horrific car and motorcycle accident victims home alive.

With all our GDP chestbeating and oil-wealth backpatting, why can't we do the same in Nigeria?

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Bayelsa govt seeks military honour for Boro

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government has written the Nigerian Army to accord late Ijaw hero, Major Isaac Boro full military burial for his role in fighting to preserve the unity of the country during the Civil War. Boro, whose remains were exhumed last April from the Ikoyi cemetery, Lagos by the state government after 45 years, will finally be buried on May 16 at the Heroes Park in Yenagoa, near the Ijaw House.

The late National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Azazi, who died in a helicopter crash in December 2012 was also buried at the Heroes Park, conceived as the final resting place for heroes and legend of the state by the Seriake Dickson administration.

The state Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa on the programme of events lined up for this year Boro Day celebration.

He said though the state government was yet to get a reply from the Chief of Army Staff, the letter written by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) calling for the military participation in Boro’s finally burial, underscored his sacrifice to keep Nigeria united.

BURIAL

S

IR Augustine Okafor, 67, is dead. A statement by Engr. Prince Tony, son, service of songs is today at Idiabor, Ugwunano, Umunze, in Orumba South LGA, Anambra State.

Funeral mass will hold at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church tomorrow. Interment is same day at his compound in Umunze.

APC leaders in Edo defect to PDP

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

Edo State chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said the

defectors had taken a wise decision because they could

see ahead that the time was up for APC in Edo State.

B

ENIN— LEADERS of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, in Benin, has dumped the party for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The defectors, from 10 wards of the council, were led by the former chairman of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and APC in the council, Elder J. Aigbogun, who described PDP as “the only true democratic party ” in the country.

He was joined by chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries, women leaders and coordinators across the 10 wards of the council, including Mr. Victor Agbonle, Chief Peter Osagie, Mr. Alohan Jonathan, Mr. Taiye Osadere, Mr. Moses Arasomwan among others.

Providing reasons for leaving APC, Elder Aigbogun said that they could no longer remain in the party because the last congress had shown that the party was not built on political principles, as its leaders did not practice what they preached.

Aigbogun, who added that there would be more defections from APC in Egor council, promised to deliver the council to PDP, as he has always done.

While welcoming them,

CDGA: From left: Dr. Dafe Akpocha, Director-General; Mr. Adeniji Omirin, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, and Mr. Fola Martins, Executive Director, Foreign Relations and Business Development, all of Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa, CDGA, at a briefing on the annual lecture on Sustaining Momentum for Social Service Delivering in Good Governance and global award on social service delivery holding today, in Lagos.

JTF vows to halt oil theft

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— JOINT Task Force, JTF, has vowed to reduce oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Commander of the task force in the region, Major Gen Emmanuel Atewe, who gave the assurance in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while on tour of formations under his command, said he had devised strategy to win the war against oil theft.

The JTF boss also expressed hope that the nation will

overcome its current security challenge, urging Nigerians to volunteer useful information to JTF to succeed in the war against oil theft.

General Atewe called for a special court to try economic crime, stressing that it will help in the crusade against oil theft.

He said: “The current wave of security challenges facing the nation will soon phase out due to renewed commitment and strategy put in place by security agencies.”

“Nations at various points in

‘APC has no structure in Delta'

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI— DIRECTORGeneral of Otive Igbuzor Organisation, Mr. Tive Danedo, yesterday, said the All Progressives Congress, APC, structure in Delta State was built on faulty foundation and cannot win elections in the state.

Reacting to a media report credited to the Chairman of the Ughelli North Local Government Area chapter of the party, Olorogun Felix Ekure, Danedo in a statement, said: “Ekure should relate to the world how he was imposed on the party in Ughelli North through strong arm tactics and intimidation of his opponents.

“Ekure did not participate in the congress of even his own Agbarha ward. We challenge Ekure to provide a list of the delegates that attended both the council and state congresses. There are no elements of ANPP,

ACN and CPC in the congress executives. APC will collapse sooner than later.”

Reacting, Olorogun Ekure said there were ward, council and state congresses in the state, describing the allegations as baseless.

He said: “Danedo's allegations are borne out of the fact that they lost in the congresses. To allege that I ran away with congress materials is laughable.

“I was in my Agbarha ward

on the day of the congress and I voted like any other party member. I challenge him to come out with proof of his allegations.

“I have the video clips of every ward during the ward and council congresses. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials, Department of State Service, DSS, the police were there on the day of the ward and council congresses.”

NURTW rallies support for Manager

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

M

EMBERS of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Bomadi Branch, Delta State, have scored the legislative representation of Senator James Manager, representing Delta South senatorial district high.

Branch chairman, Mr Stephen Eniekezimene, said the people of Delta South

senatorial district have never had it this good in terms of legislative representation.

He described Senator Manager as a worthy and true representative of Ijaws in the disctrict, and a true and patriotic Deltan representing the Isokos and Itsekiri of Delta South.

He said: “It is based on these and others that NURTW is backing his political aspiration.”

their history faced serious security challenges, but were able to overcome it due to collective commitment and contribution of every citizen.”

Good governance is a collective effor t — CDGA

C

ENTRE for D e m o c r a t i c Governance in Africa, CDGA, has said that good governance was not the duty of politicians alone, but for everybody at home, the work place and anywhere at all times.

Director-General of the centre, Dr. Dafe Akpocha, on the centre’s annual lecture and global award holding in Lagos, said “any government at any tier that does not anchor its programmes towards social service delivery is doomed because it is antipeople oriented.”

He said it was in line with encouraging peopleoriented governance that the centre organises lectures, seminars and symposia, and recognise those that have served patriotically.

He added that this year’s lecture, on the theme Sustaining Momentum for Social Service Delivery in Good Governance, will honour Dame Patience Jonathan with Global Award, among others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 45

2015: Don't run, Ogodo tells Jonathan

Olanipekun to NBA MidWest Forum: Respect outcome of July 2012 meeting

A

STALWART of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Sapele, Delta State, Dr. Cyril Ogodo, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to disregard calls in some quarters for him to re-contest for his position at the 2015 general elections.

Ogodo said Mr. President should ignore those asking him to contest for the presidency come 2015, because it was alleged that the president agreed not to run in 2015, which led to his endorsement and subsequent election as president in 2011.

Group opens creativity pool in Lagos

BY EMMANUEL ASUQUO

A

non-profit, organisation, Little Kindness Foundation, has opened the first ever creativity pool, The Motivational Centre, TMC, in Lagos to motivate and empower young people.

The centre, according to its president, Dr. Jerry Ariomovuohoma, was established “to raise the successor generation by inspiring, equipping and empowering young people to provide a robust fit-for-purpose work force and visionary leadership for over 20 sectors of the economy in the next few decades."

Okorodudu for burial

M

R. Fred Okorodudu, alias Makela, is dead. He died on March 21, 2014 in Sapele, aged 62 years.

A statement by the family said service of songs will hold at his Sapele residence on May 8, followed by burial at Ugbuwangwe, Warri, on the 9th.

He is survived by a widow, children and other relatives.

Late Mr. Okorodudu C M Y K

BY INNOCENT ANABA

F

VISIT: From lef: Mr. Victor Gotevbe, Admin. Manager, Vanguard Media Limited; Augustina Boniface, Best Goalkeeper; Mr. Felix Ofulue, Public Relations Manager, Airtel Nigeria and Mr. Akabude Uche Peter, Blueflower Limited Media Manager, during a visit by the Airtel Rising Stars to Vanguard Media, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Kidnappers of Dutch nationals demand N20m ransom

BY EMMA AMAIZE, SAMUEL OYADONGHA & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

O

NE of the kidnappers of the three Dutch nationals, weekend, in Lutugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, has been allegedly shot dead by suspected pirates, just as the kidnap gang has reportedly demanded N20 million ransom to free the victims.

A source told Vanguard, yesterday, that the kidnappers ran into the sea pirates, who attacked them, as they were escaping with the Dutch nationals to their den in the creek.

The Coalition of Swamp / Coastal Oil Producing Communities of Bayelsa and Delta States, has, however, given the kidnappers a 24-hour ultimatum to release the victims or Ijaw gods would go after them.

A police source told Vanguard that, “yes, we heard that the kidnappers had made contact and are demanding N20 million.”

This is just as reprieve came

the way of two other Netherlands-based Nigerians, Mr. Sunny Ofehe, founder, Hope for Niger Delta Campaign, HNDC and Mr. Femi Soewe, who were reportedly seized alongside the Dutch nationals.

Vanguard learnt from a community source that they were abandoned by their captors at an undisclosed location somewhere in the mangrove creek between the Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas, where they were rescued by some community folks at 10p.m., on Monday.

Ofehe confirmed his release, saying that the kidnappers are still holding the foreigners while a security source told Vanguard that the kidnappers had establish contact and are demanding N20 million ransom.

According to him, the gunmen are still holding Mr. Erhard Leffers (m), Marianne Hendricks-Vox (f), and Mr. Yandries Groenendijk (m).

Narrating his ordeal, Ofehe said the incident occurred while they were returning to Warri af-

ter a tour of the newly built hospital in Amatu funded by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

He said: “Femi and I were later blindfolded along one of the creeks and ordered into another boat from the one they first took us. They took us to an unknown location and left us there while still blindfolded and kept separately."

The death of one Paul Esebulu, from Amatu II, one of the Dodo River communities, during the Sunday attack on the boats conveying the Dutch nationals and their entourage is said to have heightened tension in the area.

The deceased is believed to have been killed by the propeller of the boat in which he was traveling alongside others when it capsized following the attack by the gunmen.

Sources from the area told Vanguard that the remains of the deceased, which were recovered in the early hours of yesterday at Bilabiri riverside, had been deposited at an undisclosed morgue in Warri.

Delta NLC threatens strike over alleged assault by soldiers

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

D

ELTA State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has, in Asaba, threatened to declare full strike of all industrial unions affiliated to it over alleged continuous assault and harassment of members by armed soldiers and policemen in the fight with the management of Benin Electricity Distribution

Company, BEDC, labour accused of extortionist tariff without power to Nigerians, among others.

Other grievances of labour include de-unionisation of workers by the management of BEDC and victimisation of labour leaders.

Chairman of the state NLC, Mr. Williams Akperoha, implored the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state to call the

soldiers and policemen to order before the situation degenerates.

He lamented that armed soldiers and policemen had been assaulting and harassing members in Asaba, Warri and Ughelli locations of BEDC, and warned that should the assault continue, organised labour in the state would resort to full industrial action among other measures to protect the interest of members.

ORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has called on the Mid-West Forum of the association to respect the outcome of the meeting held on July 11, 2012 with Egbe-Omofin, wherein the South-West agreed to concede the NBA presidency to them (MidWest) in 2020.

It will be recalled that another former president of the NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, had fueled the controversy with his letter to the sitting president of the association, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, stating that it was the turn the SouthWest, to the exclusion of the Mid-West, to produce the next president of the association, come July this year.

This did not go down well with the Mid-West bar led

by Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, which accused Agbakoba of crying louder than the bereaved, pointing out that core South-West and Mid-West make up the West in NBA’s zoning arrangement.

But Olanipekun, who spoke at the Ikeja branch's Alao Aka-Bashorun lecture for year in Lagos, traced the history of zoning the presidency in the NBA. On the relation between the SouthWest and Mid-West, he said: “During the Presidency of Joseph Daudu, agitations were rife for the recognition of additional zones in the NBA, including but not limited to the Mid-West zone. This led to the convening of a Bar Leaders Summit by Daudu to consider whether or not to create or have additional zones in the NBA. The meeting did not produce any breakthrough. This again led to the meeting of the Mid-West and SouthWest bar leaders at the instance of the Mid-West Bar leaders on July 11, 2012.

The Mid-West team, led by Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN and their simple demanded that for the purpose of the NBA zoning arrangement, the Mid-West would want to be part of South-West.

“The South-West informed them that they were not averse to their request."

46— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Tukur mourns Justice Oputa

F

ORMER National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has described the death of Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa as a great loss to the nation and the Judiciary.

He said the death of Justice Oputa at this time in the history of the nation had created a major gap in both the administration and effective dispensation of justice, based on equity and fair play.

In a condolence message to the Oputa family signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, Tukur noted that Late Justice Oputa was one of the legal minds in the country who through their judgments restored the faith and confidence of Nigerians in the Judiciary as the last hope of the common-man in the society.

He regretted that Hon. Justice Oputa died at a time his wise counsel was most needed on how to move the country forward and make the Nigerian project a reality, while enthroning egalitarianism in the society.

Governing Councils lament decayed facilities at FCEs

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA— CHAIRMEN, Governing Councils of of Federal Colleges of Education have lamented the deplorable condition of structures and amenities in some of the institutions.

Addressing newsmen shortly after their tour of the colleges in the South East, Senator Emma Anosike, who spoke for the chairmen, said the councils were shocked to find that the management and the authorities of some of the colleges were sabotaging the efforts of the federal government in the handling of the structures and amenities provided for them.

He further said that teachers in some of the schools were not helping matters, having abdicated their duties.

Hundreds of school children protest Chibok girls’ abduction in Ebonyi BYPETEROKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—NO fewer than 100 school children yesterday took to the streets in Abakaliki to protest the abduction of over 200 girls at Government Girls Secondary, Chibok, Borno State.

The children, who from Great Minds Academic, Abakaliki, called on God and the Federal Government to immediately intervene, so that the abducted girls could be released from the den of Boko Haram.

Proprietor of the School, Mr. Chris Nwadigo, described the action of Boko Haram sect as unfortunate and urged all security agencies in the country to ensure that the girls are released as quickly as possible.

Some of the school children, who are between the ages of 4 and 10, marched from the school's permanent site at Olisaemeke Street through the Abakaliki Township Stadium to Government House.

They said: “We are saddened that our fellow school children were taken away by some disgruntled elements and kept in the bush for over 19 days now.

“We are more saddened to hear yesterday that two of the girls are dead. We had to declare two days fasting and

LAUNCH: From left — Mrs Ibiye Ekong, Executive Director, South South Retail Banking, Skye Bank plc; Mrs Amaka Onwughalu, Deputy Managing Director-designate; Mr Timothy Oguntayo, Chief Executive Officer-designate; Mr Elhaji Malick Seck, General Manager, Ria Money Financial Service and Mr Manuel Villena, General Manager, Rai Money, during the official launch of Ria Money Transfer by Skye Bank at Skye Bank's head office, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. prayer to seek God’s intervention.

“We are no longer comfortable sitting down in our classes receiving studies while other children are in the bush.

We don’t know their fate but we are trusting God to urgently intervene.

“In as much as the Federal Government and the security agents are doing their best, we are optimistic that God would resolve the issue since children have waded in.”

In a sermon, an Anglican clergy, Evangelist Ephraim Ononye, called on the Federal

Government to make more effort to secure the release of the girls, adding that the issue of Boko Haram was no longer religious but political.

He emphasized that the problem confronting the nation was not just insecurity but greed and lack of fear of God.

Couple charged with conspiracy, forgery and threat to life

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS—A couple, Babatunde and Adedoyin Ogunmefun, is facing trial at an Ikeja magistrate Court for conspiracy, birth certificate forgery and threat to life.

Consequently, Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe has fixed June 18, 2014, for the trial of the couple, after dismissing an application filed by their counsel, A. Olanrewaju over defect in the charge sheet read to them when they were first arraigned on November 23, 2013, over the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

Komolafe in her ruling, dismissed the application on the ground that the court had jurisdiction to hear the matter, adding that the counsel ought to have either objected to the charge sheet before it was read in court or after it was read, before the defendants took their plea.

The Magistrate ruled that when the charge was read to the defendants, they were asked if they understood the charge before taking their plea, to which they answered in the affirmative, adding that explained the reason the trial must go on.

Magistrate Komolafe, further noted that the only argument of

the prosecutor was that the defendants pleaded not guilty, which meant trial could go on.

She however noted that on November 23, 2013, when the charge was read to the defendants, their counsel didn’t raise any objection to the charge sheet that it was defective and could not, therefore, come up with such an argument of a defective charge sheet now that trail was about to commence.

It will be recalled that Adedoyin Ogunmefun 33 and her husband, Babatunde, 38, had

been arraigned on November 23, 2013, before an Ikeja Magistrate Court over alleged conspiracy, forgery and threat to life.

The defendants who reside at Block 31, plot 1, Abudu Odusanya Street Isheri Magodo area of Lagos, were docked before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe.

Police prosecutor, Benson Emuerhi, had told the court that the defendants on December 14, 2011, at the National Population Commission Registration Centre, Oregun PHC at Ikeja, forged

Ebonyi Assembly probes collapse of N60m centenary tower BYPETEROKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State House of Assembly yesterday ordered an investigation into the collapse of the centenary tower still under construction.

The House described the collapse of the edifice as a public embarrassment to the present administration and people of the state.

It took the decision, following a motion brought before it by the member representing Onicha East

Constituency, Obasi Odefa.

The lawmaker in his motion, regretted that the state had lost huge amount of money due to the collapse of the building.

He, therefore, called on the House to mandate its Committee on Works to launch an investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the collapse.

Other members who spoke on the matter also supported the call by Odefa.

The motion was put to a voice vote and the whole and House voted in the affirmative.

birth certificates , A08 No 0268922 and A08 NO 0268923, of the children of the complainant, one Mr Abraham Okoro, the first husband of the first defendant.

Passage

S

IR Anthony Nnamdi Okolo, the Managing Director/CEO of Kemol Ventures Ltd. has passed on, aged 54 years. He died on April 14, 2014. He was a Knight of St. Mulumba (KSM).

There will be a Christian wakekeep on May 8, at Courtesy Event Centre, 6th Avenue, Festac Town, and requiem mass on May 15, 2014. Burial will be after a High Mass at the Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary, Abatete on May, 22.

.Late Sir Okolo

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—47

SYMPOSIUM: From left, Jumoke Moses, Manager, Special Products, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc; Myma Belo-Osagie, Managing Partner, Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie; Dee Poku, Founder, Women Inspiration and Enterprise; Juliana Ezezobor, Head, Group Human Resources, HFMP, and Ebele Oluwalana, Brand Activation Manager, at the Women Inspiration and Enterprise Africa Symposium supported by Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

AWARD: Past President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Mr. Chris Uwaje, presenting award on Pay-Tv Operator of the Year, to Public Relations Manager, StarTimes, Mr. Anetor Irete (right), during Beacon of Information and Communication Technology Award by Nigeria Communication Week, at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

LAUNCH: From left, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun; Executive Director of First City Monument Bank Ltd; Mr. Olufemi Bakre, and former Minister of Finance, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, during launch of a book entitled, 'Ago-Iwoye Origin, Growth and City Status,' written by Senator Martins-Kuye, at AgoIwoye, in Ogun State.

AWARDS: Erica Ayenuro, Chief Executive Officer, Contact Centre Support Professionals Limited, presenting African’s Most Trusted Quality Building Materials Company Award to Jomy Anthony (right), Executive Director, Emel Group (Emel Building Materials Division), during the Africa Quality Achievement Awards 2014, at Protea Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

FORUM: From Left, Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, Managing Director, RASCO Blocks Industry; Senior Apostle Aina, Managing Director, SABKUNA Blocks Industry, Ayobo; Mr. Adesoji Okeshina, Relationship and Block Manager, Lafarge, and Mr. Moses Atewogboye, Regional Manager, Lagos Mainland, Lafarge, during Block Makers' Forum, organised by Lafarge, at Ikotun, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

COMMISSIONING: Rep of Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Director, Disease Control, Dr. Jemilade Longe (cutting the tape), flanked by Chairman, Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation, ENOF, Chief Bisi Ilaka (right); Founder of ENOF, Mrs. Lola Ilaka (4th right); Medical Science Liaison Officer, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Ltd, Dr. Omolabake Ounnubi (2nd right); Principal, Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Mr. Joshua Odeyemi, and some students, during the commissioning of a sick bay and creating awareness of asthma care in Nigeria, at Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Lagos.

CONFERENCE: From left, Olufemi Odutade, Special Assistant to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Hon. Bimbo Daramola, member, House of Representatives and Director General of Gov. Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, during press conference on numerous achievements of the John Kayode Fayemi Administration, at Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

UNVEILING: From left, Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome; Country Manager, MasterCard, Mrs. Omokehinde Ojomuyide, and Director, Payments Infrastructure and Processing, InterSwitch Limited, Mr. Akeem Lawal, during the unveiling of Heritage Bank’s transparent MasterCard, in Lagos.

CONFERENCE: From left, Port Manager of Calabar Port, Engr. Musa Wada; Head, Protocol of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nasiru Mohammed; Chineze Eguabor, and Port Manager, Onne Port, Munir Umar, at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, USA.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Lab scientists move to eliminate wrong diagnosis

NGO wants reduction in cost of governance

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — DETER MINED to eliminate wrong diagnosis, reduce medical tourism abroad and increase citizens’ confidence in domestic health facilities, the Plateau State branch of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, has equipped its members to deliver quality services.

The association, however, decried the infilteration of quacks in the profession using computers and digital devices in public places, claiming that “such devices could diagnose all diseases” and called for legislations to curb the menace.

Speaking yesterday at a seminar with theme: “Quality Management System in Medical Laboratory Practice in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges,” in Jos, Plateau State, the association’s state Chairman, Dr. James Damen said medical laboratory scientists played effective roles in the attainment of modern healthcare services hence the need to conform to international best practices.

According to him, “medical laboratory plays very pivotal roles in providing effective healthcare service delivery by analyzing clinical specimens for enhanced disease diagnosis, prevention, management, monitoring of treatment and curative for improved quality of life."

From left: Dr Sylvester Odion Akhaine book reviewer; Mr Femi Falana, chairman of occasion; Ms Naomi Akpan Ita and Mr Israel Akpan Ita during the public presentation of a book, "Before we forget Obasanjo letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and the aftermath"

by Peace and Development Project, PEDEP, in collaboration with Posterity Media Nigeria in Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

N3,000 salary increase for Kwara workers, booby trap —PDP I

LORIN — The Peoples’ Demo cratic Party, PDP, in Kwara has described the state government’s announcement of N3,000 salary increment for workers as a “booby trap.”

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday that the increment amounted to a deceit on the part of the state government.

Olawoye added that the N3,000 increment was a political gimmick to hoodwink patriotic workers to vote All Progressives Congress, APC, government back to power in 2015.

He called on the state government to clear the air as to whether the N3,000 increment was monthly or annually.

Olawoye also wondered why the N3,000 increment should exclude teachers attached to the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, and those in the 16 local government councils workers.

He urged the state government to ensure that the largesse go round all the workers in the state civil service and not for selected few.

He said: “Why did Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed announce that

only officers on levels 7 to 17 in ministries and government agencies will benefit from the increment. What is food for the geese is also food for the gander.”

He said since both junior and senior workers patronised the same market, they should all benefit from the increment.

In his reaction, Mr Usman Farouk, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the increment was

12 suspects docked over killing of CMD, district head in Bauchi

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BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI—THIRTEEN sus pects were, yesterday, arraigned at the Bauchi State High Court over the murder of the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Azare, Dr Musa Dambam and the district head of Yamai, Alhaji Manu Adamu.

The accused include Ibrahim Shehu alias Jurara; Usman Abdulhamid, Musa Ibrahim alias Dadi; Mohammed Jauro Dunga and Jauro Shehu Adamu.

Junaid Mohammed is afraid of true federalism —Onuesoke

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BUJA — COUNTRY Direc tor of Network for Good Governance (N4GG), Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has accused Second Republic lawmaker and a delegate at the National Conference, Dr Junaid Mohammed, of being afraid of the practice of true federalism in Nigeria, hence his agitation against it promulgation.

Onuesoke, Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in 2007 election, in reaction to Junaid Mohammed comment on the media, saying Niger Delta will not last for 24 hours as a country because they C M Y K

have nothing in common aside the agitation for resource control, accused Junaid of pursuing shadows instead of the substance on the interview he granted the press.

Onuesoke, who claimed Junaid is afraid that if Nigeria practises true federalism the North would be worst of it, explained that agitation by the South for derivation was simply because of the gross distortion of the ecosystem in their domain and the only way to create solace for them is through derivation.

He pointed out that if truly Junaid postulated that derivation

not a booby trap or a bribe to workers to vote for any party in the state.

He said the increment had nothing to do with politics, adding that it was the result of the dogged agitation by the organised labour for salary increase since 2011.

“We agitated for an increase in salary and where we started from was much higher than N3,000 announced by the government,”

was unacceptable, Northern leaders who muted the idea of derivation in the first place would not have done this nor agreed to it at that time.

He said: “Of all the regimes under Northern leadership, it is on record that the Northern region of the country has had more than its fair share of the oil revenue. Apart from the development of the FCT, it is unclear to what use they have utilised their share of the revenue,” adding that derivation for Niger Delta region should be increased from 13 per cent to 85 per cent.

They also included the Village Head of Yame, Mohammed Adamu, Abdu Yarima, Mr Sale Yarima, Kawu Abubakar,Ubale Ibrahim,Hassan Inusa alias Sarkin Gaina; Sani Yerima,and Ahmed Yerima.

The prosecution said the accused were charged with criminal conspiracy, mischief by fire and causing the death of the two deceased persons by shooting them with a gun contrary to Sections 97, 221 and 336 of the penal code law.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Noma Haruna, told the court that a report was received at Dambam Police Station that unknown gunmen numbering about six in military uniform, had after abducting one Dr Musa Dambam of FMC, Azare and his step-mother, one Aishatu Adamu, drove them to the district head of Yame and robbed them of unspecified amounts of money .

He said the gunmen subsequently killed both of them before burning the victim’s car.

When the charges was read to them, the accused persons pleaded not guilty .

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Abubakar Sambo, adjourned the matter till May 20, 2014.

ADUNA — THE Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative, GAADI, a Kadunabased NGO, yesterday, called for the reduction in the cost of governance to make public office less attractive.

The Head, Strategy and Coordination, Mr Atoye AriyoDare, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kaduna.

“We need to bring down the cost of governance and make political office less attractive, so as to make it a place of offering public service with selfless intention,” he said.

Ariyo-Dare said Nigeria could address the problem of scarce resources by adopting the principle of fiscal federalism where every zone or state would develop its potentials and merely contribute something to the centre.

According to him, every state in Nigeria has abundant mineral and human resources, which with good restructuring, would sustain it.

He said: “Nigeria is yet to tap 50 per cent of the opportunities available to it. The world is currently moving towards a knowledge based economy, so what each state or zone needs to do is to expand the frontiers of opportunities for research and developments so that, ideas and innovations can drive the

Presbyterian Prelate condemns Nyanya blasts

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AGOS— THE Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emele Mba Uka has condemned in strong terms, the incidence of bomb blasts at the Nyanya motor park in Abuja.

The prelate in a statement issued by his Director of Information and Public Affairs, Rev Kalu Eme, lamented the spread of Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria even in the face of the many security strategies adopted to curb the menace of the terrorist sect, describing the acts as heinous, barbaric and inhuman.

Uka called on President Goodluck Jonathan to seek global assistance, particularly in the areas of intelligence and combat action to quell the incidence of terrorist attacks.

He commiserated with the President and the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and prayed God to grant their souls eternal rest.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—53

Resource Control: C’ttee to decide on Monday •South South insists on 50% derivation •C’ttee backs fuel subsidy removal

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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HE Committee on Devolution of Power will on Monday take a decision on the controversial issues of resource control and derivation among others.

The 24-member committee could not conclude debates on the issues yesterday and the members shifted the Decision Day to Monday.

Meanwhile, the South-South position, according to a member of the committee from Rivers State, Ms Ann Kio Briggs, is 50 per cent resource control. She added that the people of the Niger Delta region, who are the victims of the activities of oil producing companies are against reintroduction of on-shore/offshore dichotomy are insisting that the continental shelf belongs to the states where the shelf are located.

Speaking with Journalists after the meeting, Annkio Briggs said, “that is the message my people gave me and that is exactly what I told members of the committee during my presentation.”

Meanwhile, a source told Vanguard yesterday that one of the strongest recommendations of the Senator Adamu Alieroled committee on Public Finance and Revenue is total removal of fuel subsidy against the backdrop that some people were feeding fat on the present arrangement. It also said that the sum of N 1.3 trillion should be injected into the economy for the growth of Nigeria.

Speaking with Journalists at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, venue of the committee sitting, Co-chairman of the committee and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Victor Attah who noted that discussions on derivation would continue on Monday, said that all members of the

•National Conference in session committee are expected to make their contributions before the final decision is taken.

He said: “Discussions on resource control started yesterday. So far, not all committee members have been able to make their contributions. So, even when we come back from lunch those who have not spoken will speak

and if we still have some leftover they will continue on Monday and then we will be able to take decisions.

“You cannot take a decision when you have not heard the opinion of everybody on the matter. So, we are still waiting for everybody to present their position. But a pattern is

beginning to emerge which I don’t want to anticipate or preempt. So, when the time comes we will tell you what decisions were taken.

All I can hint is that the whole focus is on whether dichotomy should be reintroduced, what should be the percentage on derivation and ownership of the resources.”

President to lose power to appoint IGP •Recommends removal of Immunity Clause, scrapping of Police Affairs Ministry

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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F one of the recommendations of the Committee on National Security sails through, President Good luck Jonathan will be stripped of powers to appoint the Inspector- General of Police, IGP. The Committee also recommended that because of its security implications, the absolute immunity presently enjoyed by some elected chief executives and their deputies be removed, just as it called for a full security orientation and briefings to be put together by the proposed Ministry of Homeland Security(Mo HS) for governors before they resume to improve and increase their effectiveness and capacity.

According to the report of the committee headed by former Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Garbo Jimeta, instead of the President appointing the InspectorGeneral of Police, Police Council should carry out the function on the advice of the Police Service Commission.

The Committee said that the inspector General of Police should be made accountable to the Police Council for the effectiveness and efficiency of the Force, just as it stressed that the Police Trust Fund Bill should be passed into law without delay, adding that the entire salary structure of the police should be

reviewed upwards.

In the report which Vanguard obtained yesterday, the 24member committee also recommended the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs, and in its place creation of the ministry of Homeland Security(Mo HS) to coordinate National Guard; NP, Civil Defense Corps and Nigerian Prisons Service.

The Committee which has Maj. General Geoffrey Rejig, Chief Albert Horsefly; General Zamani Lekwot; Maj. General Alex Mshelbwala; Erelu Olusola Obada; General Paul Omu; General Jerry Useni; Gani Adams; Col. Tony Nyiam; General Idada- Ikponmwen and General Alani Akinrinade among others as members, recommended that the “ Police Council should remain the body responsible for Force policy, finances, organisation and standards. “It should play a far greater role in shaping the aims and objectives of the service. It should be responsible for the appointment of the InspectorGeneral of Police on the advice of the Police Service Commission.”

Other recommendations include: *Creation of Nigerian National Guard Corp (NNG) to handle internal conflicts and border control; and establish within it a Rapid Response Force to deal

with emergencies at all levelsincluding communities and local government levels. * Establishment of VIP protection Department in the Ministry of Homeland Security/ Presidency. * Creation of Security and Intelligence Services Inspectorate and Disciplinary Service Commission, SISIDSC. * Operationalising the concept of ‘ Community Policing’ a- la the Japanese model; using the Civil Defence Corp to be deployed nationwide up to the community level.

The committee also recommended that the present

centralised Police structure should remain, but be reformed to make it more effective and representative of the Federal character of the country, adding, “Police Service Commission should continue to be responsible for appointment, promotion and discipline of all officers below the IGP, except the operational control of the Force which is vested in the IGP. It should be independent enough to guard against nepotism in recruitment, discipline and promotion and the dominance of the service by any single or few ethnic groups.”

The committee recommended that the Nigerian Prisons Service

be included in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enable it perform it’s legitimate functions.

According to the committee, for the Federal Road Safety Commission to be effective, a Board of Governors should be established for the commission as that would enhance the confidence and operational efficiency of the staff and viability of the commission.

It also urged the Military to stop or minimise premature retirement of senior officers except on proven disciplinary grounds, ill health or disability.

Pollution: Delegate harps on compensation to host communities

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DELEGATE to the ongoing National Conference, Dr Chris Eluemunoh, has stressed the need for exploration companies in Nigeria to compensate host communities that have been polluted by their activities. Eluemunoh, who is representing the South East Geo-Political zone, said it was high time stringent measures were put in place to check pollution.

He urged the country to take a cue from the U.S., where host communities were compensated for any form of pollution caused as a result of exploration by industries.

“In the U.S. for instance, if

there is environmental pollution in the form of oil spillage or other forms of pollution, people are compensated. Industries are made to pay for their recklessness or carelessness. You don’t have to punish the people because they have mineral resources in their area. Anyone who is exploring mineral resources in any area and there is oil spillage or whatever, you must pay for it,” he said.

The delegate advised industries to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on communities before proceeding with exploration.

He said that this was necessary

to check if such exploration would be favourable or hazardous to the host community.

“Before you establish an industry, you have to really do some environmental inspections to determine whether it is suitable or hazardous for the community.

Before any industry is built in any community, there must be an EIA,” he said.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for convening the conference, adding that it would avail Nigerians the opportunity to present issues agitating their minds, including the issue of pollution of host communities.

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—55

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

When Bamidele flagged off

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HOUGH the mass of enthusiastic people were gathered in a playground, they were, however, in no mood for play. Not even the delayed takeoff of the scheduled rally could dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd that massed last Tuesday at the Ajitadidun Play Ground, Ado-Ekiti for the formal take off of the campaign of the Labour Party ’s candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Among those that gathered for the rally were the national chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, the party’s only governor, Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State, federal and state legislators belonging to the party and mostly from Ondo State, some former aides of Governor Kayode Fayemi who are now backing Bamidele, wife of a one time governor of the old Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwaynmika Olumilua among many others.

Before the commencement of the rally, the dignitaries visited the traditional ruler of Ado-Ekiti, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe where the candidate said that he would use lessons learnt from his humble bringing to guide him if successful in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

Princes and princesses “I thank God that I have a humble beginning. God has raised me to sit among princess and princesses and I know how to handle issues to make life more abundant for the masses,” he said. Noting what he described as the infrastructure deficits in the state, he said: “The state lacks potable water; there is nowhere in the state where people have 24 hours of access to water. Our state is agrarian and we will mechanise agriculture and re-position education in our state,” Bamidele promised.

At the rally itself, it was another opportunity for the LP candidate to elucidate on his plans and purposes as concerning the election.

Against the background of insinuations mostly from his former colleagues in the All Progressives Congress, APC that he, Bamidele is a young man desperate for power, he used the opportunity to clarify on his purpose. He said that he is not desperate to be governor of the state even as he chided the present leadership of the state for lacking what he described as capacity to guide the state in the right direction.

Among his promises to the people that Tuesday was the promise to revive the Oodua

•Labour party gubernatorial candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, Labour Party Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu & Mr Yinka Odumakin during the flag-off campaign in Ado-Ekiti

Textile Industry, a company he claimed that if revived would provide employment for thousands of citizens.

Given the difficult relationship Governor Fayemi has had with teachers in the state, many of whom have been rubbed negatively by capacity building initiatives of the administration, it was not surprising that the Labour Party flag bearer decided to hit on the issue.

To the teachers, Bamidele said that he was coming to

government to soothe their worries saying that he would “bring to an end the sufferings of the teachers in Ekiti,” and to cap it, he said he would ensure that they get overseas training as part of their capacity building programmes.

In his own speech at the rally, Nwanyanwu, said Bamidele took the best decision to break from the APC and join the Labour Party, adding that in Labour, Bamidele would not be subjected to the whims and caprices of a

political godfather. He added that Ekiti would enjoy the kind of leadership and progress he claimed was now evident in Ondo State.

Besides, the Labour Party chairman said that a Labour Party in government in Ekiti would bring the sufferings of the people to the minimum even as he charged voters to clear themselves of all delusions.

“Shine your eyes because those who claimed to be progressives are not

Oni’s exit: Good riddance —Fayose •They are bellyaching - Fayemi

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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ORMER Governor of Ekiti State and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, yesterday said he remained unshaken by the defection to All Progressive Congress, APC, by the immediate past governor of the state and former Vice Chairman of PDP in the South West, Segun Oni, an engineer by profession.

At a briefing in Ado Ekiti, Fayose equally accused the APC and Governor Kayode Fayemi of renewed coercion of voters in the state to sell their voters cards.

But Governor Fayemi insisted that it was the PDP and Fayose that were currently going about offering people money to copy the Voter Identification Number, VIN, on their voters’ cards in a bid to clone the cards.

Speaking through the Director General , Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Fayose claimed former governor Oni remained an albatross to PDP for so long,

•Fayose alleging that “he brought a lot of misfortune to our party, part of which we are about to reclaim in the coming election. His defection has brought relief to the party and we have taken his exit as a good riddance to bad rubbish. The PDP cannot continue to live with a clueless and colorless character who believes he should be spoon fed after a disastrous outing as a governor.”

According to Fayose, Oni had lobbied the leadership of PDP at the top to be made a minister or a senator, attributing the sudden change of gear by Oni to the refusal of the party to accede to his request, claiming “we believe that the inability of the PDP to accede to his request of being made a minister or senator was responsible for his latest action.”

On the alleged infiltration of INEC, he alleged that each voter card was being bought at N5, 000 and that 35, 000 had been bought from voters as at yesterday.

Fayose claimed the massive purchase of voters’ cards was meant to boost APC performance in the election and alleged that the governor Fayemi had recruited 200 fake election monitors called “Democracy Vanguard” as parts of its rigging strategies.

According to him, the fake monitors were currently being trained at Ikogosi Warm Spring, allegedly under the supervision of a top government official, saying “these fake monitors are to be deployed to the field on the day of the election to induce

progressives in all their dealings with the people democratically,” Nwanyanwu said. Dr. Mimiko praised Bamidele as a man with character and integrity even as he urged the people to vote for him as he promised that he would run a government of inclusiveness in the state.

Addressing the crowd that Tuesday, Bamidele said: “I, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele ,fondly referred to, by Ekiti people as MOB,I stand before you today under the throne of grace of God Almighty to say to everyone of you that I offer myself to serve .I want to provide an unusual leadership in Ekiti .I want to be a governor that will not be a usual governor .I want to be that governor that is not a typical governor .”

In a promise that looked like taking Ekiti to El dorado, he said: “All the rocks in Ekiti State without a single quarry business will become a thing of the past if given the mandate. In our government, Ekiti will become a major supplier of granites to the construction companies in Nigeria.” Pro-democracy activist, Yinka Odumakin also speaking at the rally said he was familiar with all three major contenders but that for Bamidele his judgment was that he is dependable ally that has been well brought up.

voters while queuing to vote.”

The PDP governorship candidate urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reject the registration of the “Democracy Vanguard” as part of its election observers.

Reacting to the allegations, Fayemi through the spokesperson, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Dimeji Daniels, dismissed them as a tissue of lies, noting that it was Fayose’s known strategy to accuse people of the evil he was planning to unleash.

He claimed that it was the PDP that was currently going about offering people money to copy the Voter Identification Number, VIN, on their voters’ cards in a bid to clone the cards, saying the “The plan is to distribute the cards to PDP thugs who would then present them for use at polling units and upon discovering that they are fake, they would start to make trouble to prevent those who have legitimate cards from voting. This is part of PDP’s plans to ensure that election results are cancelled in some council areas and the whole election declared inconclusive. Their plan is to then rig the subsequent supplementary election in favour of the PDP candidate, Ayodele Fayose.”

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

E

VEN the meeting of world leaders in France at the end of the Second World War WW2, specifically on December 10, 1948, did not have the large number of world leaders in attendance. Little wonder the Millennium Summit in September 2000 was described as the largest gathering of global leaders in history.

Held in New York City, the three-day summit was one where some global leaders, whose memories of the cold war were still fresh, and others ignorant of the dangers posed by an evolving global terrorism, gathered on the table of brotherhood.

So uncommon was the sight of allies and foes seated at the United Nations that observers wondered what would come out of the forum.

Millennium declaration But three days after, the leaders arrived at the Millennium Declaration which automatically became known as the the Millennium Development Goals,MDGs. The nine-page goals included eradication of extreme hunger, achieving universal primary education, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women.

Others were reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. Considering past failures at achieving some global declarations, like the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the

*Face of rural poverty: Whither the MDGs’ magic?

Beyond the pass marks, the story of MDGs in Nigeria assessment and monitoring of the MDGs to the President.

He explained that following the presidential directive, a meeting has been scheduled with the governors to work out modalities for achieving the target.

Gbenol said the President directed that “we need to disaggregate data more, work closely with the state governors on various issues like

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The country has been able to achieve MDGs goals one; we have been able to reduce the number of people that suffer from extreme hunger by half

2015 target of the MDGs caught the imagination of the world.

Less than 20 months to the deadline, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, to work with the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation to ensure that they meet the targets before May 2015.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbenol disclosed this after presenting a report on the

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education where the number of out-of-school children is higher, where HIV prevalence may still be high and where the poverty indices are still high”.

The presidential aide said she made a presentation before the President which highlighted the level of commitment and what Nigeria had achieved so far with the MDGs. With this presidential directive, many want to know how far the nation has gone in achieving the goals.

VF checks reveal that some

projects have been completed while others are still ongoing in line with the goals. Though the targets vary, it was gathered that most are being worked upon by the MDGs’ offices and partner agencies. ”Yes this is one goal that has seen total commitment from global leaders and Nigeria is not left out. The awareness and zeal to meet the goals are very noticeable at their various stages,” the President Global Action Against Aids, Prof Nathan Ekesiobi told VF. This collaborates Gbenol’s assertion that “the country has been able to achieve MDGs goals one. We have been able to reduce the number of people that suffer from extreme hunger by half.

On gender equality in schools, we have also been able to achieve goals three.

We have also been able to achieve goals six, which is the HIV prevalence of the country.“ Continuing, she said of HIV/ AIDS: “It has been halted, reversed and is on the downward slide. Currently, the national prevalence of HIV for the country is 3.4. It rose to 5.8 and then came down to 4.8, 4.4, 4.1 and the current national prevalence of HIV for

the country is 3.4.“ We were able to tell the President that the country is working very hard on achieving goals five, which is reducing maternal mortality.

Between now and 2015, I am very positive that the goal will be achieved.”

Partnership with NASS She said the MDG was collaborating with the legislative arm of government to ensure that their senatorial districts and constituencies benefit from MDG projects.

“The various amounts spent in the various constituencies around the country in 2013 are what we want to do in 2014, going forward. Our area of intervention is to look at the MDGs that are still lagging behind, like the under-five mortality rate. We need to crash it further.”

She further disclosed that her office is “looking at reaching out to certain geopolitical regions of the country, where the attendance in schools is affected. We are working out with the state governors in increasing the Federal Government’s investment, even in those states.“

Beyond these pass marks, VF learnt that although appreciable progress has been made, absence of accurate data in the country is not helping matters. ”Reliable data, we all know, is a problem in Nigeria. So tracking the successes becomes challenging,” MDG Ambassador, Obinna Chukwuezie said.

He called for careful scrutiny of various goals in order to have a competent result.

Chukwuezie who is also a the President of Journalists Initiative For Youth Employment,JIYE,declared: “It is in order for the President to give the target of May 2015, but there are areas where even beyond 2015, they will not be met. We all know the story of poverty, unemployment and maternal/infant mortality rate.”

He observed thus: “A larger percentage of the country still live in abject poverty. But I will also agree that many eligible people are in school now as a result of the Universal Basic Education and other educational programms.”

Lending his voice to the nation’s journey so far, a

Continues on page 57

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

— 57

Beyond the pass marks, the story of MDGs in Nigeria Continued from page 56

Although some reports like that of Count Down to 2015, a group that tracks the MDGs punctured claims that infant/maternal mortality rate is on the increase in sub Saharan Africa, a recent report by UN and World Bank shows that 166 women die in Nigeria daily from child birth.

On his part, the President of South-South/ South East Professionals, Mr Emeka UgwuOju, aligned with those who hold the view that government has the capacity to monitor the MDGs. “If they say that a lot has has been achieved, I am not going to dispute that, until I have other statistics to the contrar y.

“Reducing extreme poverty is now fixed for 2030 not 2015. So it is now for us to see were we are. Based on our size, I will say that a very significant number of poor people are in Nigeria,” he concluded.

*Representatives of doctors briefing the press on security challenges

NYANYA BLAST:

Doctors ask for better protection

By VICTORIA OJEME

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HE insecurity chal lenges in Nigeria have recently assumed an alarming dimension. Apart from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States which Boko Haram insurgents have turned into a war theatre, other parts of the country have witnessed one form of insecurity or the other. This recurring blood spilling has become a major source of concern to Nigerian medical doctors.

At a recent National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, the doctors deliberated on the lingering insecurity in the country with a view to finding a lasting solution to it.

But from what transpired at the meeting, it was evident that the doctors are relying more on divine intervention as all efforts to stem the evil have so far proved abortive.

Also, at the meeting which served as MDCAN’s second regular meeting for the year, issues bordering on health care delivery, national security and welfare of consultants came to the fore.

The doctors who are visibly worried by the pervading state of insecurity in the country, especially in the North Eastern states, specifically condemned the abduction of 276 students of Government Girls Secondary

School Chibok on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

Vanguard Features, VF, recalls that out of the 276 abducted students, 53 have reportedly returned home to their parents, while 223 are still missing.

Same April 14, 2014 a deadly bomb explosion snuffed life out of 75 persons, leaving no fewer than 124 others critically injured. The blast erupted at a motor terminal in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja.

The bomb was said to have been planted in a red Volkswagen-Sharon bus by the dare- devil bombers who drove it to their target point.

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pediatrician and Coordinator Safe Hands Foundation, Dr. Udenze Lebeuwa refused to align with those who say that nothing has been achieved.

But he noted that much needs to be done in the health sector, particularly on infant/ maternal mortality and primary healthcare. ”Statistics and various reports by different agencies have shown that women and children die in the country daily arising from complications and poor healthcare facilities.

Where does that leave us? ”There is an increase from the 2010 statistics of 144 deaths daily. In every 10 minutes women die at child birth. So actions are needed in this regard. Sustainable actions are called for to reduce that. Above all, I will say that Nigeria has done well.”

*Dr Steven Oluwole, MDCAN president

National Assembly to take all necessary steps to immediately curtail the rising spate of extreme violence and loss of lives. According to the doctors, these incidents have weakened confidence in the leadership of the country and is also threatening the future

From what transpired at the meeting, it was evident that the doctors are relying more on divine intervention as all efforts to stem the evil have so far proved abortive

A hole created by the bomb upon explosion, left an impression of a gargantuan deadly impact.

As if that was not enough, another blast occurred just about 50 meters away from the previous blast in Nyanya, last Thursday, claiming the lives of 22 persons, while 66 others were severely injured.

For the doctors, it was therefore a fruitful deliberation as the NEC resolved to call on the Federal, state and local governments as well as the

,

of Nigeria as a geographical entity.

At the end of the extensive deliberations, the doctors in a communique signed by its President, Dr Steven Oluwole, enjoined the leadership of the country to accord priority to the safe release of abducted Chibok female students who should have the right of education like other human beings.

They also called on the Federal and state governments to “take action to ensure the

safety of consultants, release of several that are currently abducted and prevention of abductions of all Nigerians”.

Other demands of the doctors include: “Suspected kidnappers that are apprehended should be brought to justice speedily. ”The management and boards of hospitals in the country must institute measures to stop harassment of medical consultants, and ensure safe work environment for all hospital staff. ”The management and boards of hospitals in the country should ensure appropriate disciplinary action against any staff who engages in acts of violence against consultants, interns, residents, and any doctor that works under consultants.

The dental consultants’ president decried the frequent kidnapping of medical consultants in some Nigerian states .

“These evil acts are considered detrimental to effective healthcare delivery,” he said.

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha ANAMBRA state seem to have become too hot for criminal elements with the on-going constant raiding of suspected criminal hideouts in various parts of the state. The raids by a joint team of security forces, including the Army, Navy, Police, Department of Security Services, DSS, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with vigilante operatives as informants, was approved by Governor Willie Obiano.

While the raids are in progress, various police divisions, area commands, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and the IGP’s Special Task Force on heinous crimes are on hand to give the joint team a back up.

In one of such raids, four suspected criminals were arrested by the joint team at a hideout near the Old Motor Car Spare Parts (Mgbuka) Market, Obosi, near Onitsha. After arrest, some bags and wraps of weeds suspected to be cannabis (Indian Hemp) estimated to weigh a little less than 100 kilogrammes were recovered.

According to an eye-witness, as the suspects sighted the team, they took to their heels but in a concerted effort, five of them were tracked down, while others escaped into a nearby bush. Efforts to arrest more suspects proved abortive as the team left the area after thorough combing, firing tear gas canisters.

However, when the team which took off from the 302 Military cantonment, Onitsha, returned with the suspects and their Indian hemp, they interrogated them briefly and discovered that one of them was just a passerby and they released him. One of the princi-

•Suspects with recovered arms and ammunition

Criminals flee Anambra as Operation Flush kicks off •IGP’s special squad storm Onitsha The residents regretted that hoodlums had attacked unsuspecting residents of the area within that same area, snatching motorcycles and dispossessing unsuspecting residents them of their valuables. They however urged the joint team not to harass and intimidate law-

,

Another gang member, Philip Amia confessed that he decided to join the gang because his business in Malaysia crumbled

pal suspects who identified himself as Chibuzor Echendu, from Imo State, confessed to Crime Alert that he was a major distributor of Indian hemp in the area, adding that Samuel Nonso who was also among the four suspects in the team’s net, was once his apprentice in the hemp business.

Some of the residents of Mgbuka, Obosi market who witnessed the joint operation, commended Governor Obiano for setting up the joint team and urged him to sustain the tempo until all criminal elements are flushed out and adequate security maintained in the state.

,

abiding citizens while carrying out their duties.

Commander of the joint team and state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh told Crime Alert shortly after the exercise that the operation started about 10 days ago, adding that many arrests and recoveries have been recorded by the team since its inception. Leader of the Army team, Captain Tukur and his NDLEA counterpart, Ameh Inalegwu who is also the Assistant State Commander in-charge of Operations/Intelligence, said the operation would continue until all criminals in the state are

flushed out of existence.

Just as security operatives were still savouring the arrest of the suspects, another group of 19 suspected kidnappers were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS and their operational arms and ammunition, as well as three bags of cannabis allegedly recovered from them were displayed.

Their arms and ammunition displayed while they were paraded at the state SARS Headquarters, Awkuzu, included five AK-47 rifles; a Berreta pistol, six pump-action guns, 9,000 live cartridges; eight AK-47 magazines and a locally made pistol. State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Gwary who carried out the parade exercise, warned kidnappers and their informants as well as armed robbers and assassins to vacate Anambra because, according to him, they must surely meet their waterloo.

He regretted that victims and their families have not been cooperative by way of giving information to the police to help track down suspected criminals, adding, “after paying ransom and securing their freedom,

they would maintain sealed lips, thus making it impossible for the police to get at the kidnappers.”

He revealed that most of the suspected kidnappers paraded and weapons displayed were arrested and recovered in Delta, Imo, Lagos and Anambra States through intelligence gathering, adding, “when they commit, they usually crossover..”

On the joint task force set up

by Governor Willie Obiano, he said that the task force was still working in Onitsha, adding, “after Onitsha, we get to other senatorial zones like Nnewi and Awka. So, it is one after the other and we don’t need to tell you how successful the operations have been so far.”

On interrogation, the kingpin who masterminded the kidnap of P.N. Emerah’s brother, one Ugochukwu Ngwueche, confessed that his gang collected N5 million as ransom from the victim, adding that somebody brought the contract to him and he contacted his gang members.

Another gang member, Philip Amia confessed that he de-

cided to join the gang because his business in Malaysia crumbled and he wanted to revive it, adding that he had even channeled his own share of N2 million towards that effort before his arrest. Also, an informant to the kidnappers, one Echezona Akude, said that the gang gave him N300,000 out of the N5 million ransom.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar may have dispatched some special police teams to Anambra State to tackle the menace of armed robbers, kidnappers, tinted glass users and illegal arms dealers in the state.

Illegal arms dealers A reliable police source revealed that among those so far dispatched to Anambra were the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG in-charge of Operations, Jonathan Johnson with his team, and the Commander of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Chris Ezike, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP. While the DIG stationed himself in Awka, from where his men report to him at intervals, Ezike was spotted at the Onitsha Area Command headquarters, holding a crucial meeting with the Area Commander, Benjamin Wordu, an assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP. It was gathered that while the DIG and his men concentrated on checking vehicle tinted Continues on page 59

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 59 Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

Criminals flee Anambra as Operation Flush kicks off

‘Save me, I’m dying gradually’ •Victim of soldier’s cruelty cries out

Continues from page 58

Pump action butts The source disclosed that more arrests and recoveries were expected to be made if the suspect opened up to the police on the whereabouts of his his fellow arms dealers both at the main market and other places in the state.

The DIG’s team was said to have arrested a prominent indigene of Obosi community, the home town of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Omezie Chukwura, who was said to have been having a running battle with the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Chidubem Iweka.

Commenting on the joint team, Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Auwal Jibril Fagge, told Crime Alert in his office that the exercise will continue for a long time until all the criminals are flushed out, adding that all the security agencies are solidly behind Governor Obiano in his resolve to cleanse the state of undesirable elements.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO at Okpoko, Emeka Ugwu, CSP and the Commander of SARS Unit, Okpoko, Anthony Ogah, DSP, also assured that the notorious Upper Iweka has now become a safe haven.

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

L

IFE has not been the same for Mr. Jude Owunali, a supplier of building materials and his wife after he was allegedly beaten up and almost strangled to death recently, by a soldier attached to Armed Forces Resettlement Center, Oshodi, Lagos.

Unfortunately for the 35-year old man, two months after the attack, life is yet to return to normalcy as he is still writhing in excruciating pains despite large amount of money spent to save his life.

Trouble, as gathered, started after a neighbour of the victim simply identified as Madam Franca, a petty trader at Oduduwa Market, Ladipo, in Lagos decided to vacate her apartment for another accommodation. She and the landlord reached an agreement that he would refund her N50,000 for the renovations done in the apartment when a new tenant comes.

Reports said the landlord invited one Mr. Lucky Oyibo, estate agent in charge to put the apartment on rent so that interested tenants could pay and move into the flat. Later, Mr. Lucky rented the apartment out to an Army officer but did not refund the N50,000 to Madam Franca, as agreed. After about two weeks, Madam Franca rented the same flat to another tenant, Mr. Ogechukwu and collected her N50,000 after which she gave the balance to the landlord.

Piqued by this development, the agent, Mr. Lucky reportedly locked up the apartment of the new tenant who rented the apartment from Madam Franca few days after he moved in. The case was reported at Itire po-

,

glasses and other related crimes, the Federal SARS operatives are bent on recovering all arms and ammunition being sold by illegal dealers in the state.

It was further gathered that police authorities who arrived the state since Monday are expected to work for a week before going back to their respective offices. The presence of detectives from FedSARS in the state has led to the arrest of an arms dealer at Onitsha main market simply identified as Alphonsus and recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition from his shop at the main market.

Among the arms and ammunition recovered from his shop included over 8,000 cartridges, eight pump-action guns, 15 loaded AK-47 magazines, a silenced revolver with its ammunition, three SMG riffles with ammunition, parts of AK-47 riffles yet to be assembled, assorted types of substances suspected to be locally made charms and pump action butts.

san Usman, came to the compound and attacked me. I had gone outside the compound to by rec h a r g e card. Immediately I came out, the officer, in company of one of his f e m a l e friends called me in a polite manner and I went to him.

He said I made him not to secure the accommodation he had paid for.

I told him I am neither the landlord Jude Owunali nor the agent, how would I be responsible for renting the said apartment to someone else, when I am just a tenant? Before I could finish speaking, he pounced on me, hitting me on my head, holding my throat very tight as if he wanted to strangle me, but for the timely intervention of neighbours who delivered me from him, I would have been a dead man.

“At this time, blood had started rushing out of my mouth and face.

I want relevant authorities to come to my aid and intervene in this case and save me. I am dying gradually. Whatsoever he has done to me let him come and take it out of my body

lice station and they instructed the agent to open the apartment to enable the tenant get his shop keys from the flat so that he can go to shop. However, when they got to the house, Mr. Lucky refused to do as the police instructed. This led to another session of verbal battle.

Recounting his ordeal to Crime Alert, Mr. Jude said: “It was at this point that I decided to intervene in the issue because Mr. Lucky is a friend, so also is the new tenant. I pleaded with Mr. Lucky to allow the tenant get his keys so that he can go and do his business. Immediately I said so, Mr. Lucky said that I was taking sides with the tenant and that I was the one that rented the flat to this man. Immediately, he put a call through to the army officer telling him that I am the person that rented the apartment to another person.”

The attack: “Few days later, on the 7th of February, the army officer, Has-

,

He was shouting that he was going to kill me there and nothing would happen. The first time he held my throat, I was able to remove his hands, that was when he attacked me like a wounded lion. After the neighbours wrested me out of his grip, he started chasing me with an iron rod.

“After the incident, I went to the Bale of Ilasa to report the matter. It was the Bale that advised me to go to Itire police station and make a report. When I got to the police station and reported the case to a female police officer on duty, she started pleading with me that the army officer had come to the station to complain that he angrily beat up a civilian. After everything, she said I should forget the case, that it was a minor case. I wanted to adhere to the advice of the police officer but when the pains became unbearable

and I was admitted in the hospital, I knew that something needs to be done. I was admitted at Olidec Hospital, a private medical facility located at Adeoyo Street ,Palm Avenue, Ilasamaja. When the pains continued, the doctor referred me to Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba.

“After scanning, they discovered that there was an injury in my throat which led to internal bleeding. After I had completed my treatment, I was discharged from the hospital. I noticed that the pain continued. I was still taking the drugs I bought from the hospital. I had to travel to my village when it became obvious that modern medicine was not the solution to what was happening to me.

“When I traveled to Imo State, one of the doctors told me that this is a spiritual matter, that the army officer had something evil on his hand while beating me. We have checked all we can do medically but no improvement.

They advised that I go and meet the army officer to undo anything he had placed on me. Even when I visited herbal doctors, they said the same thing, that it is a spiritual thing.

Generally, I have spent over two hundred thousand naira for my treatment.

I need help: “I want relevant authorities to come to my aid and intervene in this case and save me. I am dying gradually. Whatsoever he has done to me let him come and take it out of my body. I want to be normal again. Let him pay the medical bills that have accrued from this predicament. My business has been affected terribly because I have been running up and down because of this issue,”he stated.

One of the tenants who spoke to Crime Alert on the basis of anonymity alleged that the landlord may be part of the whole problem and called for proper investigations to be carried out by the police.

60 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 , 2014

JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA'S DEMISE

Atiku, Tukur, Utuama, others bemoan loss

BY INNOCENT ANABA, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, CHARLES KUMOLU

N

IGERIANS have continued to react to the death of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, with Atiku Abubakar, Senator Magnus Abe, Bamanga Tukur, Livy Uzoukwu, Ben Njemanze, Lai Babatunde, Amos Utuama, describing his demise as a great loss to the country.

Former vice president and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, described the late Justice Oputa as an extraordinary jurist with extraordinary pedigree.

In a tribute , Abubakar said the death of Oputa was like a huge branch being cut off from the nation’s judicial iroko tree.

According to him, apart from his extraordinary courage, the late Oputa was also a man of profound knowledge on account of which he was famously branded the “Socrates of the Supreme Court.”

Atiku recalled that with no less than 358 judgments and rulings under his belt, the late Oputa was a giant of law not only in Nigeria, but also the rest of Africa.

He prayed for the repose of the late Oputa and condoled with his family on the irreparable loss.

Former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, described the death of Justice Oputa as a great loss to the nation’s judiciary.

In a condolence message to the Oputa family, Tukur described the deceased as one of the legal minds in the country, who through their judgments, restored the faith and confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary as the last hope of the common-man in the society.

He noted that his death at this time in the history of Nigeria, would create a major gap both in the administration of justice as well as effective dispensation of justice based on equity and fair play.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, described the demise of Justice Oputa as a huge loss to not only the legal profession but entire nation.

Abe said that the late foremost jurist, was a legal luminary, an embodiment of knowledge, a philosopher and patriot who interpreted the laws of the land conscientiously.

“We have lost an ambassador of the legal profession, whose ideal and contributions to the development of our law as a lawyer, author, teacher and judge were legendary,” the Senator said.

In his tribute, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu SAN, said: “Justice Oputa was one of the greatest jurists Nigeria has had, if not the greatest. He was a colossus in the legal profession.”

For Ken Njemanze, SAN, “talking about the jurist is akin to reading the encyclopedia because there is so much about this man that no person can finish talking about him in a matter of minutes.

“Justice Oputa was a fine gentleman, a quintessential jurist, who was ever ready to assist up and coming legal practitioners. You will appreciate his

bundle of intelligence each time you pick his judgments. Honestly, the nation and particularly the judiciary will greatly miss great man.”

Deputy governor of Delta State, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, described the late Justice Oputa as an uncommon jurist, adding that his death was a colossal loss to the nation and the legal profession.

Utuama, said “Notwithstanding the fact that the late judicial icon passed on at the ripe age of 90, the sad event remains a colossal loss to the country.

He was an uncommon jurist, who would always be remembered for his erudition, insightful, logical and flawless pronouncements, which often came down with awe and compelling reverence. His types are difficult to come by.’’

“In his retirement from the Supreme Court, the legal icon remained in his element at the famous Oputa Panel that was set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his bid to give justice to all who had been wronged, He gave a good account of himself.

Chief Morah Ekwunoh, said “the death of Justice Oputa, as attested to by sea of torrential tributes flowing there from, no doubt, can be likened to national archive in flames. This is because all his revolutionary ideals, as encapsulated in, inter alia, judicial pronouncements, and post-retirement visibility in national life, which he tirelessly brought to bear, as a leading light

Ukraine: Russia rules out fresh Geneva talks R

USSIA’s foreign min ister has ruled out holding fresh talks in Geneva to defuse the Ukraine crisis, unless pro-Russian opposition groups are involved.

Sergei Lavrov added there was no point as an April accord between the US, EU and Russia had not been implemented.

He spoke after a Council of Europe meeting which was expected to support Ukraine’s plans for a 25 May election.

But Mr Lavrov called an election “unusual” at a time when the army was being used against the population.

Ukrainian acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia said Ukraine was ready to back a new round of talks in Geneva as long as Moscow supported presidential elections.

P

during his time, particularly at the Supreme Court, and, there after, till his most unfortunate demise, appear to have gone in flames.

“He will be remembered as a great and classical legal thinker, which deservedly earned him the universal sobriquet of Socrates within the legal community and beyond, with the output of his great thinking crafted and conveyed in the most beautiful and flowering prose, which left his audience and readers yawning for more.

“His uncanny courage, forthrightness and, above all, absolute abhorrence of injustice and oppression were, also, brought to bear during his exemplary headship of the popular Oputa Panel, at the infancy of Obasanjo regime.”

“If Russia is ready to commit itself to support these elections and to eliminate this threat and eliminate its support for the extremist elements in Ukraine, we are ready to have such a round of meetings,” he said at a news conference.

Mr Deshchytsia later appealed for international observers to be sent to Ukraine

to monitor the elections on 25 May. “We also asked the partners to make everything possible to eliminate the external threats and provocations supported by Russia in Ukraine to allow these elections to take place in a free and democratic way,” he added.

Chibok abduction: Newsmen disagree with FG's posture

BY PRISCA SAMDURU & VERA ANYAGAFU

Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa

•Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov

ARTICIPANTS at the World freedom day have lent their voices to the call for the search and rescue of the students at Chobok Borno State.

A Paris-based American freelance Journalist Eduardo Cue said the Nigeria government has a responsibility to prevent the abduction of young girls as well as rescue the young girls from the hands of Boko Haram members.

Cue who spoke during a digital conference with the media held yesterday at the US Consulate, Lagos, which was part of activities organised to mark World Press Freedom Day, described the abduction of the students as a big disappointment on the part of the government, emphasising that “A situation where you have a government that allows over 200 students in a particular area to be abducted by terrorists, it means that something is terribly wrong with that government since it is the job of the government to protect people.”

His words, “This incidence has to be investigated.

The government should try to

figure out why the group is unleashing violence on the people. The abduction of the students ,was it a sign of of strength or weakness on the part of the Boko Haram.

May be the group can no longer fight against the police or army in their base because they will retaliate which is a sign of weakness.

Group condemns US over her terrorism alert

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

A

group headed by Pro fessor Pat Utomi, United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy UNDEDSS, has condemned the mode by which the United States chose to warn its citizens and others, of suspected terror strikes in Nigeria.

In a statement by its Secretary General, Mr. Tony Iprinye Uranta after its 15th emergency meeting in Lagos recently, the group argues that the mode do not conform to responsible dissemination of information, and could even be said to be enhancing the alarmist objective of all terror acts .

The group added that it is not impossible to believe that it was probably a deadly mischievous attempt, by intelligence elements in the US system, to manifest a self-fulfilling prophesy of a Boko Haram attack in Lagos, before the commencement of the World Econom-

ic Forum Africa, and thus create the impression that the whole of Nigeria is insecure, with the sinister aim of further plunging Nigeria into the failed-state status the US had, until recently, loudly predicted come 2015.

The group however expressed surprise that none of the World Powers [especially the United State, United Kingdom and European countries have come to Nigeria’s aid till date, in deploying their great satellite monitoring powers to help forestall Boko Haram massacre, both in the North Central and North Eastern regions of Nigeria; to track the fleeing human beasts after they would carried out their inhumane attacks on hapless villagers, even where, as in the Chibok case, they carted away hundreds of young innocent girls.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014 — 61

Argentina match will be easy — Emenike ARM anniversary golf tourney ends

2014 W/Cup

F

ENERBAHCE marksman Emmanuel Emenike has declared that the Group D fixture between Nigeria and one of the favourites for the mundial, Argentina will be be as easy as ABC. Both continental powerhouses trade tackles for the third time in the last four tournaments at Estádio José Pinheiro Borba in Porto Alegre on Wednesday, June 25.

“Each team goes to the World Cup based on its own strength and of course every player needs to be appreciated.

“When it is viewed from this perspective, you have to respect each team. Messi is a great player of course but different a scenario plays itself out when you take to the field.

“The game against Argentina will be tough, everyone knows I am

right,”Emmanuel Emenike said to Fanatik.

On or before the next decade, the 26 - year old is expected to hang up his boots, and he has revealed that he would love to be a politician.

He told the Turkish sports daily, “I’d like to take part in the government of Nigeria.

In yet another platform to serve my country than I do.”

Except Emmanuel Emenike suffers injury before the end of the league, he is one of the sure bankers to make Nigeria’s 23 - man roster to Brazil.

Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.

The team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.

Also in the team are John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor and Nnamdi Oduamadi.

The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was released after he held

LESSING Okagbare has called for the release of 276 students kidnapped from their school in Chibok on April 14.

More than 50 of the

a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja.

He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.

Last Monday Keshi had insisted that he was not arm-twisted by members of the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the list.

He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.

According to him:, “The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of well-meaning Nigerians.

Provisional list Continues from BP Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor, Osaze O d e m w i n g i e ,

HEY may be chieftains and arrowheads of blue chip firms from across the country, but their heavy portfolios off the course did not stop them from showing the immense golfing skills, which they are endowed with.

This was the case as chief executives of at least 40 firms exchanged swings at the Asset & Resource Management (ARM) Company Ltd 20th Anniversary Golf Tournament, which took place Thursday at the Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Club, Lekki, Lagos State.

Firms that vied for the ultimate diadem, the ARM Director ’s Cup

•Emenike

Okagbare joins call for Chibok girls’ release B

Brazil 2014 Continues from BP

T

Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor, Nnamdi Oduamadi

girls managed to escape from the militants but 223 girls are still being held.

The Delta state born athlete who won 100m race at the2014 Jamaica International Invitational at the weekend, powered home in 11.19 seconds to win ahead of Jamaican pair of Olympian Kerron Stewart, who clocked 11.32 seconds and Carrie Russell, 11.46 seconds inside the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Speaking from her US base on Tuesday, Okagbare said, “I’m soliciting for the release of the abducted girls who need to reunite with their families. I can imagine the pains their families are going through but we need peace as a nation. We all need peace to survive and we all need peace to excel as a country.”

For about three weeks now, the nation was greeted with the gory news that female students writing their final exams at Government Secondary School (GSS), Chibok in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno state were abducted by the dreaded Boko Haram. The students were drawn from schools in Ashigashiya, Izge, Lassa and Warabe.

included ExxonMobil, Chevron, Addax Petroleum, Peugeot Citroen, Guarantee Trust Bank, Deux Projects Limited and MTN, Stanbic IBTC, Sahara Oil, Total Oil, Starwood Hotels and Berger Paint.

Others were Mainstreet Bank, Sea Bulk Nigeria, Interswitch, Airtel, Custodian and Allied Insurance and CMCL Golf Tours Ltd. At the end of the keenly contested encounter, with a 60 netscore garnered over 18 holes, Team Mens’ Clinic Nigeria did enough to lift the trophy, while Peugeot/Citroen, with a 62 netscore finished 2nd and Deux Projects Limited ended the day in third place.

Addax Petroleum, and Guarantee Trust Bank completed the top five places.

Super 6 Academy Football tourney kicks off

S

•Okagbare

MTN Football Scholar audition resumes in Lagos

F

ORMER Super Eagles players, Jonathan Akpoborie and Mutiu Adepoju joined many other football stakeholders and enthusiasts to motivate the youngsters who thronged the National Stadium, Lagos, venue of the Lagos audition of the ongoing MTN Football Scholar Season 4.

Speaking at the event on Monday 5th of May, Jonathan Akpoborie

encouraged the kids to remain focus and grab the golden opportunity provided by the leading ICT company to be a successful soccer star.

“This is a golden opportunity that I expect you to embrace with open arms. In our days we never had this opportunity, but MTN is providing you this on a platter of gold. Please make sure you don’t throw it away” the exStuttgart striker enthused.

IX football academies drawn from Edo, Kwara and Lagos States are participating in the maiden edition of the Super 6 Academy Football Conference tournament which kicked off at the NIS pitch, National Stadium, Lagos.

The six football academies include Cowbell Football Academy, City of David Football Academy, Staruf Football Academy, Edo State Academicals, Kwara Football Academy and a team from the Lagos State Football Association.

A giant trophy donated by the chairman of the Lagos Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi is at stake.

Declaring the tourney open, the Lagos FA boss said his association would support the tournament because it is credible and forms the future of Nigerian football.

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Rodgers concedes title after ‘Roy of the Rovers’ play

B

RENDAN Rodgers has conceded Liverpool’s chances of lifting a first league title in 24 years are over after his players indulged in “Roy of the Rovers football” in the hope of bolstering their goal difference and contrived instead to surrender a three-goal lead.

Crystal Palace mounted a breathtaking recovery at the last, as all semblance of Liverpool’s defensive discipline evaporated, while Palace, inspired by Yannick Bolasie’s sudden burst of energy and a brace from the substitute Dwight Gayle, ran riot with three goals in 10 minutes.

The point secured put Rodgers’ team a point clear at the top but Manchester City have a game in hand, against Aston Villa on Wednesday, before their final-day match with West Ham, and all momentum has been drained from Liverpool’s pursuit with the manner of this capitulation.

“For me the title has gone, yes,” said Rodgers.

“We needed to win tonight to keep the pressure on. It was still in the hands of Manchester City, so us winning would have given them a bit of pressure in the Aston Villa game. Villa will make it difficult against them but everyone will look at City’s squad and see them as a team who can win two games and win the title. I think they’ll go and win their two games now and will be champions, but this game was hugely disappointing.

•Rodgers

INCONSOLABLE — Suarez could not control his emotions after the 3-3 draw that has left Liverpool's title dreams in tatters.

'Suarez should be ‘banned’ for crying after Liverpool defeat' S

TOKE defender Robert Huth has called for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to be banned for three games…for bursting into tears after the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday night that effectively cost the Reds the Premier League title.

While Brendan Rodgers’ side had to overturn a large goal difference to stand a chance of claiming a first title in 24 years, the three-goal lead over Palace looked to have given them a fighting chance of going into the final day of the season with a chance of glory.

But the introduction of Dwight Gayle changed the game and saw the Eagles battle back to earn a share of the points, and leave Suarez and Co deflated on the Selhurst Park pitch.

While others such as Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel couldn’t believe what had happened, Suarez pulled his shirt over his eyes and balled like a baby, and not even a consoling word from

Gerrard or Kolo Toure could lift his spirits Immediately after the result, German defender

Huth took to Twitter to express his belief that anyone who cries on the pitch should be

immediately banned.

“Still maintain that crying on the pitch should warrant a 3 match

ban,” he said, with the post getting more than 16,000 retweets.

Tottenham apologise for tweet mocking Liverpool

T

OTTENHAM have apologised and begun an investigation after claiming that the hacking of their social media accounts was the reason a video was posted poking fun at Liverpool’s collapse in the Premier League title race.

Shortly after Brendan Rodgers’ side threw away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace, making Manchester

City the clear favourites for the title, a post mocking them appeared on Tottenham’s official Twitter feed.

It read: “Brutal but very funny. The biggest capitulation since Newcastle in the ’90s.”

That referred to the 1995-96 Premier League season, when Newcastle let a 12-point lead slip away and finished second to Manchester United.

Man City face £49m fine

M

ANCHESTER City are facing Uefa sanctions for breaching financial fair play rules which would see the club limited to a 21-man Champions League squad instead of the usual 25 players next season.

City, who are still strongly challenging the settlement offer from Uefa, are also facing a fine in the region of €60m (£49m) over three

years, and a cap imposed for next season to ensure there is no rise in this season’s Champions League A squad wage bill.

The reduction in the size of the Champions League squad to 21 would potentially hit the club hardest, and City would also have to ensure that there are still eight locallytrained players in that A squad.

Van Gaal to offer Giggs senior Man Utd coaching role

L

OUIS Van Gaal is expected to offer Ryan Giggs a senior position on his coaching staff if the Dutchman is, as also expected, named as the new permanent Manchester United manager.

Doubt over whether Patrick Kluivert, one of Van Gaal’s assistants as Holland manager, will join the 62-year-old at Old Trafford offers Giggs the

opportunity to be, in effect, the No2 on the new management team.

Although Kluivert has never had this role when working with Van Gaal – Danny Blind occupies it for the Netherlands – the former Barcelona striker was thought to be in the running to do so at United.

Yet Van Gaal has now decided he wants Giggs.

While the Dutchman’s appointment continues to

be expected this week, the Welshman had been minded to turn down any role offered on Van Gaal’s

•Giggs

staff if it was a junior or token one. However Giggs appears likely to accept what will be a highranking position.

•Van Gaal

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014—63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2014

Okagbare joins call for Chibok girls’ release — P. 61 —

Brazil 2014: Osaze, Yobo, Agbim make Keshi’s list

•Ameob i

• Ike Uche out 36 days to go

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

A

HEAD of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation yesterday released a provisional list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.

The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama,

Continued on Page 61

•Keshi

•Yobo

•Enyeama

•Osaze

Provisional list of Super Eagles for 2014 World Cup GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim, Daniel Akpeyi DEFENDERS: Elderson Echiejile,

Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Kunle

Odunlami, Efe Ambrose MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Joel Obi, Nosa Igiebor, Michael Uchebo, Ejike

Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Reuben Gabriel FORWARDS: Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi,

Continued on Page 61

•Agbim

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Clutch (4) 4 Taxi (3) 6 Price (4) 8 Slur (6) 9 Shrewd (6) 10 Horse (3) 12 Of sound (5) 14 Suppose (5) 15 Slip (5) 18 Erase (6) 20 Bough (6) 24 Refute (5) 26 Untrue (5) 28 Torment (5) 30 Away (3) 32 Purloined (6) 33 Linger (6) 34 Pain (4) 35 Consume (3) 36 Discourteous (4)

DOWN 2 Proportion (5) 3 Fascinate (7) 4 Family (4) 5 Boast (4) 6 Capture (5) 7 Devilish (7) 11 Donkey (3) 12 Mournful (3) 13 Feline (3) 16 Through (3) 17 Recede (3) 19 Stretchy (7) 21 Groove (3) 22 Studio (7) 23 Colour (3) 25 Sprite (3) 27 Ointment (5) 29 Pass (5) 30 Formerly (4) 31 Even (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Heavy 7, Order 8, Duped 10, Aorta 12, Map 13, Start 15, Enabled 17, Hectic 19, Nil 20, Cajoled 23, Rued 25, Reel 26, Delayed 30, Sob 31, Depose 34, Entitle 37, Money 38, Car 39, Elbow 40, Cured 41, Tense 42, Inter.

DOWN: 1, Crate 2, Heart 3, Erotic 4, Vote 5, Stumbler 6, Repel 9, Pal 11, Annoyed 13, Short 14, Acted 16, Ail 18, Capable 21, Demon 22, Alley 24, Desired 27, Lot 28, Demote 29, Incur 32, Power 33, Sense 35, Tar 36, Elan.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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