We didn't hire crashed plane — Agagu's family

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61986

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Nwabueze opts out of Why I agreed to National confab, P.7 settle out of court P.15 — Suntai nominates Asemota

We didn't hire crashed plane — Agagu's family •AIB begins investigation into crash •Another survivor on verge of death •Widows of victims, others still in shock

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, LAWANI MIKAIRU, DANIEL ETEGHE & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—THE family of late former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, whose remains, while being conveyed to Akure in an aircarft chartered from Associated Airlines, crashed last Thursday in Lagos said, yesterday, that the choice of the ill-fated

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COLUMNISTS:

LES LEBA •P.40

DELE •P.35 SOBOWALE

Mr & Mrs

NEW PRELATE—From left: The out-going Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde; reading the Certificate of Office before presenting it to the new Prelate, The Most Rev. Samuel Kanu Uche; while Hon. Justice Ebienye Ekerete, Conference Legal Adviser looks on during the Investiture of the new prelate at Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

English court Smuggled rice floods market, IBORI: lacks jurisdiction as merchants suffer losses 17 — Defence 6 C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

ENVOY—President Goodluck Jonathan (R) welcoming a Special Envoy from Kenya, Amb Amina Mohammed Abdalla to the Presidential Villa, Abuja,yesterday. State House Photo.

We didn't hire crashed plane — Agagu's family Continues from page 1 plane was not that of the family.

15 of the 20 passengers and crew on board the aircraft died in the crash.

The Agagu family in a statement by Femi Agagu to clear the air on the controversy surrounding the choice of the airline said: “The contracts for the purchase of the casket, the hiring of the hearse, arrangement for the flying of the corpse from Lagos to Akure, the stage for the

lying-in-state as well as the transportation to Iju Odo were between Ondo State Government and MIC as part of the plans to give the former governor a state burial."

Reacting to media reports which alleged that Agagu family chose the airline, Mr. Femi Agagu, the late politician’s younger brother dismissed the reports as “false, wicked and deliberate distortion of obvious facts.”

Femi Agagu said the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Say something kind and encouraging to everyone you meet, and people will always be happy to see you coming. Weak people revenge. Strong people forgive. Intelligent people ignore!

TAKE HEART

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BY ELLA RANDLE

O what you love. Do what makes your heart sing. And don’t just do it for the money, Go to work to spread joy — Marianne Williamson Each of us is so different and unique, with gifts and talents. You have been created with certain gifts and purpose in life. Enjoy who you were created to be, without trying to be someone you are not supposed to be. Accept the things that have happened in your life, and allow them to make you better, and not bitter.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Sometimes we get so caught up in the little things that really don’t matter, that we can’t enjoy the moment. Sometimes these little things that we worry about rob us of the joy of the moment. Every day, if you can, try to write down the things you are thankful for and how these things uplift you. Fill your heart with pure love just like the rose gives out its fragrance simply because there is nothing else it can be, whether there is someone to enjoy the fragrance or not, a lamp shines with no thought of whether someone gets its luminescence, the light always shines, the tree does not withdraw its shade, because no one is there, and of course the bird in the forest sings beautifully not worrying who hears or listens...so it is with Divine Love. If there is a thing that cannot be taken away from you...it is Divine Love.

family knew nothing about how the airline was contracted.

"We appreciate the immense support of the state government since the demise of Dr. Olusegun Agagu. But we would like to state here that we were only invited to point to the type of casket we wanted.

Every other arrangements including the flight, lyingin-state and even transportation to Iju Odo were made by the state government and MIC. For anybody to say we chose Associated Airline is total falsehood and we believe such report couldn’t have come from the state government quarters," even as it commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the plane crash.

Another crash survivor on verge of death

Meanwhile, there was anxiety, yesterday, over the deteriorating condition of Taiwo Akintunde, one of the survivors of the crash just as authorities at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, remained optimistic about the chances of survival of the three survivors if their condition remained stable.

Although health personnel declined to comment specifically on the crash victim’s state of health, it was gathered that in the last three days, Akintunde, who has been under observation at the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, of the surgical emergency unit of the health institu-

tion, had been permanently under oxygen resuscitation.

A source confirmed that the patient has been comatose and hanging on to life with the aid of crucial life support systems.

A fifth crash survivor, Samson Hassan, who was also on admission at the ICU died on Saturday.

When Vanguard visited the surgical emergency ward of the health institution yesterday morning, it was a quiet and serene atmosphere in contrast to the previous day when family members and sympathisers thronged the premises.

Visitors were disallowed from gaining entry into the unit as health personnel on duty instructed family members to wait around or go home and come back in the afternoon. A return visit by the reporter later in the afternoon provided no reprieve as there was no senior medical personnel on duty authorised to speak to the public.

Also, final collection of samples for the DNA test is expected to be completed today. Two family members of each of 12 of the victims had submitted samples Saturday, in addition to one member of the 13th victim's family.

State Chief Examiner and Pathologist, Professor John Obafunwa, explained that DNA analysis was necessary for proper identification of the corpses.

AIPB begins investigation into crash

The Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, AIPB, is to download the flight recorders of the crashed plane in Abuja as the Bureau has started investigation into the cause of the crash.

In an official statement yesterday, Capt. Muktar Usman, Commissioner, AIPB, said: “The AIPB has commenced investigation into the crash of Embraer120 ER aircraft marked 5N-BJY belonging to Associated Aviation Limited, which occurred at the Joint Users Hydrants installation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos at 9:30hrs (local Time) on Thursday 03 October, 2013.”

“Flight recorders of the ill-fated aircraft have been recovered and will be downloaded at the Bureau’s newly installed flight laboratory at its Abuja headquarters. The readout of the recorders has commenced. The air-

craft, which crashed less than three minutes after take-off from Runway 18L of the airport had 20 souls on board, including seven members of the airline.

There were six survivors as at 05 October, 2013.”

We are mourning

Family of one of the victims, the Amaechis from Ayasumbi community in Imo State, has also been in mourning in the last three days.

Mr. Kingsley Amaechi, a first son died in the crash with his employer, Mr. Tunji Okusanya, Director of M.I.C Funeral Services and his son, Tunji Junior, who were accompanying the casket of the late former governor.

Vanguard gathered that the late Kingsley who was in his mid 30s, was the first son of the family. He died two years after he led other siblings to bury their mother.

The late Kingsley, an alumnus of the Institute of Management and Technology, (IMT), Enugu, joined M.I.C. Funerals in 2000 after his graduation. It was gathered that Kingsley died minutes after he was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH by the rescue team.

In an interview with Vanguard, Mr. Dennis Ememe, his uncle said “On Thursday before the incident occurred, I had a telephone conversation with his brother who lives in South Africa. After the telephone conversation, the news of the ill-fated airplane that crash landed at MMIA, filtered in. I was anxious to know those who were involved. But I could not get their names. In the night, the manifest was revealed. When I saw his name, I doubted it because people sometimes bear the same name. The only thing that can help to identify such person is

when the family knows that he went for such. I ignored it.”

“Until yesterday (Friday), when I began to receive calls from my relatives, I could not quickly come to terms because I know he does not have any business with the Agagu family until I was told that the casket was made by M.I.C and the burial service was also awarded to his company.”

“This is not good news for the family. He left his wife and a less than oneyear-old baby. Who will fill this vacuum he left behind?”

“The news of his death is still a shock. In our community during Christmas football match, he is the striker for the community team. We will miss him because he is one of the best players we have in our team. Our community may not join the football tournament because he has left a huge vacuum that would be hard to fill.”

“We will miss all his great contribution to the community. This is a man who had great vision for the community. Our Christmas has been shattered.”

I wish I can reverse the clock — relative

Another relative, Mr. Eugene Iwunonu said “as you can see, we are grieving, and we wish we can reverse the hands of the clock.”

Iwunonu appealed to the government: “I am appealing to the Federal Government to improve not only the aviation sector but, also other means of transportation as well.

If others means of transportation are working effectively, I believe my brother would have chosen another option to travel to Akure.”

Another relative who spoke under the condition of anonymity said: “For us, we are not satisfied with the DNA capturing exercise. We want to see

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6—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Anambra NNPP guber candidate kidnapped

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—THE gover norship candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, Chief Leonard Uchendu, was, yesterday, kidnapped at his Umuawulu, Awka South Local Government Area home town by unknown persons.

Uchendu was the President-General of Umuawulu Town Union before he picked the ticket for the governorship election.

The situation was still unclear at press time. The abductors were yet to contact the family.

However, the Anambra State chairman of the party, Lady Virgy Chukwuogor told Vanguard last night that the circumstances surrounding Uchendu’s abduction was worrisome.

According to her, members of NNPC were surprised when the security personnel attached to the governorship candidate were recently withdrawn, thereby putting him at great security risk.

She added that despite complaints to the state Police Command, nothing was done as the candidate did not have any security operative attached to him before the abduction.

She explained that the abduction had been reported to the state Police Commissioner, who had assured of tracking down the kidnappers.

Fire razes house during downpour in Cross River

BY EMMA UNA

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A L A B A R — RESIDENTS of Calabar, Cross River State, are still amazed at the mysterious fire that consumed a residential building while rain was falling in the wee hours of October 3.

The mysterious fire, which started at midnight razed 43, Inyang Street, consuming the roof of the residential apartments and shops while residents were asleep, as rain was falling.

Female lawyer's mutilated body found in her office

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—POLICE in Abuja are investigating the suspected murder of a female lawyer, Mrs. Ijeoma Micah, whose lifeless body was found mutilated, yesterday, in her chambers in the highbrow Maitama area of Abuja.

Ijeoma, the owner of Micah and Micah Chambers, was found dead in her office three days after she was said to have gone missing.

Her husband, who it was learnt, arrived from London on Sunday morning, rushed to her office, as it was gathered that he had not heard from her for three days, only to discover her lifeless body.

He reported the matter to Area Command of the police in Maitama.

Contacted on the development, Commissioner of Police FCT, Femi Ogunbayode, said that from investigations, it was discovered that some men had called Ijeoma to her office for some business, which she went for and afterwards, nothing was heard from her.

Ogunbayode told Vanguard that as a result of the killing, a security detail that was attached to Ifeoma was arrested and was being interrogated for alleged complicity.

He said that since the security

detail did not report the case to the police until her husband came back from abroad and discovered her body, he was therefore a suspect.

He added that the Forensic Investigation Unit at the FCT Command was already

at the office, where she was allegedly killed and had commenced investigation into the matter.

Sympathisers in the area said that the Ifeoma's husband broke the door of her office and on seeing the life-

less body of his wife, almost killed himself while crying.

It was also gathered that Ijeoma's car had been missing from the usual parking spot in front of her office building.

IYANA-IPAJA BUS STOP AT NIGHT—Traders and hawkers take over Iyana-Ipaja Bus Stop, along Lagos-Abeokuta Exepressway at night, constituting menace to other road users. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

JTF intercepts 2 vessels, arrests 26 suspected bunkerers

BY SAMUELOYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, weekend, intercepted two bunkering vessels on the Bonny Anchorage of Rivers State, arresting a Ghanaian and 25 others over alleged illegal lifting of crude oil and illegally distilled Automated Gas Oil (diesel).

The vessel, MILANDROS, was intercepted close to the west bank of Bonny Anchorage, where a sixinch diameter hose over a distance of 1,000 metres from the vessel had been connected to pipeline.

Also, another vessel, EBBA, belonging to PWS Integrated Service Limited, operating on the waterways without relevant registration documents was arrested on the Bonny anchorage with eight crew members on board and was laden with 282 tons of suspected illegally distilled diesel.

JTF in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by its Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said that operatives of 146 Battalion Anti-Oil Theft patrol team, covering the Bonny axis of Sector 2 Area under the Command of Lt. Col. Lander Saraso, arrested the 12 crew members, made up of 11 Nigerians and a

Ghanaian on board the vessel, MILANDROS for illegal oil bunkering in the Bonny Anchorage in Rivers State.

He said: “At the time of arrest, the vessel which was

registered to sail under flagship of Sierra Leone was flying a Nigerian flag to deceive security operatives and was anchored at the west bank of Bonny Anchorage, where a 6-inch diameter hose over a distance of 1000

metres from the vessel had been connected to pipeline.

"Efforts are ongoing to track down the lead agent, Mr. Tumini Brown, who absconded from the Island on hearing of the arrest of the illegal oil bunkering vessel.”

Ibori’s undeclared assets: English court has no jurisdiction —Defence

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R. Ivan Krolic, lead counsel to Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, has told the Southwark, London, court that the British court system lacks the power and jurisdiction to determine and reach a conclusion for Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau on which assets of the former governor to confiscate, over assets declared or undeclared in Nigeria, an independent nation.

The British Crown prosecution, among other allegations, had accused James Ibori of non-declaration or false declaration of his assets as required by Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau, during his time as governor.

As the legal battle in the assets confiscation hearing of

the former governor enters its final stage, the British crown prosecution, in their arguments, had asked the British court to confiscate the assets of the former governor as he had breached Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau’s statutory requirements on assets declaration.

The crown’s lead prosecutor, Sasha Wass, asking for the confiscation of every single penny above the sum of Ibori’s emoluments as governor, said: “Every asset over and above that which was declared and which was referable to his level of salary can be shown to be the proceeds of his criminal conduct, namely, fraud and corruption.”

Ibori’s lawyer, Krolic, opposed that argument.

He contended: “Even where there is a legal obligation to make declaration of income or assets, the failure to make any such declaration or making of false declaration (if such exists), cannot cause the property to be confiscated.

“This cannot turn otherwise legitimately acquired assets into criminal property, since this procedure requires the intervention of a third party, Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau.

“And with the unknown outcome of the Bureau’s input, it is not possible for an English court to reach any conclusion about the attitude of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau to issues as whether undeclared property held in a discretionary trust would constitute breach of the Bureau’s code of conduct.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—7

Nwabueze opts out of National Conference, nominates Asemota zThe Patriots hail Jonathan; TUC, IYM, others raise expectation

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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ATIONAL Chairman of The Patriots , Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, has written President Goodluck Jonathan, asking to be excused from the 13man Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, which will be inaugurated today.

Writing from his hospital bed in London, Nwabueze said he would be away for sometime and hence might not be available for the one-month exercise that Senator Femi Okurounmu will lead. He consequently nominated legal icon, Chief Solomon Asemota, SAN, to replace him in the committee.

In a two-paragraph letter to President Jonathan dated October 2, which Vanguard got yesterday, Nwabueze wrote: “I am presently in London for medicals and may be away from Nigeria for some Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (2nd left), his wife, Olukemi (left) and delegates of The Apostolic Faith Church, during their condolence visit to the Governor at the Government time.

House, Akure, weekend.

“I will be glad if I could be replaced in the Presidential Advisory Committee on national committee has just been set up should have equitable dialogue/conference by Mr. It‘ll restore sanity in and when the debated and representation at the Solomon Asemota, SAN who is a Nigeria—APGA adopted new constitution and Conference and delegates member of The Patriots.”

In like manner, APGA saluted the acceptable structure is agreed Nwabueze, 83, is an erudite president for approving national should be allowed to speak upon by the many nationalities their minds freely and constitutional lawyer, who had confab and raising the Okurounmu that make up this great country. candidly taken part in the making of the committee to fashion out the “In between is a testy period “While the Congress 1979 Constitution and many modalities. of the conference proper, the commends the calibre of most constitutions in Africa. His input In a statement by the National heated disagreements that of the people that have so far would have helped the panel Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor would invariably occur, the been chosen to be members of greatly in its assignment.

Umeh, through his Special mischief of sections who don’t the Conference Advisory Nwabueze’s letter came as The Assistant (Media), Mr. Stan mean well for the country, the Patriots commended President Okeke, the party stated that there Committee, we also feel that it arrogance of oppressors and is important the organised Jonathan for taking steps to was no more auspicious time than the sincerity of compatriots who labour (TUC and Nigeria organize the national conference now for the convocation of a want a truly great Nigeria to Labour Congress (NLC) be before the 2015 polls just as the National Conference, pointing out emerge from the ashes of his Trade Union Congress, TUC, All that the unconstitutional actions of involved. We advise all such wobbly and sick colonial edifice. persons and the would-be Progressives Grand Alliance, some desperate politicians were It would call for patience, delegates not to denigrate or APGA, and Igbo Youth Movement responsible for the crisis rocking the tolerance, understanding, digress from the key issues (IYM) tasked the advisory panel country. sacrifice and respect for one and to relate harmoniously with on a thorough job.

According to Chief Umeh, the another, most importantly the one another. As Nigerians they ignoble actions of these politicians conference periods calls for must work together to achieve are very grave threats to the An epochal event prayers for our dear country.” the common goal of our corporate existence of Nigeria as a — The Patriots Noting that the period of the cohesion and collective dialogue calls for sober The Patriots, in a congratulatory united country, recalling that development. reflection and sincere prayers letter signed by Nwabueze, said: APGA, for so many years in the for the survival of the country, “We write to congratulate Your past, called for a National Not yet time for Uko commended President Excellency for the indisputable Conference as the only way out of celebration —IYM Jonathan for his vision and fore bold step you have taken towards the logjam facing the country.

Also speaking, the President sight, adding that “if this ensuring that a National of IYM, Evangelist Elliot Uko, conference eventually succeeds Conference is convoked before Confab must keep said it is not yet time to in giving every section, a sense 2015.

Nigeria one—TUC celebrate President Jonathan’s of belonging and also reduce The Patriots regard this On its part, the Trade Union of national the tension and bitterness development as epochal and Congress of Nigeria, TUC, approval currently ruling the land, than reaffirms the support which we yesterday, said while it supports the conference. “The IYM would Jonathan would have emerged conveyed to you on the occasion proposed confab in view of the like to declare that the as the father of modern of our visit on August 29.. It is our myriad of challenges facing the convening of a national Nigeria.” fervent hope that nothing would country, it must be convened and conference does not call for Stressing the need for the be allowed to stand in the way conducted in way to keep Nigeria jubilation, rather the finished document adopted in a conference, he said from the during the preparation for and united. referendum would call for joy, outcome of an opinion poll execution of the National In a statement by its President conducted by IYM in SouthConference that would finally and Secretary General, Bobboi that eventually, Nigeria has East, Nigerians are bring every Nigerian into the Kaigama and Musa Lawal TUC finally survived, there is a world of difference between disillusioned. mainstream of governance.” contended that each of the now that the road map constituents of the Nigerian polity

NEMA urges state govts to relocate residents in flood prone areas

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—THE National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has warned that volume of water in rivers across the country would soon rise and may lead to flooding which may cause losses of lives and property.

To avert crises, the agency therefore advised state governments to ensure the relocation of Nigerians living in flood prone areas.

The zonal coordinator of NEMA, Abuja, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko gave the advice weekend at a one-day sensitisation programme on the strengthening of flood risk awareness campaigns among vulnerable communities in Ilorin West local government area of Kwara State.

Chonoko said government assistance for such people became necessary because most people living along riverine areas are poor and are the ones mostly affected in flood disasters. .The NEMA coordinator, who also identified awareness campaign programme by stakeholders as the cornerstone of flood risk management among flood prone and vulnerable communities in the country, added that ignorance of flood risks had encouraged people to live in flood plains.

Chonoko added that lack of awareness of risk can result in a failure to heed to warnings by relevant agencies to evacuate in the event of flood, thereby endangering lives.

He said the agency had swung into action on different measures to reduce impact of flood to the barest minimum at vulnerable communities since NIMET made flood predictions for 2013.

Chonoko noted that NIMET's predictions had started manifesting in some parts of the country.

Also speaking, the Special Assistant to Kwara State governor on Emergency and Relief Services, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulazeez, urged those living in flood prone areas to heed government’s warning by relocating from such areas.

He said this action

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Resign now, G7 govs, Baraje tell Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led new Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that if peace must return to the family of the party, the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur must as a matter of urgency resign and the factional chairman, Baraje should immediately step into his shoes to run the affairs of the party.

According to the Barajeled new PDP, it has become imperative for Tukur to resign now against the backdrop that he was not a registered and cardcarrying member of the party and so has no business being its National Chairman, adding that Tukur was expelled from the PDP in 2006 with nine others following disciplinary action taken against them for anti-party activities.

In the family of the Baraje-led new PDP are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State; Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Musa Rabiu

Kwankwaso of Kano; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.

In a statement signed by the national Publicity Secretary of Baraje-led PDP, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the new PDP said, “Since then, he has not officially returned to the party. All the records at our disposal showed that Tukur has not followed due process for his readmission into the party.

He neither apply for, nor obtained the requisite waiver by the National Executive Committee of the party before offering himself for election into the office of National Chairman in 2012. This makes his membership incurably defective and his emergence as PDP’s National Chairman null and void and of no effect whatsoever since he is the product of a flawed process.

“Consequently, all the actions he has taken as the Chairman of PDP since his purported election in March 2012, including the illegal, contentious convention of August, 2013, are null and void and of no effect.

“Reliable information reaching us from the PDP National Secretariat indicates that Alhaji Tukur

is desperately seeking a way out of his predicament and has set about falsifying party records with regard to revalidating his membership through the back door. We wish to put him on notice that this is criminal and we hope he understands the consequences of his actions.

“In this regard, Alhaji Tukur ’s continued occupation of the Office of PDP National Chairman is clearly fraudulent, illegal and unconstitutional.

“We hereby urge Alhaji Tukur to tow the path of honour and throw in the towel. This is the best option open to him. However, since one man cannot hold the party and the entire nation hostage, should he fail to heed our advice, we would have no other option than to appeal to both the Presidency and the PDP leadership to ease him of the party in the most diplomatic way to avoid hurting him so much considering his age, zeal and commitment to serve the party by offering a ministerial post to him. This is a good opportunity for the Presidency to demonstrate if it is serious about restoring peace and unity to the party."

Reps set to tackle Presidency over 2013 budget

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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EMBERS of the House of Representatives and the Presidency may soon clash again over the implementation of the 2013 budget, which the lawmakers reluctantly passed into law.

The looming face-off stems from the discovery by the lawmakers that the Executive had not cash backed most of the funds said to have been released to ministries, departments and agencies.

Apparently to gather appropriate facts with which to confront the executive, the lawmakers last week suspended plenary for two weeks and concentrated on oversight tours of MDAs and project sites to see things for themselves.

Vanguard learnt yesterday that most lawmakers were shocked to discover that not much had been achieved in the implementation of the 2013 budget by the MDAs. It was learnt that the lawmakers were angry that the money said to have been released to the agencies of government and recorded as achievement by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, was not actually released to the benefiting agencies of government.

A principal officer in the National Assembly confirmed to Vanguard that the implementation of the 2013 budget by the Executive was nothing to write home about and expressed the desire of the lawmakers to seek answers to the problem.

“I can tell you right away that the implementation of the 2013 budget is at the

lowest ebb and that is not in the interest of the generality of Nigerians, who elected us to the National Assembly.

“We intend to seek answers to the shoddy implementation of the budget from those concerned. That is why we had to suspend plenary for two weeks to enable us to go round and see things for ourselves and get the facts and figures to be able to do our work well upon return.

“It is very disappointing to note that as in the previous years, the budget has not been properly implemented and our people left to suffer in the process,” the lawmaker said.

When contacted on the development, the Chairman House Committed on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said he would not comment on any matter, as he was on break.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—9

We don’t owe FAAC N2.3trn — NNPC

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA — THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, denied owing Federation Accounts N2.3 trillion, as credited to Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

The corporation, in statement by the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ms. Tumini E. Green, said it was dismayed at “the increasing unwarranted and unfounded accusations against it by otherwise informed persons in the polity – persons, who, by virtue of their positions in government should know better.”

The organisation noted that “Oshiomhole’s unfortunate attack is part of a sustained campaign against the Corporation and its leadership in recent times. "Änd this is aimed at distracting it from the dogged pursuit of the transformation of the oil and gas industry for the general good of the nation,” noting that NNPC will not be distracted by any campaign of calumny from any quarters.

Ms Green added: “We wish to state without any equivocation that we do not owe the Federation Accounts, FA, any money as at today, taking into account outstanding subsidies and other associated costs of operations and losses.

"We have consistently paid all monies due to the FA into its Central Bank of Nigeria account as we receive them.”

Green noted that "not all revenues collected by NNPC are paid directly into the ac-

counts of FA with the Central Bank of Nigeria. Some are paid into the accounts of the relevant government agencies, like the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Department of Petroleum Resources, with the

CBN. But eventually, all these payments are credited to the accounts of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC." She stated that "another important issue which is not

taken into account by critics who reel out figures without cross-checking, is the outstanding debts owed NNPC by the Federal Government, especially from subsidy. "

PDP TO FANI KAYODE: You

represent the bad, the ugly and the scandalous ….I was not indicted

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PRAYER: From left, All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos Central senatorial district; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during a special prayer organised in honour of Bola Tinubu, on his safe arrival home, after a brief stay in London, at his Lagos residence, weekend.

ASUU STRIKE: NUPENG

threatens solidarity action

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS — NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, weekend, threatened stop distribution of petroleum products across the country if the Federal Government failed to implement the agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. Though no specific date was fixed for the commencement of the soliarity strike, the union said the strike became necessary in view of the lingering ASUU crisis which the government had failed to resolve in the last three months.

NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, who spoke at the union's National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting, weekend in Lagos, said NUPENG was not happy at the crisis facing public university system in the country.

He blamed the crisis on government’s failure to honour agreements, lamenting that this had led to the proliferation of strikes in nearly all sectors of the economy since the beginning of the year.

According to him: “We appeal to government to implement agreement reached with ASUU so that students can go back to

school. If the crisis in the sector is not resolved, we will soon direct our members to embark on solidarity strike.”

Achese blamed the Ministry of Labour for failing in its responsibility to check the break-down and abuse of laws governing industrial relations practice in the country by employers including government.

“The Ministry of Labour needs to be proactive if we must get these issues nipped in the bud. The ministry also needs to make sure that agreements reached or communiqué signed are implemented.

“The ministry has a big role to play to avert strikes in the country.

When unions begin to lose faith in the ministry that is when we have this kind of crisis. The labour minister should be firm in making sure that the right decisions are taken.

“As it is now, every activity in the Ministry of Labour is in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, which ought not to be so. The role of the SGF should be to intervene only when the need arises.”

It would be recalled that the NUT last week gave the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to honour the agreement it reached with ASUU or face total shut-down of the education sector in the country.

AGOS — Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as a primitive, display of selfrighteousness, comments credited to the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode over last Thursday’s crash of an Associated Airline in Lagos.

Fani-Kayode has however, joined issues with PDP, saying, “I was not indicted of stealing any money by the Senate Aviation Committee that they referred to in 2008.”

PDP in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abdullahi Jalo, said it was unbecoming of a man that used every opportunity to sermonise on virtues of his faith to employ the occasion of any air mishap to vaunt an un-existing legacy as former aviation minister.

Jalo noted that PDP stood firmly on its exhortation to the aviation authority that last Thursday’s mishap should not constitute a setback to the progress so far achieved in the sector.

He said: “In a very short space of six months that Femi was Minister, he posted an enviable record in tribalism and nepotism when he employed a record 45 managers for different parastatals under the Aviation Ministry from his native Osun State.

He went further to retire many officers of the director cadre, replacing them with incompetent cronies.

Fani-Kayode, on his part, said: “PDP issued a typically infantile and nonsensical response to my essay in the Vanguard Newspaper. It was nothing but the usual lies, abuse, falsehood, baseless allegations and disjointed verbiage.

“I wonder if the individual that issued that statement even went to school, considering the poor language and grammatical errors.

"That is what the old PDP has degenerated to now. A party of liars, scammers, blackmailers, thugs and gangsters.

"I will not dignify with a response to most of what they said other than to say that I was not indicted of stealing any money by the Senate Aviation Committee that they referred to in 2008."

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Ondo govt condoles with late Deji Falae’s widow

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

BIRTHDAY: From left, HRM, Oba Dokun Thompson (Oloni of Eti Oni), HRM Oba Gbadebo Adedokun (Alake of Egbaland), Chief Akanni Akinwole (behind), HRH Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, and HRM, Oba Kole Ojutalayo ( Laroka of Wanikin Ife), during thanksgiving service at Our Lady Perpetual Church, Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, to mark Oba Adedokun’s 70th birthday. Photo: Shola Oyelese

Residents appeal to govt to reconstruct Ijoko Rd, Sango Ota

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GUN STATE government has been urged to expedite action on the reconstruction of Ijoko road, Sango – Ota to lessen the sufferings of the residents in the area.

Making the appeal, Chief Imam of Sango, Central Mosque, Alhaji Tajudeen Shafi said Governor Ibikunle Amosun had been working hard to make the people of the state benefit from dividends of democracy more than his predecessors with the provision of infrastructure.

Ilaje gets speedboats

C

HAIRMAN OF Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Prince Adesoji Ayenuro has inaugurated two speed boats in Ilaje, the riverine area of Ondo State.

The boats are part of the development programmes of the Regional Development Council, RDC. Ayenuro said the boats would ease the transportation problem in the area.

He lauded the RDC members for “their determination to develop their land” and promised undiluted support.

KURE — ONDO State Government, yesterday, sent a highpowered delegation to Lagos to condole with the wife of a former commissioner, Deji Falae, who died in a plane crash last week.

Deji was the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism until his death.

The government’s representatives also visited Mr. Feyi Agagu, son of former Governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu and his son -inlaw, Femi Akinsanya.

Others visited in-

Amosun blames delay in Sept salary payment on FG

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, said partial release of state allocation by the Presidency is responsible for the delay of the payment of September salary to workers in the state.

Amosun who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa , during the world teachers day held in the state, said civil

National Waves honours FCT Minister, Sen Bala Mohammed,

Sen Ita Enang, others

N

A T I O N A L WAVES Newspaper and Magazine will Tuesday in Abuja, honour eminent Nigerians including Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours.

At the 6thedition of lecture and award ceremony, a statement by the award committee said others to receive the award include Senate Committee Chairman on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang; Founder of Foundation for the Elderly and Poor, Haliya Habiba Abubakar, Pinnacle Communications Limited, Abuja; Head, Corporate Communications, Zenith Bank, Mr. Victor Adoji, former Taraba State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, among others.

servants in the State would start receiving their salary from next week promising not to owe the civil servants any salary despite the challenges.

Speaking, State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Dare Ilekoya urged the government to address some of the challenges confronting teachers in the State.

Ilekoya lamented what he described as irregular and delayed payment of school teachers salaries, non-remittance of co-operative deductions and union dues.

Ilekoya said, “some people were engaged by the Federal Govt as a way of creating employment. These teachers have served in the state in the

last 24 months and their service expired last month. We believe that the state government should absorb them into the teaching service to address the shortage of teachers.”

He however commended the Amosun administration for timely intervention on regular payment of salaries, implementation of 15 Percent part payment of 27.5 Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance.

President of NUT, Michael Alogba, in the address on his behalf by Grace Faleye, charged the Federal Government not to commit the management of primary education into the hands of local governments.

cluded Queenet Owolabi, an Air-hostess, Akintunde Taiwo, orderly to Feyi Agagu and Fatoye Felix Friday, all survivors of the crash The team also visited the Lagos Island office of MIC Casket to commiserate with the staff whose Managing Director, Tunji Okusanya, died in the air mishap with his son and four other staff of the company.

Dr. Kola Ademujimi, the Chief of Staff to Dr. Olusegun Mimiko led the delegation which included Gboye Adegbenro, Commissioner for Works; Mr. Akin Adaramola, Budget and Economic Planning; Remi Olatubora, Adult Technical and Vocational Education; Mr. Kayode Akinmade, Information; Chief Sola Ebiseni, Enviroment; Chief Yemi Mohmood, Women Affairs and Ademola Olorunfemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, with wives of members of the State Executive Council.

Oba Alli knows fate on rape case tomorrow

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — AFTER three years of legal fireworks and several postponements, judgment will now be delivered tomorrow in the case against Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adebukola Alli who has been standing trial for allegedly raping an exYouth Corps m e m b e r, Miss Hellen Okpara who served in his domain 2010.

Presiding judge, Justice O y e j i d e Falola will deliver the final judgment at a High Court sitting in I k i r u n , Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state where the judge was transferred.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—11

Delta Central by-election: Aguariavwodo vows to re-open Sapele port ...as 2,000 DPP members decamp to PDP in Okpe LGA

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—CANDIDATE of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the October 12, Delta Central senatorial by-election, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, has promised to ensure the reopening of Sapele port, if elected into the Senate.

Aguariavwodo, who spoke at Orerokpe during his campaign tour to the area, said that the seaport would create employment opportunities for many unemployed Urhobo youths and also boost the socio-economic lives of the people.

He said he would ensure that the Urhobo ethnic nationality recovered all it had lost politically in the last few years when he gets to the National Assembly as a Senator.

Saying that all the Urhobo needed to do to get maximum dividends of democracy was to vote for PDP in the forthcoming senatorial by-election and subsequent elections, he added that PDP was the only party that could take the Urhobo to the promised land.

He said: “I will fight for the rights of the Urhobo when I get to the Senate. I will ensure we get our fair share of the dividends of democracy as an ethnic nationality and as

the fifth largest ethnic group in the country.”

Earlier in his speech, chairman of the campaign council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, said “the Urhobo cannot afford to be in opposition anymore,” urging the people to vote enmasse for PDP.

Receiving over the 2,000 persons that decamped from the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, to PDP at the rally, Oyovbaire said that the party was the only party that could address the needs and aspirations of the Urhobo people.

Speaking to newsmen, one

of the decampees, Mr. Emmanuel Izobo, described his sojourn in DPP as wasted years, adding, “PDP is the only party that will lead us out of the wilderness. I appeal to our people to vote PDP in the October 12 senatorial by-election.”

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) and former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzo Kalu, during a courtesy call at the Governor's Office, Uyo.

Emerhor condemns attack on Aguariavwodo, PDP campaign team

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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LL Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the October 12 by-election in Delta Central senatorial district, Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has condemned the action of the gunmen, who, weekend, held Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senatorial candidate, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, and other party chieftains hostage in Kokori.

Emerhor, who spoke to journalists in Ewu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, sympathised with Aguariavwodo, saying that his party does not support violence.

He said: “While in this campaign train, it has come to our notice that our fellow contestant and candidate of PDP, Chief Aguariavwodo went on a campaign trip to Ethiope East, somewhere near Kokori and there was some violence.

We do not have the details of that violence. We heard that his entourage was attacked.

We want to make it clear that

we of APC do not support violence.

“We strongly condemn what we heard happened there. We want a level playing ground for all candidates. We do not ask, request, or tolerate any person, including our supporters, engaging in acts of violence, as we also ask for a fair playing ground for all

those concerned. We condemn this act, even though we do not have the full details, in very strong terms.

“We sympathise with our fellow brother and contestant under the PDP for whatever losses he might have suffered and we will call him to condole and sympathise with him.”

However, the three monarchs of Arhavware, Okparabe and Ewu equally offered their prayers and blessings for the senatorial bid of Olorogun Emerhor at the palace of his Royal Majesty Okporufouma I, Ovie Ewu Kingdom.

Olorogun Emerhor also visited the family of late Senator Pius Ewherido.

....As Emiko urges support for APC

BY DANIEL GUMM

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A R R I— YO U N G E R brother to Ogiame, the Olu of Warri and All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Prince Yemi Emiko, has called on voters in Delta Central senatorial district to turn out en masse and vote for APC in the forthcoming by-election slated for October 12 in the area.

Prince Emiko, a former Chevron Nigeria Limited General Manager, in charge

of Community Relations, in a statement in Warri, said that the spirit and soul of late Senator Pius Ewherido would be delighted to see a progressive and hard working achiever, like Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, elected into the Senate, for effective representation, and to continue with the people-oriented legacies left behind by the late dynamic politician.

Emiko said: “At APC, we are not defined by tribe, creed or dogma. We are defined by our collective desire to reclaim our lives, rebuild our communities, and usher in change that

would reset the current lazy mantra of ‘Delta no de carry last,’ to the more appropriate ‘Delta State, number one.”

PDP threatens to stop proposed sale of Edo House in Lagos

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has threatened to stop the proposed sale of Edo House in Lagos, by the state government, describing the move to sell the multi-billion naira edifice as unacceptable.

Edo State Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who addressed journalists in Benin, weekend, said the planned sale of the asset was faulty, adding, “We have come out to reject the entire process.

The Edo House valued at N3.5 billion was the most priced asset of the state.”

He queried the process of selecting Segun Asaju, the Estate Agent handling the sale of the property, pointing out that there were more qualified Estate Valuers of Edo State origin that were not given the opportunity to partake in the process.

Reacting, Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, said that the state government intends to sell the house “because that is the best thing to do in the light of long years of decay in the hands of PDP government.”

He said that rather than abandon a property in Lagos, the state government will utilise its economic value for the overall good of the people of Edo State. ”What purpose is Edo House serving in Lagos as we speak when there are lots of developmental challenges back home in Edo State?”

DESOPADEC commissioner lauds structure in the state.

Uduaghan Applauding the three-point

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HE commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr Ajiri Ogeh, has commended the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for adopting a bottom - top approach in the delivery of infra-

agenda of Governor Uduaghan, at a meeting of women of Ekeovie community in Iyede Kingdom, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, Ogeh said that the commission has benefitted immensely from the bottom - top approach initiative, as DESOPADEC now knows the needs of the people.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

We didn't hire crashed plane — Agagu's family the crash Continues from page 5 all the corpses to know if truly Kingsley is dead.”

All efforts to speak with his wife proved abortive, as she wept uncontrollably.

I am still dreaming- Widow

Mrs. Florence Duru, wife of late Chijioke Duru, an employee of M.I.C funeral service, wept uncontrollably when Vanguard visited her.

Sitting with relations, Florence, a legal practitioner, cuddled Chijioke’s daughter, in anticipation that her husband will soon return from work.

She said “I am still dazed. This is not possible.”

Florence, who managed to speak to Vanguard, sighed and said: “You need information on my husband but Chijioke and I did not discuss that after the publication of our marriage, his obituary will be next.”

It was learnt that Chijioke, who married Florence less than five years ago, kept calling the name of his daughter before he breathed his last.

Florence continued: “That was what we were told by a nurse at the hospital. I know that for him to have mentioned his daughter ’s name, it showed that my husband could have been alive now if help had come his way earlier. I can imagine the pain he would have gone through.”

Also speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Eugune Duru, stated: “This is a sad moment for the family and we are yet to come to terms that our brother is dead, Duru said: “Our demand for now is to see his corpse to know if truly he is dead.

They have not allowed us to see the corpse. We are confused for now because they have not allowed us to see the survivors and the dead. His son, David is in Primary Four.”

I am still waiting for his phone call— Flight Engineer ’s widow Friends and sympathisers yesterday thronged the home of Engineer Elaiye Soroh, the flight engineer

aboard the ill-fated airliner. When Vanguard visited their residence in Shogunle area of the state, members of the family were sighted holding meetings to decide on burial arrangements and other activities.

His wife, Mama David, as fondly called, was sitting in their living room speaking faintly with those who had come to condole with the family, while his eight-year-old son, David and his younger sister, thought their father had gone on a trip and will be back soon to cuddle them.

It was also learnt that the tragedy happened on October 4th, when his first son, David, a primary four pupil, should be celebrating his birthday.

Vanguard gathered that the late engineer had planned to leave Associated Airlines for another employer.

Mama David, said “I know he works for Associated Airline.

“Whenever he goes on a trip like that, before he leaves the MMIA, he will call. When he gets to the destination, he will call. When he is leaving the place, he will call and when he gets back to Lagos, he will call me to inform me that he has finally arrived in Lagos.”

Sources said that he (Elaiye) had spent 10 years working for the defunct Capital Airlines and later, Associated Airlines, before he met his death.

I dreamt about

- v i c t i m ’ s brother

Wing Commander Oyinprebi Soroh, (rtd) brother to Elaiye in an interview with Vanguard said: “I cannot explain the way I feel at the moment but I wish I could have stopped the crash.

I feel said about the entire event.”

Oyinprebi, who now operates an online prayer ministry, ‘The Network Prayer Partners,’ said: “ I had a dream that it would happen. After that, I prayed about it and I called on others members of the page to also do so.”

“I know that if we hadn’t prayed about it, there wouldn’t have been any survivors,” he added.

Fear grips residents Following frequent airplane crashes in Lagos, residents around airport environs have resorted to prayers to avert any plane crashing on their buildings. They now panic at the sound of plane taking off or about to land.

Mrs. Bimpe Adisa, a civil servant and resident of Dejo Akewula Street, told Vanguard: “We are now living in fear here at every sound of a plane approaching. Fear grips us because our airspace has become a terror to us.

Why are we having plane crashes everytime?

"Our leaders are just watching innocent souls perishing and doing nothings to salvage the situation."

Residents on other adjoining streets like; Adepeju and Banwo, were said to have resorted to fervent prayers to avert any calamity from the airspace.

I wasn’t in Kokori Oct 4 —Okumagba

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ORMER Commissioner for Finance in Delta State, Chief Bernard Okumagba, has denied being part of a team that allegedly visited the Palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom in Kokori town, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, on October 4.

In a statement, yesterday, he said: My attention has been drawn to a report on page 8 of Saturday Vanguard Newspaper of October 5, 2013, where I was re-

ported to have visited the Palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom in Kokori town in Ethiope council on October 4, 2013 as part of the entourage of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta Central Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“I want to state for the avoidance of doubt that I was neither in Kokori town nor was I part of the team that visited the palace of the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom in Kokori Town on October 4.

I was in Lagos all of that October 4.”

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013 — 13

Anambra 2013: Obiano unveils devt plans

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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W K A — ALL Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Candidate for the November 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has unveiled his blueprint for rapid development of the state, if elected.

Presenting the document, weekend, Obiano said: “My Blueprint which I call the 10-Pillars of Development is a comprehensive master-plan that draws heavily from the current achievements of the party in the state to expand the scope of our development.”

He explained that a precursor to his blueprint "is the 4Cs paradigm which emphasizes the need to continue the projects of the current administration, complete them, commission them and commence a fresh set of programmes and initiatives that will uplift the state."

He said at the heart of his blueprint was the wheel, which revolved around four major areas: industrialization, trade and commerce, agriculture and oil and gas.

FUTO board asks ASUU to call off strike

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERR—THE Gov erning Council of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, has appealed to the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off the on going industrial action and resume work in the interest of the students.

The appeal was part of a three-page communiqué read by the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Emmanuel Enemuo, after their meeting in Owerri at the weekend.

“The Federal Government has demonstrated a strong commitment in addressing the most contentious issues by approving the release of the initial sum of N130 billion to Nigerian universities,” Enemuo said.

PDP sweeps Ebonyi LG Poll, opposition boycotts A

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—THE state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, weekend, won the 2013 Local Government Area elections conducted

by Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, across the 13 councils of the state.

Announcing the results, yesterday, at the Headquarters of EBSIEC, Chairman of commission, Chief John Nkwuda, claimed the election was free, fair, and devoid of violence and other forms of irregularities.

According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressive Congress, APC, and All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, fielded candidates for the election.

He said: “The APC fielded only one chairmanship candidate in Ezza South LGA, APGA also fielded only one councillorship candidate in the same council while the PDP fielded candidates in all positions across the state.”

He announced that Mr. Bartholomew Ottah (PDP) for Abakaliki LGA: won all the 62, 518 votes cast, Anthony Ekoh (PDP) Afikpo North: won all 178,222 votes cast, Ogbonnaya Orji, PDP, Afikpo South: won all 51,461 votes cast and Paul Iganga (PDP) Ebonyi: won all 70,402.

Jeff Ogbu (PDP) Ezza North: won all 73,528 votes cast, Lazarus Ogbee (PDP) Ezza South: won 55,770 out

the 55,803 votes cast, Moses Nwekoyo (PDP) Ikwo: won all 102, 967 votes cast and Obinna N w a c h u k w u (PDP) Ishiellu: won all 72,752 votes cast. Joseph Obasi (PDP) Ivo: won all 72, 752 votes cast, Godwin Nwogbaga (PDP) Izzi: won all 111,279 votes cast, Enekwachi Akpa (PDP) Ohaozara: won all 53,273 votes cast, Mrs Chinyere Elom (PDP) Ohaukwu: won all 101,502 votes cast and Mrs Chinyere Nwanoke (PDP): won all 64,

505 votes cast.”

He noted that the APC chairmanship candidate in Ezza South LGA, Francis Nweke scored 33 votes while the APGA councillorship candidate in Nsokara ward of the same council, Boniface Ofunne polled 17 votes in the councillorship contest.

Nkwuda announced that the PDP won the 18 councillorship wards of Abakaliki LGA, 14 wards in Afikpo

North, 14 wards of Afikpo South, 14 wards of Ezza North, 14 wards of Ezza South and 24 wards of Ikwo.

“The PDP won the 24 councillorship wards of Ikwo, 20 wards of Ishiellu, 14 wards of Ivo, 18 wards of Izzi, 19 wards of Ohaukwu, 14 wards of Ohaozara, and 15 wards of Onicha LGA,” he said.

He urged the losers to wait for another opportunity while thanking the electorate for their peaceful and orderly conduct.

ELECTION: Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State (middle), after casting his vote at Echialike Ward 1, Ikwo Local Government Area, during last Saturday's council election in the state.

Ihenacho accuses Imo govt of demolishing property without due process

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—FORMER Min ister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, has accused agents of Imo State Government of demolishing people’s property without following due process.

Ihenacho who spoke, yesterday, in Amuzi, Dim-NaNume, Nwanele local council area of the state, however, denied that any of his property was affected in the on-going demolitions.

He said: “The proper way of doing things ought to be followed before any person’s property is knocked down.

Notices must be given to property owners. If properties are demolished, there ought to be compensation paid to rightful owners.”

Captain Ihenacho argued that if there was need for the acquisition of anybody’s prop-

erty for the common good of the citizenry, there were processes that must be followed.

“You have to notify such a property owner and tell him why it is being done. You have to make arrangement to compensate whosoever will be af-

fected by the demolition or acquisition,” Ihenacho said.

On the chances of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, reclaiming the Government House, Owerri, Captain Ihenacho said the party had a good chance of actual-

izing it.

“PDP has a great structure and tradition. We are fully on ground. There is a very good chance of our reclaiming the Government House. We are all working very hard towards this goal”, he added.

Itsekiri youths decry selective execution of Amnesty programme

W

ARRI — THE Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC, has accused those saddled with the responsibilities of executing the amnesty programmes (for formally armed youths in the Niger Delta) of bias and mistreatment of Itsekiri beneficiaries.

Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, in a telephone chat, the National President of the Itsekiri youths body, Mr. David Tonwe, lamented that "it has become clear to INYC that there is a deliberate

and orchestrated strategy subtly being executed by some individuals within the bureaucracy of the amnesty office to shortchange Itsekiri youths so that they do not maximally reap the benefits of the programme."

According to the Itsekiri youths leader, "the trepidation of Itsekiri youths is further reinforced by the Amnesty Office's penchant for not making available requisite procedures, and refusal to make available to ben-

eficiaries of Itsekiri extraction the relevant documents for processing their visas."

Tonwe noted that given the statement credited to Mr. Kingsley Kuku that the programme wwould end by 2015, "the delaying tactics employed by the office will definitely cause majority of Itsekiri beneficiaries not to participate in the training programmes if something is not done urgently."

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Alder Social Media Report calls for participation

NCC plans bids for broadband licenses

A

zCTO tasks Nigeria

BY EMEKA AGI-

NAM, PRINCE OSUAGWU & EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

BUJA—EXECUTIVE Vice-Chairman, EVC, of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, yesterday, announced plans to open bids for broadband licenses next month, just as the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization, CTO, also challenged Nigeria to actualise its newly-drawn Broadband Action Plan which may then become a model other Commonwealth countries can adopt.

Addressing a world press conference to herald the 2013 annual CTO conference in Abuja, Secretary-General of the organization, Prof Tim Unwin, said that with its human, natural and skill potentials, Nigeria should by now have become the role model which other countries would copy to develop their economies.

According to Unwin, much as the drawing of broadband action plan recently by Nigeria is a positive development in itself, it may amount to nothing if adequate and practical implementation does not follow up.

His words: “The benefit of broadband is best appreciated when it is made available to where it can be used to develop sectors like health, education and others. But this can not be achieved without collaborations. I think Nigeria’s broadband development needs multi-sectoral collaboration. Your broadband plan should be such that other countries could copy from, if you get it right. We have to move from rhetorics to action. It is easy to write action plans but getting practical action into the plan is where the job really is.”

Giving insight into how adequate action could be injected into the plan, Unwin advised that new business models to drive broadband development should be developed adding that collaboration with every sector that would need broadband services is also key.

C M Y

BRIEFING: From left: Lolia Emakpore, Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC and Professor Tim Unwin, Secretary-General of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization, CTO, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja to announce CTO Forum 2013. Photo by Emeka Aginam.

Cash crunch in PTDF over outstanding N57 bn vote zCan’t pay workers’ salaries, fund scholarships

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, weekend, said that the Federal Government was owing it a total of N57 billion appropriated for it in the 2013 budget, saying the development had negatively affected the agency such that it was already owing two months workers salaries.

Similarly, the agency said it had temporarily suspended funding of scholarships for students under its responsibility until the Federal Ministry of Finance releases the said amount.

PTDF Executive Secretary, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, who disclosed this to the Senator Emmanuel Paulker–led Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), during the committee’s oversight tour of the agency’s projects, regretted that his organisation was owing its workers two months salaries, due to the cash crunch arising from unpaid N57 billion.

The development, he added, had also made the agency not to offset the required financial bills of many of the students enjoying its scholarships in various universities abroad.

Oluleye reminded the Senate committee that multi-billion dollar statutory “signature bonus” payments have been withheld from PTDF over the years.

“PTDF is not the one people used to know in the past. It is now a different PTDF without funds.

“We (PTDF) have managed to keep the scholarship students afloat and I have had to travel to some of the schools to explain the challenges and they (foreign universities) have been very understanding,” he said.

He added: “PTDF cannot pay salaries. We only managed to pay junior staff. If funds are not released, within the next two months beginning from this month, we may close shop.”

He disclosed that his agency had written severally for the release of the debt but regretted that all had been without success.

The agency’s budget performance report for the period, January - August, 2013 made available to newsmen showed that PTDF, in its “Income” category of N70,991,361,152 budgeted for the 2013 fiscal year, only N13,751,331,413.06 has so far been released to the agency resulting in a dismal 19.37 % budget performance.

In the “Expenditure” category, for Capital Projects, N45, 796,132,227.44 (budgeted), N4,997,709,140.53 (released) 10.91 % budget performance.

Capital Programmes, N18,718,034,101.07 (budgeted), N5,232,492,258.43 (released) 27.95 %. budget performance. Personnel emoluments, N4,693, 500,000 (budgeted), N2,880,833,143.38 (released) 61.38 % budget performance.

Other Overhead Costs, N1, 636,950,000.00 (budgeted), N517,091,853.95 (released).

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Up-

stream), Emmanuel Paulker, faulted PTDF’s bankruptcy claims on the grounds that the PTDF has shrouded in secrecy its portfolio investments and other sources of income. The management board of the PTDF present at the occasion all denied the allegation.

Senator Paulker faulted the anticipatory budgeting practice of the PTDF, saying the practice was criminal and negated the procurement Act. He said:”What happened to your investments and portfolio?

You cannot say because signature bonuses have not been paid, you are suddenly broke and cannot pay salaries and fund scholarship abroad. I think it is an indictment on the PTDF and you are being economical with the truth.”

LDER Consulting, a Creative Intelligence Company is set to introduce another landmark report - the Alder Social Media Report, ASMR. The Alder Social Media Report is a presentation of Nigeria’s most impactful and innovative social media brands (corporate, government, institutional and personal).

The comprehensive report will feature articles and analyses from local and international contributors.

The polls have commenced and the final report is due in December, 2013. The organisers said they are calling on the public to participate in the polls.

Nigeria wins right to host AFRIMA

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FTER months of intensive deliberations, history was made as Nigeria eventually emerged as the winner of the hosting right of the maiden edition of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA. The decision was reached, weekend, by the International Committee of AFRIMA with members drawn from different parts of Africa.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference, AFRIMA’s Brand Communication and Sponsorship Director, South Africa’s Matlou Tsotetsi, said Nigeria was selected to host the much expected pan- African music award among four other countries- Gabon, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013 — 15

Labour doubts FG's resolve to hold national confab

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

K

ADUNA—NA TIONAL Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, yesterday, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to resolve the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, crisis and the internal wrangling in People’s Democratic Party, PDP, questioned the capacity of the administration to organize a national conference.

President Jonathan will inaugurate the advisory committee on the national dialogue today, The union in a statement through its General Secretary, Issa Aremu, insisted two national issues that added to the existing national security challenge in the recent time were the ongoing ASUU strike which has crippled academic activities in public university system since June 1, and internal crisis within the President’s ruling PDP. Aremu who is also a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said: “If the President, his men and women cannot resolve the university crisis given the existing country’s robust labour laws and rich collective bargaining and dialogue traditions, what trust can the nation put on the administration to handle a national conversation."

CNPP slams PDP over crisis

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—THE Conference of Nigeria Political Party, CNPP, has described the lingering crisis rocking the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as a major source of ridicule and embarrassment for democracy in Nigeria.

Benue State Chairman of the CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan who stated this, yesterday, while fielding questions from newsmen in Makurdi said: “The PDP is ridiculing and embarrassing our nation in the international community with their lingering high profile crisis.

Sometimes I wonder if those at the centre of the show of shame in the various states and the party’s headquarters ever look beyond their noses."

Why I agreed to settle out of court —Suntai

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—AILING Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, yesterday, explained why he agreed to withdraw the court action he instituted against the Speaker and members of the Taraba State House of Assembly for refusing to allow him to resume duties as Governor after his return from medical treatment abroad.

In a statement he issued through his lawyer, Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, the Governor, who was persuaded to allow his deputy to pilot the affairs of the state pending his full recovery from injuries sustained from a plane crash last year, said he was prevailed upon to terminate hearing on the suit to allow peace to reign in the state.

The Governor, who has been out of office for over eleven months, maintained that contrary to media reports that he was the one that begged for an out-ofcourt settlement, he said it was members of the Taraba State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, who were all joined as defendants in the suit, that pleaded for an amicable resolution of the dispute without recourse to the judiciary.

He said it was incumbent on him to correct the misrepresentation of the ongoing settlement process as had been largely reported in the media, saying “this release is to clear this legal fog and state the correct position.”

According to the statement, Izinyon said at the resumed hearing of the suit seeking the restoration of executive powers to Suntai, counsel to the defendants, urged him to allow the matter to be settled out of court, a request he said was accordingly acceded to by the Governor.

“As counsel it behooves us to inform the court of the development and not to hide this fact from

the court despite the pending ruling. This is what we did on the said day of September 30, 2013.”

He said Suntai was “embarrassed by the gloomy picture and false representation that he initiated the settlement moves whereas it was orchestrated by the defendants. This stand is not correct and

It will be recalled that Suntai had last month instituted an action against the Speaker and members of the Taraba State House of Assembly for refusing to allow him resume duties as Governor after his return from medical treatment.

COMMISSIONING: From left: Interim Management Officer, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Kano State, Alhaji Labaran Jazuli, Director, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Kano State, Alhaji Uba Mohammed Sani; Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Education, Alhaji Audi Abdulkadiri Adamu, Regional Supply Chain Director (North), Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, NBC, Mallam Aliyu Paiko, and a student of Panshekera Primary School, at the commissioning of the renovated and equipped blocks of six classrooms and donation of back-to-school materials to 3,500 students by NBC in Kano.

Elders' silence worsened Taraba crisis —Group

J

cannot be correct as a plaintiff claim is an apotheosis of his grievances as a plaintiff, and he lacks any moral justification to beckon on defendants for settlement as if he is using the court’s instrument as shield to achieve his aim,”

ALINGO—ELDERS of Taraba State have been warned that their continued silence in the face of ongoing political stalemate is encouraging some few individuals to hold the state to ransom by attempting to rule by proxy.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, the General Secretary of a political group, the Taraba Justice Forum, Mr. John Ambulus said: “The silence of many top leaders like General TY Danjuma and others is lending credence to all manners of insinuations of complicity in the hostage-like conflict."

He appealed to elders of the state to stop the current conspiracy of silence and act to secure negotiated settlement in the political stalemate in the state. “ The undenied reports of collusion to rule by proxy and the strange prolonged silence are sources of worries and anxiety for us and many Tarabians. We are still not convinced that elders of repute being fingered in the evil operations of the cabal, are actually complicit," he said.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

N

IGERIA runs on paradoxes. We can not ignore them as we impress it on all sides contending for the future of Nigeria that it is impossible to change Nigeria without discussing the directions of the future.

For more than three decades, the most frequently mouthed solution to Nigeria’s woes has been a national conference. The agenda remain the preserve of those, who promote it. They claim Nigeria was built on constitutional structures that put so much power at the centre without considering the fragility of foundations that bear the weight.

The interpretations should not be viewed in isolation. Nigerians are not new to talks, from constitutional conferences under Britain to domestic constitutional conferences, the last being the one of Gen. Sani Abacha’s in 1995. The Justice Oputa Panel that President Olusegun Obasanjo set up 12 years ago, to examine rights violations through Nigeria’s history, was another effort to get Nigerians to discuss their country.

Contending forces used the platforms to

Let’s talk, time runs foist their interests and themselves on Nigeria. The country has been the worse for the consistent advancement of personal interests, under the cloak of sectional concerns.

One of the paradoxes of Nigeria is the concentration on personal opinion to the point of stone deafness to other views. How can we talk when we set off refusing to listen to each other? How could we have spent many decades professing that the future of Nigeria laid in discussing how we should live together, yet we attack suggestions that we should talk?

Some are questioning the motive. Others are condemning the timing. We guess that the most important opposition is founded on the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan is calling the conference. We should not con-

demn the move for the sake of maintaining our stance as opposition.

A nation has opportunities to improve itself. Once they are wasted, what the opposition parades as patriotism would over time be seen for its worth, if any. We have been through that, and we should not repeat ourselves.

Nigeria missed a great opportunity in January 1967 when the events that cascaded to a crisis that torn the country apart failed to impress it on the leaders that negotiations, talks, discussions, contemplations about Nigeria’s future were more important than what they wanted for themselves.

The failure of our leaders to implement the 1967 Aburi Accord, which each side gave a different interpretation, was possibly the greatest single factor that led to the civil war.

Nigeria lost the chance of setting off without the challenges of managing oil and its intractable distractions.

We are better off negotiating Nigeria than wallowing in disagreements over our future.

Time is running out on Nigeria and selfish leaders.

OPINION

BY ORAKWUE CHIKELUE

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O matter for how long he will be denied credit by detractors Mr. Peter Obi brought certain kind of panache to governance. The peace and tranquility evident in the state today are as a result of his personality. Anambra is no more a theatre of the absurd where the baboon and monkey are in a show of might. Where godfather intervention in her politics wasted years of achievable goals.

I once travelled to one of the countries in the West Coast. While seated with other friends one of my hosts struck a discussion on political development in Anambra State. Although he cannot be called Obi’s supporter by any stretch of the imagination, he nonetheless expressed his happiness that his state has ceased to be in the news for the wrong reason. He told us of how his colleagues from neigbouring states in the South East Nigeria always taunted him about the fractious nature of politics in Anambra. How it will be difficult for Anambra State to experience genuine leadership because of intractable political violence. How an average Anambra person is difficult to lead. That the state would need an application of force to govern.

He confessed his discomfort but was convinced that a day shall come when somebody who understands the politics of the state would emerge to lead them without applying force. He reminded us that he did not pray about it even for one day since he knew that day was nigh. All what the person C M Y K

What Anambra State will miss more in Obi needed, according to him, was to be sufficient unto himself and to be possessed of humility.

He was therefore grinning from ear to ear on being told of the Governor ’s good works, especially in developing all sectors of the economy without strangulating the state with debt. Although he was not altogether without information on developments back home but appeared more interested in the peace in the state. He asked about the magic through which the Governor achieved the feat. How he was able to decapitate the monster of political opportunism in the state. How, for example, he was able to wriggle out of the way of uncouth political thugs who have kept the state down for as long as they did. I appreciated his interest for I know that such a feat could not be achieved through any other means except by deft statecraft. He was eager to know. He asked if there was formal meeting by the Governor with all the trouble makers where he pleaded or bribed them to give his administration a breather? To this I declined knowledge. Like him, all we know and which is also public knowledge to everyone in the state, that political violence has gradually receded in the last six years.

The Governor brought his peaceful nature to bear on those who would rather die than see the state progress. The common principle of life which also finds expression in the Holy writ is that peacemakers shall be called sons of God. It goes without

saying that all those who had lived from the political confusion in the state had to sheath their sword when a peacemaker mounted the throne. I gathered from those close to power that the man rarely moves in unnecessary convoy of cars. He prefers to travel light. From the source i understood that if any of his convoy drivers, out of recklessness of power, hits a passerby that driver must stop pick up the victim to a hospital and defray the expenses. It does not end there he will also go on suspension before returning to his job. This, in addition to so many disciplined approach to government and governance, has ensured that Anambra is peaceful and progressing.

The fear in the minds of everybody in the disposition of his successor. Will he be able to maintain the status quo? Or will there be a relapse soon after? This is one of the major reasons why it is important that Ndi Anambra should cast their votes wisely. The state is sure to tip if material consideration becomes the deciding factor on November 16th. Hard work as well as discipline in the successor should be the watch word. The state cannot afford another kalu- kalu! Anambra ...adibago nma nye aka, through your vote, ka odi nma!

*Mr Chikelue, a political scientist, wrote from Abagana, Anambra State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—41

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42 — Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 7, 2013

Libyan govt queries US Commando raid in Tripoli L

IBYA has called for an explanation after the US snatched a man it alleges is an al-Qaeda leader during a raid in Tripoli.

Ali Zeidan, Libya’s prime minister, suggested on Sunday that his government was not informed of the plan before US commandos seized Nazih AbdulHamed al-Ruqai, known

by his alias Anas alLiby, in the Libyan capital on Saturday.

“The Libyan government is following the news of the kidnapping of a Libyan citizen who is wanted by US authorities,” Zeidan said in a statement. “The Libyan government has contacted US authorities to ask them to provide an explanation.”

Liby is wanted by the US for his alleged role in the East Africa embassy bombings that killed 224 people in 1998. The US had offered $5m for information leading to his capture.

US special forces snatched a top Al-Qaeda suspect in Libya and stormed a Shebab leader’s home in Somalia in daring twin raids, as

Washington pledged to do everything possible to track down terror suspects.

In Libya, authorities demanded an explanation of what they called the “kidnap” on Saturday of Abu Anas al-Libi, a long-sought Al-Qaeda operative indicted in connection with the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanza-

nia.

In Somalia, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said its cooperation with foreign partners in the fight on terror was “no secret” after US Navy SEAL commandos stormed the home of a leader of the country’s AlQaeda-linked Shebab militants in the southern port of Barawe on Saturday.

That raid — the success of which was still unclear, with the fate of the target uncertain — came after last month’s bloody militant siege of an upscale shopping mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi that left 67 people dead.

“We hope that this makes clear that the United States of America will never stop in its effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror,” Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday during a visit to the Indonesian island of Bali.

The action should also make clear that “those members of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations literally can run, but they can’t hide,” said Kerry, speaking during a break from meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

No US personnel were killed or injured in either operation, officials said.

Several Shebab militants were killed in the Somalia raid, one official said.

Violence mars Egypt’s war anniversary celebrations

A

T least 28 people have been killed in violence in Egypt as anticoup protesters take to the streets on the 40th anniversary of an Egyptian attack on Israeli forces.

Khaled Al Khatib, a Health Ministry official, confirmed 15 of the deaths on Sunday. Seven of those were killed in Ramses Square in Cairo while a further 94 people were injured in clashes throughout the country.

Later, Reuters news agency increased the figure to 28, citing state news agency MENA quoting the Health Ministry as a source.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry announced as night fell that 300 anti-military rule protesters were arrested thoughout the day.

Police fired tear gas and

shots into the air to disperse anti-coup crowds who were trying to make their way to Tahrir Square, where thousands of pro-military Egyptians were gathered to mark the anniversary of the assault on Israeli forces in the Sinai Peninsula during the 1973 war.

In Delga, south of Cairo, medical sources told Reuters news agency that police shot live rounds into a crowd of stone-throwing portesters, killing one man.

Skirmishes were reported around Cairo, including in Garden City and the Nile Corniche, as security forces prevented anti-coup marchers from getting within less than one kilometre of Tahrir Square.

Iraqi suicide blasts claim 33 lives

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EADLY attacks in Iraq killed at least 33 people on Sunday, including a dozen children slain when a suicide bomber detonated the explosives-laden car he was driving near their elementary school in the north of the country, officials said.

The attacks are the latest in a relentless wave of killing that has made for Iraq’s deadliest outburst of violence since 2008. The mounting death tolls are raising fears that the country is falling back into the spiral of violence that brought it to the edge of civil war in the years after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Sunday’s blasts began around 9:30 a.m. in the Shiite Turkomen village of Qabak, just outside the town of Tal Afar. The area around the stricken village has long been a hotbed for hard-to-rout Sunni insurgents and a corridor for extremist fighters arriving from nearby Syria.

One car bomb in the tiny village targeted an elementary school while children ages 6 to 12 were in class as another struck a nearby police station, Tal Afar mayor Abdul Aal al-Obeidi said.

The dead included 12 children, the school principal and two policemen.

Another 90 people were wounded, he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—43

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44—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

What Kokori leaders told Uduaghan about Kelvin, kidnap kingpin •How villagers once arrested Kelvin; •Why they did not report him anymore to the pol

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South

S

ECRET meeting over Kelvin: Few months before Kelvin Oniarah, the kidnap kingpin that terrorized Delta State and other states in the South-South and South-East regions was rounded up, Sep-

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tember 25, by a joint team of Department of State Services, DSS and Nigerian Army, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who had been providing logistics for the manhunt for kidnappers in the state, summoned the leaders of Kokori community, the country home of the gangster, to a meeting in War-

ri.

The closed-door meeting was necessitated by intelligence information that Kokori people were shielding the notorious criminal from arrest by security agents. Motorcyclists purportedly on his payroll usually gave him information regarding enquiries about him and movement of security agents, while the residents maintained they knew nothing about him.

There was no official statement at the end of the meeting, but was manifest was that there was no information on Kelvin, and the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel State Security Uduaghan Council authorized the police to destroy the homes it was possible, they would and kidnap cells of the crimi- have arrest himed, but Kelvin nal and his accomplices in does not stay in Kokori.

Kingpin once arrested and Kokori, which was carried out in April. No commu- handed over to police: “On my nity leader said any- own, I wondered how they want thing publicly about the people to arrest the man that was doing all the things that I the gathering.

Few days after read in the newspapers and Kelvin was arrested, hear on television without arms.

Governor Udu- Anyway, I was told that there aghan, apparently was a time the community apbitter about the sup- prehended Kelvin and handed port given Kelvin by him over to the police at Isiokowomen who gath- lo Police Station. He was taken ered at a primary to headquarters of the Police school in Kokori, Command in Asaba, but he was where he infamous- released few days after.

"The people also saw a ly gave government a 60-day ultimatum, strange car parked somewhere September 17, in the community and reported lashed out at the to the police, few hours later, the women and commu- vehicle was released. They told nity leaders for their the governor all these in the presence of the Commissioner sense of judgment.

What Uduaghan of Police, and with these kind asked Kokori peo- of things, nobody was ready to ple: President-gen- stick out his neck.”

A lawyer told Vanguard that eral of the community, Mr. G.S Avbunu- the offence, which Kelvin was diogba, spoke to arrested at a time was not strong Vanguard on enough to reign him in, as the phone, Thursday, on charge against him was watery, what really tran- adding, “He, however, grew spired between the from a small criminal to the stagovernor and lead- tus he was before he was recenters of Kokori. He ly arrested.” also explained how the villagers arrest- Not everybody ed Kelvin in the past knows him and handed him over to the police Told that the release of Kelvin and why his uncere- at a time by security agents afmonious release de- ter he was arrested was not terred them from do- enough reason for the commuing anything fur- nity leaders to give the goverthermore about nor, who is the chief security Kelvin for fear of be- officer of the state, useful inforing killed. mation when he summoned On the meeting of them, the president general Governor Uduaghan said, “The truth is that it is not and Kokori leaders, everybody that knows Kelvin.

Avbunudiogba said, He does not stay here, he "When the governor comes in at night and leaves the invited some people next morning. In most cases to Warri, he was ask- when you hear he came, before ing them about you would get there, he is gone.

Kelvin, they told “He comes in and moves out; him they had been nobody knows who he is as hearing of him, but such even though they hear they do not know about him on television. Nohim and that is the body can say that he has the truth. Even I who is number of Kelvin, so it was not speaking to you now, easy for us to arrest I have been hearing him. Regarding the press conof Kelvin but I do not ference, nobody knew Kelvin know him. He (gov- was going to address the press ernor) told them that on that day or issue any ultithey have to arrest matum. As the president genContinues on page 51 and bring him, but if

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—45

Imperatives of a sovereign national confab (2)

Re- time to ponder (2)

BY ONYEBUCHI NWALUGWU

I

T

Map of Nigeria showing ethnic nationalities Col. Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu prosecuted on the side of Biafra. The scars of that war are still evident. The south-east geopolitical zone is deliberately the only zone with five states while others have six with the NorthWest having seven states.

So far, it is evident that no result of census conducted in the country has ever been accepted across the board. Census results have always been disputed because of suspicion emanating from ethnicity.

Control and allocation of fiscal revenue has been a source of perpetual controversy and rancor since the abrogation of the 1963 Republican Constitution by the Nigerian military. The Niger Delta region of the Nigerian federation has been consistent in her demand for resource control. Lots of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and such other related crimes are taking place in the region to the detriment of the Nigerian state probably because their demand has not been given the attention it deserves.

The question of ‘indigeneship and settlers’ has continued to raise a lot of dust and acrimony in such places as Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna and even Nasarawa.

,

We should avoid the type of wastage of national resources which the country embarked upon in 2005when ex President Olusegun Obasanjo squandered more than N913m

almost entirely Igbo initiated and executed. In the dark wee hours of July 29, 1966, northern soldiers, led by Major Theophilus Danjuma, came up with a counter coup in which Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed. Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon became Head of State and Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces. More than thirty-two senior Army officers of Eastern Nigerian extraction were equally killed in that coup. But what became strange and worrisome was the ethnic cleansing of easterners living in the north, who were mainly innocent defenceless civilians, including pregnant women and infants.

This pogrom culminated in the Nigerian/Biafran war, which Lt.

,

The consequences of this distortion have been uncountably costly in terms of human lives and property. As a result of the above inconsistencies, Nigeria has continued to nose-dive into a state of socio-econo-political disequilibrium. The inevitable aftermath of these realities is that Nigeria, despite the abundance of her material and human resources, continuously fails to attain the height commensurate with her endowment.

Is it any wonder then that internationally-acclaimed wise men and jurists such as Prof. Ben Nwabueze, the late Chief Rotimi Williams, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, Prof. Pat Utomi, Messrs Yinka Odumakin, Fred Agbaje, Chief

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Prof. Wole Soyinka have been conscientizing the Nigerian leadership on the necessity for a sovereign national conference. Not too long ago, the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babatunde Fashola, made bold to ‘repatriate’ some Nigerians of Igbo extraction whom his government adjudged to be economically unfit to reside in Lagos to their home state of Anambra. This development is capable of escalating the time-held suspicion between the Igbo and the Yoruba.

Total reflection For Nigerians to be gathered again to discuss the Nigerian question without allowing their resolutions to have the effect of law and as being the total reflection of the people’s wish, would regrettably amount to avoidable deceit of the Nigerian people and unwarranted frittering of the Nation’s dwindling financial fortunes. We should avoid the type of wastage of national resources which the country embarked upon in 2005 when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo squandered more than N913m in what he referred to as National Political Reform Conference, which was headed by Rtd. Justice Nike Tobi and which amounted to nothing.

A sovereign National Conference will afford the people of Nigeria the much needed opportunity to correct the falsehood inherent in the statement that the people of Nigeria were responsible for the making of the constitution when, as a matter of truth, the constitution was the making of the Nigerian Military. As Nigeria marks her 53rd independence anniversary, we should see this occasion as auspicious enough to boldly and patriotically answer Sonny Okosun’s poser; ‘Which way Nigeria?’

•Chief (Sir) Don Ubani, KSC, JP, a political analyst and civil society activcist, is the Okwubunka of Asa, Umuiku-Isi-Asa Autonomous Community, UkwaWest L.G.A. P.M.B. 7048, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

Concluded

,

BY DON UBANI HE leadership tussle for control of Western region between Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Akintola in the First Republic, had metamorphosed into an unprecedented catastrophic dimension. Many people, including the innocent, lost their lives in the most primitive and brutal manner. The Western region became known as the ‘Wild West’ because of extremity of inhumanity. While the West was in flame, some young officers of the Nigerian Army, mainly of the Igbo extraction and led by Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, who felt worried by an alleged indifference of the Prime Minister; Sir Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa, to the carnage that the West had become, staged a coup d’etat in which many notable Northern statesmen were killed. The same affected the West. Though the coup which took place on January 15, 1966 did not succeed, it ended up ushering in the military into the governance of Nigeria. The most senior Nigerian military commander at that time; Major-General Thomas Umunnakwe AguiyiIronsi, who though was not privy to the coup, became the first military Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The North, naturally, did not take kindly to the killing of her leaders in a coup d’etat that was

This is the concluding instalment of this piece which was first published on Friday.

N 1947, Ali Jinnah estab lished a sovereign state for Muslims and called it Pakistan.

This bold action led to tremendous economic and technological breakthrough for India, as today India produces aircraft and is one of the major exporters of computers as well as a leading nation in the field of Mathematics. On the other hand Pakistan cohesively practices her legal system and religion in accordance with her faith and ideology peacefully and unfettered The dwindling economy, insecurity, inflation, unemployment and the raising of people’s legitimacy, peoples right, peoples will over and above unintelligible and incoherent argument of the few elite which never favour the masses anywhere, forced Czechoslovakia into serious appraisal of the state of their nation in the 19908s. They removed the toga

have never achieved nor any African country.

Nigerian elite obstinately or pretentiously, because of their personal pecuniary considerations, complacently or arrogantly say that Nigerian unity is settled and that what held us together is more than that which divide us. Others will argue that our beauty is in our size. This writer considers these points facile ones as they lack deep thought backed up by preponderance ideas.

•Is it social values that held us together, where one believes that western education is evil (haram) and the other believes that western education is life?

•Is it ancestry, where one is a descendant of Ishmael, which the Bible recorded clearly as separated from descendant of Jacob.

•Is it geography? Where naturally one zone is a desert and the other a rain forest.

•Is elephant the best of animals?

Before the breaking up of Sudan into Sudan and Southern Sudan, the per capita income of the old Sudan was $1,450 in 2008

of pretence and faced reality.

They met in Bratislava and interestingly agreed to dissolve Czechoslovakia peacefully, in 1991 and the southern part became Slovakia. Today all the economic indices coming from the resultant countries, show that they are far better off as neighbours than as one nation.

Also when the legitimacy of Marxims/Leninism outlived its usefulness and relevance as our amalgamation appears to have outstayed its welcome, the long decades of cold war expressed in suspicion between the NATO and the then USSR ended on December 25, 1991, when the Soviet Union was dissolved amicably too.

Economic activities The 15 nations cramped together in that union became sovereign states and can now unleash their full potentials. This reduced the threat to world peace and increased economic activities and the subsequent GDP growth of the world. Before the breaking up of Sudan into Sudan and Southern Sudan, the per capita income of the old Sudan was $1,450 in 2008. Immediately after the break up, the per capita income of Sudan rose to $1,580 with that of Southern Sudan being $862 in 2012. If one totals the two it amount to $2,312, a total they

,

•Others further opine that allowing Nigeria to break will lead to many villages asking for sovereign nations. This argument does not hold water because Sudan is a recent working example and the Igbos existed as a sovereign nation cohesively for 30 months. Pretence is very costly and the worst ruinous thing to engage in.

Now that the president in his independence broadcast of October 1, 2013 appears to be caving in for a national discourse, by constituting a committee to work out the modalities, it is said that anything worth doing is worth doing well, referendum that will give every Nigerian an opportunity to decide about his nation along the following alternatives is recommended.

•One tight federation with a strong centre (yes) or (no) •A true federalism with weak centre and state police (yes) or (no) •Dissolution into five or six sovereign nations with ethnic groups alignments (yes) or (no) The voting should be supervised by UN and financed by the present executive. No cost will be too much to build a nation. Over to you and let the debate go on.

Onyebuchi Nwalugwu, a media consultant wrote from 27, Asokoro, Abuja

Concluded

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

•Aguariavwodo: PDP

•Emerhor: APC

•Dafinone: DPP

•Osawota: LP

Delta Central bye-election: Candidates flaunt ties with late Ewherido A good name is better than riches and it is not surprising that all the major candidates in this weekend’s senatorial bye-election in Delta Central are flaunting their association with the deceased Senator Pius Ewherido

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N their bid to win the Octo ber 12 bye-election in Delta Central senatorial district, Delta State, some of the candidates have put on display their relationship with the late Senator Pius Ewherido, whose demise, June 30, created the vacant seat they are vying for.

I inherited Ewherido's political structure -Emerhor The All Progressives Party, APC, candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, had told all who cared to listen that he inherited the political structure of the late Ewherido and so, he is the candidate to beat in the election.

He visited the Ewu country home of Ewherido, in Ughelli South Local Government, weekend, with political associates and met with his family.

The candidate told reporters in Effurun few days ago, “I inherited the formidable political platform that was held by our late Senator and brother, Ewherido of blessed memory.

He developed this platform, PDM, and combined it with the half of the DPP, which he took out of the existing DPP. I can

tell you that the political machinery is versatile, well spread and touches everywhere in the eight local government areas.”

“So, when you put it in perspective, you are taking three legacy parties, ANPP, ACN, CPC, that have structures in Delta Central, more than half of DPP and my good will and good name to it, sympathy of our departed Senator, who built a structure, I tell you, I am the candidate to beat,” he said.

Two months ago, the political family of the late Ewherido, reportedly endorsed Emerhor as

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BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South & FESTUS AHON

group.

Delta Central is DPP enclaveDafinone Democratic People Party, DPP, senatorial candidate, Chief Ede Dafinone, regarded as the ‘Barracks Obama’ of Delta Central politics, who lost the 2011 primaries narrowly to Ewherido by 17 votes, told newsmen that the late Ewherido was his friend and they remained friend until he died.

Dafinone said, however, that the victory of Ewherido in the April 2011 election was not by his political sagacity, but the

Dafinone said, however, that the victory of Ewherido in the April 2011 election was not by his political sagacity, but the political power of the party’s leader, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, who the people of Delta Central have taken as their political pathfinder their choice for the Senate. The decision to endorse Emerhor was reached at a meeting of the group, which took place at the Senatorial office of the late Senator in Effurun, Delta State, on Friday July 26, with hundreds of members of the group, led

by Dr. Lucky Otegheri, who is the director-general of the

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political power of the party’s leader, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, who the people of Delta Central have taken as their political pathfinder.

His words: “The very sudden passing away of Senator Ewherido was a very big blow to me, DPP, Deltans and the entire country. Undoubtedly,

Map of Delta State the track records of DPP in the last election clearly showed that our greatest strength is in Delta Central. Through our leader, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, we were victorious in the senatorial election, which led to the victory of Senator Pius Ewherido in the April 2011 election.”

I'm from Ewherido's constituency- Aguariavwodo PDP candidate, Olorogun Aguariavwodo, who described the late Ewherido as “a legislative lion and fearless defender of the Urhobo people and all oppressed everywhere”, assured the people of Delta Central that he would continue and improve on the dreams of the late Ewherido for Urhobo people.

While he is from Okpare, the

late Ewherido is from Ewu both of them from Ughelli South, and the PDP had tactically resolved that the Ughelli South, Ughelli North and Udu Federal Constituency in Delta Central, which both Aguariavwodo and Ewherido come from, should produce Ewherido’s successor.

DPP’s Dafinone, who is from Sapele, Uvwie and Okpe Federal Constituency, read the game plan, and said, “I am sure Urhobo would see nothing wrong with the Senator coming from another constituency, I would be a Senator of not myself, my constituency , but every constituency , clans in Urhobo land and even beyond.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—47

These governors should respect the president — Nwuche appropriate the name of the party and put up a flag. That is anarchy.

Therefore, the police intervention is justifiable and should be commended because what they have done is to prevent a breakdown of law and order because those people who are in the majority can decide to go and confront those people who are with their flag somewhere else. You can imagine what will happen in that situation.

On the Rivers State crisis, I think the crisis is internal and it has to do with the stakeholders of the PDP in the state who felt aggrieved at the manner of governance and lack of communication by those who are in power.

Erstwhile Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, famed as The Tiger in his time in the House between 1999 and 2003, was the Acting Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the recently dissolved National Working Committee, NWC. Nwuche in this interview reviews the issues that have recently bestirred the polity nay, the PDP and proffers his solutions.Excerpts:

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HAT is your reaction to the factionalisation of your party?

As far as I’m concerned, there is no faction in PDP because Nigerians were witnesses to the very colourful and massively attended convention where every state in Nigeria was represented. So, if a few people felt disgruntled and decided to create an impression of a split by walking out, I think it is not consequential.

In a family as big as ours, if certain persons walk out, even though they may be governors, to me, it doesn’t affect the family because it’s a big family. PDP is a party that has come to stay.

I want to also caution that those who don’t respect the president are showing disdain for Nigerians. You cannot have the president of a country seated in a convention and you walk out. That was a bad behaviour and Nigerians must tell them off.

Disrespect to the president So, I don’t believe that we have a faction. We have disagreements which the party in its usual manner will solve and people should understand that the PDP has come to stay.

So, you must not show disrespect to the president of a country by walking out because by doing so you offend Nigerians who gave him the mandate. Again, it is also an office that you hope to occupy one day. How will the governors feel if the local government chairmen walked out on them at a ceremony in their states?

They will not like it.

You are saying that their walking out of the national convention shows disrespect to the President...?

Not only to the President but Nigerians as a w h o l e .

Nigerians have a stake in the Presidency because they voted for the president and if Nigerians want him to be president, it should be respected by e v e r y b o d y, including governors.

•Prince Chibudom Nwuche So what sanctions should be applied to party members who should look at and not the issue show such disposition and of where power goes. If power goes to the North or comes to disrespect?

The party constitution the South, there is no guarantee prescribes clear measures. First that a southerner will or a of all, if you tried to form a northerner will benefit under his faction or to split the party, it is own brother’s leadership. There anti-party and the punishment is no guarantee that even the is suspension and expulsion. It masses from there will fare is very clear in the constitution. better. The only guarantee will But in this case, our elders have be if we have the country intervened in the crisis and they restructured and governance have agreed that everybody becomes more meaningful to should sheathe their swords. I the masses and our energies are hope that the agreements will released for production; that is hold and in this instance. We when you can talk about hope that everybody will sit as people’s lives becoming better. a family, but we should also learn the lessons that in the Power future, we should not try to split shift the party unnecessarily.

What is your reaction to But to talk about power shift, claim by some from the North I think those arguments are that the president should not simplistic on the surface as to seek another term in office? who takes power or gets power.

There is nothing to talk about The issue is what will power be there. All I can say is let us think used for? What we need now is about the country. Let us to talk about our problems. We address more fundamental have been a country for almost issues. I don’t think that where a century. In every index that power goes to is important. you choose, we haven’t fared What is important is the quality very well. Why is that? Those of governance and what is also are the issues that we should important, which we mustn’t talk about. Those are what forget in this whole stampede should occupy the minds of the is the issue of our structure. Our elite and not the issue of structure is faulty and must be whether power should go to the addressed. It is a hindrance to North. our progress. That is what we

Primary fuel for the crisis

What is your reading of the crisis in Rivers?

First of all, I would like to talk about the issue of the police sealing the secretariat of the socalled nPDP. I think that they should commend the police because they are doing a marvellous job in protecting lives and property because if the

That is the primary fuel for this crisis. Whatever else that happened can be an addition to it but that is the primary cause of the problem in Rivers State. No matter how popular a governor is, he cannot be in every local government at a time. There are stakeholders who worked for him to become governor of the state and it is only a matter of honour that when you get to a position, you should consult those who worked for you to get there. That is the idea of politics. They all have followers who anticipate that they should have an input in governance. But where only

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BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

You must not show disrespect to the president of a country by walking out because by doing so you offend Nigerians who gave him the mandate. Again, it is also an office that you hope to occupy one day. How will the governors feel if the local government chairmen walked out on them at a ceremony in their states?

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members of the old PDP who are like 50 to 1 in proportion, if not 100 to 1, decide to confront the nPDP in the secretariat, there will be mayhem and lives may be lost in the process. So, what the police have done is to avert a crisis by ensuring that the status quo ordered by the court is maintained. If you are 24 Governors in a party with other stakeholders that are over 20 million, and you say some of you have left, you can’t

one man governs a state by himself after you have secured a joint victory, it’s a recipe for the kind of issues they have in the state.

Do you not think it is one of the major causes of the crisis in the PDP? It is major in the media. It is not major in my state. I’m from Rivers State and people are going about their businesses.

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

D

URING the celebration of Nigeria’s

53rd independence anniversary, Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, remarked about what he called “distortion” of Nigeria’s history, which I found interesting. He said he did not see the point in celebrating Nigeria’s centenary. Here are his words according to media reports: “For me, Nigeria was born as an independent sovereign nation on the first of October, 1960. Perhaps, she was conceived in 1914, but as we race towards (the first 100 years) it is important not to distort history. I would seek better understanding, better explanation by those who are behind the centenary celebration because if we rolled out the drums three years ago to celebrate 50 years of Nigeria’s nationhood, Independence we fought for, people went to jail for, what then is this centenary suddenly about?

“I don’t remember as a child ever coming out at amalgamation day and suddenly, how did we get to 100?”

I can make out two points of disputation here by the learned Senior Advocate.

Number one: As Nigeria never celebrated Amalgamation Day, Fashola does not see the point in celebrating 100 years of the Amalgamation. Number two: He does not seem to agree that the years before our independence can count as part of our nationhood, since Nigeria was still under colonial domination.

I will start by observing that His Excellency,

Take note Fashola: Nigeria is 100 bearing on our struggle to regain civilian rule from the military. Instead, it was on June 12 (1993) that Nigerians, for the first time in history, overcame their primordial divides and voted for Chief Moshood Abiola, in spite of his Muslim/Muslim ticket. Fashola’s party, which is an offshoot of the June 12 struggle, settled for that date as the genuine Democracy Day, while the Federal Government forced the rest of the nation to mark it on May 29.

There should be no need to question whether Nigeria will be 100 years by January 2014. Nigeria was conceived and born on January 1, 1914. It was from that day that its inhabitants started being known as “Nigerians”. Yes, it was under the imperial rule of the British Crown, the parent nation.

Everything that happened from that day till date is part and parcel of the history of Nigeria. That we did not celebrate Amalgamation Day under the British did

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Nigeria’s first100 years of bitter history can never be wished away, but we can fashion a second 100 years of surge, accomplishments and victory

BR Fashola, is merely engaging in undue rhetoric on this matter. I am not too surprised, though, that he has bones to pick with the centenary celebration idea, which is basically a brainchild of the Federal Government. This is not the first time that Fashola’s political group, which is now the main body of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will be distancing itself from such Federal Government initiative.

We will recall how that school of political thought disagreed with May 29 as the Democracy Day. That day has absolutely no

not take anything from the fact that Nigeria started existing as a political entity from the day it was amalgamated.

I believe that Nigerians should celebrate the centenary of her history. We should mark that day, but without much pomp and colour.

Rather, we should mark it with sobriety and determination to turn a new leaf in the second century. We should see the centenary as a milestone upon which to fashion out a new, better, happier, more equitable, workable and progressive nation to bequeath to ourselves and future generations. We of today must

seize the moment and package a better Nigeria to hand over to our children.

Luckily, we now have the opportunity of a national conference. Let us not fluff it. Let us spend more time, energy and resources to

•Governor Fashola

ensure that this conference spawns a second century Nigeria we can all be proud of than wallowing in uncalled-for celebration of failure, tears and woe. Let us also not treat the moment as if it never existed.

Nigeria’s first100 years of bitter history can never be wished away, but we can fashion a second 100 years of surge, accomplishments and victory.

Umuahia market moves after 75 years

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MUAHIA is one of the least developed state capitals in the country, even though the town itself was one of the earliest created by the British colonial masters, being a major railway town. It is

exactly 22 years old as a state capital. But things are changing rapidly there now.

Chief Theodore Orji, the Governor of Abia State, being from Ibeku, the main landlords of the town, knows he has less than two years to raise the town to befitting status or go back home a villain among the locals and inhabitants of the capital alike. And he is rapidly doing away with the makeshift arrangements of the past. Roads are being constructed within and outside the metropolis. The state High Court complex has been completed, along with the state secretariat and international conference centre. During the 53rd independence celebration, he promised guests at the banquet that by next year, they would be welcomed at the new government house nearing completion at the New Umuahia area.

Momentous development But by far the most momentous development in the city is the relocation of the 75-year-old Main Market at Isi Gate.

This market, as well as the cattle market, sprang up due to the railway facility and helped to define commerce in the city. This writer’s mother once traded in foodstuff there when he was a pre-school tot before the civil war.

The cattle market has since moved on to Ubakala, and from there to Lokpanta on the Enugu – Aba Expressway. All efforts to move the Main Market has been stubbornly resisted.

Governor Orji demonstrated his decision to move this market by embarking on the construction of three modern markets to move the artisans, timber sellers and general merchandise sellers away from the city centre.

Within the next two weeks, the Main Market will cease to exist. It will be brought down to give way to a “green project” that will raise the beauty of the city to a new height.

The allocation of stalls in the 10,000-shed market at Ubani-Umuahia and the 10,000shed timber market near the Government College, is ongoing. Each of these facilities is serviced by motor parks, schools, housing estates and everything that would encourage the growth of new towns outside the city centre. Government has also provided shuttle buses to enable people seamlessly go and come from the new markets.

Crime has already gone down in Umuahia and the traffic snarls are waiting to go. I am glad that the capital of my state of origin, the city in which I was born, is on the move, at last!

OPINION

BY EBOMHIANA MUSA

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Oshiomhole, Madam Odewingie and the lessons

IKE a thief in the night, he walked in quietly and caught everybody napping .Such unscheduled visits are usually devoid of sirens. But for the horde of aides and security personnel, his presence would not have been noticed . Of course, the diminutive frame is his asset as he could easily sneak into anywhere unnoticed. That was the scenario that played out on August 13, 2013 when Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole visited the state staff training centre, venue of the verification exercise for school teachers. It was an exercise embarked upon by the state government to ascertain the quality and quantity of teachers on its pay roll.

It was against the backdrop of the constancy of the number of teachers and their wage bill in the face of regularity of retirements in the state. As a responsible government with zero tolerance for corruption, the Edo State government was worried that the wage bill of pensioners kept on rising while that of the teachers in active service remained constant, yet, there have been no fresh recruitment . Given this scenario, one does not really need to consult an oracle to know that something was wrong somewhere. It was against this background that the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, gave their full backing to the exercise. Revelations from the exercise have proved that, indeed, something fundamental was wrong with the education system in the state, especially at the level of recruitment of teachers. Even those who condemned the exercise as a ploy by government to rationalise teaching staff could not help but to applaud it.

Barely a week into the exercise, the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and critical stakeholders got the first shocker as a primary school teacher with many years teaching experience, Mrs Augusta Odewingie, could not read the

content of an affidavit she purportedly deposed to at a law court. A bewildered Oshiomhole who was apparently enraged at the level of decay in the state education system could not but asked Mrs Odewingie: "If you cannot read, what do you teach pupils? What do you write on the board?" Chairman of the state NUT, Comrade Patrick Ikosimo, who was present as the drama played out was struggling to express himself as he was short of words . He however managed to mutter: "This is an embarrassment and a show of shame".

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t is worthy of note here that there have been an avalanche of media write-ups and commentaries on Madam Odewingie's gaffe . Unfortunately, some print media that ventured to editorialise on it glossed over the fundamental issues. To do proper justice to this, one must get to the root of the problem rather than scratching the surface. In doing this, we must go beyond Madam Odewingie and address the substance. No doubt, Madam Odewingie is a reflection of the rot in our public schools and this goes beyond Edo State. It is a general malaise in our public school system. It is a popular maxim that you cannot give what you do not have. So, to impact knowledge one has to be sufficiently knowledgeable. Madam Odewingie did not employ herself into the state teaching service.

The panel saddled with that exercise should use Madam Odewingie as a case study to get to the root of the problems in our public schools system. The panel should, among others, dig into how she got her certificate, if at all there is any in her file .It should investigate how she found herself into the state teaching service. How has she been able to pull through all these years to remain in service in the face of the series of certificate verifications and rationalisation exercises carried

out by previous governments? This exercise could not have been the first in the 21 years history of Edo State. If the panel could painstakingly beam its searchlight into these areas, it would have ended up doing a yeoman’s job. Officials responsible for the recruitment, promotion and discipline of teachers in the state must be persons of impeccable character who will not look the other way and allow all manner of job seekers to sneak into the teaching service. It could be excused in other sectors but not teaching, because education is the bedrock of any society. Any society that fails to get it right at that level is doomed.

One is therefore not surprised when the Edo State governor vowed to get to the root of the decay in the public school system having invested heavily in education in the last four and a half years. A quantum of the state’s budget goes to education every year and this has reflected in what is generally referred to in the state today as the red roof revolution . Red roof revolution is a conscious effort by the government to make all public schools across the state as good as the best private schools, if not better. These schools roofed with aluminium sheets are complete with floor tiles, ceiling fans, flush windows and steel doors .

In fact, teachers in the state earn more than their counterparts in other sectors of the public service, especially with the recent approval by government for the payment of their special salary package. The reason behind this, according to the Governor, is to attract the best brains into the teaching profession.

*Mr Musa , a public affairs analyst, wrote from Auchi, Edo State.

49

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013 —

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READ the Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie extensive interview in The Guardian of Sunday, September 22, 2013 in which he spoke on the 2015 presidency and the bid by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to seek re-election for a second term in office.

The front page lead story written

by Mr Gbenga Salau flagged down my attention and aroused my interest in the three-page interview. Okogie was, as usual, forthright on the various issues he engaged, but his position with respect to Jonathan’s re-election bid was somewhat disappointing.

Okogie, in a manner of speaking, does not want Jonathan to seek reelection, not because his right to do so is not constitutionally guaranteed, but for the reason that he wants a situation where political agreement, if any, is kept.

The Archbishop emeritus was apparently referring to the socalled one-term pact that Jonathan was said to have signed with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors in 2010 in the build-up to the 2011 presidential primaries of the party.

But the good thing is that he personally did not believe that Jonathan signed any such pact that he would do just one term in office. He had taken the liberty to suggest that if it is true that he did it, those who extracted the commitment from the President would not behave stupidly.

The situation, to me, is not complicated at all to deal with, talking about an alleged one-term pact; if there was a pact to which Jonathan appended his signature not to seek re-election, those in whose custody the document is should simply produce it so that the claims and counter-claims can be laid to rest once and for all.

Producing it will succeed in placing a moral and not constitutional burden on Jonathan. It will portray him as a desperate power-seeker who cannot keep to a term of agreement, which is the purport of the claimants who, as of the time of writing this piece, had not produced the document; but the document will not preclude him from exercising his constitutional right to contest.

And this is the point Okogie was trying to gloss over: nothing else supersedes the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution in this regard. Every other consideration, no matter the amount of passion infused into it, pales into insignificance in the crystallizing political calculations.

He did not bother to ventilate, through the window of the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the restrictive cocoon into which he herded the President. He would rather pontificate that if he were Jonathan, he would not run because the writing on the wall did not favour his running.

Was he able to rationalise the claim of the writing on the wall?

Not at all! Okogie only spoke about “much sycophancy and flattery” even when Nigerians had not got to 2015. I disagree with him, for there is nothing sycophantic about anyone urging Jonathan, as a performing president, to seek re-election.

The other point to make is Okogie’s attempt at trying to make the period that Jonathan served as vice president to count as part of his terms in the presidency. That was patently fallacious.

Read him: “Jonathan will be there for almost six years; there was a time he was vice (president), and now president for four years. What is he looking for again…?”

I never could have imagined that

The basis of performance by Jonathan is solid enough to support a campaign for his re-election; it will be a different story altogether if he is not performing

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this fecund cleric would have run with this kind of reasoning. He was deliberately celebrating the illogicality of a logic that is resting on the foundation of morality instead of law. What does the law, nay the constitution, say? It allows the president and state governors to occupy their offices if re-elected after a four-year term for another term of four years.

Ideally, in seeking re-election within his PDP, as a sitting president, Jonathan should enjoy the right of first refusal, the same way state governors should. But the field is not going to be closed for Jonathan’s sake even if it is the consensus of a vast majority of party members for him to have the party ticket. Those who want to contest for the party ticket with him will be allowed to do so in the true democratic spirit.

But the only thing is that they would be at a disadvantage because, whereas Jonathan would enjoy the factor of incumbency that is anchored on experience and tangible achievements in office plus a number of other deliverables, his opponents will attempt to come to the job without prior presidential experience.

In fact, the basis of performance

by Jonathan is solid enough to support a campaign for his reelection. It will be a different story altogether if he is not performing.

Forget the packs of balderdash

ASUU: Beyond the strikes

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

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HINUA Achebe in his book, There Was A Country , wrote: " Why has the war not been discussed, or taught to the young, over 40 years after its end?’ History, we were taught, is the story of past events.

We have read about the Songhai, Mali, Oyo, Benin, Kanem-Borno and other kingdoms.

We read about their rise and fall, including the remote and immediate causes of rise and fall of kingdoms. We also learnt that a people who do not learn from history, are bound to repeat it again. If our education curricula have not touched on salient aspects of our country’s history, how will the leaders of tomorrow identify and find solutions to these problems, whenever such arises? We have not addressed the issues of our past and that is why we are stuck where we are now.

How do our curricula address the issue of our distorted nation, causes and solutions?

The corruption of our political class, the destruction of the civil service, the looting of our past military regimes, the highhandedness of our politicians and the continuous festering of ethnic and religious bigotry? What are the remote and immediate causes, and the solutions?

It is my humble opinion that if our children are made aware/conscious of these issues right from the secondary or tertiary

education level, the populace will be more enlightened towards the challenges confronting this nation. This is where our academics/intellectuals and educational planners come in.

History is history. The events have taken place; you cannot run away from the facts.

Any attempt to hide or distort it will only lead to repetitive occurrence without solutions. It is therefore very important for those in positions of authority to boldly confront this distortion in our educational structure. Our history must be continuously updated. That is how it is done in progressive countries. The French Revolution, the American war of independence, the Soviet Revolution, the Middle East wars, the American Watergate, even the Arab Springs that happened barely two years ago are now subject of studies in American universities.

Why do our intellectuals shy away from researching in these vital areas that concern our country’s stability and development.

This is a food for thought for ASUU. They should not be known only for strikes that concern their welfare.

The parlous state of the nation's politics, economics, education and other key areas is as a result of lack of real focus on the part of our intellectuals .We yearn for the days of Awojobi, Chike Obi, Usman and other intellectuals of yore who understood the

that the opposition elements churn out through the media about the administration not performing.

They are inexorably obsessed with propaganda and many Nigerians have seen through their antics.

This preoccupation of theirs, in addition to other stratagem of latching on orchestrated security problem to stomp on the President is not capable of intimidating him from exercising his personal and constitutional right to contest in the 2015 presidential election.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, in the spirit of national conversation on the President’s re-election bid, reinforced this position at the precentenary celebration of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria on Sunday, September 22, 2013. His proposition was the fact that Jonathan’s performance, which surpasses that of any other Nigerian leader in recent history, compels the President to join the race for a second term starting from May 29, 2015.

According to him: “Nigeria has not grown faster under any other government since Gowon than President Goodluck Jonathan. It is very rare to have a government that has confronted insecurity all over and still has been keeping the economy growing at seven per cent per annum for the past three years. It has never happened since Gowon left governance.

The President is addressing the challenges of power supply. Don’t listen to doomsday sayers who are going about causing confusion.”

But like the opposition elements, Okogie has chosen to join the bandwagon (of aggrieved governors many of whom are serving out their second term) by calling on Jonathan not to seek reelection, as far as I understood him, for the sake of it (of not running). Where is fairness in this? Even former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is looking for Jonathan’s job, nay position, and who would have been happy if Jonathan does not seek re-election, has said that the President can run in 2015.

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BY SUFUYAN OJEIFO

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Jonathan’s re-election bid: Let the conversation continue

Our intellectuals have failed us; they should be in the forefront of the quest for good governance; they are the beacon of society in the Ivory Tower where the people look up to for direction

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links between the academia and the larger society and were not afraid to give their voices to change, even at the risk of their personal safety- not for pecuniary interest like we have now.

ASUU must realise that they are a part of the larger society and their actions have chain reactions. When they are through, the non-academic staff will take-over, followed by doctors and nurses, then teachers and so on and so forth. Their issues cannot be tackled in isolation of the over all.

If their fight is for good governance and improvement of the overall state of the nation, it will have more meaning and beneficial to all, not a negligible few. The parlous state of our nation is enough research material for our social, business and actuarial scientists. How many of them have taken advantage of this? Instead, we find

He was quoted by the Nigerian Pilot of September 23, 2013 to have told an online medium that it was not correct that one of the conditions given by the aggrieved governors in the PDP for peace to reign was that Jonathan should not contest the presidential election in 2015.

Read him: “That is not correct.

No person has a right to stop the other from pursuing his rights as guaranteed by the law. I f President Jonathan doesn’t have the rights to contest the 2015 presidential election, only the court can make such pronouncement, not an individual or a group of individuals. It is entirely up to Dr Jonathan to say he will run or not.

My view is that with zoning in the PDP now dead, anyone qualified under the constitution is free to run.”

While I spurn the Okogie approach, which is biased for the opposition’s sensibilities, sentimentality and antidemocratic postures, as amounting to needless moral suasion, I concur with Atiku’s homily on Jonathan’s right to contest. It resonates well within the context of the national conversation on the issue of the right and/or otherwise of Jonathan to throw down the gauntlet as the man to beat in the 2015 gritty contest for the nation’s plum presidential position, which he currently custodies.

And media reports from New York where the President has been attending the United Nations General Assembly have quoted him to have said that the Constitution allows him two terms of eight years. This is the President’s strongest hint ever about his 2015 presidential plan.

It should stimulate more constructive conversation in the public domain. ·

*Mr Ojeifo, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

recycled notes. They are even allowed the indulgence of private practices and so you find them shuffling from one private university to another. The strikes have given them more leeway for such pursuits since the private universities are in session.

Some will argue that the conditions are not suitable for research. Under worse conditions we have seen research breakthroughs in India, Soviet Russia, Indonesia, civil war America, China and the rest. In fact, the situation of this country is much more ideal for researches in the social sciences, business, economics and the likes.

Even in agriculture, with our multidimensional topography, vegetation and size.

Our intellectuals have failed us; they should be in the forefront of the quest for good governance. They are the beacon of society in the Ivory Tower where the people look up to for direction.

The unity, with which they bond when they engage government in their fight for pecuniary interest, should be extended to ensuring that the overall system works properly in the country – free of all destructive sentiments - in the light of the failure of other arms of government.

The responsibility for taking this country up to the next level rests on the shoulders of our intellectuals; they should wake up to their responsibilities. *Mr Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

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What Kokori leaders told Uduaghan about Kelvin Continues from page 44

eral of the community, I read it in the newspapers just like any other Nigerian.

“You will not because one man from Kokori is an armed robber and kidnapper, say that all Kokori people are criminals or that we are supporting criminals, this is not true. It is a farce, there was no Kokori leader there on that day except children and some mothers, who were hungry. Kokori people never supported Kelvin, he never attended any of our meetings, most of us do not know him. He is always in hiding, he comes in the night like I told your earlier and the following day, he is out. I doubt if he has a home here in Kokori where he sleeps.”

He’s not small fly to catch: “If it was easy to arrest him, why did all the mobile policemen that were drafted here in search of him before now not apprehend him. We have produced eminent citizens of this country, the former Justice Minister, the late Justice Ayo Irikefe was from here, we have other distinguished Nigerians from Kokori, we should not be lumped together with Kelvin as criminals, whereas, we are not,” he argued.

Our ordeal On the on-going “internal operation” by the military in Kokori, he said, “We are not against it, but a situation where the security agents beat up innocent persons is ungodly. They barge into people’s houses, saying they were looking for Kelvin even when the news is everywhere the Kelvin had been arrested. Yes, in most cases, they break into people’s houses and when they meet you, they ask you, where is Kelvin. Up till now, they are still beating people and asking where is Kelvin, that is the situation.”

He also disclosed that schools and the only health centre in the town had been deserted by teachers, students, workers because of the siege by soldiers, while residents have fled to exile. A 98-year-old man, Pa Isiokolo, who corroborated his claim, said, “Youths are either

flogged or beaten up by soldiers.” He also said hunger had hit the people as there was

shortage of food supply because “there is nobody to buy and sell.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—51 Soldiers after criminals: A them. You were here the other military officer, who spoke to day when they mounted barriVanguard at Kokori, said, “It cades to prevent us from doing is not true that soldiers are our work in the community. beating up innocent people, They placed sacrifices at variwe are only after criminals, if ous junctions to scare us away, you are innocent, all you to do but we are not here for joke, is to identify yourself, we are we are trained soldiers and are looking for criminals among here for real business.”

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013—53

Vanguard CLASSIFIED EBIGBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chika Barbara Ebigbo, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Chika Barbara Ononiwu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ABIODUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abiodun Olufunke Atinuke, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Odebunmi Olufunke Atinuke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OZODINOBI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozodinobi Doris Ndidi, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Nwachukwu Doris Ndidi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADIGUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Olasumbo Temitope Adigun, now wish to known and addressed as Ms Olasumbo Temitope Olatunji. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OSAZUWA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Osazuwa Ruby, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Imeh Ruby.

All former documents remain valid.

Ralph Specialist Children & General Clinic, College of Education (Ekiadolor), Benin City and general public please take note.

AJIBO — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Martha Oka Ajibo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cajentan Martha Oka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GEORGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tamuno Omona-A Enos George (A.K.A Stephanie), now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ta m u n o - O m o n a -A (Stephanie) Toinpre Attah. All former documents bearing my names remain valid.

General public please take note.

O N O J E TA— I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Onojeta Okiemute Ella, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Karika Okiemute Ella. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

N WA N K W O — I , formerly known and addressed as Nwankwo Nicholas Izuchukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Obiekwe Nicholas Izuchukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name IHENACHO—I, formerly known and addressed as Zerina Uruakuchukwu Ihenacho, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Zerina Uruakuchukwu Ihenacho-jacobs. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the name(s) Okafor B e l u o l i s a Kosisochukwu, Okafor Bosa Kosisochukwu and Okafor Bosa Kosi refer to one and the same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Okafor B e l u o l i s a Kosisochukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EDHEKEGBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ujiroghene Joy Edhekegba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ujiroghene Joy Obaroakpo. All former documents remain valid.

Auchi Polytecnic, FUTO (Akure), Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology and general public please take note.

Reconciliation of name This is to certify that the name(s) Okonkwo Chinasa R., Okonkwo Chinasa Reubecca, Okonkwo Rebbecca Chinasa, Okonkwo Chinasa Ruebecah, Okonkwo Rachael Chinasa and Osoagba Reubecca Chinasa refer to one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osoagba Chinasa R. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwoke Grace Ifeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Zuruike Grace Ifeoma. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

FAKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Faka Ufuomanefe Valentina, now wish to be known and addressed as Faka Gloria Ufuomanefe Valentina. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMAGBEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Emily Omagbemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emily Uku. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UZOKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzoka Chijekwute Juliet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ukandu Chijekwute Juliet. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of name This is to confirm that the name Peace Bateren, Prince Ufuoma Bateren Refer to one and the same person as Prince Bateren. I now wish to be known and addressed as Prince Bateren. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FRIDAY—I, formerly

please take note.

OBODAYA- I formerly known and addressed as Miss Orevaoghene Obodaya, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Orevaoghene Odafe.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMEKARHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Eriurhoro Emekarhe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Eriurhoro Iledo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OVIVIE —I, formerly Known and Addressed as Ogheneovo Eniwomake Ovivie, now Wish to be known and addressed as Ogheneovo Eniwomake Richard. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OSUHOR—I, formerly known as Osuhor Grace Uchechukwu (Miss), now want to be known and addressed as Kabowei Grace Uchechukwu (Mrs).

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Correction of name I formerly known as Empire Akporodehi Governor, now wish to be known and addressed as Akpodehi Ukpe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

known and addressed as Inonoje Friday, now wish to be known and addressed as Inos Ejiro Famous. All former documents

remain

valid. General public

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

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Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I (right) and Miss Gwendolyn Okutele, Most Beautiful Girl in the Niger Delta Area, during the beauty queen’s visit to the monarch.

Rep seeks electrification of Taraba central ABUJA—THE member representing Bali/Gassol Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Haruna Manu, has lamented the near-absence of electricity supply in key towns and villages in Taraba Central district, saying the situation has negatively affected trade and businesses of the people of the area.

Speaking after the House adopted a resolution calling on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to immediately connect the constituency to the national grid, Manu said the district, which hosts the Mambilla Plateau and the Gashaka Gumti National Park, has been without a regular power

supply despite efforts by stakeholders to have the situation reversed.

Manu who disclosed this on Friday said "with more than one million inhabitants and five million herds of cattle and various agro-allied businesses, Taraba central is no doubt the economic hub of the entire state.” He added, ”Considering the fact that the Mambilla Hydro Power project will fully commence soon, we are appealing to the PHCN to quickly connect the zone to the national grid. We also appeal to the company to immediately ensure adequate power supply to boost economic activities in the zone in particular and the state in general."

Lagos lawyer advocates overhauling of Ghana Judiciary A LAGOS based legal consultant, Mr Kofi Atiemo-Gyan has berated the Ghana judiciary, claiming that the whole system be reformed while he called on the chief justice to resign honourably for opting out of the panel of judges where the constitution of the country is being challenged.

Atiemo-Gyan who spoke with newsmen in his Ikeja, Lagos office claimed that the last general elections in Ghana was marred by irregularities and ethnic sentiments, claiming that while there was clear evidences of over voting, some voters werenot verified.

He warned that the country should guide against malpractices in future elections, warning that it may cause spontaneous reactions from the populace.

Atiemo-Gyan, who is the chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nigerian Chapter and the Patron of National Association of Ghanaian Communities in Nigeria (NAGHACON), said the judgment given by the nine-member panel ethnicity biased.

He claimed not to have witnessed such situation in his 50 years of law practice while he commended members of the NPP for its maturity and calmness. Atiemo-Gyan said,"You can imagine the ill conscience that followed the judgment, a national newspaper had it on September 5 that some of the judges had booked their flights for foreign trips before coming out with the verdict, why are they running away.”

Knights of St. John international inaugurated in Kenya THE Order of Knights of St John International (KSJI), a Catholic Knighthood, was recently inaugurated in Kenya by the Bishop of Ngong, Most Rev. Dr. John Oballa, in concert with the Nigerian Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, under the command of Major. Gen. Anselm Okafor.

St. Monica Commandery

775 became the first Commandery of the Order in Kenya and East Africa as a whole.

In a statement, The Lagos Grand President, Sir Patrick Igwilo, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to contribute to the evangelical efforts in Kenya, East Africa, using Knights of St. John International as a vehicle.

54 —

Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 7, 2013

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to go into the Nigerian football records as one of the few Presidents to have led us to the world Cup. The NFF must therefore leave no stone unturned in guaranteeing that if we do not win in Addis Ababa, we do not lose either.

History knocks and we must open the door, wide.

Good luck Nigeria.

Back to Thunder Balogun's "Shots"

Going to Brazil via Addis Ababa

,

HE fever is on.

World Cup fever. This week, ten countries in Africa will be involved in preparations that will lead towards their picking the five tickets allocated to Africa for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. By this week end the road to Brazil will be clearer depending on the initial gait, first steps, as it were.

For Nigeria, Egypt, Cote D’ivoire, Cameroun and……..it is a dream draw to be playing away first.

The argument is always that if you play away first, you can always use the second leg to make amends and progress.

That, has not always been the case. In Africa, it was fashionable to lose two zero, concede three goals at away and come back to level and go ahead and win.

This, is the world cup. These are matches that are televised live, with top of the drawer referees who have been slated to referee in the world cup and are therefore condemned to excellence in the presence of FIFA appointed Commissioners and Referees Assessors.

The argument therefore is that home or away, teams are expected to be on top of their game to be able to make the second leg a formality or easier than usual.

Going by the FIFA Coca Cola ranking, Nigeria in drawing Ethiopia, got the tenth rated club in Africa, the 93rd ranked in the world. The same ranking that says Brazil, conquerors of Spain and Confederations Cup champions are 8th in the world behind Colombia, Belgium and Uruguay!

Many a football analysts have therefore learnt to take the FIFA ranking with a pinch of salt.

It is heart warming that the initial jubilation by Nigerians, has given way to caution and respect, especially coming from the Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi who has publicly declared that he will not under rate the Walya Antelopes. Journalists in the land have done a good work of chronicling Ethiopia’s progress so far, merited progression, insisting that though Ethiopia are beatable, they will not go down without a fight.

Ethiopia’s progression in the last four years has been phenomenal. Nations Cup qualifiers, World Cup Africa Zone top ten, CHAN qualifiers. No fluke. A world Cup qualifying group that had South Africa, Botswana and Central African Republic was considered a bonus to the South Africans but the Antelopes took off from the block, winning their matches home and away, including a draw in South Africa.

Even when they were penalized by three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player, the South Africans were edged by the Ethiopians who are now

When referee Alioum Neant of Cameroun blows the kick off whistle this week end in Addis Ababa, Stephen Keshi will not be allowed to get into the fray

T

,

standing on the road to Nigeria’s qualification.

The Nigerian players have also come out to believe Ethiopia will not be a problem. Why not? It is called confidence, as long as it is not over confidence. Placed one by one against the Ethiopians, the match will end 11-0 in favour of The Super Eagles yet football is not like that.

What is cheering is that Keshi’s Eagles have taken shape. The players now understand themselves better and they are determined to answer ‘present’ when the roll call is made in Brazil next year.

When referee Alioum Neant of Cameroun blows the kick off whistle this week end in Addis Ababa, Stephen Keshi will not be allowed to get into the fray. It is those players whom their country has given the privilege of rubbing shoulders with the best in the world come Brazil that will be expected to up their game and quench their thirst with a champagne performance.

Stand up President Aminu Maigari. The NFF Chieftain and his board who must do everything possible

WO weeks ago, Nigeria and Africa’s former table tennis champion Demola Ali dropped a bomb shell when he claimed that contrary to popular belief ‘Thunder’ Balogun was so named not because of his thunderous shots but because of his lightening speed that confounded defenders and goalkeepers alike. “Thunder had no shot at all. That distinction should go to Skipper Henshaw,” he insisted Since then, we have waited for a counter opinion, none has come, instead a lot of people have called and written confirming Alhaji Alli’s position including a retired Consultant Surgeon Frank Ofili who said he was then a ball boy to Dan Anyiam and Tesilimi Balogun “ …carrying their football boots from 107 Bamgbose Street to King George V Stadium.

That Thunder with his bow legs was like a cobra who struck with deadly precision..”………but it was Etim Henshaw who all goalkeepers feared including Gentleman Carl O’dwyer.

Dr Ofili who went on to represent the country in cricket, found the piece very “nostalgic” thanked Fireman Alli for the education just as he recalled the days of “Unijankara” with Ewa Henshaw, Ayanti Udoma, Chuka Momah, Muyiwa Oshode, Peter Anieke and Manuwa among others. He misses even the good old days of his journalism career with Chinaka Fynecountry, Chris Okolie, Esbee, and Fashogbon.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Alli has written in to say that in the piece under review, the UK Tourists travelled in 1949 and not 1945, while the goalkeeper retired by Henshaw was Sunny Hart, not Tony Hart. Facts are sacred.

See you next week as we sing on the way back from Addis Ababa waving the green white green that is set to be unfurled in Brazil

Milo football ends in Abuja with scholarships for pupils HE fourth edition of The Category Business through six states with T the Milo Football Manager, Beverages, Benin City, Edo State the Clinic ended on Saturday Nestle Nigeria Plc, Doja at the Abuja Old Parade Ground, Sports Complex in the Garki area of the city. And it was surely a win for the over 2,000 pupils that participated as each had branded gifts to take home apart from the knowledge imparted on them on and off the football pitch.

But it was more than just a simple win for the 32 kids that made the final selection of the programme anchored by one of Africa’s most celebrated goalkeepers Peter Rufai. Each member of the winning team called Team White went home with N40,000 cash as part of a scholarship scheme initiated by Nestle Milo to build up in the pupils on and off the field of play. Team Green members who lost the final 53 via penalty shootout got N20,000 each.

Ekeruche, said the clinic is a grassroots programme, aimed at developing the champion spirit in children across the country.

She said, “Through the clinic, the children develop the technical skills of the football games while also imbibing the lifelong social values learnt from sports (Determination, Discipline, Respect, Honesty and team work). This makes them champions not only in sports but also in life.”

The Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the Ministry of Sports Alhassan Yakmuk said the National Sports Commission was impressed by the Milo initiative. He also represented the sports minister and the Director General of the NSC. The programme will run

next point of call. It will continue through Port Harcourt, Enugu, Akure, Abeokuta and Lagos hosting the finals of the event which is open to boys and girls between the ages of nine and 13. The Lagos leg will hold on November 16 with the theme ‘Let’s Build Champions’, which is in line with Nestlé Milo’s tagline of being the energy food drink of future champions.

In all about 14,000 are expected to participate in the 2013 programme.

•Peter Rufai (l-r) initiator Milo Football Clinic, Adedoja Ekeruche, Category Business Manager breverages, Alhaji Alhassan Yakmut, Director Grassroot Sport Development with Funmi Osineye, Brand Manager Milo at the Nestle Milo Football Clinic season four event at Old Parade Sport Complex, Abuja.

Djokovic beats new No. 1 Nadal

N

OVAK Djokovic may have surrendered his No. 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal, but he was not about to tighten his grip on the China Open title.

Nadal ended the Serbian’s 11-month reign at the

top by reaching Sunday’s final, but could not stop Djokovic winning in Beijing for the fourth time in five years.

“I needed this win today. I really wanted to get my hands on the trophy and win against Nadal,

who has been the best player so far in 2013,” the 26-year-old said.

“It’s very important for my confidence. It’s very important mentally and emotionally for me.”

Djokovic has yet to taste defeat at the tournament,

having not taken part in 2011 due to injury.

“I still haven’t lost a match here. I just love the conditions,” he said.

“I love the court and the atmosphere that goes around the tournament.

Center court is exceptional, and I enjoy it. I try to cherish every moment that I spend here every year.”

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Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 7, 2013 — 55

Omeruo: I’ll be ready for Ethiopian return leg

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HELSEA defender Kenneth Omeruo has said he will be available for a 2014 World Cup return leg play off against Ethiopia in November.

Omeruo has made remarkable recovery from a shoulder injury and he has said he will be fit and ready to face Ethiopia in Calabar on November 16.

“Kenneth is back training with Chelsea as expected.

He has also expressed full confidence he will be fit for next month’s return leg match against Ethiopia in Nigeria,” his adviser Chika Akujobi said.

“Even left to him, he says he can play on Sunday against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa! “But best to believe he will be okay for the return match.”

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Arsenal Liverpool Chelsea Southampton Man City Tottenham Everton Hull City Man United Aston Villa Newcastle West Brom West Ham Cardiff City Swansea City Stoke City Fulham Norwich City Crystal Palace Sunderland

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LA LIGA

Assistant Manager, Youth Segment, MTN, Mr. Joseph Ogbuka (first left) and Mr. Akinola Oni (second right), Trade Marketing Consultant, MTN, with Isah Oseghe, the company's South-West region's Customer Relation Officer, presenting the gifts of a mini-laptop and mobile phones to some participants, at the location of the MTN Education Tour Bus, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, weekend.

women will be taking place simultaneously at two select locations in Lagos. One will be on the Mainland and the other on the Island.

The founder and Chief Executive of Pink Pearl Foundation, Mrs Orode Okpu, has picked a sports event to always promote her campaign on breast cancer.

Orode said of Saturday’s event: “ October of every year is recognized worldwide as a month set aside to create massive awareness about breast cancer.

“Different people and organizations in vari-

Eagles

Continues from BP year’s World Cup in Brazil. ”I am aware of the weather and I am sure my team mates too are.

But that won’t affect us.

That will not be an excuse for us as we are looking forward to getting a favourable result from the game in Addis Ababa,” declared the player, who is back playing for his Portuguese club after he was reportedly overlooked because of international duty.

“I am focused and nothing is distracting me, I keep working hard and preparing my mind towards that game.

EPL

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Cycling show in Lagos for breast cancer campaign IGERIA will this week join the global awareness campaign on breast cancer.

And to make this campaign a huge success, Pink Pearl Foundation, a humanitarian, non – profit making organisation, will be holding a big cycling show in Lagos on Saturday.

It’s called Pink Ride Lagos.

While cyclists will ride through mapped routes (Ikeja, Oshodi, Festac,Surulere,Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi, Marina and 3rd Mainland Bridge) from 8 am to 2pm, free breast cancer screening and consultation for at least 500

TABLES

“Getting the World Cup ticket is my biggest target now. ” He added: “As a Super Eagles player, my goal now is to help my country qualify for the World Cup in Brazil. We are on course and we have only Ethiopia to go past, which I am sure we will.”

The Eagles will begin training for the epic clash on Tuesday in Abuja when all 18 Europebased professionals join up.

They will fly out to Ethiopia on two special chartered flights on Saturday, just hours to the big kick-off.

ous cities of the world would be putting together programmes to significantly create awareness about the dreaded disease. In the same vein, Pink Pearl Foundation is organizing the PINK RIDE LAGOS; to further create awareness about breast cancer.

“Lagos is the second fastest growing city in Africa with a population that has recently beaten Cairo according to New york times; with an estimate of at least, 21million people. People from other Nigerian ethnic groups live in Lagos, and people from various countries around the world come to Lagos for business

and Leisure purposes: Hence, the reason why OCTOBER 2013 PINK RIDE is happening in Lagos; to reach the whole of Nigeria as much as possible.”

Unlike in the past, interested individuals could pay N5,000 to join the riders. The fee allows them a place on the cycling team, a cycling jersey and refreshment during the ride.

Mrs Orode Okpu

Odemwingie Continues from BP after he opened his account against West Ham in the Capital One Cup. Malkay Mackay was critical of his team’s first half performance, stating that they gave too much

room to their opponents.

“If you give a good team time and space like we did in the first half, then you can be punished and we were,” Mackay said.

Aiyegbeni Continues from BP ted the winner for Guangzhou R&F in their 1-0 win over Changchun Yatai on match day 27 of the Chinese Super League (CSL).

The Nigerian’s effort on 56 minutes was a

typically predatory finish as he latched onto a precise pass from Brazilian teammate, Rafael Coelho to coolly lift the ball past the onrushing Changchun Yatai goalkeeper, Song Zhenyu for the game’s only goal.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Barcelona Atlético Madrid Real Madrid Villarreal Athletic Valencia Espanyol Getafe Levante Málaga Sevilla Elche Real Betis Granada Sociedad Celta Vigo Valladolid Osasuna Rayo Almería

SERIE A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Roma Napoli Juventus Inter Milan Verona Fiorentina Lazio Udinese Torino Parma Atalanta Milan Livorno Cagliari Genoa Catania Chievo Sampdoria Bologna Sassuolo

BUNDESLIGA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Bayern Munich Dortmund Bayer Möncheng.

Hannover Hertha Stuttgart Schalke Werder Hoffenheim Mainz 05 FC Augsburg Eintracht Wolfsburg Hamburger Nürnberg Freiburg Braunschweig

VANGUARD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

Odemwingie scores as to pull a goal Cardiff lose minute back for City after Loic

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Remy had struck twice in the first half to give the visitors a two-goal lead.

The goal was Odemwingie’s first in the English Premier League for his new club, Continues on Page 55

SAZE Odemwingie’s late goal was unable to stop Cardiff City losing 2-1 at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.

The Nigeria international scored in the 58th

Eagles ready for anything in Ethiopia — Ogu J

OHN Ogu has said Nigeria are so driven to reach Brazil 2014 and so they will handle whatever Ethiopia throw at them in Addis Ababa.

There are reports that hosts Ethiopia have brought the game to an early kick-off and the high altitude in Addis Ababa could also work against the visitors.

The Walya Antelopes will also be counting on a massive home support to galvanise them to only their second win over their more illustrious foes on October 13 inside the National Stadium.

But Portugal-based midfielder Ogu told MTNFootball.com nothing will stand between the African champions and the ticket to next Continues on Page 55

Y

ing in China and netContinues on Page 55

AKUBU Aiyegbeni cannot stop scor-

RESULTS

Norwich West Brom Southampton Tottenham

EPL 1 Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2 Swansea 0 West Ham

3 1 0 2

SERIE A Parma Catania Napoli Sampdoria Udinese Bologna

3 1 4 2 2 1

Sassuolo Genoa Livorno Torino Cagliari Verona

1 1 0 2 0 4

LA LIGA Atletico Madrid Sevilla

2 Celta Vigo 2 Almeria

1 1

BUNDESLIGA Nurnberg Freiburg

0 Hamburg

4

1 E’ Frankfurt

1

LIGUE 1

SUCKER PUNCH....Wladimir Klitschko (right) lands a deadly left on Alexander Povetkin’s face during their heavyweight bout in Moscow MegaGallery at the weekend. Klitschko won with an overwhelming points win to successfully defend his IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO world

PUZZLE

Montpellier Bordeaux

5 Lyon 4 Sochaux

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QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

Aiyegbeni on fire in China

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Summary (6) 5 Dummy (4) 8 Symbol (5) 9 Vehicle (3) 10 Observed (4) 11 Puff (4) 12 Test (5) 13 Mend (6) 16 Plant (4) 18 Revise (4) 20 Damp (3) 22 Bed (3) 23 Fellow (3) 24 Team (4) 25 Due (4) 28 Audacious (6) 30 Swoon (5) 32 Related (4) 33 Press (4) 34 Bother (3) 35 Particular (5) 36 Dregs (4) 37 Stick (6)

DOWN 1 Log (6) 2 Peeled (8) 3 Rock-mass (6) 4 Agreed (9) 5 Discussed (7) 6 Sole (4) 7 Obscene (4) 8 Beverage (3) 14 Identify (9) 15 Transgress (3) 17 Rank (3) 19 Rule (8) 20 Toupee (3) 21 Lockjaw (7) 26 Condemned (6) 27 Disregard (6) 29 Post (4) 30 Flute (4) 31 Attempt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Relic 9, Behead 10, Solace 11, Yield 12, Sung 15, Soar 17, Snarled 20, Odd 21, Drill 23, Iden 25, Lane 26, Fresh 28, Ail 30, Suggest 33, Slip 35, Ever 36, Doubt 38, Dahlia 39, Loaned 40, Greet.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Abyss 2, China 3, Ray 4, Edited 5, Isle 6, Cod 7, Taboo 8, Heard 13, Uncivil 14, Grief 16, Adverse 18, Dress 19, All 22, Large 24, Arm 27, Humble 28, Aside 29, Lithe 31, Event 32, Trade 34, Boar 36, Dig 37, Tot.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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