Police ban political ceremonies at airports

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62009

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Total blackout imminent

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Police ban political ceremonies at airports •Gatherings, receptions, carnivals included •Say airports are exclusive security zones •Sagay, Ogunlesi, Magaji, others react KEROSENE SCARCITY

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI & BARTHOLOMEW NDUKWE

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BUJA—THE Ni geria Police, yesterday, announced a ban on all political, sociocultural or religious gatherings within and around airport premises, including tarmacs, lounges and other sensitive security points.

It will be recalled that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State Continues on page 5

•P.27

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

Josef•P.19 Omorotionmwan

Mr & Mrs Kerosene scarcity hits Edo State as recorded, yesterday, by Barnabas Uzosike. INSET: People waiting to buy kerosene at IBB Square, Bauchi, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

My position on my wife — Chime

58

Jonathan extends emergency rule in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno 8

Confusion in PDP as Appeal Court re-instates Oyinlola as party 50 scribe

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

ANTI-CRIME—From left: Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar; GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Marvel E. Akpoyibo; and Deputy Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, during the launch of the UBA/Nigeria Police Anti-Crime Radio Campaign, held in Force Headquarters, Abuja,yesterday.

Police ban political ceremonies at airports Continues from page 1 on Tuesday accused the Police of preventing his supporters from gathering at the Port Harcourt International Airport when he hosted opposition governors in the state.

Inspector-General of Police, Mr M. D. Abubakar who announced the ban yesterday, said it was in line with international best practices, in order to safeguard the airports and their critical infrastructure as well as to prevent a situation where airports are turned into places of political assemblies, religious worship and other social receptions.

He pointed out that there are enough civic centres, town halls, and assembly halls for public meetings, carnivals and celebrations of all kinds.

In a statement from the Force Headquarters, the I-G said: “As part of deliberate efforts towards averting any security breach and the need to protect critical infrastructure, travellers, aircrew, airport staff and personnel at the nation’s local and international airports, the Nigeria Police High Command has placed a total ban on political, socio-cultural or religious gatherings within and around airport premises, including tarmacs, lounges and

other sensitive security points”.

In line with the directive, the Force Headquarters, Abuja, directed the Airport Command Commissioners of Police, and Commissioners of Police in states hosting the airports to ensure that, in line with international best practices, firm security measures are taken to safeguard the airports and their critical infrastructure.

“They are also to prevent a situation where the airports are turned into places of political assemblies, religious worship and other social receptions, as there are enough civic centres, town halls, assembly halls etc for public meetings, carnivals and celebrations of all kinds”.

Disclosing that the Force was not unaware of the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement and assembly, the IG stated that “the enjoyment of these rights must be situated within the bounds of the law and appropriate civil behaviour.

“The Force, therefore, implores Nigerians to co-operate with the Police in the effort aimed at improving the maintenance of effective safety and security at all the nooks and crannies of the airports.”

He called on the Nigerian elite, political and opinion leaders to assist

the Police in the education and enlightenment of their fans, admirers, supporters and followers on the need to abide by these rules, as failure to comply will attract appropriate legal sanctions.

Meanwhile, lawyers, yesterday, expressed divergent views on the ban on gatherings at the airports by the police.

While some lawyers said the ban is an infringement on the rights of the people, others believe the Police is right.

It is against the rule of law — Professor Itse Sagay, SAN "Well, this is another Nigerian peculiar phenomenon. I believe it was because of the solidarity rally with Amaechi yesterday (Tuesday) that brought about the reaction. That robs it of all legitimacy because you are reacting to your opposition, reacting to a political opponent. It is not based on any principle or any objective factor.

In other words, when the PDP crowd was there some months ago and even stoned some opposition figures who were arriving, there was no banning. It is purely trying to prevent the opposition operating. That is how the police have been going about dis-

rupting meetings of the opposition governors.

All these are against the rule of law. In our political development, it is a sign of political immaturity, intolerance, and at the end of the day, it is against our political development.

Anything that is arbitrary, based on trying to suppress other people, for no reason, is a set back for the polity because the motive is wrong."

The police is right— Lanre Ogunlesi, SAN "If the police say it is banning political rallies, receptions at the airports, they are right.

That is not a place to hold rallies and receptions, it is just that we fail to get our values right. How can you be having rally or reception at the airport? The police are right.

I think it is common sense to know that it is not right to hold rally at the airport. It does not need to be in our law.

There are people at the airport who may not be members of the political party holding rally, and at such moment what do you think they will do?

Also, the airport is a security place, so why should you have rallies there? Do you have political rallies at airports around the world?"

An infringement on rights —Chief Morah Ekwunoh

"It was unconstitutional and undemocratic on the part of the police

in stopping an executive governor of Rivers State, and/or his supporters in exercising their constitutional and inalienable rights, from moving about the country. It is unconstitutional.

Apart from his being an executive governor, the issue of moving about is unquestionable.

For the Police to have stopped him and his supporters, apart from being an infringement on his rights, it does not promote democratic settings or principle."

Jubril Okutepka, SAN, “Protest is a form of expression and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees that. Thus, any directive aside from an order of a competent court of law, stopping the citizens from protesting, especially in a lawless society, is unconstitutional, null and void.

Nigerians have the fundamental right to protest not just only at the airport, but even to Aso Rock because they were built with tax-payers’ money. Any law in conflict with the constitution is invalid. The Nigerian Constitution is the grundnorm. Such directive from the police cannot stand.”

Mahmood Magaji, SAN: “The right to protest is constitutional and inalienable. However, where your right ends is where another person’s own starts. If in all sincerity, the Police directive was in good faith in view of the level of insecurity in the country, then fine and good; it should be welcomed. But if it is directed at a particular individual or a given political party, then, that is where problem arises.

Rather than encourage peace, such action could

further fan the embers of crisis and civil unrest.”

Chief Nkereuwem Akpan: “Constitutionally, the Police, have no power to bar peaceful protest in a democratic setting. However, some sections of the Police Act, stipulates that permission should first be secured from the Police, to ensure that planned peaceful demonstrations are not hijacked by hoodlums.

That permission has become so imperative in our present day Nigeria, especially in this era of Boko Haram. Most time, even the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, is involved in order to ensure orderliness during any protest march. But how do you guarantee that orderliness, or that hoodlums will not hijack the process when protests are staged at the airport?

Though the right to peaceful protest is constitutional in every free and democratic society, the airport should however be a no-go area.

Security wise, it is wrong and unsafe. Allowing every form of protest at the airport will only engender insecurity at our airports. You can protest at any other place but certainly not at the airport. In my view as a human rights activist, the Police was right and its action in stopping any form of protest at the airport does not amount to right violation.”

Mr Taiwo Ogunleye: “What the police should do is to put every apparatus in place towards ensuring the maintenance of law and order during any protest march, irrespective of where it is staged. It will be so flimsy an excuse for the police to just wave insecurity as a cardinal point of their argument to infringe on constitutionally guaranteed rights."

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Man divorces wife for hiding receipt of child's school fees

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KOLE (EKITI) — A BRICKL AYER, Mr Gabriel Omode, has divorced his wife for failing to show him receipts for payment of school fees for their only child.

The plaintiff had approached an Ikole Customary Court on September 30, seeking dissolution of his threeyear-old union with his wife, named Ruth.

He had told the court that Ruth had not been giving him peace of mind through her insubordination, lack of trust and constant threat to his life.

Omode averred that he had been responsible for the care and maintenance of the only child of the marriage. He said that he never failed to meet up incessant demands for the child’s school fees.

He said: “Ruth never deemed it fit to show me anything as evidence of the payment of the fees.”

He, therefore, prayed the court to uphold his request for dissolution of the marriage.

Omode assured that he would continue to cater for the needs of the child, provided Ruth showed evidence of payment of the child’s school fees.

Ruth, however, denied the allegation, saying that she never diverted her child’s school fees to other things.

She also refuted the threat to life allegation made by Omode, saying that the plaintiff was always making night calls to another woman, which she kicked against.

Ruth said that she had to pack out of her matrimonial home when she could no longer cope with the situation.

She did not object to the dissolution of the marriage but pleaded that the court should compel the plaintiff to take full responsibility for the child’s maintenance.

In her judgment, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, dissolved the union and ordered the plaintiff to pay five N5,000 monthly for the upkeep of the child .

She also directed Omode to henceforth pay the child’s school fees himself.

Traffic from Ojo Barracks to Iyana-Iba Bus-stop along Lagos/Badagry Expressway, yesterday. PHOTO: IKENNA ASOMBA

75-yr-old man commits suicide over seizure of buses

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO— RESIDENTS of Oke-Ayepe, Onward Estate in Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State were, yesterday, thrown into mourning when a 75-year-old grandfather, Pa Adisa Hassan, allegedly committed suicide in the storeroom of his house.

The deceased popularly known as Baba Tawa, who operated three buses for his inter-city transport business was said to have hanged himself around 5.00a.m. after officers of the Vehicle Inspection Officials (VIO) seized two of his three buses.

Eye-witness accounts revealed that Pa Hassan woke up alongside his family members around 5.00a.m. to observe their usual morning prayer (Subri) but changed his mind on his way to the mosque situated opposite his house and went into his store room and took his life.

When journalists visited the scene of the incident, yesterday, family members and residents of the area were seen wailing even as some of his associates were discussing the mystery surrounding the tragedy.

Also, a team of officers from the Disaster and Emergency Management Unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was drafted to the scene to main-

tain order.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Mr. Ayo Olowe, revealed that a resident of the

area had hinted officers at the command, which is a stonethrow from the residence of Pa Hassan before a team of officers was drafted to the area.

At press time, Hassan's corpse was still dangling from the noose as no one was allowed to enter into the room.

Akure banks close shop over robbery scare

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE— BANKS in Akure, the Ondo State capital yesterday hurriedly closed shop following allegation of the invasion by robbers of one of the first generation banks.

Customers who were transacting businesses inside the bank were hurriedly ejected by security guards of the banks on the order of the managers.

Many who came to the banks after the closure went back home disappointed even as they were disallowed to use the ATMs. Vanguard learnt that news of the robbery in one of the first generation banks spread to other banks and they subsequently shut their gates.

The robbery scare, according to sources in some of the banks got to them around 1.30pm, yesterday.

Reports had it that the robbers who arrived the bank in a private car, waited inside the car.

They, according to a Police source, must have trailed their victim to the bank. As he stepped out of the bank with the

large sum of money he withdrew, he was robbed.

It was this incident that filtered to other bank managers in Akure metropolis following which they hurriedly closed shop.

A distress call was made by the bank managers to the state police command which swiftly deployed its men to the streets.

Speaking on the robbery scare, the state police command dismissed it, saying there was no cause for alarm.

Image maker of the command, Mr Wole Ogodo, said findings by the police were that one person who went to one of the banks was robbed after leaving the bank.

Ogodo said policemen had been deployed across the state capital to track down the robbers who came in a private vehicle.

He asked the people of the state to go about their businesses as the police were on top of the situation.

52-yr-old housewife docked

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AGOS — A 52-year-old housewife, Grace Adebanjo, who allegedly assaulted a policeman and two of his female colleagues, was yesterday charged before an Apapa senior magistrate’s court in Lagos.

The accused, who resides at Boundary area of Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, is being tried for assault, tearing of police uniform, unlawful obstruction, damage to property and breach

of the peace.

Cpl. John Iberedem, the prosecutor, told the court that the accused, who was being investigated by the police at the Ajeromi Police Station, bit Cpl. Oda Fatimoh on her finger.

Iberedem said that the accused also tore the uniform of one Sgt. Olodu Frederick, attached to the Ajeromi Police Station, while performing his law-

Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—7

Irate youths kill Police inspector in Ogun A

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA — HELL was let loose, Tuesday in OkeOdan in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State when some youths allegedly killed a Police Inspector in a reprisal attack over the death of one of them who was reportedly shot dead by security operatives.

Vanguard gathered that a policeman simply identified as Shonde reportedly shot a-30year-old farmer, Yinka Falola, while he was returning from his farm, Monday night.

The crisis which lasted several hours left many people injured while no fewer than 20 vehicles were destroyed.

A reliable source said the imbroglio was as a result of the killing of Falola, a father of two at Oke-Odan, a community near the border with the Republic of Benin.

According to the source, the death of the suspected smuggler, Falola, on Monday triggered a reprisal attack with the youths protesting the killing.

Another source said the incident might have occurred due to an alleged accidental discharge by one of the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from Zone II,

Onikan, Lagos.

But an indigene of OkeOdan who spoke with newsmen said the deceased was not a smuggler and the shooting was not accidental.

According to him, “Yinka was never a smuggler. He was a commercial driver. He had altercations with the SARS

men who were on illegal duty and the Policeman slapped him and he retaliated which prompted the Policeman to shoot him at close range. He died on the spot. He left a pregnant wife.

The youths, thereby, stormed the palace of the monarch who immediately went to the Area

Command to report. But, Tuesday, the youths regrouped and vowed to deal with the officers from SARS. Contacted, the Ogun State Police Command PRO, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident, saying the state Police Commissioner, Okoye Ikemefuna, was already at the scene.

An accident on Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Juju scare in Ikwo council area as politicians trade words

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI —THERE was drama in Ikwo South Development Centre, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following alleged planting and discovery of suspected charms by unknown persons in the area, Sunday.

Vanguard gathered that youths, elders and other concerned citizens of the development centre trooped out to the scene when information went round the communities.

A prominent politician in the area who did not want his name in print accused the

former council boss of planting the charms, alleging that he would have been beaten up if not for the timely intervention of elders and youths.

But in a quick reaction, the immediate past council chairman described the allegation as frivolous and calculated attempt to undermine his personality.

He said: “I arranged with some labourers to clear the bushes at the skill acquisition centre constructed by my administration which I wanted to show the incoming council chairman. While they were clearing the bushes, the labourers discovered a charm

and informed me.

“I had to inform the elders who came and uprooted the charm and burnt it but unfortunately people started spreading rumour that I wanted to plant charm at the council headquarters.

“I never planted any charm nor did I send anybody to plant any charm. So the rumour is

false and an attempt to tarnish my good name.”

Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo who confirmed the development, said the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Ikwo Local Government Area was yet to ascertain those responsible for the act.

Police unveil anti-crime jingles

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BUJA — JINGLES aimed at discouraging people from committing crimes were released in Abuja, yesterday, by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

Abubakar said at the ceremony that the jingles were meant to discourage young Nigerians from engaging in crime and to elicit public support and participation in tackling crime.

He explained that the jingles were in consonance with his efforts to address the security challenges of terrorism, insurgency and kidnapping.

He said: “The jingles will also address challenges of cultism, rape as well as human and drug trafficking offences.

“They will help in re-branding the nation and generally help to educate citizens on how to avoid victimisation by criminals.”

He added that the jingles, in English and Pidgin, were targeted at Nigerians, particularly those in the rural areas who may not have quick access to other means of communication.

The inspector general said they would be broadcast simultaneously in several radio stations across the country.

Abubakar commended the United Bank for Africa (UBA) for collaborating with the Police in bringing the media sensitisation campaign to fruition.

Group Managing Director of UBA, Mr Philips Oduoza, said the bank decided to partner with the police because of the reforms taking place in it.

“I have to say that the financial institutions are the biggest beneficiaries of a secured environment.

over alleged assault on cops ful duty.

According to the prosecutor, the accused also held the clothes of Cpl. Folasade Akinsola, cutting the policewoman’s golden necklace worth N34,000 in the process.

He said that the accused committed the offences on September 28, at 6.00 p.m. at the Ajeromi Police Station, Ajegunle, Apapa.

Iberedem said the offences

contravened Sections 166(d), 171, 172 and 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

If convicted of felony, the accused could bag three years imprisonment.

Adebanjo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate, Mr P. A. Adekomaiya, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.

The house where an 80-year-old man was burnt to death as a result of fire outbreak at Izekor Street Off Chris Mary’s Road, Textile Mill, Benin City. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has extended the current state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states by six months, even as Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State rejected the extension, describing it as unjustified and punitive.

Jonathan, in a letter dated November 5, 2013, to the Senate President, David Mark, seeking approval for the extension, explained that he took the decision because “some security challenges still exist in a few parts.”

However, he admitted that the security agencies, through the support of citizens in the affected areas, have achieved considerable successes in containing the activities of the terrorists.

He said by virtue of the provisions of Section 305(6) (C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the proclamation of emergency rule in the affected states will “elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval except the period is extended by the National Assembly.

“As a result of the laudable efforts of our security agencies and the support of the citizens in the affected areas, we have achieved considerable successes in containing the activities of the terrorist elements. However, some security challenges still exist in a few parts.”

“Consequently, it has become pertinent to request the approval of the distinguished Senate for an

FEC MEETING: From left— Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Mike Oghiadomhe; Minister of State for Niger Delta, Mr. Darius Ishaku and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Jonathan extends emergency rule in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno zIt's an affront on Adamawa— Nyako extension of the state of emergency for a further period of six months, during which time it is expected that normalcy would have been fully restored.

“In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request the distinguished Senate to consider and approve, by resolution, the extension of the proclamation of the state

of emergency by a further period of six months with effect from November 12.”

It will be recalled that the President, on May 11, 2013, declared emergency rule in

Confab outcome must be subject of referendum — Ekwueme, Clark, Gbonigi, Ezeife, others

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA— AHEAD of the convocation of the proposed national conference

by President Goodluck Jonathan, prominent leaders of the three zones in the southern part of the country under the aegis of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA, yesterday, said that decisions of the conference must be subjected to a national referendum, just as it gave a time frame of nine months for the conference to be concluded.

According to leaders of the assembly, delegates to the conference must not be more than 600, with each geopolitical zone of the country producing 100 delegates each.

They added that representation should be on the basis of equality of the geopolitical zones — North-West,

North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East and South-South.

Rising from a two-day meeting held at the Cross River Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the leaders from SouthSouth, South-West and SouthEast geo-political zones, however, warned that the outcome of decisions from the dialogue must not be subjected to a review or debate by both the National Assembly and the executive.

In a communique signed by former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, and retired Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, who is also the current Coordinating Chairman, SNPA, Rev. Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, SNPA said: “The decisions of

the conference shall be subjected to a national referendum and shall not be subjected to a review or debate by the National Assembly or any other body including the executives.

“Upon approval by the people of Nigeria, the outcome becomes the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to SNPA, the entire process should end June 30, 2014. It said processing and work of conference, December 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014; preparation of a draft constitution May 1 to 31, 2014; and the referendum on new constitution will be from June 1 to 30, 2014.

Roll call

South-South representatives at the meeting were Professor

Oserheimen Osunbor, Senator Bassey Henshaw, Air Vice Marshal Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), Alabo Graham Douglas, Dr. Bolere-Ketebu, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Nella Ewa and Ambassador Lawrence.

From the South-East were Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Senator Chris Ukpabio, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Sylvanus Ngele, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike, Dr. Ifedi Okewnna, and Chief Edozie Ezeugwa.

South-West was represented

by Bishop Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Tony Adefuye, Emmanuel Adelano, Chief Dipo Jimilehin, Senator Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, Professor Ope Adekunle, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi and Moshood Salvador.

the three states, following insurgency in the region.

Nyako reacts

Meanwhile, Governor Nyako, in a statement yesterday, rejected the request by President Jonathan to extend the sixmonth-old state of emergency in the state, describing the action as unjustified and punitive.

The statement, which was signed by Nyako’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Sajoh, faulted the President for declaring a state of emergency in the state and asked the lawmakers to reject the request regarding Adamawa.

The governor said: “It is not fair for a President to be so disdainful towards the welfare of his people. We condemn any attempt to extend emergency rule in Adamawa State.

“As a government, we see the renewed bid for the imposition of a state of emergency in Adamawa as an affront on the people of the state and a negative reward for their endurance and cooperation so far.

“We call on the NASS to review the situation carefully and treat every state on its merit.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—9

PHCN PRIVATISATION: Total blackout imminent

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, SEBASTINE OBASI & KUNLE KALEJAYE

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IGERIA is now experiencing a near total collapse of power supply in the country as a result of shoddy arrangements before the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, facilities were handed over to new owners.

One week after the hand-over, many of the facilities have been left unattended to as many of the workers have been sacked.

To worsen the situation, some of the workers that are yet to be paid their severance benefits were also alleged to be disengaged indiscriminately.

In Lagos and other parts of the country, erratic power supply

now persists.

For instance, in Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, the fate of workers hangs in the balance as they have been kept in the dark on their true position in the new dispensation.

At its Alausa head office, some of the workers were, yesterday, seen outside discussing their fate.

One of them, who preferred not to be mentioned, told Vanguard that the new owner had neither sacked nor employed them, saying “ we are in a quandary as we have not been told what to do or what not to do. Many of our offices are locked.”

Also, at the Magodo substation, some of the staff were

seen discussing in groups.

‘They have been paid’

A highly placed official, however, told Vanguard that all the workers got their entitlements before the official handover to the new owners last Friday and as such had no reason to complain.

He also said that their offices were locked because the new owners had not decided what to do with them.

Already, industrial crisis is brewing in the sector as workers have downed tools to protest alleged breach of the agreement reached between government and organised labour.

Specifically, the workers are protesting alleged massive sack of colleagues, who have not been

VISIT: Chairman, Omatha Holdings Ltd, Nnewi, Chief Mathias Onwugbenu (2nd left); Chairman, National Automotive Council, Alhaji Abdulkadir Saleh (right) and other members of the council, during their visit to Nnewi, yesterday.

paid their severance benefits.

This includes labour leaders that were said to be marked for sack at all levels of leadership contrary to the agreement reached on Thursday, October 31.

Recall that the Federal Government and organised labour, on the eve of the handing over, reached agreement on pension issues, including nonpayment of severance benefits to workers.

Part of the agreement read: “That the issue of all payments of all severance benefits should be completed by Friday, November, 15, 2013, but concerned workers will only exit after full payments.

“The process of re-validation of biometric data and payments for the affected workers should be completed by Friday, November, 15, 2013.

“However, such workers shall remain in employment until all their benefits are paid. The process of re-validation of all normally retired workers of PHCN should commence and be completed by November 30, 2013 for the purpose of payment of gratuity.”

However, reports across the country, yesterday, indicated indiscriminate issuance of termination letters dated October 21, 2013, and given them on Monday, November 4, three days after the handover.

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LORIN—THE campaign train by All Progressives Congress, APC, to woo aggrieved governors in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to their party came to a stop in Kwara State, yesterday, where leaders of the party boasted that they had succeeded in factionalising PDP. Before arriving Illorin, the Kwara State capital, APC leaders made a stop in Minna, Niger State, Tuesday night, where they also wooed Governor Babangida Aliyu to jump ship.

Aliyu said the present crisis in PDP was a welcome development that had brought revolution closer to the people.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Governor Aliyu promised to consult with stakeholders in their states before taking a definite decision

on their stay in PDP. Governor Ahmed led government officials to welcome the APC delegation that included former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.); Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; APC protem chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; acting National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; former Speaker House of Representatives, Alhaji Bello Masari; Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume; former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, among others.

Chief Akande said: “I’m at home here so I don’t want to perambulate. We have come to Kwara State through the government and the governor to invite you to join APC. “We are also extending our invitation to members of the new PDP. We are starting a revolution

that will make this our country a nation of the progressives. We cannot do it alone that is why we have come to invite you to join us.”

Responding, Governor Ahmed said: “Today, APC has become a formidable opposition party. They have been going about marketing. That is what I can call it.

“They have come to market to us. Among the 36 states of the federation, Kwara is peculiar; it is a bride. We have a structure that was selflessly delivered by our late father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.

“I can assure you that as a people, once the leadership is consulted, the right decision will be taken and you will be consulted.”

The night before, the APC leaders had arrived Minna directly from their visit to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of

In Lagos

In Lagos, most of the business units and cash offices have been shut and commercial and other activities crippled.

An official of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, who spoke to Vanguard yesterday on condition of anonymity, said: “There is protest across the country.

“In many states including Lagos, the workers have shut their offices and business units because they are being issued termination letters even when their severance benefits have not been paid.”

Some of the business units shut when Vanguard visited were Termination letter A copy of such letters, entitled Agbara, Ojo, Festac, Mushin Letter of disengagement from and Oshodi. service, read: “Following the finalisation of the negotiations ‘We have not with PHCN labour union on the been paid’ settlement of terminal benefits One of the disengaged and subsequent payment of workers said: “I am not up to the retirement age, but I have been disengaged. There are some of us that have not been paid a dime, yet we were disengaged.

“All we are asking is that the Federal Government should pay Rivers State.

Governor Aliyu had told us our entitlements. This is what them: “What is happening in our union has been fighting for.

“Our leaders have been trying our party (PDP) I believe is part of the revolution that is to avoid what happened to NITEL and NPA staff.” catching on with Nigeria.

“Many of us see it as an internal struggle and we are Ikeja DISCO react Reacting to the development, believing that it will turn out to be a good omen for the party the management of Ikeja in particular and Nigerians in Electricity Distribution Company, through Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, general.”

As for crossing over to APC, Assistant General Manager, the governor said, “We are still Public Affairs, said the company struggling and discussing with wished “to alert customers in its our party and we have declared network that the transaction which resulted into the hand over ceasefire.

“We will see you as friends to a new management does not and if we don’t resolve our in any way signify a shut-down issues, you can come back in of operations.

“The company is an ongoing full blast and I believe you will concern. Chairman of the have many followers.

“But for now, as people who company, Mr. Kola Adesina, keep to a promise, as people had asked for the patience and who honour agreement, we still support of the customers belong and speak as members of during the handover ceremony on Friday, November 1.”

PDP.”

APC in Kwara, woos Ahmed, Aliyu

BY WOLE MOSEDAMI & DEMOLA AKINYEMI

agreed severance entitlements to your account, you are hereby disengaged from service of the company with effect from October 31, 2013.

“You are, therefore, requested to hand over all company properties in your possession to the MD/CEO or the designate.

“Please note that the pension element of your terminal benefit has been paid into your Retirement Savings Account, RSA, accordingly.”

The letter was signed by Engineer Oladele Amoda, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, who has been retained by the new owners of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (West Power and Gas).

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Lagos Assembly begins debate on N489.6bn 2013 budget

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS — Members of the Lagos House of Assembly after taking the second reading of the 2014 Budget presented to them last week by governor Babatunde Fashola, committed it to the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget for further scrutiny and consideration.

It would be recalled that the Governor, last week presented a budget of N489.6billion to the House for consideration and passage.

The bill seeks for the approval of the House to authorise the issue and appropriation of N234.665billion, from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for recurrent expenditure and N255.025billion from Development Revenue Fund for capital expenditure, bringing the total budget size to N489.690billion for the year 2014.

Chairman, House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, Mudashiru Obasa, while analysing the budget, highlighted the desire of the Governor to place the state capital among megacities of the world.

He, however, urged his colleagues to rise up to their duties as provided by the constitution and work assiduously to scrutinise and painstakingly examine the budget at the various sub-committee levels, so that the overall interest of the people to enjoy the dividends of good governance, can be achieved.

In his analysis, Obasa raised questions bordering on revenue, capital receipt leasing, borrowing and revenue generation by the state government.

He also mentioned the bond issue as the provision made for capital project amounting to N222billion, which according to him, is inadequate to execute existing projects across the state.

Meanwhile, Rotimi Olowo said fiscal discipline should be employed in the prosecution of the budget, considering the dwindling statutory allocation resulting from oil theft, which had recently affected allocation to states.

LECTURE: From left, Ms Beauty Zibula, 2nd Deputy President, South Africa, clothing and textile worker's union (SACTWU); Issa Aremu, Secretary General, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGWN and Chairperson, Industrial Africa; Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Guest Speaker and President, Women Arise, and Dele Hunsu, President, NUTGWN, during lecture on mobilising women for active participation, organised by Industrial Global Union, African Region, in Lagos, yesterday.

Poisonous fumes: School re-opens as hospital discharges students

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — A week after their admission into the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, the remaining five of the students of Ogba Junior Secondary School, Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, have been discharged.

Five students -Gbolahan Lawal, Mariam Tijani and three others - were the last set to leave the hospital after inhaling the poisonous fumes.

Twenty-five students of the school went into coma at the close of the school activities after inhaling a poisonous waste discharged into the drainage beside the school by a photo processing laboratory.

According to reliable hospital

sources, the students have been discharged after several tests confirmed that they were free from the poisonous gas.

Vanguard gathered that the students were discharged with their uniforms on. And all medical expenses paid by the Ojodu LCDA. Chairman of the council, Mr. Olumuyiwa Oloro who

was represented by the Council Manager, Mrs. Grace Olaopin, said that all the students have been discharged from the hospital and they have re-united with their families.

Meantime, when Vanguard visited the school at Caterpillar Bus Stop, Ogba, normal academic activities had resume fully in the school.

The students were in their various classes

EFCC nabs landlord who duped 100 prospective tenants

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arrested Alahaji Ishola Salawudeen, landlord who defrauded over 100 prospective tenants at 89, Oriola Street in Alapere Ketu of N37 million.

He was whisked away by the anti-graft agency immediately after court sitting at the Ebute Metta Magistrate's Court.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday, it was discovered at that Salawudeen, was also facing similar charges at Lowa Street, Ikorodu on the platform of Shotex Construction Investment, his company, though which he also fraudulently collected money from 33 tenants with pretext of giving them accommodation.

The court was also told that the case of the defendant with the 33 tenants has been going on for two years now.

Salawudeen, who is standing

trial before Magistrate Dami Ajayi, of Court 5, was also said to be having a similar case in court 10 at Ebutte Metta.

It was gathered that the defendant had issued various receipts to the tenants through Segun Afolabi who was his secretary and receiver of the rents paid.

Magistrate Ajayi noted that it was a serious case that had to be dealt with and that she will see to it that justice is done that the matter will not be swept under the carpet.

She, however, stated that what matters most to the tenants is how they will retrieve their money, so it will be better for the defendant to discuss with them if they would like to settle out of court.

The counsel to the 33 prospective tenants whom he defrauded in 2011, Johnson Onyeji told the court that the defendant defrauded the new prospective tenants, just like he did to tenants in his Alapere building.

According to him the case was reported at Ogudu Police and was

transferred to Panti Police Station and from where it was charged to Ebute Metta Magistrate's court.

Ajayi, told the defendant's counsel, Oladele that he would have met with the tenants to know if they want to settle out of court yesterday when the case came up before the court.

Oladele said he was not prepared for the case because the defendant travelled out of the country, to Mecca.

The Magistrate said if no agreement is reached, after both

parties have met, then they should appear before the court on the 23 of December.

She said: “From findings today, there are two cases against Alhaji in Court 10 and Court 5, and also Alhaji wants to settle few out of the hundred of people he defrauded.”

The over 100 tenants' representative, Moses Ezeigbo said they do not want to settle out of court, that the defendant should pay their money completely.

We have no reason to fail – NCAA

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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HE MANAGING Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, an engineer, yesterday, said the agency has no excuse not to make the nation’s airspace safe considering the huge logistic support the agency gets from the Federal Government.

Udoh was reacting to the increase recorded in over-fliers of Nigeria airspace. Nigerian Airspace recorded over 15,000 over-flyers in six months.

He said that the “ upgrading of the navigational infrastructure could be an added advantage for the patronage while some of the foreign airlines considered Nigerian Airspace as alternative route to their destinations.”

Vanguard, THURSNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—11

Oyo Assembly screens commissioner nominees

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MEETING: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, (2nd left), flanked by his Deputy, Engr. Segun Adesegun; Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (left), and Commissioner For Budget, Mrs. Yewande Muoyo, during the two-day 2014 Treasury Board Meeting, at the Oba's Complex, Abeokuta.

Police move suspects in Emure-Ekiti killing to Abuja

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI — THE Force Headquarters, Abuja has taken over the case of the killing of Mr. Foluso Ogundare, a member of Bibire Coalition and supporter of Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele at Emure- Ekiti,

weekend, just as the three principal suspects connected with the killing have been moved to Abuja.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the state command, Mr. Victor Babayemi made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti, yesterday

Though, Babayemi fell short of mentioning the name of the suspects, he said making the name public would jeopardise Police findings Vanguard, however, gathered from a reliable source that one of the suspects is a current member of the state House of Assembly.

Amosun's road expansion projects, cause of agony in Ogun —LABOUR PARTY

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA — THE Labour Party, LP, in Ogun State has accused Senator Ibikunle-led administration of inflicting pains and agony on the

citizens of the state in the name of road expansion.

The party, however, vowed that it would take over government from Governor Amosun in 2015, pledging that it would not demolish the property of the people if it was voted into power to govern the state.

In a reaction to a similar allegation made by the LP earlier, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite, an architect, explained that adequate notice was given to property owners, after which, men and equipment were mobilised to various sites of construction for the demolition of structures on the 'Right of Way.' The Commissioner further explained that the demolitions were necessary as the roads were expanded in most cases with additional bridges and fly-overs.

According to him: "The government also promised adequate compensation for those affected by the reconstruction exercises."

According to the PPRO, police is, however, still investigating the level of the culpability or otherwise of the fourth suspect.

He said the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Wakama Sotonye has vowed that any suspect found culpable in the case would not be spared His words: ”The Force Headquarters has taken over the case, Ekiti Police Command would like to remain neutral. ‘’But we would not disclose the names of the suspects, since making them public would jeopardise our findings.

“On the fourth suspect, our detectives are still determining his level of involvement.

Meantime, a socio-political group, Save Ekiti Coalition has called for the re-deployment of the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Wakama Sotonye for alleged partisanship.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the convener of the group, Mr. Lere Olayinka, who chronicled some of the crises being witnessed in the state in recent times and the political killings, indicted the Police boss for alleged cover-up and partisanship.

The group therefore called for the re-deployment of the police commissioner so that the state would witness peace and tranquility.

••••Reversal of TASUED scrapping on the cards

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STRONG indication emerged, Tuesday, that Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun may rescind his decision to scrap Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, Ijegun, Ijebu-Ode. Amosun gave the indication during the treasury board meeting on the 2014 Budget in Abeokuta, the state capital when he showered encomiums on the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Oluyemisi Obilade.

Many stakeholders, who expressed delight at the development, urged Amosun to formally rescind the scrapping which they reasoned will restore hope among the students of the university.

It would be recalled that, the state government in February last year announced its plan to scrap the university by making it a College of Education in the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

BADAN — THE Oyo State House of Assembly, yesterday, screened seven out of the 12 commissioner nominees presented to it by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

According to reports the screening, presided over by the Speaker of the state Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, took place during the plenary session of the House.

Some of the screened nominees included Professor Oladapo Olaniyonu, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, Mr. Dapo LamAdesina and Princess Oyefunke Oworu.

Others are Princess Adetutu Adeyemi-Ahigbe, Mr. Adedeji Adelabu, and Mr. Abiodun Atanda.

Sunmonu, however, directed the five other nominees, who had yet to be screened, to appear before the House November 7.

Ajimobi, others eulogise late Alakija, first female Head of Service

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — TRIBUTES came in torrents for the first female Head of Service in Nigeria and first daughter of late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, Princess Tejumade Alakija, who died on August 23, this year.

The dignitaries that attended the occasion at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, included the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, among others.

According to them, the late Princess Alakija was not only a lover of humanity and a role model, but also godly, God-fearing, innovative and more important, a great disciplinarian, patriot and an epitome of commitment and industry.

Governor Ajimobi, in his tribute, likened her to the female gender version of Allison Ayida, adding that she epitomized “the unspoiled beauty, candour and resilience of the civil service of old.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Aguariavwodo sworn-in as Senator ...as Urhobo nation hails emergence

BY FESTUS AHON, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—CHIEF Em manuel Aguariavwodo, was yesterday, sworn in as the senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the Senate, following his victory in the October 12, by-election.

The by-election was ordered by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the death of Senator Pius Ewherido on June 30, 2013.

His swearing-in was sequel to a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, seconded

by Senator Ahmed Sani.

He was welcomed to the Senate by the Senate President, Senator David Mark amidst cheers from his constituents, numbering over 2,000, who accompanied him to Abuja to witness the ceremony after the oath of office was administered on him.

Aguariavwodo, after being sworn-in, said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the support it has shown to the people of Delta Central since we lost our senator.

“We are mindful of the fact that during the burial ceremony, the Senate was fully represented at the highest level and the people of Delta Central Senatorial District, the Urhobo nation, remain

grateful to the Senate.

“I will also want to thank the Senate that throughout the period, they fully supported Delta Central senatorial district throughout all the events that led to the election, culminating in my emergence to now represent our people.

“I want to convey the feelings of our people that we are happy with the Senate, we are happy with the Federal Government and our people, our senatorial district, will continue to support the Federal Government.

“We believe that this country is a great country, it is a strong country and a wealthy nation and we will be part of any work by the National Assembly, by the Senate, that will lead to the creation of wealth for the benefit of the lives of our people.”

A cross section of Urhobo people who spoke to newsmen shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, said that Senator Aguariavwodo’s emergence was a new dawn in the political history of the Urhobo people.

Those who spoke include Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Chief Evelyn Oboro, Chief Loveth Idisi, Chief Tom Amioku, Chief Ominimini Obiuvwevbi, Chief O. Majoroh, Chief Felix Anirah, Chief Arthur Akpowowo, Mr Daniel Idonor, Mr Johnson Boro and Mr. Godwin Atose.

Olorogun Tebite, member representing Ughelli

South constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, said that the emergence of Senator Aguariavwodo portends great political prospects for the Urhobo nation, adding that the senator has all it takes to give the Urhobo good representation having served in the House of Representatives.

Chief Oboro, member representing Uvwie/ Sapele/Opke in the House of Representatives, said: “The Urhobo now have a united front in the National Assembly. We are going to work together to attract the dividends of democracy to our people.”

Chief Austin Ogbaburhon, who represents Ughelli North/ Ughelli South/Udu in the House of Representatives, said: “The election of Aguariavwodo has brought the Urhobo nation back to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.”

Chief Majoroh, Deputy President-General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, said that Senator Aguariavwodo has the pedigree to give Urhobo people effective representation in the Senate.

On his part, Chief Idisi said: “Ewherido’s emergence is a major achievement for the Urhobo people politically. First of all, his death was a great loss to the the people, but today, God has given us another vibrant senator, who has the interest of the people at heart.”

Delta 2015 governorship: Anioma urges support from Itsekiri, Ijaw, Isoko

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—CHAIRMAN of Anioma Agenda, Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, has urged the Delta South senatorial district, comprising Itsekiri, Isoko and Ijaw ethnic groups, to support the quest by Delta North senatorial district (Anioma) to produce the next governor of Delta State in 2015.

He said that the Anioma people had wholeheartedly supported the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, from Delta South senatorial district and past administrations in the state, and it would not be

demanding for too much, if Anioma wants 2015 governorship to be conceded to it.

Onwuadiamu made the appeal when he led members of the group on a sensitisation campaign to the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, and Itsekiri Legacy Rebirth, led by a former commissioner in the state, Dr. Alex Ideh.

Addressing the Itsekiri representatives, he said that Anioma Agenda was consulting and seeking the understanding of other nationalities in the search for a credible Delta North person that would meet

the yearnings and aspirations of all Deltans.

He implored all political parties in the state to zero their search for candidates to Delta North in the spirit of equity and fairness, adding that the choice of the next governor would be a collective one in order to sustain the prevailing peace and unity in the state.

Dr. Ideh, who spoke for his group, acknowledged that Delta North had been supportive of all administrations in the state and deserved the support of other ethnic nationalities in its aspiration to govern the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—13

Police urged to intervene in Rivers community’s crisis

No ethnic nationality can decide Nigeria’s future —Ijaw youths

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BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—IJAW youths, yesterday, said that no single ethnic nationality can determine the future of Nigeria.

Speaking shortly after the swearing in of the IYC executive and administering of oath of office by the chairman of electoral committee, Mr. Sunny Diritolofari, the President of the panIjaw youth body, Mr Udengs Eradiri, said that the Ijaw nation would reach out to other youth groups across the country for the common good of all.

The inauguration of the new executive of IYC took place less than 48 hours after the parent body, the Ijaw National Congress, INC, announced the cancellation of the 2013 convention of the youth body.

Eradiri, said: “No single ethnic group can determine the future of Nigeria, hence my aim will be to reach out to other youth groups across the country to speak for the common good of all of us. Arewa youths, Igbo youths, OPC, Ikwerre youths, Ogoni youths, Itsekiri youths, now, more than ever, we must remain united and do things together, as one people.

“For us as a people, the war has ended, but our struggle for economic and social recovery continues. Our possibilities are limitless, because we possess the qualities that the society demands: youthful energy and drive.

“We do not believe that in this country, rights and freedom are reserved for the majority.”

BI-LATERAL MEETING: Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike (right) and Pakistani Minister of Education, Mr. Baligh Ur Rehman, during a bi-lateral meeting to promote co-operation between both countries in the education sector, at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, yesterday.

Amnesty, CEHRD allege manipulation of oil spill probes by Shell

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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HELL Petroleum Development Company, has been manipulating investigations into oil spills in the Niger Delta region, Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, said in a report released, yesterday.

The groups also said that Shell’s claim on oil pollution in the region was suspicious and often untrue.

According to them, “Shell and other oil companies refer to sabotage and theft in the Niger Delta as if it absolved them of responsibility. The Niger Delta is the only place in the world where companies brazenly admit to massive oil pollution from their operations and claim it is not their fault.”

According to a report published by the two groups, they “uncovered specific cases in which Shell had wrongly reported the cause of oil spills, the volume of oil spills, or the extent and adequacy of clean up measures.

“Shell is being disingenuous about the devastation caused by its Niger Delta operations. This new evidence shows that Shell’s claims about the oil spills cannot be trusted,” said Audrey Gaughran, Director of Global Issues at Amnesty International.

“New analysis from an independent expert found that socalled official investigation re-

ports into the cause of oil spills in the Niger Delta can be “very subjective, misleading and downright false. The report highlights systemic weaknesses in the way the cause of a spill and the volume are determined with some significant errors in the volumes that are recorded as spills.

“The consequences for the affected communities are devastating and can result in them receiving little or no compensation. The oil companies do not have to back up the claims with full and independent evidence.

The evidence that does exist remains firmly under their con-

trol,” said Styvn Obodoekwe, Director of Programmes at CEHRD. “Following Amnesty International and CEHRD’s request, the independent United States oil pipeline specialist Accufacts, assessed a number of oil spill investigation reports, as well as responses from oil companies operating in the Niger Delta and Nigeria’s national oil spill agency.

“The expert found cases where the stated cause of an oil spill appears to be wrongly attributed to sabotage. In many other cases sabotage was listed as the cause when there was little or no data recorded to back up the claim.”

ORT HARCOURT — RIVERS State Police Command has been told to urgently intervene in the alleged setting up of a parallel group in Ataba community, Andoni Local Government Area of the state, by a serving member of the state House of Assembly.

Youths of the area, under the aegis of Ataba Youth Organisation, in a letter to the state Commissioner of Police, accused the state lawmaker of moving to cause another round of fracas in the area, by setting up a rival youth organisation.

The letter, by president of the body, Mr. Ntegun Walter and the Secretary, Sokuru Adolphus, recalled when the community was enmeshed in a youth crisis in 2004 that claimed several lives.

The group said for peace to reign, the community had to come together to register a single youth body with the name Ataba Youth Organisation, adding that a member of the state House of Assembly, who was allegedly part of the community ’s decision was now trying to factionalise youths in the community.

Nyiam’s resignation, good riddance —Edo govt

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN—EDO State Government, yesterday, described the resignation of a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Colonel Tony Nyiam, as good riddance.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the state government, Prince Kassim Afegbua, noted that “Nyiam’s purported resignation letter was filled with half-truths. We are, however, not surprised by this.

“Nyiam, in paragraph seven of the resignation letter said Governor Adams Oshiomhole spoke for 40 minutes, but he contradicted himself in

B

paragraph 10, when he said the governor spoke for an hour. We make bold to say that Oshiomhole spoke for less than 25 minutes during the courtesy visit of the committee to him in his office and he spoke for less than seven minutes at Imaguero College Hall.

“We have video evidence of the whole proceedings to buttress this fact and we challenge Nyiam to bring his recording of same. After all, cameramen and reporters attached to the committee recorded the whole event. At any rate, when has it become a crime for anyone to speak for a particular length of time?

We pity Nyiam because he brought this up for want of anything to say.

“Yes, Governor Oshiomhole said he is a Kaduna-made man and sees himself first as a Nigerian because of his panNigeria background rather than as an Afemai man from Edo State. He mentioned this to disabuse the minds of people like Nyiam from the narrow angle of ethnicity rather than seeing themselves first as Nigerians. We now know that it rankles Nyiam’s myopic view for anyone to see himself first as a Nigerian than as a tribal champion. Oshiomhole has no apology to tender for his pan-Nigeria view.”

14— Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Ex-Health Minister, Arinze Ilo, dies at 73

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—FORMER Minister of State for Health and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Silas Arinze Ilo, 73, Is dead.

Eldest son of the former minister, Chukwudi, announced his demise in an interview with newsmen in Enugu yesterday.

Ilo, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the ruling party, hailed from Inyi in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

“He died in the early hours of Thursday, October 31, 2013 at his London residence”, Chukwudi said, adding that details of his burial arrangement would be announced by the family in due course.

Ilo reportedly left the country for a vacation in London about three weeks ago where he allegedly developed a heart related ailment.

The former Minister was a public servant with a vast track record.

He was the National Commissioner, National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, NECON, 19951998, Permanent Secretary in Enugu State before he served in the same capacity in the Federal Ministry of Health. He was minister from 1993 – 1995.

Until his death, Chief Ilo was the chairman, SouthEast caucus of Rebuild Nigeria Initiative, ‘Project One Nigeria’.

FRSC moves to curb traffic gridlock on Niger Bridge

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—THE Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has set machinery in motion to reduce the traffic gridlock usually experienced at the Onitsha and Asaba ends of the Niger Bridge during the Yuletide season.

Assistant Corps Marshal and Zonal Commanding Officer in charge of Zone RS 5 Command Headquarters Benin, comprising Edo, Delta and Anambra states, Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, said at a retreat for regular and special marshals at the Tourist Garden Hotels, Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, that men and equipment have been mobilized for the operation.

According to him, personnel and equipment are already being moved to the Delta and Anambra states sector commands to empower them for the task ahead.

He appealed to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to widen the closed access to the Niger Bridge to allow inflow of vehicles from Asaba to Onitsha.

He said: “We have established what we call Quick Re-

sponse to Traffic Management at the bridge head so that the staff from Onitsha and Asaba unit commands will work together during the peak period to ensure free flow of traffic, and it will last till end of the

year.”

Akpabio explained that FRSC would ensure that defaulters will not go scot-free, adding that the commission will work with the Customs, Army, Police and other agen-

CONDOLENCE: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) condoling with Mrs. Mary Adjogri, over the death of her husband, Chief Jackson Adjogri when the governor visited the Adjogris in Agbaro, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State. Photo: Henry Unini

Anambra guber: Riggers'll be disappointed — UBAH

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA—THE guberna torial candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah has said that those banking on rigging themselves into office would be disappointed at the end of the exercise.

He said that his investigations had revealed that some of his desperate rivals who claim to be popular had been

going about boasting that they would win the election at all costs.

Speaking on an NTA, Onitsha Current Affairs phone-in programme, Ubah said he was aware that rigging had gone both digital and scientific, adding, however, that he was confident that the Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Eletoral Commission, INEC, would not afford to allow any party or candidate to rig the election, no matter how close or highly placed.

He expressed optimism that his chances of winning the election in a free and fair manner was not in doubt and as such would never associate himself with rigging. He called on INEC and voters to protect votes in such a way that intending riggers would not succeed.

According to Ubah, if elected into office, he would not only conduct local government election within 90 days, but introduce at least 80 per cent new innovations

SURE-P funds aided Abuja-Lokoja road construction —FG

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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OKOJA—THE Federal Ministry of Works has disclosed that the steady funding of the ongoing work on the

cies to ensure compliance.

He also appealed to the governments of Anambra and Delta states to assist with heavy duty trucks and equipment for removing broken down vehicles from the roads.

dualisation of Abuja-Lokoja Road-Section 3: AbajiKotonkarfi from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P has eased the pace of work at the

site.

This it said has made it possible for the contractors to reach 40 per cent completion of the project.

The Deputy Director in the ministry in charge of Kogi State, Mr. Aganaba, who made this known, while briefing members of the National Good Governance Tour, yestesday, in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

He attributed the progress recorded on the road project to the stable funding from SUREP and the commitment of present administration to the project.

Aganaba also stated that 45

kilometers of construction is expected to be achieved on the road, before the Yuletide season, which spans approximately 50 kilometers from Abaji to a section in Kogi State.

Responding, the Minister of Information, represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor noted that the construction work had suffered major setbacks for some years due to lack of funding by the previous administrations, and expressed satisfaction for the success so far recorded through the iinjection of SureP fund.

into the state revenue generation formula even as he would declare a tax holiday.

He said a situation where the poor masses were overtaxed in form of revenue generation does not augur well for the well being of the electorate, adding that he would hand over the administrative structure to his deputy and take charge of the business structure, to attract foreign investment.

He said he would create up to 134 state consulate offices all over the world, so as to attract foreign businesses and generate enough for the state, instead of taxing the poor masses through the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. He further said his priority would be on security and youth empowerment, pointing out that the issue of continuity would not arise in his own dictionary because talking about continuity will amount to continuity in kidnapping and other calamities.

He also noted that those going about boasting that they have more cordial relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan are wasting their time because Labour Party had from the on set endorsed Jonathan for 2015.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 —15

Jonathan to increase investment in basic education

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BUJA—SUPERVIS ING Minister of Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has declared that the Jonathan administration will continue to increase investments in the basic education sub-sector until it eradicates the out of school children challenge bedevilling the nation.

A statement from the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Simeon Nwakaudu said the minister made the commitment in Paris yesterday during a bi-lateral meeting with Mr Baligh Ur Rehman, Pakistani Minister of Education.

According to the statement, the minister said that the Jonathan administration will complete 300 Almajiri schools by 2015 to ensure that a large percentage of the Almajiri children are accommodated in schools.

He stated that the Jonathan administration remains committed to sustaining the incentives for the Almajiri children to remain in school after their enrolment.

“President Goodluck Jonathan through his deputy inaugurated another set of Almajiri schools last week, which brought the number in use to over 100. Our target is to ensure that by 2015 we have 300 schools constructed by the administration to cater for the needs of the Almajiris.

“In the South-East and the South-South we have commenced the construction of special technical and vocational schools to cater for the need of the boy-child. This is in addition to the special schools the administration is constructing for girls in parts of the north to improve their enrolment in schools,” Wike said.

He assured the Pakistani Minister of Education that Nigeria will continue to partner with his country and other E-9 countries for the creation of access to quality education for the less privileged children. The Minister stated that Nigeria will participate in this year ’s E-9 Conference to be hosted by Pakistan in December.

AWARD: From left: President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, Kwara State governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and former President, PSN, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi presenting an honorary membership award to the governor, during the annual national conference of the society in Ilorin.

APC to Jonathan: Compensate Boko Haram victims A

BUJA—THE All Progres sives Congress, APC, yesterday, rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision not to compensate the victims of the Boko Haram killings.

Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande in a statement said if the decision is upheld, “it will amount to double failure on the part of the Federal Government and double jeopardy for the victims”.

According to Chief Akande, “in the first instance, the killings and maiming occurred because the Federal Government failed in its most important task of ensuring the security of lives and property.

“Secondly, the same government that failed to live up to the main reason for its existence, which is the security and welfare of the citizenry, is now, saying that it will not failing to provide succour for the victims of its own failure. This constitutes double irresponsibility on the part of the government, and double jeopardy for the thousands of victims who have been killed and wounded by the insurgents.

After the people were victimized by Boko Haram, they are now being victimized by their government. This is unacceptable, and President Jonathan must have a rethink.

“The APC believes that the issue of compensation for victims of Boko Haram should not be subject to any debate.

“All victims of the Boko Haram insurgency must be compensated without delay. They must be given succour. They must be made to feel that their

government cares for them.

Compensation cannot bring back the thousands who have been killed. But it can provide succour for the children, parents, brothers, sisters and other family members they left behind.

APC added that “Compensation cannot remove the scars on those who have lost limbs

or become blinded due to the effect of gunshots or bombs, but it can help them to restart their lives and to know that they are not alone in their ordeal “These people cut across religions, ethnicity and gender.

They include Christians and Muslims, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba and people of

other ethnic groups, as well as men and women, the old and the young.

“President Jonathan must not only ensure that victims of Boko Haram insurgency are compensated, he must strengthen his resolve to ensure that Nigerians are well protected and catered for, irrespective of where they reside in the country. This is the meaning of governance!

FG plans spending $300m IDA loan on mortgage institutions

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Federal Exec utive Council yesterday gave approval for the Federal Government to access a $300 million (about N48.6 billion) loan from the International Development Association IDA, for the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, NMRC, and three other mortgage institutions.

Similarly, the council also approved the application of 174 foreigners to be granted Nigerian citizenship through registration and naturalisation.

Minster of state for finance, Dr Yerima Ngama who briefed state house correspondents after the meeting of the council yesterday noted that the loan which is interest free was meant to tackle the huge housing deficit in the country.

According to him, while $250 million from the funds would be used for the take off of the

NMRC, $25 million will be utilised to establish a guarantee product that will enable people who otherwise cannot provide collateral to access the proposed mortgage loans.

He explained that $25 million of the IDA loan will be made available to micro finance banks so that they too can provide housing finance to Nigerians.

The minister explained further: “The Nigeria housing finance project is aimed at increasing access to housing finance through primary as well as secondary mortgage market in Nigeria.

“Right now we only have primary mortgage institutions, so we are going to establish a mortgage refinance company that will benefit from this” he said.

Dr Ngama explained that $10 million from the loan will be committed to building the capacity and rendering technical assstance to practitioners in the sector.

“We know that one of the major issues that is constraining the development of our mortgage industry is lack of technical competence as well as capacity building. $10 million will be devoted to capacity building and also as technical assstance. This would give them the capability to drive the mass housing scheme” he said.

The loan is expected to be repaid over a period of 40 years with a service charge of 0.75 per cent.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had announced earlier in the year that federal government would establish the NMRC to provide shortterm liquidity and/or medium – to long-term funding or guarantees to housing finance lenders.

Speaking on the granting of Nigerian citizenship to 174 foreigners, Minister of Interior, Abba Moro said while 47 of the beneficiaries got their citizenship through registration, 129 was by naturalisation while 27 requests were turned down by council for various reasons.

16— Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Katsina disburses N40.8m to 1,360 vocational training graduates

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AT S I N A — T H E Katsina State Government, yesterday, commenced the disbursement of N40.8 million to 1,360 graduates of its vocational training centres.

Malam Ahmad Danbaba, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ibrahim Shema on Poverty Alleviation Strategy, said this while disbursing the grant to some of the beneficiaries in Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

He said the money represents government’s support package to enable the beneficiaries set up their own businesses.

Danbaba said 40 graduates of the state Business Apprentice Training Centres, Crafts Training Centres and Skills Acquisition programmes were selected from each of the 34 local government areas in the state.

He said under the scheme, each beneficiary would get N30,000 take-off grant to obtain working tools and materials, adding that the grant was interest-free.

Danbaba said the gesture would increase investments in small scale businesses in the state, thereby opening up job opportunities for the youth.

The adviser disclosed that similar disbursements were made by the government to owners of small scale businesses such as butchers, commercial motorcyclists and other traders unions.

He said the unions were made to form cooperatives of 20 to 25 people, and were issued with N500,000 grant per group in all the 34 local government areas.

The governor ’s aide explained that persons living with disabilities, vulnerable people and those from the less-privileged families were also given between N5,000 and N10,000 as assistance.

Danbaba added that during the disbursements, the committee went with medical personnel who attended to local people suffering from various ailments.

Fresh cholera outbreak in Benue claims 2 lives M

BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—TWO persons were feared dead in a fresh outbreak of cholera at Otukpo town, in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The outbreak of the disease in the ancient city, where the Senate President, David Mark, hails from is coming few months after the Chinese contractor handling the Otobi Water Works, shut down the plant and left the town.

Confirming the development, the lawmaker representing Otukpo constituency at the state House of Assembly, Mr. Baba Ode described it as unfortunate.

He said: “As I speak with you, we have recorded two deaths as a result of an outbreak of cholera in Otukpo.”

When contacted, the Director of Public Health at the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Kumba said: “We are actually hearing rumours of an outbreak of the disease but it has not been confirmed. ”Meanwhile the epidemiological centre is already liaising with the relevant officers in Otukpo to check any outbreak of the disease in the town.’’

Also, in his reaction, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government

Area, Dr. Innocent Onuh, said on the telephone that he was away on an official assignment but added, “it is very possible that cholera has broken out in Otukpo. ”For sometime now, the only source of portable water supply to Otukpo town and its environs has not been functional, the people

have been forced to source water from the available ponds, shallow wells, streams and other unhealthy sources, so an out break of the disease will not be a surprise.”

Vanguard gathered that the water plant which was expanded and refurbished last

years by the state government at the cost of N2.6 billion was shut down few months ago by the contractors handling the project following the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil its financial obligation to the state government over water projects in the state.

VISIT: From left: Former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Interim National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Bello Masari and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, during the visit of APC chieftains to the governor in Sokoto, yesterday.

APC: Only Saraki can decide for Kwara PDP, says Gov Ahmed I

LORIN—GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has said only Senator Bukola Saraki can negotiate on behalf of the state chapter of the PDP on whether they should join the All Progressive Congress, APC, or not.

This was even as he has pledged to find a lasting solution to the communal clash between Alapa and Agboro communities in the state.

Ahmed said this, yesterday, in Ilorin when he received the national leaders of APC, who were in the state to invite him to join the party.

The governor is one of the seven PDP governors currently having a misunderstanding with their party.

Ahmed said though APC was a formidable party, PDP was taking necessary measures to resolve the crisis within its ranks.

He, however, said given the prevailing political structure in Kwara, only Saraki could determine the next move of the PDP members in the state.

Ahmed said the people of the state belong to a political dynasty and would not give away the structure at any cost.

“It is an existing structure for the past 40 years with assured election winning machinery”, he said.

He, however, said the dynasty was ready to collaborate with any political party with a view to moving the nation forward.

His words: “The APC has turned itself into a formidable party. One can reasonably say that the leadership of the party has come to Kwara to market the party.

“But before anything else, let me tell the leaders of the APC that we have a structure called 'Election Winning Machinery’ here in Kwara State.

“We are one big family here, under a political structure inherited by our leader, Dr

Bukola Saraki. He has given all of us joy and comfort that he can lead us well.

“That is why we want to see ourselves joining hands with any party with respect for internal democracy because that is where our strength lies.”

Former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu had earlier called for the progressiveminded Nigerians to close ranks with a view to bringing positive changes to the polity.

He said given its abundant material resources, the nation should not be suffering from

high rate of unemployment and poverty.

Tinubu described the APC as a child of necessity, formed in order to save the country from its present social, political and economic problems.

Other members of the delegation included, former Head of State Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), APC Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Edo, Mr. John Oyegun, former governor of Benue Mr. George Akume and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, among others.

2,584 Jigawa pilgrims return from Hajj

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ANO—A total of 2,584 pilgrims from Jigawa, who performed this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia, have returned home.

Alhaji Mohammed Yola, an official of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kano, yesterday.

He said that the last batch of 445 pilgrims from Jigawa, including the state Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmad Sani, returned home

on Tuesday on a Max Air flight.

Yola said that the airline had also completed the transportation of all the pilgrims from Kano State allocated to it in five flights.

“As I am talking to you now, Max Air has completed the airlift of returning pilgrims allocated to it from Jigawa and Kano states on Tuesday,” he said.

Besides, Tola said that Kabo Air had also conveyed some of the pilgrims from Kano

State in a flight, out of the three flights allocated to it.

He added that Meridian Airline, which was expected to convey some pilgrims from Kano State back home in three flights “All in all, there are only five remaining flights for Kano State pilgrims,” he added.

NAN recalls that a total of 8,232 pilgrims were transported from the Kano zone to Saudi Arabia for this year ’s Hajj.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013— 17

Y

OU are familiar with that French saying, right?

“Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose”? The more things change, the more they remain the same. Well in Nigeria we are used to the spectacular: spectacular heists; incredible acts of corruption and even remarkable gestures of never really getting things done!

Those who rule our country seem to know the penchant of the people for gestures, even when they are like a ride to nowhere; a journey without a destination in sight or in mind.

Just keep them moving, like that Johnny Walker advertisement. Away from Nigeria over a two-week period, I reflected upon the absurdity that governance has increasingly become in our country over the years, but in its very grotesque appearance, since 2011. The fresh air that President Goodluck Jonathan promised has become so foul and toxic the country is suffocating politically and otherwise. But there is a 28-day theory of everything in the Nigerian public space which underlines all that we deal with, as I will explain in this narrative.

But did we truly expect that things would actually have come any better? On a general historical plane, the recruitment

The more things change, the more they remain same of the periods. Well, by the time the military returned and the political process became subject to elaborate manipulation, things had taken a turn in Nigeria. The political economy was erected on a new foundation of SAP, with its central concept of life as jungle, with each fighting for survival and not caring for the other. Life became Hobbesian: nasty, brutish and short for the majority of the Nigerian people.

But a handful of crooks, opportunists and clients of military dictatorship made good from the new scenario. They became the much-vaunted ‘new breed’ politicians of the military’s political transition.

They were rootless, unlike the

,

,

It is part of the tragedy of leadership in our country that succeeding generations of leaders seem to be worse than those they takeover from

of leadership in Nigeria has been one of Nigeria’s greatest weaknesses. The penchant has been to go for the lowest common denominator. So, like Chinua Achebe once observed, we end up playing our leadership league matches with the Third Eleven, so we never win. It is part of the tragedy of leadership in our country that succeeding generations of leaders seem to be worse than those they takeover from. So starting from the First Republic, which is seen as the golden era of leadership, even with their inadequacies. Yet from then onwards we have seemed to be on a roll down the slope. Our Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall aeons ago and it is obvious that nothing can put it together, as things stand today, unless there is a radical change of course.

Most of what we have inherited as leadership has been forged in the crucible of military dictatorship, as we all know. When I was editor of DAILY TRUST newspaper, MalamAdamu Ciroma gave an interview to one of our titles.

Ever perceptive about Nigerian happenings, Malam Adamu said it wasn’t a coincidence that there was some form of organic linkage between the political parties and actors of the First and Second Republics.

Politicians generally gravitated to tendencies they had belonged to in the earlier period and there seemed to be some level of ideological continuity, despite the severe shortcomings

politicians of the First and Second Republics and therefore depended very much on the structures of military dictatorships for their power.

But since the entire contraption of military politics was far removed from the interests of the Nigerian people, these

newbreed politicians were tarred with the same brush of dubious legitimacy.

It was this group that became the ruling elite since 1999, and with each election, they have replenished their ranks with new recruits. But the standards of governance or of decorum in the public space have continued to deteriorate. Our political process is a sham, built on a foundation of a fraudulent political economy. It was never constructed to work in the interest of the Nigerian people.

They were born of the corruption of military dictatorship and in the years since, they have taken corruption to dizzying heights.

For most of the period since 1999, there has deepened the division of the Nigerian people along ethno-religious and regional lines because these are very useful instruments to corner political prebends, to participate in the elaborate heists which political power facilitates. When acts of obscene corruption as ‘Oduah-gate’ come to the fore, the political leadership responds in the most natural way in the world of politics: they set up investigative committees precisely to ensure the befuddlement of the issue. In

the meantime, politics gets nastier by the day: the ruling party is hopelessly factionalized; the opposition is consumed in efforts to consolidate its power grabbing fortunes. It is as if they live on a different planet, away from the ASUU strike that closed the university system, the medical doctors’ restiveness and the blatant anti-state manifestations all around the country.

Elaborate burial ceremony There is spectacle thrown in for good measure, though. The president is making a show of religious devoutness. Away in the Holy Lands on pilgrimage, he reinforces his position as a Christian because Christian votes might become crucial in the 2015 scheme of things. Not to be outdone in all these things, Madame Patience Jonathan also staged an elaborate burial ceremony for her mother who died tragically on roads conspicuously neglected, despite a presidential son-inlaw. At least a ‘befitting burial’ offers succor and spectacle an entire community can be part of.

These come against the backdrop of the genie of

national conversation that Jonathan carefully let out of the bottle of Nigeria’s fractious political process. Ethnic entreprenuers of all shades, civil society advocates and regional groups of thugs are having a field day. There is a most welcome respite for an otherwise embattled presidency. Extra time was found for strategising on the route to 2015 as much as the show of naked knuckle. The opposition is at the receiving end of state zealousness: meetings are disrupted and even planes are delayed from flight. Those who think Jonathan is meek as a lamb have another think coming!

So where is the theory of 28 days in the public space in all of these? A few months ago, Nasir El-Rufai told me that during the Obasanjo presidency, a study was conducted which showed that the maximum duration for any issue to grip the Nigerian public space is 28 days. No matter how serious the scandal, the corruption, the assassination, whatever! The issue grips the Nigerian public space for 28 days and then fizzles out. Nigerians move on. We seem to be easily forgetful. Those who rule us know this and they hedge their bets, drag their feet and just pray that 28 days catch up with any issue. We will move on.

This explains Jonathan’s dithering over Stella Oduah’sarmoured BMW cars.

There is a time-tested template of action, long used to befuddle the Nigerian public space. It didn’t start today. It won’t change unless we radically reorder things in our country. So the more things change, the more they remain same. Plus ca change; plus c’est la meme chose!

Kwara cabinet reshuffle: Freebies time for prayer warriors

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O V E R N O R Fatai Ahmed of Kwara State sacked his cabinet, including the retinue of special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and sundry lumpen attaches of governance, two weeks ago or so. I read about the action while I was in Dubai. In the two weeks since, many online sites, such as ILORIN INFO, have reported the concerted lobbying going on, by the sacked government officials to return to their positions. Of course, in these matters, the ultimate authority in the hegemonic politics of Kwara is the self-appointed ‘leader’, Bukola Saraki. He “owns” the prebend that Kwara is and appoints, sacks, re-appoints or orders, as catches his fancy. He is the ultimate dispenser of positions in the governance structures of the state and is the final authority that all the sacked seeking re-appointment, look up to.

There are critical ‘stakeholders’ often looked

upon to intervene. In Kwara, eminent traditional rulers can whisper into Bukola’s ears to get a favoured subject a cabinet placement. In such matters, the spiritual dimension is also explored fervently. Those who know these things say these are lucrative times for Kwara’sMalams, prayer warriors, Bokaye and Babalawos. A spiritually-induced form of trickle-down economics is now rife in the state.

Gender sensitivity Many of those lobbying to get a place in cabinet are said to have moved into residences of these “men of God” (I don’t know if there is gender sensitivity about these things, with women with spiritual powers also getting a bite of the cherry!), to ensure that their names appear on the final list that Bukola Saraki will sanction for His Excellency, Fatai Ahmed. Monies that didn’t service the social needs of the community now reach them in an ironic twist of fate as prayer

•Gov. Fatai Ahmed warriors are now on permanent duty.

Informed sources in Kwara added that the most popular place of spiritual tourism in search of divine intervention to enter Kwara’s next cabinet is the Baruten Local Government Area of the state. For those who don’t know the geography of our dear state, Baruten is the neglected backwater on the border with Republic of Benin and is home to the remarkable Batonbu speaking people who belonged to the old Borgu Empire. A people with some of the most beautiful musical traditions in West Africa, the Orchestre Super Borgou, was one of the most

popular bands in the seventies and eighties in West Africa. They actually emerged from Kwara’sBaruten area, but because of the paucity of recording opportunities, they moved to Parakou, in Northern Republic of Benin and made success of artistic life there. Well, that also happens to be the constituency of Hon. Zakari Muhammed, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs. It is said that the spiritual powers of the BarutenMalams and Bokaye trump those of others in our state, hence the spiritual “Hijra” that the local government is witnessing in the search for cabinet positions by Kwara’s nPDP politicians. What they refused to give the people legit now reaches them through prayer warriors. It is freebies time for our prayer warriors. We would still wait a while to know those whose prayers were finally answered, or better still, those whose prayers sufficiently softened the heart of their self-appointed leader, Saraki, to get into the cabinet list!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

A

NYONE, who says he understands how elections in Nigeria work is only making a claim. Whether at the local government, state or federal levels, elections are mysteries various authorities sustain for their own purposes.

It would not be in the interest of powerseekers to conduct free and fair elections.

Many politicians believe loose implementation of laws leave them a chance of manipulating the process to access the benefits of power.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not been helpful. It is a law to itself. Billions of Naira invested in its operations does not reflect in the results it delivers. After leading Nigerians through promises of improved performances, INEC reclines to the most ridiculous excuses for its failing.

Its conduct of the 2011 elections is praised by those, who lower standards to accommodate mediocrity. What did INEC do in 2013 that was different from elections conducted from 1999? Have we moved away from the failings of 1999?

What have their supervisors done to deter them?

Culture of election failings

We do not think so. From the registration of voters to voting, the processes are flawed. There is no agreed explanation of the Electoral Act, making it a decorative document that remains legally challenging, failing to provide succour for those, who seek comfort in its provisions. Why would election riggers not take advantage? Why would rigging stop when the punishments the Electoral Act prescribes are ignored?

There are fines, jail terms for almost any conceivable electoral offence. INEC does not prosecute electoral offenders, the major reason being that its officials are among the biggest offenders. If the matter is diligently investigated, field officers, who compromise elections may not be acting alone.

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, as usual, is brimming with optimism over the 2015 elections. No proper account of the 2011 elections have been given, especially how the technological advances that cost billions of Naira did not facilitate improvements in the process. INEC has moved on, and expects Nigerians to do the same. Perpetrators of electoral fraud, Jega says, have been punished quietly.

Our concerns about elections are many. For all the importance they bear to our future, INEC has failed to provide the transparency required to make them credible. Its plans skirt vital issues of fairness to contestants, access to information for all — these contribute to the fidelity of elections.

Voters’ education is relegated to the background, though international donors funnel billions of Naira to INEC’s purses for the purpose. INEC must show by its conduct that it is changing. A good start would be an account of the 2011 elections and punishments, according to the law, for those whose conducts thwarted transparency of the elections.

OPINION

BY RENO OMOKRI

T

HE Chinese have a greeting which goes ‘may you live in interesting times’.

Somebody must have said that to me because I am witnessing some of the most interesting times. I am witnessing a series of events that are proving to be more entertaining than the best Hollywood and Nollywood can offer.

Since these events have been more of a case of life imitating art, I feel that I should also go poetic.

I am in a forest with many trees and all of a sudden I find myself watching a comedy of a tiny desperate tree that is shedding crocodile tears over a fruit from the mightiest Iroko tree. Both the tiny tree and the fruit from the Iroko tree have agendas that set them at cross purposes but both think they can use the other. The tiny tree wants nourishment from the fruit of the Iroko tree in order that it might become as big as the Iroko tree. The fruit thinks it is ripe and wants the tiny tree to rock the forest so that it can be detached from the parent tree and fall to the ground where its seeds will germinate in the fertile soil. It also imagines that it will become a great tree.

But what the tiny tree and the fruit it wants to suck on for nourishment do not realise is that fruits that are ripe will fall to the ground at the slightest breeze from God. As for the tiny tree, in its eagerness to cheat nature it forgets that the juice from one tree may nourish it for a day but it

Two TTrees, rees, a FForest orest and a S Sttorm requires regular daily nourishment to grow into a big tree. If its roots do not reach far into the grounds it can never get the nourishment it needs. A nourishment that is daily available to the big Iroko tree.

And so the comedy continues and I keep watching. I see the unripe fruit condemning the Iroko tree that has given it nourishment to the tiny tree and I wonder at its naivety. How can a fruit condemn its tree to a shrub and expect the shrub to treat the fruit better than the tree that gave birth to it?

Does this fruit have memory at all? The spirits that ensure the codes of the forest are obeyed had once told the Iroko that it (the Iroko tree) is the source of the nutrients that nourish its fruits and that since that is the case the previous fruit in the place of the ambitious fruit could not lay claim to the nourishment and should thus shrivel away and give way to the ambitious fruit.

Being that that is the case, should the fruit bite the tree that nourishes it? Who is the ultimate loser in this comedy if I may ask?

As I watched on I saw that the desperation of the tiny tree and the ambitious fruit of the Iroko tree grew such that they hatched a plan to get the monkeys in the forest to throw stones at the Iroko tree. And so the stone throwing began. The monkeys threw stones and more stones and as they threw stones a little bird flew past and whispered

to them the following words: ‘The Iroko tree is not upset when monkeys throw stones at it. It takes it as a compliment because nobody throws stones at a tree without fruit’.

And when the monkeys heard this, they reasoned amongst themselves that the bird’s saying was true and they sought to make a deal with the Iroko tree so that it would lower its branches in order that they could climb onto it and pluck some fruit.

But the Iroko tree ignored them.

Then they said to the Iroko tree: ‘We would help you destroy the tiny tree if you will only lower your branches’. The Iroko Tree spoke for the first time and responded thus: ‘Why should you destroy the tiny tree?

Leave it alone. I am not in competition with other trees, I am in competition with my potential. It is only those without potential that compete with those with potential in the same way as a blind man follows a man with sight’.

The monkeys saw the wisdom in this logic and left the Iroko tree and I kept on watching because the comedy was so engaging. I had never seen anything of the sort.

P

retty soon the clouds above the forest became grey and it was clear that a heavy storm was approaching. All the animals in the forest began to seek for

shelter from the storm. I saw the birds and the monkeys and the elephants and the deer and the antelopes and the warthogs and all their fellow forest dwellers running to and fro seeking shelter.

‘Where shall we shelter,’ they said, ‘who will save us from the coming storm’? They ran to the tiny tree but it had little room and could not shelter everybody. Then they ran to the Iroko tree and it sheltered everybody under its branches.

Finally, the storm hit. It brought with it lightning and thunder, rain and more rain but the forest animals were not affected.

They were safe under the Iroko tree. And what was more, I beheld a wonderful thing.

The storm caused the ripe fruits from the Iroko tree to fall to the ground to the great pleasure of the forest animals whose hunger was quenched thereby.

That storm taught the forest animals a great life lesson which is that in times of storms, you cannot shelter under tiny trees.

The tiny tree itself also learnt a lesson from the storm which is that a fruit that will not fall under a storm is a fruit that is not ripe for plucking. And finally, the ambitious fruit learnt its lesson which is that it is a tree that nourishes a fruit and not a fruit that nourishes the tree.

And after everybody had learnt their lessons, the forest animals and all the trees in the forest lived happily ever after.

*Mr. Omokri is SP to President Jonathan on New Media.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013— 19

, If APC wins Tinubu’ll lose T

venomously described them. It is still a mystery that a platform that owed its relevance to their struggle for the de-annulment of the presidential mandate of Chief Moshood Abiola and its hated enemies who were campaigning for the self-succession of Abacha should be locked together in a merger that could produce a true mega-party to counter-punch the ruling PDP. This is more so, since there is absolutely no ideological nexus between both camps other than the common resolve to wrest power from the PDP. Over the past week, the APC leadership embarked on a political evangelism of sorts, visiting some of the G-7 governors in their respective states in the North to woo them into their party. These included Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Governor Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto states. Already, some of the loyalists of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State have moved over to the APC, Nyako is very vocal about his preference for a wholesale dumping of the PDP, mainly because he has

,

been uprooted from the PDP by the National Chairman and fellow Adamawite, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

I

f the seven governors on the platform of the rebel PDP should accede to the pressures of the APC and join them, it will be a major political game-changer, not only since 1999 when the new democracy was born, but also for the 2015 general elections. It will mean that the APC will be coming to the party with 18 governors. If that should happen, nothing will guarantee that more Northern governors who are currently on the side of President Goodluck Jonathan might not jump ship for strategic reasons that I will expatiate shortly.

The PDP maintains its grip on power because of the perception that it is the only political party with the clout and spread to win

A nation in search of itself The grassroots argument soon got into RDINARILY, you do not share, with your teeth, the meat you forbid. Our the heads of the military juntas and once O faith in the proposed National Conference they embarked on indiscriminate creation is less than a mustard seed. We see it as another diversionary ploy intended to remove the attention of people from the failings of government and the 2015 project. However, we are constrained to re-affirm our belief in the eight-zonal structure for Nigeria, which was first espoused in this column last January, just in case miracles still happen.

At independence in 1960, this big elephant stood on a tripod in the name of Regions – the North, East and West.

In August 1963, a fourth entity, the Midwest, which was carved out of the then Western Region, joined the league of Regions.

Essentially, this baby of the league – the Midwest – remains the only member that was democratically and constitutionally created, a majority of the present 36 states, being military contraptions.

To jettison the Midwest could also be reminiscent of our allergy to constitutionalism and rule of law. By way of coming to equity with clean hands, no opportunity should be spared in reminding the old Western Region (the current South West zone) of its indebtedness to the Midwest for its share of the assets of the West. At creation, the Midwest was simply pushed into the cold without any share of the common wealth. We shall still save this for another day.

Some have argued that the creation of more states is a way of taking development to the grassroots. This argument has limited validity because no one, even among the greatest advocates of states creation, has demonstrated in clear terms that if Nigeria were bulkanised into 1000 states, its development strides would correspondingly increase by 300 per cent. If anything, the units and levels of corruption and cost of governance would skyrocket at a geometric proportion far beyond 300 percent.

of states, there was no stopping them. States creation and the citing of their capitals soon became veritable means of satisfying personal friendships and relations.

It is confounding that some people are still demanding for the creation of more states. This column has consistently maintained that perhaps the only way to satisfy such demands is to break the country into 160 million states so that every Nigerian would have his/her own state.

For all we know, many of the current 36 states are not viable. Some states have become so lazy that they are mere “stealing centres” that exist just for the purpose of sharing the monthly allocations from the Federation account. In fact, the non-viability of some of the states came to the fore after the Minimum Wage Act, 2011, which many states have been unable to implement till date. Ideally, what we should be asking for now are acquisitions, mergers and consolidations of the weaker states as the Central Bank has been doing with the commercial banks. Essentially, this is what the eightzonal structure that we now recommend seeks to do.

People have toyed enough with the zonal arrangement in which the country was arbitrarily divided into six geopolitical zones.

This gained currency during the Constitutional Conference of 1995, when an attempt was made to enshrine it into the Constitution. The truth, though, remains that apart from serving as occasional outposts for loose political party congresses, business seminars and religious conventions, the sixzone structure has remained a dead-letter right from inception, understandably so because, in the main, the arrangement depicted a marriage of odd bed fellows.

At various forums, Simon Owa, a phar-

majority shareholder in the APC, Tinubu will no longer be able to manipulate Northern politicians for his own end as he succeeded in sponsoring Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of House of Reps in 2011 against PDP’s desire to give it to a Yoruba person. He sponsored Tambuwal and also Senator George Akume as Minority Leader of the Senate in order to give the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, a national outlook. Till today, Tambuwal is still Tinubu’s hidden joker against General Muhammadu Buhari for presidential candidate of APC in 2015.

If the G-7 joins APC, there will be an influx of tested and experienced politicians and leaders with presidential ambition, such as Sule Lamido and Atiku Abubakar. I am watching to see how the centre can hold. More particularly, I am watching to see what Tinubu is going to do when he realises that he has played deep into Arewa political killing field.

Some say he might play the same card he did in 2011: Do deals and ask the South West voters to give it to Jonathan. Remember, Osun was the only state in the South West and the country at large where the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, won the presidential election.

Indeed, the odds facing the APC in its effort to upstage President Jonathan are so hydra-headed it will take a major political miracle for them to get to their destination.

And if they get there, it will not be everybody who will be shouting Hallelujah!

macist currently based in Benin City, Edo State, has consistently advocated the abolition of the six-zone structure and the establishment in its stead, an eight-zone structure, which will promote equity and stability. Hear him: “We should build on a past

,

HERE is not doubt that if the All Progressives Congress, APC, succeeds in its current drive to absorb the new-Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, Nigerian democracy will be the better for it. It will turn Nigeria into a very balanced democracy dominated by two political parties.

However, whether these two parties will be ideologically driven to give the Nigerian electorate a clear choice will be another matter. For all we know, the APC, like the ruling PDP, will continue to be a mere platform to contest and win electoral power. Right now, APC is nothing more than the most attractive political party for opponents of the PDP seeking to wrest power from it. These include those who have been members of the ruling party but at one time or the other and for one reason or the other, parted ways with it either voluntarily or were forced out.

It also includes elements of the old post-NADECO Alliance for Democracy, AD and the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, an offshoot of the late General Sani Abacha’s “five leprous fingers” parties, as the late Chief Bola Ige

I am speaking based on the lessons of history; with power in the hands of a northern president, Tinubu’s political empire will disappear almost overnight

the presidency and hold onto it very comfortably. But if the APC scores unexpected goals and becomes the party with the ability to overrun the PDP at the presidential, gubernatorial and federal legislative elections in 2015, it will become a matter of political survival for politicians to want to go there.

This is how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will “lose” if APC gets what it is looking for. Tinubu’s platform will become overnight, the minority shareholder. He will have control of six states (Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, and Edo). There will be two renegade states, one from the South East (Rochas Okorocha’s Imo) and South-South (Rotimi Amaechi’s Rivers) though I cannot swear these governors can win their states for the APC. The North will become the master of APC, with 10 states (Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto Kwara and Zamfara).

With this kind of new configuration, it will be easy to persuade the North (especially Arewa North) to give a block vote to the Arewa APC presidential candidate who will run for the party. Tinubu will supply the Vice President, and his platform will begin to play the second fiddle.

With power in the hands of an APC Northern president, it will be easier for Yoruba followers of Tinubu to play the “Akintola versus Awolowo” game on him, opting to go direct to the president for their political gratification; a move that will be welcomed with open arms.

I am speaking based on the lessons of history. With power in the hands of a Northern president, Tinubu’s political empire will disappear almost overnight.

When the North becomes the

The eight-zone structure will give expression to the aspirations of the nation’s minorities as it will summarily address the inherent alienation of the old minorities

,

that has been well defined and tested as a foundation for our continued existence, especially as it affected the old minorities of the North, the West and the East before the civil war. Nature and equity have defined what zonal structure we should have starting from where we were in 1967”.

U

nder the eight-zone arrangement, the North and the South will each have four zones. While the North will include the North West, North Central, North East and the Middle Belt; the South shall have the South West, South East, SouthSouth and the Midwest.

In the particular case of the Midwest zone,

the supporting argument is that no reasonable nation ever throws away the good thing it already has while embarking on an unreasonable wild goose chase. Under the regional arrangement, the Midwest was very viable and there is no reason to believe that it will be any less viable now.

Again, the viability of any zone cannot be determined by sheer size. Even at that, it is reasonable to expect Bayelsa State to form part of the Midwest zone, particularly against the backdrop that a large part of today ’s Bayelsa — Sagbama and its neighbouring communities — were originally part of the Midwest Region. It is another case of the chicken coming home to roost. With Bayelsa State in the Midwest zone, we shall have three states each in the Midwest and the South-South zones.

The eight-zone structure will give expression to the aspirations of the nation’s minorities as it will summarily address the inherent alienation of the old minorities of the North (the Middle Belt), the old minorities of the East (the South-South) as well as the old minorities of the West (the Midwest).

In many areas, the existing six-zone structure stoically ignores the concepts of homogeneity and contiguity, which are very important political considerations. A situation in which Lamkpese at the extreme northern flank of Edo State bordering Kogi State is grouped in the same zone as Ogoja in Cross River State is simply amorphous and does not make for political or administrative convenience. The eight-zone structure is an idea whose time has come!

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 7 , 2013

ADORATION TRAGEDY:

Tales of tears and anguish ••A woman I gave N3000 was among the victims – Umeh

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

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HOSE who witnessed the tragedy at the Holy Ghost Ministry Adoration ground at Uke in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State seem to have found their voices at last and are now narrating their harrowing experience. It would be recalled that 25 persons lost their lives following a stampede that took place when the worshippers were going home after the service.

Among those who spoke to Vanguard Metro, VM, on the ugly incident is the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh. Umeh was part of the 10-member team that accompanied Governor Peter Obi to the Adoration Ground following invitation by the spiritual director, Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obinma, as part of the ceremonies to mark the feast of All Saints.

The monthly religious exercise is very popular in the area, especially among Catholics who believe that God could answer prayers faster during such crusades. On the fateful Saturday, no fewer than 100,000 persons had gathered at the Adoration

Mr. Osmond Okoli... Escaped death by whiskers. INSET: Governor Peter Obi with Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obinma before the tragic stampede

believe that the woman was among the 25 persons that lost their lives during the stampede.

It is so painful that people who want to seek the face of God to enrich their spiritual lives could perish that way. “ For Miss Ijeoma Chikelu, her experience was simply amazing. She was among those already deposited at the Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor mortuary and considered dead. Her friend, Miss Cynthia Okoli, who came to the Adoration Ground with her, was crying her hearts out when suddenly, Ijeoma started sweating, indicating that she was still alive. Her friend began to call for help and she was immediately brought outside the

What happened taught me that one should always be prepared for death because nobody knows when it will come to him

,

centre organised by Fr. Obinma popularly known as ‘Ebube Muonso’ (the glorious spirit).

When the Governor’s team left at about 3 a.m after participating in the Holy Mass and the vigil, a voice from the crowd called the name of Chief Umeh and knowing that it was not just an ordinary admirer, he looked back and discovered that it was a woman from his community.

Umeh said: “When we were leaving the Adoration ground at 3 a.m that Saturday, I heard a woman who called my traditional name of Ohamadike from the crowd. From the way she called, I knew it was somebody who knows me well and when I turned, behold it was a woman from my community. We greeted and I dipped hand in my pocket and gave her N3000. Do you

,

morgue to a place where she had air. With time, she opened her eyes and began to ask where she was. She was later admitted to the hospital and treated and discharged. Back home where her relations were told what happened, it was celebration all the way.

Another victim, Mr. Abuchi Muoma who was treated at Crown Cross Hospital, Nkpor and was leaving for home with his father when VM met him said that after the vigil, he was happy and as he was walking out of the place, there was a shout of fire! fire!! and the next thing was that people started running.

Abuchi said he ran for some distance and then fell, adding that many people fell on top of him and he was unable to get up.

He said that it was in the hospi-

tal that he regained consciousness and was treated before the doctor declared that he was fit to go home. “It was God that saved me. What happened taught me that one should always be prepared for death because nobody knows when it will come to him,” he said.

At the various hospitals where the victims were rushed after the incident, the tension was very high as youths tried to use it to denigrate politicians. As usual, stories of various kinds were circulating both in the internet and in various communities, blaming

perceived masterminds of the unfortunate incident. Mr. Osmond Okoli, another survivor, said he went with his family for spiritual enrichment. On getting to the adoration ground, members of his family went in different directions.

On this occasion, he said he was almost in front of the altar and did not even know where members of his family were sitting. He said: “At the end of the vigil, I was walking away when I noticed that people were running. I stood out of the way for them to pass only for the surg-

ing crowd to push me down. I felt the weight of people, but I was conscious enough to hear what people were saying.

“I knew when they took me to the hospital for treatment and after the first aid, I told the nurse that I was fit to go home and I was discharged. My apprehension was my family and I was lucky that they all got home safely. I thank God that I am alive to tell the story. I am, however, sad that some people lost their lives while seeking the face of God and I pray that He grants their souls eternal repose.”

Climate change: Lagos threatens to prosecute violators of parks and garden regulations

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

V

IOLATORS of Parks and Garden Regulations have been warned by the Lagos State Government to desist forthwith as defaulters would henceforth be fined or made to serve jail term. Managing Director, Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency, Mrs Titi Anibaba, who gave the warning in her Alausa office at a media briefing, enumerated that such offences that are punishable by the law include neglect, failure and refusal to landscape and beautify the perimeter fence of residents’ properties.

She listed others as felling of trees without obtaining required permit from the agency, walking on lawns and gardens, urinating and defecating in parks, garden or open place, among others.

Anibaba, reiterated the state government’s commitment in environmental regeneration and called on the private sector to get actively involved and support government initiative through partnership in the area of adoption and maintenance of some of the gardens in their area of operation.

“More importantly, I call on Lagosians to respect the trees, parks, garden, lawns, railings and other properties of the agencies as these belong to all of us as they were provided with tax payers money,” she said.

The Managing Director explained that tree planting initiative of the state was conceived and adopted as the cheapest way to combat global warming which is threatening the survival of human race.

“I wish to reiterate the fact that Lagos State Government has put a high premium on the environment policy of protecting the environment for future generation is unbeatable,” she added.

Anibaba said about 32 of the government garden were sponsored by private initiatives, adding that work is on 180 parks across the state.

She said the agencies also generates revenue from the use of some of their gardens, adding that such revenue is plunged back for maintenance and other exigencies.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 —21

N6.8trn required for tackling infrastructure deficit — Report

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

A

WORLD Bank fact sheet on infrastructure in SubSaharan Africa has shown that an estimated N6.8 trillion annual investment will be required for addressing Africa’s infrastructure deficit.

The fact sheet also noted that a further N5.9 trillion investment and an overall price tag of N12 trillion would be required to tackle the challenges of infrastructure operations and maintenance.

According to the report, “The total required spending translates into some 12 per cent of Africa’s GDP as there is a funding gap of N56.6 trillion per year.”

Recall that in the 2011 AfDB report, the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostics reported that the infrastructure need of Sub-Saharan Africa exceeds N148.8 trillion annually over the next decade.

The report noted that, “Currently, there is an under provision leading to a financing gap of more than N800 trillion.

The poor state of infrastructure also in the sub-Saharan Africa reduces national economic growth potentials by two percentage points and productivity by as much as 40 per cent annually.”

The fact sheet also noted that, “Africa’s main infrastructure deficit is found in the power

Managing Director, MediaReach, Tolu Ogunkoya; Acting CEO/Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; Director, Brands & Communication, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye; and Chief Executive Officer, Megalectrics, Chris Ubosi, at a cocktail party organised for Etisalat High Value Customers, to mark the 5th anniversary of Etisalat in Nigeria, in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU sector, whether measured in terms of generation capacity, electricity consumption or security of supply, as Africa’s power infrastructure delivers only a fraction of the service found in other developing countries,” adding that, “The

48 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, with a combined population of 800 million people, generate roughly the same amount of power as Spain, which has a population of 45 million.”

Speaking at the second bien-

nial conference of West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM, in Lagos on financing infrastructure for sustainable development in West Africa, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam

FMDQ O TC ttoo par tner SMED AN on SMEs funding OTC partner SMEDAN

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

INANCIAL Market Dealers Association Quotation, FMDQ OTC Plc, said it is ready to collaborate with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, to fast-track collective borrowing from fixed income market for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, in Nigeria.

Briefing the press in Lagos, the Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Bola Onadele, said that FMDQ OTC Plc, which is being launched, would design SMEs friendly products that would make it easy for SMEs to access fixed income market for their funding needs.

“One of our core responsibilities is to develop framework for the real sector and SMEs collective borrowing from the fixed income market to grant access to pension funds,” he said, adding that it would also

seek affiliation with international agencies/associations that operate the same model with it to borrow from their experience in SME financing.

He cited organisations like International Organisation of Securities Commission, IOSCO, Federation of Exchanges and NAFI as an example, saying that NAFI was top on the list.

His words, “If hopefully we achieve our goal of liquid market as anticipated, we may be looking at affiliation with some international organisations. We have a long list, but top on the list is NAFI, a Chinese association that mirrors our model.

We want to see how it is supporting the Chinese economy.”

Besides, he said that the platform would seek the integration of Nigerian market with other international markets.

According to him, investors would be able to monitor trading figure on-line real time after launch.

Incorporated on January 6, 2011, FMDQ was licensed on November 6, 2012 by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to perform the function of Over-the Counter market in the Nigerian capital market.

It is a securities exchange for listing and trading of fixed income products and plain-vanilla interest rate and currency derivatives to offer financial security.

Its shareholders include the Central bank of Nigeria, Financial Market Dealers Association, FMDA, the Nigerian Stock Exchange through NSE Consult Limited and the 25 commercial banks and three discount houses.

I21 banks and three discount houses make up its trading member and money market instruments listing members, while top SEC-registered capital market issuing Houses make up the bond listing mem-

bers.

Outlining its five-year plan, Onadele said that FMDQ will focus on achieving market transparency in the remaining part of this year; while the focus will be shifted to increasing its trading intensity and product diversification in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

In 2016, he said they would concentrate on integrating the platform with external financial markets, while in the fifth year -2017/2018- it will engage in strategic unbundling for greater impact.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, affirmed the critical need and dearth of infrastructure in the continent and stressed on the need for the region to come together and develop its infrastructure, as it is the capital stock that facilitates the provision of public goods and services.

According to him, “Socioeconomic development can be fast-tracked by the presence of adequate and efficient infrastructure as it provides a linkage to the global economy and creates a multiplier effect that benefits the entire society directly and indirectly. Infrastructure development drives economic growth and therefre, emerging market and developing economies need to increase infrastructure investment to enhance access to energy, clean water and basic transport for an all-inclusive economic growth and development.”

He noted the CBN through the Bankers’ Committee has taken steps to improve the financing of infrastructure projects in the country by articulating and strategising on ways to boost lending to the most critical sectors of the economy such as power, transportation and agriculture and accelerate growth.

He said, “The bank also financed the drafting of the National Infrastructure Financing Policy in 2012. The key thrust of the policy was to provide a framework for leveraging private finance for infrastructure development; promoting the involvement of specialised funds and multilateral agencies in the financing of development projects; diversifying and developing non-bank sources of long term finance for infrastructure financing; and recommend incentives that would spur local and international project developers and financiers, to invest in infrastructure projects in Nigeria.”

103.6

0.15

2,739.00

+3.00

482.30

-1.20

Data not availa106.31 +0.98 ble in the folder 94.18 +0.81 as specified

CURRENCY SELLING

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIY KRONA SDR

BUYING

CENTRAL

154.71 155.21 248.2631 249.0655 208.7347 209.4093 169.6568 170.2051 1.5735 1.5786 0.2996 0.3096 236.1436 236.9068 25.3739 25.4563 41.2516 41.3849 27.9851 28.0755 237.0157 237.7817

155.71 249.8678 210.0839 170.7534 1.5837 0.3196 237.67 25.5388 41.5182 28.166 238.5477

CBN Exchange rate as at 06/11/2013

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund ranked 44th on transparency index

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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IGERIA’S sovereign wealth fund has been ranked number 44 on the global Sovereign Wealth Transparency rating for the third quarter of 2013.

Known as the LinaburgMaduell Transparency Index, it rates the sovereign wealth funds of countries in terms of how transparent they are to the public.

According to the rating for the third quarter released yesterday, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) achieved a rating of ‘4’, to place 44th out of 51 sovereign wealth fund rated by the Sovereign Wealth Institute.

The minimum rating is 1, while a fund must achieve minimum rating of 8 in order to claim adequate transparency.

Though four points below the recommended minimum of ‘8’, it is however a three step improvement when compared to the rating of ‘1’achieved in the previous quarter by the NSIA. The implication however is that the country is still far below in terms of transparency of the operations of its $1 billion sovereign wealth fund.

It would be recalled that the NSIA made its first investment last month when it committed over $200m to UBS, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs to manage a fixed income portfolio.

The third quarter LinaburgMaduell Transparency Index also revealed that the sovereign wealth funds of eleven countries maintain their hold on the top eleven positions with rating of ‘10’, on the index. These are Chile, United Arab Emirate (UAE), Singapore,Ireland, Azerbajan, Australia, USA, Norway, New

Zealand and Canada.

Nigeria joined the clubs of countries that have sovereign wealth funds in 2011 when the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Bill was signed into law on Thursday, May 26, 2011, by President Jonathan. In 2012, the federal government appointed an eight man board to pilot the affairs of the NSIA. The board is led by Alhaji Mahey Rasheed, OFR as chairman and Mr. Uche Orji

as pioneer Chief Executive.

The board is charged with the responsibility of managing the nation’s sovereign wealth fund which was established with seed capital of $1 billion.

The fund comprises three investment baskets – the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund; the Future Generations Fund and the Stabilisation Fund.

Commenting on the first investment of the NSIA, Orji told Financial Times that the Fund gave UBS $50m to invest

Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade; CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; First Deputy Governor, Central Bank of the Gambia, Mr. Bashiru Njai; and the Governor, Bank of Sierra Leone, Mr. Sheku Sesay at the 2nd Biennial Conference of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) in Lagos … Monday.

CeBIH conference examines growth opportunities in e-payment industry

T

HE Committee of EBanking Industry Heads (CeBIH) will examine opportunities for growth in the burgeoning Nigeria electronic payment market at its 3rd annual conference.

The theme of the conference, schedule to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th November, is “E-payment system: Harnessing Opportunities for

Growth and Profitability”. The keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria. The conference will be attended by top officials and state executives of Akwa Ibom state led by Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom, His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio.

Commenting on the theme of the conference, CeBIH

Fashola addresses BDAN stakeholders forum

G

in US Treasuries. A further $150m was being transferred to Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs to build a US corporate bond portfolio. “This is a major milestone for us,” he said, adding that the Fund had delayed making any initial investments due to the volatility in global markets.

But on Monday he said that he felt the bond market was now “fairly valued”.

OVERNOR of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN would be the Guest Speaker at the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) 2013 Stakeholders’ Forum.

The Annual Stakeholders’ Forum of the Association brings together executive and nonexecutive directors of banks, officials of other financial institutions, regulatory authorities, professional bodies and executives of other leading companies in Nigeria. Thus, it is an opportunity for banking professionals to network and also share thoughts on the theme of the Forum. The theme of this year’s forum is “Public Private Partnership Innovations in Public Sector Financing” and is scheduled to hold on Tuesday November 12th, 2013, at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Forum would be chaired by Miss Ngozi Edozien, Chief Executive Officer, Actis, a panemerging market private equity firm.

The target audience for this year’s forum include: Executive and Non-Executive Directors of banks, directors of other financial institutions, heads of Corporate Banking Departments, directors and heads of corporate finance of multinational companies and their counterparts in the public sector, PPP stakeholders, states commissioners, regulatory authorities, etc. BDAN is the umbrella body of bank directors. It was established to provide a forum for improving the knowledge and the competence of bank directors, thereby promoting honourable practice within the banking industry in Nigeria.

Chairman, Mr. Chuks Iku said, “The e-payment market in Nigeria has experienced exponential growth in the last two years, but we believe that more than half of the potential for growth is not yet realised.

As the umbrella body of EBanking Heads in the banking industry, part of the responsibilities of CeBIH is to make sure that this potential is fully utilised, and the purpose of this conference is to prompt e-payment operators to probe deeper with a view of identifying unutilised opportunities.”

To achieve this purpose, the conference will feature presentations from top players in the industry, World Bank and the regulatory bodies.

These include Mr. Ade Shonubi – Managing Director, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS and Mr. Dipo Fatokun, Director, Banking & Payments System, CBN, Mr. Duncan Otieno, Managing Director, MobiComm, Kenya, Mr. Frederik Eijkman, Managing Director, PEP Intermedius, Kenya and other experts from the World Bank.

Standard Chartered hosts corporate clients

S

TANDARD Chartered Bank has hosted its corporate clients to a business forum themed: Building a Conducive Environment for Trade and Investment. The event was put together to foster partnership between the organised private sector and the government, wherein both parties can work out sustainable solutions to various challenges impeding the achievement of a conducive environment for business in Nigeria.

The Guest Speaker at the occasion was the Honorable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga (CON) and had in attendance key players in the Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Oil and Gas, Trading, Financial Service sectors amongst others.

Delivering the opening speech at the event, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd, said “At Standard Chartered Bank, we pride ourselves as being the bank with a simple strategy to remain a “commercial” and not just a “financial” institution” where we don’t go after speculative lending, but rather we focus on Trade and forex by leveraging on our strong balance sheet. We strongly believe that as a bank, what will differentiate us in the long run is not only ‘what’ we do, but ‘how’ we do it.

We are committed to building bridges of partnership that will support our clients and the communities in which we work, being mindful that their success will ultimately become ours.”

The Honourable Minister, in delivering the keynote address noted that the role of governments, world over, is changing and Nigeria is no different. He opined that governments are meant to provide the enabling environment in terms of co-developed polices, appropriate regulation, facilitating competitive and investmentfriendly business climate, creating favourable conditions for growth and enterprise while ensuring macroeconomic and financial stability, which companies require to invest and plan for the future.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 —23

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Indulge seminar attracts 50 participants

BY WALE OSHIKOYA

I

SEMINAR: From left; Vice President, LCCI, Mr. Adam Idufueko; Chairman, Petroleum Downstream Group, Engr. Emma Osagie; Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Dakuku; and DG, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, at a seminar on kerosene in Lagos

Nigeria can earn huge revenue exporting pepper

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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IGERIA has the potential to earn huge foreign exchange from exporting chilies like ‘Atarodo’, ‘Sombo’ and ‘Tatase.

This was disclosed by Mr. Ravi Hemnani, Group Chief Executive Officer of Venus Processing & Packaging Limited, VPPL, a member of Primlaks Group.

He added that the country can earn a lot of money by exporting local delicacies like ‘Yam Fries’, ‘Yam Chunks’ and ‘Dodo’, as well as fruits like pineapple, papaya and mango to Nigerians in the diaspora if they are well packaged in consumerfriendly standard pack sizes and delivered in ready-to-use state for frying, steaming, microwaving or any other method preferred by customers.

According to him, his company has invented ‘Individually Quick Frozen Technology, IQF, for freezing of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables to lock in all their vitamins, nutrients and natural goodness.

“We pioneered fruit and vegetable IQF production in Nigeria because we observed that Nigeria suffers from an estimated 40 percent post-harvest loss that should not be allowed to continue and we know that IQF has the potential to stop this unacceptable waste,” he said.

Hemnani further explained that the company was at ANUGA 2013 exhibition in Cologne, Germany to showcase the

technology and Nigerian products in the international market.

“ANUGA, being the world’s largest food and beverage fair with nearly 7,000 exhibitors from 100 c o u n t r i e s and about 155,000 visitors from 185 countries,

gave us the ideal platform to fulfill our export objectives. We are particularly focused on reaching the large population of Africans in the diaspora, especially in Europe, America and the Middle East, who present huge

potential for foreign exchange earnings,” he said.

“We believe that our efforts will help in achieving the objectives of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda and offer Nigeria a huge revenue earning opportunity.

Industrialist laments monetary policy impact on industries

BY NAOMI UZOR

A

N industrialist has lamented that the monetary policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, are adversely affecting local industries.

The negative effects were highlighted in a presentation by Mr. Henry Boyo, Managing Director, Abel Sell Limited, during the Annual General Meeting/Symposium of the industrial group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Boyo noted that the adverse impacts of excess liquidity is affecting the industrial base, high level of unemployment, low capacity utilisation, high cost of funds, reduced purchasing power of incomes, capital flight and increasing national debt burden.

“How can intelligent Nigerians be comfortable and think it is okay for the CBN to borrow money that it does not need when we have excess of money that has not been used; yet, there

is no money to borrow or is being borrowed at high interest rates, and we think it’s okay? Then we need to have our heads examined. CBN is indirectly promoting unemployment in Nigeria,” he said.

Boyo said requisite process for revitalisation of the Nigeria economy is to reduce crowding out of the real sector by erstwhile government unending borrowings, adding that there is no need for external mop up, lower interest rates, a public sector annual savings of over N500 billion for erstwhile debt service charges and enhanced revenue for infrastructural/ human capacity development.

The Director, Research Department of the CBN, Mr. Charles Mordi, said the growth of any economy depends strongly on its manufacturing sector, given its inherent capacity to create jobs and income, adding that the dismal performance of the sector has been a source of

concern for economic policy makers.

Over time, he said, both the monetary and fiscal authorities have taken steps to improve the performance of the sector listing such initiatives

by CBN to include the establishment of NIDB, NBCI,SMEIEIS, NERFUND and BOI etc.

“Monetary policy is essentially a short-term macroeconomic adjustment mechanism; its effect on manufacturing sector is limited to the long-run impact of shortterm fluctuations in money supply, credit, interest and exchange rates, which central bank can influence with its policy instruments. A major challenge that needs to be addressed for sustainable real sector development is the weak link between the growth drivers, particularly agriculture and the manufacturing sector.

Adequate provisions of liquidity to banks by monetary authorities build banks capacity to finance economic activities,” he said

NDULGE Nigeria Lim-ited ‘Lunch and learn’ wellness seminar attracted over 50 manufacturers and health practitioners.

In an address, the Managing Director of the company, Dr. Bisi Abiola, said the company has consistently hosted the event for 11 years.

She expressed gratitude to sponsors like Unilever Nigeria Plc, Grand Cereals Limited, and UAC Foods including Promasidor;PZ Cussons and other corporate sponsors’ “The role of Indulge is to promote the benefit of living a healthy life style

both at home and at work,” she said.

She added that it is never too late or too early to start thinking about healthy lifestyle, advising parents to expose their children to healthy living early in life, and that it is never too late for old people to learn healthy living.

Earlier, Dr. Bolaji Adebiyi, MD/ CEO, Alimosho General Hospital, said “more blacks die of breast cancer than white, even though whites are more often diagnosed of cancer than blacks. “Whites read better than blacks, they are better informed than the blacks, blacks don’t pay much attention to early detection,” he said.”

Ezekwesili, others to speak on policy formulation

C

SR-in-Action has concluded arrangement to hold its second annual seminar tagged “Sustainability in the Extractive Industries”.

The seminar will tackle issues of policy f o r m u l a t i o n , implementation and regulation in the Extractive industry, said Bekeme Masade, Executive Director, CSR-in-Action.

He disclosed that key participants at the conference include H.E Musa Mohammed Sada, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria; Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Vice President of the World

Bank, Africa Region; Zainab Ahmed (Mrs.), Executive Secretary, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) including Dr. Glenn Bestall, Vice President, QHSSEC, Seven Energy Nigeria Limited “As seen in the maiden edition last year, best practice and challenges in these industries will be reviewed with the aim of proffering viable solutions, while the sub-theme for this year will focus on current challenges concerning implementation of policies to promote long term unity and development, by stimulating a meaningful exchange of ideas and best practices ,” he said.

NEPAD hosts cassava investment forum today

T

HE New partner ship for African Development (NEPAD) Business Group Nigeria (NBGN is hosting its maiden cassava investment forum today in Abuja.

In a parley with pressmen, the NBGN Chairman, Chief Chris Ezeh, said the investment forum aims to attract substantial private sector investments to develop and promote the necessary cassava value chains in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region.

“With about 45 million tones annual production of cassava, Nigeria is the

largest cassava producing nation in the world.

The country is however not benefiting much from this staple crop, due to subsistence farming and inability to add value to the crop through processing. Almost all the cassava produced is used for human consumption and less than five percent is used in industries,” he stated.

He stated that the investment forum intends to help further the Transformation Agenda of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan with respect to cassava as an economy crop for wealth and job creation.

25—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Two former NIMASA DGs disagree over CVFF status

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

WO former directors general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have

disagreed over the current status of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

Both former chief executives of the agency disagreed over the suc-

cess and failure of the Fund since its inception ten years ago.

Barrister Temisan Omatseye, who happens to be the third director general of the agency, at

a recent public hearing of the House of Representative on the CVFF, said the Fund has failed as a result of the guidelines.

In a swift reaction, the first chief executive of the agency. Mrs. Mfon Usoro, on the other hand said that the Fund can-

Importers, agents, Customs involved in corruption at ports — Shittu

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

A

frontline freight for warder and Managing Director of Shibab Services Ltd, Babatunde Shittu, has accused importers, agents, Customs officers and other government operatives of involvment in corrupt activities at the ports.

Shittu explained that agents were the ones that are normally on the receiving side as they are considered notorious and responsible for driving corruption at the port.

He said: “They are all partners in business because the agents cannot do it alone. The importers

cannot do it alone, also the agents cannot do it alone; they have to consult the Customs who have the power of final release of the consignment from the ports. Looking well at it, it is a joint effort of all one of them; they are in business together.”

He noted that agents alone cannot be said to be dubious because the agent is working for someone.

In his words: “agents alone cannot be said to be dubious because the agent is working for someone. Most of the importers are more dubious than the agents because the agents dance to their tune.

“Some importers bring in consignments, devalue the invoice and then want the agent to work with that invoice.

The importer already wants to cheat the government in duty and at the end of the day, the agent is only a tool in the hands of the importer.

Nobody will see the importer; they only see the middleman that is running around, that is the agent.

“For instance, an importer gives me a job worth N100,000.00 but says no he can only pay N50,000.00. Knowing fully well that N50,000.00 cannot cover the job, some

agents will jump into it and collect the money.

“They collect N50,000.00 first but after a while, they come back to say that the money is not enough. You will be forced to give him because you do not want your cargo to remain there.”

Shittu pointed out that some importers, who have done the valuation already want to use the agents to bribe the Customs and to bribe their way to get their jobs out of the ports.

He called on the relevant government agencies to work at incorporating all the sectors in the industry, in the ongoing reforms if it must be successful.

not be said to have failed when it has not been disbursed.

Usoro, who headed the agency for about six months, noted that it was better for government to take its time in disbursing the Fund in order to achieve its objective.

“I was not at the public hearing, but I certainly do not agree that the Fund has failed. For the Fund to have failed, it must have been disbursed and the beneficiaries may have misapplied the Fund to do what they were supposed to do. So I do not believe that the Fund has failed..

“I understand that the government is slow in disbursing the Fund and I think it is better to be slow in the disbursement so that we do not run into the murky waters you just talked about” she added.

Meanwhile, a maritime practitioner and Master Mariner, Captain Adewale Ishola, has urged the Federal Government to stop direct disbursement of the Fund to intending beneficiaries to avert the collapse of the scheme.

Customs impounds contraband worth N265m

By IFEYINWA OBI

T

HE Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Imo State, has made a total of 31 seizures of contraband.

The seizures which include 2 by 20 ft containers filled with printed textile materials totalling 566 bales have a duty paid value (DPV) of N264, 745 million.

Customs Area Controller (CAC), FOU, Zone C, Mr. Victor Dimka, disclosed this at Abia /Imo Command premises, while briefing newsmen on achievements recorded by the command between September and middle of October this year.

Within the period under review, Dimka, who is a Deputy Comptroller (DC), said 2,811 cartons of refined vegetable oil and 117 bales of second-hand clothing, in addition to 45 pieces of used tyres, were confiscated.

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

At the national confab, let’s do it right (2) In this second instalment of the discourse, the authors argue that representation at the proposed national conference should be based on the ethnic nationalities where no group would lord over the other

The ills of Godfatherism and the political elite

A

H

OW TO GET THERE: The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Let us accept that the proposed national conference will indeed provide us with the opportunity to chart the course and subsequently take the right steps, one following the other, as one people who have agreed to travel together to the agreed destination in the mutually agreed mode and pace. No structure standing on a crooked foundation can escape being crooked itself as it rises. The higher the structure that stands on a crooked foundation, the more imminent is its fall and the greater its fall.

Due care should, therefore, be given to ensure that there will be no crookedness in the foundation we are trying to lay at the conference.

Representation: The point can hardly be over emphasized that the component parts of this country are not the political parties, however, widely spread and, therefore, big or small any of them may be. They are also not the local governments, states or geopolitical zones as presently delineated. There is no re-arrangement or realignment of any of these that could transform them to become the building blocks of this nation.

Representation that is based on any of these considerations would make the whole exercise a non-starter.

Similarly, no religion constitutes a building

•Nigeria

one is excluded. Irrespective of the population of one ethnic nationality relative to another or the number of states or local government areas one ethnic nationality may cover in spread or all of one is contained in one local government area, one ethnic nationality should be only one and no more.

The temptation to “creatively” sub-divide any ethnic nationality must be resisted.To yield to such temptation would greatly negate our national need to build trust and confidence in one another.

There is nothing sacrosanct about the number of representatives per ethnic nationality. If for the sake of illustration, we have four per ethnic nationality, two should be men, one woman and one youth. Whatever figure is ultimately agreed on, the crucial factors here are that there should be equal representation from each ethnic nationality and that the components should be men, women and youth.Whatever the number of representatives the committee ultimately arrives at, each ethnic nationality should be free to choose their representatives Plenary: These should form the core representatives that will have The proposed national conference both voice and vote at the should, therefore, be the conference of plenary sessions on all matters.

No one should have a veto or a the ethnic nationalities of Nigeria at casting vote. This means that which to lay the foundation for the those presiding as chairman or should be outside building of the one nation of Nigeria vice-chairman of the representatives and block of this nation, just as none of the should only have the functions of moderating professions has that attribute. That at the sessions and facilitating the work of the nothwithstanding, we would have a a lot to conference. They also should not contribute gain from inputs from these groups as fellow to any debate one way or the other by way of Nigerians. Representation from these canvassing for or against any side of a debate groups would only better be on qualified and they should have neither vote nor veto.

The professionals/specialists: We should basis as will be shown later. have groups of the professional artisans and The proposed national conference should, therefore, be the conference of the ethnic religions who can only report in the matters nationalities of Nigeria at which to lay the referred to them, the report of which will be foundation for the building of the one nation voted on and passed at the plenary by those of Nigeria. Let us here work with the who have voice and vote. These groups will definition of a country being a mere work in committees to deliberate on issues on geographical expression and a nation being which they specialise and report to the plenary the bonding of the peoples into a people where the decision to accept is taken. Where with an espoused common identity, vision there are even alternatives or multiple and destiny. It is only at the level of the ethnic positions on a given matter, they should nationalities that we can derive the mandate present all such for consideration at the to provide the inputs and arrive at the plenary. Care must also be taken to ensure mutually agreed basis of our bonding as a that the pool of these groups reflect the multiplicity of the ethnic nationalities as well. unified nation.

These experts are to deliberate on and This should, therefore, be a round table conference of ethnic nationalities where no recommend the answers to such matters as ethnic nationality is the lord over any other. are shown below: •What form of No ethnic nationality should be excluded government(s) would best provide us with the or given a varied rating from another. There environment to individually and collectively are said to be about two hundred and fifty optimize our complimentary potentials or will (250) ethnic nationalities in the country. No enable the nation to rise to and be her best in effort should be spared to ensure that no any given field in the Comity of nations?

To be concluded

,

,

BY CHIEFS BROWN MENE & CHARLES IKOMI

NY time I hear the word godfather, what comes to mind is the Christian position of true mentorship on the one hand and what transpired between Senator Chris Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State and his estranged godfather on the other hand.

In Nigeria today, no politician can come out and declare himself a good mentor.

Most times, I ponder on why godfather/godson relationship never end well as a result of incessant fallouts where the godfather engages the said godson(s) in bitter fights.

Among the most prominent macabre dances of these political giants and their political sons was that of Senator Chris Ngige and Peoples Democratic Party financier, Chris Uba, of the Uba political family who engaged themselves in bitter political fight in the name of who should control the state’s treasury.

The rest is now history. But this cannot be said of political godfathers whose only aim is to recoup all monies expended in rigging their godson into power. Though godfatherism is not a novel idea to politics neither is the phenomenom going to disappear from the nation’s political landscape in the nearest future.

Generally, godfathers are expected to sponsor or support their godsons and give them advice on how to excel in their areas of assignment but the reverse seems to be the case in Nigeria. I have always believed that Nigeria’s kind of godfather has only one aim, which is to recoup all monies expended in rigging their godsons into power. And as we all know, godfatherism is now permanent resident in the nation’s political landscape since an average Nigerian politicain is incurably greedy.

And this the godfathers exploit,

Many of our problems come from the politcal class, and this is mainly where the godfather phenomenom comes into play

With the foregoing, I have come to believe that godfathers cause more harm than good to the nation’s polity. Suffice to say that Senator Ngige who was allegedly kidnapped on the orders of his estranged godfather has since dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to embrace another godfather, Sen. Bola Tinubu, the national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC. Godfatherism can be said to have its origin in Christianity when God-parents helped to raise Christian children to become God-fearing, lawabiding adults. This cannot be said of Nigeria of today, where many politicians beg to have godfathers even when they know that what they are actually begging for will only come back to haunt them.

This is because the so-called godfathers are always dominant individuals in the politics of an area or geopolitical zone and are capable of determining who win elections in that area or zone.

I remember vividly when I was preparing for my first son’s baptism and the officiating priest made it clear to us that we must provide a godfather for the child. In the process, the priest actually made us understand who a god father should be. I had no choice but agree with him.

,

as ruthless benefactors, shylocks indeed.

I have watched with dismay in Nigeria today, that hardly can a political green-horn win election without the support of a godfather. It is also the same thing at party primaries where candidates are ‘selected’ instead being elected. And this has never in anyway helped in the development of the country, rather it has in a every way led to bad governace. This is a monster that must be that must be nipped in the bud.

‘Selected” governors, for example, after being sworn in open the state coffers to repay the godfathers with tax payers’ money. This is nothing other than looting with impunity.

Apart from politics where godfathers and their godsons continue to steal from the common purse of the state, the ills of godfatherism had continued to stare us in the face with no remedy in sight. Civil servants, those in the private employ, and even teachers in remote villages know that having a godfather helps put food on the table, and move up in the social strata of life.

As I have come to observe, everybody knows that many of our problems come from the politcal class, and this is mainly where the godfather phenomenom comes into play.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 27

•From left: Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Pro. Charles K. Ayo, Chancellor, Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo and Education Secretary, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Prof. Aize Obayan at the 12th Matriculation Ceremony of Covenant University on November 1, 2013

Anxiety as ASUU takes Jonathan's intervention to NEC

BY DAYO ADESULU, AMAKA ABAYOMI, LAJU ARENYEKA & IKENNA ASOMBA

F

OLLOWING President Goodluck Jonathan's proposed N1.1 trn injection into public universities on Monday, other stakeholders in the education sector are holding their breaths for the outcome of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) set to hold this week.

Although sources say that there are hopes of optimism for students to return to schools soonest, as the union and FG seem to be on the same page, ASUU has said repeatedly that there would be no definite decision until

ASUU members reach a uninanimous agreement at a NEC meeting.

As there are indications that the meeting, which started at about 2:40 p.m Monday afternoon and went on till about 3:30 a.m Tuesday morning may yield positive results, all things being equal, concerted efforts made to speak with ASUU leaders to make public their position has proved abortive, as those contacted have kept mum.

They only obliged to make known their position after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for this week.

Though ASUU officials refused to disclose details of the meeting, but according to close sources at the meeting, one major agreement reached was

How Nigeria can attain vision 20: 2020 — Page 35

C M Y K

that Federal Government would inject N1.1 trillion into public varsities in the next five years, which would be released on a yearly basis at N220bn per annum starting from 2014.

“For the outgoing year, government will only release N100bn which has been processed. To further show its commitment to the agreement, government accepted that the N1.1trn be domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria to be released on a quarterly basis to the varsities,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, before now, there have been contentious insinuations from the Federal Government and the Senate that ASUU took advantage of the ignorance of those delegated by govern-

Osun education reform patterned after America, British, UNESCO standards — Page 30

ment to negotiate on its behalf with the union in the October 2009 agreement.

Against this backdrop, one of the signatories of government, Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin (SAN), has broken silence.

Speaking through his Special Assistant, Mr. Olawale Ganiyu, Babalakin has clarified that there was no point taken towards signing the agreement that was not clear to the government.

According Babalakin, impressions that somebody from nowhere negotiated the agreement was far from the truth, as he argued that the calibre of people whom the Federal Government consulted to negotiate on their behalf were not mediocres whom ASUU would

Continues on page 28

Within the four walls of special schools: How physically challenged children fight for education — Page 35

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

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Anxiety as ASUU takes Jonathan's intervention to NEC Continues from page 27

Renegotiation committee Others were Amb. Muhammed Jumba, immediate past Pro-Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano; Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Executive Secretary, Education Trust Fund (ETF), Abuja and Senator Abdalla Wali, former ProChancellor, University of Technology, Yola, who was a member of the committee until February 23, 2008.

Besides the Federal Government renegotiation committee members, Babalakin also revealed that there were 11 advisers of FG, comprising of Professor Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, (NUC), Abuja; Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe,

Frm left 1st Position-Akinjole Oluwasola Samuel.2nd Positn-Durojola Olabode Stephen.3rd Position- Taiwo Lateefah Ololade.4th Position- Amosun Caroline.5th Positn- Orunsolu Taofeek Ibru, at the Mathematic can be solved without calculator competition, held at the GEM Int'I School, Owode, Ogun State. former Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors; Professor J.D. Amin, immediate past Chairman, Committee of ViceChancellors; Professor E.A.C. Nwanze, Chairman Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin among others.

He said to ensure that no stone was left unturned, the Federal Government chose 12 dignitaries who served as observers of the renegotiation and agreement with ASUU. The observers were Mrs. V.A. Eghobamien, representative of Federal Ministry of Labour; Mr. S.A. Ajibola, representative of Federal Ministry of Labour; Professor Ignatus Uvah, Deputy Executive Secretary (University Education), NUC and Mr P.I. Ekun, representative of Special Services Office of the Presidency, Abuja.

Others were Mrs. Ori Okojokwu, representative of Federal Ministry of Education; Mr. Chike Ogbechie, National Salaries, Income and Wages Com-

mission; Mr. P.E. Oyong, Federal Ministry of Justice; Mrs. Cynthia Okigbo, Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja and Mr. I.O. Malaolu, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Abuja.

On ASUU’s part, they were represented during the signing of the agreement by Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano, a former President and Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, the then President, alongside 26 other members.

Meanwhile, Monday ’s meeting is the first time the President would lead government’s delegation team for negotiation with ASUU since the commencement of the strike four months ago.

Emerging from the meeting at the First Lady’s conference room at the presidential villa, ASUU President, Nasir Faggae said, “We have had lengthy meeting with Mr. President, r ubbing minds on how best to ad-

dress the problem of university education in this country.”

“We now have a message from Mr. President that we are going to take to our members and we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately to the

,

would outwit to sign the document.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, he said among other respected individuals, government re-negotiation team included the likes of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Chairman of the Committee, who was at that time, the Pro-chancellor, University of Ibadan and Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chanc e l l o r s .

Other members who signed on behalf of government were Late Professor Musa Abdullahi, Secretary General Committee of Vice-Chancellors and immediate past Pro-Chancellor, University of Jos; Professor Greg Iwu, immediate past ProChancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Rev. Father T.E. Uwaifo, immediate past Pro-Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; and Barrister Emeka Nwankpa, former Pro-Chancellor, Abia State University, Uturu.

message, Mr. Faggae said, “Don’t put words into my mouth, our members will determine that” However, Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu told State House Correspondents that meaningful progress was made in the negotiations with ASUU, expressing hope that the striking lecturers would call off the strike.

Mr. Wogu said, “We made progress, the President of ASUU told you that they are going back with a message from the Federal Government back to their members and the message is full of high expectations and hope.”

On whether the strike would be called off, he said: “That is why the message is full of high expectations and hope. So our prayers is that they come back with positive outcome. They might not even come back to meet us, they might take decisions there that will meet your expectations.”

“Nigerians should be pa-

The Federal Government chose 12 dignitaries who served as observers of the renegotiation and agreement with ASUU

message of Mr. President.”

On whether the lecturers are now going back to the classroom, the ASUU President said, “that is up to our members.”

When asked to disclose the the President ‘s message that would be delivered to the members of the union, Mr. Faggae said, “I cannot tell you, it’s not for you, it is for our members.”

On whether he was impressed with the President’s

,

tient for ASUU to finish their meetings and come out with a message to Nigerians.”

Responding to whether the Federal Government made a fresh offer to the striking lecturers, the Minister said, “the offer we made are the offer they are taking in line with the 2009 agreement.

The issues that led to the strike are issues contained in the 2009 agreement and we did not go beyond the agreement.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 —29

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

BY IKENNA ASOMBA & FORTUNE ANYANWU

I

n line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan towards attaining the vision 20: 2020, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Office for Technology Acquisition Promotion (NOTAP), Engr. Umar Bindir, has opined that Nigeria must take advantage of the merits of engineering and technology to drive the economy if it must achieve the development status to be among the top 20 economies in the world.

Bindir made this assertion while delivering the 28th Convocation Lecture of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, entitled: ‘Synergy in Technical, Vocational & Entrepreneurial Education for Industrial Growth: Panacea to Survival of Small & Medium Scale Business’.

Arguing that the interaction between technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education is a sine qua non for Nigeria’s industrial growth, Bindir said “small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can’t grow and develop anywhere in the world without the three key elements - technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

“It’s important to clarify that one element among the three can’t practically be singled out in isolation to lead the nation to achieve the desired transformation without corresponding interplay among the other elements. Technicalknow-how, however, remains a major factor in driving the transformation of all the sectors for sustainable development.”

Bindir lamented that despite the nation’s endowment with a large population, abundant natural and human resourc-

Instruction : Choose the appropriate word from the alternatives in the parenthesis.

1. Bishop Desmond Tutu once won the Nobel Peace (prize/price).

2. He won the first (prize/ price) in the competition.

3. May the (prize/price) of petrol never rise again.

4. I can’t afford to buy the car at that (prize/price).

5. There is a high ( prize/ price) for low living.

6. The house was built at the ( prize/cost) of two million Naira.

7. All these reforms will (cost/price) money.

8. Humility (costs/prices) you nothing but buys you everything.

9. The Naira has been steadily decreasing in (value/ price).

10. Are you (a staff/a member of staff) here?

11. The number of students who wanted (access/assess) to C M Y K

How Nigeria can attain vision 20: 2020 — NOTAP boss es, it has failed to give the world globally branded products from her indigenous knowledge and industrial efforts.

He lamented that Nigeria has not been able to take any local or international development policy such as the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) to any logical and measurable conclusion to adequately develop its economy.

Noting that lopsided educational policies and over-dependence on foreign technology are serious challenges to the nation’s transformation, he stressed that technicalknow-how presents the sources of the solution.

“It’s evident that for the economy of any country to develop in any given sector, it’s very strategic to understand that investments to acquire technical man power, vocational skills and entrepreneurs to man the industrial outfits to enable an economy to have a strong viral industrial sector.”

Affirming that Vision 20:20:20 objectives are achievable, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, said Nigeria must utilize its enormous amount of strength, opportunities and resources.

“This can only take place when we collectively work to build our human capital. On our part as lawmakers, we are working with relevant agencies in the promotion of a viable and robust education policy that will support the emergence of a strong technological innovation that will guarantee sustainable development through excellence in the computer laboratory was in excess of one hundred and fifty.

12.

The detainee had (access/ no assess) to his lawyer.

13. You need a password to get (access/assess) to your e-mail.

teaching, learning and research in tune with the government’s vision 20: 2020.”

Meanwhile, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Ladipo, said 7,040 students graduated from the combined sets of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 academic session during the College’s Convocation last Thursday.

“For the 2010/2011 set, at Higher National Diploma (HND) level, we have 24 Distinctions, 409 Upper Credits, 815 Lower Credits and 192 with Pass grade, while at the National Diploma (ND) level for the same set, we have 61 Distinctions, 461 Upper Credits, 930 Lower Credits and 498

From left: Registrar, YABA Bollege of Technology, Mrs. Charity Amakpakabo; Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) Kudirat Ladipo; Director, Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi; Chairman, Governing Council, YABA College of Technology, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Mr. Adamu Kazaure, at the 28th convocation of YABA College of Technology in Lagos recently.

Vice chancellors of Nigerian varsities meet in FUTA

T

he 28th Annual Conference of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, AVCNU, will take place between November 10th and 14th, 2013 at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Themed ‘The Nigerian University System and Challenges and the Prospects of Globalization’, the host VC, Professor Adebiyi Gregory Daramola, said erudite scholars, tested professionals and administrators will chart the way forward for tertiary education in Nigeria during the conference.

Some of the speakers include Professor James Momoh of Howard University ,USA, who will give the keynote address, former VC of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Nimi Briggs, who will speak on Getting our Universities to the top ranks; Professor B.L Fetuga who will address the gathering on the Socio-economic Dimension and the Challenges of Quality and Globalization, and Professor Femi Mimiko, VC, Adekunle Ajasin University, who will speak on the Future of Nigeria’s Universities. institution are (academicians/ academics).

CORRECTION 1.

B i s h o p Desmond Tutu once won the Nobel Peace prize.

2.

H e won the first prize in the

Frequently confused words EXERCISE 3 14. The only (access/assess) to Odo-epo is through a bumpy, dusty road.

15. Dr. Kola Iwelanka’s papers for promotion were (accessed /assessed) by three experts in his field.

with Pass grades.

“For the 2011/2012 set, at the HND level, we have 28 Distinctions, 361 Upper Credits, 724 Lower Credits and 171 with Pass grade, while at the ND level, we have 84 Distinctions, 608 Upper Credits, 1, 122 Lower Credits and 621 with Pass grade.”

16. The doctor on duty is to (access/assess) the patient’s condition.

17. Members of an academy are (academicians/ academics) ; teachers in a university or tertiary

competition.

3.

May the price of petrol never rise again.

4. I can’t afford to buy the car at that price.

5. There is a high price for low living.

6. The house was built at the cost of two million Naira.

7. All these reforms will cost money.

8. Humility costs you nothing but buys you everything.

9. The Naira has been steadily decreasing in value.

10. Are you a staff here?

11. The number of students who wanted access to the computer laboratory was in excess of one hundred and fifty.

12. The detainee had no access to his lawyer.

13. You need a password to get access to your e-mail.

14. The only access to Odoepo is through a bumpy, dusty road.

15. Dr. Iwelanka’s papers for promotion were assessed by three experts in his field.

16. The doctor on duty is to assess the patient’s condition.

17. Members of an academy are academicians; teachers in a university or tertiary institution are academics.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 , 2013 — 31

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

50 pupils get scholarship in Ogun DAUD OLATUNJI

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o fewer than 50 indigent pupils selected from Ijebu Ode and Ijebu North East Local Government Areas are to benefit from the scholarship award of Modupe Adebukola Okeowo Foundation.

This was disclosed by Mr. Toyin Okeowo and Mrs. Olabisi Okeowo-Bolade at the launch of Modupe Adebukola Okeowo Foundation to mark the fifth remembrance of their mother, Modupe Adebukola Okeowo.

They noted that floating a foundation in memory of their late mother was their way of assisting the less privileged in the society so as to better their lots.

“We decided to float this foundation because of the love our late mother and ourselves have for the less privileged.

One of our greatest joys is to see other people happy, and this led to the launch of this Foundation five years after her demise.

They urged the beneficiaries to make optimal use of the tools being given to them, adding that the scholarship programme would be a continuous one.

Commending the gesture, the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, called on well-todo in the society to use their resources in affecting the lives of the under privileged.

Firm holds ICT contest for secondary school in Kwara

BY HAMEED MUTITALA, UNILORIN

Dons harp on religious education for national unity A

S threat to national unity, has been identified as one of the greatest challenges facing the nation, educationists who gathered for the 28th Annual National Conference of the National Association for the Study of Religions and Education (NASRED), last Tuesday, at the Federal College of Education, Osiele (FCEO), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have affirmed that religious education has a major role to play in the peaceful co-existence of the people, considering the nation’s multi-ethnic and pluralistic nature.

At the 4-day Conference with theme: “Religion, Education and National Unity,” the speakers lamented that religion and education which ought to play a major role to restore the nation’s needed national unity have failed woefully, noting that while religion has been politicized and polarized, education has not being given the necessary attention in the country.

In his remarks, Dr. Paul Ojebode, NASRED President and Dean, School of Arts & Social Sciences, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State, stated that “the conference was

imperative towards coming up with a workable solution that will move our country forward, as the ethnic and religious crises occurring in different parts of the country are as a result of our value system and orientation, which has led to a chaotic society, instead of unity and brotherliness.”

According to the Lead Paper presenter, Rev. Dairo Olalekan, a lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), AgoIwoye, Ogun State, the misinterpretation of religion has led to inevitable

misunderstanding and conflicts among the various ethnic nationalities, pointing that that religious education devoid of dogma is key to national unity.

“Religion, despite its teachings on peaceful coexistence with all people irrespective of their beliefs is seen today in Nigeria as a problematic issue causing bitterness, crises and violence.

"That religions preach peace have become a mere statement devoid of honest meaning and commitment, more especially between Christianity and

Islam which soon discovered that they were not at peace with their own kith and kin.

"To know what religion really is and to have the understanding requires academic knowledge of religions, devoid of indoctrination is of essence.

Academics teaching Religious Studies, especially at higher levels should take special note of this.

Dogmatic teaching of religion without recognizing the truth or values in other religions can never bring the desired national unity.”

NB, ICOBA donate school building

BY MUSBAUDEEN SHEKONI

In its drive to promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among young students, an ICT firm in Kwara State, FEMTECH Information Technology Limited, has organized an ICT competition for secondary schools students in Kwara State.

According to the Founder, Femi Abidoye, the competition was designed to promote ICT knowledge and competency among the teeming youths of the state which would make them cope with trends in the fiercely competitive society that is ICT driven.

“Our plan is to bring out problem solving skills and programming talents in secondary school students, with speed, accuracy and team coordination. This is the first edition and we promise to make it annual event.”

The grand finale of the contest tagged ‘FEMTECH Kwara Schools’ ICT League’ saw 10 out of the 107 schools competing for the laurels.

Educationists at the 28th annual national conference of the National Association for the Study of Religions and Education (NASRED), Penultimate Tuesday, at the Federal College of Education, Osiele (FCEO), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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“The human way of counting time is very slow so we say time is short, but as we have it, it waits for no one, being the only commodity that you lose and will never come back.

“I want you to take this building and use it as your own, it’s yours to use and hand over to those coming after you in years to come.”

Speaking in same vein, the MD/CEO Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Nico Vervelde, represented by the Human Resource

Manager and member ICOBA, Mr. Victor Fanuyigbo, said NB will not waver in her determination to continue to champion causes that add value to the society, saying the company sees the CSR beyond business ethic to having a vision beyond the doors of the company.

Representing the Chairman Board of Governors, Igbobi College, Mr. Femi Ogunsanya, at the function, Mrs. Omolara Ajayi, Chair Project and

igerian Breweries Plc. in collaboration with the Igbobi College Old Boys’ Association (ICOBA) 1974-1976 Class, have renovated and handed over the College’s Senior Block for use to ease learning and boost academic excellence.

The project which entailed refurbishing the classrooms and library, replacing the roofs, floors, doors, windows, and donaPUBLIC NOTICE tion of books to the library was delivered under the The general public is hereby notified that the above-named organization auspices of the Nihas applied to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1, 1990. gerian Brewery BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Felix Ohiwerei - Chairman (1) Dr. Johnson O. Oleru - Secretary (2) Mr. Lawrence Emeka Ahafia Education Trust (3) Surv. Chris Madu (4) Mr. Chidi Nzerem (5) Mr. Emmanuel Eze Fund (ETF).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (a) To foster unity amongst Naze People and between Naze and its President ICOneighbours.

BA, Engr. Murphy (b) To ensure that Naze is politically relevant in the political landscape of the state and Nigeria.

Ipaye, in his wel(c) To settle political, social and other interpersonal disputes among come address Naze People. (d) To help all credible Naze Political aspirants to achieve their various charged the puaims. (e) To be actively involved in development projects in Naze. pils of Igbobi Col(f) To ensure good governance in Naze. lege to leverage on (g) To play advisory role where necessary.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrartheir youthfulness General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, to attain their acaMaitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. demic visions and Signed: Nzerem J.K President other dreams.

IZU UMU NAZE

Infrastructure Committee- Igbobi College, said “we are excited about what is going on in this school because two years ago when we came around we were almost in tears for the level of decay we met, but today we are witnessing tremendous changes.”

He insisted on the sustained relationship and zeal of the class 1974-1976 for changes in the alma mater describing it as infectious passion thus sued for perpetuity.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 33

Osun education reform patterned after America, British, UNESCO standards —Commissioner

A

fter the adoption of February 2011 education summit communique in Osun State by Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration, the state has witnessed major reform in the sector.

However, the new revolution, has brought about reactions from some stakeholders in the state. The Deputy Governor, Osun State who also doubles as Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Iyaafin Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori in this interview with reporters at the State House addressed some lingering questions that surround the reformation of education in Osun. Excerpts:

Y

our Excellency, why did your government reclassify Osun schools into Elementary, Middle and High Schools?

The Aregbesola Administration on assumption of office inherited an education system that was in a state of complete neglect and rot resulting in dilapidated infrastructure, absenteeism and low school enrolment, overcrowded classrooms, shortage of instructional materials, poorly motivated teachers, with attendant abysmal performance of students in both internal and external examinations.

The need to urgently tackle the situation headlong was the reason for the education summit of February 2011 under the chairmanship of Prof Wole Soyinka. The communique of the summit has been adopted by government for implementation of its education reform agenda.

These reforms include the 0Meals programme, OUniform, Creation of 3 Education Districts and appointment of Tutors General/Permanent Secretary, creation of Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), Opon Imo, Improved funding of schools to mention a few. Thus, the reclassification of schools aims at consolidating the gains of the various reforms to achieve a total overhaul of the education sector. The new system is in line with global best practices for effective teaching and learning the world over by grouping pupils/ students of same age brackets together in same school environment with provision of relevant and appropriate facilities. Some other reasons for reclassification can be summarized as follows:To avoid multiplicity of mushroom schools that

compete with scarce resources of the State. To pool resources together to enjoy economy of scale for maximization of the scarce resources of the State. It is more economical to cater for 300 pupils/students in one school than in three schools of 100 pupils/students each. Our erstwhile school system in the state has schools with as low as 30 pupils total enrolment in primaries one to six. It is to remove financial burden of education completely from parents through provision of modern facilities, furniture and improved funding. To democratize education and provide equal opportunities for all pupils/ students without discrimination. To make our public schools to be comparable to the private schools in terms of facilities and to reduce pupils/ students

,

BY DAYO ADESULU

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

B

• Governor Aregbesola but those in rural communities may have less population.

Purpose built state of the arts school, securely fenced and equipped with modern facilities.

Other programmes that are specially designed to enhance this new school structure for optimal performance include; 0- Meal school feeding programme, provision of unified school uniform for all pupils, increased schools’ running cost and examination grants, and supply of instructional materials as well as customized exercise books.

Middle School: Students will be in Grades 5-9 classes; age range of ID14 years. Daily activities will run from 8 am to 3 pm and to be sited within maximum of 2-3 kilometers radius of where students live. Enrollment of 900 pupils to 1000. Purpose

Under the new school system, the old primary and secondary education sector is reclassified into Elementary, Middle and High schools with the following features:

,

to teacher ratio from the current abnormal rate of 60-100 pupils/ students to a teacher to the UNESCO standard.

What are the features of the new school system ?

Under the new school system, the old primary and secondary education sector is reclassified into Elementary, Middle and High schools with the following features: Elementary School: Pupils will be in Grades 1-4 classes; age range of 6-9 years. They are to be neighborhood schools, not to be too far from areas of residence, trade and work place of parents. Daily activities will run from 8 am to 2 pm with enrollment at maximum capacity of 900 pupils in cities and big towns

Benita International School wins Bobo Prize

built state of the arts school, securely fenced with modern facilities. Provision of unified school uniform, increase schools’ running cost and examination grants, supply of instructional materials and customized exercise books.

High School: Students will be in Grades 10-12 classes; age range of 15-17 years. Enrollment to be 3000 students; a 3-schools in -1 complex at 1000 students per school. Daily activities to run from 8 am to 5 pm.

Purpose built state of the arts school with modern facilities including boarding facilities, staff quarters, standard laboratories, food courts, standard sporting facilities, school hall of 1000 minimum sitting capacity and School

Managers for proper facility management. Provision of unified school uniform, supply of Opon Imo, increased schools’ running cost and examination grant, payment of WASCE fees, etc A general feature of the new school system is the provision of standard furniture for all pupils/students and teachers thereby abolishing the obnoxious practice of bringing furniture from homes by students, especially in the erstwhile secondary schools.

Your Excellency, don’t you think the new school system may conflict with the National Policy on Education (NPE)?

The new system does not conflict with the National Policy on Education, especially the modified 9-3-4 and the National Curriculum still in use in Nigeria. Under the new system, the only change is the removal of Primaries 5 & 6 from the primary school sector to join the former Junior Secondary School to form the new Middle School. This makes transition to secondary school easy and automatic for Elementary School pupils.

Our new system of 4-5-3-4 is simply a strategic rearrangement of public school pupils and students for proper grooming and optimal management of schools. This will stem and eradicate the out-of-school syndrome in the State of Osun. Pupils/students in Osun still spend 12 years on basic education as stipulated by the NPE and are taught the same curriculum as pupils/students elsewhere in Nigeria. Pupils/students will also be able to transfer freely into and out of Osun schools.

Out going pupils/students will be awarded testimonials to confirm the existing grades with which they can be admitted into an appropriate class elsewhere in the country. Similarly, incoming pupils/students will be assessed and place in grades appropriate for their ages.

Presently, the public schools

ENITA International School, Asaba, Delta State, has won this year ’s edition of Bobo Super Kids and School Support Promo organised by Bobo Foods and Beverages, makers of Bobo Fruit Milk drink.

Benita International School clinched the grand prize of a brand new 24 seater Ford School bus during the event which was held at Le Chateau, Awolowo way, Old Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Commenting, an elated official of Benita International Schools, Peter Uzuhai, while receiving the keys for the bus from the Marketing Manager of Bobo Foods and Beverages, Mr. Eric Ewhubare Birhiray said: “We are overwhelmed and excited.

We want to thank God and Bobo for giving us this victory.

The 800 plus students of Benita International Schools are proud to win the fourth edition of Bobo Schools Support Promo. I want to advice all schools that missed this year ’s edition to make sure that they participate next year.”

NBC’s Technical Training College churns out 37 technicians

BY DAYO ADESULU

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BC’ s Technical Training Center (T TC) which serves as a resource centre for developing competent technical personnel in the Nigerian beverage bottling industry has graduated 37 technicians after successfully completing the two-year Technical Training Certification programme.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Managing Director of NBC, Mr. Ben Langat, expressed NBC’s delight at running the 17 year old Technical College to support the economic empowerment of young Nigerians and ultimately providing solutions to the prevalent unemployment rate in the country. According to the MD, the college is also a part of NBC’s unwavering commitment to producing high quality beverages in the face of a dearth of competent technicians in the Country.

Mr Langat charged the graduands to ensure they put all they have learnt to work as they join the workforce and to focus on Learning and Excellence which are two core values of the company, stating that these would set them apart in their career.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

BABSON SEE programme will advance entrepreneurship education in Nigeria – Fejokwu

Libraries: The centres of university education –2 “Contemplating a library, one feels as though in the presence of vast capital silently yielding incalculable interest”.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 129).

The great German philosopher could not be more right. During the years I laboured to produce the Vanguard Book of Quotations, libraries in every city and university I visited were my second homes.

And each time, I felt like someone invited to an endless buffet with all of his favourite dishes made available.

American liberal arts education with its unlimited lists of elective courses had opened my eyes to the limitless boundaries of knowledge.

Five courses per semester were sufficient to graduate; but I would sit in classes on Anthropology, Biochemistr y, Microbiology, International Relations, Sociology, 13th and 14th Century Europe, World Wars I and II histories, Philosophy, and undertake courses in Comparative Religion and loads of literature even though my destination was a degree in Economics.

From that personal odyssey I arrived at a personal law of education, especially university education: “You can judge a university by the quality of its library”.

Nobody ever achieves anything worthwhile in academia without a prodigious use of libraries; you can depend on that.

And, the better the library, the better the stuff you can get out of it.

Libraries, like human beings, can't give what they don’t have.

Last week, followers of this series on varsities in Nigeria were informed that anyone establishing a varsity library in Nigeria today will be well advised to hop on a plane and go to Yola to meet the man responsible for putting Nigeria on the list of the best 20 libraries in the world – the incomparable Mr Amed Demirhan.

But, Amed did not perform that magic alone.

Credits go to the President (Vice Chancellor if you like) Dr Margee Ensign and, most important of all, the Founder of American University in Nigeria, AUN, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President.

If Atiku promises to repeat the same magic in every facet of our lives in Nigeria as he did at AUN, he has my vote already.

Here are the reasons why.

Last week, on my way to Uyo, I took the time to stop briefly at two universities, names withheld for now.

But one is in Anambra State and the other in Akwa Ibom State.

Since the visits were brief and unofficial, what follows cannot be regarded as a full report. But, one thing was clear to me – those two varsities, which resemble the 27 others I have seen, are building ancient libraries to train leaders of tomorrow in Nigeria.

With 128 varsities now operating in Nigeria, even if each varsity collects only 10,000 books, not an

impressive collection as will soon be demonstrated, the cost of purchasing and frequently replacing lost and vandalized books will be enormous on the aggregate.

Unfortunately, 10,000 books and manuscripts are not nearly enough for a university library.

This fact was brought home to me years ago when I was asked to go and interview Emeritus Professor Ade Ajayi, the great historian at his house in Ibadan.

An entire basement had shelves lined with books; the sitting room was also invaded with books and manuscripts.

So while waiting for the great man to attend to me, I quickly developed a metric to estimate the number of books in the place.

By my reckoning at least 6,000 books must be in that house. So, if a private collector and scholar, alone, can accumulate 6,000 or more books, it is easy to understand the challenges faced by those establishing varsities when it comes to equipping their libraries.

Fortunately, AUN, with the visionary leaderships of the people mentioned above, has found a way to minimize the cost of establishing libraries and keeping up to date with publications worldwide.

Next week, with their permission, we shall reproduce, together with picture, the story of Africa’s first digital library – right here in Yola, Nigeria. At least we should take pride in the knowledge that we are leading the continent in one crucial aspect of life.

From left: Divisional Head, Product & Market Support, Keystone Bank, Mr. Sunny Obazee; Product Manager, Remittance, Keystone Bank, Mr. Gbolahan Aminu; and Marketing Executive, Anglophone West Africa, MoneyGram, Kofi Akyea, during the MoneyGram Gear up for School 2013 Mini Library donation to select primary schools in Benin City, Edo State.

C M Y K

BY DAYO ADESULU

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awrence Fejokwu is a UK and USA trained Mass Communication/ Entrepreneurship Innovator and Organisational Communication D e v e l o p m e n t Consultant with over 40 years international experience as journalist.

He was also a corporate and political lecturer at the Universities of Nigeria and Lagos.

Lawrence is the International Coordinator, USA-SEE at BABSON, USA for 2014. The former publisher of ‘Political Compendium’ and presently the coordinator, USA Entrepreneurship Project Team for Africa, in this interview, talks about BABSON, how Nigerian graduates and lecturers can benefit from BABSON entrepreneurship empowerment and other issues. Excerpts: How in your opinion do you think Nigerian universities can transform Nigeria Entrepreneurship to reduce the teaming jobless graduates churned out yearly?

The growth in sophistication, innovations and technological development in Nigerian Universities can and must be supported by patriotic Nigerians at individual and corporate levels.

Nigerian Universities can indeed transform N i g e r i a Entrepreneurship, because Nigeria has a crop of highly capable Lecturers, some of whom were trained in the best universities globally.

Nigerian Academics who migrated overseas, UK, USA Europe, have made impressive progress and had been well recognised for their contributions. What Nigerian University Educators lack, but need most is capacity building, exposure and resources. Every month in USA, there are scores of programmes and conferences in all disciplines where academics and professionals converge to exchange ideas and learn new concepts. But due to the usual funding

issues in Nigeria, most Academics rarely have opportunities to attend workshops or conferences as often as necessary to increase their capacity.

Nigerian Universities must meet the challenge of leading Nigerian Entrepreneurial revolution to rapidly transform Nigeria into an economic power house as the Asian Tigers. Federal and State Governments must lead this support.

Donors, philanthropists and indeed the Local, State and Federal Governments and Agencies must courageously endow chairs in Universities to fast track the Entrepreneurial revolution. Nigerians who have accumulated immense fortune are buying private jets and scores of expensive automobiles. They also have scores/or hundreds of exotic building across Nigeria especially, Lagos and Abuja and also in several world capitals and nations. But 67 million Nigerian youth remain unemployed, especially the graduates.

If Nigeria’s top 60 Entrepreneurial Universities each receive financial support of USD$10 million per annum over 5 years, they will no doubt provide the motivation and inspiration to both faculty and students to transform Nigeria into an Entrepreneurial haven.

Capacity building for faculty and students is key to this entrepreneurial revolution in universities for national rebirth.

The millions of NYSC unemployed graduates can receive new hope if SBDCs - Small Business Development Centres are established by the government in every community and in every Local Government Areas. Our political leaders to whom much has been given, need to accept the challenge to support job creation via OUR NIPOL - (AIA) SEEP and REEP programmes, we have established in collaboration with National Stakeholders.

Millions of Nigerians indeed the 80% generally described as Entrepreneurial dream

in universities in particular and for disadvantaged Nigerians. Nigerian universities must be supported with funs and kind resources to grow and maximise entrepreneurial talents in universities, nation wide.

In USA, the Entrepreneurial capital of the world, American citizens, Agencies, Donors and Philanthropists, contribute and endow billions of US Dollars to support universities and entrepreneurship innovations. Nigeria needs to adapt the operation of SBA-USA and launch policies to support millions of aspiring SBEs. The current policies are elitist and highly politicised. The Federal and state governments should establish Entrepreneurship Micro Banks to avail resources to the poorest graduates, talented start-up as SBEs. These special Micro Banks should cater for students trained as SBEs. Innovative policies need to cater for students in universities. Youth Corps graduates, during their call-up year and post NYSC programme.

Nigerian rich need to complement the government efforts to launch Entrepreneurship endowment fund to support Entrepreneurship in universities. Universities, Federal, State and Private are proliferating in all the 36 states and FCT. Every year, USA universities receive billions of US Dollars from individuals, Agencies, and Patriotic, Philanthropists to support Entrepreneurship research chairs in Colleges and Universities. The process of grant acquisition is also s i m p l e .

The USA-SBA - also leads in the multi-billion $USA government provides annually to support US citizens to start, grow and support micro/ small businesses. Why can’t the Nigerian rich, local, states and federal government and agencies promote and support the multi-billion entrepreneurship development fund to developed for and held in numerous countries and regions around the world, including: Argentina, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ireland, Malaysia, Purto Rico, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, Costa Rica, United States.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 35

Within the four walls of special schools: How physically challenged children fight for education

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

Not cursed, but special Some children look and act differently due to one form of disability or the other.

Ile Anu School for the physically challenged in Lagos has a variety of these children. With conditions ranging from Down Syndrome to cerebral palsy, among other physical and mental challenges, it might seem ironic to some that the name of the school means “House of Joy.” But school principal, Mrs. Valentina Okoro, has a different point of view: “Some parents see such children as a curse, they ask God all kinds of questions and wonder what sin they must have committed to have such a child. But these children are a blessing in disguise, and with the right training and a whole lot of faith, we can ensure that their lives count for something.”

About 20 children, who would otherwise be locked up at home by their parents for fear of embarrassment, now come to school for free at IleAnu every weekday.

“Our school is run solely on donations; many of these children are from really poor homes and can't afford to make it to school if the school bus does take them to and fro everyday. We also have children who are simply physically challenged with no damage to the brain. Children like that can study even to the university level. We had one of such students who had only one functioning lower C M Y K

*Children and Staff of Ile Anu school for the physically challenged

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‘Two little black birds’ is a popular poem. At age four, practically any child can recite it. But Kayode is not just any child; born with Down’s syndrome, the 12 year old beams with pride as his teacher calls on him to recite the poem for this reporter.

His voice is low, but his confidence high. Eight year old Precious Oydeokun has the loudest voice in her class.

Her fingers graze through the Braille version of the Primary one English textbook: “A for apple, B for ball…” her voice makes up for what her eyes cannot see.

The primary four pupils at a premiere school for the hearing impaired in Lagos also have a voice; it is in the moving of their hands and the expression on their faces.

These children are only a small fraction of the 150 million in the world living with disabilities, 80 per cent of which are in developing countries.

He has no hands, just that leg, he would use the leg to eat, write, move about; do practically anything that any normal person can do

,

limb. He has no hands, just that leg. He would use the leg to eat, write, move about; do practically anything that any normal person can do.”

It is a more difficult however, for other children who have some form of intellectual disability. But Okoro argues that these children can be taught to do simple tasks such as cooking, cleaning and using the toilet as well as imbibe social skills to help build relationships with others.

Remember Kayode, the ‘Two little black birds’ singer? He could not even speak when he first arrived at Ile Anu a few years ago. Amina is another example; a 10 year old with Down syndrome, Amina could not respond when someone called her name a few years ago. Now, she is the lead singer of “welcome to Ile Anu school.”

Sight that redefines blindness Someone who is used to reading words with his eyes alone is bound to feel quite blind staring at the Braille

version of a primary one English text book.

At Pacelli School for for the blind, the children carry on unperturbed, quite skilled in ascertaining with their sense of feeling, what their sense of sight would not allow.

This is Mrs. Bolanle Okunola’s class. Speaking to Vanguard Learning, she says: “A lot of the students are really brilliant, even more than their sighted counterparts. Parents of special children must support them and ensure that these kids have good education which is the best legacy that we can give to them. We have a lot of blind people that are professionals in different fields of life and are doing really well. They can be self reliant and independent with the right kind of education.”

Precious Oyedokun’s mindset mirrors her teacher’s mindset. “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor,” she says “and I would like to advise children who are blind to attend a school for the blind, and get better educated.”

The Principal of Pacelli School for the Blind and partially sighted children, Sister

Jane Onyeneri, speaking on the peculiarity of teaching tells Vanguard Learning: There is ability in disability.

Even though some have delayed learning, with time they pick up.

"The difference between they and sighted children is that it is easier to teach sighted children how to read. But the blind have to learn Braille reading and writing. They are however, beginning to challenge sighted students. For example, about five of our kids are in Jesuit Loyola College, Abuja. They got scholarships to go there.”

The learning language of the deaf One would think that a school for the hearing impaired would be as silent as a graveyard. Such a person would be shocked to find children behaving exactly like normal children; arguing amongst themselves, exasperating their teachers and in a hurry to answer questions in class.

A teacher who did not want his name in print gave Vanguard Learning an insight into learning for the hearing impaired “Deaf children have lost their sense of hearing and with this comes an additional disability of speech and language development.

Language is not an innate capability; we are not born with it, it is acquired. The basic requirement of language is a sense of hearing, as well as growing up in a talking community.

The average child acquires

knowledge spontaneously.

Nobody sits a child down and teaches him talk.

The deaf child can't acquire language like that and this affects the child’s development in various ways.

The child can't learn accidentally, efforts have to made to teach him practically everything, because he can't learn by observing the conversations of others.

There must be a special way of teaching this child; we use all the other modalities available to us especially sight. We use hearing aid, lip reading, sign language and finger spelling; the combination of all these is referred to as total communication.”

Comrade Macauley Shogunle, the Assistant Secretary of Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers, said “We learn to restructure their learning here so we can pass across the concept. If parents are ready to accept their children and their disabilities, then the problem is half solved. Parents must learn the child’s language. Low parental involvement in educating children stunts the educational progress. When parents are totally involved, it increases the chances for the child’s future. ” Without a doubt, success stories abound from educating children with special needs. But there are still a lot of challenges facing the special education sector.

Funding is one of such, Shogunle, speaking on the situation at his place of employ says: “In recent times, there has been a lot of awareness for special children.

"Our school was meant for the capacity of 80 children, and when it was first built in the 1980s, we could not reach the capacity. Now the story is different, we are stretched thin. At a point we had about 400 students, but at the moment we have 300. So we need much more resources.”

Onyeneri argues that the materials needed to teach special children are quite expensive.

“The greatest challenge we have as special educators is their materials which are very expensive,” she says, “the Braille machine, the mabbok, stylus, cane etc are all imported. Pacelli is a no fee paying institution; it is our donors that cater for these materials as well as staff salary. We also have flooding issue here, we have to constantly trust God for upkeep and maintenance.”

36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

SUCCESS RECIPE

Nigerian Universities need a paradigm shift—Prof. Chalokwu N

IGERIAN-born Professor of Geochemistry and Physical Science at Saint Xavier University, Chicago, Prof.

Christopher Chalokwu, has said that a paradigm shift in the governance and structure of Nigerian universities is needed to overcome the crisis in the education sector.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard Learning, Chalokwu said: “What is needed is a paradigm shift in the governance structure of Nigerian varsities from a centralized top heavy administrative model to a structure based on shared governance whereby administrators, academic and non academic staff and students collectively develop a shared vision for their institution.”

Chalokwu, who is also the President of the Medical Assay Laboratory in Chicago, opined that private varsities should be the laboratories for testing

the new paradigm.

“The crisis in the educational sector is also a crisis in management. The National University Council and the governing council of Nigerian public varsities need restructuring with roles and responsibilities that are benchmarked and assessed continuously.

"There is also a misalignment between the needs of the country, the intellectual and pragmatic capacity of the population, and the creation of new knowledge relevant to the natural and human resources available for the development of the Nigerian people and the country at large.”

Speaking on solutions to the massive brain drain from the country, he called for adequately funding research opportunities that contribute to the overall well being of the nation as this would also appeal to Nigerian and other professionals who wish to contribute to the national good.

“Such competitive research

contributes to the local, state, and national conversation and pride that is essential to academic quality and innovation.

"The brain drain also applies to talented students who seek admission to study abroad. Therefore, to slow the brain drain, all academic and non academic needs must be addressed to improve the learning and working environment and enhance the quality of lives of Nigerians.

"Nigerians are hungry for a well-developed, transparent, and reliable funding strategy and mechanism that provide enough accountability at funding levels that can seriously address the sagging infrastructural and material needs of the entire educational system.”

As managing partner of the Three Rivers Academic Consulting and Assessment Group, Chalokwu lamented that the most populous nation in Africa can't produce a single university that ranks in the top 30 or 40 of universities in Africa by most measures.

Udeme Archibong successrecipe2009@gmail.com

From illusion to reality O

NCE upon a time there lived a certain man was arrestd by one of the barons and shut up in a cell. He lay in that dark dungeon for twenty years. The jailer would come into the cell on a daily basis to deliver his food and the door was shut afterwards. Out of frustration, the man decided that it was time to end his life. However, he did not want to commit suicide but rather he planned to attack the jailer when he comes to deliver his food the next day; the jailer will then react in self-defence and kill him thus putting to an end his miserable life. Therefore, he decided to examine the door in preparation to execute his plans the next day. The man caught the door handle and turned it and was astonished to discover that the door was opened. After thorough investigation he realized that there was no lock on the door and for the twenty years that he was “locked up” the door had never been locked. The man walked out of the cell, though he saw some soldiers along the way but they were chatting and they never paid him attention.

The man had been living in a world of illusion for twenty years held captive by his mind or thoughts until he stepped out of illusion to the world of reality and gained his freedom. It’s the mind that imprisons; it’s the mind that liberates.

Success in life is a product of how we “see” the world and how we “see” the world governs how we think, feel and behave. And to a large extent we “see” the world through the lens of past experiences and conditioning. The understanding, meaning or interpretation we give to the world we “see” is the source of both our problems and our victories in life.

One of the illusions created by the human mind is thinking that our happiness in life depends on something outside ourselves. But the reality is that happiness is a choice from within us created when we give of ourselves and serve others.

Real happiness does not lie in getting things but by being a giver in life. Nobody can make you happy or unhappy but happiness is determined by the choices within you.

Another man-made illusion is to think that love is a feeling.

But the truth or reality is that love is action; it is a decision to act in someone else’s best interest. Many marriages and relationships have been broken or marred because of this illusion. Our feelings are like a roller coaster; going up and down and our feelings can be very deceptive and even distorted. And to surrender love to be determined by our feelings is to trade on dangerous horizons. When Martin Luther king jr’s house was bombed by the white skinned people of America his followers wanted to revenge. But Martin Luther made a profound statement, “You don’t meet hatred with hatred but rather you meet hatred with love.”

Love is a choice to act irrespective of our feelings; to sacrifice, to give more, to be patient, to be selfless, to be kind and considerate.

Another common illusion is to think that our past determines our future; the misinterpretation of past experience. While our past births the present because of consequences but our future is determined by the choices we make and the direction that we focus on in the present. When you relive failure saturated memories you perpetuate it into the future. But when you explore the uncharted world of the imagination, you create the future of possibilities.

A prevalent illusion evident in human nature is the desire to value things and use people. Companies and businesses have been stunted, marriages have split, relationships marred, leadership have lost relevance and human lives are eroded with an inner emptiness due to this singular illusion. Truth or reality says value people; serve and love them and use things.

Never surrender your life to illusion but uphold reality. e

,

BY GBENGA OKE & LAJU ARENYEKA

WITH

Another common illusion is to think that our past determines our future; the misinterpretation of past experience.

,

•NBC TTC Set 23 & 24 Trainees Graduation Ceremony.

Weak foundation responsible for halfbaked graduates – Experts

BY DAYO ADESULU

E

DUCATION stakeholders have attributed the low performance of students at the university level to their weak foundation, urging school administrators to ensure that there are sound learning foundation for all levels of basic education.

This was brought to the fore when the Centre for Human Security (CHS) an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, last week in Lagos brought schools administrators together for a one-day workshop tagged “Leadership Training for Headmasters”.

Speaking at the workshop, Director CHS and chief convener of the workshop, Professor Peter Okebukola, stated that for stakeholders to witness improvement in the learning of students, quality education must be given at the

basic level.

“Basic education is so critical that the United Nations Millennium Development Goals placed it as second on the eight goal outline.”

Okebukola who was represented by Mrs. Omotayo Ikotun, noted that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who founded the centre shared in the vision of the UNMDG and had relentlessly propagated better basic education in and out of office.

“As young children, they easily pick up habits around them. Time has changed from when teachers do other things when they are supposed to be teaching the children, time has changed from when the most frequent answer to the pupils’ wrong-doing is flogging.

“Now, children are exposed to too much information at a particular time; they want to become like the people they

see around them. Now is the time to let the six hours they spend in school each day shape the course of their lives."

Stressing that children of head teachers and teachers are being looked after by other people, he charged head teachers to lead their teachers if they don’t want other people to treat their children badly too.

The Programme Officer, Mr. Ibukun Olagbemiro, who delivered a paper on: ‘Leadership Dynamics’ charged teachers to put on purposeful leadership that will put the interest of students above theirs.

“The responsibility to teachers is enourmous and Head teachers have crucial roles to play in the smooth delivery of good education because the society, parents, and pupils expect so much to attain excellence at all fronts.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—37

I N S I D E

You can't waive your immunity, Labour Law experts hold confab on personnel lawyer tells Al-Makura — Page 38

management — Page 38

Salami: When a Judge cries for justice …. Ex-CJN, Uwais, accuses NJC of injustice, double standard

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

T

HE integrity of the Nigerian Judiciary has once again been called to question by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais, who alleged that the National Judicial Council, NJC, blanketed justice and applied double standard in its decision that led to the ouster of the former President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, from office.

Uwais made the allegation on a day the embattled PCA who voluntarily threw-in the towel on October 15 and formally resigned from office, opened several cans of worms regarding how an erstwhile CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, attempted to rig the judgment of an Appeal Court sitting in Sokoto, in favour of the ruling political party.

To further worsen the fact, Salami, who opened up a day to the valedictory court session that was held at the Appeal Court Headquarters in Abuja, to commemorate his exit from the judiciary, maintained that even the immediate past CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, also took part in the uncanny plot to pervert the course of justice, stressing that the meeting took place at one of the revered hallowed chambers in the Supreme Court.

It will be recalled that Salami, who currently holds record as the only

Former PCA Justice Ayo Salami and wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to send Salami on a compulsory retirement.

Though that decision sparked off series of legal actions from both Salami and his well wishers, the NJC stood its

,

Uwais maintained that the NJC goofed when it referred the matter to President Jonathan, noting that going by the provision of section 153(2) of the Constitution, the President, has no power to remove the ex-PCA from office

judicial officer in the annals of the country, that has served the longest suspension term, got himself into trouble after he refused to apologize to Katsina-Alu for accusing him of perpetuating corruption in the judiciary especially with regards to an election case involving Sokoto State.

Consequently, the NJC, on August 18, 2011, announced his suspension from office, saying it had found him guilty of gross misconduct.

The NJC which was headed by the then CJN, Musdapher, went ahead

,

ground and left him in the cold for over two years.

Meanwhile, faulting the action of the NJC, Uwais, who himself is also a member of the council, in a speech he presented, bemoaned that “It is disturbing, to say the least, that the NJC, whose membership consists of eminent and experience judges and lawyers, should act in the manner they treated Hon. Justice Salami.”

According to Uwais, “What was the reason for the suspension? Briefly, there was a disagreement between the then CJN and Justice Salami on how to

Mohammed Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN treat a complaint from Sokoto concerning an election matter that was pending before a panel of Court of Appeal.

The disagreement was taken before the NJC. A number of committees were set up by the NJC to examine one aspect or another of the complaint. None of the committees found Justice Salami guilty of any infraction but the NJC, in considering the report of the last committee it set up, directed that Justice Salami should tender an apology to the then CJN within 7 days.

“Justice Salami refused to do, since he was not found guilty of any misconduct. Without the NJC asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for disobeying its directive, Justice Salami was served with a letter suspending him from office, pending his removal by the President as recommended by the NJC.” Uwais maintained that the NJC goofed when it referred the matter to President Jonathan, noting that going by the provision of section 153(2) of the Constitution, the President, has no power to remove the ex-PCA from office, “suspension from office is an act

of discipline”, he added.

Speaking at the valedictory court session, Salami, insisted that he was a victim of executive witch-hunt, alleging that the NJC, played into the hands of desperate politicians that wanted his ouster by all means.

He maintained that the NJC, by its actions and conduct with regards to all the issues that culminated to his suspension, grossly failed in its duties and functions as a revered arm of the

Continues on page 38

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

You can't waive your immunity, lawyer tells Al-Makura BY DAYO BENSON

T

HE appearance of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa state before the commission of inquiry into Alakyo killings has been described as unconstitutional. Because he cannot waive his immunity.

This assertion was made by a senior Advocate of Nigeria Hassan Liman who explained the legal implication of the governors appearance before the commission in a letter dated

29th October, sent to the governor, the Chairman and members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the recent Killings of members of the Nigerian Security Forces.

While purporting to waive his immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, the governor appeared before the commission of inquiry at its Government House sitting venue, last Friday where he admitted that he gave N1 million to Ombatse youths to pacify them.

The lawyer who

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura wanted the commission to disregard Al-Makuras testimony or any allegation against the Governor in its findings and recommendation said that the constitution

When a Judge cries for justice Continues from pg 37 Nigerian judiciary.

Salami wondered why the NJC which is created by the Constitution to protect judicial officers especially judges, abandoned its responsibilities and sold out in his case. ”The last three years of my career were dogged by travails which are not dissimilar to the fate of Joseph in the book of Genesis in the Bible. ”As his brothers conspired to destroy him by throwing him into a well and selling him into slavery, my learned brothers and friends in the legal profession planned and executed doing evil to me. ”The National Judicial Council (NJC) created by the Constitution to protect me, nay any judicial

officer was on the vanguard of my travails. The NJC failed in its duties and thereby surrendered its functions to the Executive arm of government thus, ingratiate itself to the Executive. ”For instance,after the NJC had cleared me of any wrongdoing, following the recommendations of Justice Aloma Mukhtar’s committee, ought to have recalled me to office without asking the President to exercise the power that he does not possess, on the flimsy excuse that it had earlier referred the matter to him. ”In truth, as a matter of courtesy, all it needed to do was to write the President that in view of its recent decision, this

matter was now outside his purview. After so informing him, NJC would be free to take the necessary step to implement its decision. ”The position in which NJC has found itself is similar to that of the proverbial cock that betrayed itself to the fox that what was on his head was not fire and encouraged the fox to touch it. ”The fox, having satisfied itself that truly it was not fire, has since been hunting cocks to make menu of them.

Also, when the report of the committee the NJC set up to make recommendation on Umaru Abdullahi’s report was submitted to it for ratification, neither the CJN nor the next most senior Justice of the Supreme

prohibits any kind of Judicial Proceedings to be taken against the holder of the office or to be continued against him or for any process of Court to be issued

Court was present at the meeting. ”Justice Moses A. Bello, who was neither the CJN nor the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, took it upon himself to preside at the meeting contrary to the express provisions of subparagraph (a) and (b) of paragraph 20 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution.” He argued that by the aforementioned provision, “no other members of the NJC, including statutory members could be Chairman.”

Besides, Salami, argued that by claiming to be Acting Chairman of NJC in the two letters he (Justice Bello) wrote to him, dated August 9 and 18an 2011 he (Justice Bello OFR) was neither a Justice of the Supreme Court, next most senior Justice of the court nor the CJN.

against him compelling his attendance or appearance in Court.

He stressed that no question of waiver of the relevant immunity by the incumbent of the offices concerned or, indeed, by the courts may therefore arise.

Liman maintained that whatever motivated the Governor to appear before the Judicial Commission or for the Commission to have allowed him the Governor of Nasarawa State to testify before the Commission was done without due regard to the provision of Section 308 of the Constitution which gives absolute immunity to the

Governor of a State.

His words: In my view, the immunity granted to the incumbent of the relevant office under Section 308 (1) (a) of the Constitution prescribes an absolute prohibition on the courts from entertaining any proceedings, civil or criminal, in respect of any claim or relief against a person to whom that section of the Constitution applies during the period he holds such office. No question of waiver of the relevant immunity by the incumbent of the offices concerned or, indeed, by the courts may therefore arise.

Labour Law experts hold confab on personnel management

BY DAYO BENSON

E

XPERTS and policy makers in labour law, labour relations and personnel management will converge to find lasting solutions to the challenges confronting personnel managers in navigating the town-and-gown divide.

The forum which is titled “The Disconnect between Gown and Town: Effective Strategies at Developing Workforce Competencies,” will coincide with the 11th Annual Public Lecture Luncheon of the Chartered

Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) holding on Thursday November 14th.

The event which will take place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos at 10am will be chaired by the former managing director of the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Dr. Oladimeji Alo (FCIPMN) while Mrs. Titilayo Ajoke Akinsanya (MCIPMN) is the Special Guest of Honour.

According to the President of the Lagos Island Chapter of the Institute, Mr. Reginald Akujobi Roberts (FCIPMN), the annual lecture luncheon, among other things, is one of the important activities of the Institute aimed at bringing some burning national issues to the fore.

Stakeholders expected include human resource practitioners, members of the academia, higher education curriculum developers, legislators, captains of industries, policy makers and public service personnel.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—39

17th UPR and training programme for journalists in Geneva The 17th session of the Universal Periodic Review, UPR of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland and media empowerment on human rights training programme for journalists from Nigeria, Senegal and Chad, drawn from the print and electronic media, sponsored by Gmedia, a non-governmental organisation based in Geneva. Photos by: Innocent Anaba

From left: Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr. Nuruddeen Mohammed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

From left: Mrs Ifeoma Chinwuba, Nigeria’s Am- From left: Executive Secretary of National Human bassador designate to Cote D’Ivoire and Prof Chi- Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe and Mr Joe di Odinkalu, Chairman, National Human Rights Nwankwo.

Commission.

From left: Mr Khamisu Mailantarki, member, House Committee on Human Rights and Amb. Umunna Orjiako, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Nigeria, Geneva, Switzerland.

From left: Mr Yakode Laro, Permanent Mission of Nigeria, Geneva and Amb Mark Egbe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From left: Mr Utibe Umoren, African Independent Television, and Mr Tobi Soniyi of Thisday Newspapers.

From left: Mr Mohammed Ladan, Director, National Human Rights Commission, and Mr Gabriel Asaolu.

From left: Ousmane Ibrahima, Agence de presse senegalaise APS, and Mrs Bosade Ijelekhai, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

From left: Mr Michael Didama, Letemps Newspapers, Chad and Mr Yahaya Ibrahim, Daily Trust Newspapers

Adekoya advices National Assembly on public petitions

BY DAYO BENSON

S

ENIOR Advocate of Nigeria and former first Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mrs Funke Adekoya has advised the National Assembly that matters which are pending in courts or before administrative panels do not fall within the remit of the Public Petitions Committees of the upper and lower chambers of the assembly, even as speedy determination of public petitions will promote the cause of democracy and rule of law.

In an address to the Strategic Retreat Session of the Senate and House committees on public petitions which held in Lagos, Mrs Adekoya, also urged the committees not to dabble into matters which citizens have agreed

to resolve by arbitration but to refer such matters to arbitral tribunals.

Reviewing the provisions of the Standing Orders of both the Senate and the House and the scope of petitions by aggrieved citizens, Adekoya who is the immediate past Chair of the Nigerian Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), said that the jurisdiction of the committees did not extend to “situations in which parties have already taken the matter to court for determination or where an action has been taken on the matter by an administrative panel.”

In the paper titled “Improving timely and effective response to citizens’ complaints through the use of Alternate Dispute Resolution [ADR] mechanisms,”she noted that most petitioners

approached the National Assembly because they felt that they will not obtain redress in the courts or due to the slow or expensive process of litigation.

She advised the committees to adopt ADR techniques in resolving the petitions, moreso since the petitions were usually brought before redress was sought in the courts or administrative panels.

According to her Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) “is a cheaper and a viable option for resolving disputes due to the speed at which decisions are made.” She noted that the ADR process promotes confidentiality and the role of parties in arriving at the decisions, emphasizing the pressing need for the committee members to be trained in the various ADR techniques to enhance

through conciliation and mediation, being specialized ADR procedures.

On the need to refer matters containing arbitral clauses to arbitral tribunals, Adekoya who is a Partner in the leading law firm of AELEX (Legal Practitioners) observed: Mrs Funke Adekoya “Where an aggrieved (SAN), former first Vice petitioner has entered President of the Nigerian into an agreement which Bar Association contains an arbitration clause, your respective their ability to determine Committees should direct petitions amenable to the petitioner to comADR procedures “as mence arbitration proagainst those in which ceedings rather than public [or private] hearcome by way of petition, ings are required.” as the parties have Reviewing the recent chosen how they wish Senate decision advising their disputes to be the disengaged staff of resolved.” the National Identity She warned that the Management CommisSenate and House sion (NIMC) to approach committees were not well the courts for redress, the suited for the rigours of respected legal practitionarbitral proceedings, er noted that the impasse adding that “The formal would have been more nature of the arbitration speedily resolved process (agreement of the

parties and the appointment of an arbitrator) means it is not a desirable ADR process for the use of your committees in resolving petitions brought before you.”

According to her, arbitral awards are binding and “may be enforced upon an application in writing to the court, except where the court grants an application to refuse recognition or enforcement of the award made by either of the parties.”

The Senior Lawyer also noted that such awards were enforced in the same manner as a judgment of the court, adding that “Arbitration is by written agreement of the parties and this agreement is irrevocable except by agreement between the two parties or by leave of court.”

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Anambra has given the world, an array of creative writers — Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike PROFESSOR Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike, is a man of many parts,a novelist of distinction, President, Nigerian Book Foundation (since 1993), the traditional ruler of Ikelionwu , publisher, author and administrator. The author of the famous Toads for Supper who organised the first Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival, in this interview with Vanguard Art, explains the reason behind the festival and other sundry issues. Excerpts Anambra has given Nigeria, Africa, the International Literary Market Place. an impressive array of Creative Writers Cyprian Ekwensi, Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Chukwuemeka Ike, Onuora Nzekwu, Obi Egbuna, Nkem Nwankwo, Ifeoma Okoye,

,

C

AN you explain what the Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival is all about?

The Nigeria Book Foundation, with the support of His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, CON, Executive Governor Anambra state, wishes to ensure that the inevitable deaths of world class creative writers of Anambra state origin do not leave a vacuum. The 1 st Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival will begin the process of grassroots sustenance of the legacy of top- quality Literary Creativity established by the departed literary icons.

Fundamentally, Anambra as a State has played a pace setting role in the creative industry whether it is in business, religion, arts or politics. Can you tell us which aspect is being celebrated?

Literary Creativity.

Why the Arts?

In an age where Science and technology are pioneering the creative and development industry, why the choice of humanities for celebration?

The answer is simple. A sensible person does not celebrate what does not exist. The Nigeria/ Biafra war in 1967-70 brought about significant scientific and technological breakthroughs on the Biafran side, with Biafra refining crude oil previously considered the prerogative of the technologically advanced Western World. With Biafra defeated on the battle front, our people returned to square one. What do we have to celebrate in science and technology? We have switched off our brains in the area of science

1st Anambra State Literary Creativity Festival will begin the process of grassroots sustenance of the legacy of top-quality literary creativity established by departed literary icons

Nathan Nkala, Akachi Ezeigbo Chimamanda Adichie…. I could go on indefinitely. Considering that during my student days at Government College Umuahia, Nigeria did not have one published Creative Writer of note; this is an achievement worth celebrating.

,

and technology and handed over our fate to China.

Can you explain to us the role of NBF in this project?

The Nigerian Book Foundation (NBF) is a non-profit, nonGovernmental, National Book Development Organization. The objects of the 20-year old

•Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike organization include the development of an indigenous book industry: The promotion of authorship of books for use in all institutions of learning as well as for general use, for pleasure and education in its wildest possible meaning.

Encouragement of the reading habit among Nigerians; and the promotion through books of ideas and ideas that would enhance the socio-cultural development of the country are also desired. It was the NBF that activated the establishment of the present day Nigeria International Book Fair held in Lagos in May every year to replace the moribund Ife Book Fair.

Are there other plans of furthering this project?

If you examine the curriculum vitae of a good number of the best

known First Generation Nigerian Creative Writers, you will find that many of them attended the Government Colleges of the Colonial era. Gabriel Okara, Chinua Achebe , Christopher Okeigbo, Chukwuemeka Ike , Elechi Amadi, Cyprian Ekwensi.

Wole Soyinka, Femi Osofisan studied at Government College, Ibadan.

JP Clark studied at Government College, Warri/ Ughelli. Those colleges provided the conductive environment which nurtured their creativity.

The NBF recently submitted a recommendation to the erstwhile Honourable Minister of Education on what can be done to turn the Federal Government Colleges into conductive environments for the nurture of Creative Writers.

From Davis Tussle, comes a message of hope E

N T E R TA I N M E N T industry welds a lot of influence on people and is regarded as a strong tool to market anything and it was on that basis that Pink Crusade utilised it last week when it held its maiden edition of the pink crusade drama tagged Davis Tussle, an play that creates awareness about breast cancer.

The venue was the Terra Kulture home of art, and for two days, Nigerians and indeed theatre lovers were treated to a musical drama that was entertaining and educative.

Produced by a professional film maker and producer, Chinasa Ariole and directed by Joseph Ofili, starring seasoned actresses like Obiageli Molobe, Lara Akinsola, Jennifer Ossamour and others, the cast were able to use the medium

of entertainment to send the much needed message about breast cancer home to the audience.

With a beautifully designed stage to suit a counselling unit of a hospital with chairs and tables as props, while the entire place was decorated with pink colours to suit the colour of the organisers and make it

many women have died as a result of wrong diagnosis, so there is need for the victims to go to a qualified hospital and start the treatment early.

With a strong message fused with songs that captured the audience that made them relax and enjoy, the play opened with the visit of three women to a Pink Hospice after being diagnosed They were able to use the medium of different stages of of entertainment to send the mes- breast cancer, with sage the hope of look feminine, they were able getting answers that will help to take audience to the emo- them deal with the emotional tional journey women go journey of fighting breast canthough while battling breast cer. There they meet other cancer. women who also have their For the over 65 minutes the own battle with breast cancer. play lasted, the audience were After their examination, they told about all that they need to went for the open forum where know about breast cancer, the the seven women each had a signs and symptoms, the risk story to tell, but with the counfactors and others. Through the selling of Dr Grace, they display it was discovered that covered just how much breast

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By JAPHET ALAKAM

,

The women tell their stories in the play cancer binds them together and yet threatens to keep them apart in death if they don’t win the battle. So they opened up and agreed to tell the story and fight the battle.For example, the case of Mariam, the celebrity who refused to disclse her identity and that of Onome who refused to tell her daughter the truth about her medical state and that of her father he drama brings to the fore the need to open up, as information is the key, tell the world what breast cancer can do, join the fight today.

A brilliant performance, fused

with good songs about the topic that drove the message home. It was a good outing and the audience welcomed it with thunderous applause at intervals.

According to Chinasa, who doubles as the writer and producer, the play which she intends to take around was inspired by a relative’s travail.

The drama goes on to show that breast cancer affects women physically and emotionally, loved ones included.

"You cannot stop breast cancer from happening to you or your loved ones but the only key to survival is early detection and proper medical treatment.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013‘ — 41

Saro: The Musical sets pace for quality Theatre

By JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE much talked about staging of the well promoted and Broadway-style showpiece; Saro the Musical was performed in Lagos at a grand premiere which was followed by several shows last weekend. The show witnessed a massive turn out of enthusiastic theatre lovers, especially in the music industry who gathered at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, to enjoy super entertainment

courtesy of the art loving woman and founder of Terra Kulture, Mrs. Bolanle AustenPeters and her crew.

Three shows which were staged at 11am, 3pm and 7pm were completely sold out. The children show at 11am in particular, had a very impressive turnout of students from about 20 schools such as, Pine Field School Lekki, Edgewood College Lekki, Temple Schools Ilupeju, and Greensprings Lekki.

The huge multi-dimensional stage, the colourful costumes,

lighting and sound input, all added radiance to the brilliance of the actors, dancers, musicians, stunts-men, an indication of the quality of vision of the producers of the show.

It was a memorable outing as the performers thrilled the audience with a wellchoreographed dance steps cum competent acting skills in jazz, afro-beat, hip-hop, highlife, juju, apala, as well as other contemporary Nigerian music genres.

Day 1 of the event attracted

,

A scene from Saro, The Musical

eminent Nigerians such as, former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the state’s Commissioner for Tourism, Hon Disun Holloway. Veteran actor-couple Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva; Nollywood star, Dakore EgbusonAkande, who also played an exceptional role of a hostess in the musical, were among other dignitaries.

The second day of event had, apart from pupils and students who watched the first show, a modest crowd comprising theatre lovers and dignitaries filled the Hall for the third evening show.

They were the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the international actress Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, the poet, activist, Odia Ofeimun; dramatist and culture journalist, Ben Tomoloju; r e n o w n e d filmmakers, Tunde Kelani and Femi Odugbemi; the Architect and designer of the Freedom Park and the Kalakuta Museum, Theo

HAT began first as a small Afrocentric boutique hotel known as Bogobiri has in a matter of a decade, evolved into a dynamic cultural centre. Situated in Ikoyi, Lagos, Bogobiri has without support from any foundation or government, transformed the cultural landscape and imagination of thousands of local and international visitors to Lagos. Today, it has developed into a unique conduit for Nigerian art, music, food, film and drama.

And to celebrate a decade of impactful existence and huge transformation, the management has made plans ready to compress everything that has taken place in Bogobiri house for the period

Speaking on the expec tations of culture enthusiast during the festival, the Bogobiri Managing Director, Mrs Tola Akerele said that the vision of the festival is to condense 10 years of experiencing Bogobiri, into one

,

W

of ten years, into Bogobiri Arts Festival which is a month festival, opened on November 1st, 2013.

To mark the milestone of 10 years in existence, the international event tagged “Ten Years of the Bogobiri Experience” will feature colourful activities which have been lined up for the entire month of November. The activities include art exhibitions, musical concerts, film and dance performances, food fair and cultural talks.

Of more interest is the Literary week sponsored by Etisalat. The Etisalat Prize for Literature will afford 10 selected writers who will be participating in the creative writing workshop, an opportunity of taking their writing career to a much higher level. The workshop will be facilitated by the Farafinabooks.

Lawson; banker, Kayode Aderinokun, comedian Teju Babyface, and Steve Onuh aka Yaw, and others.

Also at the opening was

ings in the music cafe as well as an open air music venue on the Danfo rooftop.

“Bogobiri is reflecting Nigeria’s cultural history and not entirely commercial, so as to encourage not so westernised crop of artists, but rather,

,

Bogobiri has transformed the cultural landscape and imagination of thousands of visitors to Lagos

memorable month of performances. The house which seems to be on a smooth sail to becoming a successful global brand according to Akerele, has created great possibilities for hosting bigger shows and events which include exhibitions at the Nimbus Gallery, plays and concerts in the events hall, film shows and book read-

Right step for theatre development According to Duke, “Often time, we get invited to different venues in Lagos where corporate organisations have gone to South Africa, to East Africa to bring individuals and groups to entertain us but here we are the very best of Africa.

A repertoire of songs and dances, properly choreographed, dexterous dancers, pulsating drumbeats and the musical is just phenomenal.

Veteran actor and actress Olu

It was a memorable outing as the performers thrilled the audience with a well-choreographed dance steps cum competent acting skills

Bogobiri marks ten with Arts Festival

By PRISCA SAM DURU

Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke, who described the production as simply phenomenal.

Duke commended the Executive Producer, Bolanle AustenPeters and her team, for the excellent production.

According to him, “Bolanle Austen-Peters has gone around into the recesses of Lagos and recesses of Nigeria; she has brought the rough and the smooth and merged them into a kaleidoscope of stars. This is truly fascinating Nigeria. This is the commonwealth of Nigeria. This is the property that we have several years to enjoy and I want to say she is a phenomenal lady to have thought about all of this.”

individuals who would promote our identity through African/Nigeria history. This is aimed at restoring the local music content which was almost phasing out at some point.”

Bogobiri has enjoyed cultural partners such as Goethe institute, British Council, Freedom Park, Norwegian Embassy etc.

,

Jacobs and Joke Silva said the show is a good step in the right direction for theatre development in Nigeria.

However, while most commentaries were on the positive side, some of the audience members weren’t impressed with the sound quality of the day 1, though they showered endless praises on the technical input into the play which led to its rich spectacle, some complained that they found it difficult understandingwhat the actors said but by the second day, the troublesome sound was effectively tackled by the technical team led by Teju Kareem, and thus Day 2 was such a spleendid experience for Nigerians.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Edun, one of the witnesses to this great event said,”watching SARO has brought the whole Lagos thing back to me. Lagos is actually a land filled with opportunities where people actually come, find their dreams and keep them. I think it’s so amazing having a Nigerian do this for us; we’ve seen Fela on Broadway, Lyla King On Broadway but SARO (in Nigerian Broadway), happens to be a classic one”.

42—Vanguard, THURSD AY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 THURSDA

Yes, you can fight fat naturally

M

ILLIONS of people are driven in desperation to reduce stubborn fat and keep it away for good. Obesity is at epidemic proportions and the market is inundated with weight loss products that make all kinds of dubious claims.

You can supposedly drink your way into your skinny jeans, wrap your waist in a slimming belt or pop a wonder pill that will magically melt fat overnight.

However, all these things do is mask the real problem which rests in choosing health over a quick fix.

The right way to fight fat and keep it off is to do it naturally, by making it a way of life.

Consume fat fighting foods You are what you eat. If you make a habit of including fat-fighting whole foods in your regular diet, you will provide your body with the fuel that it needs to boost metabolism and build strong muscles.

Eggs Pasture-raised eggs are one of nature’s most valu-

able foods. Although it seems like there is an egg controversy just about every other week, the fact re-

Eggs contain a plethora of B-complex vitamins and are a superior source of protein. Including eggs in

Julia Oyefunke Fortune

The Chronic Disease

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

calories and high in nutrients and fiber. Vegetables are what are known as free foods because you can eat as much as you like with-

• Watch the kilos drop.

• Fight fat the natural way. mains, eggs are good for us. Yes, they do contain cholesterol but the cholesterol in foods we eat does not impact blood cholesterol as formerly thought.

your diet will help you stay full and energized and encourage healthy muscle development.

Vegetables Vegetables are low in

out having to worry about eating too many. The energy that vegetables provide in the form of complex carbohydrates which take some time to digest and do not spike blood sugar.

Raw nuts At one time nuts were looked down upon because of their saturated fat content. However, they are now recognized as a nu-

tritionally valuable food source. Nuts are not only heart healthy but also contain disease fighting vitamins and protein. The best nuts to snack on are almonds followed closely by walnuts. A small handful of nuts will keep you feeling full and energized.

Coconut oil People in the tropics have been using coconut oil for thousands of years because of its medicinal properties.

Coconut oil may be saturated fat but it is healthy saturated fat that will help burn fat. Not only doest coconut oil promote a healthy immune system and keep your skin looking great but it fuels your metabolic furnace and balances hormones, often the cause of that unsightly bulge. Use coconut oil liberally when you cook or enjoy on toast, in warm drinks or alone.

Organic green tea Green tea is an effective addition to any healthy

lifestyle plan. A potent antioxidant, green tea as the ability to stimulate the body to burn calories and decrease body fat.

Filtered water The human body is comprised of about 50-65 percent water. Water is necessary for every bodily process including metabolism.

When you are dehydrated you body holds toxins in your fat cells and it will not release the fat cells until you are hydrated so that the toxins can be safely removed.

Get moving We live in a very sedentary culture where sitting is the norm. Some people go from their cars to their desk, back to their cars without even taking 200 steps in a day. Movement is a necessary part of any fat loss programme.

Be on your feet as much as you can, find occupations and hobbies that require you to move around a lot.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO sir, good day. I have an extreme case of premature ejaculation. On several occasions, just while kissing a girl, I will wet my trousers. You cannot even begin to imagine how embarrassing this has been for me. So I don’t have a girlfriend and I find it difficult to befriend women. A friend told me about you people so I am putting all my hopes on you. I really need your help. Thanks – Philip Dear Philip, your experience of extreme quick ejaculation is not unheard of and happens a lot to single men who are not sexually active. This type of quick ejaculation shares certain similarities with men’s wet dreams.

In both cases, there is an overload of built up semen due to sexual inactivity and hence the quick trigger of ejaculation. A lot of us had similar experiences many years ago. As soon as you get into a steady relationship where sex is frequent, this experience will stop. For now it can only be managed in the following ways. If you are going to be intimate with a girl on a certain day, it helps if you masturbate once or twice, just before intimacy. What this does is that it eliminates the nervousness of intimacy, depletes stored semen and buys your body some time before semen is produced again. Unlike women who can have multiple orgasms within a five minute period, a man’s body requires a longer time to produce and refill semen after ejaculation. So if you masturbate once or twice before a sexual encounter, you definitely will not experience quick ejaculation because there will be no semen to ejaculate just yet.

Another option is for you to wear a condom during foreplay so that if you experience quick ejaculation, it will not stain your trousers and embarrass you. These are all clever ways of dealing with this problem until it goes away. And if a girl likes you, don’t give up on the relationship because of this problem. A steady and long term relationship is exactly what your body needs to solve this problem. Take care – Uche Is there anything a woman can do after child birth to make her womb tighter during love making? Thanks.

Mrs Abigail Yes Mrs Abigail, a combination of a vagina tightening cream and orgasm balls for pelvic exercises will help restore the vaginal muscles to its original taut state. You can use the Reverse Vagina Tightening Cream and the First Timer’s Orgasm Balls to achieve this – Uche I am married but very lonely. My wife and I live in different countries and only see each other two or three times a year. I am very tempted to have an affair. I don’t know what to do – Rotimi Dear Rotimi, adult toys can help ease the pressure. It is not ideal but there are lots of Masturbators and love dolls designed to enable men get sexual relief in situations like yours. Toys such as Foxy’s Platinum Masturbator and Noches Latinas UR3 masturbator can help give you some satisfaction so you don’t have to cheat. However, living in different cities is a bad idea. It never works well – Uche My husband has problems with weak erection and premature ejaculation. He is really trying his best to make me happy but the problem is still there - Ijeoma Dear Ijeoma, your husband needs an erection enhancing supplement and an ejaculation delay cream. He should start taking Exploding Thunder supplement. It is a fast acting, natural herbal supplement that will give him hard erections and the stamina to perform multiple times. One capsule works for three days. For his premature ejaculation, he should apply Love Stuff All Night Delay Cream before intercourse– Uche I have started using that Liquid Sex Instant Penis Enlarger. Nice product. Thanks - Niyi You are welcome. That’s it for this week. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. You can call us on 08027901621, 07038845262 or 08051924159 to order or you can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com . We deliver to you wherever you are . For enquiries, email custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media

Vanguard Vanguard,,

THUSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 —

43

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER; Professional advice may be needed over your finances but if you are sure of what you are doing you can go ahead. Be more family minded.

LEO; Some of you who are travelling purposely for love are in for a rewarding day. All of you will need to take your social life more seriously.

VIRGO; Unusual co-operation may come your way today but if you are carried away by this the whole thing may change soonest. Respect your spouse.

LIBRA; Tomorrow will prove more rewarding financially but you will have good opportunity to do things rightly within your working arena. Be loving.

SCORPIO; Although tomorrow may be your best day good opportunity to enhance your financial prospects will come your way even today. Try to be more practical however.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

AM sure you know what a defender is? Incase you do not know. I guess you have watched or seen a football match? If you have watched a football match, you surely will know the duty of the defender.

Are you a good defender?

Simply put, the defender is the back man that repels the rampaging attacker from scoring goals against his side.

Now, I can hear you ask: what has being a good defender got to do with it? The truth is that every good thing in life is

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

subject to attack. The good man is subject to attack; the good fruit is subject to attack; the genius is subject to attack, the successful man is subject to attack etc.

See why you need to be a good defender?

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; This is your day when both your personal efforts and element of good luck will bring you much desired result. The more self assertive you are today the better for you.

CAPRICORN; Tomorrow is your day; although there will be some challenges within your base of operation today, eventual success will be yours. Be more family minded.

AQUARIUS; Even if friends have failed to live up to expectation in the recent days you will need to leave the past behind you and forge ahead. Lovers are fairly favoured.

PISCES; Business challenges of yesterday notwithstanding pleasant surprises are possible. The more financially ambitious you are today the better for your cause.

ARIES; Better opportunities indicated for those of you willing to be as self assertive as possible, and it could turn out to be a happy day to be remembered by real lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; Although you will need to keep your secrets for the next few days that is not to say you should not pursue your financial interest. Take care of your health.

GEMINI; Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make an important move because good luck and success are closer to you today than you image. Be hopeful.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who am I? Dear Joshua, Please keep my birth data secret, but I want you to analyse my horoscope bluntly so that I can know who am I; talking about my personality. Who am I ?

Olajide, Kano.

Dear Olajide, What you will find here under will prove useful if you take them seriously and utilise them.

ANALY S I S O F YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/ PLANETARY PLACEMENT Aries that hosted the most important heavenly body (the Sun) together with indicator of mental focus lens-Mercury, is known for special leadership quality and higher degree of positive aggressiveness. Yes you were endowed with leadership talents which can manifest either in the business world or POLITICS and probably both.

It is true that Aries can be very aggressive, but with many planets placed in more mild Star signs, with less than 50% of push-full influence, loving Venus as most influential planet when you were born, certainly aggression of Aries is greatly water down to the minimum . That is not to say you the timid type but yours is a balanced personality. You are gentle, honest and straight forward person.

Preponderance of fixed and earth in your chart are pointers to the fact that you are the careful type who will not change his mind just for the fun of it.

Then as peace loving Venus was the most influential planet when you were born, peace and harmony will always come first whenever you want to take any (important and/or) decisive action.

Placement of mighty Sun (indicator of basic-self hood) the Moon (indicator of sub-conscious self/ emotion) and the Stellium (that is more than two planets in one Star sign} in Aries, Pisces and Taurus respectively meant that basic characteristics of the three Star signs stated in this paragraph are highly pronounced in your inner-self..

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

‘Oil spills reduce life expectancy'

Nigerian Law School Class '83 celebrates

BY FUNMI OLASUPO

L

IFE expectancy in the Niger Delta region is falling dangerously on account of increased oil pollution, the Director General of National Oil Spill Detection Agency, Sir Peter Idabor, has said.

Idabor, speaking with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, traced the problem of oil pollution to youths in oil producing communities, who collaborate with others from outside to wreak havoc on their people.

He added that oil firms often escaped paying compensation to the victims because of the alleged collaboration between the youths and the vandals.

Idabor said: “Life expectancy is coming down. Nigerians don’t know why but for some of us that are scientists and are in the business can tell that most of the reasons young men and women die in their prime is because of the polluted substances they consume.

“The message to our young men and women in Niger Delta is that they can go into other business ventures instead of breaking pipelines and adding to the carbon burden. The more oil is spilled into the environment, the more change

T

HE Nigerian Law School graduating class of 1983 will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a reunion dinner of the set members at the Harbor Point, Lagos on November 22.

A statement by the Class Coordinator and former Ogun State AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Oluwemimo Ogunde(SAN), said: “The Nigerian Law School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

“There is also the 30th anniversary of the Nigerian Law School 1983 set.

‘The set consists of great achievers in the field of law, politics, business, judiciary and other important spheres of life.

“Aside from coming together to mark the occasion of the 30th year of Call-to-Bar, the set members also intend to commence a trust foundation aimed at contributing immensely to the use of law in accelerating socio-economic and political development in Nigeria.”

we have in the climate pattern in this country.”

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Governing Board of National Oil Spill Detection

and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd.), said: “The board is set to develop a framework for calculating

Delta begins exportation of kernel shells

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA— HISTORY was made, yesterday, when Delta State Government carried out the maiden exportation of 5,000 metric tons of kernel shells, when a Denmark-bound vessel sailed from Koko Port.

Flagging off the maiden exportation exercise, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Kingsley Emu, who represented the governor, said: “The Delta Beyond Oil initiative is not just a paper document as the exportation of palm kernel shells is a case of transforming trash into diamond. These shells were previously seen as of no value and burnt off.

“Government policies, such as the one you are witnessing, will create endless opportunities not just for individual, but for the benefit of communities and indeed the

country as a whole as these benefits are enormous.”

The commissioner added that the state government was exploring more avenues of converting waste to cash and pledged support for investors and potential investors.

Managing Director, Christscent Energy Limited,

BY PATRICIA NWOSU

G

T

OVERNORSHIP a s p i r a n t of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State 2007 elections, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has described the charges levelled against Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, over the purchase of bullet-proof cars as lacking any legitimate basis.

Onuesoke, in a statement in Ughelli, Delta State, said the

HE Ark of God Covenant Spiritual Church of C & S, OriOke Gboromi’s threeday revival, tagged Recover My Glory, will end tomorrow.

Holding at the church’s Olaiya Street, Mafoluku-Oshodi premises, the event is hosted by Snr. Apostle Abiola Ogunkambi.

airport authority did not purchase the vehicles for Oduah as her personal property, but as the Ministry of Aviation's official cars for the purpose of counter-terrorism.

He said: “The cars were not bought for her personal use.

They were bought for official use.

“Such vehicles are bought for officials of the Ministry of Aviation of international airports in other parts of the world such as the United

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI— Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has charged traditional rulers in the state not to relent in their effort to keep peace in their respective kingdoms.

Uduaghan spoke while presenting staff of office to the Obi of Ejeme-Aniogor

States of America, Britain and France.

“They use them for the purpose counter-terrorism on planes hijacked by terrorists.”

He said despite attempts by some people to rubbish her name, Oduah remains the best performing Aviation Minister in the country since the 1960s, adding that he respected her effort in turning around Nigeria's aviation industry.

Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state, HRM Anthony Ogboli.

He said one of the ways traditional rulers could justify the confidence reposed in them by government and their subjects was to maintain peace and order in their domains.

Represented by his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, the governor said that the state government was committed to ensuring peace in all parts of the state.

He said: “As a royal father, you are father of all and the symbol of the people’s custom and tradition, including the hub around which the socioeconomic life of this community revolves.

“I advise, therefore, that you display selflessness, impartiality and maintain a level playing ground in your day to day administration.”

He congratulated the Obi and Ejeme-Aniogor community for a peaceful selection process devoid of bitterness.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Mr. Sam Adeleji, whose company is processing the palm kernel shells, said that his venture into the business was based on his passion to be part of the Delta Beyond Oil initiative, pointing out that his target was to rid the environment of waste and engage the youths of the community gainfully.

Uduaghan tasks traditional rulers on peace

No legal basis for charges against Oduah— Onuesoke

Revival

compensation, to punish offenders and to ensure that with the right sanctions in place there is no incentive for oil to be spilled.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Golden Eaglets'performance

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H O E V E R complains about the age of the players is wasting time. Whatever one has to do in Africa football has to be earned as FIFA will do anything to pull the continent down. Thank God any of the players can do damage.—Mr. Mustapha Shuaibu, Officer.

B

UT these players do not look like under 17s. Ali Doustimehr, the coach of Iran, said “they can’t be teenagers.” And the captain of Uruguay, Fabrizio Buschiazzo, added, “this is not an excuse, but it is clear that they don’t have the age” to play.— Mr. Ivan Urena, Businessman.

W

E need more Manu Garba’s coaching crew and smartness. I’m sick of hearing about opponent’s “superior tactics” and Nigeria’s “lax defense” whenever teams are playing against us. Garba has erased doubts about our toughness.— Mr. Emeke Onuigbo, Engineer.

W

E must get new Babayaro, Kanu and so on from this bunch. Let the lazy ones be crying over age.

That’s how they cried over Papilo and he gave the world more than a decade of active soccer at highest level. Up Nigeria! Up Africa!— Mr. Olomu Sebastian, Student.

I

am very happy because Nigeria beat Sweden by three goals.

I say thank God. These boys should be promoted to the Under-20 team with their coaches. They have made Africa proud with their style of play, attitude and confidence.— Mr. Handana Yobo, Businessman.

T

HE Mexico U-17 world cup team that has surprisingly recovered from its slumber after the Golden Eaglets’ wallop in their first encounter, will go down again in the final match with Nigeria on Friday, November 8 in UAE. — Prof. Bankole Okuwa, Lecturer.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—45

Iwevbo not part of Edo State —Ukueku

Edo PDP'll never recover from Esan N-East defeat —Mayaki

BY EMMA AMAZIE

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

E

S

ENIOR Special Assistant on Media Affairs to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Prince John Mayaki, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state cannot in the foreseeable future, recover from the defeat suffered in the recent Esan North- East Local Government re-run election of the state in the hands of All Progressives Congress, APC. In a statement, Prince Mayaki said: “No amount of public relations can help the PDP in Edo State recover from the political defeat they suffered in that re-run election, at least, not in the foreseeable future.

“You cannot beat a child and expect that child not to cry. This is one thing Governor Oshiomhole cannot do and would not do rather, we will console them. They are spending heavily on advertisement and sponsored articles, accusing Governor Oshiomhole and his party for the defeat they sustained at the re-run poll."

Uduaghan, Aja-Nwachukwu, others bag FGC, Warri award

W

ARRI —GOVERNOR of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and over 20 other eminent Nigerians have been honoured as Distinguished Old Students, DOS, of the Federal Government College, Warri, for their contributions to nation building.

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Ukori I, were among the royal fathers, captains of industries and dignitaries that witnessed the colourful event.

Among the recipients were Prof. Tanure Ojaide, Capt.

Idahosa Okunbo, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, Dr. Chris Oghenevhovwe, Mrs. Grace Ekpighwre, Justice Wale Abiru, Mr. Albert Okumagba, Prof.

Julius Okojie, AVM Nicholas Spiff, Engr. Joe Makoju, Prof.

Mohammed Audu, Prof.

Olugbemiro Jegede, Bala Kaole, Fidelis Oditah, Mr. Uyi Akpata, Mrs. Ifueko Okauru, Mr. Ken Igbokwe, Mr. Akin Ambode, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Mr. Jite Koloko and Ambassador Ogbonnaya Aja-Nwachukwu.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar flanked by His Eminence, Prophet Jones Ode Erue (left) and Archbishop Joe Ogbonda (right) and other bishops at the end of the meeting of the Bishops and Eminent Ministers Forum of the Niger Delta with the former Vice President at the Shehu Yar'Adua Centre, in Abuja, yesterday.

Delta House condemns assassination attempt on Speaker

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—MEMBERS of Delta State House of Assembly have condemned last Friday’s alleged assassination attempt on the Speaker of the House, Mr. Victor Ochei, in Obomkpa, and called on security agents to fish out the culprits.

Member representing Ughelli North 1 constituency in the House, Mr. Samuel Mariere, moved the motion under matters of urgent public importance, which was seconded by the deputy speaker, Mr. Basil Ganagana and unanimously voted in favour.

Contributing to the debate, members took turn to condemn the act which they described as a dangerous trend. The member representing Warri SouthWest constituency, said: “The attempt on the life of our Speaker is an attempt on all of us.”

Meanwhile, the state Police

Command has confirmed that there was an assassination attempt on Ochei's life in Obomkpa, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s spokesperson, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, told journalists in Asaba that “on Friday, November 1, the Speaker, Mr Ochei, was in Obomkpa in Aniocha council of the state for a function, and there was an explosion under the chair he was supposed to sit on.”

Uyabeme said investigation was on to unravel how locally-made canons were placed under the seat Ochei was to sit on.

The state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has, meanwhile, called on politicians not to heat up the polity.

Speaking when he visited a victim of the explosion at the state University Teaching

Hospital, Oghara, the governor, said: “I urge politicians and all Deltans to be calm and patient with the police presently investigating the matter to come up with their findings. We should also conduct ourselves in a manner that will not heat up the polity, especially now that political activities are on the increase.”

Meanwhile, Anioma Alliance, a socio-cultural pressure group, has described the assassination attempt on the Speaker as barbaric and uncalled for.

Speaking in Asaba, the interim Chairman of the association, Mr. John Ozegbe, admonished Anioma sons and daughters, and Deltans in general, to play politics without bitterness and violence.

He urged Anioma people to remain united as it was the way to realise the dream of producing the next governor, come 2015.

Battle for Edo NDDC slot: Involve oil producing communities —Uzamere

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—AS the race for the Edo State representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, intensifies, the senator representing Edo South senatorial district of the state, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, yesterday, stressed the need for leaders in the state, including Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to consult with oil producing communities before presenting a list of nominees to the Presidency.

This comes as the Forum of Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Communities, said that it would be wrong if President Goodluck Jonathan decides to “dump due process to give the NDDC slot as

a political meal ticket” to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, stressing that the essence of the NDDC was to develop oil producing communities and not to satisfy the interest of party leaders in the state.

Uzamere, who is the senator representing Edo South, where the three oil producing local government areas of Ikpoba Okhai, Orhionmwon and Ovia North East are situated, stressed the need for proper consultation with stakeholders before the governor submits his list of nominees to the President, so as to avoid crisis.

He said: “The governor has a right to choose names of NDDC nominees and forward

same to the President, but it has to be in consultation with the leaders of oil producing communities in Edo South.

And it is the prerogative of Mr President to choose who he wants. Our governor is a democrat and I have no fear that he will consult widely before forwarding names to the Presidency.”

The Forum of Edo State Oil and Gas Communities, on its part, in a statement by its Secretary General, Mr Godwin Erhahon, said “the agitation by the PDP in Edo State that they be allowed to nominate one of their persons for appointment as Edo State representative on NDDC is wrong and unacceptable to the good people of Edo State.”

KU —PRESIDENTGENERAL of Eku community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Joseph Ukueku, has denied media reports that Iwevbo community is part of Edo State.

Speaking to reporters in Eku, he alleged that Edo State started laying claim to Iwevbo community after an oil company, Newcross Petroleum Limited ,discovered oil in the area.

He said: “I am from here, our fore fathers deforested the land. We have never lived with Edo people. Our people have been here, they own the land, they farm the land, they have their houses here. When they die, they are buried here. During the colonial era, it was called Usobo camp, we call it Ovire, which is Iwevbo.

“We are not under Oroghoro, so we cannot be members to Orogho Dukedom.

Their tradition is alien to our people, and their soil is different from ours."

Delta Foreign Poly Project suffers financial setback

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OMADI—THE Foreign Polytechnic Project in Delta State, which is a partnership between a United Kingdom- based tertiary institution and the Bomadi Vicariate of the Catholic Church, has suffered a set-back, owing to the failure to raise the over N10 million, needed to complete the ongoing building project.

Speaking with newsmen in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, the head of the Vicariate, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo, said that the fund raising ceremony held to ensure completion of the project was a flop, as none of the highly placed politicians from the area showed any support to the efforts of the Church to build a higher institution in the area.

He lamented the attitude of able sons and daughters of the area towards the project, adding that the Catholic Church went on to woo the project to the area due to the non-availability of higher institutions in the riverine area of the state.

46—Vanguard , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Provost makes case for bilingual Nigeria

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

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W E R R I — POVOST of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, AIFCE, Owerri, Dr. Blessing Ijioma, has said Nigeria can no longer afford to be a monolingual country if it must successfully play its role as the giant of Africa.

Dr. Ijioma spoke at the opening ceremony of the 22nd annual national Conference of Inter College Association of French Teachers, INTERCAFT, with the theme, “The Role of Trainers of French Language Teachers in National Transformation” was held recently at the AIFCE, in Owerri.

According to her, the need for French Language in Nigeria could not be over-emphasised, adding that the inclusion of the language in the nation’s school curriculum and syllabus was going to usher drastic changes in the nation’s socio-economic and political values.

Why Nigeria may not realise its potential —S-East, S-South professionals E

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU— SOUTHEAST, South-South Professionals of Nigeria, SESSPN, has said Nigeria cannot achieve her true potentials as a nation under the present administrative, economic and socio-political structure.

President of SESSPN, Mr. Emeka Ugwuoju, while addressing guests at the fund raising dinner in support of the South-East, South-South Development Forum in Enugu, argued that except Nigeria must be restructured to become a wealth generating country rather than its present.

According to him, “structure where wealth is shared among the highly privileged”, the nation could hardly make any positive economic growth or advancement. Nigeria cannot work effectively within its present structure because we think that we are a rich nation while we are not. We are only operating a structure that encourages the sharing of wealth instead of wealth creation.”

He recalled that in the 1960s, Nigeria was much better than South Korea but today the story was different because Africa’s

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

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AGOS—A Lagosbased organisation, Jeremiah Isaac Foundation, plans to empower more than 500 indigent men and women in Ajegunle area of Lagos to start up retail businesses.

President of the foundation, Jeremiah Isaac, who hinted that the initiative which would be the climax of the foundation’s upcoming event tagged Helping the Needy, was in partnership with the 7UP Bottling Company Plc. His words: “We have the support of the Chairman, Ifelodun LCDA, Hon.Shuaib Lawal Ajidagba. We are distributing food items, toiletries, financial grants, products for mini call centers, freezers, coolers and beverages for retail kiosks, power generating sets, grinding machines, hair dryers, sewing machines, mattresses, among others.”

southeast and south-south to unite for the economic growth and benefits of the zones.

“The idea is to capture certain projects that will develop the zones or the eleven states that make up the two zones of

South East and South South.

The development forum is that the eleven states in the zones should come together and engage in development ventures for the zones,” Ugwuoju said.

SEMINAR: From left: Ibrahim El-Bassiouny, General Manager Power System, Mohamed Abou Wafa, Segment Manager, Large Gas Projects, Mrs. Olamide Alliu, Marketing Coordinator, Mrs. Antonina Dudko, Gas Large Projects, Mantrac Group, United Kingdom, Mr. John Hardy, Mr. Sohail Anwar, during the Gas seminar organised by Mantrac Nigeria Limited for their customers in Lagos.

Group wants Orji as S-East Govs Forum chairman

BY ANAYO OKOLI

Foundation to empower 500 in Ajegunle

most populous nation was now lagging behind some of the countries that used to trail behind it. “South Korea is better now because they are doing the right things that enabled their economy to develop,” he said.

He appealed to the people of

U

MUAHIA—AS the tenure of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State ends early next year, a coalition of Igbo organizations has recommended Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State to take over as the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum which Obi has held for over six years.

The group in a statement claimed it had been following the activities of Governor Orji and believe that “will take the South East to the next level if elected to the position of Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum”.

The group called on Ndigbo

and indeed all Nigerians to embrace the proposed national dialogue by participating actively in the conference, which it hoped would help to solve some of the nagging problems confronting Nigeria as a nation.

The groups that made up the coalition included World Igbo Youth Council, Igbo Information Network, South East Youth

Movement, Igbos in Diaspora Organisation, Ndinne Igbo, Centre for Igbo Leadership and World Igbo Leadership, Education and Cultural Council.

In the statement after a meeting in Enugu by Chuks Ibegbu, Edmobi Promise, Mazi Isiguzoro Okechukwu, Egejuru Chinonyerem and Dick Okezie; officers of the

FG moves to revitalise PRODA the Project Development Initiative, PRODA, Enugu to realise NUGU—THE Federal Gov its core mandate of piloting iniernment has reaffirmed its tiatives that will help in promotreadiness to revamp and revitalise

BY TONY EDIKE

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Rivers S-East zone seeks governorship seat

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ORT HARCOURT—THE political atmosphere in Rivers State has taken a dramatic twist with a section of the state insisting that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state.

Already various sections of the state have started meeting over who succeeds Governor Chibuike Amaechi at the end of his tenure.

Rising from a meeting under the aegis of Elders of Rivers South East senatorial district, they said they would not settle for anything less at the

coalition, noted that Governor Orji’s leadership qualities would take the South East Governor’s Forum to a higher height.

The coalition also commended Ndigbo and Igbo groups for actively participating in last week’s burial of the mother of the First Lady, Mrs. Charity Oba in Okrika, Rivers State.

end of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s tenure.

Dr. Chihor Martin Nwogu and Peter Mede, who spoke for the group said the current political crisis playing up in the state was part of a strategy to rob the senatorial district of the next governor, adding that they would do everything to resist it.

“We cannot be treated as political slaves in a state, where we have equal stake as others even when the combined economic resources of our senatorial district are second to none in the state. The roll call of past

governors from the other two senatorial districts in Rivers State include Chief Rufus Ada George, Dr. Peter Odili and Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

“We therefore, as a people having been denied governorship in the 46 years history of Rivers State collectively, unanimously, categorically, demand that the position of governor come 2015 be zoned to our senatorial district for fairness and justice,” they said.

ing the nation’s drive towards self reliance in science and technology.

Speaking during the maiden visit of the Governing Board of PRODA to the company’s corporate headquarters in Emene, Enugu, the Board chairman, Chief Emmanuel Mbaka said government appreciated the role of science and technology in building a strong economy for a nation, hence the renewed initiative to revitalize the establishment.

He said the mandate of the establishment which is to play a strategic role to catalyse the growth of the nation’s industrial enterprises through indigenous science engineering ingredients research and development for the purpose of enhancing the capacity and capabilities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country was yet to be realised.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—47

,

PROGRAMME: Hon. Ajiboye Adeyeye, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Hon. AWARD: From left, OAAN president, Mr. Charles Chijide; Amal Siwerstein of ProtaPanel BV; APCON Registrar, Alhaji Bello Kankarofi; Mrs. Maureen Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Elder Daramola, and one of the beneficiaries of the Umanah, Editor in Chief/MD, Billboard World Magazine, and Mr. Aniekan empowerment programme, sponsored by Ajiboye Adeyeye.

Umanah, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communication, at the outdoor advertising award in Ghana.

FORUM: From left, Managing Director, ChamsAccess Limited, Mrs. Funke AlomoOluwa; Deputy Managing Director, Chams Plc, Mr. Olufemi Williams; General Manager, Lagos State Residents DINNER: Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa,President/Chairman of Council (centre), flanked Registration Agency, LASRRA, Ms. Yinka Fashola, and Managing

by Ms Arunma Oteh, DG, SEC, and Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, representative of the Head Director, Chams Consortium, Mr. Femi Aderibigbe, at the of Civil Service of the Federation, at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and ChamsAccess/DataCard customer engagement forum, in Lagos.

Administators of Nigeria 37th Annual Conference/Dinner, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

AWARD: Kingsley Gborhohwo, President, Rotary Club of Effurun GRA, presenting cash prize and award to Mr. Michael Bisan, a deaf & dumb who controls traffic, at the popular airport junction, Warri, Delta State.

From left, Dr. Oloruntoba, Dr. Lionel Ihenyen, husband of celebrant - Dr. Olabisi Ihenyen, and Professor Abiodun Ilesanmi, during the audio CD launch by Divine Melodies Singers -Dr. Olabisi Ihenyen, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

AWARD: Dr. Dafe Akpocha, DG, Centre For Democratic Governance in Africa, CDGA (left), presenting award to Prince Yinka Durosinmi, Chairman, Ojo Local Government, and Alhaji Sikiru Lawal, Secretary to the local government, during the presentation of award to Prince Durosinmi. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

COMPETITION: From left, Mr. Modupe Ajibola, Chief Executive Officer, OTG Playa LLC Limited; Mrs. Pauline Mujawamariya, Programme Director, Innovation Prize for Africa/African Innovation Foundation; Mr. Bastian Gotter, Chief Executive Officer, Spark and Co-Founder, Iroko Partners Limited, and Mr. Justus Nwaoga, 2013 Special Finalist, Innovation Prize for Africa, during press briefing by the organisation, at Ideas 296, Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo Yaba, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

SIGNING: From left, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dermalog Identification System, Mr. Gunther Mull; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Group Managing Director, Chams Plc, Mr. Demola Aladekomo, and Project Manager, Banker Committee, KYC Project, and MD/CEO of Card Centre Limited, Luqman Balogun, during the signing of contract for the implementation of the banking industry biometric solution, in Abuja.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Firm faults Aganga on Lagos Trade Fair Complex

Kaduna Assembly investigates N180m bribe allegation against members

L

AGOS—THE concessionaire of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Aulic Nigeria Limited, has kicked against moves to cancel the concessioning of the Trade Fair Complex by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga.

According to a statement by Aulic’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Cecelia Okaru, the minister’s statement “is misleading and is likened to whistle blowing.”

It would be recalled that Aganga, had on November 2, 2013 during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Lagos International Trade Fair organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Vice President has authorized him to commence legal action to cancel the concessioning of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex to Aulic Nigeria Limited.

According to her, “players in the commerce and investment industry have deeply frowned at this statement which they likened to whistle blowing.

Since the concessioning of the complex in 2007, it had been handed over on two occasions to Aulic; the second to correct the errors of the first hand over.

"The Lagos Chamber of Commerce, which participated in the bid for the concessioning of the complex, has been in the forefront of the campaign for the cancellation.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo authorised the handingover, and late President Umaru Yar’Adua ordered the Bureau of Public Enterprise to uphold the status of the bid, and the complex was handed over to Aulic."

K

CONFERENCE—From left: Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Prof. Sola Adeyeye; Nigerian Ambassador to UNESCO, Dr Mariam Katagum and Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, at the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, yesterday.

Kwara gov seeks stiffer penalties against drug counterfeiting

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, yesterday, called on the National Assembly and state assemblies to legislate for stiffer penalties against those he described as unscrupulous elements, involved in the drugs counterfeiting business in the country.

He said the steps became imperative in view of the unimaginable damage counterfeit drugs were doing to the Nigerian society, calling for synergy between pharmacists and traditional medical practitioners to determine the efficacy of traditional herbs through proper research so that the traditional herbs could serve as alternative medicine for the society.

Speaking at the national conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, tagged, “Evolving Best Practices in Patient Care- Critical to Healthcare Delivery”, held

in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, the governor said that “by the time the National and state Assemblies enact the law, there will be a reduction in the production and supply of substandard drugs in the country.”

He argued that, “vital component of patient care is the availability of quality drugs, but it is unfortunate that, unscrupulous elements in the nation have continued to sneak substandard drugs into

Cholera outbreak kills two in Benue

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI —TWO per sons were feared dead in a fresh outbreak of cholera in Otukpo town, in Otukpo Local Government area of Benue State.

The outbreak of the disease

Anambra election: Group seeks justice for Uba

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BUJA—AN advocacy group, Anambra Justice Network, has appealed to the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Muktar to use her good office to ensure the accelerated hearing of the case

by Senator Andy Uba, seeking o be declared as the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP candidate for the November 16, Anambra State governorship election.

Senator Uba had failed in his bid to be joined in the suit by Nicholas Ukachukwu, challenging the declaration of Tony

Nwoye as the party’s candidate.

In a statement by the group’s Coordinator, Mr Kingsley Nwachukwu, it appealed to the Chief Justice to use her good office to ensure that Uba’s case pending before the Supreme Court was speedily heard due to its urgency.

“We appeal to the Chief Justice to use her good office to ensure the accelerated hearing of Senator Uba’s case, seeking to be declared as PDP candidate in the forth

the health delivery system.

“Since inception, this administration has prioritized efficient health delivery through a programmed drive to ensure that no resident travels beyond 500 meters to access quality healthcare.

Our resolve in this regard is based on the recognition that optimum health not only promotes the people’s well being but is also critical to growth as it nurtures our valuable human resource”.

A D U N A — THE K a d u n a State House of Assembly, yesterday, mandated its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate allegation of N180 million bribe levelled against 18 members of the House by a member.

The decision followed a motion by Alhaji Muhammad Ali, the member representing Kawo constituency, who drew the attention of members to an interview granted by Alhaji Usman Adamu, (MaiganaAPC), where he made the allegation.

According to him, Adamu had in the interview on September 23 in the electronic media and some national dailies, accused the members of collecting N10 million each to remove the former speaker, Usman Gangara and other principal officers of the assembly.

coming Anambra State governorship election. It will amount to gross injustice if the case is not heard before the election. We believe that the Chief Justice will not shut out someone, who is seeking justice from the temple of justice since the judiciary remains the last hope of all law-abiding citizens.

“The case is crucial not only to Senator Uba, but to the state as a whole as denying him hearing will be unfair and unjust to the electorate whose choice will now be restricted.”

in the ancient town and home town of the Senate President, David Mark, came few months after the Chinese contractor operating the Otobi water works, short down the plant and pulled out of the town.

Confirming the unfortunate development, the lawmaker representing Otukpo in the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Baba Ode described the development as unfortunate.

He said: “As I speak with you, we have recorded two deaths as a result of an outbreak of cholera in Otukpo.”

When contacted, the Director of Public Health at the Benue State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Kumba said, “ we are actually hearing rumors of an outbreak of the disease but it has not been confirmed.

“Meanwhile the epidiological centre is already liaising with the relevant officers in Otukpo to

check any break of the disease in the town.

In his reaction, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government council, Dr. Innocent Onuh who said he was away on an official assignment said, “it is very possible that cholera has broken out in Otukpo.

“For some time now, the only source of potable water supply to Otukpo town and its environs has not been functional; the people have been forced to source water from standing ponds, shallow wells, streams and other unhealthy sources, so an outbreak of the disease will not be a surprise.”

Vanguard gathered that the water plant which was expanded and refurbished last year by the state government at the cost of N2.6 billion was shot down few months ago by the contracted firm handling the project following the failure of the Federal Government to fulfill its financial assistant to the state government for water projects in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—49

OBINNA: India nabs one, holds talks with Nigeria

Excess crude account funds intact —OKONJO-IWEALA

BY UDUMA KALU with agency reports

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BY PETER EGWUATU

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OORDINATING Min ister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, refuted media reports alleging that $1.03 billion is missing from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), saying it is totally inaccurate.

Special Adviser to the minister, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, in statement, said: “Recent media reports making such allegations are a misrepresentation of what actually transpired during the appearance of the minister before an open hearing of the joint Finance Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.”

According to the statement, “The minister had responded forthrightly to questions on the current level of the ECA and there was no disagreement as such. The balance in the account as stated by the minister is $4.3 billion. The media are therefore advised to seek information and clarification when in doubt rather than go to town with sensational headlines.”

It will be recalled that some media reported that the Federal Government and the Senate, on Monday, disagreed over the whereabouts of $1.03 billion Excess Crude Funds.

The alleged disagreement followed the disclosure by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance that the balance in the Excess Crude Account amounted to $4.3 billion.

T h e minister did not, however, say the total accrual to the account at a Joint Senate Committee of Finance and Appropriation meeting on the 2013 budget and Federal Government revenuegenerating agencies.

A member of the committee, Senator Ita Enang, who was apparently unimpressed by the minister’s disclosure noted that records available to the committee showed the total inflow into the Escrow account was $14.06 billion while the total outflow from the account was $9 billion.

LAUNCHING: From left: Ag. Chairman, National Population Commission, Dr. Sam Ahaiwe,Resident Coordinator, UN System; Mr. Dauda Toure,UNFPA Representative,Ms. Victoria Akyeampong, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, Governor Liyel Imoke and his Deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham at the launch of the 2013 State of The World Population(SWOP)/ commemoration of the Int'l Day of the Girl Child, in Calabar.

Education Ministry directs varsities to commence re-opening processes

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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ARELY 48 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan engaged the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in a marathon 13-hour closed door meeting, in a bid to end the union’s four-month old strike, Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that officials of the Federal Ministry of Education have been directed to commence processes for the re-opening of federal universities.

Investigations revealed that governing councils and vice chancellors of the universities have been specifically directed, via direct communication from the National Universities Commission, NUC, to take immediate steps to ensure that their institutions are in the right position to receive students immediately the strike is called off.

Sources at the NUC said that the vice-chancellors were also directed to protect the interest of students and parents henceforth and ensure that no one takes advantage of the ugly situation.

Before the strike which commenced on July 1, almost all public universities were in their second semesters and had less than two months to conduct examinations. As the strike lingered, final year students in the universities had their hopes dashed for mobilization in the Batch C set of the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme.

According to officials of the NYSC, their counterparts in

private universities have already resumed at their various camps last Tuesday. What this means is that, if eventually the strike is called-off, any time from now, public universities will have to re-adjust their 2012/2013 academic calendar to enable their final year students get mobilized for national service in the next batch, come February 2014.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Vice Chancellor one of the Federal Universities in the South-West, who craved anonymity, disclosed that his university is yet to receive any circular from the Ministry of Education on a specific date of resumption, but noted that the university is eager to resume as soon as possible.

He said: “I have not received any circular from the Ministry of Education on any specific date of resumption. When we get any, we will call back students to resume studies without delay, as we are eager to resume once the matter is resolved between ASUU and Federal Government.”

Asked what situation in the university has been like in the last four months, he said: “You can guess what has happened in the last four months. We have not functioned to 100 per cent capacity. Teaching and learning have been put on hold, but research and all other administrative functions have continued. Within the last four months, we have been sending and receiving proposals.”

NDIA said yesterday that it is in “diplomatic dialogue” with the Nigerian High Commission and is awaiting a probe report into the October 31 death of a Nigerian, Obinna Simone, in Goa. It also arrested one Surendra Paul, yesterday, from Chapora, a village known as a haven for drug traffickers, located 30km from Panaji.

Police suspect Paul was one of the six attackers involved in killing Obinna Simone.

India’s External affairs ministry spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin, discounted any tension with Abuja over the death and the clash between Nigerians and the police that followed in Goa. ”We are in diplomatic dialogue with them, we have explained to them the circumstances and the situation,” the spokesperson said, at a briefing in New Delhi.

He said the Nigerian High Commission is “concerned and anguished” and has requested for a thorough probe into the “death and consequent issues that flowed from that.”

The Nigerian High Commission is also in touch with the Goa Chief Secretary who has assured he will “get to the bottom” of the matter and provide a report in 48 hours.

Nigeria grants citizenship to 174 foreigners

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, granted Nigerian citizenship to 174 foreigners.

Briefing journalists after the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said a breakdown of the applications submitted included those from 45 foreigners married to Nigerians, and 129 from persons that were born by naturalised Nigerians.

Mr. Moro said another 27 applications were rejected and were not approved by FEC because “they did not meet the basic requirements

of tax payment and ability to live their lives in Nigeria without being economic burdens and security problems.

“A series of factors were taken into consideration, but much more importantly the issue of security that has become very serious consideration especially when foreigners from countries that are prone to violence, such as Lebanon and Syria, apply to become Nigerian citizens,” the minister said.

The minister also criticised Nigerians who were losing faith in the country.

“We are in this country losing some level of faith in the viability of Nigeria, on the brightness of the future of Ni-

geria given the level of potential that we have in this country today, by some Nigerians and cynics, especially opposition political parties or persons creating an impression that Nigeria is gravitating towards a failed state.

“Yet we have foreigners who have very serious economic interest in Nigeria who have lived in this country, some since independence, who are eager to become Nigerian citizens by taking into consideration the economic viability and potential of Nigeria and hoping that their lives can better be lived in this country as Nigerian citizens than citizens of their countries,” he said.

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Confusion in PDP as Appeal Court re-instates Oyinola as national scribe

BY HENRY UMORU, IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—A NEW twist was, yesterday, added to the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, reinstated former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Onyinola, as national secretary of the party.

Onyinola, who is a key member of New PDP, (nPDP) led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, was ousted from office by Justice Abdul Karafati of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court following a suit filed against him by chieftains of the PDP in Ogun State.

The state chapter of the Party led by its chairman and secretary, Chief Adebayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo, had in their suit, alleged that Oyinola emerged as the national scribe of the party through a kangaroo process that was perfected by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former national vice chairman, PDP South West, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.

They argued that in view of two

separate judgments of a Federal High Court in Lagos that nullified the South West Zonal congress that produced Oyinlola as candidate, his continued stay in office was illegal, null and void since his candidacy was annulled ab-intio, just as they insisted that “something cannot be built on nothing.”

Consequently, Justice Kafarati, on September 27, directed the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to delete Oyinlola’s name from their records as the National Secretary of the party. He further directed the party and the electoral body to rather recognize one Professor Adewale Oladapo, who it said was duly nominated by the Southwest PDP extraordinary zonal congress held in Ibadan, Oyo State, July 13, 2013.

Nevertheless, the judge noted that the High Court had on January 11, sacked Oyinlola from office and ordered a fresh PDP Zonal Congress in the South-West region of the country, stressing that the court order subsisted till July 13.

Justice Kafarati noted, “having gone through all the documents

tendered before the court by the plaintiffs, led by PDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr Adebayo Dayo, and the Secretary, Mr. Semiu Sodipo, I am satisfied that Prof. Oladipo was validly nominated by the congress to replace the defendant, Oyinlola, in office.”

The judge dismissed Onyinola’s argument that the high court had become funtusofficio on the matter having earlier delivered a judgment in

the case, saying the suit by the Ogun State chapter of the PDP neither re-opened the decided case nor introduced changes to the earlier judgment. He said the motion on notice was aimed at ensuring compliance to the order that sacked Onyinola from office.

However, Onyinola went on appeal wherein he contended through his lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, that Justice Karafti, not only overreached his powers, but sacked him from office

“against the weight of evidence.”

He argued that, “The learned trial erred in law when he overruled the Preliminary Objection to the jurisdiction of the court and assumed jurisdiction and delivered Judgment.”

In their judgment yesterday, a three-man panel of judges of the appellate court upheld Oyinola’s argument, saying the high court lacked the jurisdiction to meddle into issues bothering on a domestic affair of a political party.

Stressing that such matters are legally non-justiceable, the appellate court panel headed by Justice J.T Tor, went ahead and set-aside the January 11 judgment that removed Onyinola from office.

ICPC arraigns 2 UBEC officials over alleged visa scam

By CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, yesterday, dragged two members of staff of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, to court over an alleged visa scam.

Beatrice Molokwu and Jasper Erekosima were arraigned before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja. The two suspects are being tried for

allegedly presenting false documents to Embassy of Belgium for a visa.

After the suspects had pleaded not guilty to the offences, the ICPC lawyer, Mr. Michael Adesola asked for the leave of court to amend the charges to rearraign the accused persons on new charges. The Judge after granted the request ordered Adesola to serve the accused persons with a copy of the amended charge before the next adjourned date, to enable them

to prepare for their defence.

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Oyikachi Ikpeazu, SAN, who did not object to the application for amendment of charges, told the court that he had been served a copy. A statement signed by the ICPC Head of Media, Mr. Folu Olamiti, alleged that the accused persons, sometime in June, conspired and produced a fake UBEC document and presented same as genuine to the embassy with the intention to procure a visa.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—51

Why the desperation? Lagos APC asks APGA

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, of being desperate to put a good showing in the election.

Lagos APC has also expressed lack of confidence in the panel of enquiry constituted by Governor Peter Obi to probe the recent disaster at the Adoration Ground on account of what it claimed were allegations against the governor over the issue.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, interim spokesperson of APC, Mr. Joe Igbokwe accused Obi of using the night vigil as an avenue to canvass votes for his candidate, Mr. Willie Obaino.

Igbokwe alleged: “We were told that when the vigil turned to a political rally, the congregation began to murmur. We figured that this behavior infuriated the governor ’s security details.

One thing led to the other and consequently there was stampede and about 30 innocent people died”.

Speaking further, Igbokwe

said “Ngige has become a thorn in the flesh and every contestant in Anambra knows this. The fear of Ngige is now the beginning of wisdom in Anambra state. They know that they cannot match Ngige in anything, so their plan is to use propaganda to bring the man to their miserable

level.”

According to him, “we want to put the whole world on notice that APGA is getting desperate in this election.

The other day, they went to Onitsha to force the traders to close their shops for campaigns. The people resisted and waved the

brooms to them. As if that was not enough, they went to town that Senator Ngige slapped a Catholic priest. It took a press conference by the priest in question to debunk their blatant and pathological lies.

Both Senator Ngige and Governor Obi are Catholics.”

While commiserating with

the families of those who lost their loved ones in the stampede at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry in Uke, he wondered why “Chief Umeh is asking for Ngige to be arrested because APGA got their fingers burnt by playing dangerous politics in a church programme.”

Lagos APGA mobilizes for Obiano

BY GBENGA OKE

L

AGOS state chapter of APGA has set out plans to mobilize Anambra indigenes living in Lagos to travel home and cast their votes for the party’s flag-bearer, Chief Willy Obiano.

The party has also restated its trust in Obiano’s 4C’s Paradigm, which stands for continuation of all existing projects, completing them, commissioning them and commencement of a fresh set of ground-breaking initiatives that will turn Anambra State into the industrial nerve center of Nigeria.

According to the state Publicity Secretary of APGA, Mr Sanjo Olawuyi, the party is optimistic that Obiano remains

the best candidate ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“Lagos State APGA calls on all the eligible Anambarian voters residing in Lagos State to travel en-masse and perform their civic responsibilities in Anambra State by voting for Chief Willie Obiano, the Anambra State gubernatorial flag-bearer of APGA because APGA remains the only political party that exists to preserve the interests of Ndigbo” “We of Lagos State APGA have concluded plans to massively mobilize all eligible

Anambra voters that are residing in Lagos State to travel home in their large numbers and stage house to house campaigns and mobilize their people to vote for Chief Dr. Willie Obiano as the next governor of Anambra State,” he said.

He further maintained, ‘’As part of our support for Chief Obiano, we are donating buses in large numbers for the onward movement of Anambarians to Anambra State between 14th and 15th of November 2013, purposely for the forthcoming governorship elections”

•Obiano

Campaign shifts to beer parlours, news stands

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

I

T has become a common sight in various cities in Anambra State to see people spotting dresses of candidates and buying drinks for people as a means of wooing them to their side.

Usually, they start by comparing the candidates, including their antecedents, their political parties, their popularity in the 21 local

government areas and those sponsoring them.

Sometimes, those who do not want to be dragged into the arguments that often ensue would merely leave, while others stay and organize mini parties.

The style at the various news stands is that supporters of a particular candidate to be marketed would begin an argument and later, other people would gather to listen.

NICE births in Anambra for election

O

FFICIALS of the Nigeria Independent Council of Electorate (NICE) have arrived Anambra State as part of the organization’s sensitization programme of the voters in the state for the November 16 election.

President of NICE, Mr. Godswill Mcpepple, while inaugurating the Anambra State branch of the organization in Awka yesterday, said its mission is to ensure that registered voters were not disenfranchised on Election Day. According to him, “our aim is to provide a forum for the

electorate to discuss issues of mutual national and local interest, share experiences, techniques and good democratic practice where appropriate decisions are reached in refined consensus.”

He reminded the electorate that it would amount to selling their birthright to allow politicians to purchase their voters cards, adding that anybody who buys people’s voters’ cards means evil and therefore should not be encouraged.

He described NICE as a body with integrity and that is dedicated to the conduct of free and fair election.

APC Anambra State governorship candidate, Chris Ngige, with children of St Anthony of Padua Catholic parish, Dunukofia region of Onitsha Archdiocese after being honoured with the award as ambassador of excellence

Ojukwu’s son pushes for Obiano

BY ENYIM ENYIM

F

IRST son of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Ojukwu Jnr has embarked on an intensive mobilization for the APGA candidate, Willie Obiano commending him as the only one among the candidates with the suitable pedigree to govern the state.

Ojukwu who spoke to party faithful at Nnewi said: “There is a political party that has performed; there is a party thathas won the heart of Ndigbo, especially Ndi Anambra, and that party is APGA. It is not only good enough to look at candidates

alone, it is equally good to consider the candidate’s antecedents, look at the party he is coming from, the people who are behind the party and their agenda”.

He continued, “If you look at APGA, your own political party; if you look at Governor Peter Obi and Sir Victor Umeh and their styles of leadership, you’ll understand that they have performed.”

“Anambra State needs somebody that will deliver solutions; a responsible governor, somebody who has the legacy and ability to deliver.

My own father, Ikemba handed

the leadership of APGA and Anambra State to Peter Obi. During his own time, he did not let Ndigbo down. Peter Obi has done well in the leadership of the state in the last eight years. Later, he and the leadership of APGA, including myself, found in Dr. Willie Obiano, a worthy successor and the right person to carry on with the legacy. I am encouraged by that choice.

“To me, it does not matter where he comes from; what matters to me is his ability to deliver. He has all the qualities needed of a worthy successor of Peter Obi,” Ojukwu said.

52—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Yuguda battles Baraje’s men in Bauchi THE crisis rocking the People Democratic Party, (PDP), under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has taken several twists and turns across the country. However, in Bauchi State the arrowheads of the uprising are still trying to find a direction on account of the stoic determination of the PDP establishment in the state to remain in the mainstream.

BY SUZAN EDEH

T

HE crisis in the PDP came into the open at the last national convention in Abuja when seven of the governors of the party and former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar staged a walkout to form a parallel national executive of the party.

While the uprising has spread across to many states of the federation and remained unresolved at the national level, in Bauchi State it has remained a simmering issue unable to burst out or permanently evaporate.

The opposition to the new PDP as led by the Alhaji Kawu Baraje was recently underlined

by Governor Yuguda when he said: “I wonder what they are actually talking about because PDP is a united family and people who leave the party to form factions are not the real card-carrying members of the party”.

It was thus not surprising that a recent stakeholders’ meeting called by elements of the nPDP in Bauchi was aborted by the police who blocked the entrance into the Awalah Hotel venue of the meeting.

The Protem Chairman of the new PDP in Bauchi, Alhaji Mohammed Isa, said that the Police prevented them from going into the venue of the meeting in spite of the prior notice they gave to the police.

Deployment of policemen “Our executives were invited by the state police commissioner and after our discussions with him, he granted our request to hold our consultative meeting and pledged to deploy policemen to protect us and warned us not to do anything that will lead to the breach of peace,” Lawal said.

It was as such surprising for Lawal that the police would turn round to frustrate the meeting based on instructions reportedly from above.

“When party members, stakeholders and other elders of the party, started coming to the venue of the meeting, a team of armed mobile policemen led by the commissioner of police, came and cordoned the Awalah Hotel venue of our meeting. When the Police Commissioner saw me, he told me that he was acting on orders from above that the meeting should not hold”.

“We are disappointed

•Baraje: nPDP chairman because we followed all rules and regulations to hold this meeting. We are Nigerians and have the right under the democratic dispensation to meet with our supporters to discuss matters that affect us, but to our dismay they have now infringed on our fundamental rights to meet and discuss”, he claimed.

He advised their supporters

•Yuguda: No way for nPDP in Bauchi to be law abiding, patient and await further directiveson when the meeting would be held.

Reacting to the incident, Bauchi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed said: “I am not aware that New PDP had applied to hold a meeting in Bauchi, and I am not aware that police stopped them, but I will enquire about it and get

back to you with the necessary information.”

Analysts in the state are not surprised and they say that the development underlines the determination of the state PDP machine to show its unalloyed loyalty to the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur regime.

“We have only one PDP and there is no way you can divide it into two unless you want to

tamper with the constitution of the party. Creating a faction in the PDP is unconstitutional because when you become card-carrying member of the party, you swear an oath to be loyal and abide by the constitution of the party,” PDP State Assistant Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin told newsmen, recently.

“So it is a gross violation of party rules to create a faction within the party. The PDP in Bauchi is totally against the faction at the national level of the party, hence we do not recognize any other PDP apart from the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of the party”.

Bukar said the state PDP is still united under the leadership of Governor Yuguda who he said is working hard to get more support for the party in the state and the entire Northeast zone by ensuring that party members are united.

While noting that the state PDP has invested so much in developing the state, he urged party members to eschew sentiments and grievances among themselves to ensure that the PDP wins the 2015 general elections in Bauchi State and the country at large.

It is an order that many believe is doable, perhaps in Bauchi State, but only if the party is able to keep the factionalisation that has divided the PDP at the national level from reaching the state.

Another 4 years for Jonathan will perfect our democracy — Owolabi Salis OWOLABI Salis a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State is a former gubernatorial aspirant of the party. In this interview he speaks on goings-on in his party, the nation and Lagos State in particular. Excerpts:

BY KUNLE ADEKOYA, GENERAL EDITOR

W

HERE are you in the crisis raging in the PDP? I am with the main party led

by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, technically there is no division.

What we are seeing is some people trying to express grievances as they feel they have been schemed out of the political power sharing process.

In the past people who are now in nPDP have been involved too in scheming some people out. They feel that the best way to display their importance is to come out and say they are forming a faction instead of forming a new party.

So there is no faction per se, there is only one PDP. I was at the convention and I saw all of them there, the governors going to the presidential pavilon to greet the President.

In all of these where is Lagos State PDP? Lagos State PDP is very factionalized, but Lagos PDP is with the main PDP and for the

union. I don’t think they have formed an opinion where they want to go and for those of us who are non-aligned we are for the main PDP. We don’t have any option than to be with the main PDP.

Sitting president Will this not affect President Jonathan’s alleged second term ambition?

We are trying to introduce “Right of First Refusal.”

Ordinarily, if we want to go by international standards for a sitting president, it is disrespectful for someone who is in the same party to fight a sitting president for nomination.

If a sitting president is willing to contest, other members should support him but unfortunately those close to the President say he is a gentle and good man. Because he is from a minority and because the majority is not used to

having minority on board, his continuing to be the president for the next four years is going to help perfect our democracy and our diverse relationship and with that the majority will get used to minority being on board and will begin to feel there is nothing wrong with having minority on board or being president.

Another unfortunate thing is that the President was a deputy governor when some of these men were governors, before he became the president, so the issue of complexity becomes a problem but they have to understand he is the “Oga” but then the president has been gentle and considerate in the discharge of his duties and the application of his job as commander-in-chief.

We should also see the fact that the President comes from a zone that is responsible for the sustainability of Nigeria. If we have growth, good health, education, bridges, we should realize the source comes from

•Salis the South-South which is where he comes from, we should consider all these factors and allow him go for another term and to move the country forward.

What I’m seeing is that the persons involved are second term governors so they have nothing at stake.

How is your party in Lagos state preparing to face the APC in 2015 elections?

I have been talking to our leaders to expand the fortunes of our party in Lagos State.

Our party is badly factionalized. Lagos State is a Continues on page 53

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013—53

Disintegration ‘ll be more painful than remaining united — Mbagwu CHIEF Cliff Mbagwu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), management consultant and chairman of Simeon and Rose Associates, wants Nigerians to embrace the proposed national conference with all their might and shun acts that could dismember the country because having lived together for 100 years, interrelated and inter-mingled the pain of separation would be more severe now than that of remaining together. Rather, he said efforts should be channelled on how make the union work in a sustainable manner. Excerpts

HIS take on President Goodluck Jonathan's turnaround on convening of national conference It is a good move. His initial refusal was not well thought out; he has done the right thing now.

In 1914, Lord Lugard amalgamated and put Nigerians together without their consent.

After 100 years of amalgamation, we have stayed together and interacted so much that separation will be more painful than staying together. So, we have to find out how to stay together in an economically sustainable manner.

Therefore, the Senator Femi Okurounmu advisory committee on national conference in doing its work has to answer two questions: Do we want to live together? If yes, how?

The body language I see in Nigerians is that we want to live together. How can we live together in a peaceful and economically sustainable manner?

To me, the current structure is not economically sustainable. The cost of governance is too high and it prevents government from having resources to drive development and cater for human welfare.

So, we have to decide on whether or not to retain the present structure or revert to a six or seven regional structure.

We have to reduce monetisation of the political process, which is driving away credible people from politics. We have to make political positions

less attractive. Now, government is the largest industry offering the highest reward, so it attracts all manner of people. The leadership selection process needs to be improved because there are too many mediocre in government. Most positions appear to be going to the highest bidders.

We should find a way of returning the country to the path of merit because our society is patronage-driven and this is affecting the quality of service delivery, government and institutions.

How he sees President Jonathan’s declaration that the outcome of the confab would be sent to the National Assembly for consideration

,

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

depends on the South for survival. This is also a bad mindset. I believe that every part of the country has resources is contributing to nation-building.

If the oil fields are attacked today by foreigners, it is not only the oil producing areas that will defend the fields. The sheer size of the country and the diversity are things that we should hold dear. I don’t see any part of Nigeria that will be better off outside this federation than inside it. Most parts will be ungovernable outside this federation. It is in our interest to ensure that everybody is equal before the law so that we can build a nation out of Nigeria.

We need to define the issue of citizenship. Where do we lay

,

We have to reduce monetisation of the political process, which is driving away credible people from politics

I thought the decision of the conference should have been final; if you begin to subject it to National Assembly consideration, it can lead to politicisation of the process. If we elect and select people to the conference, the outcome should carry the weight of law.

There are two sets of mindsets that are dysfunctional and not helpful for nation-building. One is the North sees Nigeria as their patrimony and have to continue to rule or determine who will rule. This mindset is not compatible with nation-building.

The other is the South sees the North as parasitic, does not bring anything to the table and

emphasis if we want to build a nation? Is it on indigeneship or citizenship? How do you treat an Hausa boy born in Amausa, Owerri, who grew up in Owerri, married in Owerri and lived in Owerri all his life? Can’t he contest for the chairmanship of Owerri? The same thing applies to an Igbo boy born in Abeokuta, Kano or Maiduguri. We should be honest about building Nigeria. If not we should go our separate ways but that will be the blackest day for the Black man.

On controversies trailing President Jonathan’s perceived second term ambition The two sets of mindsets that are not compatible with nation

•Mbagwu: Nigerians must make Nigeria work building are at play here. How can anybody ask the president not to run when the constitution allows him to run for two terms of four years each? If they say he signed an agreement to do one term, on what basis will he reach that agreement? Is he a second class citizen? Elsewhere, like the United States of America, the Peoples Democratic Party will not hold presidential primaries when a sitting president is running but here they don’t even want President Jonathan to run for the primaries. It amounts to unmitigated arrogance for any person or group of persons to arrogate to himself or themselves the right to decide for the president not to run.

Those asking Jonathan not to run; will they do a single term if they were in power? To build a country, all of us must agree to be equal citizens. The nation is not anybody ’s personal patrimony. President Jonathan is the best material for 2015 given his experience and what he has done so far.

On whether the economy is

working This economy is not creating jobs and economic opportunities.

Some Nigerians are making money because of their connections and who they know.

In terms of performance and productive economic activities, those managing the economy will have to work harder in terms of erecting and enforcing fiscal policies that will encourage domestic production.

This economy is too importdependent and because of that a lot of Nigerians are out of jobs. A high percentage of the population are not taking active part in the economy because they don’t have income. We have to put Nigerians to work through manufacturing and agriculture; stop importation of things we can produce locally even if it amounts to short-term hardship; make agriculture more attractive in terms of funding and access to land so that we can produce almost everything we need domestically.

Another 4 years for Jonathan will perfect our democracy — Owolabi Salis Continues from page 52 cosmopolitan environment, the population character favours PDP and also in terms of the national character it commands but unfortunately you see PDP marching on PDP. In 2003 they did the same thing: people like Sarumi, Adikwu-Bakare went to AD and some people stayed back to spoil the show for PDP. In 2011, some joined ACN to help them but we have been speaking to them because PDP

wants to improve our marketing as we have our corporate personality. If we put a stupid man in the structure, PDP will still be at a loss because PDP controls the Federal Government, so we are looking at those already in the structure to expand and reach out to PDP. Recently, I funded a democracy day parade for PDP to test the disposition of Lagosians to PDP. We were surprised a lot of Lagosians love PDP but not so much is being

done to enhance this. So we have been moving around meeting with leaders until this initiative works in the interest of the party.

Have you done a proper threat assessment of the emergence of APC? I have done it because a lot of people are in Lagos who don’t really understand the politics across the country. APC although has a strong presence in South-West, you can also have a very strong presence in

Lagos if those groups can unite, and I know Ogun State is still not stable for APC so that with the personalities there, if they unite, will shake up the governor. Oyo State is also not fully for APC, Ondo, Ekiti are also not stable for APC, so for the personalities in those areas, if well funded and united can win.

The South-South is totally PDP, South-East is also PDP. In the North Central, it is 70 percent for PDP, APC 30 percent, in the North-East, its

about 60 percent for PDP, North-West is 60percent for PDP and 40 for APC, so APC does not have the personalities to match PDP except for General Buhari and my big brother, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

PDP has personalities. Of course, you can see Nigeria in PDP, and the calculations favours the sitting president because we have the SouthSouth, South-East, and I’m sure APGA is not going to work for APC.

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

17TH Kolagbodi memorial lecture holds today THE 17th annual Kolagbodi memorial lecture holds today in Lagos.

It is with the theme “A Centenary of Trade Unionism in Nigeria and the Challenge of the International Trends” and will be delivered by Comrade Owei Lakemfa, Secretary-General of Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU. While the event will be moderated by Comrade S.O.Z. Ejiofor, a former General Secretary of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees, AUPCTRE, discussants will be Comrade Chris Uyot - Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Comrade Musa Lawal - Secretary-General of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC. A statement by Kolagbodi Memorial Foundation, KMF, organizers of the lecture said “with the collaboration of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), I write to request your attendance of the 17th Annual Kolagbodi Memorial Lecture.

Kolagbodi Memorial Foundation (KMF) instituted the Annual Lecture series in 1993 with the focus to infuse intellectual input into the labour movement and the building of solidarity between and among the trades unions and the civil society in Nigeria."

6th law, social development lecture hold Dec 2

T

HE 6th annual law and social development lecture will hold on December 2, 2013, alongside public presentation of a book; Law practice of the National Industrial Court.

A statement by Bamidele Aturu, for the organizers, said the twin event will hold at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The topic for this year’s lecture is "The Economy, the Rogues and the Law: The Development Conundrum."

According to the statement "We also use this medium to invite you to the presentation of the book, "Law and Practice of the National Industrial Court" on the same date, at the same time and venue.

The economy cannot but occupy the front burner of public discourse in Nigeria. Without doubt, the economy, in spite of the bright statistics routinely dished out by relevant agencies of government, cannot be more dismal.

A productive nation, a wealthy nation — WOGU In recent times, the state of the economy of Nigeria has remained a topic for discussion. Whereas those in government insist the economy is on the right track, others ( not necessarily members of opposition parties) have a different view. For the latter, the economy has not recorded any significant growth. So, what’s the key to making Nigeria’s economy viable and visible for everyone; officials and nonofficials. The Federal Ministry of Labour believes the key is “ productivity” . It was therefore no surprise that the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, launched the National Policy on Produtivity.

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

T

HE launch took off with an address by the Direc tor-General, DG, of the National Productivity Centre, Dr. Paul Mari Bdliya who said “ the importance of productivity in any economy cannot be overemphasized”. Why? He expalined, “ This is because it the level of productivity that makes the difference between the relative poverty of the developing countries and the national affluence fo the developed and industrialized nations”.

To survive economically, he suggested, “ a nation needs to evolve a culture of productivity in all its undertakings”.

Dr. Bdliya said “ Nigeria as a country is not bereft of good ideas , sound socio-economic programmes and well articulated policies that are capable of transforming the country into a developed economy.

Deprived past policies However, the lack of explicit National Policy on Productivity has been singed out at the missing link that deprived past policies, plans and programmes, a strategic point of synergy for effective and efficient implementation , hence their inability to achieve their desired goals and objectives”.

According to him, the basic philosophy of the policy is to have a systematic and comprehensive programme of implementation on improving the productivity of Labour, Capital and machine and indeed other definable inputs of prodcution of goods and services for the various sectors of the economy”.

The Head of Service of the Federation, HOS, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji who chaired the occa-

sion noted that the essentials of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan which include, sound fiscal monetary system, reforms in budget and revenue base to drive the economy, reforms in the real sector, power, judiciary and manufacturing are all geared towards human capital development.

Alhaji Goni said one way of being productive is to actively support the transformation agenda.

Dr. Bdliya could not agree more but said “ The need to articulate a Natitonal Policy on Productivity that will create a productive mindset and engender a competitive environment for the actualization of programmes and policies geared towards wealth creation, emploment generation and overall improvement in t he standard of living of the citizenry therfore becomes very compelling”.

Why a policy on Productivity?

Chief Emeka Wogu has the answer.

He said, “ the need to imbibe the culture of prodctivity to the entire citizenry in all sectors of the economy and emphasize its implication in harnessing our available resources in the pursuit of economic development has become more compelling than ever before in view of this administration’s avowed Transformation Agenda.”

“The role of prodcutivity in our economy is critical, because productivity is not limited to economic development alone, but also borders on politicial and social development.”

The minister further explained, “ There can be no meaningful and sustainable development without concerted efforts to institutionalize productivity and productivity ad-

Chief Emeka Wogu , Minister of Labour and Productivity

vancement structures at all levels of governance and sectors of the society. Against this premise, the place of productivity as a veritable tool in the achievement of government Transformation Agenda and indeed the actualization of vision 20:2020 cannot be overemphasized”. He said, “ The National Policy on Productivity is therefore our concerted response to the challenges of our underdevelopment due to the nation’s low level of prodcutivity. The low level of produtivity observed in our services and social sectors has highlighted the need to develop the Policy on Productivity”.

The productivity policy

,

BITS Bits

objectives, guidelines and the modus operandi for the mobilization , participation and promotion of productivity culture and practices among the citizenry”.

Implementation- Labour minister, Chief Emeka Wogu said “ the responsibility of monitoring and evaluation of this policy rests on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the National Productivity Centre as well as State Governments “.

Soliciting the support of others, he said, “ I enjoin all stakeholders to be committed in this partnership aimed at successful implementation of all the provisions of this document:, The minister made an appeal

There can be no meaningful and sustainable development without concerted efforts to institutionalize productivity and productivity advancement structures at all levels of governance and sectors of the society

Dr. Bdliya told the story of how the Policy was conceived and said, on assumption of office, Labour minister, Chief Emeka Wogu “ constituted a Technical Committee drawn from the Productivity Measurement Department of the ministry and the National Prooductivity Centre to provide the framwork and a draft National Policy on Productivity in collaboration with our social partners and relevant stakeholders”.

The draft he said “ was validated at a stakeholder’s workshop organized on 22nd July 2010 in Abuja and approved by the National Economic Council in November 2011 and the Federal Executive Council on 15th February, 2012.”

He said, the policy “ is a strategic document that establishes the vision, mission, goals,

,

“ I wish to use this forum to request the state and local governments to quickly inaugurate their productivity councils and committees as enunciated in the policy”. He assured “ the ministry will no doubt offer relevant technical assistance where necessary in ensuring the immediate take-off of these implementing organs at the other levels of governance”.

An optimistic Wogu concluded, “it is my fervent hope and prayer that with the successful implementation of the National Policy on Productivity at all levels; there shall be a development of a sustained productivity culture in Nigeria and indeed, an accelerated growth and enhancement of the national economy and ultimately improved standard of living”.

Vanguard,THURSDAY, NOVERMBER 07, 2013—55

FG leaves PHCN retirees in the cold as new owners take-over

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HE Federal Government may have left retirees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, in the cold after it handed over the facilities of PHCN to new owners last week Friday.

While the terminal benefits and pensions of serving workers are being paid, uncertainty pervades the fate of retirees, especially those who retired from 2001.

It was gathered that National Electricity Liability Management Company, NELMCO, has been responsible for the monthly pension of retirees before 2001.

There are insinuations that some category of the pensioners would be paid off by government. If this is so, the question is when and how?

As it stands today, there appears to be no clear position on the retirees.

In fact, the agreement reached between the Federal Government and organized labour in the sector, the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and its Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, counterpart on the eve of the handover, said a number of PHCN normal retirees are yet to receive their gratuity and pension benefits and would need to be captured biometrically and paid.

A cross session of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, protesting unpaid benefits at the Headquarters of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Marina, Lagos, recently

total of 2,500 workers were identified as casuals within the PHCN system as identified by presidential Committee under the Minister of Labour, who could not clear them. The issue of un-cleared casuals should be treated on compassionate basis. Payment of Retirement Saving Account, RSA component (Pension Benefits) for 14,794 numbers of workers

which has been verified by PenCom, is ongoing between pension Fund custodians, PFC, and pension Fund Administrators, PFAs. The process of re-verification of the remaining 22,904 workers is ongoing.

Arrangements for post-retirement training' of PHCN workers are being made by the Federal Ministry of Power

and BPE. A number of PHCN normal retirees are yet to receive their gratuity and pension benefits and would need to be captured biometrically and paid.

It was resolved therefore that the issue of payments of all severance benefits should be completed by Friday 15 November, 2013 but concerned workers will only exit after full

payments.

The process of revalidation of biometric data and payments for the affected workers should be completed by Friday, 15 November, 2013.

However, such workers shall remain in employment until all their benefits are paid. The process of revalidation of all normally retired workers of PHCN should commence and be completed by November 30, 2013 for the purpose of payment of gratuity, pension and death benefits.

The arrangement of postretirement training of PHCN workers should commence and be completed by 30 November, 2013.

All cases of underpayment will be addressed not later than November 30, 2013.

All outstanding claims, such as Bulk Rent, (Leave Grant) outstanding Long Service Awards and cash-in-lieu of Hotel Accommodation claims should be further reviewed and settled.

The issue of 2,500 outstanding un-cleared casuals be revisited and treated on compassionate grounds."

Labour related issues

Lagos retirees get bond certificates tomorrow

The meeting was attended by among others Bureau for Public Enterprises,BPE, Office of ·the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF, and National Pension Commission, PenCom, with respect to settlement of various labour related issues as contained in the agreement of December 12, 2012.

The communiqué at the end of the meeting acknowledged that delays had occurred in the severance benefits and pensions payment process and thereby created much concern and anxiety among all stakeholders.

According to the communiqué, “the process of payment of severance benefits for 40,698 workers is being completed. A total number of 4,805 workers, whose biometric data had been captured, would undergo data re-verification. A

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

N

O fewer than 580 retirees from the Lagos State Public Service, under the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, will tomorrow receive their retirement bond certificates.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of the State is expected to present the certificates to beneficiaries.

Director-General,DG, Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC Mr. Rotimi Hussain, who disclosed this, said the ceremony which is the ninth edition, was consistent with the tradition of Fashola’s administration to always celebrate and appreciate its retirees for serving the state meritoriously during their service years.

He noted that before now, government had paid total accrued pension rights of N18, 974,294,919.55k into the Retirement Savings Account, RSAs, of 3,489 retirees.

Hussain explained that the ‘Retirement Bond’, which represents pension obligations made up of actuari-

ally determined gratuity and pension benefits up to March 31st, 2007 under the PAYGO scheme, would be credited into the RSA of each retiree before the bond certificates presentation ceremony.

Hussain, at a Mini-Retirement Bond Certificates presentation to about 185 retirees mainly drawn from the Local Government Service employees, said the money had been remitted into the RSAs of all the beneficiaries of the bond.

While reiterating the state’s continued commitment to the welfare of its workers and retirees, LASPEC DG said government had as at the 8th Retirement Bond presentation, paid N18, 031,148,931.06k (Eighteen Billion, Thirty-One Million, One Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-One Naira, Six Kobo) only to 3,304 retirees. “This feat is yet to be met by any State in Nigeria.”

Hussain, who described the retirees as very special people, said the commission specifically organized the

Mini-Bond presentation ceremony to assuage the troubles they had gone through when their files were delayed at the local government.

The DG advised the retirees to proceed to their Pension Fund Administrators PFAs, immediately after the bond presentation with a view to completing necessary documentation.

He said, “All you need to do after this event is to approach your respective PFAs, to begin the necessary procedures or documentation of assessing their retirement benefits.”

Hussain implored the retirees to think carefully about their individual personal circumstances in choosing their preferred option of either the Programmed Withdrawal provided by the PFAs or the Annuity provided by the Insurance Companies in accessing their benefits.

He assured employees that the Lagos State Pension Reform Act 2007, was aimed at protecting the retirement benefits of workers, promote good pension administration and reduce the risk mostly associated with the previous pension laws to the barest minimum.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

V anguard anguard,, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 57

BRIEFS

Kerry declares Jewish settlements illegal

UN to classify Boko Haram atrocities as war crimes N IGERIA’s Boko Haram Islamists could be classed as war criminals, the United Nations human rights office said Tuesday, as it condemned a bloody attack on a wedding convoy.

“Members of Boko Haram and other groups and entities, if judged to have committed widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population ... (could be) guilty of crimes against humanity,” said Cecile Pouilly, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Islamist insurgents have killed dozens of people over recent days in restive northeast Nigeria, first storming a town on motorbikes and pick-up trucks and then carrying out highway ambushes.

Boko Haram gunmen were blamed for Saturday’s slaying of more than 30 people, including the groom, when a wedding convoy was halted on a road near the border with Cameroon.

Pouilly called the wedding convoy “atrocious” and condemned Boko Haram’s campaign of “cowardly attacks” against civil-

ians, politicians, members of government institutions, foreigner and the security forces. Meanwhile, The head of a panel tasked with seeking an amnesty deal with Boko Haram said Tuesday that key members of the Nigerian extremist group wanted peace talks but the credibility of the claim remained in doubt.

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, chairman of the amnesty committee which was created in April, was speaking as he submitted his final report to President Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

“The process was initially difficult,” Turaki said of trying to start negotiations with the insurgent group that is blamed for killing thousands since 2009.

“However many of the key members of the insurgents... have positively responded to contacts and have accepted the dialogue options capable of full resolution of the conflict,” he told Jonathan.

Jonathan accepted Turaki’s proposal to set up a fresh panel to further pursue peace talks. The president said he would consider the creation of a victims support fund.

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HE US secretary of state, Mr. John Kerry, has said that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are “illegitimate” and not helpful to ongoing efforts for peace between Palestine and Israel.

Kerry’s comments yesterday came after he met Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in Bethlehem. “Let me emphasise that the position of the United States is that we consider now, and have always considered, the settlements to be illegitimate,” he said.

He added that there was no deal that the Palestinians recognised the illegal settlements in return for peace.

“I want to make it ex-

John Kerry tremely clear that at no time did the Palestinians in any way agree, as a matter of going back to the talks, that they could somehow condone or accept the settlements,” he said. Kerry also announced that the US would provide $75 million to aid the Palestinian economy.

Egypt’s court upholds ban on Brotherhood

Al-Qaeda responsible for murder of French journalists

A

A

court in Egypt up held yesterday an earlier ruling that banned the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered its assets confiscated, the state news agency reported. The decision moves forward the complicated process of the government taking control of the Islamist group’s far-reaching social network and its finances.

The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters rejected the Brotherhood’s appeal to suspend the Sept. 23 ruling that ordered the group’s assets confiscated and its activities banned.

The sweeping September verdict was viewed as a legal pretext for the interim authorities to move against assets

owned or administered by Brotherhood members, including schools, hospitals, charities, and businesses. It is part of a wider government crackdown against the group following the popularly backed coup in July that removed President Mohammed Morsi, a Brotherhood member and Egypt’s first elected leader after the 2011 fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

L-QAEDA’s north and West African division claimed responsibility Wednesday for the murders of two French journalists shot dead in Mali’s rebel-infested northern desert, in a statement published by a news agency in neighbouring Mauritania.

Supporters of Morsi demonstrating yesterday

Tunisian president to free jailed prophet's cartoonist

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UNISIA’s President Moncef Marzouki said yesterday that he would free a young Tunisian man jailed last year for posting cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed online once tensions in the country had

eased.

Jabbeur Mejri was sentenced at a closed hearing in March 2012 to seven and half years in jail for posting caricatures of the Prophet on his Facebook page. He petitioned the

president for a pardon earlier this year, saying he regretted his actions.

“I will have him freed. I am just waiting for the political situation to calm down,” Marzouki said in an interview with French radio station France Info.

UN warns on increase of carbon emission

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ORLD carbon di oxide pollution levels in the atmosphere are accelerating and reached a record high in 2012, the U.N. weather agency said yesterday.

The heat-trapping gas, pumped into the air by cars and smokestacks,

A

tured the last two hills and M23’s president released a statement declaring an end to its

armed struggle.

The demise of M23, though, still leaves a myriad of armed groups blamed for killing and

raping civilians in eastern Congo, which has been wracked by violence for nearly two decades.

Democrats win governorship elections

M

ODERATE Repub lican Chris Christie easily won reelection as New Jersey governor, while a con-

Terry McAuliffe

servative Republican popular with the Tea Party movement narrowly lost his bid for the Virginia governorship, in two races closely watched for signs of voters’ moods ahead of the 2016 presidential race.

Christie’s broad, cross-party appeal sealed his status as a top contender if he decides to run for the White House in 2016,

and the blunt governor addressed Americans’ frustration with partisan stalemate in his victory speech.

In Virginian, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe was elected governor, largely with the support of the heavily populated Washington suburbs that were hard hit by the government shutdown.

was measured at 393.1 parts per million last year, up 2.2 ppm from the previous year, said the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organization in its annual greenhouse gas inventory.

US Senate approves spying authorisation bill

DR Congo shifts focus to other rebel groups A FTER having de feated the M23 rebels, Congolese government soldiers and United Nations troops now will turn their attention to other armed groups who attack civilians, the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the central African country said Wednesday.

Martin Kobler said the Congolese army now has control over all the territory that had been held by the M23, whose rebellion began in mineral-rich eastern Congo 19 months ago. On Tuesday, soldiers recap-

“This operation was a response to crimes committed by France against Malians and the work of African and international forces against the Muslims of Azawad,” Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said, using the name given by the Tuareg people to northern Mali.

Senate panel ap proved its annual authorization of funding for intelligence operations on Tuesday, including measures to increase spy agencies’ ability to prevent leaks of classified information like those by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 13-2 to approve the 2014 Intelligence Authorization Act, which authorizes intelligence funding to counter terrorist threats, prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and conduct covert actions around the world.

Arafat Tests positive to polonium poisoning

S

WISS scientists have concluded Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is likely to have died from polonium poisoning, according to a text of their findings published by AlJazeera television yesterday.

The results of tests on Arafat’s remains “moderately support the proposition that the death was the consequence of poisoning with polonium210,” said the 108-page analysis posted on AlJazeera’s website.

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

DEHUMANISATION SAGA:

My position on my wife,

by Gov Chime expose her to ridicule now because some people want to OVERNOR of Enugu exploit her situation to drag me State, Mr Sullivan Chime into a needless war of words. has denied imprisoning his wife, “We’ve been battling her Clara in his house. Chime was health challenges prior to my reacting to a petition by a Lagos- inauguration in 2011. It was so based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, bad at a time that she had to be SAN, to both the Inspector taken out of the Governor ’s General of Police, IGP, Lodge for treatment. When she Mohammed Abubakar and the stabilized, I pleaded with her National Human Rights doctors if she could be brought Commission, NHRC, alleging back here to be receiving her •Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime with wife, Clara that Clara was being unlawfully treatment at home and they graciously detained by her husband. kinds of drugs, sometimes The governor spoke at the accepted. There against your wish.”

Government Lodge, Enugu, was a time she was The wife of the governor said: Tuesday night even as his wife, confined indoors “My doctor and I do not have Clara, denied ever knowing Mr. and that was any problem.” Commenting on Falana or asking him to write any strictly on her the petition to the NHRC, Mrs. petition on her behalf. Mrs. doctors’ advice.

Chime corroborated an earlier Chime also denied contacting or She’s here and text message she sent to her engaging the services of any she can confirm or husband that she had neither other lawyer to seek her freedom deny it. Also, the met Falana nor briefed him to then from an alleged incarceration at doctors seek her release from alleged Government House Enugu as advised against unlawful custody. her Falana latter claimed in his letter allowing However, Mrs. Chime admitted to Chime spoke to journalists in access that she wrote a letter to her the presence of his wife, Clara, telephones and doctor, Dr. Agumuo and another her elder brother, Mr. Tony Igwe, laptop. doctor in the US whom she was “I cannot say or the governor’s siblings, Mrs. introduced to and wondered how May Oji and Dr. Jide Chime as do anything to the letter leaked to the public. well as Mrs. Chime’s neuro- undermine her She said that she was once psychiatric doctor, Dr. Aham dignity. She is, confined to a room without access •Femi Falana...petitions IGP Agumuo. Others included the first and foremost, to her telephone and laptop, state Police Commissioner, my wife. The big pointing out that, “that was when Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, blunder I committed was unfortunately led to the stage I had a serious crisis.” his counterpart at the Department allowing her access to the where I’m now being falsely of State Services, DSS, Victor telephone and her laptop, accused of imprisoning or Confinement Duru among others. against the advice of her doctor. detaining my own wife. My wife in the premises In an emotion laden-voice, I’m paying dearly for that today, has told you that she has the key Governor Chime, however, said going by what is happening now. to her room and nobody locks her Furthermore, Mrs. Chime said that he would continue to protect Her brother is here, her doctor is door when she is inside. How can that she had the key to her room the integrity of his wife. Chime here with us too. You people somebody who determines when and controls her entry and exit, she comes out or goes into her contrary to the claim in the Her confinement within the premises now room say that she is imprisoned?” petition that she had been locked At the beginning of the up for asking to be allowed to is at the instance of her doctor who is here. interview, Mrs. Chime could not leave. She said that her anger Why would I want my wife locked up? I speak, despite persuasions from stemmed from the fact that she her husband and brother. At a was not allowed to leave the have no issues with her. It is just that she point, her brother, Tony Igwe, premises, though she attended has health challenges had to take her to an adjacent mass last Sunday. room where they spent few Then Chime said, “All I want said, “here is the First Lady of (journalists) can confirm minutes before returning to join to reassure you is that she is safe Enugu State and my wife, Mrs anything you want from them, others. here. Her confinement within the Clara Chime, who they said I either here and at your At a point, however, Mrs. premises for now is at the had imprisoned. It is heart- convenience. Would I have been Chime said: “you (referring to instance of her doctor who is aching, for me to speak out a better husband if I asked her to her husband) and my doctor can here. Why would I want my wife publicly about my wife’s health leave the Lodge because of her speak on my behalf,” but the locked up? I have no issues with challenges. I will do everything medical challenges? Would it not governor politely interjected her. It is just that she has her no matter the personal pains to have been more convenient for saying, “yes, I’m your husband health challenges. This is not me if I allowed her to stay and and should ordinarily do so but malaria. If it had been that I had protect her from ridicule.

“Well, my wife has some be treated in the hospital? you know I am the one being issues with her, there are many “But like I said earlier, I wanted accused of detaining you. This ways to resolve them. But that’s medical challenges and it would be very unkind for me to talk the best for her and that was why way, I have lost that privilege to not the case. She is not well and about her condition on the pages I pleaded with the doctors to have speak for you, at least on this I’m willing to do anything to of newspapers. I have done her treated at home. That’s also case. The story out there also is support and protect her. everything possible to protect her why I allowed her access to her that your doctor is probably “It was always more convenient integrity and I am not going to telephone and laptop which scared of me and gives you all for me to have taken the easier

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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,

route but that would have been very callous and ungodly. When I had my own health challenge, I was receiving treatment in London and thinking about her, making sure she received the right treatment. I’m forever grateful to her doctors who have done a great job. Both families are billed to meet very soon and after that, I’ll take a decision which will be in the interest of both parties.”

Asked about his reaction to the petition to the IGP by Mr. Falana, the governor said: “He’s my professional colleague but sometimes you leave people to their conscience. I won’t join words with him. Has he met this client of his as he claimed to assess her state of mind and determine if she can give him the right brief to guide his case? Did he ask for access to her or to me and was denied? He did not and I leave it at that.

“That’s the penalty you face as a public officer. When I was receiving treatment in London, some of the newspapers reported that I had died in India. I have never been to India and had never applied for an Indian visa.

Today, the story is that I have imprisoned my own wife in my residence. I know their motives but I wish those behind such wicked tales well. I invited the Commissioner of Police and the state Director of DSS to this interaction with you because, I was informed that a petition was sent to the IGP and he asked his CP to investigate the matter.

“The same IGP came to Enugu and said that this state had the lowest crime rate in the country but somebody went and wrote that Enugu is the capital of crime.

I leave it to their conscience. ” Efforts to speak to Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, last night was fruitless as he did not pick his calls.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 59

Alfa: The Nigerians are like brothers I

N a thrilling Niger ia team that relentlessly launches attack after incisive attack, the attributes of Abdullahi Alfa can easily go unnoticed. Unlikely to feature prominently in the postmatch statistics, his passes are usually those that pave the way for his team-mates further forward to lay on assists.

Take a closer look, however, and the importance of Alfa to a style of play that has yielded 23 goals in six matches becomes evident. In a baggy No8 shirt that seems too big for his slight build, the midfielder efficiently shifts the ball from side to side, dictating the rhythm of play of one of the finalists – and major revelations – of the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.

“That’s the way I like to play,” said Alfa, who was born in the Niger delta region. “I need to keep a cool head and pivot in all directions to start our attacks.”

It is a template he has adopted from the player

he looks up to as his role model, Andres Iniesta: “I love the way he plays, turning this way and that to receive the ball and to initiate moves.”

Interestingly, Alfa’s eulogising of the Spanish star comes hot on the heels of similar words from his team-mate Musa Yahaya, who plays further forward, who also told FIFA.com of his unconditional admiration of the Barcelona midfielder. The Nigerians share similar tastes, but there is more to it than that. By singling out Iniesta for special praise, Alfa speaks volumes about how his team have played at UAE 2013.

Alfa is supposedly a holding midfielder for Nigeria, playing in a withdrawn position near the central defenders.

Why supposedly? Truth be told, in a team that is such an attacking machine, and which likes to pin opponents in their own half, the diminutive midfielder – at 5' 7'’ the

shortest player on the pitch in the 3-0 victory over Sweden – has not yet had his man-marking skills properly tested.

Usually stationed on the right, he has license to roam, with static positioning contrary to the philosophy of coach Manu Garba. “The coach gives us lots of freedom,” explained Alfa. “He has fostered a great team spirit. We all get along with one another as if we were brothers.”

Nigeria indeed seem to be a perfectly functioning family. Up front, Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi are wreaking havoc, having accumulated nine goals and 12 assists between them. But to get the best out of this duo, they have to receive the service.

That is where Alfa comes in. “The three of us have trained and played together for a long, long time now, which has enabled us to

•Alfa strike up a great understanding on the pitch,” said one of the foot soldiers behind the forwards’ success.

Maradona and Mexico In the semi-final, Alfa put in an especially eyecatching performance, with none other than Diego Maradona watching from the stands. “I didn’t know he was there, but even if I had it wouldn’t have made me nervous,” he said. “It’s obviously pleasing to know that one of football’s all-time greats was watching me and my friends play.”

Alfa and his teammates certainly put on a show at the Rashid Stadium. The constant swiftpassing moves through midfield were a delight

to behold. Perhaps the simplest manner to describe each touch is to accompany it with a yell of “olé!”, as is the wont of Mexican fans when appreciating a long sequence of passes.

In the UAE 2013 final on Friday, in Abu Dhabi, these fans will be in attendance as Nigeria and Mexico square off for a second time in the tournament. The Africans thrashed their Central American opponents 6-1 in their opening groupstage encounter.

“We saw them play before our semi-final, and they looked strong against Argentina,” said the midfielder. “We’re hoping for a repeat performance [of the group

match]. In football it’s difficult to make predictions but, God willing, we’ll beat them again.

Mexico can make all the changes they want, but it will be the same team we faced in the group stage.”

Alfa is clearly not one for mincing his words.

Some may interpret it as overconfidence, but the midfielder simply believes his team are on an unstoppable run of form.

In a jarring contrast to his discreet playing style, Alfa concluded with a bold statement when looking forward to the upcoming decider: “I promise our people back home that we will bring back the trophy. Yes, I can promise that.”

No tears for Sweden’s Berisha S

WEDEN’s players sat on the floor outside the changing rooms of the Rashid Stadium, their mouths turned down. They fiddled with their phones amid the steady din of partying Nigerian fans, still celebrating outside. There was no

chatter, none of the usual banter and jokecracking that followed their previous games here in UAE. They ’d been well beaten by Nigeria in the semifinal.

“They deserve to be in the final,” Valmir Berisha, Sweden’s No9,

one of the gems of these U-17 finals, told FIFA.com. “They play the game beautifully and they were better than us today.”

It’s a generous sentiment for a losing player, one step away from a World Cup final in his country’s first-ever par-

AGONY OF DEFEAT— Sweden's Goalkeeper after the match with Eaglets.

ticipation. Berisha, with a half smile creeping through the sadness and the sparks of anger, knew the better team won. For a player who’s drawn comparisons to renegade countryman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, both on and off the pitch, Berisha’s reaction is mature and selfless.

And it shows a tremendous respect for the game.

“They don’t miss their chances,” Berisha, who scored four goals in UAE so far with a thirdplace play-off against Argentina still to come on 8 November. “And that’s what a good teams does. You’re never going to get a lot of chances to score in a World Cup semi-final. They took their chances and we didn’t,” he added after the 3-0 result, a scoreline which flat-

tered the Nigerians who were only up 1-0 with ten minutes to go.

The game-plan to score early, like they did in the 3-3 draw against these same Nigerians in the first round, didn’t pan out as Roland Larsson’s men had hoped. Instead, the three-time champion Africans settled into a frenzied attacking rhythm. They were spurred on by their fans, who bayed appreciatively when the young Eaglets had the ball and hissed wickedly when they lost it. Each of Nigeria’s three goals was met with a roar from the crowd of well over 9000.

The fans jumped up and down in the humble old stadium that’s almost lost at the base of Dubai, a city climbing toward the sky.

Berisha, who has proven himself a dignified

youngster despite his combative personality on the pitch, congratulated all of the Nigerian players at the final whistle.

He put his arms around them in appreciation. He knows good football when he sees it. “I went to all of them, especially their forwards, and I told them: ‘you must win the final, and if you don’t then football just isn’t fair.’ Swedish dignity in defeat.

“Their football is just amazing,” added the Albania-born forward, whose strength, scoring prowess and ability to hold the ball up in traffic, mark him out for a bright future. And even though most of the fans were wearing green in the Rashid Stadium on the night, the memory of the passion and noise, the trumpets blaring, will linger in Berisha’s mind.

60 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013

What Eaglets want from President Goodluck Elegbeleye charges Jonathan — Ladipo Eaglets to win Cup

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RESIDENT General of the Nigerian Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo was close to tears after the Golden Eaglets romped to the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 thrashing of Sweden.

“These boys are wonderful. These boys are disciplined. These boys are rare gems.

These boys are heroes!!!”, Ladipo repeatedly said on our hotline.

“They ’ve made us proud here in UAE. We’ve 19 strongmembers of the Supporters Club who have been singing and hooting for the glory of these boys and our fatherland. We’ve told them to remain calm and not underestimate Mexico.

Mexico have shown their champions stuff by recovering from the 6-1 trouncing to get to the final. We’re sure that the Eaglets will bring the cup to Nigeria.

However, we want to make a request to President Jonathan to send a chartered aircraft to convey these heroes and other Nigerians here in UAE with the trophy home.

They deserve a heroes welcome and bringing them back on a chartered aircraft is befitting to them. They have been away for a long time preparing for this tournament. Now that they ’ve achieved

G

•Golden Eaglets this feat, please, lets save them the stress of hopping from one commercial aircraft to another. We know our

applaud him for his love for his wonderful works. These Eaglets are ambassadors’’, Ladipo said.

Germany beats England in Emirates’A380 Arsenal FC challenge After a short briefing on

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HREE of Arsenal’s German players, Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil have triumphed after tackling a challenge from their English team-mates to land a double-decker Emirates A380. But don’t worry, it was all safely done in a brand new state of the art flight simulator, at the Emirates Aviation Experience in London.

Earlier this summer, English players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson tested their A380 aerial skills in Emirates’ private flight simulators during a visit to Dubai.

But now London has its own set of public flight simulators courtesy of one of the city’s newest visitor

Mexico's coach Continues from BP the coach who declared himself a “happy” man even though he thought his team had played their best, said “I will always be proud of this team. Ivan (Ochoa) has always been a very consistent player, mature despite his age and that is reflected in every game he has played.”

Gutierrez was looking forward to playing Nigeria again in the final.

President loves sports and is proud of these boys. Let him grant them this request and let the world watch and

He pointed out that three of the last four teams in the competition had all emerged from the same first-round group and thus had extra knowledge of each other’s game.

“I now know the Nigerians better. The last time we played, I did not know them well but I have since learnt a lot from them and think that it is advantage for my team”, said the coach.

attractions, the Emirates Aviation Experience, allowing anyone to take-off, fly and land on an A380 or Boeing 777.

Laying down the gauntlet, the English players taunted their German colleagues: “Just as in the upcoming England vs. German friendly – you won’t have a chance!” citing OxladeChamberlain’s near perfect landing back in Dubai as an example of what the Germans had to contend with.

“The competition from the English players does look tough” admitted Wilson Alves, Technical Supervisor and flight instructor at the Emirates Aviation Experience, after being shown a video of their landings, “but we’re looking forward to seeing some German efficiency in the air.”

how to land the airline’s flagship aircraft by Wilson, Arsenal’s own giant Per Mertesacker, was first to volunteer to be in the double decker ’s Captain’s seat.

The defender quickly began focusing on his latest aerial challenge. After a steady flight, the player realized he was drifting to the left. With the authority of Per’s instructor, Wilson suggested he should go “slightly right”.

The Eaglets on Tuesday qualified for the final of the tournament having defeated hard fighting Sweden 3-0 in the semifinal match on Tuesday.

Hon Elegbeleye said the brilliant display of the youngsters has taken Nigeria to another level in world soccer. He charged them to go all out in the final by repeating their first round success over Mexico to win the competition.

He assured them that a lot of good things await them when they return home.

GTBank Principals Cup now in 6 African countries

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HE GTBank Principals Cup competition currently being held in Nigeria is set to be inaugurated in five other African Countries where the Bank has subsidiaries; Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Cote D’voire and Liberia.

The competition is an annual football competition targeted at Secondary School students. It evolved out of the need to identify and develop grassroots football talents in secondary schools and also to foster camaraderie among them.

The competition started in Lagos State, Nigeria in 2009 and was soon extended to Ogun State, Nigeria in 2012 after the huge success recorded in its Lagos edition.

The GTBank African

Principals Cup competition will be organized in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Sports in the participating countries. It will involve a total of 1957 Secondary schools in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia.

This competition will avail the player’s quality football training and development opportunities via interactive sessions with renowned football players and coaches. At the end of the tournament, prizes will be presented to the winners in the male and female categories.

Guaranty Trust Bank will also provide the sporting equipment such as balls, goal post nets and corner flags throughout the duration of the competition.

Hitman, Chiori ready for WBF title fight •Ozil

NFF Continues from BP \

as we only receive a monthly subvention of 52 million Naira from government and this is far from adequate to cover our many costs.”

MTNFootball.com was told by officials that NFF finances took a direct hit when the over 700 million Naira spent for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations was removed

OLDEN Eaglet’s qualification for the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup has been described as the result of hard work, dedication and total commitment.

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye made the statement in his congratulatory message to the Golden Eaglets shortly after beating Sweden in the semifinal of the competition holding in the United Arab Emirates.

from the federation’s annual budget by government.

“It was to have been a special grant but government later decided it should come from our budget,” another top official said.

Nigeria have a foot at Brazil 2014 after they beat hosts Ethiopia 2-1 in the first leg of the playoffs last month.

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

N

IGERIAN-BORN United States based middleweight boxing sensation, Gift Cole Chiori is set to mount the square ropes for a clash with his German opponent, Tom Reiche in a Junior middle Weight World Boxing Federation (WBF) title this weekend.

The boxing show tagged “Lights Out Series” put together by Achievas Entertainment

in partnership with Sugar Bert Boxing Promotions would witness several bouts in different weight categories.

Chiori popularly called ‘Hitman” in the boxing circles would not lack the home support as a delegation of Nigerian boxing fans and supporters led by his father, Reverend Peter Cole Chiori, the Executive Director of Achievas Entertainment Company Limited will be at the ringside to cheer him to victory.

Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 61

I will stop Eaglets from scoring — Mexico’s goalie H

AVING conceded six goals against the Golden Eaglets in their opening match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup on October 19, Mexico’s goalkeeper Raul Gudino has vowed to shut out the Eaglets from scoring in tomorrow’s final match at Abu Dhabi.

Gudino was a pitiable sight to behold in Al Ain on October 19 as a Kelechi Iheanacho-inspired Eaglets dismantled the Mexicans, who are the defending champions of the competition, and were tagged favourites to win the Group F game.

But Mexico have bounced back from that shocking experience and are now 90 minutes away from winning the title, a mission that Gudino feels is achievable if they play with zeal and purpose.

“We can win the final match if we play with purpose and not run after the Nigerians. We are a good side and have shown that we can overcome our setbacks”, Gudino told report-

IGERIA’S Under17 national team head coach, Manu Garba, has declared that they are not under pressure to face Mexico in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup showpiece game in Abu Dhabi this Friday.

Garba is confident of guiding Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to a fourth title at under-17 level after watching his boys defeat Sweden 3-0 in the semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday with goals from Taiwo Awoniyi, Samuel Okon and Chidera Ezeh.

But Garba, who was an assistant coach of the Golden Eaglets six years ago when they won the

Running out of Dinas

M

Y Editor, Tony Ubani ensured that I was given enough money to come to the UAE to cover the FIFA U-17 World Cup. But as the competition runs to a close this weekend, I have big holes in my pocket.

Reason, a Dina exchanges for N45, which makes it difficult for Nigerian journalists to cope with living here.

The other day, as I walked through Deira, the bustling business area of Dubai, my Diran predicament was

compounded when I saw lovely things that I wished to buy for the guys back home in Nigeria. It came at a cheap fee here but after converting it to naira, it became so expensive to buy.

With the Eaglets not leaving this place until after November 8, I knew that purchasing the items would further worsen my situation. A friend calmly advised me to allow it go because we were running out of Dinas.

Between Dubai and Nigerian Police

I •Musa Yahaya (r) blocks a Mexican opponent in the first group match. Nigeria won 6-1. ers after the team defeated Argentina 3-0 in the semifinal.

Having scored 23 goals so far, the Eaglets parade the most lethal attacking side and for Mexico to get anything out of this game,

they must avoid conceding, a task that Gudino said he was equal to.

“I have learnt from my mistakes and will work hard to stop them from scoring”, said Gudino, who saved a third-minute penalty against Argentina, with the score still 0-0.

Reflecting on the semifinal game, Gudino said: “I did my job that’s all. I think we were not really concentrating at the start but I think my penalty save gave my colleagues confidence. ”In the end it was a very good win because the entire team worked hard all through the game.”

We’re not under pressure — Eaglets

N

John Egbokhan’s Dubai Dairy

Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, was quick to point out that the Mexicans have been resilient following their recovery from a 1-6 loss in their opening game against Nigeria.

The Nigerian coach branded the North Americans as “a very technical team.”

“We showed today (Tuesday) that we are a very strong side. We are not going to be on any pressure against Mexico in the final because we would prepare mentally, physically and psychologically for the final.

“The Mexican team I maintained are a very technical team and I be-

lieve the final is going to be a great one but by the grace of God, we shall win this trophy for Nigeria and Africa.

“I still maintained that the Mexican team are a very technical team and we can see their resilience by coming from a 6-1 loss to us (Nigeria) and still be in the final,” Manu said at the postmatch media conference.

Mexico’s El Tri reached the final after dumping out Argentina 3-0 in the first semifinal at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

N the United Arab Emirates, all the states have their State Police forces. Because of the cosmopolitan nature of the UAE, the Police officers are men and women from virtually all countries of the world.

It helps to stem crime. They do next to nothing daily as these are cameras everywhere here. Incidents of petty theft or armed robbery don’t come up here. According to Emmanuel Amuneke, you can forget your expensive handset on a chair here and return to find it untouched.

That is how efficient the security system here is. The Policemen here cruise in airconditioned jeeps. They don’t blare their sirens. It is unbelievable but that is the true picture,

which makes the place about the safest place on earth.

In contrast, Nigeria has one single Police force, which has been bogged down by all problems since its birth.

The officers, who are poorly paid, run on rickety and old patrol cars, without spare tyre.

M.D Abubakar, who was once in the NFA, has been trying to change the fortunes of the Police, but his efforts are yet to see green-light because we have not drawn lessons from UAE, which is the second home to most of our leaders.

Crime will continue to thrive in Nigeria if we don’t adopt modern-day technology and empower our Police force with the right tools.

Doing business with China

T

HE Chinese are an industrious people. They have taken over in Nigeria, especially Lagos, where their goods are aplenty in our shops.

The government, especially, Lagos is doing serious construction business with the Chinese, who are building new roads in various parts of Lagos like Ikorodu and Mile2Badagry roads.

But in UAE, where the U-17 World Cup is holding, the Chinese are an endangered specie. Reason: their products don’t meet the standard required here.

Everywhere you go, you here people talking down the Chinese.

Though their products are cheap, people still prefer to buy expensive products from Malaysia, India, Ja-

pan and Italy because of their high quality and durability.

The other day, a migrant told me that he was amazed that Nigeria was contracting the construction of roads to Chinese firm, noting that the roads would not last long.

And just the other night, a Pakistani cab driver, mocked the Chinese penchant for poor quality jobs as he drove us round Baniyan Square.

He said that because of their poor quality products, the Chinese have employed the buy one get one free marketing plan.

My colleagues laughed as the driver added that even with the promotion plan that Chinese products were a nogo for discerning shoppers

Shopping for Christmas

N

IGERIANS have descended on Dubai to shop for the forthcoming Christmas. This is the place that shoppers from all parts of the world come to shop for high and good quality goods at the best prices.

What you get in Dubai is pure quality.

All the top fashion brands in the world have their shops here. As expected, Nigerians are already shop-

ping for the Christmas season.

I have been here for more than 17 days and have seen lots of high quality goods and enjoin all to come visit Dubai to shop for goods for the family and possibly to sell to those who can’t make it here because of the cost of flight tickets and hotel accommodation.

It’s a win-win situation if you shop here.

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 — 63

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Blatter wants World Cup play-offs scrapped

F

OLLOWING his comments a fortnight ago to overhaul the qualification process to favour Africa and Asia national sides, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has now proposed to scrap World Cup play-offs all together.

According to Blatter’s column in The FIFA Weekly inaugural issue last month, having fewer, but supposedly superior, European and South Ameri-

Eagles vs Ethiopia match

NFF borrows N50m N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) will again have to borrow for next weekend’s 2014 World Cup playoff against Ethiopia, officials disclosed.

The NFF need at least 50 million Naira for a November 16 playoff for a place at next year ’s World Cup in Brazil.

This cost has been reduced because of the part sponsorship from the Cross Rivers State Government.

This will be to cover match bonuses as well as the return ticket refunds for the team and also logistical costs.

“We will again be forced to borrow to fund this match,” a top NFF official told MTNFootball.com “We are seriously broke Continues on Page 60

I now know Eaglets better — Mexico’s coach A

S the zero hour approaches to tomorrow’s final match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup between the Golden Eaglets and El Tri in the beautiful National Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Mexico coach Raul Gutierrez has said that he knows the Nigerians better.

Gutierrez saw his side battered 6-0 by the Eaglets in their opening Group F game on October 19 in Al Ain and remarkably was still able to AERIAL BATTLE — Samuel Okon of Nigeria is challenged by Mirza Halvadzic of Sweden during their semi final duel with Sweden. Nigeria won 30.

PUZZLE

steer them to the final, where they come up against the Nigerians, who have grown into a goalscoring machine,

netting 23 goals.

Speaking after seeing his boys beat Argentina 3-0 in the semifinal, Continues on Page 60

What Eaglets want from President Goodluck Jonathan — Page 60 QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

can nations qualifying for the 32-team group stages would allow more allegedly underrepresented African and Asian teams to play in the World Cup. Twenty teams, plus host country Brazil, have qualified for the 2014 World Cup so far, whilst the remaining 11 places will be awarded this month through two-legged play-offs.

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Showy (5) 7 Twenty (5) 8 Essential (5) 10 Go in (5) 12 Obtained (3) 13 Shifted (5) 15 Relegated (7) 19 Objection (3) 20 Devastated (7) 23 Rush (4) 25 Expensive (4) 26 Turned (7) 30 Delved (3) 31 Wish (6) 34 Promised (7) 37 Deadly (5) 38 Mineral (3) 39 Plunged (5) 40 Stock (5) 41 Passage (5) 42 Trivial (5)

DOWN 1 Performer (50 2 Generate (5) 3 Give (6) 4 Pip (4) 5 Prejudiced (7) 6 Subsequently (5) 9 Child (30 11 Discounted (7) 13 Blithe (5) 14 Elector (5) 16 Beaker (3) 18 Harmed (7) 21 Liability (5) 22 Fishing-basket (5) 24 Tottery (7) 27 Pull (3) 28 Beat (6) 29 Distant (5) 32 Unfortunately (5) 33 Assessed (5) 35 Epoch (3) 36 Eat (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Owned 7, Data 8, Unload 9, False 11, Aid 13, Ass 15, Idea 16, Sip 18, Slot 19, Radical 20, Maid 22, Dour 23, Visitor 25, Need 27, Dot 28, Here 30, Tar 31, Dud 33, Inter 36, Resign 37, Item 38, Knead.

DOWN: 1, Valid 2, Oaf 3, Nil 4, Due 5, Sly 6, Lasso 10, Said 11, Ailment 12, Deliver 13, Allowed 14, Started 16, Sapid 17, Pilot 18, Sad 21, Did 24, Town 26, Eager 29, Ruler 32, Pit 33, Ink 34, Tee 35, Rid.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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