FG to unravel missing $20bn fund in 4 months

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62140

Chibok, 8 beginning of Boko Haram's end — Jonathan

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ACF opposes rotational presidency, governorship

Cameroon denies harbouring abducted schoolgirls 9

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FG to unravel missing $20bn fund in 4 months •African leaders should reduce inequality— Kofi Annan •China announces $30bn development fund for Africa

BY OMOH GABRIEL & EMMA UJAH

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BUJA—INDICA TIONS emerged, yesterday, at the World Economic Forum Africa that the Federal Government and auditors investigating NNPC accounts will, in the next 16 weeks, make public their findings. This will put paid to the controversy surrounding the alleged missing $20 billion from the Federation Account.

Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-

Continues on page 5

My father apologised to me before he died 29 — Charly Boy

Mr & Mrs WEFA—

President Goodluck Jonathan (C) speaks, flanked by WEF founder Klaus Schwab (L) and Rwandan President Paul Kagame (R), during the World Economic Forum in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: AFP.

BUHARI TO BOKO HARAM: You're bigots masquerading as Muslims 9 C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

WEF—From left, Mauntaqa Umar-Sadiq, CEO Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN); Sola David-Borha, Idris Wada, Kogi State Governor; Jim Ovia, Co-Chair, PSHAN; Muhammad Ali Pate, Co-Chair, PSHAN; Aliko Dangote, Founding Patron; Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health and Mark Suzman, President, Global Policy and Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at the World Economic Forum Africa in Abuja, yesterday.

FG to unravel missing $20bn fund in 4 months Continues from page 1 Iweala, told participants at the on-going World Economic Forum Africa , WEFA that the forensic audit of the NNPC would be undertaken within 16 weeks under the supervision of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, AuGF. Dr. OkonjoIweala expressed determination of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to ensure an open and transparent oil sector in the country. The minister made the revelation while responding to a concern raised by a forum

participant on the allegations of corruption in the oil industry during the panel discussion on Inclusive Growth.

"On the issue of holding government to account, I do not think Nigerians are laying back. We need that transparency and we welcome it. The (suspended) CBN Governor raised issues on unaccounted for amounts from the federation account and we at the Ministry of Finance have, for two years, been reconciling these figures with the NNPC to know what they were supposed to re-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

When you encounter rejection, shake it off and move on. Sooner or later you will succeed if you don’t quit. Don’t personalise it; because someone rejects what you have to offer doesn’t mean you are being rejected.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness and the state of joy is ever lasting when it comes from within— Take Heart Quotes

U

NHAPPINESS lies in that gap between what we have now and what we think we need. But the truth is, we don’t need to acquire anything more to be content with what we already have. We don’t need anyone else’s permission to be happy. Your life is magnificent not because someone says it is, or because you have acquired something new, but because you choose to see it as such. Don’t let your happiness be held hostage. It is always yours to choose, to live and experience.

And from the experts of wisdom notes, Mack and Angel Hack comes this beautiful saying. “As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your own unhappiness, and you will instantly gain the ability to be happier. Stop seeking in vain to arrange conditions that will make you happy.” Simply choose to appreciate the greatness that is yours in this moment, and the right conditions will start to line up around the contentment you seek.

mit to the federation account. Our feeling is that the only way is to have a forensic audit that would let Nigerians know the issue.

“There is a forensic audit that the government has approved and it is being done by PriceWaterhouseCoopers under the supervision of the Auditor-General for the government and they said they need 12 to 16 weeks to do that and all these would be clarified.”

NNPC's books have been the subject of controversy and sometimes high-level politics between the legislature and the executive, with the former alleging high level corruption, a claim the latter also refuted. There have been series of audits of the accounts of the corporation since the return to democracy in 1999 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo but there hasn't been much done other than occasional summary removal of members of top management.

The most recent controversy over the handling of oil revenue by the organization started with allegations by suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that about $49 billion was missing.

The figure was later moderated to $10 billion and later moved up to $20 billion before Sanusi’s suspension from office.

Inclusive growth On inclusive growth, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala admitted that the nation’s economy was growing impressively but not creating as many jobs as required. She said

that deliberate policies had been put in place to achieve the desired results.

Her words: “We are growing but not creating jobs and we have been asking ourselves, how do we change the quality of this growth and our rebasing has shown us where the potentials are. We need to get people into farming through agroprenuers where 750,000 youths would be encouraged to go into agriculture”.

On Africa Rising, she said that two issues came forward which required short and long-term actions to address the social and economic legs in the efforts at achieving inclusive growth.

She said the current security challenges facing the nation required shortterm actions to ensure the return of peace and stability to the society, while focusing on creating jobs and providing social safety nets under which all Nigerians would have a sense of belonging.

“We should empower our youths to make the necessary change”, she said, but added that “youths should not accept negativism. We must make a distinction between criticising and making our leaders act. We should at the same time not make our people believe that everything is negative”.

China announces $30bn fund for Africa Meanwhile the Chinese 200-man strong delegation led by Premier Li Keqiang is second to none at the on-going World Economic forum.

The ovation that greeted Keqiang’s address at the official opening in Abuja was understandable. He announced a $30 billion China-Africa Fund which he said his country stood ready to deploy in an effort to give the continent a new lease of life.

He said: “China, in order to build infrastructure network in Africa, is ready to provide financing, technical and human resources support. We will increase investment on financing in Africa. We will add $10 billion to be committed to the Chinese credit line to African countries to reach a total of $30 billion.

“We will also put another $2 billion into the China/ Africa Development Fund to make it $5 billion.

We will also make good use of special loans, financing loans, commercial loans and other modes of capital.

"China will advance Afri-

ca’s talent plan under which we will provide 18,000 government scholarships to Africans and train 30,000 professionals in addition to other special trainings for Africa. The Chinese government means what it says. Here I wish to emphasise that China’s cooperation with African countries is sincere and open”.

Africa must fight inequality — Kofi Annan Also at the forum, yesterday, former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan said that African governments should work harder to reduce inequality that has prevented the benefits of a decade of economic growth from being spread equitably.

According to a report by Annan, the plunder by foreign investors and corrupt officials of the continent’s fishing and timber resources is a clear example of the failure to harness natural resources for the common good.

“After more than a decade of growth, there is plenty to celebrate,” Annan said during the report's launch at the World Economic Forum for Africa, in Abuja. But it is time to ask why so much growth has done so little to lift people out of poverty and why so much of Africa’s resource wealth is squandered through corrupt practices and unscrupulous investment activities,” Annan said.

African leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the agricultural sector across the continent at the 2014 Grow Africa Investment Forum Building on recent successes of the Grow Africa partnership – a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency and the World Economic Forum – the leaders agreed that increased private sector investment in agriculture is key to delivering economic opportunities and food security within their countries.

“There are huge opportunities in agriculture. This will create jobs and achieve food security,” said President Jonathan.

“The key is not just producing enough food for local consumption, but also creating jobs along the value chain,” he added.

“For years, Africa’s agriculture was marked by low productivity, low production,” noted M. Kikwete, President of Tanzania.

Thanks to an agriculture transformation based on a blueprint started at the World Economic Forum on Africa in 2010 in Dar es Salaam, he said his country is seeing dividends. As a result, “hunger can be overcome, and increased income reduces poverty.”

In 2013, Grow Africa partners doubled their commitments to agriculture and food security to $7.2 billion. Of this, $970 million is already invested, which has led to the creation of 33,000 new jobs and assistance to 2.6 million smallholder farmers throughout the continent.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, at the forum urged African leaders to seek agricultural development funds from the continent’s emerging capital market.

“Agriculture has all it takes to drive the inclusiveness needed in the positive economic growth witnessed in the continent. African leaders must ensure that they leverage the private sector to ensure effective participation in the programme and also raise money from various domestic capital markets to support the sector.

“The bond, equity market and the unused pension fund, in the case of Nigeria, could be used to see how to make agriculture a business for the youth to buy into,” he said.

He also urged international financial institutions like African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Bank to assist in the continent’s effort to develop agriculture.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Court orders Police to pay N1.5m for unlawful detention

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — AN Okitipupa High Court, in Ondo State, yesterday, ordered the Ondo State Police Command to pay N500,000 each to three chiefs for their unlawful detention.

The Chiefs who are from Irele include, High Chief Olamigoke Bamidele, the Ojagbaletemi of Irele; High Chief Busayo Adeyeye and Chief Eniola Monehin.

They dragged the police with two others to court over their unlawful arrest and detention.

Other respondents include the Olofun of Irele kingdom, Oba Olarewaju Lebi and the Interim Chairman of Irele local council area, Mr Dele Olatunji.

The chiefs were arrested and detained on November 8, 2013 for alleged breach of peace and installation of a new king for Irele kingdom despite that there is a sitting monarch.

The chiefs were arrested and detained following a petition written by Oba Lebi to the Police over the installation of a new oba.

The chiefs, in a suit No: HOK /18M/2013, filed by the applicants’ lawyer, Bode Famakin, said that his clients were right to install a new Olofun of Irele since a law court had declared the stool vacant, pointing out that the unlawful arrest and detention amounted to the violation of their personal liberty.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice S. A. Bola, said the Police had acted in contravention of the period provided by the constitution without admitting the suspects to bail or charge them to court.

Justice Bola described the action of the Police as infringement on the applicants' fundamental right under section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He, therefore, awarded N500,000 damages against the Police for continuous detention of the applicants in police cell.

2 die, 3 injured as building collapses in Akure

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — TWO persons were crushed to death following the collapse of a twostorey building under construction in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday.

No fewer than three others were seriously injured when the building collapsed around 7a.m. at Sango area along Akure/Ado road.

The casualties were workers on the site said to be a private secondary school owned by a popular proprietor in Ondo town.

Vanguard gathered that the casual workers arrived the site as early as 6 a.m. and were mixing the concrete when the building suddenly collapsed on two of them and were killed instantly.

Another victim was said to be returning to the place where they were mixing the concrete when the building came down on him.

He was said to have been rushed to the hospital but died on the way.

Speaking with newsmen in Akure, an eyewitness, Mr Abiodun Sunday, said the building came down with a bang which attracted the neighbours at about 7 a.m.

Government officials rushed to the scene to evacuate the casualties. Among early callers was the Housing and Urban Development Commissioner, Mr Bade Omoloja.

Omoloja said the building did not have government approval and that on two different occasions officials of his ministry had given a stop work directive to the owner of the building.

The commissioner said: “It is tragic that we just lost two boys and three others are in critical condition due to negligence and stubbornness of designers and engineers. Poor quality materials were used in the building and this occasioned the tragic happening."

Similarly, Works Commissioner, Gboye Adegbenro attributed the collapse to structural

The collapsed building. failure, adding that government would set up a committee to forestall a similar occurrence in future.

Also, Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, South-West, Iyiola Akande, and the agency's

Zonal Coordinator, advised the government to maintain adequate supervision of building construction.

Akande said it was not sufficient for government officials to sit down in office and approve without proper monitoring by

Police nab fake soldiers extorting money in Ogun BYDAUD OLATUNJI & SEGUN OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command, yesterday, said it had arrested two fake soldiers at Ifo in Ifo Local Government Area while extorting money from motorists and other people.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the anti-crime patrol team attached to Ifo division of the command, Wednesday, at 3 p.m. arrested two fake soldiers who were extorting money from members of the public and engaging themselves in many social vices in the state.

Adejobi said: “Audu Pius, 32, living at 4, Olorunwa Street, Akowonjo, Lagos and Emmanuel Ujah, 36, who resides at 15, Kewulere area, Epe, Lagos State, both from Benue State, were arrested at Ilepa Ifo

The suspects in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State while presenting themselves as soldiers and demanding money, on charity grounds, from members of the public.

Man, 35, docked for pouring petrol on suspected thief

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — A 35-year-old man, Jamiu Animashaun, was yesterday arraigned before an Abeokuta magistrate's court in Isabo, for allegedly pouring petrol on one Philemon Tule and attempting to set him ablaze.

The Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case, Moronfolu Olumide, told the court that the accused and others at large beat Tule and poured petrol on him before a passer-by rescued him.

competent and structural engineers. The state police image maker, Wole Ogodo, described the incident as catastrophic and disturbing, adding that the security personnel have been deployed to the scene to help in the rescue operations.

She said the offence was committed, Wednesday, at Lagos Road, Lafenwa, Abeokuta.

According to her, the accused claimed that the claimant stole his wife’s phone, Monday, and ran away but came back to the area, Wednesday, and was caught and beaten.

She said: “They tagged him kidnapper which attracted the accused and others at large to catch him and started beating with planks and then poured petrol on him before he was rescued.

The prosecutor, Augustine Ozimini, told the court that the accused attempted to set the man ablaze by pouring petrol on him.

He added that the offence is contrary to sections 351 and 516 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1 of the revised Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge against him.

Magistrate Emmanuel Adekunte granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned till May 30, 2014.

“Items recovered from them include two fake identity cards in military camouflage purse, charity forms designed for Nigerian Army and some money realised from the dirty business.

“The command deems it necessary to sensitise the general public on the antics of unscrupulous elements like these who are fond of engaging themselves in dubious and criminal acts at the detriment of the innocent citizens of the country and for the general public to be on the look out for such individuals who impersonate security agents to dupe people in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye has ordered the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta to embark on a thorough investigation of the matter in conjunction with the Nigerian Army to apprehend their accomplices who are officers of the Nigerian Army as revealed by the suspects."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—7

Husband remanded for killing wife over bush meat

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Residents of Ijegun and Isheri-Oshun crossing a bridge under construction at Oke-Afa, Isolo in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Pastor arraigned for swindling prospective tenants of N52.3m L

AGOS— THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, began the trial of one Mr Peter Nwogu, who claimed to be a pastor, accused of defrauding some accommodation seekers of N52.3 million.

According to reports, the 52-year-old accused is being prosecuted before Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya of an Ikeja High Court.

The commission, had on March 18, arraigned Nwogu for the alleged offence and he was remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

During yesterday's proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mrs Olubunmi Bosede, called three witnesses to testify against the accused.

Testifying, Mrs Vivian Obinabo, an estate surveyor and valuer, told the court how the accused defrauded her clients between July and August 2013 in Lagos.

Obinabo said Nwogu placed advertisements for lease of property in some national newspapers using his outfits, Christian Defence Fellowship and Business Defence Solutions Limited.

She said the accused posed as the owner of the property situated at 6, Gerrard Road and 6, Olawale Dawodu Street, both in Ikoyi.

Obinabo said: “The accused scheduled a meeting between us and came with a convoy of mobile policemen.

“My clients, which included Manuchar Trading Company Ltd., Sony Flying Dove Ltd., Akintola Williams Delloite and Associated Press inspected the property. They expressed interest and demanded for a copy of the tenancy agreement before making payments."

According to her, Nwogu obtained a total of N52.3 million from

her clients as payments for rent and other sundry charges.

The witness said it was after the payments that she discovered that the accused was not the owner of both property.

She said this prompted her to petition the EFCC which eventually led to his arrest.

Also testifying, Mr Titus Olatunbosun, Property Manager, CSM Realtors, confirmed that his firm was the owner of the

property allegedly used by Nwogu to defraud his victims.

Olatunbosun said the property was a block of apartments at 6, Olawale Dawodu St., in Ikoyi which was under renovation at the time of the incident.

In his testimony, Mr Kehinde Ogundehin, Assistant Marketing Manager, YM Construction Ltd., said his company owned the other property used by Nwogu for the scam.

Ogundehin said the property was a high-rise building at 6, Gerrard Road, Ikoyi and was under construction by his company.

The witnesses insisted that their firms did not authorise the accused or any other person to lease or sell the said property on their behalf.

The matter was adjourned till June 2 for continuation of trial.

Police arrest 5 paedophiles, 15 suspected cultists in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA— THE Police in Bayelsa State have arrested 20 persons over alleged involvement in defiling underaged girls, cult-related violence and killings in some parts of the state.

Among the suspects were five persons including a 64-yearold man arrested for defiling children between the ages of 10 and 13.

Fifteen others, including a 22year-old notorious cultist known as ‘Small Boy Danger ’ were nabbed for the recent cases of cult-related violence and killings within Yenagoa metropolis.

State Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, disclosed these yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa.

Opara described as unfortunate the recent incidents of cultrelated violence in the state capital, saying it spurred the police

Residents of Adeniyi, Salau Lawal and Idewu Streets in Olodi-Apapa, Lagos protesting against power outage in the area.

into series of patrol and security operations which led to major arrests.

On the arrest of five paedophiles, the Police Commissioner said past arrests and prosecutions of rape and child defilement cases were frustrated by the lack of will on the part of parents of victims to prosecute.

He, however, noted with delight that the police and the state government had set up a committee backed by law to ensure that cases of child rape and abuses, violence against women and girl-child are properly prosecuted and indictment secured.

The CP also announced that the marine component of the Nigerian Police engaged some sea pirates in a shoot-out which led to the arrest of 14 suspects along the Ikoli river and the Brass/Snake Island axis of Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Opara called on the people of the state to be vigilant and security conscious by observing strange movement of persons or group of persons in their area.

ALINGO — A 30-year-old man, Ambrose Anthony, yesterday appeared before a Jalingo chief magistrates’ court for allegedly killing his wife, Helen, after a disagreement over bush meat.

The accused from Yorro area in Taraba State was charged with culpable homicide in line with Section 221 of the Penal Code.

Prosecutor Mela Joseph said the incident occurred on April 7.

Joseph told the court that the accused hit his wife's abdomen with firewood over her alleged failure to account for the bush meat he bought from a village market.

He said the injuries sustained by Helen led to her death while on admission at the General Hospital, Zing.

He pleaded with the court to adjourn the case to enable the police conclude investigation on the case.

No plea was taken.

The magistrate, Victoria Barnabas, adjourned the case till May 20 and remanded the accused in prison custody.

Mother of 2 seeks divorce over frequent beatings

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KUTA (KWARA)— A mother of two, Jemilat Duro, in Okuta, Kwara State, has sought the dissolution of her six year-old marriage to her husband, Mohammed Duro, over frequent beatings.

The plaintiff, yesterday, pleaded with an Okuta Area Court to separate the union that produced two children.

In his reaction, Duro urged the court not to grant the relief sought by the plaintiff, saying: “I still love my wife and I do not want to divorce her."

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Malam Ahmed Yahaya, adjourned the case till May 15 for reconciliation between the two parties.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

MEETING: From left— Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Rajiv Shars, USAID Administrator; Governor Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa State; Umar Garba, Acting Governor of Taraba State, and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, during a meeting in Abuja.

Chibok, beginning of Boko Haram's end— JONATHAN

BY EMMA UJAH, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, VICTOR AHIUMA YOUNG, OLA AJAYI & GBENGA OLARINOYE, with agency reports

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, that the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram Islamist sect was the beginning of the end of terror in the country.

The president, who received unprecedented pledges of support in human and material resources to end the Boko Haram insurgency from world leaders in the last three days, said he was confident that the carnage of the terrorists would come to an end soon.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama of the United States of America, USA, has said that the kidnapping of Nigerian girls and sectarian conflicts worldwide are a sign that “we have not extinguished man’s darkest impulses.”

Obama spoke while accepting humanitarian award from legendary movie director, Steven Spielberg at the University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation, a Holocaust museum founded

by Spielberg after he made the film “Schindler’s List.”

On the flip side, President Obama’s wife, Michelle, has joined a global campaign to free the Chibok girls.

In a personal message on Twitter, Mrs Obama wrote: “Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families.”

She also posted a photo of herself holding a placard with the message “#BringBackOurGirls,” referring to the Twitter hashtag that is mobilising support and used more than 1.6 million times on social networking

platforms.

In addition, Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai, a 16 year old shot in the head

by Taliban gunmen in October 2012, has added her voice to the campaign, appealing on Twitter for donations toward Nigerian education and e m p o w e r m e n t programmes.

Jonathan

President Jonathan spoke at the official opening of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Abuja, on a day two West African countries, Niger and Mali expressed their readiness to do everything possible to help Nigeria rescue the abducted girls.

Jonathan said: “Let me thank all of you for coming to Nigeria at this trying time when we are facing terrorist attacks. Your coming here to support us is a blow on the terrorists.

“If you had stayed away, they (terrorists) would have been jubilating and even probably want to cause more havoc, because that is exactly what they want.

“Foreign governments have offered to help end the crisis and I can say that the kidnapping of the girls is the beginning of the end of terror in Nigeria.”

‘WEFA defies Boko Haram’

Meanwhile, heads of government of Niger and Mali, the African Union and the Africa Development Bank, ADB, yesterday in unison, condemned the abduction of the girls and called for their immediate release.

The ADB President, Dr. Donald Kaberuka said: “Our presence here in WEFA holding in Nigeria is a statement that terrorism

z Kidnap shows man's darkest impulses— OBAMA zSome waiting to write Africa’s obituary— ADB PRESIDENT cannot win. Attack on the girls of Chibok by Boko Haram is a terrorist act which is condemnable.

“It is also an attack on the right of the girls to their future, and our presence here is to say no, it can’t happen.”

Earlier, Prime Minister of Mali, Moussa Mara, while thanking Nigeria for extending invitation to his country, said: “This entails international involvement of countries like Chad, Cameroon, Tunisia and Burkina Faso, among others, with whom this country was currently having discussions to see how problem of terrorism can be contained and prevented from further spread.

“Of course, each country must have a solid armed forces capability to deal with the scourge, but strong cooperation is needed among countries across borders.”

On his part, Prime Minister of Niger, Rafini, who disclosed that security in the Sahel is a great problem, especially with the infiltration of Al Shabaab terrorist group, pointed out that the rise in the spread of terrorism in the continent started after the Libyan crisis, regretting that it has got to Nigeria with devastating consequences.

Rafini said: “It should be noted that insecurity and terrorism have no borders.

Whether there is security issue in Mali or in Cameroon or Niger, it should concern everyone.

“We must have a population that should say no to all the threats and terror attacks.”

The Co-Chairperson of WEFA, Madam Bineta Diop, stressed the fact that the

education of the girls should under no circumstances be hampered after they have been rescued.

What terrorism breeds— AU

The Deputy Chairperson of African Union, Erastus Mwendia, said the abduction of the Chibok girls shows a clear indication of what terrorism can do and the danger of all forms of transnational crimes.

Mwendia said: “As we empathise with the people of Nigeria, we want to thank the international community for rallying behind the girls. We want to thank countries who did not give travel advisory bans to come to Nigeria because such decisions embolden terrorists that they are achieving success.

“The action of terrorists breeds radicalism, drugs trade, human trafficking, inter-communal violence, small arms proliferation and worst of all, our vulnerable youths are victims of evil ideology which is detrimental to the future of the continent.

‘Needs int’l approach'

“Terrorism is transnational, organised and its finances cuts across states. So a regional outlook to fight it must be pursued vigorously.

African government, local communities and international partnership to fight it is the way to go.”

While suggesting ways by which terrorism and transnational crimes can be tackled, ADB President, Kaberuka said: “We have pockets of security threats whose origin, nature and mode of operation is

international. They exploit local skirmishes and make it global. So it has to be tackled internationally.

“That is why they do not value lives and property; they feel they have no stake in anything. Another thing is I feel there are people out there (foreigners) just waiting to write the obituary of Africa burning.

“This is because in the last 10 years, the continent has been experiencing one form of growth or the other. Things are not as bad as it used to be and they are not happy.”

Anti-Boko protests

Meanwhile, there were massive protests in Oyo, Osun, Bayelsa and Plateau states yesterday by women, students of tertiary and secondary schools as well as female National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members, demanding the release of the abducted girls.

The protest in Oyo and Osun were led by the governors’ wives, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, and Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, respectively.

In Oyo, after holding inter faith prayer at Lekan Salami Stadium, they marched from Adamasingba to the Governor’s office, wailing and praying.

Meanwhile, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has decried the uncertainties and conflicting information surrounding the abduction of the students.

In a statement, President of SSANU, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, said the singular act by Boko Haram was enough crime to bring the group and its activities in Nigeria to an end.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 —9

BUHARI TO BOKO HARAM: You're bigots masquerading as Muslims

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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N his most pointed denunciation of the Boko Haram insurgency, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), yesterday, urged Nigerians to put aside politics and all other divisions to crush the insurgency he said is fanned by mindless bigots masquerading as Muslims.

Affirming that the group does not portray the Islamic faith he practices, Buhari told the group that the world is united against its evil.

Buhari, a leading opposition political figure, in the statement made available to Vanguard, sympathised with the immediate families of the girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram group, saying he shared their pains as a father and grandfather.

He said: “Over the past few weeks, the abduction of the schoolgirls at Chibok, Borno State, has underscored the threat we have been facing as a nation in recent times from the actions of misguided persons masquerading as adherents of Islam.

“Our hearts are with families who have lost loved ones in this cycle of senseless violence. We also empathise with the parents of children whose daughters are in the custody of a group of anarchists.

“That horrific video posted on the internet is a clear manifestation of the mindlessness of the bigots. It shows them for what they are; such men can neither threaten nor should they be allowed to violate our sovereignty.

“It is clear from what they profess that they are not followers of God. They do not mean well for our country and her citizens. I am a Muslim, I am versed in the teaching of Christianity and I understand both religions seek peaceful co-existence of all humanity.

“I wish to reiterate that there is no justification whatsoever for this unrestrained disregard for the sanctity of human life.

It has no place in the Holy Quran and neither does it have a place in the Holy Bible.

“Let these people know that the entire civilised world is united against their terrorist act. We are grateful to the world for standing by Nigeria at this trying time. We hope and pray that the young ladies will be reunited with their respective families in the days to come.

“While the Federal Government and the nation’s Armed Forces are working to ensure citizens’ safety under

the present situation, we believe that more could still be done to ensure the safety of Nigerians and the Nigerian nation.

“We are therefore glad that the Federal Government has accepted international support in the search for the missing girls and for an end to the insurgency in parts of the country.

“I fought for a united Nigeria. In my old age, I want my grandchildren, your

grandchildren, our youths and indeed all Nigerians to benefit from a prosperous and united country devoid of sectarian violence whether home grown or imposed on us from outside.

“Now is not the time to play politics. Now is also not the time to trade blames and amplify our ideological differences. The unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and nothing should divide us as a people.

“I, therefore, urge all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to support the country in her effort to bring an end to this attack on defenceless citizens and indeed a united nation.

“We must put aside all other considerations and ensure that our country Nigeria pulls together to recover our sovereignty. We all know Nigeria is the only country we have and can call our own.”

SUMMIT: From left— Professor Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power; Dr. David Ladipo, Co-Founder and GMD, Azura Power Holdings, and Mr. Austin Avuru, Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, at Azura's transaction closure summit in Abuja. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

INSURGENCY: APC urges NASS to probe security budgetary allocation

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate a probe into how the budgetary allocations to the military have been spent in recent years, with a view to establishing whether or not the military is adequately empowered to effectively tackle the worsening scourge of terrorism in the country.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the National Assembly, in the exercise of its constitutional duties, must invite service chiefs and other relevant government officials to shed light on this issue.

It said the probe is important because of the insinuation in certain quarters about the ability and capability of the nation’s military in the ongoing battle against Boko Haram.

It said if Nigerian military that comes highly recommended globally is suddenly being called to question in the fight against Boko Haram, a probe becomes necessary.

... as Cameroon denies harbouring Chibok schoolgirls ‘False allegations’ C

AMEROON has refuted allegations that some of the more than 200 missing Nigerian schoolgirls have been sold for marriage within its borders. Boko Haram’s leader had vowed to sell the girls in the marketplace.

No other topic in recent years has generated such a heated debate in Cameroon as much as the activities of the Nigerian Islamist group.

The debate took on a new dimension when close to 300 girls were kidnapped from a school in northeastern Nigeria.

When the girls were kidnapped on April 14, some media reports suggested that some of them had been transferred to Cameroon and Chad.

They were then being forced to marry Islamist extremists.

Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau, warned in a video recording that he would sell the girls at the marketplace. Some sources in Nigeria said a bride price of $12 (9 Euros) was all that one needed.

Plea not to marry girls

Muslims in Cameroon have been calling on fellow believers not to marry any of these girls should they be offered to them.

Muslim leader, Nchotu Soule, said anyone seen acting suspiciously with a girl should be reported to the authorities.

He said: “The prophet Mohammed insists that Islam is a religion of peace.

Any true faithful of Islam will want to reject anything that comes from the Boko Haram.

“They are using our

Muslim brothers here to be able to carry out their activities.”

For some time now Cameroonian authorities have been warning that Boko Haram is keen on recruiting members from Cameroon. The situation worries many citizens such as Silas Mao, a university student in Yaounde.

He said very little was being done to stop Boko Haram. “If Cameroon and Nigeria decide, they can stop Boko Haram because I know that they are not more powerful than these states,” Mao said.

He also said he was sure the Islamist militant group had a base in Cameroon.

“If nothing is done, we will find ourselves in a situation like the one in Arab states where such people dictate what is done,” Mao warned.

Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari, said he was shocked by accusations that Cameroon was not collaborating with Nigeria to free the girls from their captors.

Bakari said: “We insist that allegations from Nigeria that a part of the 200 young female students recently kidnapped in the North-East of Nigeria would have been transferred to Cameroon to be forced into marriage to members of the Boko Haram sect are fully unfounded.

“Cameroon will never ever serve as a support base for destabilisation activities towards other countries.”

The minister said Cameroon was a victim of what he called ‘rather unfortunate and heinous crimes’ in Nigeria.

10— Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Fashola orders compulsory use of life jackets on waterways

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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A G O S — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, directed relevant authorities and operators of water transport to henceforth ensure the compulsory use of life jackets by passengers as part of measures to ensure safety of lives and property.

The directive came 24 hours after the 11-man inter-ministerial committee, chaired by Mr. Olajide Tairu, inaugurated by the state government to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the April 2nd, 2014, Majidun boat mishap, Ikorodu, submitted its report, which was yet to be made available to the public.

The governor, who gave the directive at the flag-off of life jacket distribution in Ebute - Ojo Jetty, Ojo Local Government Area, explained that the state government took up the responsibility of providing the materials to increase adherence to safety on waterways.

LASU students threaten govt over high fees BYIKENNAASOMBA

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A G O S — STUDENTS of Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, yesterday threatened violent protest should Governor Babatunde Fashola of the state fail to reduce the institution’s tuition fees from N348, 750 to N65, 500.

At a briefing, the students’ union President, Nurudeen Yusuf, flanked by other leaders of the students, said the union had in its proposal to Governor Fashola on April 27, proposed N65, 500 and N46, 500 to be paid by new and returning students respectively.

He insisted that the students were ready to engage the government and management in a showdown, if their demands were not met promptly.

C M Y K

Lagos bemoans N7.22trn real estate ‘locked assets’

BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—THE Lagos State government, yesterday, said at least $45.13 billion (about N7.22 trillion) of the real estate assets were not covered by the state legal framework, making it a kind of locked asset, saying it was undermining the business activities in the state.

Commissioner for Commerce

and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, spoke at Alausa, declared that; “An estimate of about $45.13 billion was located in the extralegal sector with concomitant undercapitalisation of business undertakings, and impoverishment of the masses.”

She explained that the assets existing in the informal markets/extra legal economy were classified as dead capital or locked assets, saying “The

status of Lagos State as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, several business transactions are done outside the formal economic structure in what is otherwise termed the informal sector or shadow economy which has been found to be quite massive in size in the state. This scenario leaves much to be desired in terms of the ability of operators in this sector to leverage on their assets for the creation of the much needed capital essential for the growth and expansion of their businesses.”

Meanwhile, she insisted that in spite of the terror alert on Lagos, issued by the United States of America, USA Consul-General, it had no effect on business activities in the state.

The US Consul-General in Lagos had on May 2nd, 2014 warned her citizens in the country or those coming in to stay off some states and also alerted that some groups associated with terrorism allegedly planned to carry out an unspecified attacks against Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

Also, speaking on the ongoing

Chibok abduction: Falana declares president's wife’s panel illegal BYABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE JACKETS: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle) helping a beneficiary to put on a life jacket during the distribution of 2,000 life Jackets to boat operators and passengers as part of Lagos State Water Transportation Safety Awareness Program at the Ebute-Ojo Jetty, Lagos organized by the Ministries of Rural Development and Transportation in conjunction with Lagos State Waterways Authority yesterday. With him are: Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (2nd left), Manager Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Yinka Marinho (left) and others.

Labour pickets Eko DISCO over tariff manipulation, others BYVICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG & WILLIAM JIMOH

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AGOS—ORGANISED Labour and its civil society allies yesterday crippled activities at the Marina headquarters of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, over alleged extortion of consumers through manipulation of tariff among others.

Other grievances include deunionsation of workers, victimisation of unionists and labour leaders.

Coordinated by Lagos and Ogun State Councils of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, they decried the epileptic power supply, crazy and estimate bills, fixed charges and other alleged extortionist practice of the management of EKEDC. They displayed placards with inscriptions such as, “Investors in power sector should stop exploitation of Nigerians”, “You cannot dictate to Nigerian labour”, “Senate stop power privatisation”, “PHCN retirees: pay us our gratuities now, stop trading

with it”, “Retirees are senior citizens, please respect them”, among others.

Addressing the protesters, Lagos NLC Chairman, Mr. Idowu Adewale, said “Workers should be allowed to belong to any association of their choice.

There are issues such as

epileptic power supply, electricity tariffs, estimate bill, fixed charges that the administration should be more concerned about.

Most of the people that are working here before privatisation belong to the union, the workers are given six months probation and how do you expect them to indicate if they will belong to the union. It is a way to cripple the union."

AGOS—LAGOS Lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday said the panel of inquiry allegedly set up by the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan over the missing 231 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

To this end, he said the panel should immediately be disbanded without any further delay.

Falana, who urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to trivialise the abduction of the innocent girls "in the interest of our collective sensibility and public morality", said the comment credited to 'some people', including the President’s wife, Patience, that “no child was missing”, was “incendiary” and capable of deepening the agony of the abducted children’s parents.

He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan should ensure that the abduction of the innocent girls is not further trivialised in the interest of our collective sensibility and public morality.”

PENGASSAN wants easy access to pension

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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ETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, yesterday called for a less cumbersome and stringent access to pension contribution by workers, especially those who lost their jobs prematurely under the contribution pension scheme, CPS. General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Mr Bayo Olowoshile, who spoke in Lagos, insisted that “The law as it stands today, a worker can only access his pension contribution when he is 60 years old.”

Olowoshile, who spoke at the 2014 Punuka Annual Lecture,

organised by the law firm of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, noted that amending the Pension Law would enable people who had lost their jobs to access their pension contributions, even when not up to 60 years old, to cushion the effect of their job loss.

Lawyers and other labour leaders, who spoke at the lecture, also called for a review of Nigeria’s employment laws to protect workers, noting that the laws today did not adequately protect employees, particularly where a company became insolvent.

The review of the law, according to them, was to prevent situations where companies sack workers without paying them

adequate compensation merely because the companies had gone under.

Speakers at the lecture included retired Supreme Court justice, Justice George Oguntade, who chaired the event; Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and acting DirectorGeneral, National Pension Commission, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.

Other labour experts, who spoke, included, Prof Chioma Agomo of the University of Lagos; Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Prof Andre Boraine and chairman of the Lagos Branch of PENGASSAN, Rev. Folorunso Oginni, among others.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—11

Ogun APC crisis: Osoba breaks silence, sympathises with Amosun

Ex-Osun PDP Chairman declares as LP guber aspirant

...Rules out defection to PDP, LP; Denies begging for money

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

BY SEGUN OLATUNJI & DAUD OLATUNJI

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A

BEOKUTA—THE former governor of Ogun State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Olusegun Osoba yesterday broke his long silence on the crisis rocking the ruling party in the state since the conduct of parallel congresses by the two major factions.

Osoba, who returned from his over one week trip to London at about 4:00am yesterday, spoke for the first time since the parallel congresses held recently by Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s faction on the one hand and the supporters of the members of the National Assembly believed to be loyal to the APC national leader on the other hand produced factional executives at the ward, local government and state levels of the party.

Osoba, who addressed his loyalists in Abeokuta residence, raised alarm that the 2003 plot to ‘destroy ’ him has been resuscitated.

He alleged that the ongoing crisis in the APC in Ogun was a mere replay of the events that occurred in 2003 but which he had decided to “forgive and forget” as a Christian and an elder.

FIBAN: From right —Hon Adijat Oladapo, Hon Zakari Mohammed, Chairman House of Reps Committee on Media, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, President, Women Arise initiative and DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, PPRO, Ogun State Police Command during the FIBAN, Ogun State Chapter 'A Day with the Trailblazers', held at Iwe-Iroyin Hall, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta yesterday. Photo by Wumi Akinola.

Disclosing that he had begun a “new political engineering”, he vowed that he would henceforth relocate to the state to lead party members loyal to him in their struggle for the soul of the APC in the state.

The APC national leader, while addressing thousands of party members who had thronged his expansive residence at the GRA, Ibara, Abeokuta for a consultative forum, also stressed that his loyalists would not leave the ruling APC in the state for any other party.

Rather, Osoba vowed that he

would lead them to victory in the current battle going on in the APC in Ogun State.

He added that his loyalists should not entertain fears as he was agile and healthy enough to ensure that they were not denied their rights in the party.

The APC national leader, who spoke in an admixture of Yoruba and English also assured them that nobody would force them to defect from the ruling party to any other party.

“Some now call me a beggar.

Somebody wrote in The Nation that I’m making demands on the Ogun State Government.

Should he not have asked about my own side of the story? Even if they gave me money, can that pay enough for all what we did?

It’s my goodwill and good names that I used to campaign.

Now they said they have bought Osoba and he can no longer talk.

But now, that mouth has been unlocked. If they say I’m a beggar, I thank God I’m no

longer begging. They should hold on to their money.

Throughout Daniel’s eight years, I did not die, did I? “They have been raining abuses on me that I’ve been bought. I say how much can they pay us back for all the troubles we went through in 2007.

Leave them, let them keep abusing me,” Osoba added.

The APC national leader whose speech was intermittently punctuated by the evergreen songs of prominent musicians such as King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Haruna Ishola laced with proverbs and anecdotes and blaring from huge loudspeakers strategically located within the compound, said in his relationships with virtually all the country’s leaders from General Murtala Muhammed to President Goodluck Jonathan he had never been given such a disrespectful treatment as he was now getting from the Governor Amosun’s camp.

Ogun APC, LP clash over road, secretariat

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

B E O K U T A — PANDEMONIUM broke out, yesterday in Sagamu, when supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, and Labour Party, LP, clashed over a road construction and secretariat.

Vanguard gathered that at least three persons sustained injury during the clash, which was reportedly caused as a result of attempt to stop rehabilitation works on a community road in Legunsen Community in Sagamu.

The Labour Party also accused the APC in Sagamu of taking over its Secretariat, claiming that the secretariat had been repainted in APC colours.

Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Deji Kalejaiye lamented that agents of the Sagamu Local

Government attacked the contractors and the Labour Party members and beat them to stupor.

He said the APC supporters also vandalised vehicles belonging to the contractors as well as their equipment.

According to him, "the community road, which is in a deplorable state and has been impassable for several months due to its inexplicable neglect by the APC-controlled government was being rehabilitated when the APC agents stopped the works, attacked the people and vandalised the equipment.

“In another development, the agents of the All Progressive Congress in Sagamu has also sealed off the offices of the Labour Party and repainted it their (APC) party ’s colours. They also threatened to maim and kill our members. The case has however, been reported at the Sagamu Police Station."

SOGBO—A former Chairman of PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has declared his intention to run for the governorship election in the state on the platform of Labour Party, LP. Akinbade, who made the declaration yesterday in Osogbo, said his aspiration would be guided by the party manifesto on the development of the state.

He listed mechanised farming, industrialisation, restoration of middle class, expansion and development of infrastructure and mining as some of his agenda toward transformating the state.

His other programmes include human capital development, tourism development and building an egalitarian society.

“I am resolved to work towards the goal of providing quality leadership that will work tenaciously to bring about the required development and give our people a new lease of life, he said.

Pa Samuel Abioye is dead

P

A Samuel Oyetunji Abioye is dead. He was aged 91.

He is survived by his children, among who is the Nigerian Airforce Logistic Command Public Relations Officer, Squadron Leader Joel Abioye.

Christian wake, according to the family, holds today at his residence, Ogo Oluwa House, Olunloyo Akarab road, Ibadan. Interment is tomorrow at Oyelegbin village, Pade, Ibadan, with an outing service at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Afa Atipe Ibadan.

.Late Pa Abioye

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

51 houses burnt, scores displaced in Delta over land tussle

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—AT least 51 houses have been razed and scores of persons displaced in Ibrede, a fishing community in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area, Delta State, in renewed hostilities following a land dispute between the community and Ugbo family.

It was gathered that some buildings were destroyed and some persons left with varying degrees of machete injuries on January 29, over the land which is said to be over 228,000 hectares and comprising of over 100 fish ponds, 20 lakes, several brooks and Agip pipeline running through.

Speaking with the Vanguard on the incident, President General of the community, Mr. Finbarrs Onomerike, said tension in “the dispute was put to an end when the Ugbo took the matter to court. However, there was this committee set up by Prof. Emiri, who intervened in the matter and there was an amicable and out of court resolution of the matter which everybody supported.

“There was relative peace until April 30, when a son of the Ugbo family, stormed the community with four vehicles loaded with police officers and started raiding the community youths. They harassed the people. On their way, they arrested the traditional ruler of the community, HRM J.B Iliromah, who was on his way to hospital for treatment and took him to Asaba.

“Having arrested the monarch, the Ugbo family members were jubilating, and at this point, a serious pandemonium had broken out in the community while miscreants took advantage to the situation to loot and burn houses at will.”

He accused the police, the Chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government Area and the member representing Ndokwa East constituency in the state House of Assembly of bias in the handling of the matter.

On his part, the President General of the Ugbo family, said that the land belonged to his family, adding that “all these years, gen-

eration after generation, to the seventh generation, have been enjoying this land and we have not had any problem with Ibrede community.”

Disclosing that his family had been taking one third and the Ibrede community, two third of the fishing proceeds, he alleged that the crisis was as a result of a declaration by the community’s President General, at the community’s conference “that my family no longer has any part of the land, and that it is now a community land.

“On January 21, this year, we wrote a letter to the local

government chairman, who called a security council meeting where parties were invited and a decision was reached that nobody should go into the place for now pending a peaceful resolution. Four days later, the President General and some others breached the agreement again and took people there to fish in several fishing ponds. The security agents and the chairman of the council said that since they had breached the agreement, the security meeting he and the others were invited and they were detained.”

LIGHTING UP EDO STATE: From left: Mr. Austin Avuru, CEO of Seplat Petroleum Development Company; Governor Adams Oshiomole, of Edo State and Dr. David Ladipo, Managing Director of Azura, after the agreement signing ceremony for the Aura-Edo $1 billion 450MW gas turbine power project, in Abuja.

Edo APC decampees desperate over 2016 guber —Party leaders

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—LEADERS of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, yesterday, reacted to the resignation of some members of the party, saying that those who resigned their membership of the party were desperate for power ahead of the 2016 governorship election.

The group loyal to the former South-South ViceChairman of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, resigned their membership of the party, Monday, citing alleged refusal by the leadership of the party in the state to cancel the ward and council congresses which they described as flawed.

However, two former chairmen of Egor Local Government Area and chieftains of APC, Mr. Crosby Eribo, John Akhigbe and other leaders of the party from Etsako Central Local Government Area, said that the resignation of the members was hasty, insisting

that they may have made up their minds to leave the party long ago.

“It is all about 2016 which is still too far. This is desperation.

The truth is that some of the demands made by the aggrieved members were just ridiculous. How can you ask a governor to sack some of his

aids and cancel the entire congresses and the next thing you do is fly to Abuja to negotiate with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and you claim you wanted to remain in the party. That is not true.

“That is why we said that their resignation is more for personal interest, and not for

the interest of the party. If it was for the party, they would have consulted widely without being in a rush. Where on earth will you give a governor ultimatum to sack his close aids and he will listen to you? You will recall that APC national leadership gave the governors the structure of the party in their states."

Amaechi abandoned Rivers delegates in Abuja —Osuoka According to Osuoka, govBY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT: A DELEGATE from Rivers State at the ongoing national confab, Mr. Isaac Osuaka, has accused Governor Chibuike Amaechi of abandoning conferees from the state at the confab because of his political difference with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Osuoka, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, at a forum tagged Niger Delta consultative meeting with delegates to the national confab, said it was sad that conferees

from the state had no support secretariat set up by the state government to assist them with intellectual materials.

He said: “The governor of Rivers State has abandoned the state's delegates to the national conference. He has taken personal political fight to such a ridiculous extent that we don't have a Rivers State secretariat at the confab. Other governors are supporting their states delegates in Abuja with a secretariat.”

ernors of political parties that kicked against the confab at the begining were supporting their conferees with experts in various fields to ensure they canvassed very strong positions in the conference for the benefit of their people.

Continuing, Osuoka said they were working to see that the Land Use Act was expunged from the constitution. According to him, the Land Use Act was of concern to various sections of the country.

2015: ODM takes Ogoni guber project to grassroots

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O ensure that Ogonis produce the governor of Rivers State come 2015, the Ogoni Democratic Movement, ODM, has taken its campaign to the grassroots with the inauguration of local government chapters of the movement across Ogoniland.

ODM, which consists of Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai Local Government Areas, with the slogan Ogoni for Governor, started the process with the inauguration of the Gokana chapter in Kpor, headquarters of Gokana council.

Speaking at the event, President-General of ODM, Mr. Godwin Bazari, said the group's assignment was to awaken the spirit of Ogonis towards producing a successor to Governor Rotimi Amaechi come 2015.

To strengthen the process, Bazari said the group was embarking on door to door mobilisation of Ogonis and other ethnic groups in the state to support their quest.

“Our assignment is to awaken the spirit of the people to realise the objective of an Ogoni governor come 2015. We are here to mobilise our people from door to door for this project," he said.

Osanebi passes on at 81

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GBUEFI Benedict Osanebi of Beneku, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State is dead, aged 81. A statement by Mr. Osanebi, Chief Whip, Delta State House of Assembly, said Ogbuefi Osanebi died in India where he was flown to for surgery. He said burial arrangement will be released in due course.

Late Ogbuefi Osanebi

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 13

Edo women groups protest abduction of school girls in Borno

Amaechi blames Boko Haram insurgency on poverty

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ORT HARCOURT—GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has blamed poverty for the challenges of insecurity facing the North and other parts of the country.

The governor, who spoke when he played host to the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, said his administration tackled the challenges of militancy in the state with the creation of empowerment programmes.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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VISIT: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (right) and Senator Olugbenga Obadara, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.

Anambra LG tribunal upholds Okonkwo's election T

HE Anambra State Local Government Council Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Mr. Cosmas Okonkwo, candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as chairman of Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

The tribunal dismissed the petition of Mr. ThankGod Anago of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who had challenged the election of Okonkwo as Chairman of Awka North council.

Anago had dragged Okonkwo alongside Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, Electoral Returning Officer and Returning Officer of Awka North council before the tribunal.

“The burden of proof that the election did not hold because materials were returned to Awka when they were not distributed at the council headquarter, Achalla, was on the petitioner who will fail if facts pleaded were not proved. The respondent pleaded and testified that the materials were never returned to Awka but were duly distributed and used in the election.

“Failure on the part of the petitioner to call these people or explain their absence satisfactorily and his failure to tender the video coverage or the channels broadcast which would have graphically shown the return of the materials to Awka dealt a big blow to the case of the petitioner “The respondents led evidence unchallenged that materials were distributed, used in the elections and results generated from the polling units. The respondents tendered the ward collated results from all the polling units and the wards.

“These results were admitted in evidence and were not challenged. There is the presumption of regularity and correctness of

results declared by ANSIEC. One point which is very worrisome is the absence of the scores polled by the petitioner in the final result of the election.

"In all the results from the wards the petitioner scored votes in all the polling units. In Exh. Dl5, the petitioner was not given a vote yet ANSIEC said the 4th respondent scored majority of lawful votes at the election. It would have been easy to know who scored the majority of lawful votes if the votes of the petitioner were shown on Exh D1S. This is a grave error on the part of ANSIEC. “DW1 was the electoral Officer for the local government, who testified that materials were distributed. She tendered Exh. D15.

When she was asked whether the election was contested, she said yes and when she was confronted with the fact that the scores of the petitioner were not entered in Exh. D15, this witness said that his scores were not entered because his party, PDP, withdrew from the election. This was a grievous mistake from the ANSIEC because majority of lawful votes connotes that there are two votes, a majority one and a minority one.

Results

"However, Exh. D1-D14 are results from the polling units entered into the ward collated results. The documents having been tendered in the proceedings the tribunal in exercise of its ju-

dicial powers, collated the results which are as follows: 1. Petitioner: Anago - 3,169 2. Okonkwo scored 15,410 votes From the above collation, the 4th respondent scored the majority of lawful votes at the election.

The evidence of the petition on the allegations in the petition are not credible starting from the pleadings up to the evidence of the very important witness, the petitioner. The failure of the petitioner to call Hon K. C. Enemuo, and others, who followed him to return the materials to Awka and failure to provide the graphic evidence in proof of the facts pleaded which would have enabled the tribunal to come to a conclusion that there was no distribution of materials from the council headquarters,

Achalla questioned the allegations on the petition and rendered them not proved.

"In the final analysis, the petitioner has failed to prove his case. The petition fails and is hereby dismissed.”

ENIN—AS protests continue in the country against the abduction of secondary school girls in Borno State, various women groups in Benin, Edo State, have called for the girls' release, wondering why modern technologies have not been deployed to quell the insurgency in parts of the country.

The groups, Widows Association, Brave Heart Initiative, Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations, CONGOS and several others, marched round the streets of Benin City to press home their demand for the release of the kidnapped school girls, yesterday.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

NAUTH, Nnewi needs N2.5bn —Board

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — THE Board of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State, needs N2.5 billion to further develop the health institution.

Chairman of the board, Professor Ivara Essien, who disclosed this, yesterday, also said it was desirous of relocating the institution to its permanent site, located between Ozoubulu and Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government areas.

According to him, the board is appealing to the Federal Government to release the institution’s take-off grant to enable it develop.

Professor Essien, who spoke after the maiden convocation ceremony of the institution's School of Nursing, said the N2.5 billion would enable the institution carry out some of the projects preparatory to relocating to the permanent site.

“We are continuing our request and pressure on the Federal Government, at least, to release the take-off grant which was never released to the institution to enable us accelerate the pace of development in the institution for its movement to the permanent site.

“The board needs at least the sum of N2.5 billion to start the major works it needs to do in the institution, that the sum cannot finish the projects that need to be carried out there, but at least, to achieve something meaningful there.”

“The board is trying to complete the fencing of the land to avoid encroachment as was done by people and communities before his administration, just as it is building the gates, the major gate house, the roads that will lead from one department to the others and other projects to ensure that the movement becomes successful,” Prof. Essien said.

He disclosed that the board was discussing with the town unions of the host communities to let their people see the need to invest in the institution’s infrastructure development that would be named after them.

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1m voters to receive permanent cards in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU — THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said over one million voters were expected to participate in the upcoming distribution of permanent voters cards, PVCs, and continuous voters’ registration, CVR, in Enugu State.

The exercise would be conducted in 621 polling units in the state due to incomplete data.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Enugu State, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Enugu, said that apart from incomplete data, there were also other reasons that rendered registration in the 621 polling

units invalid.

He said details of the affected units in each local government area could be ascertained and accessed by members of the public during the display of voters list as scheduled.

He urged those who were not up to 18 years in 2011 during the last exercise to take advantage of the current one to register.

BRIEFING: From left, Acting HOD, Voters Register/Information Communication Tech., Engr. Nnaji Chukwuemeka; Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, Dr. Fidelis Uguru, HOD Operations, and INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Enugu State, during press briefing by INEC Enugu State, on the upcoming distribution of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, and the continuous voters registratio.

Ndigbo Lagos mourns Justice Chukwudifu Oputa A

GROUP, Ndigbo Lagos, has expressed sadness over the death of reverred jurist, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

The group in a tribute issued in Lagos, yesterday, said: Ndigbo learnt with sadness and total submission to the will of the Almighty, the passing on to glory of one of the most revered jurists of our time, a great Nigerian, and a highly regarded son of Igbo land,

Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

“An eminent jurist of the first order, Justice Oputa’s contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence, in his time, was unequalled.

“His judgments, remembered for their clarity, logic and philosophical underpinnings affectionately earned him the sobriquet, 'Socrates of the Nigerian Supreme Court.’

“Many more Nigerians will remember him for the brilliance

of his chairmanship of the 1999 – 2002 Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations otherwise, known as the Oputa Panel.

“His frontline prominence in promoting peace, harmony and development in Igboland since his retirement from the bench, earned him the admiration of Ndigbo and confirmed his place in history. He will be deeply missed.”

Customs urges oil companies to key into trade hub

BY IFEYINWA OBI in Houston

T

HE NIGERIA Customs Service has called on oil companies operating in the country, to key into the Nigeria Trade Hub NTH, saying that the application will generate and facilitate lawful trade and statistics.

The Nigeria Trade Hub is an application created by the Customs Service to make import and export procedures easier and also facilitate trade.

The Assistant Comptroller General of Custom, Mr. Austin Warikoru, who spoke to Vanguard in Houston, USA at the on-going Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, said the Customs needs the collaboration of all the stakeholders, especially those in the oil sector to generate lawful trade statistics and make it easy for those who want

to do business in Nigeria.

He pointed out that the application will help investors to assess what the Customs does and also avail them with data they may need.

“We need the collaboration of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, businessmen and all stakeholders.

"The Nigeria Customs developed two new application for investors and all those doing business in and outside Nigeria. Our purpose for coming to OTC is because we need to showcase this application to all stakeholders and investors.

"The word needs statistics even in oil and gas. The trade hub is built out of our hard work as well the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR. All these were developed by us. We created the platform and the applications.

"The intension of the service is

to assist traders, not just Nigerians, but internationally. The modern customs is charged with generating and facilitating lawful trade and statistics.”

Warikoru disclosed that Customs participation in the OTC is to meet with the chief executives of the oil companies and sensitise them on the need, importance and benefit of keying into the hub.

Azubuike disclosed that the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards would run from May 2325, 2014, adding that the exercise would take place in all the polling units in Enugu State.

According to him, the exercise will take place between 8a.m. and 4p.m. each day, advising all those who registered during the 2010/ 2011 registration exercise in the state to visit the polling units where they registered to collect their PVCs. The Resident Electoral Commissioner advised those who fell within any of aforementioned categories and were desirous of registering to participate in future elections to avail themselves of the unique opportunity. ”A total of 621 polling units in Enugu State have been targeted for fresh registration due to incomplete data and other reasons that have rendered registration in those units invalid.

“Details of the affected units in each local government area can be ascertained and accessed by members of the public during the display of the voters list as scheduled.

“In other words, all those who fall within any of the aforementioned categories and who are desirous of registering to participate in future elections are advised to avail themselves of this unique opportunity to do so,” he stated.

He averred that INEC had concluded arrangements to commence the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, to registered voters, adding that Enugu State is one of the ten states in the first phase where the exercises had been scheduled to commence.

He reminded registered voters that they needed to take the Temporary Voters Cards in their possession to the polling units as they would be tendered before the collection of the permanent cards.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 15

PASTOR BROWN OYITSO'S 60TH BIRTHDAY/THANKSGIVING SERVICE

From left, Pastor Helen Oyitso, celebrant's wife; Pastor Brown Oyitso, celebrant; Pastor Folu Adeboye, wife of General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG; Pastor Funso Odesola, and Pastor Funso Odesola, Assistant Genera Overseer, RCCG, during the 60th Birthday Thanksgiving Service of Pastor Brown Oyitso, Pastor of RCCG, Lagos Province-23, Maranatha Chapel, Gbagada, Lagos, at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos Island. Photos: Bunmi Azeez

From left, Mr. Ejiro Oyitso, celebrant's son, Pastor Brown Oyitso, his wife, Pastor Helen, and Mr. Efe Oyitso, son.

Pastor Brown Oyitso, and his wife, Pastor Helen, cutting the birthday cake.

From left, Pastor Adebowale Ukaiwe, Pastor Austin Ukaiwe, Prof. Yemi Osibajo and Mrs. Dolapo Osibajo.

From left, Pastor J.T. Kalejaye and his wife.

Mr. Felix Ohiwerie, and his wife

From left: Dr. Erastus Akingbola and Mr. Jimi Shotunde

Mrs.Yemi Adenuga, and Mr. Deji Adenuga

Mr. Akpomedaye Isaac Ogilo, former deputy controller of Customs, and his wife.

Mr. Akpomedaye Isaac Ogilo, former deputy controller of Custom and his wife

Pastor and Pastor [Mrs] Shyngle Wigwe.

From lef, Pastor Leke Sanusi, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, Pastor Wale Olatoyinbo, and Justice Niyi Kolawole

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

OPENING OF WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AFRICA, WEFA, IN ABUJA

John-Francois van Boxmeer, Chairman of Executive Board/CEO, Heineken International (right) and President Goodluck Jonathan at the opening of the 42nd World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja, yesterday.

Senegalese President Mackysall (left) and Nigeria's Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the event.

From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr Godknows Igali; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha and Chief Executive Officer, Standard Bank Group, Mr. Sim Tshabalala during the Power Forum Breakfast at the World Economic Forum in Abuja, yesterday.

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha (left), and the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.

Chinese delegation.

From left: Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Atedo Peterside; UNIDO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa and Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakili during the Power Forum Breakfast at the World Economic Forum in Abuja, yesterday.

From left: Governor Babangida Aliyu Muazu of Niger State; Hajia Bola Shagaya and Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Serah Alade.

From left: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; ThisDay Newspapers Publisher, Mr Nduka Obaigbena; Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 —17

T

HE abduction of 230 girls from their school in Chibok, Borno State, has shocked Nigerians and made headlines all over the world.

On Wednesday, hundreds of anguished, angry and mostly female protestors took to the streets of Abuja, chanting and brandishing placards.

The heart-rending requests and poignant questions on their placards included: “Where Are Our Sisters?”,“PleaseFindOurDaughters”,“LetPeaceReign”,“CanAnyone Hear Me?”, “Please Protect Us” and “Please Do Something”.

One of the leaders of this laudable and necessary demonstration was Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education. She stood shoulder-to-shoulder, like the Amazon she is, with the demonstrators…and joined them as they marched to the National Assemblytopresentaletterinwhich thegovernmentwasaccusedofnot doing enough to secure the release of the kidnap victims.

I have often complained, on this page, about the excessive docility of the average Nigerian. I have pointed out, again and again, that our rulers constantly mess up and take us for granted because we don’t demand respect or progress assertively enough and rarely sustain legitimate protests for long.

IsaluteObyandtheotherwomen

*Some women, led by Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, protesting the abduction of 230 school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

Bravo, ladies! tite” and capacity to tackle enemies of the people.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration has acquired a chronic image problem and is facing a major crisis of confidence, both domestically and internationally, because of its under-performance and arrogant, selfish insistence on ignoring public opinion.

I have always said that those who expected Jonathan to eliminate Boko Haram overnight were being extremely unfair, given that sophisticated Western nations have also not curbed terrorism overnight.

,

I salute Oby and the other women who decided to brave bad weather – it was raining – to make their feelings known; I hope they keep up the pressure

who decided to brave bad weather – it was raining – to make their feelings known. I hope they keep up the pressure.

Crisis of confidence: I am in London at the moment and have just watched a really depressing and seriously embarrassing British TV news discussion about the Chibok disaster.

The foreign commentators were appalled that this kind of thing can happen “in this day and age”, sympathised with the helpless parents of the traumatised teenage captives and expressed the view that the Nigerian government and army lack the “appeC M Y K

,

The Americans are still battling with Al Quaeda’s Islamic guerrillas despite their famed military might and their second-tonone global intelligence network.

The Basque Separatist group, ETA, only agreed to a ceasefire this February after waging war on the Spanish state for four whole decades.

When I was growing up in the UK, the Irish Republican Army, IRA, inflicted all manner of outrages on the populace and seemed unstoppable for many years.

The IRA bombed the London Stock Exchange building and a

hotel in which several senior politicians (including the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher) were staying. The IRA maimed and killed indiscriminately and even managed to assassinate Queen Elizabeth’s distinguished cousin, Lord Mountbatten, a decorated naval officer, statesman and former Viceroy of India.

If those who run countries that are more well-equipped on every imaginable level struggle for ages to get rid of violent insurgents, it is hardly surprising that those who run a relatively underdeveloped country like ours have yet to whip Boko Haram – which hasn’t been around for long - into total submission!

However, the Jonathan administration is not completely bereft of skilled security personnel, modern weapons or financial resources…and should be confronting this terrible challenge more dynamically and efficiently. Boko Haram cannot be destroyed tomorrow, but it can be MUCH better controlled.

The Jonathan administration should also be A LOT more caring. It was in SUCH bad taste for the President and his cronies to attend a rally in Kano so soon after the recent Nyanya bus station bomb blast. Worse still, they were seen dancing and grinning. How insensitive can any head of state be?!

•President Goodluck Jonathan Given that he was willing to cancel this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting because his Vice, Sambo, lost his brother, why couldn’t he display a similar level of concern for the ordinary citizens who lost their lives and limbs in Nyanya?

Lives and limbs in Nyanya Meanwhile, Mr President has still not sacked Abba Moro, his widely despised Interior Minister…who should have been officially held responsible for the Immigration Service recruitment debacle that led to several deaths last month.

Jonathan also comes across as being reluctant to punish the massive corruption that is making government agencies like NNPC utterly dysfunctional.

The positive moves Jonathan has made – in the power and agricultural sectors, for example - are overshadowed by multiple lapses and failures.

Even on his home turf - the

Niger Delta – where most folks are instinctively loyal to their “Big Brother”, there is increasing disillusionment. I have encountered many Ijaws, Ogonis, Uhrobos, etc, who used to say that they would definitely vote for Jonathan in 2015, but are now bitterly changing their tune.

Nigeria is not a happy place right now and if Jonathan does not get a grip, become more organised/focused, transform his leadership style and discipline his less savoury sidekicks in the coming months, he will only be able to win the 2015 election by force or by fraud.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 THE abduction of 276 school girls by the Nigerian Islamist insurgency group, Boko Haram on April 15 in Chibok, Borno State, appears to have become the turning point in their savage campaigns of murder and destruction.

The terrorists overplayed their hands when their leader, “Abubakar Shekau” boasted he would “sell” the girls into slavery, even after media reports had it that some of them have been “married” by the insurgents in their hideout.

Barely a few days later, major world powers, including the USA, UK, China, France and others offered to assist in the effort to rescue the girls and bring the Boko Haram menace to an end. British Prime Minister, David Cameron, while outlining the extent of his country’s involvement, described the abduction of the girls as “pure evil”, saying the Boko Haram

A global front against Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has assumed a global threat. President Barack Obama of the US had earlier pledged to send some troops, technical experts and law enforcement teams skilled in intelligence gathering, information sharing, investigations and victims assistance. China, through Prime Minister Li Keqian, expressed his country ’s determination to join the rescue effort and secure the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

We welcome this show of support for Nigeria by the entire people of the world. We appreciate the offer

to assist in the rescue mission and ultimately the elimination of the threats to our nation by the insurgents. It is a great insult and dehumanisation of the mankind family for an outlaw group to brazenly threaten to “sell” schoolgirls into slavery even after forcing them to become sex slaves in the jungle, in this modern era, long after the abolition of slavery.

It is a serious affront to our collective sensibilities.

It is a pity that the insurgency, which started as a rag-tag affair in 2009, has been handled so sloppily, with political considerations

taking precedence over the duties of government to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians. Our political leaders failed in their duties. They chose to cling to power or seek to take over power by all means rather than taking on threat head-on, thus allowing a minor infection to become a lifethreatening affliction.

The world needs to understand that the Islamists see the North East of Nigeria as a fertile ground to plant their dream Sahelistan Caliphate. They are mustering fighters from sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. They have even acquired armoured tanks, with which they sacked Gamboru Ngala within the past week.

We must cooperate with our foreign allies and tap form their wealth of experience and technology, putting aside our differences and leading the way in the deployment of troops to bring this menace to an early end.

OPINION Abducted girls and the recalcitrance of North-East governors

BY JOSEPHINE BABATUNDE

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N the last few weeks, the issue of the abduction of nearly 200 students of a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State has been largely politicised. Rarely are the real mothers of the girls seen these days on television as some really concerned women and opportunists have taken the centre stage and relishing the attendant publicity, while the parents have been pushed to the background.

But at least some measure of good is coming from the situation as a stakeholders’ meeting by First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has come up with a startling revelation that the recalcitrance of Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State may have inadvertently left the nation with this nauseating situation.

Head of the Nigerian Office of the West African Examination

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Council, WAEC, Charles Eguridu, told the stakeholders gathered with Mrs Jonathan that the ground for the abduction of the girls was laid after its request to the state governments for the relocation of the examination centre was ignored. His story: "When we made that representation (letter) to the three affected states, none of them responded to the honourable minister’s request.

“We followed it up and I directed my zonal coordinator in Borno State in particular, to liaise with the Ministry of Education in Borno State, and the response we got was so disheartening. We were told that they had security in place for the candidates and that we should come and conduct the examination in the schools and that they were not ready to relocate their students from Chibok and other areas to Maiduguri or nearby locations where security agencies could provide security.

“They said if we failed to conduct the examinations, the world would blame us. And so

at great risk, my officers went to Chibok and conducted the examinations.

After the unfortunate incident in which the students were said to have been abducted, our staff now got a response from the state that they were then ready to relocate the remaining students to another place called Ubah. And, as I speak, 189 candidates are continuing with the examination in Ubah."

While the most important move now is to get our daughters back home to us, away from the wicked and ravenous wolves that keep them, it is about time someone told the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of these three states that while they may choose to play politics over other matters, they should not do it at the risk of the lives of our children. In addition, political gymnastics with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, controlled Federal Government may be acceptable in some circumstances, but playing politics with a sub-regional agency is the basest of political

behaviour. See where it has led the state government. And who is to say the Borno State government is not to blame?

While this is not the best of times for blame-sharing, it has become increasingly clear that the Federal Government should cease wanting to do what is politically correct and impose full and comprehensive emergency rule in the three states of the North East, more so when the governors are intemperate.

Away from irresponsible leaders, the Federal Government should bring to bear its mighty weight upon the French-colonised countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad. A few oil deals the way of France may work the wonders that is required to bend France over backwards, while a strong message is delivered to these countries like General Muhammadu Buhari did in the early 80s when a similar group toyed with our territorial integrity. That bloody nose still remains fresh in the mind of our neighbours and a

reiteration of our capacity to do it on a larger scale is needed at this time so that enemies without and within will know better not to mess with the Federal Government.

Still on the matter of the kidnapped girls, it is a wonder that those who claim to be our international friends with all the technology in space were oblivious of the movement of the fanatics who moved around and captured 200 girls and redistributed them across countries as it has been claimed in some quarters. Friends, indeed!

Also, while contributing to debates on the floor of the National Assembly, lawmakers regaled the nation with the activities of the socalled Boko Haram operatives, including how they were marrying the abducted girls. It makes you wonder how they know so much so soon.

Moreover, how come our daughters are escaping from the insurgents when it appears the army is helpless. So, what exactly is going on in Borno State? *Mrs. Babatunde,a public affairs commentator, wrote Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014— —19

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N 2010, people thought that Boko Haram was targeting only Christians and Igbo people. But the terror group quickly caught them unawares as it started killing all and sundry.They are now spreading like a hot virus, and America reportedly has added their voice to warn of the possibility of the virus hitting Lagos! My initial reaction was to brush the American warning away. After all, they predicted that our country may not remain together after 2015.But if that prophecy must fall to the ground, we must also begin to work against the enemy, prayerfully. We must therefore not let the bombings and violence of Boko Haram spread to the South of Nigeria.

Southern governors must form a network to fish out suspects and send them away like the pests they are. The main message from Boko Haram appears to be that if they can kill and maim their own fellow Northerners as they are now doing, it will be complete annihilation for the Southerners. Theywant us all to run, and run very fast from the North. The Igbos seem to be their ultimate target. Without any disrespect to other equally, if not more industrious tribes like the Yoruba and those in the SouthSouth, the Igbos are the only homogenously Christian major

tribe, with high property ownership values across the nation, from Kano to Maiduguri and from Benue to Sokoto.They are the ones who make money and develop other states. They have been killed in hundreds during many religious and ethnic crises in the North since 1980 without any consequences.

For over 51 years of our independence, Igbos have ruled Nigeria for only three years.They were massacred in 1966, and in response they seceded from Nigeria but were conquered and then allowed to remain.They will roduce the President, come 2019.

It seems that some people are now regretting why they did not wipe out the Igbos after the 1970 defeat.Those people may be planning another pogrom, and Governor MurtalaNyako has begun the process. He has sown the seed by calling on the youth of the North to rise-up in hatred of Igbos. The Igbos remain the main glue that holds this nation through their ubiquitous presence across the states of Nigeria. The belief is that if they are chased away, Nigeria will crumble, while indigenes will get free properties as a reward. It has happened before without compensation. Some leaders, especially in the North, seem to

It is becoming increasingly clear to the North that GEJ is the only one who can keep Nigeria together today, and will remain till 2019; so their fight is to possibly pull down the place

be nurturing this type of ideas which will undermine the unity of this nation.The papers they circulate at the ongoing National Conference asking for land in place of oil, establish this reasoning by the North.When the Lamido of Adamawa said he would rather join his kith and kin in the Cameroon, he was talking to Igbos and the SouthSoutherners who do not seem to have where to run to. He was not talking to the Yorubas because they have the Republic of Benin.

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he North, so far, seems to be committed mainly to sharing oil money and resisting the cause of the Igbo people at the

AUN 6th commencement and E-learning focus

BY NELLY ATING

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SSUES bordering on education, economic development and empowermentwill dominate the agenda on Saturday May 10 when the American University of Nigeria holds her 6th Commencement. President Margee Ensign, one of the resource persons at the World Economic Forum in Abuja, which holds two days before the graduation ceremony, will lead faculty members, diplomats, students, parents, dignitaries and community, religious and business leaders in Adamawa State to deliberate on how to leverage on Nigeria’s huge human and natural endowments to win the national war against poverty and illiteracy.

A major highlight of the May 10 Commencement will be the dedication of the university’s award-winning library, which is now named after the late former United States National Security Adviser and pioneer AUN Board of Trustees member, Dr. Robert Pastor.The new library building is a revolutionary concept in multifunctional deployment of e-resources and maximum use of space—a concept which may influence a radical paradigm change in library development in Nigerian universities in the near future.

Dr. Pastor, who served the administration of President Jimmy Carter as NSA and later became a Senior Fellow at the Carter Center, is credited with establishing programme in election monitoring in Latin America and China. He authored 17 books on US foreign policy in his lifetime. In his tribute to the late board member, AUN Founder Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said of Dr. Pastor: “He trusted in my dream and vision for the American University of Nigeria, and worked with total dedication till the end.”

The new Dr. Robert A. Pastor Library and

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E-Learning Center is a three-storey high broadband wi-fi complex featuring a 224seat auditorium, lecture halls, classrooms, a 24-hour library facility, reading rooms, state-of-the-art radio and television studios for community broadcast services, a traditionally fitted sit-out named the Yola room and the Atiku Abubakar Leadership and Business Development Center.

According to Alex Cobo, an engineer and Director of Facilities at AUN and the brain behind the design and construction of the new library, it will “play an important role in AUN’s mission to promote service learning and educate leaders who will be prepared to tackle the development issues of Nigeria”.

Many scholars have argued that Nigeria and other developing countries need to leverage on e-learning resources to bridge the widening gap in education services.

The World Bank estimates that more than 10million school age kids are out of school in Nigeria. Despite the growing number of public and private universities and other tertiary institutions in the country, a large army of young people denied access to education continues to mount.An average of 1.5 million candidates annually sits for university matriculation exam out of which only hundreds of thousands, accounting for roughly 11 percent, make it in the end. A view held by experts, including former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is that technology, especially online and distance learning, is the surest path to increasing literacy. Already AUN is leading in expanding the classroom by its wellthought out e-learning approach. AUN’s excellent ICT infrastructure base and diverse faculty from across 28 countries come in handy in launching the Online & Distance Learning programmes.

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BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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Restrict Boko Haram to nest areas

Conference.

North Eastern leaders, like Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, seem determined to destabilise this country. They now want to move violence to the South as they seem to be succeeding in the Middle Belt.

Southern governors must not just watch as they plot, kill and then point accusing fingers at GEJ in their bid to pre-empt future Igbo Presidency. It is becoming increasingly clear to the North that GEJ is the only one who can keep Nigeria together today,and will remain till 2019; so their fight is to possibly pull down the place.

Boko Haram should be strategically restricted to the North East, far away from the South, till they are wiped out.To this end, the Southern governors should set up structures or task forces to: Pre-empt violence in the Southern states. Pass Laws to allow private investigation and use of information and evidence from such entities in government circles and for subsequent prosecution.

Use agents to monitor all preachings and activities in all churches and mosques, gatherings and meetings in each territory for the next one year. Arm the task forces with means to transmit and report findings backed by giant data base for information accumulation and use same to identify sources of threat to peace and unity of each zone or territory.

Increase supply of personnel and arms to the NSCDC to assist the Police in enforcement of new antiterror plans. Treat all corrupt law enforcement agents as evil to be jailed at all cost. Recruit youths

Despite the growing number of public and private universities and other tertiary institutions in the country, a large army of young people denied access to education continues to mount

,

In the words of Mr. Julius Ayuk-Tabe, Chief Information Officer of the university, “the management of AUN is sparing no effort to ensure that the Online and Distance Learning,ODL, programme takes-off within the best environment. In this regard, a select group of faculty is currently undergoing an online workshop course on “Problem Centered Instruction” with the legendary Professor David Merrill author of First Principles of Instruction on how to develop effective, efficient and engaging instructions. It is also hoped that AUN’s 99.9% e-library will be accessible by students around the country, continent and world to improve their learning”.

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ommencement keynote speech will be delivered by a former White House aide, Ambassador John Simon.

Ambassador Simon, a product of Harvard and Princeton universities,has a vast and rich experience in undertaking development projects.

More than 250 students from four faculties (including Graduate School) will be graduating. In addition, the University will be graduating her first batch of post graduate diploma (PGDM) students on the same day.

President Margee Ensign is confident that the graduating students are sufficiently

massively into the task forces to use the positive force of youths against the negative forces. And train spies in thousands to push massively into the Boko Haram and other terror networks in governments, political parties, the leadership hierarchy in Nigeria,while all mosques in the North East and North West should be treated as breeding grounds for violence until proven otherwise.

If Yorubas will not take this matter serious because they have Muslims among their kith and kin, Igbos should not emulate them. If Northerners will not take the fight against terrorism serious, for their own reasons, Igbos should ignore them. All Southern governors, especially the Igbos, ought to wake up now and plan to stop Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and the jihadists before they creep into the South, especially the South East, because Christianity has become part of the Igbo culture.There is hardly any gathering in the South East where opening and closing prayers are not offered in the name of Jesus.We are surely different and that makes us target of the religious fanatics and their blood thirsty political fathers.

The price of liberty, they say, is eternal vigilance.Let us be vigilant to eliminate terror and related violence from within the Southern zones, and in Igbo land, if others refuse to act. *Mr. Udegbe, a practitioner, wrote Lagos.

legal from

equipped in terms of academic training and orientation to become leaders in business, politics and society. AUN has consistently taken a position that its graduates have a competitive advantage over their counterparts worldwide, because they are trained in the American liberal arts and science tradition, which President Ensign says produces independent thinkers and problem solvers.

Adding more thoughts on the interdisciplinary nature of the American liberal educational system, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Dr. IdorenyinAkpan says it allows a student the opportunity to take general education courses, thereby having basic knowledge in all disciplines, including philosophy, ethics and leadership, public speaking, biology, and chemistry, as this knowledge guides them in the society we live in today.

He reiterated thus on the liberal style of education: “This is a system which exposes students to everything as in a globalised world; today one needs a complete, not a regimented education. What comes out of such a system as AUN are graduates who can think on their feet, lead with fresh ideas, create employment, and also work as problem solvers”.

But how will AUN graduates fare in the larger society, in the job market, in culture and politics. Can they hold their own? Yes, says Professor Linus Osuagwu, Dean of School of Business and Entrepreneurship, who argues that the inclusion of compulsory courses on entrepreneurship for all students of the university gives them the intellectual and practical knowhow for business startup or leadership in paid employment.

The university also forges ahead to help its graduates prepare for the tough job marketby organising the now famous Annual Career Fairs.

Various bluechip local and international companies come to select the best of the best the school has to offer.

*Ms. Ating wrote from the American University of Nigeria.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2013 — 21

750,000 cars shipped through port of Baltimore in 2013

BY GODFREY BIVBERE, who was in Washington

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From left: Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry representing the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment; Mr. Arjan Khemchand Mirchandani, Chairman Sona Group and Mr. Gbenga Ashiru, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ogun State, representing Governor Ibikunle Amosun during the official grand opening ceremony of Shongai Technologies Limited and the Shongai Recycling Plant in Ota, Ogun State.

FG moves to halt industrial disharmony in power sector …Sets up working group on industrial relations

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG T HE Federal Government has set up a Technical Working Group, TWG, to develop operational guidelines on industrial relations for the reformed power sector aimed at establishing a National Joint Industrial Council for the sector.

The guide line, will be empowered with a structure of Collective Bargaining, CB, consistent with global best practices in the sector. Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, who spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of the TWG, said the federal government was committed to ensuring the entrenchment of fair labour practices and

201.0

-1.4

2,919.00

-2.00

17.19

-0.28

107.28 -0.44 99.92

+0.44

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.73 STERLING 260.8903 EURO 214.7343 FRANC 176.3104 YEN 1.518 CFA 0.308 WAUA 239.2928 RENMINBI 24.7725 RIYAL 41.2547 RONA 28.765 SDR 240.0636

155.23 155.73 261.7333 262.5764 215.4282 216.1221 176.8801 177.4499 1.5229 1.5278 0.318 0.328 240.066 240.8393 24.8531 24.9336 41.388 41.5214 28.858 28.9509 240.8393 241.6151

CBN Exchange rate as at 08/05/2014

decent work in the new employment relations arising from the restructuring and privatisation of the power sector in Nigeria.

A statement by Prince Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press, quoted the minister as saying that the task of the TWG was enormous and involved the consideration of all the industrial relations issues inimical to industrial peace.

Wogu charged the TWG to develop operational guidelines on industrial relations for the industry that would ensure the protection of the rights of workers and employers in the workplace.

He explained that the inauguration of the TWG was a follow-up to the mediatory meeting of April 7, 2014, which examined the

grievances and secured the call-off of an industrial action by members of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, at the Jos Distribution Company over nonremittance of check-off dues to the NUEE. Wogu underscored the importance of the task of the TWG in view of the critical place of the power sector in Nigeria’s march towards sustainable economic development and growth, saying “It is pertinent to note that the essence of this occasion is to reflect on the state of industrial relations in the power sector and to chart new ways of ensuring industrial peace and harmony which are critical to the realisation of this administration’s transformation agenda.

World Bank okays $1.189bn facility to boost power generation

By EMMANUELELEBEKE

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he World Bank, IFC and MIGA Board of Executive Directors have approved a $1.189 billion loan package and guarantees to boost power generation in some states in Nigeria.

The loan facility is a series of energy projects that will help boost independent power generation and ease crippling energy shortages in Nigeria.

These projects are a critical element of the World Bank Group Energy Business Plan for Nigeria.

World Bank’s partial risk guarantees approved up to $245 million for the 459megawatt, MW Azura Edo Power Plant near Benin City, Edo State, and another $150 million for the 533-MW Qua Iboe Plant in

Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State. Both plants are gas-fired.

The Boards of IFC and MIGA also approved loans and hedging instruments of $135 million and guarantees $659 million for the Azura Edo project.

Confirming the facility, the Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank, Makhtar Diop, said: “Efficient, affordable and reliable access to electricity is essential for small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria to accelerate job creation.

“I am glad that we were able to support Nigeria’s extensive energy reform programme and provide direct assistance to increase generation capacity by mobilising nearly $ 1.7 billion of private sector financing through a range of instruments.”

he port of Baltimore last year handled a total of 750,000 cars both import and export, the Trade Development officer of Maryland Port Administration, Larry Johnson, has said.

Johnson, who disclosed this in Washington during a tour of a Nigerian delegation of the Port of Baltimore to under study the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facilities Security, ISPS code, said that a result of the value of the goods in the ports and the facilities there, they pay great attention to security.

According to him, “We did 750, 000 cars last year, that include import and export.”

On how much the state which owned the port made from the operation last year, he said “I cannot tell; that I do not know, but I can tell you it is a lot of money because the dollar value of a Mercedes car alone is about $80,000 and Mercedes Benz shipped a lot of cars.”

He said the state of Maryland owns the port through the Maryland Port Administration and leased the land to private firms that build and operate the various terminals.

He noted that the lease period for each of the terminals ranges from five to 10 years, while the security of the waterfront is handled by the United States’ Coast Guard.

“The state of Maryland owns the Port Authority Administration, while private companies operate it. They lease land from us; that is one of the ways the state makes money, through dockage of the ship and landing.

“The US Coast Guard maintains most of the security, makes the rules and regulations and we have to follow. The ports can also make their own rules and regulations. We are very conscious of our security here; we have millions and millions of dollars of automobiles and construction equipment, caterpillar tractors, and bulldozers. These are very expensive piece of equipment,” he said.

He said the total staff strength of the Port of Baltimore is 250, which include the security personnel, but noted that the number excludes the employees of the terminal operators.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Investment: Oduzua urges foreign investors to seek credible local partners

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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From left: Taiwo Sonola, General Secretary; Segun Sanni, President; Kemi Adewole, Vice President, all of the Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria, at the Annual General Meeting of the association, in Lagos.

Gr oup e xpresses concern o Group expresses ovver size of Africa’s por tf olio mar ket portf tfolio mark

By WILLIAM JIMOH

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he Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria, AACN, has expressed concern over the small size of the portfolio market in Africa.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, President of the association, Mr. Segun Sanni, said that portfolio market in Africa currently accounts for $1 trillion out of $120 trillion global portfolio investments.

Sanni added that at present Nigeria accounts for just about $30 billion of the African portfolio market, saying that listing more companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, would attract more investors into the country.

He called for the development of the Nigerian capital market so as to position it to effectively tap from the $120 trillion global portfolio investment market.

According to him, when foreign investors invest in an economy, they boost the economy, the current account position of the country, as well as its foreign reserve position.

His word, “We do not have enough products in the market yet and if they bring their money, it will only be chasing after the little products available, which will eventually increase the price of the shares. We are working with the various market regulators to create more securities that investors can invest in.

“We are trying to make our market more attractive so that they will not think of our market as one where they need to sell down; instead, they will bring in more money. We are not doing them any good by ensuring that they invest in our market, it is a win-win affair. Aside this, it will have a positive impact on our economy.

“We have in the global investment environment, assets worth over $120 trillion under custody and we have just about $1 trillion of that invested in Africa which is not even up to one percent.

“Out of the current capitalisation of the market, foreign investors account for 20 percent compared to an emerging country like Malaysia where they have up to 70 percent.

This shows that there are still abundant opportunities to be tapped in the market,” Sanni said.

Speaking further, he stated that as part of effort to project the Nigerian market in positive light and make

it attractive to these class of investors, the association currently plans a one day conference, tagged “Nigeria: Road to Emergence” to hold later this moth in London.

The conference, which is the third in the series, will bring to a roundtable, the foreign investors, with regulators from Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, stockbrokers, custodians, asset managers, fund managers, trustees among others, to talk about our opportunities and challenges.

HIEF executive Oficer of United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, Mr. Philip Oduzua, has urged businesses and investors from the developed economies, who are desirous of taking advantage of the bourgeoning business and investment opportunities in Africa to seek credible local partners to help them in the process.

Speaking at the panel on pan-African businesses at the recently concluded three-day Milken Global conference in Los Angeles, California, Oduoza said it is imperative for the investors to partner with local players like UBA “that understand the business terrain to help them navigate around some of the seeming challenges of investing in Africa”.

Understanding of the local culture, customization of products and initiatives were identified as critical factors to successfully invest in Africa by the panel which was made up of Phillips Oduoza, UBA GMD/CEO, Berand Petersen, Chairman, De Beers Consolidated Mines in South Africa, Ahmed Heikal of Citadel Group in Egpyt, Pade Durotoye, CEO Oando Exploration and Production Ltd and Jonathan Berman of Dalberg Consulting.

The Panel also called on prospective investors from developed countries to evolve new financial models that will enable them invest in the Ports, transportation and power sectors. The panel also called for more of structured financing and capacity building as well as the need for prospective investors to listen more and dialogue constructively; have more Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) focus more on Africa .

The panel on pan-African businesses discussed how entrepreneurs and industry leaders are harnessing the enormous potentials in Africa to transform the continent in diverse fields like manufacturing, technology, real estate, financial services, infrastructure and agriculture.

Consolidated Breweries reports 12% increase in net profit

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onsolidated Breweries Plc has recorded 12 percent increase in net profit for its 2013 financial year.

The company’s revenue for 2013 amounted to N34 billion while profit after tax increased by 12 percent from N1.103 billion in 2012 to N1.237 billion in 2013.

A statement issued by the company, the chairman, Prof. Oyin Odutola-Olurin, said that recent acquisitions and investments in capacity expansion have positioned the company for future growth and competitiveness.

She expressed confidence in the Nigerian Beer industry, saying that it has potentials for positive growth and developments in the coming years.

Managing Director, Mr. Boudewijn Haarsma, noted that in

spite of increased competition in the value-for-money-segment, Consolidated Breweries Plc sustained its leadership.

To position for the significantly increased competition, the company, according to him, is focusing on increasing the efficiency of its operations and has made additional investments of N6 billion in plants and machinery across its breweries in Nigeria.

While explaining the massive investments the company made in the past two years, he said “If you take the totality of our investment in the last two years, it amounted to about N15 billion. In 2013 alone, N6billion was invested in new equipment, capacity expansion and process standardisation.

“This has created improvements in

our operational efficiency and cost savings.

The impact of these measures, although not yet very visible in our 2013 results, is already manifesting in our performance in the First Quarter of 2014. In quarter one of 2014, we reported very strong volume growth well ahead of the market average”.

In 2013 also, the company effected the merger with Benue Breweries Limited and DIL/Maltex and also divested from Champion Breweries Plc, and these are showing positive results.

While decrying inclement operational environment, Haarsma said, “growth in the beer market stalled over the last two years, following several years with average growth rates of 10 percent. The slowdown in growth was on account of increasing pressure on consumers’ disposable income."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 23

AGRIC: IITA, AGRA seek action on climate change

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

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HE Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, has said that there is need to go beyond rhetoric to action in dealing with negative consequences of climate change on agricultural production and productivity.

While noting that the negative consequences of climate change on agricultural are with us, he said resolutions must be implemented to save West and Central Africa.

Addressing national and international researchers attending a conference on Biotic stresses, climate change and agricultural productionin Cotonou, Bénin, recently, Dr Sanginga noted that the emergence of agricultural pests such as the papaya mealybug was closely linked to climate change “Whatever recommendations we make at this meeting, let’s work towards implementing them,” he said.

The Director General pinpointed to agricultural research and the capacity development of adequate human resources as the critical tools needed to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.

He cited the example of cassava pests (cassava mealybug) in which past research

by IITA and partners had played a critical role in solving the problem and saving the crop from probable extinction in Africa.

The Interim Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Adama Traoré, pledged that his organization would support the implementation of the meeting recommendations, as they would go a long way in addressing agricultural productivity in the region.

Researchers at the conference said the impact of climate change on biodiversity linked to biotic stresses could have a deep impact on agricultural productivity.

For instance, studies suggest that climate change might adversely influence established biological control by curbing natural enemy–pest interactions.

Also, extreme climatic events may affect the benefits provided by living things in the soil ecosystem such as endophytes, rhizobia, and mycorrhiza.

“All these interactions need to be properly assessed and documented to develop and deploy preemptive and adaptation strategies,” said Dr David Arodokoun, the DirecC M Y K

tor General of the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Bénin (INRAB).

In West and Central Africa, most of the current studies targeting the impacts of climate change on agriculture have focused directly on productivity which are crop yields, or indirectly, on livelihoods.

Dr Arodokoun said the regional meeting had brought together researchers working on biotic stresses linked to climate change affecting the region as a first step to take stock of the available human and infrastructural resources.

This, he said, was a starting point for defining a common

was attended by donors and IITA’s board of trustees.

HE President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Jane Karuku, has called for African led solutions to issues of climate change saying that farmers cannot plant on time as the rains are unpredictable and too much attack on crops from pests.

Karuku said this at the meeting convened by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the World Bank in Nairobi, Kenya on the 2014 Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR).

The effects of Climate

ience of farmer ’s to climate change.

The report will focus on five areas: Agriculture and Climate Change in SSA; Agriculture Productivity and Climate Change in SSA; Climate Smart Agriculture for Addressing Food Insecurity and Climate Change; Integrating Climate Smart Agriculture in SSA and Knowledge Management Systems and Education for Resilience Building.

World Bank’s Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, Dr. Ademola Braimoh, who is a specialist on Climate Smart Agriculture, chaired the meeting and said

Change on Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) emerged to be the major focus of the meeting which saw experts from across the agricultural value chain.

At the meeting AGRA President, Jane Karuku, said, “Farmers’ problems are a manifestation of climate change; they cannot plant on time as the rains are unpredictable and too much attack on crops from pests and diseases and unpredictable climate conditions lead to high post-harvest losses.”

The first AASR was released in 2013 and brought together extensive information and data to assist policy makers to develop suitable policies to foster agriculture in Africa.

The 2014 AASR will highlight the importance of addressing climate change to increase African agricultural productivity, improve food security and enhance the resil-

climate smart agriculture, is a practice to help African farmers increase their productivity and enhance their resilience to climate change. “ You cannot eliminate poverty without addressing food insecurity in Africa. To address food insecurity you must address climate change because climate change would affect agriculture.

Business as usual cannot help us met the challenges of the current moment. We need to factor in climate change in our development plan and that is what the 2014 AASR will do,” remarked Dr. Ademola.

The 2014 AASR will be released on 2 September 2014 at the Alliance for a Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The forum will address key issues and inform policy making in a bid to assist African farmers in adapting to the effects and challenges posed by climate change.

T

Spoilt apples

In West and Central Africa, most of the current studies targeting the impacts of climate change on agriculture have focused directly on productivity which are crop yields, or indirectly, on livelihoods

regional strategy for managing biotic stresses and biodiversity under changing climatic conditions.

The regional meeting attracted policymakers and national and international scientists working in the West and Central African region, and

Amosun traces Nigeria’s economic crisis to agriculture neglect

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OVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has said that the roots of economic crisis in Nigeria can be traced to the neglect of Agriculture for oil as the mainstay of our national economy.

Senator Amosun stated this while declaring open the firstever South-West All-Farmers Summit at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta recently.

Represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ibironke Sokefun, he said the neglect has led to a dramatic increase in poverty as the agricultural sector now accounts for less than five percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product GDP. Governor Amosun added that it is in order to arrest this unfortunate situation that the Ogun State government has recognised Agriculture as a veritable tool of wealth creation for its people and the industrialization of the state.

According to him his government has put in place numerous policies and programmes aimed at restoring the sector to its pride of place as encapsulated in its Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

He disclosed that his administration has implement programmes directed at improving the lots of farmers in the state by encouraging them to produce more with the potentials to produce more.”

Some of the programmes he said include provision of one billion naira soft loans to farmers, purchase of numerous land clearing equipment that are hired out to farmers at subsidized rate, promotion of turkey and fish production on a large scale, the construction of a Model Farm Estate at Owowo consisting of 42 Units of modern building situated on 125 hectare of land and the establishment of AGRI-MART amongst several others.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the summit and Ogun-state Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN said the summit was put together for the South West states to have a rethink and trace their steps back to the good old days when agriculture was the mainstay of the region and praised the Ogunstate government for taking the lead.

24— Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Domestic tourism is the way to go for Nigeria —Mbanefo

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

First storey building in Nigeria

,

THE Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, said her visits to the six geo-political zones of the country has revalidated her strong belief that promotion and development of domestic tourism is the way to go .

Mbanefo revealed that after promising stakeholders late last year to focus on domestic tourism that she has been on the road visiting all major attractions to authenticate the existence and status of tourist sites in all the six geopolitical zones and Abuja.

Speaking with this reporter in Lagos after visiting the of Badagry, De Wheno, Aholu Menu-Toyi I in his palace, the NTDC’s boss revealed that she has visited about 15 states, meeting with governors, tourism/culture commissioners, traditional rulers, and chief executives of tourism agencies with the view to partnering with them on the importance of the tourism sector to the local economy.

According to her, the plank of her visits across the country has been that of, ‘we can do it and we must do it jointly.’

Ms. Mbanefo disclosed that her visits have now convinced her that domestic tourism is an avenue to generate wealth for an economy blessed with a rich population.

“From the several festivals/ carnivals such as Carnival Calabar, Carniriv, OsunOsogbo, and Mare festivals, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation now has enough activities to promote and stimulate the once forgotten domestic tourism.”

She said is already organizing a national tourism calendar for domestic tourism, work-

While there is no illusion that most of its tourist attractions though in existence, need development and investments, the leadership and board of the NTDC, with the support of the minister, are making conscious efforts to attract investors into the country

,

ing with all states in Nigeria, “while there is no illusion that most of its tourist attractions though in existence, need development and investments, the leadership and board of the NTDC, with the support of the minister, are making conscious efforts to attract investors into the country.”

During her visit to Badagry, the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno, Aholu Menu-Toyi I, described the domestic tourism

From left: Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, appreciating the coconut gift presented to her by Akran of Badagary Kingdom, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi 1 , Ahosi Tosi of Badagary (Olori), Ahosi Jehe of Badagary (Olori) and Personal Assistant to the monarch, Alhaji Olugbenga Afeez Fayemi during NTDC’s management visit to Badagary. promotion agenda of NTDC as an incontestable way to promote Nigeria’s tourism and boost the nation’s economy.

The monarch said “Sally Mbanefo is hitting the nail on the head with the promotion of

Tourism devt workshop holds in Lagos

A

WORKSHOP that will bring together over 500 delegates from the 36 states of the federation to address the legal and legislative aspects of repositioning the tourism industry in the country will take place soon.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos recently on the proposed workshop, the Co-

ordinator, Mr. Bassey Essien, revealed the delegates would include policy makers, captains of the hospitality sector, thespians, elected officials, practitioners in the creative industries and tourism consultants.

The workshop that will feature exhibitions to showcase the vast tourism potentials of Nigeria, will precedes the

Presidential Summit on Tourism that is planned to chart a course for revamping the tourism industry in Nigeria.

According to Essien, the Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke will be giving the keynote address at the workshop and he will be supported by other speakers like the Director-General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar

domestic tourism. This was what the government of Japan did some years ago with a law stopping Japanese from traveling out of the country for holidays. It paid off. It did not only endear Japanese to their

Onyema and a former Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, Dr. Austin TamGeorge.

The workshop is being put together by International Style Week in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and the Centre for Tourism and Cultural Diplomacy (CTCD) of the Institute of Communication and Corporate Studies, (ICCS) Lagos.

country and the tourist attractions therein, but it also wooed foreigners to the country and developed their economy.

“Domestic tourism remains the best approach to promote Nigeria’s tourism and better the lots of Nigeria and Nigerians. Hence, the NTDC boss should be well-mobilised and supported by every stakeholder in the industry to achieve her domestic tourism promotion course, which in turn will boost our economy, hearten peace and unity, drastically reduce social vices and woo hosts of foreign tourists to our country.”

De Wheno, who described the NTDC boss’ visit to his palace as momentous, as the visit coincided with his 37th coronation anniversary noted that Sally Mbanefo is the first Director-General of the NTDC to personally come to Badagry to appreciate the tourist sites in the town with a view to championing their development and promotion.

Mbanefo, while congratulating the monarch on his peaceful reign, disclosed that domestic tourism will enable Nigerians know Nigeria, appreciate the innumerable and enviable tourist attractions in the country, appreciate different fascinating cultures and traditions in the country, and also attract foreigners to the country.”

She described her visit to Badagry as part of her ongoing visit to the geo-political zones in the country to visit the tourists’ sites in the states of the federation, see to how to develop and promote them to encourage Nigerians travel within Nigerian and foreigners to travel to Nigeria.

This, according to her will have immense benefit on the nation and her good people.

Mbanefo described Badagry as the first tourist destination in Lagos, adding that, “there is no way the history of Nigeria will be written without prominently mentioning Badagry, where Christianity was first preached in 1842

by Reverend Thomas Birch Freeman, where the first Christmas was held in Nigeria, where the first church, the first primary school and the first story building in Nigeria, just to mention a few, are located.”

The Akran of Badagry while presenting a gift of coconut to the NTDC boss prayed that God should give her Solomonlike wisdom to achieve her lofty dream for Nigeria tourism, which will make Nigeria, which is enviably rich in tourism, stand tall in the comity of nations and enrich her people.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—25

I N S I D E

CROSS RIVER 2015:

A conspiracy of silence

Towards the dreaded Sambisa forest's funeral pyre

Delta 2015: Uduaghan 'll support Delta North — Echegile

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BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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OMING from a man like Chief Tom Ikimi, one of the country ’s most enduring political figures, the memo to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Chief Bisi Akande was indeed unnerving.

The memo dated May 1, 2014 was a narrative of the increasing confusion in the opposition political party across the country with the assertion that the party is losing members in strong numbers across the country.

“I am compelled to express strong reservations on the present state of affairs in our Party and my heart bleeds when I look back at the efforts and personal sacrifice many of us made to bring this national platform to fruition,” Ikimi wrote.

Pioneer state chairman Just few days after the memo was sent out, the base of the party in Ikimi’s home, Edo State was shaken following the defection of the erstwhile national vice-chairman (SouthSouth) of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his followers from the APC. Ize-Iyamu left the party alongside strong followers including the pioneer state chairman of the ACN in Edo State, Prince Tony Prince Tony Omoaghe, the pioneer deputy chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Usman Shagadi among many other prominent leaders of the party including some who left their positions in government.

Of the serving members of the House of Representatives from Edo State, only Abubakar Momoh representing Etsako Federal Constituency, incidentally, Governor Adam’s Oshiomhole’s constituency has left the party. The shaking in Edo State is only reflective of the nationwide pangs that are shaking the newly formed party to its roots.

In Adamawa, Sokoto, Kano, Borno, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Bayelsa and across the country party elders are leaving in droves putting to question the capacity of the party to trouble the ruling PDP.

•Tinubu and Buhari: Can they weather the storm?

Whither APC? THE All Progressives Congress, APC is convulsing seriously upon intrigues by major stakeholders to take the ascendancy ahead of the 2015 election. Its capacity to checkmate the already bloodied Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is increasingly being called into question. Any hope?

Just as in Edo State where Pastor Ize-Iyamu is at the centre of the crisis, across the border in Delta State, another man of God, Prophet Jones Erue is also in the centre of controversy over the conduct of

the recent party congresses.

Erue was supposedly thrown up as the state chairman of the party in a congress that many members of the defunct ACN are alleging was widely mired in controversy.

The cracks: Leaders of the defunct ACN in the state most of whom are inclined to the leadership of Senator Francis Okpozo allege that Erue was foisted on the party by Otega Emerhor, a wealthy

My fears for APC, by Ikimi M

y dear Chairman, Let me begin by thanking you once again for doing me the honor of attending my 70th birthday celebration at Igueben, my ancestral home town on Friday 25th April 2014.

I also extend my thanks and appreciation to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who came with you and I was deeply touched by the presence of a number of our party leaders who were able to honor my invitation. I give thanks to the Almighty God for his grace and favors these past seventy years!

I have taken a few days rest but my intention of proceeding to an extended holiday seem to be

disturbed by the overwhelming unfavorable reports I have received from across the country on the present status of our party.

I have spoken to party members and leaders across the country and the feeling is unanimous regarding the downward trend of things.

I am writing this from Benin City, the Capital of my home State - Edo where as you must have gathered from the press and other sources all is also not well.

The latest problems arise from the Congresses where in the South South Region, there are fundamental problems in Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Edo. I have been

•Ikimi informed of similar problems in most other States across the

Continues on page 26

businessman known to have a governorship aspirant on the platform of the new party.

Many party elders are, however, worried that Erue was supported in the congresses by elements known to have worked for a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori whose loyalists it is alleged, may be working to either gain control of the APC or weaken the party to allow the PDP sail through.

“The kind of money that reportedly changed hands during the congresses is not the kind of money that a businessman like Otega would throw into politics and that is why we suspect that his people have a connection with Ibori and his boys,” a party elder told Vanguard.

Party elders are also peeved that Otega once he came into the APC threw up a parallel structure that almost always worked in parallel with the mainstream structure of the party led by Senator Okpozo.

As at press time the results of the state congress in Delta State was yet to be ratified by the national secretariat. The same hiatus is also in Ogun State where parallel congresses were conducted by forces respectively led by the national leader of the party, Aremo Segun Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Amosun is accused by many partisans of crossing the bounds of governance to take control of the party structure in the state.

Amosun vs Osoba The crisis in the state was remarkably long predicted.

Amosun came into the defunct ACN from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP but when he entered in late 2010, he was peeved that many of his loyalists who had emerged as candidates for the 2011 election on the platform of the ANPP were not given ACN tickets.

Ahead of the 2015 round of elections, the governor and many of the National Assembly members were engaged in a cat and mouse game over control of the party. Many National Assembly members almost all of whom are loyal to Osoba were peeved that the Continues on page 26

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Whither APC? Continues from page 25 governor sponsored rival congresses which they alleged were aimed at stopping them from winning re-election tickets for 2015. A plan by the governor to inaugurate his own faction of the executive was stopped few days ago after the national headquarters intervened to stop him. Just as in Ogun, in Oyo State, party elders who Governor Abiola Ajimobi met in the defunct ACN are also peeved by the body movements of the governor. Many of them have already drawn the battle line with the governor who they assert they would stop from gaining re-election.

Guber interest: While there are no issues concerning the congresses in Lagos State, the alleged endorsement of one of the governorship aspirants by the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is, however, creating anxiety among party faithful, especially among those who have had interests in the governorship.

In many other states, the crises, however, preceded the congresses. In Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto States, the crises were triggered after the defection of former PDP governors into the APC.

Successor in office In Kano, Ibrahim Shekarau left after Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso entered the party.

In Sokoto, the immediate former governor of the state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa also exited the party after his nemesis and successor in office entered the party and was given the party structure.

In Adamawa, despite earlier assertions that they would abide together, Brig. Buba Marwa who came from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and Markus Gindiri who was the 2011 flag bearer of the ACN left the APC after the party structure was handed over to their common foe, Admiral Murtala Nyako.

Despite earlier assertions by Nyako and the two men that they would cohabit for the good of the party, that pledge did not take long to unfold as Marwa and Gindiri accused Nyako of importing those characters that caused the crisis in the PDP into the APC. Remarkably, both men have returned to the PDP. However, their exit has not given Nyako the complete liberty as he is also engulfed in a silent war with loyalists of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who have accused Nyako of sidelining them in the

•Osoba

•Amosun

•Oshiomhole

•Iyamu

recent congresses.

Kwara State: In Kwara State, Dele Belgore, the 2011 gubernatorial candidate of the ACN also defected to the PDP after the entry of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the

Bukola Saraki machine into the APC. What many had believed to be a fratricidal war in Kwara State between the interim national publicity secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Saraki

crowd has been largely avoided mainly on account of what observers point to the maturity of the two leaders.

In Imo State, what is left of the party is just the carcass of the former legacy parties. Once

Governor Rochas Okorocha stepped into the party, all the notable leaders in the party commenced an exit walk.

Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, former Governor Achike Udenwa and even some appointees of Okorocha such as the former Attorney General, Chief Soronnadi Njoku.

One exception where the entry of a governor has not caused a serious crisis is Rivers State where the entry of Governor Rotimi Amaechi has not so much provoked the kind of crisis as seen in several other states where the former PDP governors moved into the APC. Stakeholders allege that the crisis is partly caused by the national secretariat which it alleged did not prepare for the congresses well.

“What we found was that those sent to conduct the congresses had logistic challenges and so you found some party members mostly those from the PDP willing to meet those challenges and hence the problems that we are now having,” a party official said.

However, party spokesman Mohammed rebuffed the agitations as he insisted that the party has internal mechanism for settling its disputes.

“We have a mechanism to settle the issues from the congresses and that is why the appeals committee was constituted and that is not even the end of the matter. If anyone is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeals committee, he or she can still take the matter to the national body but what we have is that some people are not patient enough and are making their appeals on the pages of newspapers,” he said.

My fears for APC, by Ikimi Continues from page 25 country. Parallel Excos have emerged in Ogun State!

Here in the South South I could personally do nothing as a Leader or the South South Vice Chairman since the arrangements on ground give me no powers to operate. Party head quarters has established very strange channels of communication with my region and State.

I accepted the position of South South Vice Chairman just to assist build our party in this region. Unfortunately I have not been allowed to do so.

Chairman, you may recall that in our last Interim Executive council meeting held on Tuesday 18th March we could not resolve the Agenda item on Congresses.

A strong case was made for the establishment of an Independent

Convention/Congress committee.

There was a lot of heat over the issue and a decision was therefore taken to step down the matter, adjourn the meeting and that an emergency Exco meeting should be convened within a few days to resolve the issues. No meeting has been called since then but some process seem to have been initiated for Ward, LGA and State Congresses to take place Nation wide.

The mass failure of these processes is not a surprise to me at all. How the personnel for these Congresses have been generated is shrouded in utmost secrecy. A failed Ward Congress can only give birth to a failed LGA Congress, a disaster at State Level and mayhem at National Convention.

I have just gathered that some secrete names are now being

compiled to form National Convention Committee. How we are to proceed to a National Convention under the present circumstance baffles me!

I am compelled to express strong reservations on the present state of affairs in our Party and my heart bleeds when I look back at the efforts and personal sacrifice many of us made to bring this National platform to fruition. I am a strong apostle of a Two Strong Party Democracy and the Nation enthusiastically welcomed the APC which proclaimed hope for CHANGE! The reports I receive today is far from encouraging as we are loosing members in droves every where.

There are many issues that I do not feel its appropriate to communicate to you in this message which I have copied to many of our core Leaders. The

•Akande situation is serious and urgent.

In the circumstance I would most respectfully request you to convene an Interim Exco Meeting expanded to include selected Leaders Nation Wide within the next few days to discuss the present state of our party and particularly the on going processes.

Excellency, I send you this note with the highest respects and prayers for your continued good health and well being!

Regards,Chief Tom Ikimi

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—27

CROSS RIVER 2015:

A conspiracy of silence

WHILE 2015 gubernatorial gladiators in many states are all about building structures and strategies, the case is quite different in Cross River where all but one of those eyeing Governor Liyel Imoke’s seat are plotting underground.

BY EMMANUEL UNA

O

NE thing is certain in the politics of silence currently pervading the political landscape in Cross River State and that is the reality that, like the other thirty five states in the country, on May 29, 2015, Senator Liyel Imoke, the governor of the state would vacate office and handover to another person after two terms in office.

What however, is not certain for now is who his successor would be owing to the conspiracy of silence that has seemingly shrouded the subject in the state especially on who the prospective successor would be among the array of contenders quietly jostling to step into the large footed shoes.

Although, there exists a long list of aspirants jostling for the exalted position, the bulk of whom are aides and associates of Governor Imoke, but significantly, these aspirants operate behind the scenes owing to the uncertainty and fear of incurring the wrath of the governor who has not given any clue either by body language or overt pronouncement who his proffered aspirant for the exalted position is.

Though Governor Imoke had at different fora alluded to the fact that one of the “members of the PDP family” would succeed him, and the person will be younger than him, he has not given any direct clue as to who the likely person would be or from which local government area in the state.

This has kept many reading his lips and at different times, as it suits them, putting forward names of who supposedly are

•Imoke: Who will succeed him?

Zoning formula: With the position effectively zoned to the Northern Senatorial District of the state, potential occupiers of the position have lined up and these include Mr Larry Odey, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr John Odey, former Minster of Environment, Mr Fidel Ugbo, Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Mr Legor Idagbo, the Commissioner for Works, Dr Julius Okputu, former Commissioner for Environment, Senator Ben Ayade, the Senator representing the Northern Senatorial District of the State, Mr Fidel Egoro, the State Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Dr Rose Oko, the member representing Ogoja /Ya l a Federal Constituency among a

,

From among these plethora of aspirants, people of the state are frequently being assailed with names as the potential successors by different interest groups

receiving the governor ’ s backing to succeed him.

Speaking recently in Ogoja, the Northern Senatorial District headquarters, Senator Imoke asserted that though he does not know will succeed him, he sure knows who will not and “ My successor may as well be in this room and at the appropriate time, which may not be far from now, we shall behold him”. He attracted a loud applause for this statement.

,

host of others.

From among these plethora of aspirants, people of the state are frequently being assailed with names as the potential successors by different interest groups.

The contenders: The first name to be bandied about is that of Barrister Fidel Ugbo, the former Secretary to the Cross River State Government who was moved by Imoke to Abuja to occupy the state’s slot as Secretary of the National

the state.

Most of the aspirants including the preferred candidates are fearful of offending the sensibilities of the governor who is yet to give any inkling, covertly or openly on who among them is his choice. Expectedly, the climate of fear has forced them to restrict their consultation and political activity within the confines of hush -hush within their cycle of friends while hoping that the governor will hear about their ambition and adopt them as the party’s consensus candidate.

However, the only sign of polarity among those contending for the number one position is an “outsider” Mr Gordy Jerdy Agba whose agents are crisscrossing the state and boldly erecting political structures for him to succeed the governor. Agba, who is the General Manager Crude, NNPC is throwing everything into the contest through his foot soldiers, Dr Sandy Onor and Mr Venatius Ikem.

Eligibility to run elections

•Odey

•Ayade

Planning Commission.

To give credence to their permutation, they claim that his elevation to the position of Secretary of the National Planning Commission is to accord him the leverage to make contacts at the Federal level which he will need when he assumes the exalted office in 2015.

Ugbo’s name was on the lips of most people as the governor- in- waiting until the fancy of the names peddlers moved to that of the youthful commissioner for Works, Mr Legor Idagbo. A similar reason was also advanced for the adoption of the young man and that is that the governor having moved him from the post of local government chairman to become commissioner in order to under study him to give him a grip of what to do when he becomes governor.

Not done yet, they have

moved from Legor and the one that is currently making the rounds is that of Mr Gerald Ada, the Special Adviser on Investment and Promotion and his adoption, the clan claim is occasioned by his pedigree and high profile performance by attracting investment in excess of ten billion dollars to the state in less than three years.

This impressive performance, they assert, has captivated Senator Imoke who has often harped on capacity and integrity as qualities his successor must have in abundance and in addition, his age bracket and that of Legor Idagbo falls within the 40 to 45 that the governor wants.

The bandying of names notwithstanding, these preferred aspirants are even yet to come out to declare their intentions to contest for the post as fear and uncertainty pervades political climate in

His boldness notwithstanding, the prospects of Gordy Agba emerging as the candidate of the PDP seems farfetched for now. Party insiders say he is not a card carrying member of the PDP in the state and as such cannot contest for the post of governor of the state. The State Chairman of the PDP, Ntufam John Okon told Vanguard in his office that the party has rules which spells out eligibility for one to run election under its platform and Gordy Agba being a civil servant is not qualified to contest election on its platform. “Gordy Agba is not a member of our party and of course there are party rules which spells out the number of years a person can be a member of the party before being eligible to run elections.”

But his foot soldiers, Dr. Onor and Barrister Ikem are confident that he is a registered member of the party and they have evidence to back their claims.

Ntufam Okon said that amongst all the names being speculated as potential contenders for the position of governor, none of them has consulted him to express his intention to run for the post of governor.

It is not surprising, it is part of the conspiracy of silence in the land of paradise.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

S

INCE the abduction of more than 200 female students from a College in Borno State about three weeks ago, the “Sambisa Forest” has been associated with a place of terror where any type of infirmity could not be ruled out.

Those brave but anxious parents who traversed a part of the forest have been warned by settlers near the forest to abandon the fruitless chase of the `notorious` bandits. So, at the moment, the dreaded forest remains inaccessible.

Angry Nigerians might be at a loss to understand why wiser men might not want to rush in where ‘angels‘ fear to tread‘.

The security forces might prefer a cautious and more reliable approach rather than the expected bombardment of the forest.

The pertinent question is, could the forest continue to hold the more than two hundred girls and their captors for more than three weeks without any sign of human existence?

It might be contrary to the expectation of many that the Sambisa forest is a fully developed habitation for the insurgents with copious supply of necessary essential needs of life. Some may even believe that the adjoining villages are populated by active supporters of the Boko Haram killers, providing food, shelter and vital information.

If it is correctly assumed that the Sambisa forest is where the insurgents are holding their unfortunate victims, the seemingly cautious approach of the security forces becomes more understandable and reasonable. Who knows what tactics the Boko Haram fighters would adopt in the defence of the uncharted and dreaded jungle? To them, death is nothing. The sacrifice of young educated girls would satisfy their satanic ego while at the same time, would satisfy their wish for scaring away people from the pursuit of Western education.

The Boko Haram sect has built its myth on general poor security intelligence about its total strength and its organizational ability. The murderous group seems able

Delta 2015:

Towards the dreaded Sambisa forest's funeral pyre to strike at will and with deadly precision at their selected objects. None seems to be sure whether the next neighbour is not that Boko Haram informant or active supporter. However, eyes should be fixed on dismissed soldiers or dismissed police officers and unemployed graduates in every locality.

Writing on the problems of general insecurity or “state of war”, Professor Mabbott once noted that, “In 1928, I came across two valleys in Romania where all civilized activities had ceased, owing to the presence of a band of brigands.

Markets were empty, fields untilled, houses barricaded.

The terrorized population must have numbered some thousands. The brigands were finally rounded up by the Army; they numbered thirty-five. Who knows whether the soul of Boko Haram insurgency is not rooted in the towns controlled and directed by a closely knit units far removed from the gaze of security officials.

Poor security intelligence gatherings could at times hamper the fight against insurgency where a small number of people based at strategic positions would continue to provide logistical support for

the sect.

It is a matter of fact that the terrorist organization has been able to humble and confuse many Nigerians by the brutality of its attack and thereby, attracted international opprobrium. It is gratifying that the United States and the British Governments have promised counterinsurgency aids which have been accepted by the Federal Government on behalf of the Nigerian people.

The positive changing mood of many Nigerians towards the Boko Haram murderers in different parts of the country is also noted with delight. This is a ‘state‘ war which must be fought with all methods. In the mean time, the ignition of the Sambisa forest pyre is being awaited with eagerness.

The economy Recently, President Goodluck has joined in the funny debate on whether or not Nigeria is a poor country as it is often expressed at home and by international institutions. Some argue positively that a country with a population of about 160 million, with only about 70 per cent literacy, with less than 30 per cent of population having access to good drinking water and

with majority of its population living on less than a dollar (n166) per day, could be nothing but a poor state.

The hard-working Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala (also the host of Abuja World Economic Forum) has stated boldly to anyone who cares to listen, that Nigeria is not a poor country.

The country which has suddenly become the largest economy in Africa has one of the fastest growth in the world (6.7% growth rate) with crude oil production of more than 2 million barrels per day, with extensive gas production and reserves; with macro-economic stability and inflation rate at less than 8 per cent and with more than 33 valuable minerals yet untapped, could not be seriously described as a poor country.

President Jonathan has agreed to that assertion, perhaps in a comical version, that Nigeria has one of the world‘s richest men in Aliko Dangote and that Nigeria‘s private jet owners are increasing in number.

Though President Jonathan and his Finance Minister argue faultlessly that Nigeria is not poor (or should not be poor), they agree that the national income of the country has been inappropriately shared among the different sectors of the country by the present government and that rising unemployment has remained a challenge.

It may be conveniently argued that it does not need a doctorate degree in Economics or Zoology to appreciate that an economy which thrives on unequal and unjust distribution of the national income, that breeds unbridled capitalism and its economic resources wasted and mismanaged, would provide a fertile soil for deepening poverty and insecurity to germinate. That is not only a poor country but a dangerous one, waiting for a social revolution.

I agree that Nigeria should not be a poor country which is one of the themes of the present World Economic Forum for Africa in Abuja.

Uduaghan'll support Delta North — Echegile

C

HIEF Godson Echegile was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone between 2008 and 2011. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State, Echegile in this interview shares his views on the 2015 political succession in his native Delta State among other issues. Excerpts:

BY GBENGA OKE

E

VERYONE who leaves the PDP complains of lack democracy. Why? When you say there is no internal democracy in the PDP, it is an exaggeration compared to what happens in other political parties. We have seen PDP hold primaries but you see some other parties who sit in their sitting rooms and pick candidates. If you are to compare the two, which one is more democratic? People say all sort of things against the PDP on the pages of newspapers, but the populace knows the truth and that is why they will remain with the PDP. PDP has a way of resolving its own problems, we have had crisis bigger than this and we came out of it stronger.

Do you think President Jonathan should go ahead and contest the 2015 presidential election given the crises his quest is generating?

I think he should contest.

Constitutionally, he is allowed two terms and he will not be doing anything outside the constitution if he indicates interest to run. I will come from the angle of those of us from the South-South. We appeal to other zones to support us. This is the first time we are holding the presidency of this country in 53 years of independence, it is only fair that they support us and we will support them when it is their turn. We in the South-South have been supportive of other zones, we will not support those who come with threats, that is not the way to go democratically, we can only appeal to our brothers in other zones to support us. As a party, Mr. President has done well, personally he has done excellently well. It is not easy to manage this country if you remember where we are coming from. He has done well in the privatization of the power sector, on the road sector. You hear of the second Niger Bridge. If you look at the universities, in a

•Echegile period of four to five years, about twelve federal universities were established and about nine of these universities are in the north. He is not a sectional leader as some will want to paint him.

He has done extremely well for the country.

What is the position presently on the agitation for power shift to Delta North?

I think the governor summarized it in his outing at the Sun Man of the Year Award,

I was with him at the outing and he said it clearly in the interview he granted that the governorship should go to Delta North.

People have been calling on the governor to declare it openly, I think the governor has already done that. He does not need to run advert for that, he has said it to those of us who are core members of the party.

I think he arrived on that from the understanding of the party because the governor himself is a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Delta state and he knows about the understanding that it should rotate between the three senatorial zones of Delta state.

Also, our leader Chief E.K Clark has re-echoed that it is the turn of Delta North to produce the governor. So for those of us that were there when the party started in Delta state, I think I want to thank the two leaders for taking that firm position despite the noise from those who joined us midway. I want to salute them for their courage.

As it presently stands, there are several aspirants in Delta North.

How do you think the zone will select a candidate without rancour if the governorship seat is eventually zoned to the

area?

I don’t think there is anything wrong with the number of aspirants from Delta North. I read from the newspaper this week where a senatorial zone in one of the South-East states has 40 aspirants. We in Delta North, I don’t think we have up to 20 aspirants as it presently stands but talking seriously, nothing is wrong with the number. When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it.

I was an aspirant in 2006, so I will say I have experience in that business. As we get closer to the primaries, I think the numbers will trim down and I want to use this opportunity to thank the governor because he is using his own formula to reduce the numbers.

So I believe the numbers will come down before the primaries, I can assure you. But beyond that, the front runners in this race, I can say that somehow we are very close.

I believe the race will not make the relationship degenerate into one attacking the other and the governor has been quite instrumental in managing the situation and we the leaders will continue to manage the situation.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 29

My father apologised to me before he died

•Charly Boy

— Charly Boy ...warns that his death should not be politicised

U

ntil 25 years ago,maverick musician, and eldest son of the eminent jurist and one-time Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa who died last Sunday at the National Hospital in Abuja, Charles Oputa popularly known as Charly Boy was not in the ‘good book’ of his father owing to his lifestyle. But the story changed immediately after father and son realised the importance of respecting each other’s feeling. While he lived, Pa Oputa was his son’s best companion.Charly Boy talks about what he shares in common with his late father as well as how he wants him to be buried.

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU We want to sympathise with you over the demise of your father?

Don’t sympathise with me, rather you should join me in celebrating a life well lived. I am celebrating my father ’s life and times. He lived a fulfilled life,so there is a great need to celebrate him.

What are you going to miss most about your father?

For the past 25 years, we bonded and have come to understand each other. We discussed anything under the sun. I am proud to have had a father like him. What

Peter Okoye loses

$5,000 to Phyno in football bet C M Y K

I started enjoying my relationship with my father about 30 years ago. And that was after he decided to give me the kind of respect I deserved from him.

I am going to miss most about him is the companionship that we enjoyed with each other. It came to a point where I didn’t remember I have a mother.

How would his demise affect your lifestyle as the eldest son ?

You should direct that question to my mother because she has lived with her late husband for almost 70 years. But I started enjoying my relationship with my father about 30 years ago. And that was after he decided to give me the kind of respect I deserved from him.

Initially he thought I took a wrong step in life. But after he saw my works, and what I represent, he had no choice than to sheathe his sword.

Adokiye writes open letter to Gov Rochas of Imo State

I would say that there is no great difference between my father and myself in terms of our philosophies and approach to life.

Do you think the misunderstanding you had with your late father when you returned to the country after your long sojourn in America helped to shape your life?

It wasn’t a problem as such. I guess, it was out of concern they showed to me for a brighter future.

They weren’t too sure that being an entertainer would guarantee my survival in life. Then, I already had a job waiting for me.

Continues on page 30

How sound Bar mak es TTV V fun makes

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Synopsis Continues from page 29 But I thank God it didn’t work that way because I am now living my dreams. I didn’t go into entertainment to make money, but importantly, to earn my respect.

Everything is not about money.

Do you have any plan to immortalise your father’s name?

Yes, people easily forget that you have once lived. So, I wouldn’t let anybody forget that my dad made an indelible impact on the nation’s legal profession.

Did your father tell you anything before he passed on?

He was just trying to tell me something about two hours before he passed on. I went to visit him in the hospital where he was on admission because for some days he wasn’t eating very well. I insisted to feed him that morning, and I pleaded that he should corporate with me. It was then he said, he wanted to apologise to me.’Apologise for what! I queried him? He replied me saying, given the nature of his sickness, and its complication, he’s sorry for everything. But when I cautioned him, he said, since he was apologising, I wouldn’t accept it, that I would have to get an appeal. It was like a joke between father and son. Later, I told him, I was going to take my bath upstairs.

And within 2 hours while I was away, he gave up the ghost. That was how it happened.

How would you describe the life he lived?

He was not too different from Charly Boy. He was a book warm; philosopher, poet and legal luminary. While he wore suits and ties, I dressed like a mad man.

That’s the only difference between him and myself. But we think alike and have the same approach to life. That’s why we were able to bond.

Would you mind a state burial for your father as an eminent jurist and one-time

Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria?

My father’s death should not be used for politics because I will resist any attempt to hijack the burial plans by politicians. My father was not a politician when he was alive.

This is a warning to those who are already making plans to use his death to advance their political careers. When he was sick, nobody visited him in the hospital except his family. Whatever arrangement, anybody is making, the family must be carried along. I will not hesitate to embarrass anybody who wants to take the family for granted. I am not against the federal government giving my father a state burial because he deserved it, but the family must be carried along in whatever plans they are making.

Meanwhile, we are yet to announce the burial arrangements.

While you were with your

I will resist any attempt to hijack the burial plans by politicians. My father was not a politician when he was alive father, what was his opinion about the state of the nation?

I could remember about three weeks ago, while I was in my sitting room watching television with him.

I raised an issue, wondering whether they would ever get anything right in this country. And he responded that “an average Nigerian is incapable of deep thought.”

The movie The Amazing SpiderMan 2 is still showing in all the cinemas nationwide.

Synopsis: Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, impacting on his life.

Exhibition Schedule from MAY, 9 — MAY, 15 2014 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:30pm,3:10pm,6:00pm,8:35pm Purani Jeans : 5:00pm Finding Love :3:00pm,7:00pm The Frozen Ground : 12:00pm,4:20pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Endless Love : 12:00pm,2:05pm,6:45pm Amazing Spider Man 2 :10:30am,1:10pm,3:55pm,6:40pm,9:20pm Purani Jeans : 5:35pm Finding Love : 1:05pm,3:45pm,7:20pm Frozen Ground : 5:15pm,9:10pm Noah : 12:30pm The Nut Job : 2:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:20pm,3:10pm,5:50pm,8:40pm Finding Love : 12:40pm,2:30pm,4:30pm,6:25pm,8:20pm, The Frozen Ground : 2:55pm Heaven is for Real : 12:00pm,4:20pm,8:40pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 2:00pm,6:20pm The Single Moms Club : 4:55pm Noah : 12:20pm About last night : 2:20pm,6:20pm,8:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:50pm,3:30pm,6:10pm,8:50pm Find Love : 2:20pm,6:30pm The Frozen Ground : 4:30pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12:00pm Noah : 8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT The Frozen Ground : 12:20pm,4:45pm Heaven is for Real : 12:15pm,4:25pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12:00pm,6:30pm The Single Moms Club : 2:30pm The Amazing Spider- Man 2 : 12:10pm,3:00pm,5:45pm,8:30pm Finding Love : 2:30pm,4:30pm,8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 3:10pm,5:50pm,8:35pm The Frozen Ground : 12:00pm,5:00pm The Nut Job : 11:20am SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:00pm,3:05pm,6:15pm Finding Love 1:20pm,5:15pm,7:10pm Heaven is for Real : 12:05pm,2:25pm,4:40pm,6:55pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 11:45am,4:15pm,6:40pm Robocop: 11:35am,2:00pm,4:20pm,6:45pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 12:45pm,3:20pm,6:00pm,8:35pm Heaven is for Real : 11;15am The Single Mom Club : 5:05pm Noah : 12:00pm Ride Along : 11:30am The Nut Job : 10:00am, FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS The Amazing Spider Man : 1:10pm,4:00pm,6:40pm Heaven is for Real : 10:00am FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADAN The Amazing Spider Man : 12;10pm,3:00pm,5:50pm Heaven is for Real : 1:00am,12:00pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12:15pm, The Single Moms Club : 10:00am,8:35pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR The Amazing Spider Man 2 : 2:10pm,5:00pm,8:00pm Heaven is for Real : 12:10pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 3;20pm,7:30pm The Single Moms Club : 9:10pm KADA CINEMAS, BENNI The Amazing Spider Man 2 :2:15pm,6:15pm,8:45pm Fiding Love 6:45pm,9:00pm The Frozen Ground : 12:15pm,3:30pm,8:00pm Knocking on Heaven’s Door : 12;45pm,4:15pm Heaven is for Real : 12:00pm The Single Mom Club : 2:15pm,5:15pm,7:30pm

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 —31

C M Y K

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

hronic Exhaustion

Increased ambition levels and the desire of the modern woman to have it all have meant the inability to relax, which leads to perpetual restlessness. Overdrive has become overkill!

Restlessness fires up the body ’s fight-or-flight stress response on a sliding scale.

Harnessing a moderate amount of it can actually be valuable but if you never take the time to relax, you actually lose your ability to do so at all.

Staying continuously restless means the body never returns to a calm baseline state—it’s been rewired to be all stress response, all the time.

That means the adrenal glands are working 24-7, pumping out the stress hormone cortisol, consistently high levels of which have been linked to a bevy of woes such as indigestion and fatigue.

The longer you go without relaxing, the bleaker the picture becomes: A new study found that a major side effect of restlessness is a reduction in vigor.

As their vigor falls, people can succumb to the detrimental effects including heightened risks for stress-related diseases like depression, anxiety, and heart disease. If left unchecked, restlessness can also lead to irritable-bowel syndrome and reduced sex drive.

In attempting to cope with chronic stress, women become vulnerable to destructive behaviors such as alcohol, drug, or food abuse.

Pregnancy Complications There can be advantages to waiting until you are older to have a baby. Older women and men often find that they are more patient and realistic in coping with the challenges of a new baby than they would have been earlier in life.

With rising levels of infertility among modern women and rising average ages for marriage, women are having to use contraceptives and having more complicated pregnancies. The chance of getting pregnant in a given month decreases as you get older, and your risk of miscarriage rises.

A woman older than 35 has a higher risk of miscarriage than younger women. For a woman over 40, the risk more than doubles compared to a woman in her 20s and early 30s. Most of the time, these miscarriages result from chromosomal abnormalities, and these abnormalities are more likely in women over 35.

The risk for having labor problems increases for women over 35 and even more for women over 40 who are having their first child. Studies have shown that older women C M Y K

Today’s woman’s health concerns A

s lifestyles are changing, so health challenges are changing. Here are the top health concerns the modern woman should look out for, and how to forestall them:

have a greater chance of prolonged second stage labor and fetal distress. This increases the likelihood of a forceps or vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery or a Csection. Older women also have a higher risk of stillbirth.

Breast Cancer There was a time when it seemed breast cancer was a strictly western disease and was a rarity in our part of the world. Not so much these days.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death for women.

Experts say the fear of breast cancer can sometimes be exaggerated, stopping women from going to their doctors for screening, or pushing women to make rash decisions about mastectomy, when it may it may not be necessary.

Info material on breast cancer is commonly available in healthcare centers.

Fortunately, breast cancer is not a death sentence and has been known to be cured with early detection. Regular check ups and a good diet are the keys.

Skin Malfunction The modern woman is obsessed with her skin and has every right to be, but the downside of that is the indiscriminate use of skincare products. Excessive use of skin bleaching and skin toning agents has become a recent concern, with burning, liver and kidney issues as the more common results of hydroquinone poisoning.

But our white-wish sisters are not the only guilty parties; Even non toners are guilty of indiscriminate use of skin products that they know little about. There are studies that show that the majority of women choose skincare products not out of knowledge but according to what is available, habits and what their friends are using.

The direct fallout of this is early loss of the skin’s

,

C

While under nutrition had once been a serious concern, obesity is now a more important concern for the modern woman who lives in the city

,

elasticity and increased tendency to catch eczema and other skin infection. More importantly, chemicals in skin products have been known to get in the system and cause cell malfunctions.

Malnutrition While under nutrition had once been a serious concern, obesity is now a more important concern for the

modern woman who lives in the city, has little time to cook and is mostly dependent on all kinds of suspect food choices.

A man may work from sun to sun. But a woman’s work is never done used to be the saying, but not so these days.

The dramatic reallocation of mothers’ time has consequences for the women themselves: The resulting reduction in energy burned up in physical activity averages 177 calories more per week for women with older children at home, and 225 calories per week for those with preschoolers.

And because mothers’ patterns of activity, consumption and weight gain profoundly influence those of their children from gestation onward, this 45-year shift from exertion to inertia has likely played an outsized role in the US’s epidemic of overweight and obesity, the authors say.

A mother’s physical activity and sedentary behaviors affect the environments to which her progeny are exposed, such as the intrauterine milieu and family social setting.

Varying degrees of obesity has thus become a major health concern, particularly for the modern woman with the

rather sedentary lifestyle.

Also, overweight and obese women have higher rates of menstrual irregularities and infertility. This means that they are more likely to delay prenatal care because they may not realize they are pregnant.

Virtually every health issue has been linked with obesity and it isn’t about doing more housework, but trying to up the activity level.

Statistics 222 Million An estimated 222 million women in developing countries would like to delay or stop childbearing but are not using any method of contraception. Reasons for this include limited choice of methods; limited access to contraception, particularly among young people, poorer segments of populations, or unmarried people; fear or experience of side-effects; cultural or religious opposition; poor quality of available services and genderbased barriers.

42% The unwillingness-turned-

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

— 33

inability to relax stems, in part, from shifting ambitions. Some 15 years ago, around 25 percent of women considered a high-paying career extremely important; today, 42 percent of women do.

5-10% Nearly 5% to 10% of breast cancer is linked to mutations in certain genes. Others include increasing age, family history of the disease, personal history of the disease, race (white women have a slightly greater risk of getting breast cancer compared with African-American women.), earlier abnormal breast biopsy, earlier chest radiation, early onset of menstruation (before age 12) or menopause after age 55, medication use, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES) too much alcohol and obesity.

33.1 hours Non-working women spent 33.1 hours per week on housework in the 1960s, compared to 16.5 hours in 2010.

Working women spent 17.1 hours on housework in the 1960s, compared to 10.4 in 2010. By 2010, women were devoting 25% more time to screenbased media use — watching TV or on the computer.

1 More than 1 in 20 adults are considered to have extreme obesity.

WHO, Women’s Health Magazine, PLOS One.

National President, CWFI, Rev. (Mrs.) Helen Akaonye; Mrs. Uche Erobu, Senior Partner, Akintola Williams Deloitte; Rev. (Mrs.) Mavi Isibor, Group CEO of Poise Nigeria and Mrs. Morin Sokoh, National Project Director, CWFI, at the recent Professional Ladies Forum in Lagos.

Mavi, Erodu, others task ladies on self-development …as professional ladies forum debuts in Lagos

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

I

n an effort to sway young women professionals out of their cocoons, the Christian Women Fellowship International-CWFI, a foremost nondenominational initiative of Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, recently gathered hundreds of young women professionals in Lagos under the aegis of Professional Ladies Forum.

Tagged ‘Enhancing Professional Excellence’, the event had women from diverse fields as well as accomplished women professionals who taught the younger professionals ways to achieve excellence at the workplace and in every facet of life.

Sharing how her principle of applying Christian values to work life had contributed to her growth, Group Head, Human Capital, First Bank Plc, Mrs.Ayo Jaiyesimi, reiterated the need for younger women professionals to ensure values such as fairness, equity and

standards permeated every aspect of their lives, irrespective of the corruption in workplaces.

21st century woman Senior Partner, Akintola Williams Deloitte, Mrs.Uche Erobu, who spoke passionately on the ‘21st Century Woman: Her roles, options and dreams’, fumed against sitat-home mothers, reminding them of God’s stance towards idleness.

“The role of a woman, according to God, is to be a helpmeet to her husband while also nurturing her children. God did not say a woman should not work. Even the Bible frowns at idleness because it could give room to vices. It is quite sad some people mistake women’s quest for economic advance to mean denying men of their headship position”, she said.

Erodu however debunked claims that women have failed in their primary role in the course of their pursuit of economic advancement.

Watc hes — for All Occasions Ev er yda atches Ever eryda ydayy

E

veryday watches are everyday watches. Makes yours demure, nice looking and matching with your outfit.

Evening Shiny and catchy is the way an evening watch should be. It does not have to be a big name but if it is, all the better!

Meeting You are what you were, particularly when you are trying to make an impression or giving a presentation. The more expensive the better.

Sports Sports watches must be, amongst other things, waterproof, trauma proof and the bigger the better Cocktail With cocktails, you can do bigger watches but jazzy with stones, rhinestones and anything else you can imagine.

C M Y K

“The mistake of a few is no parameter for judging every woman.

I am a professional woman and I have not failed in my role as a mother. I’m not going out to rub shoulders with men but to prove myself, and in proving myself, I have never neglected my duty as a mother even when it comes to raising God-fearing children. The secret is to know how best to balance it all- your career, home and Christian life because you cannot succeed without God”, she said.

Projecting executive presence Reeling out practical tips on how to project executive presence, celebrated personality coach, Rev.(Mrs.)Mavi Isibor, Group CEO of Poise Nigeria, stressed the need for women professionals to always project themselves two levels higher than their present status, without loosing essential feminine features such as style and class.

“When you open your mouth to talk, speak with presence and always walk with your head high. You must be able to make tough decisions in a timely manner. Understand your work and that of your other colleagues so that you know what to say when talking in meetings. Stop being apologetic each time you feel you’re exuding too much confidence; just learn to draw the line between arrogance and confidence. Rather than walk sluggishly, walk two steps faster ”, Mavi said resoundingly.

Disclosing that the forum was designed to spur women into success, National President, CWFI, Rev.(Mrs.)Helen Akaonye, said the event which was the maiden edition of CWFI’s Professional Ladies Forum would remain a regular event in CWFI’s calendar because of its intended role in women development.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 35 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

How sound Bar makes TV fun I

t is becoming increasingly clear that superior picture quality alone does not guarantee an enjoyable TV viewing experience.

This is because great sound is important to consumers as well and it seems manufacturers are beginning to realize this demand Most of the new TV designs are now spotting dimensions that put conviction to TV and movie viewing .

For a instance, recent LG introduction, tagged Soundbar NB3530A has unique features that provide consumers with good sound quality without the clutter associated with some audio systems.

Speaking while testing the new product to newsmen on

•LG Soundbar

installation than usual. The stylish and slim speaker system complements the unique products, having chosen to flaunt its assets with a glossy finish while other manufacturers prefer to hide the drivers behind cloth or metal grilles.

The line of touch controls on the face of the main unit sits above a small display, used for basic information such as the selected input. Below this is a USB port for playing MP3 and WMA files from memory sticks.

A peek at the back shows a unique array of three inputs: one 3.5mm jack and two digital optical inserts. This simplifies

The line of touch controls on the face of the main unit sits above a small display, used for basic information such as the selected input introduction, General Manager, Convergence Audio Video Division, LG Electronics, Mr. Jae Sang Lee said: “our stylish and sleek soundbars are designed to fill any room with pitch perfect audio. For us at LG Electronics, we have always been consumer friendly, with this sound bar we are certain that our consumers are not short of 100% satisfaction, as this will give them quality sound effect without hitches and stress”.

Lee said it wasn't a surprise to his company when the product started getting rave reviews recently, adding that the reviews recognised that the device has become one redefining the frontiers of soundbars technology The LG Soundbar kicks out an impressive powerful sound output of 300 Watts of power making it very capable in producing engaging sound effects. Even with that, the 3D Surround Processor aims to make stereo sound feel more immersive during TV viewing.

The unique selling point of LG’s soundbars seems to be its super-slim design, which allows for even more discreet C M Y K

the setting up process.

Consumers do not have to worry about external speakers since the left and right channels are already part of the sound bar unit. All they have to worry about is the connection to the TV with 2 optical inputs to work with.

Just take the included optical cable and hook it up to one of the ports and you are all set.

The LG NB3530A has its own separate subwoofer and it does not require a physical connection to the sound bar.

It communicates wirelessly which is convenient as you don’t have to go through any complicated pairing process to get the 2 components working with each other. This means that you can freely mount the sound bar to the wall without worrying about where to place the subwoofer. In fact, the sound bar looks great on the wall especially if the TV is mounted to the wall as well.

Another convenient feature of the NB3530A Soundbar is the built-in Bluetooth which can be paired with usual Bluetooth-enabled devices like smartphones, tablets, portable media players and laptops. All of these devices are capable of playing music

and many of the streaming apps compatible with these devices have Bluetooth streaming support as well. the Sound Sync feature enable users beam sound from an LG TV to the sound bar wirelessly.

The sound bar can still decode DTS and Dolby Digital so it still remains good for watching movies.

LG electronics with the NB3530A have created great sound impact with minimal design.

T h i s revolutionary product clearly demonstrates LG's dedication to p r o v i d i n g consumers with captivating audio experience. It is apparent that by implementing a d v a n c e d technologies,

I

smart connectivity and control, LG Electronics will continue to be a leader in the Home Entertainment industry.

•LG TV sound bar wirelessly

You can fly on your phone ... with Flydana mobile app

t was predicted that the way mobility was solving problems, soon people may hang on their mobile phones and off they go in the sky. Today that prediction seems to be materializing.

By the time Dana Air, operators of Dana airlines ran through the offerings of their new mobile app, there was this clear evidence that now your mobile phone can physically fly you around.

Tagged FlyDana Mobile, Dana Air said the mobile and social media sales and distribution solution will further improve the all-round passenger travel experience in areas relating to searching and booking flights as well as checking-in.

The App allows passengers and customers to view flight information and availability in realtime whilst giving them the option to book and pay for flights from the comfort of their homes or on the move.

With the introduction of the mobile App, Dana Air says its vision of using

technology in providing innovative and pioneering solutions centered on improving passenger experience is getting oiled The FlyDana Mobile App is powered by FlyNow Mobile and developed by Fountedge Technologies; a UK based aviation mobile technology solution provider.

Head of Commercial, Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, said that his company was committed to constantly reviewing, aligning and introducing products that positively impact on overall customer experience.

Mbanuzuo added that the platform is secure as the app has enhanced security encryption that guarantees secured transactions. supports D a n a Airlines’ decision to implement its FlyDana M o b i l e solution as part of its continued strategy for growt.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—37

Adokiye writes open letter to Gov Rochas of Imo State S

Peter Okoye loses $5,000 to Phyno in football bet

I

t is never in doubt that our entertainers, especially the music stars are living the dream and enjoying life at the upper reef of life. Recently, Peter Okoye of P-Square who just launched 2014 Bentley and his hip-hop friend, Phyno, got in a bet over the semi final Champions’ League match between Chelsea FC and Athletico Madrid. While Peter staked in favour of Chelsea, Phyno staked for Athletico Madrid.

After the match, it was Peter who had to eat his words as Phyno’s Athletico ran away 3-1 winner on the night. As a diehard Chelsea fan, Peter did not only have to lick his wounds of defeat he also parted with $5,000, over N800,000.

Tee Blaq set to release video of his song ‘Garawa’

By Iyabo Aina he name Tee Blaq may not sound familiar to some music fans , but Tee Blaq is the cousin of late Da Grin who worked closely with the iconic rapper on his Missofunyin label imprint before his demise The music crooner, Tee Blaq and his record label Eldar are set to give a teaser of what fans are to expect for the video for Tee Blaq’s latest street anthem titled ‘Garawa.

We also gathered that ‘ Garawa is a certified street anthem and club number one and the Matt Max-directed visual is bound to take it further.

In addition ,Tee Blaq broke out with the ‘Robo’ track with the remix featuring Olamide and Dammy Krane, he has gone on to released buzzing numbers like Getting Money and Formula A. ‘Tee Blaq is now signed to Eldar records.

T

exy singer, Adokiye Kyrian, who is also the Youth Ambassador for Imo State is in the news again. This time around, not about her sexuality but as she said, on ‘humanitarian mission’.

Adokiye is writing a letter to her governor on behalf of one Mr Nwaokoro Kenneth Chinedu who needs N5.8 million for surgery in the United States. He was involved in a fatal accident in April of 2013, same day the governor sustained head injuries, also from an auto crash. Over 80 people died in the luxurious bus going from Lagos to Enugu . She tiled the letter “Cry for help” Hear her: “I am writing you with much concern after having read a letter to me by Mr Nwaokoro Kenneth Chinedu of his present condition. At first I wasn’t going to write this letter, but knowing the fact that your duty as the state governor comes with a very tight schedule and the fact that a life is at stake, I have to pass the

message by any means necessary. Please know that this letter is written in the spirit of patriotism and humanism.

I will go straight to the point by asking on behalf of Mr Nwaokoro Kenneth Chinedu to come to his aid. Knowing your philanthropic nature by all you have done through your foundation and as our state governor, I believe and trust that you will listen and do something about this cry fro help”.

Bob-Manuel Udokwu joins Gov Obiano’s cabinet

N

ollywood top actor and former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi on Creative Media the erstwhile governor of Anambra State, Ambassador BobManuel Udokwu (FCAI) doesn’t seem to be done with Anambra State government as he has been returned by the new governor, Chief Willie Obiano as a Senior Special Assistant on Movie/Entertanment industry.

Gleeful Bob-Manuel broke the news on Monday in a Blackberry message which read : The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has appointed me Bob-Manuel Udokwu (FCAI) his Senior Special Assistant(SSA) on the Movie/ Entertainment Industry with immediate effect.With this appointment, the creative industry now has a clear representation in the goverment of Anambra State. I therefore call on all movie/ entertainment professionals in Nigeria,across Africa and all over the world to feel free to berth in Anambra State to ply their creative and talent driven enterprises!The State is highly welcoming and conducive to do business in.Please feel free to contact me with views on how best to make the most out of this golden opportunity for the advancement of creativity.I am here to serve you, Anambra State ,Nigeria and beyond.”

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

UGBORODO PEACE ACCORD:

We support Uduaghan’s peace efforts — Alex Eyengho

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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AN you tell us if peace has actually returned to Ugborodo?

The simple answer to that is yes.

There is a truce, an accord as a result of the peace initiative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigerian through the offices of the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police. I can say that the effort of the Federal Government Peace Committee which started since January this year has finally yielded positive results. All the grievances by the two sides have been addressed and everybody I can say has now sheathed his swords.

Both sides have resolved to work together.

What were the grievances and how were they resolved?

You would recall that what took us to Abuja in the first place were the incidents of January 4 and 5 in Ugborodo, where there was altercation between members of the two factions. The altercation was as a result of some indigenes of these communities, particularly Ode-Ugborodo (Aruton) who were expelled or banished by

manuel Uduaghan chairman of that committee at the federal level. The mandate to that committee was very clear. It was for governors of the Niger- Delta to put a stop to oil bunkering in their domains or the federal government would take decisive measures to stop it. Sometime in October last year, the governor of Delta State who also chairs the federal committee called leaders of communities identified as oil bunkering red spots and gave a charge to them to stop the nefarious act. The charge to the community leaders was simple - you know those involved around your locality, go and warn them to stop the oil theft or the federal government will come with severe consequences.

Incidentally, Ugborodo was one of the identified red spots. And for Ugborodo, Thomas Ereyitomi, being chairman of the Ugborodo Community Trust along with his executive was saddled with the responsibility of passing the critical Federal Government message to his folks. So they took the message to the Ugborodo Community and gave the message to the people in a town hall meeting at Ode-Ugborodo, headquarter of Ugborodo which also has

,

Two major projects, the EPZ, which will host the biggest gas plant in Africa, a fertilizer plant and other establishments at Ogidigben and there is the Marine University coming to the Gbaramatu axis

force of arms by some of their kith and kin who belong to the David Tonwe factions. These people were banished from entering their own community since October 2013. They were banned for the simple reason that they belong to the Community Trust under the leadership of Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and they were so banned because of a Federal Government assignment they carried out.

Recall that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration set up a Committee on Bunkering and Oil Theft. He made Governor Em-

,

Ajudaibo, Magagho, Ijalla and Ogidigben as the composing communities. The Ugborodo Trust leaders sent three emissaries to deliver the message. But the emissaries managed to return alive.

Their boats were seized; they were humiliated and accused of collecting money from government and wanting to stop them from where they were making their daily bread, which was illegal oil bunkering.

That was the beginning of the animosity of the oil bunkerers against the leadership of Chief

now. Beyond the setting up of the EPZ Committee, the main issue now in the area is the insecurity as with some people, civilians stopping others from entering their communities.

Critical situation

Alex Eyengho Thomas Ereyitomi. And before you knew it, the hatred peaked and more people who they feel or perceived to be loyal to Chief Ereyitomi were chased out of the community. Their property were destroyed and it remained so till the January incidents.

Under the circumstance, Chief Ereyitomi’s Trust was compelled to petition the committee led by Governor Uduaghan informing it that in carrying out the assignment they and other indigenes of Aruton (Ode-Ugborodo) have been banished from their homes.

They demanded government’s intervention.

Peace committee It was consequent upon this that those banished made efforts to return to their homes, January 4 and 5. But in the presence of the Army and Navy on January 4, the people were still stopped from entering their community.

They insisted that having come this far, there was no going back

on thei return to Ode- Ugborodo.

That led to altercation between the Ereyitomi group's returnees and the loyalists of David Tonwe/ Alex Ideh group and there was fighting. It was as a result of the trouble generated by that fighting that the Presidency intervened and set up the Federal Government peace committee under joint chairmanship of the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Naval Staff. That was how we went to Abuja on January 10 and we have been holding series of meetings from then till now that we have reached final resolution.

What is the situation at Ugborodo today?

Part of the final communiqué is very clear. There was an order by the Chief of Naval Staff for all displaced persons in any of the communities to go back immediately and that anybody found or caught stopping anybody would have the Federal Government to deal with. This was an order both factions signed. So it is expected that people should begin to return

Nobody has the right to chase even a law-abiding non indigene from settling in the community, not to talk of people being banished from their own land by fellow citizens. That can only happen by force of arms, which is a critical situation.

How can peace be sustained in Ugborodo?

It is for everybody to be law abiding; for leaders of both factions to impress it on their foot soldiers. The leaders are not the ones directly doing the violence.

It is youths loyal to them.

The onus is on the leaders to talk to the boys in Ode-Ugborodo, Madangho, Ajudaibo, Ijalla and Ogidigben to sheathe their swords and maintain peace because the peace order is very clear – anybody caught with arms would have the law to deal with.

It is for everybody to abide by the spirit of the final resolution.

Beyond the leadership tussle, the common man in Ugborodo has the feeling that development for the community is being hijacked by the community leaders. How does the final resolution resolve this basic grievance?

Development is both a function of leadership and that of followership. It behooves on the followers to ask questions if the leaders are failing, be it in the Trust or even as far as this EPZ Committee to be inaugurated is concerned. I don’t have a problem with a questionable leader being questioned even if it amounts to reporting him to the police for appropriate investigation.

Continues on page 39

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—39

We support Uduaghan’s peace efforts — Alex Eyengho Continues from page 38 They are not there to enrich themselves. They are elected to serve the people to whom they must be accountable. I must however also emphasize that the failed development of Ugborodo is beyond the failure of leadership. The oil companies also share the blame. If you look at Ugborodo where Chevron has its corporate headquarters, you see a small London and just meters across Ode-Ugborodo where the Chevron is making all the money, it is just like a primitive settlement.

But a basic limitation in developing the area too is the ability of the community to have unity of purpose in accepting development. There is the issue of $6M Chevron released that is lying idle for years when it is supposed to have be used for development of Ugborodo New Town Project The fuss over US$6million has been over flogged. The governor has proved it and the bank confirmed that the money is intact.

Why is the project for which the money is meant delayed? It is very clear. Chevron has brought money; Government has brought in something on the table too, but the community is being expected to bring some sort of money to do sand filling or site preparation or something. The community is saying no. This is a tripartite project. They are saying the donors have all the money.

Biggest gas plant They should spend what they have brought to run the project.

Where do you expect the community to bring money? But the point must be made that the leadership of the Chief Ereyitomi’s Community Trust should be commended for having been so circumspect not to have dipped hands into the money.

They were thoughtful in keeping safe through the Itsekiri Regional Development Agency. We are talking of over seven years ago. If they were not circumspect, the money could have developed wings and flown. Let's also make it clear that US$6million is pittance to the billions some people have been reaping from Ugborodo for years.

Final word: Two major projects, the EPZ, which will host the biggest gas plant in Africa, a fertilizer plant and other establishments at Ogidigben and there is the Marine University coming to the Gbaramatu axis.

These are gigantic Federal Government projects coming to that area, more than enough to feed and satisfy all Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos, in fact Deltans and Ni-

gerians. So there is no need to fight. We must also encourage the Governor whose initiative this whole EPZ thing is all about.

I was listening to him the other day addressing a parliament or a group in London. He spoke eloquently about the EPZ trying to attract investors to come and acquire stakes. So it is very important that Ugborodos, Itsekiris and Deltans in general should know this and support sustainable enabling environment for full benefits of the project to impact the area and its people.

Dr. Alex Ideh

Why we agreed to let peace reign —Dr. Alex Ideh postulating about crumbs and big projects, I wonder again, if you cannot manage the crumbs how can you manage the big pie. Again, let the governor explain to us what he did with N3.8 billion that was meant for the Ugborodo New Town Project. Nothing is done, nothing at the site.

I thought the governor had since explained that this money is intact in the bank and the bank

IT took the intervention of the Federal Government before the warring factions in the leadership crisis that engulfed the oil-rich Itsekiri community of Ugborodo in Warri South-West Local Government agreed to sheath their swords. Former Commissioner for Health in Delta State, Dr. Alex Ideh and Itsekiri youth leader, Mr. Alex Eyengho, who are leaders in both factions, spoke to Vanguard on the new-found peace.

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AN we way that peace has returned to Ugborodo?

It is really unfortunate that we had to wait till this time for the matter to be resolved. Thank God it is resolved amicably. Both factions contending for the position of Governing Council have agreed to sheathe their swords and come together to work for the common good of the community.

I say this with all sense of responsibility. It has come to that. We are happy this is so.

What were the grievances and how were they ironed out?

The grievances are community based. They are things people are upset about, some on the goings on in the community particularly in the last four years. Some of those things are criminal matters.

They are matters we as persons cannot go into. We can only say look, this thing that has happened is not fair. We are not the ones to deal with that. We expect that government agencies have their ways of dealing with that.

Governor Uduaghan said Ugborodo leaders should think big and stop fighting for mere crumbs when there is a bigger pie in the EPZ project, what do you say?

I agree with that to some extent.

But it is important to point out that if you cannot handle the crumbs, how can you handle the big things? I will tell you that all of these problems are caused by the governor. All these peace process we have had to go through to finally agree would have been resolved on August 26th 2013 when

the governor himself called us to a meeting.

I was in that meeting. Pa J.O.S. Ayomike who they are vilifying all over the place agreed to leave his house to go to the governor ’s place.

What we have agreed today is what would have been agreed then. It was a suggestion that was made then, that because they are contending for position of who is the true representatives of the community and you see that a mega project is coming, in order for it not to cause so much friction, take from here and take from here.

This was his (governor ’s) own suggestion, which all of us agreed.

You cannot believe it, one week later, the governor went ahead to do the exact opposite.

So when somebody is

came out to confirm it?

The money the governor is saying is intact is the $6 m paid by Chevron as their contribution to the New Town Project. That money was paid, they agreed to some people nominated by the governor and they put the money in an escrow account, fine. But the governor awarded this particular project in 2010 at a cost of N5.

75 billion. he paid N2.5 billion to the contractor. Two months later, they paid another N1 billion.

Again they paid another N350 million, making a total N3.850B and 76 per cent of the contract sum that have been released. What we are saying is that you have not managed the crumbs. We will get to the root of the matter. And this has nothing to do with the peace initiative.

You didn’t go to Ugborodo when the governor went to the area, why?

He went to Ogidigben. And when you went from what you are saying, did you see the community people? If he wanted to go Ugborodo to show that there is really peace and all that, would he not invite the Eghare-Aja, the Olaja-Orori and others to say I am coming, and we have to work together? But he went with his group. As far as I am concerned, this man is divisive and he is the one causing the crisis in Ugborodo. But in fairness to him, he is doing his official work; he does not have to really tell anybody that he has to go there because there is no ceremony.

How can the prevailing peace in Ugborodo be sustained?

Goodwill shown on both sides is paramount. When we are together in these meetings, we banter jokes and relate well. But when somebody somewhere is pulling the strings for his own selfish interest, how do you sustain the peace?

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—41

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

L-R: Head of Supply Chain, Mouka Limited, Mr. Femi Fapohunda, winner of N100,000, Mr. Adekunle Omotosho at the Mouka Sleep Like a Millionaire Promo, and Head of Human Resources and Admin, Mouka Limited, Mr. Boniface Nwabuko Asa at the prize presentation and 2nd raffle draw for the Mouka Sleep Like a Millionaire Promo in Lagos

L-r: General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, BATN, Abimbola Okoya, permanent secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, representing the state Commissioner of Education; Minabelem Michael West, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Oladunjoye Sadiat Olayinka, and lecturer, Lagos Business School, keynote speaker, Chris Ogbechie, at the BusinessDay Annual Giving Back Conference 2014 in Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 43 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation.

SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health.

SAGITTARIUS: Minor financial success you record today can lead to something bigger and good in the near future; as good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury, merry, making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers.

CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles.

AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument. Been your lucky day you are expected to take good advantage today.

By Richard Eromosele

I

F there is anything people don’t like to share, it is money.

Money is the most renowned symbol of riches. Some people kill in other to have it. Any wonder, it is difficult to part with?

Share your money There are people who hold on to money as if it will never be exhausted.

The truth is that money shared is money gained. That is the way the world

TERROR MUDA

goes round. No one comes to the world with money. And no one goes away with it at the point of death. Money therefore should be like

in “Never say goodbye”

sport.

Honestly, if you have money and you refuse to touch people’s lives, you are the poorest man on earth. Do you want to be poor with all your money?

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

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,

What’s my Horoscope?

Dear Joshua, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is. Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Bakare, Ogun.

Dear Bakare, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary.

Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics.

One moment, you can be very emotional, exhibiting temper with stinging tongue but a few hour later you are amiable, easy going, friendly and compassionate. You are the adaptable type who will see changes as sources of good opportunities.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

MILITANTS' INVASION: Delta communities send SOS to govts

2015: Okpe youths back Uduaghan, Oborevwori

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE— THE people of Gbokoda, Alamita, Obaghoro, Ebrohimi, and Tebukporo communities in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, have called on council authorities and state government to rebuild their houses burnt down during an invasion of the communities by militants, and restore economic life the communities.

The leaders of the communities, Mr. Karakitie Johnbull, Mr. Edward Omajugho, Mr. Wilson Erewa, Mr. Johnbull Oghanandokun and Mr. Richard Akpani spoke on behalf of their people.

They said: “Since our houses were burnt down by Ijaw militants on July 2, 2013, we have not been able to rebuild any of them owing to lack of funds, more so, as this is the time that going to the river or the bushes to work for money is no longer safe.

“There is still insecurity along the creeks occasioned by the same Ijaw militants.

We, therefore, urge the two tiers of government in the state to build houses as we now live under trees like

A

group, Concerned Okpe Youths for Good Governance based in Canada, has called on the Delta South people at home and in diaspora to vote en masse for Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, should he decide to contest for the Delta South senatorial district election come 2015.

The group also called on all Okpe people to rally round Blessing O b o r e v w o r i , chairmanship aspirant of Okpe Local Government Area of the state, as the people await the date of the council election by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC. The group, in a statement by its National Chairman, Presley Urhomuakpo, explained that the call to support Uduaghan became necessary because of the development his administration had recorded in the state.

Telecom firm backs artistes

T

HE Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Larry Annetts, has said that the telecom company was promoting the burgeoning Nigerian entertainment industry through monetisation opportunities for artistes and music producers.

He spoke to newsmen at the unveiling of more artistes as

part of MTN’s growing band of brand ambassadors and premiering of new music videos in Lagos.

Annetts said: “We have created digital music distribution platforms that is allowing artistes to monetise the distribution of their music in an industry marred by piracy.”

animals, because a situation where the victims of the invasion scramble to partition

thatched homes under trees to live in is no longer convenient for us.”

They said they had heeded the state government’s advice not to avenge the

Ex-militants fault foreign support against Boko Haram

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI— A group of exfreedom fighters in Delta State under the aegis of defunct Niger-Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, yesterday, faulted Federal Government’s acceptance of foreign army to fight Boko Haram, saying it was unnecessary.

The former agitators, in a statement by their spokesman, Mark Anthony,

said: “We are surprised to see third-party military support when the real fight has not begun. Let the Nigerian government strike the Boko Haram strongholds in the North first and if the government is seen to be over-powered, that is when we will need foreign military/logistics support to fight the insurgents.

“The two parties have not had any confrontation.

Foreign army should hold on until the scores come after their confrontation. The government played politics with the Boko Haram issue at the initial stage until it grew to become a real monster.

“The government of Nigeria under the eyes of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, late Yar’Adua and Jonathan had bombed several Niger Delta communities before the amnesty.”

OGUN CENTRAL: Sodipo-Clark consults PDP chieftains Alausa, among others. for any political position and

D

R. Abisola Sodipo-Clark, wife of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, appears set to join the race for Ogun Central senatorial seat, Ogun State, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. A statement by PDP state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waliu Oladipupo, said the medical doctor, who hails from Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state, was in Abeokuta, yesterday to consult with party chieftains and members ahead of the 2015 general elections.

On hand to welcome her at PDP secretariat were party members led by party Chairman, Chief Adebayo Dayo; Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo; former deputy governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye; party chieftain, Alhaji Agboola

Though she did not deny or confirm the speculation surrounding her ambition, Clark said she was qualified

that she was in the state to renew her membership card and consult with party members.

Delta demolishes more illegal structures

BY FESTUS AHON & EGUFE YAFUGBORI

U

GHELLI—CHAIRMAN of the reconstituted Delta State Special Sanitation Taskforce, Chief Frank Omare, has led his team on a renewed demolition of illegal structures in parts of the Warri metropolis.

On the team were the state Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Ben Igbakpa and his Water Resources counterpart, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen.

Together with bulldozers and other heavy duty equipment, they brought

down illegal structures from Ogunu Head Bridge through Ajanimogha, Ekpan, Okere and Robert Roads in Warri.

Chief Omare, Igbakpa and Oghenechovwen noted that force had to be applied as most residents failed to comply with government’s directive to remove their illegal structures.

They said the task force has the capacity and political will to demolish any illegal structure, advising residents of Warri, Uvwie and Udu councils to remove their illegal structures as the task force will not succumb to blackmail.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

attack and destruction of their homes, adding that none of the promises made by the government to rehabilitate the victims had been fulfilled.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On the Chibok schoolgirls

W

ILL the so-called c o m m i t t e e members go to Sambisa? Why not set up a rescue team? It is already 21 days and still counting. How long do we have to wait to see our girls return to their parents.— Ms. Chimezie Ezembu, Communicator.

I

have decided not to personalise this issue by blaming any individual in particular.

Let those in government admit that they have failed the people they swore oaths on holy books, such as the Bible and Quran, to protect.— Mr. Igwe Buchi, Engineer.

T

HIS is a northern conspiracy to discredit the President Goodluck Jonathan's government. No single teacher was involved in the kidnap. Teachers could not call police.

School security did not react and nobody was killed.— Mr. Matty Richy, Businessman.

N

O R T H E R N comrades should mobilise and go into the forest to look for the girls. I wonder why they are flexing powers at the square. If they cannot go, let them tell the security operatives where to go find the girls.— Mr. Chibuzor Ogbonna, Officer.

A

SKING these parents for their children’s photographs is alarming. And for President Jonathan to say he does not know where the Chibok schoolgirls are is, in itself, a scandalous admission.— Mr. Darlington Ehondor, Businessman.

O

N the 234 girls r e p o r t e d l y abducted by the insurgents, I really appreciate the efforts of human right activists and Nigerians. People with information that can help the security operatives should please step out.— Mr. Daniel Okoji, Student.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 45

Ijaw leaders rebuke youths over stand on Delta EPZ project

Community blames woes on poor representation

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI — I JAW leaders in the oil-rich Sokobolou and Yokiri Ijaw Federated Communities in Delta State, yesterday, lambasted Ijaw youths, who, recently, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to stay off Saturday ’s groundbreaking ceremony of the Federal Government's $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The leaders, in a statement by Mr. Friday Abanana, and four others, said that the youths who made the call did not have the authority of the people to make such assertion.

“The Sokobolou and Yokiri communities urge Mr. President to ignore calls on him to abort the ground breaking ceremony of the gas project and proceed to do same if that is part of his itinerary," they said.

Oghara kingship tussle: Court fixes June 4 for pretrial conference

BY EMMA AMAIZE & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

W

ARRI—A DELTA State High Court sitting in Warri, adjourned till June 4 for pre-trial conference in the case by Chief Macaulay Akpuri, challenging the installation of the traditional ruler of Oghara Kingdom, Ethiope West Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Noble Eshemitan by the state government.

Trial judge, Justice Okpoh, adjourned the case after hearing preliminary motions and submissions by parties.

Chief Akpuri is challenging the installation of HRM Eshemitan, the Ogharefe III, claiming that he is the “Ovie Designate, chosen on August 12, 2012 in accordance with the Native Law and Custom of Oghara Kingdom.”

C M Y K

COMMISSIONING: From left: Mr. Isaac Ekeruche, Chief Christopher Ominimini, Sir Ken Okolugbo, Commissioner, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and Mr. Frank Ereya, during the commissioning of the modern market in Akoku, Ukwuani Local Government Area, Delta State, built by DESOPADEC.

Insecurity: Jonathan victim of intrigues, manipulations —Graham-Douglas

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—FOUR times minister, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a victim of high and powerful web of conspiracy and manipulations, orchestrated by some politicians not happy with his emergence as President and calls for his re-election in 2015.

Graham-Douglas, who served four different ministries in the administrations of General Ibrahim Babaginda, late General Sani Abacha and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said the insurgency in the North was orchestrated to scuttle Jonathan’s rising profile and achievements as well as stop his re-election in 2015.

The Kalabari Chief, in Yenagoa, Wednesday, at a reception held in his honour by the former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, SSG and founder of the Azaiki Public Library, Prof. Steve Azaiki on

the occasion of his 75 birthday anniversary, said he had earlier warned Jonathan against plots of conspiracy against his administration and the issue of insurgency in the Northern part of the country.

According to him, all the dastardly acts of terrorism were targeted at derailing the government of Jonathan as demonstrated by the activities of Boko Haram.

He noted that as a four-time minister, who was in the nation’s “inner circle,” he has a lot to be revealed in his yet to be published autobiography.

He said: “What is happening today is a concentric circle of intrigues, conspiracy and manipulations, but people looking at it, say Boko Haram carried girls. What are they after? I have advised our son, open your eyes and for every step you are taking, see if there is a hole.”

On the emergence of Jonathan as Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2007, Graham-

Douglas said though Jonathan was not prepared for the office of Vice President, he and others practically begged Jonathan to accept the Vice Presidency in 2007 to assuage the feelings of the Ijaw in the South-South geo-political zone.

Alabo Graham-Douglas said he travelled to London to prevail on Jonathan to accept the idea of vice presidency in order to scuttle the presidential ambition of a former Rivers State governor, after a meeting involving him and some Northern elements, including the late Olusola Saraki.

“I played a very pivotal role in the emergence of Jonathan (as Vice President). I set up a system between ourselves and the Northern Union. I was a friend of (Olusola) Saraki. We decided that we must have President and Vice President.

I travelled to London to see Jonathan after I brokered the whole thing and I said, ‘please come and lead us.”

Nigeria, Kenya to explore opportunities in African markets

A

BUJA—THE Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, and its Kenyan counterpart have pledged to explore the vast market opportunities in Africa to promote trade and investment.

The two made the commitment when the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Ruth Mwaniki, visited NEPC's office in Abuja.

Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, NEPC Executive Director, said African countries have not fully explored the opportunities provided by the inter-Africatrade policy.

He said that the continent could only reach an enviable economic growth if the countries encourage trade between themselves.

“The NEPC is principally established to offer assistance that could boost enterprise.

Both countries can, therefore, explore the available opportunities provided by the Inter-Africa-Trade policy. Kenya has comparative advantage in horticulture business just as Nigeria has in film-making and oil exploration. We are also strong producers of cocoa, rubber, cassava, sesame seeds and endowed with so many natu-

ral resources yet to be explored.

“Therefore, the two countries could leverage on these opportunities to strengthen their economies,” he said.

On NEPC inputs to the World Economic Forum, he said that the council would cash in on the influx of investors to explore possible partnership with local entrepreneurs.

On her part, Mwaniki expressed delight on her visit to Nigeria, adding that Kenya was prepared to partner Nigeria to expand trade in Africa.

ARRI—IJAWS in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, have expressed disappointment at what they called the gross underdevelopment of Burutu town, despite its existence as a council headquarters since 1967.

The Burutu people under the Iduwini National Movement for Peace and Development of Iduwini Kingdom, in a statement in Warri, blamed the situation, especially lack of access roads, on poor representation by political office holders from the locality.

The statement by the group’s President, Mr. Forcados Kingsley noted that “Burutu area has produced reasonable number of representatives at federal and state levels while prominent men have headed Burutu council without commensurate development."

Delta GDI pledges support for Jonathan, Uduaghan

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— DELTA State Chairman of Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, Mr Solomon Debekeme, has said that no amount of intimidation from Boko Haram would stop President Goodluck Jonathan from running for a second term.

Debekeme in a statement, yesterday, also assured Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of his support, adding that they will continue to partner him to actualise his political dream for the state.

“We will continue to work with Governor Uduaghan to achieve his great vision for the state.”

Debekeme, a former freedom fighter, also enjoined the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike to convene a meeting of state chairmen of GDI in the country as the grand patron of the body.

46— Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Nigeria owes the youth a duty on leadership position — FASHOLA

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejokhas has blamed the country for not doing enough to develop the youths and prepare them for future leadership positions.

He spoke in Lagos at the public presentation of a book, “Four Years with the Actualizer ”, written by his personal assistant on Print Media, Mac Durugbo.

Fashola, who was represented by his deputy, Adejoke Adefulire, said it was a dangerous trend for any nation to jettison the need to invest in its youth by inculcating the right values of leadership in them.

He said” “We need to build on what we have now, otherwise we go back to ground zero, so we owe it a duty to develop our young people and inculcate good values of honesty, hard work, resourcefulness and efficiency.”

Fashola said his achievements, which the book chronicled, would not make much meaning if there were no leaders to take over and continue in his strides.

Madam Ogundare for burial

M

RS Sabitiu A m o p e Ogundare is dead, aged 105. Final burial comes up on May 10 2014, 10am at Olori Adini Compound, Iboro, Iyewa Local Government, Ogun State.

She is survived by children and many grand children, among whom is Alhaji Ibrahim Ogundare.

.Late Mrs Ogundare

Ebonyi govt, rice millers on war path A

BYPETEROKUTU

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State government yesterday vowed to eject rice millers by all means over alleged expiration of tenure of the current executive and presumed crisis in the company.

But chairman of the company, Deacon Joseph Ununu, said the government had no powers over the company, saying it was a private concern and not an agency of government.

He also alleged that the state government was deliberately stoking crisis in the company, with the intention of in stalling its own executive.

When our correspondent visited the mill, there was peace and harmony in the area as customers and operators of the mill were seen going about their lawful businesses without any form of chaos and disaffection.

A source close to the mill alleged that the state government, having failed in its attempt to relocate the rice millers, decided to set up an alleged 4-man caretaker committee, headed by Patrick Mbam, to handle the operations of the company

From left: Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mrs Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv, MultiChoice Nigeria, and Mr Chris Obasi, Head of IT, MultiChoice Nigeria during the 2014 DStv Basketball All Star held at Unilag Indoor Sport Hall on Saturday 3rd of May, 2014. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. without due process.

It was gathered that the committee members stormed the company with some hoodlums and carted away over N1m cash, the daily sales

register of the company, radio among other valuables.

State Commissioner for Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Donatus Aja, who confirmed that security

agents, including the police, State Security Service, SSS, would be mobilized to the mill on May 12, 2014, to chase out it occupants, following reports of crisis in the area.

Jonathan urged to intervene in Oko Poly, LG feud

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to intervene in the worsening relationship between the Oko in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State and the management of the Federal Polytechnic, FEDPOLY, Oko, in the community.

The community had, at a press briefing in Awka, listed six grievances which include a demand for public apology from the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and his Anambra command commissioner, Usman Gwary, “for publicly denigrading their monarch, HRH Igwe Prof Laz Ekwueme. They also ask President Jonathan “to caution the Police to stop taking sides in the crises and to focus on their constitutionally assigned mediating and peacekeeping

responsibility”.

The community also want the Police high command to “face its constitutionally assigned duty and responsibility and effect immediate arrest and prosecution

A

BA—A group, Niger Delta Leaders Assembly, NDLA, a body with membership drawn from the nine Niger Delta states of the country, has joined in the call on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention to seek a second term in office, come 2015.

This call is contained in a communiqué issued in Umuahia and signed by it’s national officers, including, the deputy national chairman, Chief Femi Okun, national secretary, Prince Emmanuel Ewang, national legal Adviser, Pastor Amanze Onuoha,

the President General of Oko Peoples Union, Mr Cyprian Nwanmuo, the community accused the Anambra-born businessman, Mr Emeka Offor of tacitly fueling the crises.

Igbo youths attack ACF over opposition to new S' East state BYANAYO OKOLI

U

M U A H I A — OHANAEZE youths have attacked Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, over its opposition to the creation of an additional state for the South- East geopolitical zone.

Ohanaeze youths accused the group of inciting northern delegates at the on-going

Group drums support for Jonathan

BY ERIC UGBOR

of those involved in the arson and destruction of property in Oko, and attempted murder of HRH Prof Laz Ekwueme and his wife, Prof Lucy Ekwueme.

In the briefing addressed by

and Abia State acting coordinator, Chief Emeka Stanley.

NDLA stated that their call on the President to seek a second term in office in 2015 was deserving and in line with peculiar democratic practices in the country.

The group acknowledged the President’s giant strides in revolutionalising agriculture, improved transport system through airport and railway rehabilitation, job creation, prudent management and diversification of the economy which are all products of the Transformation Agenda.

National Conference to vote against the core demands of Ndigbo at the conference.

A statement signed by the national leader, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the position of ACF amounted to total disrespect and lack of love for Ndigbo.

“It portrays the ACF as a group that has for long benefited from the structural marginalisation of Ndigbo in the Nigerian project, and are willing to go to any length to maintain the tilted statusquo,” the group said.

Regretting that ACF was ungrateful to Ndigbo after having selflessly protected their interest in the past, the group reminded them that Nigerian independence’s was postponed by two years at Zik’s request to enable the North get prepared for it.

According to the group, this is the reason Igbo senators, especially Chief Ken Nnamani, then Senate President and Senator Uche Chukwumerije shot down the 3rd Term Agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the National

Assembly in 2006.

Pa Alade for Burial

B

URIAL rites for Most Elder Gabriel Adewole Alade, 81, popularlly called Orimolade successor, who died on February 13, 2014, will kick off in Lagos, with service of songs on May 13, 2014, followed by a Christian wake on May 15, 2014 at his residence, 11, Cecilia Odutuga Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos.

Lying-in-state and funeral service hold at Gymnasium Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, on 10am of Friday May 16, 2014 followed by interment and entertainment of guests at his residence.

.Late Elder Alade

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—47

INAUGURATION: From left, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Werinipre Seibarugu, Vice Chairperson, Committee for Protection & Prevention of Violence Against Women & The Girl Child, Mrs. Pere Egbuson; Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd); Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, and his wife, Dr. Rachael Dickson, shortly after the inauguration of the above committee, at the Government House, Yenagoa.

BRIEFING: From left, Rot. Olugbemiga Olowu, District Governor, Rot. Anthonia Omotayo Taiwo, Conference Chairman, and Rot. Ayo Ojo, Conference Secretary, during Rotary District 9110 press briefing on its Annual Conference, slated for May 14 - 17, in Abeokuta, at Rotary House, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

TOURNAMENT: From left, Fourth Runner Up, Ms. Gloria Towe; Head of Reserve, Diageo Brands Nigeria, Mr. Joe Nazzal; Winner, Ms. Maureen Reece; Golfer, Ms. Ejide Ndidi, and 2nd Runner Up, Mr. Andrew Onaoro, during the first round of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Trophy Amateur Golf Tournament Series, at Lakowe Lakes, Lagos.

AWARDS: From left, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, presenting award for the ICT Reseller of the year 2014, to Isaac Osei, Sales Officer, DATAFLEX; Ifeanyi Nweke, Account Manager, SMB Business for DATAFLEX, at the Beacon of ICT Awards, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Ranti Adebisi; wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; President, Ekiti State Food Vendors Association, Chief Victoria Oladimeji, and wife of Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Modupe Owolabi, during Erelu Fayemi's presentation of empowerment materials to members of the association, in Ado-Ekiti.

DINNER: From left, Country Manager, Ericsson Nigeria, Kamar Abass; Chief Executive Officer, MTN, Mr. Mike Ikpoki; Chief Executive Officer, Airtel, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya and Head, Sub-Saharan Africa Region, Ericsson, Fredrik Jejdling, during Ericsson's Business Dinner with partners, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

LAUNCH: From left, Nicholas Utsalo, Snr, PR Officer, Consumer Protection Council, Lagos Office; Ihuoma Godspower-Omenazu,Accounts Manager, Cutler Communication; Anetor Irete, PR Manager, Startimes, and Habeeb Somoye, Brand Manager, Startimes Nigeria, during the launch of StarTimes 'ExtraTime' promo, at Western West Hotel, Ikeja Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

C M Y K

PRESENTATION: From left, Mrs. Ruth Mwaniki, CEO of Kenya Export Promotion, being presented with a copy of Export Newsletter by Mr. Segun Awolowo, Executive Director/CEO of Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, during the former's visit to NEPC office, Abuja.

HOSTING: From left, Rapper Sym 19, Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Tony One Week; Muonago, rapper; Naeto C, and Senior brand manager, Gulder, Onyeka Okoli, during the hosting of celebrities, at Gulder Club Ultimate, Enugu.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Lack of funds forces contractors to abandon airport terminal projects

WEFA: NECO moves exam dates nationwide

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

A

BUJA— THE National Examinations Council, NECO, yesterday, shifted its Basic Education Certificate Examination from May 8-10 because of the World Economic Forum Africa, WEFA. The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Promise Okpala, who stated this in an interview in Abuja, said the examination timetable had to be adjusted because of the closure of public institutions in the FCT which also affected schools.

Okpala said examination materials could not be released in other states to avoid compromising the credibility of the examination.

He said: “The examination, scheduled to start from Thursday May 8 and end on May 22, would now begin on May 10 and end on May 24. ”The French Language and Business Studies scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9 would now hold on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24, respectively. ”This was to allow for uniformity in the conduct and safeguard the credibility of the examination”.

He, however, regretted any inconvenience the shift in the examination might have caused all those concerned and called for support for the council in ensuring a smooth conduct of all its examinations. ”This year’s enrolment for the examination had improved with a nationwide enrolment of 110,316 candidates which was a pointer to the fact that education was being taken seriously and was not being affected by any challenges the country might be facing. ”The South-West had the highest enrolment for the examination, formerly known as Junior Secondary Certificate Examination (JSCE), with 38,218 candidates. ”North Central is second with 24,883, North-West; 11,802, followed by NorthEast with 9,887. And SouthEast had the lowest enrolment figure of 9,553 candidates”.

The Registrar assured of NECO’s commitment in ensuring smooth and credible conduct of examinations in the country.

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From lef: Dr. Dafe Akpocha, Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA); Dr. Henry Muogho, Director of Administration, Ibru Group and Mr. Samuel Ogbogoro, Media Relationship Manager, Dana Air receiving an award on behalf of Dana Air at the global award presentation of Africa Democratic Governance, in Lagos.

Chibok: Plateau women protest, seek radical action against terror

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS —CHRISTIAN and Mus lim women of different ethnicities resident in Plateau State, under the aegis of Plateau Women Solidarity Movement, yesterday, came out in their numbers to say a resounding no to terror and protest the “cruel abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok and eight more girls in Yobe State.”

The women, dressed in black and white, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Jail terror sponsors", "Secure our borders", "Nigerian government, engage Chad, Niger and Cameroun", "Free our Chibok and Yobe girls", "Politicians stop mortgaging our future", "All mothers are crying” among others.

The womenmarched a distance of about two kilometres from the Air Force Base at Old Airport Road to the Government House, Rayfield, Jos, singing solidarity songs, crying and offering prayers of deliverance for the girls.

Speaking separately on behalf of the women, Pastor Esther Ibanga from Women Without Walls Initiative, WOWWI, and Hajia Khadijah Hawaja from Muslim Women Peace Forum, MWPF, stressed that no effort should be spared in rescuing the girls.

The duo said: “The Federal Government should take radical steps to secure the borders and employ all diplomatic means to engage the governments of neighbouring countries so as to restore our girls to their families. ”When terrorists resort to the kidnapping of children, they have attained the highest level of criminality and evil. They have demonstrated flagrant violation of legal rules of warfare

by launching brutal attacks against civilians. ”It is unacceptable to Nigerian women that our daughters have become war trophies. Act now as it is time to identify, expose and prosecute the masterminds, sponsors and instigators of terror. ”It is time for proactive and decisive action to end immunity, impunity and the Boko Haram insurgency.”

Addressing the women at Gov-

ernment House, Governor Jonah Jang, represented by his deputy, Mr. Ignatius Longjan, commended the women for the peaceful protest and show of solidarity, adding that the Federal Government and security agencies were working to ensure the safe return of the girls.

The governor called for persistent prayers, trusting that with the help of external forces, the scourge of Boko Haram would be lifted.

ASUP accuses Wike of gambling with Poly students' future

BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI — STRIKING mem bers of Bauchi State chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, have accused the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, of gambling with the future of students in polytechnics in the country.

According to them, Wike is only interested in his political ambition and has not shown enough commitment towards resolving the issues that have sustained the indefinite strike.

National Vice President of ASUP, Usman Duste, who stated this, yesterday, during an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, said although the struggle was in the interest of the students and to address the rot in polytechnics, the lingering strike will definitely affect the quality of graduates produced in the institutions.

He criticised the minister for giving the public a wrong impression that ASUP was strongheaded by embarking on propaganda and spreading falsehood.

Duste lamented the high level discrimination that existed between polytechnics and universities, saying “polytechnics in Nigeria are treated by the gov-

ernment as second class institutions, whose certificates are not job worthy.

“For instance, in the area of funding, TEPFUND gives polytechnics and Colleges of Education half of federal funds, while the funding received by one university is more than five polytechnics put together.”

He also raised doubt concerning the setting up of a committee to address the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree holders, which was announced by Wike at a retreat in Kaduna.

BUJA — LACK of funds from the Federal Ministry of Aviation has forced contractors handling the remodeling of terminal projects at various airports in the country to pull out of site.

Only the five new terminals being built in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu, which have concession arrangement, have construction still ongoing. Work has stopped on the other airport projects across the country.

Sources, however, said there was enough money earmarked for the completion of all the projects, but the Permanent Secretary, Dr Jamila Shu’ara, who is the accounting officer for the Ministry of Aviation, is allegedly sitting on the funds.

Shu’ara is also being accused of redeploying all the directors who are monitoring the projects for the ministry.

According to the source, “the permanent secretary is also questioning the projects being built in Akure, Ibadan, Asaba, Enugu and Jos, saying that they were not priority projects.

The money to complete these projects is there but they have refused to release it to contractors. ”It is the refusal to pay these contractors that is holding back the completion of the expansion project at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos."

But the Special Adviser to the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ori Okojokwu, however, denied that Shu’ara is holding back the funds.

According to her, “that allegation is very unkind. It is not true. Although I am not the spokesman of the ministry but I am telling you that it is not true. Somebody is being mischievous somewhere. That is just the truth.”

RCCG holds ministers' retreat

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ENIN — THE Region 13 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)holds a Ministers Retreat tomorrow at the Regional Camp Ground, Benin City, Edo State.

The programme tagged ‘Take heed thy self ’ is expected to attract about 10,000 ministers of God from Edo and Delta states that make up the Region 13.

According to the Pastor in

charge of the region, Pastor James Dagunduro, the programme is packaged to have greater impacts in the life and ministry of the participating ministers and assured that all necessary machinery had been put in place to ensure success of the programme.

Speaking further, the cleric confirmed that four different topics would be discussed at the programme by different anointed men of God.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 49

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AFRIC A AFRICA

Oil funds to be accounted for in 16 weeks — FG

BY OMOH GABRIEL

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ricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Nigeria’s government auditor will need 12 to 16 weeks to “clarify” what happened to billions of dollars of oil revenue alleged to be missing, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.

The company based in New York will help the government of Africa’s biggest oil producer to find crude proceeds proba-

Dangote to invest $2.3bn in northern Nigeria

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FRICA'S richest man, Aliko Dangote said on Thursday he will invest $2.3 billion in sugar and rice production in the north of the country.

Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, told the World Economic Forum in Abuja that creating employment was key to ending an insurgency in the region.

He also said he would invest $12 billion in Nigeria and $4 billion outside the country over the next four years.

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bly not accounted for, she told delegates at the World Economic Forum in Abuja.

Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi, who said there were missing funds, was suspended for alleged “financial recklessness and miscon-

duct,” Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati said in a Feb. 20 statement. He was replaced by his deputy, Sarah Alade, as acting governor.

Sanusi wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan late last year alleging the state-owned

Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. had retained almost $50 billion in revenue that was due to the government. He later amended the figures to $12 billion at a news briefing with the finance minister before raising them to $20 billion at a Feb. 4 meeting with lawmakers. The NNPC has denied the allegations. Jonathan’s office said that under Sanusi’s watch the central bank was “distracted” from its mandate.

African leaders commit to increased investment in agric

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FRICAN leaders reaf firmed their commitment to transforming the agricultural sector across the continent at the 2014 Grow Africa Investment Forum, taking place in Abuja, Nigeria, in the lead-up to the World Economic Forum on Africa, which started today.

Building on recent successes of the Grow Africa partnership – a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency and the World Economic Forum – the leaders agreed that increased private sector investment in agriculture is key to delivering economic opportunity and food security within their countries.

“There are huge opportunities in agriculture. This will create jobs and achieve food security,” said Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,

President of Nigeria. “The key is not just producing enough food for local consumption, but also creating jobs along the value chain,” he added.

“For years, Africa’s agriculture was marked by low productivity, low production,” noted Jakaya M. Kikwete, President of Tanzania.

Thanks to an agriculture transformation based on a blueprint started at the World Economic Forum on Africa in 2010 in Dar es Salaam, he said his country is seeing dividends. As a result, “hunger can be overcome, and increased income reduces poverty.”

In 2013, Grow Africa partners doubled their commitments for agriculture and food security to $7.2 billion. Of this, $970 million is already invested, which has led to the creation of 33,000 new jobs

and assistance to 2.6 million smallholder farmers throughout the continent. The increase in committed funding is captured in the recently published Grow Africa Annual Report. “We have made some progress on the ground,” said Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda.

He said this is largely due to investments in land management, seed quality, technology, water management and other factors, including the important role of smallholder farmers.

As an African-owned and country-led platform, Grow Africa works to catalyse increased and inclusive investment and multistakeholder partnership in the agriculture sector, in line with African countries’ Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) plans.

Africa must work harder to reduce inequality — Annan

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FRICAN governments should work harder to reduce inequality that has prevented the benefits of a decade of economic growth from being spread equitably, according to a report by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan released on Thursday.

The plunder by foreign investors and corrupt officials of the continent’s fishing and timber resources is a clear example of the failure to harness natural resources for the common good, according to the annual Africa Progress Report. “After more than a decade of growth, there is plenty to celebrate,” Annan was set to say at the report’s launch at the World Economic Forum for Africa, in Abuja, Nigeria.

“But it is time to ask why so much growth has done so little to lift people out of poverty and why so much of Africa’s resource wealth is squandered through corrupt practices and unscrupulous investment activities,” Annan said. The report is written by the Africa Progress Panel chaired

by Annan, which advocates sustainable development.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

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Ukraine: Pro-Russian rebels defy Putin P

RO-RUSSIA separatists in eastern Ukraine have decided to go ahead with a Sunday referendum on greater local powers, they said Thursday, defying a call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone the vote.

Putin had urged the proRussia sympathizers to delay the referendum to give dialogue “the conditions it needs to have a chance.”

Representatives from the council of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic and separatists from Luhansk told reporters they have voted to press ahead to ask eastern Ukrainians there if they want sovereignty from Kiev.

“After the vote that was held today, the unanimous

Putin decision was to go ahead with the referendum May 11,” Denis Pushilin, the self-declared chairman of the Donetsk People’s Republic said, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

Pushilin said Putin’s comments Wednesday were “surprising” but he respected him.

There was no immediate

reaction from Moscow or Kiev.

Sunday ’s referendum could echo events in March when voters in Crimea approved a controversial ballot to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, which subsequently annexed the Black Sea peninsula. The move escalated the turmoil rocking the country.

S/Africans show solidarity with Nigerians over Chibok girls

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

S

OUTH Africans have expressed solidarity with Nigeria over the abduction of over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents operating in the north eastern part of the African country.

Professor Andre Boraine, who is the dean of Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, said yesterday that South Africans were deeply concerned about the action of the Islamist sect and worried about the fate of the young girls whose future has been thrown into uncertainty.

Boraine was in Lagos as the guest lecturer of the 2014 Punuka annual lecture where legal practitioners examined issues on “employee and Pension claims in insolvency” as the theme of the lecture.

Said Boraine: “We in South Africa are thinking about Nigeria and we are deeply worried about the incidence of the abduction of the students and we fully identify with all the national and international efforts to find the girls.”

The University Don said South Africa has its own

security challenges, but its citizens remain strongly behind every effort to rescue the girls.

Welcoming participants to the lecture, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), said “this year’s lecture has been carefully selected in the light of the economic pressures over the decades resulting into several numbers of companies going into various forms of restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and liquidations.”

He said this year ’s

lecture was conceptualised to present the discourse from an independent point of view, addressing particular challenges with employee claims against insolvent companies and proffering solution for the future.

The event which attracted eminent personalities from legal and business communities was chaired by Justice G.A. Oguntade, a retired judge of the Supreme Court.

Syrian Rebels leave Homs

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EBEL fighters have completed their withdrawal from the central city of Homs, officials and activists say.

State television declared late yesterday afternoon that the Old City was “totally clean of armed terrorist groups” and troops would soon move in.

Earlier, Homs Governor Talal al-Barazi said more than 1,500 fighters and their relatives had left since Wednesday.

It marks the end of three years of resistance in Syria’s third city, once dubbed the “capital of the revolution”.

Much of Homs fell to

the opposition in 2011, but over the past two years government forces have gradually regained control by subjecting areas once home to tens of thousands to continuous siege and bombardment.

Government forces took full control of the heart of Homs on Thursday after the last rebels in the Old City boarded buses and were transported to rebelheld territory to the north.

“Old Homs is totally clean of armed terrorist groups,” state television said, using the government’s term for those seeking to topple President Bashar alAssad.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Candidates promise monarchs no violent campaigns Fayemi sends alert on PDP/LP rigging plans

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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LL three major candidates, Kayode Fayemi, Opeyemi Bamidele and Ayodele Fayose yesterday pledged to be of good behaviour for the rest of the campaign.

The three who were at a meeting summoned by the Council of Traditional Rulers where 13 other candidates of the other political parties were also invited.

Former governor Ayo Fayose who came late to the meeting caused a scene at the event as he prostrated before the Obas when accused of coming late to the meeting.

Chairman of the council and the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti Oba Adamo Babalola in his opening speech, noted that the traditional rulers in the State were worried at the pace of violence, considering how campaigns were being carried out by some of the

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

D •Fayemi

•Fayose

•Bamidele

notable candidates.

Oba Babalola said all the candidates must pledge to the traditional rulers not to allow their actions and utterances nor those of their supporters ignite crisis in any part of the State.

All the candidates spoke one after the other, pledged not to allow the state to be thrown into

crisis on account of the campaigns.

In his own comment, Fayemi pledged to the Obas not to allow violence take over Ekiti, in his capacity as Chief Security Officer of the State.

He called on the monarchs to compel the candidates to also sign letters of undertaking to be

of good behaviour, adding that any candidate who breached such peace accord must be dealt with traditionally.

Fayose, the PDP candidate on his part did not only swear not to engineer violence but also rained curses on himself if found wanting.

I won’t force Ekiti teachers to write mandatory test — Bamidele assures NUT

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

L

ABOUR Party (LP) candidate in Ekiti gubernatorial election slated for next month, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele has pledged to stop the compulsory assessment test for public school teachers if elected.

Bamidele made the promise during a meeting on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, held with the teachers under the umbrella of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).

Bamidele told the teachers that rather than subjecting them to a compulsory aptitude test, he would build their professional capacity through training and re-training.

If elected as a governor, he also pledged to expose them to current global trends and developments in teaching profession.

According to him “As a governor I won’t subject you to a compulsory test. It is not that you can’t write exams and pass, but it must not be at the insistence of the state governor”.

He added that “My role as a governor will not be to forcefully examine you. My role will be to encourage you and expose you to contemporary global developments in your profession by training and retraining you”.

“As teachers, we shall give you confidence and

professional esteem. We shall appreciate you as builders of the society because no nation exits without teachers. This confidence has been eroded over the years. We shall revisit the non-payment of the 27.5% increment of pecuniary allowances for teachers being owed by the current administration”.

According to him, “I will go beyond the minimum standard for education budget for state governments. I will evolve more on context and character in the sector. To achieve this, the teachers can never be left out, in terms of their welfare and job satisfaction”.

In his remark, State NUT Chairman, Comrade Kayode Akosile who appreciated Bamidele’s gestures to Ekiti

PDP plans to expose Oni's irrelevance

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

E

YES would be on a PDP rally holding today in Ifaki Ekiti. The party aiming to prove that it has no pains about the defection of the immediate past governor of the state, Engr. Segun Oni from the party to the APC, the

Fayose replaces 80-yr-old running mate

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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HE PDP candidate, Ayo Fayose has dropped his 80 year old running mate Pa Joshua Ojo Eleta and picked a 53 year old university don, Dr Olubunmi Olusola to run with him.

Fayose who is 53 said he chose to go for a non practicing politician for reasons best known to him.

Fayose, said he picked the name of the associate professor based on his conviction that the man is not a practicing politician His words, “The choice of my deputy, Dr Olusola Ojo was God ordained. I presented eight people to God and God chose

teachers in the past also described his visit to the “Teachers’ House” in Iyin Road as homecoming.

him for me. I prayed to God to direct me according to his will .

It was purely a divine inspiration.

“But I had earlier preferred somebody that was apolitical for reasons best known to me. But in clear terms, I did not choose him because of his qualifications.

Though, I quite appreciate the fact that education is essential in governance, but you don’t need to be a doctor or professor before you can add values to the lives of your people”, Fayose disclosed.

On the choice of Ikere Ekiti indigene for his deputy, Fayose declared that the town is very special and strategic to him among the towns in the South senatorial district.

PDP campaign is planning to hold a rally in his hometown.

Speaking with the newsmen at Ikole Ekiti, Fayose said the motive behind the mega rally is to tell the whole world that Oni has lost his relevance politically in his home base “In that rally, Oni’s footsoldiers like Senator Ayo Arise, Dayo Adeyeye, Dipo Anisulowo, Bisi Kolawole and many others will be there. We want to prove to him that he is a general without soldiers. We want to celebrate his departure from our party right in his hometown”, Fayose said.

Expressing his love for the people of Ikole Ekiti, Fayose pledged that he would return the Agricultural Development Programme that had been relocated to Isan Ekiti,Fayemi’s hometown to boost agriculture in the zone and provide employment for the teeming jobless graduates.

He also promised that he would reposition the education sector, particularly the tertiary cadre and make it affordable to all indigenes of the State when elected.

R. Kayode Fayemi yesterday alleged a double pronged rigging strategy supposedly adopted by his political foes in the PDP and Labour to frustrate his re-election.

Fayemi in a statement said the thrust of the strategy was centered around the recruitment of fake policemen who would put away strategic leaders of the APC on Election Day and also help to foment crisis in strongholds of the APC. The Fayemi Campaign Organisation said the intent of the plans is to create fear in the minds of the followers of such leaders who may become jittery and decide to stay away from polling units, thereby leading to voter apathy.

“This plan is to be executed with fake policemen who are currently being recruited and trained by the PDP. Some of these fake policemen trained in Osun and Ondo States are already assigned to the PDP candidate, Ayodele Fayose, and his Labour Party (LP) co-conspirator, Opeyemi Bamidele.

“Decked in fake police uniforms and name-tags, these thugs posing as cops have been providing cover for both the PDP and LP thugs who continue to unleash terror and mayhem on every community the two candidates visit.

“In the last four weeks, thugs of both the PDP and LP candidates have wreaked untold havoc on Egbe, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Aramoko, Ipole-Iloro, Ilupeju, Itaji, Iyin and parts of Ilejemeje Local Government.

Claiming to have also uncovered plans by the PDP to clone voter’s cards to distribute to mercenaries, the Fayemi campaign said:“The PDP agents of rigging have been going about inducing eligible voters to allow them copy the VIN number on their voter’s cards. They plan to clone as many voter’s cards as possible. This criminal act of the PDP agents is more rampant in Ado-Ekiti Local Government which has the highest number of registered voters. Information available to us shows that the PDP already has in its kitty close to 50, 000 fake voter’s cards which it plans to distribute to imported mercenaries for use in six local governments on the day of election.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 55

ACF opposes rotational presidency, governorship •Seeks unlimited multiple terms for President, govs •Wants president, govs stopped from supervising elections they 're contesting

BY HENRY UMORU

Noting that the presidential system has succeeded in the United States, he said the failure of the system in Nigeria has nothing to do with the system but the way and manner it is being operated in the country.

Trim down govt size: Opposing the parliamentary system, the ACF called for what it termed trimming down the size of government to ensure effective management of resources. It called for the merger of some government agencies including ministries, suggesting that appointments of ministers to represent geographical zones should be abolished especially when “such practice conveys the wrong headed impression that zones are also federating units.”

A

HEAD of plenary sessions where reports of the 20 standing committees would be discussed and adopted or jettisoned by delegates, the umbrella body of the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has vowed to resist any move to insert zoning of office of President and governors as a final recommendation. It said political parties should be left with the responsibility.

The group also wants a system where an incumbent president or governor is barred from supervising an election in which he is a candidate. It advocated for multiple terms for the two offices and their deputies as this would make room for motivation and reward, adding that Nigeria should go for multiple tenures that are not consecutive as in Chile or in the alternative the creation of caretaker system as obtained in Bangladesh.

Maximum of two terms Currently, the country has a maximum of two terms of four years each for president, governors and their deputies.

Opposes scrapping of councils: In an 11-page memorandum sub-divided into 20 headings and signed by former Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Coomassie, the ACF opposed plans to transfer the third tier of government, the local councils from the Federal Government to the states or abolition of the councils, adding that though, it never advocated for the National Conference.

No recognition for six geopolitical zones: Also kicking against the recognition of six geopolitical zones, the ACF said that

Five per cent derivation

•President Jonathan the six geo-political zones as federating units with their own states, police and local governments would not only have centrifugal effects on the centre, it would also make the country a confederation, which would lead to an eventual separation of Nigeria as a country.

According to ACF, this “would amount to four tiers of government with dire consequences on the cost of governance and unity of the country.”

Additional state for S-East is counter-productive: In the position paper, ACF kicked against the unanimous recommendations of a National Conference Committees for the creation of an additional state for

the South-East geo political zone because an additional state to the already existing 36-state structure and the Federal Capital Territory would be counterproductive. It argued that too many states translate to more cost of governance at the expense of socio-economic development.

Nothing wrong with current arrangement: Coomassie, who represents the North West geopolitical zone and a co-chairman of Committee on Devolution of Power, in the position paper, stressed that the position of the North is that there is nothing wrong in the present form or structure of government. He insisted that the current presidential system of government should remain.

Rejecting any alteration in structure and form of the Nigerian government, the ACF also endorsed the earlier position of the Northern delegates who had called for the reduction of the 13 percent derivation to five percent as well as the scrapping of offices like the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Niger Delta Affairs Ministry.

He said, “The argument that creation of states should be on the basis of equality irrespective of population and landmass is inconsistent with elementary concept of justice, since injustice is not only when equals are treated unequally but also when unequal(s) are treated equally.”

On power devolution, ACF said, “Any devolution of power can still be achieved with appropriate adjustment in the exclusive list”.

According to the ACF position paper, “It is, therefore, the considered view of ACF that

there is nothing wrong with the current federal structure with states as the federating units. All that is required is purposeful leadership that is humane in spirit, moral in purpose and wise in uses. ACF prefers multiple tenures for President/Governors because such system makes allowance for motivation and reward. But in the case of single term, the good and feckless are grouped together.

Incentive for leaders “As a result, the only incentive for leaders is ability to pillage public funds at collective peril.

However, if the search is for a way of eliminating abuse of incumbency, it may be more productive to consider the practice in Chile which allows for multiple tenures that are not consecutive. That is to say, no President is allowed to conduct an election in which he is a candidate. Another alternative is to use the Bangladesh practice which uses Care-taker Government to conduct the elections.”

Calling for purposeful leadership as that which was required now in Nigeria, the ACF explained that since a political economy makes the governments in Nigeria to determine who gets what, why, where, how and when, it may be difficult to do away with politics of identity called power shift, rotation and zoning.

On Fiscal federalism, ACF noted that there was nowhere in the world that there was true federalism, adding that it was not opposed to principle of derivation provided the aim was to compensate for the environmental degradation resulting from any exploration.

Why Yoruba people in Kogi, Kwara want relocation to Ekiti State — Obayori

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

DELEGATE to the National Conference, Dr Femi Obayori, has called for the restructuring of the country along ethno-cultural line, saying such will give minority tribes in some states a sense of belonging.

He said the conference should make arrangement for people, especially those who are minority in some states to be relocated to their areas of preference through a referendum.

Obayori, who is at the conference on the platform of Ethnic Nationality from the South West, said the Yoruba people in Kogi State had come to the

conference to press for the creation of a separate state which he called Okun State, adding that

since the issue was not being given serious attention, they resorted to what he called ‘Plan

B’ by submitting a memorandum to the conference that they be relocated to any of the Yoruba

states with preference for Ekiti State.

Some S-West delegates out to sabotage region

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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DELEGATE to the ongoing National Conference holding, Otunba Gani Adams, has accused some South-West delegates of opposing key issues promoted by the region.

Adams, who said this while addressing newsmen in Lagos, expressed worries that realising the Yoruba agenda may be

difficult.

According to Adams, about 45 per cent of delegates from the South-West do not believe in the Yoruba Agenda, noting that he had to practically go on his kneels to beg the affected delegates to push for the Yoruba Agenda at the conference.

The National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, stated that those opposed

to the agenda, were interested in retention of the status quo.

He disclosed that Lagos delegates were even opposed to regionalism in spite of the fact that “part of resources from the Western Region was used to develop the state in the past.

Why is it now that most of the resources are in Lagos State that delegates from Lagos are saying they came with Lagos Agenda

—Adams

and they don’t want regionalism that they don’t want to go back to Ibadan to take directives?”

“But I am saying that they don’t have to go to Ibadan to take any order, it is not compulsory that they go to Ibadan any more. We can use Lagos State as capital of Western Region. So why are we trying to short change ourselves?”

56—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Boko-Haram: Islam is pained— MSSN •Urges govt to secure release of abducted school girls

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HE recent abduction of over 200 schoolgirls and the several killings by Boko Haram in the country has been condemned by Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit. The association in strong terms denounced the general activities and operations of the acclaimed Jama'at Ahl as-Sunnah lidda'wa wal-Jihd popularly known as Boko Haram.

The Society in a press statement said it can’t understand the ascription of killings of innocent people in the name of religious conviction.

MSSN is a leading Islamic

organisation in Nigeria and has been at the forefront of training and guiding Nigerian youths spiritually, academically and morally.

According to its Amir (President), Kaamil Kalejaiye, “The spate of unjustified killings in our country is getting unbearable and Islam is always at the receiving end.”

Religion of peace “We condemn these killings, abductions and all forms of attack on citizens.

We unequivocally condemn its perpetrators. Islam is a

religion of peace and does not in any way have a confluence with killing, bombing, kidnapping and forcing people of other faiths into its fold.”

“If these were the methods used by Prophet Muhammed (SAW) to invite people to Islam, it would not have over one billion adherents worldwide.

Kalejaiye reiterated that the Boko Haram has never been and will never be an Islamic group as long as its modus operandi entails killing of innocent people.

He posited that the agenda of Boko Haram is only clear to its members and sponsors

Members of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, protesting to mark the World Press Freedom Day in Lagos

and prayed that sooner those behind it will be exposed.

“Those who are trying to paint Islam bad and black will meet their waterloo very soon,’ he prayed.

He, however called on the Federal Government and all security agencies to go the extra mile in making sure that insecurity is brought to a bearable level if not totally eradicated.

He also advised that the photographs of the abducted girls be published so as to aid their search “This incident has

demonstrated the barbarism in these group and the need for every one to take personal security serious as well as be vigilant. The use of modern security surveillance equipment we believe, will go a long way in foiling these heinous and dastardly acts”.

“We feel and share the pains parents of these future leaders are going through, we pray that almighty Allah protect them wherever they are and safeguard them back home.”

Hijab, int egral par integral partt of Muslim W omen Women — Muslims BYADERONKE ADEYERI

FOLLOWING our last week publication on hijab, some Muslims have continued to speak on the freedom use of hijab in public places and how it affects the duties of career women.

Alhaji Abdulfattah Odusanya, the deputy Imam, Governor’s office Central mosque, Oke mosan, Ogun reteirated the use of hijab as an integral part of Muslim women.

“Hijab means covering or veil is incumbent upon all believing Muslim women as commanded

by Allah in Q 24 v 31. The command from Allah to the believing women on Hijab is to distinguish them from other women and also to protect them

Muslim women. The Hijab affords any lady to be perceived as a noble woman and not to be treated merely as a sexual object because men’s eyes will not glide over her body as it will happen when she is not ‘Hijabed’. There has been several cases of discrimination against women in Hijab at job interviews, places of work, educational institutions, nurses at hospitals and what have you. We have had cases of sack threat and even outright sack of Muslim women on account of the use of Hijab.”

“These acts are clear violation of fundamental human rights of Muslim women in Nigeria.

Without fear or favour, we make bold to say that the Nigerian constitution guarantees the rights

,

Hijab does not stop a Muslim woman to look smart. Prophet Mohammed has taught Muslims sisters the way of Allah and no career should go against this

from any form of molestation or sexual harassment. Almighty Allah says in Quran 33 v 59: “Oh Prophet say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their veils over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be molested. And Allah is ever Oft –forgiving, Most Merciful.”

“It is the primary and most significant means of identifying

,

of the Muslim woman to freely (without let or hindrance) practice and act in accordance with the dictates of her faith and belief, since the constitution grants her freedom of belief and the freedom of association. Hence, the use of Hijab is therefore her inalienable right anywhere in this Country.”

“In the case of nurses, it is an administrative malady or harakiri to hear that two nurses at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos were sacked on

Alhaja Mariam Ademoye

Alhaji Abdu-Fatai Odusanya account of the use of Hijab, when in addition to their right under the Nigerian constitution, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria had issued an enabling Circular and guidelines allowing for the use of Hijab by Muslim nurses in Public hospitals with their uniform. That circular as we can vividly recall, referred to Hijab with the word written as ‘hyjab’. This discrimination is due to pathological hatred of Islam and ardent Muslims on one hand, and genuine ignorance of the Nigerian Law on the other hand.

It is pertinent to note that the Islamic Hijab is the only viable solution to the increasing cases of rape which is due to the astronomical increase of nudity among women in today ’s ‘modern’ society. Certainly, the Hijab only covers the sexuality of woman not her femininity, and the covering of the former allowed the liberation of the latter,” he said.

No career should stop hijab Alhaja Mariam Bolanle Ademoye, Chief Deeds Registrar, Bureau of lands and survey, ogun state opined that the wearing of hijab should not be a basis for sack and intimidation of our Muslim sisters who are career women in as much as they are able to perform their duties diligently.

Hijab does not stop a Muslim woman to look smart. Prophet Mohammed has taught Muslims sisters the way of Allah and no career should go against this.

Surrat 24 v30-31, 51v56 also speaks extensively on the importance of hijab for Muslim sisters. Almighty Allah knows the mind and attitude of men and that is the reason he has made it mandatory for women to use hijab.

Hijab is meant for moral dignity and portrays dignity and respect.

It is also to avoid our women from been raped or molested.

Parents should inculcate use of hijab in children Dr. Alhaja Mariam Abdullahi, an educationist and was a banker for fifteen years.

As far as islamic injunction is concerned, every Muslim must be properly dressed which connotes the use of hijab. Islam is a total way of life and I think some people in power are not setting their priority right. The performance of their duties should be the concern and if it does not impinge on their duties, then it is not necessary.

This is a country where every citizen has the right to choose his or her religion. Hence, women should be allowed to use hijab in every profession of their choice. I was a banker for many years and I did not for a day uncovered my head. Also, as a mother, every Muslim mother must ensure her daughter uses hijab right from age six. Hijab is appropriate.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 — 57

Aregbesola, Sultan, others want insurgents sponsors exposed

O

We work with other Muslim bodies to promote Islam — Barr Adekola association and as such we would not want to deviate from its core objectives. We collaborate with some other Muslim associations to help our members and promote Islam. We sponsor members to participate in programmes. For now, we have BYADERONKE ADEYERI not achieve much with our members.

I want WHAT are the achievements of you to take this this association under your i n t o leadership? consideration I thank Almighty Allah, as you that the rightly said I became the u n i v e r s i ty president of this association in produces 2012 and our constitution says thousands of one can only be a president for members every two terms and my people have year meaning found me worthy to lead the our members will association again the second time. be increasing I was a Vice President of this yearly and as organization for four years which such do not have gave me the opportunity to the capacity to understand the peculiarities of the help the whole association under our former world. president, Hon. Barrister Kaka.

As the As the vice president then, I was president of this always the chairman, planning association, committee for all programs, so, I what are the knew what was expected of me challenges this as the president. However, the •Barrister Adekola Abdul-Kareem administration first thing this administration has encounter? achieved is replenishing the We have other programs apart Every organization in Nigeria association’s purse. from the annual get together like be it a governmental or non When we came into office, the the annual Ramadan open governmental organization has association’s account was almost lecture. The last was held in the one problem in common, empty, so I told my people that university and this lecture is for inadequate fund and this we will never withdraw from the the public and not just members. organization being an Islamic association’s purse again for our We also communicate with oriented and not a profit oriented programs and that is what we members via email, phone organization. have been doing. Presently, we numbers and even have some We do not want to put any have close to a million naira in members residential address. We burden on our members and most our account. have our meetings at least four members donate a token to the Also, we gave out scholarships times a year at the general level. association leaving the burden on to ten students by paying N50,000 Members of the association who the shoulders of the executives. as part payment of their school reside in the same state hold But I thank Almighty Allah who fees. We have also been able to general meeting at the state level. has been our help. Most times at place few members in good How has this organization the executive level, we task organizations. We have also been impacted on non-members? ourselves to run the association, able to create two more branches Let me say this organization is implement the objectives of the at the state level, one in the an academic and religion based association and organize our university campus, Ago Iwoye. programs. The organization has a lot of programs but due to the financial constraints, we have to put them on hold.

Can you discuss these programs?

Sure, we have the plan of giving scholarships to indigent Muslim students at the university level but because of our purse, the number of indigent Muslim students. We were only able to give a selected few a reasonable amount to support their schooling. The association also has the objective of placing members in good organizations and companies strategically. We have many programs we have penciled down and very soon we will begin to unveil and execute them In sha His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar com- Allah. missioning the Al-Hujjaj Central Mosque in Lekki, Lagos.

Barrister Adekola Abdul-Kareem, is the President of Olabisi Onabanjo University Muslim Alumni (OOUMA) and also the chairman of Oyo state environmental protection tribunal. He expresses his challenges, achievements and aspiration as the president of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Muslim Alumni(OOUMA)

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, his Ogun counterpart Ibikunle Amosun, Sultan of Sokoto, President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland Oba Sikiru Adetona have prayed that God should expose sponsors of Boko Haram.

The quartet spoke recently at the opening of the biggest mosque in South west – the New Aiyepe Central Mosque at IjebuAiyepe, in Ogun State.

Sultan Abubakar said Nigerians have long history of peaceful co-existence irrespective of tribe and religion.

He wondered how the Boko Haram members are trying to create chaos among Muslims and Christians in the country in the name of religion.

Islam, Sultan Abubakar, said is a religion of peace and not violence. “It is important to respect another person’s religion;

you do not decide who is right or wrong. That should be left for Allah,” he said.

Oba Adetona who chaired the event lamented the incessant killings by the insurgents.

He prayed Allah to bring an end to the evil actions of the insurgent group and guide its members to the right path.

“There is no house or family in the south west that you do not have Muslims and Christians as members of the households and we live in peace; we do not discriminate because we are brothers,” he said.

Amosun said the gathering which had non-Muslims in attendance has again demonstrated peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

He warned the insurgents to stop the killings or face the wrath of Allah.

Aregbesola urged Nigerians to continue to be united and not give in to those who want to destroy the peaceful atmosphere enjoyed for longer years.

De Minaret holds Islamic book exhibition in Abuja

I

N order to promote reading culture in Nigeria, De Minaret International, is organising a week-long Islamic Book Exhibition in Abuja.

In a statement issued by Dr Saheed Abdur-Rauf, Chief Executive officer of the group, stated that the event will be formally declared open at the National Mosque Conference Hall, Abuja on Saturday May 10 from 9.00.a.m.

The week-long book exhibition has as its theme: "Uthman Dan Fodio-our Heritage of Knowledge and

Moral Reform”.

The statement added that Prof.

Ibraheem Sulayman of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, will deliver a lecture on the theme of the exhibition.

The formal opening will be chaired by Gen. Bagudu Mamman while the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal would be the Special Guest of Honour.

His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto is expected to declare the book exhibition open as the spiritual father of the day.

From left: Muktair Jimoh; Usman Muyideen Jimoh and his mother, Kudirat Muyideen Jimoh during the Walimatul Quran of Olohungbe Arabic School, Ede, Osun State.

Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Media Ambassador to the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA); Hon Gbenga Oyebode, Secretary, Itire-Ikate LCDA, his wife and Amirah of the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit at the Aqeeqah (naming) ceremony of the Adebanjo's new born baby in Lagos.

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

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FG to invest $8bn to boost electricity supply

BY EMEKA MAMAH

T

HE Federal Govern ment is to invest about $8billion on a Public Private Partnership, PPP, basis to develop local gas potentials and boost electricity supply in the country.

Vice President, Namadi Sambo made this known in Abuja yesterday, saying that the government planned to fast-track the system and “ ensure availability of gas to her plants by involving owners of the new plants and international oil companies to get involved in gas infrastructure.”

Sambo spoke when he received officials of G E N E S I S ELECTRICITY ,GE, Consortium in his office.

He assured the GE Consortium of “ lots of activities and opportunities in Nigeria’s power supply sector.”

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, the GE Consortium was led by Nigerian businessman Prince Arthur Eze. The Vice President expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in the Nigerian economy by the consortium which planned “to invest massively in the energy sector and revive the Port-Harcourt Refinery, and commended a member of the GE Consortium for

partnering with Nigeria to develop her power sector.

Sambo specifically noted “for injecting about $300million into the financial sector and their plans to support training of Nigerians to strengthen the power sector.”

He also added that the “government has plans to inject $3.7billion to upgrade and expand the transmission grid so as to wheel up to 20,000 mw.”

Other power related issues discussed were the efforts made by the government on the Zungeru and Mambila hydro power projects which were expected to generate 700mw and 3,050 mw respectively; and the pilot scheme of the wind power project which would provide about 10mw, solar power and coal. He disclosed that a Chinese company has come up with a proposal to generate 1,000mw in Enugu in an effort to ensure mixed generation capacity.

Earlier, Chairman GE, Prince Eze told the vice president that they intended to invest $100 million in the PortHarcourt Refinery project and promised to extend frontiers of their investments to Kaduna and other refineries.

Present at the meeting were the Hassan Dawood Chairman ENGRO, Darry Wilson Vice President GE, Ali Ansari CEO ENGRO, George Njenga General Manager GE, Syed Muhammad Ali CEO/ POWERGEN among others.

Abducted girls: NSA, Service Chiefs visit Chibok

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

T

HE National Secu rity Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) in company of Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police yesterday visited Government Secondary School, Chibok in continuation of the ongoing effort to rescue the abducted girls.

While fielding questions from journalists on the actual number of the missing girls, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal AS Badeh who would not want to comment on the issue of number, noted that every single life is important to

the nation and no effort will be spared at finding the girls.

According to a statement from Defence headquarters, the CDS appealed to the members of the immediate community and the general public to provide security agencies with useful information that will lead to the rescue of the girls.

The team was conducted round the school by the Vice P r i n c i p a l Administration, Bulama Modu.

Some of the facilities inspected include burnt classrooms, dormitories and laboratories. The team has since returned to Abuja.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY MAY 9, 2014 — 61

T

HE return of Clemens Westerhof to Lagos, last week, made some great memories green again.

The man generally acclaimed to be Nigeria’s best-ever coach was in Nigeria for a television documentary on Nigerian football with emphasis on his era when Nigeria was 5th in FIFA’s ranking, the best ever any African country has attained.

A four-man crew from VPRO, a Dutch national television, arrived Lagos, last Wednesday, with Westerhof for the documentary that is expected to do Nigeria a lot of good by shoring up our declining image.

Shamefully, the crew was not allowed to shoot inside the National Stadium in Lagos due to the bad state of the national edifice, now wasting away. It is my story for next week.

Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles coach, Daniel Amokachi, his assistant, Peter Rufai, who all played in Westerhof’s team were in Lagos for the documentary, which coincidentally, fell on Westerhof’s birthday, May 3.

The television crew had to do the interviews at Diplomat Hotel in Maryland, Lagos and no longer on a stadium background. It was a big shame, a sad moment for the

crew and a loss to Nigeria. But the gathering was excited especially after the interviews and the party to mark Westerhof’s birthday started.

08053068728

Keshi, Amokachi, Rufai reminisce on Westerhof’s birthday discipline. Later Rufai proved to be the best and I still see him as Nigeria’s best goal keeper ever. Do do Mayana!

What a terrific great man. But he gave me troubles, you know.”

Our days with Westerhof — Keshi, Amokachi, Rufai

B

Westerhof directed us to the corner he said the cars were lined up. We got there and saw toy Mercedez Benz cars lined up. It was such an embarrassing joke that Chukwu warned him never to do such a thing again. We were all disappointed but it was part of him to drill you, exhaust you in training and also entertain you with such jokes that make the place lively. He had humour, he had discipline and he could make you fight like a bull in the field. He gave me the name The Bull.” Turning to Westerhof, he said, “ÿou are always the special one, coach!” It was emotional.

Rufai and Keshi told interesting stories too. Those listening had fun. Westerhof recalled a player, who kept two girls in one room in Sheraton and had another two in his room. When he found out he sent him out of the camp and told him he would do better acting blue movies than playing football. He paid tribute to the extraordinary talent in Austin Okocha, saying “he does magic with the ball. And he recalled the day Okocha challenged him but later appreciated him.

“Once, I played Jay Jay from the left in a friendly match in Sweden. Okocha said, ‘coach I play from the right.’ I told him that I knew that, ‘when you have the ball, move as if you want to run down the flank but make a trick, come in deep and shoot if you are close to the goal.’ Jay Jay scored two goals and came to me and said, ‘nobody ever told me this before.’ And I said, ‘there’s always a first time.’

efore then, it was all thrills as Keshi, Daniel and Rufai told interesting stories of their days with Westerhof. Even Westerhof, the Dutchgerian was not left out. He is a good story teller, sometimes exceeding bounds. He still looked strong and spiced his stories with humour. There were those who came for him and guests who happened on the event and went home happier that they were part of the exciting moment. Austin Eguavoen, Aloy Agu were expected to be there but missed the show because they were out of town.

FROM LEFT: Self,Peter Rufai, former Super Eagles goal keeper; former It was emotional when Keshi and Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof; cSuper Eagles Coach,Stephen Keshi Westerhof met last Saturday. Westerhof had and his assistant, Daniel Amocahi. Photo: AKEEM SALAU. predicted Keshi would one day coach Nigeria. It has come to pass. And when the Dutch charged Keshi to go to Brazil and do better than he did in USA ’94 when Nigeria got to the second round, arriving the World Cup as Africa’s champions, Keshi’s response touched all.

“You are now Africa’s champions. You have to go to Brazil and get to quarter or semifinal. And if you are in the last four anything can happen. You can do it. You have to do better than I did. You can be better than myself.

I wish it for you and for Nigeria,” Westerhof said emotionally.

In an equally emotion-laden voice, Keshi retorted: “You are always the better coach and trainer.”

Throughout the day, Keshi referred to Westerhof as “trainer”.

At a section of the lobby of the hotel, they all sat, chatting.

Others listened. Daniel Amokachi recalled some training sessions when Westerhof made them train three times a day and how exhausting it was initially and how strong and fit it made them to be. If you complained, you were made to go extra mile in training.

Westerhof appreciated the fact that Nigerian players were strong. He recalled when Rufai was operated on but still joined them in training camp in Portugal.

“I wondered what he came to do and fumed but Rufai said he would be ready in 14 days. I asked the doctor if he was mentally okay? Rufai was in the gym from the day of the operation and in 14 days he was terrific in training. And I said what is this? Who is this? A machine?

An animal?”

How Rufai wormed his way into Westerhof’s heart

B

ut those were days Rufai had wormed himself into the heart of Westerhof. It was rough initially.

Westerhof recalled his first match when Rufai came late, just three days to a match. He stormed the training venue while training was already on at the National Stadium.

The crowd went Rufi, Rufi Rufi, some yelling Do Do Mayana. Westerhof wondered who was attracting such cheers but he saw it as distraction.

“I ignored him and continued with our training and the crowd booed me for not accommodating him in training. When he introduced himself as Peter Rufai, Nigeria’s number one goal keeper, I congratulated him but told him he should be on the next plane back to Belgium. People were surprised but there must be

The expensive car joke

T

here were many stories. Daniel recalled how hard they had given their all in a camp in Holland and Westerhof, so impressed, told them he had a huge surprise for them. He said that he had gotten Mercedez Benz Motors to donate a car to each Nigerian player as a promotional package, which could boost their sales in Africa. He said each member of the team would have a Mercedez Benz car the following day and that the keys were ready.

“And truly, he brought some keys and distributed to us.

Excitement reached heavens,” Daniel recalled. “Coach Christian Chukwu was already celebrating this and Keshi had called the wife to come down the following day from Belgium to Holland to drive a car home. Keshi was in Anderlecth at the time. Some of us still in Africa were wondering how we would take our cars home, hoping that some people would help us ship them home.

Expectation was high. The time of delivery came and

I had a great team — Westerhof

W

hat a great team I had. Uche Okechukwu, Austin Eguavoen, Ben Iroha and later Mike Emenalo. Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Mutiu Adepoju, Thompson Oliha, Samson Siasia, Finidi George, Emmanuel Amunike, Daniel Amokachi, Rashidi Yekini, Chidi Nwanu.

And now Oliha, Yekini and Uche Okafor are dead. Very painful. One day, we shall all go too. That’s how God has made it and we cannot question Him.” He told friends how I was among those who criticised him and never believed in him but changed after I appreciated his efforts at Algiers ’90 when Eagles lost 5-1 in the first match but ended up with a silver, losing 1-0 to the same team that mauled us 5-1 in the opener.

“I did for Onochie (It was Onoch before now) something I had never done before. I showed him my tactics before the semi-final and I told him he could make money if he sold this to our opponents but that I was doing it to see if I could have a friend one can trust in Nigeria. That was how we became friends in Algiers. The referee in the final was Jean Dirimba and he made sure we did not win. What a man, Jean Dirimba. Something must have gone wrong the day he was born.”

Top journalists, Tijani Kayode and Kunle Solaja who was also in Algiers were among those who enjoyed the day.

We later had a small party to celebrate his birthday, singing Happy Birthday To You and He Is A Jolly Good Fellow, drinking and cracking more jokes.

“I couldn’t have had it better,”Westerhof said of his 74th birthday in Lagos.

Igali raises alarm over Commonwealth Games preparations

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Honourable Daniel Igali has raised alarm over the country ’s poor preparation towards the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July.

Honourable Igali who is also the Chairman of the Technical Director of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) said if nothing serious is done now, Nigeria may likely be a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

“We are not adequately prepared for the Commonwealth Games which is two months away in Glasgow, Scotland.

Coming in as the president of NWF last year, my intentions were that we’ll be able to get a better result this time around and improve on our last result. But we may likely not if we continue with this trend.”

He continued, “we are calling on the authorities that be to hasten preparations because, if we don’t, we’ll be a laughing stock at the Games.”

Wrestling is one of Nigeria’s strongest hold at

international Games and contributes a large chunk of the country’s medal haul and this, Dr Igali said the federation like other sporting federations representing the country at the Commonwealth Games ought to have embarked on training tours to further sharpen their skills, but could not do that due to dearth of funds.

Chieftain of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Udom Inoyo(l) and his playing partner before teeing off at the ARM 20TH Anniversary Golf tournament at the Lakowe Golf and Country Club, Lekki, Lagos.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Keshi issues May 26 deadline to players Continues from BP may happen at the Commonwealth Games scheduled to hold in Glasgow, Scotland in July.

Two months to the Games, there is no significant sign of any preparation by Team Nigeria athletes to warrant medals haul in Glasgow.

Last Wednesday, national federation presidents who met with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), to deliberate on the matter, left the National Stadium offices of the Olympic movement sighing in frustration.

They were told that no money has been released by the Federal Government for the preparation of the team and there is no hope in the horizon that it may happen soon to enable our athletes sparkle in the Games.

“What this means is that

Doom Nigerians should not expect any miracle from the athletes we are taking to the Commonwealth Games. If two months to the Games in Scotland, money has not been released for preparation, what then do you expect from the athletes? ”, observed President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Solomon Ogba, shortly after the meeting at the NOC. Ogba who also doubles as the 2nd vice president of the NOC and President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, was quick to add that similar scenario played out during the country ’s planning to participate at the London 2012 Games which ended in a fiasco as no Nigerian athlete made podium appearance.

“We were in a similar situation for the Olympic Games in London two years ago. At the end of it all, no Nigerian athlete won any medal and we the administrators were blamed for the failure. It is to avoid taking blames for what is not our direct faults that we are sounding it loud and clear that nobody should expect medals from Team Nigeria in Glasgow,” stressed the AFN chief who is running his federation’s programmes from private funding.

Apart from the AFN’s Golden League and All Comers, Nigeria’s elite athletes late last month featured in the Mt Sac and Penn’s Relays in the United States of America.

“On our own, we are running our programmes at the AFN, hoping that this will help put our top athletes in shape for the Commonwealth Games."

S

UPER Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi has declared that all the thirty players invited players for the pre World Cup camp must report to camp latest May 26.

Following the release of his 30-man World Cup provisional list on

Tuesday, Keshi, who also included five players who ply their trade in the Nigeria Premier League explained that the delay in the release of the list was due to the need to ascertain the fitness level of invited players.

Keshi noted that they are expected to start arriving the team’s camp

Akpoborie Continues from BP question the yard stick for inviting players to the national team.

“I really respect Keshi from our time in the Eagles as players and also his achievements with the national team so far but there are some questionable decisions that need to be addressed,” Akpoborie said.

“One is (Joseph)Yobo.

I have watched Norwich

City play for the last one month and Yobo has not played or been on the bench, so I really don’t understand on what ground he was invited.

“Ike Uche, on the other hand, is our best striker in Europe this season and he is not on the list.

“By the time one look at the list, you ask if we really want to do well at the World Cup or just go and satisfy some people’s ego.”

from May 25 in readiness for their friendly game with Scotland three days later.

According to him, “The decision to delay the release of the World Cup list was to give enough time to ascertain who and who are in right health and physical condition."

FIFA Continues from BP World Cup group rivals Bosnia gained no points and remained on 25th place in the world.

Iran also made no progress and remain Asia’s top team on 37th in the world rankings, while Argentina continued their slide by dropping one place to 7th in the world, following from their three-spot drop of last month.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014—63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

FIFA rankings: Eagles move up one step

N

IGERIA continued to make marginal progress in the monthly FIFA rankings, moving one step to 44 in the world.

But the improvement

Continues on Page 62

C’WEALTH GAMES:

AFRICA’s Top 10:

Doom looms for Team •As Federation Presidents Nigeria raise alarm

1 Côte d’Ivoire 2 Egypt 3 Algeria 4 Ghana 5 Cape Verde Islands 6 Nigeria 7 Tunisia 8 Cameroon 10 Mali

Akpoborie queries Yobo's return

D

ESPITE promises that Nigeria will never experience the type of shame brought upon the country at the Olympic Games in London two years ago, danger signs are again flashing that the worst

E

X- N i g e r i a international Jonathan Akpoborie has questioned the decision to recall captain Joseph Yobo ahead of the World Cup and the noninclusion of striker Ike Uche.

The outspoken explayer told AfricanFootball.com he respects coach Stephen Keshi, but would

Continues on Page 62

INSIDE Eight pages of Sports Vanguard pull-out

was not enough to move the country up on the continental rankings, as they stay outside of the top 5, below Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Cape Verde.

GOLDEN LIFT: Augustina Nkem,wins gold for Nigeria in the 48-kg category womens weightlifting event at New Delhi Games. Can she repeat the feat in Glasgow?

Keshi issues May 26 deadline to players — P.62

Continues on Page 62

•Yobo

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Pleased (4) 4 Obscure (3) 6 Shove (4) 9 Enquire (3) 10 Ate (8) 11 Side (4) 14 Insect (3) 16 Soar (5) 19 Introduced (8) 21 Singer (5) 23 Claimed (8) 24 Subsequently (5) 27 Can (3) 31 Cudgel (4) 33 Aped (8) 34 Regret (3) 35 Ale (4) 36 Family (3) 37 Period (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Scored 5, Afraid 8, Constant 9, Vase 10, Web 12, Reach 15, Ten 17, Awe 18, Ear 19, Don 20, Acrid 21, Err 22, Ail 23, Gun 24, Eel 20, Melee 29, Due 33, User 34, Sagacity 35, Adhere 36, Daugle.

DOWN: 2, Chose 3, Rise 4, Drape 5, Attic 6, Rave 7, Issue 10, Wedge 11, Banal 12, Realm 13, April 14, Hedge 15, Trend 16, Nerve 25, Eased 27, Ensue 28, Edged 30, Until 31, Free 32, Scan.

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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