TRAGEDY IN PLATEAU: Senator, House Leader, 50 others killed

...towards a better life for the people

** MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

VOL. 25: NO. 61661

N150

TRAGEDY IN PLATEAU:

Senator, House Leader, 50 others killed

BY TAYE OBATERU & HENRY UMORU

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•Bodies of burnt children, women discovered •Mark, Abaribe, Okowa, Ehwerido express shock •Gov. Jang imposes curfew in parts of the state

Reps make U-turn, to give Otedola open hearing

Continues on Page 5

•Pg.7 File photo of Senator Gyang Dantong.

Mr. Gyang Fulani, speaking on Saturday.

Our graduates not employable

Zenith, First Bank, GTbank, 4 others make top global 1000 banks •PGs5 &.17

— Okonjo-Iweala

Mr & Mrs

•Pg.13

Mixed feelings as Third Mainland Bridge repairs begin •Pg.7

OS—THE dark cloud of death that has been stalking Plateau State thickened, yesterday, after Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Gyang Fulani were killed while attending the mass burial of about 50 victims of Saturday’s attack on villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of the state.

The killing of the lawmakers came on the heels of the discovery, yesterday, of the remains of over 50 persons mostly women and children burnt inside the residence of a local pastor where they had taken refuge following the at-

GRIEF—Relations of the late Senator Gyang Dantong at his residence in Jos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

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Tragedy in Plateau: Senator, House Leader, 50 others killed Continues from Page 1 tack on about 14 villages by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Saturday.

The two lawmakers were reportedly gunned down at Maseh village in Riyom LGA where over 50 victims of Saturday’s attack were being buried. The gunmen reportedly stormed the venue and opened fire on those present, causing more deaths.

Member representing Barkin-Ladi/Riyom Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Simon Mwadkon was lucky as he escaped with injuries and was resuscitated at the BarkinLadi General Hospital where he was rushed to after he fainted.

Senator Dantong was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senator representing the Plateau North Senatorial District and was until his death yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health. The developments which sparked angry reactions across Plateau State was immediately flayed by the senate with Senate President David Mark describing the death as

a personal loss. Senator Dantong’s colleagues in the Senate including Senate spokesman, Enyinnanya Abaribe; Senators Pius Ehwerido and Ifeanyi Okowa also paid tributes to a man they described as a gentleman.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives also joined in the condemnation of the killings, describing Senator Dantong as a man of peace whose death is highly regrettable.

The death of the 50 persons in the residence of the pastor of the Church of Christ in Nigeria at Maseh village was believed to have been the handiwork of the suspected Fulani herdsmen who were believed to have torched the house when they discovered that the people had taken refuge there.

The killing of the lawmakers sparked off angry reactions around the plateau as youths took over the highway to protest what they described as a genocide against the Berom people allegedly by the Fulani.

The angry reaction fol-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little, do something now!—Edmund Burke The good book says the lazy man says there is a lion in the streets and wraps his sheets around himself. You may try and fail, but you will fail, if you do not try. Don’t just sit there, DO SOMETHING NOW! Procrastination is the thief of time.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it – Steve Maraboli

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TEVE Maraboli sums the attitude of living with gratitude in these very insightful expressions: "When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When it seems cloudy, dare to be the first to shine a light.

"When there is injustice, dare to be the one who makes it right. When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back. When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some. When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

"When times are tough, dare to be tougher. When love hurts you, dare to love again. When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal. When another is lost, dare to help them find the way. When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

"When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile. When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too. When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best. Dare to be the best you can. At all times, Dare to be!”

lowing yesterday’s killings forced many motorists travelling along the Jos-Riyom highway to turn back to avoid being caught in the disturbance.

The Permanent Secretary in charge of security in the Cabinet Office, Mr. Istifanus Gyang confirmed the killing of the two lawmakers.

Condemnation greets killings Commenting on the killings, a Jos-based civil rights group, Centre for the Advocacy of Justice and Rights in a statement by its Director, Mr. Gad Peter called for the sacking of all security chiefs in the country.

“It is a clear indictment of the inability of the Special Task Force and the Federal Government to provide security for the citizens of Plateau State. It is also a clear statement that we are no longer safe in this country.

“We demand the mass retirement of all security chiefs and for Mr. President to give us a roadmap on how he intends to solve the Plateau crises and other issues of insecurity in the Northern part of the country within two weeks.

“We use this opportunity to appeal to the people of Plateau State not to take the law into their hands”, the statement said.

Violence broke out in parts of Jos and other Berom communities as news of the killing of the senator and the majority leader spread as youths took over the highways in Rayfield, Bukuru and other areas to protest the killings.

Security men had difficult time restoring order as the youth accused them of being effective only in checking them while the Fulani herdsmen, who they alleged perpetrated the killings, had a field day.

Describing the death of the senator as a great shock, Senator Mark in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that the death of Dantong was a personal

loss. He, however, warned that, “the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians must be stopped,” adding that the federal government, state and local governments and security operatives must rise to halt the senseless killings.

“We must do everything within the ambit of our laws to ensure that this type of murderous act is stopped. As a nation, we must just rise against those who are determined to return us to a state of nature where life had little or no value.”

According to Senator Mark, the deceased was “a patriotic parliamentarian, quintessential gentleman and committed nationalist who was killed in active service to his fatherland.”

Senator Abaribe, stressed that the murder of Senator Dantong was a tragedy to the Senate and described him as a calm, gentle, unassuming, loving and humane doctor.

Also reacting, Dantong’s Vice in the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, described the late Senator as a calm man who was passionate about his work and his people, adding that he was always going on weekends to have a feeling of his people’s problems.

Senator Ehwerido on his part said yesterday: ”Senator Dantong was a distinguished colleague and gentleman. It’s painful to lose him in this barbarous manner.”

Speaker Tambuwal in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Me-

POCKET CARTOON

dia, Mr. Imam Imam said the incessant killings in the state and other parts of the country must be stopped forthwith. While condoling with the government and people of Plateau State over the losses, the Speaker said the House of Representatives in particular, and the National Assembly in general, will continue to liaise with other arms of government and security agencies to find lasting solution to the spate of violence bedeviling the nation.

According to the Speaker, criminal groups hide under different guises to cause mayhem in the country, as such, Nigerians should remain resolute in their quest for lasting peace.

He said Nigeria is greater than any group, and expressed optimism that this dark period in our history would soon pass.

The Peoples Democratic Party in its reaction expressed utter shock at renewed violence in Plateau State describing as heinous and reprehensible the Sunday violent attack that claimed the lives of Senator

THE VICTIMS:

Dantong, Mr. Gyang A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said the party was deeply worried and regretted that the development was coming as Federal Government was making fresh efforts to tackle the nation’s security challenges.

Curfew in parts of Plateau Meanwhile, the state government has imposed a curfew in some areas of the state. A statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yiljap Abraham said: “In view of the prevailing security situation, the Governor of Plateau State Dr Jonah Jang is hereby imposing a curfew in the following areas: Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs with immediate effect. The curfew will start from 7.30 today to 7.00 tomorrow morning, while the curfew starts 6pm tomorrow to 7am till further notice”.

Zenith, First Bank, GTbank, 4 others make top global 1000 banks

BY OMOH GABRIEL, BUSINESS EDITOR AGOS—NIGERIA’S top nine banks that featured in the Banker’s top global 1000 banks have a combined tier one capital of $11.699 billion as against the $11.332 billion they had in last year’s top 1000 banks.

This showed a slight improvement in the tier one capital of the Nigerian Banks. However, the combine tier one capital of the

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nine banks is this time around slightly above the $9.842 billion of Standard Group of South Africa, the biggest bank in Africa and the 112 th in the world. Standard Group’s tier one capital dropped from last year’s figure of $12.6 billion to this year’s $9.8 billion. This fact is contained in the 2012 edition of the Banker magazine top 1000 global banks, a publication of Financial Times of London.

Bank of America which occupies the first position in the global ranking has a capital base of $163.626 billion. It is followed closely by JPMorgan Chase with a capital of $142.450 billion. The third position is occupied

by HSBC, a British bank with a capital base of $133.179 billion. China has three banks in the top ten positions while Japan has just one.

See details on page 17

6—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Who was Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantop?

BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA — SENATOR Gyang Dalyop Dantong was born March 2, 1957. He attended the University of Jos where he bagged the MBBS degree to become a medical practitioner and also got the MPH from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Prior to his foray into politics, he was the Medical Director, Vom Christian Hospital. The late Senator Dantong was elected member, House of Representatives in the 5th Assembly (2003-2007). He was elected into the Senate in 2007 to represent Plateau North Senatorial District during the 6th Assembly (2007-2011).

He was returned to the Senate in 2011.

Senator Dantong was made the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health.

He was also a member of the Senate Committees on Aviation and Solid Minerals as well as the newly created Committee on Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. Late Senator Dantong was calm and easy going, just as he was so passionate about how to

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improve the health situation in Nigeria.

This passion for the health sector was displayed by the late Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong when he met with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD Thursday, May 31, 2012 in the wake of threat by the doctors to go on strike nation wide during the logjam between the Lagos State government and the doctors.

During the marathon meeting to end the crisis, Senator Dantong told the doctors that they were special people in the society who play very important roles, adding that doctors as a result of this, be treated like eggs and must not be allowed to embark on any nationwide strike.

He also promised the NARD leadership that the 7th Senate would revisit the National Health Bill which was passed during the sixth Senate, but was not signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He described the situation as unfortunate, adding that the committee will ensure that the bill was recalled from the Presidency

Traffic jam due to partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos for repair works.

S-Court bars BPE from fresh bid for ALSCON sale Orders BPE to execute share purchase agreement with BFIG

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA — THE Supreme Court has issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, from inviting any further bid for the sale and acquisition of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON. A five-man panel of

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Justice of the apex court, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, equally ordered BPE to go ahead and execute the share purchase agreement for the sale of ALSCON, which it earlier entered with the BFIG Group Corporation with a view to enabling the company pay the agreed 10 per cent of the accepted bid price of $410 million.

The court noted that the payment ought to have

Edo guber poll: Court begins contempt proceedings against Jega ...over plan to use collapsible transparent ballot boxes

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA — THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has commenced contempt proceedings against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, over his plans to deploy procured collapsible transparent ballot boxes for the conduct of Edo State governorship election.

The court presided by Justice Adamu Bello has already issued a “Form 48” against the INEC boss and the Registrar of Patent, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Trade.

The said “Form 48” contains a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of a subsisting order made by the high court on June 5,

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2012.

Justice Bello, in the notice, warned that the respondents would be guilty of contempt and liable to imprisonment if they fail to comply with his order barring the deployment of the procured transparent ballot boxes for the Edo governorship election, without getting the consent of the patent owner to the boxes.

He said: “Take notice that unless you obey the directives contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The high court had in the judgment it gave on June 5, held that INEC perpetuated an act of illegality by using the collapsible transparent ballot boxes to conduct the 2011 general elections without securing the

consent of the owner of the patent right to the boxes.

Consequently, the court barred the electoral body from using the boxes for any subsequent polls including the July 14 Edo governorship election without first seeking the approval of the patent owner, though it declined to annul any of the previous elections.

The court order followed a suit instituted by an indigenous company, Bedding Holdings Limited, which went to court to challenge the continued use of the boxes for elections without its approval.

The company had maintained that it had subsisting exclusive and bona fide patent right to the collapsible transparent boxes used by INEC for the conduct of the 2011 polls.

Bedding Holdings which

specialises in general fabrication and manufacture of steel metal products said the collapsible transparent ballot box was among many of its innovations duly registered with exclusive patent right issued to it by the Registrar of Patents in the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The Certificate of Registration of the Patent Right Number RP 12994 and Registration of Industrial Designs Rights Number RD 5946 on the boxes was issued by the ministry to the plaintiff on January 12, 1998 for five year period.

According to evidence it adduced before the high court, the company successfully proved that the said patent right was renewed and extended both in January 12, 2003 and January 12, 2008, is due to expire in 2013.

been effected within 15 working days from the date of the execution of the Share Purchase Agreement between BPE and the company.

The apex court justices maintained that going by the proof of evidence before the court, there was a binding contract between BFI Group and the BPE which ought to have been enforced since.

Consequently, they awarded N50, 000.00 as cost against the BPE. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Afolabi Fabiyi held that another company identified as Russal, should have been refrained from buying the company when it was aware that BFI Group which was earlier chosen as the preferred bidder before BPE unilaterally frustrated the contract, was already in court challenging BPE’s refusal to consummate the transaction.

He said: “The Respondent (BPE) must be made to appreciate the purport of the doctrine of lis pendens which is aimed at preserving the subject matter of litigation. Any extraneous body including Russal which buys the subject of litigation does so as its own risks.”

He noted that Russal was the second bidder whose bid sum of $205 million with conditionality was rejected

by BPE, adding that the reason given by BPE for abrogating the contract was most unjustified and contrary to the agreement of the parties.

Justice Fabiyi further maintained that the crux of the dispute was the the unilateral insertion of an offensive clause that the 10 per cent bid price must be paid within 15 days of the receipt of the letter informing BFI Group that it had been selected as the prefer bidder.

He faulted that clause, noting that the initial agreement was that the 10 per cent bid price should be paid within 15 working days of signing the Share Purchase Agreement while the remaining outstanding 90 per cent bid price was to be paid within 90 days.

According to him, the reason given for abrogating the contract does not accord with the stipulations in Exhibit 5 –the pre-bid conference resolutions which expressly provides that payment of the initial ten per cent of the purchase price shall be made within 15 working days after the signing the Share Purchase Agreement.

He held that BPE had no power to unilaterally change the mode of payment of ten per cent of the bid price.

BPE had terminated the contract when BFI Group failed to pay the ten per cent initial bid price within 15 working days of the receipt of its letter. The apex court held that the reason given

by BPE for terminating the contract was untenable in view of the various documents tendered in court which showed the agreement between the two parties.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012—7

BPE denies undervaluating PHCN assets

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

BUJA — THE Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, has lambasted the two major unions in the electricity industry over allegations of gross undervaluation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, by the Bureau.

A statement signed by Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, Head, Public Communications at BPE, noted that the claim by the labour unions was incorrect and does not reflect the liabilities of the PHCN estimated at over N310 billion.

President, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, Mr. Bede Opara, had claimed that if the assets were valued at over N200 billion, then the workers should be allowed to buy the successor companies created from the unbundling of PHCN with their severance benefits.

On his own part, Mr. Joe Ajaero, General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees,

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Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle); his right, Mr. Lanre Bamgbose, Vicer President Arik Air; Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transportation (left) and Mrs. Frances Bakare, Acting Head, Lagos Public Sector Fidelity Bank (right), during the cheque and ticket presentation to some students who won the 2012 Be Road Friendly (BRF) competition, in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

$3M BRIBE:

House makes U-turn, to give Otedola open hearing Invites SSS D-G to shed light on bribery scam

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

AGOS — THE House of Representatives Committee on Ethics investigating the $3 million cash for clearance scam involving Rep. Farouk Lawan and business mogul, Mr Femi Otedola, has been directed to reverse the decision to hold its hearings in secret.

The directive from the House leadership, weekend, came as it emerged that the Ethics Committee is to invite the Director General of the State Security Service, SSS, to shed light on the scam.

The decision of the ethics committee to hold its sittings in camera came as a major reversal to the transparency and accountability profile that the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal-led leadership had itself sought to portray in its actions.

The ethics committee which is investigating the alleged bribe offered by Otedola to Lawan to clear his name from the list of indicted beneficiaries of the administration’s subsidy regime got enmeshed in controversy last Tuesday after Otedola insisted that he must be heard in public and not in secret as the committee wanted.

Following the refusal of Otedola to submit to the secret hearing, Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics, Rep. Musa Gambo

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had described Otedola as “stupid,” saying the businessman abused the committee members in the short period he was with them in the secret session last Tuesday.

Otedola responded the following day, denying that he abused the committee members, insisting that he acted in decorum.

The ethics committee insistence on hearing Otedola in secret, itself, raised controversy in the House last Thursday as some members insisted that the conduct of the ethics committee violated their privileges as it sought to portray the House in a negative image.

A member of the House from Kaduna State, Simon Arabo, had at that sitting, in seeking to condemn the action of the committee on ethics in bringing the House into disrepute said: “What will it cost the committee if Otedola testifies in the open? There is nowhere in the House rules that says that Otedola must be heard in secret.”

House sources disclosed that in a bid to reverse the negative impressions brought by the ethics committee, the House leadership, weekend, directed the committee to reverse its decision and hold its sessions in public.

Sources disclosed last night that the Chief Whip of the House, Isiaka Bawa, had conveyed the decision to the committee.

Similarly, the DirectorGeneral of the SSS, Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, is to be invited to brief the Ethics Committee on the Farouk issue.

The SSS reportedly issued the $620,000 allegedly offered by Otedola to Lawan as bribe

money.

Lawan has said the money received by him was collected as evidence of the pressure from the oil marketers, while Otedola said that it was marked money to show the dishonesty of the ad-hoc committee.

Reps threaten Mainstreet Bank over workers' sack

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

BUJA — THE House of Representatives, weekend, threatened to declare Mainstreet Bank hostile to the parliament over its reluctance to comply with the lower chamber’s resolution to re-instate the 41 sacked staff of Afribank which it inherited.

Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Compliance, Moroof Akinderu-Fatai, had expressed frustration at the way the management of Mainstreet Bank refused to cooperate with the committee in its bid to resolve the labour dispute between it and the former Afribank staff.

Akinderu-Fatai observed that the managing director of the bank had never appeared before the committee despite several invitations sent to him and maintained that the committee decided to continue the intervention in the interest of peace and justice for the 41 sacked staff

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of the predecessor bank.

He expressed surprise that the new bank would only acquire the assets of the bank and reject all its accompanying liabilities including the sacked staff who were expected to be reinstated.

Said he: “If we cannot resolve this, we may be left with no other option than to report back to the House that they have refused to comply with the resolution and the House would regard Mainstreet Bank as being hostile to the parliament. This means that the bank should forget having anything to do with the parliament.”

According to him, “the bank had insisted that it cannot reinstate the sacked workers unless the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, endorsed the decision, but these agencies had informed the House that they had no such powers over Mainstreet Bank.”

NUEE, gave a plethora of assets —buildings, parking lots, power and distribution transformers, associated accessories like towers, insulators of different sizes, poles of different sizes, armoured cables (different sizes), conductors of shapes and sizes, and other accessories including vehicles of various brands and capacity— that should be included in the valuation of the successor companies.

According to the BPE, “it is apt to clarify that the over N200 billion to be realised as privatisation proceeds is in respect of 60 per cent equity in the 11 distribution companies and does not include the proceeds to be realised from the sale of the generating companies.”

It noted that it was obvious that the key objectives of privatisation of PHCN had been lost on the labour unions in PHCN. “For the umpteenth time, we restate the objectives of PHCN privatisation to include improved efficiency by increasing collections, reducing losses and reducing cost; improve access to electricity."

UN Force commander asks NPF to key into UN training plan for South Sudan

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BUJA — THE Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, Major General Moses Obi has challenged the Nigeria Police Force to take advantage of goodwill coming its way from the United Nations following the exemplary performance of Nigerian policemen by keying into UN training and capacity building plans for South Sudan.

Speaking when he received the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge Zone 2, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, who represented the Inspector General of Police during the award of UN medals to 34 Nigerian policemen in South Sudan, he told Vanguard that following the independence of the new republic, there was an urgent need to put in place a professional

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police force that would maintain law and order which Nigeria can spearhead.

Emphasizing that ensuring security for a nation who had just come out of war after several years of fighting and holing up in the bush was tasking, General Obi who is commanding a 7,000 strong UN force, the third largest UN force in the world, including troops from India Nepal, Mongolia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Kenya and Japan, said Nigerian Policemen as well as those from other 35 countries had done well.

He noted that the performance of the police officers had been outstanding and a reference point in the mission, noting that the country as well as the Nigeria Police authorities were yet to take advantage of the gains of our involvement in the Sudanese peacekeeping challenge.

8—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

FG orders airlines to deny unidentified passengers boarding

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

& DANIEL ETEGHE AGOS—THE Federal Government, weekend, directed domestic airlines in the country to henceforth deny boarding to any passenger without proper identification.

The directive will ensure that passengers who could not be properly identified by the airline would not be allowed to board the aircraft.

The directive, effective from July 7, was issued by the Director-General of the NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren.

Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, at a briefing, said the directive would enable domestic airlines to en-

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BIRTHDAY: From left, Chief Babatunde Benson, SAN, Asiwaju of Ikorodu, the celebrator; Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, Ayangburin of Ikorodu and Olori Muibat Oyefusi, at the thanksgiving service to mark Chief Benson's 80th birthday at Patriarch Bolaji Idowu Memorial Methodist Church, Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu, yesterday. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

Mixed feelings as 3rd Mainland Bridge repairs begin

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO AGOS—AS the Fed eral Government commenced the repair of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, yesterday, motorists and residents expressed fear of pending chaotic traffic situation by today, even as traffic situation was light along diversion routes.

It would be recalled that repairs on the bridge was initially scheduled to commence last Sunday, but postponed over some logistic reasons.

The first phase of the repair was carried out between August and September 2008, and lasted for four months, which led to the planning and execution of the second phase, which commenced yesterday.

When Vanguard monitored some of the diversion routes in the city, the right side of the bridge was closed as at 11 a.m. by a joint team of the federal and state government agencies at the Oworonshoki end of the bridge where motorists are expected to divert inward Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

Meantime, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr kayode Opeifa, yesterday, said that the repair of the bridge was a routine one aimed at safeguarding the transport infrastructure.

Opeifa said the repairs would last four months.

He noted that similar repairs were carried out on the bridge in 2008 and

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urged members of the public to bear with the government.

He said: “We know that during major repairs of this magnitude, there would be mixed feelings; there would be inconvenient to some.

This repair work is supposed to be on a regular basis, the public should be used to it.

Meantime, Lagos State traffic officials, security agents, engineers from Borino Prono Construction Company handling the repairs, commenced the diversion of traffic from the Oworoshoki axis of the

bridge by 11.30 a.m. yesterday.

Motorists going to Lagos Island were diverted to Oworoshoki-Ikorodu road, en-route Adekunle area, to the Island.

Some commuters at the Iyana-Oworo bus-stop, who were waiting for public transport at the entrance of the bridge, were stranded as they did not know about the diversion, it was observed.

Mrs Edith Mamah, a housewife going to Obalende— after church service— said she was surprised that there were no

vehicles plying the road from the Oworonshoki end.

Mamah said she spent over 30 minutes at the bus stop before they were informed about the diversion.

Another commuter, Bayo Adesanya, said it would be difficult for residents of Oworonshoki, a suburb of Lagos, to go to Lagos Island.

Traffic was low on the axis coming from the mainland, while officials of the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, were seen managing the situation.

PDP vows to win Lagos in 2015

BY DAPO AKINRE-

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AGOS—FORMER National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has flayed the administration of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, government in Lagos State just as he restated his party’s readiness to wrest power from the party in 2015.

He said this in Lagos, weekend, while receiving defectors from ACN at the party’s secretariat in Lagos.

Chief George berated the Lagos State Government for failing to address the problems facing Lagosians, noting that: “I am not surprised that every reasonable and thoughtful Lagosian is abandoning the ACN sinking ship in Lagos.

''Tinubu and his co-travellers are clueless about what to do. They are in power, but they are not in government. They are collecting over N40 billion every month in internallygenerated revenue and yet, the people live in misery and penury.”

While he said the party was putting its house in order to ensure it emerges victorious in the 2015 governorship election, he enjoined members of PDP to join hands to work for the progress of the party.

He said: “Is Fashola a symbol of our future? No. Is Tinubu a symbol of our future? No. Fashola, Tinubu and the ACN gang are the worst nightmares that are now tormenting our psyche. We must flush them out, we must throw them back to where they belong.

'The journey has started right now. We cannot wait a minute longer; the mission is our collective responsibility. We must all join hands to remove the ACN disease and scourge from our midst.”

Former governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, expressed optimism that PDP will form the next government in Lagos State.

Also present at the event were Senator Iyiola Omisore; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; former governorship candidate of PDP, Dr. Ade Dosunmu; state party chairman, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), among others.

The decampees, led by Mr Abdulkareem Rafiu, described PDP as the only party that allow internal democracy, blaming the leadership of ACN for imposing candidates on the people.

sure that passengers were positively identified by matching each passenger’s name with the photo identity document presented by them.

He said: ”All passengers are also reminded that no person may use another person’s ticket or boarding pass to travel in Nigeria.

The name on each passenger’s ticket and boarding pass must, therefore, match the name on his or her photo identity document.”

Obi listed approved means of identifying a passenger as International Passport, Federal Republic of Nigeria National Identity Card, National driver’s licence and any other verifiable photo identity card.

Lagos demolishes 3 defective buildings

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI AGOS—THE Lagos State Government, weekend, demolished three structures at 38/40, Sogbamu Street, Apeleyin, Bariga, Somolu, identified to be structurally-defective and posed threat to lives and properties.The three structures involved twostorey buildings and a bungalow.

The government advised owners of distressed buildings to immediately carry out necessary integrity test to determine their habitability to forestall loss of lives and property.

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One of the buildings, which was identified as distressed in the area, penultimate Thursday, collapsed on an adjourning building, killing a 22year- old man identified as Ahmed Shotuminu, who was reportedly sleeping during a downpour in the state.

The remains of the deceased, who recently graduated from a furniture making workshop had since been buried.

The collapse building prompted the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, to seal off the buildings and evacuated all the occupants to prevent further loss of lives and property.

Lawyer sues SSS over father's kidnap

BY INNOCENT ANABA

AGOS—MR. Nnamdi Oragwu, a lawyer, has dragged the DirectorGeneral, State Security Service, SSS, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong and Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over the kidnap of his father, Chief Lawrence Oragwu, a retired Deputy ComptrollerGeneral of Customs.

Nnamdi is praying the court for leave to apply for an order of mandamus to compel the respondents to investigate the abduction of his father, following a petition to them.

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He wants the IG to mandate a special unit of the police to commence or take over and conclude the investigation into his father’s kidnap and compel the respondents to transmit to the court’s registry, a type-written report of their respective investigations “ within three months from the determination of the suit.''

Chief Oragwu, was abducted by unknown gunmen on June 2, 2011 in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, on his way from church with his driver.

Further hearing in the matter had been adjourned till September 13.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012—9

Attack on Oloolu sacrilegious —Alaafin

Briefly

Kudos to Osun gov

BY OLA AJAYI

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

Ondo battles AIDS

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—ONDO State Government, weekend, said cases of HIV/ AIDS in the state had dropped from 3.2 per cent to 1.7 per cent.

Project Manager of the State Action Committee on AIDS, Dr. Dayo Adegbulu, said in Akure that the rate of infection dropped due to the intervention of the administration.

Adegbulu spoke at a workshop organised by the state Ministry of Sports and Youth Development in collaboration with ODSACA. He said: “We have been able to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence to 1.7 per cent; it shows that a lot of work is being done through the state government, stakeholders and civil society organisations that are also doing a lot of work in the state. By 2015, we would achieve zero-per cent and stop new infections. With the way we are going now. We also hope to reverse the impact of the epidemic with new initiatives and strategies.''

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BADAN—ALAAFIN of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, 111, weekend, described last week’s attack on the ‘Oloolu’ a dreaded masquerade in Ibadan, and its followers as a desecration of Yoruba culture and tradition.

It would be recalled that some Muslim youths at Opopoyemoja and other parts of Ibadan last Tuesday allegedly attacked the masquerade and its adherents with stones and other weapons for reportedly failing to heed the warning not come to their areas.

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SOGBO—GOVER NOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, has been commended for sustaining the O’YES programme designed to reduce unemployment in the state.

In a statement, Director of Publicity, Reseach and Strategy, Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, a lawyer, said the invitation by the government for a new set of the unemployed to benefit from the revolving O’YES scheme that had taken about 20,000 youths off the streets and gainfully put them in employment, according to their skills, is laudable.

O’YES scheme started two years ago in fulfillment of Aregbesola’s campaign promise to give employment to youths if elected.

Oyatomi said: “We are proud of the achievements of Ogbeni’s government, and urge him to keep the tempo of progress to confound critics and opponents who may not want to acknowledge the quality of his leadership and the significance of the transformational projects and programmes his administration is effecting in the state.”

Ondo State Governor, Dr .Olusegun Mimiko, his wife, Olukemi; and the Bishop of Akure Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Reverend Michael Ipinmoye, at the Third Session of the 10th Synod of the Akure Diocese, in Akure,weekend.

Gunmen kill Osogbo bizman

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE SOGBO—A popular Osogbo businessman and hotelier, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, was, yesterday night killed by armed hoodlums in his bedroom.

The no fewer than seven robbers reportedly invaded the late Bolarinwa’s residence in the Alekuwodo area of Osogbo and demanded huge money after they had searched the house.

He was said to have failed to give them money and was thereafter shot dead in the presence of his wife, Yetunde, and children.

The widow, Yetunde, explained that the armed robbers entered into her husband’s bedroom after breaking one of the windows in the house and later went to the living

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room where they carted away some belongings.

She said all attempts by the family to get help from residents of the area failed while the robbery lasted.

She said: “The armed robbers positioned themselves in strategic locations in the area and therefore, it was impossible for our neighbours to help us when we shouted for help.”

The 45-year-old

Bolarinwa and his wife jointly owned the popular Yetty Hotel and Yetty Mama Restaurant in Osogbo.

It was gathered that the robbers shot sporadically into the air on arrival to scare away night guards in the area.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Kalafite Adeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said the police were investigating the

Mine most investigated govt — Daniel Obasanjo's govt sowed corruption — Adebanjo

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & BASHIR ADEFAKA B E O K U TA — FORMER governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, broke his silence on the corruption allegations levelled at him by the Eco-

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nomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying his government was the most investigated in the country.

The former governor, however, declined to comment on the administration of his successor,

S-West PDP, Aregbesola trade words over Edo poll

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—THE Peoples' Democratic Party,PDP, in the South-West has accused Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, of allegedly recruiting no fewer than 1,000 thugs for Saturday's Edo State gubernatorial election.

Also to ensure that Governor Adams Oshiomhole wins at all cost, the opposition party, through its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, alleged that all the Action Congress of Nigeria governors in the South-West had contributed N20 billion to be given to voters

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matter, with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

She said: “We are aware of the ugly incident perpetrated by some culprits in the society and I can assure you that they cannot run away from justice.

The police are on the trail of those who perpetrated the dastardly act and we are sure that very soon they will be brought to justice.”

The following day, the masquerade and its supporters again had a face off with Oyo State security outfit; “Operation Burst” and some policemen said to be trying to prevent the escalation of the crisis.

Twenty followers of the masquerade and its mask were arrested.

Oba Adeyemi, at the launch of a ‘Hip Hop’ musical album, titled ‘On Rugbo Bo' by AbdulRauf Adeyemi (Alias AK Dollar) and Sadiq Abiodun (alias Eskino), said the attack was highly-disappointing and tantamount to attack on the culture and tradition of the Yoruba.

The Alaafin said the annual masquerade festival was always held to enforce social order and discipline.

Contrary to what happened in Ibadan, the monarch maintained such festival had never resulted in violence in Oyo since his ascension to the Alaafin throne 40 years ago.

He said: “We have passed the age of violence, Egungun is an annual festival that should be held in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility which is why the Ibadan episode stands condemnable by all standard.”

during the election.

But, Aregbesola denied the allegations through his Director, Bureau of Communication, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

He said PDP was known to be making frivolous allegations, which it would not be able to prove.

He said: “There is a record of unsubstantiated allegations against Aregbesola by PDP. It is baseless and unfounded.

The allegation is criminal in nature and if they have evidence, let them go to the police. You know their fears, they are afraid of the large image of Aregbesola.”

The party, which called on security agencies in the country to probe Aregbesola’s alleged outburst that “come July 14, heaven will fall if Oshiomole loses election,” said what Aregbesola said was tantamoumt to declaring war on the country and he must be held responsible if anything unpleasant happened in Edo State after the election.

According to the opposition party, governors of Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states had allegedly contributed N2 billion public fund to prosecute the Edo State election.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, saying, “we are watching and we are monitoring.”

Speaking at the 50 birthday of his former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sina Kawonise, in Ijebu-Ode, Daniel said many past leaders were prosecuted because of their courage to correct the wrong and lamented that despite EFCC’s allegations that he stole billions and killed many people, nothing incriminating had been found against him.

He said: “I am happy today, because there is nothing our administration has not been accused of. We have stolen billions.

We have done rituals. We assassinated people.

There is no offence in this world our administration has not been accused of.”

While linking his alleged persecution to what happened to some past leaders such as the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Daniel said: “Even Jesus Christ was

crucified because of his courage to right the wrong.”

Daniel, who commended Kawonise for his loyalty, chastised his former aides who deserted him during his trying time.

Adebanjo accuses Obasanjo At the event, Chief Adebanjo alleged that reported corruption cases in the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan were instituted by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Adebanjo, who took a swipe at the eight years rule of the former president, said his administration failed to keep his promise in his acceptance speech on May 29, 1999 when he was being sworn in as president.

The Afenifere chieftain , in a lecture, entitled, “threats against the ship of state” noted that “but as far back as inception of the current civilian (not democratic) regime from May 29, 1999, corruption had been prevalent.''

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10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Youths protest alleged killing of member

by JTF in Delta

BY GODWIN OGHRE

APELE—IT was pan demonium in Okirighwre in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, weekend, as youths no fewer than 500, protested what they described as unwarranted killing of one of their members by the Joint Military Task Force, with base in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of the state.

The youths under the aegis of Okirighwre youths, matched through major roads, causing heavy traffic jam on the Okirighwre/ Warri highway. The youths accused JTF operatives of killing one Mr. Ogbotor Usieme, a.k.a Egede, whom they described as a peaceful young man, whose wife, Doris Usieme, gave birth to a baby boy, three months ago.

Spokesman of the youths, Mr David Akponome told Vanguard that the said Ogbotor Usieme went out to check on a friend about 8pm on Thursday night, when he was accosted by a

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team of JTF men on Okeretagba Road in Okirighwre, whom they alleged, opened fire on him and killed him on the spot.

Akponome also alleged that after the JTF men had shot and killed him, they took his lifeless body to the Delta State University Hospital, that night, where doctors confirmed him dead and

his body was later taken to JTF base in Koko, while the family members were yet to recover it.

Another youth, who spoke on condition of anonymity and gave adifferenceaccount,said,thevictim was the leader of one of the two factions of youth groups, whichhadtakenup armsagainst each other and from whom the JTF men had commenced disarming in the last two weeks. He alleged that during the last disar-

mament session, recently, many of the youths surrounded their arms under the watchful eyes of some top officials of Delta State Government headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ovuzorie Macaulay, adding that the JTF men who shot and killed the victim were on arm recovery mission and shot the victim, when he was about to escape from check by JTF men.

AGOPS—CIVIL so ciety groups in the country under the aegis of Human Rights Agenda Network, HRAN, weekend, condemned the deployment of 3000 soldiers to Edo State by the Federal government and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

NRAN in letter by its chairman, Mr Chino Obiagwu, addressed to Chairman of INEC, Prof Atahiru Jega, draw the attention of government to the dangers of using the army for civil policing du-

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YO—AKWA Ibom State Government, weekend, denied media report linking the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, with a planned installation of a new Oku Ibom Ibibio in the state.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, described the report as false, stressing that Governor Akpabio had earlier considered the issue of election,

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AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE ARRI—NO fewer than 115 workers of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, who were seconded to NECONDE Energy Limited after Shell divested its interest in OML 42, protested their sack, non-payment of salaries and alleged unjust treatment by the company.

Addressing reporters in Warri, Delta State, counsel to the workers, Mr Rufus Olarenwaju, said the treat-

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BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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Rev. Dele George nee Ogbemudia (2nd left) and other members of the committee after the inaugural meeting of friends and associates of Dr. Osaigbovo Ogbemudia met to plan for Ogbemudia's 80th birthday in Benin.

ties, noting that soldiers were not trained to handle civil peace-time law and order, as the deployment of soldiers to civil police duties had always resulted in excessive use of force and wanton killing of innocent civilians.

HRAN, made up of over 150 human rights groups in the country, said we “be-

lieve that using the army to manage the forthcoming election in Edo will cause more problemsthanitwouldsolve.The presence of soldiers in the streets and around polling stations will discourage many people from coming out to vote, thereby creating motivation for low turn out of voters.

“The presence of soldiers carrying live weapons will be provocative and could easily lead to violent clashes. We are well

aware of the abuse and misuse ofsecuritypersonnelduringelections and the involvement of the army could lead to fatal consequences.

“HRAN request that police and other civil force be deployed for the election and that the conduct of these officials should be supervisedandmonitored.Weremind INEC of its duty to ensure violent-free, transparent and crediblegovernorshipelectionin Edo State."

Oil spill disrupts economic activities in Bayelsa communities The spillage, according to

BY SAMUEL OYADONG-

HA ENAGOA—A major oil spill was, weekend, recorded in the coastal com-

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munities of Sabatoru and Igbeta-Ewoama in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, disrupting the fishing and economic activities of the people.

A' Ibom govt denounces installation of new Oku Ibom Ibibio BYGODWIN OGHRE

BY EMMAAMAIZE &

ers by the company run countary to the terms of the purchase/sales agreement on OML 42 with a daily production of 350,000 barrels of crude oil.

He said NECONDE Energy Limited,aconsortiumoffivecompanies acquired OML 42, which coversJonesCreek,EgwaI,Egwa 2,Odidi1,Odidi2,andBatanfield, but by a letter, dated March 1, 2012, terminated the employment of the workers, after it allegedly dissuaded National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC,whichappliedtotakeover the operation of the OML from retaining the workers.

Ahoada East LG dep chair impeached

Groups flay deployment of soldiers for Edo guber poll

BY INNOCENT ANABA

Ex-SPDC staff protest sack

by NECONDE ment meted out to the work-

coronation and installation of the Oku Ibom Ibibio as purely a traditional matter in which the government or the governor had no special interest.

Hesaidthegovernorwasmaintaining his earlier position on the matter, adding that organisers of the event should not in any way attempt to drag the governor’s name or that of the deputy governor or any official of the State executive council into a matter which was purely traditional and far detached from the statutory responsibilities of government.

Umanah said the government consideredtheattempttolinkthe governor or any member of the state government with the planned coronation/installation of a new Oku-Ibom Ibibio as a breach of the position of the governor and the government of Akwa Ibom State on the matter.

He advised organisers of the event to desist from linking the governor, or the government of Akwa Ibom State to the planned event as government does not wish to be dragged into the issue.

community sources, was from pipelines owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC and a trunkline linking oil and gas distribution to the Brass export terminal.

Sources in the coastal enclave said the leakage, which was noticed on Friday, had spread to the waterways, creeks and farmland in Nembe Kingdom.

The impacted communities’ leadership, it was learnt, had reported the incident to the management of Agip but the company was yet to respond.

Chairman of Oil and Gas Committee of Nembe Kingdom, Chief Nengi James, in a statement, yesterday, accused the oil company of adopting delay tactics in the prompt clean up of the affected areas.

ORT HARCOURT— THE political crisis in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, had deepened with the impeachment, weekend, of the Deputy Chairman of the council, Mr Britain Ewor by the legislative arm of the council.

Leader of the legislative Assembly, Mr Emeka Gorden, told newsmen that the legislators took the action after the mandatory 14 days impeachment notice

served on the Deputy Chairman elapsed, last week He added that the House would forward its decision to the state House of Assembly in accordance with the law.

He said legislative arm of the council had no option but to impeach the Deputy Chairman, after he allegedly failed to honour three invitations extended to him by the House to appear before it over allegations levelled against him by a group in the area.

Child abuse: C-River gets Family Court

BY JOHNBOSCO AG-

BAKWURU ALABAR—IN a bid to protect the rights of children in the state, the Cross River State Government, has established Family Court to prosecute parents or any person, who abuses a child or tramples on their rights.

The court, which sits every Wednesday in Calabar, was a follow up to the Child Right Law passed in 2009 in the state, for the protection of the right of children.

The wife of the state governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel

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Imoke, in one of her pet projects, A State fit for a Child, ASFAC, had pursued the passage of the Child Right Bill in law.

Speaking while flagging off a campaign on “Operation Stop Child Abuse and Violence” at a stakeholders forum with the theme ‘Enhancing Multi-Sector Response to Child Protection,’ at POWER Incubation centre, Calabar, Mrs. Imoke described as unacceptable, the 2006 UNICEF Fact sheet on child labour in Nigeria, which said that 15 million children under the age of 14 were working across Nigeria.

Attack on septuagenarian: Man, 6 daughters jailed 56 months

BY FESTUS AHON

ENAGOA—A magis trate's court sitting in Sagbama, Bayelsa State, has convicted and sentenced one Mr Finland Okpe and his six daughters to prison over wilful and unlawful damage to property and threat to the life of one Chief David Oteri.

The six daughters are Christiana,Vero,Single,Theresa , Elizabeth and Maria.

Theaccusedpersonswereconvicted and sentenced on a fourcountchargeofconspiracy,willful and unlawful damage, threat to

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life and false information.

The Magistrate, Mrs Jennifer Obein, handing down her sentence, said, “this judgment will serve as a deterrent to the public and volatile youths, who have completely disregarded the existence of the laws of the state.”

Okpe was sentenced to a concurrent38monthsimprisonment, while the 2nd to 7th accused persons were sentenced to three months imprisonment for their wilful and unlawful damage to property and threat to life of Chief Oteri, a septuagenarian in Ofoni community of the state.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012—11

Youth corps member abducted in Delta

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC member has been kidnapped in Delta State.

The state Police Command, gave his name as Uchenna Abueme. It was gathered that he was abducted, weekend along with a boy to his (corper’s) father.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard, yesterday, that “about 7:30am, three armed men kidnapped one Uchena Abueme, a male youth corps member and Chinonso Chris, male, sales boy to the Corper ’s father while driving in a Camry car on Ekeobi Nwandu

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From left: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Chief Tom Ikimi, at the mega rally of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Benin City, weekend. Govt House Photo.

1 killed in renewed cult clash in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—ONE per son was, weekend, confirmed dead and a house torched in Ovwian community, Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, following a renewed clash between two rival cult groups.

An earlier clash of the two cult groups, this year led to the death of one Erite. The deceased, who was said to be in his early 30s, was identified as Mr. Aboy.

A dependable source told Vanguard, that the late Aboy was allegedly shot on close range on the head at 5:30pm. The source, who pleaded anonymity, said Aboy was allegedly hit by bullet during a shootout between the rival cult groups, which also led to serious traffic jam at Orhuwhorun Junction in the area.

Speaking further, the source said after the suspected killers of Mr. Aboy escaped; his cult and fam-

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ily members went straight to one of the assailants’ residence, close to Onos

Estate in Ovwian and allegedly set his house ablaze.

Jonathan orders security agencies to find senator’s killers

BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed all security agencies in the country to track down all those involved in the killing of the senator from Plateau state, Senator Gyang Dantong, representing Plateau Central Senatorial district, saying his murder was cruel and regrettable.

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In an interview with state House correspondents, special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Reuben Abati said the president has ordered all relevant security agencies to ensure that all those involved in the killing are brought to book.

Dr. Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan had directed all security agencies

to ensure that thorough investigation is carried out to ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to justice in due course.

He said the President commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State as well as members and the leadership of the Senate on the incident adding that “The Federal Government is working hard to ensure that there is a check on impunity.

“That much was demon-

Edo indigenes in UK canvass support for Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—EDO State indigenes based in the United

Court quashes SEC report on Okereke-Onyiuke

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, weekend, set aside the audit report, which investigated Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, under its former Director-General, Professor Ndi OkerekeOnyiuke, prepared at the instance of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. It will be recalled that SEC had ordered for an audit report into the affairs of NSE under OkerekeOnyiuke’s leadership, which indicted her.

Okereke-Onyiuke had

gone to court, praying the court to declare among others, that the defendants have no authority, jurisdiction, power or control over her, within the context and meaning of Section 13 of Investment and Securities Act, to warrant the letter of invitation for investigation into the affairs of NSE under her headship.

She had also asked the court to restrain the defendants, their agents, officers, servants, privies and whomsoever from acting upon or giving effect to the said letter, implementing, acting or giving effect to the purported audit report of

strated with the recent changes made in the top echelon of our security architecture especially with the appointment of the new National Security Adviser.

“We shall continue to re_ invigorate our fight against terrorism and impunity and we are already taking concrete steps.”

He quoted President Jonathan as assuring all citizens of the country of their safety wherever they live.

the affairs of NSE or using same to instigate, arrest, harass, intimidate and blackmail her.

Justice Charles Archibong, held that since Okereke-Onyiuke was not allowed to defend herself before the audit report or before its interim version was made public, it was therefore void.

The court consequently quashed the report and held that it was a breach of Section 36 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, saying “The audit exercise was short of due process and is hereby set aside.”

Kingdom and the Diaspora, have urged the people of the state to disregard the ethnic politics being preached through advertorials by the People Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and vote massively for Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Mr Odaro Ize-Omorgie, on behalf of the group, told Vanguard that Edo indigenes abroad were proud to come home and invest due to infrastructural developments in the state and described as archaic, the call by some persons that the people of the state should vote for PDP because the candidate of the party, General Charles Airhiavbere is a Bini man.

He said: “the Bini cannot be fooled by anybody because the question we are all asking is, if he is a Bini man, how many Bini did he employ while he was in the Army?

Street, Asaba.”

He added that as detectives from Police ‘A’ Division Asaba, closed-in on the gang’s hideout at Okpanam, the gang members abandoned

their victims, who eventually escaped into the bush. The search for the corps member in the bush is continuing, but Chris (sales boy) had been found.”

Group backs Oshiomhole's 2nd-term bid

BY ALBERT AKPOR

AGOS—SIX days to the Edo Dtate governorship election, all eligible voters in the state have been asked to come out en mass to vote Mr Adams Osiomhole back to the state’s Government House.

Operating under the aegis of Esan Committee of Friends, the group contended that the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate had performed creditably well and deserves a second term in office.

Speaking to journalists after a dinner in support of Osiomhole’s second term bid, Mr Larry Aghedo, said the position of the Committee was informed by the fact

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that there were visible facts on ground to justify their call for the re-election of the governor.

Aghedo said that in addition to the physical infrastructure, which had been put in place in the state, the people of the state had come to realise that, there could be a governor in their life time that was trust worthy.

He said: “We are saying that our people should not allow themselves to be deceived by anybody in the state come the election day.

We want Osiomhole for a second term and Osiomhole we must have.

The youths of the entire Esan have come together both home and abroad to demand for Osiomhole, and let nobody kill our dream.”

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Igbo group to raise N100m for Dana crash, Boko Haram victims

Education: Cleric hails Obi

WKA—THE Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rev Godwin Okpala has commended Governor Peter Obi’s giant strides in education, saying his education friendly disposition has continued to encourage children to learn.

The Bishop, who spoke at the Carol Standard Convent, Ichi, Ekwusigo local government, while playing host to the governor, observed that Obi demonstrated great political will and courage in returning schools to the churches and providing funds and logistics to rebuild them.

According to the cleric, the provision of buses to schools by the governor had enhanced movement and academic activities and pledged the support of the churches to the state government.

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National Chairman, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, with the National Secretary Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and 36 State Chairmen and FCT after their meeting in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

MUAHIA—OPERA TIVES of Abia State Vigilante Service, AVS, popularly known as Bakassi Boys, has smashed a human trafficking syndicate operating in Obingwa, Aba, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo and Isialangwa Local Government Areas of Abia State.

A seven-year-old girl, Miss Chinyere Chibuzor, abducted since March from Amapuife village, Osisioma council area, by two male members of the gang on a motorcycle, and awaiting to be sold, was rescued.

The vigilante outfit also arrested five members of the gang, three women and two men. They include Obinna Abel, Chimuanya Nwaobilor, Amaka Okafor, Queen Udoka, a pregnant woman and mother of four, as well as Freedom Madu.

According to the Commander-General of the vigilante outfit, Mr. Matins Idika, his men got the report of the missing child since March and had been working to track down the abductors till last week when all of them were rounded up following the arrest of

WKA—AS part of prep arations for the conduct of local government elections in Anambra State, the state Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, has set up a five-member committee to screen candidates to be presented by the various political parties.

The screening committee, headed by a Catholic priest, Mongr Jerome Madueke, has Mr. Joseph Ukoh, Dr. Mbanefo Onyeka, and Princess Adaeze Nnaemezie as members, while

A From left: President, C21 Igbo Unity Forum, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Senator Osita Izunaso during the committee's meeting with Igbo elite in Lagos, weekend.

...arrests 3 women, 2 men as suspected gang members

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Okonkwo, Governor Okorocha who is the group’s Director of Mobilisation, said it had become imperative to assist victims of the two disasters.

The meeting of the C21, which was chaired by Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd).

Okorocha said C21 will mobilise N100 million for the social responsibility respite in the spirit of Igbo core value of ‘onye aghana nwanneya.”

LG poll: Anambra INEC sets up c'ttee to screen candidates

Vigilante group rescues 7-yrold girl from human traffickers

BY ANAYO OKOLI

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, weekend in Lagos, said the Igbo socio-political group; Committee 21, C21, would mobilize not less than N100million to assist victims of Dana air disaster and the Boko Harem insurgency from the South-East.

At a consultative dialogue with eminent sons and daughters of South East hosted by the President of the group, Senator Annie

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BY VINCENT UJUMADU

the two male members of the syndicate.

Little Chinyere Chibuzor, according to her mother, Ihuoma, was allegedly abducted by Obinna and Chimuanya, when she sent her on errand with her 12year- old elder sister, Blessing at about 7 pm.

Idika explained that the AVS started trailing the whereabout of the child until May 16, 2012, when his unit located at Uratta Timber Market reported that one alias Iyierioba reported that a baby was brought to her to be sold for N180, 000.

According to the AVS boss, his men played along with Iyierioba, who later turned out to be a member of the syndicate, till they got hold of the three women in the gang.

Idika said the suspects tried to legitimize the sale of the child in form of adoption to no avail before they were arrested.

The syndicate was said to have contacted a buyer based in Port Harcourt who had agreed to pay N.5 million, explaining that the girl would have been sold, but because the deal was struck during weekend and he

had asked them to wait till working days.

But luck ran against them as they were rounded up before the appointed day.

Idika said the suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Ban on religious programme: Ebonyi CAN to meet Elechi

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—EB ONYI State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, weekend, said it would today meet with the state Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, over the ban of religious programmes on Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation, E B B C .

This was part of its resolutions at a meeting with bishops and Heads of blocs of various Christian organizations across the state.

Speaking with newsmen, Chairman of CAN in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Nshii, said the body would take its position on the matter after meeting with the Governor today and that the peculiarity of the situation on ground was what necessitated the coming together of clerics for an

interactive forum.

Nshii who expressed hope that the meeting with Governor Elechi would yield a positive result, called on Christians to exercise restraint and patience as CAN was determined to get to the root of the matter to ensure that the gospel was fully propagated in the state.

He said: “After we must have met with Governor Martin Elechi, then we shall have conclusion on the matter and then the body can state its stand. This is Chairman-in-Council where the entire bishops and ecclesiastical functionaries in the state present their opinion as one united body. Definitely the programmes will come back on air. The realities on ground brought about this meeting. We were not told it was an absolute ban by government".

Mr. Ben Uzorka is to serve as secretary.

Also in the committee are representatives of the state police command, the State Security Service, SSS, and a member of the state board of internal revenue, who would verify the tax receipts of the candidates.

The commissioner overseeing the activities of ANSIEC, Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, told newsmen yesterday that materials for the election, including the forms and posters, were ready, noting that they were designed at the commission’s office in Awka.

Salary: Anambra NULGE explains reasons for ultimatum to govt

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—THE Anambra State Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Chief Jerry Nnubia, has given reasons for the seven-day ultimatum issued to the state government over non-payment of the salary of local government workers in the state, saying the union can no longer watch while workers suffer.

Workers in the local government, at the instance of NULGE, last week demonstrated at the Idemili North local government area at Ogidi, to protest the continued delay in the pay-

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ment of their salaries.

During the protest, the aggrieved workers prevented officials of the joint account committee from continuing working and requested for a workable formula that would make it easy for workers to receive their pay without hitches.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012—13

Our graduates not employable—Okonjo-Iweala FG commited to improving power sector — Nnaji

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—MINISTER of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, weekend raised an alarm over the deteriorating education system in the country, saying the situation had degenerated to a disturbing level where students from the nation’s institutions were not e m p l o y a b l e .

Iweala spoke while delivering an address at the second Prof Barth Nnaji Biennial Lecture series at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Enugu.

She stressed the need to put in place mechanisms that would improve the quality and facilities for teaching, as well as research at the tertiary level.

According to the minister, “these measures are not limited to simply increasing funds available; collaboration between higher institutions (National and International), a more limited focus on research programmes offered, and an improvement in the culture of maintenance are measures that will help deliver this end.”

In the case of university research, she said “findings should be competition based, to provide incentives to enhance efficiency and strengthen collaboration with industry.”

Iweala lamented that the nation’s higher institutions were plagued with inadequate science and technological facilities and materials for practical skills development, saying “Many laboratories lack the basic equipment for thorough scientific research. How, for example, can a computer science graduate not understand the basics of writing software codes? Nigeria is churning out thousands of science and technology graduates each year but several of them are under-employed, going into the banking and non-scientific sectors.”

Also speaking, Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji reassured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s determination to continue with the on-going efforts to improve the power sector, adding that about 1,000 additional megawatts of power would be recovered by the end of the year.

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Nnaji who said government had put in place measures to ensure actual-

ization of reliable electricity in the country, however, pointed out that “govern-

ment really shouldn’t be playing so much role in power”.

Stop illegal, wasteful expenditure, CWP tells FG

BY OMOH GABRIEL, BUSINESS EDITOR IGERIANS being rep resented by Citizens Wealth Platform, CWP, will today be telling the Federal Government to increase the capital vote for 2013 to not less than 40 per cent of the budget, dedicate 26 per cent and 15 per cent respectively to education and health, and remove all illegitimate and wasteful expenditure. They will be stating that if there must be a vote for refreshment and meals, it must be reasonable within the context of the level of poverty in the country and actual needs of the office. Welfare packages must be properly defined and contextualized considering that personnel expenditure has already been included in the budget.

CWP is a group of nongovernmental and faith based-organisations, professional associations and other citizens groups dedicated to ensuring that public resources are made to work and be of benefit to all.

Their position which has been carefully articulated will be presented at today’s 2013 budget consultation forum at Eko Hotel with the Minister of Finance. The body will tell the government that the 2013 budget should be predicated on the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. The presentation to government, a copy of which was sighted by Vanguard said: “Section 18 (1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA, states that the MTEF shall be the basis for the preparation of the estimates of the revenue and expenditure required to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly under section 81 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The MTEF is to be prepared and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council before the end of June every year.

“We are not aware that the MTEF 2013-2015 has been prepared, endorsed

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by the Federal Executive Council and approved by the National Assembly as required by section 14 of the FRA. Going forward with the 2013 budget consultation without an under girding MTEF would appear to us as putting the cart before the horse and in violation of the spirit and letter of the FRA. “Secondly, for a consultation of this nature to be meaningful and genuine, it should be based on a consultation paper which provides the contours of the major macro-economic indicators upon which the budget will be based, budget implementation reports, including the quarterly reports stipulated by section 30 of the FRA and the end of year budget implementation report required under section 50 of the FRA. As we write, there is no single budget implementation report for the year 2012 on the website of the Budget Office of the Federation and the 2011 Full Year Report is not available to Nigerians. Best practices further demand mid-year review of the 2012 budget.

The mid-year review of the budget discusses the changes in economic outlook since the budget was enacted, updated revenue and expenditure estimates and a revised forecast for the full fiscal year and its effects on the budget. The availability of these documents to the public would have facilitated dialogue, informed and meaningful contributions from stakeholders.

According to the group’s position “There are a number of areas from which savings can be made in 2013. The first is that Government had set up the Expenditure Review Committee (Professor Anya O. Anya led Committee) and the Presidential Committee for the Rationalization and Restructuring of Federal Government MDAs (Oronsaye-led Committee). The recommendations which would reduce the bloated overhead and personnel

expenses of FGN should be implemented through an informed balancing of fiscal and social concerns in the reforms they propose.

Also, the executive should stop the delay in presenting the Petroleum Industry Bill to NASS. It is recommended that NASS should accelerate the passage of the bill once presented. Implementation of its proposals after enactment would release not less than N3trillion for FGN which should be channeled into capital expenditure”.

The body will argue that “Federal budgets over the years have not addressed adequate funding for the social sector, particularly education and health. At no time have our budgets come close to the 26 per cent and 15 per cent of the budget recommended for education and health respectively. If less endowed African countries have been meeting these targets or come close to the targets, Nigerian has no reason for not meeting same. It will propose that the government “dedicate 26 per cent and 15 per cent respectively to education and health in the 2013 budget provision insisting that adequate allocations be dedicated to women’s health, girl child education and the education and health needs of vulnerable groups.

Court orders winding up of defunct Afribank, Spring Bank

BY INNOCENT ANABA Federal High Court sit ting in Lagos has ordered the winding up of defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc and Spring Bank Plc. Justice Charles Archibong, ruling on an application for the winding up of the two banks, by Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, said since the licenses of the two banks had been revoked by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and properly gazetted, there was no need for their existence.

NDIC, acting pursuant to Section 40 of the NDIC Act 2006, had filed the petitions to wind up the banks.

By a notice dated August 8, 2011 and published as Government Notice No 140, in the official gazette of the Federal Government

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No.63 Volume 98, the Governor of CBN revoked the licence of Afribank Nigeria Plc, Bank PHB and Spring Bank Plc. The said Section 40 provides that, “whenever the licence of an insured institution is revoked by CBN, the corporation shall act as liquidator of such failed insured institution with powers conferred on a liquidator under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 and shall be deemed to have been appointed a provisional liquidator by the Federal High Court for the purpose of that Act.” So far, two out of the three banks have been wounded up by the order of court. It was gathered that a fresh petition had been filed to wind up Bank PHB, while the date for the hearing of the petition had not been fixed.

Road accident: FRSC to launch emergency toll free line today EDERAL Road Safety Corps, FRSC, will today make a formal presentation of a national emergency toll free line, 122 by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu in Abuja.

According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Jonas Agwu, the launch of a toll free emergency line had become necessary in view of the public apathy which trailed the initial launch of an emergency line 070022553772 in 2008, which was not toll free.

Agwu however, noted the usefulness of 070022553772 in the Corps’ rescue services which accounted for

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over 14,062 calls from the public from 2008 till date.

He said with the unveiling of an emergency line without any financial burden on Nigerians, an extensive mileage would be covered in the Corps’ drive to elicit public collaboration and prompt reports on road traffic emergencies such as road crashes, obstructions, traffic gridlock and other related emergency cases.

He added that with the proposed launch of the emergency line operating on all networks, sustained efforts by the Federal Road Safety Corps to achieve a 10-15 minutes’ response time to road traffic emergencies would be achieved.

BIRTHDAY—Mr. Sina Kawonise, former Ogun State Commissioner for Information flanked by his wife, Olubunmi, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Guest Lecturer, Amb. AwolowoDosunmu and Aree Kola Oyefeso during the service to mark Mr. Kawonise's 50th birthday in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, yesterday..

14—Vanguard , MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

30 houses destroyed as Benue communities clash

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—OVER 30 houses, including economic trees and farm produce, valued at over N200 million were, weekend, burnt when youths of Mbayangeh and Mbashine communities clashed over a disputed land at Ikpayongo in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State.

Vanguard gathered that there had been a long-standing disagreement between the communities over the land.

However, the communities took up arms against each other few days ago, after leaders of one of the

communities allegedly gave out the disputed land to a federal lawmaker for the construction of a private school.

An eyewitness said: “It is a known fact that the two communities have been fighting over ownership of the land in question. So, it came as a surprise when we learnt that the said disputed land had been given out by one of the contending parties to a lawmaker, who wants to construct a school on it.

“That singular act sparked angry reaction from Mbashine community, which mobilised to resist the move. It provoked a counter-reaction from their neighbours.

This led to the use of dangerous weapons in the ensuing fighting.”

The source added that “the fighting lasted several hours before the police came to restore law and order. But at the last count, over 30 houses had been burnt, economic trees destroyed. Farm produce were not speared by the warring parties.”

The eyewitness said no life was lost in the crisis, but that so many people have been displaced with no shelter and food.

Vanguard gathered that the Benue State Police Command deployed men to the troubled communities to ensure the restoration of peace.

Reps quiz BPE boss over N57bn loans

BY OKEY NDIRIBE BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives’ Public Account Committee has queried the Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mrs. Bolanle Onagoruwa, over loans totalling N56.8 billion the agency disbursed to 22 privatised and quasi-privatised Federal Government agencies.

The committee’s Chairman, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, asked the BPE boss to furnish it with documents on the said loans.

BPE was under scrutiny with regards to 2006 Auditor-General of the Federation's audit report, which the committee was investigating.

The Auditor-General’s report had it that N56.8 billion loans were offered as bailouts by Federal Ministry of Finance through BPE to Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Ajaokuta Steel Company, Delta Steel, Jos Steel Mining Company, Power Holding Company

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of Nigeria, PHCN, and 19 others.

The committee instructed the Auditor-General and BPE boss to produce a list, status, year and structure of the loans

to the affected companies.

They are also expected to provide share certificates issued to the Federal Government if the loans had been converted to equities.

FCT indigenes want Abuja State

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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B U J A — ABORIGENES of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have called on the National Assembly to initiate the creation of a state for areas outside the Federal Capital City as part of the second amendment to the 1999 Constitution.

Dr. Abubakar Wodi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Original Inhabitants Development Association, yesterday, demanded for the creation of the Office of Governor, a state House of Assembly, three senatorial districts, six federal constituencies and 11 ad-

ditional area councils.

According to the group, the call was in consonance with Section 299 of the constitution, which recognises FCT as possessing the status of a state.

Wodi said: “We request that, for the FCT, the democratic institutions of a second-tier administration (a state) should be unambiguously entrenched in the constitution, when amended.

“This should come in the form of a ‘special state’ status for the Federal Capital Territory and a Mayoralty for the Federal Capital City.

“We demand that the constitution should provide for the office of a democratically-elected governor for the FCT, who will be elected by the indigenes/residents to govern the FCT. A Federal Capital Territory House of Assembly should also be established for the FCT.” The group further demanded that Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to provide for an FCT Minister, who shall be appointed from FCT’s indigenous people into the Executive Council of the Federation.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 —

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16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 A FEW things are becoming clearer about the fuel subsidy scandal that is rocking the House of Representatives – there are more scandals within the scandal, and the public must not know them. The anger Gambo Dan Musa, Chairman of the House Ethics Committee vented when Mr. Femi Otedola, a central figure in the allegations refused to testify in secret is a sign the House wants to avoid embarrassment.

Why would a suggestion that the session be public draw bile from Mallam Dan Musa? If the House suggested an open hearing and Mr. Otedola refused, how would it have reacted?

“He has refused to answer all our questions, he has insulted us and, in addition to that, he was just laughing. It was very stupid of him and we are not happy too,” Mallam Dan Musa told journalists after Mr. Otedola insisted on a public hearing of his allegations. What made him unhappy? Does his unhappiness justify calling another person “stupid”?

“We cannot have a committee of this nature, a standing committee, that is respected by the House and somebody comes and tells us that

No Place For Fools he is a businessman… and he is not hungry like ourselves,” Mallam Dan also said. Even if Mr. Otedola addressed the committee in such manner privately, the chairman certainly fell into his trap by being abusive publicly, another reason the engagement should have been public.

According to Microsoft Encarta® 2009, “stupid” means - absurd, asinine, brainless, daft, dull, fatuous, foolish, futile, ill advised, imprudent, inane, injudicious, irresponsible, laughable, ludicrous, nonsensical, obtuse, rash, reckless, ridiculous, senseless, silly, thoughtless, unintelligent, unwise, witless.

Is there a reason for anyone to describe an-

other, during official encounter, in this manner? Why would decorum be beyond our public officers? What level of frustration made Mallam Dan Musa to become abusive, handing Mr. Otedola an advantage?

Our pains remain that these are ploys to ensure abuses of the petroleum subsidy regime are never addressed. The report is taking a back seat as attention focuses on the bribery scandal. The tenor of the discussion suggests that the House, which is on trial as Mr. Otedola would determine how it sits on its own case.

The House of Representatives is not a place for fools, wherever they issue from and whatever their intentions. It is a House established to espouse our liberties. It cannot therefore engage in name calling because someone asked for the protection of his liberties.

If the committee sticks to its decision to sit in private, with Mr. Otedola, it would have finally lost its stand on an issue that began publicly and that is still supposedly for the benefit of the public.

OPINION

BY PATRICK OMORODION

S a young undergraduate in the 1980s, I got mocked by my friends from the eastern part of the country each time they returned after the holidays to then University of Ife in Ile-Ife which was renamed after the great politician who was never allowed to transform Nigeria even though they (the powers that be) knew he had all it took to do so.

Yes, I was mocked that my State capital, then of old Bendel State, Benin City was a glorified village. Benin was a rusty town with old houses made mostly from bricks and either thatched or rusty zinc roofs. The roads were narrow and bumpy with no drainage, making it a hell to go through whenever it rained.

Not comfortable with the jeers from my friends, I took pains to ask questions whenever I was chanced to visit Benin. I was a Bendelite in the diaspora, born in Onitsha in present day Anambra and had my primary education in Port Harcourt.

Though I had my secondary education in Ewohimi, in Edo Central Senatorial district, incidentally the same town Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s late wife comes from, I never lived in Benin.

The answers I got were unsatisfactory. Some said the Bini people didn’t want to destroy their ancestral heritage hence they abhored any development that would destroy what their forefathers built and therefore left the houses or even roads the way they met them.

My friends became very happy when the Federal Government eventually built the Bye-pass road that cut off Benin main town to ease the perennial traffic jam that usually held motorists for several hours, especially during festive periods.

Somehow the theory about the Binis not wanting to destroy their ancestral heritage gained authenticity when the young men and women who went abroad for the proverbial golden fleece returned home to build modern buildings that gave Benin a semblance of a modern township. The old houses, most of which had become dilapidated, still dotted most areas of the

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Benin, from squalor to splendor town and were not pulled down.

Even in the days of the greatest military governor, BrigadierGeneral Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Benin City did not wear the toga of a modern city. Some other military administrators who came after Dr. Ogbemudia, especially those posted from the northern part of the country, instead of helping to develop the city, left it worst than they met it.

The worst destruction Benin suffered, came during the tenure of its own son, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, whose tenure got billions of Naira from the federation account but did do any tangible thing for the people. Even the simplest thing of paying workers salary was as herculean to him as construction of roads.

While Chief Igbinedion (mis)governed the State, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP did not see any wrong. All the party top shots were interested in, was getting their own share of the commonwealth which was shared under the supervision of the godfather whose only stock in trade was fixing every election and robbing the rightful winners of the people's mandate.

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owever, when God, through the law courts restored Comrade Oshiomhole’s mandate to him, the former labour leader chose to follow a different path different from all others, (mind you Dr. Ogbemudia governed the old Bendel State, a much more bigger State and also governed well), who ruled the state before him.

Oshiomhole started by seizing the State from the grip of the instruments the PDP government used in terrorising the citizens at motor parks and market squares, collecting illegal fees. He pulled down illegal structures that made Benin City a junk city.

He introduced mass transit Intra-city buses for easy movement of people and goods across the state.

He did not stop there. He started massive construction of roads which hitherto was not possible in Benin. To the shock of all, he had to pull down the walls of the Oba of Benin palace, one of the ancestral heritages we were told must not be destroyed to keep the Bini history intact.

Suddenly Benin began to brighten up and look like a modern city. The Oba of Benin, Oba Erediuwa Uku Akpolokpolo, was dazed with the development he saw. At least in his life time, he has seen Benin as a modern city unlike what those who governed the State before now told them. Instead of joining to praise Governor Oshiomhole, the PDP, especially those tied to the apron strings of the godfather, see nothing in what the governor is doing. Some others say Oshiomhole has turned Benin into a huge construction site.

Yes. Before the city turns into a beautiful city, some constructions must be carried out and that is exactly what has been going on.

Some of the constructions hat have been completed is already giving Benin City a new look which those who used to mock the city now applaud.

As a result of what the Oba and his chiefs are seeing, they have more or less thrown their weight behind Oshiomhole for a second term so that “he can complete the good works he has started”.

Rather than throw in the towel and prepare for the 2016 election, the PDP is crying foul, saying that the Oba, as a father of all Edo people, should be neutral while all true Bini people should support their son, General Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP. The Oba palace has replied the PDP well by saying that when you build a house and your son leaves it to deteriorate but a visitor comes to renovate and paint it to look nice, it would be unfair to ignore such a visitor and stick to your son. The Oba also passed a message through visiting President Goodluck Jonathan to PDP’s Mr fix it, that the July 14 election in Edo State should be allowed to be free and fair.

•Mr. Omorodion, a journalist, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 — 49

HE House of Representatives is gradually living up to its name.

Since Hon. Waziri Tambuwal took over as the Speaker a little over a year ago, this chamber, formerly more renowned for its corruption, scandals and disgraceful scuffles over money and power which, during the Patricia Etteh-gate led to the death of Hon. Aminu Safana (a medical doctor) is gradually undergoing self-redemption.

Yes indeed, the scandals have continued, with some House committees sent to probe sleazy deals also soiling their fingers, as in the cases of Herman Hembe and Farouk Lawan. But the House has increasingly gone to extraordinary lengths to respond to the yearnings of the Nigerian public. For instance, it had to reconvene from recess twice over the petrol subsidy nationwide strike and the subsequent Lawan Farouk bribery scandal in line with public outcry.

The most recent act of heroism (by my own description) was the role the House played in safeguarding the lives of thousands of young Nigerian graduates of tertiary institutions who are currently being posted to serve the nation in accordance with the law. It took the fatherly intervention of the House of Reps before the Directorate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yielded to commonsense and rescinded its cold-blooded decision to send these vulnerable youth in harm’s way.

Before the Reps overwhelmingly passed a motion asking the NYSC to hold action on sending corps members to the states of the north troubled by terrorism and sectarian violence, officials of the NYSC had insisted on following what they called “the law” and “due process” in the postings to Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States.

They offered the weak excuse

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culture in southern Nigeria would touch a single hair on the heads of northern corps members in their midst no matter the provocation. It is simply unthinkable. Perhaps, it is this assurance that emboldens wicked-minded politicians to toy with the patience of decent people.

It is very gratifying that, at least, our representatives showed up just when their intervention was most needed.

One would have thought, after the tragic killings of last year the NYSC would need no one to tell them to take maximum care in their postings of this year, ensuring that safety of the corps members would override every other consideration, especially this year when Boko Haram terrorism is targeting schools, markets, churches and even military and paramilitary installations and personnel (which includes youth corps members).

NYSC: thank you Reps that governors of these states had assured of the safety of corps members! They did not disclose in concrete terms what steps were taken, and in what ways such steps have protected the ordinary citizens of these states from being killed or maimed by terrorists. Governors who cannot even guarantee their own safety with their security votes would have us believe they could guarantee those of total strangers! Some of them had cowered and begged the terrorists for mercy, opting to blackmail the federal government into “dialogue” with a group whose latest thrill is to bomb Christians while worshipping in church on Sundays.

It would seem that some of these governors and some wicked elements from the

Outrage as NYSC posts graduates to Borno and other Northern States.

else can one rationalise the inciting dismissal of the killing of youth corps members after the election of 2011 as their “destiny ” by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State? He is one of the governors requesting

When they failed to take the precaution, it was surprising that no state governor raised his voice against sending corps members from their states to the flashpoint states of northern Nigeria

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northern parts of the country derive sick, hidden pleasure in seeing people from other parts of the country murdered in cold blood in their areas by the al majiris who are raised in dirty hovels to see these young strangers from other parts of the country as “unbelievers”. How

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for another batch of corps members to come to Bauchi to once again meet their “destiny”.

When Hon. Peter Edeh representing Ebonyi State introduced the motion to suspend the posting of corps members to the troubled states,

Ahmed Kaita (Katsina) and Kaka Kyari Gujbawu (Borno) argued against it, on the ground that it would go against the philosophy of the Scheme! To them, it is no longer the sanctity of life that matters but the sanctity of “philosophy”!

After all, corps members from their own parts are safe and sound in the south.

Assuming the situation were reversed and northern youth corps members are being slaughtered in the south, or that people of the south took up reprisal actions against northern corps members in their midst, would Yuguda, Kaita and Gujbawu still argue the same way?

The answer is clearly a big NO! These bloodthirsty politicians can afford to mount their provocative argument because they know that no

Flashpoint states When they failed to take the precaution, it was surprising that no state governor raised his voice against sending corps members from their states to the flashpoint states of northern Nigeria. Fathers and mothers allowed their children to leave home to the slaughter slab without raising a voice of concern. Students unions and old students associations of universities kept mute and not a single human rights group showed up at the Maitama Abuja premises of the NYSC headquarters with placards.

No lawyer sued or even sought an injunction against sending our young people to die.

On behalf of thousands of the youth corps members whose lives have been spared by this singular act of concern and patriotism I say a big thank you to the honourable members of the House of Representatives!

Please keep it up.

OPINION

BY AMOS ONYEDIKA

Continued from Friday pg .17 HILOSOPHY is good because it awakens in man the need for critical thinking.

However, if what Emenuaga was trying to say is that Obi as a philosopher should have performed better, he is wrong. I challenge him to tell us one governor who is doing better than him with the available resources? There is no sector in which Obi has not done better than his predecessors.

Emenuga gleefully echoed El-Rufai’s view on the poor IGR base of the State and submitted that “only Lagos, Kano and a few other non-oil producing states are not as valuable as Anambra. If he were sincere, he should have named two more states that do not fall within his vulnerable ranking. He knows he may not get any beyond Lagos and Kano. But like a typical home opposition, Anambra must be used as an example. I cannot accuse him of criticizing what he did not understand, because it was evidently out of mischief. Since the advent of Obi, Anambra’s IGR may not have reached its optimum, but it has continued to increase. Obi says that he has enough money to pay salary for even a year should nothing come from the centre.

In six years Obi has invested over N10 billion

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Anambra: Still on El-Rufai and his Yes-men (2) for Anambra State in promising businesses and yet he is doing nothing to improve Anambra’s IGR base. If all the companies: SABmiller, Orient Petroleum , Innoson Motors, Juhel, etc, he is supporting or attracting to Anambra pay taxes, would it not improve the IGR base? Surely Emenuga’s understanding of IGR is still within the base category of collecting stallage fees and all that.

Coming out more pungently to showcase his real motive, Emenuaga asked: “What are the good works a visitor will see in Anambra State? Peer review? King Solomon of Israel did not publicize his good works before Queen of Sheba heard of it and embarked on a trip to Jerusalem to see for herself”. If everything Solomon did should be glorified, I advise Emenuga to get 700 concubines for himself.

In a State where people like Emenuaga deny what exists, what will happen if such are not shown to the world? In fact, the antics of people like him call on the Governor to re-double whatever he does to showcase his work. I think Emenuga should rather not concern himself about false claims.

In saying that the only solution to poverty and unemployment in Anambra State is to

expand economic activities in the State and create enabling environment for the private sector to flourish, Emenuga left many more confused than enlightened. In the past six years, economic activities in the State have been expanding. Consequently bank branches have more than doubled, industries are coming up, hotels grew from about four to over 30, and development partners that were not in the State are all here. Emenuga, what do you mean?

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o show you what Emenuaga set out to do, he denied any development taking place in his part of the State. Even the road he referred to, the Igbo-Ukwu – Uga – Umunze – OwerreEzukala road, was completed by Governor Obi. He does not know that this government has completely rebuilt the Umunze Cottage Hospital, constructed the longest bridge – Odor – in his area, did the Ufuma – Enugwu road; he is doing the Ajalli- Aguluezechukwu road. In his part of the State, there is no town that did not benefit from a new classroom of five blocks. Most schools for the first time benefited from library, buses, internet, boreholes, etc.

Judging from what Obi has done and the

recognition that has come his way, it will not be easy to distort the truth here. Thisday Best Governor on Financial Prudence; Champion Most Trustworthy Governor; Thisday Fourth Most Performing Governor; a Governor heading a State acclaimed by the Nigerian Senate as most stable; a Governor Debt Management Office acclaimed as leading the least indebted state; a Governor the Federal Ministry of Works acclaimed his State as having the best network of roads; a Governor who is beloved by the international community/ development partners; a Governor who enjoys warm relationship with the Federal Government, cannot by any stretch of imagination be called a failure.

In his long and tortuous journey in politics, we must accept that Obi has driven lunatics away from Anambra State, clipped the wings of predatory politicians eyeing the State treasury, prevented those who saw themselves as readymade to govern Anambra State from succeeding. But even if he turns Anambra into an Eldorado, this tribe of critics must see him as a failure. Too bad! Too tragic!Concluded •Dr. Onyedika, wrote from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

I warned Nigerians about Farouk — Dino Melaye

of mere resolution But let me remind the President that it was this same mere resolution that made it possible for him to be Acting President which he celebrated and even invited them (legislators) to dinner in his house.

When Arunma Oteh was indicted by the Capital Market FORMER member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, is one whose Probe, she was asked to step voice or person cannot be hidden on any major issue. So, given his frontal role in aside but when Mrs. Deziani affairs of the House of Representatives in the last assembly where he played was accused by the Fuel Subsidy Panel nothing was diametrically opposite roles with Rep. Farouk Lawan, he became a subject of interest said and she was a primary in the review of the unfolding $3 million bribe scandal in the House. Melaye also actor as Chairman of the board of Nigeria National spoke on the spectre of corruption in the country among other issues. Excerpts: Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and above all the man he was probing? What a

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE minister that shame but Nigerians and supervises the HIS House seems to have Nigeria should be able to petroleum resisted the lure to crisis separate Farouk from the sector. This is a more than when you were institution known as the clear case of were there. Can you say why? House of Representatives personalizing The crisis was sponsored by because the 360 Reps took offices and the Integrity group headed by oaths individually. making the fight The primary objective of the Farouk Lawan solely to a g a i n s t humble Madam Patricia Etteh probe which is a resolution of corruption a from office. But do not forget the House must not be thrown child’s play. that it was the same Lawan into the garbage because as The state of who made it possible for the Executive Secretary of an insecurity today Madam Etteh to become Anti-Corruption body I want in the country is Speaker and when the same the report implemented. alarming what do But why would legislators Lawan did not get what he you think could demanded, that is becoming probe when they know that be done to the Chairman of such ventures lead them to redress the Appropriation Committee, he problems? situation?

My brother there is no need plotted to remove her from It is very sad for probes in the first place if office. that our President Remember that Madam legislators carry out their could leave the Etteh never stole one kobo. legislative functions with the country to attend What happened was that all fear of God and with every a carnival in her budgets were anticipatory sincerity of commitment there Brazil when this and Lawan used it against her will be no need for probes. country was fast because the committee he got Functions of the lawmaker: being swallowed was that of Education. He The functions of the law maker by a never liked it and the woman are basically three, namely the conflagration that of adequately *Melaye: Integrity Group died immediately after Etteh was removed could not have done act he has not been representing their people via from office otherwise. able to quench the provision of the dividends since assumption of office as of democracy; two, the act of the MDAs and that of the in Nigeria as mere lip Integrity Acting President.

This is a executive.

When I was in the service. What is your take on making laws via motions and group died clear indication of somebody House they gave account of this?

Jonathan has no plans to that displays of insensitivity The house Madam Etteh fight corruption in this to the security of the people wanted to refurbish for country. That I know very well of this country. To worsen the N238million was renovated by because he is a major factor situation the spokesman of Dimeji Bankole for in the arrogance of Femi this government, Labaran N400million and the same Otedola and this has been Maku came out to say the house was eventually sold to shown clearly. How can Femi president can rule from any him. So if I may ask, where is Otedola disregard the part of the world confirming the integrity now that we have resolution of the entire House to us that Mr. President is a all known that the whole of Representatives saying it is ruler not a leader. What concept was laced with…. laughable? If I were to be the Nigerians need is a leader not But the man tried…..

Speaker I would have a ruler that can rule from any (Interjects) Tried in what part of the world. summoned manner. That Integrity Group him for died immediately after Etteh contempt was removed from office or did but the their stewardship (and) I you hear that the group ever bills and three, oversight President remember we recalled one held one meeting throughout functions. There is no single showed minister to give account of MDA that if serious oversight the period it existed? Four h i s weeks before the bubble burst function is carried out will not books bought twelve years negative after he left office that were I warned Nigerians that they give account of all its trend by still on the high seas.

After should not celebrate Farouk activities. Once this is done describing proper investigation they and proper supervision of yet with the fuel subsidy t h e probe so his fumbling and projects are carried out there returned the books. So proper resolution oversight will substantially wobbling in the course of will be no need for probes. of the take away the stress of probes Probes are manifestation of carrying out his legislative House and these embarrassments are satanic collaboration between functions is no surprise to us on Fuel the National Assembly and becoming too much. that know him too well.

Subsidy Corruption seems to have Can you imagine that 14 the Public Service. But if Regime assumed a larger than life years after as a national oversight functions are as mere proportion in Nigeria to the diligently carried out at lawmaker, Farouk could resolution. descend so low to visit the appropriate times this will extent that the US has even Celebration described the fight against it residence of Femi Otedola a effectively police activities of

•Says Jonathan is pampering corruption

T

,

Four weeks before the bubble burst I warned Nigerians that they should not celebrate Farouk yet with the fuel subsidy probe so his fumbling and wobbling in the course of carrying out his legislative functions is no surprise to us that know him too well

,

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012—51

Where is Lucky?

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

T

HE forthcoming gubernatorial election would soon be a past event, but the question of the whereabouts of one of the major political forces in the state has continued to be a mystery.

After Capt. Hosa Okunbo yesterday came out to openly endorse the PDP candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere against the aspiration of his friend, the incumbent, the main man that is yet to speak out now remains Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

Igbinedion’s voice in the election is especially significant given the fact that he was the longest serving democratically elected governor of Edo State.

Should Adams Oshiomhole be re-elected he would be in pole position to equal the eight years that Igbinedion spent as governor between 1999 and 2007.

Even though Igbinedion has not spoken the footprints of his political empire are all about

the incumbent with his ManFriday, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu serving as DirectorGeneral of the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation.

It is remarkable that with the Igbinedion boys all around him, that the same men continue to refer to the years of PDP as the years of the cankerworm and caterpillar.

How the comrade-governor has been able to extricate himself from such allegations

of hypocrisy has been really remarkable. In an interview with Vanguard last April, Oshiomhole robustly rebutted references of a contradiction in his characterization of the PDP. “The answer is simple. The Governor in a presidential system has so much power which decides the character of his cabinet. If he chooses to have a cabinet that is incompetent that is his problem. For example I

A

GROUP, Edo Youths for Good Governance, EYGG, has charged President Goodluck Jonathan not to be taken in by the lure of 2015 in tilting undue support for the ACN candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

The group in a petition to the President pleaded with him to ignore what they described as the deceitful kite allegedly being spread by some PDP chieftains that he must deliver Edo State to the PDP to enable him get block votes from the South-South for his alleged 2015 presidential re-election bid.

In the petition by the group’s President-General, Iyamu Osaro, it argued that President Jonathan is too enlightened to be cajoled into this type of devilish political machination of robbing Peter to pay Paul and empowering undemocratic elements which he promised to fight.

The petition reads in part, “Our worries stem from recent political behavioral pattern of some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in Edo state who want to grab political powers at all cost, get the President involved in the electoral malfeasance, rubbish his credentials and

*Igbinedion

Airhiavbere dares Oshiomhole, denies being detained

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM AND GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

T

HREE days after Comrade Adams Oshiomhole gave him a last minute jibe during the final television debate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) yesterday responded to the allegations of being detained and forcefully retired from the Nigerian Army.

In his own response, Airhiavbere accused Oshiomhole of covering up issues on his alleged new country residence and challenged the incumbent to take the media on a guided tour of the property for the verification of claims.

The PDP candidate also sought to debunk the claim that he referred to students as armed robbers during the

Don’t allow 2015 votes lure you, Jonathan told

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

decided from the onset that I am going to bring in people with specific skills in those areas that we have identified as our priority areas.

I decided that you must be a professional to handle key ministries. Some people did not quite agree with it because of politics. But I believe that some of the skills you need to win election may not be the skills you need to run an efficient and competent government.”

destroy his political future and career.”

“W are not unaware that you have a duty to protect the interest of your party. We are also not oblivious of the fact that you are a father to all and the political Leader of Nigeria since the entire country is your constituency.”

“If report reaching us in Edo State is anything to go by, that top ranking members of your party at the national and state levels, have renewed

pressure on you and your good office to influence the July 14th gubernatorial elections, then there is cause for worry and fear for the hardearned credentials you laboured to achieve over time, the country, Edo state and the polity. We hear the deceitful kite they are flying in town and which we urge you not to take with a pinch of the salt.

First and foremost, they raised the issue of 2015 and delegates.”

debate.

“I never called them armed robbers and I will not also encourage an environment that will portray them as such.

That is exactly what happening in the budget,” he told newsmen yesterday.

Giving his own jibe, he said “Oshiomhole has not been able to explain to the Edo state people the issue of his house at Iyam. But he should take the journalists on a guided tour. If he was able to run the journalists to Anedokia Road he should be able to take them to his house,” the candidate said yesterday.

He also denied being detained in the days leading up to his exit from the Nigerian Army saying he could not have retained his medals and honours if he had been detained as claimed by Oshiomhole during

last Thursday’s debate.

It would be, recalled that following his response to the question about his country home during the debate that Governor Oshiomhole had warned Airhiavbere that he, Oshiomhole, should not be provoked else he would release details of the alleged detention and forceful retirement of Airhiavbere from the Army.

*Airhiavbere

Capt. Hosa throws big support for Charles

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

A

MAJOR support came the way of Gen. Charles Ahiavbere yesterday after billionaire businessman Captain Hosa Okunbo dumped his famed romance with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to support the PDP candidate on the basis of projecting the Benin political agenda.

Captain Hosa who is alleged to have largely financed the ruling ACN in Edo State at a point in time, at a press conference in Benin yesterday, said his decision to back a Bini candidate was aimed at leveling up the disadvantage of the Binis in the present

political configuration of the state.

In a veiled reference to his alleged friendship with Comrade Oshiomhole, the businessman said that no friendship or relationship was not worth sacrificing in the interest of his people.

“I removed my support from the ACN to the PDP because of some interests. I believe every politics is local, you have to belong to a Ward, local government, State or National and if you are good politician, you must take into account the interest of your people at the ward, local government, state and national,” Hosa said.

“When people talk of ethnicity, I don’t believe that there is anything like ethnic politics. I believe it is talking

about the interest of your people. Why am I saying this?

“Edo South where I come from has close to 58 percent of the votes in the state and this was demonstrated during the last presidential election and the total votes that came from Edo South was more than the other two Senatorial zones combined” “So, in Abuja today, we have people from Edo North (which I don’t want to mention) that are in Abuja politically; we have people from Edo Central that have some political presence in Abuja. But the zone where I came from which has more than 50 percent of the voting population of the entire state, has nobody in Abuja today or any political strength”.

He insisted that as at today, the largest patronage came from the Federal Government, adding that for that reason the Binis must re-establish a political linkage with the Federal Government.

“We need to go back to the mainstream where the interest of our people cannot only be supported by the state, but also supported by the Federal Government. I believe the state is bigger than me or anybody, but the interest of my people is bigger than friendship, is bigger than relationship, because that is where I stand”.

He thus sued for a free and fair election, that the electorate must be given the free fair to exercise their franchise to elect a governor of their choice.

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY,

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Spinal cord injury patient seeks N2.5m for rehabilitation

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

UNMI Yusuf Ibidapo, is a middle aged woman suffering from a condition medically escribed as “quadriplegic paralysis of the upper and lower limbs”, or spinal cord injury in layman’s terms. Her condition is the after effect of the series of paralysing injuries suffered from a traumatic road traffic accident seven years ago.

Today, Funmi is confined to the wheelchair and her entire world has turned upside down. The once vibrant and energetic mother of four is now a shadow of herself, no thanks to the trauma from the unfortunate incident has left her almost completely helpless.

“Life has not been the same. I am suffering and I really need help,” she remarked in an encounter with Vanguard recently. Recounting her ordeal, Funmi, who described the enormous challenge survival has become for her and her family, lamented that the expense of her condition has left the family completely broke. “There is no money for my drugs and injections. My condition is now so bad the complications I suffered are threatening my health and very survival.”

F

Commercial vehicles Going down memory lane back to the fateful day, she said: “Very early that day, I was on my way to my office at Ijaiye where I had worked as a Secretary for over 20 years. I waited for a long time, but there were no commercial vehicles so I walked down to Ahmaddiya Bus Stop. I was just standing by the roadside still waiting to board a bus to my destination when, without warning, a commercial bus that was being recklessly driven, swerved off the road and ran into people at the bus stop.”

It later turned out that the bus driver, who was being pursued by the Police, lost control in the process of attempting to escape and ran into the crowd of people including Funmi. “It was at the very last moment that I saw the bus just as it was about to knock down a little girl and without thinking about my own safety, I dashed forward to save the girl. It was in the process I got hit. Immediately I fell down, I sustained injury to my spinal area. I was completely paralysed, and in severe pain. I did not even know when I got hit, I just found myself on the ground.

“Six persons were hit and five died on the spot. I was the only survivor. Everyone thought I had died too, but I was able to cry out that I was still alive. I was rushed to the Ahmadiyya Hospital where

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my head was stitched; I managed to contact my relations. I was at that hospital for 12 days before I was transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi where I stayed for three months.”

Continuing, Funmi remarked that the incident was quite a painful experience, and one that really ruined her.

Following her discharge, Funmi’s family was able to secure the services of a doctor who headed the trauma department at Igbobi as well as physiotherapist who treated her for close to four years.

According to, Kehinde, an ordained Minister of God and Funmi’s husband, it had been extremely challenging ordeal, but God gave the family the strength.

“I was sad the day I spoke to the specialist and he told me only through a miracle could she walk again. I have been praying and fasting, I have told the doctor that I have no money to take her abroad.”

On his immediate plans, Kehinde remarked: “It is only when there is money that you can plan.

The only thing I want Nigerians to do is to help her in the name of God. She has special needs, and only the Grace of God is sustaining us. I’m living in a rented house and I have actually been ejected from where I stay because the owner is leasing out the house for business. We have been forcefully

is no regeneration or recovery. It is unlike an injury to a peripheral nerve there is possibility of recovery, but in the case of the brain and spinal cord, any injury that is total has no hope.

Her options are to be able to live her life to the best within limitations of her disability. She requires heavy financial backing to maintain herself and be able to explore the available possibilities.”

Giving a clinical picture, Okubena observed that the problem with spinal injury when it is total is that there are physical and • Funmi Yusuf Ibidapo in her wheelchair. emotional aspects that are very daunting. At this stage, ejected, under serious threat and it is not reversible; however, bepersecution, and being made very cause it is incomplete, there is posuncomfortable. It is only God who sibility of recovery along the line. can do everything.

She had an injury at the neck inIn the view of Dr Adewale volving the spinal cord at the level Okubena, the medical doctor and of C5 and C6. It resulted in quadConsultant in Spinal Cord Injury riplegic paralysis of the upper and and Medical Rehabilitation who lower limbs. Hers is the incomplete has been treating Funmi and foltype, because during recovery she lowing up on her condition, “She has been able to use the fingers requires medical rehabilitation to and hands minimally. This is a concope with the injury after treatdition that has many complications. ment, so she can still live a fairly Although she can use her hands, normal life. In her case it is an ingrip is poor. At a stage she develjury to the spinal cord which is part oped pressure sores from lying too of the central nervous system, and long in bed because the nerves if anything happens to area, there supplying the skin have been cut

off. There is no more feeling in that area as the pressure prevents blood flow to that area and it breaks down.”

Okubena, who said Funmi once had to undergo blood transfusion, lamented that she currently has to cope with complications ranging from problem to the skin, pain and peppery sensation and involuntary muscular contractions (spasms).

For the follow-up treatment, she requires a doctor to visit her at home, chemotherapy to minimise complications such as the spasms.

For rehabilitation, apart from the housing issue, she requires physiotherapy for the rest of her life.

Cost for this monthly is in the region of N40,000. For drugs, at least N20,000 is required, in addition to another N30,000 for treatment at home at least three times a month. She could develop pneumonia, pressure sores, GIT problems and her limbs can develop a condition called disused atrophy.

“The lack of regular physiotherapy is not helping her. Standing up and moving gives a psychological feeling. Currently Funmi is using up the residual energy.

She needs 10 doses of a particular neurotropic injection, that would cost roughly N120,000. For home visitation by a doctor and a nurse, at least N100,000 per annum is required. She also needs an orthopaedic mattress that is well padded and lowered to minimise the pressure and instructed how to turn in bed that would prevent further complications. She would also benefit from a motorized or blow-operated wheelchair. Overall, she currently requires N2.0 – 2.5 million to be properly rehabilitated.”

Better health for the masses as Biniza Ultra debuts

By CHIOMA OBINNA

TUDIES have shown that the human body started without a malfunction at early stages of human life. Researchers have also shown that this body was sustained by natural diet and exercise and not by drugs. It is believed that if man can eat in nature’s proper way, taking in the nutritional materials which nature has generously provided from these foods in the quality and quantity nature has prepared them for, it will be very difficult for man to fall sick. Unfortunately, it is not very possible to achieve this balance with nature, because of our present lifestyle, war, economy and hostile climatic factors.

In response to these facts and provide possible solutions to tackle the problem of unhealthy eating habits, free the body system of toxins accumulated in the body, Justy Confectionaries and Foods recently introduced food supplements to ensure healthy living across ages.

At a press conference in Lagos to announce the introduction of Biniza Ultra, Chief Executive Officer, Justy Confectionaries and Foods, Mr.

S

Emma George Ekeh said the organisation is using the most universally accepted food items bread, cookies and cereal, consumed by everyone irrespective of age, or state of health, as vehicle to convey to the body a therapeutic food, which contains 35 vitamins and minerals, high protein and fibre.

According to him, these are what the body needs with some exercise, to stay very healthy, and free of cancers, cardiac heart diseases, high blood pressure, malnutrition, infertility, obesity etc.

Ekeh said many Nigerians, due to work stress do not have time to exercise regularly or leave time in between meals before going to bed which often led to obesity.

The CEO also advised that simple everyday practices such as adding relaxer to the hair for women, smoking and fuel emission contributed to the accumulation of harmful toxins in the body.

Ekeh who laid emphasis on the use of hair relaxers said that recent research had shown that the sodium peroxide contained in them often damaged and opened the scalp of the user thereby inviting toxins into the body.

"As the relaxer burns the hair roots, the capillaries absorb the toxins contained in the relaxer and the toxins would go to a part of the body which is less resistant to it "In a woman's body, this is the uterus and continuous exposure of the scalp to relaxers causes the toxins to accumulate in the uterus and then they begin to grow "This causes an hormonal imbalance which causes affects ovulation and causes fibroid.That is why we see most black women having fibroid by the age of 45 and while

white women have lesser cases of fibroid because they do not use relaxers. " He added that there were currently more cases of stunted growth and diseases such as asthma in children than was being experienced in the past due to constant exposure to foods with additives, eateries rather than natural foods.

He said the company put all these problems into consideration to put out products that contains all the nutrients needed to combat a large number of health problems.

• Chief George Ekeh speaking during a presentation in Lagos

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 —

59

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UKANWA — I, formerly known and addressed as Ukanwa Ijeoma Joyce, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijeoma Joyce Iheagwam. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and general public please take note.

FREDRICK—I, formerly known and addressed as Fredrick Ikechukwu Ajah now wish to be known and addressed as Fredrick Ikechukwu Rufus. All former documents remained valid. UP plc, PHCN Ughelli and PHCN headquarter Abuja and general public please take note.

AMADI —I, formally known and addressed as Miss Emily Okwuchukwu Nwayinna Amadi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emily Okwuchukwu Nwayinna Ighodaro Ehanire. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGWANJE — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anna Parah Agwanje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anna Edwin Emurotu.

All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and general public please take note.

AMETEPE —I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ametepe Gabriel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Gabriel Nnadozie Ametepe.

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

OKONKWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sabina Ifeoma Okonkwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sabina Ifeoma Abass Michael. All former documents remain valid. Imo State University and general public please take note.

IKEE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikee Miriam Ovierororie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omowe Patrick Miriam Ovierororie.

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

SEKOBA —I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Racheal Adetutu EriavbreSekoba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Racheal Adetutu Nicholls. . All former documents remain valid. Government of Barbados; Germany; Great Britain; Canada; USA and general public please take note.

ELOEBO—We, fromerly known and addressed as Mrs. Gloria Eloebo, Mr Christopher Izuchukwu Eloebo, Mr Tony Okwudili Eloebo, Fransisca Eloebo, Callista Ujunwa Eloebo, Joyce Chinenye Eloebo, Anthonia Nkiru Eloebo, Augustine Chinonso Eloebo, Ann Oluchukwu Eloebo, now wish to be known and addressed as Aniemeka Family. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ILORI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Modupe Ilori, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Modupe Olabisi.

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

FAMUWAGUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatofunmi Eunice Famuwagun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. E u n i c e Oluwatofunmi Bankole. All former documents remained valid. General public please take note.

OKPE— We, formerly known and addressed as Okpe Nicholas, Okpe Stella, Okpe Charles, Okpe Vivian Ngozi, Okpe Chiagozie, Okpe Chinemerem Mary Ann, Okpe Chiemerie Emmanuella, Okpe Chinecherem, Okpe Bridget, Okpe Ifeanyi, Okpe Emeka, Okpe Gordian, Okpe Ngozi, Okpe Chiamaka,Okpe Obianuju Nerus, Okpe Akudo Janet,Okpe Uchenna John, now wish to be known and addressed as Nicholas Family. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NNORUKA — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnoruka Nwakaego Gloria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maduike Nwakaego Gloria. All former documents remained valid. General public please take note.

60 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Libyan polls peaceful as Liberals lead revelers in Tripoli letting off firecrackers and locals in the eastern city of Benghazi sending up rocket-propelled grenades. Even in Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, which saw some of the worst fighting in last year’s uprising to end his 42-year rule, there was relief that the vote had gone smoothly. The interim Libyan government and Western

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INE months after M u a m m a r Gaddafi’s death at the hands of rebels, Libya has defied fears it would descend into violence by pulling off a largely peaceful election, its first national and free vote in 60 years.

A major liberal party in Libya has claimed an early lead in the first free election since the toppling of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, a vote that will choose the assembly tasked with writing the country’s new constitution.

Early reports yesterday showed that the National Forces Alliance (NFA), a coalition led by former prime minister Mahmoud Jibril, is leading the polls, said Faisal Krekshi, the coalition’s secretary general. Final results are not expected until Wednesday at the earliest.

Jibril, who played a prominent role as rebel prime minister during the

Russia probes flood handling •A Libyan woman celebrating her power to vote in country first ever democratic polls. popular revolt that toppled Gaddafi last year, resigned his position in October. The leader of one of Libya’s main Islamist parties also acknowledged that the NFA had the advantage in the country ’s two largest cities.

“The National Forces Alliance achieved good results in some large cities, except Misrata.

They have a net lead in Tripoli and in Benghazi,” said Mohamed Sowan, who heads the Justice and Construction Party, which is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Sowan, a former political prisoner and member of Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood, added that his party had a lead in the south of the country as well. Libyans,

many of whom had cast their ballot with tears in their eyes, hailed Saturday ’s poll as a chance to draw a line under Gaddafi’s dictatorship and forge a brighter future for their North African country.

While two deaths were reported as anti-election protesters sought to disrupt the vote, the mood was jubilant with

Donors pledge $16bn to rebuild Afghanistan AJOR donors pledged on yesterday to give Afghanistan $16 billion in development aid through 2015 as they try to prevent it from sliding back into chaos when foreign troops leave, but demanded reforms to fight widespread corruption.

Donor fatigue and war weariness have taken their toll on how long the global community is willing to support Afghanistan and there are concerns about security following the withdrawal of most NATO

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•Hillary Clinton troops in 2014 if financial backing is not secured.

“Afghanistan’s security cannot only be measured by the absence of war,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an international donors’ conference in Tokyo. “It

has to be measured by whether people have jobs and economic opportunity, whether they believe their government is serving their needs, whether political reconciliation proceeds and succeeds.”

The roughly $4 billion in annual aid pledged at the meeting, attended by 80 countries and i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations, fell short of the $6 billion a year the Afghan central bank has said will be needed to foster economic growth over the next decade.

Clinton and other donors

Morsi restores parliament, receives US invitation

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G Y P T I A N president Mohamed Morsi yesterday issued a decree annulling a decision handed down last month by the Supreme Constitutional Court that ordered parliament dissolved after finding that the law that governed its election was unconstitutional.

Morsi “invites the chamber to convene again and to exercise its prerogatives,” the agency stated. The decree by

backers of last year ’s revolution, which relied on NATO bombing for support, called it as an early triumph for democracy.

“The United States is proud of the role that we played in supporting the Libyan revolution and protecting the Libyan people, and we look forward to working closely with the new Libya,” U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement. No clear outcome is expected until today.

Morsi, a longtime Muslim Brotherhood member who resigned from the organisation after winning last month’s election, also called for new parliamentary elections to be held within 60 days of the adoption of a new constitution for the country, which is not expected before late this year.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has invited Egypt’s newly elected Islamist

president, Mohamed Mursi, to visit the United States in September, an Egyptian official said yesterday.

stressed the importance of Afghanistan - one of the most corrupt nations in the world - taking aggressive action to fight graft and promote reforms.

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swept through their homes after two months’ average rainfall fell in a night. “I have asked the leadership of the (federal) Investigative Committee to come down,” Putin said late on Saturday during a meeting with officials in Krymsk, the worst-hit town. “The Investigative Committee will check the actions of all the authorities - how notice was given, how it could have been given, how it should have been given and who acted in what way.” Police said survivors climbed into trees and onto roofs to stay above the waters, which flooded entire ground floors of some buildings and created driving torrents in some streets.

Annan admits failure of Syrian peace plan

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NTERNATIONAL envoy Kofi Annan has arrived in Damascus for a third round of talks with President Bashar alAssad amid increasing indications that his peace plan is a lost cause.

The visit yesterday came as the town of alQusayr, near the border with Lebanon, was shelled repeatedly for hours, with rebel forces tried to regain the town.

The Free Syrian Army in this town are hopelessly

out-gunned, fighting with only small arms, RPGs and a handful of mortars. Reports from Syria said the rebels are making progress.

Annan, who was appointed by the Arab League and United Nations, acknowledged in an interview with a French newspaper that efforts to find a political solution to the escalating violence in Syria have failed. Annan is the architect of a six-point

plan to end the 16month crisis, which activists say has left more than 16,000 people dead. Annan arrived with Faisal Mekdad, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, at the Dama Rose hotel in the capital, where UN observers have been staying since suspending their patrols because of a steep increase in violence, a witness told the Reuters news agency.

UK ferries African rhinos back to Tanzania HREE black rhinos, which were born in

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Rebels capture three towns in DR Congo group has said.

EBELS from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken control of three towns in the country’s eastern North Kivu province, a spokesperson for the

USSIAN President Vladimir Putin ordered investigators to find out whether local officials could have done more to prevent floods killing 150 people in southern Russia after flying to the region to handle the first big disaster of his new presidency. Putin, who was criticized for his slow reaction to disasters earlier in his career, has promised money for new homes for victims of the worst flooding in decades in Krasnodar, a prosperous region with thriving agriculture and tourism. He declared Monday a day of mourning for the dead, most of whom drowned.

Many were elderly people caught unawares as they slept when water

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The rebels, known as the M23 movement, had taken Rutshuru and the towns of Ntamugenga and Rubare, less than 10km away, on the road to the provincial capital Goma, by midday yesterday.

captivity at The Aspinall Foundation’s Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Knet, in the United Kingdom have been returned to Tanzania.

The critically endangered rhinos were ferried back

by DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, as part of a conservation initiative by The Aspinall Foundation, from Manston Airport ,

Kent , UK to the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania.

Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express SubSaharan Africa, commented: “It’s very special that we can use our core capability of logistics to support such a valuable conservation effort."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 —

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62 —

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Fashola, Robson, Weah for Soccerex seminar LAGOS state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola will be joined by former Manchester United and England captain, Bryan Robson, NFF President, Aminu Maigari, alongside Liberian football legend George Opong Weah as part of a star studded session on the “Beautiful Game” at the Soccerex seminar holding in Lagos September 27 - 28, 2012.

The session will look at the latest issues affecting the game and also look back at some memorable moments from the glittering careers of some of the all time greats including Robson’s title winning days at United and Weah’s incredible exploits that saw him crowned World, European and African footballer of the year in 1995. While Gov Fashola will be guest of honour at the event, NFF President Aminu

HELSEA target Victor Moses will be lining up AGAINST them at the DW Stadium on the opening day of the season.

That is the expectation of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, who believes he will have the striker, 21, with him for at least another season.

He said: “I am looking for ward to Victor

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Moses cruncher coming back refreshed and ready to go.”

Chelsea have already had a £10million bid branded ‘ rubbish’ by Latics chairman Dave Whelan. But they will make another attempt for the Nigerian international.

•Abramovich

L-R; Tade Azeez, vice chairman LSFA; Daniel Krebs, ED Soccerex; Duncan Revie, CEO Soccerex; His Excellency Babtunde Raji Fashola; Seyi Akinwunmi, chairman LSFA; David Wright, Marketing Manager Soccerex during a Courtesy visit to his Excellency.

Maigari will deliver the keynote address. The NFF boss has described the event as “a landmark achievement that should be celebrated considering what Soccerex has been doing in the area of business for the past one and a half decades.”

Soccerex is a unique football show that has held across five continents and covers all areas in football including sports infrastructure, media, sponsorship, physical education and more.

Soccerex director, Daniel Krebs said, “we want to give the students an insight on the various career paths available linked to football and how they could possibly combine their passion for the beautiful game with their profession.”

Lagos FA boss, Seyi Akinwunmi explained in a chat with the media that “we will take full advantage of soccerex being here to change the face of football in the country, beginning from Lagos.”

Executive Director, Public Sector (South), FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Uk Eke and the Bank’s Brand Ambassador to London 2012 Olympics, Blessing Okagbare flanked by winners of the all-expense paid trip prize to the Olympics under the Bank’s ongoing Save & Excel Promo in Lagos.

Edebiri unfolds plans for Edo sports

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN HE All Nigeria Peo ples Party’s Solomon Edevbiri has promised to return the state to the vanguard of sports in the country if he wins Saturday ’s gubernatorial elections in Edo State.

Edevbiri, who is bidding to unseat incumbent Governor, Adams Oshiomhole from office in November told Sports Vanguard of his plans to make sports the biggest industry that would earn the State mega money in the nearest future.

Having sponsored Bendel United for four years between 2002 and 2005 and other sports competitions in Edo State, Edevdiri, said he was counting on the electorate to vote for a candidate who has a proven track record in sports development. “”I have been actively involved in sports development. My company has sponsored the Edo State super league. I am doing this because of my passion to support the people, passion to support youths and stop their restiveness. The only what to do that is

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to engage them constantly and I see sports as a means to achieve this aim. The people know my record when it comes to supporting their development.

“The first thing we would do is to build a new stadium with a minimum capacity of 45, 000 because the present, with about 20, 000, is not good enough for the State. Then, we are going to build mini-stadium in every local government headquarter.

We want to stimulate sports at the local government level and once we are able to do that, we would be in a position to encourage sports and develop young and talented people who will represent Edo State and bring the glory back.

The present Ogbe Stadium will be unit for our schools to use for their games “We are going to refurbish the Afuze sports camp and make it functional again for the use of our athletes. All these plans are all laid down We want to bring back the Principal’s Cup in January 2013, two months after my inauguration. We are going

to encourage inter-collegiate sports competition. We are going to group about 10 sports together and from there, our catch-them young programme will manifest," Edebiri added.

Nigeria emerges World U-14 Handball champion T was a glorious weekend for Nigerian handball as the country on Saturday emerged the World U14 handball champion in Sweden.

The countr y ’s flag bearers in the competition, Niger United handball club in the final defeated the hosts, Sweden 21-10 to emerge winners of the competition which attracted clubs from 40 countries.

President of Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mallam Yusuf Dauda who led the country’s delegation to the handball fiesta said the victory was a clear indication that the federation’s catch them young program is yielding dividend.

L-R: Man City's Kolo Toure , community coach Stevie Everall, Ex-Man City goalkeeper Alex Williams and coach Craig Bell during the airway’s Football Clinic at the FunTurf in Lekki,Lagos

Ahead Eko 2012 National Sports Festival

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Abdullahi wants states to shun poaching O ensure that the ideal of the National Sports Festival is not defeated, M i n i s t e r o f Sports/ Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi has charged participating teams to shun poaching, just as the zonal qualifiers for team events have been fixed for September.

The NSC boss who spoke during the unveiling of the icons recently by the Local Organising Committee

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(LOC) said it is high time states focused on producing athletes from the grassroots rather than relying on getting ready-made athletes from other states.

Abdullahi, however, regretted that competition like the festival should be staged before major championships like the Olympics in order to select athletes. He therefore assured that after the Eko 2012, the festival

would be made to be grooming ground to select athletes for major events.

“It is unfortunate that the festival is holding during the Olympics year and I think this is not supposed to be and I believe after Eko 2012, things will change.

But I also want to plead with states to shun poaching because this alone will defeat the essence of the festival."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012 — 63

Arsenal target Victor Moses D A RSENAL are reported to be eying Nigerian striker Victor Moses as possible replacement for Theo Walcott whose future with the Gunners is shrouded in uncertainty.

Walcott has just 12 months remaining on his contract at the Emirates Stadium and has refused to sign a new deal, while coach Arsene Wenger is ready to sell, as long as he can find the right replacement.

The man he wants is

Moses who has also hinted that he will not sign a new deal with Wigan Athletic. The 21year-old has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks.

Latics chairman Dave Whelan has tried to deter interest from rival Premier League clubs by placing a £12million price tag on the former Crystal Palace trainee.

Chelsea appear unwilling to meet that valuation, but Arsenal could afford it if they are able to offload Walcott.

Federer Continues from BP victory when he won the opening set.

Murray was on top for much of the second set as well but Federer hit top form at the perfect moment to level the match and the Swiss was simply too good in the third and fourth, winning 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4.

It was a momentous win for Federer, who tied Pete Sampras with seven Wimbledon titles and extended his overall Grand Slam record to 17.

On Monday he will return to the top of the rankings for the first time since May 2010, replacing Novak Djokovic, and will be only the second man, after Andre Agassi, to be ranked

number one in his thirties.

Murray played at a completely different level to his previous three Grand Slam finals, two of which he also lost to Federer, but the result was the same, and he joins coach Ivan Lendl in having lost his first four slam finals.

The consolation for Murray is that Lendl went on to win eight.

The names in the Royal Box showed just what a momentous day this was for British sport.

Prime Minister David Cameron and the Duchess of Cambridge were in the front row, while David Beckham and wife Victoria had travelled over from the United States.

The Blues are among the clubs interested in Walcott, but any move for the 23-year-old will depend on how much they have to spend to land one of their striker targets.

•Saintfiet ELGIAN coach Tom Saintfiet has signed a two-year deal with Tanzanian giants Young Africans.

The 39-year-old arrived in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday and agreed terms with the reigning east and

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Deschamps is new France coach international team-mate Olympique de Marseille boss, Deschamps was immediately installed as the frontrunner to replace former

Giggs to skipper Team GB R

YAN GIGGS has been named captain of the Great Britain football team for the Olympics.

The Manchester United star, 38, was one of three over-age players picked by boss Stuart Pearce for the event.

His former United team-mate David Beckham was expected to lead the side but he was left out of Pearce’s squad.

Giggs said: “It is a tremendous honour to be part of the Olympics.

“Stuart has given the me the captaincy, which is even better so I am really looking forward to it.

“It is a unique experience and one from the start that I wanted to be part of when I got the opportunity.

“I think it just got more and more exciting as the Games got nearer and then when the squads were announced I was obviously really, really proud to be involved.

Saintfiet signs for Yanga central Africa club champions.

“I have had my first training at the Yanga training ground and over one thousand fans were watching - it was amazing,” said a delighted Saintfiet.

Saintfiet recently lost his position as Nigeria’s Technical Director.

He was particularly impressed by the welcome he received at the airport on Wednesday, with hundreds of fans turning out to greet the former Ethiopia coach.

“The club has made a very professional first impression and the fans have welcomed me enormously,” he added.

Meanwhile, Young Africans are excited about Saintfiet’s appointment.

I D I E R Deschamps has been appointed the new head coach of France head coach, with the French Football Federation (FFF) confirming the news via a statement on Sunday.

Having recently vacated his role as

“He is one of the best coaches in Africa,” said Sendeu."

•Deschamps

•Giggs

Arsene: I won’t buy big RSENE Wenger nsists he will never change the way he operates at Arsenal — even if his star players keep leaving.

Wenger and the Gunners board are under fire over Robin van Persie’s decision to quit because he cannot see the club challenging

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Five-star Serena Continues from BP of something great.

“I’ve had some lows.

There was a moment when I didn’t get off the couch for two days.

I was praying, I could not take any more. I’d endured enough, let me get through this.

“I was just so tired at that point. I had a tube in my stomach and it was draining constantly.

“Right before that I had the blood clot. I had lung problems and then two foot operations. It was a lot. I didn’t do anything to bring that

Laurent Blanc.

But while initially dismissing such suggestions earlier in the week, the 43year-old has now opted to accept the French governing body ’s offer after much consideration.

No details about the length of his contract have been disclosed, but his deal is expected to run until the 2014 World Cup, with the option of a further two years, taking him through to Euro 2016, which will be played in France.

Deschamps started his coaching career at Monaco in 2001, and also worked at Juventus before taking charge of Marseille in 2009.

on. I felt the lowest of lows.

“Coming here and winning is amazing because a year ago I was ranked nearly 200.

“It’s been an unbelievable journey for me.

“Now I want the US Open, the Australian Open, the French and Wimbledon 2013.

“I feel amazing out there. Growing up, I copied Ve n u s , everything she did.

“She was a real big influence for me. I’m sorry I have matched her record but she knows I have to have everything she has.”

for trophies.

Wenger said: “I totally agree with Cruyff — and I won’t change.

“The only sad thing is that sometimes your work is destroyed by others.

“You want to see a player in his prime doing it for your club.

But it does not work like that all the time.

“I am a victim of that.

I lost Samir Nasri, Gael

Clichy and Cesc Fabregas at an age where they should have been playing their best football for Arsenal. But I never left the club when I could have.

“I could have left 10 times to join another club but I didn’t because I have worked with the same vision and philosophy at Arsenal for the last 16 years — and that won’t change."

Tyson Gay Continues from BP The for mer World champion was away from the blocks slowly but accelerated in midrace to overhaul compatriot Justin Gatlin in the final metres and cross the line first in 9.99 seconds last weekend.

“There are a lot of people now in the 100m, it is open for the Games,” said Gay. “(Usain) Bolt, (Yohan) Blake, (Justin) Gatlin, my training partner (Keston) Bledman. It

will be spectacular.”

His comments come on the heels of a double defeat for reigning Olympic champion Bolt, at the Jamaica Olympic trials last weekend in Kingston.

Blake won the event in a world-leading 9.75 seconds before returning to also win the 200 metres in another world-leading 19.80.

The defeats for Bolt have heightened speculation over a changing of the guard at the London Olympics which begin July 27.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Federer too strong for Murray A

No Sunshine for Stars against Esperance UNSHINE Stars lost 2-0 to Tunisian team Esperance in their opening Group A game of the Caf Champions League on Sunday at the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode. Goals from Youssef Msakni and Yannik Ndjeunk were all that the defending champions needed to triumph over Nigeria’s lone representatives in this year’s tournament.

Sunshine Stars went into the encounter hoping to start on a good footing and showed intent in the early stages of the game.

However, they went down to an Msakni goal on 20 minutes after he was put through by Ghanaian left back Harrison Afful.

Msakni was to turn creator later on as he put through Cameroonian Ndjeunk to score the second goal in added minute of the first half.

Esperance now lead Group A on goals difference after Etoile du Sahel defeated ASO Chief of Algeria 10 earlier.

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TODAY'S

NDY Murray suffered more Grand Slam final heartbreak as Roger Federer ended Britain’s hopes of a first home men’s singles champion at Wimbledon for 76 years.

Murray was the first British player to reach this final since Bunny Austin in 1938, two years after Fred Perry’s last title, and he looked on course for a stunning Continues on P63

GOLDEN KISS ••• Roger Federer kisses the trophy after his men’s singles final victory over Britain’s Andy Murray yesterday. Federer won 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. Photo ; AFP

Five-star Serena ERENA Wiliamsl thanked one sister for getting her through a two-year nightmare.

Then she vowed to put another through hell by adding more trophies to her impressive haul.

Williams completed her amazing recovery from life-threatening blood clots by outgunning Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 in just over two hours on Centre Court to confirm her return to the top.

It means she has now equalled big sis Venus’ tally of five Wimbledon titles and she is in no mood to stop now.

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RED-HOT — Victor Moses is wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea.

Olympic 2012 100m gold is open, says Tyson Gay MERICAN Tyson Gay has declared the 100 metres at the London Olympics an

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PUZZLES

open affair after winning the event at the Paris Diamond League.

Continues on P63 FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

FLYING AGAIN ••• Serena Williams celebrates her return to Grand Slam glory

Williams said: “I felt amazing all tournament and this is the beginning

Continues on P63

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 4 Coarse (5) 7 Staggered (6) 9 Sorrow (3) 10 Beverage (3) 12 Tolerate (5) 13 Bitter (4) 15 Stroll (5) 17 Quell (6) 19 Deficiency (4) 20 Precipitous (5) 22 Observed (3) 24 Fault (7) 27 Obscure (3) 28 Bare (5) 31 Steady (4) 33 Scanty (6) 35 Incident (6) 37 Rip (4) 38 Passage (5) 39 Apex (3) 41 Fish (3) 42 Contemporary (6) 43 Prise (5)

DOWN 1 Emergency (6) 2 Deny (6) 3 Moist (3) 4 Fuel (4) 5 Revolt (5) 6 Devote (8) 8 Deceased (4) 11 Diversion (9) 14 Regretted (4) 16 Endure (4) 18 Murder (8) 23 Flank (4) 25 Clown (4) 26 Sharp (4) 29 Warden (6) 30 Throughout (6) 32 Skirmish (5) 34 Particle (4) 36 Deviate (4) 40 Tankard (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Grasp 7, Title 8, Strip 10, Addle 12, Auk 13, Arose 15, Exerted 17, Passed 19, Cat 20, Matured 23, Aver 25, Disc 26, Relaxed 30, Fog 31, Demean 34, Diluted 37, Verge 38, Bit 39, Divot 40, Sited 41, Tenet 42, Alter

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Tiara 2, Glass 3, Redeem 4, Sale 5, Started 6, Liked 9, Rut 11, Excused 13, Appeal 14, Osier 16, Ear 18, Damaged 21, Diner 22, Scene 24, Refuted 27, Lot 28, Devote 29, Tibia 32, Meter 33, Agree, Lit 36, Dial

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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