WHO/Boko Haram's doctor arrested

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61943

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

How GODOGODO led Ajao Estate, Lagos •P.6 robbery — Gang member

Female teacher arrested for defiling 2½-yr-old girl •P.6

WHO/Boko Haram's doctor arrested

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, implementing the state of emergency imposed on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, has arrested a medical doctor (names with-held) in Borno State, who is the medical consultant to the terrorist group. He is at the same time a consultant with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Vanguard gathered from reliable security sources that the arrest of the medical doctor followed a tip-off that the

•Treats wounded Boko Haram members •How Amnesty International's probe exposed him

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE •P.47

Mr & Mrs

SALLAH— President Goodluck Jonathan (left) and Vice President Namadi Sambo with children who joined their par-

ents at the Sallah Homage to the president, by the FCT Muslim communities at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Inset: Cross section of Muslims' praying at Agege Prayer Ground, Agege, Lagos during the 2013 Eid-El-Fitr Prayers, yesterday. Photos: State House/Diran Oshe. More photos on Page 39.

Advocates of Nigeria's disintegration 'll be P.8 disappointed — Jonathan

FG hands over PHCN to new investors Sept 21

P.41

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

SALLAH— President Goodluck Jonathan 2nd left;Vice President Namadi Sambo(2nd right); Chief Imam of Abuja, Sheik Musa Mohammed (left) and FCT CAN Chairman, Rev. Israel Akanji, during the Sallah Homage to the President by the FCT Muslim communities at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House.

WHO/Boko Haram's doctor arrested Continues from page 1 terrorists had a well organized mobile medical facility with which wounded insurgents are treated.

The international connection of the medical doctor was, however, brought to the fore when , the international

human rights watch dog, Amnesty International, sent its officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the supposedly WHO consultant.

“In fact, what gave him out was his suit case containing sophisticated medical equipment from which he rendered diagnostic services to the terrorists”, the source said.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

It does not cost too much to do good, do as much good as you can. You really cannot lose.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

M

OST people do not take challenges and situ ations as life’s teaching moment. They detest them. And find all means to escape reality — all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can’t stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain — P.Chodron Life is glorious, but life is also full of adversities.

Appreciating the gloriousness inspires us, encourages us, cheers us up, gives us a bigger perspective, and energizes us. We feel connected. But if that’s all that’s happening, we get arrogant and start to look down on others, and there is a sense of making ourselves a big deal and being really serious about it, wanting it to be like that forever. The gloriousness becomes tinged by craving and addiction. On the other hand, the challenges of life’s painful aspect, softens us up considerably. Knowing pain is a very important ingredient of being there for another person. When you are feeling a lot of grief, you can look right into somebody’s eyes because you feel you haven’t got anything to lose, you’re just there. This moment of compassion humbles us and softens us. Gloriousness and its contrasts need each other. One inspires us, the other softens us. They go together.

Disclosing how the doctor was arrested, the source said: “A truck suspected to be carrying insurgents and IEDS as well as other dangerous weapons was stopped at a check point but it sped off. Unknown to the truck’s driver and other occupants of the truck, there was another checkpoint which had been alerted of their coming.

When the truck got to that checkpoint, the security operatives fired at it while the occupants ran into the bush.

“When the truck was searched, various types of IEDS, AK 47 rifles and other bomb-making materials were found. Also found was a suit case containing medical equipment. After some time, when the doctor felt the Special Forces had left, he came back to retrieve his suit case but was ambushed and arrested”.

The source added that “immediately the doctor was arrested, Amnesty International called the military authorities alleging that an innocent doctor has been arrested by the JTF forces and that he should be released because of his human rights, though the military authorities are not moved by their plea”.

In another development, Vanguard gath-

ered that the recent attack at Government Secondary School, near Potiskum in Yobe State during which 29 students and a teacher were killed, was the fallout of the arrest of a lawyer

with alleged links to the sect.

Vanguard gathered that the lawyer (names with-held), was the one who provided legal services for suspected Boko Haram terrorists each time they were arrested and he was said to be an ideological/ intellectual contributor to their activities in Yobe State.

Following his arrest by JTF forces, the lawyer allegedly said, “So you have arrested me. Let me warn you that this town will know no peace until I am released”.

The source said that two days after, the secondary school near Potiskum was attacked and the children (students) slaughtered”.

After the massacre of the children, neighbours living in the area said

they heard the terrorists shouting “Allahu Akbar, yes we have taken revenge for his arrest”.

The source said: “The most horrifying aspect of the students’ killing was that they asked the students, both boys and girls to pull off their dresses, and any student found with pubic hair on his or her private parts, was not only shot and killed, they also used axes or machetes to cut off their legs.

Both the medical doctor and the lawyer are however said to be in custody of the JTF forces and would not be released until investigations into their alleged connivance with the terrorists are concluded and they are prosecuted”.

EID-EL-FITRI: Extend love beyond Ramadan period — Oritsejafor

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—THE President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, appealed to Nigerians to let the denials and sacrifices experienced by Muslim faithful in the month of Ramadan serve as the fulcrum of unity and peace in the country, irrespective of religious belief, language or tribe.

The CAN President while celebrating with Muslims across the country over the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fast, however, expressed his condolence to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, over the death of its three union officials in a motor accident.

In a statement by CAN

Spokesman, Mr. Kenny Ashaka, Oritsejafor stated that the entire Christian community rejoiced with their Muslim brothers and sisters on the occasion of Eid-elFitri.

The CAN President urged Nigerians irrespective of religious belief to let the fear of God be the basis of their thought and always strive to promote peaceful coexistence in their vicinity.

He said: “The lessons of Ramadan should not be lost on our Muslim brothers and sisters even as the Holy month has just ended.

“The injunctions of kindness and fear of God should rule our lives not only during fasting period but at all times and circumstances.”

Meanwhile, Oritsejafor also expressed deep sympathy to the Nigerian

media community and the nation over the death, in an auto crash, of three officials of the NUJ. While he bemoaned the increasing spate of accidents across the country, he prayed for the repose of the dead.

The accident, which claimed the lives of NUJ National Financial Secretary, Mr. Adolphus Okonkwo, Mrs Kafayat Odunsi of NTA Victoria Island, Lagos and Mr Tunde Oluwanike of FRCN Ibadan, also left 10 other union officials, including Mr Deji Elumoye, Chairman of Lagos State council, with various degrees of injuries.

Oritsejafor urged the union and its members to remain steadfast in their drive to uphold the tenets of journalism.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

How Godogodo led Ajao Estate robbery

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

L

AGOS — ON Sunday, July 14, 2013, a deadly gang of robbers, led by notorious robbery czar, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka, Godogodo, attacked a warehouse belonging to Blessing Aporie Nigeria Limited at Ajao Estate area of Lagos State and carted away mobile phones worth more than N50 million.

The robbers also killed a policeman on guard at the warehouse, leaving one other with severe bullet wounds.

Five members of that gang were later killed by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, during a shoot-out along Eko Bridge while three others escaped with bullet wounds.

However, operatives of SARS, led by Superintendent of Police, Abba Kyari, have arrested the three bandits who escaped during the shoot-out and they have confessed to the crime and narrated how Godogodo led them through the operation, which turned out to be his last in Lagos.

Sources at SARS said four teams of operatives were deployed that night to track down the robbers when news of the incident and the attack on policemen filtered in.

The trail

Vanguard gathered that the team which was deployed to Surulere area, spotted a Honda space bus, matching the description of the one used by the robbers and they chased it up to the Eko Bridge where a gun battle ensued, leaving four persons dead while three escaped. One of the suspects identified as Ganiu Mental was arrested with bullet wounds.

A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “Mental told us that Godogodo led the operation and that they snatched two Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, from the Island,

Says ‘I didn't know mobile phones were target, I'm bigger than that’

GODOGODO AND HIS GANG: From left: Leke, Yinusa, Adelawo and Godogodo at the Police Command

Headqauters, Ikeja, Lagos, Wednesday.

where they also killed a policeman. He provided us with the information that led to the arrest of the three other bandits that escaped earlier.”

The source added that the police arrested the first suspect, Ahmed Adelawo, who sustained bullet injury on his leg, when they intercepted conversation between him and a native doctor, whom he paid N15,000 to prepare a charm that will prevent the police from arresting him.

“We arrested the native doctor and we used him to arrest Adelawo in Ikotun, where he was receiving treatment for his bullet wound.

“We then used Adelowo to arrest Leke Ayinde and Abiodun Yinusa,” the source said.

Meantime, the arrest of Yinusa

didn’t come easy as he fled from Lagos State after the robbery incident.

The source said: “He ran to Akwa Ibom State when he learnt that we had arrested Adelawo, but he came back last Wednesday to attend to a case he had in court for stealing. Our operatives got information and stormed the court and arrested him on his way out.

The Ajao Estate operation

“When the bandits were brought before Godogodo who was arrested penultimate Thursday in Egbeda area of Ibadan, after a massive manhunt by SARS operatives, they explained that they brought in Godogodo to help them dislodge the mobile policemen that were on guard at the warehouse where the robbery

Female teacher arrested for allegedly defiling two-and-half-year old girl

took place.

Yinusa, who is a resident of Ajao Estate, said: “ I owned the job. I was the one who got Adelawo and others involved. I, Adelawo and Chuks have been operating within Ajao Estate because we are all residents of that area and we are familiar with the terrain.

“The warehouse is located at the spot where I usually go to smoke Indian hemp and I know they used to store expensive mobile phones.

“I have also assisted them in off loading one of their containers, an opportunity I seized to survey the place. Three months ago, I, Adelawo and Chuks went to rob at the warehouse and we stole phones worth only N200,000.

“We couldn’t get into the place where the expensive phones were stored. After that operation, the owner of the warehouse changed the doors, installed security camera and they also brought some armed mobile policemen to guard the place.

Godogodo's involvement

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — THE Lagos State Police Command has arrested a woman who allegedly defiled a two-and-a half-yearold girl in Ilupeju area of Lagos.

The suspect, identified as Funmi, is a teacher in an undisclosed nursery and primary school around Ilupeju.

Sources revealed that Funmi allegedly inserted a fork into the little girl’s private part.

It was gathered that the bubble burst after the toddler arrived home crying. In an attempt to pacify her, her mother

reportedly took her to the bathroom for a shower. But immediately she reached out to wash the baby ’s private part, the kindergarten baby reportedly wailed.

The curious mother was said to have taken a closer look at her child but could not conclude what the problem was, until the child revealed the alleged deed by her teacher in school.

The mother was said to have reported the case to the police, and the school’s management was informed. But all the teachers reportedly denied, saying the child might not know what she was talking

about.

To ascertain the toddler ’s claim, all the teachers in the school were said to have been paraded before the child to identify the culprit, in the process of which she pointed at Funmi, following which she was arrested.

Police sources hinted that the case was, Wednesday, charged to a special court after the medical test conducted on the child showed that her hymen had been broken.

However, Funmi denied the allegation. In her statement to the Police, she claimed to be oblivious of the allegation.

“My friend, Adelawo, got broke and he said he wanted us to attack the warehouse again. I told him that it would be difficult because there were policemen on guard, he said he knew people who could repel policemen and get what ever they wanted.

“I told him to contact them. One of them was Godogodo.

“On the night of that operation, Godogodo came to Ajao Estate in two Range Rover SUVs and he called us to lead them to the place. On arrival, they cut the key to the gate of the warehouse, Godogodo and his friends went into the security house, opened fire on a policeman on guard and collected his rifle, uniform and

bullet proof shirt.

“Then they smashed the wall to the warehouse with a sledge hammer and gained entrance into the warehouse. After about 30 minutes, they loaded the SUVs with mobile phones and other gadgets.

“But on our way out, some policemen who attempted to confront us were repelled by Godogodo’s superior fire power and we escaped.

5 members killed

“We drove down to a street in Oshodi where we shared our loot, but on our way to the Island, where we wanted to drop off Ganiu Mental, the policemen accosted us and killed five members of our gang. I managed to escape. I don’t know how Adelawo and Ayinde escaped.”

I didn't know mobile phones were target —Godogodo

Reacting to the narrative, Godogodo told Vanguard that he wasn’t aware that their target in that operation was mobile phones warehouse.

“I am bigger than mobile phones, I can’t steal such anymore. These boys told me that there was N70 million in that warehouse; that was why I went with them.

“If I had known that what we were going to steal were just mobile phones, I wouldn’t have followed them. Yes, they told me that policemen were there so I was prepared. I carried over 300 rounds of live ammunition, so I could stand any attack. I don’t know these boys even if I see them on the road.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—7

Ogun opens bank account for mum of triplet A

BEOKUTA — THE mother of the triplet whose husband ran away when the news of the birth reached him, last week, has received assistance from her home state, the Ogun State government.

Responding to calls from people, the government has facilitated the opening of a bank account for the woman to enable those who want to assist her and the children do so.

The account was opened

with Sterling Bank with the account name: Akapo Taiwo Kehinde Idowu, Account number: 0021422589, Sort code: 232170012.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Elizabeth Sokunbi, had led the government delegates to visit the Afojupa village house of the mother of the babies in OwodeEgba in Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area of Ogun

IG probes alleged death threats on Lagos cleric

BY UDO IBUOT

L

AGOS— THE Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered a full scale investigation into the alleged persistent death threats on a Lagos cleric, Most Senior Evangelist Bola Odupitan and his spouse, Aderonke.

Already, a crack team of three special investigators from the IGP Monitoring Unit in the IGP’s Office, Abuja, has been despatched to Lagos “to get to its root and ascertain the extent of the alleged involvement” of a former Ogun State commissioner.

The IG’s intervention follows a petition, dated July 22, 2013, in which the Odupitans accused the former Ogun State commissioner of teaming up with their former employee to threaten their lives.

In the petition, Odupitan stated: “The whole story dated back to 2011, when my wife introduced a member of her former church (names withheld) to me for employment.

“He was employed and placed on salary of N70, 000 per month, but due to his incompetence, misconduct and rudeness, he was relieved of the job.

"The suspect and his wife, who had earlier received some financial assistance from me from the proceeds of a property I sold to repay the bank loan on it, further approached me within few weeks, for more financial assistance to fund an LPO he received from the Delta State governor to supply 25 cars.

“I told him that as a pensioner, it would be difficult for me to get such amount of money to fund the supply of 25 cars.

"For my refusal to help him out, he felt embittered, believing that it was my spouse, Aderonke, that was responsible for my not oblig-

ing his request. Since then, Aderonke, my wife, has been receiving “death threats” on telephone over the matter.

Vanguard understood that since arriving Lagos, the Abuja team of investigators have successfully interrogated the petitioner, Bola Odupitan, and his spouse, Aderonke. It was, however, learnt that throughout their five-day stay in Lagos, all the suspects and their guarantors were not made available to the team by the IGP Monitoring Unit in Obalende, Lagos. As a result, they have since retur ned to Abuja “ very furious.”

Meanwhile, it is believed that the Police may declare the suspect, the wife and their cohorts wanted in connection with the alleged persistent death threats, “any moment from now”.

Top police officials at the Monitoring Unit in Kam Salem House, Obalende area of Lagos, kept “sealed lips” when contacted for comments over the matter.

Mrs. Bosede Akapo exThe state government dopressed appreciation for the nated clothing materials, bagovernment's gesture and also bies’ needs and cash. thanked the traditional ruler for his support before and after her delivery She used the occasion to appeal to her runaway husband, who has not shown up at home since she delivered the babies, to come out of hiding, especially now that government has offered assistance to them.

The 30-year-old mother of five was assisted by a neigbhour on a motorcycle to the hospital on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 when she was pressed with labour and thereafter delivered triplet at Ore-ofe Maternity Home in Owode-Egba town.

The monarch of the community paid the hospital bill. Both the woman and her children are in good condition.

Mrs. Bosede Akapo and the triplet

State with the traditional ruler of Owode, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo.

Two suspected attackers of Bayelsa NYSC member nabbed

zVictim for overseas treatment

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA —THE police in Bayelsa State have arrested the alleged attackers of Miss Folakemi Akinbode, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving in the state whose right hand was almost chopped off, Monday night, at Obunagha in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

Meantime, an Italian firm has agreed to sponsor the victim who has regained conciousness overseas for proper medical treatment and rehabilitation.

The two suspects, identified as Ebi Jatto and Weriye Aluwa, who are currently in police custody, it was learnt, were

nabbed 72 hours after the attack through the support of the Obunagha community youths.

Miss Akinbode was attacked with a machete for reportedly refusing to hand over unspecified amount of money in her possession while returning from work that fateful, Monday.

It was reliably gathered that the suspects were arrested at Koroama community about two kilometres from the scene of crime while attempting to sell the mobile phone of their victim.

A security source told Vanguard that the suspects had confessed to the crime and claimed that the lady struggled with them in their attempt to snatch her bag.

The corps member, it would

Elders from IBB Square in Bauchi, Bauchi State sharing meat for Eid-elFitr celebration, yesterday. Photo: NAN

be recalled, was attacked at about 8 . 3 0 p m while returning to the lodge near the Niger Delta University Te a c h i n g Hospital, Okolobori, her place of primary assignment.

M i s s Akinbode, 26, a graduate Nurse of Madonna University was reported to have been in charge of huge amount

of money used by the hospital to pay blood donors at the blood bank section of the hospital.

The arrested suspects, according to a security source, were present during the payment made to the blood donors by the corps member.

According to the security source, “they claimed that all they wanted from her was the remaining money she kept in her bag after the payments in the afternoon. But that when she struggled and identified one of them, she was attacked with machete.”

Confirming the arrest, the traditional rule of the Obunagha community, the Ibolou XI, H.R.H Godsgive Apoh, said the prompt arrest of the suspected attackers was made possible by emergency meeting of youth vigilante body set up to investigate and apprehend those involved in the attack.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the arrest but said they were yet to establish the motive behind the attack.

Victim for overseas treatment Meanwhile, an unnamed Italian firm, it was learnt, is making frantic effort to fly the victim overseas for treatment.

Sources, however, told Vanguard that the move was stalled, yesterday, due to the Sallah holidays and other logistics.

“We are optimistic that the problem would be sorted out on Monday after the Sallah holidays to enable her travel overseas for proper medical attention and rehabilitation,” a source told Vanguard.

8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

EID-EL-FITR: From left— Sen. Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Col. Sambo Dasuki, National Security Adviser; Admiral Ola Ibrahim, Chief of Defence Staff; Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector-General of Police, and Justice Alfa Belgore, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, during the Eid-el-Fitr prayer in Abuja, yesterday. Leading the prayer is Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Chief Imam of National Mosque.

Advocates of Nigeria's disintegration'll be disappointed— Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE, HENRY UMORU, WOLE MOSADOMI

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, that those who predicted that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015 will be disappointed even as former heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida(rtd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar(rtd.) and other prominent Nigerians, have called for peaceful co-existence among different ethnic groups for the country to develop.

They spoke, yesterday, at the celebration of Eid-el-Fitri, marking the end of Ramadan fasting.

Speaking after the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, led other Muslim faithful on a Sallah homage to him, President Jonathan noted that some of the problems the country was experiencing were temporary and largely fueled by some selfish elite.

The President said: “Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters and we must live together. For those who are predicting that this country will disintegrate in 2015 based on the fault lines at the time of the amalgamation, will know that this prediction will not be of any consequence. Nigeria will continue to remain one indivisible country.”

‘We're unique’

He said that Nigeria’s uniqueness is borne out of its position as a deeply religious people and that it was the country’s unique advantage.

He said: “For us, we cannot imagine a Nigeria without

Muslims and Christians. It is a blessing that this is one country that you have significant population of Muslims and Christians and this religious diversity will enhance our development because we can get across the whole world and wherever we go we are accepted.

“It helps us in so many ways.

We are not even exploiting our diversity because of the myopic views of the elite about our situations.”

While congratulating all Muslims for a successful fasting, which he described as a “tempting period,” President Jonathan reiterated the commitment of his administration to reposition the country for better.

He called for more prayers, not just for peace in the country, but in the world, saying that there can be no development without peace.

Jonathan said: “Today is a unique day. I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters that they should continue to pray for peace, not just in Nigeria, but all over the world. If you watch television these days, more than 60 percent of the time is spent on showing crises all over the world.

“For the world to move ahead and for Nigeria to move ahead, for us to develop first and foremost, there must be peace and security. Nobody will come and invest in an environment where you are not sure of the safety of your workers and investment.

“As a nation, for our children to get where we want them to be, we must create a very peaceful environment for them so they can develop mentally and be focused and use their brains in a manner that will bring eco-

nomic changes to us.

“In Nigeria, we are a very religious people and we believe in one Almighty God and as we continue to pray, God will see us through. Yes, we have some few challenges, but surely Allah will see us through.”

Thank you Mr. President — Sambo

Earlier in his remarks, Vice President Namadi Sambo, thanked President Jonathan for providing the required leadership in the country.

He said: “We are here to pay homage and to thank you for what you have been doing for Nigeria. The month of Ramadan is a holy month.

“The imam, during the sermon, reminded us that God will forgive the sins of whoever fasted throughout that period, and accept all our prayers.

“We prayed for peace, for God to grant you good health and wisdom and the grace to transform Nigeria to a better country.”

IBB, Abubakar preach peace

Meanwhile, as Muslims across the world celebrate Eidel-Fitri, former leaders and other prominent Nigerians have called for peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups for the country to develop.

Former Head of State, Abubakar, in his message, called on all Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of the Ramadan fasting by living

peacefully with one another for the progress of the country.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the prayers in Minna, yesterday, he enjoined Nigerians to join hands with government at all levels, pointing out that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos and crisis.

Speaking in the same vein, former Military President, Babangida, called on Nigerians to co-exist and respect the religion and culture of one another, adding that it would make peace to reign in the country.

Ado Bayero, too

Similarly, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, called on the people of the state to continue to pray for the sustenance of peace and stability in the state and the country.

Bayero told Muslims faithful at his palace after the Eidel-Fitri prayer at the Central Mosque, Kano, that no society could achieve any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour and uncertainty.

Represented by Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, the Emir warned the people, particularly Kano residents, to desist from indiscriminate building of structures on water ways to avoid flood disaster.

Sultan of Sokoto tasks clergy

In his Sallah message, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, called on Islamic and Christian clergy to preach with the absolute fear of God in the country.

Abubakar said the clergy should fear Allah and live

above their own selfish interests, while preaching to their followers.

He said: “They should avoid provocative statements that could lead to the breach of peace and lead to violence in the country.

“They should also know that staying attuned to the religious teachings is the only way that bring mutual respect and love, which eventually lead to the desired peace in the nation.”

The monarch also said that it was not right for a non-Muslim to interfere in the affairs of Muslims and Islam or to impose his views on the religion he did not profess.

On security c’ttee

Abubakar then commended Federal Government for constituting the committee on the security challenges in the north.

He said that those calling for the scrapping of the committee were enemies of peace and were “unpatriotic,” and charged Nigerians to give the committee the necessary support to accomplish its job.

The Sultan said: “It is a known fact that no peace could be achieved except through constructive dialogue.

“On our part, we are satisfied with the work of this committee and we are ready to give it all necessary support.”

The Sultan also called on leaders at all levels to fear Allah by accomplishing the trust placed on them in leading their subjects.

He said: “The precarious situation of the nation is only due to bad governance and neglect of divine injunctions.

“Most of the leaders are busy amassing wealth and forgetting their subjects they are meant to serve.”

Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013— 9

Gunmen kill Army Captain, as lover burns NYSC member to death

BY ANAYO OKOLI & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT—GUNMEN shot dead an Army Captain, simply identified as Joseph, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, PPPRO, Angela Agaba, who confirmed the development, identified the victim, adding that the crime was still under investigation.

It was, however, gathered that the gunmen had trailed the deceased from Aba Road through Rumuola to Psychiatric Hospital Road, where they caught up with him at a traffic gridlock.

A resident, who spoke to Vanguard said: “Four gunmen in a Toyota Camry car chased the victim and caught him here as he tried in vain to reverse on the traffic jam.”

It was also gathered that the victim was pleading loudly in Ikwerre dialect for the assailants to spare his life, indicating that he may be of Ikwerre extraction and possibly knew the killers.

Meanwhile, Police in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, are currently questioning a graduate, one Francis Ogbonna, said to be from Ovim in Isikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, on why he allegedly burnt to death a 23year-old girl, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member in Port Harcourt.

The girl, Miss Winifred Oke, was said to have been killed

by Francis Ogbonna, believed to be her lover. They were said to have attended the same university, Michael Okpara

University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

Miss Oke, a native of Amawo, Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state, was said to have graduated from the university with a second class upper in Home Economics.

The body was transferred from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, Wednesday, with an NYSC ambulance.

According to her 53-year-old father, Mr. Okechukwu Oke, the suspect, Francis, allegedly sprinkled petrol around the house of his daughter and set it ablaze, which gave Winifred severe burns.

Her roommate, whose name Vanguard could not ascertain at press time, also sustained seri-

ous injuries and is still receiving treatment at UPTH. Her father said: “Sometime last month, July, somebody called me on phone at 7a.m., that I should come to Port Harcourt, saying my daughter had an accident.

“I asked the type of accident and he said that she had an accident at the NYSC members' residence in Port Harcourt. On further enquiry, he said somebody poured petrol in her apartment and set it ablaze.

“According to the report, at 1a.m., the suspect first locked the door from outside, went through the window, sprinkled petrol and then set her room ablaze. I and her mother had to go to Port Harcourt.

“She had plastic surgery on her legs and she remained in the intensive care unit, ICU. She was on oxygen until Wednesday, July 31, before she died at 5.30a.m.”

2 dumped in fish pond, accident claims 7 in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—UNKNOWN persons allegedly dumped two children in a fish pond along Dumi Road, close to Railway Quarters in Bauchi metropolis, yesterday.

It was gathered that one of the kids, who are between three and four years, died before help could come, while the other one was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, and is receiving medical attention.

Vanguard learnt that two women and a man, who came in a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, threw the two children inside the fish pond and sped off.

Meanwhile, tragedy struck, yesterday, as seven persons were burnt beyond recognition while five others sustained injuries in an auto crash along Durum village in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Vanguard gathered that the accident, which occurred around 12.50p.m., involved two commercial vehicles with plate numbers AE 609 NNG, AA 698.

DIALOGUE: From left— Mr. Dayo Adesina, Chairman, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, Association of Nigeria; Mrs. Dupe Akindele, Facilitator, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Environmental Sustainability Policy Commission; Professor Collins Gardner, Co-Chairman, Private Sector Environmental Policy Commission of NESG, and Dr. Sope Williams-Elegbe, Associate Director/Head of Research, NESG, at the stakeholders' dialogue with NESG on Environmental Sustainability Policy Commission Low Carbon Emissions: Mainstreaming LPG Utilisation in Nigeria, in Lagos.

SERAP gives Jonathan 7 days ultimatum on new electricity tariff

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OCIO-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to, within seven days “use his leadership and position to urgently instruct the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to reverse the new electricity tariff as it is manifestly arbitrary, unfair, unjust and discriminatory.”

In a letter dated August 2

by SERAP's Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “We are seriously concerned about the increased electricity tariff by your gov-

ernment under the Multi-Year Tariff Order, MYTO, and consider this increase as anti-people and a flagrant violation of the human rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised sector of the population.

“Our requests are entirely consistent with the country’s international human rights obligations and commitments,” and threatened “international and national legal actions if the government fails and or neglects to reverse the increase within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”

The organisation also stated that it would “work with civil society, social movements and community organisations and the citizens to challenge this manifestly unlawful action by

the government.

“Increasing electricity tariff by over 100 percent at a time power supply has not improved and indeed remains irregular and despite this government’s often-expressed commitment to improve electricity supply, is anti-people.

“The much promised transformation of the power sector by the government has remained unfulfilled, while the majority of the citizens continue to face extreme poverty.

“Rather than arbitrarily increasing electricity tariffs, the government should investigate the spending of about $3.5 billion annually on power in the last 10 years, and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible for the stealing or mismanagement of public funds.”

Unu Habib, Unegbu goes homes

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA REMAINS of frontline journalist and former Editor, West African Pilot, Chief Herbert Unegbu, will be buried tomorrow.

Friend of the deceased, Igwe Ezeoba Nwokedi, who spoke to Vanguard in Awka, yesterday, said the burial would be preceded by presentation of a goodbye-clock by late Unegbu’s old professional friends, including Chief Peter Osugo, Mr. Sam Amuka, Peter Enahoro and others.

Popularly called Unu Habib, Unegbu died at his home in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday, July 3, aged 89.

Born November 9, 1924, Herbert Unegbu had his education in Onitsha and started writing in the same place. He was a renowned columnist and anchor of the popular Unu Habib, which became his alias.

He made his mark in journalism having served as News Editor, Daily Times, and Editor, West African Pilot.

He was also Eastern Regional Editor, Radio Nigeria. At the declaration of Biafra Republic, he became Head of News, Biafran Broadcasting Corporation, when it had Voice of Biafra and Radio Biafra for foreign and local audience, respectively.

A detribalised Nigerian of eastern extraction, Unegbu, had a good relationship with late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

His media contemporaries are Peter Osugo, Alex Nwokedi, Peter Enahoro, Peter Obe, Emmanuel Jaja, Olu Fadairo, Sonny Chu Okongwu and many others He is survived by two wives and children.

Late Chief Unegbu.

10—Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

TUC condoles Fahola TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has commiserated with Governor Babatude Fashola of Lagos State, over the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

In the condolence letter by the President and Secretary of TUC, Bobboi Kagaima and Musa Lawal, the body said “On behalf of the entire members of TUC, we do hereby extend our heartfelt condolence to you and other survivors of Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.”

LASAA approves digital advertising on waterways THE FIRST outdoor advertising display on water-ways will hold in Lagos State, following approval by Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, for the deployment of facilities and infrastructure to support the launch.

According to the Managing Director of the Agency, Mr. George Kayode Noah, “this is another format for outdoor advertising, which provides a unique canvas for a variety of digital advertising.”

Lagos Island PDP washes hands off Olabode George’s suspension

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS — THE La gos Is-land chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has distanced itself from the purported suspension of former Deputy National Chairman, South of the party, Chief Olabode George.

Also, the committee of PDP Elders in Lagos State, called on a chieftain of the party, Dr. Oluyomi Finnih and his group to desist from campaign of calumny against George.

EID-EL-FITR: From left, Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; Senator representing Kwara Central, Sen. Bukola Saraki, and Minister of Sports & Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, at Eid-el-fitr praying ground, Ilorin, yesterday.

‘DEPORTATION’ SAGA: Civil society

coalition blames FG

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

C

OALITION OF Civil Society Group, CCSG, has blamed the Federal Government for the alleged “deportation’ of 14 destitute from Lagos to Anambra State, saying rather, “the central government is lacking in the provision of social care for the vulnerable.”

The group also described the action of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State as an abdication of its responsibility to the citizens of the state.

Briefing at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Ikeja, on ‘Security Challenges and the Raging Controversy,’ the group said rather than condemn Lagos State Government, citizens of Igbo extraction should blame the Presidency for not providing the necessary support for the vulnerable persons in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Abiodun Sowunmi lamented that the “central government hardly intervenes in the provision of mass housing and there is no record of any intervention in the provision of social care for the destitute in the country.

“Rather than care for them, the Federal Government embarked on a zero policy on the presence of destitute in the Federal Capital territory, FCT, Abuja and is currently demolishing villages belonging to the Gwari people (the indigenes of Abuja) and driving them out of the vicinity of the seat of power.

“Therefore, it is beyond be-

lief that any governor of a state in Nigeria, specifically Governor Obi, with the knowledge of above-mentioned intolerance of the poor, will invite the Presidency to caution a state government that was implementing the law of its state.

“For instance the Lagos

State Environmental law 2012, allows the state to clear beggars and destitute off the streets and then rehabilitate them. So what the state government did was absolutely right.”

Speaking against the action of the Anambra State Government, Mr. Nelson Ekujumi

said “the government whose citizens have migrated en masse to other states as destitute are themselves indicted and Anambra State ought to take measures to rehabilitate them instead of accusing another state government of ‘deportation.’”

LAWMA wants cleaner Lagos for Eid el Fitr

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS — LAGOS Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has directed operators of the Private Sector Participants, PSPs, to ensure 24 hours effective disposal of waste during this festive period.

The agency, however, warned all motorists to observe the speed limit and

drive properly to prevent accident and incidental death as various street sweepers would be on the road to maintain adequate clean up of the roads.

Also, to ensure easy movement during the celebration, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority LAMATA, regulators of Bus Rapid Transit BRT, is providing free bus ride to Lagos residents today, August 9, 2013.

On the 24 hours operation,

LAWMA’s Managing Director, Mr. Ola Oresanya who disclosed this while unveiling plans by the agency to host this year ’s edition of the Waste to Food programme billed to take place at Agege Stadium on August 17, 2013, said it was aimed at ensuring filth–free environment.

The authority also wished Muslims in the state a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Motorists barred from Ahmadu Bello Way, V/I till Sunday

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS — Lagos State Government has restricted movement of motorists along Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, saying only one lane of the road will be used from Thursday, August 8 (yesterday) to Sunday, August 11, 2013.

The temporary regulation is due to the ongoing construc-

tion work on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island.

The restriction is to allow for easy movement of equipment along the construction site and the impact on motorists.

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, who disclosed this, said with the use of one lane, motorists who did not have important business or activity along the axis were advised to stay off the road.

Opeifa said those going to Galleria to enjoy their holiday were free to do so in orderly manner, noting that pedestrians should use the walk-ways to ensure their safety.

The commissioner, however, urged motorists to be cautious on the road as Traffic Signal Lights, TSL, installed on the axis would be put off and traffic would be controlled manually.

Vanguard , FRI DAY,

EID-EL-FITR:

Adeyeye calls for more prayers for Nigeria

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FENIFERE CHIEFTAIN and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye has urged Muslim faithful in the country not to relent in the prayers for Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.

He said: “The peace now being enjoyed in the Northern part of Nigeria is an indication that the prayers of our Muslim brothers and sisters during Ramadan fasting period were answered and we should not stop praying for the country and its leaders now that Ramadan has ended.

AUGUST 9, 2013— 11

NSCIA bemoans South-West Muslims’ exclusion from FEC

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — NIGERIA Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has frowned at the non-inclusion of Muslims from SouthWest geo-political zone of the country in the Federal Executive Council, describing the action as “unfair, inequitable and unjust to Muslims from the zone.”

The Nigeria apex Islamic body submitted that the country was in mess because Nigerian leaders are not fair, equitable, just and truthful .

The Secretary-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Is-

lamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede stated this, yesterday, shortly after he observed Eid el Fitr prayer, at Lantoro Prayer Ground, in Abeokuta.

According to Oloyede, "we want to appeal to the Federal Government to be fair to us, to be fair to all. Is it an accident that throughout the South-West, Nigeria, there is no Cabinet member who is a Muslim and yet you will say Muslims are intolerant.

“I think it is important for us to be fair, to be just, we might think we are clever, that people don’t see what we are doing, but we are deceiving ourselves.

"I think the truth of the mat-

ter is, we should be just to all, we should be equitable in such a way that we will not play ourselves into the hands of those hell-bent on disintegrating this community of ours,” he said.

Meantime, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has sued for peace and unity among Nigerians, irrespective of one’s religion.

He said that people should be wary of violence, religious bigotry, misunderstanding and ethnicity.

“We want to admonish all of us to sustain all good deeds and virtues we did during Ramadan and to be pious after the Holy month,” Amosun

said.

Similarly, the former Minister for Steel and Mineral Resources, Sarafa Ishola exhorted Muslims to eshew violence and embrace peace and unity, describing them as the panacea for national development.

Speaking earlier, Liadi Orunsolu, the Chief Imam of Egbaland, cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of their utterances and be pious and equitable.

He tasked Nigerians, especially those in the corridor of power, not to let people down and forfeit trust people repose in them.

... Uphold lessons of Ramadan, Oni urges Muslims

F

ORMER GOVERNOR of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni has urged Muslim faithful in the country to continue to uphold the lessons of the Holy Month of Ramadan by avoiding all sinful acts.

He said: “Those things that were abhorred during the Ramadan fasting period should no longer be allowed to become part of our lives now that the fasting has ended.”

Oyo commissioner raises fund for late Atayero

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YO STATE Commis-sioner for Agriculture, Mr. Peter Odetomi, is spearheading the fifth year remembrance and fundraising for the family of the late gospel artiste, Evangelist Bayo Adegboyega, a.k.a. Atayero, who died in 2008.

A statement from the Remi Odetomi Music and Foundation for the Less-privileged, yesterday, said that the gesture became necessary to assist the family of the deceased renowned musician.

CONFERENCE: From left, daughter of late D.O. Fagunwa, Barr. Yejide Ogundipe; Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Nobel Laureate/Keynote Speaker, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and Diwura Fagunwa-Adebayo, at the opening of the international conference on late Fagunwa, entitled: 'D.O Fagunwa - 50 Years on,' in Akure, yesterday.

Fayemi advocates Yoruba language usage in schools

E

KITI STATE Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has renewed his call for the introduction of Yoruba language as a means of education and communication in schools across the South-Western part of Nigeria.

The Governor made the call in Akure, Ondo State capital, yesterday, at the first international conference commemo-

rating the 50th anniversary of the death of foremost indigenous novelist, Daniel Fagunwa.

Supporting his stance, Fayemi said various experiments have shown that students who study in their mother tongue are better equipped than those taught in a second language.

He added that this was why the promotion of Yoruba language and culture is one of the cardinal elements of the regional integration agenda of the South West states.

“We must admit that everyday Fagunwa’s looming image continues to challenge us as a people. His works continue to remind us that our lan-

guage is complete and that the Yoruba language must not be left to rot away,” he said.

In his remarks, chairman of the occasion and Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, said Fagunwa’s books show his brilliance and talents, adding that they are quite useful in legal proceedings on criminal cases.

NGO asks Fashola to apologise for 'deporting' Anambra indigenes

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA — A non-governmental organisation, Citizens Network for Peace and Development, CNPD, has condemned the 'deportation' of some indigenes of Anambra State by the Lagos State Government and asked

Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to apologise for the action.

The Director-General of CNPD, Comrade Preye Dressman, who led the group on a courtesy visit to Vanguard Regional Office, Abuja, said that the action of the governor was capable of causing ethnic crisis in the country and that if not tackled immediately

it could have ripple effects.

According to him: “The action of Lagos State Government is capable of attracting ethnic reprisals which in turn may generate into a crisis that might not easily be contained by government.

“We believe that every citizen of Nigeria as provided by the constitution has the right to live freely in any part of the country

irrespective of his/her status, tribe, or religion. We therefore advise that the authorities concerned to show maturity in resolving the issue.

“If Lagos governor claimed he had written to the Anambra State government, does it justify him to dump the people at the time and place they were dumped?" Dressman asked.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Uduaghan mourns passage of Fashola’s dad

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ELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed sadness at the passing on of Alhaji Ademola Fashola, father of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State.

Dr. Uduaghan, in a condolence message by his Press Secretary, Mr. Felix Ofou, said that the people and Government of Delta State share in the pain and sense of loss occasioned

by Fashola’s father ’s death.

Imoke felicitates with Muslims

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OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has felicitated with Muslims on the celebration of Ed-ill-fitr.

While congratulating them on the successful completion of their fasting, Governor Imoke, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, urged them to use the occasion of Ed-ill-fitr celebrations to rededicate themselves to the values of peace and unity in the country.

IAAN to hold annual conference

BY RITA OBODOECHINA

I

NTERNATIONAL Association of African Non-governmental Organisations, IAAN, is set to hold its annual conference, aimed at addressing issues of capacity building for NGOs and empowering them with technology among other developmental issues in developing countries.

The conference scheduled to hold at the Hilton Hotel, Rockville, Maryland, with the theme, Empowering NGOS through Awareness in the Age of Globalization, will feature Mrs. Sarah Jiibril, Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values, among other speakers and participants.

IG to Rivers CP: Be professional

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—THE InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, charged the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to be a professional police officer by providing safety and security for the people and development of the state.

He also said that the police should not be dragged into the politics of states.

Addressing State House Correspondents after paying the traditional Sallah visit to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, Abubakar said: “We are not politicians, we cannot be brought into the politics of this country. Professional police officers are supposed to do what they are supposed to do: to protect lives and property and that is why we remain where we are and we charge the Commissioner of Police (Mbu) to be a professional police officer by providing safety and security for the good people of Rivers State and for the development of the state.”

On the dismissal of a police Sergeant caught on video, while extorting a motorist in Lagos, he said same was to send a strong message that he would not preside over a corrupt police force, noting that the fact that the police officer was caught in the act meant that he did not deserve any

punishment less than what he got.

He added that the dismissal of the Sergeant was an indication that the police authorities closely monitor the personnel to check their misdemeanour.

He said: “You can see that we are information technology compliant. We know what is happening on YouTube, we know what is happening all over the world. And because we believe that we have to do what is right, we warned our

officers and men, sometimes we set them up, to ensure that we catch them in the act. And whoever is caught in the act is dismissed.

“There is a process that is on-going. If the man involved is willing and ready to give evidence in court, the dismissed police officer will also be charged to court.”

Speaking further, he explained that the peace being experienced during the Sallah celebration was as a result of collaboration between the

police and other security agencies as well as the cooperation of Nigerians in fighting insecurity in the country.

“We want to thank Almighty Allah for His mercies, for His grace that the country is becoming more peaceful than ever before. We shall continue to pray and I want to use this opportunity to thank Nigerians for their support, cooperation, partnership in fighting crime and criminality in the country,” he added.

SALLAH: Chicken hawkers in Bauchi in search of buyers on Stadium Road, Bauchi, during the Sallah, yesterday.

Rep, others condemn alleged arrest of Amaechi’s supporters

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— HOUSE of Representatives member, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, has condemned what he described as the arbitrary arrest of loyalists of Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State in his constituency.

Noting that the alleged arrest was a violation of the tenets of popular democracy, Nwuke, representing Etche/ Omuma federal constituency, Rivers State, warned that the people should not be harassed over their political views.

He said: “I condemn the arbitrary arrests and detention of my constituents. People should be allowed to express their views. It is against the tenets of our democracy. The anti-Amaechi leaders and groups are attacking the governor and the Rivers State Government on a daily basis, nobody has touched them, so

why should they arrest persons in my constituency, who were only expressing their minds and political affiliation.

This is a clear case of intimidation and victimisation.

“The Police must be seen and perceived to be acting above board. This looks like a

clear case of taking sides against Rivers people in the political crisis in the state. In the midst of this crisis, one would have expected that the police would be neutral and discharge their duties without bias but unfortunately, the reverse is the case.”

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain in the area, Mr Darlington Nwanju, who also condemned the actions of security operatives in the arrests, said it was sad that some had chosen to use security operatives to harass and intimidate loyalists of the governor in the area.

Anger trails postponement of IYC election

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—THE planned national election of the crisis-torn Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, slated for Saturday has been postponed, following the intervention of Ijaw National Congress, INC. Though no new date has been fixed for the election of the crisis-ridden and factionalised IYC, it was learnt that supporters of some aspirants, who had campaigned round all Ijaw ar-

eas to canvass for votes are not happy with the development.

The cancellation of the IYC poll by the parent body of the group, INC, they argued, had rubbished the peace meetings initiated by the Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, towards the August 10 poll.

It was learnt that while the Ann Kio-Briggs-led electoral committee had concluded the screening of t62 aspirants, printed ballot papers and the compilation of the list of delegates for the election, the Jeremiah Oba-led electoral com-

mittee, had, yesterday, published the list of delegates for the same election slated for weekend, an indication of a divided IYC. But INC, in a letter, after its meeting with Governor Dickson, the Chairman and Secretary of the 2013 IYC electoral Committee, Ann Kio Briggs and Akpos Mezeh, the former INC President, Joshua Fumudor and Senator Emmanuel Diffa, said the suspension was due to receipt of several petitions and appeals from members of IYC.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 13

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14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Abia appoints Justice Nwakanma Acting CJ

Eid-el-Fitri: PDP calls for unity, love ...begs terrorists to have a change of mind

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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M UA H I A — FOLLOWING the compulsory retirement of Justice Shedrack Nwanosike as the acting Chief Judge, Abia State government has sworn-in a new acting chief judge.

She is Justice Stella Nwakanma, who by her appointment becomes the fifth acting chief judge, as the state judiciary had, since December 2010, when the last substantive chief judge, Justice Sunday Imo’s retirement, been administered by acting chief judges.

Swearing-in the new acting chief judge at Government House, Governor Theodore Orji tasked the state judiciary to put its house in order to make for the appointment of a substantive chief judge.

He explained that government followed the extant laws in filling the vacant position, and congratulated the new acting chief judge on her appointment.

2 injured as truck drivers, task force officials clash in Anambra

BY ENYIM ENYIM

BY HENRY UMORU

A

B U J A — N AT I O N A L leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on Nigerians to, in the spirit of EidEl Fitri celebration, inculcate and sustain the lessons from the holy month of Ramadan in all facets of life to ensure a united and prosperous Nigeria.

The party also called on those behind the series of violent attacks and bloodletting in various parts of the country to use this year’s EidEl Fitri to have a rethink and understand that life was sacrosanct and should not be taken by any person under any guise.

The PDP, in an Eid-El Fitri message by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, urged Nigerians to eschew all forms of bitterness and violence and make room for forgiveness, patriotism, love and peaceful coexistence among themselves.

The party said: “We cannot move forward or get to the promised land as a nation in the void of love, unity and patriotism. It is imperative that we eschew all forms of bitterness and unite as one people under God who in his infinite wisdom and mercy decided to bring us together.

“Our nation is replete with immense human and material resources but we can only harness

Nigeria may lose category-one aviation cer tification if...,says AON

O

N I T S H A — BUSINESS activities were yesterday halted at Uga rod market in Aguata, Anambra State, following a violent clash between truck drivers and task force officials of the Ministry of Transport on road decongestion in the company of the police and army.

Two persons, a driver and a staff of Anambra State Task Force Agency, ASTA reportedly sustained serious injuries during the clash and were hospitalised .

The commissioner gave the traders and truck drivers 24 hours to remove vehicles causing obstruction in the place, threatening to prosecute any defaulter. “ We as a government can not condone such lawlessness.

It is unacceptable and we are going to reinforce security to flush them out".

BY UDEME CLEMENT

A

IRLINE Operators of Nigeria, AON, has said Nigeria may lose the Category-One certification in aviation sector, if the Civil Aviation Act of 2006, which is still in operation was jettisoned for the new policy introduced by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

AON also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to scrap the aviation ministry and grant Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, full autonomy to run the sector in line with international standard, even as it called on the Senate to set up a committee to probe airport projects across the country to ascertain if the huge sums put into the projects were commensurate with the level of work done.

The Deputy Secretary General of AON, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, disclosed this in a chat with Vanguard, stressing that the existing Act 2006 complied strictly with aviation regulation globally.

them maximally for the overall benefit of the people if we learn to work together as a people and put the interest of the nation above personal or sectional considerations.

“Nigerians are known for rallying around their leaders at the time of critical challenges.

We must therefore not allow the enemies of our dear nation who seek personal gains and stoke

the fires of divisions and violence among our people to have their way.”

It wished Nigerians a happy Sallah celebration and prayed for enduring peace in the country.

EID-EL-FITRI—From left: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State; Alhaji Aliyu Ukariwo, Chief Imam of Umuahia; and Alhaji Suleiman Ukandu, Chairman, Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board of Abia State, during the visit of Abia Muslim community to the governor in commemoration of Eid-el-Fitri in Umuahia.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 15

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16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

THREE DAYS FIDAU PRAYERS FOR LATE ALHAJI ADEMOLA FASHOLA

From left: Mrs. Omolara Fashola,widow; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, First Lady; Mrs. Arinola Fuwa, daughter and Ms. Yinka Fashola, daughter, during the Three Day's Fidau Prayers for Late Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola, father of Governor Raji Fashola, in Surulere, Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas and Otunba Solomon Oladunni.

From left: Mr. Wale Tinubu, Oluwayemisi Tinubu and Alhaja Bimtu Fatimah Tinubu.

From left: Mr. Abiodun Fuwa, son-in-law, Otunba From left: Dr. (Mrs.) Funmi Fashola, AlhHenry Ajomale, Chairman, APC, Lagos State and Sir ja Abimbola Jakande and Mrs. Mayowa IkuPius Akinyelure. foriji. Photos : Bunmi Azeez.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 17

Readers’ responses

L

AST week, I also wrote about the political crisis in Rivers State and criticised the mob that threw stones at the Northern Governors who visited Amaechi. Here are responses I received. +2347084903928 : Odii Okeke--a pharmacist The four Northern and River states governors were voted into power to better the lot of people in their states and not to fan the embers of conflict or distract the Presidency for some selfish reasons.

It’s irrational for Gov. Amaechi to scheme to unseat a president from his region in connivance with Northern governors just for him to be number two man? This ambition is first class selfcenteredness and an insult on psyche of Niger Deltans

L

Child brides

Liberating child brides emotional trauma and serious health problems.

But it’s hard to achieve change from a distance; and the question I keep asking myself is this: Why are privileged Northern women – who are much closer to this human rights violation than I can ever be - not making a huge fuss about it?

I know several Northern Muslim women who are highly educated, professionally successful, politically powerful, financially independent Nononsense types. And I know

that none of them would dream of handing their small daughters over to predatory adult males.

I wish that these sophisticated and strong Northern Muslim ladies would loudly express their objections to child brides and use their clout to seek protection for fellow females who are voiceless and not in a position to protect themselves.

,

AST week and the week before, I condemned men like Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima who think it is OK to lure underage females into premature marriage.

It has to be said that paedophilia is a perversion that is not restricted to any geographical location or religion…that there are paedophiles in every habitable corner of the globe, including Western nations and Southern Nigeria….and that many of these paedophiles are Christians, Buddhists, Animists, Hindus, etc.

However, different cultures have different attitudes towards this social evil; and there’s no getting away from the sad and shameful fact that too many Northern Nigerian Muslims either defend paedophilia or turn a blind eye to it.

I will continue to speak out, at intervals, against those who subject fragile little girls to sexual exploitation,

I wish that sophisticated and strong Northern Muslim ladies would loudly express their objections to child brides and use their clout to seek protection for fellow females who are voiceless and not in a position to protect themselves

,

A teenage mother and her child C M Y K

+2348067275228: Tony Ajayi I am a big fan of your column but was incredibly amazed at the naivete you displayed in yesterday ’s edition. While Femi Falana’s intentention may be altruistic ,the motive of the five Northern governors is not only selfish but also sinister. Is what is happening in Rivers State worse than the Boko Haram insurgency in the North?

Decorum and patriotism Why didn’t they rally former heads of state to find a solution to that crisis? Why is it that opposition governors who also visited Amaechi showed more restraint, maturity, decorum and patriotism in their advice to Amaechi? Donu try to see beyond your nose! +2348033598186: Ovuorie Dear Donu, the crisis in Rivers State is not beyond the Governor and the President to settle between themselves but the Yoruba and Northern intruders would not want that to happen. Use your column to tell the intruders to leave Rivers State alone. +2348023206209 Anonymous Donu, Nigeria is a traditionbased society. We welcome visitors; we don’t throw stones at them. I am shocked that the elders in Rivers State defend this type of action. Let us see whether there will be a need

for them to visit the North. +2348030861967: Bassy Lekam Donu, some of us are disappointed in some of you South-South people, especially those of you who claim to possess all the civilized knowledge in the world. Your write-ups, as far as this Rivers crisis is concerned, have already shown that you have taken sides with the Governor’s camp. What makes you feel that if Rotimi becomes the president today the same treatment the North is giving Jonathan will not be meted out to him? In your write-up of August 2, 2013 in the Vanguard, you did not even mention how a fellow lawmaker almost murdered a colleague, a lawyer for that matter. +2347082934271: Ven R Y O Ayadju Since l developed interest in your write-ups, l have been praying for you. You are bold, arrow-straight, pragmatic, objective and thruthful. But I am afraid you will attract a mass of enemies through your sharp pen! Our society is so rotten and full of heartless people who didn’t want to hear the truth!

However, God will continue to protect you. +2348036195863: Collins Donu, your article “Xenophobia” which centered on the Rivers State crisis is excellent, but remember that when PDP have problems, it is a family affair. When it comes to early child marriage in the North, the customs were none of your business; then in Rivers State, no Nigerian is an outsider. We from the South should think of knowing ourselves. +2348082477787: Ayodele I wonder how many walks and visits and protests these socalled leaders have paid to the victims of terrorists attacks in the North. They love Rivers money not the people. Rivers people are not stupid, the interest of these so-called friends have only fueled the problem instead of dousing it.

They have been taking sides rather than try to bring all sides to the table. They are not wanted in Rivers, period. They are crying more than the bereaved. Are they professional criers?

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 or 081 1675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 FOR the umpteenth time, the nation was again, told that Nigeria holds the dismal record of having the highest paid legislators globally.

Had this report not emanated from The Economist of London Magazine, it would have been dismissed as a none issue since the matter has been in the public domain and Nigerians seemed helpless about the situation.

The report said that federal legislators with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (N30.6m) were the highest paid lawmakers in the world.

Quoting data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The Economist of London, the study looked at the law makers’ basic salary as a ratio of the Gross Domestic Product per person across countries of the world.

It further suggested that the lowest paid legislator in Nigeria earns N30.6 million ($189.5,000) per annum which was put at 116 times the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, per person. As a ratio to GDP per person, Kenya was second with 76 times, Ghana 30 times and Indonesia 18 times.

While the report did not add anything new to the debate on the take home of our lawmakers, it however, reactivated public consciousness about the issue.

The actual take home of the federal

Continued secrecy on jumbo pay legislators has continued to remain in the dark, for reasons best known to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC).

However, the RMAFC report of 2007, said the subsisting approved packages for National Assembly (NASS) members include accommodation: (Senator N4m, Rep N3.97m), vehicle loan (Senator N8m, Rep N6.948m), furniture (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m) and severance gratuity (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m), which are due once in four years.

Other allowances, payable annually, are car maintenance (Senator N1.52m, Rep N595,563), constituency (Senator N5m, Rep N1.687m), domestic staff (Senator N1.5m, Rep N1.488m), personal assistant (Senator N506,600; Rep N496,303), entertainment (Senator N202,640,

Rep N198,521), recess (Senator N202,640; Rep N198,521), utilities (Senator N607,920; Rep N397,042), newspaper/periodicals (Senator N303,960; Rep N297,781), house maintenance (Senator N101,320; Rep N99,260) and ward robe (Senator N405,280; Rep N397,4020).

The Senate and the House of Representatives, through their spokesmen, have alleged mischief in the report, saying it was a figment of imagination of the authors.

Civil society activists have denounced the legislators, saying they could bankrupt the economy, a sentiment that Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, once voiced.

Against this backdrop, we call on the RMAFC to make public the actual take home of our law makers. There is need for adjustment of the wages of the legislators to reflect the pay structure in a country where the minimum wage is N18,000. The Nigerian public also has the right to know the actual earnings of those elected to represent them in the legislature.

We frown on any act of impunity whereby legislators, simply because they are in charge of the public purse, help themselves to jumbo packages without resort to constitutional checks and balances.

OPINION

BY SUNKANMI OGUNS

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HE FRESH news last week is the quashing of the controversial INEC’s order that deregistered Rev Chris Okotie’s FRESH and 27 other political parties by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of an Abuja High Court last Monday. Something historic has a way of happening under your eyes when you least expect. This is not the kind of news any serious media outlet would ignore.

Most news watchers, including this writer, were amazed at the sudden turn of events.

About nine months ago, INEC, armed with the controversial Electoral Act 2012(As Amended), began to deregister parties that failed to win any seat in our Legislature in the last elections. This strange, unprecedented development drew the flak of civil rights activists and political commentators.

The decision of the ruling PDP government to limit the number of parties to a “manageable few” was widely condemned as an attempt by the party to abridge the political space for its own selfish agenda, not to rid the polity of mushroom parties as INEC claimed.

In a style reminiscent of the defunct military regimes, the Commission’s Secretary, Mr Abdullahi Kaugara, in a letter to FRESH and 27 other political parties on December 6, 2012, said that consequent upon the “failure of the parties to meet the requirement of section 223(1)&(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( as amended) and failure to win a seat in the National Assembly as

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FRESH vict or or democracy victor oryy: Hope ffor provided in section 78(7)(ii) of Electoral Act 2012; ( As Amended)”, the affected parties stand deregistered.

The Electoral Act 2012 (as amended) is a law that appropriates the powers of the judiciary to invoke legal sanctions against parties that fell short of its provisions. It also allows the National Assembly to encroach on the functions of the executive in the area of deciding the criteria for the setting up of political parties. A law maker cannot interpret the law; neither can the executive be a judge in any matter which is within the purview of the judiciary. The Electoral Act 2012 (as amended) is a piece of legislation that creates over-lapping functions that have the potential to create conflicts between the three arms of government.

The attempt by INEC to play the judge in a case involving it led to this legal dispute with the parties. This is not the first time that the judiciary had resolved disputes of this nature in favour of parties. It will be recalled that the late legal icon and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, went to court to contest the refusal of the then National Electoral Commission to register his party, the National Conscience Party, NCP. He won the case and that was how his party and others joined the fray.

One wonders why the ruling party should be concerned with small rival parties who do not pose any visible threat to its power. If it is true as often claimed after each election

that FRESH and other deregistered parties didn’t win a single seat in the Legislature why should that be a PDP problem?

The truth is that FRESH probably performed better in those elections than we are led to believe, and so realising the party’s true potential as a contender for power, the PDP made the Electoral Act 2012 (as amended) to crowd out all the small, but “dangerous” parties before they attain their full potential. It thus becomes wise to kill the small snakes before they grow to become fearful predators.

However, God has a way of catching the wise in his own craftiness. The Electoral Act 2012 (as amended) is INEC’s weapon of mass destruction of the smaller parties; the same law has becomes its nemesis.

Granted, the ruling PDP says it would appeal the verdict, even up to the Supreme Court, it does nothing to change the fact that a new face of justice in the shape of this verdict won by FRESH has exposed the antidemocratic tendencies of Jonathan’s government.

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he race is never to the swift. What the Electoral Act 2012 is trying to achieve is to make participation in elective politics the exclusive preserve of the strong and mighty.

But democracy is a game of equals. Where there’s no level playing field, there can be no democracy. And in the absence of democracy you can only have chaos.

Many are of the view that what is being practised in Nigeria today is a mockery of democracy. That may be true but it is still better than military dictatorship or what experts call “democratic closure“; that is a situation where democracy is fore-closed because an authoritarian or totalitarian system of government is in place. The closest we ever came to this fearful leadership was the cruel Abacha military dictatorship.

That happened because the democratic forces in existence then were pen-wielding human rights activists like Chief Fawehinmi, Shehu Sanni, Beko RansomeKuti, Femi Falana, Sylvester Odion Akhaine, Col. Abubakar Umar and the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO being the arrow-head.

George Bernard Shaw said: “Every despot needs a disloyal subject to keep him sane”.

These men kept the military dictators sane.

This FRESH verdict, we hope, will keep the polity sane under a PDP government that is becoming increasingly intolerant of dissenting views. Rather than physically descend on opponents, it is applying legal gymnastics and legislative abracadabra to deal with its opponents.

But thank God, with our new-found hope in the FRESH effort, we have a choice to fight back, knowing full well that justice could be done.

**Mr. Oguns, a political analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013— —19

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has just approved the registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a political party. Once again excitement is in the air; a party that can checkmate the octopoidal PDP with its vast network and federal might is born.

Is the APC a whited sepulchre ( pretender ) or the real threat to the PDP? Let us examine the situation as it is on ground.

In the course of our analysis, we shall attempt to answer a few questions. Does the merger of CPC, ACN, ANPP and others automatically translate to a formidable force that can uproot the PDP? How can a party whose membership is drawn from diverse political ideologies operate in unison? Will the political ambition of the leadership of this party not scuttle the APC dream? Where do they stand against the federal might? Can a disunited PDP hold out against the APC? What part will a volatile North play in the equation? Is the new party ready to adhere to democratic tenets?

What happens to other parties like

APGA and Labour?

First and foremost is the simple arithmetic matter. Out of a total of 36 states, the combined APC can only boast of 10 states under its effective control. How can 10 out of 36 translate into a majority? This can only be possible if an abracadabra situation is conjured.

Some argue that the PDP has performed so woefully, that with proper sensitization the masses can be swayed against them. But this is easier said than done. The reality is that the state governors are in full control of the political flow of their individual states and nothing has shown that the next election will be different.

Some have also stated that the internal crises generated by the PDP membership will bring the party to its knee. The recent reconciliation exercise by the APGA factions has shown that politicians can never be relied upon. Nobody ever gave peace a chance in the Obi versus Umeh brouhaha but last week both sides embraced peace publicly. I foresee a similar situation in the case of the rebel PDP Governors. No one

,

should hope that they will be swayed to the side of APC. Another area we must look at is the bandwagon effect of our people in their political decisions; they are easily persuaded by little gifts and carrots because of the level of illiteracy in the land. This is the system the Boko Haram leadership is using to cajole innocent people to join them. The people will only follow the direction their leaders have pointed out to them and if the PDP states are in majority ( presently 20), it then follows that majority of the people will support them come 2015.

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lso, we must note that the APC foundation is not solid because of the personal ambition of its leadership; in this instance, I am referring to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and General Muhammadu Buhari. Although both of them have publicly agreed to subsume their interests to enable the party progress, there is no doubt that camp loyalties will come into play when it is time to share offices. Buhari already has said that he is still interested in contesting the next presidential

Is this APC the party?

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

D

EMOCRACY, which is government of the people, by the people for the people, thrives best when the people have choices from which to pick who should lead them in any election. In those climes where democracy is allowed to produce quality and true leaders, many political parties are registered, and with time, a few of them become the parties to reckon with.

In America there are 32 registered Federal parties, and another 30 registered Regional parties, with independent candidacy allowed by their constitution. Out of all these, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, have, over time, become the two main Federal parties.

In the United Kingdom, there are about 17 registered political parties existing along with many minor parties. Since the 1920s the Conservative Party and Labour Party have dominated British politics, and have alternated in government ever since.

However, the UK’s is not quite a two-party system since a third party (recently, the Liberal Democrats) can prevent 50 per cent of the votes/seats from going to a single party. Following electoral co-operation as part of the SDP-Liberal Alliance, the Liberal Party merged with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 becoming the Liberal Democrats, which is now the third largest party that produced the current Prime Minister.

In Nigeria, since the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential result, it became difficult to produce a two-party system that will offer the people the opportunity to make a reasonable choice. We had only the PDP as the truly Federal party and expectedly they have continued to take the people for granted to the extent that one of C M Y K

their leading members boasted in 2007 that they would rule Nigeria for 50 years. Politics and the process of selection of a president for Nigeria, has become boring, and full of the known antiques of the PDP. Thus, the snatching of most of the South Western states by the ACN was a welcome development to offer the people the desirable opportunity to make quality decisions in their choice of leaders, and to give the PDP a good run for their mouth! The result is the healthy and robust contest among the gubernatorial candidates in the recent elections which saw Dr.Olusegun Mimiko and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole returned to the government houses in Ondo and Edo states, respectively. It is against the background that many lovers of the people’s right to choose who should lead them, welcomed the idea of an alternative party which will expand the choices of Nigerians in selecting who will occupy Aso Rock in the nearest future. No matter how good the PDP may have been in the delivery of electoral promises, after 14 years, it is just about time for Nigerians to experience a change of party in Aso Rock. Nigerians just want a change not for the sake of change, but to gain the dividends which those non-PDP states are getting, because the ruling parties in those states know that the opposition PDP is watching and waiting. We desire same consciousness at the centre. This is why the registration of APC as a merger between ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of APGA led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha was most welcomed by all, if indeed they can push the PDP out of Aso Rock, and give Nigerians the change they so much thirst for.

But the birth of APC seems to be fraught with some issues of concern which need

election; if the Tinubu side say no, what will be the impact on the party unity? We saw a sign of this schism between the CPC and ANPP leadership before the party was registered. Will such not occur again?

Again the APC elements are taking too much for granted. A merger of ACN, CPC and ANPP does not, on its own, confer sympathy from the side of the people, there’s a lot of work to do at winning the people to their side.

Decisions that will make people look at them unfavorably should be avoided. For example: How do Fashola and Tinubu expect the South East to join their wagon after giving the impression ( through the expulsion of Igbos from Lagos and the frequent closures of Ladipo Market ) that the APC government does not like them.

Furthermore, APC leaders have to improve on their democratic tenets. Situations where people are nominated/handpicked into positions, instead of through healthy balloting processes do not speak in their favour. Buhari must try to remove that bias of religious and ethnic bigotry that has been tainting his politics. How he intends to do that, I do not know but that is his cross to bear.

The APC boasts that it can checkmate the PDP. How they can succeed in the present volatile North is difficult to fathom.

Nigeria’s elections have always been in favour of those who wield superior force. Almost half of the North is presently under occupation by the Nigerian Army; they will not leave the region until after the 2015 election for security reasons. While maintaining security, the regional commanders will be prone to directives from headquarters, Oga at the top sort of situation and if any one fails to follow directive, he will be replaced

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APC: A whited sepulchre or the real deal

How do Fashola and Tinubu expect the South East to join their wagon after giving the impression that the APC government does not like them

The birth of APC seems to be fraught with some issues of concern which need urgent resolution.

While the issues remain unresolved, the APC may be led into more worrisome issues, and as time goes on their position may become complicated such that their first major outing may end with a jaundiced leg

,

urgent resolution. While the issues remain unresolved, the effect is that the APC may be led into more worrisome issues, and as time goes on their position may become complicated such that their first major outing may end with a jaundiced leg. The first issue from birth was in the nature of the founders of the APC, in the persons of General Muhammadu Buhari Rtd, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We know that Gen.Buhari wants to challenge GEJ at the elections and push the PDP out of Aso Rock.

But,General Buhari will be a very hard candidate to sell to Nigerians, especially Christians and most South Easterners because of his initial utterances and stance on the killings by Boko Haram. The second issue is that of the ACN Emperor, Asiwaju Tinubu. While he remains a bold and wise pol-

immediately. I do not see how the APC can win under such situation.

The more riotous or volatile the situation in the North is, the more they will play into the hands of the PDP as witnessed by the decimation of the CPC in the last general elections. Unless the APC encourages a peaceful North, they can never win any election and if they attempt to encourage revolts like the last time, it will be the icing of the cake for a PDP victory.

We must also not forget the bystanders, I mean other smaller parties like the Labour and APGA. In what direction are they likely to go? For now, Mimiko and Obi are flirting with the PDP while Okorocha is with the APC. Will Okorocha succeed in taking APGA to APC, with the Igbo animosity towards CPC and ACN? Time will tell.

Now the most telling factor that will decide the fate of the APC in national politics is the choice they will arrive at in their presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The person that can unite the South and the North, with no political baggage. Do they have such amongst their midst? Yes they have, but will tribal and ethnic considerations allow them to accept these candidates? I fear. Will they accept an Oshiomhole as presidential candidate? or a Fashola? or a Tambuwal, if he can be persuaded to leave PDP? These are people that can build bridges along the divide, both politically and geographically, their candidacy will help the APC to become a formidable force and help their chances in the next election.

This is the situation presently, now let us watch and see how it plays out.

* Mr. Sikhioya, wrote from Lagos.

itician, people fear he will bring undue influence to bear in the party in one form or the other. There is, therefore, a need for a balancing of personalities to provide the needed assurance that APC is an all-inclusive party. While these two birth issues remained unresolved, the APC chose her interim officers for purposes of registration with INEC, and almost every key post was virtually turned over to the South West and Muslims, compounding the dilemma of those who wished to see a better arrangement. The combined effect of non-resolution of these issues has created the newest problem the APC will face. This week, the APC was reported as demanding that Governor Peter Obi should apologise to Nigerians for querying why 70 Igbo indigenes were dumped

by Gov. Babatunde Fashola on Anambra State without any regard or courtesy to the people and government of Anambra State, or Igbo people for that matter.

Their reason is that Governor Obi was crying wolf and trying to give their party a bad name in order to hang it. The APC, by this, has shown that it is insensitive to any issue that does not affect the main base of their party. They cannot see anything wrong in the very bad action of Lagos State in the unconscionable and unconstitutional deportation of Nigerians; it is politics or more because Igbo people are the victims. The question then is, whether the Igbo man can trust the APC, or better still, is the APC the party we expect?

This brings me to worrying participation of a faction of APGA in APC. It will be wise for those involved to sit down and reassess their positions. It is better to consolidate their foothold on Imo State than to spread too thin with this worrisome APC gamble.

They should strengthen APGA first.

* Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

20— Vanguard ,

FRID AY , A UGUS T 9 , 20 13 FRIDA AUGUS UGUST 201

EARLY MARRIAGE:

Day children took to the streets •Vow to embark on hunger strike

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UNDREDS of underage children in Ogun State recently embarked on a protest against the Senate endorsed controversial child marriage bill, vowing to go on hunger strike if the lawmakers failed to retrace their steps and jettison the idea.

Leading her colleagues drawn from different parts of the state, 13-year-old Pascalyne Ogbuli, submitted thus: “We do not wish to grow up and tell our young daughters that we were forced into early marriage and that same fate awaited them because there is a law that supports it.

“It is shameful that the Senate with people that children respect and aspire to be like, could even consider a law

saying our childhood and innocence could be taken away, and education destroyed in exchange for a bride price, and that we (kids) could be sold as slaves to early marriage.

“To this end, we, the Nigerian children, demand a national apology from the Nigerian Senate for belittling our child right and wilfully delib-

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STORIES BY DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

*Some of the children addressing a press conference after the protest it”. Pascalyne spoke on behalf of other children during a press conference they ad-

It was during the making of the film against early child marriage that many of us realised the cruelty of early child marriage and its humiliating impact and consequences on children, especially the girl-child

erating and considering the stamping of early marriage in Nigeria. And if we die telling our leaders that our education and our future count more than an early marriage, so be

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dressed in Abeokuta under the banner of Volunteer Team of Children.

As part of their war against child marriage, the children said they have produced a

film titled, ‘Yerima: Diary of a Child’ which will be shown throughout the country to express their opposition and expose the danger of early marriage.

According to Pascalyne: “It was during the making of the film against early child marriage that many of us realised the cruelty of early child marriage and its humiliating impact and consequences on children, especially the girlchild”.

Producer of the film, Femi Olabode-George, who doubles as Chairman, UTV Me-

dia, informed that it was not easy producing the film. According to him, 35 children participated in the production, adding that he took up the challenge to embark on the project when contacted by volunteer artistes led by Mrs Omowunmi Freeman He disclosed that the 82 minutes film will premiere soon in Abeokuta, before onward transmission to all other parts of the country. He called on parents, guardians, children and other stakeholders to come out en masse to watch the film.

For 5,000 Ogun residents, a day of joy via kerosene bonanza

*Residents queuing to buy the subsidised kerosene

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GUN state is one of the states in the country which often experiece acute shortage of kerosene. People, especially women, go the extra mile to get the product, often at outrageous prices. The problem, according to findings, is more pronounced in the rural areas of the state which harbour maC M Y K

jority of residents.

Happily, relief has come the way of residents in some local government areas of the state, courtesy of a non-government organisation popularly called Omo- Ilu Foundation. The Foundation recently distributed more than 100,000 litres of kerosene worth N10 million to

the people in Ijebu-North, Ijebu-Ode and Remo local government areas of the state at a subsidized rate.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that in spite of the fact that the founder of the foundation, Chief Buruji Kashamu, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the philanthropic empowerment was not based on partisan consideration as members of the party and other residents of the area received the free kerosene.

Speaking with VM, some of the beneficiaries profusely expressed appreciation for the kind gesture against the backdrop of their long suffering on account of prolonged acute shortage of kerosene and attendant high prices.

One of the beneficiaries, self-employed Awodeyin Ayodele, thanked the NGO for its

kind gesture, saying: “I didn’t even expect such a thing.

Imagine paying only N420 for six litres of kerosene. If it was in the market, I would have paid about N750".

Interest of the common people Another beneficiary, Mrs. Oladeniyi Bosede , said: “I just want to say thank you to the founder of the initiative, Prince Buruji Kashamu, who has the interest of the common people at heart”.

According to her, Kashamu has been assisting the lessprivileged through his empowerment programmes. “If you consider what has happened in the past and what is happening now, you will have no choice but to give kudos to him,” she said.

Speaking with newsmen dur-

ing the distribution, Managing Director of the Foundation, Onasile Adebowale, disclosed that the programme started from Ijebu-North before it spread to Ijebu-Ode, Ikenne, Ogere, Ilisan, among other areas in the state. According to him, the aim is to ensure that people at the grass root are given a new lease of life after being in the shackles of poverty for many years.

“We started from Ijebu-North and have supplied about 36 thousand litres . In Ijebu-Ode, we supplied 22 thousand litres of kerosene. Here in Iperu, it’s 22 thousand litres. We have been to Ikenne; we were in Ogere and Ilisan... We have supplied over 100, 000 litres of the kerosene. Our aim is to supply more to cut across the state soonest.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 21

PPPRA advises NEITI to stop confusing public T

HE Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA has appealed to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to desist from confusing the public further on its audit report which said that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion to the Federation Account.

In a swift reaction to NEITI’s statement affirming that it stood by its controversial audit report, the Executive Secretary of the

PPPRA, Mr Reginald Stanley, told reporters in Abuja that “NEITI appeared to have embarked on a wild-goose chase, instead of addressing the issues at stake”. He said there was never a time the audit report was ‘signed-off’ by the management of the PPPRA, challenging NEITI to make a copy of the sign-off public, to prove its claim against PPPRA. On July 29, NEITI released its 2009-2011 audit report on the oil and gas sector, recommend-

ing that the PPPRA should remit N4.423 billion, arising from “over-recovery” to the Federation Account.

“We challenge NEITI to tell Nigerians where the N4.423 billion it claims was warehoused. If NEITI is indeed, desirous of efficiently doing its job, we challenge it to go and consult the records at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) account is domiciled. It should also go a step further by

visiting the records at the Federal Ministry of Finance to confirm if certain amount of money as claimed was remitted accordingly or not by the PPPRA. To all intents and purposes, it is apparent that NEITI is on a wild-goose chase and self-seeking in its putrid claims,” he stated.

Stanley also faulted NEITI’s latest claim that “all the companies and government agencies covered by the audit, including the PPPRA were fully

From left: Mrs. Bisi Bright, Chief Executive Officer, LiveWell Initiative, LWI; Dr. Olufemi Olugbile, Permanent Secretary Health, Lagos State and Dr. Mona Khanna Associate Professor in Chicago, and Fox News Contributor at the Strategic Healthsector Focus Group, SHFG, Meeting, in Lagos.

SMEs: Lagos unveils plans to promote locally made products

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

120.25

2.35

2,449.00

+75.00

16.79

0.24

107.44 -0.74 104.33 -0.97 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.75 POUNDS 239.2435 EURO 205.9568 FRANC 167.0805 YEN 1.5909 CFA 0.2943 WAUA 233.7167 RENMINBI 25.2875 RIYA 41.2612 KRONA 27.6078 SDR 234.9415

155.25 240.0165 206.6222 167.6204 1.5961 0.3043 234.4719 25.3697 41.3945 27.697 235.7006

SELLING 155.75 240.7895 207.2877 168.1602 1.6012 0.3143 235.227 25.4518 41.5278 27.7862 236.4597

CBN Exchange rate as at 08/08/2013

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S part of effort to promote Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, the Lagos State Government has concluded plans to host the year 2013 domestic trade fair tagged Eko Expo, aimed at promoting locally made products in the country.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, who disclosed this in Ikeja, said foreign exhibitors from Indonesia and China were among the various organizations that have indicated interest to participate in the fair billed to

hold at Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Oladejo, explained that the government is organising the coming expo in collaboration with the Lekki Free Zone Development Company, as a result of the successes recorded with last year’s fair, where a total of 175 investors participated. He said the fair would further promote investment opportunities available at the zone, as well as provide platform for operators in small and medium scale industries to showcase what they do.

According to him, “The choice of Lekki Free Zone as the venue for this year’s fair is to familiarise the business community with the peculiar incentives offered by the zone and the need to invest therein.”

He listed such incentives to include, complete tax holiday from all federal, State and Local

governments, taxes, rates, customs duties and levies; onestop approval for all permits, operating license and incorporation papers.

Others include; Duty free, tax-free import of raw materials and components destined for re-export; duty- free capital goods, consumer goods, machinery, equipments and furniture among others.

The Special Adviser said the ministry will make provision of a free shuttle buses that will be stationed at Oriental Hotel along Lekki-Epe road to convey interested people to and fro the fairground all through the seven days that the fair will last.

“This is meant to assist visitors to get to the fair venue with ease, in addition to accommodations available at the zone for exhibitors to make their stay during this period comfortable.”

involved and participated actively in the audit process”.

The PPPRA chief cited a section of NEITI’s report that claimed that N3.715 billion was yet to be refunded by the NNPC and two other marketers, saying that NEITI’s report was incongruous with the realities of what was outstanding in overrecovery, “which is N3.98 billion owed only by the NNPC.

CBN approves FSDH’s appointment of three new directors

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has approved the appointed of three new directors by FSDH Merchant Bank Limited.

According to a statement by the bank, the three new directors are Mr Osaro Isokpan, who becomes the new Chairman, Mr Olufemi Agbaje and Alhaji Bello Garba, both directors.

FSDH Merchant Bank, formerly First Securities Discount House, FSDH, was granted a merchant banking license by the CBN, last year, following which it transformed to a merchant bank.

Mr. Rilwan Belo-Osagie, Managing Director, FSDH, had stated that whilst the company does not underestimate the challenges that it will face, it is however confident that with its corporate culture of customer orientation, high performance, image building, collaboration and learning, all obstacles that may come its way can be surmounted.”

The recent Board appointments is following the resignations of the former Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko; Junaid Dikko, a director and Bashir ElRufai an Independent Director Giving a profile of the new appointees, the company said Isokpan is a former Managing Director of Nigerian American Merchant Bank Limited, with over thirty years of banking experience.

“He is an alumni of Strathclyde, Stanford and Harvard Business Schools. He is also a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Agbaje is a chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience in Audit and Banking. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, UK. “Garba is a former Executive Director/Head North Bank UBA.”

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 201 3

SEC tasks committee to tackle money laundering, terrorism

By MAGBEGOR ZINO

T

HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has charged the newly inaugurated committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Capital Market (CCOCIN) to fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism.

The Committee according to SEC, is to ensure that the operations of the capital market are undertaken in line with regulatory guidelines. The move was specifically aimed at checking the penetration of illegal funds or proceeds of criminal acts into the capital market with the intention of concealing its real origin.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the committee in Lagos, Director General of the commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, who performed the inauguration, urged the committee to discharge its job effectively to make the country proud and ensure that the capital market is taken to the next level. She said “it is not just for our market to be world class, but to be the first point of call for anyone who is looking for a market of integrity” In her welcome address, Mrs. Saidatu Bello, Executive Commissioner, Legal and Enforcement, SEC highlighted the roles of the committee which includes the fight against money laundering

and financing of terrorism.

Bello, who said the Nigerian capital market was not a safe place for fraudsters because, all transactions were traceable. She added “The SEC has established an AMT/CFT unit within the commission and had issued numerous regulations in compliance with the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011. We have also ensured the implementation of sever-

al recommendations of the financial task force, which is the international body championing the cause of AML/ CFT and its counterpart, the inter governmental action group against money laundering in West Africa. This fight is not for any entity alone, it is our collective responsibility as stakeholders in this market to save Nigeria from such acts” According to her, “The es-

CONFAB: From left: Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh and Vice-President and Treasurer, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mr. Jingdong Hau at a one-day conference on Nigerian Debt Market, in Lagos.

Diamond Bank partners WWB to advance financial inclusion

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

S part of its plan to take banking services to the unbanked and under-banked segments of the Nigerian population, Diamond Bank Plc said it is partnering with Women’s World Banking, WWB, to map out strategies to advance financial inclusion for these segments in the country.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting with officials of WWB, Executive Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Uzoma Dozie said, “For us in Diamond Bank, we are constantly looking at changing the way

tablishment of CCOCIN will provide a united front in order to fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism.”

She also listed some of the objectives of the committee which includes encouraging and promoting the culture of compliance within the Nigerian market; to provide an avenue for interaction, ideas and experiences among the stake holders.

banking is done to take the frontiers of banking beyond just saving money to empowering our customers. We are also interested in ensuring that the unbanked and underbanked segments of the society, who are not properly serviced, are adequately catered for and there is no better way to do this than to partner with Women’s World Banking that has done this successfully in a number of countries.”

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President/ CEO, Women’s WWB, observed that it was an exciting development to include Nigeria to the 28

developing countries where the organisations work in providing access to finance to low-income earners, especially women.

“We work around the world with financial institutions that see the financial and social value in delivering products for low income earners, particularly women. Diamond Bank with its strong human resources and technological capabilities is an excellent partner to help us reach the population, who are unbanked and underbanked,” she said.

Standard Chartered, SAA seal deal on aircraft purchase

By Princewill Ekwujuru

S

TANDARD Chartered have signed an agreement with South African Airway, SAA to buy 10 aircraftsA320-200.

The agreement which was SAA’s regional expansion plans was brokered through the bank’s Aviation Finance team, Pembroke. The aircrafts will be delivered over the next two years with the two deliveries already made last month.

A statement emanating from the bank said that this is the first aviation finance deal in South Africa by Standard Chartered which is a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to South Africa and its strategy of leveraging its global team and world class innovative financial products to support the international expansion of South African corporates and institutions.

In the statement, Daniel Hanna, Co-Head of Wholesale Banking, Southern Africa, said: “We are delighted to be able to support SAA in this important transaction and to leverage our investment banking expertise to finance these aircraft, as well as to participate in this new sale and leaseback agreement.”

Keystone Bank offers holiday online banking

K

EYSTONE Bank Limited has said it will continue to provide convenient and reliable services to all customers of the bank through the bank’s online and alternative channels during the forthcoming public holiday to mark the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

With this offer, customers of the bank who are willing to transact business can do so with ease using the banks internet banking facility designed to meet the banking needs of its teeming Customers.

During the holidays, customers can review and verify their transactions, transfer funds, buy recharge (Airtel, Etisalat, Glo, MTN, Starcomms) and Pay Bills (Airtel, DStv, Hitv, PHCN, Swift).

Apart from these, customers using the Keystone Bank Internet Banking services can verify the status of their cheques and print account statements.

According to a statement signed by Mohammed Ciroma, Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, customers who want to experience banking from the comfort of their home or while abroad during the public holidays can avail themselves the opportunity of the Banks Internet Banking services.

With the Keystone Bank internet banking, you can, enjoy the convenience of managing your finances quickly and easily at a time that suits you during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—23

TechnoServe, Olam train cashew farmers in Oyo, Kogi, Kwara

T L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Bio-Organics Nutrient Systems Ltd, Mr. Kenny Uzoma Acholonu; Group Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Notore, Mr. Jite Okoloko; Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture & Cooperatives, Lagos State, Prince Gbolahan Lawal; and Representative & Special Technical Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Mr. Tunji Adedipe during the Agribusiness & Food Security Summit in Lagos

Researchers raise alarm over spread of banana bunchy top virus R

ESEARCHERS have raised alarm over the increasing spread of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) across West Africa with more farms in Nigeria—West Africa’s second largest producer— being ravaged by the disease.

“If not checked the virus will devastate banana farms, and jeopardize the livelihoods of millions of farmers who earn their livelihoods from the crop”, says Dr Lava Kumar, Virologist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture during a visit to farms ravaged by the disease in Idiroko—a border town in Ogun State on Monday during a farmers’ Field Day. Mr. Charles Onyeani, Head of the

of banana, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, making the crop one of the important staples in the country.

Devastation by BBTV on banana fields will have a negative impact on the country’s economy, and thwart efforts towards food security.

Caused by a virus called, Banana bunchy top virus, BBTD is a serious threat to banana in SSA. The disease has been recognized in 14 countries in Africa; 13 of these are in SSA which represents a combined banana production area of 2.28 million ha, contributing 19.75 million tons of fruit per annum (FAO 2011). The disease is known to occur in all the major banana production regions in

The virus is also spread through an insect, banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa), which is widespread in all the banana and plantain-producing areas in Nigeria and many parts of the world

,

Post-Entry Quarantine, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has warned against the movement of banana planting materials from infected areas to uninfected areas to check the spread of the disease.

First discovered in 2012 by IITA in collaboration with the University of Ibadan and the Nigerian Agriculture Quarantine Service (NAQS), the disease is now widespread in Ilashe, Odan-Itoro, Ido-Ologun, and Igbogila, in Ogun State.

“Systematic studies on yield losses have not been done but empirical observations indicate 50 to 90% loss in the affected region,” Dr Kumar added, stressing, “There is a severe shortage of clean planting material.

Urgent management actions are required to prevent further spread and also help farmers in the affected areas.”

Nigeria produces 2.74 million tons

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DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Zambia. Whereas, disease spread is limited to a few regions in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

BBTD was first reported from the continent in 1901, however extensive spread into new production areas were observed during the last two decades. The disease has very recently invaded the Bénin (first reported 2011) and Nigeria (first reported in 2013) in West Africa.

“The virus is also spread through an insect, banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa), which is widespread in all the banana and plantain-producing areas in Nigeria and many parts of the world, said Dr Rachid Hanna, entomologist at IITA. Infected banana plants become progressively smaller and stand more erect giving the plant a bunchy appearance. Plants infected early in

their growth do not produce fruits resulting in total loss of yield, while plants infected at later stages may produce deformed fruits. The plant may eventually die, but often remains with its lateral shoots which serve as a source of infection for further spread.

The spread of the disease into new areas can initially remain undetected, complicating timely eradication work and prevention of new outbreaks. Once the disease is present in a region, it is extremely difficult to eradicate.

No durable sources of resistance have yet been identified. Eradication of infected plants and planting healthy planting material is the best available solution.

ECHNOSERVE, a Washington based poverty eradicating organization, in collaboration with OLAM Nigeria has launched a training program aimed at empowering cashew farmers in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by Ade Adefeko, OLAM’s Head Corporate and Government Relations, the program which took place at Ayangba, Kogi State was expected to impact positively on 6,000 farmers, 3,000 of whom are women The cashew farmers were drawn from Kogi, Kwara and Oyo States known for their high level of cashew production while the training was made possible through a grant from the Walmart Foundation.

The expected impact would be in form of adoption of good agronomic practices and improved methods for harvest and post harvest handling of raw cashew nuts among others.

Cashew production currently accounts for more than a third of household income in Kogi state alone, according to an independent research conducted by TechnoServe.

TechnoServe estimates the new farming practices would translate into an estimated 20 percent increase in yields and improved quality of cashew nut production The production estimate are for targeted households in the three Nigerian key cashew producing states.

“Cashew farming is one of the most economically important crops in West Africa, yet its potential have not yet been fully realized,” said Shakti Pal, Regional Cashew Expert for TechnoServe.

“In Nigeria alone an estimated 125,000 households are engaged in cashew farming, but they lack the knowledge to improve their yields and maximize their incomes. ”Through this program these farmers will have access to the training needed to improve the quality of their product and in turn the quality of their lives ” Pal said.

EIAR, AGRA launch new breeding initiative

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HE Alliance for a Green Revo lution (AGRA) will invest over US$ 1 million to reach directly and indirectly more than 200,000 smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.

The majority of Ethiopians rely on these key grain crops for their calorie and protein intake, but yields are currently low. This initiative will help to improve the food security The Alliance a Green and Revosituation through for developing lution in Africa (AGRA) and the deploying more than 10 improved Ethiopian for Agricultural crop varietiesInstitute better than varieties (EIAR) have launched a on Research farmers hand and previously new breeding program these for five released and promoting Ethiopian grain crops. among farmers.

The initiative ‘Seed System The initiative will -also build caEnhancement through Developpacity among researchers, extenment of Improved Varieties of sion agents, and public-private Maize, Tef, Sorghum, Soybean and seed companies, and enhance the Faba bean in Ethiopia’ - which will linkages between all the seed value runplayers for threeofyears will make a sigchain target crops. nificant contribution to enhance The initiative will be implemented household foodEIAR security and inthrough various research comes.

hubs/centers at Bako, Debre Zeit, Melkasa, Kulumsa and Pawe.

Dr. Adeferis Teklewolde, Crop Research Director at EIAR says: “Ethiopian farmers face a number of constraints, such as drought, diseases and insect pests that, combined together, greatly lower their yields. This initiative will introduce crop varieties that can better withstand these constraints, thereby contributing to improved food security in Ethiopia.”

Joe DeVries, Director for AGRA’s Program for African seed Systems (PASS) which oversees the program, says: “AGRA is pleased to have this opportunity to work with the Ethiopian Government to tackle a key bottleneck to farmers’ productivity.

Through this collaboration, 20 tons of breeder and foundation seeds – the basic seed multiplied and sold to farmers – will be availed to seed enterprises annually.”

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

SMEDAN to support entrepreneurial programmes in schools

BY DANIEL GUMM

T

HE United States wants a "seamless" renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, the U.S. law that offers trade incentives to African countries that open their economies.

U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman said the United States is beginning its review of the current agreement, which expires in 2015, by looking at its successes. He said that in AGOA's 13 years, two-way trade has more than doubled, U.S. exports to Africa have tripled, African oil exports to the United States have tripled and an estimated 43 million jobs in Africa have been created.

"By all those metrics, it is a significant success," Froman has said in a briefing at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based policy research centre. He stressed that the United States wants "to take the relationship even further" by helping Africa realise more of its economic and trade potential.

That's a message that Froman will take to the 12th AGOA Forum August 12-13 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Currently 39 subSaharan African nations participate in the trade programme.

The negotiator said that since AGOA was signed into law in May 2000, much in Africa has

T

From left: Specialist, Products and Services Division, Etisalat Nigeria, Doubrapade Koroye; Associate Professor of Physics and STEM Education, St. Catherine University in Minnesota, Dr. Kaye Smith; Founder, WAAW Foundation, Dr. Unoma Okorafor; Team Leader of Yellow Team and a student of Air Force Secondary School, Adesola Adegeye, and STEM Camp Director, WAAW Foundation, Frances Van Sloun, at the WAAW Foundation award ceremony for science and technology project participants selected from eight all-girls schools across Lagos State, at Laureates College.

US seeks seamless renewal of African trade agreement changed. Economists, he said, now say that sub-Saharan Africa, home to six of the top 10 fast-

est growing economies in the world, "is rising."

Froman also cited a "whole new cadre of leaders" in many of the region's countries who are willing to put their political will behind economic reform; devote some of their resources to support food security, education and health; and build systems so they no longer depend on continual humanitarian assistance.

He said that while accompanying President Obama during his recent trip to sub-Saharan Africa, at every stop, the underlying themes were trade and investment.

"This is not just about aid anymore," he said," it's also about trade; not just about assistance but about investment, whether it's the private sector or government officials or young leaders."

Froman added that through AGOA, the United States wants to build on its recent work with Africa, beginning with President Obama spearheading an effort in 2009 to get the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialised nations to commit more than $22 billion to support countryled plans for agricultural development, with a focus on smallholder farmers.

Small-holder farmers export fresh vegetables with NAQS guidelines

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OLLOWING the guidelines of the National Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), some small-holder farmers are exporting fresh vegetables to Europe and the United States on a regular basis.

Some of these small-holder farmers farming in Lagos along roads — such as those opposite the Lagos State University gate between Iyana Oba and Igando — are recording turnover of about $280,000 (N44.8 million) monthly.

Mike Nwaneri, co-ordinating director, NAQS, recently in Lagos, explained the reasons farmers must comply with the directives in order to access the export market, saying “the National Agricultural Quarantine Services has the primary mandate of preventing pests and diseases of plant, animals and aquatic resources from being introduced into the agricultural economy of Nigeria.

“As the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina is making efforts to grow Nigeria’s agricultural economy and create wealth through agribusinesses, we realise that a single pest or disease is sufficient to destroy 10 years of labour in any aspect of agriculture. So, prevention of pests and diseases is key to achieving food security and wealth for farmers.”

According to him, NAQS also focuses on facilitating

export just as import, saying “when we ask people to submit the agricultural items they want to export for inspection, screening and certification, they look at it as a means of delaying their business transactions or introducing bottlenecks.

HE Small and Medium D e v e l o p m e n t Entreppprises Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, in its quest to impart Nigerian youths with entrepreneurial skills would do all that is necessary to support entrepreneurialship programmes in schools because it holds the key to youth employment and economic development of any nation.

Director-General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Masari, made the commitment at a world press conference to mark the official opening ceremony of the world students global entrepreneurialship competition being hosted by the city of Abuja under the umbrella of the Students Advancement for Global Entrepreneurialship, SAGE, Nigeria.

Masari, who said the agency was committed to to achieving its mandate of promoting and developing the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, sector in Nigeria, said the agency had been supporting SAGE Nigeria since 2005.

He said the event schedule to end on August 12, has presented the country with opportunity to showcase its potentials and achievements in the MSME sub-sector.

According to him, SMEDAN was aware that sustainability of the youth entrepreneurialship programme was nessary in promoting entrepreneurialship development among young people and and reducing dependence on government for jobs.

He also added that the programme, which is aimed at teaching young people entrepreneurialship and financial literacy skills needed to be successful would continue to enjoy the support of the agency as it continues in its quest create next the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders, whose innovations and social entreprises would address the major needs of the global community.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 25

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26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Royal Jordanian to boost Nigeria tourism T

As Muslims celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr (commemorating the end of the holy month of Ramadan), one of the festivals in the country that is synonymous with the Muslims in Northern Nigeria is the Durbar festival. Major cities like Kano, Katsina and Bida will be having horse parades today. Durbar festival is a great tourist attraction.

Tourism identified as key sector for trade T

HE developmental impact and potential of tourism was highlighted at the World Trade Organization’s Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade in Geneva.

At the meeting, UNWTO emphasized the increasingly prominent role of tourism in developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and called for increased support for tourism in international aid for development The Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade, centered on the theme “Connecting to value chains”, aimed to examine development assistance in connecting developing countries and firms of developing countries to value chains. For the first time tourism has been identified by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as one of the key five sectors with great potential for high impact in Aid for Trade.

Speaking at the event, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai made a call for the increased recognition and support for tourism. “Recent research shows a striking disparity between tourism´s high potential and current contribution to development and the C M Y K

low priority it has been given so far in terms of aid, namely regarding Aid for Trade and Official Development Assistance (ODA)”, he said. “Tourism is a key trade category in developing countries, accounting for 56% of the overall service exports of LDCs and thus has a great potential for high impact in Aid for Trade”. Mr. Rifai added.

In spite of tourism accounting for 9% of global GDP, in-

cluding direct, indirect and induced impacts, the sector is only allocated 0.13% of ODA and 0.5% of Aid for Trade, with average projects size at US$ 300,000 in Aid Support, according to ‘Connecting Developing Country Firms to Tourism Value Chains’, a joint study by the OECD, the WTO and UNWTO, launched at the meeting.

As part of the Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade, the

‘Joint WTO-OECD side event on the Aid-For-Trade Monitoring and Evaluation Exercise’ underscored the tourism sector´s actual and potential developmental impacts, with multiple linkages into the rest of the economy. It cited actions that developing countries, their development partners and tourism stakeholders could take to maximize positive linkages, in order to help achieve job creation and sustainable development objectives.

NTDC to build tourism centres across Nigeria A

S part of efforts to rapidly develop domestic tourism destinations by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) six tourism centres are to be built across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

The Director-General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo made this declaration while addressing members of Management and staff in an interactive session at the tourism village in Abuja recently.

The D G who took time to intimate staff on progress report and recent developments since her assumption of duty,

emphasized that the core of her administration remains a comprehensive development of Nigeria’s local tourism attractions hence the need for the tourism centres across the geopolitical zones.

According to her, the NTDC also plans to introduce information desks at major airports in Nigeria with the aim of supplying tourists and visitors, relevant information on areas of interest, directory on places to visit, activities of NTDC and the tourism industry in general.

During the meeting, Mrs.

Mbanefo noted that NTDC will work with stakeholders and professionals on strategic imperatives aimed at growing revenue base while restructuring the corporation and repositioning it to better finance its activities.

The NTDC boss also said that a productive workforce is essential to achieving her vision which is to make NTDC an employer of choice in the public sector, putting measures in place to make the work environment conducive for staff, with a comprehensive welfare package.

HE coming of Royal Jor danian airways into the Nigeria market will open a new frontier for tourism and travel markets in both countries.

Head of Marketing , Mr. Anwar Atalla said Jordan as a destination will benefit from the inbound tourism that will be generated from the Nigerian market to the kingdom.

Speaking at an Iftar banquet for tor its customers and travel business practitioners in Lagos recently, he said the responses from the Nigerian travelling public have been encouraging.

While promising to always deplore its best aircraft to the Lagos – Amman route, Anwar Atalla, said it commenced flights into the country with its widebodied, 280-seat Airbus A330s , because of the importance attached to the Nigeria market.

Speaking on the tourism bent of the airline, he said the airline is set to attract large numbers of passengers, particularly Muslim pilgrims who wish to continue their flights to Saudi Arabia to conduct Hajj and Umrah, and those who like to visit the shrines and tombs of Prophet Mohammad’s companions before they proceed on their religious journey.

Anwar Atalla added that the service will also transport Christian pilgrims who come to Jordan to visit the Baptism site and other Christian holy sites in Jordan and the Middle East.

“Passengers can discover the beauty and culture of Jordan through one of our Zuwar tours.

Designed to highlight some of Jordan’s most renowned destinations, as well as introduce our guests to the uniqueness of our land, these half, full, or multiple day tours encompass the Arab experience for a variety of styles and tastes.”

The Head Marketing of the airline said passengers can equally experience the life replenishing power of the Dead Sea, the earth’s lowest point and one of Jordan’s most visited sites.

“This new route will serve several types of tourism, such as medical, as Jordan is renowned for its high-standard medical treatment, and help business travelers and investors wishing to do business with Jordan and thus help develop economic and trade relations, and support the movement of goods among countries,” he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 —27

piro Damaskinos, is the International Marketing Director of Sony Music’s RCA Africa label and the Greek guy who has put in 17 years of his life into producing music describes himself simply as “ a music guy” and in the simplest terms, a Disc Jockey, who has worked with countless established international names across the world. He has worked with the likes of R-Kelly, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, to name a few. In this chat with Weekend Groove, Spiro speaks about Sony’s contract with Glo, the company who has brought the internationally acclaimed best reality TV show, XFactor to Africa for the first time and many more: excerpts Why did Sony decide to partner with Glo on X Factor Show?

We at Sony, globally, are the partner for X Factor. And like two great minds, with Glo sponsoring the show and with Sony Music being the global music company for X Factor, a natural synergy came into being. It has been good.

What’s your impression of the artistes you have seen on the show so far?

First of all, we are so excited we are launching X Factor in Africa, specifically in Nigeria and Ghana through Globacom who have taken the initiative to bring the best reality TV show to Africa. We are so happy to just develop the talents here and to give the platform

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Glo has taken the lead in developing African talents in music — Spiro Damaskinos, Sony Music scribe for these talents to showcase themselves. The show is not aired in South Africa but we are keeping abreast with the production company, back there and they give us the CDs, the DvDs and we are very impressed. There is a wide range of talents here, either with the solo or the group artistes. It is very exciting. I think it is a fantastic level of artistes we have for the show and you will see as the show develops into second and third season, the artistes can only get better, developing even more.

How do you compare the talents you have seen here with those you have worked with across the world?

You must remember this is all about developing raw talents and if you talk about artistes I have worked with, you are talking about professionals who have been in the trade for a long time.

There is no way you can compare developing artistes to established artistes but from the perspective of raw talent what we have here can hold their own anywhere in the world. I must tell you the music talents here in Nigeria and in Ghana are of world class quality.

Quite impressive and simply world class.

Can you tell us briefly about Sony as a Brand?

At Sony, our role is simply to discover talents, record talents and release them and we have got high ethics how we operate. We like to be a recording company of choice because of high level of development and service we give with the artistes that are signed to us.

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BY AYO ONIKOYI

I think i t ’ s fantastic. I think it’s wonderful that Glo has got the vision to bring on board, to sponsor and launch a show like this, to invest in the growth of African talents. It is highly commendable.

Would the winning act record a single or full album?

The winner gets a full album contract though it’s going to be in stages.

How would you market the winning act in Africa?

Of course, through normal marketing avenues. We have quite an extensive network throughout Africa. We are going to explore all traditional marketing roots, everything, from recording singles, radios, videos, online campaign, touring, essentially, all elements of marketing will be explored.

Which artistes have you worked with?

Internationally, we have the likes of Beyonce, Chris Brown, R-Kelly, Foo Fighters, Britney Spears, Alicia Keysso many. In Africa, we started signing artistes only recently and we have signed D’Banj, some East African artistes like K-Switch. We are just plugging into the African market, and

Internationally, we have the likes of Beyonce, Chris Brown, R-Kelly, Foo Fighters, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys- so many. In Africa, we started signing artistes only recently

What should the contestants have?

It’s about having the X Factor, at least, that was the reason we identified with this project globally. X Factor is about having a little extra quality, maybe in the voice, in the way they carry themselves and connect with the audience. There is a certain factor there about the way an artiste grabs you, the delivery, the poise and all the factors that combine to make an artiste endearing and different to the listening public.

Glo is the first organisation to bring the show to Africa. What is your view about what Glo has done?

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really, it’s been so exciting in such a short time.

What would you advise the voting public to look out for while voting for the contestants?

It’s so hard to say because different things work for different people. It is really up to the voters to go with their heart depending on who they connect with. You cannot really advise what the public should look out for. It is the most challenging aspect of the show and that’s why it is much fun because you never know what ‘s going to connect the public to the artistes. People see things in different perspectives.

But what are the qualities that make a good artiste?

It’s about everything: it can range from a good voice, good song-writing, instrumental to just someone being marketable. It is also very important when you sign an artiste, you identify who the artiste is and why you are marketing the artiste too. You never can tell, it varies from artiste to artiste.

Apart from the 150 thousand dollars Glo is giving out, what is your own total package?

The winning act is automatically signed to Sony Music to record a full album. So, he has the opportunity to tap into the Sony system to be label mates with the likes of Beyonce, Chris Brown and many others. It is like coming into the world of Sony Music, so to speak.

At Sony we are all family and they get all the resources we have got over the years, recording, making videos, an international platform to work with.

So in essence, it’s like the winning act having their lives changed overnight?

I don’t believe in the overnight change of life but it is a continuous process. I must tell you the real work begins after the winner emerges. It is not a matter where you think because you have won you go to sleep,no. The moment you are on screen, that’s when the real work starts. Sincerely, they must work even harder after the show.

Where will you be producing the winner, in Africa or Europe?

We believe in Africa. We don’t believe there is any advantage other parts of the world have over say, Nigeria, Ghana or South Africa. Whatever we can do in those places we can replicate in Africa just as efficiently as in Europe or any where in the world.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

By BENJAMIN NJOKU & ANOZIE EGOLE

S

INCE the death of Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti about 16 years ago, his musical influence and activism have continued to grow in the conscience of millions of his fans who are scattered all over the world.

This fact comes alive once again as the world remembers the undying contributions of the late Afro-beat legend to the world music with the flagging of the week-long annual ‘Felabration’ to mark his 75th birthday soon.

No doubt, the impact of Fela who died on August 2, 1997 at the age of 58 would continue to reverberate, especially in Nigeria where many years after independence, the country has failed to take its rightful place in the comity of nations as it is bugged down by the social issues that dominated Fela’s music while he lived.

Oppression, corruption, sex, poverty, wicked multinationals, exploitative tendencies of both religious divide, pollution, among others were some of the social maladies which unfortunately form the bane of underdevelopment that legendary Afro-beat musician frowned at and strongly criticised in his music. Today, 16 years after his death, Nigeria has not been able to make headway as to disprove some of the issues that Fela raised in his music.

It would not be forgotten in hurry that Fela fearlessly criticised Nigeria’s corrupt elite, lashing out in songs like “Coffin for Head of State” or “International Thief Thief ”, but with irresistible grooves that combined jazz, traditional music and other sounds.

As a major activist for PanAfricanism and anti-colonialism, and because of his socialist beliefs, Fela had many run-ins with the authorities of several African countries. His struggles made him an icon of the Black Power movement. He attempted to run for Nigerian President several times, but was never allowed to.

Interestingly, Fela did not only concern himself with Nigeria’s problems. His first son, Femi Kuti once remarked that his late father also spoke against the injustices of colonialism.

He left on his trail, a large community of Indian hemp smokers and miscreants,” Buch said.

Indeed,it would be recalled that after the first Kalakuta Republic was destroyed, Kuti moved to the three-storey building, which has been turned into a museum,courtesy of Lagos State government.

“It is very important to me, and this is why we buried him here in the first place because we wanted to turn this place into a museum after he passed away,” said Yeni Kuti as she stood on the building’s rooftop terrace.

Meanwhile, to immortalise his name, the Lagos State government provided the family with N40 million (200,000 euros, $250,000) to set up a museum in Fela’smemory which was opened in October, last year during “Felebration”, an annual series of events honouring Fela around his birthday.

Fela Kuti’s lega

legacy lives on his love of marijuana was welldocumented, Fela has since transformed into a deity. His followers hold the belief that he still lives on.

Since his death at the age of 58, in 1997, from an AIDS -related illness, Fela’s legacy has in some ways today been sustained. The Broadway musical about his life that drew rare reviews a few years ago and turning his last house,located in Ikeja, into a museum were some of the efforts made by his family and those whom he influenced with

Since his death at the age of 58, in 1997, from an AIDS -related illness, Fela’s legacy has in some ways today been sustained

,

His songs repeatedly landed him in trouble with the authorities, including arrests and the allegedly burning of his compound, by soldiers,which he had christened the Kalakuta Republic and declared independent. Fela’s original Shrine club where he regularly performed was shut down after his death by his family. But they later re-opened the New Afrika Shrine at another location in Ikeja.

Married to 27 women on the same day, most of them his dancers, and C M Y K

16 5 years after exit,

,

music to preserve his legacy.

Aknowledging Fela’s unequalled contribution towards the development of Nigerian music, reggae artiste, Orits Wiliki noted that the Afrobeat king set a record that no musician in Nigeria has been able to beat. “To me, Fela set a record that has not been beaten by any musician since death”, adding “he maintained the highest fan base in the Nigerian music industry. In fact, I doubt if anyone can beat his record until eternity. He really

inspired a whole lot of Nigerian musicians.”

Also, speaking in the same vein, gospel singer, Buchi said, although he disagreed with the late musician’s social philosophy,he commended his followers for sustaining his legacy. “ I commend his discipline and focus in music, it was legendary. But his social philosophy I totally disagree with.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 29

Popularity contest:

Genevieve floors

Omotola again!

•Genevieve Nnaji

F

or quite sometime now the criteria for measuring popularity,especially among entertainment stars have been all about the social media. And the best way to go these days have been to see who has the highest number of fans or followers on the Twitter.

Lady Gaga made a big hit with her followers base last year by creating her own social media platform because she got so big and couldn’t just stick with Twitter with her traffic of followers. Now, the Nollywood stars up there, though not in the class of Lady Gaga, are

Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola JaladeEkeinde. The duo are not exactly sworn enemies but the latent rivalry between them is said to have a spark to light up a building.

At the last count, Genevive Nnaji was leading by a good 100 thousand followers and she still is with followers in excess of 380 thousand followers while Omotola has excess of 231 thousand followers. Funny enough, even Tonto Dikeh, with all her ups and downs, has brushed off Omotola in the race, boasting of more than 237 thousand followers. But isn’t Omotola the one smiling home with all the awards these days?

th Boiz, X-Factor: Smoo Smooth

Symphon o kno w fat e ttoda oda know fate odayy Symphonyy tto S

THE TEAM BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

AYO ONIKOYI onikoyi68@gmail.com

C M Y K

Seun Kuti’s atheist inclination

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

F

ollowing his public declaration that he’s proud to be an atheist, son of Afro Beat legend, Fela Kuti, Seun, has been receiving lashes from fans who condemned his affiliation with the religion.

Seun Kuti who seems to be following in the footsteps of his late father, Fela, took to social network, Facebook, where he openly declared that his affiliation with Atheism is not in question, as he doesn’t fancy Christianity or Islam.

In his words, Seun described Christianity and Islam as “imported religion”, saying both are not unified in their beliefs.

Provoking reactions, while some of his fans agreed with his stance, some just hissed while a larger percentage expressed disgust at his belief, with some blaming it on his weed smoking.

A fan by the name Anonymous, said “the igbo wey you dey smoke na im dey worry you(you are being disturbed by the weed you smoke). If you like believe or not, every mallam to im(his) kettle!”, he blasted.

•Omotola Jalade

BY AYO ONIKOYI

OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

Fans moc k mock

mooth Boiz and Symphony made the cut last week as the two bottom contestants who got the least votes last week and thus stood for eviction last week but somehow they survived but that may be for as long as today when the judges have to vote.

Come what may today, the followers of the reality TV show are set for a crunch showdown as one group have to go home.

There are nine contestants still standing in the show but w h a t e v e r happens tonight there will be seven left.

•Monalisa

Monalisa unveiled as Nigeria 100 Centenary ambassador

BY AYO ONIKOYI

M

onalisa Chinda may not be losing so much sleep over losing her ambassadorial endorsement with foremost telecommunications giant, Globacom, as the multiple award-winning actress Monalisa Chinda was officially unveiled as an ambassador for the Nigeria100 Centenary Project, an inter-continental road show set to hold across the world.

In addition to the unveiling of Monalisa Chinda, other celebrity ambassadors for the Nigeria100 Centenary Project were also announced during an exclusive press conference which took place at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Tope Esan, the Centenary media manager, “Other confirmed ambassadors who would simultaneously appear as the Centenary project progresses include Stephanie Okereke, Segun Arinze, Desmond Elliot, Jayjay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, RMD and Ali Nuhu.”

30 — VVanguard anguard ,

C M Y K

FRID AY , A UGUS T 9 , 20 13 FRIDA AUGUS UGUST 201

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 31

C M Y K

32— Vanguard ,

FRIDAY FRIDAY,, AUGUST 9, 2013

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

2

1st century technological advancement is taking a toll on journalism.

Depending on which divide one stands, the effects could either be positive or negative.

But the truth is that journalism is shifting from a small group of people who access, treat information and disseminate same to a large; usually heterogeneous audience who are dependent on them to know what goes on in the society.

With the emergence of Mobile Journalism, MOJO, occasioned by the spread of smartphones and other mobile devices, that large audience is also becoming a news carrier.

MOJO is Journalism of gathering news content on the go, through the use of mobile technology.

MOJO has made it that as a journalist, you never can bet your pay package against the argument that your next door neighbour had already published the news you are rushing home to break.

The influence of facebook, twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and other platforms makes it highly possible. MOJO is easy to come by. With a smartphone, a tablet or other mobile devices, the mobile journalist is his own newsroom.

He shares information easily. His contents are even TV ready.

However, this new trend in journalism comes with its negative effects; it has little or no regards for ethics and lowers standards of the profession. It also negates quality of news and cares very little about the stability of the society.

But last week, Apple Inc, maker of the iPad, Iphone and other devices submitted that much as Mobile Journalism is creating journalists everywhere, what would make the difference is when the traditional journalists who have training and respect for ethics of the profession also migrate to the new revolution.

P

resenting training for Nigerian journalist on the MOJO revolution, Taryn Hyam, of Core Group Africa, Apple’s authorised representatives listed some practical steps core journalists should take in order to remain relevant in the new order and as well salvage the integrity of their cherished profession.

Chief among the steps is that a modern day journalist must embrace technology. The mobile journalist must fall in love with technology and follow up its dynamism. He must also be social; this means that the social platforms must interest him even as he must follow trending issues from them.

The Mobile Journalist must also not be afraid to experiment. The problem Hyam said she discovered with core the journalist is routine. So if he must take centre stage in C M Y K

The MOJO age…

Journalists everywhere! iPad tells the difference the Mobile Journalism ecosystem, he must be ready to experiment without fear and watch how his experiments pan out. Most importantly, he must also invest in good apps. Jobs don’t do themselves and there are facilitators which at the end of the day make the journalist super human when he achieves success. Such facilitators must be prime in his approach to this new task.

However, she also listed some good Apps, mainly from Apple’s store that can help MOJO. While majority of them can be downloaded free of change, some of them would need to be paid for.

Voddio: This app according to her is made for mobile journalism, video and audio editing, podcasts, sending and sharing functions. It is mainly recommended for radio and Tv mobile journalists. iJournalist Pro: This is another MOJO app that can record and edit videos, help the online journalist to add his titles bylines on his site or blog.

There is also the CoveritLive app. This enables realtime reporting, live blogging, social Tv, reader comments and chat

•Apple iPad Mini events. She revealed that popular media outfits like Sky, Fox and Washington post use the app to cover critical events.

Wordpress: This app helps to write and edit blog contents, upload photos and help the Blogger in reading comments from his posts. There is also another important app called the DropBox. This app helps to compress large files like videos and pictures to make it

easy for the journalist to upload and download.

Y

et another important tool is the iPad Mini.

However, there are facts which she said actually make the device a perfect tool for the Mobile Journalist. Right from the start, there’s a lot to love about the mini iPad. It’s simple yet powerful. Thin and light.

Yet it’s full-featured. It can do

just about everything and be just about anything. And because it’s so easy to use, it’s definitely going to be easy to love by users who are always on the move.

Besides the light weight, ease of use and a huge advantage of easy tuck away like a mere purse while travelling, the beautiful screen, powerful A5 chip, FaceTime and iSight cameras, amazing apps, and 10-hour battery life, make iPad mini every inch an iPad. It has a beautiful screen, fast and fluid performance, FaceTime and iSight cameras, thousands of amazing apps, 10-hour battery life. The clincher is that you can actually hold it in one hand Colors are vivid and text is sharp on the iPad mini display.

But what really makes it stand out is its size. At 7.9 inches, it’s perfectly sized to deliver an experience every bit as big as iPad. With advanced Wi- Fi that’s up to twice as fast as any previous-generation iPad and access to fast cellular data networks around the world, iPad mini lets you download content, stream video, and browse the web at amazing speeds.

Right from the start, apps made for iPad also work with iPad mini. They’re immersive, full-screen apps that let you do almost anything you can imagine. And they make iPad mini practically impossible to put down.

DON’T BE FOOLED!

Scammers are not smart; you never paid attention to details

By LAJU ARENYEKA

I

T may sound strange, but there are more victims of cyber crime in the society than there are perpetrators. And contrary to the belief that scammers are smart, strategic and on top of the game, they merely harp on your inability to pay attention to details than do any major brain work.

In fact they are cowards and careful look into their modus operandi would expose their ignorance and timidity. Here at Glamtech, we want to make sure you are never a victim.

That’s why we’ve chosen to open your eyes to the holes in their trap which you may have never thought of. We’ll try to bring a couple of samples every week and let you into their lies.

Now take this for example: The scam is: You get an email from “The California Human Right Foundation (CHRF US)” inviting you to a global Congress meeting against Economic Crisis, Child Protection & HIV/AIDS

Treatment, Prostitution, Sex Work and forced Labour.

Email sample: Dear Colleagues, On behalf of California Human Right Foundation CHRF USA, It is a great privilege for us to invite you to global Congress meeting against Economic Crisis, Child Protection & HIV/AIDS Treatment, Prostitution, Sex Work and forced Labor. The aims of the conference are to bring together researchers and practitioners in an effort to lay the ground work for future collaborative research,

advocacy, and program development as well as to educate social service, health care, and criminal justice professionals on human trafficking and the needs and risks of those victimized by the commercial sex industry.

The global Congress meeting against Economic Crisis, Child Protection & HIV/AIDS Treatment, Prostitution, Sex Work and forced Labor is scheduled to take place from August 19th – 2 3 r d 2013 in

•Cyber Scammer

California the United States and in Dakar-Senegal, from August 26th – 30th of 2013. The global congress is hosted by the Campaign against Child Labor Coalition and sponsored by (The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The William J. Clinton Foundation and other benevolent donors worldwide.

The target: Non Governmental Organizations, Charity Organizations, Well meaning individuals, people who want to travel abroad.

The catch: These guys would ask you to send money to pay for your hotel room in California, and promise to cover all other costs. As soon as you send the money, you will never hear from them again.

The fact: There is no California Human Rights Foundation. Di Attention to details: Had you ignored their link, went to google to check them out, contact relevant institutions from the hosting country among other due processes, you would have easily found out.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 33

TREBLE CHANCE Bolton Brighton Leicester Sheff Wed. Colchester Notts Co. Tranmere Dagenham Morecambe Ross County

v Reading v Derby v Leeds v Burnley v Port Vale v Peterboro v Crawley v York v Torquay v Partick

SOCCER TIPS Man U open talks with Everton over £23.5m Marouane Fellaini

FOUR HOMES

MANCHETER United have opened negotiations with Everton over a deal for Marouane Fellaini, as David Moyes fears that his top midfield target, Cesc Fábregas of Barcelona, could prove out of reach.

Moyes, who has so far added only the young Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela to his squad before his debut season at Old Trafford, worked with Fellaini at Everton, having signed him for £15m from Standard Liege in 2008.

Fellaini is understood to have offers from elsewhere in the Premier League but the 25-year-old would relish the opportunity to join United and continue his working relationship with Moyes. United are in pole position for his signature. Fellaini’s Everton contract contained a £23.5m buyout clause but this expired on 31 July, meaning that his value will determined by the market.

United’s need for reinforcement in midfield has been intensified by Paul Scholes’s retirement at the end of last season and Moyes has pushed to take Fábregas, the former Arsenal captain, seeing two bids turned down by Barcelona. Moyes has also been linked with a move for Luka Modric of Real Madrid although that, too, has been fraught with complications.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has said for the past three weeks that his information was that Fábregas would stay at Camp Nou for at least another season. Despite the acrimony of Fábregas’s de. parture from Arsenal, Wenger has retained a good relationship with him while the player’s agent is the son of David Dein, Wenger’s closest contact in the game. In this summer of the contractual transfer clause, Arsenal have one that effectively entitles them to first refusal on Fábregas. Wenger ’s information would appear to be well-sourced.

Fellaini is a different type of midfielder, LATE with reservations over his passing ability TIPS and disciplinary record. But he has skill, tremendous presence and threat, as evidenced by his 12 goals for Everton last season.

1 X 3 X 6 X 11 PAIR FOUR AWAYS 45 Let me go, Suarez begs 7 X 20 X 26 X SUAREZ has pleaded with Liverpool to X 27 46 fulfil the promise they made a year ago and let him leave Anfield. The Uruguay PERMUTATION insists that he is prepared to submit 4 X 5 X 9 X AVOID striker a written transfer request by the end of the week if the club continue to block his move 10 X 19 X 23 3 to Arsenal. Speaking for the first time since made a £40,000,001 bid for him, TIPS RISKY Arsenal Suárez told the Guardian he believes that 18 30 X 33 X 38 he has been left little alternative.

CREDIT

EXCELLENT

Raith 2 Ross County 2 Hearts . 2 Morecambe 3 Dagenham 3 Chesterfield 3 Tranmere 3 Rotherham 3

Bolton Brighton Ipswich Leicester Sheff Wed. Bradford C. Colchester Notts Co.

7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5

Suárez claims the club told him they would let him depart if they failed to qualify for the Champions League this season and that a clause in his contract allows him to leave should someone make a bid of more than £40m. He says he has the backing of the Professional Footballers’ Association and that he his prepared to take the issue to the Premier League to force his exit and move to the Emirates before the transfer window closes on 2 September.

“Last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we failed to qualify for the Champions League the following season I’d be allowed to go.”

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS .WEEK 04 Community Shield 1 Man U.

v Wigan

English ChampionshipLeague

2 Blackburn 3 Blackpool 4 Bolton 5 Brighton 6 Charlton 7 Huddersfield 8 Ipswich 9 Leicester 10 Sheff Wed. 11 Watford 12 Yeovil

1

v Nottm. For. X2 v Barnsley 1 v Reading XX v Derby XX v Middlesbro 1 v Q.P.R. 2 v Millwall XX v Leeds XX v Burnley XX vBournemouth 1 v Birmingham 2X

English League One 13 Bradford C 14 Brentford 15 Colchester 16 Coventry 17 Leyton O. 18 Milton KD 19 Notts Co. 20 Oldham 21 Rotherham 22 Swindon 23 Tranmere 24 Wolves

v Carlisle XX v Sheff Utd. XX v Port Vale XX v Bristol C. XX v Shrewsbury 1 v Crewe 1 v Peterboro XX v Walsall 2 v Preston XX v Stevenage 1 v Crawley XX v Gillingham 1X

English League One 25 AFC Wimbldon 26 Accrinton S 27 Bristol R. 28 Burton A. 29 Chesterfield 30 Dagenham 31 Hartlepool 32 Mansfield 33 Morecambe 34 Northhampton 35 Oxford 36 Plymouth

v Wycombe XX v Portsmouth 2 v Scunthorpe 2 v Rochdale 1 v Cheltenham XX v York XX v Southend 1 v Exeter 2 v Torquay XX v Newport Co. 1 v Bury 2 v Fleetwood 2

Scottish Premier League 37 Dundee Utd 38 Hearts 39 KIlmarnock 40 Motherwell 41 Ross County

v Inverness CTXX v Hibernian XX v St. Johnstone 2 v Aberdeen 1 v Partick XX

4 5 23 43

Scottish Division One 42 Alloa 43Dumbarton 44 Morton 45 Queen O' Sth 46 Raith

v Livingston XX v Falkirk 2 v Cowdenbeath1 v Dundee XX v Hamilton XX

Sco ttish Division TTw wo Scottish 47 Abroath 48 East Fife 49 Rangers

v AYR Utd. 1 v Dunfermline 2 v Brechin 1

Revised Pairs 4 x5, 23 x 29 33 x 38, 43 x 46

34—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

T

Nothing like child marriage in Islam cultural prejudices and practices persist, but Islamic position must be noted. In Saudi Arabia, a few years back, despite Islam, an 8year-old girl who had been married by her father to a 47 year-old “friend” to settle Dad’s debt of about $13,000 approached the court and annulled the wedding.

Islam as a religion provides guidelines on the stage, conditions and process of mariage. In Quran 4:6, it says: “And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age/

Muhammed Mijinyawa Abdullah, Vice President, Nasrul-Lahi-lFatih Society of Nigeria, NASFAT (left) and Sheikh Abdullah Gbade Akinbode, National Chief Missioner, NASFAT during the Society's Lailatul-Quadr, at Mowe, Ogun State.

some fair and some dark, some attain maturity earlier than the other. Physical characteristics vary depending upon our genes and the environment in which we grow.

Back in medieval age, even in Europe, girls were married when they are children. In Africa as well, early marriages were a common phenomena.

Many grandmas married at early ages irrespective of religion. In fact, the issue of early marriage is not about religion but mainly about culture and the environment.

Prior to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in Arabia, it was a common knowledge that females were considered property, objects for sacrifice.

Those ignorant tribal and

puberty. (baligh) Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, (rushdah) release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.”

Under this verse, the stage at which Islam recommends marriage is majority and sound judgement (baligh and rushdah) .

While

majority could be said to mean attainment of menstrual period, development to full womanhood; sound judgement is attained with some level of education, whether formal or informal.

Here, the ability to discern the implication of marriage, as well as to being able to carry out the responsibility of a wife and a mother is very important. The element of

,

HERE was absolutely no spur to comment on the raging controversy of child marriage during the month of Ramadan basically because other issues relevant to the holy month and fasting remained inexhaustible.

While preparing for the Eid yesterday, I recalled a number of people had sought my opinion and that of Islam on the issue, so, it became one of the issues staring at me on my table. With what I have read in the newspapers, I pulled a call through to a few scholars in order to know their position.

I was not dissappointed afterall because, the Quran and hadiths are clear and anyone who without prejudice wants to know the truth, will discern clearly that Islam is not only a religion but a perfect way of life that provides answers to every question in this socalled modern world. Without any anachronistic moral judgments, Islam does not support marriage to a minor.

First, the Quran indicates maturity and sound judgment as marriageable level. It does not specify certain age limit for marriage neither the hadiths, perhaps because Allah has created every human being with his or her own uniqueness. Some grow tall while some are short;

is that the female has the right to accept or reject marriage proposal. Her consent is a prerequisite to the validity of the marriage contract. If a marriage of a girl is arranged without her consent, then such a marriage may be annulled if she so wishes. To prove this, in IbnMajah hadiths collection, “Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messenger of

Where the girl having attained maturity and sound judgement declines her interest in marrying the man, the marriage becomes annuled

having a mature intellect is the ability to understand that one has choices, and the ability to choose the preferential option.

The fact remains that a child does not know about the intricacies of marriage and the burden of bearing a child.

Even if under any pretense to subvert this proviso by any desperado, there are four basic conditions that must be met before marriage is established in Islam. These are (1) proposal and acceptance (alIjaab waalqubuul), (2) approval by both parents (ridaa waalidayn), (3) payment of a dowry by the groom (al-mihr) and (4) the presence of at least two male witnesses at the ceremony (shaahidayn ‘aadilayn) The import of these condition

,

Allah, and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent.

The Messenger of God gave her the choice between accepting the marriage or invalidating it.”

In all of the classical legal opinions, the age of majority was equated with attaining puberty and demonstrating adequate mental development.

Let us even assume that a minor may not know the implication of what she was giving her consent to; in most cases where the practice is common, a judge (qadi) will appoint two matron to examine the girl on her physical preparedness for marriage. And if the Matron found out that the bride to be

is not fit, marriage will not be established. And in the case where the girl having attained maturity and sound judgement declines her interest in marrying the man, the marriage becomes annuled. Note also that it is only after the bride attains maturity, or sound judgement to be able to handle her own property that she can receive her dowry; (sadaak) just as it is also stated that without dowry, no marriage is established. It points to the fact that the injunction of the Quran on maturity and sound judgement must be properly established.

Again, another point of note is that even as the Quran did not fix the age of marriage, it does not support the marriage of girl who has not attained maturity.

Conditions of fitness When a girl is married out at an early age, she will not live with the husband until she is fit for marital sexual relations. (hata tutilqal-rijal) All the scholars of Islamic fiqh maintain that a wife must not be taken to her husband’s house until she reaches the condition of fitness for sexual relations. Betrothal may take place at any age, actual marriage comes later after attainment of puberty and sound judgement. We will not close our eyes to the account that Aisha (r.t.a) was married to the Prophet at the age of nine. But the issue itself has generated mixed reaction from the Muslims world- over. While some insisted that Aisha’s age at marriage was nine, others maintained that she was 19 years of age when she arrived in the house of the Prophet as a wife.

Sheikh Waheed-ud-Deen writes in his well-known book ‘Ahmal fi Asma al-Rajja’: “At the time of the consummation of her marriage Seyida Aisha’s age was not less than 18-19 years.” Aisha was married in 622 C.E., and although her exact birthday is unknown, Abu Ja’far Continues on page 35

Sheikh Abdullah Gbade Akinbode leading a superrogatory prayer during the Lailatul-Quadr held by NASFAT in Mowe, Ogun State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 9,, 2013 —35

NSCDC boss charges Muslim faithful •assures security during festival

The truth about Child Marriage continues from page 34 Muhammad ibn Jarir alTabari recorded that it happened before Islam was revealed in 610. The earliest surviving biography of Muhammad, Abu Muhammad ‘Abd alMalik bin Hisham’s recension of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah — The Life of the Messenger of God records that Aisha accepted Islam shortly after it was revealed — 12 years before her marriage — and there is no way she could have done so as an infant or toddler.

Days of ignorance In ‘Book of History ’, volume 4, page number 50 Ibn Jazeer al-Tabari writes that Abu Bakr married two ladies in the days of ignorance.

Fateelah, daughter of Abd al-Aza was the first and Umm-i-Rooman was the second, from whom Abd al-Rahman and Aisha were born. All the children of Abu Bakr were born in the days of

ignorance. Abd alRahman, son of Abu Bakr fought against the Muslims in the battle of Badr. His age was 21-22 years and he was older than Aisha; but the difference between their ages was not more than three to four years.

It is on record that Aisha was involved in the assistant of Muslims in the Battles of Badr in 624 and Uhud in 625, in neither of which was anyone under the age of 15 allowed.

Again, Imam Wali-udDin Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Khatib, who died more than 700 years ago, recorded in the biographical section of Miskat al-Masabih that Asma, her sister who was 10 years older, died at the age of 100, and 72 years after Aisha’s wedding.

This makes Aisha’s age at the time of her marriage at least 14, and at the time of her m a r r i a g e ’ s consummation almost 18.

Again, that the Prophet has not done anything that the companions have not emulated. How did

they treat this issue? May be we will have to do more research on that.

Lastly, the Prophet himself said: ‘O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, and whoever is not able to marry, is recommended to fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.

(Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, BOOK 62: Wedlock, Marriage (Nikah), Number 3)” In this context, scholars say the hadith is referring to young grown up man and woman.

The polemics that Aisha was an adult when she consummated her marriage with Muhammad was more plausible and no one should use that as an alibi to potray Islam in bad light. The concern to want to protect young people is a genuine concern of Muslims and Islam. This is so because it will protect the entire human dignity.

Maturity and sound judgement are imperative in providing the dignity, not necessarily age.

BY BOSE ADELAJA

T

HE Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin, has called on Muslim faithful to see the Ramadan season as a means of lending a helping hand to others as well as channeling ones’ request to God irrespective of pattern of worship.

Also, he assured of the Corp’s determination to provide adequate security of life and property throughout the festive period and called on undesirable elements in the society to repent or face the wrath of law.

In a statement signed the

Corp’s National Public Relations Officer, PRO CSC Okeh, Emmanuel, the NSCDC boss said the religion preaches tolerance which must be adhered to by the followers, ‘’Islam like the Christian religion preaches tolerance, love, unity and peace in society.

If we can all abide by the teachings of the Holy Prophet without being heretic about the practices of our faith, there won’t be the problem of hurting or killing one another rather, we shall be concerned with living in unity,’’ The NSCDC boss congratulated the Muslims for a successful fasting exercise as well as the opportunity to witness the

celebration that follows adding, ‘’this is the sign of Allah’s acceptance of the prayers and penitence which has called for a sober reflection. Nigeria can develop if we give peace a chance and allow the government’s Transformation Agenda’ to work so as to enjoy the full benefits and the dividend of democracy,’’ said the Commandant General.

Abolurin called on religious leaders to be crusaders of govern-ment activities in their domain, while also urging the citizens to go about their celebrations with the fear of God, respect for the rule of law and mutual tolerance for others.

From left: Mustapha Adebayo Bello, Assistant General Secretary, Nasfat; Bashir Biyi Bamgbose, National Public Relations Secretary; Lukman Folorunsho, General Secretary, and Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, National Women Affairs Sercretary during Iftar with newsmen organised by Nasfat, in Ikeja Lagos. Photos: Akeem Salau.

Don't link Islam with child marriage discourse — Akinbode •as thousands throng Mowe for Lailatul-Qadr

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ASK YOUR IMAM Reacting to the case of cohabitation with others in

AGOS — AS thousands of Muslims gathered at the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, Islamic centre, Mowe, Ogun State to observe the Lailatul Qadr otherwise known as Night of Majesty, yesterday, the National Missioner of the group, Sheikh Abdullah Akinbode has warned that no one should link Islam with the raging controversy of child marriage, saying Islam advocates maturity before a girl's hand can be given out in marriage.

Akinbode while fielding questions from Vanguard said, maturity cum puberty is a condition for a girl in Islamic marriage.

He said: “Islam cannot be linked with the issue of child marriage, puberty and maturity is one of the conditions for giving out a girl's hand in marriage.”

Aisha, Akinbode said: “When Aisha (r.t.a) was betrothed to the prophet, she was handed over to Khadijah to train and for many years she remained with Khadijah until her death.

Beside, she was betrothed to the prophet for the reason of her outstanding intellect, she was very gifted in memorizing the acts and sayings of the prophet which is the hadiths.”

Lessons of Ramadan Akinbode urged Muslims to reflect further on the lessons of Ramadan even after Ramadan.

He noted: “The lessons of Ramadan which revolve around self restraint and denials, self discipline and sacrifice for the good of a larger population, mutual compassion and peaceful

the community, sharing part of our wealth and caring for the less privileged as well as strengthening our moral values of integrity, honesty and mutual support for progress must continue to live with us.”

President of the association, Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf, whose speech was delivered by the First Vice President of the group, Mr Muhammad Abdullah, disclosed that apart from the development of Fountain University, Osogbo and the Mowe International Islamic Resort Centre, the group would soon begin NASFAT Agency for Zakaat and Sadaqat as an NGO which, according to him, would revolutionise the propagation and administration of Zakaat institution in Nigeria.

From right: Abdul Ganiy Babatunde Aremu, member PR Committee, Nasfat; Ajiroba Moroof Adedokun, Nasfat National Audit Sercretary and Abdul Rasheed Onanuga, Nasfat National Project Secretary at the event.

Muslim faithful at the NASFAT 2013 Lailatul-Quadr at Mowe, Ogun State.

36—Vanguard , FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Edo govt wades into IPMAN crisis

Delta community adopts Ogeh political leader

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—EDO State Government has waded into the factional crisis rocking the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, in the state and urged the new zonal chairman of the Mid-Western Zone, Mr. Sylvanus Idanwekhai, to reach out to aggrieved members in the aftermath of the election.

It will be recalled that the Chief Solomon Ogbewe-led faction of IPMAN, which enjoys the support of the national leadership, had described the purported election of Idanwekhai as unconstitutional.

However, the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere, who met with the new leadership of IPMAN in the state, when they paid him a courtesy visit, described the oil sector as critical to the growth of the country and warned against further crisis in the association.

He urged the new leadership to work closely with relevant government agencies to ensure

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—THE people of Iyede, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, have adopted the commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Joseph Ogeh as their political leader.

At a reconciliation meeting at the palace of the Iyede traditional ruler, HRM Ogheneovo Ekwe II, the people noted that despite the fact that the kingdom has the highest number of registered voters, it had not benefited much from the government of the day.

Ovie-in-Council, Chairman of the Iyede Traditional Council of Chiefs and former Attorney-General of the state, Chief A. Okpakpor, described Ogeh as the highest political office holder in the kingdom.

steady distribution of petroleum products and warned the Ogbewe-led leadership to hand over properly to the new leadership.

Earlier, the zonal chairman,

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A R R I — N A TIONAL Coordinator of Delta Elite, Mr. Hope Agadaigho, has commended the Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, Mr. Joel Onowakpo-Thomas, for raising the internally generated revenue of the state from N12 billion a year to a projected N65 billion.

Mr. Agadaigho said Thomas, who was re-appointed recently

by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, “has by his performance, made the Delta-beyond-oil programme of the Uduaghan administration realistic and attainable.

“I applaud the governor for

Okpe youths' confab

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HE maiden Okpe Youth World Conference with the theme Okpe Kingdom Yesterday, Today and the Future, has been scheduled for August 14 to 16.

The event, slated for Edion Hall, Orerokpe in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, is to be chaired by Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, while Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I, will be the chief host and royal father of the day.

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HE Principal and Chief Ex ecutive of Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, Dr. Nnenna Dennar, has said that women work three times harder to make it in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the 37th SPE Nigeria Council annual international conference in Lagos, Dennar said gender discrimination and institutionalised belief that women were better as

house-makers, teachers, nurses and social workers were responsible for the small representation of women in the oil and gas insdustry.

She said that such invisible, artificial and self-imposed barriers had made it difficult for women to advance in their jobs.

Speaking on Making it to the Top as a Women Professional in the Oil and Gas

World, Dennar said: “Males account for 80 percent of industries global workforce and the United State oil companies have only 9.6 percent of women on their boards as directors.”

She said, however, that with knowledge, skill, good work ethics, motivation, character confidence and positive attitude, any determined woman can make it to the top.

No Elders' Forum in Delta APC— Eferakeya

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ORMER University of Benin don and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Prof. Adego Eferakeya, has said that there was no Elders’ Forum in the state

the reappointment and urge the chairman and members of board to justify the confidence the governor and people of the state have in them.”

chapter of the party, contrary to claims in some quarters.

Eferakeya, who spoke, yesterday, to journalists in his Amukpe country home in Sapele Local Government Area of the state, said he was an elder of the party and one of the foremost members.

He said that he was older than the eldest among those in Delta State spreading the rumour that there was an Elders’ Forum in the state chapter of the party. He urged support-

ers of the party to disregard what he termed “power thirsty rumour carriers.”

On the preparation of the newly registered APC to win elections in the state, Prof.

Eferakeya said “When we get to the bridge, we will cross it.”

He denied claim of factionalism in APC, saying “there is neither division nor factionalism in Delta State APC. The party is only ensuring that the PDP cabal does not infiltrate APC.”

Telecom subscribers seek N5,000 compensation

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HE National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, has urged the Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, operators of the Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM, to compensate subscribers in the country in the face of poor quality service.

National president of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu

Ogunbanjo, said in a statement that after 12 years of total loyalty, storm weathering and patronage, each telecommunications operator should pay N5,000 as compensation to the consumers.

Ogunbanjo said that when GSM was introduced in Nigeria in August 2001, every subscriber was given N6,000 free to call any network.

According to him, 12 years

after, consumers were still groaning in pains as a result of poor quality of service.

He said: “The quality of service profile that describes the performance evaluation of the system from the consumer perspective, using specific parameters has been poor.

“In telephony and other services, parameters used include call failure rate, call drop rate, call set-up rate, among others.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

state government for its intervention in the prolonged crisis that rocked the association and assure of their continuous support to the state government.

Women work thrice harder, says PTI boss

Delta Elite lauds revenue board chair

BY EMMA AMAIZE

Mr. Idanwekhai, whose address was read by the Zonal Secretary, Osaze Izedomwen, said that the visit was to formally express gratitude to the

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On ‘deportation' of Ibo from Lagos

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HIS issue addresses the fundamental rights of the Nigerian citizen, one of which is the right of freedom of movement. Every Nigerian has a legal right to go where they choose and live. So I am not in support of it, if really there was any form of deportation.— Miss Alade Deborah, Model.

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T is a violation of their fundamental human rights as Nigerians, including the right to seek and work anywhere in Nigeria, the right to movement, and association. It subverts the letters and spirit of our Constitution. It must be addressed properly.— Mr. Ayode Longe, Journalist.

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ELL, I believe it is a dangerous thing to do because of the possible retaliation. For your information, there are also Lagosians in other parts of the country, including Anambra State.

Let us all live as one Nigeria, whether Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa.— Mr. Nonso Azudife, Student.

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OME people are say ing 14 Igbo without resident were deported, while some held that 70 Igbo were picked at various places and dropped at Upper Iweka in Anambra. However, a Nigerian has a constitutional right to reside anywhere in the country.— Miss Fortune Ajie, Model.

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F some Igbo were actually deported for whatever reason from Lagos, then Governor Babatunde Fashola should not shy away from coming out and apologising to Igbo. Most major markets in Lagos are occupied and kept going by Igbo.— Miss Nwaofor Chinaenye, Student.

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OES any state government have the constitutional right to deport a citizen of Nigeria?

Is it entrenched in the constitution of Nigeria?

If not, it becomes a case of glaring impunity staring us all in the face. And the necessary steps must be taken.— Miss Ezinne Ikeri, Broadcaster.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—37

17 months after Bonga spill: Over 173 Itsekiri, Ijaw communities cry out for help

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—SEVENTEEN months after the devastating Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, SNEPCo crude oil spillage from its Bonga Field in December, 2011, over 173 Itsekiri and Ijaw communities in Delta and Bayelsa States, affected by the spill, have cried out that they were still suffering the adverse effects of the spill.

The Association of Named Itsekiri/Ijaw Communities in Warri North, Warri South, Burutu and Ekeremor Local Government Areas in Delta and Bayelsa States, in a letter to the Director General, National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, lamented that the people were dying of hunger and effects of harmful dispersant used by SNEPCo to disperse oil spill on the sea surface.

The communities, with a population of over 850,000, in the letter by the Chairman/Coordinator, Mr. Francis Monday and two others, called on NEMA and governments of Delta and Bayelsa States to come to the aid of the people with relief materials, especial-

Monarch lauds Delta gov’s devt strides

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—HIS Royal Majesty, King Uche Irenuma II, the paramount ruler of Abavo Kingdom in Delta State, yesterday, hailed the youth empowerment programme of the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the completion of the Asaba Airport project, saying that his efforts will bring more development and create jobs for the youths in the state.

The royal father, who also is the Coordinator of the Monarch Assembly for Good Governance and Defense of Democracy, MAGGAD, commended what he described as the cordial relationship existing between the Presidency and the Delta State Government, noting that the situation was assisting immensely in the rapid development being witnessed in the state.

Commending Governor Uduaghan for the state’s micro-credit scheme, the modern transport services and the ultra modern schools constructed by the state government across the state, the monarch, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, Edo State, however, appealed to the governor to direct the Commissioners of Works and Education in the state to look into the abandoned Abavo General Hospital and the Obi’s Palace/Abavo Ring Road projects.

ly food and drugs.

They also appealed for aid from the International Red Cross, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, United Nations, non-governmental organisations and the international community, pending when the National Assembly, government authorities and/or regulatory agencies in Nigeria, which intervened in the

matter, would complete their job.

The communities alleged that SNPECo had not properly cleaned up the pollutants used to disperse the spill till date, consequently, contaminating their fishing areas, as well as depriving them of their major source of livelihood, which is fishing.

According to them, the incident has “caused psychologi-

cal trauma, loss of daily income and impacted on the health of some of our people.

“The management of SNEPCo only succeeded in supplying wrong and/or doctored information to the general public without any investigation jointly conducted by the regulatory and security agencies as well as SNEPCo and their communities’ representatives.”

LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei (middle), Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly and other members of DTHA in a group photograph during a leadership training at Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California and San Francisco, USA.

Extend certificates verification to MDAs, Edo PDP tells state govt the Teachers Salary Scale, TSA.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged the directive by the state government asking no fewer than 1,300 primary school teachers in the state to appear for certificate verification, insisting that the exercise should be extended to the political class, government ministries and parastatals in the state.

It will be recalled that at a meeting held with the leader-

ship of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, on Tuesday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole directed the 1,300 primary school teachers in the state to appear before a verification committee to defend themselves over issues bordering on irregularities in their education certificates and age records.

Edo PDP in a statement by its state Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, insisted that the certificate audit was “discriminatory, and a witch-hunting of the primary school teachers for demanding the implementation of

“The certificate audit, to gain general acceptability and credibility, must involve all functionaries of the Edo State Government beginning from the staff of the Government House, chief of which is Governor Oshiomhole himself, through the ministries and down to the parastatals.

“Our party also suggests that an independent body of university dons be empanelled to screen these certificates as only an educated body like that will be able to tell of the authenticity or otherwise of such document.”

Uduaghan hails Gbagi’s investment initiative

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has described Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, former Minister of Education, as a committed Deltan and great industrialist, who was deploying his resources to build industries in the state.

Uduaghan, when the former minister paid him a visit at Government House, Asaba, said Gbagi’s industrial initi-

ative was complementing the state government’s industrialisation efforts.

The governor, who walked side by side with Gbagi into the Unity Hall, venue of the swearing-in ceremonies of a judge of the Customary Court of Appeal, the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and the reconstituted Board of Internal Revenue, said: “Kenneth Gbagi is one of the highest investors, if not the highest indigenous investor, in Delta State.”

He thanked Gbagi for his faith and continuous investments in the state and urged other well placed Deltans to emulate him.

The governor called on Deltans to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the state, assuring Deltans who wish to invest in the state of the security of their investments, adding, “My government has created the enabling environment and will continue to do so to safeguard all investments.”

Party chieftain chides Kokori over comment on DPP

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HE Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, chairmanship hopeful in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Blessing Oborevwori, has lambasted the former Secretary of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, describing his statement on DPP as undemocratic.

Oborevwori,in his reaction to the report in the media, said the comment was a figment of the author ’s imagination, noting that the party was waxing stronger than ever before.

He said:“I least expected such statement to come from such a highly respected person who, l believe, knows the injustice the party has suffered over the years.”

‘PPMC not responsible for kerosene scarcity’

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IGER Delta Youth for Transformation Agenda, NDTA, has said that the management of Pipeline and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, should not be blamed for the scarcity of kerosene in the country, attributing same to the activities of oil bunkerers, pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.

NDTA after its meeting in Warri, Delta State, faulted calls by Ex-militant Leaders Forum, for the removal of the Managing Director of PPMC, Prince Haruna Momoh, following scarcity of the product, noting that the call was unnecessary and counterproductive to the transformation taking place in PPMC and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The statement was signed by National Coordinator of the group and ex-militant leader, Fiawei Pathfinder.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Insecurity: US, Canada, Ukraine shun 2013 SAGE event in Nigeria

Anambra: Group to hold town hall meeting with aspirants

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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HE present security challenge in the country has caused a boycott by American, Canadian and Ukrainian delegation of the ongoing Students for the Advancement of Glocal Entrepreurship, SAGE, 2013 World Cup being hosted by Nigeria.

SAGE Global Director, Dr. Curtis DeBerg, disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja, yesterday.

He said the three countries refused to come to Nigeria because of the current security situation in the country.

DeBerg said the refusal of President Barrack Obama to come to Nigeria further fuelled the countries’ fear of coming for the competition.

He said 12 countries were supposed to have participated in the 11th SAGE competition from August 7 to 11, 2013, listing them to include Great Britain, China, Russia, Singapore, Canada, South Africa, China, Brazil, California, USA, Canada and Ukraine, with the last three withdrawing.

Igbo in diaspora condemn deportation of 72 Ndigbo

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EADERS of various organisations and professionals of Igbo extraction in Malaysia and environs have condemned deportation of 72 indigenes of Anambra State by Lagos State government, saying the action was unconstitutional and should be reversed immediately.

According to a statement issued by representatives of the five Eastern states in Malaysia, the action of Lagos State government is unacceptable to the Igbos and any of such similar treatment of Ndigbo anywhere in Nigeria will not be accepted.

The Convener of the meeting, Comrade Biafra Onyebuchi Diboh, who is also President of Ofuobi Nwanneamaka International, said the deportation within the same nation was unnecessary, inhuman and retrogressive for Nigeria.

C M Y K

COMPETITION— From left: Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Director Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation, Mr Joseph Gergel, Curator African Artists Foundation, Mr Azu Nwagbogu, Director African Artists Foundation, Mrs Emete Tonukari, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Mr Edem Vindah, Media/Public Affairs Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, during a briefing on the 2013 Nigerian Breweries Plc and African Artists Foundation, AAF, National Art Competition in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Elechi sacks commissioner for environment

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—GOVERNOR Martin Elechi Of Ebonyi State, yesterday, sacked the Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Paul Okorie, for exhibiting acts inconsistent with his mandate In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Chike Onwe, the two times Commissioner for Works and Transport ceased to be a member of the State Executive Council with effect from Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

The statement read: “The

governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi has approved the immediate removal of the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Paul Okorie from office for acts inconsistent with his mandate “Accordingly, Dr. Paul Okorie is hereby directed to handover government property in his possession to the appropriate establishment while he ceases to be a member of the State Executive Council with effect from Wednesday, August 7, 2013” The sack of the commissioner

also followed the sacking of another member of the State Executive Council and Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health, Dr Nora Alo, last month.

Meanwhile, a government house source disclosed that the sacked commissioner, popularly called “Action”, was removed from office to reduce his popularity before the forthcoming 2015 governorship election as he had been tipped to be the only formidable candidate from South senatorial zone of the state.

2015: S-East, S-South leaders in Lagos drum support for Jonathan

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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OUTH EAST and South- South traditional leaders in Lagos have endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential elections.

Chairman of the group, Chief Sylvan Ebigwe, told newsmen at a briefing that the group would work assiduously to ensure the President maximized the millions of votes available in Lagos during the election.

He said this would enable him continue the good works he had done, stressing that it would be a national economic and political suicide to change a winning team.

The group also advised the governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and the President to resolve whatever differences they had to allow peace to reign.

Urging Governor Amechi to heed the advice South West governors had given him, asking him to pay a visit to the President for reconciliation, the group urged

those heating up the issue to desist from doing so.

It noted that the nation was on the blink and that it was the

duty of every Nigeria to contribute his quota to make it a better, progressive and a happy nation.

MASSOB accuses Delta police of killing 7 members

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BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

N I T S H A — MOVEMENT for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday, accused Delta State Police Command of killing seven of its members in two separate raids allegedly carried out by an anti-riot policemen and local vigilante operatives in Delta State.

According to MASSOB, the raid, which started at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra State, led to arrest and detention of one Ndubuisi Nwosu, a MASSOB chieftain

now believed to be held in Cell 4 at the Anambra State Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, headquarters, Awkuzu.

The group said the riad spread to Delta State where the latest onslaught allegedly took place.

The accusation was contained in statement signed by Mazi Chris Mocha, Media Assistant to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

Mocha alleged that after the raid at MASSOB regional office at Omelugboma in Oshimili local government area of the state, during which the seven members were shot dead on the spot, a similar operation was repeated on Wednesday.

HEAD of the November 26 Anambra State governorship elections, a socio-political group, Association of Anambra Indigenes Revival Initiative, AAIRI, is set to organise a town hall meeting where aspirants from will intimate the people on their manifestos.

Speaking at a reception for one of the aspirants, Mr. Godwin Ezemo, at Golden Tulip Hotels, Lagos, Interim Chairman, AAIRI, Clement Chukwuka said the group was poised to engender a new dawn in Anambra State leadership, where equity, fairness, justice and proper accountability will reign supreme.

PAC advocates community policing

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OLICE Assistance Committee, PAC, has again stressed the importance of adopting community policing strategy to address security problem prevalent in the country.

At a one-day Security Seminar in Abuja, PAC, in collaboration with the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG0 Zone 7, the Senate Committee on Police Affairs / other Security agencies, stated that its modus operandi since it was founded in 2002 had been to assist security agencies through grassroots mobilization of its members to gather intelligence and information for crime prevention and combating.

Deaconess Ibeji for burial

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EACONESS Abigail Ebere Ibeji, who died on June 14, 2013, will be buried tomorrow after Christian wake keep today at her home town, Amaiba Ikputu, Ikwuano, Umuahia LGA, Abia State.

She is survived by children, in-laws, grand children and a great grand child.

zLate Deaconess Ibeji

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—39

2013 EID EL FITR CELEBRATION ACROSS NIGERIA

From left, Sheikh Abdul Hafiz Abou, Baba Adinni of Lagos, Chief Lamina Sasi, Sasi of Lagos, From left, Alhaji 'Tunde Balogun, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa, Mr. Ademola Fashola, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of HRM, Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, at the Ibeju-Lekki Eid prayer Lagos and Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, praying at Dodan Barracks prayer ground, Obalende, during the 2013 Eid-El-Fitr, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez ground, in Lagos, yesterday.

From left, Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite; Secretary General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Deputy Chief of Staff to the From left, Alhaji Sinari Daranijo, Bashorun Alabi Macfoy, Alhaji Governor, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Olaiya Anibaba and Alhaji Nurudeen Shittabey, at Dodan BarYusuph Olaniyonu, in Abeokuta.. racks praying ground, Obalende. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

HRM Oba Aremu Ojora, Ojora of Ijora Kingdom (left), dashing gifts to children who thronged his palace as part of the celebration, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

From left, Alhaji Yaqub Agunbiade, Vice Chairman, League of Imam and Alfas, Itireland; HRM Oba Lateef Dauda, Onitire of Itireland; Alhaji Mohammed Anipele, Chief Imam of Itireland; Alhaji Tajudeen Odubiyi, Otun Oba of Itireland, and Imam Abdul Alaro, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

A cross-section Muslims, during the Rakiats prayer, yesterday, at the Customs Field, Mile 4, Port Harcourt. Photo: Nwankpa Chijoke C M Y K

Alhaji Haruna Suara, Chief Imam of Ibadanland leading Muslim faithful to pray, during the end of Ramadan fasting, at Agodi Muslim praying ground, Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube

Cross-section of Muslims praying at Agege prayer ground, in Lagos. Photo

By Diran Oshe

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

It'll be difficult for APC to dislodge PDP — Saraki

Community procures GCE forms for indigenes

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AGOS—AYANRE Community Development Association has procured GCE forms for some indigenes of the community to help them further their education.

The students were selected after they passed a test that was conducted for all interested candidates in Ayanre, Olorunda, L.C.D.A of Lagos State.

The beneficiaries who were six in number include: Lawal Ibrahim, Ogoro Vivian, Akinbode Nosiru, Akanbi Oluwatosin & Zakariyyah Qudrah.

Presenting the GCE forms to the students, the chairman, Ayanre Youth Development and Empowerment Programme, Dr J. Owoso, appreciated the efforts of the entire community for initiating the programme.

Prisons chief, Kumolu is dead

Assistant Comptroller General of Prisons (ACG) rtd, Henry Olutunde Kumolu is dead, aged 64.

A statement by the family signed by Mr. Olufosoye Kumolu, said he died of an illness at the University of Illorin Teaching Hospital on August 2, 2013.

The statement said the late Prisons chief hailed from Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State. The deceased held various top appointments in his 33-year career in the Nigeria Prisons Service,NPS. Until his retirement in 2008, the deceased’s last command appointment, was the Zonal Commander of the NPS Zone A Command, Alagbon, Lagos. He is survived by wife, five children and two grand sons.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.

C M Y K

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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EID-EL FITRI PRAYERS—From left: Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman; FCT Minister Sen. Bala Mohammed; Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of State for Finance Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama; Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and Chief Imam of National Mosque, Alhaji Musa Mohammed leading Muslim faithful to Mark Eid-El Fitri prayers at the Eid Grounds, Umaru Musa Yar'adua Road, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Emir of Ilorin urges collaboration with security agencies for peace I

LORIN—CHAIRMAN, Kwara State Council of traditional rulers, Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has called for continued collaborative efforts between the people of the state and the security agencies for peace to continue to reign in the state.

The monarch particularly commended the people of his community and security agencies in Kwara State over the peace in the community and the state at large.

The emir spoke, yesterday, at the Eid prayer at the township Eid prayer ground to mark the Eid-el-fitri celebration.

The monarch also said that the peace sustained by the people had also made the task of maintaining security in the town and the state as a whole a lot easier for the security agencies compared with other parts of the country.

He, however, commended the security operatives for strengthening security in the community to make the people more secured.

The Emir commended former governor of the state and Senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district that is made up of most part of the emirate, Bukola Saraki for his contributions at the Senate and his untiring efforts to take the state to higher heights. The Emir also lauded the performances of the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and prayed that he would run a successful administration.

The prayer which was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Bashir Mohammed was attended by

both Ahmed and Saraki, some members of the state executive council, Vice chancellor of Kwara State University, Rashid Na’ Allah, many other public office holders and chunk of Muslim residents of the town.

Meanwhile the Grand khadi of the state Sharia Court of Appeal, Idris Haroon in his sermon urged Muslims across the country to keep sustaining the virtue of holiness and kindness which they imbibed during the Ramadan fast.

RTEAN wants FG to establish Transport Bank

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AGOS—ROAD Trans port Employers’ Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, yesterday called on the Federal Government to establish Transport Bank that could give transporters free interest loans or friendly interest loans with not more than three per cent interest.

This came as it warned its members not to increase transport fares in this festive period as Nigerians travel to their respective homes and villages to celebrate the Eidel-Fitri. RTEAN President, Chief Musa Shehu Isiwele, gave the directive in Abuja, said “Rather than using this period of Celebration to force our customers to pay more money, I am telling our members and our sister union not to increase transport fares this time.

"They should not use this period to punish them; they should rather reduce transport fares. Any park that we

are controlling and we hear that they increase transport fare during this period, we will punish them. We should create relationship this time and sister unions should also emulate this.”

Chief Isiwele also called on drivers and vehicles owners to avoid speed and drunk driving, saying the union would monitore mechanism to deal with any driver that take intoxicants.

He warned any driver under RTEAN control caught under the influence of alcohol would forfeit his chance of loading and carrying passengers for the day to serve as deterrent to others and protect lives of the people.

On the Transport Bank, he called on the Federal Government to establish a bank like the Islamic Bank that would give vehicle owners and drivers free interest loan or not more than three per cent, saying that this is the vogue in other countries across the world.

LORIN—THE former governor of Kwara State, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said it will take a lot for the newly registered All Progressive Party , APC, to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015 elections.

Senator Bukola Saraki representing kwara central in the National Assembly who spoke in Ilorin, Kwara state, yesterday, however said the debut of APC was a good development.

According to him: “Let me congratulate the opposition on the registration of APC. It’s good for our democracy. Now we have a national opposition party. The registration of APC is a good development, by the APC’s registration, Nigeria now has a real opposition party.

"Before now all the parties claiming to be opposition parties are merely regional parties. Elections will not be taken for granted again. APC is good for our democracy.

It is a real alternative. It will make those of us in the Peoples Democratic Party to sit tight.”

The former governor, however, added: “But time will tell how cohesive the APC people are.

Before we have regional opposition parties and that made them unattractive. It will take a lot to dislodge a party as large as PDP”.

On the issue of rampant oil theft in the country, Saraki prescribed the diversification of the nation’s economy as a panacea.

He posited that those concerned should have the political will to tackle the menace of oil theft headlong.

“There should be laws to check the activities of oil thieves. We should have the political will to tackle headlong those involved in this act of economic sabotage”, he added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—41

2015: Northern leaders clash over Jonathan zYou are unfit to speak for North, Abdullahi, Mohammed reply Abba-Gana

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

F

ORMER Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mohammed Abba Gana, has come under attack from northern political leaders for daring to canvass for four more years for President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former minister incurred the wrath of the northern leaders when he advocated in Lagos on Monday that giving Jonathan another four years would not hurt the North in any way.

Abba-Gana, who was flanked by a lawmaker from Taraba State, had argued that giving Jonathan a second term would enable the North to use the period to groom a successor to the President.

But the Secretary General of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi and a second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, dismissed Abba-Gana’s suggestion for a second term for Jonathan as illconceived, pointing out that the President did not deserve it.

According to the two northern leaders, Jonathan has failed to tackle myriad of challenges confronting the nation, thereby showing that he lacks the capacity to move Nigeria forward.

They said another four years for Jonathan would push the country into the abyss and Nigerians cannot afford to take such a risk, pointing out that Abba Gana was not qualified to speak for the north, going by his antecedents.

Junaid Mohammed and Ango Abdullahi dismissed AbbaGana as a politician who had always fraternised with the wrong political group for his personal interest and asked him to speak for himself and leave the North alone.

In separate interviews with Vanguard, Abdullahi and Mohammed insisted that AbbaGana did not have the pedigree to serve as an advocate for the north and should not be taken seriously by Nigerians.

Abdullahi said: “Even in Borno where Abba-Gana hails from; he has never been part of the mainstream political arrangement and for that reason, he lacks the locus standi to speak for Borno and the North.

“Abba-Gana is more of a businessman than a peopleoriented leader from the north.

Having failed to advance any reason why the north should wait for another four years to enable Jonathan to run again, he

should hide his face in shame.

“His advocacy is an insult to the north and a product of compromise,” the former ABU Vice Chancellor said.

Adding his voice to the debate, Mohammed described the former minister as someone who lacked clout and challenged him to show one thing he had achieved in his state of origin to qualify him to speak for the entire northern Nigeria.

Mohammed said, “AbbaGana was one of the errand boys when we were in active politics and should not be taken seriously because he has no political clout even in Borno State.

“If the former minister insists he should speak for the north, he should be kind enough to demonstrate his political relevance in Borno, his home state or shut up forever. He does

not really merit any response from right-thinking northerners”.

But while cautioning the northern elite on their utterances, Abba-Gana said if the North had produced between eight and nine heads of state and presidents, with poverty as a proof and underdevelopment, then, four years of Jonathan would not kill them.

EID-EL-FITRI—Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, and Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, at the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the Emir's Palace, Zaria, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

ALSCON workers, natives tackle RUSAL over asset stripping

BY SONI DANIEL

W

ORKERS of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, and Ikot Abasi community youth groups have raised the alarm over what they described as massive asset stripping in the company, which has been without a legal management since the court sacked the Russian firm, UC RUSAL, from running it.

Although UC Rusal has suspended production in the first quarter of the year, pending determination of ownership and gas supply to the firm, it has, nevertheless, continued to lay claim to ownership of ALSCON, insisting that the Supreme Court ruling of 2012 does not stop it from manning the steel firm.

While production has been halted, according to the workers, the company is engaged in systematic stripping of assets in a bid to cripple the plant and frustrate the American firm, BFIG, which the court recognised as the bonafide buyers of the firm.

The workers, under the aegis of the Metal Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, MPSSAN, said UC RUSAL had been dismantling and selling for cash Stem Rods and Anodes, vital components of the plant used in the manufacture of steel ingots.

A spokesman of the workers association told newsmen in Abuja that the Russian firm, which had failed in recent times to pay salaries to workers, was also cutting and melting the Bussbar/Risers used in transmitting electric current to the production pots for melting aluminium and selling them as ingots.

It was also gathered that about 20 fairly-used company cars are slated for immediate disposal.

The association spokesman, who pleaded that his identity be protected to avoid being victimised, said the cut Stem Rods and Anodes were often sold to some Chinese customers.

Industry experts gave the current estimated market value of the Bussbar/Risers, which have never been used since the completion of the plant in 1998, at over N1billion, while each of the about 4,200 Stem Rods and Anodes at the plant are valued at over $100,000.

The workers said the Russians, working with three top Nigerian managers in the plant, had been actively selling off core assets of the firm without rendering accounts to anyone.

An aggrieved worker said: “The Russians have put everything in place to siphon the remaining coke and alumina from the silos for sale.

“When they took over the plant in 2007, they inherited over 8,000 metric tonnes of alumina; 5,200 pieces of anode blocks; 5,820 pieces of cathode blocks; over 8,000 anode stems; over 200 tonnes of cryolite and over 170,000 tonnes of cast iron. Why they now want to sell even cast iron blocks, together with the pots, is mind boggling.”

Privatization: FG hands over PHCN to new investors Sept 21

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government will hand over privatized successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to private investors on September 21, 2013, if the investors pay on schedule.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, PBE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.

He disclosed that the PHCN privatization was expected to earn the Federal Government about $2 billion.

Dikki said: “To purchase this Power Holding Company, over $2 billion will be paid by the bidders, and that is because the investors can see a clear investment horizon. They don’t have to go and lobby anybody, all they require is to meet the technical requirement, go to the regulatory authority, apply for licence and they are limited by their own ingenuity and their access to the capital.

“When they pay by September 21, we will hand over the companies to them or anybody who pays earlier and then they begin to operate.

"Labour issues have been resolved and the implementation committee on settlement of the PHCN staff terminal benefits commenced payment of N118 billion to the over 20,000 PHCN staff, at the beginning of this month".

The BPE boss said the privatization programme of the Federal Government had significantly opened up the Nigerian economy by creating the right atmosphere for greater private sector participation in several key sectors.

He said the telecommunications sector stood out in terms of attracting massive foreign investment, which he put at about $40 billion to date.

His words: “The Nigerian economy is becoming more and more liberalised. So, we in the Bureau of Public Entreprise are not surprised.

That is what we have been working for.

“That is the benefit of the reform, which the Bureau of Public Entreprise has been spearheading and also in consonance with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration".

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 9,, 2013 —43

Artisan seeks N0.6m to treat broken leg

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

A

51-YEAR-OLD road accident victim is seeking N600, 000 financial assistance to pay for further medical treatment on his left leg which was badly crushed in an accident involving a tanker driver and a motor-cyclist, popularly known as Okada in Agege area of Lagos in 2011.

The victim, an artisan, Mr. Modupe Ekundayo, of No. 3 Oluwole Oladejo Street, Ojodu-Berger in Lagos, was on his way to buy metal materials for molding pots for sale when the accident occurred.

Ekundayo was said to had been by injurred when an iron bar in front of the trailer pressed on his left leg and cut it into into two. However, help came his way as sympathisers that were attracted to the scene rushed him to the Lagos State University Teaching LASUTH. Getting to the hospital, doctors handling his case announced that Ekundayo required a total of N810, 000 for surgery and other treatments for the broken leg, warning that if he did not produce the needed money they would not commence the treatment.

Unfortunately, the father of four children who depends on his wife’s income from retail pure water and soft drinks could not afford it.

Ekundayo almost took his life but his attempt was foiled after his sister who visited him at the hospital, found and destroyed the killer drugs to end his life.

The situation was saved

when a philanthropist who had read the report of the accident in one of the national dailies donated the initial require fee of N810, 000.

Narrating his experience to Good \health Weekly, Ekundayo who noted that words cannot described the pain and anguish he is currently facing due to the accident since February 2, 2011 said he needs additional N6000,000 for further treatments to aid the subsequent healing process.

Appealing to philanthropists and public-spirited Nigerians to donate towards his course to end his pain and anguish, he gave a breakdown of the financial expenses to be incurred for the treatment to include; N220, 000 to remove the Linear Reverse System (LRS) on the fractured leg, skingraft treatment for the huge sore on the affected leg and the installation of a plaster-of-paris (POP) on the leg as well as pay outstanding N290,000 from the previous bill incurred.

Continuing, he said: “I spent 182 days totaling six months and two days

his wife who sells retail pure water and soft drinks.

If you are touched by Ekundayo story, please send your donations to Account No: 6010200429, Account Name: Ekundayo Ajayi Modupe Emmanuel, Keystone Bank Plc or call, 0708-826-1712 .

• On a diet? Beware of the salad!

Some ‘diet’ foods can make you add weight!

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OT all seemingly healthy foods are created equally. Here are five foods to strictly avoid if you are on a diet

Granola

Most people believe that this yummy cereal is diet friendly. However, few realize that in as little as onehalf cup, more than 400 calories is being ingested.

Muffins

They keep getting bigger and bigger j and no matter if it's a large bran, blueberry, or banana nut muffin, they all pack a whopping 400- 600 calories. Don't look at muffins as diet food.

Wraps

If you are trying to make a healthier carbohydrate choice, the last thing you need is a wrap of Sharwama.

A sandwich is probably better. Many of the wraps sold around are up to 300 calories minus contents.

Dried fruit

Dehydrated fruit doesn't mean lower calories. One cup of fresh grapes is 70 calories versus one cup of raisins which is 300 calories. So stick with fresh whole fruit.

Salads

• Ekundayo.

All the lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and other vegetables are excellent choices,but it is the toppings and dressings that make salads a not-sogo back to the traditional diet friendly option. It is foods which the country not uncommon to eat a is known for as a major large salad and end up strategy to preventing consuming over 1,000 cancer. The Logi QC2 is calories at one meal. Keep a smartscan with true eating salads, but stay off access that enables live the dressing. scanning to be applied to stored image and easy to use.

Skye Bank, COPE wage war against breast cancer

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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OMEN in Nigeria have been assured of better protection against breast cancer through early detection, as the Care, Organisation and Public Enlightenment, COPE, Foundation commissioned two breast cancer screening machines last week.

GMOs discovered in common vitamins

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at LASUTH after which I was discharged.”

On how he has been sustaining himself in the past three years, he said, “it is a very big problem because I do not have anything at all. I am not working. I am not doing anything at all and I have four children.

Ekundayo said he and his four children depend on

NVESTIGATIONS have revealed that an alarm ingly large number of multivitamins and children's vitamins sold in the open market are formulated with ingredients derived from genetically modified corn.

There is concern about GMOs out of belief that eating any ingredients derived from GMOs may cause exposure to BT insecticide chemicals found in GM corn.

A report in “Natural News” said the GMO ingredients to watch out for usually come from corn. A partial list of all the GMO corn-derived ingredients used in many vitamins and health products include maltodextrin, sucrose, ascorbic acid (synthetic vitamin C), citric acid (used in many drink powders) and corn syrup plus aspartame, which is also genetically modified from a bacteria source.

The machines - Logi Q C2 and Mindray - are global standard ultrasoundscan systems that enhance quality of diagnosis in clinical practices.

At the official launch, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde DurosinmiEtti, said the machines were donated to enable women undergo early breast cancer screening to know what to do at the appropriate time.

Durosinmi-Etti said the bank would continue to support worthy social causes in the health sector to improve the wellbeing and healthcare of Nigerians, saying a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

Founder, C.O.P.E Foundation, Mrs. Ebun Anozie, who acknowledged the gesture by Skye Bank said the machines would enable her organization to offer free breast ultra

sound scan to women at the Skye Screening Centre, noting that the support from Skye Bank has given birth to a public private partnership between the bank, Lagos State Ministry of Health and COPE. She urged Nigerians to

•L-R: Group Head, Human Capital Management, Skye Bank, Funmi Adegoke; GMD/CEO, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti; Sonographer, COPE, Dr. Akhigbe Robert; CEO, COPE; Mrs. Ebunola Anozie; Permanent Secretary, Lagos Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo, and Trustee COPE, Dr. Bola Fajemirokun, at the commissioning of the Logi QC2 cancer screening machine in Lagos last week.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Nigeria’s wasted years in print

BY M.O.OZAH

T

he Last Dictator au thored by Ned Tony Emeni, is hard cover book with 1029 pages that is in the same size category as the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

The author of this daunting exercise in literary adventure captures the ugly political situation that bedeviled the Nigerian nation between 1979 and 2011. A bold statement on the failure of leadership, The Last Dictator examines the political intrigues of the military and political class which was hinged principally on tribal sentiment and how these rubbed off negatively on the society by stalling the development of true democracy and social progress.

The central theme of the book is power and responsibility as they affect political governance in Nigeria. The novel chronicles the gross abuse of power and privilege, the corruption, bloodshed, moral and social decadence that characterize leadership and the general disillusionment with postcolonial political irresponsibility or rascality.

Thus, like in his debut novel, Daybreak Massacre, which captured the infamous massacre of Obiaruku residents by police following a mob action that burnt down the police station for failure to respond to distress calls during a bank robbery, the author

deployed his incisive skill at the service of the oppressed citizenry and has proved to be not just a writer or novelist but a chronicler of socio-political events and a crusader for positive change and social justice.

The immoral and corrupt whirlpool into which the nation has descended was such that society was reduced to a jungle where might was right and survival was the natural preserve of the fittest; where injustice was the order, the rule, rather than the exception and “monkey dey work and baboon dey chop”.

Social and political events The book examines several major social and political events in Nigeria between 1979 and 2011, capturing all the military coups which shocking, never-before-heard revelations. The stiffling grip of the Kaduna mafia oligarchy on political power and attempts by “General Olani” to break this hold on power, the creation of states, Ecomog military intervention in Liberia, June 12 election annulment and the complicity of the international community and selfish local politicians, the gagging and driving underground of the press and human rights activists, interim government, the decay, rot and corruption in government parastatals, civil service and police, de-

caying facilities like roads and other infrastructures, the rot in the educational system, Boko Haram, election rigging and environmental issues like erosion and flooding are major features or highlights of the book.

In spite of these challenges, political office holders carried on as if all was well, being more interested in seeking re-election even against constitutional provisions and procedures than seeking the public good. The author also captured the complacency of the citizenry in what he called the ridiculous political awareness of Nigerians.

The author adopted a pro saic and satirical style of writing to interweave fiction and nonfiction. His critical and combative take on the military juntas in particular and leadership in general

are in line with modern approach of literature as tool for protest, assertion, emancipation and self re-evaluation.

The intricate weaving and application of highly sensitive, sometimes classified, materials and the marriage of strands of contemporary experience with historical antecedents went a long way to prove the writer as a master craftsman.

The Last Dictator; Ned Tony The Last Dictator has Emeni, Trafford Publishing, United a compelling pull that States of America, 2013; PP. 1029 prods the reader into searching for answers to the broad question of political leadership in Nigeria. the book is a must read and I recNotwithstanding a few literary ommend it to all, particularly to and grammatical imbalances, the conscious Nigerian.

Writers brainstorm on Chimamanda's Americanah

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BY UCHE UDOH

AST month, established writers, literary aficionados, Rainbow Book Club members gathered on at Le Meridien, Ogeyi Place to discuss Chimamanda Adichie’s latest novel, Americanah. Those present grappled afresh with issues like race (‘blackness’), immigration, deportation and class, thanks to Adichie’s skilled writing that allows readers to form their own opinions. The novel was Rainbow Book Club’s

book-of-the-month for July.

In Americanah, Adichie introduces certain serious topics with a light touch that makes for a much easier ingestion of the novel. By writing in great detail, using well-developed characters, Adichie exposes the human heart as it deals with choicelessness, change and being an outsider.

Part of the discussion was on whether racism exists in Nigeria.

People responded by drawing from personal experiences and observations of their immediate

environment. Most people regarded themselves as ‘Nigerians’ primarily, recognizing the label of ‘black’ as only applying to them when they venture beyond the country’s borders.

A discussion on blackness seems incomplete without one on the politics of hair. African (kinky) hair in many parts of the world is seen as a statement, a source of pride or shame, depending on who does the naming.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—45

While most Nigerians readily would not fault Buhari on the crucial issues of corruption facing the country, most would readily agree that he has been so much painted in the negative by the PDP in the last three elections as an Islamist and one who would put the majority of corrupt elite to jail should he get his hands on the levers of power again.

The National Assembly member told journalists in the off the record session, that Buhari and Tinubu had reached an agreement in the preliminary talks leading to the merger of the three parties that formed the APC for the duo to abstain in the 2015 presidential primary of the party.

He said it was the opinion of party stakeholders for the APC to look for fresh blood to confront the PDP. Such suggestions, however, do not go down well with many in the Buhari fan club, especially in the North who see him as the only one with the moral fiber in the ruling class able to deliver the country from its demons.

Internal democracy

•Buhari: Needs another shot at the presidency

Buhari:

Bomb or bubble?

THE newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC , is faced with the difficult predicament of containing the determination of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to contest the next presidential election

H

IS last military posting before he was proclaimed military head of state in December 1983 was as General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Brigade, Jos. Giving that military backdrop, it is not surprising that he is being accused of confusing the newly registered APC with the Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, one of the military vehicles used to position him in power 30 years ago.

Though General Buhari has renounced the utilization of force in the realization of political goals, many of his new political allies are still apprehensive about him. Their fear is his determination to contest the next presidential elections due in 2015.

Receiving visitors from the Democratic Emancipation Movement, who paid him a

courtesy call in his Kaduna home last Tuesday, the former military ruler vowed that he would present himself for nomination to the APC for the 2015 presidential election. He, nevertheless, pledged that he would abide by the result of the primary contest if he loses out.

“My decision will be tied to the constitution of the APC. If the party chooses me as its candidate.

I will contest. If the members do not consider me, I will not contest, but I will still support the party,” he said.

Refusal to rule himself out After contesting and failing in the last three presidential elections, 2011, 2007 and 2003, many of his allies in the APC are bothered by the refusal of the retired general to rule himself out of the next contest.

Their fear is essentially based on their suspicion that the ruling

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP see him as the easiest candidate of the APC to defeat. It is not for nothing. Apparently filed somewhere in the national headquarters of the PDP, is the election manual: Easy steps to defeat Muhammadu Buhari in an election.

His refusal to rule himself out of the contest was just too irritating for some.

Indeed, once his assertion emerged on Wednesday, a senior member of the new party close to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also close to Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal came out to chastise the former military ruler for attempting to use his personal ambition to derail the collective goal of the new party to oust the ruling party.

“By our calculations, a younger and vibrant politician should run as our candidate so as to give the Peoples Democratic Party a good fight; but from the way things are, we are stocked in between telling

Buhari outrightly not to run and allowing him to continue with

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

Senator Sulieman Nazif, a one time fervent supporter of Atiku Abubakar but now a vibrant fan of Buhari said as much during a press interaction with newsmen in Zaria, last month.

“What I am trying to point out is that when we talk of internal democracy, General Buhari is a member of APC, he is a Nigerian, he was one of those that fought for the unity of this country, so he has the mandate to contest.

“He is one individual alive today in the history of Nigeria that has more than 12 million votes uninfluenced by money or anything, so if he contests again he will win."

While most Nigerians readily would not fault Buhari on the crucial issues of corruption facing the country, most would readily agree that he has been so much painted in the negative by the PDP in the last three elections as an Islamist

some ripple effects coming our way later,” the ranking member of the National Assembly told newsmen.

The response of the lawmaker which was on the basis of anonymity because he apparently did not want to further stir crisis in the party that has just been registered. It was nevertheless reflective of the increasing difficulties of party officials in handling the Buhari question. The Buhari question is, remarkably, not suggestive of any moral or integrity deficit in the former military ruler.

,

Claimingthat Buhari’s past failures were because of rigging, he said: “Today in Nigeria, there is nobody that can beat him in a fair and free election. I am a young man, I know what the man can do, I know the kind of overwhelming support he has, and we are talking about democracy, government of the people by the people and for the people.

Another Buhari enthusiast, Osita Okechukwu, who is a chieftain of the APC, responded

Continued on page 46

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

North needs another four years to groom a presidential candidate — Abba Gana •Ango Abdullahi does not speak for all northerners ALHAJI Mohammed Abba Gana, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, former special adviser to the president and presently, member of the Board of Trustees, BoT of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in this interview with newsmen gives his views on recent political developments in the country and his reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan should serve another four years in office.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HY do you think there is tension in the land?

All this tension, anger, bitterness, hatred and acrimony throughout the country are caused by the inordinate ambition of just a few individuals, who want to replace Jonathan in 2015.

They forget that we have had great leaders who deserve to rule this country by any standard but could not make it inspite of all their efforts.

All these leaders at one time or another aspired to lead this country but they never caused trouble. Awolowo, Zik made a lot of efforts but the Lord never gave them the chance to rule this country. Same thing with Adamu Ciroma. He did primaries with

making noise, scheming and manipulating or subterfuge.

So, do you mean you do not share the views of Prof. Ango Abdullahi and the Northern Elders Forum, NEF? People are allowed to talk, criticize, agree, disagree and people can promote their interests within the law. So, Ango Abdullahi and his group are pursuing what they consider as their own view of Northern interest but there are other groups who are against them in the same North.

So he doesn’t speak for you?

He doesn’t speak for me, he doesn’t speak for the North, no, no, no.

Once there is a political party it becomes the institution for seeking power, no other group.

The political parties are

,

In the North we have had about eight or nine heads of state of this country and allowing Jonathan another four years will not take away anything. We should not be talking as if the North has never had any president Shagari and tried with the NRC but he never succeeded.

So, this is a food for thought for the five governors and others who are exercising inordinate ambition as if this is the end of the world, there were others before them who were greater and more deserving. They had all the efforts but God could not make them to rule. So, it is a question of destiny, it is not

,

recognized institutions, nobody can seek anything outside political parties. It is not going to work. The political parties are there. Even if Ango Abdullahi says anything it must come to either APC or PDP, they cannot nominate anybody, they cannot have delegates. So, it is another NGO like the Governors Forum.

What is your view on the agitation that the North should

•Gana: North can afford to wait till 2019 produce the next president in 2015?

Some people in the North want the presidency to go back to the North, some people also in the North do not see anything wrong in allowing Jonathan to finish his eight years. In the North, we have had about eight or nine heads of state of this country and allowing Jonathan another four years will not take away anything.

We should not be talking as if the North has never had any president. We have had about eight or nine presidents, yet all the poverty, illiteracy, crises are in the North. So if the previous eight or nine leaders who are northerners did not make any

difference, is it the remaining years of Jonathan that will make the difference?

The PDP already has a sitting president in Jonathan and if he says I would like to seek for a second term, there is no way the PDP should say no because there are all sorts of advantages for the party if the sitting president says he would like to seek another term that he is entitled to.

It would be very unwise for the PDP to even bring in somebody when Jonathan is sitting down in Aso Rock and another PDP presidential candidate is running about. How do you expect him to support that candidate, so we will lose most

aiming to resolve the Buhari question is to conduct a presidential primary which they claim Buhari would lose.

In the last three elections he conducted he almost always emerged on the basis of consensus. In 2007 he was nominated as the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP only after Ahmed Yerima was forced to step down on the convention ground.

In 2011, he was easily adopted

as the candidate of the Congress for Progressive, CPC without a contest. In the APC, the former military head of state is, however, bound to meet strong opposition especially from those desperate to stop the PDP. How the new party responds to the issues concerning Buhari would be a major factor in determining its prospects in the 2015 election which is now less than two years away.

Buhari: Bomb or bubble?

Continues from page 45 to what he claimed to be the negative mud being deliberately poured on his man. He said yesterday: “They rigged him out in 2003. They rigged him out in 2007, the outcome was Doctrine of Necessity. They rigged him out in 2011, the outcome was rudderless leadership.”

Buhari who is presently 71, would be 73 at the time of the next presidential election.

Though he has not been reported to have suffered any major health challenge, many are of the opinion that at his age he should better give his moral support to any of the younger elements in the party.

Speaker Tambuwal, who is a member of the PDP and has been the focus of many eyes as the most likely candidate of the APC, was endorsed by the National Assembly member.

One possible response of those

of the advantages of incumbency.

T.Y Danjuma, our highly respected statesman told our northern elites that the North needs to plan very well, he also said that the North needs to work very hard and he also said that the North also needs to relate better and finally, he said the North should talk less.

So, for me, if you ask me, the North needs another four years to plan, to relate better, to work hard and create a programme so that these our Boko Haram crisis, Jos crisis and so on will be settled.

And we need a leader from the North. We should search for or groom a leader from the North who will unite the North and at the same time give Nigeria a very good leadership and you can't do this in a crash programme.

So you believe like Anenih, who said Jonathan should be given the right of first refusal?

As a political party what is wrong with that? It is a PDP arrangement and if my party agrees with that, what is wrong with that? I am a very loyal and committed member of the PDP and I am also a member of the Board of Trustees and Chief Tony Anenih is my chairman and I wouldn’t want to contradict my chairman in any way.

But why do you think Dr. Jonathan lost the goodwill that preceded his emergence as president just over two years ago?

You see, some of these crises that we are having were not created by Jonathan. Boko Haram was not created by Jonathan. Boko Haram is more troublesome than the Biafran war because in the Biafran war you know who you are fighting, but this is an insurrection and this security challenge is rare.

Dualisation of roads In spite of all that, Jonathan is really doing a lot of work. I am telling you he is doing a lot of work and the press should give recognition to his efforts because no nation can face such an insurrection and do other things because fighting war and carrying on other work is not an easy matter.

The fact is that in most parts of the country where the insurrection is a little less, work is going on, there is dualisation of roads and other programmes are there like in Abuja the light rail project is going on, the Nigeria Railway Corporation is doing the Lagos – Kano line and the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line would be ready soon and Nigerian Airport improvement programme is going on very well and most of the imprints of the Transformation Agenda are going on well but in places like in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, understandably we have difficulties because some of the Europeans who were working there have left.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013—47

I

T is gratifying that after several false alarms, the voluntarily merging parties have been recognized by the electoral umpire (INEC) as All Progressives Party (APC). Its registration has been hailed by the media as a triumph for the growth of democracy. Truly, democracy can blossom when opportunity exists for the citizens to make a choice between parties during elections.

As it is recognized, democracy would flourish under a multi-party system – a system that recognizes the existence of more than one political. Political parties would be given the chances to propose and enunciate their programmes on how to provide prosperity through reduction of poverty. Voters are given the opportunity to analyse the various proposals and the means of achieving their set goals under the prevailing circumstances.

Nigeria is not new to political parties and the practice of party politics. It is often quoted that “Lagos in 1930s and 1940s enjoyed robust politics under the colonial era. The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) of Herbert Macaulay and the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYC) of Dr Vaughan, H. O. Davies and Dr Azikiwe. It is fair to say that politics of these halogen days were based on the ideology or principle – what is good for Lagos and later, Nigeria.

The pre-independence era (1951-60) was a bit tough but under a manageable political terrain. The leading political parties were the Northern Peoples‘ Congress (NPC) led by Sir Ahmadu Bello, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (NCNC), led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the Action Group (AG), led

by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. During the colonial period, opposition to the ruling party in the North was mute, in the East; the NCNC under Dr Azikiwe (Zik) was over-whelmingly predominant. It was only in the Western Region (including Lagos) where Chief Awolowo (AG) faced real political fire-works from the rival NCNC. In fact, political contest was so

07059197616

The govt and opposition in a slippery environment keen that the Action Group (led by Chief Awolowo) lost in the 1954 federal elections to NCNC, under Dr Azikiwe. As a matter of historical record, the 1954 victory was the only one in favour of NCNC in the old Western Region.

In fairness, the NCNC took its subsequent defeat in Western Region in 1959 with grace and remained pacific until in later years (early 1960s) when it allied with the remnants of Action Group (after Awo‘s imprisonment) to unleash a reign of terror on the otherwise peaceful people of Western Region. The terrible operation, “ wet e” in the Western Region perpetuated by the combined opposition parties (AG and NCNC) against the government of Chief S. L. Akintola was a sad reminder of the potential danger to political stability by a vicious opposition.

It is sad that the military incursions into political life of the country did virtually destroy the political parties and the multiparty system as existed and developed through those past agonizing decades.

The Babangida‘s vision of only two political parties (one-to-the left and oneto-the right) succeeded initially until snuffed out by the crude view of dictator, Abacha with the five political parties

(ridiculed by Bola Ige as five fingers of a leprous hand). The common impression is that those old military politicians (even if in civilian togas) would always find democracy a strange word.

It is instructive to note that the present 1999 Constitution recognizes the concept of democracy and the multi-party system with (INEC) given the power to register and de-register political parties.

However, the visible panorama is that of a very big party, the Peoples‘ Democratic Party (PDP) which has continued to win every presidential contest (1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011) and whose members have continued to dominate both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Many analysts believe that the PDP by supplying the President and with heavy numerical domination of the Senate and the House of Representatives have a unique opportunity to make Nigeria a great nation, if it so wishes.

Unfortunately, the party with dogmatic adherence to “winner takes all” attitude has been able to distribute all juicy offices of the state to its members irrespective of ability and competence. Through such action, the party has sacrificed efficiency in public life on the altar of political

expediency. It looks as if mediocrity with its slogan – do as little as much as possible – is accepted as a party philosophy.

As it is being noted, the political atmosphere has been dominated for a long time by a strong party (ruling with impunity) and a few scattered opposition parties, weak and ineffective. Now, what should Nigeria expect from the new APC (the party is new but the leaders are familiar faces)? Some Nigerians may not be expecting a violent or vicious opposition like UPGA terrorists of the 1960s; they may pray for a constructive party that is dedicated to the solution of crucial problems of the country. This could be done either, through the cooperation with the existing ruling party or by preparing the minds of the people for a peaceful change of administration through sensible politics, common-sense economics and sound administration.

The goal is prosperity for all.

Alade Odunewu

Many tributes which followed the announcement of the death of that great journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu bear testimony to the power of the pen and the respect which responsible journalists could earn in their community.

“Alla-De” was a column full of wits, humour and satires (disguised as a serious analysis). Like `Sad Sam`, the writer was able to, howbeit, cleverly disguise his political inclinations in the Daily Times of the turbulent 1960s.

When Alade Odunewu was the Editor of Daily Times, I was his Leader Writer, Head of Features and later, Commercial Editor. His support at every stage was fantastic. Many of us under him doubled whether he had any personal opinion on the rumblings in the Daily Times at the period except that he was absolutely loyal to Alhaji Babatunde Jose (Chairman). To “Alla-De”, loyalty to a boss is the greatest virtue. May His gracious soul Rest in peace.

Rivers’ crises: It’s a political disagreement — Mark Mr. Ibrahim Mark, a legal practitioner and former General Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is a chieftain of the Peoples of Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview, he speaks on the Rivers State crisis, the prevailing political situation in the country, the role of individuals in the crisis and other national issues.

Excerpts:

BY INNOCENT ANABA

A

S a stakeholder in Rivers State, how do you feel about the political crisis rocking the state?

I will call it a political disagreement first, only to add that to bring violent dimension to it is highly condemnable. It is normal to disagree in politics, but it should not degenerate to violence where cudgels and other dangerous weapons will be used. It is, therefore, important that we play by the rules at all times and remember that posterity will judge us.

What do you consider to be the real cause of the crisis?

It is the refusal to preach, adhere to and follow the rule of law. On April 15, an Abuja High Court, gave judgment declaring Felix Obuah as the duly-elected Chairman of PDP Rivers State.

The erstwhile chairman did appeal to the Court of Appeal, but the governor, Mr Rotimi

Amaechi and his side of the divide failed, refused and neglected to accept the verdict of the court and have been pouring invectives on the judiciary.

The governor in collaboration with the House of Assembly suspended duly elected local government officials, including the 17 councilors, and setup a caretaker committee contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Local Government Law of Rivers State.

The alleged allegation was against the chairman, but the councilors were joined in the suspension.

What is the provision of the Rivers State Local Government law in this respect?

The Local Government Law of Rivers State provides that where the council is suspended, the Director of Personnel will hold brief and not a caretaker committee. The Nigeria constitution in Section 7 has

authority, no respect for elders, no respect for dissenting views.

Somebody wants to close the political space.

When the current PDP chairman, Felix Obuah went to court to reclaim his mandate, the government went after him by compulsorily acquiring his hotel in the village of Omoku for purposes of primary school. This is a village that has land in surplus. The chairman had to go to court to halt the intended acquisition.

In a democracy, all these will be resisted, •Mark: Politicians must play by the rules hence what you may term crises.

On speculations that the crises outlawed the phenomenon called caretaker committee. The are externally motivated Certain persons outside are members they call the group of five had their constituency trying to exacerbate the problem. projects, allowances seized and Obuah went to court to reclaim any contrary view is regarded as his mandate, the opposition a looter. Somebody has decided lawmakers are in Port Harcourt, to play •god•and the lord of the so no external motivation, save manor. No respect for constituted as I did say that some external

persons through their utterances tend to make the matter grow in size. All the gladiators are Rivers sons and daughters and ordinarily resident in Rivers State.

The politicians termed external influence in the matter are the four PDP governors that went for a so called solidarity visit, namely Babangida Aliyu, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Murtala Nyako and Sule Lamido.

What is their business in Rivers State if not to escalate the crises especially in their blind rage and hatred for President Goodluck Jonathan? In the coming days, we shall see how their visit has helped their host.

The North has been a very good ally of Rivers people but now, they have started sowing the seed of discord for their selfish interest. Our people still appreciate our Northern brothers and sisters and will not like the malfeasance of a minute crowed of four self seeking vain glory come between us.

It is widely speculated that the Presidency has a hand in the crises, what is your reaction to this?

I am not competent to answer for the presidency. They have made statements in respect of the crises. They are in a better position to do justice to this question.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

All roads lead to Redemption Camp for Holy Ghost Service

By SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

A

LL roads lead to the Redemption Camp of The Redeemed Christian Church of Christ for the toast of the ongoing annual convention, the Holy Ghost Service as Nigerians from all corners are expected to take advantage of the public holi-days to attend.

The Holy Ghost service which holds every first Friday of every month is the star attraction of all RCCG pro-grammes because it is always a power packed session with diverse miracle and unusual ministrations.

As a result of the huge crowd expected at the Camp today, a new rule was announced on Wednesday night to the effect that vehicles may not be allowed to approach the Arena instead they will directed to the various car parks around the camp from where parti-cipants will be transported to the venue by special buses designed for that purpose.

“We know fully well that the traffic situation along the Lagos-Baden Expressway is usually very busy during this period and there is the dire need to appeal to the conscience of motorists on the road adhere strictly to instructions from the various controllers on the expressway,” one of the traffic managers on the road told our reporter.

According to him, everybody coming from

*EARLY ARRIVALS

Lagos or the opposite direction would be directed to properly designate car parks from where they would take a bus to the arena for the programmed, appealing that such persons should be mindful of the feelings of other road users who are not coming to the camp.

The new rule had become necessary because of the unprecedented vehicles already within the camp causing heavy traffic within the camp, just as the announcer also urged all participants who had built ‘empires’ within the auditorium denying new arrivals access to seats to dismantle immediately.

Those were the indications that today’s service would attract a mammoth crowd especially from Lagos and its environs. In addition to that, the security department as well as the transport division which have been put on high alert to avert any disruption of the peace.

Similarly, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye had again warned participants to stay way from the Redemption Camp if they are not ready to get serious with the ongoing move of God. According to him, this year’s convention is not for jokers whose stock in trade is to come to the camp to wile away time and cause distraction to others who are determined to worship God in truth and in Spirit.

He warned such participants, who are already in the camp to pack their bags and baggage and leave, stressing that only those who are ready for, what he called ‘heavy stuff’ that should remain. As at the Wednesday, Daddy G.O. as he fondly called by his members and numerous spiritual children across the globe has focused his ministration on true salvation, sanctification and the need for all true children of God to live holy lives, saying that without holiness nobody can see the Lord. The first message titled, ‘The Saviour’ was followed by another heavy stuff titled ‘The Sanctifier’ and they were reminders that we must all leave the life of Jesus, the savior and sanctifier.

He maintained that sanctification is another grace of God by which our souls are progressively and completely cleansed. This is the second accompli-shment of the grace which through our faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ is wrought after we have been justified and free from our sins or regenerated

Children thrill at the opening ceremony

By SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

T

HOUGH the 61st annual convention of the Redeemed Christ-ian Church of God kicked of on Monday with the ordi-nation of over 8,000 deacons and deaconesses, the actual opening ceremony did not take place until late Tuesday evening.

The colourful ceremony saw the children displaying some cultural heritage the African continent

while not loosing sight of their knowledge of the Word of God, the Holy Bible.

The activities began at about 8.50 p.m. after prayers were offered for the nation by the wife of the General Overseer, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye as the Children of RCCG filed out for a very colourful march past led by the Redeemers’ Orchestra.

The children dressed in T-shirts of different colours with the theme of the programme, JESUS inscribed at the back, carried

*Wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye sharing a thought with Saxophonist, Pastor Kunle Ajayi during the graduation ceremony of the Redeemed Christian Bible College on Wednesday.

ROYAL DANCE: From left, Pastor (Mrs) Olori V.D.A. Adesanoye, Oba G. O. Adeniyi, HRM. Oba S. O. Oyebade and HRM. Oba Adedara Bankole dancing during the opening service.

ORDINATION: L-R: Pastor Segun Sonaike, Mrs. Blessing Udi, Pastor Vincent Udi (Jesus Tabernacle Parish, Lagos) and Pastor Tele Quadri of Fountain of Grace parish after their ordination as assistant pastors on Tuesday. Shots: SHOLA OYELESE.

different national flags. The highpoint of the children's parade that held every participant spell bound was the six-man guard of honour carrying an enlarged golden crown symbolising the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. They marched slowly but steadily across the healing ground and on to the altar to an upraised platform, decorated in national colours, where they diligenly placed the crown to the admiration of the crowded auditorium.

It was a spectacle. That was followed by two sessions to locate the place of Jesus from Genesis to Revelat-ion and they reminded the elderly ones in the audience about how the different professionals see the Prince of Peace. There was a callistelic display which was followed by a short playlette depicting the varoius miracles performed by Jesus Christ while on earth in some Nigerian languages for the benefit of those who still doubt the power in the name of Jesus.

It was after that display which was profusely comm-ended by the chief celebrant, Pastor Adeboye, that he again warned participants to be serious with their commitment to the things of God, saying “those of you who are already here but know that they are not going to pray, praise and study the word of God whole heartedly, should go back first thing tomorrow morning to allow room for others who are serious.”

According to him, this year’s convention is not a period for joke.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 49

C M Y K

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 20 13 2013

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Obama's snubbing of Putin offends Russia P

UTIN’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters yesterday that Obama’s decision to cancel President reflected the US’ inability to develop relations with Moscow on an “equal basis”.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to his old sparring partner, former U.S. President George W. Bush, wishing him a quick recovery from heart surgery. It may have been coincidence that the Kremlin released details of the telegram a day after Barack Obama pulled out of a planned summit with Putin, but little is left to chance in Russian politics.

The warm words to the man who once said he looked Putin in the eye and got a “sense of his soul” highlighted how different the relationship is between the leaders in the Kremlin and the White House now.

Bush described Putin years later as cold blooded, and ties soured

over the war between Russia and Georgia which began five years ago this week, but there was respect and camaraderie on display when they first met as presidents in June 2001.

At Obama’s most recent meeting with Putin during a G8 summit in Northern Ireland in June, the Russian president scowled, lectured and fidgeted. At times he glowered.

Would a better relationship with Putin have made Obama take a different decision on attending the September talks in Moscow? Perhaps not, but a stronger rapport might have helped them avoid a situation where such a decision was even considered.

T

HE U.S Consul general, Jeffery Hawkins yesterday, decried the huge negative impact corruption has played in forestalling the growth of Nigeria economy.

Hawkins who made this statement during the U.SNigeria Bi-National Commission dialogue, held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affair (NIIA) noted also that the pernicious phenomenon of corruption in Nigeria has drained the federal treasury of funds necessary for expansion and improvement of education provided to millions of Nigerian children, which in turn would enhance the nation’s economic future.

According to Hawkins, “ Corruption in Nigeria diverts financial resources from building roads and bridges, curtailing the development of infrastructure that is needed to move Nigeria

At the same time, he said the invitation to the US president to visit Moscow next month still stands and added that

“Russian representatives were ready to continue working together with American partners on all

key issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda”.

Pope tightens control on Vatican banks

T

HE Pope has stepped up the fight against corruption at the Vatican by strengthening supervision of financial transactions at its internal bank.

US decries impact of corruption on Nigeria economy

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU AND PRISCA SAM-DURU

Obama's in a faceoff with Russian President, Vlamidr Putin.

towards a brighter economic future.”

Also reaffirming United States commitment in issues of great concern to Nigeria, he therefore urged all to assist in promoting efforts that would effectively address the underlying drivers of instability, noting that long-term stability and prosperity can be achieved only when respect for human rights, rule of law, and security are made available to all Nigerians “ We recognize that fighting corruption is primarily a Nigerian problem that requires Nigerians solutions, the U.S government is not relentless in partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to provide technical assistance in anticorruption efforts,” he said, adding that, “U.S also condemn in the strongest terms, the extremist attacks currently being carried out in Northeast Nigeria that have claimed the lives of countless innocent civilians members of Nigeria security force.”

Pope Francis issued a decree designed to combat moneylaundering and prevent any financing of terrorism.

It is the latest move to stamp out abuses at the Vatican bank, which handles funds for the Catholic Church.

The Pope recently set up a commission to investigate the bank and report back to him personally.

Last month the Vatican froze the account of a senior cleric, Monsignor

Nunzio Scarano, suspected of involvement in money-laundering.

He and two others were

arrested by Italian police in June on suspicion of trying to move 20m euros ($26m; £17m) illegally.

BRIEFS Morsi’s wife joins protesters

T

HE wife of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi has addressed thousands of his supporters at a protest rally in Cairo, in her first appearance since her husband’s overthrow.

Naglaa Mahmoud,

Morsi’s rarely seen wife, made a surprise appearance on stage at the main demonstration in the capital on Thursday, as Morsi supporters celebrated Eid al-Fitr at a site which has been used regularly for protests in Nasr City.

Syria denies attack on Assad’s convoy Mugabe slams Western critics Syrian rebels say they have targeted President Bashar al-Assad’s motorcade near his home in Damascus, but state television has shown him unharmed and the government denies there was an attack.

A spokesman for the rebel group Liwa alIslam, one of two that said they had carried out attacks in Assad’s neighbourhood on Thursday, told Al Jazeera they were sure they had hit the convoy with rockets.

“We have monitors in the area who confirm that the attack hit some of the president’s guards,” he said.

R

OBERT Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president, has rejected Western criticism of his disputed re-election and vowed to press ahead

with nationalist economic policies transferring majority stakes in foreign-owned firms to blacks.

Mandela makes steady progress

T

HE South African presidency has said that former president and anti-apartheid icon

Nelson Mandela is still in “critical but stable condition”.

Israel approves more settlements in West Bank

I

SRAEL has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank, an

Israeli official has said.

Guy Inbar, the spokesman for Israel’s military-run Civil Administration in the West Bank, said on Thursday that initial plans to build 800 new settler homes were approved a day earlier.

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

Doping athlet es get ffour our -y ear ban athletes our-y -year

Perez: Bale price is too much

A

R

THLETICS’ world governing body, the IAAF, will hand four-year bans to those caught doping from 2015.

The sport has been thrown into turmoil recently by news that Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Veronica CampbellBrown had failed tests, along with a number of Russian and Turkish athletes.

Such developments have cast a cloud over the World Championships, which get under way in Moscow this weekend.

The IAAF has moved to reaffirm its ‘unwavering commitment’ against doping in the build-up, with its council today approving plans to revert to four-year bans for offenders from January 1, 2015.

A statement approved by acclamation at the IAAF Congress in Moscow read: ‘The IAAF Council would like to take the opportunity offered by the gathering of the world athletics family in Moscow on the occasion of the 49th IAAF Congress to reiterate the IAAF’s long standing and unwavering commitment

•Suarez

against doping in athletics.

‘The IAAF has an ethical obligation to the overwhelming majority of athletes and officials who believe in clean sport.

As a leader in this fight the IAAF has built and delivers a programme that is well resourced, far reaching, sophisticated and increasingly able to detect and remove from the sport those who breach our anti-doping rules.

‘The IAAF has historically been the pioneering international sport federation in the field of anti-doping. The IAAF began out of competition testing in 1989 and blood testing in 2001 and almost all of the key procedures in antidoping currently in use have been originated by our sport.

‘The IAAF’s collection of the blood samples of nearly 2000 athletes in Daegu, as part of our commitment to the Athlete Biological Passport, was an historic achievement across all sports, and continues in Moscow.

EAL Madrid p r e s i d e n t Florentino Perez has claimed a • 100m (£85million) price tag is too much for Tottenham star Gareth Bale.

Real have been chasing Bale all summer with Spurs reluctant to sell him for anything less than a world record fee of £85million.

Bale is thought to be keen on moving to the Spanish capital, but

Tottenham are adamant last season’s double player of the year will only leave on their terms.

Perez has admitted talks are thought to be ongoing between both clubs as Real look to thrash out a deal to try and secure the Welshman’s signature, but he questioned the fee Tottenham are reported to be demanding for the 24-

Fabregas ends United chase

C

ESC Fabregas has moved to end speculation about a possible move to Manchester United by insisting he is ‘ very happy’ at Barcelona.

David Moyes’s side had two bids for the former Arsenal man rejected by Barcelona earlier this summer, while Barca’s sporting director Andoni

•Gay

Zubizarreta declared at the start of the week that United had given up on trying to sign the Spain midfielder.

Fabregas ruled out a move away from the Nou Camp while at the Confederations Cup in June but kept silent after United made their interest in him official, prompting speculation that he was in favour of a transfer.

Arsenal prepare £51m offer for Suarez L I V E R P O O L yesterday took a hardline approach with the Uruguay hitman, ordering him to train away from the first team.

They are furious at Suarez for his public outburst, where he claimed the Anfield side had broken their word and breached his contract - by not letting him go.

He insisted Liverpool agreed to let him leave if they did not reach the Champions League and a bid over £40m came in.

Suarez also said he would take his case to the Premier League after the Gunners bid £40m plus a pound a fortnight ago, having initially offered £35m. But Starsport understands the Gunners are prepared to pay more than the £50m Liverpool received from Chelsea for Fernando Torres in January 2011.

Boss Arsene Wenger is well aware a wrangle over the wording of the contract is sure to involve lawyers and

could run on for months - ensuring they do not get their man in this transfer window, which closes on September 2.

Yesterday Wenger admitted the club’s

pursuit of Suarez was on hold.

“At the moment the situation is on standby,” he said.

“I really don’t know what will be decided by

Liverpool, that’s for sure.”

Wenger is poised to up the offer for the Uruguayan Wenger is poised to up the offer for the Uruguayan.

Rooney trains with the Man U reserves

W

AYNE Rooney trained with Manchester United’s reserves earlier this morning, but not because of a fallout with the club.

The striker was keen to have a vigorous workout as he returns to fitness and with the first-team having a light session following their trip to Stockholm, he opted for the second-team instead.

There were suggestions that a change of routine was because of a fallout with manager David Moyes, but Mirror Football understands that wasn’t the case.

Rooney’s decision was also taken in light of him missing tomorrow night’s Rio Ferdinand testimonial match

•Rooney against Seville.

And David Moyes has already suggested the striker will also miss Sunday ’s Community Shield final against Wigan, saying earlier this week: “I don’t think he is going to be fit and available.

“Of course we are still

hoping he will, but I have a feeling he won’t make it.”

The striker is still being linked with a move away from Old Trafford with Chelsea leading the chase for the 27-year-old’s signature.

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C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 — 55

NBBF modifies women's training schedule A

FTER consultations with coaches and academic advisers of national team players especially in the USA who have been invited to the training camp earlier scheduled to open in Abuja on 12th August, 2013, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has resolved to modify the training camp and tournament dates for the team to enable the

Eagles Continues from B/P tively as third, fourth and fifth African teams on the ranking.

Spain, Germany, Colombia and Argentina conserved their positions from the previous ranking without losing or gaining any point.

players work around their school programme and club duties to attend.

The situation is not unique to the federation as other African countries with players in American schools and International Clubs are also affected. The

modified schedule is likely to see the international players reporting to the team in September as the proposed Abuja training camp has been put on hold.

Meanwhile six homebased players have been

IAAF honours Ogba

A

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria President Solomon Ogba was one of the 18 athletics buffs honoured by the IAAF in Moscow yesterday.

The athletics governing body picked three people who have contributed immensely to the growth of the sport from each continent and Ogba was among them.

He received the IAAF Pin Award during the Congress of the body yesterday.

“It’s a huge honour for which I’m grateful,” Ogba said.

Ronaldo Continues from B/P loss for the Chelsea manager, who was facing his old club just three months after his acrimonious departure from the Spanish giants.

Ramires scored in the 16th minute but Real Madrid was the better team on the night and secured a deserved win.

selected for the national team preparing for the Afrobasket schedule for

Mozambique in September. They include Nkechi Akashili, Evelyn

Continues from B/P Okagbare who broke Africa’s record to win the London Olympic Anniversary show with 10.79 seconds July 28 has done well and could win a medal.

“I think that Blessing may win a medal but the athlete to beat remains Fraser, the Jamaican,” Urhobo said yesterday.

“If you saw the race in London you would have seen that the poor start Shelly-Ann had denied her victory. Even at that she was able to end the race well although she placed 4th. I think that she may win the race in Moscow. Blessing has done well and should win a medal based on current form,” Urhobo

said.

The former Pole Vault champion is not happy that only Blessing has the IAAF A standard in Nigeria.

“The World Championships are for the best in the world.

The standards are higher than what happens at the Olympics. Many of those who compete at the Olympics do not qualify to compete at the World Championships.

That’s the situation for Nigeria. We should be better than we are in track and field. It pains that only Blessing has the A standard. Our girls may run the relays but the men did not qualify.

I think that we can do better but we must do the

Urhobo

Akhator, Amaka Nwakamma, Nkem Akarawe, Nkoyo George and Upe Atosu

right things first. We can’t be going for the World Championship just like we did at the last Olympics when we all banked on one athlete.”

Urhobo would like to see a better coaching structure in the AFN and programmes that can produce and nurture athletes.

Brown Ebewele, another veteran of track and field said last week that AFN boss Chief Solomon Ogba bankrolls many events in his association and wished that the sport was better funded so that “many other ideas and programmes could be accommodated by the federation.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 , 2013

Ronaldo shoots down Chelsea C

Eagles remain static

RISTIANO scored a goal in each half to lead Real Madrid to a 31 victory over Chelsea in the ‘Guinness International Champions Cup’ at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

The Portuguese scored

a wonderful free-kick and helped seal the victory with a header after 57 minutes. Marcelo also scored and Real Madrdi won agaisnt José Mourinho’s team.

It was a disappointing

Continues on Page 55

I-N-S-I-D-E

•FIFA ranking T

HE Super Eagles maintained their place as the 35 th best national team in the World, according to the latest Fifa ranking released in Zurich yesterday.

The Eagles also perched on the 5 th position in Africa.

Ivory Coast is still Africa’s number one national side, a position the Elephants have held for nearly two years now.

However, the Ivorians lost 5 points this time to finish at 18 on the overall rating.

Ghana is Africa’s second on the ranking and 24 in the lot while Mali, Algeria and Nigeria follow

Continues on Page 55

GOAL MONGER. . . Real Madrid foward Christiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring against Chelsea in the USA Wednesday.

Urhobo tips Jamaica Fraser for gold •Blessing good enough for a medal

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

V

ETERAN athletics coach and one time chairman of Athletics

Association Tony Urhobo has said that Jamaica’s Shelly Ann Fraser is still the athlete to beat in the Women’s 100m event of the World Champion-

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ships that start tomorrow in Moscow, Russia.

Urhobo said that Nigeria’s Blessing Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Delegate (6) 5 Material (6) 9 Ancient (5) 10 Read (6) 11 Spoken (6) 12 Propeller (5) 14 Lump (4) 17 Sailor (3) 18 Heap (4) 20 Harmonised (5) 22 Detested (5) 23 Hide (7) 24 Dogmatist (5) 26 Whey (5) 29 Lazily (4) 30 Ermine (3) 32 Challenge (4) 33 Earn (5) 35 Pill (6) 36 Laud (6) 37 Loose stones (5) 38 Enjoy (6) 39 Almost (6)

DOWN 1 Portray (6) 2 Forgive (6) 3 Throw (4) 4 Choose (5) 5 Ague (5) 6 Afresh (4) 7 Mammal (6) 8 Named (6) 13 Enmity (7) 15 Clear (5) 16 Lure (5) 18 Whitened (5) 19 Primate (5) 21 Speck (3) 22 Possesses (3) 24 Acrid (6) 25 Universal (6) 27 Sword (6) 28 Just (6) 30 Bring (5) 31 Mature (5) 33 Muddle (4) 34 Plant (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 4, Scrap 7, Humbug 9, For 10, Pup 12, Nerve 13, Reed 15, Range 17, Demure 19, Dank 20, Scene 22, Cap 24, Enthral 27, Dim 28, Seedy 31, Serf 33, Lessen 35, Anent 37, Romp 38, Write 39, Tea 41, Axe 42, Mingle 43, Dealt.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Chorus 2, Impede 3, Cup 4, Song 5, Creed 6, Advanced 8, Guru 11, Parchment 14, Dene 16, Near 18, Mend 21, Carefree 23, Pass 25, Tile 26, Leer 29, Enough 30, Yapped 32, Fatal 34, Stern 36, Next 40, Air.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

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

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

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

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