GOVT SHUTDOWN: Reps lift embargo against budget

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62076

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

ASUU accuses FG of reneging on release 10 of N20bn

NPAN condemns wire tap draft law 8

GOVT SHUTDOWN:

Reps lift embargo against budget •There is more than one way to skin a cat —Rep Gbajabiamila, APC House leader

Bianca Ojukwu becomes APGA leader

By EMMANUEL •P.9

AZIKEN, Political Editor, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

P

LANS by the House of Representatives to shut down the Federal Government through stalling of its 2014 budget are to be temporarily lifted tomorrow following the removal of Mr. Mbu Joseph

Continues on page 5

Dangote, others disagree on grade of cement prescribed for sale •P.17-48

COLUMNIST:

•P.54

Mr & Mrs

ACCIDENT. Two vehicles, a Pathfinder Jeep with number plate Lagos FKJ 516AL and a Lagos commercial bus (Molue) with number plate FKJ 201XH were involved in an accident at Pleasure Canal, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos yesterday. Two people were confirmed dead following the accident. Chassis of the vehicles being removed. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele

I was shot, Abe insists

11

FG to generate 10,000mw of electricity by 2015 7

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POCKET CARTOON

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu presenting a souvenir to HRM Aholu Menu-Toyi 1 the Akran of Badagry,during a courtesy visit to his palace in Badagry, weekend

Reps lift embargo against budget Continues from page 1 Mbu as the Rivers State commissioner of police.

The removal of Mbu was one of the conditions the opposition APC insistedon before asking its members to stall the budget.

The decision to proceed with the budget was to be endorsed by a six man committee constituted by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to advise him on legal bottlenecks earlier raised against further deliberation of the budget last Wednesday.

The House had, Wednesday, put off further consideration of the

2014 budget of the Federal Government on technical grounds raised

by Rep. Emmanuel Jime, one of the 37 members of the House who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, last December.

Jime, from Benue State, had alleged that the budget violated provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act by not detailing the budgetary estimates of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Upon his observation,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Never test the depth of a river with both feet.

Take life one step at a time.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

S

UCCESS is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome —Booker T. Washington And from Alain Botton from his TED presentation about a kinder gentler philosophy of success, he says that one of the interesting things about success is that we think we know what it means. A lot of the time our ideas about what it would mean to live successfully are not our own. They’re sucked in from other people. And we also suck in messages from everything from the television to advertising to marketing, etcetera. These are hugely powerful forces that define what we want and how we view ourselves. What I want to argue for is not that we should give up on our ideas of success, but that we should make sure that they are our own.

We should focus on our ideas and make sure that we own them, that we’re truly the authors of our own ambitions. Because it’s bad enough not getting what you want, but it’s even worse to have an idea of what it is you want and find out at the end of the journey that it isn’t, in fact, what you wanted all along. And remember that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.

Speaker Tambuwal had constituted a six man committee styled as the six wise men to advise him on the decision to take on the issue.

However, Jime’s action was traced to a directive by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the APC which had, last month, asked its members in the National Assembly to stall the budget following what it claimed was the reign of impunity in Rivers State allegedly perpetrated through the former commissioner of police, Mr. Mbu. Flowing from the removal of Mbu last Thursday, the APC House leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior members of the party welcomed it as a positive development that would remove the obstacle to the consideration of the budget.

Debating the budget Mr. Gbajabiamila said in a posting on his facebook page at the weekend, “Now we can debate the so-called budget. As I said earlier, extraordinary and desperate situations call for extraordinary measures.

We have been vindicated that there is more than one way to skin a cat.”.

In the posting dated February 7, 2014, he added, “As a party we have adopted a less attractive but legitimate way when all else failed and it has worked. The people of Nigeria are the beneficiaries.”

One of the six wise

men constituted by the Speaker, Rep. Sunday Adepoju, APC, Oyo State, told Vanguard that Nigerians should be hopeful on the outcome of the work of the committee.

He said, “We are still working on it. By Tuesday, you will be able to hear what will happen.

Wait and see what happens on Tuesday. We are still meeting. Let Nigerians be hopeful. We will do what is expected of us. You will know everything on Tuesday.”

Asked if the removal of Mbu as the commissioner of police in Rivers State as demanded by the APC would ease the consideration of the budget, he said, “The issue of removal of Mbu is one case, the budget is another. That of Mbu has been complied with. Our party gave us directives on what to do. Now, it has become an issue for the entire House. So, Tuesday, Nigerians will hear what will happen.

I can not tell you anything. Just wait till Tuesday.”

Another source in the APC caucus told Vanguard, yesterday, that the removal of Mbu as the commissioner of police has brought to an end, the regime of impunity and restored peace in Rivers State as de-

manded by the APC national leadership. Our aim has been achieved and we are now ready to work for the best interest of Nigerians irrespective of party affiliation.” The source added that the whole idea behind the constitution of the six man panel of wise men was to douse tension.

The APC whip, Barrister Samson Osagie, on his part described the removal of Mr. Mbu as a positive development even as he maintained that the report of the six wise men committee would influence the direction the House would take on the budget tomorrow.

He said, “It is a welcome development, it is a matter that was long overdue and it shows

the triumph of reason over impunity and we hope that Tunde Ogunshakin who is taking over from Mbu will not tread the partisan path of Mbu and that peace and normalcy, fairness, equity and justice would be brought to the people of Rivers State. We as a party are very happy with that development and it shows that our effort has paid off and that all the pressure we brought to bear has paid off.”

Rep. Seconte Davies representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency spoke in the same direction saying that the legal issues raised must be sorted out first before the commencement of debate and eventual passage of the Bill to second reading.

Mark accuses politicians of fanning embers of religion

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA—SENATE President David Mark, yesterday, raised alarm over what he described as the antics of some desperate persons who he accused of using politics and religion to destroy the sanctity of the unity and peace of the Nigerian nation.

Senator Mark alleged that the trend now was for politicians to sponsor or promote violence, and turn round to make provocative utterances in the name of politics or religion, noting that such development was totally unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

The senator who spoke at the installation ceremony of the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Joseph Oche Job in Abuja asked Nigerians of all faiths to be

committed to the work of social justice, peace and religious tolerance.

He also cautioned those fanning the embers of war or disunity to think otherwise as the “current insecurity and political confusion are avoidable distractions we certainly do not need now.”

The Senate President who said that God did not make mistake in creating Nigerians as His children under one nation, requested all Nigerians to continue to pray for the unity and peace of our country.

While frowning at the fact that most people tended to use politics and religion for the wrong reasons, Mark advised that what the nation needed now was to embark on serious political and inter-religious dialogue with the spirit of frankness, honesty, openness, accep-

tance and understanding in order to move forward.

He said the National Assembly would be doing everything possible to contain the security and socio- economic challenges in the country.

The Senate president congratulated the new Archbishop on his elevation and urged the clergy to continue to pray for the nation stressing that “ with prayers and concerted efforts, the challenges we are facing can be overcome.”

In his homily, Archbishop Job expressed firm belief in the unity of the country, saying that irrespective of the challenges, Nigeria would not disintegrate.

He, however, called for fairness, equity and justice in the administration of the country so that all the sections would have a sense of belonging.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Man abandons pregnant wife after scan revealed triplets

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DO-EKITI— A BRICKLAYER, Mr Adewale Omole, has abandoned his wife in the hospital after he heard that she was expecting triplets. He did not even wait for the woman to give birth before he vanished.

Narrating her story, the wife, Mrs Abosede Omole, who already had two children, said her husband abandoned her and the babies. She said her husband started behaving strange after she went for a scan in Lagos where she was told that she was expecting triplets.

Abosede, delivered the triplets, weekend, at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH. She said: "My husband abandoned me even before I gave birth and he has refused to perform his responsibility as a father.

He left me without food.

That is why I had to relocate to this spiritual home where I have received spiritual succour and financial assistance.

"Since the sudden disappearance of my husband, life has not been the same again, as I, the two children and the newly born triplets are finding it difficult to survive. I am begging him to come back for the sake of these innocent babies."

Abosede appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid.

Confirming the story, the matron in-charge of the maternity at EKSUTH, Mrs Adenike Oluyide, called on well-wishers to assist Abosede, as the triplets are currently at the Special Baby Care Unit of the hospital.

A member of Sabbath Mission Church, Omiolori, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, who came to the hospital to see the woman and her children, confirmed that Abosede came to the church and was taken to the hospital from there.

The church member, who pleaded anonymity, said the leadership of the congregation felt she could benefit from the free medical programme of Ekiti State government for women and children.

Four Akala boys killed as NDLEA raids drugs haven in Mushin

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS— FOUR persons were feared dead, Saturday night, at the notorious drug haven of Akala in Mushin area of Lagos, when armed hoodlums attacked a combined team of National Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, and some soldiers during a raid.

Vanguard gathered that the NDLEA operatives and some soldiers, stormed Akala, a notorious hideout for criminals in Lagos and attempted to arrest some drug barons, peddlers and users, operating in the area.

But they met stiff resistance from some hoodlums who attacked them with bottles and other dangerous weapons.

Eyewitness said some of the hoodlums, who were also armed with guns, fired at the NDLEA officials and the soldiers, prompting a retaliation.

According to reports, four persons were reportedly gunned down in the ensuing shootout, while some NDLEA officials sustained severe injuries.

The NDLEA, in a statement, said four other hoodlums were arrested by its operatives, while cannabis weighing 541.9kg and 32 pinches of substance that tested positive to heroine were recovered.

The statement signed by the agency's spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, did not disclose the number of persons killed in the encounter, but said: “A combined team of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and army officers at the weekend met with stiff resistance from hoodlums at the notorious Akala, Mushin area of Lagos during a drug raid operation.

"The team of officers led

by NDLEA Assistant Commander, Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Ojo Ogbechema, recovered cannabis weighing 541.9kg and 32 pinches of substance that tested positive for heroin. Four suspects were also arrested."

According to the NDLEA Lagos Commander, Mr Sule Aliyu, the operation was successful in spite of the resistance from drug barons.

Sule said: "A combined team of NDLEA and army officers participated in the operation. It was a very successful raid because bags of cannabis weighing 541.9kg

and 32 pinches of heroin were recovered.

"During the operation, there was an attack on the officers by a large number of hoodlums who threw bottles and stones at the officers.

The road was also barricaded but the officers shot into the air to disperse the crowd."

The commander added that two officers who sustained injury had been treated.

Meanwhile, residents of Idi-Oro area of Mushin have called on the state government to eradicate the trade in illicit drugs from Akala and its environ if it wants lasting peace in the area.

The residents also described the activities of drug dealers and users in Akala as a major strength behind bloody clashes in Mushin. They added that Akala is the only area in Lagos State where illicit drugs are sold openly.

Kelvin, Delta kidnap kingpin's kinsmen beg God for forgiveness

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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OKORI — REMORSE FUL kinsmen of Kelvin Oniarah, the suspected Delta State kidnap kingpin from Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, currently undergoing trial, have decided to go to God in prayers, asking Him with broken hearts and tears to have mercy on them and rebuild their land.

Last weekend, over 2000 men, women and children from within and outside Kokori, in a spiritual programme tagged, "Kokori Solemn Assembly," coordinated

by Rev. Abada Obodo Manuwa, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, congregated at the heart of the town to pray for the return of peace to their community.

Among the influential indigenes that attended the prayer retreat were the President-General of the community, Mr G. S. Avbunu-Diogba, a lawyer, Achoja of Agbon Kingdom, Olorogun Sunday Umunade Rev. Manuwa, who led the first prayer cited the book of

Joel where the people of Judea lost all they had, but turned to God for restoration.

He said: "The calamity that befell the community can be likened to that of Judea, we lost livestock, poultry, fishponds were destroyed, houses were razed, property destroyed, our community was deserted, but I tell you the Bible says if we the people of Kokori turn away from our wicked ways, and turn to the Lord, He, God, will heal our land."

The prayers were heralded with praises, dance and worship songs to the Lord by the mass choir on the road, running from the market to the Anglican Church in the community closed to vehicular traffic.

Reverend J E Edojah who continued with the prayers said it took the sin of the people for God to turn His back on them.

His words: "We will beg God for forgiveness, let every one kneel before Him and ask for forgiveness from God. The children have offended Him, the women offended Him, the men offended Him, we have

Rev Abada Manuwa leading the prayer session.

wronged Him, and it is for our wrongdoings that this calamity has befallen us."

Strongly believing that the return of peace to Kokori depends on how they begged God for mercy, most of the people wept as they prayed.

Other messengers of the gospel who led in different prayer sessions were Pastor J. O. Akpojivi, Rev. Victor Ovie Michael, Rev. Daniel Menta, Rev. J. E. Eke, Pastor Emmanuel Onokparunu, Rev. Canon Odechume, Pastor Stephen Oharebe, Pastor Emmanuel Abasi, Pastor Lumumber Idiabana and Rev. Peter Onowaukpor.

Rev Manuwa while concluding the prayers announced a decision reached by the pastors to make every February 1 "Kokori Prayer Day." President-General of Kokori community, Chief Avbunu-Diogba in a chat with newsmen, called on residents that fled the community to return home, saying: "There is peace in Kokori, am calling on residents of Kokori to come back home, even the soldiers are saying they should come."

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—7

2015: FG assures on credible election zUS, UK express concerns

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

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AGOS —The Federal Government has assured development partners that the 2015 general elections will be credible and transparent.

This assurance came as the United States and Britain raised concerns about prospects of logistic problems and the security challenges in parts of the country tarnishing the outcome of the election.

The new US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle and the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter, said in Lagos that the development partners and members of the European Union, EU, are keenly watching Nigeria’s preparation for the 2015 general elections, which they insist must adhere to the guiding rules of engagement.

But in a telephone interview with the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak said “Nigeria welcomes the concerns and support of its international development partners in the forthcoming election, which is an expression that democracy and development have become inseparable”, adding that ”we attach great importance to our democratic process because we have seen the consequences of military dictatorship in our political history. We also respect the genuine concerns of our development partners as we advance in our democratic experience.” .

The US ambassador, who hosted a media round table in Lagos said “the US is concerned about the security situation in the North East as well as the logistic challenges of conducting elections in Nigeria”.

On his part, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter, told members of Nigeria-Britain Association (NBA) in Lagos that ”the credibility of the election matters to Britain and its partners in EU and US because that will set the tone to attract the required inflow of capital from overseas investors.”

$20bn not missing, NNPC, NPDC insist zWe have no control over kerosene price - NNPC

BY MICHAEL EBOH & CHRIS OCHAYI

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IGERIAN National P e t r o l e u m Corporation, NNPC, weekend, denied claims that it failed to remit $20 billion crude oil revenue to the Federation Account, adding that it submitted all the documents on domestic crude and subsidy claims to the Federal Account and Allocation Committee, FAAC. Also, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation, NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC, disclosed that the allegation that $20 billion was not remitted to the Federation Account is false, blaming the loss of revenue on inadequate funding of oil exploration activities by the Federal Government.

Mr. Iyowuna Briggs, Managing Director, NPDC, who stated this in Benin, noted that the Federal Government’s inability to fund oil exploration, over the years, is depriving the country of billions of dollars in oil revenue.

He maintained that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, lacks understanding of the workings of the oil sector, saying that majority of the funds that should have accrued to the federal government from the sale of crude oil was paid to its technical partners who provided the financing for its operations.

According to him, the growth the country is seeking in the petroleum sector is no longer coming, adding that Nigeria’s

goal of producing about four million barrels of crude daily would have been attained if the issue of funding and security had been addressed.

He stated that the Federal Government, by not funding oil operations, is bringing third parties to lay claims to crude oil revenue, saying that proceeds from the sale is gotten, a substantial part of the proceeds is used to pay back the person who provided the funding for the operation.

He said, “What does this mean, it means if I produce one million barrels per day, five years ago, at $100 per barrel, government gets certain revenue. Five years after, government is no longer

funding the way it should, if I produce the same one million barrels per day at the same price, guess what, government gets less.

“By not funding, you are bringing a third party to lay a claim. By funding, all of that one million barrels, when they pay, it goes to government.

By not funding, when they pay, part of it is the cost to pay back the person who provided the funding, part of it is the compensation to pay back the person who has funded. By not funding, you don’t expect to get the same amount.”

Also speaking in Abuja, Dr. Abiye Membere, Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, NNPC, said the

issue raised against it by Mallam Sanusi Lamido, Governor, CBN, would be vividly tackled at the next public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Membere vowed that the NNPC would inundate the Senate Committee with deluge of documents detailing all transactions, adding that, the NNPC works with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and other agencies of government, which scrutinize “all our documents.”

He declared that the missing money was never in the hands of the NNPC, adding, “this subsidy is not the money that the NNPC collected from government.”

APC REGISTRATION: Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State registering as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri, Imo State on Saturday.

FG to generate 10, 000mw of electricity by end zSigns agreement with French govt of 2015

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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HE Federal Government, in collaboration with the Federal Education Ministry and Schneider Electric, has commenced a collaboration aimed at boosting access to electricity in the Niger Delta region, in particular and the country at large.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, flagged off the initiative weekend with the commissioning of the Isaac Boro Energy Training College in Grenoble, France.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Daniel Alabrah, head, Media and Communications, Presidential Amnesty Programme. Kuku said that under the programme, the Federal

Government would generate and distribute between 8,000 and 10,000 megawatts of electricity by the end of 2015.

“Several of the power installations that would aid the attainment of this goal are located in the Niger Delta.

If we do not train persons in the Niger Delta that would be deeply and properly involved in the generation and distribution of electricity, we may not attain this visionary goal of President Goodluck Jonathan. This collaboration with the French Government and Schneider Electric of France is geared towards expediting the ongoing transformation in the power sector in the country.

“I am truly delighted at this collaboration between the Federal Government and the French Government. Nigeria is at the verge of a revolution in the power sector.

‘’In fact, we are preparing for a revolution of sorts in the power sector in Nigeria and that is why we have decided to massively develop manpower in that sector in collaboration with the French Government and Schneider Electric of France,” Kuku added.

The training college, which was named after the Niger Delta freedom fighter, late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, is an initiative between the Federal Government and Schneider Electric Nigeria, drawing on the expertise of both Schneider Electric France and the French Education Ministry.

Alsp speaking at the event also, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Hakeem Suleiman, lauded Schneider and the French Government for establishing a training institute purposely designed to help meet the

“Prior to today’s commissioning of the Isaac Boro Technical College, I had the honour of touring and inspecting the facilities here. The institute is first class and it is among the best of its kind. Even more important, the establishment of the technical college in France is a reflection of the strategic partnership that exists between Nigeria and France. It is truly a huge milestone that we have achieved today,” Ambassador Suleiman said.

The Chairman/CEO of Schneider Electric, Mr. JeanPascal Tricoire, reiterated the firm’s commitment to the total transformation of the power sector in Nigeria.

“The lack of trained engineers in the electrical and energy fields is a major obstacle to the successful and sustainable development of a number of regions in emerging economies.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Policemen, militant youths clash in Bayelsa

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ENAGOA—Twenty policemen in three escort gunboats escaped death weekend when unidentified youths engaged them in a shoot-out in the creeks of Bayelsa.

The policemen were said to be escorting an exmilitant leader, Mr Eris Paul, to Peremabiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Paul, popularly called Ogunboss, said the attack was carried out by community youths involved in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering. “These are boys that I included their names in my amnesty list and prevailed on not to go back to crime.

“My continual attempt to stop them from the noticeable acts of oil theft led to the attack,” he said.

Paul denied the allegation that he was involved in the community development committee politics in the community.

Cement crisis: Block moulders flay attack on Minister, SON

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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AGOS—Block M o u l d e r s Association of Nigeria, yesterday, waded into the lingering crisis in the cement sector of the economy, condemning the alleged attack on the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and the Management of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, by the coalition of civil society groups, who sparked off the crisis in the sector.

Briefing the press in Lagos, National President of the association, Mr. Rasheed Adebowale, said: “We in the Association of Block molders are so much concerned about the development in the cement sector, which had been in the front burner of the media in the past one week. We resolved to intervene because the sector provides livelihood for our more than 50,000 members nationwide.”

See more on Pg 17

PDP wishes defectors well, says ‘we can withstand the exodus' zMay not reconcile with Atiku, others

BY HENRY UMORU

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B U J A — N A T I O N A L leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said yesterday wished the former Vice President, Atiku Ababakar and other party men and women who had left the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, well saying that it had the capacity to withstand the shock of the vacuum created in the party.

Consequently, strong indications have emerged that PDP may not embark on reconciliation missions to unite with Atiku and others who dumped the PDP for the APC. In a statement signed yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP also noted that it was not prepared to join Atiku and the APC in what it termed, politics of mudslinging. “While we concede to the inalienable rights of individuals to associate with any political party of their choice, we advice that they should proffer solutions and alternatives rather than engage in constant condemnation.

“The PDP wishes the former Vice President and others well in their chosen enclave but we pray, that someday, they will find it in their hearts space to accord the PDP due recognition for its contributions not only to the development of the country,

but also to their individual political progress.

“While the PDP recognizes the inalienable right of citizens to hold opinions and identify with political platforms of their choice, we indeed find it very difficult to understand this type of bitterness towards the party even from persons such as Atiku who hugely benefited from the PDP. “However, as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians, the PDP will

continue to maintain the high moral ground of decency and shall not in any way cheapen this sacred mandate by joining in political mudslinging.

“The people are solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan and his developmental policies and for emphasis, we wish to draw the attention of Atiku and the APC warlords to the achievements of the PDP-led administration.

“It is common knowledge that the private sector has been immensely successful in

the last two years under the PDPled administration owing to the continued implementation of our manifesto and policies including the continuation of the PDP ideology of transfer of wealth from public institutions to the private sector.

“This is the hallmark of the PDP-led Federal Government wherein hardworking private individuals are now thriving in. manufacturing, trade, commerce and other critical sectors of the economy with business names such as the Dangotes, the Innosons, the AITs, the Channels as well as several others in the banking, telecoms, food processing, hospitality, transport, construction, oil and gas, estate businesses recording huge successes.

VISIT: From left — First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan and the representative of Sultan of Sokoto, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, at the presentation of a book written by Cardinal Onaiyekan to mark his 70th birthday, in Abuja on Saturday.

NPAN condemns wire-tap draft law

By MARIAM EKO

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B U J A — T h e Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, has condemned the wire-tap draft law initiated by the Federal Government, saying that it is an invitation to arbitrariness in the country.

This was contained in a communiqué signed by the President of the NPAN, Nduka Obaigbena, after the association’s recent council meeting in Abuja.

The communiqué, which was released yesterday read, ‘’At its executive council meeting in Abuja on February 6, 2014, the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria deliberated on a range of issues affecting the industry

and the nation and specifically resolved as follows, among other things: ‘’That the NPAN views with serious concern, the report that the Federal Government has initiated a draft law that empowers security agents to intercept and record electronic communications between individuals and track data use from internet service providers and mobile networks. ‘’That this bill is a dangerous potent to the constitutional guarantee of free speech and is therefore, an invitation to arbitrariness. ‘’That the Federal Government should withdraw this obnoxious bill in line with its constitutional obligation to protect the rights and liberties of the citizens.’’

The Nigerian telecoms

regulatory authority, NCC, had earlier come up with the Draft Lawful Interception of Communications Regulation, which provides the legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communications in Nigeria.

Already, details of the bill have been submitted by President Goodluck Jonathan to the National Assembly last week.

Reacting to the development earlier however, the President of Association of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Mr Lanre Ajayi said in an email message to Vanguard that the government had a responsibility to provide security for its people and sometimes that may necessitate monitoring the

communication activities of the bad actors.

He also said that the government had a responsibility to protect the privacy of its citizens which is a right that is enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

For the former President of Information Technology of Nigeria, ITAN, Dr. Jimson Olufuye, what is key in the bill was court authorization for surveillance and data interception to be carried out by law enforcement agents.

But in his reaction, the President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Chris Uwaje, noted that the bill should not directly or indirectly empower telecommunication companies to conduct surveillance on individuals, and release user data to authorities.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—9

Two feared dead, one injured as vehicles plunge into canal

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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AGOS—TWO people were feared dead while one was critically injured, Saturday night, when a Sports Utility Van, SUV, and a staff bus belonging to a private company plunged into a canal.

According to an eye witness' account, the victims, all males, were occupants of the SUV with number plate FKJ 516 AL, while the injured person was the driver of the staff bus who was said to have lost a hand and leg to the incident which took place around 10pm at Pleasure/Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority LASEMA, Femi OkeOsanyintolu, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard said both victims were members of an Islamic organisation, Samsideen Islamiya who were said to be coming from Ikorodu when the incident occurred. ‘’At about 10pm Saturday night a Pathfinder SUV collided with a bus at Pleasure bus-stop inward Abule Egba and fell into a canal.

“Bodies of the two occupants were recovered by LASEMA and handed over to appropriate authorities. ‘’The car driver, Muyideen Tiamiyu, 50, and vehicle owner

Alhaji Akinsola, were said to have experienced a tyre blowout when the staff bus which was avoiding a sharp corner hit them and both landed in a canal leaving both occupants of the bus dead and the bus driver critically injured.”

The victims were said to have been buried according to Muslim

rites; while Muyideen was buried at Shasha area of Lagos, Akinsola was said to have been buried at Ilepa, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The LASEMA boss also said he was not aware of the present condition of the bus driver as he was not privy to the information.

He said: ‘’I cannot speak about

the condition of the bus driver because I did not witness the incident but the information at hand said two occupants of the SUV did not survive the incident.’’

According to him, both vehicles and victims were recovered around 3pm of yesterday and handed over to appropriate authorities.

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BEOKUTA—A faction of the Labour Party yesterday said ‘fifth columnists’ were behind an injunction of the Federal High Court, Lagos which restrained Ogun State former governor, Gbenga Daniel and the other chieftains from commencing

party’s membership registration.

In a statement, the factional chairman, John Olaleye, and 24 other officials, vowed not to be distracted in taking over government in the state in 2015.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had last week granted an interim injunction restraining

SERAP urges EFCC to probe missing $20bn oil fund

BY ABDULWAHAB

ABDULAH AGOS—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been petitioned to commence an immediate investigation into allegations that $20 billion oil money is missing from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. In the petition by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, it requested the commission to “urgently begin a thorough, transparent and effective investigation into allegations that $20 billion oil money is missing from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.” The petition followed the last

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VETERAN journalist, Mr. Felix Olugbenga Aliu, aged 54 has been declared missing.

Aliu who has worked with various Newspapers which include the defunct Lagos Weekend, New Star and Vanguard Newspapers was last seen in his residence, No. 150 Pipeline Street, Ojokoro, LCDA on the night of December 31, 2013.

Family sources said report has been filed at both Ojokoro and Isokoko Police Stations. Any one who knows his where abouts should report to the nearest Police Station.

INAUGURATION: From left: Chairman, Governing Council, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Professor Dipo Otolorin,Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Medical Director, OOUTH, Prof. Alfred Jaiyesimi and Health Commissioner, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, after the inauguration of the OOUTH Governing Council in Abeokuta.

Photo: Wumi Akinola.

LP faction blames Lagos court injunction on ‘fifth columnists’

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

Veteran journalist Gbenga Aliu declared missing

week allegation by the Central Bank,CBN, Governor, Lamido Sanusi, that “NNPC is operating a racket through which the federation has been losing billions,” at the resumed Senate hearing on the matter.

The petition by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni stated: “We are concerned about the lack of accountability of the NNPC, which is not consistent with the attitude of a government establishment funded with tax payers’ money. This lack of accountability partly explains why ordinary Nigerians do not trust the NNPC to deal with corruption within its systems. The NNPC will need to come clean with the Nigerian people if it is to enjoy their trust and confidence."

Daniel, five governorship aspirants and others in the party from commencing another party registration exercise until the motion ex-parte was heard and determined by the court.

Justice C.J. Anneke gave the order of interim injunction upon the suit filed by Olabode Simeon, Oginni Sunday and Arabambi Abayomi, who were earlier suspended by the national secretariat of the LP. Reacting to the court injunction, Olaleye pointed out that the applicants in the case were not

representing the party.

The acting chairman urged party members to continue with the registration exercise, which, according to him, had been very successful.

He said: “Without prejudice, it is our considered opinion that the applicants in the case are under suspension from the party going by letters from the National Secretariat in Abuja for their bad conducts. On this note, we, hereby, dissociate ourselves from this development. They are not representing us in any form."

Court refuses to stay hearing on N5bn suit against Total Oil

BY INNOCENTANABA

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AGOS—THE National Industrial Court, NIC, has refused an application filed by Total E&P Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, asking the court to stay proceedings in the N5 billion suit instituted by a former staff, Aralu Steve against the oil company.

Aralu worked with Total for about 11 years and was injured in a major work place accident in 2011 which rendered him unemployable.

Ruling on the application, Justice Oyeyoju Oyewunmi held

the oil company failed to comply with the Rules of the court which require Total to transmit records of proceedings to the Court of Appeal before seeking for stay.

The court also held that to grant stay of proceedings would do more harm than good considering the health of the claimant, (Steve Aralu).

Justice Oyewunmi, however, granted the request of the claimant asking the court for accelerated hearing of the suit.

The court thereafter adjourned the suit till April 2 and 3 for definite hearing of the suit.

Mr. Felix Olugbenga Aliu

Mother & Child expo holds in Lagos

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HE MOTHER & Child expo, a familyfriendly event for new and expectant mothers, families and major stakeholders will hold from 24-25 May, 2014 in Lagos.

The annual expo is billed to explore a mix of top products and services for maternity, babies and toddlers, alongside with speakers and demonstrations from various world experts in parenting and pregnancy.

According to the director of the expo, Toyin Ojo, the exhibition would be a large gathering of over 100 exhibitors, including FMCG manufacturers, baby and children products manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, banks, schools, and toy shops.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

AP faults Ladoja's planned alliance with PDP

BY SIMONEBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—THE National leadership of the Accord Party, AP, has disassociated itself from the statement credited to the former Governor of Oyo State and candidate of the party in the 2011 governorship election in the state, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, that the party will join forces with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other political parties to fight the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2015 general election.

The party in a statement by its National Secretary, Dr. Samson Isibor, made available to Vanguard in Benin City, hailed the opposition being given to the Executive by the APC lawmakers.

The statement recalled that Ladoja ran the governorship election in 2011 with the party’s platform but was defeated, therefore wondered “who made him spokesman of the party when he was expelled from Accord Party in 2012.”

FoI Act: Bizman sues Ogun commissioners

BY DAUDOLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — A businessman, Mr. Adekoya Boladale has dragged three commissioners in Ogun State to court over their failure to provide him the certified true copies of debt records of the state between January 2011 and December 2013.

The plaintiff who sought the leave of the Court to bring an application for an order of mandamus against Commissioner for Finance Kemi Adeosun and his counterpart in the Ministry of Works, Lekan Adegbite who are second and third defendants respectively while the Commissioner for Justice was joined in the suit.

ASUU accuses FG of reneging on release of N20bn

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN – ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASSU, has accused the Federal government of reneging on some of the agreements that led to the suspension of a six-month strike that grounded the university system last year.

Specifically, the academic union, through its National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, lamented that the Federal Government was yet to honour the agreement that N20 billion would be released at the beginning of each quarter to meet identified needs in the universities.

Aremu, during a chat with newsmen at the Post Graduate Hall, University of Ibadan, weekend, said: “This is February and the government is yet to release the money for the quarter.”

He stressed that the call was necessary to avoid the embarrassment that the last strike caused the nation.

His words: “All the strike ASUU had embarked upon in this country were basically because the Federal Government failed to honour agreements freely

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SOGBO—Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and his main challenger in the August governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, weekend, despite their political differences worshiped together at the annual Oke-Maria Pilgrimage, at OtanAyegbaju, Boluwaduro Local

governments in Nigeria failed to learn from history as they always wait till major standoff with their members before doing the needful.

He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian media for standing

by ASUU during the struggle, adding that the support was not really for the members, but for a better Nigeria.

OPENING: From left: Oba Isaac Adesiyan, Olu of Ifanyintedo, Ipokia, Mr. Akin Adesokan, Director, Sales and Marketing, Dangote Cement Plc, Oba John Ojo, Oniko of Ikolade, Idiroko, Ogun State, Alhaji Jimi Azeez, MD, Jimmy Azeez Enterprises Ltd, and Mr. Sola Taiwo, Area Sales Manager, Ogun State, Dangote Cement Plc, during the opening of Dangote Cement Depot, Idi Iroko Road, Ogun State. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

OSUN SCHOOL CRISIS: Muslim students call for peace

BY GBENGAOLARINOYE

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SOGBO—AS Osun State government continues to search for peace which was recently threatened as a result of the reforms in the education sector, the leadership of the Muslims Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, in Osun State has directed all Muslim students in all the public secondary schools in the state to prevent breakdown of law and order by upholding their religious belief in the face of intimidation.

The directive was coming against the backdrop of crisis rocking some secondary schools in the state, especially the Baptist High School, Iwo over the use of hijab by female Muslim students in the school.

Crisis had engulfed the Baptist High School, Iwo since last Monday following the appearance of students of the school in different religious clothes that correlate with their

Osun gov, Omisore worship together at Catholic pilgrimage centre

BY GBENGAOLARINOYE

entered with us.

“It is also sad that each time before we begin the strike, we would give the government enough warnings and grace to make them retrace their steps. But they always fail.

“We don’t know why the

government is always unwilling to implement the documents signed by their representatives.

However, we will continue to fight for the system because if the system collapses, we will collapse with it.”

In his own comments, ASUU chairman, UI chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, said it was unfortunate that successive

Government Area of the state.

The Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan and Apostolic Administrator of Osogbo Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin had announced the likely attendance of the duo around 10.00pm on Saturday , urging devotees at the “Maria Shrine” (prayer mountain), to shelve their political differences and embrace peace.

religions.

However, the state President of MSSN, Alhaji Bashir Olasunkanmi, while speaking in Osogbo weekend urged all

Muslim students to allow peace to reign in the state and their various schools in particular.

He advised the Muslim students in all public secondary

schools in the state not to contravene the law of the land even in the face of provocation in an attempt to exercise their fundamental rights.

2 more days for APC membership registration

BY GBENGAOLARINOYE&

DAUDOLATUNJI AGOS—NIGERIA’S main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has extended its nation-wide membership registration by two days to accommodate the millions of Nigerians who have turned out to register but could not yet do so.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the registration will now end on Wednesday, February 12, instead of today.

“While we are aware that the good people of Nigeria have accepted our party, the APC, as the agent of the much-needed change that our country desperately needs at this time, we have apparently underestimated the number of those who are eager and willing to participate actively in the change process by joining the APC. “Even with one day to go in the original registration schedule, we have exceeded the number of members we set out to register, and many more have reached out to us to give them

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the opportunity to join the APC train of change, hence our decision to extend the registration,” the statement said.

APC said it is also not unaware of the efforts by the PDP to sabotage the registration process in Abia, Delta, Gombe and Rivers, among others, hence the need to ensure that the people of the affected states are not disenfranchised.

Senator averts crisis in Ogun

In Ogun State, the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Gbenga Obadara has cried foul over irregularities recorded in some parts of his constituency during the registration of members of the APC in the state.

Obadara whose loyalists were reportedly barred from participating in the registration exercise, vowed to take the case to the national leadership.

In Itesi-Ajegunle Osiele Ward 6, Odeda Local Government Area, Obadara’s intervention put paid to an imminent outbreak of violence between rival members of the ruling All Progressives Congress who were protesting

the alleged plan by the registration officers to frustrate them from participating in the exercise.

In some other places, including Idi-Aka in Osiele Ward, our correspondent gathered that an unnamed government official took away the registration officer and the materials to an unknown destination.

Also, another lawmaker representing Ifo-Ewekoro federal constituency, Adekunle Adeyemi has urged his people to maintain peace during the exercise.

Osun APC commends members

Meantime, the party has commended its supporters in Osun State who turned out massively in the last five days to formally register as members of the party.

The party’s Director of Publicity Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement in Osogbo yesterday, told members of the party that APC treasures their loyalty and support, and will continue to provide services and programmes that the people of the state needs to improve their lives.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 —11

Fed Poly stops salaries of murder suspects

Delta 2015: APC shops for Urhobo candidate

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — THE management of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, has acceded to the request of the state police command to stop the payment of salaries of seven of its employees wanted for their alleged involvement in last year’s killing of a 37year-old staff of the institution, Mr. Frank Moses.

Moses, a father of two, was shot dead on November 8, 2013, some distance away from his home at the Agudama suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital, after seeing off his visitor.

The late Moses, an indigene of Okiki in Ogbia Local Government Area, was until his death, the Financial Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, of the institution.

The Bayelsa Police Command had, last year, written to the institution requesting that the salaries of the seven persons declared wanted for questioning over the murder be stopped.

Delta Assembly to partner stakeholders on expansion of Osubi Airport

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — D E LTA State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation has promised to partner with all relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate funding of Osubi Airport expansion project.

Chairman of the committee, Mr. Daniel Mayuku, gave the assurance when he led other committee members on an on-the-spot assessment of work on the project at Osubi.

The committee was received on arrival at the project site by the Commissioner, Directorate of Special Infrastructure, Mrs. Orezi Esievo, the Special Project Director, Mr. Val Arenyeka and top management of Consolidated Contractors Company Limited, CCC, the contractor handling the project for the state govt.

VISIT: Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, (left); Chief Moses Odibo, Leader, Goodluck Support Group, Delta State (right); Dr. Njikokar, (2nd right); Alhaji Sanni, Senator Komo (in glasses), Senator Rowland Owie, (from Edo State chapter), Dr. Omoraka, and others, during a visit to Alhaji Mu’azu by members of the Goodluck Support Group, in Abuja.

I was shot, Abe insists ...set to file suit against those allegedly responsible

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— SENATOR Magnus Abe has insisted that he was shot by the Police during the aborted rally of the Save Rivers Movement, SRM, in Port Harcourt recently.

Abe, who spoke weekend in Port Harcourt, said he was set to drag those behind the alleged shooting to court, adding that about two hundred persons witnessed the ugly development.

While thanking God for sparing his life, Abe said he was in the state to participate in the ongoing registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in his home town, Bera, in Gokhana Local Government Area.

According to him, after registering as a formal member of the APC, he will cease to sit with the PDP in the House.

He said: “I was not alone there. There were more than 200 people who saw what happened. This young man was there with a camera. He was beaten up and his camera destroyed. So, if nothing happened, why were they eager to make sure that no picture of what happened got out?

“They opened fire on us in

their midst; we were not in any crowd; they opened fire on us. To say that I was not shot is the largest understatement or the biggest lie of the century. These people opened fire, teargas, everything was fired everywhere.

“People saw what happened. I wasn’t killed, yes, but to say if they opened fire on me and I did not die, therefore, nothing happened, is the height of falsehood. However, for me, I am going to court. I have asked my lawyers to file my case in court against those who have a hand in what happened to me. I will meet them in court.

“I am going home to register as a member of the APC. So, whether a letter is read or not read, as I pick up my card today, I become a member of the APC and I can’t be a member of APC and be sitting with PDP because in the Senate, we sit according to our parties.

“So, I will not sit there and we must find a solution that will enable me be to sit with my colleagues and contribute to the floor. If this is not done, if I talk, how would it be recorded? Would you say Magnus Abe, PDP, Rivers South-East when I am not PDP? “It has to be recorded as Magnus Abe, APC, Rivers South-East. A solution that will solve this problem is what the Senate needs and that is what we are working for. Nobody is against anybody and nobody is fighting anybody. We are politicians and we will play politics.”

While hailing the Supreme Court judgement against the applications of deposed Governor Celestine Omehia, Senator Abe appealed for peace in the state.

He urged opposition politicians in the state to sheath their swords and work for the growth and development of the state.

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 governorship poll in Delta State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is shopping for an Urhobo governorship candidate from Delta Central senatorial district to fly its flag during the election The choice of an Urhobo candidate by the party, Vanguard gathered in Benin, followed a strong indication that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may field a candidate from Delta North senatorial zone for the plum job and the deputy governorship candidate from Delta South, leaving the speakership position to the Central senatorial district.

A very reliable source who did not want his name in print and who attended a meeting in the house of a former governor of Edo State in Benin where the decision to field an Urhobo candidate for the election was taken, told Vanguard that the speakership position given Urhobo ethnic nationality was unacceptable to the Urhobos whose population in the state dwarfs the other two senatorial zones combined.

He recalled that the APC, before the death of late Senator Pius Ewherido, had hoped that he would fly the party’s governorship flag, in view of his popularity in Urhoboland and the entire state, adding that it explained the reason the party ’s structure was built around him.

It was further leant that following recent developments in the state, some stakeholders of the APC that met behind closed doors recently are working towards reaching out to a popular Urhobo politician whose popularity cut across the three senatorial districts of the state.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

UGBORODO: Warring faction walks out on FG’s reconciliation c'ttee

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—ONE of the two warring factions at Ugborodo in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State involved in leadership tussle, which predated the proposed $16 billion EPZ Project to be sited at Ogidigben, has walked out on the Reconciliation Committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, accusing him and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of alleged bias.

Consequently, the faction, led

by Dr. Elex Ideh, has sent a petition to the Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector-General of Police outlining its reasons for backing out of the committee.

Recall that the inaugural meeting of the committee held on January 19, 2014, and is expected to turn in its findings and recommendations today in Abuja.

However, the new twist unfolded last Friday in the office of the SSG when the two factions were expected to attend and submit 10 names from each group to be members of the new committee, but only the faction led by Chief Thomas Ereyitomi attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the SSG told the gathering that the Alex Ideh group had actually walked out on the committee, confirming that they meant every word contained in the petition they sent to Abuja. He read the

petition in the presence of the faction present, security agents who are members of the committee and the press.

The three-page petition, dated January 24, 2014, and signed by six persons, including Dr. Alex Ideh, Mr. David Tonwe, Dr. Ayo Ayomike, Mr. Itse-Elijah Wilkie, Emmanuel Adun and

Femi Uwawah, read in part: “Our position: Our earlier fears that Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, the Delta State SSG, does not have the capacity, independence and neutral disposition have been vindicated.

“That the unwholesome meddlesomeness of the Governor of Delta State in the

affairs of Ugborodo community has again come to the fore.

“That unless this matter is taken out of the hands of the Delta State government, Dr. Uduaghan, the governor will continue to constitute a clog in the wheel of progress."

THANKSGIVING: From left: Mrs. Eki Igbinedion, wife of former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; Ms Abby Oviasu-Humphrey; Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Rev Ogbe Oviasu and Prof. Efosa Oviasu, during the thanksgiving service in honour of the late Deaconess Rebecca Oviasu, at the Church of God Mission, Benin City, yesterday.

2015: Pressure mounts on Uduaghan to contest senate seat

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pressure group, Stabi lizing Factors Campaign Organization, has asked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to contest Delta South senatorial seat in the 2015 general election.

At a press briefing in Warri, weekend, members of the group, comprising Victor Agbateyiniro (General Coordinator), Mr. Jolone Ikomi and others, said after the extra-ordinary general meeting of the group on January 30, 2014, in Warri, they decided to back the governor for the senatorial race.

The group said: “After a thorough consideration of the performance of Governor Uduaghan, and his threepoint agenda, a vote of confidence was passed on him for performing creditably well.

“The several awards and laurels won by the governor are an eloquent testimony of how he has perfectly steered the ship of Delta State to the admiration of all since assumption of office on May 29, 2007.”

Oil spill: Court awards N305m damages against Shell

Edo SUBEB lauds Oshiomhole’s investment in education

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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HIRTEEN years after an action was instituted before a Federal High Court in Asaba against Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, the court has awarded N305.60 million as damages against the company.

The trial judge, Justice I.N. Buba, entered judgment in favour of the plaintiffs, led by Mr Pius Gbenevei and four others for themselves and on behalf of Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Others who were plaintiffs in the suit are Benson Barda, Chief Francis Gold, Chief Ben Ekiokangan and Reuben Braboke.

The court in its judgment, held that “judgement is hereby entered for the plaintiffs in the sum of N305.637 million only, being special and general damages caused by the defendant’s crude oil spillage to the plaintiff ’s properties being capital value for temporary loss of income in fishing rights to the adult fishing population of about 400 people.”

The court awarded N232. 837 million as income in fishing rights for about 400 people, N9.01 mil-

lion as open market value of fishing nets for individuals, and N4.5 million as allowance for fresh water supply to the people.

However, the court refused to award cost against the defendant as requested by the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs had claimed that sometime in August 1998, there was a crude oil spill or outflow from SPDC’s Forca-

dos offshore loading terminal/ baseline in which some “barrels of crude oil spilled into the Forcados and Ramos rivers and was subsequently and negligently allowed by the defendant to be dispersed by tide, current and sea waves, thereby spreading to the plaintiffs' Okia community, resulting in extensive damages to fishing gears, ponds, farmlands, crops, fishing

channels and swamps.”

They claimed that after a complaint was lodged at the defendant’s company through a letter by their lawyer, the company only replied that the tense atmosphere in the area did not allow them to carry out investigation and assessment of damages, but promised to pay damages “as soon as normal operations are resumed in the area.”

Rivers dep gov registers as APC member ...says he's with Amaechi

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— DEPUTY governor of Rivers State, Mr. Tele Ikuru, has registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at ward 5, Ikuru town, Andoni Local Government Area, of the state.

Ikuru, who performed the exercise with his wife, said the party was set to clinch power in the state.

He urged people of his

area and the entire state to vote for the party in coming elections.

His words: “I am fully registered, in case you are still in doubt. For those who are still in doubt as to where I stand, I have always said it that I will stand with my boss, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, wherever he goes.

I have now registered for the APC. “APC is the party to vote for. We will encourage our people to come this way. We have led our people in the

last six years, we have not led them wrongly, we have always led them right and I am sure that they will believe and trust our judgment.

APC is the party to beat.

“It’s a matter of free choice. Some people will choose to be in APC, some may choose to be in some other party and every Nigerian above the age of 18 should be able to have a free choice of which party to join, and who to vote for. No person has the right to stop anyone.”

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E N I N — F O L L O WING Edo State government’s resolve to strengthen the teaching profession, the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, in conjunction with the Universal Basic Education Commission, weekend, commenced training for teachers in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Executive chairman of SUBEB, Prince Stephen Alao, said the training and advocacy was put together to update the knowledge of the teachers for the good of students and pupils in the state.

While tasking participants to be proactive on ways to move the education sector forward, Prince Alao pointed out that Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration had invested heavily in the growth of education in the state.

He added that the rapid transformation of public schools across the state by the government could only be complemented by ensuring quality teaching in classrooms.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—13

NCAA condemns passengers' disruption of Aero airline's operation at Uyo

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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HE NIGERIAN Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday, condemned the alleged attempt to disrupt air operation as well as the attack on Aero airline officials at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo, Cross River State by passengers.

The NCAA General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, who made this known said the condemnation ‘’was necessitated by incoming reports from our Consumer Protection Officers at the airport which indicated an attempt by some passengers on Aero Flight AJ 158, a B 737 – 500 aircraft scheduled service from Uyo – Abuja to disallow the aircraft from taking off if they were denied boarding.

“The flight was scheduled for 12.45 hours and in line with the company’s policy, Aero check –in staff were to close the counter at 12.05 hours (40 minutes to departure) "However, at closure some passengers were still on the queue waiting to be checked-in. On discretion, the Aero staff continued to check-in 20 more passengers and closed the process.

“At this point, some passengers who came late, realising they could miss the flight, descended on the Aero staff and demanded that the flight must not leave without them. ’’The NCAA would like to reiterate that the Passenger’ Bill of Rights which gives rights to assistance and compensation to passengers, also clearly states passenger obligations, like checking-in at least two hours prior to departure."

Anambra govt raises alarm over dredging under Niger Bridge

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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NAMBRA STATE government has decried the continued dredging of sand, currently going on, under the River Niger bridge, a development that has become a source of worry for both the government and people of the state.

Disclosing this in Onitsha yesterday, Commissioner for Local Government affairs, Mrs. Azuka Enemuo said the State government has become very frustrated in its bid to stop dredging under the bridge.

Enemuo, who spoke at the 2014 National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, stakeholders conference to sensitise the economic use of the Onitsha River Port, noted that each time Anambra State government makes any move to stop the menace, the dredgers flash some permits obtained from NIWA to dredge.

She, however, called on the management of NIWA to either withdraw or stop issuance of this permit immediately so as to save the bridge from total collapse.

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI — TRADITIONAL rulers in Ebonyi Central senatorial zone, weekend, endorsed Gov-

undermine any bridge in the country.

"There is certain length of distance that you must give before you dredge, you cannot dredge near the pillars of the bridge. ”We are going to investigate and if we find this to be true, we will take action and this will include withdrawal of dredging permit.

FORUM: From left, Mr. Maryanne Kuriuki, Partner, Vodacom Sales Executive, hosting Microsoft's East & Southern Africa Managing Director, Business Connexion, Ian McAlpine, and Mr. Guy Clarke,Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, during Vodacom Customers' Forum, to introduce SaaS Enterprise Solutions to SMEs, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo editor

ernor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State for the senatorial position of the zone in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

The traditional rulers noted that the decision was taken af-

ter due consultation with relevant stakeholders in the various autonomous communities that make up the senatorial zone.

In a communiqué by them, the traditional rulers called on

CNPP warns against reckless defections ...lauds Gov. Obi’s emergence as APGA leader, BoT chairman

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA — THE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has warned politicians in the country to stop random cross-carpeting from one political party to an-

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ment and take necessary action to stop it.

Ciroma explained that NIWA will not give anybody permit to go and dredge under any bridge, adding that dredgers must keep certain distance from bridges.

She said: “We issue licence for people to dredge, we do not issue licence for people to go and

Traditional rulers in Ebonyi Central zone endorse Elechi for Senate

Onyema Ugochukwu loses brother ROMINENT LAWYER, businessman, politician and philanthropist, Barr. Udechukwu Ugochukwu, has passed on.

Barr. Ugochukwu, younger brother to one-time Editor of the Daily Times and pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, CON, died on Sunday, February 2, 2014, in a private medical facility in Abuja, shortly after his arrival from a two-month medical break in the United States..

He is survived by wife, Mrs.

She disclosed that local dredgers are already dredging at the foot of the bridge and this will affect the integrity of the structure if urgent steps are not taken to stop it.

Responding to the Commissioner’s fears, Managing Director of the Authority, Hajia Inna Ciroma said that NIWA will investigate the develop-

Late Barr. Ugochukwu Ngozi Ugochukwu, three sons; two brothers, and other relatives.

other in the interest of internal democracy.

Anambra State chairman of CNPP, Kate Okafor, who gave the warning during the inaugural ceremony of the newly elected executive members of the state chapter in Awka, weekend, said CNPP would no longer condone the clandestine activities of party members, who had no regard for laws and their party manifestoes.

Okafor, who is also the state chairman of Advanced Congress of Democrats, ACD, warned that such defectors should have a re-think as cross-carpeting to other political parties without justifiable reason, had led to inter and intra-party squabbles.

Insisting that such actions had amounted to rape of democratic principles, Okafor contended that there was no

family that was devoid of misunderstanding.

She commended Governor Peter Obi for providing enabling environment for some political parties in the state to win some council seats in the just concluded council elections in the state.

According to her, Obi did not only accommodate the interest of other parties in the said election, but also showed a sense of leadership and acceptance to other registered parties by inviting them to some important functions of the government.

She attributed the emergence of Obi as the leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and its chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, as a reward for his years of hard work in improving party politics.

the people of the zone to work together to ensure the accomplishment of Chief Elechi’s senatorial ambition in 2015.

It read in part: “That having conscientiously taken deep assessment and scrutiny of those we could consider for the senatorial position, we lack alternative option than to once more plead with Chief Martin Nwancho Elechi, our serving governor, to accept and represent Ebonyi Central senatorial zone in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015. ”That as we, the traditional rulers, are not partisan politicians, we owe our subject the duty of providing them with impartial guide as it concerns leadership in the zone, to ensure that peace is sustained in our various communities. ”That the traditional rulers in Ebonyi State central zone are pleading with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to give Chief Martin Elechi the ticket for Ebonyi Central senatorial seat come 2015.

They commended the leadership of Ebonyi Youth Assembly for its grassroots mobilisation and youth empowerment schemes which had drastically reduced the rate of crime in the state.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

CNPP appeals to President Jonathan over rot in NNPC

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA — THE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, yesterday, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to convoke an independent inquiry into the account of

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, from 1999 to 2013, with a view to unraveling the alleged rot in the corporation.

The CNPP, in an open appeal to Dr. Jonathan, argued that no sane person could dismiss with a wave

MDGs' realisation: UN envoy advises Nigeria

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — Special envoy of United Nations Secretary General to Nigeria on Financing the Health Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and Malaria, Mr. Ray Chambers, has advised the Federal Government to engage the private sector to accelerate realisation of the goals in Nigeria.

Chambers, who made the call when he visited the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday, in Abuja, said it was necessary to co-opt the private sector into the project because MDGs deadline would not be changed.

He said involvement of the private sector and international partners’ support would significantly increase funding to scale up efforts at achieving the MDGs’ target.

Chambers noted that the private sector health alliance, led by Aliko Dangote, and other stakeholders,

would help the Health Ministry to get more support from other private companies, saying some of them had the means of accessing remotest of villages.

“This potential, public private partnership will be unique to Africa in terms of the quest to reach goal number four by the end of 2015 as a result of work done by a number of people led by the minister.

"We do think that there will be significant additional funding coming from the World Bank, USAID, United Kingdom, UNICEF and the Government of Norway,” he said.

He advised the private sector to get involved to assist Nigeria achieve the MDGs' target, adding that there was no time to change plan.

The UN envoy expressed optimism that Nigeria’s leadership would take the country to achieve the MDGs, and called on all member states to bring in ideas for the post-2015

of hand previous and current monumental disclosure from the governor of Central Bank, Malam Sanisu Lamido Sanusi.

The CNPP through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said: “To us the missing link is the accuracy of Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s figures, not the absence of rot in the NNPC; which the independent inquiry will be mandated to unravel and cleanse for posterity.

“We are making this patriotic appeal not only to stop the revenue leakages bleeding our country to stupor, but also to save our democracy and our dear country from harm's way.

“It is our considered view that the 2015 general elections will be free, fair and more transparent, if President Jonathan can muster the political will to clean the Augean stable in the NNPC, since the inception of our democracy or even his regime.

“A transparent audit t by an independent inquiry, without prejudice to the PIB Bill, which from all indications has been kept in view, will ventilate the fouled atmosphere in the industry.

“President Jonathan would wittingly ink his name in the hall of fame of history, clear his name from this rot, sacrifice those who are tainting his name and protect our fledgling democracy and our dear country, if he honours this appeal."

Confab:Traditional worshippers protest exclusion, want 3 slots

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

T

RADITIONAL RELI GION worshippers in the country have slammed the Federal Government for allegedly excluding their nominees from the planned national conference.

Speaking in a media briefing, yesterday, in Abuja, President of the International Conference For IFA Religion, Professor Idowu Odeyemi, regretted that government accorded respect and recognition to foreign religions which came to Nigeria long after the full establishment of traditional religions, to participate in the conference.

He said the exclusion of traditional religion worshippers indicated that Nigerian forefathers had been ignored by their children and

regarded as inconsequential to the development of the country.

Odeyemi, who doubles as the head of all traditional religious worshippers in the country, urged the Federal Government to have a rethink on its decisions to exclude the traditional worshippers from the proposed conference.

He noted that he had been receiving series of complaints from traditional religion adherents from all over the world for explanations on reasons for government decision.

The IFA religion head, who is a professor of geology and dean of school of earth and natural sciences at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, noted that his group appeared before the Senator Femi

Okorounmu’s advisory committee on national conference in Lagos, where it presented a position paper and the way forward for the country.

He added that the religion had millions of adherents in the various regions and tribes of Nigeria, stressing that the fact that Nigeria was a multi-religious country was enough for the Federal Government to have accorded traditional worshippers the recognition and honour to be part of the proposed conference.

"What we ask for is that we should be given a minimum of three slots to send representatives to this conference because we represent a large number of people in Nigeria. "

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—15

UNILORIN ASUU completes first phase of N7.28m female hostel

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN — THE Aca demic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Ilorin chapter, has singlehandedly completed the first phase of a N7.28 million female hostel.

The building was commissioned last week by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the outgoing Chairman of ASUU, Professor Wahab Egbewole, said the need to embark on the project”was informed by the mantra of our executive which is unionism for development.

He said: ”We have watched with consternation the plights of our children, wards and students struggling and scrambling for the limited number of rooms on the campus. ”A number of them have fallen victims of Shylock landlords and wicked neighbours while leaving outside the campus. ”We, therefore, resolved to contribute our quota towards alleviating the sufferings and challenges of these young and vulnerable minds by building an 80-bed hostel for the female students.”

However, speaking while commissioning the building, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ambali commended the leadership of the union under Prof.

Egbewole for a pace-setter, saying the gesture was the first of its kind by any union since the history of the university.

He urged other branches of the union nationwide to emulate the leadership example of UNILORIN by emarking on such projects.

Meanwhile, a new executive has been elected by the ASUU, UNILORIN chapter, to run its affairs.

Dr. Abdlrasheed Adeoye of the Department of Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts is the new chairman with Ajibade Tajudeen of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management as his deputy among others.

NNPC completes repair of Escravos gas pipeline ...injects 1,505mw into national grid

BY MICHAEL EBOH & CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA— THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said it has completed repair works on the sections of the sabotaged EscravosLagos Gas Pipeline network, ELPS, thereby re-injecting equivalent of 1,505 Megawatts of electricity into the national grid Acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of the corporation, Dr. Farouk Ibrahim, who said this in a statement in Abuja, added that the repair works had ended the almost seven months of irregular gas supply occasioned by wilful hacking of the pipeline in Delta State.

He said the repairs would enable the re-injection of about 200 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/ d) of gas into the grid, or an equivalent of about 700 megawatts of electricity.

Last week the NNPC also completed repair works on the pulverized Trans-Forcados pipeline which accounts for 230 mmcf/d of gas or the equivalent of 805 megawatts of electricity. With the latest repair of the ELPS, the NNPC within the last one week is injecting a total of 430 mmcf/d of gas into the grid which translates to 1,505 megawatts of elec-

tricity every day.

Ibrahim further stated that an additional 60mmcf/d was expected within three weeks when ongoing repair works at the Utorogu gas plant is projected for completion.

He said Nigerians should expect steady improvement in power availability through the course of the year, adding that de-

spite short term challenges being experienced as a result of deliberate pipeline sabotage, the gas sector reform was ongoing and on course.

“The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs DiezaniAlisonMadueke directed an accelerated implementation of the Nigerian gas master-plan and this

has resulted in an aggressive infrastructure development drive and major reforms of the commercial framework for gas in Nigeria.

“In the last three years alone, over 400 kilometres of new gas pipelines have been completed and we are expanding pipeline capacity and enhancing connectivity between various gas supply sources,” he added.

Executive Director, Northern Business, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Oladele Akinyemi (middle) presenting the keys to a brand new 32-seater bus to Director, Human Resources Management, National Youth Service Corps. (NYSC), Mrs. Kolajo (left) while Divisional Head, Public Sector, Diamond Bank, Mr. Sujiyanu Garba looks on during the presentation in Abuja, weekend. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Some Southern Kaduna indigenes out to foment trouble —Yero

K

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

ADUNA — GOVERNOR Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, yesterday, said the Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progressive Forum, SKIPF, was bent on fomenting trouble in the state.

Speaking through his Director General, Media and Publicity, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, the governor described the threat by SKIPF to drag him to the International Criminal Court, ICC, at The Hague over alleged offences as empty, saying it was aimed at inciting people to cause breach of peace in the state.

The statement entitled "False and malicious report on attacks in Southern Kaduna," read: "Our attention has been drawn to another deliberate but failed attempt by a group of persons bent on instigating crisis in the state, but masquerading as Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progress Forum.

"Ordinarily, we would have ignored them. But when lies are told repeatedly, there is a tendency for the members of the public to want to believe the group, promoted by some journalists in the state, but which now operates under different kinds of identities, with their motive remaining constant (that is) to seek cheap attention through deliberate exploitation of ethno-religious sentiments.

"Only last week, the same set of people, using a different platform, called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Kaduna State, on account of

an incident that occurred in Plateau State."

"Having failed to make any impact with that infamous call, the group this time came up with another wild and unfounded allegation that the state government shared N564 billion to victims of the 2011 post election crisis in the state.

"If those who claim to be journalists among them are well educated and well informed about happenings in Kaduna State, they should have known that the total annual budget of Kaduna State was less than N200 billion for 2013 when the funds were disbursed.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the actual amount realised and shared to victims of the said crisis was N410 million and the money was shared as assistance to affected churches, mosques and to victims in all the three zones of the state including Christians and Muslims.

"We, therefore, view the recent resort to spreading fallacy in the media as a new display of the desperation of these selfish individuals, who will stop at nothing including the deliberate use of ethnic and religious sentiments to achieve personal gains.

"These people have no feelings that endangering peace on the altar of greed will not augur well for our existence as a people.

"On the issue of incessant attacks by unknown gunmen in the Southern parts of the state, it is common knowledge that Governor Yero has

made several efforts at addressing the security situations in the area, especially along the boundary with Plateau State."

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 THE tragedy of the clash between the Police and the Navy in Warri would soon be consigned to a long list of similar incidents.

Yet,no effort has been made to stop the dangerous re-occurence of such events.

Clashes among security agencies are not new. They no longer bewilder the public as used to be the case. Why would those meant to secure us set on themselves with such ferocity that results in the types of injuries naval personnel inflicted on a policeman at the Warri hotel?

Warri was only a part of it. Sometimes, the Police and Air Force or Army clash. Different arms of the military also fight over matters that are sometimes indiscernible. Each wants to show its superiority, and the best way it seems, is by unleashing excessive force on the other.

When the Air Force and Police clashed in Lagos, both sides fought for days, taking turns to fight not only identifiable personnel from both sides, but anyone with a sticker that aligned with either side.

Do the security agencies hate each other so much? The answer could be distilled from

BY MATTHEW ADEJOH

A

T the last All Progressives Congress (APC) rally held in Yola, Adamawa State, the popular refrain among most of the contributors was the fact that the party was in place for change. The shout of “Change!” rented the air as each speaker tried to work up the crowd, mostly hired, to respond loudly by chanting “Change!”

But a look at the so-called change agents showed a befuddling lot. Number one on the list is former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is more Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) than even President Goodluck Jonathan. He has admitted that he was one of the founders of the party and when he was “pushed out” alongside his supporters in 2007, he could barely wait outside the door before rushing in again after he lost out in the leadership tussle in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Again, he has found his own way out the second time, and his former party, PDP’s Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus is confident this change agent will return.

Change agent number two is reserved for such persons like Senators Bukola Saraki, Adamu Abdullahi, and Danjuma Goje who have Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cases hanging around their necks, and find a safe haven in the APC where, if any attempt is made to touch them, they can always scream blue murder.

Incidentally, these men were staunch PDP members and built the party into the monster they now claim it is. Who knows what the APC will turn out to be within the next few months because these were the men who did not brook any challenge or questions when they were in the saddle as C M Y K

When Security Fight Themselves the incident in Warri, which by all accounts centred on the refusal of a naval officer to pay bills for foods and drinks he consumed with his party at the hotel. He said he had paid.

The intervention of a policeman who worked for the hotel angered the naval personnel who returned with a vehicle load of colleagues to brutalise the policeman and other staff of the hotel, including the owner.

All that seems to matter during such incidents is that if a colleague is disgraced and the disgraced party fails to retaliate with more excessiveness, then the arm of the security agency he represents has also been

disgraced. The individual’s offence is unimportant in fighting for the group.

In Aba, the other week, the Army fought the Police over a minor traffic incident. It led to soldiers invading a police station before superior officers on both sides intervened.

Each arm of the security agencies thinks it is superior to the other and never misses an opportunity to show it. Unfortunately, when these incidents occur, senior officers support their men. It is doubtful if the security authorities punish their personnel, where they are the offending party.

These fights could be minimised without the ease the ravaging parties access assistance from their colleagues. There always appears to be troops on standby to carry out these invasions, with an acumen that suggest they are critical to their career.

It is important the authorities deal with these matters thoroughly. If security agencies fight themselves, we should not be wondering why they are not cooperating to manage national security.

OPINION Change agents in APC and their chicanery governors in their respective states?

And then there is Nasir el-Rufai who made the life miserable for residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as long as his political father, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who appointed him as FCT minister, protected him. When he left power, he had sufficiently taken care of members of his family with plots of land that he even justified it that there was nothing wrong in using public office to benefit friends and family. He was to say something like, “if you get there, you can take care of your enemies.” This one also claims to be a change agent.

From Ogun State to Borno, Kano to Sokoto, Kwara to Ekiti, Bayelsa to others, the infighting, over interim state executives, shows that these change events are more monstrous than those in the PDP, and will brook no challenge within the house. So what will happen if they have to slug it out with other parties on Election Day? Please refer to elRufai for the consequences of losing the election. In any case, he had already honoured the invitation of the Department of State Services (DSS) over his inciting and reckless statements.

For more concrete evidence of what the change agents are doing within, consider these: the interim National Vice Chairman for the North East Zone, Umar Duhu, has reportedly accused the party’s National Secretary, Tijani Tumsah, of taking over his duties for “selfish reasons” following the latter’s supervision of the inauguration of the interim leadership of the APC in Borno

state.

“In my capacity as the Vice Chairman, I am the only one empowered by the APC to inaugurate all APC State Interim Committee members (in the zone),” Duhu said in a statement he issued to the press in Borno, pointing out, “I had inaugurated Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa States. I only have Borno and Yobe to conclude my assignment in the zone Duhu’s public vent came on the heels of crisis in Borno APC between the state governor, Kashim Shettima, and his predecessor, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, over control of the party. The executive committee inaugurated by Tumsah is loyal to Governor Shettima who attended the event with his supporters, while Senator Sherrif and his supporters did not attend the event. He continued: “For Borno State, I am on the last lap of discussions with the leaders of the Party in the State to inaugurate them. What I am doing is to carry everyone along. I will be failing in my responsibilities if I go ahead to inaugurate, and does not carry all members of the Party along. “...I am not sick, nor outside the shores of this country that anyone, no matter how big his position is in the APC, that such person will usurp my powers and do so for selfish reasons. As party leaders, we must be concerned with uniting our leaders and members, not to concern ourselves with personal gains or to further sow seeds of discord between them.

“I will be surprised and disappointed with

any National Officer of the Party, who will go out of his way to go to Maiduguri to inaugurate the Borno State Interim Committee, for any selfish reason known to him. I never dabble into the affairs and works of any National Officer of the APC. Respect is reciprocal and I do not also expect anyone of them to do any such thing to me.

We all have our defined responsibilities and we must remain sincere to our responsibilities, and the respect for one another should be our guide.”

It is generally believed that the executive inaugurated by Tumsah leans toward Governor Shettima, while Duhu is supportive of former Governor Sheriff, who is at political daggers drawn with Shettima. Supporters of both men have traded blame as to how the Boko Haram came about, accusing each other of being responsible for the menace that has kept the country on edge for years. In any case, these are the ones calling for change.

Change from what? Change to what? In Borno, is the change to more anarchy? What of Lagos?

Is it change to greater privatisation of the people’s commonwealth by some old and new political godfathers who daily insult the sensibilities of Nigerians with their verbal exhortation about change whereas they are permanently immersed in unimaginably humongous sleazy deals? Are the nation and its people not in bigger trouble with these buccaneers who masquerade as the new change agents, the patron saints? God help Nigeria! *Mr. Adejoh, a commentator on national issues, wrote fromAbuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—49

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—51

Udechukwu Ugochukwu Curtain call for a quintessential Port Harcourt boy TRIB UTE TRIBUTE

BY TUNDE OLUSUNLE

P

ERHAPS, if the writer of the song “Port Harcourt Boy”, the dance hall, sing-along popularised by the highflying Nigerian artiste, Duncan Mighty, had dug deeper into history of the socio-economy of the city celebrated in that tune, and the big names it has thrown up thus far, the song might have encapsulated some additional players. To be sure, the hit song serenades a list of contemporary players on Nigeria’s socio-political scene, whose foundations are rooted in the famous city. Udechukwu Ugochukwu, barristerat-law, businessman, politician and more, was a Port Harcourt boy in his own right who made invaluable contributions to the socio-economy of the city and state at large.

For the avoidance of doubt, he lived and worked for most of his post graduation adult life in Port Harcourt, the coastal oil rich capital of Rivers State, which prides itself as Nigeria’s Garden City.

Beginning his post-National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, working career with the revered

Udechukwu Ugochukwu

law firm of Abuka, Ajaegbo, Ilogu and Nwaogu in Lagos in 1982, he would subsequently be mandated to open the firm’s Port Harcourt Office, as its pioneer resident solicitor. He handled big time briefs for the firm, including overseeing the firm’s interests in the erstwhile Eastern Region (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu States). He was also charged with the Chamber’s engagements with the erstwhile National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria, NAFCON, which was headquartered in Port Harcourt.

In 1984, he founded the law firm of Ude Ugochukwu and Co

Legal Practitioners, which blossomed into a thriving practice, whose services were sought by many across the SouthSouth geo-political zone and beyond. With friends like Atedoghu Rudolf Rogers-Halliday, Engr.

Okezie Iroegbu and Ozo Oriaku, a pharmacist, he made a bold statement in the Port Harcourt and Rivers State of yore, as a resourceful, visionary and energetic personality, with a keen eye for the future.

He was born in Umuahia in the erstwhile Eastern Region, now in Umuahia North Local Government Area of contemporary Abia Sate. His elementary education straddled Umuahia and the cities of Kano and Jos in the old Northern Region, a situation engendered by the serial transfer and relocation of his eldest brother, the Late Chief Ndubuisi Ugochukwu with whom he lived, and who worked for multinationals at the time.

He attended Methodist College, Uzuakoli, Abia State for his West African School Certificate O’

Levels and then the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, for his A’ Levels. An indomitable quester for knowledge, he gained admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he studied law. His classmates include Donald Dewingwe, SAN, Kanyisola Ajayi, SAN; Babajide Koku, SAN; and Jimoh Lasisi, SAN. Very up-to-date on global affairs-politics, economy and international relations, he was captain of the Fajuiyi Hall Team which routed the Post-Graduate Hall Team in the first ever University of Ife Inter-Hall Quiz Competition in 1977. That was before the contemporary degeneration in the public education system. He graduated in 1980 and immediately proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.

For his NYSC, he once again found himself at the heart of the North of Nigeria, where he served with the primordial Sokoto State Ministry of Justice, as a State Counsel. He regularly found himself in courts across what has since become Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa States, defending the interest of the State. Consistent with his characteristic of committing himself wholly to everything in which he has involved, he guided the remodelling and reconstruction of a new edifice to replace the 1949 brick structure, from foundation to completion.

The programme of events of the commissioning of the St. Charles

Methodist Church, Umulenso, on Friday, December 27, 2013, acknowledges Barr. Ugochukwu’s role thus: Under his chairmanship, the challenge of inadequate land space was resolved with the design of a functional church of unique architectural beauty. Because of the inextricable biological bond between him and his eldest surviving brother, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, CON, former Editor of the Daily Times and pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, both brothers were regularly in the company of one another.

From Lagos, to Abuja and thenceforth to Port Harcourt where the older Ugochukwu served as pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC between December 2000 and April 2005, and Ude Ugochukwu was his “host” as it were, both brothers were vitual siamese twins. At family functions in Umule, guests could take the double-barrelled hospitality of both of them in their individual homes, within the confines of the same traditional family compound, for granted.

Dr Farouk Omar Ibrahim, a Group General Manager in the Public Affairs Department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and longtime friend of the Ugochukwus informed this writer that the relationship between the older and younger Ugochukwu was an enviable example of how brothers should relate.

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

­ ­ ³ ª¨!

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 AQUARIUS: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious.

PISCES: Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

ARIES: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course.

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

TAURUS: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life.

GEMINI: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

By Richard Eromosele

H

OW many seconds do you think you have in a day?

How many minutes do you have in a day? And how many hours do you have in a

All You Have... year?

You see, the way some of us act is like; we have eternity to execute our plans. But the re-

ality is that you and I do not have more than twenty four hours in a day and three hundred and sixty five days in a

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

year to think, to plan and to execute our plans. If this is so, then, why do we delay unnecessarily?

All you have is now. So whatever you can do today, do it now.

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER; Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

LEO: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work.

VIRGO: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today..

LIBRA: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

SCORPIO: Better than yesterday. And the more co-operative you are today the better for you. Those of you travelling for love are in for an exciting day.

SAGITTARIUS: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others.

Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts.

Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What about Libra?

Dear Joshua I am interested in knowing character of Libra Star Signs.

David, Ikeja.

Dear David, Here-under are the basic characteristics of Libra-the Star of money, marriage and justice.

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LIBRA Libra is the 7th Zodiac sign related to public spiritedness partnership, marriage, rival, close associates, open opponents, justice, harmony and/or care for peace and concord.

Through Venus - the ruler of Libra, Librans are artistic inclined and as Venus rules money, money, music and comfort are truly important to all Librans and you are not an exception. Libra is a cardinal star sign which induces it’s natives to desire action and importance in a peaceful manner. Things ruled by Libra as stated above must be taken seriously by you.

You see, if a Libran makes mistake while trying to make a partnership choice either of business or emotional type, it will profoundly affect many other areas of his/her life. Equally, business rival and/or open opponents must not be treated with levity.

Element of Libra is air. Natives of air Star signs are naturally intelligent and must think twice of their ideas before trying to discard them. Because their ideas are truly brilliant and most of them can lead to success both for themselves and others.

Libra is the social butterfly of the Zodiac and the issues of justice, fair-play and equity are very important to the natives of Venus ruled Libra. Some people who need to know better erroneously believe that Librans’ love of peace makes them a weak set of people but Librans can revolt, if and when injustice is done to them.

Some other times however, the desire for peace in your inner-self at times get the better off-you, to the point that you seek others’ approval before you do anything. And this your weak point can be taken advantage of by some dubious people who will not hesitate to do so.

But as peace loving as Librans are if a Libran discovers real or imaginary injustice against self, he/she will feel cheated especially, if the matter at hand concerns RELATIONSHIP, few of them will then react violently but many will sulk.

Yet, influence of Libra makes you a socially developed person and if you care, you can commercialise your sparkling personality. Social activities management courses and/or workshop on such w ill help bring out your ability along this line.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 — 53

NEWS BRIEF

US: Polygamy thrives in Utah

W

Pope’s teachings: Catholics split along age line

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ATHOLICS believe Pope Francis is doing a good job, but many disagree with Church doctrine on hotbutton issues, especially contraceptives, according to a global poll out yesterday.

The survey by the USbased Spanish-language network Univision of Catholics in 12 countries found that those most likely to support Church teachings are married men and women 55 years and older who attend mass frequently and live in rural areas.

For the rest, opinions on issues such as gay marriage, abortion, divorce and female priests vary by region, age, geographic location and income.

According to the poll, 87 percent of Catholics believe that Francis is doing a good or excellent job as his papacy reaches its first anniversary in March. Yet 78 percent favor using contraceptives, a violation of Church doctrine.

On other issues there are marked regional differences: for example 80 percent of Catholics in Africa and 76 percent in the Philippines support the ban on female

Swiss voters narrowly endorse freeze on immigration

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WISS voters have narrowly backed pro posals to reintroduce immigration quotas with the European Union, a Swiss television has reported.

The result on Sunday, which was backed by 50.5 percent voters, calls into question bilateral accords with the EU and could irk multinational companies, Reuters news agency reported.

In a nail-biting vote, 50.5 percent backed the so-called “Stop mass immigration” initiative, which also won the required majority approval in more than half of Swiss cantons or regions, Swiss television said. The vote, comes 12 years after a free movement of people agreement with the EU came into force.

•Pope Francis and his predecessor, Benedict who resigned last year. priests, but only 30 percent in Europe and 36 percent in the United States are in favor.

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year after his shock resignation, Pope Emeritus Benedict has no regrets and believes history will vindicate his tumultuous and much-criticized papacy, the man closest to him told Reuters in a rare interview.

Archbishop Georg Ganswein, who now works for the former pope as well as being the head of Pope Fran-

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The most controversial subject is gay marriage: opposition to such unions is overwhelming

in Africa at 99 percent, compared with 40 percent in the United States.

...Emeritus Pope says no regret quitting

Zuma’s son investigated over car crash OUTH African President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, is being investigated for culpable homicide after his Porsche 911 sports car ploughed into a minivan in Johannesburg, killing one person and critically injuring two, media said yesterday.

The crash happened late on the evening of February 1 during heavy rain but was only linked to Duduzane this weekend, just one day after his father announced a general election on May 7. If Duduzane is found to have been driving recklessly, the incident will be another embarrassment to Zuma, who is already fighting a scandal over a 206 million rand state-funded security upgrade to his private home.

Police confirmed the details of the accident but declined to name the driver or victims, in line with common practice in

ITH 17 of their 25 children still living at home, breakfast is a military operation for the Dargers. As organized chaos unfolds at the family home in the Utah countryside outside Salt Lake City, the parents come to help out.

Alina is the first, followed by her “sister wives” Vicki and Valerie, and finally their husband Joe. The Dargers are members of a polygamous marriage, a lifestyle they say is endorsed by their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs.

cis’s household, shed new light on how Benedict spends his days, his health, his feelings about his momentous decision and the relationship between the two popes.

“Pope Benedict is at peace with himself and I think he is even at peace with the Lord,” said Ganswein, whose twin roles bring him into contact with the current and former pope daily.

Benedict announced his decision to resign, the first pope to do so in 600 years, on February 11, 2013, citing the physical and psychological

strains of the papacy.

He stepped down on February 28 and Francis was elected on March 13 as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years.

His eight-year papacy was marked by mishaps and missteps, often blamed on a dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, and intrigue befitting a Renaissance court.

The “Vatileaks” scandal, in which Benedict’s butler was arrested for leaking the pope’s private papers to the media, alleged corruption in the Holy See, something the Vatican denied.

Israel condemns Iran for sending warship to US

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•President Zuma South Africa. “One person died and two are still in hospital. We are investigating culpable homicide,” Johannesburg police spokesman Neville Malila said.

The investigation might take two to three weeks to complete, he added.

The Sunday Times newspaper named the dead person as 30-yearold Zimbabwean Phumzile Dube. It quoted her husband, Themba, criticising Duduzane for not contacting the family or offering to help pay for her funeral.

SRAEL yesterday denounced an Iranian announcement that it was sending naval ships towards the United States as further evidence that loosening sanctions on Tehran was counterproductive. The move to send warships to the Atlantic was announced by the commander of Iran’s northern naval fleet on Saturday, who described it as a “message.”

The ships “have already started their voyage towards the Atlantic Ocean via the waters near South Africa,” said Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad, in remarks quoted by Iran’s semi-of-

ficial Fars news agency.

Iranian media reported that two ships — a destroyer and a helicopter transport vessel — had been dispatched on January 21.

It was not clear how close the ships would travel towards the US maritime border or when they would arrive.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the dispatch of the warships was clear evidence of Iran’s “aggression” and proof it had not moderated its policies following a landmark deal with world powers to roll back its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Police, internet activists clash in Turkey

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URKISH riot police have used tear-gas gre nades and water cannon to disperse more than 2,000 people demonstrating against new internet restrictions that have caused concern both at home and abroad.

Large numbers of police with body armour and shields backed up by armoured water-cannon lorries deployed against the chanting, mostly young crowd around Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Saturday.

Syrians reconvene in Geneva

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YRIA’S government delegation arrived in Geneva yesterday for a fresh round of peace talks with opposition representatives.

Members of the opposition delegation also arrived in the Swiss city, a source close to the National Coalition told AFP. A source close to the government delegation told AFP that representatives of the regime entered the Hotel de la Paix in Geneva from a back door and made no statements to reporters.

The government delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, as was the case for the first round of the so-called Geneva 2 process 10 days ago.

Morocco bans judges’ protest

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OROCCAN authorities banned a sit-in on Saturday by hundreds of judges who want greater independence for the judiciary, deploying dozens of riot police to central Rabat and closing off streets around the Justice Ministry.

Nearly three years after protests inspired by the Arab Spring prompted King Mohamed to undertake limited reforms and propelled an Islamist party to power, his government is now reasserting its authority in what rights groups describe as a step backwards.

Obamacare: Democrats turn debate to advantage

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EMOCRATS sought to turn the latest con troversy over Obamacare and the economy into a positive political message on Sunday by casting an expected decline in American work hours as a boom to worker freedom and family values. In a new partisan tussle over election messaging that is likely to color this year ’s congressional mid-term campaign, Democratic lawmakers said a predicted drop in work hours brought about by Obamacare would mean more family time for mothers, more study opportunities for college students and less job stress for older workers.

54 —Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

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HE controversial issue of “deportation” of Nigerians to their states of origin reared its ugly head once again in the past couple of weeks. This time, the venue shifted from Lagos in South West to Rivers in the South-South and Imo in the South East. Coincidentally, they are all states under the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors!

According to media accounts, on Saturday, 25th January 2014, some 84 young Muslim men from Katsina State were rounded up in the premises of the Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies (ICAPS) in Owerri, where they were reportedly undergoing skills acquisition. They were forcefully sent back to their state on the suspicion that they were members of the Boko Haram Islamic terror group. They were said to be mostly illiterate and spoke only Hausa.

A couple of days later, a larger contingent of 320 people of Arewa North extraction, comprising men, women and children, who were being conveyed in a convoy of 17 buses, was intercepted at the border between Imo and Rivers en route to Port Harcourt. They were taken to the Rivers

‘Boko Haram' deportations

to process them and escort them to their state with a combined team of policemen and agents of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade. Absolutely nothing was said about the processes involved in the Imo repatriation, which is typical of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s total disregard for due process and decency.

The two contingents were said to have come from Jigawa and Katsina, respectively; two states I am very familiar

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The Boko Haram terrorism has imposed a great burden on people of Arewa stock in Nigeria, sad to say. It is sad because the vast majority of these Nigerians are peaceful and hardworking, contributing their quota to the economic, social and political development of the country

State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt and an intensive interagency security debriefing or interrogations commenced. Some have reportedly been sent back to Jigawa State, from where they were said to have taken off in their southward journey.

At least, those caught in Rivers State were taken into custody for security processing. At the end, those found to be security risks will be made to face the laws of the land while those found to be innocent travellers should be allowed to continue to their destination (not forced back to their states of origin). Nigerians have an inalienable constitutional right to decide where they want to live and earn a living, provided they do so under the law and with full regard to the sensibilities of their new host communities. This was not the case with the bunch rounded up in Imo and sent back to Katsina State, if media reports were anything to go by. Nobody explained how these 84 illiterate youth came to camp at ICAPS, who sponsored them, who their leader was. No effort was made to hear their side of the story. In fact, the law enforcement agencies did not seem to play any role in the whole matter.

At least, when Lagos State “deported” some indigent Igbos to Anambra State, there were some (if poorly done) attempts

Imo established in training its own youth in skills acquisition that will attract the interest of 84 illiterate youth from the far North? With the recent confirmation that the Apo uncompleted buildings dwellers were members of the Boko Haram planning an attack on Abuja, added to the recent boasting by “Abubakar Shekau” that he would soon attack the South, can you blame anyone for taking proactive, self-preservation measures?

Again, is it normal for 320 people of the same ethnic or cultural stock to travel in a convoy of seventeen buses out of their cultural homeland unless they are refugees from war or natural disaster? Do people migrating to another part of the country for greener pastures usually go in such large numbers or convoys? They should not blame anybody for being alarmed and anxious in the light of things happening in the North perpetrated by their own people.

The Boko Haram terrorism has imposed a great burden on people of Arewa stock in Nigeria, sad to say. It is sad because the vast majority of these Nigerians are peaceful and hardworking, contributing their quota to the economic, social and political development of the country. They have always been part and parcel of the Nigerian social tapestry, and will always be, irrespective of whether Nigeria breaks into a thousand pieces or remains one united entity. There are certain essential economic goods and activities that only they can provide.

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with. On the one hand, Jigawa is about 98% Muslim population. It is probably the most Islamised state in the country. It is also one of the most peaceful, with only one recorded incident of Boko Haram attack in the home of former Inspector General of Police, now self-exiled Mr. Hafiz Ringim, who hails from Ringim town. The former IG is probably regarded by the Jihadists as a personal enemy and organised that attack from outside Jigawa State. I can authoritatively report that Boko Haram has no base or footing in Jigawa State. I have been there several times in the past six months, travelling day and night and sensing no evidence of fear or anxiety about terror attacks.

Katsina, on the other hand, is Jigawa’s next door neighbor to the West. It is the only state in the North that has NEVER experienced Boko Haram activities.

Be that as it may, it does not make the manner of influx of these harassed travellers any easier to understand. Can you really blame anybody for developing apprehension over the sudden convergence of 84 young men from the section of the country associated with the terrorists, suicide bombers and murderers of innocent school children in their hostels at night, travellers and people worshiping God in churches? What track record has

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ut unfortunately, they have allowed their misguided leaders, preachers and foreign enemies of the Nigerian nation to get them mixed up with incendiary political ideas and activities that have only served to widen the gulf between them and their fellow countrymen, first in Arewa North and now (increasingly) in other parts of the country. This situation is likely to be exacerbated if (we sincerely pray not) Boko Haram makes good its threat and extends its attacks to the South. This is why I have shouted myself hoarse on this page pleading with our fellow countrymen and women from Arewa North to disregard the

evil machinations of some of their leaders who seek to portray Boko Haram as soldiers of the Islamic religion or warriors fighting for the forceful return of power to the North.

That kind of mindset will only worsen the already poor quality of national identity between Nigerians.

We must continue to insist on the sanctity of the citizenship rights of Nigerians, irrespective of whom they are or where they wish to settle and live their lives. But security of lives and property is paramount.

An old Biafran saying has it that a person surrounded by enemies must protect his life at all times and must never fall asleep.

We must continue to raise the alarm whenever we see security threats around us, but we must report them to the security agencies which have been empowered by the constitution to tackle such matters. We must not indulge in abuse of fellow citizens’ constitutional rights. We must leave that to agencies of state to handle according to the law.

I join President Goodluck Jonathan to urge the new Service Chief and all Nigerians never to go to sleep until Boko Haram is crushed to pulp and the people of North Eastern Nigeria are able to sleep peacefully at night and live normally during the day.

Nyako: Beware of poison!

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T was shocking to see Governor Murtala Nyako, a retired Admiral of the Nigerian Navy, warning his Abia State counterpart, Chief Theodore Orji not to poison him at the Presidential Villa Abuja last week.

“I am telling you, don’t poison me here. I am not comfortable with you here. If anything happens to me here, wallahi, my people will take you to court”, he was heard saying to Orji. The Abia Governor, like a father, tried to calm him down, saying: “For how many years have we been sitting together? Is it this zero hour that I will poison you?”

“Who knows”, growled Nyako.

Due to the alphabetical order of sitting at the Council of State and other meetings at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Abia is first and Adamawa is next. Orji and Nyako have always sat together. I do not know where this poisonous jibe came from. Some say it was because of Nyako’s defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). If that was correct, what about the Governor of Ebonyi State, who sat on the other side of Nyako? Is he not from a PDP state?

From the serious countenance Nyako wore and his repeated swearing (wallahi) I did not see it as a mere joke. Rather, it came across as a childish display of politics with bitterness from a septuagenarian elder statesman who should know better than to shout wolf where there is none. It is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Governor Orji should consider moving to another seat. You never can tell…

OPINION

BY MOSHOOD ISAH

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INALLY, seven senators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have ignored the order by their party asking them to block the screening of service chiefs recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan by fully participating in the screening exercise. The opposition party had initially issued a directive to its members in the house to frustrate the passage of the 2014 budget and the screening of ministerial nominees, alongside the confirmation of the new service chiefs. Questions that kept ringing through the mind of people are why on earth the opposition will politicize some sensitive issues that have direct bearing on safety and welfare of the people.

The opposition claimed that their action borne on the perceived persecution of its member, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state alongside other security issues in the state which have element of partisan ideology.

First and foremost, Rivers state is just a state out of the thirtysix states of the federation. Thus political issues within a state should not serve as yardstick in truncating major national issues. Just within the period of waiting for the confirmation of the new service chiefs many lives had been lost through insurgent attacks in the volatile North-east region of the country. So, why on earth will a political party fighting for national interest try to frustrate the confirmation of the new service chiefs just because of an issue affecting a state governed by their member.

This action will not only jeopardize our ailing democracy but will also compromise national security. The lawmakers should always remember that they were elected to speak for the interest

The politics of Opposition par ty party of the people and country and not to protect parochial and myopic interest.

Furthermore, the frustration and blackmailing of the passage of national bill like the 2014 budget is not only ill-timed and counterproductive when the budget would determine the economic activities in the year. By their actions, many things have to wait, for only God know when. Such actions by oppositions send the wrong message that, the opposition is only concerned about its own interest rather than national interest.

The Lawmakers have the power to summon and interrogate the commissioner of police alongside his boss, the inspector general of police for the misdemeanor in Rivers State rather than holding the nation and its citizens to ransom. The commissioner can be questioned about incessant disruption of opposition gatherings and other partisan security activities.

In this case, the party can use its numerical advantage and I also believe that well-meaning lawmakers will support their decision either to seek for the redeployment or the sack of the commissioner.

The first month of the year has come to an end; there is no better time to pass the year’s budget than now. But it is so unfortunate that the major opposition who is supposed to put the ruling party on its feet is trying to frustrate a sensitive issue like the national budget. There is no gainsaying that this year is a defining year for the present administration to finalize its transformation agenda and the budget is the only way to

achieve that mission. In this vein, derailing the passage of the national budget and hence its implementation is an act of sabotage which will not only affect the economy but dehumanize the Nigerian populace.

According to the ACP’s spokesperson, the Governor of Rivers has faced a lot of serial unprovoked and unwarranted assaults on his person, his constitutional rights and those of the Government and People of Rivers State. They added that “Any cursory observer of events in Rivers State since February, 2013 will be left in no doubt as to the culture of lawlessness and impunity being promoted and supported by the Presidency, and executed by the State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, who has become the defacto military Governor of Rivers State and sole administrator of the PDP in the State.”

While every right thinking Nigerian is aware of the impunity going on in some states, especially Rivers State, there is need to use our discretion to ensure stability in the polity rather than selfish ideas of promoting selfish party politics.

Meanwhile on a final note, I want to use this medium to correct an impression which may be gnawing through your mind right now. I am not in any way against the opposition party or its leadership. As a matter of fact, a strong opposition is very good for this polity as it will make the ruling party stand on its toes and deliver good governance. My aim is to instigate the fact that, frustrating national issues because of party interest *Mr Isah, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014— —55

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F the proposed national conference is to address wholesale, the protracted challenges of the Nigerian nation state, it must begin by getting the representation to the conference right. Anything short, is failure like they say - a building that is on a poor foundation will not stand.

Nigeria as a country, is labouring to become a nation state. What really constitutes a nation state? It is a country of two or more ethnic groups, with shared boundaries, cultures and languages, that have decided to come together, to subordinate their sovereignty to one federal body. The web definition states that " The most noticeable characteristics, is the degree to which nation states use the state as an instrument of national unity in, economic, social and cultural life". The key word is ' unity'. The more unified we are, in various aspect of our national life, the more we tend towards nation state hood. They must agree on the governing arrangements, which include: allocation of resources to the different structures. They will also agree on a power sharing formula between the federal government and the individual state. For this to be actualised, there must be willingness on the part of the individual unit states to participate in a common patrimony. The key word is 'willing '.

It is a fact that, the various ethnic groupings in Nigeria, were forced into this marriage, their opinions and consents were not sought and therefore, complications arising from the forced marriage developed, which is still besetting the nation till date.

For a truly genuine nation state to emerge out of Nigeria, all the various ethnic tribes must be factored into the conference agenda. There must be no exception, if not, the cry of marginalisation and disunity will continue, no matter how sincere the outcome of the conference turns out.

It is not too late for government, to constitute a research team, to determine the actual number of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, identify their representatives and bring them into the picture of the national conference theme. They must be allowed into the debate, and their voices must be heard, that is the way to do it.

Government must be bold enough to face the situation squarely. Every group that is coming out has the agenda of its people, if you expunge some ethnic groups from the list, how will issues affecting them be resolved.

I have said it before, the majority tribes must not use numbers, to deprive the minorities of their rights. We must always use the United Nations as our standard. If population is key, China will not have the same number of

Let us sit down to talk and douse the tension and palpable conflagration, that is building.Let us talk, let the conference hold

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representatives in the UN as Nigeria. Nigeria will not have the same number of representatives in the African Union as Cape Verde.

Why are proponents of population doing otherwise here in Nigeria?

If it is going to be unwieldy, to present them at the national level, they should be allowed to voice their stands at the state and regional levels. Also,allow their votes to be counted in the selection of persons to represent them at the federal level. That way, their right as guaranteed by the constitution, will be upheld.

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lso, within the larger ethnic tribes, there, are sub groups, too numerous to mention. They too, should be identified and given same recognition.

In a true nation state, the interest of the nation supersedes all of the individual states, all citizens are regarded as one and equal. That is why the people should critically examine the indigene - settler issue.

The new trend all over the world is to accord automatic citizenship, on the basis of, place of birth,or, for those who have taken residence

2015: Imperative of a Northeast presidency

BY BUKAR MUSTAPHA

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has just released the timetable for the 2015 general elections.

This means political activities will soon pick up and the atmosphere will once again be charged. The most important of all the political horse-trading that will soon ensue is determining who occupies the presidency by the year 2015. There is so much interest and calculations across a spectrum of stakeholders on this all important position.

Many political gladiators are jerking up their sleeves for a showdown in the contest of who grabs his party's ticket for presidency.

As it can be recalled, the North ought to have taken over the presidency in 2007 for a period of eight years; that is after President Olusegun Obasanjo had ruled for a stretch of eight years. It did take over. But fate conspired to deny the North of the eight years. Expectedly, and as provided for by the constitution, the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan took over from late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, first as acting president and later (on Yar'Adua's death) as president. However, instead of President Jonathan to complete what remains of the Yar'Adua/Jonathan tenure and let the position go back to the North, he manipulated his way to getting a fresh mandate.

However, as the political mill begins to roll once again, there is a resounding agitation to send President Jonathan parking. First, to most patriotic Nigerians, the man has only managed to hold the country in one place: stagnant, without any progress. On the extreme side, others are even lamenting that the country only witnessed retrogression on many sides, under the watch of President Jonathan.

For the North-east, the six years or so of

for a specified number of years.They enjoy all the benefits and rights of true citizens. That is why, the man of Nigerian parental descent, could go to London and kill a white British citizen - a military officer at that - in full view of TV viewers all over the world and still be accorded all his rights as a citizen. In Nigeria, he would have been mobbed and burnt to death instantly, without the opportunity to explore deep into his mind, to reveal the motive for his action.

The government should not delay any further, a situation where people are deported back to villages, in some states of the federation, should not be encouraged.

We should be growing towards integration and not the opposite.

Today, Nigeria is more divided as a nation, than it was, on the eve of the Nigerian civil war. Our leaders must take note. Indigeneship settler dichotomy must be abolished now. The country will benefit more from it, there will be less suspicion amongst and between tribal groups.

It will also breed development.

When people perceive that a place is safe, for them to do business, they invest their money and infrastructure, without looking back. If you take an over all view of Nigeria, the cities that have advanced the most, are those that have opened up to strangers. We must encourage love across tribal boundaries. Indigene - settler issue must be tackled by the conference, once and for all times.

It is also very imperative for the conveners of the conference to factor in, our various professional bodies, every one that is duly

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BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

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On the national confab representations et al

the Jonathan presidency have been most uneventful ones. For us, it has become what the Latin would call annus horriblis (year of horrors). The time-bomb planted by years of neglect of this area has suddenly gone off and to the chagrin of all, the government seems helpless on the two expected directions: containing the insurgency, and cushioning the impacts on the victims and the affected towns. While the government’s security forces daily avenge attacks on them by the insurgents on the hapless civilian population, the civil government has shown no willingness to help victims recover psychologically and materially. The pointer to this is the paltry budgetary provision of N2 billion for the entire North-east, after all the promises.

For the average person from this region, our people are being treated as second-class citizens in their own country. First and foremost, federal presence in this vast zone is, for lack of better word, abysmal. Strategic and key institutions of governments have not been sited here. There appeared to be no deliberate industrialisation policies by the Federal government to develop the region.

The scattered industries around have also been left to rot in neglect.

It is the opinion of our people here that things have been allowed to degenerate over time in this region because its capable and competent persons have been tactically shut out of power at the highest decision making level. For a very long time, there seems to be silent but dangerous trend in the politics of the North, and Nigeria in general where there appears to be a sort of consensus or conspiracy against the North-east geopolitical zone. This dangerous trend, whose unfortunate manifest is now the insurgency in parts of the area, which goes on unabated, is a direct result of neglect and marginalisation.

Anytime opportunity presents itself for the

But this is 2014 and all hopes for who produces the president lies with the All Progressives Congress (APC).Yet, North-east is not lacking in competent and vibrant personalities who have the qualities to be presidents

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North to present head of government, it goes to the North-west or the North-central, as if by act of commission – and omission for the North-east. Despite producing senior thoroughbred military officers, the region was never for once accorded the honour of producing the head of state. Those fine officers, therefore, were only used (or, expended) in military operations where, thank goodness, they proved themselves to be brave, professionals and good managers of humans.

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quick rundown of the history of Nigeria’s military rule shows that when General Ironsi was toppled in July, 1966, the then Colonel Yakubu Gowon (from the North-central) was handed over the mantle for eight years. From Gowon, the North-west took over via Murtala. There then came Buhari (from the North-west) who removed a fellow North-west person – Shehu Shagari. General Babangida, from the North-central succeeded Buhari and he in turn was followed by Abacha (from the North-west). The military era ended with General AbdulSalami Abubakar, also from the North-central, succeeding Abacha. This shows North-central alone has spent nineteen years ruling this country while North-west held sway for six years under the military, in addition to the Shagari and Umaru Yar’Adua years as civilian leaders.

Yes, it is true that late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa from the present day Bauchi state

registered should have representatives in the conference.

There is a need for Nigerians to do things in the proper manner.

Professionalism breeds proper organisation, which in turn breeds development and focus. A focussed citizenry, will move the country out of the doldrums. Let us have more of professionals than politicians.

Too many things are not done properly in Nigeria, either by omission or commission, rules are flouted, let the professionals come in, to show us proper ways to tackle the diverse challenges facing the nation.

Now that the tension has been created by politicians, let us fully address the issues at hand. There is no better time than now. There should not be any no go area in the debate, if the whole exercise is to make any meaningful impact.

What is it that the people of the different ethnic bodies want? They should be listed out. The issue of how to reach a decision, must be spelt out clearly to all representatives- that is- everyone will agree to abide by the decision of the majority and having agreed on that, the decision, must not be discredited by any member. That is why I harp on the point that every ethnic group must be allowed to have their say, that will give the outcome legitimacy and credibility.

Let us sit down to talk and douse the tension and palpable conflagration, that is building.

Let us talk, let the conference hold.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

was the first and only Nigeria's Prime Minister. But it is also true that he was just there as the errand boy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna, who was the leader of the ruling Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) then. Obsessed with playing at the regional level, where he was working towards his ambition of becoming the Sultan of Sokoto, he 'sent' Balewa to the centre while retaining his own role as the party leader. Meanwhile, there was a president in Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Therefore, as the calculations begin for 2015, it is our prevent hope that this time around, the larger North plays the fair card for the North-east in picking a presidential candidate. Yes, in 2011 something of that nature was reflected but some of us who are keen students of power knew that it was not going to work. This was because President Goodluck Jonathan getting the PDP ticket at the time was a fait accompli. But this is 2014 and all hopes for who produces the president lies with the All Progressives Congress (APC). Yet, North-east is not lacking in competent and vibrant personalities who have the qualities to be presidents, from within the APC. Having tried many options in the past, and bearing in mind the dynamism of the world and diversity of Nigeria, key stakeholders in APC should have a deep reflection of who the party gives its ticket. The opposition coalition this time around is in a form of make or mar union which has the vibrancy of upstaging the present administration of PDP. But to achieve that there is need to have a decent leader. Such a person should be a leader whom everybody will be comfortable with for his decency, pan-Nigerian spirit, honesty and modernity. Needless to say, the North-east as a geopolitical zone have an array of personalities who have passed the credibility test and have the broadmindedness to superintend over one united and stronger Nigeria. Moreover, we from the North-east will have the rest of mind that the current disturbing challenges here will be easily solved. The saying that only the owner of the room knows where it leaks is true in this case. *Mr. Mustapha, wrote from University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

56—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

registration exercise, including allegations of the use of structures of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deliberate misinformation of the citizenry of the purposes of the registration and compulsion on unwilling persons in states controlled by the APC to partake in the registration exercise.

Traders and okada riders according to critics of the APC have been compelled to register for the APC. But beyond hearsay, no concrete evidence of such compulsions have been produced.

Registration exercise

APC’s membership registration:

Is PDP unsettled?

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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HE last time the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, attempted a compilation of its membership register in 2005, it turned out to be an orchestrated fiasco. At that time, members, including foundation members like the then vice-president, Atiku Abubakar who were out of favour with President Olusegun Obasanjo were deregistered from the party.

At that time when Atiku arrived at the registration centre in his Jada ward in Adamawa State, the chairman of the ward told him that the register was missing and elected to register the vicepresident on a notebook! Atiku sensing that it was a farce as the notebook would not be

incorporated into the genuine register rejected it and returned to Abuja. The embarrassment of Atiku being denied registration in the full view of the national media in his ward became such an embarrassment for the then national chairman of the party, Col. Ahmadu Ali, who then sent a member of the National Working Committee, NWC to register Atiku in the Presidential Villa.

But it was not was not lost on Atiku that the registration in Abuja was void, given the party's regulation that only the ward chairmen could register a party member. That particular exercise threw up the phrase linkmen in the nation’s political lexicon.

Linkmen like Senator Jibril Aminu were made anchors of the

registration exercise in states like Adamawa and Edo States where the PDP state executives were seen to be out of the direct control of the president.

At the end of that controversial exercise, the PDP did not announce it’s new membership strength, but what was generally known was that the party’s membership shrank on account of the deliberate refusal to register many party men who were either connected to Atiku or were for one reason or the other not favoured by the powers at that time.

Given that deliberate effort in frustrating out its members, it was as such remarkable that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh last Friday chose to address the press

on what he claimed was a deliberate attempt by the new opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC to mislead the public on its capacities and content using the ongoing party membership registration exercise.

“The APC is sadly and currently using every foul means at its disposal to build a particular

,

THE Peoples Democratic Party, is set on a collision course with the All Progressives Congress, APC over the latter’s ongoing membership registration exercise. The ruling party which has yet to conduct a hitch free registration exercise has accused the opposition party of deceit in the ongoing exercise. Is the ruling party crying wolf ?

True, the APC registration exercise has not been without incidence. As the party’s whip in the House of Representatives, Rep. Samson Osagie told Vanguard last weekend that “there is no area where human beings are involved where there would be no crisis, but there is nothing out of proportion in my constituency.”

Osagie’s assertion of relative success, if true in his constituency has, however, been rejected in some circles within and outside the party. There were claims that the membership cards allocated to some registration points were shortchanged by as much as 40 percent by party chieftains apparently aiming to get a head start on rivals within the party.

In Rivers State, one person was reportedly shot dead and in some other cases, violence marred the membership registration exercise.

In Ebonyi State, two registration officials of the party Donatus Omenyi and Moses Anyior were said to have been kidnapped at the weekend in their respective houses at Nwekeisioffia and Umuezekoha communities in Ezza North council area by their abductors around 2 am.

The APC was quick to blame the PDP for orchestrating the violence in Rivers and in other places, especially where the PDP

Traders and okada riders, according to critics of the APC, have been compelled to register for the APC, but beyond hearsay, no concrete evidence of such compulsions have been produced

membership figure, running into tens of millions, which it intends to use as a justification to fault, dispute, reject and subsequently take to violence when it loses the 2015 general elections,” Metuh told newsmen last Friday.

Metuh also noted other alleged infringements of the APC in its ongoing membership

,

is in control. But the thrust of the PDP's allegation as asserted by Metuh last Friday was of a deliberate attempt by the APC to claim a membership strength with which it would use to claim superiority in votes in next year’s series of elections.

At the onset, the APC was Continues on page 57

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—57

We're waiting for the six wise men —Osagie, APC whip Budget 2014:

MR. Samson Osagie is the All Progressives Congress, APC whip in the House of Representatives. In this telephone interview he addresses issues relating to the fate of the 2014 budget and other issues. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HAT would be the fate of the 2014 budget in the House now that Mr. Joseph Mbu has been removed as the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State?

The position with the budget right now is that we are awaiting the advice the six wise men set up by the speaker will offer the presiding officer before we take a decision on what to do.

On the removal of Mbu, it is a welcome development, it is a matter that was long overdue and it shows the triumph of reason over impunity and we hope that Tunde Ogushakin who is taking over from Mbu will not tread the partisan path of Mbu and that peace and normalcy, fairness, equity and justice would be brought to the people of Rivers

Continues from page 56 apparently aiming for 15 million members, but as the registration process commenced and with it, the rush, party officials aimed higher, pushing the projection to 25 million.

It was as such not surprising that the PDP cried out as it claimed that the opposition party was preparing grounds to launch a protest after, in the words of Metuh, the APC would have lost the election.

“This fraudulent membership figure, meant to create an unexisting mass followership is to be maniacally presented, projected and defended by the APC, using its well known unethically hypodermic propaganda tools as an anticipated real voter strength, below which it will carry out its threat to unleash mayhem on the nation as contained in its allegory of “ the monkey, the baboon and blood.”

Turnout for registration Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the interim national publicity secretary of the APC, however, quipped back in a telephone interview with Vanguard yesterday, saying the PDP was clearly intimidated by the turnout for the registration by APC members. “Honestly, clearly the PDP is intimidated by the turnout for this our registration and even we in the APC we

State.

We as a party are very happy with that development and it shows that our effort has paid off and that all the pressure we brought to bear has paid off.

Some are claiming that your protests in the House would still turn out to be ineffective given that even in 2013 you didn’t approve money for SEC, yet it was not affected?

It is part of the impunity that is in the system. We are not surprised, you are aware of the huge sums of money that are being bandied about as missing, those funds were not appropriated and that is the kind of impunity we have in the management of the resources of our country. It doesn’t really matter whether our action is ineffectual, what it shows is that the principle of separation of

•Osagie: People are struggling to have APC registration cards powers is not being adhered to and that one organ of government is lording it over the other organs.

We are not bothered, we are not surprised that our actions and resolutions and that even appropriation laws are not being obeyed. Apart from SEC, even the monies that we approved

were they actually released? As we speak now, some ministries, departments and agencies have not even received part of their capital votes.

For us, it is not a big deal, because even allocations we made through appropriations were they really obeyed? Not to talk of where we did not

appropriate. So, they pick and choose and it is part of the culture of impunity and mismanagement that goes on in our land. But we will continue to try so long as democracy continues. We will continue to try, we will continue to provide the necessary checks and balances and until the people themselves emulate change. It is only the people themselves that can bring about change and when that change comes everybody will heed.

What is the exact number of APC members in the House?

Right now I cant provide you with the record because PDP on a daily basis is busy poaching and using all means possible to deceive hoodwink and get our members, especially from states where there are PDP governors.

So, at the risk of providing insufficient and inadequate figure, I will like to be excused from naming any figure.

But which party has the majority in the House now?

It is unclear. As I speak to you now it is unclear.

How is the APC membership registration exercise in your constituency?

It was very successful, people are struggling to have APC registration cards, you cant believe it especially in my constituency.

Is PDP unsettled?

•Mohammed: PDP is fazed

•Metuh: APC is tricking

underestimated the popular acceptance of our party by the people of Nigeria. We set out to register 15 million but as of today we have been inundated with demands that we had to extend the registration by two more days.”

On Metuh’s allegation that the APC was deceiving the citizenry by using INEC polling centres as a way of luring unwary people to register with the party, he said: "What we are witnessing today has never been seen in the history of Nigeria and we were very proactive and very creative in deciding to use INEC polling centers for the venues for our registration.”

“Don’t forget that our party is made up of some parts of the PDP, the ANPP, CPC and ACN and if

we had used any other venue apart from the polling booths it would have led to confusion. If you say ward would it be the ward of the former ANPP, the former CPC or the former ACN?” “Secondly, we recognized that all politics is local and at the end of the day everybody reports at his polling booth. So why don’t you get registered in your polling booth?”. Further dismissing the assertions of the PDP, the opposition spokesman said: "What bothers one is the paranoia that has ceased the PDP and they have become so paranoid that they have become so incoherent and they are getting very silly and infantile. I have not seen anywhere in the world where you are going to preempt how many people we are going to register.

Even if we declare 50 million voters, does that translate into 50 million INEC votes?”

The accusations and counter accusations nonetheless, the attempt by the APC in opening up registration is an innovation that even reformists in the PDP had in the past attempted to do but were shot down.

Dr. Okwesileze Nwodo, as chairman of the PDP in 2010 made a bold attempt to open up the membership through an online registration exercise, but the powerful governors in the party frustrated him.

Iron grip of the governors Nwodo, it was learnt, had told President Goodluck Jonathan that the only way he could take the party away from the iron grip of the governors was by opening registration through an online register in which every member would make his own pay for the running of the party, but the governors firmly resisted him.

It was simple logic for the governors to continue sponsoring the party and by that way dictating the tune for the party, Nwodo had reportedly preached to the president.

Apparently taken in by the suggestion, the president flagged off the online registration

exercise by registering himself, but the PDP governors quickly moved to frustrate it and the exercise and it was abandoned.

It was as such no surprise that the governors moved with vengeance against Nwodo and saw to his unceremonious exit at the end of 2010. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur also parroted the idea of online registration but the governors never gave him space and it was no surprise that for all the 21 months he spent in office he never had respite.

Though the APC has opened up its registration to all and sundry, suggestions that the party has been removed from the firm grip of its own godfathers remains debatable.

The national chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande and the five former PDP governors who all opposed online registration in the PDP, and in the past were associated with imposition of candidates, have been put on the spot where they have to show that party members count in the selection of candidates for elections.

The former ACN had won notoriety to itself in the past when its national chairman, Chief Akande asserted in an interview that imposition of candidates was its culture. Now, Chief Akande has to show the other leaf.

58—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

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

Lagos, Rotary, Chellarams partner on blood donation

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AGOS—CON GLOMERATE giant Chellarams Plc in conjunction with Rotary International, Lagos and Lagos State Blood Transfusion committee, recently organized a blood donation camp where staff and members of Rotary Club voluntarily donated blood to the Lagos State Blood Bank as part of activities to mark Chellarams 90th anniversary. More than one hundred donors took part in the exercise as a service to the health and well being of society.

The week-long camp which kicked off activities lined up for the anniversary started with a lecture on the relevance of blood donation by the Lagos Blood Transfusion Committee, to support maternal health care and promote healthy livings in Nigeria.

Chief executive officer of Chellarams, Mr. Aditya Chellaram, during an interaction with newsmen, reiterated the company’s commitment towards supporting the society and the environment as part of its numerous corporate social responsibilities.

Interestingly some of the donors expressed excitement in being part of the exercise to save a life and contribute to the company’s efforts towards better health and well being of society.

At the end each participants was given a certificate of recognition, beverage and fresh milk to help replenish.

NIMET predicts fog and mist in southern areas

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HE Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, yesterday, predicted cloudy conditions with chances of fog and mist over the coastal areas in the southern states during the morning hours today. The forecast is contained in the weather report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, yesterday.

According to the forecast, there are prospects of localised rain showers over Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Eket and Uyo during afternoon and evening hours. In the inland areas, hazy conditions are expected over the region during the forecast period.

However, there are chances of localised thunderstorms over Osogbo, Akure and Ado-Ekiti during afternoon and evening hours.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—59

60 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

I want my Super Eagles shirt back, says Yobo

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FTER a confident debut performance in the 0-0 draw with title-chasers Manchester City on Saturday Super Eagles captain and Norwich City defender Joseph Yobo has set his sights on a return to the national team as he looks set to force his way into the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles’ most capped player returned to England to join the Canaries in January after four years in Turkey with Fenerbahce.

The Eagles skipper is looking to claim back his place he lost after the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

“It’s been a while since I was involved with Nigeria. I haven’t played for the Super Eagles since we became the champions of Africa,” Yobo said after this weekend’s Premier League match.

“I have spoken to

(Stephen Keshi) and I think we are on equal basis now so I just have to perform well for Norwich City now and get my place back in the national team.

“I have been in the

national team for so long. Captaining the national team gives me a special feeling and going to the World Cup for me will be an addition.

“I am here (in England) now and my pri-

J

UST like what they did in Lagos, Nestle Nigeria at the weekend celebrated the feat achieved by

I knew I would score told Sports Van— Sibi Gwar finisher guard that he was happy

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WO goal hero in Enyimba’s 3-1 victory over Anges de Notse of Togo, Sibi Gwar has said that he knew he was going to score in yesterday’s tense CAF Champions League match in Aba. Speaking after the match, the mercurial

to have scored the two goals that helped Enyimba win 3-1.

“I am happy that I scored today. I am even happier that the two goals I scored were very important. I knew I would score because each time I play for Enyimba I score important goals,” he said.

Bent

•Yobo

NFF

Continues from BP but their inability to find a clue and adapt to technical changes against Ghana and Zimbabwe.

And after also analysing the circumstances that they felt contributed immensely to Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation Executive members have concluded that Stephen Keshi, the head coach of the Eagles needs some assistance to lead Nigeria well in the World Cup in Brazil.

And the technical committee members, we gathered, were to formally present their findings to Keshi today when the committee meets but they gathered last night that Keshi had travelled to the United States to meet with his family.

“We were not formally informed of his trip because we wanted to meet him on Monday(today) and tell him about our findings for the World Cup,”a top member of the federation said last night.

“We want to do well in the World Cup and we strongly feel that he

ority now is Norwich City. Hopefully if I do well here, the national team (call up) will just be an addition. It will be a pleasure,” he added.

Nestle donates basketball uprights, jerseys to St Jude’s Angels

needs a technical assistant,’’ the member said, adding, “it is about Nigeria and not individual aspirations.

We want to break the African record of a quarterfinal berth in the World Cup and from all indications we know that Keshi needs a help. He will still lead the technical crew to Brazil and will remain the head coach. But we just want to attach somebody to him for the sake of improving Nigeria’s lot in the World Cup.” Another top member of the Federation said that “a new hand could ask questions about certain things that may eventually help the team. Chigozia Agbim, for example, kept only two matches for his club throughout the season and has recently been dropped by his club, Enugu Rangers who registered four goal keepers and found him not good enough to be among their keepers.

That’s the keeper Keshi used in the CHAN competition and he embarrassed the country. That cannot happen in football

nations. We don’t fold our arms while somebody leads us astray. If you closely watch our league you will find out that those who played CHAN in South Africa were not our best, some may not even make the second team of the bests in our league. We want to be sure that we make a true representation of the current best of Nigerian football in Brazil and a new hand may not give in to the kind of sentiments that we have noticed in the team now.”

Keshi, we gathered, had told the federation that he did not need a new technical assistant and that Sylvanus Okpala who was disengaged after the Nations Cup victory in South Africa be recalled.

Many Nigerians have supported Keshi’s position on Okpala even if another assistant is to be engaged for the best interest of the Eagles in Brazil. The technical committee meeting will go on today in spite of Keshi’s absence which members are already frowning at.

Continues from BP by’s fine pass saw the Premier League’s bottom club lead at the end of a first half that United had largely dominated.

The second period was even more one-sided, with the visitors often having 11 men behind the ball, and the hosts turned around the scoreline thanks to two goals in two minutes, as Robin van Persie struck from close range and Michael Carrick netted with a deflected strike.

However, half-time substitute Bent nodded in a rebound in the fourth minute of injury time to earn Fulham a point.

United remain seventh in the Premier League, with Fulham still at the foot of the table.

The Red Devils started Sunday’s game relatively well, but were unable to create a genuinely decent chance to take the lead.

The visitors shocked the hosts in the 19th minute.

Enyimba Continues from BP dence. The two-time African champions began well, creating chances but failing to convert them to the dismay of their teeming fans. African Nations Championship striker, Ifeanyi Ede was the worst culprit as he frittered away numerous chances. Abdulrahman Bashir was another profligate in front of goal.

Seeing that Enyimba were not taking their chances, the Togolese team launched a surprise attack in the 37th minute that resulted in the opening goal of the match scored by Cheik Aziz Camara. The goal silenced the capacity crowd.

Coach Zakary Baraje substituted misfiring Ifeanyi Ede with Sibi Gwar. Ede appeared to confirm the position of league monitors that

those who represented Nigeria in CHAN were not the best from the league.

However, refusing to be outdone by their rivals, Enyimba supporters intensified their singing from the stands, hoping for an equaliser. The first half ended with the visitors leading 1-0.

Substitute Gwar leveled scores for Enyimba in the 80th minute. His finish was sublime and the fans who were already getting tensed up sprang back to life.

Three minutes later, Kingsley Sokari scored the second goal for Enyimba. Just when everybody thought the match was going to end 2-1, Gwar was on song again when he unleashed a terrific shot that beat goalkeeper Nouridine Assouna to give Enyimba a comfortable 3-1 win. The second leg comes up next weekend in Togo.

Bayelsa’s St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School at the yearly Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship.

At the colourful event held at the school premise in Amarata, dignitaries from Bayelsa State ministry of education and sports led by the Commissioner for Education, Salo Adikumo were present at the occasion including parents and guardians of the celebrated team.

The atmosphere was animated with students gracing the event in their hundreds, while the Principal of the 52 yearold school, Mrs. Celia Apreala could not hide her joy for the honoured being bestowed on the school as well as all members of the team.

Pillars

Continues from BP Firmin Mubele Ndombe scored in the 11th minute.

It took Kano Pillars 20 minutes to get back on level terms with their hosts through Nigeria midfielder, Rabiu Ali. Just after Ali’s goal, Bello Kofarmata missed a glorious opponent to give Pillars the lead after rounding the AS Vita goalkeeper but failed to hit target.

But the Kano club’s joy lasted only 14 minutes when Guy Lusadisu Basisila restored AS Vita’s lead and ensured they went into the break the more comfortable.

The second half began on a sour note for Kano Pillars as Kofarmata saw red for a second bookable offence in the 54th minute.

Two minutes after the Nigerians went one man down, AS Vita scored through Lema Mabidi to give themselves a twogoal lead with over 30 minutes to play.

Kano Pillars however held on to avoid conceding a fourth goal for the remaining 30 minutes and added time.

The return leg between Kano Pillars and AS Vita will take place at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano next weekend.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord From henceforth . yeah said the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them.

Revelation 14 V 13

F

Pa Ojidoh’s last interview

,

RIDAY, January 31........four days before the death of Pa Ojidoh, I had for a guest, Linus Mba, the hard working referees consultant of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Whenever Linus came round, of course you can trust that the topic will be football unlimited. This Friday, in the course of our discussion, Linus drew my attention to my last column in the Vanguard, especially the one that had to do with Keshi wearing a suit on the bench during the world cup.

For him it does not matter what a coach wears, as long as he performs. Then Linus remembered Pa Ojidoh and wondered what his opinion will be on issues like this.

Linus Mbah is one of those who benefits from the regular calls of Pa Ojidoh. The man who was constantly abreast of sports issues, especially football will always want to call you and contribute his quota. His other medium of communication was through text messages, a platform he used frequently to send out prayers and good will messages to his friends and family.

So Linus put a call through to him and he quickly responded. After the initial greetings, Linus passed the phone to me “….Paul talk to him, you are the journalist…..” Before I could even say anything, he said he thought I was in South Africa that was why he had not called me. Was I in contact with Alhaji Maigari, I said “ yes”. When next I speak to him, I should extend his greetings…. “ ….Tell him he is doing well, but he should not rest on his oars.

There are bigger glories ahead of him. “ It is not enough to qualify for the world cup. We should go there and do well. We have the players and the resources and all we need is the proper mentality to do better than we have been doing.

The issue of African countries falling short is a psychological block that should be dislodged……… “ What about my son?” (Keshi) I said he was OK. That Keshi should remain focused. CHAN was nearly a disaster, but that we should thank God we survived. If the world cup team can put in the same effort and resilience put in by the team that overcame Morocco, then they will go far. He said.

When I had the opportunity to put in a word, I said to him that one of the reasons we called was to

The extra time has expired, the Great arbiter has blown his whistle

have his view on the dressing of coaches on the bench. He laughed……

“Before now, it would have been considered an abomination to take a suit near a football field. How dare you come dressed with a suit and tie where excessive activity was needed?” He asked rhetorically. “ But today, things have changed and we should endeavour to embrace positive changes. I am not for a suit as a hard and fast rule. You must be comfortable in what you put on. If you are not a suit and tie person, you cannot start now to strangulate yourself because you are a world cup coach. I am for decent piece of dressing. Respectable. Some coaches wear something different from their staff. Be presentable. A hood does not make a monk……” He concluded.

He then asked after Chief Jonathan Ogufere, President of the Sports Veterans Association and his deputy Chief Peter Osugo. He said he had not heard from Emmanuel Obafemi for some time now………

He prayed for me and prayed for Linus. Asked God to lengthen our lives and endow us with knowledge and wisdom to continue to serve sports faithfully. “….We have passed the baton to you. We have done our bit. I am living in injury time and can move on any time.……”

We also prayed for him, told him he will not “leave”

Osaze says Stoke deserved Southampton draw

N

IGERIA striker O s a z e Odemwingie has said Stoke City deserved the point they got at Southampton.

Saturday’s EPL clash finished in a 2-2 draw with Osaze scoring in the 38th minute to bring the game to 1-1. ”We deserved a point in the game because we showed great organisation and we defended well,” he said.

The former West Brom striker, who made a winter switch from Cardiff City to Stoke, was delighted to get his first goal for his new club. ”Very happy to get my first goal for the club.

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CONTROL . . . Stoke City’s Osaze Odemwingie (L) shields his challengers fr4om the ball Good team performance.

Big thanks to our fans for

,

the support in this tough weather,” he tweeted.

F

OOTBALL fans hankering for a uniquely refreshing offering on the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their preparation for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014 are in for exciting times as the country’s leading sports media marketing and production company and the Official Media Partner of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), HotSports Nigeria Limited, has concluded plans to commence transmission of HotSports Locker Room Extra: Super Eagles Samba Edition, on radio and television networks across the land.

The programme which is an upshot of HotSports’ new partnership with the NFF offers a whole new window to football fans to become integrated into the daily lives of Nigeria’s super stars in camp for the qua-

until God’s appointed time.

Tuesday morning “He” called me, and as usual I rushed to the phone only to hear a voice saying “Papa passed on yesterday evening….”

The extra time has expired, the Great arbiter has blown his whistle, and retired to the dressing room a gladiator who had bestrode the Nigerian sports terrain like a colossus, a utility player who had fought a good fight. I join millions of Nigerians in bidding farewell to this icon of our sports organization .

Well done good and faithful servant of sport.

Enter thou into the joy of your Lord.

At the Lagos Airport Hotel (LAHSA) sports week

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OURTESY Idowu Oladunni I was invited as one of the guests at the closing ceremony of the Lagos Airport Hotel sports festival 2013. Idowu is the chairman of the sports Committee. I had said jokingly that this afforded me an opportunity of eating good food for free, and that since the event was held in the Hotel sports field I will definitely not mind a complimentary room should we close too late for me to drive home!

It turned out to be more serious that I thought.

I was definitely pleased to witness the physical presence of the MD and Chief Executive of the Hotel Mr James Kayode Adenigba who was supported by his top management staff including Executive Director Finance, Alhaji Ademola Adetila and Controller Human Resources Mr Lawrence Omidiriona among others.

My attention was further captured when the MD revealed in his speech that the sports event had been run religiously for the past sixteen years and it contributed a great deal in the unity, bonding and camaraderie that existed between the staff.

I sat through the very entertaining five a side football final in which Maintenance beat Housekeeping 1-0, just as the final of relays, table tennis, swimming, draught and snooker among others proved to be very exciting and competitive.

Departments that were on display included Human Resources, Food and Beverages, Training and Accounts and Audit.

I thought this was commendable.

I think it is very good and worth emulating.

See you next week.

HotSports Locker Room Extra Hits Airwaves March drennial tournament. It is conceived of as a onehour package on television with an abridged 15-minute radio version spiced up with exclusive visuals and sound bites that give detailed account of the team’s preparation for the tournament and is scheduled to broadcast on major TV and radio networks in Nigeria including NTA, AIT and Silverbird as well as FRCN, Brila FM, Cool FM and Raypower FM. According to Taye Ige, CEO of HotSports, beginning from the third week of March, 2014, the company will commence broadcast of exclusive, behind-the-scene visuals from the camp of the Super Eagles as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014

on HotSports Locker Room Extra: Super Eagles Samba Edition. He explained that HotSports’ crew would be on ground in the camp of the Super Eagles throughout their preparation for the tournament, including during friendly matches, training tours and during the tournament in Brazil to broadcast to millions of football fans across Nigeria and beyond backroom activities of the World Cup bound team not available on any other programme.

“HotSports Locker Room Extra: Super Eagles Samba Edition will start as a weekly countdown programme on major TV and radio networks in Nigeria in the third week of March.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014—63

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V anguard anguard,, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Enyimba survive Anges de Notse scare •Score 3 goals in the last 10 minutes

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

E

Brazil: Why NFF insists on a new assistant for Keshi

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

G

HANA were reduced to ten men in the CHAN semifinal match with Nigeria.

The Eagles could not

•Keshi

find an answer to their power game and eventually lost to them.

Zimbabwe had a red card in the 17th minute in the 3rd place match and Eagles could not find a way to overwhelm them and just scored three minutes to full time. Same thing happened against Mexico in Houston last year when Eagles could not beat a ten man Mexican team. The first two matches of the last Nations Cup were brought to question and the circumstances that led to the rejuvenation of the team reviewed. On CHAN, a thorough analysis by the football federation did not frown at the inability of the Eagles to overwhelm the opponents with goals

Continues on Page 60

NYIMBA Football Club of Aba yesterday, at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba came back from the brink of defeat to record a remarkable 3-1 win

over Anges de Notse of Togo in a preliminary game of the CAF Champions League.

Playing inside a jam packed stadium, Enyimba came into the match brimming with confi Continues on Page 60

Pillars collapse 1-3 in Congo

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IGERIAN cham pions, Kano Pil-

lars, began their campaign in the 2014 CAF Champions League on a losing note.

Kano Pillars lost 1-3 to DR Congo’s AS Vita Club at the Stade Tata Raphael on Sunday.

Interestingly the first half was an affair for players who took part at the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) to score goals.

The Congolese club got themselves in front when Continues on Page 60

Late Bent header denies United

D

HELPING HAND: A police officer comes over to help Wenger back onto his feet. Wenger fell at Lime Street station after Arsenal's 5-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

ARREN Bent’s late, late header secured Fulham a 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Barclays Premier League.

Steve Sidwell’s good finish from Lewis Holt Continues on Page 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Moist (4) 4 Tune (3) 6 Pant (4) 8 Hue (6) 9 Figurine (6) 10 Serpent (3) 12 Denude (5) 14 Demise (5) 15 Devil (5) 18 Stick (6) 20 Combined (6) 24 Famous (5) 26 Scanty (5) 28 Breezy (5) 30 Marry (3) 32 Courteous (6) 33 Shrewd (6) 34 Intend (4) 35 Equipment (3) 36 Centre (4)

DOWN 2 Assume (5) 3 Undertake (7) 4 Atmosphere (4) 5 Grate (4) 6 Class (5) 7 Hod (7) 11 Spring (3) 12 Ocean (3) 13 Equality (3) 16 Number (3) 17 Fruit (3) 19 Lament (7) 21 Novel (3) 22 Foolish (7) 23 Parched (3) 25 Poem (3) 27 Rule (5) 29 Dissuade (5) 30 Feeble (4) 31 Dash (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Rouse 7, Creep 8, Moral 10, Sewed 12, Low 13, Robin 15, Patient 17, Ironed 19, Pet 20, Despair 23, Item 25, Cite 26, Damaged 30, Sat 31, Dealer 34, Holster 37, Freed 38, Lea 39, Diver 40, Ledge 41, Cabin 42, Petty.

DOWN: 1, Prior 2, Resin 3, Opened 4, Step 5, Politic 6, Tawny 9, Roe 11, Dappled 13, Rigid 14, Bored 16, Tea 18, Debated 21, Rifle 22, Heard 24, Massage 27, Mat 28, Defect 29, Holed 32, Array 33, Eerie 35, Led 36, Ripe.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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