KILLING of POLICEMEN IN BAYELSA:Police recover 11bodies of slain cops

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61857

BOKO HARAM AMNESTY:

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Five banks own 60% assets of Nigeria's banking sector — The Banker •Pg.8

You are on suicide mission, Christians tell FG •Pg.7 KILLING of POLICEMEN IN BAYELSA:

Police recover 11 bodies of slain cops OYA•Inspector Joseph Ofujuni, Constable Ebebi Lucky and Sgt. BY SAMUEL DONGHA Jack among victims; Sgt. Clinton Ambayi — Survivor ENAGOA—EMOTIONS ran high, Y yesterday, at the Federal

•Ex-militants launch manhunt of killers •They will not die in vain — Bayelsa Govt

Medical Centre, Yenagoa Bayelsa State, as the remains of 11 out of the 12 policemen killed last Friday were

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COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

DEAR BUNMI •P.34

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

OGAGA IFOWODO •P.19

Mr & Mrs

JONATHAN IN KENYA—President Goodluck Jonathan, inspecting Guard of Honour mounted by Kenyan Defence Forces during his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the Inauguration of the 4th President of The Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, in Nairobi, yesterday. Inset. President Kenyatta acknowledging cheers from the crowd after his inauguration. State House photos.

Leadership journalists regain freedom•P.10 C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

INAUGURATION—Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (L), receiving his letter of appointment from Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'i, at the inauguration of the governing councils of Federal Universities in Abuja, yesterday. With them are Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (2nd-l) and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie. Photo: NAN.

Police recover 11 bodies of slain cops in Bayelsa Continues from Page 1

deposited at the hospital's morgue.

The combined team of soldiers drawn from the Joint Task Force, JTF, and operatives of the Nigeria Police, yesterday, recovered the burnt

and decomposed bodies of the slain policemen along the creeks of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

Some of the recovered bodies were reportedly burnt and mutilated by their killers who also

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Do you really have too much to do, or, are you trying to do too much? –Joyce Meyer Control yourself, there is only 24 hours in a day.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Today, just take time to smell the roses, enjoy those little things about your life, your family, spouse, friends, job. Forget about the thorns -the pains and challenges - and enjoy life — Bernard K Clive

W

HAT makes life amazingly incredibly beau tiful every moment is that I am learning in every way to embrace gratitude more and with this comes a greater inflow of thankfulness and my take on life is graceful and tender. We all should walk our Moccasins {shoes} with the knowing that every experience in life is a gift and each walk, however unwinding, tumultuous and sometimes even tiring.

In this journey, each walk brings a lesson with so many blessings in the grasp of love’s grace. It is a beautiful realization, for we are never alone, God’s grace is sufficient for all.

When the heart is open to divine love, there is a greater awareness in the moment in which all the virtues of compassion, patience, humility, contentment and the ability to discriminate right from wrong becomes a part of our everyday lives. It is an incredible place to be , the joy of loving another soul, your friend, child, spouse and loved ones unconditionally calls for all these virtues, but first, we can only do this by loving ourselves too; we also get immersed in a life of compassion when our dealings with others are sincere and thoughtful; this practice of divine love is infinitely enough.

stripped them of their uniforms and rifles during the attack.

Security sources identified some of the victims as Senior Inspector Joseph Ofujuni, Constable Ebebi Lucky, aged 31 and an indigene of Isama in Delta State and one simply identified as Sgt Jack from Rivers State. The identities of others could not be obtained at press time.

One of the three survivors was identified as Sgt Clinton Ambayi.

The senior inspector, it was learnt, was due for retirement before the end of the year.

The news of the recovery of the decomposed bodies of the policemen attracted a crowd of family members and sympathizers to the FMC waterside.

Armed security operatives deployed to the area to provide security for the pathologists and ambulance vehicles stationed at the waterside to convey the recovered corpses to the morgue had problem controlling the surging crowd that besieged the area.

Scores of youths, women and relations of the slain policemen were seen waiting at the FMC waterside.

The corpses which were ferried to Yenagoa in a boat arrived the Ministry of Transportation jetty at about

6.45pm and bagged before they were conveyed in two Bayelsa State Ambulance Services’ buses to the FMC morgue.

Journalists were barred from getting close to the ambulances and some had shouting match with the policemen who insisted that they were working on instruction from above.

Police confirm recovery The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed that the bodies of the slain policemen had been recovered and moved to the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre.

He said: “Yes, the corpses of the slain policemen have been recovered and brought to Yenagoa.”

Speaking on the development, the Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu said the JTF, in a collaborative effort with the police, assisted in the search and rescue operation, noting “we successfully recovered their bodies.”

Meantime, the identity of the leader of the team of aggrieved ex-militant

youths accused of launching the attack on the policemen have been identified as Virus. According to sources, he was the 'Commanding Officer' of the dismantled camp of the ex-militant leader, Kile Selky Torughedi aka Young Shall Grow.

and that there was nothing wrong with his boat.

He said it was a miracle that he survived the volley of bullets rained at them.

How the policemen were attacked

Meanwhile the exmilitant leaders in the state under the aegis of the Leadership and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) have said they were willing to join the Nigeria Police in the manhunt for the killers of the policemen.

The President of the group, Comrade Reuben Wilson, known as 'Commander Reuben', said though the ex-militant leaders have offered to assist the police, their action is to redeem the image of the amnesty programme in the state.

Contrary to claims that the speedboat in which the policemen were travelling developed engine problem which made them easy targets for the attack, a security source who pleaded anonymity said the boat did not have any problem. The attack, the source said, occurred at Lobia 11 narrow waterway.

He said though the policemen were ambushed by the armed gunmen, who laid siege to the Lobia 11 community jetty, the speedboat used by the policemen was a smaller double 75 horse power engine as against their attackers’ faster speedboat. He sais this made it difficult for the policemen to escape.

According to the source, “the policemen were caught unawares by the armed gunmen who positioned themselves at the jetty. They (gunmen) rained bullets at the hapless policemen in the boat.”

He said: "While the gunmen at the jetty were shelling the policemen in the boat, another batch of gunmen came in a speedboat to join in the attack ostensibly to ensure that none of them escaped."

The driver of the illfated boat who also escaped the violent attack was sighted at the FMC waterside and confirmed that the attack actually took place at Lobia 11

Ex-militants volunteer to join manhunt for killers

They 'll not die in vain — Bayelsa Govt In a related development, the Bayelsa State Government has reassured families of the 12 policemen killed in the attack that their death will not be in vain as government was determined more than ever before to bring the perpetrators to book.

The government in a statement warned that, the recently appointed State Special Prosecutor and the setting up of the Special Team were geared towards fasttracking the manner and way criminal cases were being investigated and prosecuted as well as to ensure that culprits receive the right sentences and serve the punishments.

It emphasized that “it was unacceptable for persons, who have committed very grievous crimes to walk on the streets as free men."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Woman docked over alleged maternity certificate forgery

Lagos traders count losses after prolonged downpour

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AGOS— A 35-year-old woman, who allegedly forged a maternity certificate, is now facing charges of conspiracy and attempt to pervert justice.

Amaka Nwaba, who resides at 4B, Mortune St., Dopemu, Lagos, yesterday, appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on a two-count charge.

She allegedly conspired with others at large to forge a maternity certificate No. 034180, dated May 12, 2011, and purportedly issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

A maternity certificate confirms that a woman is in advanced stage of pregnancy and should set out on maternity leave.

The prosecutor, ASP Felix Ifijen, said the woman committed the offences on May 11, 2011 at the teaching hospital.

According to Ifijen, the certificate was addressed to the Endwell Partners and Co., No. 2, Balogun St., Lagos Island.

He said the forged certificate was intended to be used as evidence before the court to the prejudice of Mr William Obi, of the Endwell Partners and Co., the first prosecution witness, in an ongoing case of theft involving Nwaba.

“The accused forged the maternity certificate with the intention that it be presented as evidence in court in a pending theft case, to the prejudice of the first prosecution witness,” Ifijen said.

He submitted that the forgery contravened Section 363 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State. Forgery attracts up to 15 years imprisonment in Lagos State.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Wemco Road in Ikeja, Lagos after a downpour, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

L

AGOS— SOME traders in various markets in Lagos sustained financial losses following a prolonged downpour which began in the early hours of yesterday.

According to reports, the downpour, which stretched into the afternoon, left many parts of the city and markets flooded. Many workers reported late at work.

Many market stalls were submerged by water, a situation which made it impossible for the traders and customers to transact businesses.

At the Apongbon, Idumota, Oyingbo and Mushin markets, the situation was the same. Traders spent most of the morning salvaging their wares, while only few customers could brave the flood to make purchases.

General Secretary, Mushin Market Association, Mr Olusegun Johnson, said the flood made it impossible for him to display his books and other stationery items for sale.

“I used nylon (polythene) to cover the little ones on display, but it is difficult for people to see what I was selling,” Johnson said.

Chairman of perishable foods sellers in Oyingbo Market, Mr Charles Umeh, said the downpour and the ensuing flood de-

prived them of their usual early morning sales.

“I could not come to the market early as usual because of the downpour that started in the morning,” Umeh said.

A tomato seller in the same market, Mrs Titi Carew, said the sellers would naturally record low sales because of the massive flooding of the area.

O

WERRI— AN Imo State Senior Magistrate Court, sitting in Umuariam Obowo, has sentenced three men, Onyemaechi Osuagwu, Chima Ibe, and Alexander Inyama, to nine years imprisonment without an option of fine on a sixcount charge of assault and unlawful possession of firearm.

Handing down the judgment, the magistrate, Mrs. S.K. Kadurumba, found the defendants guilty on five of the six-count

“Customers are at home because they can’t come out of their flooded houses to buy things in the market,” Carew said.

Mr Lukman Lawal, a trader at Idumota, said the flood made the markets inaccessible.

“Idumota road is very bad; vehicles can hardly pass through the road whenever it rains,” he said..

Mr John Obinna, Manager of God’s Favour Daily Contributory Scheme in one of the markets, said that the downpour would cause setbacks to traders’ projected daily savings.

“The traders are complaining of low sales and most of them did not come to the market,” Obinna said.

3 killed in fresh Tiv/Fulani attack

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI — THREE per sons were reportedly killed in a fresh outbreak of violence between suspected Fulani herdsmen and native Tiv farmers at Yogbo village in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

This latest fighting happened a year after a similar crisis in the same community between the farmers and herdsmen which left over 45 persons dead.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness, yesterday, that crisis broke out in Yogbo three days ago when some herdsmen stormed the village at night, shooting sporadically and burning houses, huts and

farmland in the process.

According to the witness, “this latest attack on Yogbo community was unprovoked and no one expected it since there was no incitement on either sides.

“They, the Fulanis, stormed Yogbo with sophisticated weapons, at about 10 p.m, when the people had gone to bed, shooting and burning down huts, houses and farmland.

“Most of us managed to flee to safety while the unlucky ones were slaughtered in cold blood. Among those killed were two women and a man.

“At the moment, most of the victims of the attack who fled their homes for fear of being

killed, are moving with their families towards the state capital, Makurdi, for safety.”

Contacted, Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Mr. Frank Adi, said among those killed were two women and a man.

He said: “This latest bloodbath is rather unfortunate. Just when we were yet to come off the shock of the killing in Uvir community during a fishing festival at Ake Lake, we are yet confronted by another destruction and unfortunate killing of Tiv farmers in Yogbo.”

The chairman said he had already informed security agencies in the state of the latest killings for necessary action.

Double-dating corps member stabbed by jealous lover

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI – A NATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, Emmanuel Oyelara,

serving in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was, weekend, stabbed in his left eye by one of his lovers for allegedly having an affair with an-

3 jailed 9 years for assault, unlawful firearm possession

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Olaniyi Street, Oyingbo, after the rain. Photo: NAN.

charges and sentenced them to three years for each count, which will, however, run concurrently.

The magistrate recalled that the matter was reported to the police sometime in January 2001, following which the suspects were arrested and charged.

The court equally recalled that though eight persons were alleged to have committed the offence, only three were arrested, while five others remained at large.

Recounting the proceedings in court, the magistrate said the

three accused men in the company of the others at large, who were recruited by Osuagwu, conspired among themselves and allegedly kidnapped one Christopher Okeke and his son, Livinus Okeke, handcuffed them and forced Livinus inside the booth of their car, while Christopher was held down inside the car by the suspects.

“They were driven away, while armed with a pump action gun, threatening to kill them," the court recalled.

other lady within the area of his primary assignment.

Oyelara who is lying in a critical condition at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA, because of the injuries he sustained, might never see again as it was reported that before the unfortunate incident his right eye was already defective.

It was gathered that the corps member was said to have been dating the two ladies, Happiness Njoku and Maria Ene, who eventually met in his residence on the fateful day and in the process, a fight ensued. Investigation revealed that it was the fourth time the ladies were fighting in Oyelara’s residence over who should have an upper hand.

It was learnt that Happiness, who hailed from Umuchima in

Uburu town of the local government area, having been hurt by the promiscuous attitude of Oyelara, allegedly stabbed him with a broken bottle on his left eye.

Meantime, when Vanguard visited Oyelara at the Hospital, he denied the two ladies being his lovers, insisting that they used to sell vegetables to him until they met in his house and started fighting.

According to him, when the fight started, he was on his way to report the matter to their parents when Happiness caught up with him and stabbed him on his left eye.

Investigations revealed that the two ladies were single mothers; one with three children and the other with two, purportedly from different men.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—7

Four injured as robbers strike in Ibadan

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — FOUR persons sustained gunshot injuries, yesterday, when robbers on a motorcycle shot and dispossessed a motor dealer and a bureau de change operator of millions of naira.

The incident happened at Idiape area of Ibadan.

According to an eye witness account, the robbers blocked the two men who were coming from a bureau de change where some foreign currencies were changed into naira.

People were said to have scampered for safety when the robbers shot indiscriminately to scare away passers-by while walls in the area were riddled with bullets.

Unknown to the two men whose names were given as Wasiu Gbadamosi and one Bature, they were being trailed by people a motorcycle The source said: “Immediately Wasiu and Bature alighted from their Okada and moved towards their office, one of the robbers moved towards Bature, fired a shot at him and grabbed the bag containing the money.

"As the robber was about to escape, Wasiu grabbed the bag from him, clutching some of the packs of N1,000 notes.

“The robber then fired another shot at Wasiu and as he fell, some of the naira notes scattered on the

ground.

"Finally, the robber fired more shots to scare people then escaped after packing the scattered notes. Nobody could move near him, but we were watching from the distance where we hid, seeing him picking the money, and then escaping on the bike that brought him.”

He added that two other persons were hit by stray bullets.

“I saw the man picking the N1,000 notes. I thought he was a policeman, who had come to rescue the situation. By the time he climbed on Okada and it sped off, it dawned on me that he was a robber. We later rushed the injured men to the hospital.”

Pregnant woman, another killed as police, train hikers clash

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — TWO per sons, among them a pregnant woman, were killed, yesterday, during a clash between policemen and train hikers along the Oshodi/Agege railway line, in Lagos.

The pregnant woman was said to have been hit by a hard object thrown by one of the hikers, while the other person, also with unknown identity, was crushed to death while trying to escape.

Vanguard gathered that policemen were stationed around PWD end of the railway line, to effect the arrest of some of the hikers.

Also, the hikers have reportedly become violent in recent times, as they now haul stones and dangerous objects at individuals who attempt to take their photographs.

But trouble reportedly started, yesterday, after they (hikers) started hauling stones at policemen, on reaching PWD, with a view to escaping arrest.

This caused a stampede as everyone scampered for safety to avoid being hit by dangerous objects.

In the ensuing stampede, the pregnant woman was said to have been hit by a hard object.

According to an eye witness, the woman would have survived if help had come readily. But she was said to have been trampled upon by those scampering

to safety.

The second victim, a male, was said to have fallen off the train and was crushed in the process.

In a bid to avoid further casualty, the policemen were said to have fired into

the air.

Efforts to reach Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, failed.

Sources, however, said no fewer than 10 persons were arrested.

7 missing in Kwande over alleged military invasion

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI — NO fewer than seven persons were reportedly missing at Moon district of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State after people suspected to be soldiers allegedly invaded the community.

The invasion which took place, yesterday, also left part of the community in ruins with property worth millions of Naira destroyed by the invaders.

A victim of the attack, one Dewua Mfaityo, said the attack might have been targeted at ImandeDebam market since business was at its peak at the market then.

According to him, “while commercial activities were going on that fateful day, about five trucks loaded with heavily armed military men stormed the market, resulting in a stampede and brutalization of the villagers who ran for their dear lives.

“When they finished from the market, they pro-

ceeded to people's houses where they broke in and carted away whatsoever they wanted and left.”

Contacted, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering, NASME, said the story could be a rumour, adding the said village is not located in Benue but Taraba State.

In his reaction, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police Daniel Ezeala, said he was making efforts to reach the police command in Kwande Local Government Area to ascertain the story.

Vanguard recalls that the people of Moon district recently petitioned the authorities of the Nigerian Army over what they termed “persistent acts of aggression, unprovoked attacks on them by soldiers.”

In that petition, they complained over the forceful invasion and harassment of Debam and Anyiase, the headquarters of the district, especially during market days.

BOKO HARAM AMNESTY:

You’re on suicide mission, Christians tell FG

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, SAM EYOBOKA, NDAHI MARAMA, SUSAN EDEH, UMAR YUSUF, CALEB ANYASINA & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

A

BUJA— CHRISTIAN leaders, yesterday, opposed the Federal Government’s plan to offer unconditional amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, describing it as a misplaced priority and an unjust cause.

This came even as there is skepticism within the military circle that the amnesty will work out, adding that it may turn out to be a colossal failure and the Federal Government may end up embarrassing itself over its non workability.

The Christian leaders asked the government to take urgent steps to compensate and resettle victims of Boko Haram attacks instead of wasting time and resources on a matter that would not yield any positive results at the end of the day.

According to the leaders, the Federal Government was committing a suicide mission by attempting to appease the sect members without their readiness to surrender arms and seek peace with the rest of the society.

They also stated that granting amnesty to the sect would amount to injustice and encouragement to other criminally-minded groups to strike and seek reward from the government.

The Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard was of the opinion that granting amnesty to the sect was like putting the cart before the horse and a step in the wrong direction.

Makinde noted: “They are talking about amnesty without saying anything about their victims. They are still killing people even as the government is fine-tuning ways for amnesty.

“I am not comfortable with the government’s decision because they are putting the cart before the horse. Why can’t we first of all dialogue with these people and find out their grievances? The only thing that I read in the paper is that they want to Islamize Ni-

geria; we know that there are other grievances, which should be known before amnesty is given by the government.

“Then, before amnesty is granted we want to know what they will do for the family of the widows and widowers, their places they have destroyed, what are they going to do for the victims and so on. Amnesty is not the issue now, but how to ameliorate the suffering of the victims.

“So, setting up any committee for amnesty without first looking into how the victims could be compensated is injustice, and if there is no justice there will be no peace.

We need dialogue “As condition for peace, we need dialogue; dialogue will lead them to know the group’s grievances and how to go about it. They are politicizing it and we need to be careful, if we are not, it may lead us to unpalatable end."

Also speaking, the Bishop of Kubwa Anglican Diocese, the Rt Rev. Duke Akamisoko, threw his weight behind any initiative to bring lasting solution to the security challenges plaguing the north but warned against the offer of amnesty to the sect.

“While we are looking at how to solve the problem, the terminology, amnesty, is what I’m not comfortable with. If the government wants to speak with them to know their grievances, fine! But I don’t agree that they should be granted amnesty because of the level of havoc committed by these persons without any remorse. What about the Christians who were slaughtered by the sect?

What about the churches that were burnt and destroyed?” Akamisoko asked.

You are on suicide mission —Bauchi CAN The Christian groups likened the Presidency’s action to a suicide mission, which could at the end consume the whole nation, and asked Jonathan to be cautious with the plan and not allow political gains to becloud his sense of reasoning.

The Bauchi State Secre-

tary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Joshua Ray Mains, described the Federal Government offer of amnesty to Boko Haram as a suicidal strategy by President Jonathan for the 2015 election, saying the move would never achieve its goal for peace.

It faulted the idea of granting amnesty to a faceless group that had wantonly destroyed lives and property of Nigerians at every turn. He said amnesty should only be granted to people with known ideology, identities and vision and not a sect whose membership and ideology remain unclear.

The CAN scribe said: “The issue of granting of amnesty to the Boko Haram group should not even arise in the first instance because up till today nobody can actually point out who members of this group are. We have a problem of identifying this group and I don’t think it is rational to give amnesty to group of people you don’t know."

He said amnesty should be given to a group of individual who had lost a stake like the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, adding that they had their strong reasons for amnesty such as oil exploitation, infrastructural decay, unemployment and land degradation.

Mains asked: “Why should they be given amnesty? Are we congratulating them for the people they have sent to their early graves or are we encouraging them to continue with their acts so that other groups can take advantage of the amnesty and continue to disrupt the peace of the country?”

An exercise in futility Reacting to the Boko Harm amnesty offer, Pastor Bitrus Bdliya of the Church of Brethren in Nigeria described the offer of amnesty to the sect members by the Federal Government as an exercise in futility, as the offer would not make the boys to stop their bombing campaigns.

He wondered how the government should contemplate amnesty for Boko Haram whose leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, had come out publicly through the media to reject such amnesty.

Continues on page 9

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Why FG sacked law school DG, 6 others

Govs fail to comply with Public Procurement Act—Works Minister

zNOUN operates illegal law faculties

zAs state govts get N20bn refund on road intervention

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Council of Legal Education, yesterday, adduced reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan, sacked the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr Tahir Mamman and his six deputies.

The Council which made the disclosure on a day it declared all the law faculties operated by the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, illegal, maintained that the tenure of the sacked law school officials had since elapsed.

It will be recalled that Dr Mamman was reportedly sacked by President Jonathan sequel to the recommendation of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN. Others affected by the recommendation included the Deputy-Directors of the six law schools in the country located in Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Yenagoa and Yola.

Meanwhile, the DG who had already spent five years in office contrary to his four year contract has been permitted to retain his position till December.

Addressing newsmen after a meeting with members of the Council and the embattled DG of the Law School, Mamman, had with the AGF , yesterday, Chairman of the Council and former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief O.C.J Okocha, SAN, harped on the need for an urgent amendment of the existing law governing the administration of the Law School which he said made no clear-cut provision for tenure of the School’s DG. He decried that hitherto, the tenure of both the DG and his deputies were fixed through policy direction of the Council, saying, “we felt in this present Council that it was not a tidy arrangement. Some have been in the position since 11 years ago and some have been there for longer than necessary.

“As you all may be aware, the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School were duly established pursuant to the provisions of the Legal Education Act, No 12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1962.

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment, yesterday, faulted the refusal of some state governors to adhere strictly to the guidelines of Public Procurement Act which explained why the government could not be paid for the work they did on some federal roads.

The Federal Government, however, said N20 billion had been made available to pay those States that have complied with the Procurement Act. Speaking when he appeared before the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen disclosed that ahead of the raining season, the government was on top of the situation to address any flooding that may reoccur in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital as it did last year where houses were submerged and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Speaking on the violation of the Procurement Act of 2007 by some State governors, the Minister said, "under the regime of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the Federal Executive Council approved guidelines which state governments must necessarily follow to qualify for refund in project they carried out on federal roads. But what you have is that many of the state governments don’t follow the guidelines and in fact, we don’t even know that such intervention has taken place.

"The position of the guidelines is very simple. For instance, it says it must be done in line with provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 because you are talking of federal roads. In procurement matter, you don’t spend federal funds if they are not in compliance with Public Procurement Act. That is where some of them have their challenges.

"But I can assure you that many of them that complied will be refunded. This year alone N20billion will be paid out of the N42billion that complied with the provisions.”

According to the minister, contract for the reworking of the aspect of the road that was heavily flooded last year had been awarded, adding that in the next 90 days, it would be executed.

The minister who regretted the inability of the Federal Government to provide the adequate funds for highway projects across the country, said

that the ministry requires N416billion annually to carry out the job, adding that out of the annual funding requirement, only N116billion was made as budgetary provision in 2012, leaving it with a shortfall of about N300billion.

Arc. Mike Onolememen explained that out of this budget-

ary provision, only N102billion or 77 percent was released with a shortfall of N31billion, adding, "the finance of road projects has been through budgetary provisions which have been too inadequate to fund the projects and most times not fully implemented.”

The minister who told the PDP

NWC members that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, has been able to bridge the funding gap to some extent, said the ministry was exploring alternative sources of funding for the projects by borrowing from multilateral agencies and pension fund for key highways infrastructure.

BRIEFING—Dr Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC (middle); Mr Mcdonald Garba, Director, Enforcement (left) and Mr Momodu Segiru Momodu, Director, Chemical Evaluation Research, during briefing on the interception of fake drugs and unregulated products in Oshodi, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

5 banks own 60% assets of Nigeria's banking sector — The Banker

BY OMOH GABRIEL, BUSINESS EDITOR

T

HE top five Nigerian banks owned 60 percent of the banking sector assets in the country.

This was contained in a report released, yesterday, by The Banker, a publication of Financial Times of London.

The top five banks, according to The Banker comprise Zenith Bank, Access Bank, First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and United Bank for Africa and owned about 60 percent of overall assets.

It said some foreign investors have suggested Nigeria will soon go the way of South Africa, where the four largest banks have an 85 percent market share.

For them, Nigeria’s mid-tier and small lenders will struggle to survive and several would be taken over by bigger rivals in the next few years”.

The report said: “Nigeria’s banking sector has become highly concentrated over the past 10 years, with the biggest five banks now dominating market share.

But executives at smaller firms are not worried. They insisted that innovation and nimbleness, not to mention the huge scope for growth in Nigeria, would see them make up for their lack of size”.

According to The Banker survey report of the banking sector in Nigeria, “A decade ago, Nigeria had almost 90 banks.

Two rounds of consolidation since 2005 in response to a hike in capital requirements, while the second came in the wake of the country’s 2009 financial crisis, have seen the number drop to few more than 20.

As well as creating banks with far bigger balance sheets, the changes have resulted in a more concentrated banking sector.

The Central Bank Governor,

CBN, Malam Sanusi lamido Sanusi said: “I’m concerned about the concentration of the banks at the upper end because very large institutions tend to lend to large multinational corporations and invest in government securities.

“They don’t have time for the middle, which is where economic growth happens and jobs are created. I don’t think we’re looking for any more institutions that would be too big to fail".

Ronak Gadhia, an analyst at security house, Exotix said: “Nigeria is highly under penetrated. There’s a lot of scope for growth. Out of a population of 160 million, there are only about 30 million bank accounts, some of which represent duplicate customers".

Bolaji Balogun, managing partner of Chapel Hill Denham, a local investment bank, said an indication of the potential number of bankable people is given by the fact that there are almost 110 million mobile phone accounts in the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—9

Continues from page 7

He said, it was unfortunate that some people equated Boko Haram with the Niger Delta militias, pointing out that the two scenarios were not the same and should not be juxtaposed for any reason.

Bdliya pointed out that while the Niger Delta militants fought for a share of the oil being exploited in the region, Boko Haram merely wants to kill Christians and islamise the country by force.

Also speaking, the Yobe State CAN Chairman, Reverend Idi Garba, noted that the Federal Government attempt would amount to a waste of time and resources as long as the sect members had not sought repentance and forgiveness before the offer by the government.

Adamawa Christians divided over amnesty Reverend Phineas Padio of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Yola argued that Amnesty for the group was long overdue.

He reasoned that from all indications, the Federal Government lacked the capacity to crush the group, so it has no alternative than to grant amnesty for peace to reign in the land.

According to Padio, since 2010 when the President made pronouncement that the sect would be crushed in a couple of weeks, their atrocities had continued unabated across the north.

Phineas Padio said most of those opposing amnesty do not live in the North, saying those that are resident in the Northern States that “wear the shoes know how it pinches”.

On his part, Prophet Samson Sam of Christ Solution Power Chapel, Yola, said he did not support amnesty for the Boko Haram sect.

He argued that, the group is faceless and is fighting a no just cause.

He stated that the leaders of the Boko Haram should tell Nigerians their reasons for trying to destabilize the country and not this talk of amnesty for the terrorists.

Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Gombe State Chapter, Reverend Abare Kallah, asked about the churches destroyed by Boko Haram.

According to him, “from the Christian point of view, we have been agitating now that if President Jonathan is going to give amnesty to Boko Haram, what happens to the churches, the people who are victims whose lives, property were destroyed, everything that was affected as a result of their activities.

So, we just want the president to stand on the right side of tak-

You’re on suicide mission, Christians tell FG ing the right judgment about this thing. It’s not about favouring one side.

We are also wounded. If they are thinking that amnesty is going to be given to Boko Haram, I am sure that there is going to be another faction or group that the Federal Government cannot contend with”.

What happens to the victims of Boko Haram insurgency The Northern Christian Elders Forum, NOSCEF, submitted that the decision to grant amnesty to Boko Haram “is a call to other interest groups to rise up in arms against their fatherland, to be blessed when such an action should be treated as treason.

Chairman of the group, Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye argued that intimidating the Federal Government to grant amnesty is the highest display of hypocrisy and lack of patriotism.

He said: “Are such people not indirectly admitting that they are the shadows or ghosts behind the Boko Haram? We totally object to even discussing amnesty when nothing has been done for the victims of the Boko Haram.”

The statement titled; ‘Enough is Enough! Nobody should take us for granted! said that contrary to popular belief in certain quarters, the Christian Community in the North has been the most “marginalized, deliberately underdeveloped group treated like vassals, seriously brutalized and slaughtered under the watchful eyes of this regime more than in any other regime.”

Evangelist Owojaiye alleged that “this government has spent billions of naira on nomadic education, N5 billion on Almajiri schools which is specifically for Muslims, while Christian schools and hospitals taken over by the government without compensations are still held tight by government.

Boko Haram, has tried to annihilate us and our Igbo Christian brothers and now the government is talking about granting the Islamic sect amnesty without saying a word about the people they bombed, slaughtered and traumatized.”

Blame Northern Muslim elite — NOSCEF

CONDOLENCE—Gov. Babatunde Fashola (right), his wife, Abimbola Fashola (left) during a condolence visit to family of late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olayinka, yesterday.

The NOSCEF furthered argued that the Northern Muslim elite should be held responsible for the rot in the region and not the present administration. “Who underdeveloped the Muslim North? It is definitely not the Jonathan Government, and neither the Christians in the North! It is the Northern Muslim elite that impoverished the Northern Muslim youth.

The Northern Muslim elite pocketed the largesse that came to the North. Only they and their families benefitted.

They turned the attention of Boko Haram to the innocent Christians in the North.

“It is even more annoying that instead of the Northern Muslim elite releasing 50 per cent of their wealth to solve the poverty problem of the Muslim North they are crying and putting pressure and intimidating the Federal Government to set up a Boko Haram commission,” Owojaiye stated.

Military skeptical about success of amnesty Meanwhile, there is skepticism within the military circle about the success of the amnesty being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan for Boko Haram terrorists, arguing that it may turn out to be a colossal failure and the Federal Government may end up embarrassing itself over its non-workability.

Indications to this effect emerged following Vanguard’s investigation which revealed that the Boko Haram sect is no longer one body but a fragmented

group that has such breakaway group like Ansaru which recently killed two Nigerian soldiers along the LokojaOkene road, who were on their way to Abuja to embark on peacekeeping mission in Mali.

The same Ansaru kidnapped a French national in a commando style in Katsina while the most recent one is the kidnap of 11 foreign construction workers, including Lebanese, British, Filipino and other nationals working at a Bauchi construction site.

Aside Ansaru, there are other breakaway factions that broke into and robbed banks and financial institutions while others carried out killings for a price, no matter the individual or his standing in the society.

A security source asked, “Even if you look beyond the fragmented group of the terrorists, what happens if tomorrow, all the almajiris and jobless street urchins troop out in their millions and say they are Boko Haram and they want amnesty, which of course goes with a package of allowances, rehabilitation and training. Does the government have the resources to cater for them?

According to another source, “everywhere in the world where the issue of amnesty for insurgency is brought to the table, that word ‘amnesty’ comes up after negotiation with the known group and its leaders have taken place, the insurgents have agreed to surrender their arms and have been seen to do so, before amnesty is brought in and its implementation discussed”.

“But the situation where amnesty comes first before discussing with those caus-

ing problems, killing, maiming, bombing and destroying whole villages, security personnel and their stations is like sending a wrong signal to the other groups who may want to cash in on the action of the government”.

The source added that President Jonathan was able to convince the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Staff, the Inspector General of Police and the DG Department of State Security, DSS, to buy into the amnesty proposition despite the fact that the shoe pinches them directly with the daily killing and bombing of their personnel who are in the front lines of the war on terror by telling them “let us try the option and see the outcome".

The President was able to placate the military chiefs to further accept and support the amnesty offer because he believes that firstly it will do the nation a world of good if they renounce their insurgency.

Secondly, if after the amnesty is granted the Boko Haram terrorists, its fragmented groups continue the mayhem, the government would have been justified over its earlier stand of not dealing with faceless groups.

“Those questioning military option will then hide their faces in shame. Aside that, politicians who have been feasting on the Boko Haram debacle for purposes of scoring cheap political points and gaining cheap popularity will now know that the bigger picture of joining forces with government and security agencies to ensure peace and stability for the nation will benefit all the most”.

10—Vanguard ,WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Family, friends gather for Esiri

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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HERE was no dry eye at Catholic Church of the Ascension, Lagos, yesterday, as family, friends and colleagues of late Justus Esiri gathered at a service of songs held in honour of the veteran actor.

The officiating Priest, Rev. Father Michael Etegene said: “We are gathered here today to have a service of songs for our friend, father and colleague whom God chose to take home some weeks ago.”

The first reading at the ceremony was taken by the deceased’s first son, Justus Esiri Jnr, while the second was by his second son, Andrew.

The actor ’s last son, Sidney Esiri, popularly known by his stage name, Dr. Sid, took the third reading from 2 Thessalonians 4:13-15.

While taking the homily, the cleric said that death was an inevitable phenomenon that must occur.

He said: “When we speak at services such as this, whether it is for five minutes or one hour, we are obviously not speaking to the one who is gone, but to ourselves.

“At birth and at death, we don’t take people for granted. We must learn to treasure people all the time. We must always remember, just as St. Augustine said, that our lives are a gift

from God.” About 200 gathered at the church to honour Esiri, including Nollywood stars such as Norbert Young, and Eku Edewor.

Born in November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State, Esiri had his early education at the Catholic School, Warri, before proceeding to Maximillan University in Munich, Germany.

While in Germany, Esiri, who is survived by a wife and six children, attended Prof.

Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin, and was later trained at the Ahrens School of Performing Arts.

FOR ESIRI: Justus Esiri’s widow, Omiete (middle), son, Dr. Sid flanked by other family members at the service of songs held for the screen legend at the Catholic Church of Ascension in Lagos, yesterday.

Fashola names housing estate after Anyaoku

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, flagged off the newly-constructed Ikeja Millemium Housing Estate, naming it after former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

He equally flagged off the Rauf Aregbesola Model Primary Health Centre, PHC, in Mosan-Okunola Local Coun-

cil Development Area, LCDA, to aid healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

The governor, who spoke at the premises of the 76-unit four-bedroom duplexes located on Muiz Banire Street, GRA Ikeja, said the completion of the project had taught the state government other methods of planning and managing project in the state.

He said: “The lesson we learnt here has been transferred to all ongoing construction of Lagos HOMS scheme,

with detailed soil testing, proper foundation design and engagement of qualified workers in the construction the projects.”

On why the government named it after Anyaoku, he said: “After we completed this project, a new challenge aroused. And it was who the estate should be named after.

I think that events made that decision very easy.

“We resolved that if we have to dedicate any public service and building after anyone,

Leadership journalists regain freedom but...

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North, ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD & OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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HE police, yesterday, offered conditional freedom to two Leadership journalists, Tony Amoekedo and Chibuzor Ukaibe, who they clamped into detention, when they honoured police invitation over a story they ran last week.

Force headquarters had seized the two journalists from the seventh floor of the massive building to an unknown location after they had written their statements about the controversial story.

After releasing the duo of Mrs Chinyere Fred-Adegbulugbe, who is the Executive Director, Human Capital, and Mr. Chuks Ohuegbe, Managing Editor, at 10pm on Monday, the police held onto the News Editor, Tony Amoekedo and correspondent, Chibuzor Ukaibe, insisting that they reveal the source of the offending story.

The duo, it was gathered stood their grounds that they could not breach the code of their ethics by revealing their sources, which further infuriated the police, who felt defeated in their quest to get to the root of the story.

After granting them what a source called "administrative

bail," the police high command ordered the two men to be reporting at 10am daily until further notice.

Before leaving the Louise Edet House, the journalists had through their lawyer, Ugo Udoji (Esq.), filed an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the Inspector General of Police for wrongful arrest and detention.

In the suit, the journalists are seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights as guaranteed under SS. 34, 35 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria enforceable under Section 46 of the said Constitution and articles 4, 5, 6, articles 9 (2) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act).

They are praying the court for an order to serve as a stay against further arrest and detention by the police.

Obi, NPAN expressed worry that police were yet to free themselves from the military mentality of gagging the press even under a civilian administration.

NPAN said: “We are concerned and worried because we had thought that by now, the police and other similar organs of state would have weaned themselves of the carry-over of military mentality of intimidation, harassment and arrest of journalists.

“We had thought that at this stage of our democracy, agents of the state would have imbibed and thoroughly schooled themselves in the time-honoured principles of civility and recourse to the rule of law.

“If the Police are convinced that the journalists breached any law, the decent thing to do is to charge them to court.

NUJ, too NPAN reacts

Last night, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigerian, NPAN, issued a strong statement condemning the arrest and detention of the journalists by the police.

In the statement by its General Secretary, Ms Comfort

Similarly, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, warned against the resort to military tactics by the police in a civilian regime, which guarantees freedom of speech to all Nigerians.

He told journalists in Kano:

“We don’t need to remind them that military dictatorship is over in Nigeria and our security agents should start understanding the press freedom as it is obtained under democratic dispensation.”

Garba, who also doubles as the President, Federation of African Journalists, however, cautioned media men to be extra careful in the discharge of their professional duties and avoid the temptation from politicians.

“Our professional colleagues should understand that it is not good for them to be used by politicians while discharging their statutory duties,” he added.

ACN

In its reaction, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, condemned the arrest of the four Leadership newspaper journalists, saying it was a sign of the seemingly inevitable descent into dictatorship by an increasingly desperate presidency.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the arrest over a story the government had refuted, was the worst attack against press freedom under the Jonathan administration.

whether living or dead, it will be those who have contributed to the development of our nation, especially Lagos state.”

In reaction, Anyaokwu said: “I am humbled by this kind gesture of the Lagos government led by a performing governor. It is a great honour to cut the ribbon of this new estate.

“My connection with Lagos is deep and longstanding. Although I come from across the Niger, I started my career in Lagos and I have been married for over 50 years to a native of Lagos, from Egba precisely.”

Lagos Assembly inspects MDAs' projects

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—PUBLIC Accounts Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly, will today embarks on a scheduled inspection to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of the state.

It will be recalled that Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, had vowed to ensure strict monitoring of projects and disbursement of public funds during budget presentation by Governor Babatunde Fashola to members of the state assembly late last year.

Chairman of the committee, Bolaji Ayinla, said the tour is to have an onthe-spot assessment.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 11

Kolade didn't resign, says spokesman

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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EPORTS that Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, resigned his appointment, yesterday, has been denied by his spokesman, Dr. Joel Oruche, who said the technocrat was still on his job.

The social media was awash with the news of Dr. Kolade’s decision to quit the SURE-P job as he was said to have handed his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, Monday, before he (Jonathan) travelled to Kenya for Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration.

However, by mid-day, it was reported that the SURE-P boss had been persuaded to change his mind and therefore decided to stay on.

The technocrat was said to have complained about the politicisation of the programme and decided to quit in order not to get caught up in the cross-fire between the Federal Government and opposition politicians.

150 Osun East women empowered

S

ENATOR representing Osun East (Ife/ Ijesa) Senatorial District of Osun State, Senator Babajide Omoworare, has donated various items worth N1.5 million to the widows of Abundant Life International Ministries Widows Centre in Ile-Ife. The items include bags of rice, canned tomatoes, salt, among others.

Senator Omoworare assured the more than 150 widows, who gathered at the centre, of his dedication to the cause for which he was elected as their representative and a continuous outreach to different sections of the society.

He said: “My mother is also a widow, I lost my father in my first year in the university and she had to go through a lot to raise me and her other children."

C'ttee announces Oluwole Awolowo's burial arrangements O

LUWOLE Awolowo Burial Planning Committee has released details of a three-day funeral arrangements to mark the transition of the late Publisher of the Tribune titles, Chief Oluwole Awolowo.

The remains of the deceased are expected to arrive Nigeria from London at 6am, Wednesday, April 17, while a valedictory session and lying-in-state will hold at the Lagos State House of Assembly, before the body leaves for 31, Park Lane, Apapa, for a service of songs at 5pm.

On Thursday, April 18, the body will depart Apapa at 7am for Tribune House in Ibadan for another lying-instate and tribute session at 10am.

Entertainment of the Ikenne community follows at Ikenne Town Hall in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State.

Still on Thursday, Chief Oluwole Awolowo will be laid in Ikenne before a Christian wake keep at the Obafemi Awolowo Memorial

Anglican Church, Ikenne, where he was an active church official for many years.

A funeral service will be held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne Remo, after which interment will follow.

S/South PDP tasks northern leaders on amnesty for Boko Haram

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

S

OUTH-SOUTH leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have asked Northern leaders, and those calling for amnesty for Boko Haram, to ask the sect mem-

bers to come out and tell Nigerians that they are ready for dialogue.

Speaking, yesterday, at the inaugural ceremony of South-South PDP Forum Lagos State, at the party’s Secretariat, in Lagos, Chairman

Labour warns buyers to keep off PHCN

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS—ORGANISED Labour in the power sector, yesterday in Lagos, advised the companies that won the bid for, and were said to have paid 25 percent on the privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to stay away from PHCN installations.

Under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, labour equally described the transition committee said to have been set up by the Min-

Entertainment of guests, according to the committee, is slated for Obafemi Awolowo Square, Ikenne Remo.

Oluwole Awolowo, who died on March 27 in the United Kingdom, is survived by wives, children, grandchildren, sisters and an aged mother.

of the Forum’ Board of Trustees, Sunday Okon, also said it was a pity that opposition parties with their agents masquerading as non-governmental organisations, NGOs, had decided to politicise every statement made by President Jonathan.

Okon said: “What the Northern leaders and those calling for amnesty for Boko Haram should concern themselves with is to prevail on the leaders of the sect to come out and tell Nigerians that they are ready for dialogue and see whether Federal Government would not embrace dialogue.”

On the Presidential pardon granted the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, Okon appealed to Nigerians to allow love and not sentiments and politics to becloud their sense of reasoning.

Power, that no takeover procister of Power, in collaboraess shall commence until all tion with Bureau of Public labour issues are resolved.

Enterprise, BPE, as illegal.

“We wish to advise the peoNUEE, in a statement by ple concerned to stay away its General Secretary, Joe from our formations until this Ajaero, insisted that among process is concluded. By this others, no take over of release, all our members are PHCN assets would be feaurged to be on stand-by.” sible until all labour issues Since government and were resolved amicably. labour reached agreement The union said: “We wish late 2012 on terminal benefits to reiterate our earlier posifor workers, government tion and the position jointly appears unwilling to respect reached by stakeholders the agreement. even before the appointment of the present Minister of OUNSEL to Economic and Fi- Federal High Court on a 20-count nancial Crimes Commission, charge of money laundering.

EFCC, Mr. Godwin Obla, yesterday, When the case was mentioned, a repwithdrew his representation in the resentative of EFCC, Mr. A. Yusuf, case against Speaker, Lagos State informed the court of a letter of withHouse of Assembly, Adeyemi drawal written by the prosecutor, Obla, Ikuforiji, charge with money laun- in which he seeks to withdraw his dering. representation as counsel to EFCC. Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Yusuf told the court that the letter was Alade Atoyebi are standing trial be- filed and served on all parties on April fore Justice Okechukwu Okeke of a 8, informing them of the withdrawal.

Ikuforiji: Counsel to EFCC withdraws

C

Lecture

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IONEER Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, James Oluleye, will deliver a lecture on the economics of the controversial fuel subsidy on April 14.

The lecture will hold at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Lagos, during the church’s quarterly lecture.

The lecture, according to Mr. Henry Odukomaiya, Media Consultant to the church, will give the congregation knowledge of the politics and economics of the controversial issue.

12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Lagos commends Rotary over N3.5m voc centre

Flood: Rivers Assembly grills commissioners on preparedness

AGOS State Government, through the Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Abdulfatai Olukoga, has commended Rotary Club of Gbagada over the renovation of Surulere Vocational Training Centre.

Speaking during the commissioning of the edifice, Abdulfatai said the acquisition of vocational skills had become necessary due to the high level of unemployment in the country.

President of the club, Dr. Bayo Windapo, said the project, estimated at over N3.5 million, was in line with the club’s determination to ensure peace and stability in the country, as only a society where young people were positively engaged could discuss peace.

P

L

Pa Onaghise passes on @ 109

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HE Odionwere of Egbaland, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa Ben Onaghise, is dead, aged 109.

A statement by one of his sons, Mr. Julius Onaghise, said service of songs will hold in Pa Onaghise's compound, Egba Town, on April 25, and funeral service on April 26, at Egba Baptist Church, Egba.

Social engagement and interment follow in his compound.

Late Pa Onaghise

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI ORT HARCOURT— TO minimize the impact of another flooding as the rains intensify, Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, interrogated three commissioners on the state's preparedness for a possible severe flood this year, following forecasts by Nigerian Meteorological Agency, that this year will witness more rains compared to that of last year.

Those who appeared before the lawmakers were Commissioners for Special Duties, Environment and Information. The session, which lasted close to three hours, followed a motion summoning them to educate the House on the extent of the state’s intervention in last year's flood and its preparedness for this year.

The commissioners, Mr. Dickson Umunakwe (Special Duties), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari (Information) and Nyema Weli, of Environment Ministry, while briefing the House, noted that plans were yet to

Oba of Benin never criticised NDDC on projects

T

HE Benin T'raditional Council has denied media reports, insinuating that the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, criticised the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for abandoning 86 projects in Edo State recently while playing host to the Edo State NDDC Commissioner, Mr. Henry Okhuarobo, who paid the Oba a congratulatory visit on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of his coronation.

Secretary to the Council, Mr. Frank Irhabor, in a statement in Benin, said rather than vilify the NDDC, the Oba during the visit clearly appreciated the noticeable developmental efforts of the commission in the state particularly in Benin City.

be put in place for another possible flood disaster in the state.

Mr. Augustine Ngor, whose motion led to the summon of the commissioners, who were all members of the 2012 State Flood Management Committee, described as meaningless, the Spe-

cial Duties Commissioner ’s claim that his ministry distributed 10,000 plantain suckers to farmers displaced in the 2012 flooding as post flood intervention in his constituency.

“I have no record that you distributed farm seedlings, in-

cluding plantain suckers.

There were over 10,000 persons displaced in Abua/Odual. But assuming you distributed to 10,000 impacted persons, that would mean that you distributed one plantain sucker to one affected person.

Would you beat your chest and say that you have done well?”

Ngor asked.

INSPECTION: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle), during an inspection of Atuwatse II Model Primary School, in Warri, yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

UBTH conducts mass burial for 70 accident victims T

HE Management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, has said that it will conduct a mass burial for 70 accident victims, today.

UBTH Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Kehinde Ibitoye, in a statement in Benin, Edo State, said the victims were involved in auto-crashes which occurred on Friday, April 5, at Ugbogui village on the Benin-Ore expressway.

The accident involved a luxury bus, a fuel tanker and a trailer belonging to Dangote Group of Companies.

Ibitoye said the hospital's management was negotiating with Oredo Local Government Area for land for the mass burial, adding that all the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

She said the only accident victim who was brought alive to the hospital also died, noting that no passenger survived the accident.

Sympathising with relatives of the victims, she said: “The management is left with no other option because the bodies are burnt beyond recog-

nition.

“It is not in the interest of the hospital and its immediate environs to continue to keep such bodies.”

Amaechi, strong force in PDP —Anenih

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HAIRMAN, Board of Trustees, BOT, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, has described the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, as a strong force and one of the leaders of the party.

Anenih, who led a delegation of other BOT members of the party to Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, said they were in Rivers State to consult with Governor Amaechi over important national and party issues in PDP. Anenih said: “We are here to meet the governor of Rivers State to discuss issues that are important to the corporate existence of this country, issues that will help us stabilise the system, make PDP stronger and make us live in a decent society. We are here to consult

with him as one of the leaders of the party and again, I think I am a part of Rivers State.”

He commended Governor Amaechi for bringing good governance to the people of Rivers State.

“I was here last year and inspected most of the projects, ongoing at that time. I believe I’ve seen on my way from the airport, that some of the projects have been completed. We are here also to appreciate the governor for what he is doing for the people of Rivers State,” he added.

Responding, Amaechi said PDP in Rivers State was peaceful.

He recalled that PDP supporters in the state gave two million votes to President Goodluck Jonathan during the last elections and assured that his administration will encourage the people of the state to continue to vote for PDP during elections.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013— —13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

CBN, banks to reduce interests in short-term foreign funds

BY NOEL ONOJA

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BUJA — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and deposit money banks have agreed to place less emphasis on attracting short-term funds from abroad into the nation’s money and capital markets to avoid the debilitating effects of such hot money on the economy.

This was one of the major decisions taken at the Bankers’

Four factions emerge in Imo APGA

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI— THE festering crisis rocking All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Imo State deepened, weekend, as no fewer than four factions contesting for the soul of the party emerged during its planned state congress.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the identifiable factions were led by Chief Chris Uche, Chief Simeon Udunka, Mr. Udo Agoha and Dr. Frank Orjiako.

Committee meeting held in Abuja yesterday.

The apex bank and operators agreed that shortterm funds could hurt the economy in an unprecedented manner when suddenly withdrawn by foreign investors as was once the case with South East Asian nations and, therefore, took a decision to guard against such occurrence.

CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Agnes Tokunbo Martins, and her Corporate Communications counterpart, Mr. Ugo Okorafor, as well as Managing Directors of Citi Bank, Mr. Omar Hafiz, Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuaa, and Diamond Bank, Mr. Alex Otti, briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting.

From left: Chief Vincent Amadi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, South South PDP, Lagos State; Engr. Sunny Ekanem, Chairman, PDP South South Forum in Lagos State; Chief Ola Apena, Deputy Chariman, Lagos State PDP and Sen. Kofo Bucknor-Akerele, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, at the inauguration of the South South PDP Forum, Lagos State Board of Trustees, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

PIB: Reps deny being under pressure

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA — THE House of Representatives yesterday denied that it was under pressure from multinational oil corporations and northern leaders over the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

This was disclosed by Hon.

Ishaq Bawa, Chief Whip of the House and Chairman of House Adhoc Committee on PIB while addressing newsmen to announce the commencement of zonal public hearing on the bill which is slated for April 22 and 23.

However, Bawa also acknowledged that several oil companies and individuals have sent

memoranda and letters to the committee on aspects of the bill they want considered.

Said he: “ Nobody is mounting pressure on me or the committee. So far I can authoritatively tell you that I am not under any pressure. Yes we have received some letters and

EFCC arraigns top police pension fund fraud suspect today

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA —THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will today drag one of the key suspects in the multi-million police pension scam, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, before Justice Hussain Baba of the FCT High Court, Abuja, on charges of stealing and criminal breach of office.

Uzoma, who served

as the Chief Accountant of the PPF between 2003 and 2008, is alleged to have used the post to enrich herself to the tune of billions of Naira.

Attang who was absent in court when the others were first arraigned, was in charge of the police pension fund when N7.8billion was stolen through 10,863 cheques.

She was alleged to have personally signed 1,042 cheques to the tune of N1, 141,309,080.25.

Stakeholders back Minister's re-modelling of 11 airports

A

BUJA — AIR passengers and airline operators have lambasted critics of airport remodelling currently be undertaken by the Ministry of Aviation and said the exercise has made passenger movement easy and comfortable.

Some of the passen-

gers spoken to by Vanguard said the upgrade of facilities has made air travelling easy and pleasurable. They condemned those who were criticising the projects, calling it ordinary painting job and said that their condemnation of the projects “showed that they do not have good intention for this country.”

memoranda from oil firms."

Bawa said the panel was not concerned about the stand of the Northern senators or any other group on the bill, promising to dispassionately examine and debate every clause of the bill.

Mrs Felicia Theresa Urewuchi is dead MRS. FELICIATHERESA Urewuchi Njoku (Nee Diaku), a.k.a Mama Kenta, of Umuozu Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo State, is dead, aged 70.

Burial has been slated for Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Njoku’s family compound.

Late Mrs. Urewuchi was survived by nine children, among whom are Mrs. Gina Itimi, Mr. Leonard Njoku, Lolo Nkechi-Helen Enwereonye, Mr. Tochukwu Njoku, Mr. Richard Njoku, among others, and a host of other relatives.

Late Mrs. Urewuchi

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—15

Anenih is not usurping our functions — Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

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Amb. Desire Ouedraogo, President, ECOWAS Commission (2nd left) and Mr. Svante kilander, Swiss ambassador, signing a $6.7m Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on plan for decreasing effects of climate change on the sub-region, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: News Agency of Nigeria, NAN

BUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, said the present trouble shooting mission to states by the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, was not in any way conflicting with the functions of the National Working Committee, NWC. According to Tukur, Anenih-led BoT has in no way usurped the functions of the NWC. He stressed that Anenih’s reconciliatory visits complemented the reconciliation and consolidation tours embarked upon by the NWC, adding that both tours had been yielding the desired results.

In a statement signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party denied claims by what it described as a faceless association, “Forum for Equity and Justice,” that there was a rift between Tukur-led NWC and Chief Tony Anenih.

Metuh said: ‘’We are aware that this group of meddlesome interlopers and political jobbers with no fixed address has been commissioned to stir up

Reps back CJN on sack threat to erring judges

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA — MEMBERS of the House of Representatives yesterday threw their weight behind the.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar’s call to sack erring judges, describing it as a welcome development.

Some of the House members who spoke to Vanguard were unanimous in their reactions, saying though worrisome, it

FG to varsity councils: Abuse office and get sacked

was a wake up call.

Chairman House Committee on Anti-corruption, Abiodun Faleke, said: “I think she knows better and I quite agree with her. Nigerians no longer have confidence in the judiciary, especially in the fight against corruption. ” Where cases are tried for years without end, where courts grant perpetual injunction for an ex governor, and pension thieves, subsidy thieves are roaming the street.”

Also speaking almost in the same vein, Chairman House committee on Petroleum

”But it is something to worry about coming from the CJN,” Osagie said.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mohammd Ali Wudil, simply said “that is a true reflection of how bad our judicial system is and also a confirmation of the rot.”

Bello Razaq Osagie, representing Orhionwhhon Federal Constituency in Edo State, also said: “It’s unfortunate that the judiciary that has been the last bastion of hope for the common man is facing serious integrity test.

Vanguard Personality Award: Bamanga Tukur congratulates Amaechi .Says he is happy award not a fluke

BY FAVOUR NNUABUGWU

ABUJA — The Federal Government, yesterday, threatened to sack any university governing council that engages in any act capable of undermining the integrity of the institution.

Similarly, the government warned vice chancellors of the 21 federal universities to desist from creating unnecessary offices under them, thereby wasting scarce resources that should be used for more useful ventures.

The Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqquayat Ahmed Rufa’i, who issued the warning at the inauguration of the 21 governing councils in Abuja, made it clear that any breach of the code of conduct would attract serious sanctions from the administration.

Sector, Downstream, Dakuku Peterside said “this portends danger for democracy; democracy thrives on the foundation of rule of law; My happiness is that she has the instrument in her hand to substantially reverse the trend."

Nigerians have confidence in her and I expect her to maximise the effect of this trust. “ Minority Whip of the House, Samson Osagie, in his reaction, described the CJN’s call as a wake up call for the judiciary.

controversies and portray the BoT as working at cross purposes with the NWC. ‘’For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC and the BoT are united and committed to providing the necessary political direction for the party. ‘’The NWC is solidly behind the activities of the BoT in further uniting the party, which is central and cardinal for the party ahead of 2015. ‘’Anenih, as one of the founding fathers of our great party, has always been in the political mainstream and commands the respect of all PDP leaders and elders. He has proven to be highly effective in handling party issues.

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday hailed Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State for clinching the Vanguard personality of the year award, saying the award was not a fluke.

Tukur, who urged all PDP governors and other public office holders on its platform to double their strength in delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians, reiterated that integrity and performance, more than anyting, would be the yardstick for determining who would get the ticket of the party for elective offices in 2015.

In a statement personally signed by him, Tukur described the award as inspiring, noting that he was particularly happy that the award was given to a governor elected on the platform of PDP. The PDP national chairman,

who noted that the governor deserved the award, against the backdrop that he had at one point or the other verified the stewardship of the Rivers State governor with personal visit to the state, said Amaechi had excelled in the provision of sound education, health services, infrastructural development, urban renewal projects, good welfare packages for workers in the state, among others.

It will be recalled that Governor Amaechi was last Saturday honoured by Vanguard Newspapers with the Man of the year Award for 2012 in Lagos. ‘’Tukur, who just returned from London where he spent his Easter holiday, said he was particularly happy that the prestigious award went to a PDP governor, more so as many governors of the party had carted away nearly all awards reserved for highly effective, performing and dependable political office holders by appreciative

organisations both within and outside Nigeria.

The statement read: “The PDP and, indeed, President Goodluck Jonathan, have always been pleased with high performances on the path of public office holders, stating that the impact of the ruling party could be felt better when its elected officials continue to showcase great achievements that touch the life of every Nigerian.

“The award just bagged by Amaechi was not a fluke, the governor, had earlier been appreciated by reputable media organisations such as Thisday Newspapers, Independent Newspapers, The Leadership and others.

He noted that the achievements and stewardship of Amaechi in Rivers State have been quite phenomenal.

“I call Amaechi my son and he has been acting as my son, so I am proud of the award given to him by the management of Vanguard

Newspapers.

"He deserves the award because I had personally verified most of the achievements credited to him.

When you enter Port Harcourt, Amaechi’s hands are quite visible.

“My son had revolutionised education and health delivery services in Rivers State. He has been turning around the entire state with Urban Renewal Projects. I don’t get to know that workers in Rivers State were picking quarrels with him while he has been level headed, focused, hard working and always very eager to make the difference.

“I use this medium to congratulate Amaechi who I very well know would be spurred to do more by this award, as a leader and as a faithful PDP ambassador. I also congratulate other PDP governors who had won similar awards in the past since they have been making us proud at the national headquarters.

16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, APRIL 10 , 2013

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— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013— "The day a monkey is destined to die, all the trees get slippery."- African Proverb

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The Oga not on top for it. This is why its history is replete with skeletons of crashed careers and ambitions of people it had once trusted with its fate and fortunes. It now seems to be the turn of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to go through the turbulence and possible fate of most of his predecessors.

The fact that he has lived with this turbulence from the word go will not make his situation any less difficult. He had been shunned by his own state branch when he sought its support to contest. He had fallen out with his Governor, a fatal error, given the powers of governors in parties. He was

,

HE grounds are rapidly shifting away from the chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. For a man who came into the office under very controversial circumstances, his current travails should not surprise anyone. Still, you have to marvel at the speed of his declining powers, and wonder if it symbolises a massive decline in the fortunes of the PDP. In many ways, the rise and seeming decline of the PDP is routine stuff in its history, but with election campaigns in full gear, it is legitimate to ask whether Alhaji Bamanga's train has reached its stop.

When the story of the PDP is written, the manner it chose its leaders and disposed of them should take pride of place in the narrative. The party that had ruled the nation since 1999 has not learnt to treat its leaders with the dignity and respect they deserved. Some would say the leaders themselves, given the manner they acquire their offices, deserve little or no dignity or respect.

History of the PDP is the history of intense intrigues, massive muscles, a sharing and allocation formula which was founded on the denial of merit and intra-party democracy, and the fortunes of elected officials who determine the careers and fate of party officials as they do errand boys.

In other democracies parties are powerful, and party leadership and bureaucracies operate within clear rules.

They are largely responsible for success of candidates and quality of policies, and they are accountable from top to bottom to the humblest party member.

Those who run parties are distinct from those who run elective offices, and they stay largely on their sides of the fence.

Frequently, party operatives move into electoral contests and elective offices, falling back on experiences and insights acquired while running party offices.

In Nigeria, political parties are distinguished by their denial of all vestiges of intra-party democracy. This starts from the mode of selection of party officials, positions which are guaranteed to make occupants wealthy from public funds. Party officials in turn connive with powerful elected officials to determine the fate of those who aspire to be aspirants or candidates. The beginning of wisdom in Nigerian politics is a healthy respect for party officials. Party officials themselves live on constant alert for calls and instructions from elected officials, that specie with awesome powers derived from the use of public resources to acquire, expand and retain power.

For a party with the spread and resources of the PDP, a party position is worth all the battles that can be fought

The two do not play the game the same way.

With a higher profile for the chairman of the BOT, a Jonathan candidature is likely to be more forcefully pursued; but for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, it appears that he is no longer on top of things in the PDP

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suspected and shunned by Governors who saw him as President Jonathan's trump card in the unending battle to whittle down their powers. He got messed up in the politics of his state party structure, and ran into serious storm when his own colleagues in the top hierarchy of the party began to question his authority. The battle of PDP titans who were well represented in the National Working Committee took a toll on his authority, and registered other casualties such as the Secretary as well.

The key centres of power in the PDP have been in a rebellious mood from the inception of Bamanga's administration, and he lacked the clout

or credibility to contain it. Governors kept their backs turned against him.

People like President Obasanjo who saw the national leadership of the party as a natural turf to fight for relevance and influence kept nibbling at his authority.

His colleagues' loyalties could not be relied upon, and his overall influence over the party waned rapidly. He was isolated, and relied only on the confidence of President Jonathan as a lifeline. The National Executive Committee(NEC) of the party has not been convened since last year, because governors will use it to show who has power.

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hen it became obvious that governors would not submit to his authority, and were unrelenting in their challenge to the President's influence partly in response to Bamanga's position, new strategies appeared to have been devised. First, the emergence of Chief Tony Anenih as chairman of Board of Trustees of the PDP may have been informed by the need to strengthen the President's hand over party affairs, particularly in view of the weaknesses of Bamanga's leadership. Then the attempt to limit the damage involving governors by

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP Chair: Losing grip?

lobbying them was conceived, at first with the problem cast as the solution.

Alhaji Bamanga's reconciliation jamboree exposed the party's deep problems, and by the time it ended, it left no one in doubt that the chairman, the party and President Jonathan's 2015 ambitions were in deep trouble.

Governors used the occasions to register their alienation from the party, and quite a few sponsored stories that they were waiting in the wings to decamp to the merging parties. Naturally, they denied the stories as well; but the objective of threatening their party and showing their teeth was achieved.

Perhaps a stocktaking exercise had exposed the fact that the PDP chairman is the party's soft underbelly. It may also have alarmed the Presidency that the cracks were wider than assumed.

Consequently, a new crack strategy was set in motion, this time with the fabled Mr fix-it, Chief Anenih as its arrowhead. He was to visit seemingly ambitious or recalcitrant PDP governors and using large quantities of sticks and carrots, whip them into line. Governors whose estimation of the Chief may have been lowered by his inability to dent their colleague's standing in Edo state duly received him; and press statements say they poured out their frustrations and grievances to him, something they would not do to Tukur.

It is unclear how much the Anenih intervention will stem the tide of discontent at the upper ranks of a party desperate to get its house in order to support a likely Jonathan candidature in 2015. What is clear, however, is that Alhaji Bamanga's standing and influence has been badly damaged, perhaps irretrievably. The president may have been finally convinced that Alhaji Bamanga is more of a liability than an asset. While removing him now may not be on the cards, he is likely to play less prominent roles in party matters. His colleagues in the NWC will observe his declining stature, and are likely to challenge him more vigorously.

Governors may see his declining profile as a small victory, but many will be alarmed that Chief Anehih may be taking up the slack left by Bamnaga.

The two do not play the game the same way. With a higher profile for the chairman of the BOT, a Jonathan candidature is likely to be more forcefully pursued. Northern governors with ambitions will likely find that the stage is narrower, and more challenging. The Chief will make a valiant effort to rally a party facing serious dissent from within, and a genuinely threatening merger from outside. Given the scale of problems it faces, it is going to be a huge task just convincing everyone that President Jonathan should be its flagbearer in 2015. But for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, it appears that he is no longer on top of things in the PDP.

OPINION

BY SHEDDY OZOENE

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HAIRMAN of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, is not new to tough political assignments, especially for the PDP. He has always been associated with them so much that cracking political hardnuts has become his second nature. Many would even swear he thrives on them.

Over the years, Anenih has shown an uncommon willingness-commitment if you like-to take on the usually inconvenient job of ensuring that members submit to the larger interests of the party. This has defined his politics as much as it has brought him in confrontation, severally, with those who waver.

Many refer to him as “The Enforcer ” in admiration of his strict insistence on the collective interests of the party, or derogatorily as a political arm-twister, depending on who is involved. As a politician who leads by example, he maintains the dual character of a quintessential leader as well as a loyal follower, all at once. While many, especially those in opposition parties, will always choose to vilify him, only a few conceal the fact that he is one of a kind for which they envy the PDP. C M Y K

Anenih’s olive branch to aggrieved PDP governors Among the reasons Anenih was favoured to return as chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, in addition to his unquestionable loyalty to the party, is his untiring efforts to ensure the party speaks with one voice.

His return on February 25, 2013, to the position he vacated nearly six years earlier was, therefore, apt coming at a period the party was beginning to speak in discordant voices. With a section of the party leadership seriously aggrieved and as many as eight of its governors rumored to be seeking alternative political platforms, along with Senators and House of Representatives members from their states, Anenih’s second missionary journey could not have happened at a more auspicious time.

Indeed, the scenario of a divided party is obviously one that is contrary to his ideals as a stickler for cohesion and consensus. Though he has paid visits to some high-profile Nigerians and leaders of the party since stepping in the saddle as BoT Chairman,

Anenih’s peace initiatives have focused more on the PDP governors, many of whom are either disenchanted with the party or are being swayed by political calculations towards the 2015 elections.

Some of them, who reportedly claim they are being marginalized and have lost confidence in the party leadership, had stayed away from the reconciliation parleys organized recently in their geopolitical zones by the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The BoT under Anenih’s leadership did not need that to know that all was not well with the PDP. The presidency and the PDP leadership guard realized that; and, which was why the new BoT chairman was requested to drive the process of genuine reconciliation in the party.

Continues on Viewpoints page *Mr. Ozoene, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 CHIEF Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, is concerned about the quality of judgments delivered in courts across the country. She finds a relationship between the judgments and flagging public confidence in the judiciary.

It is only a matter of insistence that the court is the last hope of the common man. In practice, the poor do not expect to get justice from the courts. They are not disappointed.

Court verdicts paint grim pictures of the disparity of the laws, depending on who are affected.

“A judge should write in a simple and unambiguous manner. A judgment should meet the justice of the matter or controversies between the contending parties. It is certainly not good for a judgment to be capable of more than one interpretation,” Mukhtar said at a refresher course to improve judgement writing.

Knowledge and writing skills are the least of the challenges judges face when writing judgments. Ambiguous judgments stem from being compromised. It is worse, as evidenced in electoral disputes, where all parties

Judgments: Jiggles, Riddles involved could have induced the judge. At appeals, some judges have been berated over judgments riddled with contradictions.

Judgments are written, many believe, to provide comfort for all paying parties; with the highest bidder getting the juiciest decision. “I have heard the aphorism a couple of times that in the court, the rich get bail while the poor get jailed. To what extent have we as judges turned justice away from the highest bidder?” Mukhtar asked.

The matter is totally out of hand. The intervention of the National Judicial Council, NJC, has been tepid. Mukhtar is stepping over the NJC to invoke divine intervention to strike fear into judges. “As

you sit in judgment over others, you are also standing at judgment and one day, we shall all stand before God to be judged.” Will that scare them? What can scare them?

Punishment for corruption in the judiciary is too temperate to moderate behaviour.

Judges are hardly tried, the harshest punishment they get on corruption cases is retirement: with full benefits.

Is that adequate punishment for corruption? Why would judges who collect bribes worth millions of Naira, often more money than their entire benefits for decades, not eagerly embrace retirement with their loot?

Mukhtar and the NJC have a task ahead of them. If they charge judges to court for corruption, they would be astounded about the speed with which they would spray clarity through their judgements.

Corruption in the judiciary would fester for as long as corrupt judges are retired after internal investigations and allowed to keep their loot. Public confidence in the judiciary cannot grow when judges treat themselves as exceptions to the law.

OPINION

BY OWEI LAKEMFA

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AM away in Addis Ababa, organising the 40th Anniversary of the Organisation Of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, the umbrella organisation of African workers, which comes up on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Also, as the OATUU Secretary General, I am to attend the African Union Labour and Social Affairs Commission meeting, the tripartite biennial conference that brings together African Labour Ministers, employers and trade unions.

Then my mobile rings: My dear mother, Madam Ebibo Lakemfa, passed away in Port Harcourt, Nigeria at 8pm on Tuesday April 3, 2013. Before leaving my Accra, Ghana base, I had called her in Nigeria. She was okay; in any case, that is what she always told me. I had come to realise that she masked her pains, and even sometimes, her ill health. So I usually go through my siblings to try finding out her state of health given advancing age.

On this occasion, her main concern was her younger brother, Joseph Presidor Fakrogha who had just been discharged from the

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Ebibo Lakemfa: A passing like no other hospital. I assured her he would be alright. To now be told that I

would no longer hear that voice I have always heard from childhood, is devastating. It is not that I expected that my dear mother will live forever; it is the finality of it. The irreversible nature, like a raw egg that drops from a height; how do you put it together? If life snaps, how do you re-tie it?

What is left are sweet memories; of times past when my world took shape in her image and hands; when I watched the world from the comfort of her bosom. As a child, I recall that I thought I could get away with anything, including beating older and far stronger relatives, provided she was around. I knew nobody would retaliate when she was around.

F

The late Ebibo Lakemfa

or many years, a priced, enlarged photograph hung from the wall of our home. It was that of a young, beautiful lady seated regally on a chair like royalty. It was the photograph my mother took on October 1, 1960

to mark Nigeria’s independence.

She was heavy; and 34 days later, I made it out into the world, yelling.

Even as a child, I thought I knew her suffering; she was typical of many mothers in those days when I was growing up in Obalende, Lagos; they woke before cock crow and you never knew when they retired to bed. They were engaged in all sorts of trade and a seemingly endless race to make ends meet. Many of us who grew up in the Obalende of the 1960s and ‘70s, went to school due to our mothers' sweat, and the free education programme that was still tottering then, before its final collapse. Most of our mothers had not had the opportunity of going to school. In fact, the first time some of them entered a classroom, was when they went to register their children. But for them, their children getting educated was like a religious obligation.

I developed my pro-women advocacy from watching our

mothers struggling to ensure a better future for their families, especially we their children.

Although we had little when I was a kid, my mother gave to those who were worse off, and our home was a refuge to a very long line of kinsmen some of who stayed with us for many years until they could find their feet in indifferent Lagos. She also taught us to celebrate the Christian and Muslim festivals.

Despite our economic condition, we came to expect new clothes at these festivals.

I suspect that I learnt contentment, a heart for the downtrodden and confidence from my quiet mother who, even when her children had become better off, would make no demands believing that we are still trying to find our feet.

Her life journey is over. Her mission, accomplished. She’s gone. I will never see her again, except in dreams. I will no longer hear her voice, except her usual answer when my youngest son repeatedly greets her “Mama ado o!”

*Mr. Lakemfa, OATUU Secretary General, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013— —19

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N the March 20 and 27, 2013 editions of this column entitled "The ICPC/NUC report and sexual harassment in Nigerian universities", I questioned the validity of the claim attributed to the ICPC chair, Ekpo Nta, based on a pilot study conducted by the anti-graft body and the NUC, that corruption ranked very high among corrupt practices in our universities. This comment by Mr. Nta formed the fulcrum of an editorial by The Punch which felt saddened by the degenerate state of our universities. The editorial and the comment that triggered it painted a lurid picture of our universities. While my own comment did not deny the existence of corrupt practices, including sexual harassment in our universities, it questioned the premise on which that conclusion was reached even while it recognised sexual misconduct as a societal, even human, problem that is not exclusive to Nigerian universities. Specifically, my comments called into question the ICPC's understanding of its brief in regard to the problems facing

universities in Nigeria. The media advisers of the ICPC took their time to digest the two-part submission before responding on March 27 with the full report from the pilot study which was later followed by a phone call from the ICPC's media consultant.

There was no rebuttal from the ICPC- far from that, the report and the phone call were rather to correct the misleading picture of the entire pilot study and its findings created by the comment attributed to the ICPC chair and The Punch editorial. There was and still is no need for much discussion after going through the report for it indeed speaks for itself. From where then came the words attributed to Mr. Nta? What prompted The Punch headline or the words attributed to the ICPC boss? Could this be a case of incompetent reportage or did Mr. Nta get himself snared by responding to the preconceived questions of a lazy reporterquestions which feed into popular narratives of student-lecturer relationship but which did not emanate from the study conducted

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by the body he leads? t may interest the reader to know that this report, a 25page executive summary of a pilot study conducted at three university sites does not contain a single word on sexual harassment or any direct reference to it. In conducting the University System Study and Review, USSR, ICPC-speak for this kind of pilot study into conditions that aide corrupt practices in Nigerian universities and how they can be curbed/eliminated, the body invokes its statutory mandate "derived from Section 6 (b-d) of its enabling law to undertake a comprehensive Systems Study and Review of Nigerian Universities".

Very much unlike the cure-afterdeath strategy favoured by similar bodies, the USSR approach is preventive and proactive rather than a sloppy reactive strategy.

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ccordingly: "It is a factfinding and problemsolving strategy, which involves the examination of the current policies, practices, procedures,

Anenih’s olive branch to aggrieved PDP governors Continues from pg 17

BY SHEDDY OZOENE

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HE policy of genuine reconciliation by readmitting returning members who fled the party in the heady days of the Obasanjo presidency was being implemented half-heartedly, just as little has been done in resolving the crises in almost all the state chapters of the party. This development is what the Anenih-led BoT has been asked to address. But, indeed, it is the governors’ recalcitrance against the party leadership that has bothered Anenih the most. This recalcitrance has incrementally manifested in recent times. For instance, in Tukur ’s first major outing with them-a meeting he called at the party’s Legacy House in Abuja-only five governors had attended; a scenario that played out again when only three (Theodore Orji of Abia, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and the late Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna) were present at the launch of his (Tukur ’s) biography, the Global Villager to mark his 77th birthday anniversary.

His quarrel with Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the forced enthronement of the Mijinyawa Kaugama-led state executive in Adamawa PDP also did a great harm to Tukur ’s relationship with governors who regard Oyinlola and Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako, as two of their own. The boycott of the

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party ’s one-year celebration of the enthronement of its National Working Committee at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, which attracted only two governors, brought matters to a head and clearly raised the alarm.

As events have proved in the past three weeks or thereabout, Anenih’s BoT has proved that it is in a better stead position to seek the governors’ attention, speak with them jaw-to-jaw and assuage their grievances. For the first time, some of them are making their complaints open, a situation that makes appeasement possible. The decision to engage the governors individually and behind closed doors, has also built confidence and created a better environment for them to open up. Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, for instance, who hosted Anenih and his team recently, emerged from the meeting a stronger and more committed PDP member.

It has also come to the fore that Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who, along with Aliyu, is reported to be nursing presidential ambitions, views the arrest and prosecution of his son by the EFCC as political persecution, while Kano Governor, Kwankwaso, is angry that he is not consulted when federal appointments are being made in Kano.

The manner in which statements were brazenly made to

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The ICPC Report on the Nigerian university system (1)

Corruption is viewed as a national problem that informed the establishment of bodies such as the ICPC; this report provides the historical context from within which the ICPC emerged as an anticorruption agency

behaviours and systems of public bodies, determine if they aid corruption and to what extent they are prone to do so. Thereafter, a review of same is designed, conducted and shared with the management of the reviewed institution/agency for implementation". The ICPC is by this "empowered to direct and supervise the implementation of such recommendations with intention to rectify corruption prone areas, bring about reduced incidences of corruption and facilitate better service delivery".

So much for sexual harassment.

For this pilot study the staff, students as well as members of the immediate communities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye and Salem University, Lokoja, each of which was randomly selected from a total number of 124 universities across the country on the basis of their ownership- federal, state and private- the research population was drawn from members of these communities aside staff and students of the selected institutions.

For data collection, questionnaires and memoranda were distributed and analysed aside interviews. Public hearings were also held to validate data collected by interviews and questionnaires. Of course in invoking its mandate to conduct this pilot study, the ICPC was prompted by intelligence-based reports, complaints, petitions and comments made by members of the Nigerian public, including students among other 'stakeholders'- or so the report says.

The report traces developments in the Nigerian educational system, from schools through the universities and various government policies that were formulated to address these developments.

It is a comprehensive report that seeks to

As events have proved in the past three weeks or thereabout, Anenih’s BoT has proved that it is in a better stead position to seek the governors’ attention, speak with them jawto-jaw and assuage their grievances

,

foreclose the 2015 presidential contest may also have rankled many of the governors when it is obvious the preferred option of consensus in such a sensitive issue is not imposed but forged with patient negotiation.

I

t may be too early in the day to evaluate in details the effects of Anenih’s political shuttles to reconcile aggrieved PDP Governors but the signals are positive. An indication that he is succeeding has come from the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, who disclosed that the tour of some states was already yielding fruitful results. Another is the recent public commendation by the party ’s National Publicly Secretary, Olisa Metuh. In conveying the party’s commendation of his role, Metuh said Anenih had indeed lived up to his

locate the contexts in which corruption manifests and operates in the Nigerian system. The societal problem that corruption constitutes is highlighted and nowhere is the issue of corruption viewed as an exclusive university experience nor as a fundamentally sexual issue. If anything, corruption is viewed as a national problem that informed the establishment of bodies such as the ICPC. Which is to say that this report provides the historical context from within which the ICPC emerged as an anticorruption agency. The reason behind the establishment of the NUC from a humble beginning in 1962 as an advisory body in the Cabinet Office before its metamorphosis into a statutory body in 1974 was provided. The custodian and watchdog role of the NUC as the supervisory agency with overall mandate over academic programmes and granting approval for the establishment of universities, among other oversight functions, did not go unremarked in the USSR. It would be naive to imagine that writers of this report are unaware of sexual malfeasance in Nigerian universities. Matters of such gravity must have come up somehow in their interactions with stakeholders in the university system in the course of their study.

But such matters must, for them, represent one face of corruption in a university system that is bedevilled by more fundamental issues of infrastructural and manpower decay, a point lent credence by the Nigerian Tribune editorial of April 2, 2013. The urgent tone of this editorial attests to the critical state of decay in our universities, far from any alarmist proclamation of Nigerian universities as the haven of sex perverts.

reputation as a consensus builder and strong believer in the supremacy of the party.

Indeed, for a man whom, in the worst type of situations, has never contemplated an alternative political platform, Anenih occupied a high ground from where he deploys a certain moral force in his arguments.

Even when he was schemed out of the BoT Chairmanship by Obasanjo in 2007, his loyalty to the party and successive governments of the late President Umar u Yar ’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan never waned. And there he is today, back to the seat he was unfairly denied and vigorously investing his energy and resources in the enterprise of building united and peaceful party.

With this, it is easy to argue with the governors that jumping ship is never an option on issues like this. What is paramount is demonstration of the spirit of give and take. Reports have so far indicated that Anenih is making significant progress in the reconciliation effort, extracting commitments from the aggrieved governors and making concessions and/or compromises on behalf of the party. When, in the next few months, the PDP under the leadership of President Jonathan strikes a rhythmical chord, let not the opposition parties try to orchestrate political shenanigans about the good fortune of the behemoth which the ruling party has personified.

Concluded

*Mr. Ozoene, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, APRIL 10 , 2013

Debate of the masses

Bok o Haram insurgency Boko insurgency,, a conspiracy? (2)

BY EBELE ORAKPO

“A

*Goodbye commercial motorcycles(Okada), welcome tricycles(INSET) and buses in Minna

Red card for Okada over Boko Haram, road crashes in Niger N

IGER State has had its own bitter experience of the Boko Haram nightmare, with attacks from the dreaded terrorists leaving scores of people dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed. The tragic incidents also left a thick cloud of fear in the state.

The attacks came in the form of series of bomb blasts in Suleja town and its suburb. These ugly incidents caught the Niger State government somehow unawares and gave it a lot to worry about.

Security reports and analysis by relevant security agents in the state to government revealed that commercial motor cycles popularly known as Okada were mostly used by perpetrators of the dastardly act. It was obviously against this backdrop that, last year, the state government came out with an order banning Okada outrightly as a means of transportation in Minna, the state capital. But following strident and sustained criticisms by both commuters and members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Rider ’s Association of Nigeria, ACCOMORAN, the decision was reversed. Instead of an out-

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right ban, the state government restricted the operation of Okada riders to between 6am to 6pm, while further steps were being worked out on how to improve transportation system in the state.

Besides their perceived involvement in crimes in the state, most Okada riders are also seen as very lawless and disobedient, especially with regards to their refusal to wear crash helmets, frequent resort to over-

,

BY WOLE MOSADOMI, MINNA

with casualties from motorcycle accidents.

But Tuesday, February 26, brought cheering news as Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu announced the purchase of 1000 tricycles and 14 mass transit buses. It was a development that caught majority of Okada operators unawares as they were given only three weeks to keep off the streets of Minna.

The Governor, while launching the tricycles and buses, said the deci-

Security reports revealed that Okada (motorcycles) were mostly used by perpetrators of the dastardly act

speeding and failure to put on number plates, among other infractions.

In fact, statistics on road accidents within Minna was said to have dropped drastically since the restriction of Okada movement in Minna.

A visit by Vanguard Metro, VM, to the Minna General Hospital showed that the accident wards were virtually empty as against the past few months before the restriction of the Okada riders when the wards were always filled up

,

sion should not be seen as punitive but as a bold step to save lives on the roads. “We are tired of losing precious lives in avoidable road crashes involving motorcycles in different parts of the state.

The decision should not be misunderstood as a punitive measure to deny people their means of livelihood but rather as a necessary step aimed at ensuring the safety of lives on our roads,” the Governor remarked. He did not stop there. “Besides reducing youth un-

employment and poverty in the state and also improving the socio-economic lives of the people, it is also aimed at addressing some of the security challenges in the state,” he added.

Each of the tricycles was purchased at N624,700 but sold at the subsidized rate of N400,000 only to beneficiaries and payable in 18 months from date of allocation just as the Governor called on the beneficiaries to ensure prompt payment and ensure that all the safety measures are observed in order to give room for others to benefit.

State chairman of ACCOMORAN, Alhaji Musa Ishaku, in an interview, said though the restriction of their movement by the state government last year was first misunderstood and seen as punitive, but it later came to be accepted as a good step taken by government to fight crime as well as identify and separate his members from the fake riders who are only out to perpetrate crime.

Ishaku, however, lamented that out of the officially registered 9000 Okada riders in Minna, only 300 will be gainfully engaged with the initial delivery of only 300 tricycles out of the promised 1000, leaving a shortfall of 8,700 riders.

S for the Boko Haram issue, the government is handling them with kid gloves.

Why can’t they be rounded up and dealt with once and for all,” asked Richard.

Replied Ibrahim; “Hmm, I laugh oo. It is not as simple as that. If you say this in some parts of the North, you will not last two days. You don’t know who is who. Everyone is afraid of everyone else just like what happened in the USSR where children and parents were informants so that your child can report you to the authorities and you are arrested and executed for saying something against the authorities. It is that bad. The person you are talking to may be a Boko Haram informant or member.”

“And now government wants to grant them amnesty? What kind of a country are we in?” asked Kris.

“I tire oo. What they are telling us now is that if you don’t pick up arms against the state, you will never get anything from the state. Other youths will rise up soon,” said Richard.

“I think amnesty is the best solution for now.

Then education should follow. If these youths were educated and engaged, no one will use them as they are being used now,” said Iyabo.

Replied Sani: “Education? I don’t think so because education will open their eyes to all the injustices. The oligarchy and established names do not want to lose power over the poor so they won’t want them educated so as to continue to subjugate them. They know that once these ones are educated, they will overtake their offspring because of the edge they have over them as a result of the sufferings they have been through.”

Said Ibrahim: “Yes, education is part of it but the most urgent thing now is to halt the madness.”

Continuing he said: “What government needs to do is to bring together some eggheads to brainstorm and come up with ideas to help solve the problem. Let them get together for a few days and come up with solutions. The problem will not be solved by physical strength, it’s through intelligence.

“Going to Maiduguri was not a solution. These people can gather in Lagos and come up with a blueprint that will then be implemented. And make no mistake about it, the nonchalance shown by the South on the issue of Boko Haram is not the best because when you think you are at peace and your neighbour is having crisis, you are not safe because there will be a spill over one day so all hands must be on deck.

If the issue is tackled in Kano, what makes you think they will not move to Lagos? So it must be tackled spontaneously in all the regions.

“Look at me now leaving Lagos for Abuja and the authorities do not know. The national identity card is not working.

Under normal circumstances, if I pick up a national identity card, it should be able to give me the following information about the holder: his hometown, state, where he lives, where he works etc. And when a person moves from one location to another, there should be proper record. People troop into Lagos and other cities everyday and no one knows where they come from or what they do. Our borders are so porous that arms are brought into the country everyday. Nigeriennes come to Kano for shopping, just two hours drive, so it is easy for them.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2012 — 21

Ecobank signs deal to partner with India’s ICICI

P

Mr. Fatai Amoo, Group Head, e-business Sterling Bank; Tossa Monday, winner of LED TV, and Abidemi Asunmo, Head, Cards Unit, Sterling Bank, during the presentation of gifts to winners of the just concluded Verve card promo, in Lagos.

ALLEGED N47BN THEFT:

Akingbola applies for overseas medical treatment F

ORMER Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, has sought permission from an Ikeja High Court to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Akingbola made the request in an application filed by his counsel, Mr Mike Igbokwe (SAN), before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo. The former bank chief is being prosecuted for allegedly stealing N47.1 billion belonging to Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank Plc).

He was charged to court alongside Bayo Dada, General Manager of Tropics Finance Ltd., by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In the application dated March 19th, Akingbola asked leave of the court to keep a medical appointment scheduled for April 15th at Harley Street Hospital in London.

Igbokwe said the purpose of the trip was in continuation of Akingbola’s treatment for an undisclosed ailment, adding that it would not in anyway jeopardise the trial.

“The application is to enable the first defendant (Akingbola) quickly go for the treatment and come back for his trial. Medical appointments are fixed by doctors and this application is not meant to induce the court to exercise its discretion in the first defendant’s favour,” he said. Meanwhile, Akingbola and Dada also filed two separate applications asking the court

for a variation of their bail terms.

The defendants in the applications dated March 23, asked the court to remove their mandatory report to the EFCC’s office every Monday, from their bail terms.

EFCC counsel, Mr Godwin Obla (SAN), however, objected to the applications, adding that he needed more time to file a further affidavit to some of the issues raised by the

defendants. After hearing Obla’s submission, the judge said only a short adjournment was necessary, under the circumstances, since a date has already been fixed for Akingbola’s medical appointment. Onigbanjo said:” I am, therefore, adjourning this matter to April 10th for hearing of arguments, which will give me 48 hours to take a decision on the application.”

Wema Bank shops for N35bn through special placement

W

EMA Bank is set to raise N35 billion through a special placement at the capital market by offering 23.33 billion ordinary shares of 50k each at N1.50 per share.

Managing Director of the bank, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, disclosed this at a completion board meeting, in Lagos.

Oloketuyi said the proceeds would be used to enhance the bank’s information technology facilities and branch innovations. He said that 80 percent of the proceeds would be used to increase its capital to enable the bank engage in more lending activities.

“The purpose of this offer is to acquire more capital to do the business of banking, which is to create assets in terms of loans,” he said. Oloketuyi said

that the offer, when completed, would bring the bank’s shareholders’ funds to N40 billion. He said that the special placement was part of the management’s strategy to reposition the bank and enhance its returns.

“We have spoken to a number of investors and we have commitment from them, but until the offer is formally open and we then clinch the money, we can now mention names,” he said.

The Wema Bank boss also assured shareholders of better returns and urged them to bring in more funds to partake in the “success story.”

AN-AFRICAN lender, Ecobank Transnational (ETI) has signed a memorandum of understanding to partner with India’s second largest bank, ICICI, to make itself a hub for Indian investment into Africa.

Ecobank’s CEO, Thierry Tanoh, said on Monday at the Reuters Africa Investment Summit that a similar alliance with South Africa’s Nedbank, had helped it gain better access to markets in southern Africa.

“What we are trying to do is become the partner of choice when it comes to dealing with subSaharan Africa,” Tanoh, said.

He added that the MoU with ICICI had just been signed, saying that the idea was to attract SouthSouth (developing country) investors to go through the bank in order to do business in sub-Saharan Africa.”

He added that the bank was forecasting an increase in deposits of 20 percent, revenue growth of 15 percent and a fall in cost-income ratios into the low 70s for 2013. ETI, which has operations in 33 countries since opening a new branch in Equatorial Guinea, posted a record pretax profit of $348 million for 2012, an increase of 25 percent on the previous year, results released last month showed.

The Togo-headquartered bank grew its loan book to $10 billion last year as against $15 billion in customer deposits and total assets of $20 billion, the results showed.

Tanoh said those results were driven in part by the successful integration of the acquisitions of Nigeria’s Oceanic Bank and Ghana’s The Trust Bank.

136.15

-4.0

2,178.00

+46.00

17.7

0.05

104.79 +0.67 93.39 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR 154.74 155.24 POUNDS 236.9843 237.7501 EURO 201.6572 202.3088 FRANC 165.6745 166.2099 YEN 1.5695 1.5746 CFA 0.2863 0.2963 WAUA 231.5653 232.3136 RENMINBI 24.9431 25.0241 RIYA 41.2607 41.394 KRONA 27.0491 27.1365 SDR 232.6361 233.3878

+0.69 SELLING 155.74 238.5158 202.9604 166.7452 1.5797 0.3063 233.0618 25.1052 41.5273 27.2239 234.1395

CBN Exchange rate as at 09/04/2013

22 — Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

ETI targets 15% revenue growth in 2013

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

E

From left: Elderman Nathaniel Folarin Coker, former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education and Life Member, Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, (Chartered); Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, NIM; Mr. Maurice Lakanu, Registrar/Chief Executive, NIM and Engr. Mohammed Kudu Sulaiman, Director, Membership Service, NIM, when the institute paid a visit to Elderman Coker under its We Care Programme.

GTBank, two others pass loan transparency stress test — Thaddeus

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

T

HADDEUS Investment Advisors & Research Ltd said that only three of the thirteen banks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, passed its loan Transparency Stress test.

The banks, according to the company, are Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, FCMB, and Diamond Bank Plc. The test conducted by the company is based on the 2011 full year results of the banks and it assessed banks’ loan loss provision perspective in relation to the income statement in conjunction with the balance sheet.

A report signed by Jude Fejokwu, Principal Analyst of the company, said “This is the second fiscal year that all banks operating in Nigeria are on a completely level playing field. This is also the first fiscal year that the impact of the AMCON intervention can be seen on the books of the banks.”

According to the researchers, FCMB fared best in the transparency stress test., adding that this is the second year in a row that Diamond Bank has passed the transparency stress test and is the only bank to achieve

C M Y K

this feat.

According to the report, the analysis has nothing to do with the under or over valuation of any of these banks and ‘does not recommend based on our findings to exit or enter any particular bank stock.’

Also, banks were given a PASS or FAIL remark based on whether the judgment used to determine loan loss expense on the income statement for FY 2011 is adequate or not on an

objective level playing field.

The analysts did not reveal the complete methodology utilised to determine which banks properly provided or under provided for their loan losses, as well as did not reveal the banks that properly disclosed their amount of non-performing loan because of the analysts’ proprietary nature as an independent research house, among other criteria.

Commenting on the outcome, the researchers said,

“While our banks have improved from FY 2007 and 2008 when financial reporting was at its weakest in our opinion, we are still far from where we can be and should be when it comes to transparent, honest and selfless financial reporting.

“A pass rate of 23 percent is abysmal.

Interestingly enough, two of the three banks that passed our transparency stress test declared losses for FY 2011.

“Nigerian banks should continually strive to face the realities of their business environment instead of creating perceptions.

Posterity is never prejudiced. We will continue to strive to propagate the truth with integrity as our watchword. All of us will be better for it at the end of the day.”

Dangote Co-operative records 46% growth in savings …declares N18m as dividend

D

ANGOTE Group Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited (DANCOOPS) has recorded a 46.30 per cent increase in its total savings, rising from N490.4 million to N717.5 million for the 2011 financial year.

In the period under review, the group recorded gross earnings of N51.85million in 2011 compared with N36.32 million in 2010 with an increase of 43 per cent while its operating expenses

increased by 23 per cent.

However, the Society proposed to make a dividend payout of N18million to members whose names appeared in its membership register as at the close of business on 31st December 2011, while the loan portfolio grew from N294 million in 2010 to N509 million in current year under review indicting an increase of 37 per cent.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the society, the president of the Co-

operative, Mr. Reuben Oluwole explained that despite all odds during the period under review DANCOOPS made significant progress in all keys performance indicators.

With the growth recorded, Oluwole said the group’s objective remains the pooling of funds through monthly savings by members to encourage savings culture amongst its members, just as its membership had significantly increased by 15 per cent from 3,619 in 2010 to 4,156 in 2011.

COBANK Transnational Incorporated, ETI, has unveiled strategic plans to grow its revenue by 15 percent in 2013 financial year.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, Thiery Tanoh, who made the disclosure at the Facts Behind Figure presentation of the bank on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, said that deposits and loan portfolio are expected to grow by 20 and 10 percent respectively.

He noted that the cost to income ratio is expected to drop significantly during the period.

Tanoh stated that as part of strategy to achieve the set objective, changes would be made at the management position, to drive the performance, adding that the bank intends to be more reactive and innovative in its operations.

He said, “We have seen signs from our first quarter result, which we will soon release to the market, that the full year result will be robust.

We want to make sure that we are more efficient in the way we relate to customers.

Our footprint has largely been built; we must now focus on maximizing the potential of this unique platform. By driving revenue growth and increasing efficiency, we believe that by doing this, we will bring the highest and strong diversified value to our shareholders in the long term.”

He noted that Ecobank Group was poised to use Nigerian business as a pivot to achieve the goal, adding that, presently, Nigeria contributes over 46 percent of its total annual revenue.

Speaking on the previous year’s result where Ecobank Group recorded 39 percent increase in profit before tax to $287 million and 16 percent increase in total assets to $20 billion, Tanoh said, “Strong performance in the fourth quarter, with customer loans growing by 10 percent, noninterest revenue up by 62 percent compared to the nine month 2012 run-rate, was boosted by a $72.4 million refund from the Assets management Corporation of Nigeria in respect of Oceanic Bank acquisition.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 23

DIARY Select ICT events

zconhIT 2013.

Holds 9-11 Apr 2013 in Berlin, Germany. zMachine to Machine 2013.

Holds 10-11 April 2013 in Paris, France. zProlight + Sound 2013.

Holds 10-13 Apr 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. zIntertelecom 2013. Holds 11-13 April, 2013 in Lodz, Poland.

,

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

Automatic asthma inhaler

THE NEXThaler was created to automate the dose and delivery of asthma medication simple and intuitive.

Designed to be nearly fool-proof, the NEXThaler automatically provides the correctly measured dose of medication when opened by the user. The device monitors the flow rate as the user inhales, delivering a dose of extrafine, dry asthma medication to both the large and small airways. The device mechanism resets when closed, and the built in dose-counter lets the patient keep track of how many doses remain.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 235 million people suffer from asthma.

I N S I D E C M Y K

ICT has ensured greater efficiency, integrity —Mahmud, CAC's Registrar-General

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A

PPLICATION of information com munication technology in governance has started yielding results; the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Registrar-General, Alhaji Bello Mahmud has disclosed that the recent adoption of e-registration of companies through the use of electronic work flow has ensured greater efficiency of the system and high data integrity.

The CAC boss who disclosed this to ICT journalists at the weekend said that the functionality of the CAC online system became impaired over the years due to inability of the commission’s vendor to provide upgrade on the software and a suitable electronic payment system to support online registration directly by customers.

The system, according to the scorecard released by Alhaji Mahmud, eliminates the problem of name duplication and typographic errors associated with the manual system.

Applications processed Further details released

by Mahmud indicate that

,

zGDC 2013.

Holds 25-29 Mar 2013 in San Francisco, USA.

3,880 applications were processed within 24 hours last October, a total of 3,128 in November and 3,208 in December respectively.

For January, 2013, 1,069 applications, he added were processed within 24 hours, even as the statistics showed that that the applications processed outside 24 hours but within 72 hours were those applications that had been queried for noncompliance with laiddown requirements.

“Such applications were processed immediately the customer complied with all outstanding requirements.

“Lagos is an important commercial nerve centre of the country. Considering this strategic importance the Commission established two offices in Lagos, one in Yaba and this new one we are about to commission in Alausa.

In order to actualize its ICT thrust, the Commission embarked on a total upgrade of its WAN from VSAT-based network to a more reliable fibre based system. This was meant to improve availability and also enhance trans-

Nigerians should be proud to do things in their own terms and faith instead of outsourcing these things and encourage capital flight

Scrap non-IT compliant MDAs first

action. A pilot scheme in Lagos (Yaba and Alausa) has been completed and is now ready for commissioning by the minister,” he said.

With this commissioning, registration of companies will now start and finish in these offices.Four other state offices in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Kano are being executed by Globacom Limited.

Challenges

Further, Alhaji Mahmud disclosed that CAC had successfully achieved a 24-hour start-to-finish service delivery period for all new registration services since July 25, 2012.

With the new system, he said, applications for registration are now processed directly at the two Lagos offices and certificates issued to customers within 24 hours.

Other states too

He noted that the Commission has also concluded arrangements to extend the start-to-finish registration service to its offices in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna this year.

“With the new system,

Continues on page 27

SOSCharger keeps phones charged when there's no electricity

ComTech minister inaugurates council of ICT heads in MDAs

M

INISTER of Com munication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson has inaugurated the council of ICT Heads of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

At the inauguration held in Abuja, the Minister said that it will mark the beginning of a new era in the ICT governance in MDAs. The council, according to the Minister was a positive step to reinforce the commitment of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in establishing an ICT Ministry to drive amongst others internal efficiency in government and good governance.

The Council of ICT heads according to the Minister is an advisory body with no decision making authority but can deploy influence, peer pressure and moral suasion to enable change

within MDAs. The Minister's special assistant on Media, Efem Nkanga in a statement said that the Minister emphasized that the Council Heads would drive internal efficiency in MDAs, ensure improved IT service delivery, coordinate Federal Government IT Strategy and Implementation, Effective IT Project Management, and Integrated IT Budgeting within federal MDAs. The Council she added would meet at least six times a year and the secretariat will be established in the E-Government Department of the Ministry of Communication Technology.

According to her, the Council may establish other Governance bodies including Architecture & Innovation Committee, Assurance, Compliance &

Continues on page 27

Etisalat launches Forum urges FG to reassess metro fibre network in Abuja space programme

for development

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL,10 2013

W

Scrap non-IT compliant MDAs first

T

HE information technology revolution that is gradually achieving traction in the country is not only commendable, but has led to optimisation and greater efficiency in the delivery of services by several government agencies.

Some of the agencies of government whose services have embraced ICT, especially in the educational sector include the examination bodies — JAMB, NECO, WAEC, and the various professional examinations and certification bodies. It is commendable that masive paperwork which signposted their services in the past have been replaced by online, real time platforms which have eliminated a lot of errors and miscarriages.

For instance, examples existed of students who had other peoples’results foisted on them, largely as a result of the analog format of testing and results collation and recording in the public examinations systems. To our great relief, much of these problems have vaporized as ICT-driven solutions got adopted.

Thus, it was with much trepidation that the public accepted the news of government’s plans to scrap JAMB and NECO. I agree totally with the effort to downsize government; with nearly 600 ministries, departments, and agencies, it is just a matter of time that the chicken roosts with the cost of servicing the mandarins that man them.

But of all these nearly 600 MDAs, why start with JAMB and NECO whose operations are getting more and more automated daily? Do we know the spin-offs in job creation in the ICT realm that automation of their operations have brought about?

If JAMB alone winds up today, have we factored in the number of scratch card sellers that will be affected? Do we have a census of the business centres

whose operations will drop as a result of lesser patronage, with consequent implications for job holders? I am aware that when the universities start running their own admission shows as it was in the days of yore, those initially affected will revive.

My argument is that we could start downsizing government by starting with commissions and other MDAs whose functions simply overlap and dovetail into each other. I believe it is not an accident that government has moved by starting with MDAs in the education sector. That sector indeed has a number of regulatory commissions headed by mandarins who are simply feeding fat on the resources of this country.

My own take is that we can have a National Education Regulatory Commission, which can efficiently execute the mandates of the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission, National Commission for Nomadic Education, and the National Commission for Adult Education, Mass Literacy and Non_Formal Education. All these separate commissions can be collapsed into departments under the proposed National Education Regulatory Commission.

I am of the opinion that we should do things with a sense of caution. Sure, the Oronsaye report should be implemented, but the timing and scheduling, as it affects education sector MDAs, just as one UTME is around the corner, is not auspicious.

Even as we downsize government, we must plan it, so that the shocks don’t give us headaches.

We can do that by scrapping non-IT compliant MDAs.

,

Our safety net will be to design software solutions in indigenous languages for various sectors

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HEN there's a natural disaster or bad storm, power outages are almost guaranteed. This can be an annoyance during a minor storm, but during a more serious disaster, a lack of power can mean not being able to get in touch with friends, loved ones, and in the worst of situations, help. The SOSCharger is designed to combat this by allowing users to keep their phone charged with a simple hand crank.

SOSCharger's main feature is the crank that generates power during a situation where electricity isn't available, but it also includes a 1500mAh rechargeable battery. The idea is to keep the battery charged so it's prepared when you need it, and to use the crank in an emergency once that runs out.

The crank portion of the SOSCharger will provide 5-12 minutes of talk time for every 3-5 minutes of cranking. A

SOSCharger keeps phones charged when there's no electricity standard USB port is included, so any device that charges with a USB cable will work with the SOSCharger.

Indicator lights are included to let users know the exact status of the device.

Three LEDs inform the user of how much power zThe SOS charger the SOSCharger has, and an keep the battery from active charge light draining unnecessarily shows whether a device during periods of nonis currently receiving usage. power from it. A power SOS Ready, the switch is included to company that created

the SOSCharger, is actively seeking funding on Kickstarter.

Source: SOSCharger via Kickstarter on Gizmag.com

Sweden, Ericsson in joint deal to network Africa

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

L

EADING provider of communications technology and services, Ericsson and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs have announced a strategic partnership for a two-year ICT venture in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ericsson said the programme aims to share knowledge, increase collaboration and trade between key countries and Sweden in order to strengthen the African ICT sector.

According to the company, workshops and seminars will be hosted in 10 African countries, some of the fastest growing markets in the world. This include a high-level delegation visits that will include representatives of Swedish companies, key government stakeholders and vertical players from trade, ICT, energy and infrastructure industries will visit Ghana, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Ugandaand Zimbabwe and more to perfect plan for the partnership deal.

On its part, the Sweden said it would leverage its strong partnership to Africa through institutional corporations, and its organizations to have a large presence of ICT in Africa, since ICT is and will top key area of the collaboration.

Speaking on the partnership, the head of Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa, Fredrik Jejdling, said that Ericsson is committed to its vision of a Net-

worked Society in Africa, where technology enables new methods of learning and collaborating, innovative ways of doing business, and new approaches to old problems which results in a better quality of life. ‘‘Over the past century, Ericsson has consistently explored ways in which we can deploy our technology and solutions to support development on the continent,” said Jejdling.

The Senior Vice President Trade, Business Sweden, Andreas Skinnars said: “We are very happy to enter this partnership together with the Foreign Ministry and Ericsson.

Through this program we wish to contribute to establishing and showcasing Swedish competence

and leading ICT companies to partner up with African companies to support the African growth further. We believe this will be of great benefit for both Sweden and sub-Saharan Africa.”

The Deputy DirectorGeneral, Head of Africa Department, MFA Sweden, Pereric Högberg, said Sweden and Africa have a strong partnership and historical ties. ‘‘We see the new modern Africa taking shape and growing. Sweden is, and will continue to be, a solid partner in African developments,” he added.

Information and Communication Technology, ICT, it will be recalled, is one of the Sweden´s key industries and has made Sweden top ranked glo-

bally in terms of connectivity, e-governance and ICT innovations. As such, the ICT industry stands for a large share of the employment in Sweden and there is a potential for a similar effect in Africa.

A recent joint report by the World Bank and African Development Bank indicated that ICT is transforming businesses and driving entrepreneurship and economic growth in the region, while enabling access to education, health care, employment, and information that helps citizens improve their quality of life.

According to the organizers, the program starts in Ghana from April 1719 and continues to Angola from May 8-9.

NUCLEAR FALL-OUT: In this image released by Google, showing its camera-equipped vehicle as it moves through Namie town in Japan, a nuclear nogo zone where former residents have been unable to live since they fled from radioactive contamination from the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant two years ago. AP Photo/Google.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—25

Forum urges FG to reassess space programme for development ment of space capabilities

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

T

HE annual Nation al Space Dialogue organized by the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA recently ended in Abuja with stakeholders calling on federal government to maximize Nigeria’s potential in space technology and application.

They are of the view that time has come for government to assess its space programme, evaluate its prospects and unfold practical steps to explore

C M Y K

the potentials, with a view to achieving the set targets as listed in the Nigerian roadmap for space programme.

The programme, fifth in the series was themed: “Space Technology and DisasterManagement: Setting an Agenda on Partnership for National Development’.

The conference dwelt more on overviews of policies, space technology initiatives, flood variables and scenarios, while the technical session dwelt extensively on “space

technology and disaster managemen entitled: Setting an agenda on partnership for national development”.

According to stakeholders, the theme of the conference was timely, in view of the recent trends of flood disasters in Nigeria.

Some speakers who spoke at the occasion observed that Nigeria, through the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has been systematically pursuing the attain-

as an essential tool for Nigeria’s sustainable development and that Space programme is a very important and viable tool for National Security and Development and concluded by saying that investments in Space Technology in Nigeria are in the right direction.

For them, the vision for space technology by Nigeria’s leadership, both at the Federal level, ministerial and foreign technical partner levels have played a fundamental role in supporting and enhancing the know how

training and transfer among Nigerian Engineers and Scientists.

They specifically observed that space technology is particularly meaningful and relevant to achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of the Africa, where satellite and space solutions and products can be proven effective and efficient.

With the currency of flood disaster in Nigeria, they felt that there is need for a change of attitude in disaster management and for provision of adequate data for quick response and management of disasters in Nigeria, noting that where such are not available, access and quality disaster management remain a challenge.

In his keynote address, the minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Bas-

sey Okon Ewa, said that space technology reflects the comprehensive power of a nation which had proven to be the driving force behind the economies and securities of countries like USA, China, Russia and Britain.

The minister while emphasizing the importance of space technology, said that Nigeria had been pursuing the attainment of capacities in the sector as an essential tool for a sustainable growth, through research, engineering development and satellite data acquisition among others.

While blaming the poor acceptance of the technology in Nigeria on low awareness, the minister tasked the local engineers and scientists to leverage the opportunity offered by space technology, and called on all stakeholders to give in their support. ‘‘Due to poor viewed misconceptions, many have viewed going to space a needless venture.

That is why all hands must be on deck to support the ongoing programmes of the current administration,’’ he said.

For him, the Millennium Development Goals will have more impact in Africa, if satellite and space technology solutions and products can be proven effective and efficient.

The Chairman, Senate Committee of Science and Technology, Prof. Robert Boroffice lamented what he called the neglect of space technology by both public and private sector in Nigeria and stressed the need for Nigeria to draw from the numerous benefits derivable from the sector.

Boroffice who expressed joy for the growth of the agency, called on stakeholders to synergize and find ways of advancing security and economic development of Nigeria through space technology.

Earlier, Director General of the agency, Dr. Seidu Mohammed said that the event was in line with the 25 years plan of the agency ’s roadmap for space and technology development in Nigeria. He charged the media to step up awareness creation to enable more Nigerians appreciate the importance of the technology.

He said that plans had reached advanced stage to produce the first Nigerian astronaut, who will go to space to conduct high level research , needed for several purposes like agro based development, health, disaster, weather monitoring and some other issues that are peculiar to Nigeria.

According to him, this possibility of this vision, had been demonstrated by a lot of research that were done in the past.

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,APRIL 10, 2013

Etisalat launches metro fibre network in Abuja

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

Samsung out with new Galaxy Note, HomeSync

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

S

AMSUNG Electron ics, last week released a new tablet, Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, specifically designed to add value to users in both their work and social lives. This is also as it introduced another home hub solution tagged HomeSync.

HomeSync is a shared storage for a family to access the best entertainment experience on a big screen TV. It provides a new way of enjoying HDTV through a familiar and smarter Android user experience.

The new Galaxy Note 8.0 is a compact device offering convenient, multi-tasking capabilities and sophisticated S Pen features for the busy, modern and creative person.

Unveiling the new device to a select news men a media briefing with newsmen in Lagos recently, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA), Mr. Brovo Kim, described the

C M Y K

latest product as a slim and compact on-the-go work and play companion, which brings powerful performance and functionality support even to the most demanding of lifestyles.

“The Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet has the power and advanced technology to evolve the tablet experience and ensure consumers achieve efficient multi-tasking. Using an intelligent S Pen, you can now enjoy the ease of a traditional pen and paper with the latest in Samsung notebook technological innovation, creating a sophisticated mobile experience that will enhance life on the go.” Kim said.

The company’s Head of Sales, Hand Held Products, Mr. Olumide Ojo, also described the device as packed with features to engage, entertain and excite. For him, “the new device supports users’ practical everyday needs. Reading Mode transforms the Galaxy Note 8.0 into an e-Book reader, providing opti-

mal reading conditions to help ensure consumers can curl up and enjoy a good book.”

Meanwhile, HomeSync’s 1TB drive can synchronize multiple devices, support eight separate accounts to cover a whole family, allows

each user to upload and download content from multiple devices and instantly share with other family members. Users can enjoy the full and familiar Android experience with HomeSync’s Jelly Bean media player and access to Play Store and all of their apps.

E

TISALAT Nigeria has launched its metro fibre network in Abuja. The deployment of the Abuja Metro Fibre, according to the telecom company marks another major milestone in its commitment to providing quality internet services in Nigeria.

The launch of this Metro Fibre is expected to increase Etisalat’s network

From Right: GMD, AIM Group, Engr Amin Moussalli, winner of Cool FM Praise JAM 2012, Miss Amy Yawus,COO, Cool , Wazobia and Nigeria Info FM stations, Arch. Evita Moussalli and Product manager, Golden Penny foods. Mr Oladeji Alonge at the presentation of Grand Prize to the Praise JAM 2012 winner in Lagos recently.

quality and capacity to support more users including SMEs and enterprises.

Chief Commercial Officer at Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar said, “We realize our customer ’s needs for fast and efficient data services and we have put forward the investment and resources necessary to provide them with the best broadband service in the country.

This is a clear indication of our constant effort to care for our customers and continuously provide them with a superior experience”.

“EasyBlaze from Etisalat is already the leading and preferred mobile broadband service in the country and so the launch of our Abuja metro fibre means that existing customers and potential ones will be able to do moreHigh Definition Streaming video and audio, faster file downloads of any size, a vastly improved blackberry service and an enhanced experience on any data capable device; Smartphone, PC/Laptop or tablet. Individuals and businesses can also take advantage of this robust fiber backbone to deploy all their connectivity and productivity solutions”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—27

ICT has ensured greater efficiency at CAC Continues from Page 23

DRAWS: From right, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA), Mr. Brovo Kim; pouplar artiste, Shasha P; Executive Director, Slot Systems Ltd, Mrs Joy Ezeigbo and her husband, President of Slot Systems Ltd, Mr Nnamdi Ezeigbo at the promo draws, in Lagos.

customers in Abuja now get their certificates of registration within 24 hours of filing. This is comparable to what obtains in the companies registry of advanced countries such as United Kingdom, Singapore and New Zealand.

“To sustain this feat and as an interim measure pending when the new upgraded software came into use, the Commission’s staff in key operational departments now work till 7.00pm divided into two groups. The first group reports by 8.00am and close by 2.00pm while the second group resumes by 1.00pm and terminate at 7.00pm.

Decentralized operations

“The CAC has taken practical steps to decentralize its operations by making the state offices more functional and at par with the Head office. This is made possible by the adoption of fibre optic for the Commission’s Wide Area Network (WAN) as a solution to frequent downtime being experienced with the VISA system.

“In that respect five (5) state offices have been scheduled to start and finish registration process without recourse to the Head Office. The new system has taken off in the two (2) Lagos offices since November 1, 2012 with the of-

ficial launching by the Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment. Necessary test running is being carried out in the remaining three (3) offices of Kaduna, Enugu and Kano preparatory to commencement early 2013.

Software upgrade

To further make services more accessible to customers , he said that Commission had embarked on total upgrade of its registration software to provide for a robust electronic payment system, amongst others.

“Emphasis on ICT is one of the four points agenda of the Commission. Computerization started in 2004.

The implication of this is that companies’ records dating back to 1912 are being manually kept with the resulting problems of mutilation, pilferage and loss of valuable documents. The Commission has concluded arrangement to scan the back log of records of all companies, business names and incorporated trustees in order to permanently solve the problems highlighted above and also make it possible for customers to access company information electronically via the web. This is expected to commence by early 2013 with a 12 months completion period. The Commission considers this project very critical to its operations and vision to become a world class companies’ registry,” he said.

ComTech minister inaugurates council of ICT heads in MDAs Continues from Page 23 Security Committee, Portfolio, Programme & Service Management Committee and IT Utilisation, Skills and Capacity Development Committee.

The terms of reference of the Council of ICT Heads according to the Minister includes promoting understanding of National Goals and Aspirations e.g. Vision 20:2020, promote collaboration and sharing of IT assets infrastructure and applications among MDAs and cross –Ministries, provide advice and act as sounding board for the Ministry of Communication Technology in ICT policy formulation and execution. Other terms are encourage peer review of IT Architecture, IT Operations, IT Budget and IT Projects of ministries to identify opportunities for improvement and sharing/re-use of IT assets to optimize usage, act as change agents for the diffusion C M Y K

and adoption of leading IT Practices across MDAs, Promote Professionalism amongst the IT cadre and grown future leaders in the IT industry.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Henry Akpan said that the Heads of ICT in MDAs will play a significant role in achieving the mandate of the Ministry which is centered on deploying Information and Communication Technology to drive transparency in governance and improve the quality and cost effectiveness of public service delivery in the country.

He added that the Ministry was created to facilitate ICT as a key tool in the transformation agenda of Mr President in the areas of youth employment, wealth creation, economic growth, efficiency and transparency of government.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 29

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

More hurdles for AFCON hero, Mba

Tiger is still tops, says McIlroy

R

T

HERE seems to be no end in sight for the club future of AFCON hero Sunday Mba. Just when it appeared that his travails would soon be resolved amicably, a new twist has appeared in the tussle between Rangers International of Enugu and Warri Wolves over who owns the player.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through an ad-hoc committee have ruled that Mba still has a contract with Warri Wolves and as such his preferred club Enugu Rangers will have to cough out a transfer fee agreed by both players for the star player.

Wolves are demanding for 12 million Naira (about $75,000) and Rangers have since reacted by saying they are “studying” the offer.

While this impasse continues it is the promising career of Mba that has been put on hold. Mba was a complete shadow of himself during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar last month. As it is now, Mba has yet to play club football in Nigeria several weeks after his goal won Nigeria a third AFCON title in Johannesburg, South Africa.

And reports have also suggested that overseas clubs who have shown interest in the player are gradually pulling out of negotiations because they do not know which club they should actually be doing business with.

•Mba

Onazi wants to join Mikel, Moses at Chelsea

S

•Onazi

Djokovic maintains lead at the top Novak Djokovic maintained his big lead in the men’s tennis rankings in the latest list issued Monday by the ATP. Djokovic, who helped Serbia on the weekend to beat the United States for a place in the Davis Cup semi-finals, has 12,500 points to rank ahead of Briton Andy Murray (8,750) and Swiss Roger Federer (8,670) in an unchanged top 10. s

C M Y K

ATP top 10 as of April 8 (previous ranking in parenthei s ) :

1.

(1) Novak Djokovic,

Serbia,

2.

3.

(2) AndyMurray, (3) Roger Federer,

Britain, Switzerland,

8,750 8,670

4.

(4) David Ferrer,

Spain,

6,970

5.

6.

(5) Rafael Nadal, (6) Tomas Berdych,

Spain, 6,385 Czech Republic, 5,015

7.

8.

(7) Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina, (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France,

4,750 3,695

9.

10.

(9) RichardGasquet, (10) Janko Tipsarevic,

3,230

France, Serbia,

12,500 points

3,000

How PSG can stop Messi, at Camp Nou P

UPER Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has declared it would be a dream come through if he should play for Chelsea.

Onazi was once on trials at Chelsea before he eventually landed a move to Italian side Lazio.

The player, who rose from the Lazio youth team to establish himself in the first team of the Italian Serie A outfit, has revealed he will be delighted to move to the English Premier League with ‘The Blues’. ”Well if the opportunity comes, I will love to go to Chelsea,” said Onazi. ”But right now it’s going well at Lazio and I am enjoying my time in Italy.”

Onazi was rewarded with a contract bonus upon return from the Nations Cup in South and now has a contract at Lazio till 2016.

Meanwhile, Lazio defender Lorik Cana has admitted that their Europa League quarterfinal against Fenerbahce changed after Ogenyi Onazi’s sending off. The Nigeria midfielder was given a second yellow after only 47 minutes in Istanbul on Thursday evening.

And the Albanian has conceded that going down to 10 men, as well as the awarding of a controversial penalty to the Turkish team, contributed to the 2-0 loss.

“After the sending off of Onazi, it was the start of another game,” he said.

“They pushed a lot more and we defended ourselves.

ORY McIlroy and Tiger Woods have shared the world No. 1 ranking this year, but talk of an all-encompassing rivalry between the two is premature, the Irishman said on Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of his fifth appearance in the Masters, the year’s first major, McIlory said that a quick a look at their respective playing records proved his point.

“I don’t see myself a rival to Tiger or to anyone,” he said.

“Tiger obviously has been on tour, for, what, 12 more years than me or something like that. “When you speak of rivals, you tend to put rivals who have had similar success.

He’s got 77 PGA Tour events (wins); I’ve got six.

“He’s got 14 majors; I’ve got two. If I saw myself a rival to Tiger, I wouldn’t really be doing him much justice.”

Still, McIlroy knows that he and Woods will be the joint centers of attention this week at the 77th edition of the Augusta National classic with many hoping that they will both play well enough to be in a position to go head-to-head over the back nine on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Ulsterman started the year as an outstanding world No. 1 and the biggest draw in the game since Woods at his prime.

Gora wants more support for AFN F ORMER Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Elias Gora, has urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to groom the newly-discovered athletes by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Gora made the call yesterday in Lagos while stressing the importance of early grooming of the discovered athletes ahead of the Games in Brazil.

He said, “NSC should support the AFN in their bid to raise the athletes, who will replace the aging ones”.

The athletes were those discovered at the 3 rd D.K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships in Lagos, who represented the country at the maiden Africa Youth Championships (AYAC) in Warri, Delta.

Nigeria won the competition in which 34 African countries participated with 13 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals.

Gora said that the NSC needed to forge a stronger relationship with the AFN in the

latter’s strive to discover and nurture new talents to replace the ageing athletes.

Gora, who was Chef de Mission at the 2011 New Delhi Commonwealth Games in India, said that if the commission showed more support to AFN, Nigeria might do well in subsequent international competitions.

ARIS Saint-Germain traveled to the Camp Nou ahead of today’s Champions League clash with Barcelona level on aggregate, but coach Carlo Ancelotti needs to reshuffle his pack.

The suspension of Blaise Matuidi is a huge blow, but it gives the Italian the chance to throw caution to the wind and send out a PSG side that plays to their attacking strengths.

David Beckham is confirmed to start in Spain, but there are some big question marks over captain Thiago Silva and regular centre-back partner Alex.

Sporting director Le-

onardo claims that PSG are in an “extraordinary position” ahead of the game. But how does Ancelotti set up to defeat Barca with so many potential absences and the status of Lionel Messi still the subject of speculation?

Matuidi’s absence arguably loses the midfield battle before the match even begins, so there is no point going with a congested three-man central midfield that would look to stifle the Catalans.

Beckham’s presence means that there is already a lack of pace in the middle for the capital club, so perhaps Clement Chantome would be the most adequate replacement for Matuidi.

P

ARIS Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it is high time for

•Ibrahimovic

PSG will score against Barcelona — Rai

•Messi

T

HE Brazilian is eagery anticipating today ’s match at Camp Nou and has little doubt PSG can cause the Blaugrana problems.

Former Paris Saint Germain star Rai is confident that the Ligue 1 leaders have what it takes to cause Barcelona’s defence problems in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-finals at Camp Nou today.

Rai feels Barcelona looked vulnerable in defence during the 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes last l

TODAY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES Barcelona

vs

PSG

7:45pm

Juventus

vs

B/Munich 7:45pm

TOMORROW’S EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL Rubin

vs

Chelsea

5:0pm

Basel

vs

Totenham

8:05pm

Benfica

8:05pm

Newcastle vs

week and he expects them to have similar issues in the return. ”I think that Paris Saint-Germain will get chances to score over there. I dare even say that I am sure they will score at Camp Nou,” the Brazilian was quoted as saying

by Le Parisien.. ”In the first leg, Barcelona looked shaky at the back on a number of occasions and it will be the same in the return. ”Paris Saint-Germain can cause Barca’s defence problems with their speed and feeling for position.”

B

•Rai

•Beckham

AVID Beckham admits he is hoping to start once against for Paris SaintGermain in their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.

The former England captain was a surprise inclusion from the start in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, playing 70 minutes for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the 2-2 draw.

And, after playing a part in Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s goal against Rennes at the weekend, Beckham is again hoping to get the nod at a venue where he’s had both successes and failures as a player. “I do not know (if I’ll start) - I’m not the coach. Of

the Parisian Club to step up against their champion league opponents Barcelona and ‘ write history’.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men drew 2-2, thank to a last minute striker against the Catalan giants last week, at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of Champions League quarter final clash with PSG’s Blaise Matuidi pouncing on the ball from the left wing after Barca midfield general Xavi put his side in the lead through a penalty in the 89th minutes.

Ibrahamovic who has already scored an unbelievable 37th goals in all competitions this season, understands that their progressing through to the semi-final will be difficult, but he steeled his team mates to give their all in the match. ‘’It will definitely be difficult’’ the Sweden intentional was quoted as saying by Le 10 Sport. ‘’Fighting Barca will always be a great challenge but it’s for us to write history’’.

Neuer eyes more trophies with Bayern

Beckham wants PSG start against Barca

D

•Devine

Time to write history against Barca — Ibrahimovic

course I want to start but that’s the same for all players in these big games. We’ll see,” he told Le 10 Sport.

The 37-year-old received mixed reviews for his performance in the first leg, with the French media critical of his display.

However, the general consensus suggested that Beckham was solid – if unspectacular – in a more defensive role against the La Liga leaders.

And, with Blaise Matuidi suspended for the clash at the Nou Camp, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star could get his wish with a start in a similar position in Catalonia.

AYERN Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says his club would be ‘disappointed’ if they only win one title this season.

After their Bundesliga triumph on Saturday, Bayern are still in the hunt for a historic treble with a Champions League quarter-final clash against Juventus today and a DFB Pokal semi-final against Wolfsburg next week. “It’s been a very good season for us, up until now. We can be proud of our display in the domestic league,” the 27-yearold said. ”However, if we’re left with only one title at the end, we will be disappointed. We have very high aspirations and learned (last year) how it feels to leave a season empty-handed.

•Neuer C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 29

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

More hurdles for AFCON hero, Mba

Tiger is still tops, says McIlroy

R

T

HERE seems to be no end in sight for the club future of AFCON hero Sunday Mba. Just when it appeared that his travails would soon be resolved amicably, a new twist has appeared in the tussle between Rangers International of Enugu and Warri Wolves over who owns the player.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through an ad-hoc committee have ruled that Mba still has a contract with Warri Wolves and as such his preferred club Enugu Rangers will have to cough out a transfer fee agreed by both players for the star player.

Wolves are demanding for 12 million Naira (about $75,000) and Rangers have since reacted by saying they are “studying” the offer.

While this impasse continues it is the promising career of Mba that has been put on hold. Mba was a complete shadow of himself during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar last month. As it is now, Mba has yet to play club football in Nigeria several weeks after his goal won Nigeria a third AFCON title in Johannesburg, South Africa.

And reports have also suggested that overseas clubs who have shown interest in the player are gradually pulling out of negotiations because they do not know which club they should actually be doing business with.

•Mba

Onazi wants to join Mikel, Moses at Chelsea

S

•Onazi

Djokovic maintains lead at the top Novak Djokovic maintained his big lead in the men’s tennis rankings in the latest list issued Monday by the ATP. Djokovic, who helped Serbia on the weekend to beat the United States for a place in the Davis Cup semi-finals, has 12,500 points to rank ahead of Briton Andy Murray (8,750) and Swiss Roger Federer (8,670) in an unchanged top 10. s

C M Y K

ATP top 10 as of April 8 (previous ranking in parenthei s ) :

1.

(1) Novak Djokovic,

Serbia,

2.

3.

(2) AndyMurray, (3) Roger Federer,

Britain, Switzerland,

8,750 8,670

4.

(4) David Ferrer,

Spain,

6,970

5.

6.

(5) Rafael Nadal, (6) Tomas Berdych,

Spain, 6,385 Czech Republic, 5,015

7.

8.

(7) Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina, (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France,

4,750 3,695

9.

10.

(9) RichardGasquet, (10) Janko Tipsarevic,

3,230

France, Serbia,

12,500 points

3,000

How PSG can stop Messi, at Camp Nou P

UPER Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has declared it would be a dream come through if he should play for Chelsea.

Onazi was once on trials at Chelsea before he eventually landed a move to Italian side Lazio.

The player, who rose from the Lazio youth team to establish himself in the first team of the Italian Serie A outfit, has revealed he will be delighted to move to the English Premier League with ‘The Blues’. ”Well if the opportunity comes, I will love to go to Chelsea,” said Onazi. ”But right now it’s going well at Lazio and I am enjoying my time in Italy.”

Onazi was rewarded with a contract bonus upon return from the Nations Cup in South and now has a contract at Lazio till 2016.

Meanwhile, Lazio defender Lorik Cana has admitted that their Europa League quarterfinal against Fenerbahce changed after Ogenyi Onazi’s sending off. The Nigeria midfielder was given a second yellow after only 47 minutes in Istanbul on Thursday evening.

And the Albanian has conceded that going down to 10 men, as well as the awarding of a controversial penalty to the Turkish team, contributed to the 2-0 loss.

“After the sending off of Onazi, it was the start of another game,” he said.

“They pushed a lot more and we defended ourselves.

ORY McIlroy and Tiger Woods have shared the world No. 1 ranking this year, but talk of an all-encompassing rivalry between the two is premature, the Irishman said on Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of his fifth appearance in the Masters, the year’s first major, McIlory said that a quick a look at their respective playing records proved his point.

“I don’t see myself a rival to Tiger or to anyone,” he said.

“Tiger obviously has been on tour, for, what, 12 more years than me or something like that. “When you speak of rivals, you tend to put rivals who have had similar success.

He’s got 77 PGA Tour events (wins); I’ve got six.

“He’s got 14 majors; I’ve got two. If I saw myself a rival to Tiger, I wouldn’t really be doing him much justice.”

Still, McIlroy knows that he and Woods will be the joint centers of attention this week at the 77th edition of the Augusta National classic with many hoping that they will both play well enough to be in a position to go head-to-head over the back nine on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Ulsterman started the year as an outstanding world No. 1 and the biggest draw in the game since Woods at his prime.

Gora wants more support for AFN F ORMER Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Elias Gora, has urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to groom the newly-discovered athletes by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Gora made the call yesterday in Lagos while stressing the importance of early grooming of the discovered athletes ahead of the Games in Brazil.

He said, “NSC should support the AFN in their bid to raise the athletes, who will replace the aging ones”.

The athletes were those discovered at the 3 rd D.K. Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships in Lagos, who represented the country at the maiden Africa Youth Championships (AYAC) in Warri, Delta.

Nigeria won the competition in which 34 African countries participated with 13 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals.

Gora said that the NSC needed to forge a stronger relationship with the AFN in the

latter’s strive to discover and nurture new talents to replace the ageing athletes.

Gora, who was Chef de Mission at the 2011 New Delhi Commonwealth Games in India, said that if the commission showed more support to AFN, Nigeria might do well in subsequent international competitions.

ARIS Saint-Germain traveled to the Camp Nou ahead of today’s Champions League clash with Barcelona level on aggregate, but coach Carlo Ancelotti needs to reshuffle his pack.

The suspension of Blaise Matuidi is a huge blow, but it gives the Italian the chance to throw caution to the wind and send out a PSG side that plays to their attacking strengths.

David Beckham is confirmed to start in Spain, but there are some big question marks over captain Thiago Silva and regular centre-back partner Alex.

Sporting director Le-

onardo claims that PSG are in an “extraordinary position” ahead of the game. But how does Ancelotti set up to defeat Barca with so many potential absences and the status of Lionel Messi still the subject of speculation?

Matuidi’s absence arguably loses the midfield battle before the match even begins, so there is no point going with a congested three-man central midfield that would look to stifle the Catalans.

Beckham’s presence means that there is already a lack of pace in the middle for the capital club, so perhaps Clement Chantome would be the most adequate replacement for Matuidi.

P

ARIS Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes it is high time for

•Ibrahimovic

PSG will score against Barcelona — Rai

•Messi

T

HE Brazilian is eagery anticipating today ’s match at Camp Nou and has little doubt PSG can cause the Blaugrana problems.

Former Paris Saint Germain star Rai is confident that the Ligue 1 leaders have what it takes to cause Barcelona’s defence problems in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-finals at Camp Nou today.

Rai feels Barcelona looked vulnerable in defence during the 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes last l

TODAY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES Barcelona

vs

PSG

7:45pm

Juventus

vs

B/Munich 7:45pm

TOMORROW’S EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL Rubin

vs

Chelsea

5:0pm

Basel

vs

Totenham

8:05pm

Benfica

8:05pm

Newcastle vs

week and he expects them to have similar issues in the return. ”I think that Paris Saint-Germain will get chances to score over there. I dare even say that I am sure they will score at Camp Nou,” the Brazilian was quoted as saying

by Le Parisien.. ”In the first leg, Barcelona looked shaky at the back on a number of occasions and it will be the same in the return. ”Paris Saint-Germain can cause Barca’s defence problems with their speed and feeling for position.”

B

•Rai

•Beckham

AVID Beckham admits he is hoping to start once against for Paris SaintGermain in their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.

The former England captain was a surprise inclusion from the start in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, playing 70 minutes for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the 2-2 draw.

And, after playing a part in Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s goal against Rennes at the weekend, Beckham is again hoping to get the nod at a venue where he’s had both successes and failures as a player. “I do not know (if I’ll start) - I’m not the coach. Of

the Parisian Club to step up against their champion league opponents Barcelona and ‘ write history’.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men drew 2-2, thank to a last minute striker against the Catalan giants last week, at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of Champions League quarter final clash with PSG’s Blaise Matuidi pouncing on the ball from the left wing after Barca midfield general Xavi put his side in the lead through a penalty in the 89th minutes.

Ibrahamovic who has already scored an unbelievable 37th goals in all competitions this season, understands that their progressing through to the semi-final will be difficult, but he steeled his team mates to give their all in the match. ‘’It will definitely be difficult’’ the Sweden intentional was quoted as saying by Le 10 Sport. ‘’Fighting Barca will always be a great challenge but it’s for us to write history’’.

Neuer eyes more trophies with Bayern

Beckham wants PSG start against Barca

D

•Devine

Time to write history against Barca — Ibrahimovic

course I want to start but that’s the same for all players in these big games. We’ll see,” he told Le 10 Sport.

The 37-year-old received mixed reviews for his performance in the first leg, with the French media critical of his display.

However, the general consensus suggested that Beckham was solid – if unspectacular – in a more defensive role against the La Liga leaders.

And, with Blaise Matuidi suspended for the clash at the Nou Camp, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star could get his wish with a start in a similar position in Catalonia.

AYERN Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says his club would be ‘disappointed’ if they only win one title this season.

After their Bundesliga triumph on Saturday, Bayern are still in the hunt for a historic treble with a Champions League quarter-final clash against Juventus today and a DFB Pokal semi-final against Wolfsburg next week. “It’s been a very good season for us, up until now. We can be proud of our display in the domestic league,” the 27-yearold said. ”However, if we’re left with only one title at the end, we will be disappointed. We have very high aspirations and learned (last year) how it feels to leave a season empty-handed.

•Neuer C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

younger ages, but as term insurance premiums rise with age at each renewal, the cumulative value of all premiums paid across a lifetime are roughly equal if policies are maintained until average life expectancy. Part of the insurance contract stipulates that the policyholder is entitled to a cash value reserve, which is part of the policy and guaranteed by the company.

This cash value can be accessed at any time through policy loans and are received income tax free. Policy loans are available until the insured’s death. If there are any unpaid loans upon death, the insurer subtracts the loan amount from the death benefit and pays the remainder to the beneficiary named in the policy.

Universal life coverage niversal life insurance is a relatively new insurance product, intended to combine permanent insurance coverage with greater flexibility in premium payment, along with the potential for greater growth of cash values. A universal life insurance policy includes a cash value. Premiums increase the cash values, but the cost of insurance (along with any other charges assessed by the insurance company) reduces cash values. Universal life insurance addresses the perceived disadvantages of whole life – namely that premiums and death benefit are fixed. With universal life, both the premiums and death benefit are flexible. Except with regards to guaranteed death benefit universal life, this flexibility comes with the disadvantage of reduced guarantees.

U

Your life is worth insuring H

uman life is subject to risks of death and disability due to natural and accidental causes.

When human life is lost or a person is disabled permanently or temporarily, there is a loss of income to the household.

The family is put to hardship.

Sometimes, survival itself is at stake for the dependants. Risks are unpredictable. Death/ disability may occur when one least expects it. An individual can protect himself or herself against such contingencies through life insurance.

It is not necessary that the insurer is the sole beneficiary of the policy. In most of the cases the relative of the insurer/ business partners of the insurer have certain interests in the policy.

What is life insurance? ife insurance is a contract between an insured (insurance policy holder) and an insurer, (Insurance company) wherein the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money (the benefits) upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger payment. The policy holder typically pays a premium, either regularly or as a lump sum. Other expenses (such as funeral expenses) are also sometimes included in the benefits.

Life insurance is a form of insurance that pays monetary proceeds upon the death of the insured covered in the policy.

L

C M Y K

Essentially, a life insurance policy is a contract between the named insured and the insurance company wherein the insurance company agrees to pay an agreed upon sum of money to the insured’s named beneficiary, so long as the insured’s premiums are paid current.

Though human life cannot be valued, life insurance products provide a definite amount of money to the dependants of the insured in case the insured dies during his active income earning period or becomes disabled on account of an accident causing reduction/complete loss in his income earnings.

Why you should insure your life eople take out life insurance policies for a number of reasons. Such insurance provides security to family members upon the loss of a loved one. For instance, if the primary wage earner dies in his or her prime, the death benefit received from the policy will assist the surviving family members in overcoming the burden of the tragic loss. The proceeds can also help pay for funeral costs when the death is unexpected.

P

Advantages of a life policy he advantage of a life policy is peace of mind, in knowing that the death of the insured person will not result in financial hardship for loved ones and lenders.

Also, it is possible for life insurance policy payouts to be made in order to help

T

supplement retirement benefits; however, it should be carefully considered throughout the design and funding of the policy itself.

Types of life policies ife insurance may be divided into two basic classes; temporary and permanent; or the following subclasses: term, universal, whole life and endowment life insurance.

L

where the premium buys protection in the event of death and nothing else. Three key factors to be considered in term insurance are; face amount (protection or death benefit); premium to be paid (cost to the insured), and length of coverage (term).

Though human life cannot be valued, life insurance products provide a definite amount of money to the dependants of the insured in case the insured dies during his active income earning period or becomes disabled on account of an accident causing reduction/ complete loss in his income earnings

Permanent life insurance ermanent life insurance is life insurance that remains active until the policy matures, unless the owner fails to pay the premium when due. The policy cannot be cancelled by the insurer for any reason except fraudulent application, and any such cancellation must occur within a period of time (usually two years) defined by law. A permanent insurance policy accumulates a cash value, reducing the risk to which the insurance company is exposed, and thus the insurance expense over time.

This means that a policy with a million dollar face value can be relatively expensive to a 70year-old. The owner can access the money in the cash value by withdrawing money, borrowing the cash value, or surrendering the policy and receiving the surrender value.

The four basic types of permanent insurance are whole life, universal life, limited pay and endowment.

Term insurance erm assurance provides life insurance coverage for a specified term. The policy does not accumulate cash value. Term is generally considered ‘pure’ insurance,

Whole life coverage hole life insurance provides lifetime death benefit coverage for a level premium in most cases.

Premiums are much higher than term insurance at

,

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

,

T

P

W

Limited pay nother type of permanent insurance is Limited-pay life insurance, in which all the premiums are paid over a specified period after which no additional premiums are due to the policy in force. Common limited pay periods include 10-year, 20-year, and are paid out at the age of 65.

A

Endowment policy ndowments are policies in which the cumulative cash value of the policy equals the death benefit at a certain age. The age at which this condition is reached is known as the endowment age.

Endowments are considerably more expensive (in terms of annual premiums) than either whole life or universal life because the premium paying period is shortened and the endowment date is earlier.

Endowment insurance is paid out whether the insured lives or dies, after a specific period (e.g. 15 years) or a specific age (e.g. 65).

E

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 31

Programmed withdrawal or annuity?

The choice is yours

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

T

he Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, seeks amongst others to ensure that every worker receives his retirement benefits as and when due.

Accordingly, Section 4(1) (b) of the Pension Reform Act, PRA 2004 allows a Retirement Savings Account, RSA, holder upon retirement to utilize the balance of his RSA for ‘Programmed withdrawal or annuity for life purchased from a life insurance company licensed by the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, with monthly or quarterly payments.’

change to annuity with insurance company The fund is in the RSA of the retiree with PFA Return on investment belongs to the retiree in his RSA PFAs forward daily and monthly return to PenCom Retiree receives periodic RSA statement Programmed Withdrawal retirees’ assets are held by

Pension Fund Custodians, PFC. Features of annuity Annuity is a product of insurance company Pays pension for life Longevity risk is passed to insurance company who pays pension for life Retiree can collect lump sum, provided annuity is 50 per cent of last pay If retiree dies within 10 years

of retirement, monthly annuities will be paid up to 10 years to beneficiaries because annuity is guaranteed for minimum of 10 years If retiree dies after 10 years of retirement no inheritance will be passed to beneficiaries A retiree on annuity with an insurance company can move to another insurance company after two years A retiree on annuity with insurance company cannot

FROM OUR MAIL BOX

P

lease I want to know what happens to the retiree after ten years of retirement. Let’s say the retiree lives for another 15 years after the first 10 years of retirement. You know that the old pension is for life? drkimj@gmail.com

As highlighted above, a retiree of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS has the option to choose between Programmed Withdrawal and Annuity.

The way the Programmed Withdrawal is fashioned, it pays pension over an expected life span after retirement.

In other words, when the retiree attains the expected age, pension payment stops. But it can go further than that.

However, how far it can go depends on the balance in the retirees Retirement Savings Account, RSA because payment is a function of the balance in the RSA and once the balance is exhausted, then that ends the programmed withdrawal.

For annuity, after retirement, the retiree’s savings in his RSA will be transferred to an insurance company to purchase the annuity. Further information is highlighted above.

C M Y K

I

am not comfortable with the pension administration policy of not allowing a contributor to withdraw all his/her money when he/she loses his/her job.

Government must be awake to their responsibilities to Nigerians.

Benjamin Oden According to the Pension Reform Act, 2004, a contributor who loses his/her job will only gain access to 25 per cent of his retirement savings after six months.

The objective of the Pension Reform Act, for this benefit is to make it look like some insurance benefit if you lose your job.

The truth is that you didn’t plan to lose your job, so the 25 per cent payment will help you until you get another job. If you resigned on your own, presumable, you had other plans like going to self-employment, or you want to set up your own personal business, there won’t be any 25 per cent initial pension payment for you. The law states that it is only when you lose your job and you have stayed out of employment for six months before you can take 25 per cent while you are looking for another job. So when you get another job, you continue with your pension contribution.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND ENQUIRIES TO insuranceandyou@yahoo.com

change to Programmed Withdrawal with PFA The fund is in the annuity pool with insurance company Return on investment belongs to the pool Insurance companies are to forward monthly and quarterly return to NAICOM No statement of account is given Annuity retiree assets are held by the insurance company

,

Features of Programmed Withdrawal It is product of Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) Pays pension over an expected life span Longevity risk – RSA balance may be exhausted during life time Retiree can collect lump sum, provided monthly pension is 50 per cent of last pay If retiree dies within 10 years of retirement, RSA balance goes to beneficiaries of the deceased as inheritance If retiree dies after 10years of retirement RSA balance goes to beneficiaries of the deceased as inheritance A retiree on Programmed Withdrawal with a PFA can move to another PFA A retiree on Programmed Withdrawal with a PFA can

The Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, seeks amongst others to ensure that every worker receives his retirement benefits as and when due

,

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 33

C M Y K

34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

I can’t really feel him

My daughter-in-law threatens to leave

Dear Marian, I advise you keep on with your support and continuous talk with your son as there is precious little you can do to make him stop taking drugs.

Except pray. You see, an ad-

dict would have to be convinced that he really wants to kick the habit for him to start making the effort.

Even then, he has to go through the tortuous route of withdrawal symptoms, which are really scary. Yet thousands of people give up the habit everyday and your son, hopefully, might be one of the happy statistics. He only has

’

Dear Bunmi, We sent all our children to reputable schools both for their secondary and post-secondary education and my 35year-old son said he picked up taking drugs from one of his schools abroad. It was a very frightening period for us as he battled drugs addiction without any success.

Because of the children’s comfort, we rented a flat in the United States, but he sold most of the household goods, including very expensive paintings, to pay for his addition. Years later, he came home a graduate. We gave him a flat outside the family home because we didn’t believe him when he said he had kicked the habit. He has a good job and could be really charming when he feels like it but his eyes are always bleary.

He got married four years ago and we heaved a sign of relief because it was obvious that his wife really loved him.

They now have two adorable children but the poor wife is at the end of her tether. My son is constantly beating her up and she wears mostly long sleeves and high neck blouses to hide the bruises on her arms and neck.

She confirmed our worst fears— that our son still take hard drugs. She even complains he is now semi-impotent. She has threatened to leave him and we keep on bribing her with cash and household gifts so she could stay. But it is a matter of time before she leaves. We feel so bewildered and frustrated. Is there really a light at the end of this tunnel?

Marian, by e-mail.

to make the effort.

In the meantime, encourage the wife to continue to talk to him when he appears to be in his sober moods. Unfortunately, your son is also violent, which makes things look a bit dangerous for the wife.

Keep on praying that he would change, at the same time be thankful for your grandchildren.

My ex-boyfriend was a stud and we still make love because my current boyfriend can’t satisfy me like he can

’

Is this long-distance relationship worth it?

Dear Bunmi, It’s been close to two years that my boyfriend travelled abroad to work so he would have more money for the future. Before he left, we were together for only six months and I’ve been patiently waiting for him to come back home. We phone and write from time to time.

The thing is, I’ve recently met another man who is just as nice as my current boyfriend and has a good job.

We’ve gone out only once as I don’t want to hurt my boyfriend as I’m sure he’s waiting until we can be together as well. Do you think I should go for this new man?

Elizabeth, by e-mail.

Dear Elizabeth,

I think you need to be sure of exactly what sort of deal you have with your boyfriend.

Because, unless I’m missing something here, I don’t see that the two of you have the sort of relationship you think you have. You’ve only seen your boyfriend for the first six months out of over two years you’ve known him— and that doesn’t suggest commitment to me. No wonder you’re tempted to look elsewhere.

You need to have a “where are we now.” If the two of you agree you truly are a couple, then you need to meet up more often to build your love, the long distance notwithstanding. If it turns out you’re not a couple, then you’re both free to start new relationships with others.

Affairs could save your marriage!

Dear Bunmi, I know you tell readers not to have affairs, but in my own case, my affair has saved my marriage. I used to get frustrated and angry with my husband until I started an affair with my boss, who is charming and considerate.

Now my husband and I don’t argue any more and I feel so alive. Surely it can’t be wrong if it’s doing so much good?

Cath, by e-mail.

Dear Cath, It’s easy to justify your affair as being good for your marriage but is that really the case or just a way of helping you forget your problems at home? Your boss is giving you the attention that your husband should be showing you.

No wonder you feel you’re blossoming, thanks to him.

Have you considered how this affair will end? Why not engage your husband in a meaningful discussion and let him know how resentful you are about his lack of attention to you.

It’s best not to get too carried away, so you could address the issues in your marriage instead of trying to find the answers in the arms of somebody else.

Dear Bunmi, I met this wonderful guy some months ago and we’re much in love. The s.x could be great too, but unfortunately although his penis is long, I don’t find it wide enough.

As a result, there seems to be too much space inside me whenever we make love. Is there any way I can make him work for me so that the s.x becomes enjoyable?

Nkechi, by e-mail.

Dear Nkechi, Like many women, you need

width rather than length. But there are things you can do to help improve sensation.

Make sure that the sexual positions you use are ones that bring the sides of your vagina closer together so there’s less space inside you.

Positions that will help are ones where his legs go either side of yours, so you’re not opening wide, or where you’re on your back or front, squeezing your legs together.

Experiment as a couple and find out what works best for you.

I still use my ex!

Dear Bunmi, I’ve always had a really high s.x drive and this is causing me a lot of trouble. My exboyfriend was a stud and we’re still having sex because my current boyfriend can’t satisfy me like he can.

My ex is a nasty love rat, who cheated on me so many times during our four-year relationship that I had to give him his marching orders. But I keep going back to him for sex because he is such a good lover.

My current boyfriend is kind and loving and I really hate myself for cheating on him, but s.x with him doesn’t do much for me. As a result I keep getting in touch with my ex just for the s.x.

I’ll certainly lose my boyfriend if he finds out, but I’m addicted to s.x with my ex.

How can I get away from him?

Ify, by e-mail.

Dear Ify, It’s obvious you’re so busy comparing your boyfriend with your ex and are not giving him the chance to get to know him better enough to develop a good sexual relationship with him. Why don’t you have a word with him about what you like doing in bed and start experimenting?

Who knows what he could be capable of?

Let go of your ex-boyfriend whom you kicked out because he made your life miserable.

Hang on to your pride and stop running after him for s.x.

He broke your heart once, and even now he’s not making any promises.

You know there’s no future with him, so is it worth risking a potentially good relationship just for good s.x?

I won’t say no to this fling Dear Bunmi, I’ve fancied my best friend’s hubby for a long time and some times have erotic dreams with him doing all sorts of things to me. We’re all neighbours and are always popping in to see each other.

My husband and my friend work with the same bank, though in different departments. They sometimes work late and that gives me plenty of time to be with my friend’s husband. He’s always fun to be with and recently joked that if I wasn’t married, he’d leave my friend for me.

I know it is now up to me to show interest in a fling. I love my husband. But tell me, what woman wouldn’t want to

be ravished by a new lover?

I’m really tempted.

Danielle, by e-mail.

Dear Danielle, You need to stop and think what is at stake here— two relationships, great friendship, happiness ... if you and your friend’s husband fell into the trap of an affair, the only possible outcome is hurt all round. Then there’s the guilt and the recrimination.

You should find something else to do with your spare time instead of panting lustfully after a man that’s not yours. You also need to look at your marriage to see what is making you look for excitement elsewhere.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 35 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire.

If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?

SCORPIO; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but.

SAGITTARIUS; The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed CAPRICORN; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powersthat-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation AQUARIUS; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

M

AN has only one enemy in his life. I guess you want to know who that enemy is? Supposing I ask you to tell me who your enemy is, who would you point your finger to? I am

Never be less pretty sure your next door neighbour will be your target.

Supposing I tell you, your answer is far from the truth, what will be your reaction? The truth is that you are your

own worst enemy.

Even if the whole world is against you, If you don’t surrender to them, you will maintain your greatness and dignity even in death.

Only two things can

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

happen to a man in life — he is either greater or lesser, bigger or smaller, in peace or in pieces, but if he keeps the good fight, remain loyal to his cause, he will never be diminished. Truly, he will be counted among the great.

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; If what you’re doing today ’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today.

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now ARIES; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble TAURUS; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today.

It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

GEMINI; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

CANCER; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

VIRGO; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble

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,

Success for me?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen quickly.

Chris Enugu.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Chris, There are indications of financial success for you but you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you YOUR CAREER LINE Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self. Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political YOUR FINANCE Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money.

And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life which looks not totally balanced.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Boko Haram amnesty can't be funded with N/Delta resources— Ekiyor

Ethiope West gets female vice chair

G

O V E R N O R E m m a n u e l Uduaghan of Delta State has approved the appointment of Mrs. Oyibo Ogho, as Vice Chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Area.

The council boss, Mr. Precious Ajaino, who swore in Ogho, explained that the swearing in became necessary as a result of distortions in the first list of the transition committee members, which was later rectified.

Ajaino advised the Vice Chairman to always be diligent in her duty and carry everybody along irrespective of where they come from as she was representing the entire Ethiope West, assuring her of a cordial working relationship.

Ogho, in her acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to the state governor for finding her worthy to serve, adding that she remains a loyal Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member committed to the administration of Uduaghan.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—FORMER President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, has said that any plan by the Federal Government to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram sect will be a fraud, warning that the people of the Niger Delta will resist any attempt to use resources from the region to finance such amnesty programme.

Ekiyor said it will be a misplaced argument to compare the activities of the sect members with that of the Niger Delta militants, noting that the focus of the Niger Delta militants was to attract government’s attention to the degradation of their region due to oil exploration and poverty of the people, whereas Boko Haram had embarked on mass killing of Nigerians and had remained faceless.

He said: “Beyond talking about amnesty for a group of people, who are murderers, I think that government has misplaced its priority in terms of what it is saying. Dialogue with the people, yes. Amnesty, no.

“Amnesty is not an exit window for criminals. These are people who have murdered over 5,000 people in cold blood. When people are in the

Y

ENAGOA—IMMEDIATE past Secretary of Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, in Bayelsa State, Mr. Alagoa Morris, has described Friday’s killing of 12 policemen on the Azuzuama waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state as barbaric and criminal.

Morris, in Yenagoa, said the killing of the policemen was most unfortunate and urged the authorities to bring to book perpe-

trators of the heinous act.

He said: “No matter the reasons adduced for this recent attack and killing of the policemen, it remains unacceptable.

“Whether the victims were men on uniform or not, all Nigerians ought to enjoy their fundamental rights to life and anyone who denies another of this right ought to be made to face the law.

“The authorities should go after the killers, get them arrested and prosecute them in

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— FORMER President, Ijaw National Congress, INC, Professor Kimse Okoko, has said that the proposed amnesty by the Federal Government for members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, should follow due process.

Speaking in Port Harcourt,

Rivers State, he also appealed to Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, not to resume hostilities in the Niger Delta region.

He said: “Due process should be followed by Federal Government before granting Boko Haram amnesty. The sect should agree to stop violent activities.

“I don’t think it is proper to grant amnesty before following due process, other-

wise victims of Boko Haram’s attacks would suffer so much pain.”

He told Vanguard, that there was no need for former militants to go back to the creeks, as such will not be in the interest of the region and the nation in general.

Okoko also lamented the killing, weekend, of 12 policemen at Azuzuama community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Uduaghan calls for teamwork between states, security agencies

BY EMMA AMAIZE & AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan

a court of competent jurisdiction.”

He, however, noted that effort should be made to avoid the 1999 mistake by the military in Odi. He said: “The whole community should not be criminalised and invaded.

The alleged criminals should be identified and arrested, no matter how long it will take to get at them.

“Proper investigations and professional information gathering should be applied."

of Delta State has called for corporation between states and security agencies in tackling security challenges to make the country more secured.

Uduaghan spoke while playing host in Asaba to participants of the Executive Intelligence Management, Course 6 of the Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, on a study tour of the state.

He said: “The states are in a better position to understand the security challenges in their areas and the workings of security at the state and national levels.

“When the states are deeply involved in security programmes being carried out, the nation will be properly secured and safe.”

Uduaghan urged the Insti-

tute to develop programmes for states’ officials handling security issues and challenges at the state level, as this would enable them compare notes on the methods of tackling such challenges and get more insights into the handling of security issues.

He said: “I appeal to the Institute to draw up a programme for state officials, especially the Secretary to States Government, to look into the security challenges and issues at the state level.

“This programme will enable them synergise on various security issues affecting the states, methods of tackling them and serves as an avenues for these officials to rub mind on how to make the states and the nation safer and secured.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

people are not Nigerians. So if you are granting them amnesty, from where will you take the resources to reintegrate them?"

... as Okoko advocates due process

Activist condemns killing of 12 policemen in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

churches, they bomb the church, killing people who are equally victims of bad governance like you and I. “Again, 80 percent of these

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On scrapping UTME, NECO

H

OW can anyone be allowed to enter a university or polytechnic without writing JAMB to see if the person is fit to be in the school? NECO should be left alone since it is the only made-in-Nigeria examination.— Miss Olaitan James, Student.

I

heard that schools will be in charge of its admission by the time UTME is scrapped.

It is good because internal supervision seems better and would be more credible. NECO too is insignificant to be allowed to remain.— Mr. Kehinde Babajide, Student.

S

CRAPPING UTME is a good idea, if it is part of the solution to the woes in the educational system. The body can also be restructured and there is really no need to scrap NECO. But for NECO many undergraduates would still be a home today.— Mr. Kotil Hungbo, Unionist.

J

AMB is just a money-making venture. Imagine five million people writing JAMB every year.

That is millions of naira for a few people. And when JAMB let’s you off its hook, POST-UTME will now send you back.— Miss Toyosi Adeleye, Student.

N

ECO is not necessary because only few students use it for admission into universities. JAMB should be allowed to stay because it is a way of ensuring that education is something you strive and work hard for.— Miss Chinwendu Juliet, Student.

P

OST-UTME should go. JAMB has a way of making students read hard for, and prepare for advanced education. However, it has been devalued by POST-UTME. But NECO should be left alone. It is still valuable.— Miss Blessing Ubah, Student.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—37

EGCDF election: Community congratulates Johnny

Edo PDP wants Oshiomhole to resign for alleged perjury

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HE people of Okoyitoru community, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have congratulated Chief Michael Johnny, on his election and subsequent inauguration as Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF. Chairman of Okoyitoru community, Mr. Collins Oturubo, in a congratulatory message, said: “We, the people of Okoyitoru community are grateful to God for the peaceful election and inauguration of our illustrious son, Chief Johnny, as Chairman of the foundation.”

He said, it was worthy of note that the people of Egbema and Gbramatu Kingdoms, and the various oil bearing communities, have once again demonstrated their love and confidence in Johnny and called on stakeholders to give the Johnny-led executive the support to enable the foundation succeed in its objectives.

Olukogbon for burial Friday

M

R. John Olukogbon, former General Manager, Seven Up Bottling Company, Ibadan, is dead, aged 56.

According to the burial programme released by the Olukogbon family of Iga-Ebiti in Ota, Ogun State, the late Olukogbon will be buried at Ebony Millennium Cemetery, Atan, Yaba, Lagos, on April 12.

It will be preceded by a service of songs on Thursday, April 11, at the New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos.

Late John Olukogbon C M Y K

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE ENIN—EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the state governor, Mr. Adama Oshiomhole, to take the path of honour and resign from office as governor of the state for allegedly committing perjury.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, told newsmen in Benin, that the governor committed perjury, when he swore on oath and allegedly lied about his age.

He said the governor is 61 years old and not 60 which he celebrated with funfair last Thursday.

Reacting, Special Adviser (Media) to the governor, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Oshiomhole was 61 years old and that the error which put the governor's age at 60 was cause by the printer of the birthday brochure, adding that the governor pointed it out but it was too late as the event had been scheduled for that day.

Pointing out that Governor Oshiomhole had never celebrated his birthday, Afegbua explained that the governor ’s last birthday was or-

ganised by a committee of friends and that public funds were not spent.

He described PDP as a “busy body and attention seeking political party, looking for any means to get public attention.”

But Chief Orbih insisted

that the governor swore to an affidavit before the Edo State High Court that he was born on April 4, 1952, but he had, since he was sworn into office in 2008, consistently celebrated his birthday as April 4, 1953.

Orbih said: “The governor

SWEARING-IN: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (left), congratulating Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr. Augustine Ahiamadu, after his swearing-in in Port Harcourt. Photo: NAN.

NUPENG flays declaration of force majeure by oil firms

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

N

IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has said that the incessant force majeure being declared by major oil companies in the Niger Delta region was dangerous for Nigeria's economic stability.

NUPENG, in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, said: “We are worried about the incessant force majeure being declared by oil majors, especially Shell

Petroleum Development Company and, recently, by Agip Oil Company in their oil fields in the Niger Delta, due to illegal oil bunkering."

The union said it read with consternation, the shutting down of the Italian oil firm, Agip's swamp area oil fields in Bayelsa State, which produce about 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily, due to incessant illegal bunkering and pipelines vandalism.

It said: “It is sad that Agip was losing about 7,000 barrels of its crude production daily to oil thieves in Bayel-

sa State. We condemn the act of illegal bunkering and theft of crude oil as it is robbing the nation of the needed foreign exchange that should be used for developmental purposes.

“The theft of the nation’s resources, such as crude oil, is unpatriotic, criminal and further degrades the environment, as they often leave the crude to spill into farmlands and waters. It has been discovered that the destruction of the ecosystem in the Niger Delta is as a result of wanton theft through bursting of oil pipelines."

DESOPADEC impacted on Isoko nation—Rep

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—COMMISSIONER representing Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Joseph Ogeh, has, said that the commission had impacted on the Isoko nation in terms of infrastructural and human capital development, peace and security.

Ogeh said: “Since the assumption of duty by the new

deposed to an affidavit before a High Court that he was born on April 4, 1952. You can see the dilemma we are facing.

Was Adams Oshiomhole born on April 4, 1953 or April 4, 1952? In the history of the world, no man has been born in two different years."

board, all communities in Isokoland have benefited from one or two projects.

Within the period, many projects that were abandoned had been resuscitated and completed because of the payment system adopted by the board.

“Most of the contractors, who had lost hope in DESOPADEC now have more confidence in the commission. Projects that were ongoing have been completed.”

On accusation from certain quarters that the commission was slow, Ogeh said: “It is not true that the commission is slow to action. In the 2012 budget, projects that were recently awarded are already 60-70 percent nearing completion.

“In Isokoland, some of the projects nearing completion are six classrooms block and teachers' office at Erowha Primary School, Erowha in Isoko South Local Government Area, among others."

Court adjourns hearing in Oshodi Tapa family trial

BY JIMOH WILLIAMS

A

LAGOS High Court sitting in Ikeja, has adjourned hearing in the suit by the members of the Oshodi Tapa family in Lagos, against some members of the family over the Iga Oshodi chieftaincy title, till June 3, 2013.

Trial judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, adjourned, after hearing in the contempt proceeding commenced before her court Following a tussle between members of the Oshodi Tapa family over a chieftaincy title, the head of Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy family, Pa Fatai Oshodi and a member of the family, Dr. Mustapha Oshodi, filed Form 48 against some members of the family to ensure the obedience to an earlier order of the court.

The family head had alleged that the family members flouted the court order.

Two contempt applications are pending against Chief Babatunde Oshodi, Alhaji Rasaq Oshodi, Alhaji Sura Oshodi and a lawyer, Victor Otuyemi before the court, over alleged disobedience of the alleged contenors to the consent judgment delivered by Justice Ojikutu Oshode (rtd.) two years ago.

38— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

'Vote of confidence on Elechi, Umahi premature'

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—THE lawmaker representing Ezza North/West state constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Enyi C. Enyi, yesterday opposed the motion that the House should pass a vote of confidence on Governor Martin Elechi and his Deputy, Engr. Dave Umahi.

According to him, such a step is premature, considering the rate of uncompleted projects across the state.

Enyi made his opinion known during plenary at the state House of Assembly when the member representing Ohaukwu North state constituency, Frank Nwaka Onwe, moved that a vote of confidence be passed on the governor and his deputy.

Anambra/Kogi border clash: 2 more persons shot

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — TWO peo ple sustained gun shot wounds in a renewed violence at the boundary communities between Aguleri-Otu in Anambra State and Echonwa/Ideke in Kogi state.

Those wounded are receiving treatment in a private hospital.

Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Security, Col George Molokwu, confirmed the incident, although he said the casualty figure was exaggerated.

Molokwu said: “I am aware there were fresh skirmishes for two days now, that is on Saturday and on Sunday. I was told that two were hospitalized in the hospital because of gun shot wounds. I have told the police to search for the hospital and feed us back. ‘’I was surprised at the latest development because Kogi and Anambra states governors have spoken on the need for calm and peace to be sustained on this issue of boundary between two brotherly communities.

FG to rehabilitate eastern rail lines service this year — Minister

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government would complete the rehabilitation of the Eastern rail corridor from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri before the end of the year, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has said.

The Minister, who disclosed this in Abuja when he played host to the governors of Kogi and Anambra states, Captain Idris Wada and Peter Obi respectively, stated the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, and Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, would collaborate to ensure that the kind of tragedy witnessed in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, where a boat capsized killing several persons did not happen again.

The two governors had come to the Minister to solicit the inclusion of Onitsha

Cleric backs Jonathan on pardon for Alams, others

and Ayangba in the 25- year rail development Master plan for the country.

They had emphasised the importance of trade along the Onitsha- Ayangba- Abuja axis and stressed the

NBA urges govt to set up a panel to investigate Ezu River corpses

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS — THE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, weekend, called on the Federal Government to set up a high powered commission of inquiry into the floating corpses on Ezu River at Amansea in Anambra State.

Receiving the report of its Human Rights Committee, headed by the Vice President of NBA, Mr Osas Irabor, at a

one day Regional Human Rights summit in Ibadan, Oyo State, Wali regretted that nobody had accounted for who the victims were and how they came floating on the river.

He called on the Federal Government to set up a high powered commission of inquiry to investigate the incident, with a view to bringing those responsible to book.

Wali added that the report

A

WKA — THE Joint team of Nigerian Army and Naval officials yesterday discovered over 23 illegal oil bunkering sites in Anambra State and equipment worth about N500 million.

of its committee would soon be made public, after same had been debated by the National Executive Committee, NEC of the association.

He urged judges to expeditiously determine the human right cases to enhance protection of the rights of Nigerians, noting that the role of the judges was to protect human rights and also determine if there had been a breach of a person’s right or not.

Bribe scam: IYC gives Imo govt 2 wks to prosecute offenders

BY EBUN SESSOU

L

AGOS— IGBO Youth Congress, IYC, has given Imo State government two weeks within which to prosecute all involved in the N458 million bribery scam that

led to the impeachment of the deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, or face mass protest.

It also threatened to mobilise to the National Assembly in protest should state government fail to prove its commitment to good

JTF uncovers 23 illegal oil bunkering sites in Anambra

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

istry, noted the governors also congratulated the Minister on the successful rehabilitation of the Western line rail services (from Lagos to Kano) and said they were looking forward to the completion of other lines.

Emeka Ojukwu (Jr., left) and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh (right), accompanied by some members of his re-installed executive, during the visit to late Odumegwu Ojukwu's cenotaph, in Nnewi, shortly after the Enugu High Court ruling on Umeh's appeal. Photo: NAN

L

AGOS — A cleric, Apostle Andrew Wilson, President, Thunder World Outreach Ministry Inc., has thrown his weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan over his recent state pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and others.

According to him, as Jesus Christ forgave those who crucified Him, Jonathan has the constitutional right to pardon whoever he so wishes. “Without sin there would be no forgiveness,” he noted.

Apostle Wilson, who spoke during the dedication of the church building located Owodi-Ora estate, Ajegunle, Lagos, said work in the building started eight years ago and “today we give God the glory for a successful dedication.”

He kicked against granting amnesty to Boko Haram members as being facilitated by government.

need to include the axis in the master plan to facilitate trade development.

A statement signed by Yetunde Sonaike, Deputy Director in charge of Press and Public Relations in the min-

The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Olaniyi who led a combined team of the Army and Navy to various sites at Ogbakuba in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, ex-

pressed surprise at the discovery, describing it as a high level of economic sabotage.

According to him, the current spate of illegal oil bunkering business in various parts of the country has continued to undermine the economy of Nigeria.

governance and transparency in managing public resources.

In a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Bright Ezeocha, the group warned that a mass rally had become imperative to address the seeming intractable political entanglement which had led to the impeachment of the deputy governor of the state, Sir Jude Agbaso.

It wondered why giver of the alleged bribe that led to the deputy governor ’s impeachment, Mr. Joseph Dina, of Jpros International Limited, was still walking the streets a free man when both the giver and receiver of a bribe were supposed to be liable.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013—39

PRESENTATION— From left: Evangelist Juliana Oluranti Akintayo, President, Abundant Life Ministry International Widow Centre; Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East, (Ife/Ijesa) Senatorial District of Osun State and Alhaji Gabisiyu Olaobaju, Ife Central LGA ACN party chairman, during presentation of food and other items to the widows in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

AWARENESS—Cross section of participants at a limb awareness walk for child amputee organised by The Irede Foundation along Awolowo road, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

CONDOLENCE—From left: Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde; Chief HID Awolowo and Methodist Bishop of Remo, Rev. Babatunde Taiwo during a condolence visit to the Awolowos over the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo.

DONATION—From left: Seye Ogunwole, National Sales Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc; Wing Commander MS Ibrahim, Commanding Officer, NAF clearing agency; ‘Lanre Jaiyeola, Commercial Director, Honeywell; Group Capt. Ali Balogun, Commanding Officer, Receipt & Despatch and Sola Abati, Marketing Manager, Honeywell, during presentation of Honeywell products to the flood affected communities in Bayelsa State.

DONATION—Chairman, Ilemba Police Community Relations Committee, Bishop Falahun (middle); DPO, Ekerie Ibe and Igwe Ikenna Nnamdi, Eze Ndi Igbo of Ojo LGA during donation of a new patrol van to the police.

C M Y K

DONATION—From left: Chairman, Ewekoro Local Government, Oludele Soluade; Ewekoro Plant Manager, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Thierry Terriere; Vice Chairman, Ewekoro Local Government, Biodun Olaleye and other traditional rulers during the company’s donation of ambulance to the Lafarge Health Centre in Ewekoro, Itori, Ogun State.

COMMISSIONING—From left: Pastor Johnson Odesola, Pastor in-charge of Lagos Province 1 and Special Assistant to Pastor E. A. Adeboye on Personnel and Administration; Pastor Samuel Olaniyan, Asst Pastor in-charge of Province 1 and CSR; a member of the community and other pastors during the commissioning of water project as part of Pastor Enoch Adeboye's CSR in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

CAFETERIA— From left: Mr. Gabriel Ojebekhoba, Director of Human Resources, Tantalizers Plc; Professor Olusola Oyewole V.C. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNNAB, and Mr. Gilbert Asenokhai, Brand Manager, Tantalizers at the opening of FUNNAB Cafeteria.

DEDICATION— From left: Mr. R. Scott; Pastor Alphonus Tobi, Benin Republic; Apostle Andrew Wilson, President, Thunder World Outreach Ministry Inc; Pastor (Mrs) Mercy Wilson and Prophet Bassey James during the dedication of the church's building in Lagos.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Kogi SSG warns against continued youth militancy

Bizmen decry scarcity of smaller Naira denominations

BY SUZAN EDEH

BY TAYE OBATERU

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AUCHI—BUSI NESS men and women in Bauchi State have decried scarcity of smaller denominations of the Naira, saying the situation was not only affecting their trades but encouraging artificial inflation in the state.

They lamented that most of their customers no longer patronize them because of their inability to give them smaller denominations of the Naira.

Investigations by Vanguard at Wunti Market showed that many business men and women lacked smaller denominations of the nation's currency and could not sell their goods as their customers left without purchasing the items.

Smaller denominations like N10, N20 and N50 notes are scarce.

A meat seller at the market, Mallam Hassan Buba told Vanguard that he was not making enough sales because of the development, lamenting that the situation hass posed a serious c h a l l e n g e .

He said: “The problem of smaller denominations like is real because their circulation is very limited. Whenever a customer comes with bigger denominations like N500 or N1,000 and you tell them there is no change, they just refuse to buy anything from you.”

Also, a food seller, Madam Alice Ocheme complained that she had lost some customers who usually patronized her because she lacked smaller Naira denominations, adding that the “situation could be terrible sometimes because some of my collegues in the market refuse to help out even when they have these small denominations."

According to her, "some of our customers can be very impatient and they just go to the next shop close to us. Some of my food stuffs are getting spoilt now because customers don’t buy as usual.”

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CONFERENCE—Bauchi State Commissioner For Information, Alhaji Mohammed Dhamina (R), with Deputy Director of Press,Government House, Alhaji Danbaba Umar at a news conference on road construction in Bauchi yesterday. Photo: NAN.

How my wife was raped, stabbed by Okada rider in Bauchi — Victims husband ....Seeks govt help to prosecute suspect

B

BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI—A 35-year-old man from the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Isa Umar has appealed to both the state government and the police to assist him by bringing to justice, a person who allegedly raped his wife.

Umar and the officer in charge of the Legal Aid Council, Zubayr Hanbali made the plea, yesterday, at the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Bauchi.

In his account of the incident, Umar alleged that he asked a commercial motorcyclist, (okada) whose name was simply given as Auwalu to take his wife and two children to a nearby village, but he diverted into the bush at Ball village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area and raped the woman in front of her two children aged between three and six years, after stabbing her with a knife.

“My wife lost her pregnancy as a result of the incident and suffered psychological trauma due to shock and the shame. I feel very sad over what happened to her and I intend to see that the person who committed this abominable act does not go unpunished. I felt ashamed of myself because he has spoilt my name and reputation,” Umar lamented.

He said that he took his wife to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital and treated her for over two weeks, adding that the cul-

prit tried to bribe him with N40,000 so as to bury the matter, but he declined and reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Bununu.

According to him, the DPO said since Auwalu did not admit commiting the crime, it will be difficult for them to prosecute him, hence he approached the Legal Aid Council for assistance.

Narrating her ordeal to newsmen, the victim, (names withheld) who said she was a mother of four children alleged that the suspect diverted her to the bush instead of taking her

to the village she was going to with two of her children and threatened to kill her if she refused to cooperate with h i m .

“He stabbed me with a knife and beat me. He wrestled with me and overpowered me before he raped me in the presence of my two kids and told me I cannot do anything to him because he would get away with the act,” Mrs Umar added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Mohammed Auyo said he was not aware of the incident but promised to investigate the allegation.

Makarfi pledges scholarship for 700 indigent students

K

ADUNA—SENATOR Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has said that he would soon offer scholarship to about 700 indigent students from eight local governments that make up his constituency.

Makarfi representing Kaduna North Senantorial constituency, spoke, yesterday, when he shared assorted materials to about 1,617 beneficiaries from the area.

He said: “700 students will benefit from the scholarship scheme I have initiated this year and about N7 million will be involved this 2013/ 2014 academic year.”

The materials distributed included 126 portable generators and barbing clippers,

187 milling/grinding machines, 274 ploughs, 87 portable generating sets, amplifiers and speakers for worship places, 102 irrigation pumping machines. Others were 184 motorcucles, 250 bicycles, 131 sewing machines, 89 welding machines, 30 tricycles, 50 knitting machines and 20 wheel barrows.

Governor, Mukthar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State presented the materials on behalf of Makarfi at the ceremony.

Yero said “the vision of this administration is to evolve a state that boasts of a highly skilled manpower capable of independently generating wealth for itself and for others."

OS— A FORMER university administrator and current Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Prof.

Olugbmiro Jegede has warned that militancy among the youth in the country might worsen unless the collapsing educational system and other indices of illiteracy are urgently addressed.

Delivering a lecture as part of activities for the 26th Convocation of the University of Jos last weekend, he said the current problem of kidnapping and other forms of militancy would be a child’s play if the problems affecting education and other sectors were not taken care of under the transformation agenda.

He spoke in a paper entitled “Nigeria’s Higher Education: An Urgent Need for Reassessment”.

According to him, “transformation of the total society must start now, otherwise the effects of the youth unrest we are witnessing around the world would be a child’s play if the Nigerian youth are left with no other choice than hit the streets. For them it would be a case of ‘he who is down fears no fall’ and hence would go all out to be as destructive as they can since they have nothing else to lose”.

Jegede lamented the steady decline in the standard of education in the country resulting in a situation where no Nigerian university is within the top 2,000 in world ranking and none within the best 50 in Africa. ”We need to devise new ways of hiring senior academicians, especially vice chancellors. Poor leadership arising from compromised appointment (either through the son of the soil system or my local government candidate or through some form of less than desirable methods) would inevitably yield poor governance..."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013— —41

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46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Rapist on the prowl? …53-yr-old mother cries out; the man that raped my daughter is after my life

BY UJU MBANUSI

A

53-year-old food vendor at the popular Ojuelegba park in Lagos simply identified as Madam Ganiyat, has cried out to relevant authorities over alleged threat to her life by a member of the NURTW Ojuelegba branch (name withheld) after she sued him for raping her daughter. Ganiyat from Ijebu in Ogun state told Crime Alert that the victim (name with held on victim’s wish) is her third child and that she was 22 years old when the ugly incident took place. She was also said to be a student at Anse-Udeen College of Education, Isolo while waiting for admission into the university. The distraught woman narrated her plight.

How I received the news

I

t was a rainy afternoon on June 20th , 2010; Ayo who works as a tout ( agbero) with the NURTW, Ojuelegba, had called on my daughter to bring cooked cassava flour (Amala’)and meat worth N150 to him in his office at Number 30, Makinde street, Ojuelegba, because, according to him, he does not want to be seen eating outside with his ordinary hand. Not suspecting anything, my daughter took the food to him. I was busy attending to my other customers when she came back crying with bruises all over her body. Some people at the building where it happened brought her to me.

When asked what happened, she told me that she had just been raped by Ayola.. At first, it was like she was speaking in a language I could not understand. I stood gazing at space for the first 20 minutes. I was confused. The thought of my daughter being raped on the bare floor because she was assisting me was hitting me so bad. What was her crime? Why should she be meted with that kind of treatment. I was in this state when my colleagues advised me to go and report the incident at the police station.

We all went and they gave me two police women to accompany me to effect Ayo’s arrest.

They went with me and arrested him. We were then advised

by the police to go and get a medical report to this effect. We went to Lagos Island Medical Centre and she carried out all the necessary tests. It was confirmed that she had been raped.

I have a copy of the result here with me. After this, Ayo was arrested and later released on July, 2010; because the police said it was a bailable offense.

My grievance now is that after he was released, Ayo has been boasting to people that my daughter is just one of his trophies, that he can rape any lady he wants and nothing will happen. He is a serial rapist. He has been raping women, even before the incident with my daughter, he had raped one Titi, a bread seller at Yaba.

It is also on record that he had raped his wife’s friend and his 19 year -old landlord’s daughter. After my daughter’s case, he raped a girl inside one of the primary schools at Mushin.

She was seen crying under a tree in the school compound.

When she mentioned what Ayo did to her, everybody was shouting ‘Ayo again, Ayo again; nothing was done to him after that.

All I am crying for is for justice to be done to this case. I almost ran mad when I saw my daughter crying that she had been raped. I have been hearing stories of rape victims, but I didn’t know it would affect me this way.

My husband and I went through a lot for two weeks after the rape incident. We could not come out from our house.

What he does is to bet among his friends that he will sleep with a lady and then he goes ahead to rape that woman. We gathered that he had a bet with some of his friends that complained that my daughter has been proving hard to get, that they should wait and see, that he will get her.

The Threat:

T

he accused had threatened that if I don’t withdraw the case from the court, he will send his gang after me.

I have mentioned this threat to the Magistrate. I have also gone to a radio station, ‘Bond FM’ after the incident to make it public, I took the matter to Poverty Alleviation Office at Alausa-

•Scene of the incident Ikeja, they gave me a date that I should come, when I went on the said date, they told me that already my daughter has matured, moreover, that Ayo was not the one who dis-virgined her. After that, they did not do anything about the case. I was heart broken.”

Counsel to the defendant, Imelda Adebambo who also spoke with Crime Alert said, “ It is an offense for any man to have canal knowledge of any woman without her consent. The accused has been on this for so long, and the other women affected have not had the courage to come out. In this case, I believe the law will take it’s cause and justice will be done.

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

A

19-year-old boy, Eze David is presently struggling to convince the police at the Area A Command, Lagos over his culpability or otherwise following allegations of stealing telecommunication cables belonging to Nigerian Telecommunication Limited, NITEL. The darkskinned teenager who left his home town in Abia State to learn music production in Lagos has been claiming that he had no intention of stealing but the police thinks otherwise.

He was arrested along two others identified as Iluwa Ubah and Oyebuchi Nwodom, vandalizing and stealing telecommunication cables inside a manhole at Broad Street at the Lagos Island, by a team of AntiRobbery Policemen on patrol.

One other suspected thief however, told detectives that he has no regrets over his actions because he was stealing cables as a means of liverlyhood.

Policemen attached to Dolphin Estate Police Station also arrested two cable thieves Femi David and Michael Okoki, with 117 pieces of cables stolen from a manhole along Kakawa Street in Lagos Island.

Crime Alert learnt that the telecommunication manholes

•Medical report

NITEL cable theft: I have along the Lagos Island and it’s environ have been terribly vandalized by a notorious gang of cable thieves forcing the new Area Commander, Imohimi Edgal, to order a total clampdown on their activities.

He, however, confessed that he was mislead into joining the gang stating that his master who was teaching him music production asked him to get some money for agreement. He told Crime Alert; “My father died when I was a little boy and my mother has been the one fending for me and my siblings.

She asked me what I intended doing after I graduated from secondary school last year and I told her that I want to be a music producer. I also told her that I can learn the job in Lagos State and all she needed to do was to provide my transport fare.

She sold off some of her cloths and other properties and she was able to raise about N10, 000 for me. I and one other friend came to Lagos together but he returned back to the village when his money got finished. I refused to go back with him because I knew what my mother did to get

me the transport fare. I did’nt want to let her and my younger siblings down. I managed to meet a music producer in Kirikiri Town and I worked with him for about three months before he asked me to pay N30, 000 and a carton of beer as agreement fee. I didn’t have such money so he sent me out of his shop where I was also sleeping. I became stranded.

I went to a trailer park at Orile.

There, I was working with a man who sells drugs and after the end of work, I would sleep in one of the abandoned vehicles. I made a couple of friends while I was staying there and there was this guy we call ‘Small’ who was very kind to me. He usually buys food

•The Suspect

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 47

Police officer’s wife in trouble for maltreating maid ...as landlord, neighbours lament

By ONOZURE DANIA

A

police officer’s wife, Chioma Egbes, who has allegedly, been in the habit of beating up a 10-yearold house maid, Miracle Ndubisi, got what she did not bargain for when a

good Samaritan reported her to the police.

Mrs. Egbes brought the housemaid from her village, Owerri, to Lagos in December, last year. The good Samaritan, Ola Babafemi, who is based in Canada came to visit his friend, Adebisi Oke at Ikotun area of Lagos on Easter Monday when he saw the badly battered girl in a super market.

Crime Alert gathered that the good Samaritan and his friend were at home relaxing on the fateful day when they decided to go and buy a shaving stick from a near by super market. They reportedly saw the little girl who came to buy malt for her madam and on seeing the injuries on her face and body, decided to inquire the cause only for them to be told that it was inflicted on her by the woman she lives with. Shocked, especially, by the deep cuts on her eyebrow, the two friends decided to confront the woman

,

The last time she paid NEPA bill was last year June and she even orders some of the tenants not to pay

•Chioma

•Miracle

no regrets-suspect when ever I am hungry and he told me that he works for a copper company.

There was this day I asked him to lend me some money so I can pay my agreement fee, he refused and said he could not give such an amount of money, but he would rather have me work for it. I asked him how and he said I should wait and he would call me when the time was ripe.

“On April 1, 2013, around 10:30pm, he came to the vehicle where I was sleeping and said there was a job he had for me, I asked what it was and he said he wants me and two other men to follow him to Lagos Island to cut some underground cables. He told me that the ca-

•The Suspect

,

bles belong to government but they have been abandoned. I asked him if it was stealing and he said no that some NITEL staff are the once selling the cables to them. He took me and two other men to the place and we saw him talking to a man he introduced to us as his boss, after which we entered into a manhole and they covered it from the top.

“We used a jack in pulling out the cables and Small was the one cutting it. Before we knew it, the police came and asked us to come out of the manhole. On our way out, Small hid inside the small water inside the manhole and asked us not to tell the police about it that he will have to arrainge with his boss to bail us. I trusted him and I didn’t tell the police about it but up till now, he has not shown up. But this wasn’t what I bargained for when I came to Lagos, I am not a thief and I don’t intend to steal for survival, I wouldn’t have fol-

that inflicted such injuries on a little girl. lowed him if he had explained to me that the cables were stolen. Small didn’t explain it to me properly and now I am in trouble,”he stated.

But 28- year- old Femi David, who was arrested with 117 cables said he has no regrets over his actions. The Ogun State- born suspect told Crime Alert that he adopted cable theft as a means of livelihood when he couldn’t secure a decent job. “I have no regret for my actions. I have done this for about 10 times and I ventured into it because there was no job. I am the leader of my own group and I steal cables from several manholes in Lagos State. I started last year and I usually operate in areas where I knew the police do not patrol regularly. The job that gave me out was at Broad Street by Kakawa on Lagos Island, we did that for about two days and when we were about conveying the cables out of the area, the police intercepted us along Osbone- Ikoyi Road. I was formally selling the cables at Marine Beach in Ajegunle but I stopped selling it there when Fashola demolished the shanties under the bridge. This time, I wanted to sell to a man called Uche and he said he wanted large quantity that was why we had large numbers.”

I

t was learnt that on getting to their house, they asked the woman why she inflicted such deep cuts on the little girl but she told them that it was because the girl excreted on her body. She also denied inflicting the injuries on her claiming that she came from Owerri with it. She could not however, explain why the injuries were still very fresh. The Canadian based occupational health and safety worker and his friend reportedly succeeded in taking both the woman and the house girl to a nearby hospital after which they sneaked out on the pretext of going to see a mechanic but ended up reporting the case to the police. While lodging the report, they were also informed that the woman had been reported several times as a troublesome person.

The resident doctor at the Manifel Medical Centre, Abaranje, Ikotun, Sebastine Okoro told Crime Alert that the girl was brought in under a severe condition that they had to put her on three days intensive drip to revive her adding that the hospital has also been feeding her since she was brought to the hospital. He also alleged that the woman she lives with wanted to take her to another hospital but they re-

fused.

The father of the wounded girl, Vitalis Ndubisi, who came to Lagos immediately he heard of the incident told Crime Alert that his daughter always calls him but she never told him about the maltreatment she was receiving until when the good Samaritan that took her to the hospital called to inform him of her predicament. He said he didn’t want to release his daughter to Chioma initially but after much pleading and promises that she was going to take care of the girl and send her to school, he released her. The father further disclosed that they were not related to Mrs. Chioma Egbes but he gave her his daughter just because hiswife is from their village and her mother in law convinced him to give the girl to Chioma regretting that just barely three months after, his daughter was made to go through hell.

N

arrating her plight, the victim who was visibly shaken told Crime Alert that she was in primary four before she came to Lagos but she has not attended any school since then. She said it was because she had not swept the stair case that morning, that was why her aunty was beating her and in the process, she excreted on her body and the aunty increased the beating by using wire and a large metal spoon to beat her, which gave her all the injuries on her body. She added that the woman has been beating her before now.

When Crime Alert visited their residence at Number 9, Hassan Olawale Street, Ikotun, the landlord of the house, Mr Oladele Omoleye alleged that the woman is a troublesome person that has even, on one occasion, locked his wife and a co- tenant up in her shop. He disclosed that the woman and her husband, who attends Synagogue Church of all nations, were brought by his agent in 2010 and since they came in, they have been causing problems for them in the area. According to him, “the last time she paid NEPA bill was last year June and she even orders some of the tenants not to pay. After the incident with my wife, I gave them quit notice which expired on February 18 this year, they refused to go, they said nobody can send them out.

There was a time I wrote a petition against her and nothing was done about it because they have some body that is backing them up. We never heard the little girl cry for once since she came, may be she ties the girl’s mouth when ever she is beating her up. I cannot leave my house for a tenant, it is my tenant that will leave so that peace will return to the house again because since they came into this house, we have never had peace,”he stated.

48—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, APRIL 10 , 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 49

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HIEF Anthony Anenih, the Iyase of Esanland in Edo State, is a man any politician looking towards the future would neglect to his peril. Many who have done so have either regretted or remained sullen in quiet lamentation of the political wizardry marshaled by the man against them.

Anenih’s first political prey was the former professor of pathology, Prof. Ambrose Alli, governor of the defunct Bendel State between 1979 and 1983. In his very first political outing, Anenih led the forces of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN to unseat Alli, a fellow Esan man from office in the 1983 elections. That was despite the acclaimed performance of Alli in office.

His move against Governor Alli easily pointed Anenih as a man who would not be swayed by ethnic considerations in the actualisation of political, and maybe, other wider objectives.

It was as such not difficult that when Major-General Shehu Yar‘adua, who did not also pander to ethnic bigotry in his life time, commenced his political adventures at the end of the

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com SMS 08052201189

Anenih’s ways eighties, that he turned to Anenih to be the linchpin for his political campaigns.

Indeed, that sobriquet, “leader” associated with Anenih was said to have been put on him in those days when even Yar`adua deferred to his political calculations, calling him, the leader.

For a man given to playing on such high level political platforms, it is understandable that many of his actions which are often shrouded in secrecy would turn him into a man of many controversies. His actions following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which he led his party, the Social Democratic Party, SDP

to win, were no less controversial.

Even in his native Edo State, his role in first of all projecting Lucky Igbinendion to power in 1999, and then declaring no vacancy in the Edo Government House ahead of the 2003 election is another.

It was difficult to believe as the 2007 election approached that anyone could remove the politics of Edo State from his grasp. But another enduring political father, Olusegun Obasanjo did it to him when he stopped Anenih from projecting Senator Odion Ugbesia as Igbinendion’s successor.

Anenih’s foot soldiers were nevertheless confident that what

Obasanjo denied them and gave to Oshereinmen Osunbor, they would win back through the courts or by courting Oshiomhole. The story is still told in Benin of how some of Anenih’s closest associates swarmed the Edo Government House after the Appeal Court upheld Oshiomhole as the winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election to rejoice with the new governor.

His embrace of Oshiomhole was, however, to turn into a horrendous political misadventure.

Oshiomhole’s successful accomplishments in office have now turned into a big cross for Anenih and what is left of the PDP in the state.

Not even their protestation that their party has been cleansed of its bad elements, supposedly now in Oshiomhole’s party has been well received.

Anenih’s setbacks in Edo State nonetheless, his political reinvention after first staying aloof from Jonathan in the days of the cabal is today said to be remarkable.

It is a testimony of his political artfulness that he has now

become the rallying point for Jonathan’s political calculations.

So, when the president needed somebody to fix the too many gaffes of the Bamanga Tukur led PDP executive, it was to Anenih that he turned to.

In remarkable style, Anenih has been going round the country fixing the problems, making deals and polishing the rough edges of the president so that another term for Jonathan that seemed improbable just weeks ago is now turning into a discernable probability.

PDP governors from the north who not too long ago complained about Jonathan have in the last few days kept mute and turned their fire on Tukur as the problem of the party and the people!

It was apparently based on such perceptions that a group in the party came out last Monday calling on the president to stop Anenih.

Their claim is that Anenih through fixing the problems of the PDP is taking over the job of the national chairman. Well, he was only doing what he knows best to do!

Abike: Raising the bar of representation FORMER broadcast journalist, Abike Dabiri-Erewa in her hey days as a television girl built a reputation for bringing light to the downtrodden in the society across the country. Now fully engaged as a legislator representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa’s good spirit is the toast of a deeply appreciative constituency.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

F

OR a people, who before now, could hardly boast of quality representation from elected lawmakers at all levels of government, the coming of Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is a godsend for the people of Ikorodu Federal constituency.

So it was not surprising that the constituents recently passed a vote of confidence on their daughter and representative. The forum was the commissioning ceremony of 15 solar powered boreholes, cited across the nine communities in the constituency on the behest Dabira-Erewa, who represents them at the House of Representatives.

Speaking at the event, which attracted a large number of constituents drawn across party lines, Dabiri-Erewa explained that she would continue to attract dividends of democracy through even distribution of projects.

The federal lawmaker, however stressed that what the members of the House do, is to lobby for the execution of projects in their communities, adding that no member of the house handles constituency project funds.

*Dabiri-Erewa, (m) with joyful mothers during the commissioning of a solar powered motorized borehole at Ikorodu Local Government Children Centre in Ikorodu. Photo

by Lamidi Bamidele

Constituency project fund “It is the duty of the communities to prioritize their needs out of which we would pick the most pressing one, it is also the communities that would pick the sites for their projects without the interference of their representatives in the House,” she stated.

Accordingly, she said, “no

member of the House handles project money, what we do is to table the needs of our people and lobby for their execution without having hands in who the contractors should be.”

Dabiri-Erewa, who is the House Committee Chairman on Diaspora, further called on her constituents to continue to support the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, adding that the best was yet to come from the party.

“Right now, 15 transformers have been installed across the communities awaiting energizing by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PCHN). The total number of the boreholes was 15 out of which nine were ready for commissioning,’’ she added.

The high point of the forum, which was held amid heavy downpour was the display of appreciation by leaders of the nine communities in the

constituency.

The leaders, who were full of praises for their representative over her efforts in attracting the Federal Government projects to their communities, named the longest road at Okoitan Community after Dabiri-Erewa.

Instructively, the community Heads of Ijede, Ikorodu, Solomade, Imota, Aga, Mowonla, Igbopa, Agura, Igangbe and Okoitan, who were present, described the lawmaker as the pride of Lagos in the National Assembly.

The Chairman of Agura Community Development Association (CDA), Chief Saliu Erubami, who spoke at the event, said, ‘’she is a worthy Ambassador. the last time we tasted dividends of democracy in this community was 21 years ago during the regime of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).’’

Continuing, Erubami said, “it was when this our daughter was voted in to represent us that we started to have the feel of democracy,” asserting that “ we have never regretted voting for her and her partyAction Congress of Nigeria (AC N).”

Similarly a leader from Igbonpa, Mr. Olohunlomotito Stephen said “Dabiri-Erewa has proved beyond reasonable doubt that she is worthy of celebration. She is seeing to the welfare of our community in terms of social infrastructure.”

50—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, APRIL 10 , 2013

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 51

Kenyatta sworn-in as Kenya’s fourth president U

HURU Kenyatta was sworn in yesterday as the Kenya’s fourth president amid hanging charges of crime against humanity at the International Criminal Court at the Hague, the Netherlands.

Kenyatta, 51, the son of Kenya’s first president, becomes the second sitting African president to face charges at the International Criminal Court over allegations he helped orchestrate the vicious tribe-on-tribe violence that marred Kenya’s 2007 presidential election.

Uganda’s president and Kenya’s new deputy president used the swearing-in to take clear swipes at the ICC and at a U.S. warning before the March 4 election that a Kenyatta win would carry “consequences” for Kenya.

“I want to salute the Kenyan voters on one other issue — the rejection of the blackmail by the International Criminal Court and those

who seek to abuse this institution for their own agenda,” Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told the cheering crowd, adding: “They are now using it to install leaders of their choice in Africa and eliminate the ones they do not like.”

Deputy President William Ruto noted that he and Kenyatta won in the first round of voting despite the U.S. Warning. A jubilant crowd swathed in

Kenyatta’s campaign color of red loudly interrupted the swearingin with rapturous cheers.

The ceremony stood in stark contrast to a rushed ceremony closed to the public five years ago to swear in outgoing President Mwai Kibaki, whom political opponents accused of stealing the 2007 vote.

Those suspicions set off weeks of tribal violence that killed more than 1,000 people.

•Uhuru Kenyatta being sworn-in as Kenya’s fourth president yesterday.

EU supports ECOWAS free movement project •Sweden provides $6.7m for climate change

BY VICTORIA OJEME

T

HE European Union EU) has supported the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free movement project with the sum of euro 26million.

The agreement on the support was signed during the 9th edition of

the ECOWAS/ Developmwnt partners annual coordinatiion meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

President of ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo signed on behalf of the Commission while Head of Delegation. Of the EU to Nigeria, Amb. David

Macrae signed on behalf of EU. Macrae noted that the money is for a project which aims to maximize benefits from the free movement of persons within the awestruck African region.

The project’s specific objective is to improve free movement of persons

and migration management in West Africa by supporting the effective implementation of the ECOWAS free movement of persons’ protocols and the ECOWAS common approach on migration.

With the signing of the agreement, EU ambassador noted that the three implementing agencies, the International Labour Organization,

International Organisation for Migration and International Centre for Migration Po l i c y Development are ready to state their work, which will be under the strategic guidance of the ECOWAS commission.

He also hoped that the project “will contribute to strengthen relations between West African countries and between ECOWAS and the European Union”.

Britain sets April 17 for Thatcher’s burial RITAIN has time for her death,” said conservative who broke Carl Chamberlain, 45, the power of British B announced that the unemployed, sporting a unions, eliminated many Mali: France starts troops funeral for former British prime minister Margaret grey ponytail and government subsidies take place next today, April 17.

The government has said Thatcher would receive a ceremonial funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral with military honors - a step short of a state funeral - in accordance with the wishes of her family. It said a private cremation would follow later. The former British prime minister died Monday at the age of 87 following a stroke. The outspoken Thatcher led the Conservative Party to three election victories from 1979 to 1990, the longest continuous period in office by a British prime minister since the early 19th century.

Opponents pop Champagne Opponents celebrated in London, the English city of Bristol and the Scottish city of Glasgow, cheering her death and toasting to the death of

•Thatcher “the witch” with champagne and cider.

“We’ve waited a long

sipping on a can of cider in Brixton, London, the scene of riots in 1981.

Loathed and loved, Thatcher crushed trade unions, privatised swathes of British industry, clashed with European allies and fought a war to recover the Falkland Islands from Argentina. was a stern

and enabled a far greater role for private enterprise.

She led Britain through its 1982 war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, strongly opposed European integration and built a close “special relationship” with U.S. President Ronald Reagan that helped spur the downfall of Soviet communism.

withdrawal

F

RANCE has started withdrawing its troops from Mali after an operation to help local forces push back an offensive by Islamist rebels, an army spokesman said yesterday.

Looming war: North Korea wants foreigners out

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ORTH Korea intensified threats of an imminent conflict against the United States and the South on Tuesday, warning foreigners to evacuate South Korea to avoid being dragged into “thermonuclear war”.

The North’s latest message belied an atmosphere free of anxiety in the South Korean capital, where the city center was bustling with traffic and offices operated normally.

Pyongyang has shown

no sign of preparing its 1.2 million-strong army for war, indicating the threat could be aimed partly at bolstering Kim Jong-un, 30, the third in

his family to lead the country.

The North, which threatens the United States and its “puppet”, South Korea, on a daily

basis, is marking anniversaries this week that could be accompanied by strong statements or military displays.

FG commends Nigerians in Diaspora

T

HE Federal Gov ernment has restated its commitment to honouring Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The Minister of State I, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri has said that in line with the Transforma-

tion Agenda, the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan will continue to recognize Nigerians in Diaspora who are projecting a good image of Nigeria in their host countries.

The Minister State I spoke on Sunday in Ot-

tawa, Canada at a reception hosted by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe in honour of Professor Onwuliri and members of her delegation to mark the Ministers 2 day official visit to Canada.

Paris aims to complete the withdrawal of 3,000 soldiers this year and will keep a permanent 1,000strong combat force in the former colony to support a U.N. peacekeeping mission of African forces.

Despite concerns over persistent Islamist attacks in the north and the lack of security in many areas, France is pressing Mali’s interim government to organize national elections to complete a democratic transition after a March 2012 coup.

“It’s the start of the pullout,” Thierry Burkhard said. “The aim is to be down to 2,000 in July.”

Burkhard said that about 100 men from a parachute regiment that had been based in Tessalit, in the foothills of the Adrar des Ifoghas mountain range, had now left Mali.

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Thatcher: Visa Giver in Nigeria, Milk snatcher in Britain

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

A

ND so, like all mortals, Baroness Margaret Hilda Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland passed on, aged 87, after a stroke. She led Britain at a time of serious economic woes, which entailed taking unpopular decisions and

•Margaret Thatcher demonstration of strong political will. That, which she did not shy from, earned her the sobriquet:

Iron Lady.

But if you ask Nigerians who follow events in their world, they would most remember Mrs. Thatcher as the PM that snatched free entry into the UK from them.

In September 1986, the Thatcher administration decided, at the end of a cabinet meeting that in future, travelers from Nigeria, India, Ghana,

Bangladesh and Pakistan will need to obtain visas in their own countries before traveling. The move, according to British officials, was designed to clamp down on illegal immigration, and followed months of warnings from immigration officials that London’s Heathrow airport, a major international travel hub

and the country’s busiest airport is no longer able to cope with the stream of visitors from Asia and Africa.

It is an irony that today, more than 25 years after, with all the visas, Heathrow still can’t cope with the stream of visitors Before the 1986 decision, nationals of all Commonwealth nations, except Sri Lanka did not need visas to travel to the UK. Justifying the decision, Home Secretary

at the time, Douglas Hurd said: “We have to have immigration checks, and I think it is more sensible that these checks are carried out before someone sets off on a journey.”

Reacting, the opposition Labour party described the Thatcher government decision on visa requirements for the five countries as racist.

•To be continued

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013— —53

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54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013

Champions League:

Dor tmund back Barca for glory B

arcelona remain the favourites to win the Champions League this season as the competition edges towards its semi-final stage, according to Borussia

S •Messi

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Dortmund star Marco Reus.

The Catalan giants take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their last eight encounter tonnght with the tie delicately poised following a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes.

The Germany international says Barca are still the team to beat in this year’s competition.

“Barcelona play really good football. They’re capable of creating much space, even against teams who defend with 11 players,” he told Die Welt. “Therefore, Barcelona are the favourites to win the Champions League.”

•Robben

Juve to play Bayern with 19 players J

uventus coach Antonio Conte has called up 19 players for the second leg of the Bianconeri’s Champions League quarter-finals clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Arturo Vidal and Stephan Lichtsteiner are unavailable due to suspension, while

Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini return after serving their one-match ban against Pescara over the weekend.

Martin Caceres is also available after fully recovering from his automobile accident last month.

Amokachi hits Champions Planet for Barca, PSG duel

uper Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi will be the ‘Legend of the Night’ at the Heineken Champions Planet tonight, as guests get the opportunity to interact with him during the last quarter final matches of the UEFA Champions League.

The Atlanta ‘96 gold medalist for Nigeria is a double winner, as he is part of the coaching staff that led

•Amokachi the current crop of Eagles to the crown at the most recent African Cup of Nations. The

Bull will be part of the live cast for the high profile match between FC Barcelona and PSG at the Camp Nou and will share his insight on the Italian Juventus’ quest to upturn the 0-2 defeat against Bayern Munich at the Turin stadium this evening.

Interestingly, Amokachi was the first goal scorer when the current version of the competition was introduced in 1992. He scored FC Bruges of

Belgium’s lone goal in the win away to M. Tel-Aviv at the Ilztadion Ramat Gan stadium in Israel before leading the team to win 4-0 on aggregate.

The visit of the former Super Eagles striker preludes a busy week of activities as the ‘Race to the Final’ contest kicks off this weekend to decide five winners from 350 to win anall-expense paid trip to watch the final match live in Wembley, London.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 — 55

Pillars saw hell in Congo laments coach P

ILLARS coach M o h a m e d Babaganaru has told MTNFootball.com his team saw hell in Congo where they were eliminated in the CAF Champions League.

The Nigeria champions failed to protect a 4-1 first leg advantage against AC Leopard of Congo as

they lost 3-0 in the reverse tie at the weekend to crash out of the competition on the away goal rule.

Pillars coach Babaganaru disclosed that a lot happened to the team on and off the pitch which caused the club’s premature exit from the competition.

“We saw hell in

Irabor calls understanding

for

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HAIRMAN of the N i g e r i a n Professional Football League Management Company, Honourable Nduka Irabor yesterday told a critical Lagos press that he and his team were on track to making the Nigerian professional football league one of the best in the continent.

Honourable Irabor said all they were doing was to set the parameters for the smooth take off of the management committee that would take over from them. He debunked insinuations in certain quarters that the League Management Company was not carrying the

•Irabor club owners along in all their dealings so far.

“We are here on an interim basis. We set up the company in trust. It belongs to the professional league clubs; they are the ultimate beneficiaries,” Irabor said.

Irabor would not go into the controversies surrounding the legal status of the Nigeria

Eaglets Continues from B/P onward Marrakech, venue of their Group B matches.

The three-time world champions, last participated at the African U-17 finals in Togo in 2007, which they won, and then followed up with triumph at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Korea Republic.

According to the release by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Media officer, Ademola Olajire, the organizers of the tournament will take over responsibility for the Nigeria squad once they land in Casablanca on Wednesday morning.

Olajire also disclosed that CAF will conduct the Magnetic Resonance Imaging

(MRI) examination on all the participating teams on Friday.

The opening match which takes place on Saturday will be between the host country Morocco and Gabon at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, while Tunisia trades tackle against debutants Botswana immediately after.

Golden Eaglets will have their first match against Ghana on Sunday evening in Marrakech after Cote d’Ivoire and CongoBrazzaville at the same venue.

The Eaglets also play Cote d’Ivoire on April 17 and Congo-Brazzaville on April 20 in the group phase.

Congo, I don’t know a better word I could use to qualify the harassment we had to endure throughout our stay there. They denied us access to training facilities ahead of the game. Not to talk of the very poor officiating.

They seized our camera.

I have never witnessed this kind of horror in my career,” Babaganaru told MTNFootball.com “Their fans threw missiles at our players throughout the game.

They broke into our dressing room and stole all the players’ mobile phone. They stopped our fans from getting into the stadium. This was all barbaric!

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Kano Pillars player (l) in a midfield tussle with an opponent in a local league match.

Oshiomhole registers for 10km Okpekpe race Already, the Athletics promised to complete the

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O M R A D E G o v e r n o r, Adams Oshiomhole, has picked up registration form to take part in the inaugural edition of the Okpekpe International 10kilometres Road Race scheduled to hold on May 4 in Edo State.

Special Adviser to the governor on Sports Matters, Chief Mike Itemuagbo, confirmed yesterday that the Comrade governor sent in his entry form at the weekend.

“The governor is very excited about the Okpekpe International Road Race. He has

Okpala Continues from B/P the country Monday night without permission and may be sanctioned.

Okpala’s letter, we gathered, was signed by Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, Assistant SecretaryGeneral, Technical.

Chairman Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green confirmed it last night, saying “it’s true that Sylvanus has been sacked. There were issues he did not handle well.”

Ekeji bows out

race,” observed Itemuagbo who is the initiator of the race aimed at exposing the Okpekpe and its environs to athletes of repute from the globe.

Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has confirmed receiving entries from Kenya and Ethiopia for the 10km race that will witness top runners from the continent.

Adeboye endorses Church Cup championship

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HE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Pastor Enoch A Adeboye has endorsed the Church Cup Championship which is organized by REAL SOCCERFEST. The Church Cup championship is a non denominational youth soccer tournament in Nigeria aimed at promoting grassroots sport and unity among Christians.Last week, the trophy was officially presented to the general overseer, Pastor Adeboye

by Soccerfest board of Trustees led by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, chairman organizing committee and Senior Pastor of Trinity House with the Coordinator of the project, Pastor Adeolu Adeyemo alongside the winner of the last year Championship, RCCG Kings Court Parish.

Pastor Ituah, in his remarks, thanked the General Overseer for identifying with the

championship and appealed to other church leaders to emulate Pastor Adeboye who is always supporting grassroots sport in Nigeria.

HE Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji yesterday retired from the civil Service. Ekeji bowed out after handing over to his former Director of Finance and Administration, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha in a brief ceremony at the c o m m i s s i o n ’ s headquarters in Abuja.

Ekeji, we gathered, put in his resignation on Monday, following a Presidential directive on Ekeji’s tenure as the DG began after he was moved up as Director of Sports Development in the commission. When his tenure expired few years ago, an interesting horse-trading saw him keeping his position on consultancy.

The high point of his reign in the commission was the glorious outing of Team Nigeria at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The Presidency is yet to fully recover from the shame that was the London 2012 Olympics where Team Nigeria returned without a single medal, the second time in 24 years since the disastrous outing at Seoul ’88 Olympics,” said our source.

NFF Continues from B/P “We are going to look at the issues objectively.

A coach is a coach and is in charge of the team and can decide the players who could best play a game for him.”

“However, when players begin to complain and senior players for that matter, there is need for us to mediate because the team can only achieve more when they are united.

“Our concern is not to fan the ego of anyone, but for peace to reign in the Eagles.

We appointed Keshi to do this job and we believe in his ability, therefore we must do everything

to make sure his job is easy and void of whatever distraction,” said Barrister Green.

And after their meeting yesterday, the NFF Technical Committee added voice to the peace initiative and pleaded with the media to report the Eagles with caution.

He added that the NFF will support Keshi in his effort to build on the Africa Cup of Nations success.

“We appointed Keshi for the Super Eagles job and we have resolved to give him a free hand to pick the players he deems fit to prosecute matches and thus far his selections have produced results.”

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 Today'sChampions League Fixtures

Barcelona v PSG Juventus v Bayern

NFF sacks Okpala

Feud in Eagles: NFF backs Keshi N

IGERIA Football Federation Technical Committee chairman, Chris Green has said that the federation is concerned about complaints from senior members of the Super Eagles and members will try to mediate and bring unity to the team but maintained that they will always back Keshi.

This is coming on the

•Maigari

heels of tirades by team captain Joseph Yobo after he was dropped by coach Stephen Keshi from the World Cup qualifiers. Goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama and striker Emmanuel Emenike also raised some reservations on the treatment of senior players by the coaches.

“We are going to look at the issues objectively.

Continues on Page 55

•Keshi

PUZZLE

YLVANUS Okpala Monday night received a letter from the Nigeria Football Federation, disengaging him from his job as assistant coach to the Super Eagles.

Okpala, fondly called Quick Silver in his hay days in the Green Eagles first won the Nations Cup in 1980 as a player and as an assistant coach to Stephen Keshi in South Africa last February.

When Stephen Keshi was appointed Chief coach of the Super Eagles he chose Daniel Amokachi, Okpala, Valere and Shoronmu as his assistants.

Nigeria Football Federation Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh said yesterday that Okpala’s sack was not discussed by the board, adding that “it is also left for Keshi to decide who to work with.”

But Keshi himself has not been in the good books of the federation since the Nations Cup feud when he threatened to resign. But Federation sources said that Keshi himself travelled out of

Eaglets depart for Morocco

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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HE Golden Eaglets will depart Lagos on Wednesday morning for the 10th EDITION OF Confederation of African Football U-17 championship, which begins on Saturday.

The team, which returned from a fourweek, final training programme at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Qatar on Sunday, will fly into Casablanca aboard a Royal Air Maroc airplane

Barcelona hot shot, Andres Iniesta ready for PSG.

"Continues on page55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

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CAF U-17 finals:

Continues on Page 55

7.45 pm 7.45 pm

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Heathen (5) 7 Charm (6) 9 Network (3) 10 Label (3) 12 Fish (5) 13 Shoot (4) 15 Clear (5) 17 Trial (6) 19 Simple (4) 20 Weird (5) 22 Furrow (3) 24 Gruesome (7) 27 Managed (3) 28 Fragrance (5) 31 Fall (4) 33 Coma (6) 35 Change (5) 37 Omen (4) 38 Fashion (5) 39 Ovum (3) 41 Mournful (3) 42 Flag (6) 43 Pale

DOWN 1 Fight (6) 2 Younger (6) 3 Spurt (3) 4 Fairy (4) 5 Dwelling (5) 6 Habituate (8) 8 Story (4) 11 Assure (9) 14 Stern (4) 16 Cudgel (4) 18 Expensive (4) 21 Huge (8) 23 Snare (4) 25 Throw (4) 26 Cupid (4) 29 Source (6) 30 Canopy (6) 32 Hesitate (5) 34 Impel (4) 36 Slender (4) 40 Antelope (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Glib 4, Cot 6, Wise 9, Act 10, Tribunal 11, Team 14, Ape 16, Chant 19, Adhesive 21, Press 23, Entangle 24, Clerk 25, Tip 31, Hard 33, Alacrity 34, Sag 35, Kete 36, Die 37, Bimp.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Lord 3, Baby 4, Conspire 5, Tale 6, Watch 7, Ice 8, Stain 12, Basic 13, Shove 14, ASP 15, Event 17, Adage 18, Taxed 20, Estimate 22, Sap 25, Lease 26, Ridge 28, Bard 29, Grab 30, Stem 32, Rat.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

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

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

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

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