Sec Commisioners diswon Oteh

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61620

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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Those indicted in oil subsidy probe 'll face justice —Tambuwal —P.7

No plan to sack ministers —Presidency OPERATION CLEAN—Security men in operation yesterday as the Lagos State Task Force on Environment continued

—P.6

with towing of vehicles parked under the Ijora Bridge, Apapa and demolition of illegal structures. Photo: Sylva Eleanya.

SEC commissioners disown Oteh

BY BEN AGANDE, PETER EGWUATU, MICHAEL EBOH, NKIRUKA NNOROM, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

•Reps ask her to submit SEC @ 50 documents •Query deployment of two Access Bank staff to SEC •Sanction threat: Oteh apologises to Reps

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BUJA —THE ongoing Public Hearing on Near Collapse of the Capital Market in Nigeria took

Senate orders Lufthansa to pay FG •P 6 N2.19bn Anxiety as cults spring up in primary, secondary schools —P. 27

another twist, yesterday, as principal officers of the Securities and Exchange Commission sang discordant tunes that

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Mr & Mrs

RELIGIOUS HARMONY: Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Dr. Mustafa Ceric congratulating Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God on his 70th birthday celebration in London.

C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

SEC commissioners disown Oteh Continues from Page 1 revealed the turmoil in the house, where the major actors work at cross purposes.

At the hearing, yesterday, all commissioners of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, who were supposed to assist the Director General to find her bearing claimed the Director General, Ms Arunma Oteh kept them out of the roadmap for a world class Capital Market.

All the commissioners present at the public hearing spoke with one voice that the Director General was running a one man commission at SEC. Ms Oteh who was threatened on Tuesday with arrest by the committee for her failure to appear, however, tendered an unreserved apology to the committee when she appeared yesterday. She got a shock of her life when all her management staff who

were to give her support publicly disowned her, alleging that they were not carried along in the taking of critical decisions concerning the commission. Oteh looked visibly shaken, dazed and almost incoherent and was severally cautioned by the committee as she refused to join issues with the executive management.

Instead, she insisted that she was focused on the transformation of the capital market.

This development led the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives to openly decry the disharmony that existed between the management team of the Commission (SEC), saying this could hamper the reform agenda and the envisaged goal of achieving a world class market. Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Mr. Ibrahim El-Sudi blamed the disharmony among the management team for the lack of coordination

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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LOT of people do not succeed because they are not motivated and many others are waiting to be motivated by others. Some want to be motivated by their bosses, family, friends or spouses, and a great percentage of the world believes that money is a great motivation. Pete Luongo says “motivation is a personal responsibility, if individuals cannot get out of bed each morning excited about what the day promises, it’s no one else’s responsibility. Motivate yourself, every morning is a special gift, get up each morning and live!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker —Helen Keller.

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T’S time to do battle with your ego! You know, that critical voice that likes to remind you, 100 times a day, that you aren’t enough. Beat it to the curb. Because what is true is you are and always have been enough.

After you’ve sat with the idea of being enough for an hour, do it for a day. Don’t let any of the circumstances of life take it away from you. It’s not about how others see you or react to you. They can’t give it to you and they can’t take it away from you.

Then practice it for a week. You need to keep practicing it, because you aren’t used to this new way of holding, seeing and being. It’s the truth, but the ego will want to remind you that this is silly, that you aren’t enough, etc. Again, ignore it and beat it to the curb. This isn’t the time to be nice to your ego.

It’s keeping you in what it thinks is a safe place, but is actually a false place. Listen to the whispers of your heart, they tell you what you really need to know about your true self.

and communication in the activities of the commission; a development which he said has led to friction.

“There is a concept of team, which says together, each achieve more. If teamwork is absent in SEC, how do you people intend to achieve your goals and objectives” he queried.

The ad-hoc committee members also insisted that all vital documents containing the list of those who supported the Exchange during Nigeria SEC, at 50 celebration on October 31 last year should be submitted for further investigations.

The committee however took the Director General of the SEC to task over her employment of two staff of the Access Bank Plc to the Commission when she was supposed to oversee the operations of the bank.

Committee queries SEC over engagement of Access Bank’s staff The committee also queried SEC over secondment of Access Bank Plc’s staff to the commission as well as the use of contract staff, while undermining the skill of regular staff to execute its regulatory function, adding, “this action of secondment could result in conflict of interest in your regulatory role”.

Oteh’s response In her response, Oteh explained that in respect to the engagement of Access Bank’s staff, the Commission complied with laid down rules, adding, however, that the staff were engaged to help it in its branch expansion and facilities management service. She said: “The commission discovered there were lapses in our regional offices and we needed people that will help us set up facility management services, where any Nigerian can walk in and get educated on the capital market issues. Having looked around we discovered that we can partner the private sector to help us build this. So we approached Access Bank that we discovered had done well in its branch

expansion to help us in that regard. “We don’t think it will lead to any conflict of interest of regulating the bank as a quoted entity. That aspect of the job is not in our core duty. Besides, it is a global practice where regulators partner with private sector and multinationals to discharge their duty. For us in SEC, we are even partnering with IFC in the area of capacity building as well as bond issuing.”

Also, in response to Ndi-Okereke Onyiuke’s claim that SEC is illegally collecting fees from the capital market, Oteh said it is not out of place for a regulator to seek funding from the market it regulates. According to her, regulatory activities come at a price, and the world over, it is not out of place for the capital market regulator to collect fees from operators in the market.”

Commenting on the use of contract staff by the Commission, Oteh said: “The use of contract staff has been in existence before I joined SEC and there had been several complaints on the ratification and compensations. So right now we are looking at this issues and they are yet to be concluded. We have not undermined our staff but some people are not comfortable with change.

Before now, most of our staff are used to analog system but right now most people are beginning to appreciate the use of computers and other communication gadgets.

We have recruited young graduates with five years experience to address our short and medium term goal of meeting human resources challenges.

There are three stages of meeting the human resources challenges. For the long term challenges it requires recruiting people to top positions with long term experience and retraining of existing staff for long term purposes.

We have been training our staff based on the skill they require to do their job.”

SEC @ 50 Project While commenting on project 50 to commemorate 50 years of

Nigeria’s capital market regulation, she, said: “This was organized to celebrate 50 years of capital market regulation which started in 1962, when SEC was called Capital Issue Committee under the umbrella of Central Bank of Nigeria.

This committee metamorphosed to Capital Issue Commission in 1973 through a decree and later to SEC in 1979. This project was sponsored by some private sector and regulatory bodies, such as CBN, Ministry of Trade and Investment, and other private entity. There was no donation made to SEC. SEC provided its own fund which is accountable. Since you require the document for the organization of project 50 I will submit later.”

Lack of team work E x e c u t i v e Commissioners of SEC present at the hearing denied knowledge of the engagement of the Access Bank staff and in the employment of contract staff and they all agreed that Oteh acted alone and without due consultations. They accused Oteh of undermining the staff in the handling of the affairs of the commission, saying she is not receptive to ideas of staff members; a situation which they said has led to acrimony, disharmony and dysfunctional operations in SEC’s regulation of the capital market.

The Commissioners said Oteh does not refer to them in taking crucial decisions and that this has created a rift among the management and staff of the commission.

Regulatory comatose, disharmony in SEC

“There is presently what I can refer to as ‘regulatory comatose’ in SEC. The manner in which things are being handled in SEC, today, is causing disharmony and disaffection among staff members,” averred Mr. Charles Udora, Executive Commissioner, Legal & Enforcement, SEC. Udora disclosed that the commissioners were not being carried along in the decision making process and that suggestions and new ideas are being received

by Oteh in anger. He added that the exclusion was also extended to the employment and engagement processes, stating that these have brought to the fore a number of issues in the organization.

He said: “This has brought in its wake, irregularity in staff promotion exercise.

There is a case where a staff who graduated in 1998 was promoted above a very qualified staff that has a combined experience of 20 years, working in SEC and in other places.

“The issue of contract staff employment is negatively affecting the morale of staff. It is causing disaffection, disharmony and friction among SEC’s staff. The disharmony has led to a situation of regulatory comatose.

“Unlike in the past, SEC’s staff members no longer feel obligated to perform their responsibilities and duties. It is now a case of the staff saying ‘it is their SEC, if not for the money I am earning here to take care of my family, I will not be here.’ This is negatively affecting how SEC regulates the market, especially as this is depriving it of vital information among many

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6—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

No plan to sack ministers—Presidency

BY BEN AGANDE

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From left: Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abubakar Kachalla and Vice President Namadi Sambo during the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, in Abuja, yesterday.

Senate orders Lufthansa to pay FG N2.19bn zSummons ex-Aviation minister, Omotoba BYINALEGWU SHAIBU

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BUJA — SENATE Committee on Aviation has ordered Lufthansa Airlines to pay to the Federal Government N2.198 billion being debt owed from nonpayment of royalty or face sanctions.

The committee also summoned former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, to appear before it tomorrow over the violation of aviation laws by Lufthansa.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, gave the directives yesterday upon discoveries that Lufthansa Airlines had violated its Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, with the Federal Ministry of Aviation in 2008.

Uzodinma, lamenting that Lufthansa took advantage of the Nigerian market to violate the agreement, ordered the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to ground the airline if it failed to pay the debt.

He said: “I direct you now to write Lufthansa to pay all our monies to NCAA because there is nothing binding either in the MoU or commercial agreement that would stop Lufthansa from paying. Listen let me tell you, people are quick at comparing us with all these mushroom countries.

“We have this huge market here that must be protected so when they go and have something convenient

for them in Ghana and Togo that is not up to two local governments in Nigeria, you now use it as a model to implement policies in Nigeria and we lose money. This makes us look stupid before the international community.

“I think, as a matter of fact, you must join hands and protect the market which is our own treasure.

So in my opinion, you should liaise with the NCAA and recover this money from Lufthansa. If it means grounding all the aircraft to ensure that our laws are obeyed, we will do it. We must develop the will as a people.

"As at 2009 to November 2011, we have an outstanding $14,833,000,000 and the invoices are here issued by NCAA. I want you to support NCAA, retrieve your letter so that they can receive their money because this is an entitlement of government.

“I think that as we call for the review of your MoU and the BASA, we ask Lufthansa to pay all monies due to government. It is unfortunate Lufthansa people are not here, they are quick at sending lawyers.”

Agreements between Lufthansa, Nigeria Airways Earlier, General Manager, Air Transport of NCAA, Mr. Peter Alawani, in his presentation to the committee, acknowledged that there were commercial agreements between

Lufthansa and Nigeria Airways, which gave Lufthansa the rights to operate four frequencies between Nigeria and Germany.

He said: “As a matter of fact, commercial agreements are between two airlines wanting to cooperate on a particular route in terms of exchange of the rights that their various states have already granted to them, after the negotiation of the BASA rights.

Like between Nigeria and Germany, the BASA agrees on four frequencies and the point of entry is Lagos.

“However, during the Nigeria Airways days, Nigeria Airways and Lufthansa went into an

agreement to the extent that Lufthansa can take over the frequency that is not being utilised by Nigeria Airways and pay Nigeria Airways for utilising such frequencies.

“After the demise of Nigeria Airways and there was no national carrier, that role of commercial agreement was taken over by the Ministry of Aviation and, thereafter, when such agreements are reached with the Ministry of Aviation and the airlines, the implementation is done jointly but now judging from Section 75 of the 2006 Act, NCAA keeps the account in the CBN where these commercial agreement money is normally paid.”

BUJA — THE Presi dency, yesterday, reacted to reports making the rounds in the country that some of the present ministers are to be dropped to give way for new ones in a cabinet reshuffle being considered

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Dr Reuben Abati, said there is no truth in the reports and Nigerians should ignore same.

The statement read: “Contrary to recent speculations in the media about a so-called impending cabinet reshuffle, the Presidency wishes to state emphatically that there is no truth whatsoever in the said reports.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has implicit confidence in the

Atuche wants nationalised banks returned to original owners

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BUJA — ERST WHILE Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB, Mr Francis Atuche, has urged the House of Representatives to compel CBN to return the nationalised banks— Main Street Bank, Enterprise Bank, and Keystone Bank — to their original owners, if the country earnestly desires to re-build the confidence of investors in the nation’s capital market.

At the public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Capi-

FEC okays N8.5bn for bridges in Edo, rehabilitation of Umuahia-Owerri road

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA— THE Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday, approved contracts totaling about N8.5 billion for the construction of two bridges in Edo State and rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Owerri road.

Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who briefed state House correspondents after the meeting said the council also approved for award, the contract for the procurement of two high speed boats for the Nigeria Customs to aid the service to in surveillance of the nation’s waterways and fight smug-

gling.

According to the minister, the council also approved for the coordination of the acquisition and deployment of all Information Communication Technology (ICT) intervention by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking on the bridge contracts, the minister said they would be constructed along Auchi PolytechnicEkperi-Agenebode road at a cost of N1.3 billion with a completion period of 12 months.

The construction of the bridge, Labaran Maku said, would create better access and help to alleviate the ecological problems in the area.

ability of the current crop of ministers to deliver and has no plan to undertake any replacement at the moment. There is also no truth in the alleged tension among ministers as a result of the rumoured imminent cabinet change.

“This is a calculated attempt to cause disaffection within the cabinet and divert the attention of members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from their unwavering commitment to the implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan Administration.

“The speculation about cabinet change is the handiwork of mischief makers who seem bent on frustrating the good intentions of the Federal Government to deliver on the campaign promises of President Jonathan. We advise the public to ignore the antics of these mischief makers.”

Minister of Works, Arch.

Mike Onolememen, Mr Maku added, also presented another memo for the rehabilitation of Umuahia-Owerri road at the cost of N4.2 billion with a completion period of 24 months, adding that the socio-economic importance of the road and its potential to reduced vehicle operating cost, travel time and accidents on the roads were some of the considerations taken before the approval.

The Information minister explained that the purchase of the speed boats was necessary because of the increase in smuggling and piracy activities along the nation’s waterways.

tal Market, Atuche explained that “until the anxiety of investors that another wave of take-over will occur again is extinguished, these investors will not take further risks.”

According to him, property rights stand at the heart and soul of confidence building and any action that suppresses it destroys confidence, noting that the Nigerian capital market has failed to show any signs of recovery as experienced in other countries where their Central Banks carefully orchestrated crisis easing safeguards.

Atuche, who was removed from office by CBN in October 2009, noted that the true losers in the capital market, which has lost about N5 trillion in the last three years, are the economy and banks’ original stakeholders, especially the retail shareholders whose holdings had been mindlessly vanquished beyond redemption.

Other measures recommended by the former bank chief to stem the slide in the capital market included enhanced access to liquidity for retail investors and the urgent need to institute property right safeguards to assure shareholders that never again will their shares be abruptly snatched from them in the most bizarre manner.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—7

Those indicted in oil subsidy probe 'll face justice —Tambuwal

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From left: Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, Chairman of Session and former Minister of Petroleum; Mr. Lere Fashola, CEO, Legal Blitz, organiser of the summit; Mr. Jason Kerr, Partner, White & Case, UK and Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, chairman, NBA Section on Business Law at the 2012 ESQ Oil and Gas Summit in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Sylva Eleanya.

Senate sets Sept deadline for 2013 budget zTo set up its budget office zBegins inclusive budget tour Oct

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA— THE Senate has set a September deadline for the executive to submit details of the 2013 budget, just as plans have been concluded to set up its Budget Office as well as go on tour of the six geo-political zones in October.

Speaking, yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Maccido, said the move by the Senate would put an end to a situation where budgets submitted to the National Assembly for scrutiny and approval always come late.

Maccido who noted that the tour was designed primarily for Nigerians and stakeholders in the budgeting process to make inputs into the 2013 budget, said: ‘’We are going to push Executive so much that the 2013 budget must get to us, the National Assembly latest by September so that we look through October and November and by December, the country will have a new budget. ‘’Three months, I believe, is enough for us to work on the budget and return it to the Executive for assent.

That is our plan for the 2013 budget and we do hope things would go according to plan. ‘’For 2013, Nigerians should be rest assured that at the committee level, we have made arrangements, going from point A to point B, everyday, we would

monitor monies that have been appropriated and make sure that they are being spent judiciously. ‘’There’s been a lull in the sense that we came in and there was no provision for the programme in the 2011 budget. The inclusive budgeting process whereby the National Assembly interacted with the public stopped with the Sixth National Assembly but we intend to re-activate that soon. ‘’We have to start a new one altogether. In fact, we just got approval for that particular programme in the 2012 budget. By October, we will commence the process. We are going out by the first week of October, to bring together all stakeholders in Nigeria, where we will sit down, discuss and deliberate on their inputs. ‘’We will get their views on the 2012 budget and hear what they expect in the 2013 budget. We will start that by October.”

Speaking further, Maccido who noted that the committees were now committed to going on oversight for the release of appropriated funds to the MDAs, said: "We have a very weak constitution on oversight but this time around, we intend to be much more vigorous in that direction. ‘’Truly, there has been very ineffective oversight of the MDAs and everything the Senate President said on

the issue is true; our inefficiency in oversight brings about corruption and inepti-

tude on the part of the Executive because we don’t report on them. It brings about so many ills.”

N439M PENSION SCAM:

Ex-Director secures N50m bail

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — AFTER spending two days in prison custody, former Director of the Pensions Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Sani Teidi Shuaibu, who was accused of stealing N439 million, yesterday, regained his freedom.

Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the accused person bail in the sum of N50 million, even as he was ordered to produce one surety in like sum.

According to the trial judge, the said surety must be a responsible citizen who is not only resident within the jurisdiction of the high court, but must have a property valued at nothing less than N50 million.

The judge said the title deed of the property must be verified and deposited with the registrar of the court, while the international passport of the accused should remain in the court’s custody until the final determination of the case.

Meanwhile, before fixing July 19 to commence hearing on the substantive fourcount criminal charge preferred against the ex-Pension boss by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Justice Bello, insisted that the accused person must sign a letter of undertaking vowing never to threaten any of the prosecuting witnesses.

It would be recalled that counsel to the EFCC, Chief Godwin Obla, alleged that the accused person threatened to kill four of the principal witnesses who are billed to testify against him.

Obla told the court that the affected witnesses had already written a “Save Our Soul” letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, CID, in Abuja, even as he tendered the said letter as an exhibit before the trial court.

However, Justice Bello, yesterday, said he would not hesitate to send the former Director to prison should the accused person further harass any of the witnesses.

OKOJA— THE Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said yesterday that the House would take necessary steps to ensure that those indicted in the oil subsidy probe faced justice.

Tambuwal said this in Lokoja during a courtesy visit on Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi State.

The Speaker added that the probe into the administration of oil subsidy was constitutional, saying “anybody who held contrary view should come to the floor of the House to say so.”

He said the House had decided to do things differently to solve the nagging problems bedevilling the country, promising that it would not disappoint Nigerians.

Tambuwal, who was accompanied by the Chief Whip, Mr Ahmed Moukthar and seven other members, urged the governor to tap into the abundant natural resources in Kogi to transform the socio-economic activities of the peo-

ple.

He advised the governor to establish a mini cement plant in the state and take decisive steps on the reactivation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe.

He noted that the companies were originally established to serve as spring board for the country’s industrialisation.

In his response, Wada lauded the Speaker for the quality of debate in the House under his leadership.

He, however, urged Tambuwal to help the state by ensuring that Ajaokuta Steel Complex was reactivated in line with the promise made by President Goodluck Jonathan to the people of the state in December 2011.

He also solicited the support of the House for the completion of the N7.8 billion Bagana-Guto Bridge which was inaugurated in February 2007.

Adeboye, honoured in London @ 70, calls for World peace

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AGOS — THE Gen eral Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, was last weekend honoured in London, by religious leaders and diplomats in celebration of his 70th birthday.

Speaking at an International Summit of Religious and Political Leaders put together by the Christ Redeemer Friends Trust and the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics as part of the activities marking his 70th birthday in London, Adeboye reiterated the call for a global enforcement of the various United Nations resolutions on the advancement of the culture of peace.

Addressing an audience made up of over 250 politicians, religious leaders, ambassadors and civic dignitaries, Adeboye who was in the company of his wife, Folu, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, noted that he had first advocated the advancement of world peace at the United Nations in June 2011 in partnership with Knesset

Rabbi Zeev, Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics.

His words: “We held a conference at the UN to try to empower for the first time, a global network of spiritual leaders, educators, and government officials, as a leading force for peace through the creation of a partnership to fight against intolerance, racism, terrorism and violence on all levels.

“The initiative that we are hoping to develop will be aimed at constructing the defence of peace in the minds of men by creating a culture of peace as called for in numerous United Nations resolutions”.

“A culture for peace is a way to live together, it requires non-violence, tolerance and solidarity while acknowledging and respecting variety of traditions.”

Other speakers at the event were the Grand Mufti of Bosina, Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Chief Rabbi of Geneva, Rabbi Dayan M.K, Rabbi Nissim Zeev, Baroness Caroline Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) and many others.

8— Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Nigerian child-prisoner freed after 17 yrs

Oshiomhole's investiture as Champion's Man of the Year holds May 15

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Nigerian 31-year-old man who was sentenced to death as a juvenile has expressed his happiness at being released from prison and reunited with his family after such a long time, following a relentless global campaign by Amnesty International.

Patrick Okoroafor was just 14 when he was arrested in 1995 and 16 when sentenced to death for armed robbery, a crime he says he didn’t commit.

Amnesty International considered Patrick’s Okoroafor’s trial to have been grossly unfair and repeatedly called for his immediate and unconditional release.

Thousands of people in dozens of countries including France, Germany, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Togo and the UK have taken action for OKoroafor.

Actions included letter and card writing, demonstrations and lobbies to Nigerian Embassies.

Upon his release Patrick Okoroafor said:“After Amnesty began its call for my release from prison, and after reading some of the thousands of letters, cards and messages sent to me by Amnesty supporters, I began to hope that I would soon be free in the not too distant future.”

Patrick featured regularly in Amnesty International’s annual Greetings Card Campaign and has received more than 10,000 cards and letters from supporters in the UK and across the world.

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From left, widow of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo; her daughter, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun State); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); and Dr. Kayode Fayeki (Ekiti), at the 25th Memorial Service for Chief Awolowo, at Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, yesterday.

Auto firms threaten to withdraw palliatives buses over huge debt

BY THEODORE OPARA

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AGOS—THE Federal Government’s inability to pay suppliers of the 2,500 high capacity buses it ordered as a palliative measure to cushion the effect of the January increment in fuel pump price may soon cause untold hardship for commuters nationwide as the automobile companies have threatened to withdraw their vehicles from the operators of the government mass assisted scheme.

Six automobile companies including National Truck Manufacturers, (NTM); Tata Motors, VON Automobiles (Ashok Leyland); ANAMMCO (Mercedes) Globe Motors (Hyundai and Toyota) and Elizade Motors (Toyota) were contracted by the government to supply the high capacity

vehicles valued at over N15 billion through a letter by the Urban Development Bank on January 8, 2012.

But five months after, the automobile company were yet to be paid for the first batch of the supply of 1250 units of buses valued at N8.9 billion, a development which has necessitated the suppliers to threaten to withdraw all the buses pending when the government shall pay.

A source told Vanguard, that the suppliers had perfected plans to retrieve the vehicle from operators of the government mass assisted scheme soon to recover the huge debt.

According to the source, the suppliers planned to withdraw the vehicles and park them in the bank warehouses pending the payment by the government.

It further stated that the

next batch of supply of 1250 units has been put on hold as a result of the huge debt.

He said: “As I speak with you now, we are groaning under high bank interest rate and may close shops as a result of government’s refusal to pay the debt. We have discontinued further supply of the remaining 1250 units and may consider the option of suing

N127m alleged refund, a blackmail — Pension Taskforce

BY EMMA UJAH & OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—THE Pension Reforms Task Team, PRTT, has denied being asked by the Office of Auditor-General of the Federation, OAuGF, to refund N127 million alleged to have been

NGO launches appeal fund for burnt housewife

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AGOS—A NonGovernmental Organisation, Project Alert, has launched an appeal fund to save the life of a housewife, Mrs Mercy Nnadi, who suffered third degree burns when her husband, Henry Nnadi, burnt her with hot iron on April 7 this year for allegedly sleeping with his 65-year-old father.

Project Alert, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mrs Josephine

Effah-Chukwuma, said Mercy is still in excruciating pains as a result of the intensity of the burns she sustained which have done extensive damage to her body and that “she needs financial assistance to help her get specialised medical treatment like skin graft surgery. ''A burns surgeon has been identified and Mercy would soon be moved to a private clinic for surgery”.

According to the statement, “Mercy requires the burns to be monitored closely, for them to heal well, and thereafter, skin grafting, particularly in her breast and chest region which seemed to have defied all manner of treatment.

Her thigh, from where skin should be got for grafting, is also burnt and needs healing. The road to recovery for the victim is a long and very difficult one

the government to recover our money. “When government invited us to supply the buses they gave us only two days to do so and we borrowed at a very high bank interest rate thinking that the government would live up to its promise to pay in good time. But five months down the line, the ministries of Finance and Investment are yet to contact us.''

AGOS—ALL is now set for the conferment of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State with Champion Newspapers 2011 ‘Man of the Year ’.

The award will hold on Tuesday, May 15, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, under the chairmanship of former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, while the guest speaker will be Mr. Peter Esele, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Gov. Oshiomhole, who had already confirmed the acceptance of the Award, is the second Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governor to be given the award after Lagos State G o v e r n o r, M r.

Babatunde Fashola, was conferred with it last year.

The choice of Oshiomhole was hinged on his performance in the last three years of his administration.

which requires extensive medical and emotional care. She needs our financial support and prayers to help her go through the difficult times ahead. ''To help meet the victim’s medical expenses, an account has been set up for her and we are appealing to well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to support the victim with whatever they can, as no amount is too small.''

wrongly spent, claiming that it was part of a blackmail by the pension thieves from whom over N181 billion has been recovered.

PRT T also said in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, that its Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, has not received any audit query from the of Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The statement by it spokesman, Mr. Hassan Salisu, it said: “The Pension Task Force is not aware and has not received any query from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation with regard to any financial wrong doings”.

According to the team, the cabal that was stealing pension funds before Mr. Maina and his group were asked to clean up the system has been blackmailing it.

“The query in question might be part of the series

of blackmail organized by the pension thieves and their collaborators in service against the Pension Task Force”, it said.

The Task Force said it recovered N181 billion public funds that should have gone to private pockets and that it spent less than 0.001 per cent of the recovered funds in the course of its assignment and wondered why questions were being asked.

The statement added that, “The Pension Task Team saved and recovered over N181 billion and instead of dwelling on the amount saved and ensure that such is not repeated, some partners to the looters are busy asking questions on an amount less than 0.001% of the recovered funds, amount paid to those who travelled out to all the 36 states, the FCT and the diaspora.''

Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—9

Briefly

Court frees 3 over poor prosecution

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—AN Igbosere Magistrate's Court, Lagos, has struck out a N6.347 million charge against three persons; accused of fraudulently converting the said money from the Military Pensions Account, for lack of diligent prosecution.

The court held that the prosecution witnesses failed to appear for the trial.

In her ruling, Magistrate O. Awope said: “Prosecution is at liberty to file a fresh charge when and if they are able to assembly their witnesses,” adding that the defencecounsel in the matter applied for the case to be struck out since the prosecution witnesses have not been coming to court.

The defendants are Akibu Imhodagbe, 34; Aghaku Friday, 26 and Ojo Omusi, 31.

They were arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and fraud.

Reps threaten contractors

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—HOUSE of Representatives Committee on Defence has declared war on contractors of abandoned projects at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, NAFRC, Oshodi,Lagos, threatening to bring them to book.

One of the abandoned projects at the centre is the new auditorium awarded by the Ministry of Defence to Integrated Built Limited for N45 million, which was supposed to be completed in 2009.

The project is still at its foundation level, after the contractor had reportedly been paid N33 million.

Chairman of the committee, Mr. Bashir Adamu, during an oversight visit to the centre, yesterday, expressed dismay at the abandoned project, promising that the issue would be deliberated upon on the committee’s return to Abuja.

Lagos doctors' sack tears lawmakers apart

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

KEJA—TEMPERS flared on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, when the Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, informed his colleagues that the striking doctors, whose issue, members were trying to sort out, had been sacked by the state government.

While some members of the House felt slighted by

the executive arm's handling of the issue, a majority of members felt the doctors had become gods in the state and that their excesses needed to be curbed.

The issue degenerated with one of the lawmakers, Mr. Bayo Oshinowo, faulting his colleagues and accusing them of supporting the executive arm and rubbishing the House and its efforts to mediate in the

crisis.

His grouse was that the executive arm did not allow the lawmakers to resolve the issue with the doctors before issuing them sack letters.

He asked his colleagues to demand explanation from the governor or possibly reprimand the executive for taking the action without recourse to the House and thereafter nullify the sack of the doctors pending the

outcome of reconciliatory move by the lawmakers.

Oshinowo told his colleagues that anything short of that would lead to regrets in the future as they would never be respected by the executive arm.

Most lawmakers did not support his position, arguing that the executive arm must have taken so many factors into consideration before resorting to sacking the

From right,SouthWest Zone Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Arch-Bishop Magnus Atilade; Mr. Ayo Afolabi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, at the presentation of award of Order of Friendship to Gov. Aregbesola by CAN in South-West, in Osogbo, yesterday.

Photo: Government House

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, warned that it would prosecute any health practitioner or pharmacies found prescribing or selling banned drugs to the public.

The agency also alerted on the circulation of banned Gentamycin 280mg injection in the

2 die after dose of banned drugs country.

This is coming on the heels of its recent investigation into two separate deaths, following the administration of banned Gentamycin 280mg injection.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who vowed to ensure that strict measures were taken against any perpetrator caught, wondered why medical practitioners, who knew

the dangers of administering banned drugs should continue to do so.

Orhii spoke at a briefing on the death of two Nigerians, Miss Florence Bagidi, a final year student of Benue State University and Miss Florence Saawuan, an NCE holder, after being treated with Gentamycin 280mg injection in Makurdi and Gboko areas of Benue State.

Lagos taskforce recovers arms, munition, charms, others at Apapa

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Government said it recovered different kinds of guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons under the Ijora-Marine Bridge, during the ongoing clearing of the entire axis by its joint taskforce.

It also said several foreign nationals, believed to be illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries, were also displaced from the cleared site.

The state government

has, meanwhile, called on the Federal Government to direct relevant authorities to carry out immediate structural integrity test on the IjoraMarine Bridge, which leads to one of the biggest seaports in Africa, to avert imminent collapse as well as likely loss of life and property.

The clearing of the area, which commenced on Monday, was sequel to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s directive to rid the area of all tankers, trucks and other vehicles that were parked indiscriminately in the Apapa area, which had

been a major cause of daily gridlock to motorists and other road-users.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the weapons were recovered by the joint taskforce comprising security and state agencies without any arrest.

Bello, who spoke during an inspection tour and unveiling of the “Regeneration Programme of Apapa Area,” said the recovered weapons would be handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and action.

He noted that NAFDAC had decided to prosecute any medical practitioner, who administered banned drugs that led to the death of a patient for homicide.

He said: “We had decided to prosecute any health practitioner or pharmacies, who administered banned drugs that lead to death for homicide and any one that lead to adverse drug reaction for a number of years and other fines.”

Alerting the public on the circulation of banned Gentamycin 280mg since 2010, he said NAFDAC was investigating the cause of the two deaths.

doctors.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Taiwo Kolawole, who headed the committee set up to mediate in the crisis, told his colleagues that it took them several hours to pacify the doctors, weekend, though, according to him, most of their demands were not enough to embark on strike.

He said the doctors failed to recognise that they were employees of the state government and were not to dictate the terms and conditions of their work to their employer.

Court adjourns sacked doctors' suit for June 16

L

AGOS—THE National Industrial Court, Lagos, has adjourned till June 16, for hearing in the suit by the 788 sacked Lagos doctors, who are challenging the non-implementation of the consolidated medical salary, CONMESS, by the Lagos State Government.

The strike had left many Lagosians groaning, as many families had to evacuate their loved ones from public hospitals to private ones, while those who cannot afford the high cost of private hospitals, resign to fate.

The doctors, whose action had crippled state hospitals, with its attendants consequences, are praying the court to “a declare that the refusal of Lagos Government to completely implement CONMESS scale in their favour constitutes a violent breach of the agreement reached between the defendants and the claimants on the full implementation of CONMESS and is, therefore, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and constitutes unfair labour practice.”

Cremation Law optional for Lagosians —Govt

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Government, yesterday, said the bill for the cremation of unidentified and unclaimed corpses deposited in any of the state hospital morgues would be advantageous to the state, when passed.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Powers

Bureau, Mr. Folami Olohuntele, at the 2012 ministerial briefing in commemoration of the first year of the second term in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the bill was informed by the alarming number of unclaimed and unidentified corpses in mortuaries in the state.

He said: “The bill is in its report stage and would be passed very soon by the House of Assembly into law.”

10—VANGUARD , THURSDAY, MAY 10,

2012

From left, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, host, Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Head of the delegation, Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi and Olootu Leye Ashaye at Yoruba Conflicts Resolution Committe meeting at Awujale Palace, IjebuOde.

Doctors protesting colleague's kidnap shut down Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

B E O K U TA — D O C T O R S protesting last Friday's kidnap of one of their colleagues, Dr. Olusola Otulana, yesterday, crippled commercial and other activities in Abeokuta, even as they handed down a 48-hour ultimatum to the governor and security agencies to ensure her safe release.

But Governor Ibikunle Amosun told the doctors that the government was doing everything possible to ensure her safe release.

The protesting doctors nevertheless, threatened to shut down the health sector in the state if she was not released after 48 hours.

They barricaded the entrance of the Governor’s Office and displayed placards with various inscriptions such as; “There can’t be good

health care delivery in an atmosphere of insecurity,” “Help we are not safe,” “Security of lives is a constitutional right”, “Security vote should be put to effective and efficient use,” among others.

The aggrieved doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, however, gave the state

SOGBO—THE Osun State Government yesterday said Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, the slain Principal Private Secretary to the Edo State Governor, will be accorded a state burial.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the Mr. Rauf Aregbesola-led administration, in recognition of the contributions of Oyerinde to the development and progress of humanity, the state had concluded arrangements to accord him a state burial befitting of a hero.

The state government noted that Oyerinde, a native of Ede in the state, would be remembered for

express their displeasure over the development and urged the government to wade into the matter and ensure her immediate release.

Adewunmi, who blamed the development on the recent publication of doctors’ salaries by the Lagos State Government noted that Otulana’s abductors asked her to pay the N50m ransom from her salary in advance.

Amosun, Fayemi charge leaders to imbibe Awo's values

BY OLAYINKA

LATONA

A

B E O K U TA — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday, asked

Osun plans state burial for slain Edo gov's aide, Oyerinde

O

government a-48 hour ultimatum to ensure the release of the abducted doctor.

The doctors also protested to the Ogun State House of Assembly where they reiterated their threat to down toolsafter 48 hours and lamented that Otulana's kidnap was the fourth within a year.

Leading the protest, Chairman of NMA, Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, said they decided to protest to

his enormous contributions at delivering the country from the claws of military rule among other struggles at keeping the nation as an indivisible entity.

As part of the state burial, the statement indicated that remains of Oyerinde would be received by top government functionaries at the Owena town boundary of Osun and Ondo states.

The remains will thereafter be moved to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, before his burial.

Oyerinde was Principal Private Secretary of Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who was seconded from the Nigeria Labour Congress before he was gruesomely murdered by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Benin.

political leaders in the country to imbibe the virtues and values of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in their conducts and delivery of services to the people.

Speaking during the 25th remembrance service for Chief Obafemi Awolowo at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun State, the governor said Awolowo lived a life of service to the people, known to be seriousminded federalist and advocate of rule of law who wanted the best for his people and country.

Amosun argued that politicians who claimed to be adherent of Awolowo's ideals should demonstrate that they are true followers of the sage and mere lip service disciples to living and demonstrating his ideals.

He said: “Papa Awo played politics of commitment, principle and ideology and those issues that papa raised several decades ago still remain very burning issues in the country today. There are several people today who claimed or pretended to be

adherent of Chief Obafemi Awolowo's ideals. The question is how many of them have the moral ethos, principles and commitment to positive ideological norms like Chief Awolowo?

Also speaking, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who urged political leaders to live a life of public service, contended that political leaders should not be dogmatic of Awo’s ideology but rather improve on them.

According to him, leaders must know what they stood for and not be “ wish-wash in their politics; there must be clear direction of where a political leader is going.”

He added that Awolowo’s politics was clear, conscience and dictated by the needs of the people.

Dignitaries at the event included former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; Lt-Gen. Oladipo Diya; Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, among others.

Why peace reigns in Ondo,

by Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

K U R E — GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has described the inter-agency cooperation among security agencies as one of the main reasons for the peace and security of life and property in the state.

He said this while receiving the Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Major-General Kalayi Kwaskebe, who paid him a courtesy call.

According to the governor, the indivisibility of the Nigerian Army, even in the face of challenges, was a pointer

to the fact that the unity and oneness of the Nigerian federation could never be eroded by any means.

Mimiko said: “The synergy among the security agencies in Ondo State has largely accounted for the sustained peace and security being enjoyed by the people. This is one of the reasons why we pride our state as the most peaceful in the Niger Delta region.

Earlier, Gen. Kwaskebe told the governor that the establishment of 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure was part of the tactical plan to deploy military arsenal across the country.

CAC leader charges FG on insecurity

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—THE new President and General Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, yesterday, expressed concern over insecurity in the country and called on the Federal Government to urgently redouble its effort at tackling the situation.

Pastor Akinosun said scrapping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, as recommended,

would compound the level of corruption in the country.

He said this at the emergency meeting of the General Council of the Church at Ikeji-Arakeji, Ondo State.

Akinosun said the leaders were ready to resolve the over 21-yearold crisis rocking the church.

He said: “The bombing of media houses, places of worship as well as market places and those directed against security personnel are condemnable. They are acts of violence that would not solve any problem but would rather compound them.”

Ogun denies alleged plan to spend N34m on gov's visit

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—OGUN State Government, yesterday, denied alleged plan by the Ewekoro Local Government to spend N34.2 million on the governor’s visit to the area today.

At a briefing over the allegation which led to a protest by members of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Ewekoro Branch, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Muyiwa Oladipo, described the allegation as unfair and false.

He, however, noted that the management of the council had concluded

plans to secure a N15 million overdraft from a bank to enable it pay the salaries of its protesting workers in full.

It will be recalled that, workers of the council staged a protest in Itori on Tuesday, accusing the council’s Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Sunday Akinyemi, of planning to use the N34.2 million allocated for the payment of their April salary to host Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The workers, who also protested alleged plan by the council to pay them only 50 per cent of their April salaries due to the governor’s visit, however, called off the strike and resumed work.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—11

Strike: Health Minister vows to keep hospitals open resolve their differences after Presidential Committee

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said, yesterday, that Federal Government would ensure hospitals were not shut to the public despite the strike by health workers.

The health workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JHSU, declared an indefinite nationwide strike, Monday, following the failure of both parties to

a 15-day warning strike.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Health Minister expressed surprise at the strike, despite ongoing talks between the union and government.

Vowing to ensure that hospital services were not crippled, Prof. Chukwu said: “My job is to make sure that my hospitals are functioning. We will target our efforts at ensuring that.”

Areas of contention are: salary CONHESS 10; National Health Bill,

Report on Harmony in the Health Sector, promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15; consultancy and specialist allowance and call/shift and other professional allowances.

Others are implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Committee Report, reconstitution of board of managements of teaching and other tertiary hospitals, need for review of retirement ages and appointment of ministers of health.

ALMAJIRAI: From right— Vice President Namadi Sambo; Prof. Ruqqayat Rufai, Education Minister; Chief Nyesom Wyke, Minister of State Education, and Prof.

Mahmud Yakub, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, at the meeting on the Almajirai education and similar schemes around the country, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

NASS to probe NCC over N6.1bn SIM card registration fund

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—THE National Assembly, yesterday, said it would probe Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on the N6.1 billion given by the Federal Government for SIM card registration.

Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, stated this when he led the committee members to pay oversight visit to NCC headquarters in Abuja.

He said considering the rate of drop calls in the country, telecoms

operators were not performing to standard and called on the operators to ensure they improved on their services to Nigerians.

Ojo said: “The National Assembly will definitely probe the N6.1 billion that was given to NCC for SIM (card) registration.

Nigerians would like to know how the money was disbursed to the telecoms operators.

“For now, I will score the operators low because they have not performed up to expectations.

Regulators should ensure that operators justify what Nigerians are paying for.

Even at NASS, you can’t even make some calls in my office block.”

Ojo noted that NASS was prepared to amend N i g e r i a n

Communications Act 2003, to meet world standard.

He said: “There will be an amendment of the Acts. When we are amending the Acts this time around, both our counterpart in environment will come together as one body.

“On the areas of drop calls and base stations, it is a critical issue we are looking at and that is why we are set to amend the Acts.”

... as Reps promise thorough constitution review

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives, yesterday, said there would be no ‘No-Go’ area in the review of the 1999 Constitution, noting that the interests of all segments of the Nigerian society would be taken into consideration.

Chairman of the media sub-committee of the House of Representatives committee on the review of the constitution, Ubani Eziuche, who addressed a press conference on the activities of the committee, said it would not restrict its work to certain provisions, stressing that it would not shy away from areas

considered contentious.

According to him, in order to ensure that all critical issues pertaining to the constitution are captured, a retreat for members of the committee had been scheduled for the end of May to enable it outline its work plan and review memoranda so far received from the public.

He said issues like creation of states, listing of new local government councils in the constitution, financial autonomy for state legislatures, and other issues will be considered by the committee as Nigerians deemed fit and in the overall interest of the country.

Koton Karfe prison attack blamed on congestion

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—THE ministerial committee set up to investigate the attack on Konton Karfe prison in Kogi State has attributed rising incidences of jail breaks to congestion in almost all the prisons in the country.

Speaking at the submission of the report, yesterday, to the Minister of Interior, Chairman of the five-man committee, Mr. John Odah, traced the congestion of prisons in the country to undue delay in the trial of inmates.

He said: “Many of the cells are supposed to accommodate just 50 persons. But what we have is three times that number.”

Odah also stated that, in view of the security challenges confronting the country, there was need to fortify prisons to forestall future occurrences of attacks on prisons.

He appealed to the Minister to convince members of the National Assembly to undertake visits to prisons located in their constituencies to enable them appreciate the report submitted by the committee.

FG launches tourism photo competition

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government, in collaboration with Romarox Resources Limited, has launched a National Tourism Photo competition as a means of economicallyempowering Nigerians youths.

The contest, which has

N50 million worth of cash prize and 13 fullyequipped photo studios, laptops, ipads and blackberry phones, has been described as an empowerment initiative through tourism by the stakeholders.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Managing Director,

Romarox Resources Limited, Rosemary Okeke, said the project was to excite national conscience and appreciate the huge tourism endowment in Nigeria, since oil boom prevented some past leaders from seeing the potential in other areas of the country’s economy.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Bayelsa signs MoU to promote SMEs

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AYELSA State Gov ernment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Bank of Industry to promote small and medium scale enterprises in the state.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU, the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, said the signing of the agreement would open up opportunities for partnership, especially in areas of poverty alleviation, wealth creation, and capacity

RALLY: From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Madam Clara Atalakpa, Chief Tom Ikimi and Mr. Thomas Okosun, Edo ACN Chairman, at the grand rally of the ACN in Edo Central where some PDP stalwarts also decamped to the ACN.

PDP accuses Oshiomhole of blackmail over violence

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—AS the re mains of murdered Principal Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Olaitan Oyerinde, is laid to rest in his native home today, the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has ac-

cused the governor of blackmail to score cheap political points.

PDP also urged Oshiomhole to look beyond what it termed his obsession with wild accusations against his opponents and consider the possibility of culprits within his set up, the Action Congress of Ni-

geria, ACN. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, noted that the PDP was “particularly appalled with the dangerous descent to violence and the resort to baseless accusations and foul language employed to score cheap political points.”

Oyerinde’s murder, threat to democracy —NLC …Burial holds today in Ede, Osun

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

P

RESIDENT of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, yesterday, in Benin City, Edo State, said congress had written to President Goodluck Jonathan, not to allow Edo State trigger what could end the nation’s d e m o c r a c y by prevailing on the security agencies to find the killers of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, who was killed in Benin City on May 4.

This came as Edo State Government renamed Delta Crescent, the street on which Chief Tony Anenih’s house is located in Benin City after the late Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde.

Late Oyerinde, who was until his murder, the Principal Private Secre-

tary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, will be buried today in his home town, Ede, in Osun State.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Council of NLC, has called on the police and other security agencies to do everything possible to fish out Oyerinde's killers, describing his death as “unacceptable, wicked, malicious, anti – labour and undemocratic.”

Omar, who spoke when he led the council members of industrial unions and Edo workers to commiserate with Governor Oshiomhole on the killing of Olaitan, said those behind the killing, should know they had killed the highest ranking staff of NLC. He said: “We have come to join the Edo State council of NLC and

Trade Union Congress, TUC, the organisers of the peaceful protest to present letters to HRM, Oba of Benin, the Director of State Security Service and Commissioner of Police and we received encouraging words from them that the killers will be brought to justice.

He stressed that the PDP could never be involved in murder to achieve its political goals, adding, “our pedigree as a performing political party places us in good stead to succeed in any electoral contest in Nigeria. We do not need to kill in order to succeed.

“We call on the Nigerian public to note that these accidents and murders in Edo State suddenly emerged upon the political gains of PDP in Edo State thriving on the scandals of Oshiomhole’s private mansion and other nauseating corrupt practices.”

The party condemned ACN for choosing to dishonor the memory of Oyerinde as the PDP has nothing to gain from his murder, adding “it is only the ACN that stands to gain massive sympathy and public sentiments in this regard.

building.

The governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, noted that the agreement was a road map to economic development, as the government was committed to the partnership.

He said the state government will readily pay its share of the contribution of N2.5 billion, adding that as a start-off, government will pay N1 billion.

Community leaders laud council boss

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

C

HAIRMAN of Os himili North Local Government Area in Delta State, Mr. Christopher Okafor, has been commended for his adminis-

tration’s effort in putting smiles on the faces of people of the area.

Some community leaders, who spoke to newsmen described the council chairman as a man of the people, who had used his position to bring development to the area.

Kubeyinje dies in New York at 80

M

R. Mike Jimoh Kubeyinje, former commissioner in the old Bendel State, died in New York last week at the age of 80. An old boy of Government College, Ughelli, Mr. Kubeyinje graduated from Howard University in 1965 and was head of Columbia Broadcasting System, CBS, Africa Division.

Mr. Kubeyinje is survived by his widow, Dor-

othy, three sons and grand children. He will be buried in New York on Saturday, May 12.

Late M. J. Kubeyinje

Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—13

Labour minis tr ades int ministr tryy w wades intoo Imo go vt, wor s' ffeud eud govt, workker ers'

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

GOODIE IBRU @ 70—From left: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Chairman of the occasion; Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole; Celebrant, Mr.Goodie Ibru and his wife, Mrs.Emuobo Ibru during the presentation of a book to commemorate his 70th birthday at the NIIA, Lagos, yesterday.

Lead poisoning: Health minister warns Zamfara state

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, has warned residents of Zamfara State against another lead poisoning poisoning in the area.

He explained that the battle against lead poisoning in Zamfara State was not yet over, and pushed for safer mining practices for miners in the area in order to reduce human exposure to lead.

The minister gave the warning in his speech read by the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Mansur Kabiru, at an International Conference on Lead Poisoning in Abuja.

He said: “I wish to sound a note of warning at this point. Although we have made significant progress in controlling lead poisoning outbreak in Zamfara State, the battle is not yet over.

“For us to sustain the gains we have made, we need to strengthen coordination among stakeholders so that the collective national interventions can be cost effective.

“Sadly, there are reports of persistence of mining activities in domestic settings in some of the affected villages. If this continues, you will agree with me there is likelihood of re-contamination of previously remediated villages and exposure of children to lead. We must not allow this to happen.

“We must protect our children from the long-term neurological complications of lead poisoning and untimely death. We also need to develop safer mining practices for these miners so as to limit human exposure to lead.”

To streamline mining activities in the state, Zamfara State governor,

Abdulaziz Yari, who was represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdullahi Tsafe, said the State had commenced registration of Small Scale Mining Cooperative Societies.

According to him, Zamfara State is also looking at ways to strengthen its laws to

regulate children’s access to mining and processing sites.

“We shall be commissioning our first fully government supported Ccooperative society this month. We shall do the same for the other societies that have so far indicated interest to be part of this programme,” he stated

WERRI—FEDERAL Ministry of Labour and Productivity has waded into festering face-off between organized labour and Imo State government by ordering the feuding parties to return to status quo ante on issues involved in the disagreement.

Already, a two-page resolution captioned “Matters of urgent attention”, signed by the concilliator, Mr. D. O. Ejeh, of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, had been delivered to Governor Rochas Okorocha.

While the concilliator ordered labour to jettison its planned indefinite industrial action, government was equally asked to halt any transfer or secondment of workers on Grade Level 1-6 to the controversial fourth-tier

government.

Government was also asked to suspend the issuance of forms for such purpose and the vexed commercialization of the state public and civil service, pending the determination of the trade dispute.

All parties in the dispute were urged to suspend further announcements in the media on the issues in dispute, while government was advised to hold dialogue with the organized labour within the week, with a view to resolving the issues.

Vanguard gathered that the first concilliatory meeting was held last Tuesday and was attended by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Head of Service, a representative of the AccountantGeneral, as well as the leadership of the organized labour in Imo State.

Mrs Uzomah passes on

T

HE death has been announced of Mrs. Christiana Nwaogazi Uzomah of Umuogi, Okpala Umuekwune, in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. Until her death, Mrs. Christiana Uzomah was a community leader and a devout Christian.

There will be a Christian wake tomorrow while interment follows on Saturday at her home town, Umuogi Okpala Umuekwune. She is them full participatory survived by many children, ownership of the governance processes at their doorstep, the local government.

grand children and great grand children among whom is Deacon Tony Uzomah, a Lagos-based journalist.

Okonkwo to Gov Obi: Conduct LG polls in Anambra now

A

WKA—SENATOR Annie Okonkwo has called on Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to urgently conduct local government elections in the state to avert crisis.

Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central in the sixth Senate, made the call while addressing party stakeholders in Awka.

He lamented that the non-conduct of local government elections had denied the people opportunity for grassroot administration.

According to him, the grave constitutional abnormality in Anambra State is the unhealthy reign of political apathy and stunted democratic growth at the grassroot.

He said: “Now is the time for every stakeholder in the state,which Peter Obi is the democratic flag carrier, to admit that the problems we have all suffered politically is man-made, and the solutions can only be

people-driven.

“For the people to drive this process successfully therefore, we must honestly resolve to unselfishly grant

....Judge asks parties for additional addresses

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—AN Awka High Court, presided over by Justice Hope Ozo, yesterday, asked parties in the suit filed by a human rights lawyer, Mr. Jezie Ekejiuba, on the appointment of caretaker committees at the local government level in the state, to forward additional addresses on the matter on the next adjourned date of June 12, 2012, to guide him in delivering judgment on the matter.

Ekejiuba sued the governor of Anambra State, the State House of Assembly and the Attorney General of

the state, challenging what he called the continued use of caretaker committees in running affairs of the 21 local government areas of the state.

Essentially, Ekejiuba , in an affidavit sworn to in Awka, argued that Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 provided that the local government system should be run by democratically elected officials.

He regretted that from May 29, 2003, to date of his pre-action notice, which was July 20, 2010, local government transition committees or caretaker committees or heads of administration had been in use in the state.

z Late Mrs Uzomah

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

INDUCTION—From left: Prof Francis Ojaide, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN; Chief Chris Orode, Special Guest of Honour and Mr Sunday Abayomi Bameke, Council Member, during the 49th induction for new members at ICAN Centre, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos on Wednesday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Sabotage caused PDP Imo guber — Kema Chikwe

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—NATIONAL Woman leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Kema Chikwe, yesterday, disclosed that the party lost the last Imo State governorship election to All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and its candidate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, because of what she termed internal sabotage from members.

Speaking when Imo PDP women paid her a visit at Wadata Plaza, the former Minister of Aviation, who noted that Imo was a PDP state, said: ‘’I can assure you that Imo state is PDP, what happened to our party was internal sabotage and what need to be done is internal discipline.

“When discipline is enforced then you can separate the wheat from the chaff, you know people who are really with PDP, who are going to work for PDP, but I can assure you that if you go to Imo State,

any grassroot gathering and you mention another party they are bound to respond “power to the people” because they still think they are in PDP.” On her plans for women as the national woman leader of the party, she said ‘’I have been working for women over the years, I have been in the mainstream of women mobilization and activism in Nigeria and because of that, I decided to translate

Labour union accuses Imo govt of authoritarian actions

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

A

M A L G A M AT E D Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, has expressed concern over perceived authoritarian actions of Imo State government, especially on issues

Igbo group to help black Africans trace roots

E

NUGU—UMUADA IGBO, a nongovernmental organisation of women from the Igbospeaking states, plans to help blacks of African descent to trace their roots.

Already, the group is discussing with some African Americans, Caribbean Americans and West Indians on how to synergise to achieve the aim.

The President of the group, Lolo Kate Ezeofor, said at a meeting of the group in Enugu on Tuesday, that the homecoming initiative would help the blacks, especially those of Igbo descent, to

it into politics. ‘’Most of these women are veteran politicians, they have been around for sometimes, acting in the field. I hope during this tenure, we are going to structure the empowerment programme too well that it will not be a kind of empowerment you cannot really record, it has to be properly recorded and every year, we take stock and find out how many people have benefitted.

trace their roots.

Ezeofor said those she discussed the issue with in America showed enthusiasm about the plan and were ready to send 200 persons to the various Igbospeaking states to interact with the people.

She said the blacks had fair knowledge of their countries of origin based on cultural affiliations but did not know exactly where they migrated from.

Ezeofor said other stakeholders were being involved in the plan, saying that the homecoming had been scheduled for early 2013.

affecting workers.

In a petition to Governor Rochas Okorocha, General Secretary of AUPCTRE, Mr. Philip Agbonkonkon, said the disposition of the present administration in Imo State, “ was unorthodox as it bordered on the “lord of the manor system,” while claiming to be democratic, peopleoriented and based on separation of powers.”

According to the union, “the under listed actions of the State Government border on not only disregard for due process, but also governance by impunity.

"These include lease of Imo transport, concessioning of Imo State Water Corporation for twenty years to West African Utilities Metering System and Services Company Limited, creation of fourthtier government in the state designated as “Community Governing Council.

"In the pursuit of the unconstitutional outfit, the governor has ordered public service employees in the state to return to their respective communities and be registered for the take off of the fourth-tier government.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—15

Two jailed for threatening to kill woman over N3.5m

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

CONDOLENCE VISIT: From left:- Chief Emmanuel Okumagba; Chief Bernard Okumagba; Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; Chief Wilson Eboh and Chief Tom Amioku, when the Deputy Governor paid a condolence visit to the Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, Warri, following the death of its monarch.

Search for Oyerinde's killers: Ihonvbere lauds Jonathan's marching order

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—FORMER Presidential aide and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday, commended President Goodluck Jonathan, for what he described as his “undiluted support” in the on-going effort to find the killers of the Principal Secretary to the Edo State Governor, late Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde.

Ihonvbere said: “It is sad that what we thought would be an interesting political contest as regards the forthcoming governorship election, had turned to a theater of death by some desperate people because of their faulty system.”

He spoke when he paid a condolence visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House, Benin City. The

PDP chieftain, who recalled how he worked closely with the late Oyerinde during the prodemocracy days, wondered why some one who fought doggedly for the enthronement of democracy in the country could be killed “in cold blooded by desperate politicians.

“I want to thank the

President for his intervention in this matter.

Let the security agents unearth the killers and even those who have killed before at least to serve as deterrent to those who might want to kill tomorrow. I believe that in politics, people must learn to accommodate, be tolerant and ready for dialogue and

Airhiavbere weeps over plight of Ijaw in Edo

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—GOVER NORSHIP candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), broke down in tears, yesterday, over the plight of the Ijaw living in the riverine areas of the state,

describing the abject poverty and neglect of the people by government as “unacceptable.”

Airhiavbere, who was accompanied by other PDP chieftains, including Senetor Rowland Owie, Mr. Christopher Adesotu, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, Mr. Eghe Tesorae, to Ajakurama in Ofunama ward of Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the

Delta Commissioner decries Islamic group's alleged ultimatum to Jonathan

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, has decried the alleged ultimatum issued to President Goodluck Jonathan by the Islamic sect, urging all well meaning Nigerians to condemn the sect.

Muoboghare, a former

concede when they cannot have their ways.

“I also believe that the resort to mindless violence is often the product of miscalculation, desperation and the tendency to adopt undemocratic tactics by politicians, who play god. I have no doubt that Olaitan was assassinated by these shameless people."

chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State University, Abraka Chapter, urged the President to take the bull by the horns and unravel those sponsoring the Islamist sect.

He said: “The activities of the sect are targeted at Jonathan and aimed at bringing down his administration or intimidating him out of office or

worse still, ensuring that he did not contest the 2015 presidential election.

“The ugly turn of events is because Jonathan hails from the South-South, which some people in other regions had regarded as an insignificant part of the country despite the fact that the region accounts for over 80 percent of the country’s wealth.”

state, attributed the poverty in the area to the failure of leadership in the state.

The PDP governorship candidate, was received by the Ijaw, with various placards with inscriptions, such as “There is no government presence in Ajakurama,” “Oshiomhole has failed us,” “We have no water, no health centre, no school, no road, among others.”

Speaking on behalf of the Ijaws of Ofunama ward, Mr. Soweibibor Kimbor, said the incumbent government had failed to fulfill promises made to them, lamenting that till date, the Ijaw people in the state do not have access to potable water, health care service, schools among others.

Airhiavbere, meanwhile, said the provision of basic amenities by governments all over the world was not subject to request but a statutory duty of every responsible government.

SABA—A DELTA State High Court, Asaba, has jailed two technicians for threatening to kill a 42-year-old civil servant and her children, if she failed to pay them N3.5 million.

The convicts, Patrick Boyitie and Edafe Erakpor, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy and threat to life.

The charge against them read: “You, Patrick Boyitie and Edafe Erakpor, on September 10, 2011 at Orerokpe, in Okpe Magisterial District, Delta State, with

intent to steal, demanded the sum of N3.5 million from one Carolyn Obokoro Amebor, female, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 406 of the Criminal Code Cap. C. 21 volume I, Law of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.”

The trial Magistrate, N.C. Onyekwe, found the accused persons guilty and convicted them. On count one, they were sentenced to three months imprisonment; count two, three months imprisonment and count three, three months imprisonment or an option of fine of N5,000 each in lieu of the prison terms.

ACN to Rivers Assembly: Senior Secondary Schools Board unnecessary

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT— ACTION congress of Nigeria, ACN in Rivers State, has kicked against moves to set up a Senior Secondary Schools Board.

A statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Jerry Needam, said the recent call for a public hearing on the proposed board was un-

necessary since there already exists in the state, a Post Primary Schools Board and the Universal Basic Education Board for primary schools.

The party said a fresh board on post primary school would amount to duplication of responsibilities and functions. It advised the state House of Assembly to channel its energy to other burning issues seeking the attention of the House.

Delta pupils warned against cultism

C

OMMISSIONER representing Okpe, Sapele and Ethiope West on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Dr. Henry Ofa, has appealed to pupils and students of primary and secondary schools in the state to abstain from cultism and all vices capable of exposing them to dan-

ger.

Dr Ofa made the appeal at Eyerekpokpo Primary School, Otefe, Oghara, Delta State, where he donated school materials, including notebooks to the pupils of the school, weekend.

He told the pupils that the books came from the Delta State Government through DESOPADEC to reduce the burden on their parents.

Alimetu for burial

M

RS. Florence Al imetu of Umoru and Agbaza family of South Ibie, Estako West Local Government Area, Edo State and Otor-Igho, Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, is dead, aged 70.

A statement by the family said service of songs will hold at Agbaza Compound, Okpesia, Road, Oleh, on May 11.

Funeral service and interment will take place at Felix Agbaza Compound, Eniagbedhi

Road, Otor-Igho.

She is survived by her widower, Mr Felix Agbaza, five children and grand children, among whom are Mrs. Tite Onieba and Mrs. Gladys Efe-Duku.

Late Mrs. F. Alimetu

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

DEMOLITION IN LAGOS

The Lagos State Task Force on Environment continued with towing of vehicles parked under the Ijora Bridge, Apapa and demolition of illegal structures yesterday. Photo: Sylva Eleanya.

SEC commissioners disown Oteh Continues from Page 5 information many others.”

among

AMCON helped Union Bank secure clearance for acquisition Udora, also told the House that his directorate initially denied Union Bank approval for its acquisition during the recapitalization of five of the rescued banks that escaped nationalisation, but was pressurized to do so.

He argued that his directorate decided to deny the bank the approval to go ahead with acquisition process since the bank could not account for the proceeds from the last offer it undertook before the market crash.

“I remember we have AMCON’s application in respect to their intervention in the rescued banks. For Union Bank, I remember the commission was written and our clearance was sought. In my directorate, we declined originally. We said we were not going to clear Union Bank for any acquisition or merger or anything because from our records, Union Bank had raised N80 billion from the public which was not accounted for and we said we will not clear Union Bank until it accounts for that money.

"At the end of the day, a lot of meetings were held and we insisted we were not giving clearance until the use of the proceeds is accounted for.

The Managing Director, MD, of the bank came and held a meeting with me and

said they could not find within the bank any explanation for that money; so we said we will not clear the bank. Then one of the directors came and said they used the money to pay for the money they used to set up Union Bank United Kingdom. We demanded for evidence from the board of Union Bank for such approval of the payment but none was produced; we then said, ‘show us evidence of the payment of such amount of money in respect to the Uk branch, again, none was produced and then we said there was no deal.”

Udora, however, stated that he was forced to append his signature after approval AMCON offered to take responsibility for the losses. “I told them as far as I sit on this desk,

nobody will approve Union Bank acquisition from my directorate except and until the two conditions are met: One, that Union Bank explains the use of the proceeds of that offer.

Then AMCON wrote us to say that we should regard it as one of the losses which Union Bank incurred in the course of its business and they are assuming responsibility for the losses. On that basis, we said if AMCON is recognizing the losses and it is taking responsibility for it, then the transaction can go on.

That was at the point when we gave our own go ahead on the Union Bank transactions,” he stated.

Text messages, emails, replaced meetings In her testimony before

the House, Mrs. Daisy Ekinah a commissioner in the Exchange alleged that outside a presentation she wrote for her on the roadmap to a world class Capital Market that Ms. Oteh read at Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG programme she never had any link with the project again. Ms. Daisy Ekineh, Executive C o m m i s s i o n e r, Operations attested to the division in the rank and file of SEC, saying that “there is presently a dysfunction in SEC due to the inability of the executive management to work as a team.

Ekineh said unlike what obtained during the tenure of the last two Directors-General of SEC, the executive management team no longer hold meetings regularly and there is lack of cohesion and respect among the executives and staff. She disclosed that what obtains presently is absence of meetings and f a c e - t o - f a c e communication, while emails and text messages are used more as means of communication among the executive and other staff members.

She said, “There is a dysfunction in SEC, because we no longer work together as a team.

There is also absence of respect and team spirit.

During the time of the last two DGs, we used to hold meetings in their office regularly. This helped a lot, especially in bringing unity and cohesion to our activities, while helping us achieve more.

“Today, we hardly hold meetings and face-toface interactions; instead, meetings have been replaced with text messages and emails. I am not saying text messages and emails are bad, but it should not make us do away with meetings and face-toface interactions.

She, however, called for an improvement in team work among the executives, adding that it will help strengthen the commission, ensuring that it achieves its goals.

SEC didn’t clear AMCON’s N500bn bond Ms Daisy Ekineh, stated that that the AMCON did not obtain all the necessary approval from the SEC before embarking on its N500 billion bonds issue undertaken in 2011.

According to her, she was notified through a mail sent to her from AMCON that approval has been given for the issue from the commission, saying that despite her insistence that the issue would not go on without securing necessary approval from her desk, the agency went ahead and offered the bonds to the public.

She said: “The N500 billion AMCON bonds did not go through due process. I got a mail telling me that the SEC has approved AMCON’s bonds issue. I told them that it could not have been possible without going through my supervision. Ordinarily, I was supposed to study the offer and give approval but that was the last I heard of it. I was never consulted again on the issue.”

Oteh is inaccessible — Stores Also speaking, Mr. Lawal Sani Stores, Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts, SEC, said: “Oteh is inaccessible and very distant from the Executive team and other staff of SEC. There is also no cooperation among the management and staff, lack of trust and team work.

“For the commission to succeed, we should be able to work together, trust ourselves and carry each other along.”

In her reaction, Oteh said, “Communication lapses could have existed amongst staff in the management team, but all the same, the commission has processes that it follows on several issues before decisions are taken. But I think we need to e n h a n c e communication.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—17

I

Involved in mankind It was in the course of our discussion, that an outline of an idea came to my mind. I thought we should not allow RashidiYekini to become a ‘mad man’ roaming Nigerian streets.

He contributed his quota to national development in sports and besides we must never vacate that most human quality, compassion, whenever another human being was in distress.

Didn’t the poet, John Donne, say we are involved in mankind?

There was an interesting combination of factors that we could take advantage of in my view, as I told Segun: Bolaji Abdullahi is the acting Sports Minister and he is from Kwara and the governor of the state, Abdulfateh Ahmed, is someone I have known from when we were young boys. I will arrange to meet the governor, tell him what I heard about Rashidi Yekini; urge that he helps in his rehabilitation, collaborating with the sports minister, to make it the national issue it really was! We must for once, show responsibility and compassion; factors that seemed to have eroded from our social space in recent years.Odegbami readily agreed to be part of the effort. He also felt some amount of guilt, recalling how Yekini met him at the IICC Shooting Stars in Ibadan. He was a very shy young man, but were drawn to each

assistance for a long time, and was probably not forthcoming, spoke volumes about the utter irresponsibility of the Nigerian State and the steep erosion of compassion in our communities.

I think mental problems remain badly understood in our societies; even in the more advanced climes, psychiatry and psychological issues are fields of unending controversy! As a child growing up in the sixties, it seemed the norm was to see ‘mad people’ or those suffering personality disorders as some form of exotica: children taunted them; the elderly enjoyed the fun and very few people had any sensitivity about their sufferings.

There were ‘traditional psychiatrists’ alright, but they seemed to specialise more in chaining and beating their ‘patients’ while there were numerous mentally-challenged women who ended up pregnant in the residences of those quacks!

Rashidi Yekini and our compassion deficiency other, because both spoke Hausa fluently. Rashidi grew up in Kaduna, while Odegbami was a Jos boy!

My political relationship with the PDP government in Kwara is an uneasy one, especially since I wrote what they considered a devastating critique of Bukola Saraki’s regime, towards its end in May 2011. In response, they bought pages in several Nigerian newspapers to ‘expose’ what in their view were the ‘personal’ reasons, which made me analyse Bukolas’s eight-year tenure.

Knowing that any request to see the governor might be misconstrued to be an ‘appeal’ for personal favours gave me the pause, but I then consulted a couple of people in the state, stated my intention, before finally calling the governor a couple of times. When I did not get to speak with him, I called his Chief Press Secretary, stating that I wanted

,

WAS in total bewilderment last Friday evening when news broke of the tragic death of former national football star, RashidiYekini. I had spoken about him the night before to a group of friends and a modest effort we discussed with Segun Odegbami, before I travelled out of Nigeria, over a month ago. It seemed absolutely surreal that the man died that day! Then the story of the killing of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, Deputy General Secretary of the NLC, who was assassinated in Benin City; he was born in Ilorin, and it was in my hometown, that our paths tangentially crossed. But more about that later, in this narrative.

I never met Rashidi Yekini in his lifetime, but like every sportsloving Nigerian, I never forgot his exploits in the national team, during the most successful phase in Nigerian football history.

Yekini brought joy to Nigerians, helping the national spirit in the unique manner that football does, in our often, fractious country. A few months ago, I heard or read somewhere, that RashidiYekini, one of the few stars who made good in the European league but returned home to feature again in our national league, was ‘going mad’ in Ibadan. The story went that he would go to the bank, collect money and distribute to people on the streets of the city; he would go around in the same dress for days wearing bathroom slippers, etc.! I called Segun Odegbami to confirm the veracity of the salacious story; he had also heard that something was amiss.

Country a suffocation ground

The late football star, RashidiYekini

week!

Segun Odegbami went a step further, after our discussion; he went to Ibadan and met Rashidi,

In a more rational society, an inquiry would be organised to uncover all the issues around the alleged ‘mental sickness’ which afflicted Rashidi Yekini, not just because he was a national sports star, but because he was simply a citizen

to discuss ‘something very important’, which might even enhance the governor’s political position; I assured it was not ‘personal’, but I was only willing to divulge the matter to the governor himself. I was assured that I would see the governor ‘when next’ they were in Abuja.

It went on for a while, but unfortunately, we never met before I travelled out of Nigeria, for a month, since Easter Sunday.

The denouement was RashidiYekini’s tragic passing last

,

and that formed the basis of a column he did about five weeks ago “The return of Rashidi Yekini”.

He narrated how he eventually tracked the man down. Rasidi had always been a very shy, almost reclusive, person. For Odegbami, it was deeply cultural, because Rashidi was thoroughly ‘Northern’, with Hausa language being his first and was challenged in the use of English, but spoke excellent Portugese, having played for Victoria Settubal in the Portugese League, for many

years. He had once tried to do an interview in the English and became the butt of insensitive jokes, which apparently hurt his sensitivities further. Odegbami told me that Rashidi invested money with a Bureau De Change operator, who then lost money and life to robbers! He located the crisis in some of these issues and then outlined steps being planned to assist his rehabilitation. These also came to naught with his death. The tragic twist to the story came in the past few days, from his lawyer, who said some people came to chain Rashidi Yekini, and he was bloodied, as he was forced away from his residence; he did not return alive!

Rational society In a more rational society, an inquiry would be organised to uncover all the issues around the alleged ‘mental sickness’ which afflicted Rashidi Yekini, not just because he was a national sports star, but because he was simply a citizen! The fact that he might have needed some expert

Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde:Even death won't defeat you

I

WAS close to OlaitanOyerinde; but a few years ago, I think in 2007, the NLC set up a national committee to examine the labour movement against the backdrop of the developments since the emergence of the NLC. I was a member along with comrades from all over Nigeria. It was at one of the sittings that he told me about his birth and upbringing in Ilorin. He then reminded me of his mother and that brought it all together! She ran a kiosk by the old Midland Stores, the huge

government-owned supermarket, now defunct. It was from her that I used to purchase magazines: WEST AFRICA; Ralph Uwechue’s AFRICA; AFRIQUEASIE; AFRICA BUSINESS; MIDDLE EAST and so many music magazines. I was an announcer on radio,but growing intoconsciousness in the context of the developments in the world of the 1970s. She readily allowed me to pick the magazines and then pay by month’s end. She was absolutely trusting and had a word of encouragement for me. I

read somewhere that Olaitan was survived by his family and an aged mother; that wonderful woman who assisted my love of reading three decades ago! She must be in deep sorrow with her son’s tragic death. May God comfort her and thefamily.Olaitan played an active role in the Nigerian students’ movement and made the natural progression into the labour movement. He represented the very best of the young people of our country, the type which must eventually liberate Nigeria!

It is tragic that in the 21st Century, we have not advanced any meaningfully in this, as in other areas of our national life. In fact, we have regressed! The norm now is to take people to pastors, prayer warriors and malams! The country is a suffocation ground of mysticism; mind-bending mumbo-jumbo and irrationality.

Social problems dominate existential life and in turn, people retreat into ecstatic religious exorcism; live in paralysis and fear of the unknown, reflecting in their minds the terror of the insecure lives they live; as they withdraw more and more into irrationality. Those who rule and preside over the ruination of our country are also entrapped in these delusions and each try to outsmart the other to be seen as ‘devout’ and ‘religious’. The rationality which governance needs has long been vacated in the Nigerian public space and it not uncommon for top government officials to even choose colours of dress to wear, at the behest of their Malams or Pastors. They are regularly drinking portions given to ward off all manners of evil, enemies and as the fundamentalist Christian elements say, ‘principalities’! This is the irrational setting against which Rashidi Yekini’s tragic death and the hypocritical outpouring of ‘tributes’ must be understood. We failed our basic humanity watching the man suffer, despite his contributions to our happiness on the soccer pitch. But even if he never kicked a ball once in his lifetime, our society owed him care and compassion, as a citizen. It is the absence of societal compassion that has deepened despair in our country and has become largely responsible for the anti-state uprisings all around us!

I personally feel sorry that my modest initiative for Rasidi Yekini floundered and do feel angry that a citizen and a sports star lost his life the way he did. “Every man’s death diminishes me/ For I am involved in mankind/So ask not for whom the bell tolls/ It tolls for thee”- John Donne

18 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY,MAY 10, 2012

ONLY those who know little about the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway would applaud the removal of illegally parked tankers and trailers as a solution to the perennial traffic logjam on the road.

While the executors of this “presidentiallysanctioned port reform”, as they dub it, delight in their success, they deceive themselves, as they know it is no solution to the gridlock on the road. The current road networks around Apapa ports are inadequate for their operations, which would increase if the nation’s production increases. More importantly, ports the size of the ones in Apapa have rails and expansive road networks serving them.

The knowledge is not new. More than 30 years ago, the government of Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari proposed a ring road that would evacuate goods from Apapa ports through the Badagry Expressway to the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway the contract of which it had awarded. It was strengthening the rails too, including a new line from Calabar port through Gombe to Maiduguri.

The projects died with that government.

Enduring Cleansing Apapa Expressway An enduring solution to the menace in Apapa ports and the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway must consider the volume of traffic to the ports. Almost everything we use is imported and more than 80 per cent of the imports are through Apapa ports. It is sheer waste of resources to invest billions of Naira on the present road and watch it back to ruins in months. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and other major highways that lead in and out of Lagos, are bearing burdens meant for the rails. It takes only months for them to come to ruins after repairs.

The abandonment of the rails is at the centre of the present crisis and there is no solution

to it outside the rails. Tankers that lift petroleum products are usurping the role of the rails. They are a disruptive alternative.

Government has to revive the rails. The programme is so important that it should be a key item in government’s transformation agenda. The current reduction of matters around rail transportation to media headlines shows poor appreciation of the importance of the rails to the economy.

The challenge of clearing the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway suffers from poor government decisions. If domestic refineries work, fewer tankers would be crowding Lagos to lift petroleum products. If the rails were operating, fewer trailers would jam Lagos roads and other port cities.

In a few weeks, the futility of this exercise would be clear. Trailers and tankers will return to their illegal positions or completely take over the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where they already maintain an equally disruptive presence.

The fault lies in governments that are satisfied with cosmetic solutions to challenges that are drowning the economy.

OPINION

BY CHIBUZO ONWUCHEKWE

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HE quest to produce a president of Igbo extraction has become a common feature in the build up to every Nigerian election season, and the year 2015 is not expected to be any different. Already, there have been calls by notable Igbos on the need for the South East political zone to produce the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Tongues are already beginning to wag on who, among the Igbos, has the interest and aspirations of the Nigerian plum job. The truth remains that the presidency has eluded the Igbos since after the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first President of Nigeria. Ever since then, the Igbos have continued to play supporting roles in Nigeria’s political drama. To achieve the highest political office in the country, one may be tempted to ask, what efforts are the current Igbo leaders making? And more expediently, who could be the expected gladiators in this quest? Let us take a look.

Governor Rochas Okorocha: Rochas is the charismatic and a rising superstar Governor of Imo State. His philanthropic liberality and demonstrated exploits have endeared him to the hearts and minds of the people of Imo State in particular as well as across tribal and religious divides in general. Those were the ingredients that enabled him to cause what has been described as a political earthquake in Imo State in the last governorship election. His popularity and grassroots’ mobilization proved too powerful for incumbent Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, to contain. But regional mass support has not always translated to electoral support in Nigeria (a good example was the late Awolowo), especially for a

Ndigbo and 2015: Now is the time candidate from an opposition party to the ruling behemoth, PDP. And if the truth be told, the opposition as a whole still has a long way to go before it could be taken seriously in any quest for the Nigerian presidency.

Moreover, Rochas has served only one year as a governor and is still far from actualizing his campaign promises to the people. This Johnny-Just-Come status in the public executive cadre plus his current non-PDP affiliation put his possible aspirations in some question. Rochas, in short, is still a work in progress but a good one to watch.

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overnor Sullivan Chime: Chime is the current Governor of Enugu State. He engineered the PDP juggernaut that decisively won virtually every seat of government in elections held in Enugu State within the past two years. The Governor has a track record of overcoming daunting political onslaughts, and hopefully this will embolden him when he decides to take a shot at the Nigerian presidency. If records and political tactical firepower are anything to go by, Chime has so far positioned himself as the most feasible Igbo presidential candidate.

As a sitting Governor of Enugu State, the capital of old Eastern Nigeria, the epicenter of Igbo land and the purest PDP real estate east of the Niger, Chime seems to be the only Igbo politician who has laid a serious groundwork for 2015 considering the obvious fact that the last two Presidents have been former PDP governors. Governor Chime appears to have the resources necessary to sustain

a serious presidential campaign. The Governor is said to have well-oiled political machinery which can line up potential boosters from a broad spectrum of political and traditional leaders across Nigeria. Whatever he may lack in pizzazz, he makes up for in good luck, opportunism, location and perhaps, momentum. But the Governor has some obvious hurdles to scale should he plan on contesting for the Nigerian presidency in 2015. Critics worry that he lacks the political deftness-cum-gravitas needed to govern Nigeria, as evidenced by his non-stop battles with virtually every political who-is-who from his state.

Senator Ken Nnamani: The former Senate President is a viable candidate for the Presidency and has the moral audacity and the experience to lead Nigeria. Senator Nnamani’s popularity and credentials in the national politics of Nigeria soared very high when, as the Senate President, he helped scuttle President Olusegun Obasanjo’s ambition to foist his third term agenda on the Nigerian nation. But that was then. Nevertheless, the Senator has managed to make himself a household name in all the corners of Nigerian politics. However, his later association with IBB, who is widely known for his cancellation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election that was judged in some quarters as one of the fairest so far in the country, will always be viewed as a betrayal by some of his potential admirers and would-be supporters.

Besides, the current jury verdict on Ken is that he may lack the resources, hutzpah and wherewithal necessary for the execution of a serious presidential run, but time and efforts will tell.

Continues tomorrow

*Mr. Onwuchekwe, former Chairman of World Igbo Congress, wrote from Houston, Texas, USA.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—19

, Battleground Edo State

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WO major political parties – incumbent party in power, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and its arch rival, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have rolled out their drums of war ahead of the July 14, 2012 governorship election. They are both led by tested “men of war”, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the ACN candidate and Chief Tony Anenih, the godfather of Edo PDP, whose famed expertise in winning elections is being called to duty by the candidate of the PDP, the retired Major General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere.

These two political combatants come from markedly different backgrounds. While Anenih was bred from the Shehu Yar’Adua political stable and is adept at the group’s ability to produce miraculous victories and dominate larger political platforms due to its tightly-knit structure based on intense loyalty to the “godfather”, Oshiomhole grew out from the Labour fold where he perfected his ability to rally the Nigerian people behind him to fight anti-people policies of the Federal Government.

In 2007 when he made his first foray into elected office,

Oshiomhole carefully built coalitions of strange bedfellows.

He went into the race as the joint candidate of the Labour Party, LP, and the ACN. To make an inroad into the then ruling PDP, he secured the support of the hugely unpopular outgoing Governor, Lucky Igbinedion and even brokered an understanding with an Anenih whose faction of the party stood the risk of being sidelined by the faction that the governorship candidate of the party, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, represented.

Osunbor was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in 2007, but through a tenaciously fought legal battle, Oshiomhole reclaimed his mandate on November 11, 2008.

No sooner had Oshiomhole assumed power than he parted ways with Anenih because, according to the former, he was not willing to abide with the politics of godfatherism. He said he was more comfortable working directly with the people.

While Anenih’s political fortunes have been mixed over the past five years, that of Oshiomhole has been on the steady rise. For instance,

The interests of the state is better served in an atmosphere of civilised campaigns and free rein for the electorate to make their choice

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Anenih had fiercely championed the presidential ambition of former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, which was nipped at the eleventh hour by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in preference for the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua. Apart from losing control of his native Edo State, he also lost the bid to get former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, elected as governor of Anambra State in February 2010.

In spite of these losses, he has remained very relevant in presidential circles and within the national leadership of the PDP. Based on this, many faithful of the party in Edo State still believe he is able to use his clout and abilities as “Mr Fix-it” to unleash the “federal might” come July 14.

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indful of his natural handicaps as someone from the minority Edo North, Oshiomhole decided to capture the hearts of the people of the state, particularly the hugely more populous and influential Benin axis. The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor Erediauwa, was tired of decades of poor leadership in his kingdom,

which was much more beautiful when he was installed in 1978. He was tired of the city drowning in rainwater every rainy season. A decade of PDP dominance of the state, during which a son of Benin City, Igbinedion ruled for eight years, only saw the worsening of the rot.

The Oba invited Governor Oshiomhole to his palace and extracted a pledge from him to do his best to develop the city, no matter what it would take. In fact, when Oshiomhole started demolishing illegal structures to enable him widen the gauge of major urban roads to six lanes each, an uproar went up that he intended to demolish the palace of the Oba. In response, the Oba wrote the Edo State House of Assembly, urging them to pass all enabling laws sent to them provided they were for the development of the city. He even volunteered to give up part of his palace walls if necessary.

From there on, events went on a rollercoaster in the city, with most families voluntarily allowing parts of their ancestral properties to be adjusted to make way for the many six-lane intra-city dual carriageways, complete with both surface and underground drainage and street lights.

Oshiomhole simply adopted the Lee Kwan Yew approach to solve the problem of ancient Benin City.

And in gratitude, the Oba of Benin, in league with his royal chiefs and the elite of Benin, openly declared him as the candidate of the Binis.

In a twist of irony, even the man who lost his seat to Oshiomhole in court, Prof Osunbor, during a surprise visit of the Governor, endorsed his efforts, saying since he (Osunbor) sought public office to develop the state he owed it a duty to support the person now

doing so.

Oshiomhole became so smug and confident of his acceptance by the Edo electorate that he challenged Chief Anenih to walk with him through the city of Benin and let the media monitor live the reactions of the people towards them both!

As the D-day draws nearer, the atmosphere in Edo State has taken a turn for the bloody. Within the last fortnight, tragedies struck in the Oshiomhole camp. A strange tipper ran into his convoy on the way to a campaign engagement, in which three journalists lost their lives. And on Friday, May 4, 2012, Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary and friend he brought from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, was murdered in cold blood in his house. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Louis Odion, also narrowly escaped possible similar fate, as the same four-man gang of hoodlums had invaded his private house but luckily for him he was not at home.

The Governor and his camp believe the opposition PDP is behind these evil acts, an allegation the PDP has since debunked.

These acts of bloodletting, if actually politically motivated, are hardly necessary. Edo citizens are among the most literate in the country, with the average person in the street able to speak English or at least, fluent Pidgin English.

They are very widely travelled and exposed. They know exactly who they want to vote for come July 14.

Any life lost is merely wasted.

The interests of the state is better served in an atmosphere of civilised campaigns and free rein for the electorate to make their choice. It should not be a do-ordie affair.

Demotion in rank N the beginning, the foundation level at the primary school was very difficult.

If you failed very badly at the promotion examination, you were sometimes demoted. If you were in primary three, for instance, while the successful ones went to primary four, you were moved to primary two. Because of the upward and downward movement, some of the pupils who were already in primary three when we started school were still struggling around that same region when we finished six years later. In fact, some of the pupils were already cutting “banga” while in the primary school.

Much later, things began to change at the higher level. If you attempted the Qualifying Test, QT, to the General Certificate of Education, GCE and performed very poorly, you were barred from attempting the QT for some five years. Affected persons simply complied without asking any question as to its enforcement at that pre-analog age, when computers were not yet born.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Our people are daring.

How could they be admonishing our own President, Dr.Goodluck Ebelle Azikiwe Jonathan like a schoolchild? Admittedly, the party is supreme and it is superior to any individual, no matter how highly placed. That does not still reduce from the status of the President. Rather, it justifies the clear warning issued by the President at the dinner in honour of the National Working Committee of the PDP in Abuja on Monday, April 23, 2012.

We are what we say we are. The President has, perhaps unwittingly, reduced himself from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the President of the PDP. Listen to his open admission: “The President is elected by the party and must serve the party…”. We think the President is elected

by the people and he is accountable to them. He serves the people.

What goes around comes around. When we were growing up, we heard of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe being hailed as the Zik of Africa. He later became the Owelle of Onitsha. Behaving to type, Jonathan has so quickly transformed himself from the President of Nigeria to the President of the PDP. That, perhaps, is the Azikiwe in him playing out.

At a recent gathering, which was attended by my son and me, we met this friend, a brilliant lawyer of the senior advocate level and he was introducing me to my son: “Your father and I were childhood friends. We grew up together here in Benin City… Your father used to beat me in mathematics…”.

The introduction was so alluring that I would have been a moral idiot not to accept it. But the truth is that I grew up at Oghada as a village boy and I did not come to Benin City until after I finished from primary school. In mathematics, I had two left hands and I couldn’t have beaten anybody. As for secondary school, instead of coming West, I went East, where I schooled in Onitsha.

My son was enjoying the introduction and I did not want to destroy his joy by reducing myself by being brutally frank.

After all, he should also know that his father has been very bright from birth. All the same, I was careful not to accept the introduction in open affirmation – just in case the man later realised he was doing a wrong introduction. I just kept smiling like a small fool.

This is the point to which the Federal Government has reduced Nigerians on the issue of electricity. Power supply is now at the level of apology. The Federal Government’s May Day gift to all of us is a bag of apologies from the Minister of

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We are what we say we are; the President has, perhaps unwittingly, reduced himself from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the President of the PDP

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Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji for the erratic power situation in the country and urged them to exercise patience, saying the government is working hard to address the epileptic power situation in the country.

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he Minister puts it rather bluntly: “We are deeply concerned about the recent experiences of Nigerians with reference to the erratic delivery of power supply for domestic and industrial uses. The entire power sector finds it extremely important to express to Nigerians our deep regrets for this happening”. Nnaji attributes the power collapse to the low level of water in some of the power plants and shortage of gas supply, inadequate human capacity and insufficient system synergy.

This is a total surrender! In beating a retreat, this is the first time in the history

of this country that power supply is being reduced to segmentation. Nnaji still expresses it more elegantly: “We have the short term, medium term and long term solution to power supply in the country and the Minister of Petroleum Resources is ready to collaborate with us to ensure that we receive adequate gas supply to our gas power plants”.

Talking about synergy, it is clear to us that the Federal Government lacks internal democracy in its operations. The Federal Government is not talking to itself. That explains why the Minister of Petroleum Resources has now, perhaps reluctantly, agreed to make gas available.

And this is what the Federal Government is shamelessly bringing to us at the market place!

We need to be educated. What type of water shortage are we talking about, at a time when we are thinking that too much water is our problem? Is it not related to the same flood water that has sacked virtually all our cities and hamlets throughout the country? What is the problem with water?

A cursory look at the segmentation leaves us with no hope, whatsoever. Devoid of semantics, the short term is defined as the remaining part of 2012, when we are possibly entitled to total darkness.

Medium term, between 2013 and 2015, might bring a little relief and the long term, from 2015 to 2020, when this administration shall have been out of power, is when power supply will come in abundance! Bravo!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 21

New pension scheme ’ll checkmate scams — PENCOM DG NKIRUKA NNOROM

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IRECTOR-General of National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mohammed Kabir Ahmed, said that the new pension scheme will

serve as a check to many malpractices going on in the commission. He made this known in an interactive session with selected Business Editors of some media houses in Lagos. “In recent times, revelations of the massive

corruption in the administration of pensions in the public sector coming out of the National Assembly’s probe have by no means dealt the pensions scheme with a huge confidence blow.

In addition to the Pension malfea-

From left: Mr. Richard Howarth, Executive Director, Private Banking, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Sean; Mr Richard Akerele and Mr Gautam Hathiramani all art collectors at the 8th modern and contemporary art auction organised by Standard Chartered Bank, in Lagos.

NTOA laments high cost of fish production

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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IGERIA Fish Trawler Owners Association of Nigeria (NTOA) has raised alarm over production cost in the industry “saying “each vessel consumes an average of 60 tonnes of diesel daily and that is N10 million per 45-day fishing trip.

“Based on this, operators are beg-

175.20

+0.00

2,329.00

-28.00

20.38

-0.67

112.01

-1.15

96.61

-1.33

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA KRONER EURO POUNDS RIYAL SDR FRANC DOLLAR WAUA YEN RENMINBI

0.2884 27.1215 201.7321 250.107 41.2623 238.5936 167.7689 154.75 237.9793 1.9378 24.5311

0.2984 27.2092 202.3839 250.9151 41.3956 239.3645 168.311 155.25 238.7482 1.9441 24.6108

0.3084 27.2968 203.0357 251.7232 41.5289 240.1354 168.853 155.75 239.5171 1.9503 24.6905

CBN Exchange rate as at 09/05/2012

ging the federal government for diesel subsidy as diesel alone accounts for 85 per cent of their production cost,” said NTOA President, Mr. John Overo.

“We are appealing to government to also subsidise diesel. If the farmers enjoy fertiliser subsidy, then the fishing sector should have an incentive to enable the sector to thrive “The supply of this product to industrial fishing operators requires government intervention and support to continue to survive and more so, play more roles in the economic development of the nation,” he added.

The NTOA President, also said AGO constitutes 80 percent of their production cost of running the business, and that the relief that came from the federal government approving a direct AGO allocation to the sector was temporary because the policy could not be implemented.

On other challenges facing operators in the sector, he said that they are bogged down by the issue of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) sea piracy and lack of a centralised fishing terminal.

“The recent restriction on the use of the EEG certificates by Nigeria Customs Service to only import of raw materials and machinery has hampered the use of certificates”. Giving

an analogy, he said in 2004, Nigeria was contributing 1percent of the world total supply of seafood but that presently, this has dropped to below 0.5 percent, adding that if the non-payment of EEG is allowed to linger on, not only would the market share be eroded but could be lost completely.

sance revelations on the floor of the National Assembly, reports of inability of contributors to access their funds immediately they retire are another source of concern. However, all those belong in the nascent pension scheme,” he said.

Kabir Ahmed explained that with the new Scheme also known as Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) the complexities associated with the old Scheme will be a thing of the past, adding it would ease retirees’ access to their retirement benefits. The new scheme according to PENCOM DG “is robust, safe and is poised to help retirees live well after their active life in employment, adding, “To a large extent the new pension scheme has “placed in the hands of the contributor the responsibility for the contribution that is available in the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) upon retirement.”

Continuing, he said, “Thus, participants will have to take their destiny in their hands and there lies one of the major differences between the new system and the previous system. Another major difference is that while pensioners in the old system travel long distances to be verified, the local office of the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) manages that level of interface without any stress, thereby removing the need for continuous verification of pensioners.”

He stated that in the new scheme, the contribution is 7.5 per cent of the consolidated (total) monthly earning, and not just of the basic salary, noting that 7.5 per cent is deducted from every participating worker, and the employer adds another 7.5 per cent monthly. There are checks and balances in the system, and the various regulations passed by PENCOM over the years have been geared towards more openness, transparency and empowering contributors and beneficiaries of the scheme to be the major players in the pension industry, unlike in the previous era.

NPA to earn N157bn in 2012, gets budget approval

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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IGERIAN Ports Authority (NPA) is to earn N157 billion for the year 2012 following improved port operations and increased cargo thorough.- put, just as the 2012 budget of the authority has been approved by the National Assembly.

Confirming this to Vanguard, the authority ’s spokesman, Chief Micheal Ajayi, said that the N157billion expected revenue is being proposed as the impediments militating against port operation are being gradually removed.

Ajayi stated that besides the removal of some impediments militating against efficient cargo delivery, the investment on infrastructure by concessionaires and deepening of the port channel is also a factor that will help the authority in

realising the N157 billion revenue target.

The authority’s spokesman said in as much as the port system has not been able to achieve 48 hours cargo clearance tine, an importer can take delivery of his or her goods in four or five days. He explained that the improvement on facilities has led to 100 percent increase of cargo thorough put, cargo dwell time, and ship turn around time.

Ajayi further explained that as at 2010, cargo thorough put stood at 48million metric tonnes while that of 2011 was put at 82million metric tonnes. He was of the opinion that NPA will surely meet the target if everything goes well with the 2012 financial plans. “Äll things being equal, we will able to meet the revenue target of the proposed N157billion for the year 2012 if there are no distractions.”

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

CSCS not illegal, AGF was notified — Okereke-Onyiuke

BY PETER EGWUATU

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ORMER Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Professor Ndi Okereke Onyiuke has defended the establishment of Central Securities Clearing System

(CSCS) Limited, saying it was not illegal.

In her revelations at the ongoing probe on the near collapse of the Nigerian capital market, she said, “The establishment of CSCS was not illegal as the then Minister of Justice

and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was approached by the executives of the stock exchange on the need to amend the law that makes share certificates the only Prima Facie evidence in any litigation.

The AGF, affirmed that

the CSCS can serve as the ‘cerficateless’ evidence for shareholder and he promised that the law will subsequently be amended.”

On the controversial raising of $68 million (about N100 million ) for the Obama presidential

Mr. Umeokeke Bonaventure (middle), winner of a new generator in the on-going Legend Real Deal Consumer Promo, flanked by Mr. Arogundade Rotimi, District Manager, Lagos North (left) and Mr. Idowu Adeshina Chike, Regional Trade Marketing Manager, Lagos, both of Nigerian Breweries Plc, during the prize presentation at the premises of Nigerian Breweries Plc.

campaign in 2008, the NSE boss stated that she never raised funds for the Obama elections but that all she did was to create awareness for his election as the first black man who could get to rule the United States.

She further noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had investigated the dinner and found her not culpable.

On the issue of her involvement with Transcorp, Onyiuke disclosed that her appointment “was just a national assignment The former DG of the NSE stated that there was no conflict of interest with her appointment as the chairman of Transcorp and the DG of the NSE. She noted that the Council of the stock exchange officially endorsed her appointment on Transcorp’s Board after such affirmation was sought by the president.

On accusation of monopoly of the NSE, and stopping the proposed

establishment of Abuja Stock Exchange, Onyiuke said, “I am not against the establishment of Abuja Stock Exchange. If for any thing I welcome competition.

What I was against was using tax payer money to float Abuja Stock Exchange; this is because government has never managed any business successfully.

“I rather encouraged a situation where private people will come together and pool resources together to form an Exchange. Why has SEC not revived the comatose Abuja Securities and C o m m o d i t i e s Exchange? Why did they decide to interfere with the activity of the NSE that is privately driven?

“If you want me to start and revive Abuja Securities and Exchange Commission I will do it now that I am retired. I will get it up and running in the next six months for free.”

Transcorp repositions for growth, revenue grows by 1.07%

Bayelsa Gov lauds FCMB plans to employ indigenes

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RANSNATIONAL Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has announced marginal improvement in its operating and financial performance as its revenue grew marginally by 1.07 per cent for the financial year ended December31, 2011.

Specifically, at the Group level, revenue rose to N14.07 billion from previous year ’s N13.9 billion, in spite of the harsh operating environment. Profit after tax fell by 13.4 per cent to N4.67 billion from N5.39 billion the previous year. However, adjusting these figures for the exceptional item of N2.89 billion in 2010 shows a growth of 40 per cent year-on-year.

Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Transcorp, informed shareholders that during the year, the conglomerate took several significant steps in its key sectors of Agribusiness, Energy and

Hospitality – that would no doubt see Transcorp taking its rightful place as a key player in the economic development and transformation of Nigeria .

“Transcorp’s agribusiness subsidiary, Teragro Ltd, inaugurated, in collaboration with the Benue state government, a first-of-its-kind fruit juice concentrate plant in Makurdi, in March this year,” he said.

“Commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, the plant has the annual capacity to process 26,500 metric tonnes of oranges, mangoes and pineapples, turning them into juice concentrate that will be supplied to ready-to-drink juice manufacturers in Nigeria and beyond. This plant will contribute tremendously to increased employment, the utilisation of local produce, as well as serve as a domestic supply substitute for indigenous manufactur-

ers.”

“I am excited and optimistic about Nigeria ’s coming of age,” Mr. Elumelu said. “Now is the time to become fully engaged in transformational investments that create economic prosperity and social wealth by increasing employment and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.”

The chairman of Transcorp continued by telling shareholders that Transnational Hotels and Tourism Services Limited (THTSL), another subsidiary of Transcorp, had commenced the execution of its expansion plans to fully utilise the massive unutilised land on its Transcorp Hilton Abuja site and roll out new hotels across major economic centres in Nigeria such as Lagos and Port Harcourt. In addition, he said that Transcorp Energy Limited, the energy subsidiary of Transcorp, had

signed a partnership agreement with Symbion Power, a US-based energy company, which would lead to a significant increase in power production, for the benefit of the nation.

In his review of Transcorp’s 2011 results, Transcorp President/ CEO stated that the results indicated that as part of its transformation in 2011, Transcorp resolved legacy issues across the group and necessary adjustments were made in the accounts to reflect this.

Mr. Obinna Ufudo stated that “ we finished 2011 with momentum and are positioned for a stronger 2012 adding that Transcorp is undergoing a transformation, driven principally on two fronts. We have fully embraced and enthroned the highest level of global best practices and governance standards in our operations and businesses.

OVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has lauded the management of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) for its decision to offer employment to Bayelsa indigenes.

Dickson made the commendation in Yenegoa when Mr Ladi Balogun, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank, paid him a courtesy visit.

The governor said he would direct the ministries of Manpower Development and Employment Generation to begin the process of selecting qualified Bayelsa indigenes to be absorbed by the bank.

He also expressed his willingness to accept the bank’s offer of partnership with the state on tourism development.

The governor urged Ladi Balogun to project Bayelsa as a state with a favourable investment climate ready for investment.

He said his administration had a clear vision for the development of the state, especially in key areas of agriculture, education and health and urged the private sector to play a prominent role in helping his administration in realising this ambition. .Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Mr Ladi Balogun, had expressed the readiness of the bank to collaborate with the government in commercial and infrastructure development.

He stressed the need for the government to start the process of developing the immense tourist potential of the state to create wealth and employment.

Ladi Balogun said officials of the bank had identified some areas in the state as tourist sites which would attract investors if developed.

Vanguard Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 23

APPOINTMENT & PROMOTION

vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 08033348923

MasterCard appoints Monehin Divisional President

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From left: Omawumi Magbele, Mortein Anti-Malaria Campaign Spokesperson (left); Sheila Cheyne, Senior Brand Manager, Mortein, Reckitt Benckiser, Kenya (right); having an educative talk with pregnant women at Pumwani Maternity hospital Kenya during the Anti-Malaria Campaign Awareness in Kenya.

ASTERCARD has announced the appointment of Mr. Daniel Monehin, a Nigerian, Divisional President, as part of the structure for the Middle East and Africa, MEA. The organization said the move was spurred by continuous economic development.

The MEA business will comprise three divisions, Middle East and North Africa, MENA, Sub Sahara Africa and South Africa, clustering a total of 69 markets stretching from Afghanistan to South Africa and from Morocco to Pakistan.

This change will enable MasterCard to get closer to its customer banks, merchants

Diamond Helix gets MDCN appointment M

EDICAL and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, has appointed Diamond helix Medical Assistance Limited, to conduct continuous Medical Education, CME, programmes for medical practitioners in Nigeria.

The appointment of Diamond

Helix, a health consultancy firm, came after of the inspection of Diamond’s facility and programmes by MDCN. The Assistant Registrar, Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakanma who announced this in Lagos, said the council approved the license to Diamond Helix

Medical Assistance to ensure that Nigerians get the best of Medicare.

In a chat after the license approval, the Managing Director of Diamond Helix Medical Assistance Ltd, Dr. Ufuoma Okotete, who expressed appreciation to MDCAN, said: “the approval

FFHINAM honours Mimiko

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OVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, has been honoured by the Forum of Federal Health Institutions Nurses and Midwives, FFHINAM, with the Excellence in Mortality Reduction Award.

The award is in recognition of his immense contributions to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the state.

The award presentation took place at the Federal Medical Centre’s Main Auditorium, Owo during the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Florence Nightingale week of the centre. Governor Mimiko, who expressed happiness over the recognition, promised continued collaboration of his administration with the

institution in area of optimal utilization of its equipment with a view to meeting the health needs of the people.

The Governor noted that the institution as the only federal tertiary health facility in the State would not be left alone for its owner but the State government would continue to assist in certain critical areas because its major clients are the residents of the State.

According to him, the construction of the ultramodern trauma centre being executed by his administration would soon be completed with the inclusion of its running grants in the state budget, adding that the integrated emergency medical scheme

Ekiti restates commitment to quality service delivery

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KITI State Government has reiterated its commitment to quality service delivery for allround development of the people. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SERVE-EKS formerly SERVICOM, Olusola Omolayo spoke in Ado while briefing on the activities of his agency.

Omolayo said SERVE-EKS was put in place to help government effectively implement its programmes for the betterment of the people.

He called on workers in every sector to perform their duties according to the laid down rules and regulation as this would have positive change of attitude in their endeavours.

Omolayo highlighted the programme of SERVE-EKS to include establishing Service Delivery Unit (S.D.U) in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, assisting M.D.As put in place the service charter containing expected services to the people and government.

would soon take off.

However, Dr Mimiko urged medical workers, particularly nurses to always uphold the tenets of the profession and never to indulge in any act that can destroy the profession, describing their action and inaction as the determinants of the quality of healthcare services in any hospital.

would help them achieve their goals of giving medical practitioners in Nigeria qualitative continuous trainings.”

Okotete said the approval will help redefine the Nigerian Healthcare landscape, saying “that the medical industry is in constant evolution and our doctors should be abreast and upbeat about the recent developments. The difference between our CMEs and others is that the doctors do not just get awarded the needed credits for their license renewal. CMEs will afford the doctors the opportunity to earn international certifications as our programmes lead to Executive Diplomas and Certificate programmes in recognized Health Institutes in Europe and the USA.”

and consumers in the region.

A new team has been established to support the MEA business.

The MEA team will be reporting to Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.

According to Miebach “Our new organizational structure and appointments are part of our strategic decision to invest expertise, resources and know-how in this part of the world, which continues to register strong economic growth. This new structure will help us streamline our investments in areas that drive accelerated growth while helping MasterCard get even closer to our customers.”

The Sub-Sahara Africa division will be led by Mr. Monehin, now incorporates East, West and Southern Africa (excluding South Africa).

Mr. Monehin will drive strategic development and forge closer business alliances with key stakeholders within these regions.

He will also be responsible for developing and promoting MasterCard products and services.

On his new responsibility, Monehin said, “This development is a testament to MasterCard’s commitment in supporting our wide network of customers across the SubSahara Africa markets. The move will also help us bring our international expertise and resources much closer to these emerging markets. Our local in-country structure will strengthen our collaboration and communications with all our stakeholders from customer banks.

CWDR seeks transparent mgmt of PHCN

R

IGHTS group, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, has called on the Federal government to make room for transparency and democracy in the management of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, with the involvement of elected representatives of electricity workers and consumers to guarantee safe and uninterrupted power supply.

The call came against the back drop of the Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji recently sacked of three top PHCN officials, Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Akinwunmi Bada; Head Operator of the Nigerian Electricity Market (ONEM), Uzoma Achinanya; and Executive Director, Human Resources, PHCN, Olushoga Muyiwa under controversial

circumstances. The group argued that blaming the drop in power supply on them is facial, stressing “this claim of sabotage has not been proven but sabotage is inherent in a bureautically run company; particularly managed to

guarantee private profit and interest. Goodluck Jonathan privatization program will further deepen the pursuit for private interest, which will consolidate on the failure to provide improved power supply to Nigerians.

DSLGSC promotes 2,702

D

ELTA State Local Government Service Commission, DSLGSC, has said it promoted a total of 2,702 staff.

Chairman of DSLGSC, Chief Patience Okwuofu, who spoke during her second year anniversary as chairman of the commission, said the payroll of the 25 local government councils had been computerized.

She also noted that the commission had organized series of training to make all

the senior staff ITC compliance, warning however that staff found wanting were suspended.

According to her, the commission also organized series of workshops, seminars for all categories of staff in order to improve their job effectiveness and efficiency, adding that 1188 of such approvals were granted covering areas of in service training, study leave with or without pay and part time programmes.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Why Asaba Int’l Airport runway needs extension — Uduaghan

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

E

Front view of Asaba International Airport

An Overland ATR-72 aircraft taxiing on the runway at the airport the fact that the hills also impede pilots’ visibility.

When Vanguard visited the airport site at the weekend, over 50 heavy duty bulldozers were seen levelling the hills in front of the runway, even as work is yet to commence on the sandfilling of the valley on one side of the runway. Delta State Director of Highways and

,

VERYWHERE in the world, aviation is used to jumpstart economic development, and a key component of this is using airport to engender economic growth. Perhaps that was what Delta State envisaged in embarking on the building of an international airport which is nearing completion.

Although development of the airport is still on, flight operations for small and mediumsized aircraft have started. At present, the airport is equipped with the necessary facilities for safe flights, what with a much more modern control tower, five functional fire fighting tenders with capacity for 12,000 litres of water as well as 1,500 foam component; ambulances and three heavy duty generators of 1,000KVA each to guarantee 24 hours power supply, aside from a dedicated line from Power Holdings Company of Nigeria, PHCN Also, finishing touches are being put to both the local and international departure and arrival terminals, with three avio bridges also in place.

Already, the airport has a runway of 3.4km length, suitable for wide-bodied aircraft, be Boeing 747, 777 or even the Airbus A380.

However, there is a snag, which will make it difficult, if not impossible for wide-bodied aircraft to fly into and out of the airport.

That snag is the hills and river valleys that form part of the topography of the airport site.

Although the runway is 3.4km, Vanguard learnt that a hill of another 1.2km long on the frontal side of the runway must be levelled to bring the terrain at par with the runway, as required by the standard operating procedures of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The back of the runway would also have to be extended by at least 300 metres through sandfilling to bring it at par with the runway.

It was also gathered that extensive sandfilling of the valleys on both sides of the runway would have to be done to bring them to the same level as the runway.

As the runway is at the moment, pilots would have problems aligning their aircraft to the centre line of the runway to bring down their aircraft during landing because of the hills, which is up to about 60 metres higher than the level of the runway.

Vanguard also gathered that except for small and mediumsized planes, pilots of bigger aircraft would have problem receiving signals from the NonDirectional Beacon, NDB, a navigational equipment installed at the airport, while trying to land. The equipment at the airport had been subsumed by the hills. This is aside from

port, stressing that whatever was going on at the site was due to the prompting of the regulatory agency, NCAA. Engr. Mukoro said three contractors had been engaged by the state government in order to complete the job on time.

Explaining the intricacies of the job of extending the runway to accommodate wide-bodied air-

However, there is a snag, which will make it difficult, if not impossible, for widebodied aircraft to fly into and out of the airport.

That snag is the hills and river valleys that form part of the topography of the airport site

,

Chairman of Airport Monitoring Committee, Engr. Donatus Mukoro, told Vanguard that the levelling of the hills and sandfilling of the river valleys would require an extensive work which would take no less than six months to accomplish, depending on weather situation.

He said the hills constitute danger to safe flights into the air-

craft, he said: “ The volume of cutting of the hills and filling up of the low areas is much in line with the requirements of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority In terms of costs, we need to spend over N7 billion to put the runway into the acceptable standard that will be adequate for the work to be done, we are doing a lot of work.

“The contract is being handled by three contractors, with heavy duty equipment on site, working from morning till evening, seven days of the week. At the moment, we are working on 150 metres to meet the capacity for smaller and medium size aircraft but to get to the ultimate level of big aircraft like Boeing 747, we need to get to 200 metres.

“We have barely done some good work , in some sections, the work is very massive, it will require some time, to complete the project. Obviously, many factors contribute to the speedy completion of this project, weather is a primary consideration, that is why it is difficult to say when the work will be comp l e t e d .

“People who are complaining that over N7 billion is required to complete the runway job are embarking on a ridiculous game, because they are ignorant of the volume of work involved. The complaint is ridiculous because people are misinf o r m e d .

“The volume of earth work involved is very huge, the cutting itself is very huge. Apart from the 300 metres on one stretch, we are also cutting another stretch of 500 metres, about 1.2km. We have to protect the area by filling with hard soil and grassing the whole terrain to prevent erosion.

I think the whole criticism stems from misinformation.”

Overall, Engr. Mukoro said the project would require a massive 3.7 cubic metres of earth work to bring the runway area to acceptable level by the regulatory agency.

Also barring his mind on the matter, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said the hills remain the reason bigger planes were not flying into the airport.

According to him, the regulatory agency is saying until these hills and valleys are eliminated, the airport will not get approval for wide-bodied aircraft to come i n .

He said: “ The contract for the leveling of the hills was not awarded because of the recently concluded South South Summit, hosted in Asaba, it is purely driven by the technical and safety consideration of the NCAA, the contract has since 2011 been awarded.

“As the chief executive of the state, I directed the contractor to get the job done in good time, because we are in a hurry to get the airport up and running, that is our goal, this is driven by the pressure I am under from our sister states in the South East, Anambra, Abia, Enugu to get the airport running.

“When the contractor said he had done a major percent of the job, we were going to give him about ten or eleven months, as at the time the contractor had

done just less the per cent, we thought he had attained about fifty percent.

“That indeed puts us in a fix, meaning that if we had allowed him to move at that pace, it will take another two years or more time to complete the job, so we brought in more contractors to speed up the completion of the job, we have brought in two other contractors, they are now three contractors, there is no variation in the costs, the same cost for the demolishing, we are convinced that soonest, the project with different segments will be completed.

“I think the figure that is being bandied about is the totality of so many things, the unfortunate thing is that the time the figures were sent out, it was not properly transmitted, and that is the unfortunate thing.

That is the reaction we are having. However, I am hoping that contractors will speed up the completion of the hills, so that NCAA could give us approval because our ambition is to be able to land a big aircraft as big as Airbus 380 in Asaba Airport.”

He further clarified that it might be difficult to fix a time line for the completion of construction and commissioning of the airport.

“It will be difficult for me to give you an exact date that this airport will be ready for commissioning , because the regulation and certification is done by NCAA. Each time the team comes, they look at what is on ground assess the level of completion, and give us specification of what to expect.

“Another dimension to this is that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), carried out a project assessment in the United States of America of how a modern airport should look like, and that is the model that we are adopting here to make Asaba Airport a model of a modern airport in Nigeria.

“We are looking at this airport as the airport of the future in Nigeria. There are many airports across the world that do not have the kind of facilities we have here in Asaba Airport.

We want the Asaba Airport to be a model of what an airport should look like. It is possible to achieve that. Commissioning is subject to the approval of the regulators,” Uduaghan said.

On his advice to critics of the airport project, Uduaghan said: “First of all, I share their concern, and I just hope that it is being done in good faith, to ensure transparency, but generally we want to appeal to them, they should look more for the positive side of the airport project than any probable negative. I speak this way because of the benefit of the airport to Deltans and Nigerians in general who use the airport.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 25

UNICEF worries Nigeria makes electric over 2015 EFA car and target power bike — Page 37

Compound C emerge winners at inter-compound soccer competition

— Page 38

— Page 35

How FUNAAB produced 39 first class graduands — VC

By DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

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*20th Convocation/Awards Ceremonies of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB held at its Alabata Site, Abeokuta on Saturday May 5, 2012. From left: Prof. Ruqayyatu A. Rufai, Education Minister, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Governor of Jigawa State. Photo By WUMI AKINOLA.

UT-GOING Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Prof.

Olaiya Balogun said the university has produced no fewer than 39 first class graduates out of 1,355 graduating students from eight colleges for the 2010/2011 academic session.

He stated this in his valth edictory speech at the 20 convocation ceremony of the university, which he linked to enabling environment for the students.

Olaiya further said that 473 of them bagged second class (Upper Division), while 607 students made second class

Anxiety as cults spring up in primary, secondary schools

By AMAKA ABAYOMI & FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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ESPITE concerted efforts by government and concerned stakeholders to provide Nigerians with quality education, a few have chosen to toe the line that leads to destruction through voluntary initiation into different cults, which has eaten deep into the education system.

What is known as secret cult in tertiary institutions started at the University College, Ibadan in 1953 when Prof.

Wole Soyinka, AigImoukhuede, Pius Oleghe, Ralph Opara, Nat Oyelola and Prof. Muyiwa Awe formed the Pyrates Confraternity with the objectives of abolishing convention, reviving the age chivalry, and ending tribalism and elitism.

But these objectives have been defeated as thousands of lives have been lost and properties worth millions of naira lost due to the evil activities of cult groups in our tertiary institutions.

As a result, the National Association of Sea dogs ordered a cessation of all its activities on campuses of higher institutions effective 1984.

But it is unfortunate that our primary and secondary schools are veritable grounds for breeding cultists, making one to wonder if we are civilizing in the right way.

The expulsion of 26 secondary school students for involvement in cult activities in 2002 in Cross River State, the beating of a secondary school typist to death in Eket, Akwa Ibom State in 2004, the killing of one Victor aka ‘papa’, a secondary school student in Oron, Akwa

Ibom State in January 2004, the massive initiation of children into more than 150 cult groups identified by the anticultism law of Rivers State and the arrest of seven secondary school kingpins in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2004, opened our eyes to the rot at the secondary school level in Nigeria.

I

t was reported that kid cult ists, consisting of four girls aged between 13 and 15, were arrested at Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Some of the cultists had been expelled from various secondary schools in connection with cult-related activities.

The boys had the marks of Eye Confraternity cult group on their arms, while the girls belonged to the Queen of White Angels.

Worried by the rise in cultism in primary and secondary schools, President Goodluck

Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to enact tougher laws against cultists and those engaging in examination malpractice.

He said the eradication of cultism was a national project for all stakeholders in the country as campuses of higher institutions had been turned into breeding ground for cultists, an avenue for the practice of immoralities and a base for grooming terrorists.

Jonathan who called for a ‘reorientation of our children said government would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to curb the activities of cultists and their sponsors.

S

peaking with Vanguard rd Learning at the 3 national conference on Strategies for Eradicating

Continues on page 35

(Lower Division) and 191 students are in the third class Division just as the remaining 17 had ordinary pass degree.

According to the vicechancellor, the institution is currently ranked the best University of Agriculture in Africa by the India Partnership Summit's Le Matina Educational Excellence Awards, while a research group, Cybermetric Laboratory in Spain has ranked the university second th best in Nigeria and 35 in Africa.

E

x-Vice-President, World Bank (Africa), Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Governor, Jigawa State, Alhaji S u l e L a m i d o and Chief Jonathan Olopade were conferred with honourary doctorate degrees (Honoris Causa) in science, agriculture and engineering by the institution. Represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, President Goodluck Jonathan charged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution and restore agriculture to its pride of place.

“The Federal Government is putting an initiative in place to enable the three existing universities of agriculture in the country establish Departments of Technology Transfer and Acquisition as part of their curricula. When established, they would be expected to facilitate the development of appropriate technologies for eventual transfer to our farming communities which account for about 85 per cent of the nation’s population.

“We have already put in place mechanisms to ensure that each state focuses on crops, fisheries and livestock of comparative advantage. In

Continues on page 27

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10 , 2012 Full MBA Tuition Fee scholarships from Swansea University,UK To celebrate the launch of The Swansea MBA, we are offering two full tuition fee scholarships (valued at £14,500) to exceptional MBA candidates from non-EU countries.

Awarding Criteria:IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) and 1st Class Bachelor ’s degree (or equivalent). Apply for your place on The Swansea MBA and if you are eligible to apply for a scholarship, you will automatically be sent an application form.

The scholarship application closing date is 30th June 2012. For more details and original scholarship link visit, http://www.swan.ac.uk/international/students/feesand-funding/scholarships/ theswanseambascholarship/ New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships Universities in New Zealand, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, are inviting the nomination of two Nigerian candidates for scholarships under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme, for PhD and

Master's level study in New Zealand.

This is tenable from the academic year commencing February, 2013.

The applications will only be considered where particularly strong development relevance is demonstrated, and only in the relevant priority study sectors.

Requirements include: A minimum of 2:1 class of degree in any field of study and submission of an admission letter from a New Zealand University.

Deadline for the expression of interest via fsbfsb2011@gmail.com and for th further information is 30 April, 2012.

New Zealand NZIDRS New Zealand Governmentfunded the Doctoral Research Scholarships for International students to study at New Zealand, 2012 for any study subject(s) at the PhD level.

Scholarship can be taken at New Zealand and is eligible to be paid to those students who are traveling to NZ specifically to take up the NZIDRS. Scholarship is open for international students.

The New Zealand Interna-

SCHOLARSHIPS tional Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) are funded by the New Zealand Government. Recipients are selected upon academic merit and the NZIDRS provides full tuition fees, plus living and other allowances.

How to Apply: Online at http://scholarshippositions.com Scholarship Application Deadline: 16 July 2012.

Roger Dillemans scholarship fund at Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium Master’s Scholarship for the applicants of developing countries at Catholic University of Leuven, 2012 Belgium for courses offered by the university.

Scholarship is open for international students and each applicant must be from a developing country, have an initial master’s degree from KU

Leuven, have excellent study results, and show strong motivation to follow a second master ’s programme at KU Leuven.

Scholarship Description: For the 2012-2013 academic year, scholarships will be granted to developing-world students who have obtained a master’s degree from KU Leuven and would like to continue their studies with a second master’s degree.

How to apply: Online at scholarship-positions.com Scholarship application deadline: 15 May 2012 2012 call for Master's scholarships in Mathematics for Life Sciences, France Jacques Hadamard Mathematics Foundation-funded scholarship for international students in Mathematics for Life Sciences at Paris Sud University in Orsay, France

FACE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2012. Study Subject(s): Mathematics for Life Sciences to be taken at France.

The scholarships are open to all students. The selection process will be based on the academic quality of the transcript and recommendation letters.

The Jacques Hadamard Mathematics Foundation (FMJH) is open for international students and is offering one year scholarships for talented students applying for the master's program in Mathematics for Life Sciences (Master2 MathSV) in one of its member institutions (the Departments in Applied Mathematics of the École polytechnique, École Normale Supérieure de Cachan, and Paris Sud University in Orsay). These scholarships are only for the second year of a Master's degree program (M2).

How to Apply: Online at http://scholarshippositions.com Scholarship Application Deadline: June 2th, 2012

FUNAAB Gets New Registrar

T Ahmadu Bello Stadium L.E.A Nursery and Primary School dilapidated building in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi

Bad face of Egbeda Primary School, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Another building in Egbeda Primary School, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Bad face of Ebenezer Primary School, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Ebenezer Primary School toilet in Egbeda, Alimosho LGA,inLagos •Ebenizer primary school Lagos State Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Another building in Egbeda Primary School, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

HE Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has approved t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f M r.

Matthew Odunlade Ayoola as the institution’s new Registrar.

According to FUNAAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, the Council ratified Ay o o l a ’ s th appointment at its 70 Statutory Meeting, for a term of five years, with effect from April 20, 2012. Until his appointment, Ayoola was t h e D e p u t y Re g i s t r a r, Examination and Records Division, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State.

A seasoned administrator, Ayoola holds two Master ’s degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Managerial Psychology (MMP) from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and the University of Ibadan, respectively. He belongs to several professional bodies, which include the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (IPMN) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 27

How FUNAAB produced 39 first class graduands — VC Continues onpage 25 addition, government plans to expand incentives for farmers and the private sector as we expect to create 3.5 million jobs in the agricultural sector alone by 2015.

“I do expect our university management and faculties to embark on innovative and creative means of complementing government’s funding efforts. This is the only way that we can effectively enhance the

quality of university education in Nigeria and meaningfully tackle the challenge of the poor international ranking of our universities.”

In his speech, the University ’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Lawrence Ayinde Olakunle Osayemi, appealed to the Federal Government to release its take-off grant, since its establishment in 1988.

Osayemi who recalled that the Federal Government’s vis-

iting panel to the institution had made the recommendation during its visitation to the school said: “We plead with our highly considerate and kind-hearted visitor (President Jonathan) to approve the much-needed grant, especially now that government is considering giving it to the new universities. The grant, will no doubt, boost our academic and infrastructural base.”

Delivering his acceptance

*From left: Prof. Femi Balogun; Prof. Ruqayyatu A. Rufai, Education Minister; Alhaji Sule Lamido, Governor, Jigawa State; Chief Jonathan Olopade and Obi Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien, Chancellor at the 20th Convocation/Awards Ceremonies of FUNAAB held at its Alabata Site, Abeokuta on May 5, 2012. Photo By WUMI AKINOLA.

speech on behalf of other awardees, Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, appreciated FUNAAB for the awards, pledging to continue contributing to the development of the university.

He, however, expressed fears over the degenerating security situation in the country, saying the situation has further compounded the poverty level amongst the people.

Lamido further blamed the leaders of the country for the high rate of poverty and insecurity in the country, saying the worsening insecurity situation has placed a burden of woes on the younger generation. According to him, the older generation has criminally neglected the younger citizens of the country by withholding their support for them.

“I think we need to ponder, yes, if only we can ponder and self-interrogate. What have we done wrong? If only we can individually resolve to do right, may be and may be. Shouldn’t our young graduands and the generation before them be optimistic of a better future for us and our children?”

Lamido also decried a situation where the majority of Nigerians live in abject poverty in the midst of the extreme affluence displayed by the few rich.

He argued that with the natural endowment bestowed on the country by God, no Nigerian should be poor.

“We have people who have excelled in all human endeavours, the best professors in Africa as well as the richest man! The sum total of all these is that Nigeria has no business with poverty and yet it is the defining feature of the lives of the majority of our peoples.

It is also a country of competing extremes, extreme poverty and extreme affluence.

“While the rich live life as an art, the poor live life of misery and agony. The riverine man in Bayelsa lives in the creeks with huts on water made of planks and leaves, the poor man in Jigawa lives in a house made of corn stalks and grass, a vulcanizer works under the scorching sun to make a living, the poor woman roasts ‘boli or dundu” in the sun with umbrella only as shelter!

“Add all these to the climate of insecurity which has enveloped the country, yet we are today releasing these children who have graduated into this environment called Nigeria as our future leaders,” the governor added.

Other dignataries who attended the occasion were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Asagba of Asaba and Chancellor of FUNAAB, Chike Obi Edozien, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and all the members of the Jigawa State cabinet, the three senators from Jiwaga State and members of the Jigawa State House of Assembly.

The teacher can make or unmake a child — Femi Ogunsanya

BY EBELE ORAKPO

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REPARATION For Life (PFL), an international education consultancy services outfit held its first ever corporate networking event in Lagos recently. The event offered the opportunity "for organisations to discuss strategic collaborations and for representatives from the UK institutions to learn about Nigerian organisations and to understand industry expectations of graduates."

Speaking with newsmen, PFL Director, Nigeria and President, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN), D r.

Fe m i Ogunsanya said one of the aims of the event was to create more awareness.

"It is to create more awareness of what PFL is all about. The universities are already showing interest in Lagos State which gladdens my heart because we need

C M Y K

the foreign investors to come and believe in us."

Asked what Nigeria is not getting right in her educational system, the educationist said: "Organisational planning.

We have to plan more in advance. We should not be short-sighted in our planning. We should not just wake up and come up with all kinds of policies. We need to move slowly, watch the international community to see how they are doing it.

If a new policy is going to be introduced into education, they would have started talking about it two to three years in advance so all the stakeholders will be aware and have the opportunity to plan, not just one that comes overnight and then is reversed overnight again, like a disarticulation.

Our education sector came forward and then went backwards. Now we are sort of hanging somewhere, we

are not quite there and we therefore need to go to the drawing board, sit down and organise things properly. Do the policies favour the children?

Do the combination of subjects favour them and what we need in this country? We've got to think about our country, and the best way forward, how we can train these children to actually move this country forward.

I know there are lots of things we can learn from having a relationship with the foreign partners. They can do training programmes for us. Training programmes are enlightenment programmes and therefore we could learn a lot."

Also speaking at the event, the Country Director, PFL Nigeria, Mrs. Moyinoluwa Ogedengbe said that PFL as the oldest and the longest international educational consultancy in Nigeria, has sent over 10,000 students to

the UK "and many of them have been able to come back and work in Nigeria. " Asked what government can do to restore confidence in the education system, Mrs. Ogedengbe said: "I believe the government can do something if we have less strikes, stability, provide special structures/facilities, then parents will have faith in the system and that would stop them from trying to get their wards out of Nigeria."

Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Ogunsanya said there is need to improve the quality of our education through "a lot of training for the teachers on classroom delivery methodologies. Train the teachers who will teach these children. There are different ways in which children learn. That is one basic factor. Some can learn by just looking (sight), some by just listening, and some by actually practising. So a teacher has to be trained in

the way to deliver to the classroom to capture all of these children. If even we are able to address that, the level of performance will improve tremendously in our schools.

"And we need commitment from the teachers. Commitment to actually have the interest of the students at heart and for them to want to deliver because the teacher is the one who makes or unmakes a child. The future of that child in your classroom is at your fingertips and therefore you have to ensure that if you want this improvement and progress and revival in Nigeria, there is need to be aware of the power they have on the students in their classroom.

"I say to teachers and I don't hide my voice about it: If you are not interested in training, you don't need to be in the classroom. It is a calling.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Corps member takes drug abuse campaign to school

By IKENNA ASOMBA

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N an effort to instill the right knowledge against the intake of hard substances and drug abuse amongst teenagers, a corps member serving at Bell University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, Oluwamayokun Opatoye, has organised an advocacy campaign for students of Sango High School, Sango/Ota, Ogun State.

According to Opatoye, the advocacy campaign became necessary as the negative impact of drug abuse and other related cases are becoming rampant in the society.

She said: “I believe in impacting knowledge to younger folks as I believe that an informed mind stands a better chance of making informed decisions. That is the notion behind going from one school to the other for sensitization on the issue of substance and drug abuse amongst teenagers, which is becoming rampant in our society.”

The knowledge facilitator noted that the essence of the programme was to help the junior students become well informed about what drug abuse is; its effects on the individual and the consequences on our nation as a whole.

“In achieving our aim, the students were made to understand the examples of substances or drugs that can be abused as well as their local names. Emphasis was laid on the fact that it is better

to say no to drugs than to try it once through songs and choruses.”

Meanwhile, appropriate answers were given to questions posed by the

students on the theme and other related issues, even as the counsellor of the school, Mrs. Faka Ajayi, appreciated the initiative.

According to Ajayi, “this

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HE Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) recently held its maiden in-house workshop with the theme: Feature and Opinion Writing. The workshop came on the heels of a fourpage newsletter published by the union. The workshop was divided into three sessions and each was facilitated by a prominent UCJ member.

The first paper titled: Opinion Writing: The Way Forward, was delivered by Muhammed Abdullahi, a 300L Combined

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ELLS University of Technology hereby calls all candidates who chose the institution as any choice and scored the minimum required cut-off (180) or applied to the school through Direct Entry in the 2012 UTME for their post-UTME screening exercise which comes up on 19th May, 2012.

Candidates applying for admission into any undergraduate programme must possess a minimum of five (5) O’ Level credit passes at one or two sittings in SSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB or equivalents which must include credit passes in English Language and Mathematics, and other subjects relevant to the proposed course of study.

Interested applicants should visit www.bellsuniversity.org for more details.

Bowen University holds post-UTME May 12

B *Oluwamayokun Opatoye and some of the students during the sensitization campaign.

Why LASU part-time exams were delayed — Fosudo

By IKENNA ASOMBA

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OLLOWING recent reactions and protests by students of the Lagos State University External System (LASUES) against the delay in commencing their 2010/2011 2nd semester exams, the Director, Centre for Information, Press and Public Rela-

tions, Lagos State University (CIPPR-LASU), Dr. Sola Fosudo has said that the delay was due to alleged irregularities and financial improprieties bedeviling the system, which the new administration of Prof. John Obafunwa is trying to clean up, even as he assured that preparations for the long-awaited exams have com-

UCJ holds workshop

By DAYO AKINOLA, UNILORIN

kind of initiative will go a long way in helping the students make better decisions now and in the future.”

BELLSTECH to hold post-UTME May 19

Law student. His paper examined the in-and-out of opinion pieces; what purposes they serve; how to craft them; and getting them published. He justified the need for writing opinion pieces by saying: “Each man craves to dictate how history is told.” His parting words were: “If you have a strong opinion about something, why not let the world know?”

The second paper was delivered by Michael Adebayo, a 200L Computer Science student, with the title: Feature Writing: The Nucleus of Journalism. The paper distinguished between feature writ-

ing and opinion writing. The paper also enumerated the essentials of feature writing.

The third paper, which was intended to complement the second paper, was delivered by Wale Bakare, a 200L Zoology student, with the title: Tips and Tricks on Writing a Feature Article. The paper enunciated how to write an excellent feature article. Adetokunbo Adeniyi, a 100L Business Administration student, said: “The workshop goes along with Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy. It is a workshop of the people, by the people and for the people. It is really an eye-opener.”

menced.

Fosudo made this known in a chat with Quadlife in his office last Friday. According to him, “ when the new VC came, certain revelations were uncovered bordering on irregularities. It’s not only from the angle of the school, so that you won’t think I’m indicting the former Director of External System or the former ViceChancellor of financial impropriety.

“At a recent meeting called by the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa, it was discovered that the exact data of students in the external system cannot be ascertained. It was said that the former administration gave the contract of ascertaining students’ data to a contractor. For instance, if that person declares that in the external system there are 100,000 students, you will actually discover that we have more than that. The implication is that the university will have to share the amount declared with the proprietors of the external campuses, whereas the exact data of students have not been declared honestly.”

OWEN University hereby calls all candidates who chose the institution as any choice and scored the minimum required cut-off (180) in the 2012 UTME for their Post-UTME screening test which comes up on 12th May, 2012.

The general O’level requirement to enter the school is as follows; 5 credit passes in either SSCE, GCE, NECO, NABTEB or approved equivalent in not more than two sittings for English Language and four other relevant subjects for the course of study.

Candidates awaiting results may apply.

Interested applicants should visit www.bowenuniversity-edu.org.

FUNAAB VC honoured as Chief Executive of the Year

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HE Diocese of Egba West (Anglican Communion) has conferred on FUNAAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, the Chief Executive of the Year th award during the Diocese’s 5 anniversary thanksgiving celebration held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Oke-Igbore, Abeokuta.

Justifying the rationale for the award, the church said it was in appreciation of Prof.

Balogun’s contributions to the growth and development of the Diocese. He was represented by the Chairman, FUNAAB's Board of Survey, Prof. F. O. Olasantan.

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Michael Jimoh Kubeyinje

Talking with Yoruba drums

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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INCE inception, the talking drum is played uniquely by the Yoruba people, although many other African tribes play talking drums, majority sometimes do not go beyond the peripheral to display the exact meaning but only showcase basic rhythms of drum conversations.

However, given the aphorism that a thousand mile begins with a step, the drum music culture has gradually carved a niche for the Yoruba race given the deep and enviable messages it relays while being played. Yoruba Drum Festival, YDF, is a leadership initiative, cultural diplomacy and tourism development which are strategically created to serve as a refreshing introduction of Yoruba culture and language to a global audience.

Given to the importance of drum and drumming in Yoruba’s social cultural life, The Yoruba Drum Festival, YDF was developed by Ayodele Ganiu in December

show at Yoruba Tennis Club, at Onikan, YDF made the audience to know that there is a conceptual engagement between the mediating role of Yoruba performers and the thematic and structural features of their performances. Also, Yoruba entertainment performances, he explained, are defined by the constant interplay of the elements of play and spirituality as controlled by the agency of the performer.

At the show, the drummers demonstrated how drums in Yoruba land goes beyond mere entertainment. The audience was thrilled with electrifying live performances by Dabi Ayanlola Kanyinsola, Kaaro Oojiire Cultural Troupe, Ayanbinrin and Ayanwola Ayankojo.

There was acrobatic display from Kaaro, Apepe display by Kaaro Oojiire troupe, Ayanbirin and Tiwa n lead dancer and bata dundun.

Ayanbinrin, whose real name is Tosin Olakanye-Olayemi is one of YDF ambassadors, She is is today, the most

,

Ayanbinrin, whose real name is Tosin Olakanye-Olayemi is one of YDF ambassadors, She is is today, the most sought after female talking drummer in West Africa

2009 at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, ICD, and Berlin in Germany to help promote the rich cultural legacy of drum.

As an ICD Academy alumnus, Ganiu worked in consultation with Katharine Muller who is the former Managing Director of Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, ICD, Mark Donfried, Aare Lekan Amida the President of Egbe Omo Oduduwa Berlin e.V and Mr Ayodele L. Ayodeji, the former Minister, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Germany.

VDF is also a project of Intro Afrika, an art firm co-founded by Ganiu to promote intercultural relations by showcasing African cultures to global audiences through music and other artistic productions. The major goals of YDF are to reconnect the Yoruba in Africa and in the Diaspora to their roots, a necessity to expose aspects of Yoruba culture to a global audience and to encourage interest in and preserve the Yoruba language.

In its process of contributing to tourism development in Yoruba land, YDF is also affiliated with reputable international organisations which include; Egbe Omo Oduduwa Berlin e.V, African Languages Technology Initiative (ALT-I), Egbe Omo Oduduwa, Kenya and Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, ICD. At the recent Lagos public awareness

,

sought after female talking drummer in West Africa. The award-winning artiste evolved with her own identity especially with her hair style- “suku” “suku” which is a symbol of togetherness in Yoruba land.

Ayanbinrin is known for her bata choreographed dance steps that bring memories of African traditional values and heritage. Ayanwola Ayankojo, who is also an ambassador of the festival belongs to the Ayankojo family of drummers in Idere, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. He began his drumming career at a tender age of 3.Ayanwola has worked as a lead drummer with prominent Nigerian musical icons like Kollington Ayinla, Yomi Taiwo, Yemi Kuti and Olu Ajayi.

TRIBUTE

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He went into private business in 1980 and remained so until 1986 when he was appointed Commissioner for Agriculture in what was then Bendel State of Nigeria before it was split into two as Edo State and Delta State. He was an active member of both the Island Club in Lagos and the Benin Club, Benin.

Michel Kubeyinje returned to the U.S.

ICHAEL Jimoh Kubeyinje was born on April 6, 1932 to Prince William Kubeyinje Etchie of the Itsekiri royal family and Magdelene Omono Igbedion. He attended the prestigious Government College Ughelli from 1948 to 1952 where he excelled both in academics and athletics. After college, he worked as a Produce Examiner for the Government of Nigeria during which time he met and married Dorothy Olabisi Kubeyinje (nee Odu-Thomas).

In 1958, Mr. Kubeyinje travelled to the United States to further his studies and was shortly joined by his wife. They lived in Washington D.C. and both attended Howard University. From 1959 to1962, he worked as a reporter and featured in documentaries produced to promote American culture and technology on the African continent.

Michael Kubeyinje graduated from Howard University in 1962 with a Bachelors degree in EcoThe late Michael Kubeyinje nomics and in1965 was conferred with a Masters in the same field from Catholic Univer- for medical treatment in 1995 and had sity in Washington D.C. While continu- since resided with his family in Yonkers, ing his study at Catholic University as NY. until he passed on Monday, April a Ph.D candidate in Economics, he ac- 30, surrounded by his family.

Michael Kubeyinje is survived by his cepted a position with Columbia Broadwife and life long partner of 56 years, casting System International (CBS) to Dorothy Olabisi; three sons, Francis head their new Africa division. The position was responsible for distributing Eyimofe, John Foritse and Augustus films and TV programmes throughout Amorighoye, four grandchildren, broththe African continent. He was stationed ers, sisters, nephews and nieces and a at the CBS Africa headquarters in La- lot of family and friends. He was pregos, Nigeria but his duties took him ceded in death by his son Oti. Michael across the continent. In 1975, he re- Kubeyinje will be buried in New York signed from CBS and was appointed on Saturday, May 12, 2012 following a General Manager of Panalpina World wake keeping on May 11, 2012.

Transport in Lagos, Nigeria.

FG, Group, launch 50 million Tourism Photo competition

F

CALEB AYANSINA

EDERAL Government last week, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in conjunction with Romarox Resources Limited launched a N50 million National Tourism Photo competition.

The mouth watering cash prize contest is also attached with 13 fully equipped photo studios, laptops, ipads and blackberry phones provided to help winners become empowered in their activities in the culture and tourism sectors.

Addressing the Press in Abuja, Managing Director, Romarox Resources Limited, Rosemary Okeke said the project is meant to excite national conscience and appreci-

ate the huge tourism endowment in Nigeria.

He said: "Oil aside, and other mineral resources, our country is immensely endowed with endless, limitless and broad-based tourism potentials that we make haste to exploit in tandem with the dictates of global trends but from domestic point of view.

That our country is blessed is no longer news. What is news is for us to harness and position this wealth for national interest and general empowerment."

To achieve this aim, she explained that Romarox Resources in full collaboration has arranged to promote countrywide appreciation of our tourism landscape through a coordinated National Tourism Photo Competition to among other things; awaken the consciousness of Nigerians to these endowments, Reduce unemployment and empower the youth.

She added: “We believe that the time has come for less talk and more works to begin in the tourism industry especially now that technology has created

seamless opportunities to capture and store for posterity our landscape, and tourism potentials for now and future generations. With the advent of camera-based technology, the task has been simplified for us to reach out to the remotest parts of Nigeria and click on these national wonders, landscape, artifacts, historical relics, ecosystem, mountains, rocks, festivals, cultural activities etc and present them to the world through this competition. This activity seeks to add to tourism development and youth entrepreneurship in these times of youth restiveness in our environs. Tourism promotes peace and has served as bridge to peace all over the world. Here we can make it work for us.”

The Project Manager, Mr. Caesar Okeke explained that the competition is on Public-Private Partnership, PPP, with a view to encourage entrepreneurship among the populace, calling on Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity.

34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10 , 2012

MOCPED matriculates 251

By DAYO ADESULU

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*Students during the eating competition.

Compound C emerges winner at inter-compound soccer competition

By HAMEED MURITALA & ALABEDE SURAJDEEN

T

HE Lagos Boys Hostel of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) came alive last Saturday, May 5, 2012 as the final of this year's inter-compound soccer competition as well as the final of the eating competition were staged. The final match of the football event was played between compounds C and A with Compound C emerging as the champions after a hard-fought 2-1 win over their Compound A counterpart.

Compound A opened the scoring few minutes into the first-half of the thrilling encounter, while Compound C’s equalizing goal came from Sideeq Lawal, a 400l Finance student. Bello Abdullah scored the winning goal for the Compound C boys late in the second-half of the game.

The champions made it through to the final with a 3-2 win over Compound A in their first match of the competition, played 2-2 draw with Compound D, defeated Compound E by 1-0, before beating Compound B by the same margin to progress to the final.

Compound A on the other hand, got to the final, losing 2-3 to Compound C in their

first game, beat Compound D 1-0, defeated Compound E 21 and played 1-1 draw with Compound B. Bello Abdullah in 300l Educational Management was the highest goal scorer of the competition while Sideeq Lawal was voted the Most Valuable Player.

Few minutes after the football match, the final of the eating competition came underway.

The three students that made it to the final were Ayanwale Temitope, Abiola Onasanya and Sesay Femi. They were

provided with two big wraps of amala, a plate of ewedu containing two pieces of meat and four sachets of water.

In the end, Ayanwale Temitope (a.k.a Biggy), a 200 level student of Agriculture and Bio-system Engineering emerged winner of the eating competition. Abiola Onasanya would have been the winner, but he vomited after finishing the food.

Speaking to Quadlife after the event, Onasanya said: “It is not a matter of stature, but a matter of what you can take.”

ICHAEL Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, has matriculated 251 part-time students across its 22 centres in Lagos State.

The matriculation exercise which took place at the institution’s main auditorium, th marks the 12 matriculation ceremony of the college since inception.

Provost of the College, Prof.

Olu Akeusola, while administering oath of admission on the students, stated that the college is known for producing reputable teachers for schools around the state and beyond. He called on the new students to explore all the opportunities offered by the centre to their benefit and prepare themselves for their chosen careers.

Akeusola also charged the students to see themselves as useful instruments to bring about positive change in the nation’s education sector and the world in the nearest future.

Corps members prepare for work

By LAJU ARENYEKA

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EMBERS of the National Youth Service Corps, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government recently held a seminar tagged: Discipline in the work place. The seminar, which featured a branch manager of Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Iseoluwa David, was organised to prepare corps members for

Union holds congress

By BAKARE WALE, UNILORIN

I

T was indeed a remarkable gathering of students of the University of Illorin (UNILORIN), as they met with their student leaders in a maiden congress to discuss burdening issues affecting them.

The Surajudeen Musa led administration organized the first-ever congress of the Students Union. The congress which was held at the science lecture theatre last Wednesday, saw the gathering all the student union representatives

as well as some past Union leaders. President of the union, Com. Surajudeen Musa, while addressing the congress expressed happiness in the success of the congress. He said: “I am happy today because what has never happened in the history of UNILORIN has happened, where students have the chance to dialogue with their Students Union leaders.

“This tenure had achieved a lot. We have increased the number of minibuses (korope) from 15 to 35, we have also met the Kwara State govern-

He also said that his administration will effect total change in academic development, infrastructure, Information Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, discipline, security among others in the college.

He promised to revolutionize the agriculture education in the college with a view to teaching students the rudiments of agriculture commercialization, which will generate income for the college.

Akeusola urged the new students to shun all forms of cultism and bad behavior on campus that could land them into problems, as anyone caught in the act will be treated as a criminal and necessary punishments effected.

The Provost disclosed that his administration has begun plans to link the college to other colleges of education in the country and the University of Education in Malaysia, with a view to creating bilateral relationship between the two countries in the area of education.

ment on our transportation problems, and as a result the governor has promised to give us two 56 seater buses.

Speaking further, Musa disclosed that his administration has also met with some investors to build hostels for students, which he assured will take course from next session.

“This administration has also completed the students union complex with 30 shops, having been abandoned since 2002, even as we have reduced all our salaries and allowances with 45 per cent,” disclosed the president.

the work place.

The speaker spoke on discipline related paradigms ranging from punctuality, to relationship with bosses and co workers as well as general conduct in the work place.

Corps member, Emmanuel Emetu who attended the seminar said: “It was a rare topic he talked about. He mentioned the fact that we should be disciplined in a world that lacks discipline. It was very motivating. To a large extent, the seminar refueled the zeal I already have to be disciplined in the future. I think that other corps members in other local governments need to learn what we learnt today.”

One of the inspectors of the local government, Alhaja Shakira Amole said: “These corps members just left school, so NYSC really is their first experience in the world of work.

It was a very timely and laudable event.” Anuforo Ifeanyi, one of the leaders of the division said: “In line with the aftermath of our NYSC, we felt that it was necessary to help us imbibe the discipline we need for our lives and careers.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10 , 2012 — 35

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NIM-NYSC conducts exams

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IGERIAN Institute of Management NIMNYSC holds its first stage of exams for the June/July diet rd th on 23 and 24 June, 2012.

Deadline for exam registration is 14th May, and registration will not be entertained at the expiration of the deadline or at the exam venue.

Candidates should register at the centre closest to them and any candidate that writes the exam without proper registration will have the result cancelled.

Anxiety as cults spring up in primary and secondary schools Continues on page 27 Cultism in Nigerian Educational Institutions organised by the University of Ibadan in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufa’i, said there had been recommendations in the past to curtail cultism but the greatest challenge was implementation.

“If we must succeed in eradicating cultism in Nigerian institutions, all hands must be on deck. Parents, religious organisations and both members and non-members of the government are to work jointly on this measure.”

Attributing the rise in cultism to the complicity of some desperate politicians, President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Com. Dauda Mohammed, said: “It is frightening to see the depth at which the menace of cultism has eating deep into our educational system, particularly with its incursion into the secondary school levels, and we expect government to take a decisive step in checkmating cult activities on our campuses and also taking practical steps in bringing the sponsors of these cult groups to book.

“The presence of cult groups in our secondary schools is a spill over of the prevalence of cultism in our tertiary institutions. The first practical step that government must take is the promotion of Students Unionism as cultism took an increased dimension from the point when unionism became voluntary and union activities were facing repression on our campuses.”

S

uggesting how to effectively combat secret cultism, the minister said Nigerian universities must enjoy improved funding, recreational/academic facilities must be improved and virile students union activities must be allowed to thrive.

For the NANS President, the return of vibrant and compulsory students unionism to the campuses coupled with the promotion of other voluntary organisations in our institutions will go a long way in reducing the menace of cultism.

Mohammed urged the National Assembly to also repeal the military decree of the recommendations of the General Abisoye panel which made students unionism voluntary rather than compulsory for students in our higher institutions.

How to identify cultists in secondary schools Most schools prone to these acts are not fenced while those that are fenced are not high enough, making them prone to such things. The question is how do you know such students? *They hardly stay in class to study and are fond of moving aimlessly trying to recruit new students or trying to disturb the peace of the class and also disturb the students who refuse to join. *They don’t obey laws and orders that have been laid down by the school authorities. If it is a mixed school, they are fond of toasting girls and any who refuses would be beaten seriously. *They are known to put on certain colours of attires like black, red, green and yellow berets, so also they put on mufflers with different colours, depending on the cult gang they belong to. Some put on the chaplet, it is either yellow, or those mixed with different colours, with the same bangles especially yellow, depending on which group they belong to.

CIPSMN holds seminar

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*Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, at Government House, Yenogoa, during the minister's inspection of Federal Ministry of Education's projects in the state.

Photo By Favour Nnabugwu

Gov Dickson, monarch yearn for more federal institutions in Bayelsa

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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OLLOWING the establishment of a federal university in Bayelsa State and the resultant opportunities for the state, Governor Henry Dickson and HRH, Chief Lot Ogiasa, the th 10 Obanema of Otuoke, have called for the establishment of more federal institu-

Rivers upgrades FTC to award degrees

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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ROVOST of Federal Technical College, Omoku, Rivers State, Dr. Nkasi Oguzor, has said that preparations are in top gear to upgrade the college to a degree-awarding institution.

Oguzor, while welcoming the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike, who was on inspection of the college, said the college was preparing to move to its permanent site.

“The relocation of the college has become imperative as the temporary site is gradually becoming too small for our activities. We also anticipate that one day, the college shall be upgraded to a degree-awarding institution, which is the desire of our host community.”

HE Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) is organising a seminar on stores management and inventory control st system in the 21 Century for stores/warehouse officers, managers and distribution ofrd th ficers on the 23 – 25 May, at Lokoja, Kogi State.

Applicants are to pay N50,000 which covers course materials, tea break and lunch.

The provost appealed to the Federal Government to assist the college with intervention fund to enable it fence the college and put in place other facilities. He disclosed that despite the tremendous progress made, the college still faces challenges such as the construction of road network to link both sites of the school.

tions in the state, just as the community raised N5.5bn to accelerate the take off of the university. Promising to work in collaboration with the Federal Government, Governor Dickson said the state still wants more federal institutions of higher learning.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, appealed to host communities of the nine newly established federal universities to collaborate with the Federal Government in ensuring the quick take-off of academic activities.

The other universities are located in Kogi, Ekiti, Taraba, Gombe, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Jigawa and Katsina states.

Rufa’i commended the Bayelsa community for sustained efforts towards the takeoff of the university which is being manned by Prof. Bolaji Aluko and Mr. David Ujode

Suwari, Vice-Chancellor and Registrar respectively.

Though N10.1bn has been disbursed as take-off grant to the nine universities, of which Otuoke got N1.5bn, the minister reiterated government’s preparedness to partner with host communities to develop the education sector.

Speaking on the fundin g of the varsity, HRH, Chief Lot Ogiasa, stated that frantic effort are being made to ensure that people redeem their pledges to facilitate the smooth take-off of the varsity. “We know that education is key, without which this community wouldn’t have produced the President and for that we appreciate the value of education.”

Explaining why the varsity can’t commence as anticipated, Minister of State for Education, Wike, said that the FG would not want a situation where students would go on rampage almost immediately after the

I can change the world

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y name is Morrison Umoh. I attend Festac College and I’m in SS3. I would like to be a Television presenter when I grow up.

I like the job, and I have an outgoing personality so it suits me just fine. My role model is Joan Rivers who hosts Fashion Police on E! I also like Justin Bieber. I think that the entertainment industry is a great way to make Nigeria better.

36— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10 , 2012

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By EBELE ORAKPO

S the issue of environmental pollution rages and nations are seeking alternative energy sources devoid of carbon emission, Nigeria, as a major oil-exporter, will be hard hit if nothing is done. To this end, Professor James A Omoleye of the Department of Chemical Engineering, former Dean of Student Affairs and Director, Centre for Research, Covenant University, Ota Ogun State, began a series of researches with his team which culminated in the making of an electric automobile and a power bike.

In this chat with Vanguard Learning in his office, Prof.

Omoleye says Nigeria is far ahead of some nations in this area. Excerpts: For Professor James Omoleye: “Nigeria is an oil-exporting country and today, the green revolution which is trying to promote mobility without atmospheric pollution, is driving the whole world to look for alternative way of transportation and that has led to some research on electric automobile.

Electric automobile is not a new thing. In fact, somebody said it was there before fuel combustion engine came but was not efficient at that time. The use of petrol engine took over because it was more efficient.

Now, because of pollution and electronic advancement which has made electric automobiles very efficient, there is a kind of shift. People want to look into electric automobile as a means of mobility.”

Reducing pollution by 80 per cent: If you can reduce the amount of pollution in the air coming through automobiles, then you would have reduced pollution by almost 80 per cent and life on earth will be safer. So there is now a tendency to move towards electric mobility, not only automobiles, even boats and trains. In advanced countries, the number of electric automobiles in use is on the increase. Of course, many are now using what we call hybrid which is electric engine and fuel combustion engine together. This reduces the amount of fuel you burn. But the ultimate is electric automobile so that we can do away with pollution of the atmosphere. That is already gaining ground now in countries like the US and China.

In China, electric bikes are common and a number of their taxis are electric. So very soon, electric mobility will take over from fuel combustion.

Electric car and power bike “I started in 2005 to research into electric automobiles. Our electric automobile came on the road on July 1, 2010 and I have been using it but not continuously being the only one we have made, we don’t just use it any how. What we did was to buy a fuel combustion engine car, removed the engine and designed and assembled the electric engine inside it.

We have also advanced in the sense that the first one we did,

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Nigeria makes electric car, power bike

we brought in the parts but between then and now, we have worked on two of the three major components which are the speed regulator and the charging system because after running about 70km, you charge for six hours continuously.

Today, we have successcfully designed and assembled our own speed controller. We have tested it by mounting it on a four-wheel cycle and it is moving very well. We have almost perfected the charging system. Of course, since September 2007, we have been able to come up with a charging system but it was not as efficient as what we have now. We are replacing the one we did in 2010 with the one we have now which is a lot faster and more reliable. The only component we have not started to do here is the electric motor itself. But that is not a big deal because there is no vehicle company that manufactures all the parts. You get some parts from one company and then you design some,” said the professor of chemical engineering.

Ahead of many nations “We have gone very far and I think we are ahead of many other nations. We are ahead of Australia because they are not yet making those things and they are the ones in the forefront of electric automobile.

An Indian man that came for business in Abuja saw my programme on television and came all the way to look for us here. He said he came because they also have interest in electric automobile and that his company was given approval

•Prof. James Omoleye...I think we are among the top five countries. by the Indian Government to start introducing electric mobility into their taxi system.

By the time we talked, I found out that we are ahead of them.

They don’t make any parts and

yet, they have got to the point of changing their taxi system to electric automobiles but we have gone to the point of producing the controller and the charger,” he said.

What Nigeria must do “Even as an oil-exporting country, we cannot help encouraging something that will not consume fuel for two reasons: One, we are not making even the fuel combustion vehicles, we are importing them so if in the next five or six years the whole world is changing into electric automobile, you say ‘oh we are not going to go into that,’ you will be forced to import the electric automobiles they are making and good enough, petroleum is not only used for fuel combustion by automobiles, there are hundreds of products today that are made from petroleum just that Nigeria is only focusing on exporting crude. Our clothes are from petroleum. When you talk of petrochemicals, the basic raw material is petroleum. So all we need to do is for us to try to focus on petrochemicals and start to divert the crude we cannot export to produce other things that can be exported.

Of course we will still be selling our crude but not as much as before. This is one reason why we should not say we are not going to encourage electric automobile production. Two, for now, we are only importing vehicles, when you join the race of electric automobiles manufacturing; you become one of the countries that will be earning revenue from exporting your own electric automobiles. So while the fuel is not used for fuelling cars again, generators for the charging the automobiles will still be using fuel . You will now join them in also exporting vehicles and so you can increase your revenue base more than what it was before.

We have gone very far and I think we are among the top five countries,” he noted.

NANLS tasks EFCC on professionalism

By AMAKA ABAYOMI THE National Association of Nigerian Law Students (NANLS) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to desist from its shoddy manner of handling the present pension probe by the National Assembly.

According to NANLS’s National Secretary-General, Clement Abidemi, the group, as the future custodian of the rule of law, believes that well meaning Nigerians should

support the probe to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

“As a group, we have been studying the activities of the EFCC in recent times, and can say that the agency has mishandled over 25 high profile cases which include the Halliburton case, Ibori’s, Fayose’s, Elumelu’s, among other cases.

“Instead of conducting proper investigations, the agency rushes the suspects to court, and midway into the case, they

are unable to substantiate their claims, thereby leaving the judges with no option than to strike out the cases due to lack of merit.”

Calling on the agency to be more professional, NANLS joined its sister organisation, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to call for the immediate disbandment of the Pension Reform Task Team to enable its chairman clear his name from all financial misappropriations leveled against the team.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10 , 2012 — 37

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH

UDEME ARCHIBONG

UNICEF worries over 2015 EFA target

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

U

NITED Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has expressed skepticism over the ability of African countries ato meet Education for All, EFA target by 2015 despite concerted efforts by African leaders.

Programmes Director, (UNICEF), Dr. Nicholas Alipui, who stated this at a recent interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, said there is hope if there would be collective efforts in removing some of the barriers militating against educational development.

“I think the target is going to be quite difficult for many African countries but it is certain that there have been a lot of progress in education over the last 20 years and we have seen remarkable achievement in terms of access to school,” Alipui said.

He disclosed that many countries have removed a number of barriers such as financial constraint like school fees abolition in Kenya and cash transfer to help families to pay.

“I am optimistic for the sessions here this week have focused essentially on strategies to achieve greater result in education. We reviewed the expectation of African states and member-states were very clear and unequivocal in saving the priority for education.”

On the issue of equity, Alipui opined that it is a question of identifying which children failed geographically whether or not as a result of gender or

other forms of deprivation that are not currently reached by the education system and deliberately focusing strategies on reaching these children with the best possible available teaching and learning materials, teachers for these schools and improving the

teaching condition and the social condition of teachers.

Alipui advised that one of the ways to ensure speedy implementation of plan of action towards achieving EFA goals is to ensure participation of civil societies, parents and school management.

•Honorands and officials at the NWMDIU conferment ceremony held in Lagos last week.

Book lovers storm 11th Nigerian Book Fair

By LAJU ARENYEKA

B

OOKS, books, and more books have been the order th of the day since the 11 Nigeria International book fair began on Tuesday, May 7, at the University of Lagos multipurpose hall. The event which was organised by the Nigerian Book Fair Trust in collaboration with an Indian publishing company, Repro, will last until Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Apart from the presence of hundreds of book publishers and sellers who are out to sell their books and create awareness in

the market, NIBF 2012 is set to feature children’s programmes, workshops, authors’ and editors’ training among others.

The chairman of the Trust who was at the conference organised for stakeholders in the publishing industry, spoke on the challenges that come with the introduction of Information and Communication Technology. “The future of the industry is not a bleak one if we are willing to see the problems that this gap creates as challenges to be affronted; challenges that will spur us into action and develop new strategies,” he said.

International university honours 7 Nigerians

By LAJU ARENYEKA

T

HE New World Mission Dunamis International University (NWMDIU) recently presented seven prominent Nigerians with the honorary doctorate degree. The Director, NWMDIU West Africa said: “We recommended about 23 people to the university, but only these seven were taken.”

The seven awardees include: Chief Alexander Opeyemi Akinyele, Dr. Olubayode Olugbenga Awosika, Maulana Sheikh Tahir Usman Bauchi (OFR), Mr. Emmanuel Iyagwere Ajayi, Rotarian Bello Akingbade, Mrs. Bimbo

Alashe-Arawole and Sir Chief Chukwuzubelua Alexander Orakwe.

The chairman of the occasion, Dr. Luke Okojie said: “We have so many people who are doing well in Nigeria, but we are being portrayed as people who have no hope. But that is not true. That is why it is necessary that we celebrate our own, just like we are doing here today.”

Awosika who spoke on behalf of the honourands appreciated the university for the gesture. He said: “I want to especially thank the university. It is great to know that we are recognised outside our own shores. It is a well thought of thing, especially

when you consider the caliber of people that were chosen.”

Also commenting on the long distance electronic learning programmmes organised by the university, Awosika said: “There are a lot of people who cannot afford learning in person, so we thank God for this initiative. Money should not be a barrier to learning.”

NWMDIU is an independent non-profit international university which aims to provide Christian and non-Christian communities with highly necessary and distinguished knowledge in the fields of Christianity, Education, Technology, Management, Engineering, and Research.

Making your life count

Y

OU will never make your life count until you make your day count. You will never make your day count until you make every hour count. You will never make every hour count until you make every moment count. You will never make every moment count until you make your actions count. You will never make your actions count until you make your words count.

You will never make your words count until you make your thoughts count. Life counts when you are aware that every day is a countdown to your departure on earth. Life counts when you make a decision to make it count. Your decisions can never count until you possess the discipline to make it count. Les Brown reveals, “Success is a habit you embrace on a daily basis, and the earlier you get into that mindset the sooner you will be able to give birth to possibilities you might not be able to imagine.” Therefore, until your habits count your life cannot count. Let’s unravel the successful habits that must be practiced daily in order for life to count. Your destiny rises or falls according to the gauge of your life attitude. Until you develop and maintain positive life attitudes daily, life goes down in the drain of the gutters of mediocrity. Attitude is a fundamental course in the school of success.

Positive life attitudes Positive Life Attitudes is the gateway to effective living and it constitutes; the way you see yourself; the way you see and relate with others; and your outlook on life. Happiness is a responsibility that cannot be delegated. Thinking positively about yourself and your abilities; thinking and behaving positively towards others; talking positively in your conversations and being around positive people will make your life gravitate towards the domain of success.

The use of your time determines the usefulness of your life. The value you attach to time determines the value you will create in life. Successful people prioritize their life; they plan their day carefully and follow through on their plans.

Life counts when you operate on the foundation based on Universal Law of Value which states: “Do not waste your time on thoughts, people, or actions which are not worthy. Do not waste your thoughts on ideas that are not worthy. Do not waste your energies on activities which are not worthy. Do not waste your money on that which is not money”. There-

fore, prioritizing your life on a daily basis in the light of your vision will lift you from the shores of failure to the mountain top of success.

As the saying goes, “health is wealth” is undisputable. We all want to be successful but not at the expense of our health.

Staying healthy is an asset that must be maintained through proper nutrition and eating habit, exercise, cheerful disposition, rest and the ability to handle stress effectively.

Therefore, positive lifestyle that promotes good health should be cultivated.

One of the major habits that guarantee success is commitment. Your daily decision to stay committed set you apart from the half-doers in the game of life; those who never finish what they start and who wait for all the conditions to be perfect before they begin to play their part on the stage of life.

Maintaining your focus Remember, life will test how committed you are before handing over to you its vault of valuables. Therefore, count the cost; determine to pay the price; strive for excellence; maintain your focus; and be disciplined; no retreat till the star within you emerges.

Your life can never count until you are value-driven rather than crowd-driven. What do you stand for? Are you being swept by the current of people’s opinion and actions or do you stem the tide by choosing to “stand out” even when “everybody blends in”? Developing positive values and living it out on a daily basis give you a solid foundation for your destiny to be built on and also sustains it from wreckage.

Growth is a word that is indispensable in the vocabulary of success. Personal growth encompasses improving oneself; spiritually, mentally; relationally; emotionally and financially.

Have a personal growth plan; read books that will upgrade you; attend seminars, trainings; seek and gather every good input that are available to you to improve your life. Be a constant learner in the domain of life.

Your life can never count if you don’t add value to other people’s life. In the domain of success; effective relationships is king. Place a high value on people; respect and care for them. Greed, hatred, envy, revenge and selfishness are success poisons. Unconditional love is the soil in which success thrives and blossoms. Give the highest priority to your family in the scale of relationships.

Therefore, life counts when you practice successful habits every day.

38 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10,

2012

15 years after, warring Edo community buries hatchet •Demands substantive king

BY EBUN SESSOU

S

ATURDAY, April 7, 2012 will remain a remarkable day in the lives of indigenes of South Ibie, Etsako –West Local Government Area of Edo State.

On that day the Aidonogie’s Royal Palace, Iyakpi, South-Ibie council was filled to capacity by a large crowd of indigenes as well as friends, relations, well wishers, who came from far and wide to celebrate the maiden edition of South Ibie Day Celebration. The day also provided them an opportunity to categorically demand from the state government a staff of office to the newly appointed Aidonogie which will translate to a substantive king.

The colourful event saw the people speaking with one voice unlike in the past where many indigenes, relations and friends kept

Islamic prayer. Professor Inusa Bright Bello-Imam of the Department of Political Science and Conflict Resolution, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State set the agenda for the festival with the demands of South Ibie people to have Prince Umoru as their next King. Delivering a lecture titled: “Some Perspectives on South Ibie Development”, Bello-Imam, a prominent indigene of the community and a renowned political scientist, said since the demise of His Royal Highness, Alhaji IMJ Umoru on November 26, 1997, development in South Ibie had gone on recess. To him: “It’s not that the community did not appreciatedevelopment;theystilldo”, as he blamed the cause on the alleged injustice in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute and the need to recognise the newly appointed king in South Ibie. “It is a globally acceptedcommonknowledgeandin-

,

In order to avoid future wars in South Ibie, the Edo State government should quickly respect the three court judgments on the Aidonogieship by recognising and presenting a staff of office to the Aidonogie designate

awayforfearofpossible breakdown of law and order as evidenced by the more than 10 fratricidal clashes arising from unnecessary chieftaincy tussle in the community.

The event was marked by dancing and singing with both old and young embracing each other irrespective of their religious background. Waziri Oshoimoh band was on hand to spice up the event with soul- enlivening, sonorous songs in local dialect to the admiration of the gathering.

The Aloaye Cultural Dance Troupe, amongst others, also added colour to the occasion. There was also a lot to eat and drink. The atmospherebecamechargedwhen Prince Umoru Inusa-Umoru, the Aidonogie designate, stormed the ancient palace to join his people in the spree. The shout of ‘Your Highness!’ ‘Zaikhi!’, ‘Zaikhi!!’ rented the air, as he acknowledging the cheers with a wave of his hand before he was ushered to a seat beside 34 chiefs of the community.

The Chief Imam of South Ibie, Chief Jafary Saliu Okhayole, flagged off the ceremony with an

,

deed fact that when justice is disrespected on any issue at stake, peace voluntarily goes into exile while those who are unable to tolerate the injustice inevitably resort to war,” Prof Bello-Imam stated.

He said succession to the throne ofAidonogiealternatesbetweenthe Ogiator and Danesi according to the provisions of the customary declaration which also specifies that a contestant must be the eldest surviving son of the last Aidonogie from the branch of the ruling house whose turn it is to produce the Aidonogie to succeed the one who passed on to join his ancestors in November 26, 1997. Bello-Imam said after the death of the first Aidonogie, it was the turn of the Danesi branch to produce the next Aidonogie. But unfortunately, the Danesi branch disqualified their candidate, Chief Momoh Danesi by “a spurious affidavit”. In his place, the branch presented Alhaji Aliyu Kelvin Zibiri Danesi who incidentally, according to Bello-Imam, “is the son of Zibiri Danesi, who was himself never a previous Aidonogie of South Ibie

*South Ibie chiefs, community leaders, indigenes waiting for a new king to be crowned at any time, thereby making the candidature of Alhaji Kelvin Zabiri Danesi invalid” .

He said based on this his nomination and presentation was stoutly opposed by the Oghiator branch, adding that the Danesi was given the second opportunity by the Etsako West Local Government to present another qualified candidate. The political scientist said the Danesi branch forfeited that gesture and the Oghiator branch was contacted to fill the vacant post. This development led to controversy and the Danesi branch rushed to the High Court. Along the line the then Military Administrator of Edo State, Navy captain Anthony Onyearugbulem, allegedly gave recognition to Kelvin Zidiri Danesi as the next Aidonogie of South Ibie.

One month after the coronation, an Edo State High Court in Benin City declared that Kelvin Zibiri Danesi was not a qualified Aidonogie and declared Prince Momodu Inusa Nworu of Oghiator as the Aidonigie.

Tussle upon tussle Subsequently, tussle upon tussle had been the order of the day. This development restricted the choice of the next Aidonogie in the Oghiator branch to the living male children of his late father, HRH Alhaji IMJ Umoru ‘JP’ who was the last Aidonogie of South Ibie, in both fact and law.

Also speaking, Chief Ikhazuagbe said: “Prince Umoru is the rightful owner of the throne of South Ibie Kingdom. Any other person presenting himself as king is a counterfeit. I am using this medium to call on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to install Prince Umoru InusaUmoruasourking.Heisourchoice and the courts also said he is the legitimate heir to the throne”.

The Secretary of the Royal Palace

of South Ibie Kingdom, Mr Ibrahim, said: “The voice of the people is the voice of God. We want Prince Umoru as our king. The kingmakers and more than 80 per cent of the people in South Ibie kingdom

say they want him as their king. I am also using this occasion to call on our amiable Governor Oshiomhole to please install him as our king because he is the people’s choice”.

Shocker! 30% of pregnant women die of malaria in Nigeria

BY LAJA THOMAS

I

F the position of some health stakeholders is anything to go by, over 30% of pregnant women and young children less than five years old die in Nigeria every year as a result of malaria. It is on account of this that they have urged Nigerian women and indeed all those who are more likely to have malaria because their natural body protection (immunity) is low to prevent or quickly treat malaria to avoid further complications. The stakeholders made their position known at the Mortein Malaria Market Storm Campaign to mark this year’s World Malaria Day held at Alaworo Market, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The programme which was put together by Reckitt Benckiser Nig Ltd, makers of Mortein Powerguard, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, was used to create awareness, educate and enlighten the average Nigerian family on the fight against malaria, importance of clean and healthy environment and behavioural changes as they affect our personal hygiene for a healthy and better society.

Speaking to newsmen on the significance of the day set aside by the World Health Organisation, WHO, to combat malaria, Mr Omotade Oke-Egbe, Trade Marketing Manager of Reckitt Benckiser said: “As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS, and as a social and economic en-

tity located within Lagos State, we feel that every opportunity to contribute to society should be grasped with both hands. We have a very excellent product in Mortein, which is an insecticide designed primarily to protect our citizens from malaria. And in line with our policy of partnering with whatever authorities that are on ground, we have taken the opportunity to partner with Lagos State and as matter of fact our partnership extends beyond Lagos State towards National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, which is currently endorsing Mortein. It is part of our effort to ensure that malaria is a thing of the past and it is more about saving lives for us”.

He added: “You know that the current statistics for malaria in Nigeria is such that it is worrying and if nothing is done, if no body rises up to the challenge, we are going to have a situation where the statistics will get worse. Currently, about 30 percent of pregnant women die as a result of malaria and Nigeria currently is placed among countries in the world on the list of those burdened with malaria.”

He said, “malaria is prevalence as a disease and the key thing about malaria is that in this part of the world, the people who die are those who are the most defenseless like pregnant women and children under five.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, MA Y 10, 2012— 39 THURSDA MAY 2012—39

Love is a bitch!

“The road which leads to happiness varies, it depends on the path”. – My Love When asked what happi-

ness meant to him, that was the reply I got. What an error, to think that I was so engrossed in his own definition of happiness, expecting him to be the perfect path to it.

Where did I go wrong? I can’t say, neither can you, so do not be quick to judge.

7th May, 2008 “Sweet heart, I love you so much and I want you to

,

HI One of the most painful experiences a spouse can go through is discovering suddenly that what he/she shares with the other is a ruse. That he/she is only being stringed along.

That time, emotions and hope have all gone to waste.

What does one do when you discover that the whole relationship has been a lie? You may think that the right answer will be to walk away.

However, as they say, the heart is not so smart. The heart wants only what it wants, so it keeps falling again and again.

Today, we will be reading an expose from a young lady on her quest to finding love. Though she makes no attempt to hide her shortcomings, she is bold to state that her heart remained with the guy who could not love her the way she ought to be loved.

I do not intend to pass any comments here. I want to leave that to you, our readers. Please, Amy as she identified herself will be happy to read your views and advice for her.

Our address remains: the Human Angle, Vanguard Media Limited, 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Or e-mail a d d r e s s : humananglepage@yahoo.com We look forward to your contributions.

of confiding in people.

At an early age, my quest for love and attention grew, also affecting my spirituality, hence the need to identify with one who is supreme, just imagining that there was this big man up there who was taking care of me and meeting my needs, hearing my lonely cries and carrying me through every day of my

In trying to open the phone, which was not locked anyway, I pressed the receive button, only to see a contact stored as “bitch”. I chuckled, Oh no, it can’t be my number, and no he wouldn’t dare store my contact in that manner

become my wife-to-be”, he said. How daring, for a guy to say so instead of the usual ‘babe, you know I love you, I want us to be friends, close friends, like lovers’.

From the beginning, I knew what he wanted and what I wanted, an adventure and I went for it. That was the beginning of my dilemma.

A bass voice, loving and kind words, anything to make me smile, those were his tactics, and he sure was hitting the right spots because in no time, I was head over heels in love with him.

He knew all about my past, and just what to do to bring me out of my down mood. Mom was young and in school, I was living with every relation who was ready to let me in.

I had my holidays any everywhere. I became an introvert, one who penned down her feelings instead

,

life. My love, he knew how I took risks in the past, sneaking out to meet a guy, to just hang out with someone or going out to meet someone I had never met prior to that time, just to make friends I knew I would not keep or to be adventurous.

He knew all about me but why wouldn’t he ever tell me about his past?

“Not knowing about my past is what is keeping you in this relationship”. That is what he says all the time.

Then I become mad. How could you say that? I love you already, and now you say I’m with you because I don’t know of your past?

Now that’s insulting honey. Still, he wouldn’t go any further.

Well I had no choice, but to sit back, enjoy and endure this journey with the love of my life.

So, on and on we went,

everyday, showing me new sides to him, leaving me to unravel mysteries about him as they come to play.

This was the hardest part for me, because though, we’ve been on and on, it wasn’t long before the ‘off’ moments unleashed.

29th September, 2009 “Hey love, I’m hungry” I cried out, as I felt my stomach churn. “There’s noodle in the refrigerator”, he replied. Off I went to the kitchen to make us lunch.

This was one of those days I left home to pay the love of my life a visit, without my parents’ consent of course.

We had lunch, ate off the same plate, and I settled down to rest, leaning on him. I remembered a few minutes before then, I told him I felt my heart beat faster and he waved off my comment, telling me that his heart was beating too.

Little did I know that I was up for a great surprise that day and a secret from his past was going to burst right in my face. Enjoying the serenity, my love fell asleep.

Then it dawned on me that every time, he would go through my phone and tease me about my contacts, but I had never gone through his phone, so I decided to just scroll through, see some pictures and so on.

In trying to open the phone, which was not locked anyway, I pressed the receive button, only to see a contact stored as “bitch”. I chuckled, Oh no, it can’t be my number, and no he wouldn’t dare store my contact in that manner.

We spoke like three times today before I came over, so he couldn’t possibly pick up my calls with my contact stored as “bitch”. He’s not that wicked, (now in tears)... I’m not his bitch, I never have been, I gave him my womanhood, and he didn’t meet me as a bitch, so when did I become that to him?

Friends Searching Males

•Eric, 30, from ,Edo state, needs a God fearing girl, for a serious relationship, aged 24-29.

0 8 0 6 2 6 9 4 1 6 0 •Jeff, 23, needs a beautiful, sexy, caring, loving, understanding, nice and God fearing girl, from Delta state, aged 18-21.08032777990 •A guy, 33, employed, needs a God fearing, Rivers or Igbo lady, for a relationship, whose genotype, is AA, blood and HIV free. 08139161854, 08109530146 •Chris, 28, needs a lady, aged 30-60, for a relationship.08167224960, 08097869042 •Goodlife, 25, 5.7ft tall and dark in complexion, needs a white lady, for a serious relationship.

0 7 0 3 5 5 3 9 0 9 3 , 0 8 1 7 4 7 6 2 6 7 8 •Fm, slim, tall, dark in complexion, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a slim, dark in complexion and employed lady, aged 27-32, for a relationship.08098663362, 08159970715,08031332806 •Emeka, 25, based in Lagos, needs an active lady for a serious relationship. 08123082175 •Eneluere, 44, sexy, a divorced, in Lagos, needs a Jehovah’s witnesses, lady, for marriage.

0 8 0 3 3 9 1 2 7 1 9 •Chuks, 29, slim, fair in complexion, tall, em-

ployed and from Delta state, needs a lady, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage.08165003764 •Emeka, resides in Abuja, needs a caring lady, for a serious relationship.08032261251,08093040765 •John,23, from Benin, needs a God fearing lady, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage, aged 19-20. 08060119186 •Dno, 30, needs a caring lady for a relation•Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08056180122. Cheers!

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Women’s mistakes that breaks relationship

BY ONOZURE DANIA AFTER a break up in a relationship, women tends to feel a mixture of emotions and keep questioning themselves about what went wrong or what they did wrong? What is wrong with me?

How or why did this happen? These are the questions that ladies would be asking themselves and wishing they could turn back the hands of the clock to see if there is any way they can fix the relationship especially if they love the guy. Women have a natural tendency to try and make men better in their relationship.

It comes with our nurturing, mothering, and femininity. We can’t really do this with our partner though, as they already have a mother. All they need is a desirable partner. Majority of women tend to blame the man for everything and think that when things go wrong, it must be the man’s fault.

Or you could be part of the rest of women who think that they are all at fault and constantly go back over the relationship, trying to see what they could have done better or how they could have fixed it.

They also constantly bring up the past, rather than letting it go and focusing on what to do that will make it better in the future.

The reality is, what’s done is done, but there are ways to go about fixing it for the next relationship or starting the process of slowly alluring him back.

If you have already broken up and are desperate to get him back and believe he is the only one for you,

there are certain methods you can use to get him back.

But before you jump into doing that, just make sure it’s for all the right reasons.

How often did you fight?

Did he abuse you at all?

Was he in love or just dragging you along?Once you have worked some of these things out, you need to recognise the mistakes that you made and how to get a deeper understanding of men, so will not make the same mistakes again in the f u t u r e .

Men are quite different from women, but majority usually leave a woman because of their own insecurities, fears, conflicts, issues, needs or fantasies.

But women can actually contribute to this environment of making it comfortable for the man to stay in.

Don’t try and give a man what you think he needs, find out for sure. The mistakes women make contributing to break ups, is that they don’t fully understand the emotional needs of a man or they ignore them.

Men don’t think like women do but most women think that they do and so they get frustrated. Don’t give him what you think he needs emotionally.

His emotional needs will depend on the environment that surrounds your relationship, so it’s important to be aware of how you handle every issue and conversation with your man. Women have to learn how to behave in such a way that they bring no threat to his ego, trigger hidden insecurities or low self-esteem, make the man think you are controlling him or bring about painful issues and conflicts up from the past.

ship.08187888807 •Okechukwu, needs a girl, that will love him, for a relationship.08183308022,08164822291 •Prince, 34, from Delta state, needs lady, aged 4050, for a relationship.08059276130 •Elvis, 45, handsome, an Engineer, from SouthSouth, but resides in Lagos, needs a very pretty, tall, hot legged young girl, aged 21-23, for a relationship, within Ago-Palace, Satellite Town, Amuwo-Odofin and Festac Town axis.08069035188 •Benard, 20, resides in Port-Harcourt, needs a God fearing, caring, humble and fair in complexion girl, for a serious relationship.07061398200 •Mike, 22, from Delta state, needs a sexy girl, for fun and relationship. 08063436796 •Stephen, 25, resides in Delta state, needs a girl, who is caring and God fearing, for a serious relationship, aged 18-23.08071806254 •Abraham, 25, resides in Delta state, needs a girl, who is caring and God fearing for a serious relationship, aged 20-23.08050922965,08060290351 •Rich,33, handsome and resides in Calabar, needs a lady, for fun and relationship. 08092337284 Peter, 40, needs a fair in complexion, tall Urhobo Christian lady, aged 24-29. 08062682898

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS: BETTER than yesterday as you will be at a more comfortable place today and suddenly discover that your hope is alive. Venus bring you money GEMINI: ROMANTIC Venus at positive angle may bring matters-of-the heart related temptation through friends. But your best bet now is moderate ambition.

CANCER: The best bet for you is to consolidate on progress you made yesterday and look for best way to pacify your new friends.

LEO: EVERYBODY needs other people’s co-operation just like you today but you will not be compelled by situation to dance to others’ tune; meaning that you can do things your own way and rightly expect success VIRGO: THOSE of you willing to give others the needed co-operation will be in better position to consolidate on progress you have made recently. Don’t allow sex to distract you.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

E

VERYONE of us has talent(s) given to us by God, our maker. And God expects us to apply the talent He gave us. He wants us to trade with it and make profit. He expects us to bless humanity with what He

The sin of laziness — 2 has blessed us with.

When we refuse to use the talent given us by God, we are not better than that child that refused the employment given him after all the investment on him by his father.

TERROR MUDA

Remember the parable of the talent?

One of the lessons of that parable is that God abhors laziness.

And that is why He took the only talent he gave one for refusing to trade with his one

in “Never say goodbye”

talent and added it to that of five.

Laziness is a sin.

Come to think of it: what could be more sinful than someone refusing to bless humanity with God’s blessing on him?

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

LIBRA: WATCHOUT for minor and avoidable but costly mistake within your working arena, especially if you are in charge of other people’s money. If you develop new romantic liaison today, it may not last.

SCORPIO: AS the saying goes “time waits for nobody” it’s important you guard against unnecessary procrastination capable of putting you at tight corner tomorrow. Be loving.

SAGITTARIUS: IT’S better you conclude what you’ve been doing for a while rather than starting something new you don’t know when to finish it. Be more family minded.

CAPRICORN: IF careless remarks are made by you today, it would back-fire at resumption of work tomorrow morning. Those who are eager for romantic attention will have their dream coming true. Be more loving

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: IF you wait too long before an important (financial) decision is taken, you may find yourself keeping date with what you don’t bargain for.

PISCES: Placement of the Moon influences your associates to become more self-assertive. If you take good advice you’ll fare better. However, it’s important you don’t forget your tomorrow with others.

ARIES: BETTER than yesterday and luckily for you, opportunity to rectify mistakes made yesterday may come today to the betterment of your finances. Don’t try to buy love with money.

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

What abut me?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, You have done many people’s horoscope; what about me? I want you to kindly analyse my star and tell me everything about my self. Please take note that I value my health and career than any other thing.

Toyin Lagos.

Dear Toyin, What space can take will be given to you here-under Scorpio and Libra that hosted both your natal sun and moon are members of very strong star signs-health wise.

Scorpio, in particular, has unusual survival ability. That is to say, even when health related challenges come, your survival endowment will always see you through.

Your major challenge is from your constant worries about too many things, especially on career related issues. Business miscalculation can be another source of health related challenge. You will agree with the fact that both constant worries and business miscalculation can affect one’s circulatory system.

Other things to watch-out for include: Urino-genital organs, minor accident (fire), bones dislocations, a few other times, skin infections and, of-course, fever. Always take care of the stomach. Please take note that all these are mere warnings as there is nothing fatalistic about them; a good guard, though.

Oil related Neptune was the closet heavenly body to the sun when you were born at positive angle to Pluto in Leo. Thus, having things to do with oil along your career/business lines is not by accident.

Then preponderance of water element and fixed quality in the distribution of the planets when you were born are favourable to commercial involvement with anything liquid.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 —

41

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

Fair hearing: Appeal Court cannot resolve issues it ordered for retrial — Pg 42

Counsel Corner

NBA revives session on business law

— Pg 43

— Pg 44

NBA Conference: Crisis looms over Kaduna venue

BY INNOCENT ANABA & ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

W

EEKEND’S resolution by the Yoruba Lawyers’ Forum, Egbe Amofin O’Odua to boycott the Kaduna delegates conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to elect a new executive for the association, has pitched it against lawyers from the Northern part of the country, who have insisted that it is either Kaduna or no election.

While Egbe Amofin O’Odua at its meeting in the country home of the former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, in Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State, discussed issued relating to how to move the legal profession forward, among others. The group said though it holds nothing against the North, but that it would not be wise to expose over 10,000 lawyers who will be attending the conference to elect new leadership to danger.

The lawyers said the NBA should instead consider other states less

should be mobilised ahead of the NBA National Executive Council, NEC meeting scheduled for May 23 to 24 in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

Secretary of the group, Mr Ranti Ajeleti, said, “We reviewed the position of law in Nigeria and in Western Nigeria in particular, that is the Common Law. We also discussed about the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria and the West.

“As regards the delegates conference being proposed to hold in Kaduna, it has not been fixed. The group said that with the security challenges in Kaduna, that it will amount to an invitation to mass suicide for a gathering of lawyers of about 10,000 in black suits to assemble in any part of the core North now where we have bombings and security challenges.

“We did advice that the NEC meeting of the bar should consider a much more fairly secure place. We suggested Ilorin or Lokoja, because of what is happening in Kaduna, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Kano. We don’t want to commit mass suicide. Whoever is responsible for the bombings will score a good point by the fact that they were able to eliminate many lawyers, which could affect the current security situation in the country. We don’t want that,” he added.

Jam-Jam, who spoke to Vanguard Law and Human Rights on the group’s decision said, “in 2006, the militants were very active in the Niger Delta region, we had a conference in Port-harcourt and there was no incident. In fact, the 2006 conference was more thrilling than that of 2011.

“Secondly, it is very sad that a person who calls himself learned could not read between the line as to whether it was truly only Boko Haram that is carrying out all the bombings. I want to assure those who are bent on ethnicising and sectionalising the NBA, that some of us will be ready for them. If they want the NBA to be broken up, we are ready for that, even if they want Nigeria to break-up, we are ready for that. We are not going to move to any other place for the

,

We should stop reading a SouthNorth agenda or meaning into what is purely the Bar affairs.

This will not take us anywhere or help resolve the issue

prone to bomb attacks for its conference.

But lawyers from the North would not hear anything of such. They insisted on Kaduna or no where else.

Alhaji Ibrahim Jam-Jam, who voiced North’s opposition to any plan to move the venue away from Kaduna, noted that even in the height of militancy in the Niger Delta region in 2006, lawyers converged in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for a memorable annual conference, where Mr Olisa Agbokoba, SAN was elected the President of the Association.

The Yoruba Lawyers’ Forum said the security challenges facing the country could be ignored, insisting that the NBA should instead consider other states less prone to bomb attacks.

It was also said that more branches

,

•J. B. Daudu, SAN

•Wole Olanipekun, SAN

•Dele Adesina, SAN

•Yusuf Ali , SAN

delegates conference. We are going to hold it in Kaduna. If the South West bar refuses to attend the conference, it is nobody’s problem but theirs,” he added.

In his own view, a senior member of the Bar, Malam Yusuf Ali, SAN, said, “We have to be very careful about this issue. The decision to move the conference to Kaduna was taken at the National Executive Committee (NEC) level of the NBA. So, if anybody or group of individuals feel uncomfortable about the decision, the proper channel is for them to return to the same NEC and get the issue resolved.

“So, if any member had issue with the conference venue they have to resolve it properly. There is no doubt that members have the right to express their views or reservation about what they feel about their safety and security. In my own opinion, I believe it will be better to get back to the NEC

rather than discussing the matter on the pages of the newspapers.

“Those who have objection to the venue have genuine reasons and those who said the conference be held there have their own right, but I do not insinuate about what would happen or what will not happen. Like I said, the

Continues on page 42

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

42 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Law Report

Fair hearing: Appeal Court cannot resolve issues it ordered for retrial W

HETHER the lower court was justified in holding that the appellants relied on traditional evidence or history in proof of their claim as opposed to numerous and positive acts of ownership.

Whether the refusal by the lower court to consider and determine the appellants’ omnibus ground of appeal was right and did the same not constitute a denial of the appellants’ right to fair hearing.

Facts The plaintiffs based their ownership of the piece of land known as ‘Okporo Ovunwo’ situate on the road leading from Rumuokoro to Rumuaghaolu, Rivers State, on traditional history.

They commenced an action in the customary court of Rivers State claiming declaration of title to the disputed land and perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further acts of trespass. The customary court dismissed the case and ordered partitioning of the land not sought by any of the parties. The plaintiffs were aggrieved and appealed to the High Court in its appellate jurisdiction. The High Court dismissed the appeal but reversed the order of partition by the trial court, yet aggrieved, the plaintiffs appealed to the Court of Appeal where the decision of the trial court was affirmed but an order for rehearing was made based on failure of the High Court to make a pronouncement on the omnibus ground that the judgment of the trial court was against the weight of the evidence. Yet dissatisfied, the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court.

Impropriety of court determining substantive issue at interlocutory stage It is not open for a court as a duty at the stage of considering an interim application for injunction to determine any question or points that have arisen in the pleadings or that would arise for resolution in the substantive

NBA Conference: Crisis looms Continues from page 41 proper channel of conversation is very important and it should be followed.

“We should stop reading a SouthNorth agenda or meaning into what is purely the Bar affairs. This will not take us anywhere or help resolve the issue.” Yusuf said.

Meanwhile, inside sources in the NBA and some bar elders, who spoke to Vanguard Law, noted that the Lokoja NEC may well resolve the matter.

But some Northern lawyers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that subjecting the issue of venue for the delegates election was not an issue NEC should deliberate upon, but modalities for the delegates conference.

OGED OVUNWO GODFREY OVUNWO (For themselves and on behalf of Ovunwo Family of Rumuaghaolu Village in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State) IHEANYICHUKWU WOKO NNAMDI WOKO OSONDU WOKO (For themselves and on behalf of Woko Family of Rumuaghaolu Village in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State) MAHMUD MOHAMMED JSC (Presided) C. MITCHELL CHUKWUMA-ENEH JSC (Read the Lead Judgment) MUHAMMAD SAIFULLAH MUNTAKA-COOMASSIE JSC, OLUFUNLOLA OYELOLA ADEKEYE JSC SULEIMAN GALADIMA JSC ISSUES suit. In the instant case, the Court of Appeal erred by resolving an issue against the plaintiffs and thereafter making an order for rehearing by the appellate High Court. [Egbe v.

Onogun (1972) 1 All NLR 95; Kotoye v. C.B.N. (1989) 1 NWLR (Pt.98) 419, (2001) FWLR (Pt. 49) 1567; Obeya Memorial Hospital v. Attorney-General of the Federation (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 60) 325, (2004) All FWLR (Pt. 232) 1580; Ojukwu v. Government of Lagos State (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt.26) 39; A.C.B. Ltd v. Awogboro (1996) 3 NWLR (Pt.437) 383 referred to] [P. 610, paras. A - C J Thirdly, I take the view that where as herein appellate court as this court has ordered a rehearing of a matter as the instant one for resolution by a lower court as an appellate High Court as here, that is, to hear and resolve the matter de novo, it should not be seen to interfere or to deal with any substantive questions or points that have to be resolved at the rehearing of the matter.

In this way, such an appellate court ought to maintain a level playing ground for the parties pending and during the rehearing of the appeal as here. And one of the ways of doing so is not to have pronounced on any questions to be resolved at the rehearing. This underscores the charge leveled against the lower court in this matter by the appellants that by resolving issue 1 (one) herein against the appellants in favour of the

respondents prior to ordering a rehearing of the appeal before the appellate High Court has served to undermine their case at the rehearing; and also that it is highly prejudicial to their case. By having ordered the matter to be heard de novo for breaching the principle of fair hearing, all the issues in the matter have been put into melting pot to be heard anew.

However, what the appellants seem to be complaining about here is that the lower court has improperly pronounced on issue 1 (one) for determination prior to ordering a rehearing of the appeal before the appellate High Court. In other words, that having made up its mind on the matter, it should have proceeded straight on to order a rehearing, without more; and should not have allowed the appeal in part prior to making an order of rehearing of the matter.

The respondents have conceded the point. I am satisfied that the lower court, with respect, has partly allowed the appeal when it has resolved issue 1 (one) before it against the appellants in favour of the respondents. And that by so having pronounced on issue 1 (one), it has unarguably interfered with, albeit dealt with a vital question which otherwise is properly for resolution at the rehearing of the appeal and thus has erred in preempting that issue tantamounting to not having provided a level playing ground for the parties at the hearing

before the appellate High Court.

Having carefully examined the complaints of the appellants in this matter, it is not in doubt that issue 3 (three) raised for determination before the appellate High Court amounts to an attack of the failure of the trial court to evaluate all the evidence adduced by the parties and their witnesses at the trial and weighing the same in the imaginary scale to see which outweighs the other.

By failing to consider the same at all naturally lead to a miscarriage of justice apart from constituting a breach of the appellants’ right to fair hearing.

Thus, it begs the question in the circumstances whether the failure to so resolve the said issue 3 is sufficient to vitiate the instant judgment of the appellate High Court and by the same token the decision of the lower court on the issue. I have no hesitation in my mind in answering the poser in the affirmative” Proper approach of appellate court where lower court fails to resolve a vital issue Where a lower court fails to resolve an issue raised before it which is vital to the resolution of the dispute between the parties, an appellate court will be expected to either order a retrial or resolve the issue itself upon the evidence available if the question of credibility of witnesses would not arise. [Orianwo v. Okene When a rehearing is ordered and impropriety of appellate court dealing with any matter to be resolved therein -A rehearing of a matter should inter alia be ordered where the evidence has not been properly evaluated as the advantage of having seen and heard the witnesses and watched their demeanours have not been taken.

Once the lower court has ordered a rehearing, it is precluded from dealing with or wading into the matter to resolve any points/issues to be resolved at the rehearing. In the instant case, the Court of Appeal erred by resolving one of the grounds before it, yet making an order for rehearing of the matter.

•To be continued

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012— 43

Vanguard Law In Pix NIALS holds conference on Oil and Gas Contract

What is my wife up to?

The Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies, NIALS, recently held a three-day International Conference on Oil and Gas Contract and Dispute Resolution in Asaba, Delta State. Photos by INNOCENT ANABA

M

Y wife works in a hotel, we wedded in December 10, 2011. She hardly wears her wedding ring. She wears it only when I am around. I work in Warri, Delta State while she works in Awka, Anambra State. I visit home at the end of every month.

When I confronted her on why she has not been wearing the wedding ring, she said she was not used to it and besides it was not gold.

She celebrated her birthday last Friday (5th May) in a different hotel while I was still in Warri. I received the invitation a day to the celebration via SMS. When I sought to know why she celebrated her birthday without me, she said I musn’t be there. I want to know if what she did was right.

Anonymous, Warri.

I quite appreciate how you feel over your wife’s actions of refusing to wear her wedding ring and celebrating her birthday in a hotel without your knowledge. But I must say that these are purely domestic issues which can be sorted out between the two of you. There is no section of matrimonial law that makes it mandatory for either of the spouse to always wear wedding ring. Similarly, the law does not mandate her to invite you to her birthday party celebration.

This is however not an endorsement of what appears to be an unbecoming behaviour of a married woman.

What I actually mean is that this column only addresses legal and not domestic issues. But we appreciate the fact that you are one of the numerous readers of Counsel Corner.

No Will

OVER the years, I have watched members of the same family both immediate and extended fight themselves to standstill over property left behind by their deceased parents or siblings.

I found out that in most of the cases I have seen or heard of, the deceased did not leave any Will behind; and where a Will exists, its authenticity is usually in doubt. What I really want to know is the implications of a person who died without leaving any Will behind.

What really is the position of the law in such a situation? Besides, it is compulsory for people to have a will and how does one really know if a Will is genuine or not?

Joseph

Y

OU have raised a very important issue and your observations are quite right. Will is very important and it is always advisable for people to write theirs especially as they grow older. Contrary to what many people believe, it is not an indication that whoever writes a Will is about to die.

In the eye of the law, a Will is a testamentary statements of a person which is only effective after the maker’s death. On the death of testator (i.e. maker of the Will), his administrator is called upon to read the Will after some formalities. The Will must be read in the presence of the deceased benefactors. Where a person who has property died without writing a Will, he or she is said to have died intestate.

In such a situation, an application is written to the probate. An administrator of the Will is then appointed to administer the Will according to intestate law.

Without the letter of administration, nothing can be done to the deceased property legally. One of the major reasons why family members fight over Will is when the authenticity of the document is in doubt.

The law requires the testator to have capacity, that is, he or she must be of sound mind at the time the Will is being made. There must also be at least two witnesses who must be present when the Will is signed.

A beneficiary cannot be a witness to the Will. In the case of an illiterate person, the content must be read to him or her and it must be understood by the person.

There are other details. It is worthy of note that the content of a Will can be changed from time to time by the testator. It is important to consult a lawyer before a Will is written.

You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only)

L-R:Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Director General, NIALS and Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, Deputy Governor of Delta State.

L-R:Former Legal Adviser, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mrs Yinka Omorogbe and Mr Odien Ajumogobia, SAN, former Foreign Affairs Minister.

L-R: NIALS’s Acing Bursar, M Austine Odukoma and Mr James Bathnna, NIALS’s Secretary.

L-R: Prof Andrew Chukwumerie, SAN and Prof Clement Dakas.

L-R: Mr Chris Onogba, Commissioner, BRACE Commissioner, Delta State and NIALS Librarian, Mrs Ufuoma Lamikara.

L-R: Mr Newworld Safugba, Delta State Directorate of Local Government Affairs and Mr Gabam Okirhienyefa, the state Solicitor General, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.

L-R: Mr Jery Azinge and wife, Pamala

L-R: Former President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Thomson Okpoko, SAN and Mr Andrew Odum, SA, Legal Matters to Delta State governor.

L-R:Theodora Azinge and Chief Mike Agbamuche.

L-R: Engr Christabel Obiuwerbi, Executive Assistant to Delta State deputy governor and Mr Lucky Avweromre, Deputy chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba.

44 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NBA revives session on business law

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

T

WO years after its activities were summarily put on hold, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Section of Business Law, SBL rejuvenates with its upcoming Annual SBL conference scheduled for June 17-20, 2012, where it aimed at exploring available resources to improve the lots of Nigerian Lawyers on commercial law practice in the country.

Already, President of the NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN sequel to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Section held on January 19, 2012, had inaugurated the new council to run the activities of the SBL. Addressing journalists on the plans on ground for a successful outing on this year’s SBL event, the chairman of its new committee, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode unfolded to the the media the several activities lined up for the three-days event.

According to Oyebode, the theme for the Conference is, “Global Legal Regime - Prospects and Challenges”, with a sub-theme, “Trends in Global Legal Practice.”

Expressing his determinations to build strongly on the foundation laid by the previous leadership of the NBA SBL, Oyebode said, -”The present Council intends to build on this great work in order to ensure that the Section achieves its full potential.”

Achieving full potential He therefore outlined some specific areas he thought the NBA needed to improve on, for its members to excel.

Majorly, he argued that part of what the SBL was out to achieve was to work on how members of the Bar would be encouraged on the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

He said, “It is not too far from the truth that for many Nigerian lawyers the successful completion of the Nigeria Bar Examination signifies the end of theoretical legal education. All other knowledge gained is usually ‘on the job’. This ought not to be the case as constant education is essential for a successful practice.”

“It is with this mindset that the Rules of Professional conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 mandates Continuing Legal Education (CLE). The SBL intends to encourage CLE and effectively utilize various avenues in accomplishing this objectives of continuously educating ourselves in conformity with societal demands and the increasing levels of Globalisation.”

Giving insight into what SBL would be out to achieve, Oyebode said the programme would show how lawyers give should back into the society what they gains from it. On Social Responsibility , he said, “There is a general perception that Corporate and Commercial Lawyers have no way of giving back to society or rendering probono services to indigent citizens.

“This assumption is one to be erased and thus we intend to map out several programs and opportunities to particularly encourage SBL members to

Mr. Gbenga Oyebode render pro-bono services. I have been in discussions with Prof.Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to determine ways in which we can collaborate with the NHRC. Also we welcome suggestions on how this can be achieved.”

The annual event scheduled to hold at the Eko Hotels and Suites, promised to be evolving. According to Oyebode, the

inclusion of all stakeholders about the programme, and the enlargement of its membership expressed the willingness of the NBA and his council to excel.

To build on the success earlier achieved on SBL, he said it was vital for NBA “to re-brand and strategise on some internal policies of the SBL. This is particularly important in order to gain nationwide acceptance and support.”

He therefore promised that henceforth, venue of the SBL Conferences will be rotated across the country while it would also strengthen the size of Committees to include major stakeholders.

Already, nine committees have been put in place to work out and coordinate the sessions which revolve around the theme of the conference.

Topics expected to be covered during the programme include – Aviation, Travel, Tourism & Hospitality, Arbitration & ADR, NBA Macro Committee, Energy & Environment. SBL Young Lawyers Forum is also expected to Shape the mindset of young lawyers for entrepreneurship in the legal profession; Mentoring , a successful key

tool for successful entrepreneurship in the legal profession and Basic Understanding of Entrepreneurship as it relates to Law as a Business.

The Aviation will address current trends in resolving carriage by air disputes, Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol, regulatory requirements for doing Aviation Business in Nigeria. Travel, Tourism & Hospitality, will address the Double Negative Impact of Global Terrorism and Recession and the Utilization of the Law to revive growth in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Arbitration & ADR will consider issue regarding new skills in dispute resolution and Protecting the Res in Arbitration. On Energy & Environment will address issue on ‘ the Once Green Land – In Consideration of the People of the Niger Delta, ‘Much Ado About Local Content – Balancing the Objectives of Capacity Building Against the Security of Investment Risks; The Power Plan That Lasts – Implementing Sustainable Power Supply In Nigeria’s Dynamic Environment.

Create homeland security ministry, Ngige tells FG

A

GAINST the backdrop of grey concerns over security situation in the country, a Lagos based legal practitioner and member of Body of Benchers, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, has advised the Federal Government to create a ministry that would oversee and coordinate the activities of all

internal security agencies in the country in the absence of synergy among the security agencies.

He said the US government created a department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in America.

Speaking with journalists during an

Okada Ban: Cyclists demand release of 8,000 cycles Aliyu Wamba of All Nigeria

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

C

OMMERCIAL motorcycles riders, commonly called Okada riders in Lagos have demanded the release of over 8,000 bikes seized by the Lagos State Government, following the order by a Federal High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, which restrained the state government from arresting them.

Speaking through their lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, the Okada riders said the early action of the government in arresting and impounding their motorcycles in view of the recent court’s judgment was illegal and uncalled for.

Chairman of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, Pastor Ugo Paul, said the judgment of the court had exposed the fact that the Lagos State Government acted under a nonexisting law in seizing their motorcycles.

He argued that there was no law in place, which empowered the seizure of their motorcycles for operating on the highway as at the time they were seized, adding that Lagos State Government, acted illegally by seizing their motorcycles.

The Okada riders under the auspice of four different associations had approached the Federal High Court, Ikeja, asking the court to determine whether the action of the state government in seizing their motorcycles and subsequent ban from the highways was in order.

The plaintiffs in the suit were Mr

Automobile Commercial Drivers and Workers Association, NACOWA; Pastor Paul of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN; Mr Daramola Williams of National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, NATOMORA and Prince Aladesanmi of Okada Welfare Association, OWA.

interactive section in Lagos, Ngige also stressed the need for government to enlist the support of foreign antiterrorism outfits to tackle the issue, saying “it is no longer in doubt that the Nigerian security agencies cannot rise to the demands of the present security challenge in the country.”

He therefore advocated that the federal government should enlist the assistance and services of reputable counter intelligence and counterterrorist agencies like Mossad of Israel, MI6 of United Kingdom, FBI and SEAL of the United States.

According to him, without the assistance of these foreign security outfits, the economic and political structures of the country would continue to be under serious threat.

The senior advocate faulted the lack of information gathering from the SSS.

LCSDPP wants private sector support for special people’s Law

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE A group under the aegis of Lagos Civil Society Disability Policy Partnership, LCSDPP, has called on the private sector to support the state government in implementing the Lagos State Special People’s Law. LCSDPP, in a statement issued during a press conference at Ikeja, Lagos, said there should be steady reduction of Government’s expenditures on disability issues especially through the setting-up of Lagos State Disability fund as provided by the Law. The Civil Society group, in a memo to the state governor, proposed that the Lagos State Government approve and inaugurate the Public Private Sector Partnership on the implementation of the Lagos State People’s Law by the end of the second quarter of 2012.

They urged the private sector to

invest in employment and economic empowerment; access to products and services; work place environment, stressing the need for support for accessible public infrastructure, information communication & technology and inclusive education.

In their words: “The ability of investors to imbibe inclusive and disability-friendly practices and organizing work places and business environment, design, development, production and delivery of products and services such as: banking, telecoms, transportation, hotel, ICT, education, health, mass media, etc will increase turnovers and profits on investments as no potential consumer is left out.”

The Lagos State Special People’s Law is aimed at safeguarding all persons with disabilities against all forms of discrimination and equating their opportunities in all aspects of living in the society.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 45

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 47

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Akpabio eulogises Okiro's late wife

Politicians urged to avoid heating up Ondo polity

G

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—AHEAD of the governorship election in Ondo State, the immediate past Secretary to State Government, SSG, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, yesterday, warned against heating up of the polity. He advised politicians to work together for the development of the state and not for selfish interest.

Kekemeke said made this call in Akure during the award presentation ceremony for the 5th edition of the Hon. D. I. Kekemeke essay competition for secondary school students in Ondo State.

FG clears Abuja-Kaduna road

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

M

INISTER of State for Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, has said the Federal Government was working towards decongesting Tafa town, along Abuja-Kaduna road, by clearing it of indiscriminate and dangerous parking by motorists, especially petroleum tankers.

The minister, who disclosed this when he received the National Association of Road Transport Owners and Association of Petroleum Tanker Drivers in his office, said what was happening at Tafa was unacceptable.

Nwosu for YES summit

N

ATIONAL Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, will present the keynote address of the 4th edition the Youth Empowerment Summit Group, YES, a coalition of youth-based political pressure group and civil society organisations, to be held May 25 in Enugu.

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and other South-Eastern governors will be present at the occasion with HRH Justice Eze Ozobu(rtd) as Chairman.

C M Y

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right) and Mr. Mike Okiro, former Inspector-General of Police (left) during the governor's condolence visit on the death of his wife, Mrs Hera Okiro, in Abuja.

O V E R N O R Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has paid glowing tribute to late Mrs Hera Okiro, wife of former InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, who passed on recently.

Akpabio, who spoke during a condolence visit to the bereaved family in Abuja, described late Mrs Okiro as a great mother, a humble and obedient wife. He said she had done a lot to uplift the living standard of women and children, particularly in the police

service through the Police Officers Wife Association, POWA. Akpabio said: “I was greatly saddened when I heard about the tragedy because it was totally unexpected. It is going to be difficult to ask the family not to cry. But you should take solace in the fact that she lived an exemplary life.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Okiro expressed appreciation to Akpabio for taking time to condole with the family.

WHO picks Nigeria in anti-TB fight

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBKWURU

C SIGNING: From left— Mr. Jimoh Ajao, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing; Mr. Sandesh Gossavi, President, Sonnex Packaging Nigeria Ltd; Mr. Anil Mohinani, Managing Director, Mohinani Group; Mr. Gideon Osei-Amoako, Director; and Mr. Kojo Nunoo, GM Operations, both of Kasapreko, Ghana, at the partnership signing ceremony between Kasapreko and Sonnex in Lago.

ALABAR—PHARMACEUTICAL Society of Nigeria, PSN, has been selected alongside four other countries by the World Health Organisation, WHO, to fight tuberculosis.

Employ widows of slain journalists, NUJ urges Oshiomhole

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—PRESIDENT, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Alhaji Mohammed Garba, has urged Edo State Government to provide employment for widows of the journalists who died in an accident involving the governor’s convoy.

The journalists are: Olatunji Jacobs, George Okosun, Fidelis Okhani and Chuks Ogu, who was earlier killed by unknown gunmen.

Garba made the request in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, when he paid a condolence visit to the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, over the death of the journalists and the murder of the Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde. He commended the governor for his financial and moral support so far rendered to the bereaved families.

Garba said: “While we sympathise with the bereaved families and the government, the manner the incidents happened is really questionable and we are happy the government

has commenced investigation into the incident.”

He added that Olaitan’s killing has further exposed the level of insecurity in the country.

Odubu, who expressed

gratitude for the visit, assured that the deceased will not die in vain. He urged journalists to assist in putting pressure on the authorities to investigate the circumstances that led

to their death.

He regretted that the journalists and Olaitan’s death had been politicised by certain individuals, rather than condole the bereaved.

Cross River State chairman of PSN, Mr. Paul Agbulu, in his address at the stakeholders/data review meeting of the Federation of International Pharmacists Challenge on TB, said the country was selected after a competitive global bidding, which involved 66 countries.

He said: “The project focuses on improving Cross River TB case detection, referral and prompt treatment of TB clients and improving rational drug use.

“In addition to other core pharmaceutical care services, community pharmacies provide screening and referral services which is viewed as a novel approach to the fight for the eradication of TB.”

... as Mimiko lauds security in Ondo

G

OVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has described the interagency co-operation among security agencies as one of the main reasons for the existence of peace and security of lives and property in the state.

He made the revelation yesterday, while receiving the Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Major-General Kalayi Kwaskebe, who paid him a courtesy call, in Akure.

According to the governor, the indivisibility of the Nigerian Army, even in the face of challenges, was a pointer to the fact that the unity and oneness of the Nigerianfederationcannever be eroded by any means.

Mimiko said: “The synergy among the security agencies in Ondo State has largely accounted for the sustained peace and security being enjoyed by

the people. This is one of the reasons why we take pride in our state as the most peaceful states.”

Earlier in his speech, Major-General Kwaskebe

told the governor that the establishment of 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure was part of the tactical plan to deploy the military arsenal across the country.

He said: “I am going round to see the officers and equipment under their control so we will have a picture of their activities.”

Isoko group passes vote of confidence on DESOPADEC commissioner

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—ISOKO Patriotic Front, IPF, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on the commissioner representing the Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, Mr. Joseph Ogeh.

Speaking, when the group paid a courtesy visit on him, its President Mr. Henry Imoniero, thanked the state

governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for the choice of Ogeh for the DESOPADEC job.

He described Ogeh as “a man of impeccable character, a leader of men and an achiever who will rather suffer personal loss of material wealth than allow Isoko to remain underdeveloped.”

He expressed the readiness of the group to support the government of Uduaghan at all times, adding that the group was made up of 35

foundation members, “most of whom are former councilors in Isoko North Local Government Area.

He said: “Our aim is to give support to all Isoko sons and daughters in government; appointed or elected, to achieve their objectives by educating the rural dwellers on how best to relate with their representatives.”

Responding, Ogeh thanked the group for the visit and expressed joy that such a body was put in place in Isokoland.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012—49

CRISIS:

APGA chiefs dance naked

THE All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA finds itself in a fresh crisis that could well decide the legacy of the party’s first elected governor, Mr. Peter Obi.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

T

HE crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has taken another dimension with two top members of the party, the national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and a founding member of the party, Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor trading blames on the situation in the party and governance in Anambra State.

It would ordinarily have been dismissed as a storm in a tea cup for Umeh who had until recently led the party with a firm grip, if not in the opinion of some, as a dictator.

But this time he is pitched in battle with a master politician who is reportedly a relative of the party’s first elected governor, Mr. Peter Obi, the governor of Anambra State to whom he also serves as special adviser on parks and markets.

For the past two years, Umeh and Nwobu-Alor have tried to get at each other by seeking the intervention of Governor Peter Obi. However, Obi appeared to have ignored the two men and concentrated on the governance of the state. Well, that is until now.

It is not clear how the face off between the two men began, but Nwobu Alor, who was a member of the Second Republic Anambra State House of Asembly, had not hidden his dislike for the

*Obi: Is he siding his uncle?

*Umeh: Fighting uncle and nephew

must give way for another person, alleging that the national chairman of APGA was the greatest problem militating against the growth of the party.

Last week, some members of APGA gathered in Awka and

the state and national assemblies and elected another governor, they began to say that I am incompetent. I was the pivot for bringing Obi to run for governor under APGA in 2003. I was the pillar for making him win a second time in 2010. Without me, they won’t be where they are.

“What I can assure them is that nobody can disintegrate the party. Members of the party are behind me from the grassroots to the national level. This party is in my firm grip because I have not let the members down. I know what is happening in his state and if they annoy me, I will open the can of worms.”

,

For the past two years, Umeh and Nwobu-Alor have tried to get at each other by seeking the intervention of Governor Peter Obi. However, Obi appeared to have ignored the two men and concentrated on the governance of the state. Well, that is until now

,

leadership of Umeh. To him, Umeh was not doing enough to sell APGA to other parts of the country, a statement many APGA faithful have faulted.

For instance, many members of APGA recall that until the April 2011 election, Governor Obi was the only elected member of the party throughout the country and that it was due to the hardwork of Umeh that the party presently boasts of two governors, a senator, many members of the House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly.

Despite these achievements, Nwobu Alor recently began what he termed the restructuring of the party in which he said that Umeh

declared that they had formed a parallel state committee that would report to Nwobu Alor. This was what stirred the current crisis in the party and observers believe that if not handled carefully, APGA, as a political party would be the worse for it.

Chief Umeh, who was disturbed by the activities of those behind the latest crisis in the party, described as irresponsible the action of Nwobu Alor, insisting that APGA would discipline him and other members who, he said, had been undermining the progress of the party.

He said: “Our party will no longer tolerate indiscipline.

APGA is in my firm control. Along with my colleagues in APGA leadership, we have been navigating the party to safety. But while we are labouring to keep APGA afloat in Anambra and Nigeria , this group led by Nwobu Alor has continued to create the wrong impression that APGA is in crisis. He has no power to restructure the party.

And for the fact that he is doing this and the governor has not called him to order makes me to believe that the governor is sponsoring him.

“In October last year, I asked the governor to call him to order, but he has continued with the anti –party activities. We cannot continue to keep silent even as we will continue to make APGA to grow from strength to strength.

“Nwobu Alor said I am incompetent, yet I got his nephew elected as governor two times. My incompetence started during the second tenure because I asked them to conduct local government election in the state so that APGA members will be empowered and for the party to be made stronger at the grass roots. The governor should stop using him to create crisis in the party because APGA is very solidly together.

“Before 2011 elections, Governor Obi was the only person elected on the platform of APGA and after we worked hard to have elected members in

Empowering the party But reacting to Umeh’s stand on the situation in APGA, Nwobu Alor said that rather than tell the whole world how he manages the N20 million made available to him every month for the management of the party, the national chairman was busy going around and telling people that Obi did not empower the party and blaming the governor for the party’s failings.

He said that it was not surprising that those of them who did not like the way Umeh was running APGA and had the guts to call for a restructuring, had become objects of attack from him on daily basis.

He said: “Today, he (Umeh) is

not in good terms with the governor because he wanted him (governor) to conduct the local government elections the Nigerian way, and get all those he had handpicked into positions, even if it amounts to offending the law. He has gone ahead at public functions to castigate the governor and those in charge of award of contracts because of the governor ’s insistence that merit must guide every process, rather than people bringing names of incompetent, rate-paying contractors.”

Nwobu-Alor said that apart from Umeh fighting him, the APGA national chairman was at daggers-drawn with virtually everyone serving in Obi’s government that Umeh perceived as being as stringent and thorough as the governor, adding that it was particularly painful for Umeh to claim that he made Obi the governor, when, he alleged, the APGA national chairman never wanted Obi to become governor.

Annoyed by what he sees as lack of respect by Umeh for the governor, he said that the young man, Obi, was busy attracting so many things for the state, only for ingrates to feign ignorance.

Many are presently waiting to see how Governor Obi would fully respond to the crisis. How he does could prove decisive not just for the party, but on his political legacy in Anambra.

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 51

52 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 53

54

— V anguard, THURSD AY, MA Y 10, 2012 Vanguard, THURSDA MAY

Extra virgin olive oil lowers blood pressure I WAS talking about cooking oils to a friend of mine one day, and she said...

“Why do I have to use olive oil? I can use those cooking oils that are sold in our local market, after all they are cheaper and I can still achieve the same culinary results”.

You might also wonder.....what’s the difference anyway? You need to read this!

Cooking oils vary in their degree of saturation. Olive oil is one of the few widely used culinary oils that contain about 75 percent of its fat in the form of oleic acid (a monounsaturated, omega-9 fatty acid). Research has long been clear about the benefits of oleic acid for proper balance of total cholesterol, LDL

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with Funke Oshifuye always liquid at room temperature while saturated oil is solid at room temperature.

Because of its degree of saturation, olive oil is always liquid at room temperature while the oils we buy in our local market

PATHS 2 advocates for post abortion care services

A

cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol in the body. When individuals who eat diets high in saturated fat switch to diets high in monounsaturated fat (by replacing other oils with olive oil), it translates to a significant decrease in their total blood cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and HDL:LDL (good: bad) cholesterol ratio.

One way to know whether your oil is saturated or not is to look at its state at room temperature. Unsaturated oil is

turn solid on our kitchen shelves! For this reasons, you need to use olive oil as it is beneficial for your heart health. Research has also shown that olive oil and its oleic acid may be important factors for lowering blood pressure. It is thought that when large amounts of the oleic acid in olive oil gets absorbed into the body, it finds its way into cell membranes and changes signalling patterns at the cell membrane level by specifically altering G-protein associated cascades and thereby lowering blood pressure.

The quality of olive oil production, especially the stage of pressing does make a lot of difference when it comes to its

health benefits. Recent studies have compared the anti-inflammatory benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) obtained from the first pressing of the oil to that of virgin olive oils (non-EVOO) obtained from later pressings. The results were outstanding, as EVOO could lower inflammatory markers in the blood when non-EVOOs could not. This is due to EVOOs stronger concentrations of phytonutrients, especially its polyphenols.

These anti-inflammatory benefits of extra virgin olive oil do not depend on large levels of intake. As little as 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil per day have been shown to be associated with significant anti-inflammatory benefits. So, use not just olive oil, but extra virgin olive oil for your every day meals.

CONSULTANT gynaecologist and obstetrician at Barua Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna State, Dr. Joel Adze has stressed the importance of improving women’s access to safe abortion and post abortion care if maternal deaths and injuries are to be reduced in the state.

Adze who spoke during a five-day Partnership for Transforming Health Systems, PATHS2, supported Post Abortion Care training workshop for nurses and doctors from selected health facilities in Kaduna State, said unsafe abortion contributes to between 13 and 20 per cent of maternal deaths in Nigeria.

Dr. Amina Aminu Dorayi, the Service Quality Improvement and Reproductive Health Advisor with PATHS 2 said unsafe abortion is a critical public health concern causing the deaths of tens of thousands of women worldwide each year.

“Where abortion is restricted or where safe

abortion services are costly or hard to find, complications from unsafe abortion are common,” she said Dorayi said PATHS 2 supports post abortion care trainings designed to make treatment safer and more responsive to the needs of women. She stressed that approximately 59,000 Nigerian women die annually from pregnancy and child birth, and for every maternal death, 30 others suffer long term disabilities. “It is clearly unacceptable that women should die in such high numbers in the process of bringing children into the world” she added.

PATHS 2 is helping to improve the quality of post abortion care services as it is an important, area of reproductive health.

Quality post abortion care includes emergency treatment, contraceptive counselling, provision of commodities and supplies, follow up and linkages to other

reproductive health services. It believes all women should have access to safe reproductive health services which includes effective use of modern contraceptive methods.

Dr. Talemoh Wycliffe Dah, a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, said that health care workers are critical to addressing the maternal newborn child health challenges at primary health care level, so building the clinical capacity of health workers in competency based training is a key area of intervention.

Dah added that the training was grounded on specific principles of care and also aimed at promoting a woman centered approach to provision of post abortion care services. This means that providers ask for and focus on women’s concerns and interests and take a holistic approach to meeting every woman’s medical and psychological needs at the time of treatment.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 —

P

ENSION Fund Opera tors Association of Nigeria, PENOP, has said the massive corruption being unearthed in the administration of pensions in the public sector, under the defunct Deferred Pension system, in the ongoing probe by Senate Committee cannot happened and not connected to the new Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS. Chairman of PENOP, Dave Uduanu who spoke at an interactive session with the media in Lagos, assured contributors in the new CPS that the "scheme was robust, safe and poised to help retirees live well after their active life in employment."

“To a large extent the new pension scheme has placed in the hands of the contributor the responsibility for the contribution that is available in the Retirement Savings Account, RSA, upon retirement.

Thus, participants will have to take their destiny in their hands and there lies one of the major differences between the new system and the previous system.”

The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, PENOP is an independent, non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making body whose members include four Pension Fund Custodians, PFCs, 24 Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs and seven Closed Pension Fund Administrators, CPFAs, with the

Pension fraud not related to CPS —Operators objective of promoting the operations and growth of the industry and ensuring that international best practices relating to the industry are observed by the operators registered in Nigeria.

The new pension scheme called the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is a very simple antidote to the complexities of the past scheme and the new scheme will ease the problem of retired workers Dave Uduanu going through hell to get their retirement benetribution is 7.5 per cent of the fits.”

Another major difference ac- consolidated (total) monthly cording to him, “is that while earning, and not just of the bapensioners in the old system sic salary. Thus, 7.5 per cent travel long distances to be ver- is deducted from every particified, the local office of the PFA ipant worker, and the employmanages that level of interface er adds another 7.5 per cent without any stress, thereby re- monthly. The savings are semoving the need for continu- cure and no worker would be ous verification of pensioners. shortchanged at the end of the In the new scheme, the con- day.”

Recovered pension fund means nothing to us until••—Pensioners

BY OLA AJAYI

N

ATIONAL Union of Pensioners, NUP, in Southwest, has said the recovery of N159billion meant for pensioners does not mean anything to pensioners until the money is paid to the already traumatized pensioners.

Secretary of the South west of NUP, Mr. Olusegun Abatan, said the alleged theft of such a huge sum of money that was meant for aged and fragile pensioners was the height of wickedness and a very disturbing report.

Speaking in Ibadan, he wondered how an ordinary person saddled with the responsibility of taking care of hapless pensioners could mismanage the money without anybody raising alarm.

Describing the news as heart-breaking, he noted that the money recovered by the task force was not enough to pay those who had been waiting endlessly for their gratuities and pensions alone.

He pleaded with the relevant authorities to put all machinery in motion to address some discrepancies in the running of the pension scheme.

The NUP zonal scribe said, “It is really a criminal act because these are people that ought to take care of pensioners but instead they are taking care of themselves”.

Making reference to the people involved in the pension scam, he said, “ when you see them the director of pension at the office of the Head of Service and the Deputy Director, there was no way one could deduce that they could perpetrate such inhuman act.

According to him, “I think the problem we are having here is a problem of Nigeria because it is a wrong system we are running in the pension scheme. How could somebody steal such a big amount of money without detection?

What we are talking about now is over N150 billion.”

“One thing I want to state today about this pension scam

is that the tax force is not saving anything. In fact, the N159 billion or so that the tax force said it has saved government, if you calculate the money of those that have not been placed pension, those who were placed on pension but are not paid regularly; those that were paid irregularly and we have some people earning as low as N10,000. If you calculate all these, it would amount to more than the money the tax force claimed they have saved the government.”

“What we are saying in essence is that pensioners are owed several months of pensions, some are owed gratuity, government should not keep this money and claim that they are saving it for us. They are not recovering anything; they should pay pensioners this money because it is their money that some people have siphoned."

If you have helped us to recover that money then pay us,” he pleaded with government.

,

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

55

7.5 per cent is deducted from every participant worker, and the employer adds another 7.5 per cent monthly. The savings are secure and no worker would be shortchanged at the end of the day

,

Speaking, Head, Research and Corporate Strategy Department, National Pension Commission PENCOM, Umaru Farouk Aminu, said there "are checks and balances in the system, and the various regulations passed by PENCOM over the years have been geared towards more openness, transparency and empowering contributors and beneficiaries of the scheme to be the major players in the pension industry, unlike in the previous era."

Corroborating, Mrs. Ronke Adedeji, Managing Director, Leadway Pensure and Executive Committee Member, PENOP, pointed out that the supervisory system in the industry under the old scheme was fragmented and unregulated.

According to her, “A lot of agencies like Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, National Insurance Commission, NAICOM and others were supervising the industry in the old scheme but in the new scheme, the industry is strictly regulated by PenCom”.

Ex-Dock workers drag NPA, others to court over unpaid benefits

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

N

O fewer than 18 re trenched Dock Workers registered at the Calabar Seaport, have dragged the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Ministry of Labour and five others to the National Industrial Court, NIC, Calabar Division, Cross River State, over alleged unpaid entitlements amounting to N800 Million.

In a suit No. NIC/CA/02/ 2012, the ex-workers claimed that the defendants are Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, K-Marine limited, ECM Terminals Ltd among others.

The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Awal after listening to the arguments of the plaintiff and defendant counsels adjourned the matter for ruling on June 5, 2012.

Speaking in an interview, counsel to the aggrieved

former workers, Mr. Mathew Atambi, said they were in Court to enforce their Fundamental Rights after they were retrenched in September 2011.

He claimed the workers were retrenched for protesting the non-payment of their wages and salaries since 2008 according to the Federal Government’s concession agreement with private port owners.

According to him, “We are in Court to enforce the fundamental human rights of our clients and also to ensure that the reforms are duly followed.

They are owing us over N800 million wages that have not been paid and about N180 million on salaries which have not been paid since 2008.”

Atambi said that they were seeking the intervention of the Court for the payment of the workers’ entitlements, lamenting that all attempts to settle out of court proved abortive.

56—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

ACN’s winding road to controlling Oyo Assembly •Now has 17 members, PDP - 9 and Accord - 6

BY OLA AJAYI

F

IRST to visit the former gov ernor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja, in the long battle to make him leave the Accord Party for the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, was the former Deputy National Chairman in the South West, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo who confessed that his party underrated Ladoja and paid dearly for it. To him, the ex-governor was germane to their continued existence in the zone.

Few weeks after, the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also visited him in his Bodija residence to convince him over why he had to return to the party he left for good. As this was going on, the Action Congress of Nigeria was trying all it could to win Ladoja to its side. Earlier, it was the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who held a closed door meeting with him in Ibadan but Ladoja did not give any positive response.

Later, the State Governor, Senator Ajimobi also tried to make him see reason but Ladoja would prefer a conservative party like the PDP though he had denied severally that he had any pact with the party. At a time, it was being rumoured that the PDP was trying to pocket Ladoja so that they could impeach the governor. But, all these did not materialize. Just when Ladoja was about throwing in the towel, another crisis sprang up within the fold of the PDP during the state congress of the party. This resulted in parallel congresses. One was held at the Liberty Stadium with the former Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and others and another congress at the Olubadan Stadium with the Minister of State, Federal

Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja. This made Ladoja to withdraw to his nest saying he would not like to join a party that was riddled with crises. Since then, he has been very cautious making any conclusive statement on his return to the PDP. The former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese who is also a chieftain of the party called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur not to give audience to those who fan embers of disintegration within the party. While speaking with newsmen in his Ikolaba residence, he told the party national leadership not to recognise any state executive in the state as a result of the parallel congresses they had.

Accomplished person Describing it as heartwarming to know that Tukur is an accomplished person whose conscience cannot be bought and who would not mortgage his integrity, he said it was some over-ambitious politicians who are bent on destroying the party.

Oyelese said: "At a time when the party should have been brought together under one umbrella, these inordinately ambitious fellows have decided to slaughter the unity of our party on the altar of a selfish agenda by being part of parallel congresses."

He lamented that it was the same crisis that consumed the party in 2011 elections that it lost governorship seat in the South West. Elder Oyelese was optimistic that with the election of the national chairman, the party would soon overcome the trying

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (centre) addressing supporters of a PDP lawmaker, Hon. Mathew Abioye (second left) and Accord Party legislator, Hon. Temitope Olatoye (aka Sugar) (right) who decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan on Tuesday.

With them is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu

period warning him not to get entangled in the antics of those who are not going to be of any electoral value during subsequent elections in the State.

He added that rather than work in concert with responsible stakeholders who were desirous of bringing every shade of opinion in the PDP on board the group of individuals have chosen to pursue a wishful 2015 agenda.

He also reminded the two aggrieved parties to realize that the party is bigger than any individual and there is no glory for any party that cannot win an election.

Controlling a party does not necessarily translate to electoral success.

W

hile this was going on, the ACN was working on some of the lawmakers of both the PDP and Accord party in the legislative arm. Fortunately for it, it was a strong member of the Accord Party who is a force to reckon with in Lagelu Local Government, Mr. Temi tope Olatoye that was wooed. Temitope, when he was with the former Governor, Otunba Akala in the PDP, he delivered his constituency to the party. So, it was a big blow to Akala then when Ladoja won him over to Accord Party.

With the defection of Temitope (Lagelu Constituency), the political fortune of Ladoja has been seriously affected. He was not the only one that put smiles on the faces of the ruling party in the state. Another lawmaker of the Peoples Democratic Party from Ogo Oluwa/Surulere constituency, Matthew Abioye also agreed to cross to the broom party. To show the importance of the defection of the lawmakers to the party, it was a big celebration as hundreds of party members trooped to the premises of the state governor to rejoice over the hard-won battle.

At the event were the Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, Mr. Olusegun Olaleye, lawmaker representing Ibadan

North 2 in the House, other lawmakers, party chieftains and many others. Wearing uniform ankara that had been specifically chosen for the day, the serene atmosphere in the Governor’s office was disturbed with different songs to welcome the new heroes into the party.

As it is now, ACN lawmakers who were 15 are now 17. Out of the 32 legislators in the legislative arm, PDP has 9 and Accord Party has reduced to 6 lawmakers. Governor Ajimobi, who could not hide his happiness said, “It is a very happy thing for us to have very notable members from PDP and Accord joining ACN in the House of Assembly. What does this mean? One, we are now

,

The battle for the control of the 32-member Oyo State House of Assembly between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been survival of the fittest since ACN snatched the baton of governance from PDP which held the ace for eight years. At the beginning of the administration, former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, leader of the Accord Party and Governor Abiola Ajimobi were like Siamese twins. The cordiality was such that Ajimobi’s party - ACN, became so uncomfortable and was looking for ways to separate them. As it is now, ACN lawmakers who were 15 are now 17. Out of the 32 legislators, PDP has 9 and Accord Party has reduced to six lawmakers.

“PDP is a divided house. I have decided to leave the divided house to join a united house, which is the progressive party, ACN,”the lawmaker said. He also said that he took the decision to complement the efforts of Gov. Ajimobi “who has been doing very well through massive infrastructural development to change the face of Oyo State”.

Also commenting, Hon. Olatoye said that he decided to join the ruling party in the interest of his people, majority of whom he said had embraced ACN Looking at the politics of the state, there are many other things than meet the eyes. Vanguard gathered that the leadership of the Action Congress of

At a time when the party should have been brought together under one umbrella, these inordinately ambitious fellows have decided to slaughter the unity of our party on the altar of a selfish agenda by being part of parallel congresses

in the majority in the House of Assembly. Two, these are foundation and senior members of the House. “For them to have joined us is a reflection of their own wisdom and foresight, and it is a confirmation of the fact that ACN as a party is now doing well in Oyo State. No other party, no matter their machinations, will change the progress that we have already started in Oyo State,” the governor said.

Also, the Speaker of the House, Mrs. Sunmonu, described the defection as a welcome development, expressing optimism that more of the lawmakers in the opposition parties would still join the ACN. Abioye made a short remark that his decision to leave his former party, PDP, was informed by the unending feud that had made it become a divided house, adding that the party produced parallel executives from two different congresses.

,

Nigeria both at the national and zonal level was working relentlessly to ensure that the party remains a reckoning party in the zone many years to come. It was further gathered that many other lawmakers would still join the party. Defection from one party to another is not a big deal in Oyo State. Politicians in the state only appreciate what they can enjoy at a given moment. Once that source is blocked as a result of change in government, they go to other party for greener pasture.

So, the ACN should not rejoice too much as anything can still happen that could turn the tide against it.

With the defection, the race has just begun between the two parties. It is clear that the PDP would not fold its arms. It would continue to make overtures to others too just to have relevance in 2015. lekeadeseri@yahoo.com 08023019505

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 57

Putin promises stronger Russia P

RESIDENT Vladimir Putin promised to project Russia’s might on the world stage in a rallying speech on Wednesday to troops and war veterans celebrating victory over Nazi Germany at a military parade bristling with weapons on Red Square. Two days after starting his six-year term, Putin, flanked by military chiefs and his defense and prime ministers, used the address to reinforce appeals for national unity as he tries to reassert his authority, shaken by months of protests.

Russian courts later jailed two prominent opposition leaders for 15 days for their role in the protests against his return to the Kremlin, sending a new signal that Putin is determined to keep a lid on dissent

in his third presidential term.

“Russia consistently follows a policy of strengthening global security and we have a great moral right to stand up determinedly for our positions because our country suffered the blow of Nazism,” Putin said in the annual speech marking Victory in Europe day, delivered from a podium under the Kremlin walls.

He did not refer to any enemy other than evoking the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 at a great human cost, including millions of Soviet victims, at a parade in which goose-stepping troops, tanks and trucks carrying missiles filed past him.

“Barbarians were plotting to destroy whole nations,” he said. “The inevitable happened -

responsibility and common resolve prevailed over evil.”

Putin, 59, has often used tough statements on foreign policy to rally people and resorted to anti-American rhetoric in the run-up to the March 4 presidential election. The tactic was also used by Soviet leaders, including on this patriotic holiday evoking the sacrifices of World War Two. During the election campaign, Putin accused U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of stirring the protests against his 12-year rule by encouraging “mercenary” Kremlin foes.

Sudan launches cross-border shelling S

OUTH Sudan has ac cused Sudan of bombing and shelling ar-

Greek par ties disagree o parties ovver coalition govt

G

REECE’S coalition talks have remained deadlocked, with conservative leader Antonis Samaras denouncing calls by the head of the runner-up party to reject the country’s international bailout.

Alexis Tsipras, whose Radical Left Coalition came a surprise second in Sunday ’s election, has been entrusted with seeking partners for a governing coalition after Greeks deserted the two main parties in droves, angry at the pain that harsh austerity cuts have brought.

Tsipras is to meet both Samaras, who heads the conservative New Democracy party that placed first with 18.9 per cent and 108 seats in the 300-member parliament, and the socialist PASOK leader later on Wednesday, as well as other party leaders.

Samaras himself failed to cobble together a coalition on Monday. If Tsipras also fails, the job will move on to former finance minister and PASOK head, Evangelos Venizelos.

If no deal can be reached in the next few days, new elections will have to be called in the

New Russian President Vladmir Putin and Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev in Moscow yesterday.

Greek's new democratic party leader Alexis Tsipras and other party members after the failed coalition talks yesterday.

eas on the southern side of their disputed border, calling the acts a violation of a UN-backed ceasefire which should have begun on Saturday.

Kella Dual Kueth, a South Sudan military spokesman, said there were attacks yesterday in the states of Upper Nile, Unity and Northern Bahr el-Ghazal. “Automatically this is a violation of the ceasefire, Kueth said. He said he was not aware of any attacks yesterday.

Khartoum has repeatedly denied it is carrying out a bombing campaign over southern territory, saying instead it is the victim of its southern neighbour’s aggression.

Obama woo Asia, Latino voters

P

RESIDENT Barack Obama, whose campaign has focused heavily on courting Hispanic voters ahead of the November 6 election, reached out to another important and sometimes overlooked voting group on Tuesday: Asian Americans.

A recent poll showed the fast-growing Asian American community is largely untapped by presidential candidates even though they are expected to vote in record numbers this fall.

The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners, showed that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders identified themselves as Democrats over Republicans

by a three-to-one margin.

Obama seemed to know that as he addressed a gala of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies on Tuesday.

“For me, coming here feels a little bit like home,” said Obama, who was born in Hawaii and spent his childhood there and in Indonesia.

“This is a community that helped to make me who I am today. It’s a community that helped make America the country that it is today,” he added in a short address.

“And I know it can be tempting - given the success that’s on display

The latest allegations indicated that continuing tensions between the two neighbours, which erupted into border fighting last month, could hamper international efforts to push them to resume negotiations on various outstanding disputes.

Addressing Sudanese parliamentarians on Wednesday, Ali Ahmed Karti, Sudan’s foreign minister, said Khartoum would co-operate with a UN Security Council resolution which called on both sides to commit to an African Union (AU) peace roadmap.

BRIEFS U.S double agent implicated in suicide bomb plot

T

HE would-be suicide bomber in a plot by al Qae da’s Yemeni affiliate was planted in the group by an allied intelligence agency or turned into an informant early in the conspiracy, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.The CIA and its foreign partners tracked the plot for several weeks and then managed to get the informant to deliver the bomb outside Yemen, possibly to Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, sources said.

Florida Police arrest Supremacist terror gang

T •Obama here tonight - for people to buy into the myth of the ‘model minority’ and glance over the challenges that this community still faces,” Obama said.

“There’s still economic disparities like higher rates of poverty and obstacles to employment.”

EN alleged members of a white supremacist group training near Orlando and Disney World for a “race war” have been rounded up in a series of arrests in central Florida, authorities said on Tuesday.

The arrests were based on evidence from a confidential informant who infiltrated the neo-Nazi organization known as the American Front 17 months

Russian plane missing in Indonesia

A

RUSSIAN Sukhoi passenger plane with 50 peo ple on board, including businessmen and Russian envoys, went missing during a demonstration flight near a volcano on Indonesia’s Java island on Wednesday, officials said. Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said radio contact with the plane was lost at about 0800 GMT after the jet descended to 6,000 feet around Mount Salak, a volcano 7,254 feet above sea level, south of the capital Jakarta.

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 59

Emile Heskey Age: 34 Free agent Where else to start than with the man who inspired it all? Emile Heskey has a CV boasting the likes of Liverpool, Leicester City and Aston Villa, as well as 62 England caps. A dismal scoring record of nine in 90 appearances for Villa would suggest his top-flight days are done, but Heskey insists otherwise and is currently seeking new top flight employers for next season.

Paul Scholes Age: 37 Manchester United Paul Scholes was supposed to be retired, but the United legend couldn’t help himself, and donned the shirt for the cause one more time this season. His performances suggest he hasn’t missed a beat, and there’s now a suggestion he could go on for at least one additional year. With 482 league appearances and counting, you wouldn’t bet against Scholesy to hit the 500 mark before he hangs his boots up for good.

Ryan Giggs

•King appearances for the club this season he looks set to stretch his eleven year spell in the top flight even further. As for records, Distin ‘assisted’ Tim Howard’s 100-yard goal against Bolton Wanderers in January, only the fourth of its kind in Premier League history.

Ledley King Age: 31 Tottenham

Rory Delap Age: 34 Stoke Long-throw master Rory Delap has been Stoke’s secret weapon over the last few years. Delap’s technique comes from his time as a javelin

Ledley King is the youngest of our veterans at 31, but the severity of his

Age: 38 Manchester United Forever-young Ryan Giggs has been a veteran for years now, but his ability to accept additional responsibility after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo showed that class is permanent. The only player to have played and scored in every Premier League season, it’s hard to imagine the league without him. With 900 appearances for Manchester United in total so far, the only person likely to better that record is Giggs himself!

Sylvain Distin

William Gallas Age: 34 Tottenham The presence of a second Tottenham defender on our list reveals part of their problem in consistency this season. None the less, Gallas can claim to have been a starting player for Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, an indication of his true quality. With his contract running to 2013, he’s likely to add at least one more year to his eleven in the Premier League.

•Gallas

Age: 34 Liverpool Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher is currently second in the club’s list of all time appearances, and though he’s unlikely to beat Ian Callaghan’s incredible 857, Carragher will surely pull further ahead of third placed Ray Clemence.

When it comes to big-game experience he’s second to none, setting the record for most appearances in European competition for Liverpool in 2007.

Though no longer a guaranteed-starter, he’s likely to continue for at least one year.

•Heskey

•Scholes •Delap

•Giggs

•Distin Davies

Age: 34 Everton Newcastle, Manchester, Portsmouth and Merseyside have all been home for Everton defender Sylvain Distin, and with 32

champion during his school days, and Arsene Wenger fears his throws so much he even suggested a switch to kick-ins to prevent them. Annoying Arsene is surely enough to keep him going a bit longer

Jamie Carragher

Kevin Davies Age: 35 Bolton Bolton striker Kevin Davies could yet help his club avoid relegation this season, and you’d expect him to continue with them for at least one more year if that’s the case.

Unlike Ryan Giggs, the record Davies holds isn’t one to be bragged about, having tallied up the most fouls in a Premier League season in 2010... a record he then went on to break in 2011. 122 is the number he’d need to hit to break it again.

There’s time yet

career-threatening knee injuries make him an exceptional case.

Despite being unable to play more than one game a week for the majority of his career, King has an impressive 268 appearances and counting for Tottenham, as well as 21 caps for England. King’s contract is due to run out this summer, but he’s surely still good enough to do a job for a top-flight side.

•Carragher

•Neville

Phil Neville Age: 35 Everton The ‘other’ Neville has a trophy-laden career to rival that of his brother, and his versatility has ensured he continues to compete at the top-level. With Champions League experience at both Manchester United and Everton, Neville can also boast a spate of England caps over a nine year period from 1996 to 2007. Neville is looking towards a career in coaching, but his 35 appearances for Everton this year suggest he isn’t ready to stop playing just yet.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Keshi has inspired me — Uche kalu

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, Abuja

S

UPER Eagles striker Uche Kalu who scored a goal in the last friendly match against Egypt has revealed that the Chief Coach of the national team Stephen Keshi has inspired him with a winning mentality.

The Enyimba FC of Aba player who disclosed this yesterday during a media parley with sports journalists in Abuja, expressed his readiness to put in his best during the training for the forthcoming match in Peru scheduled for 23rd of this month.

Kalu further said all the players were eagerly waiting for the friendly match in order to tell Nigerians the new tactics of play the technical crew has introduced to the team.

According to him: “The winning mentality is to play according to instruction; approach every match with seriousness; believe in yourselves and avoid every mistake in the field of play.”

“The most important thing for us is to win our matches; as long as we do that we will win the confidence of the technical crew who believe in us as well as Nigerians” he said.

He continued: “The coach always tells us to play as if we were playing a normal game like we have done in our career but with seriousness. I want to assure you that we have a good team and there is no need to worry about what would happen in Peru.”

“He always says he believes in us and I have also realized this is a game of football especially after playing against six times Africa champions Egypt in which I scored a goal.

My brother I must tell you that goal put me in another level of experience to face any opponent without fear or intimidation.”

He called on Nigerians to pray fervently for the team as Keshi approaches the final re-building of the Super Eagles, stressing that the game against Egypt has taught the players a lesson.

Eagles Continues from BP will climb back to world reckoning, as the Eagles tackled 36 th placed Peru in a friendly on May 23. In 1994 the Eagles were in the world top five ratings, but now they are struggling to keep a place in the Africa top ten.

Cote’d Ivoire rated 15th in the world maintained their top position on the continent with Ghana perched at 22 coming second. Algeria, Mali and Zambia retained their 38, 39 and 40 positions respectively to complete the top five teams in Africa. Gabon (42), Libya (46), Tunisia (56), Egypt (57) , Morocco (60) and Sierra Leone (61) make up the top 11 teams with Nigeria ranked 12 th in Africa.

However, former Eagles star, Jonathan Akpoborie submitted that the rankings are not a reflection of the true

strength of the teams.

“Nigerians should take solace in the fact that the Eagles have the capability to bounce back. The team under Stephen Keshi are on the right track,” said the former international.

World champion Spain remains No. 1 in FIFA’s monthly rankings ahead of Germany and Uruguay, followed by the Netherlands and Portugal.

The only change among the top 10 in the May rankings is Argentina swapping places with Denmark to occupy spot No. 9.

FIFA expects more changes during May as more friendly matches are played in the lead up to the European Championship next month and another round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Euro 2012 runs from June 8 to July 1.

Messi in racism storm

E

VERTON loanee Royston Drenthe has accused Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi of using racist language towards him when he played for parent club Real Madrid.

Drenthe, who has not played against the Argentine striker in over a season since going on loan to the

Toffees, says Messi repeatedly used the word ‘negro’ when speaking to him, in the manner of many South American players.

The Dutch player alleged in Mirror Football: “I played against him (Messi) many times and we always have problems with each other."

•Uche Kalu

Nigerian clubs get CAF referees

H

ENRY Ogunyamodi, will lead out a team of referees to Mali where they will officiate the CAF Confederation Cup return leg match between AS Real De Bamako and Wydad Cassabalanca of Morroco scheduled for this week end.

Ogunyamodi will be assisted by Edibe Peter, Isah Usman and Odey Benjamin. The Match Commissioner designate is Louis Aryea of Ghana.

Van Persie Continues from BP League appearances for the Gunners.

The newly-crowned Italian champions are looking to revamp their attack with veteran Alessandro Del Piero set to leave the club next month and on-loan striker Marco Borriello expected to return to Roma in July.

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta said: “Van Persie is a great player.

He is a complete player and would be useful to any team but he still has one year left on his contract with Arsenal.

“We will try to put the icing on the cake this summer but the important thing is that the mix is good.”

Marotta added: “Van Persie is an important players that we would want to sign, alongside Higuain and Suarez..

“In fantasy football we could have the three of them playing in the same line-up but in reality, it is different.

“If one of them arrives is not because he will be the less talented as other things have to be taken into account, such as the financial aspect.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are lining up a sensational move forRobin van Persie.

The 28-year-old has just

one year left on his current deal at the Emirates and there has been intense speculation over whether he will remain at Arsenal.

Van Persie, who has hit 35 goals in all competitions this season, has stated that he will hold talks with Arsene Wenger over his future in the summer.

Manchester City are reportedly ready to pay the Dutchman £250,000 a week to quit north London, while Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with moves.

Now United have joined the chase, with Sir Alex Ferguson planning to strengthen his squad this summer after a disappointing campaign that looks set to end without any silverware.

It is understaood that United have already sounded out the possibility of van Persie making a switch to Old Trafford, and are prepared to splash out big on the former Feyenoord man.

And at the other half of Manchester, Coach Roberto Mancini, 47, is already planning for next season at City. He has the green light from owner Sheikh Mansour to make a £30m move for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who has a year left on his contract and has so far failed to agree a new deal.

Head to head......... Lionel Messi (c) agonises as Royston Drenthe (l) and Sneijder close in during a past match against Real Madrid.

Eaglets Continues from BP as Gombe United’s Mustapha Babadidi, Segun Alebiosu of Kwara United amongst others from the list of prospective players under consideration for the National Under -17 Team in spite of the fact that they were reportedly within the stipulated age bracket.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Director, Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme who is in Calabar for the smooth take-off of the closed camping exercise, said the shut-out order of Premier League players from the Golden Eaglets is imperative. He noted that it was a positive development and should be seen as a genuine effort on the part of the NFF at developing new stars as well as the federation’s commitment at eradicating age cheats. The 40 players selected for the closed camping exercise were drawn from those that took part in the first phase screening exercise last March.

Top on the list of players already camped at the posh Princeville Hotel camp is Muazzam Ibrahim who was tagged ‘ New Kanu’ by Supervising Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi when he played an unscheduled visit during the team’s screening exercise at the FIFA Goal Project Package B Site in Abuja.

Also included are players from the National Under-15 team, top-rated youth tournaments such as the Shell Cup and Copa Coca-Cola as well as players from soccer academies scattered all over the country.

Officials maintained that this second phase closed camping is strictly for invited players to enable them demonstrate their abilities as the team intensifies efforts to represent the country in the forthcoming African Under-17 Youth Championship to be hosted in Morocco next year.

Mancini Continues from BP eight points down to overhaul neighbours United. The two clubs stand level on points but City’s goal difference is eight better.

And they can clinch their first title in 44 years with victory over QPR on Sunday.

Mancini, 47, is already planning for next season at

City. He has the green light from owner Sheikh Mansour to make a £30m move for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who has a year left on his contract and has so far failed to agree a new deal.

City are also favourites to win the battle with United to land Lille playmaker Eden Hazard, 21, in a £25million deal.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 61

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 — 63

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NFF sacks over-age Eaglets I 10 EPL veterans with a year to go — Pg 59

N line with its avowed policy of whittling away age cheats from its under-aged national teams, no player from

the Nigerian Premier League is among the list of players for the second phase closed camping of the Golden Eaglets that

opened in Calabar on Monday.

This development has ruled out players such Continues on page 60

FIFA Ranking:

Eagles continue free fall

BY BEN EFE

N

IGERIA’s free fall in the FIFA rankings continued for the month of May as the country dropped three places down to the 63rd position.

However, Nigerian football enthusiasts are hopeful that Nigeria

the summmer WITH transfer market Hot Cake: Man U, City, about to open, Arsenal Robin van Persie Juve scramble for RVP captain, appears to be the

beautiful bride of top European clubs, who yesterday, signified their intentions to sign the Dutch star from the Londoners.

As at last night, Juventus, Manchestter United and Manchester City, were all involved in a big scramble for the striker, who has scored 30 goals in 37 Premier Continues on page 60

Continues on page 60

PAY HIKE ... Roberto Mancini

£22m:Mancini to get mega deal

M •Keshi TODAY'S

ANCHESTER CITY want to celebrate Premier League glory by handing Roberto Mancini a whopping new £22million contract.

Mancini’s four-year

•Van Persie

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Untidy (5) 7 Sham (5) 8 Despondency (5) 10 Condescend (5) 12 Scull (3) 13 Contradict (5) 15 Diplomatic (7) 17 Elicited (6) 19 Spot (3) 20 Interfered (7) 23 Attack (4) 25 Cubes (4) 26 Ousted (7) 30 Parcel (3) 31 Pollute (6) 34 Abraded (7) 37 Devil (5) 38 Plaything (3) 39 Liability (5) 40 Elector (5) 41 Send (5) 42 Generate (5)

deal will make him the country ’s best-paid boss, alongside Alex Ferguson.

City planned to offer Mancini the £2m-a-year pay rise — taking his salary to £5.5m a year —

even if they failed to win the title.

But they are even more eager to get the Italian to sign after he masterminded City ’s amazing fightback from

Continues on page 60

QUICK CROSSWORD

DOWN 1 Prodded (5) 2 Melody (5) 3 Revere (6) 4 Notice (4) 5 Schemed (7) 6 Market-place (5) 9 Lout (3) 11 Waded (7) 13 Whiskers (5) 14 Clear (5) 16 Pass (3) 18 Relegated (7) 21 Finger (5) 22 Number (5) 24 Postponed (7) 27 Burst (3) 28 Wish (6) 29 Performer (5) 32 Doomed (5) 33 Language (5) 35 Decay (3) 36 Expensive (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Bless 7, Aura 8, Entire 9, Rouse 11, Din 13, Wad 15, Eden 16, Yam 18, Site 19, Bigoted 20, Edam 22, Tear 23, Tallied 25, Veer 27, Dry 28, Mere 30, End 31, Did 33, Sneer 36, Futile 37, Aped 38, Willy.

DOWN: 1, Lurid 2, Bar 3, Emu 4, See 5, Sty

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

6, Treat 10, Stag 11, Deserve 12, Negated 13, Widened 14, Decreed 16, Yield 17, Money 18, Set 21, Mar 24, Iron 26, Ensue 29, Rider 32, Hid 33, Sew 34, En 35, Ray.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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

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

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

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